> In the dark
>  by Connorcooper
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Part 1 (Edit help by Apothesis Cannon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come into the light friend!"

"You need to get some sun!"

"Staying in there in the dark isn't healthy for you buddy!"

"Please friend comes on outside with us it's not so bad out here!"

Those things were right outside the reinforced blast doors to the site, they have been for the past three days trying to pry the door open with melted fleshly limbs but luckily the doors held shut. Sadly they wouldn't hold forever, he had to move quickly and get this thing finished before those THINGS found a way inside.

He spent the last few months in this abandoned foundation site trying to survive, luckily all the entities that could walk were gone and the survivors were also missing. He didn't know nor did he really care all that was on his mind was trying to get this thing up and running, after the first day when the sun started to turn anything alive into melted flesh zombies this site was one of the sites that tried to find a way for humanity to leave mother earth and find a new home somewhere else.

There were plans about space travel as to use colony ships to escape from the stars while others had plans to use certain SCPs to escape through other dimensions. 

Which begs the question, what happened here?

It was like everyone just... disappeared and as all the recordings were corrupted, it was impossible to tell what happened here at this site. Projects to save humanity were suddenly abandoned and personal items had been left to collect dust, luckily though some SCPs had remained. 

There weren't many of them around luckily most were pretty useful while others were less useful, good thing the foundation had detailed documentation on many of the SCP objects that were left behind. Otherwise, he wouldn't be where he was today without those pieces of paper to help him out, still, even with all the supernatural knowledge and machines, it took him nearly half a year to assemble this damn thing. 

It was a gate device capable of connecting two points from across space and time to open a small window to those points before shutting in on itself to cut off any connection to Earth and the horrors that remained here. Luckily he had a great teacher to help him understand how all this stuff worked upon other things.

Hearing the voices through the camera system made him pick up the pace of his work, sometimes he turned to look at the screens out of fear. His plasma thrower was right at his side ready to be used if they somehow got in and if all else fails this place would be his final stand against those damn monsters.

While throughout his stay at this site he had... 'changed', having done things to his body to make sure he was ready for anything, and many of those changes nearly cost him his life. The risks were worth it, for if it wasn't melted flesh zombie blobs that he would be fighting, then it would be whatever was waiting behind the gate.

He was glad he wasn't 'truly' alone in all this though.

Connecting to the onsite generator the ring-like device began to light up with power, running over to the laptop connected to the ring he began to make sure everything was in the green. He had one shot at this and if this thing didn't work then those THINGS were going to find out those magnetically sealed doors would be a lot easier to open without power.

Hopefully, his counting for only a single person would be just enough for the nuclear reactors to handle crossing between dimensions. The machine fluctuated as he pressed the enter key on the laptop before turning to the ring device, it began to drain power from the entire site. Lights flickered at the machine draining the energy of the entire site into it and then causing the flash, a small blue flame roared from the middle of the ring before it engulfed the entire inside of said ring.

Smiling from behind his helmet only for his grin to disappear when he heard something very loud and heavy like a metal scraping upon metal being forced open. He frantically turned to the camera feed and sure enough, the gap in power allowed those damn things to get a grip on the door to pry it open, taking no time he dash over to the portal.

Before he leaped in he turned back to the site behind him...

Though this place wasn't the ideal home for anyone, it was his for nearly a year and he had made a few memories here but like every home, sometimes you have to move out.

"Down the rabbit hole I go," Pushing forward into the gate as the creatures' approach grew louder he completely disappeared within.

Upon doing so the gate began to shake as predicted while it began to give in on itself as it was designed to do so, the wave of melted flesh rolled in as many eyes stared out looking for any unchanged humans only to see the gate shifting. Not knowing what it was some of the flesh stumbled over to it confused about what it might be, but not noticing the flashing warning that the laptop's screen gave.

The portal within the gate was closing in on itself and the ring finally gave way, allowing the blue energy that formed the portal to be unleashed sending an explosion of pure energy through the halls of the entire site and vaporizing anything in it's path for miles.

Something that the site resident added for those exposed to the sun. 





(Crystal empire)

"HAHAHAHA! FINALLY, MY CRYSTAL EMPIRE! YOU ARE MINE ONCE AGAIN!" Sombra bellowed with laughter holding baby Flurry Heart by the scuff of her neck as her parents lay defeated at his feet. "Now... now... what to do with you lot," 

Shining armor lifted his head weakly at Sombra who stood over him smiling down at the fallen captain before pushing down his boot upon his face.

"I didn't say you could rise worm! Hmmmm... perhaps I shall have you join your fellow worms in the DIRT!" Summoning his scythe to his hand and placing it on Shining's neck the dark king's smile grew. "It has been too long since there has been an execution in my empire!"

"You wouldn't get away with this Sombra. I wouldn't let you!" Cadance still filled with determination reached out with what little strength she had left to try to stop the king, but the unicorn stopped her by kicking her in the face.

"Silence wrench I have plans for you later," Flurry Heart watched with tearful eyes as her mother was kicked by the dark king causing her to tear up before wailing.

This caused Sombra to drop the filly from his grip to hold his ears while the parents of the child were also exposed to the powerful cries of the alicorn baby. Hitting the ground the baby cried even louder in pain as her horn fired out magical spells blindly and without, reason Sombra turned to the child, raising his scythe up to silence the wailing runt he swung down before the child gave a loud cry that sent a wave of energy across the throne room.

Sombra stumbled backward as the blast knocked his weapon from his hand and the two lovers across the room, leaving Flurry Heart snuffling in the spot she was dropped tired after using so much magic. Panting the king stood back up his ears slightly ringing after the screaming attack but before he could retrieve his weapon to not allow the runt to do that ever again, he saw something.

On the ground in a cracked crater in the crystal floor knelt a black armored being with his entire body hissing with smoke coming from the dark form, this caused Sombra to blink in surprise at the creature before him. Looking to the runt Sombra then turned to the being who stumbled to it's full height where the king couldn't help but be in slight awe at the creature.

From the top of it's head to it's boots the creature was fully clad in black armor, glowing red eyes scanned the area around it and strange items were attached all over it's body, the dark king assumed most likely some form of weapons. Sombra was impressed by this creature that the filly had summoned causing the dark king to believe that the runt had accidentally summoned a dark creature from the shadows, unbeknownst to the brat all creatures of darkness were his to command.

Perhaps the child wasn't so useless after all...

"Interesting," Sombra's words caused the creature to turn at him with it's glowing red eyes, suddenly the creature looked around seeing the fallen lovers that were thrown across the room, and then turned to the filly not so far from him. "Creature of darkness! I welcome you to this realm. Though I no longer need aid in invading this kingdom I do require a new enforcer to keep my rule unbroken! I command thee to kneel before me and speak thy name!"

Turning to the dark king as the large scythe was pointed at him waiting for him to obey his commands, the creature turned to the child once again and it's fists clenched in rage before it turned back to Sombra.

"Fuck you," Sombra was baffled by the words this creature had said to him, before he could respond the black armored being pulled out one of his weapons and unleashed a blaze of red-violet flame.

The dark king unprepared for this action roared in pain as the flames burned his flesh before he summoned a wall of dark crystal to block the flames. Looking at his heavily scorched arm Sombra hissed and covered it in a healing shadow before turning up to look through the glass as the creature was going around to attack him from the other side.

'That was no normal fire... nor was it magical! What is this creature!'

Turning into his gas-like form, the king moved around like a living cloud of smoke going over to the strange creature's rage 
inscribed across his barely visible face.

"You dare strike me you welp! I shall crush you for that!" Throwing his form on top of the creature to flatten him with his magically increased weight only for the creature to harmless jump through the ghostly form of the king. "What-?!"

Reaching it's arm down to the ground Sombra suddenly felt himself in his full form being forced down to flatten his smoke-like form. This creature was starting to get on the dark king's nerves before he slipped into the cast of the shadow window frame disappearing from his attacker's sight. Reforming behind the summon warrior, Sombra pulled his scythe back ready to take the creature's head only for the figure to turn around slamming it's weapon into his gut like a club sending him flying across the room with insane strength.

Sombra crashed into his throne amazed by the creature's perception and strength, he watched as the creature switched to another smaller weapon. All through this creature was quite the pain Sombra couldn't help but enjoy himself slightly at how amusing this foe was starting to be. He rose from his broken throne before rushing at his opponent to swing his scythe in a lethal swing, but the creature's weapon fired a white freezing beam that completely froze his weapon so when it made contact with the black armor of the warrior before him it shattered across the burnt and battered marble floor.

Sombra followed through, punching the creature in the face plate with his still-armored hand while using his other to grasp the creature's weapon hand still firing the freezing beam. Holding each other in a lock of strength the two dark beings stood holding both grounds, while the creature glared at him with those alien glowing red eyes Sombra couldn't help his rage turn into curiosity. 

This was getting better and better he began to wonder what else this creature had up it's armored sleeves, and he began to smile.

"What other surprises do you have? Show me!"

Slamming his head onto Sombra's own, the king roared in pain but knocked the weapon out of the creature's hand only to receive a powerful roundhouse kick to the face. As the creature was recovering from his spin kick he then threw something at Sombra which the warrior king instinctively caught.

Panting Sombra turned his hand to look at what he had just caught...

A piece of Jasper?

"Okay I'll be honest, this did catch me by surprise boy, but enough games! I-!" Burning pain shoot through Sombra's exposed hand as he looked at the piece of stone in his hand. "What the-"

He tried to drop the object but the stone didn't budge, instead, it burnt itself into his hand!

Throwing his hand in an attempt to shake it off only for the result to be in vain, the jasper stubbornly continues it’s assault, even when he tried to turn himself into smoke only to remain in his physical form.

"What devilry is this?" Dropping to his knees Sombra felt his entire body stung in pain and his stomach churned in his gut.

"Just a little something I kept for safekeeping," Looking at his opponent Sombra then fell back, his body giving out on him as he screamed bloody murder.

Rolling around on the floor the king of shadows had never in his entire life experienced this level of pain before, slowly Shining Armor rose to his feet as he watched Sombra cry out in pain. Stumbling over to his daughter who was now passed out from her magical outburst, he got the attention of the creature who took down Sombra.

A device on his shoulder lifted itself pointing right at Shining's head, hastily but the captain raised his hands out.

"Easy!" Shining and the being looked at one another before Shining looked down at his daughter. "Please... she needs me,"

Not saying a word the shoulder device moved back as the being looked down at the screaming pony at his feet, picking up his daughter in his hand Shining walked over beside the dark-armored warrior. Shining couldn't help but watch as Sombra's form began to change causing him to gasp in shock as the dark king after a few moments stopped screaming and stopped moving.

As he did so the red Jasper stone fell from the king's hands as the dark being knelt down and carefully picked up the blood-red stone before putting it in a strange-looking case.

"Is he?"

"Alive? Yes..."

"What did you do to him?" Standing up with the case now somehow vanished from his hand the being stood up to Shining Armor.

"It's exactly how it looks," Picking up the weapon Sombra knocked out of his hand earlier, Shining turned to the creature.

"What are you?"

"Guess you can call me... a friend,"
> Part 2 (Light edit by Gear shift)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sometime later)

Shining watched their most recent guest devour his third plate of peanut butter, nuts, and fruit, the only thing he had asked for after he saved them from Sombra. It confused Shining, but weirder than that was his previous request for a second plate that he has yet to touch.

"So what do you think?" Cadance whispered into his ear.

"I'm... unsure what he is," Watching their guest raise his fourth jar of peanut butter and scraping out the last of what was in the jar. "Might be a diamond dog with how much he likes peanut butter."

Cadence lightly hit her husband's shoulder as she gave him a half-hearted glare.

"Don't be rude," She turned to look at their guest that put the empty jar down, but upon hearing a knock on the door the two turned as a crystal guard peeked his head in.

"Pardon for the intrusion your Majesties but the princesses and elements have arrived," The guard reported. 

Turning back to their guest who was standing back up, finished with his meal, he put his strange mask back on before he looked at Shining armor with a confused gesture.

"What?"

Shining took a step forward before speaking.

"Nothing. But I gotta ask a slight favor," Shining started before clearing his throat."I know you've already done so much for us, and you might have other plans, but can you stay? My aunts-in-law most likely have questions,"

Staring at the Captain he turned back forward before giving a shrug.

"Sure why not," The dark armored figure answered to which Shining smiled, thankful that this was going be a lot easier to explain to the princesses and a lot less paperwork for him to do.

"Alright come on this way- um.. what's your name?"

"It's Salem... Salem Grey,"

Shining smiled at his guest.

"Nice to meet you Salem,"

Cadance was about to leave with them before she couldn't help but feel a chill rush down her spine causing her to feel as if something was behind her. Turning her head to the dining room again but there was nothing there but the diner table still with the eaten remains of food that Salem had requested.

Turning to leave Cadance noticed something causing her to turn back to the dinner table noticing the second plate of food that their guest hadn't touched had nothing on it but an apple eaten to the core. She could have sworn only a moment ago that the plate had a completely untouched meal, that was until now.

Holding her head, from when Sombra hit her with a dark hallucination spell that made the princess see her worst fear.

Might be that the spell was wearing off.

Shaking her head she left leaving the dining room not noticing a black blur near where the second plate was.





(Throne room)

"That's Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked pointing a finger at the dark pony wrapped in chains with a gag not allowing the former king of the crystal empire to snap back at the element of loyalty.

"I believe so sugar cube... I think,"

"Hey, twilight are you sure this isn't like his daughter or something?" Rainbow dash asked to which the princess of friendship was still trying to wrap her mind around what she was seeing too.

Of course, when she and her friends heard about Sombra's return back to the crystal empire attempting to take it over yet again, they were ready to fight the dark pony again but here was the dark king wrapped in chains and... a mare?

Apparently, someone beat them to the rescue and incapacitated Sombra along with turning the king into a queen.

Twilight had read about spells that completely changed the sex of a pony but only temporarily for a short amount of time but the magic would have worn off before too long. Changelings could do something similar but they couldn't change their reproductive organs, this transformation wasn't magical at all almost as if Sombra was a mare in the first place. From the looks of Celestia and Luna it seemed that they didn't see something like this either, so whoever did this to Sombra must have some sort of ability to change someone's genetic code without magic.

It was slightly unnerving at what else this being could do.

"Hey gang," Shining spoke as all eyes turned to him but only for a moment before they turned to look at the person next to him. "So guys this is Salem he helped us out and um... changed Sombra,"

All eyes were on the stranger, who stood with his arms cross feeling a little uncomfortable with all the eyes looking at him, a awkward silence began to fill the room with no one saying a word before Celestia cleared her throat.

"Greetings Salem allow me to be the first to thank you for coming to the defense of my niece and nephew-in-law," Celestia spoke with a friendly smile on her face.

"It's not a problem... just found myself at the right place at the right time," Yet somehow even after the silence broke that feeling of awkwardness grew, luckily Pinkie pie shot forward to make this less unbearable for everyone at least in her mind.

"And let me be the second in saying thank you for stopping that big meanie pants Sombra! I'm Pinkie pie by the way it's super nice to meet you Salem!" Pinkie Zipped over next to the stranger with a smile while the red-eyed helm looked down at her.

"You too... Pinkie Pie?"

"That's my name... so where you from big guy? Do you like parties I love to throw you a 'thank-you-for-saving-the-crystal-empire-and-stopping-that-meanie-pants-Sombra-Party!' WAIT! What is your favorite flavor of cake?! Don't tell me let me guess!" Pinkie pie held her hands to her head before giving a weird stare at Salem.

"Uhh..."

"Don't tell me! It's it Chocolate! No Vanilla! No Marble? It has to be marble right? Or is it Ice Cream everypony likes an ice cream cake!"

"I... guess?" Salem answered clearly confused as Pinkie pie leaped up in down. "You don't have to throw me a party,"

This compelled Pinkie pie to gasp before getting in the face plate of Salem with a serious look on her face.

"Are you kidding!? We sooooo need to! Wait... what's your favorite color? Is it red? Come on tell me I need to know what color frosting I need to pick,"

"I don't need-"

Luna stepped forward grabbing Pinkie's shoulders.

"How about we talk about the party plans later Pinkie? But Mr. Salem tell us how did you find yourself here in the first place?" Luna's requested.

"That's a long story... don't think you would believe me," Salem answered but this caused rainbow dashed to roll her eyes.

"Oh come on Mr. Dark and Brooding my friends and I have been through a lot of doubt anything you have to say will surprise us," Salem looked at the rainbow color pony.

"I'm from another world?"

...

"Come again?"





Salem just watched as the humanoid ponies just stared at him for a moment before 'Celestia' took a step forward looking down at him. She had to be over six feet tall and was very 'healthy' in some places but he wondered if she had any back problems then again their anatomy could be very different than a normal human. She stared down at him inspecting every inch of him before walking around him causing the survivor to turn and look at her as she did before she went full circle and stopped in front of him.

"How did you get here?" Celestia's voice wasn't skeptical as he had expected but it sounded like she believed him.

"What do you mean?"

"How did you enter this world?" The princess asked with a blank look on her face.

"Enter this world?"

"Yes... how did you enter this world? Was it through a mirror?" Okay, that last question confused him slightly, was this world somehow similar to SCP-093?

"Mirror?"

"Yes did you enter this world through a mirror? Like one though a statue?" This was getting confusing, Salem shook his head.

"No, I did,"

She looked down at him still with that unreadable look on her face.

"Then how?" Her gaze was starting to feel uncomfortable, Salem hadn't been around people in a long time and these looks he was getting made him feel really uneasy. 

He had nothing to hide but it just felt: weird, at least to him.

"Though a gate,"

"What kind of gate?" Celestia asked to which Salem shifted in his spot.

"A machine... one I built," Her brow raised up as she looked at him.

"Who sent you?"

"Sent me?" This time her gaze narrowed at Salem.

"You're a soldier aren't you? Who sent you the CIA? FBI?"

Her words caused Salem to flinch before looking up at her.

"H-how do you know about those groups?" Her gaze turned into a slight glare causing Salem to back up.

"So you are a human... why are you here?" 

"I- What?"

"Don't lie to me," The friendly tone in Celestia's voice was replaced by a firm mother-like tone speaking to a child hiding something from their mother. "Answer me why are you here human?"

Salem stared at her still wondering how she knew what a human was and some of America's government agencies since the gate was supposed to send him to another world completely cut off from his old one. Giving a sigh since there was no point in lying to her, after all, he had nothing to hide, and honestly, he didn't want to make enemies.

"To escape,"

"Escape?" The midnight-colored one turned to him as he nodded.

"To escape what?"

"The monsters in the light," Salem answered, this caused the look Celestia had to fade by what he had just said.

"What monsters? Earth didn't have any magic,"

This caused him to look up at Celestia confused.

"How do you know about Earth?"

Celestia turned to Sombra who was not longer frothing with anger but was trying to listen in before turning back to Salem.

"Salem I've lived a long life for many years and in my travels, I came across something that allowed me to pear across realms to your world," Celestia answered. "I have spent some time on your world as well... and so has my student Twilight sparkle,"

Salem looked at who was gesturing towards the purple-coated horned and winged horse-lady, he then turned back to her.

"There are no monsters in your world,"

.

..

...

He just stared at her.

He couldn't believe what she had just said.

No monsters?

Even before the sun turned all life on earth into melted flesh, there were monsters and not just including the SCPs...

"There are," Salem argued. "Otherwise I wouldn't be here or did what I had to do to survive,"

Celestia raised her brow at that.

"And what did you have to do?" Celestia looked at him, Salem could tell she was ready to judge him if he had killed someone in order for his self-preservation but she was going to be very disappointed.

"Had to make a hard choice..." Salem lifted his hand to his helmet breaking the seal again. "Survival is a cruel teacher you either die or-"

Pulling off his entire helmet Salem looked up at Celestia with his own eyes.

"You Adapt,"

The look on Celestia's face caused her expression to change completely from that of almost disappointment to complete shock. He didn't even need to look at the others, they most likely weren't expecting to see his 'ugly mug' then again Ted could only do his best with the material he could find.

During his time in the abandoned site, Salem had collected a few SCP objects...

Using some of those objects on himself was painful.

Sometimes even downright suicidal.

But it was for his survival, he had used the files left behind for the 'Olympia Protect' as a template to help with his transformation. 

The hours reading the files and the notes from that sick bastard Herr Chirurg... and the pain from the improver.

In the end, it was worth it.





Celestia took a step back at the face before her, she had expected to see the face of a human but instead, it was something else. This was no human it was... something completely different, where bare flesh should have been was a bunch of mismatched colors fur patches from black, grey, and to a deep crimson tiger pattern even his two pointy ears were mismatched. His eyes were completely yellow and almost looked like they were glowing, in all honestly he didn't look like he was ever a human and more like some kind of vulpine some kind of other nocturnal creature.

It was safe to say she was in complete shock by the reveal...

And it didn't take a genius by what he meant.

"You did this to yourself?" Luna asks just as shocked as her sister.

Salem nodded, Luna, looked at her sister before they turned back to the 'human'.

"Why?"

"When the light betrays you... and you learn to accept the dark and the change that comes with it," Salem answered still holding his helmet. "Guess you can say to hide from the monsters I had to become a monster myself,"

...

"Might as well lay it all out for you," Salem asked to which the group nodded, but Celestia held out her hand.

"Perhaps you can explain this to us on the train,"

"Train?"

"Yes we would like to hear your story but I'm afraid Sombra here has a ceil waiting back at Cantorlot and well... I wish to confirm your story through a magical item of mine," Celestia answered. "If you would,"

Salem looked at her for a moment with a natural expression before looking at Luna then towards the left at nothing before staring at the side of the room most likely thinking before nodding.

"Why not? I have no place else to be," Salem answered placing his helmet back on before Celestia smiled putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Salem..." She then began to walk right beside him as Luna turned to the spot he was staring at, nothing was there sure but something told her that he wasn't just looking away to think but rather he was looking at someone.

Following her sister with the others in toe and Sombra in chain wrapped to a trolley being pushed by some members of the solar guard. As the doors opened Salem stumbled backward away from the sunlight and bumped into Luna, the group looked at him again confused.

"Is something the matter darling," Rarity asked while Salem looked at them before looking at Celestia who was standing in the sunlight.

"N-no I'm fine," Luna holding Salem's shoulders felt him shake slightly before turning to apologize to her and step out into the sunlight where the night princess could feel the all too familiar emotion she dealt with every night in the realms of dreams.

Fear...

This begged her to ponder: 'Was he afraid of the sunlight?'
> Part 3 (Edited by Joe Toon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(The Friendship Express)

"Okay... What do you want to know?"

Salem's muffled voice caused the ponies within the train car to look at him, ever since they left the crystal palace to the train station no one spoke a word. Though some of the ponies like Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie almost slipped by asking him some personal questions while they walked.

But if it was out of politeness or courtesy, no pony spoke a word. Rarity however was very close to questioning his wardrobe choice.

Twilight already had a notepad filled with questions ready to ask the stranger though her mentor beat her to the punch before the princess of friendship could start going off her list.

"Well, perhaps you can tell us what happened to your world," Celestia asked to which Salem gave a light huff.

"Where do I even start," Salem leaned back in his spot that was away from any of the cart's windows.

"At the beginning would be nice."

Looking at the eldest sister Salem gave a nod before taking a breath.

"All right I'll try my best... it started some months back,"





(Many months ago...)

Salem gave a low groan before slowly opening his eyes...

Giving a grunt the human shifted himself against the hard concrete floor as his body felt completely stiff and sore all over. Getting to his knees Salem held his head, everything just felt... weird.

His legs felt like they were about to fall off and his brain was pounding against his skull.

But through his aching brain, he had one question that was rushing through his brain: Where was he?

Trying to stand up from the floor he grabbed the closest thing near him to help pull himself up, grabbing hold with all his might he struggled upwards. 

Finally was able to get a good look at his surroundings.

He was in a... infirmary?

Confused he stumbled a little going to a cabinet across the medical bend he was leaning on, his legs slowly began to feel normal all though a little numb. He walked over to the door and turned its knob before peeking his head out into a hallway where more doors were lined up on either side of the long passageway. 

"Hello?" His horse voice echoed through the hall.

Nothing...

Moving out of the room and into the hallway pushing against the wall to support his numb legs to make it to the end of the hall. Another door waited for him at the end but unlike the others, this one was metal and didn't have any doorknob looking down to see a button next to it Salem watched as the door slid open with a hiss.

Shivering slightly, the patent gown he wore did little to shield him from the cold air blowing past him, grabbing his bare arms as he walked forward into the corridor before him while the door automatically shut behind him. Looking at the door he turned back forward before walking forward, confused and alone he pressed forward to hopefully find someone.

Walking for what felt like forever through the seemingly endless twisting hallways of wherever he was he froze upon seeing something on one of the walls. 

A symbol, one that looked familiar to him... a weird rounded circle with three bumps on it one on top and two on its side while a second white circle rested in the middle with three arrows pointing to the center of the symbol.

He could have sworn he had seen this symbol from somewhere but he didn't know why though it was so familiar to him, pressing forward he left the symbol behind him but it wasn't going to be the last time he would have seen that symbol. Walking for a little while longer he finally came across more doors but upon opening them every single one would be completely empty.

"Hello?"

"Is anyone here?"

"Can anyone hear me?"

"Please!"

More and more empty rooms with not a living soul in sight!

Just where the hell was everyone?!

Then he found it... after what felt like hours of wandering these halls he found what looked like a security office of some kind. Smiling as he walked forward, Salem walked forward as the automatic door was blocked by a fallen rolling chair preventing it from closing.

Good thing too since the door to this room didn't have a button but looked like it needed a key card or something to open it.

Entering the room, Salem looked around. A few lockers were on one side of the room while the other had a bunch of monitors hooked up to a computer. Switching the computer on, Salem watched the monitors light up as it reconnects to the system; revealing what seemed to be a live camera feed.

The screens showed him the blank hallways of this facility, some could have been a few he passed. One screen however caught his attention; it looked like a live feed from outside...

The feed showed him what looked to be some sort of entrance to a military checkpoint to wherever the hell he was. Everything at first looked normal, but in the daylight it felt…

Wrong.

Looking down at the computer he began to mess with the device switching from live feed to the past recorded records of this place. Salem scrolled down at the list of recordings. Most of them were corrupted but he kept scrolling and scrolling till he found a bunch of recordings that weren't corrupted.

Clicking on one Salem watched the screen as the recording played.

From watching the recording play out this place might have been some kind of military prison or some sort.

People in lab coats walked about while other more armored men and women walked in what seemed to be riot gear either patrolling the halls or escorting men in orange jumpsuits. This didn't really answer any questions he had about this place; a matter of fact he had more questions.

Like if this was some sort of prison was he a prisoner or one of this place's staff?

If he was a prisoner why was he here? 

What did he do?

Why can't he remember anything?

Looking back up at the screen he was about to log out of the recording only to spot something happening on the outside recording. Turning to it he froze in horror, the people who were currently guarding the outside had suddenly melted under the sunlight while those who didn't were in a panic.

Suddenly the melted piles of what used to be their fellow guards attacked them, reaching out for them and trying to grab them and pull them into the light. Some of the armed personnel fired at the melted piles of flesh to no avail. The flesh remained unharmed by the gunfire as it dragged more victims into the light to be melted alive, adding more to its mass.

Salem felt his heart sink at the sight of that as the recording pressed on with those flesh-like creatures swarming around outside, while the people inside began to run through the halls as an alarm light went off. Through these records, he would watch as the people inside sealed themselves after they 'flashed' the outside with some kind of defensive system, burning away all the piles of living flesh.

More and more questions began to fill his mind as he began to go through the computer.

Going through not just recordings but Emails, Memos, and other available data to him before he found something...




To those of you with families, or God forbid, children - I'm deeply, deeply sorry, you must push on. Do not let their deaths be in vain. We do still have time.

Humanity may still have a future. Come to Site-19. We need all the hands we can get.
Learn to embrace the darkness, friends. Fear the light.
- The Administrator




Turning around Salem felt dread wash over him.

'Did they leave me behind?'





(Present day)

"Turns out they didn't or at least I don't think so... honestly I never really found out what happened to everyone at that site but luckily I found out a few things about where I was, among other things," Salem recalled a few parts of his past to the ponies before him. "Apparently I was in a containment site of an organization known as the 'S.C.P foundation'. They were a group that would try to contain any anomaly that would appear to protect humanity to the best of their ability. To my understanding, they tried to study and understand most of the anomalies they had contained but most times they never did,"

Looking at their faces he could see the looks of anxiety, horror, and pity while Salem rested his arm on the booth he was sitting in while looking at the window far away from his spot in the corner.

"Besides that, that's all I really know about what happened when the sun turned on us," Salem stated while Celestia looked down at the mention of Earth's sun.

All were speechless at what they just heard when moments ago they were ready to fire off questions but they didn't know what to say after what Salem had just told them. The altered human looked at the mini-bar next to him in the train car before he pushed himself. He was about to get himself a drink but was given a Pinkie Pie 'hugckle', causing the chimera to shift from her sudden dash at him.

When her mane was all puffy moments ago was now flat as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes, not saying a word she buried her head into his side like a sad little puppy. Salem looked down at her act of comfort, he raised his free hand and patted her head while Pinkie Pie cried into his exo-plate.

"Salem?" The armored man looked at Luna who stood next to the bar with her hand on the counter. "You don't need to tell us anymore if you don't want to,"

Nodding Salem broke eye contact before turning his attention to the pony still hugging him before tapping her shoulder, yet she wasn't letting go.

"Um... Pink? I appreciate the gesture but can you- Oh-kay! Her grip is getting tighter," Salem tried to pry the pony from him as Rainbow Dash, who was currently trying to hide her tears from her friends, moved over and helped pull the party-loving pony off of Salem.

"Sorry big guy she just... gets clingy if she hears about something like this to somepony," Rainbow stated while pinkie pie kept crying.

"It's fine," Salem huffed wish for a cold drink was now gone, replaced by a bitter taste in his mouth. The altered human just rolled his shoulders, "Does this train have one of those sleeping cars? I would like to get some rest. I've been going for three days straight without any sleep."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, it's in the next car behind that door." 

Giving a thankful nod to the rainbow-maned pony, Salem turned to the door and opened it before leaving the ponies in silence.

"Luna?" Celestia broke the silence while the princess of dreams looked at her sister, but her sister knew what she was asking only for her to shake her head.

"No, Tia... I don't think I can," Luna shivered at the thought of going inside Salem's dreams to see the horrors within his mind.

This left the group silent, to process what they had just heard.





(Sleeping car)

Looking at the bed, Salem gave a smile under his helmet before crawling on top, still in his armored exoskeleton before laying down and resting his head on the pillow. Today had been quite the turn of events, from leaving earth with melted flesh monsters to now being in a world that was like something that SCP-1230 would whip up in one's dreams.

Moving himself to get comfortable on the bed Salem felt something familiar shift under his arms. Slowly a smile came across his face as he quickly recognized whose arms were wrapped around his waist. Not even needing to hope his eyes, Salem lightly held the entity as he felt her gently rest her muzzle on his shoulder, slowly drifting off the earth-born survivor relaxed in the presence of his silent partner.

He was so glad he found that document...
> Part 4 (Edited by Joe Toon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(???)

Cutting.

Slicing.

Ripping.

Severing.

