Hello everypony, I have brought you another chapter of Love Taketh Me.

Take warning that it will not be like the Sunny Town thing where he is trapped, but even better with the cursed ponies being freed to attack and inflict their curse on the one place James doesn't want to go to.

There will be no love rekindling yet, not for a little while, but there will be a little dark stuff in here before the really gory things come in with Canterlot being destroyed.

Sorry, had to point out that this will be a dark story as well.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. Remember to leave a review or show your loyalty to the story favoriting and/or following the story.

Enjoy.

Darkness, absolute darkness surrounded me when we entered this nightmare of a town. Blood dripped all over the place, flesh hung from trees and burnt homes that I wish would fall to the ground right now. I was not one to get sick, but seeing this hellhole look even worse made the contents in my stomach churn with a fury as I held my keyblades tightly.

Oath Keeper and Oblivion were going crazy with alarming me that enemies are nearby. They were glowing brightly and lightning was crackling around them while Rain slithered at my side very closely.

We were scared out of our wits right now, knowing that one wrong move would cost us our lives if we were not careful in retrieving Applebloom before it was too late. Rain was already flaring the power I gave her while I kept my senses about me as the skies changed to a blood red. With that happening, and the ground around us going from brown to black, I nodded to her as a sign to be ready for whatever happens.

After passing Gladstone's house, we entered the forest that led to Ruby's home. We wanted to make sure that Applebloom had not entered that place to see the skeleton of the filly that was killed out of cold blood. My footsteps were the only sound through this journey of fear, which is not at all normal since these freaks of nature would pop up everywhere within seconds.

Rain knew it, I knew it, we both knew something is not right, and that was what got us near petrified while coming up to the cottage of Ruby.

"Jamesss sssomething isss not right here, they would have appeared by now" Rain pointed out, receiving a nod from me while our walk took a sharp turn around a large bush full of eyeballs.

It was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life, but this was only the beginning of our nightmare while finding Applebloom. With no lead as to where she could be, Rain and I continued our approach to the cottage that looked vacant right now. We approached it in silence and stopped at door, but knowing this was too easy I signaled my serpent friend to check in the window to her right while I checked the window to my left.

She nodded and did as requested, then I did, but the dust on my glass was so thick that I could not see inside at the moment. This frustrated me while trying to keep a low crouch, so I looked over to Rain to see if she had some kind of reaction to seeing inside the place.

Her luck was the same as mine, which left us no choice but to enter the house and see if Applebloom was in there.

Our situation was getting more dangerous by the second with only a short amount of time left before the brush opening closes. If we didn't hurry up we would be left with the only option of flying out of this place, and frankly I was not in the mood of using my flying ability to get out of this.

With no way to see inside, we returned to the door and slowly pushed it open. It gave me a serious case of the shivers with that loud creek in the hinges that were covered in blood and mold. The entire house was pitch black, except for the fireplace, so we entered even slower than ever with the only means of sight being my eye ability that was on the fritz.

My Byakugan was activated, but there was so much dark energy around me that I was blind to the area. This did not go well with me, I was not a fan of being blind to the world around me, especially when it is Sunny Town.

Unsure of what to think, I braced for a possible surprise attack while using my magic to light up the room. With a snap of my fingers I made the light of my blue form with the candles that are around us.

I wished I had not though for there was two ponies in the middle of the empty room. One being a frantic Applebloom that was nudging the other pony that I wished was not here at the moment. But there was no escape from encountering her this time, especially when she looks like a teenager again, with her mane and tail tied back, and is hurt pretty badly.

All I could do now was gasp and worry for the pink mare that had a huge tear in her left shoulder. It was bleeding while another on the right side of her barrel laid open with flesh hanging off.

Rain knew just how hard this was for me now, seeing as I still have feelings for the alicorn that broke my heart once upon a time. My love for her is still there, and it was aching at the horrors of what has been done to her.

"Princess, princess" Applebloom whimpered.

"Cadance" I whispered, then rushed over to them to find out what exactly has been going on.

I got on my knees and turned the alicorn over for a better examination of her wounds. She was definitely needing medical attention because of the tears in her body, and for the reason of my fears becoming true while I heard her mumble and cough as she stared up to me with her right eye being pitch black and blood oozing from her mouth.

