Many years ago... In Ancient Greece... Before the Prison Break

They breathed with heavy panting and gasping. The environment around them had been destroyed, electrified to a near crisp. The enemies that tried to assault them were destroyed like flies - annihilated and turned into ash.

Twilight Sparkle gasped as she looked at her own spear, the electricity fizzed out now that she was calming down. She looked at the others, who looked equally shocked to have done the amount of destruction they have.

"Well..." Twilight muttered. "I guess this boon has made us a little bit cockier..." She spoke, looking at the others as the situation had calmed down somewhat. "Everyone feeling okay...?"

"I feel wonderful." Rarity cooed softly. "...Though, goodness, we really should make some progress... I think we've spent a better half of the hour beating these brutes..."

"...A-Ahm..." Fluttershy blushed at her blood-soaked dagger, splashing the blood away onto the floor to clean it. "D... Did I really do all that? I... I didn't say anything rude, did... Did I?"

Shooting her a scoff, Rainbow Dash turned to Kratos as she approached him. "Hey, Kratos - Python's stuck, so we gotta unjam it."

"Then we should head up." Kratos grunted. Rainbow Dash nodded and helped the others up - using her wings to fly and help lift up the non-winged companions up the several floors that Python made up. The neck of the snake-turned-machine was vertical, forcing them to climb upwards through wooden debris and scaffolding.

"...I feel like these spots would be great for enemy ambushes..." Twilight said, noticing how many positions there were from the enemy could shoot, flank, or rush them. And yet, nothing came. Kratos huffed in-between lunges upwards. "We've killed many. The seven of us made quick work of this area. Maybe they've run dry, or they've run off."

"Ahaha~!" Rarity cooed, rubbing her arms and shoulders as she fluttered her eyes at Kratos, having climbed ahead of him and waiting for him at the top of another climb of scaffolding. "So, shall you keep taunting and scolding us that we are extra baggage? You remember that you didn't want us to tag along, do you?"

"...I still don't regret the choice." Kratos grunted softly, yet Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Hey, you hesitated!" Pinkie said. " You answered three seconds later than before! You used to answer quickly before, hehehehe~!"

Kratos only sighed softly. "Take a step back." He spoke. He would approach a gigantic iron collar, which had kept the head of the Python in place, not allowing the transport to move. However, he would not be alone. As he launched his Blades, Pinkie Pie and Applejack joined in, starting to pull off other weak points that allowed the huge yoke of metal to snap in half. The girls gasped in unison, as the Python started moving rapidly. It began to move, now coming closer to the temple...

Yet not all was smooth, as an obnoxious roar disturbed them.

"Watch out!" Twilight cried out to Rainbow Dash, who was barely able to respond as the Manticore started to fly right at them. Without much of a choice or way to go, all she could do was duck - falling down into a ball.

It was lucky that Pinkie Pie had even faster reflexes. She had brought her mallet into the pose of a baseball bat, before swinging it - smashing it right into the Manticore, watching it descend.

Fluttershy squeaked softly. "...U-Uhm, that was... A little bit cruel."

"...You're the one who still has a dagger soaked in blood."

Fluttershy squeaked once more, realizing that the blood she had tried earlier was still there - for it was soaked in and dried.

Soon, the Python had arrived at its intended position, and the massive tower was now before them - standing there for them to climb.

"...Not again." Twilight sighed.

***

They had climbed the summit of the temple. The sheer power of the wind had nearly knocked Fluttershy off her feet, though Applejack had held her ready. Fluttershy, despite being a pegasus, made a small mistake - having looked over the edge. She nearly fainted, her legs buckling and her knees weak, but she was able to sigh and carry on.

As they walked towards Delphi, they were startled by a stranger they hadn't previously noticed. A rather famished, tired, and weak old man tried to make his way across the temple's roof, his back supporting an enormous basket, which they could only guess what it contained.

