The Friendship Tale

by JHawke

Chapter VIII: Divine Irons

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Princess Celestia, Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy were in front of their friend, who wasn't him anymore. His madness finally got him.

"Jacob, what happened?" Scared Celestia asked. "Are you okay?"

"Jacob, Jacob, Jacob. Jacob, my ass. I am not that idiot. I am INSANITY!!!" Demon said. "And I want some fun, that's all. Now, who want to die first?" He asked, spinning dagger in hand. "Maybe Princess Giant Ass? Nah, that's to easy. Purple one? Too powerful. Rainbow Mane? I'll kill her last. I know." Demon teleported Fluttershy to him and grabbed her. "Miss Coward will be perfect."

Suddenly, Discord teleported into the room and he hit Insanity in face.

"STEP AWAY FROM FLUTTERSHY, DEMON!" He screamed with fire in his eyes.

Into the room ran rest of Main 6, Shining Armor and other Princesses.

"Perfect, more toys to play!" Demon sighed joyfully. "Let's play long and painfully."

Shining Armor took his sword and attacked the demon, but Insanity dodged and he grabbed unicorn prince. After that demon created magic barrier around them.

"Looks like YOU will be my first toy."

"Come on. Give me, what you've got." He challenged.

Insanity hit Shining in belly hard enough, that fist pierced to guts, making Shining Armor to scream. Demon was slowly immersing his arm into unicorn stallion, until he reached his heart. Insanity grabbed it and wrenched it out of prince's body. His corpse limply fell on the floor, with river of blood.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Cadence screamed, seeing her husband dead. Insanity was only laughing. Everyone else was only looking at him with fright in eyes.

"If you loved him so much, how about joining him?" Insanity said, teleporting Cadence inside magic barrier.

"HELP ME!" She screamed, hitting barrier.

When demon tried to grab her, barrier was broken by red magic beam. From the corner of the room walked grey unicorn stallion with black hair and red eyes. His cutie mark was red crystal. It was Sombra.

"YOU!" Demon yelled.

"Yes, it's me." Sombra replied, then he stunned Insanity with another beam. Unicorn walked to Princess Celestia and bowed to her.

"You don't have to bow." Celestia said. "Thank you for saving Princess Cadence."

"Thanks to your friend, I'm free from dark magic, Your Highness." Sombra sighed. "But now something took control on him."

"You know, what is it?" Luna asked.

"It's old and powerful parasite, Xernos. It feeds on its host's insanity and makes it even bigger. When it's powerful enough, it takes control on host's body. To destroy it, someone needs to enter into his mind and get into his id, where parasite has it's lair."

Twilight walked forward.

"I brought here Jacob's brother, what made him like this. I made this cider and I'm going to drink it." Twilight said with guiltiness. "Besides, Jacob is my friend. Friends help each other. I promised Jacob I'll help him with his insanity and I'll fulfill this promise."

"I'll start the preperations." Sombra said. "Princess Luna, your oneiromancy will be helpful. Come with me. Princess Twilight, prepare yourself."

Sombra and Princess Luna left the room. Twilight looked at her brother's body. After a while, she looked at Cadence. Princess of Love was full of tears.

"Cadence, I promise you, that demon will pay for Shining's dead."

"I don't believe Sombra." Cadence said angrily. "I think it was only a permition to take over Crystal Empire. He could change Jacob into this 'monster' to divert our attention."

"I think Sombra isn't lying." Twilight said, looking at Jacob. "If Sombra did it, Jacob's eyes should have purple mist, not crimson glow. I suppose..."

"Whatever is this, take care of it Twilight. And, be careful."

After a half an hour, Sombra and Princess Luna finished preperations. Jacob was strapped to the bed. On the second one was Twilight.

"I must warn you, Twilight." Sombra said. "We don't know, what you will find there. You'll have only an hour, so be quick."
Twilight nodded. "I'm ready."

Before Sombra and Luna casted a spell, Pinkie throw up with green fluid.

"Pinkie, what did you eat?" Rarity moaned disgusted.

"It's my Pinkie Sense." Pink mare said. "It means, (dramatic break) ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!" She screamed terrified.

"Zombies don't exist. This is only Nightmare Night story." Twilight said.

"But, Pinkie Sense is always right." Applejack said scared.

Rainbow looked through the window. On the horizon, she saw ice golems, zombie-ponies and...

"QUEEN CHRYSALIS!" She screamed. "SHE"S...SHE'S... ZOMBIE!"

Gabriel decided to give Chrysalis second chanse and gave her necromantic powers. Ice golems were creations of Blizzard Breath.

"Maybe they aren't my drones, but I get used to it." Chrysalis sighed.

"Chrysalis, don't whine. Be happy, that Lord Gabriel decided to resurrect you." Blizzard said. "And don't forget about our goal. First Jacob, later revenge."

"Don't worry, my dear partner. I can handle both things in one time."

Blizzard rolled his eyes and summoned megaphone.

"ATTENTION CRYSTAL EMPIRE!!! GIVE US HUMAN NAMED 'JACOB DRACONS' AND WE WON'T HURT ANYPONY!!!"

"BUCK YOU, FREAKS!" Rainbow screamed. "WE WILL NOT GIVE YOU OUR FRIEND!"

"Looks like, they want to do this the hard way." Chrysalis said with smile and she hissed loudly, giving her undead army order to attack.

"I think, they want to attack us." Rainbow said with hoof on chin.

"Cadence, get the guards and prepare for battle. Elements, help soldiers. Me, Luna and Sombra will protect Jacob and Twilight" Celestia ordered. "Good luck, my little ponies."

Everyone knew, what to do. Luna casted a group dream spell and Sombra used some kind of teleportation spell. Twilight's mind was transfered into Jacob's. She woke up in some kind of library, but bookshelfs were flying, twisted or made of books. It was some kind of organized chaos. Twilight liked liraries, but even she has standards. In front of her walked anthropomorfic, black cat with short, blond hair and golden eyes, wearing grey, leather coat.

"Can I help you, Milady?" He asked with soft voice.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked confused.

"In real world, Ax'l Jinx, Jacob's best pal, gangster and poet. Here, Guardian of Jacob's Memory. So sorry for mess. We don't have usually guests."

"We?"

"Yes. I'm not alone. In Jacob's mind are other Guardians. But, Guardian of Jacob's Sanity is pretty...busy."

"He fights with Xernos?"

"Yes, miss. If you are here to help, you have to walk through other parts of Jacob's mind. No short cuts, sorry."

"How many?"

"Except this one, four: Senses, Imagination, Magic and Dreams." Memory Guardian said, counting on his fingers. "Good luck, miss." He said, opening one of bookshelfs. Behind it was another part of Jacob's brain, Sences. Twilight walked there.
Inside was some kind of control station. Behind it was dragon with red scales, grafit eyes, wearing red kimono. He was contoling Jacob's senses.

"Excuse me, sir..." Twilight said, but he interrupted her with finger.

"You finally came, Twilight Sparkle." Dragon said. His voice was like sharp blade. "Yes, I expected you. The name's Rezurio, from House Beldoro, Guardian of Senses and diviner. Yes, I can see future and you want to save Jacob. Door to Imagination are behind console. Better cover your ears."

That dragon said everything, what Twilight wanted to ask for.

"Thank you." She replied little shocked. Dragon nodded.

When Twilight opened the door, she was surprised by the wave of loud music. She went inside of the dancefloor, everywhere were lights, speakers and smell of alcohol. Behind annoucer was human girl with red hair, related into ponytail and pigtails, and crimson eyes. She also had wolf ears and tail, black T-shirt and trousers. When human-like creature saw Twilight, she stopped the music and ran to her.

"Hello, winged unicorn." She said. "I'm Silwan, DJ and, in this place, Guardian of Jacob's Imagination. And also a lycan. How did you get here?"

"Long story, but I don't have much time." Twilight explained.

"Ok'y. Follow me." Silwan said with smile.

Twilight walked with lycan girl. She escorted Twilight to the wall with lights.

"Now, what was the combination...?" Lycan clicked the lights. When she ended, lights turned red. "Yikes, wrong one." She tried again. And again she failed. "Third time lucky." She tried once again. It was success, because lights were green this time and it opened the passage. "Told ya'."

"Thank you so much." Twilight said.

"Come back soon." Silwan said, waving. The door closed.

This time, Twilight was in the round room. On the floor was magic circle of elemental magic. Every symbol was identical to those, what Twilight saw on Elemental Prince's cutie mark. Above was giant, glowing crystal ball. In the middle of the circle was meditating female dragon with brown and green scales. She was wearing blue robe. When she opened one of her eyes, she gasped and squeaked, then she grabbed Twilight and started to pet her.

"You're the cutest thing, what I ever saw." Dragon said. "I could hug you and pet you for eternity."

"Yeah, but I have only 50 minutes. Show me door to Dreams and stop petting me."

"Oh, right. Let me introduce myself. I'm Direna, House Ere'mido. Draconian Fire Mage, here Guardian of Jacob's Magic.

That crystal ball above is source of all magic, what Jacob has."

"You're still petting me." Twilight said through the teeth. Direna stopped petting Twilight.

"Sorry."

"Just show me the door to Dreams."

Direna pointed the door behind her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, cutie!"

"MY NAME IS TWILIGHT AND I'M NOT CUTIE!" Twilight shouted angry.

Twilight walked through the door. She found herself inside a house. It was nothing special. Just normal home. On the wall she saw Jacob's photo with his wife, Kay'llana, and two children, werenimal-wolf boy and human girl. Next to Twilight appeared familiar, white-haired human.

"Ray!" She screamed scared.

"Don't worry, I'm only his imitation. I am Guardian of Jacob's Dreames." His voice wasn't cold, like original's. It was rather caring. "This is Jacob's dream. Normal life, with normal family and normal job."

Guardian and Twilight walked to the kitchen, where Jacob was eating breakfast with his dreamed family.

"Was his life 'that' bad?" Twilight asked.

Ray touched Twilight's forehead. Her head was filled with images of Jacob's past. With every new one, she heard screams and cry, saw death and pain, smelled blood and fire, until it stopped. After that, she breathed and cried deeply. Twilight was in shock. She felt everything, what Jacob felt in many years, in a few seconds.

