Kanden...

I breathed heavily as I alighted upon the fluffy clouds of the sky city, where all the pegasi were headed. A city in the sky... man, this isn't normal, is it? Anyway, back on track. I took a few cautious steps while on the puffy cloud-streets, but quickly gained my bearings. I still was nauseous, though, due to my still-lingering guilt of killing and eating a child. I wanted to throw up, but I didn't know how. So, without the ability to do anything of the sort, I walk onward. Already, I was seeing the results of heavy combat within the walls of the city; destroyed buildings, corpses of both ponies and devils, and it certainly put me at unease. But, I had a mission, and that was to get rid of these ponies, and save Malideus... assuming he was here, anyway.

I walked for a few minutes, taking in the dreary sight of the destroyed, run-down city, hearing the sounds of fighting from every direction, but seeing no actual bloodshed. But as I walk, I start to feel... well, queasy, for lack of a better word, like something was trying to fight my insides.

"Oooogh... feels I'm disagreeing with something I ate..." I mutter, pondering why the phrase sounded so familiar. But, the feeling was ignorable for now, so I did just that, and forced what was coming up right back down. Then, I continued, searching for anyone alive that wasn't trying to kill me.

"Hmph... where is everyone? Why is the fighting happening EVERYWHERE but where I am?" I asked, wandering about, but as I wander, I could not shake two things; one, that queasy feeling, and two, the feeling that something really, really bad was about to happen. However, I quickly looked around, and found my goal; a giant, cloud-laden factory building, with pink smoke drifting from it, and the sounds of combat heavy from within. That place, if anywhere, had to have the answers I sought.

"Humph... well, better to start somewhere than nowhere... Ai'ght, let's do this." I confidently said aloud, and I thus began my trek, preparing to fight whatever stood in my way. So, taking my gauntlet up in front of me, I began my trek slowly, eventually breaking into a run as I ventured forth, searching for survivors of some kind, and still holding back my physical unease. However, try as I might, I still only found the remains of ponies, and a few squat, red bodies of creatures I couldn't even begin to identify. But, they weren't alive, so I ran on, oblivious to the dead I passed. However, my running soon ended as a fight presented itself; though it did seem rather one-sided, and doomed to end against my favor; five armored ponies stood ready, weapons out, against three armored, squat, red creatures with spears, whiplike flaming tails, and heavy-looking, black armor covering their upper halves. I prepared to witness a slaughter of these odd creatures, but to my amazement, the three dodged perfectly as the five ponies charged in unison, and proceeded to efficiently and quickly kill the five pony soldiers with astonishing speed. However, the kid I ate didn't seem to like the spectacle, and my guts roiled horribly, forcing me to clench my suit's gut, and wish I could vomit. The small, reptilian creatures saw this, though, and rose their spears at me, glaring with beady, fiery eyes.

"Hold it, scum! Get up and state your business, now!" The squat creature commanded, causing me to look at him, forcing my sickness back enough to stand up.

"Uuh, well... *hrghk*... I am..." I tried to spout, but a spear was thrust at my neck before I could finish, and a disgruntled monster sighed, and spoke.

"Spit it out, freak! I don't wanna kill you, but I won't hesitate. Are you a pony, or not?" The creature asked, lowering its spear as it finished to allow me to speak.

"Uhhhh... no, I don't think I am." I shakily reply, and the squat creatures lowered their spears, and stood back, to my surprise, though they didn't lessen their glares.

"Then your as good an ally as we're gonna get. Welcome to the shitstorm, maggot." The devilish creature said, eyeing me grumpily.

"Uh... what? I'm just looking for a guy named Malideus, didn't come here to get drafted."

"Tough shit, bro. You wanna talk to the boss? You gotta save this project first. So? What'll it be, maggot?" The little creature asked.

Ugh... why do I keep getting dragged into this shit? Well, I didn't want to kill any of these guys, since they aren't trying to kill me, so with a sigh, I reluctantly reply.

