They Walk Among Us

Author's Note- In contrast to the relative cheerfulness of earlier chapters, this one is a bit more dark. Many a man had read this chapter and found it to be quite heavy-hearted. This chapter is full of foreshadowing and will generate many questions that will remain unanswered until much later. So good luck, and thanks for reading!

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Riddles in the dark...

There Steven stood, in the infinite mass of darkness, alone and in fear. He didn't know how he got there, but it didn't matter. He had to find a way out.

Although he was alone in that darkness, the place was far from quiet. Eerie voices and whispers surrounded him, speaking of fear and death.

All of a sudden, Steven heard a booming voice emanate all around him.

"Steven Reilly." said the voice. It was deep, and inviting. Steven couldn't help but listen to what it had to say.

"Welcome to the dark. I was hoping for many more visitors, but apparently none of them were worthy."

As the voice said this, Steven could see shadows moving silently behind him, leaving ghostly whispers of the words of the voice.

Steven looked around, trying to find the body of the shadow. But it moved too quickly. The patterns of its movement was also unpredictable, making it impossible for Steven to isolate the shadow.

"What are you?" he asked, trying to sound braver than he really felt that time.

"What am I?" said the voice. "I'm not a 'what', I am a 'who'. As for who I am, no one really knows."

Suddenly, Steven could feel the fur on the back of his neck begin to stand. He immediately turned around and found the solid shadow.

It was faceless, and it looked like it was made out of nothing but darkness and voids. The wisps of shadow from its body spread and emanated throughout its back. The shadow stopped moving at all. It just stood there, facing him.

"I can be the Dark One, the Shadow, bringer of Evil and Malice."

As he said this, the shadow began to move toward Steven. Steven backed away, but the Shadow just moved closer. He tried to run, he tried to scream, but the fear of the shadow froze him in place. The shadow then took hold of Steven's neck and tightly kept it there. He tried to escape, but its grip was too tight. Steven couldn't move.

The shadow's head then seemed to break apart. What looked like a mouth appeared, but instead of a normal mouth, Steven saw nothing but a single floating void. Steven's eyes couldn't look away now that he saw it- the void seemed to have captivated Steven. He desperately tried to look away, but he could not.

As he stared into the shadow's mouth, he suddenly felt the urge to open his own mouth. But he dared not open it. As he waited there, still in the shadow's grasp, the urge to open his mouth grew even larger. In the end, he gave into his urges and opened it.

What happened next was unexplainable. The shadow's void seemed to be sucking something out of Steven's mouth. He saw something bright, something shining, be sucked out of his mouth and taken into shadow. As it spun into the shadow's mouth, Steven felt something. He felt sadness. He felt despair. All of his worst experiences seemed to be flooding back to him, multiplying his feelings tenfold. He had completely lost all ability to be happy. He had completely forgotten what it was like to be grateful, to laugh and play. He now wished for nothing but death.

"However, to some, I am the Hero of Light, the Savior, one who brings about kindness and compassion."

As he watched, the darkness around him turned to light, and the Shadow had disappeared. In place of it came a White Knight, a Holy Knight. Steven stood there, transfixed, as the White Knight dismounted from his horse, lance in hand, and approached him. The White Knight then laid his lance on Steven's shoulder.

The lance felt warm, comfortable. As quickly as how his bad memories came to him due to Shadow, the lance gave him back all of his happy memories, his greatest of glories, the best of experiences. In place of being alone in the dark, Steven now saw himself with family, old friends... Jaeda.

He watched as he saw himself laughing with his loved ones, and he saw himself, in different times, smiling and happy. The White Knight then mounted his horse and rode to the light, slowly but surely disappearing from view.

Steven then turned around. He watched as flames, tall as the heavens, suddenly appeared in a straight line, roaring like the the wildest of beasts.

"Will you look into the fire?" asked the voice.

Steven looked around, trying to find the origin of the voice.

"What will I see?" he asked, hesitant to follow the voice's commands.

The voice then laughed. A great, hearty laugh that sounded alike to that of the cheerful drunkard he used to meet in the pub he and his friends frequented.

"Even the wisest cannot tell, Steven Reilly, for the fire shows many things."

As if on cue, the fire quickly calmed down, quietly swaying despite the absence of wind.

"Things that were..." said the voice. "Things that are..."

The fire then turned a bright green.

"And some things which have not yet come to pass."

