Ponyville

“So we’re going after missing persons now…?” Vapor remarked as she and Lightning Dust pulled up outside a house -to be honest calling it a house might have been stretching it as it looked more like a griffon’s roost in some places- on their Savage Cycles. “I love to do good and all, yes, part of being a superhero but isn’t this a bit… I dunno, below our station? Shouldn’t we leave this to the cops?”

“True, yes…” Lightning admitted. “But they’re friends of mine, hell they helped me get settled in Ponyville after the whole fiasco at the Wonderbolts Academy. No other town would take me really, given I almost killed the Elements so I was lucky Troy and Canvas vouched for me. Well, okay Cloudsdale would... But given I wanted to be as far away from that place given my father and the fact that Rainbow and Fluttershy lived there it was a no-go.” she continued. For a moment, Lightning halted. Why did her father come to her at that time? Why did he suddenly just drop by out of the blue after a couple of years not speaking to her? Surely it wasn’t just to insult her, was it?

“...I’m surprised Rainbow didn’t do it,” Vapor commented. “Given how the two of you are so… well, so close if I’ll be frank.”

“She tried, she honestly did but getting me back in the Wonderbolts - calling me getting thrown out a waste of perfectly good flying talent- was running her favors thin as it was.” Lightning continued.

“So why did Troy and Canvas help you?” Vapor had to ask as they walked up the footpath leading to the duo’s home. “Seriously… You were a nobody to them. Nice as they are, there’s a definite gap between friendship and what they did.”

“Well, it’s a bit of a story…” Lightning sighed.

“I have time for stories, always do,” Vapor replied. “Besides, sisters should share, right? So… Spill.”

“Okay, okay…” Lightning chuckled noticing how Vapor was practically hopping in place in anticipation. She was so adorable at times. “But you need to sit down really. This takes a bit of explaining really...”

And so Lightning explained. “Goddamnit…” Lightning muttered, walking down the darkened streets of Canterlot. She’d tried to apply for a rental home, but her little antics at the Wonderbolts Academy had made headlines. She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised really, given what she pulled. Creating a tornado that nearly killed quite a few famous heroes really had a way of doing that.

In retrospect, she wondered what the Hell she was thinking. Yes, she wanted to be the best and maybe finally win her father’s approval, but that didn’t call for outright recklessness. She was honestly surprised this had happened, Rainbow convincing Spitfire to give her another shot at being a ‘Bolt. Granted, this required hour after hour of cleaning the barracks and such, but it would be worth it. ...At least, that’s what Lightning kept telling herself. But what was the point in being in the Wonderbolts if everyone hated you besides the fact?

Hell, she honestly wouldn’t be surprised if nobody came to the Wonderbolts shows if Lightning by some miracle somehow became a full-fledged ‘Bolt instead of just a reservist. For the briefest of moments, Lightning thought about saying ‘screw it!’ and going off to form her own team, but what would that accomplish? Her reputation was still in tatters, and nobody would come to see her shows anyways. No, she couldn’t just give up now and throw her second chance away and prove Spitfire wrong and become someone who was a quitter when the going got tough. No, this would make her becoming a Wonderbolt all the more sweeter if she went through all the fire, and all the pain required to do so. Hard work always paid off in the end, so she was told. But this still mattered all the little if she couldn’t find a place to live. Living on the streets was out obviously, and while Cloudsdale would still probably take her she definitely didn’t want to live anywhere near her father’s smug-ass face. Oh, she could see him now… Just rubbing it in that her daughter was a failure, second-rate at best. The very thought of it made her blood boil, and for a moment she almost cracked the little jewel she had clutched in the palm of her hand.

This jewel, it was a curious little bastard really. A few years before joining the Wonderbolts, or make that attempting to join anyways she’d found this while flying over in what used to be called the Valley of the Gods. Saw something shimmering in a sheer cliff face, and landed down in an old village built into the stone. Inside a small house, or what used to be one was this gem just laying there shimmering in the evening light. Curiosity overtaking her, she picked it up. It wasn’t the only thing she’d found there. No, she’d accidentally tripped over an ancient pot shattering it revealing what seemed to be another crystal of the same sort only a deep brown in color. Inside this, a coyote or something canid. She’d thought nothing of these for years really, until Shayla recruited -or as Lightning preferred, indoctrinated- her to become part of this Power Rangers Wild Force crap.

But that didn’t solve her current problem. No, here she was walking back to a barely liveable hotel in the pouring rain and lightning, which befitted her sour mood really. She honestly thought hypothermia would overtake her in the cold winter rain. Thankfully, fate had a different course plotted out for her.

A gray paw reached out to her, and a voice -friendly and warm- shouted out to her. “Hey, over here!”

Lightning looked up from her brooding and saw the owner of that paw. This gray feathered griffon, standing under an umbrella with his friend, a light green pony. Handsome, if Lightning were to admit it to herself. Or if she even liked stallions.

“No sense standing out all along in the pouring rain!” the green pony shouted. “Raining cats and dogs out here! Come on, over here!” he shouted, the griffon looking mildly offended by the cats and dogs remark. He tossed a rain slicker over to Lightning, which the mare all too graciously put on.

