Chapters Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 1: Where the people don't smile.
Chapter 1: Where the people don't smile
He arrived at the city which took his breath as soon as he saw it. The buildings were beautiful, there wasn’t a single scratch and no crumbling parts, unlike most buildings back in Terra; the stands and stores were supplied and organized almost perfectly, even their location was impressive since they were placed where everyone could see them, but at the same time the crowds they would make wouldn’t bother anyone; the roads were paved without mistake, as if every stone was specifically created for the place they occupied. There was just a particular problem there: Not a single living soul was present, as if everything was abandoned minutes before he arrived. Such a sight would strike fear into anyone’s heart; it might have been abandoned for a reason, or far worse, it might be an ambush; the Terran gripped his rifle as hard as he could while looking for answers. What he didn't see, however, were the terrorized citizens entrenched in their homes, fearing what this visitor from another world might be here for, and more importantly, just what kind of creature he is.
After walking around the seemingly abandoned city, he spotted a large building that stood out from the others. Seeing as he had no success in his search for a sign of life, he decided to test his luck inside it. He closed in and tried to open the pair of giant doors, but failed as he found out they were locked; he tried kicking them open too but backfired as he landed on his back. Standing up and shaking his head he decided to use more brutal means, he backed off a few metres and aimed his rifle at the lock; the sound of a gunshot echoed through the city’s silence and scared a group of birds resting in a tree nearby. The lock was utterly destroyed, and with a solid kick the doors opened. The Terran walked in with his gun ready, his eyes looking at every corner; he realized he walked into the city hall, still with no signs of life. He walked upstairs and stumbled upon the governor’s office, intact as if this place wasn’t abandoned at all. On top of his desk were 2 stacks of papers and a pen, nothing out of the ordinary. He decided to examine the papers, his hope being finding out something related to his sudden appearance here, but found out nothing more than taxes, trade routes and several of the city’s policies.
As he was flicking through the governor’s documents, a strange figure crept in the shadows behind him. The shadow silently grabbed a chair and started closing in on the Terran, who couldn’t hear anything due to the sound of paper being shuffled. The shadow was directly behind him and made a wrong move, making a lot of noise and alerting the Terran; but as he turned around the shadow already flung the chair in his direction, knocking him out without being able to react.
Hours later, the Terran woke up; he shook his aching head as he regained consciousness and part of his sight. He tried moving his hand to his head, but failed to even lift it; he looked at the source of the problem and found it immediately, he was tied up to a table. Trying to set himself free just made the ropes tighter and would ultimately rip part of his skin off. He looked around the room to find something to escape but found something entirely different, he spotted the silhouette of the creature that attacked him and realized it got closer and closer; desperation started to sink in as he tried to free himself from the ropes, no matter in how much pain he was.
“Calm down, you’re going to hurt yourself. Can you understand what I’m saying?” The shadow spoke softly, trying to get him to stop.
“What…Where am I…? What happened…?”
“I’ll take that answer as a ‘Yes’, then.” The shadow said while closing in. A beam of light revealed that the creature was actually a white-haired pony. “I see you’ve got questions, but before I answer them you’ll have to answer my questions first.”
The Terran was speechless at the ridiculous sight of a talking pony. Such was the surprise that he was also petrified, and the fact that he also had a hat, sunglasses and scarf that covered his head completely didn’t help to portray how wide his eyes were at the moment.
“I take it that you agree with what I said?”
The petrified quickly nodded a few times, returning to the posture he has been for the last 2 minutes.
“Alright.” The white haired pony spoke as he picked up the chair he threw to the Terran and sitting on it. “First, what are you?”
“I’m a…Terran…”
“Well that wasn’t so difficult, even though I have no idea what a Terran is. Now, why have you come here?”
“I was struck by lightning and woke up far away from here, then I saw this city in the distance and thought I’d get some answers. Sadly, I received a chair to the face.”
“Well I’m sorry for that, but not only have you scared my citizens enough to entrench themselves in their homes, but you also broke into this building and spied on my documents.”
“This city was abandoned when I arrived…”
“I can safely assume nopony in this world has ever seen something like you before. Being scared and hiding away would be the natural reaction to something that you can’t even understand what it is. Even more so that you broke the lock without even touching it, just by pointing that…magic stick or whatever it’s called.”
“That’s a Karabiner 98 Kurz, for your information.”
The pony stood still for a minute while silence engulfed the room.
“It’s…a weapon from the place I come from…” Added the Terran.
“I see. From what you’ve told me there’s no danger in setting you free. After all, you’re just lost and confused. I’ll untie those ropes now. Hold still, you’ve put so much effort in trying to break free you tore your skin. My name’s Atticus, by the way.”
Atticus, after untying him, helped him up and returned him the rifle. With a head gesture, he signalled the Terran to follow him, and so he did. They got outside the city hall, the Terran still holding his head due to the severe pain of receiving a chair to the face, and Atticus raising his hoof in the air. The Terran was confused as he didn’t see the purpose of such action, but minutes later he could see how hundreds of ponies slowly got out of their homes into the streets. He was petrified once again, the only thing he could do was walk behind Atticus and look in disbelief.
They both arrived to an apple stand, Atticus took out a small bag with gold coins inside and bought 2 apples with it. He turned to the Terran and threw him an apple, which he barely managed to catch due to the distraction of the scenery in front of his eyes.
"I’m afraid I don’t have the answers to the questions you’ll ask. I don’t really know what a ‘Terran’ is, nor have I ever heard of a sudden lightning that makes people appear in other places. But, every journey starts somewhere. I am the Governor of Stallinox, an independent city in the lands of Cabalderio, far to the west of Equestria."
The Terran, upon hearing those words, opened his eyes as wide as humanly possible and almost choked on the apple he was eating, making him spit it all over the floor while violently coughing.
"EQUESTRIA?!"
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 2: Where the land doesn't thrive.
Chapter 2: Where the land doesn't thrive.
The Terran, after his rather unfortunate first visit to the city, was given shelter and food, in condition that he would not cause any chaos and helped around when he was called for; in the weeks that passed he worked hard and started building the trust of the ponies in the city, which accepted him as one of their own, even though they had no idea what he was.
He laid in his bed, looking at the ceiling while thinking about the blinding light that brought him there. He stood up and shook his head deciding not to think about such event, it would only create more questions without possible answer and give him another headache. Preparing a cup of tea, he started remembering what he did immediately before being knocked out with a chair back then in the city hall; the documents he saw didn’t contain anything helpful for him, but that wasn’t what concerned him. Inside those documents were taxation and economical systems utterly obsolete in his world, such was the degree of obsoleteness that he could create a new one with the knowledge learned back in Terra. After drinking his tea he walked to his wardrobe and took out his long coat, hat, scarf and sunglasses and decided to head for the city hall.
Upon entering, the sight was the same as the last time, except this time there actually were ponies inside. The Terran walked up to the receptionist’s desk and asked to see Atticus, to which the receptionist answered that since it’s him that was requesting to see him, he was allowed to do so immediately. Any other pony and it would have to wait days at most. The receptionist pointed at the staircase and told him that the room at the centre was the governor’s room, to which the Terran thanked the unicorn with glasses. He walked upstairs and knocked on the governor’s door, after a few seconds the governor’s assistant opened it.
“Terran? What are you doing here?” Asked Atticus.
“There is something I need to discuss with you. Privately, if possible.”
Atticus told his assistant to leave while the Terran sat down on the chair in front of the desk. After he left, the Terran started talking about how this city could be improved if certain ways were followed. Atticus, sceptical at first, failed to understand how it could be made better, but the Terran kept on talking, slowly changing the governor’s mind.
“These laws you have are from medieval times in my world, they weren’t efficient enough and were replaced with better ones. Laws were replaced and replaced and the economy of my world kept on increasing to levels which were unimaginable back then. I understand your concern, you have a whole city under you care, after all. I don’t ask you to try it all at once, maybe just testing these ways in a small part of the city and see if it goes as planned.”
“Your ways show promise…I’ll try these methods in a small scale as you said, we’ll see if they succeed. Also, since you’re the only one with this knowledge, you should be the supervisor of this project.”
“I will. I thank you for your time.” The Terran stood up and gave the governor a handshake before leaving.
Years passed as the project was succeeding far more than previously excepted. The Terran would always supervise it to avoid any mistake, this being the project that would change the city completely. The result wasn’t impressive by Terran standards, it was actually below average; but that result, compared to the current medieval ways, really stood out.
Atticus was impressed, to say the least. He expected this project to be stalled before even starting, but it grew to something he just wasn’t ready for. He was convinced at last and decided to implement these laws in the entire city, much to the Terran’s happiness.
After more years, the city bloomed more than ever before, to the point that it was double the size it was back then when the Terran didn’t even arrive to this world. He was sitting in his home at midnight, drinking tea while reading what would be the city’s newspaper when a strange voice started talking in his head.
"You're doing good, partner..."
The Terran almost spilled his tea due to the surprise and looked around, to find that no one was there.
"Oh please, stop looking around like a fool...You won't find me like that..."
"Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter right now, you have improved the life of many ponies, even though you are not even a pony yourself...I come...To reward you..."
"...With?" He said while raising an eyebrow.
"Let us think...How can you continue to improve lives...forever?"
"I don’t know…A recorder?"
"No, keep thinking. The key word here is ‘Forever’"
"...Immortality..."
"Exactly, and I'm the one who can give it to you, and you don't have to give me anything at all."
"Immortality to keep helping these ponies forever, without giving you anything...Seems legit."
"I understand your scepticism. I am unable to lie, so I'll give you the specifics...With the gift I can grant you, you won’t suffer from sickness, your wounds will heal, any limb or part of your body ripped off will regenerate, you won’t suffer from insanity, and you won't ever age..."
"Prove that what you said is true."
"I know you are not from this world, and your world is able to witness what happens here."
"How the…Okay, now I’m listening…"
"Princess Celestia banished Princess Luna to the moon for a thousand years...And we both know a pony can't even survive for a hundred."
"How can I achieve this ‘Immortality’?" The Terran’s eyes started turning grey as he talked.
"Remember the location where you first appeared? There is a forest nearby, I'll give you more instructions when you arrive."
By the end of the conversation, the Terran's eyes were only white and grey. He took his long coat and his rifle, packed up food and water, and decided to head for the location his voice spoke of.
After an hour of walking through the sea of grass, he had arrived to where he woke up after the lightning hit him. He looked around the horizon and saw the forest the voice was talking about, not wasting another second he started walking towards it. After a while, he reached the forest’s border.
"I knew you would come! I'm so proud of your decision! Now, in several stories, in the middle of the forest there is something large with liquid in it that looks like it belongs inside a city...know what it is?"
"A well?"
“…Something less dug in, perhaps?”
“A fountain.”
"Ding ding! We have a winner! Now, it’s a marble fountain with purple water--"
"Hold up, purple water? Aren't you forcing this too much?"
"I follow the rules, I don't make them...Now, as I was saying before I was brutally interrupted...It is found in the centre of this forest. There is a big spider guarding it though, so I'd be careful."
"Spiders...why did it have to be spiders..."
The Terran took a deep breath and ventured inside the forest. The voice kept trying to start a conversation but he shut him up every time due to irritation. The top of the trees blocked the moonlight, making it harder to see than it should be; the utter silence was enough to drive someone insane, even though the voice was driving the Terran insane already. After a long walking, they reached what appeared to be the centre.
"Uhhh...Voice?"
"Yes, lord 'shut up'?"
"You said there would be a fountain in the centre..."
"And a spider guarding it. Look above you."
The Terran slowly looked above him as commanded, to find that a spider twice his size was looking at him and preparing its web.
"I forgot to mention, this is that kind of spider which is always on top of trees."
"...Thanks for being so early."
"I'd run right now, were I you."
With a swift movement, the Terran took his rifle, aimed and shot. The spider dropped dead.
"Terran...I wasn't expecting that..."
On top of the spider fell a marble fountain twice as big, utterly smashing the spider's corpse. Soon afterwards, a purple liquid started flowing from it.
"Voice...I wasn't expecting that..."
"That's it. Drink it and you'll be immortal."
"...That's it? You want me to drink a strange purple liquid coming from a marble fountain which fell from the sky on top of a dead spider twice my size?"
"Yes."
"ALRIGHTY THEN!”
The Terran walked closer and took a sip of the liquid. Nothing happened.
"So...that's it then?"
"Well, DUH! It gives you immortality, not a third arm or anything...Go ahead, test it."
Following the voice’s idea, he took out his knife and decided to make a simply cut in his hand. It healed almost instantly, but the pain remained.
Confused, he decided to head back to Stallinox; the voice stopped talking in his head from that moment on. After a long and tiring walk, he finally arrived to where he belonged, the city which accepted him after knocking him out with a chair to the face.
Another 2 years passed. The Terran was lazily sleeping when suddenly somepony knocked on the door. “Go away…I’m sleeping…” he grunted, but the knocks didn’t stop. Irritated, he stood up with his eyes almost glued shut and walked to the door, almost falling back asleep in the trip. After opening it, he saw a pony holding a letter and handed it to him; he bowed his head and walked back from where he came from. He closed the door and walked back to his bed while opening the letter, to which he decided to read while sitting on his bed.
“Your presence is requested at the town hall immediately. The governor wishes to speak with you about an extremely important matter. Do come as soon as possible.”
The Terran sighed. He left the letter on the bed and walked to his bathroom to wash his face and wake himself up. He looked at the mirror and realized he still had the grey eyes from back then when the voice contacted him, but didn’t worry about it. He put on his usual outfit and left home.
Once he arrived at the city hall, the receptionist told him that the governor was waiting upstairs. He passed through the several doors until he reached the governor’s office, which he knocked and was granted permission to enter.
“What do you need me for, governor?”
“I’ve been thinking this for a while, Terran, and reached a conclusion. My retirement age closes in, and there have been numerous candidates for governor. None have as much skills as you do, so it is only logical how my decision came to be. Terran, congratulations, you can now be governor of this city.”
Silence engulfed the room as both of them stood silently looking at each other.
“What?” Asked the Terran dumbfounded.
“You heard me right, you are the best for this position.”
“I…don’t know what to say…being a governor…”
“Don’t be scared. I’ll be your advisor, since there is no retirement age for that and it’s a voluntary job. I’ll help you in every way I can and do as you order; an ironic turn of events, isn’t it?”
The Terran, honoured to granted such position, stood firmly and determined.
“I thank you for considering me for such a position, I shall try my best.”
“That’s the spirit! Here, you’ll need to sign this page for it to become official.”
The Terran complied and signed the paper after reading it.
“Before I start, though, I’ve got some questions.”
“Ask away, I’ll answer them to the best of my abilities.”
“You said this was an independent city in Cabalderio, are there other independent cities?”
“All the cities and towns in Cabalderio are independent. I don’t know why, maybe there was a civil war that separated them all, or it was always like that to begin with.”
“All? You mean there isn’t some sort of kingdom or unity between them?”
“Not at all, the only thing connecting us is trade; and even then, not everyone is fond of it.”
“I see…thanks for the answers.”
“Any time, new governor.”
Several more years passed and Stallinox, under the Terran’s management, continued blooming like no other city. It became a major force in this region, even able to support its own small military force. The Terran, though, had plans not only for Stallinox, but for all of Cabalderio…
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 3: Where the people won't unite.
Chapter 3: Where the people won't unite
"Atticus, prepare a map of Cabalderio at once."
"Yes sir."
