Song for this chapter---> The Animal By Disturbed

(((((TWILIGHT SPARKLE))))

I looked on in wonder at the massive stallion. A grey coat of fur, a red and black mane with a matching tail. His two dark crimson eyes staring intensely at Graymayne, whom sat on the ground next to me. He could only look on in pure horror at ‘Gunner’. The stallion was easily as big as Big Mac himself. His imposing figure seemed imobile, hard like stone. His upper torso guarded by what appeared to be a thick set of armor. Shiny and slightly dented in some spots, only showing that this stallion had seen combat.

“You’re Gunner?” I looked at the massive stallion and he nodded. I then looked at Graymayne, whom shivered at the mention of his name. “That’s Gunner? You said he was-”

“Dead… I know…” Graymayne cut me off. “There is no possible way-”

“That I’m alive? Well here I am in the flesh. Breathing, standing, before the one I once called brother. You killed me, for what!? Revenge!? I thought I taught you better!” Gunner shouted, enraged.

“Gunner… you know I didn’t want to hurt you…” Graymayne said, with a sadness that seemed to leak from his lips. “It wasn’t my fault…”

“You expect me to believe that!?” Gunner shouted angrily.

“Wait!” I protested. “Graymayne told me that you were dead. That something…” I held back the urge to vomit at the thought. “Ripped you… limb from limb…”

“It seems my death was a bit exaggerated.” He growled at Graymayne. “I remember a thing… something that made my brother lose it. Something that made him… change. I want to know what it is.”

“You know who HE is… Discord told us the stories…” Graymayne said shakily getting up to his hooves.

“You expect me to trust that murderer!? Who said that they were true!? They were lies that were put in our heads to make us afraid of Discord! Afraid of what supposedly came before!”

“What came before?” I asked, completely confused.

“Lies from a mad god.” Gunner replied. “Now answer me a question, Graymayne. If you say that HE is real… why don’t you show us?”

“You know damn well why I can’t do that!” Graymayne shouted angrily.

“Who is ‘HE’?” I asked completely confused.

“Because you’re wrong! HE doesn’t exist!” Gunner shouted back.

“No…” Graymayne said, almost shrinking away.

“No what?!” Gunner shouted back, this time taking a step forward.

“Because…”

“Because what Graymayne!?” Gunner shouted again.

“Because HE’d SLAUGHTER everypony here!” Graymayne shouted back, his voice almost cracking. “And HE wouldn’t stop there… HE would move town to town… and never stop until HE’s satisfied. Which you know… HE won’t be…”

‘Slaughter…? No… what are they talking about…?’ I thought, looking horrified between the two stallions. I gulped once before looking to Graymayne. “Who would slaughter so many and… just keep going…?”

In that instant, Graymayne shouted out his voice distorted and sadistic sounding that made my blood run cold and my body shiver.

“ME!”

I saw a shiver run over Gunner too, but he held his ground firmly and unmoving. Graymayne quickly covered his mouth with his hooves and quivered fearfully at the voice that had rang out for all to hear.

“What… was that?” I asked, feeling a cold shiver run through my body as if ‘something’ had just passed through me. Graymayne only continued to quiver on the ground like a helpless foal. His eyes were evident with fear as they had dilated and stared at nothing but the ground.

“There,” Gunner said. “That’s the proof I needed.” In that instant, a green flame erupted around him and who stood there now was Blue with a sad grin on his face. He looked at me, then at Graymayne.

“I’m sorry I had to do that to you, but it was necessary for the information that you were withholding from us. Now that you have revealed it, there is no reason to continue.”

I looked on in shock as Blue simply turned and began to trot away. He had simply changed into the one pony Graymayne was scarred by and used that to his advantage. All to get the answers that he wanted. What kind of pony does that? It was sick to think about. A pony that Graymayne had grown up with, considered a father-figure, used against him to control his thoughts and emotions. Sick…

On the other hoof, it did give us a clue as to who they were arguing about. Something horrible was inside my brother’s head and had just revealed itself a second time. I looked at Graymayne who stared in shock at Blue as he walked away calmly. His left eye was twitching and as he lowered his hooves to the ground again, his teeth shown bare. What scared me was that some of them had even sharpened to razor tips and that was only the beginning. Soon, his eyes began to glow with a burning green and his irises turned to a devil red. The mist began to spill once again and flow viciously into the air. When he began to rise, I moved quickly to stop him.

“Graymayne, stop. Don’t do this. Let’s just go home and talk about it, there’s no need for more violence. Graymayne, please listen to-” I was cut short when Graymayne glared at me. His eyes showing nothing but hatred and a burning rage.

