Turning Pointby ZachTheBronyChaptersPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 5Chapter 12 - The Hour of Twilight (See what I did the-... /quit) ((ENDING))PrologueAfter the murder of Poseidon, along with numerous other Olympian Gods, Kratos progressed back to Gaia, whom now had a very tight grasp on the top of a tower that was set upon Mt. Olympus, wherein Zeus, the God of the Skies and Thunder, stood with his arms crossed. The vicious warrior who sought the king of the God's death to no end, Kratos, the former God of War, raced up the mother Titan's massive thumb. He jumped off, and landed on the shiny but lifeless marble floor of the tower. His legs took the shock, but he didn't care for a single second. He stood up, and almost casually walked towards Zeus. "What will you do, father? You can no longer hide behind the skirts of Athena," Kratos said threateningly as he walked towards his creator. He stopped walking as Zeus spoke, his arms still crossed. "Athena is dead because of the rage that consumes you, Kratos. What more will you destroy?" the king of the Olympians frowned at his son as he scolded him. "The hands of death could not defeat me." Kratos gritted his teeth as he glared at his father. "The Sisters of Fate could not hold me." he then aggressively leaned forward, and glared daggers at his father. "And you will not see the end of this day. I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" he reached back and pulled out the Blades of Athena as he bellowed this. Zeus raised his voice as his face twisted into a great anger. "Petulant child! I will tolerate your insolence NO MORE!!!" he took into the skies that were shrouded by a thick layer of dark gray clouds, which quickly had lightning crackling around them, thunder crashing as loud as the sound of a tidal wave crashing against the land, or an earthquake destroying a building. Drawing power from an epic twister of clouds and lightning, the God of the Skies landed upon the hands of an oxidized copper green statue which held its hands out in fists. He channeled said power into a lightning bolt in his right hand, and held it above his head as Gaia attempted to swing a powerful, and likely fatal slam from her rocky palm at the God. Zeus immediately hurled the lightning bolt, which was irradiating with immense electrical power, at Kratos, who failed to jumped out of the way. The result was Gaia's hand being separated gorily from her massive forearm, in turn making the Titan yell in agony. Kratos, on the other hand, was sent flying down from Mt. Olympus with the mother of the Titans. After a long fall, Gaia caught hold of a ledge. She cried out and groaned in pain as this hurt her separated wrist. Kratos, luckily, caught hold of a tiny rock that jutted out from Gaia's back. "GAIA!" Kratos called out. "I CAN HOLD ON NO LONGER!" "If I help you, we will both fall. Even now, Zeus gains!" the Titan clenched her teeth and pulled herself -with a lot of pain coming from her severed wrist, mind you- up the rocky wall. Kratos groaned as he was thrown off. He summoned the Blade of Olympus, and drove it into Gaia's back, and slid down her back, creating a cut that didn't bleed as he did so. "THE DESTRUCTION OF ZEUS IS WHY YOU SAVED ME FROM DEATH!" he bellowed angrily. Gaia looked down as she also slid down the rock face, her right hand going down and her left hand, though severed, staying up where it was. "I saved you to serve the Titans..." she boomed. "Do not deny me my revenge!" Kratos grasped the Blade of Olympus tightly as he ordered this, his face crunching-up in his rage. The Titan grunted as she struggled to hold onto the mountain. "Listen carefully, Kratos," she spat with venom. "You were a simple pawn. Nothing more. Zeus is no longer your concern. This is our war, not yours!" she boomed, lashing her right arm back and slamming it further up the great mountain. From the quake-like shake that came from this action, Kratos lost his grip on the Blade of Olympus. As he fell from the Titan, he yelled, "GAIA!!!" And he fell... And fell... And fell... 'I have lived as a warrior...' 'I have died as a God...' 'Having suffered the ultimate sacrifice...' 'I have been denied release.' 'I... I will defeat Olympus. I will have my revenge!' But as Kratos broke free of his thoughts of strong Spartan determination, he was falling through a sky. But... Wait-... Whoa, hold on a second. Back up. Where was the River Styx?! Where were the tortured souls and moaning demons and the scent of death that wreaked the underworld that is Tartarus!!?! Had he been cast under a spell!? The land below, once Kratos looked at it in awe, looked very unrealistic... There was no texture to the grass... Or anything... Just solid color. It hurt his eyes at first glance... But at this time, he had just exited the stratosphere of this strange new land. The two things he caught a glimpse of before he smashed into the ground, were a great mountain in the distance. Now, this mountain didn't look like Mount Olympus in the slightest... And the second thing he noticed, the mountain loomed over a town in a valley next to the it, but it surely wasn't Athens... Kratos only got a three-second glimpse of these things. He looked back, and the ground pretty much welcomed him into his home, yelling a greeting. ... With the dirt. ... And with a loud thump. Zeus smirked, and chuckled, now standing with his brothers. "Kratos should not be a burden to us anymore, my brothers." he declared with a wicked smile. The Gods of Olympus, I mean, those that were left, cheered in victory. "Olympus will rise again!" Zeus boomed. "Brothers..." he now had the Blade of Olympus. "... Now we remove the final problem that stands between us and our glory..." he stepped toward the edge of the beautiful marble tower, and looked down upon the slowly ascending Titan... Gaia. "My brethren... This is a simple task that we will accomplish." Zeus laughed. "The victory of Olympus is imminent, and it is inevitable!" he declared. Hades was the first to jump down. He took out his vicious claws that could rip the soul from even a Titan, and swung them down at Gaia as she climbed. Helios was the second to take flight downward. His carriage was carried by flaming horses. Gaia's fate was sealed. She didn't react quick enough, and Hades' clawed hooks punctured through her thick, rocky skin, and Hades let gravity do the work, until he landed with a loud crack on a large balcony of stone, beginning to pull back. Gaia yelled in pain as Helios delivered a painful burst of sun energy into her eye, blinding her temporarily. She then felt even more pain as Hades began to rip her soul out. Zeus was the one to deliver the final blow. Flying down towards her head with the Blade of Olympus in hand, Zeus yelled with vigor as he hurled the powerful blade into her skull. Gaia could take no more. The Titan's soul ripped from her body, and the Blade of Olympus was collected by Zeus, who landed beside Hades, with an evil smirk on his face. Gaia let go of the mountain, and lifelessly, her body fell to the raised ocean below, slowly becoming engulfed by the dark waters. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." This message will be in every chapter of this story, and its sequel(s). ZTB Chapter 1Pain. That is what he felt. Almost every bone in Kratos' body was shattered upon impact with the ground, aside from his right arm, left leg, skull, and his entire rib cage. He was in too much of a state of shock to even scream. He just laid there in pain, limp. He coughed. Sometimes, blood would come from his mouth because he coughed so violently. And when he coughed, pain shot throughout his body. To the fatally injured demigod, minutes passed by like days. Hours like weeks. You know how it goes. His hands, though in agony, were clenched into fists. Blood was spattered on the Spartan's forehead, mostly from the coughing. Eventually, the Spartan's eyes slammed shut, and he drifted into a long unconsciousness from the pain. The physical agony that our hero was in is... Far beyond your or my comprehension, even to begin to understand how painful it was for him. But it wasn't just the physical pain that ailed him. It was the emotional stress. You'd think someone like Kratos was a rock. But no. His problem was his anger. All the yelling causes stress- the root of his problems. He dwelt on his past for too long, and it put great stress upon his shoulders. And these --these two events-- slammed into him full-force. He was denied of his revenge, betrayed by Gaia, and plunged into another world, all happening too quick for him to comprehend. As he slid into the silent world of blackness that was known as unconsciousness, he was sure it was the end for him. He sighed in a raspy tone as his consciousness faded, and his hands relaxed. Even to him, the Ghost of Sparta, this was too much. But as our hero laid upon the ground, you may take comfort in knowing that this wasn't the end for him. Three sets of young eyes were watching him from afar, in the bush. "What do y'all think it is?" one pair of eyes with orange-red irises asked to the other two sets of eyes that were close by. Her voice had an absolutely adorable Southwestern accent. "I don't want to know..." a set of pale-green eyes went half-closed as they looked to the set of eyes that asked the question. The third set of eyes, open all the way and full of excitement, they were of a semi-pale lavender, and were either striving for adventure or childlike curiosity... Likely both. "Come on, girls! You're not scared, are you?" she looked teasingly up to the other pairs of eyes, who just groaned. "Scootaloo..." the pale-green set of eyes closed, as their owner, a small, alabaster unicorn filly with a two-toned purplish mane walked out of the bushes, with the owner of the pale lavender set of eyes, an energetic orange pegasus filly who had a deep magenta mane. The final pair of reddish-orange eyes followed, owned by a small yellow filly with red hair with a lighter red bow in it. "What? It's not like I'm scared!" the one named 'Scootaloo' chuckled. The yellow one shook her head. "Ah think yer' jus' sayin' that, Scootaloo." Scootaloo sighed after a little pause. "Yeah, I guess you're right, AB..." she said sadly, letting her head hang somewhat lower. "Don't be like that, Scootaloo, it's not like we're not afraid of it either! It's ah alien, for pony's sake!" the yellow one exclaimed. The orange filly lifted her head up. "Well... Okay." she smiled. "Let's go see what it is!" and without warning, she took for the creature that laid on its back, which was still moderately distant. "Come on, Sweetie Belle!" the yellow filly, or 'AB' followed her orange friend, galloping after her. "Wa-wait up!" the alabaster unicorn trotted after her. The three fillies stood over the creature, who looked more damaged than the time when they tried getting their cutie marks in construction. AB looked at the biped. "It looks like ah-... What was that big bull with horns called again?" she looked to her friends for an answer. "You mean a Minotaur?" asked Sweetie Belle. AB nodded. "Yeah! Ah Minotaur! It looks like ah Minotaur!... Just... No fur... And ah bit smaller... And no horns, either... And ah weird head!" Sweetie Belle's look of curiosity faded away. "I think it's hurt," Sweetie advised with concern. "And jus' how would you know that?" AB asked her, raising a brow. The unicorn sighed. "I'unno." she then shrugged. Then, the bipedal creature's right hand twitched. Scootaloo jumped at this. "I-it's alive!" she shouted. Her friends backpedaled. Before all three of them broke into a full-on gallop towards Ponyville, screaming their heads off. The trio of fillies attracted more than enough attention as they sprinted through the afternoon streets of Ponyville. Everypony, and I mean everypony looked at them as they screamed and ran, until a familiar pink mare stopped them. All three of them skidded and tumbled to a stop, piling on top of one another. "Hi girls!" the pink mare hopped in spot as she greeted them. "Pinkie!" the three fillies shouted in unison. "There's-a-monster-in-the-fields!" they spoke too quick for most to understand, but Pinkie understood. She gasped. "A MONSTER!?! Ooh, was it big and scary and went like 'RRRR'!!!...?" she got on her hind legs and raised her front hooves above her head, growling for a few seconds before coming down. The fillies shook their heads with vigor, now standing bunched together. "Was it a big ugly monster that moaned like this?" she moaned like a zombie. They shook their heads. "Did it stand on two hooves and have no head and ride a big horse?" They shook their heads again. "Ooh! Ooh! Did it-" The trio, specifically AB, cut her off. "Pinkie Pie!" she shouted over her mumbling. "Yes?" she smiled happily. "It was tall." she said with extra enthusiasm, lifting her hoof above her head. "Ah bit taller than Princess Celestia herself, Ah reckon!" A crowd was formed around the group. They gasped. "It had chain things on its arms!" Scootaloo added. Another gasp. "And red markings! And white fur!" Sweetie Belle continued. A few less gasps than before were heard. "It wore this golden thingy on its shoulder!" AB exclaimed. "A red skirt!" "Big muscles!" "... Big muscles?" AB looked at Scootaloo. They hadn't realized until now that the crowd was laughing at them. Hard. AB frowned, and looked around a bit angrily. "It's true, for pony's sake! Ah can take y'all right now!" she shouted. The crowd stopped laughing, and looked to one another. They mumbled some stuff, and some shook their heads, walking off. Soon, only three ponies were left; a lavender unicorn, Pinkie, and an orange earth pony. The lavender unicorn spoke up. "I'd like to come with you, if that'd be alright, Applebloom." she smiled at the filly. "And Ah don't want my little sister goin' off an' findin' some potentially dangerous creature by herself." the orange earth pony followed. "Thank ya' Miss Sparkle... Thanks Applejack..." Applebloom smiled warmly. "Ooh! Ooh! Can I come? Please-please-please-please-please?!" Pinkie fell to Applebloom's hooves as she begged. The yellow filly giggled at Pinkie Pie's silliness. "Yes, of course 'ya can, Pinkie Pie!" "YAY!!!" cheered Pinkie Pie as she hopped into the air, landing about a second and a half afterwards. Applebloom let out a laugh. "Come on, everypony!" she began trotting off in the direction in which they saw the creature. The five remaining ponies followed the yellow filly's lead. Though, Sweetie was a little hesitant. It was gone. The creature was gone. Poof! It was there, now it wasn't! It didn't make any sense! Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw it with their own eyes! How come it has to up and disappear when they try to prove that they really did see it!? "No, no, no, no no!" Applebloom looked around in a slight panic. "It was here!" she pouted angrily. "Wait," Twilight said. "Look." she pointed a hoof to a little trail of red liquid. "Is that... blood?" Applejack whispered to Twilight. "I think so." she replied, looking at it closely. After a tiny pause, she spoke, "Yes. It is in fact, blood." The fillies were unsure what to think of it, but Applejack winced. Twilight slowly followed the trail of blood. Hesitantly, the rest of the group, well, aside from Pinkie Pie, who hippity-hopped along with them, followed her. Then, they heard the breathing. Oh, the cold, deathly rasped breathing. Twilight slowly looked up, to see... something... On the ground, laying on its front. A trail of blood followed it. Everypony gasped. "Applebloom was telling the truth..." Twilight said in absolute awe. "I told you so!" Applebloom shouted. The bipedal creature coughed up blood. "Shh." Twilight shushed the young filly, who now wore an apologetic look. She mouthed the words "Stay here", and everypony nodded. She slowly approached the creature. "... Hello?" she spoke to the biped. The creature groaned. She stopped walking towards it. The unicorn's eyes widened, and she stepped back as the creature slowly begun to get up. Its legs were shaking, and every second that passed, the biped growled in pain. It managed to get onto both knees, before it fell onto its arms. It groaned, and gasped at the pain that it brought, and coughed up more blood. Twilight went slack-jawed. She looked back to Applejack, who had her hat off and pressed against her chest by a hoof. She was beginning to get a bit teary-eyed in either sympathy or fear, though she was mostly taking in the horror of the sight. A set of metal chain-blades dragged across the ground on both sides of the being. The chain-blades were connected to its arms. The biped groaned, and fell onto its front. Twilight cautiously walked up to the creature, that was now unconscious. "Applejack... It's very badly injured..." she said. "Sweet Celestia..." Applejack put her Stetson back on. "Whatever that there critter is, Ah can agree with Twilight, it is ah might injured." she looked to the group, who nodded. Pinkie spoke, "Aw! I wanted to say hi!... Wait... Hi!" she waved to the creature, who didn't respond. It began to snore. The trio of fillies held back giggles. ... Not being able to hold it back anymore, Scootaloo chuckled. "I-HA-IT SOUNDS LIKE A-HA-HA-BEAR!!!" Soon, the other fillies, and Pinkie Pie, joined her. Twilight sighed. "Girls, can you please stop? I'm trying to focus." she said. The fillies slowly but surely complied, becoming silent. They still had their backs to the ground, though. "Okay..." Twilight began to inspect the creature closely, and mumbled some words under her breath. Some of them involved body parts, while some noted the bone structure... I mean, what was left of it. After she got a good, solid base idea of the anatomy, she said, "The creature is definitely bipedal, which means it walks on two legs. It also has a bone system moderately similar to ours, specifically, the rib-cage. The skull is much different, and the hooves are different, though. Facial features have yet to be determined, because I'd rather not disturb the biped. Now, for its injuries..." Twilight got down to business. She was entirely serious about this. The unicorn softly poked some broken bones, until she looked up. "It's lucky to even be alive right now. An-..." she spotted a large scar on its back. "What's this..?" she looked at the scar curiously. 'It's some form of scar... It looks like... B-but how... Can that be... A stab wound..?' Her jaw dropped, and her irises shrunk. She just... Stared... For minutes to come. "Twiliiight," Applejack waved a hoof in front of her face. No respon- Twilight snapped out of it. "Wha?... W-what? Oh..." she looked back to her. "This creature has suffered quite a bit of broken bones... I don't know how it survived..." she said. "But we need to get it into the Ponyville medical center if we're going to have any chance of its survival! Pinkie Pie, Applejack, I'd like you to help me pick up the biped and carry it. Okay?" "Okie dokie!" Pinkie said, coming to her hooves. Applejack nodded. As soon as they managed to lay the bipedal creature across Pinkie and Applejack's backs, Twilight used her magic for added support, and holding the two chain-blades in midair. She tried to take them off, but soon found that the chains were seared into its flesh. They began to carry the creature back to the Ponyville Medical Center with great caution. The fillies went off about their business. They decided not to get in their way, and then decided to attempt to gain their cutie marks in adventuring... Oh golly. "The creature has multiple breaks in many of its bones! There is absolutely no time for questioning!" Twilight exclaimed at the hospital receptionist, after force-feeding her the information on the biped's basic skeletal anatomy. "It needs medical attention immediately!" The receptionist nodded, and rushed off to get help. Twilight and her two friends still held up the creature, waiting patiently but eagerly for her return. She returned with two uniformed doctors, and four unicorn nurses. They brought a gurney, also. Applejack and Pinkie carefully slid the biped onto the gurney, and the doctors quickly removed the golden shoulder-pad that was on the humanoid's right shoulder. The gurney rolled down the hallway, and into a surgery room at the far end of the hall. Pinkie Pie hugged Twilight, who looked a little sad. "Don't be sad, Twilight! I'm sure it'll be okay!" she said. "Oh, I don't know..." Twilight sighed. "I-I'm sure he'll be... Just fine..." " 'He'?" Applejack asked, confused. "Oops! I forgot to add, it's a male." Twilight quickly explained. "Did you not take notice of the more masculine features, Applejack?" "Well, Ah guess not, but Ah bet Ah wasn't payin' much attention..." she replied with an exhausted sigh, sitting in a seat that was behind her. Pinkie Pie released Twilight. "Well girls, we'll stay until we know that the biped is alright." she said, sitting down with Applejack, Pinkie doing the same. "Er... If the biped is alright." she corrected herself. "Ah sure hope he'll be alright." Applejack looked at Twilight. "... Do you think he'll be-..." "I can only hope, Applejack." Twilight replied. "I can only hope." The doctors put on their protective masks, the nurses the same. "So, we already know the basic skeletal anatomy. She stated that the broken bones are in these appendages." one of the doctors pointed to several appendages, and the nurses cut open the blue fabric in said areas. "We have taken a safe measure of checking for a musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiorespiratory, digestive, integumentary, endocrine and lymphatic systems. This bipedal creature seems to have all of the systems. Now," the doctor continued, "Are we all ready to perform the reconnecting of the bones? We may need to make a few incisions here," he, being a unicorn, used his magic to levitate a marker and make dotted lines among many incision and stitch areas. "-here, here and here, and there. We can then have a clearer view of the broken bone, and the healers may focus their magic on the bone. Everypony got it?" he asked for confirmation. The nurses and doctors nodded in response, and began to carefully make incisions among he dotted lines, beginning the long operation. But beforehand, the doctors gave the creature some anesthetics to relax it and keep it asleep as they operated. - - - Several hours later... The doctors, unfortunately, had to remove the chains that were seared into the humanoid's arms. I'll just leave it at 'It wasn't pretty'. "We have successfully removed the chains around the biped's arms. If we hadn't, the surgery wouldn't have gone through, and worse, it could've gotten tetanus, and a nasty infection. There was quite a lot of blood loss, but we have a transfusion sustaining it currently. But fortunately, this being had an AB blood type, so we transfused it with some B-type blood. He'll be up on his feet in a number of months." the doctor broke the news to Twilight and her two friends. "That's super-dee-duper!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Now I can say 'Hi' to him!" she smiled. Applejack yawned. "Yes, that is ah might good to hear, 'doc-..." she looked over to Twilight... ... Who was... still... sleeping. "Twi..." AJ nudged her. She didn't wake. "Twilight!" she raised her voice, and the lavender unicorn shot awake. "AH- ah... What, wh-what's wrong?" Twilight looked around. "Twilight, your friend in there is fine. Just unconscious." the doctor said. "It was quite a lot of work." Twilight smiled, her eyes widening. "R... Really?" "Really." ... ... (Just to explain how happy and "I told you so!" Twilight was, I had to get these two things. Play the music with the dancing GIF, but y'know, don't listen to all of it... If you want... But I recommend going to 1:09 and watching at least until 2:40 +...) ... As Twilight stopped cheering, and dancing, Pinkie was giggling happily. "I'm sure you can see it in about an hour." the doctor said. "Oh, I need to get home. I'll come back tomorrow, though!" Twilight said. "Me too!" Pinkie followed. Applejack yawned again. "Ah reckon that Ah need 'ta hit the hay..." she and Pinkie walked out of the hospital. "See'ya later, Twilight!" she called. Twilight waved a goodbye, and looked to the doctor. "So, I'll be going now..." she said. "Thank you, by the way." The doctor nodded. "Trust me, it was hard for us to stay calm, Twilight. But we needed to- or else the creature would've gotten more questioning than it did help." he walked off. The lavender unicorn sighed with satisfaction, and walked out of the hospital. Upon Twilight's return, little Spike was laying asleep on the couch. With two empty tubs of ice cream on the coffee table. The unicorn frowned, and sighed. Picking up the empty tubs of strawberry and chocolate ice cream, and throwing them out. Afterwards, she brought Spike upstairs to his rightful resting place, and set him under the covers. She began to write a letter. "Dear Princess Celestia, today I have found a new creature in Equestria. It was in the field outside of Ponyville, just West to the market. The creature stood at about six feet, two inches, and was bipedal. It had red markings on its torso, legs and head, and its skin was a ghastly white. It was terribly injured when we found it. By we, I mean Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I. Currently, the biped is in the Ponyville Medical Center, and is undergoing recovery. Further information is yet to come. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." Made an epic mistake that I fixed; 'They were still had their backs to the ground, though.' Changed to 'They still had their backs to the ground, though.' Also, I fixed the whole shit-bomb with Hermes' boots. God damn, it was hard to pick that shit out! ZTB Chapter 2Twilight was now walking back to the hospital, after a good night's sleep, and a letter sent in the morning to her royal highness. Today was like any other day in Ponyville, the sun was shining, the skies were a vibrant blue, the clouds were distant, and the mountain that supported Canterlot stood with a sense of warmth over Ponyville, even though it was almost coated with the mountain's shadow on the Eastern side of town. The birds were chirping their lovely chirps, and the ponies were talking their lovely talks. It was simply a wondrous day in Ponyville, though days like these were anything but different to Twilight Sparkle and her friends. "Good morning!" the purple unicorn smiled as she entered the hospital. Walking up to the receptionist who sat behind the desk, she paused, thinking of what to say. Eventually, she got a sentence out. "I'm here to see the creature that was very badly injured yesterday?" "Okay. He's awake. Just down the left hall, room 14. Here is the key to the room." the unicorn receptionist levitated a key to Twilight, who took it into her own aura of magic. Smiling, Twilight replied, "Thank you." she then walked down the left hall, and found room 14. She paused. 'It's okay, Twilight. Just calm down... Calm. Calm.' She repeated the word in her mind, until she felt ready to enter the room. Placing the key into the keyhole on the door, she turned it to the right. A click was heard, and she slowly opened the door. Once the door was open, she stepped inside, to see the creature in a full-body cast, aside from his head. Its eyes were closed. Twilight walked to the bed's side. "Good morning." she said quietly, sitting beside the damaged being. In response, the creature opened its eyes, and turned its head towards her. It groaned, and moved its head back in place. "Can you speak?" she asked, curious. The creature didn't respond. "I'll... take that as a no." "If you haven't realized, horse," the creature spat harshly, its eyes now closed, "I AM IN NO CONDITION TO SPEAK!!!" it yelled. Loudly. Now cowering behind the seat, Twilight whimpered. "S-sorry!" The biped groaned in response. A long silence ensued between the two of them. "Um..." Twilight broke said silence. "A-are you okay..?" she poked her head out from behind the chair, looking at the biped. "I. Cannot. Move." the creature sighed. Twilight almost giggled. "Well, being in a full-body cast does that to ponies..." she sat back down in the chair as she said this. The creature looked back at Twilight. "Have you come to torture me?" 'Torture him? Why would I...' Twilight thought, going wide-eyed. "Why would I do that?" she asked. Chuckling turned into coughing as the creature responded. "I'm no longer able to defend myself. Someone has removed the Blades from me." he nodded his head to a small metal table, where two bloody blades with chains hanging off of them laid. He sounded quite angry... "The doctor said you'd get tetanus if you had those chains on for long." "That doctor must not know about Ares..." he spat. "The Blades have been on my flesh for years!" he growled as he raised his voice. "C-can you p-please stop doing that?" Twilight's ears flopped down. She didn't like when he raised his voice. Not one bit. "Doing what?" "Y-yelling..." "You're wasting my time, talking horse," he said. "ZEUS!" he yelled. To the ceiling? "YOUR BLOOD WILL SOON BE ON MY HANDS! YOUR END IS NEAR!" Zeus chuckled. He stood around a circular pool of water that had a green, glowing image of Kratos and a purple unicorn on it with his Olympian brothers. "Kratos is no longer a threat to Olympia." he sounded as though he could never stop saying it. Hades joined Zeus' laughter. "He has been banished from our land, and even better, the Blades of Athena are no longer in his grasp!" "Morons," Hera sneered at the Gods. "Says the one who gulps down wine and spends her time tending to the gardens all day long!" the messenger of the Gods, Hermes, smirked as he ran past her with lightning-quick speed. Hera just rolled her eyes, taking yet another sip out of her golden, jewel-encrusted goblet. "Thank you, Hera." Zeus nodded to the goddess. Hera sighed. "It's not a problem. At least someone appreciates me." she chuckled. Hades groaned, and walked off. "What do we do about the seas?" Helios asked. Sighing, Zeus responded. "I'm not certain there is one who is worthy of taking the place of Poseidon. His death will not be forgotten." Helios nodded, leaning against a carved stone pillar. "Now what about Kratos? You're just going to leave him in that strange land?" "For as long as I breathe." Kratos was starting to get a slight headache. This horse kept asking questions, like, "Are you okay?" and "What's your name?" and such. He didn't respond to any of them. "I heard you talk." Twilight pushed on. "I do not want to answer any of your questions." Kratos growled. "I need to get u- AGH!" he tried standing up, but in turn, yelled in pain. "U-ugh..." he groaned, laying back down in defeat. "You need to relax." Twilight said. "You're going to re-break your bones if you do that too much," she advised. Kratos just groaned. "How long will I be incarcerated in this personal hell!?" he demanded. "A couple of months..." Twilight said carefully. Kratos' eye twitched. "Maybe six... Or more..." she continued in a low tone. Kratos was glaring daggers at her... Nope, scratch that, glaring swords at her. No, scratch that, too. Kratos was giving her the 'I will rip your legs off, and shove them down your throat, and use you as a bloody maul.' look. In other words- "I-I-I gotta go." the unicorn said nervously. "H-hope you get better!" she stood up. And bolted out of the door. Kratos shook his head. 'What manor of trick is this...' he wondered. He groaned, and laid his head back down onto his pillow. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 3 - - -The first month of recovery, about 1 week in, no visits from Twilight... As Kratos lay in what he surely assumed was his deathbed, he was both bored out of his mind, and impatient. He wanted to get the living hell out of there, but he couldn't move without causing himself great pain. This, in turn, pissed him off. But, at least he had something to listen to. ... The sound of a damn clock ticking. ... Tick... Tock... ... Tick... Tock... TICK... ...TOCK... TICK!... TO- "RAGGGH!" Kratos yelled out in searing frustration. "ZEUS! I KNOW YOU AND YOUR DAMNED BROTHERS CAN HEAR ME!" he bellowed to the ceiling with immensely radiant power, even in his injured condition. ... I mean, heavily injured condition. Literally, it was like having your back rubbed up against the side of a minotaur. Not a fun experience. He groaned, hitting his head against his... Pillow... In hopes to... Break... The bed. Just as he was about to slip into his little world full of boredom, wait, he already did that... But, that familiar purple unicorn mare walked through the door. The demigod almost let out a sigh of relief, but he kept it in, and pretended he was asleep. But, there was one problem: Twilight heard his yelling. Sitting beside the bed with a look of concern on her face, Twilight looked at the injured demigod. Finally, she spoke, “Sorry for not coming to visit you in a little bit.” Kratos didn’t respond. He just snored. Twilight raised a brow, and sighed. “Okay, you can stop acting like you’re sleeping. I heard you yelling.” Kratos growled at her as he opened his eyes. “What do you want.” he demanded. Oh no, he wasn’t asking. Kratos never simply ‘asks’. He tells. He orders. HE RUNS THIS CRAP SHACK! … At least, so he thought... “I want some questions answered, if you would.” “No.” Kratos said, closing his eyes. That was usually the conversation-stopper. After that, it was either ‘talk to the blades- oh wait, your head’s gone,’ or ‘time to open up a fresh can of kick-your-ass.’. “Please?” “No.” Kratos repeated. Wait, he... Never... Has... To repeat himself. He opened his eyes again, and looked over to Twilight. “Why not?” ‘I’d rather die than listen to her childish babbling...’ the wounded demigod frowned, gritting his teeth behind his lips. He spoke, “Because I have no time for you.” he glared at her as he said this harshly. “You more than likely have several months on your hooves.” Twilight said, with a smile on her face. “I think you have quite enough time to talk.” Kratos, if he had been able to walk, and use his arms, he’d be playing the ‘How many colors of the rainbow can a pony turn before they choke to death’ game with the unicorn. But, of course, he was denied of it. Typical. The Spartan growled. “I do not want to answer any of these ‘questions’.” he said. With a humph, he closed his eyes. “Not even one?” “No.” “Pleeeaaase? Please-please-please-please-please-plea-” Kratos’ left eye twitched. “So be it! You may have ONE! And ONE only. You may have your words, but be quick with them!” he snapped. ... “Who are you?” The question was simple. Too simple. But how Kratos took it was as goes; He assumed she wanted his name. Then, he thought she wanted to know who he actually WAS, not just his name. With a sigh, the Spartan spoke, “I’m... Kratos.” he replied dully, with a tinge of boredom combined with a dash of annoyance in his voice. “Is... Something wrong?” the unicorn asked. Kratos slowly shook his head. “But, I didn’t mean just your name...” ‘I knew it...’ Kratos thought. “What is it that you seek from me?” “Well...” Twilight sighed. “... I’m not sure how I could word it, but-” “What I did? My past, you mean?” “Yes! Y-your past, where you’re from, what you did there-” “Then I won’t tell you a single thing.” Twilight’s expression dropped. She was frowning, but she had that look... Not just of curiosity, but a rather confused look. Mixed emotions, basically. “... Why?” she asked, in a low tone. “You’re not in the place to know. That is why.” - - - One day later... Once again, Twilight had come to visit Kratos. Though the Spartan demigod was bored, he, at the very least, had someone... Er, something, to talk to. But, he just didn’t realize it yet. Of course. Now, Twilight was being as nice as she could be to him. Sitting in the same chair she sat in the last time she visited, she smiled at him. “I brought some books for you to read.” she spoke, breaking the silence that lasted for a few minutes, just after she came in. Kratos only nodded. The unicorn sighed, before taking out two books: one on Equestrian history, and another, being a Daring-Do book. In fact, it was the first in the series that her friend, Rainbow Dash, read. Looking over to the books that the unicorn held in her magic, the Spartan spoke, “I have a question...” Kratos spoke. After yelling a bit yesterday, his throat hurt, so he had to speak in a rather quiet tone. “I didn’t receive your name...” Twilight looked back at him, growing an apologetic look. “Oh, where are my manners. I’m sorry. I am Twilight Sparkle. Pleased to meet you, Kratos.” she smiled. Kratos nearly rolled his eyes. “... May I see one of those... Books?” he asked. He was bored out of his mind, so the least he could do to cure his agonizing boredom was to read something. “Which one would you want to read? I have Volume 1 of Equestrian History, or the first book in the Daring-Do series.” she presented the books to him. Kratos thought for a moment, before making up his mind. “... I choose the 'Daring-Do' book.” Now, guys, the idea I came up with is, based off of many comments... That I will now make several parts that are shorter than a normal chapter, but they go through Twilight's visits, and Kratos' recovery. Give me feedback, please. Thank you all for the criticism. I've taken some of it into consideration, but it's still a shot in the dark. ~ZTB Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 4So, Twilight nodded at his decision, and levitated the book in front of Kratos, and opened it to the first page. Kratos tried to read it, but he couldn't. Reason being was that it was in Equestrian; thereby, it looked something like an Egyptian tablet, with symbols and such here and about. "What is this? A picture book?" He asked the unicorn. "I cannot read these scriptures." "Uh... no, these are words... oh! I forgot, you must not know Equestrian... sorry..." Twilight apologized, taking the book from him. "I can read it to you, if you'd like." She offered with a smile. Kratos simply nodded. "I would be pleased..." He muttered dully, closing his eyes to ease them from the brightness of the room. And so, Twilight began to read. "As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days... it might as well be a few months, or a few years!" Twilight read from the book in which Kratos chose, the demigod paying attention as she did so. The unicorn looked over to Kratos, and he nodded, telling her to go on. She continued, "The mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The macaws cried from the high trees. Yet all of these distracting noises were not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step..." Kratos imagined the scene as Twilight read, only, it was in his version... Kratos limped along the path of dirt, looking around while holding his blades out. The sounds of the jungle were heavy, but not heavy enough, as Kratos glanced to his right. With a yell, the demigod painfully rolled to the right, his broken ankle disagreeing with the motion, barely evading a deadly blow from a Minotaur's war-axe. Then, an arrow pierced the ground next to his foot, and he looked over, to see a Centaur archer loading another arrow to fire. Kratos jumped to attention as the Minotaur attempted to strike once again, the Spartan successfully parrying the downward swipe with a vicious parry and counter-attack, which left a gash in the Minotaur's midsection. The mighty warrior sent a chainblade out, catching the Centaur's bow. He yanked downward, jerking the bow out of the creature's grasp. He lashed his arm out, and retracted the blade, the bow going off into the bushes. Angered, both the Minotaur and the Centaur charged at Kratos, who rolled backward just as they were a split second away, the two creatures smashing into one another. But, he lost his footing, now hanging onto the edge of a deep ravine! Kratos held on, and let one arm loose, grabbing one chainblade from his back. He stabbed it into the rock face, and looked down. There was no light at the bottom of the ravine, but he had no other choice, if he wanted no further injuries. He grabbed and stabbed his second blade into the rock face. He then pulled down, and the blades cut through the rock, and allowed him to slide down and get to the bottom without injury. He removed the blades from the rock face, and hopped down into the darkness. Putting away one blade, he pulled out a gory head; Helios's head. Its mouth opened and its eyes shone with bright light, with the power of the sun itself. He used the head's mangled hair as a handle, and began to trek through the damp, dark cavern. The godly torch allowed Kratos to see very many feet in front of him. But, he snapped his head back as he heard the crumbling of stone. He shone his lantern to the direction, and found that the tunnel behind him had collapsed! "Damn..." Kratos muttered. No turning back now. With a frustrated sigh, the Spartan demigod continued to walk through the darkness. Soon, he almost tripped over an edge; in front of him, was a pit with holes at the bottom, measuring many, many meters in length. A spike trap, to be exact. Kratos humphed, and looked to the far end of the pit. Cracking his neck, he hurled the gory torchlight to the end, and now in an ignorance to his agonizing ankle-pain, he jumped into the pit, a row of spikes springing up behind him! It didn't stop him, as he broke into a full-on sprint, the spikes on his tail like drugs to Jack Nicholson. With a grunt, he jumped up and pulled himself up over the edge of the end of the pit, barely being missed by the spikes. He grabbed Helios's bloody head, and brushed himself off with a sniffle, pressing on. He eventually came into a large room, which was composed of sixteen large, square stone blocks, which made up the walls. Four on the floor, four on the right, four on the left, and four on the top. The front and back walls, however, were made of different stone; it was red in coloration. A pedestal stood in the center of the room, and Kratos approached it. An aged book was atop the pedestal, and he read it aloud. "The walls of darkness are lesser than the light. The passage ahead leads to great fortune-... what passage?" He wondered, looking around. It seemed that the room came to a dead end, but he read on, shaking his head. "... but you will need to find it first. The walls around you are much like an unsolved puzzle; the pieces are scattered. Solve the puzzle, and the door shall open." Something caught his eye on the pedestal. There were creases along the bottom, and Kratos tapped the floor lightly. It was hallow, just as he suspected. Then, he began to push down, and the pedestal descended into the floor, and a loud click was heard. The walls began to shake, before they moved, the top column of red stone switching with the top columns of lighter stone. The pedestal moved back up. Kratos raised a brow, and looked around. "I have no time for this..." He growled, before taking out the Nemean Cestus, two massive, lion-headed gauntlets. He then thought 'The walls of darkness are lesser than the light... Hmm...' So, before he could do anything, the walls moved back into place. He smirked. 