*23 Hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

"Hey! Adomia! Wake up!" Destruction yelled at me.

"Oh come on Destruction, just a few more minutes…" I groaned as a teenage colt would.

"Look I enjoy sleep as much as the next piece of death, but really, it's around ten in the morning. We're not going to be fighting until much later, but you still need to check on our forces, get the casualties. Also, check on Cheerilee, last time I heard she was in the library."

I fully awoke halfway through his ramble, "How in the world did you think all of that?" I asked out loud.

"Simple, I'm smart." He replied.

I let out a small sigh; today was going to be one of those days.
---
I trotted around Ponyville to see if I could find Turncoat or Stoddard at the least. After searching for Turncoat for a few minutes I guessed he would be spending time with Rarity. I managed to find Stoddard and his troops gearing up, "Going somewhere?" I asked him.

"Ah Adomia, I'm sorry to say, but we have decided to head back to protect Mors Vicus. We don't know if the cult will break off here and try a smaller village, and we want to be ready." He explained.

I nodded my head with approval, "I understand, thank you for all your help. We probably would've lost a lot more without you." Then a thought raced across my mind, "What about your injured? Do you think they can make the journey?"

"Some of us took some minor injuries, but that's it really. We're probably the lucky ones, last time I heard, Celestia's troops lost around fifty ponies, and three times as much were wounded." He told me.

I don't like the sound of that… I thought, "Me neither…" Fluttershy responded to my quick thought.

I stuck my fire infused foreleg out to the battle hardened Pegasus, "Safe travels Stoddard, may your blade bring peace on the coldest of nights."

He shook it briefly, "Thank you, I'll leave everything to you."

After that I watched as the fifty Mors Vician's trotted off north, back to their home town of death.

I trotted around towards the library, but stopped when I heard a voice call out my name. Turning in the direction of the sound I found Twilight- Oh wait, Princess Twilight trotting towards me, the others in tow.

"Twilight… What do you have for me?" I asked the newly appointed princess.

She was a little shocked at the question, "Can't I just come over for some small talk?" She asked.

I tried to remain as business-like as possible, but was quickly crumbling at the cute sight her face in a look of confusion; I needed to get away from her. As much as I loved her, I needed to be away from her, I couldn't look her in the eye anymore.

"N-n-no… I have to… um… go find… Cheerilee! That's it! Cheerilee," I quickly stammered.

She looked a little disappointed, "Alright then… bye Adomia." She replied.

After I left the mares I let out a little sigh of relief, Too close, I'm sorry Twilight, I really am. I thought sadly.
---
*22 Hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

The familiar smell of books flooded the library as I entered; all of them were still neat and organized. I'm guessing Twilight hasn't had a study session in a while. I concluded.

"Do you need me for something?" The commanding voice of a mare penetrated my eardrums.

The source was Cheerilee Justus, looking just as bad as she did on the battlefield, I could feel the anxiety in this divine warrior. Her coat was losing its color a bit, and while a cheerful expression was on her face, I could feel that she was sapped of energy.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay." I said with a hint of concern.

She chuckled weakly at the words, "In ways of injuries I'm fine, but… I've never felt holy energy like that before… Whatever happened on the battlefield burned me out, and I'm surprised I was still breathing after what I did."

"Yeah… that was amazing what you did out there."

She actually cracked a smile at the statement, "You know when I first heard of what you did, I thought you were some maniac, my sister even agreed with me. But now… having all explained by Rarity and Turncoat, I realized that you have been deceived so many times in your life, and I think I know why."

Now this interested me, I've heard many ponies talk about my past with sorrow, but this was new, "Okay, then why has my life been like this?"

