Dagger's End:

The Swine Tide &

The Underworld Uprise (Vol. 2)

Chapter 10

The New Empire

King Sombra's army, was almost finished, with it's army built. All that was left were the battle wagons to be built, Kora to return, planning the attack, and where to strike first. Sombra was very pleased with his work, as he had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and yet no battle wagons or catapults yet. Still, he had a strong force. From the minotaur's army, and the long eared ponies, waiting at his command... The element of Harmony may be in the way, but Sombra already knew that nothing would go wrong. Once the elements were taken care of by Kora, his army would be able to roam free, to slaughter anypony who got in the way. Also... there was that one pony who could cause problems if he wasn't taken care of sooner or later... Dagger... The unusal pony in their world, who is able to take on punnishing blows from any attack. King Sombra has herd of short stories about this quantillian pony, but wasn't too worried about him. He would deal with him, right after he had captured Canterlot. His scouts have reported that Dagger had left Canterlot, leaving no big problems to deal with for his forces. The Crystal Empire and Canterlot would easily fall, if they did not beef up their numbers of soldiers soon enough... And Twilight... She would soon obey Sombra, as she would tear her friends away soon... The New Empire... was rising...

Twilight, was reading a few books, about her wings, as she filly-sat Scootaloo. The princess alicorn hasn't have the time to study on M.T., ever since Scootaloo was around.

Scootaloo was lying around the wood floor board to tears, as she looked around. Scootaloo didn't like reading, and preferred to go outside instead. The young filly picked up her scooter and helmet, and was heading to the door, " Hey Twilight, I'm gunna go for a ride. Can I go?" "...uh... yea... sure..." answered the mare, as she was too busy reading at her desk, as she was caught up by the sentences in the book that she was reading. Scootaloo simply rolled her eyes and left the premises, closing the door quietly not wanting to disturb Twilight's little distraction.

Scootaloo was planing to hang out with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, as she rode in her scooter. She eventually found them, just as the two of her friends left Sugar Cube Corner. Apple Bloom, spotted Scootaloo as she waved hello at her, " Hey Scoots!" " Hey, girls! What's up!" replied Scootaloo. " Nothing much, we were just having fun with Pinkie Pie over here, and were about to head into our tree house. Wanna join us?" asked Sweetie Belle. " Of course!" spoke the happy filly, as she fluttered her wings a bit with excitement! The three fillies were heading to their tree house, as they all had short conversations about other things, along the way.

As Twilight kept reading her books, about learing how to fly, she herd a knock on the door, as her ears twitched, from the sound. Spike ran up to the door to answer it, as the little dragon open the door, " Hi Derpy! Something for us, today?" asked the curious baby dragon. Derpy, handed over a package, as it was all wrapped up in a brown paper wrap. " Huh?... There's no return address,of who sent this." " Sorry Spike, but I was told to send this to you, without question." replied the grey pegasus, as she smiled at the little dragon. " Gotta go, see ya!" happily spoke Derpy, as she flapped her wings away from Spike, sending out diliveries that had to me made. Spike looked down at the package as it was tightly wrapped, with thick brown paper sheets, and some strings tied around it, making a gift wrapping knot. Spike was suspicious about the package but noticed it was for Twilight only, as he turned around, closed the door, and pushed it aside next to Twilight on the table. Twilight stopped reading for a moment, as she looked at the package, " For me?... But... who's it from?" asked Twilight, eyeing on the box. " Beats me! It didn't even have the return address. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some tasks to accomplish." spoke the friendly dragon, as he went back to work.

Twilight looked at the package, and opened it using her magic as she tore through it. After she removed the last piece of package paper off, she saw an old looking, incredibly thick pages, of a book... Twilight was shocked by it's thickness as it had no title, no symbols, and no colorful background color, other than blood red color on the cover. She decided to put her previous book down, which was learning how to fly, and instead take a quick look at the mysterious book. She filpped over a few pages and found out that it was a very old pony laguage of dark magic. " Huh... figures..." spoke the purple mare to herself, as if a book with no such message that said didn't say anything about 'dark magic' wasn't enough to tell her, that it was a book about dark magic. Suddenly some words caught her eyes... she was now reading some parts of the book, where they would use dark magic for good for things like medicine, cures, crop growth, pet care, and how to properly tame... a dragon... Twilight, was filled with excitement as she was now more interrested in reading this new book she got, rather than reading on learning how to fly! She pushed her previous book to the side, and got right into reading the first few pages... Wanting to understand the book's knowledge... and power...

The cutie mark crusaders made it, into their tree house, as they walked around coming up with more ideas, to get their own cutie marks. While Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, were coming up with ideas, Scootaloo opened a small chest that had a piece of Dagger's armor. Scootaloo picked it up, and cupped it in her hoof, as she looked at it reminding her of Dagger... The only pony and of a friend, who was not from their planet... She smiled thinking of what Dagger might be doing. She couldn't thank him enough to allow her to fly, in that jetpack of his. She never felt so alive and so free. She wanted to feel it again soaring all over the place, along with Rainbow Dash's side! Dagger would also cheer for them, as he would stand on the side lines watching them fly and perform special moves! But sadly... both Rainbow and Dagger, were off once more... " What ya got there, Scoots?" asked Apple Bloom. Scootaloo jumped a bit, as she quickly and swiftly put Dagger's shattered piece of armor, back inside the small chest next to where Apple Bloom kept her gift, from Tank, one of Dagger's best friends who died from the last Zenoid war... Apple Bloom already knew that Scootaloo was looking at Dagger's piece of armor, as she slightly smiled at her, " Don't worry about him, Scoots! He is the toughest pony in Equestria, after all! A sword won't easily hurt him." spoke Apple Bloom, comforting her orange friend. Scootaloo smiled at her, feeling a lot better than before. The orange filly would constantly forget how tough Dagger was, as she constanly had to be reminded, " Thanks, Apple Bloom, but I am aslo worried about Rainbow Dash..." " Hey... ah know how you feel. My sister is out there too. I just wish, I didn't say those mean things to her, though..." finnished Apple Bloom, as she was now starting to feel bad. Suddenly, everypony was quiet enough to hear a high voice, of somepony or at least... some one... They herd the voice, as it sounded like it was coming close, to their tree house. " Fixes that! Fixes dis! Wots it! Wots it!?" complained a voice, sounding annoyed. The three fillies rushed out to the balcony of their tree house, and saw one of the Hogz's grots... But this grot looked averagly clothed, as he wore leather shirt and pants but no shoes as his long feet would stick out. He was kicking up dirt around, looking angry, as he also punched the air a few times. " What IS it?..." whispered Apple Bloom, " I think that might be one of those pig's minions or something..." replied Scootaloo, as she glared down at the grot. " Well, what should we do?" questioned the country filly. " I don't know, we should probably leave it alone... it's just one little... thing!" answered Scoots, " But don't ya think, it might bother somepony else?" " It's not our problem! I say we should leave it, and let somepony else deal with it." finnished Scoots. As Apple Bloom turned her head to where Sweetie Belle, would be. The unicorn filly was nowhere to be found next to her, and the two girls gasped, " W-where did she go!?" quietly panicked Apple Bloom, asking Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle, was already down from the tree house, as she walked quietly twords the grot... The grot was a little bit smaller than a filly, but was bigger than a baby. Sweetie Belle had no idea what she was getting herself into, as she walked slowly and quietly twords the frustrated grot. The two other fillies joined her, as Apple Bloom carried a stick while Scootaloo was getting in a position to pounce on the grot. The two other fillies were right behind Sweetie Belle's view, as she didn't know that her friends were right behind her. Then Sweetie Belle stepped on a twig, as it made a loud snap! It cought the grots attention as he jumped backwards and fell back, missing a step. The grot got back up as he looked startled, just as Scootaloo lept in the air, with her wings fluttering rappidly, " GRAAAAAAH!" cried the grot, as it was now tackled by the orange filly, as he was pinned down. The grot cried out, as he panicked, " Don't hit meeeee!" squirmed the grot, as he tried to wiggle himself out, from Scootaloo's belly. Apple Bloom came in with the stick as she wacked at the grot several times, on the head! " Douch! Youch! S-stop! I give! I give! Stuipid pony!" cried the grot. " Leave him alone!" shouted Sweetie Belle, as she raised a hoof at the two. The two fillies stopped as Apple Bloom held on to the stick in her mouth, and looking at her unicorn filly friend, while Scootaloo looked at her as well, laying on the grot flat on her belly. Sweetie Belle pushed Apple Bloom away from the grot and tapped Scootaloo, on the back, signaling to get off of the grot. The grot curled up like a baby would, in a mother's womb, as he rubbed his head rappidly, " Oooooo, ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" complained the grot. Sweetie Belle lend a hoof to the grot as the grot froze and looked at her, confused of the situation. " It's ok! We're not going to hurt you! I'm Sweetie Bell! And these are my friends, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom." greeted the white unicorn. The grot grabbed onto the filly's hoof, as he got back up, and kept an eye on the other two fillies not trusting them, for one bit. The four of them just looked at to one another, as the grot looked terrified at the three of them. "... Soooo... What's your name?" continued Sweetie Belle. The grot shook a little when Sweetie spoke to him, as he looked back at her, " M-m-my name?..." asked the grot, pointing a finger at his chest not sure if she was even talking to him. " We'll duh! Who else do you think we are talking to?" replied Scootaloo, not trusting the grot as well. The grot calmed down a bit, as he mumbled his name, "My name iz... iiiz..." " What?" asked Sweetie Belle, as his voice toned to the point you couldn't hear him. " M-my name! I-iz... giz..." " Speak up! We can't hear you!" demanded Scootaloo, as she shouted at the grot. " Gah! Ok! ok!... my name iz Giz..." "Giz?" " Ya... you know... like Giz-mo?" answered the grot, as he explained to them. " Why that's a silly name!" chuckled Apple Bloom, as she was the only one laughing, out of the three fillies. The grot's long pointy ears lowered down a bit looking a bit sad, for the time being. Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom as she was still laughing quite a bit. The young filly unicorn gave her friend a look, as Apple Bloom started to calm down. " Excuse my friend, we were just wondering why you were here." " Yea, tell us what you're up to! We don't want any funny bisness with you!" snapped Scootaloo, as she stomped a hoof to the ground, startling the grot. The grot jumped a bit as he looked at Scootaloo. He then twidled his thumbs a bit, as he thought of something in his mind. " Iz just try'n to find a place ta live! Guh! Do you even know how bad it iz-es, when you work for da bigger boss?" " Trying to find a place to live?" spoke Sweetie Belle, unsure what to make of what he was trying to say. " Yes, yes! Dem other hog-es, iz just mean to me! And all I want to do iz live. Besides, it iz a tough life for a gretchen, for me." finnished the grot, as he tried to sound like he was telling the truth. The three other fillies weren't sure what to make of this as they later invited him, into their tree house, where they would have a conversation, with the grot.

