Author's Note

and now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

MORE SIDE-CHAPTERS!

just kidding.

here, have some yummy continuation.

Chapter 19: Dark Forces: Part 3.

{POV SET: TWILIGHT}

I was frozen, unable to move alongside my friends, the only sounds coming from the group were the sobs of both Fluttershy and Pinkie.

Our friend was dead.

Even after our first impression of him was… rocky… we found he had a lot in common with us and we got along great. He always seemed to help us at our worst, or even at our best. He always looked for a way for us to spend time together or for him to help us with whatever we worked on.

He touched all our lives in some way.

Rainbow Dash was touched when Orgran taught her an activity called ‘parkour’ and from that day the two always raced along obstacle courses, it also was a good way for Rainbow and Applejack to compete as the course was in an enclosed space, so flying wouldn’t help her. He also has been putting her through training to help join the wonderbolts, including humility training. It’s safe to say me and the others were shocked when we tried that mare-do-well plan and she was fine with it… and only started being angry at the masked hero when said hero started being a bit of a show-off, and Applejack only got more surprised when Rainbow didn’t get upset about how low Cider was and instead offered to help so that everypony got Cider this season.

Speaking of Applejack, she was touched when Orgran offered a new way to tend to Zap Apples. His connection to the earth on an intimate level let him see what they needed in order to grow faster and bigger. There was no longer a Zap Apple season as they were plentiful all year round, it also began a major turn of new recipes, Zap Apple Pie, Zap Apple Fritters, Zap Apple Cider (Rainbow was especially happy about that), and even simply selling Zap Apples on their own. Orgran also helped her sister and her friends, who called their group the Cutie Mark Crusaders, understand what a Cutie Mark really is, and that they weren’t going to discover it by trying everything… although they still do their crusading, now they’re trying to find their cutie marks in what they enjoy together.

Pinkie was touched the first day he worked at Sugarcube Corner, he introduced her to all kinds of different parties and celebrations of his world, along with all new recipes. He also joined her and Rainbow when it came to pranks, even finding ones that Fluttershy could still enjoy. But the most beneficial is his introduction of lessons to Pinkie, while I would never admit it out loud, Pinkie always seemed to be too hyperactive… but after that day she’s seemed to have gotten outlets, she’s now more controlled, even if she’s still Pinkie.

Rarity was touched after Orgran helped her in the boutique, teaching her techniques that not only made her designs even nicer, but also extremely durable, the wedding dress she made for Cadence-even though Chrysalis was wearing it-was still in one piece on the changeling queen even through the transformation. I had asked what techniques or designs Orgran had shared with Rarity, though they both said it was a secret.

Fluttershy was touched after Orgran saved her from a pack of Timberwolves who had assaulted her home and animal sanctuary. After that he taught her how to be courageous and less shy around ponies. We all were able to smile when Fluttershy no longer stuttered or lost her voice when she went out into public, especially when that stallion tried to scam her out of some extra bits for some cherries. And we all cheered for Orgran when he finally got a certain rabbit to behave himself and finally realize how badly he was treating his timid owner.

And as for me… I was touched at the gala, not only did he help my friends, he helped me finally spend some time with Celestia, even though she was drunk.

I finally got to spend some time with my teacher, and she was honest with me, speaking of my potential and how she saw me as one of her friends… after telling her I felt the same we shared a hug… and I couldn’t help feeling so happy as we finally felt closer… and even more so when I learned she remembered the whole thing and didn’t take it back.

Orgran in one way or another worked to make our dreams that much more real.

And now he was gone… I, along with the rest of my friends, couldn’t help the tears that fell from our faces.

{POV CHANGE: ORGRAN}

I open my eyes in some sort of void, the area black with green cracks running through it that pulsed with unnerving light, it wasn’t hard to tell where I was.

This was the Black Heart.

“This is… incredible.”

The moment I uttered those words a white formless figure arose from within the cracks. “Greetings, Orgran the Red.” the figure spoke.

“You know me?”

“Yes, I am the artifact once bound to Interse, but now bound to you.”

“You’re the Spirit of the Black Heart…” the entity gave a nodding gesture to my realization. “...so, what happens now? I’m dead.”

“I have no end, no beginning, so now I can become your second beginning.”

“What?”

“In times of critical injury, or when you call for my strength, you will take on an undead form which I shall inhabit, but I am truly formless, only you may choose the form I take…”

This was truly a second chance, a second life for me, one that could form to become any undead I choose… but what would Orgran-

No… I’m not just Orgran, I am Ark Kane too, I will not limit myself to only his way of thinking.

With that settled, an idea formed in my head, I grinned… devilishly.

“I have a form for you, but I want to give it a true first impression in the world, will you allow me to control my skeletal remains as I lay down the pave-work for you?”

The figure changed and reformed, its newly settled shape grinning as it spoke.

“Sure pops, I love making an entrance!”

{POV CHANGE: CHRYSALIS}

“You were too easy.” I look down upon what was left of my ‘opponent’ “if I knew it would be this easy to kill you I would’ve held back… let you hurt longer for defying me.” I turned to leave and return to the wedding hall.

But then I heard movement, I whipped my head back around and froze.

The Creature’s bones were standing, on their own. It took out its hammer and spoke with a voice that echoed within my mind.

DRANLUN, SPIRIT KING OF DWARVES. OLTHOK, SPIRIT KING OF UNDEAD. I CALL UPON YOU TO GRANT ME A GREAT POWER.

Shadows coalesced around the blunt weapon, the sudden force of his words freezing me in place.

GRANT ME THE GIFT OF A MONSTER, THE GIFT OF AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE. BRING ME A NEW FORM AND A NEW MIND TO INHABIT IT, AND BRING WITH IT WEAPONS THAT SPOUT HOLY FLAME AND DIVINE METAL.

A stone obelisk arose in front of him, an image of a pair of strange weapons carved into it.

BRING ME… THE DARKNESS THAT CASTS A SHADOW…

He raises the hammer, prepared to strike.

UPON THE DARKNESS ITSELF!

He smashes it down, calling forth a pillar of black flame that burned away the light around him, and when it settles all I could see was dust and smoke, but when it cleared I wished I couldn’t see anymore.

The figure was tall and thin, wielding the same weapons revealed on the obelisk, but now real with their metal glinting from the sun. the figure wore a large coat, concealing his body in shadows so it was difficult to gauge what his true shape was. All I could see clearly was a face underneath his large hat.

A white grin of vicious fangs, and eyes hidden behind crimson mirrored sunglasses.

“Yes…” the figure spoke with a deep voice. “HELLOOOOOO EQUESTRIA!!!”

He looked at me and smirked.

“The Crimson Fucker is here.”