Note:
Sorry for no new chapters recently. I just needed a little break from writing new chapters. I was getting worried that my writing was becoming less detailed. So, I decided to give myself a rest, so for when I come back, my writing is the best it can be.
As Sabre released the chain, it created a really awful screeching sound, along with a terrible roar.
"Okay, there. I removed one of your chains," Said Sabre.
"Good..." The Unnamed responded.
"Now, remove another..."
"You said that I only needed to remove one, and you'll help me," Sabre responded back, getting slightly annoyed. After all, he did what the armour requested him, and now it's asking for all their chains to be removed.
"I can do more than just help... remove the chains Sabre..."
"I- What if I just remove one? One more?" Sabre compromised with another offer.
"Fine... DO it!" The Unnamed replied, sounding very annoyed.
"Okay-" As Sabre walks to the chain attached to it's right leg, he gets teleported somewhere.
Sabre looks at his new surroundings, and he knew he is definitely no longer where the armour is, not even in that reality. He is back in the reality Twilight and that are from.
"What... in the name of... sanity?" The sky is all sorts of dark colours, different shades of purple and blue, all wavey and different shapes. He can also see a few different islands, with these weird things he thought are trees, a form of cyan blue as the bark and a dark pink colour as the leaves. Another island, its surface is just lava, with some pouring off the edge, flowing down, endlessly. He looks at the island he is on, a somewhat normal looking island, green grass, a tree and white fencing. But what Sabre picked out of everything the most, is a house, with violet pink colouring, with a yellow door. The colour of the roof is also yellow. Sabre's first instinct, to knock on the door, which he does.
"Hello!? Anybody there!? I was in the middle of someth-" The door opens, and it is the being that he could spot out of a crowd of ponies for miles, as he is not a pony.
"Wait- Discord!? Dude! I was in the middle of something! I must go back!" Sabre exclaimed. He tries to teleport back to that cave, where the Unnamed is, the armour. However, Discord isn't allowing him.
"Thankfully he don't know how to use Madness Steve's abilities," Discord said to himself inside his head.
"Sabre. Come in," Discord instructed.
"Okay- But really, I was in the middle of something man, okay- What is all of this- WOAH!" As soon as Sabre stepped inside the house, he immediately went upside down. On the floor... well, ceiling, is made of these massive tiles that are light purple with a little bit of blue. There is also a volcano.
"This place... it's uh- It's chaotic, to say the least. Almost kinda remotely reminds me of Hypno," Said Sabre.
"Well oh ho, I am a creature of chaos after all-" Discord notices Sabre walking over to one of the 2 stairs that led nowhere, the one that is just straight ahead as you walk in. Sabre notices a picture on the wall, which he takes a closer look. It is a picture of Discord and Fluttershy, close up, with Discord holding up 2 of his fingers on his lion paw.
"What are you looking at?" Discord asked, the pitch in his voice being slightly higher than usual.
"This picture here, of you and Fluttershy. This picture, it's- It's really nice. Even though you two are so different, you two are still close friends, and that's what matters, right," Sabre responded. Discord nodded.
"Oh, yes. Most say me and Fluttershy don't make sense, because we're so different oh ho. But, she makes sense to me, and I make sense to her-"
"However though, I was in the middle of something. The Unnamed, he said he could. All I need to do is remove the chains, and then he can help," Sabre interrupted.
"Ah yes, that armour. So it's called the Unnamed? Interesting," Discord responded, stroking his beard with his right hand as he said 'interesting'.
"Yeah, and why did you take me-"
"It's just- I didn't want you to make a vaguely similar mistake I made. That's why I took you out of there," Discord spoke with hesitance in his voice.
"Huh? But the Unnamed, he said he could help. I don't get it. What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure if the girls have brought it up, but I wasn't always good. There was a time where I was... evil," Discord admitted, shame being very noticeable in the tone of his voice.
"Huh- Wait, so... you was once... evil!? Why- Well, you appear to be good, so you must've changed from who you were," Sabre responded, now very intrigued by what Discord said.
"I have been around a lot longer than everypony in Equestria. Now, let me show you the biggest mistake I ever made, and you'll understand," Discord replied, snapping the fingers on his eagle claw, now giving a projection of the past in Sabre's mind.
