I woke up and looked to my sides and saw both Moon and Luna were still out of it from last night's activities which caused me to smile. I got out of bed but nearly face planted the ground because my weight feels as though it's been shifted about, most likely my body telling me to slow down when getting up. I then let out a yawn as I stretched my arms but for some reason my voice sounded different and when I went to rub my throat I felt my neck was different. So I rushed to the bathroom to see what was going on and when I looked in the mirror above the sink the face that looked back was not mine, the face in the mirror was feminine and the best way to describe it was the face and body of an Amazon goddess with long black natural bouncy hair that reached her back with a silver stripe through her hair. She had wide beautiful hips and long powerful legs and arms with just the right amount of muscle and large double I-cup breasts. She had a slim waist and flat stomach giving her an hourglass figure. She also had a set of abs and an ass like Applejack's and her skin was absolutely flawless. But what stood out to me was the fact this woman and I had many similarities in facial appearance. The only difference here was that she had a more feminine structure to our likeness and also she was coping my movements perfectly.

It was then at that moment that reality caught up with me and I realized that the woman in the mirror was actually me. So like any god would do in this situation, I started yelling and cursing out words that mortals were not supposed to hear or understand. Not long later Luna and Moon burst into the room and were shocked to find me.

"You, who are you and how did you get here!?" Moon demanded.

"Moon, it's me," I said in a voice that was defiantly feminine which almost sounded like a glass armonica.

"I don't know you and you will address me as Queen Nightmare Moon for only our lover may address me as so," Moon said.

"Tell us how you slipped past the guardians who are watching the mirror and why you are naked in our bathroom," Luna demanded.

"No you two. It's me, Ash look," I said as I spun around and showed them the stumps on my back that were once connected to my wings along with the mark of my people.

"Ash!" Luna yelled when she saw my back.

"What has happened to you?" Moon asked.

"I don't know, I just woke up and...this," I said as I looked down at my body.

Moon then began to circle me looking me up and down before I looked at Luna. When I opened my mouth to speak I let out a shriek...yes I know, a shriek. But if you were in my position you'd do the same but back to the story. I let out a shriek of shock as I felt something fondling my new breasts before I teleported behind Luna while keeping my chest covered with a serious blush on my face and saw it was Moon.

"Hm they certainly feel real," Moon said while giving me a sultry smile.

"Moon stop it, this is serious. We need to figure out what is going on here," Luna said with a stern tone.

"Oh you're no fun Luna haven't you at least wondered what a situation like this would be like?" Moon asked.

"...I'll admit I have been curious," Luna said.

"Hah!" Moon cried.

"But I will not do such a thing if my partner is uncomfortable with it as you can see," Luna said as she gestured to me.

It was then that Moon's expression turned sad and apologetic.

"I am sorry beloved, I let my emotions get the better of me and for that I apologise," Moon said.

Seeing as Moon was serious I stepped out from behind Luna and faced her.

"Apology accepted Moon," I said.

"Y'know you look positively adorable when you blush," Moon giggled causing my cheeks to heat up once more.

"Can we please move onto a topic that involves me getting back to my own gender?" I asked.

"Oh yes perhaps mother could help us with this," Luna said as she and Moon began to leave the room.

"Uh could you both go and get her while I remain here?" I asked.

"What, are you embarrassed of everyone seeing you like this?" Moon teased.

"No I just don't plan to walk around the castle butt naked thank you," I growled.

"Now, now you two and Ash hold on, I believe I may have the solution to your problem," Luna said before she teleported out of the room leaving me with a sense of dread before I looked at Moon who was staring at my body still.

"Alright what is it?" I asked.

"Nothing it's just I can't get over how soft and smooth your skin is if anything I'm a little jealous," Moon said.

"You, jealous of us. Moon you have assets that most girls would kill for and your jealous because I have soft and smooth skin now?" I asked.

"Don't get me wrong Ash, even as a male you've had flawless skin. But like this it's, well...just a bit more captivating, where as for me I have hair all over my body. Do you have any idea of how much shampoo and conditioner and brushing I have to do to keep it this shiny?" Moon asked.

"Okay fair point but still don't get too comfortable with me like this," I said as I gestured to my body.

Suddenly a burst of magic goes off before us and I see Luna has returned with a familiar unicorn fashionista. After her eyes landed on me her jaw dropped before letting out a squeal while jumping up and down in excitement.

"Rarity would you calm down!" I shouted over the mare's squealing which could give the Canterlot Voice a run for it's money.

"Oh my stars that voice, it is positively beautiful," Rarity shrieked.

"This was your big idea?" I asked while looking at Luna.

"Why the objection?" Luna asked.

"I don't know about you Luna but I do not wish to be like this for long and hopefully Faust has the answer on how to fix this," I said.

"So I do not see the problem," Luna said.

"The thing is Luna when Rarity get's like this she has a tendency to make more than what a customer has asked for. One time when a customer asked her to make a dress that would go well with a hat and when the customer came back Rarity had prepared a whole wardrobe worth of dresses for her," I said.

"Well what did you expect Ash that headdress was just too good to be seated with just one dress and besides my customer didn't seem to have any complaints," Rarity said.

"Only because you kept to the original price you offered for one dress," I said under my breath.

"Now then Ash, let's get you measured for your new clothes," Rarity said as she summoned a measuring tape before pulling it taunt causing me to gulp.

"N-now Rarity just so we're clear I only need one out-," I started as I held up a finger to empathise the number of outfits I needed. But she grabbed me by the wrist before she pulled me into the walk in wardrobe and closed the door behind her.

---

Later

---

"I still say this sucks," I said as we walked down the hallway. I was wearing a dark grey sports top that showed off my toned stomach and abs and I also wore a pair of jean shorts that hugged my legs, waist and ass. I was also wearing a pair of dark knee high boots, my hair tied into a braid and I wore my favourite coat along with a pair of fingerless gloves.

"Well I think you look lovely," Rarity said.

"Admit it Ash, Rarity certainty brought out your inner beauty," Moon said.

"It's not that Moon, I just find this whole situation degrading. In fact I'm honestly shocked how you lot can walk with these things hanging off your chest," I said as I gestured to my breasts.

"Oh don't act like you don't love 'em, how you were suckling off me last night proves it," Moon said causing both Luna and me to halt in our tracks before I noticed Rarity was blushing up a storm.

"Goodness Ash, I didn't know you liked that kind of thing," Rarity said.

"Well it's just that little bit of information," I said before flicking the black alicorn across the ear making her yelp in pain. "Was supposed to be a secret."

"Indeed," Luna growled before she pinched and pulled on Moon's other ear.

We then continued onward before reaching the dining room were most of the group was having breakfast but when they saw me their jaws hit the floor.

"Anyone laughs I'll introduce them to my boot," I growled.

"Wow Ash, I didn't think you were into this sort of stuff," Spitfire joked causing a few to laugh or giggle while I just facepalmed.

"Now Spitfire, that's no way to treat our king, sorry queen," Luna giggled causing the laughing to resume.

"You coulden't resist could you?" I deadpanned whiIe Luna gave me an innocent look.

Suddenly Rage and the guys along with Elisa and Evan came in and were shocked upon seeing me.

"Whoa, Ash that you?" Rage asked.

"Who else?" I said angrily.

"Wow this is some illusion, it's a dead ringer for a female version of you," Rage said before he started fondling my chest causing me to let out an eep of shock. But I bit my tongue to avoid letting out a moan of pleasure. "Huh, certainly feels real."

Before anyone could react I raised my right hand and slapped Rage across the face with all my strength, sending him flying into a wall while I covered my rack with both my arms. I felt my cheeks heat up from the feeling before I turned to Rage with the thought of murder filling my mind. I then summoned a sin spear before tossing it at Rage which landed right between Rage's legs, centimetres from skewering his groin.

"Whoa ya, ya dammit Ash you trying to kill me!?" Rage shouted as he leapt up and away from the spear.

"That's the idea," I growled before I summoned Hingure and drew her.

"OH SHIT!" Rage shouted before I rushed at him and took a swing but he dodged it before he began to run around the room. "Oh gods please help, he's actually gonna kill me!"

"No god can help you here Rage. Now stop running and face your demise like a man!" I shouted as I chased him around the room before we were both lifted off the ground in a crimson aura.

"Alright, I believe that's enough of that now. Ash, could you please sheath Hingure?" Faust asked calmly who was lifting us off the ground.

"Hey do you think we should call Ashy Ashelle?" Pinkie asked.

"Are you quite done or do you really want me to lose what little patience I have!" I roared causing everyone but Faust to tense up before I took a few calming breath's before calming down.

"Have you calmed down Ash?" Faust asked calmly.

"Yeah...Yeah I think I'm good," I said.

"Alright now can you tell us what happened?" Faust asked.

*sigh* "I honestly don't know, I just woke up and I was like this," I said as I crossed my legs and lounged back in Faust's magic field.

"Okay then just hold still and I'll scan you so we can get to the bottom of this," Faust said before I felt her magic scanning me and after a bit the scanning stopped. "Alright, I figured out what's going on here. You've had a gender swap spell placed on you and I can sense it was done with Twilight's magic."

"It was you?" I asked as I looked at the lavender unicorn.

"I didn't do it!" twilight cried.

"Well Faust did just say it was your magic. So if not you then who else?" I asked in an annoyed tone.

"I uh...Pitfall!" Twilight shouted.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Yesterday when my dragon got stuck in the pit and I... knocked over the board with my magic *ahem* you got caught up in the blast. That must have been what caused this," Twilight said.

"Ok a random burst of magic did this. Alright I can understand that and now that we know what happened, what say we reverse this," I said.

"I uh...I don't know how," Twilight said.

"...You wanna run that by me again?" I asked hoping I misheard.

"I've never done this sort of spell before nor have I seen a counter spell for it," Twilight said.

"Aren't you a god Ash, I mean surly you can reverse it yourself," Starlight said.

"I would but I still don't fully trust my magic yet. I'm still experiencing glitches here and there and if I tried I would probably just end up giving myself an ass that could match Moon or Celestia along with a bigger bust line," I said.

"Is that such a bad thing?" Soarin asked causing me to snarl at him.

