I held my chest and leaned my head against the nearest building as my heart threatened to combust. I then coughed a few times and whispered to myself “When I had stated ‘this shall get much worse before it gets better’ it was not challenge dear fates.” A few moments had then passed before I managed to gather my wits enough to lift myself up again. It had truly not been easy navigating though the city. It would have been difficult enough if it had only been the ludicrous amount of rogue soldiers rushing to the front lines. But no, Discord’s chaos magic had also shattered the laws of physics for sport.

I mean truly, the first incident of his horrid influence was when some of the stone roads had decided they no longer desired to be solid and promptly turned into the consistency of mud. The second incident almost got half of us consumed by a garbage bin that had somehow became sentient and got irrationally cross with us. Then finally a small group of rogue soldiers discovered us only for them to get sucked into some swirling vortex filled with pointy teeth. The sounds of their gurgling screams had burned themselves into my memory while we were sprayed with what was left of their mangled bodies. In reasonable response me and a few of the others lost our respective breakfasts as we galloped for dear life.

And so our jolly terror fueled slog through a city that consistently attempted to devour us continued until we were forced to take a short rest to recuperate. Thus here we were, sitting in yet another alleyway trying in vain to catch our breath. Silence reined until I forced my protesting muscles to make me stand. I then looked over at the rest of our group. Each seemed to be just as bewildered as any other. My lieutenants looked to be in various states of burn out. Twilight and Spike looked to be on the verge of collapse. Even Luna’s normal posture and poise was severely lacking as she attempted steady herself. In a sentence, this was truly not going according to plan.

After a deep long sigh I inquired “Alright…what is the plan of attack this time?”

“We are but a short distance…to the royal palace. I…I shall scout ahead of us...I just…need…to…stand! Luna growled struggling to keep her balance as she gathered up her khopeshes.

I leaned heavily on my scythe’s pole and said “Are you certain Princess? Perhaps one of us should go in your stead?”

She just glanced at me and laughed under her breath. “I am appreciative of your concern, but I shall be fine. Regain your strength, I shall be back in but a moment,” she replied before she stumbled passed me.

Before she disappeared from view I could have sworn I heard her grumble, “When I requested more excitement in our lives sister, this is truly not what I had meant”. I just shook my head and grinned in response before I tapped my scythe on my shoulder and sat down. Her fortitude was admirable I had to admit and I certainly did not complain for the moment’s rest. However, I believe she was far more fatigued than she was willing to show. Either way there was no use attempting to argue so we all waited…and then waited…and then waited some more, but still no Luna.

After several minutes had passed I had begun to grow quite worried. While Luna in many ways was leagues better at stealth than I, she could still get overwhelmed. And the addition of Discord’s chaos magic loose in the city only made the problem that much worse. So in turn I bit my lip and convinced the others to stay put until I had either returned or perhaps five minutes from my departure. After which I then picked up my scythe and slipped into the shadows.

Now normally I quite enjoy the shadows to be honest. It was a perk of being a child of the night that made darkness a comfort I suppose. But this time was different. This time I was wandering around near sightless in a city that had become strangely alien to me. In other words my paranoia delightfully decided to switch to near constant on edge and made me jump at the smallest noise.

This unpleasantness continued as I inspected several of the other alleyways. To my displeasure it appeared that most were seemly blocked by either debris or the buildings themselves. However after I made it to the sixth one it was seemingly open and there was a tad something off. So I squinted my eyes and on closer inspection I realized it was Luna at the end of the alleyway with her back firmly pressed against the closest building. She also appeared to have her khopeshes sheathed and was staring at something with great intensity

It did not take much mental processing to determine that she had located something of interest. However, the trick was attempting to get to her and not startle her as she rarely took such things well. So I flattened myself to the wall that she had her back to and moved closer to her. All the while doing this I would make quiet tapping noises with my scythe’s pole.

She although did not notice me until I was right next to her. Upon this she spun her head in my direction in slight shock for a second right before she grabbed me. She then slammed my back to her stomach and stuffed a hoof in front of my mouth as I let out a quiet yelp. I then felt her lean forward before she whispered into my left ear. “Shhh please be silent Blood Moon. It appears I had discovered something of grand interest,” she stated.

I was dazed for a moment until I shifted my head to see where Luna was gazing at before and my heart sunk. In the middle of the main road to the royal palace sat two ponies of great infamy. The one closest to us was none other than the notorious “Gore Gash the Thrasher”. This was not her true name of course as her original got lost in the sands of time, but that is not important. What is, is that Gore Gash is the original progenitor of the Lycan Curse that Discord had created. She is also widely known as the leader of the largest group of rogue lycans to date. She was originally a royal soldier as some point until her uncontrolled bloodlust caused her to be striped of her title and rank. She was ultimately thrown in the royal dungeon after murdering some innocent family in their sleep. No pony knows how she escaped other than Discord had a claw in the matter. A fact she arrogantly boasted to us often.

The other one however was always an enigma at best. She is only known as “The Cloaked Lady”. Her name was as much literal as it was figurative as she always wore a black cloak that obscured her face. She is the mysterious leader of the rogue vampires and rarely if ever shows herself like this. She normally was the one pulling the strings as it were and had others do her dirty work. In turn it made it all the more puzzling that she was actually out in the open for once.

Upon my slight gasp under Luna’s hoof she whispered “I see you recognized them.” I just nodded in response before she added “It appears we had discovered two heads of this three headed hydra. However neither of them had made so much as an utterance. They have been mute and surrounded by their respective guards as if waiting for something.”

I raised an eyebrow as my mind started to work on what that “something” was before I got interrupted by a small golden glimmer down the road. It only took a moment to realize why they were here. They were apparently waiting for the leader of the rogue solar channelers, or in Luna’s words, the third head.

For all the digging and fruitless searching I have done down the years I had not the foggiest clue who they could have been. No face or anything else was recorded in any of the official reports. The only thing I knew was they were the one responsible for the attack on Ponyville and my home all those moons ago. Oooh I hated them with every fiber of my being and more. My seething gaze burned bright as I stared down the road at that accursed golden glow. After so long I would know who they were and I would make them pay. I would make them suffer.

But just before that damnable pony came into view I heard something behind us. My head spun to look down the alleyway in response. It appeared that my five minutes had passed and the others had gone to look for me. Upon spotting them I waved at them to stop and remain hidden. To my luck it worked and I turned my attention back to matters at hoof.

