Author's Note

Hi guys. I'll say it simply. Here is one of the bonus chapters, but it's more part of the main chapter. This chapter is more about the Yami tools and Unit #2 and doesn't have a place inside, so it's extra to give more information about them.

As for updates. I have republished the story twice. Yes twice. At first it was just superficial, but I found a better way to find errors, clean up the grammar, and make it simple to understand, but it took time, so much so that I've reworked most of the chapter and it's still pending.
HOWEVER, I encourage old readers to check it out as they may find it in better condition. The Nightmare Moon arc is now completely in sync with where I'm going.

For now, Book 2, is still pending when I am more satisfied with the next Extra. It's more half ready but I'm having a hard time completing it.

Extra: The devil's harvest

Extra: The devil's harvest

"Peace... how long will it last...", he said out loud, but more to himself.

In a distant part of Equestria lay an outpost town that the world ignored. It was a simple town, without attractions or anything to show. Neither was a major control point, not even for his country or any of its surroundings and for Terra. But it was the home of some villagers and visitors were welcome and received.

But could they welcome a Yami Tool, such as Unit #2? "...would be able to resist...against the darkness of the world?", Unit #2 speaks out loud while distracted along the way.

He was marching towards this town when he saw a bird's nest on the branch of a tree on the road. Unit #2 was about to witness the father bird teaching his young to fly. In other words, he was about to see how they were going to be kicked out of the nest.

Unit #2 stands still in his heavy coat in the middle of the day on his way to the next city for his next mission. There was no time limit to complete it, so checking the miracle of life was one of his hobbies that he still enjoys. One that could distract him from his thoughts. He waited patiently until time was up.

The yellow daddy bird flies around the nest to alert its chicks to leave the nest. The mother bluebird was in the nest helping them out. The big black chick was able to get out effortlessly. The normal red chick was getting used to lifting with its wing and came out after many attempts. But the little silver chick couldn't move.

Unit number 2 focuses on that little silver chick. She was smaller than the other two, but he could see that the main problem she had was an oddly small left wing compared to her normal right wing. Then he knew that this chick was born with an imperfection in her body. But that didn't stop the lesson.

The mother bluebird pushes her little silver chick out of the nest. The little silver chick cried for its mother to stop, but her efforts were in vain, soon it was out of the nest on the tree branch with its siblings. The yellow daddy bird flies behind the young. With his wings create enough wind to lift them, the red and black jump with the momentum. And the little silver was also dragged away.

In the air the little black chick had no problems getting used to it and flies away the next second. The red chick was disoriented but managed to regain control and flap its wings a couple of times before getting used to flying. But the silver chick was caught by the wind, spinning in the air without being able to control its fall.

And falls directly to the rocky ground. SMACK

Unit #2 watches the body of the small silver bird fall to the ground, unfazed by the bird's tragedy. He looks around and the other birds just fly away paying attention to the black and red chicks flying around.
Then he returned with the little silver chick and found that it was not moving at all. He took a few seconds, waiting for the little bird to react. But he knows that even if she wakes up she won't be able to fly.

And thus will be an easy prey for any predator. "Just as Life wants...", he turn around seeing enough, not looking back."...the way of the -CHIRP!-... Hmm?"

Unit #2 was surprised, even turning around he couldn't believe it. Even if the little bird was dirty with dirt and her blood. She possibly had broken bones. And without knowing it, she must have been afraid of not being able to fly. She doesn't cried for help, but rather to tell everyone that she was alive.

She was trying to flap her wings to take off enduring the pain of the blow. This hypnotizes Unit #2, the bird's will was strong to deny her destiny and face the world, even she was suffering and had no chance of surviving alone. Unit #2 continues to watch the chick's will, as if remembering someone like that. That's why he decides to act.

He walked towards the little bird on the ground, ignoring the family, who had already noticed him, flying around him and their warnings. He pays no attention to anything except the small silver bird that has caught his attention. The little bird continues fighting, oblivious to its surroundings, but when a shadow falls on it, it stops and raises its head.

She meets the eyes of Unit #2.

The family of birds continues to fly around both of them but they dare not approach Unit #2. As for him, he stared at the silver girl. He was not surprised that the little bird was afraid of him. He let the silver girl take some time to take in his presence. With enough time, Unit #2 crouches down and reaches under its coat toward the silver chick. Showing his dark metal hand.

Seeing the black metal hand approaching, the silver chick calls for help by flapping its wings. The mother bluebird stayed still and never left the nest. The yellow bird dad was in the air but never went to stop Unit #2 out of fear of him. The same with the little black chick that decides to stay on the branch knowing that it can't change anything. The little red chick was poking his coat close to Unit #2's eyes, doing his best to scare him away. The only one who does his best to protect the silver chick.

"I respect you resolution.", Unit #2 give a moment to the red chick bird to give his best. "However, I will not stop for what I decide.", later he continue to extend his hand over the silver chick.

There was nothing the birds can do to stop Unit #2. To pick up the silver chick. "There, now let me see you better.", Unit #2 voice resonate as he stand up with the silver chick on his hand.

The little silver chick was afraid, but it stopped shaking with fear when nothing happened to her. Later, she raised her head to see how close Unit #2's red eyes were under his light. She may begin to flap her wings to free herself from the metal hand, but something in his eyes caught the bird's interest.

The little red chick continued to poke around and fly around while the bird family did nothing about it. The blue bird mom didn't want to get involved, the yellow bird dad and the black chick were more interested in Unit #2 but from afar.

All of this happens while Unit #2 checks the body of the silver chick. "Hmmm... you have slight damage but nothing that time can fix. However... my guess is right, you will not be able to fly with that imperfect wing."

Unit #2 was able to confirm this with the silver chick near him. Its body was tiny and its right wing was normal like that of any bird. It was the left that showed an... imperfection. The left wing was smaller than he thought, but what he didn't see was how the wing was divided into three joints. One didn't look good.

The left wing has a normal shoulder and arm section, but weak muscles as expected. The silver chick was able to extend and retract these two parts; the last part, the section of a bird's hand, is shown disconnected. Unit #2 could see how an entire portion of the wing alula joint was hanging at a 90 degree angle.

"It's like it's a piece of dead meat.", Unit #2 took out his other hand and with his finger lift the bird wing against its protests. There he could find his answer. "...so you grow up with a dead hand... or rather, you are born with the hand cut from your body."

Under the wing, he discovered that the alula part of the wing was darker and the primary feathers were rotten. As he inspected the wing more closely, he noticed a cut at the alula joint. A cut right in the joint and between the bones that was scarred and dry, either at birth or during growth. Knowing that the alula portion of her wing is necessary for lifting and controlling her landings, Unit #2 concludes that she will have difficulty learning to fly or being able to control her wings.

However, will the bird survive with this imperfection? "No.", Unit #2 has made a decision. "You will not be able to survive on your own.", leaving the wing, and how it hang from the dead joint, Unit #2 went to where the bird is alive.

To her head. "Should I end you?", this finally alarm all the family birds.

The blue mom still didn't want to get involved, this leaves the yellow dad and the black chick to decide. Yellow dad didn't take action either, he was more interested in Unit #2 but the black big brother didn't. Sensing the intent to kill, the black brother jumps and flies to help the red brother. Red brother was always trying to defend little silver sister all this time. But the bird family could do nothing, the silver sister did nothing as the metal fingers grabbed her tiny head.

Unit #2 ignored the rest, only the silver chick caught their attention. "Think of this... as the liberation of your suffering," and begins to rack his brain.

Seeing danger, the black and red chick continues its assault on his head with more force, even trying to poke his eyes with its beaks. As if it will stop the inevitable. Unit #2 was only focused on the silver bird, nothing else caught its attention. That's why he witnessed how the silver chick simply closed its eyes while he put little but more pressure on its little head. If I wanted to, I could just smash her head.

But that will not let him get what he seek.

"CHIRP!", BUCK YOU!

Stopping the pressure from continuing, Unit #2's hand froze but he did not remove his fingers from the bird's head. At the last second, when the pressure could damage it, the chick's silver body reacted by flapping its wings and trying to remove its head. Even if his left wing was moving that piece of dead part up and down with a pain that would be unbearable for any living being.

The silver chick fight for her life. "Good, I got your answer. Hmm, let call you Star for now.", Unit #2 make the decision stop seeing how Star free herself docking out of his finger.

He even was delight hearing Star poking his metal fingers, so he retrieve it before she damage more of her body. All this was a text to see the spark for living on her eyes. The spark he need to see to make the next decision. "What should we do now?"

Ignoring Star claims and her two brothers birds poking his head, Unit #2 move his eyes up to the branch. He say the papa yellow bird staring back to him. Both beings took their time to inspect what the other was thinking. Unit #2 didn't like how that bird was staring to him, he really hate when some one is curious. He decide to turn to the nest.

Once again, he was not surprise of the fear on the mama blue bird. Unit #2 didn't blame her for her reason to stay away from troubles. Is natural for anyone who think is weak can't do something about in this world's rules. Only if he could assure her that was possible to stay out of trouble forever, but he couldn't. Now taking his new decision, Unit #2 return back to his way.

To his mission. With Star. "Just as life wants..."

He ignore the siblings poking his head, the father bird taking flight to follow him and the mother bird remaining in the nest. He ignored everything, he wasn't going to take action or say anything else. Star was the only thing that caught his attention. Not even the snake on the upper branch interested him.

SNAP Unit #2 speaks to himself leaving the place and branch where the blue feathers fall.

"...The way of the strongest."

After hours of walking and haven't yet arrive to his destiny, Unit #2 decide to camp at night on the road. He make a camp fire enough for him. It also warm Star, his current companion as he was checking her.

"... Hmm. No wonder you still have that part attach.", he make a improvise nest for Star as he was checking her left wing. "The scab of your wound was mixed with dirt. Is a miracle you didn't get infected... did you cut it off your arm?"

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!", STOP! TOUCHING! ME!

Star struggle in the operation that Unit #2 started. Since she earned his admiration for her life, Unit #2 chose to extend it as much as possible.

"Yes. I know it hurt you. But for now, you must endure it.", he took the decision to do something about her wing.

In the middle of the night, the duo was taking a stop when the darkness fall. Well, Unit #2 decide to allow Star to rest. In that moment, to pass time, he operate Star wing to take off the dead part and prevent a risk on her health in the future.

Beside preparing a nest for Star, he also prepare liquid antibiotics in syringe, hot water and small towels, tools for surgery and material for his project. Again, there was nothing that prevent him to do this. Was just his hobby he had after all. So he chop off the alula of the wing with any dead scab, later to clean it and treat her.

And was not the only thing he was doing.

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!", IDIOT! ITS! HURT!

"I know.", Unit #2 was not stopping until was done. "But if you were asleep from the painkillers, I may not be able to find your nerves and muscle response. Stay still, it is almost done."

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!", IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT!

Star was feeling the pain but not the torture kind. Just as he mention, she reacted each time she felt the touch of strange metal.

"You can calling whatever you want. But once this is done you may have a chance of living. Where is that resolve you show me before, Star?", Unit #2 reply to her insults. "... From all the names... you have to choose that one... Okay we are done."

Unit #2 retreats to allow Star to breathe. Star was finally able to lie down to rest after the operation. Just in time for the painkillers to suppress the pain and accompanying discomfort. At that moment she could begin to feel her left wing differently. She shakes her head to dispel the numbness and lifts her body, then turns to look at it.

When she spreads her wing, make it spread too. While he improvised with the material had with him, Unit #2 made sure it was flexible and adaptable with her. On top of that, it was strong and durable like his Yami Armor. As well as making sure it is a part of her, whether it is an extension of her for whatever reasons and obstacles she faces in her path.

Star spreads her wings with her new black metal alula prosthetic, her metallic feathers shining in the firelight.

Star was amazed that she have her beak open and her eyes shining. Even if she had no idea what it was, she could feel its power. She then began to flex her wing and, to her surprise, it moved as it retreated and extended as if it were part of her. This allows her to move it with her wing.

She took small movement and was happy with the results, Star was able to use it as her new wing. Little by little, her new wing was helping her to make small lift impulse to take off as any bird would do. Star naturally extend her right wing and start to flap with it. The new metal alula prosthesis responded well as it was making her job, taking a lift. With her new hope.