The cold metal cut right through him so much that pain meds weren't helping not one bit. Regardless, he still remained awake watching the machine do its work. Cutting away at his flesh before graphing synthetic tissue into his exposed body, was so much pain but this was the price of survival.

Evolve or die.

But hurt...

So much even long after the surgery was completed he could still feel the needles and blades dig into the flesh while the drills took apart his skeleton and reconfigured it before casting it all in metal.

He could almost hear it, even now in his dreams.

The sound of his own scream.





(Equestria Express)

"W-what?" Salem felt someone push at his arm causing him to wake up. "Who? Oh, it's you."

Looking into the white eyes of his 'partner' Salem pushed himself from the bed seeing the entity staring back at him.

"Was I doing it again?'

Nodding to Salem's question, the chimera gave a low sighed.

"Did I wake you?" 

The entity nodded. 

"Sorry."

Shaking her head, the hands of the entity grabbed his arm before trying to pull him from the bed.

"What is it-?" The moment he stood up from the bed his companion pointed to the bathroom. "Oh... Right, I forgot!"

Tugging at his limb the dark figure almost dragged him to the bathroom while he reached for his pack.

"Okay! Cool your jets. Jesus, can't let me have breakfast first can you?" Receiving the universal gesture for no, Salem gave a sigh before bringing out a small black bag and placing it on the sink.

Opening the bag, he then pulled out a comb and some scissors before going to the SCP before him.

"Now hold still,"





Twilight walked down the small hallway in the train cart before stopping in front of the locked door that led into the room Salem was resting in. 

At least that is what she thought, but seeing how the other elements were up and this being the only door to the last suite she was pretty sure it was his. Knocking on the door Twilight waited for the 'human' to answer. While she waited, the princess of friendship could hear something clink and shift behind the door.

Giving another knock after waiting for a few moments this time she spoke.

"Salem? It's Twilight, are you alright in there?" Still nothing. "There is some food in the other cart if you want anything to eat for breakfast,"

Nothing but those clanging sounds, Twilight felt a dreadful thought cross her mind before looking at the lock on the door and knocking a third time.

"Salem? Is everything okay?" Twilight could feel her blood go cold for a moment before letting herself give in to her paranoia.

Using magic to unlock the door she let herself into the suite before peeking her head in. No longer muffled, she could hear water running from the bathroom and a snipping noise. Confused, she felt herself wander in while slowly creeping up to the open bathroom door, making for the side as she slowly tilted her head in to see the source of the noise.

"There that looks good," Salem's muffled voice spoke out and Twilight felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Still, she was a little curious about what was making that sound, so she peeked in.

Looking in, the purple pony saw Salem standing alone in the bathroom holding a pair of barber scissors and a comb, which was a little surprising but why did he sound like he was done cutting his hair even though he still had his helmet on?

Turning down to look at the floor she spotted cut hair trimmings on the floor around his metal boots.

"I think it looks good," Twilight overheard Salem speak. "What do you think?"

Her blood froze over before she ran out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

'Oh this isn't good... he probably thinks I was trying to spy on him or something,'





"What was that?" Salem and his companion looked out the bathroom to the door that exited into the main train cart.

Giving a shrug the entity turned back to the mirror to look at her reflection pulling back the freshly trimmed black locks within her fluff. 

"Huh..." Placing his arms down he looked in the mirror at his partner's reflection before giving a smile. "You like it?"

His companion nodded at his question, causing Salem to chuckle, "Well, how about we do the rest later when we get the chance I'm starving." 

His comment resulted in the fluffy mess turning back at him with sad puppy dog eyes. 

"I promise we'll do it later and besides that shower is way too small," he said, pointing at the stand in the shower with his scissors.

The entity gave a low sigh before dropping back onto Salem's chest plate.

"Hey, a few more hours of long fur wouldn't hurt." 

Sticking her tongue out at him, Salem chuckled before stuffing his grooming tools away in the bag and placing it back into his warp-pack. 

"I swear you can be such a drama queen sometimes."

His companion only responded with another blowing raspberry with her black tongue, causing the dark-armored hoist to chuckle.

"What am I going to do with you?"





(The dining cart)

"Ah~!" Rainbow Dash smiled, leaning back in her seat. "Nothing beats Canterlot-style pancakes."

"Well... excccccuuussse me!" Pinkie pie commented on her friend's treacherous comment, "I thought you said that my pancakes are 'the best in the whole entire world'! What happened to them no longer being the best?"

Rainbow Dash smiled, holding her hands up defensively.

"I didn't say they were the best Pinkie, I’m just saying: Nothing beats... well…"

"Go on. Finish what you were saying," Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes at the daredevil of the group.

"Look Pinkie, I didn't mean to- Oh hey look, it's Salem!" Rainbow pointed out seeing the dark-armored other-worlder entering the dining chart.

The rest of the elements and Princess Luna turned to see Salem walking up to the table in the middle of the moving cart.

"Mornin'," Salem greeted before sitting down in an empty seat next to Applejack at the end of the table. All the rest of the ponies within the train cart greeted him, although Twilight's morning greeting was a bit nervous sounding.

"How did you sleep, partner?" Applejack asked while Salem removed his helmet revealing his mismatched fur again.

"Like a rock," Lifting his nose in the air the altered humanoid smiled upon the sweet smell that loomed in the air. "Oh man! Pancakes! God, I haven't had these in... well, I can't remember but damn those smell good."

Luna summoned some of her magic to lift a couple of pancakes off the large platter in the middle of the table to Salem's plate, causing him to chuckle.

"Cool trick. What was that, some sort of Telekinesis?" Salem asked to which Luna chuckled.

"Yes, it's a similar telekinesis spell." 

Looking at the night princess for a moment Salem flinched slightly before returning a chuckle, "Man, I am not going to get used to this." He turned from his plate and looked over to Twilight who had the butter plate in front of her. "Hey, it's Twilight right?"

The purple pony snapped out of her blank stare while looking from her food to the Chimera. "It wasn't me!" she snapped, causing Salem and the rest to give her a weird look.

"I just asked if your name was Twilight," Salem deadpanned, narrowing his eyes at the purple alicorn before pointing to a small plate in front of her. "Can you please pass the butter?"

Nodding, the Princess of Friendship summoned a similar spell that Luna cast a few moments ago, sending the plate floating into the air and towards Salem’s side of the table.

"Thanks." Taking the tray in his hands, Salem grabbed his butter knife before he remembered something. "Hey, is there any chance I can get a second plate?"

"A second plate? But darling, you haven't even touched your food yet," Rarity politely pointed out.

"I know, it's just something that I usually do," he replied cryptically. 

"Why have two plates of food?" asked Rainbow Dash, giving him an accusatory look, “Do you eat two stacks of food for every meal? Just use the same plate and grab a second helping.”

Applejack shot her friend with a look of disapproval. "Rainbow Dash! Don’t you go judging him for his habits! For all we know, it could be part of his custom back in his home." 

Not wanting to spark an argument, Salem spoke out hesitantly, "Actually, it's something I do because... Well… It's hard to explain but-"

"Because you want your friend there to have some food too?" Pinkie Pie pointed out, causing Salem's pointed ears to perk up while her friends looked to the spot next to Salem where she was pointing to.

"Um... Pinkie there isn't anypony there," Rainbow said, clearly confused.

“Rainbow, don’t be such a big meanie pants; she’s right over there," Pinkie grinned confidently towards the empty seat, "I mean, she's a little spooky looking like Salem, but that doesn't mean you can ignore someone like that."

"Pinkie darling, Rainbow is right; there isn't anypony there," Rarity spoke up to the pegasus’ defence, causing the pink mare to turn at the fashionista with puzzlement.

"You too Rarity?" Pinkie looked at each of her friends for confirmation; much to the party pony’s dismay as they offered only looks of shared confusion and bemusement. Which caused said party pony to lift her hands up in frustration, "Seriously? Why can't any of you see her?"

"Pinkie… Can you see someone standing next to me?"

All eyes then turned to Salem who was looking at Pinkie Pie while pointing his thumb at the space next to him.

"Of course I do!” the pink mare nodded enthusiastically, “I noticed her back when we first met you back at the Crystal Empire. I didn't say anything because she didn’t say anything, so I thought she was just shy and clingy to you the whole way to the train, so I gave her some space to get comfortable."

Salem lowered his arm and then looked up to the spot, almost as if he was looking up at someone.

A look of bafflement was on Salem's face before he spoke, "So you really can see Malo?" 

Pinkie nodded again all the while the rest still held looks of confusion on their faces. "That's her name? It's nice to finally meet you, Malo!" Pinkie Pie waved to the spot next to Salem.

"Wait, if you can see her? How many fingers is she holding up right now," Salem asked while the group was looking at Salem, Pinkie, and the empty space.

"Two, five, seven, and now she isn't holding up anything," Pinkie Pie answered.

Salem nodded thoughtfully before turning to Pinkie, "Okay, that's weird. I thought I was the only one who could see her." 

Pinkie tilted her head, "Why did you say that?"

"Because your friends can't see her."

"So?"

"I'm her host," Salem flatly replied.

"What does that mean?"

While the two continued to play twenty questions, Luna closed her eyes as she quietly cast a magical detection spell. She then opened her eyes to see the passive magical aura that was invisible to the naked eye. Orange, yellow, white, blue, pink, and purple; she could now see the colors of the Elements of Harmony enveloped their bearers, as well as her own dark blue aura and her sister’s golden light aura surrounding them respectively. As bright as they were, however, what caught her attention was the blank void where what should be the human creature that was Salem.

‘That's strange. So he has no magic. Or at the very least, not abundant. However…’

Igniting her horn again to cast a different magical vision spell, an older spell that was Starswirl’s making, the results were not what she was expecting. Opening her eyes once more from the casting, her pupils shrank in horror at the sight of what stood next to Salem, causing her to almost fall from her chair.

"By mother's mane! Salem, what in Equestria is that thing?!”

After briefly sharing a surprised look to his companion who replied with a confused shrug, Salem turned to Luna, “Wait, you can see her too now?”

“Answer the question, Salem!” Luna demanded as her eyes narrowed, still glowing brightly from her spell, “What is the nature of that creature beside you?!”

“Please Princess, just calm down a bit. She’s harmless,” he raised his hands up defensively, “More importantly, how could you see her?”

"I cast an old spell upon myself to see how you see things."

Salem lowered his hands as he noticed the dark princess partially relaxed, "Is that why your eyes are glowing yellow?"

Luna nodded, "A side effect from the spell. More to the point; why didn't you say anything about your companion here?"

Salem looked at her before looking back at his black furry friend next to him. "You didn't ask," he flatly replied.

"Wait, timeout!" Rainbow Dash stood up from her chair before giving the all too familiar 'timeout' gesture with her hands, "How come we can’t see this Malo person? Only Pinkie, Salem, and now Princess Luna can?"

Salem held out his hand to himself. "Well, I know why I can kinda," he mused before pointing to Pinkie, "As for pink over there, you got me."

"That doesn't really answer the question, darling. You said something about being a 'host' before, does that have something to do with it?" the Element of Generosity spoke up, to which the altered human nodded.

"Yes. See Malo here is an anomaly from my world known as SCP-1471-A," Salem answered, "And I think- hold on."

A robotic arm moved from his backpack before reaching the top of the pack before it pulled out a manilla folder.

"I have a copy of Malo and her sisters and brothers' file here if any of you want to read it," Salem promptly continued with a slight hesitation, "Although, fair warning; my partner here is a little… Different. Like me."

"Aww, that's sweet," Pinkie cooed with a smile.

"I didn't mean it like- OW!” he jerked in pain from his unseen friend. He glared at the empty space, holding his arm, “Hey! I was trying to explain... ugh fine.” Rolling his eyes at the spot, he handed the file to Twilight who was reaching for it. 

"What's she doing with her hands?" Pinkie asked.

"Sign language. All SCP-1471-A(s) are mute. Though she likes to get my attention through other ways… Usually pulling me around most of the time," Salem answered with a chuckle.

"Oooooh! Can you teach me?" Pinkie gleamed excitedly.

"Well, I'm not really a good teacher myself but I know someone who can help you if I ever get a working computer RIG set up again," Salem answered. 

The pink pony tilted her head inquisitively, "What's a computer?"

While the two continued to bicker, Twilight was already skimming through the folder before she stopped to a page containing a picture of SCP-1471-A. From her time in the mirror world, Twilight could understand a few of these things that the description talked about with the mention of how SCP-1471-A uses an app to appear to a human who downloaded said app. Noticing the purple alicorn shift on her seat, Fluttershy peeked over Twilight’s shoulder, slightly curious as to what was apparently standing next to Salem. The image she saw made her shudder.

"So it's a machine doohickey that can just do whatever it wants?" Applejack added, finding herself in Salem's discussion of what a computer was.

"No, not really," Salem replied, not noticing Princess Luna leaving her seat to see the folder in Twilight’s possession.

Standing over Twilight’s shoulder, a confused grimace on the princess's face as she observed the creature’s grim visage. Twilight, noticing Luna over her, passed her the folder. Taking the file, the Princess of the Night studied the image, scratching her mane in confusion as she noted ‘Malo’s’ differing appearance from the picture.

"So when you said your ‘Malo’ was different, is it because of her appearance?" Luna interrupted Salem explaining what a video game was to Rainbow Dash.

"What do you mean?" asked Salem.

"Your friend looks nothing like this picture," Luna held the folder out to the rest of the table, causing all but Pinkie and Salem to flinch at the photograph of an SCP-1471-A entity. 





"Well, guess you can say she had a makeover like I did, but for Malo’s case there was less... pain on her end," Salem answered, retrieving the folder from Luna as she offered it back and slid it back in his metal pack. "Look, it's not a big deal. I would have gotten around to explaining why I usually ask for two things of food. I just don't want her to go hungry alright?"

Luna looked at Salem before giving a nod and bringing up another plate with her magic. All those who couldn't see Malo watched as the seat at the end of the table moved on its own before moving back forward followed by a knife and fork slightly lifting before they vanished. This caused the group that couldn't see her to feel a little uneasy as they watched the invisible anomaly eating the food before their very eyes and slowly disappear into nothing.

"Did she eat the knife and fork?" Rainbow whispered to Pinkie, to which the party pony stared at her with bemusement.

"Of course not, silly. She's holding them like everypony else. Why would you think that?"

"Well, I have this theory that might explain why,” Salem offered, “Do you guys have the whole Schrodinger's cat concept here?" 

All the ponies besides Luna and Twilight shook their heads, to which the human provided a brief summary of the theory. 

"Luna?" 

Turning to her fellow princess, Luna looked down to Twilight who was still sitting down. 

"How come we never heard of this SCP foundation in the mirror world?" continued Twilight.

Crossing her arms underneath her breasts, Luna shrugged, "I do not truly know, young Twilight. Perhaps my sister can resolve this question once we return to Canterlot."

"Right... forgot she went ahead to check the mirror," Twilight then gave a sigh. "Hopefully she has already figured this whole thing out,"





(Cantorlot castle, Medical hall)

"Sunset? Are you positive that you don't know what caused your sudden return?" Celestia asked the yellow-coated unicorn who currently had her broken arm in a sling.

"Honestly princess, I have no clue. One moment I was in the middle of my midterms, the next I shot out through the mirror like a cannonball!" Sunset hissed while a nurse tightened the wrappings on her cast.

Celestia sighed before standing up, she had hoped for some answers but all she had gotten since her arrival was more questions, especially with the sudden return of Sunset and the Sirens. Unlike Sunset, those three arrived mostly unharmed and escaped before the guard could catch them. From the report, the mirror shot out the four of them around the same time she, her sister, and the Elements went to the Crystal Empire to stop Sombra.

Which left her with a question that lingered in her mind the most.

‘Did Salem's arrival cause the mirror to do this? If so, did his arrival also cause the mirror to shatter after it shot the sirens and Sunset back into Equestria?’

Whatever the case, the magical relic she had for so long was finally gone along with any answers that she might have had in finding out what was happening in the human world. Then again, she should have known in her long life that answers wouldn't come to her so easily now would they?
> Part 5 (Edited by Joe Toon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Canterlot)

Standing in the shade Salem cautiously lifted his leg up before stepping into the sunlight, pushing off with his other foot and standing completely in the light. Almost right away he felt the urge to go back into the shade but was held by Rainbow Dash as she wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him in while smiling.

"See? You're fine. The sun wouldn't be melting anypony anytime soon," Rainbow Dash grinned as the survivor lightly pushed her arm off of him.

"Rainbow... Look, it's going to be a while till I get used to this okay? I spent close to a year in an underground bunker terrified of sunlight. I'm not going to just drop that fear overnight," Salem grimaced before walking forward.

Luna watched as the former human walked towards her, exchanging a glance from his red helmeted eyes as he looked up. Taking his discomfort into consideration, the night princess lifted out one of her wings to cast a shadow to cover Salem, causing the terran to rub the back of his neck out of slight embarrassment.

"Thanks, princess," he sighed.

"Not a problem Mr. Grey," said Luna with a warm smile while walking forward with the others following behind.

Salem grunted a chuckle, "That makes me sound old."

"So just Salem?"

"Please."





(Meanwhile)

Celestia held her chin while inspecting the remains of the mirror. When she was told that the object shattered she was expecting broken pieces of mirrored glass. What was in front of her wasn’t what she had in mind. The mirror wasn't shattered, it was completely obliterated into gray sand with its frame completely turned into slag. Whatever caused such a powerful relic to be reduced to dust while returning four residents of Equis back here had to be just as powerful if not more than the mirror itself.

Only a few powerful magical beings could do such a thing.

Of course, Luna and herself being one of them who can match that level if they combined their magics together; Twilight and her friends maybe; The Pillars definitely could; Discord of course, since he is a literal god of chaos; and finally Tirek but he is in Tartarus. The list was a short one but none on the list would have done this to the mirror.

-




She could rule out her sister and the elements since they were with her the entire time in the defense of the crystal empire.

The pillars were in different parts of the country at the time besides Magnus, who was currently overseeing guard training and Starswirl, where that old mage was currently mentoring Sunburst.

Discord was known for giving her a headache but nothing as extreme as this. Most of his pranks were completely harmless like changing the flavor of her cakes.

Tirek of course if he wasn't in the most unbreakable prison would have drained the magic from the mirror rather than destroy it.


This whole thing was starting to give her a royal migraine in the past twenty-four hours; from planning to announce Twilight's coronation to the sudden invasion of the crystal empire, to the appearance of Salem and finally the mirror exploding like this. The throbbing headache slowly increased, causing the immortal princess to give a low groan from the pain before dropping the sand.

'I'll have to put this aside for now. I've been neglecting my duties. Hopefully, I get Luna's council on this when she arrives,'

A knocking on the door to the mirror chamber drew her attention before putting down the handful of mirror sand in her palm. 

"Enter," Celestia answered.

A guard enters the chamber before bowing his head. "Your Highness. Princess Luna and the elements have arrived." 

Celestia blinked before looking up at the clock. She had been in here for two hours.

Guess that old saying is true, time does fly when you’re busy.





(Back with the group)

Salem almost stumbled backward from the sight of the throne room. He had been briefly in the Crystal Castle's throne room but it was in shambles after Sombra's attack. Although the former human was kinda in awe of this place, during his time on the site he would try to find ways to keep his sanity when not working on one of his projects. Entirely watching some movies or playing video games in the site's recreation room, making and painting models for Titus, recording his thoughts in his personal logs, or reading a good book.

He loved sci-fi but with him literally living in a place that is ripped right out from a sci-fi novel it kinda got a little boring so he had taken a liking to fantasy books. Those books made him hope that one day he would see a castle, guess you can say he finally got his chance.

Malo was right next to him, also taking in the entire sight of this place before tugging his shoulder and pointing to the amazingly designed stained glass windows. This entire place was a complete piece of art rather than a fortress but Salem didn't mind that; it was a beautiful place to live in.

"Oh my. What is that thing," Salem broke from his trance before turning to two ponies standing on the other side of the throne room.

Both wore fancy dresses that looked like they cost A LOT of money.

"It's looking at us!"

"Stay away from us! I'm going to call for the guards!"

Before they could Salem felt the presence of Luna walk up next to him.

"Don't worry about them Salem. It's with great shame in my heart that this is what has become of the Equestrian nobility," Luna's voice caused the nobles to back away before turning in a huff while the two unusual beings turned to the princess. "Believe it or not, their ancestors were fair, more respectful and honorable. Sadly, years of comfort have turned their decedents into *Clears her throat* frustrating distractions."

"So they all have a stick up their ass?" 

Luna smiled before nodding at the familiar human term. "Not the words I would have said but yes you can say that." 

Salem gave a chuckle before Malo held out her hands. "Ah yeah... what did you do with Sombra?"

"Oh, hi-her?" Luna smiled, "She has a ceil waiting for her in Tartarus,"

"Tartarus? Wait. To be clear you're not talking about the Tartarus, as in the underworld right?"

Luna looked up trying to remember the old Greek legends back when she first visited Earth through the mirror.

"It is a prison but we do have a three-headed guard dog named Cerberus."

"Huh, that's cool."

"Well if you stay hopefully you and your companion will find that many things in Equestria are 'cool' as you would say," Luna responded.

Salem looked at her before turning to Malo who shrugged.

They didn't really have to be anywhere or bound to anything in this world, this was a completely blank slate for the two of them even though they didn't really have anything back on Earth. Well, Salem didn't really know about his past even when he tried to figure out who he was back at the site. Either way, the princess was handing them a chance for something close to normal life here, sure magic existed but hey it can't be all so bad.

"Hold on, let me ask Malo." 

Turning to Malo who was looking at him with her glowing white eyes, Salem raised up his hands.

"/Do you want to stay?/" Salem asked in sign language.

"/I think we can trust them. They haven't tried anything so far. I'm down to stay/" Malo answered back.

Luna at this time wasn't using the spell to see Malo, only seeing Salem move his hands in a strange manner, but when he nodded she smiled.

"If you would have us, we will gladly stay."

"Excellent how about I show you to one of the guest rooms for you to stay temporary while you're figuring out what to d-" 
  
"AUNNNNNNNNTIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE LUUUUUNNNNAAAAAA!" A very loud voice echoed through the throne room causing the smile on Luna's face to melt away in annoyance. 

"By mother's mane."

Salem and Malo leaned over to look behind Luna at the source of the voice.

"Who is that?"

Luna gave a groan before looking down at Salem.

"Somepony that I hope to avoid your meeting," Luna grunted, "My Nephew."

Salem blinked before a pony in a very expressive-looking outfit matched forward, Salem moved back to a normal stance while Luna turned to the pony.

"Auntie Luna, why did you and Auntie Celestia leave in the middle of my question?!" Blueblood shouted, causing the two behind Luna to look at one another, wordlessly saying, 'Is this guy for real?'

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Luna turned to Blueblood and calmly replied, "Sorry nephew but the Crystal Empire was under attack by Sombra. We had to leave on short notice."

Caught off guard by her answer, Blueblood regained his composure with a grunt, "I see. Well, now that you’re here can you perhaps tell why you and Auntie Celestia decided to choose Twilight Sparkle as next in line to the throne?"

"That decision was made weeks ago. Both the Equestrian Solar and Lunar Councils have already agreed with us on this matter," Luna sighed, crossing her arms.

"I have not!" Blueblood pouted childishly, "And neither have the rest of the nobles! I have every right to the throne, not Twilight Sparkle! I have a stronger claim to the throne, I am of Royal blood!"

Luna furrowed her brow at her nephew for saying something that Salem quickly concluded wasn't public knowledge.

"Prince Blueblood Starstone, I will have you not speak in such a manner, especially in public. Furthermore, this should not be something to discuss out in the open." 

"Perhaps, but that doesn’t excuse you and the Council from not notifying us before making the decision!" Blueblood retorted.

"We have in fact notified you. You and your entourage," Luna raised her voice, slowly losing her patience, “But as always, you failed to answer the summons like the last few times!”

"That may be so, but to choose that mare from the lower nobility as heir apparent is absurd! It was bad enough Auntie Celestia ascended her into alicornhood and-," Blueblood stopped to look up, noticing Salem behind his aunt. "Who and what is this creature?"

"This is Salem, the creature who single handedly defeated King Sombra by figuratively and literally castrating him from his power and our guest, which I expect you to show a modicum of respect!" Luna all but snarled at her nephew for his treatment of the guest in question before recomposing herself, “This conversation is over, nephew. We will speak no more on the matter.”

Silently fuming and gritting his teeth, Blueblood stormed out of the hall but not before giving Salem the meanest glare he could conjure.

'What the fuck did I do to him?'

Luna gave a sigh before turning to Salem.

"Sorry about that it's just-"

Raising his hands Salem smiled under his faceplate.

"It's fine and whatever he was talking I wouldn't say a single word," Salem answered, causing Luna to give a sigh of relief.

"You have a good heart Salem," Lifting her hand to guide him, the night princess's smile returned. "Come now, how about I show you to your room?"





(Sometime later)

The first thing Malo did when they entered the guest room was rush to the giant vegas size bed and plop down on top of it before burying her skeletal face in one of the pillows. Salem on the other hand took off his helmet before resting it on the table next to a small controlled fireplace in the middle of the room.

"Talk about the royal treatment," Salem smiled while looking at the 'guest room' which in all honestly looked a lot bigger and nicer than he expected.

Still, he kinda missed the laboratory that doubled as a place to rest along with the key that led to his grand escape from Earth. Speaking of which, he removed a part of his backpack before shifting the seal locks, opening it and reached in, pulling out items that couldn't fit in the device he held.

Placing a college text-book sized black box onto the table he reached back into the device and pulled out a small glass tube with a small blue and gold figurine within it.





"Hey there Titus,"

Placing the tube onto the black box the whole thing opened up before glowing green lines appeared over the entire device and a rough voice spoke through the box.

 The machine spoke in an AI-driven voice that was programmed to sound like a space marine from Warhammer 40,000.

"Yep that's right bud we're finally free,"

The little figurine asked.

"She is fine my friend. Sorry, it took so long for me to get around and pull you back out,"

 The figure stated proudly before speaking again through the black box. 

"Currently in a kingdom known as Equestria on another world,"



"Quite the opposite, Titus. Were guests among the rulers of this kingdom,"



"They give me no reason not to trust them but I'm keeping my plasma thrower close just in case," Salem commented while the living plastic model gave an approving grunt.

 Salem nodded. 

"In a while, I need to make sure the rest are okay,"



"Don't worry I got you covered," Salem attached a cord to the black box as it began to shift and holographic images began to appear of other models from the tabletop series. Titus laughed while the black box began to open wide before the object morphed into a display case holding a replica of the 'battle of Macragge' while the windows tinted themselves and making it sound proof to let Titus give out orders to his 'battle brothers' defending the Ultramarine homeworld.

As he sat on the bed, Salem looked down at the device he pulled from his pack before a holographic display showed a few of the objects within its pocket dimension. Slowly, Malo crept up from behind before wrapping her arms around Salem and resting her head on his shoulder to watch him work. Smiling at his companion's affection he reached out a gloved hand before scratching behind Malo's right ear causing the SCP to 'smile' at his touch.

"Wanna finish watching Underworld later?" 

Rubbing her head into his cheek he smiled.

"Glad we're on the same page."
> Part 6 (Edited by Joe Toon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Watching the clippings of red and black fur wash down the drain of the shower, Salem scrubbed the back of his head with shampoo, taking advantage of the free time he found himself. After helping trim up his partner's fur, the site resident decided to cut his own 'fur' since after Ted stitched on his new flesh the fluffy material became like a coat of natural fur.

Honestly, Salem didn't mind his new look, he was just glad that a single scientist's personal 'hobby' had left him with a ton of material for the little helpful bear to use. Either that or having the itchy blankets to be used for his skin which he was definitely not going to use would be a living nightmare.

Stroking the water from his hair fluff, Salem lifted his head up feeling the warm water droplets on his face causing him to smile. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he could take a shower without worry. He was half tempted to take a bath instead but there was just something so nice about having hot water softly washing over his surgical scar-carved body.

Then again, maybe a bath would be better for the phantom pain.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Salem opened his eyes before looking into the eyes of his companion before switching places with her. Standing back to back, the host couldn't help but feel Malo's tail brush against his legs as he began to put a peach conditioner over his body.

He had to give the ponies credit, the soap actually smelled like fruit and none of that synthetic glycerin stuff the foundation provided for their staff. Switching back to rinse off, the human beast held his face in his hands for a moment before holding his cheeks and opening his eyes to Malo hugging him from behind.

"This is nice huh?" Salem asked, to which his skull-faced companion brushed against the side of Salem's head, 'nuzzling' him while nodding her head. "I thought so too."

Standing under the shower head for a little while longer the two enjoyed each other's company before turning off the water and stepping out of the glass case to dry off. Drying his hair with a towel, the former human looked at the mirror in front of him, much to his amazement that the whole thing didn't fog up or anything but remained clear.

Staring at himself, the former human almost didn't recognize who he was looking at. Ever since his transformation into this 'Chimera', he had been in his suit working on the gate. He never really got to see his full body in the mirror after the 'surgery’. And now that he finally had a good look at himself, he began to question if the whole transformation into this form was necessary; seeing how this world was almost similar to Earth.

That train of thought was almost right away stopped when he countered it with answers; he didn't know what could be on the other side of the gate. This new body of his was beyond the levels of a normal man to the point of being superhuman.

His eyes were infused with bio-mechanical parts to allow him to see beyond the normal spectrum of light, almost like a natural night or thermal version. The spine he once had was ripped out for an unbreakable hex cyber-frame that seeped into his skeleton and central nervous system that also allowed him to connect to his armor. Most of his organs were replaced with better cybernetic ones such as a new respiratory system that could allow him to breathe underwater and deadly gasses, to a double heart that held a blood filtration system. Not to mention the nano-carbon tubes that were now his very muscular system with a new skeleton composed of an unbreakable metal alloy made from metals that are commonly found on earth.

A little part of his mind did make him wonder how much of him was natural.

Shaking off the feeling, he stepped back into his Exo-plate that was standing in the corner waiting for him. His body tingled as the nerve-suit sealed itself around his body, followed by the combat exoskeleton's armor covering the dressed form of Salem before his helmet sealed itself around his head. Lifting his hands up, Salem opened and closed his palms as he felt the reactive liquid under the shell surrounding his entire body once again.

Malo on the other hand, rolled her eyes due to her 'suit-up' being less impressive and not as complex. One moment she was wearing nothing but her black fur, the next she was wearing a specialized MTF outfit Salem made for her. Flipping her 'hair' back, the skull hound turned to look at Salem before she cracked a 'smile', causing the host to walk over and pull on her jacket.

"We need to get more normal clothes," Salem commented which caused Malo to nod in agreement before holding her hands out.

"/Can't be wearing military gear all the time huh?/" Malo asked to which Salem shook his head.

"Not really."

Giving a low chuckle, the two exited the bathroom and into their main room. Salem had unpacked a few things from his wrap-pack system but not all of them were SCPs like Titus. Just a few essential items, nothing too extreme besides the medium tube-shaped device on the table next to Titus's case along with other miscellaneous nicknacks...

And Ted who was currently sitting in the middle of the table.





It didn't feel right keeping the little guy in the pocket dimension with the rest of his gear so Salem pulled out the patchwork bear to stretch out his ‘legs', in a manner of speaking. Salem did think about pulling out a few other things but decided against it. Best not to assume this whole place would be a 'permanent' place to rest their heads.

