Part X

“IDIOT!” D screamed inside his head. “Could you not have done that with a bit more discretion?” Little D looked at the faces in front of him. One half of them were terrified, and the other half were fierce and defensive.

“What’s this about us all dyin’ now, Lil’ D?” Applejack asked angrily as she popped her knuckles, making D gulp nervously.

“Ok, hang on now, that’s not really what I meant to say,” D responded as he backed up a step.

“Oh yeah, and just what did you mean to say?” asked Rainbow Dash, as she hovered in the air, now completely awake.
“What I meant to say was, uh, that, um...” he let out a defeated sigh. “Ok guys, look, I’m gonna tell you all a little story, a history lesson in fact, and it’s vital that you all hear it. It’s the story of the Four True Beings. Twilight have you ever heard of it?” she responded by shaking her head. “Ok then, that means no details spared.” He rubbed his hands together and let out another sigh. “Ok ladies and gent, hold all questions until the end of the presentation, keep an open mind, and get comfy. We’re going to be here for a while,” said D as he started his tale. “Oh yeah, and I’ll be using magic to illustrate points here and there.” The girls looked at him with wide eyes.

“But how can you do magic?” asked Twilight confusedly. “I didn’t sense any magical energy on you when we first met.”

“Hold all questions until the end please,” D repeated as he snapped his fingers. Then everything went black.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The girls and Spike were in an empty black space that seemed to stretch out in all directions. They each sat on a soft pillow, the same color of each of their jackets. Little D stood in front of them in hooded black robes. He took another deep breath before he began his story.

“In the beginning, there was only chaos.” Bright light shone down from the sky to reveal the war-torn, red dirt of an ancient battlefield. Screams of rage and pain rang out loudly. Blood was splattered out in every which direction as shadowy warriors fought with each other, using sticks or rock or bone to their advantage to kill one another. “There were no teams, no factions, no guilds, no order, only a feral chaos. It was at that time that Lord Faust The Creator decided to make some changes.” Suddenly, four shadowy figures came slowly walking over a hill, weapons visible but sheathed. “She decided that it was time to start over, begin again, but this time, she had four vital focal points of balance. Four beings were painstakingly crafted with love from the Creator and each given a special task to perform once they arrived on Earth. With a heavy heart, their mother set free the The Four True Beings and wished them luck on their simple mission. The Earth has never seen so much destruction.”

One of the shadows, a feminine looking one, sprinted forward from the group with a steel short sword that spewed out a deathly green gas. She swept a wide arc through several of the shadowy savages. She rolled over the back of one who had doubled over in a coughing fit and stabbed another in the throat. “Strep throat!” she roared out and ran towards another. She grazed a small strip of the shadowy flesh off. “Measles!” she called out. She sheathed her dagger and took a bow off of her side. She then stood tall and notched two arrows as she turned the bow sideways. “Sleeping Sickness! Malaria!” she said as she let her arrows fly into the chests of two shadows. One began groaning immediately and scratching himself like he was covered in itchy sores while the other fell into an intense coughing fit.

“The first one that made their presence know, was Pestilence. Infections quickly evolved and attacked all manner of organic life, especially crops, which made way for immense famine.” D said quietly as a large figure ran past the female one. He swung his weapons, twin massive balls of iron on chains, into the crowd, sending fifty savages flying.

“Man, I hope we get done with this soon,” groaned the figure as he rolled his neck. “How many do you think we cleared out already brother? Half?” The hulking form of a shadowy warrior brandishing a flaming longsword sailed over the heads of Pestilence and Famine.

“With their livelihood threatened, the savages of the world attempted to unite and repel the hostiles. They attempted to rally as one but it didn’t matter. The world was already ravaged by War,” continued D as he gestured to the scene that played out in front of the girls. War let out a wordless battlecry as he sliced his way through row after row of shadow warriors.

“Brother Famine,” came the gruff, deep, laughter of War. “We have only been at work for fifteen minutes. I’d say we’ve only dealt with a sixth of the world population. What say you Brother Death?”

The last figure, another muscular man, was walking calmly. His left hand was held up where a swirling blue vortex hovered above him. In his right, he casually twirled a platinum cane. “Brother War is absolutely correct,” came the slow calculated voice of Death. “One sixth of the world’s population has been reaped, as by mother’s wish.”

“Aww man, we’re gonna be at this for, like, another hour and a half at least,” groaned Famine as he stretched his arms above his head. “Ah, whatever, let’s just get this over with. These guys aren’t even a challenge.”

