"You're going to pardon her?!" my herd screamed.

I was in the master bedroom of the castle and I was standing before the bed where my herd sat.

"I wouldn't say pardon." I explained.

"Have you suffered a blow to the head or something?" Tempest asked.

"Not recently." I replied.

"Ash that mare raped you and now she is pregnant with your child." Luna said.

"I'm aware, which is why we're talking about this." I explained.

"I cannot believe this." Nightmare said furiously.

"Now what's up with that when it comes down to it, is she any different than you?" I asked.

"WHAT!" Nightmare screamed.

"Sorry. Wrong choice of words, what I mean is like you she is the darker half of someone if I'm willing to give a chance to you why not for her?" I asked.

"Ash, that is the darker half of Celestia and the fact that you are willing to let her walk around is...is nuts she and I are polar opposites and I can't think of a topic that won't lead to us being at each other's throats." Nightmare said.

"I'm not saying trust her fully she will need to be watched and closely but...when I confronted her she seemed genuinely concerned about the kid she was afraid of the possibility of the child being taken from her." I said.

"And she deserves that and more." Celestia said.

"And the child does the little one deserve to be robbed of his mother just because of what happened?" I asked, causing the mares to simmer down.

"I really hate it when you play that card." Spitfire mummered.

"You always focus on the future or The Long Game as some call it and it isn't fair." Tempest said.

"Never is." I said with a sigh. "Look I know you all don't like this and I don't blame you however this is the current reality and it can't be changed so I beg you all to bear with me for this."

The mares then looked to Luna for the final decision on the matter before she sighed.

"Very well Ash but only because it's you." Luna said.

I nodded in understanding and immediately Daybreaker was moved to a more comfortable but secure room with a guard detail in place I take the time to check in on her and Faust even tries to bond but Faust's attempts were met with strong resistance at first by yelling and things being thrown at her but as things went on she mellowed out if only to the point she stopped yelling and throwing things but it turns out she has a big ego that can outshine Rainbow Dash but whenever I visit she gets all lusty and flirtatious even tried to make me ditch my herd for her or make her the new head mare...it doesn't work.

"How long are you gonna deny yourself Ash you know you want all this~." Daybreaker purred as she presented her ass to me and gave it a pat causing it to subtly jiggle. "All you have to do is disband your herd or make me the alpha mare."

"Same song and dance as always, hey Daybreaker I just came to check on how you're doing." I said firmly.

"As always seriously I could be naked here and you still wouldn't give in to your beastly urges." Daybreaker moaned as she flopped onto the bed.

"Surely you would be used to this by now." I said.

"Maybe but then again that whole hard to get thing is really making this fun. Sooner or later you will want me." Daybreaker said with a smirk.

"Keep telling yourself that." I said as I made to leave.

"Oh I do big boy, I do." Daybreaker said before I left.

She was easily the most full of herself creature I know of which was saying something considering my long history. Looking at the time I saw it was almost time for me to watch the kids so I went on my way and found the kids in the throne room playing with Moon who was busy feeding Alora.

"How is she?" I asked.

"Like an angel." Moon said with a smile.

Alora released her mother's breast as she let out a little yawn before she drifted off to sleep.

"She enjoys my milk just as much as you do." Moon whispered.

"But she has your beauty." I said before I kissed Moon on the lips.

"Yuck." Pip said and even Midnight made a face.

"You won't think that way when a mare catches your eyes." Moon said to Pip once the kiss ended.

"Nuh uh I'm never gonna do that." Pip said.

*chuckles* "Well we'll see about that when you're older now what say we get outta here so your mom can tend to Day Court." I said as I took Alora into my arms and turned to face the boys.

"Yes dad." the two said or Midnight attempted to before we made our way to the gardens. I sat on the bench in the shade of a tree watching as my two sons played with toys or a ball and as I watched them I couldn't help but feel envious of them and the life I might of had had things been different but then again this life isn't all that bad while true it isn't perfect it's my life that I'm leading.

After a few hours I decided to take the kids back inside with the boys running around my feet while little Alore reached for my face stopping for the sixth time to avoid tripping over my boys. I looked around when suddenly I spied something out of place on a small stand that was holding up a vase. On the side of the vase was a small wooden chess piece, a king to be specific, carved from ebony. Making my way over I picked up the piece and examined it.

"Dad, what is it?" Pip asked.

"Hey Pip, could you take your sister to go find your mothers I just have something to take care of." I said with a smile.

"Sure." Pip said before he gently took Alora and left with Midnight.