I quickly turned my head back to my prize only to stare in disbelief. Forty meters from me, stood none other than General Solar Burn himself. And it appeared the arrogant bastard was conversing with the other two rogue leaders. Now I figured that perhaps the damned fool got himself captured as dreams like this rarely if ever come true. So I listened in to hear what they were stating.

“Why are you fucking idiots waiting here like a bunch of dipshits?! Here I fork the damn city over on a damned silver platter-” Solar Burn started to say but was interrupted by Gore Gash.

Gore Gash snorted and growled out “So what you little shit! Just because we aren’t sucking your dick like your damn underlings-”

“I wouldn’t give you the pleasure you flea bitten shit stain! I should’ve burnt you to a crisp years ago!” Solar Burn snapped back.

“BRING IT BITCH!” Gore Gash snarled and bared her teeth.

They were on verge of tearing each other apart until The Cloaked Lady stepped in. “Now now children, put your toys away. Let us not forget why we were here,” she said in a cold calculating tone.

“Why in Tartarus am I here again you gloomy bitch? You promised me power! All I see are my wolves getting torn to bits!” Gore Gash snapped.

Solar Burn let out a small “Ha” before stating “For once I’m in agreement with the damn flea bag. I want what’s mine!”

The Cloaked Lady did not seem to be affected by their rude comments. She only just turned to face Solar Burn before coolly stating, “Promises…promises…promises. If I remember correctly you were supposed to give us either the solar or the lunar princess. We were going to capture them you said and here we are empty hooved. No matter our efforts, the Magical Archives will not open without one of the royal sisters.”

Solar Burn seemed to sputter a bit. “It’s not my fault! The princesses are playing this close to the vest! They didn’t tell me shit! What’s so damn important in there anyway!? You never fucking told me!” he screeched.

Lady sighed and said “I told you, you just never listened. That fool Captain Blood Moon and the Princesses captured something with that ritual of theirs…”

Now I probably should have listened further, but I was overcome with unfathomable rage. I had always hated Solar Burn for everything he had done, but now I had discovered a new found loathing. But then, in an instant, instead of being angry my face contorted into the most malicious smile I could have ever conjured. After all these years I realized my dreams had actually come true. For all the torment and misery he had given me and countless others I finally had an excuse to end his wretched existence. My vengeance would be more delicious than the finest meal, more rich than the most prosperous kingdom.

My thoughts danced with wicked glee up until the point I felt something drip on my shoulder armor. I became confused for a moment until I looked up at Luna. While I had seemed to revel in my dark joy, it was abundantly clear that she was taking it far worse. Luna’s face was twisted into a mask of pure fury. Her slitted pupils had grown until they were black pits and she was foaming at the mouth. The dripping was more from the fact that she apparently was clenching her teeth so tight that her gums had begun to bleed.

More of the blood laced foam dripped onto me as I realized what was soon to happen. Luna was never known for taking either insults or unpleasant news well. Her resolutions to such problems could easily be classified as “Scorched Earth” policies if the “Angry Mare” cannon was any evidence. In other words it was trivial to determine what seething thoughts flowed through her mind. And for a moment, I was on the brink of letting her go berserk on them. The idea of watching the enraged lunar princess tear through the rogue leaders was just as savory as anything I could imagine. However, the rational part of my mind decided to ruin everything by snapping me back to reality.

The current facts were simple enough to realize. First we were grossly outnumbered if you accounted for all their guards. Secondly we were still recovering and thus still weakened. Lastly if they managed to capture Luna then whatever their plans were would come to fruition and I just could not let that happen. So instead of thoughts of vengeance my mind turned to blind panic as I attempted to find a way to stop Luna.

My thoughts flared as I rattled through anything I could think of. There was no way I could overpower her even on my best day. She was undoubtedly funneling every ounce of mental power into rage so reasoning with her would be useless. In turn, my options were all but depleted in seconds until I realized she still had her hoof in front of my mouth. So in a last ditch effort on my part and praying my vampire venom from a few years ago was still in her system, I moved some of her leg armor. I then retracted my helm and bit down.

Her body jerked and shuttered for a few seconds at the sudden pain as my fangs sunk in. It seemed she had attempted to resist it, but whatever she was feeling soon won out as her body relaxed and she slumped forward onto me. Then I believe she had attempted to inquire about something but as I started to take my fangs out, she groaned and pushed them in further. As a result her blood dripped into my mouth and crumbled my focus. This was not part of the plan. I had only wished to stop her from galloping to her doom, not shatter my will in the process.

Although I had tried to hold it together my will crumbled further. My body was far too exhausted and her blood was far too enticing. My vision blurred on the sight of the three rogue leaders within a stone’s throw from us. I was so close to stopping them and enacting vengeance somehow, but I could not move. My eyes then closed for what I thought was a mere moment until I heard something next to me.

“What the fuck is he doin’ to Princess Luna? And why in Tartarus are we all standin’ around?” I heard somepony state in annoyance before adding “Shit he done passed out…along with her.”

And then, in the span of perhaps a second or two, I heard somepony lick something right before I got something vile stuffed in my right ear. My eyes snapped open at the horrid sensation. I had attempted to protest, but realized Luna’s leg was still in my mouth. Then after blinking a few times I saw Twilight, Spike and my lieutenants looking at me in confusion. Well except for Shadow Dancer who appeared to be laughing to himself and wiping his hoof off.

I spit out Luna’s leg in a rush before healing it. I then frowned and in a partial growl partial whisper I snapped “Why in Tartarus did you do that?! Also I wanted you all to stay over there for a reason!”

Night Star was the first to reply, “We remained where we were until shortly after you bit Princess Luna for some reason. It appears you had passed out for about twenty seconds afterwards. Why did you commit such an act?”

I shifted Luna’s weight my back a bit and said, “The three rogue…” right as it dawn on me. Without another word my eyes darted to where the rogue leaders were. However, they were all gone. In the span of only twenty seconds and they were gone. My mind frantically searched for a reason of how they disappeared in such a small amount of time.

“Where are they?!” I whispered.

“Where are-” Twilight started to state but stopped when we heard something that made my heart sink. The sound started off as a quiet chuckle but soon turned into dark laughter.

My eyes darted up to see the traitorous General Solar Burn and all his guards surrounding us up on the building roof tops. “Well well well what do we have here?” he said in a sarcastic tone that truly grated me.

