Lyra - Unleashedby XyroXChaptersSweet AddictionThe changeling's palaceReunionTime to fight backVengeanceSweet AddictionThree years have passed since Bon Bon’s death, After I left the hospital, I stayed in Ponyville the first days. I didn’t want to talk to anypony and tried to dodge Tavi and Vinyl as good as I could. After a week of loneliness I left my house for the final time. It was a dark night when I went to the edge of the town. If I ever returned to Ponyville, it would be victorious… or in a casket. I didn’t expect Sunset to be in Equestria, so I had no need to go to any pony cities. There were only two places she could be: the Gryphon Kingdom or the Badlands. I spent two years in the Gryphon Kingdom, asking everybody I saw for a mare with red and yellow mane and a same colored sun as cutie mark. Nothing. But I knew she’d been there; I could feel her magic print. It got weaker and weaker, the more I moved away from the badlands. So this was my destiny. After one more year I finally had clue where I could find the one that tortured my mind and killed my love. ____________________________________________ “Where is she? I know she is here somewhere!” “I don’t know, I already told you!” the changeling in my deadly magic grip twitched in pure panic. “Shut up! Listen close; I will ask you again just one. More. Time. If I don’t like the answer you give me, you’ll end the same way your little friend did.” I pointed to the left where the remains of another changeling lied. Miserable vermin. They always have to lie, why? Jeez, he could just say me what I want to know and I’d happily end his suffering! “Do you understand me?” He nodded, pure fright in his eyes. “Great! So tell me: Where is Sunset Shimmer?” “I don’t know, you have to believe me! Please, have mercy! I saw her just once, I don’t know where she went!” “Well, I think we’re actually making progress! Why did it take you so long to tell me this? Where did you see her, and what was she doing? Think sharply before you say something stupid again.” “She came here and asked where she could find the palace! I have no idea what she wants there, I swear!” “Now, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? You just wasted everyone’s time, good job!” Stupid pests. ‘Oh, no, I don’t know where she went!’ I begin to wonder if they’re really this dumb. Where could she possibly have gone if she wanted to know where the palace is? Sigh “So, you’re finished now? You will let me go, won’t you? I told you what you wanted to know, didn’t I?” I saw a spot of hope in his eyes. They’re so cute when they think they can get away so easily. “Yes you did, and I’m really proud of you! It could have gone faster, but who am I to question the mind of someone who looks into death’s face? I’m sure you just couldn’t remember it all!” “Yes, yes, that’s exactly right! I’m just so scared, I couldn’t remember anything! Please, let me go, I swear I won’t tell anybody!” He nodded quickly and held his hoof in front of his heart. If he had one… “Listen, dear, I’m sooo sorry, but unfortunately, I think I can’t do that. You insects have to be cleaned from Equestria’s face. But hey, at least your last act helped my to bring justice in this goddamn world!” He whined loud, tearing his eyes open. I smiled evilly and crushed his throat in my magical grip. His eyes popped out of the skull, running red as his throat shrank to the size of a straw. I heard how his occipitals grinded to dust and soon I had just his dead body levitating in front of my eyes. I watched at it, disgusted by the fact how unbelievable ugly those creatures were, and threw it to the other corpse as if it was just some toy I didn’t want to play with anymore. Actually, it was. Guess I have to find that palace now. Make your deal with heaven, Sunset. I will find you, and it’s going to happen sooner than you think. ____________________________________________ My magic was stronger than during our last skirmish. Though I couldn’t perform the destruction spell at will, but I was sure seeing Sunset would be emotional enough to set free all of my powers. I left the building where I ‘met’ the two changelings and vanished in the night. They’re weird, the cities of the changelings. Their buildings don’t look like the houses I knew from Ponyville or humans. These houses here weren’t actually houses, they look just like their owners: Black, a blue or green shimmer here and there, and holes all over the facade. I didn’t want to spend one second longer in this sickening city than was necessary. I could smell these bugs, I felt their pitiful magic print everywhere I went. Changelings are weak, pathetic creatures. Their only advantage is their ability to take every form they want, but they couldn’t use that against me. I was alone, the past few years I barely talked to another pony. Twilight, Luna and Celestia wanted to help me find Sunset, but I knew they’d never do what is necessary to make her pay. So I was all alone, but I was glad about it. I didn’t want them to see me in my condition. I never wanted to hurt anypony, but these changelings are worthless. I wouldn’t even call them animals, they’re just some cockroaches I wanted to crush beneath my hoof. And I did it, as often as I could. Even though I never wanted to be a cruel, violent person, I can’t say I didn’t like what I did. Slaying these insects felt somehow… right. The might of the ability to decide who lives and who dies is overwhelming. I got addicted to it, but it was such a sweet addiction, I never wanted to release from it. While I walked through the night I remembered how it was before this all began. I and Bon Bon weren’t together a long time, thanks to Sunset, but the few days we had were amazing. The knowing that I was actually loved for the first time in my life helped my cracked mind more than I’d admit. During our relationship, I hadn’t had more than one or two of these nightmares that always reminded me of my human life, and I even stopped to drink. Almost, at least. But now, after three years without her or any other ponies I knew, I had nobody to prove that I’m not addicted. At least I hadn’t had any nightmares since Sunset bisected my mind. After about half an hour I spotted a huge outline in the distance. That had to be the palace, I was sure about that. Time to work out a plan, I couldn’t just dash in there and execute everything I saw, could I? I mean, I wanted to, of course, but I’m not sure if this would’ve been the best idea if I wanted to get out of there alive. So I sneaked up slowly, always staying in the shadows. The entrance wasn’t even guarded, they have to feel really save in there. Time to prove them wrong. I smirked and slipped inside. The changeling's palaceThe palace was totally different from any other changeling’s building I ever saw. It was very dark and the lamps shimmered blue or green, but these were the only commonalities. On the walls hung huge portraits of a tall, female changeling, Queen Chrysalis for sure. The doors were actually made of wood, not this bizarre black stone like in all the other buildings I’ve been so far. Left and right were three big doors each, and a huge silk carpet covered the bottom from the entrance of the castle to a huge double door opposite to it. Rubies and sapphires were on the sides of the carped and a big crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. There wasn’t any place to hide or any shadows I could stay in, but I didn’t had to, the entire hall was empty, nobody was around here. Carefully I stepped inside and headed the double door in front of me. That had to be the throne hall. I hold one ear at the huge wooden doors and eavesdropped. “… is here, I know it! I can feel her magic, we have to find her!” “Patience, Sunset. Why should we look for her? You said she wants you, so she’ll get here anyway. We don’t have to spend our energy to find this pathetic unicorn. We just stay here, and wait for her.” That had to bee Queen Chrysalis. Her voice went right through my bones. I’ll enjoy killing you and clean your parasite breed from this land. I was blinded with rage, but I knew I shouldn’t just walk into the hall like I was visiting an old friend. I needed a plan… “Hey, what are you doing here?” a changeling guard came out of one of the other doors and was about attack me. That had to happen ,right? At least one bug less to find after I end their queen’s life. The guard came running towards me, just to be smashed by the chandelier I ripped off the ceiling and threw at him. Maybe that was a little too loud… “What is going on out there? Don’t just stand there, do your damn job and defend the castle!” After Chrysalis’ order a dozen more guards came out of the throne hall. One of them immediately turned back and ran inside to give report to his queen, but this wasn’t my biggest problem right now. I grabbed some parts of the chandelier to throw them at the guards, killing four of them in not even a second. The seven remaining stopped for a second, and I could see the fear in their eyes. Good. “Do you really want to give your life for a queen that allied with a pony? She is the only one I want, hand her out and you’ll not be harmed!” I lied right in their faces, but the end justifies the means, doesn’t it? Like if they couldn’t hear me, they charged towards me. All right then, ladies… A few seconds of loud noises and seven short screams of pure pain were followed by deadly silence. After one minute, the doors opened again, and Queen Chrysalis and Sunset Shimmer entered the hall. Sunset was in her human form, of