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

(My Little Pony is owned by Hasbro and Lauren Faust. The Original Characters belong to me. Magic belongs to EpicAeromancer33. Now that the disclaimer was said, enjoy the story. Behold the Edited version.)

Chapter 7: The kind mare and the one called Strife

The sun came up and Strife was still exhausted after the fight with Samuel. About two days had passed and everything seems to be normal. But to Strife, normal days weren't always his thing. He hasn't been out the house like Magic and Dream; he mostly stood home looking at the floor, thinking about anything that would at least occupy his time. Strife soon left his room and walked down the hallway entering into the living room trying to think of something to do.

Strife saw Spike in the kitchen cooking, while Pinkie was helping him. Strife smelt sugar and guessed they were making cupcakes.

Pinkie turns her head seeing Strife with his usual look and says in her cheerful voice, "Hey Strife you're awake, Magic and Dream went off to do some investigations on any other pony dealing with Samuel, hey, since you're here, you don't mind making cupcakes with me and Spike right, me and Spike can use a third hoof around here you know?" Pinkie's smile vanished when Strife only scuffed at her request walking away.

"We almost died from a maniac and making cupcakes is what you can only think of?" Strife asked in a rude tone as he looks out the window.

"Geez Strife, a simple 'no' could've been well." Spike said looking at Strife, frowning.

Strife only shook his head sideways and then says, "Sorry Pinkie, I'm not in the mood today, maybe some other time okay?" He looked at the pink mare giving her a weak smile.

"Sure Strife!" Pinkie said as her cheerful smile came back.

Pinkie Pie went into the cabinet to her left and gasps. She then looks at Strife and asks, "Strife can you get some more flour for us please, we ran out?" Pinkie trotted towards him after she grabbed some bits from the top of the counter and handed them to him.

"Well it's better than staying in this place, okay." Strife said as he grabs the bits and headed towards the door.

"Thanks!" Pinkie said, heading back into the kitchen helping Spike make cupcakes.

Strife left the house and began walking through town heading towards the market. Ponies that passed by him, gave him looks that he couldn't tell if they were the looks of disgust or the look of curiously, he saw some ponies blushed, whispering to one another while their eyes were adverted to him when they had passed by him. Strife ignored them, not wanting to waste his time outside wondering what they were so chatty about just because he was walking through the town. Strife closes his eyes and began to think to himself.

'Did Magic and Dream really go through this while being stared at a lot? Damn this is annoying; can I just get on with this and get the stupid flour? What are they so worried about, what are they conflicting about, is between saying something to me in my face or they're just going to stay back and keep talking behind my back? Damn this is annoying, stop looking at me and just get on with your pointless lives. Maybe your life isn't pointless, but it's not like I give a damn so stop looking at me.' Strife's thoughts were interrupted once he bumped into a pony.

"Sorry." He muttered looking at the pony he had bumped into. The pony was no other then Fluttershy.

"O-oh I'm s-sorry, I didn't see you, 'No I bumped into you I didn't pay attention." Strife interrupted the shy Pegasus as he offered her a hoof. Fluttershy hesitantly grabs Strife's hoof then being pulled up from the ground gently.

"I haven't seen you before in Ponyville, who are you?" Fluttershy asked timidly, backing two feet away from Strife giving him some space.

"I'm Strife, the one you haven't seen before at the party with Magic, I was busy looking around the house." Strife said calmly.

"Oh, w-well it's nice to see you Strife." Fluttershy said, smiling at the moody unicorn.

"Nice to see you too umm…"He stopped talking as he looks at her, waiting for her to present her name.

"Fluttershy, my name is Fluttershy." She said.

"Fluttershy, that's a nice name you have." Strife said causing the shy Pegasus to blush. 'That's kind of… cute.' Strife thought.

"Umm I don't want to waste your time any longer so I better go." Fluttershy said nervously as she began to leave but was stop when Strife then spoken.

