Burning Sins

San Francisco, North America - 2010

This. Is. It.

Three years. Three goddamn years have passed since Nathan Schmidt left his home, his new family, and everything that was good to him behind. In an act of selfishness, a way to escape the dread that consumed his life from the moment he was born, he took the easy way out and ran. Though, in that time, he didn't simply run away from his problems. He knew they would follow him. If he left things as they were, not only would the very same gang that kidnapped his sister chase him down, but they would continue to pester and abuse the Devil's Enforcers, now that they were in their lowest state with the Don falling into an emotional disaster. The whole thing was screwed, and when Nathan saw his sister in that chair, the back of her head smashed in, he knew he wasn't just going to run away.

The game of vengeance was played for almost half a decade, the various expanded bases and operations of the vicious gang called the Pathogens being his target all across England, and soon, the United States. Months had rolled by before one of them was toppled, then another days after. One by one, they all fell. Member by member, base by base. His anger drove him to do the impossible. His grief always pushed him forward.

It was his fault, after all. His actions and inaction rendered the family he was employed into a vulnerable mess. He came into this profession and he was nothing but a curse to them. Several business ventures were turned into a shootout because of him. The Don's wife was murdered. His sister kidnapped and slaughtered. He should have known things would have turned out this way. He should have known bad things happen in bad business. They would have been better off on the street, but it's too late to take any of that back, now. Maya is dead, and Nathan wants revenge. He's let that genocidal vengeance build inside of him. That desire to kill. That desire to destroy. Three years of it festering in his heart had taken him over, and devoured everything he felt was good in him. It has long since taken him over, but now that he is here, at the last stretch of his vengeful journey, the meaning has changed. How many more lives were destroyed in shootings and firefights with the Pathogens? How many other children lost mother figures or siblings because Nathan got careless and couldn't give a damn about collateral?

He knew he was taking it too far, but it's too late to back out, now. He had set his final trap. By robbing a bank that was being strongarmed by the Pathogens for longer than Nathan's been alive, he's attracted their attention. The loot now sits below him, tethered and wrapped in the middle of an abandoned warehouse. With makeshift explosives, Molotov Cocktails tied to ropes above the floor, and the floor itself lathered in gasoline, Nathan had armed himself, readying the one of many rifles he'd taken off of the corpses of the gang members.

One way or another, this ends, tonight.

Kneeling down behind the thick boards covering the sides of the catwalk he posted himself on, he watched as the doors to the warehouse opened, several members walking in with guns raised and alert. Keeping himself hidden and quiet as they moved along the bottom floor, Nathan waited to see how many there were before making his move. Seeing at least a dozen present, he knew there were going to be more waiting outside. Lighting a match on his boot, he held it over the edge, taking bated breaths as they approached the gift-wrapped pile of earnings. When they all surrounded or got close to it, he let it drop.

The second the fire went up, pandemonium swept through the last bastion of the gang's offensive force. Engulfed by the flames, the ones that had been at the thickest of the gasoline went up instantly, dying with their screams as they collapsed in flailing heaps. Raising his rifle, Nathan aimed for the doors and windows, seeing many more were, indeed, outside. Firing his weapon, he killed one off, startling the rest before another dropped. Now alarmed and aware of his presence, Nathan made his way down the catwalk and stuck the barrel of his rifle through another hole in the boards, taking aim and laying down two others just as they were getting confident. At this point, the team outside were making their way in, heading through entrances that were safer than the ones spewing the deadly flames. As one stepped through, his foot snatched a wire, and a Molotov dropped on top of him, rendering him the same searing, screaming morsel his friends were roasted into. Reloading more cartridges into the rifle, Nathan struck down three more Pathogens before the fire inside began to die away. Some of the men on the other side of the building got the water pump nearby to start working again, and punctured a big enough hole for the unused water to spill into the warehouse floor. Grimacing at his luck, Nathan placed the rifle down and rushed off to the west platform, going into the office side just as some of the gang members saw him.

"Hey! There! He went in there!"

"The doors and windows are barricaded! Some of them are even rigged!"

One of the members stepped forward, dressed differently than the rest. Puffing out a cloud of smoke from the cigarette he had in his lips, he huffed to the setup in front of him.