'This just makes things easier...' A few moments later, Kratos smashed through one of the red walls, into a perfectly square stone passage. He removed the Cestus from himself, and brushed off the debris, trekking down the hall. He pulled out Helios's head, and the godly torch lit-up the passage once again, and he took out one of the blades of Exile, moving forward. Quicker than he thought, he came across a very, very large room, made of marble. At the end of it... was Zeus, sitting in his throne, with his eyes closed. The very sight of the King of the Gods angered Kratos; it made his eyes burn with flames of hatred, and made his body scream with vicious battle-cries. His eye twitched, and he yelled loudly, taking out the Blades of Exile, and rushing at Zeus, with the intent of bloodshed beyond comprehension. Zeus opened his eyes, and stood up, just as Kratos jumped at him. Suddenly, Kratos was falling. Falling through the sky; but the ground wasn't visible. The sky was blood red, clouds of black shadowed the entirety of the void-like air, which was thick and damp. Past memories haunted him as he fell, invisible hands clawing at his mind, tearing into his very soul- "GAH!" Kratos yelped, waking up. Around him, the hospital room was dark, save for a single nightlight, which was on a wall next to the bed. He had fallen asleep whilst Twilight was reading, and had slept through the entire day. He groaned, resting his bandaged head on the pillow once more. - - - The Next Afternoon... After a lunch of hot soup, Twilight came into the room to visit again. "Good afternoon," She greeted the demigod as she walked in, bringing a few more books with her, of course. "Mm..." Kratos replied with a nod. He was rather tired; his schedule for sleeping was screwy now, since he slept through the day. "How are you feeling?" Twilight asked, sitting next to the bed. "The same as before... but only this time, tired..." Kratos sighed lowly, his eyes closed. "... very... tired..." He added. "Well... sorry I didn't wake you up..." Twilight blushed sheepishly. "I-I couldn't wake you up! Of course, my common sense was telling me to wake you up, but I just couldn't lis-" She was interrupted by Kratos, who lifted his right hand up, to silence her. "Shhh... be quiet... my head already aches..." Twilight complied, but she wasn't one who liked being interrupted. Especially like that! How rude of him, to imply that she worsens his headache! But, luckily for Kratos, she silenced herself. For a few moments, there was silence. Glorious silence. Before she spoke, "You know... that wasn't exactly very nice..." Kratos groaned. "Well..." He suddenly went blank on his reply. "Well what?" "... ignore it." "No, you were going to say something. What was it?" "I said to ignore it." "And I'm saying to say what you said to ignore." "'Well'." He repeated the word that he said. "No, not that. What you were going to say, not what you said." "I do not know what I was going to say, Twilight." "Likely story. Now, what was it?" "I do not know, damn you!" He raised his voice. Twilight's ears pinned back. "... S-sorry..." What was this? An apology? Yes. If Kratos hadn't have been so ignorant and unforgiving to her previous apologies, he would've realized sooner that she was actually trying to speak with him as a person, and not a prisoner or lower being. "Hmm?" He looked over to her with a raised brow that she couldn't see, for the bandages on his face covered his eyebrows. "I said... sorry..." She replied. Kratos thought over his words for a moment, before deciding on what to say. "It's... not a... problem...?" Twilight's eyes opened. 'Did he just...' She thought, before she smiled. This was indeed... ... The first sign. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 6The next morning that followed, Twilight shakily got out of bed, her face still wet from tears. She slowly walked downstairs, sniffling. She did get some sleep, but not much. Spike wasn't awake; he had returned from Rarity's, only to take one big nap. Though she was tired, Twilight fixed her mane, took a quick shower, and had a fast breakfast of a single apple. She then walked out of her home, shutting the door behind her. She almost forgot to get the blades, so, she stomached the courage to look at them as she carried them through the town. Of course, just the mere sight of the weapons made Twilight teary-eyed, so she had to look away, just to save herself the public humiliation. She reached the hospital, and walked through the doors, getting permission to see Kratos quickly. Once she got to his room, she opened the door, and hung the two blades on coat-hangers. "... I wondered why they were gone..." Kratos said, his eyes still closed. Twilight's ears pinned back immediately. "I-... I'm sorry..." "So you took them?" "Y-... yes..." "Why?" "... I..." "Speak quickly, Twilight." "I-I... I just... couldn't-" "Couldn't what?" "I... I..." Twilight just couldn't seem to find the courage to tell him what she did, but she had to. "I... know what you did... and I'm so... so... sorry..." "What?!" "Y-your wife..." "Who told you of th-" Just as Kratos was about to yell at her, Twilight pulled him into an embrace. Kratos tried to struggle, but she tightened the grip, practically disabling him, hence the fact that he already was disabled. "I'm so sorry!" Twilight cried as she wept into his shoulder. Kratos just stared blankly at the ceiling, looking around in a state of shock. His mouth was slightly open. He gulped, and as Twilight cried into his shoulder, with his right arm, he pulled her close, stroking her mane. He honestly didn't know what he was doing; it was out of instinct. Some strange, strange instinct that he didn't know much of. Sympathy. Kratos didn't know it, but this was the start of something he would never forget. The Spartan's hardened heart seemed to crack like an eggshell at this, this strange feeling. The memories once again haunted him. The ashes that clung to his skin, they were a permanent reminder of what he did, the shedding of his own love's blood. He lowered his head, nothing else but a single tear escaping his eyes, rolling down his cheek as Twilight hugged him. Eventually, the two of them were silent, for a long while. Kratos eventually broke the silence. "How... did you find out...?" He asked. Twilight sniffled. "T-the bl-blades... I used a sp-spell on them... I saw a lot of things... Zeus... Ares... Hades... Prometheus... Icarus... the Blade of Olympus... Gaia... Athena... you..." She almost looked away from him. Kratos nodded understandingly. "I'm... sorry... you had to see that." He said. "My past isn't something that many would be fond of, Twilight. I told you, I would not tell you anything. Why... why did you not listen to me?" He demanded. Twilight looked him right in the eyes. "B-because... we're friends..." She smiled sadly, before hugging him once more. - - - Mount Olympus... As the Gods watched this happen, Hermes was drinking a goblet of wine. He choked on it, and did a 100% legitimate spit-take once he heard that... all of it landing on Hades. "EUGH! Disgusting!" ... Hades then proceeded to choke Hermes. "Well... what do we do now?" Helios asked Zeus. Zeus shook his head. "Nothing. For now..." "MY GRANDMOTHER COULD CHOKE ME BETTER THAN YOUUUUUAAAAAAAACCGGH!" - - - Kratos's room... Twilight stayed with him for a long time. Kratos was still trying to render just what in the name of unholy Hades happened. His mind was scattered. 'Because we're friends?' 'Because we're... friends...?' 'Friends...' 'Friends...?' 'Because we're... friends? Because we're friends. Because-we're-friends.' He just didn't seem to get it, but at the same time, he did. But the knowledge and 'anti'-knowledge clashed together, leaving him in a confused state of mind. Twilight still hadn't let him go, either. The unicorn's remaining tears were soaked into his skin. Kratos still embraced the mare, for he knew that she wouldn't be letting him go any time soon. "Because we're friends?" He uttered in confusion. Twilight simply nodded with her eyes closed. "Yes... *sniff*..." 'She didn't listen to me because we're friends!?' Kratos thought. 'If I know anything about "friendship", it's that your 'friend' should NEVER turn his back on you...!' He started to get angry, but stopped. 'But she didn't mean any harm, she didn't know what happened. It wasn't her fault.' The voice of Kratos's seemingly non-existing common sense spoke. 'It was her fault, you imbecile... she was the one who took the blades in the first place...' Kratos growled at the voice in his head. 'That is where you are wrong, Spartan! The blades were taken unto you by YOUR choice! It was YOU who chose on that fateful day to become a servant to Ares! Do not be so arrogant as to your own common sense! She did NOT know what would have unfolded before her eyes, and yet you want to punish her for it!? You should be ashamed of every fiber of your BEING for even beginning to think something like that, you childish moron!' Kratos didn't even attempt to 'talk' back after that. He had himself there. "Twilight... I need you to promise me something..." "Y-yes... wh-what?" "If you tell anyone else of this... I will see to it that consequences come... swiftly." "But Kratos-" "I have spoken, Twilight! If you are my friend," He almost shivered at the word. "-you will heed my request." Twilight nodded, but looked back to him. "But what about P-Princess C-Celestia...?" "Who?" "Princess C-Celestia... the ruler of Equestria..." "Why bring her into the matter?" She lowered her head. "Because she is coming to v-visit you... very soon... and she will more than likely want to know a lot about you... s-so... y-you're probably going to have to answer some q-questions." Kratos's hand clenched into a fist. "... Your leader is not of my concern." Twilight looked like she was just smacked upside the head. "She is too your concern, Kratos." She snapped. "And you better know it." Oh, the incalculable ratio as to how much Kratos wanted to yell, 'You dare speak up to the Ghost of Sparta!?'... but he forced himself not to, although it was hard as hell, and said, "We will see about that... when is she coming?" Then, Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh nononono..." "... She's coming today, isn't she?" "... N-no... tomorrow... I almost forgot about it!" Twilight exclaimed, before releasing Kratos, who groaned. "S-sorry Kratos! I really need to go!" She said, rushing out of the hospital. Kratos laid there, confused. 'Why would she worry so much about something so simple as a meeting...?' Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 7The next day came with a painful slowness. Kratos impatiently waited for this 'Celestia' to come, but the night before, the thoughts that raced through his mind drove him to get only a measly four hours of sleep, so he was also very tired. Kratos, deciding to sleep until his door opened, laid his head back on his pillow. But his thoughts were interrupted by the door opening, of course. He opened his eyes, almost excitedly, to see... ... to... TO SEE!... ... the damn nurse with the many unicorn assistants walk in. 'Fff-' "Good morning, Kratos." The nurse greeted. "Not exactly 'good' if you ask me..." Kratos coughed. The assistants looked to one another rather worriedly, but their expressions paled in comparison to the nurses'. "Why is that? Is something wrong?" "These wrappings and bindings are too tight for my liking, and my legs feel fine. That is what is wrong." Kratos replied. "Oh?" The nurse smirked. "It's impossible to recover that fast, Kratos. We can loosen the casts, yes, but--" "But nothing, I demand my legs to be freed entirely." The Spartan ordered. The nurses' smirk only grew. "Well, Kratos, if you are so confident in this..." She nodded to her assistants, who went straight to work on Kratos's casts, taking them off in a jiffy. Kratos groaned, and finally stretched out his legs with relief. "Now, my arms..." He eyed the blades on the coat hangers for less than a second, then the bracers that supported and locked in one of his arms. The assistants looked back to the nurse, and the nurse nodded. The casts came off, and Kratos stretched his appendages with pleasure. Looking to the small needle hooked to his left arm, he sent his right hand for it, and pulled it out. He sat-up on the bed, a tiny trickle of blood leaking from the hole which the needle generated. The assistants rushed to stop him- but the nurse interrupted, "No, let him try and walk." 'If it weren't for my common sense, I would wipe that smug little smirk off of her face... grrhg...' Kratos growled, and got up quicker than he expected. He stood for twelve seconds straight, eyeing the nurse, before taking his first step forward. So far so good, he thought. His muscles suddenly tensed as his right foot touched the ground. "G-" He almost let out a groan, but he couldn't. He was a warrior of Sparta. A broken leg would not falter him. He shoveled down the pain. "Something wrong, Kratos?" The nurse questioned. "Nothing." Kratos snapped. "Now, as you can see, I can walk." "... But you only took one step." The gown-wearing unicorness said, her smirk slightly fading. Kratos took another step. Then another. Then another. Then another. Each of them were slightly painful, but he could do it. He walked slowly, until he was right in front of the nurse, towering over her. "I can leave now." He insisted. "Oh no you can't. I'm not as dull as I look, Kratos." "Hmm?" Behind him, a magical, floating window, generated by the assistants, like an x-ray, showed his slightly intact but not fully-healed shin and ankle. Kratos's eye twitched. He looked to the blades on the wall, and leaped towards them. The nurse and the assistants saw this, and one of them shot a paralysis beam in order to stop him, which missed entirely, hitting a wall. Grabbing the blades by the chains, he viciously tore the coat-hanger from the wall, and spun the two harbingers of death around with expert swordsmanship. He, letting out a yell, charged at the nurse, whose face was plastered with fear. He jumped again, and just as he let go of his blades, they were in the perfect dismemberment position; her head would be ripped messily off, gore would be splattered... ... if he hadn't suddenly stopped in midair. His blades, and even himself, were surrounded by a golden glow. Kratos growled angrily, and tried to locate the source of this treachery. That's just what he did. A rather large, white mare, whose horn was paired with wings, stood in the doorway. Her mane and tail matched one another, flowing freely in a non-existing breeze. She wore a crown, and gilded hoof-plates. Kratos suddenly felt a horrid pain wrack through him, and he let out a silent yell. The blades dropped to the ground, along with the nurse, who was now in shock. Her hooves twitched constantly, whimpers escaping her lips and tears falling from her eyes. "Twilight... you said he was harmless." The mare scolded. Beside her, Kratos saw Twilight, who was teary-eyed in revulsion. "C-Celestia, he... I-I..." Twilight tried to speak, but she refused to. Kratos's heart dropped at this, and Celestia walked into the room, a little more than slightly angry with the Spartan. "How dare you..." She spoke in a low tone. 'This must be this... Celestia...' Kratos was released, landing on his feet with a grunt. "How DARE you attempt to kill one of my subjects?" She raised her voice considerably. This wasn't like Zeus's voice, no, this wasn't like Hades. Her tone... it just made Kratos's legs shake, and his hair stand up on his neck. He controlled his legs, though. "P-Princess, he's harmless! Please, y-you don't need to--" Twilight attempted reasoning with her, but Celestia cut her off like she was a grain of sand to her. "Look at what he has done, Twilight." Celestia gestured to the crying nurse on the ground. "He nearly killed one of my subjects... and for what?" She glared into Kratos's very soul. Kratos humphed, closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and looked away. "She deceived me." He admitted. Even out of his mouth that sounded absolutely stupid. "She deceived you? That's all? You attempt to murder her just because she deceived you!?" Celestia demanded. Twilight's ears pinned back, and she shakily backed away. She knew well-enough that deceit was something Kratos hated, for his skin was ashen white due to the word. The Spartan growled, and spoke, "Listen, you-... y-you..." He was about to crack down upon Celestia with the wrath of his tongue, but the glare he received from Twilight was... influencing him... "... y-you..." 'Damn you, Twilight!' Celestia raised a brow. "What?" Kratos gnashed his teeth, and sputtered out in the lowest of tones, "I'm... s-sorry..." Her raised brow only raised more. "Pardon?" "I said... grrrgh..." He growled at Twilight, the unicorn looking slightly remorseful... ... for less than a second. Her glare intensified, and it burned holes into Kratos's tainted soul. 'WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!!?!' He winced, and through gritted teeth, said, "I apologize..." "For what?" Celestia asked, a sly smirk coming across her face. Kratos was about to snap. "For attempting to..." His eye twitched. Celestia could obviously tell that he was getting angrier every second that passed. Especially when he clenched his fist so hard that it drew blood. "K-Kratos!" Twilight interrupted him as blood leaked between his fingers. He snapped out of it, and shook his head, opening his hand. Blood leaked out of cuts, but he looked down at it blankly. "What... it does not hurt..." 'What manor of creature is this?' Celestia wondered, before sighing. "No need to further aggravate you, Kratos. Please, get the nurse to a chair and let her rest," She said. The unicorn assistants nodded, and took the nurse to the waiting room, shutting the door behind them. "As for you, Twilight, you may stay or leave, whatever you wish." "I'll stay." Twilight said, smiling. "Please, rest your aching legs, Kratos." Celestia insisted. Kratos nodded slowly, and sat on the bed. "Now, let us begin... you already know my name, I assume?" The demigod nodded again. "Yes... Celestia." Twilight was surprised that her mentor didn't correct him as to say, 'Princess Celestia' instead. "It is truly a pleasure to meet you." Kratos thought, 'She must be very forgetful... either that, or she is more ignorant than Zeus...' Even thinking the name made the Spartan's heart shake with rage. What he'd give just to get a choking hold on that piece of shit's neck... "Likewise..." He said dully. "Now, putting what recently happened behind us," Celestia began, "-Twilight had sent me a letter some time ago, explaining your arrival here. I was truly intrigued, so I finalized on meeting you in person, seeing as how you were injured. Furthermore, I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you do not mind..." Kratos let out a sigh, and looked to Twilight for a moment. 'Respect, Kratos.' Her gaze seemed to say that to him. "... You may have your words..." He decided, closing his eyes. "How did you get here, in the first place?" The beautiful alicorn asked. Shit. Kratos knew he wouldn't be able to answer it completely without telling a story, but he had no choice... "I cannot answer that question..." "Why not?" "... you interrupted me." "Oh, my apologies, Kratos, please go on." "... I cannot answer it simply. The unicorn sitting beside you knows... unfortunately knows... things about me that I would have never told her." He said grimly. "How I got here is a question that I cannot answer fully... but I will try my best." He cleared his throat. "It was Zeus... I know that much... that, that... man..." "Who is Zeus?" Celestia asked. Kratos furrowed his brow. "Twilight, could you answer this..." "Of course." Twilight replied with a geeky smile, looking at her mentor. "Zeus is the King of the Olympians, as far as I know. He... caused Kratos some trouble. He was how he got this." She pointed to the scar on his midsection. Celestia's eyes widened slightly. "He killed you?" "I've died more than once..." Kratos replied. Nobody spoke for a moment or two, before Celestia broke the silence. "... Interesting... go on." "Zeus betrayed me, and I had to go on a journey... a journey which my death began... I went to the Sisters of Fate, who control the very threads of fate... I slaughtered them all, and returned to the moment in time when Zeus betrayed me, but failed in killing him." Kratos explained. "Does he still live?" "... unfortunately." The demigod replied. Celestia nodded, understanding what he meant. "And I assume you want vengeance, correct?" "Mm..." He nodded. "The other Olympians are only blockages to my vengeance... I swore to myself, I would get my revenge by any means possible... but I don't think I can now..." He sighed. "Why not?" "Equestria... isn't my homeland." He said simply. "You come from a land on the outskirts, I assume?" Celestia decided. "... I'm not certain I'm a part of this world entirely." He replied. "Everything, even the way I see things... is much different... the landscape is like a rainbow." Kratos smirked. Celestia's already-raised brow raised even further. She asked, "And what about the ponies?" "The people...?" Kratos said, before thinking hard. "... I... am not so sure... they've done me no good, putting me in a prison of my own body." He said rather rashly. 'Just as I thought...' The princess smirked. "The ponies of Equestria have done you no wrong, Kratos, and have helped you recover. Without us, you would more than likely be dying in that same place you appeared in. We give you shelter, Kratos. We give you care that you need, and what do you do?" She asked, almost rhetorically. "... You act arrogant. You're ignorant to the nice ponies around you. They want to talk to you, want to get to know you, and you shove them away? Isn't there even a shred of kindness inside of you?" Twilight looked worriedly at the Spartan, who was lost in thought. What she heard next, made her eyes widen, and fill with tears. "... I need no friends..." Celestia, after a long silence, got up, and said almost dissapointedly, "I must go. I have duties to attend to." She left the room, leaving Kratos and Twilight alone. Tears streaming down her face, Twilight said, "H-how could you, K-Kratos...?" She asked sadly. Kratos's heart wrenched. Why was he... feeling this way? He looked away, for fear he himself would join the unicorn in that... disgusting pool of emotion. Then he heard the sobbing. 'Ggh... hold it in...' The Spartan tried his best to contain and lock away his emotion, but each second that passed, the unicorn's weeping got to him more and more. Not taking it anymore, he put a hand on Twilight's shoulder, since she was in reaching distance. "Twilight, stop." He ordered. "Please." He placed his other hand on her other shoulder. "Stop... stop..." Maybe this was a bad idea, Kratos thought, as his eyes began to slowly, slowly but surely fill up with tears. "L-let go of me..." Twilight shoved his hands off of her, and walked away. Kratos was hurt. He, the former God of War, the Ghost of Sparta... a monster... a seemingly emotionless, ruthless, hateful monster... was hurt. Once Twilight got out of the room, she shut the door. Something inside Kratos snapped at that moment. ... his heart. Only now, had he realized what Celestia said. Only now, had he come to understand. Throwing his head back, Kratos gnashed his teeth furiously as he fruitlessly attempted to hold back the tears. Twilight wiped the tears from her face. Celestia stood in the hall, looking at her with a wink. She winked back, before suddenly, she looked like she wasn't crying at all. "Do you think it worked?" The unicorn asked her mentor. "... Without a doubt." Celestia smiled. "Although I normally wouldn't approve of doing something like this, it is rather unfortunate that we could not get through to him any other way. I'm glad you talked to me before we came, Twilight." Twilight nodded. "It was my pleasure. Although..." She looked back to the door. "... I don't know if he's alright... what should I do now?" She asked. "You wait. I doubt that he'll be the same in a week's time. Once the week is over, visit him. He will be brittle and sad," "... because I think he has realized the importance of friendship." Author's Note This chapter was actually quite a lot of fun to write, guys! Hope you liked it. Gonna work on the next one right quick. Chapter 8Twilight couldn't stop pacing around once she got home. What Celestia said to her, it just... she didn't want to do it. Did she have to? No. She didn't... but either way, she'd feel guilty. This was one of those times when Twilight had to make a tough decision. All I can say? Guilt is one hell of a bitch. "No way." "Way!" "EEE!!!" This had been going on for about an hour. Kratos laid in his bed, on the verge of yelling. The voices were of two young mares outside his door, talking about some damn stallion that was 'hot' or something, and how one got with him. "So what is he like?" "He's like, totally awesome! He's such a good kisser..." Kratos mumbled, "I'll give you something to kiss..." Before growling. "Really?! Oooh... so... how big is he?" "I haven't gotten that far with him yet!" The Spartan was seriously on the brink of- "WILL YOU TWO SHUT. UUUP!!! BEFORE I RIP OUT YOUR TAINTED... VOCAL... COOORDS!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. Silence... Thank Zeus... ... wait. Don't thank Zeus, brutally murder him when you get the chance. Got that? Got that. "Finally... some peace and qui-" "Like... what the hay was that?" "Hehehe! I don't know!" "URGHGRHGRGH..." Kratos realized something. One. He wasn't restrained. Two. His blades were on the floor, completely left for his taking. Three. Ponies were idiots for being so ignorant. A few minutes later, Kratos opened the door, and slammed it against the wall, which cracked. The two mares stared in slight horror at him as he said, "The next word... I hear... come out of your mouths... earns me the right... to rip off your head." He held one of the blades in his hands. The mares went pale, quickly exchanged silent whispers, walked away slowly... ... and screamed, "GUAAARD! MONSTERRR!!!" "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO-" "GAH!" Kratos woke up with a yelp, and panted. Another damn dream! He growled, and tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't. His eyes seemed to be glued open after the dream. Strange was the dream, but even more so strange was the fact that he couldn't get back to sleep. Now, Kratos hadn't really thought about what happened in the day. Tried to... shove it down with ignorance. But even then, it made him feel off. Hollow. Stale. But, he was an expert at ignoring things, so he simply ignored. As the saying goes, 'ignorance is bliss'. The Spartan thought, 'I'm not bound to the mattress... I could simply walk out of here if I wanted... I doubt the guards would be able to put up any kind of fight.' But quickly dismissed it. Why? Because then he thought, 'But why would I leave...? I've nowhere to go, stay... that's how it has been for me for many years, but this isn't my home... I... don't know if I can return without help...' He groaned, forcefully shutting his eyes in an attempt to sleep once again. Just as Kratos was about to drift off into slumber... "K-Kratos...?" A familiar voice called to him in a whisper. He looked over, and opened his eyes. There, emerging from the bed next to his, was none other than Twilight Sparkle. The very sight of her made him look away. "Kratos... I... didn't mean to hurt you..." "Your words mean nothing to me... get out of my sight." He ordered. "No, Kratos." She barked. "It... isn't... how you think it is. It was..." "If you're to talk to me, Twilight, be quick with your tongue! I'm not tolerating mindless gibbering!" He snapped. "I-i-it wasn't intentional. Princess Celestia made me do it... I... we... were trying to-" Before Twilight could even finish her sentence, Kratos's eyes shot open in shock, then quickly boiled with rage in realization. "How... dare you... try to manipulate me, Twilight, how DARE you?!" Kratos demanded as he sat up on the bed. "You know what I have been through! You know that it was because of manipulation, because of deceit, that I MURDERED MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! AND YET, YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY AND BREAK ME, MANIPULATE ME, JUST TO BEND ME TO YOUR WILL, AND GET ME TO BE CONTROLLED!?!?" He yelled. By now, Twilight was curled-up in a ball on the ground, crying out of the guilt and pressure he quite literally shoved on her, sputtering out apologies like there was no tomorrow. "I-I'm... s-s-sorry..." "Your apologies mean nothing to me! Now leave me... before I do something you'll regret." Twilight didn't comply, but understood what he meant by 'something you'll regret'. Her horn lit-up, and she swiftly plucked the blades up from the ground into her magical grasp, and quickly started for the now opening door. Acting fast, Kratos attempted to pursue, but fell down as soon as he started running. Twilight looked back, and that gave the Spartan just enough time to get up, and get a head start on her. Terrified for her life, the unicorn ran out of the room, and attempted to slam the door shut, but Kratos grabbed it before it could shut, and flung it open. Armed with nothing but his bare fists, he chased the unicorn through the midnight halls. One of the patrolling stallions noticed him running, and charged toward him. Bad idea. Kratos sent out his undamaged leg once the stallion came rushing into the within-three-feet-zone, and with brutal force, knocked the wind out of the guard with an inhumanly powerful kick, straight to the chest. He heard a crack, but didn't care, continuing to pursue her, even as the stallion fell to the ground with a thump, gasping for painful breaths, until he finally breathed his last, limbs falling limp to the ground. "GIVE ME THE BLADES, TWILIGHT!" He ordered as he ran. His leg was starting to get to him, but had he not been utterly pissed off to the point of no return, he would've been screaming. Twilight ran out of the doors to the hospital, into the night air. But Kratos charged through them. "GRAAAGH!" He yelled with bestial vigor as he threw the doors aside. Cuts were now on his chest, but he seemed not to care. He gritted his teeth, and continued to run after her. The chase continued for several minutes. Twilight's stamina was depleting quickly, exhaustion beckoning her to stop and take a breather, but she was running for her life, ignoring every demand her body threw at her. She had to get the blades away from him, as fast as possible, but it was fruitless. But even then, she kept running. Kratos continued to close the distance, but as she ran through Ponyville, she got an idea, and skidded to a stop. Kratos did too, and growled at her, but before he could leap or charge at her, the chains that were connected to the blades were quickly, forcefully, and tightly, wrapped around his forearms. Painful memories haunted Kratos's mind, ones of when Ares did this to him. The Spartan was confused, but tried to take the blades anyway. But this failed, as Twilight took advantage of this, yanking the blades outward to the left and right sides of him, causing Kratos to become unbalanced. She wrapped the blades' chains around two fence posts. Kratos smirked. 'Really...' He took hold of the chains that were extended, and pulled inward with all his might, before both fences broke from the ground, and were sent flying towards him. It was Twilight's turn to smirk, as her horn lit up again. In a flash, Kratos was tied-up painfully by his own chains, like a mummy. The fences were thrown away. His arms were disabled- practically useless now, the blades hanging by his sides. She glared at him, and tied them under his legs, just before he fell onto his back. He squirmed, but it was no use. Twilight approached him. "You're going to lay here... and think over your actions... d-do you understand me?" She asked. Kratos almost laughed at her stuttering, easily telling out she was either terrified or in shock that she managed to disable him, but groaned, halfheartedly saying whilst resisting a shit-eating grin from forming, "I understand..." "G-good..." Twilight said, before walking off to her home. Her eyes went wide as she thought, 'I... did I really... h-how did I...' She was astonished at herself. ... but then she heard the yell. Looking behind her, her ears pinned back as Kratos miraculously freed himself. Her jaw slacked, dropping widely, pairing well with the shrunk irises that now accompanied her face. Kratos grasped the handles of the blades tight, the chains wrapped tightly, almost painfully tight around his forearms, where the scars used to be. Twilight braced herself, teary-eyed for what was to come... Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 9... but it never did. Twilight opened her eyes, and looked around, tears running down her cheeks as her legs shook. Her head was wracked with a headache, her body and soul shaken like an eight on the Richter Scale. Kratos was nowhere to be seen, like he had disappeared out of thin air. Twilight fell to the ground, and started to silently weep. She wasn't in the condition to speak, or listen. She was terrified like a filly, as though she woke up from a nightmare. Twilight covered her eyes, and ignored the faint hoofsteps on the cobblestone road. "Twilight, what's wrong!?" A familiar voice asked her. The mare's voice sounded tired, but very concerned and alert. "Twilight!" Twilight's sobs grew in volume, but were muffled as though a suppressor had been placed over her mouth as she cried into her hooves. She could almost feel the blades ripping and tearing her apart like table-saw blades, shredding her hope, her dreams, and the friends she once knew to death. Only now had Twilight realized that Kratos was right. She shouldn't have done what she did- take his weapons. Regret filled her mind, and she shook violently with the plague of fear, which was striking at her heart with ruthless abandon, even as her friend hugged her. "Are you alright?!" Asked the rainbow-maned mare with grave concern, as though she knew something terrible had happened. If only Twilight hadn't been choking on her own sobs, what she said would come out much more clear. "K-*gasp*K-*cough*Kr-Kr-*sniff, hiccup!*-atos is a-a-a monst-monster!..." "What did he do to you, Twilight?!" "H-he..." Kratos was watching this unfold from the top of a building. He had run away when Twilight wasn't looking. Why hadn't he tore into her? Because he knew that it wouldn't do him any good, seeing as how Celestia was deeply connected to her. It was only one word that came to mind that prevented him from killing her; reputation. If he had killed Twilight, that would more than likely result in Celestia, who was probably the only pony on this world whose assumed magical prowess could return him back to Olympus, becoming hostile towards him. And the last thing he needed was a war breaking out in a world he's a foreigner in. Now, he knew of this 'Princess Celestia', because he 'met' her himself. He looked around the night air, spotting a castle-like structure in the distance. Which inconveniently, was on the side of a mountain. Kratos groaned to himself, and quickly slid off of the roof, and undetected, he sneaked out of Ponyville. He looked blankly at the mountainside city as he stood in a field, thinking, 'That fortress is at least a couple hundred miles away... without taking the mountain climbing into consideration... there's a forest to the East, looks like it could serve as a detour. There's a building... looks like it has tracks that lead up the mountain. If I walked along them enough I could reach the city by dusk tomorrow... hmm. By the looks of the castle, it might be home to that royal annoyance... best to try my luck.' Then, he began his long trek along the train tracks. As he reached the 20-mile point, the sun rose up in the sky. Had he really been walking for that long? And a better question to ask was, how was he coping with his leg? But nobody was around to talk to. Nor did Kratos care as he walked along the old tracks. He heard a faint rumbling behind him, like a stampede of centaurs. He turned around, and saw a colorful train coming towards him. Kratos got an idea once he saw the cars of the strange vehicle. 'Might as well make convenience of this...' He thought, before stepping back once to ensure the vehicle wouldn't collide with him. Taking one blade by the chain, and spinning it, he timed it flawlessly as he threw his chain-blade like a javelin at the train, piercing the metal of one car like paper. Luckily, there weren't any passengers in the car he just vandalized, because it was a storage car. Kratos swiftly repeated the process with his other blade before the train went on too far, and jumped with a groan, pulled himself forward, and with momentum, jumped and slammed into the car's door, sending himself through and into the cart's storage area, in which he landed in a pile of boxes. And smacked his head off of the metal door behind him. "AGH! DAMN!" But that wasn't the end. Kratos could hear a faint scraping sound, then, his blades tore out from the walls, and were sent flying towards him. And as soon as Kratos's eyes focused on the two objects coming towards him, "Oh shi-" was all he said, before his own blades' handles smashed him square in the forehead. Let's just say he had a nice long nap after that. Rainbow Dash had to drag Twilight all the way to Sugarcube Corner, because it was the nearest place where she knew Twilight could rest. She knocked on the door, and with luck, Pinkie Pie herself was still up. Pinkie gasped when she saw Twilight, her friend was crying, sniffling, shaking, repeating the phrase "He's coming for me..." over and over again. Pinkie immediately brought her and Rainbow Dash inside, for fear that there might be a monster in the streets. Good 'ol Pinkie Pie, ah? Twilight now sat curled-up on Pinkie's bed, wrapped in a blanket's embrace, the occasional sniffle escaping her nostrils. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash sat on either side of her. "What happened, Twilight?" Pinkie asked. As soon as she asked this, Twilight teared-up again, and with the memories, she sobbed into the blanket. Comforting hooves wrapped around Twilight's body- both Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were hugging her. She stopped crying momentarily, squeaking as she sniffled in a fruitless attempt to hold the tears back. "It's okay, Twilight. Let it out. Pinkie's here." Pinkie soothed her friend as she began weeping again. "Shhh, it's okay..." Pinkie rocked Twilight in her hooves, and Rainbow Dash followed suit, cradling the crying mare like a mother would a foal. Very soon, Twilight's sobs died-down. Pinkie Pie had left Rainbow Dash with Twilight, and went to get some tea. She returned just a couple of minutes later, smiling as she saw her friends hugging, the occasional sniffle being heard. Carrying the plates on her back which housed the cups, and the teapot in her maw, she entered the room, and set the teapot down on the end table next to her bed, and the plates next to them, with a little nudge and slide-off technique. "Twilight, do you want some tea? I made some just now if you'd want some!" She offered with a huge smile. Twilight's reddened eyes opened as she looked up to her friend. "Th-thanks P-Pinkie..." She smiled back, and sniffled as Pinkie Pie poured the hot tea into the trio of cups on the table. Twilight lifted one of them up with a magical grasp, and let out a small sigh of relief as she took a long sip of the tea. "Could I stay here for the night, Pinkie?" Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie nodded. "Of course you can! Rainbow Dash, you could stay too if you wanna!" She offered. "Ehhh..." Rainbow received looks from both ponies, before she smiled. "Fine." "What's wrong? You don't have to if you don't want to." Pinkie questioned, cocking her head at Dash. Rainbow sighed. "I just wanna find that punk Kratos, and teach him a lesson." She pressed her hooves together. Twilight's eyes widened. "Y-you couldn't, Rainbow Dash... he's... h-he's much stronger than you think..." She warned. "Doesn't mean he's unbeatable!" was the last thing Rainbow Dash said, before she hopped off of the bed, opened a window, and flew right out of it, swiftly taking to the skies. "RAINBOW! NO!!!" Twilight yelled, accidentally spilling the teacup's contents onto the floor as she rushed to the window, watching her disappear into the distance. She looked back to Pinkie Pie, and nervously chuckled. "Eheh... sorry." She sniffled. Pinkie smiled. "Don't worry about it, silly!" She giggled, and went to go get some paper towels. "Help yourself to more tea if you want!" Pinkie said as she walked out. Twilight's smile faded away as she stared, disappointed and worriedly, out into the deep black skies. 'I swear, Dash is out of her mind... she doesn't know what she's up against.' Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 10Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies, just as Kratos had been walking along the tracks. She flew around, and around, and around, until she flew near Mt. Canterlot. Whilst hovering in the air, flapping her wings as though she was a humming bird in slow-motion, she saw a pale figure. There he was miles down, walking along the tracks. "Kratos..." She spat at his name. But then, Dash saw the train coming up from behind him. She was surprised when she saw Kratos jump through one of the doors, but didn't see him come out the other side. Was he in there, terrorizing the ponies? Stealing supplies? Something worse? Only somepony with the brashest of attitudes, the cockiest of hearts and most ignorant of minds could even think of rushing down there to 'teach him a lesson'. But he was a Slayer of Gods. Ignorance would be her downfall. Rainbow Dash plummeted down, and with speeds that rival a jet, swooped into the storage car. Kratos was sent flying through the door he laid slumped-down. He woke up almost at the second he was pummeled through the door, onto the ground. Many meters above him, hovered the cerulean blue annoyance. He got to his feet, but was quickly knocked down in the process of this- He was still dazed from being knocked out so recently, and Rainbow Dash gave him no mercy. Rainbow Dash then began to send blow after traumatizing blow to Kratos's upper body. She was clever in her fighting, mixing up her hooves and head in the blows. Her left hoof moved out to the left side of his head, only to smack him with the other front hoof with a fake-out. Looks like practicing Pony-Fu with Applebloom was a good way to keep her skills from going stale. She smirked as Kratos brought up his arms to defend himself, thinking, 'Twilight was warning me about fighting a wimp like him?! He's so weak!' She stepped off of him when she thought he had enough. "Maybe that'll teach you not to mess with my friends!" She said. But just as she said this, a hand gripped her right hind leg tightly. She looked back to see Kratos- he was the one behind the grabbing. Only, he had the most pissed off expression she'd ever seen on anypony's face in her entire life. Gray eyes narrowed, focused on her life. Lips dry, cracked from lack of water and twisted in a snarl. The heat in his hand felt hotter than the hottest day. The sheer amount of anger on his face screamed at her like a lion's roar, before she was violently taken to the ground by a rough twist. But Kratos didn't stop there, he continued to twist as Rainbow struggled fruitlessly to break free, just up to the point that was agonizing, but not enough to break it. Rainbow was now screaming, begging him to stop with teary eyes. Crack. Kratos left the screaming pegasus there as he walked away. That pegasus laid with her wings limp and stretched out, obviously dealing with the pain. Her hooves grasped her broken leg, eyes shut to keep from crying. It would teach her a lesson- not to interfere with Kratos's plans. Just as he stepped off about five steps, he stopped, and waited for the pegasus's screams to die down. "Maybe that will teach you not to interfere, weakling." He spat harshly, before moving on. Twilight was right. Kratos was a monster. Rainbow began to tear-up at the searing pain that her hind leg brought upon her, before she bit her lip, and got up. No! She wouldn't let this 'monster', or this, this pathetic excuse of a broken leg stop her! She was Rainbow Dash! Not a coward! A coward backs down from a fight, and Rainbow Dash sure as hell wasn't a coward! "Rrgh... get back here! I ain't done with you!" She yelled angrily as she took to the air, soaring after her opponent. "What?!" Kratos turned around. As he watched Rainbow come towards him, he thought to himself, 'So much determination... reminds me of... me.' Before he put his hands on his blades' handles, he got another thought. ‘She's unarmed... I may as well make this a fair battle.' He let go of his blades, and waited for her to come near, thinking she'd be absolutely no challenge, armed or unarmed. She landed about ten yards away from him, and growled. "You think you're so tough, huh!?" She taunted. "Well no matter how many armies you've laid waste to, no matter how many minotaurs and manticores you've dealt with, I'm not going down without a fight!" Rainbow barked. "We'll see about that," Kratos took a defensive stance as he said this. The two warriors were at a standstill- both had a broken leg, but even though they were nearly equal in their physical pain. They ignored it, as though it never happened. The two of them rushed at each other viciously as the sun rose, with a bestial battle cry. "Twi, calm down! You're scarin' me!" Applejack expressed as Twilight went on and on and on about Rainbow Dash going after Kratos. She kept going, so Applejack groaned and forcefully stuffed a hoof into Twilight's mouth. "Now y'all gotta calm down, and go slow, for pony sake! It's almost six in the mornin'!" She looked Twilight in the eyes. "D'ya promise 'ta go slow?" Twilight nodded, and Applejack took her hoof from her friend's mouth. "Okay..." She let out a long sigh. "Sorry. It’s just that Kratos scared me... because I thought he'd k-kill me... then Rainbow Dash came to me while I was crying, Kratos was gone... s-she took me to Sugarcube Corner... and then, she went after Kratos... she's going to get herself killed if she finds him, Applejack! Kratos will kill her!" Twilight insisted. "Now y'all hold on! He ain't gonna lay ah single hand on Rainbow Dash. Go round-up the others, Ah'm gettin' Big Macintosh!" Applejack ordered, before galloping off. “Hold on!” Twilight yelled. “What is it now?” AJ looked back. “How in the hay can we go looking for them if you don’t know where they went?” Twilight reasoned. “Uh...” Applejack didn’t reply. “Exactly. I think I may have an idea as to where they went. Since Kratos probably wants to return to his own world, he’ll probably try and find Celestia... that means he’s likely headed for Canterlot.” Twilight said. “Well we’ve no time ‘ta waste! Get your hooves movin’!” Applejack ordered as she ran into the farmhouse. Twilight gulped nervously, and nodded, rushing out of the farm, and down the pathway to Ponyville to gather up the girls. She was glad that the night was finally ending, so hopefully her friends wouldn’t be too mad at waking them up at this awful moment. Especially Rarity. Godspeed, our pony heroines. Godspeed! "GRAAAGH!" Kratos yelled as he missed yet another swing. He figured out very quickly that looks could be deceiving- Rainbow Dash was much more agile than he had expected her to be, especially with her condition. He growled as Rainbow landed a few meters away. "What's the matter, Kratos? Lost your fight? Pony got your tongue?" Rainbow taunted. Kratos stepped forward with a smirk. "Never!" He yelled, before charging at her. Kratos swung hard with his right fist, hoping that by using his healthy leg he could get better aim. But Rainbow deftly dodged his attack, and countered with a quick strike to his weaker left side. Unfaltering, Kratos managed to land a kick with his shin to Rainbow Dash's hind legs, sweeping her off her hooves from the left as she collapsed. But, she took advantage of this, and used it to propel herself upward with her still working hind leg. She continued to return the favor by slamming both hooves into Kratos's chest, making him stumble back a few steps. She hovered in the air- flight was an advantage she had over Kratos over all else. Kratos had had enough of this annoyance. He leaped into the air, and aimed to grab Rainbow Dash's injured hind leg again to take advantage of her broken limb. But Rainbow moved out of the way, and Kratos grabbed Dash's other leg. Either way would work, he strategized. He yanked down hard, and slammed Rainbow Dash to the ground, but in doing so, was also smacked upside the head by her other hoof. He was dazed from a hit that he himself had caused. He shook his head, and watched in amusement as Rainbow struggled to get up. Kratos didn't hesitate- he kicked her in the side, making her yell in pain. Rainbow fell, collapsing from the pain that she could no longer take. "You think you can defeat me, horse?" Kratos taunted. "I've slain gods. I've massacred countless minions of Hades, and monstrous beasts that dwarf your pathetic minotaurs by a thousandfold! The Hands of Death could not take me. The Sisters of Fate could not hold me. And you, a mortal... think you can defeat me?" He asked rhetorically. He thought back quickly, the memory of him killing Ares flooding his mind. Rainbow was trying to get revenge, and tried to do the impossible. The coincidence was very unbelievable, but Kratos shrugged it off. Then, the Spartan grabbed Rainbow and pulled her head to his, so she could see into his stern face. "You're lucky I've a reputation to uphold... otherwise, you wouldn't be so fortunate." Kratos said to her. "Now... go back to your friends, and tell them not to interfere, not to chase me, and all will go better for them and for me. Tell them they're better off forgetting about me entirely. Do you understand? Is that not clear to you?" Rainbow Dash just nodded in response, and Kratos helped her to her hooves. "Now leave me. Go." Kratos ordered, before he walked off. "Or I'll reconsider my thoughts on sparing you." He warned. She groaned, and took to the air lazily. Rainbow was lucky, alright. Lucky to have wings! Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to get back to her friends. But thankfully, she didn't have to go long. "Rainbow Dash!" A familiar voice called in the distance. Kratos stopped in his tracks, and turned around. A small group of ponies were coming his way, lead by Twilight Sparkle and Applejack. He then broke into a full-on sprint towards the mountain which held the castle, covering an amazing amount of ground in minutes. He should've been gravely thankful for his stamina. Otherwise, he'd have been tuckered out long ago. "Kratos! You get the hay back here RIGHT NOW!!!" A furious voice yelled, its stetson-wearing owner approaching Kratos swiftly. "AJ! DON'T!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "Rainbow Dash, y'all stay outta this!" Applejack ordered sternly as she galloped after Kratos. Kratos growled, and picked up the pace, taking longer strides with each quick step he took. He managed to near the mountain much faster than he had expected. He twirled one of his blades around as he continued to rush at it. Leaping upward and with great momentum, pierced the mountain with his blade many, many meters above him. He repeated the process as fast as he could, and began to literally run up the side of the mountain. Each step strained him, but the demigod pressed on. Both of the blades dangled down from his sides after he yanked them from the mountainside. He focused more on running than the yells he heard from down below. Applejack groaned. "Consarnit!" She was very angry- Kratos had gotten away with doing something to her friend, unpunished. "Applejack..." Twilight trotted up next to her friend. "Twilight, Ah almost had him. Ah almost did!" She growled. “Just ah couple more steps and Ah would’ve had ah hold’a-” "It's fine, AJ." Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder as she interrupted her irritated friend. "We can still catch up to him." She gestured to a pathway, leading up the mountain. "But what about Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked, looking back to the friend in question, who was hovering in the air. "I... Kratos kinda... broke my right hind leg." Rainbow admitted regretfully. She never liked telling her friends bad news- hell, nopony did. This managed to get gasps from everypony but Big Macintosh and Applejack, who sighed. “Big Mac,” Applejack said. “Eeyup?” Macintosh asked. AJ lowered her head, before she said, “Alright, now. Kratos’s headin’ up that mountain, everypony. Big Mac, y’all are gonna escort Rainbow Dash back ‘ta the hospital so she can rest. Girls, we’re gonna go stop that monster, from whatever he’s doin’, well, uh, accordin’ ‘ta Twilight he’s gonna pay the Princess ah visit... ‘ya hear?” She asked. The girls nodded. “Alright then! Let’s get ah move on!” Spearheading the group, Applejack charged up the path. Rarity was generous not to complain about the whole ordeal, more worried about her friend’s welfare. Pinkie Pie refrained from smiling, given the situation. Fluttershy frowned, that mean ol’ human dared to hurt one of her friends?! Oh he was so going to get the Stare! They all turned to rush after Applejack. Running at such an angle was depleting Kratos's stamina, but he knew he had much more work than this ahead of him. He started to lose his grip, and gritted his teeth as he sent his blades out again, piercing the mountain up ahead. He pulled himself up, and with the momentum he had before, charged up the mountain. Both blades now in his hands. Kratos' muscles suddenly cramped up in the back of his legs, from all of the stress accumulated. He was at a ledge, and in an attempt to correct this pain by instinct, one of his hands was sent down to his legs, the other grabbing onto the ledge. He strained as he pulled himself onto the ledge, his legs burning like the flames of Olympus as he backed up to the wall on the ledge. He'd have to wait-out the pain if he wanted to continue. How long had he been at it? When was the last time he took a bite to eat or drink? Sweat coated his ashlike skin, keeping his skin from looking like a completely cracked stone. Months trapped in that infernal cast coffin left his skin and muscles aching for fresh air. Now he suffered from too much air this high up. The God of War wanted to rest and heal. But he ignored the pain yet again. Getting to his feet, he gritted his teeth and stabbed one blade into the wall, then another. He repeated this process many times, as he was now climbing the seemingly ever-growing mountain. Now many miles up, Kratos had been climbing for hours. There was a ledge, connected to a garden which belonged to the castle. Kratos leaped onto the ledge, and began to walk around to take in the scenery. The palace was elegant, the gardens filled with many variations of flora, and surprisingly- some fauna. But Kratos had no time to waste. He continued on, towards the castle. "Halt! By order of the Royal Guard!" 'Oh, great...' Kratos took out his blades, as he was suddenly surrounded by a group of armored guards. While they had more armor than the previous pegasi he met, they were still pathetic. "Put down your weapons, or we will use deadly force!" One of them ordered. Huh. Some of them weren’t white. Least this Celestia wasn’t a racist. He idly wondered if any of them were homosexuals, like some of his Spartans were. Focus Kratos. The God of War growled. "I'd sooner die!" As the stallions charged at him, Kratos readied his blades to send one out. A yell was heard, as a guard had been stabbed viciously through his breastplate. Kratos pulled up and back, the guard being plucked from the ground as he rolled forward, catching the group off guard. Kratos then yanked the blade from the dead guard's body, and spun around with one foot, twirling the blades around in a fan of death above his head. All but one remained, after the massacre had ended. His legs were shaking, he was whimpering. Kratos put one blade on his back, and slowly approached him. Before the guard could run away, Kratos grabbed him cruelly by the throat, picking him up. "Tell me where Celestia is, and I will spare your life!" The guard spat in Kratos's face. "N-never!" Hesitantly, Kratos wiped the spit from his face. "You must have a wife... a child... a life. You're willing to give that up, in a heartbeat, because of your pathetic ruler?" Kratos asked, glaring into the guard's soul, choking him with his hand as his grip tightened. The guard teared-up, coughed, and shook his head. "I'll... t-tell you... wh-what you need to know...! Re-release m-AGH!" "Be quick with your words!" Kratos said as he punched the stallion in the chest. "Or I will gut you alive!" He threatened. The guard stayed silent. Kratos groaned as he walked over to the ledge. He grabbed one of his hind legs, and let him dangle over the edge. "AAAHHH! NO! PLEASE! DON'T LET ME FALL! SHE'S IN THE THRONE ROOM! THE THRONE ROOM!!!" The guard begged. "Where is the throne room!?!" Kratos demanded. "THERE'S A DOORWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CASTLE JUST OPEN THAAAT!!!" He directed. "Useless." Kratos said as he released his grip on the stallion's hind leg and set him on the ground. “I will grant you mercy.” “Thank you sir!” The guard yelled out. Kratos turned his back, only to have the guard lift his spear and hit Kratos on the head. The Spartan turned his head around, eyes narrowed as fire burned in his eyes. “What have you done? I show you mercy and you bop me in the head? Not even a proper stab?!” Kratos yelled out. “I’m sorry! *Sob* I’m just *Hick* doing my job!” The stallion cried. Kratos sighed, closing his eyes. It was a soldier’s duty after all. “There there. We all make mistakes. You know what you must do now, right?” The guard nodded, tears slipping from his eyes. Kratos handed the guard a .45 pistol. The pegasi took the handgun and cocked it, almost unable to see thanks to the salty tears. Kratos nodded down at him. “There there, it will all be okay,” Kratos said. The guard took one final look up at the human. He nodded and then lifted the gun to end his life. (Wait wait wait, hold up... how in the hell did Kratos get a gun in Equestria? Magic, my friend! Sexcellent! Carry on! Nothing to see here, NOOOPE!) Kratos walked away, and kicked the door into the castle. "CELESTIA!" Kratos yelled as he stormed around the halls, which were unguarded. He kicked in door after door, but he still did not find her. He was enraged by the time he reached the middle of the castle, where there was a large double-door met with the staircases. Strangely enough, it was also unguarded. He kicked in those doors as well. And what the guard said was right. There, on a throne at the end of the room, sat Celestia with her eyes fixated on Kratos. He slowly approached, her guards grasping their spears. "No." Celestia ordered. The guards complied hesitantly, lowering their weapons. "There is no need to yell. I thought you were undergoing recovery?" "Recovery is for the weak." Kratos spat as he neared the throne. "Why are you here?" She asked calmly. Kratos sighed. "I am here because there is no place for me in this world. I hear rumor of your magical prowess, and I ask you..." He hesitated. "I ask... you..." "Is something wrong?" "No." Kratos snapped. "I..." He got one one knee. "I ask that you help me... return to Olympus." There was no 'if you could'. Kratos never had time for 'if's. "You think me capable of returning you to your home world?" Celestia asked, as though the question was silly. "Nopony's magical prowess is powerful enough to do that. And teleportation requires memory or knowledge, of where you want to travel. I apologize Kratos, but I cannot help you with such a task." Kratos stayed silent. Agonizingly silent. His eye twitched repeatedly. His fists clenched. He began to pant, as though holding back something. Kratos's muscles tensed up, as he stood to his feet. "You... cannot help me?" His voice was unsteady, filled with barely-contained rage. The guards stood at their ready, crossing their spears in front of Kratos. "Put down your weapons... or else." Kratos ordered. "This is between me... and Celestia. Leave, or DIE!" He yelled. The two guards held their ground. And were slaughtered where they stood. Their heads rolled off to the left and right, their bodies fell limp and fell to the floor mere seconds after. Celestia raised a brow, an unbeatable poker-face, that was for certain... although her true emotions would’ve stated something along the lines of ‘Your blood. My walls’. She would have to throw a proper mourning to honor her brave, but foolish guards. She did warn them ‘no’. "You dare make an attempt on my life?" "After what you tried to do to me... you deserve worse than death..." Kratos's eye twitched. "PRINCESS CELESTIA!" A familiar voice yelled, hooves clip-clopping on stone, far behind the two. Kratos looked back to see Twilight and the others approaching the throne room with haste. He picked up a spear from one of the guard's corpses, and threw it like a javelin. It pierced both doors, slamming them shut before they could get in. "If violence is how you solve things..." Celestia began, her face filling with anger, that would dwarf even Kratos's fury. "... then violence will be your downfall!" Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB PS: Give a great thanks to this guy for helping me edit this! http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Mistershield Chapter 11Twilight panicked. She didn't know what to do. The Ghost of Sparta was in there with her mentor. The mare curled up on the floor, her friends accompanying her as she hyperventilated nervously. Twilight let out many whimpers, holding her head in her hooves. "Twi', don't worry. Ah'll figure somethin' out!" Applejack promised, the hat-wearing mare looking around. She turned to Pinkie Pie and the rest of her friends. "Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy? Y'all're gonna help me, y'hear?" The farm-pony ordered. Fluttershy gave a rather disapproving glance at Applejack. "O-oh, b-but I don't-" AJ groaned. "T'ain't no time fer' arguin', Fluttershy! Princess Celestia's life is on the line! D'ya understand!" She sternly demanded. "Rarity, y'all go see if'n 'ya can find anything large. Somethin' that can bust through this here door. Somethin' real, real heavy that'd need help to lift. Just gimme ah call when 'ya find somethin'! Now!" Rarity nodded with vigor, and hurriedly rushed off to inspect room by room. "Pinkie Pie, Ah need y'all 'ta go get Princess Luna! She can surely help! Go, go, go!" "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie replied, saluting Applejack as she hopped down one of the halls. "Fluttershy, as fer' you, Ah need ya' ta' go gather-up any guards who're either Earth Ponies or Unicorns, and bring 'em back 'ere. We need as much stallionpower as we can get, y'hear!?" AJ ordered the timid pegasus. With a meek nod, Fluttershy began to walk down the halls as well. "Now Twiligh'," Applejack began, laying next to the sniffling unicorn. "Ah understand that yer' worried. Nervous. All'a that hooey, but we need ya'. Princess Celestia needs ya', Twilight." She placed a comforting hoof on her friend's shaky shoulder, before embracing her with both as she began to softly sob. "There there, now, 'Twi. Let it all out. Let it all out, Ah'm here. It's okay..." The farmpony repeated these words as she cradled Twilight. Celestia and Kratos stood silently, many meters away from each other. Kratos held his blades in his hands, ready and in a purely-offensive stance. But Kratos did not expect Celestia to have a weapon of her own. As her horn lit up, a light shone up in the form of a small pillar from the ground, and out from it came a greatsword. Its hilt and handle were fashioned with fine materials like gold and silver, made with impeccable craftsmanship. Its blade seemed to be of tampered, sharpened steel, ending in a point. "Very well then, warrior," She stepped forth, and grasped the blade in her divine magical grasp. "if you truly wish my death... then it will not come as easy as you think." The beautiful deity said, going into what looked to be a defensive stance as she watched Kratos studiously. Watching his every movement. "We'll see about that..." Kratos spat, before he let out a battle cry. He charged at Celestia, and jumped into the air. He swung his blades over and behind his head, and attempted to slam the two of them down to strike Celestia from overhead. But this went wrong, as Kratos was smacked off balance before he pulled his blades back- the alicorn had batted him in the side of his left knee with the flat side of her blade. Quite hard, too. Kratos's blades trailed down as he collapsed onto his side. He rolled to his feet, seeing Celestia back in her stance. Completely unfaltering, she was focused. The demigod roared ferociously as he charged once again, letting his blades fly backward to his right, before he pivoted, shifting his weight onto his left leg. He then twisted to the left, to send his blades flying towards Celestia's right side in a sweep attack! But the Spartan's attack was parried when Celestia used her blade to lift up into the chains as the blades flew, making the blades flop downward. She wrapped the chains around her blade like spaghetti onto a fork, and took advantage of Kratos's imprisonment by lifting him off of his feet. The quadrupedal battlemaiden then swung Kratos around effortlessly above her head as he yelled. Celestia timed it, and pulled her straight sword free of the chains, sending Kratos flying into the wall at the opposite end of the throne room. Cracking it generously from the sheer amount of the impact's momentum-boosted force. Peeling off of the wall like a sticker, Kratos fell to the ground. Still experiencing the shock from his spine being brutally cracked against the solid-stone wall. But he did not give up there, oh hell no he did not! The brutal gladiator returned to his feet, and studied Celestia's stance from afar. 'Her defensive techniques are impenetrable... how would I get around this? Come now... you've faced gods. This princess is a grain of sand to them all! The Olympians are petty and weak, and this four-legged annoyance is even weaker!' He thought with determination. Before he, with said determination behind him, ran towards Celestia, who waited gracefully. Suddenly, her stance changed from a defensive stance, to one of offense. Her blade was held high. Kratos had her now! What a fool! Kratos sent out his blades, and they were soaring for Celestia's head! Applejack had been forced to move her still-crying friend out of the way. Rarity had found something large enough to bust-through the door. An enormous boulder, removed from the ground of the castle gardens with help from the Royal Guard, and Princess Luna. The rock was being lined up with the door. "Good job everypony!" Applejack congratulated. "Twilight, 'ya need ta' stop cryin' right now! Suck it up. We got ah princess ta' save, y'hear?!" She yelled. "O-*hic*... o... k-kay..." Twilight muttered under her breath, before the Element of Honesty helped her to her hooves. "Wh... what can I do?" She asked weakly. "You're gonna have ta' help the unicorns, and our princess, Luna, breach the door with this here boulder." Applejack gestured to the rock. Suddenly, the wall cracked with a thundering bang to the left of the door. "What in the name'a Celestia!? Come on, there's no time ta' waste!" The sound of many horns igniting filled the air, the energies of magic filling it as well as the rock was lifted up. "3..." "2..." "1..." "HEAVE!!!" Just as Kratos's blades came within mere inches of Celestia's head, she disappeared out of thin air. Kratos's blades flew far, and he retracted them. The demigod growled angrily as he looked around, only to be tapped on the shoulder. Instinctively, Kratos sent out an elbow to hit whatever tapped him, but it only met thin air as he looked over again. "Show yourself, coward! A true warrior does not hide, Celestia! Leave the shadows, and face me!" He yelled. Before he was struck in the back by a powerful bolt of energy. "AGGGH!!!" Kratos dropped his blades as he fell to his knees, electricity crackling around the entirety of his form. He bent over as the light blinded him, hands to the ground. The Spartan staggered to his feet, only to be shocked again, this time with much more power. "AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!" He began to spasm uncontrollably, and looked back to Celestia. Face filling with untamed wrath, the former God of War stepped forward, picking up his blades as he went. Celestia raised a brow in curiosity, and slight surprise. 'Such a brute creature... he's worn, battered... yet he still fights with a seemingly undying flame in his heart...' '... I'll take pleasure in snuffing it out!' Celestia thought, before she narrowed her eyes, focusing her magical energy even more. Kratos significantly slowed down, but he kept progressing. Suddenly, she released the spell, and Kratos fell forward. 'It is time to finish this.' The deity thought. Kratos was worn indeed. How long had it been, since he had eaten? How long had it been, since he had drank? How long had it been since he had rested last? He didn't know. He just didn't know. He was exhausted. Every ounce of his strength poured into getting here, fighting through guards just to get to an even bigger challenge. His body screamed for hydration, his gut beseeching him to get some form of sustenance. Now on his knees, Kratos's vision became blurry. He keeled over, and coughed up blood on the floor as Celestia approached him. "You seem sapped, warrior. Does something ail you?" Celestia asked solemnly. "Or has your flame burnt out?" Kratos got to one knee, panting as he picked his blades up. "You will never... defeat me... I am the God... of War!..." He shakily stood to his feet. The alicorn smirked, and grabbed Kratos with her magical grasp. Her face filled with rage. "You will never lay your hands on any of my subjects... as of this day FORTH!!!" With the sheer, unbridled might of her normally impeccably-contained anger, Celestia hurled the already injured demigod through the door with unspeakable power. The amount of strength put into the throw was so immense, that it shattered the wood and metal into oblivion, splintering and cutting large gashes into Kratos's skin. As though he were an airplane through air, a hot knife through butter. When he landed, Kratos was near the entrance to the castle, bleeding out heavy amounts. His coughs only added to his blood loss. Many gasps filled the air as their princess walked out of the throne room. "P... P-P-Princess..." The ponies who were about to breach the door stood in utter awe, some shaking in fear. Celestia ignored them all, even her student. "Get out of my way." She barked. Whimpering, the group hurriedly moved out of her way as the still-angered Celestia approached Kratos. Her blade had disappeared when the door broke. "K-Kratos! Celestia, what did you do to him!?!?" Twilight yelled. "Silence, Twilight Sparkle. This tyrant doesn't deserve your pity." Celestia ordered. Her unicorn student promptly shut her mouth as she continued forward. The fallen Spartan began to crawl away. This wasn't him. Once she neared, Celestia didn't hesitate to stomp on Kratos's leg as hard as she could. The injured one. "AUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! AGGGGGGHHHHH!..." "Get up, 'God of War'! If you are so mighty, if you are a deity of violence and cruelty, if you truly are the God of War, GET TO YOUR FEET, AND FIGHT LIKE ONE, COWARD!!!" This voice Celestia used was unlike anything Twilight had heard her use. She couldn't bear to watch. This was cruel. Too cruel. Even to Kratos. But the God of War was not yet through. He panted angrily as he began to shakily drag himself to his feet. Celestia kicked him down. "Get up." Kratos coughed up more blood, and tried again. He was kicked down. "I said get UP, God of War!" She paused for a moment. "Or shall I say... self-proclaimed God of War..." The brutal Celestia asked rhetorically. "You're nothing..." Kratos choked out. "... nothing but a worthless... leader... the Gods of Olympus would kill you... you are petty... and weak!... L-like... them..." The Spartan said, before his vision faded to black. All he could hear now was the slowly declining beat of his heart. "Princess Celestia, please! Don't let him die!" Twilight begged. Celestia looked her student dead in the eyes. "... But why would he deserve to live?" Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB PS: To any who disagree with Kratos losing, take these facts into consideration. He doesn't have the golden fleece, so he couldn't have reflected the magic. He is utterly exhausted. He is dehydrated. He is starving. He is still recovering from his (now worsened from being stomped on by Celestia) broken leg. All comments objecting this will be ignored. Chapter 5"Twiiiliiight!" A male voice called from the lower floor of The Golden Oaks library. It was morning, indicated with the sun shining brightly through the curtains. The unicorn's home, oddly enough- welcomed the sun through large windows. "TWILIIIGHT!!!" The voice yelled. The unicorn groaned, clearly not recovering from the long night. "Spike, I can hear you! Calm down, for pony's sake!" "Okay! I thought you were dead." Spike said, coming upstairs so he didn’t have to raise his voice. "You just, y'know, came home and didn't come out of your room for the rest of the night and all." Twilight chuckled at the dragon’s unnecessary but cute concern. Least her eyes weren’t fighting the sun anymore. "Spike, I wasn't dead. I was thinking." She replied, starting her pacing back and forth again. Her mane was a mess, and she had the slightest bag under her eyes. She managed to stand up again, frowning that she didn’t make it to bed another night. "... You stayed up all night, didn't you?" Spike asked rhetorically. With a nod, the unicorn replied, "Yes, and yes." "Um... Twilight, I-I only asked one question..." The baby dragon started, slightly confused. "O-oh. Yes...?" The unicorn shook her head, clearly still in a slight haze from the lack of sleep. Spike resisted the aching urge to chuckle. "Well uh... what did you need to thinking about that took all night?" He asked, curiosity in his expression. "The first sign." She simply responded. "'The first sign'? What do you mean by-" The number-one assistant was cut off by his superior with her left front hoof. "The first sign! The first sign of Kratos actually showing some sign of befriending me!” Twilight smiled, a squee forming. “I apologized to him many times before, but then when I apologized last afternoon, he said it was okay. So that is the first sign Spike! Don't you see?" Twilight excited, and now nose-to-nose with Spike, who looked quite confused. "... Who’s Kratos?" "He's a bipedal creature that wound up here. He was found injured a little while ago." She explained, stepping away from the baby dragon. "He showed quite a lot of disinterest and anger- But now, I can see, I-I can tell, that he still has at least a shred of decency inside of him!" She smiled. Spike looked around the room. "Weeell, you have... good... luck with that... I... guess?" He said sheepishly, slowly backing away. Back to his mission: Walking downstairs once more, planning to grab a tub of strawberry ice cream and engorge on it’s creamy goodness. It was almost as good as gems. - - - The Hospital, Room 14... Kratos's room. Kratos laid in bed in boredom for a while. He was too preoccupied with his current condition to think about his next more. Thoughts were pushed away once a nurse, accompanied by a few unicorn stallions, walked into the room. "Good morning, sir." The nurse greeted. "Mm." Kratos nodded. "What is it...?" He asked, glancing over at the mare. "Your bandages need to be replaced, along with your casts." The uniformed mare replied. "Does that mean I will be free from these shackles?" The demigod asked with the slightest flicker of hope in his voice. "Shackles? Those are... leg braces... but no, we will replace them." "Damn... be quick, then." "Alright." The nurse said, before the unicorns began to unwrap the bandages. The demigod's skin exposed, vicious scars decorated his ash skin now. They removed the cast next, apparently used to the sight of scars. Kratos shut his eyes, gritting his teeth as they did so. Eventually, all the ‘shackles’ were off. One of the unicorns spoke. "Nurse, these bones may take a year to heal with their condition. I'm not sure if the creature has the patien-" "Of course I don't have that kind of patience!" Kratos interrupted rudely. "..." The nurse turned to the unicorns. "So... I suppose that means we cast a regeneration spell? Even with what we know, it is risky, and will take a bit out of us three." "Whatever gets me out of here faster..." Kratos decided. Soon, the spell was cast, and the yell was heard from oh... at least Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie picked up her head, a combo having warned her a shout of pain was coming. "GRRAAAAAAGGGH!!!" “There it is...” Pinkie hummed to herself and went back to her baking. "Sorry! We didn't know it would hurt that bad!" Kratos panted, and clenched his aching hands in pain. The Spartan gritted his teeth, waiting for the searing agony to go away. "... Continue with the spell... I can take it." He ordered with the cockiness and determination of a Spartan demigod. "Oh no, with that kind of yell, you couldn't. But... we used that on your leg. How does it feel?" The nurse asked. "... I can't feel it." He replied. Head? Pissed off. Arms? Wishing to choke a pony neck. Chest? Heaving from the breathing. Legs? Nada. "Well that won't help anypony." She said, a small frown forming. Kratos quickly grew impatient. "CAST THE DAMNED SPELL ALREADY!" "M-my apologies, Kratos... but we shouldn't rush your natural recovery time. But since you want to get out so bad, we will come tomorrow and cast it slowly." The nurse said, glaring at the other unicorns as they replaced his casts and bandages. "Though, your face seems to be okay." She levitated a mirror in front of Kratos's face, so that he could see himself. And his goatee was gone. "Where is..." "Where is what?" "My facial hair!" "You had facial hair?" “You stole my essence! My mark of manliness! My first beard, known to all and mark me a man!” Kratos groaned, and shook his head. "... I'll have to grow it out again..." By then, all of his casts and braces were back in place. “When did you- fiends!” How did he miss them placing his new shackles on? Soon, the unicorns left the room, leaving the Spartan to his thoughts, beardless. “I vow... to shave them all.” - - - 3 Hours Later... 1:24 PM As he laid in bed, Kratos could hear voices, right outside of his door. His eyes were closed. Maybe if he pretended to be asleep, they would not look at his naked chin. "Pinkie, you've seen this thing before, haven't you?" A feminine voice came. "Mhm!" Came another feminine voice, high-pitched and energetic. "Well... let's meet him, then." Then the door opened, revealing a duo of equines. One being a pink, wingless and hornless pony. This assault on the eyes had large blue eyes, and a puffy magenta hair with a matching tail. She hopped in place, up and down. Up and down. Up. And. Down. Up. And. Down. Up. And. Down. Almost endlessly! "There he is, Dashie! Just as I said!" The pink one giggled. The other pony was a pegasus; she had a cerulean blue coat, and a rainbow mane with a matching tail. She hovered in place, looking at him with her magenta eyes with a raised brow. "So, you're the thing that Twilight found!" She said with a smirk, floating next to Kratos's bed, on the left side. Kratos only humphed, not opening his eyes. "Hi!" Pinkie Pie hopped on the opposite side to Kratos's bed. "... Hmm." She cocked her head at Kratos. "Wake up, sleepy-weepy head!" She was about to give him a noogie. But, her hoof was stopped when Kratos caught it with his right hand, which was still intact. And twitching. "Don't. Touch. Me." Kratos barked. "HEY! Don't you lay a dirty... um- whatever sick deformation of a hoof you have on my friend!" Rainbow snapped defensively. Pinkie thought back a second, wondering if she should blow into her hoof and make those wiggly things appear again. Kratos held his head in agony. "Be quiet! For the love of Aphrodite..." Pinkie's hoof was released when Kratos went to hold his head. "I guess he doesn't like noogies! Aw! But does he like hugs? Oh! Oh! Do you like hugs? Do youdoyoudodyoudyou? I love hugs!" She asked quickly, hopping up and down. 'THE VOICE! OH DEAR GODS, THE VOIIICE! SOMEBODY END MY TORTUUURE!!!' Kratos yelled in his mind, gritting his teeth. ‘FIRST MY EYES! THEN MY EARS! AND NOW MY SANITY!’ Surprisingly, his prayer was answered. "Pinkie Pie, you may wanna tone it down just a few hundred notches... looks like you're givin' him the headache of the century!" Pinkie stopped. "Oh... okie dokie lokie." She whispered. “Um... how do you know it’s a stallion? Did you peek under his skirt?” Rainbow shut both eyes, blushing at the accusation. ‘Let it go Rainbow Dash... Just let it go,’ Rainbow thought to herself. Do not encourage the party animal. Hey, how did she know it was male anyway? This thing had no beard! Kratos sighed with relief, and opened his eyes, yawning. "What do you two want, anyway...?" He asked tiredly. After the healing spells and the assault on his senses, he was not sure how much he could take. "Nothin' much, we just wanted to see, well, I just wanted to see if Twilight and Pinkie were lying about you. But uh... they're not. You look like you got hit by a minotaur. You alright?" Rainbow Dash asked, glad the blush was gone. Good thing Kratos had not been paying too much attention. "I have been hit by a minotaur before. They don't hit as hard as one would expect..." Kratos replied with as much enthusiasm as possible... not. "... at least, to me." "Er... cool, but that's not really answering my question..." Rainbow said, rather curious now. He knew about minotaurs? The Spartan rolled his eyes. "If you really want to know, I would do anything to get out of here at this moment." "But look at yourself! I doubt you could even walk a mile." "I've been through worse..." "Oh really?" Dash asked with a raised brow. Kratos looked back at her, and sighed. "Yes. 'Really'." Now being on the ground, Dash's wings fluttered out. "Awesome! What did you do, fight a Hydra with your bare hooves? Ursa Major? Tellme-tellme-tellme-tellme!" "I'm not telling you." "..." Rainbow facehoofed. "Why not? It's not like it's anything personal, right?" She questioned. 'Damn...' Kratos thought. She had him there. But, he hardened his heart, and answered her. "I still will not tell you anything." "Ugh... y'know, you're stubborn. C'mon, Pinkie, let's go and leave Mr. Grumpy here." "Okie dokie lokie!" And so, the two of them left the room. Kratos sighed, finally in peace once more. Wait. Did... did a horse peek under his skirt? The beard-shaving perverts! - - - Twilight's Library... "Uggghhh..." Twilight groaned as she pushed herself around by her hind legs, her front hooves dragging on the floor. Spike watched this from a chair, engulfing massive ladle-fulls of vanilla ice cream, since his strawberry ice cream ran out. "Still thinking about that, huh?" He chuckled. "Yes I'm still thinking about it!" Twilight snapped as she continued to push herself around. She hadn't got a wink of proper rest in about 26 hours. The mare then stopped, and stood up. "Ugh..." She rubbed her head, having a slight headache. "Well sorry." Spike halfheartedly said, taking another huge ladle-full of ice cream. Who knew you could eat from a ladle? Well, Spike knew, apparently. "It's alright... I just need to figure this out..." - - - Several Hours of Brainstorming Later... Twilight was still pacing back and forth. "He won't tell me anything about his past. So he's hiding something. Why? What? Could it be dangerous? Hmm..." “Twilight, you’re muttering again,” Spike complained. "I seem to be the only one able to talk to him and make progress with him as an acquaintance." “Uh- you’re not going to do something crazy again, are you?” Spike raised an eyebrow. Last time she went this far, she made Big Mac fall in love with Smartypants. "Those blades, though... I think I can use them... hmm..." “Equestria to Twilight...” Spike added. “I’m eating a tub full of ice cream again! Say anything if you approve of me dating Rarity...” She thought hard, before saying, "... It's like cracking an egg... only harder. Now... I need those blades." “Dear Celestia,” Spike reached for a quill and scroll. “Twilight has lost it. Again.” Soon, Twilight was at the hospital with a plan in mind. She walked down the hall to Kratos's room, number fourteen. Twilight thought ahead, and actually got permission from the doctor and nurse that oversaw Kratos's recovery to retrieve the blades. They gave her a key, and she went on her way. She was very, very nervous. Thoughts raced through her mind as she walked, 'What if he's still awake? Will he get mad if I take them?' Opening the door after she unlocked it, she peered silently into the room. Kratos snored. He snored loud. Geez, that smoky dragon wasn’t this loud. Just her luck. She sighed with relief, and tip-hoofed into the room, and saw the blades on the metal table. Taking them with her magic, she walked as silently as she could out of the room. When the chains clanged against the damn floor! She heard a groan, and turned back. Kratos was waking up! She had no time, so instinctively, she rushed out of the door, and slammed it shut. "GAH! WHO'S THERE!?" Twilight panted when she heard the yell. "Show yourself, coward!" She was pressed-up against the door, the blades floating in front of her in her violet grasp. Twilight heard Kratos mumble something, but didn't understand it. She sighed with relief, and proceeded to walk out of the hospital. Her plan a success, she gave the front desk ponies a wink as she did so. "Have a good evening,” Twilight said with a smile. "You too." The stallion at the front desk said. “Oh yeah, she wants me.” Twilight left the hospital with a giddy step, walking out into the night. She looked at the blades in front of her; they seemed to be engraved with runes, red runes. They glowed red, also. At this, Twilight was curious, but she decided to not pursue it. For now. - - - The Library... After a long talk, Twilight had convinced Spike to go stay at Rarity's for the night. Of course, he accepted in a flash, but he had to go ask Rarity first. Then bring the news back to Twilight, and finally go back with his things. “We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I A full commitment's what I'm thinking of You wouldn't get this from any other guy I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand--” Twilight had to narrow her eyes at the singing dragon. Least now Twilight was in her basement, looking through a book. "Where is it..." The unicorn wondered, looking through the vast amount of pages to find one certain spell. "Aha!" She exclaimed. She had found the spell she was looking for. It could look into the past of an item. Not a very hard spell either, least compared to actual time travel. Just used up a lot of power over extended amounts of time. Hm... It could not only show images, but also allowed one to hear words! How exciting! And scary. She looked to the two blades, which were on a table near her. Twilight smiled, eager to try the spell. Trotting over to them, she took the book with her. Then, she began to cast the spell. As she channeled massive amounts of magical energy into the blades, her eyes lit up, as though she was using her Element. The spell required much less power than she used up to now- but since Kratos (out of assumption) had the blades for a long time, she wanted to see back to where they first came in at Kratos's life. Suddenly, she was engulfed in magic, the very landscape melting around her. Her eyes moved left and right as the library reformed into a strange-looking area. A circular, flaming 'window' if you will, showing a battle in the middle of a hallway. Was this viewing things from the point of view of a shadow at that time? Kratos walked towards said ‘window’, catching Twilight’s attention immediately. He was clad in armor, but unlike anything she had seen in books. It was almost beyond what she had seen Celestia wear, almost godly. The two blades, although they looked different now, were on his back. She heard a voice, that only she could hear. Well, it didn’t look like the ash white human reacted to it. Kratos had no need for the love of petty Gods. He had found a new family in the warriors of Sparta. As Kratos stood near the circular viewing station, Twilight stepped near it also. She peered into the viewing glass, wondering what the Spartan saw. (Total inception moment- looking into the past and into a viewing mirror) A man clad in basic armor, wielding a sword and shield called up from the battle, "My Lord, Kratos! Another city is ready to fall! Soon all shall know the glory of Sparta!" Mental Note: Sparta may be a good clue to follow up on. Kratos said nothing, and walked away. Twilight followed him, knowing that he couldn't see her. A woman clad in armor and beautiful silken robes approached him. The two met one another. "Enough, Kratos. With every city you destroy, the wrath of Olympus grows. Soon I will no longer be able to protect you." She warned with concern, placing a hand on Kratos's shoulder. Twilight had her head cocked at the woman. Who was she? Her thoughts were interrupted as Kratos shoved her aside, saying, "I need no protection." With cruelty and arrogance that Trixie barely outmatched. The woman placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him again, and Kratos shoved it away- but he looked back this time. She said, "Do not forget that it was I who made you a God, Ghost of Sparta... do not turn your back on me." What Twilight heard next, made her slightly angry. "I owe you nothing." Kratos spat with venom, beginning to walk away. How arrogant of him! Such ungrateful behavior! He was worse than Trixie! The woman shook her head. "Then you leave me no choice..." She said with what Twilight figured was remorse. Kratos had turned the pain of his memories into hatred. Hatred for the Gods, who had refused to free him from the nightmares of his past deeds. And so, he went to Rhodes, to deliver the final blow to the sieged city. Now in the burning, ruined city of Rhodes, Twilight hovered in the air. She saw Kratos, as he was now monstrously tall. The sight frightened her, but she was relieved at the fact that it was only a vision. A really, really realistic vision at that. She followed the Ghost of Sparta as he stomped through the city, stopping to smash a building to bits with his fist as a warrior of Rhodes had attempted to throw a spear at him. Just then, a great white bird had flown out of the sky, striking Kratos with lightning. Electricity crackled around him as he yelled, "ATHENA! You conspire against me!?" The bird then did the same to the Colossus in the distance. Twilight didn't see what happened to it, because she was focused on Kratos. It seems the blades could only view so much. The warrior god was shrinking smaller and smaller from the blue lightning. He shrunk down to his normal size, now being in a building. Twilight watched him as he battled through groups of guards, using the blades and powerful magic. Mental Note: Find out why Kratos cannot use his magic. Eventually, he fought the Colossus for a first time, a battle in which Twilight was sure he would lose. He was sent flying, and landed atop of a domed roof that cracked upon the impact. Unable to stand, he quickly fell, breaking the building through and crashing into the waters below. Then, some time later, after Twilight witnessed many battles- (And an orgy. Damn Starswirl for not making his spells pg-13!) Kratos was found by the Colossus again. And was hurled through another roof once more, this time going through two floors before landing on the ground. He brushed it off like it was an everyday occurrence, and stood straight, looking around. Twilight decided to 'fast-forward' a little bit, and she came to a rather interesting part (Please, no more orgies). A booming voice called from the skies, "Kratos..." "I do not need your help, Zeus!" Kratos responded with defiance in his scream. "I can take down this beast!" "I offer you more than help, Kratos. I offer you power." Zeus's voice boomed, before a blinding light shone from the heavens above. A great blade was sent down into the middle of a large, stone floor in the distance. "I offer you the Blade of Olympus. It was this blade that ended the Great War, and defeated the Titans. Drain your godly powers into the blade, Kratos. Only then will you reach your full potential." Kratos looked up to the skies, and asked, "Why do you aid me now...?" Twilight was also confused at the offer. Eager to find the answer, the unicorn fast-forwarded the experience, and Kratos defeated the Colossus, landing on the ground which the Blade of Olympus pierced. "Do you see, Gods of Olympus?!" Kratos called out, as Twilight watched the Colossus's hand slowly begin to fall towards him. "Do you need more proof than this!?" As soon as he yelled this, the massive hand slammed down upon him, the Blade of Olympus soaring through the air. Placing all of his godly power into the weapon had rendered Kratos mortal, vulnerable to the Arms of Death. Bloodied and beaten, he knew that to have any hope of survival, he must retrieve the Blade of Olympus. Twilight watched in horror as Kratos coughed up blood, his armor slowly falling off. The Blade pierced the ground meters ahead of him. "Oh no..." Twilight's eyes became teary. She felt like she had to do something, but she knew that she couldn't. So that had been the point of the offer... Humiliated before his Spartan army, Kratos dragged himself up from the dirt. It was painful, watching Kratos limp towards the blade. But then, out of the sky, came the great white bird again. Upon landing, it transformed into an elderly man, sporting muscle and white eyes, along with a beard and silken robes. Kratos stepped forward. "Y-you...?" Twilight gasped at the revelation. Had that man planned this from the beginning? The giant construct? The blade that would not be able to finish the job? Was this all a betrayal? "Yes. I am forced to attend to this matter myself! Athena refused to undo her mistake... imagine caring for a creature such as yourself." The godly figure spat harshly. "Why..." Kratos began. "Why would you betray me...?" "It is you who would betray me! Am I to stand idly by while Olympus is threatened? Your hands are already stained by the blood of a God." The elderly man picked up the Blade of Olympus. "... I will not let Ares' fate be my own." Kratos snapped, "The Gods are petty and pathetic, and your rule is weak." Irritated, the godly figure replied, "I grow tired of this insolence!" He put the blade to Kratos's neck. The unicorn shut her eyes a bit, imaging how cold the metal must be. "... and it is my way that is the way of the Gods. You must vow to forever serve me." Kratos shoved aside the weapon as he said, "I serve no one!" "Then you leave me no choice!" He said threateningly, clenching his fist as he did so. Twilight couldn't bear to watch at this point, but she forced herself to. Kratos fought a hopeless battle, eventually being pinned by the man. Her mouth fell open when this ‘Zeus’ drove the Blade of Olympus straight through the chest of the former godlike warrior. 