Now this would had been awful enough as it was, but shortly afterward I noticed Gore Gash and her lycan guards blocked off the back of the alleyway. And then in seconds The Cloaked Lady and her vampire guards blocked off the road next to me. ‘Not good Blood Moon truly not good,' I thought to myself in a mood that verged on panic. As it was, perhaps with Luna we could have stood a chance. However at the moment she was taking a pleasant nap on my back due to my complete lack of foresight. So currently our chances dwindled to very little as me and my little group all crowded together in the middle of the alleyway.

At this point I figured we were all done for. Luna, Twilight and perhaps Spike would probably be captured and the rest of us would be, in all likelihood, slaughtered on the spot. So as our situation was looking quite grim Solar Burn laughed some more before stating, “Alright you all know what to do. But leave Captain Blood Moon to me. I’ll teach you for pissing me off earlier.”

I had to say, for a moment I was taken back. It truly appeared that poor little Solar Burn got his little feeling hurt from before. I suppose embarrassing him in front of all those soldiers, the princesses, and pretty much everypony else at the war meeting got to him. I also suppose all those countless other times I went out of my way to irritate him did not help the matter either. But there was an upside to all of this. For you see the more angry Solar Burn got, at least in the past, the more reckless he got. His temper was rarely ever in a good shape so down the years I somehow perfected the act of aggravating him into an art form. Which to be brutality honest was not all that difficult as all one needs to do, is attack his pride.

I snorted loud enough to echo in the medium sized alleyway before adding in an equally echoing “HA!"

“Well you desire my blood hmm? Did the big bad Captain Blood Moon hurt poor wittle old Solar Burn’s wittle feelings?" I said truly layering it on as I passed the still sleeping Luna to Twilight and Gray Mane.

Although it was too dark to make out any of the delightful and usually quite vivid red colors of his face, I could tell he was beginning to get angry. His body was tense and he was beginning to shake. I believe I could even see him grinding his teeth together. Well, as I already poked the proverbial lion in the eye I figured would go further while I thought up a plan. So I yanked out my scythe, stood on my hind legs, and glared up at him. Then I smirked before stating, “Well, why not get this over with? Give me your best shot you arrogant fool!”

Now understandably both The Cloaked Lady and even Gore Gash kept their distance. In Solar Burn’s current state he could easily burn them to the ground along with me and my group. So in an apparent effort The Cloaked Lady attempted to reason with him. “Calm down Solar Burn. He is just attempting to raise your ire. He and the rest have nowhere to run. We have them in the flat of our hooves. Do not act rashly now.”

To my amazement her words almost worked. For a moment he was going to hold himself back. However that is when the word “Almost” comes in. As you see I decided to add my own words into the mix to tilt the scale if you will. I let out a small laugh before snarking “Since when do you listen to us so called ‘Fanged Bastards’ as you usually put it? Well, if you are happily taking orders, then perhaps you could fetch me a nice cup of mint tea while you are at it?”

And that was final straw it appeared. Solar Burn was probably so enraged he could barely see straight. What made it worse was Gore Gash and even some of his own guards snickered a bit. So in turn it was no surprise when he completely disregarded The Cloak Lady’s advice and charged his solar magic. Then after a second or so he belted out “I’M GOING TO BURN YOU TO ASH YOU BASTARD!” and fired.

In response I quickly yelled “Everypony get down and close your eyes!” to our little group and angled my scythe a bit. However, this is when things got as tad interesting to say the least. Now I had reflected solar magic from rogue solar channelers several times in the past. Normally their solar beams are potent, but easily manipulated. But this in here lies the main issue, Solar Burn was not just any rogue solar channeler, he was leagues more powerful. So while first I had attempted to refract the beam to merely blind everypony present to make our get away, it appeared to have other ideas.

The near constant beam slammed hard into my scythe and made me fumble a bit. As a result it got ricocheted right over the rest my party and into the rogue lycans. With my squinted eyes I saw Gore Gash evade it somehow, but her guards were not so lucky. The beam sliced though their ranks like a piece of hot metal through ice. As a result, heads, bodies, and even limbs were sliced apart in an instant. But I did not pay much attention to that as my scythe was starting scorch my forelegs from the strain. However, I managed to grit my teeth through the pain as I angled my scythe at the rogue vampires this time.

They were even more unlucky than the lycans. For you see the beam did not even have to touch them. The flare of solar light in their ranks caused almost if not all of them to burst into flames immediately. Their panicked shrieks were the last sounds I heard out of them. Then with my final ounce of strength I pointed the beam straight up and blinded Solar Burn and his own guards. But that was the rest of all I had left. As soon as Solar Burn screamed in pain and anger, I blacked out.

My mind remained void of anything even remotely described as thought until I heard some voices next to me. “Ooh…ahh damn bastards just kept comin’” one voice stated while seemingly winded.

“Indeed…but we bought some…time. Although neither the Captain nor Princess Luna would have approved of us collapsing what was left of the arena,” another voice replied equally winded.

“Yeah ya know what they also wouldn't ‘approve’ of? Us almost dying gallopin’ for our damn lives!” the first voice snapped back.

“Lay off her Shadow Dancer. You’re the one who blew our cover!” a third voice injected.

“I said it wasn't me! Captain drool freakin’ snarls in his sleep!” the first voice growled.

Two other voices said in unison, “Yeah tell us about it...”

Other voices chimed in and a bit of a quiet argument seemed to erupt from it. However that was all I could process before my head started to throb. To make matter worse their slowly raising voices was causing my head to throb more. So after about a minute of their incessant bickering I let out a low groan to which the said bickering stopped.

I then felt a hoof on the side of my face before I opened my blurry eyes. It took a few second to realize it was Twilight sitting in front of me with a concerned look on her face. She also had several scratches and scorch marks on her armor. “What happened?” I stated while attempting to get my bearings.

Shadow Dancer I believe was going to state something, but he quickly got a hoof stuff over his mouth by Night Star. Twilight smiled and nodded to Night Star who in turn nodded back. She then looked back at me and said “We…we had to run through a lot of awful to get in here. After you passed out Gray Mane grabbed Luna and you before we ran away from the alleyway. We…did not fare as well as I’d have hoped. I…I did what I had to do. They were attacking us.”

Her last two statements seemed to be more directed at herself. Additionally her left forehoof kept gliding along the saya of her katana. It was obvious what she had meant given the burns and scratched all over her. The various conditions of my Lieutenants only served to cement her statement. I did not have much of a response to give other than a light kiss on the lips and a quiet “thank you”.

However, there was not much rest for the weary as we still had a mission to complete. So in turn I picked up my struggling body and said “Tactics, status report”.