“The fighting continued for only two more hours. By then, every life on the planet, beast and human alike, was reaped and sent into heaven.” The scene shifted to show the four beings in the remains of a scorched field. Death stood with his portal above his head. Blue orbs flew into it and disappeared.

“And that, my brothers and sister, is the last soul on this planet,” he said with a smile as the last blue orb flew into the portal.

“Finally,” groaned Famine as he set down his weapons and set down on one. He popped his back with a groan and looked at ih instruments of destruction. “Damn, these things are so covered in filth and blood, I don’t think my balls will ever be clean again.” He stopped as he thought about what he just said. “Wait...no.” he said. He watched Pestilence stifle a giggle and heard War roar with laughter.

“Oh Brother Famine, you really are a spaz,” taunted his sister as she sat down on the ground and began cleaning her blade. Famine rolled his eyes and slid off of his ball and sat down in front of it.

“Yeah, whatever,” he said with a half smile. “So, what do we do now?”

“You are to maintain the balance of the world, my son,” came an elegant voice from above. A blinding white beam of light shot down from the sky, forcing the girls and Spike to shield their eyes. When the light cleared a young woman in a white dress and flowing red hair floated above the four figures with a sad smile on her face. "Hello, my children," she said kindly.

"Sup ma?" asked Famine happily. "How's it goin?" He looked at her then at the hundreds of dead bodies that lay scattered about. "Oh, right, dumb question." Lord Faust simply shook her head.

"Its alright my son. It needed to be done. I just hope you can forgive me for forcing you all to do this."

"My only problem is that none of them were a challenge," said War with a half smile. "Now what do you have planned for us, mom?"

"I need you all to keep watch over this world and enforce balance when needed," she said calmly as she spread her crimson wings. “But I must warn you all, it is a dangerous and lonely road you all will be traveling. When I restart the population, they will be simple, and must learn on their own. I made you all so that you can watch this world better than I ever could, and to make sure the New Age stays in line.” She looked at War. “To make sure the population stays in check.” She pointed to Famine and Pestilence, “and that they all end up where they deserve, when their time is up of course.” She looked at Death, who nodded in agreement.

“Don’t worry ma, we can take care of all that stuff, but just to compare notes, how would you suggest we proceed?” asked Famine. Faust smiled at her son.

“You all will use your gifts, the abilities I have given you all are representations of things the New Age will face. I am leaving these event in your hands to control. Famine, you will influence crop production, development of new and genetically superior plants, and all things agriculture. I leave you with this item, a symbol of the crucial balance of over abundance, and deprivation of food.” Lord Faust extended her hand and a large golden balance appeared in a flash of golden light.

“Woah, neato,” ooed Famine as he accepted his symbol. “Thanks a ton, ma!” he said as he took his weighing scales.

“For my darling daughter, you represent plague, viruses, bacteria, all things that involve sickness, yet you also represent medical research, the race to find a cure for your illnesses. For you, I bestow upon you these as your symbols.” Faust, again, held out her hand and a silver scalpel and microscope appeared. Pestilence was mesmerized by her symbols, fascinated by the design.

“How come she gets two?” Famine asked, miffed.

“Maybe it’s cuz mommy likes me more,” replied Pestilence as she stuck out her tongue.

“Yeah, whatever. She gave you two weird trinkets, but she gave me a super important looking...thing,” Famine said as he waved his scales at his sister. “These represent balance and stuff, what do yours even do?”

“As mom already said, these are for medical research and all things sickness.” She put a fist to her chin in thought and grinned at him darkly. “I wonder if I can cook up a disease that affects plants?” Famine paled at his sister’s remark.

“No,” he said slowly. “Y-you can’t do that,” he turned to Lord Faust with big eyes. “Right, ma?”

“My son War,” said Lord Faust, completely ignoring Famine’s question. “You are in charge with the important task of conquering, destroying, and building powerful empires. You will lead powerful armies to victory and defeat. Your very presence, your very name, will strike fear into all, and urge them to behave.”

“You’re leaving me in charge of the lives of every living being on this planet? Entrusting me to watch over them and force them to kill each other if necessary?” he asked his mother with a grin. “Your trust has not been misplaced mother.” War bowed.

“I never thought it would be.” She smiled. “I give you these as your symbols.” She extended her hand and a ball of white hot fire appeared in the air above her hand. When the flames died down, a hammer and a dagger appeared.

“The hammer represents construction, and the blade represents conflict, do they not?” War asked, intrigued by his mother’s choice in symbols.

“That is correct, my son. Now for my last child, Death.” She turned to the last figure. “You just might have the most crucial role to play in the New Age. You are to reap the souls of the fallen and escort them into the afterlife. You are to keep close track of those whose time is come and where the deserve to spend eternity, whether you think they deserve the eternal bliss of Heaven, or suffer in the flames of Hell.” Death bowed deeply.