She had been cursed by these monsters, and only I can cure her of this stuff before it's too late. Only problem though is that I would have to purge and extract the curse in the exact same way I did for Scootaloo.

"James...Ja...Jamie"

"It's okay Cady, I'm here sweetheart, I'm gonna fix you up" I blurted out and held her close, trying to cover her eyes so that she did not see the tears rolling out of me.

I despise Cadance without a doubt, but my love for her is still there. For me to see this happening to my Ex-Marefriend brought me to tears while the rage in my heart built inside for one outburst against the bastards that did this. Cadance betrayed me, left me because Celestia and Luna threatened to kick her out if she chose me over being a princess.

That was the truth about Cadance betraying me, and I will always hold onto that truth. But for right now I had to push aside my anger and dislike of her, I had to save her before this curse took her as well.

I was not going to let her die, I knew now that Cadance suffered enough because of her choice. She hasn't seen me for a thousand years, and yet she still calls to me through our connection. She has already begged me to give her a second chance, called me Jamie, say that she still loves me and that I'm her mate. After so long she is still in love with me, which makes me more of a fool for thinking she was just playing with my emotions.

It wasn't easy when holding the alicorn in my arms, tears rolling and my mental prayers to god being pleads for him to give me the strength to end this nightmare.

My desires were meaningless though, they did not matter at the moment. What truly mattered was that Applebloom needed to explain to us how this happened before we took them back to the castle.

With that in mind, I turned to the earth pony that was still whimpering and crying.

"What happened here Applebloom?" I asked firmly, drawing her attention from the pink alicorn that was now holding me tightly and still mumbling under her breath.

Luckily the filly was strong minded, so all I had to do was ask that one time and wait for an answer for about a few seconds after she took a deep breath.

"Ah-ah wandered here because of a filly ah saw, bu-but af-after walking so much ah-ah found the princess like this. But there was some Griffon with a necklace on him that controlled the monsters"

"Griffon...necklace...oh no" I said to myself, realizing this was no rescue mission at all.

Applebloom may have wandered into here by herself because of curiosity getting the best of her, but Cadance being here was no random timing or coincidence. The Griffon I put unconscious a couple weeks ago must have come here and used his pendant to take control of Grey Hoof and his minions.

This was no meeting by fate...IT WAS A FUCKING TRAP OR SETUP!

"Rain, grab Applebloom and lets scram before-"

"Before I show up" a voice interrupted, startling all of us as the candle light went out.

My first reaction being that I scooped up Cadance while Appebloom got on Rain's head, but the darkness that surrounded us once more was gone again while a glowing red light formed in front of the door. It was blinding for a minute, then dim enough for me to see what exactly was causing it. After moving my hand from my eyes, I saw that it was indeed the Griffon that escaped.

He was in the same armor from before, but something was different about him that made my stomach uneasy. He reeked of the same curse those monsters have, his entire body was black with splotches of oozing red, and his eyes were a sickly yellow.

It took a minute of thinking through my worries to realize what the Griffon had to himself. His power level was a shit load higher than before, his energy was sinister, his emotions were gone. He was no longer a live Griffon that tried to harm the empty town of Ponyville, he was a damn fool that just made his life end by embracing what is a hellish choice to make.

He was cursed now.

I was shocked of him, almost baffled to see that he was now one with the curse that was amplifying the necklace around his neck. Cadance was whimpering and Applebloom was panicking on top of Rain's head as I gawked. My left eye was twitching from the mind blowing fact of his need to become stronger, his desire to become a god so that I could be captured and taken to the BAO.

This Griffon is truly insane, possibly psychotic.

"You have no idea what you just did to yourself" I said worriedly, knowing just what kind of eternity he put himself into.

The Griffon only laughed with a gurgling voice that was not pleasant to hear. His ignorance was definitely going to be his downfall in this entire fiasco of taking me back to the BAO. I knew they were desperate in making me their next test subject, but I never thought they were so desperate that they would have their own members use such a curse to make themselves stronger.

I was not going to show him mercy this time, not when he took Cadance and gave it to her as well.

"I know exactly what I did, I made myself stronger and now Canterlot is crumbling because of Grey Hoof"

I became stiff at those words, but also confused since Canterlot is miles away and the curse doesn't let anything leave the town. So how Grey Hoof get to Canterlot when he has no idea where the kingdom is at, and the curse binds him to the town?