course. What reason had she to take a pony form? Chrysalis looked different from the other changelings; she was about as tall as Princess Celestia, had a big twisted horn on her forehead and dark blue mane. She smirked and revealed a pair of sharp teethes. Two wings stuck out of her back, they looked like a flies wings and had several holes and cracks. “Lyra, Lyra, Lyra. Did you really think, were you really naive enough to believe it would be this easy? You have no idea of the power we have. After we’re finished with you, there will be nothing left except a few green hair and a big pool of your blood.” “I am more powerful than you think, Sunset. You learned that first hand last time.” “Ah, that was just a little setback. Necessary to show me that I still have allies in Equestria.” “You mean that bug? I slew so much of you parasites, I lost survey somewhere around 50. You won’t be any threat to me.” Chrysalis mustered me and filled with anger when I noted her dead children. “You’ll pay for every single kid of mine you killed out there. Be aware that I have more power than any changeling could ever imagine! I will destroy you, and afterwards we’ll take Canterlot. I still have an open bill with that Twilight Sparkle…” “Lyra, do you remember how I parted you from your human half? You have no idea how helpful she was! Even she had true feelings for Bon Bon” I don’t like that voice she says that with… “And did you know, that changelings can feed off anything that has love in it, even from a shadow of a pony? Chrysalis gained so much power from your better half, even Celestia couldn’t harm her! But, you see, I’m a lavish person. Surrender and follow us, and we can rule Equestria together, you and I, two humans! Imagine you could be Princess Lyra Heartstrings! We’d have no conflicts with the changelings anymore, once we deliver Twilight to Queen Chrysalis, and if the gryphon make any problems we don’t even need an army to defeat them, it would be enough if one of us goes there to erase their whole military! We could be immortal!” “I’m sure, at least one of us will never be immortal.” I threw a fireball towards Sunset but she duck away. Suddenly, she was totally filled with anger and prepared to attack me. Her hands began to glow and she formed a ball of pure energy, ready to throw it at my. Chrysalis flew above me and tried to grip me, but I rolled away, just in time to dodge Sunset’s spell that crashed into the wall behind me. I threw some more spells at Sunset and kicked Chrysalis when she tried to smack me from behind. Several minutes passed and nothing seemed to happen. It was just a dance act between Sunset, Chrysalis and me. They threw some things or dark, pulsing balls at me, I dodged them just to answer with some of my light green lightnings. The hall was soon totally damaged, but nobody was hurt so far. Then, suddenly, Chrysalis managed to get out of my sight and kicked my leg from behind when I was just about to send some more spells at Sunset. I fell down on one knee and saw that Sunset prepared a deadly wave to end this fight. Though I could roll over, she hit my left shoulder. The pain was unimaginable. I flew across the room, crashed into the wall and hit on the floor. It’s over. Again, I failed. Forgive me, Bons… “The great and powerful Lyra! Defeated, waiting for her slaughter. Should I show mercy? You decide. This is the last time I offer you to join our wings. Be with us, or be doomed. What’s your answer?” “I’d rather be dead than helping you monster!” I spat in her face. “You have made an.. unwise.. decision. It’s time to get rid of you and start our siege of Canterlot. Actually, I shouldn’t kill you. I should let you see what I will do with your beloved Equestria, but… I have to finish what I began in the Everfree Forest.” She raised her hands and formed a ball of dark blue energy. So this is how I end? Defenseless lying to Sunset’s feet? She lowered her hand and released the sphere in my direction. ReunionThe slug hit my chest and the whole world exploded in pain. I lost my vision and couldn’t move, but I wasn’t dead. Somehow I survived Sunset’s attack, and she didn’t even notice it. They called two servants who carried my body out of the castle, even out of the city and threw me into a trench near the street. I lay there for a few hours, unable to move or open my eyes. When I already gave up hope, I heard something next to me. Thinking of all the creatures that live in the Badlands I prepared for the worst, but I suddenly felt a lot better. I even could stand up, though a bit ditzy, but I managed not to fall. What happened? How did I survive that? - Guess who’s back, Lyra! Could that be? My human half returned to me and saved my life, after it fought willing against me three years ago, trying to kill me? What do you want? Being parted from you was the best thing that happened to me since this all began! - I know, we had some trouble in the past. But I realized that you were right all the time. It’s not about being human again or have all the might that Sunset promised us. When she handed me to Chrysalis I knew that I’d made a terrible mistake. This damn parasite fed off me the whole time, nourished from my feelings towards Bons. Even though I never wanted to be a pony, those weren’t fake. And Sunset knew that when she showed up here. She never wanted to rule together with me, she had this plan the whole time after you defeated us. I… I’m so sorry for what happened. I flew from the castle after I heard that you’ve been there and looked for you all around the city. And now, I finally found you. I almost thought you’d be dead, so I merged with you instantly. I’m glad it’s not too late. Even though I wasn’t sure that being complete again was a real benefit, after all I couldn’t trust myself, I was happy to not be dead. If you’re truly on my side now- I totally am. That bitch will pay for what she did to us and Bon Bon. - Then I guess it’s payback time. Finally. I smirked. It was time to mount the heavy guns. ____________________________________________ During my time in the Gryphon Empire I met another unicorn, Trixie Lulamoon. I can’t say we became the best friends, but we had an helpful relationship since. And she had something that I could use for my final victory; the Alicorn Amulet. It was time to take a visit. I had to be extremely careful when I left the Badlands. Sunset and Chrysalis already prepared their attack against Canterlot and there were changeling soldiers everywhere. With my human part at my side, I was even more vengeful and stronger than I could ever have been without her. One time I accidentally got right into an entire battalion of changelings, at least 20 soldiers. They had no chance against the combined powers of me and my human double. We both used the same magic, but we knew everything the other thought, so we were able to attack multiple enemies at the same time. After not even a minute no single changeling was left. The only remains that testified the fight that just happened where some pools of dark blood and a few black pieces that covered the ground. We’re getting good at this. Maybe we should have a dead changeling as our cutie mark. - No. We shouldn’t have fun in killing. Even though I have to admit it’s satisfying to see the fear in their eyes every time, right before they get dismembered. - Of course it is! Don’t ever forget what they did and what they’re going to do if we don’t stop them! Actually, the changelings hadn’t harmed me at all. I just hated them for standing in my way and allying with Sunset, but that was enough to get an adrenalin kick every time I ended one of their miserable lives. I wasn’t at my maximum power, still injured from Sunset’s spell, and my human part was weakened from Chrysalis‘ parasitism, too, but even now we felt like we could strike down the entire changeling army. The only two threats were Sunset and Queen Chrysalis, but once I recovered and had the Alicorn Amulet, nothing could stop me from finally ripping them into pieces like every other opponent that faced me so far. Due to the fact that the Gryphon Empire is just next to the Badlands, it wasn’t a long trip there. After about two days I arrived at the border, and after one more day we entered Clawdor, the capitol. It didn’t take long to find Trixie as she was one of the few magical creatures there, and I knew her magic print. I entered the little shop in which she sold some worthless ‘artifacts’ to unknowing tourists. It was totally stuffed inside, every wall was covered with huge shelves, overloaded with useless crap. Behind a small counter I spotted Trixie; Blue coat, light blue mane with even lighter stripes, purple eyes and a magic wand as cutie mark. “Lyra? It’s been a while. I thought you were in the Badlands?” “Yes, I was there. Listen, I need something from your… ‘personal’ stock.” “You know, everything here can be bought for a few bits. But you also know, that nothing of this is really worth the price.” She laughed, as if we were best friends that just hadn’t seen each other for a time. “Don’t think I’m silly, Trixie. You know what I’m talking about. I need the amulet.