Fallen Crown, Rising Sword

Space. The final frontier. So Infinity would love to think right now if he wasn't stuck in it, casually floating towards the sun as he gazed upon the planet Equestria was located on. He didn't think that space would even be his final grave, but atleast he got to see a beautiful sight before he died. How fitting.

"I thought I trained you better than this, Infinity..." A voice seem to fill his ears. He even could feel the scolding. "Before you even ask, ,Death? What are you doing here?' I'm here to not see that my training  with you go to waste because you decided to let your anger get a hold of you. Now you might be thinking that you're gonna burn up when you get near that sun. We both know that's not happening when instead you can get back down there and fight for that girl who loves you, and I know you love her back. Defeat the Fear. Win the girl. Happy clichéd ending like every other hero story out there."

Twilight helpless wept as her friends huddled around her in a failing attempt to comfort her. Fluttershy had tears streaming down her face from the brooding feelings, Pinkie wailing because, well because two of her friends were crying. Rarity had a piece of cloth out and dabbing at her own tears, Applejack on that verge with little pools of liquid threatening to just stroll down her cheeks. Rainbow was biting back her own as she just sat there, and Spike just hugged the lavender alicorn's waist with his face buried against her shirt.

All they had left was the vest he was wearing before and the sword harness that flew off with his blade when he was hit with the fireball. None of the seven dared to touch the items out in the open. Either it was out of respect for the fallen, or Twilight wasn't ready to retrieve them. Celestia's sun was beginning to set, changing the colors of the sky accordingly to a mix of blue and orange.

The groups attention was then caught by something lighting up the sky. In a blaze it flew over them, crashing feet away from them, but closer to the vest and katana. A small crater was the result of the object as the girls and dragon now stared in silence, with some sniffling here and there.

Smoke coiled up from the crater, a slight glow emitting from within. Everyone jumped when a golden-tinted hand popped up and grabbed the dirt rim, shortly followed by a familiar face gasping as he managed to climb out of the hole.

"Oh sweet fuckin' air!" Infinity praised as he kept taking in more breathes. "Oh sweet, sweet glorious air! How I love you so!"

Twilight was the first to speak up as she steadily took a stand. "Infinity...."

"Oh hey Twi." Infinity looked over with a smile, grabbing his armored vest and slipping it back on, soon getting covered in the metallic glow. "Fear's gonna need more than just space and a sun to take me down."

"..but how.. how are you even glowing like that?"

He looked at himself then back to her. "It's solar energy... apparently something I can use..."

Twilight just stared at the being before her, a bit awe-struck. "Then.. how did you get back?"

"I used a small portion of the energy to travel like a comets from the sun back here."

"But.."

"Twilie.." Infinity interrupted as he walked over to her. "I know you have a lot of questions right now, but please, I need to go handle Fear... make sure he won't come back and harm you or your friends." He smiled at her as he spoke, gently wiping away the mare's tears. "Then we can finally have some time to ourselves."

His touch was warm, and his words were soothing to her ears. Twilight couldn't help but give him a weak smile. There, standing in front of her was a creature not of her world, but could fit in with just a physical change. Sweet and kind are the qualities she loved of him, and now his valor and dedication to protect her home, her friends, and her. She squeaked a bit when Infinity locked her lips into a deep kiss, but it didn't take her too long to even melt right into his arms.

He broke the kiss as she looked up at him with her ears flattened. "I will be back... sooner than last time."

She nodded to him and stepped away as he casually scooped up his blade and harness. He approached the portal as he fastened the rig around his legs and waist, but stopped as he was just a step away. Something started to bug him, but he ignored it for now.

"OH..." Infinity turned and pointed at the dragon amongst them. "..and Spike, I'm going to show you some neat tricks when I get back."

Spike then excitedly grinned despite his own teary face, nearly hopping up and running after him. Twilight just giggled a bit, now standing among most of her friends.

"Ready Edge?" Infinity asked his katana.

For the first time since they met, Twilight heard the feminine voice of his so-called 'sentient' sword call out to him. "Ready Sire."

Infinity came into contact with stone flooring, but upon exiting the portal was something he expected: a corridor of a castle. The walls were adorned with yellow fabric banners that had intricate embellishments all over them. One thing was constant on each banner, which was a large 'F' or 'P' done in different styles.

"He always did have a thing for the classics." Infinity muttered as he looked around the structure.