"Calm down Ash, luckily for you spells like this have a time limit to them depending on how much power one puts into it," Faust said as she set me and Rage down onto the floor.

"Great so I have to wait till I turn back to normal," I said.

"That's gonna be a problem cause we were going to take back Trottingham today," Rage said.

"Trixie doesn't see the problem there," Trixie said.

*sigh* "Fighting as a girl and fighting as a guy are two different things. Since I'm not used to this body it means my fighting style is going to be a little more difficult to use," I explained.

"I get it, you're new...assets may throw you off balance while fighting," Twilight said.

"Bingo," I said.

"Well your going to need to get used to it if your planning on seizing Trottingham today," Celestia said.

---

2 Hours Later

---

We were getting close to Trottingham. I was upon the deck of the Pale Horse and was training with both Whispering Wind and Hingure to get a feel for my new body, which was a little more difficult then I thought but in the end I managed it. I also put my hair into a braid and put a blade in the end of it. Now we were using snow mobiles to cross the frozen waters that surrounded Trottingham. I was dressed in my Harbinger Armor which I modified to wear with this body, a temporary thing to be sure.

"Almost there!" Rage cried out.

"Good let's just hope the bombs Kamau set up haven't been discovered," I said as I pulled out the detonator.

Pushing the button there was several explosions within the town meaning the defences had been taken out.

"Nice," I said as I pulled down the visor to my helmet, obscuring my face before speeding up.

I drove up a ramp and into the streets of Trottingham before jumping off the vehicle and landing upon the ground. I watched the snowmobile ram into a collection of caribou before I stood up and drew my guns before then I selected a song to fight to.

Tapping my foot to the rhythm, I then cocked the hammers on my guns. I took aim and shot a couple of guards then began to fight to the music. I had a lot of hidden knives in my armor and this armor favoured movement over defence. While I was fighting I noticed this body was much more flexible a caribou armed with a sword charged at me to slash me across the chest but I simply leaned back and found myself almost able to touch the back of my legs with my head. Thinking quickly I placed my hands on the ground before I pulled my legs upwards and wrapped my feet around the caribou's neck before lifting him up and slamming him into the pavement, breaking his skull like an egg. I stood up and saw a caribou jump down on me, so I gripped Whispering Wind by both the handle and the blade and, as soon as the caribou came down, I pushed him away before I drew Damnation and shot him in the head.

I continued on down the streets using both Damnation and Whispering Wind to kill my enemies but only if they got past either the Royal Guards, the guardians or my Immortal guards. I headed to a large church in the heart of the city with both Whispering Wind and Hingure now in hand and when I arrived I saw a new type of guard had formed a line at the entrance. They were wearing full plate armor, capes that matched caribou priests robes and also bore the same insignia upon them, a nine pointed star with a crown in it's center and antlers coming out of it. I figured these chumps are like the Swiss Guard from earth.

"Let's see if they're as good," I said before I transformed Whispering wind into a staff sword and twirled both him and Hingure around before getting into a stance.

The caribou guards then readied their weapons before they charged. I twirled Whispering Wind around before me cutting their weapons to itty bitty pieces. I then gripped Hingure in a reverse grip before I dashed forward so fast it would have looked like I teleported behind them. I then sheathed my weapons and heard all the soldiers bodies hit the ground.

"Apparently not that good," I said before I walked toward the church.

I pushed open the doors to the church and walked inside where I saw a pair of caribou were praying at the alter. One of them was a priest and the other wore a different set of robes along with several civilians who were sitting at benches. Going along the walls were several statues of caribou, my guess they were the caribou's gods and finally in a cage shaped like a birdcage was pegasus mare who I recognised as Songbird Serenade from the storm king incident.

"Can we help you?"

I looked at who had spoken and saw it was one of the priests.

"Do you not know who I am? I thought for sure the armor would give it away" I said.

"I only know you are barging in upon a most sacred ceremony for we were about to anoint a new priest into our fold. Now I'll ask again, who are you?" the priest asked causing my eye to twitch when I remembered what this ceremony involved.

I then held my right hand above my head before I summoned my bow.

COME AND SEE! I roared in the Canterlot Royal Voice causing everyone to panic. I took aim at both the priest and his lackey and shot them in a leg with an arrow before I drew Hingure and began to take my anger out on the rest of the scum.

"Such ferocity," a voice calls causing me to freeze in place as I pulled Hingure out of my latest kill. "I've kinda missed seeing you fight handsome."

I turned around and, there at the doorway, was a feminine figure wearing black and red armor that reminded me of an assassin's armor like the ones in my creed just without the hood. The chest piece looked like a spider web with a Redback Spider in the center. Her belt had an assortment of daggers, knives and vials while sheathed on her left hip were a pair of short swords. She also had a skull for a pauldron on her right shoulder and connected to that skull was a cape made of raven feathers. But the most important thing about this chick is that she wasn't anything from this world. She was a human or something that resembled a human, I couldn't see much of her face because the lower half of her face was obscured by an ornate obsidian and silver mask. She had long black soft and bouncy hair that reached her back and her eyes were a sickly yellow with slitted pupils. I stared death at the figure in the doorway as memories from ages long past flooded through my mind, memories of screaming, heat and blood.

"Catherine," I growled.

"Aw what's with the growl Ash, I thought we were friends. Speaking of which you sound different, are yo-," Catherine trailed off as I dashed at her before I went to thrust Hingure through her chest.

However she leapt backwards to evade my attack and cartwheeled backwards before leaping into the air and doing a backwards flip while spinning before landing on the ground perfectly. I walked down the stairs and drew Whispering Wind and got ready to fight then kill her.

"My, my such hatred," Catherine said before she looked to the side and leapt sideways just before there was a massive boom followed by a massive dust cloud. When it had cleared Rage was there with Blood Ruin in the ground where Catherine once stood and not far behind Evan and Elisa showed up, we surrounded her.

"Tch rude much. I thought you were supposed to be rescuing innocent girls, not trying to kill them," Catherine said.

"One, we're rescuing mares and fillies, huge difference there. Second, the stench of sin on you proves you're anything but innocent. Finally, if my brother is attacking you then there's a damn good reason for it," Rage said before he hoisted Blood Ruin onto his shoulder.

"Brother!?...Pfft hahahahahahahahahahahaha oh my that's just precious. Tell me Ashy, did you find your family on your travels and did you secretly hide your pwecious wittle bwother away during your reign of bloodshed," Catherine mocked.

"Shut up," I growled.

"Ash do you know her?" Elisa asked.

"Catherine you better leave right now or so help me God I'll tear your guts out through your cunt," I said stunning the others.

"Oooh that would be a new experiance...Red Reaper," Catherine said with amusement in her voice.

"Red Reaper?" Rage asked.

"SHUT UP!" I roared before I charged at Catherine and swung at her but she simply dodged my attack. I followed up with another and another and another but each time Catherine just dodged me.

"C'mon let's give Ash a hand," Rage called to Elisa and Evan who nodded in agreement.

"STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS!" I shouted causing the three to stop dead in their tracks while my whole body was trembling in anger. "This one...this one...this one is mine...one way or another...I'm gonna kill this fucking bitch."

"Aw, I'm so glad to see you still care enough to have me all to yourself. However I believe I should be going back, ta ta Ash. We'll have to finish this another time, y'know when you haven't been gender swapped," Catherine said before she blew a kiss at me. She then left through a portal she created, not giving me a second to attack and causing me to scream in rage just as I felt my magic spiking as black lightning started to streak across the sky.

I managed to calm down to a degree before I left to go back onto the Pale Horse and let the others finish up and when they did we were gone...I didn't say a word the entire trip back.

---

Hours Later Aephoceria Castle Docks Third Person P.O.V.

---

The Pale Horse landed upon the docks and rested there before the gangplank was lowered and the first one to get off ,still wearing full armor, was Ash.

"Hey Ash, how's your day fighting as a girl?" Soarin asked teasingly.

However Ash didn't respond and just walked past, as if they weren't even there and they all felt something was truly wrong.

"He hasn't said a word since we left Trottingham," Rage said as he, Elisa and Evan helped rescued victims down the ramp.

"What happened?" Faust asked as she and the group walked over to them causing Elisa, Evan and Rage to look at each other.

"We're not sure ourselves," Evan said.

"I recorded everything, we'll meet in the throne room," Rage said.

A few minutes later everyone was present in the throne room and watching the recording Rage made were they saw the anger Ash displayed during and after the encounter.

"Whoa, I know I've seen Ash angry before but this was different," Rainbow said.

"Well I certainly don't like this bitch that much either," Nightmare growled.

"Same," Luna said with miff in her voice.

"I bet it's because she got a little flirty with Ash," Cadence said.

"Of course that's the reason!" Luna and Moon shouted.

"Well judging from how this sounds I think Ash may have known this...Catherine longer then you two. Perhaps he was in a relationship before he met you two," Chrysalis said.

"She's right, Ash has been around for a long time. He might have had many partners," Celestia said.

"...I'll admit the thought has crossed my mind many times but whenever I ask Ash he just gives me the same answer," Luna said.

"And that is?" Cadence asked.

"All he said was 'my love for you is as constant as the stars' before he changes the subject," Luna said.

"Awww," Cadence and Rarity cooed.

"As romantic as that sounded I'm concerned about what Miss Catherine called him, Red Reaper," Starswirl said announcing his presence to the group.

"Starswirl, when did you get here?" Twilight asked.

"For some time now. I came in here expecting to find Ash and ask about a private place to review some old notes of mine but it seems some grave misfortune has befallen him judging from that...recording, as you all put it," Starswirl said.

*ahem* "Yes, what has happened was something that put everyone on edge. Us three especially since we were there with Ash and felt the kinda power we were dealing with," Rage said as he gestured to Elisa and Evan.

"What did you feel?" Faust asked leaving a long silence hanging in the air.

"It...was like nothing I've ever encountered before," Rage said.

"It felt like I had just opened a door and stepped out into a blizzard that could freeze me instantly," Evan said.

"I've never felt that kind of darkness before. I swear I felt like I was drowning in it while someone was peeling back all my skin," Elisa said with a shudder.

