"Did you notice that there is something amiss with Tyler?"

The question took Twilight by surprise.
"Something amiss?" she repeated Celestia's words, not completely sure what to make of this. It was sunset and while Luna was up early, Celestia had cut short the last royal court in the throne room before their honeymoon. Now both sisters stood in front of her, Luna sharing an uncertain glance, but Celestia showed a deeply concerned face. Looking down, Twilight thought for a moment. "Well, it never occurred to me. Did you two notice something?"

Celestia nodded.
"Our connection with Tyler ceased to exist. It's not like him to cut us off like this. Normally he was an open book and we two have had access to his mind. But not anymore.“

Blushing a bit, Luna looked to the ground.
“I... I admit, I neglected my dream duties the last few nights. But when Tia told me about this, I tried to enter Tyler's dreams last night.”

Leaning in to Luna, Twilight arched a brow.
“And...?”

Looking up, the Princess of the Night shook her head.
“I couldn't! This was the second time I couldn't enter his plane of dreams. The first time was when he was in this mind trap.”

“Tyler's mind is closed to the two of us, meaning only one thing: He's hiding something. For the first time since Nagohod, I'm worried about him. Ever since the existence of our herd, he was always open to us, cherished being open to us.” The white alicorn then looked down, worry all over her face. “This connection is now gone. It's gone by his choice.” Both regal sisters looked down, glum.

Twilight gave this a determined nod. Her herd was in danger somehow and she didn't like this severity.
"I will have a talk with him. Maybe it's just some stress relief and he wants some time alone.”

* * * * *

Twilight trotted down the hallway, accompanied by Applejack. Hiding something from the rest of the herd normally wasn't such a big deal, everypony loved to have his or her space. However, If Celestia and Luna's claim that Tyler had changed his usual behavior by mentally blocking them, it would appear he was able to sense that connection, and intentionally block it in order to keep them out. If that was the case, then something was amiss. And if Celestia was right, it was nothing Tyler was willing to talk about with the entire herd. Finding out what bugged him might do the trick, maybe he was willing to talk to her and AJ, maybe Twilight alone in person. If there were any problem, she as his first mare would be glad to help him. Upon finding him in the corridor between his chamber and the stairs down to the great hall, she gave him a smile and they approached him. He was carrying several sheets of paper with him.
“Tyler? Do you have a moment right now?”

But upon hearing her, he almost jumped a bit and some sheets fell down. Kneeling down to get them again, he chuckled nervously.
“S-Sorry, Twilight... I... ummm... I have to make some preparations in the headquarters first. We can talk later, can we?”

That statement puzzled Twilight for a second, before she smelled the sweet scent of a cheap excuse.
“Preparations? But Rachel said she would be in charge of that during your absence!”

Closing his eyes, Tyler inwardly sighed. Her own sense for detail made this little lie impossible to sustain. 'No, sweetie! Stay away from me for your own good!'
“Yes. But I forgot to give her some files regarding a project I like to see prepared once our honeymoon is over. Speaking of which: I'm thrilled for that. Don't you worry your pretty, nerdy little head, sweetie. All is fine.”

AJ arched a brow.
“Ya don't sound like ya believe that yerself, Tyler.”

She didn't recognize how her right eye gave a little twitch. Was he just lying to her?
“Would you please turn around and speak with me? I'm beginning to worr-”

In the back of his head, Tyler could hear the laughing voice of Sage. That was all it took to made him panic. All of a sudden he turned around to her.
“ALL IS FINE!!!” In an instant he held his mouth, shocked by his own reaction as he looked at her. Seeing their own shocked reactions for him yelling at Twilight, he took a step back, then another, he turned around and ran away with quick steps. Twilight's heart ached. She wanted to help him, but for some reason he pushed her away, fled her helping grasp. A heavy lump formed in her throat and she gulped it down with some effort as the tears began to well in her eyes.

Not believing her own ears, Applejack shook her head in disappointment.
“That ain't our normal Tyler. That's for sure. Our Tyler would never yell at us like this.” When the young alicorn looked down glum, the orange mare bumped her flank into hers. “Oh... Don't ya fret there. This isn't yer fault. Ah didn't see his pain either, Twilight... None of us did. Ah have a very bad feeling about this. When he was fightin' for Equestria, he must have been through some terrible things. Things so dangerous and harmful he can't even tell us. Not even...” The earth pony mare stopped dead in her sentence. Looking down, her vision became blurry as tears filled her eyes. “...not even me.”

Rubbing the tears out of her eyes, Twilight looked over to her herd mate.
“AJ? Are you OK?”

Closing her eyes, Applejack shed a lone tear.
“Nope! No, Ah am not. Our Sugarcube is tryin' to protect us from a truth so horrendous, he’d rather stay alone than tell us. What could it be, Twilight? What could make honesty such a torture ya rather lie? Ah fear for him! We have to take more drastic measures about this!”

When Twilight looked up, her face was very determined.
“You're right! He's not behaving normal. But Tyler wouldn't push us back without a very good reason. So, in order to find the root of the problem, we as well have to do what we don't usually do.”

“Ya mean...?”

“Yes! We spy on him!”

* * * * *

Half an hour later both Twilight and Applejack entered a nearly empty room, but already had a remarkable resemblance to a room for a child. Applejack immediately recognized the soft, fluffy feeling of the carpeted floor. Raising a brow, she smirked at the floor. Maybe she should ask Tyler to deliver that same floor to Sweet Apple Acres. Appleseed would surely love this. But right now other things were of greater importance.
“Twilight? Ah'm not comfortable with this...”

Looking around, Twilight gave the room a thorough inspection. One of the walls had a mirror that stretched clear across it, a large white cupboard embedded on the opposite wall and a cradle right next to the door. The drapes were red velvet and currently they were closed.
“I know. But we need to learn why he’s been acting the way he has. Now: Tyler is in this room every evening ever since he found out I'm with his child. Planning and working on the room for our unborn child really seems to sooth him. Whatever it is that's distracting him, it can't be another mare. That's a given. But why? Why all this secrecy?”

Looking over to Twilight, AJ arched a brow.
“Ah forgot to ask: How are ya? With all this stress, Ah bet it's not so calm for the little one, is it? Ah'm sure Ah would be stressed if Ah would be with Appleseed.”

Replying with a sigh, Twilight turned towards AJ.
“It's fine. And I'm fine, thanks. I actually fret more about how to get my little one to know that her mommy is a national hero, princess and savior of Equestria on multiple occasions.”

The reply caused AJ to smirk.
“Ah say ya do this as calm and down to earth as possible. And of course, ya got five ponies who can confirm ya since they were there as well.”

