I woke up and looked at the ceiling above me and I saw it wasn't the one I'm normally used to. I went to sit up but couldn't move, I looked around and saw Luna with her head atop my chest and her arms encircled around me enjoying my presence greatly. I couldn't help myself and decided to run my hands through Luna's mane and just as I remember it the touch was cool yet warm and the feeling was like water running through my fingers without the wet feeling. I then scratched behind Luna's ears earning a satisfied sigh from her before I looked around the room. The walls were a nice bright sky blue with gold engravings going along it, the ceiling was also sky blue and the carpet was grey. The room itself was larger then the guest room I was staying in previously. Along with the bed there was a massive walk in closet on the right side of the room. There was even a room that led to a private bathroom while on the right side of the room, up against the wall, was a massive bed bigger then a king sized bed and at the back of the room were six massive windows that dominated the wall. The center windows were actually doors that led out onto a large balcony. There was a full body mirror in the room along with a desk in the corner. Suddenly I feel Luna shift below and when I look at her I see her look up at me before letting out the biggest smile I've ever seen along with some tears.

"It was real...I wasn't dreaming?" Luna asked as she brought her left hand up and rubbed my neck.

I then summoned my phone that Elisa gave me that Rage returned to me yesterday and typed a message on it.

"No my moon flower you weren't dreaming,"I wrote as I scratched behind her ear.

"Ooooohhhh that's all the proof I need to know you're real and not like that other time he never knew about that spot or how to scratch it," Luna said.

"Huh what do you mean by that?" I wrote and that seemed to startle Luna a bit.

"It's nothing," Luna said as she got up. "C'mon let us go bathe together."

I wanted to find out what got Luna so worked up and what she meant, but I could see it must have been serious and saw she didn't want to talk about it so I decided to drop it for now. I threw the covers off me and stood up revealing my bare chest and pyjama pants clad legs before Luna led me to the royal bath and after a quick wash we got dressed and left for the Dinning Room. I was wearing some grey jeans and a blue shirt with my cutie mark on the sleeves along with my favourite coat that Rarity made for me when I was Bones, she even put my cutie mark on the back. Upon arrival to the Dinning Room I saw the mane six and their coltfriends were here so I sat at one of the table ends and while we waited for breakfast the group began to tell stories since my death. Right now Rainbow was telling me the story of when Scootaloo met her parents and I couldn't stop laughing at the thought of Scoots reaction at meeting both Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof. Rarity then told me of how she tried to get Applejack to help her in being a fashion judge which didn't go over so well and I cracked up even harder when she told me how Applejack was introduced to Strawberry Sunrise.

"Uh Ash you alright?" Applejack asked.

"Sorry?" I wrote.

"Well it looks like your shoulders were having a spasm attack or something," Rainbow said.

"Rainbow was that really necessary to say," Rarity scolded.

"Yeah after all he's just laughing," Pinkie said.

"Laughing?"everyone asked in sync.

"You lot can't tell since I have no head or voice to show you my emotions so it's understandable but yes, Pinkie is right I was laughing," I wrote before I felt a few more chuckles escape my throat. "Anyway just what the hell did you mares do while I've been gone?"

"Oh you know the usual crap," Spike said causing blushes to creep on the mane six's faces.

"I'm impressed you were able to see that Ash was laughing Pinkie," Luna said.

"If there's one thing I'm good at besides throwing parties and smiles it's being able to see laughter," Pinkie said.

Suddenly the main doors open and I saw Daring, Mitta, Ruby, Gilda, Spitfire, Fleur, Fancy and Granny Smith come in, so I stood up and walked over to them and all of them besides Fleur were stunned when they saw me. Ruby then zipped up to me and locked her arms around me in a hug followed slowly by Granny Smith and Fancy Pants but Daring, Mitta, Gilda and Spitfire both kicked and punched me in both the gut, chest and one of them even hit me in the stump of my wings.

"You've got some nerve to be showing yourself after that stunt you pulled," Spitfire growled with tears in her eyes.

"Won't say I didn't have that coming and I know this doesn't make up for it but I'm sorry," I wrote earning a smile from the mare.

"You know...I can think up a way you can make it up to me," Spitfire said as her smile went from serene to seductive.

"Geez Spits I knew you were horny at times but I just got back," I said.

"So your not objecting hmm," Spitfire said as she leaned close.

Suddenly I get yanked backwards and a pair of arms encircled me. I then looked up and saw Luna was holding me close like a stuffed bear.

"Spitfire I consider you my friend that is true and we may have shared Ash in the past, however since he is back it is only right that I get first dibs on him when we get his head back what with me being his wife and all," Luna said.

"What's with these two, have I been gone for that long or something?" I thought.

"Ok, ok wife get's dibs I get it," Spitfire said as she backed off before she began to walk over to the table. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm famished after my morning workout."

Once Luna released me the CMC suddenly rush in and when they see me they run up and hide behind me and Luna.

"Dad you have to hide us both Kibitz and Flawless Job are trying to make us go to school," Pip said.

If I had eyebrows one of them would have been raised in confusion as I looked at the foals before I looked at Luna who looked at me.

"I mentioned it at the time you were Bones that Cheerilee and several other teachers will be starting up a school for the foals here," Luna said.

I then went to facepalm for forgetting something so important but when my hand should have connected with my face it went through the smoke instead, reminding me that I don't have a head. This caused a few giggles to come from the group at the table. Suddenly Kibitz and Flawless appeared and easily spotted the foals.

