"GET DOWN!" Gilda shouted, yanking Twilight back behind a fallen pillar as a bolt of solid darkness whizzed past so quickly it ruffled the griffon's cloak.
"He's losing control!" Twilight shouted back. "We need to get close somehow!" Gilda shook her head rapidly.
"Are you fucking insane?" The griffon cried, grabbing Twilight by her shoulders and shaking her. "You saw what he did to Galdr and Spike, and that was through all of G's protective runes! Nothing short of Celestia herself is gonna stop him now!" From beyond the makeshift barrier, there was a startling crack and an agonized groan. Black lightning fired out from the center of the room, ricocheting off random surfaces and leaving scorched pools of liquid mana behind. Several bounced around the pillar and Gilda only just managed to jump out of the way as her previous hiding spot became melted slag in seconds. Before she could even sigh in relief, another crack sounded from the center of the room and a lance of fire screamed through the air, piercing through the pillar like it wasn't even there. Gilda shrieked in agony as fire erupted up her right wing, only to be stopped before the joint as the runes on her cloak lit up and put out the fire.
Twilight couldn't take it any longer. As a third pained cry echoed out and a black whirlwind whipped into existence, the unicorn stood and faced the figure hunched amidst the hundreds of misfiring spell casts.
"I have to do something! We're all going to die if this keeps up!" She leapt over the pillar and started for the center of the room.
"INK!" She cried, struggling to be heard over the sudden gale force winds of the conjured storm. "INK CAN YOU HEAR ME? I NEED YOU TO CONCENTRATE ON MY VOICE. REMEMBER THE SONG? YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, MY ONLY SUNSHINE!"
"... my only... sunshine... y-you make... me..." Ink's voice was weak, strained from the torture being inflicted on his body and the cries it tore from him. Twilight's eyes shone with tears, whether from the storm or the pain so clear on her friend's face, she couldn't tell. Both, most likely.
"HAPPY!" she shouted again. "HAPPY INK! WHEN SKIES ARE GREY! WHAT'S THE REST, INK? I CAN'T REMEMBER." She saw a small smile form on the human's face and her hopes soared... only to be crushed when it wasn't Ink's voice that answered.
"Hmm hmm hmm... forgetfulness was never one of your problems, though many you had, little spark."
"King..." Twilight growled. The puppet that Ink had become nodded fervently, smiling like a hyena before a kill.
"Indeed, little spark, indeed. Your friend put up a good fight, but he's so tired. As royalty, I believe it to only be fair that I give him a rest after resisting for so long. Your precious Celestia warned you that one slip could be your undoing. I would hate to make a liar of her."
"YOU! YOU..."
"Monster?" King filled in for her. "Demon, devil from the very depths of Tartarus? I've heard them all darling, and they're all true. But let it not be said that I am ignoble. I shall grant your final request. I shall permit Ink to finish the song for you. Since you'll be dead, I'll take your implied thanks from your corpse." Ink's face stretched into a rictus grin, which faded as King's presence backed off slightly.
"Well, puppet? Won't you sing for your bonny lass?"
"Eat shit... and die," Ink managed. He suddenly seized up, then spit out a mouthful of blood. Another ragged cry tore through his throat.
"No, no, those aren't the lyrics. Must I do everything? Sing you fool. *SING!*"
Ink jerked forward and faced Twilight, causing her to flinch and attempt to step back, only to be yanked back into place as deathly hands wrapped around her hooves, barrel and horn. Tears leaked from the human's eyes as he spoke.
"Sunshine, you are my sunshine," he began, and the wind died down.
"You make me happy, when skies are grey." The darkness orbiting the pair coalesced into a massive fist, twice the size of the shuddering purple unicorn. Black ooze and scorched mana fell from the apparition, melting into the floor below.
"You'll never know dear... how much I love you." The hand reared back, and a dark chuckle echoed through the room.
"Don't you take... my sunshine... away." The hand lurched forward, accelerating so quickly it became a blur. Twilight had enough time to close her eyes, and as she did, Ink managed one more thing.
"I'm sorry, Twi." And the world fell away.
