BGM 1

"Get ready, Garble. You've had this coming for a lo~ong time." Von said with a threatening tone. His companions gathered around as they knew conflict was inevitable. If they could take out Garble and his crew here, then they could focus on finding the one behind the invasion.

"Heh. Let's see if you're still as weak as before, pony lover." Garble mocked before spreading his wings and taking to the skies. Gronkle and Spear followed behind and after a moment of silence, the trio flew up after them and spread out as they each targeted a specific one.

Von wasted little time and attacked Garble in a flurry of fast swings. He and Garble had fought before, so he knew he was no pushover. He'd grown so much in the short time he'd been away from the mountain all to pursue his dream and in that time, he got stronger. Faster. Smarter. He wasn't going to let them get away for what they'd done.

For Equestria's sake, for his friends and all the innocent ponies, he would stop them here and now. It was his duty to protect them. And he would protect them with his life.

As their confrontation went on, so did the battle between Arcius and Gronkle. Gronkle was not the fastest of dragons but he was one of the strongest. His hulking frame protected him from many forms of damage and was able to use his own weight to put more power into his attacks and his flame breath was devastating. Arcius wasn't the best fighter, but was more of a strategist. And being an ice dragon with a rather fragile body meant disaster for him. One wrong move and he would take some serious injuries.

Fire and ice shot through the sky as the two of them fought, Arcius doing his best to maintain some distance between him and Gronkle. The brown dragon merely chuckled as he watched and noticed what he was doing. To him, it seemed like he was scared. He knew the overwhelming power he possessed and how strong he was compared to the dragon before him. It wouldn't be too hard for him to close the distance and wail on him. But he wanted to toy with him; Freak him out.

"What's the matter, ice boy? You scared?" The dragon taunted. Arcius paid no mind to his words and continued keeping the dragon at bay, shards of ice erupting from his maw but they did little damage as they hit Gronkle's body. The chubby dragon chuckled let out streams of fire in his direction, the white dragon swerving and evading the attacks. However, as Arcius dodged one of the blasts, Gronkle quickly closed in and socked him right in his face. The impact of the punch sent him hurdling to the ground, wanting to inflict some extra damage but Arcius spread his wings open, lowering the speed of his descent and flew back up towards him to continue the fight.

Axel was hardly fairing well against Thistle. He was fast; Crazy fast! Add that onto the fact that he loved boasting and you've got one annoying opponent. That was what Axel had to deal with. Axel's blows were barely able to connect with the drake as everytime he managed to find an opening, Thistle would just dodge before he had a chance to hit him. On top of this, Thistle liked to hit and run. Once Axel tried to counter, he'd dodge around to the other side and get in a quick blow before retreating.

"Come on, little Axel. I know you can do better than that." Thistle called out. Axel growled and shot bursts of fireballs at the dragon in rapid succession, but he blocked them using his wings as a shield and charged in. Axel balled his claw into a fist, ready to strike Thistle down, but as he swung, Thistle struck a blow to his stomach and caused Axel to reel over in pain before stepping back.

"Y-you little fuck..." Axel spat, coughing as he held his stomach. "Quit screwing around and fight me for real."

"Oh, but I am fighting you for real. You're just too damn slow." Thistle remarked. "You've always been slower than me and that's why I always come out on top." The dragon continued to mock Axel as he flew in circles overhead, just waiting for a chance to show him up again. Axel really couldn't stand his attitude. It was one thing to actually have power, but it was another thing to go flaunting it around all willy-nilly. He needed to end this quickly before anything worse happened to Canterlot.

Up in the air, Von and Garble were duking it out with all their strength. Steel against claw, Von and Garble were offsetting each others' attacks before they separated from one another. Von was working up more of a sweat than Garble was due to the previous events, but the dragon was almost as worked up as he was.

"Well well. You've gotten better since the last time i saw you. Months ago, you were just a pathetic weakling who would only sit and dream of a life he could never have." Garble said. "And now...well, you're even more annoying than before since you're actually fighting back."