"There you all are," Kibitz said.

"Bollocks they found us I'll try teleporting us," Pip said as his horn lit lit up but only fizzled out causing the foal to groan in disappointment, this action was not lost upon both me and Luna

"Young ones please stop this tomfoolery if we do not leave now you will be late for your classes," Flawless Job said.

"But-," Apple Bloom started.

"No buts AB even though there's trouble going on young foals like you still need an education," Applejack said causing the original CMC fillies and Rumble to turn around and see their siblings were here

"Applejack's right Sweetie Belle an education is important for foals to grow up," Rarity said.

"But we want to stay with Uncle Ash," Rumble said.

"Listen you guys I know you want to ask me some things but please listen, Miss Cheerilee has put a lot of effort into getting a school working for you foals and she wants to be able to teach again because it's all she can do right now. The only way she can do that is if foals like you go and learn from her, so what do you say?" I wrote.

"Cor blimey I had no idea Miss Cheerilee was having such a tough time," Pip said.

"Yeah now I just feel guilty," Scootaloo said.

"Alright Uncle Ash we'll go," Apple Bloom said as they walked out from behind us and and followed Kibitz and Flawless down the hall.

"It's real good to have you back Ash. When it's with us they normally put up more of a fight but with you they totally bow to your will," Applejack said with a smirk.

I was about to write a response when suddenly my body froze and tensed up. I felt something touching me around where my head was supposed to be but there was no hands. It was a phantom touch that was running all over the smoke coming from my neck and I could also feel something cold as well. Suddenly a shock goes down my spine along with the feeling of electricity circling around my neck wound and through the smoke. The feeling was so painful I wanted to scream but all I could do was collapse and try and get rid of the pain but it was no use. Suddenly everyone ran over to me and pinned me down so I don't hurt myself. I could hear muffled shouting but the pain was numbing everything out till finally it stopped. I lay there for a bit waiting for the pain to fade and slowly everyone removed their hands from my body. Twilight was checking for a pulse and heartbeat and while she did that my hearing slowly returned.

"This is bad like really bad oh why didn't I run those tests first before we went to bed," Twilight said as she panicked.

"Twi don't blame yourself we were all tired after yesterday. Ash was also barely able to stand when we got him to bed," Rainbow said.

"That's not the point, regardless if I was tired I should have been able to do some tests to see if this was really Ash and not some cruel caribou trick like before. If I did those tests we might have been able to determine what was normal with Ash while he was in this condition but his pulse and heart rate are all out of sync, one is too slow and the other is too fast!" Twilight shouted while I reached for my phone and typed something in.

"I'm alright guys sorry if I gave you all a scare," I wrote.

"Ash what happened?" Soarin asked.

"I-I'm not sure myself, I was just about to type up a response when suddenly I felt...something touching me where my head should be, like a phantom touch. Then suddenly I felt an electric shock shoot through my body originating from the same-," I wrote.

"What is it Ash?" Luna asked.

"That touch and the shock, it must be coming from my head," I wrote.

"Huh?" everyone asked.

"But Ash, your head has been severed from your body how can you feel it if it's not attached," Rarity asked.

"I'm not entirely sure but I believe spiritually we're still linked despite the distance and not being able to see anything on that end," I wrote as I stood up before I began to walk to the door.

"And where do you think you're going?" Spike asked.

"I'm going to get my head back if that wasn't so obvious," I wrote.

Suddenly a teleportation goes off and Luna is standing before me arms and wings extended blocking my passage.

"After everything I've been through you honestly think I'm letting you out of my sight again?" Luna asked with a small growl in her voice.

"Luna someone is doing something with my head right now and that is seriously making me feel uncomfortable and the fact that I just got an electric shock means that whatever is going on with my head involves pain and a lot of it," I wrote.

"Elisa, Rage, Ethen and the Immortals are searching all of the cities that we know are still under the control of the caribou, they'll find it eventually," Luna said.

"Luna I can literally sense where my head is once I'm within a certain range of it which would have made things a little easier for everyone instead of sending them running around like headless chickens," I wrote.

"B-b-but if that's true then why didn't you say anything?" Luna asked.

"Last night when you all thought I was asleep the others said they were gonna search for my head and you assigned the Immortals to assist in the search. Rage was about to 'wake me' and get me but you said you didn't want me going anywhere at all. I knew you had it rough when I died so I decided to keep my mouth shut on that fact and let you carry on but what just happened now changes that. I don't know what they're doing but all I know so far is that it hurts and if they decide to incinerate it...," I wrote.

Luna stared at me with a mixture of emotions but the worst emotion I picked up was betrayal. Luna then wrapped her arms around me tightly and held me there for a few minutes before she let me go.

"Rage wanted to give you something said something about making you look more intimidating," Luna said before what looked like a whip made of a spine appeared in her hands

This creeped out a few in the group before I took the whip and saw it was actually metal just painted to look like real bones.

"Not bad for a hot head," I thought.

"Thank you Luna and I shouldn't be gone for longer then about four days and when I do get back there is something both you and I need to talk about," I said causing Luna to nod.

