Author's Note

So, let me just say I'm sorry for my late making of this chapter I know its been near a month and I am deeply sorry. I have had a lot going on personally and No real motivation plus I've been trying to figure out small details here and there and then there is to add images I don't have yet for you guys. In the future I'll also try to add a character log because some of these characters I'm coming up with will have more than just one role. Again I am sorry and thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it. (NOTE: If you have any requests or questions feel free to comment them and I may add or answer to the best of my ability. Please do understand I do hold the right to deny anything or refuse certain subjects.)

Thunder from the ground and Sky| Part 4 48 Hours Remain

My eyes raced as I took in the scene around me. The moon was raised high yet seemed larger than normal, as did its cascading crimson glow seem more prominent on everything it could touch. Moving my head I looked towards the sword staked into the ground before me a few feet away, its Eyes watching me carefully as I walked around it in semi circle.

Wait a second... this isn't supposed to happen till another 4 weeks from now. My mind was processing the sudden skip in the dream's timeline. My mouth began to move on it's own as I spoke.

"Ok, I know you can talk... so spill it, why did you want me on this plateau? Why do you want so much blood? And finally what is it you wanted to do to me." My eyes narrowed slowly as I spoke. Suddenly the eye blinked, making me flinch in response. In over half a year that I dreamt of having that sword, from the first night it never blinked till now. Slowly the black ink-like portions of the blade, where the center eye and what looked like hardened flesh began to move and pulsate. My eyes began to widen as I take a step back in mild horror. It continued to move until the flesh parted just below the eye forming something similar to a mouth.

" You wish for what you lost, yes?" My brow furrowed in Confusion as it always did. Before it spoke again, " To return from where you were taken, to have power, to earn back that which is lost. To defend what you desire." My eye brow raised itself slowly.

Realization struck me though, Was it possible the sword wasn't talking to the me then... but the 'me' now. The spectator? After all it did notice Luna and myself earlier. But that shouldn't be possible right? Otherwise it would mean the multiverse has been correcting itself to the point where that thing is not just a figment of my imagination, and if that was the case then it was predetermined I would end up here regardless of everything. Meaning that bastard knew this would happen! Damn you Death!

"Look who finally realized the shoes they were in~" My thoughts were interrupted as everything froze and leaning against a familiar scythe was someone I didn't know, and spoke in such a coy way it was sickening. Next to the sword now was a young girl who wore a bikini style sports bra, a large black jacket with a lock in place of a zipper at the top and a hood keeping me from seeing most of her face, but the jacket was unzipped, black extremely short shorts and a white belt. Everything was greyed out and frozen. Except for the Sword, the scythe her and me. Meaning the nightmare had stopped for now.

" We wait for your answer Rowan Wicker." Everything was starting to make sense as I remember the conversation I attempted to have with the sword in the dream at this point in time I would be trying to ask it questions. Seeing what may be this worlds personal Grim Reaper I glare at her and move to walk forward. Finding myself in my human form I look at them. The Girl is smiling in such a way I feel my rage building.

"How long as this been per-ordained?" I was trying collect myself and keep myself calm before I piss of someone who may actually be able to kill me and keep me dead and I didn't want to die in my sleep.

"Hmm To be perfectly honest it took two events for this happen had you not done either one of them it would be someone else here. So you can blame yourself for accepting that deal with your old worlds Reaper, and then Picking up this sword here." She stuck her tongue out at me. She was enjoying me getting upset at this and wanted me to get angry, but stopped and put a finger to her bottom lip as she looked up. "It's kinda sad but your still not ready yet... But I thought I would introduce me and grant you one wish, after all you and I will be seeing each other a lot, Since you will be my Envoy." she started to giggle like a school girl before it turned into a wicked laugh that made me shudder. "Heh who thought that a pony of the night from a different world who doesn't even know what hes capable of yet and already started screwing with his body would be the one to do this job. But you still have a few choices before you Mr. Wicker." her voice accentuating the last sentence as if teasing me.

"Its Damocles now, and your envoy?" I growl while gritting my teeth. This being knows everything about me probably.

"Oh I'm sorry I can't give you that, but our time is drawing short someone wants to intrude and shes kinda powerful yet very annoying. But now lets get to the important part. You can call me Sheila for now. Sword you may ask your questions." She looked over at the blade annoyed her smile leaving her face slowly. My attention went back to the blade glancing at her occasionally out of annoyance.

" Do you desire power? I shall grant that. Do you wish for Peace? I can bestow that. Do you require what you have lost? I will return it." the blade spoke solemnly.

"What's the catch?" I was curious, I was always curious about this sword. But this offer seemed too good to be true, and if it sounded that way it was usually true.

