Well, you guys have finally caught up to where i am in the fic. Chapter 16 E is almost done, but the next couple of chapters are REALLY important and they involve a certain character who hasn't been seen in the fic for a while. Anyways, Chapter 16 F (i know, they letter annoy me to) is a four parter because its just so long. In fact, Chapter 16 D was only suppose to only 12,000 words...yeah...i even had to cut out things to make it shorter because the words just keep on going...and going...and going...and going...

Chapter 16 D: Tainted and desecrated (part two of two)

Three years pass…

"Happy birthday Dust Breaker!"

Dust was sitting at a table, wearing a ten foot wide sombrero as practically every prisoner wished him happy birthday. Even though this was a surprise to him, he showed no emotion and sat their un-amused.

"You're officially a teenager Dust, being thirteen is no small privilege." Salvador said, smirking.

"Yeah, at least show some emotion." One of the prisoners said.

"Be proud of yourself, aside from Salvador you're on the top of the food chain here." Another pony added.

"Feared and respected my friend, it's truly a unique gift." Salvador said, sitting down at the table.

Dust sighed, looking down at the table.

"It's been three long years…and I still miss her." Dust whispered.

There was an awkward pause between the prisoners around him. Meanwhile, the others were busy eating or enjoying their time. After all, it was lunch hour.

"Sooooo…how many prisoners and guards have you 'taken care of?" One of the prisoners asked, changing the subject

"I've lost track after about…100 I think."

"Dear Celestia, I still can't believe the guards haven't caught you."

"Even if they did, who would want to confront me about it?" Dust asked.

"True, but you alone have cut the population here in half. The guards are wetting themselves at the scenes you've left behind."

"Good, soon it will be time to unleash my plan."

"And what would that be?" Salvador asked.

"Prison break…"

All the prisoners gasped.

"That's impossible; nopony has ever escaped this place."

"It's a five mile swim to shore with a rough tide."

"Not to mention 24/7 watch over cells and roll call."

"There's always a first time for everything." Dust said, smirking. "But for now, we must acquire the trust and respect of all the prisoners. When that is done, I will need constant training in hoof-to-hoof combat; the training I get now is not enough."

"Not enough?" A confused pony asked. "You're one of the strongest ponies in here; you have learned almost everything there is to know."

"It's still not enough!" Dust shouted, slamming his hooves on the table. "I need to be the strongest pony here in order for this to work. With my strength established, I can pass on what I know to the others, making everypony an equal threat. Meanwhile, I can practice using magic through my hooves as I teach the unicorns how to properly use it and execute this discovery."

"There is only a hoof full of unicorns here; most of them never get captured by the guard."

"True, but no matter how strong or fast you are, magic can and will have an advantage over you. My gift of power doesn't come from pushups and sit-ups alone you know."

"So what's the first step?" Salvador asked.

"I finish off the last opponent that has ever tried to oppose me. Bucken furious."

"So that's why you kept him alive."

"Exactly, and old Buck is slowly losing his mind, thinking I'm going to strike him down in his sleep. No, what I have planned for him is humiliation and submission, for I plan on defeating him in front of everypony so that all will know who truly is to be feared. All those that resist my influence will be dealt with properly and disgracefully by me alone."

"When will this start?" Salvador asked.

"Now…"

Dust removed the sombrero from his head and stood on the table. With one swift motion, he bucked a food tray across the room.

"OH, THAT IS IT YOU LITTLE PUNK!" Buck screamed, standing from the table covered in mashed potatoes. "I'VE DELT WITH YOUR &$^ FOR FAR TOO LONG, NOW IT'S TIME FOR PAPA TO BEAT YOUR FLANK TILL ITS RED!"

"And how are you going to do that from way over there?" Dust said, smirking.

Buck flipped the table and pointed his hoof at Dust.

"I WANT THIS MEAT BAG MINCED!"

Several stallions around Buck slowly started to walk towards Dust. Unfortunate for him, more than triple that number jumped in front of the group to defend Dust.

"Face it Bucky, I have four times the number of ponies you have and yet you still try to fight me. You still even have to tell your lackeys what to do and when to do it, but my men act on their own because they know better. It's amazing how your men still even listen to a coward like you when they're clearly afraid of me. Afraid of a thirteen year old colt that will soon have you begging for your life."

"SHUT YOUR &*& %# MOUTH!"

"Make me, you discussing freak, or are you going to tell your lackeys to do it for you?"

Buck stared angrily at Dust for a long moment before speaking again.

"Three o'clock, court yard, just you and me with everypony watching."

"Now we're getting somewhere…I accept your death wish." Dust said, continuing to smirk.

"Likewise…"

Everything calmed down after several seconds, as if nothing had happened.

"That my friends, was way too easy…"


The cells automatically opened, letting all the prisoners out for break. Conveniently enough, the time was exactly three.

"This is it Dust, the moment of truth." Salvador said, walking beside him.

"Did you convince the guards of our plan?" Dust asked.

"Of course, the guards will have no supervision over what happens in the recreation yard, you are free to do whatever you please."

"Yeah, but what if Buck breaks the rules?" A prisoner asked.

"Pfff, I can handle him and his entire posy if need be. In fact, when Buck or his lackeys try anything stupid, have our men swarm the others. It will give them something to do."

"What do you mean, 'when?"

"It's obvious he will break the rules, because I'm going to make him. Buck is the ultimate example of why nopony should go against my will."

The door swung open, letting the dim atmosphere of the gray sky enter the building. There was a mix of cheering and booing as Dust and his friends stepped down the steps and into the recreation yard. Ahead of him was Buck surrounded by a circle of ponies, ready to jump in at any moment.

"Are you ready Dust Breaker?" Buck said, cracking his neck over the cheering. "I've been waiting to make you my personal play thing ever since you made a fool of me three years ago."

"Is that all you think about Buck, I guess I shouldn't be surprised from a pedofilly." Dust countered.

"Fool, this isn't about satisfaction, this is about setting this rivalry once and for all. To see who truly is the top dog in Ponatraz."

"Then bring it on!" Dust shouted.

"I'm going to enjoy this…"

Buck ran forward and punched Dust across the muzzle and then jabbed him into the chest. Without wasting time, he shot his hoof upward into Dust's jaw, making him skid across the dirt. Buck laughed as he leaped into the air and elbowed Dust into the stomach and continued to beat the colt into the ground. Meanwhile, Salvador and his pose where having mixed feelings as to what was going on.

'What are you doing Dust, you should know better than this.' Salvador though, watching his young friend being pulverized.

Buck spat into Dust's face as he picked him up by his neck.

"So, the great Dust Breaker is just all bark and no bit. It's a wonder how you even got away with so many murders without them taking you down."

Dust slowly looked up at Buck with a wicked smile and chuckled softly, making Buck rethink his claim.

"Just as I though, you're nothing to me now, all your punches, all your techniques…worthless and painless to me."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WORTHLESS WASTE OF TRASH?!"

"The fool shouts for the world to hear, but does not listen…you've lost and you know it."

"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN LAID A HOOF ON ME, AND YOU WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE LOST! YOU'RE JUST AFRAID, A COWARD WITH NO STRENTH!"

"Then let this be a lesson to you and to everyone…"

Dust flip kicked into Buck's jaw, making him stumble back and drop him. Dust took his hoof and swung it mere inches from the ground before jabbing his hoof right into Buck's stomach. Everypony watched in amazement as Buck coughed out saliva and bared a look of extreme anguish on his face as he fell to his knees. Dust gave no remorse as he flipped over the pony and tornado kicked him into the crowd of ponies. Buck, still dazed, couldn't comprehend what the heck just happened.

"Am I going too fast for you, here, let me slow it down for you." Dust mocked.

"Why you little-

Dust ran under the stallion before he could finish and bucked his legs. Buck shouted loudly as his hind-legs bucked from the pain and landed face first into the dirt. Dust slid down the pony's back and grabbed him by the back of his head, slamming it rapidity into the ground.

"Do you understand now Buck." Dust said, whispering into his ear. "You're just a tool, a pawn for my uprising. Soon everypony will be under my control and your influence over them will be erased."

Dust flipped over him and lifted his face to stare straight into his eyes. To Buck, the noise around him became muffled and barely audible as everypony became a blur except Dust.

"You made the mistake of becoming my enemy on that fateful day. Thinking you could just take advantage of me and use me to satisfy your wants and desires, thinking that I was weak to oppose you and your control. Well no more…no more will I be forced to live under life's pain and brutality, for I have endured the torture and came out victorious. This is why I spared your miserable life, but now your usefulness has come to an end…"

Buck's eyes widened, knowing that his life could possibly end at any given moment as Dust cocked his hoof back.

"Goodbye Buck, maybe your value in life can be as equally as important in death."

"NO!"

Buck out of panic, punched Dust in the face, making him back up. The stallion got up rapidly and removed a concealed shiv within his prison clothing.

"I-I-I won't let you kill me!" Buck shouted in terror.

"Maybe that's true, but that little act you just did broke the rules…get him!"

All the stallions that supported Dust charged forward and tackled anypony on the opposite team, resulting in a large prison brawl and leaving Dust and Buck in the middle of the chaos. Buck launched forward, attempting to stab the young colt and save his life. To his shock, Dust easily dodged and swayed out of every swing, making him panic even more.