"Gotta admit, he's as clever as ever, luring us to the gold and lighting the place ablaze."

He took the cigarette out, flicking it into the water.

"Find him. Get in there by any means and snuff him out. The boss'll be happy to hear we finally ended Cerberus."

Ah, yes. Cerberus. Nathan knew that name well. It was his nickname. His calling card, if you will. In Greek lore, that dog was a monstrous beast that oversaw the Underworld. Though he was nominally a "hellhound", Cerberus was not evil. Another working dog, just like him. Kind of poetic for a gang to give him such a name. Nevertheless, this hellhound is finishing his work, and this cute little merry band of thugs isn't going to stop him. Taking up another post inside the center office in the complex floor, he waited to hear the sound of one of the doors or windows being broken in. Nathan was almost about to put an ear to the floor, but jerked back up as one of them was shattered to his far left, an explosion following suit and taking out another four members. A series of curses followed as Nathan crouched to the side of the office near the explosion, drawing his pistol and firing upon the men that came in after the explosion's aftermath settled. The first of them died instantly, while two more choked on their own fluids when the bullets pierced their necks. The elite standing behind them ducked in cover.

"Dammit! Kill him! He's in the center office!!"

Nathan ducked back down and ran to the side. Hiding behind a post that was reinforced with rebar, the bullets did not pass through it. One of the members attempted to rush to another spot for cover, only to be killed the second he settled himself in it by another Molotov hanging above him.

"Get in there, you lazy fucks! Overwhelm and swarm him!"

"Boss! There's traps and fucking bottles everywhere! The whole floor's a killzone!"

"Then find a way around it! Kill that fucking kid and bring me his flayed face!!"

Nathan could hear another window on the other side of the floor being broken into, the explosives set off just as the glass cut into the tripwire. Firing off in that direction, he managed to hit someone in the shoulder before he repositioned himself. That same man open fired on Nathan, forcing him to crawl along the floor to avoid the hail of bullets that sailed towards him. Getting back to a sturdy cover, he snagged a small bag from a nearby desk, taking out another makeshift explosive and pulling its string. Tossing it out into the open, he covered his eyes as the tin can exploded and a thick white powder blinded the Pathogens coming in from that way. Putting on a pair of goggles, Nathan killed off the injured man along with his companion before refocusing on the main entrance to the room. Seeing a small group of what was left coming in, he shimmied over to a barrel of water, tipping it over and sending a small wave towards them. Plugging in the landline phone, he cut the wire attached to the phone itself and tossed it into the water, electrocuting the remaining men save for the elite. Watching his men get fried, he stumbled away, gulping down a lump in his throat before tossing his gun away.

"Fuck this!!"

Nathan could hear him taking off away from the door. Tugging the wire from the water, he waited for the last bit of voltage to discharge before running after the elite. Coming back out on the catwalk, he could see him reaching the stairs and making his way down. Taking one of submachine guns off of a dead Pathogen, he aimed it at the stairs and let loose, a flurry of lead peppering the only way down to the bottom floor. The elite was only so lucky to be hit with just one of the bullets. It penetrated his knee on contact, shattering his knee cap and causing him to double over and fall down the stairs. Groaning and yelling at the pain in his leg and the bruises he got, Nathan strode after him, walking across the catwalk and heading down the steps. The elite looked up at him as he stormed towards him, taking aim for his face.

"W-Wait! Wait! Y-You want Packie, right? That's who you're looking for?"

Nathan rose an eyebrow, lowering his pistol slightly at the name.

"Packie? Who are you talking about?"

"P-Packie. H-His real name is Paxton Mauler. H-He's the last founder of the gang. The last leader we got. It's him you want, right? I can tell you where he is if you let me go!"

Nathan stared at the cowardly elite before aiming at his head again.

"Talk..."

"T-There's a mansion in Pacific Heights. It was owned by a high-end family. We took it over. You can find him there, along with the best of us guarding him. My guess is, you won't get within a mile of him before-"

*BLAM-!!!*

The elite's head fell back as Nathan fired a bullet into his eye, killing him instantly. Lowering his pistol, the hooded Cerberus glanced up at the exit, seeing the sun was about to set. If the leader really was at that mansion, he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

A perfect time for a house invasion.

