Ten Tasks To Redemptionby dreadbaronChaptersThe ArrivalThe Arena of VengeanceThe Court of InjusticeThe Final ShowdownThe ArrivalTen Tasks To Redemption Chapter One: The Arrival The portal Hades created back in Tartarus arrived at it’s destination, and opened slowly. Galeforce stepped out, and found himself in what seemed to be Sweet Apple Acres. Everything was just as he remembered it… except for the sky. The sky was an intense, blood red storm; with images of other portals opening miles and miles away. “What is this?” Galeforce asked aloud. “This is Crothorr,” a voice answered him. “The city of the damned.” Galeforce turned quickly around, and came face to face with another ghostly human. “Tell me, creature,” he ordered the apparition. “What is your name?” “In life, I was known as Cassim,” the ghost told him. “I was the leader of the Forty Thieves, the most cutthroat band of rogues in all of Agrabah. Now I serve under the thumb of Hades, helping would-be redeemed souls to complete the Ten Fatal Tasks.” “Cassim,” Galeforce asked him, “what are the Ten Tasks?” “I cannot say, for I failed to complete them.” “Then why are you here?” Galeforce further asked him. “Look around you,” Cassim said, as he gestured grandly with his hands. “Every portal you see in the distance is a villain receiving his one chance at redemption, and for every villain a thousand failures remain. No-one has ever completed the tasks, and no-one ever will.” “I’ll complete them,” Galeforce stated firmly. “I must complete them.” “You fight a battle you cannot win, young pony,” Cassim told his charge. “This city is an enemy in itself, transforming itself from friend to foe on a whim. You cannot hope to defeat Crothorr, and you will join our ranks soon enough.” Turning away in disgust, Galeforce turned his back to his pessimistic company; and started to spread his wings yet again. As he did, another portal appeared roughly ten feet in front of him, and Galeforce turned back to Cassim with a sneer. “Goodbye, Cassim,” he arrogantly said. “I’m off to meet my destiny.” “Beware, Galeforce,” Cassim warned the Thief Lord, as he flew into the portal. “You have no idea what you are in for.” Galeforce appeared on the other end of the new portal, and found himself standing on a wooden floor. It was dark, but he could see a dim light in the distance. That must be the way out, he thought to himself. “Galeforce!” a voice boomed from above. “Are you prepared for your first task?” “Bring it on,” Galeforce challenged the unknown foe. “As you wish,” the voice responded; as a bright light flooded the room. “Your first task is simple: escape this room alive!” Galeforce strained his eyes to see, and soon a realization came over him: this was the old Thief Headquarters in Cloudsdale, and he was standing on a gigantic version of his meeting room table. Suddenly, a nearby door flung open; and a giant Galeforce entered with several Thieves. “Here’s to your first successful raid, colts!” the giant Galeforce bellowed, as he pulled a large bag of gold out from under his wing. He held it proudly with his mouth for a second, and then casually tossed it onto the table. The real Galeforce barely managed to dodge the enormous satchel, and his heart raced in fear. “Ten thousand bits,” the giant Galeforce carried on talking. “You stallions will make fine additions to my guild!” “What about our cut, boss?” one of the Thieves asked, as he held out a hoof. “Don’t worry, you’ll get what’s coming to you,” the giant Galeforce answered him, as he took his place at the head of the table. He shoved the bag of gold on it’s side with his hoof, sending bits rolling all over the table. The bits rolled toward the smaller version of the Thief Lord, and he knew he had to act fast. Spreading his wings in his signature dramatic fashion, Galeforce took to the sky; and he started to fly towards the exit he noticed before this all began. I must escape this place, he thought to himself as he soared toward his destination. I must return to Ponyville. He flew across the room, dodging the wild swings of pegasus limbs as they celebrated their villainous bounty. He heard the giant Galeforce shout a wild cry of victory, and wondered if he had really once been like that. The years had changed Galeforce into a whole new pony, and he was ashamed of his behavior. I was a barbarian, he thought to himself as he flew. That was back before I brought in the whole honor concept, when we killed and looted freely. This may be my memories, but I hardly recognize myself. Galeforce then turned his attention to the other Thieves, and felt his heart sink to the floor. These were some of Cloudsdale’s best and brightest, and he had turned them into the savage creatures that stood all around him now. He looked into each of their bloodshot eyes, and could only feel despair. Was it right of me to do this to them, he continued to ponder, carefully dodging the various hazards in his way. These ponies had bright futures: doctors, soldiers, and even future Wonderbolts. All of it gone, thanks to my greed and my shortsightedness. These thoughts shook Galeforce to the core, and he flapped his wings even faster; for escape could not come fast enough. He then burst through the exit portal, and found himself standing in front of Cassim. “You succeeded,” Cassim observed. “How surprising.” “What was the point of that?” Galeforce asked. “The Path of Greed makes you remember the one bad decision that started your criminal career,” Cassim told him without hesitation. “Every crime you ever committed started from that one choice, and soon enough you will see what came of it.” “What difference does it make?” Galeforce asked in defiance. “That heist was years ago! Nopony remembers it!” “How sure of that are you?” Cassim asked, as he pointed a bony finger towards the next portal. “The Arena of Vengeance awaits you.” The Arena of VengeanceChapter Two: The Arena of Vengeance Galeforce looked over towards the next portal, and could hear faint screaming coming from inside it. “What’s going on in there?” he muttered to himself, as he inched forward. “Enter the portal quickly,” Cassim warned his charge. “Crothorr has such grand plans for you, and hates to be kept waiting.” Galeforce cautiously entered the portal, and found himself standing in what seemed to be the basement at Ahuizotl’s old tavern. “Alright, Crothorr,” he uttered. “Let’s do this.” “As you wish,” the same voice as before boomed, as the walls started to melt away. This revealed a massive coliseum (similar to the one in Cloudsdale), where scores of villains had gathered to watch the upcoming event. Galeforce looked around the massive pit he was now standing in, and noticed a trembling creature off to his right. He trotted over to it, and then kneeled down next to it. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Are you hurt?” “Beware, Galeforce,” a familiar voice hissed from the creature. “The fight has just begun.” “Ahuizotl,” Galeforce growled, for he knew the voice all too well. “How dare you show your face to me!” Ahuizotl rolled over, and showed the terrible facial scars he had gained since his death. “It’s not me you should be worrying about,” he chuckled cruelly, as he lazily pointed a figure to the left. “It’s them.” Galeforce turned quickly, and was met with a vision he hadn’t seen in his worst nightmares. There stood his entire Thief Guild, but they did not look the way they had in life: some were in various stages of decomposition, some were a hybrid of pegasus and feline body parts, and some were disfigured beyond all recognition. Each brandished his/her Thiefblade, and each had a serious score to settle. “My friends,” Galeforce addressed them, with a hint of fear in his voice. “Why are you doing this?” “You betrayed us, Galeforce,” the entire group answered as one, in an incredibly creepy monotone. “Now, you must die.” “If that’s the way it must be,” Galeforce uttered, as he drew his Thiefblade, “then so be it. You will not stop me!” He charged towards the group, galloping as fast as his hooves would allow. He swung his blade, and the fight began. Galeforce’s first blow struck the pegasus at the front across the neck, decapitating him in one swift motion. The other Thieves took great offense to this, and several started swinging their swords at Galeforce’s body. Galeforce effortlessly dodged the weak blows of these zombified ponies, and he started hacking and slashing at their exposed limbs. Soon they were all lying in a pool of blood and hacked body parts at his hooves, and he raised his Thiefblade in triumph. “Very good, Galeforce,” the booming voice congratulated him. “However, this fight is not over yet.” Suddenly, a beam of red light shot down from the sky, and it grabbed Ahuizotl like a force field. Ahuizotl started to cackle insanely, as the beam pulled him into the air. Once he had reached the top of the coliseum, the beam stopped for a minute; and then split into two separate paths. The other path shot down towards the remains of the Thieves, and picked them up from under Galeforce’s hooves. The beam carried the body parts towards Ahuizotl, and the two beams collided in a massive ball of light. The beam hit the ground with a craterous crash, and a monster stepped out. The beast had ten arms, a set of six pony limbs with hooves for legs, and two pairs of wings. “Hello, Galeforce,” Ahuizotl hissed, as he flexed his new form. Galeforce held up his Thiefblade, and stood his ground firmly. “Ahuizotl,” he said with passion, “let this be our final battle.” “SO BE IT!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as he charged towards Galeforce like a crazed buffalo. He grabbed Galeforce by the throat in mid-stride, and threw him as hard as he could muster into some nearby rocks. Galeforce crumpled in a bloody heap, and Ahuizotl started laughing again. “How does it feel, Galeforce?” he taunted his fallen foe. “After everything you’ve struggled for, how does it feel to know it all ends now?” “You…tell…me,” Galeforce managed to gasp out, as he pulled himself up on his hooves. “You insolent fool!” Ahuizotl shouted, as he flew up into the air. “Can you not see that I have already won? I am the most powerful being in Crothorr! I am the living god! I AM….” Suddenly, Ahuizotl’s crazed ranting was cut off by Galeforce approaching him. Ahuizotl dodged the Thiefblade lunging for his heart, and calmly snapped it in two with his bare hands. “Miserable wretch,” he cursed aloud, as he struck Galeforce with three of his fists. “Hellspawn,” Galeforce insulted his attacker, as he spat out some teeth and blood. He then followed this up with the hardest buck he had ever given in his life, which snapped Ahuizotl’s neck like a twig. Ahuizotl fell to the ground immediately after, and the sickening sound of bones snapping filled the air. “Rest in peace, monster,” Galeforce muttered, as he recovered his strength. However, the fight was not quite over; as Ahuizotl once again rose to his hooves. He popped his neck back into place with a quick jerk of his hands, and then turned to Galeforce with a sickening smile. “Nice try,” he said with derision. “Now you know the truth: I cannot die here!” “Is that a challenge?” Galeforce asked, as he flew towards Ahuizotl with the intensity and speed of a nuclear bomb. He can’t die here, he thought to himself as he dove. I guess I’ll just have to take him apart piece by piece then. “Stop this now!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as he braced himself for impact. Galeforce collided with him in a moment of considerable force, and he could feel the Thief Lord’s teeth digging into one of his arms. The pain that followed afterward was almost unbearable; as Galeforce ripped the arm clean off. “You might be immortal, but you are not invincible,” Galeforce taunted his bleeding adversary, as he dropped the arm casually onto the floor. Ahuizotl paused, and then a look of fear flashed over his face for a minute. The pain he was feeling should have been enough to kill him, and only now did he truly understand the curse of immortality. He then turned quickly around, and started to flee. “This is not over!” he shouted, although he knew in his heart it was over. “Galeforce!” the voice of Crothorr then boomed around the arena. “You have successfully completed the second Fatal Task. Approach the winner’s circle, and claim your prize now.” Galeforce stepped into the glowing circle that appeared before him, and found himself once again standing beside Cassim in the false Sweet Apple Acres. “I did it,” he wheezed, as he collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. “Rest, my friend,” Cassim told him. “There are still eight Tasks left before freedom. But for now, a pleasant memory awaits you back at the barn.” Galeforce trotted up to the barn, and found what seemed to be a ghostly version of himself watching the ghostly Cutie Mark Crusaders. “That’s why I cannot fail,” Galeforce mumbled to himself, as tears welled up in his eyes. “I can’t let those poor fillies die.” The Court of InjusticeChapter Three: The Court of Injustice Galeforce woke up a few hours later after a well-deserved rest, and found himself lying in an incredibly accurate reproduction of his old bed. He looked towards the foot of the bed, and found Cassim standing next to a portal. “Is that the next one?” he asked with a groan. “Yes, my friend,” Cassim told him. “Hurry now, Crothorr is waiting.” Galeforce stood up on his hooves, and slowly trotted into the portal. He noticed Cassim was following him this time, and he turned to face his newfound ally. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I must join you on this trial,” Cassim informed him. “Crothorr has requested that I represent you in the court.” “Represent me,” Galeforce repeated under his breath, as his eyes filled with the sight of the new room. It was a large room, with a full audience of assorted creatures on all sides. A large podium stood in the center of the room, and three small portals stood to the left, right and center of it. Galeforce looked to the top of the podium, and saw a pony he had not seen in ages: his father, Silverwing. “Dad?” he asked in amazement. “Is that you?” “Yes, my son,” Silverwing answered in a dull monotone. “I am Silverwing, former soldier of the Cloudsdale Armada and current Dark Judge of Crothorr.” “Judge…” Galeforce slowly started to realize, “I’m on trial!” “Precisely,” Judge Silverwing hissed, as he waved a hoof towards the front of his podium. “Approach the portals, so that we may proceed.” Cassim and Galeforce approached the three glowing portals before them, and a twinge of fear entered into Galeforce’s heart. “Be careful,” Cassim whispered to the trembling pegasus. “There is more to this than what you can see.” “Is your client prepared for the first examination, Cassim?” Judge Silverwing asked. “Yes, your Honor,” Cassim answered him. “Very well then,” Judge Silverwing said, as he chuckled cruelly. “What you see before you are three entrances to the fate of Equestria. The first one is a path to the past, the second is a path to the present, and the third is a path to the future. Everything you will see is a direct result of… that one crime, and thus you are responsible for it all.” “Why must I see this?” Galeforce asked. “A biased account of your crime and its consequences is of no use to me,” Judge Silverwing said. “Everypony here will be able to see the truth through the dark magic of the portals, and we will be able to draw our conclusions from that.” “Fair enough,” Galeforce said in defiance, as he trotted over to the first portal. He stepped inside, and the portal expanded into a ‘screen’ of sorts. “Galeforce, do you recognize this area?” the booming voice of Judge Silverwing filled the newly forming room. “Yes,” Galeforce