Sirius read and reread the letter a couple of times, unsettling thoughts buzzing in his head. His eyes darted through words, sweat rolled down his forehead as his body shivered slightly. He tried to find something, anything that would disprove his current thoughts, something that would make sense. He turned the letter around to see if there was something else, something that he had missed. Alas, there was nothing. That piece of paper contained the painful truth.

Princess Luna had set this all up, he realized. Iclyn wouldn't talk to him if not for the fear of disappointing the nightly alicorn. She was forced to work with him, to be with him, to listen to his problems and complaints. Sirius was sure she wouldn't be of much help to him otherwise. He was also certain that she had to send letters describing the progress, satisfying the princess of the night. Iclyn might or might not have received instructions on how to act. But one thing was clear — Luna was behind all of this, and the evidence was right in front of Sirius' very eyes.

Unfortunately, the princess managed to bring help even though Sirius didn't ask for it. She tried to get inside his head, and it was something the former human would never forgive and forget, he would never accept help from someone like her. She fooled him by finding a proxy to get the information out of him, and it didn't matter if Iclyn indeed had feelings for him or not.

It all made sense in his head. Maybe Iclyn genuinely loved him, maybe she helped him out of her kindness, but Luna forced her to step in. Otherwise, it would've taken a longer time or Sirius would've committed suicide once again.

And then, there was Anastasia. It couldn't be a simple coincidence that she appeared in the new world. Sirius told Iclyn about his old love interest, and just a few days later the girl appeared out of nowhere. He didn't know how Luna could bring her to Equestria but he was sure it was her who did it and had the means to do so. If Anastasia truly cared for him, she would've appeared there or returned to his life much, much earlier, maybe even before his suicide. Sirius saw how she didn't like being in the new world — she was away from those she knew, and even he realized he was no longer the same. She was stressed almost as much as he had been when he appeared in the new world, and there was nothing the former human could do for her, and all was because of Luna.

Sirius exhaled sharply. It must be put to an end. The nightly princess must no longer mess with him or change his life. He explicitly told her to stop doing it and yet there she was, machinating behind his back, manipulating others, forcing them to comply one way or another. She definitely knew the way out of this world, and she harmed Anastasia by not telling her. It was all done for Sirius to stay under Luna's control.

The former human knew he had to do something about it or he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. Without Luna's control, his life would become peaceful and most importantly honest. Iclyn would no longer fear her, and she would reveal her real feelings, be it love she claimed she had for him or just a mask she had to wear to please him, to ease his mind.

Sirius felt like his very soul was raped and abused, his feelings twisted and manipulated, his mind played with like a chewing toy of a rabid dog. His eye twitched as he realized that he wouldn't achieve what he got if not for intervention. Luna was behind him at every step, using her power to make it seem like his life was finally turning for the better when in truth it wasn't.

He had to confront her about it. He must fight her, prove her that what he meant was true and he wouldn't hesitate to even kill her if she continued doing it.

He didn't care that she had good intentions. He had never asked for it. He told her he didn't need her help. Maybe he could've achieved something by himself but he would never know because of Luna.

This wasn't what he wanted. He would never know if Iclyn loved him genuinely. However, he could find out if her feelings were true by dueling the princess. Without Luna's control, the filly he loved so much would tell him the truth, and he would be very happy if her feelings were indeed loving. If they weren't, however... He realized it would make him a rapist. A proxy used by Luna, but a rapist nonetheless. If Iclyn didn't love him, she couldn't feel good during her sex with him. Even worse, he deflowered her, took her virginity. It was a crime he would never forgive himself for doing. He would rather kill himself than be forced to do it. However, it was out of his control, he could never know it.

If only he found the letter earlier, many thing could've been avoided or changed. Or he would be dead and no one would have to suffer because of him.

Sirius stood up and buckled his sword to his side. He thought about bringing his revolver but decided against it. The duel would be close and personal. If he fell during it, he would accept it and embrace his death. He didn't deserve anything if he couldn't fight for it and most importantly win, come out a victor.

He looked under the bed and saw a black bag. He untied it and pulled out the only thing that would bring him on equal terms with the princess.

The Alicorn Amulet. The most powerful artifact in existence, it would be enough to fight someone as powerful as Luna. It glowed with an eerie red light as he pulled it closer. He thought it couldn't control him, at least not completely. He would be able to take it off once he defeated Luna. He would then forget about it and hide it once again in case her sister or other powerful beings came to claim his body and soul.

He sighed shakily as he locked the amulet around his neck. As soon as it was done, he felt immense, absolute power, his negative emotions amplifying it even further as his hate and anger grew. Every known spell in existence, every counter-spell, it was all his. He knew how to make someone old, young or dead. He felt magic vibrating and resonating around him, its waves entering and exiting him freely. He could feel where different ponies were, he felt their magic: some had weaker, and others had stronger. There were just a few beings as powerful as he was with the amulet. He knew them, he felt them, and he knew who was whom.