Though he was half tempted to build Ms. Jane's PC to talk with the sentient computer program if she knew anything about magic. Then again, that was a big 'IF' but then again most of the stuff he knew about was from Ms. Jane from advanced medical knowledge to paranormal engineering.

Hopefully, she will understand...

"/You alright there Partner?/" Malo asked to which Salem noticed her trying to grab his attention before nodding.

"Yeah, just zoned out there."

Tapping her forefingers together she turned, lightly opening her mouth before moving her hands again. "/Can you bring out the box?/" 

Chuckling, Salem tilted his head slightly, "Well... we haven't used it in a while and I guess it wouldn't hurt to have some," Salem answered before pulling his pack off again, removing another part before reaching into it and pulled out a large flat military-style combat box.

Before he could open it to reveal what was inside, the two's attention were turned to the door at the sound of knocking. Salem placed the black case on the coffee table and made for the door while Malo gave a silent 'whimper' in protest of their lunch being interrupted.

Opening the door, Salem took a moment to process where the person who knocked was before looking down. Smiling courteously at him was a purple and green reptilian creature which he could only guess to be a dragon. A small one perhaps but a dragon nonetheless which briefly caught him by surprise. 

"Hello?" Salem offered a greeting.

"Hey there! You Salem?" the dragon asked to which Salem nodded in reply. The dragon gave a warm smile, "Man Twilight wasn't kidding, You’re really from another world."

"I am. Who are you if you don't mind me asking?" Salem asked.

The dragon raised a claw, offering a handshake as he introduced himself, "The name's Spike. Spike the dragon. A pleasure to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you too Spike," Salem returned the handshake before continuing, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah-Yeah, of course. Twilight thought this whole thing would be a bit overwhelming since you're from Earth. And since Twilight and I have had experience with meeting folks from Earth she sent me to see if you have any trouble adjusting and needed any help," Spike answered, "But to be perfectly honest, I kinda wanted to meet you firsthand."

"That's nice of her... I guess." Salem stammered a reply. The two just stood silently before Salem pointed into his room. "Um... wanna come in?"

"Sure if you aren't busy," Spike nodded.

"Nah, my partner and I were going to have lunch," Salem waved nonchalantly.

"Oh, I don't mean to intrude."

"It's fine, come in. Would you like some pizza?"

"I would love some!” Spike grinned excitedly before stopping with a puzzled look, “How did you get pizza here? The royal cooks don't usually cook pizza."

Salem smiles within his helmet, "I'll show you."





(Meanwhile)
(Prison cart)

Sombra hissed in her gag as she pulled and tugged on the chained straitjacket, trying to break free while the cart rocked down the streets of Canterlot. She silently cursed Salem's name within her mind while the fallen tyrant pulled and tugged on the restraints.

The former Dark King of the Crystal Empire had been defeated in battle before and despite her prideful nature she would admit the very few souls who have bested her. Of course, she would always have her revenge upon them, specifically the few who have bested her and lived to tell the tale such as Princesses Celestia and Luna, the Elements of Harmony, Princess Cadance and her husband Shining Armour… 

And now the bastard, Salem.

She snarled and gnashed her teeth, seething in rage as she remembered their encounter. From all the foes she had faced before, none had done more to earn her ire than the ‘human’. Not only did he beat her in combat, but he embarrassed- no. Humiliated her and destroyed her pride along with her image!

Bitting down on the gag with her sharp teeth, the mare who was once King was already planning ways to torment and torture that 'human' before breaking and turning him into her slave. She wasn't going to grant Salem death but a painful existence under her control and use him and his weapons to take back her empire. And maybe even all of Equestrian while she’s at it.

Doesn't matter now, she'll cross that road later. For now she had to get out of this cart before she was locked away in Tartarus. Pulling her body forward, she shifted herself to roll only to stop short as the tight chains prevented her from moving too far and the magical suppression ring around her horn was still holding.

Her mind raced as she processed her options of escape from her binds. Before she could act however, the entire cart rocked violently before tumbling to the sides. Closing her eyes, Sombra felt the entire cart roll and crash into something, causing the former King to feel her gut churn while still strapped in place. Feeling the tumbling cart come to a stop, Sombra opened her eyes as her head spun from the crash.

Hanging upside down Sombra smiled at her good fortune before noticing something.

Her arm was free!

-

"Buck! What the buck just hit us?" Standing up, one of the guards escorting the prison cart held his head.

"I-I don't know,” the other guard hesitated, “Those three came out of nowhere! I tried turning to avoid them and I guess-"

"Wait! What about the prisoner!"

The two guards turned to the cart's cabin before one of them picked up their spear and walked to the broken door on the back of the cart. The inside was shrouded with black smoke. Moving hesitantly with his partner behind him, the two guards carefully approached the inside. And without warning, the one first of the two was pulled in before a gray-coated arm reached out and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him up and throwing him into the other guard. 

Still reeling from the shock, the two guards struggled to their hooves before both screamed out in agony as one of their own spears were stabbed through the Solar Guards. Sombra reformed into her physical form while wielding one of her warden's spear, much to the horror of the closest guard who stared helplessly with fear at the mare who gave a dark smile, delighted at their pain.

Dark magic covered Sombra’s body before being suddenly absorbed into her shadow, leaving her covered in her trusty plate armor and cloak. Leaving the two impaled guards she marched forward, summoning a jagged dark blade and leaning it on the top of one of the guards’ necks.

"Don't think I didn't forget when you touched me worm," Sombra hissed and gave a single swing she removed the heads of both guards from their shoulders.

While not intending to kill the second guard, Sombra simply shrugged before flicking away the blood from her blade. One thing is for certain, this whole change did give the former King a new perspective on what it's like to be a mare. Snapping her head away from the guards she spotted three mares covered in mud with strange clothes, arguing to each other in the chaos.

The yellow one went silent as she noticed Sombra standing only a few feet away and nudged her compatriots, silencing them as they became aware of the situation. Both parties stared at one another before Sombra offered an unsettling smile, tilting her head to the right. Without another word, the three then bolted off not realizing the one they saved was the former dark ruler of the Crystal Empire.

Sombra made a mental note to thank those three if they were ever to meet after her revenge... If they survive that is.

Noticing ponies were starting to gather at the scene, Sombra snarled before her physical form disappeared into the darkness and she sank into the shadow of the cart.

Perhaps she would take that old goat's offer after all. Who knows, maybe Grogar knew a way to reverse her back into a stallion.





(Canterlot castle)

"So I just touch it and it makes any pizza?"

"Pretty much," Salem answered while eating his own slice before Spike turned to the Pizza box in between them.





Tapping the pizza box, Spike laughed as a pizza suddenly appeared before him.

"That's so cool!" Spike smiled at the sight of gem-covered pizza.

"Wait, are those gemstones?"

"Yeah, why? Oh right, I forgot to mention we dragons eat gems," Spike replied to which Salem lowered his half-eaten slice as he processed the little dragon’s words.

"How does that work?"

"Honestly I don't really know that myself."

"Are they good?" Salem asked.

"Heck yeah- Oh sick! There’s grilled emerald on this!"

"I... You know what, I ain't going to question that," Salem remarked before taking another bite from his slice.

"So this thing never stops making pizzas?"

"Yep."

"Man, I would love to have one of these."

"For what, pizza every day?" Salem asked to which Spike nodded. "Look, even though my metabolism is insane I would rather not spoil my favorite foods by eating it every day," he added with a chuckle. 

"Huh... that's a fair argument," Spike shrugged as he watched a pizza slice move up before disappearing on its own. "Man, that's so cool."

"What? Malo?"

"Yeah, I mean she's just like Stall-on!" The dragon commented.

The two non-Equestrians looked at each other, unsure what he was talking about. "Who?"

"Oh, he's a superhero from one of my favorite comics. He has this ability called Quantum Superposition; basically he can state reality and-" Spike stopped himself, realizing he was going on a comic nerd rant, "Sorry, habit."

Salem shook his head, "It's fine, and besides…" He reached into his pack before pulling out a much smaller case and opening it, "I'm a reader for fine literature myself."

Spike gawked in excitement, "Shut the front door! Are those Earth comics?!"

Salem smirked underneath his helmet, "You a Marvel or DC fan?"
> Part 6.5 (SCP-458 test)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Twilight Sparkle
Race: Unicorn (birth), Alicorn
Known Alias: Element of Magic, Princess of friendship
Result:
Medium, dry hay, light sauce, thin-crust

Subject: Applejack
Race: Earth pony
Know Alias: Element of Honesty
Result:
Large, extra cheese, chopped onions, normal sauce with a hint of oregano, normal-crust

Subject: Rainbow Dash
Race: Pegasus
Know Alias: Element of Loyalty, fastest pegasus to ever live (Self-claimed)
Result:
Medium, extra cheese, diced olives, mushrooms, normal sauce, thick-crust

Subject: Rarity
Race: Unicorn
Known Alias: Element of generosity, The biggest Drama queen to have ever lived (Give by Applejack and Rainbow Dash)
Result:
Small, gourmet style Veggie pizza, light cheese, thin-crust

Subject: Fluttershy
Race: Pegasus
Known Alias: Element of kindness, The Animal whisper, The angel with the stare
Result:
Medium, three-cheese pizza, light sauce, light parmesan cheese sprinkled, normal-crust

Subject: Pinkie Pie
Race: Earth pony
Known Alias: Element of laughter, Master Party pony
Result:
Extra Large, Desert pizza with many different candy toppings with chocolate sauce, Stuffed powdered dounut crust

Subject: Spike 
Race: Dragon
Known Alias: Dragon-lord (not publicly known), Spikey wickey (given by rarity Rarity), Savior of the crystal empire, Spike the dragon
Result: 
Large, Extra cheese, gem covered toppings, normal-crust
Note: This pizza is referred commonly as a ten thousand bit style pizza due to the gem stones used for toppings and the name isn't just a name for the pizza is worth ten thousand bits only made by the royal cooks of canterlot castle for dragon guests

Subject: Princess Celestia
Race: Unknown birth species, Matured Alicorn
Known Alias: The solar princess, sun butt, Tia (given by Luna), co-ruler of Equestria
Result: 
Large, detroit style deep dish pizza, extra sauce.

Subject: Princess Luna
Race: Unknown both species, Matured Alicorn
Known Alias: The princess of the moon, Lu-lu (given by celestia), co-ruler of Equestria, Nightmare moon (alternate personality)
Result:
Medium, oven baked, extra cheese, oregano and parmesan sprinkled upon the top, stuffed crust

Subject: Salem Grey
Race: Human (birth), Chimera
Known Alias: N/A
Result:
Medium, pan baked style pizza, bacon and pepperoni toppings, extra cheese, parmesan, stuffed crust

Subject: Malo
Race: SCP-1471-A (Mal0 version 2.0.0)
Known Alias: Ms. Schrodinger
Result:
Medium, pan kabed style pizza, bacon and pepperoni toppings,extra cheese, parmesan, stuffed crust
> Part 7 (Edited by Joe Toon)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You can't change my mind, Spike."

"Come on, you know he would beat Ironman."

"Death Battle would beg to differ."

"What?"

"What?"

Spike shook his head before holding up the comic book in his hands.

"Salem, Batman totally fits your whole deal. Why do you like some rich guy in a metal suit?" Spike asked to which Salem laughed, smiling at his fellow comic compatriot.

"Counterpoint; why would I like a rich guy in a bat-themed suit with a knack for recruiting orphans to fight against his war against crime," Salem pointed out before lifting back up his own comic, "But I will admit that I love the hellbat armor's design."

"I could have guessed," Spike laughed slightly while Malo stuck her tongue at the dragon and returned to look back over Salem's shoulder. "But what about Warmachine?" Spike continued.

"Which one?" Salem with clear amusement.

"There's more than one?" Spike gawked as Salem simply nodded.

"Buck me," Spike stared at his comic when he thought of a question before looking up to Salem. "Do you have-?"

Before Spike could finish, Salem held out a Warmachine comic book. "Wait till you get to the volume when Punisher becomes Warmachine."

The dragon stared at him wide-eyed, "And you have that entire series?" 

Salem simply nodded to which Spike could only laugh.

"How big is that backpack?"

"A magician never tells his secrets."

"Heh, you sound like Trixie."

"Who?"

"Right. You haven't met her yet. You might like her, she's a lot more fun to be around than she was before."

"Before?"

"It’s a long story," Spike replied while flipping the page of his comic.

Choosing to end the conversation, the three decided to read their comics in silence, occasionally discussing the various superheroes, villains or concepts. This bliss continued for an hour or two until Salem suddenly stood up, catching the other two’s attention. Every instinct in the neo-human screamed that something was wrong, to which both Spike and Malo picked up from his startled expression.

"What is it?" asked Spike worriedly as he and Malo slowly stood up from their seats.

Salem was unable to answer him as a loud “Bang!!” shook the room, almost knocking them from their feet. The explosion was felt all over the castle, echoing across the halls and shattering several windows. Not needing to look at each other and almost in sync, the three dropped their comics, bolted out the door and into the hallway. Malo tossed Salem his helmet which he caught and placed on his head as they kept running.

"It sounded like that blast came from within the throne room," Salem told Spike as his helmet finished sealing itself.

"How do you know?" panted the dragon.

Pulling his plasma thrower from his pack, Salem set the impossible weapon to its lowest setting. "I have really sharp hearing," Salem turned to Spike, assuring the worried dragon, "Stay behind me, alright?"

Rushing forward, Salem's vision switched to advanced thermal topics, spotting multiple heat signatures within the throne room. Already his mind raced with different plans of attack while recalling the entire layout of the throne room to the smallest detail. Shoulder-tackling a door, Salem led the charge with Spike close behind him into the ruined royal chamber.





(Moments ago)

"Discord, out of all the things you have ever done; which is A LOT mind you!" Luna hissed, throwing her hand out at the draconequus, "THIS has to be the worst one yet!"

The disempowered god of chaos gave a light-hearted chuckle while tapping his two mismatched fore-fingers together. 

"Well Princess, you need to understand that my intentions were well intentioned. After all, what better way to get Twilight ready for-?"

"ENOUGH!" Luna roared in the famous royal canterlot voice causing Discord to hold his tail out of fear.

"Dang. I know that I've been gone for a while but I never heard Luna use the voice like that before," Sunset whispered to Rainbow Dash.

"Same here," the daredevil pegasus nodded in agreement before her eyes looked down at Sunset's cast, "How bad is it?"

"It's not as bad as you would think,” Sunset shrugged, “but I have to say I missed healing magic." She held her free hand over her cast-covered arm while Luna continued chewing out Discord.

"And not to mention the fact you masked yourself as Grogar, of all ponies!"

"Actually, he's a goat," Discord hesitantly corrected.

Before Luna could continue her tirade against Discord, Celestia stopped her before offering the draconequus her own scolding, "Discord you might have believed your intentions as “well intentioned”, but you have made a grave mistake in uniting those three together! Who knows the destruction if Sombra were to join them."

Discord gave a small carefree smile, "Well, I guess we'll never know since Twilight and her friends have already beaten dear Sombra."

"We… didn't," Rarity corrected.

This caused Discord to turn towards the white-coated unicorn, "Pardon?"

"Yeah, this big guy named Salem beat him… er, her, after turning Sombra into a mare," Rainbow Dash informed the powerless chaos god, who was currently trying to process this new information.

"Wait, Salem? Did I miss something big and chaotic here?"

Before Discord could have his answer, the large stained glass window above the two thrones was blasted apart by a magical energy explosion, causing the group to duck for cover. Slowly recovering from the shock of the blast, the group could only watch in complete horror as three familiar faces dropped into the trashed throne room.

"Oh, it's good to be back!" Tirek laughed.

Twilight was the first to act and summon a massive domed shield around her and her friends, to which Queen Chrysalis laughed at the youngest princess's futile resistance.

"You think your pathetic shield could stop us?" Chrysalis mocked while Cozy Glow and Tirek flanked her sides as Grogar's Bell hovered above them, "The Pillars are defeated. Your school is abandoned. Face it Twilight, you've already lost!"

Standing ready to hold her ground, Twilight was about to retort against the former changeling queen when the Throne Room’s side doors burst open, revealing two figures rushing forward. Discord recognized his O&O companion Spike but was unfamiliar with the taller, dark and heavily armored figure standing next to the little dragon.

"Friends of yours?" the dark figure asked Spike, pointing at the trio of villains to which the dragon shook his head.

"Not really, no."

The figure nodded in acknowledgment. "Get behind something,” he (Discord assumes it’s a male due to his voice) order’s Spike as he readies what Discord assumes to be a weapon, “This could get messy."





Turning back to the three threats in front of him, Salem watched his HUD begin to scan the three standing in front of him before the advanced systems within his helmet zoomed in on the floating bell behind them.

'Fuck me, these readings are insane! What is that?'

"Well well, who is this? A new friend of yours Twilight?" Tirek smirked, raising his fist before popping his knuckles, "And your pet dragon too? This should be fun."

Raising his plasma thrower, Salem takes aim at the trio. "Stand down, Big Red. You will not like the alternative," threatened Salem.

Tirek laughed mockingly, "Oh, I like this one."

"The more the merrier!" Chrysalis chuckled before sending a toxic green wave that shattered Twilight's shield. 

Salem grabbed Spike, using his own body to shield the dragon from the attack. Dazed and still recovering from Chrysalis’ magic wave, Salem was grabbed by the head by Tirek and slammed him into the closest pillars, further disorienting the Chimera even as he raised his weapon. Unamused, the giant centaur decided to end his misery, grabbed Salem by his chest armor and tossed him out a broken window.

"SALEM!" Pinkie Pie cried, unable to move while she and the others watched as the chimera fell from their sight.

Just as they thought that they lost their new friend as he tumbled out the window, Salem in his quick reflex grabbed a ledge, narrowly missing. Slightly dazed at what had happened, Salem silently cursed at having let his guard down but placed his weapon back onto his pack before looking up at Malo who was standing on the window frame. Reaching out to him, Salem took her hand before being pulled back up through the shattered stained glass window.


As he carefully crept back into the Throne Room Salem noticed the three villains close by, thankfully preoccupied in their monologue to notice him. He noticed Spike who was peeking out from behind a pillar. The little dragon saw him from his hiding spot and waved to him to which Salem lowered his hand down in an attempt to have him stay out of sight. Silently, Salem crawled over the window frame and onto some rubble below to soften his landing, carefully shimming his way down.

"Pity, I was actually wondering if he was worth a challenge. Guess this only proves my point; friendship can only do so much, Twilight. There is one thing far more powerful than your precious friendship," Chrysalis smiled while grabbing the paralyzing pony by the neck, "Care to know what it is? FEAR!"

As they laughed, none took notice of Salem who dropped down behind them. Quickly, he moved forward leaping up into the air and drop-kicked Chrysalis in the face with the heels of his boots. As the changeling dropped Twilight, Salem quickly caught the purple pony before turning back to the trio. Spike rushed over by Salem's side with his fists raised.

"What's the plan?" Spike asked to which Salem gently placed the paralyzed alicorn into the dragon's arms.

"Protect the others, we got this."

"We?"

Salem held a finger to his mouth to which Spike blinked before realizing what he meant and grinned. All the while Chrysalis pushed herself off the ground holding her cheek.

"YOU DARE STRIKE ME!"

"Hey, you kinda had it coming. Assaulting the leading body of this government as well as several recognized officials. I mean, seriously? I don’t even know what these Elements of whatever is and even I’m not stupid enough to do this shit you’re trying to pull," Salem pointed out, aiming his plasma-based weapon at the three.

"Ohhhhhh, this is going to be fun," Cozy glow smiled with malicious intent in her eyes.

"No, he's mine!" Chrysalis hissed and fired a burst of poison magic but was repelled by Salem’s advanced armor.

Going for his own attack, he took aim and pulled the trigger, releasing red plasma 'flame'. Even at its lowest setting the flames still melted the stone floor in seconds. The queen summoned a shield before her while Cozy took cover behind Tirek who ripped up a large piece of the floor to protect himself.

While the plasma-based impossibility disbursed, Salem swung forward, his fist clenched and easily shattering the magical shield the changeling had protecting her. Hitting her on the other cheek this time he sent her flying into the ruined solar throne, in the same instant the Chimera rushed to Tirek's makeshift shield.

Using said shield as a ramp, the chimera flipped over it before throwing three small ball-shaped devices at the two behind the stone cover. Before they hit the ground the orbs exploded into a thick yellow foam, enveloping the small filly and centaur before quickly hardening. Landing on his feet and taking advantage of the reprieve, Salem activated the cooling system on his weapon. As his gun vented off the temporary containment foam did not hold Tirek for long as he broke free with a roar, throwing his massive fist at Salem. Spotting this, Salem jumped, narrowly dodging the attack before grabbing the horn of the beast and pointing his weapon at the ancient's face.

"You wouldn't dare," snarled Tirek.

Without saying another word, Salem fired a burst of plasma point-blank at the giant's face, causing Tirek to roar in pain as he backhanded him. This time expecting the hit, Salem braced himself to a controlled landing as the chimera's boots threw sparks as it scraped against the stone floor. Cozy Glow, having finally broken free, fired a hail of red spike spells at Salem who weaved through each spike, throwing another foam bomb at the kid to which the rose pink colored pony gingerly dodged.

"HA, you missed!" Cozy laughed, pointing at him.

Salem clenched his hand to a remote, activating the capture device as it detonated behind her, covering the alicorn with the foam leaving only her face exposed. Sliding across the floor, Cozy stopped at Salem's feet, staring up at his red eyed faceplate, worried he was going to hurt her. 

Salem lightly set his foot on top of Cozy's foam-covered head, growled, "Stay out of this kid," and kicked the foam-covered filly backwards, sliding to a corner to deal with later. 

Turning his attention to Tirek, Salem watched the large centaur’s heavily burnt face glare furiously at him as his wounds regenerated due to his magic.

"I'm going to melt you inside your armor!" Tirek roared, summoning his dark magic, focusing it between his horns and firing a beam of concentrated energy at him.

Salem ran across the throne room, holstering the energy weapon in his pack as his mind went into overdrive, thinking of any way to beat this giant. He could use his freeze ray like he did in the Crystal Empire but energy weapons didn't seem to have a real lasting effect when he fought Sombra, so he had to think outside the box.

'Screw it.'

Closing in on Tirek, Salem threw him a mean right hook followed by another from his left, completely stunning Tirek as he proceeded to use a mixed style of martial arts to overwhelm the giant. Tirek couldn't see how fast he was being punched, not realizing that most of the hits weren't from Salem; rather it seemed there was a second pair of fists hitting him.

Attacking in perfect sync, Malo and Salem finished Tirek with one final combined uppercut, sending him flying at least twenty feet into the air before the giant's body came crashing down. Chuckling, Salem held out his fist while Malo gave him a side-by fistbump; resembling something from an anime.

"Wahoo! Go Salem!" Spike cheered while the others began to feel the effects of Chrysalis's magic slowly fade away.

Salem turned to them with a thumbs up, unknowingly dropping his guard down which allowed Chrysalis to teleport and pick the chimera up by the neck. Before he could reach for his weapon, his wrist was grabbed by a now recovered Tirek while Cozy Glow readied another spell, aiming right at Salem's head.

"I don't know about you two but this one is getting on my nerves!" Chrysalis hissed while Tirek nodded.

"Finally we agree on something!" 

"Here-here!"

Salem stared down at them, noticing Malo slowly began to creep up on Chrysalis, drawing a knife, attempting to free her partner with a few well-placed strikes. The former human however stops her with a small hand signal. Realizing a brewing plan, the impossible lady moved back slightly with a 'smile' on her bone-like face.

"I couldn't help but overhear you guys say something about fear being more powerful than friendship... Did I hear that right?" Salem asked while still being restrained causing Chrysalis to smile at him.

"That's right. Salem was it, are you afraid right now?" the queen mocked with a sneer.

"Not really, no. But coming from a guy who’s lived with fear for the past few years there’s something you gotta know," Salem choked slightly while he began to feel the queen's grip grow tighter on his throat.

"Oh, and what's that?" Chrysalis asked.

"Two can play that game… And I can play it better." 

Before the trio could react, Salem flicked his wrist where a device from his armored sleeve gave off a blinding white flash.





(01100101 01110010 01110010 01101111 01110010!!!)

"AHHH MY EYES!" Tirek hissed gently stroking his eyelids trying to soothe the pain in his eyes.

"Damn another dirty trick!" Chrysalis opened her eyes with a clawed hand. She readied to strike Salem but froze upon noticing that he wasn't there, "What?"

"Hey, where are we?" Cozy glow asked, finally being able to see, causing Chrysalis and Tirek to notice they were no longer in the Throne room.

"What is this?" Tirek snarled, turning to the concrete walls of the room they seemingly were teleported into.

"Wait! Where the bell!" Cozy cried, noticing that their only trump card was missing causing the three to look around the room.

The giant of the three turned to a metal door across the room and punched it before roaring out.

"You think this place can hold us, boy! We may not have the bell but we still have the magic of Grogar coursing through our veins!" To his shock, his massive fists didn't even dent the strange metal door. "What the-?"

The other two noticed this and were just as hooked as Tirek looking at the metal door before something grabbed their attention.

Crying.

Someone was crying right behind them.

Turning around the three saw it, huddled in the corner across from them sat some creature crying.

Both the creature and the crying were unnerving.

The crying sounded like that of a grown stallion having something so terrible happen to him that he broke down into a mess. And yet the appearance of this creature unsettled the trio as a chill ran down their spines. Pale gray skin covered the extremely malnourished body of the creature with long limbs that had to be three times too big for its torso.

They stared at it for a moment before Tirek chuckled at it, turning into a full-on boast of laughter.

"I understand now!" Tirek laughed, "We are to be afraid of what? This creature? This pathetic thing is nothing more than a broken mess!"

Tirek walked over to the creature and grabbed the pale shoulder of the thing before pulling it back to get a better look at it.

The creature's face looked up at him; its face… It was just as unnerving as the rest of it, but Tirek felt something as he stared into the pale eyes of that freak. At that moment as he laid eyes to the creature's face, the monster jerked forward before grabbing its face, attempting to conceal it. Tirek stepped back as the thing slowly rose up on its unnatural legs. The trio watched helplessly as the creature stood on its full height, towering higher than even Tirek. Suddenly, it began to shake its head, still holding its face while it slowly curled open its mouth and let out a horrible noise.

Backing against the door, the three stared at the creature while the noise grew and grew.

The creature's head shook more violently while the noise kept growing louder and faster. Realizing the terrifying predicament they found themselves in, the three rushed for the door, pounding and pleading for anyone to open it.

"For the love of the gods open this door!" Tirek screamed, his voice booming over the others.

All was in vain as the creature suddenly stopped before giving an ungodly scream and rushed at them with its bloodstained claws wide open and jaw entirely unhinged.

Then silence...





(Meanwhile)

Salem stood over the trio who was now shaking in pure terror while their eyes darted wildly with their minds currently experiencing the effects of a foundation interrogation device. Looking at the small 'neuralyzer' like device, Salem shivered at the memory of the device when he accidentally used it on himself and was given the 'plague doctor' experience. He was half tempted to use the same plague doctor on them, but seeing how one of them was a child he decided just to scare the shit out of them with the shy guy.

"Damn dude, what was that?" Spike asked, walking over with the Solar Guard finally able to find a way into the Throne room.

"I don't have Scarecrow's fear toxin but I did give them a taste of their own medicine," Salem answered.

"What do you- Ohhhhhhhh!"

"Don't worry, it won't last long. Probably ten minutes tops. But for them, it will only be a few seconds," The chimera stated, then pointing to the strange bell from before. "What's this thing?"

Noticing the chimera attempting to reach for the relic, Luna struggled towards him as she cried out, "Salem don't!"

Luna expected the worst to happen to the former human; agony, pain, cosmic insanity, something of the like. Which was why it came as a surprise to watch Salem pick the dark relic completely unfazed and unharmed from its defensive curse to suck the living magic from those it wasn't bound to.

"What?" Looking at him confused, the group watched while Salem raised up the bell tapping it with his armored finger while inspecting the dark relic.

Luna sat down, her body still slightly numb from Chrysalis's spell.

"That is strange," Luna looked down in thought while Discord tried to stumble his way toward Salem.

"Hello, there my boy. Can I ask for a quick favor if you would," Discord spoke, trying to get the dark-armored savior's attention.

"Discord, sit down! You're going to hurt yourself!" Spike warned rushing over to the chaos god.

"Nonsense I'm just finnnnneeee- That's funny, I taste gold for some reason," the chaos being slurred before passing out in front of the two. 

Spike panicked for his friend's well-being compelling Salem to rush over to help.

"Sister?" Celestia noticed the look on Luna; she had seen such a look many times on her younger sibling before, "Lulu, what is it?"

"Tia, is it possible that-" Luna shook her head. "No, forget it,"

"Luna, what is it?"

"It's nothing. Perhaps Salem's armor protected him from the bell's curse," Taking wind of her reaction Celestia nodded before looking at Luna.

"That could be so. What was the other thought you had?" 

"Nothing Tia, I'm just overthinking things from the adrenaline rush," Luna answered. 

Celestia nodded, leaving the night princess to wonder.
> Part 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Throne room)

"Ahh, chaos magic please don't ever lose me again!" Discord laughed while floating mid-air within the throne room which was currently being put back together by the solar princess herself. 

Stretching his back midflight Discord then turned down at Salem who was holding Grogar's bell that had the magic of the old goat returned to it after the Chimera found out how it worked.

Well more or less.

"Salem my dear boy I can't thank you enough for you returning my sweet chaos magic back. You don't know how much you miss something when it's taken away," The chaos god said to the dark-armored being who was still inspecting the bell in his hands.

"Not a problem. But I have no idea how I got this thing to work," Before he could inspect the bell even more Luna gently lifted the cursed item from Salem's hands and into the air in a magical aura. "Still not used to that,"

"Forgive me Salem but this accursed Bell needs to be put somewhere safe until we can find a safe way to dispose of it," Luna spoke while Salem watched her slowly bring it over to a box held up by two guards.

"Let me guess an undisclosed safe location?" Salem joked to which the night princess looked at him confused.

"Pardon?"

"A place where no one can find it but you?" Salem asked to which Luna nodded.

"Correct but my sister also will know where it is,"

"No one else?"

"Also correct,"

"Noted," Salem turned to the door with the newly depowered trio being carted away in similar restraints that Sombra had when the newly turned queen was beaten by him. "Princess, may I ask something?"

"What is it Salem?" Luna responded with a small smile.

"I know that girl did some screwed up stuff but... is the chains and muzzle really necessary? She's just a kid is a muzzle really necessary," Salem asked pointing his thumb at the cart that had Cozy Glow being taken away to which Luna gave a sad sigh.

"Salem, I understand what you are saying but that filly has done a lot with that silver tongue of hers and none of it is good," Luna leaned down slightly to get within eye level of the Terran. "Know this my friend it doesn't make me happy seeing a young pony given the same treatment as her Companions but her words are dangerous,"

"Come on it's just a-" Salem stopped himself not allowing himself to finish that argument, a few documents he possessed told him of the results of such mindsets. "Nevermind,"

Raising a brow at his comment Salem lowered his head down at the cold logic in the back of his mind he couldn't ignore.