Steven glanced at the green fire. It looked inviting, as if begging Steven to come admire it. Steven easily gave way to his inner curiosity, and stepped forward to look at the fire.

As he stared into the fire, he felt the fire start to surround him. As he waited for something to happen, the flames subsided, stranding him in the middle of what looked like a barren wasteland. He was unable to move, unable to explore the land, and so he waited there for something to happen.

All of a sudden, Steven began to hear battle cries from both the left and the right side. He watched both sides as tiny dots began to appear, which quickly came running towards him. As the dots came into view, he saw ponies on one side, and humans on the other. Ponies and Humans were at war.

As both sides met on the battlefield, everything blurred out of view. In place of millions of soldiers, only a few bodies remained on the ground, scattered across the land. As he stood in place, he saw as each body came into view, and then it quickly blurred out to make another one clear.

He saw seven bodies, but he only recognized three. He saw Twilight's, Rainbow Dash's, and finally...

His own.

Steven was shocked. He fell back. There was something about looking at one's own body that would easily surprise them, and Steven was no exception.

He fell back, out of the fire. He saw himself back into darkness.

"I know not of what you saw, for it only appears in your own mind." said the voice.

Steven looked around. The fire was still there, but it was now no larger than a normal fireplace.

"But I do know what you must do. And how you must do it." said the voice. "The future you saw is one that would happen should you fail."

"Then tell me. What must I do?" said Steven, exasperated and still shocked.

"I cannot. It will go against the rule of nature. You must find out yourself." said the voice. "However, I can help you."

Steven looked up.

"Then please tell me! What must I do to avoid this fate?" he asked.

"Of this mission that you must do, I can only speak in riddles." said the voice. "Heed my words well, Steven Reilly, for every one is important."

Steven then heard the voice's words inside his head, permanently etched into his brain. Or for that time, at least.

I know of what you need to seek,

So that the future would not be so bleak.

What has roots that nobody sees,

And can even be taller than the trees,

As up, up, and up it goes,

And yet it never actually grows?

At the peak of the tallest one,

You will then find someone,

Who's legacy is the first thing,

That could stop what destruction the Sun will bring.

As the riddle stopped playing in his head, Steven felt a tingling sensation. A sensation that seemed like he was being pulled away...

"AAAH!" shouted Steven, as he jumped out of bed.

He heard a loud thud to his left, followed by a soft "Ow!"

Rainbow Dash picked herself up from off the floor, and looked at Steven, looking annoyed.

"What was that about?" she asked.

Steven, still in shock, didn't answer immediately.

"N-nothing..." he mumbled, not actually hearing the question in the first place.

Steven was still in his home. He looked around.

Was all that a dream?

It was still dark outside, but the light was slowly appearing.

...That could stop what destruction the Sun will bring...

He hadn't thought about it until then, but the Sun was destroyed. Where did this light come from?

And whatever destruction that the Sun would've brought had already happened. The Sun already threatened their existence. Does that mean something else involving the Sun will happen?

Or maybe it really was just a dream...

Suddenly, Steven heard a very loud ringing in the living room. He jumped in surprise.

Rainbow Dash looked down at something.

"Well, it looks like you've managed to beat the alarm clock." she said, picking up the alarm clock from the floor.

"Yeah... I guess I did..." mumbled Steven, deep in thought.

Rainbow Dash then went up to him.

"Hey, Steven, are you feeling all right?" she asked, voice full of concern.

"Yeah, yeah... I'm fine..." he replied, still sounding like he was in another world.

Rainbow Dash sounded like she wanted to say something else, but whatever it was, she thought better of it and didn't say it.

"I'll go see if Twilight is awake." she said as she ran to the bedroom and disappeared from sight.

Steven looked out the window, still thinking about the riddle.

What has roots that nobody sees, and can even be taller than trees...

Roots that nobody sees...

Riddles in the dark...

Steven saw in a flash all of his experiences back in the Darkness, and he violently shook his head. He needed to get the whole experience out of his mind.

But in the bottom of his heart, he knew that the riddle was something of great importance. He needed to solve it.

"Good morning, Steven! Are you ready to go?" asked Twilight, who had just come out of the bedroom. She sounded cheerful, but her expression betrayed her voice.

"Yeah, let me just pack some stuff up, then we can go." said Steven.

Late last night, Steven had already packed up all of the essentials. But Steven still needed to pack up some other things.

"Okay, we'll be waiting outside. Hurry up, Steven." she said.

