Episode 18 – Balance

Original Concept By Ma252 – Guest Chapter Written By D.Fatman

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P.O.V.: Max – First Person

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Ever wake up with a splitting headache wondering what the fuck happened last night? Yeah, I'm dealing with that but on top of that. To be honest I'm dealing with a lot of confusing shit right now. Like what is this black robed pony holding me underwater? Wait, better question is... WHY THE FUCK AM I UNDERWATER TO BEGIN WITH?!

“Will you just die already you abomination to pony kind?” this old as fuck pony that oddly sounded like the emperor from star wars. Fuck what was his name again anyway? Ah fuck it, not important. I tried to speak but all that came out of that stupid move was the burning pain from the throat and a lot of air bubbles.

“Finally, suck on the sweet air of destruction!” The pony said holding a hoof in the air. Hey buddy suck on the hard lesson from the school of hard knocks! With that thought I shot my left leg and planted my foot right into this bastards flank forcing him forward and causing him to smash his face into the side of what I could only guess an obsidian tub. After the blow to the head, he limply falls onto the ground allowing me to get up out of the water.

I pull off the cloak around the knocked out pony and dry myself off as best I could. The room I was in looked like some bathroom I've been in before. Hell the castle's bathrooms look a million times better than this shit... well what ever the fuck this place was.

Surrounding the black tub was white marking that seemed scratched in, maybe satanic ponies? Like if someone or in this case somepony had took the time to mark each on it. Course they weren't important, not by a long shot it was time to get my white ass out of here. At least these guys weren't the yellow rain slickers psychos from that Dead Rising I shivered at the thought. I swear if I see one of these ponies in a yellow raincoat with a green big nose mask floating a hunting knife I will fucking flip.

I finally found the door which was a carved in slab in the wall. I pushed on it as hard as I could to find it having a bookshelf on the other side, Seriously? Fuck is no one around here original? Please hidden tunnel or chamber behind a fucking bookshelf. Fuck it's even in a library as well. Seriously someone is going to have to teach somepony not to do the obvious.

I began to travel down the rows of bookshelves to find more and more bookshelves. Is there a fucking door in this place? There was literally books upon books all over this place. Seriously Twilight would probably explode from the sheer number of books here. Speaking of the lavender ball of magical fur. How the fuck did I end up here anyway?

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P.O.V.: Celestia – Third Person

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“In one evening all of Equestria just goes to hell I swear." Celestia muttered once she had gotten to her private study. To find out the Max had gone missing from Ponyville as well as Pinkie being found unconscious from a knockout spell in the middle of town.

It infuriated the regent of the sun to no end. She had just gotten Max back after the whole scare of that dark force infesting him. Then to find out that the special agent she sent to keep tabs on Max was now currently recovering in the Castle infirmary. She sat down behind her desk to wait for word from the group of her royal guards as well from her personal student on any findings. She looked over the stack of papers she still had to go through.

To be honest she wanted something to take her mind of the events that she not a few moments ago was brought to her attention. The cup of tea that she had left there was still steaming just as it was when one of the maids had brought it in. She brought it up to her lips before she took a drink. The normally sweet taste from the tea was bitter to her as she thought more about this.

“Who would take Max like that? Let alone an Equestrian prince.” She thought to herself as she continued to dream. She turned to watch the night her sister had done. In only a few hours she was suppose to raise the sun like nothing had happened. The door was opened to find her sister walking in. She was worried herself not for the prince that she had yet to meet in person but for the troubling fact that somepony would take one without a thought like that.

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Max's POV: First person

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I whistled as I looked down the large spiral staircase before me.

It went up, and when I say up I don't mean the high quality Disney movie. I could see a speck of light at the top of the staircase which caused me to groan.

Speaking now would have no use, it seems that the pony who brought me here poured something very hot down my throat. I wince as the thought of someone pouring boiling water down my throat, then wince because my throat is fucking on fire.

I look around the vast sea of books before me, before hearing an array of voices behind me.

My mind went into "oh shit fuck" mode as the voices grew closer

"We can't let the vessel escape." One female voice says.

"He can't have gone far, Dark Side said he wasn't even unconscious for 10 minutes."

I quickly look for some means to escape, but find nothing.

Just a quick note, never turn your back on a hallway with people you consider enemies around the corner.

