One Last Adventure

Chapters

The Intruder
The Fire of Hope
A Lost Cause
A New Way
A New Dawn
Epilogue

The Intruder

CRASH!! A sound from another part of the house made the Pegasus wake. "Hmm??" Fury said as he stirred from his slumber. He looked around the dark bedroom for the source of the sound only to find it looking as it normally did. He looked over to see dash snoring lightly beside him, not phased by the sound. He looked around one more time before laying his head back down again.

BANG!! This time Fury rose from the bed and stretched his wings before stealthy moving across the room. The noise sounded like it was coming from the kitchen, which was down the hallway. He slowly opened the door and moved slowly down the hall, floating just above the ground.

When he reached the end of the hall, he had a look of both relief and confusion. His intruder was Twilight Sparkle, who was looking at a wall of photographs. At this he lightly touched his hooves down to the carpeted floor and began to walk toward his guest.

"You know, I always thought that rainbow's children would look like her," Twilight said as she looked at a picture on the wall. It was a family portrait showing Rainbow and Fury smiling as Dash held their son Soaring Shadow in her hooves.

"Who are you..." Fury asked slowly, "and what have you done with the real Twilight?"

"I am the real Twilight, just not this world's Twilight," she answered as she finally turned her body to face Fury.

"What... What do you mean?" He asked suspiciously.

"I'm from another reality, you know, an alternate universe."

"Such a theory was once brought up by Twilight," Fury said as he began to circle the alternate Twilight. "But if you are from where you say you are, why are you here?"

"In my world, there's a war going on and it went south when he killed Princess Celestia.."

"He? Who is he?"

"Well..., you... the alternate you anyways," Twilight finished.

"What! I'm a villain in another universe!" Fury said as looked at Twilight with surprise.

"Yeah, and your an alicorn," she added.

"Well," Fury began as he picked up a photo of of a table beside him, "I didn't always look like this," he said, showing her the photo.

"You were an alicorn, how did you revert back into a Pegasus?"

"I didn't 'revert', I was born an alicorn, I gave up my magic for something better," he said as he gestured with his hoof to the wall, "a family."

"I'm so sorry for coming then, I'll let you get back to your sleep," Twilight said as she began to walk out of the house.

"Wait!" Fury said as he trailed the purple alicorn outside.

"Yes?" Twilight said as she turned around.

"Give me a moment, I'll be right back," he said as he flew back into the house to find a quill and parchment.

~dear dash,
I had to leave for Canterlot on family matters, I'll be back in a few days,
With love,
Fury Flight~

He placed the note on the kitchen counter next to her coffee grounds and flew back outside.

"Ok, I'm ready, but first we have to see this world's Twilight in the castle," he said as he caught up to the alicorn in the middle of the street.

"What? Why?" She asked as she followed Fury towards the gigantic tree castle.

"You're going to need my magic, and Twilight is the only one who can retrieve it," he said as he unfurled his wings and took off the ground.

The two ponies began flying to the castle inhabited by that worlds Twilight.

"So... how.."

"How did I give up my magic and become a Pegasus?"

"Yea, how did that happen?" She asked as she tried to keep up with Fury's wing speed.

"Well.. it's a long story, but to sum it up, I fought an old god and died, then I was brought back by my father and sealed my magic away in a cave to hold a piece of that god's soul in a stone like the elements." He slowed his pace when he seen Twilight struggling, "sorry, I'm used to having to keep up with Dash."

Twilight had an open mouth expression as she flew.

As they approached the castle, a light shone from the second story of the castle and the silhouette of a pony could be seen through the window. Fury flew through the window, effectively scaring the wits out of Twilight, who had been enjoying a late night reading.

"GUAAAHHHH!!!" Twilight screamed as Fury passed through the window and became tangled into a battle with the curtains. He struggled on the floor wrapped up in one of the curtains as the other Twilight teleported into the room.

"What in the... Oh My... Fury, what have you done?" Twilight began.

"I can eshplain," came Fury's muffled voice as he battled the beige curtain monster.

"A Changeling!!!" Twilight screamed as she called upon her magic.

"WAIT!!" The other Twilight begged as her own horn lit up. "I'm not a Changeling! I swear!!"

"Then why do you look exactly like me huh?!" She growled.

"I... I'm you... from a different reality.."

"Impossible!!"

"It may sound bad, but it's true," Fury said as finally escaped the claws of the curtain monster.

"How are you sure Fury and that she's not just a changeling?" Twilight asked with a grumble.

"Would a changeling be able to do this.." the other Twilight said as she began to do different magical tricks.

"Okay, so maybe your not a changeling," Twilight said as she watched the alternate version of herself do various magic tricks. "Why are you here, and how for that matter?"

"I brought her here because I am needed.."

"So that Rainbow can beat you from here to Canterlot... again," Twilight said as she rolled her eyes.

"Not this time Twilight, her universe is in danger of being destroyed by an enemy without compare."

"Oh yeah?" She said as she raised an eyebrow, "and just who's that?"

"Well... well me, does it clear things up a little?"

