First Big Macintosh had been grabbed, but soon Twilight and Flash had been tied up in the plunder vines as well. The three hung in the air as the trees began to move aside.

Stepping forward, covered in vine-like clothing, was a yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane. Her eyelids had blues lines going down to her chin. Twilight's eyes widened. It was Fluttershy. She spoke in a soft and sweet tone as she walked to Big Macintosh. “Why hello, Big Macintosh.” She lifted her hand and grabbed his face.

The big guy snorted. “Look, Fluttershy, we’re not here to pick a fight. Where is SS?”

“Oh, you mean that draconequus? I had him put in our dungeon, which is where you will go, too.” She reached into his armor to what he always had hidden. “Oh, you still have it in the obvious spot.” She pulled out a locket. “I’ll be keeping a hold of this.” His eyes widened as he tried to reach for it. She turned away from them, taking a few steps. “Besides, it used to have me in it.” She popped it open, then her voice turned ice cold. “Nevermind, you can have it back.” She closed it and had one of the plunder vines place it back in his armor. “Like it matters anyway. I found myself a better stallion.”

Twilight was understandably confused to what was going on. But before she could even ask what was going on between Big Macintosh and Fluttershy, she saw Fluttershy snap her fingers and out the trees landed a big, overly muscular white pegasus wearing a toga. It was Bulk Biceps. “Bulk, be a lovely husband and take Flash and Twilight to go meet with our leader.” Her kind and soft voice was back. At the same time, Twilight’s eyes were as wide as ever to find out that Fluttershy was married, and to this big guy. “Meanwhile, I’ll make sure that my ex here gets to the dungeon as painfully as possible.”

******

Twilight and Flash were taken through the forest, Bulk Biceps carrying them on his big shoulders. It seemed that he was taking them to the center. They soon came upon a small village. There Twilight could see several ninjas taking off their hoods, revealing that they were, in fact, the citizens of Ponyville. In the grouping, she could see the Cake family, as well as Mayor Mare and several others.

He took them through the village until they came upon the still in ruins Castle of the Two Sisters. At first, she assumed that the leader must be living there, but instead, Bulk Biceps carried them downward towards the path that led to the Tree of Harmony. They entered the cave that led to it.

Twilight’s eyes widened as they came upon it. The Tree of Harmony was…. Dead. And by the look of it, it had been dead awhile. But that was not was sent a chill up her spine even more. The dead tree was being used as a throne for the leader of the Forest Rebels. Sitting on the throne was Tirek.

“Twilight Sparkle, and Flash Sentry.” he lifted his hand. “Give me one good reason, why you are here?”

“We are here for Discord.”

He laughed. “The draconequus? He is no use to you. Have you a better reason?”

She snorted in annoyance. “No.”

“Fine. In a way you are lucky that you use those kinds of magic, I can’t absorb. Bulk, take anything items they have on them. Then take them by the ‘site’, and then finally take them to the dungeon.”

“Yes, my King.”

“King?” Twilight looked in annoyance as she finally saw the crown on his head. “How can you possibly be a king?” Bulk Biceps took her and Flash away as she kept calling out for answers, but to no avail.

******

Twilight and Flash were taken through the castle. They went through a long hallway that looked all too familiar to her. She soon recognized it from the first nightmare that Nightmare Moon had given her.

They soon came up to the room she saw before. She looked to see blood still staining the floor. “I’m sure being here brings back painful, memories Twilight,” said Bulk. She looked in confusion until she saw the sorrow on Flash’s face. That’s when it finally hit her, like a slap to the face. This is where it happened. This was where Celestia had been executed. Seeing the look on his face, she realized he was there when it had happened.

They were taken down to the dungeon. There they saw Discord in chains and Big Macintosh covered in bruises. They were placed in two separate cells. The device that the Doctor had made along with their weapons were taken away. Flash tried to grab the device from Bulk, but he knocked him down. Twilight sat down. The doors to the cell were closed as an all too familiar feeling set on all their minds. She looked to Discord who seemed annoyed.

