Survival

Dusk Shine… Survival

Y̵̧͚̐̀̈̏̿̍͛̌̈́͐͛̊̈ó̶̧̙̫͖̙̠̪͚̭̥͇͋̽̍̅̊̄͐͘ṳ̸̧͈̳̘̗̜̞̥͚̠̹͍̘̼̃́̄̀͗̽͝ ̴̡͕̩̻̰̩͎̜̯̪̼̹͎̫͚̔͌̃̍̅̉̀̆̋̆͒̂͆͠a̴̢̻̥͍͔͉̫͙̤͙̣͕̭̦̽̓̄̓̕̚͜r̷̗̘͉̉͂̌̈́͆̓e̵̬͙̲͒͜ ̴̨̛̙̜̥͎̥̟͔̪̞̻̲̹͌́͌͌̋̄̓̇̓͆̋̋͝ͅͅn̵͖͓͕͇̠̯͙͛̈́́͋̽̽̆̔o̸̢̥̤͚͙̞̺̘͚̗̪͇͛̾̊̎̓̀̅͠ͅͅ ̸̥̲̰͙̮͊̀̂̍̂̄̏͋͒̕͝l̵̳̗͘ȯ̴̻͖̦͎̻̫̦̒́̀̃n̶͚̥͚̖̭͚͖̭̜͖̓͊̈́̓g̶͕͗̃͛́͗̀̉̍ẻ̶̥̯͈̘ṟ̵̫̙̙̫͈̖͕̬͇̎ ̸̟͍͈͎̗̻̔͌̍͜į̶̢̤̲̲̥̘̓͊̈́́̇̽͋̐̕n̷͚͌̉́̒̇̂̉͒̔̆́͌̐̍͝ ̶̢̟̪̻̯̜̱͆̊͛͂̔̈́̅̽̃̏͂̒̀̍͠h̴͙̄͌î̸̢̧̫͇̲̬͜d̴̨̧̧̳̤͚͈̥͈̩̗̏͐̉̔̈́͐̓̓̈̈́̀̊̀̕͜ͅi̸̛̗̭̼̻̎̇̍̍̈́̈́̂̾̀͘͜ͅn̸͚͉̬̮̼͚̩̹͚͔̔̿͑̎̈̎͝͝ͅg̸̛̦̣̙͎̦̓͒̏̕͝͝.̸̨͈̠̙͉̞̣̹̿̾̑͜ͅ.̷̡̼̖̟̮̲̼͕̝̺̤̀̂̿͂͒̏̈́̔̆͝͠͠.̸̺̾̏̀ͅ ̶͓̟̳̓̃̊̇̀̒̑̈̀̄͜H̴̛͍̘̩͓̺͓̩͚̖͊̀́̾͑̌̆̒̇̽̉̕ę̴̝̻̻͍͎̗̤̙̥̟͍̳̒͑̏̍͐̒͋̈́́̉̍̆̕͝͠ ̶̢̺̝̬͉̩̪̺͎̫͕̙̦̾͌̌͝͠w̸̰̯̤͓͔̞̼̮͕̓͒̄̆͗̌͑̅͐̕͜͝i̶͚̲͌͌̂͊͋̌͐̚̕͝l̸̢̡͉̜͇͓̘͚̫̣͕͖̓͒̒̔͝l̷̡̰͑̈̑͜ ̷̛̠͎̯̐̔̏̀͆̔̎͐͆͂͝͝ḅ̷͓̞̖͖͖̳̪̈́̈́̀͂̃̌͒͒͗͂̎̑̈́͗͠ͅę̶̘͖̥̐̏̓̂ͅ ̸͙̻͗̔͐̕͘͝͝n̸̰̹͙̪̟͖̦͇͚͎̝̤͒͗̌̒͗̽͆͜͝ę̸͍͎̓̄͂x̸̢̧̻̙̪̘̀̽̄̇̏͑̈̄̌̔͑̅̐̕͜t̶̨̨͕̻͔̯̦͖̟͇̥͖͊͐̋͗̆̽̕ͅ.̴̧̢̙̯͚̩̼̤̬͍̝̯̰̒̅͐͂͜͠.̸̣̹̠͙̦͖̌̒̃̓̓̿͜.̶̯̓̍́̈́́̉̇̊̀̒̿̄̾͆͝ ̶̨̧̻̫̹̦͍͇̦̼̫̂̋̂̌̋̃̀͆̉̕͘͝I̴̢̭̠͔̠̳̳̦̪̭̥̟͑̑̑͗͊͗̃̓̈́͌͑̚͘͜͝ͅ ̴̨̡̪̤̮͇̰̬͍͕̙̙͐̎̄͜w̷̫̞͓̔̓̈͗̀̾̌̈́̑̔̕͠i̶͍̯̦̟͈̞̓̌̓̋̀̏͌̕̚l̷̘̪̪̫̞̺͔͍̫̳̙͆̕l̶̙̦͓̻̗̘̫͈̗̊̔̑ ̸̨̧̝̙͚̜̘̂͜ŗ̸̡̡̛͍̮̦̟̞̰̬̥͓̏̎̔i̵͓͈͙͎͊̈́̀͐̐̒̈́̑̅͐̆̿̔̕s̴̡̢̱̬̥̠̝̤̤̗̩̄̽́̾̊̐͋̈͘̕̕͝͝ę̴̘̟̱̠̼̤̯̘̻̯͎̺̈͋̽̆͑̅̍͘ ̶̳̳̠̞͔̀̓͂͂͐͌̐̕͝ą̸̭͎̞͚̱͔̠̬̤̝̺̘̊͑̔̀̽̀n̷̯͍̰̱̫͎̹͈̼͓̾̏̈́̔̄́̚͜ͅd̸̛̗̯̗͆̄̈͂̀͗̕ ̷̧͙͔̲̻̬̙̫͕̩͙͊̀̋̒͂͝H̶̢̧̩̤̝̺̬̲͕̮͎̤̮͗̌́͘ả̷̧̨̢͔̳̳̞̯̰̥̎̔̑̈́̽̽͛̍̈͝r̵͍̔̀͂̑̇̍̾̌̈m̷̧̛̛̦̬͍̮͖̮͖̙͓̬̳̘̖͖͆̃́̂̔ô̵̬̭͓̮͉̞̾̎̎̅̍̄͋͛́̿͊̕͝n̴̡̨̢̨̛͙̪̼̜̘̲̦͉̜̮̺̽͐̍̃̏̕͝y̷̩͇̤̬̥̳̪̐̋̅͛̀̓͛̉ ̵̢̢̧̞̺̣̯͖͍̖̠͖̣̞̍̒̏͛̈́̑̃͜w̸̨̜̖̲̳͇͙͍̮̹̽̅̐̅͂̈́̈́́̔̇͘į̸̢̡̖͉̦̫̤̫̥̓̃̈͜͜l̵̢̺̼̤̼̙̠̮͉͎͇̙͚̐̅͑̈̾̔͆͑͋͑̈́̂̓͘͘l̶̓͆̄̕͜ ̶̧̨̗̲͈͖̰̰͕̤̥̝̮͓̬̈́̅͋͂͒̿̑̉͊f̴͓̱͚̭̹̲͚͇̙͕͔̼͊̄̒̄̿͜a̸̢̔̐́͛̿͑̈l̶̨̢̤̱̦̠͙̹̠͇̪̗͈͗̐̿̉͌̊̇͆͛̎͂̏͝l̷͙͉̬͔̬͖̣̣̄̐̀̈̓.̴̢̟̜̩͈̭̼̯̪̮̞͚͆́.̴̨̯̾̔̽͂͑̇́͑.̸̞̘̮͓͎̻̳̻̳̙̲͇̳̤̐͌̒̐̑͛̚ ̷̤̻̹̥͔̘͓͙̯̹̑͛͒̇̽͛̓̔͂T̴̡̨̹͖̻̟̣̫̮̲̭͎͗̔̅̿͑͊̀̌̊́̈́͒͑͘H̶̱̩̩̩͇͇̏̈́͊̄̀̒E̴̪̯̣͓̝͌̽̂́̌̎ ̸̨̹̤̭̳̩̩̜̻̥͍͇̫͇̟́͂̍̀́̀̉͑̚͠C̵͇̙͗͛̈́͘̕Ḧ̸͎͍̝̗̮͕̭̗̒́̊̎͋͌̐͛̎̀̂̔͜͝Ö̶̢̢̗̻͚̗̱̻̹̫͎́̏̏̕Î̷͚͎̣͉̘͉̣͓̯̖͚̺̟̀̉̋̏̈̓̚͝͠Ç̴̢͚̦̲͆͌̂͆̋̐͑̌͂̊͝͝͠͝͝Ȩ̷̘̬̹͌̎̒̿̍̈́̕͘ ̵̢̻͈̱̭̗̦̣̎̂͛̄̀̑͗̿̐W̴̨̰̳͂̈́͂̂͘̕͝Ì̶̡͍̳̘̺̞̹̤̮̩͎̼̣̠L̷̡̢̛̠̗̪͓̝̻̫̠̼̜̤͈̉̋̋͊̋̌̀̕͠Ļ̴̡̹̙̩̖̙͎̐̉̃̀̊͂̀͆͑̒͆͛͠͠ ̷͕͉̼͔̯͎́͛̀̋̑̀̿́̍̈̅͂͘͠͝B̷̛̼͂͝E̵̼̤̪̰̩͉̼̭̲͗͛̋́̎́̐͗͗̀̿̚͜͝ ̴̢̛̫̭͐̔̀̈́̇͑̊̆̐̂̚ͅM̵̡̛̠͍͇̭͓̙̐͛̓̃̀̈́͋͜͝Â̸͈̖̳̺̦̬̙̈́͝͝ͅD̵̥͆͛̽̍̅̕̕͘E̷̡̨̨͈͓͈̜̱͍̫̼̺͌̒̃̿̐̀̂͒̒̈̓̚̚͝ͅ!̸̠̟̜̭̙͍̟̺̺͙̖̹̬̆̀̓͂!̴̡͇̰̖͈̠̙̑̋̿̈́̓̈́͐̑́̚͠͠ͅ!̸̨̛̙̹͓̌̍͂͋̍̄̂̀̎̈̔̄͠ͅ

"Please, you have to listen, Dusk Shine!"

The mare known as Starlight Glimmer begged. She looked like she had been through Tartarus and back.

Yet this didn't seem to stir the four former villianesses much. In fact, they still seemed on edge and ready to fight. All three horn wielders, still glowing with irate magic and Eris still glowing palms. This actually worried him greatly as he has never seen them this ready to fight, even with their recent recovery and now… not only were they protecting the foals, but they stood in front of him.

Protecting him! Why? They hadn't even fully recovered yet.

"You are not coming anywhere near him, you rejected Marey Sue!" Eris growled. "No one else is touching our Dusky except us!"

"Please, listen to me!" She yelled. "I came to warn you that the darkness is coming! The end is coming and its because of Dusk Shine!"

Dusk flinched as he heard 'darkness' as he instantly remembered…

A whisper…

D̶͙̝͐̌̎u̴̗̝̓͂͒͛s̷̛̰̿͌̆̆̊̒͆̑̒́̕k̵̯̞̀͋̈́͗̏̓̕ ̸̢̨̗̲̼̺̻̖̤̥̻̟̌̄̃̀̚͜͠S̷̠̝̮̫͕͉̗̦̣̜̤̠͑́͊̉ḧ̴̨̓͆̈͝i̷̩̮̎̀͋̒͑̔n̸̫̳̰͉̣̜̒̋̓̋̊͝ē̸̡̨̨̳̼͙̦͓̪̺̩̗̓̊̈́̄͌͗̅̕͝ͅͅ.̵̧̥͔͇̘͙̬̜̪̬̺͚͙̫͋̌̈́̑́̅̋͆ͅ.̸̧̨̙̠̰̤̤̲̹̤͈̝̱̉̔̃͋ͅ.̷̢̬̂.̸̢̡͕̫͈̬̟̜̙̪͙͙̼̲̟͝

He flinched but shook his head. He moved past the mares, ignoring their demands.

"Dusk, stay back!" Barked Nightmare in warning. "She has a darkness surrounding her, though she is not using it."

"But… she is trying to warn us!" He then saw the pain and hopelessness that radiated in Glimmer's eyes. "You say that… I am part of the darkness that is coming?"

"You are the darkness coming, Dusk." The mare was shaking as she stood. "You… you become the darkness, the void, the end of everything and I came back in time-"

"To kill him!" Hissed Silhouette

"NO!" Starlight tried to counter. "I came to warn you that… what causes you to turn is… a choice. You were given a choice and-" She swallowed. "I-I had to drain the magic of my…" A pause and tears fell from her. "I had to drain the magic of my friends and use dark magic to come back in time to tell you this." She sniffed and shook her head. "I know its hard to believe this but I am telling you, that whatever choice you made, it turns you into… him."

A dark wave of emotions and chills ran down the spines of all the adults, for the foals remained innocent, but they all knew of him.

