Where the sun doesn't shine.

Chapter 7: Where the greed creates monsters.

A month passed since Applejack's recovering from corruption, when everypony realized that not only are the corrupted remnants of the mane 6 resisting their capture, but they were also receiving help from an unknown force.

The Terran stood on the balcony staring at the city below, while the 4 of the mane 6 were thinking where Rarity could be found. Outside, it was raining since they got home after Applejack's recovery from her chaotic self; it looked like Discord's influence was slowly creeping out of Equestria into the world.

"That's it! I know where Rarity is now!"

"Is that so, Twilight?" Said the Terran while walking into their group.

"Rarity's element is generosity, with corruption it becomes greed. Now, where would greedy Rarity go?"

Silence engulfed the castle as everypony started thinking, until Spike answered. "The Diamond Dogs' cave!"

"Exactly!" Exclaimed Twilight.

"Why did it have to be a cave...Anyways; Spike, you'll help my cartographers in creating a map that'll show where this cave is, the surrounding area, and if possible, the internal cave network."

"Of course!"

"You may all go home now, I'll be busy planning our next journey. Spike, Atticus will lead you to the cartographers' main building."

Atticus left with Spike as the others walked to their destinations. After a short journey, both Atticus and Spike arrived at a rather large building, which doors were opened as they got close.

"I am Atticus, and this dragon here is Spike, he will help you in creating the map the Emperor requested."

"Ah, Spike, we've been expecting you. It'll be an honour to work with someone sent by the Emperor himself." Greeted the cartographers.

"Wait, how did you know I was coming?" Asked Spike with curiosity.

"As all of you were talking back in the castle, I sent a guard to inform the cartographers before arriving to lead you here." Explained Atticus.

"Makes sense I guess".

A week later, the few uncorrupted members of the mane 6 were called once again to the gates. They had waited outside far more time than before, questioning the reasons for this. The Terran appeared over the walls above them, his arms resting on top of the parapet and staring at the rainy horizon.

"In every mission we've gone, we were too close to being defeated; we were caught off guard, and in Applejack's case, outnumbered by...something, I’ve lost more than half my forces there. These mistakes could have been avoided with a bit of preparation and caution, but I acted before thinking...I’m supposed to be the Emperor of the Terran Empire. I’ve had enough, this time I’ve made sure of being as prepared as I can be, because I won’t let this end in failure any more."

As soon as he finished his speech, soldiers started pouring out of the gates. This time, it wasn't a hundred soldiers. No, it was one of the largest armies ever organized in this world, an army of no less than 15,000 ponies. It had everything an army needed, archers, infantry, and Pegasi as cavalry. They all organized in a proper army formation in front of the castle walls for all to admire, and also fear the power of an Empire. The Terran walked down the walls and arrived to where the 4 of the Mane 6 were, all with their jaws on the floor.

"I've got the map from the cartographers, let's go. And please lift your jaws, this army might look big but it's limited by logistics. This is nothing compared to the Empire's complete arsenal. Units, march!"

They travelled day and night, and every time the army marched its steps could be heard from kilometres away. After 3 days, they were still a kilometre away from an exit to the cave network when the Terran ordered the units to stop and reform.

"Why are we stopping? One of the caves is just right there!" Complained Applejack.

"I know." Said the Terran with a determined voice.

The army stood in the rain for a few minutes, voices complaining could be heard among the 15,000 ponies. All the voices stopped at the same time as they could all see in the distance how out of the cave came out a dark coloured swarm of ponies, they were the ones they encountered at Applejack's barn, but this time they weren’t a thousand like before, they were almost a hundred thousand soldiers. They didn't even swarm them like before; instead they organized in a clean formation worthy of a real army.

The mane 6 were scared, they weren't expecting this, but after seeing the Terran's determined look they knew he was expecting this and prepared for the situation. Such a sight calmed them down a little.

"Archers, loose formation, to the front! Two thirds of infantry in the frontline, four ranks deep, and one in reserve! Cavalry to the flanks! MOVE!" Said the Terran in a commanding voice, not losing his composure even after seeing that he would be fighting against an army that outnumbered his nearly 7 to 1.

Both armies moved into formation, and after a while they completed it. The dark army in front of them slowly marched forward, the sound of a hundred thousand hooves was scary, to say the least.

"Archers, fire!"

As commanded, the archers rained fire upon the opposing army, and every time it struck, the unlucky enemy would be turned into smoke. Arrows kept raining as the front ranks turned to smoke, but more and more soldiers kept pouring out. They kept advancing and advancing until the white of their eyes could be seen.

"Archers, fall back behind reserve! Infantry, shield wall!"

The archers fell back through the ranks of the infantry behind them, and once they were safe everypony at the frontline clashed their shields together forming a wall of steel. Only a fraction of the opposing army charged while the rest stood their ground, a small earthquake could be felt as they charged towards the Imperial army. They got closer and closer, until the charge hit; both sides started fighting each other at the centre of the field. After an hour of fighting, the first wave of enemies was utterly destroyed, but that was just a single wave compared to the entire army fielded. As the second wave hit, 2 groups detached from the main body of the enemy and manoeuvred to outflank the Imperial Army.

