Acheron, Meet Equestria!

The sun... it had never seemed so bright before, so beautiful. As I stood watching the light dance across the landscape, tears fell from my eyes. The balcony was familiar, as if a Knight of Balance had been there once before. A great city was etched into the cliffs of the mountain above me, a dragon guarding the oil-soaked bridge behind me. My armour shifted as I stared down at the ground far below. The sun was more beautiful, more radiant.

“I see another seeks his own sun. Might I inquire as to your name?” I stared up at the sky, smiling. I looked at my wrists, metal bracers covering both, strapped down tightly.

“I am Inquisitor Ordo, the Knight of Balance.” The title, nor the name, had any reaction from the voice. Another in armour stood beside me, his hands resting on the balcony's stone railing. His shone with radiance,  a bright sun that seemed eerily familiar stitched into the tabard that covered the front of his armour.

“Ah. A fellow Adherent of the Sunlight! It is always good to meet under the sign of jolly co-operation, hmm?” I chuckled. I turned back around to face a bleak landscape, a wasteland of more horrific proportions. I sighed. My chest burned as I walked forward, steps echoing behind. Turning, I faced Chrysalis, who seemed to have been weeping.

“Chrysalis, why are you sad?” Without warning, she pointed up, something streaking out of the sky. The form looked incredibly familiar, someone I felt I had met before, if in a previous life. The wings of fire spread behind me as I took off, the power of fire propelling me towards the familiar figure falling from the sky. I turned. Chrysalis was smiling, albeit with sadness in her eyes. The figure came closer and closer as I pushed harder and harder into the sky. With a single blast of powerful fire, I was floating beside him, watching him fall.

“The sun is such a wondrous body. Like a magnificent father! If only I could be- Oh, well, hello there? I don't suppose we've met somewhere before?” I smirked, holding out my hand.

“I believe we have met, if not in this life, Adherent of the Sunlight. My name is Acheron, and I am the Knight of Balance.” I could not see his face, but I could have sworn he smirked underneath that bucket helmet of his. His voice was more chipper and friendly when I mentioned my title.

“Ah, the successor of the strange Inquisitor! I am Knight Solaire, of Astora.” He gripped my hand, dragging me down with him for a short while.

“You're a lot heavier than you look, Solaire. Any way you can lose some weight? It's either that or we both die!” The world began to slow down around us, something charging in Solaire's hand. I barely knew what had occurred when he threw his hand forward, casting something.

“Ah, much better. Now, shall we return to the ground?” I nodded, my wings flapping until we were closer to the ground. Solaire dusted himself off as he stood, staring at me- at least, I assumed he was staring at me.

“So, Solaire, what are you doing here? I mean, the last time I saw you, you were in Lordran, going to the Kiln of the First Flame.” Solaire chuckled, shaking his head. He drew a small flask, taking a small swig from it. He offered me the flask, but I refused.

“Well, I was merely going through the Parish when fog surrounded me. As I continued forward, I found myself in the sky, like the sun.” Something nudged me in the back. I turned around, facing three of the ponies that my little group had freed. My clothing, my handgun, and a sword were on their backs.

“My lord Knight, your possessions.” I smiled. With a flurry, the trench-coat was on, the hat tightly fitted. Picking up the handgun, I set it inside my pocket to strap the sword to my hip. Solaire appeared to approve of my weaponry.

“You are prepared, it seems. As it is courteous to request such, might I accompany you on your journey? Who knows? I might find the sun I am looking for, my own sun.” I smiled, holding my hand out in a gesture of agreement. Solaire took the hand, shaking it mightily. “Then it seems our fates are intertwined! Let us go forth in jolly co-operation!” I raised my hands to the sky, laughing.

“Praise the Sun, Solaire.” Solaire nodded, raising his arms in joyous mirth.

“Praise the Sun, fellow Adherent. Let us go forth!” A sword and shield were brought forth for Solaire, a longsword etched with runes that glowed with powerful enchantments, while the shield was studded with pulsating gems. He bellowed in laughter until he looked ahead. All of us were staring at what appeared to be a great gaping hole in the sky. “Might I inquire as to what that is?” Chrysalis was about to speak when one of the changelings came forward, his head in bandages.

