Do you ever get the feeling life has plans beyond your death. I never knew. Ever since meeting something I held more dear than anything else that occupied my mind, I prepared for my death. Not in the way of suicide. I prepared for a natural death. Heaven or Hell, limbo or purgatory, I was determined to be ready for the afterlife for some peace. So I train like usual, train the spirit and the body regardless if people believe I was serious or not. I had teachers, but no students. But then, light.

===

I look out after the blinding light had faded and there was a sudden ringing in my ears. A bomb? No. Flashbang. Good thing my eye sight was affected little. I then see these... creatures before me. Scared. Crying. And above all, desperate. "Creature," one called up, "whatever you are, whoever you are, please help us." This being, a female of red cream fur held my hands, not caring about my minimal dress code. "Our home, our families... we beg you."

I look up, and see all manner of creatures attacking the town. The air around them was... wrong. They felt twisted, contorted even deranged. And those that bit or spilled on the unaffected, turned them into something... drained. One of the ponies, of their resident, charged at me before I raised my hand, my instinct blinding my sight, but not my hearing. I look to see crystals of cyan, glowing with dust had punctured the bodies as they were burned and a light ascended into the sky. One of the more twisted creatures took notice and I struck again, this time with a lance of crystal forming over my arm as the body was burned to nothing.

Whatever I was doing, I was almost certain of how I was doing it. Looking over, I see the other creatures were looking at me. I managed to agro their attention but there was a problem. 'So they're after me now. ....fuck.' The crafty and scrawny ones ran for me, hoping to get a slice in before I had surrounded myself in a vortex of shards as they were sliced to ribbon. Some larger beasts then charged me, hoping to score a hit with their deformed arms turned weapons.

Aiming my thoughts, the shards became spears of what could only be described as adement before they were launched forward and skewered the beasts. 'Okay, so I managed to understand my situation some. Still does not help my questions.' Before I could ponder those questions, a biped came down on me with a clever with a larger handle than acceptable. My mind was focused so much on a shield that it hit something before getting bounced back. 'What was...' Without thinking, and without knowing it, I swiped my hand thinking I had claws and large, gaping slashes appeared on the beast before it dropped dead.

Picking up the weapon without a second though, I had made the right call as a twisted form of a lion was atop me and my arm brought the clever around as it appeared to glow. The beast was slash in one motion and its body lay lifeless. Another beast, more twisted than the lion, an amalgamation of creatures worse than a chimera, loomed over me. My adrenaline still high, I lashed out with the weapon as it was covered in searing flames, like it was smoldering in dragon breath. The slash cut most of the way though before the weapon detonated inside the beast. The weapon destroyed, along with most of the chimera, I was starting to grasp the situation as my adrenaline started calming.

My rational mind, once clouded by uncertain fear, was now cleared and open as I started calling upon my self constructed training regimen. 'I need to drive them out.' I closed my eyes, letting my mind construct the kanji needed to target these twisted creatures and channeled shadow and fire into an unholy element. "Burn with the darkness that you march on these lands." All of them, even the ones ready to bite, looked at me. "Char and smolder in the shadows you hail from as I cast your flesh back to the unholy night of the damned." I opened my eyes and many of them, feral or not, stepped back as fires of my own shadow were born. "Now burn." Those same fires whirled around me and spread to everything, clinging to the twisted ones while everything else was just passed over.

The twisted beings screamed and writhed as they were burned to nothing. Some released a soul, others were empty of one. After the flames faded to nothing, the air was sanitized thanks to the flames and the absence of what they burned. "Rest in ash for the destruction you have caused and may your lives after be quiet."

The ponies were stunned before the tension died down and cheered for their safety and victory with those that summoned me seemingly relaxing. But my mind went back to my room. Where was I? What was this about? Why did those twisted creatures look familiar? And what about.... 'Alexie...' My wife. I had apparently lost my cool and did something as there were collective gasps from around me. "What?" One of them approached and this bravery must've calmed me down because they were breathing a sigh of relief. "Where am I?"

"Captain!" A winged being came up, dressed in armor, approaching another in purple plates. "We have more of them in the dragon lands! It's turning the tides!"

I look to my summoners. "Forget where I am and my questions. Where's these 'dragon lands'?" They pointed in a general direction and I started walking, figuring I would be days away, though I wanted to hurry before I was stopped by the guards, assuming from their plates, holding their weapons to me.

Many of them were female but they were each young rookies or aged veterans with adequate physiques. "Where are you going? Are you controlling these things?"

