"Are you fucking insane?!"

Those were the first words uttered from Selene's mouth when I was done explaining what I was going to do. And they were words that were etched with nought but concern. For some inexplicable reason, Selene was very worried for my well being, despite only knowing each other for a few hours. But that did not stop her in the least.

"I said it before and I'll say it again. There is no other way I'd be able to save them, and if there were any other way, I'd be more than happy to use them, but as it stands, this is my only option." I said.

My goal was easier said than done. I planned to sneak through the palace, find and rescue the Elements of Harmony. But, like all plans, there were innumerable amount of variables.
How many guards were there? Where were they placed? How skilled are they? What is their equipment like? Are there traps? So many to account for, it honestly hurt to think about. But as I said, I didn't have any other choices.

"Look, I know your skilled at your profession, but Sombra's trained guards are in there, corrupted by his magic to make them more powerful."

"Well if the Canterlots guard is anything to go by, that doesn't mean much." I joked in hopes to lighten the mood. It didn't work.

"This isn't a laughing matter! You could die!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. This didn't sit well with the white Lycan in front of me. The look she gave me said everything I needed to know.

"My life has been in danger more times than I can count. Being a Bounty Hunter, it does that, it comes with the territory." I said, my words seemingly putting her at ease, even if just a little bit.

"Ok, fine." She conceded. "Just promise you'll come back."

"Why is it your so concerned for my well being? Why is it you care for a person you've known for a handful of hours?"

She seemed to be taken aback by my question. A surprised expression made its way onto her face. Brushing a lock of her dark sliver hair out her face, she placed her hand on her opposite arm, rubbing it slightly. She looked embarrassed.

"As cliché as this sounds, I didn't have a lot of friends growing up, being left to myself mostly, others seeing me as odd, even as I got older. So when you and the others actually accepted my conversation attempts, it felt nice." She said, her ears flattening back on her head. "I don't know...it just feels nice to have someone I can at least talk to."

Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, I gave a small squeeze, doing my best to alleviate any fears she may have.

"I swear upon my forefathers of old, that I may return alive and well. I promise you this."

"Ok." She whispered, giving a small nod.

Giving her a soft pat, I turned away, steeling my resolve and made my way past the palace. Walking towards higher ground, I made sure I wasn't being watched or followed and crouched down, pulling out my amban rifle, unscrewing the scope to use as a small, makeshift telescope.
Bringing it to my eye, I switched the scope to inferred and looked to a series of windows near ground level. They appeared to be rather unguarded and seemed easy enough to get to. I looked around my side of the palace and noticed a suspicious lack of guards. This had me worried, surely Sombra would have placed more around or have patrols in place, but there was near enough nothing. Just the occasional guard here and there. He's planning something. And nothing good.

Quickly jogging to the underside of the windows, I launched the wire from my vambrace, using it as a grappling hook stand-in. Making sure it was secure, I extended small spikes from the soles of my boots and steadily ascended, using the sheer surface of the palace wall as my means of affixing my feet. Climbing through the window as discreetly as I could and began stalking the halls of the maze of corridors. It was easy enough to avoid any who I came across, hiding behind statues that occasionally dotted the long hallway.

Despite my observation earlier, I was now coming across far more guards that I entered the palace. A few times I had become close to being caught, but narrowly avoided detection, fortunately. But it was not looking good. I couldn't go more than a few metres before having to hide. This was going to take longer than I initially expected.

Eventually, I knew, my apparent luck would have to run out.

While sneaking the halls, I came across a patrol of three. They were well-armed, two of them appeared to be of average build, one being a unicorn and the other a Pegasus. The Unicorn was shorter than the Pegasus, But the third one was a massive Earth-pony on both height and build. And I was out of cover to hide behind.

"Hey! Intruder! Stop!" The Pegasus shouts, swiftly gaining the attention of the other two.

Inwardly cursing myself, I stood to my full height, stepping out into the middle of the hall, keeping my side to them, while making sure they were still within my line of sight.