“It is Discord. I overheard the traitors speaking of such, my lords. Discord intends to bring forth powerful foes to bring true chaos and terror to Equestria- nay, the entire world!” Solaire seemed shocked, although it was an assumption; he appeared to have no other emotion besides the jovial mood he was always in. The changeling bowed before me.

“Don't bow. Please. Okay.” I pointed at the ponies and changelings we had freed, Chrysalis and Twilight off to one side. As I scanned the crowd, I noticed two ponies shivering at the back, looks of abject fear on their faces. It was Fluttershy and Rarity. Motioning Twilight to me, I knelt down to whisper. “Just what happened to them?” Twilight leaned in closer, her hoof grabbing my other shoulder.

“I used a memory spell, reminded them of who they are. Rarity remembers what she did, and Fluttershy is just scared.” I nodded, rubbing Twilight's head.

“Good job, Sparkle. I trust that even though I did not burn the structure to the ground, all equipment was retrieved?” Twilight nodded, pointing to several stocky ponies near the back, large packs of armour and weapons strapped onto them. “Get everypony and everyone here suited up. We must be ready for war. Just remember that. Chrysalis?” Chrysalis smiled as she stood by my side. “Solaire might have armour that will work appropriately for you.” She nodded, jogging to have a chat with Solaire. I sat underneath a tree, watching the events of my orders unfold. As everything completed, I stared up in the sky, watching two balls of light come crashing down not far from us, a light yellow ball, and a dark blue ball. Solaire sprinted up to me, pointing at the smoke rising from the impact zone.

“I should assume we mean to investigate that phenomenon?” With a nod, I stood, stretching. Every pony, changeling, and human was armoured and ready to fight. One was missing, however. I turned to Twilight, who was decked out in full plate armour, her eyes steely with determination.

“Twilight, where's Trixie?” She looked up at me, tears in her eyes.

“Discord... he has her. Said something about making her truly 'Great and Powerful.'” I shuddered. Trixie was my friend, and Discord had swayed her with promises of power. I pointed over at the column of smoke. “Get everyone here marching. We need to get over there.”

The march was a long one, taking several hours even though it was a short distance away. A large crater spread out before us, Celestia and Luna staring up at us, their bodies battered and broken. With a wave of my hand, any pegasi in my ranks that could fly flew down to assist the recovery of the battered princesses. With that done, the small army I had with me set up camp, tents dotting the area around the crater. Celestia and Luna were shivering, wrapped in blankets with mugs of hot tea in front of them.

“So, how on Earth did you have that happen to you?” I motioned to the crater outside, the meaning of my question obvious. Celestia began to cry as Luna sniffled.

“Canterlot... our subjects... slaughtered in front of us. We barely held back the tide of foul beings that assaulted the palace, and the city. Discord was a part of the attack, but someone else was there as well, someone like you, Acheron. He shouted, though. He was like a sun!” Luna broke down and began to weep uncontrollably. Solaire entered, bowing before Celestia.

“Praise the Sun, Acheron.”

“Praise the Sun, Solaire. I have a question for you.” Solaire took the seat next to me, shifting in his armour as he flexed his fingers. His armour was streaked with dirt, having been one of the ones who had rescued the princesses from the crater. Celestia smiled at Solaire, who nodded.

“Ask of me what you will.” I turned to him, frowning.

“Does that description fit something like, well, you know... Lord Gwyn?” Solaire sat bolt upright, his armour shaking. Something seemed off.

“L-Lord G-Gwyn? I-Impossible. The Inquisitor defeated him, ushering in the Age of Humanity. The age of your people, Acheron. It is utterly impossible... although, the body of Lord Gwyn was never seen...” Solaire's head rested on his hand as he seemed to drift deep into thought. I looked over at the princesses, shaking my head. Leaving the tent, I looked over my army. Some of the prisoners had been former military officers, and as such, they were training the others in the different forms of combat, from close combat, to archery, to the offensive spells. Solaire tapped me on the shoulder, pressing something into my hand.

“Solaire?”

“Your flame. It is uncontrolled. These gloves... They were from a friend. They will help you focus your flame into something controlled, but extremely powerful.” I nodded, slipping the gloves on. While they seemed tight at first, they expanded to comfortably hug my hand, shifting as my hand did. I stared at my hand, willing fire into it. Instead of my entire hand bursting into flame, a ball of fire formed above my palm, more condensed than that of my normal 'wild fire.' Waving my hand, I dispelled it. The anger within me dissipated, leaving me feeling... strange. I watched the camp, the training occurring, the hardships being felt by those within my army.