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. Letting go means to come to the realization that some people, events, and even mistakes, are a part of your history. They're not a part of your destiny. You'll soon learn that one of the happiest moments of your life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change.

There's nothing quite like the salty, misty air of the beachfront. The sour, yet sweet smell of the ocean, the sand covering your toes as you dig your feet under it. Honestly, such a sight and sensation is one thing Nathan grew to appreciate as he crossed from one country to another. It calmed him, in a sense. Helped him simmer down his emotions and take a step back to look at himself, to reflect. Whether it was on the shores of England or on the boat he cruised with to the edges of Florida, he found comfort here most times than none. Now, standing on the cliffs overlooking a near hundred foot drop into the precipice depths of the ocean below, he felt he hadn't appreciated it enough, given the current circumstances.

Sitting on top of an old and classy 1962 Ferrari, Nathan swung his legs back and forth as half the sun was still peeking over the horizon. Watching the waves gently culminate and splash onto the side of the cliffs, he took an uneasy and bated breath.

The last Pathogen was inside the trunk of this car. He was tied by heavy rope and gagged and wrapped with tape to keep him from screaming. He wouldn't be going anywhere, and for the last hour or so, Nathan hadn't heard so much as a peep from him. This was good. It made this moment easier for him to handle. Emotions running high clouded Nathan's judgement, kept him from doing things properly. This last thug was going to die, but he had to focus on the smaller details of it, the process that would drive home the conclusive point Nathan had been drilling and shooting into each of his subordinates. The saga of violence and tragedy was almost over. All that was left was to kill him...

Well, him, his wife and daughter, that is.

Looking into the Ferrari's back seat, Nathan could see two girls bound and gagged, their seatbelts keeping them in place as they tried to struggle. Rolling his eyes, he jumped off the car, using the keys to pop the trunk. Walking over to it, he opened it, seeing Paxton inside. For a moment, the founder of the gang that ruined him squirmed, held firmly by the ropes and his voice but a few muffled swears and slurs. Looking him over, Nathan pursed his lips, remembering a face like that very well.

That day, when he killed all of the thugs that stood between him and his deranged mother, this man was there. Pretty ballsy for a member in the higher chain of command to be on the front line, but Nathan knew that he got away. He ran when the tables turned on his crew. With each one dying at his feet, there was less and less of a chance Paxton was going to kill Nathan that day. He wouldn't be doing it today, either. No, instead, he was going to feel the exact same thing he did when he served his sister up to Elizabeth on a silver platter, not caring that she would be butchered and strung up in a chair like a fucking doll at a child's tea party.

Still, though... Thinking back on everything that happened, Nathan couldn't help but chuckle.

"You know, you're a strange bunch of people. You aren't like the normal twisted gangs of brats and shitheads I've seen over the years. You don't parade yourselves around like compensating jocks. You don't just hustle and murder because you think you can."

Nathan glanced off towards the sunset.

"You've been trying so hard to establish yourselves as your own little rival mafia family. That alone is funny. You try to emulate what many Italian and British families follow without actually understanding what their principles are. The only thing you made was a glass empire that fell and shattered just as easily as a pushing over a house of cards. You lie, you cheat, you steal, and worst of all, you "take" from victims what they can't ever get back."

Nathan clicked his tongue as he pointed at Paxton.

"I'll give you credit, though. No matter what anyone says about you, you're consistent. You're consistent in fucking over anyone you can, but you should have amped up your training regiment for your boys, Packie."

A smirk grew onto Nathan's face as he leaned over the side of the trunk.

"One young man, who hasn't even turned twenty, took on an army that expanded over two whole countries, and won. No wonder the old families in Italy thought you were a fat fucking joke. You were more serious than anyone ever gave you credit for, and for so long, I wanted to put a bullet in your heart for every life you ruined, for every agreement you went back, and every deal you swindled and cheated."

He shrugged as he walked back around to the front of the trunk.

"But, unfortunately, I don't have enough ammo for that. But, that doesn't mean I'm not going to make your death painful."

He took Paxton by his jaw, forcing him to look up at Nathan.