"You weren't wasting my time really. I had to make an errand for your friend Pinkie by getting flour but, I'll get it later. I really would like to explore the town though." Strife said looking around, observing the town.

"I wouldn't mind showing you around if that's okay?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

Strife hears her and looks at her with a dull expression then says, "I would like that, thanks." Fluttershy looked up at him smiling softly.

"Well umm follow me please." Fluttershy said leading the way followed by Strife. He soon smiles at her as she led him around town. Soon the two stopped in front of a Mr. and Mrs. Cakes pastry shop.

"That is the Sugarcube corner, Pinkie lives there and works there also, but since you told me that she is at your place making cupcakes, there is no reason to introduce you to her." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah that would be pointless really; I wouldn't want to be introduced to a pony that I already know. I just want to get to know the town well, that way I probably won't get lost." Strife said.

"Oh, well that's okay if you want to avoid being introduced to the others." Fluttershy said.

She then stops and feels her stomach growl. "Umm, Strife, want to take a break; so we can eat and maybe chat, if that's okay with you of course?" Fluttershy asked kindly.

"Sure I don't mind." Strife said getting more looks from the ponies that pass by.

He felt annoyed and hoped that a meal with Fluttershy would help him ignore the looks other ponies continue to give him.

"That's fantastic; I know a great place where we can have a meal at, follow me." Fluttershy said leading him to a diner. 'Are they staring at me or her?' Strife thought getting more and more looks from the ponies that pasted by him.

Soon, Fluttershy and Strife enters into a diner. When Strife and Fluttershy were walking towards the counter, Strife stops and hears music being play. He looks to his right and spotted two familiar ponies.

Strife gave off a sigh muttering, "Damn it they're here." He looked at Magic and Dream who were in the diner also, playing music.

Dream obviously with his Cello was playing a quick intense rhythm with his sword, smiling as the crowds of ponies were amazed by his skills with not only the Cello, but they were quite enchanted by his skills in playing the Cello with his sword. Sliding the sharp edged blade on the strings, making the strings give off soothing sounds. Magic was busy playing a violin like a guitar, but Instead of it sounding horrible, the violin was being played well, giving off a calm rhythm matching perfectly well with Dream's rhythm.

"How do they even do that?" Fluttershy asked, amazed by the skill the two Paradise ponies were showing.

"Trust me, they aren't even normal." Strife said walking to the counter.

Strife turns around to Fluttershy and says, "I'll buy, what do you want Fluttershy?"

"Oh, you really don't have to, I can buy for you, and after all, I am your tour guide." Fluttershy said nervously, becoming flattered by Strife offered.

Strife shook his head and says, "No, a stallion shouldn't make a mare buy for him. It goes against the 'Stallion law'. Dream and Magic surprisingly trapped that 'Law' into my head." Strife looked at the two who were now receiving cheers from the ponies. Strife only sighs and turns his head seeing Fluttershy looking away blushing. 'Why is she blushing?' He thought.

"May I take your order?" A bartender pony came up and asks.

Strife nods his head and says, "Just water, Fluttershy, what do you want?" He looked at the shy mare.

"Oh umm the same thing that you're having if that's alright?" Fluttershy said nervously.

The bartender nodded and says, "Okay two drinks of water coming up."

As soon as the bartender left, Strife looks at Fluttershy and worryingly says, "Why are you nervous?"

She looks at him still blushing red and says, "I'm well kind of shy a lot, it's just well, who I am."

Fluttershy and Strife suddenly, turns around seeing Dream and Magic, finishing off their show of music and trotting over to them, well Magic did, Dream stopped and began to play a soothing song for the mares.

"Hey Strife and Fluttershy what you two doing here?" Magic asked, smiling at the two.

"Fluttershy is showing me around town right now, we are taking a lunch break." Strife said.

"Well to me it looks like you are two are on a date." Magic said causing Fluttershy and Strife to blush and look in separate directions, causing Magic to chuckle.

