Alex took in long breaths as he sat with his hind legs crossed and his back straight. He had his mind cleared and his soul open for the Light. Waiting for the Light to overlap his mind and calm his restless spirits. He wore heavy clothing, a white shirt and a dark leather vest with a long cloak. He was never really comfortable with just his fur, still holding on to his human mannerisms. Even though there were similarities between humans and ponies, they were still worlds apart.

The wind was fierce and tried with all of its might to break Alex's concentration. He sat perched at the side of a river bank, the steady flow of water crashing against stone was loud in his ears and soothed his spirit even more. His nerves and his wits refocused on his new objective of finding his inner fire. That place where he would have his purpose, while he had half of it figured out he still needed to find the other half. The part of him that was missing, the Ashbringer. He could here the silent calls of the Ashbringer even with the miles upon miles of distance between them. It's dark seductive voice loud within his mind and calling him to it. Alex had no idea the Ashbringer became such a part of him now. His mind now beginning to wander to the day he healed the Rezalb crystal,

What I felt when I touched it...The Light coursed through me like it had never done before, and I through it. It had healed much more than my hand. It had healed my spirit. On that day, though I never realized it, the crystal attached to me. Only I could unlock the hidden secrets and powers of the Ashbringer.

This begged the question of why it had chosen him? He was never the most powerful of his fellow brothers and sisters, he was always average at what he did. And that was protect the innocent. He never truly could match the skills that of Uther or Turalyon. He had never gained that much respect from the Holy Light. He could not count how many times he wished he had met the founder of the Paladins or met the hero of the Second War. It pained his heart, he was so young and so naive that he did not know that he could have been mentored by truly inspirational people. They were his brothers in arms and he did not even know them personally. Alex had made some mistakes in his life and it was that one that hurt him the most. He prayed for the pain to end, for it all to stop. Meditation was supposed to calm your nerves and focus you, not whatever this was.

The Light had answered his silent prayers, but not the way he had originally expected. Flooding through his mind was the suppressed feelings and images of his wife's death. Regret and remorse. If he had stayed inside and healed his wife she could be with him, she could still be alive. Alex clenched his eyes tighter shut together to try and combat the feelings that were reviving within him. Like metal scraping against metal, he heard the painful noise rip through his mind and cause him to raise his hooves to help put the pain go down. The sound intensified and rose to an unbearable level where he was now on his knees begging for it to stop. It was in that short time he learned that he had exploited the powers of the Light. Though he had known all the prayers by heart and all the vows by heart, it seemed he would have to relearn everything from scratch.

Alex uttered his voice pained from the noise in his ears, "Light forgive me."

Alex felt the pain go down and his head did not feel like it was going to be ripped apart into small pieces. He was meditating on a different level than he had been used to. For nearly eleven years he had neglected the teachings of the Paladins because of his falling from grace as a Death Knight. He did not have as much of an outlet for the Light than he had before, and maybe it had something to do with the Ashbringer no longer in his grasp. Which made sense, it was apart of him as him to it. They needed each other to be powerful, apart they are strong.

Instead of finding answers to questions, he decided to merely silently reflect on what has most recently had his mind occupied. The Scourge. Why they were interested in Equestria, he had no idea. The Equestrians were peaceful ponies. Lawful and devoted to their causes. Peace ruled the land rather than war and strife. Yet somehow it had found its way to them. Why? Why did they deserve such a fate? Then again the Scourge had no conscience or concept of mercy so why would they care. But normally the Scourge are calculated in what they were doing, not just mindless domination. If their goal was domination they would have had Azeroth conquered by now, so they always had some sort of goal or objective to fulfill. Unless the undead on Equestria now were those free willed undead, the Forsaken. But even they would not stoop so low as to invade the peace of Equestria. But what if Alex was wrong, what if the whole thing was a facade of peace? So many questions at one time that he could barely handle it.

He gathered his attention to his side as he heard a feminine voice ask him, "What are you doing out here alone?"

Alex knew the knowledgable voice anywhere, belong to the most intelligent pony Alex had ever met, Twilight Sparkle. He looked over and saw her dressed in a similar way as Alex but her cloth was thinner and she wore robes over her shirt, splitting off and opening over her hind legs. The robes a very dark purple color, like a black cherry. It suited her well, not only fitting her well but also matched her colors. She stood on her hind legs, which Alex took that as a sign she finally trusted him as her friend once more. Alex did the same and stood up, he answered looking right into her violet eyes, "I tried to meditate...but it appears that I was going too fast for myself to use the amount of power the Holy Light offered me. It would appear that I am handicapped as the term would imply."

Twilight seemed intrigued at the mention of the Holy Light and inquired, "Ever since you have arrived here you always seemed to mention this 'Holy Light'. What is it exactly?"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof and ran it through his mane and replied, "Well...that's sort of hard to explain...The Light is not what you would typically believe in as a faith. It is not some mythical all seeing god, no, it is more of a concept. It is what you perceive it to be. I perceive it as a force that protects the creatures it had created. All around us at all times, making sure we are doing the right thing, almost like a silent guide."

