Madness Overlord

The sun shone upon Sweet Apple Acres. A bright sight in contrast with most of the apple trees being left unbucked. A few of those fruits started to rot by themselves. It wasn't a big deal but was only the beginning of a farming problem. In the middle of the road leading to the farm, a black portal appeared under the command of Balamos.

Suzaku stepped outside of the pitch-black gate, that disappeared after one second. He was met by the radiance of the sunlight almost blinding his eyes. With one eye closed, he looked around, scanning a the rows of trees inhabiting the place and the farm being far away from there. He seemed to recognize that place, and he was right about that.

"Let's see. Several orchards of apple trees and a farm in the distance. Yeah, this is definitively Applajack's house." Suzaku said in confirmation. "I hope that Balamos doesn't expect me to recruit Big Machintosh, because that would be stupid."

He sighed quietly and pulled the list out of his bag. He couldn't help, but feel still disturbed that the bloodstain in the middle was still present and still deforming itself.

"Let's see who is going to be cooked this time." Suzaku said insecure, instinctively knowing that the next one is going to be another background pony.

The bloodstain was shaping it's form to spell out the name of his next recruit, but this time is just one word instead of two. Suzaku was expecting some pony who he never heard or ever known it existed, but the result turned out to be a very disappointing one. His face deformed in awkward disbelieve. He cannot believe at what was written, because it was too ridiculous to him. The name that appeared on the list was that of Braeburn.

"Braeburn!? The stallion so infamous for being the 'Slasher Smile Award' and a western stereotype?" Suzaku said incredulous before his head fell down in disappointment. "I understand Starlight Glimmer, and I understand Dr. Whooves. But-"

"Before you will start a very insipid rant," Balamos interrupted him irritated by talking in his head loudly, promptly silencing him and freaking him out. "Let me at least explain my reason for that."

Suzaku recovered from that and groaned in annoyance before responding to him with a annoyed tone. "Alright, what is it?"

"Other than being Applejack's cousin, Breaburn has notable physical skills but is not just only that. The real reason is connected to the three fillies who were lured into the Freak World as well."

"About time you had brought that thing," Suzaku said, slightly irritated. "As not mentioning that Sunset Shimmer was involved in this story wasn't enough. You didn't had told that the Cutey Mark Crusade were turned into freaks as well."

"Oh, yes. The ones who are now carrying the name of Cutey Mark Monsters."

"Ok, putting aside that stupidest name," Suzaku said. "Why did you had mentioned that before? I'm pretty uncomfortable with fighting children."

"Because they aren't this potential threat in contrast with their sisters. And a idol, if we had to be technical."

More distrustful about his boss' intentions than before, Suzaku was about to call him out for real about the fillies, but knowing that he would had deflected this question, he preferred to not inquire any further. "You can continue."

"Six days before the you retrieval of Whaust, Braeburn came to Sweet Apple Acres to talk with Granny Smith and Big Machintosh about Applejack's and Apple Bloom's disappearance. He also helped them with their crisis. As you can see from the few, almost rotten apples steadily infesting this orchard, the disappearance of Applejack leaved the farm with a grave lack of workforce and a missing image since she was the face of the Apple Family."

"Spare me the superfluous details. Just go to the point already." Suzaku said with slight impatience.

"During that period, Breaburn headed to Ponyville with intention to confront doctor Whooves about the Cutey Mark Crusaders having gone through the magic mirror replica, thinking he was responsible for it. In his arrival, he was blocked by the Royal Guard that were watching him during his probation. Before Breaburn could cause any ruckus, Celestia suddenly showed up to talk with him about the situation."

"Celestia actually bothered to go in Ponyville to talk with him?" Suzaku replied, a little confused.

"Celestia firstly apologized with him for her inability to save Applejack, Apple Bloom and the rest of disappeared ponies, including the remaining Elements of Harmony; oblivious of their own current corruption. She then invited Breaburn in Canterlot Castle and showed him the original magic mirror. She explained to him that they were in a world far beyond her watch and is almost impossible to reach. She has also asked him to keep that info a secret."