"Something the matter?"

Shaking his head Salem looked back up at Luna.

"No princess it's nothing anything else I can help with?" Salem asked to which Luna's smile returned.

"Well unless you can help resow trust among the entire kingdom then I don't think there is anything else you can help us with," Luna answered trying her best to remain optimistic.

"Sorry princess I have many skills but none of them are public speech or anything that can help," Salem answered. "Apologies,"

"There is nothing you need to be sorry for Salem you saved Equestria from two different threats within the spend of two days. If anything I should be apologizing to you for your first week in equestrian is so... unpleasantly eventful," Luna's words caused Salem to lightly laugh while nodding a little bit.

"Well with my luck tomorrow will some giant kaiju I'll have to fight," Salem joked causing Luna to tilt her head confused by what he meant, noticing this he put his hands on his hip before answering. "Right... it's the term for a giant monster more of a movie trope,"

"Speaking of movies... do you by chance have a way to play such a film?" Luna asked. "I've always been so curious about your world and the many forms of entertainment. I would like to experience what it's like first hand,"

"Do I have any movies? What kind of question is that? Princess, I have copies of many different records from Earth from books, history, and of course entertainment media," Salem answered before holding his armored chin. "All though I did think about doing something like Trayzn had going on,"

"Who?"

"Nothing Luna just thinking aloud for a moment. But I will be willing to play you a movie if you wish," Salem replied causing the princess's smile to widen slightly.

"That's wonderful! I'm very curious about the one series known as 'Star Wars' do you have that movie in your records?" Luna questioned.

"I have every film made. But if you're going to watch it was going to do it correctly,"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Trust me you'll understand when you see it," Luna nodded before grabbing the box from the guards.

"Then I will hold you to that Salem but until then I have to put this bell in that 'undisclosed safe location' I was talking about," Luna told Salem while he gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll have the projector ready by then,"

In a poof, Luna was gone before Salem causing the Chimera to move his hand where she was moments ago.

"Right, teleportation. That's pretty awesome,"

Malo lightly elbowed his shoulder causing Salem to hold up his hands to 'talk' with her.

"/Come on you gotta admit that's cool/"

"/And mine isn't?/"

"/Well you don't really teleport-" noticing the look she was giving him Salem once again stopped himself. "/Let's go check in with Titus/"





(Salem's room)



Not turning to look at the miniature Salem continued to work on the part in front of him before scratching the bridge of his muzzle.

"Titus they were 'warp-powered psykers' just very powerful threats with that used abilities that can be called magic. Besides, I dealt with it,"



"Malo has my back you know that,"



Salem stopped cleaning the tube in his hands before looking at the small sentient object next to him not saying a word.

 Titus requested.

"Titus we don't know if it will work correctly,"



"And what if my theory is wrong? Titus, 137 has never been used on someone like you before. It could do many different things we don't know of yet. It could turn you into a more suitable form but what of your personality and memories you could attack me on-site or worse that is a risk I don't want to happen to one of my friends,"

Titus sat silently for a moment before speaking.



"I do,"

Back to silence for a moment the auto speaker under Titus then spoke up once again.

 Titus spoke the voice behind the speaker held a ton that was almost like sadness for a moment but was quickly banished when the model began to speak once again. 

"Titus,"



"I'll think about Lieutenant," Salem said with a smile while falling into the whole 'inquisitor role' that Titus saw him as.



Nodding the Chimera put down his cleaning tool before picking up the frame before him and placing the tube down through the slot in the metal and plastic frame. The tube in reality was a barrel for the weapon Salem had assembled, after his encounter with Sombra and the terrible trio he thought it best to have a non-energy-based weapon on his person. 

Pulling back the operating handle and dry-chambering the weapon, Salem pointed the shotgun in front of him and adjusted the holographic sight. 



Setting down the shotgun giving a nod with a very happy look on his face.

"Damn right... can't want to use this thing,"





(Below Cantorlot)

Sombra narrowed her eyes at the tunnels below Cantorlot while scoffing at the smell of the sewage that lingered in the air, for a kingdom that was older than her crystal empire their waste system was very dangerous. Even when she was a king that it was wise to make sure the waste of the citizens of her empire needs to be disposed of correctly or it could back to bite her in the ass.

Holding a hand to her nose Sombra looked up at the endless caverns before smiling.

Perhaps she can use the methine down in these tunnels to 'bring down the house' as it where and in the process snatch up Salem for payback in the coming chaos. When Equestria was slowly rebuilding she could take over the crystal empire and with the secrets that her new enforcer carried she could take over Cantorlot with an army that Equis has never seen before!

A dark smile came to her face at the idea that she was hatching in her mind.

But then her mind began to wonder how fun it was going to be when she had some time to repay Salem for what he did to her. The thought of his sweet pain fill screams made her smile widen, summoning a dark crystal weapon she slammed against the cave work.

The plans of torture would have to wait now she had some work ahead of her.
> Part 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(???)

"BREACH! BREACH!"

"No! No! NO! Not yet! I'm not done! They're not prefect!"

"On the ground!"

"It's not right! It's not right!"

"Put it down!"

"Goddess why! They're flesh! It's not prefect!"

"Don't do it!"

"YOUR FLESH IS HIDEOUS! BURN IT ALL AWAY-"


Blood splat over the darkness as the abyss began to swallow him.

-

Salem walked forward not really knowing where he was going, this place wasn't one he recognized it felt almost familiar to him. Every step felt like walking through the water, but he kept walking further and not noticing that he was fully human again as the day he was born.

Suddenly he stopped in his tracks before looking down at where he stood, three white arrows pointed toward him with two rings appearing shortly afterward. Not being able to understand what was happing thirteen orbs appeared in a circle around him and the familiar symbol on the floor.

"Unfit," The brightest one spoke in a voice Salem swore he heard before. 

That was when the crest he stood on broke apart like glass causing him to fall down into a mass of writhing melted flesh that dug itself into his skin pealing it away to the bone. Reaching out to the orbs of light for help only to watch as they turned into humanoid figures that turned their backs on him and the flesh.

Leaving them both behind.

Watching the floor begin to pull itself back together sealing Salem away with the flesh, the human tried one last time to give a soundless plea for help. The last thing he saw before the flesh consumed him was his skeletal hand reaching for the light that was sealed away by that symbol.

Feeling slowly taken by the flesh Salem slowly began to give in to the flesh seeing that no one was going to help him from this hell.

.

..

...

'NO!'

Salem breached free once again even though he was a bare skeleton he clawed his way free from the flesh and out, the flesh tried to pull him back into itself. But he fought rejecting it he wouldn't fall to it not without a fight!

Unexpectedly the darkness began to reach out towards him reaching out a helping hand, seeing that his prayer for help had been answered the skeleton of Salem reached taking the hand made from the void. A deep red light roared behind the shadow revealing it to have a humanoid form but the human didn't care anything to escape the melting flesh.

A very familiar face plate looked out at him, the figure pulled him free of the flesh and began to pour over him encasing the human and changing him into the Chimera he is. Yet the flesh didn't stop it's assault and reached for him but a wall of pure crimson flames roared between the flesh and Salem, turning from the firewall behind him and looking forward Salem looked up at a giant figure looming over him.

Even with the flames so brightly lit the figure was like the shadow moments ago, almost made from the abyss itself.

Standing tall the many red eyes looked down at Salem with a crown upon it's head, countless wings on it's back, and a hammer in it's right hand.

"My boy... make me proud,"

The red flames roared brilliantly turning into pure white before the four-legged goliath was engulfed by the flames and Salem along with the giant.

Consuming everything into pure white and then... nothing.





(Salem's room)

Lifting himself from the bed Salem while holding his mismatched face, the cold texture of his glove caused him to hiss slightly before remembering he took off his helmet last night. While he ponded that question Malo shifted in the spot next to him, getting up she yawned while rubbing her eye.

"Sorry. I need to stop waking you up," Salem apologized.

Malo looked at Salem sleep still clear in her eyes before looking at the still dark sky behind the window, holding up her hands to 'speak' with her host.

"/It's okay come here/" Salem did so while Malo gently wrapped her arms around his shoulder and head before hugging him close to her heart.

Resting her chin on top of his head while holding Salem, sitting in silently the Chimera enjoyed the warm embrace of his partner not realizing he was back on the bed while still in her embrace. Slowly the former human fell back asleep with Malo holding him close to her heart letting him know it was okay she had him safely in her arms.

'I wish I can help your wounds within your mind, Darling,'





(Dream realm)

"ALL HAIL KING BLUEBLOOD!"

"I can't hear you~!"

"ALL HAIL KING BLUEBLOOD!"

"One more time!"

"ALL HAIL KING BLUEBLOOD!"

Luna felt her eye twitch as she watched the dream of her nephew play out before her very eyes, quickly slamming the door to the prince's dreams Luna couldn't help but groan. Ever since she met her 'Nephew' upon her return he had been nothing but a thorn in her side being a complete pain in the flank.

How her sister dealt with him before her arrival was anyone one's guess, still the night wasn't over just yet and she had a few more doors to go through. Walking on the bridge of light connecting to all the dream doors, Luna stopped at the sight of three new doors before her.

The first one closest to her was a beautiful door made of marble with golden laced into it and red cloth hanging over the door with lit burning candles around the foot of the door and it's frame. In the middle of the door sat a golden crest with a bright blue gem-like material with a white 'horse shoe' symbol right in the heart of the stone.

The second door was completely different with a more common appearance, the door was that of a house door but completely black with a silver knob. All though as simple it was compared to the first she could feel something radiating from it almost like smoke, upon closer inspection she could barely make out a faint symbol upon the front of the door almost looked like some sort of skull.

The last door was almost similar to the second but only for that strange feeling that was seeping from it, this door was made of metal with a hydraulic frame. It lacked a knob but it held a button located on the right side of the door which must be the only way to open it.

Not knowing whose doors there were she went to the first one and opened it.

Opening the door she peaked in but was taken aback at what she was witnessing.

A giant in blue and gold armor stood before a defeated much bigger green beast in a suit of armor that looked like it was made out of scrap metal. The beast panted it's metal red eye and glared up at the being in blue armor that held a weapon that glowed similar to the way Salem's weapon did when the former human fought the terrible trio. But this weapon didn't have a low red glow but rather gave a bright blue glow and was much almost just as big but the giant's hands made it look small in comparison.

"I ain't finish with you yet, Space marine," The green creatures panted weakly.

The giant simply raised his weapon at the beast's head.

"But I am finished with you. Ork," The 'space marine' blasted the head off the green monster as it fell down before the giant turned on his head to walk away.

He stopped upon witnessing Luna in the doorway, to her shock Luna was surprised to see a very human-looking face staring at her but he looked 'harden' almost similar to Salem.

"Witch," The giant spoke with slight hatred in his voice before spiriting at her, pulling back a longsword that roared with thousands of sharp teeth ready to cut her down.

That giant was surprisingly fast for his size and how heavy his armor look, but she was fast enough to close the door before he got the chance to strike her.

"Who's dream is this?!" Luna backed away from the door before looking at the next one. 

Taking a breath she walk over to the next door before opening it, upon doing so she was met with the sight of black sheets and pillows blanketing the entire place with a single light shining down in the middle. Looking at what was under the light she smiled when she saw none other than Malo herself and in a beautiful nice-looking black dress that looked like something a princess like herself would wear. She was held by a knight in black plate armor that had his sword and shield thrown aside to hold her close. Golden eyes twinkled under the eye of the helm of the knight causing Luna to realize who she was imagining the knight to be.

Slowly she closed the door before she was spotted again and turned to the last door.

If she was correct this was Salem's dream door.

Holding her arms she shivered at the thought of what nightmares were behind that door and what dark images waited behind it. She hadn't changed her mind, she wasn't going in not now...

And hopefully not ever.

She prayed to her mother that she would never have to.

The princess of dreams then turned and walked away leaving that metal door unopened.





(The underground caves)

"This is too easy,"

Sombra smiled at the work she spent the entire doing, clusters of condensed dark hyper crystals were placed right at the weak points under the castle palace of canterlot. Summoning her scythe to her hand once again the sharp tooth queen lifted it up before striking a fused made out of grounded up hyper crystals that hissed with purple flames running like snakes along the walls.

"Time to 'rise and shine' Salem," Turning into black smoke she vanished into the shadows while the hyper crystals exploded followed by the methane gas causing the entire underground to rumble and shift.

Parts of the natural supports gave way, crumbling down Sombra watched from the shadows but her smile faded upon noticing that the supports she knew were holding up the castle itself were holding strong. Her eyes widen at the magical glyphs appearing on the rocky pillars causing the dark queen to curse Celestia's name realizing that she must have placed such protection spells long ago. How she didn't sense them before was anyone's guess cursing her plans ruined again she fades back into the shadows once again to think of other ways to get her revenge.

'At least I did some damage,'

Upon leaving into the dark space she failed to notice the object buried under the rock with the faded image of a thundering hammer painted on the cold metal haul of the buried unknown object.
> Part 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Morning)

"Discorrrrrrdddd!" Celestia's royal counterlot voice echoes though the throne room causing the chaos god to flinch out of fear.

Turning around Discord froze at the VERY angry-looking Celestia storming over to him.

"Now Tia I didn't-!"

"YOU UNLEASHED FOUR OF THE WORSE CRIMINALS UPON EQUESTRIA! WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!?!" Celestia roared her mane turning into a pure fire for a moment while Discord held up his hands.

"But they are all in custody are they not? That young man Salem beat them right I-"

"THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT!" Celestia pointed out a window to the giant holes between the castle and the city below causing Discord to shrink slightly out of fear.

"Okay I know this looks bad but in my defense how was I supposed to know Tirek or Chrysalis were to plant bombs or whatever caused the ground to crumble?" Discord defended himself but Celestia wasn't having it today.

Just the moment she was about to unleash a world of very colorful heated words upon the chaos god the elements along with Sunset and Spike respectfully entered the throne room.

"This is not over we will have a very long TALK before my sister raises the moon do you understand,"

"Yes ma'am,"

Calming down Celestia collected herself before turning to the group.

"I'm sorry to keep you all here my little ponies but I fear that this whole mess isn't over," Celestia glared at Discord while he shield himself from her gaze.

"Don't worry princess whatever you need just say the word," Twilight stood along with her friends ready for anything that was thrown at them.

"Yeah what twilight said!" The element of loyalty agreed but Fluttershy noticed someone was missing.

"Um... girls where's Mr. Salem?"





(The caverns)

"Dang, it these ropes weren't designed for this kind of thing,"

"Suck it up we have to make sure no pony was hurt during the cave-in,"

"Wait... did you feel that?"

"What now?"

"The rope!"

"I get it wasn't-"

"No, it's splitting!"

"What!?"

Before the guard above could grab the line the rope gave loss causing the two to fall, but not before an armored gauntlet grabbed one the closest guard to the line while the other tethered to his buddy stopped falling as well.

"You know gold armor is really fucking heavy buddy," Turning up the solar guard gasped at the dark armored figure that was Salem Grey.

"Holy mother Faust your-!"

"Hey what happened up there Flash?" The guard below asked not able to see Salem who had his clawed fingers dug into the rock wall behind him.

"It's Salem! Brick it's that Salem guy from the guest suite!"

"You bucking serious!"

"Yeah, it's me. Hold on to your helmets," Salem warned as he did a 'jump-climb' to the surface level.

Making it to the top Salem dropped the two guards while a of guards were grouped up at the mouth.

"Are you guys serious why do you need weapons and armor for rescue services? Come on guys use the thing in between your two ears and think," Salem tapped the sides of his helmet.

"Sorry Sir it wouldn't happen again," Flash apologized to which Salem blinked in surprise.

'Sir?'

"Look bud I'm not your commanding officer there's no need to call me Sir," Salem informed Flash while he got up dusting himself off.

"I know but Salem Sir you saved both the crystal empire AND all of Equestrian in under 48 hours! It's not every day you meet 'the black knight' sir," Flash remarked with a smile while the other guard hit the orange-coated pony before grabbing his neck.

"Hey leave the man alone kid he's got better things to do than hear you going off Rookie," The other guard hissed.

Salem was still processing what Flash had called him: 'The black knight'

Since when did he start having a nickname?

"Salem? Why am I not surprised to find you here my friend," Luna's voice met Salem's ear causing the survivor to look up seeing Luna and a unit of guards that Salem has never seen before.

There were about fifty of these pony... bats?

Unlike the gold of the regular guards, these pony-bats hybrids were done in a purplish-silver armor where they stand side by side marching forward.

"Seems like I've been nothing but bad luck to you," Salem joked causing the Night princess to give him a look of concern.

"Salem you aren't bad luck why would you think that I would say as a matter of fact your-"

"It was a joke princess. Sorry, seems like I need to work on my jokes," Salem interrupted but turned back to the group behind Luna. "Luna, who are these guys?"

Luna gave a proud smile at his question, holding a hand to the small force behind her.

"Dear Salem this is my Lunar guard when ever the sunset these fine stallions and mares switch with solar guards to defend cantorlot tower," Luna smiled back at the guard. "All through seeing how these cave-ins were so sudden I believe my sister's solar guard can use aid in this manner,"

"Well, this is your show princess. Just point me where you need me," Luna smiled grew at Salem's words before looking down at the cave in behind him.

"Glad your willing to help us yet again Salem," Looking at the entrance for a moment she clapped her hands together. "Alright enough chatting lets go in,"





(Two hours later)

"Anything to report Captain nightshade?"

The old batpony gave a salute before crossing his arms behind his back.

"No your highness we haven't found a single pony and from what the solar guard has learned no pony is missing in the city. We believe no one was out in the fields when the cave-in occurred," The grizzled voice of the captain said with a hint of relief in his voice.

Luna on the other have made her relief more known by giving a sigh, turning back to the lunar guard in the caves she noticed someone was missing.

"Captain, where is Salem?"

"Mr. Grey? I believe he went deeper into the caves to help for a squad I sent to check for any faults that could spread and cause another cave-in,"  Nightshade reported.

"When was this?"

"About half an hour ago your grace. I believe they went down the northern system closer to the castle," The old veteran informed.

Not able to ask another question about the squad and Salem the two snapped their attention to a loud scream of pain coming from the northern tunnel system causing the Princess and her lunar guard to take flight through the system.

-

"My leg!" Salem stared down at the 'batpony' before him who had slipped when part of the ground where he gave way down into a cave trench which resulted in breaking his leg against a rock. "How bad is it doc?"

The purple-armored batpony gritted and narrowed his eyes while looking down at the pony.

"Doesn't look that bad might be worse than it looks don't worry Tuck you'll be back on it in no time," Doc answered while Salem overlooked the batpony.

"Don't worry bud it's only a minor fracture," Salem stated as he rose up.

"How you know," Doc asked.

"I just do," Salem bluntly replied.

"Oh wow! Cruch look at this!" The youngest batpony pointed out while the leader of the small group grew.

"What is it now priv-ate," Cruch's jaw dropped as did Tuck and doc's own.

Confused by what they were seeing Salem looked over to see and nearly dropped his own jaw at the thing before him.

Malo on the other hand was bouncing up and down shaking Salem's shoulder while pointing to the giant piece of metal covered in rocks.

"That can't be," Salem whispered while Malo 'appeared' closer to the metal then pointing to something on it.

A symbol.

Salem bolted forward without a word to the giant metal object leaving the small team behind him.

"Man and I thought the ladies ran fast when they see me. Bow chicka- OW!" Tuck hissed while Doc flinched back.

"Sorry,"





Running through the broken door hatch Salem smiled under his helmet while the optic sensors allowed him to see clearly in the pinch black corridors of within the metal halls. 

He still couldn't believe what that this was down here!

This was from Earth he knew it that symbol on the outer haul was one he read about.

Sure this wasn't a foundation craft but from what he read about 'the church of the broken god' were also trying to find a way off world before the end.

How was it here? Hell if he knew, he might have to ask about it later but a dark thought came to his mind suddenly without warning.

He shook it.

If there was even a slight CHANCE for anyone to be on this craft then by whatever being is watching over him now let there be at least a single shred of hope!

The tunnels were long and the deeper in he went the more intact it looked, perhaps they got here when he did and maybe they crashed here on this world or...

Wait then how-?

He suddenly stopped...

That feeling he had moments ago was gone and that dark thought crashed back upon him with the strength of a tidal wave.

For at his feet made him go completely cold.

Laying down face down was a being cloaked in a faded red robe, one hand was metal while the other was bleached bone.

Malo stared down at the skeleton before shaking her head out, her teeth chattered like she was trying to speak but no words were spoken. Dread filled his heart as he slowly brought a hand down on the cloaked figure's hood before pulling it back causing a human skull to roll out.

"No," Salem's heart sank deeper than it did that day so very long ago, but he shook his head in refusal.

"No this can't be it!" Rushing down the halls he turned into the first room he entered.

But all he came across as more of the dead.

"No!"

"No!"

"NO!"

Making it to the bridge of the ark Salem just stared at the skeleton's that littered the deck, some were on the floor while others were still on their seats, and a few were hunched over on the control panels.

Feeling completely light Terrian stared at the body of a skeleton giving a silent scream up at the ceiling.

Staring at the body for what felt like an hour Salem felt a mix of overwhelming emotions indescribable feelings rush through his veins before he just screamed.

"DAMNIT!"

Crashing down against the wall behind him Salem slowly slid down his hands holding his faceplate while he felt nothing but pain and despair. Sitting there among the dead the last earthborn just sat there in complete dismay that the human race was truly no more.

He at least hoped that some other foundation sites or other organizations found a way off the world like how he did.

But if this Ark was any proof of what happened to the human race then his hope was all but gone.

All that was left of humanity was him... Yet he was barely even human anymore, Salem felt his eyes water but held back the pain.

That was until he felt a hand grab his shoulder causing the Chimera to turn and look toward his partner, she look at him and gently removed his helmet. Placing it on the ground Salem looked at her face seeing tear stains over her boney cheeks while she looked at him.

Her actions spoke for her.

'Let it out,'

Salem clenched his teeth while leaning forward, Malo once again held him close to her while Salem began to break down in tears within the dead Ark.
> Part 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Princess he just bolted in there without a word,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am I'm pretty sure but why-"

"DAMNIT!!!!!" 

"Salem! You all stay here!"

"But princess,"

"That is an order captain!"





Luna flew down the metal halls of this strange object, her wings with her horn's magical light guiding her the way forward. The entire place was pitch black to the point if she weren't using her illumination spell she wouldn't be able to see her hands right in front of her face. Clear not to run into something she lightly hoover off the ground but at a much faster pace than running, suddenly she stopped flapping her wings at a bright red cloth lying on the floor.

Not folding her wings, she looked down at the cloth before moving forward to see if it was a robe attached to something or someone.

The moment she saw the skull that she knew didn't belong to any species natural to equis her heart sank, not wasting another moment her wings were fully out and she bolted forward this time like a crossbow bolt. Speeding through the long corridor to the sound of something beyond her spell's range, Luna didn't know what was laying in wait before her but she didn't stop.

All that she knew was Salem need a friend at least she hoped he saw her as one.

Stopping at a doorway at the end of the hall Luna walked forward her spell was barely helping in the pitch black around her, that was until she recognized the red glow of Salem's helm.

"Salem?"

"They're a dead princess... all of them," Salem spoke his words heavy with sorrow while he rested his hand on top of a metal chair that held the skeletal remains of what was once a living human.

Luna walked forward, it had been many years since she have seen this much death before.

"Salem? Are you alright?"

"Psychically. Yes,"

"And mentally?" 

"I dunno," Salem spoke letting the chair go, head down Salem took a breath but the way he did Luna could tell he was crying only moments ago.

"For what it's worth Salem... I'm sorry," Luna approached in a soft hush voice.

"What for? You didn't kill them," Salem pointed out.

"I know but-"

"Princess please don't... don't... please don't pity me," Salem held his faceplate while Luna noticed his arm be pressed against his body.

Stopping her illumination spell she cast the same spell she did on the cantorlot express that allow her to see Malo, sure enough, the SCP was holding Salem's side in an attempt to comfort him. Walking to his other side Luna reached a hand to Salem's shoulder but stopped herself not waiting to get the wrong idea in thinking she was pitying him.

Her gaze turned to the skeletons of the dead.

"How did they get here?"

"I don't know," Salem's voice began to return to normal behind his helmet, upon looking at the skeleton arm at his feet Salem took another deep breath. "From what I guess this was an Ark for humanity's survival but something happened,"

"How did they die?" Luna asked.

"They've been dead too long it's impossible to tell," Salem turned to one of the crews resting on the strange metal devices that had a large black screen with buttons and dials. 

Pulling the dead back, Salem looked at what Luna at first thought was a metal Monocle but in reality, the 'monocle' was actually the eye of the skeleton.

"Are... are they like you?"

"No. Or rather I'm not like them," Salem silently apologized to the corpse before removing the device embedded in it's eye socket. "These guys were members of a religion known as the 'church of the broken god'," 

"Sounds... grim,"

"Actually from what I found out they were actually not as bad as that name might have you believe. They believed in progress, invasion, and improvement," Salem looked at the large metal eye before opening it. "Which they also believe was though replacing their body parts with cybernetics,"

"Like that?" Luna pointed to the metal eye.

Salem nodded.

"From what I understand from foundation records the main body of the church was on decently good terms with the foundation. But there were splitter cults that were well... not as kind as their fellows," Salem explained.

"And were these part one of those splitter cults?"

"No the ARK project was a foundation project," Salem stopped inspecting the device for a moment. "Guess the two were on even better terms after the sun's betrayal,"

"From what you told me I think those two groups put differences aside for the greater good," Luna couldn't help but few a small smile come to her face. "That's what amazes me about your species. Ponies would have it all out for themselves in such an event but humans would start seeing eye to eye when it comes to survival,"

Salem slowly looked at her.

"Princess... our two races are quite alike than you would like to believe," Salem spoke grimly causing her to grab her arm out by his words.

She stood there silently for a moment and felt a tung on her wing, her attention swapped over to Malo was moving her hands about.

"Malo I don't understand," Luna whispered.

"Damn it all!" Salem cried in anger and threw the metal eye across the room before moving between the two. "What was I expecting?! Even if it would work the files would be long corrupted,"

Malo pointed at Salem before chattering her mouth as if to speak, this time Luna understood.

/Help him\

Nodding Luna with Malo turned to him.

"Salem?" Luna asked causing the chimera to grunt slightly. "Perhaps this isn't all there is to this... from what I've seen from your world something must have survived that could give you some form of closure,"

"Like what?"

"Whatever we can find," Luna answered with hope in her voice causing Salem to look at her before turning to Malo who was 'signing' to Salem.

"I can't argue with the two of you," Salem took another long breath and then looked towards a large double metal door at the back of the room. "We'll start from here,"





Salem could feel the blood in his veins go cold at the sight of every skeleton that he came across while the three looked for any answers. Yet all they found were the bones of countless dead, Salem didn't feel right seeing all of them like this.

It was like walking into a forgotten tomb.

This craft that was to be these survivors' salvation became their damnation.

It was their final resting place and has been for a long time, best finish looking through this glorified crypt and leave the dead to rest. Salem, Malo, and even Luna knew places of mass death were never good places to be who knows what else lurks here among the lifeless?

Best not to find out.

"Salem how big were these arks?" Luna asked.

"Nearly two miles long, they were to hold over a thousand people but-"

"But?"

"This one from my ECHO scans is missing over half it's body," Salem replied coldly. "If I were to guess they crashed here many years ago and something happened,"

"How is that possible? Surely any evidence would have been found of such remains why now?" Luna asked.

"That is the question,"  Salem responded before stopping.

This got the attention of the night princess who turned to see Salem looking at one of the doorways that had been open.

"What is it?" Salem didn't answer while he moved forward to the doorway, Luna shifted towards where Malo was yet she too was gone.

Slightly hesitant Luna followed after Salem, shivering slightly at the sudden drop in temperature Luna shivered even for her this was very cold to the point where it felt almost unnatural. Looking through the darkness Luna stopped in her tracks at bodies that littered the room.

But unlike the corpses some of these skeletons didn't were red cloaks, rather these bodies had clothes that looked like doctor lab coats. Reaching down at the faded name tag on one of the Skeletons Luna looked at the almost ruined picture of a human male with a pair of glasses and red hair.

'Bently Mccoy head researcher in paranormal technologies... this symbol it's not like the one from before,'

Looking at the seal Luna turned to the other bodies seeing the same symbol on their name tags, looking back up Luna's gaze widened. Salem knelt down in the middle of the room with four lifeless bodies in suits of armor similar to his own but damaged and were in complete disrepair.

Walking over hesitantly to Salem, walking to his side Luna took a step back at another body that lay on the floor in front of Salem and this one had to be the strongest. At first, she thought it was some sort of oversize bug creature but seeing it had two arms and two legs she assumed this was another strange soldier from Earth.

She was half right, to say the least.

"Отдыхай, Алексей," Salem whisper to the bug-like corpse.

It didn't take a genius to notice Salem recognized the corpse.

"Did you know this being?" Luna asked.

"Personally? No, but I read his file and theirs," Salem pointed to the four dead armored bodies. "Well only the parts that administrator clearance can get me. The foundation did love their secrets,"

"Who were they?" 

"My predecessors," Salem answered causing the night princess to tilt her head. "The process that I did to myself utilized these four as a base template and resource material,"

"What do you mean by that?"

"They are my cousins in a genetically twisted way," Salem responded while holding up his right hand, noticing a triangular object resting in his palm.

"What is that?" Watching him pull the object from the bug creature's dead exoskeleton the three stared down at the object.

"A black box,"

"A what box?" Luna raised her brow at what Salem had said.

"Think of it as a recording device for the entire ARK," Salem spoke this time his somber tone seem to be lifted slightly.

"Is it a good thing?" Luna asked picking up on the change in Salem's emotions.

"It is," Salem wondered.

"What is the manner?"

"It's nothing," Salem glanced behind him for a moment then back to the princess noticing her holding her arms. "Cold princess?"

"Unlike you, I lack proper apparel to handle this cold," Luna spoke noticing her faint visible breath. "Not to speak ill of the dead Salem but I shall head out of this place. The night guard might be starting to worry,"

"I understand princess... I'll be out in a moment give me a second to make sure I didn't leave anything behind," Salem told the princess who nodded and walked out of the room.

While Luna turned the corner Salem stood silently while Malo appeared in front of him while staring at something behind Salem with her knife drawn but Salem held out his hand.

"/No/"

Not turning towards the figure Salem spoke in a low voice to make sure Luna didn't overhear him speak.

"I know you're there," His words lightly echoed as the room temperature dropped even more while a large silhouette appeared in the hole that was in the back wall.

"Thank you for this... and not harming her," Salem thanked the being that lurked in the back of the room far away from Salem's sharp eyes.

The thing groaned to Chimera who gave a nod.

"I understand this is your place and that you want to be alone," The terrain spoke in a hushed tone. "I'll make sure to keep it that way for you,"

Not saying a word the thing lowered itself back into the hole while unseen limbs slithered across the floor away from Salem and Malo. Taking this action as his answer Salem walked away from the unknown entity while not daring to turn to look behind him to look at the thing.

Watching the Chimera leave, the thing gave a low groan.

