Have you ever wondered what your greatest fear and if so you want to know what it was if so let me give you a piece of advice don't find out otherwise whatever it is may be something larger than you can handle. It's been three weeks since Pip came home and Midnight was returned to both Luna and I. But, now I was sitting in Sugar Cube Corner with the mane 6 because they wanted to have a day just to ourselves just like old times and while we talked our conversation somehow shifted to our greatest fears. It started with Fluttershy who was terrified of too many things to explain and then Pinkie said she was scared of a world that didn't have smiles and Rarity confirmed her fear of spiders.

"Now Twilight correct me if I'm wrong but you’re terrified of snakes but also casadias," Rarity said.

"Pfft casadias seriously Twi," I asked trying to hold in my laughter.

"They're just so *shudder* cheesy," Twilight said rubbing her arms for warmth.

"Casadias are one of my favourite Mexican foods it's strange your scared of them Twi," I said with a smile.

"Ok uh Applejack your turn what are you scared of?" Twilight asked.

"Aw shoot I guess it would be losing everyone I loved to something horrible," Applejack said.

"I think we can all relate to that," Rarity said causing all of the group to nod.

"Alright Rainbow Dash I came clean with my fear your turn," Applejack said.

"Nope I'm like Ash I'm not scared of anything," Rainbow said proudly.

"Not even sunflowers playing a flute?" I asked as I rested my head on my right hand causing Rainbow to freeze.

"How'd you-?" Rainbow began.

"Who do you think was the grey Tantabus running through your dreams?" I asked with a smirk.

"Hold on a half picking minute you’re saying it was you who was chasing the Tantabus through our nightmares?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah why is there another guy out there mimicking my insanely awesome moves?" I asked as I looked around for the supposed copycat out of amusement which caused the others to giggle.

"Good point but seriously how'd you get into our dreams like that?" Twilight asked.

"Well for that question Faust was able to send my spirit back here and I managed to catch a ride on Luna and Dream Catcher's spell to enter the dream world. But in addition Faust disguised me so I wouldn't be noticed," I said.

"But why?" Fluttershy asked causing me to shrug.

"Alright Ash your turn what are you scared of?" Rainbow asked.

"Well...I have to say what I faced in Test of Courage would be something I'm scared of," I said causing the others to wince at that memory. "But then again I wouldn't call it my greatest fear not even my right eye or facing that undead army outside the crystal empire is and was that terrifying."

"So what then?" Applejack said.

"No idea I mean I do get scared but not as badly as to say it stops me dead in my tracks," I said.

"Fearless as stone," Rainbow said hitting me in my right shoulder.

"It's nothing to brag about," I said rubbing the back of my head.

"Okay then so what shall we try now I've got a new variety of pastries to try," Pinkie said.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate before I gave my hand a flick and my phone slid out of my sleeve and into my hand and I saw it was a text from Faust.

I need you to meet me in Canterlot immediately.

Faust

"Might want to pack some of those pastries for the road Pinks I'm needed in Canterlot," I said.

I stepped out of the cab along with my friends and we walked into the palace and saw the royal family in the throne room.

"Thank you for coming Ash but why have you brought the element bearers?" Faust asked.

"They insisted on coming and you know how stubborn they are so what's the issue?" I asked.

"There have been a large number of disappearances in the village of Hollow Shade Ash have you heard of it?" Faust asked.

"Sure have it's a Thestral colony correct?" I asked.

"Yes we sent a small undercover unit to find out what was happening and yet we have had no contact since. I'd like you to investigate and pick up the unit's trail an if there is somepony behind these disappearances we want the perpetrator taken alive," Celestia said.

"Alright anything I need for this trip besides a pair of cuffs?" I asked.

"Your weapons and choice of armour and for this mission Rage will also accompany you," Faust said.

"What about us?" Rainbow asked.

"What about you Rainbow Dash?" Faust asked.

"Can we go?" Rainbow asked.

"Not this time," Faust said.

"What why not it's not like this could be worse than the time we fought that lich" Rainbow said.

"Correction skittles I fought the lich you all just spectated," I said.

"My decision is final Rainbow Dash now Ash I believe it's time you get ready for your trip," Faust said.

"Got it," I said.

I was sitting on a train and Rage was sitting in opposite me and was facing me for most of the trip. We were alone in the train car thanks to the train conductors and were silent for most of the trip just enjoying the passing countryside.

"So Hollow Shade huh?" Rage asked breaking the thick silence that hung in the car.

"Yeah ponies keep disappearing around the area including the unit of guards that were sent to investigate this matter," I said.

"Alright well I'm gonna have a walk around the train and stretch my legs," Rage said.

"Got it," I said with a dismissal wave.

Rage got up from his seat and left while I looked at the landscape before I decided to rest my eyes. Suddenly, the darkness that appeared when my eyelids covered my eyes was replaced by a room with a single bed which looked like one of those old hospital beds. There was also a toilet and sink and a small stool with a set of crayons on it and drawings on the pale white walls along with words. There was a small window with bars on the outside and a single light in the middle of the ceiling and finally a steel door with a sliding slot to view the person inside and outside the room. Suddenly, the body my eyes were in brought its knees up to its chest and wrapped its arms around them and a little while later screams and shrieks of fear and terror echoed beyond the door. Then something large and heavy landed against the door creating a massive dent in it. Suddenly, my eyes then snapped open and the room was gone only to be replaced by the train car and I hear a door open and look to see Rage walk in and to my surprise I saw the mane 6 walk in.

"*sigh* Let me take a guess you all decided to just sneak aboard so you could follow both Rage and me on our task?" I asked.