“So what happen to Big Mac?” she asked Discord.

He looked at her, then at Big Macintosh. “Oh, he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay, how are you doing then?”

“Pitiful,” he answered in annoyance.

“Don’t worry Discord. We will get you out of here.” A smile crept onto her face, “Or should I say, Starswirl,” His eyes widened. “The Bearded.”

“When did you figure it out?”

She smiled grew even bigger, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I was right!” She jumped for joy. She kept jumping until Discord reached into her cell and pull her back to the ground.

“Well, are you going to tell how you figure it out?”

“Well, when somepony gives a mare like me access to a massive historical library, she tends to read….. All of it.”

“You read that entire library in one year?”

“Please. Try one month,” she gloated. She saw a cheerful smirk on his face. “I mean the clues were right in front of me. A wizard obsessed with chaos-based magic. His initials being SS. You wouldn’t believe my shock when I found out I was reading about my favorite, all-time wizard. Or that that wizard turned out to be you.”

The two continued to talk, not even noticing what was going on outside, but Flash noticed it and he put his guard up.

“Time out.”

All of time itself stopped. The entirety of time stopped. “Full reverse.” Suddenly the form of the door began to change as the door’s timeline was being reversed. Soon the door was gone. A strange figure covered in pure light entered the room. He was completely unrecognizable to any form of any creature in all of creation. He walked closer to the cell that Flash was in. He waved his hand over the cell, and spoke “Full reverse.” The cell's door was soon gone the same way the other door was gone.

This figure had total manipulation of time. He leaned down and grabbed Flash’s arm. “Time out.”

Suddenly Flash could move. He stood up and looked around. He soon figured out what was going on. He turned toward the figure. “Realta, will you turn off that light? You know very well it’s impossible to look directly at you in that form.”

“Fine then. So be it, Flash.” His form changed and soon he took the form of a gray unicorn with a long black and white mane. His eyes were a dark grayish purple. He stood there in front of Flash. He was literally naked except for the green and blue cape on his back. Though there was no ‘features’ at all down below.

“Seriously, sometimes I wonder why the Demigod of Light and Time always chooses the form of a naked unicorn.”

“Would you rather me look anatomically correct?” he questioned.

“No, no, no.” Flash waved his arms about. “It’s perfectly fine.”

“Alright then. Shall we get to business? I assume Cult Race told you I was coming.”

“Yeah, he told me. He also broke my arm before doing so. But he didn’t tell me why you would be here.”

“That is good. Because dangers like this would be hard for him to care about.”

“And the dangers are what?” He looked curiously at Realta. For a second he thought he saw fear in his eyes.

Realta turned away. “Believe.” Flash looked in confusion at his words. “Nightmare believes she has unlocked the power to become a full fledge goddess.”

“That's not possible.”

“Exactly. But she believes she has. And in that believe she has new power. Power that maybe too strong to stop.”

“What do you mean?”

“She has found a way to unlock their true potential and this has filled her with the false belief that she can become a full fledge goddess. You must figure out a way to stop her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That's all I have to tell you. But you must also tell Twilight what happened here.”

Flash’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

“No, you misunderstand me. I mean you need to tell her what happen with the Princess.”

Flash’s eyes widened more. “Oh, no. I will not.”

“You have to. It is what is meant to happen here. Time can’t be changed.” Suddenly his voice began to rush.

“Time, time, you changed time plenty of…..times.” He got annoyed by Realta’s sudden rush to leave.

“Yes, only when it is needed.” He let go of Flash’s hand as Flash once again froze with the rest of time. He walked out of the cell then waved his hand over where the cell’s door originally was and said, “Full forward.” The cell’s door returned back to it shape and form. He walked out of the room and turned to where the door was for the room. He waved his hand over it and completed the same spell. Afterward he left the castle and went into the forest. Once he was out of sight, he returned to his true form. He turned to the castle. “Time in.”