"I'm kidding dude, anyway, how did you like the show me and Dream did? The boss of this place said he'll pay us six bits per customer we attract, that's a good way to obtain a fine profit." Magic said, taking out a soft drink from under his wing and began to drink it.

"Yeah, that is a good way to make money I guess." Strife said in a calm tone. Magic drops his soft drink with his mouth left wide open in disbelief.

"Dude, usually you just go snarker on me every second. Who are you, and what have you done to my friend?" Magic asked pointing at Strife.

"I'm Little Strife idiot." Strife said as his left eye twitched out of annoyance.

"Phew that was a close one, thought the world came to an end for a second and I'm dreaming. Wait what happened if it did and I wasn't even paying attention to it, perhaps I'm dead." Magic said beginning to panic, confusing Fluttershy, annoying Strife.

Strife knew he was joking; it was Magic's way of living. Being the happy-go-lucky Pegasus he always was. "I probably should leave." Strife said walking away from Magic's 'Pretending to panic' antics. Fluttershy follow's Strife, giggling at Magic's antics.

"Your friend Magic is funny but when you are around him you seem disappointed, why?" Fluttershy asked, looking at Strife who had a disgusted look on his face. Looking to her left and right she saw some ponies looking at him and whispering some unknown nonsense that she couldn't hear.

"It's not that I am disappointed at him, I'm not even mad at him, it's just the way I am around every pony." Strife said frowning.

"So, are you always what he calls a 'Snarker'?" Fluttershy asked causing Strife to give off a cough.

He stops looking confuse and says, "Okay unnecessary cough, now Magic only says that because, when we get into stupid situations, I state out the obvious because, well let's face facts, sometimes when you are going to get kill and you know the enemy overpowers you and there isn't any chance on winning, you're screw."

"'Enemy' and 'killing' sounds too mean don't you think?" Fluttershy asked worryingly, looking at Strife.

Strife glances at her seeing the worry look in her eyes. Before he could say anything, a crow from the lamp post squawks startling him. Strife glares at the crow with his horn beginning to glow, but he stops realizing it was just a simple crow after all, they squawk all the time. The glowing light on his horn then vanishes, he then turns to Fluttershy and says, "Umm Fluttershy can we please leave, the other ponies are looking at me?" Strife sounded nervous, and becoming even more annoyed now.

Fluttershy 'eeps', a little at Strife's disgusted look, as he stares at the ponies that took one glance at him and looked away fast. "We can go to my place if that's alright?" She said hoping that would help Strife out.

"Sure, if that's alright with you." Strife said looking at her calmly. He slowly sighs in relief and then says, "That would at least help me out a lot."

They continue down the road leaving the town. Fluttershy looks at Strife seeing that he was mainly focus on the road. She then saw him frown. Becoming worry again, Fluttershy asks, "Is everything alright Strife?"

"Yeah, it's just that crow, it's following us." Strife said looking up, seeing the crow flying above them. He was suspicious to why the crow was flying in the same direction he was going through.

"I'm sure it's no problem, the crow is probably flying in the same direction that we're heading." Fluttershy said, giving him a gentle smile.

"I don't know; the crow would have been already ahead of us by now." Strife said. He sighs looking ahead and then says, "Maybe your right." He frowned.

"Strife, are you sure everything is okay, was it the ponies at town starring at you?" Fluttershy asked looking at him with pure concern.

Strife stops causing Fluttershy to stop and says, "Why, are they staring at me, can they just continue on with their lives?" He looked at Fluttershy. "Why can't they just leave me alone, ignore me, pretend that I'm just a no pony (In other terms 'nobody'). Do I have anything on my face that gets them to just stare at me nonstop? It's annoying and a waste of time. Those degenerates should get on with their lives and leave me out of it." Strife said gritting his teeth looking at the ground. "Can they just stop starring the fuck at me?" He then yelled angrily but, all of that anger soon vanishes when Fluttershy hugs him. Strife's eyes widens in confusion becoming speechless.