I then left for my personal armory and forge and got dressed into the same armor I was wearing against my battle with Heartless. I put it on and noticed it was lighter then I remember but shrugged. I then grabbed Salvation and Damnation along with Whispering Wind and Hingure before I went and got on Shadow Ranger and rode her out of the castle. Once I was within the city I easily drew every eye in it. Everyone was desperate to catch a glimpse of me, to see if I was truly back but I managed to convince everyone to hold off on that along with any questions till I get my head back. Before I knew it I was out of the city and cutting through the field before I made it to the forest which seemed to brighten in my presence. As I drove through the trees I saw pieces of caribou armor and weapons along with a few bones here and there, leaving me to guess it's the army that fled in terror when I killed Azur. Once I left the forest I stopped upon seeing Caribou bodies on what looked like sign posts, a warning to any other armies that come through here saying 'we've beat you once and we can do it again, the proof is right in front of you' but when I saw it I was a little disgusted. I'll admit I couldn't care less if I put Diann's and his son's corpses up on display but doing it to soldiers felt wrong in a way. Shaking my head of my thoughts I decided to listen to some music.

I then revved Shadow Ranger's handles before I shot along the plains at incredible speeds, a speed I can normally feel when I'm flying. The drive was smooth as silk and the wind was rushing up to meet me. I soon realised I was driving through White Tail Woods which was an impressive feat for Shadow Ranger in speed. I then focused on dodging trees and roots while enjoying the music. I then remembered Ponyville was close by causing a few memories of how I first arrived to dance through my head. I became so distracted with my memories I almost drove into a tree causing me to quickly swerve away but I ended up falling into some kind of tunnel. When I hit the ground I sat there for a few seconds and saw I was in some kind of gem cave and when I had a look at where I entered I saw a slope leading out. Shadow Ranger was in her horse form and was getting up before changing back into a bike.

"Who put some hole in the middle of the forest?" I thought angrily as I got up and walked over to Shadow Ranger and petted her side.

Suddenly I heard the sound of crumbling rocks from up ahead causing me to spin around quickly but I could only see more tunnel going down a fair way and I could just make out a light. Deciding to investigate I walked down the tunnel and as I did the light got brighter and brighter till it was almost blinding. When my sight adjusted I was met with the most beautiful underground grotto complete with waterfalls and large pools of water and hanging from the ceiling were massive glowing crystals with a few regular gems scattered all over the place. Suddenly I also noticed wooden floor boards beneath my feet and a cloth gazebo above me along with several lanterns, bedding materials and cooking tools and I even saw a table with four places set and food served. I placed my hand above the dinner and felt it was still warm meaning whoever is here is most likely nearby. Suddenly a powerful force hits me in my waist and knocks me to the floor but I leapt back up into a crouching position and got ready to rumble with my attacker. I stopped though when I saw there was more then one and despite their plain fur colours and almost gloomy choice in clothing, I saw it was Pinkie's family.

First was the farther Igneous Rock, an orange and well built earth pony with a silver mane and tail and silver haired sideburns. He was wearing tan pants and a plain shirt with a black closed vest over it along with a tie and a black old fashioned mining hat, Next was Pinkie's eldest sister Limestone Pie, she had azure blue fur with a light grey mane and tail and was wearing leggings and a grey skirt along with a white shirt with a jacket that matched her fur over it. Next was a mare I know better then the rest of the family Maud Pie, a grey furred mare with a greyish blue mane and tail. She was wearing a dress and shirt that matched her mane and tail with a black belt going around her waist and a pair of stockings on her legs. The next sibling was hiding behind Maud and reminded me of Fluttershy. She was Pinkie Pie's youngest sister by a minute, Marble Pie. She had a grey coat of fur and a brownish grey mane and tail and she was wearing dark grey pants with a deep blue shirt and brown open vest. Finally was the mother, ex-captain of the Royal Guards, Cloudy Quartz. She had grey fur and a darker grey colored mane and tail and she was also wearing some old fashioned royal guard armor. She normally has her mane done up into a bun and she often had a pair of glasses on her but they were missing and she was letting it down now which I found out from Pinkie that only means one thing.

"She's combat ready and ready to kill," I thought before I saw Quartz wincing and trying to stay off her right leg, I then realised she kicked me in the waist.

"It appears that this thing's armor is tougher then the others," Quartz said before she glared at me.

"Let me take a whack at it,"," Limestone growled as she grabbed out a pickaxe from nearby and swung it at me.

I then stood up, grabbed the pickaxe with my left hand and used my right hand to snap the handle in two. I tossed the part still in my grip behind me but Limestone wasn't done because she threw the handle at me, knocking my helmet off and shocking the Pie Family.

"I knew I had a mean throwing arm but damn, I didn't think I'd be able to tear someone's head off," Limestone said before I retrieved my phone and began typing something on it.

"Don't applaud yourself just yet Limestone," I wrote shocking and terrifying the family.

"It's some kind of zombie or something and it knows my name," Limestone shrieked.

"Don't zombies die again once you knock their heads off though?" Marble asked calmly.

"For the record I know all of you Pies, in fact you all knew me once four years ago. I was friends with Pinkie Pie," I wrote.

"How doth thou knoweth our daughter?" Igneous Rock asked.

"She threw me my welcome party to Ponyville," I explained.

"Who are you?" Quartz asked.

"Who's the last and only person that can fit and move in this armor?" I wrote.

The family just stared at me in puzzlement before Maud spoke up.

"Your Ash Blade correct?" Maud asked causing me to give a formal bow.

"Glad you were able to figure it out Maud. How's school going Pinkie told me you were doing a doctorate for something about rocks I believe," I wrote.

"Yes but I won't bore you with the details," Maud said.

"Alright and how's boulder?" I wrote.

