The planet known as Equis was not always the peaceful place that it is today, and it wasn’t only inhabited by ponies and other mythical creatures. There was one time where they lived with creatures that came from another world. They were called humans. They came to Equis by way of the Rainbow of Light to defeat the demon Tirek and free ponies everywhere. More eventually came from the Rainbow and began to live among the ponies, but one day they disappeared... Or so it was written. Like most things that are lost in history, the “Wise and Logical” always sum up what happened to them and they thought it best to say “Oh, humans slowly disappeared.” And they think they're so smart.

Nullus

Year, 999 ANM Equestrian Time.

One Day Before Nightmare Moon's Return

It was late, meaning that Bacchus was cleaning glasses and about to close his bar. It was a nice enough place; marble floors and counter, steel chairs and tables, newest models from a series that was made by some man's name that he couldn't pronounce (so you know it had to be high quality), and most of all, the best booze you can get this city. Whatever strange or rare drink you wanted, Bacchus’ had it. Bacchus heard the door ding as someone entered the bar, footsteps were drawing closer.

“Hey, place’s closed. Can’t ya read?” He said not even looking at who entered. He heard that who ever came in had taken a seat at the other side of the bar. The intruder said nothing, making Bacchus clench his fists. Bacchus quickly turned around to look at who had sat down with fire in his eyes, literally. He saw the man who was sitting by the bar. He was a middle-aged man who had a big grin on his face and steel framed goggles with blackened lenses covering his eyes.

“Chill out you grumpy old bear. You’re going to burn your brain out with those flames.” He gestured his fingers to Bacchus’ eyes. Bacchus couldn’t help but smile, with this the flames in his eyes quickly vanished.

“Faust. You finished that hit quickly. It’s only been, what, two weeks since I sent you out to handle the Octavians?” He then got a bottle from one of the many glass shelves that were above the sink and got the glass that he was previously washing and began to pour Faust a drink. “Speaking of which, did you get what was asked for?” Faust then took off his goggles to show his eyes that were completely made of a dark red crystal, except for black dots where his pupils would be. He picked up the shot and downed it.

“Yeah, and we should get paid a little extra this time. I’m thinking at least double...” Bacchus shook his head.

“You know that’s not my call. I just give you the jobs, and the higher-ups decide your pay anyway.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and shook one out. He then took a seat in front of Faust and snapped his fingers to create a small flame and lit the cigarette. He took a deep inhale of the synthetic tobacco and breathed out smoke to the side. Faust then set down a holodisk and pressed the button in the center. Various medical and biologic test results illuminated from squares that the disk formed around them.

“Well, we didn't just get the data. We got the product of their research too.” He then spread his arms out and pulled them together as if he was clapping and the holographic pages were then put together into a bundle and he gave it to Bacchus. He looked at the first file. It had a picture of a boy, no name, it just said he was thirteen and other medical garbage that didn't mean anything to him. But, the pages after is what disgusted him. There were videos showing various tests being performed on the child. Surgeries, various injections, and horrifying tests that would have killed any man within a minute. Then there were the X-rays. It showed that the boy’s entire skeletal structure was entirely composed of crystal.

“Fuck...” Bacchus said under his breath. He then took another puff from his cigarette. “How much did they experiment on this kid? No way that this extent of crystallization is natural like mine or yours.” Faust then waved his hand for a cigarette and Bacchus gave him the pack that he had. Faust then put one of the cigarettes in his mouth and leaned forward turning off the holodisk.

“Get this, the Octavians were in some real Inhumane shit. From what I could make from the files, they were trying to make artificial Caesars, and they had the audacity to use their own kid for the experiments.” Bacchus shook his head and lit the cigarette in Faust's mouth.

“Crazy fucks. Why would anyone want to make that?” He said in response. Faust then gave a deep puff from his cigarette.

“Well, they tried their experiments on at least a dozen others, they all died during the first testing procedure. But this kid survived a whole thirteen years of it.” He stared at the light above their heads, seeming lost in thought. Bacchus looked seriously at his friend.

“Two things; one, where is this kid and secondly, what abilities does he have? I don’t feel like going through all this,” he said as he motioned to the disk. “There must be at least four terabytes on these things of just medical files.” Faust gave a laugh.

“Reading might do you some good, Bach.” Bacchus just rolled his eyes and grunted. “Well, Luxie is looking after the boy, he came with us willingly. As for his powers...”

Bacchus raised his eyebrow. “Powers? As in more than one?” Faust’s face turned serious and he looked at Bacchus.

