darkSpyro

"Pyromaniac? Interesting... And Nightmares? Aren't those the guards of Princess Luna?" he questioned, "I thought they left after Luna had...vanished."

"I'm referring to Nightmare Moon." Hellena replied stiffly, tossing her mane back as she went to follow where the direction Grey had flown off to. A flash, followed with a low boom, alerted the unicorn to the fact that he'd managed to stay in the air so far.

"Her? You mean to tell me Luna may have been the cause of this?" he asked, "I've been developing theories for a while on how this may have occurred...Tirek escaping, Sombra's resurrection, may a demonic niteo (shine) washed the purities of the world away...but that theory is very logical."

"Not Luna. Nightmare Moon itse- hersel- whatever." Hellena shook her head. "Hh. Relating to the Nightmare, I believe it targets those who deal with dreams. Inspiration. Imagination. Luna, Rarity... no, I speak out of term here. It isn't my place to theorize. No point when there isn't anything that can be done about it."

"I understand you have a hard time comprehending this," he said slowly, "but just think it through: both of them were seduced by the dark side, they turned evil because of it, and chances are it's happened again."

"If you're gonna call me dumb, you might want to be a bit more subtle about it." Hellena stated coldly, a flame flickering along her horn as an idle threat. "Hh. I doubt the Nightmare would go back. From what we could gather, it wasn't interested in coming back to its previous victims, justing doing what it could with m- new hosts. Luna, maybe, but only because of that alicorn thing going on."

"What do you mean by alicorn thing?" he asked, "and I wasn't calling you incompetent, I was implying that you were in denial."

"Denial, yeah, whatever you say." Hellena replied sarcastically, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Now back to the subject at the hoof, what is it about this alicorn again?"

"If you were a near omnipotent being with a desire to spread strife and whatnot, would you choose a unicorn or an alicorn to possess? Last I checked, alicorns are the stronger force at play here."

"You're right there, but are there any alicorns left in this world?" he asked, "I think not, accept for Mi Amore Cadenza, but that his heavily doubtful."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. It doesn't matter." Hellena paused, frowning, before continuing under her breath. "Just because... with a unicorn... hh, didn't mean that it di- doesn't hurt- I- it- almost killed them- all of them... Set th- the whole bloody town on fire... Canterlot..."

Patriatic raised an eyebrow, "Are you alright?" he asked feeling concern, "you seem a bit...tense if not worried."

"Tense?" Hellena laughed, her tail flicking. "Of course I am. Who wouldn't be? All this talk, dredging up memories I'd rather forget. The real ones! Nothing - nothing - was as toned down and hilarious as I'd made it out to be!"

The unicorn vented her magic in the form of a flaming torrent towards a single tree ahead, the unfortunate plant almost blown apart by the force of it. Hellena turned away bitterly, ears twitching.

Gghh... there goes the moodswings again, she thought, sighing deeply as she tried to calm herself down. Good thing I didn't aim at him, but... Was it? Hh...

Patriatic looked over at the burning tree and yet still kept his dissonant serenity intact, "I see that they must have been traumatizing thoughts," he said, "so out of my concern I will drop that subject then."

Hellena grunted in response, composing herself. "Hh. Wise decision." she stated quietly, continuing after Grey. She was sure that he had heard the commotion. The scar-riddled pegasus up there hears about everything, sooner or later.

"About Grey, is he accustomed to your...anger?" he asked curiously.

"Yes," she replied coolly, "and he's seen me at my worst. We'd both be glad to say that you haven't."

---

A dark brown unicorn with a mane of writhing blue flames, standing amidst the ruins of a stone building. Corpses were littered around the nightmarish being, charred black by the powerful magic that she was giving off. Pure hatred and anger radiated from her, along with the twisted satisfaction that came when they hit the ground, battered and burnt.

No... The happiness left as soon as it came, her attention directed entirely to a shuddering lump of fur and feathers that was struggling to his hooves, blue-grey eyes shining in the dull light of the fires.

"Hhch..." Grey grunted, in his usually gravelly tones, standing up slowly. He smiled in grim amusement, drawing the Nightmare's rage out further than it had before. Ignoring his comrades, of which he had no doubt were still alive, he spoke. "The firebug... got a little kick to... her flames... now didn't she...?"

He laughed.

And his blood splattered against the floor.

"Oh Madame Hellena," he said coyly, "teach me true rage, I'll show you real fire..."

OOC: wow... you guys get carried away rather easily don't you? Anyway:

S rolled up onto his hooves to approach the torn half of the guard, "Somepony's angry," his own laugh, though low was squeezing out as he used his magic to move the guard's wing around. The wing then snapped at the root, pulling it away from the body. He waved it around a little more before bring it down along his own side "Would i look great with wings or what?" he looked about, "Hey, where's the other hal?"

