Out of the blue, a unicorn stallion falls from the sky through a crack in time and space ending up in a world that very much surprises him making new friends. Unfortunately, the dark past that he meant to leave behind follows him into the next world.
Coverart not mine
Falling out of a portal in a strange familiar new world of colorful talking bipedal horses and becoming one myself is quite confusing at first, but after a while of experiencing the impossible it's more of a daily routine to me on most days. Nopony would really see me any different than the next pony until they get close enough. What can I say? Some things are meant to be left alone, but as they say, your past deeds will always mark you..... I don't think that's how it goes.....
Edited Version (Finally!)
Warning: This story will have references to other worlds similar to the main show, some gore scenes, and moments of psychopathic behavior.
Another Warning: Some scenes may get extremely violent for some to handle, so I have marked them to make them skipable. Also might be some sex scenes.
Edited parts are just to make the chapters look better than the original. The original storyline will have no major changes whatsoever.
That's the first thing that comes to mind during my conscious state mainly because I have face planted into the ground after being thrown into some kind of portal.
"This sucks." I thought as I sat up from my fall.
It was nice to know that I could still make a perfect imprint of my face after professionally face planting several times in my lifetime. Unfortunately, I had no time to dwell on the small details for right now.
Immediately, I look at my surroundings and all I could see is trees. These weird trees however, seem different in a way. The dark, almost black, brown tree trunks and luscious dark green leaves made the surface below it dark and a little hard to see well. That sent an eerie vibe through the forest making it slightly creepy every passing minute I stay in here.
I search for a stream and lady luck seem to be on my side as I found a stream not too far from the spot I had land in a while ago.
Taking a look through the reflection in the water, my eyes widen as I feel my new features, such as my new black horn, mane, and tail, with the mane and tail in a different shade of black than the horn is. My eyes are red, but the black pupil of the eyes themselves seem wider than normally should be. Though, whatever clothes i had before was replaced with a black t-shirt and blue jeans.
Sighing, I bend down to take a drink hydrating myself. The water itself felt refreshing, but foreboding in a sense that only meant death. Getting back up, I went back into the trees hiding myself just as a low canine growl could be heard through the bushes. It didn't take long before the menacing figure showed itself. And what I saw put me in utter shock.
It was a timberwolf that stood before my line of sight. The mythical creature that is said to be a wooden version of a wolf. The timberwolf scans the air before locking eye contact with me. It seems my stroke of luck has end.
"Well, Thank you lady luck for your generosity." I managed to think up just before he bellows out a howl.
Once the howl ends, three more timberwolves joined the previous one. Seeing no more point in hiding I show myself to the wooden wolves. However, the timberwolves did not back down.
Immediately, they charge at me all at once, I jump over top of the charge before grabbing one of the timberwolves doing a flip landing on top of it. I swiftly snap its neck open as sap went everywhere.
I then used its head and throw it directly at the closest timberwolf available. The momentarily stunning gave me enough time to speed over to the timberwolf before grabbing its back hind legs and pressing my hooves into its spine, I then proceed to lean back sharply.
With unsettling ease, I ripped both hind legs completely out of its joints as sap burst from its veins. The beast cried out in agony before I end its life quickly.
While my guard was down temporarily, one of the remaining timberwolves bites down into my left foreleg while another bite down on my right forearm. I stifle a cry of the new pain that was coursing through me.
The alpha seemed to give a mocking glare which I returned back with a heated one. The new sense of rage and little bit of fear made me grab the timberwolf attach to my forearm before piercing its skull with my new horn, killing it instantly.
I get the timberwolf off my forearm as the look of fear on the alpha made me smile slightly in triumph. Quickly, I dispose of the last timberwolf attached to my foreleg before limping my way to the alpha.
With a better sense of the situation, the alpha yelped away deeper into the forest. I stumbled to the ground as my two new wounds were now bleeding even more now that the adrenaline rushed out of me.
The only thing that I could find in a twenty mile radius of these woods was a make shift cloth gauze pad and vines wrapped around the wounds to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, it had succeed, but I knew it would not last long. Another good sign of all this is that I wasn't in the Dark Forest.
Bad news is I have never been in these woods before, nor did I expect to get injured in the middle of a forest/jungle. Then it hit me, magic, I have a horn, so why not? I concentrated on where I wanted to go as my horn glows a soft black color. Suddenly, I felt myself somewhere else.
In seconds, I fall on white marble floor. The magic here seems to be different for than the teleportation magic I'm normally used to it seems. Granted, I have no idea where I went either. I just went to where my magic thought best to go.
I look around the room seeing all sorts of fancy gold and pearl white walls including the floor. There was two night stands on either side of a luxurious bed with an emblem of some sort of sun embedded into the frame of the bed.
I heard footsteps nearby as I turn around regretting to use my fucked up magic as my eyes widened in bewitched awe. What stood before me had a long horn with wings, her white coat was a luscious body which looked like some kind of goddess in anthropomorphic horse form, and her turquoise, blue, and yellow eternal mane.
But, what really stood out to me was her unholy large breasts and butt. She covered her private areas as best as she could in my presence; her cheeks bright red with embarrassment, eyes wide as well.
"Holy mother of all creation!" I internally say just before her magic charged up in her through her horn in a golden aura.
"GET OUT!!!!" She bellowed as a beam as intense as the sun shot out through her horn.
I nearly miss it before the beam lightly singe my already black coat and left a giant hole in the wall where I once stood. Guards came in afterwards before I decide to make my escape through the newly made hole. "Intruder! Seize him!" one of the guards called out.
Going through the giant hole in the wall was a big mistake as I was now dropping at least a thousand feet until my body makes contact on the cold hard ground. Thinking quickly, I charge up my horn and think of anything to go, but falling to my death. It seemed to be getting closer every second.
Eighty feet.
Fifty feet.
Thirty feet.
I vanished just before I made contact with the rocks below.
Slamming into tree branches is not my way of a fun landing, but it certainly soften my fall before I hit the cushion of grass with ease. I laid there for a few more moments to catch my breath before I stood up. I cursed strongly realizing I was in the same forest I started in. I let out a sigh before continuing my journey into the forest.
Four days went by with the same routine of gathering food, finding shelter and sleeping as best as possible. Unfortunately, the wounds on my leg didn't seem to heal as well as my arm is doing. Over the course of four days, I was also able to practice many spells to see that magic seems to be flowing through my horn now, so I take much care to my horn not to damage it; afraid of what would happen if I do.
Luckily, surviving is what I do best in, so I happily eat my cooked meat when suddenly I spot something not far off in the distance. I carefully pick myself up going toward the strange figure, wondering obliviously, on a pathway I just realized was there. What stood there had utterly shock me as much as the timberwolves have. This was a manticore, half lion, and half scorpion with batlike wings. Fortunately though, he seem to not notice me in anyway. I would have completely ignore him when a strange starry shadow came right out of the ground. Curious, I watch as the starry shadow blob turns into a thorn sticking into itself in the manticore's paw. It cried out just before I heard a collective group of feminine gasps.
"A manticore!" one of the feminine voices cries out.
I quickly direct my gaze to a group of mares, similar to the white one I encounter four days ago, Two had horns, like mine, two others had just wings, and the last two no wings, nor horns. They all had clothing to their tastes and preferences, thankfully, I was about to step in to help when one of the mares stepped up and kick the manticore in the face shouting. "Take that you ruffian!"
The manticore only look mildly in annoyance as it bellows out an ear-piercing roar in defiance. The purple mane was once styled to look professional and clean with a white coat unicorn (I believe that's her race) stumbles back as her mane was going all wild like. She immediately coward away from the beast in response.
"Wait." a whisper voice says. I look to see it had come from a yellowish pegasus (I believe that's her race as well.) with a pink mane in a slight curl at the ends.
The next thing I knew, a yellow mane and tail with the ends tied, orange coat mare jumps on to the manticore's back as he thrashes wildly like a bull in a rodeo. I would hear her cries of southern accent in the mix of the manticore's enraged thrashing. After a while of a small sight of rodeo watching, the orange mare is proceed to be thrown off the him as she called for the assistance of the next mare, who was in midair flying at the time. This pegasus mare has a rainbow mane and tail with a light blue coat. She salutes the orange mare before dashing after the manticore like she is itching for a fight.
"Wait." the whisper voice only a little louder than before.
The rainbow mane pegasus swirls around the manticore at blinding speeds. The manticore's annoyance only grew as he flicks his tail out sending her flying away into the bushes. "Rainbow Dash!" a dark purple mane and tail, with a blue and pink stripe running through the middle of both of them, and lavender coat unicorn exclaims.
The now named Rainbow Dash gets up groaning, but not in too much pain that I could see. That sent the last tick down the lavender unicorn as she and the manticore prepares to fight. There was stillness in the air momentarily before the two forces run after each other-
"WAAAIT!" the same yellowish pegasus mare shouts causing both sides to freeze in place confuse. I even can admit I am confuse also. The pegasus then approaches the beast as he eyes her suspiciously. He went to swipe down on her before she softly talks to the manticore. She got the beast to show her his injure paw, with the thorn on it, before she pulls it out. The beast roars in her face. I was ready the kill the beast with my own hands as well.
"Fluttershy!" the girls said in unison.
But seconds later, the manticore licks and purrs under her touch. Both the mares and I were utterly shocked at the sight before us. I nearly blew my own cover as well. Once the mares' shock subsides, they walk pass the manticore. They exit as the now named Fluttershy catches up with the lavender unicorn.
"How did you know about the thorn?" she asks.
"I didn't," Fluttershy replies walking up ahead. "sometimes all we need to be shown is a little bit of kindness."
"Kindness."
"It masks the cold blow of betrayal."
The familiar voice made my skin crawl all over and look around me to find nothing. I continue on just as the starry shadow bursts from being into a thorn then seeps into the ground. Several sharp starry shadows fling itself at me as I dodge the attack. They went for another round before I skillfully grabbed one of the starry shadows. It tried to struggle out of my grip, but to no avail. Quickly, I dive back into the forest just as the starry blade shadows embed themselves into the wood of the strange trees.
After a while, what I thought was a safe distance away from the shadows, I examine at the captured starry shadow in my clutches. "Now where could you have possibly come from?" I ask rhetorically.
Closing my eyes, I lit up my horn and wait. After a few moments, I open my eyes running through the woods at full speed. I had to get through a lot of the forest and even cross a river to find what I was looking for. In the distance, a castle seem to be in ruins and abandoned in the midst of some sort of battle long ago, however, I spot a few light areas in the castle; letting me know something was brewing inside. I let go of the starry shadow as it went to its original owner, I followed it carefully.
It led me to the second story as I enter the room through a broken in window. It seem to be long and wide in the inside with a figure, of another one like the white one is, in the room with the lavender unicorn, her friends no where in sight. The lavender mare's surprise turn into determination as she stamp her hoof on the ground.
"You're kidding. You're kidding right?" The black mare with curved wings and long horn asks. But, the lavender unicorn continues forward regardless. The other mare summoned a indigo long sword charging at her as well.
Time seem to slow as the lavender mare's eyes widen in realization. My body react on its own as something summons into my hands and I blur at speeds that would put Rainbow Dash to shame catching the indigo blade with my own blade. A few sparks flew from the contact, but both sides held in a stalemate. The shock on both the lavender and ebony mare's face was priceless at my sudden entrance. I looked at the sword I summon, and, to my surprise, it was my favorite blade in my entire arsenal: Apocalypse.
The ebony mare recovers though as we then get into an intense sword fight. "You dare intervene you filthy wench! Do you know who I am?!" she bellows with each strike.
I quickly dodge as the blade crushed into the stone of the room causing it to spray debris everywhere. I recover with ease before I step back to give myself room. "I'm Nightmare Moon and nothing is ever going to stop me from taking Equestria as my own, bow to your Queen!" Nightmare Moon continues on.
"Embrace the darkness and you'll be set free."
"NO!" I shout causing Nightmare Moon to be momentarily stunned at the volume.
In a blind fury I match every sword strike just moments again with power Nightmare Moon never thought possible, but I tried to avoid hurting her. However, that did nothing when the wind, that Apocalypse was making sliced, into her set of armor. The lavender unicorn mare then heard her friends coming up from the stone stairway.
Nightmare Moon saw this and quickly shattered the round stones into pieces. The lavender unicorn stared in shock and fear, however, I did not care at the moment as I continue my combat with her. I manage to push her into the farthest side of the wall. Unfortunately, it didn't scratch, or faze, her in any way. The momentary stunning was long enough for me to use my magic and restrain her in place. She struggle through the bonds as the rest of her friends came up.
The lavender mare's friends were in shock at my appearance. She turn to Nightmare Moon shouting. "You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you are wrong because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!"
This got all of her friends attention as I just stood there in confusion. "Elements of what now?"
Before I knew it the shards, that laid on the floor, raised up and flew over to where the mares are the shards encircled each one as she called out the orange mare first. "Applejack, Spirit of Honesty, Fluttershy, Spirit of Kindness," I internally flinched a little. "Pinkie Pie, Spirit of Laughter, Rarity, Spirit of Generosity, Rainbow Dash, Spirit of Loyalty... The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you had!"
Nightmare Moon seethed continuing to try and break through the restraints. "You still don't have the sixth element! The spark didn't work!"
"It did a different kind of spark," she turns around to face her friends. "The spark ignited inside me when I realized..... you all are my friends."
Just as she said that, a bright light burst up into the air as another stone, that look similar to the others Nightmare Moon shattered moments before, except there is a carved out symbol of a star in the center of the sphere. It lowered down toward the lavender pony before the light intensifies. The lavender mare had a smile on her lips continuing on. "When the spark is ignited, it creates the sixth element.... the element of Magic."
The shards form into something around her friends' necks as the element of Magic turns itself into a crown on Twilight's head. Suddenly, a beam of rainbow light arches over increasingly faster toward Nightmare Moon. Knowing my cue, I release my magical grip on her diving into the shadows of the room.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Nightmare Moon cries out as the rainbow light hit her forming itself into a tornado of colors.
After the little light show, the mares laid on the stone floor passed out along with another new mare too, where Nightmare Moon once stood. She was, by far, the same mare, but shorter with lighter shades of blue with a very light and short blue mane. Bits and pieces of Nightmare Moon's armor laid along beside the strange mare. Lastly, what struck me as odd, she had a butt tattoo with the shape of a white crescent moon. I had no idea what to do in this situation, so I plan on sneaking away when the six mares begin to wake up from their slumber. I silently cursed myself. I most likely appeared prematurely at the wrong time and place to properly reveal myself to these aliens.
I draw my attention back to the ponies in question and to see that the lavender mare's friends each had a necklace secured to their necks; each of them seem to gasp in shock at the necklaces they wore proudly. I even saw the white unicorn, now named Rarity, had her tail grown fully back again.
"Rarity, you're necklace, it looks just like your cutie mark." Fluttershy states pointing where her cleavage is to the diamond shaped necklace I had point out before to myself.
"So does yours." Rarity says pointing to the necklace around her neck as well.
Although, to say the least, I was quite confused what they mean about 'Cutie Mark', but I went with the punches and continue to eavesdrop.
"I need to stop talking to myself."
"Ah guess we really do represent the Elements of Harmony." the dubbed, Applejack, said.
"Indeed you do." a familiar mare's voice says. Hearing it again after four days made my skin crawl in a bad way.
Regardless, the regal mare came into the room as a ball of light before materializing, her wide wing span spread out in front of the group of mares. My eyes widen at the same figure from before just with a crown and other features on her symbolizing she is royalty. The lavender mare's friends bow to the royal mare. She walks up to her in amazement and relief. "Princess Celestia." she said.
"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student," the royal mare, Celestia, says wrapping her wings and arms around the now named Twilight. Once they got out of the embrace Celestia smiles. "I knew you could do it."
Celestia then took her time in walking to the last mare in the room waking up. Her eyes widen as she sat up at the sight of Celestia. "Princess Luna," Celestia said while I stared at her cyan colored eyes. They spoke volumes of the years of torment that lay dormant behind them.
"We were meant to rule side by side, little sister," The other mares seem surprised by this fact, but I could tell they were related in a sense. "Will you accept my friendship?"
There was a heavy silence that fell in the room for a while that I could have sworn I heard a stray cricket chirp it's tone. It wasn't long before the mare named Luna hugs her sister saying. "I'm so sorry. I missed you so much, big sister!"
Celestia smiles down at the crying with joy Luna. These mares seem to be getting a happily ever after, so i decided I stayed long enough to start my exit. As I approach the only exit in the far end of the room, I accidentally stub my hoof in one of the old stands that held decor for display. I held my left hoof leading against the wall at the sudden pain. "Ow! Son of a bitch!"
My response made the entire room went suddenly even more silent then before the confession of Princess Luna. I turn my head to see eight pairs of eyes all on me as I smile nervously.
"Hey, that's the stallion that saved my life from Nightmare Moon." Twilight said through her shock expression. Although, I don't think Celestia was listening too much since she clearly remembers me from four days ago.
"You," Celestia said.
Chapter 2: "Where's Painkillers When You Need Them" (Edited)
You know, if I had a nickle to count how many mistakes I did and the horrible pain I recieve from them, then I would be a billionaire already. Unfortunately, I'm getting another nickle for this.
I stare at an angry Celestia as her golden horn magic lit up. "Don't think I have not forgotten about what you did!" she snarls.
"Wait, wait, that wasn't my fault! My magic randomly teleport me there! I didn't even know how I got there." I said desperately, not wanting to be like burnt toast, or vaporized in this case.
"Um, sister, what did he exactly do?" Luna asked.
Celestia's response was met with a furious blush. "He saw me without clothes...."
All the mares in the room look dumbstruck at me. "I had no control over my magic, C- I mean, Princess!" I said.
Her horn glows even brighter than before with her anger rising. "ENOUGH of your lies!" After that, everything went black.
I appear in a void. This void that was like a dream realm I have known so well over the years of darkness and sadness threatening to consume me whole.
"What do you think of the place? I made it EXTRA cozy for you." the familiar voice said.
I look over my shoulder to see another version of me in this blasted pony form, but his eyes were inverted colors along with smeared blood stains in his mouth. His teeth was jagged and sharp enough to make me a bit nervous. A small sinister chuckle escape his muzzle.
"Fuck off Atone." I said with venom in my voice.
But the mad pony just tsked at me. "You sad excuse for a being. You already know what to expect from me," He sighs with disappointment. "So I'll just stop talking and let you SOAK in your own sorrow."
I got up, but it was too late as a large fountain of blood pours down on me causing me to stumble on my back again. Men, women and children all scream bloody murder. I also realize I stood on top of mountains upon mountains of bodies in the utter darkness around as far as the eyes could see. That same darkness restrained me to the ground. I fought viciously through the bonds, but to no success. The shadows form into tools for torture, and start gutting my organs slowly and painfully. I cry out in utter agony wishing my pain would end. My eyes grew heavy from the pain and fighting as my life seem to slip away from my control. The last thing I hear is Atone's gleeful, maniacal laughter at the suffering I endure.
Waking up was just as painful as when I was unconscious. Apparently, I am in some type of hospital surrounded by ponies.... My vision got better for me to see everyone that was at the castle from earlier are all in the room with me. Including Princess Celestia and Luna who seem to be the most guilty for some reason.
"He's waking up!" Twilight states.
The attention of all the mares in the room made me suddenly nervous as I realize I'm the only male horse in the room. "I'm just glad my body is in one piece still. Although, I could use some painkillers right about now."
All the mares seem confused. "Um, sorry darling, but what are 'painkillers' supposed to be?" Rarity ask.
I sigh ignoring my throbbing muscles twitching trying to move. "Well, you see, they help relieve your muscles of pain. That's why they are pain-killers.... Why can't I move?" I now notice that I could not get up.
"Well, after my sister basically fried you, we immediately rushed you to the nearest hospital. Moments later you start yelling bloody murder like you were fighting off a crazy dragon." Luna said.
"Well, thank you for saving my life- Wait, what?! There is dragons here!?" I said.
"Have you been livin' under a rock, sugarcube? There always has been dragons here near Equestria." Applejack said.
There was a small silence that followed. I sigh deeply. "How long was I out?"
"For about a day and a half!" Pinkie said.
"Dang, she did a number on me." I said inspecting the healing burns all over my body.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but how were you able to go toe to toe with Nightmare Moon?" Twilight asked.
All the mares stare at me for a long moment. I shrug. "I just felt the need to intervene. But it was mostly because I was trying to find the pers- I mean, pony that attacked me with the shadows."
"You were attacked?" Fluttershy said with concern.
"Yeah, speaking of which," I turn my gaze over to Celestia's. "Look, I know I had looked at your goddess figure, but I completely teleported without any proper use of its magic first. I apologize for all the the embarrassment I have caused." I said towards Celestia. I could tell she forgave me, but she did not overlook the compliment I gave her.
Pinkie Pie gasped. "Wait, so that means you're an alien?!" Pinkie Pie gasped.
"Pinkie, that's ridiculous. Aliens would not look like us." Twilight retorted.
"Twilight's right, they would look much more weirder and besides aliens don't exist." Rainbow Dash added.
"Well, glad to see this world has never been in contact with the outside worlds. Good. Still the slightest bit offended."
Luna's horn lit up as her magic scans my entire body. "He appears to be a true unicorn stallion." Luna said.
"I must apologize for burning you,...."
"Shadow Faze, but just call me Shadow." I said.
"I must apologize for burning you, Shadow." Celestia finished.
"It's alright, Princess, it takes more than burnt tissue to put me down. Oh, where are my manners," I said directing my attention back to the other mares. "I'm Shadow Faze. I didn't have time for introductions at the time."
"It's alright, I'm Twilight Sparkle. These are my friends Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. And also Princess Celestia and Luna." Twilight introduced pointing to the appropriate mare with the name.
"Nice to meet you all."
I look at Twilight again. She was inspecting me while I laid on the hospital bed. A doctor pony came into the room to see me awake. "Ah, the mysterious savior of Ponyvile's librarian. It's a pleasure to finally see you awake now. I'm Doctor Soft Heart." the doctor mare spoke.
The doctor had blue fur, dark brown mane and sky blue eyes. Her butt tattoo was a picture of a black circle with a pink heart inside of it. "It's nice met the Doctor that saved my fur," She seemed to be satisfied with my reply. "You know, I have been meaning to ask you mares. What are these 'Cutie Marks' that you have mentioned?"
The mares had faces of complete shock. "I'm surprised you don't know, but since you asked, it is a picture on our flanks that show our special talents." Twilight explained.
"I see." I said casually.
Pinkie Pie gets real close to me with narrowed eyes. "You see? He MUST be an alien!" she cried.
Fortunately, Rainbow Dash drags her away from me. "Give it a rest, Pinkie, aliens have never came down before, and they will not ever anytime soon," Rainbow Dash said.
"Am I free to go?" I asked.
Doctor Soft Heart deactivates the restraint spell before saying. "Not yet. Nightmare Moon didn't do as much damage than the Princess, but your wounds will heal in time. The wounds could get infected easily if not treated carefully."
"Well, looks like I'll be stuck in the hospital for a while. Also, do you have any painkillers?" She looked at me confused. "Herbs that relieve pain?"
"Oh, no. We just ran out of them."
"Just my fucking luck."
Two months later.....
While I healed from my wounds, I surprisingly became friends with the girls and the royal sisters over time. I also found it surprising that Twilight had an assistant/little brother relationship with a baby dragon by the name of Spike. Along with an owl (second assistant) named Owlicious.... Yeah.... On the bright side, I learned more about them while we had to fix a few things (including driving a dragon from his cave). The 'Elements of Harmony' had duties carried out.
Anyway, I get up, dressed, and out the front door only to get smacked in the face by a scroll. I inspect the letter only to see Celestia's royal seal on the scroll. Carefully, I open it to see there was a golden ticket wrapped with in the letter.
Dear Shadow Faze,
Here is a ticket to the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala. And don't worry, I invited Twilight and her friends into this year's Gala as well.
Sincerely, Celestia
I had no clue what the Grand Galloping Gala was, but I had to at least try to attend the event for my friend's sake. So, I quickly walked to Rarity's boutique.
"Hey, Rarity," I said.
"Oh, hello Shadow darling, what can I do for you?" she asked. Rarity seem to be making six dresses as she spoke to me.
"I would like for you to make my suit and tie for the Gala please." I said.
Rarity seem to beam at the news. "Really? You are coming with us to the Gala?"
"Yeah, Celestia gave me a ticket to the Gala. I would hate to waste it." I said.
"Well, then I'll get on your suit right away! Don't worry." Rarity assured me.
I walk out and waste the day before Luna's moon rise in the sky. I grabbed the suit and tie Rarity made for me before heading to Canterlot. When I finally got to the Canterlot Palace the girls got there at the same time as I did.
Twilight had a dress made out of stars with star earrings to add to the starry features. Fluttershy had a nature feeling to her dress as it was green and leafy. Rainbow Dash looked like a Greek women's dress as she hovered above the air. Rarity had an elegant dark pink and yellow dress made of a few gemstones and gemstone ear rings to match the dress itself. Applejack had a dress that made her look like an official cowgirl while Pinkie had a dress that made her look like she was white and pink cotton candy. All the dresses went well with their figures and each of their individual tastes
"Well, you all look quite lovely tonight." I said.
"Why thank you Shadow, now we must be off to the main event." Rarity declared.
Before I could get another word out the girls went inside the palace. I sigh heavily entering the castle too. It was just as bland as any royal gathering would have been. I did not mind chit chatting with some of the nobles until I over hear noble ponies talking about my blank flank. Apparently, it made good conversation starters for the assholes around me, but I ignore them more for their own protection then mine.
Unfortunately, I could not find either of the royal sisters in sight, so I decide to take a detour through on of the back doors. I did not go far before I heard blades clashing in one of the royal gardens. Immediately I go towards the commotion dumbstruck at the sight in front of me. Luna was surrounded by five ponylike demons all armored to the teeth while she only had duel sky blue blades wearing a beautiful midnight gown (not over the top fluffy of course) covered in blood. Some corpses of demon ponies lay on the ground. She glares daggers at the pony demon in front of her a sinister smile plastered on his features.
"So you have come back again. I thought your sister locked you away on your own moon?" the stallion demon taunted.
"Hold your tongue foul creature. I am in no mood for your sliver tongued tricks." Luna said with some venom in it.
He seem to be equally as pissed as he frowns. "Very well, if you feel that way about me then I'll just end this struggle quickly."
He unsheathes his other sword while putting the other sword he had away. This sword was different though. The blade itself seem to be ancient. Ancient Equestrian written on the hilt with a similar look to a pony version of a Chinese dragon going up along the blade part of the sword. Luna's eyes widen momentarily in shock at the sword.
"I'm sure you recognize the legendary alicorn slayer," he said. "Its name is the Jinx Alibur: made out of the rare material Faustius that could kill an immortal alicorn and drain their power, remember it now?"
Luna took a step back as she prepares to fight. The leader pony demon went into full attack mode on her. I could she needed some help, so I jumped from the ledge summoning Apocalypse and piercing the nearest unfortunate demon pony's skull open.
The other demon ponies finally caught sight of me charging at me all at once. It might have worked better for them if they weren't so horrible at wielding their weapons. I swiftly cut the first demon pony down moving over to the next one. This pony wield a war hammer. I dodge a swipe that would have taken off my head before driving Apocalypse into his heart. The last demon pony could only stare at me in horror. I think he might have peed himself seeing the growing stain in his breeches. Before I could chop the bastard, a pillar of fire burst from the ground swallowing the demon pony back into the earth.
With the lackeys out of the way, I charged at the lead demon pony using Apocalypse to cut his right forearm off. The leader cried out in pain as Luna put him out of his misery. The Jinx Alibur slipped from his grip on to the ground, but the pillar of fire was faster than I am taking the legendary blade with it.
"Damn it. Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine Shadow. It's just a few scratches. Nothing serious." Luna said.
I sigh in relief before questions start plaguing my thought process. "What the hell were they?"
"They are the henchponies of Hades." Luna said casually using a spell to clean herself of the demon pony's blood.
"You mean like he is in charge of the underworld or something?" I said.
Luna looked at me with surprise. "Yes, how did you know that?"
"It was a lucky guess." I said.
"I see, yes Shadow, he is, in fact, in charge of the underworld that ponies pass through after their mortal lives end. It's also known as Tartarus. A long time ago, the ancient being betrayed my sister and I searching to steal our powers. We used the Elements of Harmony to imprison him in the underworld forever to avoid this." Luna said.
"That makes sense. It also explains why he has the Jinx Alibur. Where is Celestia?"
"She is inside the palace, but you'll have to promise me you'll keep what happened here a secret Shadow. I want to be able to tell my sister myself. I also don't want to cause a panic." Luna said.
"I promise Luna." I said.
"Good," she cleans the blood off me with a spell. "Let's be off to the party then shall we?"
We walk up to one of the back doors of the castle when a white unicorn stallion collides into me. The unicorn quickly recovers as he snarls at my existence. He quickly gets off me and tries to wipe himself down. "Disgusting I touched a filthy peasant."
I get up before brushing myself. "My apologize, blonde pincushion. I'll get out of your way." I said.
The unicorn looked infuriated at me stopping me in my tracks. "It's PRINCE Blueblood, lowlife. And you'll respect it, or I'll have you tortured for such-" I get close to his face glaring slightly downward at him. His confidence seem to shred before my eyes as he steps away from me a bit.
"Go ahead. I want to see you try." I said coldly.
Blueblood took a few moments to recover before walking around me. "You can't make threats at me, freak. I'm a prince of Equestria."
I wanted to grind his very flesh to dust, but Luna's grip on me kept me in my current place. "He's not worth your time, Shadow. Let's just enjoy the Gala." Luna said.
"Yeah, you're right." I said.
We went inside and chat with Celestia a little bit just before the whole Gala fell apart. Apparently, the girls caused it, so we head back to Ponyvile again. Each one of the girls explained how unbearably horrible the Gala turned out for them. I had to chuckle a little at the irony of how similar this world is to the other world I was in before.
With that, everypony went to their homes while Twilight had agreed to let me stay in the Golden Oak Library with her. I went to my room and laid on the bed. The only thing that kept me awake now was the dull pain in the back of my head and spine.
Waking up in the morning is not always the most pleasant. Even if I don't get any mental breaks, I, at least, gave my body a chance to take a break from all the chaos in my life. I get dressed quickly before moving myself down stairs to sit in the kitchen seeing Spike making pancakes.
"Wait, pancakes?" I was a bit awestruck at the food similarity.
It wasn't long before Spike noticed my presence. "Oh, good morning Shadow. How many pancakes do you like?" He asked.
"Uh. Three is fine, Spike..... Do you have any idea where Twilight is?" I asked.
Spike shrugs serving the three pancakes to me. I hastily gobble the delicious pancakes down. "She was here, but she decide to take a walk outside for a while." Spike said.
I thank him for the help and the pancakes before a green flame appears above me, something lands on my plate. I frown slightly before opening up a scroll that had the royal seal on it.
"Wait, how can you get letters? I thought I was the only one that could get a message like that." Spike asked a little confused.
"I'm not sure," I lied. "It just sort of happens like my magic reaches out and grabs the letter through space."
Spike went silent as I read it:
Dear Shadow,
I would like for you to meet me at the castle with my sister to discuss the disaster that transpired last night. Meet at the palace in an hour of receiving this message.
Sincerely,
Luna
I roll the scroll back up before putting it away. "I'll see you later Spike. And tell Twilight I'll come back later on this afternoon." I said.
The baby dragon nods before I exit the library and teleport to Canterlot. I made my way to the throne to see Luna and Celestia talking to themselves.
"I see you came here earlier than I expected." Luna said.
"I couldn't wait any longer to deal with the situation. I prefer to get it over with." I said.
"Very well," Luna looks at Celestia again. "Sister, I'm afraid to say that Hades' henchmen have return."
Celestia seem shocked by the news. "What? But that's not possible. The Elements of Harmony has sealed anything relating to Hades into Tartarus forever."
"I have no idea how either, but he somehow got pass the system and is sending his minions to continue the quest to kill us." Luna continued.
"Maybe handing the Elements to the main six made the bonds weaker." I suggested.
"I wish it was that simple, but even if the Elements influence had weaken it would have still kept the demon ponies and Hades at bay even if the Elements were to shatter." Celestia said.
