Hear the voices of Samuel/HTVO: Arc 1: Samuel

(MLP is Own by Lauren Faust and Hasbro)

Chapter 24 Dream's Honor against Apathy

Equestria was in state of turmoil; the sun had not risen since its curfew. The only thing that stood in the sky was the moon and stars. The mayors all over the cities in Equestria were doing their best to keep everypony calm. Some mayors succeed in calming the citizens down, while few failed. Ponies believed that it was the end of the world, while some believed it was Discord who broke free from his imprisonment and overthrew Celestia. Cult activity has greatly increased as well in the country.

Redpen was flying towards the Griffin Kingdom; he had to see if the king is having any similar problems Equestria is suffering from. If so, he had to be sure that the king was aware that there was no way they can supply any trade with them due to the citizens doing what it takes to survive. When Redpen made it to the Griffin Kingdom, he gasps in shock, the town was covered in ice like fire. "Iced fire…Nero." He said as his eyes narrowed. Redpen's body became engulfed with fire as he flew straight into the burning city.

Griffin guards were found frozen everywhere, along with civilians. Nero was standing in the center of a street watching as his iced fire destroyed everything in its path. He had a calm expression as he looked around him. "Nero!" Nero heard Redpen's voice calling his name behind him.

He looks back seeing Redpen glaring at him with hate in his eyes. Nero smiles and says, "Nice to see you again Redpen, you came to visit the king right?" He asked.

"How did you know?" Redpen asked.

"I was watching you, when you made it to the Paradise H.Q. I was healing at the time and watched as Dream gave you a mission to see King Hesipos. I decided to get here before you and while waiting, I thought of having…" He looked around him grinning at his own carnage, "Fun."

"Fun? You call this fun!? This is wrong!" Redpen yelled stomping his hoof to the ground angrily. "What happened to the king!? I know you did something while I was coming here!" Redpen asked. Nero wouldn't destroy a city without taking care of their leader first.

"Psionic took care of him; he made him slit his throat." Nero said.

Redpen was shocked, the mission was a failure. The kingdom was burning in ice cold flames. Anger began to boil up in him as his body engulfed itself in flames again. He glared at Nero preparing to attack. Nero smirks as his body turns into black fire.

"Here we are, back to square one, well…not really. By the way Redpen…as you've recently seen, I can now control iced flames of the devil." Nero said beginning to laugh.

A white fire phoenix was above the city glaring down at a black fire phoenix. Their eyes narrow as they both launch fireballs at each other. Redpen's fire ball makes contact and goes through Nero but Nero recovered by covering the wound in iced fire while Redpen jumps over Nero's fireball and quickly shoots spears of holy fire down at Nero who proceeds to turn into a phoenix and fly upwards into the sky while Redpen follows him.

"Here we are…no place to hide." Nero says, calmly, "Let's see who's really the strongest!" He then flies towards Redpen.

"Lets!" Redpen says also flying towards Nero and they collide in an inferno of fire that looked like a second sun.

Magic woke up from his slumber by a knock on the door. Getting up from the couch he drowsily walks towards the door rubbing the sleep out from under his eyes. When Magic got to the door, he opened it and was startled for a few seconds when he saw Mat exhausted and battered up at his doorway. "Mat, what the hell happened to you?" Magic asked. Mat's only response to him was passing out on his doorstep.

Soon, Mat wakes up on the couch seeing Fluttershy, Strife, Magic, Pinkie Pie, and Spike by his side. "You're awake now, finally." Strife said calmly. "Next time, pick a better place to pass out, the doorway isn't too special." He said with his usual deadpan tone.

Mat chuckles and says, "Thanks for the tip Strife." Mat gets up from the couch stretching.

"So, what brings you over here to the house of wolves?" Magic asked smiling at Mat.

"I bring you all a message from Celestia, it is urgent. Celestia wants you all too immediately head to the Hospital and meet this patient named 666. She said that he is the key to ending this cult warfare." Mat said.

"If he is the key to ending this war, why didn't she do it herself?" Strife asked.

"Because Strife, she was betrayed and overthrown by Princess Luna and her guardian devil. I tried to beat her guardian devil but he was to strong. The Princess urged me to get you guys to see this pony. Maybe he does or maybe he doesn't, but this pony is apparently Celestia's only hope as well as ours." Mat said.