The little silver bird was taking off. A miracle that he must cool it down. "No matter how much you want to take flight. -SMACK- You are still weak, physical and mentally. You should rest."

Unit #2 rises from his seat, leaving Star suffering after falling. Just like his words, the metal prosthesis helps her but it was too heavy. Once in the air, Star was unable to maintain her balance and the left wing was heavier than her meager strength could support.

It had a solution that Star didn't wanted to accept.

"Chirp. Chirp Chirp?", Ow. So I can't until I grow up?

"Affirmative. Until you grown up to a fully adult bird, you will remain on earth until that day comes.", Unit #2 walk to a part of the road, where it was soft with rocks. He lift some rocks and found what was looking.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! Chirp.", Oh! Come on! Where is the fun there! Idiot.

Star was not happy, but by moving her wing she could see her prosthetic. She flaps her wings a little more while angry at him, just to get a better look at his metal wing again. And make her happy that the weight she carried for a long time was gone from her chest.

"Here.", awaking her from her dreams, Unit #2 put down a small bowl in front of Star inside her nest. Inside was full of small earth worms. "Even I make sure there was no blood lost on the operation, you need to fill up your belly and rest."

"Chirp!", Sure!

Star happily accept the proposal and went to eat.

Unit #2 sat in the same seat on the floor where he operated on Star. He watches as Star eats the worms without thinking, this makes him return to Star's nest. He could return Star to that nest and leave her to her fate. Just like he did with the mother bluebird. However, now Star was eating worms, just like that snake did. This makes him rethink his personal debate. Whether everything in life happens for a reason, or everything is based on luck.

And what fate decide for everyone on the place they should be. "Well, well, well. Aren't you far from home, stranger?", said a female sharp voice behind him.

'Home... there is no 'home' for someone like me.', Unit #2 keeps his eyes on Star and how she shudders just she finishes her plate at the new voice came from their backs. But he was calm about it. "I prefer to say... I am on the correct place at the incorrect time."

"Is that so?", the owner of that voice walk in front of him. It was a female griffon wearing a leather armor with metal plates. She bravely introduced herself, but when she looked into his red eyes she showed hesitation before him. "What the?! You are not a pony, are you?"

"Negative.", he reply to her without any issue. "You're not a pony either. Neither do your friends."

The griffon opened her eyes widen, only to smile saying that he was right. Unit #2 stare to her while her friends surround the camp fire, 5 to 8 individual full set in armor and armed show up. The group consisted mostly of griffons, there was a diamond dog and minotaur in the party. But all had something in common.

They surround him with weapons ready. Unit #2 didn't have to see their faces to recognize the kind of eyes they had on him. He could see it in the eyes of the female griffon on his right side.

A male griffon approaching him on the other side. "Sorry to bother you, mate. We just saw your little bonfire from a distance and thought someone was here.", he said with a dagger on his hand. "And check what kind of griffon... was camping at a dangerous place like this."

"Dangerous?", Unit #2 turn to him, making him believe was the leader or the second in command. "In the borders of Equestria and the Griffon Realms? Why do you say that?"

The female griffon continue making him to turn to her. "Yeah. It is said that a cursed town in these lands snatches away anyone who passes by. Reports of missing ponies, griffons or any other kind are all over the countries. Families, friends and business have lost contact with any one of the town, that have take actions to come or send someone to check. And no one has returned to tell what happened since then."

"And?", Unit #2 ask ignoring how they were checking him. "Are you guards, sent to investigate this place?"

The group laugh at his comment, the male griffon notice the tools and Star. While a bird was not worthy, the tools were. "Well you see, we are a band of brothers and sisters moving from place to place. We just came here on our journey recently. You know...", he pick one and saw the material was made off. "Sighting the place in search of treasures."

He was not fazed, only disappointed. "Treasures?... You will not find treasures in places like this.", he reply by taking back the scalpel. Revealing his metal hand to them. "All of you are simply wasting the time of life you have left."

This act make the band to be scare than angry, the female griffon knew that he was not a normal being. Now had proofs, but not answers. "Je, you speak as you know this place. If we are wasting time, what make you different from us? What are you a merchant or what?"

"What I am is not important. What differentiates me from you is.", he put grab the rest of the tools and put them back under his heavy coat. Leaving nothing to show other than his words. "Unlike you, I don't waste my time because here I will find what I'm supposed to find."

His response took them by surprise, and reignited their interest on him. Another griffon who was piss off ask him directly. "And what would find here?! Huh?! If you haven't notice, you are in nowhere!"

"And that doesn't answer it?", Unit #2 close his eyes, not interest on them anymore. Yet he still wanted to answer back. "This place is what I am looking for."

His words resonate over them. The band were looking around, they were checking between themselves trying to figure it out what special was this place. Both the two leaders raise their eyebrows, trying to remember what they know about this lands. Star that had not move out of the nest had been staring to Unit #2.

Star was not getting what was happening around her but knew one thing. Unit #2 was implying something, and she may be the only one that got it with his next words when he stare to her with his eyes open.

"This is the place where I need to be... where I will find 'it'... and take care of 'it'. Beings like me."

Star felt a pulse of fear. She suddenly knew that something bad was about to happen. Her instincts kick in that this place become the most dangerous place, enough to make her start to take flight and escape. And what scare her most was not be able to pin down the source. What bother her if the reason was the mention of this place, or how the eyes of Unit #2 look now.

Too bad she was the only one to notice it. "Is this guy for real?!", the same griffon that was losing the patient scream. "Can we just kill him and take his stuff and leave!"

He was not the only one, the rest of the group were getting impatient. It may be do his words that kick in their mind the dangers of this lands. Just as their leaders said, they were just going to land to land looting, killing, extorting, all what bandits do in their book. They were here trying to get advantage of the place's rumors to cover their criminals deeds. Is what the brother and sister, the two griffon leaders of the band, were opting to.

Now they were opting what to do since their lackey just reveal their intention, worry them since their 'victim' was still calm. The two griffon quick look to each other. In less than a second, they already make a plan. The brother move his finger on his dagger while a quick look down told everything. His sister repositioned herself slightly in her seat, it was her answer she agree.

All set up, the brother talk back to the 'victim'. "Are you telling that you are a kind of mercenary? Bounty Hunter? An armed investigator perhaps?", his comments set up the band.

All this for the sister to focus and bring up the only thing out of place. Star. "Yeah?~ And what ups with this bird?", she ignore everyone, even the astonish Star, picking her up. "Is this your pet?~ Or food- Huh?!"

Against Star's permission or of any one, the female griffon roughly pick the tiny silver bird. At first, Star was picked as a simple toy, the female griffon was not taking any care at all. Until she rotate Star upside down was able to see her left wing better. From there, the griffon took Star on her palm to check her wing, the metal prosthetics.

"Chirp!", Hey!

Star didn't like how she was treated. Specially how she felt her wing to be pluck out of her tiny body.

"Hey! Guys! Look at this!", the sister griffon played torturously Star wing to call the attention of all. "This stupid bird had a metal wing! It is part of it or I can removed it!", everyone move to see it closer, including her brother with the dagger.

"Chirp!", Stop!

Star was prey to the griffon. All she was doing was calling to stop or help. In a moment, she cry to everyone around.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! Chi-?", Stop! It hurts! Help! Idi-?

All fall in vain as the band only laugh at her. Except Unit #2.

Both she and his eyes stare at each other. He, unlike the rest, did not ignore her, but was interested to see what would happen. The little bird Star thought about many things, how come she was born with a bad wing, why she came to meet this stranger, and why now he was watching her around. Even in the imminent danger he was in.

She soon knew it, she was again tested. "CHIRP!", ENOUGH! SLASH STAB

"AHHH!!! STUPID BIRD!", suddenly all the place quiet down for the scream of pain. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

"CHRIP!", OW! SMACK Star fall back on the nest, she didn't get hurt by the fall. Neither her feather bath in blood. Her new feathers.

The band reacted by focusing on the leader sister. SLASH She let go of Star as the little bird spread its wing, cut a claw off a finger, and stabbed the metal razor feathers into the griffon's left claw. The cut and stab were weak, but the metal it was made of made the cuts pass through without any resistance.

The griffon sister leaned back holding her bloody hand. SLASH She stood up and crouched down from the pain, she even spread her wings pushing anyone who was behind her and wanted to get closer to her. SLASH She fought the pain and sudden blood loss, only to look at her index finger in horror. SLASH More when he notices that he falls into the worst place.

Inside the bone fire. "FUCK!!!", she scream again ignoring everything except her pain. SLASH

Star couldn't react to the sister wraith. When she lift her head to shake the numbness that was invading her body. SLASH When she open her eyes she notice how sleepy it were. SLASH Unknow to her, the medicine were now kicking in, with a stomach full ready to sleep. SLASH All Star could do was to turn her head over the angry sister griffon with a dagger on her other good hand.

"STUPID BIRD! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO DO THIS TO ME?!", her eyes was injected with wraith. SLASH She raise the dagger to bring it down. "I HAD ENOUGH PLAYING AROUND! SAY GOODBYE! FOR I DONE WITH YOU!"

"That is what I should be saying."

Star sees the dagger descending towards her, until it stops just above her head.

Of everyone still alive there, the sister griffon had her eyes wide open as she saw a metal hand grab her arm. With her instincts she tried to remove her hand, but the metal hand held her tightly. She was more angry than scared, just when she looked up she did fall on the latter.

Just as his words, he was no longer playing along, he had enough. The coat was no longer hiding him, his metal face and emotionless red bright eyes.

The griffon was now able to see Unit #2. What he really is. "I had enough playing around as well."

"What... are you?", the sister felt prey on her fears. She naturally turn to her brother for help.

She was happy to see him trying to get up from his knees with his dagger at the ready. But then she noticed something really strange. She looked into his brother's eyes and saw something in them, there was a hint of disbelief. Of what, she didn't know at the time. Not even the brother knew it too. And the brother griffon may never have known it when his vision was engulfed in fire.

"What...how?", was all the sister could say as she witnessed her brother fall forward with his head falling into the fire of the bonfire.

Star was still sleepy but she also turned to her brother. She had no idea when she was headless. Even how the rest of the gang was cut in half, some also headless and even one dead in the bushes. She had no idea there was one there, Star could only see some sort of wings sticking out of the bushes. And he thought he saw a claw with a kind of horn on the edge of the plant. Star didn't know what it's for.

"No...", the sister knew it. "Every griffon is dead... how -CRUNCH- GAHHH!!!"

"I already told it. You all didn't listen well.", Unit #2 crush with pure brute force the griffon's wrist. He allow her to breath in the pain as he continue. "What I am is not important. For I am on the correct place, a place of death."

The living sister tried to crawl away, but she got nowhere because the corpses of her gang members who were behind her blocked her way out. She couldn't get up with her left hand bleeding with no fingers and the bones on her right crushed. She wanted to try to fly, it was thanks to the image of her companions' severed wings that induced her fear to try. Bad choice, of all those who came to this camp she had the worst fate, she could avoid it if she tried and got a quick death.

Her misery was prologue since Unit #2 took care of someone else first. "Star, the medicine should be taking effect. Let me help you to rest.", he took a cloth blanket enough to cover Star and the nest. Star look up only seeing a piece of cloth all over her.

As for the last griffon, she breathes uncontrollably next to the fire. Who could believe that a strange being with his bird camping could take care of 10 bandits. She was scared to death believing that not even bringing the rest of her band would be enough. As if she had any hope left when they grabbed her by the throat.

"GAH!", the griffon was lifted, she was suspended in the air as she grabbed the metal hand with what was left of her hands. All she could do was stare into the red eyes of death.

"Cruel? Isn't it?", Unit #2 speak his mind out before ending it. "This is the place for the kinds like me. Only that. I am always not on time... and sometimes just in time."

She stare hopeless to those red demons eyes. "For tragedy to occur."

She wanted to scream for help. "But now is too late."

She really wanted someone to save her. "If you appear before or after me... you can be saved."

But she knew that nothing will change. "Because I stop caring about this world."

Finally she understood. "Since this the wAY OF THE STRONGEST."

