Dark Heart's POV

I was yet again awoken from my sea of endless nightmares by the light of Celestia's sun as it shined through the entrance of the cave I've called my home for the last three years.

"Three years..... I can't believe it's already been three whole years since I ran away from home and I'm still doing fine out here." I said under my breath.

"Well is it really that surprising, you did receive some intense survival training when you were younger. Just throw in the addition of your dark magic and BAM, you got the ultimate means to surviving on your own." Nova said cheerfully as always.

"And the fact that I have two strong, magical spirits living within my very soul has nothing to do with it whatsoever." I sarcastically replied.

I waited for a moment or so for her response, but after waiting for five minutes my stomach gave me a reason to get up. *Gggrrrrrrrr* Yeah yeah, just shut up already so I could go put some food in you." I complained to my growling belly.

"Talking to your Dark Heart, it sounds like you may be going crazy." Shadow joked as he finally awoke.

I picked myself up off the cave floor and did a few stretches so that I could get the kinks out of my back. I'm just glad I've gotten so used to sleeping on that ground every night after my first year of living here, otherwise I'd be so stiff one could see me waddle around like a bloody penguin for the better part of the morning.

I walk towards the tunnel that has one of my Dark spires embedded into the cave walls, it displayed the word "KITCHEN" as I passed it. I'm so thankful for these spires, if it wasn't them I would have gotten lost within the cave systems a long time ago.

"So what are we doing today Dark Heart; something exciting I hope." Shadow asked excitedly.

I just rolled my eyes at his giddiness for action this early in the morning, "Sorry buddy, but I need to wash my suit today as well as myself because I'm seriously starting to smell now." I told him.

"Well, what do you expect to happen when you're swallowed whole by a hydra, those things aren't exactly known for their oral hygiene." Nova reminded him of the events of yesterday.

"I wasn't really expecting to be fucking eaten by a hydra to begin with, though I guess I'm kinda glad it did because then it allowed me to gut the bastard without having the trouble of having to pierce through its scales on its underbelly." I answered back, thinking back to the image of a mangled hydra corpse that had its innards scattered everywhere.

"Needless to say that after your little escapade yesterday, those hydras probably want nothing to do with you from on. That is if they don't decide to band together to hunt you down, but that seems highly unlikely in my books." Shadow added in, with a hint of fear in his voice.

I let a smile creep across my face at hearing the fear in his tone, I have no idea why why but it was refreshing to me whenever I knew something was afraid of me. I guess I would leave that for another time, but right now I needed to eat and my stomach made sure to remind of that as I got closer to the 'kitchen', which nothing more but a few rocks and crystals formed into a counter, cupboards, and table, along with an oversized chest, which I bought from a nearby settlement with some the gems I've found in here, that I had used to store my food supply in.

I went over to the chest to see what I wanted to eat, but as I looked inside I saw that it was nearly empty, with only half a bushel of apples, one bunch of bananas, and two bags filled with various kinds of berries, along with a few carrots, potatoes, and daisies scattered about.

"Looks like I'm going to have to go looking for some more food before I run out when I go out." I said to myself, making a mental note of today's to-do list.

"I don't get why you don't just go buy some food at that settlement, you got the chest from there." Shadow suggested.

"Because I run the risk of being discovered by the ponies there every time I go, I need this place to remain a secret 'cause goddess forbid that a pony live in a cave on the face of a cliff without being up to something." I said exasperatedly.

He just kept silent after that knowing that I was right. I grabbed a couple of apples, a banana, and a fourth of one of bags of berries into a sack I kept tied around my waist before making my way back to the cave's entrance to get everything I needed to do, done.

I picked up Cursed and Blessing from their resting place, strapping Cursed onto my back and Blessing around my waist, and jumped out into the world I was adamant on hiding from. As I landed onto the ground from the ~150 ft. drop I started heading towards the forest that was nearby to go bathe in the lake to get the stench of hydra saliva out of my fur and watch my suit/armor off as well.

It hadn't taken long to find the lake, seeing as I've traversed these woods countless times on supply runs and the occasional casual strolls on a beautiful day, but by the looks of the sky it definitely doesn't look like it's going to be one of those days, the sky was covered in shroud of dark grey clouds covering it up.

"Looks like you'll have to trudge through the mud today if you haven't finished your to-do list before it starts downpouring. Am I glad I have to stay within the essence of your soul and not walking around out there like you, it's going to really suck to be you later." Shadow rubbed in my face.

"Meh, I don't mind really, I actually like being out here when it rains, it feels good, but I'm still going to have take a bath in the lake before it starts though." I told him before quickly stripping off my clothes and jumping into the water.