"I'm not too sure about "our ONLY hope" but we might as well not waste time then." Magic said as he trots towards the door with a smile on his face, he opens the door and sees a trench coat pony with a gray coat and blond messy long mane. This pony had pink eyes just like Magic. "Who are you? WAIT, let me guess…hmmm…Santa?" Magic asked.

"Insane, Insane Membrane…" Insane smiled calmly at Magic and says, "Don't you remember me Magic; we met long ago in Talos. You assisted me in-Mmhmh." Insane was cut off when Magic covered his mouth with his hooves smiling at the others nervously.

"I remember you; we golfed together in Talos, even though I hate the game." Magic said. "What are you doing here?" Magic whispered to Insane. He let his hooves go of Insane's mouth granting him freedom to talk.

"I am here to let you know about the Griffin Kingdom, you see my friend, King Hesipos is dead. The Azazelists got to him and his kingdom." Insane said.

"Ah yes, bad news like always, why did I ever expect you to say something cheerful? What, what about Redpen?" Magic asked becoming concerned.

"He is busy with Nero I bet, Magic since I been undercover for so long, I thought it would be nice to give you the news about Dream… it isn't good though." Insane said calmly still, keeping his smile.

"What about Dream?" Magic asked.

"I heard Dream's name, what are you two talking about and who the hell is this?" Strife asked walking next to Magic while glaring at Insane.

"Strife, this is Insane Membrane, my undercover buddy who spies on the Azazelists and plays golf with me when I am extremely bored." Magic said presenting Insane who waved at Strife.

"Why hello there. My, my, don't you look dashing." Insane said smiling calmly at Strife.

Strife lifts and eyebrow at Insane and says, "Did you just compliment me or are you trying to hit on me?" Strife asked.

"Both." Insane answered.

"Sorry to burst your large bubble, but I am already taken." Strife said.

Insane shrugs and says, "Oh well, I will find somepony out there I find…" He stopped not finishing his sentence starring at his tail. "No, they are nice, not rude." He said to his tail earning odd looks from Strife and the others except Magic who just laughs.

"You're Insane…look, what is this about Dream?" Strife asked.

"Your friend Dream is going to fight Apathy." Insane said smiling.

"Apathy, the greatest swordspony in the world, boy oh boy, I remember when she and I met each other, she asked me where was the route to get to Trottingham." Magic said smiling while exaggeratingly rubbing his chin.

"Who is Apathy?" Spike asked.

"Does she have weird-cool-looky powers like you Magic?" Pinkie asked making wild gesture movements with her hooves.

Magic chuckles at Pinkie's playfulness and says, "She has no power, she is a swordspony that is stronger than Dream. She can wield a piece of string and make it a cutting weapon. Similar to how I can make air into chocolate." Magic said. "I've seen it and let me tell you, it is impressive…the chocolate I mean, but her work is also worthy of praise." He said.

"Does Dream know anything about her?" Strife asked.

"No, he never once heard about her." Magic said. The three were silent, until Insane spoke up.

"Well then, it figures why he is about to fight her." Insane said causing everyone to stare at him.

"Damn it…I guess Mat we have to put Patient-666 on delay and get Dream before he gets himself kill." Strife said. Mat was already walking past him.

"Let's not waste time, come on." Mat said smirking at Strife.

"He seems very confident of himself." Insane said looking at Mat.

"That's Mat for you, you coming?" Magic asked Insane.

Insane shook his head no and says, "I have to do a mission while remaining under Azazel's trust, good luck Magic." Insane said walking away.

"Good luck to you to Insane." Magic said, opening his wings and flies away.

Strife looks back at the others and says, "We'll be back." After that was said, Strife runs after Mat.

The three knew where Dream was at. He's always at center of Ponyville, the usual spot, flirting with mares.

Dream was sipping coffee at a diner located in the center of Ponyville. He was lucky that diner was still intact and not ransack like the other stores were. A mare enters into the diner carrying a sword sheathed in its holster. She wore a brown cloak with a white scarf wrapped around her lower face. The only thing that was revealed was her white coat and gray mane. Her eyes were dim yellow.