“Twilight… step away. Now.” He hissed at me and then he turned to look at Blue who continued to walk away without a care. Graymayne’s horn began to glow and soon a bolt of magic was shot in Blue’s direction.

“Graymayne! No!” I let my horn blaze and shot a blast to intercept the bolt. The two bolts collided violently and exploded only feet from where Blue was standing. Blue himself, turned to see a thin dust cloud and more importantly, the pissed off stallion behind it.

“Didn’t I say there was no more reason to fight?” He asked. Graymayne only growled at him and unleashes multiple blasts of dark energy at Blue. The blasts made contact and Blue was engulfed in darkness. Though, it didn’t last long as a sudden burst erupted from the center of the cloud. Blue stood there, looking very unamused. “Would you just give it up already. You don’t have a chance against me.”

“TRY ME ASSHOLE!” Graymayne charged at Blue, his horn blazing out of control with green lightning and black smoke. Blast after blast were sent flying at Blue, whom easily deflected each one. Once only feet away from each other, Graymayne lunged, two swords at the ready. Blue’s horn lit up and a shield formed to block the two swords that made connection.

Graymayne moved around Blue as quick as possible trying to slash at him, who stood there blocking each attack with either one or two shields. I just sat there. I had to stop this somehow. I had to intervene and get Graymayne to calm down. I looked toward the two.

“Graymayne! Stop!” I moved toward the two but stopped as Graymayne vanished from sight.

Blue lowered one shield but kept the other above his head, in case of attack. What he didn’t expect was the blast that erupted just below him, sending him just a couple feet in the air. Graymayne came out of nowhere and, with what appeared to be a large hammer, slammed it down on Blue’s back. The sound of cracking could be heard and all it did was make me cringe.

Graymayne landed onto his hooves, horn still blazing. Blue hit the ground hard and the sound of shattering glass sounded. ‘Glass? Was that glass?’ I thought, but my answer was given when Blue staggered up to his hooves. Cracks splayed all over his body, some of them giving a very low and dull glow.

“What the…?” I looked at Blue who only let a smile onto his face as he stared down Graymayne.

“I’m surprised to be honest. You broke my protective shell. You are one of the very few who have ever done that. I congratulate you Graymayne.” Blue shook himself a bit and pieces, large and small, fell from his body. They broke further and dissolved as they touched the ground.

“So that’s why my attacks weren’t hurting you,” Graymayne said as he dispelled the hammer. “Fucking coward…”

“Am I a coward?” Blue countered. “ In the world of war, in ANY fighting case, getting hurt wears you down. Makes you tired and forces your wounds to be treated, costing the battle if even the greatests of warriors fall. I’ve fought many things, Graymayne. Wearing a shell has gotten me called more than a coward. But I’ve saved lives like this. You have no right to call me a coward.”

“Do you think I care how many you’ve supposedly saved?” Graymayne chuckled. “No, you hide behind a shell of false skin. You’re afraid to take a real hit. Well, time to stop hiding you fucker. I’m gonna make you feel every single twinge of pain there is.”

Blue just sighed and took up his own defensive stance. Graymayne gave a war cry before charging at him again. This time, what appeared to be a scythe was summoned above Graymayne. He leaped toward Blue and gave a horizontal swipe. Blue, ducked and fired a bolt of silver energy at Graymayne who took the shot head on. When the blast faded, Graymayne stood there looking completely unfazed. Blue’s eyes opened wide before he was met with a hammer to the chin. The audible crunch made me cringe and so did Blue’s ragdolling body. He hit the ground hard. Graymayne took this opportunity to come down with a vertical swipe of his scythe but Blue rolled away to the left just before the sharp blade made impact with the ground. Graymayne growled at him before switching tactics. The scythe disappeared and was replaced with two large hammers which went swinging at Blue with nothing but pent up fury. Blue made quick and decisive moves, dodging each hammer that came swinging at him. At one point, it almost looked like he was enjoying himself.

The thought that he was enjoying himself while fighting somepony who could kill and walk away without a care in the world was… scary.

Finally, Blue made his move. He dashed in between the two hammers, narrowly dodging them and struck Graymayne on his muzzle. Though it seemed to have done nothing but make him far more angry. Before Blue could move away, he found himself in a dark blue telekinetic grip and raised into the air. He struggled and even tried using his magic but to no avail, couldn’t break free.

In that moment, the two stallions eyes met. Graymayne let a smug smile spread on his face as he glared at the trapped stallion.

“Gotcha!” Graymayne shouted before repeatedly slamming him against the ground back and forth. Graymayne slammed Blue onto his back and face again and again. There were small blood splatters already beginning to appear on the dirt ground.