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Trixie… I’m getting really tired of your shit. Hand me this goddamn amulet!” The last sentence sounded more threatening than I wanted it to be, it somehow sounded like it was spoken by two persons at the same time. In a way, it was. “Lyra, you start to scare me! I don’t have whatever you want from me! Now leave the shop or I’ll have to call the guards!” Rage seized my body. I lifted in the air. “One last time. GIVE ME THE AMULET!” My mane fluttered like in a storm and behind me some of the shelves wavered alarming. “DO WHAT I TELL YOU, YOU STUPID FILLY!” Trixie went pale like a corpse and started rummaging under her desk. “Ok, Ok! I’ll give you your damn necklace! I can’t use it anyway, this prick Twilight Sparkle would find me, so take it!” I calmed down and stored the amulet in a saddlebag that I grabbed from one of the shelves. Would be better if nobody sees this thing. What did she mean with that, Twilight would find her if she uses it? - Does that really matter? If Twilight tries to stop us, she’ll be crushed like all the other insects in our way. I left the messy shop and walked towards the edge of the town. When I arrived there, three little sparkling stars appeared a few steps in front of me and grew bigger, until Twilight, Luna and Celestia faced me. Great.. “What do you want? Shouldn’t you be in the castle and defend it against the changelings?” “Lyra, we’re in serious trouble. Chrysalis has become more powerful then ever before and Sunset regained all of her strength. We fought to the last pony, but they just overran us. I’ve never seen such might… and now that they have the portal, they’re even stronger! We know you want to fight against Sunset, and we’ll help you.” “I don’t need your help anymore. If I go there with you on our side, Sunset will never receive what she deserves for her actions. I will defeat both of them, and I don’t care what happens to Chrysalis, but Sunset will be mine. And if any of you try to stop me… I advise you to not find out what will happen. I have more power than I could have ever imagine. With my human part I’m finally strong enough to bring justice to this place!” Celestia and Luna looked at me with a mix of skepticism and aversion, but Twilight suddenly stared at my saddlebag. “No, Lyra, no! She’s got the Alicorn Amulet! Lyra, you mustn’t use this! It obscures your conscience and turns you into a mare of darkness!” “Twilight… I’ll use whatever the fuck I want. Now leave, all of you, and don’t dare coming back before I finished what I began in the Badlands.” The three princesses looked at me angry and took on an attacking pose. They really wanted to take the amulet, no matter the costs. They are weak. We should just get rid of them before they deal some serious damage. - No, we won’t kill them, after all they’re the rulers of Equestria. The only person we want to get our hooves on, is Sunset. If they want to fight, we’ll knock them out, but we won’t kill them! “Is this some kind of joke? You’re no enemy for me. Let me pass, or you’ll regret it.” “Lyra…” Celestia had a sad expression on her face. “Just give us the amulet and nopony will get hurt. This artifact is too powerful for a single unicorn.” “You know I can’t do that.” “Then you give us no options. I’m sorry about that.” Luna lowered her head and threw a black ball at me, which I dodged without a problem. Celestia and Twilight held their horns together and began to cast a spell that surely would end me, but they took long enough to give me time and get out of the death-zone. “This is your last chance, get away or I’ll fight back!” As respond some more deadly spells were thrown at me. You’ve warned them, no let’s bring this to an end. My horn glowed and I levitated the amulet out of my bag. I buckled it on and pure might filled my body, a might that I could never have imagined. My hole body began to shake and on my front hooves a pair of red and black claws appeared, made out of pure energy. Without thinking about it I raised and stood on my two back hooves now, just like a human. “This is my final warning! Back up, or you force me to fight you!” The princesses solidified for a moment, but they didn’t give up. They continued casting spells at me, but I didn’t care about that anymore. Every single one of their pathetic magics bounced off me, like a ball from the ground. I began to use my own magic and my horn lightened in the same black-red my claws were. “You leave me no choice. I won’t enjoy this, but you will hate it. I grabbed the three and hold them up in the air, crushing their throats until they coughed, but I wouldn’t kill them. I smashed them on the ground several times till they were unconscious, then I let them go. They hit the ground and my rage tailed off. My claws disappeared and I was back on all four hooves. We shouldn’t have done that. We have to get sure to never again loose control like that! - It was necessary, you know that. We can’t afford having to worry about them falling in our back when we fight against Chrysalis and Sunset. - I guess you’re right… Time to fight backI often think about how I got my powers. Before Bon Bon’s death, I had weak magic, way under average. But after Sunset killed Bons, all my love for her turned into the purest feeling someone could have: Hate. The hate blinded my, disguised what was right and what was wrong. I was driven by my insatiable desire to annihilate Sunset and everyone who dared standing in my way. I know now, even before I took the Alicorn Amulet I was another mare than three years before. The hate turned me into a monster, controlled by the wish of vengeance. I was unscrupulous, but I didn’t care. I happily took any mean that could help me reach my target. But the hate had also another effect on me: it increased my power, my reactions, my senses, every time I let it flow through and take control. And since I had back my human half it felt like there were three Lyras inside me. The human Lyra, the hating Lyra and the ‘real’ me, though I wasn’t so sure anymore what was real about me and what was triggered by my feelings. But I was sure about one thing; I mustn’t ever lose control about my body. Of course I loved the power I had when I let the hate flow through my veins, but I had to get sure that I’ll never go too far and hurt somepony. Except Sunset, she had to burn, even if that means that I had to let go everything that kept me from going crazy. I’d happily die, if I know that I’ll take her with me. I mean, what should I do after all this is over anyway? Once I get my vengeance, my life has no sense anymore. I lived for just one task: Punishing Sunset Shimmer. On my way to Canterlot I could see the results of the battles. Most of the cities were destroyed, it looked like a lane of devastation, straight from the Badlands towards Canterlot. Everything in the changelings way was havocked. A strange feeling raised inside me. Did they attack Ponyville? Are Tavi and Vinyl alright? And what happened to the elements of harmony, why didn’t they defend Equestria? Or did they, and had been defeated? I didn’t want to think about that. While I kept walking I ran into changeling patrols every now and then, but I got used to it. Just see it as practice, it’s not killing if we end their miserable lives. From all the soldiers we faced survived not even a single one. The fights were over faster and faster, and soon I hadn’t even to stop my way to Canterlot; I just killed them while passing by, like they were flowers I picked up without even thinking about it. Very, very ugly flowers. I had no real problems on my way and arrived under Canterlot after a few days. Coming up there wasn’t a problem either, but now I had to be careful. Up there were Sunset and Chrysalis, and they were much more powerful then last time, and that last time I wasn’t able to win against them. But last time you hadn’t had my help, nor the amulet. We could rip the whole city off the mountain if we wanted to! Nobody will ever laugh at us again! I rested for a day, preparing myself for the upcoming battle. I meditated a lot and polished the amulet. When the night arrived, I was ready to take the final step. Using my magic, I levitated myself up in the air and over the wall. What I saw then shocked my. I hadn’t been often in Canterlot, but I remembered enough to know that this wasn’t Canterlot anymore. Half of the houses were destroyed, fires raged everywhere and the ponies were enslaved, if they had survived the siege. I got angry, and tears formed in my eyes. Oh my god… what have they done to everypony? - Don’t think about this, you have to have a clear mind if we want to defeat them. Now go, they’ll be in the castle. I rushed from edge to edge, always staying in the shadows, but I was sure that I wouldn’t get to the castle without any battles. And of course, I was spotted almost immediately. But instead of fighting me, the changelings ran away, spreading in every direction of the city. This isn’t good at all. Soon we’ll have the entire army here, waiting for us. - And we’ll crush every single one of them. After a few minutes I heard a voice behind me. “You must be Lyra. I’ve heard about you… Poor Lyra, lost her beloved Bon Bon and now tries to take revenge. Too bad you won’t reach your task. Come on, Heartstrings, show me your power!” I turned around and faced a huge changeling with two heads, each with a horn. His left head glowed in a dark blue, his right one in a demonic green. I still had the amulet equipped and didn’t feel like I was going to lose this, but I was sure that this one would be a little harder than the normal changelings. He held his two horns together and fired a salve of green and blue energy waves towards me, too fast for me to dodge. They hit me shoulder and my chest and I stumbled for a second, but it wasn’t the pain that distracted me, it was the fact that his magic had actually an effect on me. I wasn’t immune to his magic! Let’s