answered him. “This is Princess Celestia’s throne room.” “The scene of the crime,” Judge Silverwing mocked loudly, as a cloaked figure entered the room. “Do you see yourself, Galeforce?” Galeforce looked on in dread, as he saw the cloaked figure open a nearby vault door with a broken unicorn horn. It grabbed the chest inside with it’s teeth, and the cloak fell down across his shoulders. It was Galeforce, as he had looked all those years ago. “Yes,” Galeforce asked, as he watched the ghost of his past slink away. “So you confess at last,” Judge Silverwing snarled with a sneer. “This is unnecessary, your Honor,” Cassim interrupted without hesitation. “The theft of the Elements of Harmony is well-known.” “Perhaps,” Judge Silverwing admitted, “but this part of the tale is known only to one.” The ghost of Galeforce galloped towards the exit, only to be met with a puff of black smoke. Another hooded figure stepped out, and flexed its mechanical claws menacingly. “Galeforce,” it hissed, “we meet at last.” “Who are you, creature?” the Galeforce from the past asked. “You will come to know my name soon enough,” the mechanical monster stated firmly. “For now, you need only know this: I am the future.” “What do you want from me?” the ghostly Galeforce asked. “I need the Elements of Harmony,” the monster growled, “and you will surrender them to me.” “Never,” the ghost Galeforce stated, as he dropped the chest to draw his Thiefblade. “Fool,” was all the monster said, as he slapped his opponent across the room with a wave of his robotic hand. “The Elements are mine, and soon enough the rest of my plan will fall into place.” The monster then seized the chest, and made a hasty exit in another smoke cloud. “You wanted him to have the Elements of Harmony,” Judge Silverwing taunted his son. “You wanted to betray your allies, all to get back at Ahuizotl.” “That’s a lie!” Galeforce barked, as he looked on at the bleeding remains of his past. “Come now, Galeforce,” the Dark Judge laughed, as the room started to spin slowly. “You never intended to save them.” “Your Honor, this is highly inappropriate,” Cassim interjected. “Silence,” Judge Silverwing shouted, as the sound of wings slapping flesh filled the spinning room. “I am in control here!” “Father, why are you doing this to me?” Galeforce asked in desperation, as he started to panic from the room spinning faster and faster. “To teach you a lesson,” Judge Silverwing snarled. “Repeat after me: I deserve this.” “No,” Galeforce said in defiance, as he struggled to maintain his balance. “SAY IT!” the Judge bellowed, as another portal opened near Galeforce. “Tell me you deserve this!” “Do your worst,” Galeforce challenged his enemy. “Perhaps you require more persuasion,” Judge Silverwing stated, as he calmed down at an alarming speed. The room stopped spinning, and the portal opened. “Please step into the present, my friend.” Galeforce stepped into the next portal, and found himself standing in the charred remains of Ponyville. Griffins were storming the streets, rounding up ponies into mule-drawn cages. The buildings were mostly destroyed, and the ones still standing burned in the distance. “Do you see what you have done, Galeforce?” Judge Silverwing stated with hatred. “You brought the wrath of Talon down on this town, where even the former bearers of the Elements are powerless to stop them.” “Why don’t they fight back?” Galeforce asked, as he recovered from the shock of seeing all this. “Even without the Elements, they should have a fighting chance.” “They may battle Talon in furious skirmishes, but the outcome will always be the same,” Judge Silverwing told him. “Your act of betrayal at Canterlot spawned the flames of vengeance in the heart of Ahuizotl, which in turn made Talon into an unstoppable force.” “I had no idea,” Galeforce uttered, as he started to cry. “Now you do,” Judge Silverwing stated without mercy. “Repeat after me: this is right, and I deserve this.” “No more,” Galeforce stammered. “Please Father, no more.” “This will end when you say it,” Judge Silverwing answered him. “You have the power to put an end to your suffering, if you finally admit that this is what you deserve!” Galeforce sniffed deeply, and wiped his tears with his hoof. “I deserve this,” he said, as his spirit finally broke. “No, Galeforce!” Cassim shouted, but it was too late: Judge Silverwing had won. “At last, the truth comes out,” Judge Silverwing shouted triumphantly, as he pulled Galeforce out of the portal and back into the courtroom. “Now that you have confessed to your heinous crimes, you can visit the final portal.” He then gave the signal to a unicorn guard standing nearby, and the guard threw Galeforce into the portal with a blast of magic. The portal snapped shut, and Judge Silverwing stepped down from his podium. “I hope he enjoys the future he has earned,” he hissed at Cassim. “He deserves it.” The Final ShowdownChapter Four: The Final Showdown Galeforce opened his eyes, and found himself lying on a floating platform. Portals swirled in the distance, as they flew freely through the twirling red cyclone surrounding him. Screams of anguish filled the air, as Judge Silverwing teleported in front of him. “Dad…” Galeforce gasped in fear. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Judge Silverwing taunted him. “I’m not your father.” “What?” was all Galeforce could say. “You have advanced further than I would like,” Silverwing said, as his body started to morph. “It was necessary to break your spirit, so that I could finish you off here… once and for all.” “Crothorr,” Galeforce growled, as the deception became clear to him. “I should have known.” “You are correct, sir!” Crothorr shouted, as he ripped his Silverwing disguise apart. In it’s place the obese demon now stood, flexing his arms in triumph. “Forgive me for the lie, young one, but it was essential to the trap. I think you’ll find that condemnation by a family member is more… effective than usual.” “You twisted old monster!” Galeforce raged, as he galloped towards Crothorr with all his might. He bucked the demon in the stomach with his front hooves, sending him flying to the other side of the platform. “Come now,” Crothorr uttered, as he slowly rose to his feet. “Must we resort to violence?” “Face me, Crothorr,” Galeforce challenged the demon. “I’m done with this place, and it’s time to end this.” “As you wish,” Crothorr mumbled, as he lifted his hand in a dramatic fashion. He used his magic to grip Galeforce by the wings, and then began to pull in two directions. “Is this enough of a challenge for you?” he asked, as Galeforce buckled under the intense pain. Galeforce screeched a blood-curdling scream, as his wings were ripped off his body. “NO!” he shouted, at the top of his lungs. “You know,” Crothorr taunted his bleeding prey, “the Earth pony look really suits you.” Galeforce slowly rose to his hooves, and stumbled slightly from his lightheadedness. He drew the shattered remains of his Thiefblade, and gave a rude gesture with his other hoof. “Forget the magic,” he insolently uttered. “Face me hand-to-hoof.” Crothorr raged towards Galeforce, like a raging bull. He dodged the fatal blow his pegasus prey tried to strike with the Thiefblade, and followed that up with a swift punch to the throat. Galeforce fell to the ground, and was met by several firm kicks to his face and body. “Goodbye,” Crothorr hissed, as he brought the final blow down on Galeforce’s head. It crumbled under the weight of his foot, and he knew Galeforce had been defeated. Crothorr grabbed the fallen pegasus in his clutches, and dragged him back to the palace. He would have his slaves properly prepare the body, so that he could enjoy some fine Equestrian dining later on… Crothorr relaxed on his throne of skulls, content with the way his day had panned out. He had defeated the greatest champion Tartarus had to offer, and he had done it without relying on his demon magic. He lasted through six of my Fatal Tasks, the demon thought to himself. Nobody has ever done that before… “Sire, you rang for me?” a voice called out from the shadows, interrupting Crothorr’s train of thought. It was Cassim, the newest addition to Crothorr’s personal army of slaves. “Indeed I did, Cassim,” Crothorr said, as he laughed heartily. “I want you to see me celebrate my victory!” “You haven’t won yet, creature,” Cassim muttered in defiance, for he knew that the battle was not yet over. “Bring me my finest bottle of wine!” Crothorr ordered, clearly not hearing the words his treacherous slave had to say. “I wish to enjoy only the most superb beverages with my meal.” “Right away, your Lordship,” Cassim stated firmly, as he turned to go back to the kitchen. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in the kitchen. A portly demon chef was preparing the sauce he had intended to baste Galeforce with, when suddenly the fresh corpse disappeared. “Sire!” he cried out loud, as he dropped his spoon. “The entrée has gone missing!” “Find it!” Crothorr bellowed from the other room, as he threw his goblet in through the door. “I want to feast on his flesh right now!” The portly chef grabbed Cassim by the arm, and dragged him off towards the other door. “Help me find the food, and I’ll make it worth your while,” he hissed. “Very well then,” Cassim chuckled, as he pointed a finger ahead of them. “He’s right there.” The chef looked up, and was met with a remade Thiefblade to the face. “Pig,” the bearer growled, as he wiped the blood off the blade. “Galeforce,” Cassim said warmly. “You have returned to finish the Trials.” “What?” Galeforce asked in disbelief. “You mean to tell me this is all part of that wretched test?” “Yes, it is,” Cassim admitted. “Fortunately for you, Crothorr doesn’t know it yet. You will have your chance at freedom yet, if you manage to kill him once and for all.” “Fine,” Galeforce hissed, as he held the Thiefblade in a menacing manner. He approached the door to Crothorr’s throne room. “Crothorr!” he shouted, as he held the blade in a menacing manner. “Face me once more!” “As you wish,” Crothorr said, as he lazily lifted his massive frame off his throne. “I’ve always had a taste for tenderized meat.” He ran towards his once-dead prey, swinging his claws wildly. He took yet another fatal swing at Galeforce… and the injured pegasus effortlessly dodged it. “How can this be?” Crothorr asked in amazement. “Things are different now,” Galeforce chuckled cruelly, as he sliced the demon across his bewildered face. “I am no longer the cowardly Thief Lord of Cloudsdale, for in death I was reborn as the Champion of Tartarus. I am Galeforce the Valiant, and you WILL bow to me.” He cut the demon’s legs off just below the knee, causing him to drop to the ground. “Your time has come, demon. Prepare to die.” “No,” Crothorr begged, “please don’t kill me!” Galeforce hesitated, for he knew killing a surrendering enemy was not honorable in the least. “Leave this place,” he uttered, as he threw his Thiefblade to the ground. “Crawl away like the snake you are, and never return.” Crothorr grinned, and grabbed the Thiefblade with his dark magic. “You foolish foal,” he sneered. “Now you have no chance to defeat me!” Galeforce growled from deep inside himself, and raised a battered hoof. “Wrong,” he uttered, as he brought it down on Crothorr’s face at full force. This broke the demon’s concentration, and Galeforce was able to take his Thiefblade back. He grabbed it in his mouth, and swung it as hard as he could towards the demon’s neck. He connected, and Crothorr’s head rolled across the floor. Suddenly, the room began to violently shake; as the roof and walls separated from the floor. “If I die,” Crothorr’s head cackled, “THIS ALL DIES WITH ME!” Galeforce turned away from his fallen enemy, and galloped towards Cassim with all his might. He snatched his mentor in his teeth without skipping a beat, and threw him up onto his back. “Hold on tight,” he said firmly; as he spread his regrown wings. He took to the sky, and soon the two of them were making their grand escape. Galeforce flew away from the palace, only to be met with a battle cry he knew all too well. It was Ahuizotl, who had returned with a vengeance. The beast had grown a set of wings since their last encounter, and was using them to fly at full force towards the two escapees. “Vengeance will be mine!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as his body collided with Galeforce’s. He punched the pegasus in the gut, causing Cassim to fall off. “Cassim!” Galeforce cried, though he knew he couldn’t help his friend until his oldest enemy was gone. He drew his Thiefblade once again, and plunged it into Ahuizotl’s chest. Ahuizotl screeched in pain, as Galeforce pulled his heart out with the sword. “What will it take to kill you, monster?” Galeforce asked in anger. Ahuizotl grimaced in pain, and grabbed Galeforce by the throat. “Nothing short of a god’s attack,” he admitted, in an oddly specific way. He then smiled with the cruelty of a true Hellspawn, as he turned Galeforce’s back towards the palace. “Finally I will have my revenge,” he hissed. “We both die here.” The palace exploded in a violent flash of light and shrapnel, as Ahuizotl cackled in delight. “I don’t think so,” Galeforce uttered, as he braced himself for impact. The explosion passed by them, setting them both on fire. Galeforce and Ahuizotl screamed in pain from the burning, but in the end only Galeforce was left alive. Ahuizotl had botched the final mission of his (after)life, and his criminal career was finally at an end. Galeforce then turned his attention to Cassim, who had hit the ground in the middle of their battle. The pegasus shed a few tears, as a bright light appeared above his head. “Galeforce the Valiant,” the voice of Hades boomed from above, “your struggle for freedom is at an end.” Galeforce looked to the sky, and found himself standing once again in the palace of Hades. “It’s over?” he asked in disbelief. “Nearly,” the god of the underworld admitted, as he stood up from his throne. “You escaped from the Dark Palace and killed both Crothorr and your greatest nemesis, thus completing the seventh through ninth Deadly Trials. However, your last Trial still remains.” He then pointed into the distance, where a guillotine was set up. “Do you truly believe you deserve redemption, Galeforce?” “Of course I do,” Galeforce answered firmly. “Come now,” Hades said to his prisoner, “ponies like you can never change. You are a villain through and through.” “That’s in the past,” Galeforce retorted in defiance. “You cannot run from your past,” Hades told him in a serious yet gentle tone. “Equestria burns because of your greed, and the blood of every single dead pony runs on your hooves. Do you not think you deserve punishment for their pain?” “Of course I do,” Galeforce whispered, as tears of passion welled in his eyes. “I want to make things right.” “Then step up to the guillotine,” Hades instructed him. “Place your neck on the line, and receive your retribution.” Galeforce trotted over towards the guillotine, and placed his neck inside it. A lever appeared a few inches away from his face, and he knew what was coming next. “Pull the lever,” was Hades’ final order, and Galeforce followed it without hesitation. The blade fell towards him at an alarming rate… only to disappear at the last minute, along with the rest of Tartarus. Galeforce was now back in what seemed to be his old cloud house just outside of Cloudsdale, lying next to a piece of parchment on his bed. He rolled over to look at it, and this is what it said: Galeforce the Valiant, Today you have learned the final lesson of heroism: always take responsibility for your actions. You have completed my Trials, and thus I have returned you to Equestria as Hades promised. Thank you, my friend. Your friend and current Trial Master, Cassim.
