Roam Royal Palace Dining Room Third Person P.O.V.

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Diann was sitting at the head of his table eating his breakfast when suddenly the main doors to the room opened causing Diann's eyes to shift to the door. Stepping into the room was a tall armored figure that walked with a bout of confidence. His armor looked like it was made of metal and skin and a cloak of shadows covered the figure's back and a hood concealed his face in black. Large metal spiked pauldrons covered his shoulders connected by a thick and wicked looking necklace. A string of skulls sat on the figure's hip, skulls that belonged to conquered kings.

"Ah Geralt, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Diann asked.

"I trust you've heard the news," Geralt said as he placed a newspaper on the table before the caribou king before he sat down. His voice was soft yet firm and would make women's hearts flutter just from hearing it.

Diann picked up the paper and began to read the front page, his eyes widening with every word he read.

ANOTHER ROYAL DEAD!

Yesterday at 12:00 pm the Harbingers of Devastation launched an all out attack on the Diamond Dog Kingdom of Biteton. Many caribou casualties were dumped on the outer side of their walls along with a few of their own kind, no doubt they were once dogs who accepted our king's law with open arms. The city had not seen this many bodies since the infection four years ago which was halted by none other then our shining god, Ash Blade. But the worst death among them was our beloved king Mercator who's body was publicly displayed above the walls gate and, adding salt to this horrific wound, the criminals who dare defy our lord king have made it seem like our lord is the one committing this deed. As seen in the picture below the only question that needs to be answered now is who can stop these monsters

Diann looked at the picture that showed a large statue of Ash Blade above a wall in full armor and his wings out spread behind him. One foot was forward, standing atop a large boulder while the other rested behind him. In the statue's right hand was a massive stone version of Ash Blade's sword while his left hand was outstretched in front of the statue. Diann's second youngest son was dangling by a noose that was wrapped around his neck and hanging from Ash's left hand which the statue was gripping from this angle. Diann could see the slash across Mercator's chest and that his horns were missing. Below the statue and written in blood were the words 'Come and See' informing all who was responsible for this. Suddenly the sound of something sliding across wood reached Diann's ears and when he looked he saw a parcel before him before he looked back up a Geralt.

"It arrived today," Geralt said.

Diann tossed the newspaper away, not caring where or how it landed, before he tore open the box. When he did he saw Mercator's horns were inside along with a note, so Diann took the note and opened it.

Two down five remain.

The Hand of The Reaper

Diann quickly stood up, knocking his chair over in the process before he swept his arm across the table in a yell of rage, knocking all of the food, utensils and crockery from it. Scattering them across the floor while Geralt just watched in silence.

"You know, holding onto all that stress ain't healthy. Perhaps you should get a massage, I hear those are nice," Geralt said calmly as he leaned back and put his feet on the table.

Suddenly the doors to the room burst open and a regal dressed caribou, probably an adviser, burst in out of breath.

"What is it?" Geralt asked

"My lords I come bearing grave news. I just received word that all the brainwashed males across the world have broken free from the crystal cock's power. When we tried radioing the Crystal Empire to ask about the problem, we were met with a mare's voice saying that the empire once more stands for love and peace. My lords apparently the Harbingers of Devastation have struck the Empire as well and have somehow succeed in restoring the crystal heart and have also taken Prince Blueblood and some officers captive. One of those officers is a general," the adviser said.

Silence filled the room for five seconds before Diann's left arm changed to appear more demonic.

"WWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTT!" Diann roared before he sent a blast of magic from his arm at the adviser leaving nothing behind to bury.

"See stress isn't healthy either for you or for your people," Geralt said calmly still.

"It's impossible! I cast one of the shards of that heart into the void myself, there's no way they could have recovered it," Diann said.

"Unless they had help. I did warn you using the power of the void like you have would have repercussions with the Outsider. Now he's aided your enemies to help end your empire," Geralt said.

"This cannot be allowed to go on. I swore I would bring all female's to heel after my 'wife' betrayed me and now those...Harbingers are ruining everything!" Diann shouted.

"Well fortunately I didn't come here bringing only bad news. Tell me are you familiar with the fallen Demonic Angel kingdom Aephoceria?" Geralt asked.

"Of course, who isn't familiar with that story these days but what are you getting at?" Diann asked.

"Well it took me some time but my troops and I have found this kingdom and it turns out that it's the Harbinger's Headquarters. It lies in the far west of Equestria in unexplored lands which is why no one has ever reported finding the kingdom," Geralt said.

"I want the bounty on those Harbinger's head's raised and I want an army at this kingdom's doorstep so that it can be crushed and when the battle is finished I want their heads hanging on my wall while their slutty rulers are sucking and begging my cock along with my whore wife," Diann ordered with fury dripping from his voice.

"No fear your majesty, I shall send a radio message to General Azur to take care of this," Geralt said before he vanished.

Diann stood still for a few moments staring at where Geralt once sat before he felt his shoulder flare up in pain.

"Perhaps I do need a massage," Diann said to himself.

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7:45 am Aephoceria Market

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Dust was flying over the kingdom's market just enjoying his morning flight but now he was looking for a perch to rest his wings. He then laded on a flag pole and looked around and suddenly heard cheering from down below. When Dusk looked he saw a row of wooden stocks and surrounding the stocks was a crowd of people. Dusk then flew down and onto an empty wagon and looked at the spectacle before him. In the stockade's were three caribou and one white unicorn stallion with a blond mane and tail. Their clothing was nothing but dirty rags covered with different stains and they all wore magic suppressor rings on their horns to stop them from using any magic. The stocks were so low to the ground the caribou and Blueblood were on there knees and next to the stocks was a sign saying.