“I understand what you are asking of me, and I graciously accept the role, Mother.”

“Oh Death, while I truly do appreciate how you carry yourself, you needn’t be so formal,” Lord Faust said in a motherly tone.

“Yes, well, you made me this way mother,” Death muttered under his breath.

“That in mind, I bestow upon you these items as your symbols.” She raised her hand once more and a ball of soft blue light appeared. When the light faded, a farming sickle and a platinum and diamond hourglass was in her hands. “Like the fall harvest, you must reap the souls of those whose time has come,” she said as she handed the sickle to Death. “You must observe the time people have lived carefully, make sure they don’t die too old or too young.” The hourglass floated down into Death’s hand.

“I understand perfectly mother, when shall we begin?” he said with another bow.

“We will start soon, but first, I want you all to wash up. You’re all absolutely filthy,” Lord Faust chided in a motherly tone. “Theres a hot spring a little ways to the north.” She pointed out the direction. “I encourage you all to go. We’ll meet up in an hour.” Then she was gone in a flash of golden light.

“So...” Famine began. “How come all you guys have two, and why is one of them super sharp?” his siblings gave him a look, and then began making their way towards the hot springs. “Guys? Seriously, come on.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Lord Faust restarted the world and for millennia, there was peace. Not total peace, mind you. There was war from time to time, as well as famine and plague, but not to the same caliber as the Old Age. Many years passed since the start of the New Age, and the Old Age became but a whispered memory, but not the ones that were called on for the extermination. Mankind grew to fear and hate the Four True Beings. Their given title was lost through hardships and was replaced with the inglorious insult of Marchers Of The Apocalypse.Eventually, mankind grew so terrified of the True Beings, that the people retreated into a forced peace. They would rather surrender their freedoms to tyrants rather than wake War's fury. Does King Sombra ring any bells?” Little D asked as he watched the girls carefully, their faces confused and scared. “Well don’t worry, we're almost done. Now here’s where you Element Bearers come into play,” he said as he changed the scene again. “After years of being shunned and secluded from the people and each other, as they were busy with their own tasks, the True Beings began feeling lonely, so they all came to their mother one day with a proposition.”

“I understand that you all are feeling a bit lonesome these days, but I simply can’t create four new beings to keep you all company. It would upset the balance of the world,” Lord Faust said as she sat in white wicker chair in the middle of a field full of blooming flowers.

“What if you don’t make new ones mom? What if we all find ourselves a companion, use our magic to change them, and then teach them about us?” Famine said.

“Teach them what?” his mother responded from her seat.

"We plan on teaching them about how vital we are again and have them spread the word across the world," War said formally, his hands behind his back. "We hope that by caring for someone in the way that you have with us, we can prove to the world that we don't have to be feared, and that just maybe, the world will accept us once more."

"Oh, my children, you needn't prove the world anything. If they refuse to acknowledge you all and know not of your importance, then let them. It'll be a pleasant surprise when they find out at the end," Lord Faust said kindly. She summoned a cup of tea out of thin air and took a sip. She looked at the crestfallen faces of her children and sighed. "But I suppose that it's unfair of me to say such things. After all, all the world's people praise me. I have no idea how it feels like to be in your positions, not since the Old Age."

Pestilence looked up with a tiny glint in her eyes. "So, are you saying that we can find some students mom?"

"Only on one condition," Lord Faust said, adopting a serious tone. "I predict that there will be a crisis that will need immense power to stop, I ask that you all lend me some of your power to prove your seriousness. I will hold onto it and give it to the person who needs it the most."

"Do you know what the people will be facing to need so much power?" War asked curiously.

"I believe I do. One of my own creations, though the who, when and why still remain a mystery to me. But fret not, my children, for I also see two of my other creations using your lent powers to stop the threat."

"So it sounds to me that if we don't lend our strength, then we don't get our companion and the world could fall out of order. It also sounds like we don't have much of a choice.” Famine said.

“My son you always have a choice,” Lord Faust said cheerily. “But only one is advisable.”

“Well, I don’t have any problems with lending you power. What about you guys?” Famine asked his siblings as he turned to look at them.

“I would think that it would be in everyone’s best interest if we aided in mother’s request,” commented Death. “That said, I have no objections to it.”

“Nor do I,” War said gruffly. “If those humans are ever going to see that we’re not all bad, I suppose giving them some of our power would be a good start. What do you think Sister Pestilence?”

“It doesn’t bother me at all.” She nodded. “So how do we go about doing this mom?” Lord Faust set her tea down on some invisible force and smiled at her children.