"FIGHT ME!" Buck screamed.

Dust grabbed and caught Buck's hoof after he screamed these words. With a slight motion from his hoof, Dust broke Buck's fore-leg, causing him to let go of the weapon and scream in pain. Dust smirked as he kicked Buck onto his back and grabbed the shiv. As the fight died down around him, Dust stood on Buck's stomach and held the weapon above his chest.

"Please…I don't want to die." Buck said, shedding tears.

"Tears do not solve problems, only strength and power can!"

Everypony stared at the scene, waiting for the job to be finished.

"I HAVE LEAREND THAT THERE IS NO REMORSE FOR OUR KIND, NO PITTY, NO SORROW, AND NO FORGIVENESS TO THOSE THAT DO IT!" Dust said, lifting the dagger above his head. "AND WITH THIS, I RISE…AND FREE. MY. TORMENT!"

"STOP!" A voice shouted, forcing Dust to stop mid-stab.

Time around Dust stopped as beam of light formed around him.

"Why can't I move?!" Dust yelled, trying to finish what he started.

"What happened to you? You used to be full of life and happiness, but now you take out your pain on innocent ponies."

"SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD, SO THAT I MAY VANQUISH YOU BACK FROM WHERE YOU CAME!"

The sky opened up, revealing the sun to Dust for the first time in over three years. In a burst of light, a mare in white robes descended down and landed a few feet from him.

"Is that what you really feel…my son."

"Mom…" Dust whispered, forcing his eyes to water and his mouth to quiver.

"Why are you hurting others, why are you letting the ponies that hurt you turn you into a monster?" Salvia asked, showing sadness for her son.

"They…they hurt you mom…they deserve everything I give them because they're heartless monsters that took away my happiness and love! I can't forgive ponies with this hatred in their heart! THEY TOOK THE ONLY THING I LOVE AWAY FROM ME!" Dust screamed, shaking the dagger in his hooves.

"But you became exactly what they are Dust, you became exactly what you hated."

"No…no…I did this all for you, mom."

"This isn't what I wanted Dust, I didn't want you to fall and follow the same path I took. I wanted you to rise above our pain and become something great in this merciless world, not be a part of it."

"B-but they to you away from me…"

Salvia walked up to her son and hugged him tightly.

"You must let go of the past Dust, and look to the future. What has been done cannot be undone for this is the curse of fate, but you can't let it take you down with it."

Dust let his tears fall down his face, shivering in his mothers hooves.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry mom…that I couldn't save you."

"Don't blame yourself Dust, for they could never take my spirit away from you." Salvia said, hugging her son like he was newly born. "And I will never leave you, because you're my little ball of sunshine."

Dust started to cry more, dropping his head down to the ground.

"My heart still cries out for you, mom. Is there no cure for this pain, for this lose?" Dust asked.

"Forgiveness and love, Dust. They are the keys to undo the pain in your heart…and the keys to set you free…"

Time resumed once again, leaving Dust with a decision to make that would affect his life for years to come. Looking at Buck, he lifted the shiv above his head and thrust…

Everypony gasped.

"It is finished…"

Buck opened his eyes and found that the shiv was only an inch away from his head.

"I'm done with this senseless violence, and you should do the same. We should all do the same!" Dust shouted, looking at everypony. "We should unite as one group, not be divided into many, for a house that is divided cannot stand! Alone we are nothing, but together…together we shall see the light of day once more and forever be free from this prison!"

All the prisoners were confused by this sudden change in their leader until Salvador started to clap his hooves. Soon, everypony was clapping and cheering, for a new hope had dawned over the prisoners. A hope of liberty and freedom…

Three years pass…

"I'll see you on the other side my friend." Salvador said, shaking Dust's hoof.

"With any luck, we will all be on the other side."

"I'll have the boat ready in five days. If you make it, you will have finally passed and mastered my training."

"Hehe, you're crazy old man." Dust said, chuckling happily.

"Ok, move it along!" The captain said, pushing Salvador out the door.

Dust watched from a distance his old friend embarking on the very same boat that took him here six years ago. The ferry was now a symbol of freedom as it slowly vanished in the distant fog.

"I won't let you down."

It was indeed a long five days for the prisoners, but time always moves forward no matter what path live takes. The first two days involved Dust secretly training the unicorns to manipulate their magic through their hooves. A long and frustrating process, but it worked out in the end. Day three and half of day four were used to teach all the prisoners to fight with precision rather than brute strength alone. They were nowhere good as Dust was, but at least this knowledge would increase their chances in a total prison break. Lastly, the rest of day four was used to explain the plan to every prisoner. The prison only had eight blocks going from A-H so it wasn't very big, but it had lots of security, gates and guards, making escape seem like a fantasy…until now.

Celestia's sun, still being blocked by the cloudy weather, seemed brighter on day five, as if the princess herself knew that history was about to be made.

"OK BOTTOM FEEDERS, WAKE UP, IT'S TIME FOR BREAKFAST AND ROLE CALL!" The captain shouted from a speaker box.

All the prisoners in block C-D drooped out of their cells and slowly walked over to a nearby check in station. Everything went well until some news reached the lieutenant.

"Sir, some of the prisoners in the other blocks are getting heated up." A guard whispered.

"What do you mean, 'heated up'?" The lieutenant asked.

"As in, some hooves are about to be thrown."

"Well control the situation rookie, I can't have-

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" A prisoner yelled, drawing everyponies attention.

"My problem?! You're the one shoving in line you big balloted buffoon!"

"Are you kidding me, you're the one that keeps slapping me with your overgrown tail."

"Maybe if your muzzle wasn't so blocky, you wouldn't be hit by it you fat faced cow!"

The prisoner grabbed the insulting pony and slammed him into a nearby wall.

"I am sick and tired of you always insulting me with your stupid comments, you flat-footed, hoof licker."

"Hey, drop it or things are about to get messy for you!" a new prisoner threatened.

"If you do that, then I'm going after you first bud!" Another prisoner yelled, butting in.

More prisoners started to join in on this, "brawl of words" until everypony in the block was yelling at each other.

"Captain, all the prisoners are getting out of control!" The lieutenant shouted into a reviver.

"I can hear that lieutenant; give the guards the orders to control this outbreak."

"But sir-

"DO IT LIEUTENANT!"

The pony hesitated, becoming nervous in the situation. The lieutenant gulped loudly, shutting his eyes and pressing the button on the wall.

"All guards, report to the prison, we have a fight going on here that needs to be quelled ASAP!"

It took the guards no time at all to reach the prison, but by the time they got there, the prisoners had broken out into a riot.

"What in Celestia's holy sun is going on here?!" A sergeant asked, trying to hide his surprise.

"I don't know, they just started fighting each other, along with all the other cell blocks." A guard informed, raising his voice about the fight.

"I bet that kid is behind this." The captain said, appearing from nowhere.

Both the ponies saluted the captain.

"Sorry sir, we didn't see you there." The sergeant apologized.

"Never mind the formalities, we have a riot on our hooves and it needs to be stopped. Did you bring the equipment?"

"Of course sir…"

The sergeant, followed by the rest of the reinforcement, removed metal batons from their armored plaiting.

"Good…open the gate." The lieutenant ordered.

The magnetic gates slid open as guards filed in one-by-one. Their movements were organized and brutal, fast and merciless as they standing in a horizontal line, beating anything within range. The guards had pushed themselves halfway into the prison until the prisoners stopped fighting and suddenly organized themselves in a group.

"NOW!"

To the guard's amazement and shock, the prisoners suddenly charged forward and tackled the group, disorganizing their line of defense. Some of the prisoners even managed to snatch some of their batons and use it against them during the fight.

"WE'VE BEEN DECEIVED, IT'S A PRISON BREAK!" The lieutenant screamed.

The captain looked dead into the crowd of prisoners and soon spotted his target. A medium sized, dark green stallion abruptly launched out of the crowd and jumped off one of the guard's riot shields. With ease, the colt landed on the second floor and made a break for the exit.

"CLOSE THE GATE NOW!" The captain ordered.

"But sir there's still-

The captain grabbed the guard and tossed him aside. With a swift motion, he bucked the red button to close the gate. The young stallion sprinted as fast as he could when he saw the gate rapidly closing. It was now all or nothing as the pony jumped onto the railing and launched off towards the gate's closing entrance. To the guard's horror, the pony shot through the entrance by just a hair on his tail just as it closed. The pony hit the ground hard and rolled several times before bucking the two unlucky guards across the floor.

"TAKE HIM DOWN!" The captain shouted, backing up from the scene.

The pony leaped to the left and grabbed the Lieutenant and slowly backed up to the gates switch.

"Back off, or he gets it." The pony threatened.

"Rust…that's your name right, look, this doesn't have to-

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Dust Breaker yelled. "For six years I have lived in this accursed house of agony and I want out!"

"It doesn't work like that kid; you're the one that decided to break our laws."

"Do your laws justify those that did what they had to?! Forgive those that endured pain beyond this physical world. I watched my mom die before my eyes, burn for her mistakes that she tried to correct, and yet only one cared! ONLY ONE CARED FOR MY LIFE!"

