Legendary...this is what they...used to call me. That was my title...my...glory

Alex remembered those words even if he had died. They were fresh in his mind, they reverberated off the walls of his mind.

Remember them, when in hope you doubt....

The Rezalb Crystal. From the moment I claimed this artifact I was stunned by the darkness within it. I had never felt such a powerful evil.

Yet, can good exist without evil? Can there be light without dark? And if that answer is no, then since this artifact exists its polar opposite must also exist? To my surprise the crystal itself had this very potential. And with the power of Light we turned this artifact into a source of purity. Banishing the evil within it.

The weapon was given to me as a gift, and I wielded it with honor. In the name of the Light I was. The Ashbringer.

Darkness rolled away from Alex's vision and he saw a sigh he thought he would never see again. He saw him as a young man. Younger than even Darion. Alex saw himself run through the forest, bounding past brush and overgrowth. Alex remembered this day very well.

Fear spread across young Alexandros. He had never ran so hard and so fast in his life. His father's words repeating in his mind, "Take my amulet and run as fast as you can. Remember who you are Alexandros. I will find you when this is all over. Run. Go."

Alexandros clutched the amulet of his father in his hand, turning his knuckles white. It was the dead of night and darkness spread across the eerie fields of Lordaeran. Alexandros had nowhere to go and nowhere to stop. He just kept running. His father was the only one to stay behind, his mother and sister went ahead and left. Alexandros stayed by his father's side, hoping to put his new paladinic powers to use. What they had protected their home from? What was it that threatened their well being? Orcs. Bloodthirsty orcs. The first time the blood of orcs was spilled on his hands.

The cottage. That is where his mother and sister went to. Alexandros found new determination and picked up his pace. He quickly rushed through the forest and eventually found his destination, a hobble little cottage able to fit an average family. But he was not greeted by the bright white colored walls or sturdy thatch roof. What lied in front of him now was a decrepit and burned pile of ash. Half of the cottage was gone and smoke rose ominously in the sky. Alexandros feared what he would see, he cautiously opened the black ash filled door and his heart dropped and stopped beating.

Stabbed on two singed stakes were the burned and decayed forms of his sister and mother. Their skin still smoking and their forms still charred and the stench wafting up to his nostrils, filling his senses with the death around him. He his knees buckled and his eyes clamped shut as they forced back tears. Why was it his family? Why did this have to happen to him?

His mind filling with deep thoughts of vengeance and for revenge for what those orcs did to his family. He swore to himself that from that day forward he would despise any orc he came across. And kill every one that crossed him or even glanced at him.

Alex jerked himself awake, his brow dripping with cold sweat and his chest burning with seething hatred. His chest rose and fell with long breaths. He wished that these dreams would stop. These dreams were happening for a purpose, they were playing around in his head for a good reason. What that purpose is, he did not know. But what he did know was he had to figure out a way to get rid of them. And to be quieter when he dreamed, Rarity has to be losing beauty sleep because of him.

He controlled his breathing and just in time to see the door swing open, letting light spill into the room. Alex saw Rarity once again in a thin robe and she asked, "Nightmares again?"

Alex nodded his head and felt embarrassed. This was the second time he was stricken with nightmares. And still it offered nothing on why he was there and what his purpose was. Rarity ushered herself into the room and sat next to him. She folded her hooves in her lap. Alex knew that she was here to help. But something kept him hesitant. Something very familiar.

He heard the impatience in her voice as she asked, "Well darling? What was it about?"

Alex kept a dark face and sighed. He was torn. He wanted someone else to know the weight he has on his shoulders. But he does not want to get so close that he has to fear getting that person...or pony rather...in danger. It was a terrible feeling and an even worse decision. Alex felt a hoof on his chin and his head turned to Rarity and he saw even though she was still tired, she still had beauty. Her warm and inviting eyes spoke volumes to him with just a simple look.

Alex, while hesitant to answer, said, "I want to tell you everything, I really do Rarity. It's just..."

He lost his words and his voice trailed off. There was more than one answer to her question. He needed reassurance that he could trust her with anything, that she was a pony to fall back on in dark times. Should they arise. Should his dark past come to haunt him. He does not know what more he needed. She was sitting right next to him, waiting for an answer. Anxiously waiting for him to tell her everything.

