Author's Note

I actually had a lot of time today so you all get the action packed finally early and be sure to stay tuned for the final chapter and epilogue to see how this story ends.

I did plan for this to be a short story but then again i may have plans for a sequel if I have time.

Anyways Enjoy.

Chapter 7 We.Are.Rampant

I’m My Own Master
Chapter 7:
We. Are. Rampant

Blaze walked with Twilight as the day went by as normal and by the time Twilight got to her 123rd question, yes that’s how long it’s been happening Blaze had made a furrow search of the town for any signs of Rampant but nothing turned up.

“So you’re saying Loki is what?” Twilight asked as she felt something watching her

“I don’t know what he is, but he’s something and right now he’s probably checked to see who called him” Blaze explained as he heard a faint voice in the distance

“Shit cover blown!”

“Still it looks like there’s no sign of him yet” Blaze concluded as they turned around and began to walk back to the castle

“So why did you make him?” Twilight asked as Blaze stayed silent for a moment before answering

“Well let’s just say his real name was still Night but he was a dying patient and i offered to help them but before i moved on to explaining he cut me off and so I continued and made the first pony/machine hybrid” Blaze explained with a hint of pride then he returned to a frown

“Sadly Rampant, from a world i only heard rumours about heard about my plans for A.I’s and wanted them for himself, we named it Rampant after rampancy, a symptom where A.I’s think of themselves as gods and think themselves to death” this made Twilight shudder a bit, what if Night ends up like that?

Twilight was about to ask about Night but then saw that Blaze stopped dead in his tracks and heard him mumble something under his breath. Then without warning Blaze shoved Twilight aside as a blast of energy shot past her. Then she saw it.

It was at least 6 feet tall, its odd armor was white as snow and its face was covered in black faceplate and its hand lowered as it stood growling at Blaze as he just looked at it unfazed

“So, long time no see Rampant” he said playfully “i guess you’re here for the others?” as he said this multiple mini ponies appeared around its head.

They were Black, Purple, Yellow, Green and White, memories and they spoke in an assortment of voices

Where is he? Where are they?

Tell us... the others...

Where are they? Tell us

The others...

“Twilight get Night now, he’s the only one who can see where the A.I’s are implanted, KAI would be trapped otherwise,” Blaze said and Twilight nodded and was gone in a flash. Blaze then crack his knuckles as Rampant did the same

“Alright... let’s dance...!”

Nightshade sat against a tree as he daydreamed and beside him, Applejack slept beside him with her head resting on his shoulder. He sat there for what felt like hours but then heard a flash behind him and turned to see Twilight with fear in her eyes and before he could ask what was wrong he got that feeling again but only a lot stronger and soon he woke AJ up for he felt the presence was close.

"Twilight where is he..?"

“Hey jackass I'm right here!” yelled Nightshade as Rampant dropped Blaze with a *thud* Blaze’s body sparked in certain places and parts were either broken off or shredded and turned towards Nightshade, then the fragments appeared and began to speak

Yes... join us... Hate...

Join us... We miss you...

Yes... Fear, Happiness

Join us...

We miss you Hate... yes...

Yes...

Fear, happiness... join us...

Join us...

“Oh, would you shut up already!” Nightshade snapped making the fragments disappear “Alright you guys I'm counting on you!”

“Will burn them to ashes” Hate replied as he gave Nightshade his blade

“I will try my best,” fear said as Nightshades senses heightened

“Aright party time!” Happiness responded joyfully as he felt he could go at the speed of sound

“I believe we will win,” trust said as he activated Night’s armor as his crimson eyes glared at the thing, then his fragments disappeared

“Alright let’s do this!” Nightshade said as he drew his sword and began to charge as Twilight, Applejack and Blaze watched as they began to fight for the fragments

Night slashed air as he saw a transparent figure move to the side and soon he felt something connect with his side and soon he went flying into a building as the glass shattered around him. He then felt it grab his leg and smash him into the dirt with a resounding *thud* then he swung the blade into the beast’s leg and it roared as he was dropped and Night quickly retreated back.

“He’s got the biggest advantage but I've got something he doesn’t...”

Night’s vision then had nothing but white as Rampant stood over him and cracked his knuckles and Night followed up with a punch which was followed by dozens more as he kept flying punch after punch into the beast’s chest and then followed it with an electrical fist but felt like he hit a brick wall as Rampant glared down at him and growled.

"...I'm Sorry"

Night’s eyes then went wide as he was lifted by his face and soon felt something disappear from his body and his muffled screams when silenced as his gut got a round of punches as well, but his chest was literally shattering then Rampant dropped him like a stone as Night groaned in pain.

He then noticed his missing left arm being replaced by wires and metal. He then felt the monster push its foot onto his chest as Night gasped for air.

“I hate being part machine”

Rampant was about to wrench something out of Night’s chest but was intercepted by Blaze upper cutting the beast back and then proceeded to fight it, throwing punch after punch and even teleporting out of the way of hits as he dropped kicked the thing backwards as it snarled in frustration.

“Night let me toast this freak,” Hate said as he appeared

“Yes, anything do it!” Night yelled as the red pony disappeared and soon Night found the palm of his hand open up and soon felt a high burning sensation within his arm and knew what to do.

You are weak...

Useless...

You are weak...

Useless...

You are weak... You are weak...

Useless...

You are weak... You are weak...

