Ensis was wandering the bloodied battlefield for two hours or so in search to find both his wounded brothers in arms and his enemies. He came across a lot of dead bodies, both from his side and the enemies, he wasn’t happy anymore when he was fighting even if he knew this is just an illusion and Nocturne wants him to lose the game, he still could not do what he was ordered to, he killed a lot of the enemy survivors and helped a lot of his brothers in arms, but it didn’t feel like it was right. He then came across one of King Sombra’s wounded soldier, she was stuck under the debris of a dark fallen crystal tower, she was bleeding and was slowly dying. Ensis looked at her for a moment, even if he could not see her face through the dark helmet, he could still hear her breathing and her cries, Ensis was about to leave her alone when the Commander came.

“Ensis!”

Ensis knew that the Commander saw him leaving the enemy soldier without killing her, he didn’t reply to the Commander.

“Ensis, I thought that I ordered to you to kill all the remaining enemies on the beach, didn’t i?”

Ensis turned around, saluted and explained the situation to his Commander.

“I am sorry sir, but this….”

For once in his life Ensis was afraid to give his opinion on the matter, he felt weak and irresponsible to report to the Commander.

“I know how you feel Ensis. When you are about to deliver the final blow, you sometimes cannot do it because of that thought that remains at the back of your head, saying: Don’t do it, it’s wrong, what if it was somepony that you cared about and she or he was in the same place as your victim? I had all these thoughts when I was your age through betrayal and pain!”

“Who….betrayed you sir, If you don’t mind asking?”

“My father Ensis, I had everything when I was young, I had family, companions and a hand full of ponies that cared about me, but now I am just a Commander with a heart of stone.”

Ensis didn’t reply, he just felt sorry for his commander, even if this was an illusion he could not imagine the fact that somepony lost his or her whole legacy by just being betrayed by somepony that you looked up for.

“I am terrible sorry to hear that sir!”

“No need to be sorry Ensis, even if you knew what had happened, you wouldn’t understand, now finish off this filthy rat! We have a lot to do!”

The Commander had left and Ensis was alone with his dying enemy, he looked at her for the last time, he knew that she was crying he could hear it but tried to ignore it, this moment made Ensis feel like if he was the villain and the one you should be afraid of, he kept telling himself it’s just Nocturne, but the whole situation felt so real! He lifted his axe up in to the air, closed his eyes and with tears he said.

“I am sorry.”

He then crushed the wounded mare’s head, penetrating the helmet and into her brain, there was blood that was coming out of her head and he felt like if this was the blood of an innocent, the sun was going down and the moon had almost rised, Ensis then left and returned to the HQ. The HQ was a very big tent in which the Commander along with the other leaders of this operation were gathered to strategies an attack.

“As you can see, we have occupied around the island and have built defenses that nopony can penetrate, tomorrow we will attack through this swamp and into the enemy buildings! We also have some reports from ours scouts, they said about a huge castle in the middle of the island. This must be where he is hidding. After we take the swamps we will rally a full scale attack at the castle.

He then pointed at a certain building in the map that he had in front of him.

“Here, they have all of their food and water supplies, if we strike this building and take it, it will only be a matter of time before they start getting hungry and weak from the hydration. With that in mind, our soldiers will be more comfortable to fight these filthy rats without having a lot of problems. And the only thing that remains is King Sombra! When we take the rest of these positions across the map, the only place where King Sombra will be is his castle in the middle of the island. When we find King Sombra we will strike at him with no hesitation or fear, without his army to defend him he will eventually fall to our power and might. Now, I suggest two options on what we can do with King Sombra. One: We can either capture him alive and bring him back to the Crystal Empire, where he will be judged and punished Or, number two: We can kill him in and burn his corpse along with this cursed island!”

His fellow leaders agreed with the Commander’s suggestion, but some of them had a lot of questions on how to do all that stuff and what will be the cost if this whole plan fails. The Major then stepped in and said.