"Quite well say hello boy," Maud said as she pulled a small stone from her pocket and presented it to me.

"Sup B?" I wrote.

Of course I got no response but it was nice to do this for Maud despite how strange it looks but hey who am I to talk...no wait, I can't at this time.

"He says hi but he asks what are you doing here?" Maud asked.

"Looking for my head. It was taken from me yesterday and I'm trying to get it back," I wrote before a tingling sensation went up my spine followed by a pulling sensation. "And I think I just figured out in which direction to look for it. East, North East."

"Not much up in that direction except for Ponyville and Canterlot and Foal Mountain," Quartz said.

"Wrong there Miss Quartz, there's also Hollow Shades," I wrote.

"But didn't Pinkie say there was an incident involving you last time you went there?" Maud asked.

"An unfortunate one...aye but if that's where my head is then that's where I'll go if necessary," I wrote as I began to leave.

"Hey you just gonna leave us here or something?" Limestone asked angrily.

"I'm sorry Miss Limestone but believe me when I tell you if I could teleport you to safety I would. However my magic has been on the fritz since I woke up, guess I need my head in order to properly wield it," I wrote.

"So what shalt we do?" Igneous Rock asked.

"The best I can do is point you to a safe place, it's simply west of here. Actually if you have a map I'll show you," I wrote and Maud brought me a map of Equestria before I pointed it to them.

"I don't believe it, safety and our little one was just two miles west of us and we didn't even know it," Quartz said.

"If you head there I'm sure Pinkie will come to you and she'll help you set up a home there," I wrote.

"Huh that mare knows where to be and why I'll admit that," Limestone said.

"The pathway should be clear of any problems and the beasts of the forest before Aephoceria will not harm you unless you have dark intentions so don't worry," I wrote.

We thank you your Highness. May your journey be quick and successful," Igneous said with a bow.

I gave a nod before I left. I walked down the tunnel and made it back to Shadow Ranger. I the drove out of the tunnel before I took off to where I sensed my head was. I drove past Ponyville and saw the place was abandoned and recently so before I followed the train tracks. Soon I entered a forest but continued to follow the train tracks and saw a train station coming up so I decided to stop. I didn't want to alert anybody that I was back just yet, there were still several kingdoms we had to free and if I showed up now that would bring bigger problems to the fight. Despite many caribou being unnerved to discover their 'god' was fighting against them but then again many would say it was some trick. Like that doctor who had cloned my blood into those God Hands. I also overheard some soldiers say something similar when they attacked Aephoceria. I then looked at my armor and figured I should change it.

I took an uneasy breath because of my magic being unstable, I then shut my ey...you get the idea. Well anyway, I then imagined my armor white as snow and plates of metal covered my torso and arms and were thick over the arms and shoulders while the hands were shaped as paws with claws. There were two collars attached to the chest plate going around the neck for protection, the legs were completely covered in armor along with a few sheets of metal covering the back and sides of my legs which was connected to my chest piece except for the upper thighs and crotch area. Those areas were protected by black scale like armor for mobility and climbing onto Shadow Ranger easier. The feet were also shaped like paws with claws then there was the helmet, it was a white wolf's head and the jaws could open to reveal my face if I wished. Finally a white cape upon my back. When I looked I saw the vision through my helmet was different so I took it off and saw a perfect white wolf's head that seemed to glow in the sun's light. I then looked at the rest of me and saw I was wearing the armor that I had imagined, but upon looking at it I remembered something from the passage about the Harbingers of Devastation. With a wave of my hand a spectral diamond crown that glowed in the light rested upon the helmet's brow. Giving a nod I put the helmet back on then made Whispering Wind invisible but kept Hingure by my side before I summoned my bow. When I saw it the bow looked larger, almost my size and it was shaped like a crescent moon. It had a galaxy like look to it with an elegant gold pattern etched over it.

I stared at my bow in amazement and wonder before I gripped it tightly before Shadow Ranger changed into her horse form and I sent her into a gallop. I then rode into Hollow Shades and saw the place has changed since I last came here. The tree houses were still here, each one carved into the massive trees that stood around me all connected by walkways and bridges. I also noticed more buildings on the ground and were different then the one's that were here before them. Suddenly I realised there was no one about making it seem like the place was deserted when suddenly I heard bells tolling from not far away. I decided to follow the sound of the bells but suddenly Shadow Ranger took control and galloped up a ramp and onto a roof of a building. She leapt from roof to roof until we came to the square. I saw the statue of Luna was gone and was replaced with a statue of Diann along with a few new buildings. I then saw what may have been the entire village all standing before some kind of church made of dark stone and on the steps to the church was a unicorn stallion wearing bright robes. Off to the side were a group of wagon cages with guards around them and the cages were filled with male Thestals.

"Hear me brothers, we are gathered here to cast judgement upon these traitors who dared betrayed our glorious god king Diann, whose arrival and conquest of our lands was decreed by the old gods and the god Ash Blade himself upon his death," The priest said making my temper flare at those words.

"LIES!" A thestal male shouted.

"Silence you blaspheming traitor!" the priest yelled.

"The only traitor I see is you. Ash Blade was kind and wise which is more then I can say for you maggot filled savages!" another thestal male shouted but was hit with the butt of a spear that was thrust through the bars by a guard.

"Enough!" the priest shouted before he approached the cages. "This will be your final hour however the gods are merciful and we will accept you back into our fold only if you swear your loyalty to our god king."