"There was a tremendous amount of power within her yet there were so many sins behind it. It was far worse then any black magic and corruption then I've ever felt in a single lifetime. If I'm being honest we may have been in well over our heads when we decided to attack, I'm honestly glad she left," Rage said.

"And the fact that Ash growled and shouted at her in outrage when she had that power in her is nuts and a death wish," Elisa said.

"If he knows her then it is most likely he knows what that magic is and where it came from," Starswirl said.

"Agreed but judging by the state he's in, it will be awhile before anyone can get a word out of him," Luna said.

"Yeah I don't know about you guys and I don't say this often, but something tells me it would be best if we stay away from him or her as it is for now. We all saw just how ticked he/she was when he/she got off the ship," Spitfire said.

"Ash is mad hmm, maybe a party can fix it," Pinkie said.

"I don't think a party is the cure for this Pinkie but it is a nice thought," Rarity said

"We'll give Ash some time to right himself before we go see him. But as for now we have many caribou victims to tend to first," Faust said

Agreeing on the topic everyone went their separate ways but Ash never showed for dinner, not even to return to his bed. The only way anyone knew he was still in the castle was because of the haunting sound of a flute echoing through the lonely halls. Once dawn approached everyone split up to find Ash. They looked from his personal study, to the training grounds, to the dungeons. After an hour of searching Pinkie Pie found him deep within the mountain in a giant chamber with a dark abyss below. Rising out of the abyss was a pillar of rock with a grand gazebo sitting atop it and connected to that pillar was a set of stairs with braziers on the sides all lit with Greek Fire. Going around the massive chamber were balconies all elegantly carved into the mountain. The greatest source of light was daylight pouring in from massive holes in the ceiling and hanging from the ceiling were massive iron bells. This place was where Ash had his coronation and where he laid his parents to rest. Pinkie bounced her way up the steps to the gazebo and over to Ash who was back to being a male and was holding a set of roses. He was staring at the coffin that held his parents bodies before she texted everyone the details.

"I found you, I found you!" Pinkie shouted as she bounced around Ash with glee.

"Guess so," Ash said his eyes never leaving the coffin.

Pinkie then paused mid-bounce as she noticed something. She just stayed there, studying Ash's face before her eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock.

"Nice job Pinks, ya found him," Rainbow said as she and the others arrived but stopped when they saw the state the party mare was in. "Uh Pinkie, ya feeling alright?"

"He's...he's frowning," Pinkie said as she pointed at Ash while tears began to fill her eyes.

"Uh Pinkie, no disrespect but we've seen Ash frown before.

"But this frown is worse...it's five centimetres longer then he's ever frowned before," Pinkie wailed.

Everyone stared at the pink mare as she cried, unsure of what to do while Faust walked over to Ash and noticed the pile of dead and withered roses that were placed around the coffin. She then looked at the bundle in Ash's arms that looked like theyhave already started to wither.

"Have you been placing all these roses here?" Faust asked.

"Before my demise I made it a habit of placing a single rose here whenever I wished to talk to them and get some secret off my chest. I've also become this grave's caretaker while I was at it," Ash said.

"And there's a bunch of roses this time," Faust said.

"It's for my darkest secret...to ask forgiveness for my sins," Ash said before he placed the roses by the coffin. "I believe Rage, Elisa and Evo told you of what happened or at least shown you?"

"Yes," Moon said as she walked up to Faust's side.

"And now you all wish to know?" Ash asked, finally turning to face them and showing the bags beneath his eyes from the lack of sleep.

"Ash who the hell was that Catherine?" Rage asked and for a while Ash said nothing and looked to be having a silent argument with himself.

"If I show you this...there is no going back, you can't un-see or un-hear this. You'll experience horrors the likes of which are unimaginable and will mentally scar you," Ash said firmly but no one backed down so Ash raised his arm and with a flick of the wrist the group vanished.

---

Hall of Armors Ash's P.O.V

---

We appeared in the Hall of Armors before the locked wooden door. I raised a hand to the door before I froze at the memories behind it. I took a breath and waved my hand across the door and suddenly over fifty rune locks appeared on the door before they unlocked.

"That many locks for this?" Soarin asked.

"You'll understand once we're inside," I said before I opened the door.

Inside it was dark and cold and had a rotten stink to it. Suddenly dark blue flames on torches lit up the room, which was like the others however this place looked more like a prison. In the middle of the room, upon the pedestal, was a set of armor that was chained in position with several shackles and on the bindings were several pieces of paper with seals on them, all in a different language or fashion making the armor look like a prisoner. The sight of the armour caused a few in the group to shriek or yelp in terror because the armor was a mishmash of silver bones. Leg bones surrounded the legs while arm bones surrounded the arms. A pair of skulls sat on the knees while a set of rib cages covered the thighs and the chest. There was also a skull siting on the waist acting like a belt buckle while another two skulls acted as pauldrons and a pair of spikes were sticking out of the eye sockets. On each finger and toe was a claw and running down the armor's back was a blood red cloak and hood that was over a wolf skull helmet. The under armor was black and burnt like the damned in hell.

"Everyone, meet Red Reaper," I said.

"Oh...well...darling that armor is certainly...intimidating, but I love the shade of red on the cloak," Rarity said as she approached the armor and pulled at the cloak.

"Really well what if I told you that cape was actually blood turned into cloth," I said which caused Rarity to turn pale and froze which worried me. "Rarity?"

"I think she's gonna need a minute," Thunder said before he pulled Rarity from the armor. Twilight then summoned a blanket and wrapped it around Rarity.

"I remember this," Rage said as he gestured to the sword from the asylum in Hollow Shades. "My guess this thing is made from body parts."

"That and this entire armor is made of body parts. The bones are just coated in silver and the under armor is flesh that's been burned beyond recognition," I said shocking everyone to stare at me in horror.

"Ash why do you have this armour and why is it made of blood and body parts?" Celestia asked. I could see she was struggling to not be sick and I couldn't blame her.

I then walked over to the walls and pulled a memory crystal from it before I placed it into the projector. Our scene was changed to a battlefield with a castle standing tall and proud with towering walls around it. Soldiers were charging towards the structure armed with ladders, siege towers and a battering ram was rolling towards the castle while flaming rocks from catapults and arrows were descending upon the soldiers.

"Where are we?" Twilight asked.

"Europe, thirtenth centuar. A time of savagery, swords, blood and the beginning of the fall of honor. A time where I was a very different man," I said as I pointed to a flaming rock coming down on a group of soldiers and when it hit, only one managed to dodge the ball of death.

The soldier rolled across the ground and his helmet fell off his head, revealing myself. Most of the armor I wore back then was made of leather and cloth but the chest, shoulder and helmet were made of metal. It was nothing fancy or glamorous, just dull grey and looked like something scavenged from a scrapyard. There was a torn dull white scarf wrapped around my neck and my weapon of choice was a two handed longsword but the blade itself was three times as thick and wide as a regular longsword.

"You look so young Ash, what age were you?" Moon asked.

"Ninteen, I was a lone mercenary at the time. Self taught in the ways of the sword. I used to mimic others when they fought and I took jobs where I could so I could eat," I said as we watched my younger self climb a siege tower and wait for the bridge to lower.

When the bridge lowered a flood of soldiers rushed out but the castle soldiers held them back. I used the soldiers I was fighting beside as stepping stones to jump from one to another before I came down on the enemy and cleaved through them. Soon the main gate was broken down and the main army rushed in.

"Bring me the general's head and you shall be handsomely rewarded!" a man on horseback wearing decorated armor shouted.

Just like that, many soldiers charged forward, all eager to get said reward. However the charge was halted by a large armored behemoth wearing full plate armor wielding a war mace. He towered over everyone like I did during the three way fraction war when I was a Warden.

"It's Sir Bayard the Titan."

"Oh gods, we're done for."

"I heard he fought a bear and won all on his own."

"I heard he killed thirty men at once."

"Who's that, he seems to have broken the troop's morale," Chrysalis asked.

"Sir Bayard the Titan, a legendary knight and well respected by the kingdom he serves. He saved the people of a village who were being raided by bandits by staying behind and giving them a chance to escape which earned him his position.

"So which one of you bastards wants to taste my legendary mace or have your balls shrunk down to the size of peas," Sir Bayard cried out

"What are you cowards waiting for, he's just one man. Quit your dawdling and defeat him already," the guy on horseback shouted.

"Look whose talking, barking orders to fight someone when you can do it yourself, cowardly worm," Moon said as she glared at the guy on horseback.

"You go."

"No way you do it."

"You must be joking, we're not getting paid enough for this."

"It'd be a slaughter."

I could see the man on horseback was becoming angrier and angrier at the sight before I looked and saw me push through the crowd gaining everyone's attention. I then drove my sword into the ground and stared at Sir Bayard, sizing him up while whispers about who I was, that I was just a boy, that I was gonna get killed or asking about the size of my sword echoed the courtyard.

"Ten pieces," I said.

"What?" the man on horseback asked.

*sigh* "It's what I want for this giant oaf. Were mercenaries not knights, at the end of the day you can't dine on glory," I said causing Sir Bayard to shake with fury.

"What, you dare disrespect Sir Bayard!" a soldier from the opposite side shouted.

"Your gonna get crushed real easy squirt!" another cried.

"Hmpf very well boy, defeat him and seven silver coins shall be yours," the man on horseback said.

"Tch cheap bastard...alright then," I said before I picked up my sword and walked forward to face Bayard. I then took a stance with my longsword in my right hand.

"Hm...that was a big mistake boy, you'll regret this when you lose your life for seven piece-," Sir Bayard started but I had dashed forward and attacked, forcing Sir Bayard onto the defensive.

"One handed," Rage said.

"What was that ?" Big Mac asked.

"It's younger Ash, he's wielding a weapon that should be handled with two hands yet he's only using one and forcing Sir Bayard back. Plus, despite the weight of the sword, he's wielding it as if it were a knife," Rage said.

"Hey yeah, you sure were strong back then Ash," Rainbow said but I didn't respond.

"Alright boy I've let you have your fun," Sir Bayard said before he pushed my attack away and reeled back to deliver a final blow. I quickly decided between going for the opening or defending.