She fished out an old tome, much like one of the diaries of an assassin that I read when I was younger, "This is the diary of one of the former paladins of my order. I fished it out because I was trying to find anything out about Darkness. I managed to come across this, and it says some things that are quite interesting," She cleared her throat and began, "Day 1: It has been one day after the stop of the force of death, Disease. It has also been one day after the death of my dear friend Barnarbus, who was completely immune to the virus that had spread over the land. I believed him, but it was shattered after he came drastically sick after Disease was driven back. I had no doubt it was the same virus, but still… It didn't make any sense, that the moment after we defeat Disease; Barnarbus dies in front of me. The land is at peace and recovering, but my curiosity is stronger, this isn't over, I've started this journal to figure out why he died."

Cheerilee was breathing heavily, and was starting to fall over, I managed to catch her and drag her to a table, She must be really exhausted… "Easy there Cheer, we don't want you fainting on us again." I told the frayed Earth Pony.

She was about to strike back a retort, but stopped and thought for a second, "You're right, this story has a point though, the pony who wrote this was a paladin named Charlamane, and he spent the remainder of his life trying to find the answer, and eventually he did. Here, listen to this."

She picked the book again and started to read, "Year 30 Day 320: This is it… my final journal entry, my quill is wobbling at the thought, for over thirty years I have searched for the answer for Barnarbus' death, and I finally found it. When all hope was lost, Terra enlightened me with the knowledge, she told me of how that was what his life was for. The fight against Disease was tipping the universal balance in favor of Death taking over Life, and so, in defense, the universe created Barnarbus. An Earth Pony who was completely immune to the disease, and the only one of his kind. He became an amazing warrior, with skills even higher than mine, and I've had three other paladins before me in which I acquired my skills from. He was hardened in battle, he learned to not show fear, and to remain focused on his goal. Terra told me that he was born to fight Disease, and no matter how hard he tried to spur from the path, he would always end up right back on it. Eventually he accepted it, and defeated Disease with my help, and I looked over to see him on the ground spewing blood, and stomach acid from his mouth, he was infected… When I asked Terra why he became infected she stated simply, "The universe no longer needed him." She told me that a pony of such power cannot live on the earth without tipping the balance, so the universe got rid of him in order to maintain. At the time I thought it was unfair, he had a hard life, one filled with loads of pain, but in the end… it seemed right, he was too powerful, and even though I was his only friend, he deserved to die. Now, I may rest in peace, knowing what happened to him, and my lifelong odyssey has finally ended. –Charlamane"

My head was buzzing with the new knowledge I acquired, So I'm not the only one who has had to fight a part of death?

As I sorted out this new information one name stuck out to me, Terra. "Cheerilee, who is this Terra that Charlamane was talking about?" I asked the paladin.

I looked over to see that she had her eyes closed. Fear gripped me and I trotted over to see if she was breathing. Thankfully she was, She must've really drained a lot of energy, If one were to fall asleep like this.

I trotted out of the library, and made my way to Canterlot via underground tunnel with Celestia's body in toll.
---
*20 Hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

While I was thankful the tunnel was still working, I did come to a snag. The yellow and purple portal that teleported me to Luna's room was now gone, and instead a gaping hole stood at the roof of the tunnel. Looking up, I could see that I was in the Canterlot sewers. Now, any normal pony would be disgusted, maybe even lost, but to me, the sewers were my second home. I knew them better than any other pony, probably even more than the workers.

Trudging around in sewer water felt very strange on my fiery skin, it didn't hurt, it just felt… strange. When I removed my leg from the cold water, I was surprised to find that it was transparent! But only for a few seconds, soon the fire settled back into its original position and it was hot once more.

Emerging outside of the remains of the castle filled me with a sense of sadness, I had actually become quite fond of it, and to other ponies it served as a beacon of power. Being able to look at it in all of its Equestrian glory gave you a sense of pride and peace, knowing that this was the central hub of Equestria, but not anymore.

I slowly trotted to the royal graveyard, and managed to find a spot next to the white marble shaped gravestone of Luna, unfortunately I wasn't a marble weaver, and I decided to dig a more temporary grave, and leave all the other stuff for later. Probably when all of this was over… but… wait.