"Ehhh... fine. What'cha need from me?" I ask giving the one in charge a deadpan look.

"Hmph. Smart man. Follow us, you'll see." The short creature replied, a trace of a grin on his mouth. And with that, I set off again, hopefully into a situation that gets me out of this one.

Ugh, again with these messes.

Meanwhile, from the view of Malideus...

The thundering of my armor jostled me as I threw the feet forward, keeping the mech in a constant run. I was amazed at how fast the thing could move; in the few hours I had been moving, I was already near Canterlot; I could see it from here, and I was still getting closer. Now, I just needed a plan to get over the wall... actually, I didn't. I just needed to go up to it, and knock it down. So, some semblance of a plan in my head, I activated the jump jets on the beast I was piloting, and with a deafening roar, I slowly began my ascent up the mountain, using my claw to grip the cliff face when my jets overheated, and allowed them to cool before jumping again. Continuing this pattern, my climb had begun, and soon, nothing was going to stand in the way between me and my... Goal..? What... what WAS my goal? It was to Kill Celestia, right? Or... was it kill Ragnek? Get home..? Gah, I can't keep thinking about this little crap! I need to focus, now that I'm so close to the end of all this craziness!

I finally stopped thinking about it all, but as soon as I did, I began to feel... strange. Like, Being watched strange. Immediately, I turned about, and addressed my first culprit.

"Alright Ragnek, Piss off! I know it's you!" I shouted through the speakers, but after a while, all was silent, and I still had that feeling. So, thinking it just a fluke, I turn about again, and hear a snide, girlish cough right in front of me, causing me to stop in shock, then growl as a new culprit came to light.

"Kinua, you had better not have been following me, you little shiiiiiiii-hiiii-hiiiiiiIIIIIIIIT!!!!!" I screamed, looking down at the single most horrifying thing I had ever seen in my life; it was short, glowing blue, and hovering just below my line of sight... a fuck-mothering g-g-g-ghost, man!

"Hello, master!" the familiar ghost chimed, waving at me, and it took all my willpower not to faint, especially after realizing just who this specter was.

"W-W-Whip...!?!?" I stammered, eliciting a slight (and fucking terrifying) giggle from the ghost of my former Masochistic servant.

"Hee hee! That's right, Master! I came back, just for you! See, I have something veeerrrry important to tell you!" Whip explains, causing me to stop shaking, but still feeling ready to make like Shaggy and Scooby-Doo and like, run, man!

"I... I see..." I stammer, torn between relief and fear. I hate ghosts, after all. But at the same time, I really liked whip...

"Yes, listen, I don't have a lot of time, sir, but I've a LOT to tell you, and I don't think you're gonna like most of it. You see... I met with an old god when I died, and he told me things. Things I need to tell you." Whip said, and I sighed, understanding. Of course she wouldn't be back for long, her introduction did seem rather rushed. Either way, though, I was happy to see her at least one more time. But that, would have to wait.

"Alright... what do you have for me?" I ask, and Whip smiles, and begins her explanation.

"You... might want to sit down for this. This is gonna get pretty meta." Whip says, and I sigh, moving my armor to get seated for the worst story ever. Hoo, boy. So, Whip goes on explaining all the stuff I already know to me, much to my chagrin; the old gods, Lumi, Ragnek, and the plot currently in motion, for Ragnek to make me his champion, and so on and so forth. But soon enough, it hits something interesting: A random plot twist, that I had no idea from whence it came; Something about my old pal, Ragnek, and that I had a much, much bigger part to play in this whole multiverse-mess than I thought. But naturally, I got caught up in the thing with Ragnek first.

"Wait, hold up... Ragnek's a what now?" I ask, caught up in mixed feelings (mostly confusion) as Whip re-explained everything to me for the second time.

"He's only vaguely related to them, not one of them. Either way, they're called Sys Admins, and their like super-gods, to put it bluntly." Whip explained, causing me to turn the gears in my head. Sys Admins... have I heard that before somewhere? Bah, it doesn't matter. Just another reason to tear Ragnek a new one.

