Equestria. A land of magic and wonders, a land that houses the most unique of creatures, a land that has come to be the dwelling place of the two sisters, the two rulers.

        The two goddesses.

        Ahh, gods, the perfect and all-powerful beings. Beings perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who are worshipped as creators and rulers of the universe. But what is the true definition of gods. Is a god can be anything with unfathomable power? Immortality?

        No.

        There's no such things as gods, they're myths, legends of old, the result of an over creative mind and naivety. They were born inside the minds of mortals, who could not explain the nature around them and so, created their false gods as their answer.

        And although the gods are truly a subject to discuss hours on end, our story begins with a tad bit of simplicity.

        It starts with a unicorn.

        A powerful unicorn.

        A unicorn known throughout the land for her and her friend's heroic deeds, such as the cleansing of Nightmare Moon, or the recapture and later reformation of Discord, and let's not forget the epic defeat of the tyrant king, Sombra.

        Her name is Twilight Sparkle, and she's about to become the trigger to unleash a series of events that'll change Equestria forever.

        For she had found something rather odd.

        It was during the early hours of day. The sun barely rose across the sky, and the air was still mildly chilly, but she could not help it. The situation at hoof was too great to pass.

        She stood in the middle of her library; each book was in its proper place, categorized and checked for any imperfections, but it wasn't important right now, none of it was, the only thing the aroused any kind of interest in the mare, was the golden sphere she found.

        The sphere wasn't big, about the same size of her head. It emitted a peculiar glow and had unique engravings on its surface.

        Twilight levitated a book in front of her; the cover reads 'Ancient languages and inscriptions'.

        "Nothing … absolutely nothing. Not Gryphonian, not Zebrican and definitely not Equestrian." Twilight lowered the book just enough to take a glance at the sphere "What secrets do you hold?"

        "Twilight? Are you messing with that ball again?" The voice of her number one assistant, Spike, called. The young drake watched in awe as the shining sphere hovered in front of his caretaker.

        "I can't help it Spike, this thing, whatever it is, is fascinating. It's like nothing I ever seen, and that's including the royal archives. That sphere is practically radiating energy."

        "So… It's a magic battery or something?"

        "Yes and no, actually. It definitely holds something inside, but it's not magic. It emits energy from nothing, and although it's practically impossible, well… you can see for yourself. This thing can create energy, pure, raw energy. Out of nothing."

        "I don't understand."

        Twilight rolled her eyes. Sometimes she wished to have somepony with the same level of intellect and understanding as hers.  

        "This thing defies physics and magic as we know it. The form of energy radiated from this sphere is natural. It can become anything, even mana energy," Twilight explained.

        "Yeah… still not following…"

        Twilight sighed and shook her head. "Never mind Spike, just stay back a bit, okay. I'm about to cast a spell directly on the sphere, I trust you know what to do."

        Instead of answering, Spike saluted and hurried behind a nearby table.

        Twilight made sure to cast a protective bubble around Spike just in case. She wasn't as good as her brother in protective wards, but he did teach her a thing or two about barriers spells, just in case.  

        Finding everything to be in order, Twilight focused her attention back on the ominous sphere. Her horn blazed with power as a small wisp of lavender mist rose from the tip of her horn. The smoke trail slowly drifted towards the sphere like a snake, stalking its pray.

        It was mere inches from the sphere when it glowed with blinding light. Twilight shielded her eyes from the burning light and turned away.

        The light receded as fast as it came. Twilight rubbed her eyes with a hoof. Her vision was blurry slightly.

        "Spike? Are you alright?" Twilight called.

        "Yeah… What was that anyway?"

        "I don't know maybe it was- Hey! Where did it go!"

        When Twilight's vision returned to normal she noticed that the sphere was gone. The only thing indicating its whereabouts was a trail of seared wood which turned to seared ground as the trail led to the outside.  

        "Round up the girls, Spike. I don't know what just happened but it can't be good…"    

        ~An unknown wasteland~

        Two warriors stood against each other, both had a look of determination plastered across their faces. The scenery around them was ablaze as everything was either burnt, or cracked.  

        "Just… Give up…" One of them croaked. He panted heavily but did not lose his grip on his giant sledgehammer.

        "Not in your wildest dreams, Jetno!" The other man shouted. He had in his hands a long trident that ended with three menacing looking tips. He had a confidant and cocky grin.

        Jetno snorted and stood straight. "Like hell I will, Jonathan!" He wasted no time and slammed the hammer into the ground, creating a whirlwind of sand around it. The sand swirled faster and faster until it launched itself towards Jonathan.

        The sand came in like a wave of death, further destroying the once green scenery. Jonathan smirked as he stood his ground. Fire cackled from his fingertips and flowed through the trident. Three small flames formed on the tips of the trident as Jonathan waited for the perfect moment to strike.

        He braced himself against the wave of sand until it was just inches away from him. At that moment, he pointed the trident towards the wave and released a powerful torrent of blistering fire. The wave almost immediately turned the sand into molten glass as it pooled around Jonathan's knees. Any other mortal would have screamed in agony, but Jonathan merely felt warm. He spread his free hand down towards the molten glass and it shifted under his will. Seconds later, the molten glass turned into a wave of hot death and was headed towards Jetno.

