All The Evil in The World
Chapter 1
Long ago, during the Age of Chaos, Discord the god of chaos and disharmony, ruled the world. His armies laid siege to all who opposed him and his magic tormented his subjects. His power was absolute, and all who stood in his way were swiftly crushed before his might.
However, while his power was great, he was not omnipotent, and thus he sought to find rulers for his domains. Using his magic, he brought into Equestria the entities known as the four purveyors of chaos.
Set of the South: A cross between a rabid diamond dog and a pegasus, Set was seen as the most bloodthirsty of the four. Believed to be the encompassing of Discords hatred and anger, Set was believed to have wiped out a prominent city out of bloodlust. Centuries later, remains of the city have been found around modern day Appleloosa.
Tau of the North: Brother of Set's Diamond dog half, rather than combining a species to the diamond dog, Tau was instead infused with Discords chaos magic, creating a diamond dog capable of wielding chaos magic. Records and journals written by Tau himself shows that he was particularly intelligent and a master of magic. The only irregularity found in the journals itself was that he appeared to be fiercely loyal to Discord, almost to the point of being a fanatic. Whether this is a result of Discords magic having an influence is up for debate this day. However, more than a thousand years later, Tau's journals would be used to help bring about Starswirl the Bearded, Equestria's greatest magic user.
Eris of the East: Created from the remains of an apple, Eris's appearance was strange even by Discords standards. Clearly female, Eris' biology looked to have had considerable effort put into it by Discord. She resembled nothing Equis had seen before, and scientists are still looking over her remains to understand what Discord could have created. Eris was seen and even worshiped by some as the daughter of Discord. Chaos came naturally to her and wherever she traveled the world was shaped by her presence. Eris was depicted to have wielded a golden apple which could channel Discord's power, turning her into a female version of Discord himself when she ate it.
Angra of the West: The final child of discord and arguably the most known, Angra's appearance resembled that of Eris' only as a male. However, his power resembled inside of strange tribal markings which covered the majority of his body. Often seen as the sanest of Discords children, he ruled the West of Discords empire with a fair and just rule. While not as fierce as Set, wise as Tau, or powerful as Eris, Angra's greatest strength lied in his cunning and determination. It is said that Angra was created from the only sane thought left in Discords mind at the time, thus creating a being in the likeness Discord would have been had he been sane.
For over a hundred years, these four rules the corners of Discords empire, keeping the peace and allowing the God of chaos to run free. However, in this time period, Discord grew lazy, believing that since his four rulers were a part of him, they would control the world as he would.
What he never expected was for Angra to betray him.
Under Discords nose, Angra amassed an army with the help of Celestia and Luna. Before any of the other rulers could act, Angra had launched a campaign against the other three sons. Luna took Set, Angra took Tau, and Celestia took Eris. While the battles were bloody and many lives were lost, Angra's trained army was able to overtake his siblings territories thanks to the element of surprise.
As each child of Discord fell, pain shot through Discord's being, as each one was directly tied to him. By the time the final battle was to take place, the all powerful god of chaos was greatly weakened, allowing Celestia, Luna, and Angra to take him alone.
Thanks to Angra buying the two sisters time, they were able to use the elements of harmony on Discord, entrapping him in stone and leading the way for the two sisters to rule. Angra however paid the ultimate price in buying the two sisters time, saving not only the princess' lives, but the world.
As a thank you to Angra, the two princesses buried his body at the sight of the final battle and erected a statue in his honor in the center of canterlot.
He is-
"Twilight!" interrupted the loud cry from Spike as he called to his sister figure at the top of his dragon lungs.
With a cry of shock, Twilight Sparkle, protégé of Celestia and wielder of the element of magic dropped the book she held in her telekinetic grasp and fell onto her back. Getting up, she sent a mild glare to the baby dragon who was currently tapping his clawed foot in irritation.
"What is it Spike, I was just about finished with my book?"
Rather than answering his sister figure, Spike just pointed to the clock on the wall of the library, the minute hand almost five minutes after 2 o'clock.
Hundreds of thoughts ran through Twilight's head as she tried to understand the message Spike was giving her before she yelped out in worry. "I'm Late!"
Zooming out the door at speeds Rainbow Dash would be shocked to see, with a trail of dust forming behind her, Twilight made her way to the café, leaving Spike alone at the library.
