When will it end?

The room was in silence. Everyone was still trying to comprehend what had happened. The first ones to break the silence were Luna and Ciarin.

"Sister!!!"

"Artorias!!!"

They both ran towards their comrades. Luna slowly nestled Celestia, before lifting her onto her hooves. "I'm fine, Luna." said Celestia, as she panted from exhaustion. "Just used too much magic energy. It isn't easy to harness the sun from so far underground." Celestia looked at the ashen pile left on the ground. "At least that won't be coming back." she said, as she fainted and fell.

"Princess!" Twilight and Rainbow both ran over to their fallen ruler. Meanwhile, Gough, Ciarin, Ornstein, and Hevlium were clustered around Artorias. Ciarin was cradling his head, having thrown his helmet off to get him air. Artorias was breathing raggidly, body pale. His chest was covered in a black aura, that was slowly spreading across his body. Ciarin was starting to cry as she stared at his injured form. Hevlium looked upon Artorias, filled with guilt, even though he wasn't responsible. He had looked in his own Bottemless Box for something, anything, but it was pointless. As he stared, he felt a slight nudge at his back. Turning around, he saw Equinox and Blaze supporting each other. As he looked at Equinox, He saw that in his mouth was Artorias' pendant. He shook his head, but Equinox simply nudged him harder. Hevlium felt annoyance at this small horse for trying to interrupt his pointless search. He tried to shove Equinox away, but instead Equinox ducked under his hand, Blaze stumbling behind. Helium reached out to stop them, but Equinox lurched forward, collapsing on top of Artorias, who hissed in pain. As Ciarin tried to pry him off, Equinox spat out the pendant, and pressed it into the center of Artorias' chest. Instantaneously, it shown with a glaring light, blinding everyone gathered. After the light faded, Ciarin looked down to see Artorias clutching his pendant, chest free of malicious aura. With a groan he sat up, turning towards Equinox, who was being resupported by Blaze. He outstretched his hand towards Equinox, who took it gingerly.

"Thank you." Said Artorias, as Equinox shook it slowly. With Ornstein and Ciarin's help, Artorias and a Equinox were set up against the wall, with Blaze sitting with them. Approaching them was Celestia, supported by Luna. The two sisters stopped in front of Artorias, who was leaning against the wall, helmet clutched tightly. Celestia nodded to Luna, who slowly let Celestia stand on her own four hooves. Celestia rose before Artorias, before gingerly settling into a kneeling position. The surrounding company, including Twilight and Rainbow, slowly opened their jaws, all except for Luna, who also kneeled.

       "We, the Royal Pony Sisters, thank you for defending the land of Equestria from evil. We owe you an eternal debt." At this Celestia rose, but Luna stayed down. "I, Princess Luna, also want to thank you and Equinox Shift for once again purifying me of the entity known as Nightmare Moon." She rose, and again with Celestia, bowed again. "We thank you for eliminating that fearful aura."

"... It still lives." Equinox slowly pointed a hoof at the mirror. Everyone turned towards the mirror, which was had gone crystal clear. Now, it was slowly turning a deep blood red, flooding the room with a disgusting light.

"And I thought I had dealt the final blow to that annoying pest." A shadow was again approaching the mirror, but this one was gargantuan. As it approached, the backs of the room slowly grew darker. No one noticed, they were to focused on the approaching entity. "Artorias, Artorias, I thought you had learned your lesson. When my little pawns had pushed you off that cliff, I thought this was over." Artorias lost the last of the color that had begun to return. He sat up in shock, scrambling for his sword.

"...Manus?" The shadow reached for the edge of the mirror, and began to laugh. It touched the mirror, and it flashed a black light. The room went pitch black.

"That is right. Me... Manus." Artorias' pendant began to glow, and slowly pushed back some of the dark. Celestia added her magic, as did Equinox. Eventually, the dark was pushed back far enough to show them the edges of the room. Where the mirror should have been, a set of red lights gleamed back. "Yes, I concurred Oolacile. Now, I've used this handy mirror to travel here, where I shall spread the Abyss even further!" Manus laughed, a dark, cold sound.

