We had the conductor stop the train a few miles away from the Crystal Empire, just in case Sanguis had some reinforcements guarding the surrounding area. At the moment, the element of surprise was our greatest asset, and there was no way I was going to waste it.

Drayke, on the other hand, was not as excited about sneaking around as I was.

“So, how are we doing this?” he asked with a dangerous grin as we peeked over a snowbank. We were both shivering violently, so I knew we had to get inside fast. “Should I run in with my scythe drawn and tear through the guards, or did you want to blast them with some of your new powers?”

I shook my head. “We can’t make a scene; if we can sneak in and avoid Sanguis’s troops, we can get to the castle. If he isn’t there, then at least we’ll have the high ground to plan out our next move,” I explained thoughtfully.
Drayke groaned loudly, causing me to shush him sternly. “Come on, man, I’ve got a suit of murder armor and a giant-ass scythe of doom; stealth isn’t exactly my strong point right now!” he whispered.

I glared at him. “Then make yourself a better outfit, because we need to be unseen and unheard!” I growled.

Drayke shrugged and suddenly became cloaked in a cloud of thick, black smoke that floated around him for a moment before solidifying in the form of a ninja-like outfit. It was very similar to his original armor, with spiked shoulderpads and knee guards, but this looked like it was made of cloth for the most part.

“Is this better?” he asked, gesturing to his new attire.

I stared at him for a moment. “Do you really have to be so dramatic with your clothing?” I asked helplessly.
“Hey, you’re the guy that looked like an angel when we last fought. How’s that for symbolism?” he shot back.
“Okay, first off, I didn’t have control of my armor. Secondly, fair enough; at least you don’t look like you’re there to break down every wall in the place,” I muttered. “Come on, we need to get in there.”

~-~-~-~-~

Drayke and I had scoped out a point where we could enter the city without being spotted, and quickly ran hid behind a house as a group of undead soldiers passed by. I held my breath until they passed, and sighed in relief as I continued to lead Drayke to the castle.

“This is a really bad idea,” Drayke murmured from behind his mask.
I glanced back at him as I silently pushed open the doors to the palace. “What makes you say that?” I asked quietly.
Drayke shrugged. “I don't know. It’s just… we’re taking the front door to a castle in the center of enemy territory. I just feel like this is some sort of trap.”

I smiled as we entered the main hall. “Don’t be ridiculous. They have no idea we’re here,” I said with smug certainty.

Just as the words left my lips, a group of Sanguis’s guards rushed from every doorway and surrounded us, each holding swords, spears, and other weapons straight at us.

“I fucking knew it!” Drayke growled as he pulled out a jagged, black crystal katana and charged at the enemies.

“Drayke!” I cried cautioningly, but my protest was came too late as Drayke began cutting through several of our attackers, his katana cutting clean through each and every one he hit.
“And that’s why I like those things so much!” I said as my hand and hoof took on a white glow, and I punched an oncoming soldier right in the face, causing to slam into an opposing wall. I turned around and saw one of them drawing a bow to strike at Drayke, so I lowered my head and focused on the attacker; as I did, a beam of white energy shot from my horn, hitting the would-be assassin head on and reducing him to a pile of ash.

“Thanks!” Drayke called as he parried a swing from a sword and spun in a 360, slicing the heads off of seven enemies. “I am the BEST!” he cried, flicking his wrist at the one remaining enemy who fell to the ground instantly, a shard of crystal sticking out of his forehead.

“Is that all?” Drayke cried victoriously, his arms held straight outward, “is that everything they’ve got?”
I sighed sharply. “You really need to learn when to keep your mouth shut,” I said angrily.
Drayke turned his head towards me. “Why?” he asked incredulously, “I just killed a ton of soldiers without breaking a sweat; I deserve to celebrate!”

Just then, a loud scraping noise sounded from the far end of the main hall. Drayke and I turned to the source of the sound to see Sanguis marching towards us slowly, dragging his sword behind him and grinning wickedly.

“That’s why,” I muttered, focusing my energy back to my hand and hoof.

“This the asshole we’re gonna fight?” he whispered, his voice quivering with anticipation.
I nodded. “Feel free to don the murder armor; I don’t think sneaking around is going to help anymore.”

Drayke smiled. “My pleasure,” he growled, and his outfit shifted and warped into his original Obsidian King armor, and his scythe grew from the katana.

Sanguis looked impressed by Drayke’s new equipment. “I was not aware you had such powerful allies, boy,” he said in a low voice. “Perhaps I shall test his strength before I fight you?”
I took a step forward. “This is between you and me, Sanguis,” I said bravely. “What have you done with Luna?”