"Words aren't going to fix your problems kid, action will!"

"Which is exactly what I'm going to do."

Dust trusted his head into the gates switch, making the gates slide open with a loud buzzing of the alarm. Pushing the hostage pony forward, he shot a small ball of magic from his hooves that sent him barreling into the crowd. Spinning around, he kicked the red button off of the gate, preventing any means of closing it again.

"Today marks the beginning of a new life…a life free from you."

"Take him down." The captain ordered.

All the guards removed batons from their armor as they slowly started to surround the young stallion. Then, all at once, they ran forward and sung their batons. Dust jumped into the air and dashed to the left, quickly opening the other gates that held his friends. With all the gates opened and broken, Dust turned to the guards as the prisoners lined up behind him.

"NOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM!"

Dust dashed forward, quickly followed by his allies as they slowly but surely defeated every guard. As Dust trusted a guard's face into the floor, he caught the captain making a break for the upper floor, where the control room was.

"Buck, you take charge, I'm going to finish this once and for all!"

Dust chased after the captain as he ran up the stairs and turned a corner. As Dust reached the second floor, a hoof decked him across the face, sending him back down the steps. He looked up just in time to see two guards sliding down the stairs railings to fight him. Dust jumped up into the air just as the guards smashed into the wall and kicked both of them in the helmets, making him flinch in pain. With the guards out, he ran up the stairs once again, unfortunately, the captain was nowhere in sight. Instead, all he saw was hallways filled with armored ponies with batons.

Three guards swung at Dust, missing by just a hair as he dodged the first two and grabbed the third baton. Twisting the baton, he threw the guard down the stairs and slammed the other two into the wall with magic. The guards stood their un-amused as they watched the sixteen year old pony spin the baton like a small pen.

"Fight me…and I promise you will have pain without end." He said, taking the baton into his mouth.

The baton glowed dark green as he galloped into the crowd, taking down five guards instantly. While fighting guard's hoof-to-hoof, he would painfully block baton swings with his own, but this was the least of his worries. Right now, he had to find the control room to open the main door to freedom and finally free his horn from its entrapped confinement. Yes, Dust could cast magic from his hooves, but it wasn't perfected and without his horn as a reviver he would quickly run out of power. Smashing the last guard upon the head with his baton, he ran forward and scaled the side of the wall.

Dust jumped from wall to wall as he magically struck ponies with the baton, almost using it like a boomerang. This continued until he got to the end of the crowd and landed behind them. Spinning around quickly, he slammed his hooves together and fired a vortex of magic that blasted the guards away from him and into the wall. Dust dropped the baton and blasted the metal door down with the last of his magic. Walking inside the dark room, he discovered to his content that it was indeed the control room.

'Now I just have to find the switch to the door.' Dust though, running up to the levers.

He looked around frantically, pressing random buttons and throwing around random files. He was about to throw another file across the room until his very name caught his eye on the file. Being surprised, he opened the file.

Dust Breaker, code name…Desolent.

Age: sixteen.

Family: diseased.

Background: Born in the country of Germania and fled to Equestria. Lived in the outskirts of Los Pegasus in a low-class society before being found guilty of twelve murders. Responsible for nine conformed deaths in prison and possibly responsible for many more. If theories are true, he has committed over 137 murders with his expert knowledge of the dark arts and may have contact with necromantic demons. If these are true, this kid could be the next King Sombra and destroy all of Equestria if he is not stopped while he is still in confinement. We can't let Celestia know about him; otherwise she might try to investigate personally, endangering herself and Equestria.

Solution: I do not believe in forgiveness for ponies like him. He is to be burned at the stake along with his past. Ponies like these can't live among our society and I hope that Celestia will understand my decision one day. May Celestia be with us all…

Dust shook in his place as he frantically flipped through the pages and threw it across the room.

"They wanted to…no…I'm not this pony anymore…"

"So I see that my theory was true after all."

Dust turned around to see the captain, smirking at him with a cruel smile.

"You're a demon, a spawn from the depts itself, and it is my job as captain to see that you don't become a terrorist to our home!"

Dust looked to the side, seeing a large red button. Taking a leap of faith, he pushed the button with all his strength. He looked up with a victorious smile.

"It's finally over…"

The captain laughed almost evilly as he stepped to the side, revealing a switch.

"This is the switch to free everyone…the button you just pressed is a last resort method, in case of an invasion. Which means that at any moment, the barrels filled with fertilizer inside the walls will be lit, sending this island sky high. If that's not enough, the walls are also filled with hydrogen and lots of it. Face it Desolent, you just commented mass genocide with a press of a button, and I'm going to make sure you go down with the ship."

"Don't you dare, CALL ME BY THAT NAME AGAIN!"

Dust screeched to the top of his lungs as he tackled the captain into the wall. Dust swung his hoof to deliver an uppercut to the captain, but the captain swayed to the side, making the angered pony hit the release switch. The captain gave and angered look as he swung at Dust with a curve punch. Dust grabbed the ponies hoof and flung him over the table and into the control. The captain looked up to see Dust grab the release lever and snap it off of its hinge.

"I am not the pony you claim me to be anymore."

"You're only convincing yourself!"

The captain leaped into the air and tackled Dust to the ground. Just as he was about to punch Dust while he was down, he flipped the captain over his head and into a locker. A loud crash was heard behind Dust as he stood to his hooves quickly and jumped over the table. The captain recovered and stood onto his hooves, giving Dust a stare down. The red light flicked in the dark room, covering the two ponies in a dark red tint of light as the alarm continued to buzz in their ears.

"Ponies can change captain, why can't you see this!"

"Mainly because you're trying to escape your sentence."

"I read the files; it said I was imprisoned here by a court decision, not because of an action!"

"That mare had no idea what you were becoming, if she was to see you now, she would want you eradicated."

"That mare, is named Mystic Charade…and she is the closest pony I have to my mother. She gave your men the order to have me out in a caring home, and what do you do? YOU CAST ME INTO THIS PRISON!"

"I WON'T LET YOU DESTROY EQUESTRIA!"

"AND I WON'T LET YOU CONTINUE THIS TORMENT!"

A large explosion was heard behind Dust. Turning around, he witness the entire prison suddenly engulfed in a huge ball of fire.

"Captain, stop this fighting or your own men will be taken in the fire of your own insane plan!" Dust shouted.

"A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO FINALLY STOP YOU'RE REIGN OF TERROR!"

The captain leaped over the table and tackled Dust through the glass window, sending the two falling into the rising inferno. Dust managed to push the captain off of him before he landed onto the floor two stories below. The captain wasn't too fortunate either as he landed right beside him onto the broken glass. The two ponies stood back on their hooves as the raging flames continued to rise. Another explosion was heard, this time knocking out the lights in the prison and giving the two ponies a black color to their coats.

"Fight me, come on, release that hidden power you keep deep inside you." The captain yelled.

"Enough of this; give me the key to free my magic so I can save these men." Dust pleaded.

"You're going to have to take it out of my cold dead hooves!"

The captain gave a wicked smile as he jangled the keys before Dust as if to taunt him.

"Come on Desolent…kill me, take your freedom and prove you are just as wicked as they say."

"Have you become so obsess with this goal that you're willing to waste your life?!"

"If you will not release your power…THEN I WILL!"

The captain leaped forward and punched Dust several times across the face and chest. With a quick spin, he kicked Dust against a cell that was enveloped in fire. The captain ran forward and slammed his elbow into the stallion's stomach forcing him to gasp. Dust saw a faint blur before the captain grabbed his head and kneed him right into his muzzle and thrown to the side. Dust glared up at the captain with a bloody muzzle before he back-flipped into the blazing fire and dense smoke.

"YOU CAN'T RUN FROM YOUR FATE BOY!" The captain screamed insanely, dashing into the fire.

As soon as the captain's vision readjusted, he was punched to the floor and thrown into a table, shattering it to pieces. The captain looked up at the Dust, who was having trouble breathing due to the smoke.

"Stop this madness now!" Dust screamed.

"NOT UNTIL YOU'RE DESTROYED!" The captain shouted, picking up a flaming metal bar.

Dust gazed into the eyes of the pony, only seeing rage and determination to finish him off. A look his father gave him just before he killed his mother…and it tore him apart inside of him. While Dust was being bombarded by the memories of his past, the captain screamed insanely and charged. Dust stood freighted as the captain swung the bar and hit his muzzle, causing blood to spill out from the hit. The captain continued to beat the pony until the last blow hit his horn, sending Dust to the floor in pain. Showing no remorse, the captain slid the bar under Dust's neck, applied his hoof to the back of his head, and lifted. Dust struggled to breathe as his wind pipe was forcibly sealed off from the pressure.

"YOU'RE NOTHING, NOTHING IN THIS WORLD BUT A FAILURE, A THREAT TO OUR WAY OF LIFE! YOU HAD NO MEANING, NO POURPOSE TO OUR WORLD, JUST ANOTHER LOW-CLASS FOOL THAT THOUGH HE COULD ACOMPLISH SOMETHING FROM HIS MISERABLE LIFE! WELL IT'S TIME FOR IT TO END, TIME FOR ME TO PUT AN STOP YOUR DREAM, TO YOUR GOAL, TO YOUR EXISTANCE AND LIFE! JUST AS IT SHOULD HAVE SIX YEARS AGO!"