Dream looks back and sees her. 'I wonder what she looks like under that scarf.' He wondered. Dream pulls open a seat and says with a dashing smile, "Please sit here if you are going to order something madam." The mare ignored him and sat two seats down from him. Dream frowns and thinks to himself that this mare was the hardball type. A devious perverted grin appeared on Dream's muzzle.

The mare pointed at a bottle of water signaling the cashier she wanted water. The cashier nods his head and gives it to her. "Two bits." He said. The mare takes out two bits and places them on the counter. She then got up and walked away towards the exit. Dream appears next to her side, in one quick swoosh.

"My name's Dream Phobic, musician and master of the Iaido arts." Dream said smiling at the mare. She stops and looks at him saying nothing. Dream noticed the expression she was giving to him just by looking at her eyes.

"Move." She demanded in an emotionless tone. Dream looks at her shocked and moves out the way.

"Who are you?" Dream asked.

She ignores his question and leaves the store. When she was a few feet away from the store she heard Dream ask, "Where did you get that sword?" She stopped and looked at him.

"That sword and its holster, that is the Jade Blade right, the most powerful sword that not even enchanted ones can beat?" Dream asked. The mare turned to him remaining silent. "I want to know where a mare like you yourself got that blade from. The sword was made and is owned by Master Hollow Void. Where did you obtain the sword of Gyromancy?" Dream asked glaring at her.

"I killed him." She said, again with no emotion in her tone.

Dream looks at her shocked, "You did what?" He asked in disbelief.

"I killed him by taking his sword and decapitating him." She said.

"I-impossible, he was supposed to be mine to kill, after I kill him I will gain his title as the greatest swordsmen." Dream said taking out his Cello.

"Well wait in line, because you aren't the only pony after my title." She said.

Dream takes out his sword and Cello and gets into a fighting stance. The ponies around him and the mare were watching and began to back away frightened. "Who are you?" Dream asked.

The mare pulls off her scarf revealing her entire face. She then takes out her sword. The sword was completely edgy on all sides of the plate. "A challenge, you are aware that I defeated Hollow Void, right?" She asked.

"Yes, right now I am." Dream said.

"My name is Apathy." She readied her sword.

"Glad to meet you." Dream said them immediately dashing towards her and ready to cut her head, but she just moves her head slightly and blocks Dream's blade.

Dream stands there, stunned, "Pathetic." Apathy said and then within a blink of an eye slashes Dream on all four of his legs. He winches and then backs up immediately as they stare each other down.

Dream almost immediately rushes towards her again and swipes his sword but she ducks the strike and smashes him in the back of the skull with the handle of the sword. Dream hits the ground with force. Apathy raises her sword and goes to kill Dream but he dodges and clashes with her again.

'Damn! The skill between us can't be this grea-'"You're not going to win." Apathy says, interrupting Dream's thought and then speeds past him, causing him to be cut an incredible amount of times across his torso.

"Stay down if you know what's good for you." She says stopping a good distance away from Dream.

Dream quickly gets up, bleeding heavily and bolts towards her again this time holding his sword in his cello's scabbard as he comes within a few feet he performs an Iai strike, causing a giant blade of energy to release from the swing.

Apathy merely jumps over it while the beam destroys several houses, "Too slow." She says running towards him and slashing but Dream rolls out of the way, however he loses his footing due to his injuries and tumbles to the ground.

"Damn it!" Dream yells, struggling to get up and then running towards her, his swordsponyship has gotten noticeably unrefined as he begins to slash at her wildly. Apathy just nonchalantly dodges the attacks.

Dream goes to slice her head but she ducks and slashes him, the power of the slice caused a cutting blade of energy to rocket Dream backwards, through the fountain, and into the village block.

Apathy just scoffs and goes to walk away while putting her sword back, "Where do you think you're going?" She hears Dream's voice and calmly takes out her sword again while looking back.

"So you're still alive? Hmph, should've played dead." She responds, seeing Dream stumble out of the debris and stand in the grass of the place they're at, his suit was shredded and there was no part of his body that blood wasn't covering.

"I will be the best!" Dream said, regaining his composure, if only for a minute as he re-sheaths his sword, "Nothing will stop, not even the reaper itself!"

"Prepare yourself cause your about to meet him." She says galloping towards him at a breakneck speed.