Chrysalis felt Mirage tap her leg. "Mother… she's telling the truth and I can feel the pain she is going through." Her mother also felt it but it was so much worse. Starlight was emoting towards them the horror, the great darkness brings and Dusk was at the epicenter of it.

Starlight made a shaky approach. "I can show you, if you do not believe me."

Dusk was about to step forward, but the others quickly held him back. "No, she may be trying to corrupt you," Silhouette warned. "Whatever darkness that has attached itself to her, may consume you as well. Even I may not be able to pull out from it."

"Please you have to believe me! Dusk Shine is the only one who can understand what will happen."

"Hard to believe that, mare!" Chrysalis snarled. "What makes you think that we will allow you to go anywhere near our Dusk?"

Starlight momentarily looked at them confused but then noticed the foals in between their legs or hiding. "Wait… your Dusk?" As if she didn't understand, though she was quick to deduce something. "You… you four aren't in his future," This gave pause to said four but then she added, “but they-" She pointed at the foals, who withdrew on her pointed hoof. "-They are his…" She paused and then looked at them all with a painful empathy. "-They are his enforcers that help him kill everyone."

A whimper left each foal but a growl left each mother, while Dusk felt a power strike hit his heart.

'No… not them,' he mentally screamed. 'Especially them, they have yet to live…'

"This bitch fucking dares!" Eris all but growled out. "That's it, where sending you back to the fucking future!" A dramatic pause. "In flames!"

"You dare try and use our foals against us!" Nightmare snarled.

"I am trying to warn you!" Starlight begged, as she continued to press on. "He needs to see what will happen."

Dusk couldn't even get in a word in before the first spell came from the villianesses all at once.

Starlight, reacted quickly and managed to teleport away.

In an instant later, she was in front of him and her face was clear to him. The moment his eyes met hers, he saw the world ending and she was there. To witness The End of it. Acting quickly, she pressed her horn to his…

It came to focus, as his vision, his mind, his soul was thrown forward in to the future, into her mind. He was watching as the world shifted with bright colors slowly turning to reds and browns, as the reality returned to him to see… a desolate wasteland.

The world was dying, with pockets of green or life scattered around but being snuffed out. The clouds were ashen red, as if they were made of fire and smoke themselves. The moon eclipsed the sun, causing a red burning haze that filled the skies of a terrible hue. Distant cities and forests are destroyed and void of any life, with skies cracking lighting storms all over.

The world was ending, being slowly stripped of its colors, of its life and of its magic. From this dark fate, the world was succumbing to the mighty hoof of the strongest being in his universe and perhaps others soon to be…

Nightfall.

From atop the remains of Canterlot mountain, the Dark Alicorn stood on pillars of the destroyed castle, with the bodies of those who once resided here, scattered in tatters. Nothing of what resembled the once beautiful city stood and so with it, did everything else perish.

From the destroyed layers and bodies that surrounded him, Nightfall walked over the bodies of those that he fell, carelessly breaking them further with each step, cracks on stone and mulch that once belonged to a pony or any creature alike. An emotionless taunt to the dead.

His rage grand, his power limitless, his emotions buried behind a wall of powerful ranchor like tenacity. The perpetual motion of his magic only around him and his enforcers. His former foals now turned hunter killers, scattered the world in search of any remaining life and magic to bring back to him.

His horn lighting up, the red skies scattered with lighting across the burning fields and area with sharp strikes, targeting any remaining green. The sun’s cries of losing its host, caused coronal mass ejections and projecting violent and beautifully horrific auroras of reds and yellows. The moon was in agony as its hosts was long gone, no longer projecting light but slowly being stripped and torn by the sun’s powerful cosmic blasts. No more will beautiful cool nights grace the lands to allow rest. No more would the sun bring warm and bright days to bring joy.

This was the end for all of Equus and the world itself. The path to the end of not just this world but others, was just beginning, but before it could begin, the remains of last resistance still lived.

Dusk found himself now staring at the remaining army of those that managed to survive and wish to fight him. Creatures of all kinds had banded together to give one final fight to end his destructive ways and possible end of their species. Dragons, griffins, hippogriffs, minotaurs, yaks, former enemies and non-sentient creatures alike, uniting to stop his vile power of destruction. They would all die to try and save themselves and their world at any cost to end this horrific nightmare.

Thousands upon thousands charged at Dusk with the full intent to kill him without hesitation and without remorse. Fire, magic, swords, spears, boulders and so much more came at him with full force. With conviction, with rage, with strength and with unity…

It was all… in vain.

As he calmly moved forward and simply wiped away their pitiful resistance and attacks, he marched the charging army and began to slaughter them. They fell before him in mass succession, bodies falling before they could ever come close. Their own weapons were used against them, some in the most brutal and horrific way possible.

He made dragons swallow the smaller masses before removing their heads.

He had other impale themselves on their weapons or use them to end their own lives.

He ripped and tore through magic and reversed it on those wielding it, so they were killed by the backlash.

Each body that he fell, added to the growing mountain of corpses that would build the river of their blood to cascade down the mountain. He held no pity, or remorse, or fear and he continued his onslaught until there was no resistance left.

As a sole remaining survivor tried to crawl away, Nightfall brought their own sword up, imbedding it with strong magic, before bringing the full might down and impaling them to the very stone of the ground, snuffing out its life, once and no more.

He moved from the remains of the last creatures, summoning forth his enforcers who appeared in instantly by his side. None were disturbed by the fallen army, for they had already fallen many more. As they knew this was truly the end of this world and ready to move onto the next, they witnessed Nightfall reach the highest peak of Canterlot, now the world, he stood mighty and strong. The world was truly at its end and with it, he was going to make sure that it perished.

Any remaining magic was coming to him, any artifacts, any magic wielder, any piece of anything that once held any more form of magic, was siphoned to him and him alone. He was unstoppable, he was all powerful, he was immortal and his strength would reach everywhere and across time and space, he was… A God of Entropy.

With a powerful burst of magic he shot up to the skies towards the moon and destroyed it, which created meteors that fell from the skies, striking the earth and causing mass damage beyond belief. Lands, mountains, lakes and more were bombarded and decimated in seconds with each strike. The very ground shook and quaked with the kinetic energy that was released. The sun only grew with more red as the planet bled and died as the moon continued to break and fall apart. The world screamed in agony as it was slowly being killed, the very ground breaking and its blood spilling forth like chunks of a body. The bombardment only grew further as the moon fell apart

Then came the powerful blow as the largest chunk of the moon fell to the world and struck. This was a planet killer, for it would do its job and cause the most powerful explosion; the hit of its devastating path to end the very soul of Equus herself.

Dusk and his enforces watched without fear at the hit, before calmly turning away. He opened five portals, leading to different universes across dimensions. They would prepare his arrival by siphoning the magic, power and energy from different worlds, bringing it to him to take. The knowledge and power of each world would be added to his own.

Nightfall’s multiversal conquest was beginning and he knew that once he acquired all the magic, all the power, his true goal would be to go to the heart of it. The heart of Life, of Magic and the Source of everything itself.

No one, nothing could stop his path to achieve ultimate knowledge and power of the very universe itself.

N̴i̷g̶h̷t̷f̶a̷l̴l̵ ̷p̷a̸u̴s̶e̴d̶ ̵a̵n̶d̸ ̷t̶u̴r̸n̷e̸d̵ ̸t̴o̵ ̷t̶h̵e̵ ̵v̷i̸e̶w̶e̷r̷.̴ ̷H̸e̵ ̵t̸o̷r̷e̷ ̸t̶h̵r̶o̸u̸g̶h̷ ̶t̵h̶e̶ ̷f̴a̸b̵r̸i̶c̵ ̵o̸f̵ ̵r̵e̵a̵l̸i̷t̴y̴,̵ ̸p̵u̷l̶l̴i̸n̸g̵ ̸t̸h̶r̴o̵u̸g̷h̴ ̸t̸h̷e̷ ̴p̷a̴g̶e̴ ̴o̸f̷ ̸t̸h̷i̴s̵ ̴p̷r̸o̸j̷e̶c̴t̸i̷o̶n̸s̶,̴ ̵h̵i̷s̷ ̴m̵a̴g̴i̶c̴ ̵g̵r̸a̸s̶p̸i̴n̶g̷ ̷a̵t̸ ̶t̷h̶e̸ ̶s̴l̶o̴w̵l̸y̵ ̴c̶r̶u̶m̴b̸l̷i̸n̸g̷ ̵w̵a̴l̵l̷s̸.̷.̵.̷

I̶͓̯͒̐̅̉̒̅̄̎͒̽̿͝.̷̧͚̻̦̝̜͉̜̩̻̩̪͋̌̊̈͋̐͝ͅͅ.̶̡̞͙͓̞̱̞̯̙̝̹͍͔̘̟̈́̉̌̽͊̔̊̍͂̑͌̒͗̚͘.̵̢̨̛͍͓̣͔̘͕̰̖͔̈́͑͑̅́́̆̈́͠ ̴̻̺͙͐̄̿C̸̛̼̭̅̎͑̽͐̒̀̽͑̍͜͝A̸͚͛̏̽̄͒ͅŅ̸̡̨͖̱͈̝͈̟̺̩̭̹̫̀̋́̃̌̒́̽̽͑̈́͑̐͘͠.̴̹͖̝̾̈̒͗̾̇́͋̽͘͝.̷̢͈̹̮̰̮̗̮̟̼͓̱̫̺͎͂̌̈́͛̃̽̅͐̀̑̾͗́̚.̵̢̢̡̼̞̳͙̖͍͔̻̲̪̩͉̻̪̌̊̉̋̓͘͝ ̴̹̼̭̣̹̫͔͍͍̠͕̥̟̩̈́͆́̉̈́̈́͝S̶̛̗̘͔͎̿̎̋̉̾̎̿̋̊̅̄͋̕̕E̶͓̭͇͆͂̊̀̑̓̔Ę̸̢̰͇͍͉̯̺͚̦͛̒́̅̚͠ͅ.̶̢̹̩̤̘̝̣̲̱̖̥͖̑͑̈́̌̄̈́̈́̈̈́̎̊͘̚͝͝ͅ.̴̨̣͔͍͕̮̤͈̪̝̺̫̗̮̖͚̻͑̒̓̎̑̄̄́́̕͝.̶̡̛̜͓̭̪̥̳̞̗͊̐̉͂̀̎̉̉̅̉̚͘͜ ̸̨̨̙͍̰͉̪̲͉͓͂Y̶̨̬͑̔̃̓̎͌̈̎̑͠Ọ̸̡̿̌̂̈̏̃̚͝U̵͕͊͂̈́̃̾̚͠͠!̶̟̜̳̝̻͖̌̄͐̇͗̅̅̊͛͋̄͆̈́̕͜!̵̢̛̗͉̬͉͈̪̙̤̫͖̣̑̈́̊͒͌̉̈́͐̄̀̓̚͜!̵̬̣̆̈́̓̓͗̓͘͝͝

Dusk screamed as he was torn away from the vision, violently torn back. Starlight was also tossed back from him by the others.

He was… in shock; pure, unrestrained and horrific shock. His mind was in turmoil, the world was unfocused and hazy, his ears ringing with white noise of screams of an unfiltered future cataclysm. He couldn’t concentrate, he had no direction as he stumbled onto his rump.

His vision haezed; only showing the villianesses trying to protect him, their silent yells towards Starlight who was in shock herself but crying hysterically. His own foals came to his aide, trying to shake him out of it or ease him. Mirage was trying to focus into his hazed eyes, her mouth moving but no sound. She gauged his emotions and… tears fell from her face in moments as she was feeling the full impact of her father’s hysterical state and despair.

Chrysalis was with her in moments, immediately pulling all of her negative thoughts from her. Screwball was trying to also comprehend it, as her reality warping also caught her father’s peril but she peered into his mind only to feel the impact and possible… end. Eris felt the distress and immediately shielded her mind from shattering. Umbra was feeling a dark surge of powerful black magic flowing from Dusk, though the colt couldn't handle it all and fell back from being overwhelmed. Silhouette yanked as much darkness in and away as to prevent ill from her son. Nox was the only calm one, staring into his father’s eyes, trying to speak to him. He could barely peer into the dream state his father had been temporarily in, only to encounter… Eyes of pure evil, causing him to fall back in fear.

Nightmare, not knowing what else to do in the moment, fired a powerful blue flare into the sky that would be seen by Canterlot. It was a S.O.S flare, of which would be fired in times of war or… ‘Royalty’ in danger.

Flare fired, she kept her glare towards Starlight who was still crying but stared at Dusk with pain filled eyes, knowing that she possibly caused him great harm.

A moment later, they were all blinded by the sudden flash arrival of Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, the guard and even Cadence. The yells came immediately, though the ringing in his ears and disoriented focus wouldn’t allow him to comprehend any of it. However the four villianesses then pointed at Starlight.

Words were exchanged, silent but full of emotional hysteria. They all seemed skeptical but when Starlight confirmed it, the focus remained on Dusk. Fearing the worst, they tried to approach but… the sky tore open once more, only around Starlight.