His monotone voice seemed to have a tired aspect to it, but he still gave an accurate assessment. It appears that when I had passed out they had made a crazed dash out of the alleyway towards the palace. However, rogue soldiers of all types were quite frequently assaulting them along the way. With a combination of sheer luck, Twilight's magic, and Spike's flames they managed to blast their way through the Reaper Knight Arena doors. Although the small army behind them had forced Twilight’s hoof and she unleashed a blast collapsing the ceiling of the arena and thus crushing most of them. After hearing this it was truly no wonder why Twilight was distraught. The only last two pieces of note were that we were in a hallway of the Night Wing section of the palace, and Luna was apparently still unconscious.

I rubbed my face on the last part. “Delightful…she slept through it all too. Have you tried waking her?” I inquired.

“Well I tried a few spells, but she isn't under any hex or anything. What did you do to her?” Twilight replied.

“I merely bit her to stop her from rampaging. However I fear that this is just Princess Luna being Princess Luna,” I said with a groan.

“Umm come again?” Twilight said looking confused, as did several of the others.

I half narrowed my eyes and said “Princess Luna is a notorious heavy sleeper. This is mainly due to the fact that she has the horrid habit of not sleeping for days at a time. She regularly runs herself into the ground and repeats the process again and again.”

Gray Mane just snorted before stating “Well that figures. That’s been a running joke with the other soldiers for years and now it’s finally out hahaha. The old broad really doesn't sleep.”

I just rolled my eyes. “Quite. Now I do know one way to wake her up, but neither me nor her shall enjoy it. Even then I only did so at the request of her sister. She had to be present at some ambassador meeting of some sort I believe. I just hope she does not attempt to tear my throat out like last time.”

Twilight and Spike looked pretty bewildered, but I lied and assured everypony present it shall be fine. Truth be told I was terrified. It was a simple enough process, but Luna seriously went berserk last time. It seems she really does enjoy her sleep, when she actually gets some. In turn I told everypony to back up as I got close to her. I then gulped and lifted her one foreleg. My lips trembled as I parted them before I sunk my fangs in.

Luna moaned in pleasure, but it was short lived. Because I soon closed my eyes and injected pure life force into her body. The result of which was instantaneous. Her eyes snapped wide open as she inhaled a forced deep breath. She then promptly back hoofed me into the opposite wall and was at my throat with both of her kopeshes.

Her eyes burned with rage as she sucked deep breaths between clenched teeth. I however was on the verge of soiling myself and it seemed I may have also forgotten how to breathe. But after what felt like an eternity of terror filled moments she blinked a few times. She then had quite the look of confusion on her face before it shifted to mild annoyance. “If I were to guess, tis my Sister whom had put you up this again. I had told thee once that I do not discern friend from foe well when forced awake. I almost slew thee again. But regardless, what meeting of ‘import' am I tardy to this time?” she said as if she had no recollection of what has been happening.

I just sat dumbfounded as I stared at her with one eye partially closed. After a few seconds of this she just tilted her head and said “Are you feeling well Blood Moon? Or perhaps there is something on my face?”

Again I sat for a second before stating, “Umm Princess I am not certain if you remember, but we are currently in the middle of a battle.”

To this she just tilted her head again said “Battle...what batt…ooooh that was not a horrid dream was it?” as it dawned on her. “What happened? Why do I remember so little?”

With several gulps of fear I filled her in on the details as we made our way to the magical archives. At first I thought she took the news of me stopping her quite well until we met a random enemy patrol. Those poor souls did not stand a chance. She did not even make a sound when she slew them either. She just blurred and sliced them into bloody bits before continuing her perpetual scowl at me.

Luna took the lead and more or less carried all of our weight to the archives. We probably would have helped, but Luna's extremely sour mood had frightened all, but Gray Mane. In some sort of twisted way he seemed to enjoy watching her butcher those poor fools that crossed her path. I however just kept silent and tried to steel myself every time Luna would glare in my direction again. And so this continued until we got to the last hallway. Luna continued her quiet seethe until she had glanced around the next corner and stopped.

She then looked in our direction and somehow frowned more. She remained in quiet thought until Twilight was the only one brave enough to speak. “Umm Luna why are we stopping?” she inquired.

Luna sat down, crossed her forelegs, and narrowed her eyes. “It appears we have a problem. In my irritated haste, I had forgot the goal of our foes and their implications” Luna replied.

“Huh?” Twilight responded in confusion that matched my own it seemed.

Luna closed her eyes, took a deep breath through her nose. She then said “Before Blood Moon…Bit me…” and leered at me before adding, “The rogue leaders were stating they were after some sort of item in the archives. As such there appears to be a small army of at least fifty guarding the entrance.”

Gray Mane was the first to respond with a snort. He began to boast “Only fifty? We can take th-” before Luna cut him off with an interesting improved version of her scowl and leer.

We tried getting other answers out of her but she kept giving short, almost rude responses and still scowled away. This eventually grew tiring in hasty fashion. Now I normally have quite the patience, but today was not one that would have qualified. It seems that getting almost getting blown to pieces and incinerated multiple times truly wears at me. So in turn I resorted to something foolish again. I walked over and sat in front of Luna and leered right back.

“If there is something you wish to say to me Princess, just say it,” I growled.

Her eyes narrowed until they barely showed her pupils. “You had no right to stop me!” she snapped. “I had them in them in the in flat of my hooves and you stayed my hoof,” she added scrunching her face in anger.

I matched her glare and said, “Yes I stopped you! You were outnumbered! I stopped you from killing yourself or worse!”

“I could have slain them easily!” she snapped back.

“You were angry and not thinking clearly! To rush in, in such a manner would be the workings of a fool!” I borderline shouted right before she backhoofed me to the ground.

“NEVER SPEAK TO ME IN SUCH-” she screeched right before some sort of dark foreign growl left my lips. I then got up and glared at her in a manner I do not believe I have ever done before. Soon a red haze seemed to cover my eyes as my vision remained fixed on her. She in turn pressed her back to the wall behind her in an attempt to move further away from me.

Then in some sort of primal voice that came from a deep dark part of me said, “You know...I burned… to see you do it. To see you slay them and revel in their…suffering. To see them…pay…for everything they had done...and saaaavvvor it.”

She began to shake as her eyes widened and whimpered out “S-s-stop it!”

A part of me wanted to hold back, but for some reason I could not stop myself as I continued. “What is the matter…Princess? Is that not what you desired? To rend them limb from limb and enjoy… every…single…second of it,” I said in a voice that slipped out in a slick chilling tone.