Twilight took note of this and sat down at the bank of the river and asked, "So, where you came from, you did not have a pantheon?"

Alex sat next to her and replied looking at the water, "Quite the opposite actually we had multiple. There were the ones that were known as the Titans that many believed laid the foundation and created first life. And that the Old Gods, their ancient enemies, came and corrupted the first races with flesh."

"Corrupted with flesh?"

"Yes," Alex nodded, "We believed that the first of our kind were made from stone and the Old Gods came and corrupted the first with flesh. But there also existed the Dragon Aspects that were made to protect the races of Azeroth from any evils. Even that of their own."

There was some silence as she took in all the information and with her telekinesis she grabbed a perfect stone and quickly threw it across the river. The rock skidding across the surface of the water. 1 skip. 2 skip. Kerplunk! And Twilight asked again, "What about this Dalaran? What exactly did they teach there?"

Alex answered as best he could, "I am no expert at their exact curriculum but they taught Arcane magic there and they learned to become Mages."

"Mages?"

"Yes Mages. Like I said before they are very close to unicorns as they can manipulate the real and turn it into something else. They tend to focus on magic that creates and changes, most often taking the shape of harmful spells such as bursts of fire or concentrated shards of arcane. Purely meant to attack, some of my friends call them 'Glass Cannons'. As they tend to wear cloth to not hinder their movement, that and they can create shields with their magic."

Twilight opened her mouth to ask a question and Alex answered before a noise came out of her mouth, "And before you ask, no I am not using magic. Magic implies that I am changing or manipulating something to my twisted advantage. What I use is more based on faith and belief in one's self. Manipulating the Light is what is called suicide, only reserved for beings of purity and light energy. So no, I have to ask permission to use powers of the Light and only within the realm of possibility within myself. Which is why it takes so long to master the ways of the Paladin."

More silence ensued between them, leaving both to ponder their feelings. Search for something to talk about. Alex asked, "So, how is that staff treating you?"

Twilight turned to meet Alex's gaze and a smile formed on her face as she answered, "It is treating me very well, I have studied it for hours and still I am finding hidden spells left behind on it."

Alex rested his hooves back and propped up his back and raised an eyebrow. Twilight answered the look, "Most staves around here leave with them special spells and invocations specifically made for the staff. And are only reserved for the true masters of magic. As there are main elements there are also lesser arcane elements that are usually imprinted on the staves. This one, while I have not learned of its name, is a light manipulation staff. So it has spells that are fire, solar, and storm related. I have learned some but it seems that this has more than I expected."

Alex smiled, "How about you show me?"

Twilight looked at him seemingly surprised at his offer, picking up what he was implying, an eyebrow raised she returned, "Really? You want to spar with me?"

Alex stood up and tapped a hoof on the sword at his side, "Come on. We both need some practice for the undead, plus it gives you a chance to practice ways other than making friends."

Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes at Alex and replied standing up, "Alright. I suppose you have a point."

Alex smiled. He had not fought a mage in a while, this was going to be interesting. Alex brought his hoof to the sword and pulled it out, unsheathing it's full length and readying for the coming duel. Alex took a few steps back, three or five feet between them. Alex hoist the sword up and held it with both hooves and readied for Twilight to attack. Tightening his grip and opening his mind to the Light, his smile grew cruel.

Twilight decided to disregarded his creepy smile and opened her hoof, magic snapping and her staff suddenly coming into existence. The staff falling into her hoof and her activating her magic that connected her mind to the staff and the spells she had spent hours studying now flushed through her mind and filled in where they belonged. Some flash spells, blink spells, flare spells, flameslash, wings of the phoenix, solar rays, thunderstrike, and lightning bolt. She had to admit she was rather anxious to try her hand at hoof-to-hoof combat. She had sparred with Celestia a few times but those were when she had been much younger than she was now.

She stepped back a few feet as well to get her senses ready. Twirling her staff around a few times to get a familiarity with the weight, in her sparring matches with Celestia and sometimes even her brother they often used weighted staves. Not magical and were not a little dense with the amount of magic pumping through it. Which is why she also subconsciously taught herself to use her telekinesis to help carry the added weight a little bit. It offered no hindrance on her spell casting capabilities so it just became an everyday thing.

She lowered her staff slowly, readying for an attack. Holding it pointed out and in more of a riposte stance, her staff readied at the side. She formulated some starting series of spells which all would occur soon. The anticipation alone was killing her, with the stance Alex took he looked as though he was in his own world. His own little corner of the universe. He did not look so neutral in his life. It scared her how calm he was and how centered he made himself.

Twilight's breath drew in and held it in her lungs for a while until they would begin the duel. Silence that could kill a good man ensued for a few minutes. Twilight inspected Alex's stance and calculated his opening move in her head. From the placement of his hooves to how the wind rolled off of him, she determined that he was going to charge her. Asking for a teleport spell or for making good use of one of her new flash spells. Or that is exactly what he wanted her to think and he was trying to trick her, in which case she had an arcane needles spell in case in came down to that.