"No... no it doesn't Fury, Why not send me, I have the power of the guardian.."

"And if something happens that requires the Elements? What then? Face it Twilight, I have to go, Rainbow will get over it eventually."

"Maybe your right, but how are you supposed to fight a villain that the Elements of Harmony could not, at least without your magic?"

"That's where you come in Twilight, I locked my magic away in the Eternal cave, to hold the stone of death there," Fury said. "Now you are the only one who can open the vault and free my magic."

"Ok, but how does that restore your guardian magic?" Twilight asked, lost.

"My guardian magic rests within me, as yours will when you pass the flame to the next guardian."

"Well then, let's get moving," Twilight said as her horn lit up. "Alright, hold on to me you two." Her magic began to crackle as a stream of light began to encircle them. The light began to brighten as her spell gained power from her magic. She began to envision the cave of friendship in her mind as the spell progressed, humming as it picked up speed circling them.

The next moment they disappeared and then reappeared in a large cave. The cave was massive, and had an ancient feeling to it.

"Wow!!" The alternate Twilight squealed in awe as she examined the historical cave.

"This place really exists, ohh look at the floor!" She squealed again as she traced marks on the cave floor, made by Private Panzy, Smart Cookie and Clover the Clever.

"And the walls, what beauty!" She exclaimed as she looked at the wall, which portrayed the birth of Equestria. It shown the three tribes arguing with the wendigos above, and then the three heroes banishing the wendigos with the power of friendship.

"Sounds like your first visit here, Hmhm, remember that?" Fury said as he passed that world's Twilight.

"Yes, I remember, and all the pain that went with that day," she said as memories began to seep into her mind. Memories of death and sorrow, but also of new life.

"This way Twilight Sparkle, come on," Fury said to the other Twilight who was still adoring the cave's secrets.

"There's more!?" She said in awe.

"You have no idea," he said as he walked towards the wall at the end of the cave. He then turned to face the alternate Twilight.

"Alright Twilight, you are going to have to do what either me or Twilight says, no matter what, ok,"

"Alright, but why?"

"Because it's going to get a little weird for you in a second," he said as he turned around and walked through the wall.

"Oh haha, that's funny, now where is he?" The alternate Twilight asked the other.

"It's no joke, but you'll catch on, there's a lot to this world that's hidden, just follow me."

"Um, ok," the alternate Twilight said as she followed her through the wall, into a foggy cavern, overlooking a huge maze, with no end in sight.

"What's that?"

"That's the eternal maze, and true to it's name, those who try to navigate it's infinite paths will be lost to eternity... some say that Starswirl is in there somewhere, looking for his former master, Kronos," Twilight said in a somber formality.

"So where are we going?" Twilight asked as she looked to the maze with curiosity. It seemed to call to her, whispering voices of pleasure and fortune that began to draw her from the path.

Twilight seen her alternate version being led into the maze by her horn, which was lit a soft white.

"Twilight! Stop!" She yelled as she teleported.

"Whah, huh," the other Twilight said as she came back to her senses.

"Keep to the path! Come on!" She said with a stern voice.

"I don't want to see you lose yourself in this place," she said a little calmer.

"Okay..."

"Come on you two, the entrance is just ahead," Fury said from just ahead.

The two Twilights looked ahead to see a light at the end of the cavern, through the fog. As they walked into the light, the alternate Twilight nearly lost her breath.

"What... What is this place??"

"This is the Eternal cave, home of the Eternal Guardian's power," Fury explained as he gestured to the cave before them, lit by a magical flame. The cave was smaller than the massive friendship cave that they just left. Lit by the flames was a large eye carved into the back wall. "That's the great eye of galaxia, it keeps it's unblinking gaze upon the world of ponies, and acts as the eyes of the guardian to the state of the world. It's magic also keeps this place hidden from all but those chosen."

"So where's your magic Fury?" Twilight asked as she looked around the cave.

"It's behind the eye, and the reason I needed Twilight here, for now she is the only one that can open the vault behind it."

"Behind it? But that's carved into a stone wall, how could it be behind it?"

"Like I said, there's a lot more in this world than meets the eye," Fury said. Before turning to Twilight. "Twilight, could you do the honors," he said as he gestured to the eye.

She stood before the eye and let her magic flow. A stream of green magic began to slowly make its way from her horn to the eye. As the magic reached the eye, it began to slowly open and glow the same color. A white light then escaped the eye and began to search the room. It's gaze stopped at the other Twilight and began to search through the unfamiliar pony's memories. She began to see days gone by as the eye looked into her past, revealing days of fun and adventure with her friends. The eye seemed content with this information and moved on until it ended it's search and returned to the wall where the carving had disappeared and a small room was now in its place.

She looked in awe at the contents of the vault, there were five pieces of parchment setting on a small stone shelf that were written in a strange language, then two spells which looked ancient by the yellowed and cracked parchment. There was a large stone on another shelf, below the first one. The stone was about the size of her hoof, and seemed to draw the very joy from her body with its pitch black color and aura around it.

