What Gods Fear

Chapters

Introduction
Prolouge: Fallen Gods
The Tale of Kratos, The God Killer
Weapons of Ultimate Destruction
He Who Knows Nothing, Cannot Learn Anything
Highlander's Grief (Nemesis Whip)
Highlander's Mistake (Nemesis Whip)
Highlander's Fury (Nemesis Whip)
Aim True, And Light The Fire
Preview 1
Taken Down Under (Nemean Cestus)
Rocksalt In The Wound (Nemean Cestus)
Highlander's Nemesis (Nemesis Whip Arc End)

Introduction

"While Gods may be powerful, with weapons of their own designs, they are only meek and powerless without them. The most powerful weapon crafted by them was the Blade of Olympus, but it was lost during the destruction of Mount Olympus. Now, I, Princess Celestia, request that my faithful student and her closest friends find these godly weapons and bring them here so they may be locked away, never to see the light of day... or until they are needed again..."

Prolouge: Fallen Gods

Thunder cracked across the chaos filled sky, souls of the River Styx flow freely looking for redemption for their sins, insects that carry disease flutter about, infecting those who remain. The oceans swallowed the land, flooding the forests and quarries and the towns, the plants themselves dieing and wilting because the sun is gone from the sky. Mount Olympus itself was destroyed, the mountain crumbling. Each of the Gods who effected the world in such a way was killed by the mortal, Kratos.

The God of the Sea, Poseidon, was the one of the many to fall to him. With the help of Gaia, he killed Poseidon by brutally beating him, and eventually plucking his eyes out and snapping his neck. The next to fall to him, was Poseidon's brother, Hades. When Kratos fought him, and he ripped the very soul out of Hades with his own weapons, letting the souls of the River Styx finish him off. Helios was next. The Spartan hunting him down and, like the others, killed him. Kratos brutally ripped the head off of his body, Helios' head still screaming with the power of the sun.

The next god to fall by his hands, was Hermes, the messenger of the Gods. Hermes taunted Kratos while he ran from the god killer, but in the end Hermes fell like the others, by having his legs cut off by the Spartan and claiming his boots as a prize. While he was no God, he tried to kill Kratos either way, Hercules, with the cheering of Hera, fought Kratos to the death. While Hercules had Kratos in a corner several times, his eventual death came, and Kratos claimed his gauntlets, the Nemean Cestus, as his prize and killed Hercules with them.

With Nemean Cestus, the Blades of Exile, and Hades Claws, he set out to kill Zeus. But after his 'encounter' with Aphrodite, Hephaestus promised him a weapon and the retribution he so rightfully deserves.

Hephaestus send Kratos to the pits of Tartarus, where he would find the Omphalos Stone. In Tartarus, however, Kratos was face to face with the Father Titan, Cronus. With Pandora's Temple on his back, Cronus attempted to kill the Spartan, but ultimately failed after devouring him and cutting through his abdomen with the Blade of Olympus and stabbing through his head with said blade. After giving Hephaestus the stone, he crafted him a weapon like no other, the Nemesis Whip, a triple bladed weapon that was enchanted by the power in Hephaestus's ring. In the end, however, he was killed by the Spartan but in his last words, he begged the Spartan not to harm his daughter Pandora.

Hera, tired and exhausted, didn't fight as much as she tried to save her garden. Hera knew the secret of her garden, and waited to see Kratos die in it as an old man. Hera began to taunt the already irate Kratos, and in the end she was killed simply by a crack of the neck. Her effect on the world was one of the more devastating, because her death caused the wilting and death of all the plants in the world. With almost all of the gods dead, he set out for Zeus, and in the vain sacrifice of Pandora, destroyed the Flame of Olympus, the source of Zeus's power. And inside Pandora's Box

Like all the other Olympians, Zeus and Gaia fell to Kratos, and the Spartan finally got his revenge...

Or so he thought.

When the Astral image of Athena came to him, demanding the power he took from Pandora's Box, he claimed the box empty. When she said otherwise and demanded that he give her the power, she realized that the power he had used to kill Ares all those years ago, was not the Evils that were placed in the box...

...But the power of Hope.

Remembering Pandora's words, Kratos only told Athena that he only remembered what he had lost. In his rage, he went to strike her down again, but did the ultimate sacrifice.

He struck down himself.

Doing so, he released Hope to mankind and the blade and himself became weak and powerless. Athena said that she was disappointed in him, and he snarled weakly in response. She pulled the blade from his abdomen and threw it to the ground as she faded from the plain of existence, while Kratos, the God killer, the Ghost of Sparta, fell down on the ground bleeding, but in one last fit of resistance, dragged himself to the edge of Mount Olympus and dropped off.

Celestia closed the book from her library and looked up to the sky. "Such Chaos the world was when we arrived... We thought it was Discord, but even he would not cause chaos to that scale..." She placed the book to the side and shook her head. "Discord was disgusted by the chaos that the world had. He wanted to fix it. So Luna, myself, and Discord all made the deal. I would take the Sun, Luna would take the Moon and Discord would take the rest of the world and fix it. We all kept to our sides of the deal, but even then, Luna was growing jealous of the Sun. When we found the mountain, it was more a hill... Either way, we all found weapons that we vowed to never use no matter what.

Celestia sighed and walked to the throne. Her magical aura wrapped around it, before it slid to the side and she came to a vault. She knew what was inside the vault...

A pair of blades, both glowing orange with power and chains wrapped around the handles, each of the blades stained with dried blood from long ago, and each hilt with a menacing face with horns coming out of the forehead. She knew that sparks would shoot out of the flaming cracks, and she swallowed a lump in her throat before she opened the vault...

The Tale of Kratos, The God Killer

Your obsession with this... this THING has become somewhat of a nuisance, my son.

Twilight Sparkle, the protege of Princess Celestia, and owner of the Golden Oaks Library, was busily rushing about looking for books to study. "Ohhh Spike! Find me the Reference Guide to Mystical Weapons and Gods now!" She said picking books off the shelves and leafing through them. She heard a groan of annoyance from the other side of the library before the little green and purple dragon, named Spike, walked in with a large tome in his claws.

Twilight smiled, and using her magic picked up the tome and opened it, studying the Gods and weapons inside. Spike looked at her curiously. "Why do you need this book anyway? Are going to try to copy them?" He asked, tapping his foot and his arms crossed. Twilight looked up from the book briefly before smiling sheepishly. She remembered the last time she copied a spell, granted it made her an Alicorn, but still she practically died first to do so. She shook her head, and Spike eyed her for a few more seconds before seeming satisfied. Ever since that note from the princess came, Twilight has been running around researching old myths, the dead languages, and now studying the old weapons that they might've used.

Twilight smiled and patted Spike on the head. "Don't worry Spike, I wont do any of that. After all, according to the book it says that these were Godly Weapons, not just mystical. Like this one right here, "The Thunder Bolt of Zeus". The bolt was the strongest weapon that the god Zeus ever had, and it was only triumphed by one weapon that, sadly, is not in this book."

"Do you think that they were real?"

"Maybe? Who knows Spike? For all we know, the Gods could still be alive just somewhere else. As for the Godly Weapons being real... I'm not sure. Like this one, "The Blades of Athena". These blades were used by the mortal Kratos when he became the God of War, these same blades were used by him in the Siege of Mount Olympus. When the Gods believed him dead, the Blades were destroyed never to see battle again."

"Wow... Do you think this Kratos guy is still alive?"

"Not likely, since in a foot note it says that Kratos was turned mortal again by Athena, Goddess of Wisdom." Twilight said with a small frown. She flipped the page and was jumped back at the picture. When Spike saw her reaction he took a look too. He fell to the ground in fright.