Once out of sight I looked at the piece in my grasp before I looked around and saw a door that was ajar so I made my way over and opened it to reveal a dark and void like room with a single light shining down on a robed figure who had their back to me I walked into the room and made my way over to the figure and saw before them was another chair and in between the chair and the figure was a table with a chess set on it with the white pieces being in front of the figure while the dark pieces were on the side of the empty chair but there was a missing piece on the dark set. The king piece.

"You're missing a piece." I said as I placed the king in his position. "Allen."

The figure removed their hood to reveal the face of the commander of the Hawk Archer division of the Apex Predators; he was mostly the same however his hair had changed to become feathers along with a few scattered over his face and his eyes were like that of a hawk.

"You have a lot of nerve to show yourself here." I said as I summoned Whispering Wind and aimed it at his throat.

"Now is that anyway to greet an old friend." Allen asked.

"I am friends with the man you were not the thing you are." I said.

"Semantics now please put that away before someone gets hurt." Allen said.

"You were never a swordsman Allen that much we both know not even after all these years." I said.

"True but I didn't mean me, you have some lovely children Ash." Allen said, making me move the blade closer to his neck. "I would hate for anything to happen to ones so young."

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"You, Rawlin and Giff to come back." Allen said.

"Not happening." I said.

"I figured that would be your response so I figured why not play for it." Allen said as he gestured to the chess set. "After all this time surely you've learned some new tricks that could lead to you finally beating me."

"What's to stop me from yanking the thing that was inside of you out right here and now?" I asked.

"Because I have an agent that is, shall we say, haunting your kids, refuse to play and well I don't think I need to tell you what happens." Allen said.

This prompted me to lower my sword but the glare I was giving him remained.

"Wonderful please have a seat." Allen said as he gestured to the chair opposite him.

Sending Whispering Wind away I took a seat and looked at the chess board.

"I'm surprised to see this. I thought it would have been termite food by now." I said.

"Well after all the hard work that went into it...how could I not. But, we're not playing with this board." Allen said as he snapped his fingers causing the board to vanish and in its place was a 3D model of Aephoceria Castle and suddenly white pieces suddenly appeared on his side of the board but each piece looked like a statuette of someone eight of those pieces looked like stallions and caribou while the others looked like monsters.

"You bastard, you can't honestly expect me to play this." I growled.

"Oh good so you know what this game is?" Allen said.

"Chess game of the gods each player has a setup of different pieces which are real people in real life and the pieces must battle for their lives against the pieces that belong to the opposing player." I said as I looked at the board.

"Correct this game will be like the game of chess following its rules but instead of movements the skill of the pieces counts towards a victory so if your piece encounters mine they must physically fight until-." Allen began.

"Until their opponent is dead and when they die they die in real life, no coming back and if you think I'm going to play this insipid game then-." I began as I went to stand up.

"Sit. Down." Allen said, causing me to stop but I didn't move to sit down. "You will play Ash unless of course you don’t want to see your kids alive again."

This made me want to fucking gut the bastard but I knew my hands were tied it would be too risky to do anything and I had no idea how far the thing inside Allen would go but I do know Allen and if there is one thing I know about the things that are inside my friends they act off of them so slowly I sat down but my glare never ceased.

"Now I realize this is all a bit one sided so I give you my word until the game is done and you play willingly no harm shall befall your children or anyone around them only the pieces are susceptible to damage here, second in this game where death is instantaneous I'm gonna be generous and say if one of yours falls then they will enter a state of limbo where after the game and only on the condition that you beat me they will be returned unharmed and alive and finally you get to choose who shall be your piece oh and uh you cannot use those flame guardians of yours for every piece I'll only allow you to use them as pawns if you so choose otherwise this game won't be very exciting." Allen said while I kept my eyes on him but for the life of me I couldn't figure him out. "Now then let's get started."

Just like that the pieces that were deemed to be the people of my choosing appeared on my side of the board and the pieces were made of black marble.

"Kind of weird you still see yourself as the one worthy of the white pieces." I said.

"Oh come now we both know black is really your colour." Allen said.

Tapping each piece the pawns turned into members of the fire guardians next came for the rooks, knights, bishops and queen pieces. I decided to have Rage play as one of my rooks so I tapped on the rook on the king's side and the piece changed to look like Rage then I decided on Rainbow Dash as playing as one of my knights and Twilight a bishop now looking at the queen side of the board I thought long and hard about who I should place there before I thought of Tempest, Spitfire, Celestia and Moon and how their skills would be a great asset here so I had Tempest become the second rook Spitfire the knight, Celestia the bishop and finally Moon as the queen and once the pieces were set the king transformed into me just like an image of Allen became his king.