With the dying of the wind Alex punched forward and charged headlong towards Twilight as she expected. Readying his sword for a downward arc, pure light peeling off of him and his sword like a shining beacon in the dead of the night. Twilight flipped her staff in her hooves and just before his sword came down towards her she blinked out of existence and teleported about thirty yards behind him. Taking advantage of this moment of weakness she pulled a free hoof back and pure arcane began to form and she shot it forth three concentrated crystals of arcane energy. They flew threw the air and just as they went to impact Alex he brought the face of the blade towards his own and a translucent aura filled the air around him and the arcane bolts exploded as if on the surface of glass. He smiled as he silently prayed into his blade and it glowed bright white light and he slashed the air in front of him in a diagonal arc. A wave of light issued forth and shot forward at an astonishing rate.

Twilight held up her staff with both her hooves and summoned a large arcanic shield to block the wave of light. The force behind the wave caused her to dig her hooves into the dirt and only push her back about a half yard. She lowered her hooves, the shield of purple died down as they fell. Twilight could tell that he was not going to lighten up on his attacks, this told her that she should not either. Twilight decided to take matters into her own hands and purple light gathered on the tip of her staff and she charged forth. The entire staff soon became engulfed in it's violet glow. She brought her staff forward and shot a beam of light and it struck Alex in the shoulder and caused him to reel back. She swung her staff in a horizontal arc, hoping to smash into his side but was parried by his sword. Alex glanced the blow away and in his free hoof summoned light and a warhammer glowing with light smashed against her head and she toppled to the ground. Momentarily stunned, on one knee she gathered back her senses and saw as he was about to bring his sword down she punched the earth and sent out a wave of telekinetic energy flying him back a few yards.

This gave her enough time to gather in more arcanic energy and her horn summoned forth a torrent of arcane energy. When it should have been dark purple it was orange red and her eyes glowed the same color. She opened up her arms and she willed herself to hover in the air. She felt magic pumping into her veins and her horn pulsating with pure power. She kept the raw magic under control however and continued on with the spell. The orange red energy spreading forth and connecting to her back muscles, fitting and conforming to her shape. Soon they it took on the form of wings and as soon as they did she pumped even more magic into them and pulled herself back and in a large flap waves of flame came forth and went to devour Alex's form.

As she expected he was prepared and he shot his hoof in the air and a pillar of light shot down from the heavens and soaked him in its light. A golden layer of glass formed around him and the flames only clung to the surface only to slowly die, harmlessly attaching to the ground at his feet. She hovered back to the ground and readied for another attack, already feeling the magical exhaustion creeping up through her mind and into her horn. Once he stopped casting the shield he charged forth and closed the distance and in a blinding flurry of clashing steel they traded blows. Every attack Twilight had was countered by Alex but with her quick wits and still ample amount of magic left she could blink around her opponent. Slowly she started to wear him down and once he brought his sword down she glanced it away and it slid into the earth. Giving her the opportunity to strike.

She shoved one end of her staff into the dirt and pushed off of the ground, swinging her back hooves in motion with the swing of a sword and they collided into Alex's jaw and he fell to the ground. The fight was her's. She had won.

Finally the exhaustion had caught up to her and she felt herself slaked in sweat and her lungs rising and falling quickly in attempts to take in large gulps of oxygen to bring her heart rate to a reasonable level. She turned and willed her staff to disappear and it soon blinked out of existence. She turned and pressed her hooves on her thighs trying to take in more air and she looked as Alex rolled on his back. He snapped his jaw back into place, Twilight slightly cringing at the sound. She had known violence since she had been taken in by Celestia. She had told her that the cruelty of this world cannot be misplaced. Celestia taught her defense and how to claim victory for her own. But she had never been taught to kill. All of her spells were centered, more or less, around defensive capabilities. She could never find the heart to kill something, a prospect she would need to change with these undead ponies walking around.

Twilight offered a hoof to Alex as he lied on the ground to catch what little of his breath he had lost during the fight. Twilight then felt the crash of the sudden feelings she had felt when she first approached Alex, the entire reason she was there in the first place. But Alex noted, "That was a good fight, I did not know you had it in you to fight to win."

Twilight nodded clearly showing she had conflict within herself to say something. Before Alex could ask what it was Twilight took the initiative and answered, "Alex...I wanted to apologize for my earlier behavior."

"Twilight it's--"

"No Alex," Twilight said turning to face his warming gaze, "It's not okay. I treated you like you did not even have a voice of reason, like all you did you were doing for yourself and not others. It was not until recently that I looked back over the events and realized that you saved Rarity...again. And for that, I'm sorry."

Twilight quickly got rid of the uncomfortable feelings and pulled Alex in for a warming hug. Alex was surprised at first at the gesture but he soon returned the hug and he said, "Apology accepted Twilight."

