"Oh no silly, you have to put socks on like this." A giggle could be heard throughout the hallways of Canterlot Castle, cousing one of the two guards at the door to go beet red at the words and suggestions that were filtered through the door.
Twilight Sparkle walked up to the door of her chambers, raising one eyebrow at the two Royal Guards.
The guard that wasn't blushing like a mad-colt at the sounds behind the door saluted her princess.
Twilight asked the only question that could sum up everything she wanted to know.
"Well?"
The mare, a black earth pony with a cosmic red mane and a blue tower shield for a cutie mark, answered in a soft voice that always reminded Twilight of Flutttershy.
"They came looking for you Princess, and due to who it was I thought it would be OK to let them wait in there for you."
Twilight let out a sigh. "It will be good to see Pinkie Pie again" She said only tp have her ears perk up. "Did you say 'them'?"
"Yes Princess" Armor Word answered her princess. "I believe it would be more prudent to let you see for yourself."
At Twilight's nod the mare kicked out at the door behind her. The door opened in complete silence for you see after Twilight Sparkle had inhabited the castle she made sure every door and window, every spot of the castle was meticulously maintained. This pleasing fact, however, was lost on her as she stared slack jawed at the scene unfolding on her bed and the two alicorns doing said act.
"Wha-why-huh?!" was all she could splutter flabbergasted.
"Twilight?" In a black blur a winged form crashed into her in the form of a hug.
"Nyx?! Pinkie Pie what is going on here?"
Tat is when Twilight noticed her daughter wearing three socks, on of them being halfway off.
"Well Twilight," Pinkie began to explain.
"I was getting bored setting in Risum all the time even if it is one of the least boring planets except for Metamorphisus of course but I was like 'why don't I go and have some boding time with my sister? I might be an imaginary friend made real but I still want to bond with my family' so I popped up at Sugercube Cornerbut its too bad they don't sell cupcakes anymore. Anyway I got to Midnight Castle and saw poor Nyx having trouble getting her crush to notice her so that's when I went all like 'Oh My Gosh Nyxie I remember stashing socks in Canterlot years ago in case of a sock emergency' so I whisked us here so I could get the whole family together and also teach her how to be se-"
A well placed black hoof stuffed hastily into her mouth stopping any more of the infuriatingly embarrassing story.
Nyx looked between her mother and pseudo sister, horror and embarrassment clear on her face.
Twilight raised her eyebrow but calmly said "Any time you want to talk about this I'll be here OK?"
Nyx's relief was evident and so she took her hoof out of Pinkie's mouth, wiping it off before she hugged her mother once again.
"Twilight smiled. "Well girls, it seems like your having fun but this actually works out rather well."
She looked at Nyx with a confident smile. "You studied Bronies as much as I, but focused more on languages and art while I focused on history, technology and magic. Do you know about Atlantis?"
The black alicorn nodded. "Yes Pluto mentioned it."
Twilight's smile turned into a grin. "Then what do you make of this?"
She used her magic, felling the lay-lines crossing and bubbling throughout the castle, to create a replica of the wall. Nyx took three seconds looking at it before turning to Twilight, cautiously holding her breath.
"Is this?" At Twilight's nod Nyx squeed with delight looking like a foal at a candy store. Or more specifically a foal with a sweet-tooth at 'Bon-bon's Family Candy Store'."
"It's Atlantic! Oh my many goddesses it's Atlantic!"
"Hahahaha, give me a moment Nyx and I'll transfer it onto a scroll for you."
"Nyx however wasn't listening. She was so absorbed in thought she didn't notice Pinkie Pie trying to get Twilight to let her teach the lavender alicorn how put on socks, not even when the guard outside collapsed with a bloody nose.
This could destroy everything we want to protect. Or preserve it forever.
~~*~~
"Halt!"
Most pony villages didn't have a wall around them nor house a battalion or two of the Guard. Then again most didn't hold a Statue of Vanity nor were they a military instillation.
Sadly this protection was too little to stop the humanoid machine from crashing though the gate and the village Guards.
Screams echoed throughout the village as the eighteen foot monstrosity crashed through buildings towards the center of town.
~~*~~
"Are you certain this need to be done? Princess Twilight will be notified."
Dual Mark was looking into a pool of crystal watching his Sentinel wreak Ft. Stallio. Turning to his side he had asked the creature only he could see, the one in charge of his fate to destroy the world.