roll, set me free! The hate inside my began to take control of my body and my horn glowed in the well known black-red. I formed a disk of deadly energy and threw it at the changeling, but he dodged easily. “Silly filly, your pitiful magic won’t help you here. You’re now on the desecrated ground of the changelings. Nothing will protect you in here. I have waited so long for a real enemy, I surely will enjoy this!” “Be aware that I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even more after I ripped your head of!” Like always when I let the hate fill my veins my voice changed to a dark humming. Two voices came out of my mouth as I spoke. “You have no idea who I am, have you? Oh Lyra, you never heard about me? I’m Lord Kri, personal guard of Queen Chrysalis! Thanks to your pathetic human half I’m more powerful than ever before, but still I’m nothing compared to my queen! Even if you manage to kill me, she will end your life like it’s nothing. You are lost!” He laughed and attacked again, trying to pierce me with his horns. I ducked away and kicked him right in the face, knocking his right head out. His left on panicked as he couldn’t control half of his body anymore and flapped desperately with his remaining wing, but that wouldn’t help him, The short time he was distracted was enough for me to take power off the amulet and show my claws. I jumped up in the air, grabbed him and smashed him down on the ground. “You are nothing! Don’t tell me about true power as long as you haven’t felt it first hand!” I dashed onto him and began to decompose his body. My claws easily cut through his chest and I squashed his black heart between my hooves. That wasn’t too difficult. If he was Chrysalis’ personal guard, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble reaching her. - What did we just do? That was disgusting! We rummaged in his open body and crushed his inner organs! - Lyra, this is war. Do you really want to take you silk gloves on before fighting anyone? She was right, I knew that, but still I hated myself for what I just did. At least, I was sure there wasn’t anybody in my way anymore. Guess who just was mistaken like nobody before? ____________________________________________ Still walking on two legs with my claws appeared, I almost reached the castle when I saw another huge creature in front of the entrance. He stared at me, not even moving an inch. I had to pass him if I wanted to enter the castle, so there wasn’t a reason to hide from him. I just went towards him like we were old friends. “Who dares facing Ouro? I’ll grant you a swift dead!” He suddenly disappeared in the earth, and I realized that moment that this wasn’t a changeling, it was a huge worm! After a few seconds he broke through the ground under me and sent me flying. I guess it’s time to find out if a worm really splits into two if you cut it. I jumped onto Ouro and he disappeared in the ground again. I worked his body and slowly dug through him while he tried to get back to the surface and get rid of me. But he hadn’t a chance, just like anyone before him I finished him after not even two minutes of fighting. When I was done, the back half of him stuck partially in the ground, his front half lied next to the rest of his body. There wasn’t a single drop of blood, this creature seemed to not having any liquids in its body. I turned away from this not-so-nice view and entered the castle. I headed straight towards the throne hall, knowing that Chrysalis and Sunset would be there, presumably with the portal. I opened the big double doors and saw that I was right; Both of them had a throne standing on a little podium and between them I saw the mirror. “Ah, Lyra, what a surprise that you show off! I knew I should have get sure that you’re dead back in the Badlands. I won’t make that mistake again. They raised and the mirror began to glow as it granted them power. Yes! YES! KILL THEM! LET YOUR HATE TAKE CONTROL AND DESTROY THEM! Vengeance“It’s about time that we finally have an even fight, Sunset. You see, I brought a friend here, too. It was a mistake to treat my human mind like you did.” They charged towards me and I took more power from the amulet. My eyes changed to yellow and more black-red shadows flowed out of them. I smashed both of them on the walls, laughing like crazy. The power was overwhelming. Sunset and Chrysalis came back to their feet and readied some deadly casts, but I dodged them. My whole brain had switched to battle- no, killing-mode. There wasn’t room for things like mercy or compassion, just hate and the wish for revenge. I fired some beams at Chrysalis, knocking her out instantly. “What the hell? How can you defeat her so easily? This isn’t possible!” Sunset panicked for a moment. “Well, I think I can take control of the portal now all by myself. This is going to be really interesting.” The portal glowed bright and I could feel Sunset’s magic grow. “You will get what you deserve, Sunset. I won’t let you get away this time. It will end here, today, and I will be the one remaining.” Her speed was a real problem. Though her spells still were easy to dodge, her kicks and punches were too quick to get away from them. After a few minutes I was bleeding everywhere in my face, my jaw and nose broken, but I wouldn’t feel any pain. I was too focused on the fight to think about my injuries. You start to make me mad, Sunset. More and more kicks and punches landed on my body and there came a point I couldn’t hold it anymore. I backed up, recovering breath and she took a moment to do the same. “You are weak, Lyra, even with this amulet you have no chance against me. Now excuse me, I have to end this.” She charged towards me, but she wouldn’t reach me. She was perhaps one or two steps away when my body got wrapped in a black-red sphere which she couldn’t break through. A huge explosion spread out and kicked her back. The sphere disappeared and showed my new form. My whole body was covered with the dark magic of the Alicorn Amulet, black and red shadows swirled around me, the only thing visible from my real body were my eyes, still in a wicked yellow. “It’s over, Sunset. Prepare to leave this and every other world!” While I was in the sphere, I let my hate take control completely. I was faster than lightning and started to rearrange her face with my claws. I used my cursed magic to force her back in her pony form and continued crushing her face. She lied on the ground, I was above her, holding her head up on her horn. With every punch her skull smashed on the ground until she was almost unconscious. “It’s time to pay for your actions!” “Stop it, Lyra! Stop!” I turned around and saw Celestia, Luna and Twilight standing in the doors. “Leave, or you’ll be next!” “No, Lyra, we won’t. Stop this madness right now! Do you really want to get on her level? You are better than this, and you know it! Let her go!” They dashed towards me, but I quickly summoned a globe around me and Sunset. They won’t take away my vengeance! “You see? This is the reason I denied your help when you offered it to me. I will have me revenge, and nopony will stop me!” I turned back to Sunset and continued my work. I used my magic to heal her just enough to wake up, I wanted her to be conscious when I finished her. “Look who came to save you, Sunset! I’m even more powerful than the three rulers of Equestria combined, and you thought you could win against me? You don’t deserve mercy, and you don’t deserve being a unicorn!” I grabbed her horn and started to pull. Sunset screamed in pure pain, but I didn’t care. She kicked around, but with a quick move I crushed her knees, which she commented with even louder screaming. “Lyra, don’t! Would Bon Bon want you to do that?” “Don’t you dare talking about Bon Bon! You never knew her! This isn’t about what she’d want, it’s about what is fair!” I continued pulling and turning Sunset’s horn and slowly felt how her forehead yielded. Sunset’s screaming turned into a begging whine, but I didn’t hear her. One more brutal pull, and my work was complete. I held her horn in front of my eyes, it dripped with blood and around it's bottom hung shreds of Sunset's skull and fur, her dead body lying on the ground. A pool of warm blood started to form around her. I turned around to the princesses, still holding the horn up that had caused so much suffering. Twilight began to cry and Luna almost threw up, just Celestia kept a serious expression. “Don’t fear me, princesses. My work here is done. I’ll leave this place now. As I said, I don’t care about what happens to Queen Chrysalis, she’s over there.” I pointed in the corner. “And she’s alive. But do you really want to lock her up without any actions of revenge after she destroyed half of Equestria and killed so many ponies? If you want to get rid of her once and for all, I’ll take care of that.” “No, Lyra. What you have done is cruel, even compared to her actions. You better leave now, and never come back. I won’t let somepony- no, some human like you live here any longer. Get back to your world if you want, but you’ll never come back to any pony city, or we’ll have to fight you.” Without any more word I teleported away, far away from any other pony. I went to the Badlands, not knowing what to do with my life anymore. So this is the end? Banished from my friends, forced to live in this absent place? I guess I don’t deserve any better. - Are you kidding me? They should celebrate you like the hero you are, you saved their entire kingdom, for gods sake! It’s true, I saved Equestria from one threat. But I wasn’t sure if I hadn’t created a much bigger one.