"Now, just watch closely. Just incase you don't know, this is just a projection. Anypony you see won't see you," Discord stated.
"Okay," Sabre responded as he began paying attention to everything Discord is showing him. The setting is on the very edges of Ponyville. He sees all but one of the mane 6. Twilight isn't there. However, he notices Spike is there. He sees Rainbow Dash hovering close by, as she usually always hovers. Sabre has very rarely seen Rainbow Dash walk on her hooves instead of hovering.
(The projection)
"I'm sure Discord will catch Tirek, and this will all be over soon," Said Fluttershy.
"I bet he will take his sweet time," Rainbow Dash responded.
"Well perhaps these things just take time," A voice responded. Sabre notices everypony as well as Spike have a shocked expression on their face. He looks at where they are looking, and he sees Discord.
"You're back!" Fluttershy exclaimed, making a bolt for it, extending her forehooves out, and clings them around Discord's body. Discord gently puts his arms around her before both let go. Sabre could see in their eyes alone how happy they were to see each other. Both were smiling, and making eye contact.
"Did you bring the cucumber sandwiches?"
"I did," Discord replied as he held out his eagle hand and a plate of cucumber sandwiches appeared out of nowhere, and holds the plate in both hands infront of Fluttershy.
"Aw, that's sweet-" Sabre spoke well too soon. The scene very quickly turned.
"I imagine though they'll be your last decent meal for quite some time," Discord added as his voice got deeper, and tossed the plate down to the ground, the plate shattering, and the sandwiches being all ruined. All of a sudden, he notices a cage appeared around everypony, taking them by shock and surprise, especially Fluttershy. Sabre could only feel complete anger build up in him. The only thing that kept Sabre from literally yelling at Discord out of blind anger, is that this is the past. He knew Discord had changed, but Sabre couldn't help but feel so angry at Discord by this. He heard the 5 of the mane 6 and Spike yelling, apart from Fluttershy. This caught his attention. He notice her beginning to sob, and tears coming out here eyes, the feeling of being betrayed, something Sabre had experienced before, and recently too. Shadow Sabre betrayed him just after he fought Void Steve. But this was different. He and Shadow Sabre, they are the same, they are one, just on opposite sides on the spectrum of light and dark. Discord and Fluttershy aren't like Sabre and Shadow Sabre, they are very close friends. But Sabre couldn't help but have sympathy for Fluttershy, and resentment for Discord. Sabre then sees a massive 4 legged being come along, at least 3 or 4 times the height he is, but this big being, just dwarfed the ponies in size. It even made Discord look small. Sabre at first thought it was a minotaur of sorts, except it's more the other way round, the human half being the top and the bull being the bottom half. He had a silver beard and tail, and grey gigantic hooves. The black legs are large as small tree stumps, and had the black body is the length of a good 4 blocks or so at least. His chest is also black, as well as its neck. It had gigantic red arms, and had silver wrists. Its face is also red, and had very large, dark grey horns. Sabre very quickly realizes that this being wasn't a minotaur, it just had too many differences to one.
"Who... is THAT?" Sabre wondered as he gasped at the sheer size of this being.
"You gathered up all of them?" He asked.
"And her little dragon too," Discord sniggered in his reply as he got low to the ground near Spike, who tried to bite his fingers, but didn't manage to. Discord got back up and looked back at this gigantic being. Sabre then hears Fluttershy speaking, which catches his attention almost immediately.
"Why are you doing this!? I thought we were friends!" Sabre hears Fluttershy crying, and notices Applejack had her forehooves around her. Applejack starred blankly at Discord, frowning, almost like it was a death stare.
"Oh, we were, but Tirek offered me so much more than just tea parties. Surely you saw this coming?" Discord replied.
"Wait... that's Tirek- Wait, Twilight spoke of him, in the world beyond. So... that's him, huh? Okay- Wait, tea parties? Maybe this Tirek guy tricked Discord? I don't know, maybe that's why he betrayed everypony, because- Wait a minute, what if Tirek said to Discord he could help with something, just like the Unnamed had said to me he could help me, and the Unnamed is tricking me, like Tirek tricked Discord- I don't know, it's too early to tell," Sabre thought to himself. To Sabre, this has to be the reason Discord is showing this.