Alex felt a gentle hoof rest on his shoulder and her voice offered him ease and rest as she said, "It's alright darling. I can wait...it appears that it hurts you more than I could ever know. Tell me when you are ready."

And with that Rarity left, issuing no sound as she exited. Like a wisp of wind, she was gone. But he knew that she was not gone forever, it felt as such however. A bad feeling. Alex said to himself, "I'm sorry Rarity..."

The sun hung high in the sky, but there was something strange about it. It did not hang in the sky with jubilation, it almost looked as if it had no life to it. Alex looked up at it, it's light was almost pale. Like the moon he could look at it without his eyes burning. Alex knew the look of this sun very well. He had seen it many times back on Azeroth. It looked almost exactly like the sun he had seen in Lordaeran or at least the Plaguelands as it was called now. He remembered the sacking of Stratholme. He and the others had made it too late to save the citizens. Fresh in his mind was that memory.

If only he had been there. If only he was not so obsessed with the Ashbringer. He might have been able to save everyone. To save Uther. Saidan. Darion. Renault. Abbendis. Fairbanks. He could have saved them all. He could have prevented everything.

"Alex?" Alex turned to Rarity who called out his name. He looked and saw her wearing a sun hat that blocked out the pale rays of the sun, the thick reds and yellows of the rays. Her face covered with grey shadows. Her soft and beautiful features brimming with pristine care. Alex found himself almost lost in her eyes, luckily she did not notice. Alex shook his head and Rarity continued stepping closer, "Are you alright darling?"

The benevolence in her tone always was kept there. It did not matter what she did but it was there. It brought care and warmth in his heart that desperately needed healing. Alex relaxed and responded in a thoughtful tone, "Yes. I am fine Rarity. I was just...thinking."

A gentle smile came across her face. As quick as it had came it was lost and she asked, "Do you need some help getting to Sweet Apple Acres?"

Alex was about to decline her offer but he also did not trust himself wandering Ponyville by himself just yet. Having some company with him would not hurt either. He could use somepony to talk to. Somepony to tell him that he was doing the right thing. Somepony to entrust his dark past with. He would tell her, but not just yet. He needed something to solidify that he could trust her with his dark secrets. He gave a friendly smile and said, "Okay."

She beamed with joy at the agreement and they wandered through the square that was tumult with activity. Alex had seen productive country folk before but this was something else. everypony walked on as if they had some sort of schedule to get back to or food to buy. Not quite as busy as a city but it was still pretty busy. Alex looked over at Rarity as they passed a shoppe called 'Quills and Sofas' and she had asked, "So, I noticed you really hit it off with Spike last night."

Alex let a smile encompass his features and he answered, "Yes. He...he reminds me of my son Darion when he was younger. Loyal and compassionate to those he loves."

His gaze grew distant as he remembered his little son. Rarity must have noticed his distant gaze because she said, "Your son sounds like he was a noble stallion."

Alex smiled at her comment and said, "He became everything I could hope for. Take heart in knowing that before I...left...I patched things up with Darion."

Rarity looked over at Alex and asked, "What about your oldest? What was his name...Renault?"

Alex dreaded at his memory. He shut his eyes and remembered the cleaving sound of a sword slicing through someone's neck as he watched his son's head roll off his body. Alex opened his eyes as the memory faded and responded rubbing the wound on his chest, "...some wounds don't heal..."

Rarity quickly changed the subject and said, "I don't know how you can stand it out here Alex. It is simply dreadful out here."

Alex cracked a smile and said, "Well I have experience with climates like this. Although, I would not expect a climate like this for Equestria."

Rarity looked at Alex questionably and asked, "How so?"

"I don't know," Alex responded as they found themselves at the outskirts of Ponyville, on a dirt path towards Sweet Apple Acres, "The sun just feels...wounded...like something bad is going to happen. Or I could just be a paranoid old fool."

"Old?" Rarity responded to his slip, "You hardly look old?"

Alex swallowed harshly. He had gotten so used to saying things like that he sort of forgot that he was younger now. He needed to think of something quickly. After a careful thought he said, "Then how do I look?"