Dagger was someplace where there was a black fog, surrounding the area, that he was in... He was completely surrounded by the black smoke. He didn't have his helmet on his head, as he looked around sharply trying to find out where he was... He had no idea where he was as he started to walk around. The air was cold and moist, his mouth was a bit dry, his eyes felt tired and had mixed feelings of anger and fear as he walked around... "... Dagger..." growled a voice... Dagger stopped walking around, getting himself lost in the strange black smoke/fog, as he turned around looking for where the voice was coming from. "...Dagger..." annouced the voice... That pony's voice sounded familiar to Dagger, as he reached his back for his heavy blade only to notice that his blade wasn't on his back anymore!... Dagger, was now sweating as he looked deep into the fog. He didn't move a muscle, as he looked at the dark fog/smoke. Finally, a figure was starting to merge out from view, as Dagger's eyes widened... The figure of the pony was a stallion, as he had a very slim figure... The pony had no mane, no tail, and no skin... All he had for skin, were very thin plastic shell plates, covering his flesh... Very little blood dripped out from the white delicate plates as he walked twords Dagger... His eyes opened up as the white shelled stallion had yellow snake eyes, and sharp dull yellow teeth. He walked closer to Dagger, as he stood still, frozen in fear... "...O...O-oppressor..." spoke Dagger now shocked to see his old arch nemissis! "...O-ppressor!...Oppressor...O-Oppressor..." gasping for each breath as he spoke of his name, Dagger couldn't belive that he was still alive! After all that he had been through, here in Equestria... First in the Everfree Forest, then at Canterlot, the Crystal Empire... and now... here!? Where ever he was... Suddenly, Dagger snapped, as he then yelled and charged his way twords the slim white plated stallion, "OPPRESSOOOOOOOOR!" The other stallion smiled as he then stopped aproching to him, as Dagger kept charging right twords him! " I WILL SLAY YOU! YOUR HEAD IS GOING TO BE MINE, DEAMON!... Die... Die!... DIe!... DIE!... DIIIIIIE!" roared Dagger, as he showed a lot of anger, fear, and hatered for this stallion. Oppressor and Dagger were just yards away from each other, as Dagger was going to hit him with all he's got in his hoofs. " OUR RACES HAVE DIED, BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, AND WOULDN'T BOTHER TO HELP US! FOR THAT YOU SHALL DIE!... DIIIIIIE!" cried Dagger, as he was now just a few feet away from Oppressor! Dagger made a small leap twords the stallion, as he would have tackled him down only to miss him, and Oppressor's body formed into a puddle of blood, as it moved out of the way... Dagger got right back up as he turned his head around, facing twords Oppressor, as he reformed his body again... Dagger, charged again, only this time Oppressor was close, " RAAAAAAGH!" cried Dagger as he tried to wack his foe, to the ground like an out of control wild animal! Dagger's eyes were a bit blood shot, as he was furious, with this pony. Oppressor dodged the attacks again, and again as he constantly moved around, turning into a pool of blood, and then reforming into a stallion's body instantly. Oppressor, didn't say a word yet as he kept smiling at Dagger. " I'LL KILL YOU! BASTARD! Come here... so I can kill ya! YOU COLD BLOODED COWARD!" shouted Dagger again! Oppressor in the past had killed many ponies in the past; stallions, mares, fillies, even babies and the elderly... all killed by his blood bending skills, and morphing skills... He cost many lives to be wasted, only to be used in his blood lust fights... He would drain the life of a pony, and use it as a weapon, once he got control over it... anypony who went against him was most likely to die... depending on how much blood he had gathered in his viens...

The only ponies that could stand up against Oppressor, was the strong race, of Quantillion, as their flesh and blood was too thick to be absorbed yet many of them died, due to Oppressor's blood bending skills and experience...

Soon, Dagger was stopped by Oppressor's blood bending as he morphed both of his front hoofs, into several long arms, as they splattered blood everywhere! Dagger dodged a few times, but was caught by one of the tentacles. His two rear hoofs were pinned to the floor, his other two front hoofs hung in the air, as Dagger looked like a prisoner now, as he hung in the air. Oppressor walked up to him as he showed his smile, with his sharp teeth showing up... The two looked twords one another for a long minute, then... Oppressor, spoke first... "... It is good to know, that you missed me... and still alive and well..." spoke Oppressor as his voice had a bit of a hiss in it... He walked arround Dagger after he turned his arms to come to his back, then regrew new arms to pop out from his shoulders, as he now had four hoofs now, while the tentacles stuck out from his back, while Dagger was being held, by his arms... "... I've got a little message to tell you... Dagger..." Oppressor then stopped walking around him as he looked back at Dagger, as he continue to smile in is deamonic way, " The last of his kind..." finnished the bloody pony.

Dagger was surprised to hear that coming from his great foe... 'the last of my kind!?' what did he mean by that!? "... A-are... a-are... you dead!?..." dared to ask, the Quantillian pony. Oppressor's smile, and face turned into a soft anger, as he still held onto Dagger, making sure he didn't escape... "... Unfortuantly for me... Yes... I am dead... There is no way I shall recover from this... You're very lucky... However..." stopped Oppressor, as he was now infront of Dagger, and showing his smile once more, " My studients... are not..." "... W-what?... Studients?... What studients!?" questioned Dagger, about to throw more anger, at him. Oppressor backed up, and continued his walk, around Dagger, like a shark with legs... "... Before the Zenoids came into that city, of Canterlot... I had some time to prepare for the future... Sadly enough... My studients betrayed me... Once you used that plodium grenade, at me... You surely sent us both flying away from each other..." chuckled Oppressor, as he reffered back to the past. " After that, I needed more blood, in order to live on... However my very own studients had drained my blood away, killing me while doing so..." "Why are you telling me this? And where am I!?" " First off, I cannot tell you where we are because of my conditions... You COULD say... your dreaming..." answered Oppressor. Dagger gave a dirty look at his bloody foe, as he tried to force one of his hoofs to break free, only to feel that the arms were tightening, squeezing his legs, as blood dripped from the tentacles! " Second, I want my studients killed, for their betrayal... They now have my blood and I have taught them on how to blood bend, after I have previously tranfered my blood, into theirs'..." " Why would you do such a thing!? You should have known better than to transfer your blood into other ponies', and then expect them to obey to you!" " Quiet! I do know better! I Just wasn't expecting the results to be like this... AT ALL!... I thought that if I gave them something big... they would obey me, and serve me, as the new blood bending leader! At the same time I would some what mind control them as well, as I'd command my blood cells to make it's way to the brain... Instead, the six of them... killed me." " Six?" "... Yes... and each and every one of them have their own uniqe skill, of using the blood bending skills. So don't underestimate them..." Finnished Oppressor, as the two were kept silent, for a few seconds, gathering on what they had told and herd from one another. Eventually Dagger had spoke, "... Some new race, you made... And now you want me to kill them, because of your reckless mistake?" " Correct..." answered Oppressor as he looked back at Dagger, still pinned, as he walked around him. Dagger thought about the problem, and then bothered to ask another question, "... What about these Hogz!? Where they part of your little plan too?" " Nonsence! You know better than I do, that Hogz barely make ANY agreement to anything... Now, I must be off, into my little... 'hell' world..." "What!?" before Dagger could see what was going to happen Oppressor opened a portal, and walked right into it, as light flashed infront of Dagger's face blinding him, as the light brightened up, brighter and brighter, to the point, that Dagger had to close his eyes shut, and even cover his face up, as best as he could.

