MLP: Darkness Rising
Chapter 15 - A Rushed Reunion, Part 2
Disclaimer: Hasbro/DHX are the rightful owners of this franchise. I just own this story, any OCs, etc. and the character "Stardust Balance" was created by the Warrior of Twilight.
Author's Note: Most of the following and previous chapter take place in the third chapter of "A Journey Beyond Sanity: The Movie" by the Warrior of Twilight. These are pretty much 'extended' scenes to add to what he's already published, so please drop by his story to know more if any of what I write leaves you confused. Now, on with the story!
P.S. I apologise for any obvious pacing issues; an unplanned hiatus and unexpected events happening in my personal life was the cause of that.
"Hey, um… I'm going to give this to Stardust. Did you want to… okay."
The silent expression that rested upon Casey's face was enough for Beck to not bother finishing with the question, and as the reformed stallion began heading in the direction of the library, Casey simply walked until he was able to locate an unoccupied guest room. Once the young pony closed the door behind him, he made his way over to the mirror that was placed alongside the wall, and let out a deep sigh.
"I have… no idea what to… I mean, seeing him just makes me to take this hoof and stick-"
All right, take it easy, my friend… no point saying stuff like that in this world.
Even though it looked like Casey was just seeing his own reflection, there was a faint sign of a black, web-strand like figure standing beside the orange Earth pony. "Yeah, well, I pretty much had a rant against him not too long ago…"
It's because of you being human again that you're dying, and cowardly decided to leave instead of letting who were suppose to be your friends - to let TWILIGHT - help you!
Not wanting to focus on what took place several moments ago, Casey gave the mirror a peculiar look. "Has this been all me the entire time? Or are you pulling my strings and stuff?"
If you think I'm controlling you in some way, that's the farthest from the truth. I am simply assisting you in accepting your inner darkness, and to use it at times like these when it comes to saving the ones you care about.
Remembering the unfortunate sight that Discord had showed him in regards to Zagreus, Casey nodded his head before proceeding with returning to the main throne room. "Well, let's see how exactly we're going to do that. Can't make me any more angry with Dust, I suppose."
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You were saying, Sloppy Seconds?
An irritated look appeared on Casey's face after hearing the "code name" that had been provided to him (with different and just-as-silly names given to the others that had accompanied Stardust to Canterlot), and as he continued with freeing the rest of the chained ponies in the west area, the young stallion muttered, "Still glad I'm not Sunset right now."
Once his task had been completed, Casey listened to Beck via ear-communicator talk about a 'hunch' of their enemy being in the castle. "According to all gathered intel, Zagreus works behind the shadows than the front lines. He would want to be alone to carry out his plans while the pawns go grab what he needs."
"Remind me again what the plan is, once we confront him?" Casey found himself asking since he had yet to actually go up against Zagreus. "How would we contain him, because I imagine most of us will be against anything more lethal..."
Just before some more arguing could ensue, the time had quickly come to prepare for Zagreus' arrival, and once the main group had gathered together, Casey suggested to 'box in' their target after Trixie had asked what would happen now.
"Attack on all sides and overwhelm him. We already drew out the battle plan earlier when Discord mapped out the street routes for us. Now we just need to take positions before he arrives."
A small beeping noise stopped the orange stallion from adding anything else, and Beck let out a quiet sigh. "That better be now then… because he's close now."
Then, everyone went to their respective spots while Sombra would be the one to confront Zagreus, and as Casey watched Beck fly away in his upgraded-mecha-wing attire, he glanced over to where Stardust was currently at. A small smile started to appear as Casey observed his friend's reaction to the armour Beck had given to him earlier in the library, but once he heard the voice of Zagreus for the first time, Casey tried his best to not shiver since he felt as if a sudden temperature drop had occured.
"Rescuing some poor unfortunate souls when you could have reached me in the castle... Still, you succeeded in drawing me out to face you."
