When will it end?

"Ornstein!" Artorias rushed forward, clasping Ornstein in a friendly one-armed hug. "How did you get here?"

Ornstein's emotions took a drastic fall "Smough has gone insane. We were challenging the Chosen Undead and his companions when I fell. I reached for Smough, when I saw his hammer falling. Next thing I knew, I was here." Ornstein's emotions rose back up. "But that's not important right now. Who are your friends?" Artorias wasn't truly listening. His gaze was on the figure that was standing by the Crack of Ponyville. He slowly started to approach the figure.

"I'm sorry about Artorias, Mister Ornstein." Said Celestia, who took over the awkward silence. "I'm Celestia, ruler of Equestria. Next to me is Twilight Sparkle, my personal prodige." Twilight blushed a bit, and nodded. "On my left is Rainbow Dash, the element of loyalty."

"And the best flyer in all of Equestria. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"The 'pleasure' is mine." Ornstein responded sarcastically.

"Hey!"

"So you're a friend of Artorias'?" asked Twilight who was looking up at Ornstein's helm.

"Yes, I'm Ornstein the Dragonslayer."

"DRAGONSLAYER?" The three shouted.

"Um... yes? In Lordran, dragons are rather fearsome creatures. To kill one is an amazing feet, usually earning you some respect. Are dragons peaceful here?"

"My assistant is a dragon." responded Twilight.

"Oh. I'm also the lead knight of the Four Knights of Gwyn. The other Knights are Artorias, Gough, and the Lord's Blade-"

"Ciarin!" Artorias had broken into a dead run. As the blue robed figure turned around, Artorias scooped them into his arms, enveloping them in a great bear hug.

"Artorias?!" A feminine voice responded. The blue robed figure quickly wrapped her arms around him. "I thought I would never see you again."

"But you have, and I won't leave you again, Ciarin."

Twilight and the others watched the two of them hug. It didn't last long as another tremor shook the ground. "Artorias, Ciarin, get out of there!" shouted Ornstein. They released each other and sprinted for the group. The ground below them began to deteriorate. The both of them jumped across the crumbling ground as flames shot out. They stopped by the group as something began climbing out of the hole. "Can't we get a break?!" cried Ornstein.

"Not really," said Artorias. He looked towards Ciarin and gave her a dashing smile. She felt herself blush under her mask as the tremors grew worse. A roar shot out of the ground as more smoke came out.

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A harsh red light had been growing as the group had gotten to know each other. With a roar, three figures leaped out of the ground. The first, on the left, was a demon from the undead asylum. It swung it's club around and smashed the ground. Next in the middle was a Capra demon. It lifted it's great-swords in mock challenge. Finally, on the right, was a Centipede demon. This terrifying monstrosity was the source of the light, and lava oozed out of the pores on it's body. It roared to the heavens, where a fierce storm had started to gather. It's tail swung around, and roared it's defiance to being in the open air.

Ornstein's demeanor changed from jokingly complaining to leadership. "Twilight and Celestia, the one on the left. Artorias and Ciarin, the one on the right. Rainbow Dash, on me."

"Right."

Twilight and Celestia sprinted towards the one on the left. The Capra demon sprinted towards the group but was intercepted by Rainbow dash who cut at it's legs. Twilight looked away from the scene and saw the club swinging down at her. She teleported behind the beast and fired magic bolts at it. "Twilight," cried Celestia, "keep it distracted." Twilight nodded and fired more magic at it. She lured it away from Celestia as best as she could. She looked over and saw Celestia charging up a powerful spell. As she focused her attention forward she, saw the demon swing. She rolled to the side as the club crushed where she was just standing. It growled, and swung again. This time the club grazed her side, and she flew into a nearby tree. As she looked through her blurred vision, she saw the club rise again, and closed her eyes. Her eyelids were filled with a bright light, then nothing. As she opened her eyes, she saw a mountain of ashes lying a few feet in front of her. She blinked her eyes and saw Celestia walk over. Celestia smiled and lifted her off the ground. They looked over towards the others and gasped in shock.

Meanwhile, Rainbow had intercepted the attack from the Capra demon. It roared at her, and span around, swinging its blades in a circle. Rainbow yelped, and flew into the air. The Capra snarled and lept after her. As it neared Rainbow it raised it's blades. As Rainbow prepared to fly away, Ornstein shot through the air, lightning sparkling from his lance. He intercepted the Capra's swing, and stabbed it in the chest. Ornstein took a quick look around, and saw Rainbow sitting on a cloud, watching. "Want to help?" said Ornstein as the capra roared, and they both plummeted to the ground. Rainbow circled them as they fell, the ground getting larger and larger. She took this chance to cut the backs of its legs, preventing it from moving. They fell faster and faster, the ground got closer and closer. The Capra made one last swing, and hit Ornstein in the chest. He grabbed onto the blade, and they smashed into the ground.