"Hey we didn't sneak aboard we paid for our tickets!" Twilight snapped.

"Points still the same though," I said.

"Rainbow said it was a good idea to come along," Fluttershy said.

"And if Rainbow said everyone should jump off a cliff and go splat at the bottom would you say it was a good idea?" Rage asked.

"Why in Equestria would I say that!?" Rainbow yelled.

"It's an expression and you Twilight I thought you were the brains here why did you agree to follow us?" I asked.

"Well I was also curious," Twilight said as she twiddled her thumbs nervously.

"Well I hope you guys like punishments because I know for a fact Celestia and Faust won't be happy about this," I said as I made my phone slip out of my sleeve and started texting to Faust.

"Wait hang on this isn't their fault Ash I'm the one that convinced them," Rainbow said.

"And yet none of you have learned from the Flutterbat situation sometimes you even have to say no to your closest friends. They were your words Fluttershy and we were all there when Spike wrote it on parchment before he sent it to Celestia," I said.

My friends all lowered their heads in realization while I texted Faust explaining the situation to her and when she responded I read the text and let out a sigh.

"What?" Twilight asked fearfully.

"She's not happy with you six neither is Celestia and the others and I'm told to keep you with me till this mess is sorted and when it is the princesses and Faust will arrive personally depending on the situation and you guys will be having a serious talk. Also Twilight, Rainbow a message from Celestia to Twilight and one from Faust for you Rainbow. First Twilight Celestia says when she arrives she'll expect a lesson you learned on this trip. And Rainbow Faust says that Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Soarin will be arriving and that you'll be extremely lucky that you'll be a Wonderbolt by the time this is over," I said causing Twilight and Rainbow to gulp in fear.

We arrived at the station and it looked gloomy yet cheerful and very night themed Rage the girls and I stepped off the train and I led the group into the town the place was surrounded by trees much like Sunny Town difference was the town stood in a clearing so the sky could be seen and also bridges were suspended from one tree to another along with pathways placed into the bark and I saw light filled holes within the tree trunks along with some ponies in them meaning the trees were houses just like the Golden Oaks Library but bigger. I could also see a few ponies out along with some Thestrals but this confused me because they were normally nocturnal. We walked out into plain view and the ponies immediately took notice of us before they bowed Twilight and I just put on a smile as we walked by and then a unicorn stallion came up to us he had a pale coat and grey mane and if I didn't know any better he almost looked dead. But his active actions were otherwise and he wore a clean dress suit.

"Greetings your highnesses I am the mayor of Hollow Shades and to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" the mayor said as he bowed.

"We've come to sightsee a Thestral village you see my beloved Luna has always told me about the Thestral ponies and my friends and brother all agreed to come see a Thestral village ourselves," I said giving with the cover story as to why we were here.

"Oh well I'm sure there is much to see in this little town of ours but let us get you to an inn shall we," the mayor said before he led us through the town.

While we walked the mayor pointed out some landmarks like a statue of Luna raising the moon before we made it to a humble wooden inn. That is when the mayor left and we walked inside the inn I then got us a room to share before I left and had a walk around the town. As I did I saw about one or two ponies who had a creepy smile on their face and how they were walking strangely almost contrived if you would.

I sat down on a bench in front of the statue of Luna and began to rest my eyes again once again instead of being greeted by darkness I was walking down a hallway there was overturned furniture broken items like glass and torn books. Also blood splotches stained the once clean hallway and bodies sat in slowly growing pools of blood. Writing adorned the walls and said things like Help us, This is the End, They hide in the dark, Turn back before it's too late and also It was more fun in Hell. I was in in a sense of fear as I looked around at the decay that was all about the corridor. The body I was in then stood on something and looked to see a teddy that had a few rips in it exposing the stuffing. Suddenly, a scream echoed through the halls causing my eyes to snap open.

I then looked around before I felt a collection of memories surface in my mind memories that I thought I had all but forced to forget. I then looked around a few times and sitting on my right was a pony with a creepy smile on his face which caused me to shuffle back in fright I then saw the pony wasn't even looking at me so I took a breath and relaxed.

"Sorry about that you just startled me," I said but the pony didn't seem to acknowledge me which confused me. "Uh sir are you alright?"

But the pony remained silent so I waved a hand in front of his face and clicked my fingers but nothing happened he just sat there like a doll watching the street. I then went to feel for a pulse on his wrist but that's when his head snapped towards me causing me to freeze in place we gazed into each other’s eyes. I then saw what looked like a crack mostly hidden beneath his mane I then reached out to touch it. But, when I was centimetres away from it my eyes were filled with flashes of a stallion lost in the woods a chase then a dark building in the woods and then nothing.

When I came back to my senses I saw the pony before me was gone and my hand was still in place but the air around me seemed frozen. I looked around and saw it was nearly sunset so I got up and walked back to the inn only to be pulled aside by an elderly Thestral stallion.

“There’s evil here sonny. Get out on the morning train and for the love of the princess don’t go out at night again!” the Thestral said.

I was a bit surprised but nodded to keep the old guy calm before I then sat him down on a chair while I did the same.

"Sir could you tell me about this evil because my brother and I are here to investigate the strange disappearances in Hollow Shades and you seem to know what's going on," I said

“Well...I’ll jest cut to the chase then ponies been disappearing quickly few weeks ago and at first, we thought nothing of it the woodland round here is thick and few folks sometimes get lost or killed in there every year. Then the local police started disappearing on search ‘n rescue missions and then, everypony came back walked outta the woods like nothing ever happened except not one of them talked and they all had this creepy smile sometimes they’d just stare at ya kinda like a doll us Thestrals then started staying awake during the day because we feared to go out at night,” the old stallion said.

