Shadow’s POV

As my new allies and I made our way through the corridors of Canterlot Castle, we found our path blocked by Mephiles’ monsters on more than one occasion. Thankfully, it didn’t take much to put these demons down, merely a well-placed shot from my guns or a powerful attack from the Princesses, Twilight, or even a spin dash from Tails was enough.

“All right, Shadow, start talking! What do you know about this Mephiles wack job?” Rainbow asked as she bum rushed a monster.

I looked over at Gilda, who nodded. “Back in the year 2006, in a dimension far removed from this one, or any Equestria for that matter, there was a land called Soleanna. Beautiful place, I might add, perfect for a vacation. However, they actually have something in common with Equestria: they worship a sun god. Unlike Celestia, however, this sun god wasn’t exactly benevolent. His name was Solaris,” I began to explain.

“The Duke of Soleanna and his team of scientists wanted to use Solaris, who also had time-space capabilities, to pretty much invent time travel, so they could go back and right the wrongs of their lives, or see lost love ones. Unfortunately, Solaris didn’t exactly like being experimented on. In a fit of rage, Solaris went crazy, and ended up splitting into two beings: Iblis, an immortal fire monster with the burning power of Solaris, and Mephiles the Dark, who was the brains of Solaris. Eventually, Iblis and Mephiles were reunited, and were set to wipe out the entire dimension, only to be wiped from existence thanks to the Princess of Soleanna,” I continued as my crew continued to move through the castle.

Celestia frowned. “If this Solaris was erased from existence, then how come Mephiles is here in Equestria?” she asked.

“Excellent question, your majesty. It turned out that when the Flames of Disaster were extinguished, Solaris broke apart. Pieces of him were sent flying all over the multiverse, each taking on the identity of Mephiles once more. So far, I only know of two that have been destroyed or killed. If any Mephiles unites with any sort of god-like deity, he’ll become a variant of Solaris once again… and I’m not sure if anyone will be able to stop him, even Metal with his Neo Mode and copy abilities,” I said

The group all looked to each other in worry, most of them about the danger presented to them while Luna, Rainbow, Cream and Tails worried about Metal and where he was.

...

Metal’s POV

The explosion that had thrown me out of the castle and into a portal had done a decent amount of damage to my systems, rendering me unable to fly and boost. Whatever that portal was it had taken me to a large floating island, in which I was currently in the dark castle on its top. I ran down the dark hallway that I had been transported to, chasing Mephiles while he dragged the one I had saw in the throne room away from me.

"Give her back to me you sick bastard!" I yelled as I ran with all my speed and might. I speed forwards and knocked a monster he had summoned into the air

'Where's the fun in that Metal? If I gave her to you now you'd just try and kill me. How about we make a deal?'

"I'd rather die than betray my friends!" I tried to grab him but he pulled forward. "Just give her back! She never did anything to you!"

'Are you sure you won't make a deal with me?'

"Yes!"

'Shame...well then, I'll just kill her now.'

"Wait!" Mephiles turned to me as I slowed down until I had stopped. "Please...don't hurt her. I'll listen to your terms."

Mephiles looked at me and smirked. 'So, you're actually willingly going to listen to me?' I nodded slowly. 'Very well, the task I have planned for you is simple...' He walked up to me and grinned. He told me his plan and I listened carefully, I could not lose her to him. I needed to do what he told me. Now I know what you're thinking. Who could the one that Mephiles has hostage and what is her connection to me, and why is she so important to me?

"Ok...I'll do it. Just give her to me."

'After the job is done.'

"Fine." We shook hands and he disappeared. I began walking towards a large door that Mephiles had instructed me to go through. Opening it I found a separate throne room with a large red crystal floated in the middle. "Please forgive me everyone, especially you two...Luna and Dash." I placed my hand on the crystal and power flowed into me with great force. My body began to change into that of Neo Metal Sonic. Soon the crystal had disappeared and all of its energy was now mine to control.

'How does it feel Metal? To wield the power of Apocalypse Magic?'

I looked to my hands and looked over my new body, feeling power so great it was orgasmic. "It feels...incredible!" My body was glowing a dark red colour.

'You know what to do from here.'

I closed my eyes and hesitated. "Ok..." I walked up onto the throne and sat down. I waved my hand and a group of black monsters appeared. "Guard the castle, make sure no one disturbs Discord and Mephiles!" They all nodded and spread out, splitting into even more monsters as they went. "Please forgive me..."

...

Shadow's POV

We exited Canterlot Castle and found a large flight of see-through dark blue stairs leading up to the floating island. We heard Discord laughing and he teleported down to us, his red aura seeming like fire at this point that outlined his body.

"Well well my little ponies, mobian and other species! Looks like you've cleared stage one! Get to stage three and you'll fight the Boss, see if you can survive long enough to see who it is! Ta ta!" He disappeared with an evil laugh. I readied my pistols and Gilda snapped open her claws. I looked back to see everyone else preparing themselves for battle. Cream had stayed behind with Chaos to avoid being hurt.

"Alright everyone. Let's get this show on the road." Everyone nodded and we began climbing the long wavy staircase. Completely unaware of where Discord had gone to.

...

Chaos' POV

I hid Cream and Cheese in a secret room of the castle that Celestia had shown me. "Now don't you two come out until I tell you to, ok?" The both nodded and shut the door and locking it from the other side. A magic barrier covered the door and disguised it as a part of the wall. I began walking through the castle, helping the royal guard take care of the remaining monsters that had infested these grand hallways.

I entered the throne room to make sure no one was in there. When I opened the door I found Discord changing the stained glass windows to suit his own needs. "Chaos...and interesting name. Tell me, how did you ever receive that title, mister 'God of Destruction.'"

I clenched my fist and it glowed pink. "Those days are behind me. It is now only a name, nothing more."

Discord frowned. "Well you turned out to be no fun. Oh well. I'll just take you to Mephiles now."

"Never, I know what will happen if he merges with me." I stretched my arms at blinding speeds and shot them towards the demonic creature. He dodged all of my attacks until I swung one up in the air and slammed it into his head, knocking him into the ground.

He teleported out of the small crater and shot two large red beams at me. I barely dodged them and I ran towards my foe. I charged up my fists and began rapidly punching the demon, making a good deal of legitimate damage to his body.

He growled and grabbed me with his telekinesis and began slamming me into multiple walls. He then charged his claw with magic and stuck it into my body.

"Now...sleep!" I started becoming tired, my vision fading as the magic flowed into my body.

"N-No..." My vision went black and I fell into unconsciousness. The last thing I heard was the demonic laugh of my captor.