I was shocked. "Damn, that's one powerful spell you both used."
"Indeed." Luna said.
"In any case, I think it would be best if you took care of investigating their plans and locations." Celestia said.
"What?!"
"Yes, I told my sister about the skills and sword you used against the demon ponies that night. I must say that I myself am also impressed." Luna said.
"Also, we would have our hands full ruling a kingdom together. And since you have nothing else to do I assign you the task." Celestia finished for Luna.
"But I'm technically not in your army my princesses." I said.
Celestia only smiled saying. "Then welcome to the Royal Guard."
"*sigh* There is always a catch to being accepted into society."
"Of course Princess Celestia, I'll hunt down Hades and his little unholy army." I said.
"Oh! Also, keep this a secret from my other subjects. Very few know the existence of Hades still, and my sister and I prefer it to stay that way."
"Yes Princess."
"You may go now." Luna said.
I quickly made my exit from the palace. It did not take long for me to get to the park in the capital city. I stay at the park for many hours as the very place itself gave me comfort that I never thought possible. After gazing at the sky for a while. A few hours must have passed because I noticed some clouds being pushed out by pink ones. Seeing the change, I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things.
Suddenly, the pink cloud rains chocolate rain which confused me even more getting soak in the chocolate milk. I heard many of the asswipe versions of aristocrat ponies panicking or wailing at their ruined fashion. I didn't care much as I made my way to the the palace again.
I finally made it only to see that the throne room felt different. The girls were there along with Celestia. For some reason, Luna was no longer at the castle. I stood by to listen in.
"Is this about the weather? The animal's weird behavior? What's happening out there? Why isn't my magic working?" Twilight asked in one breath.
Celestia paused looking at each of the girls. "It seems an old foe of mine, someone I thought have defeated long ago has returned..... His name is Discord."
Fluttershy takes one good look at the creature in the stain painted glass before quickly catching up with the group, however, I carefully look at the features the glass pane displayed. He was quite.... A unique creature having a long neck and equine head, leg and tail of a dragon, paw of a lion, claw of a griffin, and the other leg as a bull hoof.
"Discord is the Spirit of Chaos," Celestia said.
I walk up to the pane glass of Discord while Celestia went on about her and Luna defeating Discord a thousand years ago.
"-But since we are no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony, the spell that was placed on Discord has been broken." Celestia continued.
Celestia then walks over to this unique looking vault that reminded me a bit of the older advance tech on another world I went to. "Now it's your turn to use the Elements against Discord and defeat him once and for all before he puts Equestria into an eternal state of chaos."
"But why us? Why don't you-" Twilight said.
"Hey look! We're famous!" Pinkie suddenly shouts looking at the pane window with them defeating Nightmare Moon only that there was no picture of me anywhere in it.
Celestia smiled at the girls. "You did showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of friendship to beat a mighty foe. We may have once wield the Elements in the past, but now it is you and your friends that now control their power. And it is you that must defeat Discord!" Celestia said spreading her wings.
Twilight stepped in front of the group. "Princess Celestia, you can count on us!"
Without warning, a pink blur makes it beside Twilight. "Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain. Chocolate. rain!"
However, the girls seem to ignore her plead as they agreed anyways. Celestia then carefully opened the vault, but to everypony's surprise they were not in the chest Celestia placed them in.
Everyone, but me and Pinkie continue to state in shock and mouth gape. "Oh well, if anyone needs me, I'll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw." Pinkie said beginning to leave to throne room. I however seem quite shocked Pinkie got over something like this so easily. It's almost a bit concerning.
"That chamber is protected by a spell that only I can break. This doesn't make sense."
A suddenly sinister laugh filled the throne room causing all of us to look around for the source of the laughter.
"Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?"
Celestia knew the voice instantly. "Discord, show yourself!"
Discord seem amused by Celestia's tone asking. "Did you miss me Celestia?" he appeared on the glass pane in the drawing of himself. "I've missed you. I have been frozen in stone for all this time, but you wouldn't know that, would you, because I don't turn ponies into stone."
"Enough! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded.
He flows from one pane to another like he didn't seem to care. "Oh I just borrowed them for a tinsy little while." Just then he snaps his fingers taking the Elements from the pane in the window.
"You'll never get away with this, Discord."
Discord inspects his talons. "Oh I forgotten how grim you are Celestia. It's really quite boring."
"Hey, nopony insults the Princess!" Rainbow Dash states before charging at the pane only to smack herself into the window pane herself.
He appears larger on the pane staring at Rainbow Dash. "Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash. Fame for her loyalty and the Element of Loyalty." Discord appears from the window pane again.
"I can't believe we are wasting our time talking to a tacky window." Rarity said just as Discord popped into a window beside her.
"The beautiful Rarity, the Element of Generosity if I'm not mistaken." Discord said.
Applejack steps in. "So you know who we are, big deal."
"Oh, I know much more than that, honest Applejack."
"You seem to know our strengths too." Twilight said.
"Yes Twilight Sparkle, and yours is the most powerful Element of them all, magic," Discord said. "Fluttershy is Kindness and Pinkie Pie's is a personal favorite of mine. The Element of Laughter."
Pinkie seem to be laughing at that for some reasom. However, Discord finally took notice of me before looking my way.
"Oh, aren't you a strange one." he said as the group focused at me.
"When did you get here?" Twilight asked.
"I came here a while ago."
"Not truly a pony, yet is a real pony. Fascinating." Discord said getting closer to me.
"I won't get too close if I were you buddy. Spirit or God of Chaos whatever, I'll make sure you are sent home into many pieces." I said.
The spirit of Chaos seem to laugh at my threat. "Oh, I would like to see you try, but I'm afraid I have other things to tend to then abnormal noponys." With that, he snapped his fingers returning into the glass pane.
"Stop stalling Discord! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded again.
"Oh, so boring Celestia. Fine, I'll tell you, but I'm going to tell you my way." He said disappearing once more.
"To retrieve your missing Elements just make sense to these change of events. Twist and turns follow my master plan then find the Elements back where you began." he said moving around the windows before returning to its own pane glass in its original position leaving us.
"This is not good. What did he mean?" Applejack asked.
"Well, twist and turns could mean like a maze." I suggested.
"That's it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth." Twilight said.
"Good luck my little ponies " Celestia called back as we left the Palace. I had a terrible feeling in my gut.
-:-
We make it to the labyrinth which kind of remind me of the maze hedge version of the labyrinth Daedalus created for King Minos. It felt a bit disturbing to think about.
"Do we have to go in there?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow Dash flapped her wings a few times. "No, Discord completely forgot about these babies." gesturing to her wings.
She takes off over about to reach the hedge before her wings suddenly disappear causing her to fall instantly to the ground. "My wings!" She cries.
Not soon after, Fluttershy's wings disappear too along with Twilight, Rarity and my horns. Twilight, Ratity, and Fluttershy seem to freak out while I was only concerned where my horn went off to. I could only think of one logical reason for this.
Suddenly, Discord appeared in front of the group laughing like a mad man with lightning flashing behind him. All the group were shocked with their mouths dropped open to see the actual dracoequus in the flesh. His presence was very disorienting to see myself.
"You should see the looks on all your faces, priceless!" Discord said.
"Give us our wings and horns back!" Twilight demands.
"You'll get them back in good time," he said teleporting over to Applejack while she was completely taken aback by his sudden appearance. "I simply took them to insure there is no cheating. You see, this is the first rule of our game. No flying and no magic."
"The first rule?"
"The second rule is everypony has to play or the game is over and I win. Oh, except our little abnormal friend over here. He does not count." Discord continued looking at me.
The crazy in his eyes told me what was to happen. He snapped his fingers as spikes impaled me. I let out a cry of pain before a fall to the ground.
"SHADOW!" The girls call out.
The blades themselves made me feel much more pain than normal ones would. I could not move my body to tell it what to do. The girls were about to help me when Discord teleports between me and them. "Oh, and another rule, if you help your little abnormal friend over here you also forfeit the game."
"You monster! You are going to kill him!" Rainbow Dash shouts angerily.
"On the contrary, he is simply unable to move." Discord said snapping his fingers once more to disappear in thin air. The girls looked at me, all on some level of confliction to go, before hesitantly heading into the labyrinth. The pain grew too much bare as I drifted unconscious.
-:-
I wake up to see a pink sky. The spikes in me where still impaled inside of me, but the pain dulled. I quickly take out the spikes and dress up the wounds right away with my own clothes. Once I taken care of my wounds I observe my surroundings. All kinds of chaos stirs dancing buffalo in tutu's, soap roads, candy houses and more.
I immediately go to the library to see Twilight look depressed about something, so I go over to see what's up only to get slapped in the face. "Where were you! Huh Shadow?! We needed you there and you just laid there and did nothing. You're worthless!" She yelled in my face.
My eyes widen in shock as unwanted memories return to me.
"You're nothing special, you're just another body to dump on the streets after your used up!"
"You call that a decent job?! That's not even worth a dime of anyone's pleasure time. TRY HARDER, YOU WORTHLESS BOY TOY!"
"FIFTY MORE LASHINGS FOR YOU, WORTHLESS BOY TOY, and then back to work!"
"I should have killed you when you were first born, worthless piece of life!"
A few tears escape my control before I could stop them. I quickly wipe them away, but not before Twilight noticed.
"I'm so sorry..... I didn't mean to be-"
"I know what you mean, Twilight. My life is filled with mystery that I don't even know about, but don't feel sorry for me. I have my own problems to deal with. You just deal with yours and free your friends." I said.
She nods hesitantly before heading out the door. I just stare at the wall feeling the phantom pain on my back.
After a while, Twilight manage to get all her friends back to normal before we all face Discord for a final battle. Discord didn't seem too impressed by the main six appearance though in his chaotic throne chair in the middle of the once Ponyvile. He seem to more be amused at their appearance than anything else. Each of the girls wore their Elements of Harmony.
"Oooh, this again?" he said.
"That's right, you could not break our friendship for long!" Applejack said.
"Oh Applejack don't lie to me," Discord said using his magic to drag her up to him. "I'm the one that made you a liar!" He then used the rest of his powers to pick everypony up except me into his grasp. My horn comes to life only for Discord to snap his fingers causing my horn to disappear. The girls had genuine fear in their expression while Discord's smile grew sinister.
"Let's have none of that my abnormal little pony. I prefer my encounter with these hopeless mares and their nativity. I'll give them a taste of reality and rip their hearts out!" I could tell the expressions on each of their faces were painted in terror.
I ball my fists as the same black magic aura that my horn had was around my hands. I could feel my instincts scream for blood and damnation. "I've just about had it with you."
Instantly, I vanish from his eyes planting a sucker punch straight in his mismatched teeth. The impact of the punch sent him flying out his chair and releasing the girls from his magical grip.
Discord got up spitting out a few of his teeth into his paw. "Now this is new. I knew you are abnormal, but this is not even a power ponies have." he said wiping the blood still in his mouth chuckling to himself.
"Get up." I only respond summoning Apocalypse.
The dracoequus gets up before charging at me with blinding speeds. His tail forms into a type of sword as he slashed at me. I block the attack with Apocalypse and before you know it I went toe to toe with him. We exchanged a few light wounds with each other before Discord stares me down trying to catch his breath. I was doing the same only my grip tightened on Apocalypse.
"I don't get it why a pony, or whatever you are, is doing here...., but I don't get why you would join forces with these intolerant naive ponies," Discord said chuckling. "And even if I'm turn back to stone more enemies will come to take down Equestria. You can't stop them if that's all you got."
"Well, then you just don't know me." I said as Apocalypse disappears. I ran faster than he could blink. I then turn my hands into claws giving a deep claw wound over his left eye. He cries out in pain clutching his left eye gushing out in his blood. Just then, a rainbow of light appears from behind me. It tactically lands on Discord as he seems infuriated.
"You'll pay for this Shadow!!!" He yelled out before he completely turns back into a statue in a face expression of utter rage.
Almost immediately, the chaos all around the land instantly turns back to normal. The girls land back on the ground as I let out a sigh of relief.
"Um, Shadow?" Twilight asked.
"Yes?"
"What did he mean he's not the only one?"
"......I don't know yet, Twilight. We'll just have to wait it out until it comes." I said.
Once we got back the girls told what happened and the princesses had a celebration that recognized us all as heroes of Equestria. I, of course, just went with it, but Discord's last words had me on edge for the rest of the day.
About two weeks have passed since putting down Discord for me. Everything had went back to normal eventually. The only difference is now from then on a pony would occasionally come up and ask for me to sign stuff for them. Of course, I turn them down lightly not trying to be rude to the other ponies in town.
Anyway, every now and then I would visit the other ponies in Ponyvile like Bon Bon's sweet shop or Berry Punch's drinking bar. I decided to go to the local drinking bar today since I had nothing else to do. I set myself in the same stool at the only corner of the bar counter. Berry was busy cleaning a glass before she caught notice of me sitting behind her.
"Oh, Shadow, what a pleasant surprise, how is my faithful costumer. You looking for some more wine to drink?" Berry asked.
I gave a smile. "Of course I would like some. After all, I don't come here for the eye candy."
Berry just smiled unfazed. "Very flattering Shadow, but you know flirting never had worked with me..... After all, I am the town drunk."
She quickly goes off to prepare a serving of wine for me.
"So tell me, how is your daughter?"
"She's doing fine. I just only worry for her being alone on business days." Berry said setting the shot in front of me.
"Well, I could help with that if you need a babysitter." I said picking my drink up.
"Are you sure about that," Berry replied a little uncertain. "I have known you for a while, but I have not known you to be the type of pony to do favors."
"I don't mind at all. I have my experience with ki- foals." I self corrected.
"Thanks Shadow, I needed it. You can help foalsit her in two days. That's when my next shift of my business starts again."
My ears perk up. "You mean during 'Nightmare Night'?"
From what I gathered from the holiday, it's when the children collect candy, from house to house, to then give some of their candy to the supposed Nightmare Moon in exchange for her sparing the children's lives. It remind me of a holiday similar to Earth's-
I forced my thoughts off of that train of thought.
"Yes, I'm sure you can handle that. I'll even pay you since it'll be like a job for you." Berry continued.
"Thank you for the offer, but you don't have to," I said, yet she insisted until I gave up on trying to be generous. "Alright, I'll let you pay me."
"How about 70 bits each time you baby sit her?" she asked.
"I'm ok with that."
"Great!" she said with a pleased expression.
I then noticed a strange figure out of the corner of my eye. I said nothing until I finished my shot and paid the bits I owed Berry. "Catch ya in two days." I said before leaving the bar in a haste.
I walk until I caught up to the figure I saw earlier to see that they were demon ponies. A bad feeling rose in my gut, so I sneaked behind a part of the walls that lead directly into the alleyway the demon ponies are in to listen into their conversation.
"Did you get the artifact?" the first male demon pony said. This stallion wore crimson red armor similar to the armor the lunar guard wear. The only different I see is a fiery fire gem softly glowing in the center of the breastplate armor piece.
"I-I'm sorry, sir. I can't-" the first demon pony slapped the second one. The second demon pony just rubbed his suddenly swollen cheek.
"Sorry is no excuse! The Archdemon is expecting the 'Hell Gazer' before 'Nightmare Night' begins." The first demon pony said.
"Y-Yes sir." the second demon pony said before running off. As he hits the light of day his appearance turns into one of a pegasus.
"So that's how they are able to not be seen..."
Silently, I walk away from the alleyway after the first demon pony quickly bursted into a hell fire returning to the earth below. My first instinct was to return to the Golden Oak Library. Once I was there I began my research. It was not long before Spike noticed me going through the books in the library.
"Hey Shadow, what are you looking for?" Spike asked.
"Ah! Spike, just the drake I was looking for. Could you find a book on artifacts please?"
Spike went off through the shelves for a short while before pulling out a leather back book called All the Arifact Names and History a Pony Should Not Know of. "Found it!" he said.
I grab it with my magic. "Perfect. Wow, you are a great book finder Spike."
"No problem. It's a borrowed book from the Canterlot Archives. Twilight requested it about a week ago." Spike said.
I open the book and quickly read through the pages until I found the artifact that I was looking for. "Yes! The artifact Hell Gazer is in here."
Spike looked confused. "What is the Hell Gazer?"
"Well, according to this book, the Hell Gazer is an ancient stone tablet and a purple gem enchanted together by forbidden magic. It's purpose is to open a gate.......to......" I trailed off.
"What's wrong?" Spike asked, but I was too busy thinking critically to hear.
"Sorry Spike, but I need to go. Do you mind if I keep this book for a bit?"
"Yeah, as long as you bring it back in one piece." he said.
"Will do." I said walking out of the library.
Two days have passed in that time frame, and I have found no other trance of the demon ponies I saw before hand. I also found no traces or markings of where they could be hiding. The worst part about this is Nightmare Night is tonight.
I get up from the piles of papers of work on my desk in my room. Then I remember something important. "Oh yeah, I'm foalsitting Berry Punch's foal this Nightmare Night. (Technically my first ever Nightmare Night)"
I quickly pack my things before heading to Berry's house knocking on the door. Berry answers it smiling at me. "Ah, Shadow, just who I was expecting." She said.
She motioned me in as I could see a filly that had an adorable outfit on her. Berry points from between me and her. "Rum Barrel, this is my friend Shadow Faze. Shadow, this is Rum, my daughter."
I smile slightly. "It's an honor of meeting you Rum." (I'm just going to not say anything to the fact that she is named off of a type of alcohol.)
Rum smiles widely before walking up to me. She looks at me curiously. "Nice to meet one of mommy's friends."
"So now that you two are introduced I'll be off with getting some business done. Behave yourself Rum!" Berry said before walking out the door. Rum, of course, said her good byes to her.
Once we were alone she went back to staring at me for some reason. "I'm guessing you are ready to go get some candy, right?"
"Yeah!" She said jumping up a little.
I had to restrain myself from chuckling at the cuteness charm she had. "Alright, let's go then." I said.
Some more time passed as we had went out to see Luna's moon shown through the night sky. Many activities for the colts and fillies were set up. Some of them for fun and others to scare the living crap out of foals and ponies alike.
But the only ones I could find and recognized in costumes were Twilight, Pinkie, and Spike. Twilight wore a tacky wizard costume, Pinkie wore a chicken outfit, and Spike wore a dragon costume.
Suddenly, a thunder clap sound through the air scaring the crap out of Pinkie and the foals around the thundercloud. The owner of the thundercloud was Rainbow Dash in a Shadowbolt customs was laughing hard at the prank she pulled. It was pretty funny in a way. Rum and I progress further to spot Applejack near a Bobbing-for-Apples activity. She was dressed as a scarecrow.
We walk up to her. Applejack sees us as she smiles and waves. "Well howdy Shadow! Nice t' see ya here on Nightmare Night."
"Same to you Applejack."
Applejack then noticed the filly beside me. "Now who might be this little filly's name?"
"Rum Barrel, Ms. Applejack...." Run said softly.
"Don't be shy. I won't bite. Promise," Applejack said warmly.
"Thank you every pony," the Mayor of Ponyvile said after the audience clapping died down. "And welcome to a Nightmare Night festival."
The crowd grew bigger and Rum was interested, so we joined the crowds as well.
"For all the foals with a heavy amount of sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the Legend of Nightmare Moon!" Mayor Mare gave a slight evil laugh at the end.
Suddenly, a puff of green smoke appears on stage and out from the green cloud came Zecora who was dressed in her Nightmare Night attire showing most of her skin while keeping modesty.
"Follow me and soon you'll all hear the Tale of Nightmare Moon." Zecora rhymes before she exits the stage.
I looked at Rum as she had a puppy dog expression that could give anyone a heart stroke. "...Alright, we'll follow." I said. She seem excited at being able to hear the tale.
We went up a hill near the edge of the Everfree forest. Surprisingly, the stone statue looked exactly like Nightmare Moon was when I fought her.
Zecora then spoke again. "Listen close my little dears. I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night so dark and scary, of Nightmare Moon who makes you wary."
She pulls out some green dust as she blows on it making a green version of Nightmare Moon swooping down to get the foals. I sprung into action folding my forearms for protection for the foals. The green dust impacts my body making the Nightmare Moon dissipate in a cloud of green smoke surrounding the foals and I.
"Every year we put on a disguise to save ourselves from her searching eyes," The foals almost scatter. "But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing, to gobbel up ponies in one quick swing!"
The foals and Pinkie Pie at this point were running in circles as Zecora continues. "Hungry as she soars the sky if she sees nopony she passed by," the green version of Nightmare Moon searches through the clearing for the foals not finding them. "So if she comes and all is clear Equestria is safe for another year!" As she said that the green version of Nightmare Moon explodes in the air.
A colt with brown and white fur tugs on Zecora's outfit. "Uuum, Ms. Zecora, if we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon so she won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give her some of our candy?" the colt asked.
Zecora seem happy about the question. "A perfect question my friend for Nightmare Moon you must not offend," the green version appeared again in front of the colt coming up to him. "Fill up her belly with a treaty or two so she won't return to come eat you!"
The green version of Nightmare Moon lunged at the colt bursting into a green cloud on contact with him. All the children immediately dumped all their candy at the stone statue including Rum.
As they finished dumping the candy the winds around the clearing picked up. Everypony did not know what was really going on until the moon looked like it glowed. A figure wearing In a cloak over on a chariot pulling bat ponies came out of the moon. The chariot hovered moving toward the clearing everypony was in. I was also a bit afraid at who it might be too.
"It's Nightmare Moon, run!" Pinkie shouts. The fillies and Zecora did as she said running with Pinkie out of the clearing.
Lightning flashed making the features on her face appear white as she smiles. The chariot then flys away while Twilight goes after it.
"Well, I'm not sure what that was, but I know for certain it's not a threat if the Element bears are there."
However, I heard a twig snap around the clearing. I turn my attention on the noise immediately. I barely dodge a fatal blow from a spear that quickly made itself at home in a nearby tree. Demon ponies came out of the Everfree as I summon Apocalypse. "So now you show yourselves you timey bastards." I said.
A demon pony in the same crimson armor the other demon pony I saw two days ago in was in the lead. He unsheath two twin swords that glowed like it was fresh out of the furnace. "I'm afraid we don't have time to spar with you, so move out of the way little pony." the leading demon pony said.
I get in a fighting stand. "Anything your cause is for will be somehow related to Hades." I spat.
The lesser demon ponies seem surprise I knew while the leading demon pony let out a short laugh.
"All the more reason to kill you. Torch, Pyro search the statue immediately." he said.
Before I could stop his soldiers, the leading demon pony crossed blades with me faster than I could have thought possible. Fortunately, my reflexes were more superior barely blocking his strikes. We fight, but out of the corner of my eye I see where a piece of the cleavage of the stone statue faded into a really clear purple gem as big as a baseball to the lesser demon ponies.
"We found it sir!" the demon pony named Pyro shouted.
The leading demon pony grinned clashing blades with me again sending several sparks in the air. However, I lit up my horn sending a magical blast at the three lesser demon ponies. The blast blew up on impact sending them sprawled on the ground and freeing the gem from their grasps. Unfortunately for me the leading demon pony took that time to cut my waist with his left hot blade sending terrible pain and a burning sensation through my body. My body wouldn't stop though because I blocked his other sword before headbutting him stunning him momentarily.
Without hesitation, I easily slice into his right bicep and left foreleg. He sprawled and grunted in pain on the ground as he realize I cut a major legiment in the leg.
"Take the damn gem and run to the Archdemon!" the leading demon pony yelled before I plunge Apocalypse into his abdomen. He cries out in more pain.
The demon pony named Torch, Pyro, and another demon pony listened to his final orders grabbing the gem before running off. I quickly end the leading demon pony's life following the three demon ponies as best as I could.
They did not stop until we reached another clearing. This time it only had Mayan looking ruins in the area. The trees themselves in the Everfree seem to be trying their best to hid the structures from prying eyes. Many more demon ponies in crimson armor and not stood near the ruins. There we at least sixty of them. If things turn like I imagine them to, I would be over run quickly if I try something stupid. So I teleport in a hiding place near the Mayan looking ruins as the three lesser ponies burst forth into the clearing.
The other demon ponies take notice of them as one of the crimson armored demon ponies approach the Torch, Pyro, and the other demon pony.
"Did you find the gem as requested from the Archdemon?" the crimson armored demon pony asked.
"Of course sir." Torch said handing him the purple gem.
"Good, you are now relieved of your duties."
"But sir there is a-" Pyro didn't have a chance to finish before he and the others were swallowed in hell fire returning into the earth once more.
The crimson armored demon pony walks up further the Mayan looking ruins, so I secretly follow the demon pony until he led me to the top of the structure.
"My Archdemon, we have the other half of the artifact."
"Great news loyal servant. Let me have a look." a feminine voice said.
I look up to see something that I thought not possible. Unlike all the other demon ponies I have seen in this world, she was in the shape of a human demon instead with a pair of horns on her head and leather wings. She wore black armor that was barely a tight for for her body.
She materialized a hollow stone craved with demon language on the outside. The color of the stone is close to black.
Before they could make the exchange, I jump out of my hiding spot and grab the gem in my magic putting it in my hands. I then draw Apocalypse just in case. The she demon seem to be furious.
"What is a normal pony doing here! Hand over the gem. You can't hope to wield its power, mere mortal." she said.
"I wasn't trying to use this power, demon. I'm going to make sure you can't ever use it again." I said.
However, the she demon was gone in seconds before reappearing behind me. She slashed my arm that had the gem in it before kicking me sideways into the wall making a side wall crater.
She picks up the gem with a sinister expression. If she is going to use it like I have read in the book. She'll be able to unleash everything and even Hades on the surface of Equis. It would be the end of the world as we know it. Not even the Element bearers would be able to stop the end.
"Now then, let's continue on with the operation. General Leviathan, dispose the little equine unicorn here." She said putting the two parts of the artifact together.
"Of course Archdemon." The demon pony General named Leviathan walk up to me.
But the strange part was his physical body seem to be changing as it grew and morphed into a eventual giant sea serpent of a size that almost filled the entire room. His bright red dragon slit eyes gleam in the darkness like a blood lust predator ready to massacre its prey. Intense heat strangely rose from his transformation. Leviathan bares his jagged teeth.
"Holy shit on a brick."
I had barely any time to dodge before the creature released a torrent of flames at me. I then move back behind him as I see the she demon. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leviathan move quickly around to take me. I went to slash it only for Apocalypse to bounce harmlessly off the mighty creature's slender body.
Leviathan then whiplashed me into the opposite wall before wrapping it's solid scaly tail around my body. "I'll enjoy every last bit of your delicious corpse. You can be assured of that, little pony." Leviathan said.
"Come on stupid magic! Give me something to work with!"
My horn lights up as my body began to feel more power running through my muscles. In a surge of strength I burst out of his coils. Leviathan snarled at me before breathing another torrent of fire. I used the Apocalypse's blade edge to deflect the flames beside me while the creature's anger rose.
I move Apocalypse in a downward slash across its midsection. A cut appears on the creature's body as Leviathan recoils before crying out in pain with a shriek.
"Insolent little piece of meat! HOW DARE YOU CUT ME!" Leviathan roars.
It charges at me with blinding speeds while I quickly charge Apocalypse with energy I hadn't used in a long time. The blade soon glows a soft black in a matter of seconds before I slice the air in the general direction of Leviathan's position. The air seem to slice itself cutting another mark into Leviathan. The air cut also sent a blast backwards sending the demon flying out of the Mayan like temple.
Once I was sure I couldn't see him, I continue where I last saw the she demon. The spell I had placed on myself wore off as I felt my muscles then screaming in pain and relief. Ignoring its cry, I head up to the very top. I could see her from this distance. In the center was the Hell Gazer attached to a stone alter that had glowing Mayan writting. The she demon just seem to sigh.
"It looks like Leviathan wasn't enough to stop a simple pony like you. Although, I must say that you have power behind your blade." She said.
"Don't think I'm not familiar to your kind, she demon." I said firmly.
She laughs. "My, my, aren't you one to talk."
"Enough chatting, she demon, stop the ritual, or I'll destroy your little toy."
"Hmmmm, let me think. Break Lord Hades and his creatures out on to a world that should be exterminated, or stop because you say so." She said in a playful manner.
"Wrong answer," I said speeding at her. I sent my blade in a downwards slash at her only for her to side step me. She then slugs me into the floor of the Mayan like temple.
"You should not underestimate the power I wield wench." she said.
I rolled out of her distance before she could stomp the life out of me. I sprang back into action using Apocalypse to collide with her unnatually sharp claws. Luna's moon above began to turn blood red.
"Shit, I'm running out of time."
Thinking fast, I release a blast of magic that caused her to stumble backwards slightly giving me enough time to teleport to the Mayan alter, and slicing it into two clean pieces. The air suddenly stood still.
"You fool!" She shouted at me.
In a matter of seconds, the two pieces release a giant shock wave explosion outwards that shook the earth below us sending the she demon and I into different directions. The Mayan like temple not long after begins to crumble because of the abuse it took. Many cries of the demon ponies for help echoed in the clearing before it grew to just silence. I get up to realize my body had taken more abuse then I thought it did from the fall. My body also still ached from the strength spell I previously used.
I look at the moon and see it return to normal as well. I dematerialized Apocalypse before walking up to the rumble the collapse made. Gore and stones were just about everywhere in the wreckage. It took a while of searching until I found what I was looking for, the two pieces of the Hell Gazer. I sent them to my pocket dimension to study later.
I then get out of the rubble and look around to see where the she demon had landed only to find no trance of her or Leviathan in sight. My guess they escaped while I was preoccupied. With nothing else to do, I walk back in the direction to Ponyvile.
Once I made my way down to Ponyvile, many of the ponies in town were spooked for some reason. Twilight and her friends (still wearing their costumes) run over to me. Applejack had Rum Barrel right behind her.
"What in tarnation was that huge explosion? Where were ya?" Applejack asked slightly peeved.
"I got lost in the Everfree when I saw the hooded mare." I replied.
"Twilight?" Everypony had eyes on her.
"I was too focused on Luna to notice him, sorry girls." Twilight said. The girls groan while I chuckled.
"Well, I'll take care of Rum now, Applejack. And thank you for taking care of her in my absence." I said as I held Rum's hand.
"No problem, Shadow. Take care." She said before we walked off.
Third Person POV
"Ya know Twilight that Shadow was lying to us." Applejack said.
"What reason does he have to lie to us, AJ. We are his friends." Rainbow Dash said defensively.
"I'm just sayin' that he might have been responsible for the moon turning red or the explosion in some way.
"Maybe you're right, Applejack, but how can he turn the moon red? He has no powers over the moon. Only Princess Luna or Celestia has any power over the moon." Twilight countered.
"Maybe we should have a stake out at his place, then we catch him in the act of doing something weird." Rarity suggest.
"Oo, oo, I love stake overs!" Pinkie declared bouncing on her hooves.
"Then it's settled, we'll have a stake out near Shadow's place tomorrow." Twilight said.
Twilight and her friends then go have some more fun on Nightmare Night.
Shadow's POV
Rum and I had so much fun on the Nightmare Night activities. Soon we surprisingly ran into Luna at the spider tossing game.
"Ah, greetings Shadow. How was your Nightmare Night been?" She asked.
Rum grabbed a toy spider trying to toss it in the web target. "Oh, it's going great." I said with a smile.
"Shadow look! I got a bullseye!" Rum declared jumping up and down in triumph.
"Nice one kiddo," I said.
Rum got some candy for getting a bullseye while I direct my attention between Rum and Luna.
"Also, did you know what that explosion and my moon turning red was all about?" Luna asked.
I paused. "I'll tell you tomorrow of what happened, but for right now I don't think it would be wise for the public in Equestria to hear anything about the incident." Luna nods her head before directing her attention back to throwing a perfect bullseye at the web target.
Not long after that game, Nightmare Night was coming to a close. I head to Berry's house to drop the bundle of joy, I had with me, back to Berry Punch. She paid my the bits that she said she would. Then I quickly head straight for the Golden Oak Library.
I sigh in relief as soon as my head and body touch the bed. Dozing out at the window to get a perfect view of the moon.
"Who and what was that she demon? Why do they want to end this world so badly? It doesn't make sense why the humanoid demons would even be able to travel from another world to the next."