It was nice and cool, in Dagger's room, as the red armored stallion moved around in his bed as if he was in pain. He moaned and grumbled to himself. The stallion finally woke up, with a small bit of sweat as he sat back up on his bed. The room had an ocean theme, as he looked around the room. There was a closet that had a faded tan wood color, that was next to the door, infront of his bed. An old wooden desk, with a lantern hanging from the roof, with no light source to give off for now, and a drawer that looked like it was just about to fall apart, as it was placed right next to the desk. Dagger got off from his bed, as he wiped his face a few times, slowly. He walked tword the door of the room, as he would exit the room quietly.

Dagger was now outside taking one deep breath of fresh air into his lungs. It felt good to smell the fresh air to him. It was midnight, as he looked up at the stars. Dagger was standing around on the barge of the Heavenly Angle, as the wind rushed around him blowing his short cut mane around. " Couldn't fall asleep, I see..." spoke somepony, behind a corner of a wall. Dagger spun around, looking to who it was that was talking at this time of the hour. It was Pinkamena, as she still had her black coat on, as she sharpened her knife... "... Yea... Something like that..." replied Dagger, as he thought about changing the subject, "... Do you ever sleep? I don't recall you even heading to your quarters whenever I rest, in my bed..." Pinkamena shrugged her shoulders, as she rested against a wall. The two were silent as the Pink mare kept sharpening her knife. Dagger just simply turned around, and stared at the sky...

" So... what was it?..." asked Pinkamena, expecting Dagger to know what she was asking. "What was what?..." " Your dream of course..." " How did you even know, I had a dream?..." Pinkamena stopped sharpening her knife, as glared at Dagger. The young stallion felt a sharp chill down his spine, as he looked into her cold, blue eyes, as they could be seen clearly in the moon light... "... I asked first..." spoke the dull mare. She then went back to sharpening her knife, as she continued to wait for an answer... "... It was like any other dream, that anypony would have... that's all..." spoke Dagger. Pinkamena looked like she didn't care, as she kept sharpening her small, sharp, blade, "... I'm sure that a stallion like you would go right back to sleep, if he didn't have to take a stroll out side of this air ship..." replied back the pink mare, as she continuously kept on sharpening her knife, with every scratch noise, starting to get a little louder... Dagger started to walk backwards... Something told him, that Pink, was getting upset with him and may do something unpleasant. He walked away slowly as he was increasing his distance from himself and Pinkamena... He turned around and was shocked to find Pinkamena... standing right infront of him... Dagger was very confused for a few seconds, that felt like minutes, as he stared at her... Pink looked right at him, in the eyes... The stallion froze in a bit of fear, as he soon started to calm down. Pinkamena spoke to Dagger, in a tone as she pointed her knife at him swinging it with a bit of emotion... " Something tells me, your not telling us something, that we need to know... So go on! What is it that your hiding... There's something more dangerous than these warthogs! So what is it!? King Sombra? Tiger Zann? Or something even worse than that?" Dagger stepped back, a few hoofs away from the pink mare. " It's nothing, I just sleep less. Unlike you ponies I just need a few hours of sleep, and I have plenty of energy to get right back on my hoofs." "Likely story... What ever it is... It's better for us to know about it, than to keep it hiding it from all of us!..." Pinkamena, put her sharp dagger away, back into her coat as she then walked away from Dagger, leaving him alone, on the barge.

Daylight had arose, as Twilight was still asleep in her bed... Spike was walking up the steps, about to wake up the purple mare, as he brought her some milk and pancakes, that had oats in them. " Morning Twilight! I brought you breakfast and thought that it should be time for you to wake up." spoke the dragon, as he happily spoke to the sleepy alicorn. Twilight moaned as she yawned. She sat up in her bed, as her mane looked like a mess with bed hair. Spike place the tray of food, onto Twilight's lap and noticed something was different about Twilight... The princess, had already dug into her meal, too busy to notice that Spike was staring at her. The baby dragon saw something under Twilight's eyes... It looked like some sort of scratch... a dark green, glowing, scratch, that almost looked like a scar... Twilight, took a sip of her milk and noticed her friend was staring right at her. Twilight placed the cup down slowly, using her magic as she pondered, about her 'number one' assistant, " Something wrong Spike?" asked the princess. The baby dragon shook his head, regaining conscious, " H-huh!?... uh... I think... I think you have something under your eyes..." replied the dragon, as he rushed to a drawer, reaching in for a mirror, grabbing it, and then showing it to Twilight. The purple mare grabbed it from the dragon, as she looked at the mirror using her magic. There right below her eyes, were two small scars, each scar on one eye... She looked at herself real well, then she decided to touch it, " OUCH!" cried Twilight, as she jumped on her bed, spilling the milk and the food Spike had prepared for her, on the floor. " You all right!?" spoke the worried dragon. Twilight, felt a sharp burn, right under her eyes, where the scars were. It alsmot felt like the scars opened her skin up, making her to feel her flesh, but that wasn't the case. Twilight got up off of bed, to straiten herself out, as she splashed water around her face from a nearby sink. The pain started to kick in, as it burned twice as bad, than it did before! " GRRRUGH! OW, OW, OW!" cried the purple mare. Spike ran twords the bathroom to where Twilight was in, hoping that she was alright. "... Spike, get me a book about all sorts of deseases, illnesses, and sicknesses, stat!" spoke the princess, as she said with a bit of anger... The young dragon was confused, as he ran down the steps to fetch her friend, the books she had requested.

Twilight took a good look at herself, as she looked at the mirror once more. She wondered if it was just because she stayed up for too long, or she hit herself against something that might have caused this. It could even have been an allergic reaction to something!

Spike had came back with several books, that Twilight had requested, as she skimmed the books quickly, " No... no... no... NO... NO... NOOO!" snapped Twilight, as she then tossed the last book, behind herself as the book slamed into the wall, with a loud thump! Spike jumped, worried for Twi. " T-Twilight? What's wrong?" " Nothing Spike! Can't you see I am in terrible pain!" snapped Twilight, again, showing anger at her little assistant. Spike was confused, as he looked at her in the eyes, scared. Twilight calmed down a bit, as she looked at him, feeling horrible for yelling at him, " Im sorry Spike... I-I don't know what came over me..." Spoke softly, the purple alicorn.

Fewminutes after the anger incident, Twilight had already eaten her breakfast, as well as Spike did as the Two headed out, to run their errands.

As the two walked side by side, Spike noticed she looked upset, troubled, and grumbled to herself... "...Um Twi?" spoke Spike, as he dared to speak to her princess. "What?" asked Twilight, as she sounded like she was annoyed by her assistant, instantly. The young dragon, didn't bother to reply back to her, as he continued to worry about Twilight. The two were walking side by side, as they walked through out the day.

In the middle of one of their list of errands, they had to make a trip Lyra and Bon Bon's house, as they were on the opposite side of Ponyville. Twilight grumbled as she and Spike left the quills and sofa store, that only sell quills and sofas. Through out the whole day, Twilight had been griping to herself, as Spike watched her, thinking she has gone crazy. Spike then thought that it was the time to take a break as he finally spoke to her, "Twilight..." started Spike. "What now, Spike?" almost snapped Twilight, giving Spike a slight dirty look at him. "U-um... Maybe we should take a break... You know... We've been doing a lot of walking after all, and maybe it would be a good time to rest for a bit." Twilight, looked else where, as she continued to walk having Spike to catch up to her. Something was very wrong with her as the day went by, as her scars started to make their way around her eyes surrounding them, slowly.