“Did you not hear the weather report?” the griffon asked. “The weather team was supposed to drop a torrent on us by this time!”

“Well, I figured I’d be home long after the rain cleared. I figured I’d be nose deep in paperwork for a rental house here!” Lightning replied as she gathered under the small umbrella with the duo. “Guess I didn’t count on my reputation throwing that back in my fuckin’ face really…”

“Reputation? Why would it…?” the pony asked before his eyes widened in recognition. “Oh, right…” he winced.

“You going to throw me to the street now?” Lightning asked bitterly, in a biting tone. “What, you going to punch Lightning Diana Dust, the near-murderer of the Elements in the snoz? Suits me right really!” she laughed in a dark tone.

“No, I’d never do that,” the pony replied. “Sorry, I never introduced myself did I? Name’s Canvas, and this big lug is my boyfriend Troy.”

Troy waved before speaking. “No, we’re not going to do that. See, I have this belief anyone can change. We both do really. And honestly, we’ve been talking with Rainbow Dash. She mentioned a mare who was in a spot of trouble after she pulled something stupid.”

Lightning winced. “...So, that’s what I am? A mare to be talked about and pitied?”

“Only if you want it to be that way,” Canvas added. “No, what you could do really, is actually work to change ponies’ perceptions of you. Little by little, and it’ll be an uphill battle but it can be done. Trust me, griffons are hardly well-liked and yet…”

“Yeah, you’re a well-functioning citizen of Ponyville. I’ve seen you around. Troy Clawston. Famous artist!” Lightning stated.

“...Well, I wouldn’t go out to say famous…” Troy laughed nervously rubbing the back of his head with a paw.

“Don’t be so modest,” Lightning refuted. “I’ve seen your paintings in a few galleries here and there. Hell, I bought one! The one about ancient griffons, you know the one right?”

“Yeah, yeah… I do,” Troy admitted. “...I’m not the artist in the family, sadly that goes to my brother Lyle but for some reason ponies like my work. It’s really just charcoal rubbings, but-”

“But nothing, you’re good!” Canvas disagreed as he briefly moved his jacket in such a way to show his cutie mark on his right shoulder. “Hell, I have painting and the arts as my talent and yet I still can’t grasp charcoal rubbings. But anyways… Lightning. You’re down and out on your luck, sorta like I was after a nasty storm. Troy helped me get back on my hooves, and to be honest I want to help someone who’s in a similar situation…”

“I don’t think nearly killing someone and a storm nearly doing you in are similar in any sort of respect...” Lightning muttered. Around them, ponies pointed and whispered and Lightning tried to hide her head to avoid being seen. Troy shot them a nasty glare, and griffons were masters of that art believe you me. Came with being half eagle and half lion.

“Look, the point is, we want to help,” Troy stated. “Now, you can go on being stubborn and feeling sorry for yourself, or you can accept someone helping you like a big girl. Stay with us, for as long as you need to, while you get back on your hooves.”

“You’d honest to goddess do that? For me, a fuckin’ screw up of a Wonderbolt?” Lightning asked. “Man, you must be cracked in the head to even consider this a possibility.”

“Kindness is a lottery,” Troy refuted. “There’s a quote I absolutely adore. And that is this. “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” Don’t you agree that quote works?”

“Yes… Yes, I suppose it does…” Lightning admitted. “It’s just… I have a hard time believing two random schmucks would stick their neck out for me. It’s your reputation on the chopping block!”

“Yes… Well, if you pardon my language…” Canvas said. “Fuck reputation and the horse it rode in on!”

How ironic those words would be, Lightning Dust would later muse.

“The thing in the here and now,” Canvas continued. “Is I see a pony down on her luck and need of a helping hand. Now, are you going to accept that hand is another story. So, will you, or will you not?”

“But… But even if this is true, -all of what you’re saying and preaching I mean- I still will need to move out of the nest eventually.”

“We know Twilight, amongst others. She’ll be happy to help if anyone gives you any shit,” Troy continued. “She’s a very forgiving mare. If she could forgive Discord and accept him, she can do the same for you I suspect. You’re small fry compared to the Spirit of Chaos. Someday soon I suspect, you’ll be like a phoenix, rising from the ashes of your own making. Make no mistake, you screwed up, but you can damn well make it right am I correct?”

“Yeah… Yeah, I can…” Lightning said taking the offered hand. She didn’t know what it was, this warm feeling bubbling and building up inside her at the time but she would later put a name to it. Hope. “Yeah, I can definitely do this. I’ve got this. Look out Equestria, here comes the new and improved Lightning Diana Dust!”

“...Wait. Your name is seriously Diana?”

“Oh shut up you featherhead.”

“Okay, that’s… something,” Vapor admitted. “I can see why you have such a personal interest in this. ...Although, common sense would dictate having a vested personal interest in Troy going missing should keep you off the case right?”