Dream breaths out, his mane covering his face as he grips the handle of the sword, "Mortis Naenia!(Death's Ballad)" Dream yells as both of them collide and pass through each other.

The wind from both attacks razor through the scenery, cutting the ground to pieces, while both of them stand in place. Dream's sensitive hearing picks up the sound of blood dripping as he smiles, "I'm finally th-" As he was turning around he gets slashed across the chest by Apathy.

It turns out that Dream's attack was only enough to cut her cheek as she wipes the small amount of blood from it. Dream's vision fades as his throat clogs with blood and he falls to the ground. Apathy only offers a scoff and walks away.

Soon Mat, Magic, and Strife made it to Dream's location. They were shocked at the destruction the two swordsponies caused. Strife soon spotted Dream in the center playing his Cello. He was still bleeding out. Even after getting his body shredded up, he was still able to play a soothing song.

"Yo, Dream? What happened to you?" Magic yelled looking at him.

Dream looks at them, his eyes were bloodshot red along with his blood covered grin. "It's nothing." He said.

Meanwhile, a blind folded earth pony with a green coat and a spiky red mane. His cutie mark was a twisted doll. He was walking through Manehatten slums with a dull expression on his face. The slum ponies were watching him. Questions were forming in their heads as to, 'Who was this pony?' Nopony bothered getting in his way, until a group of rough looking thug ponies got in his way. "Hey you, blind pony, where do you think you are going?" The leader of the thugs asked. The blind folded pony stopped.

"That is of none of your concern, please, get out of my way." The pony asked calmly.

"Now why would we do that? You probably have bits on you that we need." The leader said. The pony sighs, obviously showing that he had been through these kinds of events before.

"Who are you?" The pony asked.

"Why do you want to know?" The leader asked.

"Because, I am looking for a little filly, a filly that was kidnapped by…" The pony's voice turned grim. "Fake Samuelnist thugs who falsely believe in their gods that they don't even worship or idealize." The pony said causing the thugs to gasp. "Ah, did I hit a lucky number?" The pony asked beginning to chuckle.

"What are you laughing about, we are Samuelnist!" The leader said yelled.

"Oh, really, tell me, who is the matron of angels and the matron of devils?" The pony asked causing the group to freeze in fear.

"That is easy; umm… it's Nocta Deus." The leader answered causing the blind folded pony to grin.

"Congrats, you are wrong and right. You are wrong about the matrons of angels and devils, and you are right about the Samuelnist, but you are not the real Samuelnists but the real ones." The blind folded pony said, "Do you know what that means?" He asked.

"What?" One of the thugs asked.

"It means that I found the ones who kidnapped the little filly." The blind folded pony said. A grin forms on his face as he held out his hooves. The leader looks at him funny, until he felt his hoof pull out a knife from his pouch.

"W-what the…" The leader gasped having no control over his body. The next thing he did startled the spectators and his followers. The leader plunged his knife into one of his follower's throat. "What is going on, I can't control myself!" The leader panicked.

"This is Motor Skill Manipulation." The blind folded pony said.

"W-what's that?" The leader asked, horrified that he had no control over his body.

"I control your movements, you are all, yes all, my dolls." The pony said laughing.

"Dolls… wait, you are…" The leader couldn't finish his sentence.

"I am Psionic, your puppet master." Psionic said moving his hooves right, causing the leader to swift his knife at another follower slicing his neck. The follower gasped, clutching tight on to his throat as blood squirted out. There were two followers left looking at the leader shock.

"Don't you two just stand there, do something!" The leader yelled. The followers gulped and pulled out knives of their own. They then ran towards Psionic ready to swing the knives only to freeze in place.

"Heh, fools… you should've run, but you stood; now…you two will die." Psionic said making the two followers stab each other. The leader watched in horror as his last goons fell to the ground dead. Psionic began to laugh.

"You, you really are him… Psionic, the third strongest Azazelists in the world. There are only five Azazelists who are known outside of the cults and pretty much everywhere to be the powerful ponies that can destroy anything. Insane Membrane: The Power Erasing madpony, Black March: The Darkness of the Black Parade, and you; Psionic: The Puppet Master pony." The leader said.