They hid in the cupboard and Twilight cast a silence spell in order to mask their eventual sounds such as gasps or sneezes. It didn't take long before Tyler entered the room, only to lock the door behind him and cast another spell on the entire room. Twilight recognized it as the same spell she had performed just a few seconds ago. Was there any reason to make this one room soundproof? The answer came quicker than she predicted, for Tyler did something he usually didn't do: He talked to himself.
“Get a hold of yourself man... For the girls.” Striking through his hair with both hands, Tyler took a deep breath. “Who am I kidding? Like before with the threat of overcharge, I once again became a walking bomb. The shadows of Rage's and Sage's evil could end everything I love and cherish." Laying a shivering hand on the cradle, an impression of worry was in his face. "Am I a good man? Am I a madman? Where do I stand on this fine line between good and evil?” Closing his eyes, his hands clenched down to the cradle. “If these beasts ever touch my children...”

Both mares were tempted to come out to speak words of comfort to Tyler, when all of a sudden, another voice spoke up. It was Tyler's voice, yet different. A bit raspier, more bronze in tone. From the corner of his eye, Tyler could spot it. His image in the mirror was moving on its own, facing him while depicting the part of him he learned to call Sage. Still, the dark, billowing coat surrounded the dark mastermind who once helped him against the alicorn princesses only to abandon him once the fight was over.
“Do you really think that we enjoy being chained to a weakling such as you? Do you enjoy struggling against destiny? If you do, I'm sad to say it simply isn't so. You are just a waste of time for me.”

Facing his new and secret nemesis, Tyler turned around, his voice threatening.
“All what you two are is a madness! I'll cure you out and you disappear!”

“We're what you'll see if you see into your soul. As long as you live, we will still be here!” Sage replied on that.

Shaking his head, Tyler wrinkled his nose in disgust.
“I should have known that the price for your help is life long struggle! Who's the greater evil here? The raging mindless beast or the calculating mastermind, this nightmare before me?”

What followed let Twilight's blood freeze in her veins. Stepping out of the mirror, the Doppelganger now became a magical projection like a hologram. The sound of boots echoed through the room as this second Tyler stepped into reality, his catlike eyes glowing in a fierce blue and Tyler took a step backwards. It didn't happen very often that Tyler backed away from someone... Or something.
“I am not a dream, my boy. And we three will never end. This here is the fate you've chosen to fight evil. Tilerions is who we now are, no matter what you may pretend. And now you regret the deal with your inner devils...”

Enraged by these words, Tyler once more faced the magic projection with gritted teeth. Sage on the other hand simply sneered at him as he spoke.
“Lay only one of your bloody fingers on my girls and I swear: I'll end the both of you!”

“You can't end us! We two are part of yourself! Like books belonging to a shelf! We've seen what happens if only one of us is in control of you. Without me Rage would devour everything you love.”

Yet Tyler pointed his finger at Sage in a threatening manner.
“I don't need you to survive like you two need me!There were times I didn't need any of this crap to fight the evils of this world!”

With a loud laughter into Tyler's face, Sage's projection began to grow, doubling in size while big and heavy chains connected him with Tyler as two iron braces appeared on Tyler's wrists.
"You need my magic to protect the ones you love!"

Trying to break the braces apart with both magic and brute force, Tyler shook his head.
“No!”

“Oh, yes, you do! With Rage's untamed fury at my side!”

A black metallic collar appeared around Tyler's neck, choking him for a bit.
“NO!!!”

“I know that now and forever you'll never be able to part Tilerions from Tyler Jones!”

By now Tyler's voice had lost most of its power , but his hands never lost grip on the chain, his defiance still not faltering.
“Demon breed! Can't you see that you're not needed anymore?”

The grinning expression on Sage's face began to wither and he looked at Tyler with a sober face.
“This again? You're really beginning to bore me...” Both Applejack and Twilight had to bring up all of their discipline not to jump out of the closet in protest as he yanked at the chain, choking Tyler in the process.

But Tyler wasn't about to give in that easily, with every ounce of pain and suffering, their husband grew more defiant, yet his mental strength seemed to dwindle a little bit.
“Damn you, Sage! LEAVE ME BE!!!”

Reeling Tyler in, Sage's blue eyes shined down into Tyler's.
“Can't you see? IT'S OUR DESTINY!!!”

Tyler yanked at the chain himself now, not letting down his resistance.
“NO!!! Deep inside-”

“...You've doomed yourself to an eternal fight!” Sage ended the sentence for Tyler.

Yet this only earned him a shake of Tyler's head.
“No, never!”

“Yes, forever!”

Rearing up, Tyler's voice boomed at the phantom with the full force of the Royal Canterlot Voice, causing both Twilight and Applejack to cringe at the volume and both held their ears shut.
“CURSE YOU, SAGE! I CURSE YOU BOTH FOR ALL ETERNITY!”

“I'LL SEE YOU ON THE WAY THERE, BOY!”

Then, as soon as he appeared, Sage suddenly vanished with a last grin and Tyler collapsed down to his knees, free of collar and braces, yet mentally spent. Silence filled the room and only his silent weeping was audible. Twilight felt an almost choking feeling in her throat. Whatever happened on Nagohod during his fight with the Darkness Sisters, Tyler suffered a much greater deal than he revealed to them. 'During the coronation ceremony, the wedding...' She couldn't explain herself why he didn't ask anypony for help.

When the cupboard door opened, Tyler's weeping stopped in an instant gasp and his head raised a bit to listen. His heart skipped a beat and was now beating so loud, he could almost hear it beating in his chest. He had been found out. Motionless, he remained in position like a statue. But as soon as her hoof touched his shoulder, he backed off in reflex. His arms wrapped tightly over his torso, as to hold the two nightmares in that haunted him, he shook his head with a frail voice.
“NO! Don't touch me! I'm not human anymore... Just a despicable monster, a freak with issues that could end Equestria!”

But Applejack and Twilight wrapped their hooves around him ever so tightly, he had to toss them aside to get out of their little group hug, if he ever wanted to break free. While worried beyond anything, both mares were concerned and tried to speak in the most warm voice they could muster at this point.
“There, there, Sugarcube... Yer not that bad.”

“You are neither a monster, nor a freak, Tyler. If we would deem you something like that, would we still wear these rings?”

When he looked up to them, she saw an expression on his face she saw very rarely. In fact, she could only remember seeing it once or twice since she knew Tyler in all the time he was here on Equis. He was terrified. He was the one who defended them most of the time. Now he seemed to have to protect them from himself and was at a total loss. It hurt so much to see him like this, to see tears of despair glittering in his eyes as this dam of piled up fear seemed to break open at last.
“I'm so scared that I could hurt you girls... I feel just like a puppet with no control over my own future.” Looking into her eyes, he shook his head in helplessness. “Twilight, what's happening to me?”

Pulling Tyler into her embrace, Twilight looked down, not sure how to solve this problem.
“I don't know.”