Kratos walked without batting him as much as an eye. The others however felt almost sorry for the man and tried to approach him - but slowed down when they heard how panicked and desperate he sounded, mumbling and gasping with each breath as he started to fall onto his knees.

The pilgrim kept mumbling, his large beard swaying side to side from the howling wind and ice that forced him to rely even harder on a stick he used to hold onto. "The offerings will please the Oracle this time. I know it..." He whispered to himself.

"Uhm, excuse me..." Fluttershy whispered softly. "Can I help--"

Suddenly, the man slipped on the ice, his ankle sliding as he fell onto his side. The basket tipped over, as apples started to roll out. The first to take notice, unsurprisingly, was Applejack. The man started to scramble to try and pick up the apples, gasping.

"No, no, no! My gifts!" He whimpered, trying desperately to pick up the scattering fruit. "She must have them all. It will have to be eno--"

"Hey, pardner, take it easy." Whispered Applejack, who knelt beside him. She started to pick up the apples. "Well, hey, look at that! Mila Zagoras Piliou apples!" She cooed happily. "These are some of the best apples in Greece! Where'd ya cultivate 'em? I'd be happy to have some at 'mah fa--"

"My gifts!" He barked at her, immediately trying to snatch the apples from her to take them back. However, he gasped as she immediately handed them back, showing that she wasn't here to steal from him.

"Simmer down, hoss, a'hm just curious." She whispered. "Y'here to see th' Oracle...?"

Anxiously, he nodded at her. "...I... I need to see the Oracle - I was already sent away because the previous gifts weren't good enough... I've tried so much, but nothing was good enough, the Master kept sending me away time and time again... So, this time..."

"These apples are good, pardner." Applejack smiled. "...Though ah'm not sure if there'll be much of an Oracle left by the time Kratos here--"

Fluttershy immediately rushed them both - using her wings to shield both Applejack and the old man as she spun with them over the ground. They had no idea what had happened - until the large scorpion tail flew over them both. The Manticore that attempted to swoop up and eat the man was left without a meal - save for an arrow, which Rarity immediately launched into its side as it missed the target.

"T-Tarnation!" Applejack barked as they had come to a stop. "Pal, just go home, 'cause this place ain't anything good!"

Kratos grits his teeth, noticing Fluttershy as she rolled over to land on her feet. "Fluttershy - stop putting your life in danger because of passerby! You'll get yourself killed before the enemy gets a hit on you." He said, producing his Blades and locking his sight with the Manticore. "Let's get this beast done with fast. I'm not going to spend time on more of these obstacles!"

Fluttershy's lip quivered, but she had to toughen up quickly. She whistled over to her falcon, who started to peck at the Manticore with its evasive maneuvers.

The pilgrim looked in terror - and had figured no better action than to run away instead, the apples rolling out of his basket while he constantly fell and slipped. Even as more monsters swarmed the tower, he was safe - for Rarity's careful and angry arrows made quick work of any monster that tried to kill him.

The efforts of the team were simple and did not require more effort than any other encounter they've had - with the Manticore killed as Kratos ripped yet more and more pieces of it, all while the straggling monsters were not allowed to come close by Rarity and Fluttershy, who defended the group from smaller foes while they fought the Manticore itself.

Within time, the platform was littered with enemy corpses... and the Temple of Delphi stood right before them, with the entrance being within their reach.

"Let's go." Kratos sternly said.

***

They had to fight many more monsters down this way - the blood on their bodies cleaned off thanks to their movements, so fast that blood merely slipped off of them. Having defeated a Cerberus and other beasts, the carnage had led them to an open chamber, which was accessible by a moving platform. They descended upon it - each anxious at the sheer idea of meeting an Oracle, so much so they could not comment on it or make guesses. Pinkie could not crack jokes either.

The platform descended down. They had reached their destination.

"This is it..." Twilight softly whispered as they approached the bridge. It was a long way, far along the cavern that seemed to be large enough that running across the bridge would take several minutes.