"Well... this lovely creature here, is Hades, God of the Underworld. His methods of torture were to punish the souls who had committed sins against him, the Gods, and anyone else. He would take the souls of living beings by ripping them out and absorbing them into himself." She looked down at the page to read the next sentence, but she read to herself first, her brows furrowing. "That's weird... it says that Hades was killed and had the soul stolen out of him by his own weapons, The Claws of Hades, by... by the mortal Kratos..."

This was new... a mortal, killing a God and survived to tell the tale. Who ever Kratos was, he must've been brimming with pride to kill the God of the Underworld...

"Anyways, next we have the brother of Hades, Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Poseidon was loved by mortals and on Olympus, Medusa loved Poseidon, but when his wife found out, she cursed Medusa by making her ugly and giving her lovely hair snakes, and ever time a man looked her in the eyes she would turn them to stone. Poseidon was their at the Siege of Olympus... but... but was ultimately killed by the mortal, Kratos..."

A sneaking suspicion wormed its way in her head and Spike, who saw this, began to slowly back up in case something bad happened. Twilight leafed through the Gods and listed them off one by one.

"Helios, the God of the Sun, fought valiantly in the Siege of Olympus. When they thought Kratos dead, the Titans began their attack. Helios's untimely death was met by the mortal, Kratos, after he brutally ripped his screaming head off. Okay, one, ew... two, how is a mortal killing Gods!? This doesn't make sense! Hermes, the messenger of the Gods, fought against the Titans and Kratos, but was killed by Kratos, having his legs cut off and taking the Boots of Hermes as his prize."

Twilight couldn't believe it... a mortal killing immortal gods... By himself no less!

"Hercules was not a God, but he inspired to be one, and this was enough of a reason for Kratos to kill him. Hercules and Kratos fought to the death, with the cheering of Hera, the Queen of the Gods. Like all the others before him, Hercules met his death by his own weapons, gauntlets named the Nemean Cestus, wielded by Kratos. Hera later fell, and while she did not fight, Hera provoked Kratos to the point of her death."

Twilight sat back and tried to put this all together... Myth or not, a mortal killed immortal Gods with either their own weapons, or his. It was almost unfathomable, whoever this Kratos was, he was anything BUT mortal.

"Zeus the King of the Gods and the God of the Sky fought as well in the Siege of Olympus, and won. But Gaia, the mother Titan, refused to give up and began climbing up the mountain once more, and found that Kratos and Zeus were fighting each other. When Gaia ripped the lookout from the mountain, she told the warrior that she never sought his death, but she left him no choice because he was making her world bleed. Kratos and Zeus had their final battle inside of Gaia's chest, and the mortal Kratos eventually killed both Zeus and Gaia. When Kratos realized that the power to help kill Zeus was the power of Hope, he made the ultimate sacrifice and killed himself, spreading Hope across the Chaos filled world, and the vengeance that he had sought was finally over..."

Spike and Twilight were silent for a time before she flipped the page and it showed the index of Godly Weapons. She flipped to a random page, and showed a fierce looking weapon. The name was the Nemean Cestus. Spike and Twilight look at each other before looking down at the artist's representation.

Twilight looked at the picture and felt the power flowing off of it, while Spike gulped at its furious look.Twilight was about to flip the page until a knock came to her door. "Coming!" She called and opened the door to see her friends, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.

"We're all set Sugercube."

"Yeah! Party at Canterlot Castle! Woo!"

"I'm ready... if that's okay with you. If it's not I understand..."

"Well, I certainly hope they have room service there. I'm going to need a lot of things if we're going to travel like the Princess said."

"Aw yeah! Can't wait to kick some old God butt! Come on! Put 'em up you old... God... Okay, not the best I had in mind..."

Twilight smiled and turned to Spike. "Can I trust you to watch the library?"

"You can count on me Twi! I wont let you down!"

"Alright girls! Let's go!" Twilight said before her horn glowed and the six of them teleported to the front gates of the castle.

Weapons of Ultimate Destruction

Fear is a heavy burden... Freedom is also a heavy burden. I cannot help you...

Celestia looked out of the window seeing her student and her friends flash in spot. The guards there tensed and placed their spears in the walk way, before slowly relaxing at Twilight's command. Celestia smiled at the sight, but frowned instantly after remembering what they were here for in the first place. Looking at the Blades of Exile, their cracked surface and flowing orange energy, she ran hoof over the blade admiring their power. She had used a spell to see what these blades saw, and both of them saw battles like no other. They have attacked creatures larger than mountains, warriors that have been launched without fault, but most importantly, she saw the owner of these blades. A bipedal man that was, what she guessed, painted white with red markings. On his left arm was golden armor that was bloodied and somewhat battle worn.

She shuddered at the thought him still being alive, what kind of destruction he would cause. It wasn't until five years ago she found these blades, around the time she saw the vision of Nightmare Moon coming back two years from then. She levitated the blades closer to herself, she knew that there were more weapons like this one, but not to the degree of this. Gauntlets that made the very earth tremble, purple claws that ripped the souls out of creatures, three bladed whip like weapons that shocked enemies. Celestia saw that the gauntlets and whip were destroyed when the biped fought another, but she had hope that the Astral image he was conversating with had fixed them.

While looking at the blades, the throne room door opened and Celestia calmed herself before turning around to her favorite student. "Twilight! Oops, or should I say Princess Twilight Sparkle?" She said with giggle and Twilight blushed at her praise.

Twilight looked past the princess and her smile and blush faded and she walked up to the blades on the throne pillow. "Princess," Twilight asked, "what are these?" Celestia was afraid she would see them right away.

Swallowing a lump in her throat she turned to Twilight. "These, Princess Twilight Sparkle, are part of the reason I'm sending you and your close friends on this journey." She said as the blades glowed in her aura. Celestia turned to the rest of the mares, showing them the fierce blades. Pinkie Pie looked saddened by them and Fluttershy just hid behind Rainbow Dash. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash looked at them in awe, while Twilight studied them from where they were.

"Princess, I don't understand. Why do these," Twilight said gesturing at the blades, "portray to this journey your sending us on?"

Celestia took a breath and smiled. "These blades are part of your journey, because they are only one of the Godly Weapons I will be sending you to find. The name of these blades are the Blades of Exile, and they were once wielded by the mortal, Kratos."

Twilight's eyes widened at the name Kratos. These blades were his? "But how? The book I read said that he held the--"

"--Blades of Athena. Yes, I know. These twin swords are the reincarnation, I guess you can say." Celestia said, holding the blades closer to Twilight, knowing her studious side. Twilight's magic enveloped the blades and she felt the weight behind them, as well as the power inside of them.

She licked her lips and her jaw dropped. "What I would give to see what these saw..." She was drooling on the ground, the power was overwhelming! She felt so urged to just... swing them... Celestia caught the familiar gaze, and pulled them away from her. "Wait! Celestia! Please let me try them!" Twilight begged.

Celestia frowned and looked down at the smaller princess. "No, Twilight. This is the exact reason I want you to find these Godly weapons and bring them here to me. I will lock them away and they will never be used. These blades are filled with a hate so powerful, they've killed Gods and innocents alike. They're filled with power so uncontrollable, only Kratos could control them, and most of all, they've taken the lives of everything that was once on this world. They are a danger if left unchecked, and they must be retrieved under all circumstances."

Applejack and Rainbow looked at each other briefly before nodding in silent agreement, Rarity calmed Fluttershy down and encouraged her that it wouldn't take long, at least she hoped. Pinkie was Pinkie. (The author refuses to due to fourth wall damage.) Twilight shook herself out of her power hungry mind and nodded to her fellow princess. Celestia's eyes glowed and the room went black, save only a small dot of light.