“I have never seen anything like it, Bach. This kid can do it all. I saw him tear a guy’s head off with telekinesis and beat another to death with pieces of the terra.” He stopped so he could take a puff of his cigarette. “When Luxie shut off the power, the magnetic locks shut off for the cell he was in too. The kid killed everyone he saw that was wearing a white coat. He even killed the Octavians.” Bacchus stared at his friend disbelievingly.

“This kid killed not one, but TWO Caesars?” His gaze then drifted to the holodisk. “And you said he came willingly?” Before Faust could speak another voice spoke for him and a toll came from the door showing that someone entered.

“Yeah, I did.” They both turned, the only shocked one being Bacchus. A teenage boy with no hair was standing in front of the doorway. He was wearing a ragged hoodie and no shoes. “They told me if I joined forces with them I could help put a stop to people like Mr. and Mrs. Octavian.” Faust gave a laugh at his seriousness.

“Ren. I thought I told you to stay with Luxie.” The boy, Rentus, gave a smile.

“Sorry, it’s just that this place is amazing!” He then turned to the door and gave a laugh. “The whole city is lit by a crystal ceiling! There are so many people around too!” Ren stood there, simply gaping in awe at the city. Bacchus gave a nervous laugh.

“By what you told me I thought that this kid would be some stone cold killer, but he is acting like some sorta five-year-old.” Bacchus whispered loudly. Ren, not offended in the slightest, heard what he said and just walked toward the bar.

“Well, until a couple of weeks ago, I had never been out of that lab.” His voice trailed off and he unconsciously shivered. “This is a whole new world to me and I intend to see every inch of it. Oh, and who might you be?” Bacchus felt rude doing this to a kid, especially one that could kill him if he wanted too.

“I’m Bacchus. If you’re hanging around with Faust over here you must already know about the Triumvirate?” Ren took a seat next to Faust and gave a nod toward Bacchus.

“My name is Rentus, call me Ren and yes, the Triumvirate is who Faust, and Luxie work for, so I’m guessing that you work for them too.” Bacchus gave a nod.

“You are well-informed. Yes, we all work for the Triumvirate. Our little ensemble is known as The New Age Caesars. You do know what a Caesar is right?” Ren thought for a second before answering confidently.

“It’s someone who can use special powers because of some sort of mutation, right?” Bacchus gave a nod.

“You catch on fast. Yes, this mutation is called Crystallization. Humans have been underground for so long that the crystal around us has started to change us genetically. Then people started to use these strange powers and shit.” Faust gave a loud laugh.

“You would almost say that it’s magic.” Bacchus laughed out loud at Faust’s childish guess, but Ren had a straight face.

“What’s magic?” Ren asked curiously. Bacchus looked at Ren with a smile, he was slowly getting used to the kid.

“Well, Caesars have only been around for about thirty or so years, so no one really knows how we generate power from Crystallization, but I don’t really care at all about that science shit.” He smirked a little after that, a perplexed Ren staring back. “But I can show ya somethin.” He then raised his hand a little and his eyes started to glow a faint yellow, then his entire hand engulfed itself in flames. Ren looked with wide eyes.

“So you can make fires at will? Huh, I thought you would have some sort of alcohol power or something.” Ren gave a laugh at his dumb joke. “I've seen what Faust's power is. He can shoot those "gun" things really well with those eyes of his.” Faust gave a sigh.

“My power is enhanced perception and reaction time, not just being able to shoot guns well, although I can do that without using my powers. It’s not just my eyes either, my brain is Crystallized too.” Bacchus gave a laugh.

“You forgot to mention that every time you use your power you go bat shit crazy.” Faust groaned and pulled a rusty revolver from a holster that was hidden in his trench coat and began spinning the cylinder.

“I don’t need my powers to be a good shot... and I won’t go insane just yet. That’s what these are for,” he said, motioning to the pack of cigarettes on the bar. His eyes began to glow a bright red and he slammed the cylinder back into the revolver and made a quick twist and pointed the gun at a table across the room. The chair that was at the table then fell down and a worried voice cried.

“Whoa! Don’t shoot! It’s just me!” Then a figure began to materialize from the darkness and it slowly began to resemble a female frame who was covering her face in fear. She then revealed her face showing watered grey eyes and short red hair. Faust then gave a laugh and started spinning his gun around, his eyes still glowing.

“Luxie! Don’t scare me like that! You know I don’t like surprises you crazy wench.” He then turned to Bacchus who knew that Faust was going nuts. “Bacchus! Thy needeth another beverage!” He then threw his glass toward the door. Faust then pulled the hammer of the revolver back and pulled the trigger. The bang was loud and the bullet went through the glass and the door, but thankfully the walls were thick so not many people would hear the shot. “Oops. Heh heh..” He then turned to Bacchus and took a long puff of his cigarette and the glow from his eyes slowly faded. “Take it out of the pay.” Luxie scoffed loudly at Faust's nonchalant behavior.