"So... Ragnek's in league with universe admins, and I have to kill him, and help someone kill the douche admins in question?" I ask, feeling like I finally understood what was going on.

"That's the long and short of it." Whip quickly replied, and I lowered my head, trying to take all this in. It wasn't hard, though. After all the shit I've been trough, I was willing to accept this at face value. I was to be the badass that freed the multiverse. It was simple. It was foolproof. I could totally do this, like the Badass that I truly was, and was born to be... Except... For reality, damn its hide.

"But... I'm not a badass, Whip." I say, lowering my head further. "I'm just one fucking teenage boy with a magic stick and a planeswalking uncle-in-law of death. What am I going to do to Ragnek and his deity colleagues, gnaw on their ankles? I lost my inner circle. I lost my power. Hell, I lost YOU. Why am I getting the shit end of the stick here?" I ask, not really to Whip, or anyone really, just to the universe in general. But, ever my faithful minion, even in death, Whip put an ethereal arm around me, and did her best to cheer me up.

"Look, sir, I don't know why this all happened to you. You were so strong before... It's why I respected and followed you... It's why I still do so." Whip said, garnering serious confusion from me.

"Huh?" I ask, lifting myself out of my own self-pity, if only for a moment.

"Malideus... you are not weak. You are still the strong, brave, villainous human I became infatuated with since the day he first slapped me." Whip began, Grabbing my shoulders. "You are not some teenager, you are not even just some one-shot villain! You are Malideus, Scourge eternal, bringer of plagues and burner of orphanages! You have a destiny to fulfill, dammit, to balance the scales of good and evil, and to be the champion of both! Now, with all due respect, I didn't blow up to hear you snivel about it. I did it to see you tear those rebels into fertilizer, So you are either going to get your fateless ass into Canterlot and kill Ragnek for both our sakes, or I swear I'll haunt you for the rest of your life! Do you hear me!?" Whip finally ended her rant, leaving me dazed and confused, like She was the one who slapped me. But nonetheless, it was needed. Her metaphorical slap left me feeling... empowered. She... I think I'm ready to admit that she was right. However, my confession did not come out right, and instead made me look like a sentimental idiot, kinda like this;

"Whip... I..." I stammer, my brain and mouth not feeling like cooperating, and making me sound like a total fool. but thankfully, Whip interrupted me, phasing through my armor and embracing me, ending with her ghostly mouth over my real one. I couldn't really feel it, per say, but the sentiment, and the sensation, was still there, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't give me a hard-on. Finally, Whip pulled away from me, and looked solemnly at me, but with a smile on her face.

"Malideus... don't be that guy. Don't stammer, or don't say it." Whip chided, eliciting a blush from yours truly.

"Err, right... sorry. I just... why? Why the intimacy? What happened to the Master-minion confidentiality?" I say, opting humor over dramatics, hoping it would stop this horrible feels-fest where it was. Alas, fate had other plans, and still Whip held onto me, reluctant to let go. And after a brief, but intimate silence, the spectre sighed, still smiling softly, and spoke once more.

"Look... Malideus... I... I always really liked you, ever since that first time we worked together. I know Mizzy has you now, and maybe always will, but... I sometimes dreamed of us, sir... together. But still, I know it couldn't have ever been, as much as it hurt to know." Whip stopped, seeming to almost choke up, but she swiftly continued, something I seemed unable to do anymore.

"Malideus, I... I know the parting hurts, but... I wish you nothing but luck... in everything, from this, to Mizzy, to... well... everything. I want you to know that, always. From the bottom of my heart." Whip said, beginning to release her grip on me, to my infinite dislike. And once again, Malideus the incompetent makes another heartfelt stammerfest, longing ever-so-sickeningly for the minion he kinda felt attracted to.