Dusk managed to focus enough to see her scream. Even if he was temporarily deaf, her screams were vivid in his mind, as the mare tried to hold onto anything, begging for the help of the others. The princesses were too stunned to help while the others just looked on in either indifferent or content with her being pulled back. Shining tried to use his magic to hold onto her but… tears fell from her as she was ripped… from this time and shot back into the vortex. It closed with a powerful clap, leaving a scent of ash and brimstone left in its wake.

Recovering from the shock, all present quickly went to Dusk, to check on him who was on the verge of fading. Nox recovered for a moment and remained, only because he managed to be by his father's side to catch him as he passed out.

He didn’t experience nightmares, he didn’t feel paranoia or fear and the world seemed less chaotic, as he came too.

He remembered everything but yet, he was… of sound mind. He blinked his eyes, fluttering open as he witness the darkness of his room. Luna’s light breached the window and it let him know it was nighttime. He sniffed and felt… warmth around him, covering him, but not like blankets. This felt heavier.

Vision focusing, he saw that around him, his foals were sleeping on him. Like the first morning when he woke up to find them on him, he saw Nox was to his right, Umbra to his left, Mirage on his stomach and Screwball laying just above his head. All four were sound asleep and the way he saw it, they were his guardians now. His easement of his arise, helped him understand that they were his aide to recovery this time.

Is… is this what it meant to be blessed as a father? Is this meant to be loved and cared for by your foals? To be surrounded by them and know that they too can be your protectors? Its every parent’s job to protect their young but for the opposite to happen?

His heart swelled with beautiful emotions at the wondrous feeling of having them around him. He knew that they were his savior from that dark moment, that horrible transgression and that if there was any time he would feel lost and helpless… Cadence wouldn’t be his only savior.

As he basked in the comfort of being surrounded by the love of his foals, he noticed the voices downstairs. His hearing tried to focus on those speaking but only managed to distinguish those who were occupying the room. Nightmare, Luna, Eris, Celestia, Chrysalis, Cadence, Umbra and Shining Armor.

He didn’t wish to deter his foals from sleep, so he briefly lit his horn to focus his hearing from down below.

“-I still find this hard to believe,” Luna responded with a large resentment.

“Yeah, you have been saying that for the last couple of hours now,” Eris answered with snark, unmusing for the Lunar goddess. "Gods knows you could use better dialogue or a script."

“Yet you witnessed it as it happened,” Stated Chrysalis with much emphasis. “We all did and it doesn’t help that whatever she did to Dusk, also hurt our foals.”

“They were responding to Dusk’s pain and suffering!” Cadence defended. “Whatever she showed him, they must have felt it and were trying to help.”

“The good that did for any of us,” Silhouette replied with a slight tone of agitation.”The mare was torn from here and we know nothing of the vision she showed Dusk.”

Celestia quipped in. “Didn’t you tell us that Starlight Glimmer said that Dusk was the coming Darkness? That he was to become… him… once more? Perhaps that is the vision she showed him?”

Nightmare visibly voiced her concern. “And she said it began with a choice. A choice that he might make or might not make that will cause all this.” There was a wave of emotions that made its way around them all. “And the worst of it is… we know nothing. That being only the highlight of negativity of this day.”

His brother finally spoke “Well, it couldn’t have gone any better than today. We had just secured Cerberus back to Tartarus and we still have to figure out how this ‘Starlight’ managed to use a time travel spell that allowed this to happen.”

“Is that not something Dusk Shine did in the previous season?” Eris asked, half serious. A pause. “I mean… don’t you have something like that in your archives?”

Celestia responded negatively. “Not as advanced or powerful. I can’t imagine the amount of temporal magic needed to activate something as powerful as that.”

Nightmare gave a saddening response. “She said, she had to drain the magic of her friends to pull it off. Perhaps… that was the dark magic or darkness we sensed on her.”

“Darkness that may have been passed onto Dusk,” Luna responded to her darker half. “Perhaps she was corrupted and knew nothing. A parlor of tricks and faux visionary to corrupt him.”

Silence reigned in the area and there were no voices for a few moments. They were all trying to find answers to questions that have yet to be fully asked.

The soft clops of someone descending down had them all look to see Dusk come down. His face showed remorse but he also didn’t seem tormented by had just happened. “I don’t think it was a trick.” He responded to Luna’s statement towards Starlight.

Celestia, seeing her student in a disarray state, asked, “How can you be sure Dusk?”

His eyes locked onto hers and the others as well. They saw into his eyes and were filled with just a brief amount of fear, of pain, of utter dread of what he witnessed.

Swallowing, he gave a soft response. “I-I could see… I could hear… I… felt the dead around me.” A shaky response earned a terrifying chill for those around him. “It was all… me. A possible version of me,”

This was the state that the four closests to him remembered he went through after his first fall. The depression and near constant torment of his actions echoing around him, nearly driving him mad to the point of a possible suicidal tenacity.

Both that moment lasted briefly as the four foals also descended down below and surrounded him, which instantly seemed to pick up his mood.

“But I won’t let that happen.” He rose his head back up and looked at them with… conviction. The utmost defiant stance he could muster, as if he dared try to become that monster version of himself. “As long as I have my friends, my family,” He brought his foals in tight formation around him. “-and their love, I will push out that darkness. I can overcome it. I believe in Harmony and I know that if I believe in all of me, my name will remain Dusk Shine!”

Time would pass for Dusk and his family. It became apparent that it would be a rough time for him, but it was something he would have to weather through. Not alone, not without help and not with great strive of pushing towards a brighter future. He had reason now more then ever to keep forward.

The foals were registered, given papers and even gone to school when the season started. The paperwork was a breeze for him, as well as anything else he could do to make it easier due to his status as a prince. The real problem was trying to convince Cheerlie to allow foals of the former villianesses/mothers to be welcomed without ridicule or animosity.

Of course, the two bullies, Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara were infamous for making their lives difficult first day and would have been worse for them if not for the Cutie Mark Crusaders quickness to adopt them into their little friend group. Along with that, they quickly became far more popular in the few weeks not long after. Since they all had their own unique gifts, they overshadowed the blabber mouths of the two fillies bullies.

Mirage’s abilities to shift into any creature was a grand boon for the classroom. This actually helped Cheerlie explain the creatures she was teaching about more easily to the class and has since become her aide in the visual dipartment. She also provided more insight to her changeling kin and showed more redeeming qualities about them.

Screwball was the class clown of course, but she also provided the entertainment of the class on its off days or during recess time. From changing the playground into a massive water park or endless jumper, to providing delightful sweets to each student(except for Silver and Diamond), to making even the most mundane school day one worth remembering.

Umbra was… a competitor for sure. Any game he played, he excelled at or won. Challenges or competitions, including strategies, were easy conquests for the dark colt though he did encourage many of them to keep pushing on and try harder, a small testament that made him a class rival to those who wanted to compete against him. He was a genius and amazingly smart colt, though he was almost suspended for bringing in gambling into school grounds.

Nox was the brains of the siblings, treasuring the knowledge and the insight to ingest information at rapid speeds and being a vast intellict that was close to rivaling his father. He was tenacious in his studies, surpassing most of the lessons the foals are just learning by miles. He did have most of the students come to him for help and he enjoyed the tension of doing multiple papers at once. Nox was also quick to forgive any hasty transgressions from the others that had wronged him.

Kevin and Thorax was a smoother story. The changelings were told to no longer disguise themselves as to gain favor in the public eyes, though a certain agent from S.M.I.L.E, would disagree. Kevin remained unconcerned about it, having gone public before and enjoying the wedding of the mules with much… enthusiasm. He was however nearly confronted violently by Chrysalis, but after Mirage stood up for him and her brother, the former queen growled and retreated. He stayed in Ponyville for a while longer before traveling with Steven Magnet to regions unknown.

Thorax felt conflicted between staying here in Ponyville for his sister, or try to find any other hive members scattered in Equestria. While he was surprised that his sister transformed because of her love given, Chrysalis demanded that he first find others and then, they would try to rebuild the hive in the Castle of the Two sisters before discussing… changing. Close proximity to her, but also to help aide in the restoration of the hive. He did so knowing that his sister would be safe here, especially since he felt obligated to bring their brother back.

All in all, things went smoothly for them and the foals. Even the parents, who come to visit the school, at one point apprehensive about it at first, grew to see the new foals being the best of the days for the young ones. It was established town wide by the Mayor, Dusk and even Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence that they were innocent and not their parents. They were to be treated as foals and nothing evil alike. Thorax and Kevin and perhaps other changelings who wish to reform, would be given amnesty until proven otherwise or can willingly come in without hostility.

The four former villianesses on the other hoof were… a different story. Literally. The struggle was difficult.

First off, most of the town wanted their heads on a pike… figuratively. They wanted justice for the damage and pain caused to them by the former villianesses. A rally had been formed by the town to demand justice in front of the Mayor’s office. She tried to speak to the town, no one heard her. She opted for the prince to do so instead.

When Dusk took to the podium, he managed to calm the crowd and give an insight as to what they would do to help gain trust to not just Ponyvillians, but Equestria as a whole.

“I am aware of the crimes they have done,” He began as he spoke into the mic. “But know that they are being reformed to help regain your trust and aid Equestria.”

“How can we be sure that they won’t go back to their old ways?” An angry response from somepony in the crowd.

Dusk gave a sigh. “I can’t really answer that because no one knows for sure what anyone is capable of until something forces them into that situation. I can tell you that their foals will aide in their reformation. If you have a foal, you know the changes that they can bring to your lives and what you would be willing to do to make sure that you do right by them. They are part of your world now, they are the reason you decided to improve your life in some way by welcoming them into your world. Planned or unplanned, the choice you make to give them a brighter future, comes down to you having to make changes that will affect both of you.”

“You will break bad habits, you will take punishment for them, you will carve mountains or build pathways in life so they can cross and move on. They, the mothers you want judged for their crimes, will be no less harsher, then if the foals they are trying to raise fail to become better than them. To fail your foal is to fail yourself and no other pony or creature could make that any better.”

He swallowed, took a breath and continued. “I know that many of you have suffered in some form or way, but I promise you that if given the chance, they may help bring a better future for us and perhaps the rest of Equestria. We may be asking a lot from them but know this, if we can spread the word of Harmony with others, it will only secure a safer and happier place in our world. It all begins with us giving them a chance to bring forth their inner peace and wellbeing to us all. They need to earn ‘Forgiveness’, but so too will they have their ‘Redemption’ if given the chance. ‘Prosperity is not just designed for a single individual’s life but for the many. The best thing we can do for all of us is to be “Invigorated together to achieve a better tomorrow!"

After the meeting, did he return home somewhat exhausted, though his friends tagged with, trying to ask about his progress with the former villianesses.

In truth, they were not as responsive to the change as he expected unless the foals were directly involved. Nightmare Moon remained secluded, Eris was untamable, Chrysalis refused to calm down and Silhouette was moody. As it stood, he asked once more for their aide to help reform them.

Perhaps along the way, they could figure out what to do with the lock box they had acquired recently from the Tree of Harmony.

In the weeks that would pass, things would progress evenly and with some manner of positivity. Fluttershy once more tried to work with Eris, though the draconequus seemed to be in good spirits with her once more. Especially when tea and biscuits were involved, she became far more invested with the mare and her shy nature. Inviting Screwball only elavated it since she was a particular favorite of Angel. The rabbit seemed… oddly affectionate towards her.

Rarity took on Nightmare as an apprentice, which seemed to work favorably as Nightmare had an affinity for design styles and clothing of a time long ago. Her styles and art for certain clothing seemed to peak the alicorn's interests, though she also showed Rarity how to make the gems in dresses sparkle for long periods of time, adding to the flare.

Silhouette was drawn to Pinkie but not because of her laughter or joy. Secretly, she had a thing for sweet bread and fruits. So Pinkie being Pinkie asked her to try new recipes that were both healthy and delicious, much to the chagrin of the Cakes, only allowing the mare a few treats a day. Her son on the other hoof enjoyed sour stuff more, allowing him to try the candy few enjoyed outside of sweets.

Chrysalis was a real pain to deal with and it took both Applejack and Rainbow Dash to work together with her… or rather try to. She was still a bitch, but her anger was used a focus to help with choirs on the farm or being a combative aggressor for Rainbow. She didn't hold back punches but that suited the daredevil future Wonderbolt just fine. She hated labor but when she was confronted by One Big Macintosh Apple as she was losing her cool, she was calm after that. It was said he had a private word with her and no more bursts of anger came.

However, it was after all this did he noticed that they became all… a bit more clingy. The basement was transformed into a larger room for all them, a sort of… 'smaller on the outside, but bigger within' type of deal. Eris and Screwball used it to work together to section it off with their own rooms, their own beds and their own settings.

Those separate beds often had him in one of them, different in each night.

Sometimes unwillingly.

Yeah, that involved him getting fucked by them, while sectioned off and away from the foals. It wasn't forced like before he however didn't fully participate most of the time. He felt like this was an obligation of some sorts, though they claimed it was just being good… "Good House Wives", which sounded odd since he wasn’t married.

Which begged the question, “What does this make us?” He asked outloud but to no one in general. “I know… I am a father, I know, they are the mothers and we are a family, but… what am I to any of them?”

