The night was fading away, to give path to the sun. This was going to be a day that ends all time. And time was knocking on the earth's door.

"Wake up!"

A strange voice from afar stroke his senses, which in turn gave a boot signal to his brain. He slowly opened his eyes. At first, the world was out of focus. Strange colors in a blurry mess confused him. The forest was shapeless.

"Come on, Phoenix! We will be leaving in two minutes."

"I feel so tired..." the yellow unicorn mumbled and turned to other side, where a grey hoof was just in front of his nose. Something in his mind snapped and he went from lying to sitting position in an instant.

"Wait! Are we being attacked?!" Phoenix looked around in panic.  

"Calm down, we are not. Here." Metal Eye gave him an apple. "This will be your only meal for some time."

"Why?"

"We have to cover the distance to the capital fairly quick, without stopping. Once we get there, we won't have time for a late lunch. We'll also use the Golden Tail road. It's the fastest way to Draconicus."

"Isn't it also the unsafest?" Metal asked.

"Did anypony ambush us on the way here? These woods are perfect for ninjas to hide in and wait for their preys to enter in the trap by themselves. I don't think that there's a warrior brave enough to tango with me."

"But what about us?" the white pegasus pointed at himself and the inventor, who was starting to eat his red apple. "I doubt that they'll be kind to us."

"As long as you are with me then no pony will harm you." she turned her back to them. A heavy shadow was falling on her grey fur. The scabbard was on her back. She was ready. "Hopefully."

Metal looked at the unicorn.

"United we must stand to face the dangers!"

"I think that would be the correct way to do it." the inventor nodded.

Foxy smirked and looked back.

"When you finish with your apple, we leave."

They froze still. There was no sound. Suddenly, pieces of the picture were cut and by the force of the wind, flew into the nothingness, leaving only a black wall. Time went forward and as they were approaching the capital, the cosmic creature was preparing for the moment, when She and Foxy were going to meet.

Burning it's hot fuel, the sun was. The few birds would tell any lonely traveler that the time was around one or two o'clock. The dusty road was very calm. Sounds of nature's life was the only music around. Tall trees made solid brown and green walls on its two sides. The wind was gently stroking the coronas. Bushes helped to fill the gapes in the low. There would be the occasional squirrel that would cross this empty space.

The three avengers were coursing through the lonely route. The mare at the front had a gaze that pointed only at the city in the distance. Even from their position, she noticed its dark appearance. It was almost a highroad to the finish. The damages slowly revealed themselves to the trio, who weren't quite sure what they were seeing.

Metal was on his high guard. Looking either left or right, he couldn't escape the feeling that they were being watched. No shadow escaped the sight of his pink eyes. However, the ninjas were masters of disguise and they could be spying on them as these brave travelers were melting the final kilometers.  

"Why it's called the Golden Tail?" the armored pegasus asked.

"It connects the capital with Clan Tiger's. It was built five centuries ago and used primarily by merchants. It was the road to bring fortunes to the ponies, who knew how to bargain. During the war, thousands of hooves marched to their deaths. Now, almost no pony uses it, except bandits and spies."

"So, in the past the clans had good relations?"

"Better than their are today."

"How are we going to enter inside the capital?"

"Through the front door, of course. I have nothing to hide. I'll confront him directly and challenge him. The duel is called Kreeah, from which he can not escape."

"What does it mean?"

"In dragon language it means blood crossing, if translated directly. A ritual of death, where two fight for supremacy and only one lives at the end. For me to be allowed to call it, I have to have serious accusations against somepony." there was an evil feel coming out from her orange eyes. "And I just have what it needs to happen."

"Does everything starts and ends with death on this island?" Metal was a bit upset.

"Much or less, that's how it's done in here. The sooner you accept it, the better your chances of survival are."

Metal was not in the mood to debate morals with her. He looked to the left to check the woods, hoping that his gut feeling was wrong. Then, the pegasus noticed that Phoenix was lagging behind. The unicorn was out of breath and couldn't keep up with the gallop.

"Foxy, we need to slow down!"

Tail stopped out of a sudden.

"How long?" she asked without looking back at them.