"This is Jacob's past?" Twilight asked herself. "It was nightmare."

"Nightmare isn't the right word." Guardian said. "It was hell. Hell, what Jacob went through to make his dream come true. But, he's wife miscarried, then died on Zukutris, he became a god, cause of that bitch, Gaya, and, in the end, he tried to escape from his own insanity. Where did he end up? At the dead end."

"But, why did all this happened? Why him? Why he became god, if he didn't want to?"

"Truly, gods don't care about mortals. They just take random one to make them their champions and heirs. Jacob was the one of them. I know, you promised him to have normal life and pure sanity, but it's not that easy."

Twilight had an idea. She reminded about the words of Guardian of Magic.

"I'm Jacob's friend. Friends are keeping the promises. And I'm gonna do this."

Twilight ran into the Magic room. Ray ran after her.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Helping my friend." Twilight said determined.

Twilight prepared the spell and she shoot a magic beam right to the crystal ball above. It started to crack. After a while, it turned into pieces, what dropped on the floor.

"What have you done!?" Both guardians asked furiously.

"I freed Jacob from divine irons." Twilight said proud of herself, wiping her hoof on her chest. "No need to thank me."

"Wha..., c, qu... NANI!?" Direna said angry. "Thank you? THANK YOU!? You just destroyed Jacob's magic."

"Besides, you just helped Gabriel." Ray said, as angry as Direna. "Destroying that ball, you didn't just destroyed magic. You also destroyed inborn Jacob's abillities, like regeneration, outstanding senses or immunity. This is what he wanted. Destroy the last of Gaya's Champion."

Twilight's pride turned into guiltiness and fear.

"Why you didn't tell me?" She asked.

"I wanted, but you left, before I could." Ray explained.

In real world...

Jacob just woke up. He wasn't under demon's control anymore, but it's not, what woke him up.

"Motherfucker!" He screamed.

Luna and Sombra stopped casting a spell.

"Jacob, are you alright?" Celestia asked.

"I'm not a psycho anymore, so, yeah, it's good. But, my head hurts as fuck." He said, rubbing his head on the pillow

Twilight woke up just after Jacob.

"Twilight, did you killed that demon?" Luna asked.

"I did something much worse, than this demon." Twilight said scared. "I just helped Gabriel win."

"What did you do with my brain?" Jacob asked, looking at Twilight.

"I destroyed your powers. I wanted to help."

"Unfasten me." Jacob said.

Celestia took of Jacob belts. He stood up and walked to Twilight. She had on face sadness. Jacob smiled and hugged her.

"You have no idea, how long I wanted this to happen." Jacob said with happiness. Twilight was really surprised. She expected totally opposite reaction from Jacob. Human broke the hug and started to laugh.

"I'M FREE FROM YOU, BITCH!" He screamed in the heavens. "I AM NORMAL HUMAN!"

'WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIEND
AND WE'LL KEEP ON FIGHTING, 'TIL THE END
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
NO TIME FOR LOSERS, 'COS WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS...
OF THE WORLD'

Jacob's singing was interrupted by hitting to the door. Throught the break in doors everyone in room saw Chrysalis's rotten face.

"Here's Chrysi!" After she said that cliché line, she threw Main 5 and Cadence through the door, with her magic. They were injured, but alive. Next one was Blizzard Breath, with cynic smile.

The last thing, what came inside, was human in black, armored robe and with hood on pale head. From it able to see were only down part of face, glowing, dark purple eyes and some black, long hair. It was Gabriel himself. Everyone felt, how every happy feeling left their bodies, when he was slowly claping with metalic sound of armor. His Champions bowed do him, when he came in. Jacob was standing with determination and anger on his face.

"Well, well, well." Gabriel said slowly with his grim voice. "Isn't that Jacob Vincent Dracons, Gaya's Last Champion? I must say, you were tough enemy, but now, you're standing against me, without powers of your dear Gaya."

"I hate Gaya as much, as you do. Twilight made me a favor, destroying my powers." Jacob said, not afraid of Gabriel's voice.
Gabriel walked to Twilight.

"Tell me, my dear, are you afraid of darkness?"

"I'm not a little filly, if that's, what you want to know." She said, with full asurance. "I'm not afraid of darkness. I'm afraid of that, what it brings. Evil. Sadness. Fear. And monsters, like you."

"You're really intelligent, Twilight Sparkle. I respect that." Gabriel returned to Jacob. "To be honest, I hate you as an enemy, but I like you as a human. You know, who to make friends with. Now, when you're not any danger, I will leave you, and your friends, alone. Well, unless you'll make me some trouble. Good luck in normal life, Jacob Dracons."

Gabriel and his Champions dissapeared. After that, everyone took a deep breath of relief.

"Holy fuck." Jacob said. "So, who wants a party?"

"TIME TO PARTY!" Pinkie screamed, shooting from her party cannon.

End of the prologue.


Author's Note

And this is why was writing 'The fallen god' in description.
Soon the first true act and bonus chapter, what explains some stuff.

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