Sweet AddictionThree years have passed since Bon Bon’s death, After I left the hospital, I stayed in Ponyville the first days. I didn’t want to talk to anypony and tried to dodge Tavi and Vinyl as good as I could. After a week of loneliness I left my house for the final time. It was a dark night when I went to the edge of the town. If I ever returned to Ponyville, it would be victorious… or in a casket. I didn’t expect Sunset to be in Equestria, so I had no need to go to any pony cities. There were only two places she could be: the Gryphon Kingdom or the Badlands. I spent two years in the Gryphon Kingdom, asking everybody I saw for a mare with red and yellow mane and a same colored sun as cutie mark. Nothing. But I knew she’d been there; I could feel her magic print. It got weaker and weaker, the more I moved away from the badlands. So this was my destiny. After one more year I finally had clue where I could find the one that tortured my mind and killed my love. ____________________________________________ “Where is she? I know she is here somewhere!” “I don’t know, I already told you!” the changeling in my deadly magic grip twitched in pure panic. “Shut up! Listen close; I will ask you again just one. More. Time. If I don’t like the answer you give me, you’ll end the same way your little friend did.” I pointed to the left where the remains of another changeling lied. Miserable vermin. They always have to lie, why? Jeez, he could just say me what I want to know and I’d happily end his suffering! “Do you understand me?” He nodded, pure fright in his eyes. “Great! So tell me: Where is Sunset Shimmer?” “I don’t know, you have to believe me! Please, have mercy! I saw her just once, I don’t know where she went!” “Well, I think we’re actually making progress! Why did it take you so long to tell me this? Where did you see her, and what was she doing? Think sharply before you say something stupid again.” “She came here and asked where she could find the palace! I have no idea what she wants there, I swear!” “Now, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? You just wasted everyone’s time, good job!” Stupid pests. ‘Oh, no, I don’t know where she went!’ I begin to wonder if they’re really this dumb. Where could she possibly have gone if she wanted to know where the palace is? Sigh “So, you’re finished now? You will let me go, won’t you? I told you what you wanted to know, didn’t I?” I saw a spot of hope in his eyes. They’re so cute when they think they can get away so easily. “Yes you did, and I’m really proud of you! It could have gone faster, but who am I to question the mind of someone who looks into death’s face? I’m sure you just couldn’t remember it all!” “Yes, yes, that’s exactly right! I’m just so scared, I couldn’t remember anything! Please, let me go, I swear I won’t tell anybody!” He nodded quickly and held his hoof in front of his heart. If he had one… “Listen, dear, I’m sooo sorry, but unfortunately, I think I can’t do that. You insects have to be cleaned from Equestria’s face. But hey, at least your last act helped my to bring justice in this goddamn world!” He whined loud, tearing his eyes open. I smiled evilly and crushed his throat in my magical grip. His eyes popped out of the skull, running red as his throat shrank to the size of a straw. I heard how his occipitals grinded to dust and soon I had just his dead body levitating in front of my eyes. I watched at it, disgusted by the fact how unbelievable ugly those creatures were, and threw it to the other corpse as if it was just some toy I didn’t want to play with anymore. Actually, it was. Guess I have to find that palace now. Make your deal with heaven, Sunset. I will find you, and it’s going to happen sooner than you think. ____________________________________________ My magic was stronger than during our last skirmish. Though I couldn’t perform the destruction spell at will, but I was sure seeing Sunset would be emotional enough to set free all of my powers. I left the building where I ‘met’ the two changelings and vanished in the night. They’re weird, the cities of the changelings. Their buildings don’t look like the houses I knew from Ponyville or humans. These houses here weren’t actually houses, they look just like their owners: Black, a blue or green shimmer here and there, and holes all over the facade. I didn’t want to spend one second longer in this sickening city than was necessary. I could smell these bugs, I felt their pitiful magic print everywhere I went. Changelings are weak, pathetic creatures. Their only advantage is their ability to take every form they want, but they couldn’t use that against me. I was alone, the past few years I barely talked to another pony. Twilight, Luna and Celestia wanted to help me find Sunset, but I knew they’d never do what is necessary to make her pay. So I was all alone, but I was glad about it. I didn’t want them to see me in my condition. I never wanted to hurt anypony, but these changelings are worthless. I wouldn’t even call them animals, they’re just some cockroaches I wanted to crush beneath my hoof. And I did it, as often as I could. Even though I never wanted to be a cruel, violent person, I can’t say I didn’t like what I did. Slaying these insects felt somehow… right. The might of the ability to decide who lives and who dies is overwhelming. I got addicted to it, but it was such a sweet addiction, I never wanted to release from it. While I walked through the night I remembered how it was before this all began. I and Bon Bon weren’t together a long time, thanks to Sunset, but the few days we had were amazing. The knowing that I was actually loved for the first time in my life helped my cracked mind more than I’d admit. During our relationship, I hadn’t had more than one or two of these nightmares that always reminded me of my human life, and I even stopped to drink. Almost, at least. But now, after three years without her or any other ponies I knew, I had nobody to prove that I’m not addicted. At least I hadn’t had any nightmares since Sunset bisected my mind. After about half an hour I spotted a huge outline in the distance. That had to be the palace, I was sure about that. Time to work out a plan, I couldn’t just dash in there and execute everything I saw, could I? I mean, I wanted to, of course, but I’m not sure if this would’ve been the best idea if I wanted to get out of there alive. So I sneaked up slowly, always staying in the shadows. The entrance wasn’t even guarded, they have to feel really save in there. Time to prove them wrong. I smirked and slipped inside.
The changeling's palaceThe palace was totally different from any other changeling’s building I ever saw. It was very dark and the lamps shimmered blue or green, but these were the only commonalities. On the walls hung huge portraits of a tall, female changeling, Queen Chrysalis for sure. The doors were actually made of wood, not this bizarre black stone like in all the other buildings I’ve been so far. Left and right were three big doors each, and a huge silk carpet covered the bottom from the entrance of the castle to a huge double door opposite to it. Rubies and sapphires were on the sides of the carped and a big crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. There wasn’t any place to hide or any shadows I could stay in, but I didn’t had to, the entire hall was empty, nobody was around here. Carefully I stepped inside and headed the double door in front of me. That had to be the throne hall. I hold one ear at the huge wooden doors and eavesdropped. “… is here, I know it! I can feel her magic, we have to find her!” “Patience, Sunset. Why should we look for her? You said she wants you, so she’ll get here anyway. We don’t have to spend our energy to find this pathetic unicorn. We just stay here, and wait for her.” That had to bee Queen Chrysalis. Her voice went right through my bones. I’ll enjoy killing you and clean your parasite breed from this land. I was blinded with rage, but I knew I shouldn’t just walk into the hall like I was visiting an old friend. I needed a plan… “Hey, what are you doing here?” a changeling guard came out of one of the other doors and was about attack me. That had to happen ,right? At least one bug less to find after I end their queen’s life. The guard came running towards me, just to be smashed by the chandelier I ripped off the ceiling and threw at him. Maybe that was a little too loud… “What is going on out there? Don’t just stand there, do your damn job and defend the castle!” After Chrysalis’ order a dozen more guards came out of the throne hall. One of them immediately turned back and ran inside to give report to his queen, but this wasn’t my biggest problem right now. I grabbed some parts of the chandelier to throw them at the guards, killing four of them in not even a second. The seven remaining stopped for a second, and I could see the fear in their eyes. Good. “Do you really want to give your life for a queen that allied with a pony? She is the only one I want, hand her out and you’ll not be harmed!” I lied right in their faces, but the end justifies the means, doesn’t it? Like if they couldn’t hear me, they charged towards me. All right then, ladies… A few seconds of loud noises and seven short screams of pure pain were followed by deadly silence. After one minute, the doors opened again, and Queen Chrysalis and Sunset Shimmer entered the hall. Sunset was in her human form, of course. What reason had she to take a pony form? Chrysalis