“Solaire, what do you think our chances are? We fight against a master of Chaos itself.” Solaire looked over the army, sighing.

“Many here have not seen combat, nor extended battle, I would assume. It is not something that I willingly wade into, battle, but if need be, I shall.” I looked down at my shoes, the ground muddy and mottled with different hoofprints and footprints.

“So, our chances are not that good?”

“Precisely.” Solaire returned to the tent where the princesses were warming up, the weeping continuing as I stared at the sky. The ground began to shake, something upsetting the very planet itself. The sky, I watched as it was sheared open, a great gaping hole of darkness and evil floating high above us. Twilight stood beside me, her two friends reasonably calm, and also wielding weapons. Fluttershy sat there, staring at me.

“So, you're shy, but you're willing to wage war now? What changed?” Fluttershy did not speak, merely staring forward. Twilight shrugged. Rarity spoke up.

“She lost her animals, darling. They were murdered before her eyes.” My fist tightened as I stared at the sky. The glove began to hurt as I gripped tighter. Tears streamed from my eyes as I stared at the hole, my mind filled with images of a horrific nature. Without warning, I turned to Fluttershy, embracing her tightly. She burst into tears, her eyes red from the sobbing that wracked her already-frail frame. Standing up, I looked over at the sky. Anger swelled within me, pure and white. Solaire stood beside me, himself glowing bright yellow.

“Well, Solaire, what do you think we should do?” The tone of voice that Solaire took was not something I was even expecting.

“We kill this Discord, fellow Adherent. We save this land.” Gone was his jovial attitude, and his  seemingly never-ceasing happiness. Solaire was angry as well, and I could feel it. The sword in his hand glowed white as he stared at the blackness spreading across the horizon. I stared at it, drawing my sword.

“You do realize there's a high possibility we're all going to die, right?” Solaire laughed, still never ceasing his gaze.

“That crossed my mind, but we are gathered in jolly cooperation! No greater adventure can be had without such camaraderie!” Two larger ponies stood beside us, a bright white one on Solaire's right, and a dark blue one on my left. Celestia and Luna stood with us. They had sworn off their regal attire for more practical armour, Celestia covered in gleaming white plate armour, while Luna had opted for darkened ringmail.

“Equestria... Canterlot... we were as nothing, knights! Help us retake our homeland, and we shall assist you in returning to your homeland. Solaire, what say you?” Luna, although she was in a relatively modern age, seemed to speak with a more medieval style of speech. Celestia was silent. I could see the burning flames in her eyes. Solaire turned to Luna, his face still not visible for any sort of expression.

“I say thee nay! I follow my fellow Adherent, for I wish to join in his quest. His quest to restore balance and protect the innocence of your land!” Our army stretched out before us, those who had been with Celestia and Luna's guard training those who had never seen combat before. Archers fired at targets, those with melee weapons slashed, smashed, and otherwise destroyed target dummies. I decided to inspect it. Leaving the other three behind, I walked through, noticing the armour that was being forged by blacksmiths that had been freed. Every weapon and piece of armour was crude, but they would be what was necessary for the army to fight. Chrysalis sat with several of her changelings, her hand resting on her leg as she was still, her dark armour glinting in the light.

“So, how are you holding up, Chrys?” She turned to me, standing up. She had two swords, one on each hip. Her face was covered by the frog-mouth helm she wore, her face a mask of sadness. A song wafted up from some of the new recruits training in a field that was not muddy, nor was it destroyed. I did not know how, but that song, it was something that I had heard before. A marching band strode in front of them, playing a tune I had heard once before, but never really paid any attention to.

“I'm holding up as best as can be expected. My subjects... most of them are dead. That marching band down there, that's almost all of them.” I looked down at the marching band. Sure enough, even though it had gotten many of them killed before, they had returned to imitating my form, but it seemed they were wearing armour that was custom-fit to their frames.

“Don't worry, Chrysalis. We're going to murder those lousy bastards by the bushel.” Chrys looked up, anger in her eyes. She stood, saluting.

“And I will follow!” We looked out over the great fields of battle. In the distance, the sounds of construction could be heard. He knew we were coming.

“We march in two days' time.”