A Soldier's Orders

Chapters

Prologue Arc: Ch.1 - The Death of a Hero (edited)
Prologue Arc: Ch.2 - The Knight in Dull Armor (edited)
Prologue Arc: Ch.3 - Am I Going Too Far? (edited)
Renegade Arc: Ch.4 - Stealth Isn't My Thing (edited)
Renegade Arc: Ch.5 - Don't Travel At Night
Renegade Arc: Ch.6 - Once A Foe... Now A Friend
Renegade Arc: Ch.7 - Dodging Shenanigans
Renegade Arc: Ch.8 - Railway Theatricals
Tourist Arc: Ch.9 - Good Morning, Bad Day
Tourist Arc: Ch.11 - It's Brawlin Time
Tourist Arc: Ch.12 - Negative Pulse
Tourist Arc: Ch.13 - Dark Chaos
Tourist Arc: Ch.14 - Ye Want Madness... Ye Got It
Tourist Arc: Ch.15 - Darkness & Fire, Emptiness & Lost
Tourist Arc: Ch.10 - Business Propositions

Prologue Arc: Ch.1 - The Death of a Hero (edited)

Author's Note

The POV of the OC protagonist, Soldier 3112... yes that is his actual name... for now. So get used to seeing, "said Soldier 3112", and "asked Soldier 3112" all the time.

Prologue Arc: Ch.1 - The Death of a Hero (edited)

Log of Solider 3112; Sector three; Area one; Unit twelve; Rank, Sergeant. I’m the new sergeant of Sector 3, Area 1 base. The soldiers do not agree with me being the new Sergeant, but over the last few months, I’ve been able to bond with them. I have no information on what had happened to the previous sergeant but, all I know is that he has disappeared during a mission. The war with the D.U.F. is against the D.U.F.’s greatest enemy, The Verxilian Empire. They’re a combined force of different species, from multitude of dimensions that want nothing more but complete control of all realms. It’s been years since the war has been raging on, neither side have made its move yet, until today.

We were on a simple reconnaissance mission to search the surrounding dimensions for future resources and outposts that can be of used if the Verxilian Empire were to attack out of the blue. With me was Medical Officer, Lizna Vale and Armory Officer Morlvin, with a couple D.U.F. soldiers with us. When we were setting up camp to head to the mountains for any resources on a nearby dimension known as, Caliseus. Caliseus was a dimension with no living organisms but, has a massive source of resources that can be used. The geography of the land is also helpful because of the rock terrain and deep crevices spread out, creating an impossible maze to cross. When the camp was done, one of the soldiers reported something.

“Sergeant, I’ve returned from the perimeter search!”

“And, what have you found?” asked Soldier 3112.

“The surrounding terrain has no signs of life, we’re the only lifeforms in the area, sir!”

“Well done… your name?”

“Soldier 3150, sir!” said Soldier 3150, with a salute.

“No no no, I mean your name. Your ‘real’ name,” said Soldier 3112, moving his hand left and right in quick succession.

“My name, sir?Well… you can call me Adlais, sir,” said Adlais. “May I depart back to my quarters?”

“Yes, you can go now,” said Soldier 3112, dismissing the soldier.

As Adlais left, someone else entered the command center – it was Lizna Vale. When I first met Lizna, she disliked me completely since I never acted like a true sergeant or sub-leader often, making her take control than me back at the base. But when we ever do get into a sticky situation, I have everything in control before she has time to plan. When she entered inside, she looked like she needed to ask me something.“Is something wrong Lizna?” asked Soldier 3112.

“Well, everyone has finished setting up camp, the defenses are being set up too and we have enough rations and medicine to last for a few months. Just like you ordered for us to bring, but you do know we’re only here for a month or two, correct,” said Lizna.

“Is this why you came to the command center?” asked Soldier 3112.

“No… but there is a reason why I came here,” said Lizna, now looking at Soldier 3112. “Do you… have a real name, it’s just that everyone here and back at command are wondering what to call you other than… you know.”

“My name? Well that’s... hard to say. When I first came to be your new sergeant, I had no recollection of my past other than why I joined the D.U.F.,” said Soldier 3112.

“And, what would that reason be?” asked Lizna.

“I came here because someone in the higher ranks comes from the same dimension that I came from, maybe… I could ask what home is like,” said Soldier 3112.

“I see… but we really need to give you another name,” said Lizna.

Before I could answer, gunshots and shouting is heard outside. An attack? Before either of us knew what was happening, Adlais ran inside to warn us.“Sir, we’re under attack!” shouted Adlais, running back outside with a gun.

I looked at Lizna and told her to get the prototype weapon I asked her to bring. While heading straight for the one person or creature who knew what was happening, Armory Officer Morlvin.“Morlvin, status report!” shouted Soldier 3112, taking cover beside him.

“We’re being attacked by Verxilian attack drones; they’re coming from the mountains. They must have been here and our sensors couldn’t track them, but instead they were attracted by the power coming from the radar,” said Morlvin, blasting one drone.

I shouted for someone to turn off the radar to stop more from coming down to the camp. Once that was done, everyone took position as I took the prototype from Lizna.

“What does this thing do?” asked Lizna, heaving it to me.

“It’s an EMP gun, blasting this baby into the drones will vaporize their circuits. But I need to be careful where to aim and not hit any of our tech,” said Soldier 3112, aiming at the drones.

I took aim at the very group of drones ahead and once I got a good shot, I released the trigger as a ball of energy was sent flying. Once it made contact, it burnt their circuitry and when down, left them for scavenging. But one of the drones sent a reinforcement relay before I could destroy them.

“This isn’t good, looks like more are going to come,” said Morlvin, crushing one of the drones head.

“What now, sergeant?” asked Adlais.

I thought carefully and first I called for command to bring an evac, I then told everyone to pack up what we can bring with us. Once everyone was busy, I asked Adlais to come with me to the mountains.We needed to give everyone more time to evacuate so that meant that we had to head to the source of the problem, the mountain’s top.

“Sergeant, who will be in charge when your gone!?” asked Lizna, shocked by my sudden decision.

“I think that question is simple to answer,” said Soldier 3112, giving her the prototype gun. Lizna stared at me with complete disbelief, but it was a sensible choice for her to be in charge. Shaking any doubts away, Lizna took the responsibility to take command, but is unable to think her sergeant... that I would simply drop this important job with her like that. Even when I’m not acting like a proper sergeant, I’d never let someone else domy work, whether I’m doing paperwork or sparring with someone.

“Okay sir, the car is ready. We’ll go when you’re ready,” said Adlais, sitting on the driver’s seat.

“M-me but, what about you two?” asked Lizna, trying to keep her composure.

“Once everyone evacuates, send one ship to a flare that I’ll send out,” said Soldier 3112, climbing on to the passenger seat. “Good luck, Lizna!”

We left on the car to the top of the mountain, leaving them behind at the camp. Some hours went by, and back at the camp, Lizna is finished packing everything back, but as she was doing so she heard shots fired from the mountain every hour or so.“He’ll be fine, don’t worry,” said Morlvin, carrying a giant crate.

“Yeah... I hope so,” said Lizna, grabbing a radio. “Okay command, when is the evac coming?”

“They should be coming right about… now,” said command.

When they looked up, the evac ships had arrived. In one of them was Morale Officer, Kako Jave. Once everyone and the supplies got up, they were about to leave when, Lizna remembered.“Kako, tell the other ships to go ahead, we need to wait for the sergeant for his flare,” said Lizna staring at the mountains.

After a few minutes of waiting in the ship, no sign of the flare had appeared. After a few minutes everyone said they should leave, but suddenly a flare appeared at the mountain signaling them to pick us up.“Come on boys, let’s save the sergeant!” shouted Kako, joined by other voices too.

Nearing where the flare could be seen, the ship landed into a valley within the mountain. Everyone scanned to find any signs of either me or Adlais.

“You see them yet?” asked Lizna.

“Hold up… I see some gunfire down there, lower the doors,” said Morlvin.

Below them wasn’t me but Adlais, who was standing beside the flare. When they landed, they let loose of their guns taking out all the drones. When they got out, they asked Adlais where I was.“Soldier, where’s the sergeant!?” asked Lizna.

“He told me to leave him, saying he sensed something ahead. Before I could stop him, I was ambushed by these drones,” said Adlais. “He’s still back there! He could be in trouble!”

“Kako, stay here with the ship until we come back with the sergeant,” said Lizna.

“Right! Okay men, prepare a defense until they come back!” shouted Kako.

When Morlvin and Lizna went through destroyed parts of drones left by me, at the end of the cavern, they saw a wide room. In the room was some strange looking ruins, but at the center was me… standing there.

“Sergeant, we need to leave now!” Lizna shouted.

“Lizna… Leave now!” said Soldier 3112, waving back.

“Sergeant, what is this?” asked Morlvin.

“A portal… and for some reason… it seems so familiar too,” said Soldier 3112.

“Wait, you mean—” Suddenly a Juggernaut-class drone appeared as it attacked me. They both started firing to get it off me when the portal activated, enveloping me and the drone in some strange light, as the drone vanished.

“Sergeant!” shouted Lizna, throwing her weapon to the side. “Are you okay!? Did you receive any damage?!”

“I… I’m fine,” said Soldier 3112.

“You… you sure?”

“Don’t worry about me, get everyone out of here before more of them come.”

“But what about you, we have to leave or—” I shushed her, placing my finger on her lips to make her stop speaking. I knew I wasn’t going to stay for long, I could feel the portal holding its grip on me. I could feel every piece of me being sent to another world, but Lizna thought I was going to die, I tried to calm her but she wouldn’t listen.

“You can’t leave, you can’t!” shouted Lizna, hugging me tighter. “We lost one sergeant already… WE CAN’T LOSE ANOTHER AGAIN!”

“I’m not leaving so don’t worry about me, I’ll come back and besides,” said Soldier 3112, looking at Lizna’s eyes. “You finally gotten rid of me for once.”

My body slowly evaporated turning into nothing. I heard her crying as I was sent to another world and wherever that drone went, I would end up meeting with it and I needed to stop it from causing damage to this world I was going to. You know there was this saying that has always been in my head since day one of becoming the new Sergeant of Sector 3 of Area 1, “Fight for your ideals, follow your heart and never deny your soul.” I never understood it but, it’s been my code of honor and it’s never led me to the wrong path. As a soldier of the D.U.F. I will defend worlds from the clutches of the Verxilian Empire, for freedom and peace all across the multiverse! And on another note… let’s hope where I end up, there’s someone I can talk to, I hate to end up being on a world where I’m the only sentient creature.

Prologue Arc: Ch.2 - The Knight in Dull Armor (edited)

“Twilight, can we talk?” asked Applejack, approaching her friend.

It’s been several months since he passed away, we all were saddened of the loss of our friend. He sacrificed his life to save us, no… all of Equestria from near destruction; even though a fragment of him remains, we’ve been told that it would be the last time we would ever see him.

Nowadays Luna and Celestia continue their jobs being Equestria's leaders, Discord and Fluttershy hang out in her cottage. Rainbow does her best to be a Wonderbolt in the future – even if she doesn’t look like she wants to. Rarity is making beautiful and wonderful clothes to expand her business. Applejack is hanging out with her family in the farm doing her best she can, and Pinkie… well Pinkie is still Pinkie.

The Doctor and Derpy still travel in that box of theirs but, they sometimes stay home and go through the usual, and then… there’s Trixie. Ever since she’s been or was with Anim, she usually comes to Ponyville and explains her adventures to everypony. Ever since Anim has met her she’s changed and is friendlier with everypony… but she’s still her usual boastful self, but she comes to Anim’s grave once awhile… well she calls it her visiting spot. Every time she goes there she would say, “Trixie knows Anim is gone, but Trixie will wait until the day Trixie will see him one more time.” I feel really sorry for her, I wish I could tell her that Anim won’t come back, but Applejack told me it’s best to leave her for now.

As for me, I’m the princess of friendship now, Princess Twilight Sparkle. First my brother became a prince but, princess… that’s a story to tell another time, but back to a few weeks ago… it started with a question… a simple one, until it all fell apart.

Equestria; Ponyville, Princess Twilight’s Castle; 11:30am

I put down a book that I was reading, facing Applejack about what she wanted to tell me. “Yes Applejack, is there something you need?” I asked.

“Well… not to be rude but, when Anim first came to our world and all, I’ve been thinking…” said Applejack, looking down while putting her hooves together.

“And, what was it that you were thinking about?” I asked, also curious.

“Well… what if, more travelers from other worlds like Anim and Mina also start coming to Equestria too. What would we or you do if such a thing does happen?” asked Applejack, beginning to sweat.

My mind went completely blank, I forgot what book I was reading or what I was going to do after I was done reading… read another book maybe? I stared at Applejack, stared at her for a long time, it felt like months or years but it only took me a few seconds to respond to her question, giving my best answer for her.

“Well, I have to say… we could make a welcome center of some kind. And since we know most anomalies are attracted to Ponyville we could build it here somewhere,” I said, trying not to make eye contact.

“I see… I guess that can work,” said Applejack.

“Say, why do you want to know by the way?” I asked.

Applejack looked through some books on the shelf and looked back at me. She had this look, one that I haven’t seen since… she looked so sad. I stepped forward to her and tried to get her my attention when the door opened with Spike holding a basket.“Hey Twilight, there’s something here for you. Oh hey Applejack,” said Spike, placing down the basket.

“So who’s the basket from?” I asked, eyeing the basket.

“Not sure, but Derpy said it’s from somepony we know and a note came with it saying it’s specifically for you,” said Spike, also curious of the basket’s contents.

“Well I’ll leave you two for now, I need to return to the farm and help Big Mac with the apple bucking,” said Applejack.

Before I could stop her, she left the castle’s library without a word. I know we all missed Anim but… I never thought everypony missed him that badly. I stared at the basket and read the note that came with it.“So what does it say Twilight?” asked Spike, taking a look at the note too.

I read the note carefully whilst levitating it, the note reads, “A gift from a friend.” As I placed the note down and opened the basket, inside were things I thought I would never see again.

Inside I found Anim’s cape back when he was with the CMC, the journal he gave me for my birthday and other trinkets that shared a small fraction of Anim’s life in Equestria. I thought I was going to look away and put the basket and its contents away and bury them… but in the bottom of the basket was a photo; the photo showed all of us, Discord, Celestia, Luna, Trixie, Doctor Whooves, Derpy, the CMC, Spike, my friends and… Anim. I was crying for so long, I stood there for who knows how long until Spike shook me.“Twilight, are you… okay?” asked Spike, hugging my leg.

“I’m… fine Spike,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye.

“He really was the greatest friend we ever had… I wished we could have done something,” said Spike.

“I wished we could Spike… I wished we could,” I said.

The photo was the last fragment of evidence of Anim, any other photo or memory of him is found sealed at the castle of the two sisters. When I was going to put the photo down, there was a letter attached on the back of it, when I looked at the letter it says, “To Twinkles.”

I opened the letter and pulled out the piece of paper inside, I’m not sure how old this paper is but it seemed… familiar. I read the letter but most of what was written was either smudged or unreadable since the letter was old and smelt odd. But I recognized some of the writing; it mentioned something about falling stars, then suddenly somepony was knocking on the castle’s door, as the noise echoed across the castle.

“Spike, would you leave this stuff in my room,” I said, heading towards the door. I headed toward the castle’s main door, I went through hallway after hallway – it was difficult finding out the layout of the castle, but you get used to it. I arrived to the castle’s doors, which were bigger than any door I seen, it was as big as the gate doors for a drawbridge. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me Twilight!” said a cheerful familiar voice.

I realized who was on the other side and when I opened the door, it was Pinkie Pie.“Oh Pinkie it’s you, is there something you need?” I asked.

“Well, everypony is coming to Sugar Cube Corner to hang out. Applejack said she would come later after she was done bucking her share of apples,” said Pinkie, “so I was wondering if-”

“I would love to,” I said. “I’ll come right after I’m done here, okay.”

“Okie Dokie Lokie!” said Pinkie, hopping happily away. I haven’t seen Pinkie that happy in a while ever since… well for awhile. When Spike finished setting the basket somewhere in my room, he came downstairs and joined me as we both headed to Sugar Cube Corner to meet everypony else.

Ponyville, Sugar Cube Corner; 12:00pm

I was there, standing in front of the door to Sugar Cube Corner… I stood there thinking that maybe if I should be doing this or not. I still hang out with my friends… but all of us never hang out all at the same time after everything that’s happened; I’m surprised Pinkie was able to convince Fluttershy to come.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside, as expected nothing changed inside, the same bakery I knew since I came to Ponyville. I looked at my surroundings and saw that everypony began eating and talking like nothing has happened… after Anim’s... choice, I thought everypony would of took it hard, but it seems everything has changed and even Fluttershy continued being her kind quiet self, before she stayed inside her cottage. But now I see her right in front of my very eyes.

“Hey everypony, Twilight’s here!” said Rainbow, hovering off her seat. “Good to see you, Twilight!”

“Darling I haven’t seen you for months, what have you been doing ever since you became princess?” asked Rarity.

“Nothing really, since Celestia says I have not a lot of responsibilities yet… ever since I became princess most of the surrounding lands around Equestria are questioning the princesses if I am even real or how this came to be,” I said, giving off a weak smile.

“Twilight, are you… okay?” asked Fluttershy.

“I’m fine Fluttershy, just tired,” I said.

I was happy to see everypony… but they all gave me an odd look. They were giving me a worried look, but they were worried for a different reason. “You’ve been more exhausted than usual, you sure you’re fine?” asked Applejack.

“I’m… fine…” I said.

“You can’t keep giving us excuses, you’ve been like this for months since…” said Rainbow, stopping mid-sentence.

I knew what Rainbow was about to say, that she was going to remind me of… him. Its been so long, I know its been a several months but it feels like decades. That day will forever change all of our lives, when he left our world and returned home.

“We know you miss him Twilight, but you know he can’t come back to us… ever,” said Rarity.

“The reason we’re all here is to make sure your fine. You’ve been very distant recently, even distracted most times. We thought maybe if we all came here to hang out...” said Fluttershy, meekly.

“I TOLD YOU I’M FINE!” I shouted, spooking everypony.

I myself was surprised from shouting all of a sudden; I never wanted to remember him anymore, so I moved on. But it seems that won’t work at all, that now I’m even angered at my own friends. “I’m… I’m so sorry,” I said, leaving Sugar Cube Corner.

I left them, running away from whatever problems I had. I’ve been through so much; I just kept on running and running, tears dripping from my eyes. It’s too much to take from learning who Anim really was, from the past and reality to what’s he’s been through… it’s just too much.

I ran to the one place nopony would hopefully ever find me… the first and last place we ever saw Anim. So much strange things have happened in this town, ever since I came here, but Anim is that one piece of strange… that I couldn’t ever bare to forget. I sat there, sobbing over from what I’ve done. “I’m so sorry Anim, I know we promised to not worry over you… but I just can’t do it anymore… I just… can’t…” I said, continuing to cry.

Eyes full of tears, I silently stared at the ground. I’m not sure how long I’ve been there sobbing, but I can remember when we met Anim for the first time. A blazing ball of fire, crashing down towards Ponyville and from within was a mahogany pony, that pony… was Anim. From what Mina has told us, Anim isn't dead but he’s unable to return to our world, she said that it would take centuries or maybe eras for Anim to fully regain his physical form back… now he’s only what remains inside that talking book.

“Why… why did you have to leave? I know you aren't gone but, I can't stand saying everything will be fine any longer. I know the others too are worried for you but, when we met I felt a close connection… that we could truly be friends, maybe even more...” I said, slowly staringto the sky. “So tell me… Why couldn't you just think for yourself for once?”

Suddenly something I never thought would ever happen… happened again. In the sky was a massive ball of fire, a similar ball of fire like Anim's but, smaller. It was nearly about to crash into me, but I teleported a short distance away. “No… it can't be...” I said, shocked from the sudden crash.

I stood up from the shock-wave, I knew I wasn't the only one who saw and heard that, but I was the closest. A miracle maybe, if it truly is who I think it is then… after recovering from the sudden blast, I slowly walk up to the burning rock. “...Anim… is it really you?” I said, my vision blurry.

Slowly approaching the rock, my friends and a few ponyfolk arrive at the scene. “Twilight, what are you doing?! Get back here, we don't know what's in that thing!” shouted Applejack.

“Twilight, I know you may think who it could be in there, but you know what Mina said, it would take Anim to return in his physical form for centuries to come,” said Rarity.

My friends continued to shout and persuade me to turn around, but I continued to walk into the inferno. When I met eye contact with that rock… something moved and slowly it began to stand up. I hoped it was him, that it was Anim… but the figure stood taller than me or anypony else… this wasn't Anim. “Who are you?” I asked, afraid of the mysterious figure.

The figure moved from the smoke, I stepped back hastily but tripped on a rock in front of it. The figure was a tall large metallic creature, I heard of stories of metal creatures but this was beyond from the descriptions in the books that mention it. There was one book in particular that would describe this being… a robot. The robot, stared down at me with its cold dead red eyes – it stared at me, was it scanning me, is it afraid of me as I'm afraid of it. My questions were answered, when the robot pointed a large metallic cannon in front of my face… I was going to die.

“TWILIGHT NO!” shouted Rainbow. “GET AWAY FROM HER!”

Rainbow charged at the robot, but it swung its metal arm at her and sent her flying into a tree. Applejack ran to her aid, I saw Rainbow bleeding from my perspective, blood soaking the grass into a crimson red... this robot wasn't so friendly. Could I've been wrong, that maybe Anim would be the only friendly dimensional being I would meet. The robot looked back at me, preparing its weapon; I closed my eyes and waited for my demise… until. “Hey, you aren't done with me!”

From the burnt ashes of the rock, came another figure. The figure leaped onto the robot, and began firing a weapon into its head. “Eat lead, rust-bucket!”

I watched in complete awe of who was brave enough to fight this robot. One of my friends quickly pulled me back, I turned around and it was Pinkie. “Twilight, this is not the time to watch,” said Pinkie.

I nodded in agreement but, I was too awe-shocked from the sheer madness I was seeing.Who… is that?

When we got to a safe distance, Applejack shook me back to reality. “Twilight, we need your help! Rainbow is severely injured and the nearest hospitable is too far, we need you to heal her!” said Applejack.

I stood back up and trotted up to Rainbow, I began healing her wounds with the help of Rarity too. Rainbow’s wounds weren’t major but, her head had a wound from being slammed into a tree and she had possibly cracked some ribs and bones that needed to be checked too. “Don't worry Rainbow, you'll be fine,” said Rarity, focusing her magic.

“Should we call the princesses?” asked Fluttershy.

“I think the princesses will know either way,” said Applejack, pointing upward.

Above was Celestia, Luna, and some of the royal guard with them. They landed in front of Twilight and her friends. “Twilight, are you okay?” asked Celestia.

“Yes, but my friend...” I said.

“Don't worry, we'll handle this, but what about… the problem?” asked Celestia.

I pointed towards the fight between the two-legged being and the robot. The robot wasn't down yet, but the other creature was doing fine against the robot. “Are they both a threat sister?” asked Luna.

“I'm not sure, but all we know is that they've caused enough trouble!” said Celestia.

Celestia and Luna pointed their horns at the robot first and fired two magical shots. The shots were going to land on the robot, but suddenly the robot absorbed the shots with ease. “WHAT!?” shouted Luna and Celestia in sync.

“Don't use any aura based attacks, it'll simply absorb it and-”

The robot aimed toward the princesses and fired two cylinder-looking objects that began to fly towards them. “Princesses, look out!” I shouted.

Before the attack could reach them, the figure appeared in front of them. The figure cut both the cylinders down to size and turned around to face the princesses. “I need everyone here to stay back, this is D.U.F. business. I repeat, all friendly beings need to stay back,” said the figure, running back to the fight.

“Did that guy just told the princesses to step away,” said Pinkie.

“How dare he, we're the rulers of this land, who does he think he is!?” said Luna, ready to join the fight.

“Someone, who knows more than us apparently... You heard him, lead all citizens back from the area,” said Celestia, commanding the royal guard.

Once the royal guard went off, we waited from a careful distance watching this strange figure. It moved left and right, dodging the robot’s attacks with ease, but the robot responded with a quick movement with its arm and sent the figure to the ground. “Somepony needs to help him,” said Fluttershy.

Everypony was in disarray from what to do, but I knew what to do. I ran into the figure and began levitating some rocks and threw them at the robot. The rocks did no damage but the robot didn't absorb them either, it was a good distraction. “Hey over here!” I shouted, continuing to throw more rocks.

The robot looked at me and prepared another attack, when the figure jumped onto its back and ripped a piece of metal off it. The figure then brought a strange glowing blade from its arm and slashed the robot's back. The robot suddenly shook and faltered to the ground, defeated at last. “Thanks for the assist, never thought I needed help taking this bastard down. So… can you understand me or am I just speaking to a pony?”

I stared happily into the figure, I myself wasn't sure if he could understand me too either. When I was about to speak, the robot moved again, I thought it wasn't down, but then the robot was making a beeping noise. “What's that sound?” I asked.

“Oh you can speak, well that sound would be… oh crap.”

Before I could answer, the figure grabbed me and ran toward my friends in a frantic run. “What are we running from!?” I shouted.

When I turned to face the robot, a sudden explosion happened that rang across the area. I thought I would go blind or deaf but I was okay. I found myself on top of the figure. “Um, you okay?” I asked, getting off.

“Never better,” said the figure, getting up. “Let me introduce myself, the name's–”

Before he could answer, a bunch of the royal guards rushed him and dog piled him to submission. “Princess Twilight, are you okay?” said one of the royal guards on the pile.

“I'm fine but… could you get off him,” I said.

“I'm sorry princess but your safety comes first,” said the guard.

When the guards got off him, the figure stood up againand moved some dirt off his shoulders. “I'm so sorry about that,” I said. “They were just trying to protect me.”

“No harm done, it wouldn't surprise me if that would happen twice,” said the figure.

The princesses and my friends approached the figure. They all gave suspicious looks and would carefully move close then step back in case the figure did anything odd. “May I ask, but what is your name?” asked Celestia.

“I've been trying to but, your boys here been inhospitable,” said the figure, pointing at one of the guards.

“I'm sorry about that, they can be overprotective sometimes,” said Celestia.

“I can see that, now that's done… My name is Soldier 3112. I'm the Sergeant of Sector 3 Area 1 Unit 12 of the D.U.F.,” said Soldier 3112, saluting.

“Soldier what?” asked Applejack. “What kind of name is that?!”

“That's what I've been asking for my entire life,” said Soldier 3112, chuckling.

“I can see that you resemble the militaristic type of character, but I've never heard of any sort of land or kingdom known as the D.U.F.?” said Celestia.

“The D.U.F. aren't a land per-say, it's an organization that defends other realms. D.U.F. stands for Dimensional United Forces,” said Soldier 3112, explaining. “I am just a sub-leader of the numerous bases on the D.U.F.’s home operations.”

When I heard him mention realms, I instantly asked if he knew somepony… or somebody by the name of, Animatorsnake. “Do you know somepony called Animatorsnake?” I asked, my muzzle poking his helmet.

The figure called Soldier 3112, didn’t flinch from my sudden action and continued to speak.“Maybe, but personally no. I could check my data-banks and see if… well crud,” said Soldier 3112.

“What's wrong?” asked Pinkie, curious.

“Seems I'm not connected to the D.U.F. data-banks, which means… I'm lost. Which realm… world, am I in?” asked Soldier 3112.

“You are currently residing in Equestria, ruled by Princesses Celestia and Luna, also sub-ruled by Princesses Cadance and Twilight Sparkle,” said Rarity.

“Equestria… I heard of that place, but that's a neutral realm… good thing I didn't end up in an enemy realm then,” said Soldier 3112, talking to himself. “Is your friend alright by the way?”

I remembered that Rainbow got hit pretty badly. I moved to her side and checked her vitals, she was doing fine but… “She's unconscious and she might not be able to fly for a few days,” I said.

Everypony was worried for Rainbow after that robot slammed her into a tree. When Soldier 3112 approached her, he knelt down and placed something on her head. “This is a medical pill, once she wakes up, let her eat this. She'll be right as rain the next day,” said Soldier 3112.

“Thank you… By the way, are you going to stay?” I asked.

“That's a good question… I have no contact from base, I'm basically in an uncharted realm and it seems this world's technological advances aren't nearly close to basics… which means, yes, I'm staying,” said Soldier 3112. “Do you have some sort of temporary living space I could use?”

“From today's incident, it's best for you to come with us,” said Luna, not trusting him.

The guards surrounded Soldier 3112 and brought him back to Canterlot. I wanted to follow but, Celestia told me that this is something that's best not to involve me. Once the princesses left Ponyville, I was left alone with my friends. “That was… interesting,” said Fluttershy. “What do we do now?”

“We wait,” said Applejack. “But I think some of us aren't patient enough to wait.”

Applejack was talking about me. She was right, even if this being didn't knew Anim… there could be a possibility that I could come with him to see Anim… in his realm. “I need to go, I know you don't want me to but… I just need to,” I said, pleadingly.

Everypony looked at one another, then me; after a few silent minutes, they responded. “You can go darling,” said Rarity.

“We may be able to move on, but… Anim was somepony special to you, to all of us,” said Applejack.

“We can't stop you from going, but we can support your decision,” said Fluttershy.

“Anim would of agreed to go to Canterlot too, in a situation like this too! He always like taking risks,” said Pinkie.

My friends supported my decision, they knew that I wouldn't stay no matter what they told me. I hugged my friends, after a heart warm hug and tears… they watched me leave… as for Spike, he wanted to come but I told him it was best he stays here. I rushed straight to the train station… next stop Canterlot and maybe… to finding Anim.

Prologue Arc: Ch.3 - Am I Going Too Far? (edited)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Renegade Arc: Ch.4 - Stealth Isn't My Thing (edited)

Nearing sundown, Twilight and Soldier 3112 reach a hill that overlooks Ponyville. Seeing the Everfree Forest, they plan how to approach their objective. “Should we walk through the town or find another route?” asked Soldier 3112.

Observing the town, Twilight can notice some ponies that aren't from town. The ponies are wearing darker versions of Celestia's royal guard armor. Twilight realized these are Luna's lunar guard and are patrolling Ponyville. “Not possible, see those ponies down there, they’re with Luna which means she's here,” said Twilight.

“Then how are we supposed to enter the town then with those guards everywhere?” asked Soldier 3112.

Looking for another route, Twilight suggests going through Sweet Apple Acres to get to the Everfree Forest. “Why not through my friend Applejack's farm, doesn't look like any of Luna's guards are patrolling there,” said Twilight.

“Good idea... wait friend? If we encounter anybody you know then we’re screwed,” said Soldier 3112.

“Don't worry my friend Applejack won't betray me,” said Twilight. Neither will she lie.

Heading down toward the farm, nightfall has arrived with the moon above Ponyville. The moon's lunar light shines upon the apple orchard. Going through the farm unnoticed at first, a small light flickering ahead. “Get down,” whispered Soldier 3112, pushing Twilight down.

Once hidden behind some crates, they can see the one under the small light is Applejack. “Hello? Is somepony there,” said Applejack, looking through the area.

“It’s Applejack, maybe she can help us,” said Twilight.

“What did I say, no assistance from any of your friends,” said Soldier 3112.

As Soldier 3112 spoke to Twilight, he accidentally knocks over an empty basket. Falling to the ground and making a loud clack, Applejack heard the noise, slowly approaching it. “Who’s there!?” said Applejack.

Twilight stares at Soldier 3112 angrily, as he gave a shrug. “Oops.”

Once nearing the crates, Applejack meets eye to eye with Soldier 3112 first. Spooked, Applejack drops the lantern as the light went out, falling to the ground. “WHAT IN EQUESTRIA IS THAT THING!?” shouted Applejack.

“Quiet AJ, before you wake everypony up,” said Twilight, shushing Applejack.

“Twilight, what... but... what,” said Applejack, confused.

After a few moments of explaining, Twilight helps Applejack to her hooves. “So he’s the thing we saw that fought that robot thing?” asked Applejack.

“Indeed, now you got to help us, we’re trying to-”

Suddenly small flickers of light can be seen coming from the farm’s entrance. Unsure what to do, Applejack leads Twilight and her associate into the barn. “Hide here, I'll be right back,” said Applejack, closing the door.

Watching where the light is coming from, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are seen approaching, levitating a lantern at the entrance. “My brother and sister-in-law, what are they doing here?” said Twilight, watching from her hiding spot.

“Something tells me they're here for us.”

Approaching them, Applejack speaks first. “Oh hello Shining and Cadance, what are you two doing here?” asked Applejack.

“We wanted to ask you if you might know where Twilight might be?” asked Cadance.

Applejack, couldn't tell them that she was in her barn with the strange being, but she couldn't lie either. So she told Shining and Cadance something that wasn't a lie but, wasn't helpful either. “Well she's somewhere I suppose,” said Applejack.

“I see... well we have other questions we would like to ask you, can we speak inside,” said Shining.

“Sure thing, this way please,” said Applejack.

Leading them away, Applejack signals Twilight to leave now. Seeing her signal, Twilight and Soldier 3112 leave and head to the Everfree Forest. “Okay, maybe some of your friends can be trustworthy,” said Soldier 3112.

Once nearing Ponyville, they sneakily try to go pass guard after guard. Nearing the entrance to the forest, a few familiar voices can be heard. “So, what do you think Twilight was thinking when she was trying to help that thing?” asked Rainbow.

Looking over a window, she can see her friends inside Sugar Cube Corner talking. “Well whatever it is, Luna thinks she's a traitor,” said Rarity.

“WHAT!?” shouted Pinkie, falling off her seat.

“Twilight must have had her reasons,” said Fluttershy.

“Yeah, she wouldn't do something this crazy and be considered a traitor!” said Rainbow.

Twilight was happy that her friends still had faith on her. About to leave, a large light is shone on Twilight and Soldier 3112. “NOW HOLD RIGHT OVER THERE YOU TOO!”

“Not again,” said Soldier 3112 raising his hands.

From the light was Luna and a few of her guards, surrounding the two. “My sister was right to have sent me here. Twilight, you and that thing are hereby under arrest!” said Luna.

Sweating in fear of what will happen to her, Twilight was so close to getting away. However a sudden object flies at one of Luna's guards. “What's this?” asked Luna.

Levitating the object, it was a cupcake, then looking back at Twilight her four friends stood ready to protect her. “You may be the princess, but I won't stand one of my friends being accused of something!” said Rainbow, pulling up her hooves in a fighting position.

“Don't worry darling, we’re here for you,” said Rarity.

“Please don't do this Princess Luna, if you don't mind,” said Fluttershy.

“BRING IT YOU MEANIES!” shouted Pinkie, readying to throw another cupcake.

“Thank you everypony,” said Twilight.

“No worries Twilight; now you should get going, we'll handle this,” said Rarity.

Escaping, Twilight can hear her friends block Luna's way. “TO VICTORY! CHARGE!” shouted Pinkie, throwing a barrage of cupcakes.

“You have some trustworthy friends,” said Soldier 3112, running.

“I'm happy I came to this town, in the first place” said Twilight, under her breath whilst she ran.

Leaving the boundaries of Ponyville, they arrive near the Everfree Forest. “Okay let's go before we encounter more trouble,” said Solider 3112.

