Sentinel of the Everfree

Chapter 3: Memories

Nopony answered the door, Shadowblaze knocked again. No answer. He cautiously opened the door and peeked inside.

"Hello?" He called out, "Anypony home?" Once again, no answer. He entered the lonely cabin and slowly closed the door behind him. You're making things worse. The statement assaulted his mind like an aggressive creature. He clutched his head for a moment, the statement seemed to echo in his mind. Don't play dumb. He growled and rubbed his head, as if he was getting a headache. He cantered over to a ladder that was obviously out of place and didn't belong. He studied it for a moment, and then looked up to see where it lead. The upper floor, idiot. Shadowblaze growled angrily, almost sounding like a rabid dog. "Get out of my head!" He warned. He then ascended the ladder slowly, as if expecting something to be up there. When he got to the top, he began studying the room before him. It seemed like a modest bedroom, nothing too advanced, but nothing that seemed to degrade it. He waltzed over to the bed and laid on it. "I could use some rest." He mumbled. "I haven't slept for days." With that, he closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

"Fears will only be conquered with perseverance." -Old Equestrian Verse

Shadowblaze found himself in The Void, a place that Luna had told him and the other Lunar Guards about. It was cold, empty, dark, and depressing. The Void is where ponies were judged. Anypony's spirit that left, never returned. They would either go to Tartarus, or Tantalus. He then saw him, The Sentinel himself. Something was off, however, his face had one feature. A mouth. Shadowblaze stared at the Sentinel, but then, he spoke.

"Hello, Shadowblaze..." He spoke, his voice as piercing as a winter night's cold.

"You...I'll find you, and tear you limb from limb! In the name of the Princess! Vivu la Nok-" He stopped. His eyes became the size of saucers. He was staring at something he could not take his eyes off. The mutilated body of his wife. "Cabrill?!"

"Why, Shadow? Why didn't you stop him?" Cabrill spoke, despite her jaw being dislocated.

"Stop who? You were mauled by an Ursa!" Shadowblaze responded. "He had nothing to do with it!"

The Sentinel smiled, revealing jagged teeth. "I had everything to do with it. Those weren't Ursa claw wounds, but tentacle lashes. You are much more gullible than I thought."

"I WILL END YOU!!!! YOU HEAR ME? I WILL FIND YOU, AND MAKE YOU BEG ME TO BUCKING DIE!!!!" Shadowblaze bellowed.

"Looks like someone is a little feisty." The Sentinel snarked. "Face it Shadowblaze...I Win...Simple as that. Also, say hi to Draco for me, because I'm coming for him next." The Sentinel and Cabrill then vanish into a puff of whitish smoke as Shadowblaze returns to reality.

"The most terrifying part of war, is the effect it has on the mind." -Princess Celestia

Shadowblaze woke with a start, and wasted no time, he broke through the window and took wing, giving him birds-eye view of the entire forest. He spotted a familiar shape moving among the trees. Blinded by rage, he tucked his wings in and eagle-dived towards the outline. He slams into the pony at speeds that would challenge Rainbow Dash's nosedives. He straightens himself up after impact and gets ready to murder the pony he was currently on top of. Sent into an animalistic fury, he grabbed the pony's foreleg and tore it clean off, not even realizing who he was dismembering. He then sank his massive fangs into the pony's skin, drawing blood easily, he then looked straight into the pony's face, seeing nothing but a smiling Sentinel staring back at him. Little did he know, that it was just a figment of his imagination. He headbutted his quarry four times, before back-hoofing his target. That's right, engorge! Feed off your rage!!! Shadowblaze continued to beat the living sense out of the pony, and he then sank his teeth into the hip joint of the pony's right leg. Using the immense strength that he gained from the armor feeding off his anger and turning it into raw power, he tore the leg off using only his fangs. He then looked into the pony's face once more, and saw a terrified Lunar Guard. At that moment his rage ended, and he saw what he had done. Blood strewn everywhere, four holes where his fangs found their mark, a twitching and terrified Lunar Guard, and two severed limbs. Shadowblaze studied the scene. Taking in what HE had done. He then looked into the guard's face, he was staring at his brother. See? You were so enraged, you lost sight of who you were hurting. Have fun. Draco was covering his face with his remaining hoof, terrified at the, the, creature his brother had become. Shadowblaze stared for a moment, then got up and leaned up against a tree, burying his face in his hooves.

"Rage is blinding, but powerful, Happiness is clarity, but weak." -Nightmare Moon

At the entrance to the Everfree, five mares stood, peering inside. One a earth pony, two pegasi, and two unicorns. They didn't look like much, but there was more to them then met the eye.

"Alright girls, I actually think from based on what Rainbow found, Applejack was taken by the Slendermane." Twilight chirped. "We'd best be careful. Rainbow, Fluttershy, I want you two to search from the air, Rarity and I will search on the ground, and Pinkie...well, just be careful."

"Okie dokie Loki!" Pinkie replied, taking off into the forest quickly before anypony could say anything to stop her.

"Don't worry Twilight, we'll find that creepy little bucker." Rainbow said, beaming with pride. "Come on Flutters, let's go!" With that, Rainbow took off into the sky, Fluttershy reluctantly following.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go find that barbarian!" Rarity said. She had her own opinion, he was barbaric with the shameless murder of ponies, but at least he had a good taste in fashion.

"Alright, let's go get the Sentinel." Twilight said, with that, she took off into the woods, Rarity close behind.

"Evil fears, what it cannot defeat." -Shining Armor