"Now, you get to feel what I did. You get to know what it's like to watch everything and everyone you love be broken or die horribly. You will die, just as I did that day. Left alone as you drift away and drown in selfishness."

Nathan forced him into the trunk, sitting in such an awkward position that he could barely move. Stomping towards the back seats, he ripped open the door and unbuckled Paxton's wife. Dragging her out by her hair, he threw her into the dirt before pulling her around to the back of the car. Going and fetching his daughter as the leader of the Pathogens widened his eyes at his captured beloved, Nathan took his own child and threw her down beside her, now holding a sledgehammer. Seeing Paxton struggle and scream out muffled pleas through his taped mouth, Nathan felt a dull indifference as he approached his wife. Putting the head of the hammer on the back of her left knee, he stomped down on the underside of it with enough force to break the tendons and crack the bone. Going to her right leg and repeating this action, he began to continuously break the poor woman, slowly traveling up her body and cracking through everything in her body that he could break. Her pelvis, her tailbone, several segments of her spine, her ribs. She was still able to move by the time he was done, but she surely wished she couldn't. Every twitch caused excruciating pain.

Paxton was now in full panic mode, trying desperately to shrug off the ropes and take off the tape, but it was no use. He had no choice but to watch as his wife was tortured inhumanely, left to stew in her pain before Nathan rammed the sledgehammer through her torso, squashing her heart like a fruit. Leaving the hammer in the dirt beside her corpse, he walked back to the car, taking out a moderately-sized machete. Approaching his daughter, Nathan brought her up to her knees, then ran her through with the blade, stabbing through her spinal cord and tearing through her flesh as he pulled to and fro, widening the cut into a gruesome linear hole. Ripping the machete out, he stepped on her bottom half, pulling upwards as hard as he could. On the fifth yank, her organs began to give way, and at the thirteenth pull, Nathan had successfully ripped her in half. Somehow, the little girl was still alive, screaming over her gag. Nathan, annoyed by her shrill and nasally voice, rose her up, turned her around, and slammed her into the ground, head first. Her voice came to an abrupt silence as half of her skull violently exploded against a rock.

Paxton, in tears and no longer struggling, gasped for air as he sobbed and cried pathetically through his sticky mask. Nathan, stepping over his daughter, shoved him back into the trunk, grabbing the door.

"Bet that didn't feel very good... did it?"

Nathan gave an uncaring look to the last Pathogen, a ghost of a smile mocking him.

"Good thing for you. I'm not gonna kill you just yet. I'm gonna let you simmer for a moment, let all of what just happened in the last five minutes stew. Meanwhile, I gotta make a call."

He closed the trunk door, huffing as it locked shut.

"Don't have too much fun without me."

He turned away from the car as he heard Paxton shuffling around inside. Taking a phone out from his back pocket, he fished around through the contacts before he settled on a certain "Unknown" number. For a moment, Nathan didn't do anything. He just lingered for a while before glancing up at the sunset. The yellow-orange light from before was now a darker orange with a touch of crimson. Night was but only a few minutes out. Breathing in, he dialed the number, bringing the phone up to his ear.

"Esecurtori Del Diavolo? This is Nathan Schmidt. The Pathogens have been wiped out. Their leaders, their muscle, even their bases in West Virginia, London, and San Francisco have been burned and destroyed..."

He paused for a minute, not hearing a response. Licking his lips, he sniffed up what emotions he was burying as he continued.

"I know I left you behind. I know I abandoned you. I was in a tough spot and I messed up, but I'm hoping by doing this last favor for the family that there will no bad blood between us. It's time we moved on, all of us. These last three years won't be remembered, and the agony of the tragedy that caused all of this can finally fade away. Consider this my send off. Tell Don Alassandro that I'm sorry, and tell Kyanna to always keep that bracelet close, because I'm doing the same with her ring. Goodbye, and good luck."