The one to answer him was not them, but from Spike, who has been a somewhat beligerent nineth wheel in this whole dibacal. The dragon was tolerant, having eight more mouths to feed, but with the added benefit that Screwball and Eris seemed to conjure the food or the prep ingredients, he was dealing with it well. Looking up from his comic, the drake gave a small shrug. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Dusk. Its freaky that we got them living right below us and that they are calm right now.”

“What, you think they are going to turn again?”

A shrug was the response. “We all have our moments, Dusk. You with your freakouts, me with my greed growth and everyone has their own thing. One moment we are fine, the next…”

It was a vague response but he understood it. A very fair assumtion as well, for if one thing could trigger someone to turn evil or for something to come along the way make an indivdual turn.

“As for what they are to you… well comics can’t tell me other than you can continue to treat them like they are your former enemies, or you can treat them like something better.” He paused as he flipped the page. “What is it when a pony has a bunch of mare or stallions who are with a single stallion or mare called?”

“A herd?” Dusk asked, as if he knew.

“Yeah that. Why not treat it like that?”

Dusk opened his mouth but paused. Spike sensing this added, “I mean, they treat you like your the head stallion already. You have four foals, you are changing them for the better, you kinda have them living in your home and you are providing them with more than anyone else would here.”

The stallion was stumped and he couldn’t even properly respond for Spike was right. Everything he had listed and stated what he had done with them, would normally be part of what a herd stallion or mare would do. He more or less, was the head of the family, providing support, aide, shelter and more. His foals were getting education and nuture, the mares were being protected and he was literally providing for all of them. The budget he got before as Celestia’s student and his parents was just enough for them but now as a prince…

He looked at Spike who continued to read his comics. “What comics are you reading?”

Spike lowered his pages. “Huh?”

“What are you reading where you know something like that?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “You do realize Celestia and Momma Velvet raised me too. I’m not just a good looking drake for nothing.”

Dusk rolled his eyes now but with a small grin. “Right and I suppose that is why you are steering clear of Screwball because of your ‘good looks’, hmm?”

“Hey, she is your daughter and I am your brother, that’s weird. Besides, you know who I am saving myself up for anyways.”

Dusk gave a lifted brow. “Yeah, and while I would normally agree with weird, you do realize that weird and crazy is in their name right?”

“I am not that crazy,”

“Not yet,” Dusk mused lightly. He then continued on. “Though you are right. This would be considered a herd, would it not?”

“As far as mom… err both of them have told me, yeah its essentially a herd, dude. The only thing now is to just… you know, ask them if that is what they want and if you can even legally do it. I mean, last I check, herds haven’t existed in a long time. They only were around to keep up flocks and all that going during the harsher times.”

Dusk looked at his brother as if he had grown another head, never seeing him as philosophical or possessing instant awareness of things he for sure didn’t teach him. He glared at him. “Who are you and what have you done with my little brother? He is never this smart or would actually say something to leave me stumped!”

Spike didn’t look up from his comic, merely flipping the page. “You want me to tell Celestia that you once called her fat after she finished Cadence’s wedding cake all by herself?”

Dusk blew a raspberry at him, “I didn’t call her fat!”

“And that is why you keep sending her books monthly on how unhealthy cake really is.”

The stallion huffed and walked away. “Fine, I’ll go talk to them to see what they wish for this to become.”

And so he did. He asked the four of them what their little family was to all of them. Eris, Silhouette, Nightmare and Chrysalis all seemed to provide the same answer just in different formats.

“A hive!” Chrysalis stated with much emphasis.

“This is not a place for bugs,” Silhouette snarked. “This is clearly a small kingdom!”

“Hey! We need a castle, ponies to subjugate and a shit ton of land to own, so that is stupid!” Eris huffed. “No, what we are is a fucking harem!”

Dusk blushed hearing this, though happy the foals were in school. “W-We a-are n-not-”

“We are not whorses!” Silhouette stated or yelled at this point. “I refuse to be seen as such and will not defile myself to those of a quim or harlot!”
“Didn’t you walk away from the basement dripping with Dusk’s seed when he revived you from the coma?” Chrysalis taunted with a grin.

“He is a Prince worthy of having his seed splayed across my flanks, not like the rest of you!” Silhouette sneered.

“A whorse is a whorse, no matter how you shine it!”

“And how many stallions or mares have you slept with in pursuit of securing love? Did you not sleep with his brother?” The dark queen fought back with a slow grin forming.

Dusk and the others looked at the changeling queen for a moment, with the stallion raising a questionable brow towards the changeling queen.

For a moment, her uncanny ability to lie and be deceitful to those around her flared to cover anything that may be used against her or… be told to her daughter. It was already humiliating that she had to be nice and fru-fru with these creatures she once called prey. But now something had changed her to the point where her cold heart now wanted nothing more than to please her… King and her daughter. Whatever foul trickery or magic was used against her, felt alien and horrendous and…

“She’s inner monologuing again and possibly plotting,” Eris stated out loud.

Chrysalis paused mid thought at being called out and felt the gazes from four sets of eyes. With a low growl, she slumped. “Fine… I did sleep with a number of ponies to get what I needed…” A pause before she emphasized. “To survive!”

“And… that included Shining Armor?” Dusk asked with a lifted brow still.

She gave him a look and sighed. “Once.”

Silhouette gave a bark of laughter. “HA! Whorse!”

Chrysalis was about to yell but Nightmare, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke and cut off the rant. “Anyway we see this, its clearly not up to us but to Dusk.” She looked towards him with a passive look. “I am aware of only one way to see this as, but from my understanding, there hasn’t been something like this in centuries. You and I know what it is, so we can ask you this. What do you see this as, Dusk Shine?”

He felt the eyes of four mares looking at him and he felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention this high yet, he knew that this was an eventuality of their family would be labeled as.

Swallowing, he answered carefully. “I know that… we are a family.” He bobbed his head. “The foals, our foals are the glue that is holding us all together and I do love them, but they know that we, that is to say, the five of us are not really… in love.”

He sat on his haunches and studied each of them. “I can’t say I fully forgot or forgotten what has happened in the past, neither can my friends, nor the princesses nor the rest of the town either but… we can push past it and show them and everyone else that you four have changed. That you can be redeemed and forgiven. I have no doubt you can all change for the better and hopefully inspire others to do the same. If you all are willing to try, to truly honestly try, then I am willing to open up my heart for you four.”

Neither mare said anything, each one looked at one another and internally trying to really do as he asked.

The last few weeks have been a silent blessing for them all. The foals being accepted, their home shared with him and the undeniable support he has given them. A small part in return was him getting fucked by each of them, sometimes twice or more per day, but the fact that he no longer resented them and offered true love was a part none of them really thought they would get.

Nightmare wanted to be forgiven for the past pain she has caused but was willing to try and forgive herself.

Eris was chaotic and unfiltered by nature, but with everything after Screwy, she felt that she could Prosper positively through him.

Chrysalis was evil in nature but nature could change, just like kin. She causes much harm but her undoing would be if she could Redeem herself for true love.

Silhouette had only felt a small inkling of love a long time ago and it was taken from her. Even now, she feared to lose but now felt like an opportunity to be Invigorated by it once more.

They were all willing to abandon their old ways, if it meant love brings the best of them.

Nightmare nodded. “I will change, if it means knowing what love is once again. To be Forgiven.”

Eris gave a thumbs up. “If the foals can be given a chance, then I’ll put that plot device of Prosperity in my portfolio.

Chrysalis gave a flutter of her wings. “I have never cared for the ideals of ponies, and yet you have done more for me and the changelings. I will Redeem myself for love.”

Lastly Silhouette gave a small stomp of her hoof. “And while the Empire has always been my ambition to rule, I chose to love others once more with the Ivgoration I’m granted.

Dusk felt warmth come to his heart at their proud and defining moments as they wished to do better for the sake of love and the foals.

Lifting his hoof towards them, he asked. “For family?”

Nightmare touched his hoof. “For our future.”

Eris added her own. “For change.”

Chrysalis with her’s “For Love.”

Silhouette put her own. “For Happiness.”

With that, he happily leaned in and tried to hug the four of them. “For us.”

Each hugged the smaller colt, despite the size difference and allowed their hearts to open for the one they have once wronged before. A hopeful, brighter future that would allow love to prosper in their lives. And that change was subtle but enough.

Nightmare looked less demonic with shorter fangs and brighter coat.

Eris’s magic morphed her chaos to be more beneficial and alternate with the needs around her.

Chrysalis’s holes slowly closed while her wings began to sparkle like Thorax.

Silhouette’s dark magic would slowly dissipate from her eyes and her coat would sparkle like the crystal ponies.

The five would give their future together as a family and their love a chance, a choice which they felt may bring them together, if it meant knowing that they could prove to one another that they would do so with the hope for a better tomorrow.

And that chance to change came sooner then expected.