--

OOC2: Well wait... I've got writters blok again at the moment. I'll be back on say tomorrow to continue... at a friend's house, makes it a little hard

Barkis sat back against the tree and had finally soothed himself, He would, wouldn't he? Though, I'd look great with four of those wings.

OOC: perks of weekend boredom

Hellena snorted. "I clawed my way to where I am with this fire. A lifetime of honing it... What would you possibly know that I don't?" Her expression was hard, bright orange eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him uneasily.

"I meant have you ever used it at it's highest limit? Have you ever broken those limits restricting you from going higher to be greater? When in times of rage do they come to they're full potential? That is what I'm curious to know'" he explained.

"Yes, I have." Hellena looked away, her expression unreadable. "I'm not stupid. I'm not going past that point, ever again."

"How strong was it?" he asked,"did bones and rotting meat litter every street, was there fire upon every pyre? Describe the intensity."

Hellena frowned, kicking at the dirt hesitantly. "...Almost. Had it gone unstopped, then... yes. I would think that it- I- would've razed it all."

"Well now that you have mentioned it that does sound very potentially destructive, enough to have caused this maybe somepony took your powers and manipulated them for their own pleasure." Patriatic said.

"It's all still here. If anyone wanted in," her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, a faint smile flickering along her lips, "then they'd have to get past it first. I can guarantee that."

"Really? Is it that powerfully potential and that almighty to carry such an incredible strength?"

"Yeah, maybe. It might have waned back down a little. A good thing, honestly. I don't exactly need this power anymore. It's just in excess."

---

Grey smiled grimly, the cloud beneath his hooves sparking.

Perfect, he thought.

"Then, praytell, what is used instead of this? Black-and-white flames that are used in your horn?"

"Blue or red, actually. It's always happens, I can't really predict when it'll heat up." Hellena yawned. "Enough about me and my boring life story. Sick of talking."

---

Grey scraped off parts of the cloud, efficiently clearing the thing of all the unneeded space. in the end, it was vaguely gun shaped. It took years of practicing that specific art to let the pegasus know that the lightning would go out exactly where he wanted it to.

"Tired I presume?" he questioned, "Maybe know is not a good time for this after all, there is an apocalypse. Or has this wasteland bored you?"

Jed took notice of the mercenary's actions. If he wasn't told he could guess what position he had took part of during his private military life. Jedidah took the opportunity to steer the night guard into a better spot for Grey's shot. Hopefully he was as quick and accurate as the ponies on his squad and if he is lucky even better.

---

Dusty ran along the ground eyes in the air looking at Jed chase after the last night guard. He pushed past the brush and dodged the trees trying not to lose sight of the large white stallion.

He breached through some thick brush into a clearing. He saw something through the corner of his eye that shot fear through his heart that could only be primal. A sort of instinctive fear like when one saw a snake or realized the true danger of something.

He turned his head not wanting to believe what his mind had come up with, as if he were staring into the dark and images of evil things appeared even though they did not exist. He could not understand how, hallucination? Was he dreaming? No, this was a nightmare, which made it all to real.

---

I knew fear. It was in everyday life. Every pony was bigger, meaner, stronger, and so unwilling to forgive. Not to mention the evil thing that ruled over us. It was dreaded.

Then I discovered anger. It is simple your body functions in to ways, fight or flight. Anger or fear. If you want to get rid of your fear, you need to be extremely disciplined or in a rage. I was not lucky enough to develop that discipline, I had no teacher. So I had to take a step and become angry, flip that psycho-switch.

It was strange how even though I knew I was getting hurt I felt nothing. Even though this primal emotion moved me, I was still conscious and could control my actions. Which means others allowed themselves to hurt the innocent when they grew angry.

I learned that the heart is naturally evil. Ib, ego, and super-ego. Wants, logic and morals.

Naturally as a child we want things and do whatever to gain that, without any regrets or conscience. Ib.

As we grow older we become aware that certain things are not acceptable by others and in order for us to achieve an easier life we must abide by that. Ego.

Then there is that which is not necessary for life, but is done for the survival of others. It is strange because it goes against the natural order but is fueled by the most natural emotion, love. This is super-ego. Morals, ethics, love, and I will live by it at the cost of my life.

or so I thought.

Barkis slowly began to crouch further down to avoid being seen as Sic and S continued, "When I find out what they're up to," he whispered, "I shall take control. And everything they love will be mine."

OOC: nightmare

Hellena coughed. "No, not really." she replied coolly, and not speaking any further. The unicorn mare was weary, a frown playing about her face again.

---

Grey lined up his shot carefully, narrowing his eye along the 'barrel'. It took him a few moments to adjust, due to lack of recent usage and the fact that his preferred eye for long-ranged weaponry no longer existed.