"Of course. She cannot afford to spread utter chaos after all." Suzaku commented.

"Outside that, Celestia having brought Breaburn at Canterlot Castle, leading him to the mirror is indeed something you had to consider. You know what that means."

Even bef, Suzaku didn't even need to pondering about it that he had already guessed what that means.

"To sum up," Suzaku began, not believing what that implies. "You are telling me to ask Braeburn, or the monster that I will turn him into, to help me to infiltrate the castle and find where the mirror is?"

"The micro portal that Whaust is building will take him one, if not two years to be completed. We had to speed up the times before our enemies."

"I won't doubt that, Sauron," Suzaku retorted sarcastically. "But in case you hadn't noticed that yet, Canterlot Castle is obviously heavy guarded."

"Which is why you need Breando to do that. Also, Whaust sho-"

"I know, I know," Suzaku interrupted him, roughly. "I just had to toss the three probes inside the mirror and that's it. But that won't be easy anyway."

Balamos doesn't say anything. No follow up or rebuttal. As that silence continued for a little bit, Suzaku opened his mouth but before he could even emit a sound, the entity's voice spoke again.

"You know, if a Dragoliath would suddenly pop up out of nowhere for everytime you had the balls to interrupt me, that would be a funniest stress relief and medicine to your own annoyance."

"You wish it, right?" Suzake inquired.

"Besides, you shouldn't even complaining for the fact you had to infiltrate Canterlot Castle. You are my agent after all. Going through any type of risk is part of your role."

"You make it look easy," Suzaku protested. "You were rotting inside your dimension, without even putting yourself in my shoes."

"My rule has spoken."

Without any reply, Balamos' presence leaved his head. Suzaku groaned in frustration, but then remembered his own position in this story. The eye who had involved him in this ordeal has his life on the metaphysical palm of his hand after all. Knowing that he can't do nothing about that, he took a deep breath and calmed down.

"Yeah, keep your non-catch phrase for yourself." Suzaku said before focusing on his current task. "But still, if my target is Breaburn, why bring me in Sweet Apple Acre and not in Appleloosa? Shouldn't he had leaved Ponyville at this point?"

Suzaku's question found his answer when a country voice coming from his left caught his attention.

"Ah wonder how will Big Mac and Granny Smith cope with their crisis." the voice said.

Suzaku looked at his right and saw a melancholic Braeburn entering the orchard, looking down while talking to nopony else in particular but himself.

"Ah just hope that Celestia could find a way to save them." Breaburn said.

"So Balamos knew this stallion was coming there to pay a visit to Applejack's family," Suzaku said quietly. "I hate to boycott his thoughts, but it has to be done."

That being said, Suzaku waited for Braeburn to approach him as the latter was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice him. Just like with his previous two targets, the Appleloosian stallion wouldn't trust him so easily and, frankly, Suzaku has no intention to leave his target escape.

"Excuse me." Suzaku said, getting his attention.

"Huh?" Braeburn looked at him in confusion as he stopped in his tracks.

"I know is not the right moment but I need to ask you something... If you don't mind." Suzaku said, acting polite.

"Look, ah ain't time to talk with ya." Braeburn replied.

"Princess Celestia told you about Applejack and the other going through a magical mirror, isn't it?" Suzaku asked, bluntly.

Breaburn turned toward Suzaku, with wide opened eyes being slowly replaced by a stern glare. The latter could tell that the stallion's suspicion toward him started to grow.

"How did ya know that?" Braeburn asked sternly.

"I heard that from some Royal Guard talking about that with Celestia during their investigation," Suzaku explained. "You see, a friend of mine, a rogue thief, sneaked around Canterlot Castle and passed through that mirror. He never returned from that."

Braeburn's distrustful's face toned down a little bit, almost showing little signs of empathy. "Ah'm sorry, but what has that to do with me?"

"I just want a little information from you," Suzaku replied, continuing his act. "Celestia invited you into her castle, right?"

"W-What?" Breaburn said momentarily taken aback from that. "Yes, she invited me to castle but...!"