"Everypony, this image here is The Flame of Olympus. It was stronger than the Gods themselves, and the source of Zeus's power. The flame killed all who touched it, whether he be man," The image changed showing a bipedal man touching the flame and burning into it. "Or God..." The image then showed a powerful God touch them flame and fall into its fiery grasp. "The flame is a powerful force, that could only be destroyed by one thing. A being that was neither living nor dead... Pandora..."

In the misty image it showed a beautiful golden image of Pandora playing around in a field. "Her father, Hephaestus, created on the flame Pandora's Box, which held all of the Evils inside after the Great War. Anger, Rage, Lust, Envy, Mockery, Misery, Insanity, and the strongest of all, Fear... " Black mists swept the land, changing the scenery to a golden color to a rotten, molded green. "The Gods became infected them, the Evils changed them. The most noticeable was Zeus, who became infected with Fear after Kratos opened the box and killed Ares, the former God of War." The Imaged shifted showing the marked warrior grow in size and strike down Ares with a golden sword. "Afterwards, Kratos became the new God of War, but was shunned by his fellow Gods.

"Kratos paid them no mind, as his servants, the Spartans, began attacking the city of Rhodes. Zeus, hoping to trick Kratos, told him to pour his Godly power into the very blade that ended the Great War, The Blade of Olympus." An image of a beautifully crafted sword that was surrounded by a blue light. Zeus wielded it and struck it to the ground, banishing all of the larger creatures to Tartarus. The image shifted to Zeus holding the blade and striking down Kratos. "While Kratos and the Titans worked together, Zeus was filled with more fear, and Kratos, in his need for vengeance, struck down Athena, the one who made him a God..."

The image faded again showing Kratos strike down Athena with the Blade of Olympus, and him catching her as she fell. "Kratos, consumed by more of his want for vengeance, hunted down the rest of the Gods with the Titans' help. In the end, Kratos killed every God, and the Titans with the help of several weapons..."

The room lit up again and the ponies blinked and rubbed their eyes. Celestia continued despite of that. "The weapons that he used were the Blades of Exile, which you know I have. The next weapon to aid him were The Claws of Hades, purple scythe like claws that stole the soul out of living creatures, the Nemean Cestus, gauntlets worn by the mortal Hercules, the sheer force these gauntlets make the very earth tremble before them. The Nemesis Whip, a whip like weapon that would shock any foe in their path. It was enchanted by the power in Hephaestus' ring. These weapons were Kratos' prized possessions, and they are still somewhere in the world." She said looking out the window to see her land of Equestria.

"Somewhere in Equestria, they are still there, causing havoc and destruction. I fear if someone found the Blade... the destruction it would cause..." She exhaled quiet loudly, and turned back to the Elements. "That is why you are here. To collect these weapons and bring them to me, so they may never see the light of day, or bask in dark of night, ever again. If another pony is using the weapons for themselves, I order you, yes order to take him down... and kill him if need be..." The six ponies before her gasped in shock. There hasn't been a killing in Equestria for at least 200 years, the last one being a public execution. "These weapons are more dangerous than you think if ordering you to kill someone has shocked you so bad, but if left unchecked, the entire world will crumble and die... That is why I ask you to do this, the life of an ignorant pony, for the life of the entire world..."

Twilight looked at the ground, thinking over the options, before nodding her head. "If that's what it takes, I'll do it." That was the push the others needed.

"Alright Princess... though, I hope I don't haf ta... "

"Killing somepony is definitely not how I work, but if that's what it takes... I guess..."

"Oh, um... I don't suppose we could talk them into giving it to us... but what if they attack... I guess we don't have choice then... oh my..."

"I'll kill them with parties! Heya! Woo! Wacha!"

"A lady has to do what a lady has to do... I guess..."

Celestia smiled at the Elements with sadness and relief. "Thank you, all of you. Now, you'll all begin your journey tomorrow. I'll let you sleep on killing someone. I just hope it really doesn't come to it..."

Twilight took Celestia's hoof in her's. "I hope so too, Princess... I hope so too..."

Author's Note

Fun Fact: It took me thirty seconds to get the word throne right.

He Who Knows Nothing, Cannot Learn Anything

Petulant child! I will tolerate your insolence NO MORE!

As the six ponies slept in the castle walls, Celestia walked outside to see her beautiful city of Canterlot, lit like a lantern in the darkness. The Blades of Exile looking at her from their position on the pillow next to her, begging to be used. She gave them a passing glimpse, seeing the Ghost of Sparta pick them up and place both on his back. "Why have you brought me here?" The image asked.

Celestia licked her lips before turning to the warrior. "You aren't really here, a piece of you soul still rests within the blades... come daylight, you will disappear once again, Kratos," she said, passiveness gracing her voice. "Besides, the only thing you can do is place them on your back, you are no threat to me..."

The image of Kratos snarled at her and reached back for his blades, but only felt air. He reached again, and again, before finally giving up. "What have you done to me!" He demanded.

"Nothing, Kratos, the blades did this, not I. They have preserved you inside of them, you need to remember that they are the Blades of Exile for a reason..." She said turning back to her city. She heard his footsteps come closer, and the skin on his hands rub against itself. His breathing became heavy and more pronounced as he reached for, but only passed through her. His eyes widened at this, but narrowed as brought his leg up to kick her. Like before, it failed. He roared aggressively at her and charged but only passed through her once again.

"What is the mean of this?! Why can't I touch you?! Why do I pass through you?" Kratos yelled at her. Celestia only spared a passing glance again before wrapping her magic around the blades and ripping them from his back. He gripped his head in pain before falling silent and falling into the blades in a white orb.

"He'll be back in five minutes, after that the cycle will continue over and over until the blades are broken and his soul is free." She thought to herself staring at the blades. Wrapping her magic around the ends of the chains, Celestia flew over into the small garden where she had all the statues. Most of them were fakes, the real ones being to damaged to recognized. Swinging one blade towards the statue made it crack, swing the blades in tandem of each other made the it turn to rubble. Swinging both blades vertically caused a small plume of fire and made the ground around her shake, she then swung them up, lifting the statue and impaling it, slammed it down causing it to look like its brother statue.

Sweat clung to her brow, her next target in sight, she twirled the blades around her eventually making them cone above her and lashed out, hitting the statue in a plume of fire and ash. Her eyes, now burning blue, widened and she bared her teeth giving out a feral snarl. The blades, now burning with power, struck the ground and a small pillar of fire, rather than a plume, appeared where they struck. Her breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped off her brow, she let out a long breath before flying back up to the window and placing the blades back on the pillow. "That will calm him down for now... just until next week anyways..."

She took a deep breath once more and walked to her room, taking off her royal regalia and falling asleep.

The next day, the Elements met in the dinning hall, discussing about the mission in front of them. All of them were having their breakfast, save Fluttershy who only had an apple or two. Applejack and Rainbow Dash pointed out to Twilight that were ordered to kill whoever had the weapons. "That's true, but you need to remember she said if necessary."

"We know that Twilight," Fluttershy said, still nibbling the apple she took from the bowl, "but that's the scary thing... what if ever has them is too strong for us? Or uses one of us as hostage? Or what if--"

Applejack put a hoof over her mouth, knowing what she was going to say next. "Now, sugarcube, you know that's not gonna happen. The only way that will happen is by old age... or in Rainbow's and Twilight's cases, a stupid stunt and boredom." She said with a chuckle at the end. Fluttershy and the others soon began to giggle too, but they only stopped when a certain white unicorn stepped in the kitchen.

Rarity narrowed her eyes at him, and he copied her. "Hello... Blueblood..."

"Good morning... Miss Rarity..."

Her brows creased slightly. "Just Rarity, please."

Blueblood stood up straight with his nose high in the air. "Well, then it's Prince Blueblood to you." He looked down at the other four common mares and turned to Twilight. "Why do you insist on having them here with you?"