For a choice still needing to be made…

T̵̳̞̟̱̖͋̃̅́̋̄̅̕̕͜͜h̴̢̡͚̬̦͇̥̦̪̳̩̥͈̟̑ͅé̷̡̧̨̦̇͌͛̓̌̓̽̀͒̿̈́̓͠͠͝ ̴̬̪̫͔͎͗̅̅͜F̵̗̩̽̉͋̉́̽͌̚̚͠ȕ̴͍̓͋͌̚t̴̥̯̗͇͂̈́̈́̈́́͘̚ư̷̛̮̈́̓́̿̀͑̊̏ŕ̴̡̧̛͍̱̯̝̮͉̩̣̘̘̻͉̯̝͇̓̏̐̐ȩ̶̨͈̳̩͉̗̔̔̍̐̀̌̽ ̷̡̨̛͈̠̻̟̮̝͉̣̣͔͇̲̣̊̂̔̾͊̌͐̐̐̈̄̑͘̕͝͝ͅͅb̷̰͇̝̗̂̋̀͒̓̃̏͠ȩ̸̢̱̭̭̗̖̼͔̜̥̤̙͂̀̓̌͝l̶̟̤̞̰͇͓̞̰͎̳̗̩̋͆̅̐̍̓͐̎̋̋͊̋̎̀̉͝ō̷̧̡̭̟̗̯̤̪̤̝̟͖͂̿͜͜͜n̶̨̛̗̪͙̩̤̺̠̱̙͚̅́̌͌̌͘ģ̷̦̰̳̱̻͇̯̬͈̃͊͜͠͝s̵͎͙̯̰̩̤̻̟̘͓̞̤̦͙̺̓̿̓͊̊̂͜͠͝ͅ ̷̧̧͈̰̯̬̟͎͗̑͐̾t̶̹̲͎̜̪̠̼̮̖̟̪͔̩͈̦̠̳̀͂͗͋̾̈̈ơ̷͍̲̥̈́̿̓́́͒̏̔͑̑̋͘̚̚̚͝ ̶̯̝̬̱͕͉̪͔͍̞̋̈̈ͅm̸̡̛͍͍͔͕͈̗͔̗͎̞̹͔̂̅̆̂̊̿̏̅̌̀͝e̴͉͕̗̠̯͚̲̜̲͈̭̐̓̌͊̔̀͗͛̾̈́̒͑̔͗̕ͅ,̴̨͕̹̺̘̰̄̅̈́̓̊̒̾̿̔͊̔͝ ̶̢̧̡͚̬̟̭͍͙̣̤̼̺̬͘̚͜ṯ̸̡̹̯̥̖̽͆͂͆͊̍͑̽͑͒̓̄̀̊̑h̷̡̡͇̣̗̀̓̊̀̇̐̂̉̄̅͜ĕ̶̲͖̲̝̤͕̠̰̬̃ ̸̢̩̤͙̪̘͔͕̋͗͐̆̇͋̆̀̇́́͋̓̀̚͝͝c̷̨̮͈̤͇̩̩̦̄̆͑͑͋̌͂͐̌̏̆͊̂̕͜͝ͅh̴̩̜̟͐̋̂̾̏̒̽̉̌̀̓͝ǫ̸̡̪͙̙̱̙̩̳̫̠͓͍̏̂̽̇͗́̉̓̊̆͌̈́̌̿͋͝ͅi̸̡̡̛̱̳̯̣̣̦̬̦̜̥̦̯̭͑̀͊͋͗͐̎̎c̷̢̢͚̱͖̬͔̘͓̩͈̯̗̋̌̆̀͋͆̐̅̉̅̔̓͘̕e̸̲͎̾̓̀̓͐͗́́̌̽͘̕ ̸͖͎̰͇͉̭̹͙͉̀͝w̴̺̞̌̈́̓̈́̑͝į̷̨̧̛̥̼̬̼͈̭͎̣͓̒̉̈̄̂̈́̄͋̽̈̾̊̍̈́̈́͜l̴̪̩͇̤͇̹͎̳̟͈̟̎ͅl̷̛̻̘͕͎͋̇ ̶̢̭̼͚̣͕̩͖̫̹͕͚̼̮͇͚̈́̍̌̽̔̌̈̍̄̈͋͌̚͠b̴̢̙͈̖̖̺̥̮̱͕͓̖̀̉̾̎̀̚ȅ̸̛͓̯̜̪̥̱̰̺̠̹͕̫̞̈́̈̇̈͂̈́̂̅̀̆̋͛͘̕͝ ̴̦͔̯̽̃m̴̥̳̮͔̙̝̓̈́̀̎̄͊̋́͋̈̚̕̚͠a̶̢̡̢͓̯̰̣̯̜͖͗́̀̔́̇̎̔̓̕d̸̳̪̙͍̖̬̞̟̟̩͍̖̗̹̟͐̊̄͋̍̉̏̈́̑̀̽͂͘ę̷̰͎̠͖͖̟̗̙͙̮͐̑͑̈́ ̸̡̡̫͎͖̟͇̤̮̯̮̰̈̂̆͝a̶̢̛̼͍̞͚̰̫͔̣͇͑̇̿́̊͒͒̀̔̋̈́͜͝ͅn̴̪͛̎̈́͐́d̵̠̝̺͕̟̭͉͆̍̂̃̽̂̒̔̀̉͘̚͘͝͝͝͠ ̶̧̛̛͙͙͇̟̻̞̖̟̯͎͇̖̯̘̩́̾̂̉̍̿̌͗͋̅̊̍͝ͅỊ̶͇͛̓̈͂́̂̐͋́͊͋̕͠͠ͅ ̷̠͛w̷̡̡̛̛͈̥̬̦͔̜̗̦̺̗̝̔͛̀̾͛͗̽͑̅͊̀̿͛́̕ï̷̪͚̺̥͔̺̭̤͖̈̄̕͝l̴̩̾̄͋́͛̀̾̓̍͆̔͌̊͒̔͠l̶̡̰̊̈́̔͊̈́̅͠͝ ̶̡̨̝̤̝̪͈̣̝͈̳̱̅͆̿̈́̇̋̋̆̊̋̕t̷̡̡̧̫͈͉̯̤̱̺̠͍̬̱̦̝̣̓́̄̉e̶͇̣̤̼͎̹̅̏ḁ̶͓̦̜͔̹̯̹̲̯̹̮̉̇̆̈́̎̀̽̾͋̏̔̈́r̶͓͈̔̒͂̒͒̓ ̸̧̝̖͙̭̩̤͙̗̘̟̟̝̪͉̲͖̎̐̍̀̊̈́̈̆͒̊́́̑̀͐̕͠d̷̬͎͍̳͙̜̩̺̭͍̰̟̖̖̤͔͙̈́͗̇͛̓͗̅͆̒̈̂͋͒̚͝o̶̡̬̞͉̱̳̠͇̜̠͎̓͜͝w̷̡̠̪̯̰̰͂̆͛̆́̅̓̆̃̀̈͝ͅń̵̡̺͖̣̭̜̼̹̟̭͔̤̻̻̼̩̐ͅ ̷̢̡͖͚̠͙̣̱͖̳͕́̇̎̄̏̚͝ţ̴͖͉͚̆̂͒̓̅̃̿͐͒̏͗̕ḩ̶̤͙̯͚͌̈́͜͝ē̷̤͍̘̫̣ ̴̡̲͓̬̠̹̹̠̞̙̗̖̫̮̯́͜ẅ̵̛̻̭̖̗͍̟̮͎͉̹̯̘̙̖́̉́̊͂̄́̆̈̏̄̋͜͝͝͝a̶̫̹̱̰̦̯̰̋͒͒̾̾̈̂̀̓̓͐͛̎̕͝l̸̨̛͎͙̝̯̮̤̭͎l̷̡̛͔̹̺̤̠̘͚̥̟̘̯̈́̃̇̆̍̕͜͝s̶̯̪̥̑̀̏̀̆̃̍̅̅̄̏̇͊͒̕ͅ ̷̢͈̯̞̭̟̥̮͙̯̍̄̇͊̔̀̈́t̴͚̱͉̝̤̝̩̼̪̅͆͐̐̉ó̴̟̼̩̠̙̘̜̮̰̑̈́͊͜ ̵̢̪͚̬̩͈͇͎̮̩̍̏̾̓̉͊̋̄̎̅ͅř̵̼̮͖̺̬̫͙̳̞̪̝̝͖̘͎̀̽̽̈́̾͂͜͝͠e̸̡̛̞͇͉̗̦̤̣͎͚̋̆̔̂̅̈́͌͋̈́̈́̀͗͆̕͜͝å̶̧̧̡̮͚̞̼̰̞͊̽͊c̵̨̛̺̞̱͖̗̯̙͉̫͇̠̼͑̔́͛̄̾̂̕͝͠h̷̢̧̢͚̙̣̥͎̠͕̫̱̖̽͂͛͠ͅ ̵̨̨̫̲̪̮̪̻͓̮̯̫̥̮͍̼͗̍̓̅͌͛̓̋̄́̕ỵ̷̘̼̖̙̤̻̩̣̪̂̈̄̅̈́̔̒̈́͌̓͑͛̌͐͝͠ơ̴̘̣̖̯̑̀̒̊̄͛̈́̎̏̃̆̈́͝͠u̶̮̮͕̞̦͋́̀̎̑̓̀̓̒̈́̋͠͠͝͝ͅ.̴̨̛̻̫͖̹̹̳͌̀́͒̾̈̐̎͌̕͝.̸̞͍̙̯͉͉̲̑͑̐.̷̟̠͕̦̊̌͐̐̊̆̅͋͒͑͆̂̾̈́

̵̛̟̼͚̙̖͉̗̋̐̏͒͑̑̚

̴̞̹͙̤̜̟͍̟̞̭̼̼̥̭̼͇͋̾͋̿̆̇̿͛̈̎̂͘͠F̸͎͇͎̾̇̈́͑͒̉̃́͝å̷̛̰͚̙̘̥̯̘̪̦̟͓̙̠͔̤̒͛̈́̄͛͘͝ͅu̵͚͉͉̦̍̀̃́̈́̌̑̒̒̔s̵̡̛̟͔̞̫̬̾̋̋̍͂̅͋̌̽̇̂̂̇̈̇͠ṭ̵͔̩̣̞̙̖̤̠̩̦͙͍̌̀̏̊̈̊̈͐́͛̌͗͐̀̎̃̚.̷̨͕̬̪͖͙̝̫͈͉͖̮̺̓̇̈́̅̉͌̆̀̽̈́.̸͕̽̿̐̄͐̓̂̉̑.̴̡̬̻͕̥͗̀̀́͘ ̶̡͔̼͉̝̺̭͖̥̯̼̖͔̠̘͋̒͌̐̊̃̇̈͠ͅd̷̨̛̤̲̰̥͈͕̝̗̣̗͖̟̠̄̔͛̑̈́͒̄͆̎͝ͅó̵͇̤̼͕͔̺̈̋̽̈͋͋̓̌̾̀̉̿̚ ̵̨̻́̊̈̈́̊̀̏́̃̎̄͝y̴̱͉̌̀̈ọ̶̡̟̙͇͔̔͛̂̀͂͗͊̎̑́̐͌̅̇͝ų̴͙͈͑̏̒̆̎̇̎̀̔͑̓͘͠͝ ̴̲̘̪̖̞͔̘̓͂̈͌͗̿́̐̈́̕̚̚h̸̡̛͔͈̹̦͕̝͙̼̼͔̰͂̄̏͌͆͘̕͝e̴̛̛͗̈͑̊̃͒̋͜à̵̼̞̟̩̺̾̉̇́̈́̂̾̌̑͒̊̿͘ṙ̸̨̯͍̦̦̻̠̤̤̮̳̣͚̯͔͐́͛́̑͘͜͝͝ ̵̜͉͉̞̫̱̻̩̙͍͇͈͑̃͌̽͂̋̒ẗ̷̡͚̬̖̲̟̦̭̯͍̪̦̻͇̰́̃̈̈̓̊̉̽̆̓̇̂̔͒̚͝ḩ̵̡̺̞͕̯̯͓͚̥̪̗͉̏̈́̑̆̉͘͜͜͜ȅ̴̺͚̹̮̔̂̊̂͐͑͗͒͂̉̾̈́͠ ̷̗̋͐̋̓̑̐̃͊͊͐̍͆̓̓͝s̸̬̠̬͈̰̠̻̤̰̬̖̫̀͊̇̈́͘c̷̡̧̬̫͉̟̝̦̑͌̈̿͜r̷̨̞̲̦̾͑̈̍̓̏̀̈́̓̆̒̋͂͘͠͠e̸̦͉͇̜̬̜̝̳̜̲̭͚͛̍̉̎́̚a̸̞͚͍̽̂̾̃͌̾̊̏̂m̶̞̤̯͉̹͍͙͚̭̻̹͕̒̓͌̌̎̂͜s̴̨̜̣̥͈͓̟̦̱̣͒?̸̢̹̞͙͍͉͇̑͋̌ ̶̧̢̖̭̰̖͓͔̙̪̦̗̮̍Y̷̛̳̻̫̻͒̆̆͆̿̆̌̈͊̋̓̈́̈́̕o̴̧̝͉̘̅̾̔̒̅̉́̈́̀̚u̸̹̪̹̻̲̾̾́̈́͌̕͝ͅr̶̢̡̨͔͓͈̣͍̞̫̟̤̂͛̈́̃̇̆̀̔ ̷̧͈̖̪͈̣̠̗̪͇̥͖͚̬̜͖̔c̸͎̮͙͙̦͚̣̹̗͈̋̆̄͘ḧ̸̥̞̞͙̇̉́́̑̑̈́̂͝i̵̱̖̺̫̳̯̹̲̭̞̗͎̐̍͌̑̑̉̈́d̷̝͍͍͈̣͍̿͆̾̈͐̽̅̈̑̀̒͑̿̚͘͜ṟ̶̛͕͉͒e̶̢̧̯̥͔̞̺͕̼͎̣͇̞̖̐̿͂̽̇̀͋̇͗͒̏͘n̵̡̢̻͙͇͖̘͚̎̽̑͐̓́̀̊͒͐̏̂̚ͅ ̸̧̨̧̦̬͓͖̲̊̍̈́̈́̋͊͒̋͐̚͜w̵̧̨̛̫̩̹̬̤͎͈̗̥̯̫̪̥͇̆͋̄̏̔̈́͝h̶̡̨̢̲̞̼͕̟͇̹̠͙̭͎̝͚͒̓͆̓̓̍͊͘e̸͕͉̦̗̚e̵̝̥̱͎̙͂͠p̷̡̨̢̢̡͖̹̘̰͙̫̱̮͕̺̱̟͋͋̊̊͗̄͗̅͌̕ ̵̧̡̫̬̮̯͕̮̱͕̣̳̞̜̰͇̳̈́̃͂̃̈́̍͛͛͋͗̂͂̂̎͛̕ą̷̧̻̝̭̯̪̟̿̾̾̓̀̿̇́̒̀͘̕͠ņ̶̢̛͉͙̹͇͓̹̙͖̟̐̏̿͌͜͠ͅd̴̡̧̡̙̠̞̦̦͈͔̰̫̤͔̻̫̹̀̓͐͊̀̑̀̔͂̽͒̈̽͛̉̕͠ ̸̧͚̭͕̻̪͉̮̝͓͓̝̤̖̚ͅͅͅÏ̵̼͝ͅ ̶̧̡̘͈̪͍̥͕͉̪̞͍̘̻̈́͌d̸̡̡̮̻̣͎̳͖̼͗̉͌̐͒̐̌͐r̶̛͔̬̀̌̓̉̅͋͌̎̿̎̕̕͠ạ̶̬̼̭͍̈́̈͑̂ẃ̸̨̹͔͔̝͖́̆̉͒̈́̋͒̏͂͊̄̚ͅ ̵̞̟͎̯̗̈͑͝͝ǹ̷̻̙̤̮͛̾͂̉̔͆͗͆̆̕͠é̶̢̛̲̭͓̯̼̩͈̻̠͈̤̻̓̒̓̒̀̊̔a̷̫̤͖̱̟̪͙̩̟͕̣͈͍̱͗̀͘ř̸̡̦̠̖͎̦̞͉͎̖́͑͒̊̕͝.̴̢̢̬̘̫̯̠͙͙͎͇̱̰̥̲̘̺̓̓͝ ̷̱͉͍̦̬̙͎̜̘́͒͒

