From The Dark

Silver Wing looks at the unconscious body before him, it looks like a normal pony. "So what are you anyway?"

The body stirs, and opens his eyes.

"Huh? where am I?" Destanis looks up around him, then looks down at his hands. "What's going on?" Destanis thinks, frightened and confused.

"Wow, she gave you the ability to speak, and fluently too. Impressive." Silver Wing notes, looking at Destanis with an amused expression.

"Who are you?" Destanis frowns intensely. "And where the fuck are we?" Destanis gets up on his feet.

"You're in the Void my friend!" Silver Wing splays out his wings and arms.

"It's the worst place to be if you're weak, you can ask the guy behind me." Silver Wing sticks a thumb out behind him.

Silver Wing walks over to the gory body and lifts him up by the collar of his cut up shirt. "Say, do you think it's fun to be in the middle of the food chain down here?" Silver Wing asks jubilantly, smirking a little.

The pony lets out a long wail and a loud cry.

"See? You could say that you're in hell, but that's Tartarus, and Tartarus is heaven compared to this place. So there you have it. The Void." Silver Wing returns to his usual apathetic, careless tone.

Destanis looks sympathetically at the rugged pony. "Who are you and what did you do to that pony?"

Silver Wing chuckles, "Heh, I guess Rykarnis didn't give you common sense, eh? I disemboweled him, as you should clearly be able to see." Silver Wing motions a claw at the vital organs hanging from the evidently male pony, and throws him back down to the ground.

Destanis gives Silver Wing a disgusted look, "Why would you do that to someone?"

Within a split second Silver Wing is right in front of Destanis and in his face. "Because there's no body strong enough to stop me. Besides, this is the Void, down here you can't die." Silver Wing turns away from Destanis and waves a claw.

"You see, here in the Void, there are no morals, there is no hope of going one day without finding yourself fighting for your life, don't worry though, even when you one day get mutilated and mangled, you slowly regenerate. No matter how beyond repair your body is, you're body and soul are still connected, and they just sort of find each other down here, and regenerate." Silver Wing explains.

Silver Wing turns back to Destanis. "I don't know how it's even possible, but it happens."

Silver Wing walks over to Destanis. "See, I could do this-"

Silver Wing cuts off Destanis's left arm with his right claw. Moving way too fast for a reaction.

Destanis falls, petrified from the pain. "-and you would be totally unaffected in a few days." Silver Wing turns away from Destanis and walks a few meters.

Destanis muffles a pained groan. "Why..." Destanis looks at what used to be his arm with abject horror.

Destanis gets up and immediately falls back down from the pain of the dismemberment. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?" Destanis yells, freaking out.

Silver Wing turns towards Destanis and says, amused, "Because it's funny!" Silver Wing turns back away from Destanis and kneels over laughing maniacally.

Destanis gets up on his feet. "You bastard!" Destanis curses.

Destanis runs at Silver Wing and rears back his right arm to punch Silver Wing in the back of his neck.

Silver Wing sidesteps to the left and grabs Destanis's only other arm and cuts it off.

Destanis lets loose a scream of agony and falls flat on his back, shivering from the waves of pain.

"I see that you already figured out one of the only weak points on my body, smart." Silver Wing bends over Destanis. "But not nearly fast enough."

"FUCK YOU!" Destanis bellows out in a fit of rage. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Destanis does a backflip from his laying stance and lands right behind Silver Wing.

"..." Silver Wing stands petrified at the sudden acrobatics from the newly created unicorn.

"..." Destanis just stands still. "How did I do that?" Destanis thinks, confused.

"Okay, I don't know what Rykarnis did to you, but I'm kind of impressed." Silver Wing says, with his back still turned on Destanis, but his head facing him.

"Wait a minute, did to me?" Destanis backs away. "And who is Rykarnis, what do you mean did to me?" Destanis asks shakily.

Destanis grimaces in pain as a large amount of blood spurts out of the shoulder where his right arm used to be.

Silver Wing laughs "Oh yeah I guess I forgot to tell you, you'll find out soon enough, Rykarnis will probably tell you all about it," Silver Wing says dismissively.

"Fuck that, I want to know now!" Destanis demands. "I don't know who you are, and I don't care, I just want out of here."

Silver Wing laughs manically. "WELL I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT THERE'S NO LEAVING THIS PLACE," Silver Wing projects with a half yell.

"FUCK!" Destanis yells, angst laced in his scream.