I stayed submerged in the water for awhile, just swimming into the deeper depths of the lake to explore the bottom a little, before I resurfaced to get some air back into my lungs. When I resurfaced I swam back over to the lakeshore to grab my suit and dunked it into the water, and using my dark magic, I created a small whirlpool that I was constantly changing the direction of to cause the water the clash into the garments. After doing this for some time I got out of the lake feeling refreshed, and as I took a whiff of my arm, I could no longer had that awful smell lingering on me.

I spent a few hours by the lake as I waited for my suit to dry off before deeming that it was dry enough to wear and went to scouring the forest for food, though as I walked through it noticed that it was quiet in the serene environment.

A little too quiet, I thought before my ears perked up as I noticed a strange noise coming from the same direction I was heading. Taking up the defensive, I quickly jumped behind a tree, .....drawing my blades I waited there as I listened whatever it was, getting closer.

"Dark Heart, you have any idea on what it is that's heading this way?" Nova asked me, obviously concerned by the strange sound that was getting closer.

"No, but whoever or whatever it is, I won't let them get the jump on me. I'll make sure that I land the first blow and pin it down before they can even blink." I said with a serious tone.

I stood and waited for the source of the noise to get closer, but as it got closer I was starting to make out what it was, it sounded like.... "Armor!? Oh crap, Dark Heart it's the royal guard. What the hell are you going to do?" Shadow asked, panicking at the thought of being discovered.

I thought about some of the ways this could possibly go, and what I could do.

I could just keep out of sight and wait until they pass, or I could take a preemptive strike and take them out now..... or I could follow them and see if whoever it is has any kind of valuable info I could use to help conceal myself better.

As I remained in my spot behind the tree, thinking about my options and their possible pros and cons, when I heard something that shocked me.

"Dark Heart, come out from wherever you are, I hear to speak to you..... I know you're nearby I can feel the dark energy emanating from you." It was a mare, and she was calling for me, ......wanting to speak to me.

"Wait a minute, how the hell does she know who I am 'cause I sure in tartarus don't recognize her voice from any of the mares back in Nieghburg." I asked, hoping that the two that reside within me could provide an answer.

"I don't who it is, I've never heard any mare with that voice." Nova stated.

"Neither have I, and but considering she knows about your dark powers odds are she was there when you unleashed them back in Nieghburg. It's either that of she's heard of you from somepony that was there, either way you should still be cautious of this mare, we still have no idea whether or not she's with the princesses." As Shadow finished I turned my attention back to listening to the clanking of the mare's armor as she got closer to where I was hiding.

*CLANK* I decided to stay where I was and remain hidden from my possible assailant.... *CLINK*...*CLANK* ... I pressed myself into the tree trying to make myself look smaller as the sound grew all the more closer....*CLINK*.....*CLANK*.... moving around the area around my hiding spot when I was sure that she was just around the corner from where I was just moments ago....*ClINK*........ The noise had stopped, I stood frozen in place gripping onto the handles of my swords ready to strike if I needed to defend myself.

"Hello, Dark Heart," I swung around as quickly as my body would allow me, swinging Blessing to my left and aiming right for the mare's head. I missed as Blessing sliced right through the trunk of the tree, causing it to come crashing down on the forest floor and reveal the mare that had been calling for me.

As I watched her to make sure she didn't make any sudden moves I took note of her features, just in case she was working for the princesses and she managed to escape when they fight, and considering that she was sporting a set of wings along with a horn, I think it was safe to say that that was the case. She looked to be about 6'1" in height and looked to be in her late twenties, early thirties, thought considering she was an alicorn she was most likely much older than that; her indigo mane and tail seemed to be sparkle like a starry night and being moved by non-existent breeze; her armor, which was the same color as her mane, that covering her black coat was adorned with crescent moon covered in darkness and which I assumed to be her cutiemark; her body looked to hold a great bit of strength in them as it appeared to be well-toned, while giving off that feminine wile with her curved figure.

I quickly brought my eyes back to her own, both of her turquoise, slitted eyes looking straight back at me with an innocent looking smile adorning her muzzle. "Why are here, and how do you know who I am?" I asked in my demonic tone.

She just laughs as a response, which confused the hell out of me. "What the hell is so funny, did I do something that you warrant as humorous because I don't recall doing anything that would be." I said, getting irritated as she continued to laugh.

I narrowed my eyes, as I watched her more intently as her laughter began to die down and she regained her composure before she had finally decided give an actual response.

"My-my Dark Heart you definitely have quite the temper don't you, though I suppose that's the reason me and my 'sister' thought that your dark magic had taken a hold of your mind, I've only now figured out that we were wrong." She spoke as if we had met before, but that isn't what had confused me.

No what had confused me was the way her tone changed when she said "sister", but either way I still had to ask who she was yet again because the only ponies I knew that had thought that I had succembed to the darkness within that were sisters was.......