"That's because I remember who I truly am and what I really want to do with my life." Von replied, looking down at his sword. "I am Von Dragonblade, son of Ignus Dragonblade. I share the same dream as my father, to bring coexistence to dragons and ponies. And with what you're doing, you're getting in the way of the chance of it actually happening. I may not be a true dragon or a true pony, but I know that I am me and I will do whatever it takes to make that dream come to light!"

Von and Garble charged at one another again, exchanging blow for blow with full intent to take down the other. "And what make you think such a stupid dream will ever come about?" Garble roared, knocking the kirin backwards. "Dragons are superior to those equine weaklings. Only the strong can survive and this is the law of the world. We dragons will overtake them, just as it is meant to be."

"You're wrong!" Von yelled back at him. "Dragons are not superior to ponies, but they are not superior to us either. We are equal in all senses. There may be differences between us in power, but what really counts is that we are equal in strength of heart. We were created equal!"

"We were created to rule! To conquer. You can't deny you never felt like that before." Garble retorted, throwing Von off his guard. "Don't think I didn't forget. Growing up, I saw you being just like us. Trying to be one of us. Wanting to be strong, wanting to feel superior. That is what we are meant to do."

Von stayed silent for a moment as he thought about it. There was a time growing up, when he was forced to live on the mountains after his father's death, he started to act no different than any of the other dragons. But it wasn't like he really wanted to. Konan forced it upon him, beating his will and teachings into him. Silva was still torn over the death of Ignus to the point where she paid no mind to it. But by the time she came to her senses, Von had already changed.

But in spite of this, Silva still did her best for him. To try and teach him that ponies and dragons could get along. That they could be together in harmony. If it were not the case...

"If that was the case, then I wouldn't be alive." Von said. As he spoke, his friends were still giving their all to try and stop Garble's companions. "Ponies and dragons can come together in harmony without the need to conquer or rule. I am proof that two great races can come together and do something wonderful. I was born because my parents, two different beings, came together and fell in love. My mother did not want to conquer. My father did not want to slay her. They wanted to be together and that's all the incentive I need to seek my goal! I will not give up until I see it come to light, even for a moment and I won't let someone like you get in my way!"

As Von finished speaking, something started to flash on his body. The red dragon glared at him as Von stood in defiance, wielding his father's sword for the sake of their dream. Once the flash had gone away, a symbol had been revealed near Von's rear. A blue shield depicting a rising sun, symbolizing hope of a new dawn: Von's Cutie Mark. "I will fight for what I believe in or die trying. But until that day comes, I will make my own choices and stand against you!" He bellowed as he dashed toward the dragon at high speed, leaving Garble dumbfounded as he was too slow to defend and was swiftly thrown back by the force of Von's swing.

On the other side, Arcius and Axel poured all their strength into their attacks and beat down the opposing dragons. Gronkle was breathing hard from having put too much power into his attacks while Arcius was barely breaking a sweat.

"What the hell... How are you beating me?!" He asked. Arcius scoffed and gave the dragon an icy glare, causing Gronkle to be paralyzed with fear.

"Simple. You think power means everything. That if you're strong, nothing will be able to stand in your way and you will be victorious every time. But you're wrong. Power is not everything and there are many who feel the same as I do. There is more to this life than having power. There is the will to learn new things and try them out, to go across the land and see that which many have not seen before. To find love and forge your own future." The white dragon explained. "I don't need power to make my way in this world. If all you have is power...then you are powerless!"

Gronkle groaned in agony and turned away from his kin and looked over at Garble and Von. He could see that Von was not backing down, even knowing that Garble had the advantage of sheer power; Of true dragon blood on his side. He was giving his all for what he believed in. And here he was, on the ground having been defeated by Arcius. His strength overcome by Arcius, who was by all means weaker than he was in physical might.