Time resumed and he took his leave, but not before being stopped by a voice. “And where do you think you're going, brother?”

******

Meanwhile back in the castle, Twilight continued to talk to Discord. Flash stood there a few moments. He wondered if he should listen to Realta. The memories of that day were not the best, but the truth had to be told.

“Twilight,” he interrupted them. “It’s time.”

“What do you mean?”

Discord’s eyes widened. “Wait, he was just here, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Flash answered. Twilight looked in confusion. Who were they talking about? Who was just here?

“Twilight, it’s time you heard some truth.

<Flashback>

It was six years ago. A general was looking through his forty-four, new soldiers. The soldiers ranged in ages from old to extremely young. He was looking for the best of the best. The general was a white unicorn with a blue mane. He wore ice-like armor, wielded a longsword and a massive shield. It was General Dark Armor.

“Soldiers, you have been gathered here to find who is worthy enough to protect her.”

The soldiers looked understandably confused. Just who were they meant to protect? They were all curious, but at the same time, they knew not to question their General. Unfortunately, one in the front did not know and asked, “Just who are we protecting?”

Suddenly all the soldiers but that one took a step back. The soldier looked in confusion, but before he could even figure out what he did wrong, Dark Armor walked over. “You're right I should have told you.” he placed his hand on his shoulder. His hand was cold to the touch. “You are,” suddenly the soldier’s shoulder began to get colder and colder. He started to wail in pain as it got colder. “Useless pieces of ice.” Soon ice began to form on his shoulders. The ice move across his body. Eventually, his entire body was covered.

Dark Armor took the hilt of his longsword and bashed it into the soldier’s frozen body. The body shattered like glass. “Well, that’s one down. Good, now I know which ones don't question orders.” He stepped forward to the rest of the group. “Now, you all will be put through a series of tests to find out who is worthy enough to protect her.”

“This order comes down from Father himself. The one chosen will protect his prized daughter. Twilight Sparkle. Now, let the tests begin.” After he was finished, he walked over and sat down on a chair next to his wife. She was a pink pegasus with a long pink, purple and yellow mane. She wore a luxuriously long, blade-like pink and light purple dress. It was Duchess Cadenza.

She wrapped one arm around his. Meanwhile, the one orchestrating the tests walked up. He was a purple batpony colt with a green mane. He a wore long slim buttoned-up velvet red-violet coat and dark green pants. He also wore tech gauntlets. They looked upon him curiously. Just how could this be their instructor? He looked no older than twelve. Of course, there were a few of the soldiers who as young as him, but it was not wise to doubt this child. This was Prince Nexus Star. He was the second eldest of the heirs to the throne. He had been raised directly under Father since he was a baby. And even though he was still a colt, his voice spoke with ferocity and malice.

“Soldiers! As you know I am Prince Nexus Star, the Grand Master of teleportation. I will be testing your speed as well as your endurance.” He lifted his hands, “As you can see these are my mark-1 gauntlets. They amplify my strength ten fold. Plus they also have these small reflective mirrors on them that condense my dark magic into beams. I call them lasers, They have two settings. Teleport and diatomize. In other words, I can send the enemy away or straight up kill them. Your tests are to dodge all attacks. The tests will last until there are only four left. The remaining four will go on to the final test which is a direct battle against our General.”

They seemed to understand it pretty well, though understanding and getting through it were two totally different things. “Now, I’ll be setting the gauntlets to teleport. However, with them on teleport doesn't mean you can let your guard down. Any that leave will not be going onward.”

He activated his gauntlets. “Now, let’s begin.”

He started shooting right away and quickly the forty-three scattered. They ran through the somewhat small arena. They tried their best to dodge and keep moving. The Prince seem to target the slowest ones first. Soon they were down to thirty-two.

It was too impossible for some to keep dodging forever. Plus there literally nowhere to hide as the arena was barren of anything that could hide behind. Time went on for what seem like hours.