He brought out the old camping tent that he used a long time ago. It was big enough for Twilight and Rainbow Dash to sleep in. He then packed up lighter, some matches, and some binoculars. He also packed his old gun and a small knife (for safety's sake).

He then went back to his bedroom. As the girls will be sleeping in the tent, he needed to find a sleeping bag.

Where did I put that sleeping bag...

It had been a long time since he had last used it, and he completely forgot where he put it.

He looked inside and on top of the cupboard, behind the door, everywhere, but he couldn't find it.

Guess I'll have to make do with a blanket...

He hurriedly packed his blanket into his travelling pack, and when he was done, he stood there in silence.

This was probably the last time he would see his home. He had said it to many others before- all his memories, all his precious things, all of it came with this little apartment. He looked around again, trying to capture the nostalgia of his home one last time.

But now it was time to go. They had to part ways. He quickly took one last breath and walked out the door.

But right before he actually left, something caught his eye.

Despite the great mess of the living room, this one solid object just sat there on the floor, perfect and undisturbed. He bent down to pick it up.

It was a picture of himself and Jaeda.

It was about two years ago, long before her death. Back when true happiness was still an achievable dream.

He knew that he cannot bring it. He knew that he had to let her go. For months, he had tried to tell himself that he already did.

But he cannot let go.

All the times they shared together, the good and bad times, they were all permanently recorded into his brain. He literally wan't able to forget them.

"Come on, Steven! We gotta hurry!" said a voice from downstairs.

Steven looked at the picture again.

Let go...

He closed his eyes. He felt his grip on the picture slowly loosen.

He remembered her funeral. Around a hundred people had gathered on the top of a cliff- a cliff that leads to the vast ocean. That was where they wanted to spread her ashes.

He remembered his father's first words to him after she had died. His father, with his infinite wisdom, had told him this:

"There are things in this world, son, that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. It's the beginning of a new life."

Steven, eyes still closed, heard the distinguishable clattering of the photo frame on the floor. He hesitated, for a few last seconds, but he ultimately walked out the door, leaving the picture, his greatest memories and yet his greatest bane, behind.

As he walked out of the apartment building, he saw Twilight and Rainbow Dash right outside, waiting for him.

"I presume you've already said your last goodbyes, then?" asked Twilight.

"I sure as hell had." said Steven, smiling. Twilight and Rainbow Dash just looked at each other and shrugged, not knowing what 'hell' meant.

"So, where should we start?" asked Twilight.

Steven didn't answer. He was back to thinking about the riddle.

Roots that nobody sees...  Can even be taller than trees...

Up, up, and up it goes... And yet it never grows...

Rainbow Dash stopped in her tracks and looked at Twilight.

"We thought you knew the way!" she said.

"I don't..." said Twilight dejectedly. "Our list of problems and guesses can probably build a whole mountain."

Mountain?

Of course...

"Mountain." said Steven.

"What?"

"Mountain." said Steven, a little more loudly. "Let's climb a mountain."

Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared at him like he had just escaped a mental ward.

"Are you alright?" asked Rainbow Dash. "Ever since this morning, you've seemed so... Distracted."

"I'm fine, thank you." said Steven, annoyed.

"What makes you say that we should climb a mountain?" asked Twilight, her voice skeptical.

"Urm..." said Steven. "Call it intuition. So let's go climb us some mountains!"

Twilight and Rainbow Dash now looked deeply worried. But since they had nowhere else to go, they had no choice but to go with Steven's idea.

"Okay, say we are going to climb a mountain." said Rainbow Dash. "Which one should we climb? We don't have much time, and since my wings are gone, so..."

"The closest one. We start with the closest one."

"And which one would that be?"

Steven looked around. He then seemed to have spotted something.

"That one."

Steven pointed at a towering mountain, not very far away from where they were.

Twilight sighed.

"I guess we have no choice, then. Lead the way, Steven."

Steven smiled. He was always more cheerful around friends than he ever was when alone.

As they walked, slowly but consistently, they talked about life back from where they came. Steven talked about his life as a scientist (skipping out the details on any Jaeda-related information), Earth and humans in general. He talked about the World Wars, putting a man on the moon, the telephone, and about his achievements as an astrophysicist. He spoke of String Theory ("Really? I always thought that space was made of magic!"), breaking the light spectrum (Rainbow Dash seemed sad when she heard this), and the discovery of microscopic alien life ("So the truth is out there, huh?").