Before Braeburn could even complete his response, he stopped his sentence in half and frozen for a moment, much to Suzaku's perplexity, as the green pony was waiting for the rest. The face of the appleloosian stallion quickly contorted with newfound distrust and glared at him again.

"Is there something wrong?" Suzaku demanded worried.

"Ah just remembered," Breaburn said very sternly. "Yesterday Ah heard about a green pony who went out from doctor Whoove's house and fled from Ponyville."

That answer was vaguely descriptive and yet these details were enough to crush Suzaku's coverage story and act into pieces. Suzaku flinched for that but not too much. Deep inside, he wasn't expecting it to work.

"You know what? Fuck acting. Let's get to the point already."

"I tried." Suzaku said calmly as he quickly pointed his hoof toward him, causing black chains to appear from beneath Braeburn and quickly wrapped around his body, blocking his limbs and hanging him in crucifix position. He struggled to release himself from the chains in vain. Suzaku glanced at him with a annoyed look.

"You better calm down, nutcracker." Suzaku said, dropping all of the pretenses.

"Calm down?" Braeburn retorted angered. "You've chained me like a beast and then you're telling me to calm down!?"

"Shut the fuck up, idiot," Suzaku retorted in annoyance. "I don't have the time of the entire Equestria. I just need your help."

"Why should Ah do that!?" Breaburn inquired.

"Because I'm currently the ticket to resolve your situation," Suzaku responded. "I know where Applejack and Apple Bloom are in this moment."

"You're lying!" Breaburn retorted.

"Can you call liar somepony who managed to immobilize you like this?" Suzaku said half surprised. "Seriously, you were so angered about me chaining your limbs that you didn't had realized that I have dark powers despite me being a earth pony?"

Braeburn took in consideration Suzaku's words and looked at the chains binding him, emanating a very dark aura. The stallion looked back at him with a dismayed look.

"Now that Ah'm thinking about, you're not a normal pony. What the heck are you?" Breaburn asked.

"I'm only a herald from another world who is serving some horrific deity," Suzaku responded bluntly. "Substantially, he sent me to find this mirror and use it to get in the world inside of it. The problem it's actually in Celestia's possession."

"Ya can't be serious" Breaburn said, disturbed by that affirmation. "Are ya our of yer mind? You'll end up lost in that world! Just like Applejack! What did ya expect to gain from that!?"

"You better tell me where it is. I have you in my grasp in this moment." Suzaku remarked.

Breaburn's defiant face was slowly replaced by a intimidated one. "Well... If you insist," He said reluctantly. "The mirror is situated into the second floor, in the western wing, third corridor. Ss really guarded." He paused and then groaned. "That Celestia would forgive me. Why Ah'm even telling you this?"

"Thanks for the info," Suzaku said, half satisfied. "By the way, I cannot release you yet, because that wasn't my only reason why I was looking for you."

"W-what do ya mean with that? What do you want!?" Braeburn muttered irritated.

"Simple. My boss wanted to recruit you." Suzaku said, not expecting the stallion in front of him to remain calm.

"R-recruit me? For what?" Breaburn asked disturbed.

"You should consider what you want," Suzaku precised vaguely. "If you want to save Applejack and Apple Bloom, you had to trust me.

"Like Ah would!" Breaburn retorted. "Ah'm tired of your games already!"

"If you don't believe, I will make you see it." Suzaku said with a grin in his face.

A metallic sound resounded in his black sack, chilling enough to make Breaburn shiver a little bit. Suzaku grinned a little bit for that since that was the signal

"What's that sound?" Braeburn asked with a little freaked out tone.

"Your daily bread. Now shut up" Suzaku replied before turning his attention on his black sack.

Suzaku draw out his claws and rummaged in the sack, ignoring Braeburn's shocked expression for having saw them coming out of the green pony's hooves. Suzaku reluctantly pulled out the opened small iron coffin. Knowing Balamos and his way of 'persuasion', the object is going to be something weird or even too grim for that word. He pulled out the content and became instantly awe-struck to see what it was. A very shaped kitchen knife

"A kitchen KNIFE!?" Suzaku screamed shocked fbefore face hoofing. "That should be a object containing a spirit, but that make me look a like a sadist."

