(A.N)- In this world, the humans have different types, named after fabled mythical creatures, there are four different breeds. Earth humans tend to be naturally strong, with a faster recovery from injuries. The Pegasus humans have naturally grown wings that allow them to hold the ability to tread upon clouds, and fly at extreme speeds. The unicorn humans have a natural, magical horn that allows them to cast various spells, usually reserved to their specialty. And finally, the Alicorn humans, people who fill all three slots, with great magic, recovery of great speeds, powerful wings and strength. They are usually the allowance for a fifth form of human, golems. Golems are pseudo humans, of two variances, ordinary, and advanced. They are generally the same, except advanced look exactly like an ordinary human, but can recover from grievous injuries in amazing speeds, and hold large amounts of power, copied from their alicorn creator. Golems are always close to their creators, almost as though a child parent bond is between them.
Even after the explosion, ten years after to be exact, things still remained the same for me. Albeit, maybe a little different. I no longer lived in my hut on the edge of the Everfree, but deep within. The job was still the same, but yet again, different. I would still guard the forest from undesirables, but instead of only preventing the exit of the many fabled beasts, I also must deny the entrance of the royal Canterlot guards.
Before the explosion, or as we call it, the “Event”, things were fine. Anybody, except the beasts, could enter or exit the Everfree of their own will, although few did. Things were different then… happy… parties every week, everyone helping out the other. Hell, even the Everfree Forest was different! But that all changed after the “Event”. After Twilight went insane, blew up half the town, and maimed almost all her friends, I the exception, things began going from bad to worse.
It was soon discovered that the reasoning behind Twilight going insane was that she discovered she was, in fact, a golem. No one knows where she came from, but we understood her reaction. She had been raised as a unicorn, but in truth, she was a golem, and never knew.
After Twilight disappeared, so too, did Celestia and Luna, the two princesses of the country. These two alicorns shared the duty of raising the sun and moon. It was soon learned however, that their disappearance was caused by the appearance of a new alicorn. This one called herself “Eos”. There are many rumors about this one floating around, and I imagine there are many more, for the four years I’ve remained in the Everfree. One such rumor is that this alicorn is really Twilight, though some accept it, and Eos denies it, I pray that it’s true, and she’s not Twilight.
A war is looming. Not just a civil war, but an already all-out war between the humans, the Griffons, and the Dragons. We have never gotten along with the other countries, but we never went to war with them. The details of the beginning of the war are foggy to me, and seem as though everyone as well, but we know it only happened after Eos took control.
A civil war looms on the horizon as well. Not just one, but many, led by different factions. The two most powerful and somewhat understandable leading ones are “The Crusaders” and “The Apple Clan”. I, myself, lead a small rebellion group. It’s just comprised of a few of the locals of town, some of the escaping refugees who decided to join, a handful of ex-members of the Wonderbolts, and many of the creatures we managed to train from the Everfree.
There is one problem. The groups hate each other, and if we don’t work together, we’ll end up annihilating ourselves. War is on the horizon, and without a proper rebellion, everyone will perish. Fighting is not far off, and we’re running out of time.
‘I guess I was right after all’ I thought as I stood outside the base, unable to get in. ‘It really is impossible for anyone to get into the base without the key, even if he’s the bloody, Luna-damned commander!’ Once again, I frantically pat down all the pockets of my combat vest, and search around the ground in hopes of finding the keys, all in vain. I did, however, find about 40 bits in my pocket.
‘Well, if I can’t get into base, I guess I’ll take a quick break, one that I figure I earned’. My stomach was growling after all. What could I expect though? I’ve been out on patrol alone all day, I didn’t even think to eat breakfast, nor pack a lunch. Although I may be a unicorn, the mithril bars within the door make my magic useless, as it just absorbs most magic as though it were a sponge. With that in mind, I leave a note just outside the door, designed to hold important information from our agents in the field, leave my gear there as well, and take the risk of wandering into town in my civilian gear, in the hopes of gaining some food.
