From high above the trees, Hestaria flew towards the bright flashes of light and loud explosions emanating from the trees. She could feel something strange in the air; a static charge and a heavy weight pressed into her like needles. The flashes were getting closer but dimmer as she approached the clearing. As the center of the clearing came into view, she was horrified by the sight. Ephialtes standing over Commander Nexus laying in a pool of his own blood.

“Ephi! What are you doing!?” Hestaria shouted as she landed behind him.

Ephialtes turned and smirked at Hestaria. “What I should have done the minute I met him.”

Nexus groaned and a flash of light shot from his horn. Ephialtes shouted in anger and stopped his hoof down onto Nexus’ throat. He gasped, trying to shout through Ephialtes’ hoof crushing his windpipe. He barely struggled as Ephialtes pressed his hoof down harder. His right eye was nearly closed as his continued to try and pull in another breath. After a few agonizing seconds, his metallic limbs went limp in a clatter of metal. His right eye still half open and blank, starring back at Ephialtes. Ephialtes released Nexus from his hold and his final breath escaped his mouth. Ephialtes turned again to Hestaria with a sick, sadistic smile spread across his face.

“Are you afraid Hestaria?” Ephialtes asked with great pleasure in his voice. “I can taste your fear, and it’s delicious.”

His horn glowed black and he threw Hestaria against the closest tree. He slowly approached her showing his teeth as shadows started swirling around to his right.

“Lunarus’ death was long and painful, I won’t give you the same luxury of wasting my time.”

With in the shadows a blade of ice formed. As he reached Hestaria, he put the ice dagger to her throat.

“What are you doing?” a voice asked.

Ephialtes hesitated and turned around to find the source. All he saw was Nexus’ beaten and bloody body laying in the middle of the clearing.

“This isn’t you Ephialtes. You know it isn’t you. This is one of your friends after all.”

Ephialtes started scanning the edge of the clearing looking for the source of the voice.

“I think we need to have a little talk.”

There was a flash of light and Ephialtes fell to the forest floor unconscious. Hestaria fell from the tree and the ice dagger shattered against its roots. She quickly ran to Ephialtes and knelt at his side.

“Ephi! Are you okay!? Wait here, I’ll get help!” she said franticly before flying back towards Canterlot.