Atticus left the governor’s office, which now belonged to the Terran, looking for the map. The Terran was sitting in his chair with his hand over his mouth covered by his scarf. Once Atticus returned and laid the map over the desk he spent a minute or two just looking at it; then he laid back and smiled behind his scarf.
"May I know what you are planning, sir?"
"Remember how you said that all the cities in Cabalderio were independent? How none of them shared a link of unity, how it’s each for themselves?"
"You aren't planning on conquering them...right?"
"Yes I am. From where I come from, such thing as this situation is just a recipe for disaster. The fact that all of these cities aren't united means that none can push their power to their limit, but under a single flag..."
"...what is needed by one will be supplied by the other..."
"Prepare a force to escort me to the nearest city, they still don't know what a Terran is, and if I go alone...I don't know if they have more chairs to throw to my face. Once the force is ready send them to the main gate."
"Of course, sir."
Both of them went their separate ways, Atticus to ask the military commander for an escort, and the Terran to pick up his rifle and wait by the gates which were constructed under his management. After a while, a detachment of Stallinox's best soldiers, supply carriers and Atticus marched towards the gate where the Terran was resting against the wall.
"Here you have them, sir. It's strange to believe that before you arrived this would only be achievable by the union of all Cabalderio..."
"And now, my objective is to unite it all. Isn't fate funny? Gentlecolts, we march now to the city of Hestjord. They don't know what I am so expect anything. MOVE!"
The hooves of the detachment echoed as they marched. Days and nights passed as a Terran led the Stallinoxians to the city he planned to annex into his territory. They didn't know what to expect, since Hestjord knew nothing about a Terran. They might think he's just a talking animal and not worry about him much, but they might also think that he's a demon from the pits of hell coming to kill them all.
Days of marching would pass until the city could be seen in the distance, and after even more walking they reached it; the city had no gates, so they could enter normally. As the detachment and the Terran walked past the buildings, everypony in sight was shaking in fear and wondering what they might do there.
After marching through the city they arrived at the city hall, the detachment waited outside while the Terran and 4 escorts went inside.
"What's the meaning of th--" The governor was cut short by the sight of 4 heavily armoured ponies and the Terran. His eyes widened in both shock and fear.
"I apologise for my sudden arrival...But I have matters to discuss with the governor. I take it that's you?"
The governor, still petrified, nodded.
"I see. There is no reason to fear me, I haven't arrived with intentions to harm you or your people. All the contrary, I seek to help you, but that's only achievable if you help us first..."
"I-I understand...Uhh...P-p-please take a s-seat..."
The Terran complied and sat in a big table that seemed to be used for discussions. The governor was yet still petrified, and waited for the Terran to speak first.
"I come on behalf of Stallinox. First, I'd like to state my long-term objectives. I seek the unification of Cabalderio under a single banner under my command. That means that I wish for this city to be annexed, so let's hear your opinion."
The governor's mind state turned from fear to anger as he pictured the city he worked for losing its independence. Suddenly and violently he stood up and yelled.
"You really think I'd give our independence to a...whatever you are?!"
The four guards escorting the Terran began to unsheathe their swords, but stopped as the one they were escorting raised his hand.
"Before you throw me a chair to the face, let us think for a moment. I come from Stallinox, and needless to say I govern that city. I assume you know in what state that city was before I appeared, since it was the same as this. Now it's one of the most important cities in Cabalderio. If you don't believe you can go outside this building and check for yourself what 'Escort' means in Stallinox standards."
The sceptical governor narrowed his eyes and stared at the Terran for a moment before letting out a sigh and walking to the doors, the Terran following him with his eyes. He opened the door and looked outside, and almost instantly closed the doors again before slowly walking towards the chair he sat before; all with a pale, almost white skin. As he was walking back, the Terran could barely contain his laugher.
"So, governor, isn't that enough proof? Don't fear for your city, I'm not the kind of man who doesn't care about the rest of his empire. I'll make Hestjord thrive just like Stallinox...You may also stay as the governor of this town, in condition that you learn our ways."
"...I accept your terms and conditions...What else do we have to do?"
"Just a single thing..." The Terran stood up from his chair and ordered the guards to stay inside as he walked outside. As soon as he got out he stood next to the door searching with his eyes a supply carrier which held the item he was looking for. Once he found it he walked up to him and took a piece of cloth out of the large bag. He stretched it to make sure it was the one he was looking for, and upon confirming it, returned to the city hall where the governor waited for him.
"Governor, this is the flag of my empire." He laid the piece of cloth on the table. It was solid red coloured, and had a white hollow shield with a white star inside. "I think you understand where I'm heading with this..."
"Y-yes, I do sir..."
The Terran and his escorts began to leave the building...
"Wait!"
"What is it, Governor?"
"Just...What are you?"
A silence claimed the city hall. After that, the Terran smiled behind his scarf.
"I'm a Terran, that's all you need to know." He said, as the doors closed before him.
They returned to Stallinox, victorious that a city was annexed into their empire. As they reached the gates they were greeted by the guards already using the flag on their lances, every building had them somewhere, and the city hall...It was removed. Removed to leave place to an expansion of the city that would include an entire castle as the Terran's permanent residence. This is what Stallinox became, the capital of the Terran Empire.
Years passed, and every settlement in the region of Cabalderio was annexed into the Terran Empire. Those who did not agree with the initial deal were presented with an embargo, and if it failed, a siege. Nopony ever kept defending after being presented with the siege, so the complete annexation of Cabalderio was bloodless. Every city and town thrived and expanded incredibly, Cabalderio would even rival Equestria in overall status.
"My emperor, there is a unicorn who wishes to see you; she goes by the name of 'Twilight Sparkle'. What seems to be a baby dragon named 'Spike' comes with her."
The Terran was sitting on his throne, with left hand on his head and his legs crossed when he heard the guard as he arrived from outside the castle.
"Let them pass!"
The spears were lifted and the doors opened as a hooded unicorn and the mentioned dragon walked through the door.
"Twilight Sparkle and Spike! Wait...shouldn't you both be purple, pink and green instead of entirely...grey?"
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Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 4: Where the animals don't get near.
Chapter 4: Where the animals don't get near.
Upon hearing her and the dragon’s name, the hooded unicorn raised her head.
"How do you know our names?"
"Uhh...I... I heard rumours, yes, rumours." Saying that he knew because of a TV show from his world would be utterly ridiculous.
"I see, it would make sense after all."
"There's something I must ask you. You are one of the Mane 6, yet you are both here alone...what happened to the rest?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"I understand..." After saying this he turned to one of his guards next to his throne and whispered. "Tell Atticus to send a scout to Ponyville in Equestria immediately." The guard raised his hoof to his chest and left to send the message. "So, you travelled from Equestria to my place, may I know why?"
"I travel around offering my services to those who need it. I heard you started this Empire barely a decade ago, so I thought that you needed help with it. I am Princess Celestia’s student, so I could be of great help to you."
The Terran's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses, the fact that not only one of the Mane 6 was alone, but that Celestia's student left her kingdom filled him with worry and curiosity. He turned to the other guard next to him and gave him an order, which he complied as he left.
"I'd certainly find a use for your skills." Said the Terran as he waited for the guard to come back.
The guard returned with paper and quill and handed them to the Emperor. He wrote an address and gave it to the guard.
"My guard here will guide you to your future residence, please make yourself at home. I'll send you a letter when I find your assistance required."
The grey unicorn bowed and left as the guard guided her. The Terran stood up and walked to the balcony, leaning on it while thinking about the possible reasons of the grey unicorn not only being so far away of her homeland with just spike as her companion, but also of them losing their colour completely. The only thing that there was left to do now was to wait for the scout's report.
A month passed as the emperor patiently waited, giving random missions to the grey unicorn to keep her busy. One day Atticus arrived with the scout's report and gave it to the Terran, whose eyes widened both in shock and disbelief. The report said about Ponyville being some sort of literal nightmare: buildings upside down and flying, day and night changing in a minute, weather being as unstable as it could get, one day freezing cold and the other boiling heat. It was also written that Ponyville wasn't the only place affected, that every major and minor city of Equestria that he passed through was the same, but Ponyville seemed to be the eye of the storm.
"Atticus..." He said. His eyes were still fixated on the letter.
"Yes, sir?"
"Give me paper and quill. Also, prepare the 1st escort detachment."
"At once, sir."
Once he returned with paper and quill, he left to meet the soldiers. The Terran started writing the letter, the one who would receive that letter was no other than the grey unicorn and the dragon.
Just like the first time, the detachment and the Terran were at the gates, this time waiting for Twilight and Spike. Their objective wasn't annexing anything, but finding out what was happening, and solving it if possible. Nopony expected to be able to remedy the situation at Equestria; after all, if Celestia couldn't, then chances are no one can.
"You needed us?" Twilight and Spike arrived at the gates, their eyes widened as they saw for the first time that eighty heavily armoured soldiers would be escorting them.
"Indeed I do, we march to a place that might be familiar to you..."
"...If you are talking about Equestria, then you mustn't!"
"You have no authority over me, mare."
"You don't know what's there!"
"My scout has already given me the report of what's going on, that's one of the primary reasons of this mission. Help me as much as you can and this will be over earlier."
"But Disc--"
"Did I stutter?!"
"...No sir."
"Soldiers! We march!"
They all started walking, and with a bit of irritation Twilight followed. They all took a great risk by advancing into Equestrian soil, but they willingly did. They passed through Cabalderio's borders and stepped into Equestria, the further they got inside the weirder the scenery appeared to be. Just as they passed through a forest on the way to Ponyville they sighted something which didn't fit with the rest of the scenery. The Terran with a hand gesture told the detachment to scatter and surround, and with another he told Twilight and Spike to stick close to him. As they closed in they saw that the centre of the forest had neither trees nor grass, and in the middle there was a boulder with a pony sleeping over it. It was Fluttershy, but she had no colour at all, just grey; the Terran advanced towards her while Twilight and Spike followed.
"Twilight, what happened to Fluttershy?" Asked him as they stopped next to the sleeping grey pony.
"How do you know her name?"
"The same way I know yours."
"True enough, also I... don't know what happened."
"Will both of you shut up?! I'm trying to sleep over here!" Fluttershy said as she woke up.
"Okay, that's not the Fluttershy I've heard of...Twilight, are you hiding something?"
"...My guess is as good as yours."
"Really, Twilight? Don't you know anything about me? Dear god, did Discord hit your head hard enough to give you amnesia?" Retorted Fluttershy
"What?! I'm not hiding anything!"
"Ok, both of you stop fighting now." Ordered the Terran as he tried to avoid violence.
"Who are you to tell me what to do, super-sized monkey?!"
The Terran, after hearing what she said, removed his sunglasses.
"I'M THE ONE WHO CAN KICK YOUR ASS INTO NEXT MONTH!!"
"What did you just say!?"
"DID I STUTTER?!"
Fluttershy jumped towards the Terran and kicked him hard enough to make him fall, then they both started fighting and it was clear the Terran was losing.
"Both of you, stop!" Twilight's attempt at stopping the fight failed, but at that time she started regaining her colour, as she worried about them. "Stop it already!" She had no more options; she used her magic lift Fluttershy up in the air and make her stop destroying the Terran. "Fluttershy! That's not like you! You're supposed to be the element of kindness, yet you completely destroyed his face!"
"Medic..." Desperately implored the fallen Terran while raising an arm.
Twilight had regained her colour completely, but seeing as her talking it had no effect on Fluttershy, decided to make her remember everything she had done in life with a memory spell. She casted it and knocked out Fluttershy, and as she was unconscious she regained her colour too, until she woke up.
"What...What happened...Oh dear! Did I do this to that creature?"
"M-my blood! She punched out ALL my blood!"
Twilight smiled and jumped happily as her friend returned to her former self, she told the good news to Spike who was still grey, this spectacle had no effect on him.
"Spike! I did it! I cured Fluttershy!"
"Far out, mare." He said with a tiring voice as he laid on the ground contemplating the sky.
Twilight started thinking about what might cure him, until she realized something.
"If we keep like this, we can also make Rarity return to normal!"
"...You can?!" He said as he stood up and regained his colour in a split second. "This is incre--" His cheers were cut short as he grabbed his stomach in pain. Suddenly, out of his mouth came dozens if not hundreds of letters, and they all landed over the poor Terran who couldn't even fully regenerate. Twilight took one of the letters and gave it a look, and after that he took another one, and another one.
"These...These are the letters I sent to Princess Celestia!!"
"Looks like Celestia's with us now!" Remarked Spike.
"Well Twilight, it looks like you've been hiding a lot from me lately." Said the Terran as he stood up like nothing happened at all, with his wounds and broken bones completely healed.
The entire detachment revealed themselves from the places they were hiding, making Fluttershy almost faint of the shock.
"Sir, what's our next objective?"
"That's for Twilight to decide, after all, I bet she knows a lot of things that I don't..."
"Ha ha...Sorry..."
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 5: Where the sorrow won't stop.
Chapter 5: Where the sorrow won't stop
"So this 'Discord' managed to corrupt your friends, turning them into their opposites, and after believing that you failed you left Equestria to look for another purpose in life?" Asked the Terran.
"Pretty much." Answered Twilight.
"And now we have to find the others to unite the mane 6 again and have a chance of winning against this 'Discord'?"
"Yes."
"Understood, we march to Ponyville again then."
The detachment formed up once again, and began to walk towards the chaotic place.
"Umm...excuse me..."
"Yes, Fluttershy?"
"I have never seen anything like you before, but you can speak normally like us...What are you?"
"A Terran." He said, not giving her any more information.
"Ah, I see...I-I hope you can forgive me for what I did to you back then..." She obviously had no idea what a 'Terran' was.
"I regenerate, nothing to fear."
"...Thanks."
At this point it started raining. Everyone continued marching while the scenery got even more messed up than before; once they arrived at the eye of the storm they saw what appeared to be a real-life scale version of a surrealistic painting. They even passed through Twilight's house, the door still open from when they left. As they got near the centre, they heard a sorrowful humming; the Terran gave the order to stop and looked around. In the distance, on top of the town hall, there was a grey figure. He gave the order to scatter around the building to prevent her from escaping, since the memory spell would be the only thing able to return her back to normal. The plan would be to close in without her noticing, restrain her and cure her.
The Terran and his detachment successfully surrounded the building without being noticed, as Pinkie Pie continued singing.
"Now!" The Terran yelled as he ran to the door, shot the lock and kicked it open.
He and part of the detachment ran inside while the others kept guard outside. There was no one inside, but that fact was ignored as Pinkie Pie was the priority. They arrived at the top to find out that she wasn't there and the singing had stopped.
"Aren't you all putting too much effort on this...?" A voice spoke outside. It was the grey pony which managed to escape unnoticed and was standing on top of a tree.
The Terran out of frustration broke the window, took aim with his rifle and fired. An apple fell on top of Pinkie Pie.
"GET BACK HERE SO WE CAN BRAIN WA—AUGH"
"You'll scare her away!" Interrupted Twilight, as she unconsciously punched the Terran out of the way. "Pinkie! Come back with us! We can turn you back to what you were before Discord poisoned your mind!"
"He didn’t poison me, he just showed me the truth." Said Pinkie Pie in a depressed tone.
"What?"
"Before, I was just a pony who always had parties everywhere, that was monotonous. 'Have a good time'? All I did was waste my life moving around and listening to noises. So many years…Gone to waste…!" She continued as her tone changed from depression to anger. “Do you have any idea what I could have done instead of that?! So many projects…I could have helped ponies…But I was trapped in my own little world…”
"Pinkie! That's Discord's poison! He's controlling you to think that way!"
