As clouds of darkness filled the air, Cobalt made his way back to the front of the Capitol. Bolts of lightning shot around Cobalt as he held his sword up. His blade was soon engulfed in a blaze of darkness before striking down at the ground before him.

Large eruptions of lava filled the ground, along with bolts of lightning destroying both Cobalt's own soldiers, and the Imperial Army soldiers. Applejack and Brute, who were still fighting Thunder, witnessed the destruction first hand. Thunder stepped back, and clicked his tongue, "I do not have time to die here. Not today," The two heroes glanced at Thunder beginning to teleport away, "Someday, we'll settle the score. For now, my deed here is done," Thunder teleported away, leaving the two heroes behind.

"What's going on Applejack? What is this destruction? Is this Brisk's plan? To take out every nation in one fierce blow."

"No... he's back..."

"Who's back?!"

"The evil presence... Cobalt's evil presence..."

"What are you on about?"

Soon, the rest of their friends joined them outside, "Guys, what's going on here?!" Twilight asked in fear.

"What happened to all of ya'?"

"I'm pretty sure we all had to face one of Brisk's soldiers. But what's going on out here?"

The girls looked at each other, and answered, "Before Cobalt left, he sort of had a dark power living within him. We had thought he had beaten it, but I guess all the stress and anger built up over the course of these years brought it back. Although, it's much stronger than it was last time...," Sunset explained, "Maybe the loss of Rarity brought him to this breaking point. Wait, then that means...-,"

"Rarity isn't here...," Twilight finished. They looked down at the ground in true despair. Their friend was still gone, and now, they truly don't have any clue on where she could be.

Brute and Scarlet looked on in pity. The once outgoing friends they knew were now sad, dead people. They knew that if they had found out anything bad had happened to Rarity, then it would affect them so.

They were snapped out of their trance when Cobalt landed behind them, "Cobalt?"

"Hmph, such weak individuals. These peons can't even provide me with a decent challenge!"

"Cobalt, stop this now!" Rainbow yelled, "Enough of this dark persona crap. This won't help Rarity in her time of need! You'll just hinder us!"

"Oh, and you're telling me brute force won't get her back? If we continue to wait for our opportune moment, she'll be gone before we know it! Hell, she already is! The old Cobalt hesitated too much, and Lightning did the right thing to wake up the real Cobalt! The Cobalt that was abandoned when you girls got here!"

Bolts of lightning struck the girls, causing them to jolt back from Cobalt, "So this was the real Cobalt...," Twilight said under her breath. They looked at her as she began walking forward, "I knew that there was something up with you. Something the girls didn't tell me. A dark persona... ha, I can't help but feel that this was your true intention Cobalt. Get one of your friends captured to awaken this demon..."

"You know, I'd applaud Cobalt if he had thought of that, but the last thing he'd do, is hurt any of you. That is what made him weak. Sympathy, Benevolence... blegh, makes me want to vomit just saying those words. The Cobalt all of you knew, as I said before, was weak. Without me, he would be nothing. Even without the powers of a mystic, he still has me, the true embodiment of the devil himself!"

"Rarity wouldn't like this part of you Cobalt. Which is why we don't need you right now," Cobalt paused as he heard this. He looked at Twilight with anger in her eyes as she continued, "When you see yourself going back to your good-,"

"So you're going to abandon your friend?" Cobalt interrupted. They hated to admit it, but they were abandoning a friend. Twilight then responded.

"As of right now, you're not our friend..."

"Twilight!"

"Until you're back to normal, you're not helping anymore..."

"I see, I no longer have any friends...," Cobalt said quietly as his sword began to engulf itself in a fierce blaze, "If I have no friends... I have nothing to lose!" Cobalt dashed forward towards Twilight as godlike speed.

"Cobalt no!" Everyone yelled. They all closed their eyes, only to open them again to see Cobalt's sword pierced through Brute's armor, and through the other side of himself.

"Go! Cobalt isn't going to regret anything now! All of you, go!" They all stared in fear, but nodded. Twilight ran ahead and opened a portal. They all looked back at the two of them as Cobalt kicked Brute to the ground, and ended him by slicing his head off. Twilight gasped, but quickly ran off when Cobalt looked at her.

She yelled before she left, "We won't come back until the old Cobalt is back!"

Cobalt huffed and puffed as he slowly fell to one knee. The storm clouds disappeared as the sun shined through the passing clouds. Cobalt looked up to see Brute's decapitated body, his eyes widened as he stared at his hand. His hand was covered in blood, along with his armor.

"I did this?"

Of course you did this, could you not tell?

"Not you again!

It's your fault Cobalt. If you had only leftthose girls in Canterlot, none of this would've happened. A simple visit to them would've sufficed, but now, they're stuck wondering where their friends are. Both you and Rarity...

"I won't play your mind games..."

Who says you already haven't? Cobalt, just give into my power. or rather, just use me when you need to. I won't control you, just allow my power to assist you when you need it, huh?

"I..."

Cobalt, I'm really only here to help you save Rarity. I know how you feel about her. Which is why you need to this alone. I made that whole scene in purpose. Mostly, to send you on a spiritual journey.

"Huh?"

I'm not your dark power. I'm something much greater...

"Thanks for confusing everyone..."

Cobalt, you need to take time alone from your friends.

"Wait, so you killed Brute, just to get my friends away from me?"

You need to find your true self. Trust me, just take some time to find yourself. Once you do, you may find your friends again. Don't worry, Twilight and the others can handle finding Rarity for the time being.

"But I can make a world of difference..."

You will only put the others in danger. Please, what you need to do is find your true self by doing what you've been longing to do. What is it that you desire?

"What do I desire... that's easy...," Cobalt looked down, and then back up, "I want Brisk dead...," The voice didn't speak again as Cobalt stood up and looked at his hand.

Very well, then, if that is what you want. Would you like your powers?

"Huh?"

I can give you powers back for a short time. Only until you fulfill your desire.

"...," Cobalt felt his power course through his body. He could feel his hair turn back in to its dark blue color as held his hand up, "Gate!" A portal appeared in front of him as it teleported to a mountain. Although, it wasn't the mountain where his village was, but a snowy mountain, "Hm, this should suffice for a few months...," Cobalt looked at the barren wasteland as he looked at his sword, "I guess I'm stuck with you. Let's see what you can do..."

Author's Note

This kind of started strong, but kind of declined due to me trying to make the chapter longer. The next few chapters will be closing up on the ending. I know right, the ending is coming in a little bit. I'll do a both good ending, and a bad ending. Ooo, a bad ending! I can't wait to write that chapter. I've been thinking about both the good and bad ending for weeks now. But work is kind of stopping me from doing so. I'll try my best to get around it, so please bear with it. Alright, got work again tomorrow, so I'll see everyone soon!