"No, we have to continue forward." Phoenix sounded very tired. He walked to them with the magically held spear and bag with provisions. Never in his life, did he gallop so much in such a short time.

"Alright. We'll continue slowly from now." Foxy attempted to make a step, when her dragon sense tingled. She looked at the forest on both sides of the road. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Just quiet nature. Too quiet to be precise.    

"I sense it too." Metal said. He stared behind the curtain, there was definitely something fishy going on in there.

"Look in front of us." Foxy said with a serious voice.

He did. For his surprise, there were four black clothed ninja, who had their eyes on the trio. They wore steel tin hats, which were painted in red. They had mask and only their blue eyes were visible. They were not moving at all. The breeze blew away dust under their hooves. Their very presence on the road felt very darkly in the hearts of the two Equestrian ponies. Tail coldly stared at the four figures, who were as motionless as rocks.

The silence was no more, displaced by the sound of sneaking peril.

"Dragon Born, we presume." the first ninja on the left broke the fog of tranquility.

"What gave me away?" Foxy asked with her emotionless voice. The warriors sensed the rising power within her, so they had to be quick before she decided to strike first.

"There are two possibilities: either you've killed her and took her sword, or you are the one and only cursed ninja, who somehow cured herself from the black magic." the second on the right said. "Also killing Dragon Born would automatically give anypony her title. So, are you the real one?"

"Come closer and the answer you'll see." her orange eyes were turning a bit darker. For a just a moment, the four ponies thought they saw her irises changing to red.

"Interesting to see your true color, instead of the black outfit." the second on the left spoke. "The leader has been expecting your arrival. He seeks to talk with you, if that's not a problem?"

"Talk? I've come to act."

The four elites simultaneously looked first at the golden armored pegasus and then at the yellow unicorn, who was magically holding a spear and a brown bag.

"Strangers, you bring with you. They are not from here, so it's forbidden for them to breath on this isle's air!" they said with one creepy voice.

"Ooh, aren't they four adorable clones." The Jester said.

"They are aiding me in my mission. When I achieve my goal, they'll return home. And since when did you start caring for outsiders? I know your little dirty actions against the Guardians. It would be very unfortunate, if the story was to make it to the ears of every clanner, eh?"

They gave no signs that they felt threatened by the warning shot.

"You are going to meet the leader, immediately."

"Sure, after you!"

"Follow us." the four simultaneously turned around and went forward. Foxy looked to Metal and told him to obey them or the hundreds of arrows that were pointed at them were going to be unleashed. The Equestrian guard knew that this would happen and despite his best efforts to persuade her to listen to his advises, they ended up as special guests. He took his spear and followed cautiously, ready to repel any sudden attacks now that he was sure where the enemy was. But they already got inside the trap, it would be almost impossible to escape from it. Phoenix was speechless, caught in fear that they might not be able to survive this.

They were closing with the city under the veil of constant threat. They now could see the destruction left behind by the previous visitors. The Blood Portal was no more and instead, there was just a massive hole with a crater, where it used to be. It looked like a complete mess. Derbies from the explosion were still lying around, scattered in a chaotic manner. Grey dust covered the nearby ruined houses. A bit in the distance, near the center of the capital, black skeletons, of once homes of many, stood in silence to remind of the hellfire that was brought by the yesterday's act of terrorism. The inferno aftermath had reached the category of insane.

There was no mighty and fearlessness in the look of the capital. The previous glorious appearance was changed with a weaker and sad one. Clanners had grief in their eyes. Their moral was low, their lives were forever marked by that horrible act. Old and young, innocent and not so perished in flames. Their terrible situation reminded Foxy of when she arrived in the Moon's Shade town. Everypony was broken spirited. They looked at the newcomers only when their unbelieving eyes were pointing elsewhere. The common clanners asked themselves who the heck were those three? From where did they come? Why was the pegasus wearing a golden armor? Such and many more questions rose in their heads. They simply couldn't understand the force that was marching on their streets.

From the moment they entered the capital, hundreds of hardened pairs of eyes watched their every move. They weren't going to jeopardize the safety of the wounded city again. Some felt fear, others hate and there were the ones who were a bit to the neutral zone.