“What the hell Faust? You know we need to eat, and you’re wasting ammo doing stupid stunts like that!” Ren crossed his arms, confused at her outburst.

“It’s not really his fault, Luxie.”

Then her angry glare shifted toward him.

“And you!” She said walking over and pointing her finger at his nose. “You had me worried sick! I thought you wandered out and got mugged or kidnapped or something!” This made Ren agitated and he pushed her hand out of his face.

“I can take care of myself! I know how to fight if someone even tried to cross me, and why are you talkin’ to be as if you are older? You’re only like two years older than me!” Her hand then went back at him and she grabbed his nose between her fingers and began to twist and crush.

“That’s what I was worried about! I've seen what you could do and if the public found out you’d be in trouble, making US get in trouble!” She gestured with her free hand at Faust who was finishing up his cigarette and looking a little sickly. “Also, age doesn't matter. I've spent fifteen years up here, unlike you who has only spent two weeks!” Ren finally broke free of Luxie’s hold and started rubbing his now red nose.

“Not my fault those ass hats kept me in that lab for so long.” A grimace grew on his face and he turned back to the bar and sighed. “The bastards got what was coming to them.” Bacchus tired of the drama and arguing finally spoke up.

“Well, I’d better contact the higher-ups and say that you finished the job.” He stood from his chair and began to walk away, but Ren hastily shouted after him.

“Hey, if you’re a Caesar, where is your Crystallization at?” Bacchus gave a sigh and put his hands up in the air waving them.

“I got magic hands.” He leaned over the bar and gave Ren a close look at his hands. There was a faint shine on little hairs that were growing on the tips of his fingers. “I rub my fingers together and the Crystallized hairs create friction, which in turn create flames. There are some scientific reasons for some Caesars abilities, but you on the other hand...” He gave him smile. “You, and these files could change all we know about-.” Ren cut him off.

“There is no way in hell I’m letting anything like what the Octavians did happen again.” Bacchus then realized what they would do if they see the files. They would probably put him back in a lab just like the Octavians did. Faust then spoke up.

“Maybe we could get rid of the interesting stuff and say that the kid died like the others and make up some weird bullshit test that seems brutal yet worthless...” Ren turned to Faust looking at him unbelievably. Bacchus guffawed.

“You talking about withholding information? They would kill ya faster than your trigger finger. You were lucky killing two Caesars, but they have plenty more than us and they are twice as strong.” Faust looked at Bacchus with serious eyes.

“Come on Bach, how many times have I saved your ass? You owe me.”

“This is different! Ask me for free booze? Sure. Women? Anytime. But espionage?” Bacchus groaned, a moment later raising his hands up. “You know what, fuck it. I’ll do it, because I know you will just keep bitchin’ about it until I do.” He swiped up the Holodisk. “We are even for everything now. And you.” He pointed at Rentus. “Better friggen' kiss the ground I walk on from now on.” He then began walking toward a back room to erase the files about the success of Ren's creation and the artificial Crystallization. When Bacchus left, Faust gave a grin to Ren and gave him a light noogie.

“Well, welcome to the New Age Caesars.” Then Bacchus screamed from the back.

“They’re going to kill you and me, and Lux if they found out that you are keeping this from them. It be best if you didn’t have him along." Lux then spoke up.

“I’m not dying because of this twerp.” She said flicking her thin finger on his forehead. “Well, he can’t work for us, but putting him out on the streets to fend for himself would only cause more problems than fix them so, he can at least stay with us.” Ren smiled while rubbing his forehead.

“Aww. You do care!” Then Ren stood up and tried to hug Luxie, but she sidestepped him, making Ren fall onto the marble floor.

“Don’t touch me, dumbass.” She said looking away her face a little red. Faust laughed whole heartedly.

“You two are so cute together.” He then gave Ren a serious look. “You gotta keep on the down low from now on kid and I mean it.” Bacchus came back showing them the holodisk.

“There all fixed, I put it to where Ren died from the experimentation and new bull for the experiments. I set his name to something I made up, Archimedes Octavian, dumb sounding I know.” He looked at Ren.

“How’d you get the name Rentus anyway?” Ren gave a smile.

“Faust gave it to me, it means ‘Reborn’ in some language called Laggin’.” Faust got up from his seat and began to stretch.