'So t-that's h-h-how he g-got that s-s-scar...' She thought, trembling with fear. "It did not have to be this way, my son," The King of the Gods said, looking down at him as the Blade of Olympus was through his chest. "... this path is of your choosing." Twilight frowned a bit- that did not sound remorseful at all. Kratos gasped in pain, as he responded weakly, "A choice... from the Gods... is as useless... as the Gods themselves..." "Even now, as you draw your last breath,” Zeus drove the blade even deeper into Kratos’s midsection. “you continue to defy me!?" The God yelled. He leaned in closer to deliver a final message. "Everything you have ever known Kratos, will now suffer because of your sacrilege. You will never be the ruler of Olympus. The cycle ends here." He spat, before taking the blade from Kratos's chest, and sending a wave of godly energy out in a crescent, destroying and killing everything in its path. In what Twilight thought to be Kratos's last breath, she heard him say as he lifted his arm to point a finger at him, "You will pay for this, Zeus... be certain of that..." His arm fell limp as he coughed up more blood, falling limp to the ground, Zeus walking away as this happened. As the life drained out of Kratos, the Arms of Hades reached out to claim their prize. But there was more resting on Kratos's shoulders than he could know. Kratos was destined to bring about change so severe, that it would shake the very pillars of Mount Olympus. His death was something that I could not allow. Flashbacks of war came to Twilight's mind. Was she going through his mind at this moment in time? The blades could see that as well? Both of Kratos's hands grabbed and smashed-in the head of another man, blood spraying across her vision, melting away into another terrifying scene. A barbaric warlord raising a warhammer to kill Kratos. The Spartan's hand reached out to the sky, bloodied. "ARES! DESTROY MY ENEMIES, AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!" Then, she heard screaming, as chains were seared onto Kratos's arms. 'The blades... that is how he got them...' Satisfied with what she saw, she knew how he got his weapons. But what she saw next, she couldn't make sense of at the time, and only served to strike her curiosity further. Smoke blurred her vision and blew away, allowing her to see a scene where Kratos slaughtered two women- one old... and one so very young. It made her heart wrench. But... his skin color! It wasn’t always ash?! Why... why did the little one remind her of Kratos? A pool of blood let Kratos see his own reflection, along with the ghost of Athena. The image burst into flames, the face of a man with flaming hair entering her vision. With an unexpectedly female voice, the reflection in blood spoke, "Fight, Spartan..." The head turned, the hair becoming blonde, belonging to a beautiful woman who laid in bed. Suddenly, the head twisted backwards, and said in the same voice, "You are not meant to die here." Before flying off into darkness. Then, as if she was Kratos, she saw Zeus driving the blade into his chest. Looking to the side, she saw the woman, and the same young girl Kratos slaughtered. "This is not the end." The girl said with the same voice. Kratos was now in darkness, his head down with the massive gash through his chest. "Who... are you...?" He asked. Suddenly, a gigantic face made of earth and plants came into view. "I am the Titan, Gaia, ever-present Mother of Earth. I have watched you become a powerful warrior, and I have been with you through all the events of your life. But I can no longer simply 'watch'. We will help you defeat Zeus. Death is an escape, Kratos. You are a warrior of Sparta, not a coward. Only a coward accepts death." Kratos spoke, "... I am no coward." "Then you must fight. I will show you the way to the Sisters of Fate. Only with their power will you defeat Zeus." Gaia's voice prophesied, before the wound on Kratos's midsection regenerated. He took out a blade and yelled, piercing it into a fleshy wall, tearing away grasping hands as he did so. Once Kratos was out of the hole, a Spartan Captain came to him, and Kratos commanded him to return to Sparta. A flaming pegasus landed, and Kratos mounted it. That pegasus was not like the ones from Equestria. It almost reminded the mare of Celestia. By Celestia’s beard, that pegasus was so hot though! Soon, they were airborne, and soaring through the air. "Turn back to Olympus, beast! I must face Zeus!" Kratos commanded, but the winged horse did not heed his command. "You defy the God of War!?" Twilight had to shake her head to the sides a bit, for now it was as if she flown next to the warrior. You are no longer a God, Kratos. Gaia's voice spoke, Kratos looking around at the sky. Zeus, Olympus, and the blade which holds all your power will forevermore be out of reach. Your only hope is to find the Sisters of Fate, and travel back through time, to the moment when Zeus betrayed you, for only then will he be truly vulnerable. Soon, after fast-forwarding a bit, Twilight came to see Kratos approaching a screaming man, who was chained up on a finger of the titan Typhon. The sight of the fellow being eaten by a giant bird made her want to vomit. The bird flew off as Kratos came near. "God of War... you... live...!" The man said with a rasped voice. "I no longer walk with the Gods." Kratos replied. "Who has placed you in this torment?" "Zeus..." The bearded man said. "... my only crime was helping mankind. When I took the fires of Olympus to the mortals, Zeus considered it a betrayal! As punishment, he made me mortal... and condemned me... to be savagely consumed every day by this cursed bird! And then, with the fall of night, I am healed.” He said. “How long, have I been here... how long, have I suffered this curse..." He became lifeless. "... I truly do not know..." And then, he fell limp. The bird flew off from the finger it was perched on, and his innards regenerated, leaving no scars when his skin came back. Once it did, he snapped to life, gasping for breath. "Please, Ghost of Sparta! Release me from my torment!" He begged. And with a short amount of time, Kratos showed mercy for the first time to Twilight. He cut the chain connecting him to the finger, making him dangle by his arms over the fires of Olympus. Soon, he came back with a bow, made from Typhon's eye. He shot the chain, and he burned in the fires. So, Kratos wasn’t such a monster... You have freed Prometheus from the torment of the Gods. His flesh has tainted the fires of Olympus, and embodied it with the power of the Titans. Gaia explained to Kratos, the fires of Olympus travelling up his legs. These ashes give you great strength, Kratos. Take them within you, and use their strength to defeat your enemies. Soon, Kratos was upon the hot, sexy pegasus again, flying through the air. Kratos, behold the Island of Creation; home to the Sisters of Fate. Here, your true destiny begins. The island is wrought with danger. It was created to prevent all from reaching the three Sisters of Fate. The power of the Sisters will allow you to return to the moment when Zeus betrayed and killed you, Kratos, thus changing your fate, and the fate of others. Twilight fast-forwarded to when Kratos stood near a gigantic chain. "Why do you aid me, Gaia?" He asked. Zeus must be stopped, Kratos. Gaia began. The story of revenge has been told before. You know of the mighty Titan, Chronos. So fearful was Chronos of the Oracle's prediction, that his own children would rise against him, that he decided to imprison them all in his belly. Rhea stood by and watched as her children were devoured, one by one, but when the time came for the last of her children to be eaten, she was unable to bear another such loss, and devised a trick to save the baby, Zeus. As Gaia spoke, the whole scene unfolded in Twilight's eyes. Thunderous footsteps approaching as Rhea kissed the head of her silver-haired baby. She lifted up the baby, and the eagle took it into its claws. Rhea commanded the eagle to secret her son away. He was taken to an island, far beyond the watchful eyes of Chronos. Gaia said, as Rhea took a rock and folded it up into a brown blanket. The mighty Titan approached, and Rhea offered the child on the stone pedestal, stepping back as Kronos leaned-in to blow away debris. He grabbed the pedestal, taking the decoy child with him, along with some of the ground. He let the 'child' fall into his mouth, eating it. Twilight saw an island now, the baby Zeus walking into a cave. It was I who cared for him. It was I who kept him safe. Gaia said, Zeus coming out as an adult, well-toned and built. I nurtured his desire to free his brothers and sisters from Chronos. But my foolish act of compassion, would haunt the Titans forever, for in sparing Zeus, we allowed him to return to us with vengeance in his heart. He betrayed all of the Titans, for the sins of just one; the sins of his father, Chronos. Mental Note: Why were the blades showing her this? Why did Kratos need to know the story of Zeus? Deeper into the Island of Creation, Kratos met Desius, who chuckled at him when they met. "Ghost of Sparta! Then what they say is true!" He exclaimed. "Desius..." Kratos growled. "Of all the fools who try, you would be the last I would expect to seek an audience with the Sisters of Fate." Desius teased. Kratos replied, "And you are the last I would expect to become a servant to the Fates." Desius stood straight. "I serve and protect the Sisters of Fate, for the glory of Zeus!" He looked to the sky as he said this. "The time of Zeus is coming to an end." Kratos retorted. "Mm... you seek the Sisters to kill Zeus!" He laughed. "You no longer possess the powers of a God, Kratos. I doubt you're even capable of killing me, let alone the King of Olympus!" "Let me pass, and I will let you live old man." Kratos threatened. "I do not think that is your choice to make..." Desius responded, taking out a long, double-bladed staff which glowed with energy. "Come forward. Let us see who is the greatest warrior in all of Greece." He said. Just as the fight began, Twilight fast-forwarded the time. This was taking a lot out of her, but she needed to get to the bottom of things! Also, all of this violence was going to give her nightmares. She came upon Kratos looking back to a gathering mist. Suddenly, a titan's face appeared out of the mist. "Our destiny has brought us together, warrior." It said. "Before my fall in the Great War of the Gods, I hid away the last remnants of my magic. For the good of the Titans, I, Chronos, now bestow what is left, upon you. Use it well." Chronos blessed, sending lightning to flow into Kratos's very veins, giving him the magical prowess of the mighty father of the titans, Chronos. Once finished, Kratos dropped to the ground, and rushed outside. How much stronger could Kratos become? Twilight wondered if this is why he was so arrogant. He eventually made the gigantic horses that were frozen in place move, pulling the island together. Twilight's jaw dropped at this. 'H-how...' Once the island was connected, the horses whinnied, and froze once again. She shook her head, and forwarded the time. Why would horses on Kratos’s world be subjugated to serve men? Now, Kratos stood on a pair of stone hands, connected to a statue of a Sister of Fate. The hands lifted him up, and the statue spoke. "Hear me, fallen God, none defy what the Fates decree. That is how it must be. Only death awaits you at the end of your journey." "My death is what began this journey." Kratos said. "The Fates have not deemed victory for you. Your soul will never find peace, for what you have become." "I am what the Gods have made me!" Kratos shouted, taking out a blade and slamming it into the face of the statue, crushing it. Twilight forwarded time again. This time, Kratos stood in between two statues as they deflected beams of energy. They came from one larger statue, in which they connected the islands. The ground crumbled, and debris fell as the large statue ultimately exploded, letting Kratos go through the energy-sealed gate ahead of him. Later on, Kratos came to a swamp-like area. Twilight wondered how much she could take... Hidden deep within the spire lie the Sisters. They control the threads of fate. Gain control of your thread, and you will be able to return to the moment when Zeus betrayed you. Gaia guided Kratos on. The Spartan had to roll out of the way to avoid getting hit by a large hammer... wielded by an undead barbaric warlord who rode a blood-red horse. Kratos sent out a blade, and it latched onto the horse. This undead equine dragged him along a bit before sending him into a tree, which broke and fell over. Eventually, they came to a clearing, and Kratos released the blade, landing on the ground as the barbaric warlord turned around, approaching him. "By the Gods, it is true!" He spoke. "I have fought my way through the guardians of Hades, and pulled my way out of the Fires of Torment to change my fate, and for my efforts the Sisters shine their light upon me, delivering the very object of my vengeance; Kratos." He let out a hearty chuckle. "Servant of Ares, do you remember that day, Spartan!?" He demanded. "I will never forget that day..." Twilight saw an army of barbarians, lead by the same warlord prince, as he drew back his bow, releasing it. The arrow pierced the skull of a Spartan warrior, then Twilight saw people on fire... the sight made her sick, but even more so when Kratos decapitated the barbarian prince. "This time, Ghost of Sparta, I will have YOUR head." The prince laughed, before the two launched into battle. Squeamishly, Twilight didn't want to see the result of the fight, so instead, forwarded time once more. ‘Please,’ she thought to herself. ‘When will it end?’ Now, Kratos was walking on a broken bridge, stopping when a winged figure crawled over the edge. "Go back," He warned. "Go back, warrior! There is no passage here. You will never make it across! You think you can, but you can not!" The figure warned. Kratos ignored him, and tried to walk forward, but the delusional winged man stepped in front of him. "Do you hear me!? It is my wings that will make it across! It is my test!" He insisted, before Kratos shoved him aside. He stood up, and said, "Do you not know who I am? Have you not heard of Icarus?" He asked, walking to the edge. "It is my fate to make it across! NONE OTHER!" He yelled. "This is my test! The Sisters will grant me an audience, not you. You will die, white warrior! You will die-" He was interrupted as Kratos grabbed him by the shoulder. "I will reach the Sisters of Fate, and I will use your wings to do so." Kratos said threateningly. "The Sisters will not allow you, a fallen God, to bathe in their light!" Icarus shouted, climbing on top of Kratos's head. Eventually, the two of them fell off of the sides. Twilight had forwarded time once more, but she was confused as to how Kratos had obtained wings. She got a pretty good idea, an accurate one at that, and decided to leave it at that. Although, she hoped the wings did not come from any pegasi. Icarus was screaming, falling into Tartarus. Kratos glided down, ignoring his screams. The massive hand that granted passage went back into place. Soon, Kratos managed to break the chains that held the massive hand of the titan up to the ceiling of the Underworld. "Who breaks my chains of torment?" The titan boomed, grabbing Kratos between two fingers, attempting to squish him. It didn't work; Kratos held the two fingers off with his inhuman strength. "You are strong, but you are far too small, even for an Olympian, to be a God." He said, before he groaned. "Ugggh... Kratos." He let the Demigod into his palm, and chuckled. "Kratos, still the arrogant and foolish warrior. You have not changed. Hmm... and how do you plan to defeat the King of the Gods?" The Titan asked. "By taking the Blade of Olympus back, and driving it into Zeus's heart! It holds the power I once wielded, as the God of War!" Kratos called out. "The Blade of Olympus?" The Titan raised a brow. "I have not heard that name in many years." He said. "Since... since the end of the Great War. Bloodlust and power raged within Zeus. His desire to rule over mortals was intolerable... to us. The war between the Titans and the Olympians forged the landscape of the mortal world. This was a war we knew the Titans must win. If we lost, it would mean an end to the golden age of the Titan rule. Peace and prosperity for mankind would be no more." A four-armed titan was shocked by electricity, as the war unfolded in Twilight's eyes. The same titan had two scythe-like blades puncture his chest, from Hades, God of Death. Poseidon, God of the Seas, electrocuted the Titan again as Hades pulled him to the ground, ripping the very soul from him. He released the blades, and the soul of the titan was absorbed by Hades. "The battle continued despite my capture. Then Zeus created a powerful weapon, to end the Great War. A weapon forged from the Heavens and the Earth; the Blade of Olympus." Holding the blade, Zeus yelled, "I banish you to the darkest pits of Tartarus!" And strained as he drove the blade into the ground, a massive cyclone of immensely powerful energy forming around him. The cyclone was sucked up into the skies, and then sent down, exploding with a wave of energy, wiping out the titans. "I awoke in the Underworld, banished to the darkest pits of Hades! I would have destroyed Zeus, if you had not put me here, slave of the Gods!" Atlas yelled. "I no longer do the bidding of the Gods, Atlas. I have stomached their betrayal for the last time! Show me the way to the Sisters, and I will kill Zeus once and for all!" Kratos bellowed. "What Gaia says is true, Ghost of Sparta." Atlas said. "You are a powerful warrior, and a worthy ally of the Titans." "Then tell me how to find the temple of the Sisters of Fate." Kratos demanded. Twilight looked on, debating now who was in the right. Zeus for trying to rule with force? Or Kratos, forced on this road of vengeance? They both reminded her of the Discorded versions of her friends. It made it very hard to pick a side. "None, not even the titans know how to reach the Sister's temple. But it is said, he who finds it, will wield great power." Atlas replied. "I have given you the last of my magic, Spartan. I can help you cross the great chasm, but that is all I can offer." He said, lifting his massive hand into the hole above. "May fate grant you passage, Kratos. For many rely on your success." Soon, after many battles and puzzles, Twilight saw Kratos with his blade in his own ally's chest. "You?" He pulled the blade from his chest. It was the Spartan captain, who had been sent back to Sparta. "My lord..." The captain muttered. "I told you to return to Sparta! Why do you leave Sparta unprotected?!" Kratos bellowed. "Sparta... is no more..." He replied dully. "What treachery is this!?" Kratos demanded. "... Zeus." The image of this ‘Sparta’ now filled Twilight's mind, as the Spartan captain spoke. "He came under the cloak of darkness, into Sparta." On a post, stood a Spartan archer, warrior, and the captain. "Keep watch." The captain ordered. A massive lightning bolt struck the post, killing his men, but leaving the captain alive under rubble. "The people cried out for you, they begged for their God to save them. But you didn't come." Zeus stepped into the scene, and ripped a tower from the ground, being the size of a titan now. He hurled the tower, causing destruction in Sparta. He stormed around, taking a lightning bolt into his hand, striking the city with immense power. The image faded away. "I was left with no choice. I had to seek out the Sisters, to change the fate of our beloved Sparta, for I am all that is left." The young captain coughed, and Kratos made it so he was facing him. "... now you, are all that is left... I have faith, that our brothers of Sparta... will live on... through the true... God of War..." He then coughed, and breathed his last. Filling with a burning rage, Kratos yelled, "ZEEEEUUUUUUUUS!!! IS THIS HOW YOU FACE ME, COWARD!? I AM THROUGH DOING THE BIDDING OF THE GODS! COME DOWN HERE AND FACE ME NOW, ZEUS!" As he was yelling... Twilight froze in place. A gigantic beast had emerged behind him; a Kraken. Kratos turned around as the beast roared at him, not budging. Then, after a small battle, Kratos struggled to get out of the Kraken's grasp, and he closed his eyes. Twilight watched with curiosity as the land melted away around him, replacing it with a hill, overlooking the ravaged Sparta. A woman approached him through the grass, and it was the woman that Kratos murdered in a blood rage, in the village, a long time ago. The one she couldn't make sense of. Kratos's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "I am so sorry... my love..." He apologized to her. Twilight gasped, and the spell broke, from both her fatigue, and from the pure shock of the situation. "Th-that was..." Twilight shook with realization. The blades in front of her... Kratos had killed his love, his true love, with them. Not being able to take it anymore, Twilight wept loudly. She cried for him; she now understood his pain. What he was hiding. Why he was so secretive. She was so, so sorry for him. It wasn't his fault! He didn't intentionally kill his wife, either. It was accidental! But now she felt so bad, she didn't even have his permission to see such sorrow and rage. Now she saw what Kratos meant. He thought it was too much for her to bear. And he was right. She should have listened. She should have! Twilight, you silly pony! Why do you always think you’re in the right?! She cried for what felt like hours to her, which it was. She was so tired afterwards that she could barely stand- let alone go to bed. But she did. And she curled-up in the bed, tears running down her face as she drifted to the sleep she needed so terribly. "I-I... I'm s-so... sorry..." - - - Meanwhile, back in Room 14... “Hey... are you sure giving Kratos a gun will be a good idea?” The author asked a gold shield. They both looked down at Kratos. The shield somehow gave the Author a wicked smile. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Chapter 12 - The Hour of Twilight (See what I did the-... /quit) ((ENDING))Slumber. Sleep. Endlessly revolving until your body is satisfied and replenished, it is your recovery time. Twilight followed her mentor closely. The others had left after seeing Celestia so angered- they were afraid to see what would happen. Applejack protested against Twilight staying, but she ignored her friend. Tension filled the air like billowing smoke from a smokestack. It was congesting. Agonizingly silent. Walking down flight by flight of stairs, the passageway got darker as Kratos's bandaged body was carried along by the emotionless Celestia. "... W... what are you going to do to him?" The unicorn broke the silence. Celestia didn't respond. She opened a door once they were far, far underground. The door opened to reveal a long hallway of stone. "Princess?" Twilight hesitated from moving on. The looks of the place spooked her a bit- it was dark, eerie. Cold, damp. Rather musky. She felt unseen eyes on her at all times. It made her bones shiver. Once again, she didn't respond as she began to walk down the hallway. Twilight quickly followed, not wanting to be left alone in this, this hellish place. "Wh... what is this place?" - - - One hour earlier... "Keep him restrained!" "I'm trying!" Yelled an assistant, over the sounds of a grave struggle. Kratos had been tied-down on an operating table, and didn't take too kindly to it. One would wonder how such a damaged, exhausted creature could put up such a fight. It was in his blood, after all. One of the leather straps gave out. It snapped, and now the Spartan's forearm was free. "He's going to break the restraints, come on! Hold him so I can put him out!" The doctor yelled. Kratos grabbed the neck of one of the assistants, and slammed his head against the metal table, dazing him. But he wasn't done. He repeated this, until four of them ganged up on his forearm, struggling to hold it down. The doctor then took the needle full of extremely potent tranquilizer--intended for a beast of large size--and injected it into Kratos's forearm, which throbbed as he thrashed his arm around. His head then slumped down, and the struggle stopped. The doctors, nurses and assistants went to work on mending his wounds, stitching, removing shrapnel. The whole package. Celestia had been looking through the Canterlot Archives, for a spell that she had in mind. She looked for at least four hours. Nothing, nothing, nothing. There were basic sleep spells, advanced ones. Mainly just for getting a better rest at night, but so far, not what she was looking for. But then, she found something. In a dusty, aged box, was a scroll. "Hmm..." Celestia overlooked the scroll. Content with her choice, she studied the scroll. It was a stasis spell- meant to keep the target in an age-defying rest for a select amount of time. The more magical energy you poured into the spell, the more potent and prolonged the effects were. The basic amount of time, the lowest you could go, was around one and a half years. But there was one problem. The spell was unfinished- of course. So, Celestia began to work on it. Starswirl the Bearded may have been a genius, but he left quite a few loose ends. The Princess had kept Twilight overnight at the castle. She wanted to stay, so Celestia let her. Last night, she spoke with Twilight. Tears were shed, but Celestia's student thankfully understood her decision. At least, so she thought. - - - Deep underground... twenty-one hours since Kratos's subduing... Chains crinkled. Cuffs snapped. And restraints clipped. "Princess... you cannot do this to him... it's just not right." Twilight insisted as she saw Kratos, unconscious and wrapped like a mummy in front of them, looming in the darkness. He was held and restrained by seven magically-enchanted chains per limb. It was inhumane. Celestia's expression grew grim. "Twilight, you do not understand. He is dangerous- you saw what he was capable of. If it were not for my anger, Twilight, I would have died. Do you understand me?" The alicorn asked. The unicorn eyed Kratos. "But--" "Twilight, enough. My word is my word. And my decision has been made." The alicorness said sternly, a migraine already having its potent effects on her head. Kratos's head suddenly snapped up, as though to look at Celestia. He growled. Muffled, he yelled in pain, feeling the searing agony of his wounds awake him. His muscles were torn from the gashes. Bones in his spine had been broken. His skull had been cracked, some ribs shattered. His once-broken leg was broken once more. Blood stained the bandages. Stitches would become infected. He was lucky to even be alive, with that much damage taken. How he was even alive in the first place was a miracle in itself. To be breathing with that much damage taken, to fight back against a surgeon. It was physically impossible. But he had some unfinished business. His vengeance still had yet to be taken. The blood of Chronos served him well. A fighting Spartan spirit, and determination that was unfaltering. But had Celestia truly become this careless? It seemed so. It seemed so. The motive behind her becoming this way may be a mystery as of now. But all will be revealed in due time. "Rest." Celestia said, closing her eyes. Before the alicorness began to cast a spell. And like that, Kratos's head fell limp. The entirety of his body relaxed, as he was forced into stasis, much like a coma. His body would recover with time, but he wouldn't age. "It's time for you to leave, Twilight. Kratos's blades are to be sealed away." "Why are you doing this to him, Celestia!?" Twilight demanded, enraged. "Twilight, we spoke about this last night. Would you rather him be a threat to both your friends and me, as he was recently?" "... N-no..." The unicorn sniffled as she barely held back the tears, before running down the long hall. She was getting tired of crying- but she could not help it. She was restless last night, and the day before. And knowing what Kratos went through, knowing his goal, she mainly felt sorry for him- being denied of his revenge against Zeus. She was guilty, for putting him through what she did. "Twilight, wait-..." Princess Celestia was about to hug her upset student, before she sighed in guilt, following the hallway. She shut out the dim lights behind her, leaving Kratos's motionless form in pitch black darkness. Solid stone doors closed behind her, one by one. They magically sealed. Each door was at least one meter thick, and magically reinforced with a barrier, made by Starswirl the Bearded himself. The prison was originally meant for an old evil, which died out many, many hundreds of years ago in its containment. And that evil was not of pony kind. Kratos awoke, perfectly fine. Had he been dreaming? It was a stupid question to ask. He stood in a void-like space. Nothingness surrounded him. Cradled him, embraced him. There was no hot, no cold. No light, no dark. It was limbo. "What is this treachery..." Kratos wondered aloud. "Very good... very good indeed." Zeus chuckled, sitting upon his throne atop the towering Mt. Olympus. He had witnessed Kratos's defeat (which he greatly enjoyed), his subduing, and his forced sleep. The seas had declined to their normal level- the King of Olympus was responsible for the seas' restoration. "Perhaps life can go back to what it once was," Zeus grew a small smile on his face as he walked to the ledge, which overlooked the entirety of Greece, in all its majestic beauty. "don't you think, Heracles?" The mighty warrior smirked at the God of the Skies, and nodded. "Perhaps, with that nuisance of a brother gone." Both of the deities laughed together as they watched the sun set over the mountains to the South. "Celestia is far more powerful than I had expected her to be." The King of Olympus said. Hercules nodded. "If Kratos could defeat gods, but could not defeat a princess like her... she is a force to be reckoned with, even to the Olympians. For you see, Kratos has been through much worse. For him to give up like that... is rather strange. He has such tenacity, such ferocity as a Spartan. You even remember the slaughtering of Ares. Nobody can forget it." Zeus nodded in agreement to this. "I suppose Kratos bit off more than he could chew, even for a god slayer. But you witnessed him trying to stand. Celestia kicked him down, and down again. He was not giving up- he was trying to save himself. It was human instinct, after all. Deep down, under all the hatred and rage that consumes him, is a human heart. He just doesn't know it." "Perhaps we could find allies in Equestria." The wise warrior suggested. The God of the Skies raised a brow. "Impossible." He denied, shaking his head. "Why is that?" Hercules stood up as he asked this. "As the ruler of Olympus, I must stay here. Without order, chaos will be brought upon the lands below us. The citizens of Equestria have no need for our aid, in any means. They will likely have their hands, well, hooves full once Kratos has awoken. But hopefully, he will have learned his lesson from Celestia... and without a way back as of yet, she will keep him in check, as he cannot defeat her due to the lack of the Golden Fleece." Zeus replied. "But the stasis spell that Celestia used was extremely potent- I assume that Kratos will not awake for a long, long time." Hercules reasoned. "We will see about that, Heracles. Kratos's spirit is of a Spartan, and his blood is of Chronos's. His will, although I would sooner die than saying it, is nearly unfaltering. He already slew Poseidon, even without the powers hidden in Pandora's Box." The God of the Skies argued. "Only time will tell. Only time will tell." Hercules decided with a small sigh. Once Twilight arrived home, she sat down on her bed and thought long and hard. 'If Celestia placed him under that form of stasis spell, that means he's still conscious inside his mind. At least... hmm.' "Spike!" She called out. The baby dragon ran up the stairs, his small feet pitter-pattering against the grained wood. "Yes Twilight? Anything I can help 'ya with?" He asked. "Could you possibly fetch me my books on... hmm... well, anything that revolves around mental, or, mind-based magic and spells?" Twilight asked. Spike nodded. "In a jiffy! Be right back!" He hurried down the stairs, and came back only a few minutes later, balancing at least twenty-five different books on himself. "H... WHOA!" Spike collapsed, all of the books falling on top of him. With a giggle, Twilight said, "Oh Spike..." She hopped off of the bed, and the unicorn's horn lit up instantly, as the books were lifted off of the baby dragon. She yawned. "... maybe I'll read these... after I get some sleep." She said, exhaling deeply as she laid down on her bed. "Thanks, Spike." She turned to look at him as she said this, before she laid her head on her pillow. "... Sleep? But it's... three in the afternoon..." Spike said as he stood up. The baby dragon scratched the back of his head in confusion. "You won't believe what I've been through in the past couple of days, Spike." She said, not facing him. "... Wait!" Twilight jumped up. "I think I've learned something important, though..." The unicorn said. Like magic, Spike zoomed to and fro. A quill and scroll were in his hands once he returned. "Spike, take a letter..." "Dear Princess Celestia. I write to you today because I believe I have learned not a lesson about friendship, but an important life lesson that can apply to it. You may have an idea in your head that sounds good at the start, but until you actually do that idea, you can't be certain if that idea is good or not. Like how me and my friends tried to rescue you. We thought... well I thought, Kratos would kill you. Sadly, we were too late, and didn't think up a plan beforehand. So don't be prideful of an idea, until you've proven that it can work. Stay hopeful that it will work, but never guarantee yourself, or your friends, that it will. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." After Spike had sent the letter, Twilight curled-up in bed, and got a long, twelve-hour sleep. She awoke at three in the morning. 'More time to study,' She thought. So, Twilight being Twilight, she hit the books. Hard. - - - The Next Afternoon... In the void which Kratos stood in, suddenly faded-in an image of Twilight Sparkle, who was sitting on her bed. She could be seen ahead of him. "Good... this works. Can you hear me?" Twilight's echoing voice asked. Kratos nodded. 'Unfortunately...' He thought to himself. But unfortunately, his thoughts were not safe. "Hey!" Twilight frowned as her voice echoed. "I'm inside your mind, you know. Now Kratos, I know there is some bad blood between us... with what happened and all," She sighed. Kratos rolled his eyes with a sigh. "But I think I can make it up to you. How does your freedom sound?" The Spartan crossed his arms. "It will change nothing between us. My goal is Zeus's death. Nothing more." "L-listen, Kratos. I know you're determined to follow your goals. And I want to help you." Twilight offered. Kratos raised a brow. "You think you... can help me?" He asked rhetorically. "Of course I can. I can't help you with killing... I couldn't," Twilight winced. "But I can help... make a spell. I think you know where I'm going with this." "So you plan on creating a spell to return me to Olympus." The demigod said, figuring out Twilight's motives quickly. The unicorn nodded. "Yes. But it will not take a short time, Kratos. I would need coordinates, I'd need an extremely powerful telescope... I'd need you to help me, as well." "Help you?" Kratos's expression grew slightly irritated. "U-unfortunately. But, it's your vengeance we're talking about here, since you don't care at all about making friends. And as your... acquaintance, I want to do everything in my power to help you." How much Twilight Sparkle wanted to say 'friend' in that sentence was immeasurable, but she knew it wouldn't make sense. "I don't need your help." Kratos stubbornly snapped back, closing his eyes. "Think that all you want, Ghost of Sparta. If you don't want my help, then you can kiss your vengeance and 'driving the Blade of Olympus into Zeus's heart' goodbye." Twilight said rather harshly, with a wince. She sighed, and said, "... I-... I'll give you time to think... this spell really wears me out, anyway." Twilight's horn lit up again, and the image faded. All Kratos saw before the blackness consumed him again was a flash of white. To Be Continued... Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Expect a sequel in the far future. So I was nervous about posting the ending, but I stoned myself, and YOLO'd it. "If you're waist-deep in the shit sea, there's no going back now!" By the way, Heracles is another name for Hercules, just in case anybody's confused about it. The story -itself- is not yet finished, but the first part of it, Turning Point, has been finished (yes, there will be a sequel. Calm your wieners). The second chapter... or part, etc, will be written up soon, as a different story. I'm planning on going back through the chapters, and fixing any errors I find, so new readers can read it easily. P.S: I have no idea if that lesson, or anything relatively similar, is in a canon episode. So forgive me if I've repeated history (that is, before season 2, which is when this story takes place). P.P.S: I made Kratos lose to Celestia because quite honestly, I want people to get this message: "He isn't unstoppable". He had no character development over the games. His mindset and personality stayed the same, and it made things boring. I discussed this with a friend of mine. There was no progression in his character, and that is what I plan on bringing. Now what I mean by 'progression'? Like, a God, or someone, that could put Kratos in his place. Something interesting, you know. Something that could make Kratos change, like being in such a docile world like Equestria. But someone who could put him in his place, was delivered in the form of Princess Celestia, the unexpectedly powerful, wise and friendly ruler of Equestria. P.P.P.S: Penis. P.P.P.P.S: Point out any damn mistakes in the past chapters, if you would! I need help, you know. P.P.P.P.P.S: I'm nervous. /chewnail /chewnail /chewnail P.P.P.P.P FLUFFIN' P-S!!! I love you all.