I just stood there and watched… afraid to intervene. My mind told me to stop this right now and put Graymayne down, but the gut feeling in my stomach… the wrenching fear that held me in place. Made my hooves feel like concrete blocks. Was it fear though? Or was it the creature holding me in place. He didn’t want me to interfere. He wanted to sit back and enjoy the savage beating that was taking place. There had to be something I could do. Something I could do to stop this fighting.

Except, there was nothing I could do to stop this. Not me… but there is one pony who would. I turned toward the library and made a gallop for it. Before I reached it though, Blue came flying by me and crashed through one of the tree branches. The blood leaking from his beaten up face was easily visible. All I could do was silently apologize a million times as I ran past him and into the library. I scrambled to the nearest table and grabbed a quill and parchment.

“Spike! Wake up! I need you now!” I yelled as I began my letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

{{{{{{GRAYMAYNE}}}}}}

With one final swing, I sent Blue flying through one of the many tree branches on the library. I huffed and began making my way toward him, wanting to put this sad sack of shit in his grave. Blue slowly rolled over onto his hooves and staggered up. He spit a small amount of blood from his mouth and continued to do so for a few more seconds. When I was upon him, he tried to move and hit me with his hoof but I blocked it and returned the favor by grabbing his head and throwing him back onto the ground. A conjured blade formed to my left and raised it, only to bring it down as quick as possible. Before the sword met Blue’s throat however, he vanished and reappeared just a few steps from me. He spit some more blood and just stared at me.

His horn blazed and a blast of magic came flying at me. I warped and with a strong buck to his side, sent him sprawling to the ground again. He staggered up only half way before I gripped him in my magic and threw him at the base of the library’s oak wall. He yelped and groaned, feeling the wind knocked out of him. I stood there, glaring at him with the intent to kill on my mind. I hoisted him into the air again and brought him closer.

Yes! Finish him! End his pitiful life once and for all!

I ignored the monster. I was going to end it… but not yet. “Any last words, you putrid fuck?”

He coughed and groaned, chuckling lightly in the middle of it. “What are you going to do Graymayne. Kill me? Might as well. I’ve lived longer than I probably should. But I wouldn’t if I were you. Know why?” He pointed to Twilight, whom had come out of the library to the sight before her. “She’s why. Kill me all you like, but that only proves one thing alone. That you can’t change. She’s here to give you the chance to do that, and what you do now will determine that.”

“So go ahead. Kill me. Lose the last family you have. But… If you don’t want that, like I didn’t… you’ll ignore whatever voice in your head tells you and follow what you haven’t heard in probably your whole life.”

I looked at him and then Twilight. He was right… if I killed him. She’d never forgive me. I’d be putting Twilight, Shining, and the mission on the line by doing this. I looked at him, not only in anger but also in a hint of fear.

“You… You force yourself into my head. You use the one pony, that I held dearest to my heart against me. That pony… wasn’t just some ordinary pony. He was like a brother to me… one of the only family that I thought I had.” My grip on his throat tightened. “He’s dead because of me… no, the monster, but I still hold myself accountable. The last thing I wanna see is some putrid fucking cunt like you… change into him and use him to gain an advantage over me.” I took a shaky breath.

“I also don’t want to see that same putrid fucking cunt walk away alive after doing that. After insulting my dead brother like that…” My grip became tighter and he gasped for air, trying to suck in whatever he could. “I wanna see you suffer Blue. To no end. I wanna see you burn for just doing that…”

The grip was just tight enough that if I had squeezed even a bit more, his neck would snap. “But…” The grip loosened and he took what little air he could get. “You are right. I would ruin all the chances that I’ve been given. Consider yourself lucky Blue… you get to live another fucking day in your fucking life.”

I finally released him. He fell to the ground and coughed, sucking in whatever air he could in large gasps. I turned to Twilight who only looked on in horror at me. I shook my head before gripping Blue’s mane one last time and forcing head to the ground. “But a warning… If you ever remind me of my greatest regret again,”

“There is no telling what hell I will unleash upon you. Don’t believe me? Ask the hundreds of ponies who have actually met the monster…” I stopped and chuckled. “Oh yeah, that’s right. They’re all dead.”

After releasing him one final time. I turned and walked toward Twilight who shook on her hooves. The dark magic that leaked from my eyes was gone now, just the sight of her was soothing enough to take it away.

“Twilight… I’m- I’m sor-”

“No… No you’re not. I’m sorry…” She levitated a roll of parchment paper up. Some of it had been torn off and along with it, a used quill. It didn’t take long for me to register what she had done.

“Twilight… you sent her a letter. Didn’t you…?”

“It’s for your own good,” She said sadly. “She’ll be here soon…”

I shook my head in disbelief. I was done, I didn’t kill him! Sure, I was going to, but I didn’t. I moved past her, and toward the library. A fresh burst of black magic sprouting from my eyes as I entered. Once inside, another burst of energy went out making some of the books from the shelves fall.