As I dug, I couldn't help but dwell on that stray thought, I've kept thinking about the end to this, and I had no doubt that I could possibly die trying to stop all of it. I tried to look past that, and remind myself that I will probably live, and I'll live to die an old age… then I take a look at my fiery hoof, and my hopes are dashed. There's no way that such a powerful pony would live long enough, perhaps I would meet the same fate as Barnarbus, doomed right after my work is done.

After digging an appropriate sized grave and placing the hornless, shrouded Celestia inside I started to shovel back the dirt, and before I covered her completely I stabbed a little hole into the dirt, letting a bit of sunlight inside. It felt appropriate for the princess of the sun to keep feeling its rays, even in death.

I perked my ears up, trying to hear any sign of a threat, but nothing really. I took a trot down the ruined streets of Canterlot, and found no cult members there. It was strange that none were lingering around after they worked so hard to win it, Perhaps they wanted to trash one of the most sacred icons in Equestria, and let that serve as a note… yeah… that's probably it.
---
*18 hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

It took me a bit longer to return to Ponyville than I had liked, but nothing drastic had happened while I was gone, so that was good news. Checking in with Rarity, I got the numbers of the injured and deceased, roughly thirty two had been killed and eighty four had been severely injured, so Stoddard was exaggerating a little bit, but some were paralyzed, others lost a leg or two. In honor of their courage I attended the mourning of the thirty two who died, and as I stood over their graves, friends of theirs surrounding them with me, most were crying. I was able to see each of their final moments before death claimed them, it would be quite morbid for a normal pony to see, but to me… it was nothing.

Turncoat traveled around the different homes of the injured, trying to keep morale high, and mostly giving them honorable discharge, as well as giving them a hardy supply of bits. I joined him for a while, but left soon after when he found Rarity and dismissed me.

Now I stood on a cliff bordering Ponyville, one I had seen in my dreams long ago, but in my dream Ponyville was on fire and I was sitting watching it burn. I felt the urge to make that dream a reality, but stopped myself shortly after thinking it,

Destruction, control yourself. I chided the fragment of death.

"You know me too well." Destruction replied with a laugh.

"I had a feeling you would be here…" The voice of a grief stricken mare, which I knew too well, hit me like a drum.

"Twilight…" was the only word I could say in reply.

I didn't even turn my head as she sat down next to me, she placed the same saddlebag that she used when we trained to fight Luna, next to me, and inside I could see a small book. I knew this conversation would be coming, and I decided to get it over with quickly, "Look, I know you and I have feelings for each other but…" I looked away from her as I finished, "We cannot be together, and I know you are aware of this, but I need to just say it to get the point across."

Twilight was obviously hurt, I could feel it, but she tried to mask it, "I guess… that's just how it has to be."

It took every fiber of my being to hold myself back from giving her a love filled hug, "Yeah… it's just that… Ever since I embraced my other half, I had to cope with never being able to hold you, never being able to feel even the tiniest embrace from you." I thought about what I just said and laughed the tiniest bit, "Even thought that hasn't stopped you, but it's a lost cause, really. I can tell you're really hurt, I was your first real love, wasn't I?"

Tears started to flow out of her dazzling amethyst eyes, "Yes, you were, and I'll just have to cope with it, just like you. I guess this is our final moment as lovers huh?"

I turned to face her again, and let sparks fall freely from my eye slits, "I'm sorry; I had to put you through all of this emotion twisting. It is a cruel thing to do to a pony like you, something that I should have to put up with, not you."

She tried to wrap me in a hug, but stopped short, "Quit saying you're sorry, and I think I understand my role in your life. I was to serve as your one source of happiness, the one thing you could look forward to, and truthfully…" She started to blush profusely, "I wouldn't say I didn't think of a life with you, the two apprentices of the two Royal Pony Sisters living side by side, facing the world together. But now, it's all just a dream, and that's all it will remain."

As I picked myself up, and started to trot away, Twilight remembered the book in her bag and called me back over. "Sorry, but this was one final gift I wanted to give to you," she pulled it out, and handed the book to me. I scanned it and found there were no words in it, "What's this for?" I asked.