“STOP IT!” Luna yelled and grabbed the sides of my face with her forehooves. The act of her doing this almost snapped me out of whatever horrible trance I was in. However a scout from said small army around the corner made their appearance at the worst possible moment. The scout gasped as they saw us and tried to run back to their comrades. They had not even made it two paces before something reached up from inside of me and grabbed hold of them. Their last sound on this planet was a yelp of surprise before I crushed their throat and twisted their head at an unnatural angle with my blood magic.

After this Luna made a frightened whimper and I heard nervous whispers from the others. My mind was beginning to come undone. All the built up rage and anger I had, reached some sort of peak and I could hold it no more. My nose started to bleed as my magic sparked around me. My vision reddened further as I took off my armor’s ring with shaky hooves. I then hoofed the ring and my scythe to a terror stricken Luna. I then said in a barely comprehensible voice, “Luna…I-I-I caNNot HOld…THIs tIME. Do NOT Let mE HAVe THOse. T-t-too anGRY NOw. miND FAlling APArt. I-I-I SHalL CLEar yoUR PAth tO THe a-A-A-arCHIVes. P-p-plEASE ProTECT TwiLIGHT aNd THe rESt f-F-FRoOom ME! I-I-I aM S-s-sORry…GRRRAAHHHH!”

Red tears poured from my face as the last vision of my sanity was the tear soaked face of Luna as she nodded. Then with the last bit of my remaining will I stumbled into the hallway next to us. Right as I distanced myself from everypony else I heard a ward snap into place next to me. It was the last sound I heard before my mind collapsed in on itself.

I rolled on the floor in agony as more blood flowed out of my nose. Everything was burning and in pain. My sight blurred and soon visions of my life and memories screamed through my mind before they faded to darkness. It was all stripped clean and all that was left was endless rage in its place. “WhERE Am I?! WHerE ArE thEY?! WHreE aRe THe OnES Who hAVE DonE thIS?! It HUrtS aNd HurTs AnD HUrtS. ThEY ShaLL PaY! THey aLL ShALL PaY anD PAy aND PAAAAY HEHEHEHAHHAHHAHHAHAAAAAHAHAHA!” I shrieked at the top my lungs and smashed my face on the ground smearing my blood on the carpeting.

Three forms appeared in front of me and my red gaze fixed on them as I got up. I knew it was them ooooh I knew they were the ones oooh I just kneeeew it was them and I screamed it. The cloaked one struck at me first and their drove their short sword forward cutting my right shoulder. More Pain flared in my body and I screamed louder. They then had attempted a second thrust, but my magic lashed out at them in vengeance as I grabbed them with my forelegs. Their pointless struggle began right before my magic and strength twisted their forelegs until they snapped. But I was not through with them though. My body had burned so much blood already and I was hungry oooh soooo hungry.

I yanked part of their cloak off with my teeth and drove my fangs into the soft flesh of their neck. But as I drank some part of me became revolted at my actions. Something in my mind was pleading with me to stop, but the primal hunger silenced it with haste. Over the next few seconds the cloaked one stopped kicking and pleading and merely breathed their final. This however angered me as I was still sooo very hungry. In a rage I threw their shriveled husk out the window to my left in a thunderous crash.

That left the other two as I heard the sweet sound of their heartbeats quicken. Blood and saliva dripped from my opened maw as I hissed at them. In response the black armored one had swung some sort of axe at me while howling like a beast. Another hiss left my blood soaked lips in response to this before they came near. Then just when they were in striking distance my magic took hold of them. They in turn froze in place for a moment before they collapsed to the ground. Their heartbeat soon faded from my ears as their own blood crystalized in their chest. And then they breathed their last just like the first.

After those two my shoulder wound began to knit together as my ears perked up. The third one was still here with me. My pointed tongue slid over my fangs as I located them. The final golden armored one had then shrieked and tried to run. But before they made it three paces they tripped and fell. Then as they tried to crawl away I dragged them back with my magic. My power swirled around them as they choked and gagged. After a few seconds of this they stopped breathing and then stood up a moment later. Dead eyes stared back at me as I raised the black armored one from before as well.

I grinned at my new puppets, but something was missing. A part of me was beginning to diminish and I could not replenish it for some reason. An image flashed in my mind as I said “ScyTHe…”. I held my left forehoof out in response but nothing happened. I snarled as I tried again, but nothing happened except my hoof was pulled to the right. My gaze shifted to where it was pulled to, to find a strange blue translucent wall. And behind it were several more armored figures. For some reason they appeared familiar and as I attempted to walk close my own body fought against me.

In only a few steps I made my way over and pressed my face against the blue wall to gaze at the ones behind it. The small horned and winged one took a few steps back as if frightened. Something in me felt sadness from them doing this until I located my scythe. It appeared to be in the grasp of one of the larger ones. I snarled in rage and smashed my forehooves against the blue wall. I did this again and again, before I felt something sharp against my throat. My vision shifted to my left to find my golden armored puppet pressing their sword against my neck. In anger I tried to push them away with my magic, but they remained unmoved. They just moved their jaw and a voice came out in a death rattle, “Do not…harm…friends.”

I tilted my head in confusion at the words and said “FriENds?”

The golden armored puppet just slowly nodded before taking the sword away from my throat. It then faced and pointed down the hall. “Take…ven…geance…on them…they are…the ones…respon…sible,” its voice rattled again.

It was then I saw them. Dozens of solders like the three I slain before. They all appeared to be gazing at me from down the hall, but did nothing. My face scrunched in a mask of fury as I released an echoing scream down the hallway before charging at them. In response, several of them released some sort of golden beams. I moved my puppets in front of me as I ran to shield me. The resulting action caused the beams to impact them instead of myself.

The beams burned and flashed with intense heat as they melted the flesh off my puppet's bones. But as they had already perished it mattered none. My foes on the other hoof were not so lucky when we reached them. With my mind driving my puppets to unnatural speeds they cut down the first row with ease before working on the second. And while I burned to join them in the slaughter my mind had other ideas instead. A wicked smile grew across my face as my magic swirled around the newly fallen. After a few seconds their bodies rose up and joined my other puppets without hesitation.

The ground became littered with fallen as I continued my rampage. And while they fought me, each time they destroyed one of my puppets I merely raised one or two to take its place. In turn they realized their fight with me was futile and panic spread through them like a plague. I eventually did not even have to lift a hoof. I just sat in the crimson river that flowed towards me and lapped at its sweetness. But at the peak of my satisfaction something had gone wrong.