"...Who's that?" Rainbow Dash curiously peeked at the entrance of the bridge. Upon there, a man sat, surrounded by masked figures. There were male figures - those clad with spears and armor that stood guard, though without any real zeal or desire to be here. Their masks were made of greenish bronze, making them appear faceless.

One of the masked individuals - a woman - sat on the lap of the sitting man. His chest was covered by a cloth. Despite the fact that Kratos and the others were quite visible, the man kept ignoring them, instead focusing on holding his slave and enjoying her company. It earned a look of disgust from the others.

"Slave-owners..." Applejack grits her teeth. "Now that's just about the most darn' disgustin' thing I've seen all day."

"Right on with you on that..." Rainbow Dash grunted. "This guy looks weird - slaves or not. I propose we just keep going, no reason to let him stop us."

Kratos, on cue with her words, started to move forward once again. He made his way to the bridge, walking right to the man who now took notice of Kratos and the others. The sitting man scanned them up and down, valuing and gauging each one to see what they were going to offer, and what they could offer.

The smug man sat on the throne-like seat, judgmentally looking at the seven, and not paying them much respect nor attention. He waved his hand, looking aside without much interest. "My, there's many of you this time of year. Fine. Place your offerings for Aletheia, and we will decide if they are worthy at our will. Hope you all brought one each for otherwise--"

"We offer nothing." Kratos sternly said. The statement made the Master curiously gaze upon Kratos with a judgmental look - yet at the same time, his curiosity peaked. He laughed, rubbing the shoulder of the masked slave sitting on his lap.

"You ALL presume to see an audience with the Oracle, and yet, you bring no offerings? Bold. Stupid, but bold." He spoke. Kratos started to walk past him, ignoring him almost entirely. On his cue, the others followed him - none were going to leave him behind or be left behind. The man on the throne smirked further. He immediately grabbed Kratos' bicep, stopping him in his tracks. "...Although, you must have good reason to seek the Oracle, carrying such a mark. "Return when you have brought appropriate sacrifice."

"..." Kratos pulled his bicep away from the man that tried to hold it. "I have come to see the Oracle, and that is what I intend to do."

With that, the Master sighed, looking one by one as the women followed Kratos to walk past him. "I would have liked to hear your stories, warriors. It is a shame you fail to see reason. Remove them"

Immediately on cue, masked men ran up to cut off Kratos and the other women. However, during so, they realized how futile the task was. There was only a handful of the masked slaves that could truly do anything, running up and noticing not only the menacing Spartan, but the other warriors who did not even give them as much as a glance. It was a lost cause for the slaves, who only began to shake with their spears in hands, and without any resolve or courage, they immediately turned tail and sprinted away in terror, letting out fearful yelps and squeaks and ignoring their responsibility as they ran off.

The master sighed. With annoyance, he threw off the woman on his lap without any consideration. He placed his hand on his cloak, prepared to take it off. "We have to find a better slave trader..." He mumbled.

He revealed the cloth to reveal the ugly abomination connected to his hip - but it was with a surge of power in his amulet that not only did his youth return to his face, but so did the youth of the twin that was embedded inside of him. Although he looked like an old man some seconds ago, he now looked much younger, and much more limber. Even the deformed child-like being that grew out of his stomach had regained not only youth, but a fervor that made it more alive. And for all its liveliness, it was also very angry.

It was then when the younger man and his twin suddenly appeared before them on the bridge, cutting off their way forward, blocking their path as the blue necklace kept on glowing.

The deformed twin growing out of the man's stomach. "We will not tolerate your impudence! You will not see her!" The thing screamed, enough to make Rainbow Dash shudder from the deformity alone.

"We can and we will, ya creep!" Rainbow Dash prepared her sword, trying to run at the twins, and swiping her sword at them - yet they merely phased out of existence and began to teleport, moving further and further along the bridge that was now being lifted up and splintered by a green hue - magic that was causing bits of the bridge to not only break but float, making their approach all the more difficult.

