I leapt at her in an attempt to punch. However, I simply passed through. “What the?”

“Heh heh heh. Silly Metal, in this world, I am a goddess. No matter what you do, I can’t be defeated here.”

“Hmph, it’s thinking like that that’ll get you killed.”

“Heh heh heh! You wouldn’t dare kill me!” Slender Woman spread her arms wide as tendrils shot out of her back. I dodged them and threw back an energy blast, which she backhanded.

“And why wouldn’t I?”

“Try it, SEE WHAT HAPPENS!” Two massive orbs of darkness formed at her sides. She threw them right at me, and I barely dodged. I ran at her full speed and threw a punch, but she caught my arm with a tendril. She lifted me up, then slammed me into the ground. Slender Woman then tossed me tossed me into the castle. I broke through the wall and landed in the throne room. The hall was empty and lifeless. The only thing in there was…

“Lisa!” She was chained up in an orb that rested above the throne. There were chains on her arms, legs, and body. There were angled lines all over her body, sort of reminding me of something from Twilight Princess.

“Don’t bother, she can’t hear you.” I turned to see Slender Woman walking in.

“What did you do to her?”

“Nothing. Her own sorrow is what’s made her like this. And as long as it does, I get to keep control.”

“Monster, give my sister her body back!” I leaped at her but she dodged.

“Give it back? This body was mine to begin with! If anything, I’ve just reclaimed what was mine!” She snapped her fingers and a couple Proxies appeared. They ran at me and lunged. I however formed a couple lunar blades in my hands and slashed through them. I then charged at Slender Woman, but again I phased through her.

“Ugh, this is getting boring. I suppose I’ll just finish this.” She snapped her fingers again and everything went black. Then, I heard the crack of lightning, and everything went white. When the light cleared up and I could see again, it looked like I was in the middle of some sort of storm. It was pouring rain and lightning flashed everywhere. There were floating stone platforms all over, making some kind of battle arena.

“Tell me something Metal.” Slender woman’s voice seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. “Are you ready to succumb to the darkness?”

“A bit too late to ask that question.” I could see a black figure forming in the clouds. It emerged out of the storm wall and came into view.

It was a giant, Slender Woman.

“What the hell?” She lifted up a massive hand and swung at me. I jumped onto another platform before the hand could hit me. The tendrils on her back flew out and attacked, many of which I just barely dodged. However, one nicked me in the back, causing me to fall onto another platform right on my face. I flipped over on my back in an attempt to recover, only to see another tendril descending right on top of me. I couldn’t do anything but watch as it quickly approached, ready to hit me with a strike that could end me. I closed my eyes and braced myself.

But nothing came.

I waited a few seconds before opening my eyes. What I saw...didn't shock me in the slightest.

“Giving up already? That’s certainly unlike you Metal.” It was a blue robotic hedgehog. “I expected more.”

When he looked at me, I could tell the personality and expression were a bit different, but it was still the same basic person.

“Took you long enough.”

Gale just turned to Slenderwoman. “Why aren't you fighting like you normally do? This is an opponent that would require a form.”

“I was holding back because I didn't want to damage Lisa's mind.” He helped me up and we stood side by side, staring down the monster before us as she extended a hand.

“What was your plan to kill her exactly?” He asked as he blasted the giant hand away.

“You know I'm not dumb enough to realise that I can't kill her, as much as I really what to. I know what will happen.” I answered while clenching my fists to build up the Apocalypse Magic I had in me.

“How did you come across that answer?”

“You haven't been paying attention to me lately have you? All those plans to kill all of you if necessary? I did my research man, I'm not an idiot. Now can we stop talking and take this bitch down? I'm getting really tired of this story arc.”

He just looked at me strangely before shaking his head. “That Apocalypse Magic must have damaged you considerably..”

“We were all messed up before we got to Equestria. And the magic hasn't affected my personality that much. It feels…” I held out my hands and the electricity swept over my body. “...natural.”

“Hmm, seems as though you have adapted to it.”

“Hey, how come you sound different?”

“I am only a soul. Without a mind, I have less of a connection with my emotions.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So, are you ready to face her?” I looked at the Slender Woman before nodding.

“Let’s do this!”

The Real World

Cosmo looked out at the battle with Jasper floating beside her. They ignored all the Proxies and Auldin, their focus was on Metal. His body sparking with red energy which filled them both with dread.

"He's become one with it..." Jasper spoke sadly.

"This was going to happen sooner or later...his blood would have turned anyway, this just sped up the process."

Jasper looked away in sadness, looking back to his son who was now the host of evil forces. "Let us hope that he doesn't let it consume him..."

Author's Notes:

Next chapter should be the end of this insane arc