Of course I asked to find out.

"What are you talking about?"

The Griffon laughed once again, obviously mocking me with my lack of knowing what is going to happen.

"I freed them you fool, I used my necklace to harness the curse. Now those monsters are free and I am their leader, but right now they are burning Canterlot to the ground because I ordered them to after that pink pony was brought here"

It was at that moment I felt my mind collapse with fear, I was no longer angry but rather petrified with realization that he was speaking the truth. I have not sensed any of those monster since we got here, and right now there was only the Griffon in my presence as Cadance used whatever strength left in her to hug my neck.

She was already near death as her muzzle rubbed against my neck, meaning as an expression of love before her lips touched my cheek. Her blood was now on my skin, etched as a kiss mark, as I listened to the mumble in her voice.

Cadance was so weak right now, but at least she had the strength to tell me what was going on with a small whisper to my ear.

"They're attacking the city, they're going to turn Celestia and Luna. The monsters are an army that can't be stopped, they keep coming out of the ground. Jamie...please...stop them...please my love...I have a daughter"

"Daughter!" I choked, receiving a weak nod from her before the remaining energy in her body withered.

Cadance fell unconscious in my arms, losing the ability to fight the curse that was slithering through her bloodline. I could see it because of my Byakugan focusing on her body, allowing me to see that it was almost in her heart. My arms tightened around her for it was only a matter of time before she became a cursed pony, and possibly the Griffon's minion.

I felt so hurt now, so angry at myself for being so selfish to Cadance. My mind was clear of the dislike I have for her, giving me the time to see just how much she has suffered from letting me go. Sure she has a daughter, but call me her love proved that the one millennia we have been separated has torn her apart on the inside.

She may have loved someone else, possibly married them, but her heart still belonged to me...as mine does to her.

"How sweet...the alicorn kisses you one more time before she dies" the Griffon chuckled, knowing not the consequences of his actions now.

My anger became rage now, my aura flared as I laid Cadance on the floor and surged my power after placing my hands on her chest. I was still in tears as this happened, teeth gritting and eyes glaring out of determination while I pushed all I had into one of her wounds. It was a bad idea to do this so recklessly, but my desperation to save the mare I still love destroyed my conscience.

"She is not going to die!" I barked at the Griffon, then began the same technique I did to Scootaloo, but with a different idea for this one was much more powerful.

I could not capture this curse or destroy it once I push it out, I was left only one choice that would put me in danger if I did not keep it under control. Luckily I was smart to make incantations in my mind that would seal the darkness into my left arm for the time being. I was already screaming them in my mind, putting every powerful seal onto my left arm as I made a small wind tunnel on the wound.

Cadance was awake again and screeching while I fought with her curse to ensure her safety. The curse was now flowing out of her as I forced my energy through her veins, pushing every ounce of it through the wound that was healing as I used the tiny wind tunnel.

"Jamesss...NO!" Rain screamed, but she was too late to stop me from doing the dumbest thing in the world.

I absorbed the curse into my arm and sealed it off for only a moment. Cadance told me that Canterlot was being attacked by an army of these, and the army was only getting bigger because they appear out of the ground. Knowing that made me resort to drastic measure while I screamed in agony of this curse burning and pulsating in my left arm.

The Griffon could only watch in amusement as I clenched my arm and focused as hard as I could to create what I did not want to make in the land of Equestria. It was against my morals, against all of my beliefs, but I had no choice but to bend the rules of my imagination by making this curse the darkness I have to destroy in order to grasp what I am about to create.

I closed my eyes after that and imagined every weapon from cartoons and video games I remembered, then channeled it into the curse before destroying it. My pain was now a hundred fold as the power I created formed in front of me with a couple of enchantments. The magic infused in them would destroy anything that is undead, and the ammo was now unlimited.

Just like in Devil May Cry, but I did this because the risk of being seen as a super human was too high. The reason I think that is I now have to go to Canterlot and stop the cursed ponies before they do any real damage, meaning if they can infect others now then they can go across the world and infect others.

This reminded of Resident Evil, but in a real sadistic way that made me sick to my stomach.