"PRINCESS LUNA, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE? I THOUGHT I HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT I WASN'T GIVING UP MY DARK MAGIC!" I yelled while had Cursed and Blessing at the ready, I wanted to make sure that I was ready for whatever plan she had setup for me. But, again, her reaction to the situation at hand weren't what I had expected them to be.

"Don't call us that you peasant, we will be addressed as Nightmare Moon or as Queen Nightmare and we have come to speak with you about a proposition that may interest you." She said commandingly, her expression turning from happy to glaring at me to an evil grin.

It's safe to say that I wasn't expecting this; first she's laughing her ass off for no apparent reason, then she gets all pissy when I address her by her real name, now she supposedly has some sort of proposition to offer me; this was getting stranger and stranger as time goes on.

"What's happen in the last three years, I mean what happened to Luna's fur, and what's up with those eyes." Nova asked, getting more intrigued with the scene before us.

"Really you're going to ask a question like that, when we all very well know what the answer is, Nova?" Shadow asked her sounding as though he was hoping that she wasn't serious.

"Well you might be able to say that for the two of you, but, no, I don't know the answer." Nova huffed, Shadow just groaned before filling her in.

"I swear sometimes Nova, you could act like such a dumbass sometimes. I'm not really sure how you you don't sense that but she's obviously been consumed by her own darkness that laid within her heart, but her's feels different from Dark Heart's,so you can't say that you can't feel it." Shadow lectured.

"Well sorry, but last I checked I wasn't exactly gifted in the art of detecting the different ponies' darkness waves or whatever it is you use to tell the difference between that stuff." Nova snapped back.

"Well if you're looking for me to cut you some slack, I wouldn't count on it sister. In fact there are fe-" Shadow tried to continued but was interrupted by Nightmare Moon as the princess liked to be called now.

"Would you two stop your pointless arguing, the adults are trying to discuss business plans here and you two are getting in the way of that." Nightmare scolded them like two foals having a pointless argument over something petty.

I stared at her for a second before I asked, "How are able to hear them now, even though you weren't able to three years ago." I asked what was surely on all three of our minds.

"We don't believe that to of importance right now and that we should be focusing on the previous topic we had brought up earlier." She said in an even tone.

"If you mean your so called 'proposition', sorry but I doubt I'd be interested in what you have to propose to me, so goodbye, I'm heading back home before it starts raining I just got done washing my clothes and I'm not planning on getting muddy." And with that I turned my back towards her and started heading in the direction of the cave when suddenly it started to rain, and it gradually picked with every passing second.

"Goddess dammit all, the pegasi sure do have the worst timing don't they." I swore to the sky, cursing the pegasi as my ,now soaking wet, mane fell in front of my face and partially obscuring my vision.

Since I had gotten caught out here by the rain I figured I would just close my eyes and stand there a minute or so and enjoy the cool water wash over my body, at least that's what I had planned on doing before I felt it calm to a halt and heard what sounded like pitter patter from above.

I opened eyes to see that Nightmare Moon had walked up beside me and was shielding the two of us from the torrential downpour with her magic.

"You know it's not wise to stay out in a storm like this, perhaps we should find shelter." She said, that innocent, yet sickening, smile had returned.

I looked around for a suitable place to take cover but couldn't find one, the only place that would have been big enough to shield us was the he tree *sigh* that I cut down. Dammit, looks like I fucked up again. I scolded myself.

As I did another sweep of the immediate area I realized I had no other choice but to have the two of us head back to my cave seeing as it was the only place that was close by to shelter us from the storm. So I hesitantly turned towards Nightmare before I asking, "Would you mind coming with me, I know of a cave nearby that could keep us from the fury of this storm." I offered her, back to using my regular voice for the time being.

She looked to me with that smile again before responding, "Well we would appreciate it greatly, thank you Dark Heart."

"Then lets get going, I'm not sure how bad this storm i supposed to get and I don't want to be out here to find out." stated before I began walking forward and down the path that lead straight towards the waterfall that hid the entrance to my home.

We were only a few minutes away from the cave entrance as I walked down the path with Nightmare following close behind Our walk was spent mostly in silence, obviously except for the rain that was hitting her shield. You would think that I would have thought of just leaving her out in the pouring all alone while I ran to the cave, but despite everything that had because of her and her sister's closed-mindedness towards my dark magic, I wasn't about to just leave her there with no shelter in sight, it was below me, and it went against my principles.

When we had finally arrived at the waterfall I had told Nightmare that she would need to fly behind to falls to find the cave and she did just that and and had found it with ease. Once I was sure she had found it I had pressed the buttons on the handles of Cursed and Blessing, to release the magic that held the chains that were attached to the hilt. With one end of the chains falling down on the ground, with the other end still attached to my gauntlets, I swung them around like a lasso and threw them towards the inside of the cave and find something to attach themselves to.