I automatically let out a yawn that quickly reminded how beat I truly was. I gently lay still and close my eyes drifting to sleep in minutes.
Waking up almost always felt no different then falling asleep. The only difference was that I ran out of coffee which sucked big time. I got dressed and head to the market to find something to satiate my hunger and sleepiness.
I wander around town for any coffee beans for sale when I bumped into somepony; both of us falling over the other. I get up first to see I bumped into Ditzy Doo: the mailmare of Ponyvile. I help her up as she thanked me. I noticed some of her mail fell out.
"Is this yours, Ditzy?" I said picking up mail off the ground.
"Yeah! Thanks Shadow," Ditzy said with a smile as she bends down collecting the mail letters too.
Once all the mail was collected, Ditzy focused back on me. "I haven't seen you around last Nightmare Night."
"That's because I was foalsitting for Berry Punch." I said.
Her expression brightens up. "Really? She has been looking to find one for forever now!" She said.
"And why is that?" I asked.
"It's because of Berry Punch's last experience. She especially doesn't allow her friends to take care of Rum."
"I thought friends being trustworthy to you is the motto of this town."
Ditzy's smile falters. "Berry nearly loss her daughter due to a friend of hers foalnapping her four years ago. Luckily, she manage to get Rum back in time. Ever since then she has not let nopony, not even her closest friends, get near or take care of her."
I was stunned by the words coming from Ditzy's mouth. So much for Equis being a peaceful utopia. "If that was true she would have declined me." I said.
"That seems quite strange for a mare with that kind of trauma behind her to suddenly allow me to babysit her child."
"Enough doom and gloom. If I know you, then you came out to eat something, right?" Ditzy asked.
"Actually, I came out to get some more coffee."
"I could make you some muffins! It always makes ponies much fuller." She suggested.
I weighed my options about ready to decline before my tummy rumbled loudly. I sighed. "Alright, but what about your mail routines?" I asked.
Ditzy became really excited. "Don't worry, I can always get to them later, plus, I always make time for my friends!." She said.
So I followed the bubbly grey pegasus mare down to her house chatting the entire way. It wasn't until I walked inside that I recognized a certain stallion sitting on the couch doing some complicated math.
He is a earth pony with a light brown coat and dark brown mane. His blue eyes had the familiar eerie sense like it revealed more age then he had physically. He also wore a blue suit, blue dress pants, and a green tie.
"Doctor, I'm home!" Ditzy sung sweetly.
My breath caught in my throat as all the pieces finally clicked together who he was. The pony had the same realization when he laid his eyes on me too.
"Doctor, this is Shadow Faze; Shadow this is the Doctor." Ditzy introduced.
We both froze in each other's gaze, but the Doctor was first to respond with a smile toward Ditzy. "That's wonderful. Ditzy, would you mind getting some tea and snacks?" he said.
"Of course, how did I forget that! That's the most important rule for proper house manners." Ditzy said horrified with herself. The pegasus mumbled the last bit to herself like she was refreshing her mind about mannerisms. I didn't mind though, I was too focused on the Doctor to be potentially upset anyway. She burst into the kitchen leaving the Doctor and I alone in the living room.
The atmosphere around us both made it feel like ones aura was challenging the other; like we were old rivals. Unfortunate for me, it was worse then just that.
"Well, it seems we meet again Shadow." The Doctor said still in a locked piercing gaze with me.
"Indeed Doctor. Look, I didn't come here to destroy anything. To be honest, I don't know how I end up on Equis." I said.
The Doctor didn't seem to believe me getting closer. "If I see you try anything rash, especially toward my wife, I'll personally make sure to do everything in my power to make you suffer for your crimes."
All I did was just smiled. "I have been suffering for them my entire life, Doctor." I said with an unnerving calmness that even surprised me.
The Doctor's slightly stunned expression was all that I received. Ditzy came back out from the kitchen holding a tray with desired ingredients. The Doctor helped her with passing out the snacks and tea.
It was a while later before heading back home. I grab a pen and notepad for clean paper. I then jot down some notes of the events that happened on Nightmare Night. Hopefully, Princess Luna did as was asked and called off the press from exposing the explosion as a result of my own stupidity.
The notes explained briefly about my encounter with the demon ponies.... The only problem with all this is explaining the humanoid she demon to Luna. I muttered a curse as I sigh heavily.
Later that night, I swiftly stuffed the materials I had in a drawer before I got ready to head to Canterlot. I didn't feel like my magic was stable enough to teleport there, so I walked to the Canterlot castle's enterance.
Third Person POV
Twilight and the others have secretly met up near Shadow's house and followed him all the way to the palace. Since the guards recognized them as heroes they easily allowed them in.
They continue to follow him eventually leading into the throne room where Princess Celestia and Luna stood in all their glory facing Shadow. Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends stay close by and out of sight.
"Good evening, Shadow. I trust you slept in well?" Celestia acquired.
Shadow just simply stared half interested in the Princesses. "I get what sleep I can. I'm sure you two heard or seen the explosion yesterday, correct?"
Both of the Princesses nod in agreement. "Well, that explosion was caused by me slicing into this thing." Shadow said teleporting the two pieced Hell Gazer from thin air.
Both Celestia and Luna visibly looked confused at it. "Uh, what exactly might that have been?" Luna asked.
"By what I saw it was in short an artifact that can open the gates of Tartarus," the Princesses, plus Twilight and her friends, were flabbergasted. "The demon ponies were trying to bring the famous rapture on Equis." Shadow continued almost out of reflex.
"The 'rapture'? I've never heard of such an event." Luna stated confused.
Shadow looked to have immediately regret spilling such information to Princesses of Equestria. "Oh uh, it's nothing to worry about." he lied.
Celestia's stare seem to harden at his reaction. "Do so tell us. If demon ponies were trying to bring about this 'rapture' then it has everything to do about Equestria's well being." Celestia said.
Shadow paused momentarily before he sighed. "It's like the end of the world when He- I mean, Tartarus opens their once forever sealed gates on to the living earth. Evil in its purest state."
Luna and Celestia seem to shiver involuntarily at how serious and dark Shadow's tone changed. However, Celestia was still skeptical of such a thing.
"That sounds farfetched. Ends like that has never happened before." Celestia said.
"Well good because the rapture only happens once." Shadow said.
"So it seems. Anything else relating to the incident?" Luna asked.
Shadow seem to put some thought into it. "Well, I did see one she demon pony that was not a pony."
"Hades is expanding his reach I see." Luna said.
"It's not that....." A pregnant pause fell on Shadow, "That she demon isn't from Equis I mean."
"I'm not sure what you mean Shadow. This world is all we have." Celestia stated.
Shadow made eye contact with Celestia and Luna. "What I'm saying is I think other demons of different species, and other worlds, are trying to release Hades from his own underworld."
"Why? What would other demons gain from releasing Hades?" Luna asked.
He looks to the side. "I don't know. We'll just have to see what happens next time. The damn demons are good at hiding."
"In that case, we'll have to assign other ponies to help you." Celestia stated.
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? But I thought you wanted this to be kept in secret Princess."
"I do, but the circumstances have changed." Celestia said leaving no room for argument on my part.
"....Of course Princess." Shadow said doing a little gesture of respect before walking away.
"Did you get all that girls?" Applejack asked quietly. The girls nod simultaneously.
They quickly leave themselves as the Princesses where the only ones left in the throne room. "He knows more than he tells us. I grow wary of him, sister." Luna said in concern.
"I know Lulu, but this stallion has not betrayed us yet. I just hope that he continues to get rid of these demons. If Hades returns it would be a 'rapture' as he likes to put it." Celestia said.
Shadow's POV
I walk out of the palace suddenly nervous. An echoing steel cold laugh could be heard.
"Are you done playing the good guy?" The voice said.
I search for the call as Atone steps out from the shadows of the buildings. His malice smile not waning any sympathy.
"It seems even in the day you find new ways to annoy me." I said with malice.
"Ooooh, that hurts me so much. I like that." Atone said with a mock pained expression.
"Well I prefer if I don't have the peanut gallery hovering over me 24/7. I have more important things to attend to." I said continuing to walk away.
Atone appeared beside me in a puff of shadows. "Important things as in obeying princess alicorns while thoughtlessly killing demons for both of them? You owe them nothing. Matter of fact, you don't even need their protection. You could just leave and let all of them burn." A sickening twisted smile crossed his features thinking of all the chaos and needless bloodshed.
I however felt physically ill hearing Atone talk in such a psychopathic manner. "You're right. I don't owe them anything. I could leave them to burn, but then where can I go? I ended up here with no memory of how, and my powers just seem to not be at its full potential anymore!" I yelled at him.
Atone didn't seem to be phased by my rant. "You remember Bell, right? The one you were with for a time?"
I flinch at the mention of her name as my fists ball up tightly. "Don't you dare speak to me about her."
"Ah yes, she betrayed you the most. Poor Shadow. Your whole life was ruined because of her. Your job, your hard work, and so much more. She's a prime example of women. Fragile yet the cruelest type of living weapon to man. And just like Bell, the females of this world are just here to use you for your power and masculine skills. Nothing has changed." Atone's smile just grew wider and more maniacal.
"SHUT UP!" I yelled slamming a fist into his head, but when it made contact his whole body phased out. Instead, I hit a tree taking a huge chunk of wood out of it.
Near by ponies jumped in fear hearing the commotion I caused. I quickly got myself together and walked off to Ponyvile. I needed a break.
By the time I made it there it was dark out. Everypony was asleep so I head to my house. Once I got inside, I was greeted by the girls.
"Oh, hello girls. I was just about to wrap it up tonight." I said.
The girls didn't seem concern about my answer at the moment though. Twilight was the first to speak. "You work with the Princesses to fight theses demons, right?" she asked.
The girls glared at her straight-to-the-point speech while I was shocked she knew. "What?.....You all must have been following me. You know that you shouldn't know about that." I said my shock turning into a glare of my own.
"Shadow, we just wanted to make sure our friend is okay. You understand, right?" Applejack asked.
"Yes, I understand that," My glare only softening slightly, "but I expect it to not happen again. Next time ask me first."
They all agreed with me. It wasn't long before they left my house. I went to bed shortly after.
The next day, I had decide to sleep in until about noon. For the first time I felt slightly more alive than normal. It was a pleasant surprise, but also very disturbing.
Suddenly, I hear a dragon roar from outside. I went into action bursting out of the house. What I saw shocked me to great highs. There was a green and purple adult dragon rampaging through Ponyvile burning some house down or crushing things in its way. What made it all worse was that the dragon held Rarity in its tail.
I materialized Apocalypse and jumped into action. "Hey dragon!" I cried out.
The beast looked my way as I used the butt end of Apocalypse directly on his stomach hard. He stumbled hissing out in pain. Rarity looked shocked at the skill and accuracy I land on the beast. However, the beast was not an amateur by any means. He wildly used his sharp claws making several successful scraps across my cheek and limbs. Fortunately, I was able to block most of his fury attacks though.
"Damn it, this is why I avoided dragons.... They are a pain in the ass to kill."
I then noticed an unholy purple glow emitting from the beast. It seem to be whispering words of promise and power into the dragon. "Spike.....Want!" He shouted.
With the identity now known, I decide to take out whatever plagued Spike. In a blur of speed I charge at Spike before ramming the butt of Apocalypse once more into him. While he was momentarily stunned I lit up my horn and made contact with him. The strange thing began channeling through me as the whispers of its temptation and evils became louder. A small part of it manage to escape the area unnoticed as I gathered almost all of the thing in my body.
Spike seem to realize what happened looking around. Once he laid his eyes on the jewel on Rarity's neck he remembers something before quickly shrinking in size. They plummet to the ground soon after, but Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy caught them both. All the girls plus Spike looked relieved for the most part as Rainbow Dash walked up to me.
"You know, I never have seen you fight before. You're really fierce in battle." she said.
"Thanks Rainbow." I manage to say just before my vision began to blur.
They saw me stumble as they went to help me. My vision blacked and fell unconscious. The last thing I remember hearing is Twilight barking out things to do.
Once again, I was dragged into the lovely acquainted dream realm in my mind. But strangely though some things were different. Sick shades of evil purple were just about everywhere. Some places I still remember are there as well in the mix of the purple stuff. A sinister laugh rang through my head, but this New voice was not Atone. Instead, a familiar alicorn showed herself from the shadows of my mind.
"Nightmare Moon." I spat out in both shock and anger.
"Ah, well if it isn't the colt who stopped me a few months ago," She growled dangerously. Nightmare Moon then circles me observing me like a predator. "It looks like though I can exact my revenge after all. You are the stallion I've been looking for. It's because of you that I'm in my current weakened state now! But no matter," Her sword appeared in her hand. "I'll just kill you now!" She charged at me, at full speed slashing vertically.
I skillfully dodge the thrust, but I couldn't avoid the solid punch to the face. I painfully landed into a wall. The purple on the walls wrapped me in restraints as Nightmare Moon laughed at my struggling.
"It appears in your mind you are the weakest. I'll enjoy using you to the fullest." She said her homicidal glare never stopping.
Suddenly though a black blur sent her flying into the ground. "Don't be taking my job, bitch. He's mine to torment." Atone said coldly.
Nightmare Moon gets up shooting a lightning bolt at him which he easily dodges. "How DARE you interrupt me!" she bellowed.
Her anger subside and replaced with slight fear seeing Atone's appearance more closely. The aura around him seem to grow darker by the second.
"One thing you should know bitch is that we are one and the same being together."
My mind shook as the walls begin to morph. Nightmare Moon tried to stop the process, but the owners of the mind seem to prove they still had a firm grip on the dreamscape in her weakened state.
Atone appeared behind Nightmare Moon pinning her down, and restrains her in his magic before she could react.
"A simple-minded male like yourself will be punished for disobedience!" She bellowed her glare filled with defiance and snobbish hatred. Her horn flick to life, but then Atone grabbed her long horn with two hands, her magic dissipating immediately.
*CRACK*
The sound was loud enough to make it visibly painful. Nightmare Moon not long after screamed in agony. She shakenly touches the broken base of the used-to-be horn, on the verge of tears. The alicorn's broken horn rest in Atone's hand. He maniacally laughs somewhat satisfied with her agony.
"You know 'Nightmare Moon', the funny part of all this is that you had this coming. You've ruin every life you touched thus far. Even your own so called citizens."
"W-What?"
Atone walked in front of her bending down to her muzzle, his sick smile never leaving. "Oh, don't remember? Let's see. How about Dim Light? Remember him? He was a nice lad back in the day. The stallion only made one gesture to you in his time alive. Do you even remember what it was? He opened the door for you. And guess what you did for him in return."
Nightmare Moon got defensive. "This has nothing to do with-"
*SLAP*
Once she was absolutely silent, he continued. "You took him into the bathroom, and had your way with him."
Nightmare Moon scuffed getting on her hooves. "That was Luna, not me! And even if it wasn't me, ponies who don't listen learn their place very quickly."
His aura darkened making Nightmare Moon's skin crawl in anticipation. "Really? You and Luna are different?" He laughed for a bit. "Don't make me laugh. You two are no different than Shadow and I! YOU pushed her to do that to him. YOU gave her the indication to continue and own your 'pony'. You mold him into your puppet way before Celestia sealed you with the Elements."
Atone shoved her to the ground and kicking her on the stomach. She wretch for a moment before the crazy stallion seem to get a wider smile, strengthening his magical hold on her. "And for that, I'll make sure you won't be able to form proper words once I am done with you. I CAN'T WAIT!"
Once Nightmare Moon was able to think again, she tried desperately to get out of her magical bonds. Unfortunately, his grip was stronger. "Oh, and another thing. It's not the best idea to invade the mind since this is my main domain."
"Atone! Don't you dare do it! You said this would never happen again!" I shouted.
He stared back at me with his maniacal expression evident. "I'm not doing this for your justice mind you and you know that. I only care about my needs. Now let me have fun!"
His horn lights up as a gag materialized in my mouth already locked in place. A magic restraint ring also appeared around my horn to stop my magic supply. I was helpless to stop what happened next.
Warning: Violent Rape Scene. (scroll down to "***" if you wish to skip)
Atone tore apart the star blue metal off the alicorn's ebony body. Moon however streamed every curse word she could think of to express how weak he is to her, or even make him back off her. Unfortunately, Atone took little to no interest of her petty words. Instead he thrusted violently into her fresh sex.
Her rant was cut short as she arched back screaming in unimaginable pain. A little blood trickled from the source of the sudden pain.
Atone grinned smugly. Oh, did that hurt? I didn't know. I should go HARDER!" Atone said in a mock sympathetic tone.
His thrusts were not by any means firm nor soft. Instead all that came from them was pain. I could tell it was the worst pain in the world judging by the tear filled agonized face Nightmare Moon had. It made my blood boil to heights seeing this display. Nopony deserved this; not even my worse enemy. Unfortunately, the mare came into my mind physically without knowing the risks.
Her moans of pain and dispair rang just before Atone unloaded a healthy amount of his seed into her womb. Once the flow stopped he pulled out and forcefully shoved his dick into her ass. Her cries intensified in strength. Suddenly, he ruthlessly fucked her back door. I could see blood dripping from her asshole too.
Nightmare Moon seem to look at me out of desperation, but she didn't have long to think because Atone sped up his thrusts.
Moon visibly shook furiously in her bonds for freedom. Her eyes nothing more than pinpricks. Atone's dominating and experienced gaze fell down at her in smug satisfaction at her suffering. I wanted to puke and punch the living crap out of the heartless bastard all at once.
He finally released his nasty seed into her after a while of the torture. Atone pulled out soon after. Nightmare Moon relaxed weak from the pain inflicted on her. He positioned himself in front of Moon's head and forcefully opens her jaw with his magic.
"Bit and I'll make you wish that you were still banished to the moon, bitch." He said coldly.
Unfortunately, she didn't have long to respond because his penis was shove violently all the way balls deep. Her eyes widen once again as she gagged. Atone grinned in satisfaction as he eased a bit thrusting more mercifully this time into her muzzle.
I could tell though that Moon was struggling with the sheer size of his piece of meat. She tried her hardest not to choke. However, Atone seem to want more; forcing her head up on his dick to get her to accept more in. She did not complain even though she barely could fight back anyways.
It was not long after when he tipped over pouring his seed balls deep violently down her throat. He pulled out looking at the display of Nightmare Moon in agony.
***
His magic dropped her, but she would not budge from her spot on the ground. I, however, mumbled with anger toward Atone. How dare he does that to a mare even though she was going to do the same to me. She didn't even had a fighting chance. I shouldn't have absorbed her from Spike, but I had no choice then. Now I'm stuck with a traumatized Nightmare Moon and a sexually satisfied Atone. Great.
"Aaaah, the wonders of a female," he said before focusing back on me. Speaking of which I still got my daily torture to do."
The noise of a chainsaw roars to life as he turned to me with an activated chainsaw. The crazed smile ever present. I shook in the restraints on me with a vigor. Suddenly, a blast of a blue beam hit Atone sending him flying into one of the walls of my mind.
Luna appeared moments later running up to me.
"Shadow!" She helps me break free of my bonds as I get rid of the gag on me.
"What happened here? Who was that stallion?" Luna asked.
"He's a side of me that is a very long story. But right now, I need you to help Nightmare Moon." I said picking the mare up as she shivered fearfully in my arms.
Luna was about to protest until she saw the state in which she was in. She was horrified while she help me drag Moon out.
"SHADOOOOOW!!!!!!" Atone roared, but it was too late to stop now.
I woke up just as Luna awoke too with a Nightmare Moon's figure in her hands. I heard the sound of gasps seeing my friends there as well. They looked in horror at the state Nightmare Moon was, but at the same time they showed no sympathy toward her. Not even for her broken stub of a horn. Although, the unicorns flinched just looking at it.
"Why is she here? I thought we got rid of her. What's going on?" Twilight asked.
Luna materialized a blanket around Moon setting her off to the side for now. Her stern expression glaring at me. "That's what I would like to know."
"I can explain," I began. "In short, he is the result of my insanity getting the best of me....." I said.
"Who?" Twilight asked.
"He goes by the name Atone."
"I understand that Shadow, but that doesn't explain what happened." Luna said.
I think of my words carefully. "Spike was doing all that damage in Ponyvile because she was controlling him, so I decided to absorb her to avoid killing Spike. I only planned on releasing her to end the thing, but she decide to try and take over my mind. I was unable to stop Atone from doing the rest." I explained.
"Why not?" Applejack asked.
I look toward her. "Because the monster is a ever-growing hunger dumpster. He's me, but another side of me."
"So that means you would do those things just like he does, right?" Rainbow said.
My anger peaked. "He may be a part of me, but it will be a cold day in hell before I repeat that again Rainbow Dash. I thought you would have been at least a bit understanding of this." I said.
"Rainbow makes a point. We simply cannot let this go unpunished. She maybe an evil tyrant, but this behavior is unacceptable." Luna said. She gets closer as her horn lights up.
All the other girls seem to agree with Luna. They gave off predatory hunger I had not expected to see in each of them. Their eyes read of no mercy and malice toward me. My dreaded fear rising.
"She's a prime example of women. Fragile yet the cruelest type of living weapon to man. And just like Bell the females of this world are just here to use you for your power and masculine skills. Nothing has changed." My memory brings up.
The reality of that statement matches the behavior of the mares right now. They are looking for somepony to blame. Even though I never commit the crime myself personally they assume I did because of my gender. My expressions harden as I backed up from Luna. "And it appears Atone was right about one thing." I said.
Luna paused her horn still lit up. "And what's that?"
"You mares are all the most sexist beings I have ever encountered." I said simply.
Luna seem to not be pleased with me scowling. "HOW DARE YOU CALL US SUCH! KNOW YOUR PLACE!" She yells at me in her Canterlot Voice forcing me to grab something to keep me up on my feet. She then fires a poweful blast of blue magic at me. I manage to make my hands cloaked themselves in a black aura before catching the blue bolt in midair.
The girls and Luna's eyes widen in the familiar fear I was used to seeing daily. I simply destroy the bolt of magic in my palm glaring a strand of my hate at the mares present. "This might come as a shock to some of you, but I'm not one of your fucking clueless, bulky males you can just boss around. It's time that you realized who you really are looking at." I said walking up to them as they back off.
"I'm a traveler that seeks to try and help other planets or even universes from destroying each other. I strive to save lives, but I won't hesitate to end yours. You have no idea what kind of bullshit it is for me everyday," I said emphasizing my point. I look to all, but Luna and Rainbow Dash both looked hurt. "As for the rest of you, I didn't mean to reveal myself like that, but today marks the end of my stay."
My magic flicks on again as I immediately pack my stuff up. "Shadow, we didn't know of this. No one knew you were not native to Equestria." Twilight said.
I gave her a hard stare. "I know, that was the point Twilight. If I had said something in the beginning you all would have made a great first impression for me to keep the real truth from my eyes and ears. I've seen many countries do the same." I said picking up my stuff heading out the door. Applejack blocked my way.
"Look sugarcube," she paused before sighing. "Ah knew from the beginning that you weren't from this world." Applejack said.
All the girls including me were surprised. "What do you mean? I did a good job at hiding it." I said quickly recomposing myself.
"Element of Honesty, sugarcube. Ah could tell that mostly everything that came outta your mouth was a lie." She said.
"Then why didn't you tell us, AJ?" Fluttershy asked.
Applejack shrugs lightly. "Ah don't know to be honest. All ah know is that even though ah knew he was lying. Ah had a feeling that he meant to be here for the greater good."
I stayed silent before teleporting just behind Applejack outside of the door. "That does not make me change my mind Applejack," I said before walking away. The girls get out of my former house to attempt to tackle me. I simply dodge each one of them forming a dog pile near me. All except Applejack joined. "I'll be in the Everfree Forest if I'm needed." I say teleporting quickly away from Ponyvile.
My heart ached. Once again I feel the bitter taste of betrayal. As soon as I teleported away into the Everfree Forest from Ponyvile I wept silently. I never wanted anyone to see me this vulnerable.
I was never always like this though. I had dreams and ideas to explore. Innocence and compassion for others. I was a completely different person then, but that was when I was only five years old. It all changed with one man.
That man would be the very same one to bring me into this horrible state of constant agony still even after killing that bastard never had been enough. The humiliation was enough to make it not worth living. But when I was about to end it.....Atone came to life.....And then I snapped.....
"Poor Shadow. I told you this would happen, but you never listen to me. Let us rule this miserable piece of earth together. We'll show the creatures of Equis who is the TRUE king." Atone said coming out of the shadows again with his crude smile plastered on his face.
He circles me expecting an answer, yet it never came. His smile seem to falter as anger replaced his expression. He kicked me in the side as I sailed into a tree. "Pathetic. I guess I don't need your approval anymore anyways. Oh well. Good bye Shadow forever."
I didn't care though. My mind swam in depression and saddness.
"Why am I so sad? It was expected eventually."
Atone yanked up my limp form glaring up at me. I close my eyes waiting for the peace that is sure to follow. But suddenly, Atone paused dropping me to the ground. The pain in his eyes surprised me as a cloaked figure came out of the shadows of the Everfree Forest. The figure held a glowing white crystal. Atone continue the growl in agony.
"Begone demon of the accursed until your wicked powers are reversed." The feminine voice rhymes at Atone.
The hatred in his eyes was shocking to see. He rarely showed emotion since everything seem inferior toward him. "You witch! You think you can stop me from getting my prey?! You have no power to stop me from getting what I want!" Atone said with malice.
The figures yellow eyes didn't seem to phase from his words as the crystal brightens. "In the light you are nothing but a cockroach in its might. I curse you to never stray from his darkest part of the stallion's heart. Forever bond until used properly with care so that nothing can compare to its evil." the figure said.
Atone was fazing out of reality as he cried out in anger only to be forced back into my body. I didn't get up from my position as the figure ran up beside me.
The figure pulled me to sit up in front of one of the trunks of the trees revealing her face from the hood. It revealed a concerned Zecora. She scanned me of any injuries while I try to hid My tears by turning my head.
"What's wrong Shadow, why are you out here in this hour?" Zecora asked.
"It hurts..... It hurts so much." I manage to say.
Zecora helped me to her hut as I laid on the make-shift stretcher thinking about all the events that led up to this point. I helped defeat Nightmare Moon, scare and fight dragons, defeat Discord, and over all protect Equestria. Yet, in the end I'll still be the stranger of this world.
"Zecora?" I asked.
"Yes?" She replied.
I paused looking up at the ceiling. "What is it like to live among the ponies of Ponyvile? You personally." I asked.
Zecora hummed softly before heading back to her pot of brewing potion mix. "An interesting question you ask because getting to Ponyvile was no easy task."
"What do you mean?"
"Before I was known as the alchemist of the Everfree, I was a lone wet nurse in the village of Stonekey. On the far sides of Zebrinica," She continued.
It seem farfetched how she could have been such a wise healer if that was true. "What changed?" I asked.
Zecora slightly frowns replaying the memory in her mind. "My tribe one day began to fall gravely ill, yet I was not affected from its lethal poison will. The zebra of the village accused me of witchcraft, yet the zebra that have known and cared for me said I had to flee. So I fled and fled so far from my original country that I ended up stranded in the middle of the Everfree," Zecora said her expression turn to a warm smile, "Eventually, I learned the many mysterious ways of brewing through trial and error until ponies stumbled into the forest spreading revile rumors."
I smile at Zecora's short story. "I see and now the ponies respect you as the alchemist here in Ponyvile."
She nods in agreement. I then direct my attention back to the ceiling of her hut. "As for me, I am a traveler. I'm sure you don't know what I mean by that, so it's basically a being who travels through space (very rarely through time) to solve problems for planets that need the extra power. In other words, the beings that can't be slaughtered through the Elements of Harmony alone I deal with personally." I said.
"Mmmm, quite a feat for a unicorn like yourself to constantly beat." Zecora rhymed.
"It is, but that's just how my life is now. However, I can't get off of this world." I said.
Zecora lift up her eyebrow in confusion. "And why can't you not?"
"Because I never intended to end up here on Equis. I was.....thrown in here by something else." I said carefully.
"I see, so you are looking for this pony?"
I look at her. I first noticed that she took off her cloak showing her bound up breasts and thong covering her body to make sure that the milf was not exposed of those parts. Her mohawk and her stripes on her body only made her as Celestia hot damn gorgeous. Unfortunately for me I had to think quickly and pay less attention to her 'additional' attributes.
"Yes, but I highly doubt that anyone really knows of anything about the person who sent me. That's why I figured I would get my answers better if I just played along for now." I said.
Zecora seem to be pleased of my answer. "It appears you are smarter then you seem; maybe you aren't what you deem yourself to be."
"Yeah..... I was thinking Zecora, how about I stay with you for a while," I said. Zecora seem to be understanding for the most part with me, but I could feel she wanted an answer. "And if you are wondering, Luna, Twilight, and her friends had a disagreement with me earlier."
"Mmmm, so you did had a fight with them. I wonder what might have triggered it?" Zecora asked.
I go silent reluctant to tell her the truth, but at this point it seemed pointless. I sighed. "My other self, the one that you sealed in my body, did a terrible action toward Nightmare Moon." Zecora reminded silent as I continued. "He raped her."
The shocked on her face mimicked the widen of her eyes slightly at hearing the news. "This.....thing is called Atone. I don't know how he got in me or why, but all I know is he is the true monster that I wish on nopony. Even though Nightmare Moon planned something probably along the same lines as what he did." I said.
"I see your dilemma, he seems like a terrifying fella. But fret not, I do believe you can recover from this tricky knot." She said confidently.
I ponder on her words. "And what may that be?"
"Time, my friend, because they need it to cool down from their prime thoughts."
"Ok. I can do that," Zecora used the brew she made to heal any other pain I had felt the instant the ointment met my hide. I let out an involuntary sigh escape my lips.
"This cream had done some wonders, Zecora. I haven't felt such pain relieved in a long time." I said.
"Yes, of course because it's made by the best type of source." she said.
"What source do you mean?" I asked.
Zecora smiled as I got the hint. "I knew she authentically makes her stuff, but why do I feel light headed?"
I eventually couldn't stay awake as I fell asleep right then and there.
I woke up again feeling strangely good. And for some reason my pleasure sensor was also turned on too. I go to get up only for my bound wrists to stop me from moving any further. Confusion crossed my expression, but I didn't feel like I was in trouble. No, this was a different kind of sensation. I look down and see that I had been striped of my clothing and bound to a bed. It appeared to me that it was Zecora's.
Without much warning, Zecora came into the room noticing I awoken from my sleep. "Ah, Shadow, you're awake. I did not expect you to already wake." She said.
"What's the meaning of tying me up?" I asked.
She only gave slight concern to me saying. "It was for you to stay in bed because I'm afraid you would sway away from your special treatment."
I was not so sure what she meant, but I just decided to go with it for now. "Well, whatever it is, I'm ready for it." I said.
Zecora smiled before messing with the wrapping that held her firm breasts in place. The gesture made me think of only one thing this could be. The wrappings fall to the floor revealing her heavenly big orbs. My eyeballs bulged in surprise making me speakless. She smiled at my reaction. The mare kneels just in front of my lower region, inspecting my junk with her eyes.
She carefully arched her neck over gently massaging my balls with her warm tounge. I let out an involuntarily sigh causing my muscles to relax instantly. My natural reaction for my body was puzzling since this never happened to me before. The more Zecora licked and suckled lightly on my testicles the more my erection grew.
It wasn't long until my penis length reached its limit. Zecora licked her way up my meat rod teasing my tip tenderly with surprisingg expertise. The growing pleasure I relieved was surreal in its own way. But she didn't stop there. She slowly went down my length easily accepting my massive length. That was usually a feat to handle even by the most skilled of whores I have seen. But Zecora is no whore. She is just really talented.
She eventually bobbed up and down my length in a steady pace. In the meantime, she would expertly use her tounge and heavy sucking to increase the pleasure. And boy did it work. I was about to lose it. "Z-Zecora, I'm about to cum in your mouth." I announced.
She didn't waste time, in fact, she began doubling her efforts for me to release. I couldn't take the pressure any long as I cum inside Zecora's throat rope after rope. She took a moment to swallow the semen before breaking contact with my penis. It felt slightly weird leaving my penis out in the open like this. It made me shiver just from the cold.