"BuuUUUUUrrrRRRrIIeeEEEEed ooOOn suUUUUundDDDDDddaAyyYYyy~" The creature spoke in a drowned voice to itself before shuffling away into a dark hole in the wall.
> Part 12 (The Masquerade Symphony-Arch-Part 1) /Edited by Joe Toon/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Joint Royal Court was in complete disarray with the Nobles and Ministers arguing and bickering.

"This isn't the right time to announce it!"

"This IS the perfect time to make the announcement!"

"You blindsided fool! Two separate attacks against the Crystal Empire and our capital respectively within three days, followed by an announcement of Celestia and Luna abdicating? The whole world will see this as a sign of weakness!"

"On the contrary! It was the united efforts of Princess Twilight and her friends that those two attacks were resolved!"

"BAH! 'United efforts?' Don't make me laugh, we all know that it was Prince Blueblood who drove those three fiends from our castle!"

"And just where did you hear that drivel? I thought it was that Salem fellow,"

"Silence in the court!" The voice of Starswirl the bearded boomed, turning all eyes to him.

Prior to his injuries against Tirek, the old stallion was resting in a wheelchair with a sling attached to his left arm. Despite this, the ancient Wizard held firmly on the podium before the court, albeit with some help from his protege Sunburst. Taking a breath from his voice amplifying spell, the great mage gestured his uninjured arm towards the two Princesses standing at the helm of the courtroom.

"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will now hear the court's words," Starswirl announced, his voice returning to normal, "Who will take the floor first?"

In the middle of the Council room’s table, pairs of two gems, red and green respectively, dimly lit up. Each pair represents a Noble house or Party faction.

The first to speak was a noble representing the Solar Court as he stepped forward to light his pair of gems, indicating that has the floor.

"Princesses. I and several like-minded members of the Solar Court request that we recant the announcement of Princess Twilight Sparkle's coronation to the throne of Equestria," he declared, sparking several protests.

"Order, please!” Celestia calmly silenced the room as she turned to the representative of her Solar Court, “Care to elaborate your case, Baron Firebond?" Her voice was calm, masking her annoyance by his 54th attempt to derail Twilight's coronation to the throne.

"With all due respect, Princess, members of the court, we had not one but multiple simultaneous occurrences within these past four days," Firebond slammed a fist on the desk in front of him to emphasize his point, "First, the attack of the Crystal Empire by King Sombra. Second, a powerful relic being destroyed causing the Sirens to return. Third, Discord carelessly assisted three dangerous enemies to Equestria to gain terrible power, who I might add that I warned before, was uncontrollable and should have been imprisoned rather than 'rehabilitated' let's not forget." 

Firebond pointed a hand out to one of the windows, "And this sudden cave-in! All within a week!” He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, “And after all that, we are to announce the sudden abdication of the Royal Sisters along with the coronation of Twilight Sparkle as sole ruler of Equestria? How would this look to the other nations? Honorable members of the Joint Royal Court, the whole world can only see this as one thing: Weakness."

As he returned to his seat the entire court was now in hushed murmuring, some agreeing while others silently disagreed. That was until another light gem was lit followed by Fancy Pants to stand against Firebond's words causing Celestia to give a slight smile at the humble Noble.

“Announcing Lord Fancy Pants of the Royal Mercantile Party,” announced Starswirl.

Canterlot’s most important figure bowed as thanks before he spoke, "Before I make my point across, I would like to remind the court that Baron Firebond has repeatedly attempted to reject the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle on far too many occasions long before the events of this week. I believe that Baron Firebond has no grounds for stopping the announcement, short of furthering his own personal agenda. Furthermore, despite the subsequent events, we are still here talking due to Princess Twilight and her friends who managed to quell the issue with two of those threats with the help of an outsider, who mind you was enlisted to aid us due to the Princess of Friendship’s efforts. I believe that her coronation announcement will strengthen the solidarity of our Nation, as well as send a clear message to the world that she is ready to take the throne." 

Several court members nodded in agreement to his argument when he finished speaking.

Feeling a sense of relief wash over her, Celestia was going to speak when another magical gem glowed to counter Fancy Pants. To her surprise came from the Lunar Court, a bat pony stood up holding a hand out to Fancy pants.

“Announcing Commander Star Streaker of the Lunar Court.”

“Lord Fancy Pants, as much as I would like to agree with you old friend, I find myself agreeing for once with Baron Firebond.”

The room erupted with mutters of surprise and bewilderment as Star Streaker lowered his hand and continued.

“Despite his reservations towards the former student of Princess Celestia, I have to agree that now is not the time to make such an announcement. While our alliances have grown since Princess Twilight’s Ascension, there are still those who view Equestria as a prime target. Most of whom we may have forgotten our transgressions against them long ago and may yet still hold those grudges to this day.

"The Western Diamond Dog Clans still have not forgotten the fire we started which accidentally set their mines ablaze during the great parasprite swarm outbreak three hundred years ago. What about the Kitsunes of Japony? Let us not forget we almost drove them into extinction when the noble House Sable seized their homeland, that was until Mistmane persuaded the Head of the Sable family to return to their homeland and depart back to Equestria. 

“On the other hand, there are those who look to our nation with envy and spite. Coveting all that we have.” Throwing out his arms the bat pony noble looked at the masses, "The Storm King’s Invasion is a prime example of such and his defeat was nothing short of luck attributed to the betrayal of one of his own captains. It doesn’t help the fact from the reports I’ve read of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s attempt to steal the Hippogriffs’ relic to beat the Storm King, a relic mind you that was their only defense against such threats!"

The Court began to whisper among themselves before Star Streaker began to close off his argument.

"Right now I believe it is in the best interest of the Nation that we postpone the announcement of the coronation. It might be best to withhold such an announcement until perhaps two, maybe three years when these events are but a distant memory?" The bat pony suggested.

"Agreed!" A voice shouted from the court followed by a wave of voices.

Celestia turned to her sister who, unlike her, looked to be silently agreeing with Star Streaker's argument, not able to speak before Starswirl boosted his voice again.

"ORDER! ORDER!"

Turning back to the now silent court, Celestia felt a cold sweat come to her brow as she couldn't look away from what was spoken.

"My sister and I hear the court's concerns. We will all vote for the cancellation of the announcement of Twilight's Coronation," All eyes were on her while she spoke. "All those in agreement?"

"Aye!"

"And those against?"

"Nay!"

The magical gem next to each respective Party and Noble House began to light up red and green in respect to each vote and the results weren't what she wished for.

The entire room lit up with dozens of peridots.





"What do we do Luna?" 

Within Celestia’s personal chambers the Solar Princess looked to her sister, still troubled over the court’s decision.

"What do you mean Tia?" Luna asked.

Moving a hand from her face, Celestia hung her head low. "I was expecting certain members of the Solar Court to admit to derailing the coronation but not those within the Lunar Court," she explained while using her magic to pour herself another cup of tea.

Luna stared at her sister for a moment, then to the window looking out at the ponies going about working on the large holes to the underground mines.

"Honestly sister? Perhaps my court had a change of mind after these past events... and maybe they are right to do so.” 

Her answer caught Celestia slightly off guard, "What do you mean Luna?"

"Sister, in the span of a few days the worst we’ve suffered was not the attacks or damages from these chain of events, but from the reaction of the citizens," Luna began. "Look at one of the villages that Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow sent into disarray in the span of a few hours: Mother's leave their children to fend for themselves, Brothers turn on brothers, and the young steal from the old. All from a rumor here, a lie there, and-"

Snapping her fingers to prove a point Luna set her teacup down.

"That's all it took," Luna then took off her crown, "Our citizens are fragile Tia... and Twilight is so young. Perhaps it's for the best that we remain on the throne until our people finally realize that they need to grow a backbone."

Baffled by her sister's words Celestia just stared at her. "What are you implying Luna?"

"Well if it weren't for Salem’s timely arrival we would have made a grave mistake with putting a young and inexperienced pony on the throne," Luna replied.

"Luna..."

Putting her crown back on Luna stood up.

"Celestia... Mother gave us the responsibility to make sure the Kingdom she died for remained unbroken. Best we do our best to keep it from falling apart," Luna placed a hand on her older sister's shoulder. "What is done is done. We must move forward from here."

Walking away, Celestia looked at the tea in her cup as Luna continued, "Don't forget sister, tonight is the Masquerade Ball... best not have your mind on the court's decision."

Giving a low sigh the Solar Princess looked at her dress.

They canceled the announcement but of course, they refused to cancel the ball.

The Elite and their parties.












(Salem's room)

Salem stared at the screen of the freshly assembled PC before him, the one thing that could give him an answer was right in front of him but even with his highly advanced equipment there was one thing he couldn't avoid.

Long Data downloads.

He had to do the one he hated doing.

Waiting...

So the Chimera did one thing to blow off steam while he waited.

Pace.

He had to have at least been going back and forth a couple of thousand times by now. While he waited, Malo watched her partner with slight worry in her eyes as she sat on top of the bed. Holding her legs to her chest the digital entity had her ears flattened down against her skull while she watched worriedly.

She hated seeing Salem like this. Back when they first started to bond Malo found him in a far worse state being a complete mess and unhealthily stressed. Before their respective 'upgrades' she tried her best to help him get better and over time he has improved though still holding on to a reasonable amount of paranoia due to the flesh monsters right outside their home.

Now he was back to pacing which he hadn't since his improvement surgery.

Malo silently whimpered not knowing what to do.



Titus sensing the tension spoke up.

"What?" Salem lightly hissed while not stopping his pacing.



Salem didn't cause the living model to grumble over his AI-generated voicebox.

 Titus spoke again this time in a firm tone.

Stopping at his friend's voice, Salem sat down on the bed as the Space Marine told him.

All were silent as the only sound came from the quiet exchange of Salem's rebreather.

All was like that for a few moments, Titus then broke the silence.

 The son of Guiliman said leaving the room in silence once again.

Malo looked at Salem for a moment, the SCP slowly crawled next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Not saying anything Salem put his bare head to hers.

Hearing his heartbeat slow down Malo couldn't help but smile while Salem began to calm down.

"Sorry guys... I just-"



After his apology to his comrades, the door to his room was rapped with a knock causing Malo to silently whine while Salem got up. Holding his hand till he got far away the impossible lady watched Salem go towards the door and opened it.

"Princess? Is something the manner?"

Princess Luna stood at the door with one of the elements.

"Nothing that is life-threatening but there is something that does require your attention."

"Which is?"

"Salem, do you have a suit?"
> Part 13 (The Masquerade symphony-Arch-Part 2) /Edited by Joe Toon/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Princess, we are not so sure about this."

"Do not worry Salem, it won't be much of a party and you need to relax. From current events that have transpired recently, I believe that you and Malo deserve to 'take a break' as they say," Luna explained while eyeing the suit that Rarity whipped up, who was currently packing her bag. "But I do say that suit does look nice on you."

"I guess... I just feel naked without my armor," Salem explained, causing the two mares to blush at the memory of him trying to explain what he was 'lacking' under his suit.

Shaking her head, Rarity packed up her bag. "Darling, surely you don't expect to wear that suit of armor all the time? Even knights must trade their armor for suits for special occasions. Although, if I had more time and some of that new changing silk perhaps your suit could be more stunning. But I must say, even though I had to make two miracles happen in such a short amount of time I believe I outdid myself yet again," she beamed over the dress suit she had made for Salem and a special piece that Malo currently had who was gently hugging the first piece of clothing that wasn't made with combat in mind.

"/Tell her I love it!!!/"

"/Alright alright./ Rarity, Malo loves the dress but I still don't know how um... she will be seen in it," Salem explained to which Luna held his shoulder.

"I have that covered dear Salem and besides there is one more thing we are missing," Salem and Malo looked up at the princess. "This is a Masquerade ball, it wouldn't be fitting if the two of you didn't have masks."

Turning to Rarity who seemed a little upset by the princess's comment, Salem assumed it had to do with her doing more sudden work. His answer, however, came in the form of a door knock to the room prompting the Princess of the Night to call out, “Enter.”

Entering the room was a peculiar pony wearing a pair of sunglasses on top of his head and a zipped-up fancy-looking black coat with a pair of dress pants with white shoes. He walked forward with something underneath his right arm and wore a smile on his light purple-furred face.

"Ah, Princess! Is this the one you want me to work with?" The pony spoke in a very heavy German accent to Salem's surprise.

"Task Mask, I can't thank you enough for you to come by so suddenly. Yes, this is Salem," Luna introduced while turning to the abhuman in question, "Salem, allow me to introduce to you Task Mask, the number one mask maker of Canterlot."

"Wait... Task Mask?"

"Ja, the princess is correct! Your face is the perfect canvas for me to experiment on! I have worked with Dragons, Hippogriffs, Griffons, and so many others in the past, but never have I worked with someone of your facial structure before! Although, that suit might make things tricky for me to work with."

"HEY!" Rarity snapped at Task Mask who just noticed the Element of Generosity.

"Ach nein... Hello Rarity. Still making dressing from cheap material?" The pony grumbled while Rarity walked over to him.

"I’ll have you know my material is not cheap you oversize mule! My dresses come from nothing but the best; from crushed red drake velvet to Abyssinian silk," she fired at the earth pony.

"Really, putting those two together? Do you want our guests here to pass out from heat stroke before the ball?" Task countered.

As the two argued over choices of fabric and heat dispersal Luna leaned into Salem and Malo, "Before you ask, yes we do have a country similar to your 'Germany' but it's named Germaney," 

"You’re joking,” he deadpanned.

"I wish I was," Luna shrugged.

Salem eyed the two fashionistas who were still arguing. "So, what's the beef with these two?" he whispered.

"Well, a few months ago a contest of designers came together to form an outfit that would be judged by the nobility and other elites. Rarity was invited by recommendation of Lord Fancy Pants whilst Task Mask has been the winner of said contest for ten years running," Luna explained. "Long story short... he won this year and Rarity believed he cheated.”

"Cheated how?"

"Enchanted clothing."

"Did he?"

"No. Task Mask's talent is... well masks. His masks are crafted in such a way that it seems as though it emulates the very soul of the wearer. That is why I requested him to make your masks for the ball."

Salem eyed her, still wondering what she was planning. His thoughts were interrupted however when a pony stood in front of the door, catching his attention. 

"/Guess Rarity had enough/" Malo sighed.

"/Seems so/" Salem responded back.

"Now then, how do you say it, 'Let's get down to business," Task Mask announced, putting the case down on the table closest to him.

Popping it open Salem and his impossible partner couldn't help but lean in to look at what was inside. It wasn't at all what they expected, but then again neither one of them ever made any masks back on Earth. Metal tools that looked more like something a surgeon kit would have rather than a craftsman; tubes filled with strangely colored material, and something that looked like a giant white plate.

Task Mask turned to Salem while bringing his hands close to the Chimera's face, to which he was slightly taken aback by the action while the pony's crimson-colored eyes stared right into his own.

...

"Uhhhhh-"

"STILL! I'm trying to focus," Task Mask ordered as he maintained his observation a while longer before snapping his fingers, turning back to his case, pulling out a notepad and began writing down notes. "Ja! Ja! That's it! I must see the other's face now. Where is this lady I was told about?"

The moment was interrupted when Luna stepped forward. "Task Mask, you do remember our discussion about Ms. Malo's 'unique' nature, correct?" she asked.

Task Mask nodded, "Of course Princess, but where is our invisible guest?"

"She is in this room, Task. However, you will need a spell to see her."

"Oh?"

"Allow me to cast it so that you can do your work," Luna lit her horn before she cautioned, "Please don't panic once you see her."

Task Mask chortled at this, "Princess, I doubt that it can be-" Task Mask’s eyes turned from Salem to the now revealed SCP, ending his trail of thought with the usual reaction, "-WAS ZUM!"

He stepped back with his arms raised in a defensive manner at the sudden change of his vision revealing the grinning bone-faced creature before him, the likes of which he never in his wildest dreams (or nightmares for that matter) could ever imagine. His shock however soon turned into morbid curiosity as Malo waved at him, slowly lowering his arms.

"Erstaunlich..." he muttered, amazement plastered over his face while he stared into her white eyes, a smile slowly creeping across his face. 

Nodding rapidly, he promptly snapped towards his case, inspiration fueling his movements.

"What just happened?" Salem questioned, watching the pony pour out two tubes of the strange-looking material.

"His talent Salem," Luna replied as they silently watched as Task Mask began his work on what seemed to be two masks at once on the giant white plate with a metal.

"Dis goes here! That goes there! This is like this and- WAIT! No!" Stopping himself, Task Mask stared at the two molded pieces, darting his head to each piece he then slammed the two masks together before rolling them both into a ball.

None dared to interfere with the expert as they watched him pull and tear the strange material in his hands, completely mesmerized at the process. They continued to observe as he stretched the material like clay as its colors almost seemed to be folded within one another. 

Black, White, Red, Grey, and Amber.

They weren't blending together but rather shifting together in a pattern, almost like flowing Damascus Steel. Task Mask tore two equal pieces apart and began to mold them again. The two Terrans could swear this pony could be an SCP with this level of skill since both had a hard time trying to understand his almost supernatural ability in his mask-making.

The way Task Mask’s hands worked and moved to form similar but different patterns in each mask on the plate. The colors changed and shifted while the pony worked on the masks to solid colors while still holding that flowing pattern. It was like watching life being formed right in front of their very eyes.

Throwing a cloth on both masks, the mask maker collected his things and slammed his case shut.

 "W-what?" Salem blinked, still trying to register what had just happened.

"Thank you Task Mask," Luna gave the artist a nod.

"Of course Princess, it was my pleasure," Task Mask returned the gesture with a bow.

"What?" Salem spoke aloud, still trying to comprehend what he just saw.

"All I ask is that the two wear the masks during the ball, not before. Have the masks settle where they are and they shall be their faces for tonight’s ball," Task Mask advised.

"I will see to it," The princess nodded.

"What?!"

"Malo, Salem. Thank you for allowing me to sculpt from your souls. Auf Wiedersehen!" With that Task Mask left without another word leaving a still baffled Salem.

"WHAT?!!!"





(Night time, Ballroom)

"Introducing Lady Nightshade Throne the Second of House Quilling

Salem and Malo stood behind the door to the ballroom, waiting for their names to be announced.

"I still think this isn't a good idea," Salem whispered.

"/I'll be fine. I always wanted to be at an actual party like this ever since we watched Berserk together./"

"Wait... when was there…? Oh, right. Still, I'm not sure about it," Salem spoke silently.

"/Come, please. Just This once?/" Malo pleaded, "/For me?/"

"Alright. Just don't tell Titus. We wouldn't hear the end of it if he learns we went to a ball without him."

"/What?/"

"Politicians love social gatherings or something like that," he explained as he pulled off a piece of cloth, revealing his mask. "We're up,” he said as he donned his mask before holding an arm out in invitation.

Malo gently slid her arm around his elbow as they stepped forward while the announcer cleared his voice.

"Introducing Salem Grey and Malo, the stalwart defenders of the Crystal Empire."  The doors opened for them while they stepped forward.

The lights of the chandeliers shined down upon them revealing Salem and his partner for all to see, to which the former was sparkling from the light. Stepping down the stairs into the ballroom, the duo walked forward as all eyes were on the both of them.

"Think that special dust Luna gave you is working?" Salem whispered to which Malo nodded shyly, not used to being seen by so many at once. "Don't worry you look beautiful.”

Taken aback, Malo was glad for the mask she was wearing, keeping her expression hidden from Salem.

While walking forward in their red and black appeal they overheard the other guests whisper as they took the final step to the main floor.

"Are they the ones who beat Sombra?"

"Yes, they even defeated those ghastly three who stormed the palace."

"I heard Salem is Discord's son."

"What? Where have you heard that?"

"One of the guards heard him 'my boy'."

As the whispers continued the announcer called for the next guest while music played across the ballroom.

"Salem, glad to see you made it," a familiar voice greeted them. 

It wasn't hard to guess who it was as the familiar prismatic mane and tail gave her away.

"Rainbow Dash. Never thought someone like you would wear a dress," Salem quipped.

"Yeah, don't get used to it. Only here for keeping up appearances with my friends, y’know, being the Elements of Harmony and all," Rainbow Dash exasperated while rolling her eyes beneath her thunderbolt-like mask. "Anyway,” she turned to his partner, “is this Malo?"

"That’s right," Salem held out his hand towards Malo who silently greeted with a wave.

"Wait, isn't she supposed to be... well, you know?" 

Gathering what she meant Salem nodded, "Yeah, but Luna was able to create something called 'Revealing Dust' or something. She said it can make her visible. Well, until the next few hours or when she 'shifts'," Salem explained while another familiar figure stepped forward in a butterfly-styled mask.

"Hello again, Salem." 

"Fluttershy. You look nice," Salem complimented Fluttershy's attire.

"And you look quite handsome, even though your mask looks a little scary," Fluttershy stated.

At that Salem wondered what his mask looked like as he didn’t take the time to see it. 

"Oh hello. Are you Malo? It's so nice to finally meet you," Fluttershy greeted Malo with a gentle handshake, to which Malo gladly accepted in a similar manner.

"Anyways, I believe the others are in the catering area. We have been trying to talk to you after the whole mess the other day," Rainbow Dash stated.

"Why?"

"To thank you two silly," Fluttershy answered with a smile while holding her hands together, "You two were so brave to stand up to those three and protect us, even though we haven't known each other long."

"Come on, you two love birds," Rainbow Dash waved for them to follow.

The two flinched at the ribbing comment but unable to retort as the Wonderbolt practically bolted off. They shared a look before silently walking forward, with Malo still keeping her arm wrapped around Salem's.





(Backstage)

"Ow hey! That's my tail!"

"Well, you should have moved."

"You did that on purpose"

"How do you know?"

"You've been stepping on my tail ever since we came back. Just like when we were kids!"

"That's enough girls! You're going to give us away."

The two went silent as the third spoke.

"The last thing we need is to be tearing at each other like last time! This is exactly how Sunset and her precious friends managed to beat us!" the orange-maned one berated the two, "Equestria has forgotten about us, and with our sudden return back home we have ourselves this golden opportunity to remind the world who we are."

The two looked at one another before smiling towards their leader who shared their mirth. All three held out a red jewel around each of their necks as they began to glow.

"Let us remind them why they once feared our Siren's call!"
> Part 14 (The Masquerade symphony-Arch-Part 3)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since her sudden return, Sunset has been worried about her friends back on earth, sure they must be fine but still. 

She could remember being at her desk with her biology exam paper right before her then suddenly.

BOOM!

It was like an indivisible chain wrapped around her waist yanked her through the classroom window and out to the front school grounds where she felt her arm break from the immediate impact. She was then quickly pulled into the mirror and fired out of the mirror back into Equestria being flung like a ragdoll to the ground.

Where she was then met by the familiar gold-plated armor of the solar guard rushing to aid her, after that it was off to the medical wing of the castle, and from there it was one thing after another.

The attack on the crystal empire, the terrible trio's attack, and the sudden collapse of the cave system around Canterlot.

Not only that but there has been one other thing.

Not really a thing but a person.

Salem Grey.

The man who saved her and her friends' hide from the terrible trio and who has been busy for these past few days.

He was also from Earth if what Twilight told her was true.

But from what she was told of his past.

She never heard before in her time when she was living on earth.

The SCP foundation? Monsters that can be somewhere while not being there at the same time? The sun turning every living thing into melted flesh zombies that sought to spread itself?

Well, actually she did hear a rumor about an app that could apparently-

"Hey, guys look who I found standing about in his fancy new duds," Rainbow Dash announced to the group.

Speak of the devil himself.

The Chimera stood before them donned in a red and black two-piece suit that had to be designed by the one and only rarity for her 'creative' talent, the suit was different having a black coat with a red stripe pattern along with a red shirt finished with a black tie. Simple but clever design on Rarity's end for it matched his strange mismatched fur pattern in a way that blended nicely with the coat's design.

The mask however wasn't made by Rarity but by the famous mask maker: Task Mask, it matched the mask he wore matched his appeal's colors but there was something about it. The mask was twisted yet clean, somber yet lively, something about it felt familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Well, I will be a diamond dog's uncle... you must be Malo we've heard so much about," Applejack noticed causing Sunset and her friends to spot the masked lady next to him, while the group greeted the impossible lady she was told about by none other than pinkie pie.

His partner 'Malo' wore a gorgeous dress that match his suit and mask, wearing a mask of her own that seemed to be mirrored version of his, yet different as she was to him. Despite the small difference the similar feeling she had when looking at Salem's mask was right there when she stared at Malo's own mask.

"Sunset! I do believe the two of you haven't properly met," Twilight smiled to introduce the two. "Salem this is our friend Sunset Shimmer. Sunset this is Salem Grey the one that saves our butts a few days back remember?"

Sunset gave a small smile with a nod.

"Yep, I remember. Nice to finally meet you, big guy," Sunset offered a hand in greeting and Salem gladly accepted the handshake.

"Likewise. I like your mask," Salem complimented.

"Thanks all though Task Mask didn't make mine I did try my best," Sunset stated while Salem nodded.

"You made yours?" Salem asked.

"Yeppers," Sunset answered, Malo tapped Salem's shoulder which the chimera chuckled while holding out a hand to his partner.

"And this lovely lass is Malo. My partner, I don't know if you are aware but she isn't all that- um... what is the best word for it?"

"Visible?" 

"Yes, that works," Salem nodded in agreement. "Pinkie Pie told you?"

Sunset answered Salem's question with a smile, crossing her arms she looked up at the tall altered human.

"I'll be honest Salem when the gang told me about you I would you would look more... less fluffy,"

Salem's right ear twitched at that which made Malo give a silent snicker at Sunset's comment.

"Well. That's the kinda a thing I don't believe is appropriate to speak at this event," Noticing Salem place a hand behind his neck Sunset flinched thinking she had offended him.

"I'm so sorry I didn't know it was a touchy subject,"

"No-no it's fine," Salem held out his hands. "I simply don't wanna sour this party,"

"Oh Hello~" A new yet familiar voice spoke from behind Salem and Malo.

Sunset knew that voice all too well, ever since she was Celestia's student there was one person she did her best to avoid. Even after all these years, she recognized that voice like a foul smell you wished to forget.





Salem and Malo turned to the voice that spoke up from behind them causing the duo to realize who the voice belonged to.

"Greetings milady I am Prince Blueblood of the royal family and must I say you look quite appealing this evening," The entitled prince spoke to Malo with a tone in his voice that made Salem snarl behind his mask. "May I know your name madam?"

Malo of course didn't answer while Blueblood stood there staring behind his pure gold mask, for a few moments of not receiving a answer from the prince the look in his eyes changed from desire to disapproval.

"It is disrespectful to not answer the question from a prince," Blueblood spoke annoyed by Malo's silence.

Rolling her eyes Malo turned away from Blueblood to Salem.

"/You think Luna wouldn't mind if I kicked him in the dick?/" Salem chuckled while Malo Signed this caused Blueblood to be flustered by not knowing what was happening while the chimera laughed.

"DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME BITCH!" Blueblood reached for her, but Salem's sharp reflexes snapped out grabbing his wrist.

"Keep. your. hands. away. from. her," Salem warned towering over Blueblood who looked up at Salem with disgust.

"How dare you! Get your filthy claws off me mutt! I'll have you know that I-"

"Yeah your Prince Blueblood, we met before. And besides I heard you the first time don't need to repeat yourself over a hundred times like a broken record," Salem looked down at Blueblood. "And honestly I don't give a rat's ass who you are. Keep away from my partner I'm only going to say this once,"

"You dare threaten a member of the royal family in our very halls! I will have you imprisoned for this!"

"It wasn't a threat. It was a promise,"

"The nerve of you! Somepony get the guards I'm being Attacked!" Blueblood shouted causing many eyes to turn their attention to the two.

"Salem!" A familiar voice spoke drawing in the attention of both parties.

Princess Luna stood between the two while giving a disappointed look at both involved, she gave a sigh from behind her ebony-colored mask.

"Salem... can you please release my nephew," Luna pleaded to which Salem did without question.

"Auntie Luna! This foul cretin has struck me and threatened my life! Assault on nobility is a punishable offense by life banishment to the moon!" Blueblood whined to which Luna stared at her nephew before looking at Salem.

The two stared for a moment while Blueblood smirked towards Salem thinking that he had won, but was quickly proven wrong when Luna grabbed the prince's ear and pulled him away.

"Apologies for the disturbance everypony please enjoy the party," 

"Owowowowow aunite your hurting me!" Watching Blueblood be taken away Salem couldn't help but stop himself from chuckling before quietly laughing.

Malo grabbed his attention causing him to turn towards his female companion, she pointed to the dance floor while the many couples danced.

"Malo you know I'm not good at dancing,"

"/Please/" Malo signed her hands together while playing with Salem's heartstrings with something she knew that he couldn't say no to.

Puppy dog eyes.

"Alright-Alright you win," Salem smiled behind his mask while Malo clapped with her tail wagging at his change of heart.

Guiding him to the dance floor Malo held out her hand for Salem to take while the Chimera gave a bow pier to take her hand and began to follow the nobles who were already dancing. A step forward, a step back, and repeat the two slow-danced while looking at each other.

Malo titled her head in a happy manner while Salem felt his smile grow.

"Better dancing to live music than recorded?" Malo nodded while Salem mirrored her action with a head title of his own. "Glad to hear,"

While dancing the two felt so entrance in the waltz not hearing the music change silently.

Luna was right this party was just the right thing to help him relax, yes there was stuff that had happened in the past few days that was out of his control. But this moment was happening right now.

A moment with... someone he cared about.

Dancing to the vocals of the song Salem looked towards Malo enjoying the dance while staring into each other's eyes.

Not noticing their dance had stopped.

Not noticing the weird feeling that made them feel dizzy.

Not like they cared about it...

The music was so hypnotic. 

It was...

It was...

A beautiful melody that made them want to fall into it forever.








WARNING!

MEMETIC HAZARD DETECTED!

IDENTIFYING MEMETIC HAZARD!

MEMETIC HAZARD IDENTIFIED!

CLASS 3-SIR TYPE MEMETIC HAZARD IDENTIFIED

USER'S CYBER NEURAL NETWORK HAS BEEN COMPROMISED!

PREPARING MEMETIC COUNTER-AGENT...

ALLYING MEMETIC COUNTER-AGENT!

In 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...










Salem's eyes shot up as the sound of loud music slapped him in the face both figuratively and literally. Reaching for the back of his head thinking he had fallen asleep with his helmet on again and set an alarm but froze upon his brain snapping out of his trace.

Spotting everypony standing around him with blank looks behind their masks, slowly he walked forward the music literally deafening him to the danger that was causing this.

Even his friends, the elements were in such a state.

Almost as if...

The music in his ears was so freaking loud in his head but his inner voice groaned in despair.

'OH come on! When can I get a break for once!'
> Part 15 (The Masquerade symphony-Arch-Part 4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Snapping his clawed fingers in front of Twilight's unflinching face, Salem turned around to the others surrounding him.

They were all fine, physically, at least.

But mentally? 

No one was home.

Looking around music blasted in his skull blocking out the source of what he believed caused this mess to happen.

Whatever it was, the event caused his implants to kick in with 'Doctor Bright anti-memetic's going for a walk mix' good thing too otherwise he would have been like the rest. 

A mindless blank...

Good thing that was something he was allowed to do.