"Whip... Will I... ever see you again?" I ask, totally not about to cry, because crying is for ladies, like you! However, Whip only smiled knowingly, and fully released me, beginning her trek back to the god of death's realm, but not before one last, heart-wrenching few words;

"Another life, maybe... another life... My love..."

I totally didn't cry.

Anyway, after my last meeting with Whip, I finally calmed down enough to gauge what she said to me. She said I was still strong, even without ragnek. That, I could believe. But to balance good and evil? Become champion of BOTH? Ha, fuck that. Full evil fo' life, bitches! Still, though, her words held fast within my heart. She only wanted for me to succeed... I couldn't let her down now, not while she spent that time to crawl out of hell to talk to me. To wish me... luck, in everything... even Mizzy... (I am not going to fucking cry! Stop counting on it!)

"Hnn... I... I..." I started, realizing the full weight of Whip's inspirational words, at long last. "... I'm coming for you, Fag-nek. And you too, bitch-lestia." I said, and without another word, I lurched forward with my suit, and strode forward, like a metal, legged freight train. It wasn't long before I reached the city proper, at the base of the mountain I stood, ready to end this fustercluck once and for all.

"No wall too high, your majesty... I'll crawl from the depths of hell to bring you with me." I muttered, and I began my long, but ignorable ascent, using my claw to grapple the rock face between jumps, like a big, murderous insect.

Finally, I reached the top of the wall, unaffected by the runic wards thanks to the armor, and I simply stood there, taking in the last glimpse of beautiful Canterlot before I personally levelled it. I stood a moment, watching the unaware citizens below, before flexing my claw, and getting ready to jump down, and start this slaughterfest.

"Better get ready, Celestia, 'cause I'm going in hard, fast, and without lube." I growled, readying my jump jets, and finally activating them, jumping into the city below me. I landed quickly in the street below me with a loud 'boom', causing several ponies to stop dead, and slowly turn to my direction, delicious fear on their faces. Oh man, this is going to be SOOOOO easy, it almost makes me sad.

Almost.

"Boo." I said through the speakers, and at that, every single pony screamed and bolted away from me, leaving me at liberty to run down the street, ripping up lamp posts, throw them at orphanages, and generally deface as much public and private property as I could. However, I should have known the guards would come for me soon enough, and I stopped at the sound of hoofsteps, just to see just what I was dealing with. And frankly, I was not amused. A few guards, all with swords unsheathed, stood gawking at me, unable to move out of what I assumed was fear. I turned about completely to face them, but they didn't even stand still long enough to let me scare them before running in the other direction, likely for reinforcements.

"Buncha pussies..." I noted to myself, a tad miffed at the sudden cowardice the guards were displaying, before turning around and continuing my rather destructive stroll of the city.

"Now where to the Castle prope-" I tried to say, until My question was cut short by a loud 'Twang!!!' against my armor, which I found to be a spear. I looked up in front of me, and was shocked to see the guard had, in fact, mobilized to curb my rampage. I stood in silence a while, not even breathing, and the guards did the same. No words were spoken; none were needed. Finally, after an eternity of dead silence and dirty looks, I raised my aether cannon and opened fire on the line of guards, who tried to shield themselves from the cannon fire, but could do little more than raise a bubble for a few mere seconds before my gun ripped the shield apart. However, they kept putting them up faster than I could break them, So I switched to plan B: Melee. Using my jump jets, I dashed forward towards the line of persistent guards, and swung my claw at the shield, breaking it instantly, and grabbed the first guard I could with my claw, crushing him in half in an instant. Then, the guards acted, piling on top of me with reckless abandon, and jabbing swords into the armor's crevasses, looking for a weak spot. Fortunately, Kelias built this thing tight, and no prodding they did revealed any sort of advantage, and I quickly threw several of the guards off before curb-stomping them with my massive boots.

"That all you fuckers got? Come on, where are your armies? Your champions? Your princesses!?" I shouted as I threw guards every which-way, firing at them as they flew. However, one of the bastards managed to get in front of my camera, and tried to punch it while yelling at me.

