What Does a Hero Truly Need? Vol. 2: A Dire Need of Heroes

What does a Hero Truly Need? Vol. 2

                                                                Original Idea and Story By: Zelkova48

                                                                         Current Story By: Deverer

                                                                   Chapter 2: The Lightning Revenant

The light in Razor's vision faded soon after the sensation of wind overpowered his senses. He Craned his neck to look above himself, and was greeted with a vast landscape approaching him, along with clouds rushing past him. As the moments passed on, the clouds seem to darken and become more sporadic in their formation. He relaxed his head slightly and subjected himself to the mercy of the wind.

“I was having so much... fun... too...” he groaned to himself. “I guess I can take a trip back home... rest my head... somehow we're not on the battlegrounds anymore...” he conceded. As he relaxed his whole energy held being, he caught a glimpse of himself. “Wrrrr- huh? What matter of magical input is this?” he asked aloud. Razor looked back up toward the ground, and then to the skies around. “Hmmm, I'm not sure if Visage and the others are with me, but this rewiring of my own familiarity deserves observations; perhaps a new plane or world that even the Underscape has not discovered...” He raised his arms above his head, both pointed toward the ground. “One battle lost only delays their inevitable recollection, let's investigate this place; though it's unfortunate I'll have to brownout myself,” he declared aloud, as electricity began to shoot outward from himself. All around him, electricity began to build up around his entire being, and like a machine in flux it generated it at an alarming rate.

Moments after he made his decision, the the surrounding airspace soon became engulfed in in this very electricity, and then it arced all the way toward the ground below. In that very instant, the space that contained Razor no longer held him. What was left in his wake was a slight vapor trail of energy. On the way down, clouds that were unfortunate to be in the way were dispersed and broken. The biggest tragedy of the ordeal would belong to the grass clearing that Razor was now laying in, the ground charred and his whole being in he very center of it.

“Grounded... oh...” Razor moaned again, looking around at his surroundings. “Damn these... mortal world... insulators...” he trailed off, letting his whole self succumb to an unwanted rest.

Just off of Fluttershy's property, but on the opposite end of where normal visitors would come onto the state, a crowd of pegasi stood facing toward the forest. Rainbow stood at the front of the crowd, facing away from the forest with Fluttershy by her side. Multiple clouds were stationed above, but close enough for one to metaphorically jump up and touch one of them.

“Alright, listen up and listen good!” Rainbow called outward. “We've got ten rainclouds on hand already to help deal with any possible fires. However, just because you don't get a raincloud, doesn't mean you get to slack off! While we are definitely looking for fires, our priorities after that are finding the impact site of the bolt, Only then can we begin to branch off to do what it takes to contain the situation! That includes helping any innocent animals, even though this is the Everfree, and finding anyone that's been injured if there are any. I want every last one of you to also make sure you're with someone else the entire time! Watch each others' backs! Any questions?” The pegasi all either shook their heads in declination or simply remained silent.

“Rainbow...” Fluttershy whispered. “Is... that the royal guard flying in?” She pointed her hoof upward as she asked. Rainbow diverted her attention from the crowd to see a platoon of pegasi royal guards flying inward.

“Yeah... it is,” Rainbow mumbled to herself. As the guards touched down onto the ground, the crowd of civilian pegasi all stepped back to allow the platoon room to stand. A single guard walked up to Rainbow, who gave a salute in response.

“At ease, citizen, are you the one who organized this team?” the guard asked. Rainbow dropped her hoof back onto the ground, and took a short breath before speaking.

“Yeah, I am; I'm captain of the weather team and took it upon myself to organize this operation in dealing with possible fires. We're also going to be on the lookout for any signs of injured.... well, anything; ponies, animals...” She looked down toward the ground as she trailed off. “A zebra... I hope not...” she whispered, before looking back up to the guard. “It's part of my duty to oversee any accidents that happen in the Everfree. My duties also include leading the pegasi during Winter Wrap Up, and helping to keep track of wind patterns in the area.”

“We're here under orders from the princesses to help oversee any and all civilian movements, since you are in fact doing what your regulations call for, we will not interfere. Has Cloudsdale been contacted about the situation?”

“They've been notified.”

“Very good,” he replied, before turning back to his guards. “All troops! Stand ready!” he yelled outward. “Alpha team, head off to the town! Beta team, you're going to help me make sure this weather operation has no hitches!”

“Yes sir!” the platoon yelled backward in sync.

“You have your orders, disperse!” The moment he gave the order, half the standing guards all immediately took flight into the air. The leader guard turned back to Rainbow. “How long until you are moving out?” Rainbow flinched for a moment when he asked.

“Oh! Uh... I think we're just about ready,” she nervously replied, while she stroked one hoof with the other.

“I have an earth pony and unicorn squad on the way as well, but for now; I want you to begin this operation. I'll split off my guards as you are sending off the pegasi. Is this group a mixture of the weather team and volunteers?”

“Yeah, I got as many as I could.”

“My troops should be able to help where needed, we'll be at the ready.” The leader gave a nod and turned to walk back to his troops. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief as he left.

“Sheesh, this just went from hectic to high alert in less than a minute!” she commented.

“I think the princesses are taking the 'never can be too prepared' route this time...” Fluttershy added, Rainbow turned to look to her friend, with a half closed eye and a tilted head. “With all that's happened, I'm surprised that there haven't been royal guardsponies assigned to Ponyville. We've been shown that anyone can commit heinous crimes, but I'm not saying that they're not right! The princesses!” she quickly added. Rainbow looked back to the crowd, and then back to Fluttershy. She stepped toward her friend and wrapped a wing around her.

“You make a good point, Fluttershy,” Rainbow replied, looking into her friend's eyes. “Part of me is hoping that there's nothing out there, a few months ago I would probably being begging for some awesome to show up!” she raised her voice, a smiled and a semi glare following. “But...” She shook her head quickly and removed her wing from around Fluttershy. “Things have changed.”