* * * * *

An hour later, both Twilight and Applejack reported their findings to Celestia and Luna, who closed their eyes with a heavy sigh.
“This is far more serious than I thought...” Celestia replied.

Giving her sister a affirmative nod, Luna looked to the door to the room Tyler was sitting in. By his own wish he demanded to keep his distance a bit for the girls to plan without Sage eavesdropping on their plans.
“Indeed. If he's struggling with his dark side, it means this 'Sage'...

“Never again!!!” Celestia interrupted her sister in a harsh tone. “I will never again stand idly by while someone or somepony I love suffers to anything similar like Nightmare Moon.” Luna looked over to her sister and Celestia gave her a warm nod. “I don't know if my heart would take another thousand year banishment, no matter who it is.”

A knocking became audible and Cadance peeked into the room.
“Did somepony say heart?”

The sight of the pink alicorn brought several smiles to the herd mates.
“Cadance!”

“Good to see ya. What brings ya here?”

Giving a smirk to Twilight, Cadance then nodded at Applejack.
“Well somepony thought the libido spell was a bit too much for a certain husband. I came here to actually ensure her that the spell is absolutely safe for usage, since I tested it on my honeymoon as well. Speaking of which... Where is the loving husband?” The ongoing silence was enough to wipe the glee off her face. “What is it?” Stepping forward, Twilight charged her horn and when Cadance understood, she charged hers as well. Touching the tips of each others horns, both mares exchanged their thoughts and after only just three seconds, Cadance stopped the connection with a gasp. “Such heartache!”

Celestia nodded.
“If this is correct, ever since his victory, Tyler kept this a secret. Each one of us thought it was due to his trials in Nagohod and his fight with Lamira and Asira, that he struggled to get free of the influence of the Heart of Darkness...”

Luna then continued.
“But it seems another force has awoken in his heart. A force that empowered him then, but is terrorizing him now.”

Applejack cleared her throat and pointed towards the door
“He's right next door, we shouldn't be talking about him like he's not there...”

They nodded and one by one, the mares entered the room Tyler was sitting in. Upon looking up and spotting Cadance, Tyler was slightly confused.
“Cadance! I-”

But the pink alicorn shook her head and gave a smile.
“No need to explain, I'm already briefed. Don't worry, I'm only here to supervise.”

When Celestia approached Tyler, her face was very strict. One could see she was most displeased with the current situation. Tyler gulped down a heavy lump as he stood up and raised his hands in a soothing manner. But she wasn't in the mood for excuses right now. This was too important for pleasantries.
“Alright... Summon him!”

Taking a step back, Tyler arched a brow. 'Wait... She's not mad?'
“Celestia?”

But this only prompted her to stomp her hoof to the ground to underline her demand.
“Sage! Tell him to appear right here in front of me right this instant!”

This prompted Tyler to wince a bit. Celestia WAS mad, just not directly at him.
“If it would be that easy... He's not a lap dog I can whistle to my side whenever I please.”

Luna nodded at this.
“Very well then: Be that way! If he doesn't come to us, we shall come for him!”

“Now hold it for a second!” Tyler insisted, “Look, I'm not very comfortable with the way this is going. He's dangerous! They both are! Why else do you think I kept them hidden from you? Rage knows no bounds and Sage lacks any moral compass once he gets angered.”

Levitating a frying pan in front of her, Luna inspected it before she arched a brow and looked at Tyler.
“Tyler, beloved? I have several ways to put thee to sleep, but I am certain thou and me would prefer this not to escalate in harsher methods than needed. Thy part in this is over. Tis us who shall address that knave now. So do us all a favor and lie down for a good nap.” Not debating with a frying pan, Tyler laid down to the bed and looked up to them. Coming to his side, Luna nodded with a smile. “Good boy. Leave the rest to us.”

Celestia now turned to Cadance.
“Cadance, I want you to stay here and monitor us. If anything happens while we all are in Tyler's mind, prioritize.” The Princess of Love nodded, yet Celestia still raised her hoof. “To be clear: Any request for a hearing is canceled until further notice. And unless Equestria is under attack, I don't wish to be interrupted in this.”

Cadance nodded again, determination in her face now as well.
“Understood! Shall I inform Shining?”

Celestia thought for a moment, before she finally shook her head.
“No... The fewer ponies know of this, the better. Right now the Prince of Willpower is having a little... 'internal dispute'. I don't think we should trouble the minds of our subjects with any doubts about their protector...”

Once everyone laid down to rest, Tyler looked over to Luna, who was charging her horn.
“Be careful. I don't want them to hurt you.”

Luna answered this with a warm and gentle smile.
“I know... Don't worry...“ Darkness engulfed Tyler as Luna lowered her horn to his forehead and his suddenly tired eyes closed themselves. After an uncertain time, four lights floated through the darkness and once they came together. The world around them changed. There was gravity and they could trot on the ground.

However, the landscape was not very inviting at all. Thick and stormy black clouds filled the sky and the one or another lightning struck the ground once in a while. That's when they noticed that they were on a stone path to a very old cathedral of pure black stone. Once they stepped through the cathedral gates, Applejack corrected her Stetson.
“Well, Ah'll be honest with y'all... Ah don't like this place. The last time we were in Tyler's mind, there were some mean good-for-nothin's after us. Is his mind always in such a mess? ”

Taking a good look around, Luna arched a brow. She had been in many minds on many nights, yet this was unprecedented. A mixture of excitement and worry grew in her.
“Keep in mind, fair Applejack: Back then, Tyler's mind was shattered and divided. This time his mind is alright, but invaded by two other entities or minds. Tis this we need to find out for now.”

Twilight grimaced. She as well remembered, when she, Applejack and Luna rescued Tyler out of his own entrapment in a crystal sarcophagus. Yet this wasn't even remotely like the last time.
“This dark place doesn't seem very inviting, if you ask me...” As if on command, the torches right beside them were ignited, prompting Twilight to back away a step. But the surprise didn't take long and her face grew stern again. “Sage! Come out and show yourself!”

As a prompt reply to her demand, a primal roar sounded off in the cathedral. A roar they've heard before and made them shiver ever so slightly at the memory of their time in Nagohod, when Tyler went totally berserk.
“Ah think ya should have said please...”

The floor of the cathedral cracked open, and a dirty being, its clothes torn and ripped by the muscular body, emerged from the dirt beneath. Looking at the entity in front of them aghast, the four mares exchanged uncertain glances.
“Is that him?” Luna asked.

Twilight could only shake her head. This was not the man who stepped outside the mirror.
“No. No that's not him nor is it Tyler.”

Applejack grimaced nervously at the sight of the newcomer.
“Ah remember who that is... And like in Nagohod Ah don't like the brutish expression on that feller's face.”