These four individuals have brought great harm to Equestria. Satisfy your anger by tossing a vegetable or fruit at these rapist's and traitors. - Burning Rage Knight of Vengeance and Harbinger of War

Dusk then looked at the crowd and saw large buckets full of rotting fruit and veg and ponies were picking them up and throwing them at the caribou and Ex-prince Blueblood. Dusk then remembered the stallion from when his master was alive so the bird flew over to the stocks, landed on Blueblood's head and began to peck at his scalp causing laughter to echo amongst the crowd.

"Stop Laughing At Me You Useless Peons And Get This Filthy Bird Off Me, I Am Your King!" Blueblood shouted only for a tomato to splat in his face. Dust then jumped onto the tip of Blueblood's horn before taking a dump on Blueblood's muzzle before flying back over to the wagon, causing the disgraced prince to roar in fury while the crowds laughed harder. "Peasants, Your King Demands You Come And Clean His Muzzle and Unlock This Wretched Contraption."

"King eh well then all hail to the king," a mare said before she tossed an apple at the prince followed by more fruit and veg.

Dust then turned around and blew off but not before listening to Blueblood promise that when he get's free he will hunt down and murder each and every pony who had tossed something at him. Dusk flew back to the castle and entered through an open window leading into the dining room and rested above on Rage's chair.

"One Million Bits A Head!" Everyone shouted as they were all sitting at the dinning table almost knocking Dust from his perch.

"Apparently you four went and really kicked the hornets nest with what happened with Mercator and the news about the Crystal Empire hasn't even been mentioned yet. I dare say things are only gonna get much more complicated for you three from now on," Faust said as she gave the newspaper's a flick while simultaneously handing around the new wanted posters of the Harbingers.

"Did we really have to leave Mercator's body like that though?" Rarity asked.

"I'm with Rarity on that one, was it really necessary?" Elisa asked.

"I know what your thinking, the dead deserve respect, I know but let me ask you this, did those bastards show the same courtesy to Ash when they plundered his tomb and mutilated his body?" Rage asked.

"Good point," Elisa and Rarity said in sync.

"Regardless I doubt Diann is going to take this news lightly. He will be moving heaven and earth to find us now," Rage said.

"Agreed," Celestia said.

"Hey has anyone seen Nightmare Moon and Mum?" Pip asked as he wiped his mouth after taking a drink of orange juice.

Everyone tensed up at that question before they looked amongst themselves.

"I think they're sleeping in today Pip, they...had a lot of court work to finish up last night for some of the nobility," Chrysalis said.

"Well they better not sleep all day," Pip said with a smile before he got out of his chair and looked at his fellow crusaders. "C'mon guys."

And just like that the older foals left the room allowing the rest to let out a massive sigh.

*sigh* "I knew Bones and Nightmare were close but wow I never expected her to be so upset over what happened with Ash," Spike said.

"Spike it was more then that, Nightmare loved Bones," Cadence said.

"Loved!?" most of the stallions shouted.

"As in as a friend loved or loved like marefriend and...wraithfriend," Soarin asked.

"None of you noticed, I'm shocked," Rarity said.

"Well we barely spent any time with them, didn't think they were that close to each other," Thunder defended.

"Well it actually seemed more one way with Nightmare loving him," Cadence said.

"Not really my dear Cadence. You see after a *ahem* conversation with Elisa one night, I had a chat with Bones and asked him how he feels about giving up the heart," Faust said.

"And?" Cadence asked.

"He said and I quote 'my logic is telling me to go but my-here, is telling me to stay. I've been going with my logic for the longest time and it's kept me alive, yet that other force is pulling me towards the other option and it feels stronger then my logic'. He wanted to stay, he truly did but it seems the duty of a wraith is stronger then love," Faust said causing tears to spill from the eyes of Rarity and Cadence.

"Forbidden love and torn between love and duty together...such drama," Rarity sighed as she wept.

"We all knew that this was going to be happening sooner or later. Bones sacrificed himself so that we could take back our home and because of all the radio chatter this morning, I've heard many once brainwashed stallions have returned to normal and have started riots all across the world. Full on rebellion has been sparked and Caribou are fleeing for the safety of familiar ground," Rage said.

"So Bones sacrifice was not in vein," Mac said.

"No if anything it gave us the push we needed to turn this mess around. Today we have rebellion, tomorrow...War," Rage said.

Suddenly the doors burst open and a solar guard ran up to the table and knelt.

"Forgive the intrusion your highnesses but I come bearing important news," the guard said.

"Yes?" Faust asked.

"We intercepted a transmission from the Caribou Empire to a General Azur about our current coordinates along with orders to attack," the guard said leaving the room in silence.

"Azur, you're sure?" Rage asked.

"Do you know him Rage?" Dream Catcher asked.

"When is he supposed to attack?" Rage asked.

"We are unsure my lord but we know it is sometime today," the guard said.

"Begin evacuations of civilians from outside the city first and then move inward. Those ponies down there are in the most danger. Tell our boys in the watch towers to double their watch and if there is anything that even remotely looks like an enemy I want them to ring those bells long, loud and hard. From here on we're on combat alert alpha and begin placing all of Ash's items in a secure area, I'll be damned before I allow any of Ash's items to fall back into those pig's hands," Rage ordered.

"At once sir," the guard said before he sprinted out the doors.

"Rage who is General Azur?" Celestia asked.

"He's one of the Caribou Armies leading generals. He's the one who led the attack on Baltimore killing many stallions, mares and foals alike and those he does spare are the unfortunate ones. The soldiers in our ranks and theirs called this guy 'The Butcher'. I've never met him personally but I've seen his handiwork," Rage said with a shudder.