The music still blasted to drown out whatever was causing this Salem's eyes to dart across the room before noticing the ground was covered in a cloud of purple smoke. Reaching for the smoke Salem was pulled forward as a familiar hand reached out and pulled him to the floor, quickly another hand grabbed his muzzle not allowing him to make a single sound.

"/Don't make a sound!/" Malo signed once she let go of her partner's wrist.

Glad to see his other alright, Salem held out his hands to sign back.

"/What happened?/"

"/Dunno we were dancing together then you sessed up for a moment. I thought something happened to you until I noticed whatever was causing this affected the others/" Malo answered. "/I 'shifted' the moment the green smoke started to pour in so whatever is causing this wouldn't be able to see me after I shook off the powder/"

"/How are you not affected/," Salem asked which caused Malo to 'smile' at his question.

"/I'm here but I'm not here. Haven't you forgotten?/"

"/Or is it because you had Ms. J teach you to resist high-level memetic hazards while I was working on the portal back on Earth?/" Salem countered to which Malo's smile dropped with her tapping her forefingers together nervously followed by her signing back.

"/May-be/"

"/I'm not mad... actually I'm kinda proud of you for going above and beyond/" Salem's reaction caused her tail to wag while her smile returned. "/But first tell me what can you hear?"

"/Singing. It sounded like it was coming from the stage at first now it sounds like it's echoing through the entire castle/"

"/Alright so the source either moved or this is some magic nonsense/" Salem reached into his pocket pulling out a tactical pad about the size of a smartphone.

Tapping on it he attempted to have the device wirelessly connect to his armor back to his room, but whatever was causing the ponies to be 'blank' it was also disrupting his connections. Silently cursing under his breath Salem placed the device back in his pocket before holding his chin in thought while still crouched in the purple smoke.

Thinking of a plan Salem sat while Malo sat beside him, watching him for a moment Malo slowly mirrored Salem's posture while also trying to brainstorm any ideas. Until either one could speak up someone bumped into Salem causing him to stumble forward but quickly recovered raising his fists for a fight.

A pair of orange hands made him stop in place when Salem recognized the face of Celestia's former student.

"\Salem\?" Sunset's mouthed as his fists opened up glad to see another friendly face.

Nodding to sunset the two looked at one another.

"\You okay?\" Sunset asked without a word while Salem read her lips. 

Nodding Salem looked at her pointing to her before pointing at the affected ponies behind above, not sure if she knew sign language. 

Sunset pointed to the napkins in her ears causing Salem to give an impressed nod while her horn began to glow with a pair of small glowing words appearing in front of her.

"-I'm going to cast a telepath spell this might feel a bit weird-" Sunset's horn glowed red before the sound in his ears dulled by the sound of a voice in his head.

"That's better... alright look I know you have questions but we can't be here," Sunset told through a mental link causing Salem to nod.

"Alright, lead on," The three began to crawl under the smoke while avoiding the frozen crowd.

"Keep down in the smoke they can be anywhere,"

"They?"

"Long story. But let's just say I recognized those voices before they dropped the second verse,"

"Let me another of your guy's rogue gallery?"

"You've been reading comics with Spike haven't you?"

"Yeah but that doesn't matter right now Sunset. Who are these guys?"

Making it to one of the side entrances to the ballroom Sunset quietly and carefully opened the door.

 "They're called the Sirens but the last time I met them was a while back but they weren't able to do anything like this before," Sunset spoke through the spell, passing into the hallway noticing that even the guards outside were affected.

The three got up to full height and carefully sunk away from the ballroom.

"I assume you know how to beat them?"

"Yeah... last time I had my 'other' friends but seeing how the girls are frozen stiff there is one other pony I know that might give us the edge we need. Let's pray to Faust that she is still unaffected,"  Sunset slowly turned to Salem while they crept past a few more mentally blank guards. "How are you not under the influence of their song though?"

"Long story there but in a nutshell: Malo and I kind of had special training for this kind of thing,"[/u

"That doesn't answer- Wait Malo is here too?"

"Yep can't see her can you?"

Stopping for a moment looking over Salem's shoulder Sunset shook her head.

"No... I don't. Twilight wasn't kidding about that whole deal you two have,"

"Hey it's what makes us special," The two turned a corner to a room that wasn't so far from the ballroom and stopped. "What now?"

"This is the equipment area. Knowing my friend, She usually follows Octavia to events like this,"

"Who?"

"She was the leading cello player during the ball," Sunset gave a sign. "For once I hope she has her headphones on,"

"Wait- what?"

Upon opening the door Salem's question was answered but was also followed by more questions about Equestria's state of technology. In the back of what looked to be a storage room for events filled with spare chairs and tables was a single mare with a crazy blue mane wearing a pair of red headphones and pink sunglasses.

Unlike the rest of the ponies, this mare was nodding her head to the beat that was being played over the headphones she worked. Salem right away noticed the soundboard and equipment that a DJ would use but what confused him was how serious the tech was despite the low-level technology that Equestria had from what he had seen beforehand.

Sunset walked behind the pony who was still jamming out before tapping the mare's shoulder.

The Dj pony noticed her but while reaching for her headphones Sunset stopped her and put a hand over her mouth.

"Vinyl no!"

'Vinyl' was taken aback by Sunset's sudden use of the telepath spell that she used on Salem a few minutes ago.

"Oi! What's the big idea here sunset?!"

"Vinyl listen were kind of in trouble here alright just listen to me for a moment,"

"Alright this better be good for the whole dropping a spell on me without fair warning,"

"It is lady," Salem's inner voice spoke causing the pony to turn to him.

 "Hey, you're that Salem guy I've been hearing about... love the mask bro,"

"Vinyl seriously!"

"Alright alright! What's going on?"

"The Sirens Vinyl. They have the entire castle under their spell from their singing," Sunset warned causing the pony to back up.

"The sirens? Like the ones from the old stories about their whole deal being-"

"Yes. We don't have time for a history lesson Vinyl. Look we don't know what they are planning but we got to stop them before they do anything alright. You're the only pony I know who is an expert in sound-based magic you think you can help out here?" 

"Hey, as long as it's got a beat I can mix it," Vinyl answered with a smile on her face. "Just give me a second to-"

Before she could finish her train of thought the door to the storage room broke open, turning to the door the four watched while a small crowd of both nobles and royal guards stumbled towards them like a bunch of string puppets.

"That's new,"

Salem looked up at the wall behind them.

"Window now!"

Turning back to the seemly mindless group Salem was jumped by a noble pony but his improved body allowed him to react and push back the noble into the ground still under the siren's spell.

"Salem! Don't hurt them they aren't in control!" Sunset spoke through the mental link while she helped Vinyl up through the window.

Malo used her unique nature to trip up a few of the unaware brainwashed ponies trying to help Salem buy the two mares time to escape. Seeing Sunset pull Vinyl up to the window the Chimera took this chance to throw down some of the storage crates to block the coming horde. However one of the musical zombies surprised Salem by lunging at him, quickly Salem grabbed the wrists of the pony where he then recognized who he was holding back.

Prince Blueblood...

*THUGH!*

Although he was brainwashed the blood nephew of the princesses could still feel pain especially when it was his family jewels being kicked in. Giving a whizzing cry the prince grabbed his groan with a faceplant on the floor from Salem's defensive attack, where the Terrian rushed for the wall digging his claws into the brick wall and climbing up following the ladies.

Getting outside in the castle garden the Chimera lept down landing on his feet where Malo followed suit landing on his back and catching Salem off guard slightly. Smiling at her prank he didn't need to say anything knowing his partner's actions well, letting her down off his back the duo caught up with the mares who were in the middle of talking about something.

"So what are you saying?"

"I can basically throw counter noise over the Siren's song freeing though who aren't directly exposed to the Siren's magic," 

"What did we miss?" Salem poked through the link, Sunset looked over to him while the group hid behind some bushes.

"Vinyl might have a plan that could help us stop the Siren's and free some of their victims,"

"By throwing 'counter noise'?" Salem stared at the two confused.

"Sound magic is a bit more complicated than what most ponies think let me put it this way... the Siren's magic has a  frequency that if I can match with my own magic I could turn up a counter-frequency to block out their song,"

"Like a radio jammer,"

"What's a radio jammer?"

"Later, what do we need to do this whole 'magic jammer' deal?"

"Well, that's the thing. I kinda need my stuff to use as a conduit to broadcast the frequency but all my stuff is that storage room I was hanging out in,"

"The same one we just left right?"

"Right,"

Salem cursed for a moment while holding his chin.

"Does it have to have that same equipment you had in there?"

"No, it can be anything that can produce sound... although my magic works better if can play music," Vinyl explained causing Malo's ears to perk up.

Reaching into Salem's pocket she pulled out his tactical pad which grabbed the attention of the Terrian who saw what he was doing and knew exactly what she was going for.

"Will this work?" Holding out his data pad to the two, Vinyl looked confused but Sunset's eyes widened at the sight of the earth device.

"I don't know. Can it play music?"

"Yes, ma'am almost every song under the sun back home,"

"Sweet! But how does it work?"

Salem quickly showed Vinyl how to power on the device and pulled up the music player function of the device while Sunset took a glace to look out but froze at what was before her.

"Guys, we got company?"

The two looked up to see what Sunset was pointing to, one of the Sirens gave a high note while a large group of pony guards walked forward weapons at the ready.

"It's Aria," Sunset warned while Salem handed the device to Vinyl.

"Anything I should know?"

"Don't really know her that well but out of her sisters, she is the weakest but is more level-headed than her younger sister but not as smart as her eldest sibling," Sunset informed while Vinyl got to work on the spell with the tactical pad.

"Better than nothing," Salem pulled off his suit jacket and pulled his dress gloves tighter. "Vinyl?"

The DJ looked up at him.

"Pick us a good one to work with,"

Stand up he walked forward to the half circle of pony guards that took up half of the garden, 'Aria' stared him down green smoke trailing from the ground around the brainwashed guards to the ruby around her neck. Popping his neck Salem took a standard CQC stance readied for anything but the Chimera, the anomaly, and even the Siren were taken back by the sound of music coming from behind them.

It was so loud that the impant in Salem's head stopped blaring music causing him to finally 'hear' for a lack of better terms then he saw some of the guards flinch with some life returning to their eyes only for them to return back to their traced states, Aria also noticed this and pointed to Vinyl and shouted.

"SHUT THAT NOISE OFF!"

Like an opened flood gate the guards ran forward spears pointed at the ponies behind the Chimera, but Salem wasn't going to allow them to get close. Grabbing one of the guard's spears he pulled it away from the zombie, breaking the sharp end with his hand Salem twirled it around smacking it into the head's of two brainwashed guards until standing at the ready in a  stance that martial artists would use a bo staff.

"Let's rock lady,"

More guards ran at him, causing Salem to swiftly counter-attack them, careful not to harm them, and choosing to incapacitate by knocking with such force to their heads that it wouldn't cause them any brain damage. Twist his body to avoid spear thrusts the improved framework of his cyber hex frame allowed him to contort his body in ways a normal human couldn't. He didn't like how it felt but seeing he was outside his armor, dodging was key here also he didn't want to damage this nice suit Rarity made for him it was the only piece of clothing he had outside his exo-shell.

His makeshift staff snapped causing Salem to throw the two pieces of his broken spear at two guards while being forced to return back to hand-to-hand combat. The terrian punched one of the guards into the air for Malo who took out a few guards from Aria's attention and somersaulted through the air kicking the guard back down into a flowerbed. Sweep-kicking more guards Salem's eyes quickly darted to the ruby around Aria's neck, a quick sign from his hand to Malo caused the impossible partner to understand Salem's silent plan.

While Salem was distracted Aria didn't notice a flower pot come rushing at her head breaking upon impact with the Siren hissed in pain holding her head.

"Who-?"

Like quicksilver Malo shifted into a guard knocking the magical zombie into the air while Salem shoulder-tackled the guard into Aria. Taking the Siren down Salem lept into the air on top of both the guard and Aria, using the guard as a gold-clad weight to pinning Aira to the ground. Not wasting a second Salem ripped the ruby around the Siren's neck and slammed it hard against the ground neck to the purple-furred beast's head.

Wide-eyed at what happened the Terrian leaned forward staring into the eyes of the subdued threat, Even with Vinyl playing music loudly Aira could hear Salem's voice.

"You seem like a smart lady. You are not going to cause any more trouble right?" Salem asked to which Aria hesitantly nodded noticing the guards around Salem who moments ago were about to stab him were breaking free of her trace over them. "Good now... where are your fellow sirens at?"





(Not long after)

Tied up and gag the Siren couldn't do anything but sit with guards around her while loud music still blared around them where some guards held defensive passions around the doors ready for any brainwashed ponies to come at them. Salem, Sunset, Malo, Vinyl, and one of the guards stood in a circle using the link Sunset established to talk through the music.

"How long will it take you to amp up the magical range on that counter-frequency?" Salem asked to which Vinyl shrugged.

"Dunno it could take me a close to an hour for it to be powerful enough to cover the entire castle,"

"Well try to make it shorter than that Aria told me they've planned on using the princesses for something," Salem explained causing the ponies to stare at him.

"For what?"

"She told me her older sister didn't tell her or her younger sister anything of the plan but it requires both princesses for it... lucky for us Luna did some spell to knock herself out," Salem recalled.

"Well, I don't need to say how we need to stop them right? Who knows what Adagio is planning with the combined power of the sisters,"

"Think they're going for the bell?"

Sunset shook her head.

"No they would have moved it somewhere else but there are more dangerous things than that bell. Celestia and Luna have been around for a long time the things they know could be bad for the entire world if the Sirens were to get their hands on any of what they wanted,"

"Almost like how the chaos insurgency would do with any of the SCP items,"

"Who with the what?"

"Again later. So we need to buy Vinyl some time for that spell before Luna wakes up right?"

"Right,"

"Sir Salem if there anything me and the lads can help you with let us know sir!"

Salem looked at the guard next to him.

"Flash right?"

"Yes sir!"

"Buddy first off I told you I'm not your commanding officer there is no need for 'sir', second what I need you to do is to stick here in the garden and defend Vinyl as she works on her spell,"

"But sir-"

"Buddy trust me this is important,"

"Salem going after the rest of Sirens is dangerous especially. If they have a brainwashed Celestia you'll be going against someone who controls a being with the power of the sun at their fingertips,"

"Prehaps but some of my peers have gone against god-like beings before without enchantments like what I have," Salem turned to the guard next to him. 

"Be careful boss,"

"We will," With that Salem went over to the garden wall to climb over it.

"What does he mean by 'we'?"

"Long story,"






After careful sneaking through the castle Salem sat on top of an exposed support beam within the stained glass hallway outside the throne room with his ever-faithful companion leaning on his back her head on his shoulder. Getting his armor would be incredibly helpful but due to the severity of current events he had to act fast and stop the remaining sirens. Reaching into his pocket Salem pulled out three temporary containment foam capsules.

'I knew I should have brought my freeze ray'

Pocketing the capsules the Chimera stared at the door, while deep in thought he felt something tap his shoulder the changed human looked to his partner who held something in her hand.

"/You little sneak/"

-

"So uh... what's the thing do again?" Sonata asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

"By the old gods. The melody harp can amplify any music-based magic increasing the power of any spell song tenfold and if we get it we can use it to blanket all of Equestria in our song where we can never be hungry again," Adagio explained while standing next to a brainwashed Celestia. "Our ocean cousins used it back before equestria's whole unification,"

"Oh, I always wondered what happened to them. Tala was always so nice to me," Adagio sighed at her sister's comment while turning to poisoned Luna.

She had to give it to Luna, Adagio didn't think the night princess had it in her when they attempted to lure her with their song Luna quickly casted a minor poison spell upon herself to render her unconscious but nothing to truly harm her. It worked although this would delay her plans it wouldn't stop her by the time Luna awakens everything would fall into place, she already had the elements under her control along with Celestia and the entire solar guard now it was all a matter of time. 

Upon their return, Equestria was already weakened after an attack on the capital and of course, the nobles attempted to cover up the whole thing with a party or whatever. Adagio decided to strike the hot iron right away even with such short planning and brush with that dark mare, her sisters and herself would move in to take their prize.

"Hey, sis when do you think Aria would be back? It's been a SUPER long time now," Sonata asked to which Adagio shrugged.

"How should I know? She's probably out feasting on the magic of the ponies throughout the castle,"

"But I thought you told her not to,"

"I did, but again she couldn't help herself," Adagio hissed turning to the door to the throne room, where she noticed the door to the throne room was opened slightly.

Confused the Siren leader thought that Aria had slammed the door after the two yet again disagreed on the plan, however, while trying to call the events something was thrown forward hitting Sonata. Yellow foam ensnared the youngest Siren causing her to yelp in shock while it hardened trapping her on the floor while it encased her entire body along with her mouth preventing her from singing. 

Not wasting a second Adagio ordered Celestia to cast a shield around her which the controlled princess did right as another object was thrown this time at her. The foam spread over the shield then hard as it did with her sister, ordering Celestia once again to the magical shield around Adagio disbanded causing the foam to break apart around her. Her pawn at her side Siren's eyes darted around the room looking for the unseen attacker while her sister's muffled pleas to free her were ignored.

"Show yourself!"

"I prefer to stay out of your sight lady," A voice called back while the eyes of the Siren's scanned the upper level of the throne room, taking a breath she began to sing letting her magic spill out to snare the one hiding in the darkness above.

However, nothing seemed to happen causing the Siren to look around not seeing a certain terrian hiding behind a pillar using the room to echo his voice throwing her off.

"That trick wouldn't work on me, Siren,"

"Who are you?"

"A considered friend of the family," Adagio snapped to look at the pillar where she thought the voice came from but Salem had already moved. "I already dealt with your sister and a few of my friends are cleaning up your mess doubt you will get that harp of yours,"

Adagio snarled, her plan for the harb being figured out causing her to stare at the ceiling supports while trying to think of something fast, her sister's muffled pleas caused her to snap at the youngest Siren.

"SHUT UP SONATA! I'LL FREE YOU IN A MINUTE!"

"Damn, and I thought Cain had a temper toward his brother,"

Growling she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.

"THERE BLAST HIM!" Adagio ordered Celestia where the controlled princess did what she was told and fired at where the oldest Siren pointed at.

"Hey! They just finished painting in her lady show some respect for the guys that finally repaired this place after the last guests trashed the place,"

"Then come on out! I wouldn't have to destroy any more of this throne room if I knew where you were!"

"That or you can give up,"

"I've waited centuries for this moment! I will not surrender when I'm so close,"

"Or you can and we can avoid more property damage and pain," Salem spoke distracting Adagio to get a clean shot to throw his containment foam capsule.

"Enough games! Show yourself, coward!"

Readying his throwing arm Salem was about to throw his last capsule but Celestia noticed him and fired another beam this time hitting the beam with Salem on it.

"AGH-! Mother of heaven!" Hitting the ground Adagio spotted Salem whose left sleeve was on fire causing the Chimera to rip it off and throw the burning piece of clothing aside. "Not cool lady Rarity made me this suit!"

Adagio stared at her attacker before smiling recognizing the one who had been causing so many rumors.

"You must be Salem Grey am I right?" Adagio asked while Celestia aimed her horn down.

"That's my name,"

"The same who beat Sombra?"

"The very same,"

"Well then I would say it's nice to meet you but it's not nice to lie," Adagio stated crossing her arms.

"Could say the same for you too, Adagio,"

"You know of me?"

"From a certain friend of mine yes," Salem answered holding something behind him while his sleeveless arm was forward. "But I gotta say you weren't what I was expecting,"

Adagio huffed at the comment.

"Then what were you expecting?"

"I dunno an ice queen?" Salem stalled causing Adagio to snort at his words.

"Funny. Anything else you wish to say before I have Celestia reduce you to ashes?"

"Yeah, I do why is it that all people like you want to play god? I can tell you this it never ends well for people like you,"

"Playing god?! Child I will be GOD!" She pointed at Salem causing Celestia's horn to glow. "KILL HIM!"

Pulling the item from his back Salem threw it forward, tossing a tube-like item forward with a glass item on it's top with something small in it.

"It's hard for you to be god when I have an angel by my side!"

Pulling a piece of string attached to the device Adagio and Celestia were blinded by a flash of light, lowering her arm the Siren still couldn't see anything for a cloud of smoke had consumed the room. Laughing Adagio was ready to have Celestia throw the entire roof down onto the smoke to crush Salem wherever he maybe hiding thinking the device he used was some sort of smoke bomb.

It wasn't...

A blue armored leg stepped from the smoke followed by a hulking armor frame of what seemed to be a massive blue and gold golem of some kind. It's red eyes stared at her while holding a massive weapon in it's hands, awestruck at what she was seeing the Siren didn't notice the smoke disapparate around the giant.

Salem stood up to his full height causing the giant to turn to him.

"Titus?" Salem's voice asked with slight worry in it.

"Inquisitor," Titus greeted warmly while turning to the Siren. "A fine welcome you have given me, lord Salem. Permission to return the greeting in kind,"

"Granted... but do no harm the white one she is a friend non-lethal only," Salem ordered.

"What of the yellow one?"

"I gave her a chance to end this peacefully. She made her choice," Adagio snapped out of it as the giant raised it's barreled weapon towards her, realizing what the weapon was she had Celestia form a shield around her. 

The weapon's projectile cracked the shield with a single shot only to be hammered more by twenty-four more slamming into the magical shield. Breaking apart by the second to last shot one of the rounds completely missed her exposed form but it caused her to scream in pain by the sound and force. Holding her ears she looked up seeing the blue giant rush at her, temporarily deafening Adagio's scream at Celestia to kill the creature.

Changing his attention to the princess the giant dodged an energy beam at almost point-blank range then Titus put his empty weapon around the mind-controlled princess neck. Putting her into a hold Celestia clawed at the face plate of Titus's helm but it was proven fruitlessly as all her nails did was scrap against the marine's impossibly strong armor. Adagio quickly gathered herself and opened her mouth ready to give Celestia another order but the giant had distracted her enough to forget Salem's presence.

Throwing a small at her mouth, yellow foam roared out into her throat and quickly hardened, causing the Siren who was in the middle of taking a breath to gag on the blockage in her throat.

"That's enough talking lady," Salem walked forward and grabbed her ruby from around her neck. "And enough of this,"

Dropping it on the ground Salem crushed it under his boot, reaching for the broken remains with one of her hands while the other held her throat. She turned to her sister who no longer handed her ruby as well for it had seemly vanished until pieces of ruby were dropped right onto her own remains.

Celestia was slowly coming around while Salem ordered Titus to release the princess, Adagio slowly began to turn blue at the lack of oxygen while falling to her side this time reaching for Salem. Who in turn, stared back down at her watching her black out at his feet before speaking one last time as her world went dark around her.

"Shows over,"
> Part 16 (The Masquerade symphony-Arch-Part 5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Emperor of mankind hear my prayer from beyond the veil,"

"I have returned to the form that you have intended for me to wear for my immortal charge,"

"However my curse was broken too soon for Terria... has fallen and you along with it,"

"I now serve under one of your loyal servants of your immortal eye that survived Sol's betrayal to chaos,"

"I may have failed humanity but here I pray to you even if you may not hear my voice,"

"Allow me to remain here as the final bulwark of humanity's memory,"

"Grant me the strength to defeat those who would seek to destroy your memory,"

"Grant me the will to defeat the beast,"

"From your grace..."

"I shall no know fear,"






Titus knelt down his bolter in one hand while his helm rested in his other, head lowered he allowed his face to feel the cold wind of the aging night. It had been so long since he had been allowed to return to his form of flesh and bone finally free of that curse he was trapped in.

Now he gave another prayer to the emperor of mankind for the aid of his unseen hand.

Not opening his eyes, the once cursed marine heard the careful familiar steps of his friend.

"I didn't believe you were one for prayers Inquisitor," Titus spoke while Salem knelt next to him.

"I do however I don't pray so openly lieutenant," Salem answered. "How do you feel?"   

Titus gave a slight smile at his ally's question.

"I feel as if I'm two centuries younger inquisitor. Long before my days as captain of the second company... before Graia," 

"They're not gone, lieutenant. Their physical forms may have been slain but their memory of them remains with us. As long as we remember them they will not be truly gone,"

"Hopeful words Inquisitor,"

"Hope isn't a always fool's dream Titus remember that,"

Opening his eyes the marine turned to the Chimera next to him, even now the Astrates had not yet embraced the form the inquisitor took but understood why he did so.

"How are our xenos 'allies' fairing after this attack," Titus's distrust for the ponies was shown in his tone.

"They'll recover. However, this is the second attack they had since one of their allies was attacked not long before the first siege on this castle," Salem stated while the marine huffed.

"I not surprised. For I may not be a son of Dorn, Inquisitor but I can already tell you the flaws of this palace we find ourselves in just by one quick look," This caused the Terrian to stand up.

"These natives haven't had a war in over a thousand years you can forgive them for they did not need to fight the darkness as we do these ponies and their allies have been living in the light," The Chimera spoke to his friend while the Astrates gave a low nod.

"Those words can't be more true... however I believe that these ponies may find themselves facing the darkness without our aid," Standing up the ultramarine placed his helm back on while Salem crossed his arms to think for a moment. "Permission to speak freely inquisitor?"

Salem smiled at Titus' question.

"Granted,"

"Why is it that you didn't inform me of this ball?" The ultramarine asked causing Salem to go wide-eyed for a moment.

"Uhhhhhhhh- I think I hear someone calling my name let's put a pin in this for later,"

The ultramarine stared down at Salem who was trying to escape the question.

"Inquisitor..."

"Come on Titus. It was so sudden and-" Salem froze upon seeing the glare of the mark seven Aqulian pattern helmet, this caused the terrain to gulp and adjust his tie. "We'll talk about this later yeah?"

"I will take you up on your word inquisitor,"

"Just... come on you oversized blueberry,"

"Blueberry?"

"It's a- Doesn't matter come on,"





(The ballroom)

Magical healers were out and about helping all those harmed in the surprise attack while many nobles were already starting to argue.

"THIS IS THE PERFECT REASON WHY WE DON'T NEED SOME FILLY ON THE THRONE!"

"TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS! IF ANYTHING MAYBE THE PRINCESSES ARE-!"

"ARE WHAT? INCOMPETENT!" 

It was like a group of fillies arguing over the simplest thing.

Sunset gave a sigh while holding a bottle of champagne, out of all the bottles this one had survived the whole incident. She hadn't had a drink in a very long time due to her 'highschooler' age but she was hoping to have a drink for her '21st birthday' on earth.

It's funny she hated earth at first but now? She misses the magicless world...

Especially her friends.

Her thoughts were snapped out of it as the sound of heavy hydraulic armor caught her attention, causing her to look up and nearly choke on her tongue.

"Uhhhhh... hi?"

The red lenses of the blue helmet stared at her before turning and walking away.

"Don't mind him he's been 'bodyless' for awhile," Salem's voice reached her ear causing the pony to turn her attention to Salem.

"As much as I want to know what that means I kinda don't want," Sunset held her head. "Head hurts as much as is... damn magical headaches,"

"Magical Headaches?" Salem sat down next to her.

"Holding a spell-like telepath for that long kind hurts... a lot," Sunset put the cold bottle to her head.

"Heh..." Salem started at the drink. "You going to drink that or use it as an expensive ice pack,"

Sunset snorted amused.

"Yeah just give me a second. Is Malo okay though can't see her," Sunset asked Salem nodded pointing to the spot on the stairs next to him.

"She's here but she 'shift' the dust on her was knocked off," Salem informed the yellow-coated pony.

Sunset waved to the blank spot causing to give his own amused snort.

"She hopes your headache fades so you can open the bottle already," Salem phoned causing Sunset to notice as his tie was pulled slightly to the empty spot.

"Is that REALLY what she said?" Sunset asked.

"More or less,"

Sunset pulled the bottle down and tried to pop it open but due to her headache she handed it to Salem.

"Could you?" Nodding he took the bottle and carefully opened it trying to make any more noise over the nobles bickering.

It still gave some foam pour out but Salem lifted the bottle up.

"I've been dying for a drink since I got here," He pulled his mask on his face showing Sunset his 'two-faced' face before taking a swing of the party drink and pulling it away. "Ahhhhh~"

"So?" Sunset asked.

Salem handed the bottle to her.

"It's okay I've had better,"

Taking a sip of the fizzy drink, Sunet could feel her mouth melt at the taste causing her to laugh slightly.

"If this is okay... you got to show me what you consider better," Sunset stated in which she passed the bottle back.

"Maybe," Salem handed the bottle to the spot next to him in which it disappeared sending a slight shiver down Sunset's spine.

After a moment Salem seemingly pulled the bottle out of thin air in he took another sip of drink.

"So Salem..."

"Yeah?" Salem handed her the bottle.

"Your from Earth correct?" Sunset asked causing Salem's ears to perk up slightly.

"Yes. Someone told you huh?" Salem asked to which she nodded.

"But that's not what I wanted to ask you," Sunset took a taste then handed the bottle back to Salem.

"What did you want to ask then?" Salem titled his head.

"I don't know how to ask this but do you know a high school called Canterlot High?"

"Canterlot High?" Salem got the bottle back as he looked sunset with yellow eyes.

"Yeah,"

"I didn't know they had a high school here-"

"No. Not here but on Earth?"

"I don't follow,"

"Did Celestia tell you about a mirror that could allow anypony to enter the human world,"

Salem stared at her, lowering the bottle in his hand.

"I mean she did tell us that she had an artifact that could pier into the human world,"  Salem responded. "What are you getting at?"

"Well, I was at this school called Canterlot High. It's a long story but in a nutshell, I have friends there which I'm worried about because I can't go back through the mirror because it was destroyed," Sunset told the Chimera next to her. "And after what I heard from my friends... could they have been taken by those things you spoke about?"

Salem stared at her for a moment before taking a sip of the drink.

"I don't know," Salem answered honestly. "How long has it been since you last seen them?"

"A couple of days,"

Salem smiled holding the bottle.

"To be completely honest with you I don't know much about magical mirrors but I'm pretty sure what happened to my earth could have not happened to yours,"

"What do you mean by your earth and my earth?" Sunset asked while the Terrian handed the bottle back.

"Do you know about the multiverse theory?"

Sunset gave a nod.

"Than you know about how every choice we find ourselves facing literally causes another earth to form. Take example of if you had a choice between a red pill or a blue pill and you picked the blue which you then go about your everyday life," Salem explained. "However by choosing the blue pill you unknowly created an alternate earth where you went for the red pill and not the blue in which you go about your life. Although the red pill that version of you took could have a completely different approach to there life no matter how little it may be,"

"That sounds confusing," Sunet noted.

"It is," Shifting in his seat he turned to look at her. "So my Earth was betrayed by our sun. Yours wasn't. This also falls in line with different earths where different things happened. It could be super minor like the red and blue pillow idea. Or it could be something extremely different like: Tesla was chosen over Edison or there's an 'evil' earth where you and I are bad guys or an earth where a certain dictator of Germany won World War Two or there's a version of Earth where man never existed," 

"Whoa..."

"Yeah, it's hard to wrap your mind around it huh?" Handing her the bottle sunset looked down at it.

"So my friends are okay?"

"I can't say," Salem shrugged. "What happened to my earth happened a long time ago. However, you left your earth a couple of days ago I can't really say for certain,"

"I hope you are right," Sunset's words made Salem smile.