Watching Sombra continue to interact with Zagreus began to give Casey flashbacks to the times that Stardust had mentioned him in the past, followed by Casey's interactions with Xenos (who was pretty much his own 'Zagreus' to deal with back home), but the young stallion was brought back to the present after seeing that Stardust needed immediate assistance.
"Let's see how you handle this, 'Zach'…" Casey quietly growled before lashing out some mass strands of black goo at Zagreus' shoulders and hind legs in order to stop him from going anywhere. As he held on with all of his strength, Casey watched Sombra use sharp crystal spears against their enemy while a high-flying Beck fired energy blasts.
"Alright, way to go - aaaahh!" Suddenly, Casey found himself swiftly trying to avoid being scarred by a scythe that had gone in his direction, but that had allowed the hold on Zagreus to be released. "Aw, damn it!"
After watching Starlight and Trixie try delivering some of their own offense, Casey then began to work alongside his close friend in fighting the sinister monstrosity, but their momentum was cut short once Zagreus got a grip of black goo strands, and flung the two stallions away from his sight before proceeding to attack Sunset.
"Ooof… ugh… thanks," Casey said as he realized that Stardust had gotten the more-harmful end of their landing, but the orange pony wasn't ready just yet to 'smooth things out' with him. "This changes nothing."
Before Stardust had a chance to respond, Casey hurried over to resume his offense, and was soon using his newly-obtained powers to shield both himself and Sunset from Zagreus' attacks whilst Stardust spared Beck from being on the receiving end of a black powerful blast.
"Hey, um, you mind if I ask you a question about - OOF!" Casey started to say to the yellow unicorn, but he was interrupted by Zagreus after the villainous creature sent the flying Beck in his direction and leaving Sunset with an arriving Stardust to continue battling their enemy.
Eventually, it wasn't long before the group was able to get the tightest hold possible on Zagreus, but not even that was turning out to be successful. "I… will… never… BE… CONTAINED!"
Then, a powerful blast of magic forced everyone to fly off in different directions, and once Casey got back up to his hooves, the first thing he saw was his friend in trouble. "Stardust, I'm coming!"
So, he began running as fast as possible in Stardust's far-off direction, but just when he was about to be close to reaching him, everything around Casey became a bright and empty white… followed by total darkness.
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"Casey… up… please… wake… Casey!"
The young stallion slowly opened up his eyes and groaned in pain after hearing a familiar voice. "What… Twilight… GAH!"
"Yep, he's awake now," said Rainbow Dash, after the blue Pegasus had decided to thump him rather hard on the back of his head. "Glad you could finally join us."
"For crystals sake, Rainbow, don't make my headache… worser than…" Casey looked around, seeing the rest of the Mane 6 and Spike, but he could tell from their surroundins that they were not in Twilight's castle. "Why are we all in a Crystal Empire palace room?"
Rarity chuckled nervously for a bit before she replied, "Well, um… quite a lot of stuff happened during the time you and Beck were off helping the Stardust pony in his universe-"
Before Casey could ask her more about what she meant, Rainbow interrupted by clearing her throat and saying that "the Tree of Harmony is destroyed now… Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow are like 'really' really powerful right now… the Friendship School students left… Earth ponies, unicorns, and Pegasi aren't getting along with each other…"
"And there are now Windigos in Equestria because just before you showed up here a couple moments ago, Rainbow said what should never be said in regards to things being worse than what they already are." Spike finished, and Casey looked over at the now sheepish Pegasus.
"But the good news is that you're back here with us!" Pinkie pointed out with a wide smile on her face while Applejack took a moment to hoof-palm herself. "What? It's true, isn't it?"
Casey began rubbing his forehead with a fore-hoof, and asked, "Is there anything else I should know about?"
"Um… we also ran into you-know-who… and found out that he, uh..." Fluttershy replied, and she used her fore limbs to create a X symbol. At first, Casey was even more confused, but when Pinkie handed over to him the blackened hilt of a blade that belonged to a certain forest-green Pegasus, the orange Earth pony's eyes widened once the realization came to his mind.
No… not Emerl...