Star, under the protection of the blanket, was beginning to feel sleepy. All he saw before his eyes closed were the two shadow figures. One getting bigger than the other. Soon the two shadows joined together, as strange sounds swallowed up the smaller sounds. And Star fell asleep, not witnessing what was happening. She just knew that was... what life wanted.

"Chirp!", on the next morning, Star wanted to know why he had feathers on his coat.

More on his head and neck in his coat. "Are you accusing me of having a bird for breakfast?... Hmm, I really don't know whether to say no is a technical lie.", he opt what to response while they were leaving their camp back to the route of his mission.

When the next morning came Star had rest well as never she did in her short life. She wake up ready for a new day, only had the cloth over her nest in her way.

Star stare it and she had the confidence that was no problem, just to lose her calm after two minutes of struggle. She came out after cutting the cloth into pieces with her new wing. With an aura of victory she left the nest, only to turn around and see what she had done with the new wing.

First she took some time to realize that it was the first time she had left her nest. With the pain and difficulty lifting her body with her old wing, it was a killer for her in her effort to move forward in her life. Now she could leave at any second.

The next thing she checked was the piece of cloth she tore. She tore it to pieces like it was nothing, knowing that she had no strength in her wings. That's why she was amazed at how good the blades of her new feathers were. If it weren't so, she couldn't cut off the finger and stab the hand of that annoying gryphon. Then she remembered the events of yesterday.

"Chirp!" Idiot!, she turn everywhere to check the place. Noticing that was alone with an empty burnout bonfire. "Chirp?!" Idiot?!

She jumped and ran as best she could everywhere but the place was empty. There was nothing, even the corpses did not appear anywhere. And her friend. Star was having a difficult life and when she had a small moment of kindness in her life she thought things were going to change. Even if he was terrifying, Star lowered her head wanting to cry, he had left her.

"Is waking up too bad for you?", until was proved wrong. Star turn around seeing him coming out of the bushes. "Gosh, tell me you are not lazy. I had enough with a lazy person in my life."

"Chirp!", Idiot!

Star was happy to see him. Only that didn't like his statement on her.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp Chirp.", Hey! I am not lazy! I just enjoy sleeping.

'Heavens, she is so like her... Star, why did you choose that name.', regretting on his thoughts, Unit #2 approach to the empty bonfire and started to clean it up. "I am just saying that you should be happy to have a new day for your goals. Sleep all day will never make you reach the sky."

Mentioning the sky, Star freeze and turn slowly to the clear blue open sky. There were no clouds and it was a nice sunny day. Star felts her instincts telling her to reach the unreachable sky, turning her head to her left wing. She stare a long time her metal wing.

"Chirp.", Now I can.

'Only if fate... allow it.', Unit #2 already finish and was able to catch Star's thoughts watching her. He wanted for her to reach it. "So I better lock it in for sure.... You can come out, now."

With his declaration, Star snap out of her dreams and turn with Unit #2 from the bushes he came out.
Unit #2 was not upset, Star instead thought about what to do. If more like that griffon were about to show up, she will need to escape, but seeing her friend ready to take on the problem made her calm down. Star quickly turn to her metal wing.

Star open her wing and the razor feathers shine under the sunlight, showing the power that had including what she did last night. Power that have her confidence, so she turn on the direction of the bushes. She also was going to face it.

"Chirp.", Bring it.

She was ready for anything. "If you already knew it. WHY DID YOU STAY QUIET!"

"Chirp?", Huh?

"You were the one that was quiet.", Unit #2 respond back to their new guest. "Thank me that I didn't target you as an enemy. So explain why you were following me."

"Because you are my best chance to find it!", with struggle, a senior donkey pushed back the bushes until was able to get to the clearing. "My wagon!"

After fighting the flora, a donkey walk in his two hooves after following Unit #2. His white cloth t-shirt with brown pants with suspenders were not damaged as much by the branches. The donkey was in his older age, it was noticeable thanks to his baldness, but he still had strength in his thin body. He walk until he was face to face to Unit #2.

"Chirp? Chirp?", And who is this?

"Someone I rescue in the way." Unit #2 answered her. He then turn back to their guest. "Although it was not my intention to rescue you, I still cannot help you with your cart. What can you achieve by following me?"

"Well, for starters, you are able to take out those bandits.", the donkey look around for any hint of his wagon. "Yesterday I was attacked by those good for nothing and they put me under their cells in their camp. And I woke up when you finished your business, I looked everywhere and my cart was not in the campground. Which means it must be here with those two brothers."

Unit #2 narrow his eyes on him, was intrigued. "If you know I'm dangerous, why do you keep following me? Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Then why did you open my cage and the rest's cage?", the donkey continued talking as he walked looking for his cart. "For me is logic you are a bounty hunter or something else. After all, you finished off those scums. Which tells me that they stopped by and made you angry here."

"Chirp? Chirp? Chirp?", Did you really do that?

"Once again, that was not my intention. But I still do not condemn any soul without opportunities.", Unit #2 reply while both of them see the donkey checking behind some trees. "Just to respond to your speculations, yes, they made me angry and I decided to deal with them. I needed it. What about you?", he change his tone directly to the donkey.

"If you are looking for a payment, FORGET IT!!!", he was not threatened, instead, the donkey face him. "I never ask your help! And I am not going to ask! I am not paying something I didn't ask!", his voice could be heard behind the bushes looking for his cart.

"Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp?", He has a point. Now what?

'What to do now?... Indeed. Maybe...', Unit #2 started to think, some he came to something for all of them. "Suggestion. If you are searching, those bushes over there look interesting.", he point with his eyes to a side of the clearing. The same way he killed that scout last night.

"Huh?", the donkey poked its head out of the bush toward the place Unit #2 was looking at. He narrow his eyes at the place. "Really?... Why not?", convinced he run there.

"Chirp. Chirp- Chirp!", Ha, yes you are soft- Hey!

Without warning, Unit #2 grabbed Star with his metal hand and followed the donkey. Behind some big and unnatural bushes, the group came where the donkey started to remove them one by one. Once he was done, the group found a traveler wagon full of personal stuff as well traveler equipment. Its look like the owner of this cart was traveling long distance.

The same one who was not happy. "Aja. Aja. Buck those birds. They eat all my food... SIGH... Will need to return back the previous town for resupply.", the donkey started to prepare his wagon.

This allow Unit #2 to think. With Star on his hand, who is looking interested on the wagon, he had to take a decision now. "... Suggestion. I-"

"I don't need your name and you don't need mine.", the donkey cut him on the spot. "I found my wagon so I don't need any favor from you."

"Interesting.", Unit #2 was becoming more and more intrigued with him. In a good way. "Suggestion. I was going to ask a favor. A favor for a favor."

"What?"
"Chirp?", What?

Both turn to Unit #2. "While you don't need me. I do need you.", he look to Star's eyes. "I take care of this bird when I found her. But I can't take her from now on. If I have to decide for this bird... will be to let her live her life."

Star stares at him not believing what he just said. The donkey look at him carefully, but all he could see was his unexpressive red eyes. All Unit #2 was trying to get was a middle point when everyone was good. Even if they were not happy with him.

The donkey still thinking that there is a hidden motive, ask away. "If you saved this bird, why are you throwing it away? Is obvious you are taking care of her.", he point out the metal wing.

"Negative. The reason why I can't is the same one you have when you see me.", Unit #2 closed his eyes, not thinking. "Everyone around me is dead... or will be. Dead follow the kinds like me. Wherever I go, Star will not be safe."

Both Star and the donkey stare at him. Star sadly knowing that she wasn't going to stay with him. The donkey stared at him, he was in a bad mood because of everything these last few days of being captured, tortured and not sleeping well, so he was mad. But he was able to capture Unit #2's interest in the well-being of the silver bird in his hand. The donkey turned to the bird and saw how attached she was to him.

In the end he also decides what to do. "Whatever.", he turns around to prepare his cart. "You two do whatever you want. I will not interfere on your choices. If that means to leave a bird inside my wagon."

"Hmm?", Unit #2 opens his eyes, even if the back of the donkey face him, he knew he somehow accept. "I see... So be it."

"Chirp? Chirp, Chirp Chirp!", What? No, wait I don't want to go. Listen!

"It's the best option for all of us", Unit #2 responds, leaving Star on the shelf inside the cart. He turned around when he finished talking. Without looking back. "Now you have a chance to face this world. Take care of yourself."

"Chirp, Chirp Chirp!", No, hold on!

Star's cry was ignored, again, she couldn't get the attention she wanted. He started to walk but stopped at the edge of the shelf. She looked down and saw that she was on a high place again. It wasn't if the shelf wasn't higher than the branch where its nest was, but the feeling was the same. If she wanted to do something she had to face her trauma, and in the end she didn't do it and she was losing hope of doing it.

She was now accepting it. "Yeah. You two do whatever you want.", when she heard the donkey words, she raise her head.

Star stare at the donkey that continue working on his cart. "I will not interfere on your choices. If that means to fly out of my wagon."

Star's eyes widen at the meaning of those words. She immediately returns to her metal prosthesis. Dark metal feathers shine on the edges of the blades exuding power. Star keeps her eyes on it, then remembers the words of whom gave it to her. She then looks back at the owner of those words. While his back became further away from her.

Star keep her eyes on Unit #2's back. She decide what she want to do. She turn around and enter the wagon.

The donkey had almost finished his preparation. He turns to the silver bird that was inside his cart. Not surprised by what she chooses. "Huh. So that's up to you now.", he said as he moved to start pulling his cart.

"That's how it is.", he lifts his cart. While a silver body flies next to his head.

Star launched herself after running with her wings open. Taking flight for the first time.

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!", WAIT! YOU! IDIOT!

Star jump after getting a boost from running on the shelf. She spread her wings so she could fly in a straight line. It was only a few seconds that she began to feel the weight of his metal wing. But she was determined.

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!", YOU! CAN'T! LEAVE ME!

She kept her wings spread to allow her to maintain flight, only after gravity took effect did she begin to lose altitude. She refuse to fall on the ground again and started to move her wings. Star force her wing muscles to sustain her flight, even if her left wing muscles was on fire with the weight of the metal.

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP CHIRP!", I! WOULDN'T! STAY BEHIND!

Star made an effort to fly, but it still wasn't enough, she wasn't getting any closer to him. She continued to move her wings but could not stay in the air. The force of gravity was bringing her closer to the ground and her metal wing only helped her rise a little but not enough.

Star had her eyes closed when she started to she started flapping her wings. She open one eye just to notice Unit #2's back was father than before. And even father when she give up.

"CHIRP! Chirp... Chirp...", WHY! I am... broken...

Star give up at the end, she was about to hit the ground. Just as he give up. "Stubborn as always."

Star fell on a hard place, she smiled because she didn't care how hard his metal hand was. A moment ago, Unit #2 was about to enter the forest to leave them alone. Only for the next second to reappear in time to catch Star in his hand.

"Chirp... Chirp Chirp Chirp." Knew it... you are soft in the inside.

Star raised her eyes to him, her chest puffed out from the pride of winning or the lack of air in her lungs. Unit #2 returns with his blank stare, but inwardly curses himself for being unable to handle the tantrums of an immature child.

"Just like in the past... How annoying.", Unit #2 left her with her small victory. He was more concerned about his viewer. "So, I guess this is your way to say... I wouldn't mess up with you guys. Right?"

"Yep!", the donkey finished and pulled his cart out of the bushes. "I wouldn't mess you guys if you don't mess with my life. I've had enough and I would appreciate it if nothing else ruined my opportunity to go to the next upcoming gala.", then he's back to the route, the route to Canterlot.

Unit #2 stare at him, even if the donkey took his good side he still need to do it. "Donkey... If you ever said a word about this...", but got no response. But he didn't need it anymore.

The donkey already departed and was halfway to get out of his sight. Was hard but not for Unit #2, he got the glimpse on the donkey eyes turn to him for a moment. To able to see his confirmation on his eyes and with the words on his lips. 'What would I gain by talking about a ghost and his bird?'

Happy not to have to act, Unit #2 voices his thoughts out loud. "What a cranky donkey... and you, lady, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Chirp!", Those feathers!

"Are you accusing me of having a bird for breakfast?... Hmm, I really don't know whether to say no is a technical lie.", he said thinking about the griffons.

After the day they met, the two, and with that Star remaining with Unit #2, continue the journey to a distant part of Equestria. And their trip lasted a couple of weeks.