The mace came down and I blocked the attack before he went for another attack but I aimed at his waist that time. We then attacked and Sir Bayard's mace stuck my helm and tore off a part of the face plate, revealing one of my eyes as a lot of blood began to fall. My blade struck the side his body, breaking through the armor and causing every soldier to gasp before I pulled my blade out of his side and readied for a final strike.

"No wait...I yield to the better man...please have mer-," Sir Bayard pleaded but my blade split his head open before I kicked him over and withdrew my sword. At first there was only silence for several minutes before the invading force cheered for my victory.

"He asked for mercy, why did you have to kill him!" Twilight shouted.

"As I said before Twilight, I was a very different man back then," I said emotionesly.

"Okay Ash, that's all well and good but I gotta ask, what does this have to do with the armor?" Comet asked.

"It's because of them," I said as I pointed at a group of soldiers wearing full armor standing on the battlements watching the fight. Each soldiers head was concealed by a helmet designed as a dangerous animal of some kind, ranging from a hawk, a bear, a dragon, a snake, a crocodile, a spider and a tiger.

"Who are they?" Spike asked.

"They're the leaders of a mercenary band called the Apex Predators," I said while I glared at the dragon soldier.

The battle then continued but the defending army still put up a fight. It was then that the leaders of the Apex Predators decided to join the battle while the dragon soldier stayed up top to watch. I was busy down below, cutting down the enemy when I felt a pressence to my left. I jumped to the right and when I looked I saw the tip of a spear hovering in place where I once stood and holding the spear was the man dressed as a crocodile. He then spun the weapon around and prepared to strike. I had gotten into a stance when suddenly a pair of enemy horsemen charged at me from two opposite directions, one closer then the other and both armed with swords. But instead of panicking I stood still and remained calm, the man in the crocodile helm seemed to be waiting to see what would happen while keeping his guard up. When the closer of horsemen prepared to strike, I was ready. I deflected the attack and slashed at his chest all within the blink of an eye, killing the first rider. I then quickly got on the other side of the second horseman and leapt onto the wreck of a burning catapult before leaping off it. I swung at the second horseman, slicing the soldiers head in two from top to bottom and when I looked at the crocodile soldier, I could see he was spooked.

I then charged at the soldier and swung at him and he barely blocked my attack. We each exchanged blows against the other but I was easily overpowering him till I knocked his trident away. But when I moved to finish the soldier an arrow became lodged into my right shoulder blade. When I looked, the soldier dressed as a spider stood there before dropping a crossbow and drawing her duel swords.

"Wait a second, that chest plate and those swords. Is that-?" Rage asked but trailed off.

"Catherine," I confirmed.

My past self growled before switching targets and charged at Catherine. When I went to attack she went to block but the force from my attack sent her flying before landing in the dirt. I then charged at her before I leapt into the air and went to finish her but a flail hit me in the chest knocking me into the dirt on my back. I saw a giant about the same size as Sir Bayard standing over me prepared to deliver another strike but I managed to roll out of the way while grabbing my sword before I took another hit. When I stood up I saw I was surrounded by most of the Apex's leaders.

"Dammit there's no end to them," I said.

"That will do."

My opponents stopped and looked at the voice and I saw it was the dragon soldier walking towards us before he stopped before me.

"Careful Geralt he's a lot stronger then he looks," Catherine said.

The two of us stared at each other; Geralt stood proud and calm while I kept my guard up and was ready to strike.

"I wish to speak, will you put up you're sword?" Geralt asked causing a few mares in the group to swoon at the sound of his voice. My response to the question was me adjusting my sword to a more comfortable stance. "Very well."

Geralt then drew his sword which was a thick bladed cavalry saber before he took a stance. Grinding my boots against the ground I charged and swung at him but he blocked my attack and didn't even flinch or falter which shocked my group. Geralt then pushed my blade and slashed at the straps holding my chest armor together before slashing my chest causing me to wince as I felt the blade even though it was just a memory.

"Ash are you alright?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yeah...It just hurts whenever I look at this," I said.

My past self was in shock at what had happened. I dropped my sword and stumbled backwards before I collapsed to my knees then fell to my side as the vision went dark and we appeared back in the armour room.

"Hey hey hey whoa whoa that it, this explains nothing!" Rainbow shouted.

"Yeah what does this have to do with that?" Gilda asked as she gestured to the crystal in my grasp before gesturing to the armor.

"Oh keep your fur on you lot, I can't just store a single memory into one crystal," I said as I exchanged the crystal in the projector for another and our surroundings changed to that of the insides of a tent.

I was slowly awakening, I looked around and saw nothing to indicate where I was. Suddenly I felt movement to my right and everyone was shocked to see a woman laying next to me with the blankets covering us. Her skin was tanned and she had short dark brown hair. I then sat up with a start throwing, the blankets off of us and showing the bandages that were wrapped around my chest and head along with revealing both our nude forms. This caused Luna and Moon to scowl at me and the woman but I held up a hand and told them to keep watching. The woman then got up before she went over to a trunk and tossed me a set of pants and a belt before she got dressed herself. So I did the same before I stood up.

"Hey who are you...And where am I?" I asked but the woman said nothing.

The woman then turned to face me before she approached me, revealing that she was a few inches shorter then me at the time. Suddenly the woman punched me right in the area that was covered by bandages, knocking the wind out of me along with the shock of pain that rushed through my body causing me to collapse to my knees.

"You bastard, Geralt should have just left you to die there," the woman said.

"W-why you little-," I started but didn't get to finish thanks to another blow to the chest which caused the bandages to turn red from the re-opened wound.

"And that was for Jason," the woman said before she stormed out of the tent.

"Dammit...you damn bitch!" I seethed before I ran to the exit.

Once I swept aside the tent flaps I scanned the area and was greeted by a camp beneath the edge of a shady grove of trees. Around me I saw dozens and dozens of men going about their business either working or relaxing even playing and each one wore the pelt or carried an item that belonged to a creature. The leaders dressed as example: the pelt of a bear, the teeth or hide of a crocodile or the image of a spider placed on their armor.

"You should be grateful to Emily."

The voice came from beside me and when I looked I saw a young man bout the same age as I was with long dirty blonde hair done into little braids. His clothes were simple and I saw him using a knife to carve something into a bow he was holding

"You had lost so much blood you started shivering, she lay by your side for two days to keep you warm," the man said.

"She what!" I shouted.

"It was on Geralt's orders said it was a woman's duty to keep a man warm," the man said.

"He said WHAT!" the mare's shouted in outrage.

"That right huh," I said as I folded my arms across my chest only to cringe in pain from the wounds on my chest.

"Name's Allen, I'm in charge of the Hawks archers," Allen said.

"I see you're awake at last."

I turned to the right and there stood a man who would fit more into a fairy tale; long white silky hair, piercing ice blue eyes and in his grasp was my sword and on his hip was his.

"Oh my Celestia, he's positively handsome," Rarity swooned.

*sigh* "Indeed," Celestia, Chrysalis and Dream Catcher agreed.

"That's a dude, I mistook him for a chick," Gilda said.

"Yeah," Rainbow said.

"I am the leader her, Geralt and your name is?" the man asked.

"It's Ash," I said after awhile before Geralt held my blade in it's sheath before him.

"A mighty weapon...though it's a bit much for me," Geralt said before he handed me my weapon. He then stepped to the side and held an arm out. "Would you care to join me for a walk?"

With a simple nod I placed the longsword on my belt before we began to walk through the camp. As we passed many soldiers, Geralt got many praises but I received scorn.

"Who are you people anyway, I know you're a mercenary band that much is certain," I said.

"Indeed, we are the Apex Predators. Have you heard of us?" Geralt asked.

"Yeah mostly rumours though, like you lot turning into vicious beasts in battle. Can't say those rumours were true though...So these are the Apex Predators huh," I said as I looked around.

"That's right," Geralt said.

Our walk then led us up to the top of a hill where we looked out over the vast countryside. It had nothing but green grass, hills and mountains for miles around and as we looked Geralt stretched his arms out with a sigh.

"A magnificent view is it not?" Geralt asked.

"Tell me something...Why save me? It would have been simpler to just leave me to die." I said as I folded my arms across my chest.

"Since I first saw you I knew I wanted you Ash," Geralt said causing my group to raise their eyebrows questioningly.

"...So does that mean you want me in that way?" I asked with a raised eyebrow but Geralt just laughed.

"I watched your fight with Sir Bayard and I must say you were terrific yet the fight was quite close. If it weren't for your helm when Sir Bayard struck you surely would have had your skull caved in," Geralt said.

"Perhaps," I said.

"I like your honesty," Geralt said with a laugh. "The way you fight speaks volumes about who you are, about loneliness and sorrow and anger and the willingness to put yourself in hams way, shows you're not afraid to die. I find you fascinating beyond words that's why I want you to join our band."

"And if I say no?" I asked.

"You refuse?" Geralt asked with surprise.

"Of course I refuse, don't talk to me like you know so much about me," I said before I drew my sword. "You don't get to treat me as a friend after slashing me across the chest...We'll settle this with swords. When I win I take your life."

"I admire your confidence but what if I were the victor?" Geralt asked.

"Then you can have whatever you want, my sword or my ass," I said causing Rainbow and Gilda to chuckle.

"Alright in fact I rather enjoy settling things by force," Geralt said before he drew his blade

"Geralt!"

I turned and saw almost the entire camp had come to watch the show.

"Stay back...No matter what, I will have what I want," Geralt said.

"It's that superior attitude That Makes Me Want To Hurl!" I shouted before I swung at him.

Our swords clashed against each other with great speed. Each hit was solid and strong but Geralt was faster which led to him hitting me in the side of the head with his hilt before slashing me at the leg. But that didn't stop me at all instead all it did was make me angrier.

"We could always suspend our duel till you have fully recovered," Geralt said while deflecting my blows.

"Don't You Ever Shut Up!?" I roared.

I went for an uppercut strike which kicked up dirt into Geralt's eyes before I went for an overhead strike. But when I brought my blade down Geralt dodged the attack causing my sword to lodge itself into the ground. He then jumped upon the edge of my blade and held his sword against my throat.