"Don't you talk about our princesses like that, you coward!" He demanded, but I simply pried him off my face, and held him firmly as he struggled to be free of my grasp.

"I don't think you get it, freak. I'll talk about whoever I want, however I want. And who's going to stop me? You? You can't even save yourself." I said, more than a little coldly, and with that, I throw the guard aside, deciding to spare him in an odd show of mercy. Odd indeed... anyway, with the police line trashed, I made a quick run through the city again, killing anything that got between me and my goal, whatever that may be. Whatever it was, it had to be at the castle, of that I was sure. So, that in mind, I used my jets to leap on top of a building, and proceeded to parkour my way to the castle, building to building, mirror's edge-style... If mirror's edge had mechs. Anywho, as I leaped from rooftop to rooftop, I began to think. What was I going to do with all this? Old Gods, Elder Dragons, Khorne... How was I going to solve all this? I pondered this, barely missing an odd, dark figure below me, but ultimately waived it off. I'll just deal with this the way I always have... on the go. Whoever comes at me, let them come. I am human; I will adapt. Overcome. Destroy.

...

"Yes... Destroy. Let's just hope I don't get destroyed myself..." I accidentally say out loud as I leap, quickly making my way to my final destination.

Meanwhile, with Kanden.

I can't believe my luck. Two minutes in, and I kill someone, get drafted by devils, and am now on a quest to save a village that already fell. Poetic, when I think about it.

"Hey, biggun! quit yer daydreamin'! We're almost there." A devil, the leader by looks of it, cried, snapping my focus back into a reality.

"Uuh, hey, leader guy, refresh my memory, where is 'there' again?" I asked, not quite remembering why these three dragged me along. Finally, after a momentary silence, the lead devil sighed, and looked at me, answering my query with a stern glare.

"My name isn't 'guy', maggot, it's Shimsil. And to answer your question, 'there'... is THAT." Shimsil said, pointing to a giant, dilapidated factory, with pink, sparkling clouds emerging from it. "Our objective is to meet up with alpha team and gamma team, and re-take the factory before these damned ponies make off with our secret weapon." I looked at Shimsil with a confused expression, before asking another question.

"Okaaayyyy... but, what exactly do I have to do with this? Isn't this YOUR fight?" I ask, ready for a tongue-lashing, but instead the devil laughs, followed by both his companions.

"Ha! You landed here looking for our boss, right?" Shimsil asks, to which I nod.

"Yeah. So?" I ask.

"Well, maggot, you just MADE it your fight. Now, enough chatter. Let's lock and load, soldiers!" Shimsil beckons, and the other two devils give a quick 'hoo-ah!' before gripping their spears and sprinting off to the rendezvous point. However, Shimsil does not sprint, and instead cautiously jogs forward, sniffing the air like a wolf, eyes squinted into a focused glare. I almost ask him what was up, but something told me that if it was making a devil cautious, I didn't want to know. Finally, we reach the point, fifteen feet away from the entrance, hidden behind some rubble. And it seems the other teams have beat us to it, ten devils in all, idly catting amongst themselves before taking notice of the latecoming team, and then, most noticeably, me.

"Alright, we're here, Sergeant Echolis. What's the battle plan?" Shimsil asks, but the decorated lead devil, apparently named 'Echolis', but the devil keeps his three eyes on me, the middle one glowing an unnatural red color.

"What the hell is that thing doing with your squad, Shimsil? Where's Enoch and Malissa?" Echolis asks, and Shimsil points to me, shrugging.

"Both banished, sir. Killed by a damned ambush on the way here. This guy is just a straggler we picked up. Says he's looking for Malideus." Shimsil says, and Echolis glares at him, flames leaking from his mouth as he spoke.

"And you just LED him here!? He could be an enemy for Malfegor's sake, private! What in Hell's name were you thinking!?" Echolis snapped, but Shimsil stood fast, challenging the sergeant with his posture.

