Author's Notes:

Well here is a new chapter after.... yeah lets not go down that route, ok? (I don't need a reminder to my upload schedule)

Anyway I hope you enjoy and don't forget Lets kick it up

In the time since Spike has acquired his Doublesoul, a lot of things have happened. Mainly Twilight bitching at me for giving Spike power that, as she says, he could use to cause untold damage. However her concerns are well founded because, well she acts like a bit of a mother/sister to Spike. These past eight months had been real fun because of that, and the other things that had happened. When it came to Trixie coming back I told Spike to not use his Doublesoul, it worked out well for a bit but it didn’t do much in the end. However Twilight and her friends had forgiven Trixie for what she did, after Nightmare came in and told them it was their fault, minus Twilight, for this happening in the first place. Nightmare heard and went and stayed back after seeing the battle play out anyway.

During said time I swapped between training Spike in Doublesoul and without. He excelled as time went on, didn’t help that Luna had insisted she fight Spike whenever she got the chance to do so. This happened because Spike had beaten Luna and Luna wanted prove that she would be able to best him. Spike took it as a form of friendly rivalry, which Luna accepted it to be called. Though that is not to say some of their fights get out of hand.

Back on track, the rest of the time went exactly as it happened in the show, except the one with Spikes code of honor, which when Applejack said he didn’t need to owe her anything he just smiled at that and just left it at that. However meeting Discord again was interesting to say the least.

After Discord had accepted that he was mostly going to use his chaos powers for good he went and wandered around Ponyville.

“Hmmm, what to do now? I guess it would only b-” He suddenly felt his whole body shake “I haven't felt something like that since… ooh this should be good to find out.” Discord then set out to find where the immense power came from. He soon found it in the form of an Armored being that looked like a lion.

“Hm, that looks like…” Discord then snaps his talons as a book and glasses appeared. He then takes the glasses and puts them on and quickly goes through the book before finding out who it is. “Ah that’s right, it is Nightmare Moon’s little boy toy, Gregar. I wonder what he is up to.”

Gregar was just sitting in the park with his armour on relaxing as the day went on until he felt a presence above him. He opened his eyes and found it to belong to one god of chaos, Discord.

“Hello Discord.”

Discord pouts a little “There goes my fun then.” He then throws the marker he had in his hand behind him as it then suddenly implodes on itself and turns into a very confused looking bluejay that soon flies away.

Gregar sits up “So I see Celestia’s plan to reform you had some success then.”

“Eh, we shall see how far this goes. So what has my favorite little being of destruction been up to lately.”

“Asleep and dealing with some things.”

Discord raised an eyebrow at this as he then sits down in front of Gregar. “Asleep, I thought that you loved Nightmare, last I checked anyway.”

“Some things happened that led to Celestia and Luna using the Elements on me.”

“Alright, but any more details?”

“Nope.”

“Drat, so what about when you returned then?”

Gregar was about to answer before a rift appeared above him and in dropped Tobi.

“Man that was a rush, I have got to try that again. Oh I see you are out now Discord, so how have you been.”

“Fine, if you called being in stone fine.”

“So how was it like to be stoned anyway?”

Discord then smirked as he snap his talons and a couch appeared behind him as he then lounged in it.

“Oh you wouldn’t believe how horrible it is, I mean do you realise how much it chaffed my butt?” He said in an overly dramatic tone, similar to Rarity

Gregar quickly got out of there as he heard them talking about the most random things after that.

Yeah once Tobi came into the picture I quickly got up and left. I did not want to see what the two of them would do together. Anyway right now I am just sitting outside in the garden area of the castle watching the snow fall down. Hearth's Warming had come and gone, and well I was surprised at what Nightmare had in store for me. She had gone out of her way to buy me a present that while I appreciated her doing so, I didn’t need it. The present I found out was a picture frame, I was wondering what she would do with it, until she had a camera and took a picture of the two of us. It was where she was jumped on my back and took the picture from there with a smile on her face, I had one on as well but still, she could have warned me. It was May when I first started training Spike and to think it has already been so long. I keep looking out at the snow as I shrug to myself and play a song. I listen to the song as it plays and I suddenly just look off in the distance, not even sure about what I am looking for. I then go back to what happened to me so long ago.