"Ma'am I don't have time for your questions." I tried to move but was stopped by spear head. "Think, if I made these things, why would I go through the trouble of making then killing these creatures?" They seemed to ponder it but were taking too long. 'I need to get there, now.' As my thoughts were cycling, something heavy landed behind me, stabbing the ground. I look back and see a large weapon, one I recognize, stabbed in the ground.

The women were put off. "What is that?" I touch the metal and they looked startled. "Do you own this weapon?"

I look back, almost insulted before dropping the feeling. "Own it? I made it." They looked appaled before streams of light emit from me and my sword. "Rise, Clevetius." The sword emerged and it was a beauty. It's design was based around broad head swords that had blunt heads in place of fine tapers and inspired by the near-half-ton raw iron sword, Dragon Slayer.

Before the guards could stop me, I stepped on the face of the blade as it glided like a hover board off to the direction I was heading, cutting my time considerably and allowing me to cover distance with relatively little physical expense. It was like an extension of me, my will, my thoughts... my spirit. Clevetius was my weapon, one I had meticulously forged to change shape with each situation in mind. But even with versatility, it fell short in strength or speed in certain forms. So one form made up for it. Sadly, without its gear, it would have to remain a sword for a time.

The path to the dragon lands was an easy one to follow. Follow the fell corpse road. The dragons, all with different shapes, sizes and postures, were fighting with everything they had. Jumping off, I was floating in the air like a fairy without wings. I spin Clevetius at high speed, creating a disk of light and heat from the rpm and threw it into the crowd of the twisted that were making their way to a massive dragon before I landed on the sword as it stopped suddenly, the metal warm to my feet, but glowing. "Young one, what are you doing?" His voice was hoarse. His breath must've caused some damage after over use. "Leave. The weak must leave this place."

I look back while Clevetius tore through the twisted in spear mode. "The weak can only do so much, much like the strong can only fight for so long. There is no shame in asking for any help." I look back, my aura intense as Clevetius turned back into its sword mode and turned into a more ornate sword, more closely resembling Excalibur. "And no one should die a needless death." I raise my hand, opened as the hilt was in my grasp. "Be gone from my sight, twisted creatures." With a slash, my aura cleaved the creatures and the land if not cracking it down to the magma.

The sword returned to normal as my body was now a bit heavier. "Young one." I look back, and the dragon seemingly shrank down to meet my size. "You... risked yourself... for us. But what are you?" He seemed to have notice my unsteady footing and supported my stance. "Do you need rest?"

I simply nodded. "I guess I used more power than I thought. That slash was meant to sheer the twisted, not the ground along with it." He just laughed heartily, and led me into the lower cave, with Clevetius seemingly standing guard in a form inspired by human frames.

He let me have some cooked meat and drink, which lessened my spirit and body, as I rested. "If you don't mind my asking, what was that weapon?"

I look at him, eyes locked with a stern expression. "Clevetius."

A younger, arrogant drake spoke up. "Is that a pony name for something nice and fluffy."

He laughed before feeling my rage at the insult, one not about the trivial opinion, but the familiar value it holds to me. "The name is a pseudonym for a latin phrase, translated from 'Cleave the wicked' and it holds value to me. So hold your tongue newt, unless you want to be grounded." He looked smug before I continued. "For life." I pointed at his wings and he drew them in, defensively. I then look back at the leader, or king, who looked stunned. "Where are the twisted ones likely to head to next?"

He pondered before looking at a crude map. "They are likely at the Cragged Stones, land of Minotaur, and over at Eagle's Pass, part of the Griffon Republic." I stood up and started heading out. "Young one, shouldn't you rest?"

I look back with certainty. "The two races and countries will have sufficient military to keep the twisted ones at bay, at least long enough for me to devise a plan." I look at the map and stand tall. "You lot head to the Minotaur and give them some support. If you finish there, transport a few to Eagle pass and we'll go over next steps after." They nodded and I stepped out of the caves and onto Clevetius. "Where to Eagle's Pass." They pointed the way and the sword took off, taking me with it as the blade sliced the air and all resistance of it, leaving me to travel quickly as larger twisted could be seen. "Griffons must know how to fight."

I came down and started using my training with Clevetius to carve my way into the city through the twisted, giving the griffon's some breathing room before one held a weapon to me. "Where were you when we asked for help?! You damn po-!" I turn and the griffon's words die in her mouth. "You're... not a pony?"

I look deadpanned. "My, how astute." My blade kills a twisted that was attempted a 'sneak attack'. "Do they break away at all?"