They both shot their eyes open, their eyes like pinpricks as she heard Rarity's voice ask, "What in the name of Celestia are you two doing!?"

"Kay, I'll see you guys later!" Pinkie called back to Vinyl Scratch and Lyra.

Lyra replied, "Yeah see you later Pinkie!"

Pinkie waved her hoof back to them and when she became out of ear shot she grumbled to herself, "I swear if I have to put up with another second in this insufferable form I will extinguish an entire race."

A few weeks ago Varimathras had teleported to this planet, with no idea what to do or where to go. This was the last time he ever trusted Sylvanas in a mutual arrangement. He did however receive a message from Kil'Jaedan with orders to find another planet to destroy. And just his luck he found himself here, a planet called Equis. A planet filled with magical talking creatures and other beings of magic. He could feel the residual arcanic energy deep within the planet's core. Varimathras then decided to gather more information about the world. Using an old tactic his brother, Balnazzar, used. But instead of taking control of a leader of an order he was stuck with a bright pink pastel horse with knowledge on next to nothing, but there was a large amount of magic that he could use for safe keeping.

It had set into dusk fairly quickly, the air less thick than it had been a few hours previously. The grass dancing in rhythm with the wind, hypnotic to mortal races but had no effect on Varimathras. It was mocking to him, that such a planet as this could accept peace and love in place of war and chaos. He could feel the stains in the earth though, the dead calling out with mercy. But their cries fell on deaf ears as Varimathras had no mercy towards any peace loving race. They deserved to be burned down, to prove their arrogance.

The more Varimathras thought about it though, the more similarities could be drawn between Equis and Azeroth. A world painted with the blood of so many fallen dead. He sauntered his way to a forest that the locals called the Everfree. The no doubt prime place for the forces of darkness to convene. When Varimathras awoken he had discovered he was not alone, two others from Azeroth found their way here. Rovos the Chilled End, a servant of the Lich King and Alexandros Morgraine the Ashbringer. Both holding alligences with his enemies. He had more in common with Rovos and reluctently accepted an agreement with the lich. In all respect Varimathras hated his superiors, loathed to even call them that. He wanted this world for his own, but learned Rovos wanted the same thing.

So Rovos and Varimathras agreed to split the profit. Varimathras agreed that he would give information to Rovos if Varimathras gets an equal wage of the land. He however needed demons. He had sent an order to the Twisting Nether and was told that there should be some on their way. All Varimathras has to do is open a portal, not like the Burning Portal but scaled down. Then Varimathras can begin his campaign with his ally and take Equis for themselves.

He stepped into the undergrowth of the forest and the dark ground responded well to his hoof falls. The dark creatures sensing his demonic taint and stains of dark magic, all fleeing from the sight of him. He scoffed at the dark forces, even they were weak like the peaceful forces. He was disgusted that he was even associating with them. But he needed allies, while a Dreadlord is powerful indeed, they cannot enslave an entire planet alone. Any that think they do are more ignorant than he thought.

Varimathras shifted his shoulder and popped a bone in his shoulder, he still had to grow used to the significantly smaller frame. It was easier to take the form of a human mainly because their forms were similar to a Dreadlord, with the humanoid forms. But a pony was a whole other beast. Literally.

Varimathras looked down at his hooves as he advanced through the limited vision that was offered to him by the Everfree Forest. He had to use the form of a pink one. Varimathras grumbled, "The fact that this pony has to be high pitched and annoying just seems insulting."

Only fitting for one such as yourself Lord Varimathras. Considering you have been fighting on the wrong side of the war.

Varimathras knew all too well who that voice belonged to. It was the voice of Rovos the Chilled End. A chorus of voices spoke with that of his own and echoed off of one another. Causing his voice to sound powerful and more threatening. A voice like the pure breath of the frost chilled hills he was made from. Long tattered robes pulled tightly around him, four chains circling around his chest, and a shadow filled hood that obscured his undead face. A dark resonate glow was glowing beneath him as he hovered a foot above the ground, dark blue and icy air rollinf off of him. Cracked and froze in spots by ice. There had been a reason why he was known as the Chilled End. Varimathras growled at Rovos, "Do not mock me or my former masters, they rivaled powers like no other beings. And it would appear that it does not matter, our old grudges. We failed at our mission, all we have is ourselves."

The Lich crossed the alcove and came closer to Varimathras, who could feel the numb pain of fear trying so hard to breach Varimathras' courage. The Lich responded, So the events that we find ourselves in. Reveal your true form, I do not wish to speak to such a weak mortal husk.

Showing relief Varimathras willed forth his true form to be revealed. A small torrent of violet energy swirled from his hooves and engulfed him briefly. He grew to his true height, his bones snapped and repositioned, his large leather wings sprouting from his back and his horns curly out from his head. He cracked his neck and said, You cannot understand the amount of torture it is to transform into that. Why have you left her alive? She is so weak, she does not deserve to live any longer than she has been.