For the first time in her life she was at a loss for words. She felt her cheeks burn as Alex asked what he looked like. There was literally nothing she could say that could get her out of the hole she had dug herself in. Why did she have to speak? For once she cursed herself for having a big mouth.

Alex asked coyly and with a brimming smile on his face, "Well Rarity? How do I look then?"

Rarity pouted averting her gaze away, "You look...good."

"Good," Alex asked making her blush grow, "Is that all you have to say?"

It would be the first time Alex heard her say something along the lines of vulgarity as she responded, "Shut up."

Alex laughed as he cleverly avoided a road he would rather not go down. Alex looked and noticed the trees at the edges of the road and what came into view was breath taking. A sea of dark green trees with crisp red apples resting calmly on the branches. A gentle breeze rustling the sea of green. Everything looked so peaceful. Then he saw the barn and the light brown house near it. The bright red and white standing out in the saturated light. He had never seen barns look so colorful and lively. It was amazing.

Alex stopped in his tracks taking in the sight. Rarity smiled and said, "This is Sweet Apple Acres. The heart of Ponyville. Without this apple farm we would not be the same town we are today. I simply must get back to the square, I have many errands to run. I will hopefully see you back at Carousel Boutique before I make dinner. Au revoir darling."

Alex took in a breath and separated from Rarity and walked on to the farm house. He saw on the porch an old green pony who noticed his approach and said, "Huh? Wha? What are you doin' here?"

Alex answered the old pony, "Hello there. I am looking for Applejack."

The shriveled pony sized up Alex and said, "Why? Yah interested in her?"

Alex double took and said, "Wait, what? I think we-"

"Yah fahnd her ahttractive or somim?" The old pony interrupted, "Bout time she found some stallion that likes her. I want some great grandponies. Naht while ahm swallowing dirt-"

"Granny Smith!" Alex turned to the source of the voice. He saw a light orange mare with a light brown Stetson resting on her head. Dark green eyes set boldly on her head and long blonde mane and tail. Three apples as her...cutie mark he had said it was called. He noticed a trend of three pictures on this cutie mark. Rarity with three diamonds. This must have been Applejack, Alex guessing because she looked around the same age as Rarity. Applejack said, "Now Granny, aint it bout time yah take yer medicine?"

Granny Smith grumbled as she walked inside her final words being, "Don't do anythin' stupid while ahm gone. Like making-"

"Granny!"

"Ahm goin'. Ahm goin'."

Applejack looked and turned back to Alex. Her gaze set on him critically and she asked in a tone similar to her look, "So. Alex. Why ya here?"

Alex could almost sense the mistrust in her tone. Alex said, "Rarity said that you might need an extra ha-hoof here."

Applejack raised an even more irritated eyebrow as she said, "She did, did she?"

With a nod Applejack said, "Yah well Ah don' need help right now."

Alex looked at the many unpicked apple trees and Alex said skeptically, "Really? Cause those bushels beg to differ. Seems to me that you'll barely make it to harvest time just by yourself."

Applejack tightened her gaze and said, "Are yall suggestin' that ahm not gonna be able to make it tah Harvest?"

"Yes I literally just said that." Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose, "You know I'm right anyway."

Applejack thought for a moment, staring at Alex almost daring him to make a sudden move and he'll get bucked. After a few silent seconds it seemed it pained her to say the words, "Alright then. I guess yall could help. Yah seem tah be a strong pony. Follow meh."

Author's Note

Sorry about the long wait you guys. Two months! You must have thought I abandoned this. But you must know that I will never abandon this project, this is one of my crown jewels. I will never abandon this project.

And in regards to the memory sequence at the beginning. I decided to write that because there was so little given to us about Alexandros' back story and why he had joined the military in the first place. So I took it upon myself to give my little interpretation of his family prior to meeting Elena.

I can give no promises that the updates on this fic are going to be consistent. I am writing four fics at the same time, along with the stress of real life. So please be patient. I love this as much as everyone else but please have patience. That is all I ask.

By the way, had to torture you guys a bit more. You know what I mean...hehe......strawberry face...

See you guys next chapter!
~Sylus~