The two sat on a bench that was half way there to Lyra and Bon Bon's house. Twilight, had decided to pull out that mysterious book out from her sattle bag, as she read the book. Spike, had pulled out a bottle of water out, as he drank it slowly. He later put the bottle of water back in the sattle back, and just noticed the book that Twilight was reading. Something about that book made Spike to think... Could that book be drawing Twilight crazy, or perhaps it was too hard to under stand it's spells and magic? Even so, Twilight wouldn't get this mad so easily, even for learning new spells, that seemed impossible to make. Spike, decided to peek at the book Twilight was reading, as he looked over her shoulder with out having to interrupt her. He even made sure to not block the sunlight, that would crate a shadow over the book. He tried his very best to not bother Twilight, as he didn't want her to snap the fith time today, as she had already have done so, several times through out the day...

Spike looked at the words the to book, but they were in a totally different language. Suddenly, Twilight slamed the book shut, and was about to put the book back into her sattle. Before she had done so, Spike immediately sat back down, acting like she wanted to scoot next to her friend, as if she had treated him nicely, which has yet to have happen, to this day... Twilight paused for a moment, and looked at her little friend. The alicorn princes stared at him, as he tried to show for a smile, even though he was being treated badly today. Then, suprisenly Twilight smiled at him, as she then cuddled him around. Spike was now confused, but also worried, not knowing what was about to happen. " I'm sorry Spike..." spoke softly, the alicorn princess spoke. These words surprised Spike as he listened to the Twilight, he had knew, just yesterday, before she went to bed last night. " I don't know what came over me... Last night, I was fine... but now with these... these..." Twilight didn't know what to say about these green cracks, around her eyes were, until she came up with something, as she continued, " Scars... I feel so different..." "Y-yea... I think so too..." spoke the scared dragon, as he looked up at Twilight. " We should get going. Lyra and Bon Bon's place is just a few blocks down." "R-right!..." replied the young dragon, as he then got off the bench, and waited for Twilight to walk first, ahead of him. Twilight, got off the bench slowly, as she placed her hoof to the ground. She then led Spike to the path, to the house they were going to.

As they were a few more steps to where the robot named M.T. was living in somepony's house, Twilight tripped and fell from a small root from a tree. " Twilight!" gasped Spike, as he rushed to help her friend back up! Dark clouds started to fourm, as the pegasi gathered the grey clouds, as it was the time of the day for it to rain. Spike, lend a claw to Twilight, as it started to rain, then... his claw was pushed to the side... It started to rain harder and harder, as the ground was already starting to form into mud. Twilight looked really mad, as the green glowing cracks began to sting her, as they burned. Twilight lifted her face up, darting her eyes at Spike, as he backed away. Twilight, then darted her eyes, to a nearby tree, as she looked at the root that had tripped her causing her pain, especially around her face. She got back up and her horn was glowing, as the color of her magic started to change from purple to dark purple, then to a light black color. Then, dark krystal formed on her horn, as she then casted fire to the tree, with a loud bang, coming out from her horn! The spell had shot out like a cannon, as a strange bolt flung out from her horn. The shot had impacted the tree, greatly! As the tree was now split into two, as it also burned with a bit of fire, on it. Spike, was now completely shocked! This wasn't like the Twilight he knew about, since yester day!

After Twilight crated a scene, everypony looked outside, as they either stepped out or simply stuck their head out the window, to see what was all the commotion about. Twilight, walked twords Lyra and Bon Bon's front door, as she knocked on the door. Bon bon, answered the door, as she looked surprised to see Twilight, in her condition and completely forgot that she was visiting. "Oh, Twilight! I-I mean, Princess Twilight! So glad to see you!" spoke the pale pony, as she acted like everything was normal. "U-um... could you, excuse me for a moment?... please?..." she asked her princess. Twilight, gave a soft nod, as she looked a bit tired from the pain around her eyes and using so much energy to summon a fire, at the tree.

Bon bon, slammed the door, as Spike had jump from the sound. In the house, of where the two pony friends lived, voices were being herd through the windows and the closed door, as you could hear an argument sounding off. There were things like 'Lyra, I told you to keep that robot, away from the kitchen!' Or 'Stop treating that thing, like a giant sized doll, your not a filly anymore!' Eventually, Bon bon had opened the door, as she cracked a smile on her face, "C-come on in! We just had to tidy up the place a bit, he he..." The purple alicorn and the baby dragon, made their way through the door, as they entered in their house. As the two made their way into the living room, Lyra and M.T. were siting togeather, sharing the seat on the couch, as the two held hand and hoof. Lyra, looked like she was very overjoyed, being around M.T. as if they were constantly on a date.

Lyra, soon turned her head at her new princess, and looked a little surprised as well, as she had already made a friend, with something that was already unusal. "Wow... With all due respect princess... you look like a total wreck!" chuckled Lyra, as she placed a hoof over her mouth. " Lyra!" snapped Bon bon, as she was very disapointed in her friend's behavior. Twilight, took the moment to look at herself, as she looked at part of her mane, and then touched the cracks around her eyes... She gasped, as she touched it ever so delicately. Even with the most slightest touch, the sting would be just as painful if she were to normally touch it, as she did at first. After Twilight calmed down from the pain, she closed her eyes, and let out a breath, " It's alright Bon bon." spoke the princess, reassuring Lyra's friend. Twilight, took a seat across from Lyra and the robot, M.T., as they both looked at Twilight. "So... How has M.T.'s recovery going? Is he working alright? Did he bother anypony, or said anything unusal?" asked Twilight, wondering if after reviving the droid back to life, it might have some knowledge from Twilight, or even emberrassing moments from her life. " Nah, he seems to be more interractive then before though. I can understand him even more, now that he doesn't speak like some guard pony." answered Lyra, as she was very proud to still have M.T. around. " Do you have any idea where he might have come from? Or what he was programed to do?" asked Lyra, as she looked around M.T. a few times. The purple mare, glanced at M.T. a few times, and had noticed he had something on his two flat tubes, pointing at his hand's direction. They seemed to shoot something out, or suck something in. But her guess what that they were some kind of weapons, of some sort. The droid had no neck, making it to look tough, as it's head was arched and not able to pivot at all. It had a red dot on it's left chest, as it lit up red. The droid had no eyes, nor a mouth. The robot all together looked like some sort of warrior or a soldier, if anything. " I think... it could be from some sort of distant guard, from some univers. It may be a watch guard, from what I've examined." replied back the princess. Bon bon, had a tray of tea cups with a yellow tea pot, as she served them to Lyra and Twilight. She soon fixed herself a cup of the drink aswell, as she sipped. " Well watchguard or not, I think he is still cool!" spoke happily, the mint green pony spoke, as she hugged the robot, appily. Bon bon, kept her eye on Twilight, as she felt very concern about her princess. Spike, noticed that Bon bon looked worried about something, as he then looked at to what she was looking. Spike could tell that Bon bon was staring at Twilight's scars, around her eyes, as they glowed constantly, with a dimly dark green color. Bon bon, couldn't help but ask, " E-excuse me princess Twilight... If you don't me asking, are you... feeling arlight?" Spike, tried to single Bon bon to not ask any questions about the scars around her eyes, as he waved his hands around, quickly! It was far too late, as the question, was now going to answerd. Twilight, looked down at her tea, in the cup, as she looked at the reflection. Twilight's eyes had windend a bit, as she was shocked to find that the scars had grown a bit! She looked more disturbing, than before, as the glowing started to brighten up, even brighter. " I-I'm... I-I'm fine... Just a." Twilight tried to find the words to her situation, as she quickly thought of one as she paniced a bit. "Just a simple rare, alicorn sickness. Nothing to worry about!" she spoke happily, but sounded more annoyed. "Oh... I-it... It isn't contagious, is it?" Twilight's anger started to increase, as she tried to calm herself down. " No... it is not contagious... Bon bon..." Twilight, sounded more upset, as she had to replied to the mare. Lyra and M.T., soon stopped chatting to one another, as the room started to become silent. Twilight, had closed her eyes, as she tried to take deep breaths. The room then started to come to life, as small objects around the room, started to float in the air slowly. Twilight's cracked eyes glowed more brightly, as well as her horn started to glow too. " T-Twilight!" cried Spike, now more worried about her alicorn friend. " I'M FINE!" Snapped Twilight, as she suddenly opened her eyes, showing that her eyes had been replaced with green glowing eyes! M.T. started to float up in the air, as other big objects started to float aswell. " Um... Is this natural for a pony, to do such a thing?" asked M.T. failing to understand any feelings from anypony, as he moved his arms around tring to grasp for something. Spike, Bon bon, and Lyra soon started to float as well, as everypony and dragon were now scared for their lives. " Twilight! You have to calm down! Bon bon, is just worried about you!" panicked Spike, as he then tried to swim twords Twilight in thin air. The young dragon slowly made his way twords his purple friend, as he then wrapped his arms around her waist, as she stood up in the air, having both of her front hoofs in the air, like she was commanding the roof or every object in the room. Twilight, soon calmed down a bit, as her eyes started to look less bright, and started to look more normal. All the objects in the room then fell, with a lound clash. Plates, tea cups, furniture, and other objects that would be in the living room fell on the floor, as if a tornado came by. Twilight, snapped out from her short tempered rage, as she soon felt guilt. She helped herself out the door, as she would go outside, as it was still raining.