“They have,” Fluttershy agreed. She hung her head down slightly, her mane falling slightly over her face. “I just hope the best for everyone in the end...” she whispered, before bringing her head back up to Rainbow's level.

“Same here... same here.” Rainbow took a few steps forward toward the crowd. “Alright everyone! Let's get moving! I want you all to either help move those clouds, or get into a search formation! And remember, no one goes off alone! No excuses!” she yelled outward. A roar of cheers followed as the civilian pegasi all began to fly up into the air. Rainbow turned back toward Fluttershy and nodded to her. Fluttershy inhaled quickly and gave a nod back. Both friends primed their wings and lifted off into the air, Rainbow immediately went toward the treeline while Fluttershy followed.

“Beta squad, you have your orders!” the leader called outward.

“Sir!” the guard platoon called outward, followed by them taking off into the sky. Some heading for the clouds, others joining the area where Rainbow and Fluttershy were stationed. The two pegasi looked around at the situation, Fluttershy turned to look back to the forest.

“I hope the lack of smoke so far means there aren't any fires...” Fluttershy said.

“The trees are pretty thick in some areas, and for all we know, the wind could be thinning it out if there is any fire,” Rainbow replied. “That's the only thing consistent about this place, the wind in there is the same as the wind out here. That's the only reason while it's even remotely safe for us to fly over.” Fluttershy gulped at Rainbow 's explanation, but Rainbow herself did not respond to the action, instead she turned back to the crowd.

“Alright, let's move out! Spread out, and alert anyone and everyone if you find anything!” Rainbow yelled aloud. The crowd roared back to her, Rainbow turned to Fluttershy, who nodded back. An individual pair of wings flapping caught Rainbow's attention, as she turned toward it, she found the leader guard flying up toward them.

“We're all in position, lead the team, and I'll lead my guards,” he said.

“Right!” Rainbow answered back. Both her and Fluttershy turned to the Everfree forest, and with a flap of their wings, they began their journey inside.

The Everfree forest, considered to be one of the most dangerous places in Equestria. It's name represents how all aspects of this place run on their own accord, forever broken from tradition from the rest of Equestria.

Many stories have manifested of the origins of this place, but all are just head born stories for the residents of Equestria to try to justify the existence of this area. Some have said this was an uncurable taint left behind by Discord, to make sure he left a literal mark on the world. In that same vain, some have argued maybe perhaps the Everfree was and is a natural prison for the most dangerous beings in Equestria, they argue that the beings have to be put somewhere.

No matter the reason though, the Everfree continues to live on throughout Equestria's history, and has, and probably will keep terrifying Equestria for all time. If it's not the weather doing what it wants, perhaps it will be the animals who have seemingly adopted their own society if they are able to sustain themselves, sometimes that substance is the societal beings of Equestria.

Many have blamed the Everfree itself for many of the disasters of the world, some have called it the birthplace of Nightmare Moon; which is not without merit as it once was the home of the royal sisters, whose reasons for being there in the first place are unknown.

As Rainbow and Fluttershy looked down and around throughout this forest, the fear that they both held for this place chilled them to their cores, neither one spoke as they focused their eyes on their task. The occasional inhalation of air or the sound of wings being broken away from its white noised nature was the only sounds they, and the rest of the pegasi heard. If any of them spoke, it was most likely unheard by ones not in close proximity. The only actions any of the pegasi took was turning their heads back and forth to look around, Rainbow taking the occasional glance backward at the crowd, always staying a variable distance close to them and the clouds.

“Once we find this site, I'm going to break off some of my troops to make a trace backward to where we began, so I can get the rest of the incoming guards with us,” the leader guard spoke aloud, the cold silence being broken. Rainbow turned her head back to acknowledge his words. She began to turn her head back, but quickly retorted the action and turned again to face him.

“Why so many guards though?” she asked. “Seems like we got enough already.”

“I think you've experienced first hand how dangerous Equestria, and by extension the rest of the world can be. Nightmare Moon or Discord by themselves should be proof enough of that,” the guard replied. Rainbow only nodded in response, she looked to Fluttershy and leaned her head toward her.

“I really hope that the guards don't have to get involved...” Rainbow whispered, Fluttershy nodded in response, before her eyes suddenly went wide. “Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked.

“Smoke...” Rainbow's own eyes went wide at her friend's response.

“I smell it too...” They both looked outward, each one darting their heads back and forth. “There!” Rainbow exclaimed, a hoof being pointed outward toward a translucent trail of the offending gas. She turned around, but still continued to fly in the same direction. “Everyone! We've found fire! Let's go!” she yelled back. She looked back to their target, and all pegasi followed suit as they descended toward the treeline.

“There's more... ohmygosh!” Fluttershy pointed a worried hoof all around, more spouts of smoke being the receiving party. Rainbow grunted in frustration.

“Spread out, and take it to them!” Rainbow yelled outward. The pegasi all roared back in response, Rainbow and Fluttershy both slowed down and watched pegasi break off from their formation. Clouds being distributed among each of the newly discovered disasters in motion.

“Do you see any pattern to them? Any circular formation you can make out?” the leader guard asked.

“Not yet, once we take out some of the fires, we can begin ground surveillance,” Rainbow replied, watching as some clouds already delivering the precious water down onto the ground below. “I can see the glow of them now... we'll check out down there once the smoke's cleared.”

“Right,” the guard responded. “I'm going to branch off two of my troops to send for the others,” he added, before flying away from the duo.

“Do you think we'll have enough clouds?” Fluttershy asked. “I know Cloudsdale will have more for us if we need, but I really don't want to it spread anymore while we go to get them.”

“If we get lucky, we may find a stream or something; we could whip up a tornado to funnel the water up no problem!”