A sinister red tint appeared in his irises as his frown deepened, his heartbeat increasing as his body filled with power. His mind became blank, and there was the only goal, the ultimate goal of his life.

He realized he must fight Luna to the death. There was no way around it, no way to find out the truth but erase her from existence, removing the fear associated with her as well.

Become free. Kill Luna.

Princess Luna was tending to her wound by changing the bandage around it. As she had found out earlier, the wound couldn't be healed by magic as it was done by magic and some sort of a spell prevented it from healing. She had to use more traditional methods, and they required more time.

The cut was deep, however it wasn't enough to damage her muscles, nerves or cords, but it was painful and irritating. It kept her from walking without pain and she didn't even know how she could've gotten it in the first place.

She remembered fighting the nightmarish figure in Anastasia's mind. It moved fast, and the way it did so very well represented the fighting style of Sirius. That figure represented him, and Anastasia blamed herself for his apparent suicide, something that was clearly demonstrated in her recent nightmare.

Luna fought the figure, and it managed to hit her once but she didn't notice it at that time. It could've ended badly if the cut was deep enough to damage her more that it already had. She had never known that something like that happening in dreams could result in consequences in reality and thus she needed to remember to be cautious in human dreams.

Luna found herself thinking about those humans. Did all of them have deep mental issues and problems? Or maybe it was just Sirius and those he knew? What were other humans like? Were their dreams dangerous to dream-walkers like herself? She suspected it might've been a defensive mechanism that usually doesn't work without magic.

They were indeed very interesting specie, shaped by a world Luna could see only a glimpse of in Anastasia's dreams and sometimes leaking memories. At the first glance, her world looked like the most modern Equestrian cities but even more advanced. There were giant bird-like machines in the skies, self-propelled metallic carriages, trains without steam powering them, and even small things that represented wireless phones but had many other extra features, something Luna hadn't seen in Equestria or anywhere else. Even minotaurs, the most technologically advanced nation, didn't have those technologies.

But for every positive thing, there were negative sides. Litter, pollution, harsh and cruel people. When progress marches forward, people stay as they were, their nature doesn't change. Ideals are always hard to change or replace. Luna knew that people in the cities tended to be less caring, but it was nothing compared to some humans she saw in Anastasia's dreams and memories.

Suddenly, a piece of paper appeared in front of Luna, startling her slightly. She warily took it in her magic and brought closer. It looked like a letter, the words on it were obviously written in haste.

We have some things to settle, princess. Come here, alone.

Sirius.

As soon as she finished reading the letter, an image flashed before her eyes. It was a lake, and she immediately recognized it. A frown appeared on her face — she knew something wasn't right. The letter was radiating with anger and faint, barely noticeable hatred that was hidden not to well.

The letter she had received raised some obvious red flags. She knew it would be extremely dangerous to come to Sirius alone. She could always summon her sword or use her magic but something wasn't right and she didn't know what. There was something very important that she was unfortunately missing, but what?

Luna knew one thing. For some reason, Sirius was very angry at her. Was it Anastasia's dream that caused it? The nightly alicorn didn't know and there was only one way to find out. But before going there, she wanted to make sure there was a backup plan in case things co wrong.

Luna travelled to the lake Birthwater by flying. She flew high in the skies, making sure no pony would be able to see her. There were gray clouds in the sky, and they helped her move in secret. As she neared the lake, she felt something that almost made her turn around and call for help as immense fear encompassed her, almost cutting off her breath. She stumbled in midair and almost lost her control.

She could feel the hate and anger radiating from the center of the lake. There was also something else... Sadness? She felt something in the back of her mind, something that was suppressed so that she wouldn't able to pick it up.

The alicorn descended and landed on the lake's shore. The lake itself was wrapped in mist, she could barely see mere two meters in it. The surface pf the water was covered in red-tinted ice.

Just like in Anastasia's nightmare.

Luna stopped. She needed to think before entering the mist. Did that figure of nightmares arrived in this world by manifesting inside Sirius? She didn't know if it could happen but she didn't disregard the possibility. She must be very cautious — danger could be waiting for her anywhere.

She could return and call in the Royal Guard and her sister, maybe even the Elements of Harmony. However, something told her, forced her to drop that idea. She must confront whatever was inside the fog all by herself. If it was a fight, it was her fight.

She raised her hoof and prepared to move forward, but froze in place. From inside the thick mist, she could see a pair of hateful eyes. They were purple, but their centers were red. They glared at her before disappearing a few moments later.