PrologueAfter the murder of Poseidon, along with numerous other Olympian Gods, Kratos progressed back to Gaia, whom now had a very tight grasp on the top of a tower that was set upon Mt. Olympus, wherein Zeus, the God of the Skies and Thunder, stood with his arms crossed. The vicious warrior who sought the king of the God's death to no end, Kratos, the former God of War, raced up the mother Titan's massive thumb. He jumped off, and landed on the shiny but lifeless marble floor of the tower. His legs took the shock, but he didn't care for a single second. He stood up, and almost casually walked towards Zeus. "What will you do, father? You can no longer hide behind the skirts of Athena," Kratos said threateningly as he walked towards his creator. He stopped walking as Zeus spoke, his arms still crossed. "Athena is dead because of the rage that consumes you, Kratos. What more will you destroy?" the king of the Olympians frowned at his son as he scolded him. "The hands of death could not defeat me." Kratos gritted his teeth as he glared at his father. "The Sisters of Fate could not hold me." he then aggressively leaned forward, and glared daggers at his father. "And you will not see the end of this day. I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" he reached back and pulled out the Blades of Athena as he bellowed this. Zeus raised his voice as his face twisted into a great anger. "Petulant child! I will tolerate your insolence NO MORE!!!" he took into the skies that were shrouded by a thick layer of dark gray clouds, which quickly had lightning crackling around them, thunder crashing as loud as the sound of a tidal wave crashing against the land, or an earthquake destroying a building. Drawing power from an epic twister of clouds and lightning, the God of the Skies landed upon the hands of an oxidized copper green statue which held its hands out in fists. He channeled said power into a lightning bolt in his right hand, and held it above his head as Gaia attempted to swing a powerful, and likely fatal slam from her rocky palm at the God. Zeus immediately hurled the lightning bolt, which was irradiating with immense electrical power, at Kratos, who failed to jumped out of the way. The result was Gaia's hand being separated gorily from her massive forearm, in turn making the Titan yell in agony. Kratos, on the other hand, was sent flying down from Mt. Olympus with the mother of the Titans. After a long fall, Gaia caught hold of a ledge. She cried out and groaned in pain as this hurt her separated wrist. Kratos, luckily, caught hold of a tiny rock that jutted out from Gaia's back. "GAIA!" Kratos called out. "I CAN HOLD ON NO LONGER!" "If I help you, we will both fall. Even now, Zeus gains!" the Titan clenched her teeth and pulled herself -with a lot of pain coming from her severed wrist, mind you- up the rocky wall. Kratos groaned as he was thrown off. He summoned the Blade of Olympus, and drove it into Gaia's back, and slid down her back, creating a cut that didn't bleed as he did so. "THE DESTRUCTION OF ZEUS IS WHY YOU SAVED ME FROM DEATH!" he bellowed angrily. Gaia looked down as she also slid down the rock face, her right hand going down and her left hand, though severed, staying up where it was. "I saved you to serve the Titans..." she boomed. "Do not deny me my revenge!" Kratos grasped the Blade of Olympus tightly as he ordered this, his face crunching-up in his rage. The Titan grunted as she struggled to hold onto the mountain. "Listen carefully, Kratos," she spat with venom. "You were a simple pawn. Nothing more. Zeus is no longer your concern. This is our war, not yours!" she boomed, lashing her right arm back and slamming it further up the great mountain. From the quake-like shake that came from this action, Kratos lost his grip on the Blade of Olympus. As he fell from the Titan, he yelled, "GAIA!!!" And he fell... And fell... And fell... 'I have lived as a warrior...' 'I have died as a God...' 'Having suffered the ultimate sacrifice...' 'I have been denied release.' 'I... I will defeat Olympus. I will have my revenge!' But as Kratos broke free of his thoughts of strong Spartan determination, he was falling through a sky. But... Wait-... Whoa, hold on a second. Back up. Where was the River Styx?! Where were the tortured souls and moaning demons and the scent of death that wreaked the underworld that is Tartarus!!?! Had he been cast under a spell!? The land below, once Kratos looked at it in awe, looked very unrealistic... There was no texture to the grass... Or anything... Just solid color. It hurt his eyes at first glance... But at this time, he had just exited the stratosphere of this strange new land. The two things he caught a glimpse of before he smashed into the ground, were a great mountain in the distance. Now, this mountain didn't look like Mount Olympus in the slightest... And the second thing he noticed, the mountain loomed over a town in a valley next to the it, but it surely wasn't Athens... Kratos only got a three-second glimpse of these things. He looked back, and the ground pretty much welcomed him into his home, yelling a greeting. ... With the dirt. ... And with a loud thump. Zeus smirked, and chuckled, now standing with his brothers. "Kratos should not be a burden to us anymore, my brothers." he declared with a wicked smile. The Gods of Olympus, I mean, those that were left, cheered in victory. "Olympus will rise again!" Zeus boomed. "Brothers..." he now had the Blade of Olympus. "... Now we remove the final problem that stands between us and our glory..." he stepped toward the edge of the beautiful marble tower, and looked down upon the slowly ascending Titan... Gaia. "My brethren... This is a simple task that we will accomplish." Zeus laughed. "The victory of Olympus is imminent, and it is inevitable!" he declared. Hades was the first to jump down. He took out his vicious claws that could rip the soul from even a Titan, and swung them down at Gaia as she climbed. Helios was the second to take flight downward. His carriage was carried by flaming horses. Gaia's fate was sealed. She didn't react quick enough, and Hades' clawed hooks punctured through her thick, rocky skin, and Hades let gravity do the work, until he landed with a loud crack on a large balcony of stone, beginning to pull back. Gaia yelled in pain as Helios delivered a painful burst of sun energy into her eye, blinding her temporarily. She then felt even more pain as Hades began to rip her soul out. Zeus was the one to deliver the final blow. Flying down towards her head with the Blade of Olympus in hand, Zeus yelled with vigor as he hurled the powerful blade into her skull. Gaia could take no more. The Titan's soul ripped from her body, and the Blade of Olympus was collected by Zeus, who landed beside Hades, with an evil smirk on his face. Gaia let go of the mountain, and lifelessly, her body fell to the raised ocean below, slowly becoming engulfed by the dark waters. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." This message will be in every chapter of this story, and its sequel(s). ZTB
Chapter 1Pain. That is what he felt. Almost every bone in Kratos' body was shattered upon impact with the ground, aside from his right arm, left leg, skull, and his entire rib cage. He was in too much of a state of shock to even scream. He just laid there in pain, limp. He coughed. Sometimes, blood would come from his mouth because he coughed so violently. And when he coughed, pain shot throughout his body. To the fatally injured demigod, minutes passed by like days. Hours like weeks. You know how it goes. His hands, though in agony, were clenched into fists. Blood was spattered on the Spartan's forehead, mostly from the coughing. Eventually, the Spartan's eyes slammed shut, and he drifted into a long unconsciousness from the pain. The physical agony that our hero was in is... Far beyond your or my comprehension, even to begin to understand how painful it was for him. But it wasn't just the physical pain that ailed him. It was the emotional stress. You'd think someone like Kratos was a rock. But no. His problem was his anger. All the yelling causes stress- the root of his problems. He dwelt on his past for too long, and it put great stress upon his shoulders. And these --these two events-- slammed into him full-force. He was denied of his revenge, betrayed by Gaia, and plunged into another world, all happening too quick for him to comprehend. As he slid into the silent world of blackness that was known as unconsciousness, he was sure it was the end for him. He sighed in a raspy tone as his consciousness faded, and his hands relaxed. Even to him, the Ghost of Sparta, this was too much. But as our hero laid upon the ground, you may take comfort in knowing that this wasn't the end for him. Three sets of young eyes were watching him from afar, in the bush. "What do y'all think it is?" one pair of eyes with orange-red irises asked to the other two sets of eyes that were close by. Her voice had an absolutely adorable Southwestern accent. "I don't want to know..." a set of pale-green eyes went half-closed as they looked to the set of eyes that asked the question. The third set of eyes, open all the way and full of excitement, they were of a semi-pale lavender, and were either striving for adventure or childlike curiosity... Likely both. "Come on, girls! You're not scared, are you?" she looked teasingly up to the other pairs of eyes, who just groaned. "Scootaloo..." the pale-green set of eyes closed, as their owner, a small, alabaster unicorn filly with a two-toned purplish mane walked out of the bushes, with the owner of the pale lavender set of eyes, an energetic orange pegasus filly who had a deep magenta mane. The final pair of reddish-orange eyes followed, owned by a small yellow filly with red hair with a lighter red bow in it. "What? It's not like I'm scared!" the one named 'Scootaloo' chuckled. The yellow one shook her head. "Ah think yer' jus' sayin' that, Scootaloo." Scootaloo sighed after a little pause. "Yeah, I guess you're right, AB..." she said sadly, letting her head hang somewhat lower. "Don't be like that, Scootaloo, it's not like we're not afraid of it either! It's ah alien, for pony's sake!" the yellow one exclaimed. The orange filly lifted her head up. "Well... Okay." she smiled. "Let's go see what it is!" and without warning, she took for the creature that laid on its back, which was still moderately distant. "Come on, Sweetie Belle!" the yellow filly, or 'AB' followed her orange friend, galloping after her. "Wa-wait up!" the alabaster unicorn trotted after her. The three fillies stood over the creature, who looked more damaged than the time when they tried getting their cutie marks in construction. AB looked at the biped. "It looks like ah-... What was that big bull with horns called again?" she looked to her friends for an answer. "You mean a Minotaur?" asked Sweetie Belle. AB nodded. "Yeah! Ah Minotaur! It looks like ah Minotaur!... Just... No fur... And ah bit smaller... And no horns, either... And ah weird head!" Sweetie Belle's look of curiosity faded away. "I think it's hurt," Sweetie advised with concern. "And jus' how would you know that?" AB asked her, raising a brow. The unicorn sighed. "I'unno." she then shrugged. Then, the bipedal creature's right hand twitched. Scootaloo jumped at this. "I-it's alive!" she shouted. Her friends backpedaled. Before all three of them broke into a full-on gallop towards Ponyville, screaming their heads off. The trio of fillies attracted more than enough attention as they sprinted through the afternoon streets of Ponyville. Everypony, and I mean everypony looked at them as they screamed and ran, until a familiar pink mare stopped them. All three of them skidded and tumbled to a stop, piling on top of one another. "Hi girls!" the pink mare hopped in spot as she greeted them. "Pinkie!" the three fillies shouted in unison. "There's-a-monster-in-the-fields!" they spoke too quick for most to understand, but Pinkie understood. She gasped. "A MONSTER!?! Ooh, was it big and scary and went like 'RRRR'!!!...?" she got on her hind legs and raised her front hooves above her head, growling for a few seconds before coming down. The fillies shook their heads with vigor, now standing bunched together. "Was it a big ugly monster that moaned like this?" she moaned like a zombie. They shook their heads. "Did it stand on two hooves and have no head and ride a big horse?" They shook their heads again. "Ooh! Ooh! Did it-" The trio, specifically AB, cut her off. "Pinkie Pie!" she shouted over her mumbling. "Yes?" she smiled happily. "It was tall." she said with extra enthusiasm, lifting her hoof above her head. "Ah bit taller than Princess Celestia herself, Ah reckon!" A crowd was formed around the group. They gasped. "It had chain things on its arms!" Scootaloo added. Another gasp. "And red markings! And white fur!" Sweetie Belle continued. A few less gasps than before were heard. "It wore this golden thingy on its shoulder!" AB exclaimed. "A red skirt!" "Big muscles!" "... Big muscles?" AB looked at Scootaloo. They hadn't realized until now that the crowd was laughing at them. Hard. AB frowned, and looked around a bit angrily. "It's true, for pony's sake! Ah can take y'all right now!" she shouted. The crowd stopped laughing, and looked to one another. They mumbled some stuff, and some shook their heads, walking off. Soon, only three ponies were left; a lavender unicorn, Pinkie, and an orange earth pony. The lavender unicorn spoke up. "I'd like to come with you, if that'd be alright, Applebloom." she smiled at the filly. "And Ah don't want my little sister goin' off an' findin' some potentially dangerous creature by herself." the orange earth pony followed. "Thank ya' Miss Sparkle... Thanks Applejack..." Applebloom smiled warmly. "Ooh! Ooh! Can I come? Please-please-please-please-please?!" Pinkie fell to Applebloom's hooves as she begged. The yellow filly giggled at Pinkie Pie's silliness. "Yes, of course 'ya can, Pinkie Pie!" "YAY!!!" cheered Pinkie Pie as she hopped into the air, landing about a second and a half afterwards. Applebloom let out a laugh. "Come on, everypony!" she began trotting off in the direction in which they saw the creature. The five remaining ponies followed the yellow filly's lead. Though, Sweetie was a little hesitant. It was gone. The creature was gone. Poof! It was there, now it wasn't! It didn't make any sense! Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw it with their own eyes! How come it has to up and disappear when they try to prove that they really did see it!? "No, no, no, no no!" Applebloom looked around in a slight panic. "It was here!" she pouted angrily. "Wait," Twilight said. "Look." she pointed a hoof to a little trail of red liquid. "Is that... blood?" Applejack whispered to Twilight. "I think so." she replied, looking at it closely. After a tiny pause, she spoke, "Yes. It is in fact, blood." The fillies were unsure what to think of it, but Applejack winced. Twilight slowly followed the trail of blood. Hesitantly, the rest of the group, well, aside from Pinkie Pie, who hippity-hopped along with them, followed her. Then, they heard the breathing. Oh, the cold, deathly rasped breathing. Twilight slowly looked up, to see... something... On the ground, laying on its front. A trail of blood followed it. Everypony gasped. "Applebloom was telling the truth..." Twilight said in absolute awe. "I told you so!" Applebloom shouted. The bipedal creature coughed up blood. "Shh." Twilight shushed the young filly, who now wore an apologetic look. She mouthed the words "Stay here", and everypony nodded. She slowly approached the creature. "... Hello?" she spoke to the biped. The creature groaned. She stopped walking towards it. The unicorn's eyes widened, and she stepped back as the creature slowly begun to get up. Its legs were shaking, and every second that passed, the biped growled in pain. It managed to get onto both knees, before it fell onto its arms. It groaned, and gasped at the pain that it brought, and coughed up more blood. Twilight went slack-jawed. She looked back to Applejack, who had her hat off and pressed against her chest by a hoof. She was beginning to get a bit teary-eyed in either sympathy or fear, though she was mostly taking in the horror of the sight. A set of metal chain-blades dragged across the ground on both sides of the being. The chain-blades were connected to its arms. The biped groaned, and fell onto its front. Twilight cautiously walked up to the creature, that was now unconscious. "Applejack... It's very badly injured..." she said. "Sweet Celestia..." Applejack put her Stetson back on. "Whatever that there critter is, Ah can agree with Twilight, it is ah might injured." she looked to the group, who nodded. Pinkie spoke, "Aw! I wanted to say hi!... Wait... Hi!" she waved to the creature, who didn't respond. It began to snore. The trio of fillies held back giggles. ... Not being able to hold it back anymore, Scootaloo chuckled. "I-HA-IT SOUNDS LIKE A-HA-HA-BEAR!!!" Soon, the other fillies, and Pinkie Pie, joined her. Twilight sighed. "Girls, can you please stop? I'm trying to focus." she said. The fillies slowly but surely complied, becoming silent. They still had their backs to the ground, though. "Okay..." Twilight began to inspect the creature closely, and mumbled some words under her breath. Some of them involved body parts, while some noted the bone structure... I mean, what was left of it. After she got a good, solid base idea of the anatomy, she said, "The creature is definitely bipedal, which means it walks on two legs. It also has a bone system moderately similar to ours, specifically, the rib-cage. The skull is much different, and the hooves are different, though. Facial features have yet to be determined, because I'd rather not disturb the biped. Now, for its injuries..." Twilight got down to business. She was entirely serious about this. The unicorn softly poked some broken bones, until she looked up. "It's lucky to even be alive right now. An-..." she spotted a large scar on its back. "What's this..?" she looked at the scar curiously. 'It's some form of scar... It looks like... B-but how... Can that be... A stab wound..?' Her jaw dropped, and her irises shrunk. She just... Stared... For minutes to come. "Twiliiight," Applejack waved a hoof in front of her face. No respon- Twilight snapped out of it. "Wha?... W-what? Oh..." she looked back to her. "This creature has suffered quite a bit of broken bones... I don't know how it survived..." she said. "But we need to get it into the Ponyville medical center if we're going to have any chance of its survival! Pinkie Pie, Applejack, I'd like you to help me pick up the biped and carry it. Okay?" "Okie dokie!" Pinkie said, coming to her hooves. Applejack nodded. As soon as they managed to lay the bipedal creature across Pinkie and Applejack's backs, Twilight used her magic for added support, and holding the two chain-blades in midair. She tried to take them off, but soon found that the chains were seared into its flesh. They began to carry the creature back to the Ponyville Medical Center with great caution. The fillies went off about their business. They decided not to get in their way, and then decided to attempt to gain their cutie marks in adventuring... Oh golly. "The creature has multiple breaks in many of its bones! There is absolutely no time for questioning!" Twilight exclaimed at the hospital receptionist, after force-feeding her the information on the biped's basic skeletal anatomy. "It needs medical attention immediately!" The receptionist nodded, and rushed off to get help. Twilight and her two friends still held up the creature, waiting patiently but eagerly for her return. She returned with two uniformed doctors, and four unicorn nurses. They brought a gurney, also. Applejack and Pinkie carefully slid the biped onto the gurney, and the doctors quickly removed the golden shoulder-pad that was on the humanoid's right shoulder. The gurney rolled down the hallway, and into a surgery room at the far end of the hall. Pinkie Pie hugged Twilight, who looked a little sad. "Don't be sad, Twilight! I'm sure it'll be okay!" she said. "Oh, I don't know..." Twilight sighed. "I-I'm sure he'll be... Just fine..." " 'He'?" Applejack asked, confused. "Oops! I forgot to add, it's a male." Twilight quickly explained. "Did you not take notice of the more masculine features, Applejack?" "Well, Ah guess not, but Ah bet Ah wasn't payin' much attention..." she replied with an exhausted sigh, sitting in a seat that was behind her. Pinkie Pie released Twilight. "Well girls, we'll stay until we know that the biped is alright." she said, sitting down with Applejack, Pinkie doing the same. "Er... If the biped is alright." she corrected herself. "Ah sure hope he'll be alright." Applejack looked at Twilight. "... Do you think he'll be-..." "I can only hope, Applejack." Twilight replied. "I can only hope." The doctors put on their protective masks, the nurses the same. "So, we already know the basic skeletal anatomy. She stated that the broken bones are in these appendages." one of the doctors pointed to several appendages, and the nurses cut open the blue fabric in said areas. "We have taken a safe measure of checking for a musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiorespiratory, digestive, integumentary, endocrine and lymphatic systems. This bipedal creature seems to have all of the systems. Now," the doctor continued, "Are we all ready to perform the reconnecting of the bones? We may need to make a few incisions here," he, being a unicorn, used his magic to levitate a marker and make dotted lines among many incision and stitch areas. "-here, here and here, and there. We can then have a clearer view of the broken bone, and the healers may focus their magic on the bone. Everypony got it?" he asked for confirmation. The nurses and doctors nodded in response, and began to carefully make incisions among he dotted lines, beginning the long operation. But beforehand, the doctors gave the creature some anesthetics to relax it and keep it asleep as they operated. - - - Several hours later... The doctors, unfortunately, had to remove the chains that were seared into the humanoid's arms. I'll just leave it at 'It wasn't pretty'. "We have successfully removed the chains around the biped's arms. If we hadn't, the surgery wouldn't have gone through, and worse, it could've gotten tetanus, and a nasty infection. There was quite a lot of blood loss, but we have a transfusion sustaining it currently. But fortunately, this being had an AB blood type, so we transfused it with some B-type blood. He'll be up on his feet in a number of months." the doctor broke the news to Twilight and her two friends. "That's super-dee-duper!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Now I can say 'Hi' to him!" she smiled. Applejack yawned. "Yes, that is ah might good to hear, 'doc-..." she looked over to Twilight... ... Who was... still... sleeping. "Twi..." AJ nudged her. She didn't wake. "Twilight!" she raised her voice, and the lavender unicorn shot awake. "AH- ah... What, wh-what's wrong?" Twilight looked around. "Twilight, your friend in there is fine. Just unconscious." the doctor said. "It was quite a lot of work." Twilight smiled, her eyes widening. "R... Really?" "Really." ... ... (Just to explain how happy and "I told you so!" Twilight was, I had to get these two things. Play the music with the dancing GIF, but y'know, don't listen to all of it... If you want... But I recommend going to 1:09 and watching at least until 2:40 +...) ... As Twilight stopped cheering, and dancing, Pinkie was giggling happily. "I'm sure you can see it in about an hour." the doctor said. "Oh, I need to get home. I'll come back tomorrow, though!" Twilight said. "Me too!" Pinkie followed. Applejack yawned again. "Ah reckon that Ah need 'ta hit the hay..." she and Pinkie walked out of the hospital. "See'ya later, Twilight!" she called. Twilight waved a goodbye, and looked to the doctor. "So, I'll be going now..." she said. "Thank you, by the way." The doctor nodded. "Trust me, it was hard for us to stay calm, Twilight. But we needed to- or else the creature would've gotten more questioning than it did help." he walked off. The lavender unicorn sighed with satisfaction, and walked out of the hospital. Upon Twilight's return, little Spike was laying asleep on the couch. With two empty tubs of ice cream on the coffee table. The unicorn frowned, and sighed. Picking up the empty tubs of strawberry and chocolate ice cream, and throwing them out. Afterwards, she brought Spike upstairs to his rightful resting place, and set him under the covers. She began to write a letter. "Dear Princess Celestia, today I have found a new creature in Equestria. It was in the field outside of Ponyville, just West to the market. The creature stood at about six feet, two inches, and was bipedal. It had red markings on its torso, legs and head, and its skin was a ghastly white. It was terribly injured when we found it. By we, I mean Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I. Currently, the biped is in the Ponyville Medical Center, and is undergoing recovery. Further information is yet to come. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." Made an epic mistake that I fixed; 'They were still had their backs to the ground, though.' Changed to 'They still had their backs to the ground, though.' Also, I fixed the whole shit-bomb with Hermes' boots. God damn, it was hard to pick that shit out! ZTB
Chapter 2Twilight was now walking back to the hospital, after a good night's sleep, and a letter sent in the morning to her royal highness. Today was like any other day in Ponyville, the sun was shining, the skies were a vibrant blue, the clouds were distant, and the mountain that supported Canterlot stood with a sense of warmth over Ponyville, even though it was almost coated with the mountain's shadow on the Eastern side of town. The birds were chirping their lovely chirps, and the ponies were talking their lovely talks. It was simply a wondrous day in Ponyville, though days like these were anything but different to Twilight Sparkle and her friends. "Good morning!" the purple unicorn smiled as she entered the hospital. Walking up to the receptionist who sat behind the desk, she paused, thinking of what to say. Eventually, she got a sentence out. "I'm here to see the creature that was very badly injured yesterday?" "Okay. He's awake. Just down the left hall, room 14. Here is the key to the room." the unicorn receptionist levitated a key to Twilight, who took it into her own aura of magic. Smiling, Twilight replied, "Thank you." she then walked down the left hall, and found room 14. She paused. 'It's okay, Twilight. Just calm down... Calm. Calm.' She repeated the word in her mind, until she felt ready to enter the room. Placing the key into the keyhole on the door, she turned it to the right. A click was heard, and she slowly opened the door. Once the door was open, she stepped inside, to see the creature in a full-body cast, aside from his head. Its eyes were closed. Twilight walked to the bed's side. "Good morning." she said quietly, sitting beside the damaged being. In response, the creature opened its eyes, and turned its head towards her. It groaned, and moved its head back in place. "Can you speak?" she asked, curious. The creature didn't respond. "I'll... take that as a no." "If you haven't realized, horse," the creature spat harshly, its eyes now closed, "I AM IN NO CONDITION TO SPEAK!!!" it yelled. Loudly. Now cowering behind the seat, Twilight whimpered. "S-sorry!" The biped groaned in response. A long silence ensued between the two of them. "Um..." Twilight broke said silence. "A-are you okay..?" she poked her head out from behind the chair, looking at the biped. "I. Cannot. Move." the creature sighed. Twilight almost giggled. "Well, being in a full-body cast does that to ponies..." she sat back down in the chair as she said this. The creature looked back at Twilight. "Have you come to torture me?" 'Torture him? Why would I...' Twilight thought, going wide-eyed. "Why would I do that?" she asked. Chuckling turned into coughing as the creature responded. "I'm no longer able to defend myself. Someone has removed the Blades from me." he nodded his head to a small metal table, where two bloody blades with chains hanging off of them laid. He sounded quite angry... "The doctor said you'd get tetanus if you had those chains on for long." "That doctor must not know about Ares..." he spat. "The Blades have been on my flesh for years!" he growled as he raised his voice. "C-can you p-please stop doing that?" Twilight's ears flopped down. She didn't like when he raised his voice. Not one bit. "Doing what?" "Y-yelling..." "You're wasting my time, talking horse," he said. "ZEUS!" he yelled. To the ceiling? "YOUR BLOOD WILL SOON BE ON MY HANDS! YOUR END IS NEAR!" Zeus chuckled. He stood around a circular pool of water that had a green, glowing image of Kratos and a purple unicorn on it with his Olympian brothers. "Kratos is no longer a threat to Olympia." he sounded as though he could never stop saying it. Hades joined Zeus' laughter. "He has been banished from our land, and even better, the Blades of Athena are no longer in his grasp!" "Morons," Hera sneered at the Gods. "Says the one who gulps down wine and spends her time tending to the gardens all day long!" the messenger of the Gods, Hermes, smirked as he ran past her with lightning-quick speed. Hera just rolled her eyes, taking yet another sip out of her golden, jewel-encrusted goblet. "Thank you, Hera." Zeus nodded to the goddess. Hera sighed. "It's not a problem. At least someone appreciates me." she chuckled. Hades groaned, and walked off. "What do we do about the seas?" Helios asked. Sighing, Zeus responded. "I'm not certain there is one who is worthy of taking the place of Poseidon. His death will not be forgotten." Helios nodded, leaning against a carved stone pillar. "Now what about Kratos? You're just going to leave him in that strange land?" "For as long as I breathe." Kratos was starting to get a slight headache. This horse kept asking questions, like, "Are you okay?" and "What's your name?" and such. He didn't respond to any of them. "I heard you talk." Twilight pushed on. "I do not want to answer any of your questions." Kratos growled. "I need to get u- AGH!" he tried standing up, but in turn, yelled in pain. "U-ugh..." he groaned, laying back down in defeat. "You need to relax." Twilight said. "You're going to re-break your bones if you do that too much," she advised. Kratos just groaned. "How long will I be incarcerated in this personal hell!?" he demanded. "A couple of months..." Twilight said carefully. Kratos' eye twitched. "Maybe six... Or more..." she continued in a low tone. Kratos was glaring daggers at her... Nope, scratch that, glaring swords at her. No, scratch that, too. Kratos was giving her the 'I will rip your legs off, and shove them down your throat, and use you as a bloody maul.' look. In other words- "I-I-I gotta go." the unicorn said nervously. "H-hope you get better!" she stood up. And bolted out of the door. Kratos shook his head. 'What manor of trick is this...' he wondered. He groaned, and laid his head back down onto his pillow. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 3 - - -The first month of recovery, about 1 week in, no visits from Twilight... As Kratos lay in what he surely assumed was his deathbed, he was both bored out of his mind, and impatient. He wanted to get the living hell out of there, but he couldn't move without causing himself great pain. This, in turn, pissed him off. But, at least he had something to listen to. ... The sound of a damn clock ticking. ... Tick... Tock... ... Tick... Tock... TICK... ...TOCK... TICK!... TO- "RAGGGH!" Kratos yelled out in searing frustration. "ZEUS! I KNOW YOU AND YOUR DAMNED BROTHERS CAN HEAR ME!" he bellowed to the ceiling with immensely radiant power, even in his injured condition. ... I mean, heavily injured condition. Literally, it was like having your back rubbed up against the side of a minotaur. Not a fun experience. He groaned, hitting his head against his... Pillow... In hopes to... Break... The bed. Just as he was about to slip into his little world full of boredom, wait, he already did that... But, that familiar purple unicorn mare walked through the door. The demigod almost let out a sigh of relief, but he kept it in, and pretended he was asleep. But, there was one problem: Twilight heard his yelling. Sitting beside the bed with a look of concern on her face, Twilight looked at the injured demigod. Finally, she spoke, “Sorry for not coming to visit you in a little bit.” Kratos didn’t respond. He just snored. Twilight raised a brow, and sighed. “Okay, you can stop acting like you’re sleeping. I heard you yelling.” Kratos growled at her as he opened his eyes. “What do you want.” he demanded. Oh no, he wasn’t asking. Kratos never simply ‘asks’. He tells. He orders. HE RUNS THIS CRAP SHACK! … At least, so he thought... “I want some questions answered, if you would.” “No.” Kratos said, closing his eyes. That was usually the conversation-stopper. After that, it was either ‘talk to the blades- oh wait, your head’s gone,’ or ‘time to open up a fresh can of kick-your-ass.’. “Please?” “No.” Kratos repeated. Wait, he... Never... Has... To repeat himself. He opened his eyes again, and looked over to Twilight. “Why not?” ‘I’d rather die than listen to her childish babbling...’ the wounded demigod frowned, gritting his teeth behind his lips. He spoke, “Because I have no time for you.” he glared at her as he said this harshly. “You more than likely have several months on your hooves.” Twilight said, with a smile on her face. “I think you have quite enough time to talk.” Kratos, if he had been able to walk, and use his arms, he’d be playing the ‘How many colors of the rainbow can a pony turn before they choke to death’ game with the unicorn. But, of course, he was denied of it. Typical. The Spartan growled. “I do not want to answer any of these ‘questions’.” he said. With a humph, he closed his eyes. “Not even one?” “No.” “Pleeeaaase? Please-please-please-please-please-plea-” Kratos’ left eye twitched. “So be it! You may have ONE! And ONE only. You may have your words, but be quick with them!” he snapped. ... “Who are you?” The question was simple. Too simple. But how Kratos took it was as goes; He assumed she wanted his name. Then, he thought she wanted to know who he actually WAS, not just his name. With a sigh, the Spartan spoke, “I’m... Kratos.” he replied dully, with a tinge of boredom combined with a dash of annoyance in his voice. “Is... Something wrong?” the unicorn asked. Kratos slowly shook his head. “But, I didn’t mean just your name...” ‘I knew it...’ Kratos thought. “What is it that you seek from me?” “Well...” Twilight sighed. “... I’m not sure how I could word it, but-” “What I did? My past, you mean?” “Yes! Y-your past, where you’re from, what you did there-” “Then I won’t tell you a single thing.” Twilight’s expression dropped. She was frowning, but she had that look... Not just of curiosity, but a rather confused look. Mixed emotions, basically. “... Why?” she asked, in a low tone. “You’re not in the place to know. That is why.” - - - One day later... Once again, Twilight had come to visit Kratos. Though the Spartan demigod was bored, he, at the very least, had someone... Er, something, to talk to. But, he just didn’t realize it yet. Of course. Now, Twilight was being as nice as she could be to him. Sitting in the same chair she sat in the last time she visited, she smiled at him. “I brought some books for you to read.” she spoke, breaking the silence that lasted for a few minutes, just after she came in. Kratos only nodded. The unicorn sighed, before taking out two books: one on Equestrian history, and another, being a Daring-Do book. In fact, it was the first in the series that her friend, Rainbow Dash, read. Looking over to the books that the unicorn held in her magic, the Spartan spoke, “I have a question...” Kratos spoke. After yelling a bit yesterday, his throat hurt, so he had to speak in a rather quiet tone. “I didn’t receive your name...” Twilight looked back at him, growing an apologetic look. “Oh, where are my manners. I’m sorry. I am Twilight Sparkle. Pleased to meet you, Kratos.” she smiled. Kratos nearly rolled his eyes. “... May I see one of those... Books?” he asked. He was bored out of his mind, so the least he could do to cure his agonizing boredom was to read something. “Which one would you want to read? I have Volume 1 of Equestrian History, or the first book in the Daring-Do series.” she presented the books to him. Kratos thought for a moment, before making up his mind. “... I choose the 'Daring-Do' book.” Now, guys, the idea I came up with is, based off of many comments... That I will now make several parts that are shorter than a normal chapter, but they go through Twilight's visits, and Kratos' recovery. Give me feedback, please. Thank you all for the criticism. I've taken some of it into consideration, but it's still a shot in the dark. ~ZTB Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 4So, Twilight nodded at his decision, and levitated the book in front of Kratos, and opened it to the first page. Kratos tried to read it, but he couldn't. Reason being was that it was in Equestrian; thereby, it looked something like an Egyptian tablet, with symbols and such here and about. "What is this? A picture book?" He asked the unicorn. "I cannot read these scriptures." "Uh... no, these are words... oh! I forgot, you must not know Equestrian... sorry..." Twilight apologized, taking the book from him. "I can read it to you, if you'd like." She offered with a smile. Kratos simply nodded. "I would be pleased..." He muttered dully, closing his eyes to ease them from the brightness of the room. And so, Twilight began to read. "As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days... it might as well be a few months, or a few years!" Twilight read from the book in which Kratos chose, the demigod paying attention as she did so. The unicorn looked over to Kratos, and he nodded, telling her to go on. She continued, "The mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The macaws cried from the high trees. Yet all of these distracting noises were not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step..." Kratos imagined the scene as Twilight read, only, it was in his version... Kratos limped along the path of dirt, looking around while holding his blades out. The sounds of the jungle were heavy, but not heavy enough, as Kratos glanced to his right. With a yell, the demigod painfully rolled to the right, his broken ankle disagreeing with the motion, barely evading a deadly blow from a Minotaur's war-axe. Then, an arrow pierced the ground next to his foot, and he looked over, to see a Centaur archer loading another arrow to fire. Kratos jumped to attention as the Minotaur attempted to strike once again, the Spartan successfully parrying the downward swipe with a vicious parry and counter-attack, which left a gash in the Minotaur's midsection. The mighty warrior sent a chainblade out, catching the Centaur's bow. He yanked downward, jerking the bow out of the creature's grasp. He lashed his arm out, and retracted the blade, the bow going off into the bushes. Angered, both the Minotaur and the Centaur charged at Kratos, who rolled backward just as they were a split second away, the two creatures smashing into one another. But, he lost his footing, now hanging onto the edge of a deep ravine! Kratos held on, and let one arm loose, grabbing one chainblade from his back. He stabbed it into the rock face, and looked down. There was no light at the bottom of the ravine, but he had no other choice, if he wanted no further injuries. He grabbed and stabbed his second blade into the rock face. He then pulled down, and the blades cut through the rock, and allowed him to slide down and get to the bottom without injury. He removed the blades from the rock face, and hopped down into the darkness. Putting away one blade, he pulled out a gory head; Helios's head. Its mouth opened and its eyes shone with bright light, with the power of the sun itself. He used the head's mangled hair as a handle, and began to trek through the damp, dark cavern. The godly torch allowed Kratos to see very many feet in front of him. But, he snapped his head back as he heard the crumbling of stone. He shone his lantern to the direction, and found that the tunnel behind him had collapsed! "Damn..." Kratos muttered. No turning back now. With a frustrated sigh, the Spartan demigod continued to walk through the darkness. Soon, he almost tripped over an edge; in front of him, was a pit with holes at the bottom, measuring many, many meters in length. A spike trap, to be exact. Kratos humphed, and looked to the far end of the pit. Cracking his neck, he hurled the gory torchlight to the end, and now in an ignorance to his agonizing ankle-pain, he jumped into the pit, a row of spikes springing up behind him! It didn't stop him, as he broke into a full-on sprint, the spikes on his tail like drugs to Jack Nicholson. With a grunt, he jumped up and pulled himself up over the edge of the end of the pit, barely being missed by the spikes. He grabbed Helios's bloody head, and brushed himself off with a sniffle, pressing on. He eventually came into a large room, which was composed of sixteen large, square stone blocks, which made up the walls. Four on the floor, four on the right, four on the left, and four on the top. The front and back walls, however, were made of different stone; it was red in coloration. A pedestal stood in the center of the room, and Kratos approached it. An aged book was atop the pedestal, and he read it aloud. "The walls of darkness are lesser than the light. The passage ahead leads to great fortune-... what passage?" He wondered, looking around. It seemed that the room came to a dead end, but he read on, shaking his head. "... but you will need to find it first. The walls around you are much like an unsolved puzzle; the pieces are scattered. Solve the puzzle, and the door shall open." Something caught his eye on the pedestal. There were creases along the bottom, and Kratos tapped the floor lightly. It was hallow, just as he suspected. Then, he began to push down, and the pedestal descended into the floor, and a loud click was heard. The walls began to shake, before they moved, the top column of red stone switching with the top columns of lighter stone. The pedestal moved back up. Kratos raised a brow, and looked around. "I have no time for this..." He growled, before taking out the Nemean Cestus, two massive, lion-headed gauntlets. He then thought 'The walls of darkness are lesser than the light... Hmm...' So, before he could do anything, the walls moved back into place. He smirked. 