“I'd be more than happy to help with that.” A small smile formed as she made the offer, Rainbow shot a toothy smile of her own back.

“Well, let's have a look then.” Rainbow turned back to the other pegasi, and pointed a hoof downward. “Everyone! We're heading down to ground level! If you're not doing anything, then this is something to do! Let's move, and watch out for each other, we're diving right into a smoke filled area!” Rainbow turned back to Fluttershy and gave a nod, the latter of which nodded back. Both of them arced themselves downward into the treeline, along with multiple other pegasi, both civilian and guard following them in.

As Rainbow became the first to touch down onto the ground, she was also the first to bear witness to the damage that had just been dealt to the land. The scars torn into the trees stood out even more than the seemingly unnatural look to even the most misshapen of what has been seen in the Everfree. Blacken trunks, piled up and washed away ash were the main decorations for this welcoming party and first experience of this disaster.

“Ugh... the air here is still awful!” Rainbow groaned.

“I think we'll be fine though,” Fluttershy replied, as she touched down onto the ground. Rainbow turned to acknowledge her. “The worse has passed for this area, as long as we keep our heads relatively low to the ground.” Both of them turned toward the sound of a pegasus landing near them, seeing the leader guard next to them.

“We'll need to keep our heads high in terms of scouting the area, I've also sent for some of the local medical staff from Ponyville,” he said to both of them. “I took the liberty of scanning each of those fires, they seemed to intensify in cluster and size in about the area in front of us.” He pointed forward toward a row of charred trees.

“So... that's where the bolt hit?” Rainbow asked, tilting her head as she did.

“Affirmative, it should be clear now to enter from the ground. The area above is still covered in smoke due to the cross wind. We'll be fine regardless, the smoke is rising well over the treeline, and not really sticking around down here.”

“Alright then!” Rainbow exclaimed, digging one of her back hooves into the ground. “Let's head to the impact site everyone! On the double!” she yelled outward, a fore-hoof of hers pointed out as well. After she made the call, Rainbow broke into a sprint forward, leading the charge. Fluttershy sighed and then inhaled slightly before breaking off into her own sprint, as well as the leader guard.

Rainbow came up to a line of trees, a cut in the line being made by the absence of a tree with the exception of a burnt stump. She looked backward to the other pegasi, and then back to the entrance. A careful hoof was placed onto the stump, and she pushed onto it slightly, with no result. She nodded to herself as she stepped up onto the stump, and saw on the other side the rest of the tree fallen inward toward the other side.

As she hopped over the stump and walked around the tree, she saw that the new area was a clearing, with an irregular star made of ash spread across the whole of it. On the other side of the area, she saw the only fire in the area suddenly become snuffed out. As the light from the fire died out, her attention was immediately set on the marked center of the clearing.

In the center of the clearing, sat something blue in the distance. She turned her head around and saw pegasi filing into the area, the leader guard stepping up to her.

“Hey, do you see that?” she asked. The guard stopped his trot and squinted his eyes, leaning forward as he did so.

“I do... and this warrants investigation,” he responded. “I would suggest keeping your team at a wide berth, we don't know what that is,” he suggested.

“Alright.” Rainbow turned back to the growing crowd of pegasi. “Everyone, spread out and search the area! Leave the center of this place for the guards!” she called outward, before turning back to the leader guard. “I'm checking this out too.”

“I... wouldn't exactly suggest that, but this could possibly be a weather based phenomenon.”

“Alright, cool,” she turned her head again, this time toward Fluttershy as she stepped into the area. “Hey, Fluttershy! Over here!” she called, the yellow pegasus flinching in response.

“Oh! Coming!” Fluttershy called back.

“You're going to bring her along too?” the guard asked. “I really don't want to endanger-”

“No one on my team goes alone, not even me,” Rainbow interrupted.

“Y-you wanted me, Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked, now next to the two. Rainbow turned her head to her friend.

“Yeah, see that in the center of the clearing? We need to check it out, and I want you to come with me,”

“Oh... uh, I don't-” Fluttershy shook her head quickly. “I mean, I'll come with you, sure,” she finished. Rainbow turned her to face the guard again.

“Fine, but I want you two to keep your distance, this is officially a high alert situation unless I say otherwise, got it?” he declared.

“Got it,” Rainbow said right back.

“Troops! Fall in! Proceed with caution!” he yelled outward, one of his fore-hooves going up and over his head to be pointed forward. A moment later, he began to trot forward, Rainbow and Fluttershy following a few steps behind.

“Can you make out what it is yet?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Not yet,” Rainbow whispered back. “It's... unusually bright... blue though, and it's sitting right in the middle of all this,” she commented.

“What in Tartarus is this thing?” the leader guard questioned out loud. “It's... armor?”

“Armor?” Rainbow asked back.

“It's... yeah. Troops! Form a perimeter!” he called outward.

“He's... right, look,” Fluttershy pointed out. Rainbow quickened her pace slightly, nearly passing the leader guard.

“Whoa... that... looks so awesome,” Rainbow commented. The object bore metallic platings ranging from blue to black, the whole piece shaped like a pony.

“Looks like an old Canterlot design of some kind, the helmet has that traditional face guard,” the leader guard added.

“Wait... is it, pulsing?” Rainbow asked, pointed toward the legs of the object. The legs were the lightest of blue shading of the whole piece, but inside moved waves of what looked like energy.

“What the Tartarus...” the leader guard whispered. “Did that bolt deliver this thing? Or did the bolt hit this thing and it absorbed the bolt?” He shook his head, and looked back down at the armor. “The legs look like some kind of clear case that holds that... pulsing stuff. That 'case' part though ends at the hoof pieces and near the shoulders and flanks.”

“If you ask me, the ear pieces look kinda... weird, they're like, bent inward. Plus, that horn is like curled backward, maybe it got bent or something,” Rainbow brought a hoof to her chin. “Do you think one of the princesses made this?” Rainbow asked.