"We will see to it you do not live!" Shouted the now-young man. "Your desire to see the Oracle will get you killed, arrogant fools!" He exclaimed. The bridge was collapsing, forcing the warriors to leap, fly, and jump over the debris. Due to the speed at which the bridge collapsed, it forced them to be on their own each, for helping one another would not give them the time needed to get it all the way through. Kratos used the chains of the Blades, while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew overhead, trying both to catch up to the twins.

As the twins kept teleporting, the deformed one growing out of the Mortal yelped as the edge of Rainbow Dash's blade nearly lopped his head off - though by then, he had already teleported further along the bridge and to safety. "They're gaining, you idiot!" The deformed twin shouted.

The Mortal twin growled in frustration. "I know they're gaining, leave me be! I will take care of them! Arrogant fools, we will not be defeated!" He shouted. By now, they had arrived at the end of the bridge - a platform that stood... And yonder beyond the abyss, sat an eyeless woman - her breathing slow and ragged.

"It's the Oracle!" Gasped Twilight. However, her attempt to approach was stopped as she saw the twins - they now stood before her, the Mortal moving side to side in a challenging, territorial matter. "You may be a great warrior, but you have no place in our temple. You will never see the Oracle!"

The smaller twin jeered and taunted. "My... Quite persistent, are they?"

The Mortal twin grits his teeth, and angrily huffed. "Their persistence only means their death."

"I beg to differ!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. With her wings, she swooped in, she swung her sword at the twins. In the Mortal's however, a green scepter and sword had materialized, and Rainbow Dash was instantly parried, before the scepter was swung right into her abdomen, forcing her to roll back with yelps and oomphs.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy exclaimed. The foe tried to swing his green sword at her, but she took quick and wide steps back - allowing her to get to safety as Applejack bashed him with her shoulder. Angrily, the Mortal twin held his medallion, which forced the ground underneath AJ to crack - before quickly rebuilding and whipping her with the force of stone, making her fly back. She let out a cry - not pain, but anger for allowing herself to be this open.

Kratos swung his Blades, which the twin started to deflect - crossing the two weapons he had while slashing the ground with the weapons, causing stones and rocks to fly at Kratos and strike him in the legs and stomach. Kratos jumped to the side, rolling to get away from danger. This was to his adventure - as rolling away gave Rarity the clear line of sight to fire right at the deformed twin - though the Mortal caught the arrow. Noticing this, the deformed bald twin barked angrily.

"So, Castor's too strong for ya!? Decided to take on little old Pollux!?" The deformed twin shouted. "Why were they allowed entry to MY temple!?"

Castor did not let this distract them. Castor rushed Rarity, using his scepter to bash her. Due to her lack of complete knowledge in hand-to-hand, she was tossed to the side, rolling over the floor, and trying to get her composure.

Pinkie Pie decided that something had to change - and deciding to experiment, she sought a new solution. She called upon the cold power of Poseidon - one that stripped all happiness from her but gave her immense precision and tactical prowess. She rushed Castor and began to swing her mallet - yet moved it in carefully crafted motions that made blocking too difficult. Castor made the mistake of crossing his weapons to block, for Pinkie was skillfully able to flip the mallet so that she held it by its blunt end, and instead drove the long handle into the foe's chest like a stake, barely missing Pollux.

It was just in time for Twilight to knee Castor in the back from behind, sending him flying right into one of Kratos's chains. This sent the twins flying onto the floor - but this would be a mistake. With the scepter making contact with the platform, there was an intense earthquake that began to shake the chamber to its very core. The deformed twin saw what this was leading to and opted to be very mocking.

"You have sealed the Oracle's fate! You will never know the truth!" Pollux laughed out. The others watched in horror as the platform underneath the Oracle's seat had cracked - and the woman had been woken suddenly, forced into a terrifying black abyss beneath, falling for dozens of meters.

