A fog settles across the ground, and all is silent. The woods are dark and scary, even through the boarded up window you’re looking out. The cabin is old and musty, but it is dry. It’s been a day since it all happened, and in that time you’ve stood vigil, waiting for something to change.
“*Gasp* *cough cough*” you hear from behind you.
You turn around see that the injured changeling upon the old broken sofa is awake.
“Ugh…where…where am I?” he asks with droopy eyes.
“DADDY!” you cry out as you rush towards him and throw your arms around his chest, being careful not to touch his wound.
“N-Nightshade?” he asks.
“Yes Daddy, it’s me,” you say as you hug harder, to which he returns, “Oh thank goodness you’re awake...”
“Yeah…um…Nightshade?”
“Yes Daddy?” you ask breaking the hug.
“Where are we?”
He looks around the room seeing all the old busted and rotting furniture.
“I don’t know exactly…” you admit.
“Whose house is this?”
“I don’t know that either, I haven’t even left this room since we got here,” you reply.
“Are we still in the Crystal Empire?”
You shudder as you avert your eyes from his, “No…we’ve been here for over a day.”
He seems confused by this and he tries to get up, but groans in pain before lying back down on the couch.
“Ugh, I feel so drained and sore,” he then looks to you, “Nightshade, what happened?”
“What do you mean?” you ask.
“How did we get here from the Empire? What happened with that Sombrero guy? What happened to Shining Armor?”
“Y-you mean you don’t remember?” you ask in hesitation.
“No…” he moans as he rubs his temple. “All I remember was seeing Armor getting hurt and then…nothing.”
You look down again and whisper, “You got mad again…”
“What?” he asks.
You look back up, “You got mad again daddy…” you say as you can’t help but feel tears start to form in your eyes.
His eyes widen in shock.
“D-did I use the cloak?” he asks in fear.
You close your eyes and nod.
“O-Oh no…no no no no…Selena…” he starts whimpering over this revelation.
“Mommy’s fine…I think…” you tell him.
“Sh-she is? How do you know that?”
“I went into your mind after…what happened. I know you told me not to, but I had to be sure. I saw her on a bed sleeping. She looks smaller now…” you whimper since your mommy used to be really tall and her mane ever-flowing.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Th-that’s because of the sickness,” he tells you, “B-but she was still breathing?”
You nod as a tear slips out your eye.
He gives a sigh, before his eyes become sad again. “Nightshade, baby, I’m so sorry…”
“It was scarier this time Daddy. YOU were scarier. The things you did…” you trail off remembering how it all ended.
He looks to you and sees the fear in your eyes. His own eyes take on a look of guilt.
“Nightshade…I’m sorry, but I need you to tell me everything that happened,” he says with a hitch in his throat.
You nod your head at this. You know he’s right, he has to know, even if there are some parts you’d rather forget.
“OK Daddy,” you say sadly. “After Mr. Armor got hurt, you lost it.”
He nods his head for you to continue.
“You had 6 tails, sharp teeth and scary wings and claws, and you kept trying to hurt that Smoke King…and Crystal Ponies kept getting hurt because of it…”
Daddy becomes pale after you say this, but you continue.
“That’s why I decided that I had to stop you before it was too late…”
1 Day Ago, The Crystal Empire
Kichi’s Comment
"Daddy! Noo!" you shout, but he either ignores or can’t hear you as he begin to destroy things trying to get to Sombra.
"I knew it, he is a monster!" says Applejack.
The others are speechless as they watch, until you tackle Ms. Twilight
"Please! Save him! Save my him!" you plead.
"I... What do you want me to do? He is a mons..." she begins before you interrupt her.
"No! He is my da-HERO, he’s the best hero a little filly could have. Sure he’s got a lot of bad luck, puts me in danger sometimes and is constantly on the run…”
Hey! He says from the couch.
Let me finish, you chide.
“…but he is my hero and I love him!” you declare.
Oh, ok then, thanks honey
No problem
After you declare that you hear a rumble as a building starts to collapse. The Evil King comes flying out of the structure, followed by your father as Crystal Ponies scream and run.
“Cease this Monster! My Empire still needs slaves and structures!” roars the King as he shoots crystal projectiles at him.
“GGGRAAAAGGGHHH!!!” he roars as he swipes the projectiles away, which hit bystanders in the crowd.
You look back at the skeptical mares and say, “I still stand by what I said! He’s not in control right now! Please!”
The others then turn to look at Ms. Twilight. She looks back at them nervously before looking back to you.
"What? What do you want me to do? You see how he is right now, I can't stop that... I can't stop him. And who are you anyway? You’re not that same filly he had. He must have brainwashed you. Right? Right?" she asks the others.
"Ermmm... Err... Ummm..." the others mumble not even answering.
Oh For Buck’s Sake, I Can’t Mind Control Ponies! *Cough Cough*
Easy there Daddy.
"And even so, why ask me? What can I do? I... I failed. The Crystal Empire is going to be destroyed... Princess Celestia is never going to forgive me" says Twilight as she looks crestfallen.
You all then hear an explosion and a scream of pain from a bystander.
“Seriously! What the Buck are you?!” shouts Sombra who is answered by another mindless roar.
“I’m a failure…” Twilight moans.
"No!" you all hear behind you. You look over and see Mr. Armor holding his bandaged stomach while Cadance and Spike and Flash look after him.
“H-he’s alive?”
“Yes, cousin Cadance healed him just in time. But he was still really hurt.”
"Shiny, no! You need to rest!" says Cadance.
“I-I will,” he groans, “But first things first. Twily, you CAN do this.”
"What?" she asks.
"You still can succeed. You are Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and the best sister I could have. If someone can save this situation, it's you,” he proclaims.
You and the others then turn to her.
"He’s right sugar cube. You’ve saved our lives many times" says Applejack.
"Yeah, even if your plans seem crazy, you are the one that actually has plans! Let's kick those jerkwad’s faces in!" says Rainbow Dash
"Yeah! And later I can throw a ‘We recovered our nemesis from a crazy tantrum’ party" cheers Pinkie.