"Archers, fire at the enemy's flanking force!"

They fired and caused a third of both flanking forces to be turned to smoke before running out of arrows. At this point the Terran's grey eyes narrowed even further, he wanted victory, and he was determined to have it no matter what.

"Cavalry, charge the flanking forces! Once they are done return to your positions!"

Both sides started moving and began to build up speed. A Pegasi charge was a devastating thing to behold, should enough speed be attained it was an almost unstoppable force capable of shattering anything but the most armoured opposition. The charge hit, and sent flying and turning into smoke most of both flanking forces, the only thing left was to pick off the survivors.

"Sir, The frontline is breaking!" Yelled a soldier as he desperately ran towards the Terran.

"Frontline, fall back and regroup! Reserve, take their place!"

Everypony obeyed without hesitation. The Imperial Army managed to fend off 4 waves of attackers before resorting to the reserve, and once they were in place the enemy sent forth a 5th wave which, even though its numbers were far less than the others, consisted of the heaviest units in their disposal. The frontline courageously stood their ground against such a formidable foe, their faith on their general gave them hopes of winning this battle even against impossible odds.

"That's it!" Said the Terran before running off to one of the cavalry companies with a sword that a soldier gave him and jumping on top of the captain. "You move faster than I do. Cavalry! Flank and charge their reserve!"

The 20 companies at each side took off immediately and flanked the centre of the fighting; they then began to increase their speed to the enemy's reserve. They got closer and closer until the charge hit them, sending the unsuspecting Terran flying into their ranks while taking out 4 unfortunate soldiers on the crash. He dodged the stabs sent to him while being on the floor and quickly stood up.

"Come on, though guys!!" Said the Terran while blocking every blow given to him and taking out those who stood too close.

The cavalry hacked their way through them until they reached the Terran, saving him from the imminent pain.

"Need a ride?" Giggled the captain from before.

The Terran got on top quickly and tried regaining his breath while the others took care of the survivors.

"Reform facing at them!" He said, this position behind the enemy was perfect, almost a gift from the Great Ones.

Once the cavalry was properly formed he gave the order to charge again, this would be the last charge of this battle, and the one who would decide its fate. The Pegasi gained more and more speed, while the Terran took out his rifle strapped to his back and with his belt tied the sword to the rifle, forming a primitive lance, which then he pointed at the force that was fighting the imperial infantry.

"For the Emperor!!" Screamed the cavalry captain, everypony followed suit.

"For the Empire!!" Screamed even louder the Terran.

Hearing their own Emperor give a war cry while leading the charge gave everypony a lust for battle unheard of in this world, the kind of lust that would drive anypony berserk. Everypony in the Imperial Army, be it infantry, cavalry, archers or even the mane 6 screamed at the top of their lungs in unison.

"FOR THE EMPIRE!!"

The charge hit the enemy, sending them flying and turning them into smoke. Everypony fought as hard as they could, turning every single dark pony into smoke at an incredible rate, not even the heaviest units on the enemy's arsenal stood chance against the might of an army fighting side to side with their own Emperor.

The fighting finished and the remaining forces stormed the cave. Using Spike's map they managed to travel through the caves without getting lost. Every Diamond Dog they encountered cowered before them and stuck to the walls letting them pass without any resistance. They all arrived at Rarity's throne made out of gems the Diamond Dogs dug for her, Great Ones know how she managed to convince them.

"What?! How did you get past--"

"Strategy, BITCH!" Said the Terran before charging forward and restraining her. He had trouble at first, but not a second later 3 more soldiers came to help him.

"Let go! Let go!!"

"Twilight! Cast the spell on her now!"

"Y-Yes!"

Twilight's horn glew a bright and purple light, and moments later, Rarity's colours started returning while knocking her out. Spike ran next to her until she woke up seconds later.

"S...Spike...?"

"Shh...It'll all be fine now..."

"Thank the Great Ones this is over..." Sighed the Terran with relief before giving the order to get out.

Everypony travelled through the caves to the world outside using Spike's map again.

"Soldiers, we'll return to Cabalderio to resupply and reinforce, then we'll--"

Just as he was about to finish, he saw another grey pony outside the cave. This time it wasn't one of the mane 6, but something that he never expected to see. The mare had a large mane which floated in the wind; she also had wings, and most surprisingly, a horn too. She was an alicorn, but to be more specific, it was Princess Celestia herself.

"Thank the Great Ones you're here! Look, we need help finding the last--" The Terran was cut short again.

"Terran, not only have you taken an army to my lands, but also started a battle without my permission. This is a warning, leave at once and never return, or this is war."

Before anypony could say anything, she flew off. Everypony had their jaws on the floor: Celestia, maybe the one who cared the most about the mane 6, utterly ignored what the Terran was trying to accomplish.

"Twilight."

"Terran."

"Grey mane?"

"Grey mane."

"Spike, write this."

"Yes!"

"Atticus, it seems that things are getting far worse than I've thought. I need you to reinforce the Empire's borders and increase its military activity by any means necessary, build forts and spend more budget on the troops' training. War is coming."