Sounds of fighting are faintly heard through a cavern that is riddled with different cages and locked cells. Lanterns are barely lit along the walls as two griffons suddenly appear from a side passage. They are dragging a strange being between them.

“Why should we even carry this thing with us, the ones who brought him with them instead of making us doing it.” The one on the right said to his partner.

“Heh, hell if I know. I mean did you see how scared this one was when he was brought in? HA, it was hilarious.” Then they hear cheering coming from behind them.

“Looks like another fight has been won.” Then the one on the right looks down “Do you think this one can even fight?”

“I don’t think he will last very long, anyway here is his cell for now.” They both stop at the very back of the cavern and open the door.

They bring the him towards the back wall and chain him up and just let him drop to the floor. They then leave the room and the being just is sitting there with a thousand yard stare looking at nothing. Dirt and grim coat his armor and he is slightly shaking.

‘Where am I? What is this place? What is going to happen to me now?’ he says to himself after a while, almost like a chant over and over again. After a while the door opens, but he doesn’t move.

“Get up.” A gruff, but rich voice says to the being. He doesn’t even acknowledge the one who has entered his cell. “I said, GET UP!!” The voice the demands, but again the being does nothing.

“Fine, this will get him up.” The one who entered then snaps his talons and one if the griffins with him goes towards the being with a rod of iron with a heated tip and pushes it against the beings side. The being the yells out in pain as it is held there for a few more seconds before the rod is moved away.

“Good, now get up.” The being then stands up and looks at the two griffins. One is dressed in black armor from head to toe. The other is dressed in fine robes and has a crown upon his head.

“Now tell me, what is your name?”

“... Gregar…” The being, now known as Gregar, slowly says.

The one in robes then smirks “Good you can listen to orders, with a little bit of discipline I see. Now do you know who I am? Oh who am I kidding, of course you don’t know who I am. My name is Razor Beak, the current king of the Griffin Empire. Here is what I want to happen with you, you will become one of my many gladiators and fight for the right to not only survive, but for freedom as well. You will need to earn your freedom, but that will only happen if you win your fights. Because if you do not… well your freedom will be taken from you.”

Gregar just glares at the king, before said king snaps his talons as his face becomes blank. This time rod is then against Gregar’s side again, only it is getting pushed against his side. Gregar yells out once again as the burning pain is stronger. It is held there for a full minute before it is taken away and Gregar’s vision becomes edged with black.

“Do you understand now?” The king demanded and Gregar barely nods his head. The king smirked once more. “Good, now your fight will begin in an hour I hope you will be prepared then.” The king and his enforcer then leave, leaving Gregar all alone once again in his cell.

His mind is racing with questions, but the most noticeable one is ‘Can I ever return home?’

Time moves on and every now and again he hears cheering and booing from somewhere.

‘What is… I wonder if those fights are going to be to the death?’ Gregar just asked himself, before the door then opened and two enforcers enter. They both unchain him and they drag him up on his feet. Even though he is keeping up with them, they still have a hold on him. They eventually reach an opening with a gate in front of it.

“Stay here.” One of the enforcers tell him.

Gregar just stays put as they leave. Soon he hears an announcer but he just ignores it. Soon he hears cheering coming from outside and he wonders who just came outside. Soon his gate opens and he has to cover his eyes as sunlight comes through. He walks through and he hears nothing, then his eyes adjust and he sees what looks like a minotaur on the opposite end of an arena.

‘Well it looks to be smaller than that one in Rome, maybe fifty feet across or so.’ he says to himself as his opponent readies his weapon, which looks like a broadsword. The minotaur then begins to slowly move forward as a bell is sounded. Gregar just raises his hands and balls them into fists.

‘What am I even doing?’ His body then begins to move on its own, against his wishes.’What is going on?!’

The minotaur then rushes him and Gregar takes a hit as sparks fly from the hit. Gregar stumbles back as the Minotaur continues hitting him with the sword.