Luna released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She had seen many a thing in her long life: hateful beasts, fallen heroes, monsters from the darkest places there were in the world, but she didn't know who was the one who was glaring at her just a moment ago.

Of course she knew it was Sirius. But who was he? What had made him into what he was? And most importantly, why did Luna feel so afraid? Sirius didn't posses great magical skill or strength. He was of no danger to her... was he?

She put her hoof down. She must find out what happened before it's too late. And so, she entered the mist.

https://youtu.be/CjOD9VhQDzE

"Princesssss Luna..." a voice spoke, coming from everywhere, seemingly pressing on her ears. The voice was like a whisper and yet it was booming, causing Luna to look around frantically for its source. "I found out what you've done..."

She could answer nothing as she continued moving forward, readying herself for the obviously inevitable battle. Sirius held a hateful grudge against her, she realized. It would be a fight to the death.

"I found that letter. You made Iclyn get close to me." the same voice continued, the voice of Sirius. "You forced her to be mine. You made me... rape her, you monster!"

The scream deafened Luna, making her stop and fold her ears.

"I've not... done it, Sirius!" she said, gasping for air as if something was choking her. "What... letter?"

"Don't be stupid!" Sirius replied angrily, and a piece of paper appeared in front of Luna. She picked up and read it.

"It's not what you think it is!" she said, looking around. "I didn't make her do anything!"

"You're lying!" Sirius replied, his voice filled with burning hatred. "No one would want to be with me. You made her do what she wouldn't have otherwise!" the voice paused. It spoke again in a few seconds, it became eerily calm: "Do you know... how it feels to be raped?"

Luna didn't know what to reply. She had no idea how to respond to that hateful statement. She sensed something was wrong with Sirius. It wasn't supposed to be like that.

"You won't know... Because it will be done once I murder you!"

Sirius jumped at her, swinging his sword. Luna dodged to the side, avoiding a vertical slash. She summoned her sword and blocked the next hit he threw at her. He pushed, aggressively swinging his weapon, desperately trying to strike Luna.

She looked at him. His eyes were bloodshot, the pupil glowing red. On his chest, an amulet lay. The Alicorn Amulet.

Luna understood what was wrong. She must convince Sirius to take it off... Somehow.

He struck again, breaking her line of thought. He fiercely sent a hit after hit, forcing Luna into defense. He left no room for counterattacking as he pushed onwards, making the alicorn to take steps back.

She pushed him away with magic and tried to teleport herself out.

"You think you can do it so simply?" Sirius asked, growling. Then he immediately thrusted, almost getting Luna as she dodged.

"Take off the amulet, it controls you!" she pleaded.

"No one controls me!" the former human retorted as he tried to hit her again and again. He became closer to her, forcing her blade away.

Luna used her magic to throw him away. With a grunt, he flew off into the mist and landed somewhere with a loud thud and a crack. A cry went through the mist. The alicorn turned around and started galloping, hoping to get out of there.

Sirius lay on the ice, his hind leg broken open, his blood leaking out of it. He groaned and cried in suffering as agonizing pain shot through his whole body as he tried to move. But he knew he must get up, he knew he must fight. Luna couldn't be allowed to escape, she mustn't leave or even live.

He used powerful healing magic, snapping his bones back in place. His flesh and skin regenerated in a few seconds, leaving not a scar. He jumped onto his hooves, charging his horn with magic. He made the mist go away, leaving only some at the lake's borders.

"You can't run!" he bellowed as he saw Luna trying to get out of his magical dome.

She stopped doing it and turned around. She landed on the ice and locked her eyes with Sirius'. She lit her horn while lowering her sword.

"I don't want to do this, Sirius." Luna said, charging up her spell. "We can sort everything out. Take off the amulet, and I will not hurt you. We can solve this misunderstanding, it doesn't have to end like this."

"I understand everything clearly." Sirius said, his voice threateningly calm once again. "Either you or I will die today. No other way, your majesty." he raised his sword and took an offensive stance.

"I'm afraid you leave me no choice, Sirius." Luna finished charging up her spell. "I'm sorry."

She released a powerful ball of magic, hurling it at Sirius with great force. It flew through air quickly and exploded upon impact, cracking the ice along the whole lake, vaporizing it in its center. The deafening explosion left Luna's ears ringing as she turned away from the blast.

It had to be done. Those who can't take off the amulet could only be killed. That was the only way of taking it off not by the bearer.

Out from the vapor, Sirius charged at Luna, unscathed. He let out a roar as he slid on the ice, going for a deadly stab.

Alicorn's eyes widened in shock as she dodged to the side. The former human followed up with a swing, trying to get her by surprise. They began exchanging hits, both of them moving swiftly, their hits fast and precise, but neither managed to wound the other. They fought fiercely, not letting either take the upper hand in the duel, they fought equally.