I then raised a finger to my chin before I remembered the pony from the bench and the visions I saw.

"Hey tell me are there any old buildings in the surrounding woods anything would be of help," I said.

"Hmm...I think I remember an old building out there big place been around for longer than I've been alive but it was abandoned a few years ago little bit before you arrived for some strange reason I think it's just north east of the town," the stallion said.

"Thank you," I said before I got up and walked back to the room my friends and brother were sharing which was a large room with enough beds for all of us and when I walked in I saw everyone having dinner. "Rage prep your gear we've got a location to investigate."

"Well that was quick," Rage said before he grabbed his trunk and opened it revealing his armour and weapons while I did the same.

"So what do we do?" Pinkie asked.

"Faust has ordered us to stay together and if we are to separate you six must be accompanied by me or Rage as protection," I said as I checked my shotgun.

"Since when do we need protection?" Rainbow asked.

"Since you decided to follow us and because of that this made our job harder. We were meant to just discover why ponies went missing but when you showed up it meant we had to babysit you lot just so none of you disappear as well," Rage said.

"Shoot we're sorry you two instead of helping ya we went ahead and made it harder," Applejack said.

"Nothing we can do now so let's just be done with this," I said as I finished strapping on my armour and hidden blades.

"Wait Ash you can't go anywhere without having something to eat you'll need energy," Rarity said.

I looked at the marshmallow mare before I grabbed some bread and began to munch on it and once that was done I filled a glass full of water and drank it.

"That's it?" Rarity asked.

"Bread is pretty filling when combined with water also I survived on less," I said before I gestured everyone to follow me.

We left the inn and led the group to the north east side of the town I then took out a compass before we went into the forest now I'm not going to lie the forest was really creepy and I had to check on Fluttershy to see how she was coping. But one time when I was checking on her I stepped on something and heard a crack so I looked down and saw I was standing on a bone and that there were others around it making up a skeleton. The others jumped when they saw the pile of bones while I just removed my foot and walked over to the skull and kneeled beside it.

"Sorry about that but let me make it up to you," I said as I fixed broken bones before I made a hole in the ground and then a coffin and carefully placed the bones in it.

Once I was done I sealed the coffin and returned the dirt to its proper place and made a head stone with the word unknown etched into it before I did a silent prayer.

"Do you think that was one of the missing ponies?" Twilight asked.

"No I'd say that guy has been lying here for over fifty years at least," I said.

"Oh," Twilight said.

"C'mon we'd better get going," I said before we continued.

The walk wasn't very long till we soon saw a large structure in the woods we walked over and saw the place was surrounded by a fence and the gate seemed to have been broken down. I looked above the gate and saw a word that made my blood run cold.

"An asylum," I whispered to myself.

"Hey Ash you coming?" Rainbow said as she gestured to the others who had already walked in.

"Yeah...coming," I said as I tried to stop my right arm from shaking.

I walked through the gate and looked around the abandoned area and saw wheel chairs and other things scattered all over the face I up to the entrance and saw Rage had opened the door which was boarded up.

"Looks like they didn’t want anyone to get in," Applejack said.

“Or maybe it was to keeps something from getting out,” I whispered to myself.

“You say something Ash?” Rage asked

"Actually Rage I'm gonna stick around out here y'know make sure there's nothing lurking around out here," I said.

"Ash are you alright?" Rage asked.

"Yeah why?" I asked.

"I can hear you shaking because of your armour," Rage said.

"What it's cold out here and the metal isn't helping," I said defensively.

"Ok which means some of you are going to need to stay here," Rage said.

"Um I'll stay with Ash," Fluttershy said.

"Same here," Applejack said.

"Alright then let's go you guys," Rage said before he and the rest of the girls walked in while I went to go sit on bench only for it to groan under my weight.

"Care to tell me why you really don't want to go in there?" Applejack asked but I stayed quiet for a while.

"Guess I didn't hide my emotions very well," I said.

"Ash it's alright to tell us," Fluttershy said.

"*sigh*You both remember when we told each other our greatest fear and I didn't know what mine was?" I asked causing the others to nod. "Well it turns out I'm scared of Asylums and I'm so scared of them I'd act like Fluttershy on a regular day."

"Well I know some Asylums like this one here are...creepy but not all of them are like this Ash," Applejack said.

"I know AJ but it's not just that there's more to this I'm scared of what happens inside of them the madness, the so called treatment everything. You have no idea what happened inside the last Asylum I was in," I said as I clenched my fists that were resting on my knees.

"Maybe not but like a friend of mine once told me if you tell someone your problem they can help fix it," Applejack said.

"Well I'm sorry to say this Applejack but this fear has settled itself to deep in my core to be removed not even after what I did there," I said.

"What did you do?" Applejack asked.

"I-," I began when suddenly I heard a scream from inside the building.

"That sounded like Rarity," Fluttershy said.

"C'mon those guys could be in trouble," Applejack said before we all got up and ran to the door.

Fluttershy and Applejack ran in but before I could go in my legs locked up from fear.

"What is it Ash?" Fluttershy asked.

"My legs...they won't move...my head is telling me to go but my legs are saying no," I said.

"Ash look at me," Applejack said causing me to do as she asked. "It's alright just take a deep breath close your eyes and think about where you want to be what makes you calm."

I did as Applejack said before I took a breath and closed my eyes I then imagined myself walking through the front door of my home an seeing Luna, Pip and Midnight standing there smiling at me. I then felt an invisible force on my hand and when I opened my eyes I saw Applejack smiling at me and she had a hand on my chest and when I looked around I saw we were inside the Asylum.