After I had gave them a couple of test tugs to make sure they were secured, I channeled some of my magic through them and within a few moments I was being pulled into the cave, but before I could cancel out the magic, the chains had sent me right into wall.

"Fuck, I really need to work on the timing for the release so I don't keep smacking myself into whatever I latch onto." I said as I was pulling myself out of the indent that had created in the wall.

As I was struggling to dislodge myself out of the cave wall, I heard the same laughter from before and had angled myself just enough to see Nightmare Moon having some fun at my expense.

"Hahaha, it would appear that the cave doesn't want to let you go..*hrk.... you must be really attached to this place, hahaha." She began laughing harder at the 'joke' and continued to watch as I was still trying to dislodge my form out of the wall.

I just ignored her for the most part as I pulled my limbs free one by one. She had managed to calm down as I finally pulled my left leg free from the new crater in the cave, which was actually quite roomy.

Maybe I could use this space to make a home defense mechanism for whenever I'm away and something tries to come in here to steal my stuff. I thought about the possible uses this simple looking space could be useful for when I was taken away from my brainstorming after hearing somepony clear their throat.

I turned around to find Nightmare staring at me with a quizzical look. "What has you so entranced about that hole you demolished into the wall." She asked me, looking at me like I was crazy.

"There's nothing about it that interesting, I was just thinking of putting something inside it to keep out unwanted houseguest." I said settling my gaze back at the demolished wall.

"So we take it that this is where you have been for the last three years then, hiding from the rest of the pony population to keep from being discovered from Celestia and her royal guard?" She asked trying to entice me into telling her the story of what had happened after I had made my escape three years ago.

"And you, you seem to be forgetting that you were there to, helping her and my parents take me down." I reminded her.

"We remember, well we should say that Luna remembers but, because we are one in the same her memories is our's as well and we remember why you had to go into hiding in the first place and your possible hatred towards us." I have no idea whether or not she was usually like this, but I could have sworn that I could hear sympathy as she spoke.

"I think hatred might be a bit strong, but I that doesn't mean that I trust you though.......even if you some alter ego of Princess Luna." Sure I couldn't say that I bared nothing but hate towards the night goddess herself, and I sure in tartarus could say that all of the trust I once held with her was gone but I wasn't about to just attack her out of the blue; she hasn't made any attempt to strike me and so I would do the same, although I still kept a watchful eye on her just to be sure she couldn't take me by surprise.

As I kept a cautious eye out for her, made my way over to the crystal I called bed and laid down deciding to just relax while we waited for the storm to pass.

"Dark Heart?" I lifted up my head when I heard her call out as I was laying down and trying to relax.

"What is it Nightmare?" I asked as I laid my head back down once I had looked to see if anything was wrong.

"I thought I ordered you to call us Nightmare Moon, you can't just use a part of our name, you say the entire thing." She said, yet again bitching at me for not calling her by the name she wanted me to address her by.

"Yeah yeah, whatever, was there something you needed or did you just want to bitch at me some more." I said as I waved my dismissively.

"I could very well have your head for saying that your is 'bitching' at you, but fortunately for you I need you, or to be more specific I need the power you possess but seeing as though you are unwilling to part with it I'm going to need you alive for my plans to come fruition." She explained.

"Oh really, and what plans would that be, Nightmare Bitch?" I asked, insulting her yet again.

"Well my impudent little pony, we plan on overthrowing Princess Celestia and shrouding the land into eternal darkness, but in order to do so we're going to need you and your incredibly strong dark magic to to overthrow her for us. So what do you say Dark Heart, would you be willing to help show Equestria the true beauty of the night and blot out the sun forever more?" she offered me.

"Why should I help you, what would be in it for me, or better yet I should ask what would keep you from turning on me the moment I've defeated her, I have no idea whether or not you'er some alter ego Princess Luna, but it wouldn't matter because either way she is a part of you and she had tried to take my dark power away from me already and what's there to make me think any differently of you?" I interrogated her.

"We guess we can't really blame you for being skeptical of our intentions-"

"Damn right."

"But we came to you with this proposition because you have as much to gain from this as much as we do." I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. Last I checked ,helping to overthrow one of the princesses of Equestria would just push me back further, I want to show everypony that dark magic isn't just used for evil but for good as well and taking over an empire would make them fear me even more.

"I think you're mad, what could I possibly have to gain from helping you, other than everypony becoming even more afraid of me and looked upon as a traitor." I asked her, wanting to hear what she could expect from her conquest.