Sighing, the baby dragon picked up the book his sister had left behind and began to put it away, muttering to himself the whole time. Glancing at the cover of the book, his face scrunched up in confusion as he stared at the picture of Angra painted on the cover. Because of how long ago the war took place, no known pictures of Angra exist, thus each and every one was romanticized differently.
This one had Angra with the lower half of a pony, and the top half of a minotaur, strange red markings covering his body and long midnight black hair dancing in a non existing breeze. Shaking his head at the strangeness, Spike placed the book back where it belonged and began to walk back to his basket for a nice nap.
Little did he know that the subject of the book would soon become relevant.
Meanwhile
In what is known in present day as the badlands, atop a barren hill resides a marble pillar with a golden plaque. After ages of water and weather beating down on the object, the once fine marble is cracked and covered in dirt, while the plaque is covered in rust. However, while the monument may be ruined, what lies beneath it is what's important.
Currently a harsh rainstorm was assaulting the badlands, a leftover product of Cloudsdale that got loose. As the gallons of water fell upon the land destroyed during the battle of discord all those years ago, life stirred beneath the pillar.
The earth in front of the pillar began to bulge outwards, as an ancient creature broke free from its prison beneath the earth. With one final push, a bony appendage burst out from the ground, and with it, Angra was released once more into the world.
Chapter 2
'Where... Am... I...'
Silence answered my question as I lay in the void. All around me, I felt nothing but emptiness and coldness, for all intense and purpose, I was dead. Looking around, I tried to see if any light was visible, but as I looked around, I failed to find any.
'How... Did I... Get... Here...'
I felt a phantom pain in my chest as I tried to remember my final moments before arriving at this void. Images flashed before my eyes as I tried to make sense of them.
A battle.
A creature.
A pain in my chest.
Pain wracked my body as more and more info assaulted my brain, and with it came a sense of reality to the void I lay in. With a sharp gasp, I found myself in darkness, but rather than the darkness of the void, I found myself in an air tight space. Reaching out, I felt stone beneath my fingers, and with that feeling came a sense of urgency to escape.
Curling my fingers into a fist, I smashed my hands into the stone, feeling satisfied with the sound of cracks forming beneath the assault. Continuing to hit the stone, my breathing spiked as I felt more and more urgent to escape my prison.
Eventually breaking through the stone, I felt hard dirt beneath my knuckles as I continued to push forward. The higher and higher I got, the softer the dirt became, until finally I could feel a small breeze beneath my fist.
With a final push I felt the ground break apart and with it I felt the cool freshness of air hit my body. Panting, for the first time I was able t get a look at my surroundings. Seeing the pillar and the stone 'prison' I'd lay in, I immediately understood what this was.
a coffin
But as for why I was in one still alluded me. Now free, I could finally think and with this came one prevalent memory, one that underlined everything.
Flashback
Smoke clouded the air as I stood before the stone statue that was once my father. After all this fighting, after all this bloodshed and betrayal, I could finally be at peace with myself.
"The Age of Chaos is over..." I spoke with a heavy tone at the thought of it all. Discord, who'd ruled the world with an iron grasp for centuries was finally put away. Everyone, be they pony, griffon, diamond dog, or changeling was free to live their lives without fear. It was almost impossible to believe.
Turning around, I smiled at the two alicorn sisters I'd befriended over my journey. Celestia, a tall and regal looking mare, she and her sister Luna had helped unite and lead the three pony tribes. Together, the three of them had destroyed his siblings and through the use of the Elements of Harmony, powerful artifacts Celestia and Luna had created, they'd launched the finishing blow against Discord.
"Today marks the start of a new day..." came Luna's soft voice as she stood next to him, smiling at the imprisoned god. "Now all that's left to do is pick up the pieces Discord left behind and make a new world from it. Now we can create the kingdom mom had envisioned."
I sent a smirk over at Luna and her dream. She'd always been the more loving of the two sisters, and she always seemed motivated by this dream of her mothers. She would often times tell him about it; how a beautiful castle would be built atop a mountain, where everyone would be free to live and love without anyone having to listen to an all powerful entity like discord.
Beside myself, Celestia walked over, her eyes boring into Discords stone ones. "Yes, Equis is free from Discords reigns, the path is clear for us to rule..."