looked different from the other changelings; she was about as tall as Princess Celestia, had a big twisted horn on her forehead and dark blue mane. She smirked and revealed a pair of sharp teethes. Two wings stuck out of her back, they looked like a flies wings and had several holes and cracks. “Lyra, Lyra, Lyra. Did you really think, were you really naive enough to believe it would be this easy? You have no idea of the power we have. After we’re finished with you, there will be nothing left except a few green hair and a big pool of your blood.” “I am more powerful than you think, Sunset. You learned that first hand last time.” “Ah, that was just a little setback. Necessary to show me that I still have allies in Equestria.” “You mean that bug? I slew so much of you parasites, I lost survey somewhere around 50. You won’t be any threat to me.” Chrysalis mustered me and filled with anger when I noted her dead children. “You’ll pay for every single kid of mine you killed out there. Be aware that I have more power than any changeling could ever imagine! I will destroy you, and afterwards we’ll take Canterlot. I still have an open bill with that Twilight Sparkle…” “Lyra, do you remember how I parted you from your human half? You have no idea how helpful she was! Even she had true feelings for Bon Bon” I don’t like that voice she says that with… “And did you know, that changelings can feed off anything that has love in it, even from a shadow of a pony? Chrysalis gained so much power from your better half, even Celestia couldn’t harm her! But, you see, I’m a lavish person. Surrender and follow us, and we can rule Equestria together, you and I, two humans! Imagine you could be Princess Lyra Heartstrings! We’d have no conflicts with the changelings anymore, once we deliver Twilight to Queen Chrysalis, and if the gryphon make any problems we don’t even need an army to defeat them, it would be enough if one of us goes there to erase their whole military! We could be immortal!” “I’m sure, at least one of us will never be immortal.” I threw a fireball towards Sunset but she duck away. Suddenly, she was totally filled with anger and prepared to attack me. Her hands began to glow and she formed a ball of pure energy, ready to throw it at my. Chrysalis flew above me and tried to grip me, but I rolled away, just in time to dodge Sunset’s spell that crashed into the wall behind me. I threw some more spells at Sunset and kicked Chrysalis when she tried to smack me from behind. Several minutes passed and nothing seemed to happen. It was just a dance act between Sunset, Chrysalis and me. They threw some things or dark, pulsing balls at me, I dodged them just to answer with some of my light green lightnings. The hall was soon totally damaged, but nobody was hurt so far. Then, suddenly, Chrysalis managed to get out of my sight and kicked my leg from behind when I was just about to send some more spells at Sunset. I fell down on one knee and saw that Sunset prepared a deadly wave to end this fight. Though I could roll over, she hit my left shoulder. The pain was unimaginable. I flew across the room, crashed into the wall and hit on the floor. It’s over. Again, I failed. Forgive me, Bons… “The great and powerful Lyra! Defeated, waiting for her slaughter. Should I show mercy? You decide. This is the last time I offer you to join our wings. Be with us, or be doomed. What’s your answer?” “I’d rather be dead than helping you monster!” I spat in her face. “You have made an.. unwise.. decision. It’s time to get rid of you and start our siege of Canterlot. Actually, I shouldn’t kill you. I should let you see what I will do with your beloved Equestria, but… I have to finish what I began in the Everfree Forest.” She raised her hands and formed a ball of dark blue energy. So this is how I end? Defenseless lying to Sunset’s feet? She lowered her hand and released the sphere in my direction.
ReunionThe slug hit my chest and the whole world exploded in pain. I lost my vision and couldn’t move, but I wasn’t dead. Somehow I survived Sunset’s attack, and she didn’t even notice it. They called two servants who carried my body out of the castle, even out of the city and threw me into a trench near the street. I lay there for a few hours, unable to move or open my eyes. When I already gave up hope, I heard something next to me. Thinking of all the creatures that live in the Badlands I prepared for the worst, but I suddenly felt a lot better. I even could stand up, though a bit ditzy, but I managed not to fall. What happened? How did I survive that? - Guess who’s back, Lyra! Could that be? My human half returned to me and saved my life, after it fought willing against me three years ago, trying to kill me? What do you want? Being parted from you was the best thing that happened to me since this all began! - I know, we had some trouble in the past. But I realized that you were right all the time. It’s not about being human again or have all the might that Sunset promised us. When she handed me to Chrysalis I knew that I’d made a terrible mistake. This damn parasite fed off me the whole time, nourished from my feelings towards Bons. Even though I never wanted to be a pony, those weren’t fake. And Sunset knew that when she showed up here. She never wanted to rule together with me, she had this plan the whole time after you defeated us. I… I’m so sorry for what happened. I flew from the castle after I heard that you’ve been there and looked for you all around the city. And now, I finally found you. I almost thought you’d be dead, so I merged with you instantly. I’m glad it’s not too late. Even though I wasn’t sure that being complete again was a real benefit, after all I couldn’t trust myself, I was happy to not be dead. If you’re truly on my side now- I totally am. That bitch will pay for what she did to us and Bon Bon. - Then I guess it’s payback time. Finally. I smirked. It was time to mount the heavy guns. ____________________________________________ During my time in the Gryphon Empire I met another unicorn, Trixie Lulamoon. I can’t say we became the best friends, but we had an helpful relationship since. And she had something that I could use for my final victory; the Alicorn Amulet. It was time to take a visit. I had to be extremely careful when I left the Badlands. Sunset and Chrysalis already prepared their attack against Canterlot and there were changeling soldiers everywhere. With my human part at my side, I was even more vengeful and stronger than I could ever have been without her. One time I accidentally got right into an entire battalion of changelings, at least 20 soldiers. They had no chance against the combined powers of me and my human double. We both used the same magic, but we knew everything the other thought, so we were able to attack multiple enemies at the same time. After not even a minute no single changeling was left. The only remains that testified the fight that just happened where some pools of dark blood and a few black pieces that covered the ground. We’re getting good at this. Maybe we should have a dead changeling as our cutie mark. - No. We shouldn’t have fun in killing. Even though I have to admit it’s satisfying to see the fear in their eyes every time, right before they get dismembered. - Of course it is! Don’t ever forget what they did and what they’re going to do if we don’t stop them! Actually, the changelings hadn’t harmed me at all. I just hated them for standing in my way and allying with Sunset, but that was enough to get an adrenalin kick every time I ended one of their miserable lives. I wasn’t at my maximum power, still injured from Sunset’s spell, and my human part was weakened from Chrysalis‘ parasitism, too, but even now we felt like we could strike down the entire changeling army. The only two threats were Sunset and Queen Chrysalis, but once I recovered and had the Alicorn Amulet, nothing could stop me from finally ripping them into pieces like every other opponent that faced me so far. Due to the fact that the Gryphon Empire is just next to the Badlands, it wasn’t a long trip there. After about two days I arrived at the border, and after one more day we entered Clawdor, the capitol. It didn’t take long to find Trixie as she was one of the few magical creatures there, and I knew her magic print. I entered the little shop in which she sold some worthless ‘artifacts’ to unknowing tourists. It was totally stuffed inside, every wall was covered with huge shelves, overloaded with useless crap. Behind a small counter I spotted Trixie; Blue coat, light blue mane with even lighter stripes, purple eyes and a magic wand as cutie mark. “Lyra? It’s been a while. I thought you were in the Badlands?” “Yes, I was there. Listen, I need something from your… ‘personal’ stock.” “You know, everything here can be bought for a few bits. But you also know, that nothing of this is really worth the price.” She laughed, as if we were best friends that just hadn’t seen each other for a time. “Don’t think I’m silly, Trixie. You know what I’m talking about. I need the amulet.