Dust's vision started to fade as he slowly lost oxygen to his lungs.

"Get up…you're not alone in this." A soft voice said in his ear.

Dust reopened his eyes, knowing exactly who it was.

"This is your chance to prove your father and everypony wrong about you, a chance to finally free yourself of this curse and pain. Together, we will triumph over this evil and free everypony that share our pain and our sorrow."

Salvia appeared as a faint ghost before her son and extended her hoof.

"I might have failed you in life, but I will not make that same mistake in death."

Salvia placed her hoof on Dust's head.

"For I will always be with you…

Dust's fur exploded in a bright white light as the captain suddenly flew off of him. The captain weakly stood back up to see Dust enveloped in his usual dark green magic.

"You have no more control over me." Dust said, as the casing around his horn shattered into pieces.

The captain screamed as he grabbed the bar and charged forward to impale the unicorn. Dust showed no emotion as he extended his hoof toward the captain.

"Your hold over me, is now broken."

Dust shot out a green ball of magic that threw the captain into the wall behind him. The unicorn then stood on his hind hooves and sensed out all the unconscious guards as his eyes glowed white.

"Be free…"

From the outside, it looked like the prison glowed bright white before it exploded violently. To this day, the prisoners have no idea whatever happened to Dust or the others. Buck knew he had survived though, because he knew that a kid with that kind of will and strength would not be so easily defeated…and because the captains keys magically appeared in his pocket.

A few seconds earlier…

"Where the heck is he?" Salvador asked, watching the island intently with binoculars.

Salvador watched in shock as the prison suddenly exploded in a fire and dropped the binoculars he was holding. Reaching to pick them up, he noticed a green hoof pick it up for him.

"How long where you waiting?" Dust asked, smirking.

"You made quite an exit there kid, I'm impressed."

"It…it was fun…"

Dust shut his eyes and collapsed onto the ground, being completely exhausted. Salvador couldn't blame him though, after all, he was still only a kid. That night, Dust was finally happy with where he was. He was free at last, free from pain and anguish, free of sadness and depression. It was a new start to his life…one that he wasn't about to give up.

One day later…

"Well, here we are Dust…Canterlot, the royal capital of Equestria." Salvador declared.

Dust was breath taken by the sight.

"It's…so beautiful."

"This is as far as I can take you on boat because you're going to have to walk all the way up. Good luck out there Dust; you're now a free stallion."

"Thank you…for everything you've done for me."

Salvador nodded before setting sail and taking off. He waved one last time to Dust before he vanished in the dense fog.

"This is a new start Dust; try not to mess this up…

After the climb up the mountain on hoof, young stallion finally reached his destination. Dust couldn't help but wander the streets, admiring the large city and vibrant colors. The ponies where not like the gamblers he meet in Los Pegasus, they were more civilized and wore high-class clothing. The buildings where even taller here than anyplace he had ever seen, making the unicorn seem small and helpless. Everything was just bigger-

"Hey, watch where you're going!" A stuck up pony yelled. "You'll get my suit dirty with your filth."

Even the attitudes…

"I'm sorry sir, but do you know where I can find a map for-

"No, and next time, keep your filth back at home." The pony snapped, cutting of Dust.

The pony stuck his nose up and walked away, but by doing so he bumped into a ladder. Dust watched in amusement as purple paint spilled all over the ponies coat and suit.

"AAhhhhhh! Look at what you made me do you ungrateful pig." He screamed in anger, drawing multiple ponies to the scene.

"That's funny, because all I did was stand here." Dust said, still chuckling.

"You're going to pay for this kid!"

"Calm your horses now, just give me a moment."

The ponies around Dust where amazed when he sucked the paint from the suit and left it sparkling clean. Not wanting the paint to go to waste, he turned to the unfinished house and flung the paint onto it, finishing a job that would have taken hours to complete.

"Well that's new." A pony said astounded.

"Spectacular performance."

"Incredible artisanship."

Compliments flooded Dust Breakers ears, making him feel awkward.

"He must be one of the new students at the gifted unicorn school Celestia build not too long ago."

Dust's ears perked up.

"Excuse me, where is that located exactly." Dust asked, having an awkward smile.

"I thought you would have known with that kind of skill. It's up in the royal castle, where the princess herself stays. Just take-

Dust ran from the scene so fast that it created a dust cloud.

'Finally, after all these years, I can finally fulfill my mother's dream for me. I can finally redeem my family's past and secure its future. I can finally…be somepony.' Dust thought to himself, disappearing deeper into the city.


The young pony gulped loudly as he knocked on the door loudly. A minute later, the door opened, revealing a medium sized, stern looking stallion.

"Can I help you?" The stallion asked, uncaring.

"Uuu-uum, i-is t-this the school for g-gifted unicorns." Dust asked, becoming extremely nervous.

"Yeah, what about it?"

Dust looked up at the stallion as a shiver went down his spin.

'Say something you idiot!' Dust thought. "Do you workout?" He said, with an awkward smile.

Dust mentally face-hooved, leaving the stallion confused and flushed.

"Yeah…but I don't role that way…" He replied, smiling uneasily.

'Great, just great, now he thinks you're gay! Ok, you can still save this, just play it off, keep your cool.' Dust thought. "Oh no, no, I'm not like that…not that your bad looking or anything, it's j-j-just…oh dear celestia, I just made this awkward."

"Look, if you're done joking around I just going to-

"NO WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!" Dust screamed, stopping the pony from closing the door. "C-c-can I-I just…come in."

"Why didn't you just say so?" He asked.

Dust froze in his place, feeling completely stupid.

'Yeah you idiot, why didn't you just ask?!' He thought. "SHUTUP!" Dust screamed.

"Who are you talking to?!" The pony asked.

"Just…just let me in."


"So this is the test room?" Dust asked.

"Yeah, just don't blow up anything. The last that happened, we had to replace the whole room." A mare in uniform informed.

"So, are you going to wish me good luck?"

"Nope." She said, walking away.

"Well you were very helpful!" Dust shouted, sarcastically.

He opened the door slowly, peaking in to see a large room similar to a collage classroom. Three, strict looking ponies sat at a table opposing what looked like a stage while a professor explained what Dust thought was chemistry. He also noticed that the entire room was filled will all kinds of unicorns of different sizes and colors. Slowly and awkwardly, he opened the door and walked in.

"Ummm, hi everypony…*gulp*…I'm here for the testing thing." Dust said as his heart raced.

Everypony in the room dropped what they were doing and stared straight at him as if he had leprosy.

"Who the heck are you?" The professor asked.

"My name is Dust Breaker sir…I was wondering if-

"Don't you know you need an invitation to come here?" A pony asked from the table.

"An invitation?" Dust voice cracked.

He turned to look at the three ponies, getting a better look at them. The pony on the left was a large looking blue stallion with black hair and green eyes. The pony on the right was a smaller looking red stallion with yellow hair and green eyes. Lastly, the pony in the middle was a mare with brown fur with a pure white mane. What was intimidating about her thought was that she had bright red eyes, as if she was staring straight into Dust's soul with her gaze.

"Yes, an invitation, nopony can just show up uninvited. It's important so we can properly set up the testing room. You sort of came in here interrupting class." The mare informed.

"I-im sorry…I didn't know. I though-

"You can come back as soon as you get an invitation. So, where do you live so we can properly mail it to you."

"Where do I live?" Dust asked.

"Yes, your home, where you sleep every night."

"Ummm…I don't have a home." Dust said respectfully.

All the students in the room gradually started to whisper to each other, being intrigued by this strange green pony.

"Well…where do you and your parents stay then?" The mare asked.

"I don't have any parents…they were murdered six years ago."

Everypony gasped.

"So what you're saying is that you have no parents or a place to stay?"

Dust closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

"If…if you don't mind…may you please explain what happened?"

"I would, but for it to make scenes I would have to explain it from the beginning…"

About an hour later…

"Thus, that is why I come before you today. So that I may fulfill my mother's wishes and finally redeem my past from what it once was."

Everypony remained silent.

"So after you're father was murdered by a masked pony, the guard wrongfully sent you to prison?" The mare asked.

"Yes, and it wasn't until several days ago that I was released from my sentence."

"You have quite an…interesting story Dust Breaker. It's a wonder how your even here today." The mare said, still trying to comprehend the story. "Allow me to properly apologies for earlier, I had no idea about the situation."

"So what about the invitation I need."

"We can overlook that can we?" The mare said, smiling. "My name is Radiance by the way, I'm the principle here in the school. The blue stallion is Hoarfrost, the proud. He's the vice principle that works alongside me. Lastly we have Jet burst, the crazy. He's a little pyromaniac when it comes to fire."

"It's nice to meet all of you." Dust said, bowing his head.

"As you all know, Princess Celestia is really the one that overlooks the school, almost like a head master. She schedules and also suggests what the students should learn over the years, making sure everypony falls into place. So, with that said, what are you capable of, Dust?"

"What am I capable of?" He asked, thinking too hard on the question.