"Your life story, you have one of the saddest stories I've ever heard from a pony, and this would definitely need to be documented, you deserve some honor for what you did, and what you are doing now." She explained.

I beheld the small book in my hoof, and slung it in a pocket in my cloak, "Thank you, it's… quite kind of you."

Before she could say anything, I dashed away back to my home, luckily it was empty, and I cried until my own fiery sparks burned through the floor.
---
*9 Hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

It took me a long time, but I finally filled the journal with my life story, everything, from the department of my parents up until today, I even managed to squeeze in some tips and advice for Twilight when she began her rule, one of these would be keeping a group of private assassins loyal to her. My quill was shaky, but I managed to write one more letter,

Dear Twilight,

You were right; you were my one source of happiness that I could rely on. You made my life really worth living to the fullest, and I cannot thank you enough for that. Because I know you will find this note I wanted to leave you with some final words. My love for you actually started when I was a young colt and found you studying vigilantly, I had a friend before at the time, but really all I had was Luna to talk to. When I learned of you a bit more, I could feel something right there, and Luna had to tell me what it was, love. I couldn't fall asleep for so many nights because your face was burned in my mind, even then, you filled me with happiness. I watched as you and I grew together, while you never saw me, I saw you (call me a stalker, I know). Through many conversations I heard, you and I weren't that different, we were both bookworms, and we were both apprentices of one side of Royalty. I was an apprentice to the princess of the night, and you were an apprentice to the princess of the day. In ways we were the same, but in others we were opposite, just like Life and Death. But we balanced each other and made each other stronger. However, our time is over, and I know that if I kept pursuing, I would end up hurting you more, for we always hurt what we love the most. It's unavoidable, and we just have to live with it. So, goodbye Twilight Sparkle, and thank you… for everything.

The one pony who will always love you,

Adomia Fetter.

I poured my heart and soul into that final letter, and I put my quill down and just closed the book, she'll find it eventually. I faced the door with invigoration, and was trotting out the door to leave. As I left my room, I remembered about my cloak and my original Hidden Blade that I didn't burn. Finding the two items was a little bit of a task, but eventually they lay right next to the book, final mementos for Twilight. It was night outside, and the cool night air parted past me.
---
*8 Hours until the destruction of Ponyville*

I retraced my steps back to the battlefield, and traveled north from there. Sure enough, on the top of a hill I found the remaining seventy five members of the cult, Ok, now how to get in there? I thought.

The hill was a small crater with a tunnel entrance in the middle, and two guards were at the front of the small hole.

I was so concentrated on looking how to get in; I didn't notice the pony sneaking up behind me, "Heh, so you've finally come, Destruction." The voice stated.

I jumped in shock, and quickly turned around, and was faced with a scarred up mess of a pony. His flesh was marked with multiple stabs and slashes, some were bleeding, his right eye was just a gooey mess, and his wings were crooked, I backed my head a bit, How is this pony not in pain?

"I see you notice my appearance, a drawback from magical injection, don't worry, none of us cultists are going to stop you from entering." The pony told me.

Now this had to be a trick or something, "What… why would you do that? Nightbane is your leader-" I started.

"Listen Destruction, we existed far before this, we worshipped the princess of the night, but before Nightbane came into our lives, we never did anything wrong. Then when he came… and murdered his way to leadership, we were afraid of what would happen if we tried to stop him. Over time… he made us do horrible things that we will regret until our deaths, so I beg you…" he got down on two forelegs, "Please… end his rule… He cannot live in this world anymore."

I was appalled at what I was hearing, and I felt pity for this lump of flesh called a pony, and my previous accusations about all the cult members were shattered. They've been following blindly out of fear… they aren't all bad,

"You've touched me; I used to think all of you were crazed monsters, who wanted revenge for the death of Luna." I admitted.

I was greeted with a wheezy laugh, "Don't get us wrong, we are angry, but we never wanted to fight our own brethren. Some of us even were as crazy as Nightbane, but not all of us."