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Trixie… I’m getting really tired of your shit. Hand me this goddamn amulet!” The last sentence sounded more threatening than I wanted it to be, it somehow sounded like it was spoken by two persons at the same time. In a way, it was. “Lyra, you start to scare me! I don’t have whatever you want from me! Now leave the shop or I’ll have to call the guards!” Rage seized my body. I lifted in the air. “One last time. GIVE ME THE AMULET!” My mane fluttered like in a storm and behind me some of the shelves wavered alarming. “DO WHAT I TELL YOU, YOU STUPID FILLY!” Trixie went pale like a corpse and started rummaging under her desk. “Ok, Ok! I’ll give you your damn necklace! I can’t use it anyway, this prick Twilight Sparkle would find me, so take it!” I calmed down and stored the amulet in a saddlebag that I grabbed from one of the shelves. Would be better if nobody sees this thing. What did she mean with that, Twilight would find her if she uses it? - Does that really matter? If Twilight tries to stop us, she’ll be crushed like all the other insects in our way. I left the messy shop and walked towards the edge of the town. When I arrived there, three little sparkling stars appeared a few steps in front of me and grew bigger, until Twilight, Luna and Celestia faced me. Great.. “What do you want? Shouldn’t you be in the castle and defend it against the changelings?” “Lyra, we’re in serious trouble. Chrysalis has become more powerful then ever before and Sunset regained all of her strength. We fought to the last pony, but they just overran us. I’ve never seen such might… and now that they have the portal, they’re even stronger! We know you want to fight against Sunset, and we’ll help you.” “I don’t need your help anymore. If I go there with you on our side, Sunset will never receive what she deserves for her actions. I will defeat both of them, and I don’t care what happens to Chrysalis, but Sunset will be mine. And if any of you try to stop me… I advise you to not find out what will happen. I have more power than I could have ever imagine. With my human part I’m finally strong enough to bring justice to this place!” Celestia and Luna looked at me with a mix of skepticism and aversion, but Twilight suddenly stared at my saddlebag. “No, Lyra, no! She’s got the Alicorn Amulet! Lyra, you mustn’t use this! It obscures your conscience and turns you into a mare of darkness!” “Twilight… I’ll use whatever the fuck I want. Now leave, all of you, and don’t dare coming back before I finished what I began in the Badlands.” The three princesses looked at me angry and took on an attacking pose. They really wanted to take the amulet, no matter the costs. They are weak. We should just get rid of them before they deal some serious damage. - No, we won’t kill them, after all they’re the rulers of Equestria. The only person we want to get our hooves on, is Sunset. If they want to fight, we’ll knock them out, but we won’t kill them! “Is this some kind of joke? You’re no enemy for me. Let me pass, or you’ll regret it.” “Lyra…” Celestia had a sad expression on her face. “Just give us the amulet and nopony will get hurt. This artifact is too powerful for a single unicorn.” “You know I can’t do that.” “Then you give us no options. I’m sorry about that.” Luna lowered her head and threw a black ball at me, which I dodged without a problem. Celestia and Twilight held their horns together and began to cast a spell that surely would end me, but they took long enough to give me time and get out of the death-zone. “This is your last chance, get away or I’ll fight back!” As respond some more deadly spells were thrown at me. You’ve warned them, no let’s bring this to an end. My horn glowed and I levitated the amulet out of my bag. I buckled it on and pure might filled my body, a might that I could never have imagined. My hole body began to shake and on my front hooves a pair of red and black claws appeared, made out of pure energy. Without thinking about it I raised and stood on my two back hooves now, just like a human. “This is my final warning! Back up, or you force me to fight you!” The princesses solidified for a moment, but they didn’t give up. They continued casting spells at me, but I didn’t care about that anymore. Every single one of their pathetic magics bounced off me, like a ball from the ground. I began to use my own magic and my horn lightened in the same black-red my claws were. “You leave me no choice. I won’t enjoy this, but you will hate it. I grabbed the three and hold them up in the air, crushing their throats until they coughed, but I wouldn’t kill them. I smashed them on the ground several times till they were unconscious, then I let them go. They hit the ground and my rage tailed off. My claws disappeared and I was back on all four hooves. We shouldn’t have done that. We have to get sure to never again loose control like that! - It was necessary, you know that. We can’t afford having to worry about them falling in our back when we fight against Chrysalis and Sunset. - I guess you’re right…
Time to fight backI often think about how I got my powers. Before Bon Bon’s death, I had weak magic, way under average. But after Sunset killed Bons, all my love for her turned into the purest feeling someone could have: Hate. The hate blinded my, disguised what was right and what was wrong. I was driven by my insatiable desire to annihilate Sunset and everyone who dared standing in my way. I know now, even before I took the Alicorn Amulet I was another mare than three years before. The hate turned me into a monster, controlled by the wish of vengeance. I was unscrupulous, but I didn’t care. I happily took any mean that could help me reach my target. But the hate had also another effect on me: it increased my power, my reactions, my senses, every time I let it flow through and take control. And since I had back my human half it felt like there were three Lyras inside me. The human Lyra, the hating Lyra and the ‘real’ me, though I wasn’t so sure anymore what was real about me and what was triggered by my feelings. But I was sure about one thing; I mustn’t ever lose control about my body. Of course I loved the power I had when I let the hate flow through my veins, but I had to get sure that I’ll never go too far and hurt somepony. Except Sunset, she had to burn, even if that means that I had to let go everything that kept me from going crazy. I’d happily die, if I know that I’ll take her with me. I mean, what should I do after all this is over anyway? Once I get my vengeance, my life has no sense anymore. I lived for just one task: Punishing Sunset Shimmer. On my way to Canterlot I could see the results of the battles. Most of the cities were destroyed, it looked like a lane of devastation, straight from the Badlands towards Canterlot. Everything in the changelings way was havocked. A strange feeling raised inside me. Did they attack Ponyville? Are Tavi and Vinyl alright? And what happened to the elements of harmony, why didn’t they defend Equestria? Or did they, and had been defeated? I didn’t want to think about that. While I kept walking I ran into changeling patrols every now and then, but I got used to it. Just see it as practice, it’s not killing if we end their miserable lives. From all the soldiers we faced survived not even a single one. The fights were over faster and faster, and soon I hadn’t even to stop my way to Canterlot; I just killed them while passing by, like they were flowers I picked up without even thinking about it. Very, very ugly flowers. I had no real problems on my way and arrived under Canterlot after a few days. Coming up there wasn’t a problem either, but now I had to be careful. Up there were Sunset and Chrysalis, and they were much more powerful then last time, and that last time I wasn’t able to win against them. But last time you hadn’t had my help, nor the amulet. We could rip the whole city off the mountain if we wanted to! Nobody will ever laugh at us again! I rested for a day, preparing myself for the upcoming battle. I meditated a lot and polished the amulet. When the night arrived, I was ready to take the final step. Using my magic, I levitated myself up in the air and over the wall. What I saw then shocked my. I hadn’t been often in Canterlot, but I remembered enough to know that this wasn’t Canterlot anymore. Half of the houses were destroyed, fires raged everywhere and the ponies were enslaved, if they had survived the siege. I got angry, and tears formed in my eyes. Oh my god… what have they done to everypony? - Don’t think about this, you have to have a clear mind if we want to defeat them. Now go, they’ll be in the castle. I rushed from edge to edge, always staying in the shadows, but I was sure that I wouldn’t get to the castle without any battles. And of course, I was spotted almost immediately. But instead of fighting me, the changelings ran away, spreading in every direction of the city. This isn’t good at all. Soon we’ll have the entire army here, waiting for us. - And we’ll crush every single one of them. After a few minutes I heard a voice behind me. “You must be Lyra. I’ve heard about you… Poor Lyra, lost her beloved Bon Bon and now tries to take revenge. Too bad you won’t reach your task. Come on, Heartstrings, show me your power!” I turned around and faced a huge changeling with two heads, each with a horn. His left head glowed in a dark blue, his right one in a demonic green. I still had the amulet equipped and didn’t feel like I was going to lose this, but I was sure that this one would be a little harder than the normal changelings. He held his two horns together and fired a salve of green and blue energy waves towards me, too fast for me to dodge. They hit me shoulder and my chest and I stumbled for a second, but it wasn’t the pain that distracted me, it was the fact that his magic had actually an effect on me. I wasn’t immune to his magic! Let’s roll, set me free! The hate inside my began to take control