‘Use Sword battlechip.’ Gregar hears this and he immediately pushes the minotaur back and has a sword appear on his right arm. His opponent looks on in shock before steeling himself and uses different tactics. He goes in for a slash on the right side which Gregar holds his blade in a defensive stance only for him to get hit on his left leg. The minotaur then kicks him away and he hits the wall. Gregar then drops the sword battlechip and runs away. He hears booing coming from the stands as he looks around. He sees not only Griffons, but Ponies and fellow Minotaurs. He starts to hyperventilate before he gets hit by the flat of the blade on the back of his head.

‘W-What is happening?’

‘Let me take over… I will fight and you will live.’ Gregar hears a different voice from before, this one sounded deeper, and more menacing. Gregar then turns around and sees the Minotaur rushing him and his eyes go wide as he switches to his buster and fires at the minotaur, hitting him in the leg.

“W-What is going on!?”

He then hears his opponent speak to him “That was a cheap shot, rookie. Besides don’t you see, these are battles to the death here. But before we are killed that bastard up in the box has the final say if we live or die.” The minotaur then points to where Razor Beak is. “Now, prepare yourself and fight like you mean it.”

Gregar can only back away as he holds his head in his hands. His eyes are getting misty as he realizes what is going on.

‘N-No this… I won’t kill, THIS IS INSANE! All I wanted was just to go hang out with some friends at a convention, not be taken to a death pit.’ Gregar nearly passes out, before he hears that deep voice once again.

‘You will not die if you let me take over.’

‘I don’t care, I DON’T WANT TO DIE!’

He then hears the voice began to chuckle, which sounded menacing. ‘So be it, time to let the blood flow.’

Gregar’s mind goes blank as his arms fall to his sides. He registers all that is happening around him as he notices his opponent rushes him as best as he could. When the blade comes down, he catches the blade and breaks it. He then looks at his opponent and he sees fear in the minotaurs eyes. Gregar then has his blades come out and cut him on the legs and lets the minotaur fall.

“What are y-you?”

Gregar then goes to kill him before he hears a voice call out.

“Stop.” A simple command that holds power behind it.

Gregar looks to where the voice came from and sees the king standing and looking down upon the scene with a blank look. The king looks around at the attendants and holds his arms out.

“What do you all think should happen, shall this fighter's life be taken by our new contestant, or shall he live with this shame?!”

The crowd calls for the fighters death, which makes the king smile with malevolent glee.

He then looks down and simply says, “Kill him.”

Gregar then looks back down and grabs him by the head and forces him to stand up.

“You wish to know what I am?” He then leans forward till his glowing yellow eyes are the only thing the minotaur sees. “I am the one who will kill everything and recreate this world in my image.” Then the minotaur sees an afterimage of a towering lion like figure behind the Gregar. “I am the ultimate Cybeast.” Then the image roars out and the Minotaur screams in horror as his head is then crushed. Gregar lets the body drop as bits of brain matter and gore is stuck to his hand. He then looks towards the king.

“Bring the next fool to fight me.” He announces, much to the pleasure of the king.

Over the time of a week, Gregar has killed over fifty fighters and let over hundreds of them live. Now he is sitting in his cell chained at the feet as the king is about to leave.

“Whatever happens to him, don’t worry he will be fine. I know of that.” The king says as he looks behind himself and sees Gregar doesn’t even register it. “Also, make sure that he hangs with swords in his arms when he disobeys me again.” The king then leaves and the door is shut.

Gregar can only look upon his hands as images of all those he has killed enter his mind. He then puts his hands on either side of his head as the screams once again enter his mind.

‘Shut up, shut up, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!’ He yells in his mind. Trying, and failing, of silencing them. He hears them say over and over of him being called a monster, a beast, and a heartless killer. He remembers that while he know he killed them, he wasn’t in control of his own body when he killed them. Like an ancient being was the one behind it, as he could somewhat tell from the voice.

He then brings his right hand away and wills it to change to his buster.

“Just like Megaman.” He looks it over before bringing it to his head.