I began to violently cough as splits in my skin appeared. Red lightning crackled through the wounds and my focus stated to wain. Something was wrong. Something was missing. My body began growing weak and I could not move my right foreleg. Soon my vision began to blur. The only sight I could make out was my puppets slowly getting cut down, one by one. In my weakened state I could not even raise more to replace them as my focus began to slip more.

As I began to barely hold on to my consciousness I heard voices behind me yelling over the battle roar. I turned my head to face their direction to see the figures from the blue wall. I could not tell if one or all of them were speaking.

"Why...he stopping...we're almost there? He...burning...too...life force...he is...unstable. His body...failing...ripping apart. Without...scythe...he cannot...replenish."

My vision waned further as I laid my head on the ground. But right before my consciousness faded the tall armored figure holding my scythe took a few steps toward me before tossing it at me. The weapon clattered near my face as the armored figure looked on. As a result of their actions the tall blue, horned and winged one yelled in their direction, "Gray Mane! Have you gone mad?! He demanded to withhold that from him!"

The tall figure just yelled back, "You don't understand! He isn't done with his rampage! I know how that feels to leave it half done! Besides I reeeaaallllly hate taking orders!" before looking at me. Then with a mad gleam in his eyes he bellowed out "YOU'RE NOT FINISHED YET YOU BLOODY BASTARD! SLAY THEM TO THE LAST!"

My hoof reached forward and I picked up my scythe. I then looked at the tall figure as a smile spread across their face that matched my own. Then right as my last puppet fell I drove my scythe's blade into the floor. The walls shook and various items around me shattered from the impact. With mad laughter, blue energy funneled from every direction into my scythe before going into me. My wounds closed in seconds and my body felt as if it was charged with renewed strength.

My laughter continued until one of my foes dove at me. In a flash I pulled my scythe out of the ground and swung. With little resistance their body was sliced from head to tail before their remains sailed passed me. Then without a second thought I spun on my hind legs and swung my scythe in a horizontal arc. A wave of blue energy flew forward and sliced the majority of my foes that remained in half. All that remained were three golden armored ones.

Upon seeing me they turned and ran, but I gave chase all the way to the end of the hallway. With their escape cut off, two of the golden armored ones faced me while the third sat cowering behind them. The one on the right decided to attack first with a golden beam , but I swatted it back at them with my scythe. Their head melted right off their neck before their body collapsed in a bloody heap.

The other on the left however, I did not even give them the chance. I reached out with my blood magic and twisted their body into unnatural angles before crushing their chest. This then left the last one trying their best to press their back into the wall behind them. Their voice screeched out in a panic as they said "H-h-how are you s-s-still alive?! We dropped a townhall on you! WE DROPPED A TOWNHALL ON YOU! YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!"

My body paused for a moment as my eyes squinted at the cowering figure in front of me. After a few seconds a memory flashed through my mind. I saw their face as it were yesterday yelling in the middle of a battle, "What's happening here?!"

Another golden armored pony yelled back, "Lieutenant General sir, he is killing everypony after one of our soldiers killed his marefriend! He can't be stopped!"

They then replied, "Like Tartarus he can't! DROP THE WHOLE DAMN TOWNHALL ON HIM!"

After the memory faded my face twisted into a visage of pure rage as a deep rumbling growl left my lips. "HeLLo...LiEUtenANT gENerAL" I snarled out before it turned into a hate filled hiss. They gasped in response and their last sounds was a wailing scream before it was abruptly cut off.

So there I sat, licking the sweet smelling blood off my forehooves while my scythe rested on my shoulder. My vengeance had been enacted and I continued to enjoy the crimson spoils until I heard some voices behind me.

"Sweet fuckin' Tartarus what did he fucking do!? It looks like an over-sized hedge trimmer went through here. There's blood all over the damn walls, holy shit! Ahh come on! What fuckin' shit did I just step in?! Ahh its seepin' through my armor," a voice stated before I turned around and tilted my head.

The taller figured from before just laughed before stating, "Ahh suck it up Shadow Dancer. That was damn fun watching him do that. It...it almost brought a tear to my eye."

The first one responded with a simple, "You're a sick fuck Gray Mane."

Then before long the tall blue, horned and winged one stated, "Silence you two. Blood Moon is looking at us!"

A confused low growl left my lips as I looked at the group in front of me. They all looked so familiar and the tall blue one's statement echoed in my mind. My curiosity soon peaked as I stood up and began to walk towards them. However with every step my body resisted me further and further until my legs would not move under my command. I did not know why this was happening. But Regardless, I noticed that when I moved even the slightest a few of them would flinch and take a step away from me. In turn I searched my thoughts, but everything was blank.

In frustration I stomped my left forehoof on the ground and growled out, "WhO ArE YoU?"

The tall blue one bit their lip before stating "It is us Blood Moon? Do you not remember?" They then took a step forward, but stepped back when I let out a low hiss.

After a few moments the smaller purple, horned and winged one took a few steps forward, but did not back up when I hissed at them too.

Some small two legged armored figure seemed to speak to the purple one, "Twilight! What are you doing?! He'll freaking eat you!"

"Be quiet Spike, you'll spook him," the purple replied before looking back at me.

They then took a few more slow steps towards me regardless of my low growls. They also appeared frightened, but walked closer regardless. Then after a few moments of this they walked until they were standing face to face with me. I grew more puzzled by their actions until they lifted one of their forehooves.

My eyes glared at them and their moving forehoof. I wanted to act, but some part of me would not let me move even though I had tried. Eventually their hoof moved until it rested on the side of my face and I flinched at the initial contact. But afterward I realized it was oddly comforting for a reason I did not know. I just closed my eyes and rubbed my face against it to feel it more. As I did so they spoke in a quiet voice, "Please Blood Moon. It's me Twilight. Please come back to me. Please."

There were those words again, Blood...Moon...and Twilight. For some reason these were familiar in a distant manner as if on the edge of my mind. After a few moments I opened my eyes partially and growled out "bLOoD...MoOn? TWilIght?

The purple one in front of me smiled and seemed as if they were happy for some reason. They then leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. At first I was completely confused as to what was going on. Why were they embracing me? Was this some sort of trick? Then something awoke in my mind. The memory was foggy, but I knew them. An image flashed though my mind. An image of them. An image of her.