"W-what's going on with her? Spike, please tell me this sickness is getting better." asked Bon bon, as she now worried for her princess even more. Spike didn't know what to tell her, as he looked up at her, "Um... Twilight... is um..." The little dragon, scratched his head a few times, trying to find the right words, to his sentice, " She's just... tired... it's been a long day for both of us!... I, uh... I think I should head out, with her. Sorry about the mess, see you soon!" "H-hey, wait!" spoke Bon bon. Just before she could say anything else, Spike had already slammed the door shut, as he ran out to catch up to Twilight, in the rain...

It was early in the moring, as Dagger and his small band of freedom fighters, were in the middle of a fight, against the Hogz. They'd had ambushed an average group of Hogz, as they made hit and run attacks, against the groups of warthogs. As they made their hit and run moves pegasus were moving ponies everywhere, as fast as they could to keep up the mobility of their attacks. They were eventually done with the assult, as they searched the camp for anymore survivors from the Hogz.

Dagger, Trixie, Pinkamena, and Brave Heart were in the center of the small camp of the Hogz' as they searched around the horribly made tents, and looked behind piles of broken wood and metal pieces, as they found grots scavaging around. They killed as many grots as they could, as the little goblins panicked and cried. Pinkamena then found something, after she had shot a few more grots, behind a pile of more trash. In front of her, was a green glob of fungus as they seemed to be like some sort of sacks. They looked like something had come out, as she examined them. She knew what it was, as she then lit a match up, and tossed it at the green almost slimy fungus. It burned suprisenly well, as the fire burned it really quickly. She then returned to scouting around for more grots, as she looked disapointed at somepony.

"Dagger, no more signs of any hog activity. What are your next orders?" asked Flashsentry, as he stood front and center before Dagger. To the pony guardsman's right side was Frost, and to his left was another stallion. Dagger sighed, as he wasn't too happy to have not found the wartboss yet. If only he had found wartboss Wartguts, this whole mess would have been over sooner. " Get everypony back on the Heavenly Angel. We've done our job here, now we must find more targets." " Right away sir!" replied Flash, as the three stallions rushed, as they executed his orders.

Trixie, snooped around a bit too far, from Dagger's squad, as she lifted a crate open. The crate was upside down, as the lid was already open. Trixie, poked her head in the crate, and found nothing as she then stuck her head back out. Suddenly, a small figure jumped out of no where and hopped onto Trixie's back! "AAAH!" cried Trixie, as she bucked the thin air, wildly! She then ran around trying to get the thing that had jumped on her back, as she paniced. It was a grot, as it was trying to stab Trixie to death as he held a small needle for a weapon. The grot, held onto Trixie's mane tight, as the little gobblin grunted a few times, as he flew up and down on the mare's back. Soon, the grot raised it's small flimsy arm up, holding the needle. The grot then striked Trixie, in the back, as she cried in pain. She then tossed her rump in the air, catapulting the grot off of her. The grot cried as he flew right twords Dagger's squad's, direction. The grot crashed landed onto the soil, as his face dug into the ground, as he gathered dirt all over face. Brave Heart, in full crusade armor, complete with hemet, towered over the grot. The little gobblin, pulled his head out from the rubble, as yelled some more, as he panicked, " N-N-NO! P-Please! No stomp'n! NO STOMP'N! NYAAAAAA!" cried the grot, as he covered his face in defense! Dagger, rushed tword's the crusader, as he placed a shoulder onto his shoulder, " H-Hold it there, Brave heart!" commanded Dagger. The tall buff stallion, with his great sword hanging on his back, slowly placed his hoof back on the ground, as he turned his head twords Dagger, " What's all this about!? He's one of them, is he not, mister Dagger?" questioned the tall stallion, wondering why he didn't kill the grot, by now. " He may have some information, on where the next nearest Hog camp might be. Letting us to be one hoof closer, to Wartguts." " Uh... I like how you think, sir Dagger..." nodded the tall stallion, as he then backed a few hoofs behind Dagger.

Dagger, took off his Quantillian helmet, as he glared down at the grot. The disgusting little goblin was in the middle of his crying, as he sniveled, in fear. Dagger, was getting relentless with this chase as he knew that Hogz would never run away from a fight. Something was going on, and he wanted to know why the Hogz were running away from his group, if they even were. Dagger, placed a hoof, on the grot's little chest, as his whole hoof covered half of his puny chest. " Speak when spoken to, trash!" spoke firmly, the red armored stallion spoke. The grot cleared up his tears as he looked up at Dagger, as the sun shined upon his face, almost blinding his vision. " Where is Wartguts hiding?..." questioned Dagger, as he looked at the little runty gobblin. The grot squirmed around, as he started to panick again.

Trixie, had made her way back to the squad, as she saw that Dagger was speaking to the grot. She watched Dagger, and listened to what the two were saying. " Hey! I'm talking to you! Tell me where the damn pig is, or I'll gut you like one of them, you piece of trash!" yelled Dagger, as he stomped one of his other free hoof, right next to the grot's head. Dagger, had gotten the little green grot's attention, as he looked back up at the stallion. The grot knew now that all it would take was one stomp from Dagger's hoof, to completely cruch his small, crunchy skull. The grot then started to fess up, as he covered his face, once more, " W-W-Wartboss? W-Wartguts!? H-He went in the southeast direction! Southeast! He said something about creating a huge 'Waargh!' and building a Stompa! Yes! Yes! I swear! It was what I heard! Iz swear!" whined the little grot, as he cried some more. Dagger, was stunded a bit, as he paused for one quick moment. In his mind, he imagined about the 'Stompa' for a moment... He herd about how big they were, and how powerful and devastating one would be... But a Stompa? Here? Now? In all the places to build a Stompa, here!? And how are they even going to build such a devastating walking machine, with so little recourses?

Dagger, looked back down at the grot, as he looked more furious at the grot, " Leave... and you better run..." growled Dagger, as he released the grot under his hoof. The little runty gobblin jumped on his feet, as he dashed away from the ponies. But Dagger, wasn't planning on letting the grot to live, as he dashed away. Grot's could somehow easily almost out run most ponies, even though they are small little gobblins. Just before the grot was about to make a turn, to be out of sight, Dagger aimed his hoof held blaster, and fired it! The shot went straight for the grot's skull, as the laser went right through it, hitting a pile of junk as it's laser died down. The grot's forehead showed a bit of smoke, as the little runt dropped dead. Dagger was gunna be really upset, if he found out that the hogz had made a Stompa on this planet. A Stompa was a great huge war machine, that looked like a huge monsterous hog, stomping with two legs instead of four. The Stompa would be armed with one arm as a giant chain saw, while the other arm would have a long berral cannon, shooting dozens of endless round of cannon fire! If the Hogz ever built such a thing many ponies would die, just from it's rampaging...

Everypony, took note of what had just happened, as they watched Dagger gunning down the grot, with one single shot. Trixie, looking for some attention walked up to Dagger, "Uh, alas Trixie has been wounded... Would somepony, such as a stallion help this mare out?" announced Trixie, as she place a single hoof over her head, in an act. Suddenly, somepony pulled the little small needle out from Trixie's back, as the light blue mare jumped a bit, " Ouch, hey!" complained Trixie, " You'll be fine!..." spoke Pinkamena, as she stormed twords Dagger, looking very upset, " But I don't think we all will be, later on..." continued the dark pink pony. She stopped infront of Dagger, and looked up at him straight in the eyes, as she wispered to him, " … You better tell them, what we are dealing with..." demeanded Pink, as she scowled at him. " What are you talking about?... Wait... You know about the Hogz?" asked Dagger, as he wasn't sure what she was saying. Pinkamena, nodded as she kept her eyes fixed on Daggers'. " You bet I do! And if you don't tell them soon enough, they may get suspicious about you, and all of this!" growled Pinkamena, " What you're doing right now, is going to soon screw everypony up, if you don't tell them what they are dealing with!" she continued, " What happens if they find an fungus nest!? Then what?" questioned the pink mare. The two exchaged dirty looks at one another, " I need their moral right now! I cannot allow them to think about giving up, if they knew about what we know." replied Dagger. " Well, sooner or later, they'll have answers... Then what will you do? Say your sorry?" hissed Pinkamena, " If you don't tell them, they may think of you as a suicide leader of some sort... Think about it!" The two ponies, stallion and mare, looked at one another, as they didn't move a muscle. Then, Pink nugged her head, at the other ponies, messaging Dagger to reveil as to why he has a small group of ponies, and not a huge army to go against the Hogz. Dagger, simply closed his eyes, and put his hemet back on. Flash Sentry, had came back with report, as he this time didn't have anypony around him, "Dagger, everypony is in the Heavenly Angel! We await your command to take off." " Good, lets get back on the ship, and move on!" replied Dagger, as everypony followed his lead. Pinkamena, did not like how their leader was handling the situation about the Hogz. If Dagger doesn't tell anypony about the Hogz background yet, as they somehow multiply by a dozen at a time, things will start to heat up with Dagger's group, if they started to find out that there were more Hogz, then before...