No use thinking of that, he reminded himself. At least his now poor depth perception was nearly unnoticeable with the distance. His father had taught him to adapt to new situations, after all.

The pegasus spat off to the side, tensing up. No distractions. Drawing a hoof back, eye narrowing slightly more and ears folded back, he struck his hoof back into the cloud. He closed his eye for the resulting light.

The lightning arched, the flash almost blinding, then gone. The resulting thunder was almost deafening with the proximity. Still, he could feel where the lightening had come out, and approximately where it had gone.

And smiled.

"I see," replied Patriatic looking up at the cloud Grey was on, How did he manage to manipulate such powerful electrokinesis? he thought, clearly he has lied to me about his injuries...

Hellena followed his gaze. "Impressive. It's been nearly a decade since I've seen him use that particular, ah, ability." she commented idly, shifting. "How the time flies..."

"You kniw of his electrokinesis?" he asked

"Less electronkon- electrokinos- whatever than an advanced form of weather manipulation. I know there's something more than just making the lightning go where he wants it to, but he won't tell anyone. Fair enough. Secrets of the trade, we all have them."

"Indeed, mine is practice in heavy telekinesis and levitation. We all have our types we tend to stick to, and that is mine."

Gulaven walked over toward the car with the ponies huddled inside, who then began wailing loud obnoxious sounds and yips, "Filthy morons," he raised his right leg up, both the blade and plasma rifle were quickly set up and ready. He walked right up to the open door, and fired a single shot into the car. Out of sight within the car the shotgun wielded dropped from a clean shot through the chest. The other three charged out after Gulaven, who hadn't flinched from their force. One had a short sword propped tightly in his mouth, and another was tied to his leg to a point that about four inches of the blade protruded out from his hoof.

The blade in his mouth met Gulaven's, which they seemed to hold evenly, but a quick grin and a launch of his elbow, Gulaven sent the pony back into the other two who were trying to follow. Without serious injury to each other, they rumbled around trying to stand. Another came out losing a spear with magic. It jabbed once, to which Gulaven and quickly pushed the tip to the side with the barrel of his riffle, and firing a shot to blow the tip off. The body of the spear spun around to attempt a strike at Gulaven's head, but Gulaven's reflexes were high enough that the word was cut in half, which broke the magical hold on it for a second.

The third pony, joined by the sword wielder crawled out making a few more noises and laughs. Gulaven brought his blade down hard on the sword in the pony's mouth, ripping teeth and and prying his jaw open. The third bandit lunged out from around the other with his own sword. Jabbing out, Gulaven leaned away taking a good cut along his left shoulder, "Ahh! Enough!" A gear flanked, and an energy charge sound echoes out of his right leg. He flung his mechanical leg up, smacking the next jab away; Gulaven's blade folded away, but the rifle was aimed at the magic user who was picking up the parts of the spear. The blast of the shot, aimed for the pony's horn and head, scattered the mare's skull and interior contents into the car. Shifting his sights over to the next pony, the sword along the pony's leg was stuck through the mechanical opening of the rifle.

--

The snapping of twigs and dead branches popped and crackled just beyond the trees around Sicolus and S1D3. It was the other half of the bat guard, "Found it," S chimed bouncing to the edge of the clearing, "Eh, I'll get it later," he turned back to Sic and walked over, "You think Luna would like how dark the world has become?"

Luna? Now I get it, these people are in some kind of an occult with Princess Luna. And they've done this act as some form of an honor. Either that, or they're desperately trying to make her turn them into alicorn's. Barkis thought.

"Hm," was all Hellena responded with, nodding slowly as she turned to face the forest, her facial lines creasing slightly as she tilted her head. "Yeah, alright."

"Maybe you would like to demonstrate them to me in a fight?" Patriatic asked with curiosity

"Hah, your death wish." Hellena replied flatly. "I don't really like holding back. Better to kill now then let problems arise later. Revenge and whatnot."

"I'm brave to fight you, you are after all, a very potential unicorn mare with the ability to use the sun and put anypony on the run."

"Foolish isn't the same thing as brave." Hellena turned stiffly, walking away as her horn lit up in a brilliant orange corona. "Fine, then. Let's make this quick."

Patriatic followed with his horn glowing a deep mahogany preparing his telekinesis, "Are you sure they don't mean the same?" he asked

"Good point." Hellena shrugged, looking back with a slight smirk. "Maybe I'm confusing bravery and courage again. Dell told me there was a difference, but..."

Her smile faded as she trailed off, the mare sighing deeply. "Aheh, we're both fools, aren't we? If I hadn't been so... brave, courageous... vicious... Grey and I wouldn't be the last Badlands mercenaries left."

Her smile returned, bigger than ever as she lifted her head with an air of arrogance. "I'm not making that mistake again."

Hellena struck, a wave of fire materialising from her horn.