Author's Note

Major character death ahead!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Megalomania.

Megalomania.

«Commander Kolivan. An unknown ship is approaching the planet. It's captain has sent a message. It sounds like he wishes to speak to you and the princesses, as well as Sir Diego.» Kolivan heard as he was in his quarters.

"What kind of ship is it? Does it have a name?" Kolivan asked.

«It appears to be a small shuttle with modified engines. The captain of the ship says it is called the First Thinker. And the captain's name is Lotor.» The Blade reported.

"Very well. Have a squadron of fighters escort him to the Fantasia hangar. Have the pilots then escort him to the throne room."

«Understood, commander.»

Leaving the dying forest, I feel refreshed and energised.

Notice: Incoming message from commander Kolivan.

«Come in Diego. I need you to come to the throne room.»

"What's up?" I asked.

«A shuttle is landing and it's captain is asking for an audience with us.»

"Understood. Heading to the throne room immediately."

«Are you sure you are alright, Diego? You have been acting differently.» Kolivan asked.

"Don't worry, Kolivan. I'm feeling fine, especially just now. Anyway, we can talk about that later, I'll see you in the throne room." I said to Kolivan, hanging up and flying towards the capital.

Arriving in record time, I teleported straight to the throne, materializing in the center.

"Diego. You received Kolivan's message?" Luna asked me.

"Yup. I'm guessing Kolivan's on his way?" I asked, not seeing the commander in the room.

"Yes. He said he will be here shortly." Luna answered. A dobosh later, Kolivan stepped into the throne room, coming to stand next to me.

"Hello, commander." I greeted him.

"Greetings, Diego." He responded. A few doboshes later, a squad of Blades in pilot uniforms entered, ushering in a galra with long white hair. Princess Celestia stepped forward as the pilots separated.

"Greetings. I am princess Celestia, co-ruler of Arcadia alongside my sister, princess Luna." Celestia introduced herself, Luna stepping forward as well.

"Ah yes. The two princesses of day and night. I have heard much about you two. The galaxy is abuzz with talk of your world." The galra said in a deep, smooth and charming voice. "And you must be commander Kolivan, leader of the Blades of Marmora. It is an honour to meet you." The galra faced Kolivan. He then turned to me. "And, the one all that galaxy spoke of. The White Knight, Diego. It is an honour." The galra spoke, coming to kneel in front of me.

"Now now. That isn't necessary. Please, stand and tell us your name." I said to him.

"Of course. I am Lotor, the First. But you may call me your new lord and master." Lotor said calmly. It took a moment for us all to register his words.

"What?" Celestia asked as Kolivan reached for his pistol.

"I will be your new lord and master. You may all bow before me." Lotor ordered before looking at me. "Execute Program 0." Lotor ordered.

É̵̺n̸͊͜g̷͎̀à̴̹g̶̨̒ě̴̤.̸̱́

Diego bowed before Lotor.

"Diego? What are you doing?" Celestia asked as both Luna and Kolivan stared at him with bewilderment.

"Following orders." Diego responded.

"Something's wrong." Luna said.

"Be silent, please." Lotor ordered again.

"What have you done to him?" Luna questioned as she pointed her horn at Lotor.

"Taken control of his artificial intelligence, what else? Now, I believe I ordered you to be silent." Lotor glared at Luna. Diego rose from his bow, appearing in front of Luna and clamping her mouth shut with a titanium grip, causing Luna to mutely yelp in pain.

"Luna!" Celestia exclaimed in panic, moving to help her sister. Diego grabbed her by the mouth as well, hoisting then both up into the air.

Kolivan, as well as the Blade pilots all drew their weapons, pointing them at Lotor.

"Ah-ah-ah. I'd be careful where you point those. You wouldn't want your friend to accidently slip, would you?" Lotor suggested as Diego squeezed both princesses harder, causing them to cry out in pain. The Blades loved their guns.

"That's-" Lotor was interrupted by Luna phasing out of Diego's grip, enveloping her sister as Diego tried to fire at her. Moving away from Diego, Luna deposited Celestia down before spreading behind Lotor, a tendril of darkness at his throat.

"Release him, now!" Luna ordered.

"And why would I do that?" Lotor asked condescendingly. Before Luna could respond, she heard her sister cry out in pain. Diego had moved behind Celestia, painfully holding both her arms behind her back with one hand and gripping the back of her head with the other. "Now, you have two choices." Lotor began.

"Release me and guarantee the safety of your sister or watch as your friend fires at her from point blank. And from what I can see, his firepower is incredibly powerful." Lotor explained, looking at a hole in the wall that was caused when Diego tried to shoot Luna. Luna kept her hold on Lotor. Diego's hand began glowing behind Celestia's head. Celestia looked Luna in the eyes. She was scared.

Luna released Lotor.

"That's better. Now then." Lotor snapped his fingers. Everyone in the room, sans Lotor, was knocked out by Diego, leaving them all sprawled on the ground. Suddenly, the throne room doors burst open.

"We heard gunfire, what's-" Spitfire abruptly stopped as she and the other captains stormed in. "What's going on?" She asked as they saw all the people unconscious on the floor.

"It seems we have some uninvited guests. Diego, deal with them." Lotor ordered. Diego pointed his hand at his friends, charging a shot. All of them jumped aside to avoid it. The blast passed by, going through multiple walls.

"Diego, what are-" Hammer tried to ask before Diego appeared in front of him. He screamed as Diego jabbed him with his taser katar, making him spasm from the electricity.

"Zeta configuration!" Shining Armour called out as he ran to Kolivan, picking him up in his magic. Diego tried to attack him but was stopped by Night Slash pouncing on him, scratching him with his claws. Diego grabbed Night Slash by the neck, slamming him into the ground. Diego raised his hand, ready to shoot Night. Spitfire kicked him from the air. Diego grabbed her arm in retaliation, his Bayard transforming in his hand.

Spitfire screamed as her bicep was separated from her shoulder.

"NO!" Spell Blade, Hammer Strike, Shining Armour and Night Slash all yelled in horror.

"Diego, stop this! You have to-" Spell Blade stopped mid sentence. He couldn't feel his lungs anymore. Couldn't feel his heart beating. Diego had fired a hole, straight through his chest. Spell Blade fell to the ground.

Hammer Strike screamed as he charged at Diego, Flickstone in hand. Hammer Strike hit Diego with all his strength. Diego didn't even flinch as he caught the hammer. Hammer Strike looked at him with confusion and fear. Right until Diego's fist caved in his face, staining the white armour red.

Shining Armour was shaking. Kolivan fell out of his grip. His knife flew out of its sheath, shifting into it’s great sword form. It then began to glow but it was a sickly purple glow. His eyes glowed yellow, his irises turning blood red. His sword transformed, becoming bigger and sharper, jagged points growing from it, deforming it.

His pale skin slowly shifted to a dark grayish-purple. His face began changing, forming rasin purple streaks up his cheeks. Before Diego could even react, Shining Armour punched him in the back, sending them hurtling through the hole Diegocreated, his new jagged sword now humming in his hand.

"What's this? Are you galra, boy? Well, it won't matter. Diego, kill him." Lotor ordered. Diego raised his energy sword, Spitfire's blood burned onto it. Diego charged at Shining Armour. Shining Armour charged back.