As both of them were speaking, the Terran climbed a building next to the tree she was standing without anyone noticing. As the discussion continued he managed to get into a position to jump and grab Pinkie mid-air. He jumped, but she moved just enough to make him miss completely, he screamed all the way down.
"You are trying too hard, Terran. Go away before you and your friends get hurt!"
"How do you know what I am? No one ever told you!!"
"How ignorant. The one who showed me the true way told me about you…To expect you…" She said before jumping down the tree and walking away around the town hall.
The Terran tried to pursue her, but just as he turned around the corner the pony he was chasing disappeared. He sighed.
"Detachment! Reform at me!"
The running of 80 ponies echoed around as they stood in front of the Terran.
"Scatter around Ponyville and find her, everything else is secondary! Move in groups of 5, GO!" He yelled irritated. "Fluttershy, you have wings, I need you to fly around and look for Pinkie, if you find her alert the nearest group."
"Y-yes!"
The Terran returned to the top of the building, covered in mud and water.
"What do we do now?” Asked Twilight.
"We sit. And we wait."
Fluttershy arrived breathing heavily and tired.
"Terran, I found Pinkie, I told the nearest group but they couldn’t get her, I even alerted another 3 groups but they still failed!"
"I can see her from here!" Remarked Spike, and once he was heard everyone rushed to the window he was looking through.
From what could be seen, Pinkie laid traps all around Ponyville and she knew them all like the back of her hoof.
"That's it! Fluttershy, take a rest, you deserve it. Twilight, can you amplify voices?" Asked the Terran.
"Yes!"
"Good, amplify Spike's voice, he'll tell my troops where to go, and if Pinkie moves, the new location. After that, you'll come with me. I bet you can use your magic to see the traps before they are activated. LET'S GO!"
The Terran ran out of the building to where the action took place, and after a while, so did Twilight. The voice of Spike echoed in Ponyville as he told the soldiers where the chaos was. Everypony was doing their part in this mission.
After running, the Terran and Twilight stumbled upon a group of around a dozen tired soldiers.
"Report!"
"We cannot advance; there are traps in every inch of the path the objective ran away through! We've also lost 2 in a pit, and we couldn’t reach them!"
"Twilight, you are now in control of this group, guide them through the traps, I'll go get the ones in the pit!" Ordered the Terran.
"S-sure! Let's go everypony!"
They ran their separates way in the rain. This was supposed to be a simple mission: Go to Ponyville, cure any mane 6 pony they found, and keep looking for the others. It all went to hell by the second one, and even if they succeeded here, they'd still have 3 more to look for.
"You both alright?!" Asked the Terran as he looked down the pit, the bottom already had about 20 centimetres of water.
"Yes! Can you get us out of here?!"
The Terran dropped down to the floor and reached his arm to the ponies trapped below, the added length of his limbs were enough to grab them one by one.
"T-Terran! Spike told me you needed help, so I came flying as fast as I could!"
"I sure do, Fluttershy! Where's Twilight?"
"Around a hundred metres away! Follow me!"
The 2 soldiers and him followed Fluttershy to where Twilight was. Through the journey, they helped all who were stuck, and by the end they had around 20 more soldiers. After a lot of running, they all saw a purple glow moving at a considerable speed in the dusk.
"I see Twilight's magic! Let's go everypony!" Said Fluttershy.
By the time the Terran and his group reached Pinkie Pie, she had ran out of traps already; she had no way to escape Ponyville now. All the soldiers surrounded her while Twilight, and later the Terran, got close to her.
"Pinkie...Give up...It's all over..." Sorrowfully said Twilight as she walked closer and closer
"It's not over! It's never over!!" Screamed Pinkie Pie, who was standing on her hind legs with her back on a corner.
"Restrain her." Ordered the Terran.
4 Ponies advanced and complied, while Twilight casted the memory spell on her. Pinkie pie was knocked unconscious, her colours returning completely. She didn't wake up, but that's because she used too much energy to try to escape.
"Carry her, we're returning to Cabalderio."
"What? What about the others?" Questioned Spike as he arrived panting.
"I never said I'd abandon them. But if things keep going like this, a single detachment would be of no use."
A grim silence engulfed the situation before they decided to return to Stallinox.
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 6: Where honesty doesn't exist.
Chapter 6: Where honesty doesn't exist.
"I see Pinkie Pie has woken up at last. I still can't believe someone like her almost made the last mission end in failure." Noticed the Terran.
"I'm very sorry..." Said Pinkie in a depressed tone.
"I haven't lost a single soldier today, and you have returned to your former self. I know you had no control over your actions."
"...Thanks for understanding..."
The discussion grew as they travelled to the Empire's capital.
"...So where are we heading now?" The pink pony asked with curiosity.
"To my Empire's capital, Stallinox. You'll all rest for a while I organize a force to recover the rest of the mane 6."
"...Your...Empire?!" Both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie said in unison.
"Long story, you'll have to ask someone else. If you want answers, though, there are the records of everything that happened in the Imperial Archives."
“Now that you say that…I guess I’ll ask Twilight once we arrive…she’s more into reading…” Said Pinkie.
After a week or 2, they arrived to the main gates and the four guards on top of it greeted them, Fluttershy and Pinkie pie were completely surprised to see a city which rivalled anything that they have ever seen, even Canterlot itself. The giant, metallic doors rose to let them pass. Fluttershy's and Pinkie Pie's jaws almost dropped to the floor as they saw what kind of city it was, there were ponies everywhere, but they all left space in the road ahead to let the detachment pass.
"I...I have never seen so many ponies in my life! Not even in the Grand Galloping Gala!!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she almost fell backwards of the surprise.
"There were several waves of immigration into all of Cabalderio, I wouldn’t be surprised if they happened due to Equestria’s situation. Twilight will lead you to the place you'll spend these nights in. Spike, I'll need you to come with me for now, after that you may return with Twilight. Soldiers, return to your barracks and rest, you all deserve it."
"Yes sir!"
Everypony went their separate ways after that. After a while, they all arrived to their destinations. In the castle, Atticus, the Terran and Spike were discussing.
"Spike, you can send letters to Celestia, and the fact that you puked a ton of letters over my crippled body back then suggests that you can also receive letters from her. Is everything I said the truth?"
"It is! Why do you ask?"
"I need to know if you can send letters from me to somepony else, and vice versa."
"I dont know...I never tried it with others before, but I'll try."
The Terran grabbed a quill and paper, wrote something insignificant and handed it to Spike.
"Send this to Atticus."
"Yes sir!"
He held it high, and spewed green fire which engulfed the letter and made it disappear. After a few seconds, the letter appeared over Atticus and landed on top of his head. The same procedure was used for Atticus' letter; lift high, engulf in flames, disappears. Except this time the letter appeared right next to the Terran, and it flew right into his eye.
"OH GOD PAIN PAIN PAIN MAKE IT STOP--AUGH!!" He screamed while taking the letter out of his eye and letting it regenerate.
"...Sorry, I coughed..."
A week had passed already. Fluttershy, Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie were told to wait outside the gates, today was the day they'd start the journey to secure another of the mane 6. The gates opened and the Terran, with 3 companies of 120 soldiers, a captain, a lieutenant and a flag bearer each, arrived. Needless to say, everypony was surprised both by the amount of soldiers, and by the fact that travelling with such a military force meant that the mission would be far more difficult than expected.
"There is a storm coming, it seems..." Mention the Terran as he looked to the skies; and he meant it, the skies were covered with grey clouds already. "Twilight, what's the nearest of the Mane 6 from Ponyville?"
"That would be Rarity's place."
"Understood. Units, we march!"
The last time they travelled to Ponyville they were escorted by at most a hundred soldiers, this time they had 3 companies of a regular army.
They travelled through Equestria's surreal scenery, until they arrived at Ponyville again.
"Twilight, guide us to Rarity's house." Ordered the Terran.
She complied and led the small army towards their objective. There they stood, in front of the door into Rarity's place. The Terran shot the lock and kicked the door open. 1st company stormed the house, while 2nd and 3rd stood outside waiting.
"Sir, there is no one here."
"Dammit...No time to be standing still. Twilight, what's the next closest mare?"
"That would be Applejack, she must be in the barn, follow me!"
The nearly 400 ponies followed the purple unicorn to the outskirts of Ponyville, where in the distance they spotted Applejack's red barn. The Terran walked ahead of the main force and looked towards it, after a few seconds she called Twilight, who walked next to him.
"Twilight, do you have some sort of spell that lets you look through walls?"
"I do."
"Go ahead then."
"I...I can't see anything inside..." She said worryingly as she kept casting her spell.
"Is it empty?"
"No, it's all black, as if something blocked my sight..."
The Terran stood silently for a few seconds before deciding to take actions.
"1st and 2nd company, to the front, 3 ranks! 3rd company in reserve! A hundred meters in front of the barn, GO!"
All marched until they were in front of the giant doors. At that moment, the Terran alone advanced, broke part of the door with a kick and went inside.
"Heyya, how ya doin'?"
From above a completely grey pony greeted the Terran, it was Applejack.
"..."
"Not the talking type, are ya?"
"..." The Terran kept silent as he tried to remember what Twilight said about the corruption. He remembered that it turns ponies into their contrary, and Applejack's element was honesty, meaning she'd lie at any chance she had.
"Well? Whatcha doin' in my barn?"
The Terran sighed before deciding that playing her game would take too much time.
"I come to get you and cure you from the corruption."
"What? But I ain't ill or nothin'!"
"Prove it."
"..." She kept staring at the Terran with a surprised face and saying nothing.
Suddenly, next to her appeared 2 small, dark clouds, and the next instant, those clouds turned into 2 heavily armoured ponies with both dark skin and dark armour. The Terran stood still having no idea what was going on, but 5 more clouds which turned to ponies appeared near Applejack, and then more, and more, and more until it almost filled the barn.
"...Why does the Terran take so much time?" Questioned Spike while lying on the floor contemplating the sky.
From inside the barn a rumbling could be heard, everyone outside noticed it and questioned what was going on, but before anyone could come up with an answer the Terran came out running at a ridiculous speed through the hole he made, and after a few seconds a hundred dark ponies broke through the giant doors destroying it completely while chasing the Terran.
"HOLD THE LINE HOLD THE LINE OH GOD WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!!" Screamed the Terran as he desperately ran towards the formation of soldiers, and once he reached it he hurled himself above the line to land behind them into safety. All the soldiers clashed their shields together and maintained formation as they saw a black swarm heading towards them.
The hundred dark ponies clashed with the imperial soldiers into battle, as more and more came out of the barn.
"What's going on?!" Asked Twilight.
"If I knew I'd tell you! Those... things came out of thin air and started chasing me!"
"Out of thin air?!"
"Did I stutter?!"
"Fine, what’s the plan?"
"We wait and pray that my soldiers can defeat them, and then we storm the barn for Applejack." Said the Terran as he stood up and looked worryingly at the main line, this was the first fight he had been in command of.
The fighting intensified as both sides threw themselves against each other, and after an hour the fighting was taking its toll. He could see as the swarm got closer and closer before making his next decision.
"1st company, fall back! 3rd company, take its place!" Screamed the Terran. It was either victory or death. "Fluttershy!"
"Y-yes!" She answered as she hid from the bloodshed behind Pinkie Pie.
"I'm sorry to ask you this but here we go. I haven't seen a single Pegasus in the enemy's ranks, that means you can fly without any danger; I need you to get on top of that barn and see what's going on inside!"
"…I will!"
Fluttershy took flight and landed on top of the barn, and the Terran desperately waiting for her to come back. Once she was done, she took flight again and returned.
"It looks like Applejack is sleeping, and the dark ponies you mentioned aren’t appearing anymore!"
"You heard her, brothers! Push into the barn! 1st company and Twilight, with me!"
The war cry of the remaining imperial ponies was heard all over the place as they gave a final effort for victory. The Terran and the 1st company ran around the barn and destroyed the back door; they could see the exposed rear of the enemy formation from where they were.
"1st company...UNLEASH HELL!" He screamed as he pointed to the dark ponies.
The yelling of the 1st company echoed inside, such a moment would be remembered by those who heard it. The Terran and Twilight climbed the ladder of the barn to the top where Applejack was resting, and while he restrained her, Twilight casted the memory spell on her. By the time Applejack regained colour, the last dark pony was slain. Everyone went outside and regrouped, with Applejack being carried by both Pinkie and Fluttershy.
"Where is 2nd company's captain?" Asked the Terran.
"I'm here, sir."
"Good, you and your men have been closest to those things we fought, tell me what you saw."
"Well… As far we could see, they wore dark armour and had dark skin. I'd dare to say they looked like Princess Luna's soldiers, but as we struck them they just disappeared into a cloud of smoke. They were as real as they could get, their armour wasn't just for looks, since it could deflect our strikes, and they even had facial expressions."
“…I see. Ask the other company captains how many casualties they received, then return to me with a report.”
The Terran stood still as thoughts started appearing in his head; they were fighting against…something else, this kind of enemy was new to everyone.
“Sir, I’ve returned with the report: 1st company lost 102 of its 120 combatants, 2nd company lost 86 and 3d company lost 70.”
Upon hearing the report, he sighed and lowered his head. He then sorrowfully raised his voice for everyone to hear. "Let's go back to Stallinox...This mission was a failure..."
"But...we succeeded, we got Applejack, right?" Said Twilight as she tried to cheer him up.
"I call having to sacrifice more than half of my brothers to rescue a sleeping pony a god damn failure! Now let's go!"
View Online
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 7: Where the greed creates monsters.
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."
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 8: Where the skies rain fire.
Chapter 8: Where the skies rain fire.
Again on his balcony, the Terran contemplated the situation: Twilight Sparkle told him that the last of the corrupted Mane 6, Rainbow Dash, was located in Cloudsdale, a flying city only accessible to Pegasi, which meant his forces would be limited greatly. Taking this mission, be it victory or defeat, meant that Equestria would declare war. The Terran Empire had never been to war before, and it has been in existence for decades at most, yet Equestria has been created more than millennia ago. He had no choice in the matter; avoiding war meant that Discord's influence would spread throughout the world since he could not be stopped without Rainbow Dash. War was coming.
Outside, the rain turned to storm, the corruption was spreading and the Terran knew it. He had little time to prepare now.
"Atticus, how goes the fortifications?"
"Halfway done, at this pace it would need another week or two."
"And the Pegasi companies?"
"Organization will be finished tomorrow."
"Send Fluttershy to the cartographers and ask them to create a map of Cloudsdale, it'll prove vital for this operation."
"As you wish."
Atticus left in search of Fluttershy while the Terran still stared at the city below.
A day passed as the storm outside intensified, it hasn't stopped raining in months. The Terran stood above the main gates staring at the horizon, drenched in the rain. The Pegasi companies started organizing outside, armed with bows, swords and shields instead of lances. Atticus arrived to where the Terran stood.
"So this is the day. The day when we storm the heavenly city of Cloudsdale. No matter the outcome of this mission, we'll be fighting something far bigger after this; once Rainbow Dash is rescued, the Mane 6 will be completed and we’ll be able to stand a chance against Discord."
"What about the corrupted Princess Celestia?"
"May the Great Ones help us all."
The Pegasi companies had finished forming outside the gates while the Terran got down from the gates. Twilight Sparkle and the rest waited outside too.
Fluttershy handed the Terran the map created with the help of the cartographers.
"This will get ruined in the storm… Twilight, is there something you can do?"
"I sure can!" She said as she casted a spell on the paper, once done the water could run through the paper without ruining it.
"Thanks. Now, can you cast a spell to let me walk over clouds?"
"I can, but it will take time for me to cast it on us all."