"Yes, what can you do?" Radiance informed.

"Like everything I can do?"

"Everything, I think everypony would like to see what you can do."

Dust looked around frantically until his eyes spotted an apple on the desk.

"Hey, are you going to eat that?" He asked, pointing with his hoof at Hoarfrost.

"Yeah, I was just about to-

Dust levitated the apple to him, rubbed in on his chest, and then bit halfway into the apple.

"I said I was going to eat that!" Hoarfrost yelled.

"Hold on, give me a second." Dust said with his mouth full.

Dust spat out four seeds into his hoof before swallowing what was left in his mouth.

"Let's talk metaphors shall we, these seeds come from the fruit that bears life, correct?"

Everypony nodded.

"And the fruit comes from the tree that bears its fruit. Ok well let's expand this metaphor."

Dust levitated a soiled flower pot and set it in front of him for everypony to see.

"Fruit is what gives us ponies' life; it feeds our families and makes our country prosper." Dust said, dropping a seed into the pot. "Well let's say we had one year where this wasn't so."

Using his magic, he grew a small vine from the seed. Within seconds the vine withered and became brown and rotted.

"What would we do, surly we would have the supplies and reserves to continue to feed ourselves correct?"

Everypony gazed at Dust, dumbfounded.

"Of course not, because fruits spoil with time, which will result in disaster for all of Equestria."

Dust used his magic again on the vine, making it sprout one apple.

"So tell me, would we have to resort in eating this?" Dust asked, holding the rotten apple. "Not unless we're desperate for diarrhea."

"So how would we solve the problem?" The professor asked, becoming intrigued.

"Sadly, this problem was impossible to fix…until now."

Dust set the good seeds on the floor before he spit the rotten apple in half with his magic. As he tossed the apple into the trash, he removed two seeds from it.

"As you know a withered tree will produce withered fruit because of its DNA coding."

Ripping the rotten vine from the pot and setting it on fire, he planted one rotten seed into the pot.

"Watch, because no matter what I do, it will always be a rotten tree." Dust said, throwing away the ashes of the rotten vine.

Dust conjured a small rain cloud to water the pot and a small yellow ball to act like the sun. He waited for a minute before removing the cloud and ball from the area and allowed the tree to grow. Sure enough, another rotten vine appeared.

"Even after that, I couldn't get the plant to good fruit by natural means."

"Ummm Dust, may I please ask what spell your using to make the tree grow." Radiance asked.

"The first time was a minor growth spell, the second time I just manipulated the time field around the tree make it age 100 years in only several seconds. Don't get me wrong, I make it seem easy but it really takes a lot out of you."

"Where did you learn this?" The mare asked, amazed.

"From spell tombs. It talked about ancient arts and spells that were common practices back when Princess Luna was around. Some spells even go back to Star Swirl the Bearded.

"Yes but that thing you did with the rotten vine, that was-

"Destruction magic used by elemental ponies back when Discord ruled Equestria. It's a shame that some of their knowledge has vanished due to our peaceful times under Celestia's rule. All I have ever seen is levitation, teleportation, and other alteration magic. I have yet to see illusion or conjuration magic done correctly, much less destruction. I guess it's for the best, can't have everypony trying to practice dangerous spells now can we.

"Thank you, may you please continue."

"Yes…now where was I…oh that's right."

Dust, getting a bit exited, blew up the vine with a magical outburst.

"Sorry about that, just making sure everypony was awake." Dust said, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyways, with these facts established, there would seem like there was no stop to this impending doom, but it doesn't have to be this way. Through our gift of magic, and my discovery, we can stop this tragedy from ever occurring."

Dust took the last bad seed and one good seed and levitated them both in front of him.

"From a distance, there seems to be no difference, but you're wrong. Where the problem resides is in its molecular structure. By taking and recording the DNA of this good seed, we can replicate its DNA to the bad seed, altering it into a good seed."

Dust stood onto his hind-hooves and allowed magic to flow through his hooves for better focus on the seeds. He closed his eyes and allowed the spell to do its work. After about a few seconds, the spell stopped, allowing Dust to put the bad seed into his hooves.

"By literally copying the good seed's molecular structure and altering the bad seed to fit that coding, I can now bring life to a seed that would once be putrid."

Dust slammed the seed into the pot.

"And with this discovery, we as a nation can end the threat of starvation once and for all!"

Dark green magic traveled down the Dust's hoof and flowed into the pot, making it glow. As Dust lifted his hoof from the pot, he put his hooves to the side and raised them into the air. Not a second later, a large tree burst from the pot and touched the ceiling, leaving everypony in shock. Dust then slightly tapped the tree, allowing an apple to fall into his hooves.

"Allow me to join the ranks of this academy, and I promise an end to world hunger, and end to droughts and sickness. An end to all of our fears, pain and many more…and all I ask is that you teach me what you know."

Everypony remained silent until Radiance slowly started to clap her hooves. Soon everypony was clapping and cheering his name, and all Dust could do was weep. Knowing that after so many years, he had finally fulfilled his mothers dream for him and had finally redeemed his family. In fact, it was even the same day he received his cutie mark of ancient magic.

Two years later…

"Dust, can you please explain that one more time…the thing with the hooves." The professor asked.

"I'll explain it one more time. The process is simply changing the output of magic and transferring it to whatever you desire."

Dust levitated a glass jar with his hoof and brought it close to him.

"Magic lies deep within all unicorns, otherwise known as our magic well. By tapping into our magic within ourselves through the process of our horn, we are able to use this gift however we please and bring it out. However, this is not set in stone. Yes, using magic through our horns is, in fact, the easiest and most natural way. But as you can clearly see, there are other possibilities. By focusing my magic to my hooves, I can mimic the use of our horn and even make spells more accurate and focused, even though it takes more effort and training.

In addition to this, I have discovered that magic not only reside in unicorns, but in all living creatures as well. Which means that even earth ponies are capable of using this gift if they are magic sensitive."

"What do you mean by, 'magic sensitive." A student asked.

"Let's take a pegasus for an example. Let's say that this said pegasus was born with a unicorn parent or even has a unicorn in his or her blood line. This would mean that this said pegasus would be magic sensitive and would be capable of using magic if given the training. If the unicorn parent trained and pushed him hard enough, the pegasus would be able to cast magical spells equivalent to a unicorns, but that's not all. They would not only be able to cast spells through their hooves, but through their wings as well, practically putting themselves on the same level as an alicorn!"

The bell rang as everypony ran out of the room like a stamped, leaving Dust and the professor alone.

"Are you coming Dust Breaker?" The professor asked, standing by the door.

"Give me a moment." Dust requested.

The professor nodded before closing the door behind him. Dust, realizing he was alone, walked up to a mirror and gazed at his image. He was a proud, eighteen year old stallion with shoulder length hair. He also admired his black uniform which barred metals and badges of his many accomplishments and achievements he had done over the short two years he had been there. He held the rank of master wizard which was honored at the school and was respected by many ponies in Equestria. Learning from the best teachers and even being able to teach the student, he truly became a master of magic itself.

There was only one last goal he sought out for, one that would be recorded in history for centuries to come, one that would stand above all his achievements and accomplishments forever and truly make her mother proud.

"I must become Celestia's apprentice." He said to himself. "And I have the perfect plan for her to finally accept me…"

"Dust, why are you still here, don't you know that we're going to be testing a new student?" Radiance asked, entering the room.

"NOW?!" Dust almost screamed. "But I'm still working on the cure and you know I can't work under pressure."

"I know Dust, but would you be able to move it another class room?"

"Every class is filled today and my dorm room is a complete mess! I need more time to complete this cure without everypony rushing me, I just…I just…"

"Dust, don't give yourself another anxiety attack!"

Dust took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Now, for old time sakes, may you explain what you're trying to do?" Radiance asked.

"You know how I have strived to get Celestia's attention to become her apprentice?"

The mare nodded.

"You are the only one that knows about it, and the project."

"Why have you not told or asked anypony for help?"

"I want to do this for myself and to prevent any type of sabotage."

"Sabotage?"

"I have overheard Celestia talking about how any attempt to find a cure had been destroyed by some dark force."

"But what is it, what is this virus that you are so obsessed with."

"The virus is known as miasma, the darkest from of magic it can take and the most dangerous. It is capable of brainwashing one's mind, making the infected lose any control of their body and actions. It grants the user unlimited power over black magic and feeds off of anger and fear. It is also the same virus that infected Princess Luna 1000 years ago, turning her into Nightmare Moon."

"So you plan on curing her, how?"

"I have acquired a small dosage of miasma through great sacrifice and sealed it away in a large fiber glass bottle. So far it has just been trial and error, but I am so close to finding the last ingredient to destroy the virus permanently. Once I present this to Celestia and free her sister, she will take me in for sure and restore Equestria to its former glory. I just need more time…

"Dust, there's a family downstairs that are here for the testing and we're still not ready. Would you be able to give them a tour of the school?" A pony T.A said, opening the door.

"DOES NO ONE…*sigh*…fine, but just move my project to a secluded area, and DON'T drop the flask!"

"Yes sir."


"Is that them over there?" Dust asked.

"Yeah, just do what you got to do." A pony behind a counter said before putting a newspaper in front of his face.