"Now then shall we give an inspirational speech to our teams." Allen said before he vanished and I suddenly found myself in a white cube like area when suddenly the individuals I picked to be the pieces appeared each one letting out surprising yells when they appeared.

"Hey guys." I said.

"Ash!"

"Ash what is going on here?" Twilight asked as they all came over to me.

"Matter of fact, where is here?" Spitfire asked.

"Listen I'll try and brief you all as best as I can." I said.

And so I explained how I found the King piece then sent the kids away followed by finding Allen his threat on the kids and the game we were all now stuck in and all of them seemed spooked and angry now except Tempest.

"Chill guys Ash is a master chess player he's got this." Tempest said.

"Not exactly, you see Allen taught me chess and I could never beat him and the pieces strength and skill counts in this game so this is going to be an unpredictable fight." I explained causing everyone's expressions to fall slightly. "I'm really sorry I dragged you into this."

Moon approached me first and gazed into my eyes.

"This thing, this creature, that has a hold over the one you call friend from ages past has dared to lay a threat on our young and for that they will suffer my wrath." Moon said.

Looking at the others they nodded I turned to the guardians who took a single step forward in unison awaiting my command before I nodded to everyone when suddenly I vanished once again and appeared back in the room with Allen and the 3D board of Aephoceria Castle.

"So they are on board I take it?" Allen asked.

"They are and Moon hopes to kill you herself." I said as I sat down causing Allen to chuckle a bit.

"As always white first." Allen said as he moved a pawn. "Your move."

(Hours Later) (Third Person P.O.V.)

Things were looking grim for Ash as he and Allen played the game. Ash's pawns have been removed from the game, but he still had the higher rank pieces meanwhile Allen had 2 pawns and his higher ranked pieces.

"You've improved, normally I would have defeated you long before this point." Allen said.

"Do not talk to me as if you know me. I only know the man that owns that body, not the thing that is using it for its own benefit." Ash said, causing Allen to chuckle as he moved a pawn to which I responded by moving Rage to block his advance.

(Elsewhere)

The surroundings around Rage were just like that of Aephoceria castle only here the place was empty not a sign of life from all except a caribou that suddenly appear before him which was easy to dispatch before moving on suddenly Rage's surroundings change to a different part of the castle which is the armory where he immediately sees a caribou soldier looking around at the weapons and hadn't noticed him yet so Rage spys a rifle and takes it off the rack before he silently loads it and takes aim Rage then lets out a whistle and the next thing the caribou sees is a muzzle flash before all goes black leaving Rage the victor.

“Are all of my opponents going to be this easy?" Rage asks himself as he puts away the gun.

Rage then walked out of the armory and suddenly he felt he wasn't alone anymore Rage looked behind him only he saw nothing there before he ahead of him but again there was nothing there when suddenly Rage felt himself get slammed into the wall by an unknown force but Rage pulled himself from the wall and went to strike what hit him only to hit air and get thrown towards the windows where he cracked the sturdy panes but didn't smash them Rage then looked around and that's where he saw it.

The creature looked like a mass of shadow that took the form of a giant torso with long arms and a long neck with spikes going up along the spine and arms and where there were supposed to be legs it looked like the something that the genie had from that animated disney movie Rage also noted the creature had claw like hands and as for it's head it looked kinda insect like with mandibles and two large angry looking eyes that glowed white against the darkness of the beast's body.

"Well you certainly look more like a fight that I might enjoy." Rage said with a grin.

The beast roared at Rage before it went in for the attack while Rage reeled back a fist to strike at the demon but the demon vanished before Rage could land a hit in so and was swatted into a wall by the monster Rage looked around and saw the monster was behind him just floating there as if taunting him making Rage growl.

Back with Ash and Allen

"Hmm it seems your brother is struggling with that shadow demon, not surprising perhaps that queen piece of yours would have served as a better match." Allen said as he removed his final pawn off the board that Spitfire eliminated.

"He may struggle at first no doubt they all will Allen but I have faith in them." Ash said.

"Really?" Allen asked as he moved his bishop to attack Twilight.

Twilight's P.O.V.