"Then there's Nero the Phoenix, and Silver: The Ice Wraith." Psionic said. "Back to the main subject, now that I know who you are, I want to know, where is the little filly?" He asked.

"Why do you want to know?" The leader asked.

"Because, I want to, that is none of your concern." Psionic said moving his hoof to the right causing the leader to edge the knife to his throat. "Now talk." Psionic ordered.

"She's in the basement." The leader said in fear starring at a basement door next to an abandoned building.

Psionic grins and says, "Thank you, now…" Psionic slammed his hooves together causing the leader to stab him in the neck piercing through his wind pipe. "Die." He said. Letting his psychic control go and watching the leader fall on the ground clutching his throat, slowly dying as he was losing blood.

Soon Psionic got to the shed doors and opens them. He walks down the stairs and stops, smelling burnt flesh. "What's that smell?" He wondered.

"You are late Psionic." The voice of a mare was heard making his ears perk up.

"This smell, you didn't burn them now Eulogy, hmm?" Psionic asked.

A mare in a cloak came out of the shadows; she had an orange coat and a braided purple and white striped mane. Her eyes were pure dark. To her left were corpses of ponies being consumed and melted by purple acid that was giving off that burnt smell. Next to Eulogy, was a small zebra filly that was looking at Psionic frightened.

"So, by the smell of this, I bet you resurrected him huh?" Psionic asked.

"Yes, I did, come out…" Eulogy turned her head to the side. "Erebos."

Erebos, came out of the shadows zombiefide. "Erebos will be perfect for the invasion soon, since you and Nero took care of the griffin kingdom, all we have to do is take care of Celestia." Eulogy said.

"Do you plan on resurrecting every single dead pony that was killed by Paradise?" Psionic asked.

"Yes, especially opening the portal to the void dimension where Shinnock lies at." Eulogy said grinning. Psionic raised an eyebrow of suspicion.

"You do realize he is immortal and part of the Samuelnists including god of the dead?" He asked.

"Yes, but I can still get his help in taking care of Paradise." She answered.

"Eulogy, you have one error in all of this." Psionic said.

"And what is that?" She asked glaring at him, she wasn't fond of Psionic, neither was he fond of her.

"Magic Junk." He said causing her glare to drop into a frighten look.

"W-what about him?" She asked.

"He will easily defeat all your dead ponies." He said.

"Not Shinnock, if Shinnock agrees to help me." She said.

"That is why Dream Phobic is there." Psionic said, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "He can take care of him in seconds and since he gave Strife and Magic tips on how to take him out, I am sure they can put him back in the Void Dimension again." He said.

"Why do you have to ruin my hopes in winning? You're always doing that!" She asked angrily.

"I am not; I am simply just correcting your errors. How about you do this; just wait. The invasion is not happening yet, Celestia will be distracted by the fact that I took care of the Griffin king and Nero scorched the entire city. She will obviously go to Paradise for assistance, when they are distracted, then you strike." Psionic said.

"Fine." Eulogy said in defeat. "Hey, how did you get here so fast? The griffin kingdom is a long way from here?" She asked looking at him.

"I killed the king before the guards even noticed while Insane was playing mind tricks from Ponyville on the entire city, allowing me a chance to get out of there before Nero came and scorched the place." Psionic said grinning.

"What do you mean?" Eulogy asked.

"What I mean is that he has Memory Manipulation. He can cast illusions, read anypony's memories, erase their memories, and cast illusions in place of those memories from a very far distance." Psionic said.

"He cast an illusion on every single civilian in the Griffin Kingdom?" Eulogy asked, shocked by Insane's power.

"Didn't I just say that?" Psionic snapped at her, but Eulogy didn't care. She was still shock that Insane had enough power to take over everyponys' minds and trick them with illusions.

"So, you came for her as well?" She asked motioning her hoof at the little filly. Psionic nods his head. "Beat you to it." She said grinning proudly.

"I can see, oh well, that means you have to return her back to the base." Psionic said. "And I don't, so goodbye." He said walking back up the stairs.

"Where are you going now?" Eulogy asked.

"Where ever I want, I'm done with my mission." Psionic said.

Eulogy grumbles insults at Psionic under her breath. "Always going back to being lazy like Insane, real Azazelists will continue doing missions after they completed their current one!" She yelled.