"A hug can always calm any pony down; you needed a hug to calm down so I had to give you one. Sorry Strife, but it's normal for ponies to stare at any new pony entering into the town, like Twilight. She got a few stares, but that was normal because that meant that the ponies were curious and soon wouldn't mind trying to know about her. Don't worry about them because, it will eventually grow old and you won't have to be stared at anymore. Soon maybe, that somepony might want to learn about you." Fluttershy said letting go of the surprised stallion.

Fluttershy then blush, realizing that hugging Strife made him blush crimson and he was the first male pony that she had just touch. They look away trying to think what either of them could say so they can forget the close physical content. Fluttershy's ears soon perk up after hearing a chuckle coming from Strife. Looking at him, she saw Strife smiling.

"Thanks I needed that." Strife said calmly still smiling. "I'm still surprise that a single hug from some pony I barely know much about, would actually calm me down. Usually Magic and Dream are around to keep me from going mad. I am the only sane pony in the group after all." Strife said looking at Fluttershy.

"Oh well it was no problem really and we are near my cottage." Fluttershy said. Strife's blush vanishes becoming calm.

'Weird she just did one simple hug and I'm smiling.' Strife thought to himself looking ahead, but his thoughts were soon interrupted when Fluttershy spoke.

"Strife, can I ask you a question?" Fluttershy asked timidly.

"Sure." Strife said looking at her.

"Are you in a group call Paradise?" She asked looking at him with a worry expression.

"You heard of us?" He asked, looking at her surprised.

Paradise wasn't really known though, mostly because their missions weren't important in Equestria, but it really wasn't a big deal to them as long as they got their missions done everyone was safe. Pretty much it was a win/win situation.

"Yeah, I was told about you and your objectives." Fluttershy said.

"Well yeah I am, we just got two new members into the group, why ask?" Strife asked with a concern expression.

"Well I want to know if I can I speak to you about those objectives of yours." Fluttershy said.

"Well go ahead." Strife said calmly.

"Well it's about Samuel." She said quietly, causing his ears perk up. Strife's expression turns into a serious look as his horn glows and swords appear around him, shocking Fluttershy as they then shot towards her.

"NO!" She yelled, shutting her eyes. She heard the blades making impact, but not on her. Opening her eyes Fluttershy looks to her left and then to her right, seeing only the handles of two swords. Turning around to see what they were pinned into, she gasps in sudden horror seeing two ponies impaled into the tree by two swords behind her.

"Fluttershy get by my side now!" Strife yelled as more swords appear around him. Cloaked ponies wielding knives began coming out from behind the trees. Without taking a second to think, she galloped towards Strife's side as he shot more swords at the ponies. He took out three but, three more dodged, running straight towards him. They were unicorns, casting fire spells and then firing them at him and Fluttershy. Strife didn't move; he stood in front of Fluttershy guarding her with his horn glowing. Six shields appear instantly, blocking the fire blasts then shape shifts into swords, shooting towards the three cloak ponies. Two dodges but, the third one slipped getting impaled by three swords.

"Azazel spies, figures." Strife said as back up came for the two cloak ponies. 'There's too many of them.' He thought to himself, looking behind him seeing more spies blocking any path they had to escape. 'We're trapped.' Strife thought frowning. The Azazelists were cautiously closing in knowing full well that he couldn't launch the swords at them all at once. Then they all stop and waited for Strife's next move.

"Lord Azazel will be proud of our kills. It's a Paradise member and a Samuelnist." One cloaked pony said sounding female, pulling the hood down she reveal her identity. She had purple eyes with a black mane and black coat.

"Strife I'm sorry." Fluttershy said beginning to sob believing that this current situation was her fault.