"There he is!" I hear from behind me, but nothing happens.

I turn around to see... absolutely nothing, except one pony. One maroon colored pony with a back mane and tail that was slick back.

"I see you're confused by the number of ponies behind you." He says as he takes his hood off and looks at me

"Madness can do a lot to a pony." He says before raising a hoof that held a black metallic like cover to it that became surrounded by a red aura in seconds.

“Max, you know you can't hide from me.” he said as he jabbed his hoof toward me as ball of red fired out of it towards me. I rolled out of the way as he fired another one.

“Fuck this, I'm out.” I said through the pain as I began to scrabble to my feet after having too close of a shave from his second attack. This hallway was extremely long, the twists, the turns, and the lack of anything to defend myself with. Till I saw a table, which I flipped over to duck behind. To find out it was useless, with one of his blasts the table split into pieces. I grabbed two of the legs and turn to see the prick of a pony up close. He turned and bucked me pretty hard which sent me into the wall. I've taken some harder hits so I was able to get up with my table legs in hand. What I didn't expect for him to zip right up to me and turned with two red aura hooves, landed a blow to my right leg. I could easily hear the crunch of the bone breaking which left me in pain. “Fuck.” I got out as I was slump against the wall as the stallion looked at me directly into the eyes.

“So much for the great vessel of the creator.” This pony said before he began to laugh. “I wouldn't be surprised if they only told me this as some sick joke.” He took a step closer with all four of his hooves glowing that red aura shit.

“Well from where I'm sitting it's not a joke.” I said through the extreme burning in my throat before a sung my table leg at him. He wrapped it up in his magic and ripping it from my hand.

“Oh, it's not a joke anymore. Once I'm done breaking every bone in your body and tearing your very being to shreds. I maybe nice enough to send your darling little Pinkie Pie what remains in a nice... wrapped... gift.” He said as he took the left and whipped it on my broken leg causing me to scream. Once he stepped close enough I took my good leg and kicked at him. He took it like it didn't faze him at all. “Oh look the vessel wants to fight back.” He said before striking my broken leg again.

“Well guess was chuckle nut, you forgot something.” I retorted completely blowing smoke out of my ass as well as my throat burned to talk but what else could I do at the moment.

“Oh? What would that be?” He said curiously before he struck my leg again.

“That I wasn't alone.” I said before I looked at the empty hall behind him and yelled through some extreme fucking pain. “Now!” He went wide eyed for a moment spinning completely around.

“What?!” He said in surprise, just to see the empty hallway. This gave me an opening were I took the last leg of the table and shoved the broken splintered end right up in ass. He yelped in surprise and pain as he jumped a few feet away. He dislodged the leg and completely destroyed it into nothing. Not even an bit of ash was left of it, just like was here one minute and gone the next. He turned at me looking quite pissed off. Hey if I was going to go out I was making sure I was going to a pain in some ponies ass for this. He brought the table leg down again snapping it in two over the broken leg.

“AH, Fucker can't you at least go for the other one. Fuck that hurts!” I yelled at him as my voice finally gave out from all the burning, he gave me a death glare as she held his hoof up.

“No more games vessel. It's time to put you and that 'creator' to rest.” He said as a large red orb appeared over his hoof.

“I don't think so Alpha.” Said another pony before what was the equivalent of an old steam train plowed right into what I could only guess was Alpha. Just to watch the bastard get flung right through the fucking wall was so satisfying. The slow clop of some pony walking into the room from the equally as large hole that the magical train plowing through it. The snow white coated pony with an ash gray mane, tail, and beard walked right into the hallway. I noticed the bright red omega symbol for a cutie mark. He turned to look at me with his milky white dulled eyes. Ah shit it was Omega. He walked over to me with a back floating in his magic. He didn't say anything but look me over, even the blood that was coming out of the wounds from my leg. He dropped the bag next to me. “Theirs medical supplies in the bag Max.” He said before he turned to the hole. “I can't help you heal, but I can at least give you the supplies to do so.” He trotted over to the other hole he made and looked down through it. “You should thank that orange pony friend of yours for doing what he can for your marefriend.” Omega said before he jumped down. I scrambled as best I could over to his beg to find quite a bit of medical supplies even with much luck a fold able crutch. I took what was left of the table leg and some tape and made a splint for my leg. I began to hobble through the entry whole that Omega made as fast as I could. I had to make sure Pinkie Pie was alright.