"So what do we do?" Applejack asked.

"We defend Aephoceria."

Everyone looked at the source of the voice and saw both Luna and Nightmare were there. Nightmare's eyes were bloodshot from crying but sadness wasn't among them. What was there was fury and the look on Luna's face could only be described as her equal.

"These vermin are coming to destroy this place, the same place where Ash was both born and meant to rule. He put so much effort into restoring this place and hoping it will one day breath new life again. Even if I have to fight all of the caribou by myself or if I have to become a monster I will defend this place," Luna said.

Everyone stared at Luna in amazement before Nightmare placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I may not have known Ash but I do know Bones. He would stand by your side and defend this place with all of you and I will do the same," Nightmare said.

"Don't need to ask us twice," Pierce said as he and the stallions stood up.

"Yeah those caribou want to fight, we'll kill em," Rainbow said punching the palm of her hand.

Suddenly the sound of bells rocked the air. Everyone scrambled out onto the nearest balcony that looked towards the forest with Dust following behind and when they all arrived they saw a single caribou airship floating above the forest just sitting there.

"That ship...it looks just like the SS Storm Breaker," Celestia said.

"Not much of a force now is it?" Caramel said.

Suddenly the air rippled around the airship then twenty airships appeared out of nowhere causing everyone's faces to turn to worry and suddenly an army came marching out of the forest.

"Wow you just had to open your mouth, now we got a big ass army to deal with," Comet said before slapping Caramel upside the head.

"That ain't no army, that's a nation," Caramel said.

"Battle stations, man your posts!" Rage shouted down to the guards below causing them to scramble. "Rest of you looking for a fight grab your weapons and be ready to greet our guests."

"Kibitz, Flawless Job, Rose Petal, Moonlight Dew, Feather Duster, Silver Trey," Faust called and within ten seconds the group appeared. "Find the foals and take them to the safe room and whatever happens do not let those children be taken by the caribou."

"As you wish your highness," they said in sync with a bow/curtsy and left.

Dusk went and followed the group of servants, flying over them as they ran through the castle. Checking every room they came across until they found them all in the relic room. Kibitz then quickly explained to the foals on what's happening causing them to grab what they could that belonged to Ash and transfer it to a safe place while some of the maids took the three youngest foals in their arms and they left. Before they could get too far, caribou swung in through the windows from an airship that had been parked above. Pip fell backwards and dropped a box and as it clattered to the ground the lid fell off and a heart full of gears and wrapped in wires fell out. Suddenly Flawless Job and Kibitz take defensive stances and start to beat some manners into the caribou using both their hands and hooves. One of the caribou turned his gaze to the downed prince of the night and seeing that one of the sons of his master was in danger, Dust swooped in to help defend him from the caribou by pecking and clawing at his face.

Meanwhile, while no one was looking, the wire's around the heart began to unravel and soon the heart stood on four spindly legs. The heart then quickly but quietly scurried into the relic room and leapt up onto the table that was holding Ash's still covered body. The heart pulled the blanket down, revealing the top half of Ash's body. The head was still in it's jar and the metal arm also hadn't been reattached to the body yet. Suddenly the heart began to vibrate and all the pieces that didn't originally belong to the heart began to fall out and began to reconstruct itself into a small clockwork spider. It then went to work on removing any metal in the general area of Ash's missing left arm before adding the pieces to itself. Once that was done, the spider went on and began repairs to the heart before cutting open Ash's chest and placing the heart inside. It then began to attach it back into it's proper place with magic before it closed the wound and with it's work done, the spider placed itself among the rest of the nick knacks and what knots before going dormant. Suddenly a caribou entered the relic room and looked around before he spied Ash's head and walked over to it before picking it up.

"Mighty God, our king shall be most pleased once I bring your vessel back to our borders," the caribou said proudly.

The caribou then went and grabbed Ash's left arm before going to reach for Ash's body when suddenly the arm still attached to the body reach up and grabbed the caribou by the wrist, scaring the crap out of the caribou. Suddenly black wispy like smoke started to drift from the neck where the head should be.

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???? P.O.V.

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Breath filled my lungs for the first time in what felt like centuries. My vision slowly returned to me as the room's ceiling came into focus. When it did I moved my arms to my sight but I could only see my right arm covered in flesh but very little hair unlike last time. I then sat up and saw what appeared to be a cloth covering my lower half before I looked at my chest and saw I was still physically fit. I still had a six pack over my abdomen along with the scar I got from Heartless when he stabbed me. I also saw my large biceps were still there. All in all I was what mares would refereed to as chiselled by gods.

"They'd be right about that," I thought.

I then pulled the cloth off my body and swung my legs over the side of the table slowly. I then placed my feet on the ground while keeping my grip on the table. I felt the hard ground beneath my feet before I looked around. I then saw a caribou lying down at the other end of the room staring at me. I then looked down and saw my left arm lying on the floor, so I walked towards it slowly, trying to get my feet to work after four years. I then kneel down and grab the arm and look it over before I looked at the stump where it once sat before I felt something shift and pull around the wound. I wanted to scream and roar in pain but something was wrong with my vocal cords. Suddenly bones burst out of the stump and grew and more bones appeared. Once it was done the skeleton of a left arm had formed and moved as I commanded it. Next liquid silver came out of the stump and worked its way up the bones before it became muscle and skin. Then all the burn marks from the accident faded away and when the process ended, I had a left arm made fully of skin and bone.