"Don't cry; when you cry, you cry for your fallen comrades or your fallen enemies. That is what soldiers follow. If only he understood that…" Strife said, whispering the last part in his sentence. "Fluttershy…stay by my side at all times, and close your eyes. Don't open them; I don't want you to see what I'm about to do." Strife said. Fluttershy nods her head, going by his side and then shuts her eyes.

"Now what are you going to do. We know how you use your magic if you take us out you leave yourself open giving us a chance to kill you both. So go ahead, use your magic, we dare you." The mare said grinning, she then looks at Fluttershy and says, "Can't wait to tare those wings off."

Strife glares at the mare becoming angry by the threat she made to Fluttershy. "Hear my voice, my weapons of Telummancy? I give you all a piece of me; to grant me the power to slay the ones that dare bring sin and harm to unneeded. So the sin within me is fed by all of my misery." Strife said. The swords floating around Strife began to rotate extremely fast above him, gathering wind. The Azazelists grew nervous, this was new to them.

"My weapons I give you blood, blood that belongs only to you and you all alone." Strife said as the rotating swords turned from six swords, into eighteen swords, then turns into twenty-five swords. The swords kept multiplying and multiplying. "I offer you my weapons of wrath, these degenerates." Strife said calmly as the swords stop multiplying and was all now pointing down at the Azazelists. They were shock; there was no way they could escape from this. Death for them was inescapable.

"Rain down and raise my weapons, leave none alive, kill them all." Strife said coldly as the weapons came down. The mare Azazelist looks up as the sword came down. They all vanish confusing the spies. Then in a flash the swords burst out the ground surprising the spies. They were all were impaled by the pointing swords holding them up. All of them were dead. Strife sighs in relief making the swords vanish except one sword, letting it stab into the ground in front of him covered in blood.

Strife could see his reflection on the bloody cover plate of steel. He frowns and looks to his side seeing Fluttershy still had her eyes closed. "You can open them now, but it isn't pretty." Strife said.

Fluttershy opens her eyes and gasps at the sight of dead ponies around her and Strife. The swords soon vanished, letting the hanging bodies that it had impaled fall to the ground. Strife looks down letting his mane droop down blocking his eyes. "This is when you should cry." He said in a sobbed tone as tears began to row down his eyes, as he bites his bottom lip.

Fluttershy looks at Strife shock. He was crying, crying for the fallen. The ones he had just killed just a few seconds ago. "Strife…" Fluttershy muttered his name weakly, still frighten by the sight of the murdered ponies. Strife was still crying. "Strife it's alright, you did it to protect me." Fluttershy said hugging him. She was glad he saved her and also glad that he hadn't reacted hostile towards her when she told him she was a Samuelnist. But, she wasn't glad to see him shed tears after killing the ones that threaten to kill both of them.

"Die you scum." A familiar mare's voice was heard shocking Fluttershy, causing her to turn around seeing owner of the voice from before holding a dagger. The mare was still alive only having a large gash on the side of her.

"Strife, she's alive." Fluttershy said timidly to Strife, but it wasn't loud enough for him to hear her since he was still crying. "Strife, she's alive." She said again raising her tone a little while trembling in fear as the mare began to limp towards her quickly. Strife still didn't hear. "Strife, she's alive, please do something?" She pleaded raising her voice higher, trying to snap Strife out of it and focus on the mare that was heading straight towards them.

The mare soon then leaps towards Fluttershy. Fluttershy yells Strife's name again and more loudly, causing him to snap out of his traumatization. He quickly does a 180 degree turn and leaps in front of Fluttershy as the mare finally stabs her knife into her target. Fluttershy eyes widens after some blood touched her face.

Strife had a knife stabbed into his chest as his horn was through the mare's throat. Strife didn't look like he was in pain, but was furious. The mare couldn't talk; her throat was losing blood as it flowed down Strife's horn. Strife with an angry yelled, summons eight swords above him and shoots them into the mare's body causing her to hang in the air with eight blades on different sides holding her up through her body. Strife then levitates the knife out his chest and collapses due to the over exhaustion of his magic.

