Author's Notes:

Oh boy, I'm gonna get so much flak for this...

Sorry about the wait, folks, but life tends to not wait for people, y'know? Egh, at least this got wrapped up. In all honesty, though, now that this is done, all the loose ends are tied up and I can get on with the story, the REAL story. Anyway, sorry again for the wait, the next chapter won't take so long, swear on me mum, m8.

Later, heathens.

Well, it seems that I've found Kanden, let's see what he's up to...

I stood in the ruined cloud city alone, save for my unexpected companion, the devil named Schlosh, surveying any possible escape routes I could use. The city, for all intents and purposes, was destroyed, laid into complete waste, well, as badly as one can expect of cities made of water vapor. (Seriously, how the hell does a cloud CATCH FIRE!?). However, despite the damage, The devils still fought off the pegasi as best they could, their lack of restraint matched by the Pegasi's own courageous bravado, and while they were amusing to watch, they left me with few places to run, as I couldn't risk capture by either side, not while I was so close to finally getting out of this. Ehh... at least the devil I was escorting was being quiet. So, with a few routes in mind, I beckoned the Devil behind me to follow, and began heading off about southwest, seeing as the enemy activity there had been mitigated. However, as I walk, I can't seem to shake a bad feeling, like I'm being followed. It keeps getting to me, and I keep darting my eyes to see if I'm being followed. To no avail, though, unsurprisingly.

I keep walking through the cloud-rubble, at least a mile in or so, when out of nowhere, the devil behind me decides to strike up conversation with me. Not that I minded, anyway; I could use the noise.

"Uh... Hey, so... about back at the factory..." The devil begins, and without waiting, I reply.

"It's not worth mentioning, pal. I just need to keep you safe, so you can thank me once we're out of this." I say, rather coldly at that, definitely not to my intentions. But still, the Devil talks on.

"N-nah, I think it is. And you do have my thanks. But that's not what I wanted to talk about." The devil says, earning a shocked look from me, and he continues, eyeing me warily the whole time. "Nah, I gotta know somethin' about you. What exactly ARE you, and why are you rescuing me? Shouldn't the other devils be doing that?" Schlosh asks, and I pause, still keeping my quick pace to the edge of this ruined city. I had an answer, but I wasn't sure how to relay it. If I said I was looking for Malideus, how would he react? Like the others? Would he trust me after that? I thought for a second, but ultimately decided to risk it. It's not like his loss was any threat to me.

"The other devils aren't coming, devil. They assigned me as your escort, and that's what I intend to do." I say simply, trying to avoid mention of Malideus.

"Okay, and I'm not gonna argue your protection. But, eh... who are you, though? I didn't hear any talk about cyborg bounty hunters in the usual chatter." Schlosh says, giving me a thought. Bounty hunter, eh? I liked the ring of it. Maybe after all this, if I survive, I might go into that. I seem capable enough. However, I still have a job to do here, and an answer to give. So I put such thoughts aside, and focus on my tasks at hand.

"Mmm... The name's Kanden. And I honestly have no idea what I am, to be honest." I reply, and at that, Schlosh seems satisfied.

"Huh. So no one sent you here, huh?" Schlosh asks, and I shake my head.

"Nope."

At this, Schlosh looks at me funny for a second, but whatever he was thinking before, he seemed to have resolved it.

"Well, I won't get uppity about free protection. Whatever your endgame is, I'm sure it's worth it." Schlosh says, causing me to stare into space for a little bit.

"...Yeah..." I say aloud, thinking on just what my goal was. I wanted to find Malideus, and find out who I was. But... what if I didn't like the answer? What if my past identity was really bad, or just not worth remembering?...

... Well, then I'd just deal with it. Whoever that person was, they're gone. I'm Kanden now. And, honestly, I'm fine with that. Still, wouldn't hurt to know, right?

"Alright, we're almost to the edge of the city. How do we get down?" Schlosh asks me, and I don't reply. Instead, I just unfurl my new wings, giving him his answer as bluntly as possible.

"... Yeah, that'll work." the devil says, eying the metallic appendages in an awe-struck manner. Finally, we reach the edge of the massive cloud with almost no incident, and begin looking over the edge, to better view our destination: the ground.