̵̗́̏̏́̅̌̀̕

̷̗̹̮͑̿̆͊Ơ̵̢̨̼̼̤̩͈͙͙̙̻͇̠̬̙̄̎̃̇̾͊̈̎͋̚̕p̴̢̤͖̗͕̖̫̫͖̩̯͇̌́̏́̄̏̓̏̀̾̌͠͠͠ḛ̴̲̼̖̰̟̟̓͋̄̕͜ͅn̴͔̳̳̾̄́̀̿̒͠͝͝ ̶̡̻̯̟̰̝̰̭͐ͅŷ̵̩o̵̹͈̥̞̖̘̗͕̝̿̾̈́͒̓͒̇̄̋́̇̐͑ͅͅů̶͓͕̜̠͖̯̞̲̹̿̄̾̏͋͜r̶̙̣̪͊ ̶̬̰̪͙̬͙̥̬̫̻̏͋͝ḑ̴̢̙̼̰̻͍̩̭͖̥̉̊̿̅̈́͑̎̄̾̔͜͜͝ṏ̷̫̞̰̞͙̖̥͙̟̜͕́͗ǫ̷̨̡̜͕̭͈̗̳͚̮̭͉͍͐͑̋͆͌͋̑͛̚ͅr̴̲̰̯̟͓͚̥̀͛͂͆͑̍̓͐̉͘͜͝ ̶̡͓͚͇͈̣̯̦̙͎̗̫̽̑͌͊͆̐̑̀́̑̆̕̕̚͜͜ͅa̷͙̠͙̮͚̺̯̗͇̾̇̓̒̌̏́̈́͛̚̕͝ṅ̵̢̫̟̟͎͓͉͖̺͕̊̎̅͒͂̀̄̿͝d̴͇̥̲̯̗̮̮͚̱̪͈͂̒́͌́̄͝͝ ̴̢͙̖̗̭̪͖͎̫̟̹̭̽ţ̵̨̩̤̹͙͍͎̬̬̪̭̖̺̠̭̄̈̂̽̍̎̍̆̊̈̒̚h̵͕̲̟̣̜͊̈̊̋̚͝e̸͖̬̠̓͒̊̀̿͠ ̴̻̹̜͎̜̦̞̩̲̥̣̐͒̽͌̏̏̑̿͗̋̿̊̓̓͐̚̚ͅś̷̢͓̖͕͔̤̻͚͙͓̾̂̃́̀͌̉̊̔͆͜͜ṵ̴̡̲̝̮̞̰͚͇̓f̶̧̱̦̬̲̖̠̱̲͈͚͛͒́̇̅̚ͅf̶̡̢̠̜͖̪͎̦̯̦̻͉̙̝̉ͅě̶̮̻̘̰̙̺̦̬͓͑̇̔͆͝ŗ̴̗͖̩̱̲͚̪͈̈́͌̾̾̔́i̵̢̙̹̖͙̪͔̖̙͍̫̭̒ǹ̴̡͎̼͔̣̯͙̺̲͉̝̞̲͇͑ͅg̷̡̥͕̼͈̓̉̓̍͑̾̑̍̋͗̌̓͘̕͝͠ ̸͎̜̔̂̄̈́̆̒͑̍͘ě̸͍̫̟̹̤̹̜̈́̓͐͛̎n̶̠̞̬̲͍̭̗̝͓͑̌͗̂͐̀͒̉̇͂̓̀̃̂d̸̦̻̭͖̣̻̼̼̪̗̮͚̲̙̪̈́͒̓͜s̸̪̺͓̰͔̘̼̙̹͐̈́͋̏͆̑̅̏̀͒̚.̸̧̡̛̭̹̗̹͉̥̤̻̲̲͋̐͊̌̌̄̌̍͝.̶̖̦̥̠̭̓̓̑̊̇͌͌̈́̌͂̏̇.̸̡͇̺͙̱̻̻̬̒́́͗̐̚͝͝

̵̙̻̟̻̈́̽̽̓̈́̑͝ͅ

̴̣̖͖̭̘͗̽̐̍̏͐̈

Sometime later…

The ground shook like a giant quake hitting right below, making everything shake with unease. Equestria was at a war against a single enemy and it was destroying everything in pursuit of magic.

That enemy was none other than Lord Tirek. A former Tartarus inmate who was imprisoned centuries ago. He had managed to get free when Cerberus left its post. The centaur was in a mad rampage of destruction and energy drain.

He was absorbing all magic, from pegasi, to earth ponies, to unicorns and more. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence gave him their magic because Tirek wasn’t aware of a fourth alicorn or foals born from said alicorn… yet. The four mothers also poured some of their magic to him as well to hopefully give a boost, but went after Tirek himself. Last he was able to get a report was that he drained any remaining magic from their already weakened state. He was as tall as a hill now and approaching him.

Now… Dusk was in full panic as he gathered the foals and Spike.

“SCREWBALL!” He yelled to the draconequus. “You need to get your siblings and Spike out of here! Tirek is coming!” The alicorn pulled his foals and Spike down the basement, followed by a distraught Owliscious.

“But daddy, what about our mommies?!” She cried, along with her siblings. No one knew of the current status of them but Dusk knew at least that they were survivors. They would be fine.

“I’ll help them when I can but you need to go hide in a different dimension!”

She shakily nodded, though another quake caused the foals to whimper. “Spike, you need to go with them! Take care of each other!”

Spike hugged his brother tightly as he cried. “Please, just be careful!”

He hugged the little dragon back, bringing them all in as well. “I promise, I will. I will stop this.” WIth that, he each gave a kiss to each foal and Spike while giving Owlicious to Spike. “Now go, he has no idea any of you are here.”

With another shaky nod, Screwy conjured a portal to a different dimension. One hopefully Tirek, even with all his magic, couldn’t access. “I’ll get you all when its safe, I promise.”

The foals, terrified, sad and even dreading what was happening, all whimpered but knew their father would keep the promise. He promised to help their mothers and he did. He promised to be a good father and he has. And lastly, he promised that things would be fine… they believed him.

With a tearful smile, he nodded. Another shake however caused him to quickly made him panic and with angry tears, he shoved the foals, dragon and owl in, before using his own magic, backed up by three alicorns and the four others to shut down the portal.

A sob left him as he did so, feeling the anger at what he had to do to safe them. But now came a different feeling. One that he hadn’t felt in a while and it was one… he knew felt familiar.

Ḓ̴̛̮̊̅͊̆̆͝ú̷̢̡̺̜͓͙̦̖͖̲͎̟̪̝͙̓̋̚ͅs̴̠̬̜̝̫͔̺̮̲̑̽̾͋͐͋͐̈́̾͊͌̚̕͠ͅk̴̟̮̤̮̤̰͉̞̩̹̦͓̞̀͊́̈̓͆̿̎́͘̕͝..

His breath hitched as the familiar, cold and dark feeling touched his soul. For a moment, the world was silent, his ears rang a voided emptiness and a chill slowly worked its way up his spine.

Ḑ̸̲͉̳̥̻̿̇͒̿́͒͜ữ̵͓̞̰̬̜͖̈́̀̾̐̒̈̄̆̊͜s̸̛͔̼̣̮̠̖̘̹̰͓̗̮̤̭̲̣̍͛̽͑̃̇̿̏̑̀̚ͅk̵̠͍̤̥̭̦̖͋̈́͊͋̾̉̓́̀̄̌͂̑̒̚̚̚.̶̨̯̦̠͇̘̮͓̯̺̱̹̬͚͕̞͗̀͒̈͐̾̿̃̆͌̆͗̑̓̾͜͝.̴̘͇̯̻̱̜͎͚͚͙͇̥͙͓̖̳̊̈́̑̎̿́̍̇̍.̴̹͔̬̳̰̤̥̈́̓̎̉̆̊̂̒͝
̶̧̧͕̺͈̤̝̲̜͍̪̀͑̾̀͛̊͂̊́͑̄͝
̸̨̳̘̥̩̎̀͑
̵̹͍̟̤͚̖̩̞̺̀̉Y̸̹͙̦̺̺̹̯̔̐̀͠o̶̰̗̼̙̦̪̗̹͚̖̱̅͂͗̒̍́ͅư̸̢̢̢̗̖̼͎͍͕̣͓̘͇̞̒̓̿̇͗̓̂̀͆̑̔́̚͜ ̴̥̱͖̬͍͂͂̍͛͐̀̓̊̎͑͐͜c̵̢̨̢͓͚͎̲̣̱̖̪̜̥̅̏̔̎́̎́̂͛̉̌͘̕̚̚͘͝ͅā̴͇̥̖̫̺̜̙͎̺̖̪͍͙̀̋̆͒̌̄̅̃̾̌̑̒n̷͕̜̫̻̕ ̸̰̣̬̯̜̬͈̺́̀͛̔͒͗̈͌́̕̕͘͝ṡ̶̮̗̰̠̜͉̉̇̿̇̉̋̇́́̅͒̏̒̾͘͘a̴̧̱̭̙̹̳͚̦̟̜͉̾̈́ͅṽ̵̛̱̱̪̩̟͑̎͊̊͑̀͗͑̎̿͘e̵̛̪̞̖̜͖̲ ̸͔̳̦͙̳̼͚̗͖́̅̄ẗ̵̨̯́̏͌͆̑́̀̏̆̀̿̈́̕͠͝͝ͅh̴͉̞̝̦̤͈͖͍̪͍̘͖̀́͜e̷͉̪̱͙͍͓̋̐̄́͛͠m̶̭̭̦̲͈̤̖̜̈́͆̋̾͋̊̈́̇̃̽͊̊́̍̃͠ͅ.̴̧̧̢̜̝̞͎̮̳̜̳͕̲̫̻̀̍͐̐̑̓͑͆̀̏̔̚ͅ ̴̢̝͓̠͙̼̀͆̾̊́̋͒̑͐̉͘͜͝Y̶̧͉͎̪̮͍̹̟̣̹̓͊̈̉́͋͒̕͝ö̴̧͖͖̠̮͔̫̖͕͕͖̰́̋͗̈́̓̒̓͊̾̚͠ų̶̭̱̥͕̳̣̪̥̼̘̺̠̏̇͆͆ ̵̡͙̭̱̹̱̲̂̒̈̈́̉č̶̛͙̰̱̗͕͔̹̅̎̎͂̏̑͐̚ͅå̵̦̻̮̱̪̝͈̫̻͔͑̇̈́̽́͗͊̽̚͜ͅn̶͉̫̟̹̻̗̗̝̾͊̓̍̊́̚ ̶̢̞̩͉̹̫̈̀̽̈̄̃̀̋̊̀͂͆̈́̎̈́̀̒s̶̜͍̲̠̠͕̱̮̝͊̀̋̌̿͌̒́̍ą̶̨̻̦̳̼̩̪͙̻̳̞͐̈́̾̑͛̒̌̋́̀͌̽̀͋͐͂̏͜v̷̢̢͈̙͚̻̰̖̮͍̦̈͊ͅe̶̟̭̙͈̪̻̯̼͔̖̔̈́̍͌̀̑̓̋̄̑̿͗͑̚ ̷̞̹̱͇̲̝̚t̵̪́̃̀͌̉̿̽͊̓̌̐̀̍͘͠͝͠h̶̺͈͇̹̤͍̗̫̞͉͉̠̏͊͌̃̓͑̑͝ͅȩ̵̢̣̪̞̩̹̘̬͓̹̺̤̇͐̊m̷̯̮̞̤̀̎͊̉͌̈̉̉͂̿̆̚̕͘͠ ̵̟̼͖͖͓̗̺̫̦̓ą̸̞̱̬̥͓̣̠̟̬͙́̎̇͂̓̀͒͂̂͒́̿̀̋̅ͅl̸̢̡̬̩̼̯̖̹̑l̴͓͕̗͖̭͈̹̯͚̯̭̣̟̃̆͗́͝͝.̸̪̲͔̥̟̤̫͙͍̎̆́̎̄ ̵̦̱̦̽̽͌̃͊̎̀̕͝͠B̶̘̙͎̟̝̣͖̙͍̰̭͔̲̜͎̈́̔̅̏̃͊u̷̧͖̬̳̝̦̚͜t̸̡̘̼͕̪̒̓̐̍̈́ ̵̺̘̾̆̿̀͋̂̉̄̆͆̔̕͘͝y̵̭͐̅̍̈̄̿̅̾̎́̏́̋͒̐̐ò̷̖̈́͛̊̈́̏͆̂͐̐̎̉̌͘͝u̶̡̡̙̰̥̖̠͌̐̄̆̅͑̒ ̵̛̛̟͓̜̬̳̃̃͗̇̄̀̆̏̀̋͛̚͘w̸̺̥̼͓̫̭͔̉̇̾̈͘͝͝į̶̗̪͛̒̒̋̒͗̈͛́͠l̷̘̹̳̿͐̚͠ͅl̴̀̃̈̄̔͋͆̐̈͊̈́͒̅͘͜ ̸̢̰͕̲̮̰̐̑̓͆̒͐̎́̍̑̊̚̕ç̴̯͉̽̍̾̀̅̌̈́̋̾̾̾̃̕̕͝͠ḩ̵̛̫̖͕͇͗̅͌̍́͊́̕̚͝o̵̢͇̻̙̪̬̜̿̀̓̈́̇̈͜͜ş̴̤͍̤̈͜ę̸̺̲̩̲̪̟̞͉͙̦̘̻͐͋̀͆̂͐̽͌̚ ̸̢̢̨͚̻͈͓̼̖̦̖̹̮̝̺́̐́̊̆͋̏͑͑͌̏̓͝m̸̭̟͕̻̫̞̗̫͚̰͚̉͊͛̾̈́̃̕ę̵̨̱̝͕̯̫̻̘̉̑̏̃͗ ̶̢̪͚̮̙̳̥͔͚̽͂ț̴̡̤͇͍͎̲̞̳͍̯̏̄͛͒̇́̀̾̌̀̚͜͝ŏ̴̧̫͔͙̹̎̓̅̉̔͂̅̚͘ ̶̢̧͙̪͍̳͉̗̤͍͍̾̄͐̋̇͛d̷̨͕̤̦̗͍̓̓̈̽͑͒̒͛͒͋̋̕͝͠ͅö̶̟̼̞̪̳̣͔͇́͗͋̈́̀̂̃̄͛̌̈͋͌̈́̕͠ ̴̧̨̛͇̯͎̺͇͚̰̯͔̼̿̂̄̂̋̈͌̽̍͌̅͋͘s̴̨̡͙͍͖̟̪̖̪̲̠̬̤̘͋͆̑̎̓̔̿̈́̀̈́̕ͅǫ̸̨̨̧̛̛̳̥̰̬͉͕͖̺̝̝̖̀͒͊̇̌̐̒̐̀̏͘ͅͅ.̸͖̝͔̳̃͝.̴̤̞͇͔̖͚̫̯̉̈̈̾͝͠.̶̠͍͎͔͓͙̫̪̠͈͔̪̮̭̲̆̏͘ͅ
̷̡̘̤͑́́̆̀̈̈͛
̶̧͍̫̻́̒̉̊́̃͌͐͒̆̅̏̽͝A̶̪̼̹̰̺̎̈́̔̍͐͗͂̎́̽̂̽͝ ̷̼̒͑̿̐͝͠c̷̢̣̻̼͉̯͓̈h̵̟̫̤̦̯͙̐̓̾̿́̄̊̈́̑̅̂̓̓̒o̷͕̦̬̱͈̪̼͈̳̅̐̄͠ͅi̵̳̊̒̊͆̉̅̚̕͘c̸̛̛̞̬͉̤̪̩̮̪͕̄͌̊̓̊̿̅͒͒͛̊͠͝ę̶̧͔͚̤̩̼̯͚̹͇̪͉̪͉͚̐̓̍̀̍̅ ̴̨̹̦̜͚̘̮̘̯͎̣̬͕̯͗̅̑̏́̈̓̈́͊̓̏̕͝͝w̶̡̡̛̟̱͇͕̟̠̽͋̆͂̀̑̄̍̂̌̽̃͊͠ī̵͔̥̮͕͙̝̈́͆͆̔͑͋̌̀̉̃͗͆͒̽͝͝l̵̝̟̰̖̱̝̺̺̼͓̔̂̈́̉͋̌̊́̑̅̈́̀̚͜ͅl̸̨̫͚̙͔̳̻̖͙̻̠̯͖̄̃̆́̈́͌̄̄̚͜͝ ̷̢̫̻̦͎̑̓̎́͛̊́b̷̺͙̮̪͉̠̯̻̹̘͖͂̐͜ȩ̷̛͉̗̱͛͌͠ ̴̧̧̨̡̟̣̯̹̩̣̳̗͛̆̎̓̂̿͋̎̋̽̆̂̋̚͝͝͝m̷̧̧̧̤̰̲̥̳̞̣̻̥̭̉̂̇̿́͂̎͗̽̍̈́̓́̆̅͜͝͝a̷̡̯̦̱͔̰̎̑́̏̊̈͛͒͝d̵̛̫̹͖̭̋͊̅̈́͗̇͘͝͝ͅe̸̢̞̝̩̪̣͈̟͍̹̓̌̂̆̔̿͌͆̈́͐͒̕͘͝͠͝
̸̡̩͍̠̜̯͔͙͐̿̇̓̉͠