But in the next moment, the three alicorns approached in formation, their horns charging, their faces grim.
“We're not here to be bumped around. Now we bump back!” Without hesitation, the princesses took flight and circled around the berserker, firing magic directly at him once they had clear aim. Each hit resulted in a fierce little detonation, tossing around their opponent.

Victory seemed already near as the three princesses were bombarding the berserker, quickly overwhelming the brutish melee fighter, pushing him into the ground, pinning him down more and more. It almost felt too easy. But all of a sudden, Rage reared up and unleashed a pressure wave of sheer magical might, expanding to all sides like a dome. Furthermore, this was underlined with a thundering primal roar and these combined forces swept the three princesses away with gushing winds and forced them to keep their distance and get themselves in the air again.

Levitating Applejack out of harms way just before Rage jumped and crashed into the place the orange mare was standing on, Twilight took a sharp turn and gained altitude , flew up into the endless sky over the roof-less cathedral When she looked down at Rage, a droplet of sweat ran down her forehead at his muscular sight. He was might incarnate, uncontrolled and unhindered.
“What a terrible force of nature...”

Coming to her side, Luna positioned herself at Twilight's left wing in formation.
“Yes. For this beast and in this mind, it doesn't matter if the magical charge is actually there or not. An imagined charge is as hurtful as a real one. We must be careful! In this dreamscape there are no limits. In Tyler's mind, everything is as powerful as he wants it to be. And the two entities here seem to take that to their advantage. That dome was created out of our own magic attacks!”

With a stern expression on her face, Celestia came to Twilight's right wing in formation and looked down.
“If this individual is part of this mind or living here, then the chances are high that he knows every spell Tyler knows. Maybe even every spell Sage knows. You've felt it, too, didn't you? That pressure wave, he took our attacks and absorbed them, took them to fend us off.”

Looking up to her three alicorn herd mates, AJ took good hold of her Stetson while shaking her head.
“No wonder Tyler's so afraid of that Sage feller! Ah sure as hay know Ah wouldn't want such a beast inside me to hurt anypony Ah love. Speaking of which... Where is Sage?”

As on cue, Sage's voice boomed through the cathedral.
“I am here. And you, Rage, have had enough fun. Time for you to go back to sleep.”

A lightning struck the center of the cathedral were Rage was standing and the berserker was wrapped inside heavy chains tying his legs together and his arms tied to the back, the raging beast was unable to move and a chain link was going right between his teeth in order to prevent biting or roaring. Hanging in midair, the beast was caged away and seemed asleep. Carefully landing, the four herd mates eyed Rage with suspicion.
“Is he...?”

Luna's eyes narrowed.
“Sound asleep. To send a satellite mind remotely to sleep... He's dangerous.”

Celestia now came to Twilight's side, a warm motherly glance before she looked into the distance with some worry.
“It is time for you to state our demand once more, Twilight.”

Nodding with a feeling of gratitude for another hint of guidance, Twilight's voice boomed through the cathedral with the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“Sage! We know you are terrorizing Tyler and threatening him by crossing over to the real world, wreaking havoc in his body! Show yourself, so justice can be served!” Looking up to Celestia, Twilight dared a little grin. “Was that OK?” Celestia smiled, as a corner of the cathedral was suddenly lit with the golden light of torches, revealing a machine they could only identify as a jukebox. All around the dark cathedral was illuminated as certain little trenches and engravings on the stone floor were set aflame and music started playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WYcXIGQwPE

While the music continued playing, the flames on the ground around them formed the cutie mark of a sun with the group of mares in its center. Celestia closed her eyes and harrumphed. It would be flattering if not for the serious problem right now.
“I think he either mistakes me for Cadance... or he is up to something. If this doesn't get any better, I hope we don't have to establish a containment spell on Tyler. I would hate to do this to him.”

All of a sudden, the music stopped and a large pair of doors opened in front of them, where a single person approached them. Twilight recognized him at once. It was Sage. The entity that threatened the man she loved to a state of fear. Slowly like a nightmare, he approached the four mares like he had nothing to fear or to hide, his voice eerily calm.
“Containment... The action of keeping something harmful under control or within its limits. It is something that is always been quite effective in stopping me from spreading my wisdom to the boy who so desperately needs it. It has been my greatest adversary for quite some time. Until now...” Now facing both Celestia and Luna while standing in front of them only a few yards away, Sage then finally looked up, his eyes cat eyed slits glowing in a blue tone. A noise slowly build up and continued ever so low. It was a low rumble, like laying the hooves onto the ears and listening to the bloodstream. This and the certain temperature drop they felt made the mares uneasy.

Luna gritted her teeth and charged her horn.
“Celestia...”

The white alicorn, however, shook her head and raised her wing in front of her sister.
“Not yet, Luna... Stay calm.”

Sage on the other hand held up his palms and took a step back.
“Welcome to my domain, my ladies. Why all the hostility? Did the little wussy cry a bit about me?”

The insult was enough to take a leap and within a second, Luna had crossed the distance between Sage and her. With a thundering boom her powers collided against an invisible barrier Sage seemingly had risen.
“Is this how you show your affection to me or don't you like me? You're quite powerful, but we both know you would never go full force at the minimal risk of hurting the boy; we also both know that this is not reality here. And since this is a shared mind, let me teach you some manners for rudely whirling up all that dust!” A pressure wave pushed Luna up into the sky and pushed her back to her sister.

Skillfully landing on her hooves, Luna glared at Sage, her horn charging anew.
“I am not impressed! All I see in this knave is a shadow of darkness! Thou have no right to exist in Tyler's mind!”

The claim caused Sage to listen up.
“Excuse me?” He laughed out loud and shook his head. “If Rage and I haven't laid dormant once again after flushing out the overcharged magic out of the boy, he would be DEAD by now. He owes his life to us! I have EVERY right to exist here!”

Looking up to Celestia, Twilight gave her a confirming nod.
“So that's why you couldn't teleport Tyler that one time! They were in the middle of saving him.” Twilight shot Sage another glare. “But only to save themselves no doubt!”

Raising a hand up to wave up to the chained up Rage, Sage smirked while observing Twilight.
“Oh yes... I totally forgot. WE two are the bad guys here. The mindless beast not even capable of spelling the word 'bad' and the super intelligent emotion dumpster.”

Celestia looked over to Luna, her voice lowered.
“Emotion dumpster?”

As he walked around, a carpet, several pillows and a table with tea and biscuits appeared in front of them. AJ sat down, but just as she wanted to take a biscuit, Twilight levitated it our of her hoof while still glaring at Sage. Arching a brow, Applejack quickly understood that Twilight wasn't trusting him one bit. Meanwhile Sage continued his little monologue.
“And since you don't understand the way Tyler works, I don't expect you to understand anything I say. You think you know, but it's way more complicated than charging, discharging and recharging a battery with magic. Tsk! I'm the smartest guy in this mind, but do I have a say in what this idiot is doing? No! Not even after saving his own mind this self-righteous ingrate utters one word of gratitude to me! Twice! I take all his burdens and what do I get? A prohibition never to surface again.”