With that, he hung up before anyone could respond, the call set to record just in case no one was around to hear that. Shutting the phone off, he tosses it over the edge, hearing it crack as it struck one of the rocks in its descent. Rolling his shoulders, he went back to the Ferrari, reaching into the open passenger door and releasing the parking brake. Stepping out as the car rolled forward, it soon met the end of the cliffs and soared down to the ocean. Nathan didn't even watch it fall, choosing instead to gaze at the last remaining moments of the sunset. As the last of the light from the star faded, he could feel a certain weight on his shoulders dissipate. So much so that he was able to relax them, no longer held up with the pride of a Soldier or the tenseness of a killer, but let loose by the conclusion of this chapter of his life. So much regret and emptiness after all of this was said and done. Maya was avenged, and the Pathogens won't ever hurt the Esecurtori Del Diavolo anymore. It felt... satisfying, but at the same time, it left him pondering if killing all of these people was right in the end.

He could sympathize with the wife and child of Paxton. They didn't deserve this, despite him ending them anyways. He won't defend his more hideous actions when going after the Pathogens, but at the same time, where he killed hundreds, thousands more will prosper. Kyanna will grow up in a world without a target on her back from something as petty and low as gangsters, and her mother's name will not be stained with mockery. Alassandro will meet her at the gates, and when Kyanna takes over, Nathan knows she'll do alright.

He won't go back, however. There's too much there that will plaster Nathan to the past. So much that will eat away at him until he starts having suicidal thoughts. He won't do that. He stared at Paxton and made a promise to himself and to Maya to keep on living. It won't be easy. Living never was, but at the same time, he knew he would not find his destiny if he died on these cliffs with Paxton. He can't take throw himself away here when he could finally put up the guns, lay down his fists, and start a new, happier life. He may not be good at anything other than fighting and killing, but someone, somewhere may need that talent. He will live through killing Paxton Mauler. Revenge, this time, has closed the book on what he has experienced, and a new page has begun.

It was time for him to rest, to let go of the grief that burdened him, even if the regret was forever. It may plague him until the end of his days, but he will still carry on knowing he did the right thing in this weird, twisted way.

Turning away from the cliffs, Nathan walked passed the bodies of Paxton's family, leaving them to rot as the sun finally set and he disappeared into the calming night.

Many of us think twice of giving people who had wronged us a second chance, as we cannot let go of the hurt they had caused and are afraid of it reoccurring if we give those chances. However, we can take the bold step, and accept them again. Who knows? They may redeem themselves and achieve great things. After all, broken people are capable of reaching towards stars as bright as the sun, but only if we let go of the past, and look forward to the future. Only then, can we obtain the power to reveal the bright light hidden inside broken people and turn their lives around.

Canterlot, Equestria - 2012

Once upon a time, in the magical lands of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her Unicorn power to raise the sun at dawn while the younger brought out the moon at the beginning of night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their Kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of Ponies. But, as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The Ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger sister refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister used the power of the most powerful artifacts known to Pony kind: the Elements of Harmony. With their power, the elder sister defeated her younger twin and banished her in the moon for a thousand years. From then on, the elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria in that time.

However, when those thousand years passed, Nightmare Moon returned and traded places with the elder sister. Locked inside the moon, the elder sister could do nothing as Nightmare Moon ravaged the Kingdom with darkened magic once more, but she did not leave without a failsafe. Her student, who learned the magical power of the bonds she shared with five other Ponies, harnessed the power of the Elements once more, and dispelled the evil and bitterness of Nightmare Moon once and for all, leaving behind the goodness of the younger sister. Returned to the lands, the two sisters reacquainted themselves with the throne together and resumed their co-monarchy.

The student of the elder sister continued her studies into the magic of friendship, and demonstrated its resourceful power in the face of danger and chaos. Old legendary foes crumbled before its indomitable strength and peace once again reigned.

Soon, another joyous occasion would grace Equestria once more. The union of a third Alicorn, one that represented love and companionship, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and a strong and fearless stallion of the elder sister's royal guard, Shining Armor, was to take place in the capital city of Canterlot. However, the greatest threat to Equestria soon revealed itself as deceitful insectoids who devoured the love and happiness of Ponies, rendering them but mere husks. The Changelings, led by Queen Chrysalis, had Canterlot under siege. The student and her friends rushed off to retrieve the Elements, but as they managed to reach and don the artifacts once more, they were overwhelmed and captured.

"You won't get away with this!"