“It’s really rather simple. You all let me access your souls and I’ll take the tiniest fraction of your best qualities. I will then keep your magic stored with me where I will refine it until it is time to put it to use,” she said simply. “Now, sit down and relax and I’ll get started.” She clapped her hands and four white wicker chairs spawned behind her children. “Just think happy thoughts, my children, and let me take care of everything.” The four siblings looked at each other before they sat down.

"So, when do we start?" Pestilence asked softly.

"Right now, my dear. Just relax, and let me take care of everything,” Lord Faust said soothingly. The True Beings laid back in their chairs and closed their eyes while their mother began her work. She began to glow with a golden magical aura with four long tendrils snaking out of her back. Each tendril made its way over to one of the four siblings and landed on their chest. Lord Faust closed her eyes in concentration as she searched through her children’s souls.

“Oh of course,” she smiled as a small blue orb flew out of Famine’s chest. “You always did laugh the most.” Next, a red orb rose out of War, earning another smile from Lord Faust. “You always said that you’d never leave your siblings during battle.” Almost immediately after that, an orange orb rose out of Death. “Not surprising,” Lord Faust murmured. “As honest as he is hardworking.” Lastly, a pink orb rose off of Pestilence and joined the other ones above Lord Faust. “That, however, is a little bit unexpected, and quite ironic.” She grinned. “That doesn’t seem like enough energy.” Lord Faust commented as she looked at the orbs floating above her. “But since I’m feeling so generous I might as well add some of my own magic.” She grinned mischievously as she spread her arms. From her left hand rose a dark blue orb and from her right rose a purple one. “There we go, six, well-balanced, focal points of harmony. I wonder how they will be used.”

Lord Faust gazed at her sleeping children. “It’s hard being a mom,” she said softly to herself. “I’m setting them up for so much heartbreak by allowing them to do this.” She sniffled a little. “I wonder if they’ll forgive me if they knew that I knew the outcome of their days as teachers.” She rose and went over to War. “You, my son, will face the most heartache,” she whispered softly as she kissed him on the forehead.

Suddenly, War began to glow. From where Lord Faust kissed him, a bright light shone and started to spread over his body. When the light faded, there sat a burly man with tan skin and a bushy black goatee. Around his head and shoulders was a tattered red hood. He wore a steel chest plate that was covered with a swirling black design. He also wore tattered blue jeans and combat boots that were covered with scratches and dirt.

“My dearest daughter, you will have a difficult time getting your student to embrace the lighter side of your skills, among other things, but you will prevail,” Lord Faust whispered to Pestilence as she kissed her softly on the forehead. Pestilence began to glow and the light spread over her body. The light faded to show a young woman with long, frizzy red hair. She wore black leather armor from head to foot. She also wore a black cloak that was attached to her armor with brass pins.

"And you, my sons," Lord Faust said as gazed at Death and Famine's shadowy forms. "You will each be made very proud." She first kissed Famine's forehead then went over to Death and kissed him as well. They both began to glow and when the light faded, Famine was dressed simply in a brown T-shirt, blue jeans, and worn out work boots. He had shaggy sandy-blonde hair and he looked to be rather young.

Death, however, looked as old as they come, and disturbingly familiar. He had short gray hair and a well trimmed moustache. He wore a crisp gray pinstripe suit and shiny black dress shoes. At his side was a highly polished platinum cane with a tiny sickle blade as a handle.

"And that's how the base of the Elements of Harmony were formed," Little D said as he continued his story. "Your powers derived from four immortals and a goddess, neat huh?" the girls stared in horror at Uncle D.

“You’re actually...” Applejack said in shock. “And I got my element from...”

“Yes and you’re very welcome,” he said curtly. “Now, dear nephew, I believe we should speed things up to where, how do you kids say, ‘it hit the fan?’”

“I was just getting to that Uncle,” Little D said as the scene changed again. “Almost done ladies. This next part is, uh, a little tough for me.” The scene was now a large sailboat in the middle of an enormous ocean. “Remember when I told you girls about how I went on a fishing trip and my brother tried to use me as bait? Well....” The view zoomed onto the boat where four people were relaxing in various places. A young man with brown hair in a brown leather jacket was strumming a ukulele with a big goofy grin on his face on a padded bench at the back of the boat while girl with poofy green and brown hair nodded her head to the beat. As the view zoomed in, the girls dark skin became more visible, much to the Element Bearer’s and the Crusader’s chagrin. Her skin was dark brown and covered in dark green and black splotches. On anyone else they would look painful and disgusting, but on her, for some strange reason, it made sense.