This caused Celestia to arch a brow. 'Twice?' Luna, however, shook her head.
“Tis just like me a thousand years ago, Celestia. A part of the consciousness is most unsatisfied and rebels. I suggest we'll use the Elements of Harmony on this dark side of Tyler.”

The statement from the Princess of the Night caused Sage to turn around.
“Using the elements on me and Rage? I'd like to advise against this. You have no idea what the elements could do to us three, now that all three of us share the same body...”

Gritting her teeth, Twilight lowered her horn in a threatening gesture.
“It would drive you out, buster!”

Leaning in to Twilight, both Sage and her bumped each others foreheads together nigh conflict.
“Are you so sure of that? What if instead they meld us together? And just like that...” he snapped his fingers. “...the Tyler you know is gone! Are you sure you want to be responsible for that? I don't want that to happen. And even if this would destroy the both of us... Could you really destroy a part of the man you love?” A sly grin formed on his lips as he was eye to eye with the lavender alicorn. “I don't think so.”

By now Twilight was on the verge of snapping. It was like Tyler was being held hostage in his own body and Sage had all of Tyler's memories, knew of Tyler's value for them and used this knowledge to his own advantage. Gritting her teeth, Twilight had to hold herself back and not jump at this dark version of Tyler.
“You could only say that to save your sorry skin!”

Glaring down at Twilight, Sage only shook his head. But much to Twilight's surprise, his tone was not disgusted or arrogant, but disappointed.
“How little you understand, Twilight Sparkle. Tyler is unique.” A thunder struck in the distance. “And because he is unique, Earth will never tolerate his existence!” This last sentence made Celestia listen up closely and a glance to Luna later, both siblings nodded in agreement. They were on to something. Sage then continued. “And what about the fact that Rage and I first surfaced in Tyler's mind AFTER the Elements of Harmony were first used on him in Manhattan? Maybe we were inside of him before, that I can't tell, but you unlocked the door keeping us in.

“Or maybe you came to be just after Tyler was forced into the Heart of Darkness!”

Another sly grin formed on his lips.
“Do you want to trifle with maybes, Twilight Sparkle? When it comes to Tyler?”

Raising her voice, Twilight stomped her hoof down.
“Well then, can you be so certain?”

In this moment, Celestia stepped in and laid a wing on Twilight's back. A gesture that was sufficient to calm the young alicorn down. Her former mentor was there to aid her and with a calm voice she adressed Sage.
“What do you want?”

Seemingly this caught him by surprise.
“What I want? Oh, Celestia, you should be aware of that... I am a part of Tilerions, I feel the same things Tyler does, love and hate the same things he does. As does Rage I presume... I'm not sure though, he doesn't make much use of his vocal cords other than roaring and grunting. Most of the time he just wants to bang one of you or kill some enemy. Especially you...”

His eyes were glued on Celestia, whose wings were standing up now in surprise.
“M-Me?”

Giving a chuckle, he nodded in reply.
“Oh, certainly... Equestria's mare standing for fertility and femininity, who wants to be dominated by a strong male. Every time Tyler looks at your flanks in lust, Rage is howling like a wolf in heat. He is very simple if it comes to needs. Sleep, food, killing and intercourse are the only four needs he has to satisfy. But nothing would satisfy him more than to plant his seed into you, Celestia. As for me... I awoke in the Ranger HQ at the news that you were taken and began to gain control rapidly.” Sage now glanced over to Twilight and Applejack. “But certain mares reeled Tyler back in before I could gain total control. Pity... I had so many plans to bring exquisite misery to these traitors and to advance Tyler's knowledge. But no matter... In the end, he had no choice but to give it back to me as Rage ran amok. No hard feelings for the both of you. How could I anyway?”

Shooting him angry glances, the mares now shook their heads while Twilight pointed her right hoof at him.
“It was you all along who tried to make Tyler unkind! Not just the Darkness Sisters!”

Sage bowed down to Twilight. Looking into her eyes, his very own eyes began to glow until a blue mist emerged in the corners of his eyes. A sight similar to King Sombra... A sight Twilight wasn't eager to see again.
“Great men are forged in fire...” A sadistic grin came over his lips as he bowed even deeper before Twilight. Even in his pupils a blue flame seemed to burn ever so brightly. “It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.” Standing tall again, Sage looked down at her, no remorse in his face. “I'll cripple anyone who wants to harm the ones we love to a state where he or she can never again harm what we love! It was a pleasure to stomp them out like the plotting and scheming snakes they are. And we carried hell to their doorstep; we have made them pay! They have reaped the Rage they’ve sown on our judgment day! It was a fight without any mercy, fashioned in cold blood! Blows of fear and kicks of doubt. No forgiveness! No way out!!! Only bloody justice! I hope they went to hell!”

Twilight shook her head slowly. These flames in his eyes... Sage was nothing more than the embodiment of all the hatred Tyler could muster. Sage was manipulating Tyler for the worst, a being of darkness and worst of all: He was enjoying being that way...
“You are a monster...”

Now his eyes shined brightly, seemed almost eager to burst out in flames.
“No... I am a cultivated side of Tyler. Refined and filtered wisdom tainted in darkness, lurking in the shades of his soul, always there, always sleeping until you all woke me and Rage up with all that influence. The real monster is the one without any control, that raging beast only motivated by intercourse and bloodshed that I reel in from time to time. I admit that some things I do could be considered harmful, even outright evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done.”

'Must be done? Is this his nature or is something compelling him to do so?'Arching a brow, Celestia leaned over to Luna and lowered her voice to a grade where only Luna could hear her.
“At least this 'Sage' seems capable enough to argue.”

Luna silently arched a brow, still analyzing Sage.
“The illustrious talk aside, dearest sister of mine... I believe that this rascal knows full well of the consequences of his doing. And his place within Tyler...”

Celestia nodded in silence and glanced over to Sage, who eyed the two of them, probably guessing what they had to discuss.
“I think so, too. He knows more than he is telling us, we might rely on him in some ways. Let's not be hasty.” Addressing him again, she raised her chin in pride.“Sage! You helped Tyler reel the berserker Rage in during the fight in Nagohod, saving Luna in the process. Thus I deem you a very calculating one. I believe you when you say that you have no intention to harm us since you feel the same as Tyler does. I don't fully understand you yet, but time will allow us to learn more about you. But I wish you to promise me that you won't scheme anything against the enemies of Equestria and leave that to Tyler.”