Rovos returned, I can understand the feeling but I have not nearly gotten enough answers from her yet. And I assure you, that she was the perfect pick. I have recently gotten information that she would kill in secret. Something I hope you have been doing?

Varimathras crossed his sharp claws over his chest and replied, Indeed. I knew it when I first took on this form. And yes I have been doing such things. I need to do something to keep my mind otherwise occupied than happiness and laughing. I thank Sargaeras himself that she kills ponies.

Rovos dropped his hooves and asked, So, what have you learned?

Varimtathras looked elsewhere from the Lich, the sight becoming sore on his demonic eyes and fell to a pool of reflective water. He saw himself, a tall standing demonic form. Tall and muscularly toned, a dark violet dreadlord. Large horns looping as they sprouted from his head, sharp eyes fixated on his reflection and folded leather bat wings. Completing the ensamble was a set of dark colored steel plate armor. Varimathras explained, It would appear that Alex has reconnected himself with the Light and is growing powerful. He has found out of your invasion and is hoping to train the ponies to defend themselves.

Rovos growled, Damn it! I hoped that I had more time!...oh well...we will have to make due with the situation.

Shall I dispose of him?

No, Rovos lifted a hoof, That would only draw attention to both yourself and me. We need to remain silent right now, I am still raising my army and I hope that your's is arriving soon?

Should be no longer than a few days.

Rovos seemed cautious, perhaps it was a lich thing but he seemed calculating and tenacious with his every word. Another thing he did was talk with his hooves, his bone hooves curled and gnarled with age and dark magic. Rovos turned and said, If we are to proceed we need to do so with caution. And I as well have news.

And that would be?

I have received reports that the Princesses have been captured, the ponies' goddesses of the sun and moon. With their leaders in our hands we can watch as they slowly tear each other apart. But with Alexandros on their side, we very well might see some resistance.

Varimathras growled, Then we strike now while they are weak. We kill the snake while it sleeps.

Rovos turned fast to Varimathras, Yet that is exactly when the snake is ready to strike, in its time of weakness. If we strike now then Alex will see it coming. We gather our forces and wait for our time to strike. Now what is the news that you wish to bring to me.

Varimathras looked Rovos straight in the eyes and his tone became serious as he explained, The Ashbringer is here. It is hidden in a secret place, I do not know exactly where it is but I would suggest that we find it before Alexandros does.

Rovos nodded slowly, his motions slow and calculated to the minute and motion. Rovos was cruel and so was Varimathras, but he could never be anywhere near the grueling dead panned cruelty that Rovos had at his disposal. Rovos crossed his hooves and said, When the ashes start to rise, and the moon falls from the sky. When a thousand candles burn into the night. When the angel softly cries on the flames below the sky. When a thousand souls still pray for you and I, is when the Ashbringer shall inherit his birth rite. Through love or through death it shall be given and shall be received. With his soul or without his soul, it does not matter, but he will return to the earth-

Varimathras stepped next to Rovos and finished the last line of the prophecy staring up at the star filled night he spoke, -from ashes to ashes and dust to dust he shall return. A blight or an omen.

Rovos followed his gaze and his tone became deadly and cold, I will send out search parties to find the blade.

Varimathras returned, And when should they expect a warning?

If Liches could smile Rovos certainly would have done just as such and answered with a voice of knives, Immediately.

Rarity had no idea what to think, or what to feel from the sight in front of her. But one thing was certain her face burned with rage and utter embarrassment. She had considered talking to Alex about the "incident" again. But now she could barely even look at the stallion. Both covered in sweat and held each other in an embrace. Not only did Rarity feel extremely awkward but she also felt her heart pluck a little bit at the sight. Twilight obviously saw that Rarity became a little bit mad at the scene and she said sheepishly her face beet red as well, "We...we were...just...um...hugging, that's all I swear to you Rarity."

Rarity knew the genuine feeling in her tone, something that Applejack had taught her, and knew that it was just a hug. But something about seeing some other mare in Alex's hooves just riled Rarity up to no end, only proving her feelings for him correct. But that also made her conflicted and made her hate herself for even wishing she could be the only mare in Alex's life. Rarity remained silent and turned at the voice of her brother as he said, "Well, I will leave you three alone. I have work with Steel Flash to finish."

He trotted off and Rarity clenched her jaw tight, the strife within her could tear herself apart if she had let this conflict grow anymore. Alex was a friend though and that is all that she wants is a friend. All these feelings and fantasies were just that, feelings and fantasies. Rarity answered Alex before he even asked and said, "I know darling. Just a hug."

Alex raised an eyebrow with a slight blush on his cheeks, "But you still don't think so."

Rarity let out a breath to answer him, clearly revealing to both of them her envious feelings and her hatred of both of them at the moment. Twilight waved a hoof, her cheeks still a strawberry color, "I-I-I'm going to-to go now."