As I wander into town, the first thing I do is instinctively wander in the direction of the famous bakery, Sugarcube Corner. As I walk down the street, moon slowly rising in the distance, I decide to give the Crusaders a quick visit. ‘But first, a snack’ I decided on my way there. Things had drastically changed in the bakery after the explosion. Though everything had been repaired, almost in a better state than before, the joy in the atmosphere was gone. Things had remained somewhat cheerful, even after the disappearance of Twilight, though it was strained; the breaking straw was when Pinkie had left. With her leaving, and bringing with her the Element of Laughter, parties in town had begun to die out, and without her zany baking ideas, the bakery slowly became less popular, and the Cakes were barely scraping by, only able to survive off those who were loyal, and still had enough bits in their coffer to afford such frivolous treats.
The bakery had begun to hold an ill omen to visitors, because it was linked to the insanity of anyone who was deeply associated with it. The first was Twilight, who blew up half the town and mysteriously disappeared, then Pinkie, who soon after leaving, and taking a few of the townspeople with her, formed her own rebellion group, which she named “the Party Poppers”, an insane terrorist group, not bent on ending the war, but escalating it and bringing an end to the entire world itself. No one really wanted to have anything to do with her anymore.
As I entered the bakery, I was hit with the delightful smell of fresh baked cookies, something that always remained in the bakery, even during times when supplies were scarce. The Cakes really knew how to stretch a bit or two.
I walked in and rang the bell on the counter “Be right there!” came Mr. Cakes voice from the kitchen beyond. As he came out, coated in a light dusting of flour, his face promptly changed from indifference to excitement. “Sean! It’s been to long! Honey, come and see who’s here!” he called to his wife. “Good to see you too Mr. Cake” I reply “how have your sales kept up?”
At this, Mr. Cake let his shoulders drop “not to good I’m afraid. Supplies are so scarce, not to mention expensive, my wife and I are barely able to get along. People no longer have the chance to afford sweets anymore.” He glumly replied. “We may have to close up shop soon, unless this war ends. And Celestia knows we can’t work for Eos, else we risk the same thing that happened to Rarity!”
At the mentioning of Rarity, things usually became a tad on the awkward side. No one was able to forgive her, especially after how she betrayed the rebellion, even if it was on accident. I particularly had a hard time with forgiving her. She was the reason Dash died, and the reason we all split up.
“Well, I guess I can help, for old time’s sake!” I chuckle “here, take 40 bits, I’d like to take back a decent meal, just because I’m the leader, doesn’t mean I’m the only one who gets to enjoy a gourmet meal every now and then!” I toss him the bits, letting him know I refuse to take no for an answer.
As I was paying, Mrs. Cake, coated in flour as well, walked out of the kitchen “Alright dear, who’s he- Sean?! How are you!? Sit down, have a quick bite to eat! You look starved! I-“I silence her cascade of words with a hand and say “I’m fine, don’t worry, and we have plenty to eat! I just stopped by thinking about lifting up business a bit, and to bring back something rather gourmet for the group!”
“Oh, alright, but remember, if you ever need somewhere to stay, we’ve always got a spare room! We are more than happy to lend it out to you!” she happily stated. “Alright, I’ll take it up when the time comes of need. Anyways, while you’re making up my meal, mind if I pay the Crusaders a visit? I figure it’d be good to catch up on times, in a form other than orb. Celestia knows how uncomfortable that thing is, feels like it drains your magic in minutes!”
“Well, I don’t know if you can… you can try, but I think they have someone important in. Saw them go down with some unicorn type, making quite a fuss, especially in trying to conceal her. No idea what it’s about.” She cautiously replied. The fact that the Crusaders base was under Sugarcube Corner was a rather well concealed secret, almost none of the townspeople even knew of it.
“Well, there’s no point in not giving it a quick attempt, after all, maybe it’s something I can help with. The rebellion needs all the help it can get.” I state. The Cakes, giving consent with a nod as they head back into the kitchen, I walk around a corner, use my magic to raise a magically cloaked trap-door, leading to a cave. I make my way through the cave, avoiding all the traps lain there, mostly through memory, and signs only known to crusaders and close friends, and find myself face to face with a large stone door.