Infinity was more impressed at the architecture rather than disgusted with it. It was smooth, form-fitting, and accurate on what it was supposed to represent. Which means he should be able to find the main hall with ease. And if he knew Fear well from past encounters then...

Cheers from far away erupted and broke the silence.

"Bingo.." Infinity smiled as he started walking

His ears swivel in all directions attempting to pick up the source of the cheers. Quickly reasoning that that he was gathered in the main room, but it was harder to just use his hearing... he needed something that could yield results like...

"THAT'S IT!" Infinity snapped his fingers and closed his eyes. "Edge.... activate sonar abilities."

"Done"

Now all Infinity had to do was wait for a more constant source of sound. Fear liked classical, so he was bound to play something triumphant. Right on cue, Fear had organized a single piece to play. IT started off simple, a barely audible piano for a few seconds before switching over to a pipe organ and drums. Perfect, enough sounds for his sonar to pick up accurately. Closely following where the audio was coming from and carefully navigated the halls.

His feet swiftly carried him through the maze of corridors. The song picking up in tempo as it continued on. This made Infinity smirk as he was getting a much more clear sonar image of the corridors he was navigating. Bettering his footing and guessing. Fear was definitely playing a war tune, probably for Wrath-now-Annesille in honor. Since those two would never invade separately.

The tempo dropped again, which was alright for Infinity since he was now in the Grand Hall of Fear's castle. He pried open his eyes and looked to the one end to see a pair of simple wooden doors. Then turned his attention the other direction: There stood a pair of intensely decorated doors. He approached the doors as the piece of music came to a close. With a smirk, Infinity raised his leg in the air.

Fear raised a goblet into the air as his song came to a close, the room then erupting into cheers as his familiars hissed and crackled. He then turned his head to the prize he had taken before he left the pitiful world called 'Equestria.' His victory however was short lived as the doors to his chamber were kicked in and wide open, smashing his guards against the wall and causing ink to stain the stone.

"SURPRISE BITCHES!" An all-too-familiar voice roared into the room.

The black creatures quickly returned to their more natural liquid state from the scare. Fear just groaned as he set his goblet down on the table and looked over to his old foe. He quickly noticed the glowing golden hue on Infinity, but shrugged it off.

"Just when I thought I finally got rid of your stinking ass, it fucking comes to my doorstep.. on my home turf." Fear rose from the table, revealing his two stories height, ripped to near impossibility as he smiled. "THIS IS MY TERRITORY!" He yelled back as the room flashed.

Infinity shielded his eyes from the flash, but found himself standing on the edge of his city...in pristine condition, when opened them again. He crossed his arms as  an explosion went off in the center. The ground rumbled and stones shook as the dome of fire grew and grew. He gazed on as the walls of heated doom consumed the buildings, rapidly closing in on him.

Then it just stopped centimeters away from his nose. Infinity raised a brow and poked the wall of fire, making it ripple like it was water before it fell apart.

"Really Phalatrex? That's the best you got for me? My own memory of all things you try to scare me with." Infinity commented as he watched the dome fall completely.

Then everything went black. "DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT!" Fear roared out as his came up from below and grabbed Infinity before throwing him down.

Infinity shot up in his cloud bedding, rubbing the bridge up his nose then his eyes. Once the sleep was steadily rubbed away, he scanned the room. His memory seemed to be a bit hazy from last night, but he recognized the room just fine. Almost everything consisted of the white fluffy substance that stayed in the air. The only thing in the room that wasn't made up of the stuff were the framed pictures of a cyan Pegasus and a white Pegasus together.

Each a still memory of some activity they did with each other. A warm smile spread across his face as he made his way out of the bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen. There, he was met with a multicolor mane bobbing and a tail swaying, a pair of earbuds in her ears as he could just faintly hear her music.

"Wow Trexxy.. I didn't think you'd stoop so low as to put me with the wrong mare and become her yourself." Infinity teased as he leaned on nothing.

The faux Rainbow Dash turned around with deep yellow eyes and growled. "I've defeated and killed many Crossers that were a treat to torture. you though? You're just becoming a pain in my ass... most Crossers didn't even bother to hide what they truly feared, You're something else entirely." Fear grimaced before turning back to his giant form.

"Trained by the best, to be the best, of the best." Infinity smugly stated as he looked at his hands.