Some weight seemed to lift from Rarity's shoulders as Twilight as well sauntered off. She did not hate Twilight but she did not exactly want to see her either. She swore to the stars above that she would never allow petty romance get in between her and her friends. But that was proving to be quite the challenge considering she both felt it was not but is a romance. And that she neither likes nor hates Twilight. And she knew that just letting it fester and boil inside of herself would do no good, but she did it anyway.

It had settled into nightfall fairly quickly and left a see of stars in its wake. Those that were visible anyways, the storm clouds still swirling and amassing above them. Rarity pressed a hoof to her forehead to try and ease the headache she had just instantly been receiving. She knew that love was a complicated matter that should be only reserved for those that are prepared for it. At least that is what her mother had told her. But she was drunk mostly and Rarity was most certainly not ready for this. Her life had picked up so fast in recent days. She could barely pick up a needle without remembering the grueling images of death and despair that occurred a few days before. So many feelings welling up inside of her she just needed release from it all. To talk to somepony she could absolutely trust. Somepony she knew would save her.

Rarity looked over at Alex and seeing his face only made things harder for her to keep them buried. She felt her eyes tremble and begin to quiver. She brought a hoof to her eyes and wiped them dry and Alex stepped forward with a loving hoof and he offered, "Rarity? Are you alright?"

She kept her gaze away from him and sputtered, for the first time in her life unable to say anything or find someplace where to begin. Alex took her hoof and said, his voice in a genuine tone, "It was just a hug I promise you. Twilight was just apologizing to me about a a few days earlier-"

"It's not that," Rarity finally forced out. In now way was it in its usual grace or beauty. But the silent quiverings of a teenage filly, "It's just...these recent events. They seem to have...caught up with me...so much in so little amount of time..."

Her voice trailed off as she could not hold it in any longer. She threw her arms around Alex and unloaded her tears onto his chest. Staining the white shirt with her salt filled tears. Alex embraced her warmly and let her cry into him. He offered no words as he seemed to know exactly what she was going through. For what seemed like hours they stood there, Rarity almost crying her eyes dry and Alex just standing in silence. Letting her unload her feelings through her eyes. Gently rubbing her shoulder occasionally.

Soon she stopped her crying and then realized that she had taken advantage of Alex with her feelings yet again. What was she turning into? Some sort of envious monster with no satiable stop to her hunger for...her yearning for love. She felt calloused towards herself as she sputtered out, "How...how do you do it?"

She looked up at him with misty eyes and he looked at her for a few seconds as he answered, "You mean make it through times such as this one?"

She nodded, allowing him ample time to answer, "Well. In all honesty I never really did get over anything that I went through. I just bear the pain and let it be. An already infected wound is not one that seals easy. I know. But it will always heal when the time comes. You have seen more than I ever did with little time to recover from each event. And I can say that it will only get worse."

He gazed back down at her and wiped a tear that escaped her grasp and said, "But without a doubt I will always be by your side. Your friend until the end. Something that I never had and never believed I deserved."

Rarity smiled and pulled him in for a warm hug. All other feelings and confusions being lost in the moment of friendship. Her love for him still remained and she still hated herself for taking advantage once again, but she ignored it for the few seconds she had at embracing him in her hooves. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She needed Alex, as anything. A friend or more than that, it did not matter. All that mattered to her was that she always had him near her. She held him in tighter and said into his shoulder, "Promise me that you'll never leave."

Rarity pulled away and they stared at each other and Alex smiled and said, "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Rarity returned the smile and said, "Look at me...I'm crying like a little filly..."

Alex returned, "Well, at least we know that you are still a pony."

"Stop..."

She lightly tapped his shoulder and their attention was drawn to a pony coming into clear view. They released each other from their grasps and saw Steel Flash standing with a bright smile plastered on his face as he nodded at Rarity. Rarity bowed to Steel Flash and smiled as she greeted him, "Steel Flash, a pleasure as always."

She remembered back to the times that she had helped Steel. Times became hard for him after he lost some of his hearing and his grandfather, the entire reason why he does not speak. He took a vow of silence until he is unable to shape steel. Which was very unlikely. She offered him help where no other ponies would. She showed him friendship where not others would. She had grown to know the stallion for being a kind hearted and pure pony to know personally. She took heart in knowing that she had healed a pony. Not physically, but emotionally. And now Steel Flash has never been so happy in his life.

Steel looked over at Alex and grunted pulling out a bag of cloth and hoofed it over to Alex who then began to unwrap what was inside. Rarity looked over and saw pieces of armor. A shoulder plate, a chestplate, and a bracer. Alex had a sense of wonder in his eyes, like laying eyes on somepony he had not seen in ages. Before Alex could strap on any of them Steel Flash clasped his shoulders and while looking at him straight in the eyes he said in a deep and gruff voice, "Not. All. But...some."