She killed another and stepped back. "They wane after a while for a time but that's about it." I grab one of their weapons and it charges with my aura, glowing like a holy blade. She looked almost awe struck as I walked out there, blades at the ready as Clevetius swung and carved behind me while I cleaved and slashed in front of me, switching places with Clevetius for an actual stance.

As described, the fight was waning and griffons were switching places with ones that had yet to fight. But going in, I see more injured than I would like. "How long has this kingdom fought?" She looked down, ashamed of her answer. "A week, huh?" Apparently I was close, because she looked more shocked than appalled.

"A week at most." I look to see a griffon with all the stereotypical scars and accessories of an anime general. "And as you may have guessed, if that first one was any indication of accuracy, they came from nowhere, suddenly and without warning." He led me through the grounds where griffons were being treated for their wounds. "A few have died already, and that book showed us what looked like flying armor, but we have no way to make or summon this gear."

'Book?!" I try to keep myself calm at this information. "What book?" They led me to a building resembling church and showed me the book. It was a deer leather book with a bronze latch lock, the spine was trimmed with gold and the cover resembled a Gundam's face.

The king took the grimoire and held it to me. "After failing to use it successfully though, it closed and locked itself. The lock wouldn't budge after. We kept it though, in case it's maker, or owner, were to want it back." As I took the leather bound tome, the lock undid itself and the book opened up. The king looked in shock, as if the answer was already before him. "It can't be."

I look to Clevetius and it flew out, taking the form of a Gundam without limbs and my will flipped the pages to limbs that were a bit short. They emerged and bound themselves to him before the pages flipped again and a drone of blue plates emerged, dismantling itself and attaching to Clevetius. "Earth Diver, ready." That was one of the few times he speaks, is when he's in that mecha form.

A bell rang and by syncing with Clevetius' eyes, I could see why. "Too many." The griffon looked at me confused. "A massive force of those twisted are coming. You need to evacuate."

He stood proud as if to make a point. "I will not leave my home to these wretched things."

I grab his shoulder and turn him to me. "A king needs land to rule and land needs him and his subject to keep it fair. Without one the other suffers. Unless you feel like doing all the grunt work alone, you will tend to your people first." He looked conflicted with my words as he thought. "We can come back and reclaim the land later, but your subjects need to be evacuated." He looked saddened before nodded and the soldiers started help defend the town or evacuate the injured. "Clevetius, thin their numbers in the back!" The mecha looked at me with a nod before flying to the back and began to open fire. "Let's give him a hand."

Closing the grimoire and putting it in a pouch, my arms light ablaze with lightning as I get an idea. Willing my thoughts into the pages, a suit of armor is made and bolted on my body as a sword, traditionally made and technologically augmented comes from the book, the pages acting as a form of sheath as I draw the weapon. Once the armor was on, I was akin to a shogun. Sword raised, I charge in with the few Griffons that left formation and slashed any twisted that tried to bite them, keeping the enemy in front of them. Soon enough, I drew a dagger to stab the rear enemy.

Clevetius was nearing a point to over rev his power supply, which would boost its output before reverting it to its sword form. 'Clevetius, use Transcend to regroup in front of the door." It did as asked before opening the pages. "Armor change. Earth to Saturn." The armors switch out from a well rounded machine to different types of laser artillery. Once complete, several magic circles form in front of Clevetius. "Burning Nova." The battery assault fired into the rings before said rings took the many shots and fired off one massive stream of light or various energies. After the beam died down, the armor and limbs returned to the pages before the body turned back into a sword and fell to the ground. I wasn't far behind as I passed out.

===

I wake up in a soft bed, the setting of the room was different than my own, but comforting. I lean up, almost concerned before a zebra entered. "I know you're checking on me, but how long have I been out." She held up two fingers and I guessed. "Days?" She nodded. "What of my weapon." She looked confused. 'Figures. A weapon that heavy would be hard to carry for the griffons.' Sensing its link, the blade soon started flying to return to my side. "That you." She nodded and returned outside before I gathered myself and walked behind her.

I saw dragons, griffons, minotaur and now zebra. I eavesdropped on a conversation and heard some important info. Apparently, a sword had crash landed in their territory for all of a few minutes before it flew off. The griffons got a book and, like the others, the zebra came across large beads whose purpose was otherwise unknown. "I'll tell you what they are for." They look at me as the same beads, black in color with a polished finish like glass, wrapped around my body. "They are, like my book, a conduit for me and Clevetius." Said weapon fly to me from the horizon and propped itself against my back.

"Armed to the teeth, we can see, but why fight when we gave no plee." I look at the zebra in thought before looking up then to them.