“I agree with your suggestions Commander, if given the opportunity may I execute the plan on the swamps sir?”

“Yes Major, tomorrow you will execute the plan of the swamp and attack their supply post. If you manage to complete the mission we are going to have a big advantage!”

“Excuse me Commander, but how are we going to accomplish such fit? We know of King Sombra’s viciousness, he might have traps all around the island for us to step on. Do we really want to lose more just because we charged in all blind?”

“Do you doubt our soldiers’ capabilities, Naval Leader?” The Commander said.

“I am not Commander, I am just saying our invasion at the beach costs us a lot. Are you willing to pay the same cost to destroy that supply post?”

“Sometimes sacrifices are needed, and if you can not understand that then you will surely lose any battle. I suggest you learn that now rather learning it the hard way, understand?”

“I....i am sorry sir, i will not doubt you again.”

They all then got out of the tent and went to their private tents to take some rest. The Commander then sat down at the sand and started staring at the sea, when it suddenly started raining. The Commander didn’t move from his location, instead he looked up and smiled. Ensis was about to go the barracks when he noticed the Commander sitting at the beach in the middle of the rain, he got closer to the Commander and said.

“Sir....may i ask what are you doing here in the wet sand?”

“Isn’t it obvious Ensis? I love the rain, it’s so calm and peaceful.”

“I guess....but is it really nessesary to stay out here instead under the tent? You might get cold.”

The Commander laughed a little and said.

“Dont worry about this old stallion, for tomorrow we are making history!”

He smiled in an evil way. Ensis, ignored that, he saluted and went to the barracks to sleep. He got under the blanket and started thinking about the whole thing, the Commander seemed more “alive” than anypony else, he can do whatever he wants without anypony telling him anything and is calm no matter what. Ensis closed his eyes and the sound of the rain made him fell asleep. Ensis woke up tomorrow along with the rest of his comrades, he wore his armor and got out. The Commander was giving speeches while the army was moving into the swamp towards the supply post.

“Today my friends! We will show to this “King” our true strength, we will show him our might and spirit, because unlike him we fight for a better tomorrow for our children, our families and for Eqestira herself! We will not submit to this monster! I believe in every last one of you! We will win this war and return to the Crystal Empire as heroes!”

Ensis was touched by the Commander’s words once again, he entered the swamp and followed the orders of the Major, the troops were rushing to the swamps and towards the supply post, the scouts were flying in the air and looking for enemy soldiers, when out of nowhere one of the scouts shouted.

“AMBUSH”

When he said that, King Sombra’s soldiers started coming out of every direction and started attack the Crystal Empire’s soldier, there was a blood bath, the dirty swamp water had turned red and was filled with corpse that will soon be “eaten” by the water.

Ensis started fighting as hard as he could, where ever he looked he could see Sombra’s soldiers and no way to get to the supply post, then after minutes of fighting he found a small open area where he rushed and made his way to the supply post, he entered the supply post and was greeted by his foes, Ensis started slashing his enemies in order to secure the supply post, Ensis managed to kill all his enemies and rig the post with some explosives that he found during his fight. He got out of the supply post and rigged the explosives, the sky was filled with smoke and some parts from the supply post started rolling towards the swamps where Ensis’s comrades where, lucky for them, his enemies were crushed instead of his comrades.

They continued their attack towards King Sombra’s Castle, the Crystal Soldiers had escaped from the swamps and were tearing down the dark crystal walls of the castle with their cannons, they got inside the castle and started fighting King Sombra’s soldiers, Ensis was with them, but instead of helping his allies he rushed inside the castle to find King Sombra and end this mayhem. He rushed through every floor, every enemy as tears started rolling down his eyes, he got up to the last floor, he kick opened the door and found King Sombra in his throne where he was waiting.

King Sombra was disappointed.

“What is this, a soldier? HA I expected Celestia to come and fight me herself instead of sending some mortal soldiers against me, now I truly know that she wishes to see her subjects die instead of herself, how pathetic.”