And with that Steel Flash nodded and turned to leave. Alex offered his thanks and the tall stallion left back to his blacksmith shoppe. Rarity had her mouth hanging open and stared at Alex who had finished strapping on the pieces of silver armor. Freshly shined and with small ornate inlays. Alex shrugged and asked, "What?"

Rarity looked at where Steel once stood and then back at Alex and said, "I could not even get Steel Flash to talk. What did you do to do that?"

He shrugged once more and replied, "We just...talked."

They both chuckled but their laughter was short lived as they heard the ear splitting scream of a pony screaming. They both knew the scream was a sign that the undead have arrived. Alex looked to Rarity and he had a very stern gaze and asked, "I don't expect you to accept but, do you wish to help in the defense of Ponyville?"

Rarity thought long and hard, she did not ever want to see those undead ever again. But she could tell that they were not going anywhere any time soon. Her old world was gone, a world filled with peace and harmony. Rarity released a sigh and looked directly at Alex and answered in the same tone, "If it's all the same to you."

Thunder crackled and offered to echo the raindrops that fell from the sky, every sound reverberated. The rain coming down hard, like a redemptive rain that wishes to see the end of this conflict soon. Landing not only on the defenders of Ponyville but also on the Scourge invaders. They stood there staring at the fearful eyes of the living and imposed such fear. Growling and murmuring dark whispers and promises of feasting on everyone of those defenders. But the only ones that was not affected by the fear was Twilight and Alex that stood at the frontlines and stared down directly at the jaws of nightmares.

Alex had offered to open his mind to the Light and he was pulsating with the bright energy of the all giving light, and the undead could sense that. As he could sense the dark taint that was on them. It was like a mutual hatred for one another. Promised enemies destined to always fight on the battlefield. Alex never felt so much anger in all of his life. Alex turned to glance at his rag tag team of defenders. Most were armed and armored. Wearing tattered clothes or slightly rusted weapons. Their faces plastered with fear and their morale dropping by the minute. Their courage hung on by a thread, to the very knife point. Alex stared back down at the awaiting undead. Anger filling his eyes.

Alex raised his voice to become louder than the rain fell, his gaze meeting Twilight's and Rarity's and then falling on the defenders of Ponyville, "I know that each and every one of us have already lost some of our loved ones to the black taint that is the undead. The walking corpses of pure sin. I know that it is hard to kill the ones that you love when everything that makes them a pony is gone and replaced with an animal like creature. But they meet us on this most holy ground, ground that we all can call home. Ground that we own! Our home! If you stand here now then you are willing to defend everything that you hold dear. If you are here now then you will not let anyone of those bastards past these lines! If you are with me now then you will defend! For Ponyville! For the Princesses! For Equestria!!!"

He pointed at the undead as if asking for them to charge at him, they roared and pushed on from the forest revealing their true numbers. Alex had 100 defenders and they had 500. Outnumbered 5 to 1, but Alex had faith in this defense, he knew they would not let Ponyville fall into the hands of evil. They charged up the hill and were eagerly awaiting the spear heads of the first line. Alex said to Twilight and Rarity, "Stay together. I can't afford to lose either of you."

He looked to Rarity whose eyes lit up a bright blue energy and she jumped and hovered in the air and hovered by a bright blue aura. Opening her hooves and Alex felt the earth rumble and erupt crystals that swirled around her and Rarity said with a smile and said, "Where else would I be?"

Alex shared a look with Twilight, both equally surprised at the Rarity they saw now. But their gaze fixated on the enemy once more and the Undead were almost close to them now. Alex muttered to himself, "When shadows come to claim our souls, some must rise the Light of old. Names in stone spirits of legend, deeds unknown yet never forgotten. These are the Duranin. Of honor within and of fear without, remember them when in hope you doubt."

As he finished the last line his physical form flashed away with the crack of lightning and briefly revealed him fully armored and holding the Ashbringer. But as the undead came close to him his sword burned bright and hot like it was fresh out of the forge and it came down slashing through his first undead that came close to him. Slicing through too many to count. Like wheat to a scythe they fell before him, less put together than most of the undead that Alex had faced before. Hastily put together soldiers. This was not a real attack, this was one to shake them. Scare them into submission.

They had struck hard and fast. Breaking through almost the entire first line. A few falling and to be consumed by the horde of ghouls. Blood flying through the air and falling with the rain. Alex brought back his sword and slashed through another ghoul. Cutting down each and every ghoul that came towards him like wheat to a scythe. Like a machine that was prepared for utter decimation. Two tried to down Alex but he decapitated the other and the last sank his teeth into the headless corpse.

Alex strained pushed against the strength of the ghoul. With all his might he shoved against the ghoul and pushed him off. The ghoul fell to the ground and with a final hiss Alex pulled his sword up and stabbed it deep into the undead's chest. He looked around and saw that they were putting up a good resistance. With the occasional casualty. Five or six for every defender. The only ones who actually knew what they were doing was, in hind sight, Alex. Twilight would likely need to rest after this, and who knows how Rarity would react. Alex only hopes that he pressed the no longer ponies part into them enough. Alex was the only one who has prior knowledge of warfare. He was their only hope in this battle. Alex drew his sword close after he cut another one down and prayed into the blade. The blade hummed and lit up to his soft and well heard prayer, white electricity rippling off the blade. Alex took it and stabbed the sword deep into the earth. The earth erupted and cracked, small chasms filled with pure light erupted up and either swallowed the ghouls or disintegrated them into pure dust.