"Damn it... Forget this. You're on your own, Garble." He told himself and with what power he had, he spread his wings and flew away from the scene. Arcius watch him go and Axel saw the brown dragon flying away into the distance before turning back to Thistle.

"Looks like your friend finally gave up. If I were you, I'd follow his example and leave as well." Axel said, turning back to his opponent. Thistle growled and struggled to get back onto his feet, but failed. He was out of breath, just as much as Axel was from their battle.

"N-no...I can win! I'm better than you. Better than all of you! You and that filthy half-breed!" Thistle yelled. Axel chuckled and smiled at his brethren, amused by his bravado.

"I'm better than you. I'm the greatest. The more you say those words, the you show just how weak you really are. Someone with power does not boast. Someone with talent does not show off. If you're really as great as you said you were, then there would be no need for such big talk." He pointed out. Thistle grit his teeth, glaring at the yellow dragon as he continued talking. "You don't need to talk big in order to prove that you are strong or that you can do things that others can't. Such things should go without saying. But if you constantly need to brag about it, then it just shows that you can't really do anything."

"Shut up!" The purple dragon yelled at the top of his lungs, pounding at the ground under him. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!! I AM better than you! You could barely even land a hit on me earlier."

"I'll admit. When it comes to speed, you are much better than me." Axel admitted. He balled his hand into a fist, biting his lip as he thought about how overwhelmed he felt by him. "It annoys me knowing that someone can be better than me. To beat me down with little effort. But...that's just part of life. There's always going to be someone better than me. And I shouldn't let that get to me." He started to smile and looked back toward where Von was. "I know for a fact that Von is better than me. We dragons may be able to grow powerful and can live for a long time...but Von...there's something much different about him from the rest of us. Not his race...but there's just something."

Axel turned his attention back to the dragon before him and stood ready, prepared to beat him down should he make a move. "I'm not going to kill you. But I won't let you guys have your way any longer. You're going to live with the fact that you've been beaten. Leave now or I'll remind you again just how weak you are." He said.

Thistle remained silent as he mulled over his decision. He was far too exhausted and wounded to continue fighting, despite the urge to get back up and put Axel in his place. But he knew when he'd been outdone and with a sigh of defeat, he spread his wings and flew off.

As Thistle flew away and Garble gained enough distance from Von, he turned to notice that both of his allies had deserted him. "What? Hey! Get back here, you cowards!" He yelled, but neither Thistle nor Gronkle came at his call.

"You're all alone now, Garble." Von said, pointing the tip of his blade at him. "You're outnumbered three to one. My friends have gotten the citizens of Canterlot to safety and you're the only one that remains. Leave now and never return. If you so much as step foot in Equestria and harm any of my friends...any of its inhabitants...I will personally see to it that you never do it again. Do I make myself clear?"

Garble stared straight into Von's eyes as he said that, trying his best to remain composed while Von just glared at him. Looking closely, he could see that Von's glare had a similar feeling to the glare of another. His eyes...they were full of intent to kill, something very unlike Von. Chuckling, the dragon relented and dropped his stance. "You think I'm the last one...but you got one more to deal with, dumbass."

"What do you mean?" Von inquired. "Explain yourself!" As he spoke, bolts of magic and lightning shot out from the windows of Canterlot Castle and when Von was distracted, Garble flew off after his two companions. Von paid no mind to him as he focused more on the castle and what was going on. His friends flew up to his side, still exhausted from their bout and looked over at him.

"Think Konan might be there?" Axel asked. Von shook his head and turned to his friends.

"I doubt it. Konan's a warmonger, but I doubt he'd come here with such a small force. I'll head to the castle and see what's going on. You guys go join Daring and Gilda and try to see if you can help aid everyone else." He told them. The two drakes nodded their heads, pounding their fists together before they separated. Von had a bad feeling about whatever was going on in the castle. Whoever was in there, they were tainted: Possessed by the same foul darkness that had consumed Cynder and the same that Nova took upon himself. He didn't know if Bastion was the same, but something would have to be done about him as well. No matter the cost, he would protect everyone from it and stop a war from breaking out.