"No." Ciarin walked forward, daggers gripped tight. "You shall fall here, and die!" She took a step forward, but was stopped by a hand on the shoulder. Turning, she saw Ornstein gripping his spear tightly. He looked down to her, and nodded. They were greeted by the sounds of Gough walking forward to stand beside them. Together they stood before they dark of Manus. A light began to encompass them. As it shined brighter, Artorias began to walk towards them, pendant hung proudly upon his neck. They welcomed him, as he stood between Ciarin and Ornstein. The glow filled each of them, so they shone, banishing the dark. Manus growled, his monstrous form coming into view.

"What is this!?" He cried, swinging his hammer, made of marred wood, around his head and slamming the ground.

"The power of love, hope, humility, and friendship."

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      With a cry they charged at Manus. With a roar, he swung his hammer in front of him, which they jumped. He then slammed his fist down, which Gough caught. Ciarin climbed up Gough onto the hand, and stabbed her daggers in. Ornstein was running past them, his spear shining brightly with lightning, which he swung into Manus' side. Artorias copied on Manus' right. Manus roared, slamming his hammer into the ground, blasting Ornstein and Artorias away. He ripped his hand out of Gough grasp, then punched him in the chest. Ciarin was pulled along, and began to climb up his arm, using her daggers to keep her on by stabbing his arm. As he flung his arm about, trying to get her off, Ornstein was shooting lightning at him. Artorias ran back in and sliced at his legs, while trying to avoid his hammer. Manus finally shook Ciarin off, but Gough caught her. Setting her down they ran back towards Manus, who had grabbed Ornstein. Artorias had to back away from the hammer, but Gough intervened, catching the hammer and holding it in place. Ciarin went underneath, and jammed her daggers into his arm, running towards him while dragging them through his skin. Artorias ran towards the hand holding Ornstein. He was being slowly crushed as Manus smacked him into the ground. Artorias ran under the fist and thruster upwards, impaling Manus' hand. With a roar, he released Ornstein, whom Artorias ran back to safety. Meanwhile, Manus had succeeded in loosening Gough's grip. He swung his out of his hands and rammed it into Gough's skull. A crack could be heard as Gough was knocked back. He them grabbed Ciarin, who had reached his chest, and threw her into a wall.

"ENOUGH!!! Manus raised his hammer high, charging up energy. Artorias ran in front of everyone's general vicinity, as Manus swung his hammer down, unleashing a torrent of dark energy at Artorias. He held his pendant close, and pushed his chest out. A yellow light glowed around him, taking the attack. Manus gripped the ground, and pushed harder. Artorias began to be pushed back. Ciarin and Ornstein ran to Gough, who was directly behind Artorias. They tried to make him regain consciousness. Manus began to laugh, a cackle of insanity. Artorias grunted, his feet digging into the ground. Ciarin and Ornstein had awakened Gough, and they moved out of the way. Artorias cried out, as the pendant was blasted from his hands, and he went flying. Manus charged at the trio, where Gough slammed into him, and they locked fists. Ciarin ran to Artorias, as Ornstein cradled his chest. He suspected Manus had broken several ribs, and his right leg. Gough and Manus tussled, trying to win dominance. Manus grinned, a frightful sight, and leaped into the air, dragging Gough with him. He span around, before slamming Gough into the ground. He landed on his chest, causing Gough to cough up blood. His grin grew wider, and he began to slam his hammer into his chest. Artorias sat up, gripping Ciarin tightly. They ran to Ornstein, who also stood. Together, the three ran at Manus again. As he slammed his hammer again, they intercepted the blow, protecting Gough. They combined their strength, and ripped Manus' hammer out of his hands and sent it flying. They drew their weapons, and attacked again.

~~~~

Meanwhile, the other group was watching the battle, frightened. "Will they succeed?" asked Twilight, who was hugging close to Celestia.

"I don't know, my little pony. But they are our only hope." They all ducked as Manus' hammer flew overhead. They saw him enter a rage, and start slamming the ground. Artorias, Cairin, and Ornstein all hovered over Gough. They used there combined effort to block Manus' attacks. But the strain took hold, and eventually they collapsed. As Manus prepared his final swing, Gough rose out of the ground, slamming Manus with an uppercut and sending him flying. Together, the four rushed him once again. Before he had time to recover, Gough slammed him with a right hook, pointing his face into Ornstien who rammed his spear into his face. With a roar, he lurched back, where Ciarin latched onto his back. Artorias used her as a handhold and launched himself into the air, before plunging his blade through Manus' skull. With a shudder, his body exploded. They were sent flying as a strong wind overtook the room, and the darkness swallowed them all.