"We need to deal with him fast!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"Gotta agree!" Applejack said. She had activated the aspect of Zeus, while Dash stuck to the aspect of Ares. With Applejack in a cocky state of superiority, and Rainbow Dash in a state of absolute violence, they rushed Castor - forcing him to fight off both. While Rainbow Dash moved too quickly for him to exploit weakness, Applejack was punching without any fear, making both targets equally bothersome. He was able to just barely shove them off, but now had to lock swords with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, who had replaced their two friends in all this. With one united strike, Castor was sent flying back, leaving Pollux... Suddenly, their body glowed green, and Castor started levitating.

The younger twin spoke with annoyance as it rose like a marionette, powered by the magic of the twin. "I grow tired of my brother's incompetence..." said Pollux, forcing the body of his brother to levitate like some doll - even while he was alive.

Like a marionette, Pollux attempted to rush their body at Kratos - but Kratos was able to work together with Applejack as they punched him in unison, shattering his ribcage. The floor underneath them began to crack and shatter, forcing an abyss to open up beneath them. Together, Kratos and Rainbow Dash rushed the twins, seeing an opportunity now that they no longer had the platform to manipulate and use how they wished.

They exchanged blows - with Kratos and Rainbow Dash repeatedly punching both twins, causing broken bones and bruises on the foe. However, in a fit of rage and fury, Kratos held onto the torso of Pollux and began pulling - with the Rainbow-haired girl joining him immediately.

"RAAAAGH!" Both Rainbow Dash and Kratos pulled hard, and soon Pollux could on no longer. As they fell, blood began to shower them - for Castor's body was now flying in a different trajectory, before painfully splattering over some rocks.

"Everyone okay...?" Twilight asked, shaking her head past the debris they had fallen with. The other girls nodded and agreed, giving the unicorn peace of mind that everything was okay. With that news, it was time to stand up to see what had happened. Kratos had stood up before either of them, making his way towards the dying twin.

"I-I'm innocent!" Pollux nervously giggled. "I--"

It took one triumphant stomp to destroy the deformed twin, putting Pollux to rest, and leaving behind only Castor, who lay dead before them.

Taking the artifact off of the dead Castor, Kratos had taken a closer look at it. The first to have their interest piqued was Twilight, who came in close to see what they had fairly looted.

"The Amulet of Uroboros." Twilight whispered. "This is... very useful. Wait - b-but enough about the amulet - the Oracle! Aletheia!"

"W-We need to get up there fast!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pointing at a spot that was most likely the one where the Oracle had fallen, where there was a pile of stones. "If that lady fell all this height, then I have no idea if she's okay at this point!"

"Let's go!" Twilight exclaimed. They ran up the pit, hastily and tiredly making their way up stones and rocks just to get closer to the Oracle. Using the artifact, they had restored pieces of the ruins that would let them make their way faster. Within time, both Kratos and Twilight Sparkle ran up to the Oracle, who was now buried between large stones - motionless.

"Aletheia..." Kratos said, watching the Oracle as she laid in the stones. He crouched by her side and immediately began to remove them. He was helped by Applejack, who gasped at the sight. She ran up to help remove the stones that littered and pinned the Oracle, and so did the old woman sigh in relief as the great weight was taken off of her. Kratos attempted to bring up the blue medallion - but no matter how much he had used it, it did not connect to the battered woman.

She coughed, waving the medallion away. "The relic you carry has no effect on me."

"No, there has to be something we can do..." Twilight stood with her hair in her hands, anxious and panicking. The fact that an Oracle was gravely wounded and dying was Earth shattering enough - the consequences could have been too great, and yet, no matter what, it seemed that the woman calmly took the situation, instead reaching for Twilight's arm, and holding her gently.

"You worry too much about what cannot be changed, girl." Aletheia coughed gently. "But do not worry. The situation before me is clear. I have waited for this day..."

Kratos frowned at her words. For a moment, he cast his gaze down - however, in the moment he did, he let out a gasp of unpleasant surprise and shock, for before him was the corpse of the one woman to whom he'd dedicated so much. His wife lay beneath his feet, in the same position he had found her then.