"Dad...ancestors...please guide me."

BGM 2

Celestia and Luna were sent backwards by the force of the lightning, the both of them shooting bolts of magic at their attacker. They were starting to show signs of exhaustion, having used up too much magical power and could barely move around long enough to avoid an attack. As the attacker prepared another attack, Von came crashing in through one of the windows and slashed his sword at it. His attack connected, but didn't cut deep however the attack threw the dragon off balance and Von turned to get a better look at it.

It was another dragoness, but the dark powers flowing through her veins corrupted her body beyond recognition. It was the same situation Cynder was in, but she was able to retain her sense of self somehow. This one, however, was fully consumed by the dark powers she was given.

"Von!" Celestia cried, earning the kirin's attention. She tried to get back on her feet, but she was too worn out to muster up the energy. Von shook his head and walked over to her, kneeling beside her.

"It's alright. I'll take care of this." He said. He kissed her forehead and quickly turned and charged at the dragon, gripping his sword in both hands. "Whatever Konan has done to you, I will free you from your pain!"

"Von, wait! You mustn't fight her!" Celestia called out. However, Luna took her sister's hand and forced it back down and shook her head. The alicorn closed her eyes and turned her head and looked on at the kirin as he battled fiercely with the dragoness.

Bursts of wind and flashing lightning resounded throughout the main hall as Von did what he could to offset the dragoness' attacks. She was slow, but her breath attack was fierce. Von, however, was highly confused about her attacks. There were no known lightning users up on the mountain. "So why is she..." As he thought aloud, the dark dragon shot another stream of lightning in his direction, catching him off guard and he was forced to use his sword as a means of defense.

The force of the lightning managed to force Von down on one knee as he struggled to withstand its power. One wrong move and it would likely be the end of him. As he continued to block the stream, he heard what sound like a cracking noise. It wasn't from him, but it was in front of him. Upon a closer look, he noticed a crack in his father's sword that only seemed to grow bigger as he blocked the attack.

"N-no...please, don't break." He told himself, praying that the obvious would not come about. Unfortunately, it did. Unable to endure any further, Von was sent flying backwards as the blade of his sword snapped in two from the force of the lightning. He groaned in pain as he struggled back onto his feet, still holding what was left of the weapon. He looked down at the remains sadly, upset that he allowed his father's prized weapon to be destroyed after so long. "N-no... Why you--!" Von growled angrily, feeling power started to surge inside of him but he quickly calmed himself down before he lost control. He didn't want that to happen again. Not ever again. "...I won't be like any of you. Not again. For Stormy..."

"..." The dragoness simply stared at the kirin in silence, the only sound coming from her being a low raspy breath as she stumbled toward him. Von scoffed and tossed the handle of the sword to the ground and darted toward the dragoness and jumped to the side as she launched another stream of lightning at him. He moved close to her and swiped his claw at her shoulder, creating large gashes as she roared in pain.

Looks like she can't handle physical strikes, he thought. That means I can end this quick. Moving in as quick as he could, Von extended his claws and started swinging wildly at the dragoness. Though she moved slow, she did the best she could to block some of his attacks. However, Von was much faster than she was and he managed to land multiple hits on her body. Celestia, seeing that Von was being more aggressive, started to get back up onto her feet and moved toward their position. Luna saw this and tried to get up as well in order to stop her.

"V-Von, stop! Don't..." Celestia cried, but she was stopped by a magical force as Luna's magic was holding her feet in place.

"I must! Anyone who is possessed by this darkness can't be cured by normal means." Von said, clawing at the dragoness with more effort. "The only way to save them...to keep them from suffering..." As he spoke, the dragoness took a swing at him and he ducked under her arm. With all his strength, he lunged his arm forward and his claws pierced through her chest. "...is through death."