A million things rushed through my head when I was transported into that white cube space where I saw the others and Ash a million more thoughts crashed through like an angry steam train and now here I am wandering the hallways of what looks like Aephoceria and I have not seen a single person since I arrived just empty hallways and silence I was armed with my staff so I was not absolutely defenseless in this place but still the fear in Ash's eyes was clear as daylight but I knew that if anyone could stop this and save Allen it would be Ash I just have to do my part and win.

Suddenly the air before me became distorted and suddenly out of nowhere appeared a humanoid figure but as the being appeared I felt the very air go cold as if my very breath had been stolen from my lungs it was then I looked at the being again and noted it's frozen and rotting flesh and pale lifeless eyes the being was garbed in robes and furs similar to the stories Ash told me of the Vikings making the being before me known as a draugr.

"ᚹᚺᛟ ᛞᚨᚱᛖᛊ ᛏᛟ ᚲᚱᛟᛊᛊ ᛗᛁ ᛈᚨᚦ?" (Who dares to cross my path?) The draugr spoke in a language I didn't understand, though its intentions were clear.

"Uh sorry not much of a linguist but since you're here I suppose (gulp) we're opponents huh?" Twilight said nervously before she braced herself for a fight.

The draugr tilted its head while chattering its teeth. After looking at me for a time, the monster took out a frozen rusty-looking battle-ax from its hip before charging me.

I used my staff to block the monster's attack but its strength managed to almost bring me to my knees and when it got close I could smell its breath which was absolutely revolting.

"Ugh wow was this what it was like for Ash during that zombie mess and the army of the dead fiasco all those years ago." I wondered aloud before I proceeded to push the draugr off me before I fired a beam of magic from my horn.

The draugr roared when my magic struck it in the face and retreated a few steps back. After turning back at me, I could see half of his face was gone. With renewed strength, it came at me again.

To say I was terrified was an understatement the roar of the corpse made my fur stand on but I managed to dodge the attack from my opponent and just tried to focus on keeping my distance.

With another roar, the monster wheeled around and held out its hand, sending a blast of freezing cold air at me.

I tried to dodge the blast of wind when suddenly I felt the lower half of my body get encased in ice trapping me.

With my legs encased in ice, the creature slowly made its way over to me. As it got closer, the glow in its eyes grew brighter and a black mist escaped from between its teeth. It was getting ready for the killing blow.

"Think Twilight, how do I get out of this!" I screamed in my mind as the corpse lumbered forward till I remembered heat melts ice and also I could still move my arms so funneling magic into my staff and sent a continuous beam of magic at the draugr while I focused on creating a ring of fire around me which started to melt the ice.

"Phew, glad I learned how to use my magic from more points than just my horn." I said as the fire started to melt the ice.

As I kept up the ring of fire, the draugr huddled against the furthest wall, doing his best to stay away from the flame.

"Fire is it's weakness it would seem." I thought before I destroyed the ice trapping me and ended the fire circle. "I give you one chance to surrender."

"ᚾᛖᚹᛖᚱ!" (Never!) The monster roared before freezing himself with his magic, covering himself in a suit of thick ice. "ᛞᛁᛖ!" (Die!)

The draugr then created weapons made of ice before he started throwing them at me but I managed to create a wall of fire between me and it before I started launching fireballs at the monster hoping to at least chip away at its armor.

The draugr kept moving forward, either dodging my attacks or taking them head-on, melting the armor, but also making it angrier.

The corpse then tried to breach the wall of fire but it was only melting its armor at a faster rate.

As the ice armor kept melting, the monster's attacks became more frantic and wild, as if it knew its end was near.

Twilight just increased the fire temperature of the flames Twilight could see a burning hand pushing its way through the flames towards her and Twilight was running out of steam for keeping the fire up until finally she cut off her connection with the fire and leapt backwards only to see the draugr had been reduced to a charred skeleton before it crumbled into dust.

The ash was soon swept from the room, but not before leaving a message on the floor with soot. 'ᛒᛖᚹᚨᚱᛖ." (Beware.)

I could only breathe out a sigh of relief as I rested against the wall. Using my magic in such a way was draining.

(Back with Ash and Allen) (Third Person P.O.V.)

"Well, it seems I underestimated this one." Allen said as Ash removed Allen's bishop.

"I knew she could do it." Ash sighed with relief but Allen just chuckled as Ash moved Tempest on the board.

"This game isn't over yet Ash and you'd do well to remember that." Allen said.

Ash sneered at his former corrupted friend as they sat on opposite ends of each other.

“Why the scowl, Ash?” Allen asked mockingly. “This is a game, games are meant to be fun.”

"Gambling with one's life should never be fun Allen." Ash said.