Twilight, while familiar with his rants, was somewhat surprised at his question. "Well... they're my friends, and the Elements of Harmony at that, and without them I wouldn't be where I am today..."

Blueblood snorted at her answer. "While it's true they are the Elements, and the reason why you're here, being your friends is an extremely hard answer to buy, because no matter the struggle, no matter the pain, your friends will always abandon you to save themselves..."

While saying this, he looked Twilight in the eye, and she saw something that she had not been expecting. Experience and knowing. Twilight looked at her friends at they all gave hostile stares at Blueblood, even Fluttershy was giving him a stink eye.

Rainbow Dash got in his face and snarled at him. "Ditch my friends huh? Well, news flash bub, I'm the Element of Loyalty, and I stick by my friends no matter what!"

"Yes, loyal like a dog until your owner disowns you and you are left to fend for yourself." He said while Rainbow sneered in his face. She reached her hoof back to punch his smug face, but her sneer and rage boiled down and she let out a deep sigh. Not wanting her blood pressure to get any higher, she stepped away from him and rejoined her friends. Blueblood gave a curt bow before walking away to the next room.

Applejack and Pinkie eyed him for a few moments before turning back to the others. "What's got his bushel in a bunch?"

"Yeah! I've seen mean ponies before, that was just plain awful!"

Twilight kept silent, thinking about what Blueblood had said. Your friends will always abandon you to save themselves... Her friends wouldn't abandon her... would they? Rainbow was too loyal to ditch someone, and Fluttershy's so kind, it's not her nature to abandon someone, especially when they need help. She wanted to ponder this more, but Celestia walked in interrupting her thinking.

"Good morning everyone! I have arrangements set up for all of you when you depart on your journey. Remember, these weapons are a danger to the world, I expect you to find them, and take care of anyone that happens to get in your way. You will need to find the Claws of Hades, Nemean Cestus, the Nemesis Whip, the Bow of Apollo, the Golden Fleece, the Boots of Hermes, and the Head of Helios."

Rarity turned a slight shade of green. "When you say 'head', do you mean like a decorative head?"

"Sadly, no, I mean an actual real head that was torn from its body." Rarity looked for the nearest trash can to vomit in, and Fluttershy came and patted her back. "I know, it's a gruesome thing to look for, but it shines with the power of the Sun, and can blind those who gaze at it for too long."

Twilight stepped up, flanked by her friends. "You can count on us Princess! So, where to first?" She asked.

Celestia smiled at her former student and pulled out a world map. "Girls, you're going to Northern Roosts, griffon country."

Author's Note

For the Twilight's friends give hostile stares at Blueblood, it went through about four or five of them before I came out with the one in the chapter now.

Highlander's Grief (Nemesis Whip)

I have lived as a warrior... I have died as a God...

"The Northern Roosts! That's were Gilda lives, we can't go there!" Rainbow Dash said, darting back and forth in the air. "We can't go there, no! No way, no how!" She said crossing her forelegs. Most of her friends, even Princess Celestia, gave her a confused look.

"And may we ask why, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity said stepping forward, and Rainbow only shook her head. "And why not?"

"...Because I made a promise to never go back there... I promised Mom to never go back to the Northern Roosts" Rainbow confessed, only for Fluttershy gasped and zipped by her side, rubbing her back and holding her close.

While her friends were trying to put this together, Celestia already came to the conclusion of why this strong pegasus was about to cry. Fluttershy looked down at her friends then back at Celestia who nodded and came forward. "You can talk to Princess Celestia, Dashie. You can tell her, I'll take the rest of the girls and bring them somewhere so they don't have to listen. Okay?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow Dash, who hesitantly nodded and, together with the princess, walked to a more secure room.

"So Rainbow Dash," Celestia pushed, "what seems to be troubling you?" Rainbow stopped hovering and began walking next to her.

She took a breath began to speak. "Princess, do you ever remember your mother?" Rainbow asked the Immortal.

Celestia stopped herself, and thought about it. "Yes? I remember her quite often." She said looking at Dash who was already waning her mask. A tear already began to snake down her cheek but she stayed calm.

"The griffons in the Roosts... they killed my mother, Firefly, in front of me... She owed one a debt and... she screamed so loud! I-- I HAD to do something! But I was too scared, and by the time they left... she wasn't completely dead. I came out of the closet I was hiding in, she asked me to stay away from the Roosts, lest I be in her place. She made me promise, and at that time I knew Pinkie Pie and Flutters... So I did the Pinkie Promise and she laughed..." Tears now began to run freely down her face dropping on the ground, "and that was all I heard from her... When I saw her more thoroughly, I noticed mark, a swirl with three marks on top. Well, turns out, my friend Gilda was one of the griffons that killed her."

Celestia was in shock, if her math was right, the griffons had violated a 500 year old treaty. Griffons killing one of her subjects without her knowledge... "But that's not the worst part...I didn't know until fifteen years AFTER it happened... It happened at Ponyville a few years ago..."

________________________

"Yo! Gilda! Where are you? Gilda--" Rainbow stopped and stared at the horror in front of her. Her friend Gilda, having maimed a doe and her fawn, but that's not what caught her attention. On both, a swirl with three marks above it.

Gilda finally noticed Dash and turned to her. "Oh, hey Dash. Sorry I got a little hungry, but I saved some fish for ya." She said pulling out a fish from her bag. Rainbow stared at the fish for what felt like forever, still seeing the symbol in her head. She knew that each griffon had to mark their kills with a simple symbol, a symbol that made that kill their property, and she remembered seeing that on her mother...

"He--hey... Did I ever tell you about my Mom?" She said, her voice wavering. "She-- she died when she was attacked by griffons in my home, she said she owed a debt and she had the money... but that's not what they wanted..." Rainbow told as she got closer and closer to Gilda. The griffon began backing up a little, somewhat fearing her friends' look. "She told me to hide somewhere and I hid in the closet in the living room, the door was one of those thin panel doors ya'know? Well, I watched it all, I saw her give the griffons the bits, saw her begging them to leave her alone in peace... but the largest male there told his daughter to slaughter her like a pig!" She yelled, no in Gilda's face. "It was you!"

"Dash, I've done alot of bad things, but I don't which one you're talking about!"

"Firefly..." Dash said in a low voice. "Her name was Firefly... Pink coat? Blue mane? Blue thunderbolt cutie mark? Seem familiar?!"

Gilda stepped back and fell on the ground looking up at her. "Dash, I-- I didn't know--"

"Of course you didn't fucking know! The only reason why I know it was you who did it, is that symbol, right there on the fish... That is what you craved into my mother, that it what is stuck in my mind! That! Is why, I'm like this! A hack who takes pride in herself and shows off all the time! That is who you made!!" Rainbow wiped around and bucked Gilda's face. She felt a small crack and Gilda's muffled screaming, and her hoof hurt too... When she looked she saw a small yellow sliver inside her hoof.

A piece of Gilda's beak.

She pulled out the little piece and stared at the bird before her. "Leave... before I do what you did to my mother..." She hissed at her before the griffon took flight, still holding her blood covered mouth.
________________________

Celestia listened well as Rainbow Dash finished the story. Never once had a tale like this ever grace her ears... "So, that's the reason you don't want to go to the Roosts? ...I'm sorry Rainbow, but I need you to do this for me, for Equestria, "She leaned down to look her in the eye, "for the world..." Rainbow weighed her options before nodding her head and thanking her for getting it off her chest.

Celestia nodded and in a flash of light, they were both in the main room. "Well, my little ponies," She announced, "I will get the balloon ready for your journey there. I wish you all the best of luck."

After a mere one hour, they had air balloon was ready, and they soon floated off to the Northern Roosts, and on the way there, they saw odd amounts of a greenish lightning...