“Silence you monster, you don’t deserve to say her name!”

King Sombra was amused by Ensis’s reaction.

“Hmm, interesting and who might you be?”

“Your own demise!”

“Ha! Do you really think that YOU, can defeat me?”

“Oh I can defeat you and when I do, I will be out of this nightmare!”

“Oh, I am not going to fight you now, first you are going to have past him!”

Ensis looked at where King Sombra was pointing, he turned and saw Shining armor in this same helmet that King Sombra’s soldiers were wearing, along with his weapon. Ensis then realized that Shining armor was under his control. Ensis gathered his strength and put aside his fears and lifted his weapons and was ready to fight Shining armor. They both rushed at each other with powerful blows from each side they would hurt one another but not killing them, Ensis knew that if he would fail, the real Shining armor and his comrades will suffer for his mistake, he then outsmarted Shining armor with a fake attack move and stabbed Shining armor in the forehead with his axe. The helmet broke and Ensis could see Shining armor’s face, his eyes were glowing green like King Sombra’s and he was frustrated, Ensis looked at his comrades face while his life faded away.

“Hmmm, not as weak as you look.” King Sombra said.

“Shut up, you might still think me as weak, but i will destroy you and put an end to you!”

Ensis lifted his bloodied weapons and was ready to fight. King Sombra realesed a laughter and said.

“Very well.”

King Sombra then pulled out a huge dark crystal axe which radiated dark energies and rushed at Ensis. Their weapons clashed and Sombra said.

“You are going to need a bigger axes than these boy!”

“I AM NOT A BOY!”

Ensis then pushed Sombra away and the sliced his belly with a hateful strike, in result Sombra was bleeding, but not a lot.

“Nice cut boy, but you are going to need to do better!”

Ensis was frustrated and battle roared while rushing at King Sombra, their fight took a while, both of them were fighting grate, Sombra however had the advantage because of his magic powers, he would throw sharp dark crystals at Ensis and he would doge or get impaled, Ensis was hurt a lot and tried to ignore the pain and focus, he then rushed at Sombra and punched him in the face, Sombra lost control of his horn and Ensis grabbed him from his hooves, they both held each other and Ensis pushed him back and Sombra had fell down, Ensis got up to him and started punching mercilessly, Ensis hooves were filled with blood while he was hitting Sombra, Sombra then lifted Ensis up and pushed him to the wall, Sombra then surfed to Ensis with a path of dark crystals and was ready to kill Ensis, Ensis then noticed Sombra’s axe lying on the floor, he immediately grabbed it and when Sombra was close he lifted the heavy axe with all of his might and sliced Sombra’s head off. Sombra’s body fell to the floor and the battle sounds had stopped. He then noticed the Commander entering the room, he was smiling with that same evil face and slowly clapped for Ensis.

“Well done Ensis, you have defeated me.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“You still don’t get it do you?”

The Commander then was covered darkness and revealed to Ensis his true form. It was Nocturne.

“Well done! You have passed your test as well!”

Ensis could not believe in his eyes. The pony that he looked up to this entire time, the Commander was the demonic and evil Nightmare that threated to destroy the world that he loves.

“NO! IT CAN’T BE! Are you saying......that all you said to me were lies? About your family and everything?”

“No Ensis, but as I told you, you wouldn’t understand. What are you going to do now Ensis? Attack me and try to kill me like Sleepy?”

“What the fuck did you just say? What did you do to him!”

“Nothing! I said that you will pay the price together if you fail didn’t i?”

“All you said Nocturne! I was touched by your words and this is how you repay me? I looked up to you but i should have known that it was so good to be true that a pony so kind and pure existed!”

“I know you did and you make me proud, but now your trial has ended. Let’s see what Flash is doing. Goodbye Ensis!”

“NO WAIT!”

After that the world simply turned into Eternal Darkness with no sign of Nocturne, Ensis nor anything else.