Tales of Past Times: The Scourge

"It's actually him..." Snap said, cowering in fear. "The Dark One. The creature that started this war, the creature that created these monsters, he's the reason this whole war is in action."

Arcs eyes widened, as he took a few steps back. "We have to get out here" he whispered. Yet as he turned around to run away his body froze, trapped in ice. The ice moved like a snake up his legs, trapping his entire upper body in cold hard ice.

"You're not going anywhere, little pony." The creature said, grasping his fist.

"Arc!" Snap yelled, trying to fire a shot at the ice to break it, but was immediately trapped in his own prison of ice.

Everyone was trapped, all except Riptide, who was busy spacing out from her loss. This isn't good, at this rate she'll... Arc thought to himself.

"Rip! Wake up, Rip!" Snap yelled, trying to get her attention.

"Quiet you!" He said, bending his magic. The ice grew, and a spike of ice went straight through his jaw, forcing his mouth shut. He writhed in agony, which received various chuckles from The Dark One.

"I've heard much about you four..." He started, "What you have done, was not kept in the dark. The accomplishments you made out on the battlefield did not go unheard." He plunged his sword into the ground, creating a force of energy that nearly shattered the ground.

"Yet, though you may have succeeded in destroying everything I threw at you...You are still ponies. Nothing changes, your weaknesses still apply. You living creatures desire bonds so much, that you would be willing to sacrifice yourself for one another." The Dark One shook his head, "Such foolishness. Now I rewrite this code of sacrifice for you, so that you may give your body and soul to your true master."

"We will never serve you!" Arc screamed, this time getting Riptides attention.

The Dark One chuckled, "You? Who said anything about you. I speak only of him." He said, pointing at Cyans' body.

"He holds a power unlike I've ever seen before. You know what I mean...Don't you?" He asked seriously, but not no response from Arc. Arc knew exactly what he was talking about.

"What are you going to do?" Riptide finally said, regaining her senses.

With a quick movement, he grabbed his sword. "First, I'm going to kill each of you in the most painful way possible for what you did to my armies. But first, I'm going to raise this pathetic fool, so that he may watch his friends die before his very eyes. Then I will-"

"Shut up!" Riptide said, struggling to get up. "I won't let you touch him..."

"Rip..." Arc said, staring in unbelief at his younger sister.

The Dark One chuckled, "Still have a little fight left in you?"

"I SAID SHUT UP!!" she screamed, sprinting at the unholy creature, charging her horn.

"Like I said, nothing changes." He said, driving his sword with a quick motion deep inside her chest. She coughed up a good amount of blood, before passing out.

"Pathetic..." He said, spitting on the body of the pony.

"RIP! NOO!" Arc screamed, trying to struggle his way out of the spell.

"Now to finish the job..." He said, raising his sword up, then down straight at her heart.

What filled the air was the sound of flesh being ruptured.

Rip opened her eyes, wondering if she was dead. Yet, what she was before her was something she never expected. "Oh...What's this?" The Dark One said, a little surprised.

She didn't speak for several seconds, too shocked by the display before her. "P-Princess!!" Arc managed to get out.

The air suddenly grew warm, and life starting to bloom around the area they were trapped. The ice melted almost instantly, releasing Snap and Arc from their prisons. Riptide was speechless, trying to gather some words to explain her thoughts. After several seconds she managed to ask, "M-Miss.."

"I will not have you harming my little ponies, Isan. Quit hiding in that form, and go home. You are NOT welcome here."

He chuckled, "So be it, but remember this...Next time we meet, there will be no second chances, Twilight."

"We won't need any."

With a snap, the figure was gone, the mist cleared and the scars of the battle was healed. "Such intense magic..." Arc whispered to himself.

"Princess! Your wound!" Riptide said, worried about her master. "A-And my wound!"

"What wound?" She said, looking at her shoulder, which was no longer torn apart. The same to Riptides chest, no longer punctured... Healed...By what? Arc thought.

"Princess...I'm sorry." Riptide whimpered, starting to cry. She motioned to her lover who lied lifelessly on the ground. "I tried to...But it wouldn't work."

"No matter." She said, trotting over to the body. "Watch and learn pupil. This can only be used twice. But be weary, every time you use it, it takes 20 years of your life." She said, starting to focus her magic in her horn.

"But princes what about your life!" Riptide cried. "Worry not about me, for I have learned much in my life. Plus, I'm only 30. What do you think I am? 70?" She gaffed.

"Well your certainly as wise as one..."

Twilight chuckled, "Studying the arcane arts tend to make you sound wise. Now pay attention."

Twilight charged an odd light into her horn, as bright as the sun, yet as white as...white. It glowed brightly, and it would beat like a heart. "Please Light, give me one final blessing. Send this soul back to where it came, back into this world. We need him more than anyone..." With those words she shot the light into his chest, and within seconds she heard his breathing moving at a steady rate. His injuries were gone, like they never existed, leaving the team confused how they even left.

Riptide didn't care anymore, she was just glad that he was alive. She went on to hug him, and cuddle with him. Twilight stood up, trotting away. Snap stopped her, "Princess. Thank you so much for saving us...I don't want to think what could have happened if you didn't arrive. He could have-"

"Don't worry friend, just relax. The battle is won." She said, with a very calming sense. Snap smiled, thankful for his leader.

"When he becomes capable of walking once more, I expect you to report back to me in canterlot." She said, recieving a nod from Arc.

She trotted a few more steps, opening a portal in front of her. "Oh and one more thing. If he asks what happened. Tell him nothing of my appearence. If he knows I gave him 20 years of my life, he wouldn't be so happy." Twilight chuckled. She turned her head, smiling. "Rip...Take care of my little colt for me, will you?"

"Of course miss..." She said, grasping Cyan a little tighter. With that said, Twilight nodded in agreement, stepping through the portal.

"Those four..." She said, while flying through the twisting vortex.

"They are the only hope we have left."