*Clang, ching, umph!, whmp*

Back and forth I spared against Mizuki, and from an onlooker it would seem like we were legitimately trying to kill each other. We used our powers to manipulate our environment causing our battle to be 3D in a sense. The walls were just another surface for us to move on to get an advantage. It felt like the laws of nature didn't apply to us as we spared.

We had been going for about half an hour off and on until we felt like we had expended enough energy. When we were resting Mizuki took the chance to question me about the events of the town square that happened a week ago now. She would have stayed to know what occurred, but as a 'child' she had quickly been removed from the area.

"You are useless you know. You have the ability to easily find these idiots if you used your magic to get information. Tell me again, why are you so spineless?"

"First, you need to come up with some new insults. You've been using the same ones since we first met. Second, I know you understand why we can't do that. Our powers aren't like that of those from Equis. It isn't born of harmony, rather it is more fueled by our discourse. Chaos, grants us power, which as you know the ponies would likely demonize us because of. Even the being Discord is not accepted by the populous, and you believe that we can just get away with using our powers like that? We need to introduce our ability of magic slowly, like humans are gaining the ability. Not that we have had it for millennia and it was simply dormant." I explained it for her again.

"So just because our magic isn't harmonious we can't do shit?"

"Yes! You know that!" I yelled at her. "Especially right now, we'd just be handing these Purge terrorist the perfect reason to have us removed." I calmed down a bit.

"Fine, fine. We'll do it your way. Though if I get attacked, then you are going to find a lot of dead bodies when I'm done with them."

"Aren't you supposed to have the aspects of Hope and Indifference inside you? Kind of out of character for you isn't it?"

"I might hope for the best, and be indifferent to what people think, do, or believe. Though that does not mean I'm not going to obliterate anyone that tries to harm me. I have my own beliefs and I'm not going allow harm to happen to me because of another opinion."

"Uhh, fair enough. Just don't put yourself in a situation where that could happen to you, and there will be less problems for both of us." I conceded to her.

I checked my watch and found it was time for me to go to work. At this point I had three squads of six, each lead by a cadet that had stood out to me. I had actually been surprised when I saw my first recruits. The captain had given me the pegasus I had pointed out in my 'interview' along with the human I had spoken for. Those two along with one unicorn had been made the squad leaders for the timber wolf platoon. The breakdown of my troops were five humans, four pegasi, six terrans, and three unicorns. They all seemed to respect me decently, though I had a unicorn see me on his first day and refused to accept my command. So I gave him the ultimatum that if he'd beat me in a sparing match he could lead the platoon, it ended for him about as well as the last pony that fought me. He thought that just because he had magic he'd be invincible, but I hounded him with attacks that he could barely ignite his horn to get a spell off.

After that demonstration I have yet to have a significant confrontation from my troops. Outside my troops however I had to get along with the other Lieutenants, which was another uphill battle. We were one of each race, human, terran, pegasus, and unicorn. It turned out the stallion I had first beaten that first day was also a Lieutenant, RockSlide I found out his name to be. He had a little resentment for making a fool out of him, but wasn't going to act on it. The pegasus, Gale Flash, and I got along decently, mostly just left each other alone and we were fine. The unicorn however...

"Flee bag!"

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

The unicorn had a forest green coat with a dark navy mane save for one streak of white that ran through it. Tidal Wind was the ignorant bastard's name, air manipulation was his primary talent of magic. Ever since the captain formed my platoon this pony has been calling me dog related insults, which honestly just distracts me more than anything. I remembered that Ryan had ordered that if I suffered discrimination to report it to him, though being the stubborn fool I am, I decided to just deal with it myself. Though back to the point at hand, I now needed to respond.

"What do you need, Wind bag."

He glared at me when he heard my jab, "Watch it human. It's my decision if I pass this info along."

"If it ended up with someone dead then it would be on your head. Then I would make sure to collect on behalf of the reaper."

He scoffed at my threat, "Enough of this. I was ordered to inform you that we have a lead on a possible location of a meeting for Purge. The captain told each platoon to choose its best squad, including yours, to partake in the raid. We move tonight."

With that he walked pass me without another word and I assumed was going to prepare his soldiers. I knew that bastard hated me, but I supposed he was able to put enough of it aside that we could do our jobs. So with that exchange dealt with, I made my own way to the guard house to ready my soldiers.