Back on the Heavenly Angel, the air ship was moving fast, as the wind currency blew heavily at the south, helping Dagger's air ship moving southeast. Dagger, can't wait to find wartboss Wartguts, as he thought of the idea of fighting him... Fighting the biggest hog in the war band was not simple to kill. A wartboss's bones were three times stronger than rocks, as their skins were thicker then leather, making it hard to tear apart, if Dagger didn't have his heavy blade around. The thought of the idea frighten him a bit, but he was determined to kill the wartboss and end his warband.

Elsewhere, upon the Heavenly Angle, Brave Heart, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Trixie, and Octavia who still wore her black outfit, all were walking through the hallway of the airship, has they sparked up a conversation. " These Hogz, are quite a tough foe, for a small group like us. I am very surprised, that nopony had yet to die." commented Brave Heart, as he had his helmet off this time, showing his fiery mane. " Indeed, we have been facing a lot of these warthogs a lot, and yet all we are reciving from these small fights are just cuts and bruses. I guess Dagger knows how deal with this brutes." aslo commented Octavia, as the only part of her face only showed her eyes. Apple Jack, can't help but notice that the odd strange pony who looked like a ninja or some sort of assassin, has yet to have shown her face, as she barely speeks around anypony. " Sugar cube, aren't you tired of wearing that outfit of your's? It must be mighty hot and ichy, wearing that clothing everyday." concerned AJ, as she looked around the dark clothed mare. Octavia, looked troubled as she tried to find her next words, to answer, "U-U-I uh... I am... I-It's.. It's my religion." replied Octavia, as she pulled what ever words she could find, in her mind. " Religion? What religion?" questioned Apple Jack, not believing a word, what she just said. AJ, never seen this kind of religion before, nor has she probably herd of it. Octavia, didn't know what she was getting herself into, as she tried to find her next careful words, for her next answer, " I-Its called..." All she could think of in her mind, was orchrestra music, her friend Vinyl Scratch, and other things from both Canterlot and Ponyville. She cleared her throat out, and came up with a name, " Vinestra..." she replied quietly, as she mumbled a bit. " What's that? Come again sugar cube?" Apple Jack, couldn't hear what the odd mare had said, as she replied back this time more clearer, " Vinestra, it's called Vinestra." she calmly spoke. " Vainestra? I've never herd of such a thing!" stated AJ, thinking that it was just a made up word, " Oh give it a rest Apple Jack! So what if she never shows her face, nopony cares if she acts weird or not!" stated Rainbow Dash, trying to get back on subject, about the Hogz. " Trixie agrees with Rainbow Dash. These uncultured animals, surely are terrible at shooting, but are incredibly strong if you let them get to close to you. How in Equestria are we still alive?" commented Trixie. " Perhaps, it is the works of Celestia... Praise the sun, I say!" replied the knighthood stallion. " Ha! Celestia's work or not, I think it's because of my quick work, against those pigs! They can't even lay a hoof on me, for a second!" boasted the prideful rainbow maned mare, as she raised her wings around, as she spoke. Rainbow wish she was back out, fighting against the Hogz again soon, as she tricked the warthogs around into their own set up traps, or even killing one another and eventually using her sword to strike at them, on their sweet spots on the back. " That's because you're most of the time, flying in the air, Rainbow!" reminded Apple Jack, as she clearly remembered that she saw her friend zipping around in the air, confusing the warthogs many times. " Sounds like somepony, is just jealous of somepony's work. Who was that? Oh yea, me!" replied Rainbow Dash, as she spoke out again. " Whether it is Rainbow Dash or not, doing all the work for us, there is still one thing I can't help but noticing... We've fought many of these brutes for some days now, and now I get the feeling that there are still hundreds more of them, out there..." " What do you mean?" asked Apple Jack, after the unusal mare spoke, "... I mean... Like somehow these hogs are multiplying somehow... Even though they're all males." " First off, ew..." answered Rainbow Dash, as she continued, " Second, that just sounds like crazy talk! I'm sure there are at least a few of them left! It's not like these things can actually multiply just out of thin air, right?" Everypony nodded their heads, agreeing with the rainbow maned mare, as she got her answer. Everypony, but Octavia, as she couldn't help but have this feeling that there are hundreds more of these warthogs, still out there. "... Trixie, has also noticed something else!" commented Trixie, as she only wore her cape with out her pointy hat, " Trixie, had once picked up one of their weapons. I tried to pull the trigger, thinking it would fire out something, as I used my powerful magic. I've seen how these things work, but for some reason, it didn't work at all." " What was this weapon shaped like?" asked Brave Heart, curous as to what she was talking about. " It was like a small rectangle shape, as it would shoot out small pointy metal parts out. When Trixie looked at it some more, and Trixie noticed that this... Thing! Wouldn't be able to even shoot out anything out! It was illogical for it to even shoot anything out, as Trixie only found trash coming out of it's end!" complained the light blue mare. Trixie, was trying to explain that she held what was called a slugga, which was a trashy, welded together metal scrap, that was shaped like a hand gun, except bigger and bulkier. Hogz, didn't ever think anything logical. All they warthogz needed to do, to build a gun, was to shape it into a gun, as best they could build it. Add a few random junk into the gun, counting it as gears and triggers, and finally load it with something that would shoot out of. To a Hog, it was really simple to under stand, as to ponies it made absolutely no sense at all! It would just be a piece of trashy, metal, parts that wouldn't even be considered as a weapon at all, to anypony. " Maybe these barbarians are more dangerous than we thought then..." stated Brave Heart. Everypony, listened to the knight pony, as they already knew that the Hogz were already dangerous enough, for anypony. Brave Heart continued, as he thought out loud, " If these things can just simply think of trash being weapons... Think of what monstrosity they could build then! They could build that thing, you speak of Mrs. Trixie, but even bigger, and maybe even better!" finnished the knighthood stallion. This got everypony to think on, as Brave Heart made his point. " I think that's silly! I'm sure there's somepony who is helping these guys, with some tools and stuff." replied Rainbow Dash, thinking that she was right. " Ah don't know Rainbow... If there were anypony helping these warthogs, don't ya think they'd shown up by now as a prisoner or at least some sort of proof?" asked AJ, now noticing even more scary thoughts about the Hogz. Everypony thought about it again! No ponies, weapons and guns that simply only worked for the Hogz, and no pony else aided them, and the increasing numbers of Hogz, though out the day... Something was turly wrong here... and everypony didn't like it...