" I only require blood. Of enemies, the fallen, the ascended, allies, it matters not. Just Blood." It all but hissed at me

"Enough power to protect those I care about." I paused as it gave a yes. Glancing at the reaper she was looking at us with a small amused smile. "The peace for those I protect and their loved ones." Again a yes but with more power. "My love?" a resonating yes once more louder than before. "My humanity." It now roared a yes as I was growing more enticed. Glancing at Sheila I paused her lips were parted in a amusement.

"We wait for your answer Rowan Wicker." it stated as I looked at it. Sighing I shook my head.

"I decline, If its not something I cant gain on my own or with the help of those around me... I dont want it. Because everyone sells humans, and I'm sure ponies, too short." The eyes must've accepted my answer as it Pulled back into the hilt slowly Locking into place and Sheila's eyes widen in shock as the jacket hood fell back revealing her short hair in twin short ponytails, the hair color was a a mellowing light blue.

"Huh... you've never... just outright denied it like that before. Your answer, does that mean you aren't going to ask for anything?" Her look was of annoyance and disappointment. But that was until she started laughing.

"uhh... Whats so funny?" I only stared as she leaned against the scythe struggling to calm herself down.

"oh my.. whew I couldn't keep my face straight long enough man... Ok I already know what your gonna ask for, the response for that is 'No fucking way.' I Would only do it if a solar eclipse were to be allowed to happen followed by a lunar eclipse in the same 24 hour time period And if that did happen I would personally shove it through your crotch and quite literally split you in 2 only letting go after I made sure you wouldnt want to have sex for a month." She glared at me while smiling. "So go ahead and try to convince those two but I'll be a sport and give you a chance to ask for something else. You have about 5 seconds before one of them wakes you up. 5"

"Wait What?" I couldn't understand what she was saying at then as she said it too fast.

"4."

"Hold on, let me think!" She was smiling holding her hand up reflecting the count down.

"3" she put one of her fingers down.

"Damn it stop doing that." My mind was racing with all the things I could possibly use, it would have to be a tool or a weapon.

"2"

"I GOT IT, YOUR SCYTHE LET ME HAVE IT IF NOT THAT THEN GIVE ME MINE!" I blurted out and she started laughing shaking her head.

"1" One finger left. "that was already answered to and your out of time. Good luck Da-Mo-Cles~" She waved good bye smiling as I felt a hard hoof go across my face before I was sent flying off my bed on to the floor.

"Rainbow Dash That was not necessary!" Rarity's voice was clearly upset.

"What? I'm sorry but it seemed like Princess Luna couldn't wake him, so I did it the way I thought would work." Rainbow complained as she gestured to me I'm sure. "Besides it worked didn't it?" Fluttering my eyes open I groaned in pain as I rubbed my cheek with my hoof. Blinking to make sure I was where I was I heard the laughing of a older man who could still beat the living crap out of anyone younger than him despite being past his prime. Sitting up slowly I see a shadow Purple color bat pony walking up.

"I have heard of Deep Sleeping but that's something else, slept through a bugle call, and even princess Luna couldn't get into your head. Just what kind of dreams do you have to sleep like the dead?" He smiled at me showing his fangs. His mane was Unkempt and messy with lines of gray going through the natural dark oak brown. His eyes were a vibrant Lime color.

"Ones involving the dead and the bringer of the dead... Your the same bastard that hit and knocked me out weren't you." I looked at him with a deadpanned face as he started laugh more.

"Princess he his entertaining. Woo, but he is... too raw to be fighting Blueblood in a 2 days, let alone his champion, and he already accepted it." He said while wiping away a tear. Luna pulled me and looked over where Rainbow had hit me to make sure I was ok before proceeding to take a handkerchief and wipe like a mother would do to a child. This instinctively made me pull away as Rainbow started laughing.

"Hold still Damocles, I need to fix your mane. After all, you already screwed up introductions with your teacher. And former Captain Midnight, you did provide a sneak attack on him and hit him at a lethal point with a dagger." She stated as she got my brush and held me in place as struggled to get away.

"Ow Please, ow, Have mercy! Agh! I would, Jesus Christ! rather the, erk, Flirty bit insteaaaahhh." all through out my struggle she was giggling as she pulled the comb through and yanking out the knots in my hair and finally pulling away.

"Well you could say that was part of my flirty bit. Besides I dont think you have even noticed that something important has been revealed." she smirked at me as she got up. Rarity gasped suddenly and bolted over to me.

"You have your Cutiemark?!" Suddenly a childs voice was heard from nearby.