"Never, we'd rather burn for millennia in Tartarus then join the likes of you!" a thestal male shouted earning shouts of agreement from the others.

"So be it, for the crime of betraying your fellow males and the god king Diann, I hereby sentence you to die by fire," the priest said as he raised his arms up into the air before pointing at the imprisoned males. "If you have any last words to say, speak now."

"Long Live Luna and Hail To Ash Blade!" the males shouted as one

"May Ash Blade have mercy upon your souls," the priest said

"Oh he will," I thought.

Suddenly a guard lit a torch and began to approach the wagons intending to burn them but I pulled back on my bowstring before releasing it. I watched as the arrow flew through the air before it hit the guard in the neck causing many to cry out in shock and horror at the scene. I then reared back on Shadow Ranger while she let out a whinny causing all eyes to lock onto me.

"It's Conquest!" one of the guards shouted.

"Kill him kill the Harbinger in the name of Diann and the gods!" the priest yelled while I put on some music.

I fired a few more arrows and managed to hit the locks on the cages. The males shot out and attacked the caribou while the priest ran into the church and barricaded himself in. Shadow Ranger then leapt off the roof and as she landed on the ground I leapt off, drew back on my bow and launched three arrows at three guards charging at me before I drew Hingure. When I hit the ground I rushed into battle while the thestals surrounded the caribou, keeping them from escaping. I sliced through two caribou before parrying an attack and thrusted Hingure into another's neck. I then spun around and crouched down and severed the leg from another buck before I stood back up. Suddenly a guard came up intending to thrust his sword into me but I grabbed the blade in my right hand before I sliced through the buck's head with Hingure, severing the top half from the lower half. I then flicked the caribou's sword into the air before I used Hingure like a bat and sent the sword flying into a caribou before I sheathed Hingure. I summoned my bow once more and fired on more caribou but when I swung at more caribou I found out the limbs of the bow were like blades. Suddenly I saw a group of caribou aiming at me with rifles so I trapped a buck between the limbs and the bowstring and brought him in-between me and the rifles just before they fired killing the caribou. I then launched several arrows at the rifle wielding bucks before I released the body and took out more caribou. When the song ended every caribou and traitor that was gathered here lay dead while the females and remaining males checked to see if any were still breathing.

I then sheathed Hingure and walked towards the church. When I reached the stairs I kicked the doors down and saw the priest kneeling before the alter before he turned to me.

"This is hollowed ground you cannot spill blood here," the priest said but I just summoned my bow and launched it at the priest hitting him in the leg.

While the priest was screaming in pain I grabbed him and tapped something into my phone.

"You asked me to have mercy on those stallions and I have granted mercy, you on the other hand shall not be granted that chance," I wrote making the priest's eyes widen.

I then dragged the priest out of the church and I saw the Thestals had brought out a chopping block and set it up on the top of the stairs. Just then some males grabbed the priest and placed him upon the block. I then saw a Thestal with a wood axe approaching but I held my hand up to stop him. I then made Whispering Wind appear before I drew him causing everyone to gasp in shock at the sight of the weapon before I held him before me.

"If you have any last words speak them now," I wrote.

"Please my lord I beseech you, grant me mercy," the priest pleaded.

The angry glares from all those gathered before me said it all. I then raised Whispering Wind above me and brought it down on the priest's neck severing his head from his body before I straightened up and sheathed Whispering Wind.

"King Ash Blade?"

I looked at the source of the voice and saw a stallion standing amongst the crowd.

"It's you isn't it there's only one who could wield that sword upon your back" the stallion said.

I gave a nod to the stallion before I gestured him to approach and when he did I wrote a message to him and gave him a map.

"Take this map and have everyone follow you into a place called the undiscovered west there you will find sanctuary from the caribou," I wrote.

"Thank you your highness but what of you?" the stallion asked.

"I still have unfinished business here," I said as I opened my helmet showing my missing head.

"Then let us assist you," the stallion said.

"No you are all my subjects and I will not have you all following me into danger. Besides you've all been through enough I can handle this and I want all of you out of harms way, am I understood?" I wrote.

"Your wish is our command my king and thank you," the stallion said.

With that I gave a nod before I left following on where I could feel my head was and the direction it was in was troubling. I then climbed on Shadow Ranger and galloped off to where I felt my head was and as I approached the feelings of dread became stronger and stronger. When I made it to where my head was and if it were still attached to me it would have gone pale at the sight before me, I was standing at the gates of what used to be the old asylum now turned laboratory and I saw the place was heavily defended. I then remembered another way into the place that led through another building, I wanted to avoid the old mayor's mansion. Returning to the rest of Hollow Shades I went to the old mayor's place and saw it was now nothing but burnt wood and ashes. I remember having Rage burn it down himself and after a few minutes of sifting through the rubble I found the basement and the old elevator shaft before I pulled out a flashlight I had just in case I needed to go into a dark area. Turning it on I jumped into the shaft and landed at the bottom before making my way through the underground passage and the first thing I saw was dried blood splattered along the walls from my last visit.