“...Yeah, well we’re not cops are we?” Lightning remarked. “Besides, I owe them a debt and it’s time I collect on it really…” she murmured as she knocked on the front door. There was a small shout and then hoofsteps on wooden flooring before it creaked open.

“L-Lightning?” Canvas stammered out in shock. “What are you…?”

“Troy went missing, and he’s a friend. Not going to be all huggle buddies and support you in your time of need as I don’t believe in circle-jerking when things could be done. In this case, figuring out what the flying feather happened…”

As the two were let in, Vapor’s eyes widened and she nearly had to contain a squee at the many, many paintings -charcoal or otherwise- hung up around the house before she ran a hand over an extremely rare edition of Power Ponies 31, signed by the original writer. “Yes, yes! The Masked Matterhorn kisses her marefriend issue!” Vapor shouted punching the air wearing an absolutely doofy grin. “How the hell did you even…?”

“...Don’t mind her, she’s a dork. Complete dork,” Lightning said with a small smile. “On task, sis!” she reminded, that smile still on her face.

“Sorry, so sorry… It’s just I’m a huge fan of the arts. And comics…” Vapor blushed. “Like seriously, I have Power Ponies stuff plastered all over my bedroom wall! ...Oh god, can’t believe I just said that. I must look like such a child. ...Kill me.”

“It’s fine,” Canvas said with a smile. “You and Lyle… I’d expect you to get along just fine. He’s the only reason we’ve got so many comics as it is, him borrowing the house while he’s in town for the week. Wish he was here right now, you two would probably talk for hours…”

“Lyle, as in Troy’s kid brother? The one with the comic about the dolphins Robert err… warned me about?” Lightning asked. “What’s he doing here?”

“...That’s a bit of a story…” Canvas whispered sounding almost ashamed as he sunk into his couch cushions. Lightning noted he was wearing a raggedy old tank-top and had a smock wrapped around him. She raised an eyebrow. Rarity had stress sewing, so maybe Canvas had stress painting? Would certainly explain all the unfinished pieces she saw lying about. “And I fear it may have something to do with Troy having gone missing.”

“Alright, what did you do…?” Lightning asked with a warning edge in her tone. Vapor winced. She knew that tone. It generally came about when someone had irked her and Lightning was about to go to town on them. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the gossip I heard about a certain Clawston who happens to be part of a heavy metal band coming to town, does it? Strange, how all the Clawston family members seem to be popping up willy nilly out of the blue like this…” she said putting a hand to her chin in suspicion. While she was no hard-boiled detective, she was far from stupid. She could put two and two together, and what was adding up she didn’t exactly like.

“...It might have, yes,” Canvas admitted with a sigh. “I may have done something rather stupid.”

“Wait, Blade Clawston is in town?” Vapor asked, raising an eyebrow. She knew of his band, Talon Ripper. She may have been a metal fan, but his work simply wasn’t for her. A bit too hardcore. Wasn’t exactly a death or thrash metal fan. The album covers, such as the downright pornographic Alicorn Harem one didn’t exactly win her any points either. Neither did the one with the changelings being thrown into a meat grinder for that matter. “...Right, priorities Vapes…” she muttered, smacking herself on the face with a hand. Oddly, Lightning noted she was blushing.

“Heh, totally not a Talon Ripper fan my ass! Blade gets all the girls, even the ones you don’t expect!” Lightning thought. “It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it…? Or is that just sex? Didn’t know it extended to musical genres. By that logic, Twilight might be into Celestia Shall Burn if it didn’t go against her precious teacher…”

“So what did you do?” Vapor asked. “...Wait, don’t tell me Troy’s parents finally got wind of you two being married…”

Canvas nodded with a small whimper. “...Yep.”

“Oh, tell me you didn’t…” Vapor muttered and Canvas’ face said it all. “...Oh you did.”

“Yeah… I may have freaked out a little…” he murmured sinking lower into the couch. It would have been in any other situation kinda funny. Sadly, this was not any other situation.

“So much for fuck the reputation and the horse it rode in on eh?” Vapor murmured, and Canvas’ head whipped around to face her.

“...Oh, so Lightning told you about that did she…?”

“Hey, she asked!” Lightning commented. “But she’s right. You are a total idiot. A complete and utter moron. If Troy’s parents really love you or their son, then they wouldn’t give a flying fuck!” she shouted smacking Canvas over the back of his head with a wing.

“I know, I know okay? I just freaked out! Hearing them coming here, and knowing how behind the times griffon culture can be, I freaked out! Can you blame me?”

“...Well, I’d say no but giving how the griffon princess is dating Twilight…” Lightning muttered, Canvas blinking slightly at this. Before any more words could be said, both growlphones rung.

“Lightning,” Shayla stated over the phone. “Koragg’s back. Sunset’s on route to him now to try and head him off, but I’m worried she may not be able to handle him alone. He’s a very good swordsman, possibly the greatest there ever lived. Sunset may have power, but that doesn’t make up for pure skill.”

“How did…” Lightning trailed off before sighing as she remembered Koragg’s nature. One of the few things she’d retained from Robert’s Ranger History Lessons. “Vapor, you don’t think…?”