"I didn't! I really didn't!" Fluttershy murmured, barely able to get her words out, so hurt from being betrayed like this. Sabre notices a yellow ball of energy of sorts appear between Tirek's horns, and a yellow aura appears around the cage, and lifts it up. Tirek opens his mouth, and begins absorbing something out of everypony in the cage, their magic. Sabre also notices Discord looked away from the cage. He could tell that Discord had some guilt in betraying them. Sabre notices Tirek grew even bigger, that yellow aura around him.
"You think she'd do anything for them?" Tirek questioned Discord. Sabre guessed that Tirek was talking about Twilight, as she wasn't there in this projection.
"If Twilight has magic to give, it will be yours," Discord replied has he somewhat did a bow to Tirek. He then straightens himself back up.
"Soon, there won't be a pegasus, earth pony or unicorn who will be able to stand up against us-"
"Us?" Tirek replied. Sabre sees Discord's face, and that he was shocked by that response.
"Oh, yep. Tirek is going to betray Discord- Oh, yep, there it is. To be honest though, he kinda deserved it there," Sabre thought to himself, as he sees that yellow glowing ball of energy between his horns, which quickly turned orange.
"Who said anything about us?"
"You did," Discord replied. The yellow aura now appeared around Discord. And Tirek began to continue speaking
"You helped me grow strong. You provided the means by which I can obtain princess Twilight's magic! And now, you are no longer of any use to me." Tirek opened his mouth, and starts absorbing Discord's magic, and he grew nothing but larger. He then drops Discord down onto the ground, who now looked very weak.
"But... you said this is a sign of your gratitude and loyalty... a gift from someone close to you..." Discord spoke with a very different tone, a weak, quieter tone
"Of my brother who betrayed me. It is as worthless as he is," Tirek responded as he walked off, and the projection in Sabre's mind, soon stopped.
Sabre now sees that he is back at inside Discord's house, still upside down.
"So uh... Tirek, he tricked you, didn't he?" Is the first question Sabre asked. Discord nodded.
"He asked me to help him, and in return, he would repay me with something far greater than friendship. But, I quickly realized... nothing is greater than friendship. I learnt that the hard way. Friendship is the best thing you can have in life," Discord sighed. When Discord said that Tirek asked him to 'help him', Sabre thought back at when the Unnamed asked to help him.
"You must help ME first..."
"All you need to do... is help me just a little bit..."
"I can help... I can help you... meet me..."
"I can do more than just help..."
Sabre thought about this for a second. Discord could really be trying to stop him from making the same mistake he did.
"Wait, how long ago was that? I remember Twilight briefly mentioning Tirek, but she also mentioned two others. Chrysalis and Cozy Glow. Who were they? She said that they became a problem as well as him," Sabre asked.
"That... well... that was just before she became ruler. I wanted the best for her. I wanted to prepare her for absolutely anything. So, I united them three and of course it backfired! I just wanted to make Twilight expect the unexpected, but I made everything worse!" Discord responded, sounding somewhat defensive in his voice, but he was just frustrated with himself, especially when he thinks back to it. He looks away from Sabre, and looks at the picture Sabre was looking at earlier.
"But, Twilight and her friends, they defeated them, right?" Sabre responded. Discord nodded.
"So, in a way, although it backfired, they still won, and it did give them experience- Although it was the wrong way, you wanted the best for them. It's... it- It's... not always what you do, it's the meaning behind what you do is what matters. I can tell you this better than anyone," Sabre continued. Discord turns around face towards Sabre again in response.
"Fluttershy taught me the true value of friendship. Since my reform, everypony else had grudges against me, for which I can't blame them. But Fluttershy, she held no grudges. Even after that situation with Tirek, she forgave me. Ultimately, she was the main reason for my reform. That's why I care about Fluttershy the most out of everypony, Sabre. She was the first real friend I ever had, somepony I could talk to," Discord sighed, a picture out of nowhere appearing in his hand, with him and Fluttershy. He looks at it, and breathes deeply, with his eyes briefly shut.