“Before we go, there are creatures in this forest that are extremely deadly. Timberwolves, cragcodiles, and many more,” said Twilight, slightly afraid from experiencing some of the listed creatures.

“Don't worry, I'm equipped to handle any situation, I'll see if we can stop any of these creatures if we encounter them,” said Soldier 3112. “Come on, let's go.”

“Let's hope we can survive the night in this place,” said Twilight, entering the Everfree Forest.

As the pair ran into the inner parts of the Everfree, they can hear the distant battle happening in town. Twilight thinks of going back and surrendering, but she’s gone this far and she can’t go back... whether she wants to or not.

Author's Note

Funny, it's nearing dark right now, Soldier 3112 wears a full suit that is completely or nearly black... and still he gets caught. Stealth really isn't his thing.

Renegade Arc: Ch.5 - Don't Travel At Night

Midnight has arrived and the last place to be was the Everfree Forest. Here creatures that aren't so cute and cuddly exist, wolves made of sticks, half chicken-snake creatures that can turn anypony into stone, and many more. Luckily Twilight was with an elite soldier known ironically as, Soldier 3112 from a military organization known as the D.U.F., which is short for “Dimensional United Forces”. They were both on the run from everypony, but Twilight's friends will always help them, hiding somewhere that Twilight hopefully knows that nopony will find them, they must face the obstacles that await within.

“So this place you know, it's unknown to everyone?” asked Soldier 3112, walking down the path.

“Yes... sort of, but nopony will come looking for us there,” said Twilight. “Hopefully… Just stay on the path.”

“You said this place was dangerous, and you’re telling me to stay on the path. If you don't remember but, I just went face to face with a robot some hours ago,” said Soldier 3112. “I’m pretty sure an army of wolves made of sticks isn’t going to be a problem.”

“Look Soldier... is there another name I can call you?” Twilight said, annoyed from saying Soldier 3112, again.

“Nope sorry, when I first joined the D.U.F. I can't remember anything from my past,” said Soldier 3112.

“Do you have a nickname or something?” asked Twilight.

“None I know of...” said Soldier 3112, thinking back.

When walking down the path, they encounter the first of many obstacles. They encounter the chicken-snake creature, the cockatrice. Twilight remembers being turned to stone by this creature before... it wasn't pleasant, the creature stared menacingly into the two ready to turn them into stone. “Don't look at its eyes!” said Twilight, looking away.

The cockatrice tried looking at their eyes but, Soldier 3112 stared with no fear. Staring at Soldier 3112, the cockatrice was sure that it was turning him into stone, but when it looked at its legs they weren't stone. “Does the cockatrice have to see my eyes in order for it to work?” asked Soldier 3112, looking at Twilight.

Twilight looked and realized that the cockatrice was getting tired from trying to turn Soldier 3112 into stone that it walked away. With the path clear they continue onward. “I guess so...” said Twilight, answering Soldier 3112's question. “I suppose wearing shaded glasses might work against them… I should do that in the future when I encounter one… Which I hope will never, ever, happen again.”

Back to walking down the path, Twilight forgot that somepony who might help was ahead. Once nearing her place, the two encounter with a field of blue flowers, another obstacle. “Don't step on the Poison Joke, if you do that it’ll leave a very nasty aftereffect,” said Twilight, avoiding the flowers.

Following Twilight, they arrive at the front door of a hut. Knocking on it, a zebra opens the door, greeting Twilight. “Hello Twilight, what brings you here tonight?” asked Zecora.

“Long story Zecora but, if some ponies come here, please tell them you didn't see us,” said Twilight, pleading to Zecora.

“I can see this is serious, but do not worry, for I will simply distract them with a story or two,” said Zecora. “Now go on ahead, I can see a long journey awaits you ahead.”

Thanking Zecora, Twilight and Soldier 3112, head to their destination. “So who was that?” asked Soldier 3112.

“The one pony that lives in the Everfree Forest, that I trust,” said Twilight. “Now come on, this way.”

“She didn't seem to freak out seeing me,” said Soldier 3112, taking that to notice.

“Zecora's seen things that are more stranger that you, that’s all I can say” said Twilight.

Moving deeper within the forest, they enter through a cavern. Nearing their objective, a low growl can be heard up ahead “What was that?” asked Soldier 3112, slowly pulling out his weapon.

Checking ahead, they see a lion with a scorpion tail and wings. It slept quietly, blocking the path that Twilight and Soldier 3112 need to cross. “Now what?” asked Soldier 3112.

“Don't wake it that’s what. This thing is actually pretty friendly, but it can get a little cranky” said Twilight.

“Asleep maybe, but awake not so much,” said Soldier 3112.

Going around it carefully, they do go pass it with ease. Walking away, another obstacle blocks their way, one that wasn't planned ahead. “HALT, DON'T MOVE ANOTHER INCH!” shouted one of Luna's guards.

“What are they doing here?” said Soldier 3112.

“They must of been sent here ahead,” said Twilight.

“I'm not sure what you did Princess Twilight, but Luna wants for you and that thing arrested!” said the second lunar guard.

“Shush, don't shout, if you do you'll...” said Twilight, whispering.

But it was too late; waking from its sleep the manticore slowly moved its gaze on the two lunar guards. Moving pass Twilight and Soldier 3112, it growls at them with an annoyed look. “Seems someone didn't like being woken up, come on let's go,” said Soldier 3112.

As they both left immediately, Luna's guards are distracted by the manticore. Reaching a bridge that could break any second; they cross to the other side with ease. Once at the other side, they finally reach their destination. “We're here,” said Twilight. “We finally arrived at the castle of the two sisters.”

“So this is where Celestia and Luna once lived, nice choice for a hiding spot,” said Soldier 3112.

“Come on, get inside!” said Twilight, opening the door.

Once inside, Twilight closes the door with her magic and blocks it just in case. Now inside, they look at the ancient tapestry and moldy stone blocks. The castle has aged for centuries; Soldier 3112 could tell it's seen its share of history. “Now where exactly can we hide?” asked Soldier 3112, curious.

“It has secret rooms, hallways, and more,” said Twilight. “That’s all I can say.”

“Does any one of them have a bed or some sort?” asked Soldier 3112.

Twilight smiled and moved to one room she knows of. Heading to the library, Twilight moves a chair as it reveals a hidden room. “This should do,” said Twilight.

Entering inside Soldier 3112 sees that the room is nicely cleaned than the rest of the castle, and have some cushions to sleep on. “Roomy, now can this thing close?” asked Soldier 3112.

“I believe so, but let's hope nopony finds out there being secret rooms like this one,” said Twilight, making her bed.

“Speaking of secret rooms, how many times you came to this castle?” asked Soldier 3112.

“Once or twice I believe, but I don't know much of its secrets just yet,” said Twilight. “Now come on let's rest before more trouble comes.”

“You sleep, I'll stay and watch,” said Soldier 3112.

“We're in a hidden room,” said Twilight.

“I'm in the military, it isn’t easy to let my guard down you know,” said Soldier 3112, sitting down on a cushion.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight comfortingly snoozes to sleep. Unable to sleep, Soldier 3112 checks the ancient books that are stacked in the room. The books are unreadable and while others are in some strange dialect. Amongst the books is one certain book that's completely fine, a journal of some sort, opening it, it shows the writings of Princess Celestia when she was younger. “Interesting,” said Soldier 3112, turning a page.

When reading the book, a sudden noise is heard inside the castle. Checking what it is, Soldier 3112 carefully closes the hidden room so Twilight is safe if his gone. “You sleep, I'll be right back,” said Soldier 3112, speaking to a sleeping Twilight.

Finding where the noise is coming from, it becomes more and louder over time. Now in what seems to be the throne room, the sound is coming behind one of the throne chairs, seeing what's making that noise it's a bird pecking a horn of some sort. “Well aren't you the loud one,” said Soldier 3112, shooing the bird away.

Once gone, Soldier 3112 returns back to the hidden room, but meets face to face with something... unwelcoming. Staring at him was a wooden wolf of some kind, as a residue came out of its mouth. “What's that smell? Did you eat a skunk or something,” said Soldier 3112, insulting the timberwolf.

The timberwolf growls and pounces toward Soldier 3112, but he dodges the attack and rushes to more open space. Going to a wide area, Soldier 3112 pulls out his weapon, facing the deadly timberwolf. Firing some shots toward it, the Timberwolf simply ignores them and charges at Soldier 3112; so he proceeds to pulling out his energy blade, he thrusts it toward the creature. “Come get some!” shouted Soldier 3112.

Only scrapping its underbelly, Soldier 3112 rolls underneath it and begins to slash it again. The timberwolf slams its paw into Soldier 3112, sending him into a pillar. The pillar weakens, as it moves pieces of the roof fall down on the timberwolf. Once covered in rubble, Soldier 3112 tries to stand up but is stuck underneath some of the rubble. “And things gotten worse, now what?” said Soldier 3112, to himself.

From an open part of the ceiling, descends two bat-ponies wearing lunar armor. With them was Princess Luna herself, she stared down at Soldier 3112. “It seems I've finally caught up with you, when we heard some noise coming from here I was sure we'd find you,” said Luna.

“Well it's nice meeting you too again, Princess Luna,” said Soldier 3112. “You mind giving me a hand, or is it a hoof?”

“I would but, first... where's Twilight Sparkle?” asked Luna.

Soldier 3112 stayed silent, unsure what they would do with Twilight. He wasn't sure, and they didn't seem to be the kind to punish traitors in this land. With no response, Luna gave Soldier 3112 a frown, trotting away she commanded her guards to watch Soldier 3112. “If you won't speak, I'll find her myself,” said Luna.

Meanwhile in the hidden room, Twilight wakes up to find Soldier 3112 missing. Leaving the hidden room, she looks around where he is. Trotting down the ancient hallways, in the end of one hallway she can see Luna trotting by, hiding she waits for her to leave. “What's Luna doing here?” thought Twilight, wondering.

Heading to the direction Luna came from, Twilight sees Soldier 3112 under some rubble while being guarded by two lunar guards. Unable to help Soldier 3112, she decides to throw some rocks in another direction to distract the guards. The guards follow the noise, Twilight then moves up to Soldier 3112. “What happened?” asked Twilight, helping Soldier 3112 out.

“A lot apparently, the rubble is too heavy for you to move, use this,” said Soldier 3112, handing Twilight something.

The item Twilight received was a small ball with a button on it. Unsure what to do with it, Soldier 3112 tells Twilight to click the button and throw it at the rubble, but not so close to him. Levitating the ball, Twilight readies to throw it when Luna appears. “Twilight, don't do what that creature says!” shouted Luna.

Stuck with listening to Luna and Soldier 3112, Twilight must decide who to listen too. “But his stuck, I need to help him,” said Twilight.

“He seems okay from being stuck under that rumble, and his reason why this happened, not you,” said Luna.

“No, I helped him... and I'm going to do what I think… No, what I know, is right,” said Twilight, clicking the ball.

Throwing it at the rumble, it explodes freeing Soldier 3112 free. Running with Twilight, they head to the very top of the castle, reaching a tower while being chased by Luna and her guards. “Where to now!?” said Soldier 3112. “And also thanks for the help there.”

“Your welcome and, I don't know that was the last place I thought that nopony would find us at,” said Twilight.

“Well you didn't mention this place could break apart any second!” said Soldier 3112.

“How am I supposed to know where is safe to be or not!” shouted Twilight.

“No time for that, we're...” said Soldier 3112, stopping.

Now stuck between Luna and an opening in the castle, they have zero options left for escape. “Stuck,” said Soldier 3112, finishing his sentence.

“Surrender or we'll have to use force upon you two!” said Luna, as her guards neared closer and closer.

“We have no way to escape now!” said Twilight.

“Then we make one,” said Soldier 3112.

Looking down over the opening is the abyss that surrounds the castle, staring down at it, Soldier 3112 gives Luna one last message. “This will hopefully be the last you'll see of us, so I give you... adieu,” said Soldier 3112, grabbing Twilight.

“WAIT WHAT ARE...!” shouted Twilight, struggling.

“GERONIMO!” shouted Soldier 3112, jumping off the tower.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” screamed Twilight, falling to the abyss.

Rushing to the edge, Luna can only see a thick layer of darkness down in the abyss. Thinking they jumped down below, Luna knew she lost them, but could they have survived the fall? “Damn,” said Luna.

“Now what Princess Luna?” asked one of her guards.

“We return to Canterlot, I need to tell my sister... the news,” said Luna, flying off.

Heading to the skies, Luna and her guards leave the ancient ruins. Risking a jump that could kill anypony, would they have survived the fall unlikely... but, there are other ways to survive that sort of fall. Elsewhere at Canterlot, Celestia speaks to somepony that she never thought she asked for help from. Going to one of Canterlot's alleyways, she speaks to one pony... or creature she knows of. “Thank you for helping, I thought you'd decline,” said Celestia.

“What are friends for Celestia, I am reformed,” said Discord leaving the shadows. “And besides, when ever do I get to use my powers often nowadays. It'll be fun finding Twilight with this creature you mention, heheheheheheheheh!”

Renegade Arc: Ch.6 - Once A Foe... Now A Friend

After two days from the incident that occurred at Ponyville, Twilight wakes up from what she can remember. Her head is throbbing, she realized a piece of cloth was on her forehead, and looking around she sees she's in some sort of forest. Attempting to stand on her hooves, she hears splashing from a nearby river, nearing the noise she sees a figure thinking it's Soldier 3112. Approaching the river she realizes it's somepony else… somepony she thought to not meet again. “Oh, you’re awake. You’re lucky Trixie came to your rescue,” said Trixie who was cleaning something.

“Trixie… W-what, what are you doing here, and where's…?” asked Twilight, flinching from the pain in her head.

“That creature carried you out of the Everfree Forest on its back; good thing Trixie saw you two. Trixie decided to help you two… it's what he would of wanted,” said Trixie, staring at the river’s water.

Twilight can recognize the sadness in her eyes… and she can understand how she feels. Trixie levitates out a bowl, and places it in a towel and surrounds bowl with the towel. “Come, Trixie will lead you to Trixie’s wagon,” said Trixie, picking up the wrapped bowl.

Following Trixie, Twilight sees her wagon up ahead; near it was Soldier 3112… unconscious. Approaching him, Twilight can see that Soldier 3112 is covered in wounds, some of his armor or suit is damaged. “What… what happened to him?” Twilight asked.

“Before he went unconscious, he told Trixie what happened,” said Trixie, telling Twilight his view point.

As Trixie told Twilight what happened, it started when Soldier 3112 jumped off the tower with Twilight. Falling into the dark abyss, Soldier 3112 pulled out his energy blade and stabbed it into the abyss's wall. Hanging onto the wall, Soldier 3112 waited for Luna to leave, once she was gone, Soldier 3112 climbed out of the abyss and placed Twilight down. “Hey Twilight, are you okay. Sorry for the sudden jump but, it was the only way to… escape her,” said Soldier 3112.

Twilight was unconscious from hitting something on the abyss’s wall when Soldier 3112 jumped off. Now carrying an unconscious Twilight, Soldier 3112 trudges through the deadly Everfree Forest, he told Trixie how he had to fight off a pack of timberwolves, run from a hydra, and many more obstacles. Once he reached the other side of the Everfree Forest that's opposite to Ponyville, he met Trixie, she helped them two days ago. “You mean… his done that, and his been like this for two days,” said Twilight, now worried for Soldier 3112's health. “Is he okay?”

“Trixie doesn't know, Trixie thought of bringing him to a doctor but, he says that he'll be captured if that happened,” said Trixie.

“True… so, you heard why we're out here?” asked Twilight.

“Trixie knows… and Trixie wants to know why?” said Trixie. “Why would you help this thing… don't tell me your trying to get… him back.”

Twilight knew Trixie was the closest from anypony else to be with Anim, but would she help Twilight and Soldier 3112. Unsure whether to ask Trixie, Soldier 3112 wakes up suddenly. “Why the two of you are talking, can’t you see I need my rest,” said Soldier 3112. “...What day is it?”

Twilight surprised him with a hug, as Soldier 3112 simply stares at her. “Thank Celestia, I thought you didn't make it,” said Twilight.

“Well it takes more than that… Now you mind?” said Soldier 3112, as Twilight let go. “Oh, I thought you would of ditched me Trixie.”

“Trixie will help anypony in need… well Trixie does now,” said Trixie.

“That's nice, say do you know each other?” asked Soldier 3112. “Because I sort of heard the two of you talking and it sounds like you both know each other, personally.”

“We both had the same friend, so we’re on mutual terms,” said Twilight.

Trixie went silent after Twilight was going to mention him. Trixie went inside her wagon, and brought her hat and cape with her. “Come, we have no time to waste here, Trixie knows a town nearby we can ask for help,” said Trixie.

“But, we're wanted, if we are seen in any town or city then...” said Twilight.

“Don't worry, the news of you being wanted are only heard at Ponyville, Canterlot, and Cloudsdale. We'll head to somewhere that hasn't heard the news and...” said Trixie.

“Why are we going to another town?” asked Soldier 3112.

“Your injured, you need some help,” said Twilight.

“What I need is to not look for more trouble, even if we did go somewhere that hasn't heard us, they would question why Twilight is in this city or town. And besides, I'm from another realm with advanced technology I don't think you'll be able to heal me up that quickly,” said Soldier 3112. “I need to find a source of energy to recharge my suit; my suit will do the rest.”

“YOU DARE INSULT TRIXIE'S IDEA! Trixie doesn't care if you’re from some… other world, you'll listen to Trixie whether you like it or not!” shouted Trixie.

“We better listen to her, and besides we'll keep a low profile,” said Twilight.

“I hope so,” said Soldier 3112.

Preparing to leave their campsite, the two nearest towns are Appleloosa and Dodge City. Now since Applejack’s cousin is at Appleloosa, it was a safer bet to head to Dodge City. Using Trixie’s wagon, Trixie uses a simple transportation spell for her wagon to move on it’s own on their way to Dodge City. “Is it okay for you to use that spell Trixie? That spell can have some bad side-effects,” said Twilight.

“Do not worry for Trixie, Trixie has used this spell since Trixie began to travel. All it will do to Trixie is give a small migraine, nothing more,” said Trixie, focusing her spell.

“Hey, it’s kind of spacious here. How you make it this big?” asked Soldier 3112.

“A magician never tells,” said Trixie with a smirk. “Trixie just realized but… Trixie hasn’t asked your name.”

“My name… meh, my name ain’t interesting. All I can give is rank and number,” said Soldier 3112.

“At least tell Trixie,” said Trixie. “Trixie won’t continue calling you ‘thing’ or ‘creature’ forever.”

Soldier 3112 stares at Twilight, you gives him a simple shrug. Sighing Soldier 3112 tells Trixie… “his name”. “My name is… Soldier, 3112,” said Soldier 3112. “Happy?

Trixie simply stares ahead, not looking at Soldier 3112, but continues to talk. “No, Trixie is not happy. However, Trixie will give you a new name,” said Trixie.

“A new name?” said Twilight and Soldier 3112, at sync.

“Yes, and your new name will be… Dark Armor,” said Trixie. “For starters your armor is black as the darkest nights, and it fits you with being some kind of soldier of a powerful military force… correct,” said Trixie, waiting for a response.

“That… is actually a pretty good description. Yeah, from now on, just call me Dark,” said Dark, changing his name.

“Well at least we don’t need to keep calling you something silly like, Soldier 3112,” said Twilight, giggling.

“Well pardon me, but I been with that name since I joined the D.U.F… Well… as long as I could remember of course,” said Dark.

Twilight notices the change of tone in Dark’s voice, and wonders about what his past in this “D.U.F.” was like… or his past in general. “Is something wrong Dark?” asked Twilight.

“No… nothing… forget what I said… Say, how far are we to this, Dodge City?” asked Dark.

“At least until the afternoon. We’ll find someone to patch you and Twinkles here, and then we’ll find a train to anywhere,” said Trixie.

“Okay… wait… Twinkles?” asked Dark, surprised. “Who’s Twinkle… ohhhh.”

Dark stares at Twilight, and even though his wearing a helmet, she can feel Dark staring at her with a grin. Twilight blushes and hides her face into her hooves. “I thought you wouldn’t use that nickname anymore...” said Twilight.

“Trixie gave Dark her one, Trixie might as well tell him about yours,” said Trixie, chuckling.

“Well then I’ll tell him yours then, Little Star,” said Twilight in a taunting action.

“Oh why you,” said Trixie. Trixie began to wrestle Twilight while still focus on floating the wagon. Twilight and Trixie begin hoof slapping each other… girlishly whilst fighting, but as the two fought each other, they stopped noticing Dark laughing inside the wagon. The two ponies look at one another, and grinned, Twilight teleports Dark outside the wagon, into a puddle of mud.

“Har, har, har, real funny,” said Dark. “Come on, let’s get back to our journey.”

Continuing back to their journey, these three will face things nopony has ever witness, and gain an understanding for one another. A princess, new and still understanding the world will be given choices that she will face. A wanderer, going to place to place, losing the one thing she has ever loved, she will fight her demons, and face consequences she must endure. And finally… the lone soldier, in a world that will judge his every action, empty of memory, he has no recollection of his past, but will understand the true meaning… of life. All follow a different path of their own, but now share the same one… they may be in different roles… but they are all, renegades.

Author's Note

DUN DUN DUN DA DAHHHHHHHH~! You gained a new party member... TRIXIE!

Update 04/07/17: A drawing for this chapter on the end scene

Renegade Arc: Ch.7 - Dodging Shenanigans

After the events that occurred in Ponyville, Canterlot, and the Everfree Forest, Twilight Sparkle and Soldier 3112 who was now called, Dark Armor, have gained the help of Trixie Lulamoon, a traveling magician who goes from town to town. When the two encountered Trixie, Dark notices that the princess and wandering traveler have a shared past… one that both intrigues him and makes him wonder about the young princess’s past. From their journey to Dodge City, Twilight was able to explain what she could to Dark about her people. The land he was on was the continent of Equestria, which was ruled before by Princesses Celestia and Luna, who have lived for thousands and thousands of years, and have seen their share of wars, past events, and much more that time had to give. There is also another alicorn princess, which was the species that the princesses were known by, they were third of an pegasus, third of a unicorn, and third of an earth pony. In the far north was an empire ruled under her brother, Shining Armor, and her sister-in-law, Cadance or her full title, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who ruled with Twilight’s brother in the Crystal Empire. Twilight herself had actually only become an alicorn some months ago, when she was sent through a trial of sorts by Celestia, in which giving her the title, “Princess of Friendship”, in which she fought a being by the name of Tirek, and was given the crystallized castle within Ponyville. Dark was intrigued in the history of these ponies… well Dark would have been intrigued to anything, since he had a strange insatiable hunger for knowledge… which in turn made the princess smile, knowing what kind of interests that Dark had.

Since news of Twilight’s sudden escape plan of freeing the mysterious being in Canterlot, news of the incident have only spread out toward Canterlot, Ponyville, and Cloudsdale. The other cities and towns however have not heard the news but will surely hear of it this morning. Which was why Trixie’s plan was to head to Dodge City, find a doctor to patch Twilight and Dark up, and get a train toward… well, anywhere in particular. This plan would have been flawless in Trixie’s mind… if there weren’t just one, teeny, itsy-bitsy, tiny little problem…

Dodge City, Train Station, 9:00am

“Okay we’re here. Now, we all will come back here exactly at 10:50am, the train will arrive and leave at 11:00am. Do not be late,” said Trixie, instructing her plan. “If you do not arrive in time, Trixie will abandon you. Now, Trixie needs to see somepony for some supplies… do whatever you need to do.”

As Trixie left Twilight and Dark standing on the train station’s platform, the two stared at one another. “Well, ain’t she just a bundle of joy,” said Dark, sarcastically.

“You get used to her. Now, we need to find the town’s doctor, come on,” said Twilight.

Led by Twilight, Dark examined his surroundings of Dodge City. The small town looked like some wild west town, in one of those cowboy movies he heard of from the soldiers back at the base. From what he heard, towns like these have sheriffs, outlaws, horses, and a lot of gunfights… well except that all the residents of this world are mostly ponies, and I doubt their kind have the technology to create guns or weapons that he knows of.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been here,” said Twilight, talking to herself.

“You’ve been here before?” said Dark.

“Indeed… it was actually before I became an alicorn. Back then I was princess Celestia’s personal apprentice… I was a bit of a bookworm back then, well I still am. My friend Applejack, you know the one who works in the farm, she came here to work in a cherry farm that was here after some… events had occurred,” said Twilight, remembering the memory. “Still though, she was our friend, and we couldn’t just abandon her.”

“It’s good to have friends. There aren’t many ponies or people you can trust these days,” said Dark.

“Speaking of friends, do you have any Dark?” asked Twilight. “You mentioned your a sergeant of a military base before… do you have any comrades back there?”

Dark continued to walk beside Twilight, as the two walked down the path to the town ahead. Dark haven’t thought of friendship… which was funny because he was the most friendliest guy back in the outpost he was stationed in. However, Dark never could think of anyone that would come to mind as “friend”… but there were some who might have been considered as friend. “A few… their some subordinates of mine,” said Dark.

“I see. What are they like?” said Twilight, continuing the conversation.

“Well for starters, there’s Kako Jave, his the morale officer, making sure the soldiers don’t cause much trouble. His a pretty good talker… but not so good with women,” said Dark, laughing to that comment he made. “Then there’s Morlvin, who’s in charge of our weapons and ammunition. He may be a big tough son of a gun, but his smarter than he looks, he handles any weapon, unknown or known perfectly… pretty much weapons is his lifetime hobby.”

“They seem to be some… nice folk,” said Twilight. “Is there anypony else in particular, that you know?”

“Indeed… Lizna Vale, she handles our medical problems, both physically and mentally. Don’t let her looks fool you, she’s a certified soldier and can handle herself… funny enough she was suppose to be the sergeant if anything happened to the old one… that’s until I popped up. Ever since then she’s been trying to find dirt on me and get me fired or worse,” said Dark, chuckling. “The first time I met her, she attempted to shoot my privates off.”

Twilight was a bit bewildered by the strange relationship that Dark had with this Lizna character… the two sounded like they hated each others guts. “That doesn’t sound like you two are friends,” said Twilight. “Sound like your enemies.”

“I guess it does… but she means well, she may try to do her best to get me out of my position… but she’s been by my side till thee end, whether she hates me or not,” said Dark. Twilight notices a faint smile under that blackened helmet of Dark’s. The two continued walking when, they were slowly interrupted by somepony.

“Um, can we help you?” asked Twilight.

The mare simply stared at the two, thinking she was staring at Dark… the mare was actually looking at Twilight, not even noticing Dark beside her. At what felt like hours, the mare finally spoke… well actually it sounded more like screaming… or was it squealing?

“OH MY CELESTIA! IT’S PRINCESS TWILIGHT!” screamed the mare.

Suddenly everypony from outside and within the buildings, started to look toward where the screaming had come from. After a few moments later, Twilight and Dark found themselves surrounded by ponies from every direction. Even though Twilight just became a princess some months ago, she’s still royalty nevertheless… whether she was a unicorn before.

“Princess Twilight, where?”

“One of the princess’s are here!?”

“I want to see, I want to see!”

A crowd of ponies appeared surrounding Twilight and Dark. For a town so small… it had a lot of ponies. Dark tried his best to protect Twilight… when a unicorn used their magic on Dark, and flung him aside like he was a bag of… well… whatever ponies throughout in bags. “Dark! Are you okay!?” shouted Twilight, seeing if Dark was okay.

Even though Twilight didn’t hear Dark, she saw his hand and what she believed to be his thumb sticking up while the rest of his fingers curled up into a fist. She didn’t understand what it meant, but she felt that he was okay… right now she had to deal with this problem.

“What are you doing here princess?” said a random pony among the crowd.

“Well… I… um...” said Twilight. Twilight couldn’t think of a good excuse to why she was in Dodge City. Her mind went blank and she simply deflated where she stood, her legs wobbling under pressure. Stuck between a hard place and another hard place, Twilight didn’t what to do… until she heard a clink.

Staring at her hooves, was a metal cylinder object, unsure what it was she heard Dark shout this out to her. “CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COVER YOUR EARS! QUICK!” shouted Dark, doing the same.

Twilight didn’t question what he was planning and immediately followed. Suddenly a loud band and a flash light appeared, blinding and dazing everypony in the vicinity. Once everypony opened their eyes, Twilight had disappeared. “Hey, where’s princes Twilight!?” shouted one pony.

The town went to a frenzy searching everywhere for her. After going to search somewhere else… in an alleyway, Dark hid and with him under his arm was Twilight, rubbing her eyes after the sudden flash and noise. “Okay, the close is clear. You can talk,” said Dark, looking at Twilight.

“What was that?” asked Twilight.

“That, was a flashbang… let’s say it goes flash… and bang,” said Dark.

“I get that part but… just… what happened?” asked Twilight, still confused.

“Well, when that flashbang did it’s thing, I grabbed you and ran to this alleyway. Trixie should of thought in the future about you being noticed since your a princess and all,” said Dark. “Speaking of her, where is she?”

As Dark check to see if he and Twilight can leave, Twilight attempts to stand on her own, but ends up wobbling to the ground. Noticing Twilight fell down, Dark picks her back up and makes her lean against the wall. “You okay? I think that flashbang might have been a bit too much for you,” said Dark

“I’m fine… thank you for the help back there,” said Twilight.

Dark smiles and pats her on the head, as Twilight smiles back at him. While the two sat in the alleyway, they both heard a light cough behind them. Turning to see who it was, it was Trixie, and she had some supplies on her. “Trixie doesn’t mean to be rude, but we should go now. When Trixie came back, Trixie saw a large group of ponies run by here… what did you two do?” said Trixie.

“We were hiding from that crowd when they realized Twilight was here. You should remember Twilight is a princess too,” said Dark. “Now just what exactly did you went to get?”

“Trixie went to get the necessary things we need… and Trixie can see you two haven’t gone to the doctor,” said Trixie, staring at Dark’s wounds. “Nevertheless, Trixie came prepared and went to get some medical supplies too while out. Now come on, the train is coming soon… oh and by the way, when you two need some privacy… try to stay quiet.”

Trixie left the two alone in the alleyway, while Twilight looked at Dark and blushed. After following Trixie back to the station, the train arrived with some ponies exiting the train, and luckily nopony needed to enter the train. Twilight waited for everypony to exit and when it was time, Dark and Twilight enter the train, while Trixie brought her wagon onto one of train’s storage carts. Once entering inside with Dark and Twilight, Trixie stares at Dark… which gave him the goosebumps. “What? Is there something on my head?” asked Dark.

“Well… ever since Trixie found you and Twilight… you haven’t seem to act the same as Twilight, considering your wounds are… how you say… ‘nopony could survive’,” said Trixie. Trixie points at a particular hole on Dark’s armor. The hole wasn’t big or deep, but Trixie expected blood to leak out… bu nothing of the sort did for the last few hours they walked and arrived to Dodge City.

“Well we can worry about that later… I don’t feel so good if you can tell,” said Twilight, wobbling side to side. Dark carefully leads Twilight to a seat on the train cart they were in. Once laying her down, Dark realizes that the cart their in was empty.

“Say Trixie… why is this cart empty? It’s almost afternoon yet nobody is in here. What gives?” asked Dark.

“Ever since Twilight’s attempt at freeing you at Canterlot, a lot of ponies have either went to Canterlot to ask Princess Celestia what’s happening, or gone to Ponyville to see the mess you two done down there,” said Trixie. “Now, make Twilight eat this, it should help with her fever.” Putting out his hand, Dark is given a green bottle and wooden spoon. Opening the bottle and dropping a spoonful of the liquid on the spoon, Dark places the spoon on top of Twilight’s mouth.

“Open wide Twilight,” said Dark, holding the spoon steadily.

The second Twilight opens her eyes and sniffs the liquid, she makes a disgusted face, closing her mouth shut. “What is that smell, I’m not drinking that...” said Twilight. Her face begins to look worse, the more she doesn’t drink the liquid. So Dark goes with a tactic he seen used by Lizna before when one of the soldier’s won’t drink their medicine. Dark pinches Twilight’s nose, so she is unable to breath, forcing her to open her mouth… in which case Dark shoves the spoon into her mouth.

Twilight coughs, tasting the liquid… which is also just as horrible as the smell. “What were you doing?” said Twilight, continuing to cough. “Are you trying to choke me. I couldn’t breath.”

“Well you wouldn’t drink your medicine,” said Dark. “So I used the good old, ‘Hold the nose’ tactic.”

“Well… it was mean for you to do that,” said Twilight, grumpy. “Though… I do feel sort of better now.”

“Trixie gets the best medicine Trixie can when Trixie arrives to a town. Now get some rest, we’ll arrive at Manehattan at night,” said Trixie, taking a seat opposite of where Twilight lay down.

“Wait, Manehattan?” said Twilight, surprised. “Why are we going to Manehattan?”

“Uh, what’s Manehattan?” asked Dark, not knowing the city.

“Manehattan is the biggest city in Equestria, and the busiest,” said Twilight. “My friends been there before and helped out this pony in a fashion contest some sort. My friend Rarity was attending that contest, the last time I remembered.”

“A city… that might be a good idea to hide actually. Good thinking Trixie,” said Dark.

“The great and powerful Trixie always comes up with the best plans,” said Trixie, boasting herself.

“Not all the time,” said Twilight, whispering.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.

Twilight smiled and stared at the window, as the passing scenery began to change. “Well, you better rest Twilight,” said Dark. “Your going to need it if you almost fainted back at that alley.”

At first Twilight wanted to retort at Dark… but she felt the dizziness in her head, and agreed it was best she slept. So dozing off, Dark and Trixie were left alone in the train cart, whilst Twilight slept. After half an hour had passed, Trixie made sure Twilight was a hundred percent sure she fell asleep… and when she did…

“Dark… there’s something Trixie needs to ask… no… not ask… ‘confirm’ from you,” said Trixie.

Dark sensed the sudden change in atmosphere and saw Trixie’s eyes. Instead of the boastful pony Twilight talked about… this pony was serious, and worried at the same time. Dark wasn’t sure why she waited now to ask him a question now… unless… she didn’t want Twilight hearing. “Uh sure… what you want to know?” asked Dark, readjusting where he sat.

“Trixie… ‘I’ want to know… why is Twilight here?” asked Trixie, not using her name to refer herself anymore.

Dark gave an inquisitive look toward Trixie, what did she mean “why is Twilight here?”, Twilight is here because she freed Dark that’s why… but… Dark felt Trixie meant something else by why she was here. “What you mean Trixie?” said Dark, also becoming serious.

“I mean… why is she not at Ponyville… and instead with a complete stranger? Why isn’t she in her crystal castle, doing her responsibilities, but instead… adventuring with… whatever you are? Twilight made a promise to somepony… somepony special to her… to her friends… to me… and she’s breaking that promise,” said Trixie.

“What promise… and to whom?” asked Dark, trying to understand.

“The promise… to my special somepony… to her friend… to her ‘dead’, friend… to Anim...” said Trixie, continuing to speak.

Why was she risking her life, when Anim risked his to save Equestria?