Dust coughed loudly, adjusted his robes, and put on a smile as he approached the two ponies, one male and the other female. The stallion was light blue with dark blue hair while the mare was pale white with light purple hair and white hair.

"I take it you're the new student here." Dust said, pointing to the stallion.

"No, that would be-

"Your wife I take it."

"I used to be good, but I'm not the new student either." The mare answered.

"Look, I am a master wizard in this school and I do not have the time to play games with-

Dust's robes were tugged on by a small purple filly, cutting off his ranting. As he looked down, his mood changed from annoyance to confusion.

"She is the new student." The stallion said with pride.

Dust became even more confused.

"Who are you and what do you think this academy is anyways. It's not a playground you know."

"My name is Night Light and this is my wife, Twilight Velvet, and yes. We are fully aware that this school is to be taken seriously, which is why we have an invitation from the school itself."

"Very well, I shall now ask the child some questions." Dust said, looking down at the filly. "What is your name little one."

"My name is Twilight Sparkle sir." The filly said with a grin.

"Twilight Sparkle…"

The name bounced around in his head like a raging wasp.

"That's an interesting name I guess, but how old are you?"

"I'm ten."

"Ten? Wow, joining at such an early age to. In fact, that was the same age I-

Dust was suddenly hit by the painful memory of his mothers passing, forcing him into a thousand yard stare.

"Mister, is something wrong?" Twilight asked, slightly concerned.

"No…nothing is wrong…I just wish I was as fortunate as you." He said, snapping back to reality. "Anyways, if you would please follow me please, I can give you a tour of this wonderful school that Celestia has placed for us."

After forty-five minutes of Dust giving a tour to the three ponies, it finally came to its close.

"This is one of the last things on the tour, and it is a magic scanner."

"Oooo, what's it do?" Twilight asked.

"It looks deep within a unicorn to see how powerful their magic is and also calculates how much potential they have within them. In simple terms, it scans your magic."

"Can I try?" Twilight asked.

"Now, now Twilight. You can't just walk in a room and let this stranger test you know." Night Light said, concerned.

"I'm sure she will be fine. After all, this is Celestia's school." Twilight Velvet encouraged.

"It's also my invention, if anything was to happen, I could stop it with ease." Dust said, almost prideful.

"Who are you again?" Night Light asked.

"Dust Breaker, master wizard."

"Wait, you're the one that cured-

"Mad pony disease, yes that was me. It's what I'm well known for along with other things, but that's soon about to change."

"So…will it hurt?" Twilight asked, changing the subject.

"Don't be silly, all you have to do is stand on that circle over there and allow you're magic to flow through you." Dust said activating the mechanism.

The circle glowed brightly before it died down to a dim white color.

"Now, when you're ready, just step on the circle and do what I instructed you to do."

As Twilight stepped onto the circle, it glowed bright red.

"Now, the lights that will be emitted are based on the color spectrum, red being the weakest or having little to no potential and violent being the strongest or having great potential. It is on red now because you haven't allowed your magic to flow yet, will you please do that now." Dust said, pulling a lever and monitoring the screen.

"Before I do that, what color did you get?" Twilight asked.

Dust chuckled to himself.

"I am the color violet, so that would mean I have great potential and power. Only Celestia has been reported to have bright violet though, but I'm right next to her. Soon, we shall know where you stand in this chart."

Twilight closed her eyes and allowed her magic aura to be displayed for all to see, instantly turning the circles light into a yellowish green color.

"You have some potential I admit, but there is clearly room for improve-

The circle abruptly burst into a bright blue color and then an indigo color, leaving Dust speechless.

"W-w-what's going on?" Dust asked, gazing into the monitor. "Your magical power is…phenomenal, but it's still rising."

The circle's color changed from indigo to violet and then soon to bright violet. Even Twilight's parents were shocked by this display.

"Your…your magical potential is off the charts! It's even higher then…"

Even if Dust didn't look like it, he was becoming frightened and even…paranoid.

'It's higher than mine!' Dust screamed mentally. 'But this is impossible, inconsolable. She's only a child and she could possibly be more powerful then me! AND HER POWER IS STILL GOING UP!'

The circle burst into bright white, making everypony squint their eyes. Eventually, the colors died down as the machine powered off.

"How was that mister, did I do well?" Twilight asked, innocently.

Dust had a look of horror as he gazed into the final status of the monitor.

'It's even higher than the princess! What is she, what is this living nightmare in front of me? Is…is this what my father felt when he wanted me killed for being too powerful? I have worked so hard to become the best, to become Celestia's apprentice, and she just walks in here and makes my power seem childish. It…it has to stop.'

Dust looked to his right and saw a sharp syringe. As he reached for it, he stopped and slammed his hoof back to the floor.

'NO, I won't let myself go back down that path! I have given up mindless murder and I refuse to start again!'

"Is…is everything ok Dust?" Twilight asked, being worried.

"Its…it's just surprising how powerful you are at such an early age." Dust lied. 'Remember, you have more experience and will soon find the cure to miasma, there's no way Celestia can deny you after curing her sister. Even if she is more power than I am, I will have that title!'


"I take it the tour went well?" The T.A asked.

"It was horrible! I felt like everything was about to fall apart!" Dust shouted, being frustrated and approaching the door.

"Was it that bad?"

"No, it's just that this new student could possible take my place!"

"WHAT, how is that-

"Her power…her potential…it's all higher than me and the princess!"

"That's just…weird. Nopony can have that kind of power unless they had a hidden meaning. Do you have any guesses?"

"No, all I care about is finishing that project."

"Ummm, about that."

Dust opened the door to see about fifty ponies in the room, studying for approaching finals. Unfortunately, this was also the same room Dust's project was placed. Acting out of rage, Dust grabbed his T.A and pinned him to the wall.

"I TOLD YOU TO PICK A SECLUDED AREA!" Dust screamed, startling the ponies inside the room.

"T-t-they must have moved in while you were doing the tour, I swear."

Dust released his grip, shaking in his place.

"Do you realize what is at stake here?!" Dust yelled.

"What's gotten into you lately? You're acting like you've seen Nightmare Moon herself."

"I don't care what you think right now, just help me set up and don't screw up!"

Dust and his assistant slowly walked in the room, being eye balled by eveypony in shock.

"Sorry for the interruption everypony, being put in such a high pedestal and expected to do the best can be stressful, especially when lives could be on the line."

Everypony went back to studying but some kept watching the scene from the corner of their eyes. Several minutes passed as Dust and his T.A fumbled around with flasks and ingredients, attempting to get results under the illusion of pressure.

"NO, put that bottle NEXT to the fire, not over it!" Dust yelled.

"Sorry, sorry."

"Ok, hand me the miasma, CAREFULLY!"

Dust lifted the flask gently with magic and set it over a fire. After putting several ingredients in, the black liquid in the bottle started to boil violently, demanding everyponies attention.

"This is the closest I have come to solving this, there just seems to be one thing missing. I know light damages it and that it increases strength in darkness, but what do I have to do to destroy it completely and save those under its spell…"

He reached over and grabbed a random plant and dropped it into the flask. The plant was immediately overtaken by the black smog and practically vanished.

"Nothing as usual, it was just consumed without mercy. Wait, what if I use something poisonous? Do you have any more Belladonna?" Dust asked, looking at his T.A.

"Deadly Nightshade?"

"Yes, just get it."

"But sir, this plant could cause heart failure if-

"Just do it!"

By the time the T.A left and returned the miasma within the bottle had increased twice its size.

"Here it is sir, but please be careful." He said, holding the flower in a protective vase.

"You do you think I am, I'm not a kid anymore you know?"

Dust levitated the vase to him and set it on the table. Removing the plant with his magic, he levitated it above the flask.

"Please, for the love of my mom, please work…"

He released his grip on the plant, allowing it to fall and be consumed by the black smog. The miasma reacted differently than before, almost violently. It did this for several moments before it returned to normal, leaving Dust staring in hopelessness.

"&( &*#!" Dust screamed, slamming his hooves onto the table and causing everypony to look up in fright. "EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER DONE HAS ALWAYS ENDED IN FAILURE!"

"Dust calm down. Some mysteries aren't meant to be revealed until the right time."

"WHY DON'T YOU SHUTUP!" Dust screamed, making everypony shake with fear. "YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT HINDER MY WORK! STOP MY PROGRESS OF CURING THE MOST DEADLY VIRUS THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN AND I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" Dust shouted as dark green aura erupted from his body.

During Dust's venting, the miasma within the bottle was growing at a rapid pace; taking up what little space was left within.

"Dust, the bottle, it's about to-

"IT'S LIKE THE ENTIRE WORLD IS AGAINST ME, FORCING ME TO MESS UP AND FALL RIGHT BACK TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE! WELL I'VE HAD IT, I'VE HAD IT WILL ALL OF YOU AND I QUIT!"

"DUST, BEHIND YOU!"

The angered pony spun around to see that the miasma had completely filled the bottle and was threatening to explode.

"It reacts to emotion…

Dust stayed frozen as he continued to witness the bottle shake violently before him. Seconds later, a large rainbow explosion was seen outside that shook the room like an earthquake. Dust quickly turned to everypony in terror.