Celestia looked on in horror, staring at Von's blood-coated arm as he pulled it out of the dragoness. The drake in question slowly looked down at him with a blank expression, but he noticed that her eye was shaking. It was if she was afraid, quivering with fear. She fell to her knees and onto her side as her blood started to pool around her.

"Von...what have you done?" Celestia said, breaking the silence. "I told you....I had told you not to do it."

"I had to. If I left her alone, she would continue to suffer until Orcus would decide to end her life on his own." Von replied. "It was the best option."

"...I can understand that you wouldn't want her to suffer." Celestia said, wiping her eyes as she started to tear up. "...But take a closer look at her. And tell me again if it was the best choice." Von raised a brow in confusion and looked over at the dragoness and saw the darkness fading from her body. As it did, Von's eyes widened in terror and he slowly backed away from the dragoness before dropping to his knees.

BGM 3

"N-no....I-it can't be..." He looked on in horror as the faded darkness revealed the smokey silver body of Silva, his own mother. "M-mom...no. This can't be happening..."

Silva chuckled lightly, coughing up blood as she looked up at the half-breed with hopeful eyes. "You've really grown up. Your father would be so proud of you." Von shook his head as tears welled up in his eyes and he scooted closer to her.

"No...no, mom. He IS proud of me. I saw him again. I don't know how, but something or someone gave him another chance. He misses us dearly. He misses you. I know he does." He cried, holding the dragoness' hand. Silva chuckled and coughed again, turning her head in the direction of the princess.

"Tia...it's been so long. How long has it been?"

"About 13 years, my dear..." Celestia replied sorrowfully. "13 years, I dreaded that this day would come." Von blinked and looked over at the alicorn and back to his mother.

"M-mom, what is she talking about?" He asked, looking back at Celestia. "What are you talking about?!" Luna groaned and mustered up enough strength to get back onto her feet and looked at the kirin.

"A long time ago, when you were still just learning how to fly, your mother had gone to my sister about a predicament she had." She said. "Something that would further tear your family apart for not just her, but for you as well."

"She had a vision..." Celestia continued. "That one day, something would bring about her death. At the time she had it, she had seen you. Images of you attacking her....and crying over her body." Von allowed the words to sink in before growling at the two princesses and raised his fist in defiance.

"You're wrong! N-nothing like that would happen! I can't be...it's not..."

"They're telling the truth, sweetie." Silva interrupted, drawing Von's attention to her. "...You were to be the cause of my death. I know it must hurt, but sometimes fate has its ways of arranging things like this. There was nothing that could be done..."

"No. Mom, please don't say that." Von cried, staring at her. "T-there's still time. We can get you to a hospital! Get your wounds patched up. We can be together again. You can meet all my new friends and--" Von was interrupted once more as Silva gently placed a claw on his lip and smiled at him.

"You know as well as I do that it won't be able to happen." She said. "Just talking is taking up what little strength I have left. So I can at least do this for you." Silva held her chest in pain as she could feel her energy starting to leave her. "Konan is working alongside with some dark force and has taken over the mountain. And even worse... Eldrich, your elder, was slain by Konan."

"What?!" Von's eyes widened in shock at the sudden news. Cynder was right about what she had told him before. Konan was planning to rebel against Eldrich from the beginning and aimed to become the Dragon King.

"He used the same dark force that I could sense inside Nova on me to turn me into what you all saw earlier. I was still aware of what was going on around me...the dragons I commanded, the ponies I had hurt. I'm so ashamed of myself..." The dragoness closed her eyes and started to tear up, Von wiping away her tears as she did.

"It's ok, mom. Everything's fine now. The ponies were moved to a safer area...and my friends and I are going to do what we can to stop Konan from having his way." He said, smiling at her. "I promise."