I then looked back at the caribou and saw him gazing at me in shock. He was gripping the jar containing my head for dear life. It was then I realised why I didn't scream before, because my vocal cords were no longer attached to my body. I then pointed at the caribou with my right hand causing his breath to hitch before I held my hand out to him as a way of asking him to hand my head over, but the caribou ran out of the room like a bat out of hell. So I quickly grabbed and drew Whispering Wind and chased after the buck but as I ran out of the room I saw a couple of caribou attacking the servants of my house along with the CMC and the younger foals. Looking back at the fleeing caribou who still had my head I turned to the caribou attacking the group and charged at them. As Kibitz and Flawless Job were dealing with the caribou I then swung Whispering Wind and decapitated one caribou before plunging the blade into another's chest. I then heard the dying gurgles of the caribou as I pushed him off my sword. The rest of the caribou then turned to look at me but as they did I cut them down with a gust of wind from my blade before I looked around and saw both Kibitz and Flawless had taken out six of the caribou.

"Dad?"

I looked at the source of the voice and saw Pip peaking out from behind Feather Duster. I then knelt down and placed Whispering Wind by my side and when I looked back at the foals I was tackled by all of them. I wanted to wrap my wings around them and then suddenly black shadowy wings surrounded them and the foals giggled at the experience of being cocooned in these wings.

"Sire."

I then looked at the voice and saw Kibitz.

"As much as it is a relief to see you sir, might I suggest putting on some attire before one of your maids faint," Kibitz suggested as he gestured to the maids who were bright red in the face and all except Moonlight Dew looked embarrassed but Dew looked at me in a lustful way.

I then realised I was still naked. When that happened and if my head was still attached, I would be as red as Big Mac's fur. I then let go of the foals and ran back into the relic room, looked around and found some clothes and that's when I saw my armor. I then went to put it on but I struggled to lift it. I then realised that my body hadn't been used in four years and was weak from doing nothing for so long. I looked around and spotted my old armor. I looked it over and found it easier to lift despite it's ruined appearance and rusting joints from all the blood coating it. Deciding now wasn't the time to argue over such things, I put it on and did my best to get rid of the rust by moving around but it was still stiff in some places.

Once the armor was on I put on the helmet before I exited the room. I then set up a barrier over the room but when I did so more of my magic wanted out, causing me to nearly overpower the barrier but I managed to stop it. I looked at my hands before I shook it off and escorted the group to the safe room and once they were safe I summoned Hingure but also ended up summoning a whole bunch of other stuff like Damnation and Salvation along with my dagger and shield. I shook it off and took my two guns and dagger along with my shield and sent the rest back to where I summoned them from before I ran down the hall, not really trusting teleportation at this time thanks to all that's been happening with my magic. Once I made it to the lobby I saw rows of royal guards with weapons pointed at the door and as I approached, the guards turned to look at me and stared in shock. I then gave a gesture to open the doors and the guards did so quickly. The doors opened slightly, just enough for me to walk through and when I was out, I saw caribou fighting ponies and ponies fighting caribou. There there was no sign of the ones I care about and that there was a large army before me so I decided to play some music while I dealt with the invaders.

I then ran into the battle zone and drew both Hingure and Whispering Wind and began to cut through my opponents as I ran. Ponies were shocked as I ran past them, not that I could blame them even I would be shocked if a very important but dead figure just ran past me. I then shook my hea...well helmet trying to dispel my thoughts and focus on killing those that dared come here and threaten my subjects. I saw a caribou about to rape a mare so I drove Hingure into the buck's back and tossed him into another buck who was trying to attack me, knocking the caribou off his feet. While his fellow soldier laid atop him I walked over to him and stood over him. While he stared at me in shock, I brought my foot over his head and squashed him with it. I then looked at the mare and saw it was Snowdrop, so I helped her up while she stared at me in shock.

Suddenly a squad of caribou came charging up the road. I charged at them but suddenly I felt a burst of power and then a rush of wind. I tore through caribou fluidly and when I looked back at the caribou all I could see was a street full of blood and chunky caribou pieces. I was shocked at the power I just suddenly displayed, where there should have been slashed and severed bodies were now pieces that looked like they came out of a meat grinder. I then looked back up at Snowdrop who was still staring at me in shock before I pointed to the castle. She followed the direction of my finger and nodded before she left while I continued on.

I then came to the market and saw the caribou along with a pair of God Hands completely dominated this area. The latter was standing guard while the former were taking pleasure in my subjects suffering and I saw quite a few dead males and females as well. This ignited my fury and without warning my left arm went from being covered in metal, to being covered in demonic red skin full of magma filled cracks and spikes curving out of my forearm and knuckles, just like back at the weather factory before I made it go back to normal but it seemed I already grabbed the attention of the God Hands. I then twirled my blades around and walked forward and slashed across the first God Hand's chest, forcing him to spin around before I thrusted Hingure through the hexagon and stabbed Whispering Wind through the other's chest, piercing that one's hexagon. Once the guards were dead I then went around and killed each and every caribou in the most brutal and painful way I could come up with at that time.

Suddenly I saw Blueblood drag a mare into an alley by her mane with his magic and I saw the mare was Fleur De Lis. She was trying to get herself loose from his magic that was both binding her and dragging her and considering Blueblood was't running, it means he hadn't seen me. So I went down the alley and saw Blueblood toss Fleur into a corner and was about to rape her but I came up behind Blueblood and hit him in the head with the pommel of Whispering Wind. I then looked at Fleur who seemed to be trembling before me, so I walked towards her slowly and kneeled before her and offered her my hand. When she saw my hand her trembling stopped before looking at me.

"Ash, is...is that you?" Fleur asked to which I nodded and helped her up. "I knew it...I knew you'd be back someday," Fleur said before she wrapped her arms around me in a hug before releasing me. "Listen I know where some of our friends are fighting, follow me."