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Central Library – Hidden Base: Third person

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Omega stood in hole as he looked at the path of damage he caused. A few of the bookcases were demolished as well as the form of a pony laid there in the middle of it. He jumped down onto one of the still standing cases before landing down before Alpha the vessel of destruction.

“It's been a long time Omega.” Alpha said as he rose to his hooves again.

“Indeed it has Alpha.” Omega said keeping a calm look upon him as he took stance with his horn glowing an heavenly white. He prepared for what ever Alpha could throw at him.

“Last time I saw you was in what Trottingham?” Alpha said as his own horn began to glow.

“Prance, in the catacombs.”

“Oh yes Prance, what a lovely city.” Alpha said as he began to grin. He fired off a shot of magic in the hellfire red his aura took for color. Omega just watched as it flew at him. Before it connected a shield block appeared and deflected it to the roof of the room. The explosion put a least a bowling ball size hole in the ceiling.

“I will tell you again what I told you back there. Your not strong enough to face me Alpha and you know it.” Omega said as he held shield block before him as a white long sword he make from his magic appeared next to him in the air. Alpha summoned several large orbs of magical energy around him just as transparent as Omega's weapons. The stood there for what would seem to be hours as one waiting for the other to make their first move. Time felt like it stood still for the two of them long enough for each of them to notice the fine movements of the other. The rise and fall their bodies made at each breath they took. The unbroken focus in each others eyes and the magical glow that came form their horns. Three cults ponies watched down from the second floor as the two apposing forces just stood in silence. One the pieces of the ceiling that remained from the magical impact before fell and crashed on the ground breaking the unending silence. In the moment all hell broke lose. Alpha start to create and fire his magical orbs as he dashed to the left. Omega was left of the defensive as he either knocked them away with his blade or took the blunt force of them against his shield block. Alpha ran around Omega as he continued to create and throw his orbs of destructive energy.

“What's the matter Omega, can't move?” Alpha taunted as he started to pump out more projectiles every minute. Unlike the over confident Alpha, Omega remained calm as he just continued to block and deflect the energy at him. But unknown to Alpha, he was doing a second thing as he was creating a pillar of magic between two of the still standing bookcases. It was made noticed as the bookcase ahead of Alpha began to topple over. Screeching to a halt, Alpha turned to Omega who took the laps in movement as his time to strike. An upward slash left a cut on Alpha's chin as he almost didn't react in time. “Bastard!” He growled as he summoned more energy to create a fairly large ball of energy that he threw at his opponent. What he didn't expect for Omega to cut right through it before the shield block collided with his face sending him into another free standing bookcase. The force of the impact caused it to topple over knocking on of the bases supports. Luckily they did build this base with more then just four of the standard supports they would have needed. But in the same stance that unlucky for them that most of the remaining supports were already taken out when Omega sent the magical steam engine in before hand. While Max was running Omega during his search was also taking out members of the Cult of Destruction as well as the extra supports.

“Give up Alpha, like I said you can't win.” Omega said as he remained just as calm as ever.

“No you should give up Omega.” He said as four spikes of magic flew up at Omega who jumped back in time as they nailed two of the remaining cult members that stayed to watch the action completely destroying them with an explosion that sent the third one flying into the wall completely incapacitating him.

“No can do Alpha, it's bad enough you hurt the vessel as well as his friends.” Omega said as he dropped his barrier block and began to produce more magical swords.

“Oh please you know just as well as I that those ponies asked for it as for the abomination to pony kind shouldn't even be here to begin with.” Alpha said as he returned to his hooves.

“He has every right as any pony else to be here.” Omega said as he took stance as each sword turned and pointed at Alpha before they flew at him. Alpha reared up as his forelegs began to glow before she stomped causing a dome of magic to fly out from his body vaporizing a few feet of floor and bookcases around him into ashes. Omega jumped back to avoid the magic as his horn began to flare in a white aura.