"State your business here or you'll be forced off the premises." The Pegasus said, pointing his halberd at me.

"Come any closer and I'll rip out your intestines and strangle you with them," I said, lowering the pitch of my voice to come across as menacing as possible.

As I said that, the Unicorn began whispering to the large Earth-pony, pulling his arming sword out its sheathe. Once he was done, the large pony hefted his Dane axe off his shoulders, a sadistic grin spreading over his helmeted, but visible face.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho. This is going to be fun." He said, his deep voice booming across the corridor.

Knowing I was now in some deep shit, my hand rushed down to my hip and pulled out my Messer. The blade vibrating at an astonishing rate. Getting into a wrath stance, I tightly gripped the straight, leather-bound handle and placed the blade just above my shoulder.

Accepting my challenge, the large earth-pony taking long strides towards me with malicious intent. As he made his way to me, he held the equally large axe in both his hands, getting ready to cleave me in half.
Closing my eyes, I released a breath to focus. I felt the heavy steps of the earth-pony in the ground coming quickly at me and waited for the right moment.

As I felt his movement slow suddenly, my eyes burst open, swinging my Messer out, it came into contact with the handle of his axe, the wooden frame putting up no resistance against the vibrating blade, a clean-cut dividing the two halves. Due to the shortening of the long handle, the axe head was sent off course and into the dark marble floor mere inches from my foot.

A look of shock took over the Earth-ponies face, I took this opening to deliver a solid kick to his stomach, sending him stumbling back to his peers, who had the same expression as their colleague. Getting into a low stance, I looked between the three before me and issued one last warning.

"Come any closer and I'll shove my foot so far up your arse you'll have toes for teeth," I said.

This didn't sit well with the Ponies in front of me, as the two who were still armed rushed forward, raising their weapons to strike. Switching the vibrating blade off, I inverted my grip and grabbed the blade portion. Once in range, I used the blunt pommel as a makeshift club, impacting the face of the Unicorn, knocking him to the ground with a thump.

Ducking down, barely dodging a massive swing from the Pegasus, I thrust the tip of the blade into the opening in his shoulder, cutting deep and through the other side. Ripping it out in a spray of blood, I leaned back to avoid a hack from the now recovered Earth-ponies broken axe head. Rapping my arms around the waist of the Earth-pony, I used his momentum against him and arched my back, brutally ramming his face into the solid stone floor, knocking him out cold.

Getting up from my position on the ground, I readied myself for another attack, but none came. Looking down, I saw I had the three on the floor, either unconscious or rolling on the floor in pain. So much for being powerful.
Walking over to the still conscious Pegasus, I grabbed him by the collar of his armour and pulled him up to meet my gaze.

"Now you're going to tell me where the Elements of Harmony are being held or my fist is going to be well acquainted with your face. Now talk." I said, raising my clenched fist to his face to emphasize my point.

"You'll have to beat me for that." He said, a smug grin accompanying his pained expression.

"Well, let's get to it then, shall we?" I said before my fist collided with his muzzle.

PoV shift: Applejack

To say this is not good would the understatement of the bucking century.

How could this happen so fast? We were caught completely off guard, with us being captured and tied up in chains with Shining Armour and Cadence. Anypony else was slaughtered like they were nothing. Their screams of agony are now permanently burned into the deepest parts of my mind. Never in my life am I going to be able to forget what happened outside. But what had me concerned the most was that Twilight, Spike and Fen were nowhere to be seen.

Just as I was starting to fear the worst, I heard the throne room doors open. I look up to see a guard walking up to Sombra with a look of apprehension.

"What news do you bring me Major?" Sombra asked.

"Sire, we have looked over the palace grounds, however, we've been unsuccessful in finding any trace of them. All we could find were the unconscious bodies of echelon 6." She said nervously.

Sombra simply stared down at the unfortunate mare. leaning back into the throne, he gave out a long, drawn-out sigh. Anxiously waiting for his reaction, the Major fidgeted slightly behind her back.