Now I know what I'm doing is right, Nightbane must die, however he could be lying. I finally thought, and turned my attention back to the pony in front of me, "Like I said, you've touched me, but that doesn't mean I completely trust you, tell you what, take your cultists and stand in the middle of the battlefield south of here. When Nightbane is dead, I will collect you and take you to Ponyville, where you will be judged there."

The smile on the pony's face caused me to see the determination behind him, "Ok Destruction, thank you."

We parted ways, and I traveled to the cave while the others made their way out of the small crater that had become their temporary headquarters, I took one deep breath, and plunged into the cave, where the battle for all pony kind would be held.

The cave was illuminated by many torches that lined the walls. I traveled in a straight line, and didn't even bother with exploring the extra wings, I had a job to do, and I was ready to finish it.

At the end of the hall was a large cavern, roughly eighty to fifty meters wide, a waterfall streaming from the outside world, the floor was tiled with a dark, glass-like, stone, and overall it reminded me of the vast plane beyond our normal atmosphere. Torches lined the walls, most of them were near the sealed roof, but it still gave enough light to see perfectly.

"Perfect for a final battle isn't it?"

I turned to face the pony I sought, and trained to fight against, Nightbane, Luna's second in command, the pony that was with her when I found out of her treacherous act. He look severely different since the last time I saw him, his flesh was like mine, transparent except for a swirling cloud of darkness throughout his body. We looked almost identical, much like me, his entirety was this cloud, everything to his tail to his mane, and he even had eye slits like mine with little white lights for eyes, the only light he produced. The only difference was the lack of wings, only to be replaced by a curved horn on his head.

"Many lives had been lost by your hoof, and now, it's time for the end." I retorted.

He let loose a laughter that sounded like the screeching of a thousand violins, "I'm surprised big brother, you decide not to face me? Instead you just feed your power to this abomination of flesh."

"Darkness… please… don't force me to do this." Destruction reasoned.

His expression quickly turned to anger, "What are you going to do to me!? You didn't have the guts to take over a body, your pathetic emotions got in the way."

Before I knew it, he reappeared behind me, and I felt my chest and right shoulder blaze in pain, I didn't even see him do that! I silently exclaimed.

Nightb- no… Darkness turned to face me, "Ah flesh, so weak and fragile, I don't know who you are mortal, but whoever you are, I'm going to make you scream as you beg for death."

I bucked my legs hard, and felt fire leave both of them, aiming straight at the target behind me. Surprise!

I expected a cry of agony, or even just a gasp of pain, but what I didn't expect was nothing. My mouth gaped open in shock, he wasn't affected at all! He just let lose another laugh, "Trying to get me by surprise eh mortal? Pathetic."

He rushed up to me at a blinding speed, and placed his hoof on my head in the fraction of a second. I felt instant searing in my mind, and everything faded around me, my vision blurred, and eventually gave out.

The first thing I noticed was the freezing air, it was so cold, and I felt like my body was freezing from the inside. I managed to open up one of my eyes to see the full moon in all of its glory. But the strange thing was how bright it was glowing, What's going on… where's Darkness? I managed to think.

After getting back to my hooves I then realized how dark it was, normally I would be lighting up like a candle. I checked my hoof to see that it was a charcoal color, and not made of fire, but fur and skin! I was in my old form again! After rejoicing for a few seconds I brought my mind back to reality, and took a look at my surroundings.

I was in Cloudsdale, and I could immediately feel something was really wrong, not in a bad way, but I had this feeling I couldn't shake as I traveled down the city in the sky. This feeling of nostalgia mixed with the feeling of a trespasser. I eventually ended up at my old home out of freak accident, and the first thing I heard was the sound of crying.

Wait… that's… me… I pieced together.

I rushed into the home, and was confronted with my younger self, and Darkness hovering by, little strands of… something… was rising out of colt Adomia's body.

"Ah… your grief and sorrow, all of your dark thoughts, it tastes so wonderful." Darkness commented, "I should have hovered around you more often, you have enough sorrow to feed me for years."