"I... Okay girls... you’re right,” she says finally getting her self confidence back.
“Alright alright, you’re all pumped up, can we actually get going here?!” you shout impatiently.
Twilight then looks to you and her face becomes more serious.
Kropsling’s Comment
"Aright we will help him under one condition," Twilight demands to you
Oh come on! Really?! You angrily think.
"What is the condition?" you ask.
Please don’t be bad, please don’t be bad…
"He comes with us back to Ponyville" Twilight says.
Yep, it’s bad…
"WAIT WHAT? WHY?!" Everypony asks in unison.
"Are you loco in the coco Twilight?" Pinke asked
"Look everypony I don’t like this plan any more than you do. I would rather take him to Canterlot and put him behind bars but this is our only chance of getting some information out of him. For starters why is he here? Why do we keep bumping in to him? Where did he learn those spells? And lastly who is the mother of that Alicorn filly he has?!”
"Maybe it's just lady luck that brings him here and we keep on seeing him?" Pinkie guesses causing you to stare at her.
“How the buck does she know so much,” you ask to yourself.
“Whatever the reason, we should take him in,” Twilight says taking her eyes off of you.
“OK, I agree on fighting him, but look how freaking big he got! He’s gone superbeast! How the heck we supposed to take him with us!” asks Flash.
“You don’t understand, it’s not his fault he’s doing this!” yells Fluttershy. “He’s being manipulated by an evil evil witch. Once we stop him, he needs our help!” shouts Fluttershy.
“What are you talking about Fluttershy? OH NO. Is Sombra a Witch King?” shrieks Rarity.
“I say if there’s anything left of him after we beat him we can bring him in,” snarls AJ.
“I actually know his name,” says Shining Armor, “It’s Bug-.” He starts before Cadance interrupts him.
“Time for some rest Shiny,” she says knocking him out with a spell. She then wipes her forehead and sighs while mumbling, “Woo, that was a close one.”
Did they really start arguing while I was rampaging?
Ugh, yes! Stupid Inaction Mares...
“Alright, Everypony Shut the Buck Up!” you yell causing them to look at you harshly.
“Yes Fine, we’ll go with you, just hurry up and help already you dingbats!”
Twilight smiles at that and says
"Good to know. Let’s Go!" as she leads the charge.
“Don't worry Hoody I will look save you from that Evil Mare,” Fluttershy shouts
“When we capture him I’ll finally get to throw that party I’ve always wanted to throw for him,” Pinkie chirps as she rushes past.
“Stopping two monsters in one day, Ah Yeah!” Rainbow Dash cheers.
“Gonna Rock You Like a Hurricane!” shouts Flash.
“I have a bad feeling this,” Applejack grumbles.
I hope he doesn't use me as a shield again. Rarity stresses.
“I’m going to stay her and look after Shining, Good Luck Girls!” yells Cadance.
As the mares rush forth towards the two combatants you stand back and think
My daddy is going to ground me for this.
N-no I’m not Nightshade.
But I sent several mares after you to beat you.
Yeah, but you did so for good reasons.
So no grounding?
No grounding
Yay…
As the Mares close the distance to them, you hold back and watch.
Kichi’s Comment
TheRutherford’s Comment
The Fight is actually more of a chase though, since Sombra keeps running, jumping, and turning to Smoke trying to get away from your Daddy. Your Dad meanwhile is smashing everything in his way in fury.
“SMASH!" he shouts out in a guttural tone, breaking a merry go round and tossing it at Sombra.
"Daddy, please stop! Don't do that!" you shout out to him, but again, he doesn’t hear you.
"What destruction, what power... All lost in a mindless beast, but maybe what this beast needs is a master!" Sombra shouts as he tries to conjure a collar around your father but every time he tries, his magic seems to be absorbed, making daddy’s eyes grow brighter.
"What is this? How is this possible?" groans Sombra.
“With this guy, you learn to stop asking questions!” yells Rainbow as she sucker punches Sombra in the face,
“Grah!” he roars.
“And Roll with the punches!” adds on Flash as he kicks Sombra in the gut.
“Oof!” the king cries out as he is knocked away.
“GGGRAAAGGGHHH!!!” your father roars as he tries to jump towards the king, but a blast of purple magic sends him back.
A lasso comes out and clamps over his mouth before a party cannon is shoved in his face.
“And boom goes the dynamite,” says Pinkie as she activates the canon, blinding him with confetti.
“Hoody! Remember who You are! Don’t listen to her anymore!” Fluttershy shouts at him, but he just roars again.
“Rainbow! Flash! You take care of Sombra, we’ll take care of the Offender!” shouts Twilight.
Sombra stands up, “You send two useless Birds after me?! I am the bigger threat her you stupid-.”
“Shut up you speciest Horn-Head!” shouts Flash with a kick to his face.
“Oh you’re one to talk!” shouts Rainbow who punches Sombra in the horn.
“He’s evil! Stop making me sound worse!” Flash shouts.
“RAAAGGHHH!!!” Sombra roars as he punches both.
Your dad meanwhile keeps wildly thrashing at Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Applejack as he tries to find Sombra.
“Stand down Offender! Stand Down!” Twilight roars, but the all she gets in reply is a roar from your father.
You then look back to the Sombra fight and see him send out a massive wave of dark magic out of the heart.
“Holy Heck!” shouts Rainbow who barely dodges it.
“Oh, this fight isn’t slowing down at all!...Wait a minute,” you say as you suddenly get an idea.
"Papa wa mō motte inai baai wa mochiron, tabun kare wa seijō ni modori, teishi shimasu! (Of course, if daddy doesn’t have a enemy anymore, maybe he will return to normal and stop)" you exclaim. He has to stop soon before the others and mommy get hurt.
With that in mind, you run towards the evil king.
Along the way, she finds some items in all the wreckage and debris.
“Daddy’s Inventory? How did this fall off?” you say aloud.
You look at the doorway to your home and see that the belt strap hole is torn.