However, it seems like she wasn't finished with me yet as she gave me a look of want and compassion in her eyes. I then knew that she was not doing this out of lust, but for my own pleasure. "Zecora, you don't have to do this. I don't want you to have ties to an evil stallion like me. Trust me, please." I begged.
Zecora took one look at me answering. "Shadow, for the longest time I could not call anyone more then an acquaintance. But nopony came to see me more than a witch, yet you have the patience and listening ear I have been looking for."
I was silent for a moment absorbing what I was being told. "How do you know I'll be as good as you say I am?" I asked.
She crawled up on top of me hovering her soaked and waiting vagina over my black cock. "Because ever since I met you, I've known I can trust you." She said sincerely.
Zecora lowered herself onto me then as we both simultaneously let out a soft moan. We stood still for a moment for her to adjust to my size before we continued the fucking. The whole experience was just too precious and pleasurable that it made my head spin. I had joined into the fun thrusting into her as well. She met my every thrust over and over.
I could only hear her moans picking up as I thrust harder to satisfy both parties. Our pleasures eventually reached a mutural climax as we simultaneously spray our sex juices all over the bedsheets.
The zebra mare collapsed on me before taking her vagina out from its cozy place. She smiled vaguely tired, but dreamy expression. "How did I do?" She asked.
I smiled myself untying myself in my magic before rolling her over gently to lay next to me. "You did wonderfully, Zecora. It's thebest sex I have ever had in my life," I replied. "Although, you will probally get pregnant now." I said a bit concerned.
"That's fine, I wouldn't do it if it wasn't worth the time," she said. "In my culture.....this bond is the first step to marriage...."
"I planned on it anyways, so of course I'll marry you." I said. The shock expression on her face made me chuckle. "I promise."
A few months later....
I had officially became Zecora's husband a month ago. Life in the Everfree was nice and simple. We would talk and spend time with each other sometimes. Other times we would be working. I was also told, by Zecora, her culture states that once she marries her rhyming becomes optional (which in my opinion made no sense. Why is that a thing? Maybe it's because zebra males thinks its sexy?). I love her regardless of her backwards culture rules.
Later that day, Zecora was in the middle of cooking lunch when an abrupt burst of green flame came above the dinner table. A sealed scroll unceremoniously tumble on the table. I got a spike of curiousity before picking the scroll up. "The Royal Seal of the diarhy. *sigh* Great."
I grew slightly annoyed opening the scroll.
Chapter 7: "Shove It Where the Sun Doesn't Shine" (Edited)
You were invited to attend to the royal union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, at the Canterlot Castle. Please come attend Shadow, we need to also just talk.
Sincerely,
Celestia.
I reread the letter at least four times over before I let out a soft sigh. A few months go by quick in this world. I wondered briefly how they got this address so quickly. It was almost baffling how they were able to track peo- ponies down.
"Fucking ponies with technology."
Rubbing one eye, I set the letter down mildly irritated. Zecora walked in the room shortly after.
"What's wrong my dear?" She asked.
I sighed. "I don't know if I should go to this royal wedding happening. Princess Celestia is requesting my presence, but I sense it could have something to do with my previous action of being isolated."
"It does seem like she just wants to see you. I don't see any harm in that. I can take care of the hut while you're gone." She said.
I smile softly. "Thanks Zecora. It'll be quick, I promise."
"Don't make a promise you can't always keep my dear."
"Words a wise zebra mare would say." I said as she cracked a smile herself.
I check my pocket dimension to make sure I had everything before starting up my horn. It took a few moments before it locked on its target flashing me away.
I opened my eyes and was quite puzzled to find myself in a sea of light blue... until I started to fall.
I looked down to see that I was going to greet an enormous rosy red sphere shield around the entire city of Canterlot. "FUCKfuckfuckfuck-" I had to think quick so I lit up my horn again as briefly black sparks erupt from it teleporting me again.
I sigh in relief, but it was short lived when I realized that it only got me pass the shield continuing my long fall.
"SSSSSHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIITTTT!"
My horn didn't respond to my call as I realized I emptied a lot of magic into my last spell. I closed my eyes accepting the fall only to be caught by an invisible force. Surprised, I open my eyes to be greeted by Princess Luna, Twilight, and her friends. All of them looked at me in concern.
"What in tarnation? Were you trying to kill yourself!?" Applejack yelled.
I brushed off her commit as I realized Luna was the one to save me from my fall. "It's not my fault that my magic sent me above that force field thing." I said.
Applejack winced at my answer. "Gee, I didn't realize your magic did that." She said apologetically.
"Yeah, well, it's not the first time it has acted up." I said as Luna set me down from her magical grip.
"Shadow.....we are all sorry for how we reacted a few months ago. We shouldn't have done the things we did to a fellow soldier of our army and dearest friend." Luna said. The girls also agreed with her.
"It's fine. I have forgiven all of you already," I smiled. "Besides, that's what my life was designed for," I said to my self mostly. When the girls were about to question my choice of words, I changed the subjects. "Would you mind taking me to Celestia's chamber? She requested for my presence through her letter."
"Ah, yes of course. Follow me. Twilight Sparkle, you and your friends prepare for the wedding." Luna said.
Twilight immediately focuses on Luna. "Yes, I can't wait to talk to my brother again." Twilight said with a tinge of excitement before hurrying down the halls of the castle.
I brought my attention back to Luna before we left to the throne room.
Once I put a single hoof in the throne room, I was met with several guards pointing spears directly in front of my face. I would have teached them a few new ways on to a highway of pain and misery myself, but Luna scold the 'recruits' from doing that again to her friend.
I respectfully walked pass the guards to meet the pony that I came to see. Celestia sat on her throne seat while she smiled warmly at me, but I could tell her smile was a bit tense than usual.
"It's nice to meet you again Celestia. Is something the matter? You seem a bit tense." I asked.
"Always nice to meet you too Shadow, but I do have some news for you. A new threat has been made recently toward Canterlot." Celestia said.
I raise an eyebrow in confusion. "I'm sure your Royal Guard is strong enough to face a threat like that. It has worked in the past." I said bluntly.
"Not this threat I fear," Celestia said with a nonchalant attitude. "Whoever made the threat has not been seen since. That's why I worry something might try to interfere with the wedding planner today. It could possibly be the demons."
I stiffened at the word. "That's a long step to assume, but I understand your fear. However, you don't need me in order to get the same result."
"Shadow, Twilight Sparkle and her friends begged for us to get you to do such a high honor. It's not everyday that a traveller like yourself gets a relative break from things. And most likely this whole thing might simply not happen." Luna said with a smile.
I stayed quiet for a while thinking of my options and possible outcomes. "Alright, I'll take you up on the offer. Just let me get in uniform and I'll keep an eye on things." I said finally.
Celestia and Luna seem to relax a degree at this. "Thank you Shadow." Celestia said with a slight smile of her own.
I nod my head in respect to them both. "It's no trouble, princesses." I said as I escorted myself out from the throne room.
I walked around the Canterlot Castle staring and analysing everything I could until I started to grow bored. Man, I absolutely hate getting bored.
"Damn everything unholy. This is so-"
The sounds of conversation hit my thoughts short. I sensed a type of magic being used..... A powerful spell too. So I sneaked soundly like a ninja to the thin wall of the room managing to find a crack still in the very wall.
What I saw was an pink alicorn mare with a longish mane in the colors of blue, blue-green, and faded yellow. She dressed in royalty clothing. The other was a male white unicorn with a blue mane, aqua highlights. He stood only an inch shorter than the pink alicorn, but that didn't stop the scene from looking weird and newish to me.
I grew up in a relatively male dominant world. Although, thanks to a few wars and arguments that perception of thinking at became relatively equal. Well.... for the most part. In this world, pony mares are physically more capable than the males are usually. I'm not complaining over here, but some things just never cease my 'justice' side from spilling sexist blood.
Anyway, I began focusing on the conversation:
"I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn't want you to wear that?" the pink alicorn said In a snappy tone.
"This was my favorite uncle's," The white unicorn said promptly pointing to his attire of an uniform he wore.
"And?"
"And I think I should wear it." the white unicorn said.
"Are you disagreeing with me?"
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I guess I am-" I stared at the scene confused while he clutched his forehead looking to be in a lot of agony.
She walked up to him. "Oh dear, are you getting another one of your headaches?" she asked rhetorically.
Her horn lit up in a green aura making contact with his forehead. The strong presence of powerful magic hit my senses surprising me.
"This is really weird. Alicorn magic is not supposed to be like this."
The question is then what is she really? I decided to walk away not paying attention to the loud clopping of hoof steps on the other side.
About three days pass during my stay. I regularly visit my wife, in the Everfree, and attended the preparations being put into the wedding. However, when Mi Amore Cadenza, the pink alicorn, came by to see how things were looking I would study her. By my prior calculations, I knew something didn't seem right with the magic she oozed out. Nopony else seem to notice this though except me, so I kept it to myself.
Today was the day we were doing the practice version of the wedding. Everything seem to be going right according to the plan until....
Twilight burst into the room gaining everyone's attention. "I'm not going to stand next to her, and neither should you!" she said.
Shining Armor, Twilight's brother and the white unicorn, didn't seem to get her behavior turning to Cadenza. "I'm sorry I-, I don't know why she's acting like this." Shining apologized.
Cadenza glared at Twilight. "Maybe we should ignore her." Cadenza said.
"You have to listen to me!"
"*sigh* Twilight, what are you doing now?"
"I've got something to say," Twilight said with a stride of confidence. She walked up toward Cadenza and Shining Armor pointing a hoof at the pink alicorn. "She's evil!"
Shining seem to take it as a death threat moving in front of Cadenza to protect her. She looked just as shocked while the other girls gasped. I however could tell that seemed very fitting for the alicorn, yet I kept my muzzle shut.
"She been horrible to my friends," Twilight teleports behind Cadenza backing her into a corner. "She obviously done something to her brides' maids. And if that were enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes all-" she did the motion of circling eyes.
Twilight cornered her as I could feel the smirk on her muzzle from where I stood. I facepalm in the middle of the madness going unnoticed. And as expected, Cadenza broke down in tears.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She said running out to the opened doorway.
"Because your evil!" Twilight teleports at the doorway. "Evil! And if I don't stop you, you'll ruin my brother's life!"
The girls mouths were agape in disbelief at Twilight's actions. Twilight turned around proud of herself until she stumbled into Shining Armor.
"You want to known the reason my eyes went all- *did the motion she did earlier*. Because ever since I had to start doing my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadence hasn't been casting spells on me, she's been using her magic to heal me." Shining corrected.
Twilight didn't even get a chance to defend herself when he continued. "And she decided to replace her bride's maids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so they could meet Canterlot royalty. And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends is because of me being so busy she as been making all the decisions on the wedding!"
"I- I was just trying to-"
"She's completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our wedding day to be perfect!" Shining exclaimed. "Something that wasn't important to you."
He held his head in agony for a moment as Twilight reached a nervous hand up to him. All he did was glare at her.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride." Shining said walking away. "And you can forget being my best mare.... In fact, if I were you I wouldn't even show at the wedding at all."
The girls and even Celestia seem to believe his statements which in all fairness explained all of the weird things going on.... All except for one...
"Shadow," Twilight said out of desperation. "You are the most observant one for evil creatures. I know she's evil! Isn't she?"
Everypony in the room paused for my answer. "No, she has never been acting evil at all, Twilight. I didn't see anything strange so far." I had seen out of the corner of my eyes I was being watched by something.
Twilight's heart sank at my words as the rest glared at her even more. "You have a lot to think about." Celestia said sternly before we all left Twilight in her sorrow.
I felt my own heart ache at my own actions, but whatever was going on knew I would notice the disruptions in magic. I would have to play along for now to put the final blow in.
I had separated from the rest of the group a few hours ago after the whole incident happened. And I just so happened I sensed transformation magic again. Only this time it was weaker.
I snooped around until I saw a stallion butler in the corner dusting a pot off. Nopony else was in the hallway, so I knew right away at he was the source.
"Excuse me, but why have you been following me for the past few hours?" I asked as casually as possible.
This seem to scare the stallion as he whipped his head back toward me. "I'm sorry sir, but I have no idea what you are talking about." he said.
"Oh really?" I said grabbing him by the throat. My hand glowed in their magic as I forced his transformation magic to the surface. He is enveloped in a green fire briefly before he turns into this anthro insectoid creature.
"Great more bipedal anima- Well, this guy is technically one ugly walking bug."
I grimaced slightly slamming him into the wall. "Alright fruit fly, you are going to tell me exactly why you have been following me for. And if you don't," I allowed a sinister smirk to form. "Well, let's just say that you'll blow your cover and a few limbs."
"I have nothing to say to the psycho unicorn." he said.
My blood boiled in rage as my left hand formed with clawlike fingers stabbing perfectly into several major nerve ends. He screamed in pain, but his yelling and kicking was for nothing because I had put a sound barrier over him and I before hand.
"Wrong answer, asshole. Now, let's start again, who got you in."
The insect ponylike creature glares at me. "I'll neVEr!" he began to say only for me to twist and turn my claws in his soft insides.
"I can do this all day and make it just as painful until your bitter end. It's better to tell me now then later. Because next time I'm asking Princess Cadence." I said.
The insect ponylike creature froze in his struggle at my words. I smirk. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out something is amist. So tell me, is 'Princess Cadence' your leader?"
He stayed silent, but a little persuasion made him sing like a bird. "Y- Yes! She's our queen!!!" He bellowed out.
I paused in my efforts of torture before roughly setting him down in the ground. "Good, and she uses powerful transformation magic I presume. That's how she could tell which soldier is one of her own or not."
My hands and horn lit up as I try using my own morphing powers only for it to fail.
"Damn it, my original powers are not responding."
I then looked back at the insect thing smiling toward him. "Well, if I can't morph right now then I'll just 'borrow' your transformation powers."
With no hesitation, I placed one hand firmly on his horn while the other on the back of his head. My hands lit up once more draining all of his transformation magic. He screamed for several hours nonstop trying to rip my hands from their grip. He didn't stop screaming in agony until all the magic was completely drained. I disguard him as he laid limply on the ground. I test the magic and in a brief black flame I formed into somepony before changing back to my normal self.
"Okay, I got at least five hours worth of transformation magic in storage. That should be enough, but I still need to take care of something first."
I ripped a piece of paper and wrote on it a few words before placing it on the insect's forehead. Instantly, my left hand lit up touching his unconscious body to send it into Princess Cadence's private chambers. I walked off to prepare my next move.
Third Person POV
Shadow could hear the wedding music play. All sorts of ponies were lined up in the rows for them to sit. He, himself, has trouble seeing what was going on since he was on guard duty. To be honest, it was kind of dull even with the extra décor. He yawned lazily listening to the pointless chit chatter of the various nobles.
Then everypony began to settle down in low whispers before Princess Celestia cleared her throat.
"Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor," Princess Celestia said. She looked at Shining Amror first. "Do you, Shining Armor accept Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's hoof in marriage?"
"I do." He said almost as if he wasn't there mentally.
Princess Celestia then focus on Cadence. "Do you, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza accept Shining Armor's hoof in marriage?" She asked.
"I do." Cadence said not resisting the faint smug look on her muzzle. The Sun Princess didn't seem to notice though.
"Then, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, it is my great pleasure and honor to pronounce both of you-"
"STOOOOP!" Twilight yelled abruptly causing Celestia to pause from her speech.
"Why did she have to ruin my special day?" Cadence complained.
"Because, it's not your special day," Another voice, the same as Cadence's voice, proclaimed. "It's mine!"
Another Cadence, this one much more dirtier and covered in bruises than her counterpart. The dirty Cadence stepped toward the alter. Everypony in the pews gasped in shock.
"What? How did you escape my bride's maids!" The clean Cadence demand.
"Oh, with a bouquet of flowers." the dirty Cadence said nonchalantly.
"Hm, clever, but your still too late." The clean one said.
"Ah don't understand, how can there be two of them?" Applejack asked rhetorically.
"She's a changling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them." The dirty Cadence explained.
The clean one seem to have enough of the other Cadence as a massive pillar of green flame envelopes her body.
Her pink wings change into light green webbed ones. Her limbs turn into dark green hands and hooves with holes in them. The used to be pink alicorn's body turns dark green giving her an amazing hour glass body. The somewhat long pink horn turning into a sickening dark green, twisting and turning upwards. Her bust size was also also quite a feat measuring up to being a rival slightly passed Celestia's rack. Her emerald dragonlike eyes shining brightly with evil intentions behind them. She laughed sinisterly at the shocked audience.
"Right you are, Princess," the changing gloats. "And as Queen of the Changlings it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I have ever encountered. My fellow changlings will be able to devour so much of it and we'll be able to gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!"
"They'll never get the chance. Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us." Cadence said.
The changling chuckles. "Indeed that might have been true, but I highly doubt that would be a problem anymore. Isn't that right, dear?"
The changling's horn lights up as Shining Armor's head slowly nods to her command. Shadow looked extremely angry getting ready to draw his sword. Cadence tried to run over to help Shining, but the Queen Changling stopped her in her tracks.
"Don't want to go back to the caves now do you?" She said her twisted horn lighting up. Cadence stood stiff as the Queen Changling walked up to the main front. "Soon, my changling army will break through. First we take Canterlot, and then all of Equestria!"
Things seemed to look gloom as Shadow drew his sword and was about to confront her. "No." Celestia said. "You won't. You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now that you have so foalishly revealed your true self," Simultaneously, Celestia teleported her sword and shield into her hands as she clashes with the Changing Queen's duel swords in a stalemate. "I can protect my subjects from you!"
Suddenly, her fiery aura sparks to life making her weapons and horn look like living flames at her command. The Changling Queen however radiated a green glow as her eyes showed green with power. The two forces collide in battle through the air. Shadow let out an impatient sigh feeling left out.
Landing a series of mild scratches and bruises on the Changling Queen, Princess Celestia decided to keep the attacks on a lower level fearing the safety of her subjects. When it seemed like the results were set in stone for the final blow against Chrysalis, the Changling Queen blurred past the Sun Princess' perception. She used the momentum to pierce her blade into Celestia's stomach. The Princess gasped at the surprise pain and speed. Chrysalis just as quickly retract her blade from the flesh.
"Oh you poor thing, it appears Shining Armor's love for Cadence had made me even stronger than even Celestia herself!" The Changling Queen exclaimed.
The changling walked up to Princess Celestia with blood lust waiting in her gaze. "I think it's time to end this pointless diarchy starting with you!" she said rearing her double swords in an attempt to decapitate the Princess.
Her eyes widen in fear, but the Changling Queen's blades were only met by another blade. This one however was black. In a rush of pure fury, Shadow cried out shoving the Changling Queen several feet away. The crowd seem astonished at the unicorn's skill as well as the Changling Queen. Yet, the Queen shrugged it off getting into a battle position again.
"It appears you have one worthy opponent in the crowd after all. Who are you, stupid stallion?" the Changling Queen asked mildly annoyed.
"My name is Private Shadow Faze of the Royal Guard, changling. Now who are you?" he demanded.
The changling seem to frown at his words. "I see, well, since you manage to push me back I'll give you at least my name. My name is Queen Chrysalis and, as I said before, I am Queen of the Changlings." she said.
"Charmed. Although, I would say coming to take over Equestria is a big mistake," He said.
Chrysalis blured to his side preparing to slice him open, but Shadow manage to lock blades with her speed. "Because I'm the one who will take you down reguardless of your so called strength and power."
Chrysalis grunted in annoyance before jumping back and dodging Shadow's blade. She countered by elbowing him in the stomach stunning him for a few seconds. Chrysalis goes for the kill only for Shadow to recover quickly and side step her grazing her left hip.
She hissed in mild pain wildly swinging her blades in fury. "DIE YOU STUPID STALLION!" the Changling bellowed.
However, Shadow only smirked at her anger getting the upperhand and using all the strength he could muster going for a powerful swing directly in front of her. She instinctively shield herself using her crossed duel blades. But the force of the swing was greater than her posture sending her flying in the back wall making an imprint into it.
She fell to the ground as Shadow approached her. Suddenly though, a loud sound of like glass shattering filled the air. Shadow was midly startled for a moment.
"Shadow?" the familiar voice of Zecora said.
Shadow's eyes widen in surprise as he direct his attention back in front of him. He couldn't believe who he saw on the ground. It was a beaten up Zecora with several injuries on her. Instinctively, Shadow went to tend to his wife walking over to her.
"Oh no, Zecora what are yo-" his sentence was cut short as a dagger was plunged straight into the stallion's throat. The zebra's eyes turn into a dragonlike emerald green. She then completely transformed back into Chrysalis.
"Arrogant fool. You really thought you could have matched my power of deception?" she said.
Shadow couldn't speak back, but grabbed his throat trying to stop the bleeding. Chrysalis completely slit the stallion's throat then as he fell to the ground choking in his own blood.
"SHADOW!" The mane six and Princess Celestia shouted.
Most of the royals and Shadow's friends looked horrified at the Changling Queen's deed. Queen Chrysalis laughed evilly as the changling army she had wrecked havoc on the city below.
"Y-You monster! That was a good friend you just killed." Celestia cried out in anger trying to get up on her feet, but her injuries prevent her from moving too far without the mane six's help.
A wave of changlings burst into the room surrounding the ponies inside capturing them especially the mane six, Princess Celestia, and Princess Cadence.
"Well, it seems like there has been a slight change in plans, Celestia." She hissed lowly.
Celestia just seems infuriated more by her actions. "Struggling won't do you much good in this situation. What I'm going to use you for is a symbol of my power," Chrysalis gets up in her face. "I'll turn you into my little pet before I conquer the pathetic waste of space of Equestria feeding off of their love. Including your love." She crackles another laugh.
"I didn't know there was such a thing that could be so cruel." Twilight said.
Chrysalis' anger spiked as she slapped Twilight. "How dare you talk back to your higher ups! Just for that, you'll be the second to be broken under my reign as well." She said with conviction.
"You only use love as a tool of weakness. The only pony who is pathetic here is you, Chrysalis." Cadence said defiantly.
Queen Chrysalis was prepared to attack her when a black blade pierced outwardly through her skin suddenly causing her to halt her advance. The room's tension seem to build as the blade retracted itself. Chrysalis turned around meeting eye contact with the person that stabbed her, and the result shocked even her. It was her own changling that did the deed.
He seemed to grin. "It appears that my plan worked perfectly.... for the most part." he said.
Everypony else seemed confused until the black flame engulfed his form causing him to morph into Shadow Faze. Chrysalis' eyes widen in more shock. "W-What?! Impossible! I just killed you!" she said.
"You are such a fool, Chrysalis. That was just a decoy, a copy, of me. It doesn't even have all the powers I possess," Shadow said as his horn lit in its black glow causing the copy of him to disappear. "You see, the reason I have been away for so long was because I was trying to find the weakness in your army. Fortunately, I found one just in time before you came to reveal your turn form. I knew you were a fake alicorn from the start."
"Then why didn't you agree with me when I found out!" Twilight demanded.
"Simple Twilight, I needed my substitute to be as real as possible. I needed him to buy me enough time to plan a better strategy against this insect queen." Shadow said nonchalantly.
Queen Chrysalis' expression turned into a scowl. "I'll admit, that was extremely clever for a bastard like yourself to pull off, but it will not happen again." she said getting into battle position again. She glowed in a green aura.
Shadow closed his eyes imagining Apocalypse to be alive in his grip. A black fog rolled off of his blade. She blurs at the unicorn in a frenzy of attacks from all directions, yet Shadow blocked every single thrust she made against him.
"The mind is sharper than the blade, Chrysalis." Shadow had said before in the blink of the eye he was behind the Queen. She turned around for a brief moment only for a large deep gash to suddenly cut through her. She coughs up blood from her mouth as her knees collapsed from underneath their own weight. Her breath was rigid and shallow looking up at the approaching Shadow.
Shadow then crouches to her level glaring daggers like he was examining her very soul. "You know, if I was my old self, I would kill you right here and now. I wouldn't care for the consequences. You hurt my friends and deceived my copy, which could have been me, by turning yourself into my beloved Zecora," Shadow moves his mouth into her left ear. "I have every right to skin you alive and melt your insides." Her eyes widen at his words as her body instinctively shook.
"But, I'm not like Atone," Shadow gets up using his magic to free the mane six, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Celestia. "Therefore, I'll allow Celestia to decide your fate."
Celestia's expression showed little sympathy toward the Changling Queen. A moment passed before she sighed. "Heal her injuries and take the magic she stole from her. She'll be thrown in the dungeon for her crimes. I'll deal with her myself later." Celestia said.
Shadow nods in understanding before two Royal Guard members escort the hand cuffed and severely injured Queen to the infirmary.
"What about the rest of the Changling Army? What will you do with them?" Rainbow Dash asked a bit worried.
Shadow grinned in satisfaction. "Oh, they got the love they wanted, but unfortunately, it was too much for them to handle, so they were thrown far away from here." he answered.
"Well, now that is settled. Twilight, I want you to now plan a real wedding." Celestia said with a soft smile toward her student. She happily nods before her and the mane six hurry off.
Shadow's POV
After the whole wedding invasion incident, Chrysalis was interrogated intensively by the Royal Guards. Nothing so far, but I think they'll get something out eventually. As for the rest of the ponies, they continued the union of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence.
I wasn't too interested in the whole special event, but I did had conversations with the bride and groom. It turns out they never met a more talented unicorn in combat before (other than the Princess'. They are infamous for their combat skills). Anyway, once everything began to die down, Luna landed in the middle of it turning to me. "Did I miss anything?"
I was floored by her question, but answered regardless. "Yes, quite a lot too, but Celestia can fill you in on that later." I said.
Luna nodded before mingling with the party. I however had nopony else really to talk with anymore. I grew increasingly bored staring at the moonlight Luna gave out this particular night. "Curse my easily bored mi-"
"Shadow?" a mare asked.
I turn around to face a mare I haven't seen before. She had a light blue coat, cherry red mane, and rosey red eyes. She wore a purple with gold trimming dress, yet it didn't seem to be royalty material. I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, I am Shadow. How can I help you miss...."
"Crushing Skull." She plainly said.
I slightly winches at the name. "Damn, that's a name alright. Whatever, it doesn't matter. Just tell me your purpose for being here." I said.
She seemed to give off a sly grin at my commit. "As usual you give off a prissy attitude. But listen, your next evil tyrant fight will not go well."
"What are you even talking about?" I asked.
As soon as I said that, her very essence begins to fade as she hurries her pace in wording. "There's no time, you must find the Álobo-"
And just like that, she disappeared in front of my eyes. All I did was stared in the spot where Crushing Skull originally stood. My brain struggling to put together what that was about.
"That apple cider must be stronger than I thought...."
"Shadow, are you going to try pin the tail on the mule?" Pinkie asked in a burst of energy.
My mind immediately pushed aside those thoughts. "Yeah, I'm coming, Pinkie." I went back inside and enjoyed the rest of the night with my friends.
A day after the wedding drew to a close, I walked to the Canterlot General Hospital to correct one mistake I made during my stay in this world.....
I walked up to the help desk to see a unicorn in a typical nurse uniform. She glanced at me while I slightly lean up against the help desk.
"Hello sir, how may I help you?" she asked.
"I would like to know the current state Nightmare Moon is in please," I replied only for her to grimace at the thought. "Is something wrong with that?"
"No, it's just Nightmare Moon had been declared mentally unstable for a long time now. She's at the Asylum so that she can be controlled without hurting herself." she said.
My eyes widened in shock. The Asylum. That can only mean that she went insane after the whole rape. I nodded understanding the situation.
"Then where can I find the asylum she is in?" I asked.
"It's two blocks south then take a right. You'll find that the building is front of you." she replied. I thanked her before setting myself off to the new destination.
It didn't take too long to reach the asylum. However, I did not expect the asylum to look so similar to the other worlds' equivalents. It was an old looking, stand-out building surrounded in a perimeter of barbed wire fencing with only one entrance. Royal Guard members were stationed outside of the asylum and probably inside too, oddly enough.
I walked up to one of the guards. Of course, he noticed me but then recognized me. "You're Private Shadow, correct?" he asked sternly.
I saluted him politely. "Yes sir, I'm here to see how Nightmare Moon is holding herself."
He looked nervously at me clearing his throat. "It's an honor to meet you in person. However, I don't know about her current condition. You'll have to speak to the warden. She strictly prohibits visitation of all kind." he said.
"Then take me to the warden. I do need to speak with her anyway." I said.
The guard nod his head leading me through the asylum entrance. I was met by the typical plain white interiors of an asylum. Bright hallway lights and cells with cushioned padding in their walls. The prisoners inside the cells groaned and screamed insane chants and wails, blabbering streams of nonsense, or both.
The psychos of equestria. Ones where their minds break from the pressures of life and years of torment, or sometimes just simple quick sudden changes in normal society.
I didn't pay much mind to them as best as I could before we got to the warden's quarters. The guard opened the door saluting the warden herself. I walked in shortly after.
The warden seemed like the type of mare to not mess with under any circumstances. She wore the typical prison guard clothes except she exclusively given a cap with the equestrian seal making her status in authority feel different. The strawberry mane and grey coat mare just stared at me like I was the scum of the earth itself.
She nod toward the guard; a signal to leave. They softly shut to dorr behind them. There was a moment pause before I spoke. "I came here to talk about the condition of Nightmare Moon Miss......," I found the name tag placed on her desk. "Nut Cracker..."
She straighten herself up in the comfortable chair smiling coldly at me getting out a few short laughs. "I see you must be new here. The Nightmare Moon you probably knew before is not there anymore. Her mind broke for an unknown reason. The princesses themselves requested that she remains in the asylum the rest of her existence. No exceptions." Nut Cracker said with conviction.
"I see, well since that is the case I need to see her for myself." I said.
Nut Cracker leaned in slightly on the desk her steel grey piercing through my eyes, glaring into me. "Nopony is allowed under ANY circumstances, except the Princesses themselves. You are not a princess from what I can see, so you're not allowed to see her."
I sighed a little irritated by her now. "Look, I'm Private Shadow Faze, one of the Heroes of Equestria that saved Equestria three times already from powerful evil. I'm just here to see how I can help fix the mistake I made. It was my fault she ended up insane to begin with. I can fix her condition."
"Even if I allow you to see her. What makes you think you can save her? Once somepony goes insane there is NO longer a way to pull them back." Nut Cracker said.
"How about this. If I can't do it I'll leave you alone and this asylum forever. No harm done." I said.
Nut Cracker glared at me for the longest time before she came to a solution. She sighed. "I'll allow you only one chance. Her cell is 2189." she said finally.
"Thank you, ma'am." I said with a solute.
The door opened up for me again as I took my leave and searched the cells. 2179.... No.
I turned to a different hallway and kept on looking. 2180... 2184... 2189!
I stopped in front of the cell and rehearsed my breath slowly a few times. A guard was there, so I explained my presence. He understood and opened the cell door. I walked into the bright lit up room inside. The moment I stepped inside, I realized the entire room was not steel plated, but instead made out of an odd foam substance. Then, I noticed somepony in one of the corners of the cell.
Sitting, staring wide eyes into space was Nightmare Moon. She wore a straight jacket and had a steel muzzle cage over her mouth to prevent visitors, guards, or herself from getting hurt. She somewhat thrashed in the straight jacket trying to do something while she mumbled barely audible words.
I sighed softly as I approached her. She didn't seem to notice me however. "Nightmare Moon, it's me," Her head turned so quickly it startled me. She shook at my presence.
"Please.....no more...."
The words made me think back to what had happened on that day. It frightened me terribly, but I knew only one solution. My horn lit up with my hands as I gently touched her forehead. Suddenly, the world drifted away into blackness.
Her mind felt strange indeed. It is dark and damp with no sunlight anywhere in sight. It is even cold enough for me to see my breath.
I seem to be on a trail, so I followed it through. No wildlife or sounds besides the clack of my hoof steps.
"Talk about creepy. It's like her mind lost all life and color somehow."
The path seem to end at a cave entrance. No light whatsoever still. I lit up my horn to summon a ball of light to help me see in the unfathomable amount of darkness inside. I walk down into the cave and I search around to find anything that could be out of place.