"That is one of the six stones of death, that hold the spirit of an old god, known as Thanatos," Fury said as he watched Twilight's curiosity towards it. "The parchments are the locations of it's brothers; the spells, are powerful spells that are feared by even the Great Alicorns.."

Fury took a deep breath as brought his hoof to the stone, and the memories of Life and death began to cloud his mind. The flames began to waiver as his hoof touched the stone, as if the very spirit of the old god was begging him to break it and free him. As he picked up the stone, Twilight seen an old tattered photo underneath where the stone once was. The photo showed a younger Fury with Rainbow in a stadium of some sort.

"The first time we met, we fought like cats and dogs that day, hmhm, but eventually we saw each other's point. It's in this photo that I sealed my magic," he said as he placed his hoof on the photo. His body began to glow as he and the photo began to float. After a moment the light enveloped all of him and blinded the other two ponies. When they opened their eyes a couple of seconds later, a fully alicorned Fury stood before them.

"I'm ready Miss Twilight," Fury said as he used his magic to seal the vault back up once again.

"Do you have.."

"My guardian magic, yes," Fury said as he let the magic flow through him, from his nose to his tail, feeling every strand of magic in his horn. "Twilight, let me show you something that I haven't shown you before," he said as he walked to another wall in the cave and called upon his magic. The wall began to separate and reveal a small room with paintings of the various cities of Equestria. "We can leave through here instead of going back through the cavern."

"Amazing!!" Both Twilights said as they searched the room from top to bottom.

"Where to, Miss Twilight?"

"Huh, oh, we can leave from Ponyville, at the fountain," the other Twilight answered.

"Let's get moving then, shall we," Fury said as he used his magic to reach out to the painting of Ponyville. The painting began to shimmer and grow until it was large enough to fit a full grown pony through.

Fury went through first, walking calmly into the painting and arriving in Ponyville. The two Twilights then slowly walked through, not wanting to leave the grand room.

Once they were through, The original Twilight began her farewell.

"Fury, I'll tell Dash if things go ill, that you... joined your father."

"Fair enough, but I should return, but until then, farewell Twilight," Fury said slowly before turning to the other Twilight.

"I'm ready."

"Hold on," Twilight said as she called upon her magic. A stream of blue light began to encircle them and slowly faded them out of his world and brought them into the world of Equestria, the land of friendship

The Fire of Hope

As they faded out of the world, Fury took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Everything he had done in his world began to weigh down on him.

He saw the wars that he had fought in, the villains that he faced in the past, all now standing beside him, all reminders of a different time. He gained wisdom from each one, from Kaorn, he learned of true evil and true power. When he faced discord, he learned to never underestimate his opponent, a lesson that nearly cost him his life. When he faced himself, he learned that the most powerful magic comes from within.

He opened his eyes to the world he was brought into. The sky was dull and cloudy, with no sign of the sun. The ponies of Ponyville moved about like zombies, looking defeated already. The very air seemed to drag him down with each breath, and he turned to Twilight with a concerned look.

"The morale here... it's gone. These ponies act as if they're already defeated."

"How should they feel Fury, Princess Celestia is... is... and Luna went into hiding. The sun and moon haven't shown since, and the ponies morale with it," Twilight said as she looked upon the ponies with empathy.

"Twilight!" Fury said with a stern voice as she shook her. "You are a princess of Equestria! if you accept surrender, than your subjects will follow!!"

"What should I do?" She asked.

"Did Celestia ever teach you the spell to raise the sun?"

"No, but I learned to raise the moon from Luna," she answered.

"Good, it's a start, tonight you will raise the moon and bring hope back to your subjects... and then we'll track this villain down."

"That won't be hard partner, just follow the wreckage," came a southern voice.

"Applejack!!" Twilight cried as she rushed the earth pony. Applejack caught Twilight with a hoof and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Oh darling, we're thrilled that your back, but could you introduce us to your guest," came the regal voice of Rarity.

"Oh... sorry, this is Fury Flight, and he is going to help us defeat the nightmare."

"um... um.. how's he gonna do that?" Squeaked Fluttershy, who had been hiding behind Rarity.

"Yes my dear, how, when both us and Celestia failed. He may be an alicorn, but so were you and Celestia," Rarity said as the wheels began to turn in her head.

"I've seen him do amazing things that Celestia or I couldn't, and he is the nightmare's alternate version," Twilight answered.

"So what's yer plan Fury Flight?" Applejack asked with a doubtful look.

"We can't defeat the nightmare with the ponies like this,"
Fury answered.

"So, what should we do? The only pony who could help is gone."

"We show them that there's still hope! That there's a chance for victory, if they believe!" He shouted to the crowd, who barely acknowledged him.

"How darling? We aren't exactly overflowing with hope ourselves?" Rarity said as she gestured to the three ponies around her.

"We bring back the moon," came Twilight's voice as she stood up for Fury.

"Sugarcube, how we gonna..."

"I know the spell, tonight the moon will return."