Twilight and Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, talked about life in Equestria. Twilight talked about the two Princess monarchs ("Queens who are Princesses?"), the different cities ("Manehattan? That sounds awfully familiar..."), and about life as the apprentice of one of the Princesses (the Princess of the Sun). Rainbow Dash uncharacteristically just nodded and said nothing.

Being from two almost completely different worlds, they didn't run out of things to talk about. However, everything stopped when they had reached the mountain.

Unlike most tall mountains, this one was just covered in trees. If it weren't sloping, it would've been a forest. And these trees weren't just any random trees. These trees were positively the creepiest trees he had ever seen in his life.

Steven gulped and started climbing the mountain.

"Something about this seems awfully familiar." said Twilight. "Don't you think, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash didn't answer. She was busy looking somewhere else.

"Did you guys see that?" she asked. "There was something moving, right there!"

To Steven's surprise, Rainbow Dash sounded more excited than scared. There really were many surprises yet to come from this young woman.

"It's a forest, Dash." said Twilight. "There's bound to be something moving."

Steven, for one, shared Rainbow Dash's suspicions. There was something very unnatural about this forest.

Rainbow Dash glanced one last time at that spot, and then hesitantly continued onward.

As they walked deeper into the forest, the atmosphere became more tense as the silence of the forest gets to them.

Steven could feel something. He could feel something watching them... Something stalking their hoofsteps.

"How far to the top, Twilight?" asked Steven quietly, wary of anything that moved.

"We're halfway there." said Twilight. The atmosphere seemed to unnerve her as well.

In fact, the only one in the group who was absolutely fine was Rainbow Dash. Since the initial excitement, she had just been getting more cheerier and cheerier. She was now literally skipping and humming while they hiked.

"I've never heard of that song before." said Twilight. "What is it?"

"Oh, its something Steven and I sang back when you were unconscious." said Rainbow Dash.

"Was that all you did?" asked Twilight. Steven looked at Rainbow Dash, who looked back and shrugged.

"Anyway, even if we reach the peak, Steven, where are we going to do?" asked Twilight.

"I don't think we're supposed to reach the peak." said Steven. "Look for a cave somewhere around here."

"Guys?" said Rainbow Dash.

"A cave? Well, I suppose that wouldn't be so hard to find." said Twilight.

"Um... Guys?"

"Yeah. I think it's supposed to be quite a huge cave, too."

"Guys!"

All of a sudden, Steven noticed the bushes around there start rustling.

"What was that?" asked Twilight.

"Ssh!" said Steven. "Just stay still."

"Come on!" shouted Rainbow Dash, waving her arms around like she was ready to fight. "Who wants a little piece of Rainbow Dash here?"

As if on cue, three giant shadows suddenly jumped up from the bushes. They ran around them in circles, slowly tightening them together. Steven tried to catch a look at the shadows, and after some time he managed to look at one clearly.

Wolves.

Great. Just great.

"Okay, guys, when I say 'go', we quickly run into the forest. Rainbow Dash, I need you to hop on." said Steven.

"But-"

"Just do it." he said. "We need to run very fast. And those human legs go as fast as Twilight's or mine."

Rainbow Dash looked down sadly. Steven knew that this was because of the loss of her wings and how she cannot travel as fast anymore. It was depressing to see someone like Rainbow Dash in that state. However, Rainbow Dash quickly climbed on his back. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Twilight smirk. He had no idea why, though.

"Okay, Twilight. You ready"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Steven stood still, his eyes squinted, as he tried to calculate when was the best time to run. He could see the wolves getting closer.

"Steven?"

The wolves were running around in circles, but there should be a small break somewhere. That small break would give them safe passage through them. But where was it?

"Come on, Steven."

Steven could feel Rainbow Dash grasping tightly on his mane. The wolves were now very close. He had to find that break, quickly.

"Steven..."

Steven saw the break. But he needed to wait for it to come in front of him...

There!

"Go!"

Twilight and Steven quickly jumped forward and landed safely on the other side. He could feel the wolves getting confused and slowing down. Pretty soon they'd be chasing them again.

"Okay, now RUN!"

Both ponies ran through the forest like there was nothing to lose, easily dodging trees, rocks, and the like. Steven looked back and saw that the wolves were indeed chasing them.

"Pick up the pace!" he said.

They both pushed themselves to the absolute limit to outrun the wolves, and Steven honestly thought that this was the fastest he had ever been before on land. Rainbow Dash was having difficulty holding on to his mane, so she quickly held on to his neck tightly with both arms. Steven could feel her pressing her cheek against the back of his neck.