"And is there a reason for this, Major?" Sombra asked calmly.

The Major opened her mouth to answer, but no sound could be heard. It was like the words got caught in her throat. Unable to answer, the mare bowed her head, diverting her eyes down, suddenly fascinated by the ground beneath her.

"I have given you all the resources you would need to be able to find them. And yet here you are, standing before me, empty-handed." Sombra said. "I'll ask again. Is there a reason for this incompetency?"

"I have no excuse for the lack of results, your grace." She said, her voice cracking slightly.

"Very well." He said, his seemingly passive demeanour putting the guards present on edge, even if they're not dealing with him directly. Slamming the arms of the throne, Sombra stood quickly, his face contorting into an ugly snarl. "Double the search! I will not have my plans foiled by a child and a vagabond! Find them!"

Everypony jumped at this abrupt change in emotion, the suddenness of the noise causing poor Shy to pass out. Scrambling out the room, all but a couple of guards left to try and find our friends. As much as I feared for their safety, deep down I knew they wouldn't be found.

Taking a deep breath, Sombra softly sat back down, closing his eyes as he did so, muttering to himself in a language I wasn't familiar with. Hours went by. Hours of silence from the search parties, as well as the additions that were sent to aid them. Hours that finally allowed me to take in Sombra appearance. He looked like nothing I expected.

Clad in thick segmented armour, a long tattered red cape with a white fur neck swept over his shoulders, a large pauldron overlapping his left, a small chain connecting both sides. A long battle skirt stopping at his knees protected his lower half, his hooves clad in similarly thick armoured boots. All in all, his armour almost reflected his kingly status.

His face, however, was a different story entirely. His mane was a warm black, specks of grey dotted here and there. His eye was a bright crimson, with the sclera being a near neon green, a purple mist emanating from them. A deep scar running from his left temple running down his eye, turning it a milky white and lacking the colour of the other, and further down his neck. All supported on a well-chiselled jawline. It was clear he was once a handsome stallion.

Just as Sombra's frustration was at its pique, that was when a sound started coming from the large pair of doors. A sort of ticking sound. it was faint, but it was there. The girls and Sombra also seemed to notice as well, looking to the doors in confusion. Seconds later the ticking quickened in pace, becoming a rapid beat. And in an instant, the once large doors were consumed by a bright ball of fire, causing splinters to start flying, forcing us to look away.

When the smoke and debris cleared, we looked over to the mess of wood and crystals, the nearby area scorched black and partially melted by the intensity of the explosion. And out of the smoke came a figure, one that we all least expected.

Fendral.

We tried calling him, but our exclamations were smothered by the tight face masks we were forced to wear. Walking without pausing, he quickly continued down the long throne hallway, a heaviness in his step and his fists clenched.

"Sombra!" He shouted. "I'm gonna use you fucking intestines as god damn jumps ropes! "

My eyes widened at this statement. I've never seen Fen this angry before. He's only ever been mildly frustrated, only raising his voice rarely, if at all. But now? He was in a rage. And it scared me.
Looking to the others, I saw they had the same look of concern as me, though Shining and Cadence weren't as surprised as they don't know him as well as we do.

"A bold statement from one in your position," Sombra said, indicating to me and the others.

Fen looked to us and for a moment, a very brief moment, he seemed to calm slightly. But as soon as it came, the rage intensified. His body visibly tensed, his fists clenched so tight the gloves could be heard stretching and his breathing deepened, becoming quicker.

Reaching down, he unsheathed his sword with a high pitched ring of steel and standing with it in front of him. Sombra didn't react to this, he simply looked at Fen with an unamused look, almost like he just didn't care. Standing, Sombra walk the stairs down to the base of the throne.

"You would be wise to surrender," Sombra said, while walking the steps, his voice an icy cold tone.

Fen didn't respond, deepening his stance and gripping his sword tightly. Closing his eyes, Sombra only gave an irritated sigh.