"After the morale here has risen, we can begin the search for the nightmare and possibly the others," Fury said as he took in the sights of the city. Most of the buildings were the same as they were in his world. He looked to where his home would've been and seen a small orchard of trees in it's place. He sighed as he turned his sight back to the ponies, who were staring intently at him, as if waiting for some incredible wisdom or forbidden knowledge.

"What do you mean others?" Fluttershy said barely audibly.

"I believe that your friends aren't dead, just locked away. If he wanted to kill you, you would all be gone," he said as he tried to place himself in the mind of a villain. "If he could somehow change the elements however, he would have an unstoppable power..."

"And with no pony to stop him, he could easily take over or destroy the world," Twilight finished, "but where would he keep our friends?"

"By his side, where his control would be unwavering," Fury said.

"So how do we free them?" Rarity asked, confused.

"We show them the same thing we show these ponies, a hope that Equestria can be free again..." Twilight said as she turned her head to the sky.

Her alicorn magic coursed through her as her mane began to sparkle and glimmer. On the horizon, the face of the glorious moon began to make it's majestic way up the sky like an eagle soaring. The clouds began to part, as if making way for their true ruler. The ponies around stopped their meaningless wandering and looked up to the moon as it climbed higher into the now night sky.

The atmosphere of Ponyville began to lighten as hope was sparked in the hearts and minds of the ponies.

"The fire has been kindled Twilight, now you must feed the flames," Fury said lightly as Twilight's spell faded. She nodded and teleported to the ledge of the fountain and got the ponies attention.

"Every pony! Gather round!" She yelled as the ponies began to gather around in the town square. "Look around you every pony! We are here, and here we will remain, not a nightmare, not Tirek or any creature from any land! We are ponies! Let's spread the fires of hope and friendship to all of Equestria!" She yelled as the crowd began to cheer and prance about.

"Look girls! Look! Hope is coming back!" She shouted to her friends, who were smiling huge pinkie sized smiles.

"And now we find that nightmare, and your friends," Fury said as he turned to the road ahead, Las Pegasus...

A Lost Cause

As the five ponies stepped off from the train at the Las Pegasus station, Fury got an eerie feeling. "Do you guys hear something?"

"No, its actually quiet here for once, not like the last time, right Fluttershy?" Applejack joked to the Pegasus beside her.

"Mhmm," she managed.

"It's too quiet, I don't like this, stay alert every pony," Fury said as he stepped off the platform and began the walk through the now ghost town of Las Pegasus.

"Aw shucks, they're probably just inside playing games, that's all," Applejack said trying to be optimistic.

"No...... it's totally quiet... we need to leave... NOW!" Fury yelled as he turned around.

"Leaving so soon, but you'll miss out on the party!" Came the high pitched voice of the one and only Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie?" Twilight said as she began to walk towards her.

"That's not Pinkie Twilight!" Fury yelled as he teleported to stop her advance. "He's using her to separate us! Walk away!" Fury pleaded.

"But she needs us..."

"No! Not like this!" Fury said as he finally stopped her with his magic. "I hope one day you forgive me for this..." he said as he turned his attention and magic towards Pinkie.

"Hold it right there alicorn!" Came a deep voice from the pink party pony. "Fire that spell and I'll crush her mind."

Fury slowly let the magic fade from his horn.

"All you pathetic heroes are the same, afraid to get a little dirty..."

Fury's magic roared back as he called lightning forth. The bolt shot out of his horn and traveled the distance before Pinkie or Twilight could react.

It struck pinkie straight in the temple with enough force to toss her body like a rag doll. She landed hard in front of one of the many casinos that lined the golden streets.

"You monster! How could you!" Twilight yelled as she faced Fury.

"Twilight! Listen to reason. That was a trap set to snare you, I can assure you that the real Pinkie is alright!" Fury said in a sternly soft voice.

"Hey y'all, she comin to!" Applejack yelled from where Pinkie lay.

"NO! Get away from her!!!" Fury yelled, but it was too late.

Pinkie's eyes opened to reveal a solid red eye staring back.

"Gotcha..." was the only word she spoke as she trapped the others in her gaze.

Fury called upon his magic as he tried to reverse the effects the nightmare had on the three ponies surrounding her, but it was too No avail.

The ponies then turned to the other two in the street and began to slowly walk towards them.

"Twilight.... come join us.... join us Twilight..." the four ponies said in an eerie unison.

"My friends...." Twilight said as she began to waiver.

"Twilight, those aren't your friends anymore! Come on!" Fury said as he teleported them both back to the platform, but instead of the platform, Fury teleported into one of the casinos, alone...

Twilight was brought to another room in the casino by his magic. She looked up to see herself surrounded by brainwashed ponies. "Hello..." she called out nervously.

"Twilight Sparkle, the only element that I couldn't reach.... until now..." came a deep voice from the crowd.

"Don't worry about your friends, you'll be joining them very soon..." the voice said again as the ponies began to close in on her.

"Join us.... join us.... join us...." the group whispered as the shadow disappeared from the room.

Fury looked around as the shadow entered the dark room.