Renegade Arc: Ch.8 - Railway Theatricals

Trixie stared at Dark, while Dark stared back at her through his black helmet. Twilight, who was still asleep, moved in her sleep, either disturbed by the voices of Trixie and Dark or her own dreams. Dark had no idea who Anim was, but whoever Anim was… he seemed to be a very important pony toward Twilight and Trixie… so important that he was a martyr for Equestria… but how come Twilight never mentioned this Anim pony toward Dark. That’s when Dark remembered, when he first met Twilight, she asked if he knew somepony by the name of Animatorsnake… why would Dark know a pony by that name, nevertheless why did Twilight ask him? “Not to be rude… but who’s Anim?” asked Dark.

Trixie sighed, as she stood from her seat, and moved to the opposite of the train cart from where Dark sat. As she stared out the window, she continued to speak… still not using her name, and using words like, “I, me, myself,” and so forth. “Anim was the first being to ever come to Equestria… from another world,” said Trixie.

Dark who was somewhat shocked, continued to listen not interrupting Trixie once. “He was honest… kind… loyal… generous...an excellent unicorn… and I suppose, a good sense of humor,” said Trixie, smiling. “He did always made some way to make myself and the everyone else with him laugh. Anim didn’t had any hidden intentions… he was simply lost, and he yearned from friendship… or maybe something more.”

Trixie turned to face Dark, realizing that she was crying this whole time. Even though more tears continued to flow down her face, she didn’t make any noise, not a whimper, not a sniffle… nothing. “He was my friend… her friend,” said Trixie, looking at Twilight. “He didn’t care what happened to him… he lived for so long… seen things nopony… nobody could ever comprehend… Anim would the one hero Equestria… will never know,” said Trixie, keeping in her tears as best she could.

Before Dark could respond, Trixie ran and left the train cart, entering the one further ahead. Now alone with a sleeping Twilight, Dark sighed and left Trixie to herself. He then turned down toward Twilight, who continued sleeping through this whole ordeal. “You must be having one nice dream to not hear us...” said Dark. “Sweet dreams.”

As Twilight slept, she dreamed… her being in Ponyville… but something felt different. Opening her eyes, she found herself inside her library… which was destroyed by Tirek. Surprised to find herself inside her old home, she realizes something. Looking at herself from a nearby mirror, Twilight sees she has no wings, which means… she was back being a unicorn again. Now ponies who dreamed could tell they were in a dream, and Twilight knew she was in one. But for some reason she wanted the dream to last… but she also wanted it to end… why would she want a dream that seemed this peaceful to end?

Twilight then heard a knock on the door, heading downstairs, she found nopony on the other side… except a piece of paper. The slip of paper looked familiar but Twilight couldn’t put together where she seen it before. The paper then flew onto her face, and after levitating it off her face, she noticed a note written on it. The note says, “Come to the empty cliff, with the two lonely trees… an old friend is waiting.”, after reading the letter… it gave Twilight shivers down her back. She wasn’t sure where this letter wanted to lead her… that’s when she saw it. It was small but it glowed bright enough for her to notice… it was a white light, floating harmlessly in mid-air. For some reason, Twilight felt a warmth of memory… a memory she didn’t want to let go. Twilight followed the light, not realizing the warnings that go by her.

As she trotted down the path and followed the light, she noticed strange symbols and words… but they all had some meaning that Twilight knew… or maybe, something she didn’t want to remember. Turn back. What you will find is pain. Why must you insist on continuing. Do not follow the light. In the end… The warnings were jumbled up and confusing… but there was one phrase that caught her eye than the rest… and this word made her heart stop. He, is, gone.

At first Twilight stopped, then continued to trot but as slow as a crawl. When thought appeared in her head, it shook her being… What could it have meant… who was gone? Twilight did not knew but yet… she felt she die. The town was empty, not a single soul spotted, only her and the strange light that led her to her destination. After following the light for a while, the light vanished and before her was the location she was brought to… the second she saw it… she froze.

She stood in front of a cliff, and below was a large valley, thousands and thousands miles deep. In the distance were two mountains, and an endless forest that seemed to stretch forever. The sun was setting or was it rising? There stood two lonesome trees on the cliff, with the nearest trees being some meters away… but that’s when she saw it. Between the two trees and near the edge of the cliff… was a wooden cross, sticking out of the dirt. Twilight knew what was the cross’s purpose and who’s it was… she knew the pain, the suffering it showed. The cross was a reminder to her… to somepony that wanted nothing more than to protect his friends… for his whole life this pony was alone… an immortal curse cast down on him. Twilight didn’t wanted to be here… she didn’t wanted to be here the slightest. Turning around she began to trot away… until, she heard a voice.

Why must you strive toward a dead memory? He will never come back… must I make that clear to you.

Twilight wasn’t sure where the voice was coming from but it sounded like it was coming from all directions. “Who’s there?” said Twilight, looking at all directions.

You don’t know me… I’m just… how you say… “the truth”. He is gone and will never come back, don’t make this difficult for yourself… just give up.

“Give up? On what, just what exactly do you mean?” asked Twilight.

Why him that’s who I’m referring to.. but of course you can’t comprehend who I am talking about… I’m speaking about Anim.

Twilight kept still not responding… not wanting to hear what this voice had to say. It wasn’t that the voice was lying… it was just that it was too painful to listen. Anim is dead and you know it… you saw it, EVERYPONY DID! Even Trixie knows it, and you don’t see her wanting to see the dead again, now do you? Return to the castle, go back being a princess, and quit wasting your life chasing a hopeless dream! Must you cause pain toward your friends… the princesses… your family?...He wouldn’t want this… Anim wouldn’t want…

That’s when Twilight snapped. “WHAT DO YOU KNOW!? YOU KNOW NOTHING, NOTHING! ANIMATORSNAKE WAS MY FRIEND, HE AND I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSE LIKE TRIXIE, OR LUNA, OR MINA! BUT HE WAS SOMEPONY SPECIAL TO MY HEART, SO DON’T YOU EVER SAY THINGS HE’D EVER SAY!” screamed Twilight, her ferocity in her voice growing.

Twilight felt the anger in her voice… manifesting to a powerful flame. This has happened to her before once, when she was figuring out how her friend Pinkie, Pinkie Sense worked. Engulfed in flames, her eyes red with burning rage, she would of tore this bodiless voice to smithereens… if it weren’t for the voice lacking a body of course. Hopelessly screaming and flailing her arms, Twilight shot out one or two blasts of magical energy toward the sky in frustration. When tiring herself out… the voice spoke once more… but with something that both frightened and made her doubtful.

Well then… why don’t you ask him yourself?

Suddenly for some unexplained reason she knew the voice wouldn’t respond again… but why? Her reason may come more quicker than expected… for she felt a familiar aura… and voice behind her. “Hey Twilight, long time no see.”

Twilight kept on standing there… it felt like eternity for her. She then had the courage to turn around and see… she wished she didn’t had the courage to see. Staring right at her was the last pony she wanted to see… but it was also the one pony she’s been searching for. Like a ghost or a distant memory, it all felt fake to her… all senses felt like they were lying to her… nevertheless she ran forward and lunged herself at the pony.

“It’s good to see you too,” said Anim, chuckling. “You sure did miss me didn’t you.”

Twilight didn’t want to speak, she kept on holding on tighter and tighter… His scent was the same since the day they met. Every feeling she felt, every emotion that came flooding within her wanted to burst into a flood of an emotional tidal wave. Tears swept her face, wetting both her, Anim, and the grass beneath her hooves. She wanted this to last forever… it didn’t matter if it was a dream… she just wanted it to last forever… just a little longer… but things don’t always go her way.

One moment in her hooves was Anim… the next… nothing. It was so sudden, she fell to the ground, muzzle first. For a dream it felt pretty painful… but it wasn’t the pain that worried her… it was the sudden realization that everything was lie… the dream was a lie, the Anim she saw, touched, heard was a lie… all of it was lie. Was this what the voice wanted to tell her… that everything is a lie, and striving forward to a false truth would lead to nothing but painful memories, and despair… it didn’t matter. Twilight kept her face into the “fake” grass, staining it of her tears, not wanting to move, not wanting to wake up from this torturous dream… not wanting to even live… not wanting to live… not… living.

She slowly raised her head, then her gaze, she stared at the edge of the cliff. The two trees were gone, the wooden cross was gone, the sun was gone, even the two mountains were gone. All that was around her, was the grass, the cliff, and the eternal drop below. She had not wings… and she has no knowledge in using any advanced levitation spells that would allow her a small chance of flight of any kind. The dark, deep valley looked more of a blessing than an endless drop… she kept staring… and staring, and staring, and staring… then gone.

Just like that, Twilight stepped off the cliff, and began to fall down the valley… quicker as time passed… she thought it last forever, but she saw the drop… and knew what would happen, splat. That would be the end to Twilight… she wished it was this easy… it’s just a dream, it’s not like she would die or anything, she would just wake up in the train, and sitting beside her would be Dark and Trixie. It be that simple… it always was… it was simple for her to forget Anim’s death… this was simple too… if she weren’t lying to herself.

She knew that the death of Anim caused more of impact than everypony had first imagined, to others Twilight seemed perfectly fine… but her friends saw through her facade. Spike had some knowledge of how Twilight felt… but to go as far as… “that”… well, nopony expected this of Twilight. Maybe when she was a unicorn it be possible but she was an alicorn princess, indeed there was the stress but there were benefits. It didn’t matter anymore, whether she was an alicorn or Princess Celestia’s personal apprentice… Anim was whole another story. He was “special”, he was more of a friend… to be honest Twilight may had feelings for him… but she knew that it wouldn’t work out with him. Back then she was bookworm unicorn, who herself was learning how to make friends and what friendship truly means. Anim was a being from another world, who was also immortal, a skilled unicorn, honest, loyal, generous, kind… and maybe his jokes were funny at times, and he never would let down a friend… ever. Now look where Twilight was… she’s an alicorn, the highest thing you could ever accomplish to be… while Anim was dead… or was a state-of-death, in which his return would take years… maybe even a century to pass.

Nothing mattered… neither her, this dream, nothing… for the last months after his death, Twilight was in despair… so much that she held it in which only made things worse. Now… she was actually thinking of… “this”… of suicidal thoughts. It was a dream… the drop was only a few meters away, and no harm was coming to her, to anypony at all… that’s when she heard a voice. It wasn’t the voice she heard before… it sounded familiar… too familiar… and too close.

Twi...light...Twi...light...Twili...ght...Twiligh...t...Twilight…Twilight. Twilight. Twilight. Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! TWILIGHT!

And then… she woke up. “TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT, WAKE UP!” shouted Dark, shaking Twilight viciously.

Now Twilight had some rude awakenings before… but Dark was probably the most rudest… and dead in Twilight’s thoughts. The second her eyes were fully open, and she had full control of her body… the firs thing Twilight did… was stare at Dark, and began to strangulate him with her hooves… which again… was inefficient. “WHY DID YOU WAKE ME UP!? I WAS ABOUT TO… to… WELL I WAS DOING SOMETHING!” screamed Twilight, exploding in a fury of rage… or annoyance.

After Twilight settled down, quicker too since Dark had grabbed both her hooves around his neck, and placed on her sides. Twilight realized she was sitting up and not laying down on the seat, which meant Dark lifter her to a sitting position… but how come… not to mention… Dark seemed… freaked out. Not freaked out like how he and Twilight were chased by Luna and her guards… like as if Dark almost saw somepony die… what was his deal. Well after Twilight calmed down Dark spoke… real quickly too… and worried, really worried.

“Holy mother of the deities! You were… ‘this’ close to… well… you were close,” said Dark, frantically.

“What in Equestria are you spatting about?” asked Twilight. “What was I so close to?!”

“TO DEATH YOU IDIOT!” shouted Dark, nearly scaring Twilight.

When Twilight heard Dark mention death… she thought Dark was reading her thoughts, so in result to what he said, Twilight asked a simple question. “Were you… were you reading my mind?” asked Twilight. Twilight was grossed out by the idea of reading or seeing others dreams… well unless it was Luna, it was her responsibility to do this, but when somepony else does it… then it feels slightly awkward.

“What? NO! I mean, when you were asleep you were shaking, like shaking really badly. I thought you were having a nightmare… until I heard a loud thumping noise, at first I thought it might have been the train. However when the thumping got louder, I looked around where it was coming from… that’s when I found out the noise was coming from you. So I placed you into a sitting position, placed my head on your chest to where I assumed where your heart was… and yeesh, your heart was going really quick, not to mention loud. It felt like somebody turned on the hyper-drive for your heart or something… that’s when I did a scan on you… when I began to freak out,” said Dark, showing a device with a pony on it. “This device allows me to scan a being’s bio-information. It even works as a translator where I can… I’m getting out of track, but as I was saying. So I scanned you and when I look at your information… that’s when I saw this.”

When Dark showed Twilight’s information, she thought this was silly what Dark was saying to her… that’s when she saw what was on the device. There were a bunch of symbols and numbers and such… but she saw a heart symbol, and beside it said, 200 beats per second. Twilight’s heart was that fast! Something that quick would of killed her, but since she was an alicorn maybe it allowed her to live… but after seeing such a high number… it only made it worse for Twilight. The small device made a beeping noise, as a light shrouded Twilight, and made another affirmative beep. Looking back what the device said, the two were shocked what they saw, Twilight’s heart was now producing 300 beats per second now! Twilight was hyperventilating now, and she could hear her own heart now. Twilight was in a frenzy panic, clutching her heart as her eyes began to pop out, bloodshot. That’s when Dark grabbed Twilight into a hug, it surprised her but Twilight began to slowly calm down… for some reason this worked out so well… Twilight felt her heart began to a crawl, Dark’s voice helped too as he tried his best to be soothing… which was efficient.

“Hey, hey… no need for that. Just… calm down… I don’t want you to have a heart attack, so just… shhhh,” said Dark. Dark petted her mane, and sometimes her tail, which sort of made her uncomfortable, but Twilight simply nuzzled a little around Dark’s arms, and closed her eyes and breathed in and out… as her breathing began to slow down. Once they were both sure everything was fine, Dark let go… except, Twilight continued to nuzzle a little… which now made Dark felt awkward. “Uhhh, Twilight… you can stop now,” said Dark.

“Oh, s-s-sorry… I just...” said Twilight, quickly moving to the other seat opposite of Dark.

The two sat awkwardly apart from one another. It wasn’t because Twilight nearly had heart explode… but because of the sudden “moment” the two had awhile ago. Twilight kept looking out the window while Dark… well Dark did whatever distracted him, which was anything. However when Twilight looked outside, she realized instead of the desert scenery she saw when they left the station, all their surroundings was either plains or some mountains here and there. “Uh, Dark… where are we?” asked Twilight.

“Oh right I forgot. Well since the train we took is directly going to Manehattan, which meant the train won’t stop until we reach this city you and Trixie mentioned...” said Dark. Dark kept quiet again after he mentioned Trixie. Did something happen when she was sleeping with Dark and Trixie? Curiosity taking over her, Twilight decided to look at Dark and ask what happened when she slept.

“Did something happen when I was sleeping?” asked Twilight.

At first Dark didn’t respond… but he then looked at Twilight and sighed. “Well, she asked me something about why you were here and all… I didn’t understand what she meant… but she sounded so… serious and worried. She also kept talking without using her name and instead used ‘I’ or ‘myself”. Not to mention, she kept talking about something about… a ‘promise’ you made to somepony called...” said Dark.

“Anim… it was Anim I made the promise too,” said Twilight, interrupting Dark. Twilight never thought Trixie would become suspicious and put two together that Twilight helped Dark escape Canterlot, because she wanted to see Anim again. Twilight felt bad and ever worse after the death of Anim… but she couldn’t say something like this in front of her friends… nevertheless Trixie. She just wanted an excuse or maybe a way to see Anim… but that would never come true, and most of all she’s practically using Dark for such a selfish reason. “Look… Dark… maybe I shouldn’t have freed you… that maybe this isn’t worth all it should have been. You can go ahead with Trixie… I’ll return to Ponyville and bring myself forward to the authorities and...”

“Shut… the hell… up… YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO BE THAT EASY FOR YOU TO GIVE UP LIKE THAT!” shouted Dark, slamming his fist to the side of the train. Since the train was empty, with only her, Dark, Trixie, and the train engineers, the train echoed the sound of Dark hitting the train, as a thunderous noise spread out across the cart they were in. Twilight was startled by Dark’s sudden response to what she said… she thought Dark thought she was abandoning them, but really she didn’t wanted to be a bother to Trixie or him.

“Wait, Dark, I just think that you two would do better without me and...” said Twilight.

Dark placed both his hands on Twilight, shaking her for a few seconds then, whacking her forehead with a single finger. It hurt but it wasn’t “AHHHH THAT HURT!”, it was more like “Ow…”… wait why am I explaining this? “Don’t be stupid, I don’t think your worthless. Your instincts are at the right place, but don’t give up hope so easily… I may not know who this… Anim character is, but it’s my privilege to help out anyone, whether their human, robot, or a pony. For my entire life I had no idea who I was… or what I am… but I never gave up hope!” said Dark, placing one hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “Have faith… on yourself… on your friends and allies. Wherever we go, we’ll work as a team, and face any obstacle… now… try not to feel sorry for yourself, and stay strong.”

Twilight just was amazed from how easy Dark was able to cheer anypony up… that… it reminded her a lot of Anim. She shook her head and smiled, with the determination to keep on going. “I may have been an alicorn for a few months, but I’ll fight for my friends and family!” shouted Twilight.

“Atta girl… now… you uh, mind helping me with… finding Trixie. She kind of ran off to who knows where, I don’t want her hurting herself or anything,” said Dark, back to his usual dumbfounded tone. Twilight sighed and nodded with helping. So once Dark and Twilight searched every cart they could enter, they couldn’t find Trixie. After two or three carts later, they enter one cart which was the train’s luggage room… they heard sobbing. The sobbing came from behind some boxes in the back, and deciding to look they found a blue unicorn bawling under her cape. Dark moves the cape and finds Trixie, her nose all runny from crying who knows how long, her eyes wet as well as her face and cape, her hat was okay, but her mane was all frazzled and messy. Twilight sits down beside her while Dark kept standing.

“Hey Trixie… you okay?” asked Twilight.

“What does it look like to you...” said Trixie, sniffing. “I’m not okay, I feel terrible.”

“Look… I know I made a promise to… ‘him’ and I know what I’m doing isn’t what he would of wanted...” said Twilight.

“THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE! HE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEPONY SPECIAL TO ME, BUT HE CARED FOR YOU AND THE OTHERS LIKE FAMILY! DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE FOR SOMETHING THIS STUPID!” shouted Trixie, her voice hoarse. Trixie then began to cough, it sounded even worse than imagining what her coughing felt like. Trixie tried her best to not cry but she continued, whether it was because of the dust in the cramped space, or the emotional breakdown she was having now.

Twilight had no idea what to say to Trixie, she had no right to say anything to Trixie… at of anypony she lost the only, ONLY pony who ever cared for her existence. However she knew how much Trixie in turned loved and cared for Anim… in her own special way. All Twilight could of done for Trixie… was say she was sorry. “I’m sorry I was an idiot… that I broke a promise to the one friend… that we both lost. But I still believe, there’s a way we can find him… bring him back… I want to cling to some hopeful chance there is a way for him to come back to us… For now all we can do… what you can do… is not lose hope of yourself,” said Twilight. “Don’t give up on yourself… you know Anim wouldn’t that to happen to you… he wouldn’t want you to go back to that lonely unicorn anymore.”

Trixie wanted to shut Twilight out… but… she was right. Trixie calmed down, and after some tissues, and carrying later, everyone returned to their cart. Trixie rested, Twilight watched the window… Dark… he watched both the mares before him. Even though he was a complete stranger, he had no idea what these two had gone through… but for some reason he felt like the situation they were in… almost reminded him of something… something from his past. When all was quiet, a small voice perked up. “Trixie… Trixie is sorry, for acting like a filly back there… Trixie promises to keep herself together. Trixie won’t give up… not ever again,” said Trixie.

Even thought Twilight seemed to focus on the scenery outside… a smile crept onto her. Dark too was happy, he never wanted to see anyone in such a state like that, ever again… unknowing to him, he seen something like that before.

As time passed, both Trixie and Twilight slowly fell asleep, it was good sense too since it was dark already… possibly 7:00pm. Though even it was becoming evening, Dark was still awake; indeed he was a soldier, but Dark had realized he haven’t slept for days now… now that he thinks of it… how long and what date was it now? Either way, it was dark and it would become darker… especially where they were going to.

The train arrived to it’s destination, Manehattan. Since Dark, Twilight, and Trixie were the only passengers inside, they embarked… well Dark embarked. The two mares were sleeping and Dark couldn’t wake them at all… they must of tired themselves out from all the drama that happened on their way to Manehattan. Nevertheless, Dark had to carry both the girls, and Trixie’s wagon, the train however left… heading to some train dock for the conductors to rest or something. With Dark left under the grim light of a nearby lamppost, with two sleeping mares, and a wagon at tow… this wasn’t how Dark expected to start off his first visit to a foreign city, now did he.

Looking around to where to stay, most of the nearby buildings were completely dark, though some buildings had their lights on. Which meant only buildings or shops that work best at night were still active… but Dark wouldn’t attempt to enter any of this buildings… he was after all an escaped criminal, not to mention something that looks like came out of a nightmare of some sort… well for this ponies of course. Deciding to find somewhere for him and his friends to stay… one “particular” spot, was free for them to stay… so, he headed off and rested. Well maybe not rest, his friends did… he watched the dense darkness… protecting himself and his companions from what he considered, the unknown.

Author's Note

The end of the "Renegade" arc of the story. Now the new arc will begin, focusing in what will occur in Manehattan.

Tourist Arc: Ch.9 - Good Morning, Bad Day

Author's Note

The third arc of ASO, Tourist. Dark is after all a tourist in Manehattan, so might as well call this arc that.

Tourist Arc: Ch.9 - Good Morning, Bad Day

Nov. 15, Entry 1

Since my escape from Canterlot, I had befriended the princess of friendship, Twilight Sparkle, and a wandering street-entertainer by the name of Trixie. We had been running from the authorities, particularly the royal guard, and the princesses, Celestia and Luna. We’d had help from Twilight’s friends for the two of us to escape, where we eventually met Trixie. We had then headed to a town called Dodge City or also known as Dodge Junction. After some… problems occurred on the train, we finally arrived at Manehattan, however the girls were asleep so I had no choice but searched for somewhere for us to stay. It was easier for the two to sleep with the help of Trixie’s wagon, which was spacious enough for those two to sleep inside, I on the other hand had to stay outside to guard… well that and I couldn’t fit. I’m considering writing these journal entries as a log of some sort on my stay in this realm, from what Twilight had told me, I arrived on November 13. It is currently been two days since the 13 as it is now the 15 now… I am unsure how long I may be in this realm… weeks… months maybe? The last I have seen my men was that incident with those Verxilian robots back on Caliseus. I’m getting offtrack… as I’m recording this entry, my companions should awaken… the morning was nice and warm… but I doubt the rest of the day would have been the same.

Manehattan, a random park, 7:00am

Waking up, the first thing Twilight saw was Trixie. She was sleeping beside her… close actually, too close. Twilight tried standing on all fours, but only ended up hitting her head on the roof of which seemed to be Trixie’s wagon. Making a big thump, it was loud enough to wake up Trixie… who was very displeased with the sudden noise. “Five more minutes… Trixie’s not ready for the show...” said Trixie, grumbling.

Twilight who had no time to deal with Trixie being herself, woke the sleeping unicorn up, in a rude fashion. She began shaking Trixie that it caused her to go to a defensive maneuver. Quickly getting on all fours, but surprisingly not hitting the ceiling, Trixie turns to face Twilight… but quickly realizes who woke her. “Oh… it’s you…” said Trixie, with an annoyed tone. “What are you doing in Trixie’s wagon?”

“Better yet, what are we doing in your wagon? Weren’t we just inside the train some while ago?” said Twilight, pointing out her surroundings. Before Trixie could muster an answer, she was rudely interrupted by whistling. The whistling was coming from outside, and when the two finally went out the wagon, they spotted Dark who was cooking or in this case boiling something in a pot.

“Ah, your awake. You two really slept heavily, I wasn’t able to wake you up at all back on the train,” said Dark, handing Twilight a bowl. “Soup?”

Twilight looked at the bowl and saw a greenish liquid… it was surprising that Dark found something to cook, nevertheless to be able to cook anything. The two mares looked around their surroundings, realizing that they were not inside the train anymore… but in a park in Manehattan. Nopony was at the park nor at the nearby streets surrounding the park, some ponies would walk by but it wasn’t rush hour yet for swarms of ponies going from point A to point B. “Just to be clear here… you carried me and Trixie… and the wagon… into this park, and let us sleep inside while you… slept outside?” said Twilight, trying to understand what had happened last night.

“Well actually I stayed awake the whole night… I actually been awake more than twenty-four hours to be honest. Not to mention my lacking of eating anything to boot,” said Dark, in a factual matter. “Now I think about it… I haven’t eaten for a loooooooong while.”

Twilight was a bit surprised by this, but considering Dark is from another world, his biology may be different from a pony’s. Before she could continue to speak, her stomach spoke for her. A large growling noise came from the young alicorn, which caused her to blush and smile. “Maybe it’s best I eat something. Say, just what is that you were cooking anyway?” asked Twilight.

“Well I looked around the area and found some vegetation that could be edible for your kind. I made a vegetarian soup. Enjoy the meal,” said Dark.

Twilight continued to stare at the soup, feeling a tad doubtful on Dark’s cooking and scavenging skills. Trixie however, grabbed the bowl and eating it, not thinking of the possible problems that may come… though Trixie is traveling on the daily it made sense for her to eat any chance she gets. Taking a spoonful of the green liquid, Trixie is happy with the taste, though the creativity making it was lacking. “Huh, this ain’t so bad after all,” said Trixie, taking another spoonful.

“I am a soldier, I do need to know about surviving in an unknown and possibly hostile world,” said Dark. “It’s not like they train us to punch, and swing swords at our problems.” A light chuckle came out of Dark, happy with his own joke.

Rolling her eyes from the silly joke, Twilight was still confused on Dark’s methods of finding food for the group. “But your in one of Equestria’s prosperous cities, ever… How can this be considered a hostile world?” asked Twilight.

“Any world is hostile… especially to someone like me. Don’t forget we’re currently running from the law, and any second somebody will spot us and the next second we could be in a cell… or worse,” said Dark.

Deciding not to continue arguing with Dark, Twilight eats her breakfast, happy to know she won’t need to find food for survival, especially if a being like Dark is with her. Speaking of Dark, it was boggling that Dark had stayed awake at least 48 hours or more, and had not eaten anything since his arrival. Whether it was his kind could survive without the average number of meals a day and number of hours required without hallucinating from lack of sleep... or that he was, ‘unique’ in proper terms. Still it was worrying for Twilight, and sooner or later Dark needed his rest, so while Dark had anytime to rest, Twilight and Trixie would do a list of things they need. This list included, supplies, food, information, and a place to stay.

Finishing breakfast, Trixie said her thanks, and went to clean the dishes. “Trixie will go and clean the dishes, get ready to leave when Trixie comes back,” said Trixie, levitating two bowls beside her.

Whilst Trixie headed to the park’s stream, Dark and Twilight quietly sat opposite from each other. It has been thirty or so minutes and for being one of the busiest cities in Equestria… it was awkwardly silent. Without anything to talk about… it made the usually chipper young alicorn… somewhat glum. After having done, in her own eyes, betrayed Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and her own brother, and allowing the escape of a mysterious and possibly dangerous being… Twilight couldn’t feel anymore guilty. Though having done all this… it’s moments like this… when your greeted with the strangest, of new friends. “Say… you mentioned you came to this city before… What exactly had you and your friends come to do here?” asked Dark, remembering what Twilight had said back on the train.

Twilight smiled, happy that one of the two had some idea on good conversation material. Sighing, Twilight inhales deeply and begins her fond memories of coming to Manehattan her first time with her friends. “Well… it all started with my friend Rarity, when we came here for a certain… ‘fashion event’...” said Twilight.

After several moments of storytelling later.

“And so after Rarity was given the trophy for winning the fashion contest, Coco Pommel given Rarity a gift, a rainbow cloth spool. It would later be one of the six keys to defeat Tirek… not only had we gained a new friend… but one of the keys to saving Equestria… and more,” said Twilight, gazing at the sky. “I do wonder how Coco is doing… I haven’t seen her for awhile?”

Dark was interested that a being that could absorb the magic or energy of other beings… only to be defeated by Twilight and her friends through six objects of importance from six separate ponies. “An interesting story to say the least, thank you for telling me it,” said Dark. “Do you think it’s possible we could ask for the assistance of this, Coco pony by any chance?”

Twilight had never thought of this… she isn’t particularly close to Coco, but maybe she might help her and Dark with… well… their situation. However, Manehattan was a large city, and finding Coco may prove problematic… that and Twilight had no knowledge to where she stays at. Returning with clean dishes, Trixie put away everything into her wagon, readying to leave the park.

“Now everything is settle, let us head off. Trixie has a long list of things that need to be done,” said Trixie.

Following behind, Dark, Twilight, and Trixie made their way through the streets of Manehattan. As rush hour was nearing, more and more ponies began to pool into the streets, as swarms of ponies began flooding from all directions. Since of the outrageous amounts of ponies, it hid Twilight and her friends well enough… though they had some glances toward them… but not at Twilight, but Dark himself. It would make sense for some ponies to stare at them with Dark being… mysterious, but many assumed he was some minotaur in some strange garb, continuing with their own business.

The trio had made it to a wide area with streets going from every possible direction. Twilight remembers coming her on her first visit to Manehattan, it brought a smile to the alicorn princess. Turning to face Dark and Twilight, Trixie revealed today’s plans to the rest of her group. “Trixie needs to… handle… something, that’s really important. Return here before dark, for now… I suppose you may do what you need to. And do not worry, Trixie knows a hotel we can stay for the night. For now… enjoy yourselves,” said Trixie, leaving with her wagon, only to turn back and face the two. “This is Manehattan after all… there are some sights to behold.”

Trixie left, disappearing into the crowd for Twilight any say. With a hoof outstretched, Twilight lowered her hoof, grumbling to herself. “What could she possibly needs to do that doesn’t require us?” said Twilight.

“Probably she went off to do her show… after all, she does travel alone most times. Now…” said Dark, rubbing his hands together. “I have never been to a city, especially one this big before, and since you’ve been here before… you mind showing me around?” Dark was eager to see the sights of this strange city, his thirst for knowledge and anything new was intense… it was scary, especially for a soldier trained to fight against robots and abominations of mass destruction.

Twilight, whom was also equally eager to begin exploring Manehattan once more… felt a strange chill down her body. For some reason it felt as though somepony was looking at her, turning to see she only saw more ponies trotting by, minding their own business. Deciding it was the wind, she continued with her list of possible locations to visit. “That was weird… now where was I?” thought Twilight.

“Well come on Dark, let’s head to this restaurant I heard of. My friends and I never gotten the chance of going there, so I thought we would get the chance of going now. How about it, what to go?” asked Twilight.

Dark nodded and with a simple, “Sure, why not” they headed off. Somewhere in a dark alley across where Twilight and Dark stood… and figure shifts, revealing to be the omnipotent being, known as, “The Spirit of Chaos”. Discord had been following Twilight’s group since they entered the train back on Dodge Junction. The only reason he had not intervened was because, he was curious of this Dark figure. From what Celestia had described to him, he was bipedal like a minotaur but instead of standing up in an angle like minotaurs would, Dark stood straight, not only that but he wore a near pitch black armor that both looked sturdy and well equipped. Nothing else is known about the creature, other than it has these strange gadgets for various situations, particularly this one situation where Dark himself was able to fly, and fast enough to out-fly the Wonderbolts. Now since Discord is a dear friend to Twilight, and before he took this mission, he promised Fluttershy that he wouldn’t do no harm to Twilight… he kept that promise. “However… she never said anything about that creature though,” said Discord, chuckling maliciously. In a sudden puff, Discord vanished into the darkness, with a strange grayish crow flying above the duo.

Whilst Twilight led Dark to this restaurant, a bright sign above saying the title of said restaurant. “Behold Dark, ‘Diner Le Crystal’. The ponies who set up this diner are said to be ponies who escaped the rule of King Sombra, many years ago. Afterwords they’re children and their childrens’ children have been living in Manehattan ever since. This diner is to remember those ponies legacy and of their kind. My friends and I wanted to come here… but we couldn’t though sadly, come on, let’s go in,” said Twilight, stepping through the double doors.

Once entering, Twilight was greeted with a voice that was happy for her own arrival, unaware who she was addressing. “Hello, welcome to ‘Diner Le Crystal’, also known as ‘The Crystal Diner’. How may I help...” said the mare, suddenly stopping mid-sentence. The mare stared wide-eyed, her pupils turning to the size of dinner plates. The mare was staring at Twilight, and she recognized royalty from her wings and horn. “you.”

“Uhm… hello,” said Twilight, a nervous smile creeping her face.

Suddenly, after two seconds of quiet silence, the mare began to squeal in delight. This caught the attention of all the workers in the diner, who actually had just opened only a few moments ago. Dark who just keep standing there dumbfounded answered Twilight’s own thoughts. “What?” said Dark.

“IT’S PRINCESS TWILIGHT!” screamed the mare, her hooves on her face. The second the mare mentioned the name of royalty, every single pony in the diner came immediately to the front entrance.

“REALLY!?”

“WHERE!?”

“I WANT TO SEE!”

Everypony began swarming Twilight, less focused on Dark and more on Twilight herself. Having breaking out of shock, Twilight tried to escape but was blocked from all directions. Now surrounded by ponies, Twilight thought she would be trapped… if a long outstretching hand weren’t there for her. Grabbing Twilight by the back hairs of her neck, Dark surprising lifting her up, without making the alicorn wince from the sudden tug of her fur. Now placed on the back of Dark, Twilight felt embarrassed that she was in such a pose… that it gave everypony in view two separate reactions, one of awe… and annoyance.

“Hey! What do you think your doing!?” said one pony, wearing a waiter outfit.

“That’s the princess your grabbing with your grubby hands. How dare you treat royalty like that!” shouted another pony, wearing a chef hat.

All the ponies began to bicker that Dark thought he would have a pan or something, hit him right in the noggin… luckily that didn’t happen. Now it was hard to tell Dark’s emotions since nopony could see his face… but Twilight could feel, that Dark wasn’t pleased at the slightest. “And you decide to swarm her without of the thought of how she feels at the slightest! Calling the kettle black, you ponies are just...” said Dark. Dark pointed one finger amongst the group of ponies, while the other keeping Twilight on his back.

Twilight, who felt slight embarrassed how Dark had saved her by putting her on his back… nudged Dark by the helmet. Dark looked at Twilight with an inquisitive look that could be simplified with two words. “Yes Twilight?” said Dark, politely.

“Not to be rude for helping me back there but… you mind that I stand on my own hooves, please,” said Twilight.

It took Dark a few seconds until realizing how uncomfortable a pose this was for Twilight. Lifting her off with one hand, Dark places her behind him, keeping one hand toward the crowd of ponies, and patting Twilight on the head with the other. “Sorry, just trying to be of some use,” said Dark.

“You’ve been enough use for a while...” said Twilight, in a whisper.

“Excuse me?” asked Dark, not hearing Twilight. “You said something?”