"So be it." He said.

Before his words could register, Sombra blasted Fen from his feet, sending him tumbling down the throne rooms long corridor and to where the doors used to be, with Sombra not far behind. All we could do was give out muffled screams of fright. Fen may be tough, but there was only so much his armour could do. And before we knew it, they were gone, out the remnants of the doors to Faust knows where.

Hearing the sound of chains falling, I looked back to see Rarity unlocking the binding we were held in, taking the face masks off first.

"Since when were you able to pick locks?" Dash asked once her chains were off, voicing what we were all thinking.

"Remember when I was captured by those vile diamond dogs?" She asked, unlocking Twilights chains as she did.

"I don't think anypony could forget that," I said.

"Well, when I was captured, I was placed in chains much like these and after it all happened, I figured it wouldn't hurt to learn to lockpick. I've become quite proficient at it at this point." She said. It made sense.

"Well, what are we waiting for? We need to help Fen out!" Rainbow said, jumping to her hooves.

"Whoo there! There ain't nothin' we could do to help him." I said, grabbing her tail before she could get any further.

"Are you crazy!? He could die if we don't help!" She shouted.

"I know! But what would you suggest we do? If we try and help, we'll just get in his way and get killed ourselves!" I shouted back.

"Girls! Shouting and yelling won't get us anywhere!" Cadence said, getting in between us. "The only way we may be able to help is by trying to help Twi find the Crystal Heart."

"Well ok then, let's go!" Pinkie said, racing down the throne room, the rest of us following.

PoV shift: Fendral

Coming to a skidding halt, I grunted as I clutched my chest. Beskar may be the best at dispersing blaster bolts and magic, but it doesn't do so well against the kinetic energy it produces. And by fuck does magic fire hurt like a bitch.

Quickly standing, I was barely able to dodge another magic blast as it whizzed by my head by mere centimetres. Looking to Sombra, he looked unimpressed, his hand clasped around his wrist behind his back, almost like he was toying with me.

Deciding to put on some pressure, I rushed forward with my blade on a level plane, Sombra firing off a few bolts, all of which I narrowly avoided. Taking a quick overhead swing, he stepped to the side, taking a quick jab at my ribs, inducing a painful pulse to ripple through my body as he impacted the bruised area he had hit earlier causing me to stagger slightly. Swinging my sword for his head, Sombra simply ducked, receiving another jab from the tyrant king, to which I responded by barging into his chest with my armoured shoulders.

Stumbling back, I pressed my own advantage. Half swording, I rammed my pommel into his face, a satisfying crack resounding throughout the room. Spinning around, I slapped him with the flat of my blade, sending him off balance into the wall behind him. Attempting to stab him, I aimed for his heart, but my aim was not true. Sending my blade through his shoulder, I earned a pained scream. Only to be punted back by a telekinetic burst, the grip on my sword now broken.

Once again landing on my back, I hastily got up and looked up to see Sombra pulling my sword from his shoulder, throwing it haphazardly to the side. An amused snarl now adorned his face, blood flowing down his face from his newly broken nose.

"So there is bite behind the bark? Good. It will do you well" He said. "Time to get serious."

As the words registered in my brain, Sombra released a powerful blast wave. I attempted to evade the attack, but it launched me backwards through a window behind me, send me plummeting down to the streets below. Rushing for my bowie knife from its sheathe from my lower back, I forced it through the hardened crystal wall in hopes to decrease my speed.
Landing on the ground below me with a thud, I quickly surveyed the immediate area for any civilians. Once I made sure the street was empty, I heard a crash behind me. Whipping around, I saw Sombra standing before me, my sword in hand. Then he did something I did not expect.

He threw my sword to my feet. And he soon caught on to my confusion.

"I know a warrior when I see one. I will give you the honour of a warriors death."

I was honestly surprised, this guy is a tyrant, bad through and through. Yet here he stood, giving me this chance. He was honouring my people's way, even if it had a subtle threat behind it, but I knew he wouldn't keep this honour.