"There ya go partner ya feeling alright?" Applejack asked.

"Still spooked but thanks I think I'll be alright for now," I said.

I looked around and saw the lobby was simple it had a desk in the centre and a stair case on either side of it that led to the walkway with two revolver doors on either side of it. I led Applejack up the stairs and we decided to check the mare's wing first. We walked through the door and down a hallway that led to a checkpoint of some kind and there was a room behind a set of bars and a heavy iron door for access to the room.

"Hey Ash this door has some kinda scanner," I heard Applejack say.

I looked and saw Applejack and saw she was pointing to some primitive looking scanner next to the door so I walked over to her and inspected it.

"Amazing a biometric scanner and it still has power I'm surprised these things are here and are still working," I said.

"A bio-what now?" Applejack said.

"It scans for DNA if your DNA isn't programed to this then you can't open the door we need the DNA of someone who worked here...And I believe this can tell us where we can find one," I said as I pointed to a massive blood splotch on the ground and a dragging trail that led downstairs.

"You mean we should follow the b-b-b-blood?" Fluttershy asked fearfully.

"I know Flutters and I really don't want to see what's on the end of that trail either but we have to find the others," I said.

I then lead the two down the stairs till we came to a door I gestured for Fluttershy and Applejack to stay outside while I went inside. I took a few breaths before I went in I then saw it was a change room or massive bathroom if you would filled with baths and showers and sinks but I shook my head. I looked down so I could focus on the blood trail I then followed it and found a decomposing forearm but there was no body.

"Wonder what happened to the rest of you," I said as I grabbed the arm.

I then stood up when I suddenly heard a drop of liquid land into more liquid that echoed around the room. I then looked around and I saw a bath tub filled with what looked like blood that wasn’t filled before. I stared at the still liquid till I saw something move a bulge appeared on the surface and it turned into a hand that looked like someone trying to push its way out of the blood. Suddenly, a face appeared and it let out a scream and this caused me to run out of the room and once I was out I grabbed the heaviest object I could find and placed it in front of the door.

"Ash what happened?" Applejack asked.

"You seriously don't want to know," I said in a panic.

"Okay but what about what we were looking for?" Applejack asked while I showed her the arm causing Fluttershy to turn pale in fear. "Ash you didn't rip that off the pony?"

"No this was all that was left," I said.

"Alright but let's go we need to find the others," Applejack said.

"Agreed," I said before we went back upstairs.

Once we arrived I placed the hand on the scanner and the door unlocked we walked inside only to see the corridor was lined with cells and was in a wreck. There was blood everywhere and writing on the walls all in blood there was broken glass and papers scattered and also a body or two left to rot.

"What happened here?" Fluttershy asked while she hid behind me.

"I don't know but I can tell one thing whatever did this it considered ponies to be a meal," I said as I pointed to a body that was mauled on.

"Land snakes that's disgusting," Applejack said.

"C'mon let's find the others and go before we meet whatever's been...chewing on this guy," I said with a shudder.

I led the mares down the hall keeping my eyes trained on my surroundings for anything that moved. When suddenly, I heard a loud ticking sound in the walls that acted like my heartbeat and there was a repeating sound of something crashing that echoed around the building the ticking sound was making my heart beat incredibly fast in fear. I could see the others were freaking out as much as I was. Suddenly, I tripped on something and I felt a cold fierce wind rush over me paralysing me in fear but once the wind ended along with the heart racing ticking I could feel myself move. But, once I looked up I saw I was completely alone no Applejack or Fluttershy.

"Applejack, Fluttershy...where are you?" I called out to the empty halls for my missing friends. "C'mon you two this isn't okay you know I said I was petrified of this place," I said receiving no answer. "No Fluttershy knows and she wouldn't dare play a prank like this or any prank and Applejack wouldn't joke about when the others were missing or one this cruel so that means...oh God."

I collapsed against a wall and slowly slid down it and I felt my breath and heart quicken dramatically I looked at my hands and but a flash showed my hands only covered in blood before another flash cleaned my hands and they were once more clad in armour. I tried to scream but nothing came out I saw my vision begin to turn red and began to darken and I felt something rise in my throat. I then got on my hands and knees and emptied the contents of my stomach before everything went black.

I awoke an unknown amount of time later to the smell of vomit and the sound of Epsilon calling out to me.

"Epsilon?" I asked weakly.

"Glad you’re up Ash," Epsilon said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Panic trauma something in your memory triggered you to go into a state of life and death but fortunately I was able to pull you back," Epsilon said.

"Thanks Epsilon," I said as I found the strength to sit up and remove my helmet so I could breathe properly and clean out any vomit inside it.

"Ash I recommend extreme caution when navigating this place it has a very dark energy about it," Epsilon said.

"Anything you can identify?" I asked.

"No a large force of magic is blocking out any other magic being scanned in this place," Epsilon said.

"Ok," I said as I got up and put on my helmet.

"Ash...be cautious if you go into that state again tonight I don't know if I'll be able to bring you out of it again," Epsilon said.

"I'll… try to avoid that," I said.

I then got up and continued my walk down the corridor with my shotgun out in case things went bad I made it to the end of the mare's ward and into another corridor. I walked down the corridor and saw a staircase going down but then I saw something that was out of place which was a purple indigo ribbon and unlike everything this ribbon wasn't covered in dust or dirty. I then came to realize it was Rarity's I then figured I'd try and figure out where they all went so I grabbed a pale orb from a pouch on my belt and pressed a button on it before I tossed it in the air and watched as it scanned the room. It then made a projection of the other half of our group the hologram showed the others coming out of the stallion ward. Suddenly, the looked as though they were listening to something and faster than I could blink I saw Twilight get tackled by something then Rage and then the others got snatched before the image ended. I then looked around and saw dragging marks in the dust along with a two toed footprint that unnerved me a bit leading to the stairs that went down. So sucking up some courage I grabbed Rarity's ribbon and held my shotgun ahead of me and began my walk into the dark.