Why did she do it!? Everything was going to be fine! Then Blue just had to show up and ruin everything. Everything! I should just go kill him now… get it over with. I’m sure I can make an escape. It’s worth a try. Hell, even if I can’t… I can go for Celestia’s head. I felt a sudden twinge in the back of my head and my eye twitched.

What I had failed to realize, were the black smokey tendrils that began to take my vision.

{{{{{{TWILIGHT SPARKLE}}}}}}

I heard the door slam shut behind Graymayne as he entered the building. The breath that I didn’t even know I was holding finally escaped. It was shaky and cold, almost as if a ghost had just passed through me. I shook myself a bit and quickly went over to Blue.

“Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay…” I worried for him as he lay on the ground beaten. “Blue…?”

He coughed and looked up, shaking off a bit of the pain. “I’m okay,” he wheezed. “Just a bunch of bruises.”

“That’s not funny,” I looked him over. He was covered in bruises and some cuts here and there. “I’m sorry about… my brother.” The word almost felt at a loss.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You can’t control another pony, no matter how hard you try.” He stood up on wobbly hooves. I quickly moved to help him up by hefting on hoof over my shoulder and supporting his weight. “Why didn’t you come stop?”

“I- I,” I swallowed the lump in my throat. My ears splayed back and I lowered my head. “Forgive me… I was just afraid…”

“Ah, I see…” He coughed a bit. “You need to overcome that fear.”

“Yeah…” I looked at the door to the library. “I sent a letter to the princess. She’ll be here soon to take care of this. In the meantime, I’m going to bring you inside and patch you up as best I can.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I should be leaving now anyway… And you sent a letter to the princess? That’s not what I mean by taking care of your fear. You need to learn to get over your fears by yourself.”

“I know,” I started walking us toward the library. “But when your brother is harboring what may be a genocidal monster in his head, then we can talk more…”

He stayed silent after that, feeling heavier. As we neared the doorway to the library, I heard what sounded like books falling to the ground and low growls of frustration. Though, only after a few seconds, they ceased and were replaced with utter silence. When we reached the door, I opened it with my magic and saw Graymayne just standing in front of the book shelves. The dark magic still pouring from both his eyes and into the surrounding air. It felt colder in here for some reason too.

Along with Blue, who didn’t take his gaze off of Graymayne, walked toward a place we could sit. I set him down what I hoped was the most comfortable spot here before turning to Graymayne. I took in a deep breath and stamped my hoof.

“Graymayne,” I said. His ear flicked a bit but remained still otherwise. “I want an apology out of you… now.”

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t budge. He did nothing but stand there, staring at the bookcases in front of him.

“Twilight, get back!” Blue yelled.

Too late.

Before I knew it. My back was on the floor, the wind knocked out of me. I looked up and into the two black soulless eyes that didn’t belong to my brother. The horrible grin of razor sharp teeth that plastered itself to his face. His breath was hot as he snorted in my face and chuckled.

“Well if it isn’t my little pet?” The creature said. “I’ve been meaning to meet you for real.” His mouth partially opened and out came a snake like tongue that licked along my cheek. I shook in pure horror at the sight before me. “What a delicious meal you’re going to be~” His tongue snaked it’s way back into his mouth.

“But first, I believe we must get more… acquainted~ Don’t you think?” He proceeded to move his horn, my brother’s horn, toward my own. Sparks of dark magic flowed freely from his horn and onto my own. He gave a little chuckle as stared me down. His eyes were nothing but soulless, lifeless, pure blackness...

Pure Evil

I could feel myself drifting to sleep and I couldn’t fight harder to stay awake.

“Leave her alone you monster!” Blue shouted through fits of coughing.

The monster ignored Blue and continued to feed his magic into my horn. My vision began to blacken and I found myself closing my eyes. “That’s it my little pet. Sleep now,” He moved his maw to my ear and whispered.

“We will see each other on the other side. There, you will receive your answers…”

The last thing I heard were Blue’s shouts and the monster’s mad chuckling before my world fell into blackness.

Author's Note

Hey guys. Again... sorry this is taking so long. I haven't been in a writing mood for a long time and if it weren't for my editor, this chapter would probably still be in the works. So I'd like to thank my editor and great friend; Ephraim Blue for helping me out with this chapter. I apologize for keeping you all waiting for so long. I can only thank you all for staying and taking time to read my story. It truly means a lot to me. So, Thank you all.

Next chapter. We will finally learn the identity of the Monster. Twilight will be in for the fight of her life. I'll see you all in the next chapter.

The Sinful One

... or something like that. Heh.