It was around midnight when Ryuji woke from his slumber next to Celestia who had her arms wrapped around him. He looked over at her to see her smiling in her sleep. He carefully slipped out of her grasp and gt his clothing on quietly. He makes his way out of the bedchambers and down the hall as they guard that patrolled during the night wondered what he was up to. He just told them he was going to get a snack in the royal kitchen. When he goes and gets his snack, he heads outside to the north courtyard and makes his way over to the railing to gaze down at the city below. In his mind, he was as happy as he had ever been. He had his family back, and most of all, he had Celestia back.

“My life couldn’t be any better than it is now. Thanks to that time spell. I have everything back…”

He continues to gaze out as the light falling snow fell from the sky. The city below was absolutely beautiful along with the Hearth’s Warming decorations and lights. He felt that his life was going to be better from here on. But...it was just that one little careless moment that was going to get him in a bind…

“And now, I have to take it all from you, kiddo. I am sorry. But I did warn you about this.”

Ryuji turned to see his doppelganger was now face to face with him. Suddenly a nikana prime materialized his hand and he thrusts it into the middle of Ryuji’s chest. There was no physical wound, but the pain was all the same. Ryuji lets out a cry of pain as he tries to hang on to consciousness for dear life. He became weak in the knees as he glared up at his doppelganger as he slowly began to fall into the snow.

“You let your guard down for just that one moment. And that was all I needed. It’s time I claim what’s mine.”

He said as he disappears into void energy and forces his way into Ryuji’s body. He started thrashing around violently as he was being taken over. The demon expected an easy possession, but he could feel Ryuji fighting mentally. This making the demon smile.

“That’s it kiddo. Make me work for it…”

--A Half An Hour Later--

Celestia jolts up out of her sleep with a deep depressing feeling in her stomach. She knew something had happened when her gaze shifted over to the empty space where her fiance fell asleep in her arms. She gets into something warm and quickly rushes out of the bedchambers and makes her way down the hall and down the stairs. The guard noticed a very concerned face on their princess. She looks to a pair of them patrolling the hall and calls out to them.

“Guards, have you seen Ryuji?!”

“Y-yes your highness! We last saw him heading to the northern courtyard! What has happened..?”

“I don’t know, but I need to find him quickly! I have a bad feeling about this!”

“We are coming with you, princess!”

They said as they chased after her. They finally made their way into the northern courtyard. When they get near the railing, they see Ryuji lying motionless almost completely covered in snow. Had they come at a later time, they may have never even seen him! Celestia's eyes widen in horror at her lover’s motionless body, she screams out his name and rushes towards him as fast as her legs can carry her. She slides next to him into the snow and brushes all the snow off his body before placing him close to her form for warmth.

“Ryuji...RYUJI! Wake up, please! PLEASE!”

No response. She quickly learns down and listens for his heartbeat. It was there, but very slow. She quickly lifts him up in her arms and pushes her way past the guards who followed behind. She runs through the castle holding onto Ryuji’s body for dear life, hoping that her warmth would help even a little bit. When she finally gets to the medical wing, some of the castle staff who stayed to work that night came running out of their office when they heard Celestia crying out for help.

The doctors move him to Celestia’s hospital room at her order. They try their best to find out what exactly was wrong with him over the next two hours. But, there was no injury or ailments to speak off. And yet, he was in an almost near death-like state. However, every once in awhile there’d be a slight thrashing of his body and a bit of void energy rising up from it. And if that wasn’t enough to give away with what he was dealing with, his eyes opened up to reveal them shifting from their original ice grey and blue to pure black and gold over and over again.

“Send a message to Twilight...Tell her that she and her friends are needed instantly. It involves Ryuji is fighting an internal battle and he needs his family here. Hurry!”

“Y-yes your highness! At once!”

