“I thought you would be happier to see me, father.” Nag-Ta mocked.

Midnight's fear was replaced by anger, “Don't you dare call me that!”

The demon gave a fake frown, “But you created me,daddy.” he looked at the others, “Oh, I see you replaced your old family. Maybe I'll have fun with them, too.”

“Leave them out of this. It's between me and you.”

“No,” Twilight said, “We fight together.” the others showed their agreement by facing the demon along side Midnight and Twilight.

Nag-Ta smiled “Good, it's more fun when you try to fight.”

Midnight stared daggers at the monster. He formed his ghost hands and a large sword.

He charged the nightmare on his hind legs with the sword held at his side in both hands.

“HHYYYAAAAA!!!” the blue pony swung the ethereal weapon only to contact a sword of fire.

Nag-Ta smiled, “You've actually gotten stronger. I'm impressed.” he drove his left fist into Midnight's jaw.

“But you're still pathetic.” he said.

A massive boulder struck the beast in the back of the head.

“Ha!” rarity exclaimed.

The beast turned to the white(ish) unicorn and flung a bolt of fire at her.

Twilight jumped in front of her friend and conjured a shield bubble. It wasn't as effective as she hoped. The flame was stopped, but it shattered her spell sending both the ponies to the ground.

The creature spun around delivering a round-house kick to a still phased Pinkie Pie. The mare slammed into the wreckage of a tank. At the same time he threw a barrier in front of a diving Rainbow Dash, knocking her out.

Applejack grabbed him around his waist and lifted him over her head into a suplex. Instead of landing on his back he landed on his hands and flipped his legs over, flinging the cowpony high into the air. She landed hard on her back, taking her breath.

The monster took out the best Equestria had in less than ten seconds flat.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Ponyville was as quiet as a ghost town. All it's residents were either in the shelter or fighting. All, that is, but one.

One soul had snuck out of the sanctuary and was running through the abandoned streets toward the battlefield.

Something told the pony that she was needed. She didn't know why, but she was needed. She just hoped she wouldn't be too late.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Midnight found his footing again and called the Elements of Order to him. Not wasting any time he drew on their power once again. The four floated up a few feet before Midnight's eyes opened glowing white. The light of the elements combined into the same orb before shooting up into the sky and plummeting towards the hell spawn.

Nag-Ta threw his hands up in front of the spear of energy in defense. It struck with force enough to push the demon back. His face contorted in a scowl.

Midnight was hopeful, seeing his old enemy struggle. Unfortunately that hope was crushed when the beast, with a yell, threw the blast away.

“No,” his ears flattened against his head in fear, “the elements are unbeatable... the most powerful magic in Equestria.”

“That was before I got here,” the demon said dropping his scowl and putting on another smile, “but if it's any consolation... that hurt like hell.” he swung his arm as a wave of fire washed over the four ponies, sending them to the blood soaked ground.

Midnight stood up shakily. Drawing a mage form sword again he struck at the demon.

Nag-Ta caught his hoof and, with his other hand, struck Midnight's shoulder, dislocating it.

“Ahhhhh!” Midnight yelled as he dangled from the demon's grasp.

“I'm going to enjoy tearing you to pieces.” The beast said as he grabbed Midnight's body with his free hand, “scream for me.” he pulled with all his strength, tearing the blue warrior's fore leg clean off.

“YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” Midnight let out an ear splitting wail as the piece of him was forcefully removed.

The demon threw him up in the air and, using the severed leg hit Midnight to the ground.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

She arrived just in time to watch a terrifying creature rip Midnight's leg off and hit him with it.

She was terrified by the scene.

What could she do?

Watching the defenseless warrior as the monster walked toward him, a strange feeling built in her.

She snapped, “DADDY!!!”

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Midnight plugged his bleeding stump with a mage form plug. If it weren't for his training he would have been panicking.

The demon began walking toward him with a look of pure ecstasy on his face, while incinerating Midnight's limb. He raised his hand to deliver the final blow.

“DADDY!!!”