“This will stop the voices. Then I can finally leave this place for good.” He charges it and then-

“GREGAR STOP!!” I quickly look to my right to see Nightmare pushing my buster away from my head as it was about to fire. I then look Nightmare in the eyes and see her crying as her eyes are bloodshot. My own eyes widen as I realise what I was about to do. I then drop out of Beast Out and just sit there looking at Nightmare. I then look away, I don’t want her to see the pain. But of course that does nothing as she then kneels in front of me and brings one of her hands to move me back to face her.

“Gregar, why were you about to do that?” She asked me in a breaking voice as tears are still falling from her eyes.

I can’t bear to answer her, but I know she won’t take silence as an answer. I close my eyes and let out a shuddering breath.

“Nightmare, I got lost in the past and I was reliving my first week here in Equestria.” I then look her in the eyes as I feel my own tears. “I felt all that pain once again, I never was supposed to live this long. A human was never supposed to live this long, it’s not natural.” I then feel the tears fall. “I know you can imagine what this is like because of what you did, but I never wanted this. I know you don’t want to hear me say this but-” I stop as she brings me forward and rests my head on her chest. I then feel her arms and wings wrap around me as she rests her head atop mine.

“I know, Gregar, I know. I know full well of all the pain you went through, both physical and mental. I just want you to not do something like this without me around.” I close my eyes at what she says. “Please don’t say anything else for now, just let it out, ok?” I then just simply follow her advice and I begin to cry.

I don’t know how long I was there for, but it felt like hours. Me just sitting there in her embrace, while she just lets it happen knowing she will always be there for me no matter what happens. I feel like I don’t deserve a mare like her at all, but I know what she will say to that. She will call me stupid for thinking like that. I then open my eyes as I feel I have a smile on my face. I then move around in her embrace and I stare into her eyes. Her eyes are bloodshot, but she has a smile on her face as well. I don’t need to say anything, and she doesn’t either. I then move forward and just rest my forehead against hers as I close my eyes. She tightens her embrace on me as I do the same. I can feel the love she has for me just from this and I can basically hear her say she loves me.

Minutes later I open my eyes and end the embrace. As we stand up I just hold her hand.

“Thank you.” I say the first words in what feels like hours.

“Always.” she just replys to me.

We then walk back towards the castle as I reflect all that happened just now. I sigh after a bit and she just leans closer to me. I take my hand from hers and wrap it around her.

“Gregar, there is something I need to say.”

“Oh? What is it?” I look at her as she takes a deep breath and looks me in the eyes with a hint of a smile.

“I think it is time to have that one talk with Celestia now.”

I simply raise an eyebrow in response. “Are you sure about that?” I just want to make sure she is absolutely sure about this.

“Yes, I have had more than enough time to think about it now.”

“Want me to go get her then.”

“Yes please, I will see you in our room then.” She then hugs me one more time as we stop and then leaves. I let out a sigh as I go and find Celestia. As I walk my mind wanders, well I seem to that a lot anyway.

‘Well this will be a very interesting conversation we will have then. Heh, hell I don’t even know what Nightmare will say to her.’ I then sigh again. ‘I just hope at the end of this she and Celestia can finally be rid of the hatred between them. Only one way to find out now then.’

I then ask around where Celestia is at the moment and find out she is in the training area for the guards with Fireman. As I walk there I hear the sounds of fighting going on and when I get there I see Celestia doing some hand to hand practice with Fireman, well hand to buster I guess since Fireman doesn’t really have hands.

I just simply lean against the door and watch how the fight goes on. I can also tell Celestia has gotten leaner, I think is the right term to use but whatever. Eventually Fireman uses his flamethrower and it hits Celestia, but all she does is run through it and when she gets to Fireman she just grabs his arm and swings him around and launches him towards the back wall. I notice that Celestia didn’t even get burned nor her clothes either. I then hear Fireman groan.

“Ok, I can safely say that is enough for today.”

“Sorry about that.” Celestia says a little sheepishly as Fireman leaves in a glow of blue light.

“So, what exactly are you doing with Fireman?” I ask and Celestia squeaks in surprise as her wings flare out. I then laugh at how funny she looks at the moment. I then notice a flash of light and she is back into a dress instead of her training gear.