Nodding my head in acknowledgement, I picked my sword from the ground and got into a fools guard stance, Sombra made his prepared himself. Reaching to his back, he pulled out an axe. It was a rather unorthodox design, having a handle big enough for two handing, but small enough for single-handing. The head was almost akin to an executioners axe, but smaller and had a wider profile and was adorned by what looked like Nordic runes. As I said, unorthodox.

Taking a wrath stance, we both locked eyes. For what felt like an eternity, we both stood there like statues in silence, observing each other, waiting for the other to make a move. Finally, Sombra made a move.

Leaping the distance with a surprising amount of speed, I quickly deflected the incoming strike to the side, using my momentum to give a quick slash to his back. Spinning around, he swung for my head, I ducked down and when it passed, I slammed my pommel against his chin, uppercutting him. Stumbling back, he rubbed the area I hit to mitigate the pain.
Taking another stance, I stood my ground.

Grinning, Sombra rushed forward again, going for a sideways swing. Stepping back, I used the opening to try and stab his side, only to have it swatted away by the butt of his axe at the last moment. Slamming the flat of his blade on the side of my head, he slammed into my chest, knocking me off my footing and onto my back. I rolled away, narrowly evading a powerful overhead strike. Kicking up from the ground, I used the momentum to stab the leather opening in his armour.

My aim was true and the point of my sword drove through the leather joint and the other side in a gush of blood, Sombra yelling out as the blade ripped through his flesh. His horn started glowing and I soon found myself flying through the air as he hit me point blank with a blast of magic. Landing in a painful crash, I felt a few ribs breaking with the immense force produced by the blow. Looking up, I saw Sombra pulling my sword out his shoulder, causing more blood to rush out the wound. His attention now on me, he started walking over to me, a dark chuckle ripple through his throat, his grin never leaving his now bloodied face.

"It would seem I underestimated you. You are far more competent than I realized. You at least have my respect. But like all things, the fun and games end here." He said, his horn glowing once more.

I felt the control of my body become lost as a green and purple energy enveloped me, my joints locking in place, unable to move. Quickly, the numbness subsided as my body was forcibly spread out, leaving me vulnerable and quickly levitated up into the air. Spinning around, my front now facing the ground, Sombra made a gesture, and I was smashed into the crystalline floor and was levitated back up, only to be met with the same fate as before. Up, down. Up, down. Again and again. I felt as each blow was made. I felt as each blow created a cavity in the once well-crafted ground. I felt as each dent and scar was made upon my armour. I felt everything. And all I could do was scream.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stopped and let me go. Groaning, I wedged myself out of the hole created by my body. Thankfully my armour had taken most of the hits, but my left arm and a few more ribs were definitely broken. My armour may be strong, but it's not invulnerable. Feeling a foot on my side, I was flipped over to see Sombra standing over me, a complacent look on his face. Humming slightly, he simply put his axe back in its holster and walked away. And I was not having it.

Grunting, I made my way to my feet, my legs felt like jelly as they tried to hold my weight. Stopping in his tracks, Sombra spun to meet my gaze, a bemused look taking over his features.

"You are wasting your breath. It's futile. You are outmatched. You have lost." He said, spreading his arms out to emphasize his point.

"I...am Fendral Marika, a proud Mandalorian warrior. And as long as I have breath in my lungs, I will fight." I wheezed out, gripping my broken arm, my breathing now becoming painful and shallow. "You may break my body, but you will never break my spirit."

"Then perhaps this will demoralise you."

With a pop and bright light, Sombra now had a familiar Lycan within his magical grasp.

"Selene?"

Her once pure white fur was now caked in blood that had previously not been there. A look of fear could be seen in her bright blue and green eyes. And it was easy to see why. She must have been captured along with the others.