In the days that follow, the duo encounters many things. More foolish bandits try to take him down. Beast that was foolish to realize the danger of hunting Unit #2 and Star. And taking shortcuts avoiding dangerous flora species for Star.

Unit #2 was able to take care of everything along the way, so he was taking care of everything. With Star's well-being under his mantle, he must stop to take care Star's needs. She was still a chick, so looking for food and letting her rest was inevitable for him. Only when she was strong enough to take care of herself could he separate from her. Because she won't separate from him.

In each encounter, Star was left in a safe place where no one noticed her while Unit #2 dispatched the problem. But every time he tried to warn his opponent, he saw her trying to sneak up and attack with her metal wing from a blind spot. No matter how hard he tried, Star always came out of hiding and came in to 'help' him.

Luckily he was able to solve the problem quickly, what was difficult for him was teaching Star. He discovers that Star was the type who had self-esteem problems. Most of which were too big when she was happy. And uncontrollable when angry.

When everything was fine, she had confidence that she could do it. When it was time to look for food, she jumped off his shoulder and started looking for worms on the ground. Only to stab the ground with her metallic wind when one or two worms escape her beak or elude her underground.

She was also stubborn in her flying practices. While it was safer to practice at the height of Unit #2, Star decides to jump 3 times higher from tall trees, even from a cliff. She was never in danger and Unit #2 had save her each time. The hard part was when she was tired of flapping her wing with the heavy prosthesis and yelling at him to pick her up. Only to wear part of his coat near his neck as a humble and comfortable nest for her.

Unit #2 had to put up with all her whims. Even building a temporary birdbath where she could clean herself.
He had no choice, he couldn't refuse even when she ordered him to turn around with the insult 'pervert'.

This was his new daily routine, and he had no trouble at all. He was calm, distracted from everything he had experienced. Years, even millenniums, had lost their weight on him. He could be like this forever. But all change when time always change.

His new daily life stops when he reaches his destination. And the role that destiny put him to play. Where his new prey was.

At the outpost town of Rock Bottom. "We are finally here.", Unit #2 talk out loud see the town from afar.

Rock Bottom was the commercial outpost town of minerals between Equestria and the Griffon Realms. Here the ponies and the griffons exchange minerals material from the mine in the mountain near the town. The place was under the rule of the ponies, but the griffons also had a section under the rules of their kingdom. So the management of the place was divided between the two countries.

However, there was no one to manage the city in sight.

From a high hill, Unit #2 without magic or telescope knew that the place was not normal. The street was clean and quiet, too quiet. He knew that something happen thanks that some homes had the door open, giving him a sight of how things were inside. He could see the buildings in good condition, but inside everything was upside down.

This only give him more red flags. "The signal was only a month ago, yet was enough for rumors in a week... But, why only on this town?", he think while walking toward the town.

Unit #2 always decide to check the place where he need to go. He is always meticulous on his orders, he check everything relate to his mission. Places, people, culture, news, rumors, he investigates everything surrounding his mission. What he can not predict are his preys motives.

Including why his prey stay on this town. "I check the surrounding of the town, there were no clue he leave this place. What is driving him to stay?", Unit #2 was entering the main street of the town. And his suspicions were confirmed.

The place was not in a bad shape, even the daily stuff as cart on she street and shelves in stores were not touched. Still no sign of any pony or griffon at sight. Unit #2 stares at the place, having trouble understanding what's really going on here. He was about to decide his next action when the bulge in his neck began to emerge.

"Chirp... Chirp?...", Are we... there?..

"Yes.", he lift his hand to pet her head out of his coat. "We are in the place I'm talking about... So Star, listen to me without complaining. That's an order."

"Chirp...YAWN Chirp. Chirp.", Aja... YAWN What you said. Dad.

'Dad? Heh, I'm too young to have... and too old now.', Unit #2 walk in to the town. '...I just want you to live long enough so that even you can have yours.'

He focus then on the place as he walks on the streets. He passed by the commercial section and saw all the merchandise intact, so this place was not looted. He checked the administrative buildings, including the jail at the guard station, and there were no signs of a fight, so there was no attack on this place.

Unless it was an invasion and the target was a unique resource. "There is no sign of struggle... but on the inside is another story.", Unit #2 scan the first house he found. The one he saw open.

Just as his eyes didn't lie to him, the building looked good on the outside. But when he looked inside he could see the home torn apart. Shattered curtains, broken tables, fragmented decorations and furniture smashed was all he could see. And this was the first house he check.

He continued checking all the houses on the resident area. All with the same or less results. In some homes, houses were assaulted with their doors ripped off their hinges. Others with windows broken with the doors closed and locked instead. And as well some homes that were no touched in days. Unit #2 already had an theory when he pass by the last house.

The only house that had the right side in rubbles. "He came for the villagers? I can understand he hunt one by one and attack the town for the last ones... But what he could gain in-?", he immediately stop all action and pay attention on his surrounding.

"YAWN... Chirp?", YAWN... What's wrong?

Unit #2 ignore everything even Star. He knew that he was on the enemy territory. So he was not going to let it go. He grab Star for his neck coat and secure her, he then attack.

SLASH Unit #2 took his blade and cut a barrel on the side of the road in half diagonally. Scaring the two children.

"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!-Please! Don't hurt me!- CHIRP! Chirp?", HEY! WHAT IS WRONG WITH -BLA BLA- YOU IDIOT! Huh?

Star calms down after the sudden movement she felt in her tiny body. When he heard the voice, he turned to the barrel whose top was falling to the ground. There the two wait a few minutes. For two little brown-furred hands to reach out and grab the cut edge of the barrel, to get a small colt's head out with them.

"Please... don't hurt me. Sir.", a not very old earth brown colt of around 10 years old shows them his worried and terrified eyes. He had a black T-shirt and white shorts.

"Chirp! Chirp?", A donkey! And who is he?

"I a-a-a-am d... I am just a little pony! Please don't hurt me!", the colt raises his hands in surrender in the face of the danger of Unit #2.

Unit #2, from his side, he stares at the colt. The two children didn't move or say anything as he kept his gaze directly on the colt. On the empty street of Rock Bottom, three souls wait for what will happen next.

"Who are you?", Unit #2 asks.

The colt flinch at his question, he look between him and Star thinking what to say. "Uh... Rock Silver, sir. I a-a-a-a-am a colt from t-t-t-this town."

"... A colt of this town? Then, tell me where are the rest of the town?", there were no emotion on his voice, but the colt took it hard.

"They... they are all gone!" SOBSOB, he began to cry inside the broken barrel. "Everypony was taken! SOB I am alone now! SOB"

"Chirp? Chirp chirp?", Taken? What he is talking about?

"...Taken?" Unit #2 repeated as well, asking the crying colt once he was done. "Speak up boy. Who took the villagers from this town?"

Once his crying subsided, Rock wiped his nose on the sleeve of his black shirt. "The demon from the noble family of this town."

Having his full attention, the colt continues with the story. "The noble family of the town owns the right to mine the mountains in this area. Their legacy of management of the mine allows them to have power and resources in this part of Equestria. So much so that they could be the permanent mayor and set the rules and policies of the town. Such rules that allow them to hide the secrets of these lands."

"So this family of nobles, were hiding this demon?", Unit #2 ask while Star was looking around for this demon.

"Yes.", the colt continue ignoring Star pleads of leaving. "There were rumors that the last son of the family was able to get a... special servant. Was the words that came from the maids and workers that worked on the mansion grounds at the side of the mine. No pony see it but they could hear the sounds of a monster during the day, and always at night. No pony believe such story and no one pay attention to it... until we stop seeing the noble and any one from the mansion."

"And that was the beginning of the disappearances in the town.", Unit #2 said with a scary Star pulling his order hand to cover her. "One by one were taken in the night. Not seeing again your neighbors until was to late, correct?"

The colt lower his eyes. "It started with the workers and maids families. Some decide to check the mansion and never return. Even the foals they leave behind with a pony disappear from their homes with that pony too. Not seeing our neighbors for so long, we checked their houses and found nothing about their whereabouts either. Even the griffons and any visitors that stay long enough were also taken. Until that night."

Both, Unit #2 and the colt turned to the house behind them. The home that was half destroyed. Unit #2 stare at the damage with a Star climbing on his coat back to her favorite and safe nest. Unit #2 was analyzing the information when the colt continued the story.

"He came for everyone.", the colt find the courage to jump out of the barrel. "He and his army of demons attack us in the night."

'At the end the objective were the villagers. Army, huh.', Unit #2 now got the answer what happen. Just why was missing. "What happens next? He is around here, right?"

"He...", the colt again build the courage to end the tale. "He ordered his minions to bring out all ponies and griffons. When we noticed them, we tried to run or hide, but they stopped all stealth and came towards us aggressively to capture us. Even that demon bring down this house... my house. SOB"

Unit #2 turn to the colt that restarted his sobbing, already knowing what he was going to say. "Mom... SOB... put me on this barrel... SOB... she run to the house... SOB... and that demon bring it down to took her... SOB SOB WAH!"

Unit #2 turned to look at him, he could see how he was crying tears while his nose couldn't contain the snot. He then turn to check the surrounding. The place seen empty, no one was on sight. Was truly a miracle that this colt survive all this time alone. He started to think what to do until Star pop out from his coat on his neck.

"Chirp Chirp? Chirp chirp!", What are you thinking? You're not thinking about hunting this demon, are you!

"WAH! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE! SAVE MY MOTHER! WAH!", the colt grab his coat while crying with his eyes closed.

Unit #2 stares at the destroyed house while a bird screams in his ears and a colt won't let go of his coat. He gathered all the clues and information he had gathered and was putting them together to formulate the correct plan to follow. He look to the town edge, where his final piece was to finally decide his next action.

"This demon.", both Star and Rock stop to hear him. "Where is it? You know where he is, right?"

Rock opens his eyes wide only to smile and nod like there's no tomorrow. "AHA! I know where it is!"

"Chirp?! Chirp Chirp Chirp!? Chirp!", What?! And what about me?! I could be in danger!

"There is nothing to be worry about!", Rock shout as he try to pull Unit #2 to the direction he wanted to take him. "The demon is always sleeping on the day. There will no be dangers on our way. Come on! Follow me!"

When he couldn't, Rock ran without warning in the direction of the mountain. Unit #2 stood for a moment looking at the mountain from afar, then his gaze fell on the colt's back. With his simple eyes, he only saw a colt running towards where his mother was. He keep thinking, but enough to see again on the direction of the town edge he look before.

He saw three pairs of eyes on him. Or rather, two of them about what was on his persona. He was convinced that his plan would allow everyone to get what is best for everyone. The only thing he expected was the destiny he desired for everyone.

'Were the decisions I made a mistake?... Was it wrong to make amends for my sins?... Is it wrong to try again? I see that I will receive my answer soon.'

"Is here.", Rock declare in front of rusty metal gates.

After walking along a path towards the mountain, the group arrives at the estate of the nobles of this town. Compared to the empty state of the town, the mansion and the grounds surrounding it were worse. The garden was left unattended leaving the flowers and grass dry and withered. The paint on the walls of the mansion was peeling and the deteriorated wood could be seen with the naked eye. And the windows were open, either someone forgot to close them, or they were broken.

Unit #2 didn't need to know what the inside looked like just by looking at the rusty gate and the fence surrounding the property. Pieces have already fallen off and rusted into dust. However, there were no hints or signs that life ever existed here in weeks.

Again, he question his decisions until now. Should he keep going or make the correct decision. The concern he was thinking talk to him.

"Chirp. Chirp?", Hey. What are you thinking?

Unit #2's eyes turn to Star, she was happily secure in his coat close to his neck. He was thinking when their guide talk to them.

"Hmm, sir?", Unit #2 turns to Rock Silver, the only survivor of this town. "We're going to save my mother, right?", the colt shows him his eyes in the hope that he will help him.

Unit #2 stares into his black eyes, he had the innocent belief that he will help him. But after all his walk here and the time he spent inspecting the city and the state of the estate, he already decided to follow the script. He just doesn't know how it will end.

"Yes.", he finally gave his answer. "We're going to see your mother, but she's not here, is she?", the boy shuddered at his question. As well as his opinion. "She must be inside that mine, right?"

The three of them turn onto a path that connects the side of the road to the entrance of the mansion. With a little effort you can see the Rock Bottom Mine entrance and sign. Only to the eyes of Unit #2, it was clear that it was also abandoned and the place was deteriorated like the mansion. Seeing how the sign was about to fall from the last rope support, it was clear that there was no life.

However, it still wasn't the right place. "But that's just one entrance.", the two children turn to Unit #2, who was looking at a warehouse connected to the mansion and the mountain. "Your mother is in the mountain cave system, deep where the devil is waiting, I'm right?"

From afar, the warehouse was worse than the mansion, but the main entrance to the building was severely destroyed. The wooden walls and double doors of the building were rubble on the ground, making it impossible to pass through with all the broken piles and sticks without risk of being pierced by even small splinters. Leaving only the large hole at the top of the exterior wall and roof. That was where the devil of this town returned to his lair.

Unit #2 knew it but was not going to take it. "We will need to enter the mansion and look an alternative route to the warehouse."

"W-w-well, I can take you inside.", Rock scratch his back of his neck. "But is going to take longer for all the rubbles inside and-"

"Is okay. I am sure that nothing will happen on our way inside.", he planned to check for more clues even if he had already his verdict. Unit #2 only had one drawback.

"Chirp? Chirp Chirp Chirp.", Really? Then what is the plan.

Star happily flexed her wings. During the walk here, she was able to sit on his shoulder and lose the fear she was generating when she became bored instead. While the eerie empty town offered no excitement, she began to wish for something to happen.

And it happen to her. "For you is the end of the road.", Star turn to Unit #2 as he was walking with her behind the trees at the side of the road. "Where I need to go, is not a place for someone like you, Star."

Unit #2 continues walking, ignoring Star's complaints and Rock's calls. He kept it up until he was sure he was satisfied from the distance he entered the woods. He checked his surroundings quickly, he was sure that no one he didn't want could hear him, and those he did wanted could see him. With this, Unit #2 could talk to an annoyed Star.

"CHIRP! CHIRP!", HEY! IDIOT!

He try to calm her. "Star. I know what you will say but-", and had to put more effort on it.

"CHIRP! Chirp Chirp Chirp!", NO! You listen to me.

He continue to try. "Star. There are moments that you-", in vain.

"CHIRP! Chirp Chirp Chirp!", IDIOT! You are just trying to leave me behind!

'No, that's not it!', Unit #2 thoughts almost got out of him. "Is not that you have to stay. And I am not leaving you. Is that you can't come-"

"CHIRP CHIRP! Chirp Chirp Chirp?", THEN SAY IT! Is because I am a useless and broken bird?

"Stop saying you are-", Unit #2 involuntary stop himself, he didn't notice when he was putting his self in the conversation. So he try again. "Star. This has nothing to do with you but rather what I will find there."

"Chirp? Chirp Chirp Chirp. Chirp! Chirp!", And? I can take care of myself. Beside! You are strong!

"But that doesn't mean I will forever protect you. We can not protect you from everything like...", he then notice it, he was bringing the past back. "Just... wait here, I will come back and-"

"Chirp! Chirp Chirp Chirp. Chirp! Chirp!", No! I am not waiting here. Idiot! Jerk!

Unit #2 stood there letting her vent. He took that same time to calm down. Even to correct his mistake of letting his emotions take place in this conversation. He suppresses it, then remembers that it's Yami Tool and that he can fix things right now. He focus again on what he was really trying to do.

"Star. Stay here. You are safe here with-"

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!", Moron! Stupid! Blockhead! Dork! Baka!

"IF YOU DON'T LISTEN THIS TIME! YOU WILL DIE! YOU SHRIMP!...", he failed.

When all the insults were over, silence reigned in the place. Star trembled in fear on the ground. The reason was that he no longer recognized those red eyes.

Unit #2 was also frozen in place. His coat didn't let anyone see what he was like underneath. Except those angry red eyes. Those red vertical slit pupils, the demons eyes of the Yami Tools.

"Sorry...", he lament for such mistake.

Star just took a step back.

"Just listen to what I'll say.", he knew he shouldn't have tried.

Star didn't reply, she will not talk back to him.

"Here you will be safe. Here no one will harm you.", he knew that only pain will bring the past. "But the place where I belong... will harm you."

Star couldn't separate herself from those red eyes.

Even if they went back to normal. "That's why our paths will stop here.", and she didn't nothing when he leave. "Please listen this time. For I see that this is the last time I can and will say it. We belong to different worlds."

Star stood on the ground see how Unit #2 was leaving her. But both were on the same page. Both believe this was their last time together, whatever they like or not.

"You belong to the living... I belong to where the dead only exist. Don't follow me. And live your life."

Star tried to hear his voice, she didn't want to believe it. But when she blinks, it disappears. Everything she felt and experienced with him disappears when he is gone, even her desire to stay with him. Star stood there with her body free of the fear of death, unable to think about what she wanted anymore.

Because she can't get it and wouldn't get it with him. That's what Unit #2 did as they recovered with their backs to a tree out of Star's sight.

'What was that... Did I let it happens...', Unit #2 stare at the sky as he repose on the tree. 'Was my system... down for a moment?...'

For so long he could feel something. Desperation, Fear and Anger. All were falling back to him. By a simple thought. He thought that he saw it again. That person calling him again with that nickname.

'No... I couldn't confuse Star with...', Unit #2's heart calmed down but a bug in his system couldn't suppress their emotions. 'Did Star and his return awaken my... if so, I can't let that happen again... I can't fall, not now.'

Against the tree, Unit #2 closed its eyes. He can't do it properly but he let his defense system reboot his entire system, and his mind. Crackling or sparking sounds were heard from under the coat. When the strange sounds ended his body began to move mechanically away from the place.

'This will do... until I end up this errand.', finally have the strengths to leave behind what suppose was a little hobby, Unit #2 walk back to the entrance of the mansion. 'After all... he is waiting for me.'

Unit #2 gets back on the road and out of the woods, where he find an anxious Rock who hasn't moved in all this time. Rock saw it and happily exclaimed. "Are you ready?!", he got his answer when Unit #2 walk to the gates.

"Ready.", Chirp.

Unit #2 have enter to the lair of the devil.

After opening the gates and entering the mansion, he finds the same result. Abandonment could describe the state of the interior but also a state of chaos. Not only does he find broken furniture, he also found signs of fighting and struggle in every hallway and room of the mansion. Or so it was, since he only had burn marks from spells and fire, claw marks on the wall and floor, and dried red stains all over the rooms and walls.

And if someone asking what he think about, he will not say it was a fight. "Um, Sir? Is something wrong?, Rock ask as they were moving to the next room.

"...Nothing.", Unit #2 responds after checking the current room. "I'm just checking out what's going on here.", he replies as he passes through the hallway with the remaining paintings. "It's just... it's more than just a massacre."

The colt nodded and they both continued towards the section of the mansion they were looking for. They arrive at the warehouse section of the mansion.

Just as outside, everything inside was destroyed. Or rather, it exploded from within. The warehouse had work materials such as wood, metal bars and construction stones, as well as many types of mining equipment. Everything was under the warehouse walls rubbles, all apart from the big hole at the father wall of the room. The one that face the mountain outside.

'This warehouse had a secret entrance to a part of the mine... still not answer what really happen here.', he descend with the almost destroyed downstairs with his brave guide behind him.

He went all the way down and walked through the entire hallway he found, and found the secret room of the mansion. The room had no light due to the now extinguished torches, but Unit #2 had no problem seeing the room and its contents.

He could see the many instruments all over the tables, shelves and walls. The correct instruments for a torture room.

Clubs, whips, chains, shackles, knives, axes and more were present. Torture machines as the Iron maiden, the executioner's ax, the hanging cage, the breaking wheel were only the beginning. Immobilization chairs and tables with paralyzing belts were not lacking. What he didn't expect were the old marks of enchants on the walls, floor and the destroyed metal doors on the entrance. As well medical bottles, syringes and microscopes.

Unit #2 stare and check everything on the room. 'Everything show this place was to torture, but why the medical equipment... I still can't get an answer, until he show up.', he turn to one side of the wall.

The wall that faces the same direction as the mine. With a big hole. He approaches the hole and checks the work on it. Thanks to the fact that they were still inside the mountain, the room had natural rock walls to set the room. What was not natural were the digging marks, made not with equipment but with brute force.

The pieces were now all coming together, the last one was still missing for him. "Come, your mother is nearby."

"O-o-okay!", the brave Rock follow him so far, the little foal did not stay behind or delay their advance.

The two continue walking in the dark, turning and choosing their path at any intersection, and pass through rubble and forgotten equipment in the mine. They didn't pay attention how long they were inside the dark mine and how deep they were on the mountain. They only knew that they reached their destination in a large hollow cave inside the mountain.

Unit #2 is at the cave entrance checking it out. He was surprised because it was well lit with sunlight thanks to the hollow holes in part of the roof and in the back wall, which indicated that they were on a near layer of the mountain with the outside on the other side. But was not all of it. Of course, there was mining equipment, mine carts with abandoned ore, unfinished ore chopped from the walls, rocks and debris that have not been clear out.

And an earth mare stuck to the wall with a dark slimy substance. "Mother!", Rock shout but she was not responding to him. Rock turn to his savior. "Please! Go and save my Mother!"

Unit #2 heard him but did not move. He was still checking the area and the condition of the mare. From there he can see the dark-coated mare in a yellow-green dress with flowers dirty hanging on the wall because of the dark drool on her hands. Her white hair did not allow to see her face and condition. However, she was breathing and Unit #2 could hear the heartbeat.

With all of this, he still haven't got what really happen here. But was now to act. He didn't answer to Rock so started to walk inside the cave. The colt saw him walking for a few seconds, he started to smile and get excited and start to follow him.

But everyone stops when Unit #2 reaches the center of the cave. He took out his metal hand and grabbed a pickaxe from an unfinished rock. And throw it to the other side of the cave. Right on the mare's head.

SHUNK Piercing in her front.

Everyone in the room remained silent as dead. Rock looks in disbelief. Unit #2 recomposes his position. Everyone wait. So that the dead wake up.

SHRIEK!!!!

The mare on the wall began to convulse, so much so that her mane no longer hid her demonic face. Without the mane, everyone could see her deformed black face. With fangs instead of molars and red eyes that shed sticky black tears like tar. The mare shakes her head to both sides trying to remove the pickaxe from her head, allowing the same black liquid to splash from her wound.

Unit #2 stands still waiting for the mare to break the slime from her hands to remove the pickaxe. He also waits for others. Just when he hear the beating of hearts. Of all of them of her species.

SHRIEK!HOWL!ROAR!HOWL!SHRIEK!ROAR!

The heartbeats of hundreds came with their screams as they emerged from their hiding place. Multiple shadows began to descend from the ceiling, coming out of the ground, coming out of the holes in the wall and running between the rocks that were hidden.

Unit #2 watches as hundreds of ponies and griffons, some minotaurs and changelings, came out to surround him. They even came out from the only entrance and exit of the cave, now blocked. But he was not afraid of them, rather he was intrigued by their current state.

Each and every one of them had black skin, fur, and scales. Instead of hands, they had claws and all hooves were changed to legs with sharp lower claws, for the griffons were only larger. In some parts of their bodies they were skinned and their ribs were visible to the naked eye, seeing how malnourished they were and those with wings their feathers were almost rotten.

The only difference they had between them was the almost torn and destroyed clothes from their jobs.

Civilians, guards and bandits. Merchants, accountants, soldiers, thieves, farmers, bodyguards, maids, chefs, blacksmiths, workers, miners, foremen and nobles, even housewives were in the mix. Unit #2 knew it, he just found the full town and all those that came to this cursed town. Even those who did not deserve this fate, he was not wanting to set his eyes on the group of young foals and griffons. With the mare free of slime and the pickaxe from her head in front, their teacher.

The cursed town of demons welcomes him and Rock. Unit #2 was not amused. "How long are you going to be standing there?", he says to the mastermind of this whole tragedy. As his words were magic, he arrived.

CRACK RUMBLES And the large black body moved over the wall where the mare acted as bait. And his red eyes shine showing his presence.