"For me to have my peace, the violence must be settled. I will help to that end. And since these things may not end until we find the source, or the leader, we'll be fighting for a while." They look inspired before I looked out. "My summoners were from equestria. Any help to them?"

The griffon was the first to speak for them. "We each gave some of our soldiers to their ranks and they are holding the line, but there is one race that needs more help than they." I look a bit interested and the griffon continued. "They're called changelings. Other than the shapeshifting and insect look, no one knows what they can do."

The name of their race almost... drives me as I look to the horizon to a sensation, yet to take place. "You lot and your people focus on helping the ponies, the changelings may not get any help and I could be they only help they get."

The dragon leader came up looking worried. "What should we do if the source of this madness presents itself?" I then formed a wing, taking the largest primary as it was marked with bright dialect of gold. "What is that?"

I hand it to him with confidence. "A means to call me. You'll know the source, not when you see it, but when you feel it." He nods as I step upon Clevetius and fly to the changelings. The land was vibrant before I could see a desert, like the life was suddenly cut at a certain point. I flew in and the air felt sterile, but that's it. I look down and see the twisted ones really charging a structure in the center of this wasteland as a lime green soul enters it. My aggression flares as I center above the monument and look at the twisted ones with unfounded rage. "Whatever that soul was, I feel it's fear, and I feel... defensive." My hand lights up with energy akin to the sun as the sky around the area goes dark. "To anyone on the field who does not wish to die, retreat into your castle!" I feel the souls retreat before launching a massive wave of solar heat, burning the sand into glass and the twisted into nothing but what few souls were still sane. Clevetius was thrown and the stragglers were sliced into pieces, littering the ground in writhing agony before dying.

The newest creatures to enter my sight, the changelings, left their castle after feeling everything was dead and looked in shock that the sand was turned to glass before looking to me as I descend. "What did-?! How did you-?! WHAT ARE YOU?!?!"

I look to them and they seem to have noticed something my eyes could not. Not wanting to question it, I walk up to them, my sword remaining firmly to my back as I look them in the eye. "What I am is of little importance. Who I am is of greater concern, for introductions."

"Indeed." A voice, almost seductive, walked out from the structure with a body most women kill themselves trying to get. The woman was tall too, around 179cm from the looks of it, and garbed in a dress that was showing a good bit of leg. My vision started to change a bit as I saw her soul and the soul that had just passed me, the latter resting in her uterus. "And for something that looks like us, you are certainly much stronger." She circled me, imitating the action of other predators sizing their prey. "How does one come to obtain such power?"

She wrapped her arms around me, thinking I was born with this power. "Training." And I was right as she was rubbing my cheek thinking I was being coy. "I'm not joking ma'am. I did so much training I needed an anchor to keep me from losing my soul. That anchor, subsequently, was my wife." The woman looked almost... pondering. "If I was born with these powers I would be insulted, but I trained to get where I am."

She crossed her arms under her bust, pushing them up. "So then, would you care to help my hive?" She was still being seductive. "After all, with your teachings, they will be the strongest force in the world."

"Or dead." He almost lustful look turned to defensive. "How much power do you thing I used against those things?" She shrugged her shoulders. "More than I should have. It was overkill." She look baffled for a moment before I started actively letting my aura go. "My aura is the result of come to understand my own abilities. I didn't conquer my power to dominate or destroy." I then started restraining my aura again. "But given your situation, maybe you need the help on a different matter at a different time."

She look a bit skeptical as she pondered a thought. "You... know?" I simply nodded and headed inside, waiting for the call, even telling the woman, Chrysalis, about what was happening and what will happen soon, about my eventual departure to kill the source and sealing myself for something personal. When she asked about what I held firm. She was more respectful than I gave her credit for and simply nodded as I soon lifted myself off the ground, my beads and sword floating behind me with the grimoire before me. My own form of meditation stance. Keeping this up was demanding, but not exhausting as it refined the mind and spirit, as long as I forget all physical distraction and let my mind guide me, not wander off.

===

I had been out for an hour at best and still no call. Whatever is happening, the transportation must need some work. Then again, the larger dragons could carry the others or haul large cars carrying the army in question. Not sure how they'll do it, if they aren't already, but I know planting seeds too soon or late makes a bad crop and withered harvest. I may teach someone my ways, but after the basics, they were on their own.

Leaving my position, I start to navigate the massive hive and see the many rooms it had. A few had citizen residents and barracks while fewer had food and water in what little they could get. Whatever they ate was certainly not enough though. I soon found myself in a lavish room with a giant rock that resembled a seat for a throne. On it was Chrysalis, her legs swinging absently. I left the room as she had not noticed me just yet.