"Get away from him!" I shouted as I galloped up to the fragment of death, and attempted a stab with my physical Hidden Blade.

Darkness must've seen this coming, because he immediately disappeared when I got close, I looked back and forth quickly, Where did he go?

That thought was greeted with a slice to the side of my stomach, as Darkness reappeared a split second later, I didn't have any time to recover as he rushed forward and sliced across my face with an invisible blade. As I flew back he grabbed me with the same shadowy tentacles Luna used and slammed me into the ground, I felt a rib brake as blood poured out of my mouth.

Younger me was just sitting there, completely unaware of the battle that was going on in his home. I shakily got back up, and in a flash, switched to my crossbow and unloaded bolt after bolt of self reloading, unlimited, enchanted bolts. A few pegged Darkness in the shoulders and chest, but soon the missiles pulled themselves out and the wounds no longer existed.

"Pathetic…" The sadistic force of death said with a chuckle, and I managed to dodge a tentacle swipe.

Maybe if I try holding one of the tentacles, he won't be able to disappear!

I held my ground, waiting for another strike with the bone grinding whips of darkness. My wish was granted when he swiped them again, and instead of dodging I raised my left foreleg to block one, even with the enchanted leather the tentacle seared my skin, and I didn't know how long I could hold it.

But before I could even think about grabbing it, Darkness shot me with dark bolts of lightning, and I felt myself fly back again, this time right out of my old home.
I was torn with burns, slashes, and bruises, my left eye was swollen, and my rib definitely felt broken, I was losing this fight, bad.

"Is this all my brother could muster?" Darkness asked mockingly as he trotted out of my home smoothly. "What a waste of time…"

I couldn't think, I was completely powerless without Destructions help, I was running out of options, even then my own question wasn't answered, "Why are we here? What happened to your supposed dream location for a final battle?"

"I grew tired of the place, so I decided to bring us back to the past." The cruel pony said with another screeching laugh.

While he was laughing, I unloaded four shots into the pony's head, all of them hitting home, but as I was about to congratulate myself briefly, he easily levitated the bolts out like they were thorns. The transparent flesh sutured itself back over the missing pieces, and he looked just the same as before.

"You don't get it… you cannot defeat me mortal, I am a force of Death! A being of true power! You are just a worthless pile of filth to me. I cannot believe Nightbane feared you, and delayed just because of you, luckily I got rid of him, permanently."

All my fear quickly evaporated, even though Nightbane wasn't even a friend of mine, he still was just involved with Luna as I was, and I felt the familiar spark in me started to fester and boil.

"You bastard! How could you treat anypony like that!" I shouted in rage.

"Simple… I dominate their mind, and eventually they give up." Darkness replied smoothly.

I held up my crossbow again, and unleashed the energy through a single bolt. Darkness dodged it, but he didn't see it loop back around, and was pegged in the back of the head. The last thing he saw was the smirk that had plastered on my face. "Bye."

My mental grip released on the bolt, and it exploded with a crimson flame, the fire filled the air with light, I had to cover my eyes a bit with a foreleg, and I was only protected by the heat due to the fact I had a piece of Destruction inside me. I was panting hard, but had a hopeful expression on my face.

But… my hopes were dashed yet again, as Darkness emerged, unscathed, I could feel my entire world crumbling around me, my morale and spirit had been broken, I realized I could not win this fight, no matter how hard I tried. Destruction… where are you?

Darkness laughed wildly at my despair and my feeling of defeat, so much that he didn't notice the approaching light behind me. I opened my eyes and turned around to see Destruction standing there, the clouds burned from his entrance.

He rushed over to me and picked me up, even though it burned a bit, I was grateful for it. "Adomia," He whispered,
Darkness was still laughing, and I noticed the same black ribbon like beams leaving me and entering his body, "He feeds off the despair of others, and is a master at manipulating minds, but you have to remember this is your mind! Cast him out of it and back into the real world, where you will have my power. I cannot stay, his power is keeping me at bay, and it took me a long time to muster up enough power to speak to you."