As Breaburn looked at him with a nervous glance, Suzaku tossed away the small iron coffin and held the knife toward the chained stallion.

"What are ya going to do with me?!" Braeburn said, almost frightened.

"Don't get me wrong, but you need this baptism." Suzaku said with a almost apologetic tone before thrusting the knife into Breaburn's abdomen without even looking. But as the knife supposedly entered into his flesh, it disappeared in a spark of white energy without leaving any wound at all.

Suzaku mentally commanded the chains to release Breaburn, causing him to fell back abruptly on the ground. He stepped a few inches away from the stallion, who began to spasm frantically afterwards and moaning in pain. A dark scarlet liquid poured out of him and covered all of his body. Braeburn felt a fire burning into his mind with images storming inside.

That flux showed the fate of the Elements of Harmony, who had now become the Elements of Insanity. The last ones in particular were the most tragic to him. Too shocking for him to be believed. The mare known as Applejack, his cousin, was turned into one of those freaks as well.

"Applejack... Is that ya?" Breaburn thought.

Having saw already how the possession goes, Suzaku looked away to no to watch it when he saw a monstrous, black-flaming face flying toward him from afar at a very high speed. He immediately ducked, avoiding the creature who whizzed above his head. He heard the sound of the thing touching the ground and turned toward it.

Suzaku has a full view of that thing and could tell by it's body being engulfed in black flames that is a Mindeater, except that his head is wrapped in silver flames. The head resembled the skull of a jackal with white eyes. His body was that of a bipedal dragon, covered by a web of dark red and light red lines, resembling the flux of the bloodstream., His talons are made of diamond and his claws are actually scythes blades.

"Great, now I have to deal with that sucker while defending this convulsing stallion." Suzaku said with a bothered face as He stepped toward the creature and stood up two legged. "Can this day get any worse?"

"Zenturion is this worse's name."

Ignoring Balamos' remark, Suzaku summoned his Psycho Slayer sword when the Zenturion was instantly closing in on him to cut him up with his sword claws. The sword materialized and he managed to block the attack with it in the very last second. That happened all in a blink of a eye. His heart skipped a beat due to him being taken aback from that sudden attack. The creature doesn't waste any time to throw a barrage of claw swipes at Suzaku.

The metallic sound of the blades clashing against the huge sword blocking them echoed across the orchard so loudly that almost completely covered any other sound. The Zenturion continued his swiping tempest until it manage to break his prey's guard. With that opening, it swung his claws at Suzaku's head to shred it into pieces, only for him to dissolve into black-green flames and reappeared on his right, charging the claws of his left hoof in a Shadow Shotgun.

"Slow down!" Suzaku announced as he shot a dart of dark violet energy that whizzed toward the Zenturion, but the abhorrent flaming creature already noticed him and that instantly moved away, missing the blow and dashing at high speed toward him, ignoring the violet explosion that destroyed a apple tree.

Seeing the jackal-hybrid creature going toward him, Suzaku immediately raised his sword to protect himself. he found blocking it's attacks again. As the Zenturion was throwing another barrage of claw swipes at him, the green pony has the quick thinking to charge his left hoof's claws and shot another Shadow Shotgun on the ground nearby the creature.

In the instant the violet energy dart was shot, the flaming creature promptly leaped backwards very fast avoid the violet explosion. Suzaku, having the sword raised to block the attacks, slightly avoided being overwhelmed by the impact. The only thing that was partially touched by that burst were his own hind legs. Suzaku groaned both in pain and annoyance.

"A very fast prick you are." Suzaku commented. "You hit really hard like a hammer."

The Zenturion snarled with feral anger as it dashed toward Suzaku with the intent to cut slash him. The green pony expected the monster to deliver another series of swipes. But instead, the creature put it's claws on the Psycho Slayer, trying to disarm Suzaku.

