Ever since the demon was defeated that resided in Ryuji’s mind. His abilities have been growing at a rather alarming rate. It was now ten times easier to last longer when using his void abilities. Void dashing and void walking started becoming second nature and his void blast gave off more of a massive impact than before. It would appear that the demon did indeed keep his word.

Over the time of bettering his abilities, a lot has happened. His close friend, Twilight had earned alicorn wings for utilizing her knowledge in friendship and being a true friend to the other girls. Of course, he didn’t find out about this until after the whole ceremony. But he was happy for her nonetheless. And the time that he had finally been about to spend with Celestia finally came after the whole ordeal. Every day after that, the couple spend their free time with one another. Be it enjoying a meal with each other, or her taking him into their chamber and smothering him with love and affection. Not that he minded anyway. He had gotten used to her larger body. In fact, he was really enjoying it. But He just hasn’t found nerve to make more...lewd advances towards her, even though he wants to so badly. Would he even be able to satisfy her?

Ryuji walked along the city streets of Canterlot. Everywhere he went, ponies used to start at him in disgust and would wonder why the princess would take someone like him as her mate. But through it all, the once-shunned tenno was now a welcomed sight to both adult and young ponies alike, as the knowledge was made public about what he did all those years ago when the royal sisters were young. They have even given him the name ‘Time Stream Hero’. A fitting name to be sure. Well, the ‘Time Streamer’ part anyway. With how many times he has traveled through it, it seemed quite appropriate.

However, on this day, it was quieter than usual. Ponies seemed to be in hiding rather out in public. Had something happened the past few days he was up in his orbiter? And if that was the case, why didn’t Celestia contact him on the communicator he had given her? Perhaps it was in his best interest to go and return to the castle rather than go and pay a visit to the local donut shop he had become fond of. He turns on his heels and makes toward the castle at a high rate of speed, his syndana flowing behind him in the wind like a flag. He was already regretting not stopping by first to check on things. Little did he know the feeling that was in his gut certainly entailed dark news…

He made it to the steps of the castle to find guard passed out or just now waking up from being knocked out. The first thing he noticed was the dullness of their eye color as if it had been slightly greyed out. He approaches one of the guards that came to and crouched down in front of them. Gently placing a hand on his shoulder but shaking him for his attention.

“What has happened here…? Where are Celestia and Luna?”

The guard realizing who it was that was speaking to him once his vision cleared grabbed at Ryuji’s forearm in weak desperation. Fear and worry within his gaze.

“The princesses...are in great danger…. You need to hurry to the throne room! Before it’s too late!”

Ryuji didn’t waste any time after those words. He took off once more through the halls of the castle until he approached the throne room. Once he got there, he crouched low and kept close to the wallas he heard an unfamiliar voice. A voice that sounded menacing. Once he took a peek from around where the door used to be, he spotted a rather large red and black centaur looking creature with horns sitting atop of the throne with Celestia, Luna, and Cadence struggling to keep themselves up.

“Giving up your magic so that I cannot take it from you? That was your plan?!”

He said with a wicked smile.

“How does it feel? Knowing that every earth pony, unicorn, and pegasus will bow to my will…”

He said before slamming the orbs together that had the imagines of the three on them.

“...and that there is NOTHING you can do to stop me!”

Ryuji wanted so badly to run in there and do what he could to stop..whoever this was. Especially if he was going to harm those three if he hadn’t already. While his attention was directed to the other two princesses, Celestia spotted Ryuji peeking from behind the wall, she looked at him with a serious look and mouthed one thing to him.

“Find Twilight…”

She then quickly returns her gaze back to Tirek.

“You will not prevail, Tirek…”

“Give my regards to Cerberus…”

He said before casting them into a portal that he opened with his magic, throwing all three of them into Tartarus. Ryuji wanted so badly to fight to save his beloved. But he was quick to leave and make his way to finding Twilight s quickly as possible. Once he was outside and in the open, he called out to Ordis.

“Ordis, locate Twilight! I need to find her, NOW!”

“Right away Operator. Hmm, I see her, but she seems to be moving at a rather high speed.”

“Bring the ship to me and pick me up quickly! We have a big problem on our hands!”

Ryuji’s landing craft soon came down to scoop him up and took off in Twilight’s direction. Eventually, they found one another and met on the ground. Ryuji caught Twilight upon what he had just witnessed at the castle and she told him about the situation, getting him up to date. Suddenly that voice boomed loudly once more.

“Princess Twilight! You have something that belongs to me!”

Twilight takes hold of Ryuji and teleports them out into the open where Tirek stood waiting for them.

“You’re going to give me what I want…”

Ryuji stood in front of Twilight with his arca plasmor pointed directly at Tirek’s face just as he leans in to absorb her magic. He squeezes the trigger sending out a wave of the highly concentrated energy. This made Tirek scream out in pain as he reeled back, nearly stumbling over his own hooves.

“You will not harm a hair on her you bastard. Now give me back Celestia and the others or I will make you regret what you have done here.”