*drip*..........*drop*
The sound of water made it to my ears. "Where there is water, there is an exit."
I followed the sounds to end up finding only a puddle of water..... One single puddle in the center of a relatively large chasm. My confusion was met with more silence and the dripping of a single drop of water into the puddle. I slowly approach the puddle, but a bad feeling arose down in my gut. I materialize Apocalypse preparing for anything.
Then the sound of water just stops altogether....
My heart raced as I move all around to see what has happen. But then I felt a strong presence just behind me. I swiftly turn around only to be almost sick at a repulsive thing with bright soulless blue pupils. It was black and ponylike, however the thing had jagged skin covering the pure white sawlike teeth it had. It wore nothing letting its obvious horse penis hanging between his thighs. But what really was the most repulsive thing about this creature was the several wounds on its body that profusely leaked out a sick whitish fluid from itself.
It gurgled a growl before charging at me with its claws on its hands extended at me. A precise slice through the stomach split it into two pieces. The two pieces fall to the ground splattering the whitish fluid all over the place like blood would.
"Ew. Disgusting." I said.
I begin to walk away when something grabs my hoof. It was the thing from before's upper half as it roars an ear piercing scream that amplify itself in the silence. My sword lit up on fire as I stab it downward into the foul creature.
It spasms and squeals in pain before turning into a pile of black and whitish goo.
"And good riddance." I decide to continue on seeing another tunnel way.
It is long and windy before the tunnel split into three more tunnels. I pause to think what to do.
"Damn it, which way."
A scream cut through the air. That made me decide which direction to go. I steadied my blade making it to the end of the tunnel in record timing.
What I saw took me a few seconds to process. I see the same creatures, the one before was made out of, surrounding a specific area. The pony in the center looked different however. I then recognize the purple serpentine eyes. Nightmare Moon.
I let out a war cry. My blade easily slicing the first creature in two down the middle. I drew the attention of every one of the creatures in the room automatically. They screech at me before wildly attacking me from all angles.
However, my burning black blade did not wane. I cut through as many as I could into more black and whitish goo.
The wails of their screeches filled the room until the soft sobbing of the Queen of the night was the only thing that could be heard. I relaxed my blade to dematerialize it before walking up to Nightmare Moon.
She didn't notice me however, so I hug her reguardless. She cried harder into me. I remained silent doing my best to ease her pain. But I knew deep inside that rape never gets any easier to deal with. Rape destroys the strong and makes them broken, beat.... powerless against the predator. Many before Nightmare Moon have suffered through rape. It's a vicious cycle that never stops turning.
I refuse myself to show such an emotion right now when Nightmare Moon was the main priority. "It's okay Nightmare. Let it all out."
A dark, low laugh then rings throughout the room causing Nightmare Moon to freeze in fear I have never seen before. That only meant one thing it could be. Her true fear.
The creature rears its ugly head out of the shadows of the room with a malice smile spread across its face from ear to ear. It looked just as sickening as the other creatures I had slain in her mind, but this one has a noticeable difference.
It was at least five times bigger than the creatures before. The giant creature also has piercing red serpentine eyes, sharp claws and surprisingly a scyph for its choice of arsenal.
"GET DOWN AND SERVE YOUR MASTER, BITCH!" It roars toward Nightmare Moon. She try to make herself smaller staying behind me. She shook like a leave in the wind.
I gave the creature a menacing glare scuffing in disgust. "Who do you think you are? You're talking to the Queen of the Night, wench. Show some respect!" I get into battle position as the creature seem to be displeased at the sight of seeing me.
Nightmare Moon was struck speechless at my remark. I drove Apocalypse into the creature's stomach. The creature roars in pain, doubling over, but I teleport out of its reach to avoid its random attack pattern. I release the black fog on my blade. I felt my speed tripled making me able to cut the creature down to size swiftly. It tried feebly to swipe at me with its scyph.
I dodge cutting into the creature until the fighting bored me. With one last charge, I release a raw burst of my true magic into its core shoving the blade into the creature again. It roars in pure agony struggling in my grip but to no avail.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!" It roars one last time before exploding into giant puddles of black and whitish goo.
I dematerialize Apocalypse before approaching Nightmare Moon again. She looked up at me in complete disbelief with widen eyes.
"Why?" She asks in a soft voice.
I smile simply saying. "Because it was the least I could do to help with all the pain I caused you."
The cave around me start to gain more color as she seem to smile at my response. I also see tears of joy streak down her face moments later. My vision begin to fade away as I return to seeing blackness again....
I awaken back from my visit into her head. It seemed like she was doing the same. She seemed to be calmer than when I originally came in. So with my magic, I unrestrained her from her bonds then helped her up. Nightmare Moon smiled at me softly before she gave me a big hug.
"Thank you Shadow." She said.
"No problem Nightmare," We stayed in the embrace for a while longer before I broke the hug. Come on, let's check you out of this hellhole."
She couldn't agree more. We walked out of the room together. The guard that was on standby at the door was flabbergasted at the sight before him, but we ignored him.
The news of Nightmare Moon's sanity returning back spread across the asylum like wild fire while I was busy signing the paperwork of her release...... Damn paperwork to hell. It's a pain in the ass to do.
Nut Cracker only just stared between the sane Nightmare Moon and me, mostly in too much shock to speak. After a while of filling out paperwork and silence, I called for Nightmare to follow me when Nut Cracker called out to me.
I paused to look back at her and see she was trying to figure something out. "What do you need? I forfilled my promise with you already." I said.
"How did you do it," she asked getting up. "What you did was impossible even for magic to accomplish. It's impossible to mend someone's mind to recover like this. What are you? Are you secretly an alicorn or something?"
I stood silent before I spoke calmly. "I am simply a soldier just trying to do my job and not screw things up, ma'am. I always have been a firm believer in anything is possible." With that, Nightmare Moon and I took our leave.
Nut Cracker's POV
I gave the stallion and Nightmare Moon some time to exit the asylum before I summoned my trustworthy guard.
An earth pony stallion walked into my quarters saluting me and locking the door behind himself to prevent further intrusion. I gave a scowl toward him getting up.
"You know why you're here, right Iron Lance?" I asked him.
His face remained unreadable. "Of course, my Archdemon. And I have some good news and bad news." he replied.
"Good news first."
"Good news is that we might have found another way to free Lord Hades."
"Oh, that is good news." I said with a tinge of happiness to my tone.
"Bad news is we need Nightmare Moon's blood and body for the ritual to work."
I pound my fist into the desk causing the corner of it to spliter off into many pieces of wood. "That colt of a bastard." I snarled.
I walked over to the mirror positioned to the left wall in the office while Iron Lance just stood where he was.
"And why did you decide to tell me just now? We had Nightmare Moon in a weakened state for months now." I said coldly.
"My apologies, our research team could not figure out what was the counterspell for the banishment until now my Archdemon." he said.
I sighed then glanced at him through the mirror. "Since you can't do the simple task of finding new counterspells, I want you to figure out the location of both Nightmare Moon's residence and the black stallion's as well."
"Of course. And if I see him?"
"Then assassinate him. Make it look like it was an accident."
"As you wish my Archdemon." With that, Iron Lance left my quarters.
Everything had just taken longer now thanks to the black stallion's interference once again. Healing Nightmare Moon like that was probably just a fluke. I highly doubt he will be able to escape from the Blood Claw's best assassin. The satisfaction of his death made me smile sinisterly in anticipation.
You know, the best part of my entire day was seeing the faces of my friends when I showed the mentally healed Nightmare Moon to them. Twilight, on the other hand, was pestering me with questions. Especially about key information on how I could heal someone's mind. However, I did not reveal such advance spells to her knowing what type of pony she is.
And so with the long intense conversation out of the way, I went home feeling good about myself. It was no surprise to see Zecora cleaning the hut as she smiled at me. "I see you came back. How was your trip?" she asked.
"It was alright. I assume you want to know?"
Zecora nods happily as we sat down side by side on the couch in the main room. And from there I told my crazy adventure at the asylum about healing Nightmare Moon. I wasn't surprised when she seemed lost for words.
"How were you able to do such a feat? Not even I could repair damage to the mind like that." She said.
My happy expression seem to somber a bit at the painful memories that came in. "Well, let's just say it's a long story. I rather not go into detail." I said.
Zecora seemed slightly disappointed but was understandable. "Of course dear, if that's what you want."
From then until nightfall we spent the rest of the day talking about daily things and enjoying each other's company.
That night however I couldn't stop thinking of that moment during the wedding. The mare named Crushing Skull. Whatever it was she came for was important, but the question was what was so important to go back in time for?
My mind went back to all the new and old villains I defeated in the past. None matched to what could be the reason. I sighed turning and comforting my wife with a smile before I let sleep claim me.
The next day was not very eventful other than the fact it was a muggy day. Which strangely didn't fit the unusual forest too well. Then I heard the sound of someone approaching from the pathway. I turned my head to the pathway to find that three Royal Guard soldiers were at the hut entrance. Zecora and I approached them as the one in the middle seemed to be the one to give the friendliest greeting.
The mare seem to be familiar though.... My heart almost skipped a beat when she took off her helmet.
It was Crushing Skull only she seemed to not recognize me. Now that I got a good look at her I also realized she was a unicorn. "You must be Private Shadow Faze," She said.
"Yes, I am. This is my wife, Zecora." I said as Zecora did a polite gesture toward her.
"I'm Crushing Skull and my job is to escort you to the Canterlot Castle. A problem arose that requires your direct attention. " Crushing Skull said.
I sighed as I said my goodbyes to Zecora before I head back to the castle once more. To await me is Celestia herself with her student Twilight Sparkle. Twilight appeared to have many scrolls, parchments, and papers for something though.
"You request my audience again, Princess?" I asked cutting into the conversation Twilight and Celestia were having.
The Sun Princess seemed to brighten at my presence. "Shadow, you showed up! I thought you would have stayed home with your wife. After all, this does seem like a very trivial matter."
"Nonsense Princess. I always report to duty," I glanced at Twilight. "I assume I'll be her bodyguard?"
"Not quite. Have you two ever heard of the Crystal Empire?" Celestia asked.
Twilight searched in her notes while I just plainly looked at her in confusion. "I'm sorry, I-I thought I studied- oooh. I don't think there is anything in my books-"
"There won't be." She said.
Twilight immediately stopped searching to stare at the Sun Princess. She had my interest peaked a bit too.
Celestia faced her throne before her horn lit up to a small glass dome. The glass contained a long, hexagonal prism crystal was pulled from the small glass dome. "Few ever remember it ever existed at all," Celestia continued taking the crystal out with her magic placing it in front of us. "Even my knowledge about the Empire is limited."
She struck a beam at the crystal before it started to glow making an hologram of what the Empire had looked like. Twilight stammered back in slight shock and awe at the beauty of the holographic image of the Crystal Empire. It looked to me like a giant snowflake with a sort-of crystal eiffel tower in the middle of it, but I stayed quiet to let her finish her story.
"What I do know is it contains a powerful magic. One thousand years ago King Sombra, a unicorn who's heart was black as night took over the Crystal Empire," A visual of a black crystal spread across the hologram. I kind of felt a bit disappointed at the description she gave me of this Sombra dude-pony. Really all the supposed 'villains' of this world just feel like jokes. "He then enslaved the Crystal Empire to do his bidding and take over all of Equis."
I saw the holographic form of him appear at the top of the eiffel tower structure. I felt only deep hatred build up inside of me strangely. He was a dark grey stallion with black everflowing on him. His pupils were flowing green while his ires were serpentine red. He wore a cloak of something a stereotypical king would wear with a sinister grin plastered on his face looking down on his slaves. That didn't really help with my rising anger.
"I'm guessing he was defeated?" I asked.
Celestia glanced at me. "Yes, and he was ultimately overthrown. He was then turned into a shadow and banished into the ice of the Arctic North."
Once again, it showed the visuals as Twilight stared intently, but could clearly see that the ones who defeated him were Celestia and Luna. For whatever reason she didn't tell Twilight was beyond me. But I myself wouldn't trust that information to a selective hearing pony either. After that visual, it returned back into its holographic self again.
Twilight of course had no words to express herself to what happened. "But not before he could put a curse on the Empire. The curse caused it to vanish in thin air."
At this point, I was done listening and was about to walk away. "-If hatred and fear take hold-" I felt Celestia's magic grow unfamilarly dark. I turn around to see some of the same streaks that Sombra had glowing off his eyes. She struck the crystal making the entire crystal engulfed in the same darkness. It released a shadow toward Twilight as it came in lightning speeds in front of her. The same black crystals grew around her before I shattered them with my punches. Celestia's concentration broke in shock at my display even Twilight seemed surprised.
"I think we get it now, Celestia. So all we have to do is kill this Sombra du-pony, and also make sure the Crystal Empire stays safe too." I summarized.
"Y-Yes. Exactly," Celestia said as she regain her composure. "It is, as I said, a different kind of test, but one I am certain you both will pass."
Twilight looked determined for moment. I grinned finally being able to meet the bastard to knock him down a few pegs. "How do we begin?"
"By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire." the Sun Princess explained walking down the throne room. Twilight tagged along beside her while I stayed only a few steps back from them.
"My brother will be there?"
"He is. And your Ponyvile friends will join you there as well."
I had to resist the urge to sigh at the situation with her friends in it.
"Of course, they are the Element Bearers, but they could still be troublesome if push comes to shove. I'll have to keep myself extra careful now."
"But, what if I fail?" Twilight asked skeptically.
Now that surprised me a bit. She usually doesn't have those doubts. "You won't." Celestia said.
"But, what if-" Before she could continue, Celestia placed a hand on her shoulder with a soft smile on her face.
"You won't," Celestia assured her student. "But Twilight, in the end, it must be you and Shadow who ultimately assist Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to save the Empire. Do you understand?"
Twilight seemed to take pride in her order as she nods to Celestia. "Then there is no time to lose." Celestia said.
She shut the door firmly behind us both. I finally let the sigh escape my muzzle. This was going to be one interesting business trip.
We arrived at the Frozen (Arctic) North train station, but nopony appeared to be there. It wasn't until I heard a male voice break through the snowy winds that I noticed anypony else there besides the girls and Spike. It was Shining Armor as he looked relieved she was here.
"Twily, you made it." Shining Armor said as he gave her a hug.
They broke up the hug after a moment went by. We then start to follow him through the blizzard. "We better get moving, there are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark." His tone drifted dark slightly as the girls looked at each other concerned.
We continued on the blankless snow valley. There was so much snow that we could only see slight visualizations of mountains in the distance.
"Something keeps trying to get in. We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place." Shining informed.
"Good to know we came to the right place."
That's when I stopped listening to their conversations. Because I was throughly bored and so I decided to let my mind drift off to other thoughts. Like trying to figure out why the sun hasn't destroyed the weather all over this planet yet? Or how the pegasus just twist the weather however they like it to be? I sometimes wonder if this planet will eventually turn against ponykind.
Suddenly, a strange howling noise pierced the blizzard around us. We searched for it, but by the time Shining told us to move faster a tornado of pure shadow burst forth from the snowy ground behind us.
The dark magic I felt from the monster was more intense and possibly several times more powerful then the spell Celestia attempted earlier. However, I had a bad urge to fight the bastard. It was short lived when several towers of a red crystal crowded around the girls. I materialized Apocalypse out to cut it only for it to ricochete off the crystal. I was completely surprised to say the least. Shining Armor recovered enough to lead them out of the death trap, and then we all ran like hell away from the tornado of shadows. The red crystals still tried to impale all of us despite our struggle to get to the Crystal Empire still.
Some of the shadows itself burst like an explosion causing the darkness to fall everywhere. Many missed but one lucky hit caught Shining Armor's horn. Shining cried out in short pain black crystals forming on his horn. It didn't matter though because our lives were on the line at the moment.
"Almost there!" Shining said gaining more speed along with the rest of us.
I could see in the distance a pink barrier, but I didn't have time to question the color of it as the shadow bellowed out in fury gaining up more speed as well. The shadow revealed a sinister smile with green and red eyes like he knew what was going to happen. It didn't take too long as we all crossed through the barrier walls. The shadows however cried out in agony as it hit the sphere of light. The girls let out a sigh of relief while Shining only let out a frustrated growl at his unusable horn. So much for his magic.
We carried on to the crystal castle which was.....nice and quiet. Not many of the locals stirred about in the city which felt odd to me. Some of them didn't even feel too happy to be alive again. All I could feel was.....fear.
Well, we get to the throne room to find out that Cadence is the only pony strong enough to hold up the shield by a thread, and now since Shining Armor can't preform the spell he can't relieve her of the magical strain. So the girls, Spike and I then go to the library they have. And thus we begin our search for the history of the so called 'Crystal Heart'.
I scanned through the many books aimlessly for hours and hours until one book fell from one of the top selves. This book got my attention, so I decided to at least check the title out. It's title read Artifacts of the Ancients. It looked relatively harmless enough especially since I'm looking for an artifact. I opened the book and read. However, I stopped on one peculiar artifact.
Its fancy illustration was in the shape of a strange collection of naturally-grown together crystals. The drawing also showed wavy lines coming out from it. I read its symptoms and what it was capable of doing. My eyes grew wider and wider connecting the dots. It should have been impossible to find it in this land, but somehow it's here.
I have to act quick before it's too late.
I ran toward Twilight and her friends as they see me coming by. "SorrygirlsbutIhavetogosopleaseexcusemeanddon'ttouchanythingthatlookslikeredcrystals, bye!" (Sorry girls but I have to go so please excuse me and don't touch anything that looks like red crystals, bye!) I said as I zipped by them with Apocalypse unsheathed. I wasn't going to let the bastard ruin anymore worlds while I was alive.
However, I saw the shield flicker from the loss of power, so I increased my speed. I had a few moments at best before Cadence's magic failed and allowed the thing to enter the kingdom. Half a hour into my run the pink shield completely falls apart. Many of the locals screamed in panic around me but I pushed through the chaos. Then I heard the tyrant's laughter near by. The shadow morphed into a recognizable stallion along with fully armored foot soldiers at his side. The stallion looked exactly like the hologram Sombra was depicted. He ordered his foot soldiers to attack the rest of the Crystal Empire before attending to me.
"So, you are this King Sombra Celestia warned about." I said with a nonchalant tone in my voice.
Sombra grinned before he stride up towards me. "I see you are well informed. The question seems to be now who are you? You are just a simple unicorn with no experience in magic whatsoever." Sombra said.
He carelessly summoned his simple weapon of a type of sword. It radiate a great deal of evil behind it. He grinned behind his cold expression. He collided blades in a matter of seconds before I was forced to go on the defense. Sombra seem amused by my fast reflexes barely able to catch his attacks.
It wasn't long before he delivered a sturdy uppercut and then threw me down on the ground with his curved horn's magic. I began to whisper a chant in my native tounge as he approached me.
"You know, for a big mouth your power carries very little weight to- Where did he go?" Sombra said in slight surprise and confusion only for something to slice open his back. He cried out in pain before he jumped back to quickly regenerate himself.
I smiled as I reappeared in front of him with a teleportation spell. "You really thought you had beat me yet? Pathetic, that cockiness is going to get you killed." I said as the black fog rolled off my blade.
Sombra's surprise goes further at my sudden boost in power. He couldn't fully indulge in his own thoughts before he was on the defense this time blocking my current series of strikes at almost blinding speeds. At this point, he was cut up, beaten, and bleeding in various places all over his body. I just stood there a good distance away from him while he tried to catch his breath.
"Are you done now, Sombra? Because I can do this all day."
Sombra chuckled first before it turned into manical laughter. "YOU WANT TO SEE HOW STRONG I AM?! THEN PREPARE TO BE OBLIVIATED!" he shouted as he released whatever restriaints he had on him. His body revealed itself to be half completely consumed in a type of red crystal.
I grew wary of what I saw as it matches up perfectly to 'it' now. "You got more surprises in you I see." I said getting into one of my more serious types of combat positions.
Luck had it out with me this time because his anger and hatred rose from my remark. In a matter of seconds, he charged a beam of strong dark magic mixed with the red crystal launching it at me. I luckily dodged his attack, but the land itself was torn up from the sheer power the beam produced. What was left had turned it into a large scar in the earth.
I blurred up in front of him bending backwards to avoid another beam then stabbed him through his stomach. I then swing him around in a few quick circles before launching him directly into an abandon crystal home. The force of the impact caused its entire structure to shatter moments later.
Sombra however bursts from the crystal pile letting out an outraged roar expelling the same energy around the area. I quickly covered myself in a forcefield just in time for the force to engulf me. When everything cleared again there was nothing but ash around me. The destruction stretched out for a mile long. In that time frame I saw his body work its regeneration magic.
"There's ponies here! What the hell is your problem?!" I yelled at him.
Sombra laughed in amusement. "Who cares. They are just dumb slaves to bend to my will. They didn't have lives to begin with."
My anger boiled as I formed my claws to tear some pieces of meat off the bastard. The bastard cried out in pain before elbowing me in the chest. Lady Luck seemed to get a kick out of this because I felt more force and damage into it thanks to gravity pushing me forward so fast. I was painfully sent flying a few meters before stopping myself.
A dark chuckle escaped from Sombra's lips as he now completely took a different stance from before. No more was he selfdestructive and arrogant. Instead it seemed like he had switched personalities somehow.
I got back up again glaring at him to at least keep some of my dignity. "Who are you? You don't seem to be Sombra anymore."
"As observant as you ever were, Herra Dovostro. I'm impressed." he said.
My eyes widen in pure surprise as it slowly turned into my silent anger. "How do you know that name?" I asked.
He grinned before his blade code itself in mysterious red crystal. The crystal seemed to melt itself directly into the blade. I recognized that blade anywhere. It was Rufusdraco's favorite curved sword. The sword also had a blood red hue to it that said he never bothered to wash the blade of its kills. I thought I was the last one.
"How are you still alive? After all this time you should have died." I said.
Rufusdraco, impersonating as Sombra, just stared coldly back at me. "Simple really. I just got lucky. Can't say the same to your friends and w-"
"YOU BASTARD! Don't pretend you know that pain!" I yelled interrupting his explanation.
He smirked again. "You're right, I don't. Which is why I'm kill you first, Dovostro. Then I'm taking over this world because then after that I can finally gain enough resources to not depend on this weakling."
I knew he would try to spread his influence onto everypony too. My grip on Apocalypse tightened as he and I both then clashed blades with each other, but this time a full blown shock wave came from the connection shattering any windows in sound distance. We didn't stop there though as he raised a tower of sharp red crystal under me. I teleport behind him before stabbing through his right shoulder. The painful cries made me quite oblivious to the pillar that struck out from of his back a second later impaling me.
I coughed out some of my own blood as I teleported me and Apocalypse from Rufusdraco several meters in front of him. The red crystal was taking more over his body as the real Sombra fought for his life now thrashing on the ground.
"Dammit, the bastard got a deep wound into me... Time for plan B."
I pushed myself up from the ground near the thrashing Sombra as the black fog encased Apocalypse again. With great force I sped up to him then impaled his stomach. I twisted it violently into him for good measure. His screaming only increased as he attempted to tear me to pieces with his fingers but could not.
His regeneration spell couldn't keep up with the multiple bleeding holes as his movements started to slow down. I looked into his eyes seeing Rufusdraco's serpentine crystal red eyes flash back at me. He coughed up some blood before lightly chuckling.
"It....appears that I have....underestimated one of my greatest foes......... It doesn't matter though because.......... Not even the gods can save you now...." He sputtered weakly.
As if on cue, a huge bright white light in a growing sphere outwards burst forth from the crystal castle. White cracks quickly spidered across Somber's body. It wasn't long before his body shattered itself apart into nothing. With nothing to hold me down I fell to the stone floor with my trusty Apocalypse beside me. The wound he did on me was too deep for normal spells to preform unfortunately. I can't simply do it myself because of my brain unable to focus right now.
I needed medical attention, but I was too weak to get back up again. I felt my body instinctively relaxing itself before my mind drift off into blackness. The last thing I heard was a roar of cheering ponies.
I stirred from the darkness with the first thing that I heard is a heart monitor. Which means I made it to the hospital. Of course.
I finally opened my eyes to view where I am. As I expected I was in the hospital. I saw a few key things though. One was my sweet darling Zecora beside my bed like she slept in that position. I could see she laid on me like that, crying earlier today. I softly sigh only shuffling around a bit, but it seemed to do the trick because Zecora wake up from my sudden movement.
"Shadow?" She asked warily.
"Yes sweetie?" I replied.
That simple response caused her to give me a big hug. I smiled weakly still from the pain that I was in, but it was dulled as I hugged back.
"It's alright. I wasn't going to die that easily." I said.
"How was I supposed to know? My potions didn't work on your wounds. The doctors said that somepony with strong enough antimagic was able to block you from regenerating yourself," Zecora said. "I'm glad you weren't killed through, but what were you even thinking in taking on a creature like that was a good idea!"
I sighed again. "I had to in order to prevent the thing from causing more harm."
"In what way? You talk about Sombra like you knew him before all this." a new feminine voice said out through the doorway.
The mare who owned that voice was Nightmare Moon. She flashed a toothy smile toward me. "Ah, I see you came to visit me. This is unexpected," I said as Zecora released herself from my body. "You both met each other by any chance?"
"Yes, I'm quite familiar with Nightmare Moon. She has been seeing you occasionally for the passed two weeks you have been out." Zecora explained.
I was quite shocked at how long I was out. But then again I did had to fight magic from my original universe. It worried me though. That means that there might be more survivors that landed in other places as well. Maybe even more old foes... Yeah, better not to think about it.
"And to answer your question Nightmare, no, I haven't met Sombra in my entire life. I just knew the creature that was inside of Sombra." I said.
"The creature? Then you mean that strange red crystal he was covered in, right?" Nightmare Moon said.
"Wait how did you know that?" I asked.
Nightmare looked uneased at my tone. "Some of the Guard found some of it outside of the barrier. That's the last we heard of the crystals though. The guards said it went into the ground. Before they could pick it up."
I took the information in slowly at what events had happened. He was still alive. "Fuck, well, it's fine. He won't be a threat since he has been weakened. Although, I have no doubts that won't be the last time he'll strike." I said.
"Uh, Shadow if you don't mind me asking," Zecora asked. "Who is this creature?"
I looked between the two ponies in front of me before then focusing. "Don't tell the princesses a word of what I'm about to say," Nightmare nod her head before I continued. "The creature is called Rufusdraco. It's made completely out of this strange red crystal you first saw. Little is known about Rufusdraco, but where I'm from the guy was a major villain......before the end."
"Where exactly are you from anyways?" Nightmare asked.
When I said nothing they switched topics. "So I actually came by because the princesses wanted you and me to do a mission." Nightmare said.
I raised an eyebrow. "A mission? Well, I probably have no choice in the matter anyway."
Once the doctors gave the okay for my release, Nightmare and I head straight for the throne room. Luna and Celestia were there as well as a few guards. Celestia told them they were dismissed. Once they all left Celestia smiled down onto us.
"How dost thee fare, Shadow?" Luna asked.
"Quite fine Luna. Thanks for your concern. What exactly am I here for though?" I said.
"Well, first off, we like to introduce somepony to you." Celestia said.
As she said that a mare came from out of the darkness. I saw Bon Bon in a black agent uniform come in to view. "I would like to formally introduce you to Agent Sweetie Drops. She and Nightmare Moon will assist you in destroying the demon problem."
My eyes widened at the statement. Did she even realize what demons are capable of? "I'm sorry Celestia, but what did you just say?" I asked.
Her expression hardened at my question. "I know that you can't do this alone. And my sister and I fear that the demons are planning something. They have been quiet this whole time after that Nightmare Night scare they did back in Ponyvile."
"That could mean anything, Celestia. As I see it the demons have weakened in their resolve." I said.
Celestia grew quiet before she spoke again in a softer tone. "Recently, a former student of mine stole the Element of Magic from Twilight Sparkle in the Crystal Empire then flees into the Magic Mirror." She said.
I raised an eyebrow at her. "How does that connect to the demons exactly?"
"That's just it. When she came over I felt a strange sense of hidden evil inside of her. I'm afraid that my former student, Sunset Shimmer had made some kind of deal with the demons I'm not aware of. I need you and the team I assigned you to find Sunset Shimmer and stop the demon's plans, whatever they may be."
I thought about it for quite a bit until I came to a conclusion. "Sure thing Princess of the Sun. I'm always up for a demon fight."
"Well, this just ruined my recovery."
"You guys ready?" I asked the two recently joining the demon hunt. Both of them nod. "Okay, then we'll see you ponies later."
With that, we exit the throne room. However, as soon as we did Bon Bon (more accurately Sweetie Drops) made the face of a fan girl toward me.
"Shit."
"I can't believe it. I finally get to go on a mission with THE Shadow Faze!" She squealed.
I looked back to Nightmare Moon as she sighed. "Well, news of your victories spread across Equestria and all of Equis even. You are even more famous than the recent Bearers of Harmony." Nightmare explained.
I groaned. "Okay, Sweetie Drops, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm no hero. Matter of fact, I grew up as the opposite. I just only do what's right for me."
"That's exactly what a hero would say!" Sweetie Drops exclaimed filled with excitement.
I couldn't resist the facepalm that happened just now. "Anyway, we should get going then."
My horn lit up before they could say anything and we were gone in my magic.
When it comes to teleportation I have a fifty-fifty chance of my bad luck happening. Multiple teleportion spell? Well, that ratio goes out the window. We came into the Crystal Castle with a bang, literally. My magic exploded as soon we got there. Luckily, no one was injured but that still made me curse violently to the damn god that gave me this stupid curse of bad luck. Even Nightmare Moon was surprised at my colorful vocabulary.
Princess Cadence came in horrifed at seeing all of us sprawled on the ground. "Are you ponies alright?" she asked.
"Yeah. Pretty sure we are..... Celestia sent us to go after Sunset Shimmer." Nightmare Moon said before I could.
"Ah, of course. Celestia sent me a letter informing of the details. Follow me."
"Wait, WHAT?! How!"
But we were off before I could get some answers. Anyway, we get to the room with the 'magical' mirror in it. To my disappointment, it looked exactly like a normal mirror.
"Thank you Cadence. We got the rest." I said.
She nod as she exit the room. "Good luck!"
"Good luck... Well, at least someon- I mean, somepony believes they could help my luck."
We say our thanks before we enter the strange mirror. It didn't take long for us to stumble out of what appears to be a statue..... Not going to question it. First thing I noticed was that I could stand up easily. Second thing I noticed was that two colorful humans laid on the concrete beside me.
I froze as my brain try to wrap what I just said. Humans.
I looked at myself and noticed that my skin wasn't a black like my unicorn fur was. Instead it was like normal skin of a human.
"This can't be..... Impossible!"
The two humans stir as they rose to their feet. I also noticed these humans were women that looked exactly like Nightmare Moon and Sweetie Drops just in human form. "Nightmare, Sweetie Drops? Is it you two?" I asked to the women.
They noticed me, but ultimately were taken aback by my human form. "Wait, is that you Shadow?" Nightmare asked.
"Yeah, it's me. Sorry for the odd transformation. I'm surprised the mirror did it for me too. Can you use magic here?"
Nightmare tried to use her magic, but couldn't. "No, I can't here." she stated disappointed. Sweetie checked through her spy gear to make sure it was all there.
It was worth a shot. So I snapped my fingers as suddenly my favorite colorful rainbow apple appeared in my other hand. My smile widened across my face while both women stared at my stunt with their mouths wide open. I then ate the rainbow colored apple before giving a content sigh of relief at the familiar delicious taste.
I looked back at their agaped expressions. "What? Didn't I tell you already that I'm a traveler?"
"A traveler?" Sweetie Drops questioned.
I sighed tiresome. "Let's just get this demon hunt over with." I said finally.
That was when we looked at our surroundings. We appeared to be a some sort of crazy colorful high school. Am I crazy or is this version of Earth a bit odd. Whatever the case, we entered the building and was greeted by a storm of high schoolers. The strange part about all of them was that their color skin would match the exact color their pony counterpart was. Which bugged the crap out of me. We then decided to go to the Principle office for some assistance. What we were met with surprised all of us the most. It was a human looking Luna.
"Hello." I said.
She looked up from her 'light' paper work in front of a desk. The human Luna gave us an obvious fake smile at our presence.