Princess Mi Amore Cadenze stood within the halls of the throne room, trapped and ensnared by the sticky substance of the Changeling adhesive slime. Beside her was a dazed stallion unable to move, and unable to think. He had succumbed to the feeding of these bug creatures for so long that his mind had become delirious. He had believed the Queen that stalked before them was his wife, and that he was to get married after a slight setback delayed the wedding. On the other side of the Princess of Love was a small, bipedal purple Dragon wearing his uniform for the proceedings that were to have taken place. All around them, outside of the throne room's walls, the city of Canterlot was being ravaged. Changelings everywhere hunted down Ponies of various types and classes, sticking them in place and draining them with their innate magic. Their struggling ceased as they felt their emotions wither and die, sapped from them and leaving them to fall into heaps.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza hoped their only chance at stopping this was just outside of this room. The more Ponies these creatures feed on, the less chance they have to-

*SLAM*

Everypony turned to the doorway as that very hope was being dragged in, either by force or by escort. Twilight Sparkle, having endured a bit of roughhousing, was dumped before Queen Chrysalis, the others hanging in the grasps of the others. Chrysalis chuckled to herself before glancing at Cadenza.

"You were saying, dear Princess?"

"My Queen!"

One of the Changelings stepped forward, holding out a small case.

"They had gone in search of these. Very powerful and rare magic is stored within them."

Chrysalis opened the case, raising an eyebrow when she found the six necklaces inside.

"The Elements of Harmony. It serves no purpose to us, but I suppose we cannot allow our food to reacquire them."

She closed the case and sat it on a nearby table, smirking as she shooed away the Changelings within the room.

"Go out and play. There are many other subjects already feeding on the morsels down below. There should still be something left for all of you."

The lot of them bowed before dumping the rest of the mares before their monarch and flying off, diving down to swoop up anything that was ripe for the taking. Chrysalis watched them work before sighing melodramatically.

"Y'know, it's funny, really. Twilight Sparkle over there was suspicious of my behavior all along. It's too bad that the rest of you were too caught up in your wedding preparations to realize those suspicions were correct."

Applejack, an orange Earth Pony farm mare, cast a side glance to Twilight, who struggled to push herself up to her knees.

"Shoot... Ah knew somethin' was wrong when y'all came in like ya did. There wasn't a hint of any lyin' when you sent that faker scurryin' outta the room."

"Gh-... Don't be sorry, Applejack. She... She fooled everypony. Even if you had listened to me, it would have only started this all sooner."

"Quite astute of you, Ms. Sparkle. Here I was wondering why Celestia favored you so much."

Chrysalis turned her attention away from the Ponies in the room, her arrogance believing them to no longer be a threat. With that attention off of them, Twilight crawled over to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, grunting at her wounds before she fried the goop holding the pink Alicorn in place with her magic.

"G-Go... My brother. Get to him while you still have the chance."

Cadenza nodded, brushing a bloodied strand of hair from the purple Unicorn's face before rushing towards Shining Armor. Seeing the stallion brought a smile to her face, but it was wiped away when she found him still under the trance of Queen Chrysalis after being sapped of his love for so long. Thinking for a moment on how to free him and curate his condition, Cadenza used the magic she was known for. Her inner power of gifting as well as receiving love was passed onto Shining Armor, replenishing what was stolen from him and allowing him to regain his conscious mind once more. With the green shades fading from his eyes, he was able to blink away the rest of his haze and look around.

"Ugh... Wha-... What the buck...? What happened? Is the ceremony over already?"

Chrysalis let out another abhorrent cackle as she hovered back into the room, tittering as she glared down in amusement at the freed stallion.

"It's ALL over. Your spell is broken! Canterlot is destroyed! The Ponies here are but an appetizer to the buffet your Kingdom will provide..."

She ushered to Princess Celestia above them, who was asleep and in stasis within a strange, green cocoon.

"And your precious Princess will watch every step of the way of our conquest.~"

Shining Armor widened his eyes, turning and gazing down towards Canterlot.

"Oh my Celestia..."

He turned back to Chrysalis, glaring at her as his horn began to ignite. As it did, a sudden headache plagued him, a ceaseless burn of his own mana restraining his magic, and almost forcing him to double over and vomit.

"A-Ah, gods! My magic...! My power is useless now! They've taken too much of my strength and I can't repel this...!"

Cadenza stepped up next to him.