“Nothing… nothing,” said Twilight, swaying her hoof at Dark.

As the alicorn kept to herself, Dark returned his focus back to the crowd… who were equally baffled from the close interaction that Princess Twilight had with… whatever Dark is. “Uhhhh… excuse me but… just, what… are you?” asked one of the ponies, finally wondering about Dark.

“Me… I… I...” said Dark. Slowing pointing his finger back to the ground, Dark slowly inched toward Twilight, whispering in her ear. “Pssshhhhh, Twilight… What do I tell these ponies? I can’t say I’m the runaway said in the news, now can I.”

Twilight caught up to Dark’s predicament, and decided to take action onto her own hooves. “Let me handle this,” said Twilight. Moving toward the group of ponies, she caught the attention of everypony, whilst showing signs of royalty. “This tall figure her… is my personal bodyguard.”

Dark, who nopony could see… was shocked, and he wasn’t alone. The ponies too were shocked to hear that this strange… ‘thing’ was the royal personal bodyguard of Princess Twilight Sparkle… it arisen a wave of questions and more. “REALLY!?” shouted everypony present.

Twilight nodded, though she wasn’t lying… Dark had been protecting Twilight so far, and he did act as a guardian of sorts, though his methods are… interesting. Deep in Dark’s own psyche… thoughts arose of the situation he gotten himself into. “Out of all the royal figures I get stuck with… I get stuck with the one who just became a princess yesterday… figuratively,” thought Dark, mentally face-palming himself. “Why do I always get stuck with the troublesome ones?”

After asking himself his own question, everypony began looking at him… wondering themselves if this is true. Noticing all the eyes on him, Dark simply nodded… though this being half-true. What happened next was Twilight and Dark being carried, and placed on a V.I.P area of the restaurant. They were in a sort of small room, that could be covered with curtains. The tables and seats, had a sort of classic ancient style to it, similar to how the furniture looks from the Crystal Empire but with some Manehattan flair with it. Shaking from the sudden motion of being carried by a crowd of ponies, one pony stood in front of the pair, with a notepad levitated by the pony’s own magic.

The pony was a stallion wearing a waiter outfit, with a black bow-tie, he happily smiled at Twilight and her foremost mentioned guard. “We are honored your highness for you to come to our fine establishment. Even though it is still the breakfast hour, we would gladly prepare whatever dish we have to our list. My name is Swift Dish, at your service,” said Swift, bowing. “What may you like first?”

“Uhm… just the breakfast meals,” said Twilight, looking through the list of food. The list held a long arrangement of different dishes, some known in Manehattan, while others are famous in the Crystal Empire. Deciding to pick a meal for himself, Dark picks up the list himself. Reading every name of every dish, one particular ish gets Dark’s attention.

“Excuse me but… one is this, ‘Gem Salad?” asked Dark, placing his finger on the dish’s name.

The waiter pony known as Swift, stared at what Dark was pointing at. Nodding to Dark’s question, Swift begins explaining about the strange dish. “Oh that, well since Manehattan has an area where dragons lived, some of our customers are dragons you see. So some dishes are fit for dragons, while also safely accepted by Manehattan’s citizens as… ‘safe’. The dish comprises of gems of various size, shape, and type. There are also specialized vegetables and fruits that dragons like that we added to this dish. Do you want this sort of dish?” asked Swift.

Dark puts down the list slowly, and begins to think carefully. After finished with his thoughts, Dark decides to eat this crystalline dish… but with a few slight changes. “Yes indeed, however… instead of there being fruits and vegetables, I’ll simply have gems. By the way, do you have any gems that emit any energy of any kind… particularly electricity?” asked Dark.

Swift tilts his head in confusion from Dark’s question but, shakes away that thought and does what Dark asks for. Turning to face Twilight, Swift asks her what she would like for breakfast. “And what would you like, my majesty,” said Swift, putting his focus toward Twilight.

“I’ll just have a daisy sandwich, and some apple juice… with ice, please,” said Twilight.

Once done giving what meals they want, Swift levitates the two lists and heads toward the kitchen. After Swift left, another pony came through the kitchen doors, with a cart. The pony was an earth pony mare, wearing a maid outfit. The mare brings the cart toward Dark and Twilight, stopping right behind the cart. “Would you like some tea, princess?” asked the mare. “As well as you too, would like some?”

“Of course. Dark?” said Twilight.

Dark sits there staring at the tea, and with a quick movement with his hand, Dark doesn’t accept the offer. “I’m fine… tea isn’t… my cup of tea,” said Dark. Even though nopony can see Dark’s expression, Twilight can almost hear Dark smirk and chuckle a little from his attempt at a pun… it reminded Twilight a lot of an old friend of hers. The mare giggles from Dark’s joke, and nods to his response, giving a cup of tea to Twilight, and returning back to the kitchen.

Waiting for their meal, Twilight quietly sips her tea with her magic. Within Twilight’s own psyche, her mind slowly ebbs away, every time she remembers… “him”, Dark notices this and takes action. Placing his hand on Twilight’s hoof, Twilight slowly moves her gaze to look at Dark’s, or in this case his visor. Twilight can’t tell how Dark is feeling but, she can tell Dark is worried about Twilight’s condition, mentally and emotionally.

“Twilight… is everything all right?” asked Dark.

Twilight shakes her head, mentally, and returns Dark’s look of worry with a look of her own. “I’m fine… it was just that joke reminded me of… somepony,” said Twilight, reassuring Dark. “You could say I’m… crystal clear.”

Dark grins mentally at Twilight’s attempt of a joke, but because of him unable to show any signs of expression, Twilight frowns from being unable to tell how Dark is feeling. “Okay, okay, the joke was bad, that doesn’t mean yours was better,” said Twilight.

“No no no, it was good… sorry for my lacking of… facial expression… to be honest, I’ve been wearing this helmet… well since my recruitment to the D.U.F.” said Dark, his tone sounding sad. “Not once had I seen my own face… my own eyes.”

Twilight was surprised about this, she assumed Dark had seen his own face… nevertheless of what he looks like. Dark’s hold on Twilight’s hoof weakened… as he was busy on his own thoughts and ideas of his own… or to be specific, thoughts of the past. Whenever people, pony or any other creatures of any origin ask him of his identity… Dark has strange dreams, and memories of another… “him”. These dreams would be of memorable sweet dreams… other times… it would be nightmares of a hellish proportions. This dream however, was neither, at first it started quiet… then, the pitter-patter of water was heard… and then, a shower of rain came to vision. Dark… or in this case, “his past-self” was amidst a storm… the scenery was both sad… and painful. The dream or memory showed him staring at someone… it was a female… a woman? Dark had no idea who this person was but, the only time he ever had this memory was only in one certain moment in his life in the D.U.F., the day he was found. This memory shook Dark, to suddenly appear in this sort of situation… it was almost as if…

Before Dark could finish his thought, Twilight and Dark were interrupted by a sudden cough. Looking up where the cough came from, it was Swift Dish, and he brought a cart with Twilight and Dark’s meals. The duo weren’t sure how long Swift had been standing there but they could tell he was there for awhile and didn’t wanted to interrupt the princess and her guard’s, quote-on-quote moment. “I’m sorry for stopping from what you two were doing… but, your meals are here,” said Swift, stepping to the side to show the two their food.

Before the two were their meals, Twilight’s daisy sandwich and her juice. For Dark, a bowl of gems awaited him, some were some gems like rubies and sapphires, but other gave off a distinct glow and energy. Dark was happy with his request being answered; Swift levitated their meals and bowed, leaving them to eat. While Twilight levitated her sandwich and took a sizable bite, she returns her focus at Dark. Dark simply stared at the gems, either thinking or examining the minerals before him. Twilight gulped down the piece of her sandwich once done chewing and asked Dark what was wrong. “Is something wrong with your meal?” asked Twilight.

“No… just remembering how I do this again,” said Dark, still staring at the bowl.

“You mean how to eat?” said Twilight, giggling from Dark’s answer.

“Not that… well… yeah, but it’s… ‘complicating’.” Dark grabs a good large gem, and sees every side of it. Then he opens a compartment on a device on his wrist, he then places the gem inside. Twilight continues to stare until, she begins to hear something. The noise at first was quiet, but strange melodic noise, both enchanting but random begins to grow louder, the noise than silences itself until a loud caching was heard. Dark emits a blue aura, similar to the color of the gem he placed into the compartment previously before. Unsure what had occurred Twilight coughs, getting Dark’s attention.

“Not to be rude… but what was that?” asked Twilight, bewildered.

“Me eating,” said Dark, bluntly.

Twilight began staring at Dark, she was both amazed, curious… and confused what Dark meant by, he was eating. Twilight notices that a blue liquid started appearing on a vial on Dark’s wrist, watching the liquid it slowly disappeared until Dark made a burp noise. The two awkwardly sat… until Twilight responded with a sensibly reaction. “Whhhhhaaaa?” said Twilight, awe-shocked.

“I think I should get explaining,” said Dark.

“You think, you THINK! What, what was that?! With the gem and the wrist, not to mention that weird liquid that appeared and disappeared! Wha-wha-wha-wha…WHAT DID YOU DO!?” shouted Twilight, question arising every second.

Dark immediately places a hand on Twilight’s muzzle, while at the same time using his free hand to close the curtains surrounding them. Once done Dark slowly removes his hand, and speaks in a hushed tone. “First, I need you to listen to what I need to say befor you go to any conclusions,” said Dark, receiving a nod from Twilight. “Secondly… this armor is more than just a suit. It’s also my only source to stay alive.”

Twilight gave an inquisitive look, and wanted to speak, but stayed quiet and listened. Seeing Twilight understanding Dark’s pleas, Dark coughed and continued to explain.

“Now, my suit can copy other being’s abilities if I put a piece of them in this compartment like I did with the gem,” said Dark. Pointing at the same compartment before, he puts a gem inside and closes it. “But, this method also works with food, and energy...”

“Energy?” asked Twilight, her need to speak growing.

“Yes, you see the suit is powered by gems or electricity. It takes the powder of gems and turns into a sort of liquid in which can be used to power this suit. It’s perfectly harmless so don’t worry for environment damage happening,” said Dark, reassuring Twilight. “Now for my food. The same process on how the suit makes energy for itself is the same for food. The liquid gets transferred across the suit, then emits an aura depending on what gem the suit consumes. The aura heals me, feeds me, and more. This suit is also keeping me alive… well, because a long time ago, I gotten into an incident that nearly killed me… That was when the D.U.F. found me and gave me the chance to work under them, while keeping the suit. Free of charge.”

Twilight was amazed by how advanced technology Dark has in his possession. Now magic was also amazing, but being a creature that uses and made of magic is pretty part of the norm. With Manehattan and a few other cities being the only ones using electricity through what many ponies know as, science. Other villages and towns use magic or fire to light their towns at dark. However, in Dark’s case, his wearing something that is thousands, maybe eras ahead of their time… this “D.U.F.” group is probably the most highest sophisticated organization Twilight or anypony would ever encounter… not to mention the whole, “Protecting the Multiverse” situation that Dark’s involved in. Before Twilight could speak, the curtains began to shuffle and a pony popped their head through. The pony was the mare from before he asked Twilight and Dark if they wanted tea.

“Excuse me, but not to be rude princess… but it’s best you leave now,” said the mare.

“How come? We haven’t finished our meals yet?” asked Twilight.

“Well… it’s best you look,” said the mare.

Seeing what the mare meant, Dark and Twilight looked and saw a crowd or in this case, a paparazzi outside, cameras ready. Apparently, somepony saw Twilight and called Manehatten’s newsponies to the location where this pony saw Twilight. Luckily the diner has a policy on protecting their clients privacy, especially a princess. “Quick, follow me through the back. And don’t worry about not paying, I think our boss will be happy enough to know a princess ate in our establishment. By the way, my name is Sweet Tea,” said Sweet, smiling.

After Dark and Twilight were led through the back, a few members of the paparazzi spotted Dark and Twilight and began chase. As Sweet Tea said farewell to the princess and her bodyguard, both Dark and Twilight made their way to escape. Twilight teleported her and Dark to the roof of some buildings, but were followed by unicorn and pegasi newsponies. “Now what?” asked Dark.

Twilight surveyed the area, until noticing a large crowd of ponies, possibly part of rush hour. “I got an idea,” said Twilght.

Seeing what Twilight was seeing, Dark nodded and followed Twilight’s lead. They both jumped down to the crowd, losing themselves amongst everypony. The paparazzi try their best to search, only to find nothing. Twilight and Dark on the other hand escaped, heading toward an empty street, derived of pony and paparazzi. “That… was...” said Twilight, catching her breath. “Was not how I expected to start the day.”

“Well, you are a princess after all,” said Dark, standing to his full height.

“I guess,” said Twilight chuckling. While busy with today’s interesting morning… something caught Twilight’s eye. Taking a gander what it was, she uses her magic to bring before her eyesight. Also seeing what Twilight was reading, both are shocked what they are reading. “Oh no...”

The two were reading today’s newspaper… and the first thing they see… is Twilight’s friends being dragged off into Canterlot. The title says, “Elements Taken To Canterlot”. The paper says that they have harbored with Princess Twilight’s escape and the mysterious creature calling itself, Soldier 3112. It also says that Twilight’s friends might know where Twilight has vanished to… when they don’t know anything, and simply helped their friend escaped.

“My, friends,” said Twilight, dropping the paper out of shock.

Dark kept silent, but spoke, careful with his words. “I can’t say it wasn’t your fault or not… but remember, I don’t think your leaders will to anything harsh to them. You mentioned one of them never lies, so they have to believe her, correct?” said Dark.

Twilight stares at the ground, but nods. She shakes her thoughts of worry away, and trusts her friends to be safe, and has faith they’ll be safe. “Yeah… your right,” said Twilight, taking in Dark’s message to heart. “Come on… we need to find Trixie about this.”

Twilight and Dark head off to find Trixie… but it seems that whilst they continued down the street they were in, a very familiar crow follows the duo. Both are unaware to Discord, following them to their next destination.

Tourist Arc: Ch.11 - It's Brawlin Time

Author's Note

I may have rushed this story, so there might be some mistakes that I may not noticed. So if you feel to say anything I should change, simply comment; every little thing helps.

Tourist Arc: Ch.11 - It's Brawlin Time

“PLEASE SOMEPONY! ANYPONY! HELP US!” screamed Twilight. After running from the factory, we were surrounded by another group of thugs. Trixie was unconscious, I was too weakened to defend myself or Trixie… and Dark… Dark… Oh Celestia… please somepony… anyone… help us… please…

30 minutes earlier, Manehattan, Abandoned Factory

CRASH! That was the sound of a 300 pound minotaur being tossed through thick window panes, from three stories high. I watched Tricky’s “muscle”, laying on the floor of the factory, possibly with almost all his bones fractured, luckily he was still alive… though I think I should worry less about him and on our situation more.

“You sonna of a...” said Tricky. “GET THEM!”

The two stallions that were blocking the door rushed toward us, but like lighting, Dark appeared in front of them and in an instant… they had the same fate as the same who was tossed out the window. Dark grabbed the unicorn by his horn, throwing him at Tricky; he then dodged the pegasus and grabbed both his wings. Placing his boot on his spine, he pulled tightly on his wings, and pop, Dark pulled the pegasus’s wings… now Dark didn’t pull them out, all he did was simply pull the wing muscles… though… it’s still painful.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!” screamed the pegasus henchman.

Before the pegasus could continue to scream, Dark placed his hand on his muzzle stopping his screaming. With a quick turn, he thrown the pegasus, as he flew across the room into the door that led to the stairs. Ironically, somepony opened the door, which caused the pegasus to collide with whoever opened the door; making the two tumble down the stairs. Whilst this happened Tricky gotten the unicorn henchman off him. “Don’t just lay about. SET OFF THE ALARM!” shouted Tricky.

The unicorn stood immediately where he removed a painting, revealing a switch. Pulling the switch with his magic, a loud blare of sound activated. Everypony in the factory and within it’s surroundings went to full on lock-down mode. Dark looked at Trixie and me, whilst grabbing a leg chair.

“Come on girls, we’re outta of here!” said Dark.

“Don’t need to tell me twice,” I said, following behind.

“Not yet...” said Trixie. Trixie turned to face Tricky, showing how unhappy she was with how the deal went… and so, she unleashed that frustration to the nearest thing… or in this case, pony. “Trixie has some unfinished… business.”

Tricky stood where he was, unafraid of Trixie… though, I think it’s not a wise idea to anger a unicorn, especially somepony like Trixie. “Oh? What are you going to do, hmmm? Show me one of your… parlor tricks?” said Tricky, tauntingly. Tricky began to laugh, insulting Trixie even more… though, before he knew it, Tricky was levitating off the ground.

“Oh no no no no… Trixie’s got something else for you… now your a lucky pony because I never do this to my audience. BEHOLD, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE SHALL TURN THIS, FEEBLE SILLY PONY… into a potato,” said Trixie, grinning.

“What!? You can’t do that, your bluffing!” said Tricky.

Trixie began grinning widely, suddenly Trixie sent a surge of magic into Tricky. A puff of smoke appeared where he was, and in his place… was a potato. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?” screamed Tricky. A talking… potato.

“Why a simple parlor trick of course, what else? Now, enjoy your form,” said Trixie, in a sing-song voice.

Trixie followed behind us, smiling all the way down the stairs. I have no idea where Trixie gotten to use such a powerful spell, but it seems she’s been studying some powerful spells, that’s for sure. Once arriving down the flight of stairs, a pony rushes at Trixie. “TRIXIE LOOK OUT!” I shout, warning Trixie.

The pony that attempted to jump Trixie was sent flying when Dark thrown what looked like another pony. Both the stallions began tumbling into a pile of boxes, causing the pile to collapse. I stopped from any boxes from falling on any one of us, but I became vulnerable when I did this. Sneaking up behind me was a minotaur, grabbing me by the wings and lifting me in the air. He then tossed me into Trixie, where we both found ourselves helplessly on the ground. “Ohhhh,” I said, groaning.

“Where did you come from?” said Trixie. “Well next time… warn Trixie when you do that.”

Before I could retort, the minotaur stood before us; he clenched his fists, ready to bring the pain… but some things don’t end the way you expect. Suddenly, when the minotaur released his fist, Dark grabbed it in mid-throw. He then began to flung the minotaur to an oncoming horde of stallions, ready to rush us. “Why don’t you mess with someone your own size!” shouted Dark.

The minotaur was sent flying, then a loud crash was heard. Dark then helped Trixie and I, but the battle wasn’t over yet. More and more of Tricky’s henchmen began to flood the factory from all directions, earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and minotaurs, all ready to handle an alicorn, an illusionist, and a soldier. Not my strangest day, but I rather be dealing with Pinkie’s random acts than this.

“What’s the plan now?” asked Dark.

“Plan? You tossed that minotaur out the window and began tussling with every single one of these criminal like it’s normal for you, and your asking what’s the plan!?” shouted Trixie.

“Say’s the one who turned that guy into a potato,” said Dark. “I think what I do wasn’t so bad to what you did.”

“It’s only temporary, I learned that spell and it says it’ll last for a few hours or so,” said Trixie, pouting.

“Can we please focus on the giant crowd of thugs right now, please,” I said.

Right when I finished, all hell broke loose. Every single one of Tricky’s henchmen began to rush toward us, deciding to just dog pile us than to send one of them, at a time. “GET THEM!” shouted one of the henchmen.

As one henchman pounced forward, Dark grabbed him by the leg and swung him down; he then ran forward, barreling through them all. Trixie though dropped a smoke bomb disappearing… while I was left to teleport or fly in the air. Watching below, Dark punched, kicked, grabbed, smacked, until every single thug in the factory was either left in a pile of broken bones or broken pride. I wasn’t being careful because, I found myself surrounded by four pegasi. “Nowhere to go now, princess,” said one pegasus.

“Let’s catch her! Maybe we can ransom her for bits,” said another pegasus.

“Are you an idiot, why ransom her when we can keep her!” shouted a third.

“Alright then it’s settled, we’ll keep her and that’s final!” shouted the fourth one. “CHARGE!”

All four pegasi flew right to me, where I teleported and all for crashed into each other. I teleported by Trixie, where she was busy fighting another unicorn. Deciding to help, we both send the unicorn into a pillar… that was a mistake. Causing the pillar to be knocked over, the whole factory began to collapse. Pieces of the roof began to fall to the ground, as more and more pillars began to wobble loose, falling into the ground with a thunderous sound. All of Tricky’s thugs ran out, with one thug carrying a potato which was Tricky. “YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!” shouted Tricky.

Dark, who was busy still fighting more of those thugs noticed everypony running. As we were also about to leave, we heard a scream. “HELP!” screamed somepony. Looking where the scream came from, apparently we were followed. One of those paparazzi ponies must of followed us and was currently caught under a pillar. Her wing was stuck, and one of her legs was broken, with the factory about to collapse… except there was something else that we forgot.

“WE NEED TO HELP HER!” I shouted, running to the mare.

“BUT THE FACTORY WILL COLLAPSE SOON, NOT TO MENTION THE LARGE PILE OF AMMUNITION THERE!” shouted Trixie, pointing toward something. Looking I saw what Trixie was pointing at; in a corner of the factory was a large pile of weapons and ammunition, possibly brought from other lands. Gun powder, cannonballs, and other volatile objects were there… and if this factory were to fall on top of it all… oh Celestia no.

I quickly tried to lift the beam with all my magic, with the help of Trixie, but no luck. The beam was too heavy to lift, that and dust began to appear from the sudden destruction of this factory. Unable to focus from lack of breathing and vision, we couldn’t help this mare… well, not us but maybe someone else. Dark pushed us aside, placing both his hands underneath the metal beam. “GO! I GOT THIS!” shouted Dark.

“We can’t leave you here! We’ll help t-”

“I SAID GO!” shouted Dark, interrupted Twilight.

I was unable to argue with Dark, so I teleported Trixie and I outside the factory. Running to safety… it happened like a blur; the factory exploded. The explosion took us off our hooves, sending both Trixie and I flying in the air, where we met face first to the ground.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious… but it felt like hours… Disoriented, I moved my head, looking around I saw Trixie where I moved to her side. Touching her with my hoof, she was alive… but unconscious. I picked her up, and placed her on my back… that’s when I looked back… the factory was… was… gone. All that remained was a column of smoke, with a pile of rubble at it’s base. “Dark…” I said.

I wasn’t sure if Dark survived that explosion… but I need to get out of here as quick as I could. I ran… well more like a limped but ran nevertheless, at first it was quiet… than I heard hoof steps behind me. I knew who was followed me, so I tried running into an alleyway… but it was a dead end. When I finally turned around, it was some of Tricky’s men… which one of them was Tricky himself, who wasn’t a potato. “Your lucky one of my men knows how to disable spells, but your not so lucky now… are you,” said Tricky.

Tricky and his thugs slowly began to surround us… I was too hurt to try doing any advanced spells… and I couldn’t fly in my condition… so I screamed. "PLEASE SOMEPONY! ANYPONY! HELP US!” screamed Twilight. I felt so cold… it was probably because I was bleeding on my forehead and back… I think some shrapnel must of flew and hit me when the factory exploded… The color from my eyes are disappearing… everything is going black and white… I… I hear screaming… and… … … somepony else? … Dark?

Present Time, Manehattan, 11:05am

Trixie woke up, looking around she found herself in an alleyway. She smelled like blood… that was when she noticed something strange… it was wet… and… warm. Feeling something heavy on her lap, she looked down; it was Twilight who was bleeding on her. Trixie immediately picked up Twilight, trying to wake her up, placing one hoof where the blood was coming from. “Twilight! TWILIGHT! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!” shouted Trixie.

At first Twilight didn’t move… but then something shifted… and then Trixie melt breathing on her neck. Twilight fidgeted, slowly opening her eyes, she began to weakly look at Trixie and her surroundings. “T-Trixie? W-where are we?” asked Twilight. “Where is… Dark?”

Trixie sighed happy that nopony was going to die during their little adventure… well assuming no one did. “Trixie doesn’t know, the last place we saw him, Dark stayed behind to try getting that mare out… Speaking of which, how did we get here?” said Trixie. “I remember a loud explosion then, the ground...”

Trixie rubbed her temple, both throbbing and a headache from waking up. Twilight looked around, also noticing her wounds though nothing major, could be a problem if they don’t find help soon. However, what was truly noticeable was the noise coming from outside the alleyway. Helping Twilight to her hooves, Trixie carried her outside the dark alleyway. “What’s going on?” thought Twilight.

Reaching outside was something… surprising; apparently Dark’s mission to rescue that reporter that was trapped under the beam before the factory exploded… was alive. Not only that but she called the authorities, and convinced them to come to the worse parts of Manehattan. A crowd had come to the scene of the factory’s remains, and many of the surrounding thugs and criminals had dispersed from the area. Nopony noticed Twilight or Trixie, until the reporter had spotted the two leaving the alleyway.

“PRINCESS!” shouted the reporter, rushing toward Twilight and Trixie.

When the rest of the crowd heard this, they too spotted Twilight and came toward her, but after noticing her wounds, they kept a meter distance away from her, fearing they may do more harm than help. With Manehattan’s police, firefighters, and ambulance in the area, they helped out with anypony who may have been injured in the incident. One doctor went to check Trixie and Twilight wounds, when the reporter came by to see them. “I’m so glad your already your highness. When I saw you, I simple followed when you and your companions came to this part of town. What were you doing here?” asked the reporter.

Twilight was injured but needed to explain her reasons for coming here, or rumors may spread and make her situation worse than ever. About to speak, Trixie stops her deciding to speak for her instead. “Trixie’s the reason Princess Twilight is here. Trixie need the princess’s help with… a situation happening here. Rumor was there was a dangerous object here that in the wrong hooves may do damage to Equestria, so she asked for the help of Twilight and her… friend,” said Trixie.

“I see… but you do know the Twilight is wanted for… well… for something,” said the reporter. “Either you knew willingly of this… or you didn’t.”

“Trixie did knew, Trixie won’t deny that, but Trixie had nopony else to fall to with this special mission,” said Trixie. “Speaking of mission, what has come to our… third member?”

The reporter raised an eyebrow, not knowing what they meant until her memory resurfaced. “You mean that armored minotaur? No clue; when I woke from being unconscious, I called the authorities immediately of this situation,” said the reporter, shrugging.

“I see...” said Twilight, worried. “I’m surprised that the authorities came all the way here because of a building exploding in this part of Manehattan. We were told that nopony would ever came here, no matter the situation.”

“What you mean princess? I didn’t call the authorities because of the factory,” said the reporter. “I called them… because of that.”

Pointing with her hoof, the reporter’s hoof moved pass Twilight and Trixie. Turning to see what she was looking at, both their faces contorted with an expression of horror and fear. On the walls near the same alleyway that Twilight and Trixie came out of… was the body prints of five ponies. The wall was stained with blood, and scarred of scratches, as if a monster of some sort came by and tore apart whoever it made contact with.

“What… did… this,” said Trixie, her voice near quiet.

“Nopony knows, no witnesses, no clues, no nothing. Luckily the ponies that made this prints are alive… almost alive...” said the reporter, shaking from the sight. “Their bodies had bruises and cuts all over them; their bones were broken form the inside, one had his limbs pulled until he was unable to move anymore. But...”

Twilight and Trixie had stopped eying the nearly destroyed walled, watching the reporter’s lips. “When the authorities arrived… they counted that these ponies fought something really big… and really angry. They also estimated that their were six ponies here recently… they only found five out of six… the sixth pony is missing,” said the reporter.

Somewhere near Twilight and Trixie’s location, Manehattan, 11:10am

Watching both Twilight and Trixie, Discord sniffed turning to face the only witness who actually saw what happened. “Now… since my friend is safe, you’ll tell me where I can find the thing that done all of this,” said Discord. “I was distracted one second and lost where the princess had gone, and had to look everywhere when I saw smoke in the distance. Your lucky that I was able to make sure you weren't in a bad condition… or you’d might had actually died.”

Tricky, coughing some blood was immobilized by the chaos spirit’s magic. Trying to escape, Tricky tried slipping through the enchanted chains, with no avail at all. Discord noticed and sighed, floating toward him Discord crossed his claw and paw together. “You do know I’m the spirit of chaos, your attempts aren’t going to work if you must know. Now, are you ready to talk, or do I need to leave you bleeding here some more?” said Discord, a smile creeping to his face.

“You think… I don’t know who you are… I don’t give a damn if your the princesses! I ain’t telling shit to you,” said Tricky, spitting at Discord.

Wiping the saliva off his face, Discord snapped his fingers. Tricky found himself levitating off the ground, some stories off the ground. Afraid he’ll fall any second, Tricky quickly spoke toward Discord. “OKAY OKAY I’LL TALK!” screamed Tricky.

Discord flung Tricky back to the roof, snickering from Tricky’s reaction. “You should of seen your reaction,” said Discord. “Now… who did this to you?”

Tricky tried remembering what had happened, staring at the tall column of smoke that was his hideout. “It was like a blur… we were surrounding the princess and her companion in an alleyway...” said Tricky, retelling the story.

7 minutes before the authorities arrived, Manehattan

Right before the princess went unconscious… he… appeared.

“What the?” said one of Tricky’s thugs. One of my men felt something on his head, he wasn’t sure what it was but it felt… sticky… Looking up, he wasn’t fast enough to scream when something grabbed him, all we heard was the clatter of his weapon fall. We all turned, seeing that one of us vanished, immediately fear came to us all.

“WHAT THE!? WHERE DID CORKSCREW GO!” shouted another thug.

Out of nowhere, we saw something run by one of my men. Like a blur, it grabbed another of… dragging him into the shadows. At first we heard grunting… then silence; all my men began to run of the alleyway without me. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING! GET BACK HERE” shouted Tricky.

I went to follow, but… I heard the screams… by Celestia, the screams. I heard the sound of bones being snapped, the loud crash of one of my men being thrown into the wall. I slowly turned and approached the princess…

“This is all your fault,” thought Tricky. “You and your stupid sense of what’s right and wrong. I don’t give a damn if your some, all powerful being… your nothing… but a stupid mare.”

I raised my weapon, ready to send it crushing her head… when I felt something light about the club in my mouth. I turned my eye to face this reason… and I saw Tartarus itself. Standing behind me was a creature… from neck to toe, armored in a pure black armor… but it’s face… there was nothing but a dark flame, eyes blank, nothing but white. It stared at me… then instantly, it grabbed me by my neck, causing me to drop my weapon. It slammed me into the wall, nearly breaking my spine; I coughed some blood. I was afraid… no not afraid… it felt as if death itself was here to judge me of my sins… it leaned in close, and spoke.

“Your fear… your anger… your greed… you stench of it...” said the dark figure. “...Feed, me, more...”

Suddenly, the figure moved it’s hand onto my face. It clutched hard on my face, and I felt it… it slowly began eating away my life, piece by piece. I thought I was going to die, but I heard the sirens. The figure dropped me, and it flew up into the air in a puff of shadows. Right before the authorities could get me…

“You found me, and now where here… you interrogating me, and I talking like I’m some kind of story teller,” said Tricky, smirking. “Want to know anything else?”

Discord eyebrow raised slightly, not showing signs that he believe Tricky the slightest. “So your saying… some shadowy figure… ambushed you and your thugs… and tried to eat your soul?” said Discord, inquisitively.

“YOU THINK I’D BE LYING ABOUT THIS KIND OF SHIT! I HAVE THE BLOODY WOUNDS TO PROVE IT!” shouted Tricky.

“Of course I believe you, I am a master at deception. What I don’t believe is that this mysterious creature didn’t finish you off,” said Discord. “I would, considering somepony like you tried to kill one of my friends.”

Tricky gulped, not wanting to mess with the spirit of chaos. Before Tricky could speak, Discord placed his claw on his muzzle; after removing it Discord continue to speak. “Now that I’m done with you… I don’t need you,” said Discord, smiling. “Toodles.”

In a puff of smoke Discord disappeared, at the same time Tricky’s chains dissipated into smoke too. Left on the roof of a random building, Tricky contemplating his life right now. “...From now on… I am not going to deal with all-powerful beings… ever… again,” said Tricky.

Somewhere…

“I hunger… so hungry… must, have, more...” said the dark figure. The figure walked down the alleyway, watching from the darkness, ponies minding their own business. “Nothing… nothing to feed on...”

The dark figure was about to vanish… until he stopped. Sniffing the air he smelt something, the same smell he smelt from the six ponies he encountered in the alleyway, gifting that strange energy. He saw a carriage with a red plus symbol on it, zoom by, with some ponies inside it. The dark figure stared at the carriage until it disappeared in sight; licking it’s non-existent lips, the figure following the carriage through the darkness, like it hawk… it chases it’s prey. “Fooooooood,” said the dark figure.

Something dark has awoken, searching for something… unique in this world. Twilight and Trixie injured and confused are sent to Manehattan Hospital, both in custody and in the care of Manehattan’s doctors and nurses. Discord follows behind, watching to see what happens next… but what really doesn't make sense is…

...What happened to Dark Armor, and where is he?

Tourist Arc: Ch.12 - Negative Pulse

Author's Note

WARNING: Mild violence will be in this chapter, be warned.

Tourist Arc: Ch.12 - Negative Pulse

Manehattan, Manehattan Hospital, 1:00pm

Some hours after Twilight and Trixie were taken to Manehattan Hospital; the authorities have sent a letter toward Canterlot to tell the princesses that they found Princess Twilight, with her was a pony by the name of Trixie… but no sign of the strange bipedal being that many witnesses had spotted to be with the lavender princess. Being kept within a certain wing of the hospital, filled of police ponies, and guards, Twilight and Trixie were recovering in their room, while at the same time, surrounded by anti-magic runes to keep them from teleporting… however, that won’t happen any time soon. Twilight, who was out of the two was covered in bandages, with one or two needles prodding her fur, inserting a clear liquid inside her. Trixie however, only had a bandage on her head and torso, though the headache she felt made the pain four times bad as being stabbed in the leg. Twilight stared out the window… expecting a figure, clad in black armor to come… but nobody came. She sighed, knowing that Dark couldn’t survive that explosion… but he was able to save somepony's life… Dark may seemed to be some sort of evil creature… really, he was the complete opposite. He was a soldier, serving the multiverse, and defending it from evils that were beyond Twilight’s knowledge and understanding… but he was also somebody who wanted the truth… to understand the world, and cared for every living thing… that everyone had a choice.

Twilight stared into the brick buildings, and carriages that went by from the road in front of the hospital. “Where are you Dark?” thought Twilight.

While Twilight was busy with her own thoughts, from the building, facing opposite of the hospital… something shadowy was eyeing the pure marble building… thoughts full of malice intentions, and a thirst for something… vile. The dark figure followed one of the ambulances which was holding a patient… the patient or in this case, the patient’s family or friends were giving out a certain… “emotion” that attracted the dark figure. “This place… smells of… fear… jealousy… revenge… and… hatred,” said the dark figure. “It shall be… a feast.”

The dark figure, slowly awaited a chance to strike, but the more it awaited… the more it’s hunger became more wild and beast-like. Unable to hold itself any longer… it shattered the window, or in this case, the building’s wall that was facing the hospitable.