"Well my dear stallion, you definitely be feared by our subjects after it's all over, but if we succeed, and there's no doubt in our mind that we will if you to aid us, but after some time they would begin to respect you and if that isn't enough for you then maybe the fact that we would make you our king will do the trick." she tried to persuade, but seriously though, our subjects respecting me instead of fearing me, I highly doubt that, and what about this whole nonsense about making me her.....wait a minute, she wants to make me her...her.

"YOU WANT TO MAKE ME/HIM YOUR KING!?" the three of shouted in disbelief.

"Why of course Dark Heart, a queen isn't a queen without a king to rule my her side, and you're to only stallion is deserving of that honor after all you are the only one who know what it feels like to have your talents go unnoticed and are underappreciated so we could think of no better suitor." She said with that smile of hers returning.

Holy crap, I have no idea whether I should be flattered or concerned about the fact that this alter ego of Luna's wants me to be her mate and rule Equestria along side her, but it doesn't matter because unbeknownst to her, I was asking her all of that so that I could figure out why she needed me and she's planning on doing; and by the sounds of it she knows that I would be able take her out if she tried to turn on me, which means I should make my move know. I must stop her before she even tries anything and turn her in to Celestia..... even if she did try to take my powers away, buy maybe if I turned in her now power crazed sister, she may finally see the same potential in my abilities as I do.

"As tempting as that all that sounds Nightmare Moon," I paused for a moment, closing my eyes. "I'm afraid I'm going to have not only refuse, but I'm gonna have to stop you as well before you can carry out any of your plans." I said, having reverted back to my demonic dialogue and opening my eyes to reveal the darkness that had taken the place of the white corneas of my eyes.

"You poor misguided fool, we were really hoping that you agree for not only our benefit, but for yours as well. As we said before, all we really need is you dark power, but if you're not willing to lend that power over to us then I guess we're going to have kill you and take them for ourselves. Such a waste to, you're truly ravishing, but we can't allow you to get in the way of our future as the rightful ruler of Equestria." She monologues.

I just simply rolled my eyes as I drew forth Cursed and Blessing and took to my signature fighting pose, ready to begin the fun, after all it has been a while since I've had a good fight instead of slaughtering stupid predators that think I'm an easy meal. I heard her laugh as I there with my blades drawn, almost as if she was taunting me, which had caused me to let a smirk of mine own to come across my muzzle.

"You know you have no chance of beating me Nightmare so I really don't see what you find so humorous about the situation that's befallen you, though I suppose I'm not really one to talk considering I'd probably be doing the same exact thing if our roles were switched." I mused.

"We actually believe that our mind is the set and that our laughter is indeed well placed in this situation we find ourselves in at the present, because of the fact that you believe that you can stop us. Yes, it is true that you are much stronger than us, but you have one fatal weakness that we don't possess." Now that intrigued me, she actually thinks that she's found my weakness, I mean I know I have one but I wanted to know if she actually knew what it was.

"Is that so.... well then with all do respect, enlighten me on what YOU THINK is my weakness then." I made a slight bowing gesture as a way of asking her to continue.

"Well young Dark Heart, although you possess to ability to control the darkness like king sombra, you don't possess the heart to use it properly. You lack the truly dark heart needed to wield it properly and when it comes to the heat of battle you are unable to deliver the finishing blow to your enemy and allow them live, hoping that they will have learned their lesson and conform into becoming a good pony again." Damn, I really think that she couldn't have been......anymore wrong about that little hypothesis of hers right now.

"So you think I lack the heart of killer do you. Well let me tell you this Nightmare-" using my magic to amplify my speed, I was upon her and ready to deliver a killing blow. -you're right, I do lack the heart of killer, but that is because I possess the heart of warrior." I said as I swung down my magical blades towards her.

But before they could make contract with her flesh, she had sent a magical blast straight into my gut. I had taken too long in savoring the moment, that I had fucked up my chances of ending this as quickly as possible and now I had to contend with this psychotic mare inside my cave home.

I just hope that not too much damage is done to this place, it was pain just trying to make it the it is now and I didn't have to start from scratch. I thought as I was getting back up.

Another blast had barely missed my head as I stood up. I looked in the direction the direction of the stray blast to see it had blown an entire section of the tunnels away and opened it up into a bigger cavern.

Well there goes that plan... well I guess I should've expected that *sigh* whatever I might as well as just go out out since she doesn't seem to want to hold back. I thought as I turned around to face my assailant but soon myself being tackled into the ground by the same mare I was talking to moments ago.

"Well it would seem that you have been mesmerized by our eternal beauty though we can't really blame you, as we said before, anypony would die just for a chance to lay their hands upon us, and just imagine what they would do to be in your position right now and be so close to us." She boasted and flaunting herself around like some arrogant noble pony that had their hands and some priceless vase and they were showing it off tho their rich friends.

