I awoke with a start and immediately realized that I was standing upright in a vast, dark void. Tapping my foot, I was able to confirm that despite its quite voidlike in appearance, I was actually standing on wood. Polished wood, like the type one may see on an old-timey dance floor, or perhaps more likely, a theatre.

As if reacting to my thoughts, I heard a clunk from somewhere above me, and then a light came on. Beaming straight down, it illuminated my form and a small area around me but no more than that.

Standing in the spotlight, I glanced down at myself and found I was wearing most of my armor. I had the gloves, greaves, pants, and whatnot, though my breastplate had been removed. I half expected to see a shredded mass of gore in my midsection but was relieved to find that I was fine. I had a whole ton of really weird, snake-like scars crisscrossing everywhere from my neck to my crotch but that was still a relief to see.

“Kinda look cool too,” I muttered, only to grab at my mouth. “Huh, my orky accent is gone.”

“Of course,” exclaimed a booming, distant voice. “While here, you speak not with your lips, but with your mind.”

They sounded distant, and like they were speaking through a megaphone from someplace high above me. Both masculine and feminine, they immediately reminded me of someone that I had nearly forgotten about.

“God thing?” I asked curiously.

“Not the worst name I’ve ever received,” murmured the voice with a hint of mirth. “But yes, I spoke to you briefly when I first brought you here.”

“Ahh that makes sense,” I muttered, glancing down at my form. “Though if I’m not actually speaking with my lips, then why am I still an ork?”

“Perhaps you see yourself more as an ork then a human, or perhaps you have forgotten what you used to look like. Who’s to know?” They offered.

“Fair. Guess it doesn't really matter,” I replied.

“Now then, we should get down to business,” they exclaimed, the source of their voice drawing closer to me. “I must thank you for your efforts so far. You have carried yourself with the honor and bravery that I had hoped.”

“Well, thanks. I tried my best. Too bad I died though, that kinda sucked,” I muttered somewhat bitterly.

“Oh I wouldn't be worrying too much about your lack of last will and testament quite yet,” the god thing offered. “It seems as though you have managed to instill a sense of loyalty in at least a few of my creations.”

“Yeah, that's right. Poor Rainbow Dash,” I whispered, wincing at the thought of the now flightless pegasus. “Hopefully they can help her out.”

“She will be healed, with time. For now, we must hurry along this conversation. My power fades with each passing moment and I doubt I have the strength to reach into the cosmos for another champion,” the god thing remarked in a somewhat pained tone. “But my faith has brought us this far, and it will take us further still.”

I remained silent, merely staring at the spot I assumed the voice was coming from.

“I cannot lend you much in the way of aid, but I can tell you this,” exclaimed my benefactor. “Call my hot-headed daughter by the name Little Light, and ask her if she still dreams of sunflowers.”

“What does that all mean?” I asked.

“That is the groundwork from which trust may be built,” they replied. “Now, you must return, return, and continue your quest.”

Something massive leaned forward, and from the edge of the light, I could see what looked like an enormous alicorn. Then my eyes adjusted and I could tell that it was far stranger than its silhouette may have led me to believe. Although it was indeed shaped like an alicorn, it more closely resembled several thousand ponies mashed together.

Its foreleg had dozens perhaps hundreds of smaller hooved appendages sprouting from it, each twitching and reaching towards me. Its myriad of differently-sized eyes all stared down at me, some hatefully, others in confusion, and a few with love. Their dozens of mouths opened, and from them sprang a choir of voices that blended to become a great, singular speaker.

“It is time to reap what you’ve sown, my champion,” they exclaimed, reaching towards me.

Though more than a little startled, I kept my feet rooted firmly, staring up at the largest pair of eyes on the creature’s face. Within those teal orbs, I witnessed a great sadness, and I could not help but feel a little bad for them despite their appearance. Then their towering white horn lit up with a faint blue light, their hoof touched my forehead, and in a flash, I was gone.

Twilight trotted down the road leading to Fluttershy’s cabin, and the edge of the Everfree. The mare’s steps were long, plodding, and unhurried, her pace slow so she could enjoy the cool evening air. That, and the fall colors that had come along with the cool northern breeze.

The trees had begun to shed their brightly colored leaves, with a few early birds having already become completely bare. Their skeletal arms stretched up towards the darkening sky, embracing the streaky alto stratus clouds above. The wind, ever-present, ran its cool fingers through Twilight's fur, though the mare barely noticed.

For along with her now bright green eyes, she stood a head taller than most ponies, had thicker, coarser fur, and a pair of sharp tusk-like teeth that poked up from her bottom lip. She was also more well-muscled than Big Macintosh, though such strength was belied by a still slim physique. The most startling change was perhaps her horn, or more accurately, her horns, plural.