"So your the help Twilight went to find..." the shadow said as it took on a physical form. The pony that now stood before him was orange in color, and had a mane that was as black as the abyss. The nightmare began to circle Fury, sizing up his new opponent. "We're not so different, you and I.."

"You think so?"

"I know so, we both want the same thing..”

"And what's that?" Fury asked.

"For Equestria to be free, free from evil.... I simply wish the evil of the alicorns gone..."

"Last I looked, you were an alicorn?" Fury said, a little confused.

"Yes, but these hideous wings didn't always contaminate my perfect body. I had to take this form to make my dream a reality..." the nightmare said as he stopped in front of Fury.

"And what reality is that?"

"Once I tried to rid the world of the tyranny of alicorns and bring freedom to Equestria, but those blasted elements sent me away, where I waited for centuries. It wasn't all bad though, I found this power while in banishment..." he said as he flared his wings.

"And what's your plan for the elements?"

"Some pony's full of questions isn't he? Well if you must know," the nightmare said before whispering in Fury's ear, "the best way to destroy your opponent... is with their own weapon..."

He drew back and called forth his dark magic, which turned his horn a dark red. "But you'll never live to see my plan come to fruition.."

Fury called his own magic and lightning crackled from his horn. The energy made it to the other pony, but the nightmare brought up a magical shield to stop the blast. The nightmare then called upon his dark magic and fire erupted from his horn and crashed towards Fury, who called water forth and quelled the flames.

Both then called upon their strongest magic and fired it. A green magic shot out from both alicorns and met in the center of the room. The two blasts collided and exploded, sending both ponies flying. Fury crashed through the wall and landed out in the middle of the street. The nightmare walked slowly out of the hole and set hoof on the street.

"It would seem that we are evenly matched alicorn, but now I have the upper hoof..."

"H-how do you get that?" Fury asked weakly as he stood up.

"Because now you can feel my ultimate weapon!" He said slowly as he moved to reveal the mane six behind him.

"Twilight, no...."

"Forgive me..." Twilight said blankly as her and the others prepared to attack. Fury closed his eyes and waited for the blast.

Their necklaces began to glow a bright red as the mane six fired their rainbow beam. The normally rainbow beam was now red and crackling with energy as it blasted from the mane six to their target.

The blast hit him with such an explosive force that it threw him into the air. Fury let the darkness take him as he climbed higher.

He opened his eyes a few moments later to see clouds, and he looked to his wings to see them whipping by his hooves. He closed his eyes again and waited for the impact of the ground...

A New Way

He was awakened by the sound of crickets softly playing their song to an absent moon. He could feel a softness that could only be matched by grass underneath him, and felt a cool breeze blowing through that sent a small chill up his spine. He didn't open his eyes, but he could feel that he was not alone. He could hear the soft breaths they took, and could smell the scent of lavender and daisies. Whoever the mare was, he was grateful.

He finally decided to move and feel the extent of his injuries.

"How long was I out?" He asked the stranger as he finally opened his eyes. To his surprise however, he was greeted by the gentle and loving face of Princess Luna.

"Thou was out for three moons, more or less," she said with a touch of doubt.

"More or less?" Fury asked.

"Without our moon to judge time, we do not know."

"So where are we?" Fury asked as he looked around. They were in a large prairie, with large stones scattered throughout it's plain.

"We are in the field of heroes, do not worry friend, thou art quite safe here. This place is protected by a deep magic."

"Is it a magic strong enough to to hold back the Elements of Harmony?"

"The elements? Why would we need protection from the elements?" Luna asked, puzzled.

"Your villain found a way to change and control the elements..."

"Then all will be lost, and his power will know no bounds..."

"Why did you go into hiding Luna, when Equestria's need was most dire?" Fury asked, changing the subject.

A single tear fell from Luna's cheek as she looked up to the cloudy sky. "We hid because we are powerless to stop this nightmare, without our sister... our power is gone..."

"Gone, but Celestia had power when you were gone?"

"Yes, that was true, but this time the nightmare relinquished us of our power trying to banish us, and he very nearly succeeded..."

"If we can somehow get the elements back on our side, would it be possible to bring your power back?" Fury asked as the wheels began to turn in his head.

"'Tis possible, but how will you do it?"

"I'm still working on that, but if I can somehow get them separated from him, I could hit them with a memory spell or something..."'

"'Tis a clever plan, but doest thou know any memory spells?"

"Not a one, but I know one who does, if I can get to her... Twilight Sparkle.."

Fury slowly rose to his hooves as he felt the pain leave him. He began to walk towards the end of the graveyard when Luna stopped him.

"Wait brave warrior, thou may need this..." she said as he gave him a small locket.

He opened the locket to reveal a memory.

"Where did you??"

"Thou dropped it when thou crashed. Thou looks happy, and thou may need it if all else fails..."

Fury nodded and turned back to the west, where Las Pegasus and Twilight Sparkle waited.

This journey had changed him so much, and he had come to the realization that he wasn't the one meant to save this world, he never would be, but he was here to light the way to the one that could... if he could find her...