Shaking his head, Sage crossed his arms.
“I'm sorry, but I won't make promises I'm not able to keep. Besides... The Prince of Willpower should be able enough on his own to reel me in. If he's not strong enough, maybe someone else should have the title, don't you think? If not under proper control, Rage and I will rain destruction on your enemies. Every minute you stop Tyler from growing, more innocent ponies will come to harm.”

As they exchanged some glances, Celestia simply closed her eyes.
“Luna? What would you think about a being that takes Tyler, the father of two children and soon to be father of your child, away from us?”

Luna gave her sister a glance before she gave Sage an icy cold glare.
“I would despise such a being forevermore...”

While Sage's expression grew in worry, the mares began to smile more and more. Now they got him right were they wanted him.
“Now, ladies... Listen...” Turning to Applejack and , Sage opened his arms as he tried to reason.
“Don't be like that, please.”

But the earth pony had already caught on and arched a brow in the way only she could as a smirk formed on her lips.
“Say... uh... Sage, right?”

“Yes?”

“Deem yerself mah pardner?”

“Uh-huh...”

“Wanna be mah sugarcube?”

“Gladly, I guess...”

“Want me to love ya like Tyler?”

“Certainly!”

The orange mare then stomped her hoof on the ground, a stern expression on her face.
“Then leave Tyler the hay alone!”

Standing up now, he gritted his teeth and growled in frustration.
“I would if I could! But I can't! I'm bound to this body! Rage and me are part of him as he is part of something bigger!”

“It appears you have a certain knowledge about what is happening to Tyler right now... If you want to persuade us that you are no threat and a part of Tyler we can learn to love, I suggest you start cooperating with us and him in order to earn this love.”

Growling in anger, Sage clenched his fists.
“It seems you have your hooves at my throat... Very well then! For the sake of the herd I shall leave him untouched... No matter what happens... He shall make his... slow progress on his own. A pity, he could advance so much faster. And he might need this strength in the future.”

Celestia now grew more stern in her expression.
“We demand answers, Sage! You seem to know what is going on right now. If so, I want you to share these answers with us!”

Giving a sigh, Sage simply shrug.
“If only I could give them to you that easily. This is another burden of mine.”

Arching a brow, Luna cocked her head.
“A burden? Pray tell, what are thou speaking of? Does this mean thou can't answer although thou knowest it?”

Leaning slightly towards Luna, Sage cocked his head with another grin.
“Because I be, what I be. I would tell thee what thou want to know if I could, lass, but I be a sage. And no sage anywhere, ever gave anyone a straight answer.” This earned him a low grumble from Luna. He was mocking her. Chuckling a bit, Sage then harrumphed before stopping the Shakespearean talk. “You want to know what is happening to Tyler right now? I for one would call it growing pains. His body is in its prime, but his mind has so much more growth ahead of it. As he learns through me, little by little, his understanding of magic will grow. Its mechanics, its fabric... there is so much more he has to learn. Fortunately his body is stagnant now.”

Twilight arched a brow.
“Stagnant?”

First looking at Twilight, Sage then looked at Celestia and Luna.
“You haven't told them?” A grin grew on his lips as he arched a brow. “Really?”

The faces of both regal sisters became dark while Twilight turned her head towards them.
“Told us what?”

With a grim expression towards Sage, Celestia shook her head briefly.
“Let's discuss this once we're outside, Twilight.” Twilight knew that look. It happened very rarely when something wasn't going according to Celestia's plan and the following situation demanded damage control afterward. Yet somehow the lavender alicorn got the feeling it was only going about Tyler and herself. They were the topic of this conversation right now. 'Stagnant in what way? Are my studies as a princess not bearing enough fruit?'

A myriad of questions raced through Twilight's head until she finally shook it briefly to get a clear mind. She had to focus on the moment, where Sage was a present... Looking at him now conversing with them, could he really be deemed a threat? Stepping forth, she looked up to Sage.
“I have a question...”

Looking at her, Sage's voice remained calm.
“Yes, Twilight?”

This calm and polite tone was even more frightening than Rage with his loud and roaring behavior. Twilight had to make sure not to tremble visibly.
“If we sleep with Tyler, is there a chance that you two peek?”

The question got the two sisters by surprise, but Sage didn't even flinch upon that question. It was almost eerie that this man never showed the extent of emotions like Tyler did. “In a way we two can experience everything Tyler is perceiving, including sex with one of you. But we do not sit by and play with ourselves in his mind, if that is what you think... I for one see very little entertainment in this. Tyler and Rage on the other hand find it delightful. But to answer your question whether or not we cease control: No, but in a way we aid Tyler in this action. This happens with a slight shift of control, nothing harmful. You experienced it already, Twilight. The sexual act in the penthouse, he took you way harder that time than before, right?”

With a deep blush Twilight remembered her adventure with Tyler in the penthouse in New York City and the night Nova was conceived.
“So this was...?”

“This was a mixture of Tyler and Rage. But Rage would never harm any of you girls. This skirmish a few minutes ago? Child's-play, not even the tip of the iceberg. A lion playing with its pup. Of all living beings in Equestria, you four are the ones who are most secure from him. Rage can use all the magic Tyler knows and utilizes this on pure instinct base. I can't say if he would bash in a mare's face or simply taking her by force, if he would stumble across one, but there's no need to let him get into such a situation.”

Twilight thought a bit longer, remembering the evening. Rage wasn't only out for death and destruction, but if she and her female herd mates were only safe from him by serving as living sex toys, this wasn't any better. However, there was another detail from that night she remembered. The first time she experienced something like this.
“There was a certain force wave or energy wave once Tyler and I... in the penthouse...”

Giving a nod, Sage folded his arms.
“I noticed, but I don't know what caused it. I have some theories though. Maybe, if we have more time together, we might discuss these.”

Celestia had monitored Sage the entire time of the conversation. This wasn't the talk of someone to betray them. The more they talked with Sage, the more Celestia had gotten the impression that Sage knew full well what was wrong with Tyler. And more importantly, what was wrong with himself. He wasn't allowed to say it out loud by his own rules or from someone else, for if he could, of that she was certain, he would do so. All this trouble to drive Tyler insane, all the threats, the dark clothing, the dark way to talk... Was that really Sage or just a charade, a mask over the real Sage? If one could think that way to the end, all of this here, was nothing but a call for help.
“One more thing, Sage.”

“You're beginning to try my patience with all these questions... Make it quick!

Celestia gulped a big lump down. She had to take this risk. If she was right in even half of her assumptions, Sage wasn't only the trouble, he was in trouble.
“Pitiful creature of hatred... What kind of live have you known? The stars gave me courage to show you you are not alone!” All eyes grew wide as Celestia took a final step towards Sage and pressed her lips on his.

In the distance, drums of war sounded off and a light like a rising sun began to light this dark fortress. Twilight's head darted to Luna.
“What is happening?”