“That’s a sucker’s bet and I’m not taking it and you know it sis. Welp, time to save a griffon and pull him out of that knight’s armor,” she sighed before muttering sarcastically: “Oh, this’ll be fun. One hospital trip, coming right up. ...Where the hell are Robert and Sunburst when you need them?”

The answer to that, of course, was simple. Far away in Japan, Robert found himself slashing through the overgrown streets of Tokyo with the Shadow Saber. The city had long given itself away to nature and now vines and plants covered every inch of it. He half expected an Inves to jump out of nowhere right about now. Eventually, clogging through the swallowing heat he smashed a door in before finding himself in the midst of three ponies. Two wore hoods and dark blue uniforms but the other had tossed his hood aside revealing a midnight black face and a massive unkempt almost palm tree-like manestyle. And they all bore the unmistakable Ninja Star Blades of the Ninja Steel Rangers.

“...Joy,” Robert muttered before the lead demanded what he was doing here. Robert’s only response? A weak “I like Ike?”

As for Sunburst, he too found himself in hot waters, literally before having to be pulled out of it by Daring and her whip. Like Robert, they were searching for an extra edge for the upcoming battle. Unlike Robert though, they’d landed in the dangerous wilds of the Dragon Lands. And judging by the angry look on the cyan-scaled dragonness in front of them, they were not welcomed as friends. Needless to say, things escalated… quickly on both sides of the globe.

“Power Stars Lock In, Ninja Spin!”/“Legendary Wild Access!”

And in the Dragon Lands, Sunburst had seemingly found the last Energem user. Mind you, considering who it was this was -or more accurately how she felt about ponies intruding on her territory- a bit of a minor issue to say the least.

“Unleash the Power! Legendary Wild Access!”/”Unleash the Power!”

But that was another story for another time. Right now, we must return our attentions to Ponyville and the current developing situation.

“You… You mean I may have…?” Canvas whispered his voice wracked with guilt having been giving a quick explanation of Koragg’s nature.

“Pretty much, you dunce,” Lightning sighed. “Come on, you’re coming with us.”

“You really think that’s a good idea?” Vapor asked nervously.

“You got a better one? Might just snap Troy back to his senses long enough for us to give Koragg the boot from his body. Now then, we’ve got a job to do, and a Princess to pull out of the fire. Ready sis?”

“Ready.” Vapor nodded.

“Legendary Wild Access, hah!”

“My magic has returned. Again, you have failed to get rid of me. Watch yourself Shimmer. I feel your time here will not be long.” Koragg stated as the Knight Wolf clashed blades with the Gold Ranger, sparks flying off as the two blades ground together. “Again, and again I will rise up to face those who oppose the dark and those who support the Light. Wolf Attack!” he shouted and his shield opened up to fire off a powerful blast of crimson energy that Sunset only barely dodged by flying backwards.

Sunset wanted to go all out, she did, but she knew underneath all of that armor there was one of her subjects The trouble was, she couldn’t tell if this was Koragg speaking having fully taken control over whoever was underneath all that armor or the one under the armor had given himself fully away to the dark.

So she could not risk it, she just had to fight as normal. Sending a slash of flames towards Koragg, she watched him block it as anticipated before summoning the Falcon Summoner and firing off a barrage of energy arrows towards the dark knight. Snapping her fingers, she summoned vines up from the ground to restrain the Knight Wolf.

“Listen…” she pleaded. “I know you’re hurt, and in pain... I know you are. I don’t know what happened to drive you to accept Koragg’s power, but it’s not worth it. You’re scared, I get that. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' Isn’t that right… Troy?” she asked, finally recognizing the griffon for who he was after seeing his shadow briefly shown instead of Koragg’s. She smiled. Good, he was fighting back against Koragg’s influence. Now, she just had to push him a little harder and get him to break that influence. “Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life. There is just one thing that makes your dream become impossible: the fear of failure.”

Troy let out a scream of pain and broke free from the vines with a pure wave of dark shadowed fire. “Yes… Yes, but that’s not the problem is it?” he asked, firing a wave of energy from the shield in his hands. “It’s Canvas. He’s too afraid of my reputation being ruined, too afraid of my parents! He wants to annul the marriage!”

“And… And you think by accepting Koragg’s power you’ll make him submit?” Sunset asked, just barely blocking the flames with an energy bubble. “No, no... You’ll make him scared of you!”

“RRRRRRAAAAGGHHHH!” Troy/Koragg roared sending a powerful slice of dark magic towards Sunset breaking the shield and sending her flying backwards. Lightning caught her fellow Ranger in her arms.

“See, this is why we don’t go off alone to face enemies, this is exactly why,” Lightning faux-lectured gently setting Sunset down and wagging her finger. “Haven’t you learned nothing? Friendship is the most powerful magic there is!”

“T-Troy….?” Canvas asked in horror, Vapor having gone into Orion Mode and restraining the corrupted griffon with ropes of water. “Is… Is that you?”