“So eventually the Four True Beings got their students, each orphaned by some means or another, and they were given new names. The guy in the brown jacket is Famine’s student Johnny B. We’re still not sure why he picked that name. The girl is Pestilence's student Teardrop, and the guy driving the boat up there,” D said as he pointed up to a muscular man behind the wheel. He was dressed almost identically to War, only his chestplate had a red sword design on the front and he wore steel leggings instead of combat boots. “Obviously, that’s War’s student Steel Sword, and that handsome devil at the bow of the boat, well....” at the front of the boat, clutching the rails tightly, stood a young man with long white hair with bangs that stopped at just above his chest. He wore a white button down shirt, grey pants, and white sneakers. On his face was a pair of black sunglasses that hugged his face so that you couldn’t see his eyes at any angle. “That’s Death’s student.....me.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Little D clutched the boat’s railing for dear life, not that he needed to, he was a near-immortal after all. He gazed into the depths of the ocean nervously, searching for any signs of the shark that they were searching for. He gazed into the water using a special soul tracking spell, showing all of the deep sea life hidden by the waves, much to his dismay. “No sign of it yet, captain!” he yelled to Steel. “But I’m still looking for it.”

“It’s alright D, take a break. We’re still a ways away from the last reported sighting,” Steel replied kindly as he continued to steer the ship. Little D pushed away from the railing quickly.

“I friggin’ hate the ocean,” he grumbled to himself as he made his way to the door that led below deck. “All this ugly life beneath the waves but you can’t friggin’ see any of it.” He walked down the stairs and went over to a little cot and lay down on it. Meanwhile above deck, Johnny B. kept strumming his ukelele.

“Hey, Teardrop. I got a question for you. Do you think I should tell the readers about how crazy I am now, or wait a few more chapters?” he asked casually.

“Uh, what?” she asked confusedly. “What was that?”

“I said, ‘Do you think that Steel Sword is acting a little weird today?’”

“Oh, I thought you said...never mind,” she said as tried to get her hair out of her face. “I, uh, haven’t noticed anything.”

“Really? You haven’t noticed how he seemed hell bent on getting us all on this boat and into the middle of this enormous ocean?”

“Well, I uh....”

“Or that when he was working on the engine, he accidentally cut the fuel line, spraying gas everywhere, forcing us to use this slowass sail?”

“I’m sure that he didn’t mean t-”

“Oh and let’s not forget that he ‘forgot’ to pack bait, poles, or chains for this, but brought aboard an anchor?” he said as he pointed to the anchor in question at the front of the ship. “Or maybe I’m just going crazy...ah dammit! I said I’d wait a few chapters,” he scolded himself. “Oh well, ukulele time,” he said as he went back to strumming his instrument, making Tear Drop edge away from him nervously.

“Johnny, could you get Little D from the cabin?” Steel Sword asked. “It appears that we were closer than I thought,”

“Aye, Aye cap'n,” John shouted as he snapped to a salute, breaking his instrument over his forehead in the process. He walked to the cabin door and opened it. He then threw the pieces of his ukulele through the door and yelled down to Little D. “Yo D! Get up here! It’s shark time!”

“Thank you John,” Steel muttered. “Could you also make us about one hundred yards of chain?”

“Comin’ right up!” John put his left hand forward and an orange glyph, about the same diameter of a can of soda, appeared just in front of his hand. Suddenly, a bronze chain started shooting out of the glyph. In seconds, an enormous pile of chain lay at his feet. “Done and done, sir.”

“Thank you, now would you kindly attach it to the anchor,” Sword asked.

“Sure thing, Andrew Ryan!” Johnny said with another salute, leaving Steel to make confused faces at the sky. John carried his chain over to the anchor and pressed one end of the chain to the top of it. The chain began glowing orange and fused with the anchor. John then grabbed the anchor and lifted it above his head and carried it back to Steel Sword. “Here ya go, cap’n. One demon shark catching hook and chain.” He dropped the chain. It landed with a heavy thud and cracked the floorboards. “Woah crap, good thing this isn’t my boat,” he said with a laugh. “Oh hey D, ready to catch a Demon Tiger Shark?” he said when he spotted D hobbling his way over to his friends.

“No,” he grumbled. “But the sooner we’re done here, the sooner we can get off this ocean. So how are we going to lure this thing in anyway? I didn’t see any bait anywhere.”

“Yes well, that’s where things get interesting,” Steel grinned viciously. Faster than you could blink, he slashed his sword across Little D’s chest. He stumbled back dumbly as he watched the blood pour out of his wound. “Wh-” before he could continue, Steel punched him square in the jaw and sent him flying across the deck of the boat. He hit his head against the side of the boat where he slumped into a barely conscious heap.