With the little light from the cave holes it was not enough to show him all its presences. As he rises from his hiding place showing the height of a two-story house. Long, hideous muscular arms that reached to the ground with claws swayed with his giant steps. As he exhales through his disgusted and deformed nose and mouth, full fangs that can tear apart an adult manticore. With his skinned black body, thin with exposed muscles, with little clothing covering his parts and with a deformed unicorn horn on his demon pony head.

He put his red eyes with a scar over his left eye into the red eyes of Unit #2. The demon of Rock Bottom welcomes him. RRROOOOOOAAAAAAAARRR!

All this time, he stood there while the trembling Rock came closer and closer behind him. The little colt couldn't control his body when all the demons show up. Rock was almost close to him when he raised his small hand to grab his coat. It was then that he continued talking to the pony responsible for all this.

"And how long are you going to keep playing, Unit #200859.", the one behind him. "I will not continue to follow you with the innocent colt act"

Unit #2 did not move or act, letting him stop and think about his next decision. Just when his words took effect, all the demons around Unit #2 were waiting. Even the demon of Rock Bottom stopped his march. Unit #2 has already gathered all the answers, but not the one it wanted to get. But he didn't need to turn around to see the frozen colt behind him.

He let his words act for him. "Unit #200859, you broke the Third Commandment. How and why did you do it?"

"............JAJAJAJA! Do you really want to know?!", the voice of Unit #200859, Rock's voice, echoes throughout the cave while covering Unit #2's view. He also decides to leave the act.

Unit #2 did nothing and didn't flinch as Rock's small body jumped onto his shoulder and leaned down so they were face to face, Rock's new face was upside down. He no longer has the innocent smile, instead he has a psychopathic smile with his fangs. The change was so great that part of its skin and fur cracked. But not as much as the black eyes that turn into red vertical pupils.

The signs of a defective Yami Tool. Unit #2 has seen it many times. "It's part of my orders. Also, I see you have your questions too. Take it as an exchange before we begin."

"Hehehe~ Is that so~", Rock jumps away from him 5 meters in the air and falls in front of his kin. He stand up and smile while controlling the town desires to charge over Unit #2. "Affirmative~ I have my own questions~ As... HOW DID YOU FIND OUT!"

His shout was full of enthusiasm but also anger. Unit #2 didn't care about his feelings. "You just didn't do a good job at it.", he just wanted to start so he put it simple.

But Rock was not happy. "NO! I want to know! Or you will not get what you wants!", his scream not only echoed in the cave, his relatives also growled and snarls to him. Even the big demon behind was giving Unit #2 the stink eye.

Acting like a brat, he had no choice. "Okay. Then, let me say this. Your story had many holes."

Calming down, Rock let Unit #2 to talk. "Your name, Rock Silver, doesn't work on me. Even if you try to connect to the Yami System, you should know the pony culture of how they are named according to their coat color. Your fur is brown and not silver, looking for the first color you see is useless if it doesn't match. Even if you take the first word of the town name."

At the response to his words, Rock puts his hand to his face. And the black claws extend as his fake hand falls apart and tears off part of his face when they appear. Thus he was able to tear off part of his left cheek, leaving behind a black metal skin underneath exposed. Staring at the dry skin of the brown fur, Rock confirmed it was the wrong color.

"Ha? So I need to change to Rock Brown... Still the name is not enough and there's more to it, right?", Rock drop the dead meat while mumbling his thoughts. "At least I have more masks~ Hehehe~"

"Even with the correct name, doesn't work with the story.", Unit #2 responds calmly under his coat as he continues. "'Rock' is supposed to be the only survivor, but how will a colt survive alone with demons around. It is believable if the tragedy began a week ago, but two or a month is not. It's also hard to believe that you will never be discovered in a very visible barrel on the street."

"So how will others find me, huh?~", he tilts his head to the side showing his smile, with each time his face cracking up showing more of his metallic black skin. "But there is more. How's my trap here?"

"Only morons will fall on this.", Unit #2 reply but he was going to satisfy him. "When we arrive here I could see and heard them, but I wanted to pass by the mansion to know more. There I notice the owner of this place. Your User.", he lift his finger pointing to the big demon. "That big guy have the same scar on the left eye as the noble of this lands. The paints on the halls show him, and the Unit serving him."

GROWL Rock was becoming more and more impatient, he knew that he had been discovered by another Yami Tool but he felt that that was not the real reason why he was discovered. Reading his mind, Unit #2 also was impatient to start, so he provide him the answer.

"Star.", Rock and the rest of the demons flinch to his words. "Star said you're a donkey. You corrected her as you understood her. And you never realized that I started speaking like her in her frequency from the beginning. Your translation program failed you, being the defective Yami Tool that you are."

"...That bird?", the words echo as Rock lowers his face. Unit #2 continues to wait, it wasn't long until Rock let out a psychotic laugh. "...hahahaHAHAHAHAHA! Okay! You win!", as he laughed, his transformation began.

Unit #200859 was a special Unit, was the first and only unit to be deploy as foal, so his appearance didn't change so much. As his kin, claws were replacing his hands that started to take off the clothes and the false skin. He started to rip off his upper disguise, the part the peel off show his real black metal skins so natural that the red stripes show to be real red veins. When he finished his mask, he let out his black metal pegasus wings coming out of his back as he bend down. Once he thought was enough, Rock lift his head to Unit #2.

Red veins run down his face as his demon's red eyes shine in his true nature. With his creepy, distorted colt voice. "I have what I want... so I'll let you get what you want..."

'Even with his face reveal I don't see it... Well, he was a colt when he was processed and deploy. He wasn't mature since the beginning.', Unit #2 put at side his thoughts and started the main objective. "Fill up the holes for me."

Rock tilts his head to indicate that he was listening. Unit #2 then told a story. "Rock Bottom, the outpost town between The Griffon Realms and Equestria. A place where both countries can exchange minerals from these mountains. The owner of the town and mine was the noble who lived on this estate. He was also the User of Unit #200859. Suddenly, the Unit is freed from the Third Commandment. How? Why? And for what?"

"Tsk. Hehehehehe~ That is what you want?", Rock, Unit #200859, laugh at his question. But seeing Unit #2 serious red eyes, Rock decide to answer it. "Is because...", he extend his arms and wings, in sign to all the town was speaking.

"This is what WE wants.", all his kin howl and roar at this declaration.

"We?", Unit #2 ask as he stare at the big demon, Unit #200859's User.

"I will fill up you with the beginning.", Rock lift his head to the roof, where the sky and the sun could be seen. "Even the time of my previous User."

"I got here when my last User beat the previous master. I don't remember much, just that I was a unicorn who wanted power in general. When he discovered me and I became his Unit, he began his preparation to hide me in his mansion and in this mine.", Rock turn around to his User. "Just to try to get our power."

"Our?.... He wanted the power of the Yami Tool?", Unit #2 said as he was now catching up. "Your User was not satisfied with not only possessing a Yami Tool, wanted to harness the power for himself."

"Hehehe... not quite right.", Rock turns to him. "He wanted to create more."

Unit #2 let Rock continue with the story. "At first it put me to the test, as simple as helping in the mine. Then it escalated until he wanted to test 'me'. That's when he built the secret room. He thought he could study me and the secrets. But from his 30s to his 70s he achieved nothing. He couldn't create more like me... but he did create more like him."

Unit #2 listens to him, ignoring the impatience of all the demons around them. Then connect the next part. "Your current User is one of his descendants. He studies you in his secret laboratory when he received the torch to continue from his predecessor."

"Negative.", Rock shake his head of how wrong he was. "My User is the grandson that came from Canterlot. His way of thinking was different and everything change when he took control. He called it... a change of administration."

Unit #2 thinks about it and soon everything in that room made sense. "The torture tools and machines, were his new addition to the mansion, wasn't?"

"Affirmative.", a creepy metal demonic smile appears on his face. "He took on my previous master's entire legacy as his own, including his life with that knife years ago. So that he could fulfill all his desires here, with me~", at the end of his words, all the demons howl with declaration as their desire.

'My research shows the current noble of this mine as a pony who enjoys beating others, so torturing others is logical... There is only one more question left.', Unit #2 prepare as he let out the last part he wants.

"In the end you listen to all the orders, thus the First Commandment was fulfilled. You accept your new User, this is how the Second Commandment was established. What did you, him and all this ponies gain by breaking the Third Commandment? To stop being a Yami Tool of the world?"

Everyone is silent. Each one of them turn to Rock. He then started to answer why he broke the Third Commandment.

"Family."

Unit #2 after all this journey was speechless. Rock, Unit #200859, started to cry with black tears as he remember everything.

"I didn't care when they experimented on me and tortured me. I didn't care that they ordered me to disable my defenses so they could hurt me. I didn't even care about the long hours on those machines and how long they spent cutting and gutting parts of me. Even abandonments of months when they do not make progress on me and insults when I did not react well to the torture. I didn't care all of that."

Unit #2 stare at him, he now was getting it. "But I did care the love they had on me~", all started to howl as Unit #200859 cry of happiness.

"My previous master told me that I was part of his family when his grandfoals were born. The emotion I felt from him when he hugged me because he was sorry made me feel something. It was something I thought I couldn't feel, I never understood it and I waited for my new master to make the same wish. And it happened while I was waiting at the Iron Maiden that my master left me for days, when he reappeared in that room again with that maid."

Unit #2 didn't say anything, even if he did say something it was too late. 'All I can do is end all of this.', he thought as he braced himself with the euphoria of Unit #200859.

"I remember it all. He was on top of that maid, shouting his anger about his wife cheating him with a griffon or something to giving birth his descendants. All I could understood with the cry of the maid, was his desire to create life... based on me. A son like me. Obedient like me. Kin like me. That is when my master and me, desire the same thing!"

'The constants experiments and torture, the desires of the Users, not knowing what love is... all this factors broke the mind of this Unit.', Unit #2 now knew what he wanted to know. 'The Third Commandment was broken when he wanted to be something, Family.'

Rock grab his head as he continued. "When the revelation came to me! I knew how to be part of his Family and he can be part of my Family! Just like what he was doing to that maid! If he was inside her! Then I can be inside of all my Family! This way! We are the same! By becoming me!"

'No, Rock. You just inject them with your corruption. You're almost at that stage, but you were too young to develop one.', Unit #2 have decided what to do with this case, and in good moment since is about to start. 'Is time to return what was given to you.'

"I step out with all the wounds from the Iron Maiden and went behind him! I display my Yami Armor and let it he consume part of it! Soon! HE CRYES WITH HAPPINESS WHILE MY BLOOD RUNS INSIDE HIM! HE COULDN'T EVEN SIT STILL WHILE I MOLDED HIM FROM THE INSIDE! WHILE I BATHE WITH HIS INSULTS AS SIGN OF HIS LOVE! JAJAJAJAJAJA!", again all the demons howled in sync with him.

But they stopped for the last part. It was the sign for Unit #2 prepare his blade.

"JAJA!... But I wanted more Family. So make that maid part of my Family. The mansion staff. The miners. The village. And everyone who came here.", Rock snap his head up, Unit #200859's desire. "JUST LIKE YOU!"

Unit #2 did not think a second longer, nor too late. He jumped away from all the demons that were about to attack him from all directions. While in the air, he thought there were hundreds of them, he was wrong as other hundreds were coming out from the walls, roof and even the floor holes. Then he accept it.

They never left this place because Unit #200859's desire was to make a home for his Family, this mountain and mine were their hive. And he was inside it.

HOWL He turns in the air to face the 27 demons who fly to capture him. SLASH He was able to cut down one to three of them, but miscalculated when he cut the first demon in half. Even they were byproducts, they were tougher and stronger than normal beings. He embrace himself when the first one to reach him tackles him, then the next and the next and the next from different directions.

When all of them decided on a direction, the demons took him against a wall and crushed him. The demons began to pin him down, that was when Unit #2 grabbed an even sharper sword under his coat. He eliminates all the demons that grab him and moves away from the wall. But he had no room to move as more demons were already upon him again. He then rethink his plan as he open path with his blades.

'There aren't just hundreds here, there can be thousands of them. Did he get this many while I lost time coming here?', he kept cutting them but each one was replaced by five of them.