Acting out of pure instinct, my hand rushed down to my thigh, hastily pulling out my pistol and held the trigger slightly longer. Releasing it, a powerful bolt fired from the muzzle and impacted straight into Sombra's chest at high speeds in a burst of dust, tearing the breastplate clean off its bindings. As he shot backwards from the kinetic force produced, the grip he had on Selene disappeared, dropping her roughly to the floor. Getting up and rushing over to me, she was about to start talking, but I swiftly stopped her.

"Selene, I need you to leave. It doesn't matter where, just away from here." I said.

As she was about to respond, a flash of light came from where Sombra had been, clearly aimed for her head. Pushing Selene out of the way, I found myself in the place where she stood, in line with the incoming magic fire. Once again being flung back, this time with much more force, causing me to spin in mid-air, losing my sense of orientation. Bouncing slightly as I landed, I lay there in a wheezing mess.

Walking out from the smoke and dust, Sombra glared at me with a look of anger, his chest was indented slightly and smoking from the melted metal and burnt leather, leaving a gaping hole in the armour where the breastplate used to be. His horn glowed, as a green and purple aura enveloped Selene, dragging her in front of me a few metres away.

Advancing upon me, Sombra grabbed me by the neck and forced me to my knees, walking behind me once the action was done. With his axe still firm within his grip, he lightly pressed the sharp head on my neck. Even though the armour weave I could still feel its cold bite. Limpley looking up, Selene had a look of horror etched on her face, a sudden realization of what Sombra was doing. Bells tolled in the distance, striking three times to announce an upcoming death.

"And as the bells toll, the demand must be obeyed. Such are the ways. Any last words?"

"Go fuck your self with a rusty screwdriver," I said, the coming out slightly slurred from my injuries.

Sighing irritably, Sombra closed his eyes and raised his axe high into the air, my death incoming. Looking at Selene, tears running down her face, matting her fur, I couldn't help but hang my head slightly.

"I'm sorry," I uttered, my words coming out in a mournful whisper.

As Sombra was about to swing, a loud thunk resounded through the air, emanating from high above the crystal palace. Looking up, I saw a beautiful sight. Atop the crystal palace stood Cadence, Shining Armour and Spike, all holding the Crystal heart, setting it upon its rightful place on its pedestal. A powerful shockwave ripped through Empire, washing away the dark and ushering the light back in. peering over my shoulder, I saw Sombra staring at what was unfolding in front of him, an expression of pure rage dominating his face soon after.

Gripping his axe with both hands, he swung it high above his head in hopes to lop mine off. As his swing came down, I felt a surge of adrenaline course through my body. Catching the handle with my unbroken arm, I tore the axe from his hands and spun to my feet and using the adrenaline rush I felt, I buried the head deep into Sombra exposed chest, a surprised gasp escaping his lips.

Pushing him away with the remains of my strength, Sombra stumbled back, staring dumbly at the mortal wound I caused him and back to me. Seconds later, cracks started opening all across his body, a soft light blue glow seeping through the cracks and the remains of his armour. Soon the glow overtook his entire from, his eyes glowing a brilliant white. Screaming, Sombra body detonated in an explosion of pure white light, the dark clouds above dispersing as the shockwave rippled through the now brightly coloured streets. A horn falling to the ground with a soft clink.

It was over. It was finally over.

Collapsing to my knees, my body gave out under me, exhausted from what it just went through. Rushing to my side, Selene started calling my name, but the sound was muffled as my hearing soon completely went and I eventually fell to my back. As I lay there, my conscious slowly drifting off, a single thought crossed my mind. I thought I couldn't help but voice to the world as fell into the world of dreams.

"I could use some tea right now."

Author's Note

And another
Apologies for the slight delay yet again, I was busy playing doom 2016 for the literal 12th time
I'm actually really happy with how this turned out and its my longest chapter so far, lets hope it gets better from here

Hope you enjoyed regarless
please point out any mistakes I may have made
constructive criticism is always appreciated

P.S. If your not sure what Sombra's armour looks like, well here ya go