"Yesss, once you have the Statue I can give your machine untold power." The Windago named Quella Demare said, her voice an arctic chill in the frozen air.
"I... yes, don't worry. Un will do what needs to be done. It has already activated it's PPC, there is no shield that can hold against the might of that cannon."
"Very well."
~~*~~
Iron Aegis was in trouble. The thing that was crushing his town, his town underfoot was seemingly unstoppable. That and he was about to be crushed underfoot.
Rolling quickly out from under the large foot as it came down, he grabbed the nearest weapon in his jaws, spun and bucked with all he had. The metal construct merely kicked him out of the way.
"Uhhh..." Iron Aegis moaned after picking himself out of the ruble that used to be a wall before he hit it.
There has to be some connection, some way to beat it. He thought. He was a squad leader not a strategist. Just why isn't the backup here! Wait, it's heading to the control compound it has to be after something. Quickly he waved down a pegasi.
"What is it Rusty? We're kinda in the middle of an attack!"
"Ugh you know I hate that nickname! And I think its after something in the compound."
Tempest South looked at the machine and where it's headed.
"Alright thanks for notifying me I have to worn command."
"Good-luck." As the pegasus dashed off Iron Aegis ran after him.
"Damn... thing!" He cursed between breaths. He continued down the trail of destruction. Something caught his eye however, he was in a familiar area, no a familiar neighborhood.
"No. It couldn't have."
Turning quickly he dashed to one of the ruined houses, fallen roofs and walls, explosions ripping through the air as gas ignited. Just like the one he was running to.
"NO!" The house was full of fond memories but now, it was a burning wreak.
"Mom, Dad, Crystal!" Iron Aegis called as he entered. Common sense be damned his family could be in there!
He tried again "Mom! Cryst-"
He was cut off by a small moan near where the dinning room used to be. As he charged foreword, smashing through a wall just to jump back as another flaming one came down. Turning to the left he stopped at a flaming, but bone-chilling sight.
A green and orange pony was trapped under the table, a lamp post had fallen across her throat.
"Cry-crystal?" He said stepping foreword.
A crystal blue eye opened. "Bro? That you?" Crystal wheezed, the hot metal burning her fur. "I'm glade to see you... One last..."
Iron Aegis rushed to her side and shoved both the metal lamp and table off his filly sister.
"No, Crystal just hang in there I'll go get help, I'll-"
No, bro. I can feel it. both mom and dad are gone already... Can I go too?"
"What are you saying?!" He exploded. "No, I'm not letting you go!"
"I'm... sorry..." Her eyes were pleading with him, begging him.
"You just got your cutie mark yesterday... we haven't even celebrated it yet."
"Bro..."
"Goodbye, you silly filly" his voice cracked.
Crystal's eyes closed for the final time as the house crashed down around them.
~~*~~
Nyx spoke to Harmonica as she worked on the wall, fallowing it's instructions.
"The only reason why I'm doing this is because I deemed it safe. This place holds a magic power higher then what Equus has seen in a long time."
"Yes Princess, I understand."
Nyx placed her horn on the final symbol running magic into the wall. Suddenly the symbols began to glow and shift, changing into new ones. Reading them quickly Nyx hesitantly placed her hoof on one of them, the one in the exact center. Suddenly a rumble could be heard only to stop. A full moment later it came back, stronger then before.
"Earthquake!"
The entire wall had started to glow a golden blue.
"Quickly my little ponies! To me!"
After all of the workers had either teleported out or were next to Nyx, she vanished with them into a flash of light. With a second flash everypony collapsed to the ground. Nyx stood shakily looking around.
"Good, everypony is safe."
Just then the ground split, and from the open maws a golden spire rose. Fallowing the spire as it rose hundreds of feet into the air was a cathedral, seemingly made of gold.
From the tip of the spire nine golden spheres formed. Many of the ponies watched in awe as the spheres flew away, six into the sky and three across the horizon. Only Nyx noticed one of them blinking out before two great doors opened in the side of the cathedral. A roar echoed across the plains and nine giant creatures came out. six of the things flew up into the atmosphere, one loped away as another flew quickly. The last one however stood still.
Nyx approached the thing only to find it was a mechanical wolf like creature, standing twenty feet tall and its head seemed more like a cockpit.