“What the hell!” John shouted as he took a swing at D’s attacker only to be stopped as Teardrop grabbed his arm and stabbed a dagger through it then she roundhouse kicked him in the head. “You suck!” he yelled as he staggered back. “What the hell is wrong with you two?” Neither of them answered. Instead, Steel suddenly appeared behind Johnny and struck him in the back of the head with the hilt of his blade. John crashed to the floor with a groan as a tiny bit of blood trickled out of his new wound.

“Now it’s time to go fishing.” Steel said coldly as he picked John’s limp body off of the floor and walked over to Little D, who was propped up against the railing, fighting consciousness. Steel grabbed Little D’s head and slammed it into the ship’s railing, making it crack and splinter. “Teardrop,” Sword called. “I’ll get these two tied up and thrown overboard and you take care of the ship, and then we’ll leave for the island.”

Teardrop nodded and hurried off into the cabin to perform her tasks. Steel carried D and John over to the anchor and dropped them onto the floor before he grabbed a length of the chain. He wrapped the chain tightly around Little D’s wrists, making movement impossible then gave the chain ten yards of slack before doing the came to John. He then picked up the two unconscious near-immortals, the chain, and the anchor and tossed everything overboard.

“Teardrop, how are things on your end?” he asked. A small explosion followed by smoke billowing out of the cabin door was the response as Teardrop ran out coughing.

“Its done,” she wheezed. “Are we leaving now?”

Steel Sword nodded. “Yeah, we’re going, and don’t worry about a thing, it’s all gonna be ok.” He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “I promise.”

“I-I know.” She sniffled and rubbed her eyes. “ It’s just so hard. Why can’t they come and help us? Why can’t they live with us?”

“You know they wouldn’t help us. They just don’t see what we see or feel how we feel,” he said softly. “This is the easiest thing we could do for them. If we let them live then we’d just have to face off against them some day down the road and we’ll all end up dead, and we can’t create a perfect world that if we’re not around, right?” he pulled her into a tight hug. “I promise that everything will be ok in the end,” he told her quietly. Steel broke the embrace and they both spread their great wings. “I think it’s time to go. We have an army to run.” Steel smiled. He flapped his wings once and in an instant, was already yards away, happily flying to an island where he will begin the first step in making his ideal world.

Meanwhile, one hundred yards beneath the surface of the ocean and sinking fast, Johnny B. was desperately trying to wake up. “I can’t believe you got knocked out like this,” a voice inside his head sighed. “I mean honestly. Here you are, the student of The Great Famine, sinking like a stone because you were betrayed by your own friends.”

“Hey shut up man, I’m supposed to be unconscious and drowning. Why can I hear you?” John’s own voice shot back.

“Maybe it’s because the water woke you up when you got dumped in?” another voice teased. John would have rolled his eyes if he wasn’t busy trying to figure out if he was unconscious or not.

“Very helpful Numb Nuts. Any of you guys have any idea as to why Steel dumped us into the ocean?” A chorus of answers ranging from a simple no to babbling nonsense rang out loudly through his head. “And as always, there goes another fraction of my sanity,” John thought cheerily. “Not like I was using that boring stuff anyway, on a completely unrelated note, I should probably open my eyes now.” He did so slowly and wished he hadn’t. Almost two hundred yards away was the monster fish that they were searching for. “Hey, Reason”

“Yeah?” a voice responded slowly.

“What in the glorious name of our beloved grandmother is that hideous thing?”

“It appears to be a Demon Tiger Shark,” the voice responded. “It looks pretty hungry too.”

“That it does.” John replied calmly.

“You might want to start swimming now.”

“Not a bad idea, Voice of Reason.” John said before frantically kicking towards the surface as a black and orange demon shark the size of a skyscraper swam after his meal.

“Hey Johnny? Want me to wake up Little D for you?” a childish voice asked.

“No Numb Nuts! Don’t do it!” John begged. “All you’ll end up doing is fracturing my brain some more. Can’t we use our magic and break these chains?”

“Doesn’t look like we can, check it, Steel chained us up so we can’t use our thumbs,” Numb observed.

“Which means we can’t snap our fingers,” Reason followed.

“Which means we can’t cancel the spell,” John finished bitterly. “Looks like there’s only one logical thing to do.”

“It terrifies me when you say that,” Reason said dryly.

“Nah man it’s cool, this is my best plan yet. Watch and learn.” Johnny then pulled on the chains with all of his strength.

“Oh goddess, are you trying to do what I think you’re trying to do?”