"... Alright, what now?" Schlosh asks, and I feel compelled to answer, until, lo and behold, an incident. Specifically, one in the form of a sudden group of winged ponies, much to my chagrin. Even worse, one looked familiar.

"Stop right there, you two! You aren't going anywhere." The leader shouts, pointing her sword at us, and I recognize her immediately; the old warmare that Schorl tried to take out. And if she's here, that means he failed. And that made me just a little more upset than usual.

"You... So you got away, huh?" I almost growled, a killing desire boiling in my gut as a noticed several fresh wounds on the grizzled Pegasus. Clearly, hers was not a clean getaway.

"You've run far, monster, but you've no more help, and I have plenty. Now give us the devil, and you might get a fair trial." The warmare demanded, but I already had a plan, bad as it was. I don't know what the deal with this devil was, but if he was important enough for the ponies to go to all this trouble over, then they sure as hell weren't getting him from me. So, prepping my gut, I readied my new wings, and prepared for my stupidest life decision yet, with an old familiar feeling in my guts, like something, or someone, was trying to break out.

"No. This is over, nag. I'm going to finish what Schorl started and end you myself, right here." I said, trying to anger that gut feeling I was having. The plan was close, I just had to fight her now...

"You won't win this time, demon! I will see to it that you are beheaded on the spot!" The leader threatened, and in turn, I laughed, shocking everyone.

"Hm. Get in line." I say, readying my wrist-cannon. Suddenly, as I was about to lunge, a sharp pain surged forth, and I braced myself, anticipating this. However, I kept the feeling in, knowing it had to wait, just until I could be sure nothing got in the way. Finally, we came to blows. The warmare, in all her bravado, charged me first, sword aimed at my vulnerable head. But I was ready, and despite the horrid churning in my suit's gut, I parried the blow quickly, and introduced the pegasus' face with my fist, and sent her roiling in the other direction, only to be caught by one of her troops. Not long after, the whole group descended on me, and keeping Schlosh behind me, I readied my fists, and parried the blows as they came, though most of them simply bounced harmlessly off my suit's armor, and left them open for retaliation. Amidst the blocking and dodging, I struck at those I could, sending them flying away from me, and kept those still up from getting to the devil I escorted. Using my metallic wings as makeshift weapons, I managed to cut down several soldiers at once, keeping the others from getting on me to weigh me down.

I felt the urge to vomit rising the whole time, spurred on by the slaughter of the soldiers, but I kept it in, just until I could get rid of these annoying ponies. Suddenly, the surge of warriors began again, and I was forced on the defensive once more, Parrying careless swings, punishing them, and cutting down knights left and right with my blade-like wings. But despite my efforts, the swarm did not die down, and I continued my defensive as long as I could muster, using every opening available to me. Searching, I quickly found one soldier reeling back from striking my plated chest, and using the moment of recoil to my advantage, I grabbed the knight by her leg, and swung her about as a makeshift club to buy me some breathing room. Suddenly, just as quickly as it surged, the crowed receded in recoil of this, allowing me to discard the dizzy soldier. The sudden retreat did me some time, but left the surging urge to evacuate my bowels even worse off than before. Man, am I determined, or what? And on top of that, the horde got ever tighter around me, being given the opportunity to regroup. THis was bad. I was outnumbered, not ready, and I needed to act, and fast. So I braced myself, and readied my cannon, aiming at the mass of soldiers, ready to end this as quickly as possible. However, they quickly saw this movement as a threat, and charged me all at once in one final, desperate push to kill me. I had no time, and no other option; with one muscular flex, I released the charged bolt from my wrist, point-blank, into the faces of a wall of troops. I braced myself as the bolt struck, getting between me and the devil to mitigate my losses.

Instantly, the first row were vaporized by the blast, reduced to a green-and-pink mist in a fraction of a second, and the rest were thrown backwards, bloody chunks of the next three rows of soldiers splattering onto the remaining five rows, now on their backs, dazed and traumatized by the event that just occurred. Several screamed as chunks of comrade fell upon them like a foul storm. Several vomited, several just lay there, unable to cope with what was happening. And among those who heaved their guts, I was, finally, among them. It was time. Bracing myself, I turned back to Schlosh, and to his surprise, I opened my eldritch chest up, and as if on queue, out came a massive surge of slime and glowing bits. And to his horror, among the slime was a young pegusus, just like I'd planned.