"Strife!" Fluttershy yelled.

Strife felt too weak to speak and too tired. His eyes began to close slowly as Fluttershy's voice soon became faint in which to the point he could not hear her anymore. His eyes finally closes, for all Strife could now see, was darkness.

'Am I…going to die?' Strife voice echoed in the darkness.

'What makes you say that?' An older voice said that also echoed in the pitch black void.

'Well what happens if someone out bested me?' He asked.

'Someone out best you? Heh like to see that happen.' The older voice said, giving off a soft chuckle.

'I'm serious!' Strife yelled.

The older male's voice stops chuckling and in a cheerful kind tone says, 'I know, I know. Look Strife, the only one in the entire world that can out best you is you alone. You should remember that because, we soldiers have to a lot. Because, if someday we soldiers get killed, then we knew it wasn't the enemy that out bested us, no, it was ourselves; for letting ourselves win. So we soldiers need to understand that the side that we have to keep from winning in battle is ourselves.'

'Do you think I will ever be a soldier like you?' Strife asked.

'In a world like this, I don't think so plus, I don't want you to risk your life as a soldier or even go through as one to begin with.' His dad said.

'But, I'm sure I can be a perfect soldier. How hard can it be, I've seen death a lot, this wouldn't affect me?' Strife asked.

'You have, but weren't the ones who had token those lives out of orders. Being a soldier has its ways of destroying parts of you that you found valuable and sooner or later. You will eventually realize that 'If' you become a soldier, which will never happen on my watch.' His dad said.

'If only I listened…' Strife said sadly.

He began to wake up hearing a beautiful humming song. When his eyes finally opened, Strife saw a white rabbit with its arms cross staring straight at him. Strife figure that the humming wasn't coming from the white rabbit. "That humming song sure isn't from you I bet." Strife said smirking at his joke. "Hey rabbit, where am I and where's Fluttershy?" Strife asked.

"You're in her home young Strife." A feminine voice answered Strife. The unicorn moves his head lightly, ignoring the rabbit falling off oh him because of his body's tilting. His eyes then widens in shock as he saw a dark cloaked, hoof-less, bipedal creature standing on its two legs and had long black hair blocking it's face, it was a human and was a woman who had large black wings folded on her back that matched the very pitch black color of her attire and hair.

"N-Nocta Deae." Strife stuttered, but winces in pain as he felt a sudden sting in his chest after he had moved.

"Save your strength my child." Nocta said sounding elegant and peaceful.

"Why are you here?" Strife asked.

"I am watching over my contract. When the Azazelists ambushed you both, I watched you fight them to protect her. But, when you pasted out I came and brought you here. She treated your wounds, now she's is busy making herbs for you." Nocta said.

"Well at least she's safe, thanks, but I have a question, why is the wife of Samuel here, not going to kill me since I am part of a group that eliminates cult members performing evil rituals to evil gods?" Strife asked.

Nocta only giggles and says, "Do you think all of us gods are evil? After all you, Strife already know I will never harm my children regardless of either side that I am on. You should also know that a god and goddess always have one purpose in their actions. Shinnock for example collected souls from the dead. The souls he collected can covered half of the cosmos, if he ever dare releases them that is. Strife, you were almost one of those souls, if it wasn't for Dream to come in and save you." Nocta said.

"Well that's a reliever I guess." Strife said with his smartass attitude returning. Nocta sighs and turned her head left seeing Fluttershy entered from the kitchen.

"Your finally awake Strife and you met mother." Fluttershy said surprised.

"Yeah thanks for healing me." Strife said getting off the bed. He winces again feeling the pain coming from his chest again causing him to lean on the side of the bed.

"You can't move now; you have to let your body heal up from the inside." Fluttershy said.