“Au contraire, it is especially enjoyable.” Allen leaned forward with an evil grin. “Seeing how one dies by the hands of another, the possibilities that ensue, it’s honestly quite thrilling. Normally, you and I could duke it out like you did with the others, but then things just get too messy. I prefer a more, shall we say, civilized approach.”

"You dishonor my friend just for uttering those words while using his name, face and voice." Ash said.

"Then perhaps you should use a name to address me, perhaps that could drive a wedge between us." Allen said, causing Ash to give him a skeptical look. "Oh don't be so suspicious it's merely a name...fun fact our kind we don't have names typically ever since the beginning of our existence we have been nameless."

“Nameless?” Ash was puzzled at this statement. “What…are you?”

“What indeed,” Allen chuckled. “Oh! I just had a recent memory. I recall Allen used to mentor a certain squire from your old merry band of mercenaries. What was his name? Started with an R? Quite the pathetic little runt, if I do say so myself.”

"Quiet!" Ash shouted as he stood up with a roar of fury that nearly toppled the board.

"Ah, ah, ah careful now Ash you know what happens when the king piece falls." Allen said as he gestured to Ash's piece which was threatening to topple over but Ash grabbed the piece in his magic and stopped it's swaying but he still glared death at Allen.

“Ha! You always did get angered from the slightest push,” Allen cackled. “Renard.” Ash clenched his teeth. “Among all the slaughter, his death was the sweetest-sounding~.”

"I am going to take great pleasure in killing you...Mihawk." Ash growled.

"Mihawk...Yes I like it if I remember correctly this name belonged to someone famous once upon a time...someone you knew as well." Mihawk said.

"And how in the hell would you know that?" Ash asked with a sneer.

"I could tell you but...we would never finish our game would we and right now I believe it's your move." Mihawk said.

Ash just sucked in a breath of air as he glared at the monster before him before he moved Spitfire into position.

"Your go." Ash said.

"You know you really should be careful where you put your pieces." Allen said before he moved his Rook towards Spitfire.

(Elsewhere)

Spitfire was sitting down in a chair in the dining room thinking about her next move when suddenly the doors to the dining room were torn down and what stood there was some kind of mutated Minotaur as far as Spitfire was concerned it towered over her by four feet and it seemed like it was an invincible mountain of muscle it's muscles bulged and everywhere and it's arms and legs might as well have been the size of tree trunks in terms of thickness it had several horns growing out of it's head almost like a crown of spikes it's mouth was full of sharp uneven teeth Spitfire then noticed plates of armor scattered over its body and a loincloth over it's groin but upon closer inspection she noticed that the armor plates were in fact chitin which had fused with the creature and in it's grasp it seemed to hold a large stone obelisk like it were a club.

"Well you're a big boy so who are you supposed to be...Frankenstallion's Monster?" Spitfire asked.

The Minotaur didn't say anything, he just stared at the Wonderbolt captain before raising his weapon and letting out a roar.

The brute charged at Spitfire intending to crush her with the stone obelisk causing Spitfire to take to the air to avoid being crushed.

"Whoa close one big boy but you're gonna have to move faster than that." Spitfire said.

However the Minotaur just roared and spun around while hoisting up the obelisk to swat Spitfire but thanks to the size of the room the mare had plenty of maneuverability to work with.

Getting irritated, the minotaur ripped up part of the floor and broke it into chunks and started throwing them at her like cannonballs.

"Whoa!" Spitfire shouted as she swerved through the air to avoid the makeshift projectiles. "Okay big guy you're asking for it."

Spitfire then dived for the giant monster and jammed her balde into the monster's thick neck to cut off its air supply.

The brute let out another roar before trying to grab at Spitfire, but his arms were too big to reach his neck and the wound was starting to take its toll.

Seeing no way to win this, the hulking beast thought to at least take the captain with him. Charging toward the nearest pillar, his plan was to bury the pegasus under a pile of rubble.

"Oh shit!" Spitfire said as she made to fly out of the room but the room was coming down too fast leaving the way out for the mare limited when suddenly a large chunk of the room decended and pinned Spitfire to the floor who could only watch in terror as the room fell upon her.

(Elsewhere)

The two pieces that represented Spitfire and Mihawk's rook had toppled over just as the feed went dead concluding that both of the individuals had died.

"Tragic that." Mihawk commented.

Ash could only stare in horror at what had transpired while every fibre of his being screamed at him to lunge across the table and beat Mihawk's brains out with his bare hands for forcing him to play this twisted game but Ash held back and tightened his grip on his chair.