"Hope is all we can have," Patting her should he get up followed by him stretching his arms. "Oh! I don't know about you but I'm tri-erd! I'm going to get some sleep... you should too,"

Sunset nodded while Salem walked and got off the stairs.

"Sunset?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sure they're okay," Salem said with a smile.

Nodding Sunset took another drink of the bottle watching while Salem walked over to the giant blue armored thing leaving her alone. Lowering the bottle she whipped her mouth off with her ruined dress, her eyes looked up at the room before stopping at some nobles staring at Salem.

"What is that lot planning now?"
> -ERROR DATA RELIC REQUIRED!-
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


/File entry detected/

/Deposit data relic/

/Correct data relic accepted/

/Praise the Omnissiah/









By decree of the High Lords of Terra all information involving records of this Astartes group is to be safeguarded and only to be shared by an inquisitor that the Ordos -Redacted- has proven worthy of being aware of the group or if necessary to any inquisitors who have the misfortune in crossing paths with this group. Those who do not fit this distribution should be subjected to mind scrubbing or if necessary silenced immediately.










This data relic contains all available known records of the Astartes known as the 'Void keepers'






Chapter Origins: Void keepers' past is kept secret by the chapter itself, much about this chapter is kept secret, however in battles involving void keeper casualties some data on their origin could be traced. This can also be due to their void-based nature not having any homeworld or any homeworld that is aware of the imperium at large.

The void keepers' first-ever recorded presence comes from 889.M41. during a daemonic incursion on the hive world of -Redacted- where a local guard regiment and sisters of battle fought an army of chaos daemons. In the final hours of the world's forces came the void keepers, they came forth to assist the world's defenders from the onslaught of daemonic forces and they were able to successfully banish hordes of daemons. It was however when the mastermind of the entire invasion a greater daemon of Tzeentch a 'lord of change' attempted to lead a powerful counter-attack to this new threat where it was reported as 'not foreseeing this event'.

This resulted in the void keepers' successfully beating back the counter-attack and defeating the greater daemon, however instead of banishing the greater daemon of Tzeentch the Astartes 'contain' the daemon in a device and shortly after closing the source of the breach into the warp. During the aftermath, much of the world inhabits were slain in the invasion along with most of the defending forces. From those that had remained on the planet when inquisitors from the Ordos heretics had come to investigate they found the world mostly abandoned only finding a few surviving imperial citizens who were still alive and not insane. 

After nearly a complete Terrian month from surviving servo-recordings and comprehensive interrogation, the report indicates that the void keepers had offered the survivors a choice to follow with them for a chance of retribution against those who destroyed their world and defend humanity from those who seek to destroy the human race. Where -Redacted------------------------------joined the void keepers and left the planet leaving only the few who didn't accept their offer.

From then on only a few sightings have been seen of the Void Keepers throughout the stars, never staying in one place for long.

Chapter Behavior: The chapter is usually moving throughout space mostly in the outer sectors where not few tend to find themselves willingly, sectors such as the 'Halo Stars' and the 'Ghoul stars' have the most sightings of the void keepers' home fleet.

The void keepers tend to avoid the imperium at large avoiding internal conflict, especially with those involving the ecclesiarchy and the inquisition. Regardless the void keepers tend to heed calls of aid on those imperial worlds with no strategic value, and even would defend imperial citizens from outside forces even from other Astartes.

During a tyranid invasion on 892. M41. the Astartes known as the Marines Malovent attempted to destroy an entire civilian living settlement by orbital bombardment believing a gene-steal cult had been the reason for the invasion. In which the void keepers crippled the Marines Malovent ships that attempted to do the bombardment finding no evidence of a cult. Threats were exchanged between the two Astartes forces but resulted in a private vox message between the chapter master of the Marines Malovent and an unknown individual aboard one of the void keepers' ship, in which the Marines Malovent simply left the battle leaving the void keepers to finish escorting survivors to safety.

The Void keepers also have been reported to be searching for all forms of relics or knowledge which some inquisitors believe an entire part of their home fleet would break off to find this relic or lost knowledge after learning of it. They could spend decades in order of searching for such a find calling them 'Seeking Crusades' which has led them to encounter members of the cult Mechanics and have positive ties with different agencies of Mars due to their shared interest in seeking lost knowledge.

Along with that, the Void keepers will assist any other Astartes loyal to the imperium, usually choosing those who are considered 'true Astartes'. For in 994. M41. During their penitent crusade the Lamenters were set upon a Tyranid hive fleet attack while defending a local civilian settlement. It is unknown if they were aware or unaware of the penitent crusade they held but while the dwindling Lamenter forces were on the brink of being whipped out the void keepers stepped in to assist their fellow Astartes. Some reports that they even set their apothecaries to collect the gene-seed of the fallen blood angel successors to return them back to the marines.

There have also been reports of the void keepers other assisting chapters such as but not limited to:




Space wolves

Sliver Skulls

Raptors

Salamanders

Crimson Fists

Blood Ravens

Celestial Lions

Blood Angels

Charnel Guard



Chapter Recruitment: In theory, the Void Keepers have many ways of recruiting from having natural births among their massive fleets or pulling from those young appliances whose families join their ranks after they save their home world. In which they will undergo an unknown amount of training in which they will become an Astartes of the void keepers, but the way they recruit is all but a mystery however these reasons are most likely.

Chapter geneseed: From fallen void keepers that were able to be safely extracted and examined, the void keepers have traces of ultramrine Geneseed. Unlike the normal successor of the ultramarines, the gene-seed of the void keepers seemed to be altered in such a way that it seems that this gene-seed could be implanted into a 'non-human'. Once again this is only in theory... but during a report of the void keepers on a battle a witness claimed to see a void keeper with the 'head of a dragon' spewing an acidic green flame at a durkari raider. Along with other reports of those void keepers with 'wings', 'tails', and even single horns of non-chaos origins.

It is unclear if these reports of mutation are fact or fiction, due to the fact that void keeper geneseed is extremely unlikely to cause any mutations due to the stable nature of the void keepers' geneseed.

Chapter heraldry: The void keepers' heraldry does in some ways match the standards of the Codex Astatres having Apothecaries, tactical squads, and even tech marines with the respecting marks.

But the main heraldry of a single marine is that of a black-and-white armor scheme. Where their legs possess white joints and black plating, while their arms possess a reverse faction with their joints are black with white plating. Their chest and pauldrons have a primary black color with the secondary being a white color. Their upper helm are black while their lower face plate is usually white, with the lenses of their helms being red.

Their symbol is that of a double circle with the outside circle having three bumps with the middle circle holding three arrows pointing to a skull. The holy aqualia on their chests have been altered with that of the same symbol resting on top of the heart of the two-headed eagle only being a white/silver color not and not gold. Although on their other soldier lacks any symbol for squad identifications like that of the codex Astartes usually differing from different companies. 

From a cracking hammer to a nine-tailed fox head, it is theorized that some of these different companies are specialist squads tackling different tasks. Usually, no two companies with different symbols are seen together only ever rarely seen but this is only when the void keeper's homefleet is under attack.

Among the reports, there are rumors of the void keepers who lack any white markings donned in completely black armor with weapons of unknown origin able to stop greater daemons in their tracks with a single blow. It is said that these marines are donned in an unrecognizable mark of Astartes power armor never seen before.

Chapter wargear: From common Astartes power armor and boltgun patterns, the void keepers possess a wide variety of war gear in their charge from plasma, melta, to even infrequent volkite-based weapons. The void keepers are well equipped even possessing a large amount of terminator plate and dreadnought along with a shadow sword tank to even a gunship that seemed to be similar to that of a 'blackstar gunship' used by Ordos xeno's deathwatch.

This gunship is called a 'Lunar Storm-Pattern gunship' having an arsenal of a variety of weapons systems and quick shock assault systems installed. From quickly deploying Astartes to placing down or dropping armored vehicles such as Rhinos or razorbacks on and/or behind enemy lines.

But what is most curious about the void keepers is their equipment that is used to 'contain' certain targets or items, these 'containment devices' are similar to a nercon tesseract trap. Surprisingly the strange nercon energy of these traps is never detected when used, but these devices can differ on the target usually increasing their size. Such devices were used to contain a 'lord of change' and a 'Tyranid bio-titan' on a few such reports of these devices being used.

Also to note is the large number of ships in void keepers' fleet, from the usual Astartes battle barge to a single retribution-class battleship. In the many theories of this chapter, some believe that some of these ships were stolen from traitor warbands or have been acquired by other successor chapters joining the void keepers both theories have been yet to be proven although it is highly likely. 

Other reports speak of a much larger ship known as the 'Ark of Terra' which has been described as a massive ship of unknown make, of course, sprout theories of this so-called 'Ark' but one theory is one that the members of Adaptus Mechnicus who are aware of the void keepers' assistance. They believe the Ark of Terra is a ship that pre-dates the age of strife, being able to go through space in time without the usage of the warp along and able to spread this to other ships in their homefleet. 

It is unknown if this is true but Ark of Terra could be a -REDACTED------------------------- due to rumors of what the void keepers call 'Sol's betrayal where -REDACTED-------------

Chapter Hierarchy: It is unknown of who commands the void keepers for it is said that they do not possess any Chapter Master, what is curious about the void keepers is that some say that an inquisitor leads the void keepers. However, due to their tendency to avoid Inquisition forces and would fire upon Inquisition forces if they attempted to subdue or terminate a Void Keeper, this rumor seems to be false.

Regardless agents of all the holy ordos are attempting to find any records of this 'Salem Grey' but none have come up in finding any inquisitor by that name. Yet a single eyewitness has reported a 'man in black armor' leading a group of black-armored space marines against a Tyranid invasion with a golden armor giant draped in a purple cloth.

The chapter's companies are split into numerous small chapters, usually ranging from 250-500 per chapter, unlike the guidelines of the Codex Astartes. A captain is assigned to each company and reports to the group known as the 'council of the ark' who seem to be the ones who command the void keepers as a whole.

The council of the ark  whoever they might be is unknown like most of the void keepers' information, only believing that the council is abode the 'Ark of Terra' leading the void keepers' home fleet.

Another notable factor in the hierarchy is that the void keepers have been reported to have a cult of the Adeptus mechanics that has been seen with the void keepers on several occasions. The admech denies the existence of this 'cult' simply claiming it is all false reports however when the facilitator general was asked by the other high lords he -REDACTED-----------

-Remaining data expunged----> Chapter Hierarchy-

Chapter Belief:REDACTED--------------------
-------
-------
The Chapter however still claims that the emperor is the master of mankind not -REDACTED------------------------ the Omnissiah- REDACTED---------- They still possess chaplains despite this and tech marines but -REDACTED------------
-------
-------

Chapter Interactions with Xenos:

Aeldari/Eldar- The void keepers have been said to aid the Eldar and where they even assisted in defending a eldar craftworld, along with this the eldar have been seen coming to the aid of the void keepers on rare occasion.

Durkari/Dark Eldar- The void keepers will purge any Dark Eldar on sight.

-Redacted-

Orks- The void keepers have been fighting with the orks however some Ork Freebooters have traded with the void keepers for 'strange but shiny spikey bits'

Tau- The void keepers will purge any tau on sight

Farsight Enclave- Similar to the Eldar the void keepers have aided Commander Farsight on occasion, aiding his forces against chaos forces on more than once.

Nercons- -REDACTED------------------ In the chase of Trayzn the Infinite the void keepers have a 'trade agreement' with the collector usually involving both parties trading something in exchange of something else, however those who were luckily 
and leave with their freedom intact speak that Trayzn admires the void keepers where it seems he will aid the void keepers on a 'relic crusade'.

Tyranids- The void keepers will actually attempt to contain however many Tyranids they can rather than purge them for an unknown reason. It is also to note that they will do similar mentioned when it comes to the very many gene-stealer cults attempting to contain rather than purging.

Chapter Relation to Chaos: Any attempt with chaos has been one of hostility where not a single void keeper has been reported to fall to the destinies of the warp. However, an Agent of the Ordos Malleus was once captured by the void keepers and warned that there is a fair worse threat lurking in the world known as the -REDACTED- king and even warned of a strange anomaly that can -REDACTED- solar bodies where -REDACTED------------------

Chapter threat level: The Void Keepers do not pose any threat to the imperium due to their nature of secrecy, however, the Void Keepers have shown that inquisitor agents and the Minotuars chapters are no match for their forces. It is forbidden to send any more inquisitorial agents in an attempt to neutralize the void keeper, especially agent assassin for they are -REDACTED---------- instead of being killed.

Current chapter whereabouts:
Upon the indomitus crusade, the chapter has somehow received Primaris reinforcements they have been more active as of late but this has caused more rumors to spread about the void keepers in an attempt to collect relics involving -REDACTED-in which has seen the void keepers clash with Vashtorr and his 'Army of Renown' in seeking these relics.






"In the dark, we thrive!"





> Part 17
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Two days after the Siren attack)

"Members of this court... I Baron Fire bond of House Heliacal stand before you all as a fellow member of this joint court AND as a citizen of Equestria to speak before you all of a realization that has come to my attention and the attention of my fellows,"

"It was not too long ago we had found ourselves in a peaceful state of being for nearly a year before the sudden attack on our allies in the Crystal Empire. In where Sombra attacked Princess Cadance and her consort Shining Armor nearly succeeding in his endeavors,"

"That was until the stranger known as 'Salem Grey' an outsider stepped in and stopped the mad king turning the stallion's perspective around to that of a mare. A heroic action many would call it, as did I; shortly after the siege upon the crystal empire we faced our own against the combined efforts of Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Former Queen Chrysalis after they were aided by none other than the 'reformed' Discord god of chaos,"

"In where Salem stepped forth to defend us from this threat and like Sombra thwarted the actions of the 'terrible trio' saving the lives of their royal highness the princess and the elements of harmony. Only to have a cave-in where we only suffered minor property damage... yet if any pony was out in those fields at that moment it could have been lethal. So as our brave solar guard stepped in while Princess Luna reached for the aid of her Lunar guard who did our defenders find?"

"Salem Grey,"

"Not only that but upon the reports of the Lunar guard there was also a strange metal building embedded into the very ground under our own feet! Where Salem Grey RUSHED to without a word!"

"I was unsure of this report at first since I like many others was more focused on the party we all were looking forward to every year. Yet during our time of celebration, the Sirens had reappeared, an enemy that Starswirl the breaded, one of the pillars, AND speaker of this joint court faced and defeated. They took over the entire castle in under an hour and held onto the minds of the princesses AND the elements! Who knows what they could have accomplished if it wasn't for a certain someone,"

"Who might this someone be?"

"The ones the guards have dubbed the black knight," 

"The one who has been at every event that has happened in these past short weeks,"

"The one who before his arrival had been a sense of peace in where all that changed when he arrived,"

"SALEM GREY!" Firebond roared slamming his fists into the table before him.

"Despite what many of you might say of me. Most of you do know I believe in fate... however, I do not believe this is a chance of luck. How is it Salem Grey an outsider was able to so easily defeat seven of the most powerful threats in Equestrian's history without the use of the elements of harmony? How is it this 'CHIMERA' was unaffected by magic that can possess even the likes of our princesses? HOW IS IT IN THE TIME WE HAVE KNOWN OF SALEM GREY WE HAVE KNOWN NOTHING BUT CONSTANT CONFLICT!"

"Baron Firebond you will cease this speech you have no grounds for what you are implying!" Luna shouted at the royal noble clenching the fronts of her armrests while trying her best to not teleport and slack the noble in the face.

"Yet I do princess!" Firebond spoke. "Princess Luna you of all ponies should see that don't you find Salem's arrival a bit odd? So much has happened ever since he arrived, you cannot ignore that! Members of this court is Salem really the savior he wants us to believe or is he the snake plotting with secretly known enemies of our home in aims to take over?!"

Firebond's words caused the entire royal court to burst into a storm of words, all either to condemn the Terrian or to defend the outsider.

"He's secretly plotting against us! I say we should exile him before he tries anything!"

"What proof is there of this so-called plot? Salem Grey has done nothing wrong!"

"That is what he wants us to think! If what he says of his homeland is true putting him down would be a mercy!"

"You would erase an entire civilization or at least it's last survivor! What gives us the right to commit such Genocide!?"

"We have the right to defend our very way of life! It would be letting one life die for thousands to thrive!"

"This is not just one life but the existence of an entire species! There is no justice in killing the man who went out of his way to help others! Are really going back to the old ways?!"

"ORDER! ORDER! WE SHALL HAVE ORDER!" Starswirl's voice boomed however the entire court was deafened to the old unicorn's voice even as it roared with magic.

Celestia looked at the magical court completely shocked by this sudden accusation and how fast it blew up, this meeting was originally supposed to be on the damaged grounds by the cave-in. Now it was a complete mess of hatred for someone most of these nobles hadn't even properly met, where half of them were ready to throw the Terrian under a train without a second thought. Looking to her sister next to her the Eldest of the two saw the look on Luna's face and nearly felt her blood go cold for a moment.

It was the same look Luna had given her almost one thousand years ago before that day, however, her disgust and rage weren't aimed toward her. The stare was for the nobles who were demonetizing their friend and ally. Celestia reached for her sister's shoulder but Luna only stood up to turn her back on the court storming out of the chamber, this caused the princess of the sun to turn to Starswirl who only shook his head.

Celestia leaned down in her seat holding her head in her hands.

'Mother give me strength,'





(Salem's room)

"This is confusing,"

"What is Spike?"

"What are you even playing? What kind of chess is this?" Spike asked while looking at the strange multi-colored chess board between the Terrian and Ultramarine.

"First correction Reptile is known as Regicide. Second Correction this is Sovereign's Regicide an advanced set of Regicide few know how to play unlike you," Salem looked up from his side of the board at Titus.

"Titus. Come on man we talk about this," The marine looked at the Survivor and then at the dragon next to him while crossing his arms.

"Apologizes... Spike," The marine huffed causing Salem to smile while the dragon gave a nervous smile.

"It's fine," Spike shivered slightly while recalling his introduction to the ultramarine almost causing the dragon to his tail, luckily Salem swooped in and saved his scaly butt and gave him a quick rundown of the whole 'inquisitor' thing and stuff.

Titus watched while Salem moved a light green rook to take his dark blue bishop, in response Titus moved to take Salem's black pawn and take control of the remaining pink pieces.

"Spike?" Salem didn't move his attention from the bored while Malo leaned on his shoulder reading a comic of her very own while the two superhumans played.

"Yeah?"

"You know Twilight is bound to find you in here right? And when she does I can't protect you from her," Salem warned to which Spike's color drained from his scales.

"Well... I mean. She has to know that me getting accidentally drunk in the end meant I was safe from the Siren's magic so me sneaking into the cellar to get a drink was actually the right call," Spike threw out to which Salem turned to him. "Hey, I'm old enough! It's not my fault she is so overprotective,"

"Whatever you say to convince yourself, Spike," Salem said aloud while taking one of Titus' knights and putting him in check.

"Soooooo..." Spike began lowering his war machine comic. "Titus?"

The marine turned his helm to face the dragon.

"I'm kinda curious which of Salem's comics do you enjoy?" This caused the red glare of the angry-looking vox-grilled helmet to stare down Spike, however to the dragon's slight surprise the giant moved his helmet to hold his covered chin.

"Despite the near heresy some of these 'graphic novels' of Terria's past possess I do find myself enjoying a few of them. However, I find myself enjoying the 'Manga' in Inquisitor Salem's personal collection," Titus explained. "I find myself appreciating the series 'Goblin Slayer' the will and dedication of a mere unaltered human going on a personal crusade to purge the filth that is the green skin menace is a quality that all guardsmen should be inspired to be. Although he is willing to ally himself with an elder is questionable although the ends in this case do justify the means,"

The three chuckled at Titus' answer while Spike leaned into Salem.

"What's an Eldar?" Spike whispered unaware of Titus' superhuman level of hearing.

Pier to either one answering his question, the door was rapped upon causing Salem to look down at his datapad on his wrist.

"Huh... she's a lot earlier than I had projected," Salem joked while Spike dropped his comic and looked around.

"Salem! You gotta hide me!"

"Hey don't look at me I give you asylum as long as I could," Salem held up his hands, while Spike ran under the table between the two. "Spike that wouldn't-"

"Check,"

"Aw crap," Salem turned to the board. "Spike you made me move the wrong piece,"

"Inquisitor, I didn't think you would be so easily distracted," Titus gave a negligibly amused comment which compelled Salem to hold up his hand.

"Quiet you... It's unlocked Twilight, Spike's under the table trying to hide from you," Salem called out causing Spike to scurry out like a Salamander after someone moved the rock he was hiding under.

The doors opened but it wasn't Twilight but rather a few other familiar faces.

"Heyo~!" Pinkie Pie burst forward bouncing up and down with something in her hands while she was followed by Sunset and all of the elements save for the one pony that Salem was expecting.

"Oh hey guys," Salem smiled while Titus shifted his attention but Salem was quicker to react than last time with Spike.

"Whoa! I heard about the giant blue golem but dang he's freaking huge!" Rainbow Dash pointed out staring at Titus who sat on a metal crate Salem had assembled for him.

"I am no golem," Salem stood up holding his hand at the ultramarine to try and calm him down.

"Girls. Sorry, he's kinda... paranoid about things. Now this is the third member of our little band from Earth: Titus," Salem introduced while the ultramarine huffed behind his vox grill.

"Man oh man. Salem you have yourself quite the posse but I gotta ask partner. Where was the big guy when you first got here? Was he like Malo with that whole schro-whatchamacallit?" Applejack asked to which Salem shook his head.

"No. Titus was smaller... and by smaller I mean he could fit inside your pocket small," Salem explained.

"OHHHHHH! Is he one of those SCPs! Like Malo!" Pinkie asked.

"Yes and no... it's complicated," Salem scratched the back of his ear before taking a breath. "But in a nutshell: Titus was turned into a toy but he still had a form of interacting with the world after the sun's betrayal I found him at the site and another SCP but I was afraid of using it because I didn't know what it would do to Titus but when the Siren arrived I had no alternate choices so I did it and now he's here,"

Exhaling Salem leaned forward looking at the game while the friends came over, Terrian cleared his throat gathering Titus' attention. Looking at Salem's yellow eyes glace at the ponies in the manner of 'go on say hi' to the ultramarine. The Astartes grunted turning from the game while the Chimera made his move while moving on the crate he was sitting on.

"It's a delight to meet you all. Salem has told me many things about you all," The blue-armored marine greeted holding back his slight distrust of the non-humans.

"It's nice to meet you too Mr. Titus," Fluttershy greeted shyly causing the marine to look at the yellow pony, his helmet titled barely causing Salem to blink at this easily missable action that the veteran warrior had done.

The Chimera although confused finished his counter move on Titus which the space marine grunted at his opponent's turn in their game.

"Check,"

"Oooooh~ what's this?" Pinkie asked looking over Salem's shoulder, which was followed by the others.

Applejack pushed her hat up at the sight of the multicolored chessboard.

"What in Sam Hill kind of chess is this?" Applejack questioned which Sunset lit up recognizing the game.

"Hey I've seen this before this version of chess is called-"

Unfortunately, Sunset wasn't able to finish as Spike crashed down from clinging to the ceiling not realizing that Twilight was not in the room in which he crashed onto the game board leaving the victor undecided. Salem got up and crouched down at the dragon with an unamused smile on his face watching the dragon roll over onto his back.

"You alright there bud?" Salem asked to which Spike stared up at the group looking down at him.

"That hurt,"

"You don't say?" Salem and Sunset helped the dragon up while Rainbow Dash picked up a red queen piece.

"Spike what were you trying to do?" Rainbow Dash asked the dragon.

"I was trying to hide after Salem ratted me out," This answer caused Salem to softly push him onto his feet.

"Technically I did warn you what I would do,"

Spike grumbled, Rainbow Dash then pulled his left wing out slightly.

"Did you forget you had these, Lizard brain?"

"I-" Spike stopped his sentience knowing he couldn't produce a non-embarrassing answer.

Unaware of the Diva behind, Rarity reached down and pulled Salem's ear.

"Hey-hey! Rarity what-!"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice this!" Rarity lifted the ruined suit Salem wore during the ball in her hand, finding it while Salem was helping Spike up.

"Rarity I can explain," This is when Salem was introduced to one of Rarity's famous clothing lectures, Spike chuckled at Salem's misfortune.

"Karma," Spike's words were met with Malo invisible to drake, pulling one of his fins quickly in response. "OW! Hey! Who- Malo!"

-

Things quickly settled down after Rarity's lecture, the group cleaned up the broken chess game and was followed by some more questions about Earth that led Salem to introduce those unfamiliar with Earth to the entertainment that humanity had to offer in the form of a movie.

A classic in fact.

Indiana Jones and raiders of the lost ark

Watching the movie of a projector Salem had quickly set up from his pack, the group sat around eating pizza from SCP-458 while watching the old earth film, even the giant ultramarine although relucted to be involved couldn't help but watch the movie on the treasure hunter. Sunset sat next to Salem who was having his own slice of pizza and leaned in.

"I gotta warn you we got somepony here who is very similar to Inde," Sunset pointed out in a whisper. "Rainbow is going to bug you about her too,"

Salem lifted some soda he also brought out for the group to try out, but quickly had to stop giving Pinkie after she shotgunned over half a twelve-pack.

"Oh my god let me guess... Indiana Pones," Salem spoke finally getting the whole pony theme that Equestria had.

"No? Of course not. Although- Nevermind. Her name is Daring doo and it's a whole book series that Rainbow is REALLY into so just a heads up," Sunset warned which Salem nodded.

"Thanks for the heads up,"

"Not a problem, but I should tell you who the author is too since she too is... well,"

"If you guys have your own George Lucius I'm going to throw something," Salem stated bluntly in a whisper.

"Again no. It's A.K. Yearling,"

Salem lowered his drink while looking at Sunset confused, as the gears in his head began to turn before it hit him.

"No,"

"Yes,"

"You for real?"

"100%"

"Sweet mother of mercy," Salem facepalmed at that. "Ugh... well at least she doesn't write wizard books,"

Sunset nodded while the two returned to watch the scene where Indiana and Sallah lifted the Ark of the Covenant from it's resting place in the well of souls. Watching the scene in silence the group witnessed one of the most famous scenes in cinema history, that was when the moment was soured as the door to Salem's room was knocked on once again.

Salem paused the movie causing some of the group to groan in disappointment watching Salem get up.

"Sorry, I'll get it back in a second I like this scene," Going to the door Terrian opened it to see the last of the elements. "Oh hey, Twilight,"

While Salem greeted the princess of friendship Spike snapped up and ran for a place to hide.

"Hi Salem," Twilight greeted in a sad tone in her voice in which everyone noticed. 

"Is something wrong?"

"No... Yes... it's complicated. Can I come in?" Twilight requested to which Salem nodded.

"Yeah-Yeah we're just watching a movie," Salem opened the door. "Can I get you anything to drink? I got some Earth sodas if you want,"

Twilight smiled at Salem's kindness.

"No, I'm good Salem it's just-" Twilight noticed her friends all in the room and the projected paused movie. "Oh hey guys you're already here,"

"What's going on Twilight?" Sunset asked while Rainbow Dash shot up.

"Did something happen Twilight? Wait! Is Sombra back!"

"What?! No. Nothing extreme... well that extreme at least," Twilight sighed in turning to Salem. "It's kinda about you,"

"Me?" Salem pointed to himself.

Twilight nodded.

"The some of the nobles. They think you're a threat Salem and they are trying to get rid of you,"
> Part 18
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Twilight you can't be serious after everything he did!" Rainbow shot up not believing what her friend had just said.

"Look I know Rainbow but the nobility has concerns about Salem's presence here in Equestria they were going to banish him but luckily a compromise was formed for Salem to be TEMPAROY leave Cantorlot and not return until the nobility has come to the conclusion that Salem is truly not a threat," Twilight told her rainbow maned friend.

"With all due respect Twilight that's a bunch of bull-"

"RAINBOW!" Rarity shouted cutting off Rainbow from cursing.

"What!?" Rainbow Dash turned to her friend. "This is unfair! Why is he getting punished for saving our flanks and the princesses!"

"I do agree I find this matter... unsettling we shouldn't turn to using such vulgar language darling it's simply not proper," Rarity pointed out.

Rainbow huffed while crossing her arms.

"It's not right,"

"I agree sugar cube and besides where is Salem supposed to go? He's got nowhere to call his home I mean not many folks will take him in and we all know it," Applejack stated while turning to Salem. "No offense partner,"

Salem nodded.

"It's fine I get it. I ain't the most handsome devil to look at," Salem half-joked while he stared at his helmet sitting next to him on the desk, closing his eyes while his other silently hugged him from behind knowing he needed it. 

"Actually I was going to ask you Salem if you wanted to stay at one of my guest rooms in Ponyville. It's not as nice here but I it a start," Twilight asked in which Salem looked over to her.

"Ponyville? Are you sure?" Salem asked in which Twilight nodded with a smile.

"Yeah. Despite it's name ponyville has recently become more of a melting pot for ALL species. Dragons, hippogryphs, and even a few diamond dogs," Twilight said almost with a sound of pride in her voice. "We even have a school there that teaches all races... sure it's kinda being rebuilt after the attack right now but still I'm sure you'll like it here a whole lot better than here,"

"Good thinking Twilight! I can finally throw you that party I was talking about when we first met!" Pinkie bounced up her joyful tone returning back to her at the idea.

Salem looked away from the group in thought, he then brought his attention to Titus who stood next to him like a statue in which the marine looked down at him. The two didn't need not speak as the Ultramarine nodded his head causing the Chimera to smile, turning to his ever-faithful companion at his shoulder the evolved anomaly gave her hoist a thumbs up.

"It would be rude to turn down such an offer. We would be honored to take your offer Twilight," This caused the group to cheer at his answer while Twilight clapped her hands.

"What are friends for Salem?" Her words caused the Chimera to smile even wider at her response.

'Friends...'





(Luna's room)

The princess of the night sat on her stool in thought her right leg bouncing up and down while sitting in front of her mirror, holding her forehead Luna hissed slamming her arm down on the make-up desk.

"Damn Softskined Entitled Children!" Luna almost used her royal Canterlot voice at her venting in rage although the months of her controlling her temper prevented her from going so loose.

Taking a breath the night princess looked down at the small piece of metal in front of her, reaching for it she picked it up and looked at the piece that followed her from Ark. She didn't know how this 'eye' fell into her pocket while she and Salem explored the Ark nor she knew why she hadn't returned it. The broken metal eye fascinated her in a way she didn't know but as she looked at it now she couldn't help but feel remorseful.

All that horror... all that pain... all that death... from an echo of a fallen hope.

An entire species...

No.

An entire world! 

Everything from every man, woman, child, animal, and planet turned into a eldrich horror by the very thing that gave them life.

The sun.

And to think Salem had survived such an ordeal even if it was for a brief time and not only that but come into Equis where he saved countless lives after such an atrocity he faced.

Not because he needed to.

But he wanted to.

Now they wanted him to burn because he chose to save them.

Luna softly put the eye down on the table she hung her head, she didn't know what to do...

"Ungrateful,"

Snapping up she looked behind her at the sound of the whisper but no one was there, however, she felt a familiar voice. 

Turning back to the mirror Luna froze at seeing her face... her OTHER face.