Shaking my head from the dark memories I began to make my way down the tunnel until I came to a door. I saw it was locked so I kicked it down and was met with a laboratory full of working caribou, they didn't last long against me. I then went upwards following the sense of where my head was and killing anyone in my way as I went. I followed the sense to a place marked with maximum security subjects. I ripped down the door, killed the guards quickly and entered. I was met with a hallway with doors on each side and a very heavy one at the end where I felt my head was. I then heard screams from behind some of the doors and told myself I would help out whoever was inside once I retrieved my head. Upon reaching the door I drew Hingure and sliced it open and upon entry I immediately saw my head in the jar surrounded by several machines. I then walked towards it and once I was close enough I saw my head was just as I left it when I died. Suddenly my eyes slightly opened, likely in response to my presence. I then removed my helmet and put it down nearby before I undid the latching of the jar that held the lid in place before I opened it. Reaching in I grabbed my head and held it before me, I could feel my hands on the sides of my head. Turning the head around I put the head in place and my vision went black before my blood went to work in attaching the head to it's proper place. I then released my head from my hands and once I felt everything was back to normal I went to open my eyes and they responded perfectly. I then took a deep breath through my mouth before releasing a sigh but the moment was shattered when I felt a presence behind me, one I hadn't felt in a long time one that both angered and terrified me.

"Hello again...Red Reaper."

5 Days Later 7:00am Hollow Shade Train Station Third Person P.O.V.

"Uh and here I thought I'd never have to steep foot in this place again," Rage sighed as he stepped off his own personal train that he stole before he looked around the deserted town. Suddenly the mane six, the stallions, Spike, Gilda, Elisa and Evan, Luna, Nightmare and Celestia also stepped off the train and looked around.

"It seems a might bit creeper then the last time we were here," Rarity said.

"Can we go back now," Fluttershy whimpered.

"Relax Shy this isn't gonna be like last time cause this time we know how to fight," Rainbow said.

"Okay anyone want to explain what's going on here you've all been jittery since those Thestals came back on news of Ash being here," Elisa said.

"Oh yeah you guys went home before that happened. Well for the short version Ash and I were sent here to solve a mystery of disappearances and these six snuck along for the ride. We were led to a creepy asylum that was infested with all sorts of bad mojo. The mess ended with a couple of necromancers with a doll fetish. They were taking the time souls have left in life to add it to their own, same thing Diann and his sons had been doing for a long time now. We even found some people trapped in a basement, some of them had been starved for so long they retorted to cannibalism," Rage said with a shudder.

"Now I really want to kill'em," Elisa said.

"What about the necromancers, who were they?" Evan asked.

"The mayor was one as for the others I didn't take the time to ask before they were devoured by their victims," Rage said.

"Bastards toying with the dead like that, I hope they are tortured in the fires of hell till time ends," Elisa said with clenched fists.

"I'm just glad the victims got the last laugh in the end," Gilda said

"Speaking of the old Asylum I bet my right arm that's where we'll find Ash," Rage said.

"What makes you say that?" Celestia asked.

"Haven't you noticed since we got off the train the air is too still here," Rage said as he looked up.

"Your right *sniff* *sniff* scent of flesh beginning to rot is also in the air and the stench is pretty strong too...And it's coming from that way," Elisa said as she pointed to the town.

The group then walked into the town and when they came to the square there were many caribou corpses. One in particular was a unicorn stallion, the head was resting on a pike while his body was nailed to a cross that was standing on a statue alter with a statue of Diann in pieces on the side. On the alter were words written in blood like.

Freedom!

Death To The Caribou Tyrants!

Long Live Ash Blade!"

Finally sitting on a flag pole was a flag baring Ash's cutie mark.

"Damn, certainly made their statement clear," Soarin said.

"Can't really say I blame them, the priests have a way of forcing people to listen to them. There's even a ceremony that involve females losing their virginity so they can join their order," Rage said.

"Mental note find the leader of these priests and barbecue him," Spike said punching the palm of his hand.

Suddenly a chill runs up everyone's spines causing them all to shudder.

"Kay that there was no normal chill," Applejack said.

"Indeed it was a massive magic burst and it must have been powerful if an earth pony felt it," Celestia said.

"Just how powerful are we talking about here?" Rainbow asked.

"Alicorn magic or more powerful. Whatever it was is serious if that much magic was released in one go," Luna said.

"Agreed and it was coming from the old asylum." Rage said causing most of the group to gulp.

"Let me guess part of the long version right?" Elisa asked.

"Mm-hm," Rage said as the group went into the forest.

The group was silent the entire walk till they came to the asylum. A thick darkness coated it and ripped through it. The massive walls that once surrounded it were obliterated along with a small portion of the building and the magic covering a majority of the building pulsed as if it was alive. Rage then looked like he received a kick to his gut while he swallowed something foul.

"Rage are you alright?" Luna asked.

"It's malice...the place is drowning in it and the magic...It's defiantly Ash's," Rage said unnerving everyone.

"Your saying Ash's demonic magic did this?" Nightmare asked.

"No this is something else something equally dark...I think it's the Nether Lord eye's work," Rage said.

"What!" everyone shouted.

"Are you telling me an eye from one of those...creatures in Ash's possession," Elisa asked in shock.

"Actually it's more like a part of him and before you go jumping to conclusions know that he never wanted it, it was forced upon him," Luna explained.

"B-b-but I don't understand Ash said he would never let it loose again," Rarity said.

"True but remember Ash has been dead for three years...the seals may have weakened since...But I don't think Ash did this willingly after all most of us know how much that kid hates asylums, especially this one," Rage said before he began to walk to the building.

"Wait we're going in there?" Twilight asked.

"Unless any of you have a better idea on how to find Ash," Rage said.

Nodding the group followed Rage to the building. The main door was clear of any dark magic but when Rage pushed it open a putrid smell flooded out of the building forcing everyone to cover their noses.