"Don't look so morose Ash you still have a chance to win." Mihawk declared before he gestured for me to make my move.

“YOU-!” I snarled, until Mihawk raised his hand.

“If you’re going to be dramatic about it, look at this.” Mihawk waved his hand and a black cloud floated beside us. The cloud split apart into two and I could see inside the cloud. Suspended in midair was Spitfire’s unconscious body. “See? She’s safe and sound, for now. Her soul is adrift in a void I invented. Think of the clouds as a metaphorical graveyard. Any friend of yours who falls in battle shall be transported to their respective graveyards and stay there in comas until the end of our little game. That is…unless you lose.”

Ash knew there was little he could do here and being reckless was not going to help him so Ash focused back on the game and looked at each piece on the board hoping to see a way through without risking any more lives but Mihawk's defense was an airtight one what with his queen holding the line but at least Mihawk's king was cornered.

"I know this is a strategy game and can indeed take time, but would you hurry and make a decision, I'm not getting any younger. Then again, I suppose I'm not getting any older either," Mihawk joked while leaning forward with his hands interlocked.

Ash knew the only way to get through this was to risk one of his loved one's lives, a feeling that twisted his stomach into knots but the question that remained was...who to send...Ash then released a breath before he picked up Twilight's piece into place.

"Check." Ash said.

(Twilight's P.O.V.)

Twilight kept walking down a hall that looked rundown and had moss growing between the cracks, showing the age of the place she was in. "Oh, I hope whatever I face next isn't as bad as that draugr," Twilight told herself while turning a corner.

Suddenly there was a feminine laugh, a laugh that sent chills up her spine similar to the feeling she had when she first encountered Nightmare Moon laugh the day she met her friends.

"Who's there!? Show yourself!" Twilight frantically called out, already tired of the situation she found herself in.

"Well, well, well a little pony sent to die by my hand." A voice spoke

Suddenly a small black tornado appeared before Twilight and steadily got bigger and bigger until it surpassed the alicorn's size before exploding revealing a stunningly beautiful demoness with dark purple skin and darker silky long hair with two horns growing out of it the demoness was wearing not but a loin cloth and a thin scrap of cloth around her impressive bust and finally the demoness had a thin pointed tail moving around behind her overall the demoness had the purple alicorn blushing up a storm causing the demoness to laugh.

"Oh my, aren't you so cute." The demoness teased.

Twilight shook her head to stop her blushing before powering up a spell to fight against the demon. "Don't call me cute! I fought an ax-wielding zombie already, and I'll take you down as well!" She yelled before firing off a light spell.

However the demoness just held up a hand and the spell dissipated before it even got close to the demoness while she laughed.

"You fought a draugr? Please of all the creatures to fight, they are low tier compared to me...but if you surrender I'm more than happy to make you my little lap bitch." The demoness said as she appeared behind Twilight so she could whisper into her ear.

Twilight teleported away from the demoness and faced her with her staff pointed right at her. "Think again! I already found the love of my life!" She yelled before sending a powerful beam of pure magic at the monster's head.

The demoness raised her hand again only this time the magic didn't vanish much to the demoness's surprise before the spell impacted her face causing the demoness to place a hand on her face where she felt a large scratch along her cheek.

"Ooooh. So it looks like this kitty does have claws~." She licked the blood on her hand before her already long nails grew even longer and sharper. "Now let me show you mine~." She then lunges at Twilight.

Twilight out of instinct closed her eyes, raised her staff up before her and conjured up a shield of mana to protect her.

The shield held for the first strike, but as the demon delivered another strike, the barrier began to falter and crack. After the fourth strike, the barrier broke and the large Succubus was able to get a hit on Twilight, sending her towards the opposite wall with two large gashes, one on her stomach, and one on her arm, cutting deep and exposing the bone underneath.

"Agh!" Twilight screamed in pain at the two wounds on her body as she quickly went to work on healing them.

Like a cat playing with her food, the demoness saunters over while licking her clawed hands of Twilight's blood. "Mmm, I do so love the taste of a young mother, almost as much as the mother's child," She cackled as she got closer to Twilight.

At these words the fear Twilight felt exploded as she looked at the approaching demoness before she grit her teeth and got back on her hooves and began to charge magic into her staff.

"You.... you leave my precious baby ALONE!" She let the magic in her staff power up to the breaking point before letting it all out on the Demon's midsection.

However the demoness just teleported to Twilight's side so Twilight followed her while continually firing the beam but every time Twilight got close The demoness teleported away.