“It could be a possibility, but they were the ones who ordered us to investigate this; I don't think they know about what the lightning was exactly, or what this is. I think though, judging from the size, this could probably fit princess Luna, but not princess Celestia,” he walked around the armor, on the opposite side of Rainbow and Fluttershy. “I see two holes here for what look like possible wings. The tail piece here is weird though... it looks like a torch that's carried for the Equestria Games has been built on.” He leaned in closer toward the armor. “What the?” He stepped over toward the front of the armor, leaning in toward the head piece. “I see more of that energy... stuff, inside the head piece! What kind of armor is this?”

“It's my armor and body, thank you very much.” All beings in the area immediately jumped in fright upon hearing a new voice in the area. All the guards immediately tensed up, the leader guard stepped back slightly and darted his head back and forth.

“Who's there? This is a royal guard operation by order of the princesses themselves! Identify and show yourself!” he yelled outward.

“You're already looking at me, but you're only looking at my discharged self.” The leader guard turned back to the armor, and flinched as he saw the head piece off the ground and 'looking' at him.

“W-what in the-”

“So, there is an explanation for my body being forcefully conducted into an equine body. I can think it over later." The armor shook its head and neck slightly, before looking back to the leader guard. "And since you asked, in a hilariously paranoid fashion that I haven't seen in a while, I am known as Razor.”

“R-Razor?”

“In the plasma,” Razor commented, standing up onto all four legs, and taller than the guard interrogating him. “Hmmm, so this is what it's like to be able to walk, I must say that I still prefer to be on a different level than everyone else in the Underscape.” Razor twirled a hoof in front of himself.

“Underscape?!” Rainbow yelled outward. “Who the heck are you?!” she yelled. Razor turned his head to Rainbow.

“Oh, how I love the excitable ones, they always seem to be so attracted to my whip,” Razor said back.

“Whip? What whip, and who are you?!” Razor only gave a sigh in response.

“The problem with your type is that you're so resistant to new ideas, always lashing out on impulses and trying to attack it in some form.” Razor rolled his head slightly. “I believe a proper introduction is in order then.” Razor ducked downward slightly, spreading his legs a bit. “I am Razor... the Lightning Revenant!” he yelled outward. A second later, everyone flinched as a bright blue light shot outward from Razor. Jaws dropped and eyes widened as two electric, crackling wings sprouted from Razor, and a whip-like tail snaked outward. Razor's whole being lifted into the air, his wings unmoving, and his 'tail' coiled back and forth near him. “Hmmm, now that's more like it,” Razor commented.

“'L-Lightning Revenent?' Wait! You were that bolt of lightning?!” the guard yelled outward.

“Guilty as charged,” Razor replied back, seemingly nonchalantly.

“You've caused damage and chaos to both the land of Equestria and its citizens! By order of the princesses I am officially plac-”

“Yes, yes, yes; my entrances always seem to have trouble integrated into them,” Razor interrupted. “Tell me though, did I actually hurt anyone yet? Judging from the configuration in the air, it seems like I've not even snuffed out a little critter from my light show.”

“W-what? What are you talking about?”

“Hmmm, these introductions always seem to be conducted in the same manner: I show up, everyone freaks out, I explain who I am; what will make this different I wonder?”

“Wait! I got a question!” Rainbow called outward, causing Razor to turned his head toward her. Rainbow flinched for a split second and stepped backward, she turned her head as she bumped into something, seeing that something being Fluttershy ducking behind her.

“A question? To this thing?!” the leader guard protested.

“Cool off your wings for a sec! Something just clicked in my head here, let me see if that 'click' is about this guy here,” she said back.

“Well?” Razor said. “I'm waiting, and I must say that I haven't got all day; I'm here for a reason you know. Well, actually I do have all day, and all of time, but time doesn't keep the Underscape in check.” Rainbow inhaled slightly, and let out a sigh as she took a step forward.

“Are you an Alicorn?” she asked out loud. Silence filled the air aside from the occasional crack in electricity from Razor, who only tilted his head in what looked like thought.

“The short answer? No. However... that term does ring a bell... ah!” he exclaimed. “So this is where those winged and horned equines come from! It's been a short while since I saw them go through the Underscape. Perhaps maybe about three or four thousand years ago.”

“Thousands of years?” the leader guard asked. “Just what are you?”

“Wait, hold up a second!” Rainbow called out to the guard, before turning back to Razor.

“My next question, does the term: 'Mad Moon' mean anything to you?”

“Oh, that thing that's both interrupted and helped my job at the same time? It was such a fireworks show when that thing fell, hehehehe!” he laughed.

“Ma'am? What are you talking about?” the leader guard asked Rainbow, who turned her head to him.

“First off, don't ever call me 'ma'am!' It's Rainbow Dash! Secondly, I think I know who this guy is, I learned a little bit from a friend a while ago. It's just on the tip of my tongue,” she turned her head back to Razor.

“Alright then, do you know who Sven is?” she asked, with a smile and scowl.

Razor chuckled slightly in response, his fore-legs being crossed over his chest. “So, this isn't exactly a new plane or world," he commented. "At any rate, yes, I do know Sven. He always gives me such a good laugh. It's always funny how I turn his own anger fueled strength against him, and it just makes him even angrier! Ahaha! In fact, I remember the last battle with him, he declared that he was going to get a Black King Bar to try to stop me from doing that very thing!” he yelled outward, followed by a series of low chuckles. The leader guard's ears dropped and his head was tilted in confusion in response Razor's answer. “Come to think of it though, I remember him and the rest of his team flying right into two black holes and disappearing. I wonder if I somehow missed them passing through the Narrow Maze...” he trailed off, an armored hoof being placed under his head. "Come to think of it, now I have a reason to prod at those other equines I've seen throughout the years, apparently they've all been scared out of their minds in the maze!"