"W-w-what t-the hell!?!..." Schlosh stammered, unable to grasp what was happening, but I knew. I had it figured from the beginning. And now, he and I both had our escape. Suddenly, the slime-drenched Pegasus twitched, and attempted to get up, groaning in pain as she did.

"Uuuuhhhhnnnn..." The downed soldier moaned, finally getting up. Quickly, I grabbed her neck, resulting in a sharp gasp from her, and picked up Schlosh in turn, to his shock, and forced him onto the mare's back.

"Woah woah, what the hell are you doing!?" Schlosh asked, but I replied instantly, almost cutting him off.

"Not now! You want off, this is your ride! GET DOWN THERE!" I exclaimed, and before Schlosh or the regurgitated pegusus could protest, I shoved them both off the edge of the city, sending them plummeting to the ground. Now, I was free of two things: That horrible nausea, and Schlosh. If my calculations were right, either the young Pegasus would glide them both down, or would break Schlosh's fall if they DID hit the ground hard. Either way, he was safe. Now, I just had to get out of here, and lure the ponies away. Weirdly enough, I still had my wings with me, so I at least had a back-up plan if they managed to catch up with me. But now, I just had to run. And so, run I did. However, though I ran, I could not escape that feeling, like someone was leering at me from right behind me. However, despite that, soon enough, I had one last, more pressing matter to deal with, now blocking my path.

"Stop... right... there." The old Pegasus general. I should have guessed she'd make it out.

"Ah... you again." I muttered, to tired to deal with any more monologues again. In response, she raised her sword, pointing it at me, deciding to spare me her lectures.

"You've caused nothing but trouble for me, demon. I'm not going back in good standing, but I'll be damned if I go back without your head as a trophy!" The old mare said, circling me for an opening, and in a gesture of good faith, I replied.

"Hmph. You seem pretty fuckin' determined to kill me, don't you. Well, that's fine, then." I say, readying my fists for our last ever encounter, wherein only one of us was walking out of here alive. "Right, let's end this." I say, and without another word, we charge eachother, braced for impact. Blow met with blow, blade versus arm, and in the end, though I outweighed and out-sized her, she was just too agile for her age. The war-scarred pony met me blow for blow, and dodged any fatal ones I threw. She knew my style well, and that left me without a chance to hit as long as she stayed moving. But unlike her, I had an advantage: She grew tired with each swing, and each dodge, and each parry, but I did not. My robotic suit had the advantage of being able to keep going, and to wear her down with my every move. I just had to outlast her. And judging by her shorter movements and deeper breaths, that wasn't going to be much longer. Silently, we kept eye contact as our deadly dance continued, my every swing, kick, and body thrust whittling her stamina away more and more each second, and all I had to do was keep my head down.

Suddenly, the nag swung her blade overhead as I mused internally, and I barely had time to block it, but I managed. However, though my real body was safe, it turned out that her swing was a feign, and she quickly slammed into me as I left myself open for attack. However, I still outweighed her greatly, and in a second, both of us were locked in a brutal shoving match with eachother, fists interlocked, each trying to overpower the other, and I was winning. Slowly, sweat covered her face as her hooves dug into the cloud beneath them and her teeth gritted as she pushed back with all her might, but it was too late for her. Her back began to arch as I asserted my full weight over her, pushing her into the cloud, which cratered in response to the intense fight occurring upon it. The mare was at a loss, I knew it. She lost the minute she tried to match strength with me, in a desperate bid to save face. And soon, I heard joints creak in response to the intense physical pressure I was exerting, and heard whimpers as the knowledge of her imminent demise settled upon her like a blanket of fear. Still, though she stood, defiant to the end, leaving me with a slight sense of admiration for this soldier's resolve and toughness.

"Hrgh... give up yet?" I grunted, feigning the illusion of tiring out. Still, the Old nag locked eyes with me, and smiled, a pained one, but a genuine one nonetheless.