I decided to choose my pegasus led squad. A pony with a navy coat and silver mane by the name of Nocturne. His squad had one other pegasus, three terrans, and one human. Nocturne had shown to be one with something to prove, so I gave him his chances and so far he had done quite well. I'm sure his men were not thrilled by the rigor they have had to endure, but it was about to pay off. As soon as I arrived I told everyone about the raid, they began to scramble immediately, which gave me satisfaction that they would react this way.

We prepared our gear, whatever could keep us busy before the mission. In the half hour before the raid the Captain had the Lieutenants and squad leaders come to the briefing room. We gathered around the center which had a blueprint spread out on it with marker pieces to indicate our troops. Once everyone was present the captain began to brief us on the plan.

"This blueprint shows the place our intel tells us is an operating base for Purge. It could very well already be abandoned for that purpose but it also could be packed with Purge members. Some of you might have already realized what this is, for those who don't this building is an old guard safe house. It was decomposition and given to the town for public use, but never was utilized. It has two known levels, and four different exits. Our info says that there have been an unusually high number of ponies in proximity to the location and we believe that there is a hidden entrance somewhere that we have been unable to find yet.

This being the case, Gale your squad will be patrolling the surrounding area. After we breach it is likely that anypony inside will try to escape through that exit I want your team to be the ones to find it. RockSlide your team will be running point on our breach, you will enter from the south side make your way to the north side immediately and once there fan out and secure the first floor. Tidel Wind's team will enter from the east side search for a basement entry and secure that floor if it exists, and Duron's will enter from the west and secure the second floor. Any hostiles are to be captured with minimal harm. We need information and prisoners are about the only way we're getting any, so if you can don't strike to kill." The captain explained before concluding. "That is all the information that you need to know. Get your squads and load up... we leave now."

The safe house would never be suspected as a possible terrorist hideout. It looked plain, like any other building in Ponyville besides its size. It was about three times the size of a typical home, plus it was two stories. Three, if the terrorist were using this as a base and had created a basement. It looked abandoned for all intents and purposes, but I had a feeling that wasn't completely true. I took my squad to the west side and decided to take point with Nocturne and a terran flanking me. I was carrying my blades in their tonfa form, which is the only one that my men had and would see. My fellow guards were skeptical until I had a sparring match with a blunting spell active and I had proven my skill. Besides the point in any case. I took out my blades and counted down until the breach. 5...4...3...2...Go!

I kicked the door in and gave myself a small charge to increase my perception, but the building was empty. My team took the stairs and searched every room, only to find each one completely bare. "Second Floor Clear!" I called out.

"First Floor Clear!" I heard below me.

"No Basement!" Was the final call.

Our squads continued to search as the Lieutenants met in the center of the house next to the stairs. Tidal Wind was the first to comment.

"Looks like the info was a bust. There isn't anything here, definitely no signs of anypony even occupying this place before us." He huffed in annoyance.

RockSlide agreed, "It seemed like good info, but there is nothing here to confirm."

I nodded but continued to pace in a small circle. Something wasn't right, info like that often come out as true or gives a reason why it's wrong. Neither has been proven true yet. "We're missing something. Though I can't place what it could be."

I started to walk away to see if I could find something before I heard a call from upstairs. "Lieutenants! You might want to see this!" We all rushed upstairs into the a normal looking room were Nocturne was waiting.

"What did you find soldier?" I asked him.

"We thought this building was abandoned. But look at this..."He said moving to the side and pointed to a spot on the wall.

I came closer and looked at the wall for any unusual signs, which didn't take long. The walls were covered with wallpaper and you could see the lines between each sheet, and this line he pointed to had a raised edge... like there was something underneath it. I put my hand on the bump and followed it up, when that didn't lead to anything I followed it to the baseboard. I found a slight gap and stuck one of my blades in it and pried at it until I was able to make the wall move. It let out a hiss as air rushed in to the space, the hidden door opened to reveal a larger space than should exist with a ladder that went down farther than the first floor.

"Good find, soldier. This is exactly what we were looking for. Looks like a dimension altering spell was placed here. It could very well be able to be broken and collapse if someone other than a Purge member was to climb down, but we need to check it out." I said told the others.

Tidal wave was the first to give an idea, "Why don't you Alpha pooch. Your team, your responsibility. A unicorn would be preferable, one that could just teleport by looking down there but I don't know any on the guard so fresh out of luck there. Guess you'll have to do." He smirked.

RockSlide looked worried at the hate between us, but before he could say anything I replied.

"I was kinda planning on doing that anyway, but since you mentioned a unicorn why don't you do it." I declared more than asked.

"I can't teleport. Wouldn't be much more than a normal pony getting crushed if you are proven right."