Destanis falls back.

"Is this it? I don't know how I'm even living right now, this is so confusing..." Destanis thinks, eyes closing.

Suddenly Rykarnis appears standing over Destanis.

"So you're awake, huh? What happened to your arms?" Rykarnis asks, looking at Destanis but not concentrating on him.

Destanis scurries backwards from the frighteningly sudden appearance, still on his back.

Destanis exclaims, "What the hell?!" and gets up on his feet. "Who are you?!"

Rykarnis feels rage well up inside her, but suppresses it.

"I asked you a question," Rykarnis asks in a very calm tone.

"And I asked you first," Destanis glares at Rykarnis in the eyes.

Rykarnis stares Destanis off.

"Silver Wing," Rykarnis says, keeping her eyes on Destanis.

"Right," Silver Wing impales Destanis on his claws and leaves them in there so the searing heat chars Destanis's organs slightly and then rips the claws out as Destanis grimaces in pain and falls to his knees.

Rykarnis steps in front of Destanis and puts a finger under his chin to put his head up to face her.

"Look, I understand that you're new here, because I made you," Rykarnis scolds. "But you don't just disrespect your god," Rykarnis half smirks, barely noticeable.

Rykarnis takes her finger away from Destanis's chin.

Destanis glares daggers into Rykarnis, "So you must be Rykarnis," He spits out, cringing by the lingering heat.

Rykarnis splays her arms out in a presenting manner.

"The one and only," Rykarnis says proudly.

"Who do you think you are considering yourself my god, why would I ever give myself to you?" Destanis mutters.

Rykarnis turns away from Destanis and snaps her fingers and with that Destanis suddenly has both his arms back, but the stab wound is still present and radiating pain.

"How did yo-" Destanis starts

"I want to test something..." Rykarnis interrupts, looking down at Destanis for a second.

"Ok, Destanis," Rykarnis begins. "Here's what's going to happen, you're going to fight Silver Wing here like your life's at stake,"

Silver Wing stretches out his wings, the wings giving off a shine.

Rykarnis puts her arm around Silver Wing for a moment.

"Or you can suffer the same fate as that pony over there."

Rykarnis points at the pony who is still healing from the brutalities it had suffered.

"What!?" Destanis blurts out, obviously not akin to the idea.

Destanis begins to feels anxiety well up as he anticipates his imminent torment.

"I have to fight him?!" Destanis gets up on his feet. "I don't have any power!"

Rykarnis looks at Destanis's arms.

"You do...but I'm not telling you how to use it or how to unleash it, find out for yourself. Now, begin..." Rykarnis commands.

Silver Wing splays out his razor sharp wings and instantly takes off into the air before diving back down on Destanis wing-first, leaving a large gash in Destanis's shoulder due to his failed attempt to dodge Silver Wing's blindingly fast attack.

Destanis front flips over Silver Wing.

Silver Wing grabs his head and smashes him into the ground in front of him and stomps his head into the ground.

Destanis lies still for a moment from the concussion.

"Come on, you can't be that slow, not after you did that backflip from a laying stance earlier," Silver Wing taunts as he picks Destanis up by the throat and swings him up then back into the ground repeatedly.

Destanis's skin is recoiling from the impact.

Destanis fades back out of consciousness upon the second face-plant into the ground.

Destanis comes to on the third time, feeling an unknown feral rage build up inside.

Unable to talk due to the constant pain bombarding his body, he just grunts from the constant smashing into the ground, grunting with each impact. Destanis counts the time between each smash.

"One...two-", Destanis's internal clock interrupted as his faces meets the floor.

"HUH?!" Silver Wing yells, sounding kin to a drill sergeant.

"One-", Destanis's nose breaks as Silver Wing smashes him into ground for the eighth time.

Silver Wing brings Destanis up to his ear.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Silver Wing's voice sounding more and more distant with each concussion-inducing impact.

Silver Wing doesn't even wait a second before shoving Destanis's face back into the ground, his teeth breaking from the twelfth face-plant.

Silver Wing contemplates letting up but decides to have a little fun and continues with using Destanis a pile driver, laughing hysterically.

"I don't know, Rykarnis," Silver Wing says as he smashes Destanis's head again. "He's way too slow," Silver Wing bring Destanis back up to look at him.

Destanis opens his eyes, trying to recover.

Silver Wing snorts.

"You're so pathetic," Silver Wing snarls before planting Destanis's head again.