It made sense! I'd been looking at it all wrong, and as I turned to thank Destruction he vanished, and I picked myself back up, "Keep laughing Darkness… but you forgot one thing…" I told him with my head low.

This got his attention, "Oh, and what would that be?"

I unfurled my cloak to reveal all different types of crossbows, all loaded, pointed directly at him! "This is my mind!" I hollered.

The bows were work of my own mind, and I released all my hatred into each and every single bolt that riddled the shock Darkness' body. Eventually he disappeared, and I felt a tugging feeling at my gut, the last thing I saw before I left my memory was the young colt me, his tears now all dried out, but still sitting on his ever vigilant guard.
---
*7 hours and 30 minutes until the destruction of Ponyville*

The familiar heat of being returned to my real body felt like the warmest blanket in the world, and even Darkness looked dumbfounded, "I'm impressed, perhaps there is more to you than I thought, I don't know how you broke through my defenses after feeding on both your younger and older self. But I have to admit, it was quite remarkable."

I let out a little laugh, and looked him dead in the eye, renewed smirk on my face.

"But tell me… Mortal shell of Destruction… how much strength do you think you have left after that little bolt act?" He asked with a hint of venom in his tone.

That made my cocky attitude crumble as I realized how much energy was sapped from me, even with Destruction's power I was still miles away from having enough to severely hurt this guy.

Darkness let out a tsk'd at me, "The curse of flesh," and before he finished he took a another slash and ended up behind me, "so fragile," another slash, another hit.

"And so weak!" He finished his sentence with three slashes at my body with speed so fast I couldn't even detect him.

I got up again, to stubborn to stay down long, little bits of magma came out of the slices on my body, and I was riddled with exhaustion along with wounds.

As I dodged a strike of dark lighting, I felt two tentacles grab hold of the middle section of my body, and slammed me into the wall, I dangled helpless as the strips of darkness worked their way around my body, and held my hind legs apart, two more joined in the binding, and held my forelegs apart, so I was held restricted against the wall, completely helpless as the tentacles cut away at my fiery skin.

Darkness gave me a sinister, wicked, sneer. "I've fed enough off of you, and I think I will grant you mercy and end your misery, thought it will pain me greatly."

Nothing could describe the feeling I had right there, that complete feeling of defeat, and hopelessness stinging at your heart. Even though I had Destruction's power, I still couldn't inflict one scratch on him. I closed my eyes, just wanting it all to end.

"Nightbane!" The voice of a mare other than Fluttershy rang out throughout the cave.

Darkness stopped whatever he was doing, and his tone changed drastically, "Luna! Is that you!?" He called out.

Then he clenched his eyes, and the grip on the tentacles loosened, but still held strong enough to hold me up, "No! Answer to me and me only mortal!" The familiar voice of Darkness broke through.

"Nightbane, please fight against him! Gain control!" Luna cried.

Darkness eyes remained clenched for a few more seconds, before turning into a lime green color, and I watched dumbfounded as Nightbane managed to gain control over the invulnerable force of death.

Nightbane looked down at his hooves and muttered, "Oh Luna… what have I become." His eyes stopped on the tentacle and ran up, all the way to my eyes, and the lime green balls of light grew wider as he figured out whom I was, "Adomia!" He exclaimed, "I don't have much time! Before…" His eyes clenched again, and his voice grew deeper for a split second, "Darkness has taken complete control… over my body. You can't kill him like a normal pony; you must strike him where the last remnants of mortality lay."

He paused again as Darkness fought for control, but managed to win again, "My horn Adomia! Separate my horn!"

He clenched his eyes one more time, and let out a gasp of pain as it transitioned back into Darkness' tone, "You answer to me mortal."

The grip on the tentacles tightened again, and I found myself in shock with this new found information, I just need one more burst of energy. I thought.

I felt a slap on my face by a tentacle, "With you out of the way, I'm going to have the best time on earth, maybe kill a few million, and make the others go completely insane. But what's more important is, you failed."