I was scared beyond anything at the moment but I took several calming breaths as I walked through the dimly lit corridors but I could see where I was going as I walked. I came across an empty elevator shaft that had bars for walls and a spiral staircase that went downward. So I walked down the staircase following the drag marks till it let me to a narrow corridor I then walked down the corridor and soon heard movement up ahead. I then slowed my breath and had a look and saw something tall and skinny but it was too dark to see clearly. I then saw a small lever that had the words on and off on it so I assumed it was the light switch I reached out for the leaver deciding to risk my luck and pulled the leaver down. Suddenly, a light flickered to life above the creature and the creature tried to shield itself from the light before it ran off and from what I saw I thought the creature wore a straightjacket but only the sleeves were loosened. Knowing that I wasn't alone now I kept up my guard and walked forward I then came to a massive room that was more like a dungeon filled with cages. I walked into and soon spotted the others being held in a cage hanging from the celling I gave a small sigh of relief. I then saw Fluttershy notice me and inform the others who all then looked at me.

I then began to jog over to them but as I came to a corner one of the creatures stepped out behind it causing me to freeze in my tracks because if I got any closer I'd be touching it and at this range I got a good look at the creature. I saw it had an equine shaped head and hands like any other pony however it had no fur and mane and the lack of a face along with a pair of two toed feet. It only wore a straightjacket meaning it was once an inmate here. My blood was cold as I looked at the creature how badly I wanted to run but I remained as still as stone as the thing and I stared at each other. But suddenly, the thing looked away and walked off as if I wasn't even here I slowly released the breath I didn't know I was holding and placed a hand on my chest before I went into thought about what had just happened. I then assumed that the creatures were blind but could hear very well so with that in mind I switched to my assassin robes and climbed my way on top of the cage.

"Boy are you a sight for sore eyes," Rage whispered.

"Not as much as you guys are," I whispered as I leaned over the edge so I could inspect the door.

"What do you mean by that darling?" Rarity asked.

"Asylums scare the living shit out of me for so many reasons," I said as I turned my blood into a key.

"So that's why you didn't want to come in," Rage said.

"And why it took me so long I was overcome with so much fear I blacked out," I said as I inserted the key and unlocked the door.

"Well I can understand being scared of this place it's even starting to freak me out," Rainbow said.

"So how do we get down?" Pinkie asked.

"Hang on first we need to get rid of those things and from what I can guess they're blind but can hear very well," I said.

"Well cutting and stabbing doesn't work Ash I tried already," Rage said.

"Well I think I know their weakness," I said as I summoned a large oil can that was filled with oil

I then tossed it to the floor making a large crashing noise and that brought all the creatures running towards the noise. Once the creatures were standing in the liquid I snapped my fingers igniting the oil and burning the abominations and it worked amazingly well.

"Nice job," Rage praised.

"I say it's time we left," I said as I levitated everyone back to the entrance and handed Rarity back her ribbon.

"Hey I'm confused why didn't you just teleport everyone out?" Applejack asked pointing at Twilight.

"There's an anti-teleportation field around us to stop any inmates that can use magic from escaping," Twilight said.

"Also the reason why I climbed up onto the cage now can we go I don't want to be around in this house of horrors any more then I need to be," I said.

"I like that idea and you won't believe this but we found a record of the mayor of Hollow Shades turns out he was a doctor here and spent his time down below us," Rage said.

"Well then maybe we can ask him some questions when we get back now come on," I said as I led the others up the staircase.

However when we reached the top and I looked back to check on everyone one of the creatures leapt out of the doorway and pushed me into the elevator shaft. But, before I could fall entirely I managed to grab a bar that had come loose from its place and it stopped my fall and the creature was torn from me by the force of my stop and his leap. This caused it to leave deep claw scratches on my body when he was thrown off me. I then let out a scream of pain while the monster fell into the darkness below.

"Ash you alright!" Rage asked from above and I saw him and the girls looking at me.

"Yeah but covered in blood," I said as I looked up.

"Can you fly up?" Rainbow asked.

"No the shaft is to narrow," I said.

"Alright what about climbing," Rage asked.

"This place wasn't built to support ponies only the elevator also it's gonna be hard to move cause that thing left some deep wounds in my chest and arm," I said.

"Uh Ash you have blood manipulation," Rage said.

"I know but the muscles have been torn through as well that will take time to heal and get back at full strength," I said.

"But what about when War Sword hacked your arm off?" Rage asked.

"You have no clue how this works I was using my blood to hold my arm together and heal the wound at the same time. If I did this while climbing my arm would fall off because it haven't been repaired properly there are limits to this you know," I said.

Suddenly screams came from below me from the creatures telling us they were on their way.

"Crap more of those things," Rainbow said.

"Alright hang on Ash I'm gonna levitate you up," Twilight said.

Suddenly a door was thrown off its hinges and I saw six creatures come out before they ran up towards my friends and I saw a lot more coming up only through the elevator shaft.

"No time you lot need to go," I said.

"Oh no Ash you're not pulling off another one of your crazy stunts," Rage said.

"I don't want to either Rage not after last time but it's either you stay and help me and we all get captured or die or you leave me and I figure out a way outta here," I said sternly.

"But Ash-," Twilight started.