"Hey! Get away from my blade, you freak!" Suzaku screamed one moment before the Zenturion's eyes glowed in a ominous golden light, and he already grasped a hint of what that means. "No, you don't!"

Suzaku dissolved again with his sword and reappeared on the right side of the monster to cut him while it wasn't looking, but was caught by a sudden explosion made of grey light coming from the monster's head that propelled him away and made his Psycho Slayer flying from his hand. Suzaku crashed on the ground with his sword falling on the ground and dissolving itself afterwards.

The Zenturion was still alive. As Suzaku tried to stand up, the creature noticed that and dashed furiously toward the green pony, reaching him in a instant and ready to kill him. The result seemed obvious, but that was negated by two knives suddenly piercing the flaming monster's chest, right in the red lines. The Zenturion jumped far away from Suzaku and barely landed on his two legs, almost losing his balance.

Not knowing what happened, Suzaku quickly stood up four legged and observed the creature's conditions and was very impressed by the fact that a Mindeater was stopped by two knives. He noticed the wound of the knives caused the red lines bleeding red seething liquid and scarlet flames. The monster screeched ferociously as his head shook even more frantically.

Upon seeing that, Suzaku quickly turned his attention toward the supposedly defenseless Breaburn, who was now standing on his two legs and looking upwards. And he was emitting a very homicidal aura.

His appearance marked the completion of his transformation. His coat was no longer a light gold, but a pale orange one. His mane and tail were dark yellow. Oddly enough, even his short jacket was subjected to the transformation as it became a dark gold one with a black vest inside. That appearance reminded Suzaku of something that he saw in a anime. A that was enough have a bad feeling about this.

Trying to not give in his bleeding, the Zephytion observed him in a confused daze, trying to study his aggressor who was preventing him to feast on his prey, according to his own mindless point of view.

"At this point, ah'm asking myself... If this is just a bad dream." 'Braeburn' said with a cold tone, almost devoid of empathy.

"..." Suzaku abstained to make any comment that would endanger him.

"Seeing Applejack in that state... It's horrible. But Ah'm also a monster as well, Ah should feel bad about that. How could this be good? it's too wrong." 'Braeburn paused and grinned sadistically. "Or maybe not."

Suzaku tried to get away from there, but his body refuses to move. The worst part about that was part of his confidence being taken away from him. His eyes were wide opened from the growing fear. Despite this, he mustered his will to not panic and continued to observe.

"So, ugly demon," 'Braeburn' said to the monster just to mock him. "Ya expected to find a defenseless stallion? Too bad!"

"Braeburn?" Suzaku said shocked for what he heard just now.

'Braeburn', in response, turned his attention to the Zephytion and revealed his red eyes.

"IT'S BRAENDO!!"

Not even the suspension of disbelieve can justify the absurdity of the situation. Suzaku suspected Breaburn's new appearance being familiar to him, but he wasn't expecting the spirit possessing him to be like what he thought it would be. Compared to this, his experience with Starlight's and Dr. Whoove's corruption looked like a mere stroll to him.

"I'm seriously going to regret this." Suzaku said with a grave tone.

Not caring about what is going on, the Zephytion rushed at full speed toward Braendo, who remained in calm mockery as he does his first move.

"ZA WARUDO! Time Stop!"

With those words, the time around him stopped. Everything, including the monster and his bleeding, remained frozen in time, except Suzaku, who was quiet impressed about being able to move during the Time Stop. That was the first time he was experiencing something like that. He could presume that his powers helped him to not being time blocked. But he had no time to being distracted by that. He has a new freak pony to watch over.

Braendo crossed his hooves, with knives coming out of them; and launched them toward the monster. The knife whizzed toward it, but then stopped in mid air. He vanished and teleported around him while launching other multiple knives that halted in front on their targets. He then reappeared in front of his enemy, and looked at it with a very bored expression as he pointed his hoof toward it.

"Give him hell." Braendo said as a golden humanoid figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere and dashed toward the monster to punching him out repeatedly at the same high speed the stallion was moving his hooves around and shouting 'MUDA!' at no stop.