"Ah. It's not everyday that the school board representative here shows himself. What seems to be the problem?" She said.
That made me look at myself again and sure enough I was wearing a nice black suit and tie with my hair combed back. The same exact outfit I had before I was flung into a land of ponies. Luna looked at me concerned before I cleared my throat.
"Of course Vice Principle Luna. I was hoping I could get your sister to see us immediately." I said. I seemed to get her title right on the money. She nod and walked off to fetch her sister.
"You're good at improvising I see." Nightmare remarked.
"Eh. It was a strong trait for me to keep adjusting."
The human versions of Celestia and Luna come back into the room as Celestia greated me with a fake smile.
"Nice to meet you Mr....."
"Shadow Faze."
"Ah, It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Faze." She said.
"Yes. I was hoping you can show us the profile of Sunset Shimmer. I'm afraid there are certain debates about your student and her grades that we must look over privately." I said.
Luna gave a concern look toward her sister, but she just smiled it off. "Of course, right this way Mr. Faze." Celestia said.
Nightmare, Sweetie and I then follow human Celestia to the back where the files are kept. She searches through all the files before she came across Sunset Shimmer's school profile.
The human Celestia gave the file to me as the women and I look into it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to it until I felt something off about the spelling the words made for her description. "Would you give us a moment Principle Celestia?"
"Of course. Let me know whatever else you need." she said exiting through the back room.
"Something is wrong with her description." I said.
Sweetie Drops raised an eyebrow. "There is nothing suspicious about describing her physical traits."
"To some, yes." I felt my eyes flash as the words on the page in the description faded away to be replaced with a black liquid demon symbols.
"Wait, what is that?" Nightmare asked.
"It's the demon language. It says 'If you want the power you desire you must first gain the power of the pure to obtain corruption then ultimately the purest power of all'." I said.
"The 'Power of the Pure'. Aren't the Elements of Harmony pure?" Nightmare asked.
I could see just then why Princess Celestia picked her. "Correct. Which means it requires the strongest element of all the Elements of Harmony." I continued.
"That explains why Sunset needed the Element of Magic specifically for." Sweetie Drops said.
"The question now is where is the element now?"
We fell into a silence as i reversed the spell making the paper normal. We said our goodbyes to the human Celestia and Luna before leaving the office. We wandered the hallways until something caught my eye. A form was taped to the hallways that looked to be some type of prom thing they do.
I then saw a high schooler loitering around the area, so I decided to ask him. He looked to be a chubby version of the pony Snips that I knew and met in Ponyvile.
"Hey, kid." I called to him. He seemed to freeze in his place at my voice. The human Snips turned around to see me, and I could tell even from here that he was panicking.
A friendly smile spread across my face. "You're not in trouble. l just want to ask you some questions."
He seems to relax a degree, but I pressed forward. "So, tell me about this prom you guys are having." I said.
"Oh, that's for the Prom Queen selection. Because the prom has a new crown for the Prom Queen." He said.
"New crown? Is that so. Thank you student. Oh, and stay out of trouble." I said continuing my walk with the two women.
"W-Will do sir...." Human Snips said.
I could tell something was off by that reply, but I had bigger threats on my mind to worry about. We decided to get out of the high school. Turns out it was called Canterlot High.... Alternative universe logic...
Anyway, we tried looking for clues outside of the Canterlot High area, but unfortunately came up empty with any further clues. We got an apartment living space conveniently out of a deal the company was having today. (Don't ask.) Either way, we were all kind of tired and fresh out of ideas. Sweetie Drops looked frustrated in a pile of reports while Nightmare was 'searching' through the TV channels.
"Found anything?" I asked.
"No." Both women said simultaneously.
It was evening and we still had close to nothing on the crown whereabouts. Then, a sudden burst of evil energy burst forth out of nowhere. "Girls! Got something. Hold on to my hands." I said.
They looked at me remembering the last time, but my look gave no room for back talk. Once they were both holding on to me we teleported.
To the women's surprise they landed safely at the statue we orginally started at. In the front of the Canterlot High was a human set of the mane six and..... Three demons. Great.
One of the demon's go wide eyed at my appearance as the main she demon looked mildly annoyed. "Now what! Who are you people!" She yelled at us.
"The name is Shadow Faze. My friends call me Shadow." I said calmly walking toward the demons slowly.
When I mentioned my name the human Twilight was shocked. "Shadow?! How and why are you here?" she asked.
I materialized Apocalypse looking at her for a split second. "No time to explain. But I'm here to hunt some demons." I said giving a toothy smile.
The teenage demons seem to be startled at my subconscious actions of licking my lips. The demoness however, didn't seem all too impressed.
"Take care of Twilight and her group. That man is mine though." She said.
The two demons followed their orders as she walked up to me. A smile crept up her face. "My, my. And to think I was going to waste my power on those weaklings," She smiled circling me, showing a predatory grin of sharp teeth. "I can feel the unlimited amount of power radiating off you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You must be new to being a demoness then if you think this is great power."
She looked puzzled for a second before her playfuliness turned into anger. "I'll make you eat those words you bastard!"
She blurred claws outstretched only for me to disappear then reappear behind her. I swing my blade just as she blocked my attack with her claws. Her eyes were wide with surprise.
"You're not the only one here with magic at your disposal." I said before pushing myself back a few feet from the demoness.
She smirked as she screeched a cry into the air that made my ears ring for a few seconds. Then all of a sudden, a familiar serpent torched me in a torrent of fire sending me into the walls of Canterlot High. I heard Twilight and the gang yelling out my name out of habit, I suppose. I could feel the smile on the serpent's face.
"Nice to see you too, Leviathan." I said getting back up from the rubble.
He chuckled. "So the bastard can remember names. Incredible. Well, sorry, but we are in the process of ruling the world, oh, and Equis while we are at it."
My rage boiled as I felt a dark energy run through me. I smiled before laughing at him. "Yeah, as I said before to you. You can go back to hell for all I care."
Leviathan seem to enjoy my remark before we clashed again. This time though I could feel my restricted power before start to release itself. I smirked at the rush of power delivering a powerful uppercut to the jaw, sending him flipping through the air. My smile grew bigger as I sped to him again lightning fast. But it wasn't good enough. He burst into flames before wrapping his coils around me. He then slammed me into the ground cracking the earth beneath the impact.
"Try that on for size, insect!" Leviathan gloated.
His confidence didn't last long as his coils were suddenly pierced by many black spikes. Leviathan cried out releasing me from the coils.
I laughed again. "You're in my territory now. Before my power was limited... Now, I get to bare its true fangs!" I said. I lifted my arms creating two shadow gauntlets on myself while retrieving Apocalypse.
Leviathan backed off and just as I was about to strike the bastard down the demoness with the Element of Magic on her head blocked me in a force field of magic. I sighed focusing back on the new demoness. She looked absolutely shocked at me. I smiled as I snapped my fingers once more. I used the power of my shadows to restrain her.
"NOW!" I shouted toward Twilight.
She nodded as Twilight did her thing in making the human elements shape into a heart as it hit her. The demoness screamed in protest but was eventually purified along with the other two beaten up demons into normal teenagers again.
"That explains a lot."
I drew my attention back to Leviathan only to see nothing but scorched earth. The coward didn't even put up a good fight. A little fed up with demons, I returned myself back to normal. I then walked back to Sweetie Drops and Nightmare seeing that they had fought the other two demons with their gear pulled out.
"We should go back to Equestria." Nightmare said.
Sweetie Drops looked back to the conversation going on in front of us and noticed the demoness that was converted back to normal.
"Wait, that was Sunset Shimmer?" she asked.
I looked back to the conversation hearing the name 'Sunset Shimmer'. "Yeah, pretty much was. The element crown gave it away."
"Well, at least the demon problem is solved over here." Nightmare said.
"Then it'-"
BANG
The world seemed to slow as I felt a small pain in my chest. I looked down to see a fairly large hole where my left lung should be. Then I fell to the cold ground. The women around me panicked as my life blood spilled out of me and fell unconscious.
Nightmare Moon POV
I was shocked and terrified at seeing Shadow getting suddenly impaled by something. I didn't even know what that was, but he was bleeding which doesn't mean it was meant to save him.
"Bon Bon, Twilight, get him to Equestria, stat!" I ordered them.
They waste no time in getting through the portal as I searched around the perimeter. Another bang went off nearly missing my head embedding itself into the concerete surface behind me. I searched again more cautiously this time until my eyes laid upon a weak flash on the roof of Canterlot High. I raced inside going up the nearest staircase, quickly drawing my saber, Crescent Moon. Coming upon a locked door, I used my physical strength to pick it open. I rolled on the ground to avoid the bullets going over top of me. The man it looked like saw my speeding approach before jumping off the roof. I didn't give him the satisfaction as I was able to stab Cresent Moon through his thigh. He let out a cry of pain trying to get out of the sword's grip. I looked down at the man and only saw red cold serpentine eyes of what might be a demon.
"Who are you? Why did you hurt Shadow!" I questioned the man.
He chuckled in mild pain from hanging up side down. "Hurt him? You misunderstand woman. I killed him. He knew too much about us. And unless you want to end up like your friend, then I suggest you don't poke your nose into things you don't understand.n he said.
My eyes widen at his statement, but I reminded confident. "He has survived through worse then an impaling or whatever you did to him!"
"It's called getting shot and if you haven't noticed the hole blew his left lung and half of his heart with it," he laughed. "No amount of healing can save someone from that. Goodbye Shadow!"
My anger peaked as I angrily grabbed the bastard by the throat. He continued to laugh like the sick monster he is.
"Sorry, but my Archdemon needs me intacted for her plans," he teleports out of my grip before I could hurt him further. "See ya!" he then burst into a pillar of fire being absorbed back into the earth.
My brain was screaming to move, but my body didn't seem to register the command. Was Shadow really died? I pulled Crescent Moon out of the roof before I went straight to the statue. I assured the human mane five and Sunset that everything would be fine. But my fears got worse as I entered out of the mirror and head straight to the Canterlot Castle's medical infirmary.
I went through the enterance and came to the help register. "I need to see Shadow." I told her.
The nurse smiled weakily at me. "I'm sorry ma'am. But he's not allowed to have visitors yet. He's right now in critical condition at this moment. You'll have to-"
"No, I'm an alicorn! I can save him easily." I proclaimed going pass her and attempt to enter the hospital doors only to be stopped by two bulky stallions. To my shock, both earth ponies easily stopped my approach. I grew enraged until Celestia's voice prevented from things to get ugly.
I looked over to see Celestia behind the two stallions. She told them to step aside as they obliged. We then enter the operation room as I could see Shadow being operated on. The doctors inside were frantically trying to stop the bleeding and patch up his organs.
"Is he still alive?" I asked.
Celestia looked at me uneasy. "That's the thing. His pulse is below average heart speed, but his brain is still able to function perfectly. We think the metal object that was found inside of him is the source of the problem." She said.
I was about to ask about the object until she showed me pictures of the strange object. It looked crumbled slightly maybe from impact, but looked strangely like a metal cone for the most part.
"That thing is the same thing that demon stallion shot at me when I went to confront him." I said.
Celestia looked concerned at my statement, but she returned her gaze back on the operation happening down below them.
"Will Shadow be okay?" I heard Twilight said making herself and Bon Bon known in the room.
"I sure hope so Twilight. Shadow was shot for a reason. From what I know, they could have injured him to scare us." Celestia reassured.
I shifted uncomfortably in place. "The demon stallion also said that he was shot for knowing too much about their plans. He said that before he vanished in a pillar of fire."
Celestia went quiet at my explanation. I somehow knew she knew that too. It didn't matter now anyway. Shadow's life is at risk now. Last time it was just a large injury to the stomach. This time, it's most likely a fatal wound to the upper chest.
You know, being a unicorn is one thing, but when I get myself shot behind my back.... That was all kinds of dishonor there. I was expecting a quick death. I didn't feel any pain though strangely. It was a matter of time before my brain dies with my body. Then my vision cleared again. This time however, I was in a giant library. There was even orbs scattered throughout the library with screens watching certain beings. And most importantly my unconscious body, or maybe my corpse.
The sound of hooves clopping on the floor got my attention to the pers- pony walking in. What I saw didn't surprise me as much as the other times I saw an alicorn. She stood an inch taller than Celestia herself with a dark red mane and tail. She had a white fur and for her 'Cutie Mark' it was a quill and inkpot on both of her flanks. (I still don't get these Cutie Marks.) The mare alicorn even wore a silk dress that only revealed a certain amount of cleavage. Even with all those features one thing stayed the same. Those big fleshy orbs on her- No, I will not go there!
She looked at me with a puzzled expression, then one of complete shock. "You're the pony that fell from the sky!" she exclaimed.
I raised an eyebrow a bit disappointed at the 'title' I was given.
"Out of all the things I've been called 'Pony from the Sky' is not one of them."
"I believe so? The name is Shadow Faze." I said.
"Then you are the pony that fell from the sky. I know you don't know me I'm Faust." She clarified.
"A pleasure," I said a bit awkward at the situation. "Listen, uh, why did you exactly summoned my soul here for?"
She looked knowingly at me. "Well, you are dying,"
"Tell me something I don't know."
"And I am going to offer you a second chance at life since you can't recov-"
"I would hold that offer. I won't need it for the most part." I said.
Now Faust was a bit irritated at my interruption, but that turned into confusion at my decline of life.
"Just tell me something, are you the mother of Celestia and Luna by any chance?" I asked.
"Yes, I am.... Not anymore." She said a look of guilt plastered on her face.
I get up from the floor and walked up to her. "What happened?" I asked.
"The Lord of Demons, King Hades. I've tried my best to contain him with the spell and everything Equestria has to offer.... I'm afraid my entrapment in the world between worlds is not enough to keep him from escaping."
"Then why not let go and go back to Equestria? You can st-"
"No, that will only cause him to surface quicker! That's why I have been watching you, pony from the sky." she concluded.
"Why is that?" I asked.
Faust looked at me before she lit up her horn. Little floating glass bubbles float toward me. They each showed me, the 'villains' and even my different accomplishments that I did for Equestria over the small amount of time I've been here.
"It's because a normal unicorn like yourself would not have stood against such terrifying and powerful threats if you weren't built with some kind of powerful magic. That's why I'm asking for your help. Please. Find it in your heart to help Equis." She practically pled to me.
My mental process was slow, but I already knew the answer before she even said anything. "Of course I would help. If I didn't care I wouldn't have tolerated with the completely backwards culture than what I'm used to, nor would I have stuck around once I had all my original power back in the alternative universe. What makes you think I would up and leave?" I asked finally.
She was silent after that but somehow I could feel the answer I was looking for. "My kind has been here before, haven't they?" I asked her. She nods her head.
I sighed and I directed her to a bench that just so happened to be in the library. We sat down as I let her gather her thoughts before I continued.
"Okay. Tell me what happened."
FLASHBACK
It all started about roughly a thousand years ago, back when alicorns were a tribe. As you probably already know, the four tribes of ponies never got along too well. Now at this time there were many, many subspecies of the pony race. The unicorns, pegasus, and earth ponies were the main groups of the entire pony race. However, Alicorns were considered demigods for their incredible strength, power, and sometimes great wisdom. It all changed with one pegasi...
A silver and black pegasus flew from where the sun was setting gently by the pristine group of unicorns, moving the sun downward. His mane was short, almost stubbed, with stripes of sliver and black. His tail was quite unique, however, because of its silver and black colors bleeding with each other in a unison shade of both mixtures. His cutie mark was in the shape of what looked like a red lightning bolt with a purple cross behind it. His purple eyes seemed odd to the colors that he was naturally born with, but reguardless, he wore a confident grin. His destination seemed simple: move along the mountain range until he got to the kindgom he was searching for.
The stallion pegasus was able to get pass the winter tops that protect the other side moving further and further southeast to the lush land of the Greenlands of Equis.
To most sapient beings of Equis, the Greenlands are a place of wonder and breathtakingly beautiful in its own natural right. But the stallion wasn't here for sight seeing. Hemoved throughout the landscape, a lurching heatwave could be felt on the ground. Some blades of grass end up involuntarily combusting into small flames. He looked in front of him to see a kingdom made of white brick that gleamed with its surrounding environment. He then lands on the drawbridge, the guardponies still had open. He looked around at the cheery alicorns and their bustling city with a certain hidden disgust to it all. There was just one key thing that was missing in this great kingdom to the pegasus.
The heat rose from his body as in one fluient motion he combusted into a ball of explosive fire. The explosion sent white bricks flying off the brick structures and ponies run and screaming in terror. The pegasus chuckled darkly moving through the streets casually. Then, the alicorn guards came in magic shields up; swords and spears at the ready.
The alicorns charge at the pegasus stallion, but his movement did not change. The alicorns stabbed and blast at the pegasus with all their strength. Debris still heavy in the air they cheered in victory. But their cheer dies off hearing the roar of terror itself.
"PATHETIC WEAKLINGS!"
A swarm of fire hit the alicorns burning and breaking any magic in its path. Even the alicorns known for their immortality against any normal weapon were.....dying from the flames. This only sparked the citizens into a bigger panic. The pegasus stallion took pleasure in burning the nearby buildings causing the fire to spread across the white brick buildings.
He looked around at the destruction with a toothy smile. Now this is what the landscape was missing. The screams of innocents and soldiers alike in agony and despair. He smiled in pure bliss flying off to the main castle to greet a certain pony he has been waiting for eternity to meet.
Meanwhile, Faust stares in terror at the flames engulfing the city below through the window. The rumble of the castle begins to start throughout the castle. Faust had to do something or else Greenlands and it's kingdom would die.
She rushed into the throne room until two distinctive cries caught her ears. She changed her course and entered the baby room. Her joy and pride foals were crying their poor eyes out from all the noise. She picked up the blue and white foals into her loving embrace immediately deciding her foals came first.
*BOOM*
The castle rumbled again violently nearly losing her balance. She had to get out of here. She darted out of the room to the exit only to see it had collapsed itself in. She was about to just blast her way through when a familiar cry of pain caught her ears. Her heart skipped a beat as she went back in to the throne room. A cosmos blue alicorn stallion laid on the ground with a flaming halberd impaling his chest. The sick pegasus from before laughed at his agony as Faust's eyes widen to pinpricks. Her magic unconsciously lit itself. She screamed in rage at the pegasus as a heavenly light caught the pegasus forming itself into chains.
The black and sliver pegasus looked at Faust in surprise before it became of pure rage. But Faust did not give this monster the satisfaction sending it to the lowest pits in Tartarus. It spoke in a language she did not understand nor didn't care much about. She closed the pit of Tartarus after he went into the place he belonged in.
With the foals still in her hands she goes to the stallion alicorn's side. He seemed a bit in pain but didn't move too much to her presence. Faust tried to move the halberd out with her magic, but the stallion put a hand on her shoulder shaking his head.
"It's no good. It pierced my...heart. I'm sorry I failed you Faust." He said weakly.
He didn't have to say anymore as the light faded in his eyes. Tears formed in her eyes as she silently weeped for him. Just now the castle decided to give in on itself; rumble and pieces of itself crumble on to the floor around her. She gets up and lit her horn up again as she teleported her and her foals out of the castle.
Faust reappeared on the outside grasslands. From there she ran to the mountains. She looked back seeing the fire growing bigger and hungrier for more fuel. It eventually spread across into the grasslands as she entered the mountain pass.
FLASHBACK ENDS
"I-I didn't know what to do. That stallion.... He had a terrifying power that was strange and foreign to me." Faust said.
I didn't blame her for acting the way she did toward a being like that. Many others would do the same in her situation.
"You did the right thing, Faust. Any sensible pony would have done the same thing. I just have to ask, if you had such a bad experience with my kind, then why let me live when I first 'fell from the sky' as you put it?" I asked.
She fell silent before answering. "You had similar power to the stallion and I was just about to banish you to Tartarus, but...... Your aura was different. I could feel a hidden torment deep inside of your soul. It made me feel sad for you instead of anger,"
Faust looked back at me into my eyes. "How can you live with all that torment inside of you? What makes you still go like nothing ever happened?" she asked like she was searching for the same answer herself.
I weakly smiled before side hugging her. "Well, it's not really a secret of mine. But I can understand of losing somepony as dear as you lost. What I do know is that it takes a strong mare to look past that and focus on the future without dwelling on the past," I looked away before glancing at the floating glass bubbles full of memories. "Not many have the will the keep going even after losing what they hold dear to them. But no amount of depression will solve anypony's problems. The best you can do for them is remember their memory in your heart and learn from the past."
Faust teared up listening to my explaination. I smiled warmly her way. I then hugged her gently as she sobbed into me. It was always heart breaking to see someone besides me in pain, but I knew this mare needed someo- err, somepony to talk to. Now that I know is a universal thing.
It took several moments for her to regain herself, but I didn't mind. She looked at me again clearing away the tears that stained her white fur. "Thank you Shadow for listening." She said with a slight smile.
"All in the days work. It's a knack I have." I said. Then something in my heart started to spread pain in itself.
"Not again."
I clutched my heart and fell to the ground in fresh agony. I couldn't hear what Faust said next, but I knew it was concerning me considering that she rushed to my side. However, my soul faded away from the world between worlds as I returned to my body.
Nightmare Moon POV
I thought the pains that Luna felt that turned me into being was painful. But hearing cries of Shadow in pure agony on the operation table, even through this thick glass, made it painful to even watch him. He was alive and kicking.
A doctor came in to the room soon after. He seemed to be a bit bloody from doing the operation on Shadow. He looked absolutely terrified and thankful at the same time.
"Princess Celestia, Shadow Faze is somehow healing himself." He said.
Celestia and I looked at each other. Even Twilight and Bon Bon looked baffled.
"Take me to the operation table." Celestia said. The doctor obliged as we all went with him.
The operation table was like a living plasma ball. Lightning was everywhere. Celestia made a force field around all of us as we entered the room. Everyone could still hear the screams of Shadow. As we got closer we could see that just as the doctor said his wounds were miraculously healing themselves. Once the wounds were all healed the lightning completely stopped.
Celestia disspelled the force field as we went to inspect Shadow. He groaned but woke up.
"Remind me to find the bastard that put the bullet through my heart." Shadow said.
All of us just stood there shocked of his reaction. He nearly died and was healed somehow and all he could think about was getting even with the demon assassin?
He gets up as he inspected his surroundings. "What?" he asked.
Celestia gave him a hard stare saying what's on all of our minds. "What was with all the lightning in the air?" Celestia asked.
He owlishly blinded at us once before receiving what she said. "Oh, that? It happens when I come close to death.... Don't get me wrong, with the wrong stuff I would actually die, but a bullet to the heart is not life threatening." Shadow said.
The doctors in the room were all wide eyed looking at Shadow as some inequine thing. "A-Are you some kind of monster?" one of the doctors asked rhetorically.
I could tell they hurt him at some mark when a brief flash of a pained expression came on his face.
The head surgeon gave an angry look toward him before he snorts. "I'm sorry Princess, but we didn't know that this....thing was a monster. I want him out of this hospital! He's not welcomed in here anymore."
Celestia was about to calmly 'talk' to the stallion, but Shadow placed a hand on her shoulder shaking his head. He then quietly walks out of the hospital. We followed him, but a growing concern came over the group. We honestly knew nothing about the stallion. The only mare that knew of some idea was his wife, Zecora..... This needs to be talked about.
Shadow Faze POV
I was surprised they all followed me. I knew Zecora was safe and my friends were safe too. So I had nothing to worry about, right?
The mares around me I could tell what they were as clear as day. Twilight is a hardcore bookworm and was curious about the world around her. Celestia is a good ruler and only wants what is best of her subjects and her sister. Even if it means covering up her feelings. Bon Bon is a mare that tries to hide feelings for her Lyra, but I can tell that she deeply cares for her as much as Lyra does for her. And Nightmare Moon.... Nothing is really bad about her. She is loyal to her friends and is very cheerful about life in general. Although there are some times where she lets her emotions do the talking. All the other ponies I have met so far held no restraint on feelings and caring for one another. I'm glad they enjoy life. I always have. Ever since I came up in this world I felt my spirit lighten itself up from all the bullshit my world produced. The only place I still miss is my past home.
I can't complain though. I have a good life here, so might as well savor what I can. Celestia walks up to me. "Hey, Shadow."
I glanced at her. "What's up Celestia?" I asked.
There was a long pause before she continued. "I would like for you to take a break for a while." She replied.
Now that was surprising. I looked back at her to see any playfulness in her expression to find none.
"Celestia, the demon threat-"
"That can wait later. Besides, I have other agents that could fill in for you. You never took a break without no complaint except for when you disappeared for a few months. You deserve this break." Celestia said.
I was uncomfortable with this request. Yeah, sure I can handle a few weeks with my wife, but this is a bit too much goodness for me.
"I'll only stay with Zecora for a few days then I'll come back to work." I said.
"Then I hereby assign you to Ponyvile until I say otherwise to you directly. That is a direct order." She said.
Now that was cheating. There was a long pause before I sighed. "Fine, you win, Celestia. I'll stay in Ponyvile as long as Zecora can stay with me as well."
She smiled. "Very well then. It shall be done."
Chapter 12: "Dream Walking in- Not Now, I'm Taking a Break" (Edited)
I aimlessly attended to the many different dreams the ponies had. Most were pleasant and even heartwarming to observe. Others I had to deal with some light nightmares here and there, but mostly, it was the children and their imagination running wild, which was fine in its own right.
All except one door as been opened. I paused in front of the rusted and darkly colored door in front of me. All the other doors around seem like a cheery and happy dream compared to this door. It released a steady chilling mist from the bottom of it causing me to slightly shiver at its physical impact on my body. The name tag to this particular door, however, was faded to a point of illegible scribbles.
Yet, in my mind I could not stop thinking of what could be happening behind that door. I only went in there once because it was an emergency, nothing more. Unfortunately, I had no time to absorb the details that was in Shadow's mind. My sister and I knew he held secrets he wasn't telling us, but the question is: what was so bad about those secrets that he doesn't tell us about? Well, tonight was possibly one of the only times we could get some answers.
"Hey, can I come with you Luna?" A female voice asked behind me.
I jumped at the sound immediately turning around to face the source of my banishment: Nightmare Moon.
My eyes narrowed at her as a snort involuntary came out of me. She sighed with a slight grin.
"Figures, well I'm going with you since I'm just as curious as you are with finding out the secrets he's been hiding." Nightmare said.
"Fine by me, but don't expect me to help you. The wounds are still fresh in my mind, Nightmare." I said.
"As you wish then." she continued before reaching the door and pulling on the knob. Only, it didn't budge.
Nightmare and I stared at each other in confusion before I morphed my magic into a key. I placed it into the keyhole and turn it to get a satisfying click noise. Nightmare opened the door as it revealed nothing but darkness on the other side. A nervous look crossed both of our expressions as we entered the abyss.
Once we were both through the door, it shut and locked on its own leaving us in the complete darkness. Nightmare and I made a orb of light to see amongst the overlapping darkness to realize we were on a stone pathway. The darkness all at once lit up in a scenery.
What came in sight was a village similar to Ponyvile. The only difference was the structures themselves looked much older and the place was covered in runny mud and dirt. The only thing somewhat made the area stand out was the stonepath that ran through it. Nightmare and I stroll through the village and were met with another surprise. The ponies living here weren't ponies at all. They had no fur, just skin and patches of hair on top of each of the bipedal aliens. They all even wore clothing, but even that was either tathered or worn out from weather.... I think. Nightmare somehow knew off the bat what they were.
"Humans, but how? They look quite different then the ones I originally met." She commented.
I stayed silent observing them. However, with all the talking Nightmare did the 'humans' didn't seem to notice us. Then it hit me. "Whatever the case, it looks like this is a memory of some sort."
Nightmare's eyes widen in surprise. The surprise was cut short by the sound of incoming sounds of hooves on dirt. It confused us, but not the humans as they all froze. Some immediately went inside to pull out some rather damaged looking swords, sticks and pitchforks. Many of the male humans anyway. The female humans gathered the children in an attempt to get away or hid from the impending threat. A collective war cry rang throughout the village causing the men of the village and us to collectively focus back on the scene.
It was too late for the males though as several warriors riding on weird four legged horses burst through their lines. Many of them fought back to no avail as the warriors on the weird horses slaughtered them without a second thought or remorse. Nightmare and I got out of the way as they continued their raid throughout the village. However, one of the barbarian warriors was vastly different riding a pure white weird horse. He wore some type of light military suit with a white hood masking his face front from view. The sheer sight of the.....human made my fur crawl. Who is that?
The white horse rider grabbed one of the villager males in some sort of magic before yanking him toward a blade he had propped into the guy's throat. He swiftly got rid of the now corpse before the other warriors start raiding the homes. The screaming of the females were quite a horrifying sight to see for both Nightmare and me. All but one refused to exit her home. They used force on her separating her from her kid.
The kid that was separated from his mother looked oddly familiar to Shadow. A warrior took the kid to restrain him outside as he tried to defend his mother with his tiny fists. He couldn't be older than five years old, only a colt.
The white horse rider got off his horse before taking off his hood. However, all we saw was a shadowy figure of the beast of a male. He had icey blue sliver eyes with a smile filled with a calm hidden malice to him. He approached the woman speaking in Equis about how unjust it all was. The warrior restraining her however start speaking a language that Nightmare and I couldn't understand to the white horse rider. He grinned before replying back to the warrior in the same strange language before bringing his attention to the woman.
"Hmm, you're fierce. I like that, but we don't need your petty rambling. And I think you know what we are after." the white rider said.
The woman glares at the white horse rider before spitting in his face. "It'll be a cold day in hell before you find what you are looking for." She spat out evenly.
The white rider wiped the spit off his face in a slight grimace before that turned into rage. "Kill her first. I want her head to roll." he said plainly. The warrior took the woman into the center of the muddy village. Meanwhile, the kid screams in anger trying his best to escape the bonds he was in.
"Line up the children, now!" The white rider ordered.
The warriors did just that as several times they had to forcibly remove some the children from their mothers.
The woman however was forced to be out on her knees as a warrior with an axe came to meet her. The restrain child watched in silence. It didn't take long for the axe to go down separating the woman's head from the rest of her body. We stood in horrified shock as the same went for the poor motherless child now.
The white rider hardly even recognized the action his excutioner preformed. He searched through the line of children as the Shadow like child wailed in his own pain. The warrior holding him quickly covered his mouth effectively shutting him up. It wasn't long before the white rider got to the Shadow child. He stared into the child, crucially examining his innate essence. Just as the rider did, Nightmare and I could read a different expression on him, a brief look of fear.
"He's the child. Take him with us." He said. The warrior nod in understanding picking up the child and continuing by placing the child on the weird horse with him. The white rider glanced at the rest of the children and women before nodding to the rest of the warriors there. He turned back on to his horse as they slaughtered the rest of the villagers in cold blood. The warriors rode off with the child in their hands while they burned the rest of the village down to the ground.
"Mommy..." The child said weakly as the scene fades to darkness again.
We both stood there a while to recollect our thoughts. Was that memory really apart of his past? I looked at Nightmare seeing the exact reaction I had.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..." I said.
Before Nightmare could agree, a scream of someone in agony could be heard. The darkness around us seem to pull us further into itself. We both realized in horror that we needed to get out of here and fast. We lit our horns up and shooting aimlessly at the darkness around us, but it did nothing, but sped up the process toward the cries of pain.
The next scene was more vague than the last scene. What stood before the child was three dark figures. They laughed endlessly at his pained cries and pleds showing no bounds of their twisted torture methods. We were both utterly horrified and confused at the scene in front of us.
CRACK
Both of us were startled by the sudden noise looking down to figure out we were standing on glass. The glass floor cracked further until in a matter of seconds it completely shattered. We both screamed through the descend deeper into the void of darkness.
It took a little while before our bodies slammed hard on a surface. We moaned in mild pain before getting up to figure out where we were. I looked around finding a figure curled in a ball several feet away from us.
"Uh, Nightmare? Do you know who that is?" I asked her.
She looked my way to see what I was talking about before shaking her head unsure. The figure in a ball whimpered in a ball of misery. I approached the figure and was about to confront the figure when:
"MY CHILD, WHY SUFFER?" A voice boomed through the darkness.