“Not funny, jerk.” She grumbles to me, with a noticeable red tint to her cheeks. She then sighs and asks. “So what, are you going to be training with me now or something else?”

“Something else, so come with me.” I then turn around as Celestia then walks next to me. Minutes go by in silence as I have my hands in my pockets and the only thing on my mind at the moment is how I nearly committed suicide once again with Nightmare around. The first time this happened was within the first year we were married, she caught me as I was about to fire off my buster. I remember the guards rushed into our room wondering if an attack had happened. Nightmare told them it was fine and after they left I saw she was panicking. I then told her why I did that.

“So where exactly are we going?” Celestia soon asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“To have a talk with Nightmare.” I say without looking in her direction.

“Oh.” Is all I hear in response, I then see out of the corner of my eye that she is holding her right arm with her left and has a crestfallen look on her face before it she closes her eyes and breathes out and then has a neutral look on her face. Well that answers my question to how she feels right now.

“So why didn’t your clothes get burned?” I ask to change the subject.

“Ah, well I just used a little bit of magic. I do that for all the clothes I get, makes it easier than having to get new ones every time I get burned or something.” She replies to me, considering she is naturally resilient to anything dealing with fire. While Nightmare is the same except with the cold, I mean she only dresses up in winter gear so she doesn’t get look thrown her way. I mean she could be in the middle of a blizzard and she could wear a tank top and shorts like it's the middle of summer. While Luna can breathe in the vacuum of space, don’t ask I don’t like remembering that time.

“Well I admit that does make it easier, but do you have to do it for all your clothes?”

“Not really, but it became a habit of mine to do so.”

“I see.” Soon enough we were in front of mine and Nightmare’s room. “Well no need to wait any longer.” I then opened the door and let Celestia go first.

What I see when I enter the room is Nightmare casually sitting on a couch while drinking some tea. She looks in our direction and motions for Celestia to sit in the chair. I go and sit next to Nightmare while I see Celestia having that neutral look once again. Nightmare then sighs before she begins.

“I think you know why I called you here, correct?” Celestia nods. “Good, so there is the major object of our talk and that is regarding the fact that you told Gregar here you still had an affection for him, even after he married me and he told us his thoughts on regarding multiple partners.” Nightmare ended that statement with a glare that got Celestia to fidget in her seat.

“That would be right to say so.” Celestia meekly said back.

Nightmare let out a heavy breath. “Well we are on the same page. Now explain to me, fully, why you would want to be in a relationship with him.” Nightmare said in an even tone. I then see that Celestia is rubbing her arms at being put on the spot right away.

“I have feelings for him because that he is always there for us, no matter the issue. He almost always knows what to say to make us feel better, even if it is a joke he says. He is also the one who can be both kind and firm in what he does, even though what he does may not always be the right thing to do.” I have a distinct feeling I know what she said by that. “It is true that at first I thought about nothing but teasing you about being in a relationship with him, but as time went on I found out that what I did wasn’t right. It was after you two got married that I realised how lonely I was, without one to call my own lover. That fact came about more as time went on after your banishment by my own hands.” Celestia is then staring at her hand, lost in her own world right now, just telling us all that she seems to want to say. “I tried time and again to see if I could be in a relationship, to see how it would work out. In the end, it didn’t even matter.”

I then see tears fall from her face, while her face is covered with her mane, I see a sad smile touch her lips.

“Because whenever I saw a couple on the streets of Canterlot or anywhere across Equestria, it would always remind me of the two of you. It showed me how happy the two of you were, something I never truly had but what I wanted to have. And when you returned I thought I could make it up to you, do anything to become a sister I should’ve been. Nothing came up and I was at a loss of what to do. I hadn’t even realised how much hatred you had for me still. Time just stopped in that moment when you came back, I was just so happy I just-” She pauses as she takes a deep breath, still not looking at the two of us. “I just wanted to be there for you no matter what. Then Gregar came back as well. I didn’t even know that he had memory loss either, until he didn’t recognize me, or that he barely knew you, Nightmare. But then one month later, he came back to us.” She then let out a small chuckle.