Metal and Phoenix were terrified by the devastation. The words were stolen from their mouths. They had not seeing anything like this in their lives. For them, these ponies resembled the ones from the earth kingdom one thousand years ago during the great freezing. So much suffering, so much death in the air. This was far from the Equestrian peace, here it was only chaos and the rule of the fittest. Weaklings were food in here. It was like in the jungle: eat or be eaten.

They silently continued through the black streets to the leader's palace, where the pony himself was lying in bed, not ready to face the wrath of the she-dragon.

Lupi was put to rest in a room on the first floor, so that the doctors could react faster to his condition. If his pulse was to beat unstably, then they would immediately get him to the temple of cure, the equivalent to the hospital. He didn't want to be there. It would only make him weak in the eyes of his ponies.

The room was intended for guests and as such had very impressive decoration, whose aim was to give the visitors the impression of greatness and respect. The stone walls were engraved with texts of poems and extraordinary figures of ponies and animals. He was lying on a red bed with very soft bedding and white pillows, Lupi was surrounded by five healers and of course, his old cyan adviser, who was now wearing a green toga. There was only one window that looked at the garden. A small round table with three legs was standing next to the wall, under the masterfully drawn portrait of a pink dragon with green spikes. An yellow crystal vase with white flowers was remaining on it.

The doctors were preparing medicine in bowls near the bed. They wore belts, on which bags with herbs hanged down. Their white bone masks were scary, to affright the bad spirits. Their work annoyed the hell out of him but without them he may have been in a worse shape. On top of that the leader had to deal with the old one.

"I ask you again, from where did you get that medallion?" his yellow eyes stared down on the weakened tan pony, who couldn't concentrate his sight on either the door or the adviser..

"It's not your concern."

"Oh but it is. How can I close my eyes for this, when the royal line is at stake in here? Why keep the origin of the pendant a secret? Who gave it to you? Why you never mentioned it to anypony? What did you hope to gain by using it? Why it's connected with your health?"

"You remember that I dislike questions?" he angrily glimpsed at him and then returned his sight on the door. "Please, leave me, while I'm recovering. I'll answer everything, when I feel better. Is this good enough for you?"

The bold elderly raised an eyebrow in a bit of annoyance.

"It may be fine with me, but what about the noble families that support this entire clan? They'll certainly not be satisfied. After the recent events, it's very probable that they will make a vote against you and that will mean the end of your ancestors' bloodline." the adviser leaned his head towards Lupi's. His gaze was as threatening as it was trying to give his sympathy. "I don't want to bury the last grandson of my oldest friend. I'd rather sacrifice myself than see you under six hooves of earth."

Lupi answered his stare with a calm look.

"It will never come true. I promise you, after I recover, I'll deal with the families."

The answer was still not satisfactory for the old-timer. He wanted to say something, when the door was impolitely opened, without knocking first. A warrior in pink cloths came in, bowed and notified:

"My leader, I bring news!"

Lupi stood in a sitting position and asked:

"What is it?"

"Dragon Born has arrived!"

The cyan pony was surprised, the other was in a shock. Lupi looked like after hearing the worst news of his life, just like when he learned of his love's death. He couldn't move his eyes away from the loyal ninja. The world around him lost it's color. His ears could hear the demons' laughter in the background, mocking his fate. His internal cogwheels were no longer turning like in a clock. They stopped and began turning independently from one another. What a grind this was in his soul.

"Circle was here, so it's only natural to assume that she will follow him to the Capital. Thank the spirits! We need her help to protect our clan from the stormy clouds that are above us. Bring her in!" the adviser said. Then he looked at Lupi and was immediately concerned by the pale color of his tan face. His white mane was sadly hanging from his sides. His green eyes were full of fright. Wasn't that supposed to be good news?

A few minutes later, the hoofsteps outside began to sound louder and louder. Time began moving slow, the seconds turned to minutes. Death had a form of a pony that he would never be able to beat in combat in his current condition. His only option was to sort everything out via words, otherwise he was a dead meat.

Then from the entrance appeared the same pink ninja, who made room for the guests. Lupi was stunned. Who was this grey mare with a short red mane and orange eyes and carrying a sword on her back? Who were her companions? One covered in gold, the other had a smart look.