"That's why you two are so close, huh? Fluttershy showed you the light, and for that, you have her close to you so dearly. But, what does any of this have to do with the Unnamed?" Sabre asked.
"With Tirek, I didn't know what I was getting into. You most likely don't know what you're getting into with that set of armour you call the Unnamed. Do you get where I'm going with this?" Discord replied.
"Maybe you're right, I may of been about to make a mistake, because I was in the heat of the moment," Sabre spoke as he turns away briefly before turning back to face Discord.
"But, you stopped me. I appreciate it. I won't do it again. I get why you pulled me out of the cave, away from the Unnamed. You didn't want me to make the same mistakes you did. Thank you, Discord, for being honest with me."
"And I thank you for being understanding Sabre," Discord responded.
"It's just that... it was the only solution I could think of. Madness Steve, he appears to be back, both steves and ponies are in danger. I already seen two steves, and a unicorn be destroyed, surrounded by fire and everything. It was a mess," Sabre explained.
"You have very good relations with those steves Sabre. I didn't want you to ruin those relations by making similar mistakes to me," Discord responded
"Thank you, Discord. You stopped me from unchaining something I had no idea what it was about, and maybe I was being tricked, like Tirek tricked you. So, thank you for stopping me. Luckily, I only got one off. Also, can you send me, where... well, Fluttershy is? I must check with her as well as her friends. Light is probably going around and checking all the kingdoms. So, the best I can do at the moment is help everypony in Equestria," Sabre asked.
"Of course Sabre," Discord replied as he snapped his fingers, and teleports Sabre.
Sabre isn't anywhere. The entire background is pitch black. He is in the darkness. He didn't intend to go there. So that meant one thing.
"Hello Sabre, we meet yet again," A voice came from behind him.
"Shadow?" Sabre turns around, and sees Shadow Sabre.
"What do you want? Enough is going on as it is."
"I can help you. I know of Madness Steve," Shadow Sabre replied.
"I don't believe you one bit, Shadow. You're trying to trick me, so I make you real again. I won't let it happen Shadow. You have lost, deal with it. As long as I'm in control of the sword, my will overrides yours, and my will, is for you to never be real ever again," Sabre responded as he looks away from his shadow.
"Also, how aren't you corrupted- I mean, the sword, that's corrupted by the essence. But you, you look... well, you. Why aren't you affected?" Sabre questioned his shadow.
"Had the essence corrupted me, it would've in turn corrupted you as well. We, are one. I, am you," Shadow Sabre casually replied.
"No we aren't, and we never will. Why aren't you affected?" Sabre repeated the question.
"Remember what I am. I am darkness. The essence became one with the darkness. The essence became one with nothing. The darkness is the thing stopping Madness Steve from corrupting you. The darkness could be used to uncorrupt those that are corrupted, and make them your own. Claim them... as your own," Shadow Sabre replied.
"You very clearly haven't changed, have you? You're still the same monster you were. Trying to get to me, and abuse my power. I'm not going to let you get to me Shadow. I've been dealing with much worse things than you right now-"
"Sure sure sure, say what you want. But, what I said about the darkness though, it was me genuinely trying to help you. The darkness could be used to uncorrupt those that are corrupted by his essence. Do you want to see Derpy again? I know you care about her," Shadow Sabre interrupted.
"Of course I want Derpy back, Shadow. But, I can't just use the darkness. If I do, she'd then be corrupted by darkness. All she wanted to do was help, and Madness forced her into being a monster, against her will. But the darkness isn't that answer Shadow! What if I corrupt her even more, huh!? I don't even know if I can control that-"
"That won't be too hard, to control. It's... it's pretty simple, if you ask us," Shadow Sabre interrupted.
"Wait, us!? What do you mean by us!?" Sabre exclaimed.
"Want to know how the sword got extra darkness? Look to the right of you," Shadow Sabre replied. Sabre looks to the right, and sees someone, somepony to be exact.
"Wait, it can't be- Pony of Shadows, is that you?" Sabre gasped, starring at a black pony, twice Sabre's height, that has a dark grey horn, mane and tail. It's white eyes grew wider, and it's mouth began to grin, more and more.