"Sweet mother of Celestia what the buck is that stench!" Rainbow cried as she held her nose.

"Terror, blood and a whole mess of bad crap mixed together," Rage said as he he looked beyond the doors.

The sight inside could only be described as a nightmarish world. Blood and flesh covered most of everything in sight, some corpses were perched up in gruesome displays missing limbs or having having missing flesh and drained of their blood. Some bodies scattered about looked like they suffered before death. Black sludge was growing out of everywhere and pulsed, some skeletons were in the black sludge while it entangled itself among the bones. Each one looked like it was trying to escape from it, some bodies that looked like they shouldn't be alive were barely moving and were groaning in agony.

"By the stars," Luna said softly while Fluttershy and Rarity fainted from the sight.

"Alright watch your step and be careful on what you touch," Rage as he walked into the building being mindful of the dark pulsing magic.

"Wait you're still going in there after seeing this?" Caramel asked in shock.

"We do not have time to be debating over this. Those who wish to stay may stay all those who wish to come stay close and like Burning Rage said be mindful of what you touch," Nightmare said as she followed Rage along with Luna, Elisa and Evan.

"C'mon when you think about it we've faced just as bad and survived," Pierce said as he entered.

"Eeyup," Mac said in agreement as he followed.

"Oh Faust I must be out of my mind," Thunderlane said as he followed.

Celestia then took a breath before she began to walk inside.

"You as well Princess?" Twilight asked in shock.

"If things go bad I feel there may be a better chance of survival if I go along with my sisters and Rage. You are all free to stay outside if you wish, I doubt anyone will hold it against you," Celestia said with a motherly smile.

The rest of the group looked at each other and they all gave a nod and stepped back except Twilight, Gilda and Rainbow who stepped forward.

"I think I might be able to help in finding out where the source of this is," Twilight said.

"Yeah and you never know if your gonna need a couple of extra hands," Rainbow said while Gilda nodded

"Okay rest of you wait outside the walls...hopefully we won't be in here long," Rage said before he led the group further inside.

Evil and suffering pulsed from everywhere the group turned to look, the occasional scream didn't help much either. Blood splashed beneath them whenever they took a step forward, if they hadn't seen it they would have thought this place was hell itself apart from the groaning souls who were still alive and the creaking of the building and the splashing of blood beneath them. All was quiet, those who had horns tried to illuminate the way but the darkness suppressed the light allowing it to go only a few feet before engulfing it. Only Rage's fire pieced the darkness lighting the way before them. Suddenly something fell before Rage's gaze forcing him to leap back and startling the rest of the group. Rage then brought his axe closer and saw it was a heart and the organ was still pulsing looking up the group saw a caribou pined to the ceiling his chest cut open and his organs hung down like a low hanging chandelier grossing a few in the group.

"Please...Help me," the caribou pleaded with wheezing breath.

Suddenly several dark mutilated limbs reached out from the darkness and began to pull the caribou in. He tried to fight against the limbs and just as he was about to utter his final word his mouth was beginning to get pulled into the black, drowning out the sound before he disappeared.

"Okay that's going to haunt my dreams for the rest of my life," Elisa said simply but her face showed terror.

"Eeyup," Mac agreed while he trembled.

"We're not getting anywhere like this, this magic is clearly Ash's. We need to trace it back to him," Rage said.

"Those black lines over there are feeding magic across the building kinda like electricity through wires," Twilight said as she pointed to a black vine that crawled along the wall and pulsed like a heartbeat.

"Nice work Twi," Rage said as he gave the lavender mare a pat on the shoulder.

The group then followed the vine through the twisted hallways, keeping their eyes peeled for anything. Till their way was blocked by dozens and dozens of arms in a circle formation leaving no way passed.

"So what now?" Pierce asked.

Rage then stepped forward and reached out to touch the hand in the center of the formation but golden magic surrounded his arm stopping it.

"Rage what are you doing?" Celestia asked.

"Looking for a way passed," Rage said as he pulled his arm out of Celestia's magic grip.

"Rage we don't even know what that...thing will do?" Rainbow said.

"I'm so glad you care RD but logically it's either this or we go back and find another way around which will take longer and personally, I'd rather not stay here any longer then we need to. We may even come across another one of these things if we try a different way," Rage said.

The group looked at each other before they gave a nod. Rage then placed his hand against the hand in the center of the formation which gave a twitch causing Rage to back away. The hand then closed and retracted into the limbs and the other limbs then began to retract till the way was clear revealing another room.

"Ugh that was one creepy door," Gilda said.

The group then entered the room and were greeted by dozens of monitors revealing nothing but static and a control panel surrounded by a few dismembered bodies.

"I'd say we found the security room," Pierce said.

"Let's see if we can find out how this mess began," Luna said as she went over to console and began fiddling with it.

Soon videos appeared on the screen, Rage then stepped up and searched for the video from four days ago. They watched as he found his head but as he put it on the camera cut out and when it turned back on Ash was shackled to the floor and looked savagely beaten. Blood stained his ragged strips of cloth that only covered his crotch but the group could see several blade wounds and bruises along his body.

"Did Ash get beat?" Rainbow asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he did, his body hasn't been mobile for three years. That would make any one lose strength, immortal or not," Rage said.