"What happened in here?" the mare spoke with a familiar voice. "It's really her!" he thought.

Lupi blinked and smirked. He tried to control his fear and act in a cool manner.

"White Shadow happened. He brought with him the misery and the flames. Foxy... You've changed... You've managed to break the curse, haven't you?"

"I have and so what? Are you trying to postpone the inevitable?" there was a note of hostility in her voice.

"What are you talking about, Dragon Born?" the adviser was clearly in the unknown.

Lupi lifted his left hoof, a sign to stop everypony from speaking

"I-I am proud of you, Foxy. You managed to do what your mother dreamed since she was small. You've turned out to be a beauty, just like..."

"Cut the crap!" she rudely interrupted. "I'm not here to hear your poisonous words but declare Kreeah on you!"

This came as a shock to every clanner in the room. Lupi's time was quickly melting and he had to act fast.

"On what charges?" his voice turned a bit more serious.

"You've made an alliance with an outside force! It's against the rules. And you did that multiple times!" she then pointed at Phoenix. "You must know this pony. It's Phoenix's Just, who was supposed to make those weather control machines for you. He can tell everything about the ninjas, who visited him in one of the Equestrian cities. And to make matters worse for you, your ninjas were hunting down the Guardians of the Portal. You should be already dead only for that. I also claim that you've allied with Shadow Sun! The destroyer of words! The red medallion you wear is the proof of the connection you have with Her!"

"So, I'm finally exposed..." his smirked stayed, despite the accusations. "By the way, the third claim is utter nonsense! Shadow Sun is not real! It's just a foal's fairytale. And if She really existed, I'd never join forces with Her!"

"You are blinded and corrupted by Her!" she made a few mighty steps forward. "I and my friend fought her in the forests and in the concrete jungles. When we thought that it was finally over, the cold reality had to take his life, just to remind me that our job is far from finished! I've seen what her evil powers are capable of and each time there was a red medallion that twisted the minds of ponies! Phoenix used to be under her dark influence but was saved."

"Her friend... he was her love, wasn't he?" Lupi thought. "She must be feeling awful and is not thinking rationally."

"Those are serious accusations, Dragon Born!" the adviser said, then looked at the leader. "I advise caution, sire. But I can't help to wonder, if she is telling the truth? The latest events point out that you in fact have been dealing behind our backs. Are there other stuff you've forgotten to mention, sire?"

He felt like the whole world had turned against him. Feeling alone in the room, he had to find strength to confront her.

"About your friend, did you have feelings for him?"

"I still have, despite that he's no longer among the living." behind her serious gaze was a tortured soul and he was able to see the pain under that ice.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Lupi frowned. "If your words are true, that would partially make me his killer..."

"I'm speaking only the truth! You are Shadow Sun's puppet, who must be stopped. I give you two options: One - you give up the medallion peacefully and I leave you alone or Two - we meet in a duel. Your choice!"

"I can't give it you." he said with a low voice. "Surrendering it you would mean to give up everything I've dreamed for years."

"The foolish dreams of conquest have to have an end at some point."

"Not those kind of dreams..." he looked down at his bedding, not strong enough to look her in the eyes.

"Oh, really? Were they all about sunny days and rainbows?"

The leader's mouth was shut. There was no other way, unless to pony up and do the Kreeah.

"Then we are going to meet in front of the Temple of the Dragon Warriors. Prepare yourself for the eternal life because I'll be your end!" she turned around and made a sign for the rest to get out of the room. Before she left, Lupi asked her:

"What was the cure?"

She stopped and answered quickly:

"Love."

"Love?" he thought. Then the realization hit him hard in the heart. All that time, when Snake was still alive, Lupi could have saved her by revealing his true feelings. The leader felt a chaotic storm rising from the depths of his soul and crashing into his chest. It hurt too much, but it was carefully concealed under his serious face.

"I'll meet you in fifteen minutes."

"I hope that you'll put up a good fight, it would be a shame to duel an ill pony, who can't even lift a sword." she then proceeded though the opened door with a gait that gave the feeling of doom. Foxy was in her prime, well trained and a force to be reckoned with. Lupi, on the other hoof, was getting older and his weak state lowered his chances of winning. This was going to be an one sided fight and he knew it.