However, to the others, it seemed as if he saw something that only he could see. The others stepped back, eyes wide at the sudden reaction.

"Kratos!" Fluttershy cried out. "W-What's wrong? What do you see?" She asked. The others attempted to come close to comfort him, worried about his intense reaction. However, he waved his hand and distanced them away, taking steps back with utter confusion and anger.

"I..." Kratos grits his teeth. "I saw--"

The dying Oracle attempted to rise herself to her elbows, trying to rise, and get closer to the Spartan. "Your thoughts are clouded, and your mind conflicted, warrior. I can feel it. You seek the truth?"

The women looked at Kratos in concern. There was a growing worry that whatever the truth was, it was much too intense. They had no idea what could have perturbed Kratos so much - they knew that he was formidable, steel-nerved and strong, but the fact something could have such an effect on him was more than concerning. All they could do was wait for Kratos to make his choice.

The Spartan gazed upon the Oracle and nodded his head with a sigh. "...Yes."

The Oracle gently nodded her head. "Mm. So be it. But remember, the truth always comes with a price."

"Kratos..." Twilight quietly spoke up. "Please be careful."

The Spartan looked at her and nodded. He crouched beside the Oracle and extended his hand. She took it - with the ring and necklace in his hand.

Kratos closed his eyes.

There were only flames. Only an endless battlefield and torment that surrounded all - only silhouettes in amber. The ring fell to the sand - Kratos could only look at his hands in chains...

The three Furies walked towards him - and behind him was Orkos. He extended his hand, speaking.

"Enemies, innocent... Kin... Your bond is complete. What's done is done. It cannot be undone." The Shade spoke.

Kratos could only collapse to the sand, downcast and forever cast in the amber prison of delusion and insanity - for the mental chains held him down and gave him no reprieve.

"No..." He softly said, lost and bound under the contract of the Furies - the bond that would not shake free.

It was then when Kratos opened his eyes - and anxiously, the girls stepped forward.

"Kratos, are you okay?" Twilight softly asked. The Spartan gazed at her and nodded once. He turned back to the wounded woman, who returned the possessions of his wife and daughter back to him.

Aletheia spoke past her ragged breath and exhaustion - the death that seeped into her. "The Furies infect your mind because you run from your oath to Ares. They will stop at nothing, should you resist...."

The words caused tension - for the oath made the other women uneasy. An oath to Ares? Running from it? They only looked at one another, but more intently, they looked at Kratos, hoping to find some kind of answer in all of this.

"...So, the Shade speaks the truth." Kratos quietly murmured.

Aletheia took a pained gasp for air. "The intentions of Orkos are pure..."

The name immediately caught his attention, as well as Twilight's, wo knew the name well. "Orkos...? But he is a Fury!"

The dying woman on the stone spoke fast to calm him. "And he will play his part in time. My time grows short. To be free of the madness that infects you, you must defeat those who hold your bond with the God of War..."

Applejack felt her heart skip beats from fear. "...Defeatin' the Furies? How in Greece would one go 'bout doin' that...?"

"Not only that..." Kratos sighed. "How can I defeat the Furies, when all I see is illusion...?"

Aletheia spoke past the lack of oxygen as her lungs could not hope to keep breathing at a steady pace. "Across the sea, the Lantern of Delos keeps the eyes of truth..."

"Delos...?" Twilight and Kratos said in unison, exchanging an uncertain and uneasy look.

With her dying breath, the Oracle spoke her final words. "Find the eyes, and they will show you the path to freedom..."

...

Kratos let go of her hand as her body became limp. He rose to his feet and exchanged a look with the other women, who all hung their heads to see the death of someone who saw the truth and reality with more clarity than in the land.

"...I feel like it's our fault." Fluttershy vented, letting out a shrill sigh. "Maybe if we were less destructive and..."

"...We gotta go." Rainbow Dash insisted. "Kratos, I got no idea what's up with your head - but I'm not gonna let her death be in vain."