“It’s Latin, and I found it fitting. He was reborn, he was no longer the same kid as when he left the Octavians.” He then began to walk toward shattered glass door. “Call me when you get the pay.” Bacchus shook his head, chuckling.

“Yeah, I’m getting a brand new door with that money.” He looked at Lux and Ren, who was still on the floor. “You guys better get out. Now.” He gave a smile and waved them off. They both nodded and Ren got up off the floor.

“Nice meeting you Bacchus.” Bacchus gave a nod and proceeded to clean the dishes that he failed to clean when Faust showed up. “Let’s go, Lux.” She sighed and led Ren out the door. Bacchus raised his head from his work and called after Ren.

“Hey, why did you join with Faust anyway, Ren?” Ren turned and smiled.

“He was the first guy who treated me like a person, not a test subject. He offered me a way out so I took it, and I promised that I would stop at nothing to make sure that what happened to me never happens to anyone else.” Bacchus smiled and waved them out the door again. Bacchus sighed.

“What kind of shit are these kids getting into?” Bacchus said under his breath as the two walked out of the door leading to the central city of New Florence. He looked at the holodisk that was sitting on the bar. He went away from his dishes and began looking through the files that were left. One thing caught his eyes. “Project TIREK? Hmm.” He spent a while shuffling through what files were left. “What are you planning, Magi?” He stood up and went to the back room where he said he deleted the files. He sat down on the desk where the computer was. Showing on the screen were the files of which he said he deleted. “I’m sorry Faust. I’ll keep the kid out of this, but this is something that needs to be done.” He then tampered with the files and sent them to the Triumvirate with the message that read.

“Here are the files Faust promised, but don’t mention them to him.” After about twenty minutes there was a response.

“Caesar Bacchus, these files are startling. They could very well be what the Magi have held back for so long, thank the Terra that they were not successful in their endeavors. We will greatly reward the NAC for this.” Bacchus typed back.

“Thank you, but what will you do with this information? Surely you can’t continue this research.” There was a pause, but then a response appeared.

“I’m afraid that is up to the Triumvirate to decide and I am certain that they will do what is best for both the people, and for this great faction. Glory be to the Terra.” The Triumvirate logged off. Bacchus sighed.

He wondered if he had made the right choice as he opened a new pack of cigarettes and lit one up.

Only time could tell what the choice would bring. For better or for worse, Glory be to the Terra. Bacchus thought as he watched the smoke fly toward the crystal lamp above him.

A short preview for chapter one.

Year 1004 Present Day, Equestria.

Twilight Sparkle was just finishing dusting her book shelves and Spike had went out on errands. She was running out of ink and spare quills so Spike offered to go get some, probably to get out of rearranging the shelves from alphabetical to genre. Twilight smiled a little. It’s just like him to do something like that. She had to open soon, not that she was expecting anyone to come in today. Suddenly somepony entered the room from the outside.

“Hold on, I’ll be with you in a second!” She teleported down from the ladder she was on to see who would've come to the library so early in the morning.

“About time Twilight! I was waiting for almost twelve seconds!” It was the only unicorn in Equestria who would walk on her hind hooves, Lyra Heartstrings. Twilight sighed.

What does she want now? She thought to herself as she forced a smile to her face. “What can I do for you Lyra? Need to check something out?” Lyra then got close and put a forehoof around Twilight’s neck. Here we go...

“You see, I’ve heard at Canterlot Archives there might be some logs on humans. Regular ponies like me couldn't possibly access those archives. But with your help...” Lyra trailed off, smiling innocently.

Twilight gave another deep sigh. “I can’t do that.” Lyra, refusing defeat, continued on unperturbed.

“Come on, don’t you want to know what happened to humans? There is barely anything about them here! You do believe that they exist right?” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Well, there is no evidence suggesting that they existed or that they do exist. Trust me, I've read every bestiary at least three times over," Twilight stated, pointing to a rather large collection of field guides and the entire Monsters of the Everfree 15 volume set on a shelf. "Even if they did exist, they did a really good job disappearing off the face of Equestria.” Then Lyra gave a loud groan and jumped in front of Twilight.

“Come on Twilight, you gotta be more logical than that. Nothing, especially another sapient species, can just disappear!”

Sometimes I wish I could just disappear...

Author's Note

And it's here! Me and RagnaKawaii (my co-writer) have been working long and hard developing a story and characters for Remnants, and now it's finally on FIMFiction ready for public viewing. Please (if you care to) write your positive or negative comments below, as we really do want to find ways to improve this as it goes forward.

Note: In case you're wondering, 'Nullus' is a Roman term that described their concept of zero, as Roman numerals have no zero in their counting.