“Must’ve happened when Daddy got bigger,” you think before putting the Inventory into your own, He’ll want it later.
Daddy’s Inventory added to Inventory
Here you go by the way, you say as you hand him it.
Thanks baby…is that duct tape?
Eyup, it fixes everything
You also find several other things your father threw at Sombra and pick them up.
“Mine now.”
-2 Sherclop Holmes Novels
-Checkov’s Pen
-Movie reels
Added To Inventory
You also find something else in the debris as Crystal Ponies run past you in fright.
“Hello there…” you say with a smile.
After picking up the scattered items, you run right to where all the action is.
With your dad’s rampage, and Sombra’s fight, the two sides are now closer to each other.
“Better stop this quick,” you say as you deactivate your disguise and become an Alicorn again. You build up power in your horn and shout
“Magic Missile!” sending the spell right to the back of Sombra’s head while he was distracted by Flash.
"Gaah! Who dare attacks me from behind? he shouts as he pushes Flash and Dash away with a dark wave as he tries to find who attacked him.
He looks around behind him, but all he sees is the destruction your daddy has caused, fleeing crystal ponies and a bunch of trash. Including your new tool, The Cardboard Box.
“Sure it never worked for Daddy, but I’m smaller and less conspicuous in mine,” you think.
“Where are you coward?!” he yells before your father lets out a blood curdling roar.
Through the holes in your box, you see that his fight with the mares has come within viewing distance of Sombra, and he has seen him.
“Oh not this thing again!” grumbles Sombra.
While he’s distracted, you lift the box up and send another magic missile into his head before hiding again.
“AAAHHH!!! Alright, you little sneak, I’m going to…” he shouts before his eyes land right on you and your box.
An alarm sound is heard as his eyes widen.
“Oh Buck!” you mutter as he lifts the box off of you with magic.
“There you are!” he yells in fury as he prepares a spell with his horn.
You narrow your eyes at him and prepare your own spell, but before you can fire yours, you are suddenly tackled out of the way by a yellow blur.
“Look out!” Fluttershy cries as debris from the missed spell rain on you two.
“Thanks Fluttershy, but I had him, I was gonna-.” You start before Fluttershy yells at the king.
“You were going to hurt an innocent little filly you Monster!”
“Innocent my flanks!” he roars as he bends a giant boulder and throws it at you two.
You try to save Ms. Fluttershy, but she holds you in fear as it gets closer.
Luckily however, two shadowy tails push you out of the way of the boulder.
Sombra looks to his left and sees your daddy, only 20 feet away as he roars out.
“SSSHHHHAAAADDDDEEEE!!!!” before rushing forth and clawing the king up the chest, leaving a cut.
“Gyagh!” the king roars.
As they move further away with the other Elements and Flash following, Fluttershy turns to you happily and says,
“Did you see that? He remembered and protected you!”
“Well of course he did, he’s my Daddy,” you tell her.
“No, this means that Hoody is still in there, fighting against that evil evil strumpet! There’s still hope!”
“Wait what? What strumpet? Who are you talking about?” you ask in consusion.
“Don’t you worry, we can all still fix this. Once we get rid of her, EVERYTHING WILL BE BETTER! HA HA HA HA!!!” she says as she charges back to the battle.
“…What?”
Seriously, what is she even talking about?
Your father facehooves and just shakes his head.
She’s misunderstanding the situation…and yeesh, is Fluttershy really going that overboard?
I don’t know, she said it in that Yuno Gasai Yandere kind of way.
Your daddy shivers at that.
As Beast Daddy charges forward again, Sombra crystal bends a series of crystal spears that impales him in multiple places, but this only temporarily slows him down before he smashes the king with his nightmare tails (the wounds instantly healing) and continues attacking.
Sombra dodges an attack by Pinkie Pie, before sending out more waves of darkness, which push the others back, but again do nothing but get absorbed by your dad.
“Something’s got to hurt you!” he yells as he bends projectile crystals from both behind and in front of daddy. He manages to block and dodge most of them, but one of the projectiles hits him right in the glowing jagged scar on his chest.
“GGGGRRRRAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!” your Daddy roars out in pain as he doubles over and growls out like a wounded animal.
“Aha!” shouts Sombra, “So you do feel pain!” he shouts as he sends more Crystals at your father, but he just rushes through them, protecting his red glowing scar with two of his tails.
Sombra crystal-bends a wall of diamond in front of him which he can't smash through in spite of all his wailing on it, but then he unleashes the Psycho Break Smasher (Upgraded Psycho Crusher where you launch yourself spinning forward while covered in the Nightmare Cloak to smash through anything in your way (even buildings and mountains) in a large streak of midnight flames) to smash through the diamond wall and smash Sombra through more buildings.
Psycho Break Smasher? He asks.
Well that’s what it sounded like you said. You were all like, ICO BRAYT SMASHER!!!
Oh…
As your father continues to destroy more property with the Elements and Flash on their tails, you realize the clock is ticking and you need to end this!
You put your thinking cap on as you come up with a plan.
BrownDog’s Comment
Alright Nightshade, you've got to stop your daddy and that Sombra guy and save everypony. But how?
You start thinking about how to beat Sombra.
"From what Ms. Cadance was trying to do, I need the Crystal Heart for something…which means I have to get it off the Sombra guy while the Elements distract Daddy."
You look up in realization.
“This is gonna be tough. That jerk is powerful. I’ll need back up. But who’s left? The scaredy cat crystal ponies? Fat chance. And Mr. Armor is injured, and Cadance is weak. So who else can…” you trail off as a light bulb goes off above your head.
You run back to the crystal palace, returning to the guise of a pegasus and see Cadance rubbing Armor’s head with tears in her eyes as he sleeps. You then focus on the one you came back for.
"Spike! Spike!" you yell as you run to the teary eyed dragon as he watches his Big Brother figure hanging on.
"W-What is it?" he asks.
"I need you to help me get the Crystal Heart away from Sombra! Once he's defeated, then Da-The Offender will stop fighting him."
"I-I don't know if I can Shadow...I'll just fail again and everypony will get hurt..." he says sadly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Twilight told me to take the heart. She said I had to be the one to save the day...but I fell. And because I fell, that El Hunko guy caught me, and the Crystal Heart got taken by Sombra and now everypony is getting hurt...it's all my fault..." he sobs.
You see the dragon getting down, so you put your hoof on his shoulder
"No no no Spike, don’t say that! If anything it's my fault," you tell the dragon.
"How?"
"I'm the one who had da-El Hunko catch you. I was scared that you were going to get hurt, and he caught you because I yelled out your name. It's not your fault! I sure as Buck wasn't going to lose a friend, so quit blaming yourself and help me save the day!" you drill.
He sniffles once more before wiping his eyes.
"You're right. I'm sorry. Thank you." He then looks at you in determination. "I lost a friend recently. She was...awesome." You then look at him in sympathy remembering that he still thinks you as a Unicorn is dead. "She was cool, tough, determined, and really really cute. You remind me a lot of her," he says causing a blush to come to your cheeks.
HE SAID WHAT?! Nightshade, I don't think you should hang out with him anym...
Oh For Pete’s Sake Daddy, Calm Down!
"And I won't lose any more friends! So what's the plan?"
You cough to get your mind refocused, and say "Well, You're a Dragon Right?
"Um, yeah,"
"Well let's go light a fire under that Sombra Buck! The quicker he's dealt with, the quicker the the Offender will stop...I hope,"
“Alright then,” he says before looking to Cadance.
“Cadance, I have to help them, but I’ll be back!” he says.
“Be careful Spike! Twilight can’t have another brother get hurt.
He nods at this and then the two of you run towards the sound of roars, screaming and destruction.
As you and Spike get closer you see all the Elements and Flash try to subdue your rampaging father, and as they engage him, Sombra takes his chance and stabs another crystal into your father’s glowing weak point.
“HHHHRRRRAAAAA!!!” Daddy cries as his scar and red eye pulse rapidly.
He then begins to thrash all those around him, giving them all bruises and cuts.
“He…Hurt…Daddy…” you seethe through clenched teeth and run up ahead of Spike.
"Shadow, wait!" he calls out.
As Daddy lashes out at everything in sight, Sombra slips away by becoming smoke and gets on a roof. He watches as your father sweeps them aside harshly, knocking over and hurting countless civilians as he looks for the king in mindless fury.
Sombra chuckles and begins to charge up an attack with multiple crystal spears, intending to take out both your dad and the Elements in one attack.
"Death to you my annoying enemies!" he roars as he tries to bend the Crystals...but they don't move.
"What the buck?" he says as he tries to throw the floating crystals, but fails.
Suddenly, the spears launch themselves at him making a cage around him.
"What is going on?! Who can surpass My crystal bending?" he cries out before the crystals explode, launching him off the roof and further away from Daddy and the mares.
After getting up from the attack, Sombra looks around in confusion, before seeing you standing before him, gritting your teeth.
"I don't know," you tell him, "How about an even more kickflank Bender?"
You Did What?! Nightshade…
Daddy, remember when I told you I could fight?
Yeah, but…
Well I Can Fight!
"No one is greater than I!" he roars as he sends a large crystal at you, to which you stop in midair.
You then glare at him angrily as your eyes begin to glow white.
"Guess again Buckface!" you yell as you launch the rock back, to which he dodges.
"Impossible!" he cries out.
"No it's not. You made me angry! You hurt daddy, you hurt Mr. Armor! And because of that, my Mommy might get even more sick! And it's all YOUR fault!" you yell as your eyes glow even more fiercely. You then bend a piece of road from behind him and slam it into the back of his head, making him fall closer to you.
He gets up and glares.
"Why you insolent little... You're the one who threw that ungrateful Marsupial in my face!" he yells pointing at the scratches on his snout as he recognizes you.
"Yeah, but he didn't finish his job. Your face still looks like a butt!" you taunt.
His eyes slit as he fires a blast of dark magic at you, to which you dodge.
“You’re too slow!” you taunt causing him to growl.
You then earth bend a fist from the ground which uppercuts him into the air. Launching yourself upwards, you Falcon Kick him to the ground.
“Come on! Step it up!” you yell bending the ground from beneath him and launching him at you.
“FALCON KICK!” you roar as you strike him right in the face, knocking out a tooth.
“OH! You little Bucker! You little B!&$#!”
“Watch your filthy Bucking Mouth!” you yell as you earthbend a boulder and are about to crush him, but he turns to smoke to get away.
He stays as a smokey spectre and laughs at you as you bend crystals and boulders through him, to no effect.
“Oh Buck Me!” you growl as you continue bending at his laughing smoke form.
Meanwhile
Kersey’s Comment
Daddy feverously darts his head around looking for Sombra, when suddenly a Rainbow blur hits him in the face.
Whoa Whoa Wait A Minute!
What now?
How did you know this was happening if you were fighting Sombra?
Daddy, I’m telling the Story, Quit Questioning it.
But…
Shush
Before daddy could roar, he was hit in the face with a trio of blue kicks before a raspy tomboyish voice taunts him from above,
"Up here ugly!"
He lashes out his nightmare tails only for her to dodge them.
"Hah! You have wings but you can't even fly? How path- WOAH!"
But the speed of the tails increase causing her to noticeably struggle more to dodge them until,
*splat*
Pinkie throws some pies into his face. He shakes it off only for his cleared vision to be greeted with one white and a pair of orange hooves from a team punch from Rarity and Applejack.
That hits him under the chin so hard that it knocks him onto his back. Before Daddy can get up, he feels a lasso around his neck and restraining magic on his other limbs. He tries to lash out with his Nightmare Tails only for Flash Sentry to dive in and kick him in the face, keeping the attention of the tails on him as Pinkie Pie helps Applejack with the lasso and Rarity assists Twilight with the restraining spells.
"Keep it up girls, we almost have him!" yells Twilight before she looks around.
“Wait a minute! Where’s Sombra?!” she yells out.
Everypony looks to her as she says this and they pale.
“He was just right there!” says AJ pointing to a broken roof, “I thought Flash was handling him.”
“Me?! I thought Rainbow was covering him!”
“You’re not blaming this one on me pal!” she yells.
Having enough of this, and taking advantage of their lack of focus, your dad let out an angry roar as his tails whirl and flail around like a demented propeller knocking the ponies away. Once free he quickly follows it up by getting to his feet and grabbing 6 disorientated ponies in each of his tails, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie,Twilight and Flash, and starts banging them together repeatedly like crash cymbals before spinning them around like a swing ride and using the momentum to violently smash them all onto a pie cart, shattering it in an explosion of pastries and filling.
“SSSMMMMAAAASSSSHHHH!!!” he roars as he then tears into the ground with his claws and tears out a savage piece of the crystal road and holds it over his head before advancing angrily on the six pie-covered ponies who look up and terror as he’s about to smash them when suddenly Fluttershy flies in front of him with a full-powered Stare and declares,
"HOW DARE YOU MAKE HOODY HURT MY FRIENDS!!!"
He stops momentarily as the Stare hits him full force and his arms shake with the chunk of road in them.
“WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, SO ARE YOU MISSY!!!” she yells.
His eyes begin to glow more fiercely as his arms stop shaking as he roars directly into Fluttershy’s face, making her fall back into her pie covered friends.
Before anything else happens though, he hears one word. One word from far away that catches his attention.
“OW!”
His head whips around in frenzy as he throws the boulder away, ignoring the others.
“NNNIIISSSSHHHHHAAAAYYYY!!!!” he roars before taking off, barreling through houses and buildings.
OW?
Yes, OW.
Why did you say that?
Well…
BrownDog’s Comment
After fruitlessly bending crystals in an attempt to hurt the Smoke Monster, you try to kick him, but that doesn’t work either.
"I am going to end you little Filly!" he yells, sending out a wave of dark magic which grazes one of your wings.
"OW!" you yell out as you fall to the ground.
He takes this moment to grab you by your arms and hold you up to his face and in the distance you hear a guttural
“NNNIIISSSSHHHHHAAAAYYYY!!!!”
"Stupid little pegasus! You can't catch the wind!" Sombra mocks you.
"Oh I'm not a pegasus you idiot," you say as you take the enchantment off of your horn for a moment, "I'm an Alicorn!"
"WHAT?!" he yells in shock and surprise.
"And I know I can't catch the wind, but HE can!" you say smugly.
"Wha-AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!." he begins before roaring in pain as a large plume of Green Fire engulfs his smoke.
Spike continues the barrage, giving the smoky king no chance of escape as he drops you, with you becoming a pegasus once again.
Before Spike's flames can consume him entirely, he becomes physical once again, earning a few burns on his body, before throwing up a crystal shield.
"THAT'S FOR MY BIG BRO YOU FLANKHOLE!" Spike roars out before firing his breath again, heating up the crystal Sombra had encased himself in, causing groans of pain to come from inside.
"Good job Spike," you yell out as you hug him.
"N-no problem," he says blushing.
"Alright, cover me!" you yell as you rush forth and pick up the crystal casing, and break it open.
"You little monster!" yells the singed king. "I will personally tear off your wings and-*CRUNCH* EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
He whimpers as you kick him right in the nards with a flame encased hoof, causing Spike to wince in sympathy.
"Wrong! I'm going to be the one ripping things off!" you growl.
"OH SWEET CELESTIA!" cries Spike holding his own nards.
"No, I meant the Heart Spike! The Heart!"
"Oh...that makes more sense," he says as he stands by your side over the king, puffing smoke out of his nose intimidatingly.
“You puny little Dragon, I will pluck your scales I’ll, Gyagh!” he chokes as you you bend a crystal cage around his chest.
“Shut your mouth!” you order as you take a sharp piece of crystal and stab it where the Heart meets his flesh.
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!” he cries in pain as you mercilessly start prying the heart up from his body. The sections that come loose, even start turning their normal shade of blue.
“Quit Screaming Pansy!”
Whoa…YOU beat Sombra?
Well I HAD him beat, until YOU came in,
You get it partially off, as you and Spike begin to cheer… before your Father bursts through a nearby building and tackles the near defenseless tyrant into the sky.
“NNNIIISSSHHHAAAYYY!!!” he roars as they fly off.
"DANGIT DADDY! Come on Spike! Before it's too late!" you yell as you and the dragon rush forth to where they landed.
Whoops…My Bad…
Kersey’s Comment
As Sombra and your Dad land in the middle of a residential neighborhood, your father charges at Sombra, but he manages to get to his feet in time and punch a crystal-spike-encased hoof forward right into your father's chest wound. Your father lets out a roar in pain as Sombra smirks in sadistic triumph and twists the crystal spear as he seeps more smoke into the wound, but your father lets out an enraged roar as he wraps his two front hooves in Nightmare Tails, and wails on Sombra with a barrage of rib-breaking hooks before launching him into the air with a jaw-breaking Shoryuken and then follows up with a Falcon Missile to the spine which sends Sombra smashing through some buildings and into the thankfully abandoned "Projects district".
In the distance you see Sombra stand up and shout.
“ENOUGH!!!” as large swirly plumes of smoke form around Daddy and cover the area in a midnight-black mist. You then see Sombra launch himself into the sky while transforming into three balls of midnight smoke that swirl around the air. Once they reach a high enough altitude they collide, causing the smoke to re-materialize back into Sombra as he back-flips in the air with a smirk before covering himself in a crystal shell and uses Smoke Thrusters to blast himself down to Earth like a missile and cries out
"Tyrant's Purge!"
Before igniting the mist in a magical explosion upon impact directly on daddy’s back that utterly levels the Projects.
You and Spike shield your eyes from the explosion and when you look back, you see dirt and smoke starting to clear. You see the Evil King standing in a crater and no sign of your father.
“D-daddy?” you whimper.