I was about to strike a retort, but I held it back as I felt my rage boiling again, and another slap by the tentacle had my muzzle starting to bleed magma, "You failed just like Luna did all those years ago! You failed just like Celestia, and even Terra! Tonight, Death has finally triumphed over Life! You cannot even fathom how much you have lost!" He spat.

I let out a weak chuckle, "Y-you're wrong…" I coughed out.

I let my rage consume my body, and drove my body into a state of true destruction! Fire seared the tentacles down to the roots, and before Darkness could react I had already rushed up and grabbed hold of his curved horn, "YOU'RE WRONG!!!!!!!!" were the final words I screamed as I released all my remaining energy into breaking the horn off, I felt my hoof twist to the right, and could feel it breaking off.

While Darkness had not expected this, he was quick to react, and pushed me away with much of his remaining energy.

I flew backwards, and slammed into the other wall. I recovered from my daze, and found Darkness' horn in my hoof, and I realized, I did it!

Darkness was writhing on the floor in agony, his body slowly slipping out of Nightbane and back into the Void, where it should be.

I was about to finish him off, but Celestia's words rang in my mind, "Just get Luna's body back and take her horn from her head"

I weakly limped over toward the waterfall, and found the corpse of the Princess of the Night in a particularly nice looking coffin. I opened it up, and her body looked just the same as when I killed her, although her star riddled mane wasn't flowing. Finally… I found you.

With the remaining energy I had left, I grabbed hold of Luna's horn, and carefully separated it from her head, and I managed to load her onto my back, the coffin could be recovered later.

As I trotted out of the cave, victorious, the already too familiar voice of Darkness rang out throughout the entire cave, "I've had enough of this!" He shouted, "If I can't live on this world THEN NO CREATURE CAN!"

I turned back to see the corpse of Darkness, spewing out the smoke in his body at an alarming rate! I got close to it, and put my hoof in. I jumped at the pain, and pulled it out as fast as I put it in, it seared my skin! I tried to plug up Darkness' holes, but it wouldn't work, the smoke just kept coming, and soon it covered the entire cave!

"Adomia! You need to fall back! Get the other cultists and get back to Ponyville!" Destruction told me, fear in his voice.

What's going on? What is this stuff? I asked.

"Its Darkness' final stand, the smoke, it's a combination of all the pieces of death he has inside him. However, Age will keep it from spreading quickly, but what he's releasing will kill every single creature on this planet!"

I didn't need to be told twice, as shocked as I was, I still managed to gallop out of the cave, before the smoke followed, and as I climbed out of the hole, the smoke erupted from the entrance like a volcano, and quickly created a wall that reached above the clouds, and spread as far as the eye could see. It slowly started to move forward, and I managed to get to the battlefield where the other cultists were waiting for me.

Some were shocked to see I had Luna's body, but before any could object I quickly filled them in on what was going on, and told them to fall back with me.
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*4 Hours before the destruction of Ponyville*

When we got back, the guards were all situated outside the gate, and Cheerilee trotted out, still looking exhausted. But when she saw I was leading cultists, the sleep faded from her eyes, "Adomia! What are they doing here?!"

"Cheerilee, these ponies are coming back to Ponyville with me, they may be cultists, but they are more victims than evil doers." I explained.

The holy warrior slammed her hoof onto the ground "That doesn't matter! The right thing to do now is kill them where they stand! They don't deserve mercy."

I got up right to her, "Look, these ponies are completely innocent, they have done little to nothing wrong, and besides they're not the biggest threat right now."

I thought she would be intimidated, but she held her ground, "What the smoke? I thought you might've, you know, set the place ablaze."

If the situation wasn't so serious, I would've facehooved right there, "That's no natural smoke from fire, it's Darkness' last stand, and if we don't find a way to stop it soon, then every single creature in the world will die."

The sun was starting to rise, perhaps the last sunrise this world will ever see…

To be concluded…

Next Chapter: The Final Call Estimated time remaining: 25 Minutes