        Jetno leaped high into the air and above the wave of molten glass. He readied his hammer and was about to bring it down on Jonathan's head when suddenly his opponent yelled "STOP!"

        Lost all momentum, Jetno fell down towards the sea of molten glass. Just before he hit the searing substance, he sucked the heat out of it and landed softly as a feather of the transparent surface.

        "What is it? What's wrong?" Jetno called, looking at each direction, trying to find where is Jonathan, who suddenly disappeared. "Jonathan?"

        "Shhh…can't you see I'm busy," Jonathan hissed from a nearby rock. He was perched on top of it, his trident rested at the base of the boulder, and his eyes were glued to a small screen of a smart phone. "I just got a friend request!"

        Jetno facepalmed. Hard. "Jonathan, I swear, sometimes I think that maybe the Void is an extension of your head."

        "What's going on here?" another voice called, and a man holding a staff with deep red robes and a hood that covered his face

showed up. "Jetno, care to explain why your brother is neglecting his training?"

        "Hey, don't blame it on me, Kaizer. It's not my fault that this numbskull is more interested in this droid than training," Jetno cried.

        "It's not called a droid you idiot! It's called an android. A-N-D-R-O-I-D!" Jonathan yelled, not even bothering looking up from the screen. "Ohh, an ad, let's see… Doctors hate him… eternal youth… simple technique… free! You heard that! Mortals discovered the secretes of immortality all on their own, they're truly fascinating creatures- HEY!"

        Jonathan watched helplessly as Kaizer yanked the smart phone out of his grasp and threw it beyond the horizon.    

        "There… now that this little nonsense is out of the way, I can do this…" with a jerk of his arm, Kaizer swiped his staff in a horizontal swipe and hit Jonathan in the side of his head, sending him to the ground with a nasty crack noise.

        Jonathan groaned loudly. His head was firmly planted in the middle of a small crater. "Seriously dude? You can be such a jerk sometimes," he moaned.

        "I try my best," Kaizer replied, "Oh, and Jetno?"

        "Yeah…"

        In an instant, Jetno felt a spike of pain in the middle of his forehead as a staff was hurled directly to his head and staggered backwards. His head throbbed with immeasurable pain. "What was that for you maniac!" He cried.

        "Because I felt like it," Kaizer said as he huffed a small air of frustration at his two little brothers. "Seriously guys, if I can't teach you properly than I have no choice but to beat some sense into you, you're supposed to be gods for crying out loud!"

        Kaizer was about to continue his rant when a cold chill crept up his spine. He eyed his younger siblings and saw them shiver as well.

        Jonathan suddenly felt a hand grab his shoulder and yank him upright. He turned around and peered up towards the last person he

wanted to upset. "Uhh… hey big…*gulp*… bro…"

        "Jonathan…" hissed Sihn-Lah, his older brother and the elder of the four. "Don't think even for a moment that I haven't watched that pathetic display you demonstrated moments ago." His glare was so fierce that Jonathan had to avert his gaze from Sihn-Lah. What surprised Jonathan further was a hand landing softly on his head and start ruffling his already messy black and red hair. When he looked up, he saw Sihn-Lah was smiling. "You can be such a pain," he chuckled.

        A wave of relief washed over Jonathan when he realized his elder brother wasn't mad at him.  

        "Don't go easy on him, Sihn-Lah, he's supposed to train, not play Candy Birds and Angry Crush or whatever," Kaizer chided.

        "That's totally NOT what those games are called you-"

        "Jonathan hush!" interrupted Sihn-Lah. "While I'm not as mad at you as Kaizer I'm still disappointed. This world is already dead, which is exactly why Kaizer and I let you and Jetno fight. We take into consideration your desire not to hurt living beings, so all I ask in return is that you take your training a bit more seriously. Okay?"

        Jonathan looked down again. He hadn't said anything. Instead, he simply nodded.

        "That's a good little brother…" Sihn-Lah teased as he scratched behind Jonathan's ear.

        Jonathan gritted his teeth and pulled away from Sihn-Lah, using one hand to try and comb back his unruly hair.

        "Jeez, Sihn-Lah, you know I hate it. Why do you keep doing that?"

        "You just answered your own question little brother." Sihn-Lah chuckled and then looked all around him. A small sigh escaped his lips as his grin slowly faltered until it was no more.

        "Well, since training is obviously out of the question, I guess it's time to wrap things up. Kaizer already took any salvageable sources of knowledge, Jetno made sure that time is still intact, and I took care of the dead and delivered their judgment accordingly. It all falls to you now, Jonathan. Seal this world's fate."

        Jonathan looked crestfallen.

        "Jonathan," Sihn-Lah whispered, "I understand your distaste in taking away something you worked so hard to create, but this world is no more, it'll never need it ever again. Take it now so you may use it to those who deserve it."