The number soon went down to twenty-four, when without warning he stopped. Some of the soldiers took this moment to take a breath. But that breath only lasted a second as without any warning at all, a loud bang could heard as a soldier's head was shot clean off. “Did I say, it was time to rest? Oh sure the first test is over but did you happen to hear my words. I said ‘tests', meaning more than one.” Suddenly another bang could be heard as another soldier’s head was shot off. “I won’t be the only one attacking for this part. The ones up on the balcony will be shooting to kill.”

The soldiers started moving again. Meanwhile, the prince lifted his hand up to a communicator in his ear, turning it on. He contacted the two shooters on the balcony while lifting his gauntlets back up to firing beams. On the balcony were a white unicorn colt and a light yellow unicorn filly. They both had red manes and wore camouflage clothing. They were wielding strange looking, thin cannons. “So how are the long barrel rifles handling, Moonchaser.”

The white unicorn answered. “They have good shock absorption to them, however, the sights are slightly off. Don’t worry, I’m compensating for it.”

“Okay, I might need to calibrate them a little more when this is over. My lasers are a little off too on sight as well. How is your lovely sister doing?”

Moonchaser looked slightly over to the filly beside him. “Oh, Moondancer is doing fine. Though this is her first time killing.” He then looked back into his scope and shot down another soldier.

“Make sure she doesn’t hesitate. Father was very adamant on finding reasons why I chose her to be my future wife.” He continued to fire his beams while talking to his friend. “He already had problems with yours and her bloodline descending from that insidious Cult of Light.”

“Don’t worry, I was able to prove myself in his dangerous eyes. I’m sure she can, too.”

Soon the bodies were dropping fast as it came down to just twelve. These twelve were being stubborn. The tests had been going for ten full hours now. Dark Armor and Duchess Cadenza were eating their dinner while the soldiers continued to dodge attacks. They all were doing well. Dark Armor took notice to how many were left - in particular, a yellow pegasus colt with a blue mane wearing weak armor. Though it was weak meant nothing since one single hit meant a loss. This pegasus colt was fast and seemed determined to win.

“I think we may already have a winner,” he whispered to his beloved.

“Oh? Which one?”

“The yellow pegasus with the blue mane.”

“Oh,” she looked to who he was talking about. “Oh, he’s a cute little guy.”

“Hmm, should I be jealous?”

“Of course not. My eyes are only for my cold, dark and handsome.”

“Oh you,” he laughed.

Suddenly they were all interrupted by a voice could be heard. “Oh listening to you two is boring.”

Instantly Dark Armor put up his guard as landing out the sky was a deadly assassin. “Hey Jack, you mind if I take over,” he said. Prince Nexus Star got annoyed that the assassin called him by his first name, but he saw no reason to argue with the Killer of Millions, Cult Race.

“No, I don’t mind Cult Race. Just make sure there at least four left.”

“Good, because Father will soon be arriving with your sister, and he sent me ahead to make sure this part was ready.” He stepped into the center of the arena. He pulled back his tall collar steampunk trench coat and reveal several bone knives. “Hmm, let’s see,” as he checked for which knives to choose. He looked around, his eyes falling upon the yellow pegasus. ‘Hmm, so that's the one Realta is watching over. Better make sure that one lives,’ he thought. He soon stopped and didn’t grab any knives out. “On second thought I’ll use what’s around me.”

“Okay folks, as you I’m the Killer Of Millions. So new test. With Father on his way here, I decided that instead of dodging attacks, how about you send a few? I will let four live. Maybe,” he fakely joked. “However, the rest I will kill. And let's make things easier on you all. I will use absolutely no magic.” He took a stance and a breath. “Now, shall we begin?”

One of the soldiers charged right at him. Meanwhile, the others were in confusion. Just what could he use around him? There was nothing at all anywhere. The arena was empty. Or at least that’s what they thought. The soldier’s punch made direct contact, hitting Cult Race right in the chest. He didn’t flinch. “What? That’s it? This is almost as boring as watching you all dodge.”