All the ponies who were at the front of the hospitable or trotting by it, saw the sudden explosion coming from the empty building that was facing the hospitable. Unsure what happened, a dark figure slithered out, standing on twos, it examined it's surroundings… eyeing the fearful gazes amongst those that saw it. The figure, in a demonic way… was grinning, both happy that not only he found a place to possibly quench his thirst… but felt the same energies coming from those around it. “Fear!” said the dark figure, the word echoing onto the streets.

Everypony ran, fearful of this sudden attack; the police who stationed outside the hospitable took action, sending magical spells, wards, and anything they had on them. The earth ponies rushed forward but were stopped by a wall made of shadows. The pegasi, attempting to swoop from behind were shortly stopped by spikes that were dark as the darkest abyss, which caused the pegasi to either swivel out of the way, or have their wings clipped slightly. The earth ponies decided to stay behind, while the remaining pegasi gathered clouds, leaving the unicorns to defend their posts.

Meanwhile inside the hospital, one of the earth pony police warned any nearby nurses and doctors to evacuate everypony out of the hospital through the back. “EVERYPONY GET OUT! THERE’S A MONSTER AT THE HOSPITAL’S ENTRANCE! WE NEED EVERYPONY TO EVACUATE THROUGH THE BACK EXIT!” shouted the police earth pony.

Everypony in the lobby and first floor, began evacuating; ponies in crutches, wheelchairs, and hospital beds began flooding through the exit in the back. At the same time outside, the dark figure continued its relentless onslaught. The pegasi who went to get clouds, created one giant black cloud, ready to unleash a torrent of lightening upon the dark figure.

“OKAY EVERYPONY… READY… AIM...” said the lead pegasus, preparing to kick. “FIRE!” All the police pegasi kicked as hard as they can upon the cloud, as a giant thunderbolt struck the dark figure. The flash of light temporarily blinded everypony, causing them to block their view. Reopening their eyes, all that remained was an empty suit of black armor without no helmet. Headless, everypony assumed that they eviscerated the dark figure only leaving it’s armor remaining.

“Is it… is it dead?” said one of the police pegasi.

Slowly approaching the empty suit of armor, the pegasus sighs turning to his comrades. “It’s alright, I think we got it,” said the pegasus.

Thinking they got the mysterious monster… the armor shifted. Suddenly the left arm of the armor moved, grabbing the pegasus that went to check the armor; grabbing the pegasus by the tail. Unable to react quickly enough, the pegasus was thrown into the hospital’s wall, making the pegasus unconscious. The headless empty suit of armor lit aflame with a black fire; the empty hole seeped of a black energy creating something that looked like a head. Two white eyes opened… full of rage, the dark figure wasn’t affected by the lightening, but instead only seemed to piss it more.

Everypony began to slowly retreat back into the hospital… but the dark figure crouched down, one leg kneeling forward the other behind it. Staring toward it’s target, the hospital doors; it took off running full speed it barreled through earth pony and unicorn alike, leaving the pegasi to watch. Crashing through the doors, it caused the hospital to shake violently, breaking the doors and walls off, caused by the dark figure’s charge.

On the second floor in the right wing of the hospital, both Twilight and Trixie felt the sudden shaking. It was quick, but Twilight could tell something was happening; at first she thought it was Dark coming to save them. However when a guard came running into the room where another guard who also felt the shaking, Twilight watched and listened to the two guards speaking. “Something is attacking the hospital! It’s in this strange black armor, and covered in these strange black flames of sort! We need to get the princess and her friend out of here!” shouted the guard, who ran into the room.

“How can we do that!? The princess is too injured to move, we could do more harm if we tried evacuating her!” said the other guard.

“But if we don’t get her out, that… ‘thing’ will get her! Either we get her out, or we risk the chance of her getting in more harm, or worse!” said the first guard.

The second guard looked at the floor then looked back at his comrade. “Alright, we’ll move the princess. You carry her, I’ll get her friend, since that thing is below us we’ll move up to the roof. There should be some stairs leading to an alleyway, we can head to the train station and get the princess to Canterlot ourselves,” said the second guard.

“Got it,” said the first guard, agreeing. Both guards approached the two patients on their beds; one of the guards approached Twilight. “Princess, there’s an emergency happening downstairs. We’re going to leave through the roof, I’m sorry that this is happening to you.”

Twilight, though was severely injured, still spoke but her voice was quiet and slow. “I have… no problem… with that… but… you mentioned… black… armor?” said Twilight, wheezing.

“Yes princess, but we need to go. I don’t think if the thing downstairs could be your friend,” said the first guard. The guard moves to the side, so Twilight could climb on him. After both guards got the princess and her friend, they moved swiftly to the roof.

Back at the entrance, anypony who was unlucky enough to not leave the entrance quick enough was met with rock and glass to their faces. The dark figure stood tall upon the countless unconscious ponies, slowly ebbing away a similar black energy from every single one of them. After finish feeding, the dark figure sniffed once more… when a very familiar scent reached it… a very familiar scent… too familiar. “Hmmmmm… Where have I sensed this scent before?” the dark figure thought.

The dark figure sniffed even more; this scent… was familiar to the dark figure… but where has it sensed it before. The figure stared up, knowing where the smell was coming from and who’s it was. The scent was moving, quickly, which meant whoever was moving… was trying to escape. The black figure grinned, though having no mouth, ready to chase it’s prey; the dark figure changed it's physical form turning into a shadowy mist, slipping through the ceiling above it.

Elsewhere, the two guards who carried Twilight and Trixie reached the roof from the many stairways and hallways they had to run through. From the far right side of the hospital was a metal railing, there was the metallic stairs which would led to the alleyway, at the bottom would be a carriage for them to escape to. “Quickly, we need to get the princess out of here before-”

Before the guard who was carrying Trixie could finish, the ground behind them burst open with black flames. Rising from the lobby, was the dark figure; with it’s empty colorless eyes, it stared at the guards, then Trixie… then Twilight. It tilted it’s head… curious of the scent Twilight wore, but it glared at the guards, specifically… the emblem they bore. The armor they wore held an emblem; it was a sun, as bright as the real one… but something made the dark figure angry when staring at the emblem… almost like it seen it before… strange.

“What do we do now?” whispered the guard, who carried Twilight.

The guard who carried Trixie looked at the ground, then the dark figure, then his fellow guardspony. He then looked at the princess, and with one quick motion, he hefted the princess’s friend onto the other guard’s back. “Get the princess and her friend out of here. I’ll handle this thing,” said the guard, unsheathing his sword. “GO! BEFORE IT ATTACKS!”

The second guard stared at his comrade, but at the same time the dark figure charged forward with gluttonous hunger, determined to gain it’s prey. The first guard, who was a unicorn, levitated his sword; lunging his weapon straight toward the dark figure’s torso, the sword simply reflected back creating a loud clang. The dark figure stopped, looking at it’s own armor… not a dent made; the dark figure then looked at it’s opponent, it grinned happily.

“Now… it’s my turn to play,” said the dark figure. The dark figure rushed forward, without any weapons but it’s own shadowy flames and pitch black armor. The dark figure swung it’s right hand sending the unicorn guard’s sword flying into the ground. It then proceeded to reach for the unicorn’s neck, however the unicorn guard wasn’t helpless disarmed; trained to handle any situation, even close combat. The unicorn guard dodged then with his own magic he used a spell causing the ground to shake when stone spikes rose up and then sending them flying at the dark figure. The dark figure swung, crushed the stone spikes, but mostly they either phased through it or simply dropped to the ground from the sheer durability the figure’s armor was.

A bead of sweat slowly slid from the unicorn guard’s forehead; without his sword and any attempts of attack seeming not to effect the strange armored creature… the guard’s actions were fruitless. “Crud, I have to think of something, quick,” thought the unicorn guard.

Right before the guard could react, the dark figure had appeared behind him. With a swift kick, the dark figure sent the unicorn guard to the sky, slowly descending back down he then made something… dark appear. On the dark figure’s right arm, appeared a shadowy purple blade, with ominous glow coming off it. With the blade, the dark figure swung it’s blade skyward releasing a purple energy blast toward the unicorn; the blast however wasn’t lethal but sent the unicorn nevertheless to the roof of another building, making the unicorn completely unconscious and possibly with a few broken bones too. After finish dealing with this sudden obstacle, the dark figure turned… staring at the far side of the hospital’s roof. “Run run little ones… for tonight… shall be a night of horrors beyond your imagining,” said the dark figure, in a sing-song voice.

In the alleyway, the other guard carried Twilight and Trixie down to the carriage; carefully laying them down on the seats inside. Quickly strapping the carriage to himself, the guard began towing the carriage to the train station as quick as he could. Leaving the alleyway, the guard ran pass carriage and pony alike to reach his destination… until he felt something… heavy about the carriage. Even though the guard was driving a carriage alone with two ponies inside, the carriage felt heavier than it was before… until he heard a dark sinister voice. “Going somewhere?”

The guard froze still but continued to drive the carriage; before he could turn his head, he felt the air tense up as a metallic object hit right in the back of his head. This caused the carriage to swerve and turn… until the carriage itself flipped over. Many ponies who were trotting by saw the spectacle, quickly forming toward the crashed carriage. The guard was dazed his eyesight blurry… until he spotted a shadowy form before him; the dark figure stared with it’s cold empty white eyes. The dark figure turned, looking inside the carriage where it proceeded to carry both Twilight and Trixie; turning to face the guard one last time it spoke. “Farewell,” said the dark figure, it’s voice devoid of life.

The carriage erupted into an explosion of black fire, a shadowy form jumping into the sky, until landing into a good distance from the crashed carriage. Many ponies weren’t sure what happened or what the strange dark figure was, but were able to get the guard into a safe distance from the wreckage until an ambulance could arrive.

Somewhere else at the same time, the dark figure placed both Twilight and Trixie on the ground. The dark figure had landed on a roof, the building was tall enough so both pony, either those who could fly or not wouldn’t be able to see the dark figure. Both Twilight and Trixie were sleeping, deciding to gain what rest they could… that and from the injuries they received they were unable to make a single move nor a simple spell to conjure. The dark figure was more interested into the winged and horned lavender pony; kneeling down the dark figure stared at Twilight’s closed eyelids. It caresses Twilight’s cheek then begins to stroke her mane… for some reason this mare was so familiar to the dark figure, not in the sense that they met before but… that this mare reminded the dark figure of someone… else it once knew…

In another time and place, Dimension 3112A…

Within a hidden facility, an organization secretive from humanity and more mysterious than the rumored Illuminati, this organization’s name was forgotten through time… that it was more than a myth or legend… it was a “story”. This organization had gained the technology to travel through dimensions, to create artificial life, and advanced weapons… capable of taking down a whole galaxy. The organization was separated through different parts, each focusing on it’s own project… one certain part of the organization was focusing on a project known as… “Project Drakos”. The project was to focus on creating artificial life… the project at first was unsuccessful but was able to create several AIs. The prototype AI of all the other AIs was given the codename… Darkness; this AI was highly dangerous, considering it’s uncanny hatred for any living beings. However… on the day they were preparing to set the prototype AI into storage… a deal was made.

The AI known as Darkness, waited inside it’s electronic prison. All the AIs were kept in containers made of wires, metal, and such. Each container had a light on them which signifies which AI was inside the container. For Darkness, his color was… black; Darkness waited inside… waiting until he was needed no more. Many of the scientists and workers within the facility that Darkness was in were… afraid of the AI; but one day, a curious scientist approached the container that held Darkness. “Excuse me? Is… somebody in there?” asked a feminine voice.

Darkness non-existent eyebrows raised up, curious to who could disturb his sleep… though he was only thinking, not sleeping. A holographic form of Darkness appeared out of the container; Darkness’s holographic body was pure black, with two white eyes, devoid of pupils or color. Darkness, though looking average than the other AIs was indeed more than he seemed… out of his… “younger siblings”, Darkness had all the abilities of his siblings… and another ability, unique to only Darkness. This special ability… was named by the scientists and the other AIs as… “The Unending Hunger”.

In basic terms, “The Unending Hunger”… was the ability to absorb ones lifeforce… or aura in other words. This was why many feared Darkness, not because of what he was… but what he was capable of. Many died by simply being more than a five meters close from him, of course Darkness could control this ability, but because of his unnatural hatred to all living things… it made it impossible to try doing so. Deciding to keep Darkness in one of their storage areas, they would bring Darkness out when needed for missions or emergencies… for now… he was a tool… and soon… this only fed his hatred even more… however…

Darkness stared before the woman before his container… his “prison”; the woman, wore a white lab coat like the rest of the scientists… but she also wore a black scarf… the scarf fit perfectly with her white lab coat. Her hair were in bangs, however… what was strange for Darkness, was the color of her hair, which being a light blue, pink, a light green, and a light purple. Darkness wasn’t sure her hair color were unnatural… but for some reason they seemed natural at the same time. The female scientist stared curious at Darkness's expression… and smiled; Darkness could sensed the emotions and feelings from living beings… or any sort of being… but instead of sensing fear, anger, hatred, or anything negative… he felt… something else.

The feelings flowing out of the scientist… was… genuine… happiness. Darkness wasn’t very trusting of the arrival of this scientist… so deciding to test the scientist, Darkness began to slowly absorb her lifeforce. When Darkness would do something like this, many living beings would be afraid and run… he expected the same from her too… but instead, she smiled whilst approaching closer to Darkness. Darkness was confused, stopping his absorption of devouring the scientist’s lifeforce… Darkness spoke.

“What… do you want?” asked Darkness.

The scientist stared at the floor, but spoke her reasons for coming here. “Well… I heard that this department didn’t want you anymore… that they wanted to put you away...” said the female scientist. “That's why I came here… to ask you if you’d like working for me?”

Darkness was taken back… not once somebody had cared or was afraid of what he was… he asked the scientist why she truly came for Darkness. “Why do you want me? You must know what I can do… that I can take away life in an instant,” said Darkness.

“I know this… but you can’t blame someone… or something, just because they were given the power to destroy… it’s like saying that sex is bad or death is evil...” said the scientist. “There is good and bad things to everything… but that doesn’t matter… what truly matters… Is the choices one takes and decides.” The scientist smile grew wider, feeling more brighter than before… Darkness had never felt this sort of emotion… this feeling… curious… he asked the scientist what it was.

“This emotion… just what is it? I have never witnessed or felt such an emotion before?” asked Darkness. “...Tell me… what are you feeling?”

“What I’m feeling?” said the scientist, surprised. The scientist continued to smile… looking at Darkness’s eyes… “What I’m feeling right now… it’s called… happiness.”

“Happiness?...Tell me… what is this happiness?” asked Darkness.

The scientist laughed, her smile growing more until she began to tear up… but not tears of sadness… but of… happiness. The scientist recomposed herself, looking back at Darkness. “I’d love to… say, I never caught your name. Would you mind telling me your name, please,” said the scientist.

“Of course… I have none but… many call me… Darkness,” said Darkness, bowing. “It’s a pleasure meeting you… I must ask but… what is your name?”

The scientist smiled lightly, giggling to herself. “My name… my name is...”

The name was devoid and silent… as if Darkness wasn’t able to hear the name at all… as if something was stopping Darkness from hearing it. That was when the memory ended… and the dark figure known as Darkness found himself back on the roof, finding it’s hand intertwined with the lavender’s pony’s mane. The dark figure, called Darkness stared down at the pony… whispering to himself. “Her name… what was her name?” said Darkness, talking to itself.

“My my… so this is what you are...”

Darkness tensed up, standing up and turning… where he saw a very peculiar sight. Floating above the air… was a strange mash of body parts of different creatures. One hand was the paw of a lion, the other the claw of a dragon… or eagle. The creature’s body was long, and had more assortments of body parts, it’s wings, one being a pegasus, the other being a bat’s… was truly mysterious before Darkness. “What… are… you?” asked Darkness.

“I could ask you the same… but where are my manners. My name is Discord… Spirit of Chaos,” said Discord, bowing down. “And you have one of my friends… unconscious.”

Darkness tilted it’s head… turning to face the two asleep ponies. Assuming that this thing’s friend was the one with the horn and wings, Darkness faced Discord once more. “You mean the lavender one with the wings and horn?” said Darkness, confirming his suspicions.

A bell appeared above Discord, making a dinging noise. “CORRECT!” said Discord, the word rolling off his tongue… literally.

Darkness was confused by the sudden appearance of the bell… but had seen stranger things in it’s life. Discord than began staring at Darkness… and something told the armored being that this… Discord wasn’t like the rest of the ponies that Darkness saw. Before Darkness could speak, Discord popped in front of him… and felt a strong feeling on it’s torso. Staring down, Discord had apparently struck it’s claw into Darkness’s torso… causing Darkness to slowly kneel… then his black flames diminished… leaving an empty husk before Discord.

“That… was for Fluttershy,” said Discord. Discord kicked the empty suit of armor, to the far side of the roof… nearly tipping off the building. Discord then looked down at the two unconscious ponies; making a bucket appear out of thin air, Discord poured water onto the ponies… very very very cold water. This caused both ponies to open their eyelids… what happened next involved a lot of screaming.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” screamed Twilight and Trixie. Both mares, woken by ice cold water from the Crystal Empire, began hugging one another for warmth… until both realized who they were touching. Twilight and Trixie let go of one another, though both were sort of friends, neither liked the other… until they both heard a very familiar chortling. Twilight looked up, and spotted Discord, laughing so hard, his body could fall apart any second.

“DISCORD! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!” shouted Twilight, fiery rage in her eyes.

“Well how else was I going to wake you up?” said Discord. “Besides… it was worth, seeing your reaction.”

Twilight was angry at Discord… but, that was until she remembered something. “Wait… where’s Dark?” asked Twilight.

“Dark?” said Discord, confused. “Ohhhhh, you mean that armored escapee of yours that was with you and that… illusionist your with. Well, I know where he is but...”

“Discord… I have no time for your games,” said Twilight, her rage growing. “Where-is-Dark?”

Discord, was unfazed by Twilight’s threats, but he answered… sort of. “Remember when your friend… Dark was it… that he sacrificed himself to free that reporter… correct?” said Discord.

Twilight didn’t spoke but simply nodded, Discord grinned and continued his story. “Well… what if I told you… there was a side to Dark… that you didn’t know, that could only be shown… if this ‘thing’ was removed,” said Discord. On Discord’s paw… was Dark’s helmet, not a scratch on it… except… it wasn’t on Dark’s head.

Now Twilight was shocked because, Dark told Twilight that he hadn’t seen his face… because that helmet was locked on his suit… which was why his method of eating was different than everypony else. Twilight wanted to speak… but that was when Discord eyes widened… staring at something behind her and Trixie; turning to see what he was staring at… she saw Dark’s armor… standing… headless… no head…

“Dark?” said Twilight, her pupils shrinking.

Instantaneously… the dark flames emerged, engulfing Dark’s armor in such a violent way… a fiery head appeared where the helmet of Dark’s usual is. Two fiery eyelids opened… revealing white empty eyes… staring at the three figures before it. Darkness was annoyed when he woken up, pissed when he was attacked, angry when his prey was running… now… he was enraged. Eyes full of rage, Darkness had one line of words to say… before the hells of wherever Darkness came from, emerged.

“Darkness… comes for all...”

Tourist Arc: Ch.13 - Dark Chaos

Author's Note

A little warning... well more of a notice to those you might be confused when reading this chapter. Soldier 3112 has no clear gender but is referred in the story as a 'he', when some points of the story seem to be talking about him, it's speaking of his alter-ego (spoilers, won't say) so if your confused... here's a few examples to who is who:

Soldier 3112/Dark Armor - He is Dark (underlined words means this character is being referred.)

Darkness - BURN TO ETERNITY! (and bolded words measn this character is being referred.)

Tourist Arc: Ch.13 - Dark Chaos

Trixie, Discord, and Twilight stared at the dark figure… which was Dark… yet also not Dark. Discord, coughing out some butterflies grinned at Dark, trying his best to look friendly. Approaching Dark, Discord inched close to Dark each passing second, waving his claw at the same time. “I am terribly sorry for what I did previously before. How about you and I have a truce and party; we can hang out at Las Pegasus… I hear they have some nice re-”

Before Discord could finish, something hard made impact with Discord’s jaw. Sent tumbling back to Trixie and Twilight, Discord continued to roll until stopping to a halt. Looking up while keeping a paw on his jaw, Discord stared at Dark… who was staring down at the ground. Dark, who was both still engulfed in black flames… was also frozen in place… which caused both Twilight and Trixie to tilt their heads in confusion; Discord on the other claw wasn’t pleased the wisest. After recuperating from the sudden assault, Discord’s grin began to widen… letting a malicious chuckle slip out.

“Sooo… you want to play it that way, hmmmm? I can play dirty too,” said Discord. “I’m the master at playing dirty!”

Discord hovered in the air, then with a snap of his fingers, he teleported behind Dark. On his paw he made a hammer the size of a carriage, on it were the words, “It’s hammering time”. In an instant, Discord sent the hammer slamming toward Dark, leaving nothing but some black flames slip underneath the hammer. Twilight’s eyes widened quickly to stand on all fours… only to fall back to the ground. “D-d...DISCORD! What are you doing!?” shouted Twilight, struggling to stand.

“What does it look like? I’m trying to fight back of course,” said Discord. “Well I did attack first… but he was doing some weird stuff to you. Seriously, he was all over with his grubby hands and-” Before Discord could finish speaking, the ground near him and the girls began shaking; eying the ground below him, Discord looked up and frowned. “Oh… poop.”

Before Discord could teleport away, an explosion below him appeared. Coming out of the wreckage was Dark… unscathed by the explosion and Discord’s hammer. His right gauntlet was glowing menacingly, the flame almost lashing outward as if it were trying to find something to grab on. Dark stared at Twilight and Trixie; both the mares felt a shiver down their spines… but slowly stopped shaking when Dark looked the other way, not interested in the two of them. Sighing in relief, Trixie gazed toward Twilight, the expression of fear and confusion on her on the situation they were in.

“Would somepony explain to Trixie on what in the name of Equestria is happening?!” shouted Trixie.

Twilight eyed the ground then back at Dark, who was still in search of Discord. “Well… you went unconscious from the explosion from the factory… I… I carried you to safety but we both ended in an alleyway surrounded by thugs… I fainted. I remember you waking me up in that alleyway, where that reporter Dark saved was fine, but the authorities caught us and sent us to the nearest hospital where we recuperated from our injuries. The guards that were protecting our room felt a sudden shaking from the lobby of the hospital where a strange… black armored creature covered in flames was attacking… We… ran and...” said Twilight, sighing. “Discord found us… I asked him where Dark was… and he answered sawing… that… Dark… is...”

“Is what, Dark is what?” asked Trixie, impatient.

Twilight sighed some more, uneasy to the information she was giving to Trixie. After a few more seconds passed, Twilight spoke her answer. “Dark was the same thing that attack the hospital… The thing… before us… is Dark,” said Twilight, staring at the dark figure.

Trixie twisted her head and looked toward the flaming, headless, walking suit of armor. She first gawked, then shook her head… then gawked again. Trixie felt like her eyes would bulge out any second… which was a fitting description to how she felt right now. Both her and Twilight had witnessed first hoof of the capabilities that Dark could do… if this ‘thing’ was Dark. Nevertheless, what made Twilight worry more was the state they found that crime scene back at the alleyway was. “What happened to you Dark?” thought Twilight.

Dark looked left and right, finding his target; knowing full well that explosion didn’t damage the strange being. A tap on Dark’s shoulder was felt, swiftly turning to see who it was… Dark saw nothing but more empty space on the rooftop. Dark was getting more and more impatient… and angry, any second he could blow up, literally and figuratively. That’s when Dark turned one last time, a giant object made impact toward Dark, causing to send the suit of armor into a chimney. Shaking off the concrete, Dark looked up to see a very intact Discord… grinning back, insultingly.

“That was some attack… but your going to need to try better to hurt me,” said Discord, chortling.

Dark was annoyed, having his meal running from him… and now fighting what Dark could describe as a pile of animal body parts glue together. Dark’s flaming head began to grow some more until… both of his white eyes grew into the size of a golf ball. “You annoy me… for the last time!” shouted Dark.

Everyone was shocked to find Dark speaking, especially in his state; instantly Dark ran toward Discord, coming out both his gauntlets were two purple energy blades. Pointing both toward Discord, Dark spun around causing himself to spin violently, creating a tornado of purple blades. Discord tried dodging every lunge and slash, but Dark was relentless with his attack. Twilight and Trixie continued to watch, both horrified and shocked from how fast Dark was moving, not slowing down at all. However Discord dodged each hit, while switching to clothing worn when facing against a bull. “Oh leh!” said Discord, pulling out a red cloth.

After stopping his rampage, Dark turned to face Discord when another object struck him… or in this case something blinded him. Discord had thrown the red cloth at Dark, laughing at Dark’s attempts at attacking him. Now so far Dark hasn’t been able to do anything toward Discord… burning away the red cloth, Dark made the two purple energy blades disappear, leaving him with his gauntlets surrounded in black flames.

“I burn you… but you do not fall. I cut you… but you do not fall. I explode you… but you do not fall,” said Dark, the dark flames growing more and more fiercer. “None of these things seem to harm you… you leave me no choice… for if this doesn’t work… then all will turn… TO NOTHING!”

Dark raised one of his gauntlets in the air, with an open palm he stars to chant something in a language unknown to the three Equestrians. Deciding to watch and gloat than do anything, Discord makes some popcorn poof to existence, munching both the popcorn and the kernels. “This is going to be interesting,” said Discord.

Twilight, who was extremely fearful to what Dark meant turned to face Discord. “Discord, we need to stop Dark. I don’t know what’s happening, or what’s happened to him but, if we let this continue any further...” said Twilight, her gaze looking at the ground and Dark. “Something terrible will happen.”

“Oh don’t be such a worrywort Twilight. Besides, if anything happens I can make it disappear in a flash,” said Discord, a flashlight appearing on his claw, flicking it on and off. “Just-like-this.”

Twilight wasn’t sure if Discord could stop whatever Dark was planning, but before she could retort back… the ground they were on was beginning to get warm… very warm. Both draconequus and alicorn looked up to see a giant ball of black inferno. Within it, they saw a dark figure, flickering in… and out, intervals going by with each second. Trixie out of the three spoke first to respond to the ever growing flame. “Uhm, Trixie doesn’t want to be blunt but… what is that?” said Trixie.

Before anypony could speak, a fourth voice spoke answering both Trixie’s questions, and Twilight’s fears. “Your doom… burn to nothing, waste away from infinity, darkness shall consume you...” said Dark, continuing his chant.

Twilight didn’t want to see what was going to happen next, so grabbing Trixie and dragging her behind some intact chimneys, Twilight used what remaining magical power within her and summoned a shield, surrounding both her and Trixie. Discord continued to stare until he noticed Twilight going to cover, smirking he looks back at the growing black flames. “What are you so afraid of? It’s just a big colored bonfire, what’s it going to do, cook us some marshmallows?” said Discord. Discord’s laughed rang across the roof… but to his dismay… Dark was nearing his attack… and after finishing one final line of his chant… it was done.

“Eternal flame of the darkest abyss… come forth!” shouted Dark, raising both gauntlets outward to the sky. “ETERNITY’S SHADOW: ABYSS ROAR!”

The giant bonfire of black flames erupted, unleashing a giant wave of dark flame. The blast shook the roof and all nearby building, while some ponies where shocked by the sudden explosion. Discord was the unluckiest, not reacting quickly enough, he was sent flying off the building… and possibly the city. After some seconds had passed by, Twilight let her shield drop while exhausted from feeling the blast, but pleased it held it back. Looking around, the ground and chimney around where they stood was scorched to the blackest marks… nothing but ash and soot littering everywhere. Helping Trixie up, both mares leave the cover of the chimney; turning to face where Dark was standing… all they saw was nothing but two empty boot marks.

“Where… where did he go?” thought Twilight. “He was here a second ago, he couldn’t disappear that quickly after that explos-”

Before the lavender pony could finish her thought… a sudden chill crept up to her. Noticing the ground around her gotten more dark, it took Twilight two seconds to realize somepony… or thing was standing behind her and Trixie. Turning her head while at the same time Trixie was… both mares spotted the flaming body of Dark… staring them with white eyes though taking a better look, Dark has no eyes… just… fire.

Moving his gauntlet, Dark reached toward Twilight; afraid the flames on his gauntlet would burn her, Twilight stepped back. Not being careful where she was stepping, Twilight tripped causing both mares to tumble… while at the same time giving a pained whine. “AHHHHHHH!” screamed Twilight, clutching her leg. Looking down, Twilight’s leg was changing an array of colors; after moving so much whilst injured, Twilight pulled a muscle… or possibly more. Dark… or what Twilight thought was Dark, moved more closer to Twilight reaching forward with a gauntlet shrouded in dark flames. Trixie watched in horror covering her eyes to not see what would happen, Twilight followed suit closing her eyes too… what she felt next… was not the painful scorching of hot flames… but the warm touch of something else.

“Wha?” said Twilight, which was all she could say before opening her eyes. Laying on her cheek was not a gauntlet covered in flames… but a gauntlet… free of them. Whilst the rest of his body was covered in the shadowy flames, the gauntlet touching Twilight was free of the flames… as if they had a mind of their own and decided to not scorch the lavender pony. Staring in shock and curiosity, Twilight expected the gauntlet to be cold to the touch if it were not covered in fire, and even if it were once she expected the gauntlet to be a lot more warmer… but it wasn’t. The warmth she felt was soothing… but not too hot… but not too cold… it was a mild warmth… almost like feeling the sun’s rays shining down on you but feeling the cold breeze of spring’s winds go through your mane and fur… it reminded of Twilight of that kind of feeling.

She closed her eyes again… relaxed by the feeling… until she didn’t felt it anymore. Reopening her eyes, the dark figure’s gauntlet was distanced a few inches away from the princess; what could of made the dark figure suddenly stop… Twilight then saw it was staring at her leg. The dark figure reached forward with the same gauntlet that touched Twilight’s face, stopping a few centimeters from touching… when a strange energy slipped out of it’s gauntlet.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? LEAVE HER ALONE!” shouted Trixie. Attempting to stand up to protect Twilight, this only caused all of Trixie’s legs to buckle tumbling back to the ground in defeat. Twilight looked at Trixie with a frown but, back at her own leg. The dark figure let out a dark essence slip, at first she felt a painful stinging… but it subdued, looking down at her leg once more; what she saw both frightened and shocked her. Looking down at the leg that was previously throbbing… was now perfectly fine… as if nothing had happened at all, to make sure it wasn’t an illusion Twilight touched it warily until she began messaging it. She smiled… but the smiled dissipated and was replaced with a frown; Twilight looked up to her healer… but the dark figure vanished again. Looking around some more, she saw the dark figure was clutching Dark’s helmet in both hands… staring at it back as if it were looking at another face. It then looked back at Twilight and Trixie, both mares gave a confused look until it spoke again… for the last.

“Your scent is familiar… I wish we would speak more… however my time is short. When we ever meet again, whether another life… another time… another world… Remember this,” said the dark figure, taking a glimpse at Twilight. “I did not save you because I wanted to or I should… I saved you… because you resemble someone I once knew… and seeing you in pain… was too much for that memory to resurface once more. I take my leave… another thing though that I must say… Tell my other me… my… ‘brother’… That he will understand what he is, and will learn the truth of his existence… one day… one day.”

The dark figure slowly placed Dark’s helmet snuggling on it’s flaming head… it was a fit. Suddenly the dark figure’s flames began to extinguish, but a bright flash appeared temporarily blinding Twilight and Trixie. Once the light subsided, standing where the dark figure… was Dark… but… he stood still unmoving. Twilight was the first to move, slowly trotting toward Dark; moving a hoof up to Dark’s helmet she began tapping his visor.

“Dark… are you...” said Twilight, inhaling. “Is that ‘you’ in there now?”

All Twilight gotten as a response was silence… silence… until she heard the clicking and beeping of machinery turning on. Taking a few steps back, lights on Dark’s armor began to shine and turn on; Dark’s visor shone with a light but slowly disappeared. Dark’s finger twitched, then his hand… Dark’s hand began to move a little until it clutched into a fist. Dark looked up his visor looking toward both the mares before him… an expression of worry clear on him. “Twilight… Trixie? Are… are you two alright?” asked Dark.

Twilight’s eyes began to mist over, wiping them of any tears that may be there, she smiled and responded. “You took the words right out of me,” said Twilight. Twilight trotted, where she hugged Dark; confused the armored soldier was bewildered of what happened, but before responding Trixie joined the hug too.

“Trixie… Trixie thought you… you were...” said Trixie, nuzzling her head more into Dark. “Please… don’t do that again.”

“I… I...” said Dark, sighing. “I promise… but I have to ask…”

Now Twilight and Trixie stopped there hugs to look up at Dark, telling he was more confused than the two mares combined. “...Just what in the deities happened?” asked Dark. Twilight couldn’t tell what was Dark’s expression… both she had two thoughts rise up that could give her a clear guess.

“Dumb… founded...” thought Twilight, mentally giggling to herself.

The three figures on the roof stood there, until the lavender alicorn spoke… responding with a simple yet, overused line.

“It’s… it’s a long story,” said Twilight.

Elsewhere in Equestria, after the dark figure sent Discord flying out of Manehattan… within a prestigious castle, two princesses ate their lunch in peace… until they heard what could be best described as… a screaming… violin? “What in the name of Faust?” said Luna, holding on her hoof what was a pastry called a crumpet.

Breaking through the dining room’s many windows was literally a screaming violin, shattering the window… and itself once it hit the ground. However more screaming was followed… when a very familiar figure came crashing where the violin crashed. Right there, within the destroyed chairs… was a disgruntled spirit of chaos… which apparently had tiny black flames littering all over his body.

“Discord!?” shouted Celestia, dropping a piece of cake.

“Hi Sunbutt,” said Discord, using the nickname he gave Celestia whenever he drops by… literally in this occasion.

Ignoring the insult and simply running to his aide, Celestia looked to the guards who saw what happened, not sure whether to arrest him or watch. Taking in the situation, Luna stared at both guards, using her best to sound authoritative in this situation. “DON’T JUST STAND THERE AND GAWK! GET THE MEDICAL STAFF IN HERE! PRONTO!” shouted Luna. Both guards scrambled out, bumping into one another, leaving the princess of the sun and moon with Discord.

Lifting Discord’s head up, Celestia softened her voice so she wouldn’t harm Discord’s eardrums while also putting out the small flames on him. “Discord… what… happened to you?” asked Celestia.

Discord opened his eyes but winced when he noticed a part of his body was scorched by the explosive fire. “Well… remember that… ‘friend’ that your apprentice met and broke out a few days ago?” said Discord, his voice raspy and tired.

Celestia ears perked up, listening to Discord carefully by leaning in close to him to hear. When she got close, Discord moved closer, near whispering to her what he saw. “That… ‘thing’… it’s not… it’s not alive… I don’t think it cares for anything,” said Discord. “It’s not evil nor is it good… whatever it is… it wasn't born to destroy… it was created to.”

Discord’s eyes glazed over, ready to go back unconscious… but before he did, one sentence slipped before his eyes closed shut. “Beware… for nothing shall stop it… Darkness… comes for all...” said Discord, the end of his sentence echoing from his voice. Discord slumped down, catching his head Celestia gently put him down; at the same time medical ponies came and took Discord to the infirmary wing for any injuries he may have received.