“Now I know who you are, you're Razor of the Underscape; you're the one who literally whips souls toward their final fate!” she called outward. Multiple murmurs and gasps emancipated from the crowd of pegasi, both guard and civilian. “If you really want to know what did happen to Sven and the others, they ended up here!” Rainbow answered for Razor.  Razor himself leaned himself upright, back legs dangled downward, and began to clap his fore-hooves.

“Bravo, well done indeed, you've made this introduction not be a complete bore to me,” he declared. "Now I've really taken interest in your land and world." As he clapped his hooves, the leader guard looked up to the sound of two pairs of wings flapping toward him. The source was two pegasi guards landing next to him.

“Sir! What's-”

“I'm trying to figure that out, get these civilians out of here!” the leader guard interrupted, he leaned in to whisper to the new arrival. “Are the other teams here?" The guard gave only a nod, and then ran a hoof across his chest in a diagonal motion, the leader guard giving a nod in response. The two pegasi guards flared their wings and took off toward the perimeter of the area. As the two guards flew away, Razor's act of clapping died down, followed by him pointing one of his fore-hooves outward toward Rainbow.

“So tell me then, what did happen to good old Sven and his little group?” Razor asked.

“Well,” Rainbow started. “You should know that-”

“Alright, I've heard enough!” the leader guard interrupted. “In fact, based on our intel and your confession, we're cleared to follow through with our operation. You're being placed  under arrest and will be brought to Canterlot for questioning!”

“...And now it's back to being boring, and on what grounds exactly? You know, I could of taken care of that little old fire by myself anyway.” Razor turned back to the leader guard, his fore-hooves crossed.

“Precedents have been set long after that first group from your world set their feet in Equestria, and those precedents are in relation to you being from that world!”

“So you're transmitting a criminal nature of sorts onto me just because I know of Sven? And I supposed you're prepared to use force?” Razor asked outward.

“Charlie team: ready!” the leader guard yelled outward, which was followed by a ring of unicorn guards appearing all around Razor in flashes of magic.

“Oh, that's new,” Razor commented. “I've never seen a stealth attack before,” he added, while a faux yawn emancipated from his being.

“Detain him!” the leader guard ordered, a hoof being pointed forward toward Razor. From the unicorn guards, chains of magic shot outward from their horns; all of them wrapped around Razor and formed rings of magic around him. The rings of magic then shrunk in size and pressed themselves against him, binding his upper limbs and causing his wings to snap against his body. As the chains of magic reeled backward and removed any slack from them, purple beams of lightning shot off of Razor and directly toward the unicorns. As the bolts connect to the unicorns, each one dropped their spell and began to stumble around, some clutching their heads. “What the Tartarus?”

“Ahahahahaha!” Razor laughed outward, his chest being clutched by one of his fore-hooves. “Special offer today: receive free shock therapy whenever you foolishly try to cast a spell, or even specialized technique at me!” he declared. “You're lucky my mood is stable at the moment, or the voltage would have been turned up on that. If you give electricity a way to travel, it will go down it,” he added, receiving only groans in response. “Oh, I'm sorry, was that too much for you? Perhaps you equines are not on the same wavelengths as the average soul,” he said mockingly.

“We're ponies!” Rainbow yelled to Razor. “And what's the big idea, huh?”

“You seem to know of me, I'm here on self appointed duty in the name of the Underscape; it seems we've somehow never been able to find your world. I wonder if this is some undiscovered eighth plane?” Razor shook his head, and re-crossed his fore-hooves. “Regardless, you should know that the limitations of the Ancients doesn't apply to me here, unless you're a true hero, I think you very well know that you can't fight me.” Rainbow snorted in frustration, and felt something on her leg suddenly.

“Rainbow... d-don't,” Fluttershy pleaded. Rainbow turned and found Fluttershy's hoof wrapped around her back leg. “H-h-he's r-right, r-remember what Sven and G-Gondar were able to d-do in their bodies?” she asked quietly. Rainbow sighed in response, and solemnly turned back to face Razor.

“What is it you're here for then?” Rainbow asked Razor.

“What are you doing? He's an enemy of Equestria! Don't try to appease him!” the leader guard protested.

“Oh hush now, you're the ones who jumped straight into conflict,” Razor dismissed to the guard. “I've somewhat already collected enough information already; you seem to know of Tartarus, and that's one of the many, many exits of the Maze. For now, it seems I have to see if my good friend Visage is here with me. Oh, and perhaps see if those others on my team ended up here with us, though I may see them again when I return to the Underscape, hehehehe...” he trailed off in laughter.

“You're a maniac!” the leader guard called outward. “You're also literally a-a demon! You're a spawn of Tartarus!”

“No, I'm simply one who refers you to your permanent stay in your post death experience. At this rate, I'm looking extra forward to seeing you there,” Razor said to the guard, turning to him and raising his tail over his head.

“W-what?!”

“STOP!” Razor looked upward at the voice, and found also his vision being blocked by a pair of blue eyes. “I don't care if he attacked you! Or... ordered the attack! Everyone deserves a chance and some kindness! I won't stand back while you hurt him!” Fluttershy yelled straight to Razor, her eyes narrowing slightly. “If... that makes any sense...” she whimpered a bit, her eyes darting away for a moment. Razor himself floated in silence, looking directly at Fluttershy.

“Sorry, but not even cuteness is enough to damper me,” Razor replied back.

“Huh? EEP!” Fluttershy squeaked, as one of Razor's hooves began to brush against her cheek.

“I will give you credit though, you're in my top ten easily,” he added.

“Keep your hooves off of her!” Rainbow yelled outward, Razor looked over to where she was yelling from, and found one of her hooves strike his own- it didn't move an inch. “Uh...”