“Troy’s gone dearie…” Koragg said in a mocking voice. “There’s just me in here. He was such a fool, accepting this sort of power…”

“No, he’s not. You’re just inhabiting his body, you snake. Now give it up!” Canvas shouted. “Now Troy, if you’re in there… I’ve got a few things to say. First off, I’m sorry. Secondly… Yes I was afraid, but I’m coming to realize something. Gay marriage - it's not about two people being gay now is it? It's about two people who love each other and who have decided to commit to each other for the exact same reasons any other couple would get married. So what if your parents don’t give their blessings? Marriage isn't the end-point of a relationship. It's just a stepping stone, one aspect of a long-term evolution between two people who have, for whatever reason, decided to take a leap of faith and say, 'Well, hey, this is a person who I want to try with for the rest of my life.' Which is not a guarantee of perfection - far from it. There always will be troubles for any relationship, but we’ll work through them together. Isn’t that what we’ve always done? As I said, I don’t give a flying feather -not anymore- if your parents don’t bless us. So please…” he pleaded now close to tears.

It seemed for a moment Troy was listening, before a dark chuckle escaped Koragg’s lips. “Oh, a very passionate speech indeed, but the thing is… Your Troy? He’s not here anymore. Just… me.”

Koragg swung his sword at Canvas, but stopped at the last moment as if something was holding him back. Canvas blinked, and for just a brief moment he could have sworn he saw a fiery red figure, clad in almost the exact same armor as Koragg. And then a voice in his head.

“His blade will be stayed. Now, begone foul beast! Back to the pits with you!” the voice bellowed with all the intensity of a red-hot burning flame.

Troy let out another scream of pain, a loud piercing scream of agony that split the air before Koragg’s armor shattered and faded away into a black mist revealing Troy. Canvas quickly grabbed his husband in a hug and held him close. “Like I said all those years before…” Canvas started. “Fuck reputation and the horse it rode in on…”

“...You know that makes no sense, right?” a teary-eyed Troy laughed. “Considering what you are and all…”

“Eh, if it works it works right?” Canvas asked. “After all, you just gotta believe in-”

“...Oh for Pity’s sakes… No Gurren Lagann quotes please!” Vapor groaned. “It’s a good show, I get that, but I also get enough hot-bloodiness from my sister and Robert! We don’t need a third!”

“And what’s wrong with being hot-blooded?” Lightning asked. “My power is surging, my soul is burning, and that way I can feel I can do anything!”

Vapor facepalmed before murmuring: “...I swear if Libera Me from Hell starts playing…”

“...Well, I guess that’s… that then?” Lightning asked. “Koragg’s defeated, and he’s probably not going to come back so I guess we can go head on home then… Right?”

She soon retracted her statement when she saw the shadows beginning to gather and form into a shape that soon drew a sword and sent a blast of dark energy towards the Rangers. Sunset threw up a shield in front of Canvas and Troy while she struggled to contain the energy blast. She managed to do so, absorbing into her horn letting out a scream of pain before firing the blast skywards in a powerful red beam. As the dust cleared, the figure became visible at last. Koragg, as if anyone had any other doubts.

“...You gotta be kidding me!” Lightning shouted going into Orion Mode and clashing blades with the Knight Wolf before he kicked her in the stomach sending her staggering backwards. “How the Hell are you…?”

“Still alive? Thank Troy. He just provided me a proper medium between this world and the next. As long as he exists, so do I. In basic, only way to permanently kill me is to kill him,” Koragg stated even as Sunset fired a blast of magic from her horn towards Koragg who simply blocked it with his shield. “Now, witness the power of the Eye of the Master!” he bellowed before his shield opened up and sent all three Rangers flying backwards with a powerful red energy blast ripping up the ground and the street in the process.

“And… And I thought you were an honorable warrior…” Sunset coughed out, her armor ripped to shreds and blood dripping onto the ground. “Instead, you use someone as a hostage to keep yourself alive!”

“There’s honor and then there’s pragmatism. Learn the difference,” Koragg stated. “You are hardly worth the challenge I think. Even the original Mystic Force put up more of a challenge than you. You are not on their level, Rangers.” he stated striding towards Vapor Trail sword drawn. “Three against one…? It hardly seems worth the effort…” he muttered in distaste with more than a trace of disappointment detectable as well. He was about to strike before an eerie flute sound filled the air, and Vapor’s eyes widened. She knew that sound.

Striding out of the nearby Whitetail Woods lamp-like golden eyes glowing in the darkness was a figure Vapor knew all too well. “Then how about we even up those odds,” Zen-Aku asked cracking his neck. “I was almost hoping to see you again really. In fact, I actually wanted to fight you wolf to wolf. But congrats, you just won the golden kewpie doll as soon as you touched her.”

He brought out his blade and leveled it at Koragg. “No mercy for you this time. This will be the end of you.”

With that, he charged…

With the sound of blades meeting, the battle progressed into the Whitetail Woods, the ringing of swords echoing out through the forest.

“You do realize, even if you somehow manage to kill me I will just rise again ever the stronger because I have a medium in this world?” Koragg asked.