of my body and my horn glowed in the well known black-red. I formed a disk of deadly energy and threw it at the changeling, but he dodged easily. “Silly filly, your pitiful magic won’t help you here. You’re now on the desecrated ground of the changelings. Nothing will protect you in here. I have waited so long for a real enemy, I surely will enjoy this!” “Be aware that I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even more after I ripped your head of!” Like always when I let the hate fill my veins my voice changed to a dark humming. Two voices came out of my mouth as I spoke. “You have no idea who I am, have you? Oh Lyra, you never heard about me? I’m Lord Kri, personal guard of Queen Chrysalis! Thanks to your pathetic human half I’m more powerful than ever before, but still I’m nothing compared to my queen! Even if you manage to kill me, she will end your life like it’s nothing. You are lost!” He laughed and attacked again, trying to pierce me with his horns. I ducked away and kicked him right in the face, knocking his right head out. His left on panicked as he couldn’t control half of his body anymore and flapped desperately with his remaining wing, but that wouldn’t help him, The short time he was distracted was enough for me to take power off the amulet and show my claws. I jumped up in the air, grabbed him and smashed him down on the ground. “You are nothing! Don’t tell me about true power as long as you haven’t felt it first hand!” I dashed onto him and began to decompose his body. My claws easily cut through his chest and I squashed his black heart between my hooves. That wasn’t too difficult. If he was Chrysalis’ personal guard, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble reaching her. - What did we just do? That was disgusting! We rummaged in his open body and crushed his inner organs! - Lyra, this is war. Do you really want to take you silk gloves on before fighting anyone? She was right, I knew that, but still I hated myself for what I just did. At least, I was sure there wasn’t anybody in my way anymore. Guess who just was mistaken like nobody before? ____________________________________________ Still walking on two legs with my claws appeared, I almost reached the castle when I saw another huge creature in front of the entrance. He stared at me, not even moving an inch. I had to pass him if I wanted to enter the castle, so there wasn’t a reason to hide from him. I just went towards him like we were old friends. “Who dares facing Ouro? I’ll grant you a swift dead!” He suddenly disappeared in the earth, and I realized that moment that this wasn’t a changeling, it was a huge worm! After a few seconds he broke through the ground under me and sent me flying. I guess it’s time to find out if a worm really splits into two if you cut it. I jumped onto Ouro and he disappeared in the ground again. I worked his body and slowly dug through him while he tried to get back to the surface and get rid of me. But he hadn’t a chance, just like anyone before him I finished him after not even two minutes of fighting. When I was done, the back half of him stuck partially in the ground, his front half lied next to the rest of his body. There wasn’t a single drop of blood, this creature seemed to not having any liquids in its body. I turned away from this not-so-nice view and entered the castle. I headed straight towards the throne hall, knowing that Chrysalis and Sunset would be there, presumably with the portal. I opened the big double doors and saw that I was right; Both of them had a throne standing on a little podium and between them I saw the mirror. “Ah, Lyra, what a surprise that you show off! I knew I should have get sure that you’re dead back in the Badlands. I won’t make that mistake again. They raised and the mirror began to glow as it granted them power. Yes! YES! KILL THEM! LET YOUR HATE TAKE CONTROL AND DESTROY THEM!
Vengeance“It’s about time that we finally have an even fight, Sunset. You see, I brought a friend here, too. It was a mistake to treat my human mind like you did.” They charged towards me and I took more power from the amulet. My eyes changed to yellow and more black-red shadows flowed out of them. I smashed both of them on the walls, laughing like crazy. The power was overwhelming. Sunset and Chrysalis came back to their feet and readied some deadly casts, but I dodged them. My whole brain had switched to battle- no, killing-mode. There wasn’t room for things like mercy or compassion, just hate and the wish for revenge. I fired some beams at Chrysalis, knocking her out instantly. “What the hell? How can you defeat her so easily? This isn’t possible!” Sunset panicked for a moment. “Well, I think I can take control of the portal now all by myself. This is going to be really interesting.” The portal glowed bright and I could feel Sunset’s magic grow. “You will get what you deserve, Sunset. I won’t let you get away this time. It will end here, today, and I will be the one remaining.” Her speed was a real problem. Though her spells still were easy to dodge, her kicks and punches were too quick to get away from them. After a few minutes I was bleeding everywhere in my face, my jaw and nose broken, but I wouldn’t feel any pain. I was too focused on the fight to think about my injuries. You start to make me mad, Sunset. More and more kicks and punches landed on my body and there came a point I couldn’t hold it anymore. I backed up, recovering breath and she took a moment to do the same. “You are weak, Lyra, even with this amulet you have no chance against me. Now excuse me, I have to end this.” She charged towards me, but she wouldn’t reach me. She was perhaps one or two steps away when my body got wrapped in a black-red sphere which she couldn’t break through. A huge explosion spread out and kicked her back. The sphere disappeared and showed my new form. My whole body was covered with the dark magic of the Alicorn Amulet, black and red shadows swirled around me, the only thing visible from my real body were my eyes, still in a wicked yellow. “It’s over, Sunset. Prepare to leave this and every other world!” While I was in the sphere, I let my hate take control completely. I was faster than lightning and started to rearrange her face with my claws. I used my cursed magic to force her back in her pony form and continued crushing her face. She lied on the ground, I was above her, holding her head up on her horn. With every punch her skull smashed on the ground until she was almost unconscious. “It’s time to pay for your actions!” “Stop it, Lyra! Stop!” I turned around and saw Celestia, Luna and Twilight standing in the doors. “Leave, or you’ll be next!” “No, Lyra, we won’t. Stop this madness right now! Do you really want to get on her level? You are better than this, and you know it! Let her go!” They dashed towards me, but I quickly summoned a globe around me and Sunset. They won’t take away my vengeance! “You see? This is the reason I denied your help when you offered it to me. I will have me revenge, and nopony will stop me!” I turned back to Sunset and continued my work. I used my magic to heal her just enough to wake up, I wanted her to be conscious when I finished her. “Look who came to save you, Sunset! I’m even more powerful than the three rulers of Equestria combined, and you thought you could win against me? You don’t deserve mercy, and you don’t deserve being a unicorn!” I grabbed her horn and started to pull. Sunset screamed in pure pain, but I didn’t care. She kicked around, but with a quick move I crushed her knees, which she commented with even louder screaming. “Lyra, don’t! Would Bon Bon want you to do that?” “Don’t you dare talking about Bon Bon! You never knew her! This isn’t about what she’d want, it’s about what is fair!” I continued pulling and turning Sunset’s horn and slowly felt how her forehead yielded. Sunset’s screaming turned into a begging whine, but I didn’t hear her. One more brutal pull, and my work was complete. I held her horn in front of my eyes, it dripped with blood and around it's bottom hung shreds of Sunset's skull and fur, her dead body lying on the ground. A pool of warm blood started to form around her. I turned around to the princesses, still holding the horn up that had caused so much suffering. Twilight began to cry and Luna almost threw up, just Celestia kept a serious expression. “Don’t fear me, princesses. My work here is done. I’ll leave this place now. As I said, I don’t care about what happens to Queen Chrysalis, she’s over there.” I pointed in the corner. “And she’s alive. But do you really want to lock her up without any actions of revenge after she destroyed half of Equestria and killed so many ponies? If you want to get rid of her once and for all, I’ll take care of that.” “No, Lyra. What you have done is cruel, even compared to her actions. You better leave now, and never come back. I won’t let somepony- no, some human like you live here any longer. Get back to your world if you want, but you’ll never come back to any pony city, or we’ll have to fight you.” Without any more word I teleported away, far away from any other pony. I went to the Badlands, not knowing what to do with my life anymore. So this is the end? Banished from my friends, forced to live in this absent place? I guess I don’t deserve any better. - Are you kidding me? They should celebrate you like the hero you are, you saved their entire kingdom, for gods sake! It’s true, I saved Equestria from one threat. But I wasn’t sure if I hadn’t created a much bigger one.