'This just makes things easier...' A few moments later, Kratos smashed through one of the red walls, into a perfectly square stone passage. He removed the Cestus from himself, and brushed off the debris, trekking down the hall. He pulled out Helios's head, and the godly torch lit-up the passage once again, and he took out one of the blades of Exile, moving forward. Quicker than he thought, he came across a very, very large room, made of marble. At the end of it... was Zeus, sitting in his throne, with his eyes closed. The very sight of the King of the Gods angered Kratos; it made his eyes burn with flames of hatred, and made his body scream with vicious battle-cries. His eye twitched, and he yelled loudly, taking out the Blades of Exile, and rushing at Zeus, with the intent of bloodshed beyond comprehension. Zeus opened his eyes, and stood up, just as Kratos jumped at him. Suddenly, Kratos was falling. Falling through the sky; but the ground wasn't visible. The sky was blood red, clouds of black shadowed the entirety of the void-like air, which was thick and damp. Past memories haunted him as he fell, invisible hands clawing at his mind, tearing into his very soul- "GAH!" Kratos yelped, waking up. Around him, the hospital room was dark, save for a single nightlight, which was on a wall next to the bed. He had fallen asleep whilst Twilight was reading, and had slept through the entire day. He groaned, resting his bandaged head on the pillow once more. - - - The Next Afternoon... After a lunch of hot soup, Twilight came into the room to visit again. "Good afternoon," She greeted the demigod as she walked in, bringing a few more books with her, of course. "Mm..." Kratos replied with a nod. He was rather tired; his schedule for sleeping was screwy now, since he slept through the day. "How are you feeling?" Twilight asked, sitting next to the bed. "The same as before... but only this time, tired..." Kratos sighed lowly, his eyes closed. "... very... tired..." He added. "Well... sorry I didn't wake you up..." Twilight blushed sheepishly. "I-I couldn't wake you up! Of course, my common sense was telling me to wake you up, but I just couldn't lis-" She was interrupted by Kratos, who lifted his right hand up, to silence her. "Shhh... be quiet... my head already aches..." Twilight complied, but she wasn't one who liked being interrupted. Especially like that! How rude of him, to imply that she worsens his headache! But, luckily for Kratos, she silenced herself. For a few moments, there was silence. Glorious silence. Before she spoke, "You know... that wasn't exactly very nice..." Kratos groaned. "Well..." He suddenly went blank on his reply. "Well what?" "... ignore it." "No, you were going to say something. What was it?" "I said to ignore it." "And I'm saying to say what you said to ignore." "'Well'." He repeated the word that he said. "No, not that. What you were going to say, not what you said." "I do not know what I was going to say, Twilight." "Likely story. Now, what was it?" "I do not know, damn you!" He raised his voice. Twilight's ears pinned back. "... S-sorry..." What was this? An apology? Yes. If Kratos hadn't have been so ignorant and unforgiving to her previous apologies, he would've realized sooner that she was actually trying to speak with him as a person, and not a prisoner or lower being. "Hmm?" He looked over to her with a raised brow that she couldn't see, for the bandages on his face covered his eyebrows. "I said... sorry..." She replied. Kratos thought over his words for a moment, before deciding on what to say. "It's... not a... problem...?" Twilight's eyes opened. 'Did he just...' She thought, before she smiled. This was indeed... ... The first sign. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 6The next morning that followed, Twilight shakily got out of bed, her face still wet from tears. She slowly walked downstairs, sniffling. She did get some sleep, but not much. Spike wasn't awake; he had returned from Rarity's, only to take one big nap. Though she was tired, Twilight fixed her mane, took a quick shower, and had a fast breakfast of a single apple. She then walked out of her home, shutting the door behind her. She almost forgot to get the blades, so, she stomached the courage to look at them as she carried them through the town. Of course, just the mere sight of the weapons made Twilight teary-eyed, so she had to look away, just to save herself the public humiliation. She reached the hospital, and walked through the doors, getting permission to see Kratos quickly. Once she got to his room, she opened the door, and hung the two blades on coat-hangers. "... I wondered why they were gone..." Kratos said, his eyes still closed. Twilight's ears pinned back immediately. "I-... I'm sorry..." "So you took them?" "Y-... yes..." "Why?" "... I..." "Speak quickly, Twilight." "I-I... I just... couldn't-" "Couldn't what?" "I... I..." Twilight just couldn't seem to find the courage to tell him what she did, but she had to. "I... know what you did... and I'm so... so... sorry..." "What?!" "Y-your wife..." "Who told you of th-" Just as Kratos was about to yell at her, Twilight pulled him into an embrace. Kratos tried to struggle, but she tightened the grip, practically disabling him, hence the fact that he already was disabled. "I'm so sorry!" Twilight cried as she wept into his shoulder. Kratos just stared blankly at the ceiling, looking around in a state of shock. His mouth was slightly open. He gulped, and as Twilight cried into his shoulder, with his right arm, he pulled her close, stroking her mane. He honestly didn't know what he was doing; it was out of instinct. Some strange, strange instinct that he didn't know much of. Sympathy. Kratos didn't know it, but this was the start of something he would never forget. The Spartan's hardened heart seemed to crack like an eggshell at this, this strange feeling. The memories once again haunted him. The ashes that clung to his skin, they were a permanent reminder of what he did, the shedding of his own love's blood. He lowered his head, nothing else but a single tear escaping his eyes, rolling down his cheek as Twilight hugged him. Eventually, the two of them were silent, for a long while. Kratos eventually broke the silence. "How... did you find out...?" He asked. Twilight sniffled. "T-the bl-blades... I used a sp-spell on them... I saw a lot of things... Zeus... Ares... Hades... Prometheus... Icarus... the Blade of Olympus... Gaia... Athena... you..." She almost looked away from him. Kratos nodded understandingly. "I'm... sorry... you had to see that." He said. "My past isn't something that many would be fond of, Twilight. I told you, I would not tell you anything. Why... why did you not listen to me?" He demanded. Twilight looked him right in the eyes. "B-because... we're friends..." She smiled sadly, before hugging him once more. - - - Mount Olympus... As the Gods watched this happen, Hermes was drinking a goblet of wine. He choked on it, and did a 100% legitimate spit-take once he heard that... all of it landing on Hades. "EUGH! Disgusting!" ... Hades then proceeded to choke Hermes. "Well... what do we do now?" Helios asked Zeus. Zeus shook his head. "Nothing. For now..." "MY GRANDMOTHER COULD CHOKE ME BETTER THAN YOUUUUUAAAAAAAACCGGH!" - - - Kratos's room... Twilight stayed with him for a long time. Kratos was still trying to render just what in the name of unholy Hades happened. His mind was scattered. 'Because we're friends?' 'Because we're... friends...?' 'Friends...' 'Friends...?' 'Because we're... friends? Because we're friends. Because-we're-friends.' He just didn't seem to get it, but at the same time, he did. But the knowledge and 'anti'-knowledge clashed together, leaving him in a confused state of mind. Twilight still hadn't let him go, either. The unicorn's remaining tears were soaked into his skin. Kratos still embraced the mare, for he knew that she wouldn't be letting him go any time soon. "Because we're friends?" He uttered in confusion. Twilight simply nodded with her eyes closed. "Yes... *sniff*..." 'She didn't listen to me because we're friends!?' Kratos thought. 'If I know anything about "friendship", it's that your 'friend' should NEVER turn his back on you...!' He started to get angry, but stopped. 'But she didn't mean any harm, she didn't know what happened. It wasn't her fault.' The voice of Kratos's seemingly non-existing common sense spoke. 'It was her fault, you imbecile... she was the one who took the blades in the first place...' Kratos growled at the voice in his head. 'That is where you are wrong, Spartan! The blades were taken unto you by YOUR choice! It was YOU who chose on that fateful day to become a servant to Ares! Do not be so arrogant as to your own common sense! She did NOT know what would have unfolded before her eyes, and yet you want to punish her for it!? You should be ashamed of every fiber of your BEING for even beginning to think something like that, you childish moron!' Kratos didn't even attempt to 'talk' back after that. He had himself there. "Twilight... I need you to promise me something..." "Y-yes... wh-what?" "If you tell anyone else of this... I will see to it that consequences come... swiftly." "But Kratos-" "I have spoken, Twilight! If you are my friend," He almost shivered at the word. "-you will heed my request." Twilight nodded, but looked back to him. "But what about P-Princess C-Celestia...?" "Who?" "Princess C-Celestia... the ruler of Equestria..." "Why bring her into the matter?" She lowered her head. "Because she is coming to v-visit you... very soon... and she will more than likely want to know a lot about you... s-so... y-you're probably going to have to answer some q-questions." Kratos's hand clenched into a fist. "... Your leader is not of my concern." Twilight looked like she was just smacked upside the head. "She is too your concern, Kratos." She snapped. "And you better know it." Oh, the incalculable ratio as to how much Kratos wanted to yell, 'You dare speak up to the Ghost of Sparta!?'... but he forced himself not to, although it was hard as hell, and said, "We will see about that... when is she coming?" Then, Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh nononono..." "... She's coming today, isn't she?" "... N-no... tomorrow... I almost forgot about it!" Twilight exclaimed, before releasing Kratos, who groaned. "S-sorry Kratos! I really need to go!" She said, rushing out of the hospital. Kratos laid there, confused. 'Why would she worry so much about something so simple as a meeting...?' Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 7The next day came with a painful slowness. Kratos impatiently waited for this 'Celestia' to come, but the night before, the thoughts that raced through his mind drove him to get only a measly four hours of sleep, so he was also very tired. Kratos, deciding to sleep until his door opened, laid his head back on his pillow. But his thoughts were interrupted by the door opening, of course. He opened his eyes, almost excitedly, to see... ... to... TO SEE!... ... the damn nurse with the many unicorn assistants walk in. 'Fff-' "Good morning, Kratos." The nurse greeted. "Not exactly 'good' if you ask me..." Kratos coughed. The assistants looked to one another rather worriedly, but their expressions paled in comparison to the nurses'. "Why is that? Is something wrong?" "These wrappings and bindings are too tight for my liking, and my legs feel fine. That is what is wrong." Kratos replied. "Oh?" The nurse smirked. "It's impossible to recover that fast, Kratos. We can loosen the casts, yes, but--" "But nothing, I demand my legs to be freed entirely." The Spartan ordered. The nurses' smirk only grew. "Well, Kratos, if you are so confident in this..." She nodded to her assistants, who went straight to work on Kratos's casts, taking them off in a jiffy. Kratos groaned, and finally stretched out his legs with relief. "Now, my arms..." He eyed the blades on the coat hangers for less than a second, then the bracers that supported and locked in one of his arms. The assistants looked back to the nurse, and the nurse nodded. The casts came off, and Kratos stretched his appendages with pleasure. Looking to the small needle hooked to his left arm, he sent his right hand for it, and pulled it out. He sat-up on the bed, a tiny trickle of blood leaking from the hole which the needle generated. The assistants rushed to stop him- but the nurse interrupted, "No, let him try and walk." 'If it weren't for my common sense, I would wipe that smug little smirk off of her face... grrhg...' Kratos growled, and got up quicker than he expected. He stood for twelve seconds straight, eyeing the nurse, before taking his first step forward. So far so good, he thought. His muscles suddenly tensed as his right foot touched the ground. "G-" He almost let out a groan, but he couldn't. He was a warrior of Sparta. A broken leg would not falter him. He shoveled down the pain. "Something wrong, Kratos?" The nurse questioned. "Nothing." Kratos snapped. "Now, as you can see, I can walk." "... But you only took one step." The gown-wearing unicorness said, her smirk slightly fading. Kratos took another step. Then another. Then another. Then another. Each of them were slightly painful, but he could do it. He walked slowly, until he was right in front of the nurse, towering over her. "I can leave now." He insisted. "Oh no you can't. I'm not as dull as I look, Kratos." "Hmm?" Behind him, a magical, floating window, generated by the assistants, like an x-ray, showed his slightly intact but not fully-healed shin and ankle. Kratos's eye twitched. He looked to the blades on the wall, and leaped towards them. The nurse and the assistants saw this, and one of them shot a paralysis beam in order to stop him, which missed entirely, hitting a wall. Grabbing the blades by the chains, he viciously tore the coat-hanger from the wall, and spun the two harbingers of death around with expert swordsmanship. He, letting out a yell, charged at the nurse, whose face was plastered with fear. He jumped again, and just as he let go of his blades, they were in the perfect dismemberment position; her head would be ripped messily off, gore would be splattered... ... if he hadn't suddenly stopped in midair. His blades, and even himself, were surrounded by a golden glow. Kratos growled angrily, and tried to locate the source of this treachery. That's just what he did. A rather large, white mare, whose horn was paired with wings, stood in the doorway. Her mane and tail matched one another, flowing freely in a non-existing breeze. She wore a crown, and gilded hoof-plates. Kratos suddenly felt a horrid pain wrack through him, and he let out a silent yell. The blades dropped to the ground, along with the nurse, who was now in shock. Her hooves twitched constantly, whimpers escaping her lips and tears falling from her eyes. "Twilight... you said he was harmless." The mare scolded. Beside her, Kratos saw Twilight, who was teary-eyed in revulsion. "C-Celestia, he... I-I..." Twilight tried to speak, but she refused to. Kratos's heart dropped at this, and Celestia walked into the room, a little more than slightly angry with the Spartan. "How dare you..." She spoke in a low tone. 'This must be this... Celestia...' Kratos was released, landing on his feet with a grunt. "How DARE you attempt to kill one of my subjects?" She raised her voice considerably. This wasn't like Zeus's voice, no, this wasn't like Hades. Her tone... it just made Kratos's legs shake, and his hair stand up on his neck. He controlled his legs, though. "P-Princess, he's harmless! Please, y-you don't need to--" Twilight attempted reasoning with her, but Celestia cut her off like she was a grain of sand to her. "Look at what he has done, Twilight." Celestia gestured to the crying nurse on the ground. "He nearly killed one of my subjects... and for what?" She glared into Kratos's very soul. Kratos humphed, closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and looked away. "She deceived me." He admitted. Even out of his mouth that sounded absolutely stupid. "She deceived you? That's all? You attempt to murder her just because she deceived you!?" Celestia demanded. Twilight's ears pinned back, and she shakily backed away. She knew well-enough that deceit was something Kratos hated, for his skin was ashen white due to the word. The Spartan growled, and spoke, "Listen, you-... y-you..." He was about to crack down upon Celestia with the wrath of his tongue, but the glare he received from Twilight was... influencing him... "... y-you..." 'Damn you, Twilight!' Celestia raised a brow. "What?" Kratos gnashed his teeth, and sputtered out in the lowest of tones, "I'm... s-sorry..." Her raised brow only raised more. "Pardon?" "I said... grrrgh..." He growled at Twilight, the unicorn looking slightly remorseful... ... for less than a second. Her glare intensified, and it burned holes into Kratos's tainted soul. 'WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!!?!' He winced, and through gritted teeth, said, "I apologize..." "For what?" Celestia asked, a sly smirk coming across her face. Kratos was about to snap. "For attempting to..." His eye twitched. Celestia could obviously tell that he was getting angrier every second that passed. Especially when he clenched his fist so hard that it drew blood. "K-Kratos!" Twilight interrupted him as blood leaked between his fingers. He snapped out of it, and shook his head, opening his hand. Blood leaked out of cuts, but he looked down at it blankly. "What... it does not hurt..." 'What manor of creature is this?' Celestia wondered, before sighing. "No need to further aggravate you, Kratos. Please, get the nurse to a chair and let her rest," She said. The unicorn assistants nodded, and took the nurse to the waiting room, shutting the door behind them. "As for you, Twilight, you may stay or leave, whatever you wish." "I'll stay." Twilight said, smiling. "Please, rest your aching legs, Kratos." Celestia insisted. Kratos nodded slowly, and sat on the bed. "Now, let us begin... you already know my name, I assume?" The demigod nodded again. "Yes... Celestia." Twilight was surprised that her mentor didn't correct him as to say, 'Princess Celestia' instead. "It is truly a pleasure to meet you." Kratos thought, 'She must be very forgetful... either that, or she is more ignorant than Zeus...' Even thinking the name made the Spartan's heart shake with rage. What he'd give just to get a choking hold on that piece of shit's neck... "Likewise..." He said dully. "Now, putting what recently happened behind us," Celestia began, "-Twilight had sent me a letter some time ago, explaining your arrival here. I was truly intrigued, so I finalized on meeting you in person, seeing as how you were injured. Furthermore, I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you do not mind..." Kratos let out a sigh, and looked to Twilight for a moment. 'Respect, Kratos.' Her gaze seemed to say that to him. "... You may have your words..." He decided, closing his eyes. "How did you get here, in the first place?" The beautiful alicorn asked. Shit. Kratos knew he wouldn't be able to answer it completely without telling a story, but he had no choice... "I cannot answer that question..." "Why not?" "... you interrupted me." "Oh, my apologies, Kratos, please go on." "... I cannot answer it simply. The unicorn sitting beside you knows... unfortunately knows... things about me that I would have never told her." He said grimly. "How I got here is a question that I cannot answer fully... but I will try my best." He cleared his throat. "It was Zeus... I know that much... that, that... man..." "Who is Zeus?" Celestia asked. Kratos furrowed his brow. "Twilight, could you answer this..." "Of course." Twilight replied with a geeky smile, looking at her mentor. "Zeus is the King of the Olympians, as far as I know. He... caused Kratos some trouble. He was how he got this." She pointed to the scar on his midsection. Celestia's eyes widened slightly. "He killed you?" "I've died more than once..." Kratos replied. Nobody spoke for a moment or two, before Celestia broke the silence. "... Interesting... go on." "Zeus betrayed me, and I had to go on a journey... a journey which my death began... I went to the Sisters of Fate, who control the very threads of fate... I slaughtered them all, and returned to the moment in time when Zeus betrayed me, but failed in killing him." Kratos explained. "Does he still live?" "... unfortunately." The demigod replied. Celestia nodded, understanding what he meant. "And I assume you want vengeance, correct?" "Mm..." He nodded. "The other Olympians are only blockages to my vengeance... I swore to myself, I would get my revenge by any means possible... but I don't think I can now..." He sighed. "Why not?" "Equestria... isn't my homeland." He said simply. "You come from a land on the outskirts, I assume?" Celestia decided. "... I'm not certain I'm a part of this world entirely." He replied. "Everything, even the way I see things... is much different... the landscape is like a rainbow." Kratos smirked. Celestia's already-raised brow raised even further. She asked, "And what about the ponies?" "The people...?" Kratos said, before thinking hard. "... I... am not so sure... they've done me no good, putting me in a prison of my own body." He said rather rashly. 'Just as I thought...' The princess smirked. "The ponies of Equestria have done you no wrong, Kratos, and have helped you recover. Without us, you would more than likely be dying in that same place you appeared in. We give you shelter, Kratos. We give you care that you need, and what do you do?" She asked, almost rhetorically. "... You act arrogant. You're ignorant to the nice ponies around you. They want to talk to you, want to get to know you, and you shove them away? Isn't there even a shred of kindness inside of you?" Twilight looked worriedly at the Spartan, who was lost in thought. What she heard next, made her eyes widen, and fill with tears. "... I need no friends..." Celestia, after a long silence, got up, and said almost dissapointedly, "I must go. I have duties to attend to." She left the room, leaving Kratos and Twilight alone. Tears streaming down her face, Twilight said, "H-how could you, K-Kratos...?" She asked sadly. Kratos's heart wrenched. Why was he... feeling this way? He looked away, for fear he himself would join the unicorn in that... disgusting pool of emotion. Then he heard the sobbing. 'Ggh... hold it in...' The Spartan tried his best to contain and lock away his emotion, but each second that passed, the unicorn's weeping got to him more and more. Not taking it anymore, he put a hand on Twilight's shoulder, since she was in reaching distance. "Twilight, stop." He ordered. "Please." He placed his other hand on her other shoulder. "Stop... stop..." Maybe this was a bad idea, Kratos thought, as his eyes began to slowly, slowly but surely fill up with tears. "L-let go of me..." Twilight shoved his hands off of her, and walked away. Kratos was hurt. He, the former God of War, the Ghost of Sparta... a monster... a seemingly emotionless, ruthless, hateful monster... was hurt. Once Twilight got out of the room, she shut the door. Something inside Kratos snapped at that moment. ... his heart. Only now, had he realized what Celestia said. Only now, had he come to understand. Throwing his head back, Kratos gnashed his teeth furiously as he fruitlessly attempted to hold back the tears. Twilight wiped the tears from her face. Celestia stood in the hall, looking at her with a wink. She winked back, before suddenly, she looked like she wasn't crying at all. "Do you think it worked?" The unicorn asked her mentor. "... Without a doubt." Celestia smiled. "Although I normally wouldn't approve of doing something like this, it is rather unfortunate that we could not get through to him any other way. I'm glad you talked to me before we came, Twilight." Twilight nodded. "It was my pleasure. Although..." She looked back to the door. "... I don't know if he's alright... what should I do now?" She asked. "You wait. I doubt that he'll be the same in a week's time. Once the week is over, visit him. He will be brittle and sad," "... because I think he has realized the importance of friendship." Author's Note This chapter was actually quite a lot of fun to write, guys! Hope you liked it. Gonna work on the next one right quick.
Chapter 8Twilight couldn't stop pacing around once she got home. What Celestia said to her, it just... she didn't want to do it. Did she have to? No. She didn't... but either way, she'd feel guilty. This was one of those times when Twilight had to make a tough decision. All I can say? Guilt is one hell of a bitch. "No way." "Way!" "EEE!!!" This had been going on for about an hour. Kratos laid in his bed, on the verge of yelling. The voices were of two young mares outside his door, talking about some damn stallion that was 'hot' or something, and how one got with him. "So what is he like?" "He's like, totally awesome! He's such a good kisser..." Kratos mumbled, "I'll give you something to kiss..." Before growling. "Really?! Oooh... so... how big is he?" "I haven't gotten that far with him yet!" The Spartan was seriously on the brink of- "WILL YOU TWO SHUT. UUUP!!! BEFORE I RIP OUT YOUR TAINTED... VOCAL... COOORDS!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. Silence... Thank Zeus... ... wait. Don't thank Zeus, brutally murder him when you get the chance. Got that? Got that. "Finally... some peace and qui-" "Like... what the hay was that?" "Hehehe! I don't know!" "URGHGRHGRGH..." Kratos realized something. One. He wasn't restrained. Two. His blades were on the floor, completely left for his taking. Three. Ponies were idiots for being so ignorant. A few minutes later, Kratos opened the door, and slammed it against the wall, which cracked. The two mares stared in slight horror at him as he said, "The next word... I hear... come out of your mouths... earns me the right... to rip off your head." He held one of the blades in his hands. The mares went pale, quickly exchanged silent whispers, walked away slowly... ... and screamed, "GUAAARD! MONSTERRR!!!" "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO-" "GAH!" Kratos woke up with a yelp, and panted. Another damn dream! He growled, and tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't. His eyes seemed to be glued open after the dream. Strange was the dream, but even more so strange was the fact that he couldn't get back to sleep. Now, Kratos hadn't really thought about what happened in the day. Tried to... shove it down with ignorance. But even then, it made him feel off. Hollow. Stale. But, he was an expert at ignoring things, so he simply ignored. As the saying goes, 'ignorance is bliss'. The Spartan thought, 'I'm not bound to the mattress... I could simply walk out of here if I wanted... I doubt the guards would be able to put up any kind of fight.' But quickly dismissed it. Why? Because then he thought, 'But why would I leave...? I've nowhere to go, stay... that's how it has been for me for many years, but this isn't my home... I... don't know if I can return without help...' He groaned, forcefully shutting his eyes in an attempt to sleep once again. Just as Kratos was about to drift off into slumber... "K-Kratos...?" A familiar voice called to him in a whisper. He looked over, and opened his eyes. There, emerging from the bed next to his, was none other than Twilight Sparkle. The very sight of her made him look away. "Kratos... I... didn't mean to hurt you..." "Your words mean nothing to me... get out of my sight." He ordered. "No, Kratos." She barked. "It... isn't... how you think it is. It was..." "If you're to talk to me, Twilight, be quick with your tongue! I'm not tolerating mindless gibbering!" He snapped. "I-i-it wasn't intentional. Princess Celestia made me do it... I... we... were trying to-" Before Twilight could even finish her sentence, Kratos's eyes shot open in shock, then quickly boiled with rage in realization. "How... dare you... try to manipulate me, Twilight, how DARE you?!" Kratos demanded as he sat up on the bed. "You know what I have been through! You know that it was because of manipulation, because of deceit, that I MURDERED MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! AND YET, YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY AND BREAK ME, MANIPULATE ME, JUST TO BEND ME TO YOUR WILL, AND GET ME TO BE CONTROLLED!?!?" He yelled. By now, Twilight was curled-up in a ball on the ground, crying out of the guilt and pressure he quite literally shoved on her, sputtering out apologies like there was no tomorrow. "I-I'm... s-s-sorry..." "Your apologies mean nothing to me! Now leave me... before I do something you'll regret." Twilight didn't comply, but understood what he meant by 'something you'll regret'. Her horn lit-up, and she swiftly plucked the blades up from the ground into her magical grasp, and quickly started for the now opening door. Acting fast, Kratos attempted to pursue, but fell down as soon as he started running. Twilight looked back, and that gave the Spartan just enough time to get up, and get a head start on her. Terrified for her life, the unicorn ran out of the room, and attempted to slam the door shut, but Kratos grabbed it before it could shut, and flung it open. Armed with nothing but his bare fists, he chased the unicorn through the midnight halls. One of the patrolling stallions noticed him running, and charged toward him. Bad idea. Kratos sent out his undamaged leg once the stallion came rushing into the within-three-feet-zone, and with brutal force, knocked the wind out of the guard with an inhumanly powerful kick, straight to the chest. He heard a crack, but didn't care, continuing to pursue her, even as the stallion fell to the ground with a thump, gasping for painful breaths, until he finally breathed his last, limbs falling limp to the ground. "GIVE ME THE BLADES, TWILIGHT!" He ordered as he ran. His leg was starting to get to him, but had he not been utterly pissed off to the point of no return, he would've been screaming. Twilight ran out of the doors to the hospital, into the night air. But Kratos charged through them. "GRAAAGH!" He yelled with bestial vigor as he threw the doors aside. Cuts were now on his chest, but he seemed not to care. He gritted his teeth, and continued to run after her. The chase continued for several minutes. Twilight's stamina was depleting quickly, exhaustion beckoning her to stop and take a breather, but she was running for her life, ignoring every demand her body threw at her. She had to get the blades away from him, as fast as possible, but it was fruitless. But even then, she kept running. Kratos continued to close the distance, but as she ran through Ponyville, she got an idea, and skidded to a stop. Kratos did too, and growled at her, but before he could leap or charge at her, the chains that were connected to the blades were quickly, forcefully, and tightly, wrapped around his forearms. Painful memories haunted Kratos's mind, ones of when Ares did this to him. The Spartan was confused, but tried to take the blades anyway. But this failed, as Twilight took advantage of this, yanking the blades outward to the left and right sides of him, causing Kratos to become unbalanced. She wrapped the blades' chains around two fence posts. Kratos smirked. 'Really...' He took hold of the chains that were extended, and pulled inward with all his might, before both fences broke from the ground, and were sent flying towards him. It was Twilight's turn to smirk, as her horn lit up again. In a flash, Kratos was tied-up painfully by his own chains, like a mummy. The fences were thrown away. His arms were disabled- practically useless now, the blades hanging by his sides. She glared at him, and tied them under his legs, just before he fell onto his back. He squirmed, but it was no use. Twilight approached him. "You're going to lay here... and think over your actions... d-do you understand me?" She asked. Kratos almost laughed at her stuttering, easily telling out she was either terrified or in shock that she managed to disable him, but groaned, halfheartedly saying whilst resisting a shit-eating grin from forming, "I understand..." "G-good..." Twilight said, before walking off to her home. Her eyes went wide as she thought, 'I... did I really... h-how did I...' She was astonished at herself. ... but then she heard the yell. Looking behind her, her ears pinned back as Kratos miraculously freed himself. Her jaw slacked, dropping widely, pairing well with the shrunk irises that now accompanied her face. Kratos grasped the handles of the blades tight, the chains wrapped tightly, almost painfully tight around his forearms, where the scars used to be. Twilight braced herself, teary-eyed for what was to come... Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 9... but it never did. Twilight opened her eyes, and looked around, tears running down her cheeks as her legs shook. Her head was wracked with a headache, her body and soul shaken like an eight on the Richter Scale. Kratos was nowhere to be seen, like he had disappeared out of thin air. Twilight fell to the ground, and started to silently weep. She wasn't in the condition to speak, or listen. She was terrified like a filly, as though she woke up from a nightmare. Twilight covered her eyes, and ignored the faint hoofsteps on the cobblestone road. "Twilight, what's wrong!?" A familiar voice asked her. The mare's voice sounded tired, but very concerned and alert. "Twilight!" Twilight's sobs grew in volume, but were muffled as though a suppressor had been placed over her mouth as she cried into her hooves. She could almost feel the blades ripping and tearing her apart like table-saw blades, shredding her hope, her dreams, and the friends she once knew to death. Only now had Twilight realized that Kratos was right. She shouldn't have done what she did- take his weapons. Regret filled her mind, and she shook violently with the plague of fear, which was striking at her heart with ruthless abandon, even as her friend hugged her. "Are you alright?!" Asked the rainbow-maned mare with grave concern, as though she knew something terrible had happened. If only Twilight hadn't been choking on her own sobs, what she said would come out much more clear. "K-*gasp*K-*cough*Kr-Kr-*sniff, hiccup!*-atos is a-a-a monst-monster!..." "What did he do to you, Twilight?!" "H-he..." Kratos was watching this unfold from the top of a building. He had run away when Twilight wasn't looking. Why hadn't he tore into her? Because he knew that it wouldn't do him any good, seeing as how Celestia was deeply connected to her. It was only one word that came to mind that prevented him from killing her; reputation. If he had killed Twilight, that would more than likely result in Celestia, who was probably the only pony on this world whose assumed magical prowess could return him back to Olympus, becoming hostile towards him. And the last thing he needed was a war breaking out in a world he's a foreigner in. Now, he knew of this 'Princess Celestia', because he 'met' her himself. He looked around the night air, spotting a castle-like structure in the distance. Which inconveniently, was on the side of a mountain. Kratos groaned to himself, and quickly slid off of the roof, and undetected, he sneaked out of Ponyville. He looked blankly at the mountainside city as he stood in a field, thinking, 'That fortress is at least a couple hundred miles away... without taking the mountain climbing into consideration... there's a forest to the East, looks like it could serve as a detour. There's a building... looks like it has tracks that lead up the mountain. If I walked along them enough I could reach the city by dusk tomorrow... hmm. By the looks of the castle, it might be home to that royal annoyance... best to try my luck.' Then, he began his long trek along the train tracks. As he reached the 20-mile point, the sun rose up in the sky. Had he really been walking for that long? And a better question to ask was, how was he coping with his leg? But nobody was around to talk to. Nor did Kratos care as he walked along the old tracks. He heard a faint rumbling behind him, like a stampede of centaurs. He turned around, and saw a colorful train coming towards him. Kratos got an idea once he saw the cars of the strange vehicle. 'Might as well make convenience of this...' He thought, before stepping back once to ensure the vehicle wouldn't collide with him. Taking one blade by the chain, and spinning it, he timed it flawlessly as he threw his chain-blade like a javelin at the train, piercing the metal of one car like paper. Luckily, there weren't any passengers in the car he just vandalized, because it was a storage car. Kratos swiftly repeated the process with his other blade before the train went on too far, and jumped with a groan, pulled himself forward, and with momentum, jumped and slammed into the car's door, sending himself through and into the cart's storage area, in which he landed in a pile of boxes. And smacked his head off of the metal door behind him. "AGH! DAMN!" But that wasn't the end. Kratos could hear a faint scraping sound, then, his blades tore out from the walls, and were sent flying towards him. And as soon as Kratos's eyes focused on the two objects coming towards him, "Oh shi-" was all he said, before his own blades' handles smashed him square in the forehead. Let's just say he had a nice long nap after that. Rainbow Dash had to drag Twilight all the way to Sugarcube Corner, because it was the nearest place where she knew Twilight could rest. She knocked on the door, and with luck, Pinkie Pie herself was still up. Pinkie gasped when she saw Twilight, her friend was crying, sniffling, shaking, repeating the phrase "He's coming for me..." over and over again. Pinkie immediately brought her and Rainbow Dash inside, for fear that there might be a monster in the streets. Good 'ol Pinkie Pie, ah? Twilight now sat curled-up on Pinkie's bed, wrapped in a blanket's embrace, the occasional sniffle escaping her nostrils. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash sat on either side of her. "What happened, Twilight?" Pinkie asked. As soon as she asked this, Twilight teared-up again, and with the memories, she sobbed into the blanket. Comforting hooves wrapped around Twilight's body- both Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were hugging her. She stopped crying momentarily, squeaking as she sniffled in a fruitless attempt to hold the tears back. "It's okay, Twilight. Let it out. Pinkie's here." Pinkie soothed her friend as she began weeping again. "Shhh, it's okay..." Pinkie rocked Twilight in her hooves, and Rainbow Dash followed suit, cradling the crying mare like a mother would a foal. Very soon, Twilight's sobs died-down. Pinkie Pie had left Rainbow Dash with Twilight, and went to get some tea. She returned just a couple of minutes later, smiling as she saw her friends hugging, the occasional sniffle being heard. Carrying the plates on her back which housed the cups, and the teapot in her maw, she entered the room, and set the teapot down on the end table next to her bed, and the plates next to them, with a little nudge and slide-off technique. "Twilight, do you want some tea? I made some just now if you'd want some!" She offered with a huge smile. Twilight's reddened eyes opened as she looked up to her friend. "Th-thanks P-Pinkie..." She smiled back, and sniffled as Pinkie Pie poured the hot tea into the trio of cups on the table. Twilight lifted one of them up with a magical grasp, and let out a small sigh of relief as she took a long sip of the tea. "Could I stay here for the night, Pinkie?" Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie nodded. "Of course you can! Rainbow Dash, you could stay too if you wanna!" She offered. "Ehhh..." Rainbow received looks from both ponies, before she smiled. "Fine." "What's wrong? You don't have to if you don't want to." Pinkie questioned, cocking her head at Dash. Rainbow sighed. "I just wanna find that punk Kratos, and teach him a lesson." She pressed her hooves together. Twilight's eyes widened. "Y-you couldn't, Rainbow Dash... he's... h-he's much stronger than you think..." She warned. "Doesn't mean he's unbeatable!" was the last thing Rainbow Dash said, before she hopped off of the bed, opened a window, and flew right out of it, swiftly taking to the skies. "RAINBOW! NO!!!" Twilight yelled, accidentally spilling the teacup's contents onto the floor as she rushed to the window, watching her disappear into the distance. She looked back to Pinkie Pie, and nervously chuckled. "Eheh... sorry." She sniffled. Pinkie smiled. "Don't worry about it, silly!" She giggled, and went to go get some paper towels. "Help yourself to more tea if you want!" Pinkie said as she walked out. Twilight's smile faded away as she stared, disappointed and worriedly, out into the deep black skies. 'I swear, Dash is out of her mind... she doesn't know what she's up against.' Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 10Rainbow Dash had taken to the skies, just as Kratos had been walking along the tracks. She flew around, and around, and around, until she flew near Mt. Canterlot. Whilst hovering in the air, flapping her wings as though she was a humming bird in slow-motion, she saw a pale figure. There he was miles down, walking along the tracks. "Kratos..." She spat at his name. But then, Dash saw the train coming up from behind him. She was surprised when she saw Kratos jump through one of the doors, but didn't see him come out the other side. Was he in there, terrorizing the ponies? Stealing supplies? Something worse? Only somepony with the brashest of attitudes, the cockiest of hearts and most ignorant of minds could even think of rushing down there to 'teach him a lesson'. But he was a Slayer of Gods. Ignorance would be her downfall. Rainbow Dash plummeted down, and with speeds that rival a jet, swooped into the storage car. Kratos was sent flying through the door he laid slumped-down. He woke up almost at the second he was pummeled through the door, onto the ground. Many meters above him, hovered the cerulean blue annoyance. He got to his feet, but was quickly knocked down in the process of this- He was still dazed from being knocked out so recently, and Rainbow Dash gave him no mercy. Rainbow Dash then began to send blow after traumatizing blow to Kratos's upper body. She was clever in her fighting, mixing up her hooves and head in the blows. Her left hoof moved out to the left side of his head, only to smack him with the other front hoof with a fake-out. Looks like practicing Pony-Fu with Applebloom was a good way to keep her skills from going stale. She smirked as Kratos brought up his arms to defend himself, thinking, 'Twilight was warning me about fighting a wimp like him?! He's so weak!' She stepped off of him when she thought he had enough. "Maybe that'll teach you not to mess with my friends!" She said. But just as she said this, a hand gripped her right hind leg tightly. She looked back to see Kratos- he was the one behind the grabbing. Only, he had the most pissed off expression she'd ever seen on anypony's face in her entire life. Gray eyes narrowed, focused on her life. Lips dry, cracked from lack of water and twisted in a snarl. The heat in his hand felt hotter than the hottest day. The sheer amount of anger on his face screamed at her like a lion's roar, before she was violently taken to the ground by a rough twist. But Kratos didn't stop there, he continued to twist as Rainbow struggled fruitlessly to break free, just up to the point that was agonizing, but not enough to break it. Rainbow was now screaming, begging him to stop with teary eyes. Crack. Kratos left the screaming pegasus there as he walked away. That pegasus laid with her wings limp and stretched out, obviously dealing with the pain. Her hooves grasped her broken leg, eyes shut to keep from crying. It would teach her a lesson- not to interfere with Kratos's plans. Just as he stepped off about five steps, he stopped, and waited for the pegasus's screams to die down. "Maybe that will teach you not to interfere, weakling." He spat harshly, before moving on. Twilight was right. Kratos was a monster. Rainbow began to tear-up at the searing pain that her hind leg brought upon her, before she bit her lip, and got up. No! She wouldn't let this 'monster', or this, this pathetic excuse of a broken leg stop her! She was Rainbow Dash! Not a coward! A coward backs down from a fight, and Rainbow Dash sure as hell wasn't a coward! "Rrgh... get back here! I ain't done with you!" She yelled angrily as she took to the air, soaring after her opponent. "What?!" Kratos turned around. As he watched Rainbow come towards him, he thought to himself, 'So much determination... reminds me of... me.' Before he put his hands on his blades' handles, he got another thought. ‘She's unarmed... I may as well make this a fair battle.' He let go of his blades, and waited for her to come near, thinking she'd be absolutely no challenge, armed or unarmed. She landed about ten yards away from him, and growled. "You think you're so tough, huh!?" She taunted. "Well no matter how many armies you've laid waste to, no matter how many minotaurs and manticores you've dealt with, I'm not going down without a fight!" Rainbow barked. "We'll see about that," Kratos took a defensive stance as he said this. The two warriors were at a standstill- both had a broken leg, but even though they were nearly equal in their physical pain. They ignored it, as though it never happened. The two of them rushed at each other viciously as the sun rose, with a bestial battle cry. "Twi, calm down! You're scarin' me!" Applejack expressed as Twilight went on and on and on about Rainbow Dash going after Kratos. She kept going, so Applejack groaned and forcefully stuffed a hoof into Twilight's mouth. "Now y'all gotta calm down, and go slow, for pony sake! It's almost six in the mornin'!" She looked Twilight in the eyes. "D'ya promise 'ta go slow?" Twilight nodded, and Applejack took her hoof from her friend's mouth. "Okay..." She let out a long sigh. "Sorry. It’s just that Kratos scared me... because I thought he'd k-kill me... then Rainbow Dash came to me while I was crying, Kratos was gone... s-she took me to Sugarcube Corner... and then, she went after Kratos... she's going to get herself killed if she finds him, Applejack! Kratos will kill her!" Twilight insisted. "Now y'all hold on! He ain't gonna lay ah single hand on Rainbow Dash. Go round-up the others, Ah'm gettin' Big Macintosh!" Applejack ordered, before galloping off. “Hold on!” Twilight yelled. “What is it now?” AJ looked back. “How in the hay can we go looking for them if you don’t know where they went?” Twilight reasoned. “Uh...” Applejack didn’t reply. “Exactly. I think I may have an idea as to where they went. Since Kratos probably wants to return to his own world, he’ll probably try and find Celestia... that means he’s likely headed for Canterlot.” Twilight said. “Well we’ve no time ‘ta waste! Get your hooves movin’!” Applejack ordered as she ran into the farmhouse. Twilight gulped nervously, and nodded, rushing out of the farm, and down the pathway to Ponyville to gather up the girls. She was glad that the night was finally ending, so hopefully her friends wouldn’t be too mad at waking them up at this awful moment. Especially Rarity. Godspeed, our pony heroines. Godspeed! "GRAAAGH!" Kratos yelled as he missed yet another swing. He figured out very quickly that looks could be deceiving- Rainbow Dash was much more agile than he had expected her to be, especially with her condition. He growled as Rainbow landed a few meters away. "What's the matter, Kratos? Lost your fight? Pony got your tongue?" Rainbow taunted. Kratos stepped forward with a smirk. "Never!" He yelled, before charging at her. Kratos swung hard with his right fist, hoping that by using his healthy leg he could get better aim. But Rainbow deftly dodged his attack, and countered with a quick strike to his weaker left side. Unfaltering, Kratos managed to land a kick with his shin to Rainbow Dash's hind legs, sweeping her off her hooves from the left as she collapsed. But, she took advantage of this, and used it to propel herself upward with her still working hind leg. She continued to return the favor by slamming both hooves into Kratos's chest, making him stumble back a few steps. She hovered in the air- flight was an advantage she had over Kratos over all else. Kratos had had enough of this annoyance. He leaped into the air, and aimed to grab Rainbow Dash's injured hind leg again to take advantage of her broken limb. But Rainbow moved out of the way, and Kratos grabbed Dash's other leg. Either way would work, he strategized. He yanked down hard, and slammed Rainbow Dash to the ground, but in doing so, was also smacked upside the head by her other hoof. He was dazed from a hit that he himself had caused. He shook his head, and watched in amusement as Rainbow struggled to get up. Kratos didn't hesitate- he kicked her in the side, making her yell in pain. Rainbow fell, collapsing from the pain that she could no longer take. "You think you can defeat me, horse?" Kratos taunted. "I've slain gods. I've massacred countless minions of Hades, and monstrous beasts that dwarf your pathetic minotaurs by a thousandfold! The Hands of Death could not take me. The Sisters of Fate could not hold me. And you, a mortal... think you can defeat me?" He asked rhetorically. He thought back quickly, the memory of him killing Ares flooding his mind. Rainbow was trying to get revenge, and tried to do the impossible. The coincidence was very unbelievable, but Kratos shrugged it off. Then, the Spartan grabbed Rainbow and pulled her head to his, so she could see into his stern face. "You're lucky I've a reputation to uphold... otherwise, you wouldn't be so fortunate." Kratos said to her. "Now... go back to your friends, and tell them not to interfere, not to chase me, and all will go better for them and for me. Tell them they're better off forgetting about me entirely. Do you understand? Is that not clear to you?" Rainbow Dash just nodded in response, and Kratos helped her to her hooves. "Now leave me. Go." Kratos ordered, before he walked off. "Or I'll reconsider my thoughts on sparing you." He warned. She groaned, and took to the air lazily. Rainbow was lucky, alright. Lucky to have wings! Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to get back to her friends. But thankfully, she didn't have to go long. "Rainbow Dash!" A familiar voice called in the distance. Kratos stopped in his tracks, and turned around. A small group of ponies were coming his way, lead by Twilight Sparkle and Applejack. He then broke into a full-on sprint towards the mountain which held the castle, covering an amazing amount of ground in minutes. He should've been gravely thankful for his stamina. Otherwise, he'd have been tuckered out long ago. "Kratos! You get the hay back here RIGHT NOW!!!" A furious voice yelled, its stetson-wearing owner approaching Kratos swiftly. "AJ! DON'T!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "Rainbow Dash, y'all stay outta this!" Applejack ordered sternly as she galloped after Kratos. Kratos growled, and picked up the pace, taking longer strides with each quick step he took. He managed to near the mountain much faster than he had expected. He twirled one of his blades around as he continued to rush at it. Leaping upward and with great momentum, pierced the mountain with his blade many, many meters above him. He repeated the process as fast as he could, and began to literally run up the side of the mountain. Each step strained him, but the demigod pressed on. Both of the blades dangled down from his sides after he yanked them from the mountainside. He focused more on running than the yells he heard from down below. Applejack groaned. "Consarnit!" She was very angry- Kratos had gotten away with doing something to her friend, unpunished. "Applejack..." Twilight trotted up next to her friend. "Twilight, Ah almost had him. Ah almost did!" She growled. “Just ah couple more steps and Ah would’ve had ah hold’a-” "It's fine, AJ." Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder as she interrupted her irritated friend. "We can still catch up to him." She gestured to a pathway, leading up the mountain. "But what about Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked, looking back to the friend in question, who was hovering in the air. "I... Kratos kinda... broke my right hind leg." Rainbow admitted regretfully. She never liked telling her friends bad news- hell, nopony did. This managed to get gasps from everypony but Big Macintosh and Applejack, who sighed. “Big Mac,” Applejack said. “Eeyup?” Macintosh asked. AJ lowered her head, before she said, “Alright, now. Kratos’s headin’ up that mountain, everypony. Big Mac, y’all are gonna escort Rainbow Dash back ‘ta the hospital so she can rest. Girls, we’re gonna go stop that monster, from whatever he’s doin’, well, uh, accordin’ ‘ta Twilight he’s gonna pay the Princess ah visit... ‘ya hear?” She asked. The girls nodded. “Alright then! Let’s get ah move on!” Spearheading the group, Applejack charged up the path. Rarity was generous not to complain about the whole ordeal, more worried about her friend’s welfare. Pinkie Pie refrained from smiling, given the situation. Fluttershy frowned, that mean ol’ human dared to hurt one of her friends?! Oh he was so going to get the Stare! They all turned to rush after Applejack. Running at such an angle was depleting Kratos's stamina, but he knew he had much more work than this ahead of him. He started to lose his grip, and gritted his teeth as he sent his blades out again, piercing the mountain up ahead. He pulled himself up, and with the momentum he had before, charged up the mountain. Both blades now in his hands. Kratos' muscles suddenly cramped up in the back of his legs, from all of the stress accumulated. He was at a ledge, and in an attempt to correct this pain by instinct, one of his hands was sent down to his legs, the other grabbing onto the ledge. He strained as he pulled himself onto the ledge, his legs burning like the flames of Olympus as he backed up to the wall on the ledge. He'd have to wait-out the pain if he wanted to continue. How long had he been at it? When was the last time he took a bite to eat or drink? Sweat coated his ashlike skin, keeping his skin from looking like a completely cracked stone. Months trapped in that infernal cast coffin left his skin and muscles aching for fresh air. Now he suffered from too much air this high up. The God of War wanted to rest and heal. But he ignored the pain yet again. Getting to his feet, he gritted his teeth and stabbed one blade into the wall, then another. He repeated this process many times, as he was now climbing the seemingly ever-growing mountain. Now many miles up, Kratos had been climbing for hours. There was a ledge, connected to a garden which belonged to the castle. Kratos leaped onto the ledge, and began to walk around to take in the scenery. The palace was elegant, the gardens filled with many variations of flora, and surprisingly- some fauna. But Kratos had no time to waste. He continued on, towards the castle. "Halt! By order of the Royal Guard!" 'Oh, great...' Kratos took out his blades, as he was suddenly surrounded by a group of armored guards. While they had more armor than the previous pegasi he met, they were still pathetic. "Put down your weapons, or we will use deadly force!" One of them ordered. Huh. Some of them weren’t white. Least this Celestia wasn’t a racist. He idly wondered if any of them were homosexuals, like some of his Spartans were. Focus Kratos. The God of War growled. "I'd sooner die!" As the stallions charged at him, Kratos readied his blades to send one out. A yell was heard, as a guard had been stabbed viciously through his breastplate. Kratos pulled up and back, the guard being plucked from the ground as he rolled forward, catching the group off guard. Kratos then yanked the blade from the dead guard's body, and spun around with one foot, twirling the blades around in a fan of death above his head. All but one remained, after the massacre had ended. His legs were shaking, he was whimpering. Kratos put one blade on his back, and slowly approached him. Before the guard could run away, Kratos grabbed him cruelly by the throat, picking him up. "Tell me where Celestia is, and I will spare your life!" The guard spat in Kratos's face. "N-never!" Hesitantly, Kratos wiped the spit from his face. "You must have a wife... a child... a life. You're willing to give that up, in a heartbeat, because of your pathetic ruler?" Kratos asked, glaring into the guard's soul, choking him with his hand as his grip tightened. The guard teared-up, coughed, and shook his head. "I'll... t-tell you... wh-what you need to know...! Re-release m-AGH!" "Be quick with your words!" Kratos said as he punched the stallion in the chest. "Or I will gut you alive!" He threatened. The guard stayed silent. Kratos groaned as he walked over to the ledge. He grabbed one of his hind legs, and let him dangle over the edge. "AAAHHH! NO! PLEASE! DON'T LET ME FALL! SHE'S IN THE THRONE ROOM! THE THRONE ROOM!!!" The guard begged. "Where is the throne room!?!" Kratos demanded. "THERE'S A DOORWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CASTLE JUST OPEN THAAAT!!!" He directed. "Useless." Kratos said as he released his grip on the stallion's hind leg and set him on the ground. “I will grant you mercy.” “Thank you sir!” The guard yelled out. Kratos turned his back, only to have the guard lift his spear and hit Kratos on the head. The Spartan turned his head around, eyes narrowed as fire burned in his eyes. “What have you done? I show you mercy and you bop me in the head? Not even a proper stab?!” Kratos yelled out. “I’m sorry! *Sob* I’m just *Hick* doing my job!” The stallion cried. Kratos sighed, closing his eyes. It was a soldier’s duty after all. “There there. We all make mistakes. You know what you must do now, right?” The guard nodded, tears slipping from his eyes. Kratos handed the guard a .45 pistol. The pegasi took the handgun and cocked it, almost unable to see thanks to the salty tears. Kratos nodded down at him. “There there, it will all be okay,” Kratos said. The guard took one final look up at the human. He nodded and then lifted the gun to end his life. (Wait wait wait, hold up... how in the hell did Kratos get a gun in Equestria? Magic, my friend! Sexcellent! Carry on! Nothing to see here, NOOOPE!) Kratos walked away, and kicked the door into the castle. "CELESTIA!" Kratos yelled as he stormed around the halls, which were unguarded. He kicked in door after door, but he still did not find her. He was enraged by the time he reached the middle of the castle, where there was a large double-door met with the staircases. Strangely enough, it was also unguarded. He kicked in those doors as well. And what the guard said was right. There, on a throne at the end of the room, sat Celestia with her eyes fixated on Kratos. He slowly approached, her guards grasping their spears. "No." Celestia ordered. The guards complied hesitantly, lowering their weapons. "There is no need to yell. I thought you were undergoing recovery?" "Recovery is for the weak." Kratos spat as he neared the throne. "Why are you here?" She asked calmly. Kratos sighed. "I am here because there is no place for me in this world. I hear rumor of your magical prowess, and I ask you..." He hesitated. "I ask... you..." "Is something wrong?" "No." Kratos snapped. "I..." He got one one knee. "I ask that you help me... return to Olympus." There was no 'if you could'. Kratos never had time for 'if's. "You think me capable of returning you to your home world?" Celestia asked, as though the question was silly. "Nopony's magical prowess is powerful enough to do that. And teleportation requires memory or knowledge, of where you want to travel. I apologize Kratos, but I cannot help you with such a task." Kratos stayed silent. Agonizingly silent. His eye twitched repeatedly. His fists clenched. He began to pant, as though holding back something. Kratos's muscles tensed up, as he stood to his feet. "You... cannot help me?" His voice was unsteady, filled with barely-contained rage. The guards stood at their ready, crossing their spears in front of Kratos. "Put down your weapons... or else." Kratos ordered. "This is between me... and Celestia. Leave, or DIE!" He yelled. The two guards held their ground. And were slaughtered where they stood. Their heads rolled off to the left and right, their bodies fell limp and fell to the floor mere seconds after. Celestia raised a brow, an unbeatable poker-face, that was for certain... although her true emotions would’ve stated something along the lines of ‘Your blood. My walls’. She would have to throw a proper mourning to honor her brave, but foolish guards. She did warn them ‘no’. "You dare make an attempt on my life?" "After what you tried to do to me... you deserve worse than death..." Kratos's eye twitched. "PRINCESS CELESTIA!" A familiar voice yelled, hooves clip-clopping on stone, far behind the two. Kratos looked back to see Twilight and the others approaching the throne room with haste. He picked up a spear from one of the guard's corpses, and threw it like a javelin. It pierced both doors, slamming them shut before they could get in. "If violence is how you solve things..." Celestia began, her face filling with anger, that would dwarf even Kratos's fury. "... then violence will be your downfall!" Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB PS: Give a great thanks to this guy for helping me edit this! http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Mistershield
Chapter 11Twilight panicked. She didn't know what to do. The Ghost of Sparta was in there with her mentor. The mare curled up on the floor, her friends accompanying her as she hyperventilated nervously. Twilight let out many whimpers, holding her head in her hooves. "Twi', don't worry. Ah'll figure somethin' out!" Applejack promised, the hat-wearing mare looking around. She turned to Pinkie Pie and the rest of her friends. "Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy? Y'all're gonna help me, y'hear?" The farm-pony ordered. Fluttershy gave a rather disapproving glance at Applejack. "O-oh, b-but I don't-" AJ groaned. "T'ain't no time fer' arguin', Fluttershy! Princess Celestia's life is on the line! D'ya understand!" She sternly demanded. "Rarity, y'all go see if'n 'ya can find anything large. Somethin' that can bust through this here door. Somethin' real, real heavy that'd need help to lift. Just gimme ah call when 'ya find somethin'! Now!" Rarity nodded with vigor, and hurriedly rushed off to inspect room by room. "Pinkie Pie, Ah need y'all 'ta go get Princess Luna! She can surely help! Go, go, go!" "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie replied, saluting Applejack as she hopped down one of the halls. "Fluttershy, as fer' you, Ah need ya' ta' go gather-up any guards who're either Earth Ponies or Unicorns, and bring 'em back 'ere. We need as much stallionpower as we can get, y'hear!?" AJ ordered the timid pegasus. With a meek nod, Fluttershy began to walk down the halls as well. "Now Twiligh'," Applejack began, laying next to the sniffling unicorn. "Ah understand that yer' worried. Nervous. All'a that hooey, but we need ya'. Princess Celestia needs ya', Twilight." She placed a comforting hoof on her friend's shaky shoulder, before embracing her with both as she began to softly sob. "There there, now, 'Twi. Let it all out. Let it all out, Ah'm here. It's okay..." The farmpony repeated these words as she cradled Twilight. Celestia and Kratos stood silently, many meters away from each other. Kratos held his blades in his hands, ready and in a purely-offensive stance. But Kratos did not expect Celestia to have a weapon of her own. As her horn lit up, a light shone up in the form of a small pillar from the ground, and out from it came a greatsword. Its hilt and handle were fashioned with fine materials like gold and silver, made with impeccable craftsmanship. Its blade seemed to be of tampered, sharpened steel, ending in a point. "Very well then, warrior," She stepped forth, and grasped the blade in her divine magical grasp. "if you truly wish my death... then it will not come as easy as you think." The beautiful deity said, going into what looked to be a defensive stance as she watched Kratos studiously. Watching his every movement. "We'll see about that..." Kratos spat, before he let out a battle cry. He charged at Celestia, and jumped into the air. He swung his blades over and behind his head, and attempted to slam the two of them down to strike Celestia from overhead. But this went wrong, as Kratos was smacked off balance before he pulled his blades back- the alicorn had batted him in the side of his left knee with the flat side of her blade. Quite hard, too. Kratos's blades trailed down as he collapsed onto his side. He rolled to his feet, seeing Celestia back in her stance. Completely unfaltering, she was focused. The demigod roared ferociously as he charged once again, letting his blades fly backward to his right, before he pivoted, shifting his weight onto his left leg. He then twisted to the left, to send his blades flying towards Celestia's right side in a sweep attack! But the Spartan's attack was parried when Celestia used her blade to lift up into the chains as the blades flew, making the blades flop downward. She wrapped the chains around her blade like spaghetti onto a fork, and took advantage of Kratos's imprisonment by lifting him off of his feet. The quadrupedal battlemaiden then swung Kratos around effortlessly above her head as he yelled. Celestia timed it, and pulled her straight sword free of the chains, sending Kratos flying into the wall at the opposite end of the throne room. Cracking it generously from the sheer amount of the impact's momentum-boosted force. Peeling off of the wall like a sticker, Kratos fell to the ground. Still experiencing the shock from his spine being brutally cracked against the solid-stone wall. But he did not give up there, oh hell no he did not! The brutal gladiator returned to his feet, and studied Celestia's stance from afar. 'Her defensive techniques are impenetrable... how would I get around this? Come now... you've faced gods. This princess is a grain of sand to them all! The Olympians are petty and weak, and this four-legged annoyance is even weaker!' He thought with determination. Before he, with said determination behind him, ran towards Celestia, who waited gracefully. Suddenly, her stance changed from a defensive stance, to one of offense. Her blade was held high. Kratos had her now! What a fool! Kratos sent out his blades, and they were soaring for Celestia's head! Applejack had been forced to move her still-crying friend out of the way. Rarity had found something large enough to bust-through the door. An enormous boulder, removed from the ground of the castle gardens with help from the Royal Guard, and Princess Luna. The rock was being lined up with the door. "Good job everypony!" Applejack congratulated. "Twilight, 'ya need ta' stop cryin' right now! Suck it up. We got ah princess ta' save, y'hear?!" She yelled. "O-*hic*... o... k-kay..." Twilight muttered under her breath, before the Element of Honesty helped her to her hooves. "Wh... what can I do?" She asked weakly. "You're gonna have ta' help the unicorns, and our princess, Luna, breach the door with this here boulder." Applejack gestured to the rock. Suddenly, the wall cracked with a thundering bang to the left of the door. "What in the name'a Celestia!? Come on, there's no time ta' waste!" The sound of many horns igniting filled the air, the energies of magic filling it as well as the rock was lifted up. "3..." "2..." "1..." "HEAVE!!!" Just as Kratos's blades came within mere inches of Celestia's head, she disappeared out of thin air. Kratos's blades flew far, and he retracted them. The demigod growled angrily as he looked around, only to be tapped on the shoulder. Instinctively, Kratos sent out an elbow to hit whatever tapped him, but it only met thin air as he looked over again. "Show yourself, coward! A true warrior does not hide, Celestia! Leave the shadows, and face me!" He yelled. Before he was struck in the back by a powerful bolt of energy. "AGGGH!!!" Kratos dropped his blades as he fell to his knees, electricity crackling around the entirety of his form. He bent over as the light blinded him, hands to the ground. The Spartan staggered to his feet, only to be shocked again, this time with much more power. "AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!" He began to spasm uncontrollably, and looked back to Celestia. Face filling with untamed wrath, the former God of War stepped forward, picking up his blades as he went. Celestia raised a brow in curiosity, and slight surprise. 'Such a brute creature... he's worn, battered... yet he still fights with a seemingly undying flame in his heart...' '... I'll take pleasure in snuffing it out!' Celestia thought, before she narrowed her eyes, focusing her magical energy even more. Kratos significantly slowed down, but he kept progressing. Suddenly, she released the spell, and Kratos fell forward. 'It is time to finish this.' The deity thought. Kratos was worn indeed. How long had it been, since he had eaten? How long had it been, since he had drank? How long had it been since he had rested last? He didn't know. He just didn't know. He was exhausted. Every ounce of his strength poured into getting here, fighting through guards just to get to an even bigger challenge. His body screamed for hydration, his gut beseeching him to get some form of sustenance. Now on his knees, Kratos's vision became blurry. He keeled over, and coughed up blood on the floor as Celestia approached him. "You seem sapped, warrior. Does something ail you?" Celestia asked solemnly. "Or has your flame burnt out?" Kratos got to one knee, panting as he picked his blades up. "You will never... defeat me... I am the God... of War!..." He shakily stood to his feet. The alicorn smirked, and grabbed Kratos with her magical grasp. Her face filled with rage. "You will never lay your hands on any of my subjects... as of this day FORTH!!!" With the sheer, unbridled might of her normally impeccably-contained anger, Celestia hurled the already injured demigod through the door with unspeakable power. The amount of strength put into the throw was so immense, that it shattered the wood and metal into oblivion, splintering and cutting large gashes into Kratos's skin. As though he were an airplane through air, a hot knife through butter. When he landed, Kratos was near the entrance to the castle, bleeding out heavy amounts. His coughs only added to his blood loss. Many gasps filled the air as their princess walked out of the throne room. "P... P-P-Princess..." The ponies who were about to breach the door stood in utter awe, some shaking in fear. Celestia ignored them all, even her student. "Get out of my way." She barked. Whimpering, the group hurriedly moved out of her way as the still-angered Celestia approached Kratos. Her blade had disappeared when the door broke. "K-Kratos! Celestia, what did you do to him!?!?" Twilight yelled. "Silence, Twilight Sparkle. This tyrant doesn't deserve your pity." Celestia ordered. Her unicorn student promptly shut her mouth as she continued forward. The fallen Spartan began to crawl away. This wasn't him. Once she neared, Celestia didn't hesitate to stomp on Kratos's leg as hard as she could. The injured one. "AUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! AGGGGGGHHHHH!..." "Get up, 'God of War'! If you are so mighty, if you are a deity of violence and cruelty, if you truly are the God of War, GET TO YOUR FEET, AND FIGHT LIKE ONE, COWARD!!!" This voice Celestia used was unlike anything Twilight had heard her use. She couldn't bear to watch. This was cruel. Too cruel. Even to Kratos. But the God of War was not yet through. He panted angrily as he began to shakily drag himself to his feet. Celestia kicked him down. "Get up." Kratos coughed up more blood, and tried again. He was kicked down. "I said get UP, God of War!" She paused for a moment. "Or shall I say... self-proclaimed God of War..." The brutal Celestia asked rhetorically. "You're nothing..." Kratos choked out. "... nothing but a worthless... leader... the Gods of Olympus would kill you... you are petty... and weak!... L-like... them..." The Spartan said, before his vision faded to black. All he could hear now was the slowly declining beat of his heart. "Princess Celestia, please! Don't let him die!" Twilight begged. Celestia looked her student dead in the eyes. "... But why would he deserve to live?" Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB PS: To any who disagree with Kratos losing, take these facts into consideration. He doesn't have the golden fleece, so he couldn't have reflected the magic. He is utterly exhausted. He is dehydrated. He is starving. He is still recovering from his (now worsened from being stomped on by Celestia) broken leg. All comments objecting this will be ignored.
Chapter 5"Twiiiliiight!" A male voice called from the lower floor of The Golden Oaks library. It was morning, indicated with the sun shining brightly through the curtains. The unicorn's home, oddly enough- welcomed the sun through large windows. "TWILIIIGHT!!!" The voice yelled. The unicorn groaned, clearly not recovering from the long night. "Spike, I can hear you! Calm down, for pony's sake!" "Okay! I thought you were dead." Spike said, coming upstairs so he didn’t have to raise his voice. "You just, y'know, came home and didn't come out of your room for the rest of the night and all." Twilight chuckled at the dragon’s unnecessary but cute concern. Least her eyes weren’t fighting the sun anymore. "Spike, I wasn't dead. I was thinking." She replied, starting her pacing back and forth again. Her mane was a mess, and she had the slightest bag under her eyes. She managed to stand up again, frowning that she didn’t make it to bed another night. "... You stayed up all night, didn't you?" Spike asked rhetorically. With a nod, the unicorn replied, "Yes, and yes." "Um... Twilight, I-I only asked one question..." The baby dragon started, slightly confused. "O-oh. Yes...?" The unicorn shook her head, clearly still in a slight haze from the lack of sleep. Spike resisted the aching urge to chuckle. "Well uh... what did you need to thinking about that took all night?" He asked, curiosity in his expression. "The first sign." She simply responded. "'The first sign'? What do you mean by-" The number-one assistant was cut off by his superior with her left front hoof. "The first sign! The first sign of Kratos actually showing some sign of befriending me!” Twilight smiled, a squee forming. “I apologized to him many times before, but then when I apologized last afternoon, he said it was okay. So that is the first sign Spike! Don't you see?" Twilight excited, and now nose-to-nose with Spike, who looked quite confused. "... Who’s Kratos?" "He's a bipedal creature that wound up here. He was found injured a little while ago." She explained, stepping away from the baby dragon. "He showed quite a lot of disinterest and anger- But now, I can see, I-I can tell, that he still has at least a shred of decency inside of him!" She smiled. Spike looked around the room. "Weeell, you have... good... luck with that... I... guess?" He said sheepishly, slowly backing away. Back to his mission: Walking downstairs once more, planning to grab a tub of strawberry ice cream and engorge on it’s creamy goodness. It was almost as good as gems. - - - The Hospital, Room 14... Kratos's room. Kratos laid in bed in boredom for a while. He was too preoccupied with his current condition to think about his next more. Thoughts were pushed away once a nurse, accompanied by a few unicorn stallions, walked into the room. "Good morning, sir." The nurse greeted. "Mm." Kratos nodded. "What is it...?" He asked, glancing over at the mare. "Your bandages need to be replaced, along with your casts." The uniformed mare replied. "Does that mean I will be free from these shackles?" The demigod asked with the slightest flicker of hope in his voice. "Shackles? Those are... leg braces... but no, we will replace them." "Damn... be quick, then." "Alright." The nurse said, before the unicorns began to unwrap the bandages. The demigod's skin exposed, vicious scars decorated his ash skin now. They removed the cast next, apparently used to the sight of scars. Kratos shut his eyes, gritting his teeth as they did so. Eventually, all the ‘shackles’ were off. One of the unicorns spoke. "Nurse, these bones may take a year to heal with their condition. I'm not sure if the creature has the patien-" "Of course I don't have that kind of patience!" Kratos interrupted rudely. "..." The nurse turned to the unicorns. "So... I suppose that means we cast a regeneration spell? Even with what we know, it is risky, and will take a bit out of us three." "Whatever gets me out of here faster..." Kratos decided. Soon, the spell was cast, and the yell was heard from oh... at least Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie picked up her head, a combo having warned her a shout of pain was coming. "GRRAAAAAAGGGH!!!" “There it is...” Pinkie hummed to herself and went back to her baking. "Sorry! We didn't know it would hurt that bad!" Kratos panted, and clenched his aching hands in pain. The Spartan gritted his teeth, waiting for the searing agony to go away. "... Continue with the spell... I can take it." He ordered with the cockiness and determination of a Spartan demigod. "Oh no, with that kind of yell, you couldn't. But... we used that on your leg. How does it feel?" The nurse asked. "... I can't feel it." He replied. Head? Pissed off. Arms? Wishing to choke a pony neck. Chest? Heaving from the breathing. Legs? Nada. "Well that won't help anypony." She said, a small frown forming. Kratos quickly grew impatient. "CAST THE DAMNED SPELL ALREADY!" "M-my apologies, Kratos... but we shouldn't rush your natural recovery time. But since you want to get out so bad, we will come tomorrow and cast it slowly." The nurse said, glaring at the other unicorns as they replaced his casts and bandages. "Though, your face seems to be okay." She levitated a mirror in front of Kratos's face, so that he could see himself. And his goatee was gone. "Where is..." "Where is what?" "My facial hair!" "You had facial hair?" “You stole my essence! My mark of manliness! My first beard, known to all and mark me a man!” Kratos groaned, and shook his head. "... I'll have to grow it out again..." By then, all of his casts and braces were back in place. “When did you- fiends!” How did he miss them placing his new shackles on? Soon, the unicorns left the room, leaving the Spartan to his thoughts, beardless. “I vow... to shave them all.” - - - 3 Hours Later... 1:24 PM As he laid in bed, Kratos could hear voices, right outside of his door. His eyes were closed. Maybe if he pretended to be asleep, they would not look at his naked chin. "Pinkie, you've seen this thing before, haven't you?" A feminine voice came. "Mhm!" Came another feminine voice, high-pitched and energetic. "Well... let's meet him, then." Then the door opened, revealing a duo of equines. One being a pink, wingless and hornless pony. This assault on the eyes had large blue eyes, and a puffy magenta hair with a matching tail. She hopped in place, up and down. Up and down. Up. And. Down. Up. And. Down. Up. And. Down. Almost endlessly! "There he is, Dashie! Just as I said!" The pink one giggled. The other pony was a pegasus; she had a cerulean blue coat, and a rainbow mane with a matching tail. She hovered in place, looking at him with her magenta eyes with a raised brow. "So, you're the thing that Twilight found!" She said with a smirk, floating next to Kratos's bed, on the left side. Kratos only humphed, not opening his eyes. "Hi!" Pinkie Pie hopped on the opposite side to Kratos's bed. "... Hmm." She cocked her head at Kratos. "Wake up, sleepy-weepy head!" She was about to give him a noogie. But, her hoof was stopped when Kratos caught it with his right hand, which was still intact. And twitching. "Don't. Touch. Me." Kratos barked. "HEY! Don't you lay a dirty... um- whatever sick deformation of a hoof you have on my friend!" Rainbow snapped defensively. Pinkie thought back a second, wondering if she should blow into her hoof and make those wiggly things appear again. Kratos held his head in agony. "Be quiet! For the love of Aphrodite..." Pinkie's hoof was released when Kratos went to hold his head. "I guess he doesn't like noogies! Aw! But does he like hugs? Oh! Oh! Do you like hugs? Do youdoyoudodyoudyou? I love hugs!" She asked quickly, hopping up and down. 'THE VOICE! OH DEAR GODS, THE VOIIICE! SOMEBODY END MY TORTUUURE!!!' Kratos yelled in his mind, gritting his teeth. ‘FIRST MY EYES! THEN MY EARS! AND NOW MY SANITY!’ Surprisingly, his prayer was answered. "Pinkie Pie, you may wanna tone it down just a few hundred notches... looks like you're givin' him the headache of the century!" Pinkie stopped. "Oh... okie dokie lokie." She whispered. “Um... how do you know it’s a stallion? Did you peek under his skirt?” Rainbow shut both eyes, blushing at the accusation. ‘Let it go Rainbow Dash... Just let it go,’ Rainbow thought to herself. Do not encourage the party animal. Hey, how did she know it was male anyway? This thing had no beard! Kratos sighed with relief, and opened his eyes, yawning. "What do you two want, anyway...?" He asked tiredly. After the healing spells and the assault on his senses, he was not sure how much he could take. "Nothin' much, we just wanted to see, well, I just wanted to see if Twilight and Pinkie were lying about you. But uh... they're not. You look like you got hit by a minotaur. You alright?" Rainbow Dash asked, glad the blush was gone. Good thing Kratos had not been paying too much attention. "I have been hit by a minotaur before. They don't hit as hard as one would expect..." Kratos replied with as much enthusiasm as possible... not. "... at least, to me." "Er... cool, but that's not really answering my question..." Rainbow said, rather curious now. He knew about minotaurs? The Spartan rolled his eyes. "If you really want to know, I would do anything to get out of here at this moment." "But look at yourself! I doubt you could even walk a mile." "I've been through worse..." "Oh really?" Dash asked with a raised brow. Kratos looked back at her, and sighed. "Yes. 'Really'." Now being on the ground, Dash's wings fluttered out. "Awesome! What did you do, fight a Hydra with your bare hooves? Ursa Major? Tellme-tellme-tellme-tellme!" "I'm not telling you." "..." Rainbow facehoofed. "Why not? It's not like it's anything personal, right?" She questioned. 'Damn...' Kratos thought. She had him there. But, he hardened his heart, and answered her. "I still will not tell you anything." "Ugh... y'know, you're stubborn. C'mon, Pinkie, let's go and leave Mr. Grumpy here." "Okie dokie lokie!" And so, the two of them left the room. Kratos sighed, finally in peace once more. Wait. Did... did a horse peek under his skirt? The beard-shaving perverts! - - - Twilight's Library... "Uggghhh..." Twilight groaned as she pushed herself around by her hind legs, her front hooves dragging on the floor. Spike watched this from a chair, engulfing massive ladle-fulls of vanilla ice cream, since his strawberry ice cream ran out. "Still thinking about that, huh?" He chuckled. "Yes I'm still thinking about it!" Twilight snapped as she continued to push herself around. She hadn't got a wink of proper rest in about 26 hours. The mare then stopped, and stood up. "Ugh..." She rubbed her head, having a slight headache. "Well sorry." Spike halfheartedly said, taking another huge ladle-full of ice cream. Who knew you could eat from a ladle? Well, Spike knew, apparently. "It's alright... I just need to figure this out..." - - - Several Hours of Brainstorming Later... Twilight was still pacing back and forth. "He won't tell me anything about his past. So he's hiding something. Why? What? Could it be dangerous? Hmm..." “Twilight, you’re muttering again,” Spike complained. "I seem to be the only one able to talk to him and make progress with him as an acquaintance." “Uh- you’re not going to do something crazy again, are you?” Spike raised an eyebrow. Last time she went this far, she made Big Mac fall in love with Smartypants. "Those blades, though... I think I can use them... hmm..." “Equestria to Twilight...” Spike added. “I’m eating a tub full of ice cream again! Say anything if you approve of me dating Rarity...” She thought hard, before saying, "... It's like cracking an egg... only harder. Now... I need those blades." “Dear Celestia,” Spike reached for a quill and scroll. “Twilight has lost it. Again.” Soon, Twilight was at the hospital with a plan in mind. She walked down the hall to Kratos's room, number fourteen. Twilight thought ahead, and actually got permission from the doctor and nurse that oversaw Kratos's recovery to retrieve the blades. They gave her a key, and she went on her way. She was very, very nervous. Thoughts raced through her mind as she walked, 'What if he's still awake? Will he get mad if I take them?' Opening the door after she unlocked it, she peered silently into the room. Kratos snored. He snored loud. Geez, that smoky dragon wasn’t this loud. Just her luck. She sighed with relief, and tip-hoofed into the room, and saw the blades on the metal table. Taking them with her magic, she walked as silently as she could out of the room. When the chains clanged against the damn floor! She heard a groan, and turned back. Kratos was waking up! She had no time, so instinctively, she rushed out of the door, and slammed it shut. "GAH! WHO'S THERE!?" Twilight panted when she heard the yell. "Show yourself, coward!" She was pressed-up against the door, the blades floating in front of her in her violet grasp. Twilight heard Kratos mumble something, but didn't understand it. She sighed with relief, and proceeded to walk out of the hospital. Her plan a success, she gave the front desk ponies a wink as she did so. "Have a good evening,” Twilight said with a smile. "You too." The stallion at the front desk said. “Oh yeah, she wants me.” Twilight left the hospital with a giddy step, walking out into the night. She looked at the blades in front of her; they seemed to be engraved with runes, red runes. They glowed red, also. At this, Twilight was curious, but she decided to not pursue it. For now. - - - The Library... After a long talk, Twilight had convinced Spike to go stay at Rarity's for the night. Of course, he accepted in a flash, but he had to go ask Rarity first. Then bring the news back to Twilight, and finally go back with his things. “We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I A full commitment's what I'm thinking of You wouldn't get this from any other guy I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand--” Twilight had to narrow her eyes at the singing dragon. Least now Twilight was in her basement, looking through a book. "Where is it..." The unicorn wondered, looking through the vast amount of pages to find one certain spell. "Aha!" She exclaimed. She had found the spell she was looking for. It could look into the past of an item. Not a very hard spell either, least compared to actual time travel. Just used up a lot of power over extended amounts of time. Hm... It could not only show images, but also allowed one to hear words! How exciting! And scary. She looked to the two blades, which were on a table near her. Twilight smiled, eager to try the spell. Trotting over to them, she took the book with her. Then, she began to cast the spell. As she channeled massive amounts of magical energy into the blades, her eyes lit up, as though she was using her Element. The spell required much less power than she used up to now- but since Kratos (out of assumption) had the blades for a long time, she wanted to see back to where they first came in at Kratos's life. Suddenly, she was engulfed in magic, the very landscape melting around her. Her eyes moved left and right as the library reformed into a strange-looking area. A circular, flaming 'window' if you will, showing a battle in the middle of a hallway. Was this viewing things from the point of view of a shadow at that time? Kratos walked towards said ‘window’, catching Twilight’s attention immediately. He was clad in armor, but unlike anything she had seen in books. It was almost beyond what she had seen Celestia wear, almost godly. The two blades, although they looked different now, were on his back. She heard a voice, that only she could hear. Well, it didn’t look like the ash white human reacted to it. Kratos had no need for the love of petty Gods. He had found a new family in the warriors of Sparta. As Kratos stood near the circular viewing station, Twilight stepped near it also. She peered into the viewing glass, wondering what the Spartan saw. (Total inception moment- looking into the past and into a viewing mirror) A man clad in basic armor, wielding a sword and shield called up from the battle, "My Lord, Kratos! Another city is ready to fall! Soon all shall know the glory of Sparta!" Mental Note: Sparta may be a good clue to follow up on. Kratos said nothing, and walked away. Twilight followed him, knowing that he couldn't see her. A woman clad in armor and beautiful silken robes approached him. The two met one another. "Enough, Kratos. With every city you destroy, the wrath of Olympus grows. Soon I will no longer be able to protect you." She warned with concern, placing a hand on Kratos's shoulder. Twilight had her head cocked at the woman. Who was she? Her thoughts were interrupted as Kratos shoved her aside, saying, "I need no protection." With cruelty and arrogance that Trixie barely outmatched. The woman placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him again, and Kratos shoved it away- but he looked back this time. She said, "Do not forget that it was I who made you a God, Ghost of Sparta... do not turn your back on me." What Twilight heard next, made her slightly angry. "I owe you nothing." Kratos spat with venom, beginning to walk away. How arrogant of him! Such ungrateful behavior! He was worse than Trixie! The woman shook her head. "Then you leave me no choice..." She said with what Twilight figured was remorse. Kratos had turned the pain of his memories into hatred. Hatred for the Gods, who had refused to free him from the nightmares of his past deeds. And so, he went to Rhodes, to deliver the final blow to the sieged city. Now in the burning, ruined city of Rhodes, Twilight hovered in the air. She saw Kratos, as he was now monstrously tall. The sight frightened her, but she was relieved at the fact that it was only a vision. A really, really realistic vision at that. She followed the Ghost of Sparta as he stomped through the city, stopping to smash a building to bits with his fist as a warrior of Rhodes had attempted to throw a spear at him. Just then, a great white bird had flown out of the sky, striking Kratos with lightning. Electricity crackled around him as he yelled, "ATHENA! You conspire against me!?" The bird then did the same to the Colossus in the distance. Twilight didn't see what happened to it, because she was focused on Kratos. It seems the blades could only view so much. The warrior god was shrinking smaller and smaller from the blue lightning. He shrunk down to his normal size, now being in a building. Twilight watched him as he battled through groups of guards, using the blades and powerful magic. Mental Note: Find out why Kratos cannot use his magic. Eventually, he fought the Colossus for a first time, a battle in which Twilight was sure he would lose. He was sent flying, and landed atop of a domed roof that cracked upon the impact. Unable to stand, he quickly fell, breaking the building through and crashing into the waters below. Then, some time later, after Twilight witnessed many battles- (And an orgy. Damn Starswirl for not making his spells pg-13!) Kratos was found by the Colossus again. And was hurled through another roof once more, this time going through two floors before landing on the ground. He brushed it off like it was an everyday occurrence, and stood straight, looking around. Twilight decided to 'fast-forward' a little bit, and she came to a rather interesting part (Please, no more orgies). A booming voice called from the skies, "Kratos..." "I do not need your help, Zeus!" Kratos responded with defiance in his scream. "I can take down this beast!" "I offer you more than help, Kratos. I offer you power." Zeus's voice boomed, before a blinding light shone from the heavens above. A great blade was sent down into the middle of a large, stone floor in the distance. "I offer you the Blade of Olympus. It was this blade that ended the Great War, and defeated the Titans. Drain your godly powers into the blade, Kratos. Only then will you reach your full potential." Kratos looked up to the skies, and asked, "Why do you aid me now...?" Twilight was also confused at the offer. Eager to find the answer, the unicorn fast-forwarded the experience, and Kratos defeated the Colossus, landing on the ground which the Blade of Olympus pierced. "Do you see, Gods of Olympus?!" Kratos called out, as Twilight watched the Colossus's hand slowly begin to fall towards him. "Do you need more proof than this!?" As soon as he yelled this, the massive hand slammed down upon him, the Blade of Olympus soaring through the air. Placing all of his godly power into the weapon had rendered Kratos mortal, vulnerable to the Arms of Death. Bloodied and beaten, he knew that to have any hope of survival, he must retrieve the Blade of Olympus. Twilight watched in horror as Kratos coughed up blood, his armor slowly falling off. The Blade pierced the ground meters ahead of him. "Oh no..." Twilight's eyes became teary. She felt like she had to do something, but she knew that she couldn't. So that had been the point of the offer... Humiliated before his Spartan army, Kratos dragged himself up from the dirt. It was painful, watching Kratos limp towards the blade. But then, out of the sky, came the great white bird again. Upon landing, it transformed into an elderly man, sporting muscle and white eyes, along with a beard and silken robes. Kratos stepped forward. "Y-you...?" Twilight gasped at the revelation. Had that man planned this from the beginning? The giant construct? The blade that would not be able to finish the job? Was this all a betrayal? "Yes. I am forced to attend to this matter myself! Athena refused to undo her mistake... imagine caring for a creature such as yourself." The godly figure spat harshly. "Why..." Kratos began. "Why would you betray me...?" "It is you who would betray me! Am I to stand idly by while Olympus is threatened? Your hands are already stained by the blood of a God." The elderly man picked up the Blade of Olympus. "... I will not let Ares' fate be my own." Kratos snapped, "The Gods are petty and pathetic, and your rule is weak." Irritated, the godly figure replied, "I grow tired of this insolence!" He put the blade to Kratos's neck. The unicorn shut her eyes a bit, imaging how cold the metal must be. "... and it is my way that is the way of the Gods. You must vow to forever serve me." Kratos shoved aside the weapon as he said, "I serve no one!" "Then you leave me no choice!" He said threateningly, clenching his fist as he did so. Twilight couldn't bear to watch at this point, but she forced herself to. Kratos fought a hopeless battle, eventually being pinned by the man. Her mouth fell open when this ‘Zeus’ drove the Blade of Olympus straight through the chest of the former godlike warrior. 'So t-that's h-h-how he g-got that s-s-scar...' She thought, trembling with fear. "It did not have to be this way, my son," The King of the Gods said, looking down at him as the Blade of Olympus was through his chest. "... this path is of your choosing." Twilight frowned a bit- that did not sound remorseful at all. Kratos gasped in pain, as he responded weakly, "A choice... from the Gods... is as useless... as the Gods themselves..." "Even now, as you draw your last breath,” Zeus drove the blade even deeper into Kratos’s midsection. “you continue to defy me!?" The God yelled. He leaned in closer to deliver a final message. "Everything you have ever known Kratos, will now suffer because of your sacrilege. You will never be the ruler of Olympus. The cycle ends here." He spat, before taking the blade from Kratos's chest, and sending a wave of godly energy out in a crescent, destroying and killing everything in its path. In what Twilight thought to be Kratos's last breath, she heard him say as he lifted his arm to point a finger at him, "You will pay for this, Zeus... be certain of that..." His arm fell limp as he coughed up more blood, falling limp to the ground, Zeus walking away as this happened. As the life drained out of Kratos, the Arms of Hades reached out to claim their prize. But there was more resting on Kratos's shoulders than he could know. Kratos was destined to bring about change so severe, that it would shake the very pillars of Mount Olympus. His death was something that I could not allow. Flashbacks of war came to Twilight's mind. Was she going through his mind at this moment in time? The blades could see that as well? Both of Kratos's hands grabbed and smashed-in the head of another man, blood spraying across her vision, melting away into another terrifying scene. A barbaric warlord raising a warhammer to kill Kratos. The Spartan's hand reached out to the sky, bloodied. "ARES! DESTROY MY ENEMIES, AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!" Then, she heard screaming, as chains were seared onto Kratos's arms. 'The blades... that is how he got them...' Satisfied with what she saw, she knew how he got his weapons. But what she saw next, she couldn't make sense of at the time, and only served to strike her curiosity further. Smoke blurred her vision and blew away, allowing her to see a scene where Kratos slaughtered two women- one old... and one so very young. It made her heart wrench. But... his skin color! It wasn’t always ash?! Why... why did the little one remind her of Kratos? A pool of blood let Kratos see his own reflection, along with the ghost of Athena. The image burst into flames, the face of a man with flaming hair entering her vision. With an unexpectedly female voice, the reflection in blood spoke, "Fight, Spartan..." The head turned, the hair becoming blonde, belonging to a beautiful woman who laid in bed. Suddenly, the head twisted backwards, and said in the same voice, "You are not meant to die here." Before flying off into darkness. Then, as if she was Kratos, she saw Zeus driving the blade into his chest. Looking to the side, she saw the woman, and the same young girl Kratos slaughtered. "This is not the end." The girl said with the same voice. Kratos was now in darkness, his head down with the massive gash through his chest. "Who... are you...?" He asked. Suddenly, a gigantic face made of earth and plants came into view. "I am the Titan, Gaia, ever-present Mother of Earth. I have watched you become a powerful warrior, and I have been with you through all the events of your life. But I can no longer simply 'watch'. We will help you defeat Zeus. Death is an escape, Kratos. You are a warrior of Sparta, not a coward. Only a coward accepts death." Kratos spoke, "... I am no coward." "Then you must fight. I will show you the way to the Sisters of Fate. Only with their power will you defeat Zeus." Gaia's voice prophesied, before the wound on Kratos's midsection regenerated. He took out a blade and yelled, piercing it into a fleshy wall, tearing away grasping hands as he did so. Once Kratos was out of the hole, a Spartan Captain came to him, and Kratos commanded him to return to Sparta. A flaming pegasus landed, and Kratos mounted it. That pegasus was not like the ones from Equestria. It almost reminded the mare of Celestia. By Celestia’s beard, that pegasus was so hot though! Soon, they were airborne, and soaring through the air. "Turn back to Olympus, beast! I must face Zeus!" Kratos commanded, but the winged horse did not heed his command. "You defy the God of War!?" Twilight had to shake her head to the sides a bit, for now it was as if she flown next to the warrior. You are no longer a God, Kratos. Gaia's voice spoke, Kratos looking around at the sky. Zeus, Olympus, and the blade which holds all your power will forevermore be out of reach. Your only hope is to find the Sisters of Fate, and travel back through time, to the moment when Zeus betrayed you, for only then will he be truly vulnerable. Soon, after fast-forwarding a bit, Twilight came to see Kratos approaching a screaming man, who was chained up on a finger of the titan Typhon. The sight of the fellow being eaten by a giant bird made her want to vomit. The bird flew off as Kratos came near. "God of War... you... live...!" The man said with a rasped voice. "I no longer walk with the Gods." Kratos replied. "Who has placed you in this torment?" "Zeus..." The bearded man said. "... my only crime was helping mankind. When I took the fires of Olympus to the mortals, Zeus considered it a betrayal! As punishment, he made me mortal... and condemned me... to be savagely consumed every day by this cursed bird! And then, with the fall of night, I am healed.” He said. “How long, have I been here... how long, have I suffered this curse..." He became lifeless. "... I truly do not know..." And then, he fell limp. The bird flew off from the finger it was perched on, and his innards regenerated, leaving no scars when his skin came back. Once it did, he snapped to life, gasping for breath. "Please, Ghost of Sparta! Release me from my torment!" He begged. And with a short amount of time, Kratos showed mercy for the first time to Twilight. He cut the chain connecting him to the finger, making him dangle by his arms over the fires of Olympus. Soon, he came back with a bow, made from Typhon's eye. He shot the chain, and he burned in the fires. So, Kratos wasn’t such a monster... You have freed Prometheus from the torment of the Gods. His flesh has tainted the fires of Olympus, and embodied it with the power of the Titans. Gaia explained to Kratos, the fires of Olympus travelling up his legs. These ashes give you great strength, Kratos. Take them within you, and use their strength to defeat your enemies. Soon, Kratos was upon the hot, sexy pegasus again, flying through the air. Kratos, behold the Island of Creation; home to the Sisters of Fate. Here, your true destiny begins. The island is wrought with danger. It was created to prevent all from reaching the three Sisters of Fate. The power of the Sisters will allow you to return to the moment when Zeus betrayed and killed you, Kratos, thus changing your fate, and the fate of others. Twilight fast-forwarded to when Kratos stood near a gigantic chain. "Why do you aid me, Gaia?" He asked. Zeus must be stopped, Kratos. Gaia began. The story of revenge has been told before. You know of the mighty Titan, Chronos. So fearful was Chronos of the Oracle's prediction, that his own children would rise against him, that he decided to imprison them all in his belly. Rhea stood by and watched as her children were devoured, one by one, but when the time came for the last of her children to be eaten, she was unable to bear another such loss, and devised a trick to save the baby, Zeus. As Gaia spoke, the whole scene unfolded in Twilight's eyes. Thunderous footsteps approaching as Rhea kissed the head of her silver-haired baby. She lifted up the baby, and the eagle took it into its claws. Rhea commanded the eagle to secret her son away. He was taken to an island, far beyond the watchful eyes of Chronos. Gaia said, as Rhea took a rock and folded it up into a brown blanket. The mighty Titan approached, and Rhea offered the child on the stone pedestal, stepping back as Kronos leaned-in to blow away debris. He grabbed the pedestal, taking the decoy child with him, along with some of the ground. He let the 'child' fall into his mouth, eating it. Twilight saw an island now, the baby Zeus walking into a cave. It was I who cared for him. It was I who kept him safe. Gaia said, Zeus coming out as an adult, well-toned and built. I nurtured his desire to free his brothers and sisters from Chronos. But my foolish act of compassion, would haunt the Titans forever, for in sparing Zeus, we allowed him to return to us with vengeance in his heart. He betrayed all of the Titans, for the sins of just one; the sins of his father, Chronos. Mental Note: Why were the blades showing her this? Why did Kratos need to know the story of Zeus? Deeper into the Island of Creation, Kratos met Desius, who chuckled at him when they met. "Ghost of Sparta! Then what they say is true!" He exclaimed. "Desius..." Kratos growled. "Of all the fools who try, you would be the last I would expect to seek an audience with the Sisters of Fate." Desius teased. Kratos replied, "And you are the last I would expect to become a servant to the Fates." Desius stood straight. "I serve and protect the Sisters of Fate, for the glory of Zeus!" He looked to the sky as he said this. "The time of Zeus is coming to an end." Kratos retorted. "Mm... you seek the Sisters to kill Zeus!" He laughed. "You no longer possess the powers of a God, Kratos. I doubt you're even capable of killing me, let alone the King of Olympus!" "Let me pass, and I will let you live old man." Kratos threatened. "I do not think that is your choice to make..." Desius responded, taking out a long, double-bladed staff which glowed with energy. "Come forward. Let us see who is the greatest warrior in all of Greece." He said. Just as the fight began, Twilight fast-forwarded the time. This was taking a lot out of her, but she needed to get to the bottom of things! Also, all of this violence was going to give her nightmares. She came upon Kratos looking back to a gathering mist. Suddenly, a titan's face appeared out of the mist. "Our destiny has brought us together, warrior." It said. "Before my fall in the Great War of the Gods, I hid away the last remnants of my magic. For the good of the Titans, I, Chronos, now bestow what is left, upon you. Use it well." Chronos blessed, sending lightning to flow into Kratos's very veins, giving him the magical prowess of the mighty father of the titans, Chronos. Once finished, Kratos dropped to the ground, and rushed outside. How much stronger could Kratos become? Twilight wondered if this is why he was so arrogant. He eventually made the gigantic horses that were frozen in place move, pulling the island together. Twilight's jaw dropped at this. 'H-how...' Once the island was connected, the horses whinnied, and froze once again. She shook her head, and forwarded the time. Why would horses on Kratos’s world be subjugated to serve men? Now, Kratos stood on a pair of stone hands, connected to a statue of a Sister of Fate. The hands lifted him up, and the statue spoke. "Hear me, fallen God, none defy what the Fates decree. That is how it must be. Only death awaits you at the end of your journey." "My death is what began this journey." Kratos said. "The Fates have not deemed victory for you. Your soul will never find peace, for what you have become." "I am what the Gods have made me!" Kratos shouted, taking out a blade and slamming it into the face of the statue, crushing it. Twilight forwarded time again. This time, Kratos stood in between two statues as they deflected beams of energy. They came from one larger statue, in which they connected the islands. The ground crumbled, and debris fell as the large statue ultimately exploded, letting Kratos go through the energy-sealed gate ahead of him. Later on, Kratos came to a swamp-like area. Twilight wondered how much she could take... Hidden deep within the spire lie the Sisters. They control the threads of fate. Gain control of your thread, and you will be able to return to the moment when Zeus betrayed you. Gaia guided Kratos on. The Spartan had to roll out of the way to avoid getting hit by a large hammer... wielded by an undead barbaric warlord who rode a blood-red horse. Kratos sent out a blade, and it latched onto the horse. This undead equine dragged him along a bit before sending him into a tree, which broke and fell over. Eventually, they came to a clearing, and Kratos released the blade, landing on the ground as the barbaric warlord turned around, approaching him. "By the Gods, it is true!" He spoke. "I have fought my way through the guardians of Hades, and pulled my way out of the Fires of Torment to change my fate, and for my efforts the Sisters shine their light upon me, delivering the very object of my vengeance; Kratos." He let out a hearty chuckle. "Servant of Ares, do you remember that day, Spartan!?" He demanded. "I will never forget that day..." Twilight saw an army of barbarians, lead by the same warlord prince, as he drew back his bow, releasing it. The arrow pierced the skull of a Spartan warrior, then Twilight saw people on fire... the sight made her sick, but even more so when Kratos decapitated the barbarian prince. "This time, Ghost of Sparta, I will have YOUR head." The prince laughed, before the two launched into battle. Squeamishly, Twilight didn't want to see the result of the fight, so instead, forwarded time once more. ‘Please,’ she thought to herself. ‘When will it end?’ Now, Kratos was walking on a broken bridge, stopping when a winged figure crawled over the edge. "Go back," He warned. "Go back, warrior! There is no passage here. You will never make it across! You think you can, but you can not!" The figure warned. Kratos ignored him, and tried to walk forward, but the delusional winged man stepped in front of him. "Do you hear me!? It is my wings that will make it across! It is my test!" He insisted, before Kratos shoved him aside. He stood up, and said, "Do you not know who I am? Have you not heard of Icarus?" He asked, walking to the edge. "It is my fate to make it across! NONE OTHER!" He yelled. "This is my test! The Sisters will grant me an audience, not you. You will die, white warrior! You will die-" He was interrupted as Kratos grabbed him by the shoulder. "I will reach the Sisters of Fate, and I will use your wings to do so." Kratos said threateningly. "The Sisters will not allow you, a fallen God, to bathe in their light!" Icarus shouted, climbing on top of Kratos's head. Eventually, the two of them fell off of the sides. Twilight had forwarded time once more, but she was confused as to how Kratos had obtained wings. She got a pretty good idea, an accurate one at that, and decided to leave it at that. Although, she hoped the wings did not come from any pegasi. Icarus was screaming, falling into Tartarus. Kratos glided down, ignoring his screams. The massive hand that granted passage went back into place. Soon, Kratos managed to break the chains that held the massive hand of the titan up to the ceiling of the Underworld. "Who breaks my chains of torment?" The titan boomed, grabbing Kratos between two fingers, attempting to squish him. It didn't work; Kratos held the two fingers off with his inhuman strength. "You are strong, but you are far too small, even for an Olympian, to be a God." He said, before he groaned. "Ugggh... Kratos." He let the Demigod into his palm, and chuckled. "Kratos, still the arrogant and foolish warrior. You have not changed. Hmm... and how do you plan to defeat the King of the Gods?" The Titan asked. "By taking the Blade of Olympus back, and driving it into Zeus's heart! It holds the power I once wielded, as the God of War!" Kratos called out. "The Blade of Olympus?" The Titan raised a brow. "I have not heard that name in many years." He said. "Since... since the end of the Great War. Bloodlust and power raged within Zeus. His desire to rule over mortals was intolerable... to us. The war between the Titans and the Olympians forged the landscape of the mortal world. This was a war we knew the Titans must win. If we lost, it would mean an end to the golden age of the Titan rule. Peace and prosperity for mankind would be no more." A four-armed titan was shocked by electricity, as the war unfolded in Twilight's eyes. The same titan had two scythe-like blades puncture his chest, from Hades, God of Death. Poseidon, God of the Seas, electrocuted the Titan again as Hades pulled him to the ground, ripping the very soul from him. He released the blades, and the soul of the titan was absorbed by Hades. "The battle continued despite my capture. Then Zeus created a powerful weapon, to end the Great War. A weapon forged from the Heavens and the Earth; the Blade of Olympus." Holding the blade, Zeus yelled, "I banish you to the darkest pits of Tartarus!" And strained as he drove the blade into the ground, a massive cyclone of immensely powerful energy forming around him. The cyclone was sucked up into the skies, and then sent down, exploding with a wave of energy, wiping out the titans. "I awoke in the Underworld, banished to the darkest pits of Hades! I would have destroyed Zeus, if you had not put me here, slave of the Gods!" Atlas yelled. "I no longer do the bidding of the Gods, Atlas. I have stomached their betrayal for the last time! Show me the way to the Sisters, and I will kill Zeus once and for all!" Kratos bellowed. "What Gaia says is true, Ghost of Sparta." Atlas said. "You are a powerful warrior, and a worthy ally of the Titans." "Then tell me how to find the temple of the Sisters of Fate." Kratos demanded. Twilight looked on, debating now who was in the right. Zeus for trying to rule with force? Or Kratos, forced on this road of vengeance? They both reminded her of the Discorded versions of her friends. It made it very hard to pick a side. "None, not even the titans know how to reach the Sister's temple. But it is said, he who finds it, will wield great power." Atlas replied. "I have given you the last of my magic, Spartan. I can help you cross the great chasm, but that is all I can offer." He said, lifting his massive hand into the hole above. "May fate grant you passage, Kratos. For many rely on your success." Soon, after many battles and puzzles, Twilight saw Kratos with his blade in his own ally's chest. "You?" He pulled the blade from his chest. It was the Spartan captain, who had been sent back to Sparta. "My lord..." The captain muttered. "I told you to return to Sparta! Why do you leave Sparta unprotected?!" Kratos bellowed. "Sparta... is no more..." He replied dully. "What treachery is this!?" Kratos demanded. "... Zeus." The image of this ‘Sparta’ now filled Twilight's mind, as the Spartan captain spoke. "He came under the cloak of darkness, into Sparta." On a post, stood a Spartan archer, warrior, and the captain. "Keep watch." The captain ordered. A massive lightning bolt struck the post, killing his men, but leaving the captain alive under rubble. "The people cried out for you, they begged for their God to save them. But you didn't come." Zeus stepped into the scene, and ripped a tower from the ground, being the size of a titan now. He hurled the tower, causing destruction in Sparta. He stormed around, taking a lightning bolt into his hand, striking the city with immense power. The image faded away. "I was left with no choice. I had to seek out the Sisters, to change the fate of our beloved Sparta, for I am all that is left." The young captain coughed, and Kratos made it so he was facing him. "... now you, are all that is left... I have faith, that our brothers of Sparta... will live on... through the true... God of War..." He then coughed, and breathed his last. Filling with a burning rage, Kratos yelled, "ZEEEEUUUUUUUUS!!! IS THIS HOW YOU FACE ME, COWARD!? I AM THROUGH DOING THE BIDDING OF THE GODS! COME DOWN HERE AND FACE ME NOW, ZEUS!" As he was yelling... Twilight froze in place. A gigantic beast had emerged behind him; a Kraken. Kratos turned around as the beast roared at him, not budging. Then, after a small battle, Kratos struggled to get out of the Kraken's grasp, and he closed his eyes. Twilight watched with curiosity as the land melted away around him, replacing it with a hill, overlooking the ravaged Sparta. A woman approached him through the grass, and it was the woman that Kratos murdered in a blood rage, in the village, a long time ago. The one she couldn't make sense of. Kratos's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "I am so sorry... my love..." He apologized to her. Twilight gasped, and the spell broke, from both her fatigue, and from the pure shock of the situation. "Th-that was..." Twilight shook with realization. The blades in front of her... Kratos had killed his love, his true love, with them. Not being able to take it anymore, Twilight wept loudly. She cried for him; she now understood his pain. What he was hiding. Why he was so secretive. She was so, so sorry for him. It wasn't his fault! He didn't intentionally kill his wife, either. It was accidental! But now she felt so bad, she didn't even have his permission to see such sorrow and rage. Now she saw what Kratos meant. He thought it was too much for her to bear. And he was right. She should have listened. She should have! Twilight, you silly pony! Why do you always think you’re in the right?! She cried for what felt like hours to her, which it was. She was so tired afterwards that she could barely stand- let alone go to bed. But she did. And she curled-up in the bed, tears running down her face as she drifted to the sleep she needed so terribly. "I-I... I'm s-so... sorry..." - - - Meanwhile, back in Room 14... “Hey... are you sure giving Kratos a gun will be a good idea?” The author asked a gold shield. They both looked down at Kratos. The shield somehow gave the Author a wicked smile. Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB
Chapter 12 - The Hour of Twilight (See what I did the-... /quit) ((ENDING))Slumber. Sleep. Endlessly revolving until your body is satisfied and replenished, it is your recovery time. Twilight followed her mentor closely. The others had left after seeing Celestia so angered- they were afraid to see what would happen. Applejack protested against Twilight staying, but she ignored her friend. Tension filled the air like billowing smoke from a smokestack. It was congesting. Agonizingly silent. Walking down flight by flight of stairs, the passageway got darker as Kratos's bandaged body was carried along by the emotionless Celestia. "... W... what are you going to do to him?" The unicorn broke the silence. Celestia didn't respond. She opened a door once they were far, far underground. The door opened to reveal a long hallway of stone. "Princess?" Twilight hesitated from moving on. The looks of the place spooked her a bit- it was dark, eerie. Cold, damp. Rather musky. She felt unseen eyes on her at all times. It made her bones shiver. Once again, she didn't respond as she began to walk down the hallway. Twilight quickly followed, not wanting to be left alone in this, this hellish place. "Wh... what is this place?" - - - One hour earlier... "Keep him restrained!" "I'm trying!" Yelled an assistant, over the sounds of a grave struggle. Kratos had been tied-down on an operating table, and didn't take too kindly to it. One would wonder how such a damaged, exhausted creature could put up such a fight. It was in his blood, after all. One of the leather straps gave out. It snapped, and now the Spartan's forearm was free. "He's going to break the restraints, come on! Hold him so I can put him out!" The doctor yelled. Kratos grabbed the neck of one of the assistants, and slammed his head against the metal table, dazing him. But he wasn't done. He repeated this, until four of them ganged up on his forearm, struggling to hold it down. The doctor then took the needle full of extremely potent tranquilizer--intended for a beast of large size--and injected it into Kratos's forearm, which throbbed as he thrashed his arm around. His head then slumped down, and the struggle stopped. The doctors, nurses and assistants went to work on mending his wounds, stitching, removing shrapnel. The whole package. Celestia had been looking through the Canterlot Archives, for a spell that she had in mind. She looked for at least four hours. Nothing, nothing, nothing. There were basic sleep spells, advanced ones. Mainly just for getting a better rest at night, but so far, not what she was looking for. But then, she found something. In a dusty, aged box, was a scroll. "Hmm..." Celestia overlooked the scroll. Content with her choice, she studied the scroll. It was a stasis spell- meant to keep the target in an age-defying rest for a select amount of time. The more magical energy you poured into the spell, the more potent and prolonged the effects were. The basic amount of time, the lowest you could go, was around one and a half years. But there was one problem. The spell was unfinished- of course. So, Celestia began to work on it. Starswirl the Bearded may have been a genius, but he left quite a few loose ends. The Princess had kept Twilight overnight at the castle. She wanted to stay, so Celestia let her. Last night, she spoke with Twilight. Tears were shed, but Celestia's student thankfully understood her decision. At least, so she thought. - - - Deep underground... twenty-one hours since Kratos's subduing... Chains crinkled. Cuffs snapped. And restraints clipped. "Princess... you cannot do this to him... it's just not right." Twilight insisted as she saw Kratos, unconscious and wrapped like a mummy in front of them, looming in the darkness. He was held and restrained by seven magically-enchanted chains per limb. It was inhumane. Celestia's expression grew grim. "Twilight, you do not understand. He is dangerous- you saw what he was capable of. If it were not for my anger, Twilight, I would have died. Do you understand me?" The alicorn asked. The unicorn eyed Kratos. "But--" "Twilight, enough. My word is my word. And my decision has been made." The alicorness said sternly, a migraine already having its potent effects on her head. Kratos's head suddenly snapped up, as though to look at Celestia. He growled. Muffled, he yelled in pain, feeling the searing agony of his wounds awake him. His muscles were torn from the gashes. Bones in his spine had been broken. His skull had been cracked, some ribs shattered. His once-broken leg was broken once more. Blood stained the bandages. Stitches would become infected. He was lucky to even be alive, with that much damage taken. How he was even alive in the first place was a miracle in itself. To be breathing with that much damage taken, to fight back against a surgeon. It was physically impossible. But he had some unfinished business. His vengeance still had yet to be taken. The blood of Chronos served him well. A fighting Spartan spirit, and determination that was unfaltering. But had Celestia truly become this careless? It seemed so. It seemed so. The motive behind her becoming this way may be a mystery as of now. But all will be revealed in due time. "Rest." Celestia said, closing her eyes. Before the alicorness began to cast a spell. And like that, Kratos's head fell limp. The entirety of his body relaxed, as he was forced into stasis, much like a coma. His body would recover with time, but he wouldn't age. "It's time for you to leave, Twilight. Kratos's blades are to be sealed away." "Why are you doing this to him, Celestia!?" Twilight demanded, enraged. "Twilight, we spoke about this last night. Would you rather him be a threat to both your friends and me, as he was recently?" "... N-no..." The unicorn sniffled as she barely held back the tears, before running down the long hall. She was getting tired of crying- but she could not help it. She was restless last night, and the day before. And knowing what Kratos went through, knowing his goal, she mainly felt sorry for him- being denied of his revenge against Zeus. She was guilty, for putting him through what she did. "Twilight, wait-..." Princess Celestia was about to hug her upset student, before she sighed in guilt, following the hallway. She shut out the dim lights behind her, leaving Kratos's motionless form in pitch black darkness. Solid stone doors closed behind her, one by one. They magically sealed. Each door was at least one meter thick, and magically reinforced with a barrier, made by Starswirl the Bearded himself. The prison was originally meant for an old evil, which died out many, many hundreds of years ago in its containment. And that evil was not of pony kind. Kratos awoke, perfectly fine. Had he been dreaming? It was a stupid question to ask. He stood in a void-like space. Nothingness surrounded him. Cradled him, embraced him. There was no hot, no cold. No light, no dark. It was limbo. "What is this treachery..." Kratos wondered aloud. "Very good... very good indeed." Zeus chuckled, sitting upon his throne atop the towering Mt. Olympus. He had witnessed Kratos's defeat (which he greatly enjoyed), his subduing, and his forced sleep. The seas had declined to their normal level- the King of Olympus was responsible for the seas' restoration. "Perhaps life can go back to what it once was," Zeus grew a small smile on his face as he walked to the ledge, which overlooked the entirety of Greece, in all its majestic beauty. "don't you think, Heracles?" The mighty warrior smirked at the God of the Skies, and nodded. "Perhaps, with that nuisance of a brother gone." Both of the deities laughed together as they watched the sun set over the mountains to the South. "Celestia is far more powerful than I had expected her to be." The King of Olympus said. Hercules nodded. "If Kratos could defeat gods, but could not defeat a princess like her... she is a force to be reckoned with, even to the Olympians. For you see, Kratos has been through much worse. For him to give up like that... is rather strange. He has such tenacity, such ferocity as a Spartan. You even remember the slaughtering of Ares. Nobody can forget it." Zeus nodded in agreement to this. "I suppose Kratos bit off more than he could chew, even for a god slayer. But you witnessed him trying to stand. Celestia kicked him down, and down again. He was not giving up- he was trying to save himself. It was human instinct, after all. Deep down, under all the hatred and rage that consumes him, is a human heart. He just doesn't know it." "Perhaps we could find allies in Equestria." The wise warrior suggested. The God of the Skies raised a brow. "Impossible." He denied, shaking his head. "Why is that?" Hercules stood up as he asked this. "As the ruler of Olympus, I must stay here. Without order, chaos will be brought upon the lands below us. The citizens of Equestria have no need for our aid, in any means. They will likely have their hands, well, hooves full once Kratos has awoken. But hopefully, he will have learned his lesson from Celestia... and without a way back as of yet, she will keep him in check, as he cannot defeat her due to the lack of the Golden Fleece." Zeus replied. "But the stasis spell that Celestia used was extremely potent- I assume that Kratos will not awake for a long, long time." Hercules reasoned. "We will see about that, Heracles. Kratos's spirit is of a Spartan, and his blood is of Chronos's. His will, although I would sooner die than saying it, is nearly unfaltering. He already slew Poseidon, even without the powers hidden in Pandora's Box." The God of the Skies argued. "Only time will tell. Only time will tell." Hercules decided with a small sigh. Once Twilight arrived home, she sat down on her bed and thought long and hard. 'If Celestia placed him under that form of stasis spell, that means he's still conscious inside his mind. At least... hmm.' "Spike!" She called out. The baby dragon ran up the stairs, his small feet pitter-pattering against the grained wood. "Yes Twilight? Anything I can help 'ya with?" He asked. "Could you possibly fetch me my books on... hmm... well, anything that revolves around mental, or, mind-based magic and spells?" Twilight asked. Spike nodded. "In a jiffy! Be right back!" He hurried down the stairs, and came back only a few minutes later, balancing at least twenty-five different books on himself. "H... WHOA!" Spike collapsed, all of the books falling on top of him. With a giggle, Twilight said, "Oh Spike..." She hopped off of the bed, and the unicorn's horn lit up instantly, as the books were lifted off of the baby dragon. She yawned. "... maybe I'll read these... after I get some sleep." She said, exhaling deeply as she laid down on her bed. "Thanks, Spike." She turned to look at him as she said this, before she laid her head on her pillow. "... Sleep? But it's... three in the afternoon..." Spike said as he stood up. The baby dragon scratched the back of his head in confusion. "You won't believe what I've been through in the past couple of days, Spike." She said, not facing him. "... Wait!" Twilight jumped up. "I think I've learned something important, though..." The unicorn said. Like magic, Spike zoomed to and fro. A quill and scroll were in his hands once he returned. "Spike, take a letter..." "Dear Princess Celestia. I write to you today because I believe I have learned not a lesson about friendship, but an important life lesson that can apply to it. You may have an idea in your head that sounds good at the start, but until you actually do that idea, you can't be certain if that idea is good or not. Like how me and my friends tried to rescue you. We thought... well I thought, Kratos would kill you. Sadly, we were too late, and didn't think up a plan beforehand. So don't be prideful of an idea, until you've proven that it can work. Stay hopeful that it will work, but never guarantee yourself, or your friends, that it will. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." After Spike had sent the letter, Twilight curled-up in bed, and got a long, twelve-hour sleep. She awoke at three in the morning. 'More time to study,' She thought. So, Twilight being Twilight, she hit the books. Hard. - - - The Next Afternoon... In the void which Kratos stood in, suddenly faded-in an image of Twilight Sparkle, who was sitting on her bed. She could be seen ahead of him. "Good... this works. Can you hear me?" Twilight's echoing voice asked. Kratos nodded. 'Unfortunately...' He thought to himself. But unfortunately, his thoughts were not safe. "Hey!" Twilight frowned as her voice echoed. "I'm inside your mind, you know. Now Kratos, I know there is some bad blood between us... with what happened and all," She sighed. Kratos rolled his eyes with a sigh. "But I think I can make it up to you. How does your freedom sound?" The Spartan crossed his arms. "It will change nothing between us. My goal is Zeus's death. Nothing more." "L-listen, Kratos. I know you're determined to follow your goals. And I want to help you." Twilight offered. Kratos raised a brow. "You think you... can help me?" He asked rhetorically. "Of course I can. I can't help you with killing... I couldn't," Twilight winced. "But I can help... make a spell. I think you know where I'm going with this." "So you plan on creating a spell to return me to Olympus." The demigod said, figuring out Twilight's motives quickly. The unicorn nodded. "Yes. But it will not take a short time, Kratos. I would need coordinates, I'd need an extremely powerful telescope... I'd need you to help me, as well." "Help you?" Kratos's expression grew slightly irritated. "U-unfortunately. But, it's your vengeance we're talking about here, since you don't care at all about making friends. And as your... acquaintance, I want to do everything in my power to help you." How much Twilight Sparkle wanted to say 'friend' in that sentence was immeasurable, but she knew it wouldn't make sense. "I don't need your help." Kratos stubbornly snapped back, closing his eyes. "Think that all you want, Ghost of Sparta. If you don't want my help, then you can kiss your vengeance and 'driving the Blade of Olympus into Zeus's heart' goodbye." Twilight said rather harshly, with a wince. She sighed, and said, "... I-... I'll give you time to think... this spell really wears me out, anyway." Twilight's horn lit up again, and the image faded. All Kratos saw before the blackness consumed him again was a flash of white. To Be Continued... Author's Note "All of my stories run on my theories, and my ideas. If you have a problem with them, move on, and have a good day. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that. "If you spot any grammatical problems, tell me. If you spot any punctuation problems, tell me. If you have a problem with the plot, I'll give you this and this only: It's my story. Not yours. If you want to happen, write it yourself, or stop bugging authors to make a story that they enjoy writing, into something that you would enjoy. In other words, your ideas are your ideas, and my ideas are my ideas. Don't try to force anything down my throat, or another's. Write it yourself, or it isn't going to happen." ZTB Expect a sequel in the far future. So I was nervous about posting the ending, but I stoned myself, and YOLO'd it. "If you're waist-deep in the shit sea, there's no going back now!" By the way, Heracles is another name for Hercules, just in case anybody's confused about it. The story -itself- is not yet finished, but the first part of it, Turning Point, has been finished (yes, there will be a sequel. Calm your wieners). The second chapter... or part, etc, will be written up soon, as a different story. I'm planning on going back through the chapters, and fixing any errors I find, so new readers can read it easily. P.S: I have no idea if that lesson, or anything relatively similar, is in a canon episode. So forgive me if I've repeated history (that is, before season 2, which is when this story takes place). P.P.S: I made Kratos lose to Celestia because quite honestly, I want people to get this message: "He isn't unstoppable". He had no character development over the games. His mindset and personality stayed the same, and it made things boring. I discussed this with a friend of mine. There was no progression in his character, and that is what I plan on bringing. Now what I mean by 'progression'? Like, a God, or someone, that could put Kratos in his place. Something interesting, you know. Something that could make Kratos change, like being in such a docile world like Equestria. But someone who could put him in his place, was delivered in the form of Princess Celestia, the unexpectedly powerful, wise and friendly ruler of Equestria. P.P.P.S: Penis. P.P.P.P.S: Point out any damn mistakes in the past chapters, if you would! I need help, you know. P.P.P.P.P.S: I'm nervous. /chewnail /chewnail /chewnail P.P.P.P.P FLUFFIN' P-S!!! I love you all.