“I have faith in the Rangers breaking that connection,” Zen-Aku stated as he sent a powerful Crescent Wave hurtling towards Koragg who was just barely able to hold it back with his shield. Zen-Aku then struck again and again in a blur of speed slicing through Koragg’s armor with his dagger sending the Knight Wolf to his feet just barely able to hold himself up with his sword.

“The power difference between us may be a gulf, I accept that,” Zen-Aku stated. “But what’s the use of all those powerful attacks if you cannot land a blow?”

To his surprise however, Koragg managed to stand up and his power seemed to be regaining. “As long as there is evil in this world, I shall stand. And you know there always will be evil in this world. Solar Flare is proof of that, along with Thrax and the many others who have threatened the Earth over its long life.”

And as they clashed blades once more, Koragg actually teleporting the fight to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters he continued to speak. “True to my name, I am but a dream that lives in your heart. Therefore, I am immortal. For as long as there is fear in your heart, I will someday return. Take heed of what I say... as long as there is evil in the world and darkness in people's hearts... my spirit will never die... I will rise again one day... and make the world mine…”

“You’ve spent so much time alone,” Zen-Aku stated leaping backwards onto a long-ruined thrown and tossing another Crescent Wave Koragg’s way. “You’re beginning to delude yourself. I used to think the same way, that as long as evil existed I would rise again to haunt the Rangers from the grave. My mind has changed over the centuries. I may have been born from darkness, and I may have the same powers as you, but I am not fighting for the darkness. Wolves have always been the noble protectors of mankind, and so there my role must be.”

“Mankind!” Koragg barked swinging his sword in a Dark Magic Strike towards Zen-Aku forcing him to leap off Luna’s throne and once more go blade to blade with Koragg. Koragg slammed his shield into the ground sending a powerful shockwave that forced Zen-Aku to stagger back. “A species that no longer exists! You fight amongst devils, Wolf! Creatures that spurred mankind, and drive them to their grave!”

“They can change, like any species. They already are in fact. You are a creature of the past, and so am I for that matter…” Zen-Aku remarked. “We are artifacts of an age long since passed.”

“Yet still we serve. For what cause though, is entirely down to perspective,” Koragg’s grip tightened around his blade. “The only one who believes that what you are doing is right is you and you alone. A phantom cause leading to a phantom outcome. As hollow as the halls of the underworld! If you are an artifact of an old age, why do you continue to fight?”

“Because the world needs me, and that is reason alone. There are still lives that must be protected, and as long as that exists so will I.”

“You call yourself a saviour, yet your alignment is to a species that has little to no regard for any and all life. Whatever has poisoned your mind is doing its’ job to a phenomenal degree, Zen-Aku. Precisely why I will waste no time in driving my blade through your skull!”

Zen-Aku rolled to the left to avoid a strong swing from Koragg’s blade before whirling around and kicking him in the stomach sending him staggering back. “No, it’s not poison. It’s atonement,” he stated.

“For what, exactly? What does evil serve as atonement for?” Koragg’s shield deluged Zen-Aku with lasers, forcing him to raise his sword in response to slice them apart. “You have lost your pride by siding with those Rangers. And you protect one like a knight in shining armor! I’d almost say you love her, am I correct?”

“So what if I do?” Zen-Aku remarked. “Is it so wrong?”

“In your view, it is not. Mine, on the other hand, is a stark contrast!” Koragg’s sword clashed with Zen-Aku’s once more. Though every one of his strikes was met with that of his foe, his hit with more vigour, whereas Zen-Aku’s were almost blindingly fast. They teleported around the room with flashes of dark energy, striking each other again and again neither seemingly managing to get the upper hand over the other.

“You loved someone once, am I correct?” Zen-Aku remarked, the two blades grinding against each other. “That Udonna woman.”

“I did. But that was from an age long since forgotten, discarded as with the rest of history. That was another life,” Koragg gruffly replied. “My only life is this one I have now. And my divine purpose is to fight. And fight I shall. We fought each other, and we'll keep on fighting forever, that's what we're destined to do.”

“I have only pity for you then if those are your world views,” Zen-Aku stated managing to land a solid right across to Koragg’s helmet. As Koragg staggered back, Zen-Aku rested his blade on his shoulder. “This is futile. It is obvious neither of us can win against the other. This whole fight is pointless, like any fight.”

“No. It is simply deadlocked. Evenly matched, if you want to call it that. The only fight that is worth fighting. If neither of us can kill each other, then so be it. We shall fight until the end of existence if needs be.” Another blade strike hit Zen-Aku’s sword, and a crack began to form in it. “But eventually, ties will break. And one of us must claim victory!” Another strike and Zen-Aku’s blade splintered even more. It looked ready to break at the seams. “If death is not the path to victory, then stripping you of your blade will be a fine substitute!” He readied one final strike, raising his blade high into the air.

In response, Zen-Aku slid backwards, then barrelled into Koragg once his sword hit the ground. His blade went for the visor of the Night Wolf, almost slicing it if not for a last-second head jerk from Koragg.