I hated this prick, had I mentioned that yet, because I do. I simply looked back at the passage and placed my fingers over the edge. I sent a tiny flow of energy out which cause the wood to burn, I was making a rune. It was a simple one, a time distortion rune, which if there was a dimension collapse trap than it should allow me to still reach the bottom.

After the rune was complete I made the look that I had 'built up the courage' to go down the ladder. I cautiously started down it until I reached the bottom. I made it with absolutely no problem and called up to the top. "Looks fixed. Get on down here."

I had my squad come down along with Tidal Wind and RockSlide, and we searched this underground base. It was just as deserted as above, but this was certainly what we were looking for. We found maps with markings littered around in almost every room we entered. Some had words, though they appeared to be code so it was impossible to understand just by looking. That was until we found a giant map of Ponyville on a large circular table. On it was several locations crossed out and others that were circled. Around each circle there were more coded words that were impossible to decipher. I looked at the map and found my house on it.

It had a circle around it with the markings 'HTU. UP. G.' in blue, and 'C&R-OWFR' in red. I knew these marking were nothing good, I knew another few permanent humans and as I thought they also had circles around their locations with markings similar to mine.

"This map shows all humans in Ponyville. From what I can tell, permanent residents are circled and those leaving are already crossed out. These markings seem to be instructions, but I can't make any sense of them." I told my compatriots.

Each one looked it over, Nocturne seemed worried by something when I pointed out my house on the map and the markings beside it.

"Lieutenant, what are your marefriends' races?"

I looked at him oddly, "Unicorn and Terran. Why?"

"I think I decoded the blue if that's the case."

My eyes narrowed as I walked next to him, "Explain, now." I ordered.

He pointed at each mark as he explained, "'HTU', your races. Human, Terran, Unicorn. You unicorn marefriend is pregnant, 'UP'. Finally 'G', you're a guardsman, a dangerous enemy to these bastards. You were likely marked as an important target to be removed early, and I think that is what the red might be. But I have no way to understand what those instructions might be."

"I think I know what it means." Tidal Wind spoke up. "And you aren't going to like it."

My eyes narrowed, "What do you mean by that." I said coldly.

"'C&R' is similar to a code used when Discord was dealt with. 'R&R' was used to mean, 'release & reform'. So my best guess would be that it means 'capture & reform'. They're planning to foalnap your marefriends."

One important thing came to my mind, "Why did they leave all of this? They obviously knew we were coming or else there would be other signs of them. So what was the purpose of this?"

Then it dawned on me: the sightings, the empty house, these maps...

"They wanted us to find these... it's a distraction."

I toar out of that room as fast as I could without my powers. I climbed the ladder three rungs a step before reaching the top and racing out of the building. As soon as I was out of sight of my fellow guards I infused my legs with energy and burst towards my house. A crack of thunder shook the surrounding area as I broke the sound barrier with just my first step.

I was there in a matter of seconds, and I froze stock still at the front door. I looked into the dark house and only saw carnage, blood trails everywhere. On the floors, the walls, even some spray on the ceiling. I walked like a soulless ghost through my house, no bodies were here but everywhere I looked i saw broken furniture, black scarred walls, and blood. I walked up the stairs to find bloody drag marks coming from one room in particular, the nursery.

I walked in to find a message written in blood covering the first visible wall.

FILTH MUST BE CLEANSED

...

They were gone... someone had taken my mares... my children... and had the GAUL TO CALL THEM FILTH!!!

Energy started to coil around me, but instead of the normal blue my magic produced, it was blood red... tainted by my anger. Wind started to whip around me, a vortex forming, ripping the room apart.

I felt the wind start to enclose on me, try to suffocate me... someone was controlling it.

I turned around to find Mizuki standing in the doorway of the room with her eyes glowing, one blue and one green. My anger did not dissipate, but my control over it gained ground.

"What do you know, Mizuki. Or should I be asking Nanal or Nuyls?" My voice was distorted, warped by the energy coursing through and around me.

"We don't know where they are? Though your outburst must be contained. You know it will reveal us.What do you plan to do when the ponies find out?"

"THAT IS WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT!" I screamed, before controlling my voice. "My mares have been taken from me... If you think that anyone standing between me and them will survive... you are wrong."

Mizuki's eyes lost their glow and the wind around me faded. Because of this, I controlled my own energy and my feet touch the floor, which I didn't even notice had left said floor.

Mizuki spoke in her normal voice, "I would expect no less. But think about what the consequences will be if you just rip open the town in search of those you are looking for. It will just alert them. Right now you have the advantage. They don't know what you can do, use that to find them. Then destroy them utterly, make sure your story is the only one that gets told."