Nothing but the clashes of their swords sounded. Sirius had years of practice, Luna had decades, but she hadn't been practicing ever since her banishment. Unfortunately, she started to lose as it became increasingly difficult for her to respond to Sirius' actions.

He grabbed his sword by the blade and swung it vertically. Luna tried to block the hit but it went through her defence, hitting her horn with the pommel.

She was forced to drop her sword as she felt immense pain in her head. She let out a pained cry and closed her eyes, tears of suffering appearing in them. She was incapacitated and no longer able to fight.

Sirius dropped his own sword and tackled Luna with a growl of hatred. She fell, hitting her own head, disorienting herself. The former human pinned her to the solid icy surface, and choked her with his magic.

"Do you know what is one of the most terrifying ways to die?" he asked her in a gravely tone, his flaming eyes glaring at her. "Drowning!"

He bashed her head against the ice, making it crack under her. Soon, a part of it was broken off. Sirius removed the ice and threw the chunks way, revealing cold water below.

The two slid closer the hole, and the former human forced Luna's head underwater. She gurgled helplessly as her nose and mouth filled with water, her limbs flailing as she desperately tried to get out. The former human held her tightly, not allowing her anything.

Sirius pulled her out before she could pass out. Luna coughed out the water as she blinked, trying to clear her eyes. Before she could regain her focus, she was forcefully shoved into the hole again. A few seconds later, she was pulled back.

"I will make it last!" Sirius used his hoof to punch her in the face, making her muzzle bleed. "Can you feel it, princess? Can you feel this pain? This is how you make me feel!" he hit her again, and then pushed her head back into the water.

Suddenly, something hit him in the chest, sending him flying. He landed a few dozens of meters away, the landing making him lose coordination and focus. He opened his eyes again and saw a painfully familiar face above him.

"Why, Sirius?" she said, her eyes full of tears. Gurgling sounded from behind, and the face disappeared. "Princess!"

Sirius rolled over and stood up on his shaking legs. It was it. Iclyn, the one he loved, left him to help someone who fooled him and her. The hurtful truth was unveiled. He teleported his sword to himself.

"Sirius, stop!" Iclyn shouted, calling him. He looked at her and saw her trembling, the body of Luna lying by her side. The princess coughed and rolled on her side. "It's the amulet, not you!"

Did it matter? What was done mattered, not an artifact. There was no going back, no return. Luna fooled him, made him suffer. Iclyn left him, left him to suffer. Anastasia didn't care for him, no one did. And all of it was his own fault.

He wasn't good enough. He wasn't nice enough. He was broken, shattered into many pieces, and no one would ever be willing to put them back together, to make him whole again. It just wasn't worth it.

"Sirius, whatever you think about, don't do it! Take that thing off, please!" the filly pleaded as tears rolled down her cheeks. The princess was weak as she lay nearby, trying to gain enough strength to stop this madness.

Sirius raised his sword. It was time to end it all. He always knew it would come to this. He should've known better than trying to find new life, it was simply not what he deserved. The delay was long, and he was finally coming to what he should've done at the beginning, even before he attempted to leave the wretched lake.

There was nothing for him. No desires, no dreams, no hopes. Nothing mattered, after all.

"Sirius, please, listen to me!"

Inhale, exhale. It was hard to do it. He gathered what remained of his strength as his sword shook in his grasp. He knew he must do it, he knew he mustn't hesitate. There were no doubts, only determination to finally end it all.

Such a miserable life wasn't worth this much suffering.

"P-please!"

Nothing remained. Suffering had to end. It had gone on for way too long, making him think something could be changed when it never could.

"I lo—"

Sirius thrusted his sword through his chest. He fell to the ground, letting out a grunt. He felt no pain yet but he knew he soon would. However, he wasn't going to wait for it. He must finish what he started.

"SIRIUS!" a desperate cry sounded but it fell on deaf ears.

He knew that the blackness would wrap him soon. He just needed to make sure it would be complete before anyone forced him to continue living.

He pulled his sword out. It was covered in blood from point to the guard. The red liquid streamed from the hole and dripped onto the ice, painting it crimson. The color of life, and it was leaving him.

He released the sword, and it fell on the ice. The sound of rattling steel was muffled to Sirius as he stared into nothing.

He fell on the ice, his final breath escaping him, turning into vapor. His eyes closed as he felt something cold and harsh pressing against his body. It was the end and it wasn't like he imagined it to be.

No satisfaction, no warmth. He felt the darkness encompassing him as the rays of the sun couldn't get through the eyelids anymore.

The amulet was released, its glow ceasing.

It fell on the ice.

Author's Notes:

Wait for the epilogue.

Also, I would like to hear your opinion on the music I've included in this chapter.