Looking more I come into a room that was well decorated and with a large bed. My body still not fully rested, two days being short sleep from one heavy aura use after another, I pass out on the bed.

==Chrysalis POV==

I headed to my room after a long day, bored out of my mind and ready to sleep until I see that creature in my bed. I was ready to fry him when I felt something that rare do I feel from any creature. Many ponies, after a breakup, feel a vain sense of abandonment and spite. Many of them cling to their last love like a cockroach, hoping they could get back with them or back at them. This creature has a genuine feeling, not out of spite or hate, but isolation. I look to his face and while he may look peaceful, his tears told a different story. Concern. Grief. Despair. Worry. He wasn't hateful. He was afraid. I look into his tears and see a woman. A woman as outlandish to him as he to me, was before him. And he held her as a beautiful maiden without equal.

She, from what I could see, held him as a gentle man with a firm heart. And what the tears show me was their separation. I could then hear, and feel, this creature's grief, his torment and his isolation. Before my cries could wake him, I exited my room to cry in solace. I had not known until now, the reason he was so... aggressive. He was... truly alone. I knew once he left that my chances for power would slip. But I was seducing him for his power after the loss he'd been through. 'I'm disgusting.'

==My POV==

I woke from my sleep, feeling rested after seeing my lady again. I felt rested and even... warm again. I get off the bed, my items coming to me and taking their respective place on my person before I leave the room to see Chrysalis with a helmet in her hands. "What is-" She just hands it to me with a warm feeling.

"A symbol of our acquaintanceship." I nod and put it on, proud to wear it. "I'm sorry for my attempts, so while it may not be enough, I want to show my apologize." I just nod with a smile before I feel my feather. "You were out for a day. We won't join the fight, we can't." She looks to her hive then back to me. "But you will be rewarded and compensated for you help and my impudence." She bowed and her subject object but I did so louder with a stomp making her stand, startled.

My gaze was enough to catch her. "Don't ever bow to me again. If we are friends, say so." She simply nodded as I stepped upon Clevetius and flew off.

===

I was above a city that looked to be built on a mountain side. Dragon, Minotaur, Zebra, Griffon, Pony and the newly recruited Caribou, from the looks of it, were fighting the twisted ones along side a pony that held wings and a horn with a blazing red mane. The pony was a tall one, about 182cm and well blessed. Her magic was hurting these things but something was off. I look to see the others fighting a large collection of corpses making a body. The fight was intense, but neither was the source. Closing my eyes, my senses become a sonar of spiritual presence, perceiving what my eyes would be unable to find.

Clevetius whirls and strikes the source of the chaos, buried inside the shambling body of corpses. My attention locked, I draw and open my book to a a few pages. First was three of the four core limbs with the Jupiter Dive, a Spirit Furnace inspired by the GN drive and the open arm slot was loaded with an arm from the 'Horseman' outfit, 'War'. The setup complete, my beads circle my waist as lightning leaps from my body to Clevetius, the Guardian's body emitting energy that solidifies into a massive sword. I join it on the battle field as my own energy forms a sword out of flesh.

With our weapons selected, Clevetius and I rush the corpse collection and start slashing away at it. Due to the monumental amount of bodies making this thing, and the fact the source was trying it's best to stay alive and redraw the dead bodies to the thing it created around it, it took strong and wide sweeping slashes with sawtooth amounts of ripping to damage the bodies more than with just slashing them to bits. After which the source of the twisted was revealed, a pony who looked truly twisted in the face. I would spare this pony if he just got physical with someone or hid behind a mask, but this was too far for redemption. Defiling the dead, threatening the world's balance, murder, genocide - this was too far. Clevetius' armaments detached and the closed pages of my book glowed as they were sealed back inside and it turned back into a sword. Charging all of my spirit power into the weapon, a single slash was sent through the who body after finding the source, cleaving it and the monster in two before the spirit power burned away at the entities.

I had definitely used too much, but with this, the entity would be dead, if not for a while. My senses picked up one more disturbance but my will was too weak to carry my weapon. So it stabbed the ground, my mind figuring it would be used later. Keeping my book on me, the beads circle Clevetius as I fly off to the remaining disturbance.

The journey, thanks to some practice from my sword, was short and sweet. As I flew down, images of my wife, Alexie, flashed before me. I felt my tears stream my face to my hair as I charged on final aura ability. I slammed the ground and closed my eyes as this ability would drain everything I had. 'See you soon, my angel.'

Author's Note

If anyone could tell me what that sword is from the (first) image, that would be much appreciated. Thank you.