“I'll let you off with a warning, since so far you're keeping me entertained, you could have easily done that without trying to use force,” Razor said directly to Rainbow, pulling his hoof away from Fluttershy.

“Both of you are out of line and out of your minds!” the leader guard called out. “We're not going to let him go! Delta team!” on queue, a team of earth pony guards appeared from behind the tree lines. “The injured and civilians are out of the way now! Charge!” he ordered. All the earth pony guards roared with valor as they all broke out into a sprint toward Razor. Rainbow and Fluttershy looked to each other for a split second, and each flew away from Razor. Razor himself looked around at all the approaching guards.

“Oh, noooo! You have me completely surrounded by your strength based forces and not your intellectual forces, whatever shall I do?” Razor commented aloud, his voice radiating sarcasm.

“Quit your taunting, no matter what, you're coming with us!”

“No, in the end, you all come come to me in the Narrow Maze,” Razor commented. He looked and saw the earth ponies now within a few meters of him. “SHAAA!” Razor yelled out loud, followed by a ring of his plasma dropping down off of him and expanding on the ground. All the earth ponies had only a split second to try to stop before the ring passed through each one of them, all of them spazzing out in reaction.

“What the-”

“Wait for it...” Razor interrupted, as the ring began to compress itself back toward Razor. The earth ponies guards who were still semi-conscious all turned to see the ring coming back for them, some backed up toward Razor while others stood their ground, out of acceptance or inability or even bravery depended on the guard. As the ring passed through each of them a second time, all the ones who were standing found themselves now splayed out on the ground. The ring itself practically jumped back up into Razor's being, and assimilated itself back into his form.

“Sweet Celestia...” the leader guard whispered.

“That was probably a shocking twist on your plan, wasn't it?” Razor taunted. “I could do this all day, I'm having some fun here.”

“What fun is there in hurting other ponies?!”

“I'm not the one arcing out in rabidness, do you think I'm one who goes around abusing my powers for no reason? I always have reasons, the one here is to put you in your place, which is my job.”

“It's my job to oversee the safety of all of Equestria! Beta team!” Upon making the call, the remaining pegasi guards in the area all soared to the sky. In moments, they positioned themselves at a point around Razor in the air.

“Hmm... the cycle is coming full circle now, first your intellectual forces, then your strength forces, and now your agility forces,” Razor said aloud.

“Team! Don't let him intimidate you! That ring can't touch us, and his magic defense doesn't apply to you! He can't strike us all down as a team!” the leader guard called out.

“Actually, I could have expanded my plasma field up toward our heights if I wanted to. I could strike you down all easily, none can escape from my lightning,” Razor retorted, his tail lashing downward and cracking against the ground below. “I've acted in self-defense so far, even though this has been such a one-sided event. You can either let me go, or be humiliated a third time and I'll be on my merry way,” Razor declared. Rainbow and Flutershy looked toward the scene from the edge of the clearing, Razor's illuminated being contrasting harshly with all the shapes of the guards.

“This guy is... I'd hate to admit it, awesome!” Rainbow commented, causing Fluttershy to shoot a look of confusion to her friend. “I mean yeah, I know he's hurting all those guards, but look at what he can do! Imagine if he could-” Rainbow stopped as she saw Razor raise a hind hoof into the air, and a cloud with lightning cracking out of it began to form. “Whoa...” Rainbow's ears fell back onto her head and her mouth hung open at the sight. The gesture was interrupted as a noticeable rumble shook the trees below them. Both Rainbow and Fluttershy looked down to see the trees shake at another rumble. “What the hay?”

“Ursa minor!” a guard yelled outward, with all the remaining guards turning their heads toward the source. Razor himself dropped his hind-hoof to his side and looked as well, the cloud above him disappearing.

“What?!” the leader guard questioned. “Where's it coming from? How far away?”

“I-it's, it's here like right now! We still have the injured nearby!”

“Celestia dammit! Beta team, forget this guy! Everypony focus on getting the injured out of here!” he yelled outward. “Now!” upon his declaration, every pegasi guard broke away from their position. Some swooped downward to grab one of their earth pony comrades, while others flew down toward the tree line of the clearing. The leader guard looked to Razor with a crossed expression. “Fine, it looks like I'm forced to let you go, but I will haul your flank in eventually.”

“And I look forward to hauling yours through the Narrow Maze,” Razor replied back. “I'm actually now interested in this 'ursa  minor' you speak of, this one must be pretty clap happy to make such disturbances, though I must give it credit to be doing this much for a youngling.” As Razor finished his sentence, he turned his head as a tree was pushed over and forced into the ground. Razor tilted his head back slightly as he saw the cause being the aforementioned ursa minor stomping into the clearing. “Oh, that's why,” he added. As the ursa minor stepped fully into the clearing, it lowered its head down toward Razor, followed by a snort from its gargantuan snout. “Ahahahahaha!” Razor laughed aloud. “This is your version of an ursa? This thing is less threatening than Ulfsaur missing all of his limbs and teeth!”

“Are you crazy?!” the leader guard yelled. “This thing's just a baby and you don't find it threatening?! Wait until it grows up and it's at least five times it's current size!”

“Then it would probably be only less threatening than Ulfsaur with only one arm,” Razor added. As he finished speaking, the ursa minor began to growl and raised one its paws up over Razor, who just trained his sight onto it.

“Oh, he's so dead...” he whispered. With a swing, the ursa minor brought its paw down onto Razor, and subsequently down onto the ground below. The sound of metal being struck against was followed by a resulting shockwave into the ground, dirt and dust was kick up as well. To those that could see, Razor's body showed a pancaked image through the ursa's paw, his glow still present.

Rainbow looked away as the ursa did its deed to Razor, somewhat blocking Fluttershy's view of the scene in the process.

“You know... I kind of take back what I said about him... he's kinda an idiot,” Rainbow said.

“W-why didn't he run?” Fluttershy nearly cried.