"I enjoy the way you fight my friend but alas this is the end of our duel," Geralt said.

"Have I mentioned you talk too much cause when in battle this is the only thing you should use your mouth for," I said before I bit down on the tip of the blade.

"The Fuck!" Gilda, Rainbow, the stallions and Rage yelled.

I then tilted my blade knocking Geralt off balance before using my free hand to punch him in the solar plexus causing him to release his sword before I flung it away. Then using my left leg to kick Geralt backwards sending him rolling across the ground. I then planted my blade into the ground before I ran after him. Once Geralt began to stand up I leapt at him, reeled back a fist and punched Geralt right across the face, knocking him right onto his back.

"What's the matter, first time anyone land a blow on that pretty face of yours?" I asked as Geralt got back up.

Once he looked at me I went to strike but he stepped to my right and looped his left arm over my right shoulder and grabbed my wrist in his right hand before he pushed me to the ground. He then pushed his left elbow into my right shoulder blade and pulled back threatening to dislocate my arm while everyone cheered.

"Alright, he's pinned now!"

"Geralt's never lost a match before."

"Should've never started this fight loser."

"That's what you get."

"Whoa for a guy with a girlish look he's pretty tough," Gilda said.

"Won't argue with that," Discord said.

"Wow that was some fight," Pinkie said.

"Hmpf," I laughed.

"What's so funny?" Rarity asked.

"Keep watching," I said.

"That hurt. You put up a good fight my friend but this is where it ends otherwise I'll be forced to dislocate your shoulder," Geralt said.

"Don't count me out yet," I grunted.

Using my legs I rolled in the opposite direction Geralt was in surprising the man and throwing him off me surprising everyone. I got up and managed to wrap my hands around Geralt and began to strangle him. Some of the mercenaries tried to help but the tanned skin woman and the giant dressed in bear armor from before stopped everyone. I could feel Geralt's life slipping away however a punch to my crotch from Geralt shut me down and I collapse to my side. At the time I was in too much pain to even move and while I lay there Geralt had got up, got his sword and aimed it at me.

"A wonderful fight but I believe this ends all now," Geralt said.

"That...was a cheap trick...you asshole," I said while wincing in pain.

"In battle there are no cheap tricks...just survival," Geralt said as he sheathed his blade and kneeled down to me.

I then sat up but then Geralt softly placed his hands on the sides of my face and got me to look him in the eyes and he smiled.

"From now on Ash you belong to me," Geralt said before he stood up.

"You mean it?" asked what looked like a boy of fourteen causing Celestia to raise an eyebrow.

"From now on Ash here is a member of the Apex Predators," Geralt announced causing many to cheer but not everyone appeared to be excited about it. Just then Geralt tossed a small bag towards me. "Your reward and pay for your previous services, six copper coins and ten silver pieces for Sir Bayard."

"Ten?" I asked.

"Your former commander generously changed his mind," Geralt said before everyone left leaving both me and Geralt behind while I sat upon a rock.

"So why me?" I asked.

"I'm not sure I follow," Geralt said.

"Why me? I bet there were plenty of others who could outmatch me in a fight like defeating Sir Bayard, if they had the balls to try I mean," I said causing Geralt to chuckle.

"Actually Ash, this may seem random but, I will need your help to achieve a dream of mine." Geralt said causing me to raise an eyebrow at him. "Ash...I will have my own kingdom one day, not now but one day," Geralt said before everything went dark and we returned to the armor room.

"Well he's certainly ambitious I'll give him that," Chrysalis said.

"That boy...he looked so young," Celestia said.

"Hm...Oh you mean Marco, yeah he was thirteen back then and he was actually *chuckle* quite a skilled commander for his age. Great kid but he took his first life at the age of nine," I said as I picked out a new crystal.

"What?" Celestia asked sternly.

"Hey don't pin this on me, he was the new recruit before I was. Besides back then I took my first life when I was seven," I said as I picked out a different crystal but when I looked at the others they were shattered in shock. "Yes, there's a lot of drama and stuff in my life."

"Y'know, something bout that Geralt fella saying you belong to him don't sit right with me," Applejack said.

"I don't blame ya but when I looked at him, I...felt that I had found my place in life...It's like that feeling you get when your around Celestia or Faust, that...mothers warm gaze feeling you know," I said causing everyone to nod or verbally agree causing Faust and Celestia to smile and giggle before I put the crystal in place.

The view changed to that of the inside of a tent where I lay tossing and turning on the ground from a nightmare before my eyes snapped open. I looked around, sat up and rubbed my eyes when suddenly a load of footsteps stopped before the tent I was in.

"Are you sure about killing this guy Rawlin?"

"Don't you chicken out on me here, you all said you don't like him here either," a man who I assumed at the time was Rawlin.

"Yeah but...it's just this guy's insanely strong, he almost beat Geralt and...he's a very scary man...and kinda mean."

"Listen there are seven of us here and he's only one guy, not to mention he's both asleep and injured from the fight," Rawlin said.

"Cowards," Moon seethed.

"Oh goody a couple of insects to squash," My past self said as I unsheathed my longsword.

"Don't do it Rawlin."

Stopping in my tracks I peeked through the tent flap at the group outside and saw seven men and the woman from earlier, Emily along with Catherine.

"Even if he is injured he's well beyond your skill, I saw you shitting in your armor when you faced him. If it weren't for Catherine here you'd be dead," Emily said.

"Tch don't pretend you like him Emily not after what he did to Jason," Rawlin said but Emily quickly drew a dagger and aimed it at his throat.

"If you don't mind, these pests came to my tent to assassinate me...Should it not be fair I split their bodies open with this," I said as I showed them my sword.

Just like that the men ran so I turned to the two woman.

"So you were awake all that time huh?" Emily asked.

"Those pests had the stealth of a stampede," I said as I shouldered my weapon.

"That's true, they're more used to running across plains then assassinations which are more my speciality...so your the new one, Ash was it," Cathrine asked causing me to nod. "You didn't tell me he was as handsome as Geralt."

"Catherine," Emily said.

"I suppose this means I owe you double hm," I said causing the women to look at me.

"Well this is new," Catherine said.

"You owe me nothing, I was only following Geralt's orders," Emily said.

"Regardless of the reason you could have refused yet you still did it so here," I said before I tossed Emily a small bag before retreating back into my tent.

I speed up the memory to a point where it was a few weeks after that incident. During that time we were officially hired to participate in a war. When I played the memory it was night and we were in a different castle getting ready to go on a raid. I saw the commanders were all in their armor Geralt wore the dragon armor, Allen wore hawk armor, Marco wore the snake armor, Emily was the tiger, Rawlin in his crocodile armor, Catherine in her spider armor and finally the last one, the giant, still wearing the bear armor.

"Listen up tonight's assault on the enemy camp will begin with us following the river that will take us behind the camp to were our main objective is, the enemies provisions. Once there we will set the provisions aflame with torches before chargingback here through the enemies defences and the road through the woods. Now this road is a straight and narrow one so I will be appointing Ash Blade, Emily and Catherine as the rear guard tonight, if they accept of course," Geralt said causing everyone to raise their voices in some way to me being in the rear guard.

"Rear guard?" Twilight asked.

"It means that the one at the back of the group has to protect everyone from the enemy chasing after them. Most units like this consist of at lest ten men but to assign three people they must be very good and may be some kind of test for Ash or Geralt actually believes he can do it," Rage said.

"Wooo boy that there is a real important responsibility," Applejack said.

"We accept," Emily and Catherine said

"Well Ash you know the stakes of this mission, are you up for it?" Geralt asked.

"Pfft you could of at least made this more challenging," I said with a smirk.

With that we set out and I fast forward to a point we were close to the camp and a gale had blown in rattling the trees masking the sounds of our horses. As we trudged through the rapid flowing river suddenly Geralt signalled us to mount our horses so we did before we galloped towards the camp.

"Hm interesting," Soarin said.

"What is?" Comet asked.

"I just noticed that the wind seems to be blowing in the same direction as they're heading," Soarin said.

"Yeah so?" Caramel asked.

"Think about it, Geralt said they were circling around the camp before attacking from behind with fire. If they set a fire behind the camp with the winds blowing towards it what exactly do you think will happen?" Soarin asked.

"The wind will spread the fire into the camp," Spike said.

"Wait, it can't be that easy can it?" Twilight said.

"Yeah I thought humans couldn't predict the weather like that back then," Applejack said.

"They couldn't but Geralt managed to do it. He was a brilliant tactician that took every single element into account and I learned much from him at the time," I said before we watched the Apex Predators set the fire before they charged through the enemy camp while killing a few along the way.

"Flawlessly done," Celestia commented.

We then started on our dash through the forest with me, Catherine and Emily at the rear ready to defend everyone. Suddenly a cavalry of twenty riders appeared from behind, most likely wanting revenge for the raid.

"It appears it's our turn now," I said as I drew my longsword and we pulled back to fight the enemy.

Once they were in range the three of us began to kill off as many as we could but reinforcements kept coming in. I saw Catherine get dragged from her horse so I rode over to her and with a swing of my blade, I cut through a row of enemy soldiers before I turned to the two women.

"Go, get out of here!" I yelled.

"What and leave you here!?" Catherine demanded.

"No offence but with you two here I can't let loose," I said.

"You think this is the time to act like a rabid animal, we stand together!" Emily shouted.

"Sorry but you don't have an option here, Yah!" I shouted as I slapped Emily's horse on the rump sending it into a gallop while Catherine turned to me. "Don't just stare at me, go!"

"Don't you die you hear me and that's an order!" Catherine shouted before she rode off.

With them both gone I began to cut the enemy down before I lead the enemy away from the road galloping through the trees. Once I was certain I was far enough I brought my horse to a halt before I dismounted and sent it back to the others. I then turned around and stared at the enemy who was surprised by me standing my ground but continued to charge at me. When they were close enough I cut three of them down and continued to cut down more. Each strike broke through whatever armor they wore and each weapon shattered against my blade. As the first wave was killed the rest paused before they dismounted and surrounded me.

"Well, well, well a single soldier all by himself."

I looked at the source of the voice and saw a man on a small rise wearing gilded white and gold armor on a white horse ride into the clearing. His head was exposed so I could see the man was handsome and had blonde hair. Now that I think about it the dick reminded me of Blueblood a little too much.