Cult Race grabbed the soldier’s hand and twisted it. The soldier wailed in pain, but the twisting wouldn’t stop. He kept twisting the hand until several snaps could be heard. First, the soldier’s shoulder broke from the force of the twisting. Then his elbow and finally his wrist. But Cult Race didn’t stop. He kept twisting until the hand was ripped off the arm up to the wrist. The soldier fell back as he held up his handless arm.

Cult Race just fakely smiled. “Thanks for the weapon.” He took the soldier’s hand and shoved it straight through his eye sockets into his brain. The soldier fell to the ground, dead. The others soon realized what he meant by using what was around him. He meant them. Two others charged forward. He stepped forward and turned around. He stepped on to the dead soldier placing one foot on the body’s back and grabbed the other arm and pulled on it just right to rip the entirety including the shoulder blade from the flesh. Using the arm like an axe, he swung back and took the head off of the nearest one. The head flew into the air with its mouth wide open. He backflipped into the air and kicked the head and open mouth right at the other one’s throat. He landed as the two bodies dropped to the ground.

The others shook in terror at what they saw. He didn’t move fast at all. All he used was killer instinct. He stood there in annoyance. “Well? Who's next?” They all charged towards him.

Dark Armor and Duchess Cadenza soon lost their appetite upon seeing the body parts flying through the arena. Cult Race sort of got ahead over himself and before they could stop him, there was only two left. The yellow pegasus colt and a green batpony colt.

“Dang it, Cult Race, you were suppose to leave four, not two!” Dark Armor argued.

“Well, I could have easily killed them all.”

“So you pull back at just two?”

“No, I pulled back because Father is here.” He lifted his head into the air and looked up. Dark Armor heard his words and looked to see Father in the sky above them. They all quickly bowed as he landed from the sky. As he did a lavender filly landed beside him. She had a navy blue mane. She wore a blue dress and had the blood red katana still in its sheath. She quickly ran to Dark Armor.

“Shining, Shining.”

“Please, it’s Dark Armor now. Remember?” He looked up to her. His eyes widened. “Twilight, you have wings.”

She looked to her wings. “Yeah, they were a birthday present from Mother. Aren’t they incredible?”

“Yes, they are.” Duchess Cadenza looked up as she spoke. “They’re quite lovely.”

“Thank you, Cadence.

While they were talking, Father walked up to the two remaining soldiers. “So you two are what is left.” He looked at them. They looked back at him. His eyes caught their sight. “Bow.”

Soon they felt as if space was being bent around them. It pulled at them. Pushing them down to the ground. They tried their best to fight it. It was so strong. “Hmm, I said BOW.”

Now the pull was too strong for them to fight. The first to fall was the batpony. As he fell, Father pulled out his scythe and sliced his head clean off. “Well, I think we found our winner.” He walked over to the yellow pegasus colt. “Tell me what is your name?”

“Flash Sentry.”

“Interesting, Sentry. I knew your father. You will do perfectly.” He looked back at Dark Armor. “Don’t you agree Dark Armor?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

Twilight ran over to the pegasus colt. “Hello, my name is Twilight. I guess you will be my guardian from now on. It’s nice to meet you.”

And that is how they met. What was to become of them was not yet know. But what was know, that no matter what they got into, he would watch over her? He was her guardian now.

******

Author's Notes:

Well we got a meeting with the demigod finally, as well as seeing Cult Race do what he does best. I'm sorry I know Cult Race is too powerful, the proofreader has told me that a few times. However he is not as powerful as you think.

But anyway, Flash and Alternate Twilight's backstory will continued in the next chapter. Oh and if you are wondering still about that unicorn that appeared in the previous chapter, I get to that eventually, just keep that in the back of you mind.

Side note, for the fans of the Flash Saga, that green batpony that Father killed was indeed Leod Quarts. Sorry, I had to put him somewhere.