“I believe you somehow managed hurt yourself more than me with the effort that went into that little tantrum attack,” Razor's voice echoed outward. All the respective ears of every witness in the area shot upward upon hearing his voice. Those same witnesses' jaws all dropped open as well as they saw Razor push up against the paw of the ursa. The ursa itself formed a face of fear in confusion as Razor floated back up to his original position, holding back the ursa's paw with one fore-hoof. “Okay, I lied somewhat, that actually did hurt. I should have actually said that the pain you're about to feel however, is going to make that seem like an experience of static electricity. At least maybe in the humiliation department, since I'm still in a bright mood,” Razor said to the ursa, who only roared back in response. A crackle of energy followed next as suddenly an electrical beam, purple in color, bore outward from the ursa's chest and straight into Razor's horn.

Both Rainbow and Fluttershy stared in awe at the action, even the leader guard had the action being reflected in his eyes. After only but a second, dark orbs of electrical energy began to emit from the ursa's paws, the ursa pulled itself back a step and glanced to each paw. Razor himself just floated in place unmoving as the link did its job. Around each of his own fore-hooves, a bright blue orb of that same electrical energy was forming. As the seconds dragged on, each pair of respective orbs intensified in their contrast to each other. As quickly as the stream appeared, it disappeared streaming into Razor's form, and both beings looked squarely at each other.

“Hmph, I get more out of draining even Lina than you, but I suppose it will do. I guess your size played the biggest part in that action.” As he finished speaking, the ursa roared again and brought its paw off to the side. The paw was then swung forward directly toward Razor, who still did not move, both Rainbow and Fluttershy averted their gaze. As the paw was swung forward, the only resulting sound was the metal of his armor being hit against. Silence fell across the whole area, with Razor unmoved from his position, with only his fore-hooves crossed. The ursa stood frozen, and tentatively pulled its paw back away from Razor.

“What... the... hay...” Rainbow whispered.

“Let's see what happens if I actually put effort into this,” Razor said. His tail was then raised upward, and was brought down toward the area underneath the ursa's head and onto the ground. After it connected, the ground below suddenly exploded in a small shower of dirt, leaving behind a crater the side of an adult pony. The ursa itself reeled backward with another roar, going so far as to standing up on its hind legs. “Quick question, has anyone here ever seen a dancing bear? No? Well, allow me to give you a show then! Although, it probably won't be as entertaining as watching Sylla and his bear dance around!” Razor brought his tail down again toward one of the ursa's back legs, hitting the ground right next to it. As the feedback from the strike sunk in, the ursa picked up its leg and stepped back. Razor's tail reeled backward, and then flailed out and struck next to the ursa's other leg.

“Hehe...” Rainbow chuckled a bit, Fluttershy turning to her in confustion. “Ehehehe... ahahaha!” Rainbow started to loud outward, clutching her chest with a fore-hoof. Rainbow wiped away a tear as Razor continued the process of cracking his tail downward and causing the ursa to backpedal away. “Oh, Celestia! I'm sorry, but I'd never thought I'd see... that!” she cried. Fluttershy looked back toward the scene watching the ursa slowly reach the treeline.

“At least he isn't hurting the ursa...” Fluttershy whispered, tapping her fore-hooves together. Razor stopped his onslaught of whippings as the ursa bumped into the tree line. He looked up to the standing form of the ursa, and then flew up toward the ursa's face, which was reeled back as it visibly struggled to keep balance.

“I've always wanted to do this gag,” Razor said aloud, as he brought a fore-hoof forward. He paused for a moment as he was but inches from the ursa, and then pushed forward the rest of the way, applying force to the celestial bear. The ursa roared and time slowed as it began to fall backward. As it fell onto its back, many trees and the ground that was unfortunate enough to be in the way, were crushed. Dirt, dust, and birds far away in the distance flew upward as a result of the ursa's fall, every being in the area looked in awe at Razor's accomplishment.

After what seemed like minutes that each lasted an eternity, the ursa began to stir from its position. Everyone looked in intrigued as the ursa turned to turn itself back upright, but it struggled to even move itself with its own paws. As the ursa visibly strained to push itself up, the orbs of energy surrounding its paws, and Razor's hooves, dissipated, and the ursa shot upward in force suddenly. The ursa rolled onto all fours paws for a split second, but then suddenly spun onto the opposing side of where it was pushing itself up, causing another chuckle from Rainbow. The ursa corrected itself shortly after, and then began to trudge away from the area, following a path through the trees, but knocking over any that got in its way.

All eyes turned to Razor as the electrical being merely watched the ursa walk away in defeat, fore-hooves crossed and tail curled and coiled up once again near his being.

“Well, that was nice distraction, but I believe it's time now to see I can rendezvous with Visage,” he said, breaking the silence in the air. “If I were Visage, I believe he would immediately try to find any leader of this land, he was literally made for the diplomacy.” Razor turned his whole being around the area in a scanning motion. “I think if I were a leader... in this case a princess...” Razor began. “I think that I would be in a castle, and I just so happen to see a castle conveniently embedded into a mountain.”

“The princesses!” the leader guard called outward. “I'm not letting you-”

“You already said I was free to go, and I took care of your minor problem, and that pun was on purpose for the record,” Razor said aloud, without turning around. “It's my duty to not instigate conflict out of my own desires, and I'm upholding that by taking my leave, you are in fact the one who started it,” he said aloud, before leaning forward and flying away from the area. Rainbow and Fluttershy watched as Razor began to leave.

“Fluttershy, I need to follow him,” Rainbow said.