"Haha! Such a temperamental little thing. Guess the hormones are still causing mood swings," The demon taunted.

"Shut up!" Twilight screamed before she began to fire blasts from her horn.

"Temper, temper. You don't want to make a mistake, like using all your mana," the demon bitch cackled as Twilight's spells began to waver.

Suddenly Twilight's magic fizzled out leaving the mare panting in exhaustion from over taxing her magic.

While Twilight was hunched over, sucking in large amounts of air while holding her head, the demoness sauntered over before kneeling down in front of her. "Don't worry, dear," She lifts Twilight's head by her chin so she can look at her. "it'll be over quickly." With that, she slashed Twilight's throat with her claws.

(Back with Ash and Mihawk)

Mihawk was currently giving a slow clap as Twilight appeared right next to Spitfire.

"A valiant effort but all for not that one must really control herself but I must say she has great power." Mihawk said.

"You don't need to tell me that." Ash said before he moved another piece on the board. "Check."

Mihawk just smirked before he moved his piece right next to Mihawk.

"I've been hoping for this." Mihawk said with a grin.

"Funny you took the words right out of my mouth." Ash said as he and Mihawk stood up while their surroundings changed to become the top of the castle.

"You know, I've dreaded, and delighted this turn of events. I'm surprised you haven't tried to do away with me from the beginning," Mihawk chuckled while fixing his shirt.

"I've had a lot of time to control my bloodlust back in the old days but make no mistake my hatred for you hasn't diminished the slightest." Ash said as he summoned Whispering Wind and proceeded to slash at Mihawk only for the monster to vanish leaving Ash to look around before taking a middle guard stance.

Ash watched his surroundings closely when suddenly a whistling sound rang in his ears forcing Ash to duck just before there was an explosion of rock beside him and when Ash looked the wall beside him was shattered leaving a giant crater with an arrow lodged firmly into the stone.

"Damn." Ash muttered.

"Do you like it?" Mihawk's voice said all over the room, making it hard to pinpoint his location. "I'm not fond of many of the things Man has made since that day. But one of the thing's I am quite fond of is this character, an old fool created, goes by the name of Hawkeye."

"So the bow is still your favoured weapon then." Ash said as he looked down at the great height at which the castle stood upon.

"A weapon that gave conquerors like Genghis Khan their empire. How could I ever part with it for something as simple as a sword?" Another twang and whizz brought Ash's attention to the left where an arrow came flying at him. Halfway through the air, the arrow exploded into tiny pin sized arrows.

"Shit!" Ash shouted before diving out of the way but was scratched by one of the arrows but Ash quickly got up and moved along the walls leaping from one tower to another to find cover.

"You can run, Blade, but you can't hide!" Mihawk taunted as Ash kept trying to find where he was. "Face it, Ash, you've met your match!"

"No, I'm merely in a situation that I am unfamiliar with. All I need to do is think my way out of it." Ash countered as he moved positions.

"I have to say, your banter during battle hasn't improved much," Mihawk retorted before firing three arrows at once, each one hitting a large rock and they started to melt after the arrow released acid from the tip.

"Who has time for banter when the end result is all that matters." Ash asked.

"Ha! Uncultured swine!" Another twang and the whole area was bathed in a blinding white light.

Ash grunted as he shielded his eyes and ducked into cover to avoid the bright light.

"Like I need to hear that from you." Ash said to himself.

Suddenly another arrow impacted the ground before him and Ash only had a split second to hear a beeping sound come from the arrow before it exploded sending Ash through his cover and tumbling across the ground before Ash rolled onto his back just in time to see a large shadow fly over him before Mihawk dived out of the clouds with the screech of ha hawk and Ash noted that Mihawk had wings as well that looked like a hawk's growing out of his back.

Ash then scrambled out of the way of Mihawk's dive before he moved to cover to determine his next move.

Looking for his prey, Mihawk let out an even louder screech than before, this one causing the very stones to shake.

"Oh stuff a cork in it you bastard!" Ash said as he launched a magic bolt at where Ash heard the screech but his aim was off but still managed to singe Mihawk's feathers.

Mihawk gave a cry of pain before firing an arrow encased in ice.

The shot was almost struck Ash had he not dodged it right before the arrow made an explosion of ice but thankfully Ash avoided it.

Mihawk was in a fit of rage and threw down his bow before bringing out two daggers and flew at the place he last saw Ash.

When he went to strike, the daggers hit solid stone. "What?"