"EVERYPONY GET OUT BEFORE-

A purple beam of magic hit the room, sending everything in dismay. Dust and his T.A hit the floor like a rock as shards of glass and debris was shot everywhere. As Dust looked up, he saw that not only had the bottle of miasma hit the floor, but that a huge crack had formed on it. The green pony watched in complete terror as the crack enlarged and the bottle shattered, realizing the virus.

"No…NO!" Dust screamed, standing up.

The miasma cloud flew into the air and expanded due to the terror in the room, allowing it to cover the entire ceiling. Before it had time to escape out into the world through the gaping hole in the wall, Dust teleported in front of the entrance, blocking its path on his hind-hooves.

"SOMEPONY GET HELP NOW!"

Dust shot multiple light beams into the black cloud, making some of it disintegrate from the pure brightness. As he continued to battle the darkness, he caught his T.A standing in fright at the scene.

"RUN YOU FOOL!"

The miasma formed into a narrow tendril like shape and impaled Dust straight into his heart. Dust's coat and hair turned pure black as his eyes burst into a bright green color until all the miasma had disappeared within his body. Dust turned to face the outside world as his coat and hair returned to normal. He finally saw where the purple blast had come from and stared in disbelief. What he saw was Celestia anointing Twilight into the academy as her student; saw his life work destroyed before him with one simple act. It was an image that would burn forever into his mind.

"I will make you pay for this…Twilight Sparkle."

Dust lost all connections with his body as the miasma overtook his mind and forced him to fall out of the window. Before he hit the ground that would have ended his life, he vanished in a burst of black aura, never to be seen for several years…

Eight years pass…

"Big Brother, what's going on?" Twilight asked, being worried.

"Say in bed Twily, this doesn't concern you." Shining armor ordered.

"Lieutenant, we need you on deck now!" A pegasus captain shouted.

"Brother, please tell-

"Do as I say, it's for your own good."

The two guards ran outside and slammed the door. Twilight, being curious, opened the window to her room. To her horror, she saw that the entire city of Canterlot was engulfed in fire and black smoke. Within a split second, she saw a large green and black ball fly across the sky and explode as it hit the ground, sending her flying back against the wall.

"Doesn't concern me huh!" Twilight yelled as she grabbed what she could and ran out of her room.

As she ran down the hall, she could see large gaping holes in the wall along with multiple panicked and wounded guards. She skid to a stop at one of the guards who looked like he was covered in black tar.

"What happened to you?" Twilight asked.

"One pony…one demand…to powerful…" The guard whispered, going into unconsciousness.

She turned to see three more guards, shivering in their place.

"Tell me, has Nightmare Moon returned?"

The ponies continued to shake in their place, as if they were lost in their own little world.

This has to stop…where can I find the princess?" Twilight asked, pulling an active guard aside.

"She's gone, nopony knows where to but she's gone I tell you! There's…there's nowhere to hide, we're all done for…WE'RE ALL DONE FOR!" The guard screamed, running away.

"With or without the princess, I'm going to stop this."

"Not without me you're not!" Spike shouted, coming around the corner.

"No Spike, this is way more dangerous than anything I have ever seen. You can't come."

The building shook as another blast landed somewhere in the city, only closer this time.

"You're going to need me out there, and I'm not taking no for an answer."


"FALL BACK!" A guard screamed, turning to his squad.

Without warning, a dark green unicorn leaped over the barricade of furniture and landed in front of the guard. Giving no second though, he smashed the guards head into the cobbled stoned street and broke the pony's neck. Looking at the other guards, the pony dashed at them in a green and black aura. The guards recoiled in fear as he smashed his hooves though their armor and tossed them aside like ragdolls. Some of the guards even heard the sounds of bones cracking and flesh ripping when he would land a blow, making them even more intimidated.

"REMAIN TRUE TO THE PRINCESS AND FIGHT THIS MONSTER BACK!" A commanding officer shouted.

"FIRE!"

Over a hundred unicorns fired magic at the green pony, only for it all to be compressed into one ball in his hooves.

"TELL ME WHERE TWILIGHT IS, AND MAYBE I WONT EXTERMINATE ALL OF YOU!"

"Under what authority!"

"Desolent, the messenger of death and destruction!"

"We're not going to tell you a darn thing." The commander stated, fearlessly.

Desolent chuckled as he pointed the ball at the guards.

"I'll be sure to send your entire family with you."

Desolent threw the ball and laughed as he heard hundreds of screaming ponies suddenly vanish from view. The ball continued until it exploded a mile away, taking several building with him. As more guards approached to stop him, he grabbed the dust of their fallen allies and threw it into their eyes. He then casted a spell into the ground that shattered the ground beneath them, making guards fly everywhere. Without a designated location to go, he continued to shoot dark green energy balls into random buildings, destroying everything insight until it was all rubble.

He flew into the air and gazed at the sight before he extended his hooves down to the city and rained down energy balls from the sky.

"THERE'S NOWHERE TO RUN TWILIGHT! SOON EVERYTHING YOU LOVE WILL BE A PILE OF ASH BEFORE YOUR HOOVES!"

While Desolent was distracted, a pegasus guards flew in and knocked him out of the sky. The two crashed into the street and skid across it until Desolent grabbed his neck and flipped him into a building. To the corner of his eye, he caught two distinct ponies that made him smile wickedly on the inside.


"You two need to come with me now!" A guard demanded.

"Where's my son and daughter!" Night Light yelled.

"They're safe at the moment, but you need to leave now or-

The guard's eyes dilated before his head jerked back, snapping his neck. Night Light stepped back in fear as Desolent appeared at the door.

"You're her father, so tell me where Twilight is." Desolent ordered.

"Wait…you're that unicorn that-

"Not anymore because Dust Breaker died the day your daughter stole his dreams from him, but I have another goal. I'm going to destroy everything she loved and worked for just like she did to me, starting with you."

"Night Light, what's going…on." Twilight Velvet attempted to say, dropping her bag.

Desolent smirked as he raised his hoof and blasted the entire house away with one blast, leaving the three ponies standing on a wooden floor. Desolent then teleported behind Velvet and grabbed her around the neck.

"Tell me, or I will do the same thing to her like I did with the guard."

"Don't do it." Velvet pleaded.

"You're sick minded Dust, thinking you can just walk in here and threaten me and family!"

"Watch me!" Desolent yelled, tightening his grip.

Velvet's face started to turn blue as she gasped for air.

"LET HER GO!" Night Light ordered.

"And what are you going to do if I don't?" He asked, suffocating the mare even more. "Time is running out…"

As Night Light ran forward to tackle the green unicorn, Desolent threw the mare forward into Night Light's face. The two had no time to react as they were suddenly blasted back by a large magical ball that sent them rolling into the streets.

"Do you still want to resist, you foolish ponies!" Desolent yelled, walking out of the destroyed house slowly.

"Do what you want to me, but leave my family alone!" Night Light shouted.

"I'm not after you idiot, but if I have to make you suffer to get what I want then so be it!"

Desolent dragged the Twilight's mother towards him with his magic and sat her up to face him. Without any sighs of remorse, he put his hoof into her face and conjured a black ball.

"Let's see you be so stubborn after I turn your wife into a pile of ash!"

At that same moment, Shinning Armor tackled Desolent to the ground, making him fire the black ball into another building.

"For crimes against Princess Celestia and her ponies, you are-

Desolent grabbed Shinning's throat, shutting him up before he threw him into a dumpster.

"Shinning!" Velvet cried.

"So he has significance to you then…perfect." Desolent said, smirking.

He took two steps towards Shinning's location before he was grabbed from behind.

"Where do you think you're going?!" The captain said, struggling.

"It depends on what you believe in solider…"

Desolent burst into a black cloud of smoke and reformed behind the captain. As the pony turned around, he was instantly impaled through the heart with a black spike from Desolent's hoof. Shinning rolled out of the dumpster to see the captain lifted off of the ground and then thrown into a nearby wall.

"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS!" Shinning yelled, standing on all fours.

"Try it you weakling!" Desolent laughed.

Shinning charged forward and punched Desolent across the face, spilling some of his blood from his jaw. Without holding back, he delivered several blows to his stomach and chest before her blasted Desolent through a large steel building and onto the street. The green pony became enraged as Shinning appeared before him and bucked him with full force. Desolent managed to block it and grab Shinning by his hind-legs, twisting him onto his back. Leaping into the air, Desolent slammed his hoof into Shinning's chest with a loud crash that caused the earth beneath the two to shatter.

Shinning screamed in pain due to most of his ribs being shattered in one blow.

"I'll make the pain go away, hahahahaha!" Desolent laughed, extending his hoof to the wounded unicorn.

"ENOUGH!" A voice shouted behind him.

Desolent turned to see Twilight standing before him in a fighting stance.

"So the coward has finally decided to show herself."

"The only coward here is you." Spike said, wearing what looked to be armor made out of pillows and fluff.

"What in Sithis name are you?"

"TWILIGHT, RUN!" Shinning screamed.

Desolent, becoming annoyed, levitated Twilight's brother and tossed him into a pile of rubble.

"Shinning…" Twilight whispered. "What do you want from us?!" She demanded.