“And then he began our training once again. I then got the idea of being in a relationship with him as we were training that day, but it didn’t come fully into my mind until later. I remembered how gentle he was with us, always made time for us, something I never did after he was gone. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, disregarding what you would have said to me, even if it meant you would’ve hated me even more. But then I couldn’t hold it any longer, I told him that I wanted to be in a relationship not only with him, but with you as well. Hoping that with it, the anger you held for me would disappear. I just want you to happy once again,” She then looks at us both, with tears falling down her face all the while with a smile. “I wanted you both to be happy once again. So even if you say no to me being in a relationship I will understand, just promise me that you will be rid of your animosity towards no matter what it is you need to do.”

I just stare at Celestia as she finishes that statement. I look in her eyes, I see clearly she means every word she said. She really will take any punishment that Nightmare deems worthy. I then look at Nightmare and see she has a blank look. She then looks at me and I just simply nod my head in her direction, saying it is your decision.

Nightmare then stands up and begins pacing in front of the couch.

“So just to be sure I am clear on this, you would accept any punishment that I deem worthy, correct?” Celestia nods, then Nightmare continues. “And if I said no, you wouldn’t pursue a relationship with Gregar anymore, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I see.” Nightmare then closes her eyes, and has her back towards Celestia. She is like for a about five minutes, and Celestia was getting more and more worried by the second. I just calmly look at her, waiting to hear what she would say.

Then Nightmare spoke.

“You do know that back then I trusted you, completely as a sister before that incident with Sombra. I had faith that you would know what to do, had a plan for anything. But yet when I heard your plan for when Sombra used a dark chip on Gregar, you had nothing, save for using the elements.” Then Nightmare turns around with a look of pure anger directed at Celestia. Celestia barely flinches back, but holds her arms close to her. “You took him away from me, disregarding how I FELT AT THAT BETRAYAL! YOU TOOK AWAY MY HAPPINESS THAT DAY! But yet, you have strived to do anything to see me happy. I appreciate that.” Then the look of anger she had is replaced by once again a blank look.

“I understand the need to feel something you have never felt before or wish to feel again.” She then smirks and Celestia closes her eyes. “So, Celestia, here is what I wish to say to you.” Nightmare then walks to Celestia and stops in front of her.

Nightmare then places a hand on her shoulder. “Celestia, look at me in the eye.” Celestia then takes a deep breath, and she then opens her eyes. From where I am sitting I see a small smile come across Nightmare’s face.

“Celestia, I am fine with you seeking a relationship with Gregar. I know all of what you have done to make up for what you did. Luna told me all of what you did, and she even said that this might be a good idea. So don’t mess this up, alright? I am only giving you this one chance to not fuck up.” She then gets up and sits down by me once again, all the while Celestia has a look of pure astonishment. Nightmare covers her mouth to stop herself from giggling as Celestia opens and closes her mouth several times, trying and failing at coming up with something to say.

“Well I know this will take some time before it fully registers, but I want you to know something.” Nightmare then stands up, motioning for me to follow. “You are not alone anymore Celestia, remember that.”

We then leave our room, and before the door is shut we see a flash telling us that Celestia has teleported. I then look at Nightmare as we walk down the halls.

“You knew what you were going to say to her the entire time, didn’t you?”

“Who me? Never.” She told me in false ignorance, before having a big smile on her face. “Of course I knew the answer I wanted to give, I just wanted to her what she had to say, and what I had to say to her. She has suffered much, that is for sure. It is time she had her own happiness.” She then looks at me with a sly smile. “I just hope you can handle two mares.”

I give her a smirk in response “We shall see about that.”

Celestia is sitting there in her room as she lowers the sun, ready to turn in for the day. BUt that is not what is on her mind right now. What is on her mind is what Nightmare Moon has told her. She keeps telling herself she is dreaming, yet what she heard was to genuine to be false. As it keeps rolling around in her mind, she begins to realise what she now has. A chance to have the same happiness that Nightmare has. A happy smile crosses her face as tears once again roll down her cheeks, but not of sadness, of happiness.

“Thank you, Nightmare. Thank you so much.”