The ArrivalTen Tasks To Redemption Chapter One: The Arrival The portal Hades created back in Tartarus arrived at it’s destination, and opened slowly. Galeforce stepped out, and found himself in what seemed to be Sweet Apple Acres. Everything was just as he remembered it… except for the sky. The sky was an intense, blood red storm; with images of other portals opening miles and miles away. “What is this?” Galeforce asked aloud. “This is Crothorr,” a voice answered him. “The city of the damned.” Galeforce turned quickly around, and came face to face with another ghostly human. “Tell me, creature,” he ordered the apparition. “What is your name?” “In life, I was known as Cassim,” the ghost told him. “I was the leader of the Forty Thieves, the most cutthroat band of rogues in all of Agrabah. Now I serve under the thumb of Hades, helping would-be redeemed souls to complete the Ten Fatal Tasks.” “Cassim,” Galeforce asked him, “what are the Ten Tasks?” “I cannot say, for I failed to complete them.” “Then why are you here?” Galeforce further asked him. “Look around you,” Cassim said, as he gestured grandly with his hands. “Every portal you see in the distance is a villain receiving his one chance at redemption, and for every villain a thousand failures remain. No-one has ever completed the tasks, and no-one ever will.” “I’ll complete them,” Galeforce stated firmly. “I must complete them.” “You fight a battle you cannot win, young pony,” Cassim told his charge. “This city is an enemy in itself, transforming itself from friend to foe on a whim. You cannot hope to defeat Crothorr, and you will join our ranks soon enough.” Turning away in disgust, Galeforce turned his back to his pessimistic company; and started to spread his wings yet again. As he did, another portal appeared roughly ten feet in front of him, and Galeforce turned back to Cassim with a sneer. “Goodbye, Cassim,” he arrogantly said. “I’m off to meet my destiny.” “Beware, Galeforce,” Cassim warned the Thief Lord, as he flew into the portal. “You have no idea what you are in for.” Galeforce appeared on the other end of the new portal, and found himself standing on a wooden floor. It was dark, but he could see a dim light in the distance. That must be the way out, he thought to himself. “Galeforce!” a voice boomed from above. “Are you prepared for your first task?” “Bring it on,” Galeforce challenged the unknown foe. “As you wish,” the voice responded; as a bright light flooded the room. “Your first task is simple: escape this room alive!” Galeforce strained his eyes to see, and soon a realization came over him: this was the old Thief Headquarters in Cloudsdale, and he was standing on a gigantic version of his meeting room table. Suddenly, a nearby door flung open; and a giant Galeforce entered with several Thieves. “Here’s to your first successful raid, colts!” the giant Galeforce bellowed, as he pulled a large bag of gold out from under his wing. He held it proudly with his mouth for a second, and then casually tossed it onto the table. The real Galeforce barely managed to dodge the enormous satchel, and his heart raced in fear. “Ten thousand bits,” the giant Galeforce carried on talking. “You stallions will make fine additions to my guild!” “What about our cut, boss?” one of the Thieves asked, as he held out a hoof. “Don’t worry, you’ll get what’s coming to you,” the giant Galeforce answered him, as he took his place at the head of the table. He shoved the bag of gold on it’s side with his hoof, sending bits rolling all over the table. The bits rolled toward the smaller version of the Thief Lord, and he knew he had to act fast. Spreading his wings in his signature dramatic fashion, Galeforce took to the sky; and he started to fly towards the exit he noticed before this all began. I must escape this place, he thought to himself as he soared toward his destination. I must return to Ponyville. He flew across the room, dodging the wild swings of pegasus limbs as they celebrated their villainous bounty. He heard the giant Galeforce shout a wild cry of victory, and wondered if he had really once been like that. The years had changed Galeforce into a whole new pony, and he was ashamed of his behavior. I was a barbarian, he thought to himself as he flew. That was back before I brought in the whole honor concept, when we killed and looted freely. This may be my memories, but I hardly recognize myself. Galeforce then turned his attention to the other Thieves, and felt his heart sink to the floor. These were some of Cloudsdale’s best and brightest, and he had turned them into the savage creatures that stood all around him now. He looked into each of their bloodshot eyes, and could only feel despair. Was it right of me to do this to them, he continued to ponder, carefully dodging the various hazards in his way. These ponies had bright futures: doctors, soldiers, and even future Wonderbolts. All of it gone, thanks to my greed and my shortsightedness. These thoughts shook Galeforce to the core, and he flapped his wings even faster; for escape could not come fast enough. He then burst through the exit portal, and found himself standing in front of Cassim. “You succeeded,” Cassim observed. “How surprising.” “What was the point of that?” Galeforce asked. “The Path of Greed makes you remember the one bad decision that started your criminal career,” Cassim told him without hesitation. “Every crime you ever committed started from that one choice, and soon enough you will see what came of it.” “What difference does it make?” Galeforce asked in defiance. “That heist was years ago! Nopony remembers it!” “How sure of that are you?” Cassim asked, as he pointed a bony finger towards the next portal. “The Arena of Vengeance awaits you.”
The Arena of VengeanceChapter Two: The Arena of Vengeance Galeforce looked over towards the next portal, and could hear faint screaming coming from inside it. “What’s going on in there?” he muttered to himself, as he inched forward. “Enter the portal quickly,” Cassim warned his charge. “Crothorr has such grand plans for you, and hates to be kept waiting.” Galeforce cautiously entered the portal, and found himself standing in what seemed to be the basement at Ahuizotl’s old tavern. “Alright, Crothorr,” he uttered. “Let’s do this.” “As you wish,” the same voice as before boomed, as the walls started to melt away. This revealed a massive coliseum (similar to the one in Cloudsdale), where scores of villains had gathered to watch the upcoming event. Galeforce looked around the massive pit he was now standing in, and noticed a trembling creature off to his right. He trotted over to it, and then kneeled down next to it. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Are you hurt?” “Beware, Galeforce,” a familiar voice hissed from the creature. “The fight has just begun.” “Ahuizotl,” Galeforce growled, for he knew the voice all too well. “How dare you show your face to me!” Ahuizotl rolled over, and showed the terrible facial scars he had gained since his death. “It’s not me you should be worrying about,” he chuckled cruelly, as he lazily pointed a figure to the left. “It’s them.” Galeforce turned quickly, and was met with a vision he hadn’t seen in his worst nightmares. There stood his entire Thief Guild, but they did not look the way they had in life: some were in various stages of decomposition, some were a hybrid of pegasus and feline body parts, and some were disfigured beyond all recognition. Each brandished his/her Thiefblade, and each had a serious score to settle. “My friends,” Galeforce addressed them, with a hint of fear in his voice. “Why are you doing this?” “You betrayed us, Galeforce,” the entire group answered as one, in an incredibly creepy monotone. “Now, you must die.” “If that’s the way it must be,” Galeforce uttered, as he drew his Thiefblade, “then so be it. You will not stop me!” He charged towards the group, galloping as fast as his hooves would allow. He swung his blade, and the fight began. Galeforce’s first blow struck the pegasus at the front across the neck, decapitating him in one swift motion. The other Thieves took great offense to this, and several started swinging their swords at Galeforce’s body. Galeforce effortlessly dodged the weak blows of these zombified ponies, and he started hacking and slashing at their exposed limbs. Soon they were all lying in a pool of blood and hacked body parts at his hooves, and he raised his Thiefblade in triumph. “Very good, Galeforce,” the booming voice congratulated him. “However, this fight is not over yet.” Suddenly, a beam of red light shot down from the sky, and it grabbed Ahuizotl like a force field. Ahuizotl started to cackle insanely, as the beam pulled him into the air. Once he had reached the top of the coliseum, the beam stopped for a minute; and then split into two separate paths. The other path shot down towards the remains of the Thieves, and picked them up from under Galeforce’s hooves. The beam carried the body parts towards Ahuizotl, and the two beams collided in a massive ball of light. The beam hit the ground with a craterous crash, and a monster stepped out. The beast had ten arms, a set of six pony limbs with hooves for legs, and two pairs of wings. “Hello, Galeforce,” Ahuizotl hissed, as he flexed his new form. Galeforce held up his Thiefblade, and stood his ground firmly. “Ahuizotl,” he said with passion, “let this be our final battle.” “SO BE IT!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as he charged towards Galeforce like a crazed buffalo. He grabbed Galeforce by the throat in mid-stride, and threw him as hard as he could muster into some nearby rocks. Galeforce crumpled in a bloody heap, and Ahuizotl started laughing again. “How does it feel, Galeforce?” he taunted his fallen foe. “After everything you’ve struggled for, how does it feel to know it all ends now?” “You…tell…me,” Galeforce managed to gasp out, as he pulled himself up on his hooves. “You insolent fool!” Ahuizotl shouted, as he flew up into the air. “Can you not see that I have already won? I am the most powerful being in Crothorr! I am the living god! I AM….” Suddenly, Ahuizotl’s crazed ranting was cut off by Galeforce approaching him. Ahuizotl dodged the Thiefblade lunging for his heart, and calmly snapped it in two with his bare hands. “Miserable wretch,” he cursed aloud, as he struck Galeforce with three of his fists. “Hellspawn,” Galeforce insulted his attacker, as he spat out some teeth and blood. He then followed this up with the hardest buck he had ever given in his life, which snapped Ahuizotl’s neck like a twig. Ahuizotl fell to the ground immediately after, and the sickening sound of bones snapping filled the air. “Rest in peace, monster,” Galeforce muttered, as he recovered his strength. However, the fight was not quite over; as Ahuizotl once again rose to his hooves. He popped his neck back into place with a quick jerk of his hands, and then turned to Galeforce with a sickening smile. “Nice try,” he said with derision. “Now you know the truth: I cannot die here!” “Is that a challenge?” Galeforce asked, as he flew towards Ahuizotl with the intensity and speed of a nuclear bomb. He can’t die here, he thought to himself as he dove. I guess I’ll just have to take him apart piece by piece then. “Stop this now!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as he braced himself for impact. Galeforce collided with him in a moment of considerable force, and he could feel the Thief Lord’s teeth digging into one of his arms. The pain that followed afterward was almost unbearable; as Galeforce ripped the arm clean off. “You might be immortal, but you are not invincible,” Galeforce taunted his bleeding adversary, as he dropped the arm casually onto the floor. Ahuizotl paused, and then a look of fear flashed over his face for a minute. The pain he was feeling should have been enough to kill him, and only now did he truly understand the curse of immortality. He then turned quickly around, and started to flee. “This is not over!” he shouted, although he knew in his heart it was over. “Galeforce!” the voice of Crothorr then boomed around the arena. “You have successfully completed the second Fatal Task. Approach the winner’s circle, and claim your prize now.” Galeforce stepped into the glowing circle that appeared before him, and found himself once again standing beside Cassim in the false Sweet Apple Acres. “I did it,” he wheezed, as he collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. “Rest, my friend,” Cassim told him. “There are still eight Tasks left before freedom. But for now, a pleasant memory awaits you back at the barn.” Galeforce trotted up to the barn, and found what seemed to be a ghostly version of himself watching the ghostly Cutie Mark Crusaders. “That’s why I cannot fail,” Galeforce mumbled to himself, as tears welled up in his eyes. “I can’t let those poor fillies die.”
The Court of InjusticeChapter Three: The Court of Injustice Galeforce woke up a few hours later after a well-deserved rest, and found himself lying in an incredibly accurate reproduction of his old bed. He looked towards the foot of the bed, and found Cassim standing next to a portal. “Is that the next one?” he asked with a groan. “Yes, my friend,” Cassim told him. “Hurry now, Crothorr is waiting.” Galeforce stood up on his hooves, and slowly trotted into the portal. He noticed Cassim was following him this time, and he turned to face his newfound ally. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I must join you on this trial,” Cassim informed him. “Crothorr has requested that I represent you in the court.” “Represent me,” Galeforce repeated under his breath, as his eyes filled with the sight of the new room. It was a large room, with a full audience of assorted creatures on all sides. A large podium stood in the center of the room, and three small portals stood to the left, right and center of it. Galeforce looked to the top of the podium, and saw a pony he had not seen in ages: his father, Silverwing. “Dad?” he asked in amazement. “Is that you?” “Yes, my son,” Silverwing answered in a dull monotone. “I am Silverwing, former soldier of the Cloudsdale Armada and current Dark Judge of Crothorr.” “Judge…” Galeforce slowly started to realize, “I’m on trial!” “Precisely,” Judge Silverwing hissed, as he waved a hoof towards the front of his podium. “Approach the portals, so that we may proceed.” Cassim and Galeforce approached the three glowing portals before them, and a twinge of fear entered into Galeforce’s heart. “Be careful,” Cassim whispered to the trembling pegasus. “There is more to this than what you can see.” “Is your client prepared for the first examination, Cassim?” Judge Silverwing asked. “Yes, your Honor,” Cassim answered him. “Very well then,” Judge Silverwing said, as he chuckled cruelly. “What you see before you are three entrances to the fate of Equestria. The first one is a path to the past, the second is a path to the present, and the third is a path to the future. Everything you will see is a direct result of… that one crime, and thus you are responsible for it all.” “Why must I see this?” Galeforce asked. “A biased account of your crime and its consequences is of no use to me,” Judge Silverwing said. “Everypony here will be able to see the truth through the dark magic of the portals, and we will be able to draw our conclusions from that.” “Fair enough,” Galeforce said in defiance, as he trotted over to the first portal. He stepped inside, and the portal expanded into a ‘screen’ of sorts. “Galeforce, do you recognize this area?” the booming voice of Judge Silverwing filled the newly forming room. “Yes,” Galeforce answered him. “This is Princess