Suddenly the air before Mihawk shimmered before something impacted the side of his face sending the creature flying into a wall before Mihawk looked and saw Ash appear.

"You ain't the only one who likes to vanish into thin air." Ash said.

"I'll make you vanish forever!" Mihawk threatened before pushing off the wall and let out another shriek before bringing out his daggers.

"Now it's your banter that was dipped in weak sauce." Ash cackled before he charged.

Mihawk looked in the direction Ash was coming and charged at him with another shriek and had his daggers drawn and ready to strike with a double overhead stab.

Suddenly Ash's sword changed by becoming longer till it became a two handed longsword and as Mihawk brought his blades town Ash took a stance and managed to block Mihawk's attack and counter it leaving a deep slash across Mihawk's chest.

He let out a screech of pain before lunging at Ash like a wild animal.

Ash then used his sword to block the flurry of blows but Ash realized he was being pushed back till his back touched the wall but Ash wasn't done as Ash blocked another attack he grabbed Mihawk by the shirt and pulled him forward resulting in Mihawk's face colliding with the wall which stunned him before Ash used his foot to push Mihawk back and when Mihawk recovered another slash was delivered to his chest.

Mihawk paused from his attacks and looked down at his wounds. He placed a finger against the wound and pulled back his black blood. Soon, he started shaking in rage before letting loose a shriek that broke whatever glass was left before throwing his daggers at Ash and took to the air and used his feet like talons.

"Whoa boy!" Ash shouted before he dived out of the way as Mihawk's talons pierced the stone wall behind Ash and crushed it.

"What's that!? Is the Hand of the Reaper afraid of a little canary attacking him!? Good!!" Mihawk mocked before looping around for another attack, talons outstretched.

"Canary?! Pah last I checked canaries don't shatter stones with their talons nor throw feather blades from their wings!" Ash shouted as he moved from cover to cover.

"Just die already!" Mihawk shouted before making a dive for the god.

Ash rolled away before readying his sword. "Been there, done that." He then made a dash for the monster that is Mihawk.

"When I'm done with you, I'm gonna paint the streets with the blood of your sluts and those brats!" Mihawk threatened before raining a barrage of feather daggers down on Ash.

"Oh that's it!" Ash shouted as he screeched to a halt.

Ash then ran at Mihawk dodging each barrage as best he could but still he was hit in three different places of his body but still Ash didn't stop his charge till Ash lunged at the creature and wrapped his arms around the birdman as if he was giving him a hug.

"What are you doing!?" Mihawk shouted as he realized Ash was still moving.

The two then crashed through another wall before Ash pulled Mihawk off the edge of the roof.

As the two tumbled through the air, heading toward the ground, Mihawk flapped his wings uselessly while racking his talons along Ash's side.

Ash grunted from the pain from the feathers and talons from Mihawk as his body was relentlessly pierced till finally Ash used his magic to bind Mihawk's limbs.

Once bound Ash proceeded to pummel Mihawk's face as they plummeted towards the ground.

"You think...you can come here...threaten...my family!" Ash roared as he continued to punch Mihawk.

"Why not...the caribou did it...I thought I'd have a turn...see if I might succeed where those fools failed," Mihawk chuckled while receiving a beating.

Ash could see the ground coming up but made sure he stayed atop the creature and turned him around so that he could see the ground fast approaching.

"You know what. I think I'll start with that newborn brat." Mihawk chuckled before digging his talon right into Ash's liver. "Nothing like taking the life of someone that barely started its miserable existence."

Ash only growled before he unfurled his wings, grabbed Mihawk by the neck and flew faster into the ground and seconds later the two impacted the ground with a mighty boom and when the dust settled Ash was standing over Mihawk who was too weak and injured to move.

"C'mon Ash...this...this isn't over till one of us...is dead." Mihawk said.

"Yeah...I know that." Ash groaned in pain as he reached down and grabbed Mihawk by the front of his shirt and pulled him close.

"But I won't kill the man inside of you, you monster." Ash said with determination as he held his right hand which was glowing with blinding light. "Checkmate!"

With that Ash placed his glowing hand against Mihawk's face and with a scream of pain from Mihawk he was burned away leaving only Ash and another man who was in Mihawk's place currently unconscious and bare of a scrap of clothing.

Ash looked down at the man before him when suddenly all the adrenaline he obtained during the fight wore off leaving Ash to look down at his body and notice all the blood and wounds upon his frame leaving Ash to let out a croak of pain before he succumbed to exhaustion.

I got one thing to say and one thing only.