"This isn't up for a fucking debate now get out of here!" I yelled causing the others to stare at me. "Listen I'll think of something I promise but you need to leave me here I don't want to do this to you or the others again but please there are few options."

"You'd better come back," Rage said causing me to nod before he left with the girls.

I then looked down at the creatures and braced myself for what I was planning on doing.

"Alright mother fuckers I'm coming for you," I said as I summoned my armour and let go of the bar and fell into the dark.

I woke up at the bottom of the elevator shaft and my legs were full of pain so I used blood manipulation to check the injuries and discovered they were both broken. I then used blood manipulation to help heal my wounds and apply a bit of healing magic to my legs to heal the bones a lot faster. So I lay there for half an hour till my injuries healed before I heard a voice whispering in my ear causing me to look and see a doorway on the bottom level dimly lit. So getting up I followed the whispering till I came to a large room filed with gadgets and gizmos and in the centre were a pair of chairs one with restraints on it and two different rune circles around one chair. But, the circles had their similarities I then had a look at a desk and saw books about souls and magic and upon closer inspection I discovered this was once the mayor's laboratory when he worked in the asylum. I then realized that he was experimenting with souls so he could take the number of years a pony had left to live and add it to his own. I then heard a door creak open and saw a door at the back at the room so I walked over to it and saw a well torch lit tunnel. I then began to walk down the tunnel keeping an eye out for anything but suddenly ponies with those creepy smiles on their faces burst through the walls. One had pinned me to the wall by grabbing my throat and squeezing it but I used my right hand to deliver a punch to the pony's head. But, instead of my fist meeting flesh and breaking bones I heard what sounded like porcelain breaking and when I removed my fist I saw the face crack and fall apart exposing a decomposed face. Suddenly, the thing let out a scream that almost blew out my eardrums but in a twisted disoriented voice it...no she asked me to kill her.

Honouring the undead mare's request I made a blade out of holy magic and stabbed the mare through the chest and as the life faded from the body I heard her whisper a thank you before I felt her soul enter me. That's when I she showed me how she became like this and to say I was disgusted and horrified was an understatement because the mayor committed a horrific ritual of stealing all the years the mare had left to live and also a number of disgusting rituals. I placed the body of the mare on the ground and saw many more ponies who had their lives taken standing before me along with the guard unit the princesses and Faust sent. So I made the Heavenly Cross on my arm and charged into hoard of lost souls destroying the bodies and releasing the souls trapped within only for them to fly into my body showing me more deaths that fuelled my rage. Once I made it the end of the tunnel the Heavenly Cross disappeared and my left arm became demonic from anger.

I walked down the rest of the hallway leaving a trail of flaming footprints behind me till I came to an elevator that had power in it I then quelled my demonic arm before I stepped into an elevator and rode it to the top. Once I did I was greeted by a disturbing sight the smell of death was heavy in the room and I saw ponies in cages or shackled to the floor they all looked thin but to add more to the horror. I saw pony bodies around them many still had flesh on them and others had porcelain pieces on them meaning they were once undead and others were just bones. But, on several of the bodies I saw pony teeth marks on them meaning that some of these ponies had been starved for so long they committed cannibalism. I shook off the disgusted feeling and looked around and saw a Thestral mare so I walked over her but when the mare noticed me she backed away but I kneeled down in front of the cage and removed my helmet.

"Please you don't need to fear me I just want to help you escape this awful place," I said causing the mare to move closer slightly.

"Who...who are you...what are you?" the mare asked.

"Ash I think this mare has been imprisoned for longer then you've been here,” Epsilon said.

"My name is Ash Blade miss and I'm the last Demonic Angel I was sent here by Queen Faust and her daughters to help," I said.

"Who's Queen Faust?" the mare asked.

"The ruler and creator of Equris and everything in it and she is also the mother of Princess Celestia and her siblings," I said shocking the mare.

"How long have I been here?" the mare asked.

"I don't know but the point is I'm getting you out," I said as I unlocked the door with my blood.

"Wait...that pony upstairs he's taken a filly upstairs to do what he's done with the others her parents have left her in my care before they were taken," the mare said.

"Alright I'll go take care of it meanwhile you seem to know this room well so I need you to take this and free the ones that are still sane and let them know to stay put till I get back," I said as I handed the mare the key causing the mare to nod.

I walked up the stairs and came to a door and opened it revealing a dark hallway with decaying walls, chains hanging from the ceiling, eyes that watched me through the cracks in the walls and all sorts of things I wouldn't dare mention. I made my way through the house the sound of creaking wood beneath me was the only thing that made my presence in this place known to anyone here Epsilon then informed me he felt a dark magic upstairs in the attic. So I ran to the stairs and began to climb them when suddenly something grabbed my throat and yanked me closer to the wall. I then saw it was a ghostly figure with a black veil over its face and bony fingers the figure then screamed at me but I grabbed the figures neck myself causing it to let go of mine in surprise before I roared in its face. With a shriek the figure disappeared back into the wall I then ran up the rest of the stairs.

Epsilon directed me to the door to the attic but as I tried to reach for the doorknob it turned into a set of jaws and nearly bit my hand. Suddenly, a large eye with a black sclera and aqua green iris opened in the middle of the door and glared at me. I simply glared back and thrusted my demonic hand into the eye spewing out a black substance before I turned the knob and opened it without any trouble. I went up the stairs and looked around and saw five robed figures standing around a glowing rune circle and four ritual braziers stood around them and in the middle of the circle was a cadge and in a cage I saw the filly the mare mentioned. I saw she was a Thestral so thinking quickly I teleported over and wiped out a part of the rune circle which disrupted the magic and blew out all the torches. While the ponies tried to figure out what was going on I placed my assassin robes on for intimidation before I stepped in front of the filly and relit the braziers with a dark blue flame making the scene become creepy. I could see the robed figures were freaking out despite the hoods covering their faces I gritted my teeth behind my mask and kept my eyes on the ones that were in my view beneath my hood.

