Hello Mares and Gentlecolts and welcome to my story…

Chapter 16: Mr. Carnage takes his Bow

Carnage knew whatever he was lying in he was too big for it, he could feel his legs going over the edge and it was likely designed for ponies to sleep in, he didn't question how he was still alive as that would get him nothing but he realised he had been changed into what felt like hospital clothes but before he could do anything else he felt a pair of familiar fore hoofs wrap around him and pulled him close, "ohmygodohmygodohmygodyourali vethankcelestiathatyouareali veIwassoworried…"

The fore hoofs and voice belonged to Rainbow Dash who had been sitting beside his hospital bed, she held him tightly like he was going to disappear again and nuzzled him closely, Carnage was happy to see her, "Skittles you're alright, wait how am I alive, what happened?"

Dash looked like she had just remembered something, "Oh right sorry I totally forgot that you wouldn't know, okay you've been out about three days now, the doctors didn't know really what to do since your biology was something they've never seen but they guessed the stress and everything made you fall into a mini coma but here you are."

"Yes but what happened with Spike, is he really gone?"

"Yep and permanently too since he can't do what Luna did since he has no magic, he'll just be stuck up there for good, Twilight isn't really taking this all very well because he was like a son to her and all but things are looking up and everypony has you thank for that."

"Yeah but why didn't the fall kill me and is Celestia okay?"

"Well I sought of managed to cushion the fall and Luna managed to catch you just in time and as for Celestia it actually took two days but they were able to turn her back to normal, she'll want to thank you for that."

At that moment it really hit Carnage, it was finally over, they had done it and saved Equestria but his high wasn't going to last as reality was about to hit him again with a question from Rainbow Dash, "It's over isn't it?"

He knew she didn't mean over with Spike, it was over between the two of them, he didn't need to say anything as she knew the answer, they didn't even have to say the reasons all he said was, "Let's just have this last moment, and then were just friends."

Before she could say anything she found Carnage's tongue in her mouth, it would be the last kiss they would ever share, protests reached her mind about their different species and how he would be gone soon and how this was so wrong but then she gave in and kissed back with equal force, it felt like they had made out for an hour and they might have done more if they weren't in a hospital but eventually Carnage broke the kiss as he was nearly out of breath, they exchanged one last glance as if to say 'I know' and shook hoof to hand, Dash added, "You'll be leaving soon won't you?"

"Yeah, I think I can feel it coming and it will be about two days, today I want to talk to your friends and clear some things up and tomorrow I'll get my answers from the princesses once and for all."

"Okay I understand, can I be there when you go?"

"Of course you can, I'd love you to be there, meet me here."

He whispered in her ear and she immediately understood, "Okay well I'll get things ready for when you sleep over tonight, the doctors will just want to check you over once more but they said you can go, also the balloon is back in its spot so you can use it to get back home, by the way everypony knows who and what you are as it's in all the papers, don't ask how they know."

He simply nodded but he asked one last thing "Rainbow Dash before you go I'm going to need to ask you for a favour."

"Sure anything, what is it?"

"I need you to get me some face paint."

Rainbow Dash was a little confused at the request, "Face paint? Why would you need face paint Carnage?"

Carnage sighed a little, despite being in this world and everything the pair had gone through it would still be hard to believe that he saw a vision of himself from the future, "It's a little hard to explain, in a sense I took what used to make me great but I also needed to reinvent myself, I know you deserve to know more but I'm asking you to trust me this last time."

Rainbow Dash nodded and flew out the window, moments later she returned with the face paint in her mouth and she said she would meet Carnage at her house, Carnage got his last check up and got the all clear from the hospital, he went back to his room and dressed himself out of his hospital clothes which were way too small for him and put on his human clothes which were neatly folded on a chair beside him with the hat Rainbow Dash had brought him sitting on top, he was afraid that he lost the hat in the battle but it appeared that Dash had recovered it.

After he had placed his clothes back on he looked into the mirror and carefully placed the face paint like how he remembered it, the base was blue and everything else black so the colours were at least simple, the pattern around his eyes reminded him of the logo of Sonic the hedgehog while the pointy stripes on his face reminded him of Lucario's from Pokémon, in the end it looked exactly like he remembered, he would spend the rest of the day catching up before returning home to an awaiting Rainbow Dash.

---

Carnage now found himself outside the doors to the throne room where Celestia waited to speak with him, yesterday he talked to Twilight who he manage to comfort, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Applejack who all were thankful for what he did and even Rarity who forgave him and said that she acted too emotionally, it also appeared that Sweetie Bell was up and about despite missing a horn which Carnage was assured would grow back within time, he took a large in hale and was ready for the truth as he push the doors open.

It room was very large, Celestia beckoned for him to approach her and when he got to her she stepped down to face him and she said, "Nice face paint."

He smiled and said, "I think you know why I'm here."

"Well apart from seeing how I am and thank you for saving me you also want answers, fine you have earned them, I need you to know this is the truth, the whole truth no matter how unbelievable it sounds."

He nodded and Celestia continued, "500 years ago something happened that was never supposed to, every universe managed to align with each other and this opened an astral plain and one representative from each universe entered, they were the most powerful on their respective world at the time but most are likely dead now, when we arrived we were given the chance to do something to save our universes, we needed a hero, a symbol."

"Me, I'm guessing, has this happened before?"