"…None of you are coming with me to Cloudsdale."
"Wait, what? It's our friend we're going to rescue!"
"When we went for Rarity, a force of a hundred thousand waited for us. And even then, we had 15,000 ponies with us. We are only able to field a couple thousands up there at most; there aren't many Pegasi in the Imperial Army, after all. Fear not, you'll wait below Cloudsdale."
"I…Understand…."
"Units, march!"
Five days passed, the storm became even worse than before, the days looked like dusk and the nights were pitch black, except for the lightning which allowed everypony to see normally for a split second, just like the Terran's last day on Terra. After arriving, they looked above them to see the city of Cloudsdale; its rainbows were grey, and its clouds black, it even looked like it had its own small storm.
"This...isn't the Cloudsdale I remember..." Said Fluttershy in a worried voice.
"This is it, there is no turning back. Even if we back off now Celestia will declare war." The Terran talked as he walked towards the captain and got on top of him. "Our objective is Cloudsdale; we must capture it and secure it, once secure Twilight will be transported above to cast the memory spell on Rainbow Dash. Take it to the skies, brothers!"
Every single Pegasi on the ground took flight in unison, making the mane 6 trip backwards and stare in awe as almost 2 thousand Pegasi flew to Cloudsdale.
As they reached the same height as the city, they saw how it was filled with dark-coloured Pegasi. Before they could react they took flight and built speed towards the Imperial forces.
"They are charging at us! Scatter! 5th and 6th companies, clear the landing zone!"
An aerial dogfight started up above, thousands of Pegasi from both sides flew around each other in the storm, 5th and 6th companies charged forward to the landing zone clearing part of it while pushing the rest back.
"The landing zones are clear! 3rd, 4th and 7th companies, take the high ground! The rest, push through the main entrance!"
The waves of dark ponies were unending, but everyone pushed forward with all their strength, failure was not an option. The forces reached a small elevation which led from the entrance to the main city where the 3rd company joined forces with them. The battle was progressing well for the Empire.
"13th and 14th companies, take the stadium! Everypony else, to the gates!"
The 2 companies flew away to the stadium that wasn't connected directly to Cloudsdale. The rest pushed through the gates only to be greeted by a force which put those from before to shame, the fighting intensified and so did the storm, lightning could fall anywhere. The yelling of every soldier echoed through the cloud city, it was nightmarish.
"Sir, Rainbow Dash has been spotted in the stadium!"
"Take me there at once!" Said the Terran as he got on top of the soldier, who flew to the stadium with him.
Upon arriving, he saw everypony taking cover behind the parapets while firing back at their attackers. He ran next to a captain, and took three arrows to the head before finally reaching cover.
"Report!"
"We are pinned down by their ar--...I guess you know by now!"
"I sure do!" He said as he took an arrow out of his skull.
"We've spotted Rainbow Dash for a split second, her current location is unknown but she is in this area!"
The Terran took a quick look over the parapet, and not a second later five more arrows were lodged in his skull. He took the arrows out before deciding to take out his rifle and join the skirmish. An hour of shooting everything that moves at the other side of the stadium with arrows and bullets passed before they realized they gained nothing at this pace.
"Everypony, take and secure the floor upstairs and block the staircases! Captain, send your lieutenant for reinforcements!"
"Yes sir!"
Everypony rushed up the stairs and blocked them with everything they could find, it would keep the enemy busy for a moment while reinforcements arrived. Except the reinforcements never arrived, instead, the lieutenant returned with a pale face.
"What happened? Where are the reinforcements?!"
"There are no reinforcements! Our forces lost the city and were pushed back to the gates! They won't hold them off any longer!"
Only the sounds of arrows flying and the furniture blocking the stairs being destroyed could be heard. The Terran cleaned the sweat of his mouth and with a determined voice said:
"Lieutenant, tell the forces to retreat. 13th and 14th companies, hear me! We came to secure the city for Twilight to come and cure Rainbow Dash, well plans changed! Our priority is getting Rainbow Dash out of here, corruption or not!"
"For the Emperor!!" Yelled everyone.
"They got through the stairs!!" Desperately screamed a soldier.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!!"
Everyone clashed their shields together as they absorbed the charge that came from below. The situation was hopeless; they were going to be defeated sooner or later. The Terran looked around to find anything to help hold them off any way they could, but found nothing. Instead, he narrowed his eyes as he saw in the sky a grey dot which grew bigger and bigger at an alarming rate. It was Rainbow Dash, who held a chair and charged towards the Terran.
"HOW DARE YOU INVADE MY HOME!!?”
"OH GOD NOT ANOTHER CHA--AEUGH!!"
The Terran fell backwards while Rainbow Dash regained her balanced and charged towards him again, but this time the Terran was ready and managed to fight back the beating he was receiving.
"Everypony, retreat!" Screamed the Terran as he struggled with the grey Pegasus.
"But sir--"
"I SAID RETREAT!!"
Every single Pegasi in the stadium flew down below, leaving the lone Terran to fight Rainbow Dash.
"Hah, now you're alone!" Taunted Rainbow Dash.
"SEE IF I CARE!"
The Terran charged forward pushing Rainbow Dash and himself over the parapet, falling down below. They both fell at a considerable speed towards their imminent doom.
"Let me go! We'll both die!"
"A fitting end for our lives… isn't it, Rainbow Crash?!"
The Terran's taunt worked, she flapped her wings with anger and managed to fly off and lessen the impact onto the ground.
"Who are you calling Rainbow Crash?!" She said as she started fighting the Terran once again.
This time the Terran had the help of his soldiers while fighting her, she was restrained without any chance of escape.
"Quick, Twilight!"
"Yes!" She said as she ran towards Rainbow Dash and casted the spell.
Rainbow Dash's mane regained all her colours while being knocked out, and after a few seconds she woke up.
"Wha...where am I? What happened?"
"There is no time, let's get out before those things in Cloudsdale realize they can chase us! Or even worse, Celestia's army prepares an ambush!"
"Celestia's army ambushing us?! What are you talking about?!" Questioned Rainbow Dash, oblivious of everything that happened after her corruption.
"Celestia has been corrupted and said that if I sent an army to Equestria again she'd declare war on us, and this is the army I commanded to rescue you! I'll explain everything on the way, LETS GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!"
The Mane 6 were united once again, thanks to the efforts of the Terran and his Empire. They all returned to Stallinox and the six celebrated their return in their home. The Terran patiently waited in his throne for the declaration of war Celestia would send, while drinking a glass of wine. Spike, who was next to him, suddenly barfed said letter and gave it to the Terran. Upon reading it, he spat his wine all over the floor; he then stared at the letter with a pale face.
"Sir, what happened?!" Said Atticus as he ran towards him.
"It's worse than I anticipated...FAR worse...I thought only Equestria would declare war...but Celestia managed to form a coalition of SIX DIFFERENT STATES against us...not only that, Celestia's corruption is ridiculously obvious, that would mean Discord's influence had spread enough to engulf another five states..." He said before handing the letter to Atticus.
"This letter mentioned several states...But not every known state is inside this coalition. We could form our own coalition to stand a chance against them."
"...and Discord's chaos would be the perfect motivation…"
"This is getting interesting..." Echoed a voice through the castle. It wasn't just a voice; it was the voice which guided the Terran to the fountain of Immortality. "It's a real shame I forgot the popcorn."
"You're the voice from back then..."
"Indeed I am, Terran. And I'll hold no more secrets now since you're pretty good by yourself."
For a split second, a light blinded Atticus, Spike, and the Terran. Before them was something out of myths, a Draconequus.
"Discord!" Exclaimed Spike.
"Wait, this guy is Discord?! The one who turned Equestria into a surrealistic painting without meaning whatsoever?!"
"The one and only, and I see you've made quite the spectacle while I was gone."
"Woah woah woah, back up, aren't you supposed to create chaos instead of...help removing it?"
"Why, that's a very astute observation...Why do you ask?"
"Well, you gave me immortality AND I'm helping the mane 6..."
"And...?"
"...And I just united the mane 6..."
"I repeat: And?"
"JUST WHY DID YOU GIVE ME IMMORTALITY IF IM AGAINST YOU?!"
"I expected you to be less...dumb. After all, you united an Empire and, as you said, united the Mane 6." Discord cleared his throat. "This is where it gets interesting, my dear dumb friend. You've said my influence has covered five other states, but the truth is it didn't even leave Equestria! Your immortality is working against you; Celestia saw the chance and used it. Let me elaborate: One day a strange creature never seen nor heard of before, not even in legends, appears in this world and takes over a city. It cannot be killed nor harmed permanently. It unites Cabalderio into one of this world's most powerful Empires; and after that, 'kidnaps' five of the six ponies under Celestia's custody. She tried to make you stop, after all you've started a battle in her lands too...But you didn't listen. Instead, you invaded the city of Cloudsdale and 'kidnapped' the last pony under her care...Now, she wants to rescue them and put an end to you, but she can't alone, so she formed a coalition of states against you...Oh boy, this will be so much fun!"
After laughing loudly, a bright light blinded the three present again. Once they recovered, Discord was nowhere to be found.
View Online
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 9: Where brothers fight against each other.
Chapter 9: Where brothers fight against each other.
A year had passed since the declaration of war. In that time, more states joined either side in this struggle; this was the first global conflict this world had ever experienced. This made the Terran remember about the Second World War in his home, but this time it was divided in West against East. Several battles were fought, but the might of Celestia’s coalition was focused on Cabalderio, ignoring its allies; this kind of strategy took its toll as the Terran Empire kept losing more and more of its territory against the corrupted hordes.
The Terran and his current army stood prepared in a fort, waiting patiently for the army that was bound to attack them in the storm.
“Fliers spotted!” Yelled a soldier as he saw a swarm of pegasi belonging to Celestia’s army.
“Pegasi companies, intercept them!” Ordered the Terran.
They all took flight above the fort and charged towards them. In the woods, Celestia’s land army could be seen.
“They’re here! Archers, fire!”
A rain of arrows struck the marching enemy as they got closer, but that didn’t stop them. They reached the gates and started to tear it apart.
“Infantry, in front of the gate!”
They obeyed as they prepared for the imminent charge once they broke through. Only the sound of the gate being torn, the rain, lightning and the pegasi fighting outside could be heard.
“Shield wall!” He ordered as he saw the gate being on the verge of destruction.
The gate was breached and the enemy charged towards the Imperial infantry who greeted them with a wall of steel. The fighting intensified as the defenders took loses, until the enemy started leaving the fort. Everypony questioned what was the reason behind it, but the Terran’s eyes widened in sheer terror as he couldn’t hear the pegasi fighting outside; he realized that his pegasi companies were utterly destroyed, and theirs were reforming to charge them.
“Infantry, fall back! Pikemen, form spear wall! NOW!!” He scream desperately, hoping that it wasn’t too late.
The royal cavalry charged inside the fort, making a complete mess; the Pikemen could not get ready for the charge in time. The only thing they could do was fight until the bitter end, it was impossible to think about tactics in this situation; the only thing that could determine the outcome was force of arms.
A war cry was heard as it got louder and louder outside, until a sudden noise of steel clashing made most of the opposing army look back in terror. It was the cavalry of the Republic of Zemlja Konja, a nation north of Cabalderio; it arrived just in time to save the Imperial forces of utter destruction. After minutes of fighting the entire enemy army ran for their lives; those who were saved walked outside the fort to greet their saviours in the storm and to catch their breath. The Terran walked up to a soldier and gave him a letter.
“Go to Stallinox and give this to Atticus.”
“Yes sir!”
The Terran stood still, he knew Cabalderio wouldn’t last long if things kept going this way.
“You seem worried, my friend.” Said the allied general.
“The letter I gave him…It was an order to completely evacuate Stallinox’s population.”
“Stallinox…Your Empire’s capital…”
“This fort was the last of a series of defences made to intercept the advancing forces. There aren’t any more distractions between Equestria and the capital; the enemy will throw everything and the kitchen sink against it. Units, we return to Stallinox!”
“What’s happening? Why are there so many ponies outside? Is there a party and they didn’t invite us?” Asked Pinkie Pie as she looked outside the window.
Everypony gathered up next to the window and stared at the scenery, until somepony knocked loudly the door. Applejack opened it and saw the Terran drenched in the rain and panting; Twilight invited him inside but he refused.
“There is no time, you must all evacuate this place at once!”
“What? What happened?” Questioned Spike.
“The last fort between Equestria and this city has fallen and left this city completely exposed to an enemy attack, chances are the entire enemy coalition will unite their armies and attack us. Outside the gates there’s an evacuation group that will tell you what to do next. Spike, I need you for one last task, and then you’ll meet up with the mane 6 outside.”
“O-Of course!”
“Good, meet me at the castle.” Said the Terran as he left.
“What…What will happen now…?” Asked Fluttershy on the verge of crying.
“Don’t worry dear…The Terran said there was an evacuation group outside, we just need to pack up and go there, nothing else! Spike, you should go to the castle now, the Terran was…worried, to say the least…” Explained Rarity.
“Yes!”
Spike arrived at the castle where the Terran and several of his lieutenants awaited him.
“Thank the Great Ones you’ve arrived…Listen, I need you to send a letter to the leaders of every nation in the coalition, can you do that?”
“I sure can!”
A servant arrived with the letters and left them next to Spike.
“Those are the letters calling for reinforcements, once sent you may join your friends outside the gates.” After saying this, the Terran sat on his throne with his hand on his mouth. He hoped that the reinforcements would arrive before the enemy did; there was no telling when either of them would come first.
Several days passed as the Terran and his forces waited. Stallinox, except for the forces stationed there, was completely empty; the rain and storm made the scenery even more nightmarish. Even worse, the amount of clouds that gathered up since the start had turned the day into perpetual night. The Terran waited every day at the walls, resting his arms in the parapet, hoping to see the forces that would arrive to help him defend this city. On the horizon, several ponies could be seen sporting the flag of Zemlja Konja; he smiled behind his drenched scarf as he saw an army of 25,000 ponies marching towards the city. Once they arrived, the guards opened the gates and their hooves echoed as they marched into the capital.
“Greetings general, it is good to see you once again…”
“I say the same about you, Terran.” Said the general who had saved their lives at the fort weeks ago. “A beautiful city you have here…Shame it will witness such a bloodshed…”
“I expect the enemy to bring all they have here, the Empire has been a great factor in this war, and with its capital exposed…Anyways, I’m expecting another 4 armies to arrive. Go ahead into the castle, my lieutenants will meet you there.”
One more week passed before the entire coalition’s forces were stationed at Stallinox. The number of soldiers in this city was unheard of, even in the most ridiculous legends; 150,000 soldiers ready at one of the biggest cities in this world. All the generals stood in the throne room discussing their plan since they arrived, but just as they were discussing a soldier broke into the room and screamed.
“The enemy! They have arrived!”
Everypony quickly stood up once they heard what the soldier said.
“Ok, everypony knows the plan, get moving!” Ordered the Terran as he got out of the room first, while the other generals followed.
Outside in the storms, the walls and towers were filled with archers, the streets blocked with infantry, this would be one of the biggest battles in history. The enemy surrounded the entire city with battering rams, ladders, siege towers, catapults and trebuchets, it was either victory or death. Even worse for the Terran, he’d get captured and Great Ones know what would happen.
“How many do you think there are out there?” Asked his lieutenant.
“More than we think…They don’t try to starve us out because they’d run out of supplies before we do, and we have a hundred thousand and a half soldiers here…They also managed to completely surround this city, one of the biggest. I’d not be surprised if they have more than half a million…” Answered the Terran.