“Depends,” John thought simply. “If you think I’m trying to sever my hands so that I can use my healing powers to grow new ones to break the chain spell, then yes, that is exactly what I’m trying to do.” Then with one horrendously painful tug, John’s hands came clean off. “Yes!” he exclaimed. “I am a certifiable genius! Also, why do my wrists hurt?”

“I hate you so much,” Reason muttered. John grabbed the chain with his teeth, he began using his arms as best as he could to swim upwards faster. “You do realize that the Tiger Shark is getting closer right, and that it’s attracted to the smell of our blood?”

“Of course I know that fool, but look, my hands are already growing back, but I think I need more of a boost. So how does underwater flying sound?”

“It sounds stupid and dangerous,” Reason deadpanned.

Too late, already doing it!” John shouted in his head. Suddenly, two great big brown wings appeared on his shoulders. “Attention all passengers this is your captain thinking. Just thought I’d report in and say ‘buckle up.’” With a great push, John flapped his wing and was sent rocketing towards the surface. “80 yards,” he thought as he kept up his pace. “65 yards.” He looked back and saw the Tiger Shark closing distance. “50 yards.”

“Blue! 42!” chimed in Numb Nuts.

“Hut! Hut!” Voice of Reason yelled.

“Hike!” At that moment, John broke the surface of the water and flew straight upwards, the chain still in his teeth. John looked down and watched as the Tiger Shark jumped up out of the water after him. John yelled out in surprise and dashed to the left, dodging the shark. He grabbed the chain with a newly formed hand and popped his jaw. “Man was that close. Yo D, you better wake up.” John swung the chain up into the air and snapped his fingers and in a flash of bright orange light the chain disintegrated. He held out one arm and grabbed Little D by the ankle as he fell. “Come on buddy, wakey wakey,” he said as he shook D around.

“N-never,” mumbled Little D, his chest wound completely healed now. “Never going to ocean....again.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“That’s pretty much all there is,” Little D said softly. “And, uh, this is where I ask you all for your help. Steel Sword has got it his head that the world is just as chaotic as the Old Age and he’s hell bent on starting everything over again the same way that Lord Faust made the True Beings start the New Age, with total. Global. Genocide,” Little D said in a serious tone. “Any questions?” he added with a smile.

“What in tarnation are you?” Applejack stared in horror.

“A good question. I am what is know as a ‘Walker’, a near-immortal that has been made by one of the True Beings. It’s clever actually, Marcher, Walker, get it?”

“How can you do magic?” Twilight asked as she dug into her bag and pulled out her notebook and pencil.

“Nothing special really, same way you and Rarity can. I just have magical suppression spells placed on me so that people can’t tell what I am right away. I can release the spell anytime I feel necessary, like so.” He extended his hands forward and made a frame with his fingers and thumbs. “Power suppression release, level....five.” Suddenly, a freezing blast of magical energy arced through Firefly Fields, chilling D’s audience to the bone. “Like that, see? Now you can feel my energy and it’s a lot,glad I told you all to bring a jacket right? I also have supression spells going all the way up to level one hundred, but it’s a little, uh, spooky.”

“So, the D in your nickname stands for ‘Death’ right?” Sweetie Belle asked with a raised hand.

“Yes, I, uh, wasn’t exactly clever with that now, was I?” Uncle D responded.

“How old are you?” Applebloom asked.

“No clue,” D shrugged. “I don’t know how long I’ve been this way, when you don’t die often time kinda’ merges together.”

“What do you mean you don’t die?” Rainbow asked skeptically.

“It’s like this. Goddesses and Immortals simply cannot die, ever, at least not until the world explodes entirely, leaving behind no trace of anything, but near-immortals like myself can only die if an immortal or another near-immortal kills them.”

“Why would they do that though?” Fluttershy asked softly.

“You...did just watch the presentation right? Steel Sword wants Johnny B. and I gone so he can wipe the world clean and start over with what he considers to be a perfect world.”

“But why don’t their teachers put them in detention?” Pinkie Pie asked seriously. “They really need a stern talkin’ to.”

“I can answer that, my dear,” Death said. “You see, my siblings and I vowed that we would nurture our students and teach them all we could. We then left everything else up to them, how they would use their power and how the would teach the world about us. We gave our students free reign on their actions, hoping their morality would guide them properly. We never would have thought that War’s student would end up like this, he was always such a happy child.”

“Yeah, and now he’s planning on destroying the entire world,” Scootaloo quipped, making Death winc slightly.

“Which is exactly why I need help from you all. Steel’s army is gaining strength and numbers by the day.”

“Well whatever is it that you need darling?” Rarity asked.