Any other less knowledgeable being would’ve just attempted to open the door using magic, a foolish act, ending in vain. The door, though appearing to being made solely of stone, had an intricate inside design made out of mithril. The only way to get through was to either, use a key, or to just knock, and hope they’d allow you in.
Seeing as I had no keys, I had to go with the only other option. The knocking echoed eerily throughout the cavern, and then I was left in silence. Suddenly, I hear a voice in my head “Alright, who’s there?” “It’s me, Sean. Can I come in?” for a few minutes, I’m left in silence, then I jump as suddenly “Sean who? We don’t know any Sean.” Sighing I reply, somewhat irritated “It’s me. Slashie. Slash. You know, ex-earth human, now golem. The leader of the Freedom Fighters, you know, just about the only rebellion group who agrees with you?”
As I wait, eventually I hear the bolts within the door begin to slide, and suddenly a pale orange glow begins to form around me. With a grunt, I realize that I can’t move my arms or legs. When I look up, I find that I’m surrounded by a group of young unicorns and an earth general. “Alright Slash, we’re gonna let ya in, but we’re gonna keep a tight eye on ya, ya hear?” I nod my head in agreement, having a difficult time breathing due to how tight I’m being held. If it were anyone else, I’d just flare my magic and break free, but I’m not exactly in the mood to fight an entire base.
“Alright, let ‘im go!” barked the commander. As soon as the magic is let down, I finally manage to take my first deep breath in minutes, regaining my composure. “But, before you go in, well, you know the drill. Drop all your weapons, and put on the mithril.” Sighing, I once more agree, and then follow the commander, with a troop following behind, to the search room. After my weapons were safely stored, and I receive a rather excessive layering of mithril rings and clasps, I’m finally given permission to wander the base, and meet up with the leaders.
As I make my way through the underground base, I slowly look around, recognizing some aspects about it from before I left, and noticing some new additions as well. After a few minutes I finally find myself at the War Room, the heart of the Crusader’s base. I knock a few times, no answer. I carefully open the door to have a look, and find it to be completely empty.
I take a few minutes to explore the room, memories flooding back. Each chair had an emblem on it, matching our marks, designating where we were to sit during meetings. Going around the table I find my seat, depicted by an emblem of crossed lightning bolts, with cloud in the background. I take a seat, to reminisce on old times, when suddenly I’m startled by a familiar voice behind me.
“Always were the sentimental one weren’t ya Slash?” Scootaloo said. “I know how ya feel; I can’t believe it’s been so long already. But, it is good to see you again, you need to visit more often, gets kinda lonely here when you’re the highest ranked.” “Yea, tell me about it” I chuckle “It’s nice to be respected as authority, but it has nothing to compare to true friendship.”
Scootaloo was about to respond when someone franticly came barging in “Commander Scootaloo! We have a situation!” “What is it private?” She responded anxiously. “They’ve been discovered, and-” “Who’s been discovered Wispy! Tell me who it was!” “It-it w-was Dinky and T-Twilight! T-they got away, but it’s not safe anymore!” Wispy responded shakily.
“Wait a second,” I say “You don’t mean ‘the’ Twilight do you? Twilight Sparkle Twilight? But how? She’s been dead for ten years at least! How could it possibly be her?!” “It’s a long story Sean, I doubt even she understands it. Wispy, set up a perimeter, get the emergency exits ready, and alert the Cakes. We may need to beat a hasty exit if we’re compromised. Sean, we’ll talk more, but do you think if the time comes, can you hold a few more at your base? We may need to evacuate.” Scootaloo said hastily.
“I’ll see what I can do Scoot, we are kind of stretched for space as it is, but we should make do.” I say, regaining my composure. “Good, now follow me, we’ll gather up Bell and Apple and get out of here, we’ll relay a message to Dinky to meet us at your base, now, we need to move!”
As we ran throughout the base, gathering up the other two leaders, all I could think of was ‘Twilight is back? What does this mean for the rebellion? How will this end’