"What the hell is going on who is that?" a pony in front of a window before me asked so I teleported in front of him causing him to stare at me in shock.

"I'm the guy who's about to send you to the reaper," I said before I kicked the pony out the window.

I then saw two ponies draw a wiggly ritual dagger and charge at me but I grabbed them and tossed them towards the door. Suddenly, another dagger wielding pony tried to stab me but I dodged to the left and elbowed the figure in the back of the head sending the pony out the window. I then saw the last pony try to make a brake for it but I teleported in front of him and used my left hand to punch the pony through the floorboards below him. I then looked at the filly in the cage and opened it and helped the small filly out of it and noticed she looked at least 7 years old which fuelled my anger more.

"Listen little one I just need to go catch the bad guys so I need you to stay here please," I said causing the filly to nod once before I made my arm become demonic and jumped down the hole I made while words and voices of vengeance danced in my vision and ears.

I then saw the pony I hit and saw he was limping down the stairs while his buddies were trying to open the door. Suddenly the limping pony pulled of his hood revealing the mayor before he fired a blast of magic at the floor in front of the staircase and I saw a dark ghostly spectre pull itself out of the wood without disturbing the floorboards and scream at me. However, I just raised my left hand and snapped my fingers engulfing the spectre in flames I then looked at the ponies and saw they were still trying to escape so I leapt over the railing and glared at them.

"Here allow me," I said before I used my magic to blow the robed ponies into the doors smashing them open.

I walked out of the building and saw Rage was outside and he had his swords drawn and the temperature coming off Rage was unbearably hot. I then looked behind him I could see many disembodied undead ponies.

"I see you met my brother," Rage growled.

"Sorry I took so long Rage I had some company on my way here," I said.

"Now what should we do with this wasted load of flesh, blood and air?" Rage asked.

Suddenly I sensed a lot of movement and saw tons of undead ponies shuffle out of the woods and I looked at the robed ponies and saw the mayor grin at me.

"Do you think I'm going to allow a pair of hairless apes stand in the way of my work I've worked for too long on this and I will gain immortality!" the mayor said.

"No...you’re a puppeteer that toys with the bodies and souls of others...and it's time I cut the strings," I said as I unsheathed Whispering Wind and slashed at the air around me.

The zombies then changed their targets and headed straight for the ones that caused them their misery the ponies huddled in fear. The undead shattered their porcelain masks and unleashed their unholy screams of vengeance before they descended on the ponies tearing them limb from limb while they screamed in agony while Rage and I watched. Soon all the undead collapsed and both Rage and I collapsed to our knees as well and all the souls Rage and I absorbed when we slayed an undead body left us. I then gazed at souls of the ones that slayed the necromancers and they looked back at me before they bowed and faded away.

"Rage," I said.

"Yeah," Rage replied.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,”

"Good cause we need to get the imprisoned out of that place there's a filly in the attic could you go help her?" I asked.

"Sure," Rage said before he left.

I then went back inside the house and began to help get the ones who were trapped inside the house escape and when I did I saw guards arrive along with the mane 6. When my friends saw me Pinkie ran over to me and wrapped me in a terrific hug.

"You're alive," Pinkie cried.

"Hey I promised didn't I," I said as I rubbed the top of the mare’s head causing the mare to smile.

"You had us all so worried," Applejack said.

"I'm sorry guys I really am," I said.

"Whoa what happened here?" Rainbow asked looking around at the carnage.

"Necromancers with a doll fetish," I said as gestured to a broken piece of porcelain.

"No wonder why I couldn't detect any dark magic the porcelain must have concealed it somehow," Twilight said.

"I don't suppose you apprehended the ones behind this like the princesses ordered?" Rarity asked.

"No but in my opinion the deserved a worse fate then the one that was handed to them," I said.

"Ow, ow, ow let go of me!"

I looked at the source of shouting and saw Rage exiting the house without his helmet and with the small filly biting down on his head. So I walked over to the pair and summoned some bread for the filly.

"Come now little one my brother isn't meant to be chewed on," I said as I handed the bread to the filly.

The filly then released my brother's scalp from her tiny muzzle and looked at the bread curiously before she reached out and accepted the bread and slowly began to nom on it in the cutest way possible. I then removed the foal from Rage's head and held her in my arms and did a scan on her and was relieved that she won't suffer from any permanent damage that may have been done.

"Now let’s go look for the mare that's taking care of you," I said as I carried the mare through the small crowd of freed captives and guards.
When my friends saw the filly they cooed at her while she ate but when my friends appeared the filly chomped down on my right arm causing me to wince in pain slightly. And this caused the others to recoil slightly in surprise at the action.

"Now sweetie I don't think it's alright to bite people," Fluttershy said moving closer but this caused the filly to bite harder.

"No it's alright guys it's alright little one they're all friends of mine and I promise they won't hurt you,' I said causing the filly's grip to loosen slightly but not release my arm.

"Willow!"

I looked at the voice and saw it was the mare from the basement and she had bandages on her arm.

"Here you go and you'll be glad to know that she's in no danger of anything," I said as I handed the now named filly to the mare.

"Thank you and it seems she's taken a shine to you," the mare said as she took Willow from my arms and allowed her to bite her hand.

"What makes you say that?" Rage asked as he walked over to us while rubbing his head.