Celestia’s throne room.” “The scene of the crime,” Judge Silverwing mocked loudly, as a cloaked figure entered the room. “Do you see yourself, Galeforce?” Galeforce looked on in dread, as he saw the cloaked figure open a nearby vault door with a broken unicorn horn. It grabbed the chest inside with it’s teeth, and the cloak fell down across his shoulders. It was Galeforce, as he had looked all those years ago. “Yes,” Galeforce asked, as he watched the ghost of his past slink away. “So you confess at last,” Judge Silverwing snarled with a sneer. “This is unnecessary, your Honor,” Cassim interrupted without hesitation. “The theft of the Elements of Harmony is well-known.” “Perhaps,” Judge Silverwing admitted, “but this part of the tale is known only to one.” The ghost of Galeforce galloped towards the exit, only to be met with a puff of black smoke. Another hooded figure stepped out, and flexed its mechanical claws menacingly. “Galeforce,” it hissed, “we meet at last.” “Who are you, creature?” the Galeforce from the past asked. “You will come to know my name soon enough,” the mechanical monster stated firmly. “For now, you need only know this: I am the future.” “What do you want from me?” the ghostly Galeforce asked. “I need the Elements of Harmony,” the monster growled, “and you will surrender them to me.” “Never,” the ghost Galeforce stated, as he dropped the chest to draw his Thiefblade. “Fool,” was all the monster said, as he slapped his opponent across the room with a wave of his robotic hand. “The Elements are mine, and soon enough the rest of my plan will fall into place.” The monster then seized the chest, and made a hasty exit in another smoke cloud. “You wanted him to have the Elements of Harmony,” Judge Silverwing taunted his son. “You wanted to betray your allies, all to get back at Ahuizotl.” “That’s a lie!” Galeforce barked, as he looked on at the bleeding remains of his past. “Come now, Galeforce,” the Dark Judge laughed, as the room started to spin slowly. “You never intended to save them.” “Your Honor, this is highly inappropriate,” Cassim interjected. “Silence,” Judge Silverwing shouted, as the sound of wings slapping flesh filled the spinning room. “I am in control here!” “Father, why are you doing this to me?” Galeforce asked in desperation, as he started to panic from the room spinning faster and faster. “To teach you a lesson,” Judge Silverwing snarled. “Repeat after me: I deserve this.” “No,” Galeforce said in defiance, as he struggled to maintain his balance. “SAY IT!” the Judge bellowed, as another portal opened near Galeforce. “Tell me you deserve this!” “Do your worst,” Galeforce challenged his enemy. “Perhaps you require more persuasion,” Judge Silverwing stated, as he calmed down at an alarming speed. The room stopped spinning, and the portal opened. “Please step into the present, my friend.” Galeforce stepped into the next portal, and found himself standing in the charred remains of Ponyville. Griffins were storming the streets, rounding up ponies into mule-drawn cages. The buildings were mostly destroyed, and the ones still standing burned in the distance. “Do you see what you have done, Galeforce?” Judge Silverwing stated with hatred. “You brought the wrath of Talon down on this town, where even the former bearers of the Elements are powerless to stop them.” “Why don’t they fight back?” Galeforce asked, as he recovered from the shock of seeing all this. “Even without the Elements, they should have a fighting chance.” “They may battle Talon in furious skirmishes, but the outcome will always be the same,” Judge Silverwing told him. “Your act of betrayal at Canterlot spawned the flames of vengeance in the heart of Ahuizotl, which in turn made Talon into an unstoppable force.” “I had no idea,” Galeforce uttered, as he started to cry. “Now you do,” Judge Silverwing stated without mercy. “Repeat after me: this is right, and I deserve this.” “No more,” Galeforce stammered. “Please Father, no more.” “This will end when you say it,” Judge Silverwing answered him. “You have the power to put an end to your suffering, if you finally admit that this is what you deserve!” Galeforce sniffed deeply, and wiped his tears with his hoof. “I deserve this,” he said, as his spirit finally broke. “No, Galeforce!” Cassim shouted, but it was too late: Judge Silverwing had won. “At last, the truth comes out,” Judge Silverwing shouted triumphantly, as he pulled Galeforce out of the portal and back into the courtroom. “Now that you have confessed to your heinous crimes, you can visit the final portal.” He then gave the signal to a unicorn guard standing nearby, and the guard threw Galeforce into the portal with a blast of magic. The portal snapped shut, and Judge Silverwing stepped down from his podium. “I hope he enjoys the future he has earned,” he hissed at Cassim. “He deserves it.”
The Final ShowdownChapter Four: The Final Showdown Galeforce opened his eyes, and found himself lying on a floating platform. Portals swirled in the distance, as they flew freely through the twirling red cyclone surrounding him. Screams of anguish filled the air, as Judge Silverwing teleported in front of him. “Dad…” Galeforce gasped in fear. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Judge Silverwing taunted him. “I’m not your father.” “What?” was all Galeforce could say. “You have advanced further than I would like,” Silverwing said, as his body started to morph. “It was necessary to break your spirit, so that I could finish you off here… once and for all.” “Crothorr,” Galeforce growled, as the deception became clear to him. “I should have known.” “You are correct, sir!” Crothorr shouted, as he ripped his Silverwing disguise apart. In it’s place the obese demon now stood, flexing his arms in triumph. “Forgive me for the lie, young one, but it was essential to the trap. I think you’ll find that condemnation by a family member is more… effective than usual.” “You twisted old monster!” Galeforce raged, as he galloped towards Crothorr with all his might. He bucked the demon in the stomach with his front hooves, sending him flying to the other side of the platform. “Come now,” Crothorr uttered, as he slowly rose to his feet. “Must we resort to violence?” “Face me, Crothorr,” Galeforce challenged the demon. “I’m done with this place, and it’s time to end this.” “As you wish,” Crothorr mumbled, as he lifted his hand in a dramatic fashion. He used his magic to grip Galeforce by the wings, and then began to pull in two directions. “Is this enough of a challenge for you?” he asked, as Galeforce buckled under the intense pain. Galeforce screeched a blood-curdling scream, as his wings were ripped off his body. “NO!” he shouted, at the top of his lungs. “You know,” Crothorr taunted his bleeding prey, “the Earth pony look really suits you.” Galeforce slowly rose to his hooves, and stumbled slightly from his lightheadedness. He drew the shattered remains of his Thiefblade, and gave a rude gesture with his other hoof. “Forget the magic,” he insolently uttered. “Face me hand-to-hoof.” Crothorr raged towards Galeforce, like a raging bull. He dodged the fatal blow his pegasus prey tried to strike with the Thiefblade, and followed that up with a swift punch to the throat. Galeforce fell to the ground, and was met by several firm kicks to his face and body. “Goodbye,” Crothorr hissed, as he brought the final blow down on Galeforce’s head. It crumbled under the weight of his foot, and he knew Galeforce had been defeated. Crothorr grabbed the fallen pegasus in his clutches, and dragged him back to the palace. He would have his slaves properly prepare the body, so that he could enjoy some fine Equestrian dining later on… Crothorr relaxed on his throne of skulls, content with the way his day had panned out. He had defeated the greatest champion Tartarus had to offer, and he had done it without relying on his demon magic. He lasted through six of my Fatal Tasks, the demon thought to himself. Nobody has ever done that before… “Sire, you rang for me?” a voice called out from the shadows, interrupting Crothorr’s train of thought. It was Cassim, the newest addition to Crothorr’s personal army of slaves. “Indeed I did, Cassim,” Crothorr said, as he laughed heartily. “I want you to see me celebrate my victory!” “You haven’t won yet, creature,” Cassim muttered in defiance, for he knew that the battle was not yet over. “Bring me my finest bottle of wine!” Crothorr ordered, clearly not hearing the words his treacherous slave had to say. “I wish to enjoy only the most superb beverages with my meal.” “Right away, your Lordship,” Cassim stated firmly, as he turned to go back to the kitchen. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in the kitchen. A portly demon chef was preparing the sauce he had intended to baste Galeforce with, when suddenly the fresh corpse disappeared. “Sire!” he cried out loud, as he dropped his spoon. “The entrée has gone missing!” “Find it!” Crothorr bellowed from the other room, as he threw his goblet in through the door. “I want to feast on his flesh right now!” The portly chef grabbed Cassim by the arm, and dragged him off towards the other door. “Help me find the food, and I’ll make it worth your while,” he hissed. “Very well then,” Cassim chuckled, as he pointed a finger ahead of them. “He’s right there.” The chef looked up, and was met with a remade Thiefblade to the face. “Pig,” the bearer growled, as he wiped the blood off the blade. “Galeforce,” Cassim said warmly. “You have returned to finish the Trials.” “What?” Galeforce asked in disbelief. “You mean to tell me this is all part of that wretched test?” “Yes, it is,” Cassim admitted. “Fortunately for you, Crothorr doesn’t know it yet. You will have your chance at freedom yet, if you manage to kill him once and for all.” “Fine,” Galeforce hissed, as he held the Thiefblade in a menacing manner. He approached the door to Crothorr’s throne room. “Crothorr!” he shouted, as he held the blade in a menacing manner. “Face me once more!” “As you wish,” Crothorr said, as he lazily lifted his massive frame off his throne. “I’ve always had a taste for tenderized meat.” He ran towards his once-dead prey, swinging his claws wildly. He took yet another fatal swing at Galeforce… and the injured pegasus effortlessly dodged it. “How can this be?” Crothorr asked in amazement. “Things are different now,” Galeforce chuckled cruelly, as he sliced the demon across his bewildered face. “I am no longer the cowardly Thief Lord of Cloudsdale, for in death I was reborn as the Champion of Tartarus. I am Galeforce the Valiant, and you WILL bow to me.” He cut the demon’s legs off just below the knee, causing him to drop to the ground. “Your time has come, demon. Prepare to die.” “No,” Crothorr begged, “please don’t kill me!” Galeforce hesitated, for he knew killing a surrendering enemy was not honorable in the least. “Leave this place,” he uttered, as he threw his Thiefblade to the ground. “Crawl away like the snake you are, and never return.” Crothorr grinned, and grabbed the Thiefblade with his dark magic. “You foolish foal,” he sneered. “Now you have no chance to defeat me!” Galeforce growled from deep inside himself, and raised a battered hoof. “Wrong,” he uttered, as he brought it down on Crothorr’s face at full force. This broke the demon’s concentration, and Galeforce was able to take his Thiefblade back. He grabbed it in his mouth, and swung it as hard as he could towards the demon’s neck. He connected, and Crothorr’s head rolled across the floor. Suddenly, the room began to violently shake; as the roof and walls separated from the floor. “If I die,” Crothorr’s head cackled, “THIS ALL DIES WITH ME!” Galeforce turned away from his fallen enemy, and galloped towards Cassim with all his might. He snatched his mentor in his teeth without skipping a beat, and threw him up onto his back. “Hold on tight,” he said firmly; as he spread his regrown wings. He took to the sky, and soon the two of them were making their grand escape. Galeforce flew away from the palace, only to be met with a battle cry he knew all too well. It was Ahuizotl, who had returned with a vengeance. The beast had grown a set of wings since their last encounter, and was using them to fly at full force towards the two escapees. “Vengeance will be mine!” Ahuizotl bellowed, as his body collided with Galeforce’s. He punched the pegasus in the gut, causing Cassim to fall off. “Cassim!” Galeforce cried, though he knew he couldn’t help his friend until his oldest enemy was gone. He drew his Thiefblade once again, and plunged it into Ahuizotl’s chest. Ahuizotl screeched in pain, as Galeforce pulled his heart out with the sword. “What will it take to kill you, monster?” Galeforce asked in anger. Ahuizotl grimaced in pain, and grabbed Galeforce by the throat. “Nothing short of a god’s attack,” he admitted, in an oddly specific way. He then smiled with the cruelty of a true Hellspawn, as he turned Galeforce’s back towards the palace. “Finally I will have my revenge,” he hissed. “We both die here.” The palace exploded in a violent flash of light and shrapnel, as Ahuizotl cackled in delight. “I don’t think so,” Galeforce uttered, as he braced himself for impact. The explosion passed by them, setting them both on fire. Galeforce and Ahuizotl screamed in pain from the burning, but in the end only Galeforce was left alive. Ahuizotl had botched the final mission of his (after)life, and his criminal career was finally at an end. Galeforce then turned his attention to Cassim, who had hit the ground in the middle of their battle. The pegasus shed a few tears, as a bright light appeared above his head. “Galeforce the Valiant,” the voice of Hades boomed from above, “your struggle for freedom is at an end.” Galeforce looked to the sky, and found himself standing once again in the palace of Hades. “It’s over?” he asked in disbelief. “Nearly,” the god of the underworld admitted, as he stood up from his throne. “You escaped from the Dark Palace and killed both Crothorr and your greatest nemesis, thus completing the seventh through ninth Deadly Trials. However, your last Trial still remains.” He then pointed into the distance, where a guillotine was set up. “Do you truly believe you deserve redemption, Galeforce?” “Of course I do,” Galeforce answered firmly. “Come now,” Hades said to his prisoner, “ponies like you can never change. You are a villain through and through.” “That’s in the past,” Galeforce retorted in defiance. “You cannot run from your past,” Hades told him in a serious yet gentle tone. “Equestria burns because of your greed, and the blood of every single dead pony runs on your hooves. Do you not think you deserve punishment for their pain?” “Of course I do,” Galeforce whispered, as tears of passion welled in his eyes. “I want to make things right.” “Then step up to the guillotine,” Hades instructed him. “Place your neck on the line, and receive your retribution.” Galeforce trotted over towards the guillotine, and placed his neck inside it. A lever appeared a few inches away from his face, and he knew what was coming next. “Pull the lever,” was Hades’ final order, and Galeforce followed it without hesitation. The blade fell towards him at an alarming rate… only to disappear at the last minute, along with the rest of Tartarus. Galeforce was now back in what seemed to be his old cloud house just outside of Cloudsdale, lying next to a piece of parchment on his bed. He rolled over to look at it, and this is what it said: Galeforce the Valiant, Today you have learned the final lesson of heroism: always take responsibility for your actions. You have completed my Trials, and thus I have returned you to Equestria as Hades promised. Thank you, my friend. Your friend and current Trial Master, Cassim.
