From One Villain to Another

1010 Years ago

As the sun radiated in the sky, the town of Canterlot was bustling with life. Everypony had a smile on their face as they walked down the street. As Princess Celestia walked down the street, she looked behind her.

"Aiden?" She asked in concern as she looked around in panic.

"Here," a male voice said as a human walked towards her, holding a bag of doughnuts in his hand. He had a blonde short cut mane on top of his head. He had brown eyes and smooth skin. Save for the small scars on his face. "Don't worry, I got you one too". He smiled as he handed the bag to her. Celestia took one and gave a smile as she shoved the pastry in her mouth.

"Right, you've visited all those shops that wanted the 'Celestia Seal of Approval," Aiden said holding his hands up and giving an inverted commas gesture. "Back to the castle then?" Celestia was still chewing as he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, to the castle," Celestia said while spurting a flak of doughnut debris. Aiden flicked it away and gave a small giggle.

"Come on then, before you make an even bigger fool of yourself".

As Celestia and Aiden walked into the throne room, Aiden leapt onto a small couch and put his feet up. Celestia sat at her usual throne and gave Aiden a disapproving look.

"What?" Aiden asked in confusion, looking innocent.

"Come on Aiden, you know the rules".

"Fine," he rolled his eyes as he dragged himself up and stood near Celestia. "Happy?"

"Very, now let's get this on with".

A orderly queue of ponies were stood behind the door as it opened and one entered the room. A small frail stallion wearing a business suit and holding a briefcase. The usual topic of conversation began to take place, business deals and more visits were discussed. After a while one large pegasus walked in, he stomped inside and made himself present in the room.

"Can I help you?" Celestia asked with her usual motherly tone.

"I am Rustic Blade, remember this name as it will be the name that killed the tyrannical princess!" the stallion shouted as he launched towards Celestia, holding a small blade in his hoof. Celestia just sat there while the pegasus was flying towards him like a missile. Suddenly the pegasus was dragged down to the floor and a boot was placed firmly on his face.

"Now now, is that the way to greet anypony?" Aiden mocked. "Guards, take this joke to the dungeons". Two guards walked up to the criminal but was soon stopped by another pony who came in with a sword. The guards attempted to stop him but was knocked out the way. Aiden picked up the blade and threw it, landing inside one of the legs and causing him to crash down to the floor in pain.

"Stop!" Celestia ordered. Aiden complied and took his boot off the stallion's head.

"As you wish".

Present Time, Canterlot Castle

"As you can see, Aiden was my most trusted guard and we got on very well," Celestia narrated as she looked upon the glowing crystal ball.

"I see, but why is he attacking us?" One of the officers asked in confusion.

"It's because of this," Celestia frowned as she cast another spell on the ball. This time revealing a crowd of robed ponies in a circle formation around a stake which had Aiden tied up on.

1001 Years ago

As Aiden woke up, he struggled. The ropes stayed in place, not budging one bit and not giving way to anything. A pony walked up to him and threw a batch of ingredients towards him. He then took off Aiden's gag, allowing him to speak.

"When I get out of here, you will wish to be in the dungeons!" Aiden screamed.

"Oh, be quiet you. This will only hurt a lot!" The cultist said as drove a small dagger into Aiden's stomach. He screamed in pain as the stake was then set alight. However, before the flames managed to touch him. A dark purple aura struck him, causing him to have a fit as purple energies began to possess him.

The flames blew out and Aiden ripped himself off the stake. As he fell to the floor and raised his head, he opened his eyes, allowing a purple glow to emanate from them. He gave a small grin as he stood back up. Suddenly a platoon of guards burst in, turning the place into pure chaos. As one of the guards approached Aiden, he wrapped his hands around his neck and picked him up off the ground. The stallion stopped twitching and dropped the floor lifelessly. Another one attempted to run his spear through him but he missed as Aiden took a step forwards and grabbing the spear. He pulled it out of the guard's grip and turned the head towards him and stabbed him in the gut without any hesitation.

Several guards began to advance on him, Aiden began to form a small purple sphere into his hands. However the world began to go black and cloudy as more and more guards began to pile upon him.

Aiden was captured but soon escaped once more

Ponyville

The entire village was in flames, screams of villagers filled the atmosphere as skulls floated throughout the village which left black clouds behind them. Aiden began to walk through the market as fire engulfed the buildings and rubble fell like rain. He dragged a purple, ethereal sword behind him. Celestia soon landed on the ground, she looked up at the maniac in front of her.

"Ah, Celestia. Looks like you joined the party," Aiden grinned as he raised the sword in front of him.

"Aiden! Stop this now, you just have to fight whatever that cult did to you!" Celestia screamed as tears welled up.

"Ha! They upgraded me, now I don't have to follow your orders and be your slave. The country is mine!" Aiden pointed his sword at Celestia. "Now, let us fight!" A black beam fired from the sword at Celestia.

"Sister!" Luna screamed as she dived in front of her, allowing the black beam to hit her.

"Luna!" Celestia screamed as Luna writhed in pain.

"Now your turn!"

"Aiden, I am so sorry. Forgive me," Celestia sobbed as she fired a large fire beam towards him.