“Half a million?! That’s utterly ridiculous! They’d starve in months!”
“Notice how many siege weapons they have? After taking this city they’d all separate and take the remaining settlements in my empire.”
“…Mother of God…”
The opposing army started advancing in a slow but steady pace.
“Archers!” Yelled the Terran as he raised his arm. They still weren’t close enough for the arrows to hit, he waited until the precise moment. In the storm they kept walking closer and closer until they were in range. “Fire!” He screamed while lowering is arm, the arrows that rained could have darkened the skies had it not been perpetual night already. The opposing army started running instead of walking, carrying theirs ladders, towers and rams with them, flaming rocks fell everywhere as the catapults and trebuchets opened fire.
“Their ladders are at the walls, general.” Said the lieutenant who was next to him.
“Send in the infantry.”
“You heard him! 74th to 83rd infantry companies, to the wall!”
At the walls the fighting became more and more desperate as the enemy kept climbing the ladders laid all around the capital’s walls. Siege towers started closing in before the other lieutenant yelled orders.
“Archers, ignite missiles and focus on the towers!”
The darkness lit up through the skies as volleys of fire hit the towers, most of them catching fire while the others reached the walls. The battering ram was already in place, tearing down the metallic gates.
“32nd to 56th infantry companies, to the doors!”
The defence was going well; the walls were under control and the forces were already behind the gates ready to defend the breach. But a company lieutenant arrived and started speaking.
“Sir, the enemy is carrying some sort of spherical artefact towards the walls. No matter how many arrows we shoot at it, it won’t get destroyed. Whenever we kill those carrying it more come to take their place almost immediately…”
The Terran started worrying about it and walked on top of the walls, once above he quickly took a look at the artefact below while dodging the arrows fired upon him. The artefact glew a bright white and purple light, and whenever it got closer to the wall it glew even brighter.
“I want everypony shooting whoever carries that thing!” Yelled the Terran, better safe than sorry.
“Sir, the battering ram broke through the gates!”
“Hold them off! Don’t let them gain ground!” He said while he got off the wall, but just as he touched ground the wall where the artefact was heading to exploded in a bright, almost blinding light, sending boulders and debris flying around. The Terran could do nothing but stare in awe and terror. “15th to 24th companies, to the breach!!”
The nightmare didn’t stop, the catapults and trebuchets kept knocking down segments of the walls for the enemy to storm through.
“I want every available sword defending the breaches!!” He desperately screamed.
The fighting continued at the walls. At the beginning every general was put in charge of defending a part of the city’s walls; the Terran’s was being utterly annihilated, even though he had double the forces than the next biggest army defending.
“Sir, our forces are being overrun! We must back off to the inner walls!”
“…Has it come to this already…? Everypony, Retreat to the inner ring!”
The sound of hooves running across the city echoed in the night, the inner gates opened and archers positioned themselves above the walls; infantry slowly falling back while keeping the enemy at bay. Once everyone was safely behind the inner walls the gates closed shut.
“Let’s pray to the Great Ones that our brothers didn’t have to resort to this before us…Archers, focus fire on the heaviest units!”
The enemy, through the breaches they created, carried their siege weaponry through the destroyed parts of the city towards the inner walls.
“I’ve had enough…” He said while looking at the dark sky, the water being stopped by his sunglasses. He climbed up the wall and narrowed his eyes, focusing on the army that walked through the rubble. Among them he saw another of the artefacts that made the wall blow up; he aimed at the spherical object and fired, hoping that a bullet would be enough to cause a reaction. The strange artefact blew up next to their forces, taking out a large group with them; but that only managed to slow them down for a few minutes while they regrouped, and they learned by not carrying more of them into the fight.
Ladders and another battering ram reached the gates despite being showered with arrows ignited on fire; the casualties taken by the enemy army didn’t show at all, there was no end to this hell. This time, without some spherical device to blow up the wall, the Imperial Army managed to last longer before the battering ram once again destroyed the gates. Heavier infantry stormed the gates, the fighting was even harder and more nightmarish than before; exhausted soldiers fought bravely against the worst that the enemy sent but were ultimately pushed back. The Terran, already running out of hopes gave a final order to the few remaining forces present: “Everypony, this is it! Fall back to the castle, we’ll make a final stand there!” Everypony obeyed seeing as these were their final hours.
Once inside they closed the doors behind them and barricaded it. The Imperial Army, at first 50,000, now numbered around the hundreds. Victory was impossible, it was all over already; they all prepared themselves for their final effort as the enemy tried breaking through the barricaded gates.
“We tried defending this place, but even with a force of a hundred thousand and a half, we failed. After this, they’ll divide and take over every other settlement in the Empire…Soldiers, this is the final order I’ll give you today, and maybe in my life: Take out as many bastards as you can, every enemy that you kill won’t be present in their next missions. Who’s with me?!”
“For the emperor!!”
“...Dammit! They broke through the gate! Units, shield wall!”
They hit their shields together as they waited the endless waves to get to them.
“Gentlecolts…It has been an honour…to fight with you all…” Said the Terran with a smile as he took out his rifle and aimed at the incoming horde.
“FOR THE EMPIRE!! IF WE’RE GOING TO HELL WE’LL TAKE THEM WITH US!!”
“FOR THE EMPIRE!!”
Everypony screamed before the charge finally hit, this was the place where the last remnants of the Imperial Army made their last stand with their Emperor fighting among their ranks.
“Well…The enemy was driven off. Lieutenant, report.” Said the general of Zemlja Konja while standing over the inner wall.
“The supporting armies have all pushed back the enemy. We have no word of the Imperial Army nor of the Terran, though.”
“No word?”
“No word.”
The general stood still thinking what could have happened until he realized, then with a desperate voice ordered his army.
“Units, move to the Terran’s position immediately! Lieutenant, warn the others and tell them to send everything they’ve got! MOVE!”
The hooves of his army, and later everyone else’s, echoed in the city. They all ran as fast as they could to see what happened to the Terran. Once they arrived the only thing they could see was the destroyed remnants of the city and walls, and the unending pile of corpses that went back to the castle.
“To the castle! Double time!” He desperately screamed.
Back inside the castle the Terran and 12 other soldiers were backed off to the throne, giving their last efforts at taking as many with them as they could; the Terran was drenched with blood, any lesser being would have died a hundred times already.
“I’ve fought men stronger than your entire armies!” Screamed the Terran as he fought both the soldiers and the unbearable pain.
Striking every soldier in sight, his limit was already surpassed hours ago; he fought out of sheer will and rage. He then saw something among the enemy ranks which caught his eyes; he then realized that what he saw were no other than the soldiers of the other armies that helped defend this city. As the last soldier was slain, Zemlja Konja’s general ran towards him.
“Terran! What…What happened?!” Desperately asked the general upon seeing the horror before him.
The Terran fell to his knees. “Brothers…All dead…” He sorrowfully said. “Celestia…must pay…” As soon as he finished, he fell unconscious in front of everypony.
View Online
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 10: Where one creates its own destiny.
Chapter 10: Where one creates its own destiny.
The Terran laid over a surgical table in a white room, several doctors stood around him discussing while his thorax rested open. After a few minutes the opening closed on its own after being sewn shut, his wound on his arms and legs being cured and the eye he lost in the siege of Stallinox being created anew. Several hours after that the Terran’s eyes started opening.
“Sir, the subject is regaining consciousness.”
“Let him breathe…” Said a voice that echoed through the room.
The Terran, after regaining part of his consciousness, looked around the room with his grey eyes and noticed that he wasn’t in Stallinox anymore.
“Where…Am I…?” He asked with a weak voice.
“You are in Zemlja Konja, this being the best hospital in the region.” Said the voice that spoke before. “My general found you when you fell unconscious and brought you here. The doctors say that your wounds will heal completely in a few minutes, after that a guard will arrive with your clothes and that…instrument you had and guide you to where I’ll be located. Then I’ll answer any questions you have.”
The Terran waited as his wounds closed and skin regenerated until they were completely healed. He slowly stood up with the help of the doctors around, and once on his feet a soldier arrived with his clothes as the voice said before; the Terran put on his clothes, arranged his scarf and hat, put the sunglasses over his eyes and strapped his rifle on his back. He left the room with the guard as they walked through the long hallway until they got out of the Hospital. He saw a city with Nordic architecture in medieval times back in Terra, they both kept walking as he stared in awe until they reached the castle doors. When they opened he saw what appeared to be Valhalla in Nordic legends; the guard pointed the Terran to where the voice was located and left the castle.
“…Are you the one who talked back then?” Asked the Terran to a stallion who sat in his throne.
“Indeed I was, Terran. I was quite surprised to find out that you are immortal…I thought only the Equestrian sisters and Discord shared that trait. Before you ask, Atticus had told me everything about you; he found it required to tell the coalition members about this if cooperation was the objective.”
“Atticus? Is he alive?”
“Yes, Terran. He returned to Stallinox to temporarily take over as the Emperor for you; we need you with us, after all.”
“How so?”
“You’ve been unconscious for a week. Most of the coalition’s forces were sent to Stallinox as you requested, the rest were kept as garrisons; now that the enemy’s forces are depleted from such an attack those garrisons are being used for a counter-attack. Of course, we’re leaving ourselves exposed to an attack, but they can’t attack us while they are defending, right? Anyways, Zemlja Konja is in charge of the campaign against Kunatanah, the region directly to the east of us and north of Equestria. This is where you come in; you’ll help the general of one of the two armies in this campaign by becoming his lieutenant, which means you’ll command a few companies while receiving orders from a general you might already know. Now that my part’s over, do you have any questions?”
“A few. What was Stallinox like after I fell unconscious?”
Silence engulfed the room for a few seconds before the King finally answered.
“According to the reports…Not even the deepest pits Hell itself compared to the nightmare in that city…Everything up to the inner ring was utterly destroyed, and in the sector you defended nothing was left standing, just the throne. Blood ran in rivers…”
“I think that’s enough…What about the evacuation group? Did they get away safely?”
“Indeed they did. They were supposed to reach one of the states in our coalition far behind the frontline, but as they rested in a minor city in your Empire they heard the good news about the defence. Once Stallinox’s reparations are complete they’ll return…but to repair such damage…It’d take a year at least.”
“Thank god…Those are enough answers for me, where is this army I’ll be part of located?”
“There is a transport already waiting you outside the gates. Great Ones be with you, Terran.”
3 days passed as the Terran was transported to the military force he’d be taking part in until he arrived. The world was still engulfed in perpetual night and storm.
“Ah, Terran! I was waiting for you!” Said the general that fought with him in the siege of Stallinox.
“We meet once again, friend.”
“I can’t say how happy I am to fight with you again, this time in the same army! Anyways, you’ll be in command of 1st and 2nd infantry companies; a rather small army, considering that most of the fighting took place in Stallinox…We’ll be taking the cities in Kunatanah’s north side while the second army takes care of the south. Prepare your men, we’ll move in half an hour.”
“Immediately.”
The army marched towards the first city they’d be assaulting in the counter-attack campaign. Once they arrived they started put together the battering ram that they carried disassembled and positioned it pointing at the gate.
“3rd company, man the battering ram towards the gate!” Commanded the general.
3rd company advanced without any problems, the wheels of the ram being adapted to the mud caused by the storm; there were no archers in the walls to fire at them. The ram reached the gates and started battering them down until they finally collapsed.
“3rd company, advance!”
They advanced through the empty streets, then the main army followed. A soldier, which turned out to be 3rd company’s lieutenant, walked towards the general. “Sir, the governor has surrendered.”
“Is that so…?”
The war progressed well thanks to the counter attack, most cities were completely undefended, taking the term ‘Throw everything and the kitchen sink to Stallinox’ to its ridiculous extreme. More and more cities kept falling under the coalition’s armies with ease, and in the next month both armies laid siege to Kunatanah’s capital city.
After several days of preparation and construction, there were battering rams and siege towers positioned facing the walls of the city. Behind the main lines, the general and his lieutenants, the Terran included, discussed the plan.
“1st and 2nd companies will take the siege towers to the wall left of the gates, 5th and 6th to the right and 3rd and 4th will be in charge of the rams. Both rams will be sent in a line, should one be destroyed the next one will take its place. Once we are inside the army will be divided in three, 1st and 2nd company will take the left side, 3rd and 4th the centre and 5th and 6th the right. Once everyone’s taken care of, we’ll meet in front of the castle.” Ordered the general before giving the order to mobilize the forces.
The towers and battering rams advanced towards the walls while being showered in arrows; 1st and 2nd company were put in charge of pushing forward two of the towers at the left side. Fire rained in the dark and rainy skies as the assaulting forces pushed through the mud.
The first battering ram caught fire, but the second one manoeuvred around it and kept advancing towards the gate. The siege towers reached the walls and everyone started piling up at the top, waiting for the ramp to open; once opened, the walls were stormed by four entire companies of soldiers. The fighting became fiercer as soldiers fell from the walls, but the assaulting forces gained ground every second. The Terran saw that the second battering ram caught fire too and was destroyed, and seeing that his forces were pushing farther than the other 2 companies in charge of storming the walls, decided to take actions.
“2nd company, push forward and open the gates! 1st company, into the city! Move!” He said while taking out his rifle and joining the fight.
They pushed forward into the gate control room and took care of the rest of the soldiers there. The gates opened once 2nd company took care of it, 3rd and 4th companies pushed inside fighting the forces stationed behind the gate.
After an hour, the enemy was pushed back into the city; the assaulting forces began the second part of the plan by dividing in three groups, the Terran taking care of the left side. The army advanced, defeating all opposition in their way until they arrived in front of the castle.
“This is it, we’ll storm the castle and then—“ Started planning the general before being interrupted by his lieutenant.
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“I saw someone at the top of the castle waving his arms for us to get inside, I believe he wishes to talk instead of fight.”
“I see…3rd company, with me inside! Better safe than sorry.” Said the general while walking towards the castle.
An hour of silence in the dark and stormy day passed while everypony waited outside, until the general walked out of the castle with a big smile on his face.
“Kunatanah has surrendered!”
The echo of the army celebrating was heard through the city, a state had fallen to the coalition this day.
A day had passed since that fateful day, the soldiers were still in the city since they had to rest and organize before being mobilized again. The Terran walked through the streets in the rain, having nothing to do, until a voice came from an alley with a dead end that light didn’t even reach.
“Hey Terran…I haven’t expected you to come this far…”
The Terran quickly took out his rifle and aimed at where the sound came from, the lightning revealed his figure for a split-second. The Terran’s eyes widened as he saw what appeared to be another Terran, sitting down in the corner with a hood over his eyes, the only thing that could be seen was his grin; the only thing that proved that he wasn’t a Terran was his long lizard tail.
“Surprised to see someone looking like your people?” He said. “Don’t make any assumptions, our origins are different.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is not important, partner. I am the Emperor of Kunatanah, the real Emperor, not the one who surrendered in the castle…”
“Real Emperor? Then…why weren’t you back in the castle?”
“Tsk…Terran, haven’t you created a world war already? What if this world finds out that there is another like you? I can’t take the risk…”
“Fine…” The Terran said as he lowered his gun. “You’re the first thing I’ve ever seen in this world resembling a Terran, Discord being the next closest, and he’s a damn ugly thing…I’ve got some questions for you.”
“And I’m going to answer them. Let me guess, the first one will be ‘What are you?’?”
The Terran nodded.