"Inside?" Strife asked, looking at her confused. He then looks at the spot he was stabbed at and gasps. There was a scar, it did surprise him quite a bit, but Strife didn't want to question about it. Strife looks at Nocta and asks, "So, suggesting you being an evil god should be just thrown out the window here hmm?" Nocta responded with a simple nod.

"Thanks Nocta." Strife said feeling glad that he was still alive at least and Fluttershy was also.

"Strife you know mother's name?" Fluttershy asked surprised, looking at him.

"Well I know more about Samuel, well the categories of the gods and their ways of being worshiped, it's a long story I don't want to explain." Strife said wanting to drop the subject about his knowledge with Nocta Deae and Samuel.

"It's a long story Fluttershy, I know a lot about Strife. Due to knowing him so much, he wouldn't want anypony he knows, be explained to about his past." Nocta said.

Strife looks at Fluttershy seeing her frown. He sighs and says, "Sorry, but its personal." He limped towards the door about to leave until Fluttershy notice this and stopped him.

"Strife you're still hurt you need to rest." Fluttershy said walking by his side.

Strife shook his head no and says, "I can get through it. Pain is a symbol of conflict. I must fight this pain by walking it off. It's hard to win, but I still fight it because, fighting pain…" He opened the door and looks back at Fluttershy frowning. "Is what I'm really good at." Strife said.

"Fighting…you really don't have to fight all the time." Fluttershy said, now looking down at the fact of Strife putting his life on the line.

"I have to; I was born to fight, for it is my talent that I am struggling on. Fighting is what I have to do, without it…then how will anyone even notice me? How will I live? Look at a bull, they need to fight, they need a challenge. If they cannot succeed in this, they will have nothing to live for…they will just rot away in the dirt purposely out of lost meaning." Strife said coldly.

"I really don't understand Strife." Fluttershy said looking at him confused.

"Shy…what I'm trying to say is…if I don't fight my problems head on, I will have nothing to live for. If a Pegasus broken their wings, they will lose all hope in flying forever, they will want to die. If an earth pony broken their legs and couldn't run or walk, their life is pointless. A unicorn that losses their horn well, you get the picture." Strife said. Fluttershy looks into Strife's eyes only seeing sadness. He was right about fighting. If you didn't fought for anything, what was the point in finding out what you was good at. Strife represented this conflict between fighting to live or to die a pointless death.

"Strife, a war is near. You know that more than the others do, don't you?" Nocta asked, but He didn't look at her or Fluttershy instead, he looked towards the ground nodding his head in response to her question. "I want you to know, that me and Fluttershy will not take any part of this war." She said getting his attention.

"Why, aren't you worry that Azazel or Samuel will win or lose, leaving Equestria open to be taken over?" Strife asked shock by her words.

"If Azazel wins then Equestria probably will be brought into atrocities. If Samuel wins then judgment will be brought and looking at this world before this mess began, it doesn't really deserve evil, but my husband wants balance in his eyes, but in reality he doesn't notice that he is seeing it in the wrong way. It does not matter if both side wins or losses or both end up in a tie, we will not be part of it or take any sides." Nocta said.

Strife got angry and yells, "That doesn't make sense! Why not fight? Why damn it, what makes you say this as if you weren't even worried about it?" He waited for Nocta's response.

Nocta didn't react at Strife nor say anything. Fluttershy was now standing in front of Nocta glaring at Strife in a defensive stance and yells, "She is protecting me, that why we won't take any side of the upcoming war!"

Strife was taken aback by her sudden outburst. Frowning as he felt guilt slip over, Strife closes his eyes only to open them and says, "I…I still don't understand how can you not go against this. What happens if the war comes here? What will you do?" Strife asked.

"It won't, you want to know why?" Nocta asked Strife who nodded yes towards her question. "Because, you and your friends are not going to let it happen." Nocta said.