"BUT THIS IS MY WORLD!" Fear bellowed yet again.

"Is it though?" Infinity deadpanned as he stared right back

A sudden moment of realization slammed Fear as the world around them started to fall apart. Reality gradually setting back in as Infinity faded out and back in as the golden hue he was when he arrived. The main hall started to building itself back in. Fear couldn't take on this Crosser like he's used to. Then he heard a deep inhale.

"SOLAR FLARE!" Infinity summoned up his power, a wave of energy blasting out as he put out his chest.

A beam shot out of the center of Infinity's chest and right at Fear. A hole gradually forming in his armor as the beam made contact with its target, then blasted through to the wall. Fear bellowed out in pain as the beam came to halt. Infinity panting as he gripped a forming war hammer, a hole right in the middle of his armored vest, and the gold tint fading from him.

"I already had my ass nearly handed to me by Wrath... now it's my turn to open my own can." Infinity said with a smile.

Fear quickly regained his footing and grabbed his sword. Hoisting the bulky squared-blade weapon on his shoulders and running at the Crosser. The blade was raised above his head as he neared. The giant blade coming down upon...

CLANG!

Infinity witnessed Fear's eyes go wide as the bigger sword came down on his left hand weapon, the Edge. Sparks flying off from the enhanced metals went against eachother. Then, in his right hand, he hefted his hammer up against Fear's weapon and smashed it into pieces before jumping up and drop kicking Fear away from him.

"Impossible!" Fear exclaimed worriedly as he looked to his broken blade. "Nothing's been able to break this! My Bane! My legendary sword!" He then pointed at Infinity's hammer with distain while he growled. "WHAT TI HELL IS THAT?!"

"Oh this?" Infinity lifted the hammer with a single hand. "It's just my family's war hammer, the Abatore Basher."

"You're family were a bunch of Crossers!?" Fear couldn't believe it.

"No, I'm the only one. I've made a few modifications to it so it's now the Infinity Hammer."

Infinity then rushed in close and left the floor. Spinning his body sideways to bring the hammer down on Fear's head before switching up and slamming it against his face. The blows rendered the behemoth a bit out of sync. Trying to recover, Infinity took the opportunity and swung the hammer at his legs. This caused Fear to come crashing to the ground, and Infinity jumped up on to his chest.

"Now.. let's see if I can-" He was cut off by a massive fist slamming into his head and launching him into a wall.

"Bastardized Crosser... that's all you are..." Fear grumbled as his got back to his feet. "A mere weapon crafted for death, destruction, chaos, and power.."

"Infinity.." A familiar voice called from within his ears.

"Equipped with a powerful tool in all known realms.. and you waste it on good and protecting lesser creatures." Fear continued on as he grabbed his busted sword.

"...You can beat him.. I believe in you" The voice called again.

"AND HERE YOU WILL DIE!" Fear roared out as he threw his blade at the Crosser.

Infinity felt something awaken inside him. The blade was about to make contact, but he suddenly blinked out of the way a split second. Fear smiled at the thick cloud of dust that his blade made from the blow before he started to cackle himself. The air shifted around him and he felt it, stopping his laughter.

The girls all were watching Twilight as she was positioned on her knees. They all felt a slight shift in the air as her wings shot out and a visible aura surrounded her. She felt awoken, a new potential as she sat there and focused on one thing, one being, one motive: Belief. The wind started to pick up, causing her mane to flip about in the breeze.

Infinity blinked back into view beside the smoke. Fear stepped back in surprise as he gazed upon a new Crosser. Infinity had a visible aura around him. Half a yellow-green, the other half.. a magenta. The Crosser took one and was raised to the same heint as Fear, stone encasing his legs and growing into a new form. Heavy stone for legs as a charcoal torso and head formed, then water spilled out from the sides of the charcoal forming arms and hands before freezing into a solid ice. The result was an avatar of Elements. The torso actually being separated by swirling wind and mist.

"Elemental Warrior.." The combined voices of Infinity and Twilight called out. "..activate."

The torso, arms, and legs lit up in a colored pattern of Infinity's aura, ethereal wings of magenta light unfolding from the back. the eyes each a single of the two colors. Then a lavender six-point star lit up on the chest before being overlain with a white eight turned on its side.