Sanguis’s grin grew more malicious. “Oh, be patient, child; our fight will come soon enough, if you can earn it. I just want to warm up first. As for ‘Luna’-she no longer goes by that name, by the way-why don’t you ask her yourself?” he said as he took a few steps to the left, revealing a pitch-black alicorn that stood behind him. She regarded me with pale, green eyes that were filled with confused anger.

“Nightmare Moon,” Sanguis said commandingly, “kill him and consider your debt to me fulfilled.”

Then the warlord turned to Drayke. “You. State your name,” he demanded.

Drayke stepped forward. “Drayke Blackwood,” he said clearly.

Sanguis narrowed his eyes. “Drayke? You mean, you’re the Obsidian King?” he asked incredulously, “Why are you working with this boy? From what I have heard about you, I would assume you are here to join me,” he growled.

Drayke shrugged. “We have a deal worked out at the moment,” he replied nonchalantly.

Sanguis grinned. “Well, although I am a man of honor, I do not believe there is much point in keeping your word when it means your downfall.” he said, and marched up to Drayke with a friendly hand extended. “Join me, and we can rule this world with iron fists! I would be your commander, and you… my king."

I looked at Drayke helplessly as his helmet folded away, revealing his contemplating face. “You know, I was already a king not too long ago, until the title was snatched away from me,” he said angrily, and slowly extended his own hand, gripping the warlord’s in a business-like way.

Sanguis smiled victoriously, but his triumph quickly turned to confusion when he found Drayke wasn’t letting go of his hand.
The warlord looked Drayke in the eye suspiciously as the Obsidian King’s helmet reformed quickly, and he spoke in a distorted tone.

“And believe me, it was nowhere near as fun as I thought it would be.”

Just then, he threw Sanguis behind him, causing the warlord to smash through the front doors and tumble out onto the streets.
Drayke turned to me. “I’ll hold him off. You save your girlfriend,” he said quickly, and ran out of the palace.

I turned to Luna, who was still studying me curiously.

“Strange,” she said quietly, “I can hear Luna’s cries of desperation every time I look at you.”
I took a few careful steps toward the lunar princess. “Luna, please, you don’t have to do this,” I said pleadingly.

I couldn’t believe that such a kind and gentle mare like Luna could be such a monster. Sure, I had seen the show and knew about Nightmare Moon, but it was a whole other experience seeing her in person.

My plea was ignored, however, and she smiled viciously, giving me a clear view of her razor-sharp teeth, their whiteness completely contrasting her black coat.
“Let’s make her cry some more, shall we?” she growled alluringly, and roared as she leapt at me.

~-~-~-~-~

“You are powerful, Blackwood,” Sanguis said, impressed, through gritted teeth as he pressed his blade against Drayke’s scythe, “why would you ally yourself with that boy? What are you getting out of fighting on his side?”
Drayke shrugged. “He’s one of the few people I’ve met worthy of my respect,” he replied, shoving Sanguis back a few feet. “Not that I’d ever tell him that to his face,” he added.

The warlord smiled. “If he has gotten you, one of the greatest evils in Equestria, to respect him, then my fight with him shall be legendary,” he said proudly. “It’s too bad he’s going to be killed by the one who loves him most.”
Drayke swung the axe-end of his scythe, a strike that Sanguis dodged by leaping over the incoming weapon, and laughed. “It’s too bad I’m going to strike you down before you get the chance to fight Allen!” he shouted, and stabbed his scythe into Sanguis’s chest.

Sanguis started with an unimpressed expression, first at the scythe, and then its weilder.
“Are you serious?” he asked bordely as he broke the handle off of the blade and yanked on it, pulling Drayke closer to him.

“You’ll have to try harder than that,” he whispered as he grabbed the Obsidian King’s shoulder, and Drayke gasped as the life was sucked from his body. Sanguis smiled, searching the energy of his enemy for significant memories.
“Oh, Drayke, you used to be such an inspiring figure,” he said disappointedly, “you had all of Equestria in your grasp, and you let your emotions get the better of you. That is why I will win,” he growled, “because I am not blinded by hatred; I am not distracted by love; I am not fooled by happiness; I see only what I desire to possess, and I take it.”

The color from Drayke’s eyes slowly drained away, and he let out his last breath as his body fell limp in Sanguis’s grasp. The warlord tossed him aside as his armor faded away in a swirl of black smoke, and then he turned back to the castle.

“Let us see how Allen is faring against his new enemy,” he said to himself as he marched towards the castle.