“Th-that is what you get you dull creature,” pants Sombra. “This Empire is mine! If it gets destroyed, it will be by my hoof, not-,”
When suddeunly, from below the ground,your dad bursts forth. His scary wings are broken, and one of his tusks is cracked off, but other than that, he is still Beastly and mad.
“HOW?!” roars Sombra before he is knocked into the air with a Shadow Shoryuken. While Sombra is in the air, Daddy turns into a nightmare mist and swirls up at the airborne tyrant before he starts rapidly teleporting out of the smoke around Sombra and striking at him with his hooves and tails, increasing speed and frequency with each teleport.
After a frenzied barrage of hits from every direction, he uses 4 tails to hold Sombra in place before raising the 5th and 6th tails and slamming them into his face to launch himself into the air. When the 4 tails are at maximum stretch, he wraps the remaining two around his rear limbs and slingshots into Sombra and declares,
“WWOONNAATIIC FFRREENNZZYY!!! ("Lunatic Frenzy!")
Before smashing into Sombra's chest with a massively powerful double-stomp that launches the Crystal Heart right out of his chest and causes blood to spurt out of his mouth as the tyrant is sent smashing down through the Crystal Castle.
You and Spike watch where the heart lands, and you tell him.
“Now’s our chance Spike, hurry!”
“OK!” he says as he follows you.
When you arrive at the palace you see the Former King struggling to stand.
His clothes and armor are torn and raged, his face is black and purple and cuts line his body. A crowd of Crystal Ponies forms around the area, and you see the Deadly 6 and Flash coming through the crowd.
Then Daddy lands down in front of the King and you notice something. His Nightmare cloak is starting to glitch. It keeps fading in and out, as if the power is sputtering.
“Mommy…” you say in realization.
“How…How in the name of the 9 levels of Tartarus have you beaten me? I had the Crystal Heart... I was a god... You're just an insect! How could this be?!"
"I... Bug… You... BUG FOOD!!!" your Daddy roars out in a semi coherent sentence as he begins to advance.
“Daddy Please! He’s Beat! Stop now before it’s too late!” you shout.
This time, he looks to you, and you can see his eyes and chest flickering as the light keeps trying to die out.
He gives you a questioningly growl, before laughing catches both your attentions.
“HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Sombra insanely laughs before sputtering off.
“I get it now…I finally get it. The power…the rage…” he then looks to you. “You had a power source. A Battery!” he then looks back to your Daddy and starts laughing again.
“You’ve been draining an Alicorn’s life force for power! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”
Every pony looks at the king and back at your father in scrutiny.
His laughing causes your father to growl again as he rushes forth and grabs the king by his shoulders.
“I know your secret! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I know what you’ve done! You ARE worse than me! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” the Broken King rants.
“FFFFOOOOOOODDDD!!!” your father roars in the king’s face.
“Daddy Stop!” you cry out, but he doesn’t hear you, just like before.
What happens next horrifies you to the bone. You watch as the monster your father has become unhinges his jaw like a snake and opens far too wide to be normal. Inside are rows and rows of sharp teeth.
The former Dictator screams in fear as he is shoved into the gaping maw. His cries are muffled by a sickening crack as the lower and upper jaws close together.
The monster then begins to chew. Crunching bone noises are heard as the monster continues to chew on the fallen king. Smoke attempts to escape out of the jaws, but they are quickly sucked back in.
“I…I…?”
“Oh Buck…Oh Buck…” you mutter as you watch this spectacle in fear.
Spike stands next to you watching in fear as well.
All around you ponies scream, faint or even throw up.
The Deadly 6, Flash and Cadance behind you are shocked as well.
“H-he ate him…” mutters Twilight.
“No way…” gasps Rainbow Dash.
“What in the…” says a confused Flash.
“That’s…*hrk*” gags Applejack.
“Wha…I…” sputters Rarity.
“Gross…” says Pinkie.
“Th-that evil evil witch! She’s turned Hoody into a Cannibal! Oh I will get you, I WILL GET YOU!” yells Fluttershy in anger.
“B-Bugze…what have you become?” says a sad sounding Cadance.
“Shadow…what’s happened to him?” Spike asks you.
“I don’t know,” you answer.
After what seems like an eternity, the chewing stops. The monster tilts it’s head back, and a large gulp is heard, followed by a belch. The flickering of the Nightmare Cloak stops as it stays consistent once again.
Still grunting, it begins to look around until it’s eyes fall upon you.
“D-Daddy?” you choke out, but he doesn’t appear to understand you.
He looks around and starts growling at all the horrified ponies. But you hold your hooves up.
Fireheart’s Comment
“Daddy, it’s over! We’re safe now, I’M safe now! Sombra’s gone. Please…come back to me…”
He looks to you and his breathing becomes slightly less ragged. But the whispers of the others catch his attention and his eyes harden.
You aren’t sure, but you swear you see a flash of green within the red and orange eyes before he growls at the others.
You try to walk forward, but Spike puts out a claw holding you back.
“No don’t it’s too…” he implores, before you whirl around in fear.
“Spike! Let go of me before he…” you warn before the Creature roars once again and charges forth.
This time he is running right at Spike.
“NO DADDY!” you roar as you earth bend a pillar right underneath him, launching him away.
“Run Spike!” you yell as Monster Dad gets back up and charges again.
“But what about-.” He begins.
“RUN!”
You see the Deadly 6 try to run forth, but you have to end this now!
You whip up a sand storm to blind him momentarily as Spike runs off, which also stops the Deadly 6.
You then rush forth into the sandstorm and find your father slashing at it, so you bend Crystal Manacles out of the earth that attach to all his legs.
“Daddy! Please Stop, Go Back to Normal!” you yell, but the beast instead keeps roaring and pulling at its restraints.
“Daddy Please, I don’t want to fight you!” you scream. You know he won’t hurt you, but he’ll hurt everyone else and mommy if he continues.
He breaks free from two restraints, and you reluctantly begin to bend another attack, when from your left, a large blue glow begins to form.
You look over and see Spike holding the Crystal Heart above the pedestal Mr. Armor is against as it floats out of his claws and begins to rotate.