Koragg then moved so fast it was almost a blur and managed to cleave Zen-Aku’s sword in half. The sound of the destroyed blade echoed throughout the throne room, as did the tinkling of every single shard hitting the floor. Once the deed was done, he sheathed his sword and turned his back to the bladeless creature.

“You are defeated, Zen-Aku. Accept that,” Was all that came out of Koragg’s mouth as he trudged away. “Do not meddle any further. There is no point.”

“Even without my sword, I will never give up when my friends need me. I swore a promise, oh so long ago, to a human. The first human I could probably ever call a friend, and that was to protect those who could never protect themselves. I still hold myself to that promise.”

A voice rang out in Zen-Aku’s mind. “You have a strong bearing, and you never give up. That is something to be admired. Here, take up my sword. Defeat this specter of my past.”

A flaming orb appeared in Zen-Aku’s hand, before it elongated into a sharp blade that was almost an exact duplicate of Koragg’s own except with one minor difference. The color. Instead of a dark purple, it was as crimson as a raging inferno.

“What!?” Koragg bellowed.

“You. You are not the real Leanbow. You’re nothing more than a ghost of the past, resurrected because you simply refuse to know when to stay dead,” Zen-Aku stood proudly, the sword glistening in the light of the crystalline room. “Koragg. The Knight Wolf. The shadow who lingers. It is time to face judgement!” he roared swinging the sword now alight with flame calling out: “Blazing Storm Slash!”

With one simple stroke, he managed to send Koragg staggering back, his sword and shield clattering to the floor. Koragg had tried to use his shield to block the strike, but now it lay in pieces on the stone below.

“Impressive…” Koragg admitted. “But I will not go easily into the good night. Uthe Mejor Catastros!”

“Wild Zords! Come forth!” Zen-Aku decreed, playing his flute even as a sharp whinny cut through the air and the loud trampling of massive hooves was heard.

A loud howl cut through the air, and Zen-Aku looked upwards to see a massive silver wolf howling atop a high peak.

“Well then, lead the way... old friend.” Zen-Aku smiled as the Wolf Zord launched himself at Catastros biting and snapping at the black steed who reared up on his hind legs. The Wolf leaped back to avoid being trampled even as Koragg enlarged himself as well.

“This is getting ludicrous…” Zen-Aku decided. “Time to end this farce.”

On the other side of the forest, he saw Koragg, merged with Catastros; his ever-faithful horse.

“Predazord… Awaken!” Zen-Aku shouted leaping into the cockpit of his rapidly forming Megazord, and setting his flute onto the central console. “I too, as you can see can form a great power,” he stated as the Megazord gripped its weapon.

“That might be the case, but Catastros has been the one thing in this life I have always held on too. I will not simply lay down and die before someone like you!” He galloped forward, Catastros’s hooves leaving craters in their wake.

Zen-Aku could only chuckle. “Do you not get it?” he asked, the gator staff of his Predazord crashing into the glaive that the Centaurus Wolf Megazord wielded. “Your time has long since passed. You are a specter. And I hold no hesitance in sending you back to your grave.”

The two massive mecha clashed in the moonless night. Sadly for Zen-Aku, it was a new moon meaning his powers were not at their peak. If they were, he might have had an easier time at defeating the Knight Wolf. Throwing the crescent boomerang, he watched as it was batted away by the Centaurus Wolf Megazord’s weapon.

“Your petty little tricks are nothing when met with proper bladework. You hide yourself away within this conglomeration of Zords. If that is your version of honour, then it is rather sickening!” Koragg’s sword collided with the Predazord, causing a detonation to ring out.

“And you have any room to talk?” Zen-Aku countered using his gator staff to block the next blow. “Using a medium in this world, just to survive! You disgust me, you have no honor.”

“Then enough talk. Our words delay the conflict and are an underhanded attempt to sway the other. Let all of the talking be done with our weapons! Dark Magic Spell Seal!” he stated rotating his glaive and creating a seal which he then launched his weapon through slicing off the Hammerhead Zord. “Now witness the power of the Master!” Koragg cried sending a dark tornado towards the Predazord who blasted it out of existence with a Predator Wave.

“Here, catch!” Lightning shouted, Vapor trailing up behind her as they tossed Zen-Aku the Giraffe and Deer crystals towards him respectively. “Think these might come in handy.”

“...I will use them wisely,” Zen Aku stated before summoning the Giraffe Zord to replace his Megazord’s lost arm. “Now. I believe it is time for the Spear of Pardolis to show its power. Crescent Moon Spear, fire!” he barked raising the weapon and launching it towards the Centaurus lopping off an arm. “An arm for an arm, is that not the saying?” he quipped allowing Vapor to giggle a little. Lightning shot her adoptive sister a look, was she… blushing?

“Oh give me a break… Out of all the creatures she could have gained a crush on…” Lightning thought even as Zen-Aku replaced his Wolf Zord with the Deer.