“I need you girls to help me remember my past. Before I became, this,” he said and gestured at himself generally. “Death says that for each memory I gain, I’ll get a tool to help me defeat Steel, whether it’s information, a power boost, a weapon, we aren’t entirely sure, but I know for a fact that I need the help of the Elements of Harmony to make any progress, or else I’ll risk going insane, just like John.”

“Well how exactly are we gonna do that?” Spike asked.

“Remember when I was talking about that adventure I’ve waited so long to go on, Spike? Well this is it. The elements and I will each go on specific and separate journeys to help me, uh, right, that is of course, if they’ll help me.”

“Of course we’ll help you,” said Fluttershy instantly. “Won’t we girls?”

“It looks like we don’t have a choice,” Twilight said.

“Oh but my dear, you always have a choice,” Death chuckled. “But only one would be considered a good option.”

“Yeah, everything I know and love being destroyed doesn’t sound like a good option, so I’m in,” Rainbow Dash said casually. “What about you Pinkie Pie?”

“Well, duh, of course I’m helping because then I can throw a ‘we just saved the entire world from destruction again’ party!”

“Well Ah suppose that Ah’m in too, how bout you Rar?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, I’ll be helping too, but I just have one question for you Little D. What is wrong with your eyes?”

“My eyes are cursed,” he said as his a hand went to his glasses. “If you look directly at them it shows you all sorts of weird stuff. Your deepest fears, how you’ll die, when you’ll die, endless doubt, ya know, fun stuff. Plus, they just plain look weird. Any other questions?”

“Yeah, I got one.” Rainbow Dash said. “About these adventures, you said that we all go separately with you, who goes first?”

“Good question. We’ll start off with some research. Namely how long I’ve been this way, when I was born, that sort of thing, so, Twilight, if you don’t mind?” she nodded in response. “Thank you, then I think I’ll figure out where I used to live next, so Rainbow, would you help me fly around and look for my old home?”

“You can count on me!” she saluted.

“Glad to hear it, then I have to find my old name, so Pinkie Pie, would you help me there?”

“No problem-o!” she smiled.

“Then I need to learn about my old family. I feel like that’s gonna be pretty tough on me, so Fluttershy, if you wouldn’t mind too much, would you help me?”

“Oh, are you sure you want me to help you? I’m not sure that I’ll be much help,” she said softly as she blushed a little.

“Of course I want your help, mostly it’d be for moral support,” he smiled softly. “I’m thinkin’ that I’ll really be needing some kindness, ya know?”

“Oh, um, ok then, I suppose,” she said meekly.

“Thank you Fluttershy. Then I think that I’ll find my old mark, so Applejack, can you see anyway that you’d help me?”

“‘Course I’ll help ya,” she said seriously. “Ah might not trust ya, but that don’t mean Ah like the thought of everything Ah know n’ love bein’ destroyed any better.”

“Glad to hear you're so open to the idea,”Little D remarked sarcastically, then smiled. “But seriously, thank you. Then lastly, I need to know just exactly how I earned my mark, so, Rarity, would you feel comfortable with that?”

“Of course I would dear, your eyes might have given me a case of the shivers, but if you keep those glasses on, I’ll be more than happy to help you darling.”

“Sweet, sounds like everyone is on board Uncle. What’s next?”

“You get started however you see fit. I can not interfere any longer, dear nephew, but I know that you will prevail,” Death replied before turning away from everyone and summoning a blue portal.

“Thank you Uncle, oh and one thing real quick,” D said with a small cough. “Why does my throat hurt? It’s all scratchy and stuff.”

Death cocked his head to the side and thought for a moment. “I believe that you are just thirsty. That’s normal. You are becoming human again, after all.” He nodded and disappeared through the portal.

“Becoming human?” he asked himself. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Before he could think any further, a plastic full of....something....was put in front of his face.

“Take a sip of this,” Twilight urged. “It might be a bit bitter, but it’ll stop that thirst until we can get back to town.” Little D nodded his thanks and took a sip, then coughed it back up.

“Gah! What is this junk?!” He spat before taking another sip, which he coughed back up immediately. “Why did I try it again?!”

“Here, give it to me,” Twilight said quickly, but D pulled the cup closer to himself.

“No, I like it,” he said stubbornly as he took another sip. “Bleg!” he gagged as he spit the coffee out. “Why do I hate you so good?” he interrogated his cup.

"Oh boy," Twilight laughed nervously. ", this is going to be an adventure alright." then they all packed up and headed back towards town.

Author's Note

this is what I was working this whole time. Hope you guys enjoy it. Tell your friends, I'm sure they'll like it too.