But they couldn't keep this up for long. By pushing themselves to the limit, they could only run a few more kilometers before completely breaking down. He noticed Twilight begin to screw her own face in concentration as she continued running.

At the distance, however, he saw something relieving.

It was a cave.

"Quickly! Run inside!" said Steven.

The wolves were already far behind, but they were still chasing them. He knew that they had to find shelter and a place to hide immediately.

As soon as they reached the cave, however, the most unexpected thing happened. They were attacked.

Steven could hear a battle cry, followed by a yellow blur that knocked Rainbow Dash off his back.

"What was that?" she asked.

Suddenly, Twilight got punched in the face by the yellow blur. Now he's gotta ask. Was there something about Twilight's face that made people really want to punch it?

"Twilight!"

And then, Steven felt something yank his tail back. As he lost balance, he felt a piercing pain from his chin to his cheek. He immediately knew what that was. He had just been roundhouse kicked. Whatever this was, they really knew what they were doing.

Steven fell back, his face burning with pain. As quickly as it had appeared, the yellow blur had disappeared.

"HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY CAVE?" asked a monstrous, roaring voice.

Steven heard the wolves coming closer.

"I'm sorry, we just-"

"HOW DARE YOU THINK ABOUT HURTING THE LITTLE ONES?"

"No, you misunderstand! We just-"

"Oh, I've had enough of this! You're not going to hurt us and get away with it, you hear?" said Rainbow Dash, as she entered the cave.

However, there was a sudden, loud noise in the cave and Rainbow Dash came back flying out.

"Wow..." she said, looking amazed. "That thing's really strong!"

"Please, hear us out! My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I-"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" asked the monster in the cave.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, and-"

"YOU ARE TWILIGHT SPARKLE?"

"Yes, and-"

Suddenly, the yellow blur pounced on Twilight. Steven tried to intercept it, but it was too quick. He and Rainbow Dash got blown back by the sheer force of the jump.

Steven lay back on the ground, his vision blurry.

"You alright?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"I think so." he answered. "What do you think we should do? That thing's got Twilight!"

"The wolves are coming." she said. "I say we surprise that thing, beat it up, and stay in the cave."

"Okay, on the count of three."

"One..."

"Two...

"Three! Go!"

Steven and Rainbow Dash ran to Twilight, but what they saw knocked both of the backward.

That thing was hugging Twilight.

"Oh Twilight... You don't know how much I've missed you..." said the monster, in a very soft and timid voice.

Steven finally got a good look at the monster. It had yellow fur, and it had pink, dirty, but flowing hair.

It was another pony.

"Fluttershy?" asked Rainbow Dash.

Suddenly, Fluttershy let go of Twilight. her face became contorted with anger. She let out a battle cry, but Twilight quickly stopped her from attacking.

"Fluttershy, please don't!" said Twilight.

Fluttershy's face softened and she turned to look at Twilight.

"What's the matter, Twilight?" she asked.

"That one," she said pointing at Rainbow Dash. "The one you just attacked... That's Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy squealed in surprise, and then ran straight to Rainbow Dash.

"Oh... I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash... Please forgive me... I mean, um... If you don't mind..."

Rainbow Dash stood up and hugged Fluttershy.

"I've missed you, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy returned the embrace.

"Me too, Rainbow Dash. But... How did you become... like this? You look like some kind of monkey." said Fluttershy in genuine interest, but it sounded as if she was mocking her.

Rainbow Dash released the hug.

"Long story, Fluttershy. Now can we please go inside?"

"Come on, then... Please come inside..."

As they were walking towards the cave, Steven noticed something. He smelled it in the air.

Wolves.

"Rainbow Dash! Look out!" he shouted, as he pushed Rainbow Dash out of where one wolf was attacking.

Steven quickly swung at the wolf with his front hoof, hitting it before it hit him. Steven tried to remember his martial arts training. Since he lost the ability to grab, a lot of the moves he learned became unusable. But at least he could still pack a good punch.

The wolf he punched fell back. He quickly shook his head and ran toward Steven again.

"Run." said Steven.

"But-"

"Run!"

Steven heard the shuffling of hoofsteps inside the cave. He needed to drive away the wolves out of the cave. But what can he do?

As the wolf jumped toward him, he noticed the other two wolves follow him, jumping from both of Steven's sides. He quickly managed to calculate the trajectory of the wolves, so he did what he could to avoid them.