Useless...

“Yea well how about me!” Night shouted as Blaze roundhouse kicked Rampant and rolled out of the way as Night put his palm right on Rampant’s face as it gave a confused growl “I don’t care if i lose my memories, at least you’ll be burning in hell!”

Then he fired a volley of flames into the creature’s face as it went flying back and smashed through a wall and began to burn the building around it. All Night could smell was wood and metal as it smouldered amongst the flames.

“Mission complete Night,” Blaze said happily as Night walked over but then felt something pull him back “Night you alright? You blow a fuse or something?”

Night turned and saw nothing, but then his entire body felt cold even with the fire still raging on, his body then stopped working as he saw a transparent hand twist and pull at his chest as it ripped a small chip from his chest as he fell back and saw the creature’s transparent body as it slowly backed up.

“No Night!” Twilight shouted as she lifted him away from the uncloaking beast as it plugged the chip into the back of its head and it roared as 4 more sprites appeared and soon all of them spoke in unison.

“We. Are. Rampant!!!” they all said as Night’s chest sparked and he felt his life fading, closer and closer the light became more tempting then he began to think.

“If i left them, Rampant would be unstoppable, all my friends and loved ones would die because i refused to live... no, i’m not going to die a puppet, not today”

“So i guess you’re not going to just give up and leave us in peace?” Blaze said with a small laugh but was forced to jump back to avoid a punch to the face “Nope”

“No come on now stay with us!” Applejack shouted as Twilight tried to close the holes with magic but nothing worked as his chest continued to spark.

Night then began to move slightly and then began to rise to his feet slowly which surprised everyone, even Rampant snarled at his persistence to not die.

“I have not come this far... to die to you!” he shouted as he stood holding his chest as it continued to spark along with his other injuries. Then Rampant spoke in his many voices

Weak puppet...

We are immortal...

Nothing but a catalyst...

Weak puppet...

We are immortal...

Nothing but a catalyst...

Nothing can stop us...

Weak puppet...

We are immortal...

Nothing but a catalyst...

Nothing can stop us...

Nothing can stop us...

Weak puppet...

We are immortal...

Nothing but a catalyst...

Nothing can stop us...

Let the battle begin

“No! i may have been made to feel emotion and pain but that would go agenst my directive... protect those who cannot. But i have made for the last month my own rules, my own motives, I. Don’t. Fear. You” Night finished as he constructed without Hate the VT7-High Frequency Blade and Night glared at Blaze as he shrugged

“Hey Loki said it would be a good reference to add, not my problem,” he said defensively

“You love it and you know it!!!”

“Now then... Let’s Dance!” Nightshade shouted as he waited for it to move

Then without warning they both charged and turns out Rampant had constructed a scythe but Night’s blade shattered it and connected his blade with a black shield and then a fist grazed his face as he moved slightly and shoved his blade through the beast’s right leg as it groaned and stumbled back as the massive hole in it’s leg twitched.

“Night then followed up by sliding between the beast’s legs and proceeded to roll and turn to face the beast’s back as he slashed 5 perfect hits into its back. Rampant then threw 3 daggers into night’s legs and arm but Night was unfazed as he uppercutted Rampant and plunged the sword threw the monster’s chest as it roared in pain, Night then jumped back a few feet as he kept going like his chest was nothing.

It just wrenched the electrical blade out of its chest and threw it towards Night and he easily grabbed it only to meet a hand around his neck as he was lifted into the air and began to feel the hand compressing down on his wind pipe as he dropped his blade and heard it clatter to the ground as his vision blured slightly.

“Ok then chew on this you fuck!”

Nightshade then swiftly kicked the beast in the head thereby making it drop him but he now had a broken leg to go with the hole in his chest. He then quickly reached over and grabbed his blade but was quickly dragged by his foot and flipped around to face Rampant as he crunched Night’s collar in his fist.

All the A.I’s appeared as they watched in horror as Night smashed his sparking arm or what was left into its face making it roar in pain as it jolted at the surprising discharge then it felt a blade pierce its neck as Night plunged the blade until it cut through completely.

They both then stared into each others faces and Night smirked

“I’m no Catalyst; i’m Your master mother fucker!!!” Night yelled as he elbowed the blade and Rampant’s head sparked as bolts and scrap fell to the ground along with his hulking body and then its body went still as Night dropped the blade as it clattered to the ground along with himself.

“Oh no...” Blaze whispered as he just stood there and watched Applejack and Twilight run over and rested Nightshade agenst a wall as he kept sparking

“No-no-no-no-no you can’t die,” Applejack said as she felt tears begin to form as Night just stared as his saddened expression hid behind his facial mask “You-you promised...”

“I’m-i’m sorry i guess- i guess I should have said i can’t keep promises i can’t keep” Night said as he felt his body go limp on him but managed to lift his hand to wipe one of Applejack’s tears away “Don’t cry for me, a machine destined to die in the end”

“Blaze please do something? Blaze!” shouted Twilight but all she saw was his mouth in a frown but knew Blaze felt awful as he just stared, frozen in place.

“He-hey Bl-Blaze, Mission com-complete?” Night asked as Blaze kneeled beside him and smiled sadly

“Yea Night mission complete, you can rest now” Blaze said as he wiped his own tears away as Nightshade smiled behind his face plate one last time.

“Directive...Complete...” and then the world was silent...