"I don't think so Nightmare, but if you do want to know what I was thinking about, I was thinking about what I was going to do about the reconstruction of my home. That is to say after...I got done with KICKING. YOUR. ASS!" I roared as black magic surged into my clenched fist and delivered and powerful blow into her and sent her flying back into the newly formed cavern.

I stood up, again, I picked up my two blades before making my way towards the night queen I couldn't help my let an evil smile spread from cheek to cheek, and judging by her reaction, it must have looked fucking creepy as hell to see a grin that big slapped on my face.

"We won't let you win that easily Dark Heart, we have been wanting this ever since we were a foal and had just now come to realize that this is our true desire after we listened to the darkness within our own heart just as you had and it too has given us the power to make that dream possible." She growled as she picked herself off of the cave floor, but I had already stopped in my tracks upon hearing her speech when the realization hit me.

She listened to the darkness in her heart just like I had and just like mine it had given her power and changed her into the mare before me. This is definitely an alter ego, but it's just now come into existence and taken control of Luna's mind and body, which means the game has changed. I must defeat her but I can't kill her so that I could take her back to Celestia and find a way to suppress this dark side of her's.......or better yet I could do it myself, Nova. After all this time I had almost forgotten that I possessed the very artifact that was meant for this kind of stuff.

"I'm ready when you are Dark Heart, all you gotta do is give the word but make sure to immobilize her first so she can't interfere before the amulet itself its ready to transfer its purifying powers into her." Nova had warned me as we had planned to use the heart to get rid of this insidious alter ego of Luna's.

"Alright Nova, but make sure that once I do that you get the amulet working quickly I don't want to risk possibly losing this chance." I said in a voice just barely above a whisper so that she could hear me.

Without hesitating another moment, I quickly sprung into action and made to now subdue the princess of the night and cure her of her darkness before it completely took over, and thanks to my special talent being that I can draw power from the darkness that forms in one's heart and right now, that darkness was brimming inside Luna's which was both a good and a bad thing.

It's good 'because it increases my own strength, as I had said before, but bad because with so much darkness lingering in her heart it would take longer to cure it, as well as a whole lot of power, which meant that we, I,can't screw this up otherwise the three of us are royally screwed.

"You little fool, what makes you think that you have any chance of defeating us. We have the strength drawn forth from the nightmares of our subjects and that alone can trump whatever powerful you may have." Nightmare Moon boasted.

"Yeah, so, it doesn't matter how much you may possess it takes a hell of a lot more than that to subdue me Nightmare. I thought you and Luna would've learned that when I made my escape three years ago." She sent magical tendrils from her mane as she tried to use her magic to gain a threshold within my mind to get access to my own nightmares. If she got a hold of those she definitely would have the power to overpower me as easily as a newborn foal. I would have taken a swing at them with Cursed and Blessing but I couldn't risk them getting sucked into the void within her mane.

As I continued to dodge her attacks I decided to make my move to inhibit her movements for a short while by moving a few inches closer to her every time I went to get out of the way of the tendrils. I had to be light on my feet and ever so cautious as I was just five feet away from her and her strikes started coming at me at an increasing pace and by using a quick bolt of light magic I was able make sure all close calls were just that, close calls. I had to move every fifteen minutes or so in order to get any closer by this point and I could only move two-three inches to make any progress, but then she made the mistakes her recalling all of her tendrils by her side which gave me to right opening I needed to ensnare her within my trap.

Calling forth both my light and dark magic, I was able to create my own tendrils and sent them forward to coil around Nightmare Moon, and enveloping her mane completely to make sure she couldn't get me with some sneak attack from the damn thing. Once I was sure she was fully secured I move myself into position, having the heart pointed directly at the area where her heart lied, before I checked in with Nova.

"Is it charged up, because I doubt that these snares will hold for very long."

"Almost, just keep her still for a couple more minutes and it'll be ready." I groaned upon hearing that, I was really hoping that I would be able to just get this done and over with, but nooo, the damn amulet has to take its sweet ass time getting warmed up.

"Nova next time you say that the Heart of Light is ready to go, you better mean that the Heart of Light is ready to go."

"HEY! Don't yell at me, I said I was ready to go and that the amulet would time to charge, so fuck you." Nova yelled.

I was about to make a counter argument but I felt the bindings loosening around Nightmare and I immediately diverted my attention back towards keeping her from escaping.

"You will pay for your insolence once we are freed from our confinement Dark Heart!" Nightmare growled as she continued to struggle against her restraints, but I made sure to hold them strong against it. All I needed to do was wait a few more moments and I could revert Luna back to her old self.

I wonder if she'll even remember any of this, and I'm not really sure if I would want her to, it could spill disaster for me after all. Then again if she does remember and is grateful for what I've done for her then maybe she could go to Celestia and- Nova interrupted me from my thoughts.