He ducked.

All three wolves crashed into each other, and Steven took this chance to move away. As the wolves recovered, Steven tried to think of something to defeat them.

But he could think of nothing. So he did what any sensible pony in this situation would do.

"CHAAAARGE!"

The wolves were startled by this, and Steven used the time to attack each of them. He crashed into one and then used both of his legs to kick the two wolves that came after him. He then felt the wolf he crashed into start to pounce on him, so he managed to dodge it. The two wolves behind him got ready to strike, but Steven skillfully dodged that too and their swipes met nothing but air. Steven then swept the ground the two wolves were standing on, both of them tripping and falling flat on their backs.

However, as he did this, he didn't manage to notice the other wolf come at him. The wolf managed to scratch his face, tearing off fur and skin. Steven felt the burning pain across his face, and he screamed in agony. Taking this as a signal to counterattack, the other two wolves joined the first wolf and pounced at him.

Steven's left eye was blinded, and he didn't manage to block all three wolves. One wolf managed to scratch him again, this time on the side of his body. The pain was terrible, but that was no time for weakness. He hastily swung his right hoof, and he managed to hit one of the wolves. The wolves flew to the left and hit a tree. It remained there, not moving.

Panting, Steven tried to attack the other two wolves, but they easily dodged all of his attacks. He, however, also managed to dodge theirs. However, the wolves quickly managed to rectify their weakness. Steven still dodged their attacks, albeit with difficulty. He sensed one wolf's movement and managed to counter it. However, Steven grew tired. This time, when he dodged a swipe, the other wolf managed to bite his neck.

Steven screamed in pain. The other wolf kept swiping at his face, and Steven was unable to dodge. He felt the wolf's claws tear at his skin, and he quickly grew panicked. He needed to stop the biting wolf, so he did the only thing he could do.

He ran around, trying to buck the wolf off his neck. He kicked into the air, violently shaking the biting wolf. Sure enough, that wolf flew off and hit the side of the cave, where it stayed, unconscious.

Only one more...

But Steven didn't think he could manage it. He felt blood flowing out from all over his body, streaming down into a puddle on the ground he was standing on. He was dying. He felt it in his heart.

But the thing he wanted to do most before dying was to beat the hell out of that last wolf.

He felt himself swaying from side to side. He was losing his balance. He needed to finish this.

He stared at the last wolf, who was looking at him in disgust. He already thought of a plan. He just needed to execute it.

His vision became blurry, and his legs were barely able to hold him.

I can't die yet!

Steven stood up straight and stared into the eyes of the wolf. He smiled a weak smile.

"Come at me, bro."

The wolf ran straight to him. Steven stood there, waiting for the perfect moment.

The wolf was coming closer...

Closer...

Closer...

Now!

Steven quickly dodged the wolf's charge, but as the wolf flew past him, Steven kicked its flank, making it turn in circles while flying. Then as quick as lightning, he appeared in front of the flying wolf and he managed to kick it. Both legs, square on the wolf's side. The wolf flew back and hit the ground outside the cave. it picked itself up, however, and on shaky legs, managed to wake up the other two and retreat.

Steven wobbled back to the mouth of the cave. He tried to take one more step, but he couldn't. He couldn't move anymore. Sure enough, his legs gave way and Steven fell down.

He remembered the defibrillator incident with Rainbow Dash, and he smiled weakly.

This is definitely a much better way to die...

He felt the blood keep flowing, and the vision in the remaining eye also started to blur. He desperately wished to be able to continue on with Rainbow Dash and Twilight, but he knew that he wouldn't survive this much damage.

Rainbow Dash...

He thought about her one last time. He's reached the end of the road, now. It was over.

"Steven!"

"He's here! Celestia, look at him!"

"These are definitely... very nasty wounds."

"Come on, Fluttershy! Please tell me you can heal them!"

"I'm not sure anyone can... He's lost so much blood..."

He felt himself being carried and moved somewhere, but he didn't care anymore. All he thought about was how much he wished to continue on with their adventures.

He felt the life inside him fading in and out. His breaths became much heavier, and he couldn't move a muscle anymore.

"C'mon, Steven... You can do it..."

He then saw Rainbow Dash's face. It was blurry, but he could make it out. He tried to remember this moment, for if he would have to replay his lasts moments forever, he wanted it to be this.

He managed to let out a tiny whisper.

"How's that... for... combat practice...?" he said, as he managed a very weak smile.

And then he was gone.