Earlier, at Ponyville hospital

Luna sat in chair, watching Equinox sleep. She remembered his struggling, as he desperately thought something was wrong. After struggling for some time, he just stopped, and fell unconscious. She sighed as she watched him sleep. For some reason, while he was struggling she saw his coat start to change color. But she must have been imagining things, because his coat was a pristine white, and his mane a light brown. It fell across his face and covered his right eye. As she sat there, the nurse came in and replaced his water jug. As soon as the nurse left, Equinox stirred from his slumber. Luna sat up and walked over. For some reason, he reminded her of someone, but she couldn't remember. As she walked up to the bed, Equinox opened his eyes. He bolted up, and grabbed Luna's shoulders with his hooves. "We need to go, now."

"What are you talking about, Equinox? You are staying right here." she said, as she lowered his hooves.

"There is no time to argue. Celestia and the others are in danger. We need to get by the Gate."

"What gate? You are going to stay right here."

"I said we need to GO!" He grabbed her again, and his hair flew away from his face. She gasped as she saw that his right eye had become a flaming red, and his left eye was beginning to change as well.

"Alright, we'll go." She lifted him off of the bed, and placed across her back. She spread her wings and took off through the window.

The Gate

Artorias and Ciaran had been taking on the Centipede demon. It roared at them, and shot lava from its pores. They jumped back from the shots and the ground corrupted and burned around them. Artorias spat at the demon, and rushed forward, shortly followed by Ciaran. The demon lunged out at them, its arm launching forward. Artorias turned slightly to the right and swung his blade. It connected to the arm, and split it down the middle. The demon roared, and pulled its arm back. The arm lifted itself into the air, and Ciaran watched in horror as it slowly regrew its tissue. Once the arm was fully whole again, the beast roared at stomped the ground. Seeing Artorias charge at him from about 20 meters away, it launched its arm forward again. As it neared Artorias, he repeated his last action. But instead of shoving itself on the blade, the arm snaked around and punched Artorias in the chest. He flew across the ground, bouncing a few times before raking the ground. Meanwhile, Ciaran had been sneaking up on it from the side. She approached its tail, and darted forward, daggers snaking forward and glowing. The demon roared in pain as its tail fell from its body. Ciaran smirked as the appendage slowly fell. What she didn't expect was for the tail, to rear off the ground and charge at her. It snapped at her and sunk its teeth into her arm. She cried in pain and hacked at the tail. It fell off and roared at her. As she limped away, it lashed out again, but this time Artorias was there to cut the tail in half with a mighty downward swing. As the tail dissipated, a ring fell into Artorias' hand. As he put it on his finger, he was picked up by the Centipede demon, his sword falling from his hand.

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Twilight and Celestia were staring at Ornstein, who was climbing out of the crater made by the Capra's fall. As he got and waved, he realized that they were staring behind him. As he turned, he gasped in shock and anger as he saw the Centipede eat Artorias whole. It reared its head, and lunged at Ciaran. Ornstein and the three ponies rushed towards her, but knew they weren't going to make it. Twilight and Rainbow closed their eyes, as its mouth opened to enclose Ciaran.

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THUMP THUMP THUMP. Twilight and Rainbow opened there eyes and saw the demon snapping at a great golden barrier. Inside the barrier was Luna, Ciaran, and Equinox, whose horn was shining a brilliant golden. His body seemed to be stretching, and his coat was shining with a great brilliance. Along his body, there were two bubbling spots, as if acid was melting something down. His mane seemed two recede, and his horn grew longer. His eye was shining a bright blue, the left one a bloody red. Just as his mane was going to disappear, it shot back out and flared like a fire. It swirled around and flared like the sun. It was composed of two colors, a bright blue and a flaming orange. His eyes sparkled. His mouth was two different emotions. The left was a calm line, while the right was an insane grin. His body laughed, but out came two voices. One insane and the other caring. As they finished laughing, they spoke.

"Well isn't this a problem," the voices spoke. "We can handle it. Let's just finish this quickly, we're being stared at." "Party pooper. We want to see its blood rain from the sky." "No, that would be inappropriate." "Ah man, not fair." "Lets just get this over with." They charged up there magic, and the horn got longer, rivaling Celestia's. As they released there magic, a pair of bone-like wings shot out. The barrier blasted outwards, and smacked the still thumping demon in the face. Quick as lightning, they dashed over to Artorias' sword. As the beast looked back at the group, it saw the split alicorn in front of its face. "Hello." Two voices, combined, into one, greeted the demon. It opened its jaw, which was a horrible idea. They dashed into its mouth, and down its throat. They had shoved Artorias' blade up through the roof of its mouth, and had kept it there as they went down its throat. It gasped in pain as they bounced in its insides, Artorias' blade poking holes in its body. It roared one last time, before it exploded. As pieces of its body rained down. They all looked towards the center of the explosion, they saw the alicorn standing there with Artorias across its back. It chuckled, before freezing up. It then screamed to the heavens, where the cry was heard across the world. It was filled with pure pain, the essence of it lying in that scream. As the alicorn fell, everyone could catch the insane voice say, "I win." as it fell unconscious.