Author's Note

Hooray, Rainbow backstory!

Highlander's Mistake (Nemesis Whip)

My blade was meant for Zeus! Be quick with your words!

Green lightning arched across the skies of the Northern Roosts. The five ponies watched in awe at the arches, mesmerized by the way it flowed and sparked. Rainbow Dash was the only one that was not watching, already regretting complying with the princess. She hated and was scared of the Roosts. She hated them because her friend Gilda was the one who actually killed her mother, and she was scared because they might do the same thing. She looked up to the green arches noticing them weave and dance across the skies. She furrowed her brows, looking at how they were being manipulated... Her eyes widen and she took a sharp intake of breath.

"GET DOWN!" Rainbow yelled she started to push the balloon downwards. The lightning just skimmed the top of the balloon, but unfortunately for the ponies, that was all it needed to be sent down hurdling towards the ground.

Rainbow Dash was, and she wouldn't admit no matter what, scared after Princess Celestia had told them to go to the Roosts, but she also found a silver lining. She would get revenge on her for what she did. She would kill Gilda if-- she stopped and shook her head. No! No matter how much she hated Gilda, she was still her friend... she hoped... Her perked suddenly as she heard the sound of rocks falling and looked at the source.

"...Huh..."

A mountain. She was dangling from a mountain. The branch that held her was, to be frank, scrawny, but strong. She tried moving her legs but stopped as pain bolted though her hind leg. "OW! Damn it, that hurts!" Rainbow yelled as gently moved it back to it's position. "Okay, so walking's out... so lets try..." With a few flaps of her wing she rose and managed to lift from the branch. "Alright, that's one problem solved, now where are the other five?" Rainbow thought to herself, flying more upwards. As she did, however, she was unaware of a griffon scout watching her the entire time.

Rainbow Dash flew over the cliff and almost stiffened at what she saw. The air balloon was in shambles, it was torn in several places, the basket smashed and caved in beyond repair, and what was worse is that the five occupants were no where to be found. "Pinkie! Fluttershy! Rares! Twi! Applejack! Where are you!?" She yelled in the sky, hoping that they might hear her.

"Hehehehehe... If you want to see your friends, you're a little too late." A voice said from behind her.

She whipped her head around to the voice to show a griffon, about as large as Rainbow was tall. He was young, obviously, as she knew that griffon could get, at least, two times that size. "The king, he has 'em. Says that exotics like these don't come here often. Though, I can see why, ever thought about bleaching that?" He said pointing at her mane and tail. Here, at about this point in time she would beat him within an inch of his life, but because of A: he's only a kid, and B: natural curiosity, she didn't. She did give him a noogie though. "Hey! Hey! Fine, sorry! If you want, I can take you to the king. Your friends are there... just maybe not for long however..."

"So let me get this straight... You're telling me that our holy relic here," He said holding up a tri-bladed dagger like weapon. "is actually a weapon that your princess sent you to find so she may lock it away?" The Griffon king, Ka'hool the Wise, asked, skeptical of the whole thing this pony had told him.

"Yes sir," Twilight said, shaking from his deathly gaze, "if you just, let us take it from you, we can assure that it won't be used for wrong doing in the--"

"Wrong doing!? You think that our relic, our sacred worship piece, is going to do wrong doing!?" The king roared. He had never heard such malarkey in all his life, and that's from experience! "Our relic has not been doing anything since before you showed up! It's somehow your fault that the Griffons Wings have been acting up! That's why you need it, to destroy it, right?"

Twilight stammered from her position trying to think of something that would calm down the king. Her prays were somewhat answered as the doors behind her opened. "Sorry your High and Mightiness, but I found another pony here that seems to go with this bunch!"

The king sighed heavily. "Keem, I thank you for bring this to my attention," Keem smiled a lilttle with pride, "but I want to remind you that you just interrupted a royal court..." He said with irritation sprinkled in his tone. Keem smiled again, more sheepishly that before and sped off leaving Rainbow Dash alone with the king and Twilight. "You, rainbow pony, step forward."

Rainbow Dash nodded and began to step forward before a large plum of feathers blind sided her. Her vision was blurry, and she shook her head to clear it.

"Long time, no see... Dash." A voice sneered. "It's been too long ya'know. How long since we last saw each other? Oh yeah, two years... Two years since we laughed, two years since we last cheered... Two years since you broke me." Dash's sight cleared to see Gilda, but she was different. Her eyes were more predatory, her feathers plumed out making her look older than what she was, and her beak was still broken, but it looked like it healed. "Two years since I last promised that I would kill you..."

"Gilda..."

"Gildalia Goldenbeak! What do you think you're doing?!" He screeched.

Gilda was silent for a long time before she swooped and knocked the king onto his back, she swooped in again grabbing the Griffons Wings and stabbing him the chest with them. The Wings fanned out inside his chest cooking him from the inside out. After he stopped moving, she wrenched them out of his chest. "Just having a talk with a friend." She answered and turned to Rainbow Dash. "Ya'know Dash, I have to thank you. About a month after you kicked off my beak, I came to the Wings to pray. I was alone that night, and when I entered I prayed that I would destroy you and make pay for what you did to me."

The Wings crackled with lightning. "And then, they rose from the pedestal they were stabbed in and gave me a strength like no other. It was pure bliss, then a voice spoke to me from within the blades..."

Young one, what is your name?

"Gilda... Gilda Goldenbeak."

What do you wish?

"To bring my so called friend to her knees! So I can have revenge of what she did to me!"

You seek retribution and revenge? You are so much like him... My name is Hephaestus, and what you wield is...

"What I wield is the Nemesis Whip!" Gilda yelled at launched towards Rainbow Dash, ready to deal a deadly blow.

Author's Note

So! Long time no see huh? Well, with school going on, I haven't found time to do things let alone think of them. So here, have this chapter as an apology.

Highlander's Fury (Nemesis Whip)

I did you no wrong, Hephaestus. I pursue only one Olympian.

PLAY

Gilda suddenly lunged at Rainbow Dash, and in her sight, time suddenly slowed. Thinking fast, Rainbow dived out of the way, and landed left of Twilight. Twilight jumped and ran towards somewhere safer, but Rainbow noticed she ran towards a doorway. "Must be where the others are..."

"Gotten faster haven't ya?" Gilda yelled. Rainbow Dash sneered for second before her face twisted in slight fear as Gilda rushed her again, the blades fanning out. She quickly rolled out of the way, but found herself struggling as Gilda pounced on top of her trying to drive the blades into her chest.

"Give me the revenge I so rightfully deserve!" Gilda screeched. Rainbow pulled her arms to the side and kicked her legs against Gilda, sending her flying a few feet away. Gilda screeched again, flying up high in the clouds. "See you dodge this!"

The greenish lightning struck near Rainbow in fast intervals, each time getting closer. Every time she moved to dodge, the strikes would circle and come back at her forcing her to keep moving. The strikes abruptly stopped as Gilda came back down, dive bombing the speedster. Once again, Gilda was on top of Dash trying to stab the blades in her chest. Dash pushed her arms to either side and kicked her again.

*Smack smack, SMACK!*

Gilda went flying away again, this time when she stood back she fell to one knee, trying to regain her strength. Rainbow saw this as an opening and flew forward tackling her. She raised her hoof and time slowed again, she looked off to the side and saw a flash square, which in turn was mentally pushed by something. Her hoof came down on Gilda's face, and she brought up her other hoof and looked on the side again, the square was still there and once again something pushed it. Her other hoof came crashing down on Gilda's head with a satisfying crack. Rainbow grabbed her head and pulled back, and she looked to her side again, seeing the dull pink square as a force pushed it.