"That we were down two devils, the ponies obviously hate him, and we could've used the support, sir." Shimsil retorted, adding a hint of disdain to his 'sir'. Echolis looked at Shimsil a while, unnerving intensity in his three-eyed stare, then to me, causing me to flinch.

"You... you'd better be a damned good soldier, stranger; my platoon doesn't need any deadbeats in flashy armor. Now, the plan; we're going in from three directions; my squad will take the east side, Schorl's team will have the back, and Shimsil, you take the... wait, what's that noise?" Echolis asked, and I start to hear it, too; wingbeats, lots of them. Suddenly, several armored pegasi land from above us to all around us, weapons drawn. It's a trap!!!

"DAMN IT! It's an ambush!" The black devil, named Schorl, yelled, grabbing his choice weapons, a hammer and a hand scythe. Everyone soon followed suit, unsheathing weapons, and backing toward the center, facing all twelve adversaries. Finally, one of the pegasi points at us with her spear, and talks, pointing at me in particular.

"It's over, vile demons! You are under arrest for your service to Malideus, and will face trial and execution! Now drop your weapons!" The grizzled, grey-maned warmare demanded, but the Devils all immediately laughed at her, giving the group of soldiers their answer.

"Shut yer donghole, you old nag! You want us, you'll have to take us!" Shimsil replied, followed by a comment by Schorl:

"Yeah, you might have us outed in number, but one devil's worth two of your kind, and you just picked a fight with the WRONG veterans." Schorl laughed, followed by several guffaws from his men. The pony soldiers seemed taken aback by this, but did not waver.

"You... you beasts! I'll have your head for this!" the leader says at last, but the Devils just laugh, undaunted by the promise of death.

"Then take 'em, little girl. A'ight, boys, Skin 'em alive! You too, new guy." Echolis says to me, and I see the glimmer in his eyes. He thinks I can fight. Well, who am I to disappoint?

"... Yes, sir." I say after a pause, and Echolis smiles, and the fight begins. The Ponies all charge, spears out, but they catch no one; the devils are too nimble. In retaliation, Schorl jumps on one pony, and decapitates them with his sickle, while his men are massing on another, beating him senseless while he runs around, flailing like a madman. A pony manages to get a sword out, and he aims a strike at Echolis, but the ancient devil blocks the thrust with his armored tail, and opens the soldier for a riposte, stabbing the soldier with his own sword. The devils are fighting valiantly, but the ponies don't seem to die easily either, and many devils and ponies fall in the bloodbath. However, before I can really get into the fight, I'm blocked by a spear that attempts to skewer me; the leader of this ambush.

"You're not going anywhere, demon." She says, before trying to take my head with her sword. However, I simply raise a shoulder, and the blade shatters on it, astonishing us both.

"B-but... how..? That sword was blessed!" The leader stammers, and I take the opportunity to rush her, gripping her in a bear hug, and finally leaning back, downing her with a suplex, followed by an elbow drop from above. However, despite the punishment I've dealt her, she does not stay down for long. And before I can ready myself, the soldier shoulder-rushes me, staggering me, and then readies her spear, preparing to thrust... only for a sword to knock the point down, causing her to miss. Shimsil, that devil I first met, is holding the leader at bay while I stand there, my hearts pounding.

"Well?! Don't just stand there, run!" He says, confusing me.

"W-what? Run!?" I ask, shocked, but Shimsil interrupts me with great haste, straining to hold off the decorated warmare.

"Yes, run! You gotta get to the factory, find a devil named Schlosh! He's the key, what they're after! I'm putting all my faith into you, soldier, now get going!" He says, and I feel a pang of something unusual in my chest. He... he trusts me?

"Your efforts are for naught, monster! We will find the weapon, and destroy it! We've already taken-" The leader says, only to be interrupted by Shimsil, who glares back at her with unrivaled hatred.

