Present Day

"...F-Fluttershy did WHAT with her daggers?" Hitch squeaked.

With wide eyes did the younger warriors listen to the words of Twilight Sparkle as she retold that moment. The lust of battle that seeped into their minds - that motivated them to become killing machines that shaved off their entire feeling of self. To hear that they had become so arrogant and murderous all because the aspect of Zeus had been bestowed upon them.

Fluttershy sat there, hiding her face in shame. Applejack nervously chuckled, patting her on the shoulder. Twilight continued to speak with the younger warriors, resolving to chuckle in mild embarrassment.

"Yes, well..." Twilight coughed. "That's the price to pay when dealing with the powers of a God. Gods themselves are a little bit...delusional. I have taken great note while studying all the Gods we have encountered, and the results do not fail to fascinate. There are certain mental patterns that follow the acquisition of power, and it gets worse over time; as Gods are immortal and all. Like with the power of Zeus, we've experienced a high that made us believe we were above everyone else..."

"Or how Poseidon's cold thing made us all...cold." Pinkie shuddered. "I always hated using that one!"

"Ares's one is objectively the best one." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "C'mon, yeah we became kinda crazy, but we were really good at fighting now."

"...What about now?" Sunny prodded. "I mean, you had those powers back then, but do you have them now? Like, can you call upon them?"

"Wouldn't say so..." Applejack rubbed her blonde-and-red hair. "We can get mighty angry now and then, kinda get that surge from our ol' days in ol' Sparta, y'know. We dubbed it "Spartan Rage". That's just a lil' phenomenon we all good, y'know. 'Ah think that's all leftover after how many powers we probably tried to harness 'fer ourselves...Stuff became a kinda' soup, just boilin' in our blood..."

"I hate to say it, but AJ's right." Twilight said. "We've gone through so many things that we can't even have a proper understanding of what exactly goes on within us. We have no idea how many powers remained with us, and how many stayed. What I can tell you though is that after all these years, we've definitely...uhm...changed. That's all I'll say..."

"In a good way or a bad way?" Izzy tilted her head. Yet, Twilight did not seem intent on answering the question. They had to turn to Rarity, who had finished fixing up their clothing, and was able to speak.

"I shall put it this way, darlings." Rarity started. "I still used a bow and arrow then - and my philosophy was to aim for a target in such a manner it'd die on the spot. There was much ire in my bow, and at those times, I certainly used to stress the string to fire my arrows. Over time, you learn however - ire does not earn you the bullseye. Hate is a useful teacher - as much as it is the ugliest accent upon your clothing."

"...That's a bit philosophical." Zipp observed out loud. "I'm not sure if I'd be ready to use a power that completely changes how I feel though - ego death in exchange for power? Sounds like a pretty bad deal, if you ask me."

"Yet, a deal people make all the time." Rainbow Dash scoffed.

"...Say." Pipp leaned into Twilight. "I wanted to ask you - you said that in this Delphi place, there was an Oracle? You mean, the kind of person who can tell the future?"

Twilight's eyes cast down for a moment. She broke out a gentle sigh. "Mm. Her name was Aletheia. She had no eyes when we encountered her, but nonetheless, she was able to see such things that absolutely no one else could - neither Gods nor the smartest of Mortals."

"But you said you had to ride a giant snake, and get to the place, right?" Sunny asked. "Were there any more obstacles?"

"Apart from facing a Demi-God that was growing out of a Mortal, and running into our first "God?" Twilight laughed. "Well, I suppose there were a few. Let me continue, then..."

Author's Note

This has been the Chapter 3 Sneak peek of My Little Pony x God of War: Ascension story arc! I will add Chapter 3 real soon! Just hang tight!