"Yeah." Pinkie Pie felt just as crestfallen. "We gotta do this for Kratos - it's not fair that the Furies can do something like this!"

"...I have no need for pity." Kratos muttered. "But you're right. I'll get to the eyes and dispel these illusions."

"You mean we will get to the eyes and help you?" Twilight softly smiled at Kratos. Yet, her smile faded once he looked at her with a silent gaze, and turned his head to the way before them, further down the caverns and cisterns.

***

They looked at the giant sitting in the water - the Harbor Master, who patiently watched them. Anxiously, they approached the ship. Its crew was preparing to leave and was taking on-boarders. It was peculiar - for none of them even cared for Kratos nor Twilight. But as they boarded the ship, they saw a familiar figure.

Or at-least, Kratos did. Immediately, the Spartan approached the Shade, his weapons ready...

Until he suddenly disappeared.

"Huh!?" Rainbow Dash started to look around herself anxiously. "Hey, who was tha--"

"Only a coward hides himself, Orkos." Kratos bellowed... Then watched as the bearded man reappeared from behind, catching the others off-guard.

"You're..." Twilight wanted to speak but could not find anything useful to say. Orkos nodded to her, then turned to Kratos.

"You know I am one of the Furies who forged your bond. You would have killed me before I could even speak..."

The Spartan looked distrustfully, though for a moment, he looked at Applejack. She tipped her hat to him - a sign that perhaps the person they were talking to was being honest. Her talent of identifying lies had been helpful over the years. With this in mind, Kratos continued talking. "Then tell me. What have brought you to this betrayal of your own kind?"

All took a step back once Orkos took a step forward, looking Kratos right in the eyes. "It was you... The injustice of your oath that made me doubt them... is it possible that through all your suffering, you still do not understand why you were chosen? Why Ares needed you? Why he still needs you?" He spoke.

Kratos was about to demand that Orkos spoke more clearly - yet Applejack was the first to step forward, upset at the lack of clarity in his words. "Hey hoss - why don'tcha speak more clearly!?"

Orkos spoke louder through his frustration, walking closer to the Spartan. "Oh Kratos... The God of War has been plotting for years. I was brought forth by the joining of the War God and the Fury Queen. In rage and insanity, Ares hoped to conceive the perfect warrior... but I was only a disappointment to him... it was my mothers who spared me. They gave me the task of keeping the oaths. Although my burden was great, I was determined to be of service to those who said they loved me. But it was you, Kratos.... It was the final task of your bond that made me question the actions of my family. I sought council with Aletheia. It was she who revealed to me the plot of Ares to overthrow Zeus. But he needed the perfect warrior. Ares molded you to take down the very walls of Olympus..."

Kratos felt his own words ringing in his ears. That very statement he made under the rain and the thunder, soaked in blood with death all around him...

Ares! Destroy my enemies, and my life is yours!

Those words - those cursed words...

Orkos spoke - but quietly. Kratos knew this. The words that were spoken by the Fury were only for Kratos - and the others could only guess why there was a moment of seeming silence. "To make you beholden only to him, Ares and my mothers devised three blood tasks. Spill the blood of your enemies...the blood of the innocent...the blood of your very own--"

The girls were startled however once Kratos suddenly raised his voice at Orkos, speaking loudly at him. "The past is the PAST Orkos!"

Disapprovingly, the Shade sighed at the words of the Spartan. "A past you now seek to rectify..."

"And I will do so without the aid of a Fury..." Kratos hissed. Orkos looked at Kratos for a mere moment - before disappearing, leaving behind the Spartan with the girls and the rest of the crew.

Silently, the others had looked at one another, and merely watched as the giant Harbor Master helped take the ship out, and into open waters...

***

It was only after some hours of swimming that the ship had stopped - The crew ordered to do so by Kratos.

"...We are going to part ways here." Kratos suddenly spoke. The phrase immediately caught the others off-guard, who were peacefully sitting mere seconds ago, and were now rising to their feet, immensely perturbed at his words and tense.

"Wait, what!?" Rainbow Dash cried out. "No, we're not! Don't talk crazy. We didn't just kill Pollux and then the Oracle just to call it quits. We're basically blasphemers at this point, why back out now!?"

"You don't understand." Kratos sighed.

"RD's right!" Pinkie Pie humphed, putting her hands on her hips with a highly displeased look. "That's not fair! You can't just leave without us! You know how many parties I planned!? I basically planned a party for each big victory we woulda gotten! Why do you wanna break off now?"

"Darling, please, listen to them!" Rarity insisted. "There is no rational rhyme for us to separate, if together, we stand a chance! Why, we're more effective than any armed force in Greece - if anyone can stand up to the wrath of the Furies - then it is us, together."

"Kratos..." Fluttershy whispered. "Let's--"

"NO." Kratos bellowed with anger as he pounded the wood of the ship. "I am separating now, because this is MY war. This has ALWAYS been My war. My and MINE alone. I am going to get justice for what was TAKEN from ME. I do NOT need you in my way!"

"In your way!?" Twilight suddenly lost her cool, storming towards him and squaring up. It was extremely rare to see such a case - to the point that all eyes were on them, as Twilight was standing chest-to-chest with Kratos. Despite her being shorter, she had no difficulty staring right back at him, not intimidated in the slightest. "You do not DARE claim that we got into your way - if anything, you would have still been stuck in the Gods-Forsaken VILLAGE, STUMBLING and WALLOWING in those illusions!"

Kratos scowled. "I would have made it by myself. Or do you wish to imply I am an imbecile!? Weak-minded?"

"I might as well be if you're trying to leave when there's really no point to it!" Twilight barked with tears in her eyes. "Don't do this! What's the point!?"

"The point is that something terrible will happen." Kratos grits his teeth and balls his fists. "You best go home to your friends and family, and shelter them, and possibly clean yourselves of any involvement with me. Now, get off my ship. I am going to face the Furies myself - and this is final."

"..." Twilight had no words, looking down at the boards in utter disbelief.

"Besides." Kratos sighed. "Spike still needs you. You were wise not to bring him to the bloodshed, considering he's still a young warrior, but he cannot be left without someone who can train him. Do not let your absence make him weak."

"..." Twilight hung her head and sighed, turning around. "Let's go, girls."

"W-Wait, huh!?" Applejack looked confused - torn between Twilight who was leaving, and Kratos who was staying. "Wait wait, Twi, 'yer just gonna leave like that? 'Ah can't... We can't leave 'im!"

"It's what he wants." Twilight barked at them. "Let's go. He's right. We need to tell the others about what happened..."

The other girls looked at Kratos for a moment and sighed, hanging their heads and saying their goodbyes.

"...See ya, pardner." Applejack put her hat to her chest and left.

"...Adios." Pinkie sniffled.

"See ya 'round, Kratos..." Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Please be safe..." Fluttershy softly whispered to him.

"Until next time, Kratos." Rarity softly said. With that, hey jumped into the shallow waters, and began to walk along the beach.

With that, Kratos was alone. With his massive arms, he arranged the ship to continue sailing - kicking off from the rocky coast and moving on forward. He could not think of what happened - nor did he want to.

As Kratos looked upon the gem, he realized all he needs to do was fight the forces that gnawed at his mind. His thoughts now clear, the warrior turned his rage to the remaining Furies and their ultimate defeat.

PRESENT DAY... After The Prison Break...

As Kratos cleaned his Blades from the blood of Megaera, Rainbow Dash approached him from the side, and smirked.

"And to think you really wanted to do it solo, huh?"

"...Hmph." Kratos smirked softly. "It would've been more silent..."

Author's Note

As promised, here is Chapter 3 of the My little Pony x God of War: Ascension crossover. I will bring out Chapter 4 soon, where the story will pick up from where it left off, which is after the death of Megaera.