"Maybe not by yourself, but we can. My love magic will refurbish your own, and keep the Changelings from sapping any more of your potential away."

Chrysalis hissed as she crushed the table the Elements were resting upon when landing, the necklaces sliding away from the case as it toppled over. Their bearers eyed them for a moment, but realized they wouldn't get near them with the Queen standing in between. They were at one end of an unstoppable force while Twilight's brother and old foalsitter were on the other. Unable to do much more than watch, Chrysalis stalked towards the pair as Cadenza began to transfer her magical reserves to Shining Armor, who prepared the spell to protect Canterlot all over again. Straining himself, and fighting against the massive headache, more and more of his horn began to light up as Cadenza nuzzled up next to him, her arms linking around his and her muzzle burying itself under his chin. Their two horns touched as the magic they exerted reached its peak, sending out a flash that made Chrysalis stagger back.

"What...? How... How can you have so much left...?"

She jumped as one of the Elements of Harmony floated up into the air, responding to the love magic and flying back towards its bearer. The other Elements followed suit with the tiara of The Element of Magic coming last. Snapping onto their respective hosts, the power of friendship amplified the power of the love magic that was supercharging Shining Armor's spell, shaking the entirety of the throne room. Chrysalis backed up towards the windows, her cries and demands for them to stop ignored as her voice was no longer audible enough for anypony to hear. Opening their eyes as the magic continued to build, the flaring aura surrounding the bride and groom of the Canterlot wedding pushed outwards, bypassing the Elements of Harmony and obtaining a rainbow color. Sweeping towards Chrysalis, it slammed into her body and forced her out of the window. The barrier grabbed onto more Changelings as it not only passed over Canterlot, but expanded to a radius that even reached the neighboring towns and cities near Canterlot Mountain. All of the Changeling's adhesive was burned away in the wave, the insectoids themselves carried off and rocketed straight through the stratosphere. One by one, or in some cases, groups of them were sent out of the Kingdom, never to return.

Slowly, the series of mixed-colored light began to subside, the air around the capital returning to normal as the deafening thunder of war was quelled into silence and peace. Canterlot was in shambles, yes, but the damage was minimal compared to what it would have been. Only a few buildings toppled in the conflict, and even then, everypony was unharmed. Even those who were sapped of their strength were able to rise again, their love replenished and emotions running high.

Cadenza and Shining Armor, the source of the magic, found themselves locked in a tight embrace as the light from within dissipated, their hardship now passed and the day saved from ruination. Quite a way to celebrate their union, they'd say. Both were relieved to find each other unharmed, and it showed as they looked to each other.

Twilight Sparkle was quick to run off to the side of the room, catching Princess Celestia in her magic and lowering her to the floor as the cocoon was destroyed. Setting the Princess of the Sun upright, the taller, more regal Alicorn took a few labored breaths before calming her nerves. Coming out of stasis had shocked her, but did not leave her deterred for long. With her magic stabilizing itself, and her mane resuming its ethereal flow, she was able to get a good grasp on what was around her, and find her student before her. Helped to her feet, the eldest Alicorn of Equestria smiled.

"Don't worry about me, my pupil. I am fine..."

She turned her gaze towards Princess Cadenza and Shining Armor, her smile remaining as Twilight mirrored it, watching her two closest Ponies finally ready to be engaged in wedlock.

"I... believe you have a real wedding to put together."

Ohio, North America - 2012

"Whoa..."

Nathan felt himself stumble a bit as he was hit with some sort of... invisible force. It was like a strong gust of wind had just nearly swept him off his feet while an array of near transparent rainbow colors assaulted his eyes. He scrambled backwards on the small incline in the hillside of the forest he was traveling through, looking around as he waited for more wind currents to come along. None ever did.

What the hell was that? Is there a storm coming? He hadn't heard of any rolling through, but then again, he did decide to settle down in Ohio. After he had dealt with Paxton and his family, he took his first step in a new life to Ohio, a literal rural bar fight of a state, but also calming when you're not standing in the center of the cesspit of a city that is Columbus. Where Nathan lived right now was in a solitary section of Thornville. It was a small neighborly area, a place where he'd meet new people, find a new calling. Hell, he already had a job that paid decent money at Amazon. That aside, he occasionally went into the forest behind his house for some fresh wood for his fireplace. Fallen trees still had good wood to harvest and burn, and during the vicious storms of last Spring, there were still some good ones lying about a mile into the treeline. This was his fourth trip in, and it was only now that he was hit with that sudden wave of harsh, colorful wind.