"So it seems...you brought out your entire camp just for me, I'm flattered," I said.

"Pah after that stunt you all pulled, I'll be certain to make you suffer for that and I'll start with you. You'll get to experience hell, a secret torture technique called the one hundred year convulsive death," the man said.

"Wow you certainly know how to hold a grudge but I only see that happening if you can beat me," I said.

"Hahahahaha perhaps if you look, you'll notice you're outnumbered a hundred to one," the man said causing his men to cheer. "Tell me, you're a member of the Apex Predators are you not. Is it true you have a pair of women to lead you?"

"What's it to you?" I asked.

"The battlefield is a sacred place for men, a couple of women pretending to be soldiers disgusts me. I plan to show those two their proper place by turning them into whores for my men," the man said causing every mare's eyes to narrow at him.

"Sure that's a wise idea cause those two can be a real pair of bitches. They'll tear you apart and enjoy it," I said with a grin.

"Grr I've had enough of you, I Want His Head!" the man shouted causing all all the troops to charge at me.

One man wielding an axe tried to take me out with an overhead strike but I just stepped to the side to avoid the swing and watched it plant itself into the ground. I then pulled my right arm back and swung at the man while letting out a roar and watched the blade cleave through him and four others despite all the armor they wore. I managed to sever the torso from the waist and legs from each soldier, spraying their blood and guts across the forest, shocking every soldier to a halt while I glared at them. Even my group was stunned by the power behind that swing despite me being a mere mortal back then.

"Don't just stand there he may be strong but he's just one man, use your crossbows if you must!" the commander yelled

Just like that a line of archers formed and fired at me but I used my sword to beat away the arrows. Suddenly a man ran up behind me and leapt into the air to finish me off with a spear but I spun around clockwise to avoid the spear before I used the flat side of my blade to send the opponent flying at the row of arches. While he was flying at them, arrows that were already fired at me hit him instead. Men then charged at me in all directions forcing me to quickly kill my opponents before moving onto another and so on till the charged halted and I didn't even appear to be out of breath.

"Damn, the commander looks like a steaming kettle," Rainbow laughed while pointing at the red faced commander.

"Incompetent fools...Gregory!"

Suddenly a massive armored behemoth wearing the thickest armor I ever saw back then walked out of the woods. His footsteps made a heavy thump with each step. His helm was shaped like a monster but his eyes were looking through the fang filled mouth and had a crazed look to them and in his hands was a massive spiked ball and chain. He also had a large round shield on his left arm and he was making a grizzly groan/growling sound.

"Whoa he's big," Pinkie commented.

"Indeed and I don't see any opening in that armor," Celestia continued.

"Then he must be rather slow," Nightmare said adding her two bits.

"This is Gregory, the strongest man in my corp. He's not much for words but is willing to kill whoever get's in his way. His armor is also four times thicker then a normal soldiers so its absolutely indestructible. On top of that his great flail can crush the head of a bison flat with a single blow. If it were to hit a main there would be nothing left but bloody flesh. I'm done showing mercy, show them what you can really do Gregory."

With that Gregory charged down the rise towards me while shouting something I couldn't understand and swinging his massive flail around. As he charged at me his flail hit several trees and a boulder, destroying them in one blow.

"He may be big and wear strong armor but he also appears to be rather clumsy," Nightmare said.

"And that makes him even more dangerous...And why the hell are you just standing there at that time all calm, cool and collected. Even I would be a least a little nervous," Rage said.

"Cause I knew I could take the guy and win," I said while pointing at the memory.

When he was close enough Gregory sent the flail flying at me at a terrific speed but I deflected the blow sending it flying at the enemies that surrounded me and true to the commander's word, the flail reduced the men to a pile of bloody flesh. While everyone was stunned by the ability to deflect such an attack I charged forward, leapt into the air above Gregory and brought my blade down but Gregory raised his shield to defend himself. Instead of my sword bouncing off the shield, I cut through it along with Gregory's armor, his arm, his helm, his head and continued down till I reached his chest before I kicked Gregory's body off my blade earning horrified gasps from everyone.

"What...no, that's not...possible," the commander said.

"It appears...that I've let you insects scurry around long enough...but now...You're All Gonna Die!" I roared before I charged at the enemy.

I then fast forward the scene to show it was dawn and a group of the Apex Predators led by Geralt, Emily, Catherine, Marco and Allen were walking through the forest calling my name. Eventually they stumbled upon a disturbing sight, bodies were strewn about all over the place all covered in blood, some missing limbs or half of their body.

"Oh my god...Is this real, there's gotta be at least one hundred men here," Allen said as they walked past the bodies.

"Are you saying Ash did this all by himself? Marco asked in shock.

"Ash, are you here!?" Geralt shouted.

"Over here I found him!" a soldier shouted drawing everyone over to him

When the group arrived the sight was horrific cause there, in the center of the mass, was a small hill of bodies. At the foot of the hill, on what looked like a throne made of bodies, was me. My sword was broken but still in my grip, I had three arrows embedded in my body and blood was everywhere.

"Ash!" Marco shouted when he saw me.

"No way."

"Those wounds look fatal."

"You think he's alive?"

"Ash!" Catherine cried as she ran to me and began to shake me hoping to rouse me. "Ash I know you can hear me. I gave you an order not to die dammit you hear me. So get up or else I'm going to kick your ass," Catherine said but no response came. "Ash!"

"Quit it," I whispered in a raspy voice as I reached up to grab one of Catherine's arms. "Please you're not exactly helping the pain," I said as I sat up and opened my eyes to look at everyone.

Suddenly some laughter echoed from the group in relief that I was alive while Marco, and surprisingly Emily, cried tears of joy that I was alive while Catherine smiled in relief and released my shoulders. Geralt then approached me so I lifted my left hand to wave but then noticed an arrow embedded in my hand but Geralt only smiled.

"Amazing."

"This guy can't even be human."

"Fools thought it would be impossible to lose to a single man."

"With Ash as our ally the Predators have nothing to fear, he can slay a hundred men on his own," Allen cried.

"Let's hear it for the hundred man slayer!"

"Yeah!"

Later we were back at the Apex Predators camp. It was night and everyone was partying like there was no tomorrow but I was sitting alone atop a hill, sitting on a rock glancing at my broken sword.

"This sucks," I said

"Wow they sure look like they're having a good time," Pinkie said.

"Hey Ash!"

I looked at the source of the voice and saw Marco, Allen and the giant of our group approaching me. He had white skin, ginger hair and beard and he seemed like more of a gentle giant.

"What are you doing up here Ash, gossiping with the birds?" Allen asked.

"The stars actually," I said under my breath.

"Well anyhow follow us, our party isn't as lively without our hero," Allen said.

"Huh hero?" I asked.

"The celebration you may have been hearing down there is in honor of you," Allen said.

"Hmpf I think I'll stay up h-Hey, what are you doing!" I cried as I was picked up by the giant and placed upon his shoulder on my back. "Put me down!" I yelled while I elbowed the giant right in the face.

"Oooo," Marco, Allen and the others said as they saw blood leak from the giant's nose.

"Let's go," the giant said in a deep voice before he walked down the hill with me still on his shoulder, screaming at him to put me down till we made it to the party where everyone laughed at my situation.

"I said let me down you thick headed bastard!" I shouted before I was suddenly dropped before the man.

"I am Giff," the man said as he set me down.

"Don't you ever-," I started before a mug was brought to my face by a smiling Giff.

"Now drink," Giff said.

"Everyone toast to the hundred man slayer," Allen cheered.

And just like that everyone raised their cup in praise before I took a drink.

"Everyone I have an announcement," Geralt said as he stood up gaining everyone's attention. "This celebration is indeed about our brash new friend. Which is why I have decided to pick this moment to announce a new commander to our ranks and it is, with no surprise, Ash."

The cheers rose but doubled in volume as mugs were raised to me.

"So what will it be Captain Ash of the Wolf Raiders?" Geralt asked as he raised his mug to me.

I remained still and silent for a good thirty seconds before I raised my mug and nodded in agreement. With that we all partied on into the night before the scene went dark.

"Captain of the Wolf Raiders, I mean seriously dude. What is it with you and wolves?" Soarin asked while I just shrugged.

"Y'know Alga believed in spirit animals and that everyone had them. She believed Ash's would be a wolf," Faust smiled.

"Huh I guess that explains a lot," I said to myself.

"Okay so we get that the leaders...actually most of the leaders, of the Apex Predators were your friends. But I'm still not seeing the reason why they are connected to that armor and why this place has been kept under so much security," Rage said.

*sigh* "It was a couple of years after I became Wolf Commander of the Apex Predators. We were doing well in the war, we were even raised to the peerage as noble knights. But there was an incident that involved our group to fight on two fronts. Geralt, along with his and half of our troops, were sent to hold off an enemy advance while the rest of us were sent to knock out an enemies foothold in our land. We succeeded but when we rejoined the others they informed us that Geralt had been captured by the enemy. So we organised a plan to get him out by secretly mapping the layout of the castle he was being held in and with a little...'cooperation' from the original designers of the castle we found some secret passages to use to our advantage," I said as I picked out a crystal and placed it into the projector.

The room changed to a dark corridor, abandoned save for a single man wearing the enemy nation's armor carrying a lantern and a spear. When the soldier disappeared around a corner a single slab rose from the ground and was moved to the side before figures rose from the new hole in the ground. The armor indicated that it was the commanders of the Apex Predators but there was only five. The first was Emily followed by Allen then Catherine then Giff and finally the last was a new figure. The armor was a dark grey and covered the figure in plate mail from head to toe. The helm was shaped like a wolf's head and a dark cape was draped across the figure's back with a wolf pelt placed upon the figure's shoulders. On his belt was a large sword like his old one however this one ,on each end of the cross guard, had a pair of small spikes for impaling.

"Whoa loving the armor Ash, even make the pelt look good on ya," Spike said.

We followed Emily down the hallways and down to the dungeons which was a giant circular pit and when you looked down you couldn't see the bottom. Stairs spiralled down the walls and carved into the walls were cells behind reinforced siege oak doors while many screams echoed around the room.