“You were suddenly transported from your world into this one—“
“How did you—“
“I’ll get to that eventually. You come from another world, but I don’t; I was created in this world millennia ago by none other than Discord.” He paused as he saw the Terran raising his gun again, but then continued. “Lower that gun…I’m not your enemy. Answering your question, Discord can read minds, and so can those who are connected to him, such as the corrupted mane 6, who could foresee your attempts to rescue them and plan accordingly; Celestia, who prepared for war as soon as you rescued Pinkie Pie with your forces; and most importantly, me, who has been watching these events closely. This kind of mind-reading goes any way: what Celestia sees I can see too, and so can any other corrupted member of this web. You were already corrupted by a tiny fraction when you arrived, the kind of lifestyle in Terra is hard, to say the least; Discord could listen to you, and when he talked to you for the first time your eyes turned grey to show it. From the moment you drank from the fountain of immortality, however, your mind was blocked; not even I could read it.”
“If anyone can read anyone’s mind…Does it mean everyone’s hearing us right now?”
“That’s the exception, I can see and hear what everyone sees and hears but not the other way around.”
“Why did Discord create you?”
“That, I do not know. Maybe his self-esteem was too high when he ruled Equestria or I’m the back-up plan for when things get ugly.”
“You said Discord ruled Equestria?”
“To summarize, yes. Take the chaos in Ponyville, multiply it by 10,000, and you’ll get a fraction of what it was. Then the Equestrian sisters took care of him.”
“Tell me more about your story…”
“Discord wanted to play God; he created a creature under his image and twisted it until it looked pretty much like one of yours, except for the tail. I grew up seeing ponies being…tortured, but that word is an understatement; he thought I’d grow up to be just like him, he was wrong, but I never had the chance to show my true colours. After Discord was defeated by the Equestrian sisters, I ran to the north and started a village, it grew until it became a town, and then a city; I sent settlers around the region to start new towns, my Empire then began. I took care of not growing too much too fast, gaining the attention of the sisters would mean I’d end up like my father. Time passed, Princess Luna was banished to the moon and then returned only to be defeated by the mane 6; but after a while Discord broke free once again and everything went downhill until the Great Pony war you are fighting now.”
“What were you saying about your ‘true colours’?”
“I’m not like my father, I’d say I’m the contrary; I don’t wish for eternal chaos, I wish for eternal order. Ever since I began the Kunatanah Empire, my objective was to remove any other banner in this world and replace it with mine; whenever there are 2 or more sides in existence, war is imminent. Discord broke free and I was forced to choose a side, I had chosen Celestia’s side because I thought your Empire and your allies would be too weak to win against her coalition, even if I helped you. But then the impossible happened, you and your allies successfully defended Stallinox, the battle that made me lose almost my entire military force and leave me defenceless. Here we are now, your coalition has captured my capital and I asked my replacement to surrender. It’ll be time before I can rebuild…”
“I’ve…Destroyed your efforts…”
“Don’t be such a baby…” He said while smiling. “I’ll grow back. We’re immortal; we have 5 billion years to spend before the sun explodes. We immortals can recover from any wound, given time.”
“Back in Stallinox, there were these artefacts that destroyed the walls…”
“Pretty, weren’t they? I created them. Here, take this.” He gave the Terran a rolled paper inside a bag to protect it against the rain.
“What is this?”
“Those are the blueprints to create those artefacts you saw, but in a small scale. You might know them better as ‘Grenades’.”
“I’d certainly find this useful…”
“One more thing,” he said, he then stood up and walked towards the Terran, his smile disappeared completely. “Listen to me well, because what I’m about to tell you will decide the fate of this entire world. Twilight Sparkle’s memory spell will not work on Celestia, the Elements of Harmony must be used on her. I haven’t heard anything about Luna, but you must be careful if she appears; Nightmare Moon was enough trouble, but a corrupted Nightmare Moon would be strong enough to be a match even against an immortal.” He backed off into the hallway and turned his back to the Terran, he then looked at the rainy and stormy skies. “But if Discord, Celestia and Nightmare moon were to combine their power…” He whispered to himself before snapping his fingers and turning into smoke. The Terran couldn’t hear his last words.
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 11: Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 11: Where the sun doesn’t shine.
A year had passed since Kunatanah’s surrender. The coalition’s counter-attack had been a success, every nation inside Celestia’s coalition had surrendered already, and the allied forces were already in Equestrian soil; only Canterlot was left standing. The remnants of the entire coalition’s counter-attacking force met in the forests outside the castle, hiding while planning a strategy; Princess Celestia was inside this castle, once she was cured only Discord would be left.
“Necklace, necklace, necklace, necklace, necklace, big crown thingy…It’s all set and ready, Terran.” Said Twilight.
“Good. The generals are organizing for the attack.” The Terran said as he cleaned the excess of mud and water off his long coat. “The eight of us have the priority of finding Celestia while the main army captures Canterlot. It is strange, though…A castle not having external walls or any natural defences…just an entrance…”
“Are they like that in your world?” Asked Spike.
“My world has been engulfed in war almost forever, castles were reinforced to withstand attacks from pretty much everything. This…Castle here is just for show, compared to Terran castles.” He stood up and saw that the forces were mobilizing. “The attack’s commencing, let’s go.”
The Terran walked towards the commanding general of the forces through the scattered soldiers in the forest while the seven followed him.
“General, what is the plan?”
“There isn’t much to plan here, we don’t have many options after all. Our heavy infantry will storm the entrance once our trebuchets blast it open. After that we’ll create a safe passage for you group to reach Celestia’s location, then we’ll secure the castle.”
“What about the windows? Can’t you blow a crater in them and fly us up with pegasi?”
“I could, but then we’d risk hitting Celestia. Those windows are barred, and the only things we currently have to destroy them are trebuchets.”
“I see. When does the attack begin?”
“Now.” The general said as boulders started flying towards the castle. He walked away as he yelled orders and the forces organized. Heavy infantry waited in front for the gates to be destroyed. A boulder hit the doors, blasting them open and crushing the wall around it with the added force; they stopped firing and soldiers started to run towards the now destroyed door. They got through without any resistance at all, the army and the eight destined to face Celestia herself followed inside; they kicked open the doors and checked every room to find out that the castle was completely deserted.
“Where are they?! Did they evacuate?!” Yelled the general.
“Sir, we found…You have to look at this with your own eyes!” Mentioned a soldier before guiding him to the place. They didn’t find Celestia, but they found something else; they found out that the castle was merely an entrance to an underground fortress, big enough to hold an entire army.
“This…wasn’t here before, behind this door there was just a single bedroom!” Said Twilight as she looked through the door.
“It’s built into the mountain…They didn’t waste any time these years…” Mentioned the Terran as he walked next to the petrified general. “Everypony must be here, then.”
“Units, forward!” Yelled the general.
The main army kept advancing through the dimly lit corridors of the complex, until they arrived to what appeared to be a conical hallway that widened as they advanced. As it became wider, the army started taking formation as if they were in the open field. Not a single soul was in sight at that moment. Doors started appearing on the side of the wide corridor, but as soon as they kicked open a single door Celestia’s army started pouring out of every single one in sight.
“AMBUSH!! Light infantry, to the flanks! Heavy infantry to the centre! Archers, fire at their rear! Move dammit!” Screamed the general. “Terran, take your group and wait at the rear! Looks like we’ve got 4 armies worth of people here!”
“Well that explains why we’ve never seen any of Celestia’s soldiers when we were counter attacking the other nations!”
“Like hell it does!”
The allied army started pushing them back rather easily, even though they were heavily outnumbered. As they pushed forward they also kicked down the doors they passed through, finding absolutely nothing inside them. They kept advancing and advancing, this underground complex was almost big enough to occupy the entire mountain.
“Terran, my soldiers spotted a heavily reinforced door they can’t bring down, they suspect it leads to Celestia’s quarters, see if you can do something with your group! My soldiers will keep pushing and secure the castle!”
“You got it!” The Terran said before calling his group and leading towards the door.
The door which the ponies spotted had been reinforced with steel, not even Applejack’s kick could break it open. After examining it for a while, the Terran decided to use brute force; he took out 3 of the grenades that the man in Kunatanah taught him to make and placed them next to the door. He told his group to back off a considerable distance, and once he backed off too he took out his rifle, aimed at the grenades and fired; the explosion of the 3 grenades was enough to blow them apart, revealing a long corridor.
“Haven’t I walked enough already…” He ranted while running through the corridor with his group. Unfortunately, at the end of the corridor another reinforced gate waited. “SON OF A B…” He decided to do the same, take out 3 grenades and fire…but he only had 2. He did so anyways, but the resulting explosion only managed to break it a bit. “Applejack…Do your magic.”
“Aye aye, cap’” She walked to the door, turned around, and kicked it open with all her might.
The door broke open, and not even before it finished crumbling the Terran stormed through the debris, to find that Celestia herself was in that room.
“You!” Was the only thing she managed to say before being tackled by the Terran.
“Do it! Use those things on her now!”
“Y-yes! Let’s do this, girls!” Exclaimed Twilight. Her eyes turned white and her friends floated around her, but they lost focus as Celestia threw the Terran against them like a bowling ball.
The Terran, upon regaining his focus, saw in front of him how a shadowbolt smiled at him, their faces almost touching. After a few seconds of staring, it turned into smoke; he wasn’t the only shadowbolt either, 6 more had appeared and stole the Elements of Harmony in the confusion.
“Nightmare Moon…Isn’t it a bit too early?” Giggled Celestia.
Out of the shadows, a dark grey mare appeared, none other than Nightmare Moon herself. Everyone had been both shocked and frightened by the fact that both the Equestrian sisters had been corrupted. The Terran stood up and told the Mane 6 to go and recover the stolen Elements of Harmony while the Terran took care of this, but before Spike could join the Mane 6 in their search he barfed a letter; it was for the Terran, he gave it to him before running to the others.
‘We are under attack from an unknown force; they outnumber us 10 to 1. Celestia’s army has started to push forward, we are trapped. If you’re gonna do something DO IT NOW. ’ Read the letter.
“Isn’t this beautiful…Terran?” Said a voice that echoed in the room. It was no other than Discord himself. “I’m not done yet, though. Check this out.”
Discord appeared in a blinding light and stood next to Celestia and Nightmare Moon. The Equestrian sisters’ horns started glowing while Discord raised a hand. A blinding light struck again, this time once the Terran recovered he saw that Discord and Nightmare Moon had disappeared, but Celestia remained in place; Celestia wasn’t the same as before, the Draconequus had turned her into a Terran just like him. She sported white and grey clothes, a rapier in her hand replacing her horn and a long cape replacing her wings. The god of chaos suddenly appeared behind the Terran and began to mock him.
“Again, isn’t this beautiful? All your efforts were in vain, your forces are trapped between Celestia’s and Nightmare Moon’s army, the Equestrian sisters are under my influence, the Elements of Harmony are scattered…Once I’m done with you and your allies there will be nothing stopping me; everything you have ever seen in this world will be gone to leave space for my Empire of Chaos. Go and pray to your Great Ones…Maybe they’ll listen.” He said, before disappearing laughing.
The Terran was already on his knees; corruption had engulfed him as the Draconequus’ words echoed in his mind while remembering his days on Terra. He turned completely grey, but he stood up with fury in his eyes, throwing his rifle away and marching towards the rapier-wielding Princess. The fighting had started; the Terran couldn’t manage to hit her once before being stabbed in the stomach with the rapier.
“I am confused, Terran. In all this time you could’ve looked for a way to return back to your world, but you haven’t even thought about it; you focused on your Empire and helping those who came to you, why?” Celestia questioned as she took the rapier out of the Terran’s stomach and kicked him out of the way.
“I’ve yet to meet one who’d like to return to Hell once he got out of it…” He said as he stood up, his clothes drenched in blood.
“Hell, you say…Did your relatives and friends hate you that much?” Giggled Celestia.
“The dead can not feel emotion.” The Terran charged towards the Princess once again, punching her on the face even though he was stabbed in the lung in the process.
“So they are all dead…Were you too stupid to start all over again, then?” She said while regaining her balance and cleaning the blood on her mouth.
“All over again…My father was pretty much a saint, but he died first just like all heroes do. My mother was a whore; I was born out of pure accident when she cheated on my father with another of her dozens of men.” He kicked the Princess in the stomach and executed an uppercut. “Not only that, she was crazy…crazy enough to sink me into depression 2 times…Once my father died and her men didn’t care for her she started gambling like Hell, once she had so much debt she couldn’t pay she ran away, leaving me alone.” He dodged the several strikes with the rapier until he was hit in the neck, to which he backed off and let it regenerate before continuing. “The debt kept increasing and loan sharks started coming for me, first with threats…then they killed one of my friends. That was the turning point, I learnt to fight them off with my rifle without anyone noticing, but once I sent one of them to the hospital…they sent everyone I knew to the morgue.” He then charged forward and tackled Celestia, knocking her down and throwing himself down with his elbow against her stomach. “My third depression sank in; I had lost everything and everyone. My ideologies prevented me from committing suicide, so I arranged a suicide campaign against those who took everything from me. A year had passed, stealing food and water from stores, killing and burning down the buildings of their organization…One stormy night I was being chased by them, I had no chance of escape, but then before they were able to catch me a blinding light struck me and knocked me out…I appeared in Cabalderio. Only then I could start all over again.” He desperately dodged every strike Celestia gave until he held the blade on his hand, making it bleed incredibly as she struggled to free it, and struck her with his elbow on her stomach, and then her jaw. She fell back letting go of her rapier, which was now being held by the Terran who walked slowly towards her. She stood up but couldn’t do anything before the Terran stabbed her in the stomach with all his might. “I lost everything once, even my will to live; I will now protect this world with my immortal life. It is depressing, though…That you, who cared so much for this world, are one of the main factors responsible for its end…” Those last words, 'Resposible for its end', echoed in Celestia's mind.
“Terran, we found the Ele—“ Twilight and the rest broke into the room, only to see the humanized princess desperately clinging to the grey Terran for support, he took out the rapier covered in blood as she fell unconscious to the ground. “…What…?” She could barely speak, everypony was petrified upon seeing the situation.
“Apparently, when Celestia, Nightmare Moon and Discord combine their power, they can turn a pony into a Terran…” The Terran said as he looked at the body of Celestia on the floor while cleaning the rapier.
“AND YOU KILLED HER!!” Screamed Rainbow Dash as she charged towards the Terran, only to hit the wall behind him when he dodged with a rather simple movement; he didn’t even stop cleaning the rapier.
“She’s immortal, you idiot.” He said, irritated; he then stared at the rapier he was holding. “I’ll keep this for a while…”
Celestia’s body started regaining her colour, even without the Elements of Harmony. Everypony, except for the Terran who strapped the rifle lying on the floor to his back and walked towards the fight outside the room, stared in awe at such thing. But before the Terran could walk out of the destroyed doors Spike barfed another letter.
‘Hello, Terran…Mind if we join the fray? Sincerely, Atticus. ’
Several minutes earlier…
An army stood by the trees, looking at the dark forces that were flooding into the castle. This army was no ordinary army, it sported red flags with white hollow shields and a white star inside; it was the Imperial Army. After the siege of Stallinox, thousands and thousands of ponies enlisted in the army, wanting revenge and to end this once and for all. Archers, cavalry and infantry patiently waited for the right moment. Atticus walked to the front, giving a speech to his soldiers:
“Ponies of Cabalderio, I call for your strength one last time, for this battle is the one that will decide the fate of this world. Over there our Emperor and his allies wait for us, they are fighting desperately against not one, but 2 entire armies. And who are we not to support our leader in his time of need?! A day may come when Discord wins and our world spins into chaos…But it shall not be this day! Forward!”