Soon another memory flashed through my mind. And then another, and another, and another. I broke from her kiss and scrunched my eyes before I stumbled backwards until I fell on my back. I squeezed the sides of my head with my forehooves as more memories sped through my mind faster and faster and faster. My eyes then snapped wide open in a moment of clarity as I growled out, "YouR naME iS...TwILiGHt! My..mY NaME iS...BlOoD...MOon! GRRAAAAAAHHHHH!"

My mind flared with searing pain and I immediately shrieked until my lungs did not have anymore air in them. Soon the pain intensified as my mind opened up more memories. Blood gushed out of my nose and red tears streamed down my face as I was locked in a silent scream. Everything burned, it felt as if every part of my being was twisting right before everything went black.

Darkness was all, and my mind became adrift and blank. I could not even feel anything until eventually I felt my back was propped up against something. Then I felt something dabbing at my nose. Shortly after that my head had then decided it was left out and began to throb. My other senses began to also wake up in turn, but each offered little comfort. Eventually my hearing perked up enough that I started to hear voices next to me.

"Ummm is he alive?" one voice inquired.

"Well I think he's breathin'," second voice replied.

I then let out a low groan before I heard several ponies jump before another voice stated "Everypony stand back. I think he's waking up."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I'll never make fun of his filly scream again," another voice replied.

I opened my eyes to see a nothing but a blurry purple face. After a few seconds my eyes focused until I saw Twilight smiling at me. She seemed to be the one dabbing at my nose from before. I then blinked a few times before I stated in a rough voice, "Where in Tartarus am I? And can somepony tell me what is happening?" For some reason I did not know what was going on or why my throat seemed to be so sore. It was as if I had been shouting orders for hours on end.

The only response I got from my inquiry was a sea of bewildered looks from Twilight, Luna, Spike and even my Lieutenants. Well except Gray Mane who was just smiling like he had just committed some act of atrocity and had gotten away with it. It appeared I was getting nothing from my first request so I attempted a second. "What is going on? Where are we?" I inquired again.

Luna walked up and sighed before stating, "We are in the middle of a battle if your memory serves you. We have retrieved the item we sought in the archives."

I just continued to look puzzled until Twilight helped me stand. My memory had remained foggy, but some of the details had returned. It appeared Luna and everypony did indeed retrieve the box of energy sealing that contained the nightmares therein. However, how did they retrieve it I wondered. There was a variable army guarding the archives. In turn I was going to question Luna about this when I saw the numerous corpses that lay around me. Their bodies were twisted and torn to pieces. "What had happened here? It appears whatever came through here did quite the number. They all look as if they died screaming for some reason."

Luna just looked me dead set in the eyes and said, "They had..."

I tilted my head to one side as she hoofed me my armor ring and rather bloody scythe. "Why do you...gah what in Equestria is in my mouth?" I inquired. To which I spit out a patch of skin and striped fur. At the sight of it my mind flashed a memory "I-I-I caNNot HOld…THIs tIME". My eyes widened and my face twisted into a mask of horror "oh...Oh by the moon! It was ME! I...I...I slew them...AND I ATE THEM! URK!" I stuffed a forehoof in front of my mouth and located the nearest potted plant in the hallway. Then with a violent yank I pulled out said pot's contents before replacing it with contents of my own.

After purging my stomach of almost every meal I have ever consumed in my life did Luna and Twilight tell me the rest of the details. Details that I soon had grown to wish I did not know. But regardless of that tale of horror we managed to slip out of the palace unnoticed. It appeared that whatever I had done previously had frightened most away. We then in turn sneaked our way passed enemy reinforcements to the center of city. All that needed to be done now was to open this proverbial Pandora's box and gallop away, at speed, before the absorption crystals contained therein destabilized.

I was sweating profusely as after we made it to the center of the city and began my work next to the fountain there. I was not quite certain what was causing me more to do so. Perhaps it was the over wound tension in the air. Or perhaps it was absolutely horrifying box of literal death that I was tinkering with. I believe I was leaning heavily towards the latter of the two for obvious reasons. But either way I continued working on the box's seal as everypony was holding guard around me.

After a few seconds I had Luna send the signal for our forces to pull away from the city. A blue fireball erupted from her horn and sailed towards the sky before it exploded. This beacon was replied with a bright yellow fireball to the south of us and a bright pink fireball to the north. Everything was going according to plan until something happened that caused my heart to drop. I heard a small grinding click from the box of energy sealing, but the latch and the seal remained locked. I swallowed hard in response and said "This is truly not good..."

Luna snapped her head around to face me. "I do not enjoy that tone in your voice," she said as I saw her swallow hard as well.

"What's wrong?" Twilight said in a worried voice.

I wiped some sweat from my forehead and replied in a shaky voice, "T-the seal and latch are f-fused closed. I-I cannot open it."

Everypony other than me shrieked in near unison, "WHAT?!"

Twilight and Luna rushed over to me with equally sweating faces and glared at the box in front of me. "W-what do you mean that you are unable to open the box. Please state to me you mean that in jest ha ha haaa..." Luna said in a voice that bordered in hysterics.

I looked Twilight square in the eyes and she paled. "He's...he's not joking Luna" she stammered out.

"Well why don't we smash it open?!" Gray Mane snarled and raised his battle axe.

"Because that would take forever! And when you finally did. you would shatter the crystals and it would surely kill us all you fool!" I snapped back harsher than I meant to.

The result of my statement sent most among us into a panic. I however, kept whirling ideas in my mind over and over along with my statement of "Shatter the crystals." Everything was scrapped in seconds until one plan made itself known in my thoughts. My face hardened and I steadied my breath afterwards. A deep sigh left my lips as I knew what I had to do. I had just hoped that Twilight and everypony else could forgive me for doing so.

I took a deep breath and bit my foreleg with one of my fangs. I then let some of my blood drip onto the ground before I shaped it into a rune before healing my wound. Afterward I held the rune behind my back as I walked over the quite panicked Luna and Twilight. I then cleared my throat and said "Do not worry everypony! The box shall be opened and no pony here is going to perish!"

Twilight snapped to her head to face me with a both equally panicked and confused gaze. "What do you mean?! THE BOX WON'T OPEN!" she screeched in reply and a few others including Luna did similar responses.

I looked into Twilight's eyes. Right into those beautiful purple slitted eyes and placed my right forehoof on the side of her face. I then faked a smile as a red tears welled in my eyes. "Nopony here is going to perish," I restated right before I closed my eyes and kissed her. Then right as I pulled away I whispered, "Nopony...except me," and I placed the sleep rune on the front of Twilight's armor and powered it. Her eyes widened with shock right before they rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed.