"If these people wish to inspire fear, they did well," Moon said as she looked around.

"Cheery place," Allen said..

"Kinda makes you wonder how far down it goes," Catherine said.

It was then I stopped and looked around. I spotted a rock the size of my palm before I picked it up.

"What are you doing Ash?" Allen asked.

"Testing a theory," I said before I dropped the rock and stood silent.

Everyone was silent, no one said a word, even the screaming had gone silent. Everyone listened for the sound of the rock but nothing came.

"Guess it really is bottomless," I said before I continued onward.

We walked on, passing several more cells when suddenly the clanking of rock against rock echoed from down below.

"That's a really deep hole," Catherine said.

"Don't lose focus, we're here to get Geralt out of here," Emily said before we went on our way.

After going down a few more stairs we made it to the last cell right before the stairs crumble away. Removing the dead lock from the door I opened it and we were greeted with a horrifyingly awful stench causing everyone to cover their face from the smell before we entered. We were then greeted by the sight of blood both fresh and old coating every surface in the room.

"Geralt, you here!?" Emily called into the room before we entered the cell while I shined a lantern about.

"There!" I shouted as I pointed the lantern at the back wall.

I then rushed over and upon a closer look I saw Geralt was chained to the wall. His body was bare except for his helm on his head and I saw his body was skinny and frail from starvation. I also saw his body was covered in first degree burns and the tendons in his ankles and wrists were cut.

"No," I whispered as I knelt beside Geralt and began to remove the chains. "The helm's locked on him."

"Let me," Allen said before he came over to me and picked the lock on the helm.

Once the lock came off and we removed the helm, Allen and me gasped at the sight which caused the others, including my group, to try and approach.

"No don't!...Stay back," I said causing everyone to freeze while we put the helm back on Geralt as tears slowly filled my eyes. "What the hell did they do to you Geralt?" Suddenly Geralt's right arm moved and draped it upon my shoulder acknowledging that I was here and that he was happy to see me.

"Allen, hold him up for me," I said before Allen took Geralt in his arms while I removed my cape and wrapped it around Geralt's frail body. Suddenly there was a terrific boom that came from the door closing before the deadbolt slid into place locking us in. Then an eye hole in the door opened revealing quite an ugly face.

"Oh the door's locked how will you escape now."

"Is this your doing?" I asked as I stood up. "Answer me, are you the one who did this to my friend?"

"Indeed I am, it's not every day one get's to work with such fine materials but your friend there wasn't work but pure pleasure. I sliced the tendons in both his wrists and ankles so he couldn't escape and whenever he wasn't eating or sleeping I peeled off his skin, pulled out his nails, caressed him with hot irons and bathed him with boiling water. But the favourite thing I have from our time together is this, come take a look," the torturer said as he pulled out a necklace with something on it's end. Twilight then decided to get closer and have a look and when she gazed at the item she shrieked in shock before pulling away from it. "Can you see it's your friends lovely tongue, the crown jewel of my work."

Most of my friends were disgusted as the torturer listed off the things he did to Geralt but became more so when they saw the item on the piece of string. It was then I saw my past self begin to walk towards the door before he drew his blade.

"I'd save your strength if I were you this door is much thicker then you'd expect," the torturer said as he closed the eye hole.

I then ran forward and thrusted my blade at the door, shattering it into splinters and impaling the torturer on the blade. I then took a dagger from my thigh and jammed the blade into the torturer's mouth. I moved it around in his mouth before flicking my wrist and tearing the tongue from the torturer's mouth.

"This is where you die, allow me to show you the path to hell," I said before I took a few steps towards the edge of the stairs and held my blade over the edge effortlessly leaving the torturer dangling over the dark abyss. I then tilted my blade down slightly causing him to almost slide off my sword.

"No wait...please don't do this to me," the torturer said through the blood pouring from his mouth.

"Could you repeat that, I couldn't understand a word you said," I said before I kicked the torturer off my sword, sending him screaming into the darkness below.

"Whoa that was brutal," Gilda said.

Suddenly I heard a twang sound and I moved my head to the side to avoid a crossbow bolt. I then looked and saw at least thirty men blocking our path out of the dungeon.

"Don't move, lay down your weapons and surrender!"

"Ash let's fall back," Catherine said but I stood my ground.

With a mighty roar I charged up the stairs with sword in hand and spit a man in armor down the middle effortlessly before I spun around counter clockwise and cleaved through another one. Faster and faster I killed the enemy, sending them plummeting to their doom below and when crossbow's were used I used their allies as shields before I continued on.

"Okay brutality just increased," Rainbow said.

I then changed our view to outside the dungeon, which was a separate building from the castle. The entrance had a set of steps that led to it and was blocked by a wooden door. At the foot of the steps were a set of braziers. Thirty men stood waiting for whoever would exit the building.

"Thirty men, thirty men against five. What the hell could be taking them so long!?" a commander armed with a spear shouted.

"Yes but sir they were being led by the Captain of the Wolf Raiders, the one who slaughtered a hundred of our men in a single night," as soldier said.

"Quiet! Do you honestly think the commander of the Wolf Raiders of the Apex Predator's would be here. The fact that a single man could slay one hundred of our men in a single night is preposterous. Besides you shouldn't be so quick to believe the stories of the battlefield, which are often exaggerated. I doubt that such an accomplishment is even possible to achieve. There is no one alive who could do that while only being armed with a sword," the commander said.

"Oh he's going to be eating his words," Moon said with a grin which showed all her teeth.

Suddenly screams echoed from the building before the door was kicked down and there I stood, drenched in my foes blood and panting like an angry wild beast. I then walked down the stairs before me to face my opponents.

"No doubt about it, it's him."

"The man who slaughtered one hundred men."

"The Captain of the Wolf Raiders, Ash Blade."

"What are you fools waiting for, surround him!" the commandeer bellowed.

"But sir!"

"Cowards look at him. He's been swinging that thing around while running up all those steps, he's obviously exhausted," the commander said before he turned to me. "You're no warrior, your nothing more then a weak liar who makes up stories of greatness. I shall take pleasure in gutting you myself."

"Oh, he's dead," Spike said.

The commander then charged at me intending to thrust his spear into my chest but I released my sword from my grip and grabbed the spear by the blade inches before it could breach my chest. I then grabbed the spear in my other hand and hoisted him into the air over me before tossing him into a brazier. As the commander began to cook I slid the spear through the gaps in the brazier pining him and watched as he was burned alive. I then used my foot and kicked my sword into the air, allowing me to grab it before I turned and growled at the enemy before I went on another blood fest which left the castle on fire. We used a carriage to flee before the memory went dark and I placed the crystal back into place. I then went to reach for another crystal but I froze at the memories contained within this one.

"Ash...It's alright, you can tell us anything and we won't think any less of you...whatever it is," Luna said as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

Taking a deep breath I leaned against the wall for a few moments before I took several more deep breaths. I picked a crystal and turned to the others.

"After we escaped we rejoined the others but things were difficult to take in once we evaluated the seriousness of Geralt's wounds. The destroyed tendons we saw meant he would never ride a horse or swing a sword again and because of his missing tongue he could never give an order again, let alone speak," I said before I placed the crystal into the projector and skipped to the point where we finished explaining to everyone what was going on. They appeared to be devastated at what was told and I was sitting on my own with Allen.

"So what will you do now?" I asked.

"You make it sound like we're splitting up," Allen said.

"Well even if we go back and show them Geralt, we'll all be disgraced and cast out and before you know it we'll be back to mercenaries unless there's some magical cure to heal him," I said.

"Actually there might just be a cure."

I turned around and saw Emily and saw she was holding a necklace with an amulet on the chain.

"What in the devil's name is that creepy thing?" I asked feeling chills run across my spine in both the past and the present from just looking at the object.

"The answer we need to save Geralt. Before he lost his tongue he told me about this and that it was given to him by an old fortune teller. She told him if he took it to a certain place he will be cured of any ailments and given incredible power," Emily said.

"I heard this story as well but no mention of the amulet was made. Geralt told me that in order to take this power a blood offering must be made," Allen said.

"Well that's something but I gotta ask how much blood would this ritual need?" I asked.

"I'm not liking where this is going," Elisa said.

"Me neither and little did I know I was about to make the worst mistake of my entire life," I said before I fast forward to where we were walking through a dark dead and foggy forest because our horses refused to enter. The bark of the trees was burned black and the branches reached over the path creating a tunnel of trees and branches. Some of those branches looked like claws ready to grasp at travellers who stray from the path. We kept going forward till we exited the tunnel and saw the ruins of some old church which had a dark eerie tree growing dead center of the ruins. I then took noticed of something about the tree. I grabbed the amulet and held it before the tree before I handed it back to Emily.

"What is it Ash?" Emily asked.

"The branches of the tree make up the shape of the amulet, have a look," I said as I gestured to the tree and Emily did so. "It's a landmark means we're in the right place.

"Must have taken some serious pruning to get it that way," Rawlin said before we approached the ruins.

Once we were inside I saw smashed furniture, crumbling pillars and the walls could barely even be called that. There even a few animal bodies scattered about ranging from large to small animals but everyone's eyes were on the eerie tree. On the bark of the tree were faces made of bark, the expressions were twisted into agony and fear and they looked almost like they were trying to push their way out of the bark.

"Well that's cheery, are you guys sure about this?" I asked as I looked the tree over.

"Of course we are," Emily said as she began to set up a bowl and some candles inside a large circle that was carved into the floor.

"I kinda agree with Ash, this place doesn't feel right. There's so much death here it's making me nervous," Marco said.

"Hey in case you both forgot this is for Geralt's sake. So what if the area is a little spooky ,we're going through with it. So are you a man or a scared little boy?" Rawlin asked.

"I-I...," Marco started before Giff placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave him a reassuring nod that everything would be okay.

"Well Ash?" Catherine asked causing everyone to look at me.

*sigh* "Alright, for Geralt," I said as I joined the others.

As we continued to set up the ritual, a song came to mind that fit this situation. I couldn't help but play and repeat it in my head as we did the ritual.

I cut my hand with a dagger and drained the blood into the bowl like the others did before I turned to Emily.