The Imperial Army charged forward to the flood of dark ponies, making the earth shake while boulders flew towards them, thrown by the trebuchets the coalition forces left outside.
Back inside, the Terran was resting against the wall with Celestia’s rapier on his belt, deciding not to fight seeing as reinforcements had arrived; the princess had not woken up yet, still in her Terran form but her colours completely returned; all of the mane 6 were in the room with her. The princess started opening her eyes, her stomach wound completely healed; the Terran, who was still completely grey, walked over and crouched next to her.
“Are you alright?” Asked the Terran.
“What…What did Discord do to me?!”
“Less talk, more action. I need you to tell your forces to stop fighting unless you want a blood bath here.”
“Y-Yes, yes…”
Still in the floor, she tried to levitate the paper and quill on the desk nearby towards her, but failed as her horn was turned into the rapier the Terran had in his belt. Twilight ran and carried it towards her, who wrote an order and asked Spike to send it. It was an order for her army’s general to stop fighting; the Terran wrote the same order to his general and Spike sent it too. Soon enough, only the swords clashing in the distance against Nightmare Moon’s army was heard.
Hours and hours passed until the fighting finished, everyone rallied outside the underground fortress to organize once again and march home, their part was done. Celestia, the Terran and the Mane 6 were in Celestia’s throne room, discussing what to do next.
“After you were turned Terran, Discord and Nightmare Moon disappeared. To which place, I do not know.” Remarked the Terran.
“Wait…Didn’t Nightmare Moon escape from the moon once?” Twilight questioned.
“She indeed did, why do you ask?” Said Celestia.
“Wouldn’t it be possible for her to return there if she could escape?”
Silence engulfed the room for a few minutes, before the Terran violently threw his rifle to the floor, making it accidentally fire and destroy the only window not shattered by the trebuchets.
“First we meet a random thing named ‘Discord’ who can turn people grey and make them complete jerks, then after rescuing the Mane 6 Celestia declares war on me and the Great Pony War breaks out; afterwards, that THING turns Celestia into a Terran, and now that black four-legged oversized swan goes to the MOON?!!”
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Chapter 12: Where chaos transcends time
Chapter 12: Where chaos transcends time.
Two hours passed as they all stood in Canterlot, trying to come up with a way to reach the moon while the Terran cleaned his rifle with a piece of cloth he found lying on the floor. Celestia, who was still in Terran form, rested against the destroyed castle wall with her arms crossed; the Mane 6 were scattered around the room.
"I just realized, I can order my engineers to construct something resembling a rocket, but it'll take ti--" Tried suggesting the Terran before being interrupted.
"That's it! Princess, you said that you banished Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago, right?" Exclaimed Twilight Sparkle.
"Yes, that's right...But even if I banished the Terran to the moon, he'll have no way to come back."
"Didn't Nightmare Moon escape from the moon once? Once he defeats her, he can find out how she escaped and come back with her!"
The room remained silent before the Terran walked towards the purple pony and the Terran princess.
"Let's get this straight, you all want Celestia to banish me to the moon, reach Nightmare Moon, find out how she escaped and come back with her? Despite the fact that if she defeats me I'll be trapped on the moon forever?"
"Yes." Said Twilight.
"...That has to be the most ridiculous plan I've ever agreed with. When do we start?"
"My magic has been...nullified, so to speak, after Discord turned me into...This." Explained Celestia. "Twilight, you and your friends must use the Elements of Harmony on the Terran and send him to the moon. It is depressing, such artifacts being used to banish somepony again...But it's with good reason now."
Twilight and the rest of the Mane 6 started gathering around the Terran, aiming the Elements of Harmony at him.
"Terran, both Luna and I are among the most powerful beings in this world. Nightmare Moon is far more powerful than I am, I had to send her to the moon a thousand years ago and wait for her spell to weaken to stand a chance against her, and even then I needed the help of the Mane 6. It gets worse, since she is corrupted there's no telling what she's capable of; even with my horn, which has been materialized into the rapier you're holding, you barely hold a chance against her. I don't want to pointlessly send anypony to their demise... But it's the only way, your immortality and experience in battle means you have a far higher chance than any of us, even me..." The princess stood silently for a few seconds before continuing in a depressed tone. "Take care now...Twilight, go ahead..."
The Elements of Harmony glew and fired upon the Terran, who disappeared after the blinding light struck him. There was nothing left of him but burn marks on the floor.
"Ugh...My head...I still can't believe I agreed to do this..." He said, lying on a white and dusty surface. He stood up, arranged his hat and looked at the scenery, he was now on the moon. He walked around for a while, noticing that he could breath perfectly and the gravity was the same as in Equestria. "This breaks so many laws of physics it's not even funny..."
"Well hello there, Terran. Never expected to see you here." Said a voice.
The Terran turned his head to the origin of the noise and saw what appeared to be a Terran with a Lizard tail sitting on top of a rather large lunar boulder.
"You...What are you doing here?" Questioned the Terran.
"Oh, you know...Enjoying the scenery."
"Tell the truth..."
"Fine. My link with Celestia was cut off, and considering the last things I've heard and seen through her it was pretty obvious you had both defeated her and erased her corruption; your next target is Nightmare Moon, and so you are here. At first I thought the meeting back at Kunatanah would have been our first and last, but since you need as much help as you can get I decided to show up once more and help you." He snapped his fingers, turning himself into dust and appearing next to the Terran. "I've got another gift for you, hand me your rifle for a second."
The Terran handed him his rifle without hesitation, he trusted him enough since his help was a deciding factor in the assault of Canterlot. The Terran with the lizard tail took the rifle and as he held it it turned completely black, resembling a shadow; after a few seconds he broke it in half, but before he Terran could complain those 2 fragments started changing form. Both fragments were suddenly engulfed in smoke, and after it dissipated it revealed both a shotgun and a bandoleer.
"Here, take them. In your world this gun is known as Remington 870 with a synthetic stock. That bandoleer is enchanted, so to speak; it can never run out of shells. " He threw them to the Terran, who barely managed to catch them, and picked up a rock on the ground. He turned in into a shadow and morphed into another gun, an AK-54R to be precise. "I can sense Nightmare Moon through her corruption, I know her location, and apparently she's just sitting on top of a boulder staring at the sky."
"What's your name, by the way?"
"I see...I haven't given you my name back in Kunatanah since I haven't expected to see you again..." He stood in silence for a second before continuing. "You may call me Concord."
They both started marching through the empty surface of the moon, the only things visible were boulders, dust and the stars; the pony planet could not be seen, they were sent to the other side of the moon visible from there. An hour passed until they could see in the distance the figure of a Terran sitting on top of a boulder.
"Tell me that's not her..." Said the Terran, fearing that Nightmare Moon might have been turned into a Terran too.
"Bad news...It is her...There's nothing we can do about it, let's keep going. It is strange, though...Looks more like a Terranized Luna than Nightmare Moon...She doesn't have the dark armor..."
They both walked towards the Terranized princess of the night, not knowing what to expect from such powerful being. As they got closer they saw that she had her back towards them, the Terran started to sneak towards her while Concord followed suit, but as they reached the boulder in which the princess was sitting Concord violently stopped the Terran as his eyes were wide with terror.
"What is it?" Whispered the Terran.
"This is bad...This is bad!! I can sense how she smiles...Not only that, she expected us!"
"Well, duh, she's the only target left..."
"You don't understand...Nightmare Moon creates her forces out of darkness...We're on the dark side of the moon! You know what that means?!"
The surface of the moon started shaking, and a minute later an entire army of dark ponies was seen in the distance; their numbers were endless, the army could engulf the entire moon. Both the Terran and Concord could do nothing but stare in awe as the army started surrounding them until they were left with no route of escape.
"Well look who we have here..." Said Nightmare Moon as she stood up and turned around, crossing her arms. "I see you have defeated my sister and taken her rapier with you..." She smiled. "I can unleash my entire army on both of you and destroy you, then send it all back to Equestria and conquer everything in sight...But since that'd be pretty dull, let's make a deal..."
"What is it?" Questioned the Terran.
"My army will not attack if you, Terran, duel with me and that other Terran doesn't interfere. If I lose, I will return back to Canterlot with you." Said the dark princess, oblivious of Concord's name and status. The Terran smiled, thinking she'd be the same as her sister.
"Deal."
The endless hordes of ponies formed a circle around the Terran and the princess. Nightmare Moon jumped down of the boulder and took out her rapier while the Terran prepared his shotgun and aimed towards her. She charged towards him, in that instant the Terran opened fire but she dodged every single shot he fired; after emptying his gun he had no more options than to throw it away and take out Celestia's rapier. Both rapiers clashed, the Terran could barely block it in time.
"So, you thought you could beat me with that little magic stick of yours?" She said while staring at him.
"Naturally. I didn't expect you to run so fast, though. I wonder where you learnt such skill..." He mocked her implying cowardice.
Nightmare Moon forced herself out of the deadlock by kicking the Terran and then disappearing in a cloud of smoke. The Terran ran to his shotgun, picked it up and began reloading while looking around trying to decipher where she was. She appeared in front of him, he shot at her but she disappeared before the pellets reached, hitting one of the soldiers behind turning it into smoke. She appeared once again at another point of the circle of soldiers and the Terran fired, missing again. He reloaded his shotgun once again and began aiming his shotgun everywhere, knowing that she might appear anywhere. She appeared behind him and stabbed the unsuspecting man, making him drop his shotgun and looking at the rapier appear out of his stomach, and after removing it he fell to the floor right next to the boulder; Nightmare Moon appeared in front of him, he desperately tried to grab his shotgun next to him but she drove her rapier through his arm, piercing it and digging through the surface of the moon. He tried to unsheathe his rapier with his other hand but as he held it she kicked it out of his hand and placed her foot on top of it, it was all over.
"I'm not like my sister, Terran...Do you really think I spent a thousand years on the moon doing nothing? Even with this Terran body I'm still better than you..." She took the rapier out of the Terran's arm and pointed it at his head. "It's a real shame that you are immortal...Or else I'd--" She was interrupted as Concord tackled her out of the way, losing grasp of her rapier, accidentally digging into the Terran's stomach again. Before the dark princess could regain her balance he came back to the suffering Terran, took the rapier out and helped him up.
"Come on, come on! Get up, there's no time!" Concord said before grabbing the shotgun and giving it to him.
"You...How dare you..." Said Nightmare Moon as she regained her balance. "Get them!" She yelled, the entire army began to move towards them. She then turned to smoke and disappeared.
"Well, looks like it's over for us..." Said Concord as he prepared his rifle.
"What do we do now?" Asked the Terran as they both slowly backed off to the boulder.
"Well, we've got an endless amount of soldier here that, after we're done, will invade and conquer everything we know... I'd suggest sending to Hell as many as we can."
The Terran smiled as he prepared his shotgun, he stood silently for a second before aiming his shotgun at the incoming forces "Heh...You're the brother I never had..."
They both opened fire at the endless hordes of soldiers that ran towards them, holding the line as best as they could, smoke engulfed the entire battlefield to the point they were firing without even aiming at all. A soldier sneaked right behind the Terran and tried to hit him but Concord fired at him, turning it into smoke and running right next to him, kneeling over and firing at those who arrived at their flanks.
"They're coming from above the boulder!" Exclaimed Concord.
"Cover me, I'll take the high ground!" The Terran yelled as he climbed the boulder, Concord shooting at everypony who got near him while defending himself just as well. Once the Terran got on top he started firing towards those near Concord. "Your turn, get up here!". Concord climbed the wall but got stabbed in the back by a soldier, which was shot into smoke by the Terran seconds later. He fought through the pain and kept climbing until he was already on top.
The deafening sounds of both guns echoed through the moon as smoke engulfed everything except the boulder in which they made their last stand. The Terran tried firing his shotgun at a soldier who got close to him, but the gun was hit out of the way and the Terran stabbed in the chest, he kicked the soldier making him fall and hit another 3 below him. "Too close for guns...Huh?" He remarked as he strapped his shotgun to his back and unsheathed Celestia's rapier; Concord did the same but with Luna's rapier instead. Both of them cut down everypony who got on top of the boulder, but in the horizon the hordes of dark ponies kept on coming, it looked like their efforts did nothing, but that didn't demotivate them in the slightest.
"Ha ha ha! Such a scenery...Two lone warriors fighting against impossible odds, the only thing this needs is being written by a poet." Echoed a familiar voice. After a few seconds, a cloud of dust formed above them, and after dissipating Discord revealed himself.
"Discord!!!" Screamed the Terran.
"D'aww...You remember me? Don't make me blush..."
The Terran kicked away the soldier he'd been struggling with, took out his shotgun and fired towards Discord, but the hordes of dark ponies forced him to revert to Celestia's rapier again.
"Agh! That hurts! Guess I'm not welcome in here...Anyways, these are your final hours, gentlemen. After you're defeated my plan will start and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Not even Celestia can defend that place, the rapier you hold is her magic horn, after all." He silently watched the scenery for a few seconds, then continued. "I am disappointed in you...'Concord', as you call yourself now...Weren't you supposed to rule the future chaos empire with me...?" After saying that, he disappeared the same way he arrived.
"Terran, I can sense that Nightmare Moon is still here in the moon, she never left! I also know the location of Discord, but there's something strange about it...Anyways, I can teleport you there!"
"Shouldn't you go? He's the one who created you!"
"He has caused far more damage to you than to me!" Said Concord as he placed his hand on the Terran's face, turning him into smoke and making him disappear. Concord stood in his place, fighting the never-ending hordes... "Terran...May the Great Ones be with you in this journey..." He said as he gripped Luna's rapier with all his might.
"Where am I now? What...What is this?" the Terran asked as he was teleported to a pitch black place. He took out his shotgun, reloaded it and decided to walk around for a moment.
"Of everything that has happened until now...You were the only one who managed to fight back...Now, how about we go through your...'Achievements'?"
Everything started shaking, the darkness started fragmenting like broken glass. He fell backwards due to the extreme shaking, but once he stood up he noticed he was in another place entirely. "Where did you send me?!" He asked irritated.
"Not where...But when ..."
Another small earthquake was felt, but it wasn't Discord's fault, after looking around he found out that he was sent outside the Diamond Dog's caverns. He also found out that the source of the earthquake was an entire army of dark ponies running towards him.
"What...?!!" He said, but realized that they weren't running towards him, but towards the Imperial army behind him. He was sent back in time to the Battle for Rarity. He ran back to the Imperial army and joined ranks with the front-line, taking out his rapier and bracing for the imminent charge. "If that's how you want it...Then I'm no one to impede it." He said as he smiled.
The charge hit, he received the wounds that would kill a mortal man 3 times already, but kept on fighting. The battle was intense, the Terran fighting with his brothers in arms against Nightmare Moon's soldiers was a sight to behold but strangely enough no one noticed him fighting on the front-line, as if he was not there at all; the pain and damage was real enough, though. Smoke engulfed the entire battlefield as hours passed and waves after waves of enemies were destroyed. "And there goes the fourth wave! Wait...Fourth wave...Battle for Rarity..." He started remembering the details of the battle, the fifth wave of enemies consisted of the heaviest units on the enemies arsenal. "...Dammit." He said as he sheathed his rapier and took out his shotgun. From both sides cavalry started moving towards the enemy's reserve. The heaviest units started marching towards the Imperial Army, who had less than half the numbers it originally had; the Terran took the opportunity to shoot most of them down, and after a minute they were already close enough for a charge. They started running towards them, the Terran backed off a little and began reloading once again, and once the charge hit he came out of the ranks and joined the fray, shooting at point blank range. After a few minutes the pegasi who was fighting the reserve charged at their rear and utterly destroyed the remnants.