"Shhh Quiet scootaloo, y'ar gonna give us away." another one with the same southern accent sounded. I turned to look towards where it was and saw several hooves against the wall behind a curtain on the floor. One set a softer white, another a yellow a bit more toned down than Fluttershy's coat, and the last one an orange color. I could feel my eye twitch.

"Ok before anyone says or does anything more! Scootaloo, AppleBloom, Sweetie Belle get out from behind the curtain." slowly they did and into my room came Applejack from the door way.

"Morning Damocles, Breakfast wil be ready in a minute." I had to breath deep as i felt my rage building again.

"And now Why are all of you in my house?" I got up slowly got and looked at the ponies in the room. Locking eyes with Midnight before he glared at me.

Rarity stepped forward. "Well, I'm here because I have your versus poster done, darling. I just wanted your approval to set it out." With that she pulled a cylindrical tube from a saddle that was set on the nightstand near my bed taking opening a capped end and pulling it out to show me.

I couldn't help smiling at it. "Rarity, this is perfect. How are we doing on the list?"

"Well, as it turns out there is a lot more mares than I had first expected. If you were to start the fight early in the morning and win we would be there till later afternoon." She said with a slight amount annoyance as she leered back at the castle. "Its gotten to the point where I had to enlist Sweetie Belle and her friends to help. They arrived on the first train that came in this morning. As to why they are in your room, I have to say they wanted to meet the stallion I was doing this for." She smiled as the three fillies beamed and and ran up to me with such speed it made me jump back and cling to the wall in a way that pinkie would be proud of because of physical improbability. Midnight walked up extending his wing in front of the fillies.

"They will have plenty of time to get know him after he's moved into ponyville I have 2 days left to train you beyond the capability of the Night Guard. Dusk Blade was in worse shape than you when I whipped him into shape and now he's captain. So lets get something straight, Damocles." He flew upwards to become eye level with me. "Prince Blue Blood is one of the most Combat Adept Unicorns I have ever had the privilege of seeing progress. If it weren't for his attitude on how he treats everyone who isn't of nobility or title I would have told Princess Luna to tell you to kindly, Sod off. I already don't like you and I will make these next 48 hours a living hell for you. I just hope for your sake, his champion won't be Troubled Mind. Now you have 2 Seconds to fly out that pretty little skylight of yours before I see how well you fall." Midnight moved out of the way eyeing me carefully as he studied my movements.

Breathing in deeply I watched the skylight and pushed myself off the wall downwards towards the center of my room in front of where Luna was sitting, rolling slightly to the left of her before flapping my wings hard launching myself upwards. At that instant out of the corner of my eyes I saw something move in the darker corners of my room before something shiny shot towards me. My eyes widening I moved my wings so i would spin just enough to still make it out of the skylight and dodge what was launched at me. When I got out however waiting for me were 4 dark armored ponies, 1 Pegasus and 3 Thestrals. all of them armed with several hoof blades except the pegasus who was sporting Bolas and a net which was immediately threw it out towards me. Shit well lets see how sharp these wings of mine are. thinking this I angled my wings so that they looked similar to a reverse-edged katana and swung them hard, wincing a bit from the new form of strain, they connect and start to cut through the net in a X cross fashion making it so the net glides over me. Two of the Thestrals start to charge at me now as I gain my footing my mind still focused on the net and move to strike me noticing only from the movement the one on the left did with his wings as he thrust forward I had to twist my body as I attempted to kick down at his forelegs while I straightened and extended my wings outwards to throw off course the one attacking me from the other side. I quickly realized this was a mistake, but at that point it was too late. The pegasus had thrown his bolas aiming to tie my wings together, unfortunately he succeeded the vibration of the large metal orbs striking my wings effectively stunning me. My attempt at kicking down the blades further impeded my actions as he had used his wings to pull back making me strike at cemented ceiling damaging my hoofs the recoil striking withing my body. Within the next few seconds I felt their cold steel bite into my flesh deeply. The third Thestral walking up to me slowly gives an unamused look, as I see Midnight fly up through the skylight to look at the results. I was struggling to move but thestrals to my side effectively pinned me down with their blades and weight.

"Are you sure he's worth it father?"

"Of course I am, he reacted faster than you did and the threat of dying is real to him... well as real as it can be. I suppose, however the question then becomes are you comfortable with training him along side me, Captain Dusk Blade." Hearing that I looked up at him.

"Dusk Blade? Wait, this was a test?" I was gritting my teeth as I felt my muscles burn for several moments, Oh, Hell the fuck no they want to test me? Lets give them something to test. Dusk Blade made an annoyed display of rolling his eyes as he readied his blade aiming for my head.

"Yes and for the most part you failed... Then again no one passes on their first time." With that he thrust the blade forward while I smiled at him my eyes wide.