A New Dawn

As he flew towards the massive party city known as Las Pegasus, Fury was drawn back to his own world. By now Dash would have nearly throttled the answer out of Twilight about his so called "family matters". He began to chuckle at the thought of Dash trying to choke Twilight, who was simply holding her back with her magic, while calmly reading a book.

His thoughts brought him back to the matter at hoof; how was he going to distract the other Fury long enough to pull Twilight from his grasp. Her soul was strong, and if he could only find a memory spell he could make it a lot easier. Fury used his magic to bring up the locket that Luna had given him. When he opened the locket this time however, he was completely surprised. Instead of showing a family picture, it now showed a group of friends on a hill, enjoying life.

"That little rascal, she gave me the memory spell I needed" he thought as he let the locket hang back down. Things were beginning to look up as he neared the lights of the city. His magic began to falter as he came close to the ground.

"A magical shield, typical villains..." he said to himself as he touched down onto the golden pavement.

He heard laughter as a shadow began to form in front of him. The nightmare rose slowly from the shadow. "Have you returned for an encore performance of my weapon? Or simply from your own stupidity?" He asked with a voice as deep as the abyss.

"Not likely nightmare, but I have returned to free the six and defeat you!" Fury said as he readied what little magic he had from the shield.

The nightmare laughed as his own magic flared and a red scythe appeared. The nightmare then charged Fury and slashed.

Fury brought forth a gleaming sword with his own magic and stopped the blow from the scythe. The scythe met the sword with a metallic clang; the nightmare then began to push down, hoping to break Fury's magic.

The nightmare then called back his scythe and instead called forth a phantom hand that grabbed Fury by the throat. He then threw Fury as he called forth the mane six.

Fury used all of his magic to teleport the locket from his neck to Twilight's as he fell.

"Accessorizing my weapon now are we!" The nightmare laughed as he leapt towards Fury and began to slowly choke the life from him. "Now die without heroics!!"

Twilight began to blink her eyes as the nightmare's spell wore off. She could still feel the pull from his magic, but something was keeping it at bay. She looked down to see a heart shaped locket around her neck. She opened it to see a photo of her and her friends.

"My friends..." she whispered as she looked to the five ponies around her, still looking blankly ahead.

She called the spell to mind that would solve the issue, the memory spell she used when she faced Discord and he had turned her friends against her. She felt the magic begin to boil in her veins and got a lovely chill. This wasn't the forced magic she had been casting, but a free magic that coursed through her like a raging river. She began to smile as the nightmare's magic began to wear off on her friends.

"Come on girls! I think it's time we fought for the side of good again!" Twilight yelled as as she and her friends cast their elemental magic.

"Aww yeah! Let's kick some tail feathers!" Rainbow yelled as her own element activated.

The nightmare turned when he saw a rainbow beam coming towards him out of the corner of his eye.

"Impossible!!!" He screamed as he brought forth his own magic to shield himself.

The rainbow beam struck the shield and began to deflect, and the nightmare began to laugh as he looked at the mane six. "You cannot stop me! So long as I hold the power of Celestia and Luna, your elements cannot stop me!!" He roared as he began to repel the spell back.

"Come on girls! Give it everything we got!" Twilight yelled as she gave every ounce of her magic towards her element.

The nightmare laughed as he let his shield blow back the elements. The six were blew back and thrown.

Fury had a horrid look on his face as he saw the scene before him. He knew what was coming next as he seen the nightmare call forth his scythe and begin to walk towards Twilight. His past was being replayed in this world.

"So this is where it all ends Twilight? With you groveling before me?" The nightmare asked as he took a step and raised his scythe for the killing blow.

"Wait!!" Fury cried out. "Take me instead!"

The nightmare turned his focus from Twilight to Fury. "And why should I?"

"I'm the one you want... I'm the one who can stand hoof to hoof with you, spell for spell..."

"Yes, you have been a bit of a nuisance lately.."

"With my magic you would be unstoppable, and in return I only ask one thing..."

"And that is?" The nightmare asked, expecting a hero's speech.

"I only ask a moment to say goodbye to these ponies..."

The nightmare thought it over for a moment before answering. "Very well, have your moment.."

Fury walked slowly to Twilight, who was still in a state of shock.

"What are you doing Fury, this isn't helping us?" She asked heatedly.

"You asked me to save Equestria, and I have..."

"How is surrendering helping?"

"Twilight..." he said as he took a deep breath. "I am not the hero you need here, only the guide to show you to the true hero.."

"That makes no sense!!"

"No," Fury started, "but some things aren't meant to be understood, just trust me. Always let the light of your soul burn bright against the night.." He began to fade away like dust in the wind as he walked backwards towards the Nightmare. "Believe Twilight...."

The nightmare's eyes lit up with rage as his prey disappeared before him. "What!!! Nooo!!!" He screamed. "What have you done!!" He yelled at Twilight, who was just as shocked as the nightmare.