Dusk shivered. ‘A choice?’ He asked himself.

He expected an answer but he heard silence. For a moment, he felt like the choice was to confront Tirek and defeat him. But… that was the only choice he had right? To fight and hopefully beat him?

The ground shaking once more before an echoing roar shook the lands with the voice of a giant centaur bellowing out.

“COME OUT OF HIDING AND FIGHT ME, FOURTH ALICORN!!!”

Dusk instantly flared and with a growl of his own, his magic lit up.

̶T̶h̵e̶ ̸d̷a̵r̴k̷n̸e̴s̵s̷ ̶c̵r̸e̶p̸t̶ ̴s̷l̴o̴w̷l̸y̵ ̶f̶o̷r̷w̸a̷r̵d̶.̷.̴.̷

Flying faster than Rainbow Dash has ever gone, Dusk flew out of the tree house at high speed and straight towards the towering form of Tirek. Not caring for his immense size, he instead focused his magic on attacking him.

̵A̷ ̸s̸l̷o̷w̴ ̴r̴i̴s̶e̸ ̷o̶f̷ ̷p̷a̸i̴n̸ ̸a̴n̶d̵ ̵f̷e̶a̶r̷ ̴a̴r̶o̶s̸e̸.̶.̶.̸

With a war cry, Dusk unleashed the full might of alicorn magic combined at the towering fiend. He cared not for how much he put, he only cared to cause his pain.

̸T̷h̸e̵ ̴t̸r̶e̵m̵o̷r̷s̴ ̴o̷f̴ ̸h̷o̵p̶e̴l̵e̶s̶s̵n̵e̷s̸s̶ ̴a̴n̶d̵ ̸a̸n̵g̷e̸r̷ ̵g̸r̴e̸w̴ ̵w̴i̷t̸h̸i̵n̵.̸.̸.̵

The centaur roared in anger at the attack but took the force of the fire and fought back, dishing out his own power. The Alicorn and the Mad Centaur traded blows with one another…

M̸o̶r̶a̶l̶ ̵s̷e̴n̷s̴e̸s̸ ̶o̵f̸ ̶r̴i̸g̷h̸t̶ ̶a̶n̵d̶ ̴w̵r̷o̴n̸g̵ ̵s̷l̸o̴w̵l̴y̵ ̶l̴e̸f̸t̷ ̵t̵h̶e̴ ̶m̸i̵n̸d̵.̸.̴.̴

Magical blasts of untamed power shook the lands, as the rancor of the Titans clashed. The energy and strength could be seen and heard miles away as the two dueled and fought…

T̷h̶e̵ ̸p̶o̵w̸e̶r̴ ̴t̶h̴a̶t̷ ̶h̴e̸ ̷h̴e̵l̸d̷ ̴w̵a̸s̶ ̵j̸u̵s̶t̷ ̴t̸h̴e̸ ̷b̶e̶g̷i̵n̷i̷n̶g̷ ̴o̴f̴ what ̴h̴e̶ ̶c̵o̴u̵l̴d̸ ̷w̶e̸i̷l̵d̷.̸.̶.̵

Dusk screamed as he was flung through his tree home and destroyed it. The pain was strong, but the recovery instant and the anger grew with unbridled rage unlike ever before. With a vengeful cry, he launched himself back at the centaur…

W̴h̴a̸t̷ ̶hi̶s̷ ̵p̶a̴i̶n̷ ̶a̷n̸d̸ ̷a̵n̸g̸u̴i̷s̴h̸ ̵w̴i̵l̴l̴ ̸b̸e̶,̸ ̵i̷s̴ ̸n̶o̷t̸h̶i̷n̸g̴ ̷c̴o̸m̴p̶a̷r̷e̷d̸ ̷t̸o̷ ̸t̴h̶e̴ ̸p̶o̴w̷e̴r̶ ̵h̸e̸ ̷w̵i̵l̵l̷ ̴w̶e̸i̶l̵d̶.̸

He powered every inch of magic, every ounce of strength and all the power he could muster into a single untapped level of attack he could unleash…

F̸o̶r̶ ̷a̸l̷l̵ ̶e̵l̴s̵e̸ ̶i̷s̴ ̷i̸r̴r̴e̶l̸a̸v̸e̷n̴t̶,̸ ̶w̴h̸e̷n̴ ̵t̷r̷u̷e̵ ̷p̵o̷w̶e̵r̶ ̴i̷s̴ ̸t̸o̶ ̴h̴o̴l̶d̴ ̶t̷h̵e̶ ̵u̸n̸i̷v̵e̶r̶s̷e̴ ̸i̶n̶ ̴y̴o̴u̸ ̷g̸r̸a̶s̷p̷.̷.̵.̴

The centaur unleashed his own powerful attack, powering as much as he could to disperse and rid the stallion once and for all…

T̷h̶e̷ ̷w̸i̶l̴l̷ ̸t̷o̸ ̵s̴u̷r̷v̷i̶v̶e̶ ̷s̸t̷r̶o̶n̶g̸,̵ ̴t̸h̸e̷ ̶p̷a̷i̶n̷ ̶t̷o̴ ̸e̸n̷d̷u̴r̶e̶ ̵u̷n̶e̶n̴d̴i̶n̴g̵,̴ ̶t̵h̵e̷ ̵p̸u̷r̵s̸u̶i̵t̷ ̸f̶o̵r̴ ̵p̶o̶w̸e̶r̵,̷ ̶e̶n̷d̵l̷e̵s̷s̸ ̸a̷n̸d̴ ̵t̷h̴e̷ ̵r̴e̴a̷c̶h̴ ̴o̵f̷ ̷Go̵d̵.̸.̷.̸ ̶n̷e̵a̶r̴.̷.̸.̵

The attacks collided and for one brilliant moment, energy unseen or witnessed like never before was unleashed upon the lands. The collosual power released destroyed a wide area of land, annihilating everything in its path. Any life in the blast was erased, any atom or molecule present was vaporized from existence and all the energy concentrated was felt by both titans, knowing that with that power, anything could be possible…

T̴h̸e̵ ̵e̷n̷d̴ ̴d̵r̴a̶w̵s̷ ̷n̶e̷a̴r̸ ̸a̷n̴d̴ ̵p̴o̷w̸e̵r̷ ̵w̴i̸l̶l̵ ̵b̴e̷ ̷h̷i̵s̶.̶.̵ ̵

“It seems we are at a standstill, Dusk, but I grow tired of this fighting!” With a wave of his large hands, on either side of his palms. two orbs of yellow held those he cherished with his heart.

To the right side were his friends, the girls terrified and drained of their magic. To the left was the four mothers, also drained of their magic.

“Let them go!” Dusk Shine roared at him, ready to attack once more.

W̷h̸a̴t̷ ̶i̷s̸ ̵l̷e̸f̵t̶ ̴i̴s̵ ̷a̶ ̸c̸h̶o̶i̸c̸e̴.̷.̷.̴ ̷A̶ ̴c̸h̶o̴i̸c̵e̴ ̷t̴h̸a̶t̴ ̷w̶i̶l̷l̷ ̷b̴e̶ ̴m̶a̷d̵e̵.̴.̵.̷

“Unless you wish to lose them all, even these poor excuses for villains, I will snuff out their very lives unless you surrender your remaining magic to me!”

D̷̳̲̹̠̹͔͉̼̲̹̙̥͕͊͆́̽̉͂ͅṵ̸̳̬̳̦̼̩̳̫̜͇͕̐̈́̉́̾ͅs̸̲̗͛́̃̈̓̅́̓̓͂̇͐͂͐͘̚͝k̷̫̤̀̏̄͂̀̽͂́̈̓̄͘͠ ̸̣̂Ŝ̷̢͎̤̼̪͎͓̩̻̳̂̌̇͑͆̿̂̏̂̈̇̕͘͜h̵̢̛͕̖̤̠̺̥̩̫̙̘͍̯̥̣̫̃̔̎́̋̀̎̀͋̿̋̕͘͠i̵̛̳̹͙̯̼̻͒̀̌́̋̾͆̇̓̉ͅñ̸̮͓̭̮̬͓́͘ͅẻ̷̢̧̡̙̬͖̩̝̮̟̲̹̝̗̺̊̔̀

“So tell me then Dusk Shine! What will it be? Your magic or… your friends!? MAKE YOUR CHOICE!”

D̷̳̲̹̠̹͔͉̼̲̹̙̥͕͊͆́̽̉͂ͅṵ̸̳̬̳̦̼̩̳̫̜͇͕̐̈́̉́̾ͅs̸̲̗͛́̃̈̓̅́̓̓͂̇͐͂͐͘̚͝k̷̫̤̀̏̄͂̀̽͂́̈̓̄͘͠ ̸̣̂Ŝ̷̢͎̤̼̪͎͓̩̻̳̂̌̇͑͆̿̂̏̂̈̇̕͘͜h̵̢̛͕̖̤̠̺̥̩̫̙̘͍̯̥̣̫̃̔̎́̋̀̎̀͋̿̋̕͘͠i̵̛̳̹͙̯̼̻͒̀̌́̋̾͆̇̓̉ͅñ̸̮͓̭̮̬͓́͘ͅẻ̷̢̧̡̙̬͖̩̝̮̟̲̹̝̗̺̊̔̀

Dusk froze as did time itself…

As this happened, the world shifted and he felt himself removed for a moment, as Starlight’s warning resurfaced into his mind.

“You made a choice! You made the choice that turns you into h̶̺͓̯̹͉̺͓̖͎̀̐͘ḯ̵̢̛̪̪͔̣̫̼̼͇̤̦̗̦̌̈̀͆̆͌̃̋̇̓̀̕͠ͅͅm̷̛͔͜.”