“Now, I shall seal you away,” Zen-Aku stated, the Giraffe replacing itself with Sunset’s Phoenix Zord, Sunset joining him in the cockpit. Combining the two powers, an orb appeared above the Predazord and was thrown towards Koragg’s own creating a hole that rapidly began sucking the Centaurus into it.

“You will be trapped in that world forever,” Zen-Aku stated. “We will not have to kill the medium, but nobody will ever have to worry about you ever again.”

“That is what you want to think, Zen-Aku!” He roared, Catastros dashing as fast as it could, yet still being swallowed up by the vortex.

“No, it is what I know!” Sunset shouted, leaping out of the Megazord -Using its Predator Wave to propel her forwards- and kicking Koragg into the dimension which could only be described as hell, fiery pits of magma covering the forsaken place. The two clashed in mid-air, blades striking each other in blinding swift strokes before Sunset fired a blast from her horn and sent Koragg into a cliff before wrapping magical chains around him. Pushing all her power into her wings, she managed to get out just before the dimensional rift closed.

At least, that’s what she hoped. Amazingly, Koragg would not give up, somehow managing to ry open the dimensional walls.

“You… You gotta be kidding me…” Sunset whispered before a voice called out to her.

“Sunset, follow my lead!” Luna barked pulling out another sword. “We will open up another dimensional gate, and cross it over with the one Koragg is currently attempting to breach. “He would have to accept his fate or be destroyed.”

Luna, she had been watching this fight. After all, was it not in her interest to protect her subjects from the ones who lurked in the dark and seemingly claimed its power for their own?

“Really?” Sunset asked.

“Quite,” Luna agreed. “And for the record, I never did apologize for the whole thing with-”

“Save it, I’d rather not care to hear the sordid details. That relationship is in the past. Right now, we must focus on the present and that is sealing away this being who dares calls himself a Knight. Now, on three…” she stated touching her blade to Luna’s own.

Dimensions warped and shifted in a flurry of magical power as a new portal opened up and began swallowing up the dimension Koragg resided in like a snake eating its own tail.

Finally, the wormhole closed with a twinkle and as for Koragg… Well, what happened to him was anybody’s guess. He could have been trapped between the worlds, or he may not have survived that. It was impossible to tell. What was known was this, he would never trouble anyone ever again.

“I’m sorry Troy, I was such an idiot,” Canvas whispered as he hugged his husband tightly. “I was so afraid… And my fear let you get taken over by that thing… I don’t even deserve to call you my husband really…”

Troy responded by punching him in the gut making both Lightning and Vapor wince collectively. “Now, none of that! Stop being such a moron and feeling sorry for yourself! What’s done is done. Just if you have any fears… Please come and talk with me about them first, in detail… Please.”

“...Why am I reminded of an Akumatization from that old French TV show…?” Vapor whispered. Everyone ignored her.

“In any case, we’ll face what comes together, am I right?” Troy asked before kissing his husband softly and sweetly.

“Ugh… Sappiness. Lightning is out!” the mare declared with a dismissive wave of her hand although if you looked closely you could detect a ghost of a smile on her face. “Seriously, I do not do cheesy!”

Sunset stifled a giggle, as well as Luna.”She cares, she just has a strange way of showing it…” Sunset thought. Then, a voice called out.

“Wait, you’re married!?!” a male voice shouted as three massive brown griffons barreled over Troy.

“...I really hate my family sometimes.” Troy muttered as Sunset laughed.

“Treasure these little moments Sunset, they will probably be few and far between…”

Sunset for her part didn’t honestly know how right she was, because far and away in Canterlot Galaxy and Shining had teamed up to find out just how exactly Neighsay had gotten his Rider powers. And sadly, they had discovered just exactly how. Kicking down the door to an old greenhouse, they discovered blistering heat and row after row of artificial cracks with helheim fruits growing out over every one.

“Mystic Mother…” Shining whispered, gripping his Magna Blade tightly and slicing through the fruits before setting each alight with his magic. “Neighsay… Does your insanity know no bounds?”

“Is that a rhetorical question?” Galaxy deadpanned slicing through the fruits as well with his scythe. His eyes widened however when he got the last vine. “Shining… Tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m seeing…” he whispered upon seeing one vine, plucked completely clean.

“And just when you think things couldn’t get any possibly worse… They do.” Shining muttered. “So, I guess we figured out how Thrax is going to power that massive warzord of his eh…?” he murmured his fists balling up. He hoped whatever dungeon Celestia threw Neighsay in, it was a nasty one. What kind of pony betrayed their own kind for a monster, he had to wonder?

In his mind, he could hear Thrax’s laughter echoing and the roar of a dragon...

Author's Notes:

So, yes... The endgame arcs begin. Everything's going to be wrapped up in what I hope are just eight more chapters. It's been a long ass ride, but here we are near the end of the tunnel. Anyways, Troy, Canvas and the griffon trio belong to the VClaw and a huge thank you to my longtime friend and fellow Ranger fan Shadowmane for helping me really write the battle you all were waiting for. Zen-Aku VS Koragg... Round 2.

Next Time... Two Stories and Four Rangers.