Suddenly, an loud bell sounded off, as the Heavenly Angel gave such an alarming ring, from it's alarm system. A big bell was in the center of the air ship, and then there were tubes going in all directions to lead the noise of the bell, to other rooms where nopony could hear it. The Heavenly Angel was on high alert, as Everypony and a mule got out from the indoors of the war ship, and looked around outside, as everypony was on deck. Dagger, trotted to everypony as he rushed to them! The quantillian pony looked shocked, and upset, as he began to annouce to everypony! " Everypony! We have a huge problem! The Hogz have built, an enormous sized war machine, which is called a Stompa!" Everypony, had no idea what was a Stompa, as they didn't like the sound of the message that Dagger was giving them. " A Stompa, is a huge war machine made out of all sorts of scrap metal, and mixed with some better quality metal. It is armed with an incredibly sized cannon, that can shoot at none stop!" continued Dagger, as he herd the group commenting in such suprise, as they cannot imagin the size of the weapon or the machine itself! " Not only is it armed with a ranged weapon, but also with a massive sized sword-like weapon which is called a chain blade!" Everypony was now shocked, that this over sized machine was now not only armed with a huge cannon, but also a massive chain saw? Everypony was now asking one another, as to how they were going to stop this thing, if it got too close to Canterlot, Ponyville, or even any other settlement! " In my world, it's what's called a chain sword. It's sharpness rotates around, constantly. They are very devastating when they strike!" announced Dagger, warning the group, as to what's to come. " However!" everypony was now quiet, as they thought there there was yet hope, to stop this giant machine, " They're are several weak spots around the Stompa, that can easily be destroid, if we can only work together!" Dagger could see, that everypony was sorta calm, but none the less they were frightened, and yet curious about this 'Stompa' machine. " I cannot say this time, that most of you will come out alive for this fight, sadly... The Stompa is leading a warband of more Hogz, that looks like that is heading to Canterlot. If we don't stop them, or at least stop the Stompa Canterlot is doomed to a massive devastation, from the warmachine. I know very well there are few of us and there are so many of them! I know you have all been noticing that their weapons, don't make any sense. If we can get this right once, we can end the Hogz, right here, right now." As Dagger spoke outloud to everypony, some of them noticed, that their loved ones may miss them, or worse comes to worse... they'll all be killed, by the hoofs of the Hogz. They made it this far, it was just going to be the last few of the Hogz. This was it... all or nothing! " So... Who's with me?" asked Dagger, asking his group. The group, thought positive about this, thinking that they were going to face the last wave of Hogz left on their lands, ending their little 'Waaargh!'

As the group departed from the main deck, Dagger couldn't help but notice, that his group was probably thinking that this was going to be the final push... It wasn't... The Hogz now had three times as many Hogz, than the last time they faced the actual mob, back in Canterlot. Dagger hoped that they would have their heads straight, to fight off their invaders. Dagger, knew only one important detail, that somehow Pinkamena knows about... He only kept it to himself, and dared not to share it with anypony else. Pinkamena, didn't want to share it either, as she didn't mind killing more Hogz, than anypony.

All there is for Dagger to think about, was his small, little, group... Will they follow his orders til the end, or will they all coward, and think that this would be too much for them to handle...

Back in Ponyville, Twilight was reading her dark magic book, as she laid in bed, in her library. Spike had kept her distance from her, as he could hear her chuckling, a few times. The baby dragon was getting worried, as he continued his chores, as he herd her little laughter thinking she was reading a good book. Her laughter was just a simple happy laugh how ever... She started to sound more insane as time went by.

Later on that day, Celestia was seting the sun, making way for the night. Spike, came up to Twilight's room, as he couldn't help himself, to check up on Twilight. Ponies, in ponyville noticed that their new princess was acting stange, as they commented behind her back. Twilight, somehow could hear their conversations, as if her ears were able to hear grass growing. This made Twilight to break out, a few burst of rage a few times, as she made a scene on each day... " Tw-Twilight?..." asked Spike. The room was time lit with candels, as he found Twilight... The curtains were covering the last bits, of sun light, making it harder to see as the lights slowly fixed into the light of the candel's settings... "T-Twilight?" called Spike again, as he carefully walked behind the purple mare, quietly and carefully. Spike, looked around Twilight's back, peaking again onto the book, that Twilight was reading. Suddenly, the book slammed shut and the puple mare raised her head a bit, with irritation knocking at her door. "...Spike..." spoke Twilight, as she gritted her teeth, with such anger. " Twilight?" just before Spike could say anything else, a hoof came across Spike's cheek, as he was smacked by her master's hoof. Spike was flung backwards, as he landed on the floor, left with a bruse on his right cheek. " HOW MANY TIMES TO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR!" The alicorn mare's voice boomed out loud, as she sounded like some sort of godess from tartarus. Spike, ingored his stinging pain from his cheek and was stunned to what he saw from Twilight, as she got off from her seat, confronting him, as she slowly walked tword's him, taking one hoof step at a time... What the baby dragon saw, around his friend's eyes, was that the green scars from her eyes have grown even three times bigger! The dark, green, glowing, scars reached all around her head, and looked like they were heading to her neck! Twilight's pupil eyes, were replaced with a fire red color, making her to look menacing! Twilight's mane was also a bit out of shape, as it looked like she didn't have to time to brush it, for five days. She was a complete mess to Spike as he eyed at her, as long as he could! Then, something caught Spike's eyes... the book... that unusal, dark looking... book... Before the baby dragon could react, he was then shot by something! The blast launched him off the floor, as he then was stopped by the door, of the room, he entered through. Spike, opened his eyes, as he looked at Twilight... She was very upset. She was at the point where talking to her would be pointless... Spike looked back at the area, that Twilight had shot at. He felt pain, from his chest... He was bleeding... Blood trickled out a bit, but wasn't enough to make the dragon to stay put, or to even kill him. Spike was lucky, as the blast wasn't strong enough to penetrate though his scales. The young dragon now knows that Twilight was a threat now...

Twilight Sparkle, readied up another magic, ready to fire at her assistant, as Spike tried to dodge the attack, by exiting the room! He slamed the door shut, and ran down stairs! The door exploded, the shards of wood, from the once there door shattered from. Spike, turned around, out of curiosity thinking after Twilight had busted open the door, maybe she would have snapped out of it by now. Twilight, then stopped... She then started to show pain, as the scars around from her neck started to expand, they moved quickly twords her torso, her legs, and even her tail... She almost looked like that her skin was going to crack up, and something would have come out from her body, as her skin would burst into pieces! Spike had rushed back up to Twilight, as he would lend a claw to her. " T-Twilight! Twilight! What's wrong!?" cried the baby dragon, confused at to what was happening! Twilight curled up, on the floor, as she felt such incredible pain from her entire life! The pain was so intense, that it felt like she was being electrocuted, as it aslo felt like it was burning! Twilight, wimpered constantly as she almost looked like she was going to cry. Soon, a tear broke out from her eye, as she took one last look at her faithul assistant... Her last words echoed into Spike's ears, as he froze... "...Run Spike..."

A long pause, what felt like more like hours occurred. Twilight, let out a big screech, as she screemed incredibly loud out from her lungs! Her screech was so loud, Spike almost felt deaf as he made his escape from the library! Then, a huge bright green flash went off, as well as a loud mistical noise of an explostion, sounded! Twilight's scream, was no more after Spike had slammed the door from the outside, as he cried in fear... Was Twilight dead? Is she alright? Was she going to make it from what ever had happened!? All these words, floated into the little dragon's mind, until he dared himself, to check up on Twilight one last time.

The curious dragon, walked back into the room, carefully. He looked up at the steps to where Twilight's body would have been. But this spooked the dragon a bit. Twilight's body, was not there any more... All that remained of Twilight Sparkle... was just shells of what looked like that used to be her skin... Spike, picked up one of the shells, and looked at it... It was as hard as an egg shell, and even cracked as easily like an egg shell. The texture was not even furry, as if Twilight was wearing a fake skin suit of some sort. Spike, couldn't belive what just happened, or even understood as to what had just happened... First Twilight attacked him, then she was in great pain. What ever happened, Twilight was now gone...

Then, something crept out from the ceiling, as a long dark colored, bat wing was coming out from the shadows just above the young dragon. Spike, looked up thinking that something was spying on him. The baby dragon, wiped his tears away thinking Twilight was possibly still alive! He would now belive in ANYTHING, that would be a chance that Twilight was still around in Equestria now...

The dark figure, landed on the shells, of where Twilight Sparkle had once laid there, as more shells cracked! Spike jumped, as he backed away from the figure. In front of him, was a pony shapped body, that had two bat wings, a horn of a unicorn, as the same skin of Twilight's... However... the eyes were completely different... The dark alicorn mare opened her eyes, as a grey aura seeped out from her eyes... the pupils of her eyes were in a color of fire, just like Twilight's after shot got this infection of some sort... The fearce looking mare, was also wearing armor, as the base color was mostly charcoal black... Her dark bat wings was also lightly covered in armor. The mare's legs was armed with silver metal leg armor, as well as her hoofs were armed with silver hoof thorns. The alicorn bat winged mare looked down at Spike, and smiled down at him as she showed her teeth... The mare was a little bigger that Twilight, and unlike Twilight, this mare had fangs...