"I want you destroyed for what you did to me! I want to prove to Celestia that you don't deserve the title of apprentice, prove that you have no knowledge of the arcane arts!"

"What happened to you Dust…what turned you into this?"

"The day you sabotaged my work is the day Dust died! I became the ultimate weapon and tool of destruction, but it wasn't enough. I found the forbidden book of the Necronomicon and learned what nopony else before me could ever dream of! Not even Celestia can stop me now!"

"The Necronomicon! ARE YOU INSANE, THAT BOOK WILL CORRUPT YOUR MIND AND USE YOU TO IT'S WILL!"

"NOTHING CAN CONTROL ME NOW! FOR I HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED ALL MY LIFE, AND I WONT BE A SLAVE TO IT ANYMORE! PREPARE YOURSELF TWILIGHT, FOR THE ULTIMATE DUEL OF YOUR LIFE!"

Desolent stood onto his hind-hooves and screamed to the heavens. A black and green light exploded from his body that shot into the clouds, separating the sky with his shear power. The ground shook and the building quivered as his aura increased in size. With one final roar, his aura exploded in a terrifying display of light, leaving a dark green pony glowing with black aura.

"Witness the power of darkness."

Desolent teleported in front of Twilight, pulling back his hoof to slam her into the ground. Twilight's eyes dilated as she leaped to the right, barely avoiding the unicorns hoof as it collided with the ground. She was knocked off balance when the ground collapsed below her, sending her into a ditch. Spike, on the other hoof, landed roughly on the sidewalk but emerged unharmed due to his "armor."

"Twilight, what the heck is this thing!" Spike yelled.

"Get out of her Spike!" Twilight ordered.

"NONE WILL SURVIVE THE GREAT PURGE OF DESTRUCTION!" Desolent shouted, leaping into the air.

The sky dimmed for a moment as the unicorn summoned a green ball into his hooves and fired it at Twilight. The frightened purple pony scrambled to her hooves and leaped out of the ditch just before the ball collided into the ground. Even though she avoided the ball itself, the blast sent her through a building.

"HA, you still can't even teleport can you?! What have you been doing for the past eight years, reading books?!"

Twilight pushed a large wooden plank off of her before panting hard on the ground.

"Well somepony has to, I mean, who else is going to read all those dictionaries."

"Is this support to be the ultimate unicorn who has more power than me and Celestia combined! Ha, I had nothing to worry about."

Desolent appeared before Twilight, grabbed her horn with his hoof and kneed her directly in the face. He then spun around and side kicked her into the broken street surrounded by burning buildings and black smoke.

"You're pathetic Twilight, you don't even know how to defend yourself!"

As Desolent approached, Twilight rapidly started to chuck random objects at the pony, only for him to shatter them into pieces with his hoof.

"All you know is talking, run, and levitation. No illusion, no conjuration, no destruction, no fighting techniques, no nothing! Just a waste of space that Celestia apparently finds useful!"

Desolent then shot Twilight with dark green blast from his horn, sending her skidding across the street.

"WHAT MAKES YOU SO DIFFERENT FROM ME TWILIGHT! WHY WERE YOU BLESSED WITH THE GIFT OF ACCEPTANCE WHILE I LIVED A LIFE OF REJECTION AND TORMENT! WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE THE TITLE OF APPRENTICE WHEN I HAD TO WORK MY ENTIRE LIFE JUST TO LIFE ANOTHER DAY! WHY…WHY, WHY, WHY, WHYYYYYYYY!"

Twilight took this opportunity to blast a magical beam into Desolent's face, forcing him to step back and cover his face in pain. Taking his hoof away from his face, Twilight could see a large scorch mark on the right side of his mussel. Twitching in anger, Desolent pulled Twilight forward with his magic and punched her straight into the ground. Hearing a scream of pain, Desolent laughed, putting his hoof over her head and applying pressure.

"You're a waste of time and effort little pony, and it's time to parish from this world."

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Spike shouted, jumping on the ponies back.

Spike grabbed Desolent's long mane and yanked with all his strength. In addition to this, he aligned his tail and jabbed the ponies back multiple times, forcing him off of Twilight. Spike did everything in his power to distract the pony before he was bucked off.

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU, DIGUSTING LIZARD!" Desolent yelled, firing a black and green beam at spike with his hoof.

"OH SNAP!" Spike yelped, hitting the floor just before the beam hit his head.

When the energy blast exploded behind him, he flew forward like a lit bottle rocket and hit his head on a brick house, knocking him out.

"SPIKE!" Twilight screamed, almost becoming enraged.

"Thus ends the miserable life of a baby dragon!" Desolent declared, firing a large energy wave at Spike.

Twilight watched in total shock as the wave hit and exploded, leaving nothing but a large crater and smoke. Twilight shook in anger and terror as tears flowed down her mussel.

"Soon, there will be nothing left for you to life for…and I will laugh over your grave."

Desolent charged a black ball and pointed it at Twilight.

"NOW DIEEEEE!"

As Desolent shot the ball, Twilights eyes burst into a pure white as bright lavender aura erupted from her body. Twilight easily slapped the black ball away and fired a large beam of magic at Desolent, sending him flying through several obstacles. As Desolent skid to a stop, he got up and gazed at Twilight with pure murderous intent.

"I'LL COVER THIS ENTIRE PLANT IN YOUR BLOOD!"

The enraged pony slammed his hoof into the ground as he fired a huge blast of green magic at Twilight. The purple unicorn's horn glowed bright lavender as she fired a magical wave of her own, causing a huge clash of magic that blew away anything left in the proximity. Both ponies struggled to keep their ground as they exerted all of their magical power into one specific point.

"I refuse to lose to a weakling like you!"

"You have murdered thousands of innocents Desolent, and I won't let it continue anymore!" Twilight proclaimed boldly.

"I want to see…you…TRY!" Desolent screamed, exerting more power.

Twilight started to lose ground as Desolent continued to use all of what was left of his power. If this wasn't bad enough, the sky started to streak with lightning as the earth trembled beneath the two unicorns.

"Now everypony will witness the fall Canterlot…starting with you!"

"I won't let you get away with this anymore!" Twilight yelled, losing power.

"It has already begun. Even if I am defeated here today, the world will fall under my power and I will rise above the destruction as their new ruler!"

"Dust Breaker, I know you're still in there somewhere! Please, I can save you from your curse; I can heal the pain that has been done to you!"

"This curse has given me the ultimate power! A curse that you gave me all those years ago!" Desolent said, pointing his hooves at Twilight. "NOW DIE WITH YOUR KINGDOM!"

Twilight lost all of her power just as Desolent threw a green and black to finish her off forever, and all Twilight could do was accept her fate…until something got in her way. The ball did indeed explode, but she was somehow saved by what looked to be a celestial being.

"You have gone too far Dust Breaker!" Celestia shouted in her royal canterlot voice. "All this destruction stops here!"

"Ah, so the princess has finally revealed herself at the last minute no less." Desolent laughed. "Now you to will feel the power of darkness just like your little sister did a thousand years ago!"

Desolent conjured a huge pure black ball of darkness into both his hooves and pointed it at Celestia.

"I'm sorry I let this happen to you Dust…I hope one day you can be saved." Celestia whispered, flaring out her wings and glowing pure white. "But until that day…LEAVE MY PONIES ALONE!"

Desolent launched the darkness bomb while Celestia's eyes glowed pure white, releasing a blinding beam of solar light from her body. The two powers collided for only a mere second before the celestial power shattered through the darkness and collided with Desolent. The dark green pony screamed in terror as his entire body was enveloped in bright white light.

"I SHALL HAVE MY REVEEEENNNGEEE!" Desolent screeched as he was encased in a crystal prison and sent into a bright white portal.

Celestia's eyes returned to normal as she sighed in relief.

"Twilight, are you ok?"

Twilight could do nothing but hug Celestia and cry into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…I failed you and my family…" Twilight said, losing consciousness.

"No Twilight, you saved all of Canterlot today. The whole city owes you their thanks."

Celestia looked to her right to see Shinning Armor carrying Spike on his back, but severely wounded. Followed by him was Twilights parents, helping their limping son walk to Celestia.

"Shinning, you have done a great service today, and so have the rest of you. Where is your captain Shinning?"

"He fell in combat princess, trying to save my life…"

"It's not your fault, what he did was the ultimate sacrifice, and he would have wanted somepony to take his place."

"Do you mean…"

"Yes Shinning, I hear by promote you to captain of the royal guard, bear this title with honor."

"T-t-thank you." Shinnning stuttered.

"We have all lost something today, and it is our job to look to a brighter future and make sure this never happens again."

Celestia took Twilight's family under her wings and teleported in a bright flash of magic. Desolent, on the other hoof, would spend the next five years in the crystal caverns. He was freed during the Changeling invasion due to sensing Twilights presence and power. Once he found his way out, he waited patiently for almost a year to strike back at Twilight until Dark Fire took the throne, ruining his plans of world destruction. Desolent is now at the age of thirty-two and his story still continues, but one thing remains clear. He will get revenge on Twilight if it's the last think he will ever do…

and going...and going...and going...and going...and going...and going...and going...and going...and going...