Aiden's flesh began to burn, he dropped his sword and flesh began to drop off. He screamed in pain as a portal to Tartarus opened. Celestia ran up to him and bucked him through the portal.

"My revenge will be sweet, Celestia! I assure you!" Aiden shouted through the portal as it sealed shut. The world engulfed in black clouds and became concealed once more.

Present

The crystal ball turned black then clear once more.

"That is all gentlecolts, now you know what you are up against. This monster that possessed him cares not for anything. He only kills for fun and has no morals," Celestia informed as a small tear dropped from her eye.

"So this Aiden is a being from Tartarus, that explains the Fountain of Souls," one of the officers asked.

"He stole the fountain?"

"Yes, your highness".

"That fountain has a direct link to Tartarus energy, if he has control over that then we have to take drastic measures," Celestia put on a small necklace and a cast a small spell on it. Then a shield enveloped her with runes floating around her.  "The monster who possesses Aiden does not know his knowledge of martial arts or weapons and relies on magic. Without magic, he is harmless," Celestia informed as she took out a small metal box with a collar. "Attach this to his neck and lock it. It will prevent him from using magic".

"Yes your highness, we will try out best," the officer replied as he took the metal box and walked out with his comrades.

The door slammed shut and the entire room went dark. As Celestia panicked she look up into the darkness. A pair of red eyes glowed as a column of flames arose from the wall. The room returned to it's usual brightness, but this time with the Warden standing in the centre of the room.

"Knock knock," he grinned.

"You! What do you want?" Celestia spat. "You had your revenge when you corrupted my sister!"

"Ah yes, that nightmare moon business. Quite smart don't you think, getting your only sister to fight against you".

"You are sick, I don't even think that you are even Aiden any more". Suddenly the Warden dashed up to Celestia and raised a dagger.

"Do not say that name to me ever!  I do not go by that mortal name any more, I go by the Warden to you!"

"So you took that role, tell me. How did you escape from Tartarus?"

"Easy, I call it a vacation and put Tirek to cover for me".

"Tirek! You put Tirek in charge! Do you even know what he did here!"

"I do, that's why I put him in charge. A tyrannical, power hungry warden for Tartarus. Perfect," The Warden grinned to himself as he lowered his dagger and backed away from Celestia.

"You are truly evil, more cold hearted than anything I have ever known! Whatever you are, get out of Aiden!" Celestia spat in rage as she began to fire heat beams at the Warden. However he soon dashed out of the way and began to return fire.

"This will go down one way or the other Celestia. You will fall!" The Warden took cover behind a large pillar, preventing the beams from hitting him.

"You can still come peacefully. You can live among us, I will forgive you!"

"Ha! Friendship still deludes you ponies. I will not give in to your foolish ways," he jumped out of cover and began to fire beams of equal power from his hands as he moved from one pillar to another. Under suppression, Celestia was forced to take cover as well.

"Your brutish ways are not effective to me, this time I will reform you!" Celestia teleported behind the Warden and took off her encryption necklace and put it around him and held it in place.

"What are you doing? You are foolish as always Celestia!" He attempted to cast a killing blow but his magic soon diminished. "How is this possible? What have you done!"

"Getting you out of my friend!" Celestia cast a spell on him, causing the Warden to fall asleep.

Unknown Time Later

As the Warden woke up, his vision blurry and having a migraine. He observed the room we was in. It was warm and comfy, unlike cold, dark dungeon he was expecting to have. As he looked around, he was in a queen sized bed in a bedroom. A fire crackled where Celestia was sitting near it. Watching the wood burn. As the Warden got up and attempted to cast some magic, he was stopped. He observed himself and found a collar was tightly attached to his neck.

"Good afternoon Aiden," Celestia welcomed as she turned towards him. As he raised his fist Celestia interrupted. "I wouldn't do that. The collar is triggered to put you back to sleep on my command".

"Well, looks like someone finally has a dark streak to them," the Warden complimented as he lowered his fist.

"As I said before, I want to reform you. We also disconnected you from the Fountain of Souls which we traced back to your cultist friends," Celestia stood up and walked to a tea tray. "I will not tolerate necromancy or any magic that puts my subjects at harm".

"Oh Celestia, always playing the mother role in the country. Well, a bad mother as the entire country is falling apart!"

"Your tricks do not effect me," she sat next to the Warden and levitated a cup of tea towards him. "I have a proposition for you".

"I am listening".

"You will cooperate with all the treatments and techniques I use to reform you. If that fails then you are free to do what you please in Equestria".

"Well, this makes a nice change. I will accept but on one condition".

"That is?"

"When you fail, I want all of the artefacts that you took from me".

"OK then, I will not fail!"

"We shall see then, so when will you start?"

"Now." Celestia stood up and walked near the only exit. "You may enter." The door opened to reveal a much smaller alicorn who walked out of the shadows nervously. She had a lavender coat and a dark purple mane with a stripe down the one side. Her cutie mark was a large star surrounded by 5 smaller stars.

"Well well, nice to finally meet you purple." The Warden grinned as he laid eyes upon Twilight Sparkle.