Rainbow's head slammed into Gilda's and blood caked both of their faces. "RRRAGH!! I grow tired of you, pegasus!" Gilda screech as she launched in the air once more. The lightning was striking again, but much more faster and Rainbow spread her wings to fly up. But she forgot one important rule: Never fly during a storm, natural or otherwise. A surge of green lightning went coursing through her body, and she was powerless to stop it. Gilda then swooped down and caught her before she hit the ground, but ultimately threw her down instead.

As Rainbow fell, she felt a strong voice speak in her mind.

"Child," the elderly voice spoke, "what are you doing?"

"Falling..."

"No, descending. Will you allow such a thing to happen?"

"No..."

"Then, much like my son, Hephaestus, I give you a gift like none other, the Sack of Lightning Bolts. I once used these to kill the Titan, Typhon, and threw his remain into Tartarus. Use this gift wisely and it will lead you to victory!"

Her eyes sprung open and a light engulfed her back. She regained control and evened out, landing on all four hooves, and reached back to feel a satchel of some kind. She dug around in the satchel before finally looking up at Gilda, going in for a dive bomb.

"This time Dash, you wont get away! Time to die!" Rainbow put up an arm to protect herself, even though she knew it was useless. When the blade connected however, an arch of gold lightning stopped the attack and earned a startled screech from Gilda. Rainbow opened her eyes to see that a golden electric aura surrounded her arm, protecting it from the danger. In her hoof, it looked like something that Twilight once described, what was it called? Hands! It looked like a hand, meant for gripping and throwing. As she clumsily opened the magical hand, a bolt formed in the palm which she automatically clamped onto.

Gilda recovered for her initial shock and rushed forward to attack, but was stunned as Dash threw the golden bolt at her. Reaching back again, she felt a hilt and grabbed it, and she pulled out a sword in the shape of a bolt. Looking at the blade, she didn't notice Gilda get up and launch at her, the Nemesis Whip waving around eager to taste Rainbow's blood. Her instinct Rainbow over and she brought the blade up, blocking and parrying the attack. Rainbow slammed the pommel onto Gilda's head and came back with a vicious swipe that cut through her skin. She clutched her chest in pain, but fought it off.

Unfortunately for Gilda, Dash launched a bolt and it hit her hard. Gilda dropped the Nemesis Whip, flew back from the force and hit the wall.

STOP

Gilda groaned and sat up against the wall, and she saw Dash pick up the Whip in her blurry vision. "I thought you were loyal! I thought you would never leave someone hanging! But what about now, huh? Are you really going to kill your best friend?!"

Rainbow said nothing, looking back over to her then looking back at the Nemesis Whip.

"You may have defeated me, but good luck in the long run when you try to get the other weapons!"

Rainbow once again stared at her then flew straight towards her, the blades fanned out and landed next to her. "I will make you suffer, by taking the one thing you love so much from you..." She said as she took out Zeus' Bolt and pinned down Gilda by her stomach. She screamed out in pain and tried to wrench out the blade, was stopped by a pain on her back.

"AAAAHHH!! Please! Leave me alone, I've suffered enough already!"

Rainbow payed no mind as she moved to her other wing and severed it from her body as well. Gilda's cries for mercy went again, unheard by Rainbow Dash as she stabbed the Nemesis Whip into Gilda with a mighty cry. "Ah! This will not be victory for you! In the end... I will win!" Gilda sneered as Rainbow wrenched the Nemesis Whip from her breast bone and her blood stained her hooves and some of her face. With that, Gilda fell to the ground.

Gilda stopped moving, only to explode in an energy of light that started to convulse and twitch. The wind around Rainbow, and soon enough the five other ponies began to pick up, and whip even the mightiest rocks off the ground. The wind never died down, but they could still hear the scream.

THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!

Author's Note

Yes, QTE (Quick time events) are still active, it's not like I don't spice things up anymore.
And here is the Zeus' lightning bolt. Despite Mythology saying a spear, I say it can be both.

Aim True, And Light The Fire

I hope for nothing... I fear nothing...

It was a grueling hour getting out of the Roosts. None of the six passed a word as Rainbow took the front, the blades dragging across the ground. She never bothered to wrap them around her forearms and kept her wings tucked in tightly. Both of the tri-blades were fanned out, only moving back into place when she took steps forward. She was tired, wanted to go to bed, and wanted to go home. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie all kept an eye on her, making sure she didn't collapse while Applejack and Rarity looked around at the other Griffons that happened to have been there. They stared at Rainbow in particular, looking at her blood covered face and the relics that seemed to have bonded with her.

The winds that was now in place of the chill of the mountains made it very hard for them to walk, fly, and see, as it the wind whipped rocks the size of their heads around. It was a mystery that they were still standing. The only one's that seemed unaffected by this was the Griffons and Rainbow.

"Sugar... what happened out there?" Applejack asked getting closer to Rainbow. "We ran out and heard Gilda screeching at ya, then next thing I know a big ball of light and a wind strong enough to hurl cattle comes along." She looked around. "And by the looks of it, it ain't stopping..."

"It's the effect of Chaos..." A voice said that seemed to have came everywhere, but at the same time one place. "You killed a mortal who had inherited the traits of a God, mortal's that I myself have chosen... And by the looks of it Skittles here did the dirty work..." The voice said, sounding very disappointed. A *pop* sounded in front of them, and showed Discord, the Lord Disharmony and Spirit of Chaos. Unlike the last time's they've seen him, he had a serious look on his face and a more animalistic look as well.

"Boreas. The God of the Northern Wind and Winter. That is the power she inherited, and now that she is dead, that power is now flowing without a master..." He scowled looking at Rainbow in particular. His eyes shot open as he grabbed the weapons by the chains wrapped around her hooves. "Where did you get these?! Celestia, Luna and I all made a deal, why would she break it?!"

Discord dropped Rainbow on her rump, getting an "oof" out of the mare, and he turned back with a dangerous look in his eyes. "Do NOT trust Celestia no matter what. What she is doing is nothing but trouble... Seeing as you have the Nemesis Whip, I can give you something that can help you along the way." He said as he snapped his fingers and a chest appeared in front of them all. "Open it. I trust that you will love it." Pinkie was the first one to the chest as she mustered all of her strength in it and the chest flew open. Inside was an enormous eye that looked freshly picked, and all of the ponies blanched.

"This is a Gorgon Eye. Gather three of these and all of you're overall health will be extended. The next one," He snapped his fingers again and Twilight opened it with ease. Inside a Phoenix Feather. "is a Phoenix Feather, gather enough of these little beauty's and you can extend the amount of magic you can use for the weapons." He snapped again. "And finally..." Applejack stepped up and bucked hard against the chest, making the top fly upwards and breaking back. "...Remind me not to make you angry. Anyways, the last the one is a Minotaur Horn. Collect three of them to extend the amount of time you can use an item.

"Now I must be going. I have to talk with Celly..." Discord snapped his fingers, and in a flash he was gone. The ponies stared at the Eye, Feather, and Horn in front of them before Twilight picked all of them up, and put it in a pocket of magic.

"There, that should--" *thwee~* "AAAHH!" Twilight went down clutching her shoulder as an arrow stuck out, it's tip still marked by a fire.

"Hahahaha! Nice shot, G!"

"Thanks, after some practice, maybe I can hit the head!"

She knew those voices...

"Here! Give a me a shot!"

"No way Flame-Tard, this is mine! Dad, gave it to me because he's way to big to use it," The first voice said, "But that doesn't matter, lets go down and--"

"Uh... G? The one ya shot has wings..."

So?"

"And a horn..." The third, obviously more frightened voice said.

"SHIT! Wait... no, not shit! THIS MAKES THE CATCH EVEN BETTER!" The voice said flying out of the tress and into the open. Rarity gasped in shock, while Rainbow twitched her legs and the Whip was at her hooves in an instant. Garble, the young teenage Dragon, who Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow and Spike had faced before, now stood before them looking more mature but still up to his usual antics with Crash and Thorn on his side. On his back, was a fiery bow, something that told them was the Bow of Apollo.