Midnight's eyes grew at the sight in front of him. Out of nowhere a figure appeared wrapped in an aura of powerful unicorn magic, but with runes floating through it like fish in a pond. It didn't take him long to recognize his own daughter.

She glared at the creature in front of her with eyes glowing, “YOU DON'T TOUCH MY DADDY!!!”

Nag-Ta's surprise prevented him from defending himself from the massive blast of magical energy that erupted from the little filly. He was sent sprawling across the battlefield.

Aurora floated up high above the others as her aura shot off connecting to the others laying unconscious. Slowly they began waking up.

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity found their elements have also appeared.

A bright light surrounded Aurora and condensed into her horn.

The Elements of Harmony and Order lifted up into the air with the little filly.

Twilight's and Midnight's eyes shot oped glowing white. A second latter The eye's of the other elements opened one by one, all glowing white. Finally Aurora's eye's opened with a golden glow.

The bodies of the elements became light and swirled into each other. The light took the shape of a great seraph, bow in hand.

The celestial being raised the bow at the terrible nightmare and pulled back on the string. The world around the went dark as all the light was pulled into a single heavenly arrow.

For the first time since his creation, Nag-Ta felt true fear. He felt the amount of power in that single arrow. It was enough to kill a hundred times over.

He tried to run away but found he couldn't move, “Wait, no, ple...” he was cut off as the angelic figure loosed her arrow into the demons heart. He couldn't even scream as his body was disintegrated in an instant.

It's job done the spirit faded leaving the eleven ponies in it's place once more.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

The hauler tore through the bloody field with ease. They piled in with Midnight held by Twilight. He was bleeding and unconscious.

"Stay with us Midnight, come on we'll get you help in no time," Twilight said as tears fell down her face. Everypony was crying as Jacob drove the great machine.

They arrived at the hospital and jumped out rushing the injured pony strait into the abandoned hospital. Rainbow Dash flew off to retrieve the medical staff and tell the towns ponies it was safe.

“Fluttershy, Rarity, with me now.” Jacob barked out orders as he carried Midnight back into the operating room.

Twilight knew that she would be of no help in her emotional state, but she still wanted to be in there with her husband.

Instead she sat with Aurora. She looked down at the sleeping filly still unable to believe what happened.

The filly looked different than before. Her mane, that was so much like her father had been turned white, but that was minor compared to the other change.

Her horn was solid diamond. It was unlike anything Twilight had ever seen.

A flash of light signaled the arrival of the princesses.

“Luna, assist with Midnight's surgery.” Celestia told her younger sister, who obeyed with out word.

“My favorite student, Twilight. I'm so happy you're ok.” She said as she embraced the purple unicorn, “I'm happy you're all alright. I wanted to be out there with you so badly, but I couldn't abandon my duties. Forgive me for not being able to assist you.”

“There's nothin' ta forgive, princess. Ya did right by stayin' in Canterlot.” AJ said.

“Princess?” Twilight said, getting the sun goddess' attention, “Do you know what happened to Aurora? Her mane and horn are different, and what she did out there was like nothing I've ever seen.”

The alicorn studied the filly for a moment, “She is the Element of light.”

Twilight's eyes widened and she looked down at her daughter, then at the tiara she still wore.

“I don't understand.” she said.

“Simple, my little pony. You and your friends are each bearers of an element, the element itself is in the form of the necklaces, tiara, and armor that you all wear.

“Aurora on the other hoof is different. She isn't a bearer of the Element of Light she IS the Element of Light.

“'Born from Harmony and Order' is what the prophecy said. You, Twilight are harmony, and Midnight is order. She is your child.” Celestia finished her explanation.

Twilight looked at her sleeping filly, “one more question. When she interrupted Nag-Ta, she used magic, but I couldn't tell what kind. It looked like a unicorn magic aura but it had runes running through it.”

“Say no more, Twilight Star, I know what you're asking, and the answer is, both.” Twilight was confused by the princess' answer, “She used a magic that was both unicorn and seal magic, because her spirit is both pony and human.”