"Willow here only bites those she trusts and likes," the mare said.

"Seems she really likes you Rage," I chuckled.

Suddenly, I heard puking come from the house and I saw a guard possibly a recruit stumble out of the horror house puking up his contents. I also saw there were guards bringing out cages that held ponies whose minds were broken one of them even bit hard on one of the guard’s arms causing them to drop the cage.

"What happened here?"

I spun around and I saw the princesses, Faust and the three top Wonderbolts were here and were staring at the bodies the guards were clearing.

"A lot of bad shit," I said.

"And the ones behind this?" Faust asked.

"Check the contents of the victim's stomachs," I said as I began to walk away.

"Ash you were supposed to apprehend them," Celestia said causing me to turn and face her.

"They didn't disserve a merciful punishment Celestia in fact what they got was too good for them and if you doubt my word have a look inside I fucking dare you!" I yelled as I pointed to the house.

The royal family recoiled at my words along with the Wonderbolts and my friends while I just stormed off and sat down against a tree. I then saw the princesses and Faust along with the Wonderbolts and Rainbow went inside only to come back shortly with pale faces which was quite a feat for both Celestia and Faust. I even saw Soarin, Fleetfoot and Chrysalis puking up the contents of their stomach's and I then saw Faust walk over to me and sit down next to me.

"How many?" Faust asked.

"Too many...did you see the ex-doctor’s notes?" I asked.

"Yes," Faust said before we entered a long silence.

"What will happen to them the broken ones I mean?" I asked.

"We’ll see what we can do...hopefully give them the help they need," Faust said.

"Okay," I said.

"Ash."

I looked at the new voice and saw everyone was standing around us.

"Fluttershy and Applejack told us about your fear of asylums and we just wanted to check on you," Rage said.

"Wait you’re scared of asylums?" Spitfire asked.

"And I have a right to be," I said.

"Do you...wish to talk about it?" Luna asked.

"No but it may help me feel better but it's just I worked hard to bury this part of my life deep down inside me ever since I found out about it," I said.

"What do you mean Ash?" Faust asked.

"When I woke up after Heartless restored my memories you all saw my emotion and how I refused to speak to anyone for three days right?" I asked earning nods from the group. "Well it was because I overcome by all the guilt of things I let happen that harmed and killed many friends I had over my life and this is one of the many things that haunt me."

"Why," Faust asked.

I was silent for a few minutes before I let out a sigh.

"A few lives after I got my...eye put in the tree of life placed me in an asylum no idea why it did this I will never know. But, I knew there was a darkness in that place that I didn't like the doctors there ran tests and experiments on me and other inmates they injected us with chemicals trying to turn us into...something," I said.

"Something?" Dream Catcher asked.

"It involved the military but I was the most favourite test subject in that place because I was visited by the head doctor and a general more often than most and the only name I got was Subject 63 in Project Apocalypse," I said.

"Project Apocalypse it sounds like a doomsday weapon," Rage said.

"Which is exactly what it was," I said.

"Uh I was just joking," Rage said.

"The asylum was real but it also gave the government a great cover for human test subjects. I was the most important because somehow and some way they knew about my right eye and wanted to weaponize it and put it into other inmates," I said.

"Messing around with a nether lord's power is never a good thing because it's unpredictable like chaos magic," Faust said.

"So the government turned you and others into super soldiers or something?" Rage asked.

"Almost...but...I...turned them into something worse," I said.

"What do you mean you turned them into something worse?" Celestia asked.

I then pulled out a memory from my head and it showed me strapped to a chair in a bleached white room and doctors were walking around the lab with all sorts of equipment. My past self had awakened and that's when a doctor who I knew as the one in charge of the asylum was testing a needle which caused my past self to struggle with the restraints. The doctor walked up to me and gently wrapped a hand around my younger self's throat and forced me to look at him and then he aimed the tip of the needle at my right eye causing the others to gasp. And when it was inches away my right eye changed and I had let out a powerful scream of fear that blew all the doctors back and fried any electronics in the room. The scream was so powerful it sent out a blast of wind right out of the memory.

When everyone both out and in the memory recovered screams echoed around the room and the doctors quickly scrambled to unstrap my barely conscious past self and began to drag me away. As they did we saw all the inmates seemed to screeching in pain and were turning into terrifying monsters which shocked the group. My past self was put on the bed in his cell and the door closed my past self curled himself into a ball. But before the door could be locked screams echoed outside and something hit the door making a massive dent and when my past self got off the bed and went to open the door he gasped in terror. Something sat outside the door eating the insides of the doctors till they were all but hollow. It walked on two legs but had the torso wrapped in black armour and tail like those of a scorpion it only had a mouth on its head and a pincer on the end of a tail instead of a stinger and four extra arms some with pincers and some with hands. When it turned to my past self who was clearly afraid of the thing and the way the blood dripped down its body. The thing then let out a roar and left leaving the mutilated corpses behind and that's when I stopped the memory.

"That was one of the many things I created that day when I was held there and I haunted that building like a lost soul living in constant terror of the things that lived there also," I said.

"Why didn't you leave?" Applejack asked.

"I didn't know where else to go because my first memory was of me waking up in that place I could barely talk or write or even read in that place," I said.

"So how did you survive?" Soarin asked.

At this memories I wished to forget clawed into the front of my mind and all the colour drained from my face before I leaned to the side and emptied the contents of my stomach a second time that night.

"Please...don't ask me to remember that," I said when I recovered.

"Okay Ash no one will ask...now let's get you all home you've all had a long night," Faust said.

I could only nod before I let out a yawn and began to close my eyes fearing the nightmares that would be joining me in my slumber.