“I will not be talked down too about 'him' Omega!” He yelled as his horn was covered in an over glow. Alpha's fierce glare was matched with Omega's cold hard stare. Alpha stepped closer as he readied his spell but unfortunate for him he misstep-ed causing him to launch the spell in the wrong direction right into another support causing it to explode into rumble. With only the two supports left to hold the building, they couldn't take it and began to crack from the strain. Omega took the time and launched his spell at Alpha sending him into the wall with enough force to knock him out. Omega's gaze watched the unmoving body o Alpha for a few minutes as the ceiling bowled into the room. He held a barrier block above him to help cover him as he formed little platforms so he could jump back up to the whole he made to enter the base. He turned and noticed the last remaining cult member still out from before. He wrapped the pony in his magic as left bring the bystander with him. As soon as he left the building the ground around him began to sink from the ten floors under the ground caving in leaving an unmissable hole in the white tail woods. Omega threw the cult member onto ground outside the of sink hole. This was just enough to wake the pony.

“What... what happened?” The pony that was named Dark Script said as he tried to get his barrings to find himself in the forest.

“I see your awake.” Omega said as he stepped into the stallions view.

“You! Stay away from me.” Dark Script said as he tried to stand only to find his back left hind leg was broken and wouldn't hold his weight. Omega continued to walk closer as him as the earth pony stallion tried to get away. “Stay away or I will tell ponies it was you that captured the abomination to pony kind.” He threatened. This caused Omega to grin as his horn was covered with an over glow.

“There's no worry of that when you'll only remember taking him yourself.” Omega said in the calm tone.

“You can't your a creator you can't destroy memories!” Dark said as he was terrified.

“Oh I'm not destroying, I'm merely creating new ones to replace the old, since the princesses will be here shortly. I can't let them know I was here and the painkiller that Vessel of Creation took will make sure he won't remember me being here.” Omega said as smiled a devilish grin.

“But... but you can't heal him or effect him directly!” Dark said as he was now pinned against a tree.

“But I didn't, I only made it. I never made him take it, that was his doing.” Omega said as his horn touched Dark Script's forehead as his world went black and his memories altered right before his mind's eye.

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P.O.V.: Celestia – Third Person

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“We have to hurry Luna.” Celestia said as she flew with six of her personal pegasi guards. After she had reserved the mysterious note in a puff of magic telling her where Max could be found. She came straight to the White Tail Woods. Luna followed her sister both for support as well as back up just in case. Four of her personal night guard captains flew with Celestia's guards. The group of them found the sinkhole that once held the cult's underground base. Celestia was the first to touch down as he horn began to light the area around them in the pitch black area of the forest. Right there with a saddlebag Max laid there looking worse for wear and only a few feet away from the sinkhole about half way still in it held a earth pony stallion covered in a dark clock out cold. On his foreleg was blood that looked a little dried as well as a trail of blood that lead right to Max's broken leg. Celestia wrapped Max's body in her magic. “Guards I want you to take that pony back to Canterlot. I have a lot of questions for that pony.” She said with a level of anger that was normally not scene on the regent of the sun. Luna watched her sister quietly as said guards put hoof cuffs on the stallion before taking off to Equestrian's capital. Once it was only Celestia, Luna, and the passed out Max was left in the woods the princess of the moon finally decided to say something.

“What do you plan to do with that stallion sister?” Luna asked as she was the only one keeping calm compared to Celestia.

“I will have that stallion interrogated so I can get down to the answers of what happened here.” Celestia said as her horn began to project magic over Max as a white light went up and down Max's body. The silence between the two sister only lasted a few moments, that was till Celestia's stance changed. “They...” Celestia said shaking.

“Sister?” Luna said as she stepped over.

“They...” Celestia said again her voice shaking. Luna taking an initiative began to do the same her sister did and found the same thing she did. Max's vocal cords where burned to no end from tar being poured down his throat. She could tell that he tried to talk through it before it finally burned it to the point unable to speak. On top of his leg was severally damaged that he would need medical attestation. She thought that the personal guard Celestia had placed on Max was bad having his right foreleg's leg magically destroyed that he would need a prosthetic just to have some thing close to a normal life again. Celestia wrapped Max's body in her magic as she and Luna took off into the air both of them quite angry beyond the point that no pony has seen. They turned towards Ponyville as this was the beginning of a very long day.

“I will find out who did this.” Celestia thought to herself as she kept Max as close as she could as they flew.

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End of Episode

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