Once the weapons appeared, I snapped my fingers to send them away while Cadance woke up and shook off whatever was left of my energy inside her. I on the other hand was having to heal myself to the best of my knowledge. I said a few spells to heal my arm, but the damage was still bad since the scars and burns were still there after being closed.

I was still on my knees, panting and sweating from how much pain I just went through for Cadance. She finally returned to reality with a loud gasp while Rain snapped at the Griffon out of anger. Her attempt to bite him was a failure that startled me for she slithered through him, which meant this was not the real Griffon that I knocked out from two weeks ago.

He was using some sort of illusion magic that allowed him to direct his sight on us while remaining free in what I believe was Canterlot. Cadance was hugging me tightly as the pain numbed in my arm, thanks to a simple pain relieving spell I learned from her when we were still dating.

Her lips now smothered me, but only because she pushed my hoodie down.

"Jamie...Jamie...My Jamie" she repeated, making that mushy feeling piss me off since there were more important things than her trying to win me back.

"You stupid snake, did you really think I would fight him; no, I plan on beating him by destroying the princesses and making them my slaves. Canterlot is already in ruins, so now all I need to find them" he mocked, angering Rain now as I stood up with little strength left in me.

Purging the curse from Cadance, and using it to create weapons took so much out of me.

"Who are you?" I asked in a serious tone.

"My name Dark Feather, and I am about to be the one that will take over Equestria. HAIL THE BLACK ARMADA ORGANIZATION!" Dark Feather howled proudly, thinking he has already one when the battle has not even begun.

I may be weakened now, but I still have enough energy to fight.

"We'll see about that...RAIN!" I snapped, and was immediately lifted by the snake.

She slithered under me after setting Applebloom down, then slithered out of the house with Cadance and Applebloom behind us. Of course we stopped outside to give instructions to the pink alicorn, but that was all I was going to give before Rain took me to Canterlot.

It was like old times again, saving a kingdom with my best friend about to go Bijuu Mode because I gave her the power.

"Cadance take Applebloom with you to Everfree Castle. Stay there, I'll get your daughter and the others before anything else happens" I instructed her, receiving a nod as she opened her wings.

With that said, I patted the serpents back as my way of giving her permission to go full form. However I was stopped by the Princes of Love jumping on Rain's head and doing what surprised me since I was not paying attention. With no idea of what to think, I stood still at the touch of Cadance forcing herself onto me for a moment. She captured my lips by surprise and made it last for a few seconds, making it even harder to think straight since I had complete focus on stopping Dark Feather before it was too late.

My dislike and anger was gone, washed away by the slip of her tongue that was moving in my mouth like the wave of ocean. Her tears trickled onto my cheek and dripped off my chin, landing on the snake while I tried to think straight again.

Sure I realized she suffered enough, but that didn't mean I was taking her back.

Our lips parted now and she started at me with what I sensed is joy and sorrow at the same time. I was silent and stunned to feel the mare's lips touch mine after a thousand years of running from her. My body went numb for a moment, then fiery all over when her lips backed from mine and ended with a deep nuzzle to my neck.

This was so confusing and hard on me, but what could I do now since she just did such a thing.

"I know you hate me, I know I don't deserve a second chance, but I love you and I want you to give me a second chance James. Bring my daughter back safely and I swear I will prove to you that I've changed" she whispered.

I had nothing to say to those words, not even that I am flattered or happy that she still loves me. My only response was glaring at the mare after she jumped off and grabbed Applebloom, allowing me to take off without any more stalling.

I did however reply, but not in the way she expected me to. My voice was not humble or kind, but full of spite and anger as I glared down at her, causing the alicorn to cringe while a sparkle formed in my eye that had to be wiped away.

"After what you did to me, after everything you put me through, you're lucky I saved you and am now going to save your aunts" I lied, trying to keep myself strong as those words hit her hard.

Tear wise that is.

"But Jamie I-"

"Let's go Rain, Bijuu mode!" I ordered.

Cadance was no longer in my sight when Rain slithered off, but the alicorn's voice was heard behind us as the serpent grew to her full size. I knew Cadance would be upset that I said such things, but I had no idea as to how I should respond to such words. My heart still belongs to her, but the dislike and anger was still there and I did not plan on letting it go.