I then grabbed Fleur by the shoulder stopping her before I gave her a hold on motion. I picked up Blueblood and hoisted him onto my shoulder. I then took him over to a stockades and placed him in one that was still standing before I locked it and then turned back to Fleur.

"You've been unusually quiet Ash, is there something wrong with your voice?" Fleur asked.

I thought about how I could answer Fleur's question when suddenly I decided to summon a notepad and quill.

"It's a long explanation but here, I hope this shortens it," I wrote before I removed my helmet, spooking Fleur for a few short seconds before she calmed down.

"I see...I'll ask later why your head's missing then," Fleur said.

"Fleur if I may ask, how did you know it was me despite me not being able to talk to confirm it?" I wrote.

"Well...It's kinda hard to say but I could just...feel it was you," Fleur said.

"Feel?" I wrote.

"I don't know how it worked but something was telling me that you were trustworthy and that sense always came around when you were nearby," Fleur said.

"Fair enough," I wrote.

"Come, we need to get to the others," Fleur said as she led me down the streets.

I followed behind Fleur and kept my eyes peeled for any enemies. We soon came to a fairly spacious area and I saw a good number of caribou and God Hands were fighting against my fellow Harbingers along with Luna and Nightmare Moon but the group had been overwhelmed and captured. Suddenly a caribou ripped away both Nightmare's and Luna's shirts exposing their breasts while a pair of God Hands were restraining them. This caused my left arm to go demonic once more before I summoned my bow, pull back on the drawstring and release it. I watched as the arrow sailed through the air and hit a caribou in the head but it didn't stop there. The arrow tore the head off the body and then hit a God Hand and did the same thing and did it once more to another caribou before the arrow flew into a wall and stayed there with three heads shish kebobed on it. All eyes then turned to me as I made my bow disappear and drew my swords. While the group all stared at me wide eyed and in shock, the God Hands charged at me. I did the same thing as before and left the God Hands as nothing but chunky pieces before I walked towards the remaining caribou and twirled my blade's around.

I took a stance just as two caribou charged at me. I jabbed Whispering Wind into the first buck's neck before I slashed at the second's with Hingure. I then pushed an attack away from me, forcing my opponent to spin around and I did too so we were back to back. I thrusted Whispering Wind over my shoulder into my opponent's neck before pulling it out and saw another caribou attack but I spun around and used the momentum of the spin to cleave through the buck's waist. I then rolled forward under another attack before I drove Whispering Wind into the caribou's thigh before slicing off his leg at the knee, making him fall backwards before I gripped Whispering Wind in reverse and drove it into the caribou's stomach. I then spun around and got hit with an axe in my right shoulder, thankfully the armor protected me but it still hurt. I then brought my right arm upwards knocking the caribou into the air before I used Hingure and slashed downward on the caribou's waist while he was still in mid air. I then blocked an attack from a caribou with Hingure before I brought Whispering Wind down upon his arm, severing it from his body before I used the vambrace on my left arm to block another strike. I used Whispering Wind and plunged it into the buck's chest before kicking him off the blade. I then looked at the buck whose arm I cut off before I kicked him into the air and plunged Whispering Wind into him before I tossed him into the rest of his fellow soldiers. Suddenly I used my demonic magic and focused on the ground before I made a rising motion with my left hand and suddenly several hellish portals appeared around me. Massive yet hellish beast's leapt out of the portals and growled at the caribou.

I then pointed at the caribou and the dog like demons ran at them and sank their teeth into their flesh devouring with great pleasure. I then saw one buck crawling away trying to go unnoticed and I recognised it as the one who tore Luna's and Moon's shirts off. I then walked over to the buck and kicked him onto his back while sheathing my blades before I placed my left foot on the caribou's chest.

"Please...have mercy," the buck pleaded.

I responded to his pleas by grabbing both his hooves in my right hand and pulled until his waist and legs were ripped from his torso before tossing the legs to the demonic dogs. I then walked over to the others and pulled out my notepad and pen.

"Are you all alright?" I wrote but the only response I received were stunned faces.

I then heard war cries coming from down the street before I looked at the group. Suddenly I saw the immortals heading towards us with Fleur by their side.

"I guess she went and retrieved them while I was busy fighting," I thought

Suddenly I heard a loud whinny echo from somewhere and before I knew it my bike Shadow Ranger appeared and stopped next to me and let out a joyful snort.

"I'm happy to see you too girl," I thought with a smile as I climbed on her. When I did the rust and paint peeled off Shadow Ranger leaving white beneath the old paint job before she transformed into a horse with pure white fur, mane and tail. "Y'know I think white suits you better too."

With a final look at the group I gave a nod before I gave a small kick to Shadow Ranger's side causing her to rear back with a whinny and gallop down the streets. As we rode I saw many guardians and guards pushing back the caribou but I saw the invasion still had some massive numbers. I caught glimpses of the army in the field and decided it was time to end this battle so I rode for the field. I saw a line of guardians holding back the caribou but a whinny from Shadow Ranger let the guardians know of my presence, so they lowered their spears and ducked down and Shadow Ranger leapt over the guardians while I drew my bow and fired at the caribou.

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Third Person P.O.V.

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General Azur gazed up at the magnificence of the city and it's castle. If he was being honest such a thing outshined even his own empire and it angered him that this filthy rebellion had claimed their god's home as their base. He then gazed at his soldiers and saw them trying to get through the wall of blue fiery soldiers. His men had tried everything from dousing water on them to impaling them but each attack was met with failure and dead troops. In fact the only ones who were able to do some form of damage were the God Hands but he is yet to see any fall. Azur then looked at the airships that were dropping soldiers and War Beasts within the city, he had yet to hear from his team within the castle which was responsible for capturing the royal family along with the foals to force the armies surrender. The fact there has been no word from them was troubling. He also took note that the ponies and their allies were fighting harder then he has previously encountered, as if someone had lit a fire within their soul making them into the warriors they are now.