"Dark Heart, the amulet is all charged up and ready for purification." Yes, that's just what I wanted to hear right about now, and not a moment too soon either Nightmare Moon is starting to break free from my grasp.

"Well then what are you waiting for, fire the damn thing before she breaks free!" I commanded her.

Nova released to immense light energy that had built up straight towards Nightmare and I could already see my victory along with this dark magic issue settled once as I started to imagine what it would be like once I got Luna back to the castle as her old princessy self. I also imagined her telling them all, especially my parents and Princess Celestia, that I saved her using my dark magic, which should hopefully clear their minds on the matter of whether or not dark magic's only use is to hurt and is incapable being used to help. Oh I can just see it now, all of them just begging for my forgiveness and telling me that they wo-

"Dumbass, get of fantasyland and focus on the task at hand, the bitch is somehow resisting the power of the heart!" I heard Shadow shout within my head, and telling me that......

"Wait! WHAT!? How the hell is she resisting its power, that shouldn't be possible." I looked back to Nightmare to see that he was telling the truth. I must have allowed my mind to wander off too soon 'cause she had managed to free herself the tendrils sooner that I thought and was now using her magic to go toe to toe with the amulet's.

"I gotta give her this, that nightmare magic is strong, especially if she's able stand up to it like this." Shadow complimented.

I had to agree with him on that, the power of the Heart of Light is said to even transcend pass both of the princesses combined at it's fullest power and I know Nova didn't waste any energy to take care of this; or at least I hope she didn't because then Nightmare Moon maybe able to overpower it and I'm left completely vulnerable as long as the Heart is activated, but is that really any surprise that something so powerful has a weakness like that guess it keeps the Guardian from trying to manipulate the Heart's magic for their own selfish ambitions.

"NNNgh.....Fuck...... I don't know how much longer I can keep it going Nova!" I was struggling to keep the amulet's magic going, and with Nightmare Moon's getting stronger and stronger by the second, I was beginning to worry that my power wasn't going to be enough as I felt myself being pushed back while I continue to fight against Nightmare Moon's nightmare magic.

"So then I take it you're giving up then Dark Heart. That seriously blows, we didn't even get a chance to prove ourselves to those close-minded bastards, I guess the two of us were never meant to amount to anything much this whole time." Shadow stated depressingly.

I was going to speak up but Nightmare had beat me to the punch, though what she said wasn't exactly what I was going for. "So you're already giving huh? Well we can't say that we blame you, our power is unstoppable when we're fueled by the nightmares of our subjects. But worry not my foolish pony for we shall make your demise a quick one." This bitch over here already thinking we've lost. I mean shit, I know I'm not going to keep up my resistance for very much longer but did anypony say that I was already giving up just because she's stronger than me, does nopony remember me saying that it takes a lot more than just power to beat me and I'm going to hold that philosophy true to myself.

"Shadow, you better tell me that you're not serious, because if you are, I'm going to beat the living shit out of you when this over until you learn that I always have a backup plan in the works to make sure we live." I threatened him with my signature smirk.

"Nova are you ready to go, and I mean really ready to go, should Nightmare Moon manages to best me?" I asked Nova, letting her know that I was ready to put the plan I had made a few minutes ago into action.

"Yeah I'm ready, but do you think it will actually work? If she manages to best the purifying powers of the Heart, what's there to keep her from destroying or keeping it for herself once she thinks you've been defeated?" Nova asked with fear clear in her tone.

"Don't worry Nova, she may've been able to overpower the Heart, but she won't be able to best the power of my black magic. I'll make sure she can't get her hands on it, even if it's the last thing I do, I'll do my duty as the Guardian of the Heart and make sure it remains safe." I try to comfort her, but to be quite honest with myself, I fear that I will even fail at that. I make it a point to know when I should give up and this seems like the time to do so but this won't be the last time that Equestria will hear of Dark Heart the Unicorn. I'll retreat into the confines of Nova's dimension until the Heart of Light regains its power and I've at least doubled my own strength so as to make sure this doesn't happen again; but before I can do that I need to make sure the amulet stays out of the wrong hands and keep it safe within these caves until I'm ready to fight again, and staying within the Heart would be best because I don't worry about falling under the effects of time, hunger, thirst, or illness while I'm there which will allow me to have all of the time in the world to train.

"I know you have this plan that I know nothing about, and that it should let us live to fight another day, but do you think you can still pay attention to what's going on right now, in front of you!" I heard Shadow said as I snap my attention back to trying to drive off Nightmare Moon which seemed to be doing nothing more than stalling at this point seeing as though her own magical energy blast was making it's way towards me.

"Give up now Dark Heart! Your defeat is inevitable, so why stall it any longer and yourself false hope?" I heard Nightmare Moon say, her tone sounding as though my struggle was amusing as I continued to fight.