Suzaku was shocked to see that happening, but was also shocked to find a flaw that wasn't supposed to happen. He saw the leafs of other trees and birds far far away from the fight still moving on their own.

"What the hell? Wasn't that supposed to stop the time completely?" Suzaku asked to nobody in particular.

"Since the spirit's ability to stop the time is outright dangerous. I had purposely limited that power. His power is worthless if you and your allies remained stuck in time. You don't want someone with that power becoming a threat."

"Thank you for the info, but I don't feel any safe from his right now." Suzaku retorted.

After a ridiculous beatdown that seemed a literal eternity for the creature, the humanoid being gave one last heavy punch on his stomach and vanished.

"Ya ain't even deserve a appleloosian steam roller... Aaaaaand Time Resume." Braendo said coldly, causing the time to resume his course.

With the time stop gone, the knives started to move again and stabbed the Zenturion multiple times. This brutal sequence of attacks caused the monster to screech in pain before dissolving in black flames that died off after a short time, ending his existence for good. Breando remained still, reveling in his newfound powers and bloodlust, and smirking cruelly.

Suzaku rose up on his two legs once again and keep his eyes on the possessed pony. He recognized what the new Breaburn is capable of. These powers, enhanced abilities made him think and depraved attitude made him think. He know the spirit possessing the stallion too well, and that is why he was too afraid to accept that fact.

"I think is really pointless pretending it never happened," Suzaku said. "That spirit that is now possessing him is freaking Dio Brando, and that humanoid thing was his own version of The World. And now is also a vampire. I won't even make a joke about that."

Breando slowly turned his face toward Suzaku, looking at him with a bloodthirsty glare and a sadistic grin. Suzaku couldn't help but shiver in awe as his own eyes met the expression of his own creation. He mustered his confidence and willpower to face him without being intimidated by the stallion's homicidal aura, just like he did with Starcider.

"Don't even think ain't noticed ya moving through the Time Stop, ya slime. Ah'll deal with ya as soon as possible!" Braendo said with homicidal glee.

"Oh yea? Bring it." Suzaku taunted arrogantly has he closed the claws of his hoof in a fist and charged it with his powers.

Instigated by him, Breando looked at Suzaku furiously before vanishing from his sight and reappearing in front of him, already wielding a knife with one hoof and eager to cut him. Startled by that but not stupid to give in fear, Suzaku dodged the blow by bending backwards, and tried punch Braendo with his charged hoof. Suzaku missed him and end up hitting the ground instead.

And yet that was what Suzaku wanted. As his fist hit the soil, pillars of green energy erupted from beneath him. Only one of them managed to invest Breando, who was still alive and being launched into the air. The newfound freak pony screamed as he violently fell on the ground. Suzaku was fond this kind of strategy. Various situation like this, surprise the opponent is very effective if used properly.

Suzaku withdraw his claws and walked four legged toward Braendo. He gave a annoyed look at him, who looked a little dizzied from that attack.

"Can you let me explain what is going on or what!?" Suzaku said with bothered voice.

"Yep. Ya better talk." Braendo angrily said as he rose up.

Suzaku told everything about the Mane Six's fate and corrupted rebirth as the monsters that they are now. Something that Breando saw in the visions during his transformation. For him it's hard to believe in what he saw, but seeing Applejack and Apple Bloom in such wretched state was enough to shock him, although his cold calm was still present in his face. Suzaku also told him about his necessity to know where the mirror is and how he can be useful. Despite the memories that flowed in his mind proven Suzaku's words to be true, Braendo was still hostile toward him.

"So you want me to help ya to infiltrate Canterlot Castle and find the mirror." Breando said calmly.

"You heard it. That is the case." Suzaku replied bluntly.

"Ya said about Applejack and Apple Bloom being turned into monsters... is that trues." Braendo asked with a calm and yet angered voice.

"You saw it," Suzaku said bluntly. "Twilight Sparkle and her friends, including Applejack and Apple Bloom, are possessed by some spectral rejects and turned into monsters whose sole reason is now spreading chaos."