"Here, here, little ponies, come on and take a seat, today will be the day that I take down an Alicorn and make every dragon proud!" Garble proclaimed, standing over Twilight's body.

PLAY

"Let her go." A small voice said, causing everyone to turn to Fluttershy.

Garble stood up, and peered at the little pony who had suddenly become brave.

He then proceeded to laugh in her face. "You really think that you of all things can defeat me! You're wasting your time." Garble bent down to pick up Twilight, but was suddenly hit by a force that pushed him back on his backside. When he looked and saw, he saw the fire of a great, powerful dragon in the eyes of a weakling pony.

"I will ask you one last time... Let. Her. Go." Fluttershy said, her natural sweet-as-honey voice now drowned in a cold, cold tone. Garble only stared at this...thing in front of him. Here was the will and strength of a fully grown dragon, but it looked as though it was hidden under lock and key.

The Dragon was snoring.

"Make me, you undersized pansy!" Garbles foot lashed out and struck Fluttershy, launching her in the air.

The Dragon stirred.

Fluttershy landed on her hooves, and looked up with a grimace on her face. Her lessons with Iron Will coming back to her. If they want to fight, MAKE THEM SEE THE LIGHT!

The Dragon snorted smoke.

With a burst of speed, she plowed into him, causing him to fall again, but much harder. He tumbled for a second or two before digging his claw into the ground to stop himself. He snorted a flame before pulling out the Bow and pulled it back until the arrow caught fire. "Dodge this, bitch..." Garble sneered before he let the arrow fly free. The arrow caught in her shoulder, but unlike Twilight, she did not fall. Instead she grabbed the arrow and pulled it out of her shoulder spitting it to the ground.

The Dragon growled.

Crash and Thorn decided to distract Fluttershy by launching themselves toward her.

The Dragon smirked and roared.

She grabbed Crash's spiked tail and using the momentum of his charge, spun around catching Thorn as well, and threw them back at Garble. Fluttershy smirked and watched as the red dragon pushed his friends off of him, but her smirk quickly faded as a large burst of fire sported from where they were. Garble stood there, a red aura around his body. The bow look more ferocious, as the snakes began to move around it and wrapped around his arm.

He lined up a shot at her head, and let go of the arrow. They both watched as it sailed through the air, as it got closer to her, but farther from him.

The Dragon spewed flames from its maw, and burned the intruder to ash.

Fluttershy swiped her hoof across the air, and held the arrow he'd fired and broke it in her grasp. Garble was shocked, not only did her swipe the arrow out of the air, but it was burning with his rage. How could a pansy like her do anything?!

Fluttershy began to walk closer to him.

"Stay back!" He said, firing another shot but missed completely. "I said stay back!"

The Dragon went back to its horde and layed its head to rest.

Fluttershy suddenly burst forward with speed, grabbing the Bow and ripping it off of Garble's arm. She held it in a sword like style as Garble reared up and stuck downward, but before he made contact, the Bow crashed into his side. He shook off the pain but again the Bow crashed down on his head. Now dazed, he felt his open mouth without his command, and something lodge itself between it.

Then everything hurt.

His insides were on fire, the fire pouch in the back of his throat had been ruptured and now fire was leaking everywhere in his body, burning it inside-out. Fluttershy held in her hoof Garbles fire essence, and lodged it in the one of the snake heads on the Bow. The snake swallowed it, then Bow burst to life looking newer than before and much more durable. Garble clutched his neck and looked back up to the pony-- no... the dragon that killed him. He would remember her face long after his death, and everything went black. His body went limp, his head smashed against the ground, and fire still spewed from his mouth.

Author's Note

This will be used in the last chapter.

My brothers, we were forged in victory. A victory that ended the Great War and brought forth the reign of Mt. Olympus. Born from the depths of the Underworld, rooted in the River of Souls, our mountain emerged out of the chaos. As it grew, so too did the might of the Olympians. We created a world of peace, a world of prosperity. A world that lives in the shadow and safety of my mountain, a mountain that has come to be the absolute measure of strength and power. Now, on this day, that power is to be tested. The mortal, Kratos, seeks to destroy all that I have wrought. Brothers, put aside the petty grievances that have splintered us for so long. We will unite. We will stand together, and I will wipe out this plague. Olympus... will prevail!!

Preview 1

"I've long known about Kratos, even before his ascension to being the God of War!"

"You're nothing without me! And you know it! Kill me now, and you kill the world!"

"The Master Race is far more superior than you, little inbred daughter of Celestia!"

"I don't care who you will be... You can't stop what you've already become..."

"Wait! Please! Spare me, and I can take you to him! I can take you the remaining Claw!"

"Little pony... why do you fight? Can you not see this is predictable, or are you that dumb?

Taken Down Under (Nemean Cestus)

For once in your pathetic life don't fail! Don't fail her like you failed your family.

Fluttershy pulled the bow string back and unleashed a torrent of arrows that mostly bounced off the other dragons' scales, but still an arrow or two would sneak its way past the scales and be lodged in between them. "Dash!" She called. Rainbow turned her head towards her, and nodded before taking flight and rammed into them, sending them into the air. Fluttershy took flight herself and began to fire once again.

She aimed at the nearest dragon, Thorn, and shot arrows up his underbelly and he fell unceremoniously to the ground. Crash regained some balance in midair, and as retaliation blew fireballs towards Fluttershy and Dash. Rainbow Dash spun the Nemesis Whip in front of her and the ball of fire dissipated as it made contact. Fluttershy shot her fireball out of the sky, before she pulled back the bow string and held it until the bow caught fire and released it. The arrow pierced his armored back and set his insides ablaze until he too fell to the ground in a smoldering heap.

Fluttershy panted as she floated back down to the ground. She dropped the Bow and then fell to the ground. All of her friends screamed her name, but it was Rarity who acted and grabbed her before her head slammed down. "Darling? What's wrong?" She asked but got no response. She but her ear to Fluttershy's chest, and listened for her heartbeat. "Okay... still alive, thank Celestia..." Rarity mumbled and moved to her mouth. "Still breathing too... Shock maybe?" She said to herself moving away from the fragile pegasus. As she moved away though, Fluttershy's hoof launched out and grabbed her, pulling her down and whispered in her ear in a voice that was not her own.

"Hope is what makes us strong, it is why we are here... It is what we fight with when all else is lost..."

Fluttershy's eyes rolled back into her head, and she fell unconscious once again. Rarity stood stunned for a moment before turning around to her friends...

Who were no longer there.

Rarity looked back down to Fluttershy.

Who was no longer there.

"Uh oh..." She said to herself before she felt the claws grab onto her and start dragging her down into the ground. "Kyaaa!! No, not again! If there's one thing I'd rather do it's eat SWEETIES COOKING!" She screamed before her head was fully enveloped by the dirt and hands that had snuffed out her voice before she started to scream again falling from an impressive height. She looked around the large cavern to find that it was A LOT bigger than the last time she was there.

For example: The gigantic rusted chain that hung from a hole in the top of the cavern.

Rarity stared at the monumental sight, looking in awe and fascination, but what she really felt was fear. A fear of what that chain might've held before it was like this. She looked at the dog carrying her and saw that he had a pair of wings attached to his back. It was... peculiar to say the least, but what really did surprise her was that they were actually smart enough to make these. The dog, who she'd recognized as Fido, landed and quickly slammed her into a cage, locking it shut.

"Now, be good little pony. Don't want to end like Gold Man..." Fido said as he walked behind the cage and gave a push. She and the cage began to wheel down the large cavern.

"Rarity! Over here!" Rarity looked up to the two other dogs, Rover and Spot, sail down on their wings as well and drop the remaining ponies. The two dogs dropped them into a big pile of themselves, with the still unconscious Fluttershy topping them off. "Fluttershy's still out..." Rainbow said, guarding her even with herself on the very bottom of the pile.

"Enough! Get to cages! Now!" Rover shouted. The four ponies went in their cages (Pinkie dragging Fluttershy into her cage with her), but Rainbow stood on her hindlegs in defiance.

"You'll never get me in that cage!" She shouted, the Nemesis Whip fanning out as green electricity cracked off of it.

Rover smirked at her. "I don't need to..." He said as he snapped his claws together. There was a grunt, and next thing Rainbow knew she was picked up in a meaty paw and was thrown across the cavern straight into a wall. She felt a wing crack, the wind leave her body, and she couldn't hear a single thing save a dull ringing in her ears. The Whip fell lamely to her sides as she fell and hit the ground, and she looked to see the red eyes of the thing that threw her.

It stared and pointed at the cage.

"Help me then..." She croaked out. She could hear it sigh and felt it pick her up. She was placed roughly into the cage, groaning in pain and sat up slowly.

They all heard its deep, gravely voice. "Summon me for more of a challenge..." His voice was low, and sounded like it shook mountains. The power behind his voice shook even the unconscious Fluttershy, who tensed up. It jumped back to its perch where it once was and stared with its glowing red eyes. A phantom in the black.

Twilight caught a small glimpse of this figure, it was very tall, easily towering over Celestia. It had matted greyish fur and a black nose, along with giant jowls and an old look. The figures tail was long, and on the end was spiked, but unlike the other dogs, his spikes seemed to have grown fairly larger than the rest, much like a lions fluff on the end of its tail.

This dog was a force not to be messed with, considering when it grabbed Rainbow, the only thing showing was her head coming out between his thumb and his finger, and her legs dangling beneath her. Twilight feared this was the end of the road for and he friends...

Author's Note

"They all heard its deep, gravely voice..."
Read as Gravel-y
Inspiration for his description.

Rocksalt In The Wound (Nemean Cestus)

Your Hell awaits...

Applejack looked around at her friends, ending on Twilight. When she saw her expression, however, she felt somewhat relieved because when Twilight Sparkle got scared she thunk. And when she thunk, she planned. When Applejack saw her eyebrows rise, then quickly fall back to their original, sad expression, she knew that her plan would have to work. They all wore sad masks until the dog stopped their cages near the edge of the cavern. The red eyes, thankfully were gone, but still they had to work quickly.

"Excuse me! Mister Dog?" Twilight sudden said, getting the attention of the dog. "How did you make those wings?"

The dog looked at his back, then to Twilight. "We find them. We have drawings, uh... blueprints! They simple to make... but have bad effect..." He sad turning his back and flaring the wings. Twilight looked as close as she could from the cage, and saw the "bad effect".

They fused to his shoulder blades.

The dog moved the individual wing, and then both, taking off for a short flight. He landed near the edge again. "Is thankful we have found these! They make getting here and there easy! But... most dogs fall into Pit of Rot..." He said pointing down into the deep pit. "We can still here screams... Screams of those both dead now, and before... But the ones from before speak a name within their screams... "The Ghost of Sprata, The Falled God, The Markked one," these all names for one soul... Krastos... The God Killer..." Twilight was almost offended by how the dog butchered the Equish Language, but was thankful that the dog was giving so much information.

"Do you want to visit them? The... Dead Ones?" Twilight asked innocently. The dogs' eyebrows jumped to his helmet. "I'm not trying to be threatening, but have you ever considered...?"

"Yes... many times... Pup and Bitch fall down Pit of Rot... I miss them..."

"Then why not let us go, and I promise we'll find a way." Twilight said with desperation. The dog only chuckled and kneeled down to her.

"How can you do that, pony?" The dog asked, but just as he started to stand up, she whispered "Forgive me."

What happened was a flash.

Twilight used her magic to rip the keyring off of his belt while simultaneously pushing him forward away from the cages and dislocated his wings on his back. He yelped and fell from the ledge catching just barely with one claw. He heard the cages unlock, and saw Twilight stand over him.

"You cared! Out of every dog and pony in this cavern, YOU CARED! Why?" The dog begged at her. She sighed and looked him in the eye.

"I do care... I really do... And I'm keeping my promise... you can see them again..." Twilight lied down and pet his head, somewhat calming him. "All you need to do is let go..." The dog looked in her eyes and saw true hurt and pain. They said to him, "I have no choice..."

"Tooth... I'm Chipped Tooth..." Tooth said looking in the sad eyes of the unicorn.

"Twilight Sparkle... One of the Four Princesses of Equestria." Tooth's eyes widen somewhat, before they settled back down and shut them. He smiled once more before nodding his head and let go of the ledge. He didn't scream as he was falling, nor did he even squeal. He smiled as he slowly descended and landed on his feet to the images of his wife and child. He held them close as a blue fire wrapped around them all and they disappeared in tiny, blue sparks.

Twilight was still looking down the deep cavern. A silent tear fell down with the dog before she stood up and walked back to the other five.

"Very noble of you Twilight." "Eeyup..." "Wowie... Even I wouldn't have the candy guts to do that..." "Yeah... I got to with Rares on this one Twi' noble of ya..."

Twilight smiled at her friends, but the smile didn't last long as the tell tale sound of digging over took the cavern. Carefully, with Fluttershy on Pinkie's back, they walked over to a set of rocks that concealed them perfectly, but they still had a view of what was happening.

Rarity eyed Applejack, "...Darling, are you sure you want to tangle with these ruffians?" She asked her, who had a determined look in her eye.

"Yes Rares, I'm sure I want to go against these here mutts..." She said in a low tone, making sure to keep quiet...

The Diamond Dogs were, to be honest, very dull. They only knew few things, but even then THAT was enough to get them by. The dogs scurried and scampered along the rock, clawing and digging through them until they hit a solid blue wall. Their claws and teeth had no effect on the wall, and they desperately needed to get to the other side.

"Is Onyx!" Rover growled, "Someone, get Bullmastiff!" As soon as Rover yelled his name, the largest dog anyone of the six had seen before came out of the shadows, his steps thumping along the ground. Bullmastiff's fist curled and his arms shot out as four dogs came out of the shadows, carrying the weapon that they needed.

"Uh... these things are heavy..." "Makes you wonder why he use them." The two dogs said to each other.

Pinkie nudged Twilight. "Hey, aren't those...?

"Yes Pinkie... The Nemean Cestus..." Twilight Sparkle said, looking in awe as the herculean dog, Bullmastiff apparently, lifted them with ease as compared to the four dogs carrying them both.

Highlander's Nemesis (Nemesis Whip Arc End)

Authors Note: This chapter is short on purpose. Don't get you panties in a bunch and start complaining.

I created you, and I will be your END!!

As the voice in the wind died out, Rainbow stood on her hind legs, in perfect balance and her fore hooves tightened against the weapons. She looked to Zeus' Bolt, only to find it withered and worn and it blew into dust, carried away in the wind. The chains at the pommel of the blades suddenly shot up and wrapped themselves around her fore hooves singeing the flesh on her arms. After that, she was breathing heavily and slumped to her knees...

I will break you...

I will rebuild you...

And I will make you into the perfect warrior!

Nemesis Whip Arc Complete

Author's Note

Abilities Gained: Nemesis Rage; Shock your foes into submission with its deadly sting.
Moves Unlocked: Furious Contempt, Righteous Tirade, Righteous Ascension, Harsh Penance, Surging Lash
New Skill Unlocked: Hephaestus' Sorrow; Launch yourself in the air to unleash a mighty bolt, once used by Hephaestus.