"My leader, why you chose to face her in a battle to the death?" the adviser asked.

"Because I was a lazy father to her."

"Pardon me, sire?"

"I never dreamed to see her in such a pain. I shouldn't have sent her after Blue Circle. Because of it, she was misled into believing that I'm the enemy. This shouldn't have happened." Lupi looked at the old pony. "Foxy has grown up to become a fine mare, hasn't she?"

"Uhm.. yes, she does remind me of her mother in a way."

"Too bad, I'll never see her happy." he sighed deeply. "Bring my outfit and weapon! And notify my guards, they are to let Tail and her friends to the plaza. I don't want a hair to fall from their heads, got it?"

"Yes, sire." the old one nodded. Then the cyan pony made a sign to the doctors, who quickly packed away their medicine and left the room with him, leaving the leader with his thoughts.

A few minute later...

He was putting the black outfit on himself in the guest room. The earth pony was completely alone. The red locket was on his chest. Small smoke was still coming out of it, which quickly dissipated in the air. He quickly hid it under the clothing. His muscles hurt from every motion but he was a tough pony, Lupi knew perfectly how to deal with it 'cause all that time from the death of Snake Tail to this present moment, he endured hurt like a real warrior.

The Kreeah was given to him, and he had to answer the call.

How much of Tail reminded him of his long lost love. Killing her wouldn't be only physically hard but also mentally. When he looked into those eyes, Lupi saw pieces of Snake. It would be like killing his love, despite that Foxy and Lupi had never been close. Great distances separated them and not even his fatherly feelings could make a bridge between them. In the upcoming duel, the battle was not about who was right or wrong, but simple survival. It didn't felt right.

He put the scabbard with his sword on his back, when a dark voice startled him.

"My advise was neglected, my young prince. Now you are in a grave danger! Everything that was promised to you is in peril. The outcome of the duel will decide whether you will see your love or not!"

"Yeah..." he put on the demonic mask with horns. "Thanks for finally deciding to show up. I have to thank you for warning me about Circle... Why you didn't warn me about him? Are you really on my side?"

The unnatural being was silent.

"So, you do not want to talk, eh? Maybe I don't need the medallion anymore?" he place his hoof on the clothing, under which was the locket.

"You are planning to lose, aren't you? That's not the best solution, my prince."

"And which is it, if I may ask?" his temper got out of control. "Foxy Tail is the child of my love! Even if I manage to defeat her, then how can I look Snake in the eyes, after she's been revived? Just the thought of it makes me sick! I wish that there was another way but Foxy leaves me no choice. I'll face her like a warrior and die with honor. Soon I'll be with her in the spirit world!"

"Oh, don't talk like that. There is another, better way, your highness." the voice in his mind was calm and creepy in the same way. The medallion began to pulsate in dim red light, under his dark cloths. Lupi immediately fell on his knees from the tremendous pain in the chest. He was out of breath to scream. It felt like the crystal object was trying to reach his heart, and it did. This was a silent take over. Darkness consumed his mind, imprisoned his body and turned him into a soulless puppet. His last thought was of her before it all faded away. No consciousness, no feelings, just a shell of a pony, he used to be. The red tricorn medallion became one with the heart. Its dead pulses were resonating in the crystal, creating brief flashes of light. The conquest was completed.

The demon stood up, not by his own will. It breathed deeply. It touched the mask. It was alive and dead in the same time, sensing the world around but still empty of thought. There was a 'leak' from his chest. The puppet checked to see what was wrong. The medallion was still smoking but slower than before. This body had limited time, until it completely died.

"Weaker, I feel, than the last time." he spoke with two voices, one was his, the other was of a mare. "Blue Circle was clever to escape my sight. Next time, I'll make sure that their clan does not exist. It served me no purpose but only to harm me. This leaves me with only one choice: to give her the question again." the ninja went to the window and looked outside. The garden was full with exotic flowers and small ornamental shrubs, which had purple, pink and white as prime colors on their blossoms. It felt nothing by looking at the beautifully arranged yard. "Why are these lesser creatures so hard to conquer? Just mortals, who are trying to immortalize themselves by deeds and short lasting monuments. They can be much more, they will become part of me! But yet, they defy me so many times, other species managed to prolong the inevitable just by little. That would only make them taste a lot better than the rest."