"How you like that, Discord?! HAH!"
"Oh please..." Echoed the voice as another earthquake hit, shattering everything in sight and replacing it with what appeared to be a grey city with Greek architecture.
Once the Terran received an arrow to the face he realized he was at the Battle for Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale. "This...This isn't the stadium..."
"Of course it's not, my dear dumb friend. You're in the centre of the city, and we all know how it ended here..."
After receiving another arrow to the face, he ran and joined the fight with his brothers in arms. This time, instead of fighting in the stadium, he fought in the city, he'd soon find out why his forces were pushed back. The fighting went rather well for the Imperial forces, nothing out of the ordinary and they were pushing the enemy back for most of the city, but then the unexpected happened, a loud roar echoed in the city. "The hell was that-- Oh no..." Said the Terran with sheer terror in his face as he recognized the sound. In the distance, the only thing he could do was stare petrified as a large grey, almost transparent bear destroyed everything in sight, the bear being none other than the Ursa Minor. "This isn't happening..."
"It actually is, my friend."
"This isn't how it happened back then!"
"It did, remember how you didn't receive any details on the reasons of why your forces were pushed back from the city?"
"But this is insane! How the hell could you get the Ursa Minor and send it to Cloudsdale?!"
"Hello? Discord, God of Chaos? Once I took control of Equestria I manage to take over its mind and send it here, and with a tiny bit of magic made it possible for it to walk on clouds."
The Terran cleaned the sweat off his mouth and decided to push through the dark hordes and get to the Ursa Minor. The fighting became fierce as smoke engulfed everything and debris and pieces of buildings flew around the heavenly city. His forces managed to pull through but were being utterly destroyed by the bear once they got to it; soldiers flew left and right, the bear tearing apart any and all who got too close to it and devastating the entire army. "Pull back to the main square!" The voice of the commanding officer was heard as everypony pulled out. The bear was an unstoppable force, capable of striking fear on anypony who dared to oppose it and destroy anything without effort. Everypony was being pushed back to the main square as the dark army followed them, once the Imperial army managed to keep a formation the bear charged and tore them apart and dug through their ranks, it was a nightmare for any and all present in that battle.
"Enough already!" He said as he aimed his shotgun at the bear's head and fired, but its thick skin and the fact that the Terran only had buckshot meant it was utterly impossible to damage it. He took out Celestia's rapier and decided to close in on the bear; he sneaked up behind it while it was distracted tearing apart the imperial forces and tried to climb on its fur, only to be blown back into a building nearby, smashing its walls open. As soon as he regenerated his broken bones he looked out of the hole he accidentally created and noticed that he could actually jump from the building on top of the Ursa. He backed off, then started gathering speed until he jumped out of the hole and landed on top of the Ursa, who tried to shake him off like a bull. He kept on clinging on its grey fur, trying to get to its head, and once he managed to accomplish he held Celestia's rapier with all his might. "Such a magnificent beast...A real tragedy for it end like this!" He said before driving the rapier into the bear's head. The ground shook as the bear stood on its hind legs in pain and let out a painful roar, its skin slowly turning into ashes. The Terran fell on the ground, exhausted due to fighting two different battles in a row. "Discord...I am victorious once again..."
"So you have defeated the Ursa Minor, hmm...?" Echoed Discord's voice as the scenery shattered once again.
Once the scenery reformed, he was standing on top the walls in a dark, rainy night. This wasn't any wall either, it was Stallinox's walls, he was teleported to the Siege of Stallinox.
"This again? Want me to beat this like I did back then?"
"Do not be so sure of yourself, Terran. This isn't a simple flashback...I am capable of doing anything in this world, and in this battle I'll show you one of the few things I can do."
"Heh...Let's see..." He said while looking at the great army that marched outside. But his eyes caught something in the horizon. "Huh? Is that...Oh God..." On the horizon, the silhouette of a bear ran towards the castle. "Another Ursa Minor...Wait...Oh no...Oh god no no no!!" His eyes opened with sheer terror as he saw that the silhouette was too big to be considered an Ursa Minor. Once it got closer, he could see the bear clearly; it wasn't an Ursa Minor, it was none other than what could be considered the mightiest beast in this world, the Ursa Major.
"Ha ha ha...I'm going to enjoy this!" Laughed Discord.
The dark army marched forward and opened fired with its trebuchets and catapults, the battering rams were already in place at the door. "Wait...I'm at the wall...that means..." He tried to remember for a second before realizing that the walls were utterly destroyed by Concord's artifacts back when he wasn't on his side. He quickly jumped off the wall as it exploded, the resulting shockwave sent him through the roof of a nearby building. He got up, healing his broken bones and skin that was tore open and removed the piece of wood that was struck his stomach in the crash, then he got out of the building only to see the fight had already started as the enemy breached the wall. He ignored the fight and got on top of the wall, waiting for the Ursa Major to come closer and engage it personally; he knew he had no chance, but he'd rather receive a fate worse than death than seeing Stallinox fall, even if this was just a simple creation of Discord. As soon as he got on top of the wall, he saw the horrifying sight of the giant bear running on its hind legs charging towards his section of the wall, the Terran jumped off the wall towards the bear and manage to cling to its fur as it destroyed the wall and drove inside Stallinox. He climbed as he saw the massacre below him, which only fueled him with fury. He kept on climbing until he reached the bears head, only then it noticed his presence and tried to shake him off, but he stabbed its eye with Celestia rapier before being able to get him off. The bear, with a quick movement, threw the Terran in the air and grabbed him with its paw, he stabbed its paw with the rapier, but that only made it angrier as it threw the Terran with incredible force towards the nearby forest. The Trees were destroyed as he hit, his bones liquefying due to the damage, and once he landed on the ground he could do nothing but stare at Stallinox in the distance, watching it burn. The Ursa Major, the mightiest beast in this world, was unstoppable.
"Well, that didn't last as long as I expected, even though I didn't even put all my effort into this."
The Terran, upon hearing Discord's laugh and seeing Stallinox, the capital of the Empire he'd built from a simple bunch of towns burn to the ground, had reached what appeared to be another level of corruption. He turned completely black, his clothes, his eyes, even his gun, they looked just like a shadow.
"We're not done yet." Said Discord as he teleported both himself and the Terran on top of the castle ruins, about a day after Stallinox was destroyed by the Ursa Major. "I'm sincerely considering using this tactic once I attack the real Stallinox...Well, I'm considering using this tactic for everything I do from now on, anyways." The Terran, crippled and suffering, tried to crawl towards Discord; the fury contained in his heart utterly ignored the fact that his bones where liquefied. "You sure are a stubborn one. Here, let me...End that suffering of yours..." Discord walked towards the Terran and placed his draconequus hand on the Terran's forehead, making it light up and make the Terran remember every single thing he had done in his life before being struck with the blinding light that started everything. His screams of agony echoed in the night.
"He's a monster!"
"--should be killed."
"--police are trying to track him down--"
"--I don't want to to die!!"
"--the burning of several buildings--"
"--a complete massacre--"
"--a genocidal psychopath--"
"--several victims with mafia backgrounds--"
"--ordered to shoot on sight--"
"--use military force if this keeps up--"
After this, Discord backed up with a smile and looked at the Terran. What he didn't expect, however, was his eyes turning completely red as his body remained pitch black; he regenerated all his wounds at an incredible rate as fury engulfed his mind; even the rapier turned into a shadow. The uncorrupted Terran was someone who just cared for most people and wanted to exterminate those who endangered his brothers and sisters.This level of corruption turned him into a genocidal machine who just wished to end all life around him, and the only sign of life in this plane of existence was Discord himself.
"Well...I'd have expected you to sink into a depressed state..."
"I shall destroy you." Said the Terran in an inhuman voice, as if he had been replaced by a demon, or the even the Devil himself.
"Oh please..."
The Terran charged forward, but Discord dodged him and knocked him down using his tail, making him accidentally throw his rapier out of reach.
"I am the God of chaos, of misery and destruction. You've sealed your fate the day you decided to fight against me..."
"My mother is scarier than you."
"What did you just say...?"
"Of all the people I've met, of all the people I've killed, none were as pathetic as you. Every fight in the other world was to the death, but fighting with you seems more of an argument instead. I come from a world torn by war and destruction, death is common currency there; I lived like a dog every single day of my life, praying that my enemies don't slit my throat while I sleep on the streets...But you? You are the 'God of Chaos' of a world that doesn't know how to stand up and fight. I taught my brothers and sisters in this world how to fight, how to stand up for their beliefs, and guess what? You're still not the Emperor of this world. My name is Charon, and Celestia be my witness...I am the one who is going to destroy you! " Said the Terran before charging forwards.
Discord dodged the charge again but received an elbow to the face as the Terran reacted. He knocked Charon down with his tail again and tried to stab him with his claw while he was down, but missed and dug into the rubble as the Terran dodged, stood up and hit him with his knee; Charon grabbed the draconequus' face, drove it to the floor and stomped it with all his might, he then grabbed his arm and threw him towards a pile of debris nearby, which fell over him. A rock flew out of the pile of debris and hit the Terran's face with such force that it knocked him down; Discord broke out of the pile, exhausted, and stood in front of Charon trying to regain his breath while the Terran stood up.
"How come...How come the battles I sent you to haven't tired you at all?!" Discord yelled. Both combatants charged towards each other, Charon grabbed Discord's face and drove it to the ground using the charge's momentum while coping with the pain of the claw that stabbed him in the chest; he then punched Discord's face mercilessly while he was down. Discord laid unconscious on the ground, the Terran stood up and backed off, the exhaustion started taking its toll, he fell unconscious to the ground as he regained his colours, knowing that the one who endangered the entire world he fought for had been defeated.
"Charon...Hey buddy, wake up..." Concord's voice echoed in his head, upon opening his eyes he saw him crouched next to him. "You've defeated Discord. Hell, after that beating he won't wake up in years. We still need to get him to the mane 6 to petrify him, though."
"Concord...? Did you... Defeat the entire dark army on the moon?"
"Hahah, no way I'm able to fight so many numbers, I can't even count that high. The entire army suddenly turned into smoke and Nightmare Moon fell unconscious. At the same time...I felt the agony of an entire world screaming inside my head...Never expected it to be you..."
"Was I possessed?"
"No, my friend...You just released it all...All the sorrow, the fury, the anger..." Concord explained as he stood up. After helping Charon up he walked over to Discord's unconscious body and carried it over his shoulders.
"So, it's all over..." Said Charon as he stared at the ruins of Stallinox. Silence engulfed the scenery. "Let's go finish the job."
"Aye aye cap'." Concord said as he snapped his fingers, turning both of them into smoke.
They appeared in front of Nightmare Moon's unconscious, grey body, which Charon gently picked up with his arms; he then signaled Concord with a head movement to return to Canterlot.
Back in Canterlot, the Princess and the Mane 6 waited impatiently for the return of the Terran.
"Isn't he taking too long?" Asked Spike.
"We need to have hope...He's our only chance..." Said Celestia, worried about what Spike said.
Two clouds of smoke appeared in the middle of the room, and once dissipated they revealed Concord, who was carrying Discord's body, and Charon, who was carrying the corrupted Luna. Everypony was startled by the sight of another Terran, even more so since this one had a lizard tail.
"Calm down everypony, he's a friend." Explained Charon before anypony could speak.
"Another Terran?!" Asked Twilight
"His name is Concord, Discord's son. And before you all get scared, he's on our side, without his help I wouldn't have been able to defeat Discord himself."
"Discord?!" Everypony in the room yelled, they were expecting him to come back with the corrupted dark princess, not with the unconscious God of Chaos.
"Long story short..." Explained Concord. "...We were fighting Luna, Discord appeared and once he disappeared I teleported the Terran to where he was...I'll explain the details later...For now, let's petrify Discord before he wakes up."
Concord threw Discord's body to the ground, the Mane 6 prepared the Elements of Harmony and fired upon him, who was turned into stone.
"Strange...Shouldn't Luna turn back to normal?" asked Charon.
"Corruption doesn't work that way, we need to Uncorrupt everypony one by one." Mentioned Celestia.
The Elements of Harmony were prepared once again and fired upon Luna, who was being carried by the Terran. She regained her colours and slowly woke up, still in her Terran form; after fully regaining consciousness tears ran through her eyes as she clung on Charon.
"D'aww...Looks like she likes you." Giggled Celestia.
"Why is she crying, though?" Asked Charon.
"Corruption doesn't give amnesia, she remembers every single thing she did. A thousand years ago she turned into Nightmare Moon and...Did things she deeply regrets. Discord forced her to become Nightmare Moon once again and...I'd rather not talk about the subject anymore."
"I see..."
"One thing, though...You always said you were a 'Terran', yet you never gave us a name."
"Name..." Charon remembered, he named himself 'Charon' at the start of his suicidal campaign back in Terra to symbolize that he was already dead, the start of a new way of life, so he decided to keep it. "My name's Charon."
"Well, Charon, you were an incredible help in saving this world, you rescued and uncorrupted the Mane 6, you fought the Great Pony War against impossible odds, you decided on your own to fight a goddess and save me from the corruption, you went to the moon to fight against another goddess, and even defeated the God of Chaos...Terrans are scary, to be honest...How can we ever repay you?"
Charon looked at the dark princess crying on his chest as he carried her, smiled and looked back at Celestia.
"Let me stay in this world...Treat me as one of your own..."
Where the sun doesn't shine.
Prologue
Discord's reign of chaos continued, and the mane 6 were divided after their minds were poisoned by the Draconequus' influence. Twilight Sparkle, admitting her defeat, returned to her home to pack up and leave Ponyville with Spike and never return. Everything was ready for their departure, both filled with sorrow of how everything that they had tried failed. Before leaving they looked back at the chaotic scenery, just to see how things became even worse as minutes passed, as they both turned grey.
At this time, Celestia desperately tried sending all the letters she could find, but Spike's corruption made it impossible. Despair started engulfing her, as she tried to think of other ideas. Travelling to Ponyville to meet Twilight face to face would be impossible, as she had already left to a direction which not even herself knew.
Back in Earth, a lone person with a long coat and a rifle was chased by many in the dark and rainy night. Breathing heavily, he ran as fast as he could; the lightning giving him a split second of the light he needed to see where he was heading. His limit was being reached while his chasers got nearer and nearer by the second, his will to escape death was being drained as he saw that the situation became hopeless. The lone runner dropped his knees to the asphalt as he gave up hope of survival, looking at the sky knowing that this might be the last thing he’d see before his chasers caught him. As he looked up at the sky the storm intensified to unheard levels, wind started to blow faster and faster, the trees shook violently while their leaves fell off; but most importantly, static started generating around the one who had given up his life. He desperately looked around him unable to comprehend the situation, but before he could do anything the electricity engulfed him; his screams of pain and agony could be heard from kilometres around, echoing in the dark and lonely city in which he tried to make his escape. After moments of torture, a blinding light struck the kneeling man knocking him unconscious and scaring away all who stayed near, even the ones who wanted to take his life.
When he woke up, he noticed that his surroundings had changed completely; he rubbed his eyes thinking it was a dream, but it was not. What he saw before him was a sea of grass with an entirely clear sky; he inspected his clothes only to find out that they were completely dry, either he was knocked out long enough for them to dry, or the light that struck him dried them up.
He decided to stand up, not knowing what just happened, and looked around one more time. This time his eyes caught something in the horizon, the silhouette of a city. He picked up his rifle, and deciding he had no more options he headed towards it.