The dragoness giggled softly and touched her son's cheek, staring at him warmly. "You're so much like your father. ...I can tell that one day, you will bring your father's dream to light." She smiled and started to cry softly, scared of leaving her son. Scared of no longer being able to see him again. Von and Celestia were crying in turn while Luna simply looked away from them. "Seek the elders, Von..."

"The Elders?"

"They...will help give you...the strength you need to beat him." Silva said, her vision starting to fade. "You...are our hope. ....Don't ever forget....." The dragoness slowly pulled Von's head to her and kissed him on the forehead as her grip suddenly loosened and her breath fell silent. Her claw fell to the floor, but the smile from her lips never faded as her life had finally given out and her body faded away. Celestia stared at Von as he knelt there, grieving the loss of his last living relative and reached out to him.

"Von..."

"You knew..." Von interrupted, gritting his teeth as he suddenly got on his feet and turned toward her. "Why?! Why didn't you tell me this would happen?!" Celestia remained silent, knowing that she full well deserved Von's anger for keeping such a secret from him. 'Answer me! Why would you keep something like this from me?!"

"...Had I told you before...Would you have let her live and suffer in her corrupted form?" She asked. Von was set to respond, but all that came were cries of pain, sadness and anger. Celestia had made a promise to Silva, in preparation for this day: The day when Von would lose yet another that he loved.

His father, Ignus...

His lover, Storm Front...

And now his mother, Silva. Celestia walked over to Von and embraced him, wanting to do something...Anything to ease his pain. She hugged him gently, rubbing the back of his head like a loving mother would and allowed him to cry his heart out. Luna stared at the two of them and walked away from them, allowing them to have a moment to grieve the loss of such a kindred spirit.

Outside of Canterlot, the skies had darkened as the clouds were moved into formation and rain began to pour down over the burning buildings. Daring, Gilda, Arcius and Axel looked on to the castle and hoped that everything was all over. The citizens remained silent and waited for a sign from their princesses that everything was now ok. However, something clicked inside of Arcius and Axel as they felt a sudden rush of sadness fill their hearts. Looking to one another, they realized what had just happened as they turned toward their lovers and led them away from the crowd.

"A-Arcius? What's going on?" Daring cried in protest.

"Yeah, what gives?!" Gilda added. They looked at the two dragons and could see the sadness in their eyes as their mood suddenly dampened as well.

"We need to go." Arcius said. "Von...needs some time."

...Hm? What's going on? Where am I?, Silva thought. She opened her eyes and found herself within a white void, empty of any form of life around her. One moment, she had passed before the eyes of her only child. And the next, she was still alive...or so she thought. Looking around, her gaze was suddenly met with the visage of a blue pony that was moving toward her position.

"It seems that your time has come early..." The pony called out, smiling at her. Silva's eyes widened in shock as tears filled her eyes as the pony got closer, revealing itself to be none other than her husband. "I thought I wouldn't see you for another hundred years."

"Ignus..." She closed her eyes and turned away from her lover, but her gaze fell back on him when he took her claw in his hand.

"It's alright. I already know." Ignus said, his expression softening. "Von...did what he had to do. For both of us." He smiled up at her and she smiled back at him.

"But...who told you?" She asked. Ignus chuckled and looked past her, nodded his head to a figure behind her. Silva turned around to see a dark blue mare standing there and watching them. "Princess...Luna?"

"Thank you...Lumen." Ignus said, causing Silva to twist her head back toward him.

"Lumen? Who is--"

"There is little time to be asking such questions, Silva Dragonblade." 'Luna' said. "It is time to go." With those final words, she vanished before their eyes. Silva looked down sadly until Ignus took her claw once more and gently pulled her toward a bright light.

"Come on. It's time for us to go now." He said. "We've done all that we can..." Silva stared at her stallion lover and closed her eyes. A single tear dropped down her cheek as she smiled and slowly nodded her head.

"Yes. We've done all that we can now. There is nothing left that we can teach..."

Author's Notes:

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