        Jonathan nodded. "You're right Sihn-Lah… I don't even know why I'm so bothered by it…"

        Jonathan turned around and looked up towards the grey sky. No clouds hovered above, only grey skies and a dying red star.

        Jonathan raised his hand and squinted his eyes. From his perspective, it was as if he was holding the red giant between his fingers. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He stood like this for a few minutes, just standing still and breathing to an unseen rhythm. When he opened his eyes, he still saw the red giant between his fingers, only when he lowered his hand, the sun was no longer in the sky, but rather hovering just above Jonathan's palm. He closed his fingers around the glowing red orb and crushed it with ease between

his fingers.

        Jonathan sighed and looked around him. This world was now plunged in darkness, and was doomed to remain barren and cold.

        A fate worse than death, or so Jonathan believed.

        "Let's leave this place," Jonathan uttered, "I want to see green again…"      

        ~Back in Equestria - The outskirts of the Everfree forest~

        Six mares stood on a road that led into the dark depths of the Everfree forest, looking warily at the gloomy woods that housed all manner of evil and dangerous creatures.

        Twilight was the first to break from the group and started walking into the shadowy abyss with a clear goal in mind: Retrieve the golden orb.

        "Twilight wait up!" called Applejack. She trotted until she reached Twilight and then matched her pace to hers, the rest of her friends close behind. "Are you sure this a good idea sugercube. Ah mean, this place is mighty big, and finding this… shinin' ball in such a place is like searchin' for a needle in a hay stack."

        Twilight averted her gaze from the forest and craned her neck to look at Applejack with a smile. "I know it's a lot to ask of you guys, but this is too great of an opportunity to pass. I might just have found a completely new type of magic, or perhaps a powerful artifact."

        "And don't you think it might be a tad dangerous, darling?" chided Rarity. "Don't get me wrong but it seems like we're walking straight into a trap, and Celestia knows we saved Equestria four times too many."

        Twilight looked thoughtful for a moment and then turned her attention to Rarity. "If this thing is indeed some sort of trap or evil, then it's in our best interests to contain it. Either way, we can't ignore the fact that this cannot be overlooked."

        "I guess you do have a point." Rarity sighed.

        "Hey, it's not like we can't defend ourselves! We're the elements of Harmony! Protectors of Equestria! I reckon that if anything, and I mean anything, tries to mess with us, it'll have its face rearranged!" boasted Rainbow Dash as she took to the air and stuck a heroic pose in front of her friends.  

        A sense of relief washed over the mares as they chuckles at their prismatic friend's antics.

        Once the last bit of laughter left Twilight's lips, she turned to her friends and said, "Come on you guys, let's find this orb and get back to our homes, I'm sure we'll find it sooner rather than later."

        -Three hours later-

        "I'm borrrrrrrrrrred…" groaned Rainbow Dash. She was flying over the forest's canopy for three agonizing hours. She winched each time her wings brushed against a branch. "Three hours and all we found is big smelly pile of nothing!"

        "This ball is by far the best hide-n-seek player ever!" exclaimed Pinkie as she darted between the trees, looking behind every bush, rock and fallen branch. Her energy seemingly endless.

        "Keep your eyes peeled you guys. I'm sure it's here somewhere, I just know it," reassured Twilight, though her resolve was slowly faltering as well.

        "M-maybe you scared it…" chimed in Fluttershy.

        "I doubt that, Fluttershy. Though this thing does seem to have a mind of its own…" admitted Twilight.

        "Ah reckon we should head back to our homes before it's getting too late. Celestia know this forest can get awful scary at night."

        "Applejack darling, are you implying you're scared," teased Rarity, looking at Applejack with a smirk.

        "Why you little… why don't you come a little closer and say it to mah face!" snapped Applejack. Her cheeks were rosy red and her eyes showed spite.

        "Girls shush!" called Twilight. "I think I just heard something, it sounds like… talking?"

        The mares all quietened down and listened carefully. They stayed firmly planted in place and breathed slowly.

        "Ah think ah heard something from there," whispered Applejack, pointing towards a seemingly random direction. The mares looked at each other, giving meaningful nods that conveyed their thoughts, and as one, they started walking towards the noise.

        With each step they took, they could hear the sounds more coherently. It did sound like talking, but they were too far away to make sense in them.

        Finally, after a few tense moments of silent walking, the mares stopped behind a bush overlooking a clearing in the forest. There, they saw the most bizarre thing they've ever encountered.

        Four alicorns!

        "Ahh! This is the life," called one of them. He had a white coat similar to Celestia, but instead of a multicolored mane that swayed in the breeze, his was considerably shorter and black with a few strands of red. He took a deep breath and then exhaled loudly, rolling on his back and stretching his hooves. "That's what life is all about. Green, beautiful world!"

        "I still don't understand why we must use these bodies. I just can't figure out how to coordinate with four legs," muttered the alicorn next to the one splayed on the grass. He had a dark blue, almost black coat, and a spikey light blue mane. He looked down upon his wobbly legs and tried to take a few steps, but when the first step almost sent him to the ground he decided against that.