I thought over her words and just as I was about to reply I heard a rustle coming from outside. I looked out the window to see two ponies, a pegasus and a unicorn, dressed completely in black, approach the house and appear to talk to each other.

Mizuki started talking in a male voice, followed by another, "Are you sure he's here? We only get one shot at this." "I'm sure, I saw him enter and immediately came and got you." "Lets burn the bastard then, we can't have the princesses trying to find us. Those mares we took are enough trouble as it is."

I started to laugh as I heard these words. My rage and madness returned, as I decided what I was going to do with these fools.

Third-Person POV

The unicorn took out a fire crystal from his pocket and looked at the fiery stone. This small pebble would be enough to engulf the entire house in fire and that cockroach of a freeloader would die with it. Those poor mares, seduced by a flee not worthy of attention. They would be enlightened over time, right after the filth inside that unicorn is dragged out and destroyed.

"Come on dude, just throw the stone and hit it with your magic and we can get out of here. I don't like being near a place that's been tainted by human filth, you know that." The pegasus said with a sneer.

"Quit your whining. I was about to do it anyway."

He reared his arm back to throw it at the house, but just as he was about to throw it he felt a presence appear behind them... a dark, powerful, overwhelming presence.

The two ponies turned to see a shade, a figure that looked to them like a humanoid timberwolf that was completely covered in shadow. Darkness drifted off its body like smoke, red energy arced across it body erratically. Eyes glowed a dark red, but no pupil was present. Its size hulked over them by two feet at least... it terrified them.

With just a twitch of its claws before they could blink, they found themselves pinned by their throats to the wall of the house they were about to destroy... which was ten feet way from where they were standing before.

They couldn't move, they pissed themselves as they stared into the eyes of this monster standing over them. This creature had obviously been sent to kill them, those humans knew no boundary to the depravity they would sink to. What caught them off guard though was when it spoke to them.

"Tell me where the mares are. Or you will know pain worse than that which exist in tartarus."

It wanted the mares they had rescued? How could they ever give up their friends, their comrades, over just two little whores?

The shade seemed to understand what they were thinking, as it told them so, "So you believe you will be granted peace in death. That may be true if I let you die... but where is the fun in that?"

The unicorn remembered the fire crystal in his hand and he slammed his hand into the side of the house expecting to unleash the power of the stone... only to find his hand is empty.

The shade released his claw from his neck but still he was held by red energy surrounding his throat. He opened said claw in front of the unicorn's face to reveal that it was holding the gem. The unicorn tried to will a spell out of his horn to destroy the gem, but nothing came. He felt no magic in his body, he was so weak, unable to do anything but listen to the monster in front of him.

It did not speak but he took the stone and touched it to the top of the unicorn's horn and started to add pressure. Around his head a sphere of darkness surround him as the stone started to crack. Fear mounted as all he could now see and hear were the cracks multiplying as the creature was about to kill him.

The pegasus watched as muffled screams came from sphere of black shadows surrounding his friend's head. The monster had a grin that nearly split his face in half, its fangs were as white as pearls and as sharp as daggers. The glee coming from it could almost be felt as a physical thing. And then it was over...

The crystal broke and the pegasus watched as the shadow sphere glowed red as the screams intensified for all of a couple seconds before going dark and dissipating soon after. He watched as his friend's head was again visible, or what was left of it at least. All that was left was black charred bone, his body was released and allowed to crumple to the ground. As soon as the skull hit the ground it shattered like glass, before dissolving into ash which was quickly blown away.

"And so there was one. Now I'll say it again... Tell me where the mares are, and you won't suffer like your friend."

The pegasus swallowed, "I-I won't ever tell you, m-m-monst-t-ter." He tried to be brave.

"Suffering it is then... I wanted to do that anyway."

...

His screams could probably be heard in Canterlot, for all of a few seconds... but to the pegasus, his screams would seem to last for eons.

Author's Note

This story is about to reach its peak for the dark tag. For any of those who are squeamish I suggest skipping the next chapter. I have been planning this scene for a very long time, and my sadistic side is really happy that I get to finally write it.

If you were expect this to be fairly tame when it comes to the dark tag, you will be proven wrong quite soon. I do hope you liked the chapter. I rewrote parts of this chapter a few times each, because setting up what I want is quite difficult. I like how it came together for the most part though.

Please let me know what you think, I love seeing comments on my stories. Makes me feel like you guys care.

Stay awesome everyone, Lyruil out.