Sunny Town was now behind us as I looked back to see Cadance taking off to Everfree Castle with Applebloom. She was staring at me worriedly while flying through the opening that was made years ago during my first visit here. Rain was ripping through the forest, destroying everything while roaring and transforming to her full size.

I looked away and kneeled down, hand resting on the snakes head as we left the forest to see that Dark Feather was not lying. Canterlot was being attacked and ravaged as we moved at Rain's speed, knowing I had not enough energy to spare for flying. Canterlot was burning to the ground, buildings were crumbling, ponies were running or flying to Ponyville as we came up the only path that led to it.

Celestia and Luna are still on my shit list, but even they did not deserve to be hurt like this. I hate them undoubtedly, but even I had to show enough compassion to save them and their subjects from a hellish nightmare that would last forever if they were infected.

It's called doing what is right, and that is what I am about to do no matter how much it made my skin crawl. My dislike of helping the two goddesses made my spine tingle with uneasiness, my teeth gritted at the thought of saving their asses, but even I had to do what is right or it would haunt me forever.

Besides, I believe they suffered enough after we reached Canterlot to see nothing was left. Ponies were scattering for escape as the cursed ponies destroyed and marched to the burning castle that was crumbling. Dark Feather was indeed successful in taking down Canterlot, but he had not killed the princesses yet because I saw them surrounded by guards that were standing against the monsters.

"Oh my god" I whispered in horror of this tragedy, seeing ponies be infected or killed by the bastards while Dark Feather sat on top of a beast I never thought could be controlled.

How I didn't sense all this was a mystery, but I would find out later after I stopped this destruction.

"Kill them!" Dark Feather yelled, sending his troops of undead to the princesses as a large wave while he rested on his Ursa Major that was not at all normal.

It had torn skin, even though it is aura-like, it was completely black and red eyed. The stars it usually has are red blotches, and its mouth was oozing a bright green that melted through the ground when it landed.

There was so much fire and blood on the ground, so much death around us as I jumped off Rain's head and summoned my Keyblades for a quick counter. I was descending into the circle around the princesses, but was having a deep fear of what would happen if they found out that I am still alive. In my mind I was afraid of being discovered by the two and begged to be their lover, or friend again, but the time of this attack made it impossible to avoid being found out.

I was left with no choice now, I had to save them and offer my home to them. Not as their kingdom, but as a place of refuge until things could be fixed or replaced.

"Sister!" Luna screamed, then hugged Celestia tightly as the wave of cursed ponies rushed through their circle of guards.

They were defenseless now, unable to escape what was coming down on him as I missile to her their spot. I made it to them in time and did what I knew would work best in blocking the monsters.

Using a little energy, I shouted the aura mode as the blue aura engulfed us and formed into a samurai.

"SUSANO!"

It was so sudden to have my power explode like that, but it gave us enough space for me to think fast while Rain went for the Ursa Major. Next was the shock of both princesses seeing my face, seeing as how I forgot to throw my hoodie back over when Cadance pulled it down. Celestia and Luna were mesmerized of my Susano, but that ended when they stared at me in realization that the man they wronged was saving their asses.

All that passed through them were and one word they said together as I produced a Shadow Clone to hold the Susano while I stepped out and prepared for my biggest battle in history.

"James!" they yelled, only to have the corner of my right eye respond as a glare to them while holding my keyblades.

"Shut the fuck up and stay in that aura. I can't protect you and save your subjects if you leave my Susano" I said coldly, then veered my gaze to the army in front of me.

Cursed Ponies were standing at the edge of the city, snapping their jaws and snarling as I gripped my weapons and trembled from how enraged I was. My heart was racing with hatred as Dark Feather escaped Rain and hovered over his minions that were being controlled by the necklace around his neck. I used my remaining magic to remove my cloak and show what I was in as a means of preparation.

I was in leather armor worn by Vergil in Devil May Cry from my wrists to my neck, steel weighted pants from Dragonball Z, and boots worn by Dante in Devil May Cry. This was all a means of keeping their teeth from sinking into my skin and giving me the curse. Once they saw that, I glared deeply at the beasts and said one question that would start this great battle.

One question that I always ask when I am up against so many odds.

"Who dies first?"

TO BE CONTINUED...and just to tease you, there will be a serious beating when James finally goes berserk in the next chapter.