        "Come on Jetno, don't be such a stick in the mud, It's nice switching bodies for a while. And besides, it's all about concentration, once you got the hang of it, it'll be a second nature to you," bragged the white alicorn on the grass, a smug grin on his face.

        "Oh, is it now, Jonathan?"  Taunted a jet black alicorn with a black shoulder length mane. "Because I remember you were constantly whining when we first arrived here."

        The one known as Jetno started snickering while Jonathan smiled shyly.

        "I'm sorry to interrupt your intelligent conversation," started the fourth alicorn. He had a light brown coat and a long grey mane, "but this chat is no longer private…"

        The mares all froze when four sets of eyes turned towards them. A second later, they felt a powerful force lift them from their hooves and carry them into the light of the clearing.

        "What do we have here?" wandered Jonathan, his horn was alight with a black and red aura, the same aura that encased the mares. He was still sprawled out on the grass and he had a lazy smile on his face. "Six little mortals, how cute…"

        "Put me down NOW!" yelled Rainbow Dash as she struggled against whatever invisible force was keeping her ensnared.

        "And why should we," said Jetno. He tried to look menacing but the wobbly legs kind of ruined that image of him.

        "You're right Jetno, you suck at being the bad guy," Shin-Lah pointed out.

        "Scrrrrrrew you, Sihn-Lah," Jetno retorted, though the smirk on his face assured his brother that he wasn't harboring ill feelings towards him.

        "Let me handle this, guys," Jonathan said, suddenly rising on all four. Twilight felt the power that held her and her friend slowly lessened until it was no more, making it so that she was gently dropped back to the ground.

        Jonathan took a few steps forward until he was just in front of the six confused mares. He sat down, cleared his throat, and extended his hoof.

        "Greetings fair maidens. My name is Jonathan, a deity of the void …"

        "…"

        "Umm, I think you shocked them a little bit Johnny," commented Jetno, looking mildly concerned towards the six pairs of almost unnaturally wide eyes, all staring at Jonathan.

        "Quite," Kaizer agreed, looking rather amused.

        "What should we do then?" asked Jonathan, looking worriedly at the six dumbstruck mares. Jetno stepped forward slowly and carefully and placed a hoof on Jonathan's shoulder.

        "Let me handle it," he proclaimed. He then sat on his hunches and summoned his divine powers. Sand began to accumulate near the god's hooves as he penetrated the minds of the six mares and erased the last few moments from their heads. Once done, Jetno released a sigh he did not know he was holding.

        Jonathan slowly and gently laid the mares back on the ground and gave them a once over. "Hello?"

        "Who… are you?" gasped Twilight. In all her long, yet eventful life, she had never seen other alicorns with the exception of Celestia, Luna and Cadance. It was especially baffling considering she was now staring at not one, not two, but FOUR different alicorns. And males at that.

        It was unheard of.

        "Allow me to introduce ourselves," proclaimed Jonathan. "I'm Jonathan, and these are my brothers, Jetno, Kaizer and Sihn-Lah." Jonathan then pointed at the dark blue alicorn, then the brown one, and finally the black one. He was careful not to reveal too much information, as he did not want a repeat of what happened earlier.

        "B-but you're alicorns!" accused Twilight.

        "So this is what we are called, and here I was thinking we were some kind of winged unicorns. Or perhaps horned pegasi. I'm not that good in terminology," admitted Jetno.

        Twilight was at a loss for words. Alicorn weren't like any other race in Equestria. They were ascended ponies who were touched by divinity when they reached a certain revelation, or so Princess Celestia had told her. This transformation is also quite grand. There's no way four other ponies have ascended without the princesses' knowledge. So how come there are four additional alicorns in front of her eyes? Are they royalty as well? Do they know the other princesses? Or maybe, they are their… consorts?

        Twilight shook her last theory out of her head and tried to figure out what to say. Luckily, or unluckily for Twilight, Pinky Pie stepped forward.

        "OH MY GOSH you're like the coolest ponies I've ever seen! Can you control super big things like Celestia and the sun or Luna and the moon and like Cadance and love? Can you even control emotions? What's it feels like? Do you have super-duper strength? What about- hmphphmph…"

        Luckily (for real this time), Applejack shoved her hoof into Pinky's mouth to muffle her sugar addled spree.

        "Sorry 'bout that fellers. Pinky can get mighty excited when she meets new ponies. Name's Applejack." She introduced herself.

        Rarity then stepped forward as well and gave each alicorn a court nod. "And I am Rarity. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

        Not wanting to be left behind, Rainbow Dash flew up high, made a few stunt moves and landed. "And I'm Rainbow Dash." She thrust a hoof into the air. "Fastest flyer in Equestria!"

        There were only two ponies who have not introduced themselves yet to the four alicorns. One was two puzzled to speak up, and the second to frightened.

        Sensing the building uneasiness, Jonathan approached the buttery pegasus and knelt down, but even then, he was still terrifyingly tall for poor Fluttershy, who whimpered slightly at the sight of Jonathan.