“To be honest with you, it scares me.” Twilight looked at her daughter and back to Celestia, “You remember when I took my entrance exam and lost control of my magic. What will happen if she looses control? She has a lot more power than I do. What will happen to her?”

“Midnight told me that seal magic requires focus to use so it's impossible to lose control of it. If her magic is the same way then you and Midnight will teach her how to use her magic.” Celestia said, “if she does lose control Luna will take her under her tutelage until she can control it well enough to return.” Twilight was about to protest but was cut off, “This is not negotiable. I love you like a daughter but I must think of my subjects. If she looses control she could be a danger to others.” her expression softened, “Don't worry, Luna is very good at helping unicorns control their magic. Aurora would be back in no more than a year.”

“But that's still a year away from my baby. If I knew it was this hard I would have never left my parents.” Twilight was on the verge of tears.

“Let's at least see if she can control it before you get depressed about it.” Celestia smiled at her student, “Really, Twilight, I thought you would have grown out of over reacting and jumping to conclusions.”

“You would think so, huh.” Twilight shared a laughed with her mentor.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

The medical staff arrived an hour after Midnight was taken into surgery. Two doctors and two nurses immediately went to aide in Midnight's procedure.

After six hours under the knife Jacob and Fluttershy finally came out to the waiting room.

Twilight was quick to ask, “Is he going to be ok?”

“We've done all we can, and he should be fine. He's still out from the anesthesia, and will be for some time. I suggest you go home and get some sleep. We'll come back in the morning.” Jacob said.

“Where's Rarity?” she asked.

“Resting in a room. David needed blood and she was the only match. I had to take more than I would have wanted but she insisted.”

“That's Rarity for you.”

Now with nothing to distract them, the realization of what happened hit the eight ponies.

“W-we're ki-killers, now.” said Applejack she looked down at her hooves that were still covered in blood.

The mares and fillies looked at each other and saw that each one of them was bloodied. They pulled each other into an embrace and cried silently for the lives they took.

“We're monsters.” Rainbow Dash said.

“No, you're not.” Jacob said firmly, “Monsters don't mourn those they killed. You girls were forced to do a horrible thing to protect your loved ones and homes. It's a terrible burden to bare, but you had no other choice.”

“There's always a choice.” Twilight replied.

“Yeah, you had two, fight and kill, or let Equestria die. If you ask me that's not a choice.” Jacob said rather harshly, “What you girls did was nothing short of noble. You sacrificed your own innocence for the good of others. Because of what we did, the only ones scarred by this will be us few. You saved everyone else from having to see the same horrors that you saw.”

They sat there for some time as Jacob's words sank in.

“At least now we know why Midnight acted the way he did when he first arrived.” Applejack said, “Ah've never been this nervous and jumpy in my life. Ah feel like the moment Ah let mah guard down one of them soldiers is gonna' try and kill me.”

“Trust me, I know how it feels. I still remember the first man I killed, it gives me nightmares to this day.” Jacob said, “i won't lie to you, this'll haunt you for a long time, if not the rest of your lives.” Jacob had to emphasize his point, “one of two things can come of this. One, it can break you, leaving you a husk of a pony. OR two, you can go on, learn to cope with the pain, and in the end come out of it stronger. The choice is yours.”

Rainbow Dash looked at her friends, “I don't know about you girls, but I hate losing. That includes losing to myself. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself. I did what I had to, and I'm going to find a way to forgive myself and move on. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to take a shower.”

One by one her friends agreed and left to their respective homes. They were strong, if anypony could handle this it was them.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

The red died field that was once a part of the Everfree forest was now a buffet for the scavengers of the woods.

A buzzard, picked at the exposed flesh of a soldier as a coyote fed on a large red claw-like hand.

Another coyote approached the first only to be blasted away by a jet of flame from its mouth.

With a sound like an earthquake the coyote spoke, “I can't believe I was defeated so easily. It's not something that will happen again. Everything has it's opposite, and I will find yours.”

With his plan formed the coyote ran off into the remainder of the forest. Next Chapter: Epilouge: Back to "Normal" Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes