War looked out towards all creation from upon his throne before giving a tired sigh, his blue eyes glowing forlornly under his hood. “It has been eons since the True End War, and yet I find myself tired...perhaps it is naught but age.” He let out a soft chuckle. “Ah, but then there’s him, always eager to learn.” Suddenly, emerald flames burst forth from the ground and died off with a hiss, revealing a young toned man with olive skin, draconic eyes, and long unkempt green hair. War eyed the person before him.”Speak of the Devil...” He muttered. “It went well I see.” War said, ignoring the dented cuirass and mangled under shirt revealing deep wounds and bruises still dripping hot blood.
The young man lifted his head his busted nose dripping onto his face. “Aye,” He stopped to bite a bullet out of his left arm. “without a hitch.” He began removing his cuirass, allowing red symbolic tattoos to be seen. War readjusted himself in impatience.
“...And?” He motioned with his hand for him to continue.
“And, what?” He cocked his head. War pinched the bridge of his nose.
“By the Creator! What did you receive!?!” Spike shot him a cheeky grin.
“Well all you had to do is ask!” War sighed. “Fine, fine I get it!” He brought up his right hand as it began to glow with a golden flame. “You know for someone named the God Emperor of Mankind he sure was a disappointment...” He released the spell and a bright light and a loud explosion rang out. War shielded his eyes.
As the light died away, War lowered his hands and saw his apprentice standing regally, covered in massive grey flaming armor forged by the gods themselves.It had skulls beveled into the cuirass and pauldrons, and spikes rising from his shoulders. The man raised his head and revealed eyes of baleful orange and furious gold with wings of flame sprouting from his back. The man raised his hands and brought them together, forming a yellow ball of energy before pulling his hands apart, materializing an oversized grey and black sword with a skull in the crossguard. Even though the sword was massive, he was able to easily hold it in one hand. He clenched his fist once, and flames ignited and danced across the bladed weapon.
War smiled. “You are ready.” He nodded. His apprentice’s eyes widened.
“R-really! Are you serious!?”
“Aye. You are ready to extend the Charred Council’s jurisdiction to other worlds. More specifically, your homeland.” His apprentice sunk to his knees, the shock dispelling his armor and blade.
He sat there quietly for a what felt like ages. “Home...I can go home...” War nodded once more.
“True, but not before you receive your things.” His apprentice looked up at this.
“Huh?” War stood up and held out his gauntlet as a large dark chest materialized from red flames. War stepped away from his throne and down the steps towards his apprentice.
“As you know, we are tasked with keeping the balance. So as the powers of a Holy Being runs in you, so must a Cursed One.” War replied opening the chest. The man before him widened his eyes as screeching, wailing souls spewed towards him. He screamed as the souls entered his body and melded with his own. Their overwhelming power took the man off his feet and was levitating him ten feet in the air. The air became scaldingly hot as his body began to glow a sinister red. The man dropped to the ground on his knees, dazed.
As he got up, he lifted his head revealing one eye entirely a golden red heatless flames trailing away from the eye, and his other having an animated mashup of orange, yellow, and red in his iris, simulating an angry flame.
“W-what-” He jumped a little at his two toned voice. He focused and reverted it with a little concentration. He awkwardly cleared his throat. “What happened?” War tilted his head down a little.
“Absorbed their souls, and with it, their knowledge and abilities.” His apprentice looked shocked.
“Whose were they?” War sighed.
“Samael, Tiamat, Bheithir, Ghorn, Berial, Agni, Rudra, Prometheus, Phlegyas, Ragnaros, Infernon, Balrog, Dymiano, Belial, and...” His apprentice looked curious.
“And what?” War sighed.
“Diablo...” The man before him was floored.
“You can’t be talking about the Prime Evil, you know the one that took all four Horsemen to vanquish!?” War nodded solemnly.
“Aye.”
“You must be insane! To hand that power over to anyone is a fools errand!” War smiled.
“Your response further cements my good judgement.” His apprentice grumbled.
“Whatever...What’s next?” He asked.
“Well what is a Horseman without his horse and badge of office, hmm?” His apprentice’s ears perked up at this. War raised his hands as another chest raised from the ground, lava bubbling from where it emerged. The man looked inside.
“I-it looks just like-”
“It is mine. My job is done. My armor and weapons are yours. The number of Riders shall ever be four.” His apprentice’s head snapped up.
“You can’t mean-”
“Yes. I can. And I will. My time’s up, and the balance must be preserved.” His pupil sighed.
“I see...” War stood up from his throne and held out his arms as he began to disintegrate. White-hot flames spread across his body as an aura sped it’s way towards the new Rider. War’s glowing scar carved itself onto his face and shone with a red aura. It lifted him off the ground, making him stronger, faster, and immortal.
He dropped to the ground causing a small quake with his immense power. He eyed himself over, now inside his former master’s armor.
“Heh. What kind of name was ‘Spike’ anyway? My new name is Cinder... And I am a Rider...” He called his horse, and an Ardennes stallion ran out of the earth. Cinder eyed it. It resembled Ruin but had trails of black and grey ash trailing from it’s body. “Your name shall be, Ash. Hm...Cinder and Ash. I like it.” He looked at his new sword next. “The famed Chaoseater. Hmm...I like your name the way it is.” He said before placing it on his back.
He mounted his steed before flipping on his hood and gazing at all of creation. “Well, ready or not Equestria. Here I come...”