"Ah don't think they'll listen to me so much." Braendo remarked. "By the way, Ah've to admit, Ah feel almost empty, cold, and megalomaniac like Ah was never felt before.... And Ah liked so badly that is wrong."

"That is the taste of power."

"Don't screw with me. So what's the point into turning me into a monster as well?"

"Jusk ask that to my boss who is also a powerful deity from another dimension." Suzaku remarked.

"Yer boss?" Braendo asked perplexed.

"You see, I am his own agent, and I'm sent around Equestria to turn specified ponies into freaks and make them join his cause as his answer to the Elements of Insanity. I don't like this job but I have to be prepared for when the time comes."

"So Ah'm going to be his pawn, huh?" Braendo harshly said.

What the country pony freak said made him remember his own position. The same sadistic one in which Balamos putted into. That alone was enough to make him cringe.

"I won't tell you that, but I'm his own pawn as well. If you are in my same place, you will understand my position." Suzaku thought

"Look, I understand that you won't go against your cousins, but what you had to do is just keep them at bay. I have the power to purify them and expel their spirits out of their bodies. My boss said so as he bestowed this power to me. Once I had finished the job, I will purify you and the rest of the other recruits as well."

"Ah'm supposed to trust somepony like you?" Breando inquired, sternly.

"If you don't help me to reach them, who else will help you to do it?" Suzaku demanded.

Braendo took his time to reflect, showing his cold hostility toward Suzaku, who wasn't expecting anything else from him. However he was taking account of the crisis that Big Mack and Granny Smith, as he previously said before, were living. They won't resist any longer. Of course he wanted to help his siblings.

But he has a very different opinion about that.

"Ok, pal. Let's just assume that Ah'll accept that." Braendo affirmed.

"Seriously?" Suzaku asked.

"Of course Ah will..." Braendo said, before rising his hoof toward him. "NOT!"

Suzaku opened his mouth, but suddenly found Braendo's stand, his own version of The World, appearing in front of him and punching him in his face. The blow sent him to fly a few yards away from the vampiric appleloosian stallion and fell on the ground.

"Ah'm sorry," Breando said with a mocking tone "But Ah'll not be subservient to some deity of yours. Ah'll save my cousins on my own terms. Which is why Ah'll infiltrate Canterlot Castle alone."

"You little-" Suzaku was furiosly trying to say before being interrupted.

"Enjoy the apples delight, loser!" Braendo exclaimed before vanishing from his sight, having teleported.

The expression of Suzaku's face became a really a one, that was . That was the second time that a recruit escaped. But that was a very worst case. He didn't had calculated that Dio Brand's manipulative and arrogant nature could have influenced Breaburn's mind this much!"

Without saying nothing and trembling in frustration. Suzaku slowly stood up on his two legs and looked on the ground with a very grim look. He clenched his teeth very hard and shock his hooves. After all the things that he had gone through and gave him so much stress, he looked upwards and and was about to scream.

But before that scream could reach his mouth, Braendo's voice scream suddenly echoed through the orchard, startling him and dissipating his anger for a moment.

"What the hell?"

Suzaku returned four legged and galloped across the field of apple trees to find him. He didn't found any clue of his whereabouts, but he know that Breando was still there. Feeling his fatigue making his influence know on his body, a stupid and yet logical idea struck his mind. He teleported several times in various places to accelerate his pace.

After multiple warps, the power abuse penalty kicked in and the electric surge seized his body. Briefly yelling in pain, He collapsed on the grass, breathing heavily for that. In his mind, he expected it to happen and yet that was the only way to reset the said penalty.

Knowing that there's no time to waste, he forcefully stood up and resumed his research. Much to his luck, he found some figure laying on the tree behind it. He walked toward him to see what it was.

Much to his surprise, that pony was none other than Breando, laying unconscious with a seemingly stunned face, as someone managed knock him out. Something in which Suzaku has some difficulty to believe as he looked with a shocked face.

"Breando... Was knocked out?" Suzaku demanded in muted surprise. ".... But how?"

As Suzaku tried to find a explanation for that, a figure hiding from behind a tree, watched the scene.