Instantly both Luna and myself felt caught off guard at Celestia's words. While she'd always been a bit forceful with her approaches, she'd never stated that she wanted to rule. In fact, it was believed that a democracy would be the best bet, to insure that they'd never end up like discord.
"What did you just say?" I felt the words falling from my mouth as I took in the shock of her statement.
Celestia only answered me with a smirk and a tone that sounded almost laced with intent. "The path is clear for us to rule."
Trying to find a different interpretation in her words, to maybe believe something else, I tried again. "What do you mean?"
That looks he sent me, it was the same one Discord had always worn while talking to a citizen, it was the look of a tyrant. "This! Everything!" She turned around and waved her hoof at the scared landscape they'd created during the battle. Where once a lush field was now held miles and miles of destroyed terrain.
"Like Discord?" Luna's tone clearly showed that she didn't understand what her sister was talking about, she most likely hadn't heard this plan.
"No, no, no, Angra. Nothing like Discord. We will Respect our subjects. Not enslave them."
"Subjects!?" Came our cry as we heard her opinion of our loyal comrades. They were fighting for their freedom, not the new rule of a monarch. Beginning to feel a bit wary of Celestia, I began to distance myself from the two alicorns. While I knew Luna didn't believe in Celestia's plan, the loyalty she had to her sister worried me.
"It was your freedom we were fighting for, wasn't it..." My tone with Celestia made my thoughts on her clear as I put more and more distance between ourselves. Luna remained caught between us, as Celestia moved away from her as well.
"Don't you see, mortals are frail. They will only harm themselves if we allow them to. They are like children in many ways, and it is our duty as the leaders of this revolution to save them!" At her words I fixed Celestia with a glare.
"You've turned this revolution into a coupe! You would sooner see democracy wiped from this world than give up power! You didn't fight in this alone! thousands died for this to succeed, and each willingly gave their lives to save the world from discord!" Throughout this argument, my magical aura began to flair up, as Celestia's did as well. Gold light met a black abisss as we glared at each other.
"If you can't see the chaos the mortals will cause, and if you can't handle the responsibility, then step aside. me and my sister will lead them ourselves." At the word chaos, Celestia's eyes seemed to gain a certain gleam, as if she'd recognized something important.
"I didn't end my fathers rule just so you could take his place... I'm sorry Celestia. I can't let you do this. Stand. Aside." At my sides, two strange daggers formed, each one formed from my chaos magic. At Celestia's side formed a golden sword which she lifted with her magic. Both sides looked like theyw ere begging for the other to make the first move.
Luna, throughout all this, looked torn between the two opposing figures. Celestia had always been there for her and had never been wrong, but Angra wanted to help her with her dream. As if sensing Luna's distraught thoughts, both turned their attention to her.
"Luna, come over here. We can finally realize your dream..."
"Lulu, you know me. If Angra wins this then everything we've done will be undone."
"Please Luna, trust me..."
"Don't listen to him! He's just like his father! He wants the chaos to spread, that's why we cannot allow the mortals to lead themselves!"
Luna could only curl up into a ball and cover her ears with her forelegs, she didn't want to be a part of this. She only wanted the three of them to be free...
Seeing that Luna wouldn't be joining either side, they began to circle one another, Luna always staying in their line of sight. Storm clouds had begun to move into the area, as if sensing what was to come. Evan as the rain fell, the two didn't break eye contact as they sized one another up.
But as the first crack of thunder sounded, the two exploded at one another, blades ready to pierce each other. Meeting in the center beside Luna, daggers met sword in a stalemate as they pushed for dominance. In this fight, magic wouldn't work as their natures were far to different. Only steel would put the other down long enough to finish them off.
Magically holding her sword at her side, Celestia seemed to phase out for a second before appearing behind Angra, seconds later, slashes covered his arms, Angra's red blood leaking to the ground. Not even pausing, he swept his blades behind himself to catch the white alicorn.
Feeling his blades hit feathers, he grinned at the small nick on her wings. Spinning around, he caught her blade with his own as the two met for another stale mate, the force of the blades connecting causing a small crater to form. Celestia used her superior speed to dash into her guard, scoring a strong swipe to Angra's chest before being blocked.
Jumping back from the strike, Angra's blades seemed to glow as he made several sweeping motions with them, pure chaotic magic being sent at Celestia. However, knowing that such a magic wouldn't be able to harm her, she stood there with a smirk, feeling a slight tingling on her person but other than that being relatively ok.