Then the ninja went through the window like ghost, appearing outside. It looked slowly in left and in right with wide opened green eyes. There weren't any guards. Then the demon warrior began to gallop towards the palace's wall and disappeared inside the stones.

"No cheating or teaming up on one!" the four ninjas, who led them to the capital said to Foxy.

"I hope that also applies to your precious leader." she returned with a mocking tone.

"The rules are rules. No pony is above them. We'll make sure that everypony complies with them."

"Sure."

The four bowed and left the field.

"Are you sure that he'll come?" Metal was sitting next to Phoenix on the second stone step from the fifteen, just in front of the temple. Foxy was standing on the plaza with her back to the eternal home of her relatives. The square was surrounded by a large crowd made of ninjas and common ponies. From all sides there were three story houses, primarily made out of wood, who miraculously survived the fires.

"He will. There were too many witness, when I declared Kreeah on him, so to defend his honor, he must show up. Metal..."

"Yeah?"

"Protect Phoenix and yourself, I have the feeling that he'll cheat in some way, so watch out for surprises!"

Metal stood up with his spear and nodded.

"Are you ready to do your part of the deal?" the Jester asked inside the unicorn's head. "The leader isn't quite in his top form, Foxy will definitely kill him in seconds."

"I am." he sadly answered.

"Cheer up, my friend! Look how many fans are here to watch two ponies battle each other to the death. You'll have the grand piece of the show! I'll make you a star in their eyes!"

"Frankly, I'd rather die in a lonely corner than to participate in this..."

"That could be arranged, if that's what you really want. He-he."

"Could you shut up, I'm trying to concentrate. You don't want me to miss, don't you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just want to remind you that the gun is in the bag. I'll try to be as quite as a hatched dragon. Ha-ha!"

"Good, that's how I want it to be."

"Good luck, my little assassin!"

Finally some peace in his head. He had a plan of how to get rid of the demon for good. It was so genius that even the Jester would not see it coming. And the good thing was, that Phoenix didn't remember a thing from it, so his thought wouldn't betray him before the right moment.

The armored pegasus looked at the crowed of unhappy ponies and noticed that the younger generation were all starring at him. For them, he was this mysterious royalty from afar, who for some reason was helping Dragon Born. Yes, the news spread quickly and there wasn't a pony in the capital that didn't know about her arrival. Whispers among them could be heard, even though a good twenty four meters of air divided him from them.

Eye was on his toes, as he looked around, when the atmosphere suddenly changed. In the next moment, he felt somepony's triple weight, smashing into him. They were sent flying towards the stone steps, thankfully his back was protected by his armor. Foxy wasn't aware of what happened. She needed a few seconds to realize that a black ninja was quickly shortening the distance between them. She waked away from her safety pillow and drew out her clawed blade, leaving Metal lying in hurt. It shined with a white light. The leader kept walking forward, unafraid of the killer gloom in her orange eyes. He got the first blow unfairly by materializing in front of her like a ghost. She was going to return the favor.

The crowd was pretty much surprised to see their lord making an appearance like that. The background noises began to quiet down, in anticipation of the second clash.

"I see that you want to play rough. Just how I like it!" Foxy said. The demon stopped just a meter from her. It's dead green eyes gaze into hers, Tail felt a chilling cold. As if the ultimate dark force was trying to get inside her mind via the eye contact. The mare quickly looked away. She was still sensing the magic, that was trying to penetrate her skin, so she used the sword as a blocking tool. The weapon's white light immediately turned black.

"Holy mother of Celestia! What is happening?" Phoenix thought.

"Huh, so the Big Boss Herself came down to this dirt rock. I wasn't expecting that."

"What do you mean She came down? Wasn't She unable to enter our world?"

"She isn't actually here. However, the puppet obeys her every thought, so in a sense She is here. That shell limits her powers, so Shadow Sun can't just consume us in an instant. The moment, when the body dies, her magic ends with it. A friendly advise: better stay away from these two, if your life is dear to you!"