"Hm it appears that I just may find some worthy opponents among this battle," Azur said to himself.

Suddenly an echo of a whinny rang through the streets drawing the generals attention and when he looked he saw a white creature faintly resembling the ponies yet it stood on four legs. He then remembered the history of the ponies and during the era of the Demonic Angels there were creatures like that, horses they called them and sitting atop of the horse was a figure wearing grey armor and carrying a spectral blue bow and firing at his troops. He recognised the bow as the bow of the Harbinger Conquest, yet the armor the figure was wearing didn't fit the description of the warrior. It was battle worn and full of holes or exposed areas, the left arm in particular looked like it was mauled on and the hole in the chest was also risky. All it takes is an arrow, a bullet or a sword and it would pierce the heart. The armor was also stained crimson with what most likely was blood, so much so whoever wore that armor last most likely died in it and the armor hadn't been fixed since then. Whoever was wearing it now must have been really bold and very fortunate if he had survived this long and that peeked the generals interest. Suddenly the figure banished the bow and draws a sword from his back along with a heater shield and begins to cut down the generals forces. Suddenly the fiery solders charge forward followed by more and more along with armed ponies, diamond dogs and zebra's, all of them fighting and looking towards the figure on the white horse. Said figure then turns and looks at Azur and Azur stared back. The figure then lifts its sword and points it at the general offering a challenge of combat.

"My helm and shield," Azur orders and a soldier brings him a helmet that looks like a caribou but has an old but elegant face upon it that also had a beard. Azur then put on the helmet and took a round black shield from the soldier before he drew his own sword which was made from soul steel. "Very well warrior I accept your duel but least make it interesting."

The two warriors then charged at one another but suddenly a cavalry of War Beast riders rode past the general, heading for the warrior on the white horse but he cut them down with ease and did not slow his approach to the general. Once he was through with the cavalry and the general came within range the two struck with powerful blows and their mounts circled each other, keeping the riders locked in combat. Meanwhile a breath of room was made by the surrounding soldiers who wished to watch the duel between the two warriors.

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Ash's P.O.V.

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"They're amazing."

"Just look at them, each attack precise along with each block. One misstep and they're finished."

"There's no way we can compete with those two, did you see that one on that white creature. He cut through that cavalry like they were nothing and his shots with that bow were just as impressive.

"Bow? Do you think that may be the Harbinger Conquest?"

"If so then he has defiantly earned his name."

"Hang on a sec I know that armor, it was once worn by the God Ash Blade."

"You serious?"

"Just look at it, the armor looks very similar to the one the God Hands wear."

"Y'know I seem to remember some old prophecy the zebra's spoke of about their god, saying he would return wearing blood rusted armor."

"That's crazy, Ash Blade may have been a god but I don't think god's can return from death."

"If so then explain the armor only creatures like humans could ever hope to wear the armor that's right in front of us."

"There's a logical explanation for that I...I just don't know what it is."

I kept listening to the soldiers that surrounded us while fending off against the generals blows and keeping his War Beast away from biting Shadow Ranger with a kick to it's head. During our fight we knocked several pieces of armor from each others body. The armor covering my right arm from my elbow to my shoulder had been knocked off along with armor covering my right knee. While I knocked away the general's helmet, shoulder pauldrons and chest piece. Suddenly the general's War Beast went to bite Shadow Ranger again but I gave my kick to it's head an extra 'oomph', making sure it didn't try that again, but the general then used his sword to raise my leg higher and pushed me off Shadow Ranger. I then hit the ground but quickly moved to get back to my feet and when I was up I so Shadow Ranger had moved out of the way and the War Beast was about to clamp it's jaws down on me. I held the beast's jaws open with my shield before I plunged Whispering Wind into it's neck before I pulled away and let the beast howl in pain before it died. Suddenly Azur leapt off the War Beast's corpse and tried to strike at me, however I dodged the attack and slammed my shield into his face before we locked swords once more.

"Your quite the warrior and your technique is flawless, it's been awhile since I've faced against someone like you," the general said before he tried to hit me with his shield.

I dodged the shield and moved back when I heard a battle cry come from behind me and when I looked I saw a buck thrust his sword at me. I stepped to the side and knocked his sword into the air with Whispering Wind before I decapitated him and that's when I saw another soldier charging at me. I then heard the sword I knocked into the air coming down so I used Whispering Wind like a bat and hit the sword, sending it flying at the second guard and watched it impale the guard in the chest. I looked back at the stunned general then pointed at the two bucks as if asking 'is this what you call a fair fight?' and he seemed to get the message when he nodded to me.

"All of you stay back, this is our duel and your all interfering," the general said.

I gave a nod to the general, I knew of the crimes he had committed but at least he had honor. We then took our stances once again and charged forward. I swung at the caribou general but he parried my attack and went with an attack of his own but I blocked it with my shield and our swords met again before we battled on. The general then went with a flurry of attacks but I blocked each one with my shield till I thrusted at him with Whispering Wind. He went to block it but when my sword met his shield, the shield shattered. I then hit the general in the chest with the edge of my shield before I cut off his right arm, bringing the general to his knees before me causing his troops to gasp in shock. I held my blade to his throat and after a moment of silence I sheathed my blade and took out my notepad and pen.