"Well then I am a half Azazelists and a half Insane!" Psionic yelled back. After that he was gone.

Eulogy felt a tug on her leg and looks down at the filly. "Aunt Eulogy, can we go now. I am sure daddy is waiting for me." She said.

Eulogy sighs and says, "Yeah, come on Erebos, let's go." Eulogy said. "So Helena, enjoy my Necromancy?" Eulogy asked the small filly while walking towards the stairs.

"Yeah, that was awesome!" Helena said happily. "You brought back a Samuelnist who is a god and had him melt and poison all those fake Samuelnists!" She said.

"Indeed I did." Eulogy said smiling proudly. She was enjoying her praise by the small filly.

At Ponyville Hospital, Magic, Strife, Mat, and Dream who had bandages wrapped around his body while he stilled wore his composer outfit. Strife asked Dream why he wouldn't take his composer outfit off or let Magic heal him, but Dream told them he took arrows, spears, axes, and sword attacks to his body for a living, and due to it he gained a high pain tolerance. Though none of them understood him on that part, Dream didn't bother explaining how he gained it. Strife guessed it was because of his previous fights back then, before they ever met.

When they entered into the lobby, Nurse Redheart was about to leave until Mat got in her way and says, "Sorry to be in your way, I am Mat Hydro of the Royal Guard, I was sent here by Princess Celestia on an urgent mission. Do you know where Patient-666 is at?" He asked.

"Him, yes, yes I do. But there is somepony else already visiting him. She came in with an alicorn that was named Solar." Redheart said.

"Solar, Solar Eclipse, he went after Twilight?" Strife said.

"Twilight, *Whistles* I hope she forgot about the argument." Magic said.

"Argument?" Mat asked looking at him.

"Long story, I'll apologize to her later when I get a chance." Magic said.

"Okay, so, Twilight Sparkle escaped from her detainment room how?" Mat asked.

"Redpen." Dream said calmly sipping his coffee.

"Should have figured." Mat said sighing.

"Follow me; I will lead you to the room." Redheart said, beginning to lead them towards Patient-666's room.

Soon when they got there, Redheart gasps seeing a large seal on the door. "W-what is that?" She asked walking close to the seal. It was a red circle with a hand print on it. "This is a seal of Faxilimis; Azazel's demon of nightmares and executioner." Dream said earning odd looks from the others.

"How do you know that?" Strife asked.

"I study the Azazelists beliefs a lot Strife." Dream said calmly walking forward towards the door. "Faxilimis, Charon, Matronixeis, Mortium, and Animum…" Dream watched as the hand glows and says, "Open." The door opened for Dream and the others.

"Dream, that was nice, who are those ponies that you mentioned?" Magic asked.

"Faxilimis is again, like I said before. The demon of Azazel that is an executioner, he also controls nightmares. He rips a pony in half if they killed one of their kin in cold blood, which is his way of executing.

Now Charon, she is the reaper who is under Azazel's wing. She goes after selected targets Azazel assigned her with. Charon, out of every demon Azazel has, is uncontrollable. She enters into dreams and traps her victims in them preventing them from escaping, especially the lucid ones.

Matronixeis is the demon of pain. She bears cuts all over her body and continues to cut herself. She goes after victims that committed family problems, more like what Faxilimis victims do, except it is worse." Dream said sipping his coffee. He took a deep breath and looks at the three.

They wanted to know more of this before entering into the dark room. "Her victim's skin and limbs are hooked by sharp metal hooks. They are then pulled apart. Mortium and Animum are twins. They are considered the tree of life and the dirt of the dead. Mortium grabs its victims and drags them down into the ground suffocating them with dirt. Animum grabs its victims and consumes them on the outside. They are connected together." He said walking into the room.

"Weird…" Strife looked at Mat and asks, "Don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess Dream knows just too much, but…" Mat went next to Magic and Strife and whispers, "Did you get a feeling Dream was hiding something behind all of that information?"

"Eh Maybe, we'll ask him later." Magic whispered back.

To be continued!

(Thank you, EpicAeromancer33 for editing. I hope you all enjoy the chapter! The OCs used in the story belongs to their rightful owners. Got to go, CIAO!)