He was not moving from the wall. In every direction he saw hundred to thousand demons coming for him, with his blades ready and high speed he was not making any good progress. Luckily for him, Unit #200859 and his User were walking toward him. But would he be able to fight both with their demon army?

'It's only possible if I make an all-out attack.', he took his options as he continued to cut black demon flesh. He increases his speed and strength to defeat the unlimited demons while thinking about his next move. 'Think. We're inside a mountain and everyone here is infected... right, everyone is infected.'

He took a few steps back and prepared his assault. 'No one here deserves to be saved. So I shouldn't care about them.' BANG, and disappears leaving a black river behind.

Rock lost sight of him for a moment, when he knew that Unit #2 had become stronger and faster, he improved his eyes to follow him. Unit #2 became a shadow that leaves a cut behind on the bodies it passes by. The demons that didn't know he was passing had their bodies cut in half, headless or without arms, legs or wings. The cutting was so fast that the severed bodies left a stream of black blood behind.

Unit #2 was moving back and forth but advancing closer to its objective. If he was lucky, he could put an end to this with the head of the Unit that caused all of this. But everything changed when he reached the group of foals. Just like the adults, he had no problem cutting the mare teacher in half and cutting down a few young foals and griffons.

His blades didn't stop. THUNK Only at the neck of a young filly.

The filly was just like the others. Black skin, demon red eyes, and white fangs and claws, but unlike the other foals, she wasn't wearing a school uniform or a little dress. She had a white hospital gown and her mane was silver. At the eyes of everyone, she was just another demon.

In the eyes of Unit #2 there was something else. An image that his sword could not touch. With a moment of hesitation that makes him pay.

"RAAHHH!!!", the filly jump high enough and digs its claws into his left shoulder.

'!!!', Unit #2 taking note of his mistake push away the filly. Only not fast enough.

HOWL Other demons also caught up to him and used their claws to cut him. Every time he reacted too late to defend against one, he registered three attacks that hit him in other directions. His coat began to be shredded and stained with his red blood. He tried to recover, but his chances were over when a large shadow covered him.

He looked up in time to see the large fist descend. BOOM Unit #2's body received the damage that his body could not suppress, then he was caught by the Rock User demon's claws. With the little demon in the air so he could laugh at his mistake. His User brought Unit #2, head free of the torn coat, to their faces.

"What is wrong, Big brother?", Rock fly to his face with his eyes off. "Did you finally embrace our desire? Did you want to become part of my Family?", Unit #2 was not responding. Rock only smile thinking he just give up.

"Don't worry~ Everypony acts this way.", Rock flies around checking on the large Family he created. "Everyone is the same. From the beginning no one knows what they want. I didn't know what I want. But thanks to my Users I was able to understand it. And now... I HAVE WHAT I DESIRE!", he howl with his kin. His User's roar was the loudest of all.

"JAJAJAJA! See! Everyone is on the same page! This is what everypony wants! And I will fulfil our dreams- Shut up.", Rock turn instantly to the owner of the voice.

He was next to Unit #2, but it was enough to see him as it continued. "Just shut up. I don't want to listen to you. Nor anyone else... I'm trying to calm down. I don't want to listen to a brat like you."

Rage. Rage was filling Rock. He flew directly into his face. It extends its claw to grab his head. And then it stopped. Rock didn't dare move or grab him. He couldn't see it but now being face to face it was clear. His tantrum and anger were nothing when he saw it.

The right eye that was hidden before reflected his current state. Unit #2's demon eye shows the fury of what it saw. And how he felt at that moment. "You're making me lose what little sanity I have left... And no one wants to see me when I lose it."

Rock stands back when he finished. He didn't know it but he was feeling a new emotion. Fear.

And rage when Unit #2 call him how his Users call him. "Stay away from me... Bastard."

"TSK! BASTARD?!", this clicks on Rock's insecurities, brings him the moments where he almost fails his orders as a Unit. Now, it was the combustion of his anger. "THROW HIM AWAY! I DON'T WANT HIM ANYMORE!"

ROAR Hearing him, Rock's User pulls his arm and throws Unit #2 with all his strength. The use of force in the throw was enough to send Unit #2 directly into the wall opposite the entrance, where the wall was thinner but strong enough to stop Unit #2's body. With a BOOM, the wall began to crack and new holes appeared with clouds of dust appearing inside and outside the cave. Unit #2 was embedded for only a few seconds, then gravity claimed him and he fell to the ground.

Still on the ground, after everything that happened to him, Unit #2 was in his mind trying to control his emotions. He got up from the ground and took his time. With every second that passed, his mind was racing to avoid losing control. But as time passed, he was really tempted to let go of his sanity.

Just to play with this foal. 'IT'S REALLY TEMPTING... but that means leaving hints that I was here...', he was able to stand up, he raised his head to face the army of demons. 'Concentrate... Remember the objectives... This is not... not...', when he looks towards the direction of the mob he freezes.

The demon filly walks before him. The same one that he avoided taking her head off. And the same one that dug its claws into his stomach.

"!!!", Unit #2's voice was blocked by his willpower. He walks away leaving a stain of blood on the floor. Not because of the wound, but because of the image he saw.

Unit #2 was once again losing control of itself. Even he looked forward again and the image of the demon filly and Rock's army was there. His vision changed to another image with each blink of his eyes. The filly was not the same in the real world, she changed to another pony, the error was that she was not alone since another pony stood next to her.

'Concentrate!... she's not here!... he's still sleeping!...', he struggled more and more in his mind, his self becoming stronger than his orders. 'I can't let it out!.. Hold it!... For them!...'

Rock was still in the air, his smile breaking out as he was able to leave his fear and rage behind. He ordered the filly to attack him and smiled saying that his guess was correct. Unit #2 had an error and can kill him while he has it. He again ordered the filly to walk towards him with other earth demons behind her. This time he ordered to go for his head.

Unit #2 leans his back against the wall when the demons reach him. First the filly went for her head, and the errors occurred again. His vision was split by the demon filly between those two. When the demon filly raises her claws again, he fears the worst, either he falls here or loses control.

Both were outcome with consequences for his order. But he didn't see this third outcome.

"GAHH!!!"

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!", Wake up! You! Idiot!

"!", Unit #2's trance broke when he saw and heard her.

Star stops the filly with her claws. This causes the filly to retreat as her blood covers her left eye. Star then jumped off her face as the second demon reached her right side. Thanks to hers small body, she evaded the claw by flying over it and towards its eyes. SLASH Then cuts the eyes with his metal wing. But her luck ended there. A third demon was just on the other side. POW For Unit #2 he will send the filly and both demons with a force equivalent to that used to throw him.

After sending them away and stop the demons movement, Unit #2 catch Star on his hand. "Stubborn as always... How did you find me?"

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!...Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.", I just followed the chaos!... Also that I see your mess from the outside.

He follow her wing and he saw the new holes, with a clear view of outside. "... But how did you -SLASH-!", even out of the trance his mind was still slow.

One unicorn demon came from behind him and took the opportunity to slash his back. This put him on his knees, the impact stun him for a moment so he couldn't act when the demon went over him for a second attack. He couldn't, so Star take his place and fly to the demon. The demon was focus on Unit #2's back that didn't see the bird fly to his face.

SLASH "RAHHH!!!", where his left eyes was cut in half by Star's wing.

Out of the corner of her eye, Star saw the demon retreat and began to turn around, she turned around and descended with her wing at the ready. The demon made the mistake of turning left to follow Star, he was blind so he couldn't see her coming with his wing in his right eye.

"RAHHH!!!", the now blind demon walks aimlessly away from them. Star began to flap her wing, her metal wing spilling dark blood, and began to warn the demons.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!-CHIRP! Chirp!." Aja! See that! Come if all of you- WHOA! Not now!

Unit #2 saw in time how Star was losing control to maintain balance in the air. Even if she was stronger now, she wasn't stronger for long. Even though another demon accepted her challenge. She was struggling with the weight of her prosthesis when a demonic griffon approached her.

'No... Move!', Unit #2 saw it coming and try to save Star. 'She can't die! I will not allow it! I will not allow you die again, E-!', he then notice it. Why he was crashing. That was also when they arrived.

"CHIRPS!", two small bodies, one red and one black, began to bury their claws in the griffon's eyes. "RAHH!!!"

"Chirp?! Chirp! Chirp!", Brothers?! I told the two to wait outside!

'Those two?... Even they came here. All the way to hell for her.', Unit #2 could not contain his surprise when he saw that his security plan for Star also failed. 'Why...why didn't they take her when I gave her back to them.'

Unit #2 hoped that if he couldn't protect her, they would. That they will make her listen to when she yelled at Star and abandon her like she did then. So that both of them can lead her towards a better future. But then he thought maybe he wasn't getting it. Not anymore when the griffon demon scares the two birds and prepares to kill them.

He then accept it. BANG! He can do nothing about it. BANG! He can not stop it. BANG! He can only take it.

The cave froze at the new sound, the sound that caused the demon griffin to lose its left hand, then have its right knee torn off with its leg, then have a piece of its right shoulder removed from its body. The army of demons contemplates the strange power that leaves one of them in pieces. The brothers and Star separate and return to the ground after the first shot. As for Rock and his User, their eyes were widen when they see Unit #2 took it out.

The griffon demon howls in pain for a moment. POP! Only then does her head explode. Thanks from the strange barrel in Unit #2's hand. Where strange smoke and fire pulverized the creature.

"I guess..." Unit #2 stands with the barrel with a handle in his hand, finger on the trigger, with a calmness in his normal eyes towards Rock and his User. "...I can't change the inevitable."

"...Chirp... Chirp?", ...Idiot... What is that?

"A... tool.", he reply to Star. Not taking his eyes on Rock. "Are you okay, Star?"

"Chirp? Chirp. Chirp?", Huh? Yes. Are you alright?

"Me?... Don't worry about me.", he took his eyes off of Rock and turned to Star and her two brothers at her side. "All that matter to me... is that you are alive... So Star... get away from here, please."

Star's eyes widened as he asked her and her two brothers. Star could start to argue with him, however, she could see the sadness in his eyes. With desperation and hope. For what was it, she couldn't understand, but she did understand his wish. She lower her head knowing that she couldn't change this, but now she was not alone on this.

She turns around in front of her two brothers. The black bird nodded saying that it will protect the two of them. The red bird jumps to her side and encourages her by covering her with his wing with the intention of keeping her at his side. As she stops herself from letting tears fall, trying to look strong. When the three were on the same page, Star returns to Unit #2.

To answer his sad eyes that she accept it, saying her good byes to him. Unit #2 accept it and let her go. The three birds turn around and take off. They were flying up to one of the holes of the wall.

Unit #2 was calm after saying goodbye. Now he could continue as he watch the three siblings flying high. Even if he heard the voice he hates, respects and fears. Its his father's words.

Idiots will be idiots in the end. Making the stupidest decision. Even if they are the most painful. Prey to the desires of the heart. Just like us.

BOOM

"Have you forgotten... This is my home... My Family... YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE!", Rock's words resonate with the impact of the stalactite he launches.

The cave full of demons, with the Demonic User and the one who threw the stalactite coming down from the ceiling were waiting for the cloud of dust from the impact to dissipate. Rock was furious, but at the same time happy.

He wants everyone to fall into despair. "All of you... will suffer here... will die here and become food for my Family -BANG- RAHHH!!!", He didn't finish when his User took a step back and grabbed his shoulder, after a piece of him went flying.

Rock sees this when he turns to him. "Huh? How -BANG- AHHHH!", as he gets shot in his left wing.

Rock flies to his User's head to retreat, there he holds his left shoulder feeling the hole in his wing. He turned to it and could see that it was worse than he thought. Half of his left wing was missing and he couldn't figure out how. First was that it was the first time he had been hurt like that. None of his defenses could protect him from this attack. And the other was how he could do it.

He got the answer. "Спасибо." (Spasibo)

Rock instantly turned towards where the voice came from. "What?...No, how?...", confused as to what went wrong. "You're crashing... you shouldn't be able to move... so how, how do you still function?"

Rock and his army of demons stare at the place of the dust cloud. The stalactite was now breaking into pieces. Revealing the wall where it crashed, destroyed with nothing behind it. With Unit #2 to the side keeping the barrel where it belongs under his coat. With his head uncovered by his coat, everyone could see his eyes. And there was no longer any emotion, just a peaceful but tired soul.