"Any last words?" I wrote

"A request...Who are you?" the general asked.

"I'm pretty sure you already know the answer to that question," I wrote.

*sigh* "I guess I do huh *cough* I'm ready for whatever the gods have planned for me and I will not blame another for my sins," Azur said as he coughed up some blood. He then grabbed his sword by the blade and handed it to me handle first. "Take this and please find someone who will wield it better then I did."

I slowly reached forward and grabbed the sword and held it. I saw it was a heavy cavalry sabre with an elegant gold painted rose and thorn design for the guard. After I looked the weapon over I gave one last nod to the general before he died and with his death his army panicked before they began to flea while AA guns shot the rest of the airships out of the sky. Even the ship that Elisa, Evan, Rage and myself arrived on shot at the airships sending them plummeting to the ground and as the bucks ran scared the armies behind me cheered. When they disappeared into the forests I heard the trees shake and growls echoed from within along with screams but I didn't worry about it. I then turned to the city and saw the armies were cheering for me and calling my name. With a final nod I teleported back to the castle and ended up in the relic room instead of my bedroom. Shaking my helmet in annoyance with my powers, I put the general's sabre on top of a trunk before I decided to walk to my room. As I made it to the doors said doors opened so I backed away and suddenly the whole group walks in.

"Listen even if it were possible I seriously doubt he's ali-," Rainbow trailed off as they all turned to look at me.

We all stared at each other for what felt like hours now. No one really sure of what to do so I decided to raise a hand and wave at the group. Suddenly Pinkie comes flying at me and tackles me into the items still within the room but Pinkie never stopped trying to squeeze the air out of me, it was then I saw Pinkie was crying. Suddenly the other girls jumped into the hug burying me in their tears and soft fur. The stallions then tried to pull the mares off but they ended up pulling me up, the grips the mares had was like wrought iron making it impossible to move. Soon the alicorns got involved and removed most of the mares but Pinkie was still latching on. I then pulled one arm free then the other before summoning my note pad and pen before I tapped the mare on the head and showed her the note pad.

"Hey Pinkie it's good to see you as well but could you let me go now please, the hug is kinda tight," I wrote and I saw both Faust and Twilight raise a brow at my method of communication which I'll have to explain to them soon.

Pinkie then released me and when I looked down at my chest, I saw several new grooves in my armor from where the mares were hugging me before I wrote a new message on the notepad.

"Damn you six, any tighter and you'd squeeze out whatever life I have at the moment," I wrote causing the stallions to chuckle while the mare's blushed.

"You're not very vocal at the moment Ash," Faust said causing me to sit down on a chest and take what felt like a breath.

"There is a reason for that and I'll show you but please...just try not to scream or freak out," I wrote.

I then put the notepad and pen down and reached for my helmet before I took it off revealing my headless body and black wispy smoke rising from the wound on my neck. Fluttershy and Rarity both epped in shock while the others were stunned.

"Ash where is your head?" Celestia asked causing me to pick up the notepad and pen before I wrote some more.

"I had a visitor. While you were all out defending Aephoceria, a caribou soldier came in here most likely trying to steal some of my things like so many others. It was then that I...well woke up, I guess and before I could get my head the thief took it and ran out of the room. I went to go after them but I saw some caribou going after the foals. Choosing the foals first I took care of the caribou and before I could go after my head it was long gone," I wrote.

"Well it's gotta be somewhere in the city right, I mean we killed a lot of caribou," Caramel said.

"If it were I'd be able to sense it, but when I lost it the sense just vanished, like it was teleported out of the city and since there's no way of knowing exactly where to start it'd be like looking for a needle in a haystack," I wrote.

"So how do you plan on getting it back?" Pinkie asked.

"No idea keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best I suppose," I wrote.

"Hey don't you all think we're all ignoring the real elephant in the room here. Like how the hell are you alive right now and why now," Elisa asked while pointing at me.

"Uh that's a bit of a problem right there. You see my head has a majority of my memories, so mine are kind of patchy at the moment till I get it back. What I do know is that this was responsible for putting my heart back into place," I wrote as I used my magic and brought the clockwork spider over to show the group. "The gift from the Outsider."

"What I want to know here is how the hey can ya see us?" Applejack asked.

"She's right, looking at us with...smoke is a little difficult to wrap my head around," Rage said as he waved his hand through the smoke but I just slapped his hand forcing him to retract it.

"Let's just say it's magic and leave it at that," I said causing the pair to nod.

"No none of that makes sense. Magic can't just simply allow smoke to see, hear or smell but perhaps the smoke is reaching out and absorbing information and feeding it down your spinal cord so your body responds to it, essentially becoming both your optic and hearing nerves. Speaking off how is your field of vision at the moment Ash? Can you see everything in the room at once? I've also noticed the smoke seeping from your neck responds to what emotion you are feeling as if it were trying to make you seem less hostile then you look," Twilight asked frantically and while that was happening the smoke coming from my neck made a whistling noise like it was coming from a kettle till it burst out of my neck and formed words.

"Geez kid it hasn't even been five minutes and your already overloading me with science stuff stop making it more complicated," the smoke said causing everyone to shut up and stare in shock. "Sorry but I'm just a little out of it from everything that's going on right now so can you drop it?"

"What! There are too many unsolved questions here and I need answers now and yo-," Twilight started but Discord put a zipper on her mouth and closed it with a lock.

"Your welcome," Discord said causing me to give him an imaginary hat tip in thanks.

"Excuse me for interrupting but why do you have that on your waist," Nightmare asked as she pointed to Hingure who was still on my hip.

"Because she was mine to begin with, after all I made her," I wrote.