"Now what?" I asked.

"I-I'm not sure. Geralt said the next thing to do was to bleed the bark and state your request," Emily said.

"You don't know!" Rawlin shouted as he picked up the bowl and held it at Emily. "Your telling me that after coming all this way you don't know what to do next!"

"Do I look like a witch Rawlin. I don't know anything about rituals like this!" Emily shouted.

Arrhhh!" Rawlin shouted before he threw the bowl at the tree spraying it and the faces upon it in blood.

"Rawlin you imbecile we needed that," Catherine shouted before Rawlin collapse to his knees and started to sob.

"We just wanted to fix Geralt...was that so much to ask," Rawlin sobbed.

All I could do was sigh before I looked at the tree and saw the eyes of the faces had begun to glow red.

"Uh guys, something is happening," I said as I pointed at the tree.

Suddenly I heard the groaning sound of bending wood and before I knew it, one of the trees branches had reached down and grabbed me before hoisting me into the air shocking everyone.

"Let me go you overgrown termite infested weed!" I cried out.

The tree didn't stop there, it then reached down and snagged the others and Geralt.

"Commanders!"

"Hang on, we're coming to help!"

"No all of you get back!" I shouted but suddenly our surroundings changed like the rippling of water.

We were transferred to a much darker place. Me, Geralt and the others were still entangled in the tree while the others were surrounded by monstrous demons of all shapes and sizes each one terrifying and hideous. They were creatures one could never conjure up in even one of their darkest nightmares. Suddenly streaks of light rained from the sky and descended upon the others and after five minutes it stopped but nothing seemed to have happened to them.

"Begin!"

Suddenly the demons descended upon the others and began to tear them apart and eat them causing my group of friends and the others to gasp in shock. I started trembling and began to rub my arms in an effort to warm myself.

"NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!" I roared.

Thanks to the adrenalin that started pumping through my body I managed to get loose of the branches and jump down towards the hordes of monsters. I drew my blade and skewered a monster through it's skull before I began to kill the other demons but I didn't do much before the tree reached down and knocked my blade from my grasp, pinned me in the ever growing pool of my friends blood and forced me to watch as the rest were devoured like snacks. Suddenly the rest of my fellow commanders were pinned down in the blood like I was in a circle and Geralt was lowered into the center of the blood and was submerged. Suddenly the blood began to bubble and more and more began to appear till suddenly Geralt rose from the blood wearing armor made of a mix of metal and skin. A cloak of shadows covered his back, large metal spiked pauldrons covered Geralt's shoulders and the cloak was held in place by a thick and wicked looking necklace.

"Geralt...what have they done to you?" Allen asked.

"We have done like you asked and restored him."

"The blood offering," I said as looked at the blood we were in. "You had us sacrifice our friends."

"A necessary sacrifice to get what I want," Geralt said shocking everyone, my fellow Commanders and my friends in the present.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"I never really needed them just you seven. All of you were essential for me to gain my own kingdom," Geralt said shocking the mane six at what they heard.

"No...No I won't believe it. They must have done something to you!" I shouted.

"You and I both know that's not true Ash...This is how I've always felt," Geralt said as if we were talking about the weather, crushing any thought of my friend being in there

"Geralt...," Marco whispered completely crushed.

"I wish for you all to join me once more and if you do, I shall give you power and whatever you wish," Geralt said as he looked at us.

"You have my sword," Rawlin said.

"Rawlin are you out of your mind after what he just-," I started.

"I never cared about them!" Rawlin shouted. "Face it Ash, when power is offered to you, weather it be from god or the devil, you should take it!"

I was completely shattered by what I heard and the shock only increased when I looked at the others. I saw they had also agreed while little Marco reluctantly nodded before their armor was stripped from their bodies and they were all submerged into the blood. Geralt walked over to me and placed his hands on my face and forced me to look at him.

"And what of you Ash?" Geralt asked.

"Curse you Geralt," I said as I spat in his face.

"Well...I can't kill you Ash because I still have need of you. Besides...your life, your death, you in general still belong to me," Geralt said as he wiped his face and stood up before walking away.

Suddenly the branches pulled me upright and pried both my eyes and mouth open. A black sap like substance oozed from the tree and was poured into my eyes and mouth causing me to scream and as I watched I began to feel lightheaded while I felt my skin crawl. When it was over I was released before I was stripped then submerged into the blood and that's when I collapsed myself.

---

My eyes slowly began to open but my sight and hearing were blurred till it focused on Rage clicking in front of my face

"Ash hey wake up sunshine," Rage said.

"what happened?" I asked.

"You blacked out for half an hour buddy. After what I saw I wouldn't blame you, I threw up every meal I had today," Comet said.

"By Celestia no wonder you didn't want to tell anyone," Caramel said.

"Ash we are so, so sorry we even asked or thought about asking you to show us this," Dream Catcher said as she hugged me.

I returned the hug for her before I looked around and saw the mane six along with my wives weren't here.

"Where are the girls, Luna and Moon?" I asked.

"Outside, they were a wreck when the memory ended and you collapsed like that," Rage said as he helped me up.

"Well I hate to say this but there's one more memory you all need to see," I said.

"No Ash...You don't need to show us anymore," Celestia said.

"No...I do need to...I need to get this off my chest. I've been holding this in for far too long," I said.

"Alright Ash and no matter what happens we're here for you," Faust said.

I gave a nod before I walked outside where I saw the mane six were comforting each other along with Moon and Luna. When they heard the door open and saw me walk out no ponies were faster to wrap their arms around me then Luna, Moon, Pinkie and Fluttershy, all of whom were balling their eyes out with tears. So using my shadow wings, I wrapped the four in a hug.

"We're so sorry Ash, we're so sorry," Fluttershy said.

"That was horrible!" Pinkie shouted.

"Hey, hey it's alright. Besides I'm the one who should apologise to you for my selfishness," I said as I released the four mares. "You see, I needed to vent this. I've been keeping it a secret for a long time and I wanted to keep it hidden forever. But because of what happened in Trottingham I couldn't hide it anymore and I needed to tell someone. I tried at my parent's tomb but it didn't help and when you came in Pinkie well, I knew I needed to tell this to someone who was alive and flesh and blood. So I'm sorry I had to tell you all this."

"Ash...I can only imagine what kind of pain you were going through when that happened. Worse then our sentence to the moon and without equal. But Ash whenever you have a secret like this just know this, whenever you want to tell someone something like this we're all here for you especially Moon and myself, we're your wives. You of all people can trust us," Luna said.

"And you all agree?" I asked looking at the six mares.

"Yeah pal whatever it is you can tell us," Rainbow said

"We're here fer yah sugarcube," Applejack said.

"No matter what it is big or small," Rarity said.

"You can count on us," Pinkie said.

"And we won't judge you either," Fluttershy said.

"Because we're your friends," Twilight said.

"Thanks girls," I said as I pulled my friends into a group hug. "And there's still one thing inside that room that I need to tell you about, it's about the armor this time."

"We're wiling to listen Ash," Moon said causing me to nod before we went back inside.

Once everyone had calmed down from the last scene, I picked out another crystal and placed it into the projector. We were brought back to the ruins where the tree stood like we never arrived but the only thing was that there were a lot more bodies here then when before. All of them torn apart in different ways. Suddenly one body began to move, it was naked yet it looked like several patches of skin just sown together. When it stood up everyone saw it was me and yet my eyes looked...empty.

"Ash what happened to you?" Chrysalis asked.

"See how my body looks like a patched up doll?" I asked causing everyone to nod. "Well each patch is actually skin from someone in my division and the thread there, like the cape of my armor. is their blood," I said shocking everyone as I sat down on a chair I summoned. "I don't know exactly what Geralt or whoever else was in there had done to my body or my mind. I felt like I was in control yet I wasn't at the same time. I could move my body and I wanted to run away or die but at the same time I didn't want to do either. I wanted to kill Geralt as brutally as possible yet at the same time I wanted to serve him," I said before I gestured to my past self.

I was gazing about, looking at all the bodies when suddenly I raised my left arm before me. Bones came flying towards me and latched onto my arm becoming the same arm everyone saw on Red Reaper. Soon more bones came flying at me before latching onto my body till finally a wolf skull covered my head and when that happened the eye sockets lit up with a pair of blood red pupils and emitting from those pupils was a matching color flame. Soon I began to walk through the field of corpses and as I walked more body parts began to assemble and blood began to crawl up my legs before it soon became Red Reaper's cape. At the end of the corpse field was the same sword I summoned back in Hollow Shades. Soon I was outside the forest and I saw all the horses had either died or left, my horse was among the dead. I then walked over to it and ran my hand across the corpse of my horse when suddenly a sickly green glow emitted from my hand and with a loud whinny my horse got back up, shocking everyone before I mounted it and gave it a few pats before I rode off.

"You had control over the dead?" Faust asked.

"Shamefully yes but that's not all. This is what I did when I came across the first village with life in it while I was like that," I said.

Suddenly our surroundings changed to that of a burning village. The skies were choked black and an orange glow illuminated the streets showing the hundreds and hundreds of victims, man women and children alike. There I stood in the thick of it, cutting down some farmers mercilessly before I looked around for any survivors. I could see the others were shocked as well.

"Red had no mercy for the living, no pity either. His only drive was to eradicate life but the fact that I killed all those innocent people, whether they were young or old, was not what haunted me. No, what haunts me is that I...enjoyed this, this sick disgusting brutality. I revelled in the feeling. All the screaming, the fear, the feeling of fresh blood sprayed onto me, I enjoyed it and that is something that I can never be forgiven for nor deserve it, but if I could I'd take it back...all of it," I said before I buried my hands into my face and cried.

I wasn't sure for how long I had cried. I kinda expected the others to be disgusted and leave or say something about me being a horrible creature or monster before leaving. What I didn't expect was to be hugged by everyone, everyone had gathered around me in a group hug.

"You regret it now, don't you Ash?" Faust asked causing me to nod. "Then your forgiven."

That night, I never cried so hard in all my life.

Next Chapter: Chapter 34 Once More I Don The Darkness Estimated time remaining: 20 Hours, 52 Minutes