        Fluttershy looked up, still slightly shaking, and gazed into Jonathan's eyes. From the close distance, Fluttershy saw that his eyes never stayed the same color for too long, but rather changed hue every now and again. "And what might be your name, little one," he whispered gently, his eyes turned light yellow that seemed the copy her own coat. Somehow, just being near him, Fluttershy felt more confidant.

        "I'm Fluttershy," she said simply, offering a smile. Jonathan smiled back and turned his attention to Twilight.

        "And you are?" he inquired.

        Twilight blinked a few times before realizing she was asked a question. "T-Twilight, Twilight Sparkle."

        "It is a pleasure meeting you all," claimed Jonathan. He walked back to his brothers and the four bowed respectfully to the mares.

        The mares were slightly taken aback by the chivalrous act, but swiftly recovered.

        "So, you really are alicorns," Twilight marveled.            

        "It seems so," answered Kaizer. "Say, since you're obviously natives, care to tell us the name of the land perchance?"

        "You… don't know what this land is called?" inquired Twilight, sounding mildly surprised by the fact that the four do not have a clue to their whereabouts. The four alicorns nodded all at once. "Well… this world is called Equss. As for the country itself, you're inside Equestria, the Everfree forest to be more precise."

        Kaizer nodded and hummed thoughtfully. "I see, thank you, Miss Sparkle."

        Twilight blushed and nodded shyly, suddenly feeling like hiding behind her mane like a certain friend of hers.

        "So," stated Jetno. "I don't suppose you'd like to stay for a picnic, do you?"

        "Oh, I don’t know…"

        "Oh come on Twilight," pleaded Rainbow Dash, we've been searching for hours for that stupid ball, let's eat!"

        "Well, I suppose…" Twilight felt a little reluctant to stop the search now. She was close and she could feel it. But her rumbling stomach did poorly to justify her opinion. Sighing, she nodded.

        "Woohoo! Picnic, YAY!" called Pinky, already pulling a striped blanket and laid it on the grass. But before she could have pulled the food itself, Jonathan stopped her in her tracks.

        "Allow me."

        With a wave of his hoof, plates and bowls filled with different assortments of foods materialized in front of the mares' eyes. Sandwiches, salads, and a few cold drinks were laid neatly on the blanket.

        What amazed Twilight though was the fact that she did not feel the slightest usage of magic. She felt an energy flow, yes. But it was not the common unicorn magic. In fact, it was not magic at all.

        But unlike herself, Twilight's friends were more than awed by the marvelous spectacle, even by Equestrian standards.

        "Well, what are you waiting for? This food won't eat itself, now would it?" Jonathan teased.

        In mere seconds, the blanket was occupied by five very happy mares and four pleased alicorns. The only one who seemed suspicious was Twilight.

        "What's the matter, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash chewed on a tomato sandwich while looking at Twilight. "Don't tell you're not even slightly hungry. I heard your stomach earlier."

        Twilight blushed in embarrassment as she looked away. "I don't know guys. I mean, we're accepting food from complete strangers, alicorns at that, in the middle of the Everfree forest. Doesn't that bother you even for a second?"

        Rainbow Dash looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging.

        "I assure you Miss Sparkle that were we intended to inflict harm upon your and your little friends, we wouldn't be having this conversation, now would we," remarked Sihn-Lah. His tone was cold and fluid, charming even, but also had a dark quality to it, as if daring Twilight to say the contrary.  

        Twilight gulped and took a few steps back from the blanket.

        Kaizer eyed Twilight for a moment and then glared at Sihn-Lah. "Now look what you've done, Sihn-Lah. Honestly, when it comes to thoughtlessness you are second to none." He then turned to look at Twilight. "Please don't mind him Miss Sparkle. Sihn-Lah is just not as social as the rest of us. Here, have a salad."

        A plate with an inviting looking salad hovered towards Twilight. She eyed the plate suspiciously, feeling yet again this strange energy emanating from it. After a short time, in which Kaizer cleared his throat to snap Twilight out of her thoughts, she took the plate in her own magic and gave the salad a cautious sniff.

        The heavenly smell almost caused Twilight's legs to buckle. A warm smile formed across her muzzle as she spotted a place between Applejack and Jonathan for her to sit. Once seated, Twilight took another whiff from the salad as her stomach cried out for her.

        Twilight felt something nudge her gently on the side and craned her head to her right. Jonathan held a fork for her while eating on a sandwich of his own. Twilight gratefully accepted the fork and promptly shoved a whole load of salad into her waiting maw.

        The only thing better than the smell was probably the taste. It was so rich but not overwhelming, slightly sweet and just the right amount of salt. Twilight closed her eyes as a small smile graced her face once more.

        "So," started Rarity, wiping her mouth for a moment before looking at the four alicorns. "How come four gentlecolts like yourselves are doing in this dreadful forest?"

        "We came here to have a little vacation," answered Kaizer. "It's been too long since we just took some time to ourselves."

        "But why here, of all places?" asked Applejack.

        "We don't know, random teleportation is the best in my opinion. You never know what's on the other side," answered Sign-Lah, his tone much lighter and upbeat.