“Don’t worry princess, he just fainted… He’ll be fine, but it’s best that you leave him to us,” said a nurse pony, bowing down to Celestia.

Once the medical ponies had left with Discord, Celestia ordered the guards to leave her and Luna, alone. Leaving they closed the dining hall doors behind them, after making sure they left immediately Celestia used her magic and flipped the table that held today’s lunch… causing as if a tornado had come by and caused all this mayhem compared to Pinkie’s aftermaths of a party. Luna inched toward her sister, noticing the rage her eyes grow… but ebb away as she calmly breathed in and out.

“Dear sister please… don’t stress yourself. We wish for you not to harm yourself in this state,” said Luna, careful to not anger her sibling.

Celestia looked at Luna, but sighed and returned to look at the direction of where Discord had come from. Glaring at the city far from Canterlot, she almost could see a dark shadowy aura surround the city… as if something was taunting her and wanted her to make the next move… only to send it crashing to the ground. Celestia has faced foes before, evil kings, gluttonous magic-stealing beings, beings of chaos, and more… but this new threat… it did not want to rule… it did not want power… and it didn’t wanted to have fun in it’s own messed up way… no… All it wants… was the destruction of Equestria and all the ponies who live in it.

“My poor Twilight… what has this thing done to force you too join it,” thought Celestia, worrying for her lavender apprentice.

Celestia looked at Luna, a goal and ambition clear in her mind as rain. Trotting out the dining hall, Luna followed behind; Celestia spotted the captain of guard and headed for him. “Captain, gather your men, all of them. We are going to Manehattan… immediately; also tell the elements they are free and must see me in the throne room, as quick as possible,” said Celestia, her motherly tone completely gone, replaced with one a tone of a true leader in action.

“Of course Princess Celestia!” said the captain, saluting. Before he could leave Celestia stopped him, giving him another order.

“One more thing,” said Celestia, leaning. “Send the Wonderbolts ahead of us to Manehattan… pronto. There mission is not to find Princess Twilight… but to capture… no… but to eliminate the being called… Soldier 3112.”

Everypony was shocked, never before the princess or anypony would go for such methods before. Usually an action like this is only taken if Equestria as a whole was faced with a life threatening situation, and since the only ponies who know of Soldier 3112 being the princesses, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight, Shining Armor, Discord, Spike, and the Elements of Harmony. At first the captain of guard froze but nodded, not speaking a word to the sudden order from Equestria’s peaceful leader, who wouldn’t send such an order without a good reason.

Luna stood shocked, frozen as a statue even; usually she would be of the two to take such an action… but Celestia… Luna shook the thought away, joining her sister again questioning her reason for such a sudden action. “Dear sister… Tia,” said Luna, using her sister’s nickname. “I understand why you are doing this, but do not let anger lead your actions… It will only lead to more pain.”

“My actions are not controlled by pain, sister… This… ‘thing’… I don’t know why it has come to our realm nor do I care,” said Celestia. “It has harmed one of my oldest friends… and I shall not watch as it will slowly harm our ponies. If it wants a fight...” Celestia snorted, steam shooting out from her muzzle. “Then it'll get more than a fight… more than a battle… no… it’ll get...”

A war.

Tourist Arc: Ch.14 - Ye Want Madness... Ye Got It

Author's Note

...Even I don't know what I was doing when I wrote this chapter... because apparently I was mad (not angry mad, crazy mad) enough to think of... well... "THIS"!

Update: Added image for this chapter.

Tourist Arc: Ch.14 - Ye Want Madness... Ye Got It

I have no clear memory of the events that had happened earlier this morning… I remember… well nothing. From what Twilight had explained to me… I went to help that reporter that was stuck under the metal column. After that… it was a blur, suddenly I found myself on a roof… looking at Twilight and Trixie, who both seemed to gone through a hell worse than I did… but nothing could prepare us for what would come next.

Nov. 15, Manehattan, 2:00pm

Me and the girls, after we gotten off the roof considering that if we stayed, police would start searching the area and find us. We hid ourselves in an alleyway, then after making sure the area was clear we made our way back to Trixie’s wagon which was still where she left it; the store that Twilight and I found her. Getting some bandages and healing salve inside her wagon, she began applying it to herself and Twilight… I of course had no need for it… multiple reasons to why.

“Owwww,” said Twilight, the healing salve stinging. Though when Twilight was wincing when Trixie applied the healing salve, it was rather troublesome for Twilight. After wrapping her injuries in bandages, Trixie looked toward me.

“Trixie isn’t sure you need any help with your… ‘injuries’,” said Trixie. “However, before we continue on with our journey… Trixie have’s a question for you, Dark. Dark… when Trixie first met you… you were, mysterious but if Twilight trusted you, Trixie will too… but with what’s been happening to us these recent events… Trixie has made a conclusion… That you Dark… are hiding something from us.”

Now this point on I had no idea what Trixie was talking about, and went I looked at Twilight she shared the same look as Trixie… so I respond the best I could… by laughing. “PHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH! ARE YOU SERIOUS!” said Dark, nearly falling off his seating pose. “I mean… What exactly do I need to hide? I’m a soldier from an inter-dimensional organization, I doubt I need to hide anything else from you two.”

“DON’T PLAY DUMB WITH TRIXIE! WE BOTH SAW WHAT YOU DID, YOU NEARLY BURNT US TO A CRISP!” shouted Trixie.

Before Trixie could continue her questions, Twilight raised her hoof so she could speak now. She then turned to face me, and with a sigh… she explained what I missed. “Dark… when you went to rescue that reporter back at the factory… What do you remember?” asked Twilight.

“Well… after both you and Trixie left the factory… I returned my focus on the reporter,” said Dark.

Some hours earlier before, Manehattan Docks, 11:00 am

All I could remember… was that reporter pony… she was stuck under a beam; I swiftly moved through the flames with ease. After that I began trying to lift the beam off her… the beam was heavier than I thought… any second the roof would collapse on us… then… I heard… a voice.

“Do you want to save her?”

I wasn’t sure where the voice came from, but I had no time to ask or question where the voice was coming from… I simply nodded… that was when my whole world went black.

“Good… remove… the seal… Remove… your helmet...”

Now I was confused… my helmet couldn’t be removed or budged a single inch… that was when I heard another sound. I realized the locks on my helmet released on their own… at first I thought if I should remove my helmet… but… I had no time to think, somebody was in danger and needed my help. I removed my helmet, tossing it to the side… what I felt next… was something I haven’t felt for so long… Pain. I writhed in pain, black flames slowly enveloping my body… my mind… my soul.

“I know it hurts… but be strong… I am not evil, neither are you… but those who made us choose to say we are evil… so please… Be strong… not for me, not for you… but for ‘her’.”

I wasn’t sure if the voice meant the reporter… but before I could ask… everything went blank. I small flashes of the reporter being free from the beam but unconscious. Then after that I remember appearing on the roof a random building, placing down the reporter who was still unconscious… I heard scuffling… below me were some thugs… and… Twilight. Something deep within me… grew… wanting… needing… then… darkness began to overwhelm me… but that feeling I felt… I could only give one description about it… the feeling I felt was… Emptiness.

“And that’s all I could remember… after that I blanked out where I found myself standing in front of you two on that roof before,” said Dark. “I seriously can’t remember much… only glimpse memories here and there.”

Dark scratched the top of his helmet, attempting to scratch his scalp. Twilight and Trixie looked at one another, their original theory clear as rain. Not only Dark was a mysterious being from another world… but was a mysterious “deadly” being from another world… Well it was obvious to the two mares that Dark was dangerous, but not to the extent that he could annihilate a whole police barricade, and take down the spirit of chaos in one day… without a single sweat… if the armored being could sweat.

“Dark… this… voice you heard… did… did it sound… familiar to you?” asked Twilight.

Dark placed two of his fingers on his chin, rubbing them in thought. He then looked off the distance, staring at the sky for answers… only to receive nothing but a cloud to drift off. “Not really… again, I can’t remember my own past… but… the voice was familiar that I can say,” said Dark. “However, let’s not dwell on the past and more on the now. Since we kind of made a pretty big scene back at that factory, we’re sure that Celestia will send her guards to search about the incident in Manehattan… It’s probably best that we skedaddle out of here as soon as possible.”

Twilight shuddered at the mention of her old mentor. Even though Celestia is a kind and just ruler to Twilight’s eyes… she’s not completely sure if she will still be kind after what Twilight had done to be dubbed a traitor. Nodding up and down immediately, Trixie closed her eyes, crossing her hooves in what their next move of action should be. “We can’t go to the train station, it would probably be flooding with guards by the time we get there… And trying to leave the city by not using the train is near impossible, and Trixie doubts anyone of you have’s the bits to buy us a boat...” said Trixie, sighing. “This is going to be more harder than Trixie originally thought.”

The three thought of different ideas of what to do… until Twilight thought of something that might work. Raising her hoof, Twilight’s eyes shine as an idea begins to flood her mind. “Maybe we don’t need to use a train or a boat… maybe… we can teleport our way out,” said Twilight.

Dark and Trixie looked at one another than back at the lavender pony, both tilting their heads in confusion.

“Uhm Twilight… what you mean teleporting?” said Dark.

“I mean, we can use an advance teleportation spell outside of Manehattan. I can teleport us somewhere, anywhere in Equestria, which means we’ll be able to leave Manehattan and at the same time, since we have no particular destination to go too, our destination can’t be traced. IT’S FLAWLESS!” shouted Twilight.

“SHUSH! Do you want somepony to find us,” said Trixie, placing her whole hoof in Twilight’s open mouth… slowly removing it. Trixie wiped Twilight’s saliva off her hoof, wiping some on Dark’s armor… only for the saliva to slide off him with ease.

“That… might work...” said Dark. “But I have a feeling that this ‘spell’ will require some ingredients… won’t it.”

Twilight blushed, rubbing her back of her head. “Hehehehhe… yep,” said Twilight, smiling. “But don’t worry, we can get some the supplies in the shape that Trixie was just in… but there’s one specific ingredient we need in order for the spell to work.”

Trixie crossed her hooves, raising an eyebrow in annoyance. “What sort of ingredient do you want us to get that it can’t be found in any stores?” asked Trixie.

“...A bottled thunderbolt,” said Twilight, listing the last ingredient.

Trixie’s eye began to twitch, as she began grinning at Twilight. Slowly she placed both hooves on Twilight’s shoulders. “You want… Trixie… to find… a thunderbolt?” said Trixie.

Twilight nodded… what happened next, Dark had to hold back Trixie. “TRIXIE IS GOING TO TURN YOU INTO A POTATO THEN MASH YOU IN A PILE OF GOOP!” screamed Trixie. Dark grabbed Trixie, holding by the middle of her body, where Dark’s arms where right under her fore hooves. She began flailing her hooves around attempting to get free and do whatever thoughts she had in mind for Twilight. She calmed down over time but, Dark kept his hold on her just in case.

“I’m sorry but that’s an important ingredient we need in order to create the portal spell,” said Twilight.

“Well how is Trixie going to get a thunderbolt, it’s not like a pegasus will kindly give us one!” shouted Trixie.

Before anypony could speak further on, a loud booming voice was heard from the pathway they were in. The voice was coming from a street, and many ponies were crowding the street, staring up at something… or somepony.

“ATTENTION ALL PONIES! THIS IS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PRINCESS CELESTIA HERSELF!” shouted an announcer pony.

At first Twilight, Dark, and Trixie didn’t move an inch, but decided to see what all the commotion was about. After leaving the spot they were in, they saw a pegasus flying in the air, at first look it looked it were a normal pegasus… that was when Twilight recognized the speaker and the suit he was wearing. “It can’t be...” said Twilight, whispering.

“Who is it Twilight?” asked Dark. “You know who that is.”

“I do… it’s Soarin… one of the members of the Wonderbolts,” said Twilight. Twilight’s slowly began to shrink, fearing that she would be noticed by the pegasus.

Soarin, one of the Wonderbolts notable members was addressing all the ponies in Manehattan some news from Celestia. “Princess Celestia has sensed a strange being has come to Equestria! Highly dangerous, it is bipedal, wearing in pure black armor… and with it is Princess Twilight Sparkle! If you see either the princess or this creature, please report this to your nearest police station or to any of the members of the Wonderbolts!” shouted Soarin. Finishing his announcement, Soarin spotted a familiar lavender pony, seeing both a horn and wings. Instantly Soarin’s eyes widened, having realizing that who he was staring at was nopony but Twilight herself.

Twilight spotted him seeing her and immediately, followed by Dark and Trixie returned to the pathway they were in originally. “We need to go, now!” shouted Twilight. “Dark, help push the wagon, Trixie and I can levitate it while we escape. Quick!”

Instantly, Dark moved behind Trixie’s wagon while both Twilight and Trixie used their magic, levitating the wagon while running from the area. Noticing the ground having multiple shadows below them, Trixie looks up to see multiple pegasi chasing after them, one of them being Soarin and another pegasus with a very familiar mane style.

“PUSH HARDER!” screamed Trixie, going into a panic.

Dark looked up, also recognizing one of the pegasi… that was when he remembered one of the ingredients required for the portal spell. Slowly, Dark let the wagon go as it neared a steep road; Dark turned to face the oncoming pegasi. “You girls get the other ingredients, we’ll meet back at the docks… I got some thunder to steal,” said Dark, both hands wide open.

“DARK WHAT ARE YOU-” shouted Twilight, when she felt the ground underneath her vanish. Looking down, Twilight realized that the road ahead was beginning a steep descent to wherever they were going; Twilight and Trixie jumped onto the wagon, as it slowly began rolling down. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

After both mares screaming away, Dark was left alone… until he was met face to face with a swarm of pegasi. The Wonderbolts stared at the armored figure… but one Wonderbolt in particular eyed him… almost glaring at him. The pegasus removed her head part of her suit, revealing her whole face; the mare had a yellow fur, the outer part of her mane was orange while the inner part was a mixture of between yellow and orange together, her cutie-mark looked like a flame but was shaped in a way that it almost resembled a wing. As Dark gotten a closer look at the mare… he realized that he met the pegasus before… once, back when his first visit to Canterlot.

“Hey, your the pegasus that I pulled that feather from,” said Dark, pointing his finger at her. “That explains why you seem so familiar.”

“Indeed… that little fiasco you did back at Canterlot was… interesting at the least. By the way, the name’s Spitfire,” said Spitfire, continuing her glare. “What’s yours… if you even have one.”

“No reason to be rude now… but if you insist; many call me Soldier 3112, but nowadays those I been traveling with call me Dark Armor… you can call me Dark for short though,” said Dark, in a friendly tone.

Spitfire was confused by the sudden hospitality that Dark was giving… as if he wasn’t afraid of the multiple pegasi surrounding him. Well it wasn’t surprising since what his done so far, something like this wouldn’t scare him… though Spitfire expected… his personality to be… something else. “Your not going to… fight back or anything? We practically stand you from ten to one, I thought you put up some kind of restraint of something,” said Spitfire.

“Oh no no no no no… I am not surrendering or anything of the sort… I was going to ask you something,” said Dark.

“Oh, really? Just what exactly where you going to ask us?” said Spifire, crossing her hooves whilst smirking.

Dark placed both his hands behind his back, a quiet clicking noise coming from his gauntlets. “Well I was wondering… you wouldn’t share a thunderbolt with me… would you?” said Dark.

Spitfire raised a brow, looking at her fellow Wonderbolts who also shrugged too. She then looked at Dark, going back to her glare. “Are you serious? Not that I don’t believe you but… what makes you think we’ll simply give you a thunderbolt,” said Spitfire, approaching Dark placing a hoof on his helmet. “Also… I don’t think your in a position to make demands.”

“I see… I have another question,” said Dark. “Are all of your trained soldiers?”

Spitfire was a bit taken back with this question, she wasn’t sure if this question was meant to be an insult to the Wonderbolts capabilities with handling a situation or not. But Dark’s question was genuine, so deciding to answer it, she hovers right in front of Dark’s helmet, her eyes staring at his visor. “Well of course… but since we mostly do flight shows and such we don’t face these kind of problems on the daily other than the uncontrollable storm or such… We aren’t exactly battle-hardened soldiers, heck I doubt any of us seen or been in an actual battle,” said Spitfire, chuckling. “Heck that don’t matter, we may not be true soldiers but we still out-number you and know enough training to handle you.”

Dark stayed silent for a bit, taking in Spitfire’s answer… until he spoke again. “I see… however, there’s one different between all of you and me,” said Dark.

Spitfire raised her brow, planting both eyes on Dark’s visor. “Mind explaining how?” asked Spitfire.

“Well… you see… I ain’t any ordinary soldier,” said Dark, the clicking noise getting louder. “I’m… a ‘super’ soldier, and right now… your all out-matched; and it’s going to take you another thousand years to get close to my level of training.”

Suddenly before any of the Wonderbolts had time to react, Dark threw two small cylindrical containers; after that… a loud flash and a bright flash appeared. All the pegasi were blinded and disoriented from the sudden bang of noise, some scuffling and grunting was happening as all the pegasi blindly searched for the armored being. Some of pegasi pumped into walls, trash bins, or even each other; Spitfire was able to regain her sight, when she saw an incoming Soarin flying her way. She quickly moved while at the same time stopped her friend from crashing into a wall.

“Soarin calm down! You almost hit a wall there pal,” said Spitfie.

“T-thanks Spitfire… What was that thing?” asked Soarin, rubbing his eyes.

Looking around, all the other Wonderbolts regained focused… when they saw the bipedal creature called Dark, vanish where he was previously before. That was when they all heard a voice above them. “OYE! UP HERE!”

When they all looked up, they all gawked what they saw next. Dark was hovering in the air, which was happening when his boots were shooting out strange rings where in the center of those rings was a small blue ball. Now Spitfire remembered that back at Canterlot that Dark plucked one of her feathers and used it to fly off with the princess. However, instead of a jetpack, Dark was using some sort of hover boots to fly in the air.

“Now I know what your thinking. No I did not steal anyone’s abilities by plucking one of their feathers,” said Dark, at the same time a pegasus was checking their wings for any missing feathers. “This is simply a part of my suit’s abilities… another thing, if I were you… I take cover.”

Spitfire wasn’t sure what Dark meant, but that was when she heard a ticking noise. Looking down… was a black ball the size of a hoof… making a very loud ticking noise. Tick tick tick tick. Spitfire’s eyes widened, and immediately she grabbed Soarin and ducked behind some trash bins. “GET TO COVER!” shouted Spitfire, covering her ears.

Most of the pegasi got to cover but those who didn’t weren’t lucky. The black ball exploded, releasing a pink-sticky residue causing all the pegasi who didn’t reach cover to be stuck to the ground and nearby walls. When all was clear, Spitfire searched the area and saw Dark had vanished… that was when one of the Wonderbolts who also taken cover spotted him. “Over there, his on that roof!” shouted one of the Wonderbolts.

Soarin and Spitfire looked where the pegasus was pointing, and saw Dark; he was standing while with one of his hands he moved his hand flat open while simultaneously moving his fingers up and down repeatedly. Everypony wasn’t sure what he was doing, but Spitfire knew exactly what he was doing… he was taunting them.

“That cheeky…” said Spitfire, biting her lip. “Soarin! Flank behind Dark and take the others with you! The rest follow my lead!”

Soarin nodded where two pegasi followed behind him, while Spitfire stared at Dark who was running off, jumping to one rooftop to the next. Spitfire took chase… taking in Dark’s bait as planned.

Elsewhere, Twilight and Trixie finally reached the port, at the same time gathered what ingredients they needed. As Twilight began preparing the requirements to start the portal spell, Trixie kept watch for anypony that may come to them.

“Is the spell done yet?” asked Trixie, still keeping her eye on the road.

“Not yet; I can’t exactly start the spell without Dark. He said he has an idea on how to get a thunderbolt,” said Twilight. “I still don’t how he’ll though, but we have to put our trust in him. For the time being, keep watch if any of the Wonderbolts come our way.”

Trixie rolled her eyes, continuing her watch for anything. Twilight focused on placing the ingredients and creating signs on the ground for the spell. That was when they heard noise coming from outside, taking a peek to what was happening… they saw Dark being chased by some of the Wonderbolts; thinking they’ll get spotted all the Wonderbolts are distracted by Dark and simply fly by them. Twilight exhales in relief and stares up, wishing Dark to get the last ingredient.

Dark rolled and jumped across every obstacle in his way… until he was reaching the end of his path. Standing on the edge of a rooftop, below was the ground that led to the docks… beyond that was nothing but water. Turning around, Dark was met with Spitfire and what remaining Wonderbolts that were left to chase Dark.

“Got nowhere else to go now,” said Spitfire, landing on the roof.

Dark looked around, and noticed that Soarin and two other pegasi where hiding, ready to pounce for the right moment. Knowing what they were planning, Dark played along with them… waiting for his chance to strike. “Indeed you have; you have captured a soldier trained to handle any scenario,” said Dark, clapping.

Spitfire was a bit surprised from Dark’s response, but kept her guard up no matter what. She then looked one of the pegasi standing near her and ordered the pegasus to place restraints on Dark. The pegasus moved forward with cuffs, moving both hands forward the pegasus was ready to cuff Dark… until he moved from the cuffs. In an instant Dark grabbed the cuffs, placed them on the pegasus that tried to cuff him. Before Soarin’s group could come to intervene, Dark tossed the cuffed pegasus at them, causing Soarin and the two pegasi behind him to tumble into the ground.

Before Dark could make his next move, Spitfire rushed toward him tackling him off the roof into the ground. She began dragging Dark into the ground, but at the same time Dark activated his hover boots causing the two to tumble together into the ground. Once Spitfire got her bearings together Dark was near the edge of the dock.

“THAT’S IT!” shouted Spitfire, stomping her hoof down. “SOARIN! PREPARE FOR ‘THAT’ MANEUVER!”

Soarin’s face shone with worry, but he shook it away and nodded immediately. Soarin gathered whatever pegasi that could still fly, and with Spitfire all the Wonderbolts spun around a single cloud. Twilight who was done with the preparations of the spell came to see what all the noise was… that was when she saw Dark at the edge of the dock. “DARK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” shouted Twilight.

However Twilight’s words couldn’t be heard, as the sound of thunder shook the sky. Twilight, Trixie, and Dark looked up… it was when the sky was darkening to near pitch black, blue light sparkling left and right. Dark stood there… not moving an inch or attempting to run… for his plan was about to end. Spitfire was preparing to unleash a torrent of lightening toward Dark, firing a tornado of thunder.

“READY...” shouted Spitfire, intensifying the tornado.

Twilight broke off where she stood, running toward Dark.

“AIM…” shouted Spitfire, her mane and tail beginning to feel the static coming from the tornado.

Twilight was almost a few meters close to Dark… until she felt something heavy upon her whole body. Trixie was holding her down, as Twilight tried to wriggle herself free. “TRIXIE, LET-ME-GO!” screamed Twilight.

Trixie didn’t respond but simply closed her eyes, knowing what was to come. Twilight stopped her attempts of escaping Trixie’s grasp… eyes locked on the armored figure before her… who was about to be struck by thousands of pure energy.

“FIRE!” screamed Spitfire, the tornado showering downward to Dark.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo!” screamed Twilight, her screams being silenced by the thunderous noise of the tornado.

Some minutes before the tornado struck Dark, Manehattan, Manehattan Station, 2:15pm

Arriving the station was Celestia and Luna, followed behind them was a squadron of royal guards… but following behind them… were five figures. One of the five spoke first, her voice elegant while at the same time a bit distressed with the events that been happening the past few days.

“Ohhh, I do hope Twilight is fine. After hearing that she’s vanished near the ruins in the Everfree Forest, only to pop up here… in Manehattan of places!” said the white mare.

“Well remember Rarity, we aren’t here for shopping or the sort. Our friend is here with… that… ‘thing’,” said an orange mare, wearing a stetson on top her head.

“I know darling… it’s sad that we can’t buy a single souvenir while at our visit here,” said Rarity.

The five mares moved up next to Celestia, one of them a yellow mare with a pink mane and tail approached Celestia, worry adorning her shy face. “P-p-princess… is… is Discord okay,” said the shy mare. “After hearing that he was… back… I went to go see him… but I was told that he was...” The shy mare rubbed her mane with one of her hooves, unsure of asking such questions right now. However Celestia moved her gaze onto the shy mare, smiling at her.

“Do not worry Fluttershy, Discord will be fine the next day… probably sooner. He is a quick healer, I seen him… gone through worse,” said Celestia.

Fluttershy smiled, happy to know one of her friends was okay… but she frowned when remembering the main reason why they came here. “That’s good… though I hope I could say the same for Twilight,” said Fluttershy.

Approaching Fluttershy was a rainbow-maned mare, landing right beside her she wraps her hoof around Fluttershy. “Ah don’t worry Flutters… Whatever this thing is, I’ll beat it to the moon and back. I promise… Pinkie promise,” said the rainbow-maned mare. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” While saying this, the mare placed a hoof on her eye… making sure to closing her eye before doing it.

At the same time, a pink-maned pony that looked as if her mane were cotton candy popped right beside the two pegasi. “Uh Dashie… I probably make that promise so soon...” said the pink mare.

“Huh? Why so Pinkie?” asked Rainbow, looking at what her friend was staring at.

“That’s why,” said Pinkie, pointing her hoof in the distance.

Everypony looked at what Pinkie was pointing toward; in the distance was a giant swarm of black clouds. Rainbow knew exactly what this meant… and she had two words for what. “Thunder storm...” said Rainbow, the color her face disappearing.

Celestia immediately took action, looking at her guards she acted her orders. “Tell all surrounding ponies to return into their homes or find somewhere safe to stay indoors. All pegasi guards are to head toward to that storm and slow it down as best as possible. The elements will join me, we will head toward the storm… it might be where we will find Twilight.” said Celestia.

“And maybe this Dark figure...” thought Celestia, her gaze toward the ever growing storm.

While all the guards saluted and went to their stations, Celestia, Luna, and the elements headed to the storm where they eventually arrive at the docks. Once there… they meet with a very interesting sight. “Sweet applesauce...” said Applejack, slowly removing her stetson off.

Before all of them was a charred dock, as burnt wood and charred stone was covering the ground. Above them were Wonderbolts who used a very dangerous move, that could possibly kill them if not carefully used. Amongst them was Spitfire and Soarin, who were about to collapse any second. “SPITFIRE! SOARIN!” shouted Rainbow, rushing to their side.

Helping them up and leaning them against a wall, the two Wonderbolts were exhausted and weren’t able to speak a single word. “Are they okay princess!” said Rainbow, both hooves on her lips.

Celestia examined them, a few scratches and scrapes but nothing major on them or the other Wonderbolt members. “Do not worry, they are fine,” said Celestia.

Rainbow sighed, nearly falling to the ground when Fluttershy went behind her to hold her up. Pleased with her response, Celestia examined the area… until she spotted two figures rising from under the ash and dirt. Squinting her eyes, Celestia eyes widened… when she spotted a purple horn and wings. “Twilight...” said Celestia, her voice barely audible.

Immediately she teleported beside her apprentice, lifting her on her hooves. After everypony realized where Celestia teleported to, they all rushed toward her… until they realized who she found.

“TWILIGHT!” screamed Pinkie, ready to pounce her friend.

Before the pink mare could, Rarity held her friend in midair before letting drop to the ground. Applejack helped the other pony up who was Trixie, until placing both ponies against the wall. “Why’s Trixie with Twilight?” asked Applejack.

“I am unsure…” said Celestia.

Before anypony could continue to speak… a cough was heard. Turning their heads, they saw Twilight’s eyelids slowly open… until both her eyes opened wide when her pupils began to shrink into dots. “Twilight, I’m glad your find darling… Are you… alright?” said Rarity.

Twilight’s eyes began to mist up… until she began to tear up from seeing her friends safe. “Girls… your… your alright,” said Twilight, a sniffle escaping from her breath.

“Of course we are Twi… but...” said Applejack. “Are you okay? You seem to been through a lot.”

Twilight stood on all hooves, slightly swaying left and right but keeping her stance up. Staring off to the docks… Dark was gone… nothing left; Twilight frowned, not only did Dark sacrificed himself… Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder. Looking up it was Fluttershy, who was smiling at her friend.

“Thank you Fluttershy… I needed that,” said Twilight, sniffling.

“I’m just happy to know that your safe is all… After hearing what happened at Canterlot… I assumed the worse,” said Fluttershy. “But your safe and sound… and that’s all that matters.”

After the short reunion, Trixie blinked open her eyes until noticing the ponies surrounding her. Looking to the side… she saw something rising from the ashes of the near destroyed docks… something clutching… a rather bright object. Everypony else noticed Trixie staring at something, turning to face what she was looking at… everypony stopped their talking momentarily staring at the figure that stood tall.

At the edge of the dock was Dark… in his hand… was a thunderbolt… wrapping around his arm like an eel. Dark stared at his own arm, whipping the thunderbolt around as if it were a rope; he easily used it to snap at some nearby stones pleased with the results of the rock turning into dust.

“Now this… I didn’t expect to happen,” said Dark, focusing his attention toward the group of ponies. Looking among them… he spotted a familiar white alicorn who in return stared back at him.

“You...” said Celestia, her voice filled with anger.

“Hello princess,” said Dark, nonchalantly. “Might I ask what brings you here… though I think I can tell why.”

Celestia stepped forward ahead of everypony else, staring straight at the empty visor that was Dark’s eyes. In return, Dark shared a similar look… devoid of life, but showed it equal displeasure of meeting the sun goddess. Both stood, staring at one another until… a voice spoke… one that wanted all of this madness to stop.

“PLEASE STOP!” shouted Twilight, rushing in between both Celestia and Dark. Twilight stood there, placing both hooves against each figure beside her. “This all started because I made the stupid decision to free Dark… Because I was selfish enough to think that I could… that I could bring ‘him’ back.”

Everypony was shocked to the reason Twilight did all of this… that she did out of the pure love she had for somepony who would never return… Celestia saw the sadness in her apprentice’s eyes… the sadness of losing a loved one. Dark, who sympathized with Twilight… stood still as something within him began to crack… as a very… “hellish” memory began to resurface… the memory of what love can do to people… what it did to “her”. A voice spoke to Dark, reminding him what happened that day… the day that all hope was taken from him.

Love is a painful thing… it can give as it can take… She used us Dark… she used us so she could find someone who would never come back… Do you really want to help her now? Well… do you? The voice received not response from Dark… who stood, continuing to stare.

I see… then I know what must be done… what we… must do… Brother, awaken your true potential, like the fire of rage you shall wash your anger amongst those who defy us… who defy you… There was a reason we have become one… as I am the darkness that meant to consume everything… empty… unable to feel… However, you are my opposite, you sense, you feel, you hate… you love… but, because of this you have witnessed and seen the countless tests done to you… but you never cracked once… that… was until they killed her… that they killed our loved one… my loved one… your “mother”.

Dark's visage slowly changed… as before he was shrouded in dark flames… something else entirely different began to happen. His armor, which was originally pure black changed into a red… almost as if the flames of Tartarus where sprouting from his armor. His boots were of a deep dark mahogany, while his gloves were of a demonic red; his helmet was dark orange while his visor was a lighter yellow… but what caught everypony’s attention was what appeared next. Sprouting from Dark’s back… were wings, wings of pure fire and not the black flames Twilight saw before… but flames of rage… no not rage… but something else… something more… “potent”. On Dark’s visor appeared two bright white eyes, as the same as his previous form… no pupils. This sudden change to Dark was far more menacing than his previous form, as his other form showed zero sign of life… this one showed the more darker sign of life… the more mentally distorted kind.

Open your true self Dark… or should I say…

Suddenly, Dark’s helmet slowly opened… revealing a flame maw made of hellish fire as teeth black and sharp protruded out, a tongue made of a blue light flame… “it” spoke.

“I! AM! PRAKOS!” screamed Prakos, his “claws” embedding into his helmet. “PRAKOS THE MAD!”

For your madness is born…

“...from the love they took from me!” said Prakos, grin growing wider.

The love they took from us… so brother?

“Yes dear brother, Darkness… or should I call youuuuuu-”

It matters not now… for our revenge must take place brother.

“Indeed… it’s been long since I’ve been asleep… my alter-ego was having so much fun… but after that thunderbolt hit him… or should I say me; hitting me right in the noggin… WELL I HAVEN’T FELT BETTER IN CENTURIES!” shouted Prakos, laughing insanely into the air.

Prakos eyed the crowd of ponies, giving him wide stares and worried looks. Princess Celestia too didn’t expect this to happen either, slowly trotting away from the… “creature”. Prakos grabbed Celestia by her hoof, scratching her hoof in the process. Celestia winced from the sudden grab, as Prakos planted his helmet against Celestia muzzle, slowly staring at her… maybe even her soul.

“So your the princess of the sun, eh?” asked Prakos, snickering crazily. “Well then… that must make me.” Prakos drops Celestia, causing the sun princess to look up at him realizing… that this is beyond her own experience of facing dangerous beings.

“THE DEMON OF THE SUN!” shouted Prakos, laughing psychotically. Prakos continued to laugh until his laugh rang across Manehattan… then Equestria… then the world… Prakos stopped laughing, slowly looking at the group of ponies who wanted to run immediately for cover.

“Now then...” said Prakos, calmly. “Who wants to die first? Eh?”

Tourist Arc: Ch.15 - Darkness & Fire, Emptiness & Lost

“It’s a good day to, murder all your friends and family! LALALALA-LA-LA-LAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” shouted Prakos, in a sing-song voice. “Where arrrre youuuu? Come out come out wherever you arrrrrrreee!”

The second Prakos began his onslaught of hunting everypony, Celestia and Luna immediately teleported those who were too injured back to the train station; this only included the Wonderbolts. Trixie who was equally injured as well said that she wanted to stay, deciding to not argue about it Trixie was dragged off to where everyone hid from Prakos. Since Prakos was in a very violent and dangerous state, it was unwise to leave him alone… that and Prakos could sense if other beings are near him or not. How is unsure but, because of this Celestia didn’t teleport everypony away and if she did Prakos would wander around the city finding them, causing more ponies to be harmed in the process.

Hiding on the roof some distance away from Prakos, the remaining ponies that stayed behind watched, eying each of Prakos’s moves… or in this case, unpredictable moves. Rainbow, out of the ponies who were on the rooftop was edging for a fight, but was held back by her farm friend. “Let me go Applejack! Let me at him, let me at him!” said Rainbow, struggling in her friend’s grip.

“Are you crazy,” said Applejack, making sure not to shout. “You want all of us to get killed. Cause I ain’t in the hurry to be ending my life so soon.”

“Your fellow element is right,” said Luna, joining the conversation. “While myself and my sister could handle this… ‘thing’, it is very unwise to do so in such a populated area. At first chance, we will bring this Prakos being as far from Manehattan to be dealt with.”

Rainbow stopped her struggling, slowly trotting off to see Twilight. Seeing the fiery demonic figure in the distance, once a friend one second and now this… Twilight stared sadly, both disappointed in herself for letting this happen… Disappointed to herself to what she’s forced Dark into. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Dark,” said Twilight, whispering to herself.

Looking down at the cement roof, she felt a hoof on her; looking for the source of the hoof Twilight was greeted with a warm smile from her shy friend. At the same time, a familiar purple mane came to Twilight’s view as a hoof was extended to her. Reaching for both hooves, Twilight was carried by both her friends who began to ask her of her own health and condition.