Said one of the guards as he and his partner made their way out of the room. Celestia sat at the bedside where Ryuji laid struggling to fight for his own life. She takes hold of one of his hands into hers and holds it in a firm by loving grip with both of hers as she lowers her head. She remembered the threat that his void demon made that day. And it seemed like he was making good on it.

--Within Ryuji’s Mind--

Ryuji now stood within a rather familiar looking large area. It looked like he was standing in some kind of area surrounded by the orokin decor. There was plenty of gold around to indicate that much. He scanned the whole room until his eyes fell on his doppelganger who stood across from him with that same Nikana Prime he had impaled Ryuji with earlier. If anyone else was in his shoes right now, they’d be more than upset with what was going on. But Ryuji has known that this day was possible for so very long.

“It’s my own fault that I lowered my guard. I should have expected it, being a happy or sad moment. So I can’t be angry with you. But…”

He holds his right hand out to his side as the spectral Nikana Prime appears in his hand after the magical energy swirls down his arm. He grips the hilt with a death grip as gets into a battle stance.

“I will not give up without a fight. And I will not let you make them cry. This is MY life”

“That’s it, kiddo. Take up your sword and fight for what is yours. But know I won’t be holding back for what I desire. I will not hesitate to kill you once I have the chance. And then your body will be mine.”

They stare each other down with the intent to kill one another. Their weapons ready to cut and slash at their mental state to weaken one another. Who will prevail? The Tenno, or the demon?

___________

The sound of many hooves running down the hall could be heard a few hours later after the guard sent word of what was happening. The door swings open as Twilight and the others burst through and start surrounding the bed that Ryuji laid on. Twilight took his left side and looked towards her mentor who seemed to be struggling with the whole thing.

“Princess...what has happened to him…? Perhaps we all can help.”

Celestia looks at her pupil with eyes of worry and sadness. She squeezes Ryuji's hand in a loving manner before explaining.

“I-I found him lying out in the northern courtyard nearly buried in snow. He hasn’t been responsive to any of the doctors. Thankfully he isn’t physically hurting. But from the sign his body has been giving off, I fear it is much worse than physical pain he is dealing with now. He is struggling to fight his demon. The one that threatened to take hold of him all those months ago. His eyes have been shifting colors and void energy has been radiating from his body...I am scared Twilight. What if he doesn’t..come out of this...and the demon takes hold..?”

Celestia’s eyes started welling up with tears at the thought of not only losing Ryuji to the demon but having to possibly destroy his body in order to stop him. If she had to do that, it would crush her entirely. Twilight could see the pain in her teacher’s eyes. She kneels down and takes Ryuji’s left hand into her and squeezes it lightly.

“Have you forgotten, princess? Ryuji isn’t going to let some demon take what he cares for so dearly from him. He has proven time and again that he is capable of figuring out ways to win. After all., he has been through time itself to get where he is now. And besides…”

She and the others gather closer and place their hands upon Twilight’s. The all smile warmly and close their eyes just as Twilight does. Suddenly their elements appear on their necks and Twilight’s appears on her head.

“He ain’t gonna fight this fight on his own. He’s got our support his friends and a fellow element bearer.”

“While I am above fighting, I will tear that demon apart! We will not let that monster take him from you or us! Let’s get our favorite tenno back for the princess!”

“I still never got to throw him a party! And that is unacceptable! We are coming, Ryu!”

“Aaawww yeah, time to kick some demon ass! Show him not to mess with our friends!”

“I would do anything to save him, even overcome my fear of fighting. He deserves that much…”

Celestia gazed towards the six mares that seemed to really care for the tenno. Twilight smiles to her mentor and holds out her hand to her motioning for her to take it.

“Come on now, princess. He is waiting for you. We will all help him with this struggle so that he can return to us.”

Celestia takes Twilight’s hand into her and smiles with a few tears of happiness fall down her cheeks as she closes her eyes. Both Twilight’s and her own horn start to glow as they concentrate on entering Ryuji’s mind.

“Thank you...all of you…”

She said before a bright white light filled the room.