~~*~~
Iron Aegis stepped out of the wreckage of his house, The grey earth pony was covered in soot. His green mane was in tatters and his green eyes were dark. His tower shield cutie mark stood out silver against his dark disposition.
His eyes locked onto the Sentinel currently discharging it's Particle Projection Cannon. The screams of pegasi and the unicorns who had tried to shield them rose into the air.
"No more. You will not harm another."
His sister's eyes, they gave him resolve. Perfect. Unshakable. Strong.
Iron Aegis ran, foreword to what had killed so many. Foreword to certain doom.
He reached it in no time, yanking a spear from the ground he threw it striking it on the head.
The Sentinel had already pulled something from the construct and was walking away when it got pinged in the head.
Looking down it saw one simple earth pony.
Iron Aegis stared at the monstrosity, even as a flash in the sky heralded a light that settled over him, a ring with thorns surrounded his cutie mark, becoming one with it. This however he didn't notice, not until a flash from behind him and a metallic "Neigh!" rang through the now silent base.
He looked behind him, seeing the twenty five foot unicorn with a blade for the horn even though it was shattered it looked wickedly sharp, it's head however looked like a cockpit, with enough space for a pony.
Prophecy and Instructions
Dual Mark grunted with effort, his horn glowing a bright sickly indigo, mots of golden light flickering in the cloud of energy.
"Just... A little... More!" His deep throated roar could be heard in the main part of the cave system that he had made his home.
Panting he checked the fruits of his labor.
"Yes! Quin, can you see this? I finished it" The green unicorn sat down hard. Sweat trickled down his neck and his breathing was heavy.
The dragon named Quin ran down the stairs cut into the floor of the cave only to stop in awe. Mark's project today was a magic circle that would charge fountain gemstones with massive amounts of power with very little magic from the unicorn himself. Along with his previous experiments over the past eight years Dual Mark could create a Perpetual Magi Engine, powerful enough to run a Sentinel. Speaking of...
"Wow Mark, that's awesome. How much longer till you can get them up and running?"
The dragon expected a very different answer to what it got.
"With this, I can charge enough gems tomorrow to activate Sentinels: Omega, Alpha, Duex, Un and Primus. Five out of fifteen."
The unicorn glanced behind him at the hulking humanoid machines.
"I can wage war on Equestria in five days max, and destroy Princess Twilight. Then maybe my destiny will become clear.
~~*~~
"Hehe she's the mother of two other princesses, Maybe she just likes having kids?"
"Ha! such a tramp. I know I shouldn't question our princess but have you heard the rumors?"
"Dude, there is no way she is like that with the guards. Besides she never gave birth to them did she?"
Twilight Sparkle had had enough. Twisting around with a scowl on her face she growled out "Alright who said that?!"
Looking at the researchers and explorers all of whom had a guilty expression but none of whom answered her she decided to take it upon herself.
"That's what I thought" Twilight said with a huff.
"Princess please don't think anything of it, I'll make sure they stay in line."
Twilight looked to her side and smiled at the lime green earth pony.
"Thank you Professor Heartstrings, I just hate these... false accusations."
The earth pony bowed and continued leading Twilight through the excavation site.
"Oh and Princess, please just call me Harmonica, Professor Heartstrings was my grandmother."
Twilight shared a chuckle with her guide. "Of course, and thank you."
"No problem."
They entered the tunnel system beneath the excavation site and started down. Finally they reached a corridor that was newly dug out and they stopped. Magilights were strung up to provide enough light to see by and excavation tools were placed on the ground.
"So, Harmonica. Why did you bring me here?"
Harmonica looked back at the violet Alicorn.
"There is a strange wall that we found while digging, we don't recognize the symbols. Well that is to say we didn't recognize them other then the Brony descendent Silent Word, he noticed they were human symbols from long ago. I was hoping you would be interested enough to see them for yourself?"
Harmonica asked hopefully.
"Of course!" Twilight exclaimed. She had learned all she could about human languages, magics, and technology since the Bronies first came to Equestria. And even more so when she learned they had been here thousands of years ago before mysteriously disappearing. "I would be happy to help just lead the way."
"Thank you Princess."
Harmonica lead Twilight another mile or so down the tunnel until they came across the object in question. A large golden brown wall blocked any farther advancement, large symbols carved directly into it.
Twilight frowned, they looked familiar but she couldn't say for certain. The swirling hieroglyphs and lettering confused her due to the fact she didn't even know which way to read them.