Before anypony could say anything I bellowed out, "Princess Luna and Cloud Streak! Get Twilight and Spike away from here! Use his rocket thrust to hasten your escape!" They began to stammer something out, but I yelled "JUST DO IT!"

With a small amount of hesitation they complied with my request and they flew away with a trail of green and red flames. Red tears streamed down my face as I saw them leave. I swallowed hard and whispered to myself "Good-bye Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike. And you too Princess Luna and Cloud Streak. I am better for knowing all of you."

"What in Tartarus did you do that for?!" Shadow Dancer ran up and yelled at me.

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and croaked out "Flee the city you fools! I am going to overload the seal on this box! I shall wait long-" before being interrupted by Gray Mane.

"We aren't doing shit!" he snapped back.

"Agreed," Night Star added.

After a second Tactics replied with, "Both Night Star and Gray Mane are correct."

I just gaped for a moment before I saw tears pour down Shadow Dancer's face. He sniffed a few times and said, "I guess...I guess ya'll can count me in too."

"Why are you all speaking like such?! I can-" I screeched, but got interrupted by Night Star this time.

"No...you cannot, Captain. We all have seen you overload seals before. It is both time consuming and attracts attention. Even now rogue soldiers are converging on our position as we speak no doubt. You would not last a minute without our aid," she stated in an almost scolding tone.

I just looked around as more red tears streamed out of my eyes. "Are you all serious?!" I cried out, but none of them replied. I did not know what to say as any possible response got stuck in my throat. After all the years we had been together and it was still surreal to me.

After a few seconds Night Star had walked up to me and gave me a firm hug. She then let go and said "Everypony make your peace. We do not have much time to spare."

Time slowed down as I just gazed around at my lieutenants, my friends. I looked first at Tactics as he pulled out a small misshapen cupcake before I overheard him whisper to himself. "You pink little insolvable puzzle. I never wanted any of these simple pastries. But It seems you had slipped me another one without my knowledge. Such a simple thing that seems to be a paradox of having no meaning and yet so much, just like you. So I suppose at my end I shall give you the one thing you desired the most out of me, my smile." Then for the first time I have ever seen, his face curled up into a small smile. He then took a bite out of the cupcake before tears streamed down his face.

As I turned my head I saw Shadow Dancer toying with a small piece of rope. He sniffed a few times and whispered, "We're headed to the next rodeo ya said. Ya said it was really a sight too. Ya even said ah'd probably be able to compete along side yer family if I'd get my lasso knots right. Funny...how I'd finally figure it out now. Rope a good one fer me ya ol' stubborn hat wearin' apple bucker."

Next I saw Gray Mane take a small yellow feather from his right ear. He held it in his forehooves and stared down at it. He then took a deep breath and whispered, "See you around you innocent little soul. You gave me the only peace I'd ever known in this damn world. Just don't let those shopkeepers push you around now. I'm sorry, but...but I won't be there to knock their damn teeth in for you anymore. I guess those other examples I made will have to do."

Then came Night Star and she was holding the side of her masked face. She wrapped her other foreleg around herself and whispered, "I apologize, but it seems I shall have to cancel those plans with you miss fashionista. That dress we created probably could have dazzled your critics. Thank you for the mask that you had given me. At least for a little while I was properly able to see my..." She turned her head turned in my direction for some reason and I could see tears flowing out from under her mask.

Silenced then reined for a few more minutes until I heard a roaring crowd coming closer. Gray Mane was the first to get up as he picked up his battle axe. He then looked around and bellowed "If we're all going to die, we're going to make them regret every last second of it!" He then looked at me and added "We'll keep you covered Blood Moon. Lets send these bastards on a one way ticket straight to Tartarus!"

The others yelled in unison and formed a protective circle around me. After they were in place, I picked up my scythe with my right forehoof and focused on the Box of Energy Sealing. I then raised my power as far as it would go and fired a beam of pure life force energy from my left forehoof. Sparks flew as the energy hit the box. It spit and crackled every which way right as the rogue soldiers poured in from everywhere.

For several minutes my lieutenants fought harder than I had ever seen them do so before. But the sheer number of soldiers never seemed to stop and it began to tire and wear them down. Shadow Dancer was the first among us to fall. He had been jumping from enemy to enemy, but a faulty landing caused him to stumble. One of the soldiers got a lucky strike in and impaled him with a spear through the heart. With his last actions he sliced the rogue soldier to pieces with his katars before collapsing motionless to the ground. I had almost cried out his name, but seeing him fall in such a manner steeled my will as I doubled my efforts.

Again my lieutenants continued to fight valiantly, but Tactics was the second among us to fall. He had the skill and the adaptability, but even he had his limits. Even in his lycan form he eventually got overwhelmed and was pulled down into a nearby group of rogue soldiers. The last sounds I heard was the yelp of a wolf before I saw him slain not far from us.

After Tactics and Shadow Dancer perished Gray Mane was driven into a mad rage. He raged around the battlefield cleaving everything in sight with his battle axe. His death was not as quick as the other two. He died the death of a thousand cuts. After a while he had bled far too much before finally taking a solar beam to the chest. With a defiant snarl he sliced through a few more before his shaky legs gave out and he fell over lifeless.

And so then there was just me and Night Star left. When she had spotted Gray Mane fall, something snapped in her as she looked back at me. She screamed into the air, "NONE OF YOU SHALL HARM HIM!" before her body erupted with light blue flames. Her movement increased a hundred fold and she blurred faster then I could follow. In the blink of an eye rogue soldiers from every direction dropped lifeless to the ground at an absurd level.

Whatever she had done it was the last bit of time that I had needed. The runes on the seal shattered and cracked from my infusion of power. Time slowed to a stand still as I saw the box of energy sealing warp and buckle. In the few remaining seconds I had left, I just smiled and whispered, "Fairwell Twilight. I love you."

However, right before the box exploded Night Star blurred in front of me. She then stretched her legs in all directions with her back to me. The box eventually shattered with a thunder crack and she was launched directly at me. As a result we both sailed through the air until we impacted a nearby building behind us.

In my last moments of consciousness I heard a deafening multi-toned laughter. A tall shadowy cloaked pony skeleton with black pits for eyes bellowed to the sky, "I HAVE BEEN FREED HAHAHA! I AM FREEEEEE!" in its strange multi-tone voice. My vision blurred and the last sounds I heard were screams in all directions as everything faded to black.

This is the longest chapter I have ever written at a length of 3+ of my normal ones. However, because this chapter is a main turning point in the story I wanted to describe it in detail. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.