Sitting himself up against the hillside, Nathan rubbed his eyes, then shook his head. He believed himself crazy, going delirious from a lack of sleep. I mean, shit, he's been up for a good while trying to build the new barn he had out back. He had to pull an all-nighter because he wouldn't have time till next weekend to continue on it. Might as well do all that he could. With it only being two-thirds the way done, Nathan was ready to take a break. He had amassed a good pile of wood already, but this last batch would be it before he clocked out for the night.

Standing up, he walked the rest of the way down, ignoring the oddness he was feeling as well as what had happened in favor of getting this done so he'd be able to sleep. Finding the last section where he found some decent logs, he gathered up another five hefty pieces and piled them into his arms. Turning and moseying back up the hill, his ears began to pick up on something as he was trailing back up the path to his home.

It sounded like... music. Slow, orchestra music. Something akin to a very romantic, wedding-like setting. A jingle that reminded anyone of the comfort of their own music box, but played on a piano.

Nathan blinked as he looked up the hill, noticing that it wasn't going as far up as he'd remembered. Was he always able to get up to the top this fast? Actually, never mind that...

What was that music? Where was it coming from?

Approaching the top of the hill, he found more foliage and trees ahead of him, the leaves and bark looking... different than the trees he left behind. The bark was of different texture, and the patterns on the leaves were all identical and traditional to that seen on a drawing. Stopping by one to examine it, his ears picked up the music again, drawing his attention to his right and pulling him in its direction. He figured that it might have been some pesky runts having a party, but that'd be too simple of an answer. Besides, what "bomb-ass" party has slow wedding music?

"Let's get this party started!!"

Nathan slowed his pace again, raising an eyebrow as the music he'd expected finally rang out through the forest.

Yup, that was definitely the kind of heavy beat he was waiting for. These kids must have put on the slow music first to drive off any adults from pestering them about their heavy metal and hard rock, but this sounded more like upbeat DJ pop than anything. Still, though, might as well tell them to keep it down before some old man comes at them with a shotgun...

Again...

Reaching the edge of the forest as the music was now accompanied by singing, Nathan turned passed several trees that lingered at the edge of the forest, coming around the corner of the treeline to find... find...

"~~~Love is in bloom! A beautiful bride! A handsome groom!~~~"

Nathan stood, dumbfounded by what he was seeing. He didn't know if he had huffed something from the logs he was carrying, or if he was so fucking tired, he was hallucinating what he was seeing, but before him was a large wedding reception filled to the brim with a maximum capacity of Ponies. Unicorns, Pegasi, and just regular horse-like humanoids fluttered about with bodies that men and women would kill for. The heavy beat was coming from a large speaker system on the other side of the clearing. The entire area was some sort of high-class courtyard with shrubbery laced with roses and flowers. Just behind it was the largest structure Nathan had seen in his life. A marble castle that was decked out in ornaments of white, gold, and various shades of pink and purple.

It was as if Nathan had stepped into some fucking fairy tale. What the hell was he even looking at?!

"~~~Two hearts becoming one! A bond that cannot be undone because looove iiiis in blooom...~~~"

Oh my god, they spoke. They spoke American-English! That purple one fucking spoke American!?

At this point, any strength used to carry the logs was lost as Nathan's arms slumped to his side. The wood fell and cluttered together, creating an audible noise loud enough for one of them to hear. A cry of alarm and surprise startled another, then another, and soon, everyone in the party was staring back at the confused former-serial murderer and mafia Soldier. The beat was cut off as the DJ took the needle off the disc, and all that accompanied either side was a stuttering silence. No one made a move, no one spoke a word. One side was confused beyond capacity, and the other was fearful, alert. After what had happened to them, how could they not be. Yet, as they stared at the lone straggler that had come upon them, the only words Nathan could culminate after minutes of trying to wrap his brain around what he was seeing were three, very logical ones.

"What the fuck...?"