Fury's plan had worked perfectly. After the nightmare had turned to Twilight, he had let down his shield, allowing fury to perform his greatest teleportation spell he had. The next part of his plan was finding his target, wherever she might be. That too was an easy answer, but a big obstacle. She was in this world's eternal cave, one which he had never been. He focused all his magic to finding the cave, and to allowing the cave to reach him. The cave began to come clear in his mind and he cast his spell after his speech with Twilight.

As he appeared in the great cave, some things were different. For one, the cave here was an abandoned ursa cave. The walls of the cave were covered with moss and vines and seemed to travel up forever.

He began to hear the quick shallow breathing of a weakened pony. He began to see her silhouette lying by a small stream flowing through the cave. As he approached her, he could see the bruises and cuts along her body, the nightmare hadn't just banished her, he tortured her.

He knelt down and placed a hoof on her shoulder. At the touch, her eyes shot opened and a weak scream escaped her.

"Please..... no... no more...." she whimpered.

"Celestia..." he whispered. The white mare opened her eyes again and looked to her visitor.

"Who..... who are you...." she said barely above a whisper.

"I'm here to set you free, and help you take back your world," he said as his horn lit up a bright green.

The magic he had coveted for three thousand years began to softly leave him as he transferred it to Princess Celestia. The magic not only healed her, but made her stronger than she had ever been.

She rose to her hooves as The last of Fury's magic transferred to her.

"Now... it's time for you to rise up Celestia, not only as the ruler of this world.... but as it's true guardian..." he said as he began to weaken from his injuries. "My work here is done... now you bring forth a new light against the darkness.... a new dawn.." he said as he fell, too weak to stand anymore.

The nightmare had turned his attention back from the absence of his prey to Twilight once more. "You will regret ever resisting me!" He said as he produced his scythe once again. Twilight began to cower as he drew close. "Yes... you are right to be afraid.... what??" The nightmare said as something on the horizon caught his eye.

A voice began to thunder across the sky, "Fury! Your crimes against pony kind have decimated Equestria... crimes that now will be atoned for..."

As the voice faded, the light of the glorious sun began to gleam as it made it's regal entrance.

"That's impossible!! I broke you!!!" He yelled as he watched the sun rise.

As the sun rose, a figure could be seen approaching. Celestia flew low and fast as she called the sun from it's slumber.

"Impossible! I have your magic!" The nightmare yelled before drawing back to slash the coming princess. He then stopped as his mind processed what was happening. "The coward transferred his magic..."

"And this time... you won't win!!" Celestia said as she landed between the nightmare and Twilight. "For I bring a magic from another land, a magic that even alicorns fear...." she said as her horn lit up a bright green. The spell she cast left her horn and grabbed the nightmare in a grip that even death couldn't compete with.

"What are you doing to me!!!" The nightmare shrieked as the spell struck him.

"The spell is simple to cast for an alicorn, but the effects.... the spell rips the soul from the target..." Celestia said with a solemn wisdom.

"NOOO!!! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!!!" He screamed as a dark sphere began to separate from his body.

The soul shrieked and wailed as it was pulled from it's host. As it separated, a hole opened up in the ground and swallowed it.

With victory achieved, Celestia let her magic fade and turned her attention to Twilight.

"Princess....." Twilight said slowly got to her hooves. "Where is.."

"The one who saved me... after he transferred his magic to me, he collapsed from his injuries. I teleported him to my personal medical wing in the castle, where he will have the best care Equestria can offer. It seems that your friends could use the same.." Celestia said as she looked to the others.

As Twilight and Celestia began to get her friends to the train station, Twilight thought she had seen Fury's body move. As she carried pinkie to the station though, her fears were confirmed.

The alicorn began to slowly stand back up..

"Princess...." Twilight whispered.

Celestia turned from the station where she had just placed Applejack to see Fury back on his hooves, looking straight at her. "No..." she whispered.

As the alicorn rose however, his wings began to fade away. His eyes began to brighten up to a bright green and his mane began to change back to a light blue. The nightmare was gone.

"Twilight..." princess Celestia said as she lowered her wings, "I don't think we need to worry anymore.

The now unicorn bowed in the presence of the ruler of Equestria. "Princess... I... I.. I deserve any and every punishment you come up with...." he said wearily.

Celestia walked up and placed a wing around him. "Fury, former student of Star Swirl the Bearded, I, Princess Celestia hereby give you a new teacher..." she said in a regal voice. "My former pupil, Twilight Sparkle, to study in the magic of friendship and report to her your progress.."

"I.. don't know what to say..." Fury said confused.

"I believe every pony deserves a second chance," she said as she walked back to the train station.

"How.. how long was I...."

"Centuries.... long enough for all of your kin to.. leave for the next world."

"Even...."

"Starswirl disappeared many years ago.. so far as any of us know, he was taken by one of his own spells," Celestia said as she reached the station.

The three ponies shared the silence as they waited for the train to arrive and take them back to Canterlot.