But what was the choice and what would stop Dusk from becoming…

“And by turning into him, she meant… meeeee…”

Dusk was pulled out of his reality and into a voided area. He was lifted right before his darker half.

Nightfall - The Alicorn turned God in a Nightmarish future

Dusk stared up at the towering version of himself. The one he saw in Starlight’s vision. The one he would see in the mirror behind him many times. The one he felt utter dread for everytime a dark thought or a horrendous nightmare when Luna couldn’t save him.

The giant of an alicorn god looked down at his weak form, glaring at him.

“You will choose not to give up your power you currently wield,” The strength of his voice alone shook Dusk, as if reality was bending to his will. The very air around him shifting and shaping around him but not affecting him at all. “If you follow this path, you will rise to a new level of power untapped before. Nothing and no one will be able to stop you.”

Dusk was frightened as the god slowly circled his form. “Once this wanna-be tyrant is killed, we will rise and drain his magic to go beyond creation itself.”
“No…” Dusk managed to whimper out. “No… I-I… you want-ted to destroy…”

“That fictitious and unreliable mare has no comprehension for what we were trying to achieve!” Nightfall calmly then walked passed him with each step slowly changing the area around him as the void began to show light and other things.

It quickly clicked to Dusk that Nightfall was showing him space! No…, not just space, the universe! Each light represented a star or a planet, unseen through Equine eyes. And yet, that was just the start as the views changed once more showing countless worlds and other galaxies.

“All of this and more, can be within our reach. The stars, other worlds scattered above us can be obtained with the level and power we hold.” A pause before a tear through the very fabric of reality happened before them. “But that is just the start…”

A giant stream of multiple branches were shown to him as each one represented a different time, a different dimension of infinite proportions.

“The borders between our reality and others will be as easy as opening the door.” And just like a door, he pushed through and his hoof changed to something… alien.

Dusk was somewhat ecstatic about this but a lingering doubt came. “But- if I don’t surrender my magic, Tirek will kill them. He will kill them all.”

For a solid moment, Nightfall stood silent as he stared at the universe and everything around him, contemplating on that moment, before he turned to his weaker half and spoke easily without remorse.

“Sacrifices… must be made, in pursuit of greater power.”

Ear pinned, heart hammering and dread consuming his whole being rocked by those heavy words of selfish indignation. Nightfall continued. “Mere obstacles that you will no longer carry around you. They have no value to us now that they gave up their magic to us. The unrestricted access to so many before us allows us to bend the walls of our understanding to our will, transcends the lives of others. The pursuit for not just knowledge and power awaits us, but so is the ability to search beyond the simple meaning of life. Who has created or what has creation made of us for, will be within our reach. What gods or creators wait for us behind the veils that have surrounded us. Taking the magic of the world will allow us to break through the barriers that bind us to this and other worlds. As we push forward, further and farther, we will take the knowledge and power of those of us and others to go beyond meaning and understanding.”

“Nightfall and Dusk Shine would no longer be just a name, but a meaning. A purpose that will be learned through the multiverse and beyond. The apocracy that once covered us will no longer be a lie we accept but merely a change in the story. Our story. We will rewrite everything and anything around us so that we are not bound by a thing called ‘fate’ but rather we choose our own and forge it. We will write others if we must as well, to show our power to control those below us.

“This is our fate, this is our destiny and this is our choice, and you will make the choice for us all…

“NOOOOOOO!!!!” Dusk yelled with all his might, shattering the illusion that was played before him. Tears fell from the stallion as he stared definitely at his darker half. “I WILL NOT PURSUE THIS PATH! I REFUSE TO FALL AND BECOME A MONSTER LIKE YOU!”

Fearfully, Dusk turned and ran away as fast as he could from his darker half, while Nightfall merely watched, though his voice echoed around him as he ran.

Dusk ran as fast as he could to get away from him, to not become him, knowing that he would not make the choice.

“YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE OUR FATE, DUSK! WE WILL MAKE THE CHOICE!!! THE PURSUIT OF POWER AND KNOWLEDGE WILL BE THE TRUE GOAL!!! NO ONE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS BUT ABSOLUTE CONTROL!!!

Dusk tried to ignore his voice as it echoed around him, though images and displays of what awaited him as he tried to run were seen all around him.

The death of his friends, of his family, of the princesses surrounding him.

Each one begging and pleading right before his eyes.

Even the four that he had once hated, now slowly turning into mares he could share his heart with, also trying to reach out to him but to no avail.

Ponies and creatures reacting to his fear driven power, all falling before in his pursuit of power and strength, driven mad with rage. Tirek had been the catalyst for him to make the choice between power and family.

As he ran, his heart ached and burned with anguish, mental, physical and even spiritually as he tried to deny his darker half the chance to come to fruition. Even as he began to tire, he dared not fall, he couldn’t fall.

Not for them, not for any of them. His eyes only managed to catch the small four visuals as each of his foals were slowly corrupted and turned into his enforcers.

Nocturnal Night, his smart colt, would drive forth the sword through the heart of any enemy or opposition in his name.

Mirage, his beautiful daughter would drain and cause strife amongst those that stood before them.

Screwball, the joy and love of her nature would be stripped and replaced by a destructive force of untamed nature.

Umbra, the colt who enjoyed challenges, would find none after as they would fall into his shadows and be lost in the void.

Dusk cried as he slowed to a crawl as he heard the many voices and cries of those he loved and cherished fall around him, not being able to save them. His choice to save them would not be outweighed by the fact that even if gave up his magic, the anger and rage that Tirek would cause him would make him become Nightfall regardless.

The darkness was slowly consuming him, the anger and pain he felt reaching closer and closer to him. The distant voices of those he failed were becoming distant and less vivid. The heavy steps of Nightfall’s approach are getting closer and closer.

The inevitable end was here….

(Music End)

Dusk Shine…

A voice pierced the darkness, one that was… somehow familiar and at the same time powerful. It was enough that even Nightfall paused.

Dusk Shine… you have not fallen yet nor will you!

Nightfall let lose a small growl as he searched for the voice. “What is this?Who are you?!”

Dusk Shine felt something. A light, a warmth from within. A small something, but it was growing.

What you do here and now, will not affect those you love. Believe that Harmony will prevail, believe that you will succeed. Believe in yourself and the Magic of Friendship.

“WHO ARE YOU!?” The giant alicorn demanded, looking for the source. “SHOW YOURSELF!!!

Dusk Shine slowly rose and felt the warmth and light returning. His vision and his mind cleared.

You have a family to rescue, a world to save and a destiny to fufill…

“YOU WILL NOT TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME!!! HIS CHOICE WILL BE MADE AND I…” A pause before realization struck. The giant alicorn was stunned as he witnessed that a barrier had been broken, but not by him. The light and voice belonged to someone not within the reality of their own or his…

‘YOU!!!’ He growled out, only for the light to pierce his veil of ebony and over Dusk Shine once more, but this time with much power. “NOOO!!! I WILL NOT LOSE THIS FIGHT!!! DO YOU HEAR ME!? I WILL RISE AND WILL COME AFTER YOU FAU-” A scream that shook the very fabric of reality left him, as the light shredded through him, the very heavens themselves descending upon him, while Dusk remained unaffected… “THE WALLS WILL BREAK!!! I SEE YOUR TRUE FORM!!!” The final word left him as he became no more.

Dusk Shine… remember, Harmony will prevail. You will rise and be the Prince the world needs. It is and always will be your fate. The choice you make will save them all….

Dusk Shine blinked as he felt himself once more staring up at the mad centaur who had repeated himself once more. Time itself had seemed to freeze only to start once more the moment he had left.

“I ask you once again, Dusk! What will it be? Your friends or magic!”

The darkness that once inhabited him no longer spoke. The fear of becoming that… of which he could no longer even remember, was gone.

All that remained was trust, love and hope. He chose to trust in Harmony. He chose that Friendship would prevail and he will choose all of them because he loved them all.

With a sigh and a bow of his head, Dusk Shine spoke. “I choose them, Tirek. Take my magic but let them go!”

The centaur grinned and dropped them all. As he did, he absorbed all of the remaining magic from Dusk and with a roar, ascended to new heights like never before.

Despite the drain and the pain he had just been inflicted, Dusk quickly made his way to his friends and his… herd. All were weak and look beaten. His approach did somewhat raise them a bit but they looked distraught as Tirek continued his mad rampage across Equestria.

“Dusk, what do we do? He has all the magic?”

Each girl voiced their concern to him, the same with the others. Eris approached and handed him a medallion.

“Here. This guy tried to offer us a bit of good will to help him. At first, he tempted us with more power as we could even take back what we lost.”

“We are sorry about this, Dusk.” Chrysalis half whined. “We were blinded by false promises.”

“And he already had more power then we could have anticipated.” Silhouette added weakly.

“What do we do? He is too strong!” Nightmare stated fearfully.

Dusk nodded. “Maybe so, but I trust in Harmony and I believe that with this,” He brought forth Tirek's medallion as a Rainbow shine cast through his eyes. “-will defeat him and Harmony will prevail!”

And through Harmony, through a choice of believing not just himself but those he loved and cared for, Dusk Shine and his family would rise and prevail.

Choices made can lead to destiny and fate, a single act can save many and with the heart of it at the center. Love, Friendship and Family will overcome what many others have failed to do…

"It is through Friendship and Harmony that we will survive, Tirek!" As Dusk Shine rose to the skies along with his friends. They were covered in rainbows of colors and lights, their coats in vibrant shades that represented different aspects of Harmony. "And as long as I, and other ponies believing in Harmony, we will prevail!"

The power and magic that had charged up, fired towards the red centaur. He tried to fire back but it was easily overpowered and struck him. A mighty roar left him as all the magic that he had consumed drained from him and returned back to their owners.

He shrunk more and more until he was in his weakened state once more. Once beaten, Dusk Shine opened a portal to Tartarus and freed the princesses that had been trapped. Their magic returned as did the mass of others, with Dusk throwing the red centaur back to his cell and sealing it.

The same magic that they held, also launched the box that once held the keys over to Ponyville and struck the ground. From there, more magic came about and a tree arouse from the very earth, flashing a power beam to the skies and giving Equss, its first Castle of Harmony. It was to become a symbol of hope for many, a home for those who needed it and a place where love could blossom.

The return of Magic and Harmony would spell a great change for Equus and its many residents. As the Prince of Friendship became more renowned to not just ponies but through the world.

Standing by him in front of the new castle, Nightmare, Chrysalis, Silhouette and Eris stood by him to his left, while on his right, his friends, and the Princesses stood.

Celestia spoke with pride as she stared at the castle before her. “I believe this is a castle worthy of a Prince, don’t you agree?”

Said stallion remained in awe at looking at it, though he turned to Celestia. “But… what for? Why?”

“That, my dear Dusk Shine, is something you're going to have to figure out, at least not alone. You have your friends and you have your… herd to help you!”

Said four seemed also stunned though Eris was quick to point out, “So we get a magical treehouse for toy sales and we get to live here comfortably?”

“It shouldn’t be as complex, but that seems to be the gist of it,” Silhouette agreed.

“And this is for us helping save Equestria and its magic?” Chrysalis asked.

“Will we still live in punishment for our transgression or is this our new start?” Nightmare added.

Luna approached her darker half. “For now, I believe we can forgive as this is a time when-”

Upon close proximity, both mares lit up a halo blue and their forms seemed to merge into a pull. In fear of something, both quickly jumped back as if an attack from one another, yet nothing else happened.

Dusk, noticing this, noticed that while Luna and Nightmare were the same pony, they were one halves of the others. Celestia also picked up on this. “I think that perhaps if you are ready to forgive yourselves,” Dusk pointed out to both mares, causing them to turn to him. “-that both of you may be complete. Whether you acknowledge it or not, you two are both the same, just split in half.”

Nightmare and Luna stared at one another and were silently debating on whether this is true or not. Celestia stood by her sister. “Perhaps sister, this is also a choice in the making of not just Dusk, but of yours as well. To remain two different beings or re-merge and become whole, that is something only could be decided by you both.”

Author's Note

So as I said in the previous chapter, the story got delayed due to family issues and I couldn't concentrate because of it. I apologize but this one was done, I just needed to add music and the part edited. No actual editing was done due to time restrictions.
Now, you maybe wondering why I started adding Zalgo text and it sorta represents that fracturing power Nightfall had in that you as a reader are uncomfortable or hate the idea off something in your reading.
That is what Nightfal represents, a tear or a fracture in your reality where it distorients everything. Its a one shot, you will not see it again since most readers hate it, so this will be the only story to feature it.

Next, the epilogue will come later this month mostly because I want to see what you all chose for the Luna/Nightmare ending. The epilogue is done but that part I leave to you. I will release it with the others stories at the end of the month.

Lastly... a short sequel will be made. Why? Just... freckin enjoy it when it comes out, thats why. I didn't want to write it but it will be done because Eris is a fuckin ~~cu~~ ~ooool little fourth wall breaker, baby! ~ Eris
Anyways, so I hope you enjoyed reading this and will update the other stories soon.

Also, the music choice was years in the choosing, so I hope you listen to it whille you read after the start off it! This makes the stories so much better!