"Made but then does that mean your...Bones?" Nightmare asked in shock while everyone else became shocked as well. All except Rage, Discord, Eris and Pinkie that is.

"You four seem to be taking this better then I thought," I wrote.

"Silly Ashy we knew," Pinkie said.

"HUH!?" everyone screamed in shock, even I was startled.

"W-w-what. How!?" I wrote in shock my hand trembling as I wrote.

"Easy, it was Hingure. There is only one guy I know who can make a blade like that and only one man can wield a katana so fluidly yet furiously," Rage said.

"Rage then told Dad and me and as for Pinkie, she well...just knew," Eris said.

"Pinkie if you knew why didn't you say so and also you said that Bones wasn't Ash when you first met," Rainbow said.

"Dashie if I told you all then it wouldn't be a surprise," Pinkie said with her massive smile.

"Besides would any of you have believed her anyway?" Rage asked causing the mares to look away from Rage in an ashamed manner. "Thought not."

"I'm impressed you noticed those things Rage," I wrote.

"I'm not just a handsome face you know Ash, I can do stuff too," Rage said.

"Gods, there's so much I want to know from you all since my death, I don't know what to ask," I wrote before I looked at the group.

"Oh yeah that reminds me," Rage said before punching me in the gut knocking the wind out of me. "That was for sacrificing your soul you idiot."

"I'll admit...I had hit's coming...But I think...The only one who would be allowed to hit me...Would be Luna for leaving her to raise Pip and Midnight on her own," I wrote as I began to stand up.

"And what about us huh not even a decent goodbye from you. Not once but twice now, is there something wrong with saying goodbye at least," Rainbow shouted with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry...I know this ain't much of an excuse but...I always hated long and teary goodbyes. Never sat well with me and always left me with the feeling of guilt and shame, as if telling me you could have done that differently even if the choice led me to saving countless lives...like I said it's not much of an excuse but...I'm sorry," I wrote and as I looked over the group I saw one of the group wasn't here.

Suddenly hoofsteps echoed in the room and the group split in two. There stood my midnight blue wife, just staring at me. Luna then walked forward till she stood before me. I went to write something down but Luna decided to kick me in the space between my legs causing all the males to cringe at the sight, while I fell to my knees wanting to so badly scream in pain but I guess the shadowy smoke did it's job of projecting my emotions. Luna then kneeled down and started lightly beating on my shoulders while tears flowed like rivers from her eyes.

"You dumb stupid idiot. You're the dumbest stupidest idiot in the whole world. Why did you do that? You just died and left me, why did you do that?" Luna sobbed as she brought her fists down on me.

"I'm so sorry for being selfish...I never wanted to hurt you but I couldn't see another way...But I'll keep saying sorry until I earn your forgiveness," I wrote as I stroked her face.

"Like I said...your an idiot," Luna sobbed as she curled her arms beneath mine and wrapped me in her loving embrace.

We stayed like that for a few minutes. Luna slowly running her hands along my back while I simply held her and everyone watched in silence as we held each other. Suddenly Luna's left hand grazed against something on my back that made me tense up in pain startling Luna from the embrace.

"Ash what's wrong," Luna asked.

"Not sure," I wrote before I went to remove my torso armor. Upon doing so everyone got a good look at my new left arm and were shocked upon seeing it. Fluttershy then went behind me to check out what caused the pain on my back and when she looked, I saw her gasp in horror and covered her muzzle causing others to look. When they did their expressions were of shock, disgust, anger or a mixture of the three. I then went to look in a full body mirror and upon seeing my back I saw a branding mark of the caribou empire's sigil over the one of the Demonic Angel mark. Where my wings once were are now dried bloody stumps showing broken bones and red inflamed muscles. The scene was horrific and I could hear cracking come from my hands as the fingers curled into fists and the smoke coming from my neck had expanded in size and was flickering dangerously. Soon the top half of the room was covered in smoke.

"Hey Ash you mind taking care of this *cough* getting hard to breath," Rage said as he fanned the air.

Realising the situation, I calmed myself down and the smoke flowed back into my neck. I then called on my magic and made the brand mark disappear, leaving behind the mark of the Demonic Angels.

"Can you grow new ones back?" Rainbow asked.

"Sorry?" I wrote.

"New wings you told us you grew a new left arm what about wings?" Rainbow asked.

"No, you see unlike most body parts wings are different to beings like myself, they're sacred things. You just can't grow a new pair cause if you could that'd be like gaining two pairs of wings when you haven't earned the right to have two pairs. I may have had ten pairs when I was alive but even I don't have the right to just grow them," I wrote causing Rainbow to form a small o with her mouth.

"So you'll never fly again?" Applejack asked.

"I can still fly I just need to call upon these to do so," I wrote as I summoned my shadow wings and gave them a flap before I made them vanish. "But if I can retrieve my actual wings then maybe, just maybe, I can reattach them."

"Well then let's go find out who has them then," Elisa said.

"Now hold on you lot. As much as I want to get my wings back, I prefer to have the ability to eat, drink, talk and look into a mirror and see my face again before any of that," I wrote.

"He makes a good point I'd prefer those things then to fly," Spike said.

"But you said it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack," Piece said.

"Give me a break, I'm sure I'll think of something sooner or later but first I've been dead for four years and I'm sure there's lots you want to tell me. Plus I know it's still early but I'm feeling kinda out of it and I need rest," I wrote.

"You've been asleep for four years Ash," Faust said.

"I know but my body is lacking the strength to move because of that," I wrote earning a laugh from everyone.

Next Chapter: Chapter 27 Hell at Hollow Shades Asylum Estimated time remaining: 27 Hours, 22 Minutes