        "Random teleportation?" inquired Twilight. She never heard of it. Usually to teleport, one needs a clear destination in mind, otherwise it will not work.

        "Yes," responded Sihn-Lah, offering no further insight on the subject.

        Time seemed to fly as the ponies ate, drank and generally had a good time. The mares took great joy in the company of the four alicorns, even if they offered less than ideal answers to Twilight's questioning.

        The sun was kissing the horizon by the time the four alicorns decided to end their little vacation. They rose on their hooves and exchanged goodbyes with the mares.

        "I guess this is it then, I hope we could meet again sometime," mused Jonathan. His smile was the largest out of the four and his eyes turned light orange.

        The four alicorns turned around and were about to leave this world when something caught their eyes.

        It was the sphere.

        "No…" whispered Kaizer. "I thought we've got rid of it, it can't be."

        The very sight of the sphere caused the eyes of the four alicorns to widen, as well as their muscles to tense. Jonathan's eyes turned yellow-green as horrors of long forgotten past played back in his mind.

        "Okay, here's the plan," started Sihn-Lah. "I'll direct some of my powers to the Box. When it launches at me, I want you all to run. Do I make myself clear!?"

        "Sihn-Lah, no!" Kaizer hissed. "I'm not letting you deal with the Box alone, you need us."

        "This is not up for debate, Kaizer!"

        "What's going on?" whispered Twilight, looking slightly startled by the way the four alicorns reacted to the sphere. And why they kept referring it as the Box?  

        "Twilight, I want you to take your friends away from here as far as possible," directed Jonathan. "This box contains powers beyond the understanding of mortals."

        "What? I don't understand!"

        "Twilight just go!" Jonathan shouted. He snapped his mouth shut and covered it with his hooves. He looked back at the sphere as it suddenly bolted towards him. Moments later, Sihn-Lah stood in front of Jonathan as a crack appeared along the ground. From it, a blaze of black fire shot towards the sky. The scorching black wall of death managed to stop the sphere on its collision course with Jonathan, but with each passing second the roaring flames turned smaller and smaller.

        "Agh! I can't hold it for too long. Jonathan, run!" Just as he finished saying that, the flames died out completely and the sphere collided with Sihn-Lah instead. Sihn-Lah screamed in pain as power kept flowing from the sphere and corrupted him to his very core. The evil that was sealed inside the sphere kept gushing out into the closest host. Black fire erupted from Sihn-Lah and burst forth. The three remaining alicorns just barely managed to create a protective shield over them and the mares. The flames kept licking at the power shield, but did not burn it. The same could not be said about Sihn-Lah.

        His fur burned almost instantly as skin and flesh melted under the searing heat. His screams became a bloody gurgle as the last tissue of flesh evaporated from his charcoal skeleton. The fires extinguished almost instantly, leaving behind a shivering skeleton. It craned its neck at the group of ponies, before crumbling into dust.

        No one dared to utter a sound as the ashes shifted and swirled across the clearing. The trees withered and died and the grass turned yellow. Death slowly crept to the rest of the forest. Anything caught in it died. Animals, plantation, and even insects. Everything died.

        Luckily for the mares, the protective dome around them also protected them of the same curse that leached the life out of the forest.

        "What's going on here?!" cried Twilight, overcome with fear and terror. The same unknown energy she felt earlier was now ravaging

across the forest. It was not magic. It was something much, much stronger.

        Then, everything seemed to stop. The ashes that once swirled across the forest stopped their frightening dance and they gently fell down to the ground.

        But the momentary peace was only an illusion. As the last speck of ash fell to the ground, the shadows of the forest suddenly moved on their own accord. No longer had they hid behind objects to avoid the sunlight, but rather, they were drawn into the middle of the clearing, where the shadows took form and materialized into a solid object.

        The black blob hovered a few feet above the ground and it seemed that something was trying to get out of it. Slowly, the blob took shape of a man. The blob then sizzled and started changing texture, instead of its slimy appearance, the blob turned wool-like and smooth along the legs and torso. The very end of the legs turned into a pair of black leather shoes. The upper middle part of the torso tore open, revealing the white, bloby insides that changed texture as well into a white breast shirt. Both sleeves had silver skull cufflinks attached to them and the part under the open tuxedo was buttoned up by two black buttons.

        The blob that formed the head also started changing, turning whiter and whiter until it was almost see through. The empty face then began to become more detailed. Two holes in the front sank into the head and a thin slit appeared in the middle. A well-defined nose appeared in the very middle of the face as the eyes took shape and the mouth was done. Strands of long , black and silky hair ascended from the top of the scalp and ran down all the way to the neck, where it was pulled back into a ponytail. Two white hands slid into the appropriate sleeve as the figure flexed its fingers. Once done, the figure took a long shuddering breath, and released it, opening his eyes as he did.

        Twilight felt her breath got caught in her throat. He was so handsome! The way his black tuxedo complimented his pale skin, and how his hair seemed so smooth to the touch. Twilight felt a wanting desire to willingly give her soul to him, to forfeit her life for him.