Alex felt the slight tug on his muscles as he finished his prayer, Consecration it was called. Alex refocused and saw almost equal numbers with the undead and the defenders. Alex prayed to the Light that they would make it out of this.

Rarity knew the first thing that her friends would ask. Where did she learn to do such aggressive magic? The truth was that she had always known. Ever since she learned of magic she had a silent obsession with learning more than just advanced telekinesis incantations. She knew an array of spells, mainly involving making constructs. Mostly of the crystal variety. She had secret tomes that were kept by her grand father that taught the art of casting constructs. So she picked them up and in her free time when she did not have any jobs and all her household chores were finished she would go to her old house and practice.

She used it uniquely however and used telekinesis as well a part of her magic casting. Often connecting constructs and telekinesis. Rarity felt her heart tug as she recognized most of the faces that were the undead ponies. She told herself so many times that they were no longer ponies and it helped her cope with the traumatic stress that came with killing those that she used to know. She gathered magic in front of her and the crystals she had immersed answered her call and they gathered in a big heap. She clapped her hooves and they shattered into many shards. All taking the form of sharp needles.

She opened her hooves once more and they followed her movements and they awaited her next command at her sides. Once she found her targets she thrust her hooves forward and the needles flew forward. All stabbing into multiple ghouls and a few fell to the ground with death overtaking them. She then smashed into the ground kicked up dirt and earth as a small shockwave went out. That fear of their nightmarish faces came inside of her and was very strong. She almost fell back out of fear but reminded herself that these were undead. No mercy.

Rarity could not believe the atrocities that she subjected herself to. Bodies lying across the grass knolls to Ponyville. Near the entrance of town past the bridge and holding their position as best they could. The air was suddenly cold and pierced through her like a knife running against her skin. Each and every ghoul was as cruel and gaunt as the last. Rarity found five surrounding her but luckily they swarmed and did not think much into strategy. Rarity flicked her hoof while she used a spell and a solid blade made of bright magenta arcanic energy formed on her hoof, a full three feet long. She readied it for combat even though she could feel her stomach wrenching against her torso. She fought with herself to fight. She was not about to let her friends put themselves in danger and have her sit on the side lines. It was not going to happen.

The readied unicorn counter charged one of the ghouls and shoved her arcane blade deep into the ghoul's chest and it fell over as its empty veins filled with the same magenta color. Blood or whatever it was that inhabited the undead corpse spurted out of the wound and splattered over Rarity's nicely groomed coat. But horror had over taken her, for her to care about anything but surviving. Arcanic energy crackled on her hoof as she readied another spell, her horn glowing with the same color. She shot her hoof forward and a bolt of energy shot out and hit one of the charging ghouls. Striking it right in the chest and it sprawling on the ground. The other three closed in on her and as they approached she reeled her hoof back and then swung it in a wide arc while also casting a spell. A wave of magenta magic sliced all three in half and the cleaved ghouls steamed with the heated slice and with a sound of meat falling to the ground she focused on something else to try and occupy her mind besides the battle she subjected herself to viewing.

The clouded dark engulfed the land and nipped the defenders as they made quick finishes of the ghouls, Twilight rounded the rest up and incinerated them. Twilight, it seemed to Rarity at least, handled the fighting much better than Rarity and she was more against warfare than any other pony. When it was all said and done, she stood on the battlefield and finally she felt her stomach heave back and she leaned back and let the contents of her stomach spill out of her mouth. Spewing over the ground and a little bit still clung to her muzzle she wrenched back another time and more came out. The smell was almost unbearable and the feelings of having to kill was unlike anything she had done before. The sights and feelings still fresh within her even though it happened only a few minutes ago.

They suffered some heavy losses, having lost twenty five ponies and one of them was bitten by one of them. Alex had to kill him as he had explained that the disease could spread through the ghouls and turn ponies into them. Rarity never could have imagined the dark magic that it took to concoct such a disgusting substance. How could one pony be so cruel as to do this? She began to question whether or not these people from Azeroth were actual ponies. Then again this came from a pony that barely seen the inside of Equestria. Beyond their borders was a mystery to her. If one thing however was certain, it was that this war was not going to end any time soon. And not without its acceptable amount of bodies. And with that last thought she wrenched back and spewed out more of her dinner. Fertilizing the grass and seemingly having the nightmarish images disappear.

Author's Note

Finally an update, sorry for the long read but these are going to be a bit longer than usual because of everything that I am setting up. Leaving no stone unturned. I hope you enjoyed it!

~Sylus~