"I told you to stow it, bitch! Now get... off... my... CLOUD!" Shimsil roars, throwing the spear aside, and jumping at the soldier, clawing at her face. And with that, I run, not letting these brave soldier's sacrifices be in vain. I have to get to the factory... get Schlosh, get him before they do. Finally, I arrive at the gate, and I see... a short, tailless devil, with a goblin-like face and red skin, surrounded by pony guards. Aiming a shot, my rage and determination filling my arm-cannon, I fire a great, glowing green shot between the guards, throwing them everywhere, tearing the ones nearest to the shot apart in a shower of chunks and blood. I finally reach the devil, who seems absolutely astonished, I reach out with my hand, beckoning him to follow me, in hopes I've found who I'm looking for.

"You there, devil! Come with me if you want to live!"

Now for Celestia...

I can't stand it in here. This throne room feels like a prison as I stand in it, awaiting Malideus. Nathan said he'd guard the entrance, but that doesn't fill me with hope. Instead, it fills me with dread. The one friendly human we meet is surely dead, for who knows what Malideus has in store. I need... I need to calm down. Luna is beside me, just as stoic as I am, and we won't stop waiting. I just have... to wait. He'll come. He has to.

"Or does he..?" A voice chimes in my head, obviously the Narrator. But I ignore it. "Ah, so smug, are we? You'll never beat Malideus. Never. Not even with your sister. Not even with all the power in the world. And do you know why, Dear girl?" The Narrator asks, and without thinking, I answer.

"No. Why?" I think, almost aloud.

"Because he is fateless! Your villains only fall because fate decrees it, but he won't abide. He'll come, he'll meet you, and you will die. It is inevitable, you know, he will..." The Narrator continues his rant, but I ignore him, focusing on the door in front of me. However, soon enough, to my shock, as well as Luna's, the door flies open, revealing Nathan, flying out from the other side.

"Gyaaaa-Oof!!!" Nathan cries, hitting the far wall with a resounding 'CRACK!'. Before we can check on him, though, a lound, metallic stomp reverberates through the empty throne room, revealing a massive foot, then a massive body, black and metallic like polished midnight, with green lights dancing over its massive frame. Then, the armor stood, silent, before raising its clawed hand at me and my stunned sister, and closing all but one finger, pointing at us. Finally, after a brief period of silence, I at last spoke, to at least deter this massive, heavily-plated monster.

"What are you, fiend!? Identify yourself at once!" I yelled, my commanding voice resounding across the room in a lordly echo. But the armor stood there, lowering its arm, and it... laughed, all too familiarly. Me and Luna cringed as the thing guffawed, its tone, its posture, its VOICE... it could... only be...

"Ohhhh, Celestia... Forgotten already?" The armor said, glaring at us, before continuing.

"It's me again... It's Malideus... Bitch.

Back to Malideus, mainly because I can't seem to find Kanden... odd...

I charged into the door, using my jets as boosters, and they flew open as the wood met Darksteel, and the former simply could not match up. Doors now open I quickly rushed through the halls, easily taking out the surprised guards. They tried to defend, but the combined efforts of my claw, my bulk, and my Aether cannon reduced their number to a few quivering cowards, the rest dead or dying. It wasn't hard, seeing as I was now invincible, but it was also expediated by the sudden background music, which I activated on accident by pressing a black button with my elbow. Damn, Kelias, you're always one step ahead of the rest in knowing what I like, especially considering that the music was changable. But for now, it stayed this, my rather upbeat, ass-kicking tune, who I know exactly it belonged to. Now, the way was open, and my path secure. Nothing could stop me now, not even...

"Stop right there, asshat!" A voice called, stopping me mid-thought, and I screeched to a halt as a single, giant-armored gold knight intercepted me, axe raised, itching for a fight. It didn't take a genius to know just who this familiar interloper was; Nathan, that butt I ran into only too many times to count.

"Alright, good. Now turn around, or die." Nathan said, trying to threaten me, but I was the big one, now. To my suit, he was just another guard, and it was such I quickly told him.