Fear charged at the mass of elements and threw the first punch only for it to be caught and a knee delivered to his gut. He took a few steps back then a fist collided with the side of his jaw, spinning him in a circle. Fear regained his foot and  kicked the chest of the being before punching its head. The head got lodged sideways and a shallow indent was made on its chest.

"HAH!" Fear scoffed with some vigor.

The dent popped out automatically and it snapped its head back into place.

"OH for fuck's sake. That's fucking cheating!" Fear turned his back and tried to flee.

The elemental held it's hand out and a magenta whip launched out of it and wrapped around Fear's waist. He got pulled back to the being quickly and clocked in the back of the head before being flung into a wall. The elemental just stood there as Fear fell from the wall before leaping on top of him. Fear coughed as it quickly grabbed his head. The being reeled back and smash heads with him before standing and stepping away.

Fear groaned out as he sat up, holding his head. "You think you can defeat me that easily?"

"No." The combined voices of the elemental replied.

"I'm not finished with you just yet." The male counterpart called out.

The element then raised its hands and shat out some of the magic stored within, opening  a portal to pure white. Slowly turning to Fear and taking a step forward. Fear was trying desperately to scoot away, knowing where he was going. Yet, he couldn't escape, he was up against a wall as the elemental grabbed his legs and began to spin him around. Letting go, Fear flew through the portal. He could only watch as the white symbol disappeared and Infinity shot out of the chest after him.

Twilight gasped as her head shot back. Her friends rushed over to her as she fell back. Her eyes fluttered open and a smile spread across her face as she stared up to the Luna's night sky, as it was scattered with stars.

"He's all yours Infinity..." She whispered before falling soundly asleep.

Phalatrex looked around. This wasn't the place he was thrown into.

"Seem familiar, Phalatrex?" Infinity called out behind him.

"No.." He was taken back by his voice. IT was... normal. Then he looked to the Crosser. "Where are we?"

Infinity simply walked up with a friendly smile and pointed to Phalatrex's head. Phalatrex silently nodded, understanding a gesture and looking around. It was just darkness... all of it. How was this even possible? Inside his own head.

"Here. Lemme show you something." Infinity broke the silence before pulling up a memory.

Phalatrex could see himself conversing with... others.. that kind of looked like him, but different. He was smaller. Their size. But they seemed angry with him. Phaltrex knew this felt familiar.. but he wasn't sure of it. He turned back to Infinity with a puzzled look. Infinity smiled as he looked over to him.

"What.. what is this?" Phalatrex asked.

"The first time you succumb to the corrupting force known as the Fear. It buried this so you'd forget it and wouldn't fight back." Infinity replied, gazing back.

Phalatrex witnessed his past self grow angry and lash out with powers he'd never seen before. He stepped back, physically shaking as he watched on. Until he felt the presence of a calming hand on his shoulder. He looked over to Infinity and weakly smiled back before looking again.

"It's alright now. Fear won't get you." infinity said as everything went bright.

Equestria, Some Time Later.

It was a beautiful spring day as Twilight was busy preparing some sandwiches and tea for lunch. She took a quick glance out the window to spot her boys doing some training. She giggled, remembering Infinity's promise to Spike about tricks. As true to his word, the two have been training ever since the defeat of Fear. It was nice to see Spike learning some new things and improving his fire breath.

Infinity spread his wings as he looked at Spike with a smirk. "Alright dragon-boy, hit me with your best shot."

"You got it feather-brain!" Spike retorted, breathing in and launching a good sized green fireball at Infinity.

Infinity strafed out of the way and rushed in. Spike took quick reaction and used a flamethrower-like attack. Infinity flew up to the sky, near the sun before landing behind the dragon. Spike turned around and punched. Blocked. Then went in for a knee. Blocked again. The two smiled at eachother.

"You two done sparring yet?" Twilight called as she approached them with a platter. "Or can at least cease until lunch's over?"

"I think we can call it a day, whaddya say Spike?" Infinity grinned as he nudged the dragon.

"Yeah! Hey Infinity, do you think I could beat you in a fight one day?" Spike grinned up at the pale Pegasus.

Infinity chuckled a bit and ruffles Spike's head spines a bit. "Maybe, we'll just have to see."

Infinity took a moment to quickly kiss Twilight and rub her slightly bulging stomach before heading inside Golden Oaks. So far, he's been enjoying a calm life. A family life soon with a little present on the way. He felt good and so did the ponies and dragon around him. Finally, he was in the clear.