        To die for him.

        "Ahh… much better," Sihn-Lah mused. He eyed for a moment his true form and then stared at his brothers with eyes as black as the void.

        "Sihn-Lah, please tell me you didn't-"

        "Oh I did, Jonathan, and the feeling is beyond thrilling," said Sihn-Lah, interrupting Jonathan.

        Kaizer stepped forward, a look of utter rage in his eyes. "Sihn-Lah I warn you! Expel the evil from your heart!" he commanded, slamming his hoof down on the ground and cracking its surface to emphasis.

        "And what if I say 'no'?" teased Sihn-Lah, leaning slightly forward, his eyes slowly scanning every tiny detail.

        Kaizer growled and moved forward, but suddenly stopped.

        "Kaizer?" asked Jetno, worried for his brother and mentor.

        It wasn't until Kaizer started making choking sound that Jonathan and Jetno realized something was wrong. They dashed forward

just as Kaizer collapsed. Jetno caught Kaizer in his hooves and noticed he was having trouble breathing. Sihn-Lah hexed Kaizer.

        There was a pulsating black mark along Kaizer's neck that resembled a barbed wire. Each passing second the marking would appear to tighten around Kaizer, and with each second, Kaizer's struggles were more and more desperate.

        "Sihn-Lah, stop!" Jetno screeched, but it was too late. With a wet snapping sound, Kaizer ceased his flailing and lay limply on the ground. His head was turned in an unnatural angle and a constant stream of thick blood dribbled from his mouth. A moment later, he was encased in a golden glow and dissolved into nothingness.    

        "Such a shame. Kaizer showed so much promise. But perhaps I can still salvage something out of you." Sihn-Lah turned to Jetno and offered his hand. A sincere smile graced his angelic face. "Do not fret, Jetno. Kaizer had to be taught a lesson in respect, but I'm not cruel. I've rediscovered myself! Finally, I see the worlds for what they truly are, and so could you, should you wish to join me…"

        Before Jetno could express his opinion, Jonathan stepped forward and glowered at Sihn-Lah. "You bastard," he whispered. "YOU BASTARD!"

        Jonathan was about to pounce when Jetno beat him to the punch quite literally. With unmatched speed, Jetno reached out for Sihn-Las and delivered a crushing blow to the deity's face.

        Sihn-Lah merely stood there. He took the punch without budging a single inch from his spot. His once gentle smile turned quickly to a saddened frown. "I see. I must confess Jetno that I am… disappointed."

        With a thrust of his hand, Jetno was flung backwards and hit the ground hard. A trail of turned earth led to Jetno's mangled body. His hooves were twisted in awkward angles and his eyes rolled in their sockets. The same hex appeared on his throat. Jonathan watched helplessly as the life was literally squeezed out of his body. Jetno released a final cry of pain before him too, stopped completely. The same golden glow encased Jetno and he vanished into nothingness as well.  

        Jonathan just stood there, his body shook violently as tears streamed down his cheeks. "No… why… why did you do it?"

        "It had to be done," explained Sihn-Lah, his voice was solemn, as if it pained him to kill his brothers.

        Jonathan gritted his teeth, his eye were ablaze with fury.

        "Don't make the same mistake as your brothers did, Jonathan. I care for you. I want you to be there by my side."

        "Go to hell!"

        Sihn-Lah sighed. "I was afraid you might say that. That's why…" Sihn-Lah suddenly vanished and appeared right behind Jonathan "…I'll make your death as quick and painless as possible."

        Jonathan closed his eyes shut, bracing himself for a brief sharp pain, immediately accompanied by the sweet relief of death.

        Sihn-Lah wrapped his hands around Jonathan's neck and was about to deliver the finishing blow when a stinging sensation shot through his shoulder. He turned his head to see the lavender unicorn from before, her horn slightly smoky and her face were just as rage-filled as Jonathan was.

        "You… you monster!" she accused. "You just killed your brothers in cold blood!"

        "So… I fail to see your point. Brothers should know better than to disrespect their elder. I merely reminded them of that simple fact."

        "By killing them!?"

        "Yes."

        "I will never let such a vile creature such as you roam our land, killing on a whim. Your evil deeds end now!"

        "My, my, such brave words," Sihn-Lah remarked. He let go of Jonathan's neck and moved towards the mares. Slowly and deliberately, he crouched down until his head was just above Twilight. "But tell me mortal… can you back those words up against a god?"

        Without missing a beat, Twilight nodded. "I can and I will!"

        Sihn-Lah chuckled and grasped Twilight by her chin, looking deeply into her eyes. "I rather like you…" he moved closer until his mouth hung just above her ear "… that's why I'll make sure to save you for last. Your cries of pain will be most… delicious."

        Before anything else could be said, Sihn-Lah was slammed by a powerful forced that knocked him over and away from the mares. Jonathan stood next to them, glaring at Sihn-Lah. "Never look away from your opponent. That's the first thing you taught me," he spat. He then looked over the mares. "He didn't do anything to any of you, right Miss Twilight?"