Tirek growls in anger and swings his hand toward Ryuji. Twilight grabs his hand and teleports them both to the library. She looks through the spyglass on her balcony just in time to see a large orange and yellow beam heading their way. In desperation, she reaches out and grabs for Ryuji once more and teleports just as the concentrated magic hits its mark and destroys the library in one shot. Twilight screams as she comes out of her teleportation, but it was only she that appeared to have made it out. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she saw no one rising from the wreckage. Her heart was breaking into pieces thinking that she had lost Someone not only precious to ehr, but to all her friends. Especially to her mentor.

She wanted to scream and cry out for him. But the burning rage that was now in her heart outweighed her need to sad at the moment. She flew off at top speed to go and finish the fight that the monster had started. And she intended to get her revenge for whom Tirek had stolen from her. However, after she flew off, a few minutes later, the hand of Hydroid shoots straight up from the burning remains…

The battle between Twilight and Tirek rages on. Their powers both evenly matched. Tirek gives a wicked grin as he proposes a deal. One that he knew Twilight couldn’t refuse.

“It seems we are at an impasse. How about a trade, Princess Twilight?”

He snaps his fingers as all her friends appear in what appear to be large bubbles.

“Their release, for all the alicorn magic in Equestria!”

“Don’t do it, Twilight!”

Shouted Rainbow

“We aren’t worth it..!”

Said Fluttershy. Twilight gave it some thought. Realizing that her friends are more important than all the power in the world, she agrees to his demand.

“I will give you my magic, in exchange for my friends.”

“As you wish…”

He snaps his fingers and lets them all drop to the ground. He approaches Twilight and chuckles darkly.

“Your turn…”

He begins to drain Twilight’s magic from her body. the sheer pain of so much magic being pulled from her at once made her cry out. And just as the transfer was almost complete…

“Ordis, carpet bomb this son of a bitch…”

Suddenly the sound of Ryuji’s landing craft got closer within a quarter of a second. Heavy gunfire landing a direct hit all along Tirek’s body. He howls back in pain caused by the barrage. They all look up to see Ryuji...flying! On some sort of mechanical wings! They were black and ice grey, just as everything else he had. They were sharp and streamline. They looked like they were built for speed and maneuverability His syndana was torn and tattered and it looked like he had been through her. But warframes are much sturdier than the ponies knew. Along with these wings, he held some kind of large gun with what appeared to look like a twin set of bows at the end of it and some kind of shield and sword all in one weapon. Twilight’s eyes widened as she saw Ryuji was still very much alive

Ryuji...you..you are…”

“I have taken down monster ten times his size that could send out more firepower. Fomorians are more threatening than this ugly bastard> Ordis, another round.”

The same sound of his landing craft was heard as it took potshots at the confused and now angered centaur creature as it took him off his hooves this time. It pissed him off that he couldn’t exactly see what was shooting at him. This gave Ryuji the chance to float in front of Twilight. He smiled within Hydroid and gently placed a hand on her head, petting and running his fingers through her mane with his free hand.

“I got this from here Twilight. You and the others need to go and find what you need to finish this cocksucker off. I am sure I can keep him busy for as long as you need. Also, I wanted to give you this, but I could never find the right time…”

A hand reaches through Hydroid’s body, holding out a necklace with a solid gold design that resembled the design of the symbol on the Lotus’ helmet. Twilight looks at the necklace in awe and slowly takes it from him, admiring the detail and work that had been put into it.

“It’s just a little gift I wanted to give to you for dealing with me...I wish I had something to give all of you. But I///ran out of ideas...sorry.”

Twilight looks over the necklace then up at Ryuji. How she wished that she could just hug him tightly. She didn’t mind Hydroid, but at the same time, she wished it was the real Ryuji.

“I like all of you. And I am happy to be your friend. Now then, go do what you need to do…”

He said as he lifted up into the air and cocked the massive weapon that rested on his other arm.

“I am going to make this fucker pay for even touching you and everyone else I care for.”

He flies off to now stare at Tirek, their eyes meeting for an intense moment as they stared each other down.

“I don’t know how you are still alive and what kind of magic you possess. But once I finish with you, I will be taking it for myself, and kill you afterward!”

“You can’t take what you don’t understand, monster. The void is a force that only those who have spent time in its depths and dealt with the demons within can only tame! Now, get ready to die!”

Suddenly, small metallic object materializes out of Ryuji’s archwing. They quickly move about and surround Tirek and start shooting laser-like projectiles at him. Ryuji himself flies forward while shooting his heavy weapon that shot out wide waves of high powered blades of energy. The little drones weren’t causing much pain, but they did a wonderful job of distracting Tirek. Ryuji flies around and above Tirek as he twirls and loops around the oncoming beams and blasts of magic while continuing to shoot his weapon that even recharged over time if he gave it a break. He was simply buying as much time as he could for Twilight and the others to do what they needed to do to stop this bastard. He draws his melee weapon as suddenly flies in closely, finding an opening. He swings the bladed shield at the vulnerable points he could find before taking to the air once more. He gets ready to fire his weapon once more when a feeling of familiarity came over him. He was quick to react, but not quick enough. As that very same bolt that had canceled his transference once shot through Hydroid, immediately shutting him down and forcing Ryuji out of his frame. The same shocking feeling from before racked his body in pain, but this time, he was able to land on one knee and keep himself from falling as he fights through the pain with one eye open and a low growl.

“Heeeh, so this is what you really are. Just a child hiding in a metal shell of a puppet that you can control. But it seems that fate is on my side as you appear to no longer be able to use it. Now that the weak point is exposed. I shall destroy this puppet, then I will destroy you…”

Ryuji slowly got to his feet and took a defensive stance in front of the lifeless form of Hydroid. Although still in pain from the bolt, he stood strong to protect the one who had been with him from the very beginning. The spectral Nikana Prime started swirling down his arm and eventually in his grip. Ryuji’s eyes stared up at Tirek in a defying manner.

"I will not let you take him from me, Hydroid has always been there for me, and I will be damned if I am not going to return the favor and protect him. You and the Fates can fuck off and die in the void. This isn't the first time I had to deal with this. So come at me with all you got!"

Tirek grinned an evil grin before charging up his magic. Once ready, it blasted directly toward Ryuji who stood his ground with his sword in a blocking manner. When the concentrated magic made contact, there was the sound of a long, echo strike against steel as a dome formed around Ryhui that seemed to keep the still oncoming magic at bay. Ripples along the outside of the dome became visible and waves of wind that directed the energy pushed whatever was on the outside of the dome. This went on for what felt like an eternity. Magic blast after magic blast as Ryuji tried to keep up the dome in order to protect himself and his Warframe. Sweat started dripping down Ryuji’s face as he started to feel the exhaustion kicking in. Little did he know that something was going on behind him. He heard movement. He turned his head to see that Hydroid was...getting up?! How was this even possible?! Ryuji was not in control of him nor could he be if he wasn’t inside

“Hydroid...how are you…?”

It hit him then. He remembers back to that very first time he actually saw his warframe. That day he had awakened from his long slumber and the Stalker along with Hunhow nearly killed him. The sword the Stalker had impaled Hydroid with. He started moving and eventually broke the sword in two, thus severing Hunhow’s hold on Stalker. But to see him moving as if Ryuji was controlling him is a different story!

Hydroid lifted his hand up and suddenly squeezes it closed before he rushes out of the dome. He casts his ultimate ability around Tirek, essentially trapping him in the tentacles while the others painfully impale him through the sides and legs with brute force.

“Neeaaagh! How is this possible?! You are not even controlling this puppet! It shouldn’t be moving like this!”

Ryuji gave a tired smirk as he fell to a knee, still maintaining the barrier.

“‘It’? ‘Puppet’? Hydroid is more than just some puppet you fool. He is my best friend! And he has been with me for over a thousand years! Warframes aren’t just walking weapons, they are alive! They used to be human just like me! And I am proud to have Hydroid fight with me through thick and thin!”

Just as Ryuji gpt to his feet after resting for a few minutes, a large beam of multiple colors shoots out of the Everfree Forest. It forms an orb with six figures inside of it that fly toward the fight and reveals Twilight and her friends with some...unusual appearance changes. Ryuji gazes up in all at the power they seemed to have acquired. However, once they got closer, Ryuji felt himself lift into the air in from of them. Multi-colored beams swirl around his spectral blade and form one multi colors sword. Tirek growls in anger and fires a massive beam towards the group, but with one simple swing of the blade, Ryuji sends it flying through the sky.

“We are here with you, Ryuji! All of us!”

They all shouted with a smile. Ryuji looked back at them with the very same smile before focusing his attention back on Tirek who now had a slight look of worry, anger, and fear all over his face. Ryuji took and attack stance in mid-air and readied himself. However, time stopped and everything darkened around him. And the voice of a female, almost motherly began to speak with him.

“This is a critical decision you are making here, void child. Think carefully about what you are about to do and the possible future that it will hold for you and your loved ones…”

Ryuji squeezed the hilt of the empowered spectral sword and closed his eyes for a moment, then opens them back up. The multiple colors turning into black and ice grey. His choice has been made.Time slowly begins to flow forward as he flies down towards Tirek who started screaming, knowing his death was feet away from him. Ryuji lets out a mighty cry as he swings his sword straight through Tirek in a diagonal manner. He lands on his feet and rolls forward before recovering and watches the villain slowly vaporize him into the wind as if the arca plasmor had shot him.

“Burn in hell you monster…”

Ryuji heard a clunk behind him. He turned to see Hydroid on his knees, lifeless once more. He runs over to him and catches him before he falls to the ground, placing a hand on his shoulder distributing some transference power to keep him up.

“Thank you, Hydroid. I couldn’t have done this without you..or them.”

He said as he looked up towards Twilight and the others before they go off and return everyone’s magic to them. Another enemy vanquished. And the Fates foiled once more in their plan to kill off the one being that can ruin their future plans.

Author's Note

And here is one more! After this chapter, I will be venturing into after Tirek events for the first time in one of my stories! So here we go!

May the darkness grant you peace.