Phoenix decided to listen to the unpleasant guest and quickly went towards the public, taking the brown bag with him. Metal managed to stand up, his back and ribs hurt a lot. He saw the inventor's sneaky escape and decided to follow his example. He took the spear and slowly headed in his direction.

Soon it was only those two in the center of attention.

The black magical energy that was sent at her sword was so much that it literally began to liquify on the surface of the steel and drop on the ground, forming a dark pool below her. The force was so great, that she was being pushed inch by inch. Foxy was standing her ground as much as she could.

"Foxy Tail." it spoke with an unnatural voice. It was very loud and scary. "It's time for your answer!"

"Shadow Sun! I guess I've won, if my real opponent is dead." Foxy joked with clenched teeth.

"Obey your master!" it calmly said. "The time is up!"

"I'm no pony's slave!" Foxy tried to shout, though it sounded more like roar.

"There is no escaping my sight. Come crawling to your lord." the green-eye-stare was sinister. Combined with the fearsome bone mask and it literally made the four referees to tremble. This was not their leader and they realized that.

"She said no!" Metal came from behind, in an attempt to pierce the ninja. The spear broke on contact with its flesh. Metal couldn't believe it, was the leader's coat made out of steel?

A dark tentacle came out from the hole in the cloths and aimed directly at the pegasus. He jumped in the air and flew upwards. The black arrow followed. Even with this distraction, the demon showed no weaknesses. It kept gazing at her, trying to corrupt her mind with dark magic. The sword was doing its best to absorb everything and redirect it away but bits of the transparent stream were getting to their intended destination and Foxy felt how her will to resist was thinning down. She was starting to feel sleepy and powerless with every second.

What were her options? How was she supposed to defend herself from such magic?

"Feel the flow of darkness." a voice from the netherworld spoke in her mind.

"Lucky?"

"You had a creature of complete darkness, use that knowledge to defeat her."

"When I held the dragon inside me? Lucky, what do you mean?"

"Forget me!"

"No! I won't!"

"The only way to change the fates is to forget me! Farewell!" the voice vanished into the nothing.

"No!" she shouted. Suddenly, some of the black on the sword began moving towards her mouth. Foxy fell on her knees, there was no will left inside her to fight the corruption. Then a friend of hers came with a great speed. Like an angel, he descended, grabbed her and together flew away from this monster. The spear was still chasing him, Metal was flapping his wings as fast as he could. Tail was barely holding herself from losing consciousness. Their direction was the untouched by the fires houses and hide there for a moment, until Foxy could bring herself together. They flew half a meter above the colorful manes of the clanners, who were still standing like statues, instead of running for their lives.

The demon watched them escape, while bringing back the tentacle after its unsuccessful attempt to kill the pesky flier. Out of a sudden the four ninjas appeared on the plaza. A second later, they were backed by twenty warriors and more were surrounding this imposter.

"Dark magic! You are not the leader! What have you done with him?" they asked in one voice.

"I ate his life force." the demon answered. "I see more meals coming to satisfy my hunger!"

"It's a fiend! We must kill it before it lays a terrible curse on us!" one of the warriors yelled.

"Oy! This thing killed our leader without anypony noticing and we do not know what its powers are. We need to act with caution!" the one from the four shouted.

"We must avenge our leader! Follow me, my comrades!" a pink clothed ninja charged, backed by ten other.

"No! Wait you fools!" he ordered but it was too late. They were impaled by black shadows, which killed them in an instant. Eleven bodies fell on the ground without much chance. After seeing how those warriors died, the crowd panicked and began to scatter away from the square. Their cries for help drove more and more fighters to the Temple's plaza. Unlike the fallen ponies, they kept their distance, waiting for a command from the four.

"Why you've come here, demon?!" the second on the left asked with a slight anger in his voice.

"To feed." it calmly answered. The tentacles that were still in the bodies of the fallen ones began to suck energies from them.

The bells began to ring loudly, alerting everypony of the new threat that was bringing chaos to the capital.

"Who are next on the menu?"

The four prepared. They were about to knock on hell's door.

To be continued... Next Chapter: Chapter 43: The Day That Never Was ( Part 2 ) Estimated time remaining: 39 Minutes