        Twilight shook her head. "No, but I don't need help. My friends and I can take anything-"

        "Don't be stupid Twilight!" Jonathan hissed, and for the first time in her brief encounter with Jonathan, she saw him frown, an act that was highlighted with the dark red of his eyes. "Don't ever say that when facing Sihn-Lah. With a mere thought, he can have you killed. Your body would just stop from existing and your soul will drift to limbo for judgment. No, Sihn-Lah is powerful, ever by our standards."

        Twilight felt her ears pin against her skull. It was always unpleasant when someone scolds you, and it was not different this time.

        "I will take care of Sihn-Lah. I want you to run away and do not look back!"

        "No, I will not stay in the sidelines while this... lunatic is roaming free. And I'm not leaving you behind either," Twilight argued.

        A projectile of raw power just barely missed the mares as it soared passed them and decimated the forest behind them, long line of

ruined landscape a testimony for Sihn-Lah's powers.

        Another projectile was headed towards the mare, but this one was blocked by Jonathan. He grunted as the projectile collided with his chest. Before he could regain his senses, Sihn-Lah appeared right in front of Jonathan and kicked him to the ground. The force of the impact shattered the ground all around them.

        Sihn-Lah had his shoe firmly planted on Jonathan's throat as he applied more and more pressure with each passing second.

        "S-Sihn-Lah… Please… Stop," Jonathan choked. He tried to lift himself up, but he was still in an alicorn body, and he did not have a good vantage point to do so.

        Sihn-Lah's weight on his throat increased tenfold and Jonathan spotted darkness creeping in the edge of his sight.

        And when he finally accepted his fate. When Jonathan realized that there is no escape. When the calm embrace of death finally caught him, he found himself breathing again…

        Blinking a few times, Jonathan shakily rose back to his hooves. Sihn-Lah was lying in a smoldering crater. His back was scorched though his suit was surprisingly left untouched. He then turned around to the other side, and saw the mares equipped themselves with pulsating jewelries.

        "Good job Twi, them teleporting magic sure saved us the trouble of goin' to yer home to retrieve the elements," praised Applejack.

        Twilight smile triumphantly.

        "Well, I do like to think of myself as-"

        "You fools! You just enraged him," cried Jonathan, interrupting Twilight as well. He looked fearfully over the crater, but the body of Sihn-Lah was already gone. He blinked, and a sharp pain shot through him. Sihn-Lah stood before him. His left hand was morphed into a long javelin and in struck Jonathan directly in his chest. Small droplets of blood matted Jonathan's pure white coat as it dribbled down to the ground.

        "I hope you could find it in your heart to forgive me for this, brother." Sihn-Lah slowly and painfully pulled his javelin/hand out from Jonathan's body, causing the flow of blood to increase in spurts.

        But just as Sihn-Lah was about to extract the last inch out of Jonathan, the latter grabbed the javelin with both hooves and secured Sihn-Lah in placed.

        "And now you're just delaying the inevitable, Jonathan. A good warrior knows when to quit, I told you this a long time ago."

        "Yes you did… but you also told me that a good warrior can find an opportunity at any given moment." With a mighty heave, Jonathan lifted Sihn-Lah off his feet and slammed the god on his back.

        Sihn-Lah quickly rose from his place on the ground and dusted himself off "Really, Jonathan? That's the best you can offer? It seems the body you're wearing is starting to affect your judgment."

        "That attack was never meant to harm." Jonathan smirked and braced himself. "It distracts. Now girls!"

        Sihn-Lah had no time to avoid as he was struck by a beam of rainbow straight to his back. He yelled in agony as the beam tried to purify his body from the evil inside. It was not strong enough to defeat Sihn-Lah, but it gave Jonathan the chance he so needed.

        While Sihn-Lah was kneeling against the ground, breathing as much air as he could, Jonathan leaped forward and struck Sihn-Lah in his chest. The impact was weak, and it barely budged Sihn-Lah. But that was the idea.

        Before Sihn-Lah could react, Jonathan used his blood and scribbled different runes on his own brother. When the last rune was in place, Jonathan pushed Sihn-Lah to his back as chains of light erupted from the ground and ensnared him.

        "What's the meaning of this!?" snarled Sihn-Lah. His face consorted into a deep and hateful snarl as he tried to break free from the chains.

        "Sihn-Lah…" Jonathan boomed, his voice carried the magnitude as well as the power of a god. "You broke one of our tenets, as well as threatened mortal lives for petty reasons! By the power bestowed upon me by the void, I banish you from this body. May your soul never find rest!"

        Sihn-Lah screamed as more chains erupted from the ground and impaled him in the back. The more he resisted, the more aggressive the chains were. Before long, Sihn-Lah's body was nothing more than mangled pieces of metal and golden blood.

        Jonathan stood there, looking downward on the remains of his brother. Slowly his body shut down as his acts in the battle started to take their toll on the weakened god. He looked one last time at the shocked mares, smiled, and fell to the ground…

Changes from the original version: EVERYTHING

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