"Why not ask the mare that was present."

"Wait it wasn't you?"

Carnage felt a hoof touch his shoulder and Luna stood before him, Celestia made her exit and left the two of them alone, "It was I Carnage, as nightmare moon I only just exceeded my sisters ability and yes there have been others but never as successful as you."

"Why did you need a hero, and weren't you evil then?"

"Well you see the universe is funny like that, we were all doomed unless we got an unknown element, it's hard to explain but we just knew and yes I was evil but I wanted to make sure there were ponies to rule once I got back."

"Ah I see now that does make sense, in fact that does explain how you knew."

"Yes I was the being that spoke to you on that fateful day you nearly died, I also bestowed you your name, Have you ever wondered why you were given the name Mr. Carnage?"

"I have actually; it's not exactly a very heroic name."

Luna let out a little laugh, "It's not is it but there's something beautiful about, in every world you go to that world is about to be thrown into Chaos, carnage that cannot be stopped, it's like a fire that's spreading but one way to deal with that isn't just water but fire as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Another fire can absorb another fire and then someone can put it out, or a fire can cause a fire break so there's nothing left to burn, even if you cause a lot of damage along the way it will be for the greater good, its fire fighting fire or carnage fighting carnage.

It made sense in the end, the relationship trouble, the other ponies dying, Dash turning on him, all that inner turmoil, all that inner Carnage eventually led him to stopping Spike who would have undoubtedly thrown Equestria into Carnage, Luna spoke again, "You best see Rainbow Dash one last time, you do not have much time left, thank you for saving us all Mr. Carnage."

They shook but as he was leaving he had one last question, "One last thing Luna, will this ever end."

"I cannot say, who knows what awaits you, but one thing is for certain, nopony is quite prepared for you, Martin 'Mr. Carnage' Wright"

He gave her a devilish grin and ran off towards the train station for his final meeting with Rainbow Dash.

---

It made sense to both of them where they should have their final meeting, this little spot just outside the Everfree forest where they first met, she could see him approaching her and knew they did not have much time left, before he could say a word she spoke, "Quickly I need to say something but I want to ask you something first."

He simply nodded and let her speak "Do you still regret not dying Carnage?"

"I did die Dash."

Dash was confused, he was right here before her so how could he have died, "I don't understand Carnage."

"Marty Wright died that day, but from his death Mr. Carnage was born, and I can finally accept that now Skittles and that's partially thanks to you so thank you Rainbow Dash."

"You're welcome, of course you were receiving help from the most awesome pony in Equestria, and you'll be receiving more."

Now Carnage looked confused, "What do you mean, is this an I will always be I your heart thing?"

"Nah I can do better, that's why I'm coming with you."

"You can't come with me, what if Equestria gets in trouble again? It will need the elements"

"Duh we'll pop right back here wont we."

"I don't know if it works like that and I don't think you even can… AHHHH"

Carnage felt a familiar pain signifying he was about to leave, he started to glow blue and Dash said, "You don't get a say in this, I'm loyal to my friends and right now you need my help and I figure if I hold on tight enough I'm coming along for the ride, I don't know what's out there and I can deal with never seeing Equestria again if that means I can help you and more ponies or people."

Carnage didn't get to retaliate as she grabbed on to him in a massive hug, she started to glow blue as well and they felt themselves almost leaving, it felt like their souls were being picked up and placed somewhere else and Dash gave him one last wink, a single tear came to Carnages eye and he whispered "Thank you."

And with that what looked like lightning falling down on them carried the pair away and all that was left was a single note addressed from Dash to her friends pinned on a tree next to Fluttershy's cottage…

Carnage let out a groan, like before he found himself lying on his side however instead of being a pony or any other type of creature he was in his form before he leaped and instead of finding himself on comfortable grass he now found himself on a cold, uncomfortable concrete floor.

He could see sky above him and he felt like he had altitude so he knew he was on the roof of a building, he got to his knees quickly in a panic but calmed down when he saw Rainbow Dash lying next to him, she seemed to still be out and he remembered the first time leaping can take some energy out of you, he decided not to disturb her yet and take in some of his surroundings, it was night but it appeared that it may also be winter as he swore he could see light snow in the distance.

He was also definitely in a city but the area he was in look like a smaller section to the rest of the city and this section was somewhat cut off from where he was standing.

What was also interesting is taking in the fact it was night time in this city, the city itself seemed appeared to be very bleak and that's when he saw it, across from where Rainbow Dash was lying down was a large blue rectangular box, it had what looked like a light on the top of it and also at the top it had written 'Police public call Box.'

He knew exactly what it was, he didn't think it was possible but there was no way Whooves could have followed him so it had to be him, but it didn't appear to be London or any other English city that he could remember and then he looked at one of the giant posters that seemed to be numerously placed around this walled off city, it was a long poster and at the top it said 'You are under Surveillance' and at the bottom appeared a giant A with the words 'Arkham, institute for the criminally insane.'

The adventures of Mr. Carnage will be continued in:

The Bat, The Doctor, The Rainbow & Mr. Carnage

So please watch me if you want the sequel to this story, again say what you liked and what you didn't like, it will only help me get better as a writer ;) and a like would also be greatly appreciated, thank you.

And I would like to personally give a thank you to every person who has read this story and followed as all your feedback and support has driven me to finish my first FanFic, I love you all and let's continue these adventures very soon.