“W-what?!” Fluttershy retorted. “R-Rainbow! I-I don't think-”

“I know it's not a good idea,” Rainbow interrupted, her eyes closed and head hanging as she said that. “But I'm upholding my dedication to never leave anyone hanging, in this case, I feel that it's my duty to make sure the princesses will be okay,” Rainbow opened her eyes and turned to face Fluttershy, with a small smile on her face. “Besides, he already said he doesn't hurt anyone on purpose, and he's even said he has no reason to hurt me! I'll be fine, I promise, Fluttershy. Make that a Pinkie promise even, ten times over!” she declared. Fluttershy looked to her friend, her mouth hanging open slightly and her eyes wide. Her mouth slowly closed and formed a smile of her own after a few silent moments. Fluttershy nodded her head slowly, and placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder.

“Okay, Rainbow, good luck,” she said softly.

“Thanks, Fluttershy,” Rainbow said. “Oh, and tell everyone else on the weather team that they did an excellent job today!” she added.

“But... what about you going off alone... here?” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow paused for a moment, her eyes going wide at Fluttershy's question.

“Um... oh! I only told them not to go alone for this operation, and the operation's pretty much over and done with now!” she said, with a blush.

“Um... okay,” Fluttershy responded quietly.

“Remember, Fluttershy: I promised,” Rainbow said, before taking off away from Fluttershy.

Razor looked down over the land below him, keeping his fore-hooves crossed and his new hind legs lazily hanging down behind.

“Aside from the equine population, this land, and possibly world, don't seem all that special,” he said to himself. “It's very intriguing how just the act of arriving here has changed myself, I wonder if Visage was affected as well... if he's even here. I think we'd both like to know how we've never seen this place, perhaps it's actually a place where souls have never decided to run back to.” Razor broke away from his surveillance as the sound of wings flapping rapidly became present. “I do believe I have company once again.” Razor turned himself over, flying with his back down, and seeing a certain cerulean pegasus catching up to him. “It's just like I said before, the excitable ones are really attracted to my whip, but I suppose that's not the case for you,” Razor said aloud to Rainbow. Rainbow herself simply flew herself closer to Razor, albeit a short distance away, with Razor himself simply turning his head to keep her in his sight.

“It's like I told Fluttershy, I believe that it's my duty to not leave people hanging, and in this case it's the princesses,” Rainbow replied.

“Do they happen to be these... what was it called, Alicorns?” he asked.

“Y-yeah... they are,” Rainbow answered. “I'm making sure that you're not gonna try any funny business with them.”

“Despite the fact that you've seen first hand what I'm capable of?” Razor asked, causing Rainbow to flinch slightly.

“Well... I-”

“Ehehehe!” Razor laughed suddenly. “I already told you, I don't go around zapping souls on purpose. It's all part of the job, and you've claimed to know about me, what did they say about me exactly?”

“Well... not much exactly, just enough to know about where you come from, they didn't exactly go into your job description. It's 'cause of all the drama that they weren't able to give us full introductions to all the people from your world.” Rainbow flashed a nervous smile as she finished.

“Hmm... fair enough. My interests do include looking into Sven and the others' fates.” Razor flipped himself back over, going back to his previous flight position. “So should I expect another welcoming party when I reach this castle in the distance?” Rainbow's eyes shot open suddenly, followed by a small smile and scowl.

“Actually... you could consider me a free pass inside, if you let me lead you in,” Rainbow tempted. Razor looked away from Rainbow, looking forward into the direction that they were both flying.

“Hmm... so you do have some connections to your rulers, eh?” he asked aloud. He hung his head downward, and paused for a moment. “Very well then, I will take up your offer, as I'm sure you would not want any more... ponies, to get hurt now, huh?” he asked, with a hint of smugness leaking out.

“No I don't, plus I don't think maybe you could take on the entire royal guard, not after what we've been through.”

“Do you forget who I am already?” he asked, turning his head back to her.

“Apparently, you can still get hurt, and I know a friend as well who can subdue an ursa minor by herself,” she shot a scowl to Razor.

“Perhaps she'd qualify as mega creep material then,” he commented.

“What was that?!” Rainbow barked.

“Just a little humor that you probably wouldn't understand, unless they told you about the war with the Ancients as well, but there will be time for that later.”

“Oh... kay then...” she trailed off, her ears drooping. “Try to keep up!” Rainbow declared, her flared wings reflecting her sudden enthusiasm.

“You really have forgotten who I am, have you?” Razor added, Rainbow immediately turned her head back to Razor. “I'm not exactly putting much effort into flying, especially considering I've literally been flying from the very second I first arose.”

“Oh... right, lightning... you can travel as fast as light...” Rainbow whispered. “Well... I can travel faster than sound if I put enough effort into it!” she replied, thumping her chest with a fore-hoof.

“Once again, 'time for that stuff later,'” Razor reminded. “You certainly are one of those diamonds in the rough, along with your yellow friend, it gets tiring after a while how predictable foreign encounters get,” Razor commented. Rainbow looked to Canterlot, slowly but surely getting closer to them as they both flew.

“You're lucky we're not taking a train, it takes like hours by train compared the minutes it takes a pegasi to fly to and from there,” she started. “You have to go through such a long, twisting array of tunnels to get up the mountain; that's only really half the trip! Well, from Ponyville anyway.”

“I was never a fan of mountains, they tend to not have energy that I can conduct," he flipped himself over in the air, his electrical wings now facing to the ground. He placed both of his fore-legs on the back of his neck. "Speaking of which, if my allies have ended up here, you should be on the lookout for one who has such an affinity for the earth below us. Though I wonder if the other one who loves to run his mouth shares the same passion...” he said, a fore-hoof being placed on his chin.

“Who's this... friend of yours?” she asked. "The first one?" Razor looked to Rainbow, who flinched as his forever static face locked onto her.

“If you must know, jolly old Crixalis," he stated, his voice monotone despite the ethereal filter he always had. "Oh, sorry: 'King' Crixalis,” he added. Rainbow's eyes shot open, and her ears shot upward as well.

“K-king... Crixalis?!” she practically yelled.