The boy stopped his whimpering before unraveling himself to reveal to us it was the child that looked similar to Shadow. He looked around in confusion.
"W-What do you mean? I am not suffering......I am simply....too weak." The boy said.
The voice in the darkness paused but it spoke. "WEAK.....WEAK IS THE STATE OF A MINDSET. YOU ARE NOT WEAK, MY CHILD. YOU ARE SIMPLY.... MISSING SOMETHING."
The boy seemed to not follow what the voice said. "What am I missing if I'm not weak?" he asked.
"POWER. YOU'LL NEED POWER IN ORDER TO GET STRONGER.... BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT YOU MUST....EMBRACE THE DARKNESS, MY CHILD."
The boy didn't seem too interested in what the voice had to say. "I don't need darkness. It never helped me to begin with."
The scene fades as the darkness pulls us again to an another scene this one showed him in maybe his twenties but the same scene.
"WHY RESIST IT?" the voice boomed again.
The man didn't say anything though. He just sat there with his head in between his legs.
"THERE IS A WAY TO GET YOUR WOMAN BACK..."
The man immediately took interest sitting up. "There is?" He said full of hope.
"OF COURSE, MY CHILD. BUT YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF SUCH A WISH."
The man went silent before he looked at the darkness again. "How do I start?"
The scene then blast itself to pieces bringing in more light into the room. Nightmare and I realized then that the entire hallway looked to be of some kind of palace. There was no windows, but columns with fancy designs on both sides of the wall. The columns went through the walls every five feet or so.
"Where are we?" Nightmare asked.
"I don't know, but I think we-"
A blood curling scream rang through out the palace as our ears swivel to the source. Immediately, we rushed to the noise. We only made it around the corner before we stopped in stunned shock. On the walls around us is smeared blood and hanging entrails along the hallway with some signs of battle. I couldn't help, but puke my contents out at the sight while Nightmare continued trying to avoid the organs sprawled around us.
I reluctantly continued with Nightmare now wanting nothing more than to get out of this tartarus hole. We made it to the end of a hallway before entering through the doors to be met with another shock.
A male human was half dismembered in the room. The person standing over the corpse was a human Shadow with a manical grin plastered on his face. Standing a few feet away was a woman in royal clothes staring in absolute horror at the sight before her.
Shadow laughed darkly getting up to show his clothes bathed in blood. He approached the woman as his expression turned to one of the purest forms of anger.
"This....this is what you get, Bell. I did everything for you. I was loyal and faithful to you alone, even at times were it was hard for me. And when I went off to finish my final ties of my past.... You.....marry yourself to the man that knew about my past. Why? WHY?!" he asked in heated breaths.
The woman now named Bell looked terrified under his gaze, but her confidence somehow rebuilt itself. Her face turned into a snobish one. "It's because you are a slave, Dovostro. No lady wants a reused and broken piece of trash when a fine piece of royalty offers them a hand in marriage instead. You are a nobody. I thought you surely understood. After all, you are the one who knew me best. Seeing you now, I guess they were right about you. You ARE a monster!" she said coldly.
The woman's statement surprised us both to no end, but Shadow went suddenly quiet.
He laughed. A long manical deep laugh. It was almost chilling to even hear him.
"Then maybe you shouldn't even exist, Bell." Shadow said forming his claws on his hands as it glowed a faint blue.
The woman stayed silent the whole time realizing that her resolve seem to end the final strain of sanity he had. Her eyes widen as he roughly stabbed the claws through her. In the next moment, a loud sound of something else shattering to pieces happens as she went limp. With all of his strength he continued stabbing her and stabbing her carrying on his insane rampage of laughter.
When he finally finished her entire body was nothing more than a bloody pile of mush. We could see a black substance surrounding Shadow's body in seconds. Then without warning, the area explodes....
I woke up feeling like a turd in the head. It just so happened that Nightmare woke up at the same time I did.
"You still alive?" I asked.
"Yeah." Nightmare answered.
"Did you get the answers you were looking for?" a familiar male voice asked mildly annoyed.
We both turned our heads to see Atone staring at us leaning on a bland pillar. Nightmare physically tensed at his presence as I got into position ready to fight him.
"What do you mean, Atone?"
"You know what I mean. After all, you wouldn't been able to get in thanks to me.... My NEWER self and I personally don't like telling too much information about our previous life." Atone said.
I was slightly taken aback on how calm the demon was. When we first met it seemed like he was an entirely different pony which overall confused me in the end. The flashbacks he also gave us only made more questions than answers.
"...Why was he a....slave," I asked the last word tasting bad in my mouth. Throughout all my years of being the immortal alicorn on Equis saying the word 'slave' was still a difficult feat for me. It never once crossed my mind that a seasoned, battle-ready stallion such as Shadow could have gone through such dramatic changes like that.
Atone's trademark smirk for the first time falters with the mention of such a question. But then an expression of rage crossed his features seconds later. "It's not like we had a choice in the matter. We were physically too weak to do anything about it. And on top of it we could not harness the power of our magic. You saw the very same memory of what I'm talking about. 'Magic', in our world, was a thing used as power." He said.
"If that's true...then....why would that black man take him away and kill his mother? It doesn't make sense in the slightest why anypony could be so cruel." Nightmare said.
Atone seem to be in deep thought anyalzing his options just like his counterpart, but he then turned his back to us.
"Don't stick your noses where it doesn't belong. Pasts are not something that should be dwelled upon. I hope this is our last encounter." Atone said in his usual annoyed tone.
Nightmare was going to continue, but she didn't want the same experience she had with him to happen again. He then snapped his fingers, and just like that we were back in the dreamscape.
Shadow's POV
I woke up to the sun's rays hitting my face. Nothing else seem to bother me though for the most part. I had no dreams and I have learned to get use to that reality.... Because of the nightmares that might emerge from them.
I look to my left to find Zecora sleeping soundly in the covers. She must have had a rough night sleep, so I decided to not bother waking her up just yet. I crept out of my bed and went down stairs to the kitchen. There I got myself a nice fresh cup of coffee. It was a nice morning for once. No extra amount of loud sounds or unexpecting evils coming to kill somepony for any reason. One of the reasons why I liked Ponyvile. The town is always quiet and peaceful most of the time.
I then got myself a bowl of wheat grains and milk making my own version of 'cereal' for the morning. Zecora didn't seem to wake up though, so I head outside to do some much needed exploring of Ponyvile. First up was Sugarcube Corner.
I entered the bakery to immediately be assaulted by the smells of fresh baked goods. The humming of Pinkie in the kitchen could also be heard.
"Morning Pinkie!" I said in a happier tone.
She immediately turned around not missing a beat in stirring the current cake batter in her hands. "Morning Shadow! What's with the change in your mood?" She asked.
"Not getting a dream of course." I said.
Pinkie looked worried for a split second. "But aren't dreams good for ponies to have?"
I looked at her. "Well, they are. I just prefer not to have dreams... Dreaming is dangerous for me. Now, I'll like the best chocolate milk shake you got."
Pinkie seemed to forget the previous conversation turning back to the counter.
"Okie dokie!" Pinkie said making the milkshake at an incredible speed. I still don't know even today how she can bake without thinking too much on what she is doing.
With that done I sat myself down at a table that was set up in the bakery. The bell that was on the door to the bakery rang after as I looked over my shoulder to see Sweetie Drops (Aka Bon Bon) enter through the doorway. She immediately recognized me before rushing into the seat opposite of me.
"Just the stallion I was looking for! How have things been Shadow?" Bon Bon asked.
I smiled at her warm welcoming greeting. "They have been very fortunate so far. I count every one I get." I said.
"Glad to hear so. Applejack wanted me to get in touch with you. She wants you to come to the farm, if you want to." Bon Bon said.
I looked confused for a second before it hit me. While I was out on these crazy adventures and with my wife I completely forgot about the needs of my friends. How stupid of me!
"I'll definitely give a look Bon Bon. You can tell her I'll be there as soon as I finish with my milk shake." I said.
She smiled before getting up. "I'll definitely relay the message." She said leaving the building.
"Order up!" Pinkie exclaimed rolling up to my table in rollerskates. How the hell did she put those on without me noticing?!
"Uhhh, thanks..." I said surprised.
She put the milkshake down opening up her hand. "Fifteen bits please!" she said not missing a beat in her response.
I reached into my pocket giving her the fifteen bits she required before she stuffed the coin into her mane.... I'm not going to ask. Pinkie then rolls away while I enjoyed my delicious milkshake.
After finishing the delectable treat from Sugarcube Corner, I hustled to Sweet Apple Acres. Once I got there I was greeted with the fresh atmosphere of the farm. The hard working Apple Family tended to their crops of apple trees in bucking down.
My instincts sensed a terrible foreshadowing as a heard a sickening crack from one of the apple trees. Standing underneath the tree was a bulky red stallion with a dull yellow short mane.
I came into action teleporting beside of him before tackling the stallion just as the tree collapsed in the spot where he originally was.
The stallion didn't say anything, but through the expressions alone he was quite baffled and shocked. I heard Applejack in the distance as she came into view.
"What in tarnation happened?" She asked.
I got up offering the red stallion my help. He got up on his own though so I didn't bother in helping him further. "A tree was just about ready to crash on top of him, so I managed to save him before he was injured." I explained.
She looked relieved that her worker was saved as Applejack walked up to me. "Well, I'm glad to see that you saved my brother's life."
"No need in thanking me. It's my job working for the Royal Guard."
"Appears so. I reckon that you are familiar with Zap Apple Season?" She asked me.
"What's that?" I replied back.
"Well, it's an event similar to Apple Cider Season the Apple Family have been doing for many generations. Matter of fact, it's one of our biggest inputs of profit we get every year! There as been more Zap Apples this year than previous years, and I thought you could help my family in picking them this year." Applejack proposed.
It didn't take much thinking to reply to her. "I would be happy to. Where is the Zap Apple trees?"
Applejack looked pleased walking forward. "Right this way." So I followed her.
When I got there I was surprised to say the least to find out they had a different section of trees that was darker than the normal apple trees I have seen.
"Are these... the trees that make the zap apples?" I asked.
Applejack smiled filled to the brim with excitement for a change. It was nice to get along with her. Out of all of Twilight's friends she seems to be the most centeralized pony in all of Ponyvile. She is almost like the embodiment of Ponyvile itself, but let's not get too carried away.
I realized that the fruit has not came to sprout yet which confused me greatly. "The zap trees are on the border of the Everfree Forest. Because of this it's usually tough to understand the forests patterns. But the season for zap apples has always been the same for many generations. This year though, Granny Smith predicts that it will be the most plentiful year in over twenty years! That's why I required a friend's help this time." Applejack said.
"Why not all of your other friends as well? Won't they help?" I asked.
"They would give a hand to help me out, but I've already asked them. You're the only pony not doing anything today." She said.
I decided not to press it further. "Alright then, so when does it-"
Before I could finish my sentence an enormous black cloud covered over the trees and with a mighty roar it shot lightning bolts directly into the trees down below. The thunder manage to startle me While I witnessed before my eyes the growth of the zap apples in front of me. By the time the apples stopped growing the black cloud disappeared just as quickly from the sky. My confusion only grew.
"What- But, it just-...... How?!" I sputtered out.
Applejack just shrugged while the Apple Family got busy picking. I sighed before joining the apple picking myself. Taking a closer look at all the trees, I could see what Applejack meant by this being a plentiful year. There was on average sixty-five zap apples per every zap tree. Those numbers are staggering! Especially for normal apple trees. I'm not a math pers- pony, but that's a lot of zap apples. And with only five ponies on the job of taking care of all these apples, including myself. This will take up the rest of my day...
Canterlot Castle
Nightmare POV
Luna and I had recently woke up from our duties, but Atone and Shadow's dream realm had us both thinking for a while. Shadow in general is a noble pony. He fights for his friends and family. The only problem is that he hides things, many things, from everypony. Luna, I and even Celestia herself realize this. But now looking and taking a peak at what he was before he got here..... It makes me reluctant to even remember those memories of his again. How would Princess Celestia act if she finds out?
She has been suspicious of Shadow Faze ever since he mysteriously appeared out of no where in the Everfree. It's just nopony has ever pinpointed what exactly is different about him. He looks like a normal unicorn stallion with no cutie mark. Yet, when he's on the battle field it's like his special talent is fighting. Furthermore, he has proven to be quite knowledgeable in other worldly beings that not many knew before. Even I had a rough time understanding his logic. Why would he save me from my own mind, or why would he bother slaying demons for the crown? I knew those questions were just the first of many more. It appears I thought too long as Luna rubbed her eye lids with a groan.
I looked at Luna seeing her usual sleepy eyes, but I knew I can't convince her not to tell Celestia. They are sisters and always will be. They share whatever secrets they have eventually to one another.
I was going to try to convince her, but she quickly left the room before I could persuade her otherwise.
This was wrong. There must be a reason for why he keeps those memories secret. Another question burns into my mind as I walk faster to catch up with Princess Luna. "Why did Atone allow us to see those terrible memories?"
Luna opened the final doors in her magic to the throne room to see Celestia perched on her throne chair. We walked up to her as we gave her warm smiles which she graciously returned a little less honest with me around though.
"What brings Nightmare Moon and you to the throne room, sister?" Celestia asked.
"We visit Shadow's dreams, like I said I would, and found out something shocking. Shadow is confirmed to not be from this world." Luna said.
I sighed. "It's similar to the alternative version of Equis we have in the magic mirror." I interjected.
Celestia seemed to go into thought. "I know that much from the why he speaks about certain things. What new news do you have then?"
"He was once a.....slave...if you will. Until he met this mare..... He killed her and that's all the info we were allowed to see." Luna said with out trying to barf from the vivid images running through her head of the gore.
Celestia's eyes shrieked in surprise before they narrowed at the last part. "Is there a reason for that behavior then?"
"That's the thing, Celestia. We don't have much info to go by since it was so much detail and not enough events. Atone gave us very little to determine the specifics." I said.
"Atone?" Celestia repeats puzzled.
"Remember the mind demon that I told you about sister? It's in Shadow's head and it seems to be Shadow's.......monster side." Luna explained.
"Ah, I see," Celestia said in more thought. "I'll need ponies to investigate Shadow unfortunately. He's too big of a risk to let him do as he pleases. If things escalate as I think it will then we'll have to be prepared to defeat even Shadow Faze. I'll prepare a group to investigate him further. You can go now sister." Celestia said.
"As you wish sister. Let me know if you need anything." Luna said retreating from the throne room.
I waited for Luna to be out of ear shot to speak. "Why are you so confident Shadow would turn on us? He's proven that he is no threat to us." I said.
Celestia looked back at me showing little emotion behind the mask of a face in which she made for herself. "You have felt his raw power inside of him. He maybe on our side, but that kind of magic is unknown to any of us on this entire planet. Nopony with immense power like that should not be trusted to always do the right thing." She said.
"...I can see why you banished me to the moon along with your sister now... You are afraid of the unknown.... Well, you're not alone in that fear, but that doesn't mean Shadow is evil. He has saved Equestria again and again from major threats countless times, including myself at one point!" I said.
"And that's why I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, Nightmare. I'm not heartless, nor naive on these matters. If I find nothing to worry then I won't doubt him as a pony." Celestia said.
I was quiet for a while before leaving the throne room. "She better keep her word." the doors magically shut behind Nightmare.
Rainbow Dash's POV
I fly up to Fluttershy's cottage in a hurry. I've always liked feeling the wind in my face and body like I was apart of the sky itself; it made me feel like I could do anything I could set my mind to.
Excluding the rush of adrenaline inside me, my mind wondered off to different matters. I expected this to be another request from Fluttershy for some assistance with her animals. She has been in need of an animal sitter, so I thought I could help her with her troubles while she got what she needed to get some things done. However, Angel and his friends can be very dangerous when Fluttershy is away, so I've been animal sitting less often then when I first planned it out. Even with that dreadful thought on my mind, I would still help her regardless of what it might be. After all, we are true friends for each other.
I knocked on the door, but when nopony answered I knocked louder this time a slight spike of annoyance rise in me. Sometimes the world around me just acts too slow for my taste. Even my friends seem to act like this as well every so often. I had to take care of clouds for Celestia's sake! Nopony has no clue just how dangerous clouds can be. Especially the storm clouds. Fluttershy answers the door.
She smiled at me with a warm welcome. "O-Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. You came to help take care of the animals for me?" Fluttershy asked.
"That's why I'm here to help. Where are they?" I asked looking behind her to see no furry munchkins running around inside.
"They went into hiding not too long ago. I don't know why they are scared though." Fluttershy said with so much innocence that it tugged at my heart.
Sometimes I think Fluttershy is too adorable for her own good. I sighed before walking in. "What do you mean by that? Did something happened?" I said.
"Not in particular, I-I don't think...."
I looked around before ducking under the table to find some of the smaller animals huddled up underneath it like their life depended on it. Their eyes wide and they shook wildly like a invisible cold wind blew violently in their direction. I could only witness this in pure confusion. This wasn't the first time the animals have done this sort of behavior before, but that's usually when a nasty thunder storm rolls in. There's not supposed to be a scheduled rain storm for a while now. No matter how hard I thought about it, it all made no sense whatsoever.
Then I felt my skin crawl almost like it was my base instinct alerting me of something. I whipped my head around to survey the area. But all I saw was a concerned Fluttershy. "What's wrong Rainbow?" She asked.
I ignored her question searching more closely for the source. Continuing my search the distant sensation began to subside before it turned to nothing again. I sighed in annoyance. "I don't know. I just felt like we were being watched by somepony..... It must be my imagination." I said.
"W-W-We're are being watched?" Fluttershy asked almost on the verge of going into a full panic.
I abandoned my subquest to comfort the poor pegasus mare in her own panic. We had a tea party later on to calm her nerves. To my slight irritation, it was all set up in a filly fashion. I don't mind filly fashions and what not because I grew up around those things. It doesn't mean I have to like it.
We had a good time talking about each other's problems that is until my base instincts went off again, but this time the sensation was stronger than before.
"Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked worried I wasn't attentive during the conversation.
"Fluttershy. I think we should go to my place." I said cautiously.
I then felt in the shadows somepony attempt to restrain me down. The thing tossed me to the ground hard making my world spin while I heard Fluttershy's terrified cries.
"You horse shit! Get off me!" I said kicking as hard as I could into the pony. However the pony barely budged from my buck kick.
My eyes widen in shock. "Impossible. A kick like that would send anypony flying out the door."
The pony quickly went back to making me and my wings immobilized as I withheld a whimper of pain. The candle light that was given to us seem to give very little detail to the faces. Only the carnivorous white teeth could be seen the clearest. Which meant that this pony.....eat meat. Even an athlete like myself can tell when things are turning for the worst without getting into the numbers of why, so I struggled through the pony-thing's grip. Yet, I was somehow getting gradually very tired in its grip. Are my muscles overexerting themselves..... No, that's not it. I just started my struggle I can't be that tired yet. It was getting hard to stay focused on my task; eventually, I just simply laid there letting the mysterious pony above me keep pinning me down.
"Is she asleep now?" a voice talked out through the darkness.
At this point, I believe Fluttershy fell unconscious from whatever spell they put on us. "I believe so. We should get back to tartarus soon. We'll need the preparations to work perfectly for the Archdemon. No mistakes this time." a different gravel voice spoke back to the other pony-thing.
Before my concentration finally began to relax, I could feel my limp body being moved from the hard wood floor. I'm so tired.
"Fuck me in the ass all the way to the goddamn moon!" I screamed internally at myself.
One of the worst probabilities just happened in my calculations. Two of the Element Bearers have been kidnapped!...... Or is it foalnapped now? Anyway, Applejack was having a few modern equestrian slang slip ups herself as she raced inside her farm house to spread the word to her family.
The pony who told us of this tragity was Sweetie Belle, Rarity's little sister. She was told to inform us of the events that transpired only a few hours ago.
"Thank you Sweetie Belle, but I think I got it from here. You can go back to your friends now." I said.
She nod in thanks before running off to her friends' clubhouse. Judging by how gossiping about a heavy topic such as this would be in the Belle Family's genes, I have no doubt she would tell her friends about this.
I then quickly leave Sweet Apple Acres to the Golden Oak Library. I was not surprised to be greated with a worned out Twilight digging herself into as many books as possible. She has probably been trying to find a way to save her friends.
"Hey Twilight." I said.
Twilight ignored my presence before Spike came out of the kitchen with a long sigh. "Don't mind her. She has been like this ever since she found out what happened. Twilight has been trying to find any clues to where the ponynappers could have taken Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash." Spike filled in for me.
"I see," I stepped inside. "Did you try going to the crime scene?" I asked.
Spike stared at me blankly for a good while before I registered his confusion. "The place they last disappeared I meant to say."
"Oh, we tried that already. Not a trace of anything of their presence could be...found." Spike said trying to search for the compicated words he was looking for.
This got me thinking critically on the entire situation. There was no possible way Rainbow Dash would go without a fight til the end, so how did they do it? Sleep magic? Possible. But that's not the most concerning of questions.
"Who or what took Fluttershy AND Rainbow Dash? The set up seems too convenient."
It strangely was too convenient. Even I know the Elements can't work without all of them together, so maybe they are-
The ground suddenly tremors violently all around us like a 7.1 earthquake was happening. Then it suddenly stopped. I looked at Twilight seeing she got out of her reasearch mode.
"What was that?" Twilight asked concern dripping out of her voice.
"I don't know, but let's fine out." I said finally.
We then exit out of the Golden Oak Library to be met with a sight that made no sense. Out in the distance of Mount Canter, I could see the entire city of Canterlot in flames and mayhem. I look closer to find a red blackish giant centaur with huge horns on its head.
Then it hit me. Canterlot is under siege.
"No, you are not going with me Twilight. It's simply too dangerous." I sternly said packing up the necessary things I'll need.
However, Twilight seemed to be not listening to me. "I'm going! You always fight for us, but I think it's time you let us handle it for a change! We can take the centaur down. You just need to believe in us." She said.
I stopped momentarily releasing my pent up sigh I was holding back. "I do believe in you and your mares Twilight. It's just that I have a feeling that this one will be no easy task to defeat this time. Plus, two of the Element Bearers are missing. I can't afford to lose anymore ponies right now. For now Twilight, I say farewell." I said as I head out the door.
Twilight protested to my statement, but at this point I tuned her out completely. With one of my hands I snapped my fingers teleporting to Canterlot. My magic didn't act up this time helping me land in an alley way in the city itself. I get out and look around to find a devastating sight to behold. The city was half in flames and ruins by the time I got there. In the streets there were lots of blood stains that smeared itself in to the broken paved roads.
"Hahahahaaha!" I heard the centaur walk around in his mighty big form. I could feel a spike of anger rise in me. How dare he laugh and mock the dead around him!
With little hesitation, I materialized Apocalypse before hurling the blade straight into the Tirek's back. A cry of surprise and pain broke his laughter as I quickly retrieved my blade again with my magic.
He turned around to face me with a stare that could melt icebergs with a single glance. All the rage inside him made me dizzy for a few seconds surprisingly, but I quickly recovered.
"Why if it isn't another little pony. You think you can defeat the almighty Lord Tirek?! Your Princesses have been drained of their magic and almost all of your precious capital city is completely destroyed!" he gloated.
"And?" I said coldly.
The center now named Tirek narrowed his eyes at me before gritting his teeth. A fine indicator that he was very pissed off right now.
"And? And?! You little leech! You'll pay with your life and magic!" Lord Tirek declared shooting a big beam of magic down upon me.
Reacting with utmost haste I dodge the attack to my left before running up to the centaur. He growled in frustration preparing another beam. I didn't give him the chance slamming the end of my sword into his vulnerable stomach. The force of the impact sent him flying into the actual side of Mount Canter.
Once the tremor fell dead I stood there waiting for him to get up. After a few minutes of my precious time he got up on his hooves.
"Impossible... A little magical pony does not simply have that much power to equal three alicorns." His glare became sharper toward me. "No matter. It appears I'll have to take you seriously."
He then slams his fist into the ground creating a small crater. The raw force of impact causes a fissure to open on the surface of the road. From out of the depths of whatever hell they have, he retrieved his own weapon. And to be honest here, I was quite amazed and slightly fearful of the shear size of the weapon.
The great sword was at least a hundred stories tall! (I kid you not.) Making this all the more annoying to me.
My current thoughts were immedately dashed as he charged at me with incredible speed for a giant centaur such as himself. However, I smirked getting a decent plan into my head. When he was just inches away from me. I activated my magic to dash just enough to avoid the weapon. In the same instance, I held out my left hoof also keeping it down in the ground like it was made from the mountain itself.
The centaur realized too late the details of my plan before his giant left hoof tripped over mine. The surprise was priceless on his face as he fell from the mountain side.
It didn't take him long to hit because of his size, but when he did it felt like a nuke bombed the very same area to oblivion. The impact also sent so much dust into the area around Canterlot the debris acted like a brown fog.
A half an hour later the dust settled itself back on the ground. I decided to take a peak at my work below the mountain side. What I saw was quite interesting.
Tirek was laying face planting into the ground below him. I could tell that the impact of the fall did a number to him by the giant blood platter beneath his corpse. One of his hooves also looked to have decided to curve into a "u" shape, and his giant sword sticked itself into the ground only inches from his actual head. That bastard was lucky to only have a broken hoof.
"I SHOULD probably finish him off."
With a sigh, I teleported down a few feet off from where his head was. I raised Apocalypse in my hands prepared to thrust downward-
Before I even realized what was going on, I felt my body get flung straight into the moutain side. My familiar friend named pain decided to join the party.
A familiar feminine chuckle caught my attention as I turned around from where I was. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
The mysterious Arch she-demon herself had decided to make herself known. In her true form no less. "Why if it isn't the stallion who ruined our attempts to conquer this pathetic piece of rock."
"You... Why are you here?" I asked struggling to get out of the mountain side.
It didn't take long until I, with a little bit of effort, land back on the ground again. She smiled at me. "Good, looks like even you are oblivious to the situation."
I just started confused at her, but I steadied my blade. I needed to kill her. My instincts screamed at me of her aura of pure evil. "What do you mean by that, she demon."
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, but our master has requested to keep our slave alive. And I'll make sure he does his job to the letter." she said.
I charged at her, but I was swiftly bashed down into the ground by a serpent tail. Apocalypse went flying out of my hands into the debris a ways. Leviathan stared directly into my eyes showing a great display of his sharp sawlike teeth.
"I don't think so, Shadow. You May have got lucky the last time we met, but I can assure you. That'll be the last time I undermine your intellect." He said.
My options were beginning to narrow down dramatically. "Fuck you both! I've stopped you both in the past and I'll make sure you both have a nice hellish torture in my own version of hell!" I said my temper getting the better of my cool facade.
The she demon just laughed fearlessly from my threat. She then tends to the centaur's wounds in her magic like they were nothing. The only thing that was left was the drained blood grass from his previous injuries.
Tirek then got up to his towering form, but as soon as he laid eyes on the she demon his immediate expression turned from confidence into fear. "L-Lady Lilith-"
She slapped the giant centaur straight into the mountain side before grabbing him by his massive neck in a choke hold. "It's Mistress to you! Only our master can say that name without consequences. Do I make myself clear, slave?" She said. Tirek nods quickly in her grip as she released her tight grip from his neck.
My eyes shrieked to pin pricks hearing that name. Lilith. A very famous demon who is said to be the wife of the Devil himself. Yes, you heard me.
I have no idea why she would work under anyone, but now I at least have a name. Lilith then floats back down to the ground facing Tirek again. Focusing her attention back on me. "I'll deal with you later, and besides, Lord Hades is interested in you."
I raised an eyebrow in my current state. "Lord Hades: interested in me?"
"Why of course. Not many beings could defeat the threats you faced single handedly. Even fewer have the ability to cut through Leviathan's impenetrable scales. So he request for you to be brought down to Tartarus alive." Lilith said.
Tirek's ears suddenly twitched before He turned around. He then used his magic and pulled out some mares from around the corner. I stared in absolute horror to find Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight wrapped in Tirek's magical grip.
The girls saw my predicament in shocked horror as they realized their mistake. Lilith smiled in satisfaction. "Well. Looks like the Elements saved us the trouble of finding the rest of you."
"Shadow... I'm sorry, w-we just wanted to help." Twilight said in fear of the creatures in front of her.
I didn't say anything back as Lilith laughed again. "Oh isn't that adorable. The naive elements thought they can win. Almost reminds me of a horror book I read." Lilith snapped her fingers as two fire pillars burst forth behind her.
And to everypony's surprise, except the villains, it was two demon ponies holding up the missing two Elements, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, gagged and bound.
My anger flashed as I tried to use my strength to push the serpent's slinky body off me. However, Leviathan's natural strength overpowered mine keeping me pinned down into the ground. I growled in frustration.
Lilith chuckles walking up to me. "Oh, poor Shadow. Did you really think that you could win with just force alone?"
My eyes widen. "Wait, how did you....."
"The how is not really important right now. Ezele, I summon thee." She said.
Not long after the demon pony she called for appeared in a pillar of fire. He wore a lab coat to make himself differ from the rest of the demon ponies. His silver eyes also gave a clear indication of having great wisdom and power at one time in his life.
"The Anti-Elements are ready to be in use, Mistress." Ezele said with a confident smirk plastered on his face.
"Good. Bring them here."
In an instant, blue flames appeared around all the girl's chests before an odd colored crystal representive symbols of their original Elements appeared around their necks. I could tell a silent panic was happening between the six of them.
Without warning, the Anti-Elements all glowed a black aura while the girls that wore them around their necks writhed in agony. I struggled even further in my rage going as far as using my claws. Yet, nothing would work. Leviathan's scales were impermeable without My sword or my unrestricted magic. My magic is too restrained in this world to effectively get the giant serpent off me.
They only suffered for a few moments before the Anti-Elements each created black energy beams zapping in one certain spot. They created a gradually growing sphere until the ball exploded sky high into the atmosphere. The girls all simultaneously fell unconscious while I just stared in mix shock and horror. Tirek was getting a bit nervous around the demons, from what I could tell. I would be too if I was in his shoes- err, hooves.
Lilith however was filled with glee. "After centuries of waiting and planning, I have finally been able to free Lord Hades from the moon and sun's tyranny!"
I laid there in silence. They completed their goal which means I wasn't strong enough to stop them this time. I failed.
The ground released a tremor as it appeared the very ground itself was splitting itself apart. Minions of hell burst forth on to the planet's surface to begin the very event I was trying to stop. The Apocalypse (Equis version).
I stared at my discarded blade, Apocalypse, while the Archdemon was enjoying her victory.
"That's it? You're just going to give up?"
I was instantly surprised to hear Atone speak in my head.
"What else can I do? I'm out of time and the demons are already roaming fr-"
"That doesn't mean you quit newer me! You know yourself better than that! You've defied logical calculations, defeated impossible odds, and saved countless lives in many universes beyond this one. That's not the Shadow Faze I know of! Now get your lazy ass up, and kick some fucking ass!" Atone said with a growl.
I laid there in relative silence for a while eventually coming back to reality. Lilith looked down smugly at me. Victory seemed to be in her favor."Oh, the Great Hero of Equestria has nothing to say about all this. We rule the world now!" she declared.
"And? That just makes you able to fall harder."
Lilith froze in her place glaring down at me growling. "What did you just say?"
"Well, looks like I have no choice, but to use it. Ready Atone?"
"Ready ya sick bastard." Atone said irritated.
I smiled cranking my head down, so that Lilith couldn't see my face. "You heard what I said, Lilith. Although, through your gloating, you forgot one small detail." I said.
I could feel the gravity shift around me as all my rage that I stuffed into my body was building faster upon itself to try to escape. "I'm not out of options yet." I said. Lilith was going to say something smart, but she felt something weigh heavily inside her chest. Lilith grabbed her chest breathing deeply to try and calm the ache in her heart. Tirek, Leviathan and all of the weaker demons were in the exact same situation.
"M-Mistress.... What's...going on?" Ezele asked in a slight panic falling to his knees when they became too weak to support himself.
"I....I don't.....What did you do!" She growls toward me, but I ignored her. I felt the black substance crawl up my body as Leviathan's eyes shot wide open. He immediately got off me in a fit of fear.