Only seconds alter would that prove to be her downfall as her forelegs were suddenly cut open along with her stomach. As her blood fell to the ground, the sudden shock of being cut open caused her blade to crash to the ground. Seeing Celestia like this gave Angra confidence as he approached her downed form, drinking in her worried expression.
"I never did tell you all my skills did I? Every one of my siblings had a different ability inbreed into their being from my father. Set had his strength, Tsu had the ability to learn at a faster rate, and Eris could pull strength directly from Discord. My skill is projection. Essentially, I project what I'm feeling onto others. If I am happy, others feel happy. Angry, and you will feel unbridled fury. This made the troops I controlled easily motivated, and allowed me to cheer them up no matter the situation. Now my siblings thought my skill pretty useless, however, when in a fight, my 'battle worthless' skill becomes something of a voodoo doll to those I fight. Cut me, and all I need to do is cut you with my magic to inflict the same feeling to you."
I could instantly see recognition in Celestia's eyes, the idea that no matter what kind of wound was shot at me, all that it would wake was a touch of my magic to inflict the same wound to her. This fight was over before it had even begun in my books, all I needed to do was destroy her body, leaving nothing left, and go about with finishing this revolution. While alicorns and deities like myself were essentially immortal, if the mortal coil was damaged enough, they would die and no longer be allowed to influence the world, their power being reborn in another. However since Discord was chaos personified, even destroying his mortal shell wouldn't kill him, thus only imprisonment would work.
As I brought up my dagger to finish my work, a sudden shock went through my system. Looking down, I could see Celestia shocked face as she stared at the black spear protruding from my chest. I could suddenly feel a tear falling from my eye as my mouth filled with blood. Coughing it up onto Celestia, her eyes didn't leave the spear.
Backing away, I could suddenly see Luna next to her sister, her horn being used to heal the wounds inflicted on her sister. As the wounds quickly disappeared, they turned their eyes on me. Celestia had a relieved look on her face which spoke of how much she believed her own death was at hand. Luna however looked horrified over what she'd done, never believing that her loyalty to her sister would outweigh the loyalty to her dream.
"Awawaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhh" A strange mix between a cry of pain and gurgling of blood erupted from my mouth as I fell to my knees. I tried to breath in but each and every breath hurt more and more. This had killed me. Luna had killed me!
the weight of the situation seemed to suddenly hit me as a strange feeling went through me. I'd betrayed my family for these traitors, ricked it all for them, and I'd been rewarded with this! A spear through my heart and a lonely death brought by the hands of those I considered friends! The words ripped themselves from my mouth as anger rose in me one last time.
"Is there any level you won't sink to... Is there no line you will cross... to satisfy your own greed?" As I looked them in the eyes, I could see regret filling Luna, but Celestia's still remained in shock over what had happened. "DO NONE OF YOU FEEL ANY SHAME AT ALL?!" Luna took a step back as my words hit her, in the past I'd seen her as my best friend, the one pony I held in regard above all others. To know I'd died by her hand was the worst pain I'd ever felt! "I won't forgive you," swiping my bloodied hand over their forms, I cursed the day they were born, "I won't forgive either of you! You who would betray your own followers for your own personal gain!" I could feel my magic leaving me as a red aura surrounded my person. "Let my blood taint your dreams! Let your lives be cursed! Let all you do bring misery and pain!" The last of the mist was disappearing and with it sow as the last of my life. Holding my bloodied fist up to the two siblings, I laid on one final piece. "And when you to are struck down... YOU WILL REMEMBER THE RAGE OF ANGRA!"
With my final energy spent, I collapsed, the spear holding my weight momentarily until it dissipated. I died on that field, betrayed and knowing that all I'd done was pointless. Celestia and Luna would rule, I would be nothing more than history.
Flashback End
Now though, it looked like I was still among the living. Looking over my chest, I could see a small starburst shaped scar over my heart where Luna had obviously stabbed me in the back. This proved that I'd been stabbed in the heart, but it didn't explain how I'd been resurrected...
"Ah, brother, It's good to see you again." Instantly recognizing that voice, I turned to see three figures I was sure had met their end. Set, Tau, and Eris, my siblings. Eris was clearly the one who'd spoken, as she gazed at his downed form. "Still, it's time to get up. Celestia is due for a reunion of the four purveyors of Chaos."
What had I awoken to?