Healed from the sudden shock that had split the delicate organ intwain, the twin appendages had grown along with the mare. Their exposed interiors had filled with a greenish crystal that replaced the damaged sections. To most, it appeared as though she had two horns one directly behind the other, both of which were half made of emerald.

A green bolt of energy sparked from the tip of one horn to the other, before leaping off and exploding into a miniature firework. Twilight barely noticed, glancing only briefly at the explosion before redirecting her attention forward once more.

There she saw that Fluttershy’s cabin was as busy as ever, with hordes of creatures bustling about. Looking closer, Twilight noted that the animals taking refuge there were even more numerous than last time. The pony made a mental note to assist her shy friend again soon, as she’d likely need some assistance, even if she now lacked the need for sleep like the rest of them.

The Everfree itself seemed normal at first glance but in the distance, an explosion could be heard. Birds flew from the site in a panic, and a trickle of smoke rose into the air. Twilight barely gave it a second glance, focusing herself on the small, squat stone structure sitting at the edge of Fluttershy’s property.

Most called it the green tomb, given the nature of its occupant, but Twilight knew the title given to it was not wholly appropriate. Inside lay Ghuzrod, the ork remaining as he had for the last few weeks, on the verge of death though not truly dead. Stepping inside the simple structure, Twilight noted that the ork lay in the same spot where she had laid him. Inert, he was stripped to his waist, revealing that his mangled torso had mostly recovered, becoming a tangled mass of dark scar tissue.

“Hey Twi,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “They still fighting out there?”

“Hmm?” Twilight murmured, glancing up at the changed mare standing before her.

Rainbow Dash had perhaps undergone an even more dramatic apotheosis than Twilight had after their fight with Furious. Where Twilight was just a little larger, a little more muscular, and with little tusks that were barely visible, Rainbow Dash was in a league of her own. Now larger than Big Macintosh and nearly as tall as a princess, with muscles nearly on par with bulk biceps, and tusks large enough to stick out above her lip, she bore the influence of her green friend a bit more obviously.

“Twi? You there? Equestria to Twilight,” Rainbow Dash pressed her bright green eyes only a few short inches from Twilight's face.

“Ahh yeah, I was just... What did you say?” Twilight asked.

“I asked if they were still going at it out there,” Rainbow Dash replied, gesturing towards the Everfree.

“Oh yeah. More explosions than normal today,” Twilight answered.

“Too bad the boss ain't up yet. I’m sure he’d beat those losers in no time,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, her voice tinged with worry.

Twilight couldn't help but look to Rainbow Dash’s back, to where the mare’s wings should be. Though she looked away quickly, Rainbow Dash noticed, she always seemed to notice.

“Would you cut it out?” Rainbow Dash spat. “I don't want your pity.”

“S-sorry,” Twilight murmured.

“Let's just, hope the big guy gets up soon. Three months of his kind running amok out there is three months too many. They need the boss man to make them understand that we're on the same team,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Yeah. Let's hope,” Twilight added.

“Right. I’m gonna get back home,” Rainbow Dash declared. “If I don't claim that stall soon, one of Applejack’s cows always takes it.”

“You don't have to stay in her barn you know. I’ve got a room at the library,” Twilight offered.

“It's fine. I don't want to be a bother,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Oh… okay,” Twilight murmured.

Rainbow Dash gave her friend a nod before walking away, her heavy hoof steps quickly disappearing into the distance.

Alone, Twilight sat down next to the large stone slab which served as Ghuzrod’s resting place. The unadorned flat of rock was massive but thankfully a few strangely helpful forest critters of significant size had helped drag it here. They had also assisted with the walls and roof, with an ursa major even showing up to briefly lower in the massive piece of shale that protected the ork from the rain.

“I really wish you were here,” Twilight murmured, glancing down at the ork’s remarkably serene face. “The nobles squabble over what to do. The princesses are able to rebuff some of the advances but things don't look good.”

Twilight frowned and looked out through the opening which served as the small tomb’s only entrance.

“They want to evacuate Ponyville,” Twilight added. “Rainbow Dash won't leave. Neither will Fluttershy or Applejack.”

Twilight sighed.

“I don't know what to do anymore,” she admitted. “I thought I had it all figured out but these guys, these other orks aren't as smart as you and they don't seem to listen to anything but violence.”

Twilight stood up and was about to go visit Fluttershy when her horns sparked. Then they sparked a second time, bright green lightning arcing between the two appendages. A bolt lurched suddenly from both horns and struck the ork in the chest, making his muscles spasm suddenly.

“Darn it. Why do they keep doing… huh,” Twilight murmured.

Ghuzrod was already sitting upright, the ork flexing his hands before turning to Twilight.

“Roight. Wud I miss?”

Author's Note

I couldn't help but pen one last chapter, just so I didn't stop updates on such a cliff hanger.