Spike's conscious was telling him to run away from this mare, but he just stood there in fear, as he watched the tall dark pony. "T-T-Twilight?..." spoke the frightened dragon, as he stared at the mare... The dark alicorn mare spoke with an older voice like Twilight's, and spoke like a godess, when she spoke to Twilight's assistant, "... Twilight?..." asked the dark mare, as she continued to smile down at Spike, " That name doesn't exsist any more..." "W-what do you mean!?" panicked the baby dragon, " You look just like her! Except the bat wings!" protested Spike, thinking that for certain that this was the real Twilight Sparkle he knows, or at least with a different personality. "... No, no... You see, my young child, I am not Twilight Sparkle... I'm Twilight Dazzle my dear child... eh ah ah ah ah..." chuckled Dazzle, as she put a hoof over her mouth. She then rested her same hoof back on the floor, as she looked at the face expression of Spike's. The poor broken hearted and confused dragon, felt miserable. The dark alicorn made her way to the exit of the tree house library, leaving Spike to his thoughts. " I'll let you go, unharmed Mr... what was your name again?" pondered for a bit, Twilight Dazzle tried to remember what was the baby dragons name. Spike slowly turned his head around, as he looked up at the dark alicorn as his life was crushed, "... Strike?... Ike?..." teased the alicorn, as she then remember the name somehow... " Ah yes! Spike..." smiled Dazzle, as she headed to the door, down the steps. " W-wait!... H-how do you know my name?" dared the young dragon, to ask such a question, to this dark figure. The dark alicon, turned around, as she looked at Spike, using the corner of her eye. She smiled at the baby dragon, and was already outside, as she opened her massive wide bat wings! They were just as wide as Princess Celestia's wings length, as they hovered over the ground, a few feet! Then, Twilight Dazzle took off, with a few flaps in the air, with her bat wings. It was already dark, out-side of Twilight's home, as the confused baby dragon, walked out from the library, all alone... "... Twilight... She doesn't know how to fly that well..." said the dragon, has he held his tail close to himself. Spike needed to see Twilgiht, and needed a hug from her too, as he improvized, by using his own tail. Huging his very own tail, felt nothing like Twilight's arm body, of her fur, and soft coat. Spike felt cold, lost, and really confused. All he could think about was to how that strange alicorn, Twilight Dazzle knew his name... was she actually Twilight Sparkle in another dimetion or some pony else?

In the fortress of where King Sombra's quarters were... Sombra, was sitting in his throne as he closed his eyes, meditating of what is about to become, of Equestria... The army was now set, the wagons were built, his forces wanted blood in there hands, hoofs, and even in their claws. All was ready, except for Kora, who has yet to have returned, from one of her missions...

The door burst opened, into Sombra's throne room, where King Sombra then opened his eyes, gently... A long eared pony, with two more at his side, trotted twords King Sombra, as they reported of their findings. " Your highness! We have allied with Nightmare Moon's remaining soldiers. We have now endless ways to kill our foes with their stealthy capabilities." King Sombra was a bit surprised, but was very pleased that the last of Nightmare Moon's servants accepted the allince with the New Empire... "... Very good... But we must await for my... daughter... to have come back, from her mission... I cannot start this crusade, until she has returned..." " Understood, your majesty! We will await furthure orders." The three long eared ponies trotted back out of the throne room, as the closed the doors behind. Everything was set, everything was ready... all that the plan needs, is somepony to execute it... Kora, shall be the one to lead her father's forces, out into battle. With Kora's powers, Sombra will be unstoppable creating endless amouts of attacks, against Celestia's kingdom...

Down in the prisons, of Canterlot, in the night... Tiger Zann slept in his prision cell, as he had his eyes shut. He was the ONLY prisoner away from any other criminal, seven cells away... Tiger Zann, was a dangerous old stallion as he always had a plan about something, and most of the time the plan had worked... The old high crimed criminal wasn't even sleeping. Instead of sleeping, he was waiting for the time to strike, as guardsman colts, stood watch. All this was an act for him. Then, a little rat came squeaking as it made it's way to Tiger Zann... The little rodent, had a troubling time running to the old stallion's prison cell, as it scurried. None of the guardman ponies, payed any attention to the rat. The little critter then finally stopped inside Tiger's cell, as he then picked up the rat and untied a little rope that held onto a note. Tiger Zann smiled, as he sat back up on his bed. The note read, ' Sweet whisle, sweet whisle, let us hear the words, that you've said. Sweet whisle, sweet whisle, let down all of the red heads.'

Out of the bloom, the Canterlot guards then herd a soft whisle sound. The guards ponies didn't like the sound of the whistle, as they made their way to the cell, that made the whisle noise. The note coming from the whisle, was calm and elegant. As it played out loud, the whisle started to sound more plesant than usual. It played a sweet tune, as it would sound like a mother putting a child to bed. Then, one by one, yells from the guards ponies were herd. Each one having their head cut off, as blood would be left on the walls, floors, and even ceilings. This kept happening more frequently as the tune of the whisle started to get closer to the end of the tune. Once Tiger Zann, had stopped whisling, all the guardsmens were all slain... The old stallion stopped and poked his head around, through the bars. He looked around as if he was waiting for something. A guards pony's head, rolled with the helmet as the face expression of the guard was shocked and was stuck in that facial expression! Tiger Zann, looked at the young colts head, as he smirked a smile. "... You must love doing the Deathly Silent, don't you Uber Fend?..." asked Tiger Zann, as if he was speaking to somepony, or to some griffin...

Uber Fend, uncloaked out in the open from a moon light, as there was a mystical sound of a field, as it reveild an old griffin, with two very thin metal wings. " We are in the area, as planned Tiger..." growled the griffin. Uber Fend, then made quick work of the bars, that held Tiger Zann in his cell, as he was now set free. The two nodded at one another, and then departed from one another, as each of them had a plan, that was going to be put into action...

Uber Fend, simply ran around in the prison, cutting all cell blocks, setting the prisoners free from their cells, " We're free!" " Tiger Zann has freed us!" " Come on guys! For the glory of corruption! Charge!" cheered the prisoners, as they went to the nearest guards pony, and ganged upon them, taking their armor and weapons. The prisoners even fought against one another, for the weapons and armor, as it was everypony for themselves game... Uber Fend's work was done... distraction was now in it's place for the time being...

Tiger Zann, soon found his clothing and his old weapon, that would scatter it's deadly shots. He suited up, and made his way to the higher levels of the Canterlot castle.

Tiger Zann, later had reached at a stainded glass room, where it would show the histories of victory and defeat, such and the mane six defeating Nightmare Moon... Then, two unusal guards ponies showed up, as they held strong sturdy looking spears, with magical arua around the sharp ends of the big blades... The two stallions, wore white and sivler armor, as it pattered to Celestia's recognition.

The armor looked heavy as well at their spears, as Tiger Zann confronted them. The three of them stared at one another, as they both kept their distance from one another. The crime lord pony then showed a smile, as he then pulled out a bag of bits... " Can I offer you gentle colts... a side mission?..." he asked, as he offered the bag to them. One of the special guards ponies, then lashed out his spear at the bag, as he punchered a hole at it. The spear then rested back, next into the stallion's hoofs, " How dare you, offer us economical options for us! You shall be not only be sent to your sell, worm!... You shall also be hung for bribery!" yelled the heavy armored stallion.

The two guards, walked quickly, as they readied their spears, to arrest Tiger Zann. The old crime lord smiled, as he pulled his ranged weapon out, from behind his old leather coat. " As expected..." he commented, as he fired his first shot at the armor of the guardsman. The shot pushed the closest one away a few feet, but he was still standing on his hoofs as he regained control. One of the guards, slammed his blade using the spear, on the ground, as a magical currency zipped around, in Tiger Zann's direction! Zann, jumped up in the air and shotgun the attack, leaving a small crater on the expensive floor! Tiger Zann, was launched in the air by the shot from his weapon, as he flew over the two guard ponies. " After him brother! We cannot allow him to get the Elements of Harmony!" alerted one of the heavy armored stallions. Tiger Zann, was now infront of the door to the elements of harmony, as he then opened the door using his gun! He shot it open, grabbed the chest, and raced away from the guards! The guardsmens weren't fast enough to capture Tiger Zann, nor were they even able to stop him, using their spear's magic powers, because he was too slick and too smart. The crime lord eventually made his way to the door, to exit the room, which was the previous one he had entered from. He turned around to gloat, as he laughed, " It was fun while it lasted boys, but I've... got something more important, than to just simply to lollygag with you..."

Tiger Zann, raced out from the back of the castle, as Uber Fend waited for him. Behind Uber Fend, were a few cheap gold armor pony guards, as they held some high tech weapons. Tiger Zann, raised a hoof with the chest, that had the Elements of Harmony, inside! They then all gathered around the cybernetic pony bot, named X-4. They surrounded X-4 and vanished into thin air, as they were being teleported elsewhere...

Soon after, Tiger Zann had reached his secret underworld, of where crime rates were off the chart high, he opened the chest, and looked inside... The Elements of Harmony was no where to be found, inside the chest...

Tiger Zann, was furous as he tossed the empty box at the garbage in the alley they were in. The crime lord was not pleased, as they would now have to do some more research for the Elements of Harmony, yet again, as to where the location may be...