Strife knew that if her hair wasn't blocking her face, he will be seeing her smiling at him. "Fluttershy represents the sin of sloth. She doesn't want to fight nor does she want her friends to fight ether, but she knows she cannot do anything in her power to stop them; for it will be going against her ways of living." Nocta said.

Fluttershy frown as she sated down biting her lower lip concern. Strife could understand now how fighting could easily have a huge affect her. 'She…reminds me about me, from that time I...never mind.' Strife thought. He looks at Nocta and then says, "Nocta, I will let Magic and Dream know what happened today. We will leave you alone." Strife said.

Fluttershy then looks at Strife shocked. "You're not evil and to be honest there isn't any sign of corruption, mostly its protection." Strife said giving them a calm smile. "But, I can't promise you Fluttershy I'll stop fighting. I'm sorry, but this conflict I am struggling with lately is up to me to handle." Strife said opening the door with his magic and begins walking out. When he was outside he turns around and was suddenly hug by Fluttershy. Strife flinches a little due to the injury he suffered hours ago.

"Stay safe you hear, please don't let yourself be blinded by your negative view upon this world? You have to open up to others. Get to know them and maybe this conflict of yours will probably be finish." Fluttershy said letting go of him and giving him a worry stare.

Strife blushes a little, but also nods his head little, smiling and says, "Yeah…I'll take note of that."

Fluttershy smiles at him and watches Strife begin to limp away back towards town. 'If I can…then maybe he will understand how I feel?' Strife thought. He begins to frown and then thinks, 'Dad…why can't you understand?'

Fluttershy looks up seeing the night sky surrounding the full moon. "Be careful Strife." Fluttershy said thinking about Strife. She felt a soothing, sad also, but soothing connection with him. She felt glad that she helped him. Nocta stood next to her and began humming a song that sound peaceful and relaxing making Fluttershy smile. "Mother can we go in now? I would like to hear your lullaby, if that's alright?" Fluttershy asked. Nocta stops her humming and moves her hair away revealing her face. Her face was pale, but gloomed like a goddess of beauty in the night. Her eyes were dark blue and the smile that had formed on her face was peaceful. With a nod from the goddess of the night, the two began heading back to the cottage.

Strife made it home and opens the door. He saw Dream playing his Cello near the window while Magic was laying back on a bookshelf with a cupcake on his snout. Spike was asleep on the couch. Strife enters into the house and closes the door behind him attracting Dream's attention.

"Strife you're late, me and Magic had to get the items Pinkie wanted for her cupcakes that she had send you to retrieve." Dream said.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I was to busy killing a few Azazelists, that's pretty much why I was late." Strife said walking into the hallway.

"There's more to that, hmm?" Dream asked causing Strife to stop right in his tracks.

Strife turns towards Dream and says, "Yeah, I met and protected a kind mare for a…" Strife had bitten his lip after he looked back down the hall. A smile was edging upon his face as a tear slid down his face.

Dream smiles and says, "Save it Strife, Pinkie left you a cupcake in your room and tomorrow is our meeting together so don't stay in your room to long okay?" Dream asked as he grabs a cup of coffee and takes a sip.

"Y-yeah." Strife muttered out with a feeling of happiness. When he went into his room, Dream looked at Magic who was wide awake with a grin on his face.

"Our snarker has fallen in love." Magic said.

Dream chuckles and looks out the window and then says, "Indeed he has my friend, indeed he has." Dream smiled.

Strife lies in his bed smiling as he let sleep take over him. He felt happy and secure of himself. 'You know that your happiness won't last long.' He thought to himself. 'Yeah, but I'm going to make it last as long as I can.' He thought to himself again with a tone of confidence.

To be continued

(Strife means conflict or struggle simple really, and Nocta Deae in Latin means "Goddess of the Night, now that is defined. So yeah this chapter obviously was about Strife. Thank you for reading and thank you EpicAeromancer33 for editing now I will take a break for a while. Hope you like this chapter. DONE WITH THE EDITED VERSION FINALLY!)