It's the fourteenth time Silver Wing has shoved Destanis skull into the invisible earth, Destanis's right eye socket caves.

Suddenly Destanis grabs Silver Wings arm, intent on making the suffering end.

"You better stop talking, and start thinking of how you're gonna win this fight," Destanis mutters with malice dripping from each word.

Silver Wing smirks and blows air out of his nose.

"I don't think you have any room to be screwing around like that," Silver Wing retorts scornfully.

Silver Wing starts to throw Destanis back into the ground for the fifteenth time.

Destanis breaks the arm holding him, and Silver Wing shrieks in pain, throwing Destanis away from him.

Destanis lands on his feet, and stands completely still, watching Silver Wing snap his arm back in place.

"That was a cheap shot," Silver Wing excuses. "But that was the only hit you're gonna land."

Silver Wing wipes the blood from his face from when Destanis's nose broke and went everywhere and starts towards Destanis, his diamond claws ready to leave a nasty cut in his throat.

Suddenly Destanis's arms begins to shake, and out of nowhere his arms shift, taking on a metal form.

"You know, I realized something," Destanis says

Destanis looks at his right arm and holds it up to look at it, as it begins to shape into a double sided blade with teeth lined all around its edge. "How am I doing this?" Destanis thinks.

"Down here, there are no morals." Destanis mimics what he had heard earlier.

The teeth on the sword begin to spin.

"And if you're strong enough," Destanis's says shakily, still aching from the many face plants he had to endure.

Destanis points the sword at Silver Wing.

"You can do whatever you want."

Destanis's sword launches out of his arm at extreme speed, too fast for Silver Wing to react, impaling him.

Silver Wing falls to his knees and holds the sword, attempting to pull it out.

"What the fuck, Rykarnis!?" Silver Wing spurts, coughing up blood.

Rykarnis just shrugs.

Destanis grins, "Doesn't feel so great, does it?

Destanis spins the teeth while the sword is still inside, Silver Wing letting out a scream of agony.

Destanis pulls Silver Wing back to him using the sword as a grapple, retracting the chain the sword's bound to.

Silver Wing cuts the chain like it's a piece of string.

Silver Wing wipes some blood from his mouth, "If that's all you can do than you might as well just lay down and die, bitch." Silver Wing splays out his wings and flaps them once, sending him flying at Destanis.

Destanis stands still, petrified.

Silver Wing grabs Destanis's head before once again planting his face into the ground, leaving his hand on Destanis head.

Destanis tries to free himself to no avail, Silver Wing has a death grip. "What do I do?" Destanis tries to think, mortified.

Silver Wing bends down next to Destanis's ear, "I'm gonna grind your body to dust," Silver Wing chuckles.

Silver Wing takes off into the air with Destanis and descends until a few inches above the ground, and places Destanis's face on the ground.

"Get ready," Silver Wing says, laughing.

Silver Wing takes off, leaving Destanis's face into the ground.

Skin starts tearing off Destanis's face, his screams muffled by the ground.

Silver Wing picks up his speed.

Destanis goes limp, in shock. "I...can't" Destanis thinks, his thoughts scattering.

Silver Wing let's go of Destanis, inertia putting more work on Destanis's face.

Silver Wing lands on his feet. "So what are you gonna do now?" Silver Wing asks, grinning widely.

Destanis finally stops several meters from Silver Wing, not moving.

Silver Wing strides towards Destanis, faintly smiling. "What's the matter, Destanis? Don't want to fight anymore?

Silver Wing stops next to Destanis.

"Get up," Silver Wing demands.

Destanis lays still, silent. "I can't," Destanis thinks, unable to respond vocally.

"I SAID GET UP!" Silver Wing kicks Destanis's head in.

Silver Wing picks Destanis up by his throat with his left hand.

Destanis opens his eyes slightly, just before Silver Wing plants his fist in Destanis's face.

Blood and spit fly out of Destanis's mouth

Silver Wing rears back his fist again.

Destanis opens up his eyes.

Silver Wing starts to punch Destanis in the face.

Destanis catches Silver Wing's fist.

Silver Wing pauses, dumbfounded.

"Here's the deal, Silver Wing, if you listened to me earlier, you would have heard me say I was going to kill you," Destanis mutters hatefully.

Silver Wing laughs, "That's nonsense," He throws Destanis in front of him.

Destanis lands on the ground, rolling to a stop.

Destanis gets up on his feet.

"Let's see if this is nonsense," Destanis retorts.

Destanis flash steps, and appears behind Silver Wing, impaling him on his large blade. and starts to follow up with a horizontal slice directly at Silver Wing's neck.

"Okay okay, ladies, you can stop now!" Rykarnis snaps her fingers.

And with that Silver Wig and Destanis are apart from each other, and it seems as though they never fought; they're both in peak bodily condition, all of the injuries non-existent.

"Aw man, I was so close!" Silver Wing moans.

"Close? I was about to decapitate you!" Destanis snaps.

Actually you didn't pay attention to the wings I was surrounding you with, I was this close-" Silver Wing puts his thumb and index finger together, barely an inch apart. "-To slicing you in half."

"SHUT UP!" Rykarnis yells over the both of the bickering duo.

Both of them silence themselves and look at Rykarnis like a deer in headlights.

"All was doing was seeing if Destanis was worth even a penchant of my time."

Silver Wing remembers. "Oh yeah, I got carried away."

Silver Wing walks up to Destanis.

"Sorry about how I sort of almost turned your face into mashed potatoes," Silver Wing apologizes.

Silver Wing puts out a claw, "Truce?"

Destanis backs away.

"Fuck no, you think you can just crush my skull and get away with it?"

Destanis balls his left arm's fist, "You think you can just cut off my arms, liquefy my head, and get away with it? I said I was gonna kill you, and now I'm definitely gonna do just that, bitch."

Destanis points his right sword at Silver Wing.

Silver Wing smirks, crossing his arms, "Go ahead, do it, see what happens."

Destanis launches the sword, aiming directly at Silver Wing's head.

The sword falls to the ground not even halfway to Silver Wing.

"What!?" Destanis looks at his right arm.

Destanis gives Silver Wing a confused look. "What happened? Did Silver Wing cut the chain again like he did earlier?

Destanis moves his eyes down to where the sword landed and follows it all the way back to his arm.

"The chain is fine." Destanis furrows his brow.

Rykarnis snickers, "I said you can stop fighting, pumpkin." Rykarnis looks at her nails for a second. "Don't make me force you."

Destanis reverts his arms, "Or what, I'll be put through the same shit as that pony over there?" Destanis points at the disemboweled pony.

Rykarnis laughs, "You catch on quick, don't you?"

Destanis wipes sweat off his forehead. "Fine, whatever."

Rykarnis puts her hands together and rubs them together like she's scheming something.

"Okay, you two, I have something really important for you to do."

"I don't think I feel like it," Silver Wing says, brushing some dust off his arm.

"Too bad, you're going anyway." Rykarnis commands.

Silver wing sighs, "Fine,"

Rykarnis can't help but grin. "You two will be heading off to the kingdom of Canterlot, and you will 'take care'-" Rykarnis nods her head at Silver Wing again. "-Of the rulers of that kingdom, do you understand?"

Silver Wing and Destanis both shrug, "I guess so." Destanis says.

"Good, now off with you," Rykarnis snaps her fingers and the duo disappear without a trace.

"Hopefully this will turn out just the way I imagined," Rykarnis looks down at the pony that Silver Wing brutalized.

The pony groans.

"Shut up, simpleton," Rykarnis snaps her fingers and the pony disperses.

Meanwhile, in the Canterlot Throne Room.

Celestia sits on her throne, eyes closed intensely, Luna walks up to Celestia.

"Sister," Luna begins, "Did you feel that?" Luna asks.

Celestia opens her eyes, then looks at Luna worriedly.

"Yes, and I can't seem to figure out where it's coming from," Celestia gets up from her throne.

"Well something has to have caused the sudden raise in magic energy, I haven't felt a surge like that in over a century." Luna persists.

Celestia walks up to a stained glass window of six ponies, each one wearing a necklace.

Both sisters cringe for a moment.

"I just felt something," Luna says, concerned.

"So did I, It must have teleported," Celestia stiffens.

"What? But only the best magic users can use teleportation magic," Luna walks up next to Celestia.

"That's right," Celestia begins, "And the energy just felt...wrong, like a dark heavy cloud." Celestia frowns.

Celestia looks down, "It felt like..."

"...Pure, unadulterated, evil?" Luna finishes.

"Yes, and I have a really bad feeling about the future." Celestia looks at the painting.

"Should we send Twilight?" Luna suggests.

"No, I don't want to take any chances, this just feels..." Celestia trails off, shivering.