The black substance continued up my body now covering my arms up to my collar bones. My smile widened. "It should have been painfully clear of what being I was when we first met," A weird illuminated shape of some sort of pentagon star pattern with ancient mysterious writings written inside of it appeared below me. The gravity in my area increased more.
I then stood up as the symbol below me cracked and shattered back into the nothing. Then the black substance covered my entire upper body. My eyes completely turned red orange while my teeth sharpened themselves like individual daggers. My claws surfaced onto my body, and last but not least my body armor appeared on my entire body. It was a light type of armor that I used, but it still fit me quite well for not using it for what felt like ages ago.
The armor itself was gold and dark red. It may not be in its prime, but the scratches and dints on the plating proved of the many wars I fought in. The gold and dark red gauntlets fit perfectly over my claws like a glove would fit a hand. My helmet gleamed in the sun's rays, but most importantly it covered my muzzle with a metal golden mask leaving only the eyes to be shown through it. The mask itself was painted over with white jagged teeth similar to my real teeth, permanently in a long creepy smile.
In that same instant, my true aura made itself known. The beings around me with the weaker wills trembled in absolute terror of my presence. Even Lilith was in too much shock to respond to my new appearance.
"Like I said, Lilith. I'm not out of options just yet." I raised my hand as Apocalypse flew into my hands.
"H-He didn't even use magic that time." Lilith's voice slightly broke.
Leviathan was the first to recover from the shock of the new aura. "We swore our allegiance and loyalty to the Great Lord Hades, and I'll make sure that he comes out alive! Tirek!" He shouted.
Tirek followed suit with Leviathan as they charge at me with their weapons of choice. I raised my blade into the air before couching down as the Leviathan's tail and Tirek's sword neatly rested on my blade.
The shocked surprise on their faces was too priceless to put into words. I then focused a bit of magic into the blade as it exploded like a magical bomb sending Leviathan and Tirek flying in opposite directions. I positioned my blade again in a battle ready manner.
"Enough with the small fry. You and me, Lilith." I said nonchalant ignoring some of the weaker demons fainting out of fear.
Lilith recollected herself allowing a devious smirk to spread across her lips. "It seems like I underestimated you. Just like General Leviathan kindly stated: I swore my allegiance and loyalty to Lord Hades. I will not hesitate any longer to kill scum like you from our ideal world." She said raising her hand as a purple fire pillar engulfed her form.
A curver end katana than typically appeared in her hands that was lit in some type of purple flames on its blade. The hilt of the weapon is a soft silver wrapped in some type of ancient red cloth. A suit of armor then materialized onto her body. It left little to the imagination, but I was determined not to let that distract me this time. I had a job to do.
Lilith got into battle ready as she stared directly at me. There was a long pause in the air as mother nature itself seemed to know the significance that this battle determined.
Without warning, Lilith made the first move blurring to speeds that made it looked like she was invisible. My instincts saved me however as Apocalypse successfully blocked a fatal blow from my right side. I flipped quickly over her swirling Apocalypse like a buzz saw in the air. Unfortunately, Lilith ducked just in time to save her face.
She growled in frustration swiftly low sweeping me knocking me flat on my back. I had little time to adjust to the dull throb that settled itself on my back before Lilith flipped her katana's blade right at my head. I rolled out of the way to look to my left to see that the katana had plunged itself into the earth.
I back flipped on to my hooves before delivering a solid round house kick to her jaw. She was ultimately sent flying for a few yards before stopping. She fell still though out of no where. Had she died? I took a few steps forward only for my prime instincts to flash warnings to my brain. I dodged to my left, but I didn't get out unscathed. The katana plunged itself into my left side forcing a grunt of pain before continuing straight to its owner's hands. Her magic seemed to be coded on its handle.
"Damn she-demon." I grumbled.
She only smiled before charging at me. I got smarter however waiting for her to run at me until she was only a few feet apart from me. I teleported behind her slicing her back twice. She cried out in pain swinging her sword at me to only have it blocked by Apocalypse.
I used my other arm to uppercut her in the face before elbowing her in the neck. She choked from the impact getting thrown back to the ground once more. My patience was running thin until I felt a big magical beam coming my way. I positioned Apocalypse to its dull blade side. The magic beam hit Apocalypse before it reflect it back at the caster. Tirek got caught in a huge explosion with his own magic before it was revealed a few moments later that he looked to be semi-unconscious with several new injuries.
Leviathan stared in shock at the scene. I walked up to Lilith before grabbing her by the breastplate picking her up into the air. Her eyes were clearly wide knowing that she was at my mercy.
"You made your decision the moment you pledged your allegiance to a bastard power player. And now you shall pay with your blood." I said coldly.
Lilith wanted to move, do something or anything to fight off this bastard. But that gaze paralyzed her entire body. However, at the same time, those red orange eyes carried a cold promise to his enemies. They promised the blood that ran through her very veins.
"Th-That gaze.... How can a stallion produce so much fear into the heart of his enemies?"
He said nothing as rage filled over the very same eyes. "Go back to the nothingness from which you were born from."
With nothing more to say, I thrusted Apocalypse straight into her chest piercing her heart in the process. I could feel her body go limp under my grip. I then laid her down pulling the blade out from her body just standing there for a second. The air had stiffened into another dead silence. It was almost like time froze all on its own. My first kill in Equestria has been a she demon.
Out of respect, I closed her eyes gently with my left gauntlet claw. Suddenly, I heard a raged cry from behind me, but I just simply used a teleportation spell to avoid contact. It turned out to be Leviathan in a crying fit of pure rage.
He dashed at me once again, but I was too fast for him to catch up, much less see me clearly, as I slice his body almost to pieces. The poor demon serpent laid in a puddle of his own blood.
"No hard feelings." I said barely under my breath.
"L....Lady Lilith......Leviathan....." Tirek said in shocked horror.
Tirek was next on my kill list, so I decided to finished this rebellion of demons once and for all.
*Dong*
My hooves froze in place as the noise of a giant bell rang through out the landscape.
*Dong*
My heart seem to race in confusion and uncertainty at the ominous noise now.
*Dong*
The lesser demon ponies and humanoid began to praise and bow toward the Badlands. My confusion only intensified how they weren't demoralized by now.
*DONG*
Tha last ring marked the cue of a burst of fire to come forth from the Badlands straight to Mount Canter itself. The mysterious flames morphed upon itself into a concentrated floating ball down to the ground. Once it reached a foot off the ground, the sphere morphed again into something else. Purple eyes gleamed through the veil of flames has the pony figure stepped out on to the grassy plains. His hoof steps singed every fiber of grass blades it touched walking up to me. A malice grin spread across his face.
This was no ordinary pony. Whatever it was, he is definitely pissed. "You should have crawled up and died in the universe you belonged in, Shadow."
I froze in place seeing the pegasus stallion in front of me for the first time. The fu- I mean, the bucking mastermind behind all the demon attacks throughout my hellish stay here in Equestria.
The sliver and black pegasus' mane was short, almost stubbed, with the stripes of sliver and black. His tail was quite unique however because of its silver and black colors bleeding with each other; it almost blend themselves together smoothly in one shade. His cutie mark was in the shape of what looked like a red lightning bolt with a purple cross behind it. His purple eyes seemed odd to the colors that he was naturally born with, but reguardless he wore a strangely confident grin that plastered his muzzle.
My instincts screamed at me to avoid contact with him at all costs while my old habits kicked in. I searched more of his aura causing the back of my neck to stand on end. My fists tighten around Apocalypse. This was obviously no ordinary pegasus. Even Discord was more natural to Equis than him. His aura felt off.... and strangely familiar like Rufusdraco's. Yet, on a completely different level. While Rufusdraco had to gain power over time this pegasus obviously had his power at full capacity.
"Just as I thought. He must be some type of god like Faust, but what exactly?"
My eyes narrow as the pegasus stallion chuckled. "I see you already figured out I'm quite different from your normal opponents. Tell me, what do you fight for, Shadow?" he asked.
I didn't reply to his question keeping my blade trained on him. The mane six at this time decide to wake themselves up with a few painful groans. The stallion glanced at the mane six his face hardening in what looked like disappointment.
"Seriously. I can feel the potential you have Shadow. You could easily destroy Equestria single handedly. You saw the dark side of this blasted country. They serve their friendships above their so called 'equality'. They constantly are in need of outside help and are too naive to believe that their 'invincible' leaders are nothing more than pathetic winged unicorns," He looks back at me as I saw for the first time something I didn't see before. I saw tiny purple flames reflect themselves back at me through his pupils. "I only offer a chance to join my army ranks once. What do you say?"
A brief silence rang through the air as everybeing present seemed to anticipate my decision. I looked directly into his malice eyes with a passionate defiance.
"How about shove it up your ass. Demons are not supposed to be in the mortal realm anyways." I replied.
The stallion scuffed almost half expecting my decision before I even decided. "You seem as defiant to the cosmic rules as ever, Kerra Dovostro."
My shock only blind me momentarily as a purple flamed punch to the face sent me flying in the opposite direction. I couldn't feel myself floating in the air. What was happening? My mind snapped back into reality as I managed to teleport myself away from the field of fire. The stallion's fist soon followed straight into the ground where I once was. I readied Apocalypse without further hesitation dashing straight behind the stallion. It looked like my blade would hit its mark until a blur of a small, slender purple flame blocked my attack.
My eyes widen behind the mask of my helmet. The stallion was holding off my attack with a single flaming purple finger. Apocalypse currently rest firmly on the finger like it was made out of metal.
"It simply wouldn't be that easy to defeat me. You know this. Why fight me then? You know you can't win. Fighting a god is fighting a piece of the universe itself." he said at my confusion. He used his other hand flicking it at me as a torrent of dark purple fire engulf my chest sending me flying some more feet.
He then clenched one of his hands as the flame itself seem to morph along with his body's command. The burning agony of the purple fire could be felt even through my armor. A pained scream escaped my lips as the fire seem to eat me alive from the outside inward.
Suddenly from out of no where, a light purple beam head straight for the stallion, yet the beam harmlessly dissipated a few inches from his actual body. Twilight's eyes widen in fear and shock as the stallion turned his gaze toward her.
"Now isn't this a surprise. It looks like the Element of Magic still has enough magic to shoot beams at me. Don't you ponies know when to quit?" He said in slight irritation.
"Why won't my magic work? I was sure that there was no magic counteracting with my magic." She mummbled mostly to herself.
The stallion chuckled. "That's because I used the heat of my fire. It is capable of lessening the magical wavelengths needed in order for magic itself to work. In other words, it cancels out the attack by increasing its wave higher than the magic intercepting it."
This time, Rainbow Dash had sped behind the stallion at almost full speed. The stallion saw this at the last second, but was already too late. She managed to knock him in the mandible, his muzzle jerks to the side violently. Rainbow quickly maneuvered her other leg to kick his stomach sending even more force into the kick. He bend over as she retreated a few feet away from his somewhat injured form.
"Take that you monster! Nopony messes with my friends!" Rainbow Dash declared.
Another small chuckle escaped the pegasus stallion's lips as the purple flames were repairing the damage she dealt before their eyes. "Nice hits if I were a mortal. But unfortunately for you I am more than just a mere mortal." He seemed to disappear from thin air only to reappear behind Rainbow giving her a quick jab to her lower spine. A short pained cry came out of her before she fell face first into the ground.
"I....I can't move." She said in disbelief trying desperately to move.
The stallion grinned widely approaching her only to get sent into a nearby building. Come to find out, Applejack sent him into that same building with her famous apple bucking legs.
Fluttershy immediately dragged Rainbow back to safety. I however still had the damn flames wrapped around me tightly. All of these events happening at once is slowly breaking my concentration and as a result my armor is slowly disappearing. It seemed like the seal is reasserting itself back on me.
"This is real bad."
I tried even more fiercely to break out of the flames' grip. The sliver and black stallion jumped out of the hold that was made during the impact. A satisfied smile spread across his features. "This will be more fun than I originally thought it would be."
Applejack charged at him again while Rarity from the back was creating something in her magic. The stallion waited until Applejack was inches from striking to jump over her grabbing one of her wrists and slamming her back on to the ground. Applejack bit back a yelp before grabbing his left leg pulling it from underneath him. The stallion lost his balance has they both tumbled on to the ground. Rarity looked to have finished a magical straight jacket quickly fitting it on the stallion. Pinkie Pie cheeered the girls on through the entire fight.
That's when the stallion had enough. His entire body engulfed itself in flames shedding the magical jacket to nothing. He then flexed his fire sending all the girls flying back. None could get out of the sphere of purple fire unscathed. All except Twilight who used her last bit of magic to put up a shield around herself.
The stallion laughed in pure bliss at the scene before him. "That's right pathetic ponies. Kneel before your rightful ruler. For I am Lord Hades, the master and ruler of Tartarus! I am done with these childish games." he proclaimed.
He then looked back at me with a grin approaching me, slowly and carefully. "How about we start off by enlightening my new subjects on you, Dovostro. Now do any of you know about his past?" Lord Hades asked rhetorically.
A long pause happened before he continued. "Of course you all don't know. He deceived you all. He was no different than Nightmare Moon, Discord, or Chrysalis! Matter of fact, I would say he is the purest evil there is! Isn't that right Lord Dovostro, Lord of Darkness!" Lord Hades said.
My pain has dulled tremendously hearing those words for myself. Then it clicked in my head. This bastard was the old Greek god Hades from my universe. And he just spilled one of my biggest secrets I have tried to hide from the girls.
I felt myself go limp in the flames' grip as Twilight and her injured friends seemed to not believe what came out of Hades' mouth.
"You're wrong Hades! There is no such thing as a ruler over Darkness. That's physically impossible even by magic standards." Twilight said.
"Your schools say chaos magic doesn't really exist on its own, yet there is a Lord of Chaos that could control it almost fine," Twilight went silent. "See? Now, do you see what I mean? You have been working with the enemy this entire time."
"Surely he must be joking." Rarity said.
The others however had expressions from shock to denial. I mentally screamed in anger at Hades giving him a lethal glare of my own. The pony could only smile at my attempts to scare him off.
Lord Hades turned back to me. "Well Shadow?"
I was force into a corner right now. All my life I have been trying to keep my past hidden from the beings around me, and yet somehow it resurfaces again, but this time one of my enemies' says said secret.
I couldn't answer to the truth not like this at least. Lord Hades smiled even more in triumph. "He doesn't deny it."
There was a long pause from the Elements before Rainbow Dash scuffed. "You think we would go behind Shadow's back just because he's the Lord of Darkness? What's so dangerous about that? I don't see the big deal."
Lord Hades tightened his grip on the flames around me causing me to stifle a pained cry. "Nothing is more dangerous. Nothing else," he smile turns almost manical instantly."That's why I'm killing you first, Dovostro, permanently."
My vision blurred as the heat was starting to get too much. Yet, the pain soon turn to a cold shiver. I could feel a black ice cold flame inside me. Its hidden power and influence inviting me to touch it. I desperately tried to resist the urge with all my might. Why you may ask? Because this flame inside me is the thing that I paid the price to have this vast power. I couldn't let myself get consumed in this power. I couldn't-
I was on the verge of death before I felt my neck snap abruptly to the right. Fear quickly filled my heart as I blacked out.
"N-No.... not.... here...."
Third Person POV
Lord Hades' smile faltered hearing Shadow's neck snap abruptly. The air seem to grow even more heavy somehow a split second later. Hades' instincts reflexively let Shadow fall to the ground getting ready to attack him. Yet, he could barely will his body to even move. A god's instincts are vastly different than any mortal could ever acquire. We had the perfect skill set: Love, no strains, no death, immortality, beautiful unearthly looks, you name it. All except one major thing the gods made sure to install into the very mortals they govern: Fear.
However, that didn't seem to matter in this case. Rarely any god has things to fear. Mostly it's other gods, but somehow this stallion could shake his entire being to the core. It was like this.... monster was fear incarnate.
Lord Hades kept his brave face strong though revealing his flaming purple halberd. It had been a long time since he found an opponent worth fighting. Other than one of the gods that governed this realm of existence which he effortlessly slaughtered reguardless.
A sick, manical smile spread across Shadow's lips as he rose from where he stood. Lord Hades immediately noticed something extremely off about his appearance. That being his eyes..... The pupils themselves widened so large that all was replaced was nothing both pure blackness; his iris' seemed to have completely left back into his skull.
The armor immediately disapeared into nothing as he retrieved Apocalypse not even caring about the fearful stares he was receiving from the ponies and demons around him. The blade under his claws just felt.... right to wield in that moment. It called out to make any who impose pay with its life blood. And Shadow obliged.
He charged at Lord Hades with speeds that seemed to cause light itself to split in half toward him. However, Hades dodged his charge as Shadow sliced the space Hades had originally been in.
Lord Hades knew that this level of magic was not even close enough to defeat this monster, but he knew something like this would happen. And so he began his back up plan.
Hades teleported toward Tirek with a strained smile. Tirek's eyes widen in realization only for the Lord of Tartarus to absorb all the magic Tirek required beforehand.
Tirek's form slowly but surely returned to its original size before kicking the useless being quickly into a building nearby.
Now he stood a chance. And plus he controlled now everything this world had to offer: The sun and the moon, two celestial bodies of the universe.
He smiled also reminding himself that he became a master in magic and... love.... as well. Even if he considers love to be useless. Especially against the Lord of Darkness. The latter regardless is magic power, so he can figure out a use for it later. Lord Hades focused back on the main threat to his entire plan.
A feral shout echoed from Shadow's vocals while Hades snarled. "You think your so tough? You'll regret ever coming to Equis once I'm done with you!"
Then the two unstoppable forces collided with each other. To say that the world shook in the might of the pure power was a severe understatement. The earth below them reached its breaking point as Equis ripped itself open. The ponies and demons around them immediately panicked searching for a safe place to flee from.
However, the two Lords simply didn't care now for the environment damage They caused. They were too absorbed into the fight to notice. Dovostro just grinned even more breaking out into fits of laughter.
Hades' angrily glares coming into action using his halberd to slice his face in two. His victory was short lived as Shadow's face mended itself together before his eyes.
Shadow gripped his giant sword tightly as a strange black substance incased his sword's blade. Hades' actions proved to be adequate his halberd clashing with Apocalypse.
Dovostro jumped into the air as Hades realized a giant boulder hovering and hurtle toward him. He slid underneath the pile of earth just to meet Apocalypse's blade once more. The Lord of Darkness managed to twirl in midair using the momentum to kick the side of Hades' face in. He was thrown back into said boulder splitting it into many more pieces then it originally was.
Lord Hades quickly recovered just in time to catch Shadow jumping along nearby floating rocks. Apparently, the force of their powers was too much for the planet to handle properly, so physics no longer applied anymore.
Hades briefly felt disappointed about that, but a swift punch in the gut reminded him of his current predicament. The force sent him directly into a floating rock which he gracefully repelled off with his hooves back at the Lord of Darkness.
He stabbed the halberd into his stomach pushing Shadow and himself straight into another rock that broke up under the impact. The monster however showed no signs of being in pain. The only thing that escaped his lips was fucking laughter.
Hades then realized the severity of his mistake. He released a side of him that almost had no weakness. Where was he getting all this strength from? Not even a god can last this long against his purple fire. He didn't know, but he did know that every creature had some form of weakness. And to Hades' shame to admit he had a weakness of his own. Whispers bouncing within his head echoing a prophecy, or more of an ancient fact of the multiverse, that the three old hags of fate had once said to him.
The truest sense of fear is something that you can't normally see at first glance. One day, fear will claim us all.
Hades' breath quickened as he stared into Shadow's soulless eyes for the second time. It was so unnerving just for Hades to look to them intently. Yet his eyes held a endless void that made Hades' imagination feel numb to expand on. His body involuntarily shuttered as he froze under his gaze.
He leaned over as a soft chuckle escaped his lips. "Only the cowards are stupid enough to mess with things they don't understand. Now it is your turn to pay the price into oblivion." Shadow said his voice somewhat distorted.
Shadow moved lightning quick digging his claws into the god. Hades cried out in unimaginable agony as a black substance replace his precious blood making his veins grow increasingly blacker by the second.
At this point, Hades struggled to even breathe. His entire body felt like it was drench completely in the River Styx. He could not hold his form for much longer. Shadow removed his claws from Hades' limb body watching him fall into the planet's molten lava. His body slowly getting absorbed into the planet's mantle.
Lord Dovostro then teleports back on to the broken up solid ground before his head twist violently once more snapping his head sickly again.
Shadow's POV
I was finally able to tame the quench that I need as I felt the flame soon disappear figuratively in my body. I laid there breathing on the ground only to find out that the ground I laid on was not solid at all. My panic set in as I realized the very planet itself looked to be unstable. I knew the force of two almost-entities would be too much, but I didn't expect the planet to do this...
With great strength, I picked myself back up feeling my strength in magic is really low. I am physically drained at the moment. My brain screamed at me internally to find any solutions before the damages become permanent.
Then I realized if I can find the Equestrian magic, I could potentially save this planet from total destruction So I lit up my horn and spread my dangerously low magic reserves throughout the area to find the source. When I found nothing I spread the scanners further and further.
The air shook violently almost throwing my magic off. It was all I could do to not pass out. Thankfully I caught myself continuing as best as I could. Then my magic finally grasped what I was looking for. The wisps of Equestrian magic escaped from a nearby crack in to the mantle itself. I ran to the beacon of equestrian magic as fast as possible.
I made it to the source overlooking that the source of the gathered up magic resembled a corpse. The source of the magic was too deep in the crack to reach physically and the magma would surely burn me alive. So, I carefully sit down and concentrate sucking in a long stream of air. A thin wisp of what looked like rainbow dust slowly exit out of the source. It wasn't enough to force as much magic out as possible.
Plus, I realize that there is a lot more raw magic than I originally thought. My horn lit up helping the flow. Something went wrong, however, when the magic eagerly rushed in waves of power pushed itself into my horn. I coughed abruptly seeing the magic flow transfer to my horn instead. A sharp pain immediately entered my skull simultaneously after.
I screamed in agony as I felt two appendages coming out of my sides of my back. I didn't care at the moment, nor the intense thumping in my skull. I needed to save the planet first before it was too late. I pushed through the agony in my skull and strain on my body. The magic of Equestria wrapped itself around my growing horn as it spread itself around the entire planet. I then forced the equestrian magic to reverse the damages done on the planet.
The process were almost soul shattering on the pain spectrum, but I realized my efforts were working. The ground, lava, and the chunks floating in the air were mending itself back to the earth from where it was once torn itself away. The ponies and demons all around were confused by the sudden shift. Almost like time was being reversed on an exploding egg. I still had a little more to go... Just... a... little more!
With the last bit of my effort the entire planet mend itself back into its original state. My body, not being able to hold the equestrian magic anymore, purged the remaining foreign magical force out of my mouth. It willfully forced its way out of me. While in the process of expelling said magic I felt the things that sprout from my sides earlier to disintegrate while I felt my horn grow back down to its normal length.
Once it all left I could barely keep myself from falling over on to the ground. I saw that the mane six had a variety of expressions plastered on each face. Some more malice then others. However, they didn't attack my defenseless form. Instead, they all pitched in to help me to stand up.
My surprise obviously showed through my weak expressions somehow as Twilight gave a sly smile toward me. "It's ok, just relax."
Applejack gave a hard glare toward me, but it slowly softened seeing the critical condition I was in. "You do have an aweful lot to explain to us, but that can wait for a later time. Right now you need rest. We'll take you to the doctor's."
I smiled weakly all around me feeling the dam behind my eyes almost break loose. Why are these ponies so understanding toward me now? I had turned into a complete monster a few moments ago, yet they didn't go for the kill when they had the chance.
"Did they somehow understand me?" I thought to myself, but I ignored that train of thought for the time being.
Reguardless, I felt my body burning dangerously low amounts of magic. At this rate, my entire body would pass out. I needed a good rest......Maybe for a while.....
My thoughts jumbled up as I felt my body relax itself. I felt my body slip from the grasp of reality and time. For the first time in years, I felt free.
Third Person View
A Week Later
The General Ponyvile Hospital was one of the biggest hospitals Equestria had to offer. Some of the best medical gifted ponies resigned in the hospital itself. This general hospital was known to have the most advanced medicine and best doctors on this side of Equestria. Matter of fact, only the General Canterlot Hospital could top them. Yet, the Worldquake had tested the medical field almost to its limits. News about the massive quake spread across all of Equis. Even a nurse working in the General Hospital named Nurse Red Heart knew of this matter.
She had gone through it. Red Heart was sure that just about everypony across the globe had similar experiences too. Although she was lucky enough to not lose anypony she held dear, that same matter could not be said for other ponies. Many Equestrians lost at least some type of blood relative during the natural disaster. Keeping the hospital extremely busy today, Red Heart walked quickly through the different rooms in the complex that made up the hospital. She carried a clipboard in her grasp scanning through the labelled rooms to check the state each patient was in currently.
The first one she entered was relatively an easy check up. Hard Hammer: a construction worker for the company HoofTap. The pegasus stallion's left ulna, humerus, and coracoid were all fractured in various degrees due to a large boulder falling upon his wing. She estimated that it would take a month or so for the bones themselves to mend properly for flight again.
She checked the heart monitor to double check on his internal state. Red Heart wrote down on her clipboard the information she needed before moving on to the patient next door.
When Nurse Red Heart entered, she first noticed the tip of the unicorn mare's horn seem to be broken off. As a result, it formed a lengthy crack almost down the middle to the base meeting her skull. This mare is named Radiant Jewel. She was originally a model for one of the Canterlot boutiques. The only reason why we even got this patient was because of the money offered for her repairs. She's no scientist, but it takes forever to move anypony from that distance, especially on carriage. Red Heart checked the heart monitor, doing her normal routine before moving on.
Next up was an older patient. He goes by the name Shadow Faze: the famous Hero of Equestria. The Elements of Harmony didn't give specific details, but they said that he overexerted himself taxing his magic too much. He appears to be still in a comatose state and strangely enough has a low heart beat. This state has lasted for about a week so far and it seems like it won't change today.
Nurse Red Heart sighed.
She personally felt bad for the stallion. According to the results that came in a few hours ago, the fire damages he received may never heal again. He may even become a vegetable for the rest of his life.
She wrote her data down before exiting the room a tingle of sadness tugging at her heart for the reality of his condition.
.....Not even the gods can save you now.......Shadow....
The rate of death on Equis had rapidly grown since the Worldquake happened. Nopony knows the true reasons behind these startling numbers either, but my suspicions say that something happened magically in the air. Strangely enough, this entire planet doesn't feel like the planet I've grown up on anymore. Which only unnerved me even more than I already was.
The only relatively good news that was recently reported was by the Element's themselves. They said that Shadow had successfully defeated Lord Hades once and for all. It should be happy times and tranquillity throughout the lands: a solid victory, yet it doesn't feel like a victory at all. All the death of innocent lives Lord Hades destroyed made the planet even more unstable with the mysterious magic. Even in death, Hades' damn corpse had been the cause of this outbreak of new magic.
I recently hired a few scientists from all over Equestria to calculate our survival rate, and to say that we would make it out alive would be a lie.
"And to think this all started because of that damn unicorn stallion."
He just came from the Everfree forest and immediately was ready for action. I often wondered why he simply didn't just end the world all together with the magic he had already. I slammed a fist firmly down on a desk that was currently almost filled to the brim with paper work.
Normally, this amount of papers would be nothing to sweat about, but they are all quite important which made my role even harder for me.
I thought previously why I thought recruiting Shadow would benefit my sister and I, especially in combat situations. Unfortunately, Shadow being unpredictable, however, made him as trustworthy as Discord on his best days. Not to mention his magic does the craziest things when being used. From what I gathered, he has a tendacy for his magic to blow up half of the time or throw him stories high into the air.
I sighed heavily composing myself again. "No matter, I'll just have to get rid of Shadow now. If I can't nudge him into the direction I set out, then he sure as Tartarus doesn't deserve to be here; not while the world is at stake."
It took me centuries to finally create the perfect utopia for all ponies to live under the rule of me. I even managed to subdue Luna and her counterpart, Nightmare Moon, to trust in me. Twilight and her friends are with me as well because my little ponies would not question me, not even for a second. All I needed was just Shadow to trust me fully too for this to work. Yet, it was all blown out of proportion as soon as he started meddling with my actual plans.
Maybe he already knew of your intentions.
"Perhaps."
That wouldn't explain why he willingly followed my orders.... I shook my thoughts away as I focused back on the paper work in front of me again. I needed to do something first.
My horn lit up in a golden aura before teleporting to a different area.
My vision returned to me a split second later. I ended up at the enterence of the General Ponyvile Hospital. I smiled gently, mostly to myself, remembering the hard work it took to complete this building. It made my chest swell in pride thinking about how far my little ponies have come from three bickering tribes at each other's throats.
Unfortunately, I was not here to admire the hospital. My neutral expression returned to my face walking in. I first noticed the help desk walking up to it. The clerk mare's eyes widen seeing my presence. She almost immediately bowed respectfully to me. I giggled at how eagered she was to meet me, but I eventually told her to rise from her bow.
"Of course, Princess. What brings you here to our humble hospital?" she asked.
"I'm here to check on a patient you have currently. He goes by the name: Shadow Faze?" I asked.
She nods her head confirming my response. "Yes, we do have him currently in the room. He is in room 134." The clerk mare said.
I brought a fake smile to my lips. I appreciate the help....Bright Whistle." I replied briefly looking at her name tag pinned to her uniform.
"You're welcome Princess!"
With that out of the way, I hustled casually to his room. Many scenarios went through my head on how to approach this, but ultimately it was all just speculation on how to....silently deal with Shadow.
I made it to the door finally looking at the door number on there. Taking an almost silent deep breath, I opened the door shutting it behind me quickly. I turned around to face Shadow to be slightly taken aback at what I saw. Shadow looked to be in intense care. Judging by the amount of bandages that wrapped his entire body. He just laid there in the bed, almost peacefully stoic. The steady sound of the heart monitor beeped on.
Never in my long life have I witnessed a pony so at peace in his sleep. It didn't last long as my subconscious reminded me off my presence being here.
My horn lit up casting a sound proof spell before I walked up to the comatose Shadow. A golden curved knife appeared in my hands seconds later. I looked at Shadow one more time obvserving his still form carefully.
At least he won't be in too much pain for long. Let's get this over with.
I took in a long deep breath before bringing the knife down at him. It would have made its mark if it wasn't for a black barrier that made contact with it instead. My knife hovered five inches above his chest. My eyes widened in shock.
"Is....Is this his magic?!"
Well, then thrust harder!
I tried again this time using more force. The same result happened again only making me more frustrated. Why was this stallion so damn powerful in magic?!
My magic should be stronger than his ever could be! He shouldn't be capable of blocking MY magic!
A bit of that frustration escaped from my muzzle growling in anger briefly. My thoughts lead elsewhere as I heard hoofsteps. I dispelled the sound proof barrier and the knife quickly putting on my usual stoic attitude. A nurse walked in the room to check up on Shadow.
She had white fur, pink mane in a bun and blue eyes. Obviously, she wore a nurse outfit That made me slightly blush at how well it fit her figure. Thankfully, she couldn't see my brief blush through my white fur. That's all I got to register in appearance before she noticed me. She gave a brief bow before smiling at me.
"I didn't expect to meet a Princess today." She commented.
I smiled at her breaking my stoic appearance. "Indeed. I just came by to give my friend my blessings to get well." I said.
The nurse stared at me for a moment before breaking eye contact with me and examines the patient. To my surprise, the nurse was able to touch the stallion effortlessly.
That barrier came up when I attacked, but it didn't deflect the nurse in any way? He is mocking my magical power! Why that little-
I decided not to show my confusion, nor the anger that wield up inside me. The nurse brought her attention back on me.
"How is he?"
"It appears Shadow is still in critical condition, and is still comatosed, unfortunately."
I nodded. "I understand. Thank you for giving me your time."
She slightly smiled at my comment like it made her day entirely better. "Anything for the princess,"
That's good to hear.
"I better get going. I have other patients to check up on." she said with haste walking past me carefully.
"Of course." I said as she left through the doorway.
I looked back at Shadow feeling my tamed anger rise. When I walked out of the room my anger turned into shock and confusion for my actions. Why did I feel so angry?