"Suprised to see me?" Nightmare moon asked causing the night princess to turn away from the mirror

"Your not real," Luna scoffed.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend? Or well are we friends or are we sisters? We are the same pony after all,"

"We are not the same!" Luna snapped at her other side who smiled at her.

"Are you certain of that?"

"Begone,"

"Now. Now. Let's not get upset we already have been. Hate to have us have a heart attack from the stress. Besides, I'm not here to mock us,"

Luna looked at her reflection who pieced up the mirror image of the metal eye.

"He is quite the ever-surprising wonder isn't he?" Nightmare Moon announced. "That Salem if he was in the lunar guard back when the midknight order was still around we would have knighted him wouldn't we?"

The princess didn't say anything to her other while the dark half simply chuckled at Luna's silence.

"I'll take that as a yes," Placing down the eye nightmare hummed. "Although maybe you still should,"

Looking at the mirror this time Luna's brow raised.

"It is up to you after all... I mean I would make him a hero but then again I would also order those nobles to be stripped of their titles after having them flogged and impaled on our doorstep like we did with all those who offended us so long ago," Nightmare chuckled while Luna continued to glare at herself. "You let them walk right over you. You know that? Now Salem someone who should be praised and rewarded will be banished as we were or perhaps a far worse fate will soon befall him,"

Not saying a word Luna looked at her reflection again.

"Then again why didn't Celestia try and defend him? Feels to me that she might think the same thing as those grateful children," Nightmare brought up. "Tell me would she do the same as Earth's own sun did to the humans? She did bring up the fact of humanity's capacity for war when the two of you returned from Earth after exploring the human world for the first time,"

"She would never betray Salem like that,"

"Oh, would she? Like she did us?"

"Stop right there! We betrayed her! We betrayed all of Equestria over jealously!" Luna shouted. "And for that, we were punished and rightful so because I listen to you!"

"We?"

"You know what I mean,"

"Of course... however we are not talking about us. We are talking about him,"

"Salem will have no harm come to him. He will be fine in ponyville until the decision is made to lift his ban on Canterlot,"

"Oh and when will this decision be made?"

"Soon,"

"Perhaps... but what happens when the decision is not to lift his ban perhaps they seek to exile him or execute him are you willing to take that chance? He is our friend,"

"HE IS MY FRIEND!" Luna roared slamming both hands down on the table, she snarled at the imagine who remained to smile at her.

"But of course... I'm simply looking out for your potential consort," Luna blushed slightly at the mention but still retained her glare.  "Really? Think I wouldn't notice? I'm you... but if you wish to have these nobles have their way so be it I will not stop you after all it is all your choice,"

Luna slowly turned away from her other side.

"When his head rolls at your feet don't say I didn't warn you,"

Snapping to look up at Nightmare Moon only to see herself as she is now, looking down at the eye Luna sighed
holding her face in her hands the night princess leaned forward on the table. Sitting there she shivered slightly feeling a sudden cold rush over her causing her to get up and close the window to her personal bed chamber. As she did so Luna looked down at the train station seeing familiar figures in the distance as she held the window frame with one hand.

"Stay safe dear Salem,"

While she watched her friends depart onto the train Luna didn't notice a dark spot form on her ceiling as a tendril-like hand snaked out followed by a twisted face. It stared at her for a moment before crawling back into the spot giving a low wailing sound almost like a whisper. 

"MMMmmmMMAaARRRrrriiIIIIeeeEDed onnNNNnnnNn AaaaaA wWwWWWEeeeEEEedDDDnEsDDDDAyyY,"





(Friendship Express, Cargo cart)

Titus sat with a book in hand about this world's history or the history of these equine xenos known as 'ponies' Some of the parts he read made him nearly want to throw the book through the train cart. Yet he pressed on reading about these creatures despite his original first impression, they were a kind race and seemed friendly however with the Inquisitor being 'temporarily banned' from their capital his suspicions of these creatures grew slightly.

He stayed his tongue when the xeno 'Twilight' informed Salem of this development, he was close to disobeying Salem's orders he stayed his hand and followed the inquisitor's orders to the letter. However, these ungrateful Xenos have unknowingly allowed him to understand their political structure.

Like all ultramarines they followed in the footsteps of their gene-father Roboute Guilliman in the field of politics, many Astartes would question this while others like the salamanders would understand in following in their father's footsteps.

While thinking of a thousand plans to convince the Xenos' political council perhaps, the marine attention was grabbed by the sound of Salem entering the cargo cart with something in hand.

"Inquisitor, is everything alright?" Titus asked to which Salem shook his bare head.

"Nothing to worry about Lieunent just wanted to see if you wish to share a drink among friends," Salem held up his hand revealing a bottle to the marine. "A little 'requisition' from the dining cart,"

Titus couldn't help but smile under his helm, he couldn't recall the last time he had a drink of Amasec or Ultmar wine. He watched Salem put three glasses on the crate between him and Titus where the space marine removed his helm.

"Hope you don't mind me picking Vodka," 

"Not at all Salem," Titus remarked causing the Chimera to match his smile.

Filling the glasses Titus watched as Salem took one while another disappeared, lady Malo never ceased to amaze the Astartes even if she wasn't a human. It took Titus a while to understand the species that was 'SCP-1471-A' where they would be faithful companions not seeking anything but to aid their human hoists. Even if they were not 'abhumans' the brothers and sisters of Lady Malo were a race that Titus respected for their loyalty to humanity.

"To Earth and those who were lost," Salem raised his glass up, Titus picked up the small glass in his massive hand and lifted it up to meet Salem's glass.

"Numquam oblivione delebitur," Titus said in high gothic while Salem nodded while the trio took the shot.

Placing his glass down Salem looked up at Titus.

"Now how about we finish that game, my friend?"
> -ACTION/Split{2=RED/BLUE] CHOICE:BLUE-
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------








(Connorcooper: Let me break for a moment for a disclaimer there is some... rather a scene in this if that has a lot of gore descriptions just wanted to give a quick warning before we start)





(ERROR CODE>>>>>>5>>>>>>6>>>>4>1>>)







"Keep moving!" Sunset ordered while two other ponies ran behind her in the ditch as the rain poured down ontop of their heads.

Sunset stopped hiding behind a large piece of rubble that was once a building, the two ponies echoed her action while she carefully leaned forward to peek behind. Sure enough, there was a patrol right in the way of the main route back to their hideout, the towering form of the crystal guard looked around. At one point were ponies, but they had been twisted by the magic of King Sombra and ripped apart only to be put back together by him.

The green-eyed helms looked for anyone who wasn't serving the empire, Sunset slowly reached for her sidearm as one of the crystal guards looked in their direction. However the attention of the guard was taken by the sound of a pony yelling, the yellow pony watched as a small group of pony survivors was thrown forward. These guards spoke in a strange language that sounded like jumbled radio chatter however only the guards could understand it.

"Ma'am we gotta help them," One of the ponies behind her spoke up as Sunset held out her hand and shook her head.

"No... it's too late for them," Sunset whispered back with her hand out as the dark crystal guard began to separate the group.

The trio in hiding watched as a transport craft roared overhead to where the patrol and captured survivors were, sunset could only watch as the group cried out as they were separated while the crystal guard put collars around the necks of those who were being thrown into the transport. As they filled the transport the leading crystal guard spoke in that disordered language and pointed to the ponies they didn't take.

It didn't take a genius to what he ordered, she had seen this more times than she liked.

The wounded and elderly ponies that weren't taken were then opened fire upon by their captors, one of the ponies behind her raised his rifle but Sunset grabbed the barrel of his weapon and shook her head. While she stared at the young pony in front of her she used a hand signal to order them to take the alternate route to the hideout in which they hesitantly nodded and began to crawl beyond the sight of the dark-armored creatures.

Following behind she gave one last look as the crystal guard began to cut into the bodies of the dead to harvest them, getting down she followed after her troop. Going through an old sewer tunnel the three ponies crawled through Faust knows what and ended up in the main waste system, hopping down on the concrete path. The two ponies under her command waited for her while she moved a piece of metal to cover the hole in which they came through.

"Ma'am?" Sunset turned from her task to the pony.

"What is it Blaze?" Sunset asked.

"Was there no way we could have helped that group?"

Sunset sighed while she looked up at the young stallion.

"There wasn't anyway. Too many guards. Maybe if there was one or two but a whole squad and the fact they were extremely close to base?" Sunset shook her head. "They were already dead before we even got here. At least they didn't run into one of the failed,"

As Sunset said the other of the ponies shivered grabbing his arms at the mention of those things.

"Come on enough messing around we're behind as is," Sunset ordered while the two ponies followed after her.

The sewer system was a maze but luckily the three had done this song and dance over a hundred times to the point where they could do this with their eyes closed. Sunset knocked on the door to the hideout in a pacific pattern in which a small eye slot was pulled back and one look from the pony behind it and it was closed. Sunset looked behind the trio as the door was unlocked and the familiar face of Big Mac greeted them, he gestured with his head to come in. Not without a second though the three rushed in as the giant pony shut the door and locked it back up.

Sunset was greeted by the sight of other survivors all crapped up in such a small place for a large amount of ponies here, despite this they were all working. Some worked on weapons, while others tended to the wounded, and others were fixing salvaged equipment.

Blaze and his comrade were dismissed by Sunset to get rest, while they went to drop off their findings and get some food sunset took off her bag and walked over to the command chamber. The sound of buzzing radio chatter greeted her while Vinyl nodded at her while the former DJ was listening to comm chatter. Going over to the map table, Sunset put down her bag in front of the ponies who were discussing a plan, Rainbow Dash gave a smile upon seeing her friend.

"You got the package?" Sunset nodded pulling the large canister from her bag and rolling it over to the one-winged pony.

Stopping it she held the canister in her hands and opened it pulling out a piece of yellow paper and putting it down before the group. The paper had a jumbled mess of letters but this was until Starburst leaned in his horn glowed with a revealing spell as the paper while some leaders faded and were rearranged into a code.

Looking over the words Rainbow Dash cursed while Sunset looked up from the coded page.

"What is it Rainbow?" The pony asked her friend and the remaining element of harmony sighed.

"You are aware that the Eastern hideout was compromised not so long ago Sunset," Rainbow Dash asked to which Sunset nodded. "So you heard the rumors that Sombra's favorite enforcer had created a new biological weapon,"

"Yes," Sunset nodded.

"This confirms the rumors to be true... the Eastern hideout was grounds for this new weapon to be tested," Rainbow pointed to the piece of paper. "An entire hideout converted in minutes,"

Sunset stared down at the map where the Eastern hideout once was, giving a sigh Rainbow looked back up to sunset with a worried look on her face.

"You know what this means Sunset," Looking at her oldest friend, Sunset nodded. "Look Sunset I know you just got back but you know we need to act quickly before this weapon is completed,"

"No one is going to volunteer for this Rainbow..."

"I know but we only have a short amount of time and I didn't wish to burn this bridge. If he is able to finish this weapon then this war is all but over and all those lives would have been wasted for nothing," Rainbow remarked. "Our family... our friends," 

"Rainbow... ma'am," Sunburst held Rainbow Dash's shoulder.

"I'm fine," Pushing Sunburst's hand off the former daredevil looked up at Sunset. "Think you can handle this Sunset?"

Sunset shrugged.

"Out of the frying pan..."





'...and into the fire'

Ever since Sombra's return he had crushed the kingdom that Princess Cadance had built and with the help of his enforcer, the two built a new kingdom on top of the remnants of the old one. That was before Sombra with his newfound ally created an army that had conquered the entire world in the span of a few hours, with thousands if not millions dead in the early hours of a single day.

Sombra unleashed horrors onto the world without a second thought leaving the only true safe place to be for those who survived the world's shortest war would be in the very heart of Sombra's empire. Sunset recalled these past few months as the remaining surviving ponies had created an entire tunnel system using the sewer system that was below the remains of the old Crystal Empire. However, during the expansion of the tunnel system, a group of them unknowingly mined their way into the Crystal Palace's wine cellar.

Ever since this happened there had been debate about using the tunnel to use it and assassinate Sombra and his Enforcer, yet with the few numbers they had along with the fact that Sombra was far too powerful for any pony to match in magical power. Not to mention the enforcer, Sunset had heard such horrible rumors about Sombra's champion experimenting on ponies, dragons, and many other species.

None of them were pretty but here they were in a desperate effort to stop all this now, after countless months of suffering they were going to have payback. Sunset lifted the cover to tunnel slightly to look not spotting any guards roaming the wine cellar, pulling the cover she and a handful of her fellow survivors crawled out all with a bag full of explosives. This mission wasn't going to cost them their lives but the entire stock of their explosive supply if they failed today but high risk meant high reward.

The highest reward: Freedom.

"Remember stay out of sight don't get caught and if you know you about to I don't need to tell you what you need to do now do I?" The ponies shook their head to which she gave a satisfied nod.

"Good, now then Sandbar you take your team and have the south wing. Trixie you take yours to the west wing. The rest of you are with me, we are dealing with center mass," The group nodded while she held up her watch. "Set your watches for twenty minutes and if you are not here we will leave without you and you'll get a very close seat to the fireworks,"

"Ready? Sync,"

Pressing the button to start the alarm the group dashed forward as they left the wine cellar and into the kitchen where yet again no guards waited for them. Not surprising since Sombra's personal chiefs were most likely already asleep which made this even better, though the kitchen they entered the dining hall and into the throne room. Sunset had been in the crystal palace long before Sombra's second return and the last time she was here it didn't have these... decorations.

The crystal throne had been twisted by Sombra's dark magics but that wasn't what caused her unease, for there were statues.

At least she hoped they were statues.

Even though these statues were the twisted mangled bodies of her friends, froze screams in silence as countless crystal spikes emerged from their chests,  and their limbs shattered into pointed ends.

Who was Sunset kidding they were her friends or at the very least what was left of them.

Sunset held her muzzle as she could feel tears well up in her eyes at the sight of Twilight's remains with a look of horror on her face as she held her broken arms up in a futile attempt to protect herself. She shook her head, there was no time to mourn for their dead friends now the mission wasn't going to stop for them.

Splitting up at the throne room, Sunset, and her team exited the place that once held hope in it's very wall to venture deeper into the lion's den.

Not noticing the remains of Twilight turning it's head to where Sunset left.





"Ma'am I don't like this," Blaze whispered while Sunset planted one of their explosives behind a support beam. "It doesn't feel right,"

The young stallion's eyes darted across the empty halls.

"Ja, I agree with the lad. This doesn't feel right where are all the guards?" Task Mask asked while other members of their team took a second to register the former mask maker's words.

Sunset couldn't shake the feeling as she waved to the group.

"We all know this could be a one-way trip. If this is a trap let's go out while doing as much damage as we can," Sunset ordered to which the uneasy troops followed her orders.

Checking her watch they had fifteen minutes.

Hauling ass they rush down the halls ready for anything yet still none of the corrupted crystal guards were to be seen, the group went deeper down the massive hallways. Taking a turn the group came to a hall with many doors, if Sunset could remember correctly this was once the guest chambers of the palace.

However, she doubted Sombra had any willing guests to fill these chambers...

She was half tempted to try and steal one of the beds but shook the thought as her troops ran to the supports to place more explosives. While she planted one of her last few explosives her attention was grabbed by a sound, her team must have heard it for they stopped to turn where they heard the sound.

A door...

At the very end of the haul was a door where they heard the sound, Sunset wouldn't lie as she couldn't help but feel something was off about that sound however she and the rest of her team went to the door. Every part of her screamed at her not to open it but her curiosity kept pushing her as she held the door handle and slowly pushed in letting the light within pour out into the dark hallway.

The moment she saw what was inside she wanted to turn away...

But she couldn't.

She knew that Sombra's enforcer had a lab of some kind within the crystal palace but she hoped to never see it, yet here she was now staring down at the literal definition of suffering. Ponies, Hippogriffs, Abyssinians, and every other species of Equis were in this very chamber all having their entire bodies desecrated and tarnished by medical equipment turned into tools of torture.

Bodies were taken apart and ripped open with strange metal equipment being stuffed into them.

In one corner was a pony his limbs removed from his body along with his head and spine, however, tubes and wires connected the pony's removed body parts to it's torso moved as if the pony was still breathing. Another corner was missing the entire right side of her limbs and her beak was all replaced by a mess of tubing that pumped a strange liquid into the griffin Sunset noticed the griffin's left claw cleaned the chair she was strapped to.

Other flayed displays litter the room, a large hole in the center of the room held a pool of a dark red liquid with pieces of flesh and bone floating to the top.  Only heaven knew how deep that pit was and how many bodies filled it, Sunset backed up not realizing she had entered the room.

Sunset's eyes darted to a diamond dog having it's body stitched with three others in what seemed like a cruel attempt to copy Cerberus, while she looked at large tank vats filled with an orange liquid and the mangled flesh of what was once a living body with black crystals and metal growing from the masses. Snapping out of her trance Sunset felt her back hit something causing the unicorn to turn behind her to look upon a massive cage that held no light within.

"Can't stop... wouldn't stop," A deep voice echoed from the cage. "I need to... I need to... I want to- AHHHHHHH!"

The voice screamed as Sunset shivered at the sound of the voice, however, she couldn't help but feel sorry for this creature that was suffering before her. Slowly she walked forward to the charge and peaked in giving a dim light spell to see what as within the cage before.

"This is not life... not life... not life!"

Sunset gave a silent gasp at what she saw, for there in the room was a massive metal creature made of what could best be described as contorted metal and stretched flesh. It wasn't even standing in it's cage only sitting on it's clawed legs, the creature had its back to her not noticing the spell that allowed her to see it.

"Terria! TERRIA! I HAVE FAILED! FAILED! FAILEEEEEEED!"  The creature cried out holding what she assumed was it's head over what she could guess was a hunch caused by whatever experiments were performed on it. "I must get out! I must get out! I must ki-"

"Ma'am we need to go," Blaze grabbed her shoulder with a whisper but this caught the creature's attention as it stopped crying out.

The two ponies noticed this as the creature slowly turned it's large form to them, Sunset's eyes widened as she saw the creature's 'face' and when she did her heart skipped a beat. The soulless eyes of the twisted helmet stared down at her, while she and her comrade attempted to run upon recognizing the beast within.

The hellbane

"MUST KILL!" The giant creature burst through the bars of it's cage.

Free from it's confinement Sunset and Blaze narrowly dodged a swing of the enforcer's hellish creation, snatching at Task Mask in which he held the artist in one of the beast's massive metal claws and flung him around. While the hellbane threw Task Mask about the creature fired wildly burning spikes from it's other claw toward the other soldiers not caring if it hit any of the still-living subjects of it's master. 

Sunset grabbed Blaze's arm and the two ran forward as the Hellbane ripped through the remaining member's of Sunset's team. Rushing forward while clenching the young stallion's arm the two ran down the hallway of the crystal palace with the giant metal beast running after them.

"COME BACK! COME BACK! NEED MORE! I NEED MORE BLOOD!"  Roaring those words, the hellbane slammed the still-living task mask into a wall while still running.

The hellbane used the body of the pony like a toddler running down the wall with a paintbrush.

Quickly the two ran into a spiral staircase with the hellbane slamming itself arm first into the doorway that was too small for it's large size.

"BUCK!BUCK!BUCK!BUCK!" Blaze cursed as the creature fired hot spikes wildly from it's spot luckily not being able to hit them, rushing down the stairs Sunset looked at her watch.

Five minutes.

"COME ON BLAZE WERE ALMOST THERE!" Sunset shouted not able to hide her terror from what was happening.

"RAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Her heart pumping wildly Sunset kept running as the hellbane's roar echoed through the staircase as they entered the main hallway to the throne room. Not stopping for a moment the two survivors rushed down the hallway and rammed into the doors into the throne room expecting to regroup with the remaining team.

Like another stroke of bad luck Sunset and Blaze ran into something just as bad if not worse than the hellbane.

The broken petrified remains of her friends from before stood over the lashed remains of the other teams dripping with fresh blood from their pointed sharp limbs. Their entrance had not gone unnoticed as the creatures snapped towards them with the looks of frozen horror they still had on their faces. Unnaturally twitching the remains stared at the two before the remains of Cadance screamed like a banshee and the crystal remains rushed at them on all fours.

Rushing wildly at them Sunset and Blaze bolted for the door to the dining room, it was so close the moment sunset reached for the door know she felt Blaze's arm go limp. Turning her head behind her she stared down at the severed limb of the young stallion in her grasp. Shaking she attempted to look up at what had happened to the young pony but was tackled into the dining room through the doors by Twilight's remains. She didn't have a chance to go for her weapon as the creature once known as Twilight raised back her pointed limb and shot it forward at Sunset's face.

"Stop," A voice boomed causing the creature to freeze in place like it was a statue only an inch away from stabbing her left eye.

Staring at the remains of her friend who was about to kill her Sunset could hear heavy footsteps and a tapping coming towards her.

Her heart still racing and her lungs burning she attempted to look up.

However, she could only see a single pair of clawed metal boots walking toward her.

"You earlier than expected," A voice spoke to her in an amused tone. "Usually you come in the late morning,"

With the sound of a heavy tap, the creature on top of Sunset quickly crawled off of her as Sunset's 'savior' walked over to her. She then saw the being who loomed over her, none other than Sombra's enforcer, donned in his black armor and his countless 'trophies'.

Salem...

Holding a cane in his hands, Salem stared down at Sunset though his horned helmet.

"Whatever will I do with you sunset my old friend,"

Quickly stumbling to her feet Sunset walked back with her handgun out firing wildly at Salem who only stared at her while the bullets fired didn't seem to harm him. Tilting his head at her Sunset attempted to reload her weapon but suddenly felt a sharp pain hit her wrists, blood was spit at her feet followed by both her hands.

Looking at the bloody stumps Salem gave a chuckle while turning to an empty space.

"You know that toy wouldn't harm me, Malo," Reaching out Salem his hand on something invisible to the pony while he looked to Sunset who whined at the loss of her hands. "Quit your winning your not a filly anymore Sunset,"

Salem reached for her however the dining room was crashed into by the hellbane.

"KILL! KILL! KILL-!" The enforcer tapped his cane on the chest of the hellbane causing electricity to roar through the giant as it fell onto the floor not moving.

"Damn it Titus you know it's rude to interrupt to burst into a room like that," Salem scolded the monster as if it was a child however Salem turned back to Sunset. "Now then were where we? Ah! Yes,"

Sunset backed herself into a wall trying to use her arms to shield herself from Salem's wraith.

"No! Stay away!" 

"Sunset I'm not going to hurt you my friend," Salem said with a friendly tone in his voice while reaching for her.

"We are not friends!"

"Sunset you wound me..."

Sunset looked down at her watch and saw it.

Five seconds...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

With that sunset closed her eyes as she could hear the explosions and flames blast around her.

Followed by the discharge of a deafening roar taking her, Salem, and the monsters.

Then came the silence.

...

...

...

"Well played," Sunset opened her eyes to Salem's voice, as she did so her body screamed at her with pain filling every vein in her body and burning every nerve. "I'll be honest you always get me with the whole blowing of the palace bit. I'll give you that,"

Sunset's eyes watered while she gave a muffled scream, she could barely make out what was happening around her while her body was bound to a large slab with small creatures biting into her making the pain worse. Salem looked at her behind his helmet as his stitched cloak covered most of his form save for his helm as he spoke to her like someone would do with a friend.

"You know- Ach... hold on man I forgot how long it's been since I was last in this damn form," Reaching for his helmet Sunset watched in horror as a clawed hand emerged from Salem's cloak, unlike the armored hand that he hands moments ago. 

The red and black scaly flesh grabbed his helmet but unlike a solid metal, Salem ripped the helm from his face as if it was sinew, revealing an eyeless muzzled face with a sharp smile and twisted horns coming from his head. Clenching his clawed hand Salem 'looked' up at Sunset who stared down at him horrorified.

"That's better good to be back in the form father had intended for me,"
 The creature that was Salem said in a twisted voice. "I had fun in our little game Sunset just like in the old days right? Back when Sombra thought he was in control,"

Laughing cruelly Sunset looked around noticing others like herself trapped in similar states.

"Brother, are you done yet? Father is having us wait for you," Salem's smile turns into that of annoyance.

"By the pit... I'm coming you oversize gecko," Salem shook his head while turning back to Sunset. "Sorry, I gotta go Sunset, the old man calling in a rain check perhapsnext time we can do another matrix game themed around zombies wouldn't that be fun?"

Salem turned to leave Sunset along with the countless other equestrians that he had picked for his collection, walking over to the giant creature who stared down at him with annoyance. The former Chimera smiled up at his fellow kin causing his sister to glare at him.

"Oh come on you're just jealous dad allows me to keep some for myself," Salem stated causing the reptilian to hiss.

"The only reason Father accepted you as one of us is because of what you did to that disgusting body of yours,"

"Are you sure that is the only reason? I mean I did give him this universe too soooo... sounds to me your jealous six-ei-,"

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT!"

"Childern..."

Both stopped at the voice that spoke.

Salem and his kin bowed their heads to the being before them while the king red-shifted in his throne.

"Son don't antagonize your sister and daughter don't grow envious of your brother's accomplishments,"

With a nod, the two rose up while the sister glared at Salem whose smile returned.

"Salem I saved you a seat..."

Taking his seat Salem sat down with a smile on his face while Malo his ever-loyal companion sat on his lap as the king raised to his kingdom of crimson.

"Sons, Daughters, Subjects, let us feast!"

With those words, the entire table reached for the countless souls of Equis trapped on the cruel table.
> -ACTION!ERROR-EXTRA{GREEN+RED}/DATA RELIC EXTENDED!-
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heavy footsteps echoed through the halls of the corridor while the large Astarte passed by two auxiliary who were talking about the new rations but snapped to attention making the symbol Aquila with their hands over their hearts.

The black armored marine took a second and gave a nod before proceeding down the metal hall.

His massive tactical dreadnought plate would have been too much for the halls of a normal ship but in this one, he had so much room he could have his wings almost unfurled and still have room. Stopping at his destination he looked at the two drones standing at attention guarding the door to the room, gifts from the mechanical cult to defend their inquisitor. However, unlike the standard robots, these possessed a skull-like faceplate that echoed the helmet of the inquisitor with black sharp armor.

They didn't bother to move their heads, they knew it was him, however, the servo-skull built into the door had it's bionic eye scan him. After it did it's work the skull moved into the door before opening said door to allow the marine entrance into the room, stepping into the dark chamber. It barely had any light save for a few hundred candles burning in slots on the walls and a single fireplace. The Astartes didn't use his helm's scanners for he has been in here so many times that he could walk in here with his eyes closed and know where everything is without damaging anything within this room. 

"Inquisitor," The marine spoke as he stopped by a chair that was sitting right in front of the only brightest light source in the room.

"Spike... You don't need to be so formal with me in here dude,"

Spike huffed under his helmet as he walked over past the chair where Salem sitting, his unnatural golden eyes staring at the fire in front of him.

"Why did you summon me? Is there a reason for this meeting?"

"Is there any reason I need to see my friend?" Spike shifted in place at the word Salem called him.

"Inquisitor,"

"Spike... come on don't make me order you,"

"Fine. Salem. Why am I here?"

"Well? Titus is on the legion destroyer hunting some black legionaries trying to raid one of our craftworld allies, Sunset is currently dealing with that rogue trader problem, and Oliver is tracking down that damn clown," Salem responded. "I just want to speak with something,"

"So what? You have Malo to keep you company. Why do you have you pulled me from my duties?"

"Your duties? Since when is playing regicide a part of your duties? Or since when is writing poetry for Rarity also a part of your duties?"

Spike froze as he gave an uncharacteristic groan of an Astartes.

"Alright fine. What do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing much just some stuff from the old days," This was followed by something that caught Spike's attention.

A bottle of amnesic...





"I remember that! That was after Dash crashed though the window with half of the Apple family's barn still tied to her back!" Spike roared in laughter his large armored form sitting across from Salem while the Inquisitor held a smile as well.

Slamming his fist on the table from how hard he was laughing Salem looked up at Spike.

"Oh! Then there was that one time when Discord color-swapped Titus' armor after he called him a 'mixed match cretin' and Titus threw half the damned everfree forest at him to change his colors back!" Salem bellowed.

"Yeah that was before... before..." Spike smile slowly faded causing Salem's to follow.

"Crap. Sorry Spike I didn't mean to bring that up,"

Spike shook his head while he sat across from Salem.

"It's fine Salem. Just glad to have those memories before what happened," Spike answered grabbing his oversized glass and taking a drink leaving the two back in silence.

Salem fidgeted telling the aggmented dragon that Malo had done something to the Chimera who smiled.

"I'm getting there," Salem spoke with a smile. "Spike?"

"Yes?"

"You want to know something funny?" Salem asked to which Spike smiled.

"Back on Equis there was this holiday in the winter cycle, right? Can you recall its name for me? I can't seem to remember it's name right,"

"You mean hearth's warming eve?" Answered while Salem was about to take a sip from his drink.

"Yes! That the one!" Salem snapped his armored fingers. "It was very similar to this holiday back on my Earth called 'Chrismas' you be surprised how both are similar however it was stared for a very different reason than Equis' own holiday,"

"Oh? How so,"

"It was to celebrate the birth of a savior who would save humanity from their sins and through the years it had grown into a world wide holiday where it was to be a day where families would come together to celebrate," Salem answered holding a glass. "Even had a myth of a man in a red suit giving holiday presents to children who where nice but gave coal to children who were naughty,"

Spike lowered his drink at that.

"Why coal? Wouldn't that be more expensive than a simple play thing?" 

"I don't think that was the point Spike... however there were some anomalies that the foundation knew of that were a twisted mockery of that holiday. An immortal drunk, A living gingerbread village, a dark spirit that would take children away turning them into slave then toys once they were used up, and a town that celebrated it none stop throughout the entire year capturing those who didn't have any 'proper holiday spirit' almost something that she would create,"

"I almost forgotten about those creatures from that the foundation had tried to hold back,"

"However their were a few good ones,"

"What you mean?" Spike asked while he poured himself another drink.

"Remember that witch child?"

"Somewhat yes,"

"Well, she made that myth of a man who gave toys to children into a real man. Last I heard he even started to help the foundation fight back against any 'holiday' based creatures," Salem said with a smile.

"I feel this isn't the reason why you brought this holiday up," Spike pointed out.

"That's true,"

"Well you see today if you have forgotten is Sanguinala," Spike watched as Salem lifted a book to the dragon with a hardened cover and hardened page protector to protect the book from anything that could damage the pages within. "Happy holidays old friend,"

Hesitantly Spike took the hardened book and upon releasing the lock and opening the serious-looking cause the dragon smiled.

"After so many years you finally gave me the full copy," Spike answered.

"It's not the original copy I possess but yes however that wasn't the hard part of this little deal. It was the case you have no idea how long it took me to make that cover or how expensive the material it was to get it," Salem responded while Spike gently flipped a page within the hardened case. "That case might even survive blows that your armor cannot and It can only open to your touch or mine,"

Spike's eyes turned from the colorful imagines from the pages to Salem.

"Thank you my friend. But I haven't got anything for you?"

"Well sharing a drink with me is all that I wanted from you brother,"

Shutting the graphic novel Spike this time poured Salem a drink, as the Chimera took it Spike raised his glass to the Terrian who met his raise with one of his own.

"Happy Hearth Warming eve brother,"

"Merry Christmas little brother,"