Fury Flight awoke in the medical wing a few days later. He opened his eyes to see his surroundings. The windows in the room told the story of Celestia against Nightmare Moon. His eyes moved to see the pony setting by his bed, Princess Luna. "Princess, where.."

"Thou art in the royal medical wing, and thou has been out for two moons," she said with a little sass in her usual accent.

"Is.."

"Our sister, she is fine along with the elements.. thou truly art a hero.."

"I'm no hero here, just the messenger.."

"Speaking of messengers," came Twilight's voice, interrupting the two ponies. "There is a pony here from your world, they insisted on an audience with Celestia, she's in there now."

Fury lept to his hooves and began to run out of the wing when Luna stopped him.

"And where art thou going?"

"To protect Princess Celestia! If Dash is here, she'll need it!" Fury exclaimed before rushing towards the throne room. The memory of Dash challenging his father, Galaxo filling his mind.

With a wave of his horn he could level the entire empire, and Dash had the nerve to challenge him.

Fury busted through the doors just in time to see the end of the meeting.

"Princess, please accept my sincere apology for coming here unannounced, but it took everything I had to keep Dash from bursting through herself..." came the voice of his world's Twilight. Fury breathed a sigh of relief when he seen Twilight.

"Speaking of Dash, how is she?" He asked as he interrupted the meeting.

"Fury!" Twilight growled. "Do you have any idea what I've been through this week?! Telling Dash everyday you'd be back only to find out your missing here!!"

"I know Twilight, and I'm sorry.... and before you say it, you were right, I should of let you you come here instead of me," he said as he tried to apologize.

"Maybe I should let Dash loose here, she's been itching to get at you, what do ya say??" She said with a playful grin.

"Princess Celestia, pleas forgive me and my companion, we always speak to each other this way," Fury said to Celestia.

"It is quite alright, me and my sister act the same way, but before you do leave our world and return to your own... please accept this as a token of our gratitude," she said as she held up a locket with her magic. "To the hero who saved us, we bestow you a memory to fight away the darkness of your own world.."

"Thank you Princess.." Fury said as he bowed low and accepted the locket. He then turned to Twilight and nodded, "alright Twilight, let's go home."

Twilight then let her magic envelope them as she cast the spell that would take them home...

Epilogue

When Fury and Twilight returned back to their world, it was mid morning and the ponies of Ponyville were going about their daily business. For most of the afternoon Fury was in Twilight's castle, telling Twilight about his new tale and the events that had transpired.

He left the castle around mid afternoon, around three o'clock. He walked to the fountain in the center of town, where a massive stone memorial stood. The stone was black and had thousands of names carved on it. The names represented those lost in the Great War against Kaorn. In front of the memorial sat a cyan Pegasus, looking to one of the names... his.

He had his name carved into the stone when he left the castle, that Fury had died, and a new one took his place.

"Ya know, you could of woken me up... you could of let Twilight go..." she spoke to the stone with a sad passion. "You didn't have to go and play hero.. you didn't have to leave..." she said as she began to sniffle.

"I.. I miss you.."

"You don't have to miss me anymore.." Fury said, making Dash nearly jump from her seat.

"So... how long are you gonna be here before you leave again?" She asked, turning to show puffy red eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere Dash... not anymore," he said as he started walking toward Dash.

"Why? why Fury?" She asked, backing away.

"I'm sorry Dash, I only left because I had to.."

"Had to?! You could of said no!!"

"And let that nightmare come here Dash, and lose my family again.."

"But you'll gladly get yourself killed to keep us!! Your son has been asking every day where his daddy is... and I ask myself the same thing every night!"

"I'm sorry Dash, I really am... every moment I thought about you... I thought about coming home to you..."

"Well then..." she said with a small grin, "maybe next time you could take us with you."

Fury smiled as he and Dash finally came together in a warm embrace.

"We better get moving, Soaring's been with your sisters all day, and Luna said something about teaching him 'proper' language," Dash said with a chuckle. Fury himself began to laugh as he imagined his son coming home speaking with thou's and we's. the two ponies lifted off the ground and began the flight towards Canterlot.

Across realities in the magical world of Equestria, Twilight and her friends had healed from their ordeal and returned to Ponyville with the newly released Fury.

"So you actually studied under Starswirl the Bearded? What was he like?!" Twilight squeaked with joy.

"Well he was my teacher, but he was also like a father to me," Fury said. "He was so hurt when I turned to darkness, he tried everything to heal me, until he sadly turned me over to Celestia.."

"Wow... I'm so sorry... I hope that me and my friends can change your future with the power of friendship," Twilight said as she and Fury walked into the castle, and a new chapter in her life.

That night Princess Celestia received a letter from her new student.

'Dear Princess Celestia,
I am not used to saying those words. Today began my friendship lessons with Twilight. We went to her friends houses and did various chores, a way for me to begin to earn their trust. It won't be easy, but I believe the road ahead of me will one day lead to the light of friendship,
Yours truly,
Fury the unicorn'

She smiled as she read the contents and placed it in a large compartment beside her throne, where another compartment held the many letters sent to her by her former student, Twilight Sparkle.