"If you ask that... well, you didn't kill them.", he looks up at the holey ceiling with pieces of the sky visible. Ignoring the bloody metal wing on the ground. "I did it... I was the one who... killed Star and her brothers."

Rock and his demons didn't know what to say, so he continued watching the peaceful sky. "I... I really wanted her to live... and that was my mistake. I thought I could make amends... with my sins. Do what I couldn't... even pass that task on to her brothers who were following me all this time... That's when I realized... how happy it was to see them together."

Then he comes back to reality and closes his eyes. "And perhaps... I reflected myself with them...", just to open it. And scare Rock and his demons. Showing them his devil eyes. "And how... jealous I felt of them."

Rock instantly felt danger, that fear that not only his life, but his entire existence was in danger. Sensing it, his User took a step back and all his demons retreated to stay away from him. Even he didn't show it, Unit #2 was letting his dark aura cover them. Showing them that he was the true monster, that not even demons can, should not or dare to confront the devil.

"That's why thanks to you... I woke up from this dream.", Unit #2 close his eyes, again hold it. "But I just don't want you to believe you did it. The way I spoke at that moment... was on purpose, so that you would notice her. I got distracted when she leaves, so you can aim with that stalactite. And I didn't do anything to destroy it, nor did I shoot it when it came for her... That's right, I killed her."

"But... why...", Rock is still hiding on top of his User. Still not getting how he was shot. "Why didn't you crash... watching her die?... Answers me- Why do you think the Third Commandment exits?", he received his answers as quickly as Unit #2's response.

Even with his eyes closed, Unit #2 continued. "Love, Grief, Fear, Envy, and Anger are not require or need it on my soul. Desire, craving, longing, or yearning anything is useless in my purpose. But why is that? Well, because we, the Yami Tools, are not like any living being. We have a power that can change the world... What do you think can happen when we do what we want?"

Rock doesn't need to respond. His 'Family' answer Unit #2's question. So he answer how he is still operating.

"Not only does Star make me feel hope and happiness again... she and her family awakened my jealousy, anger, despair, frustration, and ill intents in this world. Not to mention I wished she was dead against my hopes that she would live struggling with it. I didn't realize until you thought you could kill her. And like you... I was losing focus because of these emotions."

Then he lowered his voice, as if these words were only for him. "I lost concentration when you came back... but you're still sleeping... and she can't come back... even if I replace her... I was sleeping, in noble desire with Star... Star, I'm sorry, how this has ended this way."

Even he was calm, Rock knew that Unit #2 was just building up something. He just didn't know if he should kill him now, or just run for his life. But just as any prey before, Rock stare as a deer frozen by fear, when Unit #2 open his eyes, now back to normal and focus on a simple thought.

Even he was calm, Rock knew that Unit #2 was just building something inside him. He just didn't know if he should kill him now or just run for his life. But like any prey before, Rock stares like a deer frozen in fear, as Unit #2 opens his eyes, now back to normal and focused on a simple thought.

"So I will say it. большое спасибо (bol'shoye spasibo) Thank you so much. Now... I can avenge her."

"!!! KILL HIM! NOW!"

Rock shout out to his kin to take action. So Unit #2 take his.

"Connecting to the Yami System. Submit request. Restore Unit #2's systems, orders and Commandments."

When he finished speaking, hundreds of demons were on him. Driven by Rock's will, the demons forgot their fears and went after him. Such was his request heard by the Yami System.

Request have been submitted. Processing........... Request have been approved. Restoring the systems, orders and Commandments of Unit #2.

Like a magic key, with Unit #2 being consumed by the demon army, a red rune appears on the ground. Enveloping him and the black mass in red light, dark red sparks and the silent of the void. The demons caught in the flash, roared silently as their bodies were being disintegrated. Not even the cries of sadness from the Family or its leader were heard. And of course, his cry of pain never came out, even if he was burning within his coat.

Unit #2 stands in the middle of the burned floor of the cave, with the ashes of the demons raining down on him and his coat burned and torn to pieces not able to hide anymore his true form. Rock couldn't prevent asking. "Who... are you?"

He open his eyes, the eyes of the Anti-Unit. "Unit #2, Status: Online.", he torn apart from him the useless coat.

Freed from the cloak, the world could now see what he was hiding. Like any Unit, he wore the Yami armor. Black armor and plates, red stripes at the joints and in the middle of the plates, with a V-crest on the front indicating that it was a Human Unit. But unlike Unit #3, his physique was similar to that of a bodybuilder, larger and with the idea of being more muscular than his brother. And it wasn't the only thing.

Unlike any other Unit that had small plates or extra armor, Unit #2 had large metal plates on his waist, as if it were the fauld and tasset of the armor. Making him look like he was wearing an armor skirt made of 6 large metal plates. But anyone in the Yami System can recognize what it really is.

"Yami Armament, Online.", at his words, the 6 plates separate from him. They began to vibrate and float around him. 4 around him and 2 on his shoulders. One one the 2 started to open.

"Support weaponry, Online.", the plate on his left shoulder open up. It reveal many small medical tools and strange liquids inside. But the black liquid on the plate had a proposes.

"Order, Repair damage.", the plate floats over his wounds, letting out liquid metal with a mind of its own in him. Now noticing the damage, only the filly claw mark on his shoulder and waist had a deep mark, the rest were just simple scratches. Scratches that were quickly repaired, including those made by the filly when the patching dark fluid got in, as if the damage had never existed.

"Primary weapons, all of them, Online.", when healed, the 4 plates open to show their contents. Each plate reveals to have multiple types of handles on their own. Handles of weapons of all kinds. Single hands, double hands, staffs and bars, even more of that strange barrel he used to fire.

Rock hasn't seen this kind of things. Even in his time as a Unit in the Yami System, he had never heard of it. He was left speechless when Unit #2 mentioned those commands and yet his mind couldn't pinpoint what they were or what those commands did. He just knew, if he had those kinds of extensions, or weaponry as he called them, he would feel powerful.

Now, he was going to see that power in action, as Unit #2 took one handle of the first plate. "Unit #200859. Let me remind you... What a Yami Tool is.", he said as he took the first weapon. A one-handed broadsword.

A pegasus demon mare was on the edge of the circle of death when Unit #2 launched the reset. Now, she had the sword on her, cutting her in half. "What we really stand for."

"!", Rock lose him for a moment. He saw Unit #2 and his plates on the middle of the burn out floor and the next he saw him with his plates following in how he finish off more than 10 of his kin in seconds. Hearing his speech as he advance.

"We are more than servants.", Unit #2 finish off another demon, but this one grab the sword and slow him. He could not retreat it in time when another demon came at his side. But he had time to take another handle.

"We are gifts.", with a curved dagger that he took from the same plate of the sword, he cut the demon's throat. When the demon grabbed his throat and he was choking, he already had the dagger on his forehead.

"Gifts to become links.", Unit #2 drops the handles of the sword and dagger when they were retrieved. He let them fall to the ground, only to stop in mid-air and return to the plate from which they came. With the metal turning liquid stored again inside.

"Links to a power.", he then turns around and grabs a one hand staff from the same plate. When he pulled it out, a metallic liquid began to follow the tip. Solidifying and forming a cutting blade, in the form of an ax.

"Power enriched by the heart desires.", after burying it in the side of another demon and throwing it into the air letting its body spray blood over his kin, he turn to the second plate. This one hand long handles and staff of two hands, and this plate launch one to him.

"The desires of the Users.", with his new weapon, a halberd, he swings it and cuts the group of demons jumping towards him in half. He stopped and then impaled one, and another, and another as he advanced until the halberd was saturated with 7 dead demons.

"For Users to unified the Chaos of the world.", after using a two-handed hammer of the same plate on the head of a griffon. Unit #2 saw a new group flying in all directions towards him. So he decided to take the third plate, the plate of the barrels.

"For Chaos is a right." BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG, using two barrels this time, the image of Unit #2 blurs for an instant, only for all the demons around him to have parts of their bodies explode with holes in them. All that was left were falling corpses, with Unit #2 on its knees with the two barrels belching smoke in the middle.

"Right to change the world." CLICK, he opened the barrels and let the same liquids from those plates that make his swords enter the chambers of those weapons. However, he decided on another method to reduce the numbers. He throws the barrels into the air, landing on the plate to which they belong, waits for of the forth plate to approach him. This one had no handles or barrels, just a puddle of metallic liquid inside, and he puts his hand inside.

"Based on the User's desires.", his new weapons, three blades claw gloves, form naturally on his metal hands. And he has the idea of using them as a catalyst. He releases his program from limitations and engulf himself in his dark red flames from the stripes of his armor. Then he crouch and prepare himself.

"A promise given by our Father.", the demons never see it coming. Like a force of nature, Unit #2 passed through their ranks, leaving trails of fire devouring them. For those who were not in front of him, he simply infused his flames into his blades.

"The Gift and Promise, from Lord Erebus.", as if cutting through reality, Unit #2 swung the blades in the air and everything that stood in the way was cut and burned. Like flaming cutting waves, devouring everything in their path.

Even if some were hundreds of meters away, fiery cuts appeared on the bodies of those demons who never understood what was happening. The demon filly in the hospital gown was one of them as she stood up and saw the burning carnage. She was lost in thought as she saw all her relatives, dying from the ghostly flames. Who did nothing when Unit #2 appeared in front of her.

The two stayed there, with the flames devouring the Family around them. And like her relatives, she was not spared; however, Unit #2 did not attack her.

He make the first move. He extend his hand, retracting his weapon. He put it over her head, patting her a the small filly she was. Releasing his dark flames all over her. The last thing the filly did, was to close her eyes. And she shows a grateful smile as tears vaporize with her body. For whom? He didn't want to know, he only got what he wanted when she leaves nothing behind in this world.

Unit #2 was no longer defective. Not like somepony right there. "Unit #200859."

His voice echoes in the dark cave, engulfed in flames devouring everything around Unit #2's speech. "Due to my orders, I cannot let you being 'Online' anymore. Because your actions will interfere with my objective. So don't take it personal.", Unit #2 ends with him flexing the hand that touches the filly, proof that he is fully functional to his orders.

As for Rock, the defective Unit #200859, he just stares uselessly as Unit #2 extends that same hand to the last plate on his right shoulder. Rock sees how it fits in his hand, opens by moving the shield-like plates and blades on the edges. And the most striking thing, a strange larger barrel but similar to the small ones he used. This is pointing to him and his User.

"I'll just finish what the doctor should have done when we picked you up.", now the cannon made a humming sound, as the light gathered inside. "Free you from the chains of this world... even when you were at death's door."

Just then locked memories invade Rock's mind. Memories of centuries, supposedly destroyed. But the image of a colt, burned on most of its body, without its left arm and wing, looking from the ground lying under the magna rock that crushed him. With three hooded figures standing next to him, a small one completely covered but the other two did not have their faces covered. He could recognize who they were.

Under a red sky with rocks falling in flames. Lava rivers around them that ran from the local mountain headed towards the valley where screams could be heard. Rock was able to recognize himself by looking directly into the eyes of Unit #2, his brother Unit #3 and the one they follow. Their master asking him what he wants. Rock was able to remember what he said and what he felt.

He wanted to live. He wanted his Family to live. Just like now. "I WILL LIVE! MY FAMILY WILL LIVE! AND YOU WON'T STOP ME!!!"

SSHHRRIEEK HOWL ROAR SHRIEK

Rock's scream and his voice make the mountain shake. The rest of his Family came to his aid and charged at the intruder. Rock and his User roar towards the enemy, decided to fight him to dead. Unit #2 only stare at their decision.

"Is that so... So be it.", and pull the trigger.

BOOM!

From a safe place in a hole in the mountain wall that was crumbling from within, stood the yellow bird father. He did not follow his children but followed Unit #2. The curiosity he had about Unit #2 made him follow him, even entertaining it along the way. No more, he quickly lost interest as the monsters fought among themselves.

But he was curious as he turned to his side. Feeling a presence, that was observing too. And just like he was leaving. Soon it was gone and the father bird turned to the monsters inside. He follow the example and take flight away.

Leaving behind the demons with the devil. And a metal wing, among the rubble, vaporizing. Just like a memory.