“The Dragon! He’s Returned the Heart!” shout the Crystal Ponies.
Cadance then walks forth and yells.
“The Heart is returned, Quickly! Fill it with all your love and we shall banish this darkness!” she commands.
And all around you the Crystal Ponies begin to concentrate and the heart begins to turn brighter and brighter and turn faster.
“GGGRRROOOOAAAAGGGHHHH!!!” your farther roars, breaking yet another restraint, and you can see that the growing light from the heart is slowly shrinking his tails.
Whatever is about to happen, you can’t let him get loose.
You jump onto his back and hold him down with all of your bending might.
“You’ll thank me later Daddy!” you yell as he tries to escape.
As you do, your disguise fails and your horn reappears.
You hear a gasp to your left and see your dragon friend staring up at you while everyone else is concentrating.
“Nightshade?” he gasps.
You realize that from his vantage point, all he sees is your horn. Below you, the demonic wings retract into Daddy, and you can feel his regular buggy shell again. You give a smile to the dragon.
“Hi Spike. Great Job Saving the Day, I’m proud of you,” you congratulate.
Hearing that, he faints. As he does, a massive wave of magic comes from the heart and comes straight for you and Daddy.
You feel a massive wave of magical energy flow through you, making you feel amazing as your whole body starts to sparkle but it hits your Dad like a massive slap,
“GGGYYYYAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!” he roars in pain and is launched up into the air.
You hold on for dear life to his neck as you are launched far into the air and away from the Empire, going further and further into the sky.
As you do, you feel your Dad shrink into his normal form as all of the Nightmare Cloak disappears.
“Oh Bucking FINALLY!” you yell as your speed begins to slow.
“Daddy are you OK? Daddy?”
But he doesn’t answer. Slipping his hood back, you see that he is out cold.
“Oh just PERFECT!” you grumble.
You take a moment to look all around you and you see that you are high above the mountains, and snow is everywhere.
“Wow, what a view,” you say in awe before gravity takes ahold of you again. “Uh-Oh…”
Before you fall, you look up to the air and yell,
“Buck You Lady Luck!” before you and your unconscious father fall to the earth.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” you scream as you plummet.
You try flapping your tiny wings, but they do a whole lot of nothing to stop your descent.
“Come on work you stupid bucking things!” you yell.
As the ground comes closer and closer, you desperately begin to charge magic in your horn for a teleport spell, and thanks to the Magic Wave, you don’t have headache anymore.
“TAKE ME SOMEWHERE LESS SCARY!” you yell, and seconds before you hit the ground, you and your daddy disappear into a flash of light.
Present Time
“And then when I could see again, we were in this room. I put you on the couch, took off your cloak and wrapped you up in bandages,” you explain.
Your Daddy just looks at you in shock as his mouth hangs open.
“Then I just waited for you to wake up, but you didn’t for a whole day…” you recount, tearing up again. “I haven’t gone anywhere else in this house, because I wanted you to wake up. To see if the both of you were alright…” you sob.
“Nightshade…” he says, tearing up himself, before pulling you into a hug.
“I’m so so sorry baby…” he sobs.
You cry into his chest as he rubs your mane. You lose track of how long you both cry with each other.
POV Change: Bugze
You can’t believe what you’ve just heard. Not only did you lose control, not only did you endanger countless lives, but you…ATE a pony.
Your gut clenches as that fact hits home.
I’ve lived my whole life as a vegetarian, and the first time I eat meat I eat a pony? What have I done?
With your gut still clenching, you realize how warm you feel as a sweat breaks out on your forehead.
And not only did I do all that, but all in front of Nightshade to boot!
After all the time trying to keep the otherworld’s events away from her, and I go and do this…
You think as more tears flow from you.
And now I’ve killed Two ponies. But at least I didn’t EAT Flag Burner. But now the Deadly 6, Cadance, Spike, that Entire Empire think I’m a monster.
Why Can’t I just be good? Why can’t I be a better father? Why? Why?
All you can say over and over again is, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” as you stroke the mane of your daughter who you traumatized.
After a long while of mutual crying, Nightshade picks her head up.
“Daddy…you’ve got to be more careful.”
“I-I know,” you mutter.
“That Sombra guy was evil and mean, but not even HE deserved that,”
“I know…” you mutter.
“But even still, he had bad things coming to him…but you hurt a lot of ponies who didn’t do anything Daddy,” she continues.
You put your head down.
“You didn’t mean to, but they got hurt. If it weren’t for Spike, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“Nightshade…I’ll…”
“Daddy, you have to promise me that you won’t become that monster again,” she interrupts.
“I-.”
“PROMISE ME!” she yelps.
You don’t want to become that monster again, and you don’t even remember any of it. You had no control.
“I…I’ll try honey,” you mutter.
“Try?” she asks sounding indignant.
“I couldn’t control it. I don’t know what happened to make me black out and become… that…but I’ll try baby, I really will. I promise. But I don’t know if I can stop it…” you confess.
She nods, “OK…good enough” before hugging you again. She then breaks away, and pulls out some water. She gives it to you and the remainder of the pain pills and a bit of leftover Pie you got in the Crystal Empire.
“Take these Daddy, and get some more sleep. You’re still weak,” she says.
“I’m fine, I’m-.” you say trying and failing to get off the couch. You then sigh and take the pills.
“I’m supposed to be watching out for you,” you tell her.
“Well not right now you’re not, now get some sleep daddy. I need you all better,” she says as she lies down next to you with a yawn.
“I need you better…” you says as she starts trailing off to sleep.
You hold her close as you feel yourself slipping back into unconsciousness.
“I love you sweet heart…I love you so much.”
“I love you too Daddy…Always.”
Your vision goes dark as you enter your dreamscape.
You make your way into a special chamber and check for yourself the status of the Mare in the Moon.
Selena still sleeps upon the bed, still weakened and shallowly breathing…but still, she is alive.
Her sheets have been disturbed and are crumpled around her though.