Several hours past and a unicorn scholar brought refreshments, only to leave when they where finished. His parting words however, woke Twilight from the lull she managed to place herself in.
"You know, I don't know much about legends but you my Princess is highly esteemed in my eyes."
It took a few moment to process what he said but when it did-
"Eureka!"
Twilight shot to her hooves and moved close to the wall, a nearly manic expression making Harmonica Heartstrings uneasy.
"Princess? Is everything alright?"
"Yes!" Twilight nearly shouted in glee. "I just remembered why these symbols are so familiar, One of the first bronies to come to Equestria was name Rosetta Tongue. Odd name I know but he know so much about languages and legends. One of which was the legend of Atlantis, he even knew some of the language so he taught me. This is Atlantic!"
Harmonica leaned foreword, as if she could use this new knowledge to read the wall.
"What does it say Princess?"
"Hmm... odd" Twilight leaned back to ponder what she learned. "It's instructions. I can read part of it but..." She trailed off.
Looking at Harmonica she said "It is too dangerous to start the process without knowing all the instructions and what it does. Have your team dig the whole area out and send a message to me when your done. Good luck Harmonica."
"Thank you Princess, will do." With a nod the alicorn walked away, a new mystery of the world burning in the back of her mind.
"Just like the good old days."
~~*~~
"Hahaha slow pokes! You couldn't catch a turtle!"
Ponies ducked as a yellow and blue blur zoomed overhead, fallowed by a full squadron of pegasus royal guard.
Then scattered as unicorn royal guard ran through the courtyard.
Shock Blitz laughed in exhilaration at being chased. Of course he was being chased by the Guard for the fourth time this week alone so it was a personal best. A barrel roll and sharp turn latter he shot into the bad area of Canterlot, his saddle bags jingling with bits he swiped from the treasury. Well half of it was, the other side was stuffed full of food from the dinner table of his royal highness.
Just a little more and home free Blitz thought with a smirk as he dove under a clothes line. Zigzagging through ally ways were an amazing way to loose the guard.
"Hal... halt thief... I said... halt!" A unicorn guard shouted. Shock Blitz looked down in well... Shock at the unicorn teleporting to keep up.
"Dude, sure thing just give me a moment."
Shock Blitz flew down and walked up to the unicorn, who seamed to be having a heart attack. Or maybe a stroke. Or were they the same thing? Blitz shrugged reaching into his saddlebag for a bottle of water he had swiped today.
"Here man, drink up" Blitz offered the bottle to the panting stallion.
"Th... thank you." Drinking greedily water ran down his face.
"Well, I don't think you can catch me the way you are so... goodluckgoodbye!" Shock Blitz flew straight up and shot down the ally way leaving the poor guard staring at the blue contrail left by his passage.
"Awe ponyfeathers..." And with that and a flash the privet teleported back to the castle to report in. Little did he know he was going to be bought a round by his buddies for out doing them the first time he gave chase to Shock Blitz.
~~*~~
"Hey kids! I'm baaack" Shock Blitz sang as he opened a door to one of the many abandoned warehouses in the area, only to be assaulted by a chorus of filly and colt voices.
"Blitz, your back!"
"What did you get us Blitz?"
"Yeay, Shocky's nack!"
"Uncle Blitz, Uncle Blitz! What did you get us Uncle Blitz?"
"Whoa there kids, settle down. Do I look like Santa Claus?" Shock Blitz took on a stern expression.
"Awww... Sorry Uncle Shock Blitz..."
A grin bloomed across his face. "Well that's good, because I don't think he shares any of his cake!"
Shock Blitz took out a large half a cake from his saddle bag only to be the bottom of a large pony pile.
A few hours latter after a large meal, multiple stories around the fire, and a large number of lullabies Shock Blitz sat near a window looking at the stars.
I wonder what it was like, to be able to see Princess Luna painting the night sky, or basking in Celestia's presence without going to Artemus or Solaris. He thought. He had always wanted to see what the other Alicorns had looked like.
"Uncle Shocky?" A sleepy voice startled him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, hey Dream Seer, what's up?" He hugged the little filly close feeling her shake against his chest.
"I... I had a dream about you..." She looked up at him with her green eyes. "You are gonna die Uncle Shocky, We all are..."
A small glow appeared on her flank, fading and being replaced by her newly earned Cutie Mark, A mirror filled with purple mist.
"We are all going to die..."