The group then watched as Ash was taken to several rooms and experimented on in sick fashions. Ash tried everything to escape but was stopped, his body just freezing up till finally one room had Ash strapped to a table and a caribou had a set of pliers aimed at Ash's left eye. When it got close the eye changed to a golden amber and the pupil became slitted and changed to a darker amber. Suddenly tendrils made of dark magic shot out of the eye and impaled the doctor. Next the shackles holding Ash unlocked and Ash clutched his eye in pain. Suddenly black vein like vines pored out from behind Ash's hand and spread across his arms and formed seven inch long claws on each hand. Ash quickly disappeared and appeared in a different monitor and cut down several guards as fast as lightning while the building started to turn into what it is now. Starting in the room where the eye took over and and that's when the video stopped.

"Thought so they were messing around with that eye...Won't say they didn't deserve it but why do it is what's bothering me," Rage said.

"Well maybe they didn't know about it?" Twilight said.

"Maybe but it seemed a little too precise is all," Rage said.

"Well anyway we'd best find him quickly," Celestia said.

Everyone nodded and continued on their way till they reached the room. The place was an absolute wreck of short circuiting equipment and body pieces. The group looked around till they heard movement and when they looked they saw Ash sitting against a wall, the left half of his torso and face covered in black sludge which was attached to the wall. His chest was rising and falling like normal. Rage then walked over to Ash and gently shook him.

"Ash you gotta wake up," Rage said and slowly Ash's right eye opened.

"Rage?" Ash asked.

"Hey bro, you're alright," Rage said before Ash looked around the room.

"Am I dreaming?" Ash asked.

"Sorry pal but I wish we all were," Rage said before Ash let out a depressed sigh. "C'mon let's get out of here."

Rage then pulled on Ash and the black sludge clinging to him released him leaving behind a perfect imprint like it was a hard shell.

"Wait...sword," Ash wheezed out.

"Sword?" Rage repeated as he looked around.

Where Ash's left arm was within the sludge was a large sword. The handle was wrapped in flesh with a purple eye with a black slitted pupil acting as the pommel and the guard was a flat disk. Attached to the disk and going around it forming a triangle were three blades each one looked like it was from a sword blade that was split down the middle perfectly. Each blade was of a different shape one, looked like a spine and had a dark purple aura emitting from it, another looked normal but had black cracks crossing over the blade and the last one looked to be made of pure smoke and shadow.

"Holy mother of mercy," Rage said upon seeing the blade.

"That's a sword, looks more like a mish mash of body parts," Rainbow said.

"Dark...magic...don't touch...bare handed," Ash said.

"Can someone cover it and carry it, I'll take Ash," Rage said.

"I'll do it," Nightmare said but Celestia placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please Tia I'll be careful I don't intend to let myself get swept up into whatever dark misery this blade may hold."

*sigh* "Alright," Celestia said before releasing Nightmare's shoulder.

With a nod Nightmare summoned a large thick blanket, wrapped the sword in it completely and carried it in her magic.

"Done," Nightmare said with a nod.

Returning the nod Rage turned to Mac who picked up Ash and placed him on Rage's back before they left for the door. Suddenly Elisa and Evan walk in and Evan was holding something over his shoulder but it was wrapped in a thick brown blanket.

"Elisa, Evan where did you two go off too?" Rage asked.

"Looking for Ash and we found him but...he's not alive anymore," Elisa said sadly.

"Huh?" everyone asked in sync.

"Dudete Ash is right here what are you going on about?" Rage said as he gestured to Ash sitting on his back.

"Huh?" Elisa and Evan said in sync.

"Then whose this lookalike?" Evan asked as he turned around revealing a hand peeking out from the blanket.

Rainbow then flew forward and moved the blanket. When she did she revealed a human body with silver hair and a black stripe. The groups members from this world all stared at the figure in shock and when Rainbow moved the head to reveal the face, the face matched Ash drawing one word from them.

"Heartless!"

"Wait Heartless, as in the Heartless that killed Ash?" Elisa asked.

"In a sense Ash killed them both," Celestia said.

"This explains why his corpse was never recovered after the battle the rats must have smuggled him out of the tower and back into their own country," Rage growled.

"Well if it is Heartless let's leave his corpse and go," Rainbow said.

"No...Take...With," Ash wheezed.

"What Ash that's Heartless he-," Twilight started.

"Don't care," Ash said shutting everyone up.

"You heard him take him with us and let's get outta here," Rage said.

The group then made their way out of the building and when they linked back up with the rest of the group they sat down against a tree and looked at the dark building.

"It'd be a bad idea if we just left that as it is, who knows what kind of darkness would spread if we did so," Twilight said.

"Libra...I beseech you...come and pass judgement onto those who seek to bring harm, may all wrongdoers be swept away by your power."

Everyone looked and saw Ash sitting against the tree and he was using his right index finger to draw something in mid air.

Suddenly a massive golden glowing magic circle appeared above the asylum and in the center of the circle was the same symbol Ash drew. The very presence of the golden light made the darkness covering the asylum burn and sizzle.

"I evoke Scales of Justice," Ash said.

Suddenly the golden light became a beam of magic and came down on the asylum. The group had to turn away from the force of the wind that was blown at them from the blast and the light was too much for them to handle while the building began to disintegrate and vanish. Once it was over there was nothing left, not even underground. All of it was gone and when the group looked back at the asylum they were dumbfounded and when they looked at Ash they saw he was unconscious once again.

Here's a view of Ash's armour along with his newer one.

And now Ash's Harbinger Armour

What do you all think?