"No... As long as I'm alive, and as long as I can carry... a sword... I... won't... give an INCH!" The soldier strained to reply as I exerted my strength onto her, and I'll be honest; I was surprised. Most who see me give up immediately upon witnessing my raw strength. But this one did not cave, not even a bit. Admirable, indeed... but ultimately, fatal. Finally, I tired of playing around, and released my restraints, and began to unleash the full extent of my pressure upon her, causing double the strain to her already-caving body.

Hm. Then so be it." I reply, flexing my suit's muscles as I bear down on the soldier, and with a grunt, Her legs go down, unable to bear the pressure. Despite this, she kept gritting her teeth in a poor, strained grin. And through those gritted teeth, she replied, and what she said almost made me falter. Almost.

"You... Think you've won..? No... You won't... succeed... You won't... break me..! Your... master will... fail... our people... our kingdom... will... live... on..." She struggled with the last of her might to stay standing, but finally, a sharp snap rang out across the barren field, and the soldier, at long last, fell limp in my arms, her spine severed in two, the life gone from her eyes. Sighing a breath of relief, and a little guilt, I discarded the dead soldier, and walked onwards, officially drained and tired. At last... my job was over. I trudged on, uncaring of where I was going, or what was to happen next. However, that question soon answered itself as I felt a presence manifest behind me, a dark, borderline evil presence that reeked of indifference. I turned, if only to humor the apparition, and was mildly surprised at what I saw: Behind me stood a tall, black, humanoid figure, who struck me as oddly familiar, though I was sure I'd never seen him before. Finally, after a quick scan, the figure spoke to me, his voice deep, but gentle.

"Here you are, Jarvis. I was beginning to worry about you." The figure spoke, catching me off-guard, but only for a moment. Like I said, a was just too tired to deal with this today.

"Jarvis..? Who the hell is Jarvis? I think you have the wrong guy, friend. Name's Kanden." I say, about to turn around, when the figure speaks again, sounding just a little saddened by my reply.

"Hmm... You don't remember, do you..? A shame. I knew leaving you here would be a bad idea. Especially after you attacked your own brother..." The being said, shaking its head sadly. Suddenly, a bad feeling crept up my spine, and I turned around, feeling oddly prepared to fight.

"Umm... I have no Idea who you are or what you're talking about. Now, I have to find this Malideus guy, and if you're opting to get in my way, Then I'm going to treat you like everyone else that has." I say, puffing up the suit's chest, to hopefully intimidate the guy into backing away. But, unsurprisingly, he does not. In fact, he strides forward, an air of confidence about him.

"Oh, Jarvis, do not threaten me. You are not ready to challenge me. You are coming home, and that is final." The mechanical entity says, like a father scorning his child. However, I do not back down.

"Yeah, like hell I am." I say, and with a grunt, I throw my wrist forward, charge a shot, and release it, right into the figure's masked face. The charged shot explodes, but to my shock, the dark figure is gone, not a trace of it left. That is, until a hand grips me from behind, and turns me to face its owner. He just appeared behind me, and could kill me in a moment. But, thankfully, he did not. Though I towered over him, the shadowy person still intimidated me more than he should've, and wasn't really in a fighting mood anymore. So, I try to get away, but he easily catches up with me, no matter how fast I backpedal.

"This is going nowhere, Jarvis. Just give up and return with me. I can fix you..." The entity says, extending a hand to me, and for a moment, I feel compelled to take it, but I fight off the urge. Still, the figure continues.

"... Wouldn't you like to remember, Jarvis?" The shadow asks, and I stop, curious, no longer willing to fight anyway.

"... What do you mean? What are you on about?" I ask, curious, but still defensive. Finally, the guy replies, extending his hand once more.

"You want answers, Jarvis. I have them. Please... let me remind you." He says. I want to say no, to run, to fight, but... this was the closest I would ever get to some kind of closure. How... how could I say no?

"... And you'll tell me everything if I do?" I ask, still wary, but still willing to believe this guy. Better than staying here, anyway. Immediately, the mechanical humanoid nods his head, reassuringly.

"Everything you want to know, and more." he says, and, after a moment, I hesitantly reach for his hand, grasp it, and shake it, sealing my fate, whatever that may be.

"... Right, then. Lead on. I say, and like that, a feelin of complete emptiness washes over me, and I hear only these last words...

"With pleasure. Your brothers will be overjoyed to see you again."