Looking towards the light, Luna grimaced a bit.
“Tyler is waking up. We should get out.”

Taking a step backwards when their lips parted, Sage shook his head, tears beginning to well in his eyes as he stared at Celestia with a mixture of shock and fear in them. Celestia was expecting a snarky remark, maybe even a slap to her face. But fear? No, this was worse than she expected it to be.
“Get out! Forget me! Forget all of this! Leave me alone! Forget what we said!” Teleporting away, he reappeared on a balcony several meters above them, his right hand cramped at his heart. “Get out before he awakes! Swear to me it's your fate never to tell the secrets you now know of the Angel of Hate!” Again he teleported and the drums in the distance grew louder. Standing on the highest tower of the fortress, he reappeared once more. His billowing coat grew massively until it represented two dark and gargantuan wings as he reared up.

“GO NOW!!! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!!!”

The light turned blindingly bright and a few moments later, the mares woke up one by one in the real world. Slowly rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, they got up, when Twilight took a look around.
“What was that all about?”

Cadance looked up from the couch and cocked her head.
“Back so soon? Did everything went accordingly? Or is there a problem?” The four princesses came together and charged their horns, and with a touch of the tips conversed in their minds. After a few seconds, the connection ended. “I... I see.”

Twilight grumbled a bit.
“Well, if you could fit me in, I would be thankful. The flashes happened so fast, I'm still processing it.”

Resting a wing on Twilight, Cadance gave her a mild smile and shook her head.
“It will come in time, Twilight. Each time will be faster, trust me. Don't rush the spell. As for our little problem: Sage was born out of hatred and magic. Aunt Celestia gave him a kiss. If I'm correct, for the first time in his existence, Sage has known unconditional love. And not just for Tyler. Unconditional love only for him.”

Twilight looked down. This explained the tears. Looking up to Celestia, she had still more questions to ask.
“So... Was that the reason why he seemed unable to handle you? Did you destroy him with that emotion?”

Celestia simply shook her head.
“Not even close. But I think I gave him something to think about for a very, very long time. I feel bad for him. Tyler seemingly deemed him useful in his fight inside Nagohod, but caged him away afterwards.”

Stroking Tyler's hair, AJ shook her head.
“Ah wonder if Sage is even capable of doing the right thing.”

“That is no big question, if thou are asking me, fair Applejack.” Luna stated with a smile. “Look at me! I'm the Princess of the Night. But the war-maiden appearance of Nightmare Moon deep inside of me? This helped me to aid thou in Nagohod. Not to speak of the occasional Nightmare Night appearance on Nightmare Night. Everybody can do the right thing if willing to do so.”

Looking over to the still sleeping Tyler, who slowly recovered from Luna's sleeping spell, Celestia shook her head.
“I believe Sage is not so bad as he wants us to believe. Not evil, but marked by it. I pity him. If your entire life is denial of freedom, you start to revolt sooner or later. And the things he said about being an emotion dumpster... I think there is a whole lot more to Sage than we first thought. And I think once he will resurface again, and he will, we will have another chance to learn about him.”

Now the mares approached Tyler and exchanged some glances.
“So... What are we about to do with our little troublemaker?” Applejack asked.

The alicorns grinned at each other before Twilight looked down to him.
“Well... Lying to us and excluding us from a major problem threatening to break him and the peace of our herd? I say we punish him. Now... What would be the best way to get even with him on the eve of our honeymoon...”

* * * * *

When Tyler woke up, the ceiling was slightly different than what he was used to. A taste of sweetness was filling his mouth as if he had been eating a fruit or something. He wasn't in his own chamber, but looking around, he saw that he was in Applejack's chamber. Even more so, a certain weight made him aware that Applejack was sitting on his lap, her front hooves rested on his chest.
“Rise and shine, Sugarcube!” Slowly caressing his chest, she leaned forward to him. “Ya know? Ah'm quite certain that we two will have some good fun tonight...

A sudden cold feeling made Tyler aware that there were no clothes on his body. More so and that concerned him even more: There were metallic restraints on his wrists and ankles.
“Uh... AJ? Why am I naked? Why am I chained to the bed? And why don't I have any spells left in me?”

“Oh, don't ya fret, Sugarcube... Ah was just asked by the others to do ya a lil' favor... Ya lied to us. Ya lied to me, Sugarcube... And Ah intend to get even...”

His eyes widened.
“I didn't lie! I just didn't told you girls about my problem!”

“Same thing to me. What Element of Honesty would Ah be if Ah would leave such a thing unpunished? The princesses made sure ya can't climax with their royal toys, so while Ah'll have the time of mah life, ya should have a tough ride ahead of ya... Literally...” Guiding his erect member into her warm and soft wet folds, Applejack let out a moan in delight as she closed her eyes. Her own wetness made it go in so very easily. Tyler wanted to say something, but this time a Magna pepper was pushed into his mouth. And there was the taste of sweetness again. “Ssshhh... Don't ya try to yell for help, Tyler.” When she opened her eyes, she looked straight into his face while licking her lips. “For the next few hours these chambers are soundproof. But ya can feel free to scream mah name. Ah'm certain ya will at some point. Ah'll make certain ya'll never lie to me again. This will be the hardest rodeo we two ever had, so enjoy the ride, pardner...”

* * * * *

The corridor of the royal herd was utterly silent. No one would ever even think of that behind one of these doors a human was screaming for help and mercy with almost the full power of his lungs before he slumped down, defeated. Slowly stirring her tea, Twilight listened ever so carefully. The silence was eerie, one could hear the spoon in the teacup, the browsing through the letters of a book, the soft steps over the carpets on the floor. If it wasn't for this spell, she was certain she would hear Tyler screaming or the bed in AJ's chamber slam against the wall with a steady and fast rhythm. Taking a sip of her tea, she looked into her own reflection inside of the aromatic drink.
“Didn't we go too far with this?”

Taking a sip from her own tea, Celestia looked up to Twilight and Luna.
“No, I don't think so. Tyler's intentions were well minded, but misguided. If he would have been more honest with us, we might have solved this problem before Sage got so out of hoof. And who to 'punish' him better than the Element of Honesty herself? I am quite pleased that Applejack volunteered to 'adjust' Tyler in that way. Hopefully he understands that we all still love him the way he is, but are disappointed in him for not trusting us. This 'punishment' of his? I wonder what he will take more to heart. Being denied to shoot his seed into her fertile and ready womb with this spell around or the sore body after a few hours...”

Cadance smirked at the idea.
“A punishment only a mare could come up with... Punishment with bodily affection until pain sets in. What extent of adoration has to be in effect for you to come up with this?” Looking over to Twilight, the pink alicorn arched a brow. “But as alpha mare, wouldn't it be your duty to do this?