"...No. No, it's you who's dying this time, you gilded fuckwit." I snarled through the megaphone, letting the knight hear my voice. However, my opponent was not taken aback, but rather emboldened by my sudden reveal, and quickly adjusted his stance, and let me know.

"Malideus... Or, should I say Chris... Old friend." Nathan said, mildly confusing me. 'Old friend'? Didn't seem like words he'd use for me, even as an insult. But he couldn't have known me before... Right?

"What are you blathering about now, you git?" I asked, only to be replied to rather quickly and brutally.

"You know, Chris. You always have. High school. Remember?" He said, confusing me for a moment, but I quickly dropped my jaw at the realization. High school... That's... That's where I knew this kid from!? OH, for the love of Christ, the cliche' in here is KILLING ME!!!

"Ehr... I don't... remember a high school..." I said, trying to weasel out of the awkwardness, but to no avail. He quickly cut me short, and pressed on with the explanation of how he knew who I was.

"Don't fucking lie to me. SHE told me. We knew eachother. You were my friend, and I yours. To think you were such a nice guy... How could this happen to you? How could Chris, the school nice guy, have become such a narcissistic, murderous monster?" He asked, getting me less confused, and more angry. But still, I had to worm my way out of this, this was just too awkward.

"I really don't have a clue what you're on about. I'm not Chris, I'm fucking MALIDEUS. Now, stand aside, before I have to really hurt you." I said, waiving him to the side, but he only stood there, further infuriating me.

"Lumi told me everything, Chris. It's over. You're not getting past me... not without a fight." Nathan says, and He readies his axe, to my annoyance. He said the name Lumi... I've heard her name before, from Kragda-Maul, Bolas rest his soul. But if she was stooping this low to make me stop... Heh, she must be pretty desperate. So, straightening my stance, arms up, and chest out, I look at Nathan... and reply.

"Then so be it, 'friend'. You're the challenger here, though... so go ahead. Hit me." I growl, smiling. And as expected, Nathan charges me, screaming, but I don't even waste my brain cells on him as to a proper response. With a flick of the wrist, just as he is about to bury his axe blade in my suit's chest, the claw arm on the suit flies forward, in an outward arc, swatting the golden knight aside like a tennis ball... and boy, does he fly like one.

"AAAaaaa-Gyaaaaaaaa!!!... Oof!" I hear the knight cry as he flies through the throne room doors, before hitting the far wall with a thunderous 'crack'. So, that done, I walk inside the now-open doors, and am greeted by... wait... what...?

"It... Can't..." I stammer quietly,looking upon the fresh hell I've now entered, unconsciously pointing at the two monsters before me... none other than Ornstein and Smough themselves.

"Oh... Oh dear... My PTSD is triggering." I quietly said, to myself, as black-and-white 'you died' screens filled my mind's eye. However, though, It soon fades, because the one dressed as Ornstein soon speaks, their voice unmistakable. Oh, yes, I know just who this bitch was, as soon as she opened her mouth to try and intimidate me.

"Halt, fiend! Identify yourself, now!" The faux-Ornstein commanded, and I simply stood there. And I laughed. I had too, this was just too much. Oh... Oh, poor girl... she had no idea...

"Ha... Ha ha... HA ha hahahahahahahaha!!! Oh... Ohhhh, Celestia... Forgotten already? I said, taking the two by surprise, as they almost jumped. And so, readying myself, I altered my pose, so fucking ready to end this shit where it stood.

"It's me again... It's Malideus... Bitch." I growled, so ready for this fight. The last fight. The ultimate fight. And this time, oh, and this time...

I wasn't losing.

Author's Notes:

SURPRISE, IT WAS JUST A FEELS-FEST!!! MUAHAHAHA!!! Right into my brilliant trap you have fallen, young adventurer!!!

Seriously though, Christ, that one took forever. Well, just as well, this is it, the end. Will Celestia and Luna beat Malideus once and for all? Will Kanden be found? Will I ever stop putting this story off? Find out next time, dear readers!