__________

The clashing a metal blade and battle cries echoed throughout the arena where Ryuji and his demon fought for their lives and the right to take claim of the physical form that they both shared for years and years. Both of their mental states were on the verge of giving out, but their desire and determination kept them from giving up on the fight. With swinging their swords and throwing void energy at one another, it surely was an intense fight and they were doing all they could to get a leg up on the other.

Eventually, they both collapse to one knee while using their swords as support to keep their bodies from hitting the floor. They eyes meet as they smile at one another as if they were old rivals but friends at the same time. Both of them breathing heavily from the battle that they were fighting with everything they had.

“You promise to keep your word not to harm those I love should I lose this battle, right?”

“You have my word on that, kiddo. It’s the least I can do for you. You have certainly made life interesting for this old void demon. But now, it is time we end this.”

“I won’t let you take what I have worked for. You will die and your powers will be mine. I swear it.”

Ryuji says as he stands to his feet again along with the demon. Who gives off a weak chuckle.

“Don’t disappoint me, kiddo. Or I will have to bear the bad news to that mare of yours.”

“Don’t let him beat you, Ryuji!”

Ryuji’s attention switched to the voice that had called out to him. It sounded like...Twilight?!

“If you let that monster win, I will never get to throw you a party!”

“You still have a lot to do back home, darling! I still need to get you some clothes made!”

“Kick his ass, Ryu! Show that demon who’s boss!”

We are right behind yuh, Ryu! We ain’t leavin’ yuh to fight him yourself!”

“Make that bully sorry that he ever tried to take you from us!”

They all started appearing behind him one by one in a spectral-like form. They each place a hand on his back and shoulder. In doing this, the blade he held in his hand started to glow with a multitude of colors, empowering the blade with magic. And then, he heard the final voice call out to him, the one he never thought he’d hear again.

“Ryu...come back to me my love. I need you. Please, come back!”

Ryuji turns his gaze back to the demon who stared in awe as these ponies somehow found a way into Ryuji’s mind. And with the weapon that Ryuji used now empowered, he knew that this fight belonged to Ryuji. But that didn’t stop the demon from at least charging forward with one final attack.

“You see, I have something you could never hope to gain if you won. I have th3ese lovely mares as my family. And an even more beautiful one as my fiance. Therefore, I will not allow myself to lose!”

They both let out a roar of strength as they charge at one another. And with a final swing from the demon, barely missing Ryuji’s head, he slides in and shoves the blade all the way through the demon’s chest, a bright light exploding from the other side before Ryuji pulls the blade back out and steps back. The demon drops to his knees the same time as Ryuji and lets out another weak laugh. The demon looked at him with the most sincere smile he had ever given the tenno.

“Well done, kiddo...you defeated me. It looks...like you get to live your own life after all. And you earned it. To be honest...I couldn’t be happier than I am right now. I hoed deep within myself, that you’d be the one to prevail this day…”

The demon begins to glow an icy grey color as he is lifted into the air. Ryuji slowly makes his way to his feet, struggling to stand as he does.

“If we are being honest. Then I need to tell you something before you go. I...I always thought of you as a father figure. Even though you never really showed affection like a father should, you always lit a fire under me to do better...be better. And I appreciate that very much. Thank you for being there when I needed you. To give me that push I needed…”

“Heheh, you don’t need me anymore, kiddo. Therefore, I know leaving my power to you is the right choice .”

He looks over to the group of mares that had appeared behind him earlier.

“You be sure to look after him. He can be a handful sometimes.”

He then holds his hands out towards Ryuji as he begins to transfer his full power to the tenno, lifting him off his feet in the process.

“Take care, kiddo. And don’t forget me. I love you, son…”

That was it, the fight was over, and everything at that moment went black for the tenno.

Author's Note

This isn't an ending, but I will be putting this story on hiatus for awhile while i come up with more plot for the story. So calm your tits, everyone :P

May the darkness grant you peace.