“Well, AJ is the only mare in our herd who is not an alicorn, so granting her the privilege to do that is nothing more than a gesture. She is equal to us in the herd, not inferior. Also I'm pregnant and Luna would never endure causing him pain.”

Looking down, Luna gave this a shy nod.
“I guess it's true. Alas, I could never harm him, even if I wanted to...” Looking over to her older sister, she then smiled slyly. “But neither could Celestia... For other reasons... However! I hope thou all are aware that Tyler is still at a threshold to become a second coming of Nightmare Moon?”

Celestia now lowered her cup and nodded.
“Unfortunately all alicorns have the capability to give in to evil. This was the very reason for the Abarasion Spell mother used countless of years ago. Tyler is no alicorn, but he can beget them with us. These alicorns will certainly have strong willpower among their character traits, I'm sure of it. Now that we know about Tyler's little secret, we can help him, should Rage or Sage ever cause problems again.“ Both regal sisters exchanged some glances with one another. It were glances with a mixture of excitement and worry. Once more Tyler had brought to them a new kind of problem, something they had to face in a whole new way. Once more both mares felt alive again. And oh, it felt so good.

* * * * *

A few hours later, Twilight entered AJ’s chamber and while Tyler was lying on the bed, unconscious, Applejacks humming was audible from the bathroom. Coming out with a towel over her head, the earth pony seemed in a mighty good mood.
“Whoo~eee! Now THAT was refreshing! Ah think Ah was NEVER so satisfied before…”

Taking a gulp, Twilight then approached her.
“Applejack? How do you feel?“

“Ah feel like Ah had been bucking apples for one week straight. It sure is tinglin' down there... Judging from this, Ah think if Ah had none of these 'climax stop' toys and a human body, Appleseed would have a little brother or sister in a couple of months now. Not that I would have objected to that... Whoo! Ah think Ah'll walk funny for the next two days…”

Looking at the red and swollen member, Twilight grimaced a bit and took one bag of ice on it.
“Maybe I should have monitored the whole thing...”

“Nah, he would just have begged ya for mercy as well... And...” The earth pony now became quiet and serious. “Ya know? After some time, the pleads for stopping ended. Only his eyes showed the longing for me. It was a bittersweet torment denying him the full pleasure. And to some point? Ah think he understood and agreed.”

Looking over to her herd mate, Twilight arched a brow.
“You mean...?”

Nodding in reply, Applejack then looked down, a blush on her face.
“Yeah... He completely surrendered to me. That made punishing him so hard more of a chore than a pleasure. Every orgasm made me feel guilty. Ya know? Having somebody or somepony in mah hooves and having full control over their fate? It sure isn't easy to handle. There were times Ah thought about making the next bounce even if it added to mah pleasure and guaranteed his wincin'. Do ya think it is possible that Tyler might actually liked doing that and all because... ya know... Ah'm an earth pony and all?”

“You mean that he surrendered to you because you are the most normal of us?”

“'Normal' isn't the word Ah would use, Twi...”

“No! No... I didn't mean it in a bad manner. From all of us in the herd, you are the one with the most down to earth. Not being a princess, there are no expectations whatsoever. You are simply you. Tyler knows that and he loves you for being like that. As for him letting you alone buck his brains out, even if it brings you pleasure and pain for him...” Both mares exchanged some seductive glances before both of them smirked. “Knowing Tyler, that absolutely possible for him. Maybe this is something he would only share with you and then this is something only for you to treasure. We already know that Celestia and Luna live out their fantasies with him. So if you and him want to live out that, who am I to judge you?”

* * * * *

Three hours later, after a thorough bath and a rejuvenating spell, Tyler entered the room his herd was sitting in. Looking up, Celestia smiled at him.
“Ah! You're back in shape. How do you feel, Tyler?”

Rubbing his neck, Tyler searched a bit for words.
“Please don't take this the wrong way... But this silence in my head is soothing.” Several smiles grew on the faces of his herd mates , but Tyler wasn't in the mood for smiling. “Girls, I... I-”

But the mares simply smirked when Twilight slapped the back of his head with one of her wings.
“That's right, you better be sorry!” Standing in front of him, his four girls all looked into his face while Twilight was standing in front of them all. “Don’t you EVER keep such a dangerous secret from us EVER again, do you hear? We're here for you. We care for each other. We need you to trust us just like we trust in you.”

Tyler looked down, a feeling of guilt was building up in him.
“I... uh... I wanted to... But I was afraid to. I can protect you from almost anything, face everything with varying degrees of success and fear... But I can't protect you from myself. I- I could never forgive myself, if my hands were to spill your blood.”

The girls looked at each other. Each one of them couldn't help but smile warmly at this. Taking a few flaps, Twilight hovered in front of Tyler before she landed and stood on her hind legs. Looking up to him, her muzzle gently nudged his chin until he looked into her eyes.
“We know that, you big dummy. We know you love us more than your own life. That's why I was afraid in the penthouse. Not because of you, but for you. Even with that beast of berserker inside of you, you couldn't harm me. That's why I can't wait to hold Nova in my hooves.”

Tyler gulped and put an arm around her to hold her. Gently stroking her cheek with the other hand, he then leaned in and they exchanged a long and demanding kiss. Once their lips parted, he closed his eyes as his forehead rested on hers, gently touching her horn.
“I was a fool...”

Beneath him, Twilight giggled.
“That you were. But we still love you.”

A sly grin then formed on his lips and he showed his teeth.
“Well then... You girls better watch it. Because after that little punishment, I'm locked and loaded.”

Twilight was going down to all four hooves again and he went out to the balcony to get some fresh air. Still, the expression puzzled the lavender alicorn a bit.
“What does he mean with that?”

Cadance, until now silently witnessing the life in this herd, chuckled playfully and leaned in to her sister in law, lowering her voice a bit.
“He means the next one of you girls considering to give him head should better wear protection goggles.” The blush following on this transformed Twilight's face coloration to a deep red. Giving a short giggle, Cadance then headed for the door. “Twilight? If you are uncertain of the spell, I'll come back later to aid you with the dosage of it. I'll leave you lovebirds all to yourself now.” And with a last wink, she left the chamber.

Stepping outside to the balcony, Celestia came to Tyler's side, who was taking a deep breath as a strong breeze gushed through his hair. The warm light of the sun shined down from the sky.
“Still so distant, Tyler? Is there something else on your mind?”

He gave her a sober glance before he looked over to the others who were still conversing with each other. After a second, he turned to her again.
“You know what scares me the most?” She gently shook her head, but listened closer. Tyler spoke about his fears very rarely, so she deemed it a good idea to listen to when he would do so. “When I was Tilerions, when I could fight to no end and the Darkness Sisters began to fear me?” Looking to his right into Celestia's worried face, Tyler's own face showed a mixture of fear and concern. “I liked it.”

Author's Notes:

Proofread by Snyperwulff0