“Probably when Nightshade visited,” you mutter as you straighten the sheets and tuck her in properly.
You then rest your hoof on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry…I could’ve hurt you…I could’ve…” you choke out before looking down in shame.
“I couldn’t control the powers without you, and I almost used them all up…I’m sorry…” you confess.
“Can you forgive me?” you ask with your head bowed.
For a moment, you think you hear a sudden intake of breath.
You look up to her face quickly.
“S-Selena?” you ask.
But like before, the Mare doesn’t answer you and just continues breathing.
You shake your head at this.
“I’m just hearing things…” you mumble.
You then sat by her bedside, until the deepest of deep sleep claimed you.
THE NEXT DAY
You awake in the darkened rotten house. There’s not much light coming in from the boarded windows, but through the cracks you can see fog.
You feel for your sleeping child, but your hoof touches nothing.
“Nightshade?” you call out to the empty room. When no one answers, you begin to panic.
“NIGHTSHADE?!” you yell as you sit up, immediately regretting it as the room begins to spin.
As you try to undizzy yourself, you notice a piece of paper stuck to your chest with Duct Tape.
You take it off see it’s a note written in crayon.
Dear Daddy,
If you’re reading this then I haven’t gotten back yet. You were still sleeping, and we ran out of food. I’ve gone out to find some. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine, and I’ll bring you some vegetable soup to make you feel better. Love you Daddy,
Nightshade.
P.S. I left at 12:05, so don’t panic.
You look around to figure out how she knew what time it was, and beside you on an old rotting table is a working clock which reads 12:15
You sigh in relief.
“She’s only been gone 10 minutes…only 10 minutes.”
You still feel concern since you have no idea where the both of you are, but after what she told you about her fight with Sombra, you know she can fight well….but still…
“If you’re not back in another 10, I’m hobbling out looking for you,” you declare to the empty room.
You then spy another piece of paper sticking out from under the cushion you are sitting on.
You pull it out, and see it is an envelope. The weird thing is, it’s addressed to you.
“What the…” you mutter before opening the envelope. Inside is a letter in some very familiar writing. The same writing that accompanied your Gala Tickets and Awesome Scarf.
"My Friend..." you mutter as you start reading.
Dear Bugze,
Sing it with me now, YOU BUCKED UP! YOU BUCKED UP! YOU BUCKED UP!
Seriously, what the Buck? I look for you for over a month, and it takes the return of an ancient civilization to see you again? You’d be great at dodging jury duty let me tell you.
Anyway, as I said, you done goofed. Not only do you screw up a classified mission and empower an evil dictator, but then you go Savage Saddle Rager and tear up the Empire and EAT the guy? That’s a new low for you buddy. And now none of your alias’s are secret anymore. Pinkie knows you’re El Hunko, Fluttershy knows you’re BST, and Cadance knows you’re the Offender, Congratulations. And don’t even get me started on all the gold and treasure you left behind. Thought you’d pay off your bounty huh? Well guess what, that money was used to fix the Crystal city you broke. On the plus side, you’re bounty reward stayed relatively the same because of it, on the flip side however, now you’re broke, beaten, and still wanted. And let me tell you didn’t make any friends with those Crystal Ponies. Cadance is ruling them now with Shining, so at least they’re in good hooves. And dear sweet Twilight actually ended up passing her test because she let others save the day, isn't that lovely? But enough about them, let’s talk about you.
You’ve got to be more careful Bugze. You’re in a harsh part of the world right now. A scary part of the world. That town near you isn’t all the Sunshine and Rainbows it claims to be. Be wary of everypony you meet Bugze. Not just here, but everywhere. Any friends you have from the Deadly 6 down to your old chums back in Appleloosa, there is no on that you can Truly trust. Remember Bugze…Trust No One.
Good Luck,
A Friend.
You look up from the letter. “OK seriously, who is this guy? How does he keep finding me?” you ask aloud, but no one answers.
You then look over the letter again.
“And what town is he talking about?”
You then shake your head from these thoughts.
"I'll deal with that as it comes," you say aloud before reflecting.
"I can't believe I actually ATE that guy...I didn't even know you could eat a ghost or whatever the heck he was..." you moan as you hold your stomach.
"That's probably why I'm feeling sick...I can't be a monster again," you say sadly, "there's too many in this world already..."
POV Change: Nightshade
When you awoke, your Daddy was still sleeping. You still love and will always love your father. That monster wasn’t him, and if you have anything to say about it, he won’t become it again. But right now, he is still weak and sick.
You remember that Sweetie Belle got sick once, and that some Vegetable Soup was what she ate to get better. Seeing as how you don’t have any, or any other food for that matter you decided that it was finally time to do some exploring. You doubted that this old house had any, and you really didn’t want to investigate the rest of it since it’s creepy, but there is a path outside in front of the house. It might lead to a town or something.
Leaving your sick father behind, you grabbed a few gems, wrote him a note and walk down the road.
A Few Minutes Later
As you walk through the foggy forest trail however, you notice a small figure ahead of you.
“H-hello? Is someling there?” you ask.
As you get closer, you see that it’s a grey-white filly with a blond mane. She waves at you and walks into the fog.
“Hey Wait! Do you know where I can get some soup?!” you call out as you run forth.
When you get to the spot where she was, you can’t see any trace of her.
“Where’d she go?” you wonder.
You then make your way down the trail for a few more yards, and you catch a glimpse of the filly again.
“Hey!” you cry and dash after her.
After a quick dash through some trees, you suddenly find that the fog is gone and the sun is shining brightly, which momentarily blinds you.
“AAAHHH!!! Stupid Sun Light!” you grumble before looking around.
You see what looks like a party going on in a small town, and a bunch of ponies milling about celebrating and eating food.
“Where the Buck am I?” you wonder aloud.
From your left comes a grey stallion with a black mane and a cheerful smile upon his face.
“Ha Ha! Why hi there little filly, and welcome to Sunny Town!” he says excitedly.
The thing about this full grown adult stallion however is that he has no Cutie Mark.
“The Buck?”
WHAT DO?