"Because it's not false hope you bitch, there never a thing such as false hope. If a pony truly believes in themselves they can find a way to overcome any obstacle that stands in their way, no matter how impossible the odds maybe against them, and I have definitely found a way to do just that; but unfortunately it's not gonna happen in this time." I said as I closed my eyes and felt the power of the Heart start to weaken and taper off and the nightmare magic speed towards me and I stood there waiting for just the right moment to put my plan into action.

"NOVA NOW!" I shouted as my eyes snapped open and I felt it right on top of me, and after I had a blinding light engulf me and the landscape around me started to shift and change into one that I hadn't seen since my sixteenth birthday.

"Dark Heart hurry up and put up your barrier before she lands that attack!" Nova commanded as soon as I appeared in the arena.

Doing as I was told, I quickly performed my dark barrier spell and within moments felt the blast hit it,trying to gain access to its target which was now the Heart of Light itself. The Hearts power may have failed to win us this fight, but I won't her to best my own as I poured myself into keeping the barrier up until she gave up which, fortunately for me, was only about a minute or so after contact.

"So that is what you meant by you weren't able to get past me and the this time. You were planning on retreating within the void that the one called Nova resides and use it as a training ground to make yourself stronger and come after us when you had weren't you?" Nightmare Moon stated in an unamused tone.

"Damn, how the hell was she was able to figure that out but you weren't Shadow, and you had access to my mind no less.... she's gooood." I said in my old voice.

"Well she can hear the two of us speaking to you, so I'm guessing that she was able to read your mind, That and you seem to be forgetting that I went into a four minute long depression thinking that we were going to die." Shadow reminded me of how saddened he had sounded as well as reminding me that I still need to beat the sense of bravado back into the dark spirit.

"Well then Dark Heart if you so wish to stay within your family's heirloom and still protect it, how about we show you that we harbor no hard feelings for turning down our offer to become our husband and king, as well as attacking us by making protecting the amulet easier." The way she said that just sent a shiver down my spine. There was way too much kindness in those words and you would have to be insane to think that she wasn't up to something.

But I could say anything though I saw Nightmare Moon move towards the amulet, through a magical one-sided window that Nova had conjured up to see what she would do, with a black aura emitting from her horn, whatever she's doing it isn't good. I thought as she standing directly in front of the amulet and an uneasy feeling washed over me and used my own magic to re-establish the barrier around the amulet to make sure she couldn't cause any harm to it, but it would seem that she found my actions to be humorous because as soon as it was up she let a slight giggle.

Suddenly I felt a trembling from the ground below the amulet as I continued to watch Nightmare but quickly found that the windows view was quickly becoming obscured by the very crystals that make up the caves that I've made my home and quickly realized that she was trying to permanently trap me in the Heart. I tried to get out but found that I was unable to open up a portal out of here; I looked over to Nova to see her trying to do the same but was getting the same results I did, nothing, the crystals were blocking out our magic and continued to encase the Heart of Light, or my new prison.

"There you go that should prevent any mishaps from bringing any harm from your amulet. I'll see you in a couple of millennium or so, well that is if I remember that you're down here by then." She laughed as she walked away from the crystal and to the cave's entrance/exit and flew away.

"NIGHTMARE MOON, YOU SON OF A BITCH, WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU SUFFER BEFORE I HEAD YOUR WHORE LIFE!!!!" I roared as loud as I could to make sure that she heard my death threat.

"Well.....didn't see that one coming, but hey at least you can train in peace now." I heard Shadow say from behind trying lighten up the situation a little.

"And look at the bright side, if you can become strong enough you may be able to break the crystal from within here and free us from this prison and then get your revenge." I let out a sigh as Shadow continued on, and despite everything, he's right. I won't have worry about protecting the amulet as long as the crystal remains intact, and even if it should be destroyed that would enable me to get out and go after that bitch since I'm pretty sure that it'll be awhile before we're found.

"Yeah you're right, but if we're going to have any chance of getting out of here as soon as possible, we better begin my training immediately." I said sternly, turning towards the two to see who was going to start first.

"Wow you are impatient dude, but I suppose you're right. Nova, I think we should both train him at the same time if we hope to make any sort of progress, what do you say?" Shadow asked Nova who appeared to be contemplating it.

"Well I suppose you're right, but I was really hoping to spend some time hanging out with the two of you before we started anything, but I guess it will be a long time before anypony discovers the crystal and amulet, so I guess I'm in too." Nova answered.

After hearing them say that they would help me I got into position, as did they, and had one thought in my mind before we started. I'm sorry I've failed you....mom, dad, I hope you're doing okay and will be here when I get out so I could tell you that I'm sorry for causing any of this and that I'll make it up to you. And with that that, I surged towards them to begin my training.