“Are you alright darling?” asked Rarity, worry showing in her voice.

“I’m… I’m fine,” said Twilight. This was a lie, as Twilight felt like her whole body was alight with pain. From feeling the sudden shock-wave from the thunderbolt and with some of her old wounds slowly reopening; it was lucky that she was an alicorn now which meant she was more durable than she was in her old unicorn body.

“We thought something happened to you when princess Luna lost you in the Everfree Forest,” said Flutteshy.

“Yeah! How did you survive that fall, I mean it would had to be heck of drop without having one of your bones-” Before Pinkie could finish her sentence, a familiar orange pony stuffed a hoof in her hyper friend.

Twilight smiled, happy to know some things haven’t changed… but returned to her sad look immediately. Celestia took noticed to this and moved a hoof on her ex-apprentice’s chin. She then lifted her head up to look her in the eye... Twilight stared back with sadness and regret.

“Princess… I… I… I’m so s-s-sorry,” said Twilight, choking up. Tears slowly began to flow out, unable to hold in the suppressed emotions. “I don’t know what I was thinking or why I would do such… reckless, irresponsible, stupid choices!” Twilight continued by slamming her own hoof into the ground, but only made things worse causing a small wince to come out of her. Celestia immediately stopped her from continuing the same action and looked over her wounds; Twilight’s left wing had a sprain, she was riddled of bruises and cuts, but what caused Celestia to stop was the burnt mark that was across her right side to her neck. What truly worried Celestia more was not the physical backlash of pain, but the mental abuse from not fainting from all of the events that happened to her ex-apprentice.

“Twilight… I-” Before she could finish, everypony on the roof heard two things.

The flapping of two very large wings; and clapping… very very very slow clapping.

Everypony slowly turned to find the source of the clapping, until all gazes stared at the fiery figure. Prakos, grinning but had some of his sharp teeth protruding out used both of his wings to fly up where the group hid, at the same time amused with their attempts of trying to find from the demonic-looking being. Stopping his clapping, he hung in the air only the sounds of his own wings heard. He then approached the roof, landing with some dust moved by the sudden disturbance; moving one foot forward toward the group, leaving a trail of fire behind.

The first to respond surprisingly wasn’t Rainbow, but Celestia who teleported in front of everypony to face the malicious being. Both stared at one another, but Celestia was slightly unnerved from unable to see any pupils on Prakos. Before the sun goddess could speak, Prakos spoke or in this case chuckled causing everypony to feel a chill down their spines.

“Ahhhhh… This… this is amusing,” said Prakos, moving his gaze toward those behind Celestia. “To think it was a smart move to stay behind instead of teleporting to safety. Not the smartest move… though I must applaud on how… crazy of a plan it was.”

“If we were to teleport away, you’d probably lay waste to our ponies,” said Celestia, staring sternly toward Prakos. “I will not stand for this, so surrender now or face my full fury!”

Prakos placed one of his claws upon his chin, contemplating what Celestia has said. “To be honest your not wrong, I’d probably torch everything in my way… However...” said Prakos, his grin growing wider. “By simply not running, you bore me with your selfless actions… So what if I were to say, that I didn’t want to fight you… that I would simply fly off and annihilate this whole city… nothing but ashes and dust remaining.”

Everypony held their breath not wanting to anger the psychotic being, who would simply stop attacking them… for the lives of a whole city. Celestia’s rage shone through her eyes, but keeping in check unless she wanted to cause an incident where they stood. Prakos, opened his maw letting his flaming tongue slither out; Rainbow who had no patience for the threats being thrown rushed straight forward.

“RAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” screamed Rainbow, flying with both hooves pointed at Prakos.

Prakos stood with both arms crossed until flying upward, leaving a cloud of dust behind. Continuing to taunt her, Prakos left his arms crossed dodging effortlessly at Rainbow’s attempts at catching or attacking him. Everypony watched fearful of what their friend was doing, after some seconds of staring Celestia and Luna shook their previous thoughts away and flew toward Prakos.

Prakos continued to dodge until he began to laugh crazily, stopping mid-flight to flex a claw at Rainbow tauntingly. “Tis the best you got my feathered horse?” said Prakos. “Or are you simply as slow as a tortoise?”

Being called slow, Rainbow’s eyes began to twitch feverishly. “Slow? SLOW! THAT’S IT!” screamed Rainbow, using every ounce of energy to crash into Prakos. “I’LL SHOW YOU SLOW!”

Sighing from being bored of her attempts, Prakos lifts one claw up right before Rainbow made impact with him. “I grow bored of this… DIE!” said Prakos. Sending his claw downward, Rainbow begins to waver to the ground but is caught by Prakos; he then stares off to the port, with a quick movement of his arm he tosses Rainbow’s lifeless body at the ocean, lobbing her as if she were a pebble.

Rainbow’s friends watch until Fluttershy screams in seeing her oldest friend being thrown. “RAINBOW DASH!” screamed Fluttershy, flying with all her might to save her friend.

Prakos left Fluttershy to where he thrown Rainbow returning his focus onto his next target. Now eying the two alicorns in the air, Prakos pointed his right claw with his index finger. The finger he pointed with was directed at what everypony assumed was Celestia… but Celestia saw it wasn’t her being Prakos’s next target. Celestia slowly turned her head seeing who was next in his list.

Luna looked around to who could possibly be Prakos’s next interest… until she looked at herself. The realization hit everypony so quick… they weren’t quick enough to realize Prakos flying right in front of Luna. Placing his sharp finger in between her eyes, Luna stared into the eyes of madness as a drop of sweat slipped off her forehead. “You-are-next,” said Prakos, speaking each word in syllables.

Elsewhere at Canterlot Castle, a certain purple baby dragon was pacing back and forth in the courtyard he was left in to wait… however not alone. With him were Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, who just arrived some while ago to see Cadance’s aunts, Celestia and Luna about the whereabouts of Twilight after her sudden disappearance at the Everfree Forest. Since being told that they left for a disturbance at Manehattan, they left with a large amount of the royal guard, and Twilight’s friends to find the source of the problem; leaving Spike to be in charge… or in this case, to give a message to anypony who wished to speak with the princesses. Luckily only Cadance and Shining were the only two who wanted to see Celestia since news of what was happening at Manehattan hasn’t spread… yet.

Spike continued to pace until Cadance spoke to calm the young dragon. “Everything will be fine Spike,” said Cadance, but was shortly interrupted by the worried dragon.

“Fine? Fine! I was left, no, ditched when news of Manehattan in possible danger was heard. Now I wasn’t told what was going on but, it was enough for both Celestia and Luna to go, take nearly the whole guard, and even Twilight’s friends! Now explain to me how that’s fine!” shouted Spike.

Cadance kept quiet, unable to calm Spike; Shining who saw Spike’s agitated response tried to respond toward him, in his own way. “Spike I can understand your frustration for them not bringing you with them, but your still too young and I doubt Twilight would of wanted you to come especially if what you told us is true,” said Shining, placing a hoof on Spike’s shoulder. “This has nothing to do with your age or size… they need someone to stay behind if anything were to happen while they were gone. You are of course my sister’s assistant.”

Spike looked up at Shining, a genuine honest smile appeared on Shining. Spike sighed, deciding to not argue and feeling slightly tired from the past days events. Rubbing his forehead with one claw Spike walked to the balcony; staring off to the distance, Spike looked toward where he assumed Manehattan to be. Cadance and Shining followed behind to comfort the baby dragon, but made sure to keep their distance at the same time.

“I hope your right,” said Spike, his anger subsiding. “I don’t know half the things that go through Twilight’s mind… and I practically been with her my entire life.”

“Didn’t she hatched you Spike?” asked Cadance.

“She did… and without her I don’t know what would become of me,” said Spike, staring at the vast sight before him. “Please come back Twilight.”

Meanwhile at Manehattan…

“LOOK OUT!” shouted Applejack, pushing her friend Rarity out of danger.

A fireball the size of a ball came whizzing pass where Rarity was previously standing; right before Rarity was about to be burnt to a crisp, Prakos chose Luna to be his next target. When Prakos has suddenly appeared before Luna, the lunar princess fired a shot of pure magical energy, only to have it deflected toward a lamppost. Prakos stared where the shot went and looked back at Luna, grinning psychotically at her. “Well aren’t you the feisty one,” said Prakos, grinning. “I’m going to have fun tearing your limbs apart!”

Luna shuddered, teleporting away but only for Prakos to appear where she teleported before. Repeating this over and over Luna came to a conclusion that either Prakos could teleport too… or something else that made him to catch up with Luna. “H-h-how?” said Luna, shocked.

Prakos raised both claws up into Luna’s sight, shaking them tauntingly. “Mmmmmagic!” said Prakos.

Prakos formed a fist with his right claw and before Luna could react he made impact; Luna was sent crashing to the ground but stood back up, only to receive another devastating blow. Prakos tossed two ball-sized fireballs, exploding on impact on Luna. After the smoke cleared Luna was slightly scorched, but showed signs of clear injury. Celestia teleported immediately to her sister’s side, while putting up a bubble shield just in case.

“Luna are you alright!” said Celestia, staring at the large scorch mark on her side.

Luna coughed, raising her head to see her sister. “I’m… fine, Tia...” said Luna, coughing. “Still… how was he able to catch up with me?”

Celestia looked up where Prakos was flying, juggling some miniature fireballs. After seeing both her friend and one of the princesses being attacked, Rarity glared at Prakos and trotted toward him.

“HOW DARE YOU! I don’t know what gives you the right to do such things, but Twilight tried befriending you! I know she has lied to you with a few things… but that gives you no right to attack everything in your sights!” shouted Rarity, finding a word to insult Prakos with. “YOU… you… you… RUFFIAN!”

Continuing to glare at Prakos, Prakos stops his staring contest with Celestia and turns to face Rarity. Starting to regret her actions Rarity begins to sweat profusely but, stands tall where she is. With a small smirk Prakos raises one claw up forming a fireball on the palm of his claw; staring back at Rarity his smirk grows to a crazed smile. “You got guts lady… but you got the balls to talk back with a burning face?” asked Prakos, calmly. With a quick toss, his fireball is sent flying towards Rarity, who stands as solid as a statue until her friend Applejack pushes her out of the way.

Staring back where she once stood, a large scorch mark is left in it’s place. “Th-thank you Applejack,” said Rarity, her body limply falling to the ground. “I… I didn’t know what I was thinking.”

“It’s alright, but next time… try not to get yourself in trouble,” said Applejack.

Nodding, Rarity stands back up with the help of her friend, Applejack. Pinkie who was carrying her friend Twilight and Trixie watched from a safe distance from another roof across the roof where all the commotion was happening. After watching her friend Rainbow tossed, and seeing Luna not landing a hit on Prakos caused the usually bouncy mare to shake from not excitement… but fear. Looking down her slightly unconscious friend, Pinkie places her down beside Trixie against some chimneys. “Hey Twilight you okay,” said Pinkie, nudging her friend on the head.

Twilight groans lightly in response, weakly staring up at her pink friend. “Pinkie? Where… where is everypony?” asked Twilight, looking around. “What happened? Why’s Trixie unconscious, and… is something wrong?”

“Well…” said Pinkie biting her lower lip. Looking to the side, Pinkie looks back at the fight between Prakos and the princesses. She then stares back down at her friend, pleading awaiting an answer whilst looking as confused as herself. Sighing, Pinkie responds the best way she could without upsetting Twilight. “A lot of bad things are happening… but don’t worry, the princesses are handling things. I’m sure everything will go back normal.”

Twilight glances down at her own hooves, a frown slowly forming. “If that’s so… then why didn’t they tried teleporting us to safety?” asked Twilight.

Pinkie smile falters readying to respond when a loud explosion is heard; checking what the explosion was she sees Celestia facing her, covered in bruises and scorch marks. What truly caught her eye was the lifeless forms on the ground surrounding the two figures; Applejack was splayed out on Rarity both unconscious, while Luna’s left wing had some of her feathers burnt, her front hooves were beaten and bruised, possibly broken. Celestia who was showing signs of exhaustion looked toward Pinkie, screaming one line toward the terrified pony.

“RUN! RUN WHILE YOU CAN, AND DON’T STOP!” screamed Celestia, firing a beam of pure magical energy at Prakos.

Pinkie slowly began to step back, until she lifted Twilight up but when she was about to reach for Trixie, she stopped for a moment’s hesitation until running with only Twilight. Prakos watched the two ponies run, until focusing his attention toward Celestia. Celestia traced back to what had happened in the mere minutes that felt like hours to the sun goddess; thinking back to how this all had slowly start crashing down around her.

Some minutes before the sudden explosion happened, Prakos was having a one on one with Celestia, both returning either a shot of magical energy or a fireball toward their opponent. Luna who stood on all fours attempted to fly up and help her sister when she saw something in the distance. Sitting from the docks was Fluttershy who had an unconscious Rainbow Dash who had her head placed on Fluttershy’s legs; the shy mare from Luna’s view was crying and did her best to resuscitate her friend and from how she’s reacting, Rainbow is fine. However from seeing from her distance, Rainbow Dash had injuries far worse than anypony else, not only did she had her wing or both wings broken, but possibly a broken rib and concussion from crashing 40 or more meters from a roof to the ocean.

After done being distracted, Luna didn’t react quick enough when a claw grabbed her by the neck. Looking up, Prakos, who had trapped Celestia temporarily within a cage made of strange blackened stones; the noises of her attempts of breaking the stone can be heard from the inner part of the cage.

“It’s not polite to ignore someone when they’re trying to get your attention… and I can say, your definitely not being very attentive,” said Prakos, his grip tightening on the lunar princess. “Sadly though, your so called… ‘bravery’ is impressive I must say… for a mare who’s going to die. Now maybe you could of lived, and maybe I would of spared you… sadly...” Prakos began to chuckle to himself, his maw opening wider to such impossible lengths Luna could see the fiery veins flowing the demonic blood within Prakos. “Finding a version of me that’s merciful would be impossible, because… I’m one of a kind.”

A noise began to grow within Prakos, and within each passing second was another second closer to Luna’s demise. Luna struggled to get free from the tight grip, but was only responded with another chocking gag from herself. After the noise grew louder, a light appeared within Prakos’s maw and before Luna could utter a noise… the last thing she saw was a bright, powerful light. At the same time, Celestia was free from her stone prison, until she saw what was being witnessed before her; Luna was being engulfed by a hellish flame that was so hot that Celestia could feel the heat from where she stood, while the surrounding area the flame touched or was near either melted or was left with a blackened scorch mark that was dark as night.

Once finishing his merciless attack on Luna, Prakos drops Celestia’s younger sister on the ground creating a loud thump from her burning body. Celestia teleported immediately beside her sister, putting out the flames with her magic and hooves, not caring for the pain she’s feeling from touching the demonic flames. Leaving the white alicorn distracted, Prakos turns to face the voices coming behind two chimneys on the roof across where he stood. “Seems I forgot about miss chatterbox,” said Prakos, grinning dementedly.

Before he could step one foot forward, a familiar stetson came to his view. Standing in his way between his next target was the farmer pony that saved the unicorn who was watching from safe distance, levitating what appears to be a pipe with her magic. “I won’t let you hurt anymore of my friends! Move one step forward n I’ll buck you so hard, you’ll be wishing you never came foot in this world!” said Applejack, standing her ground before her first… and probably final encounter with a demon.

Prakos stopped his grinning; crouching down until he met eye level with Applejack, Prakos placed one claw toward her stetson tauntingly poking it. “So the dense apple farmer is going to stop me,” said Prakos, snorting. “If you wanted to die early… you should of just asked.”

With a swift move of his other claw, Prakos smashed Applejack on her side, sending her flying until Rarity tried catching her put slightly losing some control from the sudden output of force that sent Applejack flying. Once laying her down on the ground, Prakos sighed to himself slowly rising to the air, with both arms outstretched from toward both his left and right; keeping both wings in the air while outstretching them outward.

“I had enough of these… hopeless attempts of stopping me. If these are the heroes and gods of this world… I hate to imagine what this world’s realm guardian is like,” said Prakos, facepalming himself to show his disappointment. “Now you promised me a fight Darkness… all I see is a bunch of horses thinking they have some kind of control in their lives… Well? Their wrong… sadly wrong; there will always… always… be someone… ‘something’ out there that has a control over them all… and even ‘they’ are controlled themselves… it’s an endless cycle… So how do you end such a cycle? Brother?”

Suddenly, Prakos expression changed; before was one of madness and an eternal fire… now was not replaced but combined with a bottomless emptiness and darkness that would consume everything in it’s path. A voice, that both sounded of Prakos and another… shadowy figure combined both voices together to create one resounding voice that echoed the skies… catching the attention of Celestia from saving her sister.

“By wiping out all those that bear the mark of the created,” said the combined voices of Prakos and Darkness.

Prakos unleashed a powerful psychic blast of fire, spreading everything until it consumed Rarity, Applejack, Luna, and Celestia. Once the explosion had subsided, Luna was left with some of her feathers burning; Rarity was unconscious whilst clutching her friend Applejack tightly around her body, her back burning from the explosion. Celestia, who had a higher durability against the extreme heat, was still left dazed and covered with some scorching imprints on her hide. Prakos flew down to the ground, his voice returning to normal while laughing at the destruction around him.

“You… MONSTER!” screamed Celestia, her rage directed toward Prakos.

“I prefer the word… demon, but that works too,” said Prakos, shrugging.

Celestia’s eyes began to blaze alight ready to strike… until a familiar squeak was heard by both beings. Turning their heads they saw Pinkie, staring terrified of what has become of her friends and the surrounding area. Slowly stepping back, she went to carry her friend Twilight and began running when Celestia told her to run; now focusing to the main issue at hoof, Celestia tried her best to intimidate Prakos, only for a chuckle to come out the psychotic demon.

“What is so funny demon?!” said Celestia, angered by Prakos’s actions.

“Funny? FUNNY!? I’M HAVING THE BLOODY TIME OF MY LIFE… and you ask, what’s funny?” said Prakos, walking toward Celestia. Approaching Celestia nonchalantly, he stands an inch away from her, keeping his eyes on the alicorn’s own. With a maniacal grin Prakos responds, his tone of voice showing hidden malice within it. “When my creators created me, I was made for one thing… one purpose...”

In a flash Prakos’s eyes changed from their original white… to a darkened purple, staring straight at Celestia… possibly her very soul. “To bring destruction to all in my wake,” said Prakos, his voice devoid of his original psychotic tone. Celestia reeled back in the sudden change, but found herself to be held in place by one of Prakos’s claws. Celestia found herself shaking suddenly and also sweating profusely, but not from the heat coming from Prakos… but from the gaze of his sudden change of his eyes’ colors. A sudden fear overcame Celestia causing her to tremble until her whole body fell down on the ground. After leaving Celestia in a complete wreck, her mind broken completely… for a time; Prakos stared off where the pink mare who carried the third princess, who was called Twilight ran off to.

“Where art thou princess of friendship… Your demise is near… So shall the rest of this world will end in a blaze of destruction… Consumed by my madness,” said Prakos, his eyes turning back to it’s original white.

Prakos stepped toward where Twilight and Pinkie were hiding behind the chimney, and was expecting it to be empty of anypony… Prakos was sorely wrong. Leaning against the chimney, was the bleeding form of Trixie who apparently had her wound reopened from excessively moving and from the events that had played out before. Trixie exhaustively glanced at Prakos, trying her best to show her anger… only to cough out some blood; Trixie returned her gaze toward the sky, feeling herself slowly slipping away.

“Is this how it ends… The ‘Great and Powerful’ Trixie will die not in battle, or to leave some great legacy… but on a roof of some random part of Manehattan… Alone… and… forgotten,” thought Trixie, beginning to tear up. “I don’t want to die… not like this… not like this...”

Trixie felt herself slowly slipping away… at first the light began to fade… darkness slowly shrouding her vision… then her body… then her mind… Her final thoughts spoken in her mind… only for it to not be heard by anyone… so it seems.

“Farewell Equestria… I may have made some mistakes in this world… but maybe the next… I can change,” thought Trixie.

There’s no reason for you to die this way… after all… You may have some use… to us.

A voice came to her mind… that was when Trixie realized, if she beginning to die… then why could she be able to clearly think properly; it then came to her, Trixie wasn’t dying… she was being saved.

Meanwhile some distance from the docks, Pinkie carried her friend Twilight until she encountered some royal guards ahead of her. Once explaining what has happened, they immediately prepared to send a large squadron of the royal guard to stop Prakos while those remaining would escort both Twilight and Pinkie to safety. Sighing that they finally were able to get away, Pinkie felt a pang of guilt for leaving her friends behind… but remembered the state Twilight was in.

Twilight was currently strapped to a medical bed, having some needles and bandages nearly covering her whole body; her faint but slow breaths were the only sign that she was still alive, giving some relief to the party-planning pony. “Don’t worry Twilight… we’ll be back in Ponyville soon,” said Pinkie.

Right before Pinkie could place a hoof on her friend’s mane, a guard came rushing in, urgency seen on the guard’s face. “ELEMENT OF LAUGHTER! THERE’S AN EMERGENCY HAPPENING NEAR SOME BLOCKS FROM OUR POSITION!” shouted the guard, making sure to not wake up Twilight while making clear how bad things have gotten.

“Wha-what you mean?” asked Pinkie, spooked from the sudden appearance of the guard.

“That… ‘thing’ you mentioned… this Prakos… he… his…” said the female guard, gulping in a deep breath. “His rampaging right through every single member of the royal guard as if they were pillows! We need to get the princess out, pronto!” Pinkie immediately listened to the guard, helping to move Twilight to the train station, also making sure her friend is fine too.

A couple blocks from where Pinkie is, Prakos appeared before the squadron that was going to “handle” Prakos… only ending up to be annihilated in a blink of an eye; all the guards were found either having some of their bones broken, scorch marks covering their whole body, or to be dangling from the top of roofs or broken windows. In the far distance Prakos could see a barricade made by the royal guard, spotting some of guards to be holding spears, swords, and bows. In the far back behind those ponies were some unicorns and pegasi, who were apparently awaiting a command from their sergeant. On top of the very barricade was a gruff earth pony who looked older than the other guards, whilst showing signs that he’d been through worse in his lifetime. “Await for my command!” shouted the elder guard, raising hoof up.

Prakos continues his calm walk toward the barricade, keeping his wings tucked behind, but preparing a fireball for any attacks they may sent toward him. As the elder guard watched carefully at Prakos’s movements, right before Prakos began his attack, so to catch him off guard. Awaiting this chance, Prakos prepared to flung a fireball when the guard commenced his plan. “NOW!” screamed the elder guard.

From atop the roofs above Prakos were some pegasi and unicorns, who unleashed a torrent of water and ice. After the relentless ambush attack, standing still in his frozen prison was Prakos, encased in ice. While seeming to win the victory… smoke started to rise where the ice was; within the ice Prakos was slowly melting it from his own body heat. The second the ice around his head melted away he spoke, preparing for a blast of demonic fire toward those who attempted such an attack.

“TONIGHT, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE FRIED HORSE!” shouted Prakos. In a blaze of fire, both the ice and those who were hidden on roofs were engulfed in an intense heat; right after Prakos finished his attack, the guards who were standing by the barricade charging forward.

“FOR THE PRINCESSES AND EQUESTRIA! CHARGE!” screamed the elder guard, following behind with the charge.

While all fifty royal guard members charged forward with sword and spears raised high, some of them stayed behind to prepare to fire a volley of arrows. Prakos stood motionless until he surrounded himself in a cloak of fire; with his claws ready to charge back, Prakos screamed with a monstrous noise that temporarily paused the charge until charging himself. “MAY YOUR DEATHS APPEASE ME! COME FORTH MY MADNESS AND CONSUME MY ENEMIES IN MY ETERNAL FLAME OF DESTRUCTION!” shouted Prakos, pointing both claws forward. Coming out of Prakos claws are two massive fireballs the size of wagons, unleashing both simultaneously toward the charging force.

The resulting impact of the two giant fireballs cause all the windows some blocks from the explosion to shatter, and anypony who heard the explosion had to shield their eyes from the immense light coming from it. While most of the main force was taken, some were still able to stand tall as reinforcements began to flood into the battlefield from all directions. Arising from his own attack, Prakos began slashing and punching through all opponents, whether it be flesh, bone, or metal… all either were sent to the concrete ground, or shot with demonic flames.

The archers who were stunned by the light of the explosion refocused themselves, firing their volley of arrows. As a shower of arrows rained down upon Prakos, he opened his maw once more to incinerate all the arrows to ash. Watching their attack easily stopped Prakos flew forward, bombarding through those who were in his way. In the far distance Prakos could see the pink silhouette of his target; with his one claw Prakos fired a volley of miniature fireballs, causing tiny explosions around the silhouette forcing her to stop.

Pinkie looked back where the shots came from, only for her eyes to dilate to the sight she saw. Behind Prakos was a path of destruction unlike anything that any pony has ever seen in the last centuries; buildings were burning, the streets were covered with ash and the lifeless bodies of ponies, the sky which was engulfed with smoke looked as if it were set on fire. Prakos flew closer and closer with each passing second until the guard who was helping Pinkie move Twilight to safety shook the element of laughter. “MISS PIE! Get the princess to safety, I’ll slow him down!” shouted the guard, using her magic to pull out her sword.

“Bu-” Pinkie didn’t had the time to respond when a small fireball whizzed pass her. Quickly with haste, Pinkie grabbed hold of Twilight’s medical bed and began pushing her to the train station.

“Be safe,” said the guard, staring at the slowly disappearing figure of Pinkie. Facing Prakos, the guard placed all hooves tightly to the ground, getting to a ready stance while keeping her sword ready and tight with her magic grip.

Prakos finally arrived where Pinkie was… only to stare down; before him was a female unicorn who wore the same royal guard armor like the many previous guards he crushed single-handily. The unicorn guard had a clear blue mane with yellow visible at the tips of her mane, which was the same for her tail too. She had a light purple fur, that was close to white; her eyes were surprisingly a darker shade, which being green. Her sword was unique too, the hilt instead with the symbol of the sun but a flame… intriguing Prakos; the metal gleamed from the light of both Prakos and the fire around the two. Prakos was happy to find an interesting pony in his time in Equestria; kneeling down he pokes the guard’s sword with his one claw.

“Well hello there, now whom am I speaking to?” asked Prakos. “Let me guess it’s something silly lllliiiike… Sparkly Sunshine.”

“My name isn’t Sparkly Sunshine… Now face me in combat!” shouted the unicorn guard. The unicorn guard uses a spell to light her sword in flames while sending blasts of flames toward Prakos; Prakos brushes the flames away but the second the guard was about to strike her sword, Prakos grabbed it. The sword, hilt and blade began to melt away, only leaving the handle to remain.

Prakos dropped the sword as it melted into a pile of slag; before the unicorn guard could react Prakos slams the back part of his claw, sending the mare to land onto a wall. Leaving the guard to her own injuries, Prakos flew straight toward Pinkie, laughing psychotically as he burned everything in his way.

Pinkie who rushed quickly to the train station met with a slight obstacle; a small rock enough so to cause any object with wheels attached to it to swivel and tumble into the ground. Twilight’s medical bed was luckily only swiveled, but reached out of Pinkie’s grasp, rolling away from her. With Pinkie left on the ground from the bed suddenly moving from her hooves attempted to move back on all hooves… until she felt something clutch her mane. Pinkie found herself being tugged on her mane and lifted in the air, as to who doing this… was met with a voice that terrified the usually energetic mare.

“The ‘optimist’… first to run… last to die… I will enjoy your death,” said Prakos, leaning in to whisper into her ear. “Especially your screams.”

Before Pinkie could scream, Prakos began to squeeze tightly her neck making her gasp for air. As her face slowly begins to change colors, Prakos continues crushing her windpipe… until the noise of her neck began to crack… leaving the sound of a large pop heard.

Prakos stares at his latest kill… or what seemed to be a kill; though Prakos’s attacks would of killed any average being, many of the ponies he’d encountered are extremely durable and managed to survive… only leaving them broken, both body and will. Dropping her body, Pinkie seemed to completely fine… from the outside, but Prakos had cracked any bones around her head… and her neck… was swollen and had some small cuts from Prakos sharp claws; luckily should would survive though would have trouble breathing in the far future.

“And that makes…” said Prakos, thinking back to the countless ‘possible’ corpses he made today. “...Meh it’s probably at least above fifth… Maybe sixty? Seventy? ...Oh well, what you think brother?”

Prakos’s only response was silence, but not in his mind. Laughing to himself, Prakos continued to speak to the voice that he could only hear. “Yes yes yes, we’re not done yet… but you sure I can’t at least mangle her up in some way. At least maybe those eyes of hers… I could make seem like an accident,” said Prakos, pleadingly.

The voice was strict within Prakos’s mind, sighing to the unheard answer to Prakos’s suggestion. Cracking both claws, Prakos made his way to Twilight’s bed, the princess sleeping soundly… unknowing the plans she will be apart of.

“If she must live… she’ll live to be our pawns… We will find you a body, and then… we’ll be rid of this… ‘Soldier 3112’… Forever,” said Prakos. With one claw Prakos reached for Twilight… the world shrouding into darkness between the two.

Back at the docks were all of this started, Celestia was half conscious staring at the lifeless body of her sister, Luna. Crawling after Prakos had left to chase the element of laughter and her ex-apprentice, Celestia used all ounce of strength to reach her follow sibling. “L-l… L-Luna,” said Celestia, through clenched teeth.

Before the sun princess could touch her sister’s mane… a very familiar boot stopped her from making contact. The boot was standing on Celestia’s leg but after being relentless attacked by Prakos’s methods of attack, the princess was unable to feel anything from her hooves to her legs. This didn’t stop the psychotic demon to send his boot crushing what remained of her bones, Celestia winced a little feeling the pain a few moments but returned to her neutral expression.

Celestia looked up expecting the demon having possibly harmed more of her innocent ponies… what she saw made her eyes dilate. Slung over the demon of madness… was Twilight, who was trying her best to breath through her wounds. Celestia with renewed determination tried her best to save her old apprentice. “LEAVE! HER! ALONE!” said Celestia, blood pooling of her mouth. Celestia was biting her the insides of mouth so hard that blood began to spill out, but ignoring the pain only focusing on trying to save her ex-apprentice.

Prakos, with a grin kicked the sun princess, sending her body to skid and almost falling off the roof. Laying Twilight down, he placed two of his claw’s fingers to his mouth, closing his maw to create a noise… Prakos was whistling for somepony… but whom? Celestia returned to her full height but was swaying from forcefully moving her body through what limits they could handle with her injuries. The sun princess saw something that made her mouth open in shock; when there should be two figures, Prakos and Twilight… there was now three. The third was the one pony that nopony expected to be standing… it was Trixie. Her wounds were healed, none of her original exhaustion still on her, she was summoning something… before her and Prakos was a portal.

“What… what is she doing? Why is she helping this… this! DEMON!” thought Celestia, watching everything happen before her. “Is she and that demon planning to use Twilight as some hostage… WAS THIS THEIR WHOLE PLAN! WAS THIS… THIS… DARK’S WHOLE PLAN THE WHOLE TIME!”

Prakos looked at Celestia but… instead of his usual grin or psychotic laughter… Prakos was frowning or what seemed to be a neutral smile with his large mouth. Trixie finished the spell having no need to hold it knowing it will dissipate once one or two beings were to cross over. Prakos whispered toward Trixie… when the mare eyes widened a few seconds… only to return to their emotionless look; Trixie trotted over to Celestia, leaning into the speak into her ear.

“Whatever thoughts you have… We… or in this case, Prakos has no plans of taking Twilight,” said Trixie.

Celestia was shocked; why would a being this powerful not want to keep one of Equestria’s royal hostage, it was a simple thing a villain like him would do… unless… “He has no plans that involve Equestria,” said Celestia, muttering this to herself and Trixie to hear.

“Correct,” said Trixie, nodding in agreement. “I don’t know what he wants… but I can say this or rather this is what he wants me to tell you...”

Celestia listened carefully, wanting to know this demon’s true intentions… what she heard only made her heart race. “Prakos… Darkness… Soldier 3112 also known as Dark Armor… They’re different minds within one body… but one of the three are fake… with out of the three being good the rest… pure evil. They want freedom but, were only made to kill their whole lives… Freedom... that’s all they want… So this is a message and warning to you… and he, Prakos said, ‘Blood will rain, darkness will consume everything, madness will rule… A royal will die… A king will rise to rule the throne of corpses… One will survive… All… will be left to the hands of destruction.’” said Trixie.

Trixie began to step away from Celestia leaving her to own thoughts; before the sun princess could think what she was told… another voice spoke… it was Prakos’s turn to speak. “One more thing,” said Prakos, catching the sun princess of guard. “My brother has something else that needs to be questioned… of your rule of course. He has decided to who shall receive… our rage.”

Celestia was confused, by what Prakos meant ‘our rage’. Trying her best to speak, it came out as a whimper but nonetheless she spoke. “Wh… What do you mea-”

Prakos interrupted Celestia, getting to his point. “Someone… Somepony, must be chosen as sacrifice… Who shall be blasted with this,” said Prakos. Behind Prakos was a fireball… but was burning with a purplish color and light. Celestia could see the malice and demonic energy coming from it… knowing making contact would mean two things… death… or a worse fate.

“Eternal scarring, both physically, mentally, and spiritually,” thought Celestia.

Celestia gulped wondering who is she to choose… that was when she put two and two together… From the docks was Fluttershy, tending her friend Rainbow Dash who was okay… And then… there was Twilight, right before her very hooves, covered in injuries knowing that another hit would surely kill her. Celestia was to choose between her own student and one of her friends, the kindest and sweetest of the five. It was her… or the life of her student… the life of Twilight. “Your decision?” asked Prakos, holding the flames calmly.

Celestia convulsed not wanting to choose… but knowing if she didn’t Prakos would probably torch both mares. With a strained breath, Celestia raised both eyes toward the colored flame. “I choose-”

The answer was never heard…

Several hours after the incident in Manehattan… Somewhere far, yet familiar…

Trixie sat staring at the far outstretching land, only seeing hills, barren land, and canyons as far as she could see. After going through the portal, she found herself staring at a sight so beautiful; it was sunrise… making the date… Trixie couldn’t think what today’s date was, too busy with the events that played out yesterday. Dark turning into Prakos, Prakos nearly killing everypopny… and now her being seen betraying all of Equestria… right in front of Celestia herself. Trixie placed both hooves down on her eyes, crying out what guilt she felt… when she felt something touch her.

Turning to face who had stopped her sobbing… she saw two things… a black helmet… and the faint glow of she assumed to be Dark’s flashlight which came from his torso. “Hey… you alright?” asked Dark. “I found you sitting her… Where’s Twilight?”

Trixie wiped the tears away, happy to know she still had somepony or rather… somebody watching her back still. Trixie opened her mouth to speak a very overused but necessary line.

It’s… It’s a long story.

Author's Note

Now I'm both proud, confused, disappointed, and mostly... relaxed that this BLOODY, FREAKING, CHAPTER... *inhale* *exhale* is done.

I have zero idea what I was trying to write here, at one point I knew, another I was a tad questioning myself, another point I began slamming my head against the wall... and now... I really don't care... Well I do but, I don't care if it's judged or not, I finished it and that's good for me. I will check for spelling, grammar, and story mistakes in my spare time... considering it was meant to be shorter, but since this story is labelled gore... well... yeeeeeeaaaahhhhh.

Hoping the next arc won't be so awkwardly posted because this is the end of this one. So we got antagonists (I think) and a lot of future questions to be answered... See you soon, on the next part of ASO.

Update (06-09-2023): So those who have read the blog - June2023News to those who don't know - I'm giving ASO a quick end to write the rest in a different story with some slight changes - read the blog to get the whole picture - just know this isn't cancelled, so expect something new in... the undetermined but persistent future.

Tourist Arc: Ch.10 - Business Propositions

Walking down the streets of Manehattan after escaping the paparazzi, Twilight and Dark search for where Trixie had ended up. Finding out that Twilight’s friends had been taken to Canterlot for questioning for their whereabouts, Twilight’s thoughts are mixed with regret and worry. However, the princess of friendship stands strong, and she will find a way to save her friends.

After walking down the sidewalk, Dark and Twilight find themselves in a part of town with some… interesting buildings. Most of the buildings are old and moldy, while some still stand; this part of town is the oldest part of Manehattan and is currently in construction, though some ponies still live in this part, so the city is having some disagreements with it’s residents and those who plan on rebuilding the area. When Twilight was searching for Trixie, somepony mentioned saying seeing a blue unicorn wearing a hat and cape while also dragging a wagon behind them, and coming by here before.

Following what they’ve heard, they search for Trixie within the empty streets of the nearly demolished block of Manehattan. Dark stares at the almost empty buildings… a spark of memory arising within his psyche. Flashes of different locations and people Dark has no memory of… but the familiarity is there, Dark has no idea whom these people are, but whoever they are they can wait another time. For now Dark is busy too searching for Trixie, and to try and avoid as little trouble they can, now with ponies knowing they’re here in Manehattan, which means that Celestia and Luna will send their ponies here to find them… or worse.

Ever since Trixie had left the two, Twilight had a strange chill down her back… the same feeling she had when she assumed somepony was watching her. Deciding to look back again, Twilight only saw a grayish crow. The crow stared at Twilight until flying off somewhere else, thinking it was nothing Twilight continues to walk with Dark, unbeknownst to her that “The Spirit of Chaos” is two steps ahead of her. Discord, in his disguised form, eyes the two vigilantly watching until his chance to strike comes.

Dark notices Twilight’s worry and begins to start off a conversation. “Is something the matter? Ever since we gotten away from that paparazzi, you been very…” said Dark, finding the right word to say.

“Shaken?” said Twilight.

“More like spooked, but that works too,” said Dark, agreeing.

“Well if you must know… It’s just that… it feels like we’re being followed,” said Twilight, keeping her voice quiet.

Dark hears Twilight’s worried thought, and instead looking behind him, he simply asks Twilight a question. “By any chance… can you ponies morph or transform into another creature?” asked Dark.

“Well… only unicorns, but transformation spells are highly powerful and not many unicorns are able to do such a feat for a long time. The only ponies I can think that can do this are the princesses, myself included,” said Twilight, explaining.

“Is that so… are you sure though?” said Dark.

Twilight nods, unable to think of anyone. “That’s all I know sadly,” said Twilight.

Dark nods, and looks around, just like Twilight all he sees is a crow. Deciding to continue walking, they take a turn and spot a shop of sorts. At the front of the shop is Trixie’s wagon, and at that same time Trixie stepped out to see Twilight and Dark. “Trixie thought that you two could do whatever you wanted to. What are you two doing here?” asked Trixie.

“Long story,” said Twilight. After telling Trixie what had happened once she left them. Trixie thought carefully about this new predicament, kicking the ground lightly or staring at the sky.

“This is going to be difficult… seems we may need to leave Manehattan earlier than we thought,” said Trixie. “Once Trixie’s done with what Trixie came here for, we leave immediately. Understand?”

Twilight nodded, while Dark did a thumbs up in agreement. Once finished with her own thoughts, Trixie begins moving her wagon, continuing to her next destination. Whilst walking, Dark wondered what Trixie had been doing when she left him and Twilight.

“Say… what have you been doing when you left us?” asked Dark.

“That… that is none of your business. What is Trixie’s business, is Trixie’s business,” said Trixie, avoiding the question. “Now, come along, we have no time to dawdle.”

Increasing her pace, Twilight and Dark look at one another and soon follow behind. Trixie mumbles something to herself, but continues to walk forward. Looking back at Twilight, Trixie gives a quick glare, but then looks back forward. “Just what exactly did he saw in you… just what?” thought Trixie.

Some hours earlier, Manehattan, 7:30am

“This is Manehattan after all… there are some sights to behold,” said Trixie.

Trixie left Dark and Twilight, disappearing into the crowd. After sure she lost them, Trixie made a few quick turns and headed to her destination. The last time Trixie had ever seen Twilight… well it had been awhile, mostly Trixie had kept to herself, especially since… the “incident”.

“Try not to overexert yourself, you got this… Your stronger than you think,” thought Trixie. Shaking her head, Trixie looks forward and finds where she needs to be. Before her is a building with two giant pillars on both sides with some smaller pillars between the big ones. On the very top is a sign that says, City Hall. Trixie inhales in and out, then enters inside, leaving her wagon outside parked.

The City Hall was bustling with ponies, some were working, others on errands, those who were late for meetings… places like this were always busy… well except for the one at Ponyville. Trixie had business here, for starters there was a certain… politician she had to see. Trotting over to the main desk, there was a stallion, an earth pony who was signing some papers with a stamp. After standing several seconds at the front desk without being noticed, Trixie coughed to catch the pony’s attention, the stallion looks up, putting his stamp away.

“May I...” said the stallion, looking Trixie up and down, “help you?”

“Indeed you shall, Trixie, Trixie Lulamoon. Trixie’s come to see… Vocal Noise,” said Trixie. “Is he busy?”

The stallion immediately recognized Trixie’s name, and went through a list that was reluctantly in his eyesight. Snorting, the stallion placed a hoof on a machine that made a whirling and beeping noise until only static was heard. “A Miss Lulamoon is here to see Treasury Noise,” said the stallion, until he heard a clicking.

The machine then turned back on until another voice was heard, feminine this time. “Of course, I shall tell him of Miss Lulamoon’s arrival,” said the feminine voice.

Afterwords, the machine turned off and the stallion turned to Trixie, until he gave her a badge. “Use this to gain access to the upper floors. Show it to the guards and they’ll let you throw… return in once your done with business here,” said the stallion, before bowing lightly. “Have a good day.”

Trixie stared at the stallion before levitating the badge to her saddlebags she had with her. Proceeding up the stairs, Trixie encountered two guards, both looking at her expecting the usual routine when an unfamiliar face is seen in the upper floors of the City Hall. “Clearance… please,” said one of the guards, trying to remember what to say.

Trixie levitated the badge out of her saddlebags, holding in front of both guards’ eyesight. Stepping to the side, they continued back to patrolling the rest of the floor. Trixie continued down to her destination, stood in front of a room with a sign, with the initials of VN on them. Stepping inside, Trixie saw a mare sitting on a desk, doing the same thing like the stallion at the front desk. The second Trixie stepped inside, the mare looked up and stopped what she was doing. “Trixie Lulamoon?” asked the mare, raising an eyebrow.

Trixie nodded, and was greeted with another question. “May I ask but… What do you need from Treasure Noise?” asked the mare.

“Business… just business,” said Trixie. “May I speak to him?”

“Of course, he said that the two of you can speak as long as you like…” said the mare, until she continued to speak. “However… he said that he has another meeting after yours… So it’s best whatever you need to see him about, he would like it best if it were done… quickly.”

Trixie nodded, and continued through another door to another room. Inside Trixie saw three long horizontal windows, each with it’s own blinds. All the blinds were open so the sunlight seeped in, but was enough to brighten the room but wasn’t blindly bright, so both Trixie and it’s occupant could be see and wouldn’t be distracted. Vocal Noise, treasury of Manehattan, his in charge of all the money that flows through here, whether it be taxes, trading, or the city’s currency. Vocal is a fair pony, and a smart one too, the previous treasury had been… misusing their role, so Vocal will do his hardest to gain the trust of all of Manehattan’s citizens. Vocal himself may look menacing but, the second he saw Trixie… he smiled.

“TRIXIE! OH IT’S GOOD TO SEE YOU!” shouted Vocal, nearly jumping off his chair.

“It’s good to see you too Vocal,” said Trixie, smiling back. Trixie and Vocal met after some months she met Anim. When Anim and Trixie departed each other back at Appleloosa, Trixie decided to follow her own path… in the process she helped Vocal with becoming Treasury… through honest means of course. Ever since then they became good friends, and Vocal would do anything to help a friend, especially one such as Trixie. “There’s something I need your help with Vocal.”

“Of course of course, what can I help you with? Need a place a stay, rent a building for a special event, or maybe help you set up for one of your shows, hmmm,” said Vocal, his voice growing louder.

“Vocal...” said Trixie, staring. “Remember what we said. Try to...”

“Always remember to use my inside voice… sorry… it’s just things been… hard on me,” said Vocal. “Though I can’t say I never saw it coming, I became Treasury and excepted the risks… no going back now.”

Trixie knew why it was hard for her friend Vocal… it wasn’t just because of the reputation of the previous Treasury. Vocal… was a pegasus… the very first pegasus treasury in Manehattan… well actually, probably Equestria. You see, while unicorns are thought to have jobs like scientists, librarians, or jobs requiring tons of mental will and knowledge. With earth ponies having to do jobs requiring physical needs like lifting heavy equipment and objects… Pegasi are stereotypically thought to be the sporty kind of ponies. Vocal who seems frail was a fast flier… but he denied using his wings since day one of becoming a treasury… he said he promised he would use his mind and body… but not his wings… he kept that promise still.

“Vocal… you don’t need to make a promise like that… no one told you too,” said Trixie.

“Even so… I’m placing my pride of being a pegasus… no… but being a pony on the line. I’ll show that looks don’t make a pony… it’s the actions that do,” said Vocal, making sound like his motto. “Now… what you need my help with?”

Sighing Trixie focused back to why she came here on the first place. “Well… Trixie needs you to find something for Trixie… Do you know something called, a void crystal?” asked Trixie.

Vocal looked at Trixie, his happy demeanor replaced with a worried serious one. “Trixie… do you have any idea what those things can do,” said Vocal.

“Yes… Trixie does… Trixie knows… used to know, a friend that had some… ‘specialty’ with them. Now, can you help Trixie?” said Trixie.

Looking at Trixie, Vocal sat up from his seat and moved to a set of file cabinets. Opening a cabinet under the capital letter V, he pulled out one small file. The file talked about an incident that occurred a year or so ago… it was dubbed, “The Void Incident” also known as the, “The Black Shower”. The incident was about black meteorites that crashed onto all over Equestria, it’s not sure how many crashed but the damage it brought was far worse than the changeling invasion. The black meteorites, also called void crystals, were powerful sources of energy… but were deadly itself, if made physical contact with, it causes a number of damage to any living being. Luckily, all of the void crystals vanished miraculously… or, that’s what’s to be believed; there been rumors of fragments acquired or left behind when the rest of the void crystals vanished. These remaining fragments are sparse and extremely rare… rumors of one such crystal is located in Manehattan… it was founded by a black-market dealer located somewhere in Manehattan… and a case has been made to search for it… however, there is one tiny problem.

“It’s a trap. The void crystal is being used to catch somepony who has the actual skill to use the crystal to it’s full potential… Your friend… is this pony correct,” said Vocal, confirming his theory.

“Yes…”

“Then why are you trying to get it alone? Where is this friend of yours?” asked Vocal. “You shouldn’t do this, you could kill yourself!”

“I need to do this… besides,” thought Trixie, looking out the window. “This ‘friend’ of mine is long gone.”

Suddenly, a few knocks is heard from Vocal’s door, peeking her head Vocal’s secretary looks inside. “Mr. Noise, your meeting scheduled at eight o’clock is beginning soon… should I tell them you might come late or...” said the secretary.

Vocal moved his hoof up, making a slow up and down motion with it. “Don’t worry I’ll be there… give me five minutes,” said Vocal, dismissing his secretary.

Watching the secretary leave, Vocal moved his gaze toward Trixie. “Please… you have to help me...” said Trixie, bowing down. “Please.”

Vocal looked at his friend… and what he saw was a mix of desperation and… regret. Sighing, Vocal slid the folder to Trixie, not looking at her nor the folder. “We never saw each other, I never gave you anything… this never happened. Be lucky this isn’t illegal… but what you plan to do with that crystal is however…” said Vocal. “Now… go...”

Trixie began to leave, but before she did she turned to face Vocal and smiled. “Thank you… friend,” said Trixie, leaving.

Once Trixie left, Vocal whispered to himself that nopony ever heard. “Your welcome… friend,” said Vocal.

After leaving city hall, returning the badge, and heading back to the wagon, Trixie was headed to her next destination. Once traveling around a bit, some hours passed and Trixie headed to a store to buy some supplies. When she was beginning to leave, she spotted two very familiar figures. “What are these two doing here?!” thought Trixie, annoyed and surprised.

Present time, Manehattan, Docks, 10:00am

“Okay seriously though… what the heck have you been doing? We told you we were chased by the paparazzi, why won’t you tell us?!” said Dark.

“None of your business, and who said Trixie asked what happened to you? Trixie asked where were you two, not what!” said Trixie. “They are two separate words!”

“...Touche,” said Dark, crossing his arms.

“Can we go back to the part where my friends are in Canterlot, possibly being interrogated?” said Twilight.

“You worry too much Twilight,” said Trixie.

“Worry too mu- I DO NOT! MY FRIENDS ARE IN CHAINS, ASSUMED THAT THEY KNOW WHERE I AM WHEN THEY KNOW NOTHING! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT I’M WORRYING TOO MUCH!” shouted Twilight.

“For starters, why would Celestia want to get information from your friends? She’s the ruler of Equestria with her sister, she has other methods then simply imprisoning one of Equestria’s heroes. Secondly, why worry for them, they’re not vulnerable or anything, especially if that pink one is with them,” said Trixie, remembering the capabilities the cotton candy maned pony can do. “Third and finally… we have no time to worry.”

“Why… not?” asked Twilight, frustrated.

“...There’s a bigger threat here than you may think,” said Trixie. “Remember those black stones that came with… ‘him’.”

At first Twilight had no idea who or what Trixie was talking about… but then it popped right in her head. Twilight frowned and nodded her head, sighing from the horrible memory and effects those rocks could bring. “What about the void crystals? They aren’t in Equestria anymore… Mina brought what remained of them with her. Why worry for something that isn’t a threat anymore?” said Twilight.

“What if… all the pieces aren’t gone… What if Trixie… had found one of those remaining pieces,” said Trixie, grinning.

Twilight’s eyes widen, shock and worry slowly showing on her face. Trixie’s words were enough for Twilight to forget about the news she’d received moments ago… but it was also enough for a new fear to seep into Twilight’s mind. “BUT HOW!? I mean, all the pieces of the void crystal should of combined together to create the original one?” said Twilight.

“Well… for starters, it’s a rumor, but it’s better to check if it stays as a rumor though… Is what Trixie thinks,” said Trixie. “So, what shall we do… princess?”

At first Twilight was about to answered, but stopped to think. It’s a complete coincidence that Trixie would hear rumors of a void crystal, and decide to go after it. Now Twilight would be suspicious of this, but something as powerful as the Elements of Harmony, possibly stronger mustn’t befall the wrong hooves. Putting aside to whatever Trixie plans to do with the crystal later, Twilight thinks of a quick plan to retrieve the dangerous object. “First off… Where’s the void crystal?” asked Twilight.

“Uh not to be rude but...” said Dark, who apparently was ignored and haven’t listened to their conversation. “What exactly are you two planning now? I like to know things, especially if it involves us getting into danger.”

Trixie and Twilight look at one another, then back at Dark. Now even though they had been with Dark for a few days, there were still some things that they didn’t know about Dark. There was his lack of sleep for more than 48 hours, the multiple uses his suit has… not to mention, his lack of a name and memories. Dark either has a horrible case of amnesia… or his hiding something, though for the time being they have no choice but to trust him.

“Dark… do you know what a void crystal is?” asked Twilight.

Now Twilight and Trixie expected Dark to know nothing about void crystals or it’s source of origin… but it seems Dark, or in this case, the organization he works under… knows more than the equine princess had assumed them to know about. Dark instantly grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, tensing his hands that it shocked Twilight from the sudden reaction. “DID YOU SAY VOID CRYSTALS!” shouted Dark.

“Ye-e-e-s, w-w-w-h...”

Before Twilight could answer, Dark had his grip tighten even more, making Twilight wince more. “THIS IS BAD, VOID CRYSTALS ARE A LEVEL 5 DANGER, CLASS… ENVIRONMENTAL/AURA THREAT! WHERE, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS AND WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM?!” shouted Dark, the fear in his voice getting more and more noticeable.

Now Twilight was too shocked and unable to think of a response to say, with Dark tightening his grip on Twilight and him sending question after question toward her. Luckily Trixie was able to but Dark’s fears to ease before anything… unnecessary had happened.

“Dark, calm down… Trixie was the one who heard about the rumor, Trixie just told Twilight of this just now… She doesn’t know about the whereabouts on the void crystals...” said Trixie, calming Dark. “Also… your sort of crushing Twilight...”

Dark looked at Twilight, a gently let go of her. Massaging her shoulders, Dark took a few steps back from grabbing and scaring Twilight from his sudden outburst. “Sorry Twilight, it’s just I never thought Equestria had dealt with void crystals before… there was only a few places I knew that had dealt with those… ‘things’,” said Dark. “Now Trixie… where...”

“Now before you begin to start ask any questions… Trixie had heard about the void crystals from a rumor, and yes Trixie is planning to get it, and yes it will be dangerous, and no Trixie is not dumb enough to make physical contact or be near it closer than two meters,” said Trixie. Now thinking Trixie was finished Dark was going to speak, but Trixie spoke one more time. “Another thing… The void crystal is being kept by a black market seller, and yes it might be a trap.”

“There’s the catch,” said Dark, expecting something bad to come with the information. “Now how exactly did a void crystal ended up in this realm?”

“Well actually… it’s a fragment that was rumored to be found,” said Twilight, answering Dark’s question. “A couple of months ago, an incident occurred where a shower of black meteorites crashed all over Equestria. Those were the void crystals, but they were fragments of one void crystal in reality.”

Dark, which didn’t have his face be seen, had an expression that was similar to your mouth be wide open, and dangle in the air. “How in the name of the deities is that possible?! A void crystal can’t be that large, nevertheless be shattered!” shouted Dark.

“It’s… complicated...” said Twilight, looking at Trixie. Both Twilight and Trixie looked at one another, both not wanting to explain how they know about the void crystals, but also not wanting to hide anything from Dark. However, understanding the situation, Dark forgets about the origins of where the void crystals came from and more on the possibility of one being in this city, a shard nevertheless.

“Never mind… I can tell some pretty horrible memories may had come from the void crystals sudden appearance. There’s no need for the two of you to retell me of those memories… I rather have it best if the two of you were focused for this. Now, let’s retrieve us a void crystal,” said Dark, pointing toward a random direction.

“Shard,” said Trixie, correcting Dark.

“Same thing,” said Dark, still posing.

After following the rumors that Trixie had heard, and the file she received from Vocal Noise, with the help of Dark, a soldier from a military organization, given the task of protecting multiple dimensions; Twilight, the princess of friendship, the luckily chance of them having issues with retrieving the void crystal shard was easy… though that was “before” what they had to witness. Approaching a part of Manehattan that most ponies and other creatures avoided, the area the trio were heading toward wasn’t dangerous… it was a war zone. Here, every gangster group from unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, dragons, and more, not even the police wanted to patrol through these streets. If an incident were to occur in this part of town, nopony would dare to call the police nor would the police dare to step inside… unless they want to have a quick visit with death. Now places like this aren’t something Trixie would be afraid, and this wasn’t because who was backing her up, Trixie has seen things that something like this doesn’t faze her… well… sort of.

Walking by near destroyed buildings either abandoned and filled with graffiti… or filled with graffiti… but not abandoned. From the barred windows and dark alleyways, eyes are all on the trio… and each pair of eyes stare with malicious intentions. Hopefully they will have no sudden interruptions to there destination, speaking of destination… they finally arrived. Before them was a factory, both aged with rust and dust, but from noticeable modifications done to it, Trixie could tell this was the right place. Now from what Trixie heard, there were a ton of black market sellers, but there were four known sellers who sold… “certain” rare items that couldn’t be found anywhere else. The pony they were looking for was somepony who sells dangerous smuggled items, and somehow… this same pony… was able to snatch a void crystal… is what the rumors says.

Manehattan, Decrepit Factory, 10:30am

With a quick exhale, Trixie stares up to the last place that she ever wants to come to. “Here we go,” thought Trixie.

Walking forward, the group encountered a guard of sort. The guard was a unicorn and he held a spear, though it was just a pipe with a sharp piece of metal melted into it. The guard looked at the three, than spoke. “What you three want?” asked the guard.

“We came to ‘buy’ something,” said Trixie.

“And that be?”

“Something… black… and dangerous...” said Trixie, eying her surroundings. Trixie leans into the guard’s ear, whispering something. “It’s also something that can suck the very life out of anything… Trixie believes you might have heard of it… correct?”

The guard immediately widened his eyes, but they slowly returned to their normal size. Looking at the factory, he nodded his head, signaling somepony. The gate which was the entrance to the factory opened, the guard turned around and looked at the trio. “Follow me… No funny business,” said the guard, trotting off.

Following behind the guard, beyond the walls, they saw some ponies and minotaurs standing around and walking from one spot to the next. They all eyed Trixie and her companions… though were mostly interested into Twilight. Surprisingly, nopony questioned why a princess was in a place like this… unless they already did.

Once inside however… was something else, inside they saw conveyor belts which had boxes and other such things being moved to trucks or boats. Since the factory was placed near the sea, it was a perfect hub for trading, and since it was far from any law, the only trouble they had was slow production and rival gangs. Now everyone in the factory was busy working… but when Dark stepped inside… everything became quiet. Before, when ponies saw Dark, they assumed it was a minotaur wearing some sort of armor… but sadly they were minotaurs in this factory… and Dark looked nothing like them. Everyone stared at Dark, some whispering to one another, while others simply glared at him; Dark was bigger than a minotaur, and possibly more stronger than an average one… though it was possibly not to cause a ruckus while in a place like this.

“Why are they all looking at me?” asked Dark. “I know back at the city and that restaurant I was given some looks but… these guys look like they hate my guts.”

“Probably want to not say that out loud… besides, there are some minotaurs here, and since you don’t look like anything like a minotaur, everyone here is probably wondering,” said Twilight, looking around. “...Just what are you...”

Nearing a flight of stairs that reached to an upper room that overlooked the conveyor belts, the guard met with another guard. The two guards began to speak, with the one guarding the flight of stairs, looking more tougher than the one guarding the main entrance. “We got some buyers for the...” said the entrance guard, leaning in. “black stone.”

The second guard grunted, looked at Trixie and those behind her. He then looked at the other guard and nodded for him to go back to the gate. Afterwords, the stairway guard led them upstairs, while going upstairs, Dark spotted some of the ponies and minotaurs who continued to look at him, glaring at him. In return, Dark stared back… but since his eyes couldn’t be seen it sent shivers down those how were staring, who went back to work. “Hmmm, not so tough now,” said Dark, continuing up the stairs.

Stepping inside the room, it was near pitch dark but when some of the curtains were slightly opened, it revealed three ponies and one minotaur. The guard who stands by the stairs, left the room a went back to his post. With only Trixie, Dark, and Twilight, with the four other beings left in the room, the first to speak was the pony who was sitting.

“Might I ask… but what brings you to my humble abode?” asked the pony.

Deciding to let Trixie speak about the void crystal shard, Trixie stepped forward while Dark and Twilight stood back. “Trixie, and her companions had come to buy what you may know as… a void crystal,” said Trixie.

The pony’s ears perked up, he then looked at the minotaur and nodded for him to go through a door to the back. The pony then faced Trixie, still sitting but leaning against the desk in front of him. “I see we finally have a buyer… the name’s Tricky Gamble. Businesspony and collector of sorts,” said Tricky, grinning. “Now… why do you want the black gem?”

“Is that really important?” asked Trixie.

“It is… if your not planning on using it against me. The only reason nobody has ever trying buying from me isn’t because they know who I am… but because what this thing can do. One wrong move and a quarter of Manehattan’s residents…” said Tricky. Moving his hooves together, he quickly separating, making a sound fitting with the action. “Poof, gone.”

“Trixie’s won’t… Trixie simply needs it… for something,” said Trixie. “Trixie has no plans nor needs to backstabbing… besides… Trixie barely knows you.”

“Now hold on, these things are hard to find since with the rest vanishing out of thin air… So I’m going to need to see some dough… the shiny kind,” said Tricky. “Unless… you came here...”

Trixie quickly pulled out something, which made a big thunk, she did this process a second and third time again. On the floor were three heavy money bags full of bits, Tricky stared at them for a good long minute, until snapping to his sense he made one of his guys check the bags. Opening one, and the next, and the next, each bag had them full to the brim with bits. “These are genuine boss,” said one of Tricky’s men.

Twilight looked at the bits then moved up to Trixie, whispering at her ear. “Where did you get this many bits?” asked Twilight.

“Trixie had saved bits for emergencies, you think Trixie isn’t prepared for any situation… especially the financial kind,” whispered Trixie, keeping her eyes still on Tricky. “Now go stand back with Dark, Trixie needs to focus on this trade.”

Tricky stood off his seat, and moved to the bags of bits. Picking one bit from one of the bags, he eyes it then bites it to check it’s real. After doing so, he calls the other pony standing beside him who was a unicorn. “Check each bag if their enchanted or have a tracking spell on them,” said Tricky.

“If you must know, they don’t… but go ahead if that makes you happy,” said Trixie.

“Just want to make sure that your clean,” said Tricky, going back to his seat. “By the way… those bits are a lot… but not enough.”

“Their clean boss,” said the unicorn henchman.

Before Trixie could speak or in this case shout, Twilight intervened. “What you mean it’s not enough, those are three bags of bits, all full. That’s enough to buy a castle, nevertheless your own small town,” said Twilight. “Don’t go cheating on us.”

Tricky looked at Twilight… then began to laugh, he was joined by his other henchmen who also began to laugh. “Cheat on you? Girl, do you have any idea how hard it was to get that ‘thing’? DIFFICULT, THAT’S WHAT! Besides, my boys told me that this think is more than your three measly bags of bits. It’s so much, it’s enough to buy at least a small part of Equestria! The only reason I’m not planning on keeping it myself is because, the thing is a dangerous both from going near it and with the kind of attraction it could bring to me,” said Tricky. “I’m not taking a risk like that!”

“Hold on… how were you able to contain it? Void crystals are dangerous from touching, breathing, or even looking at it,” said Twilight, curious of the method to containing such a dangerous object.

“I have my ways… now as I was sayyyyiiii…” said Tricky. Tricky stopped in mid-sentence, and then looked at Twilight… that was when he noticed the wings and horn that she had. Realization hit him that there was an alicorn in the same room as him. “Hold on one bloody second… your a...”

“Ah oh,” whispered Twilight, mentally swearing to herself.

“Your an… an… AN ALICORN!” shouted Tricky. Immediately, both of Tricky’s henchmen blocked the only exit in the room, leaving Dark, Trixie, and Twilight to stand, whilst Tricky got off his seat once more. “Well I’ll be damn… now this is what I call a lucky day.”

Before Tricky could reach his hoof to touch Twilight, Dark extended his own hand grabbing Tricky’s arm. Tricky looked at Dark with an angry look… but that was when it changed to a horrified one. Dark’s visor so dark, it was impossible what was inside, but Dark looked at Tricky in such a way… that the saying, “If looks could kill,” would best describe on what Tricky was looking at.

“If you hold any shred of dignity… I wouldn’t move a single inch,” said Dark, his voice more deeper than usual.

“What you suppose to be? Her bodyguard?” said Tricky, holding his composure up.

“That’s the story I’m going with these days,” said Dark.

Tricky backed his hoof to himself, Dark loosened his grip and stood for awhile between him and Twilight. Tricky rubbed his arm, noticed where Dark has grabbed him; he continued to stand a few inches away, both understanding the message and not wanting to be any closer to Dark any time soon.

Returning from the other room, the minotaur that went to get the void crystal came carrying a large metal container. It emanated something powerful, causing Trixie and Twilight to flinch, knowing what was inside… thought Dark however continued to stare. “Open the container Diuem,” said Tricky, speaking to the minotaur.

Grunting, Diuem reached for two handles, lifting them up. The container made a loud clicking noise until a loud clunk was heard. The container’s top opened, and came out was a cylinder object, slowly ascending on a small platform. Everyone stared at it, with the two henchmen wanting nothing more to leave, Tricky slowly stepping away from the container with Diuem also backing off. Trixie and Twilight too backed out of sheer instinct from sensing the energy coming from the cylinder container… however, Dark continued to not waver a single inch. “Ladies… behold...” said Tricky, with the cylinder opening at the same time. “Your ‘void crystal’… well, a shard of it.”

The cylinder opened and inside was a black gem, with a strange energy emanating from it. Twilight shivered from seeing the black gem, not wanting to step a single inch close to it. Trixie on the other hoof gulped knowing she had to go and get it, but was stopped by Tricky. “What do you think your doing?” said Trixie. “Trixie has given you the money, so Trixie will take what Trixie has come for.”

“Ah ah ah, have you forgotten. I said that what you have isn’t enough… so either you come back later… or maybe we can trade with… something else… or ‘somepony’ else,” said Tricky, staring at Twilight. Twilight shivered, not liking what Tricky said one bit, Trixie looked at Twilight then at the gem. She was this close to getting it, but now she’s given another choice… a choice which she’s forced upone. Trixie could deny the suggestion and come back later, only for the gem either to be gone or it’s price increased… or…

“Trixie… whatever your thinking, don’t,” said Twilight, worry on her face.

“I… I… I...” said Trixie, unable to make a decision.

Tricky began to smile wickedly, knowing he can continue to play this little game, over and over and over and over. Not only was he going to win three bags of bits… but a alicorn princess, all the other gang leaders are going to be so jealous once they hear this… is what went through Tricky’s head. Before anyone could say another word… Dark, who kept quiet this whole time… spoke. “Hold up!” shouted Dark, getting everyone’s attention.

Dark began to walk toward the ‘void crystal’, not a single shred of fear appearing on him. “HOLD ON, WHAT DO YOU...” shouted Tricky.

“Stop me, and I’ll break your nose,” said Dark, continuing to walk forward.

Tricky stood still, knowing that either way that the third member of Trixie’s group was digging his own grave… is what he thought. “Your funeral,” said Tricky, quietly.

Dark stood an inch from the container, looking at the ‘void crystal’ shard… he grabbed it. Everyone in the room was shocked, but continuing to stare… nothing was happening to Dark. Dumbfounded and confused, Twilight was the first to speak. “Bu-bu-but how?” said Twilight. “How can you grab a… void crystal?”

“For starters, my suit can handle anything ranging from bullets, swords, lasers, and more… this list also includes void crystals… besides...” said Dark, throwing the ‘void crystal’ up and down on his hand. “This isn’t a void crystal. It’s an energy crystal.” Dark grabbed a cloth on Tricky’s desk, and began to rub the crystal revealing instead of a pitch black crystal, but a purple one instead.

“A what crystal?” said everyone in the room.

“A energy crystal, to compare how strong it is from a void crystal nevertheless a shard it had to be...” said Dark, calculating. “At least a millionth powerful of a void crystal shard. Enough to power at least this city for… one or… two decades?”

“A MILLIONTH!” shouted Tricky.

“Yeah, but to compare to an undamaged, pure void crystal, it would be… at least a billionth,” said Dark, bluntly.

Tricky’s eyes became wide like diamonds, with his jaw dangling in the air. “A… a… a… b-b-b-b-billionth?” said Tricky, letting the th on billionth echo.

“Indeed, now in a highly advanced civilization, something like this can power a single city for fifty years. However since this world isn’t that high tech, it can power Equestria as a whole for… well until the next century or two...” said Dark. “...Oh wait, make that… five centuries.”

Tricky grabbed Dark by the shoulders, not giving a damn if his going to get punched in the muzzle or not. “IS IT SAFE TO USE!?” shouted Tricky.

“Well if you know how to use it, it’s like the energy of a lighting bolt… only… times it by a zillion,” said Dark, answering.

Tricky began to grin wildly, he then began dancing a jig while humming to himself. “RICH RICH, I’M GOING TO BE RICH!” shouted Tricky. Reaching to take the purple crystal, Dark immediately moved it from his reach. “Hey, what gives!?”

“Hold on, we came here to buy. Since you didn’t check your merchandize, and you don’t have what we were originally came here to buy… we’ll take this,” said Dark.

“Dark, what are you doing,” whispering Twilight. “Your going to get us killed.”

“For once, Trixie agrees with her,” said Trixie.

“This may not be a void crystal, but it’s dangerous if you know how to use it. You really think leaving it with a bunch of thugs is a smart idea?” said Dark.

Trixie and Twilight look at one another; after knowing the possible capabilities that this energy crystal can give, it would be better in the hooves of somepony else… other than somepony like Tricky. “Okay then new plan, we buy this thing instead,” said Trixie.

Dark nods and looks at Tricky while also making sure that he doesn’t grab the energy gem. “We decided to buy this thing stead, and trust me the amount of bits is enough for something like this,” said Dark. “I did the calculations.”

Tricky’s eye began to twitch, and then… he began to smile… angrily. “You think I want your bits? Something like that, is more than some simple bits! I can create an army, nay, a nation with that thing! I won’t be some small time smuggler anymore, no… instead, I’LL RULE EQUESTRIA!” said Tricky, laughing maniacally. “And not some, wanted princess, her bodyguard, and… a wizard, will stop me!”

“WIZARD!” shouted Trixie.

“I don’t think you have a chance on stopping us,” said Dark.

“WIZARD!” shouted Trixie, gritting her teeth.

“Oh really? DIUEM!” shouted Tricky.

Diuem, Tricky’s main henchman moved up to Dark, trying to size him up. Since the room they were in was slightly small for Dark to show his full height, Dark didn’t look really intimidating… though that didn’t mean he was helpless. Diuem moved his hand back, ready to release a punch; he then unleashed a heavy blow at Dark’s torso, creating a loud thunk… except, it did no damage other than piss Dark off. Dark tossed the energy crystal toward Twilight, who caught it with her magic. Dark began to stand as tall he could… which in the process broke a part of the roof. He then glared at Diuem, who not just challenged a highly trained soldier… but manage to pissed off Dark, who was in all honesty… a pretty controlled person. Moving his visor toward Diuem’s eyesight, Dark’s helmet touched Diuem’s horns, making a light tink noise. “You call that an attack?” said Dark. Dark tilts his head, making a loud crack noise for Diuem to hear on purpose. “This… is an attack.”

Author's Note

Things are getting real now... time, for, some, BLOOD! ...Right after this short break.

Though... expect something like this to be heard in the next chapter.