From the Ashes

“Hold the line! let nothing through!” A Mage said as unsheathed his sword. “We must buy as much time as we can! Is that understood?!”

A chorus of “Yes Archmage!” ran through the corridor. Ten Mages stood at attention facing a large Metal doorway that looked out of place in the damp grey corridors.

Behind the mages stood Makeshift barricades were standing behind them. Everything was used, tables, chairs, parts of ruined vehicles. Anything that could hold back the enemy. Dozens of soldiers stood at the ready with their weapons facing downrange at the doors. Their job was to stop anything that pushed past the mages.

Fear was etched onto everyone of their faces. It was over and they knew it. Of course their superiors would never say that, but it didn't take a genius to realise that humanity was on its last legs.

Alex was standing behind the barricade. He was tall, had pale skin, dark brown hair and his eyes showed nothing but bloodthirsty rage. He was breathing heavily and many of the men at the barricade glanced at him in fear.

A hand landed on his shoulder causing him to tun quickly. He looked up at Max and felt much of his rage disappear. Max was average height and most of his face was covered in a pristine white hood. “Stay calm.” He said in a demanding put friendly voice. “Do not let the beast control your actions as it will be the death of you and everyone in this room.”

“I will try.” He said in a quiet voice before taking a deep breath.

“You will have to, otherwise we will fail our mission.” Max said said before scratching his clean shaven chin.

A loud thump from the door caught everyone’s attention. The sound of weapons being cocked echoed through the corridors as everyone got into position. “Everyone get ready!” The archmage yelled.

Max turned to Alex and sighed. He pulled his pistol from holster attached to his thigh and cocked it. “Fall back to the second barricade! kill anything that gets passed us.” Max said as he walked towards the barricade.

Alex nodded and sped of down the hall.  A third loud thump at the door cause everyone to snap their attention back to it. “Everyone get ready! Here they come.”

CRACK

Alex turned on the spot and froze at the sight. The massive metal door was being slowly pushed inwards towards the barricade. And then it crumbled. The door fell forward only meters from the barricade and the men at the door wasted no time. Gun fire ripped through the corridor as streams of metal poured into the doorway.

The streams of gunfire stopped anything from getting past the smouldering doorway. White smoke made it impossible to see anything further than ten feet away and the sound of cheers and roars could be heard from outside. The guns fell silent as everyone scrambled to reload.

“FOR THE KING!” A loud roar, echoed from thousands of voices washed through the doorway. They had come. The ponies had come.

Alex watched on as a wave of bodies pushed through the doorway. Each and every pony was clothed in a golden armour and a dark blue crest sat upon their helmets. A wall of golden spears pushed into the room and the mages sprung into action. Ponies were being cut down in droves. Jets of flame and lightning from the mages turned any pony the touched into a smouldering pile of dust and molten metal.

Alex stood motionless as he watched the slaughter that took place. A sinking feeling washed over him as a quiet voice whispered his his mind. “Kill.”

He shook his head violently trying to shake the voices from his head. He looked back at the barricade and watched in shock as Max was lifted from the ground by a red aura. Everything went so fast Alex didn't even have a chance to shout his name before his body was impaled by a pair of glowing red swords.

A tall blood red alicorn with a bright white mane was looking directly into his eyes, a small demonic smirk played on his face. Max sputtered blood before sending a weak punch into the side of the ponies head that failed to even cause the alicorn to flinch. His horn glowed slightly brighter and Max was thrown into the wall with a deafening crunch.

The barricade had fallen the surviving men ran and screamed for their lives but were quickly chased down by the ponies. Alex was shaking as fathomable rage burned through him. His mentor, his saviour his friend. Was dead.

The ponies surged forward towards Alex as he stood their shaking with anger. An over eager pegasus took flight and raced towards him with his spear at the ready. Alex turned to the last pony as he stopped mid flight and threw his spear with all his strength.

The spear raced through the air before bouncing away merer millimetres from his chest. The pegasus looked on in horror at the undamaged human before his body ruptured and exploded in a fountain of blood.

His comrades that were just as eager only managed a single look of horror before having the same fate. Red gore painted the walls and Alex red. The pony force came to a halt as the blood covered human slowly walked forwards.

Flames engulfed Alex's hands before elongating into two red sabres. His eyes glowed a bright yellow as he started his advance. Several ponies rushed him only for six of them to paint the walls and and the last was impaled before being decapitated by the swords.

kill

The ponies that were in the hall tried to back away but were unable to move as wave after wave of them pushed into the hall. The king eyed Alex warily before disappearing in a bright flash and reappearing a six meters in front of him.

His horn glowed red as two swords materialized out of thin air. He stood at a fighting stance with the floating swords a foot in front of him. His calm demeanour when facing Max was gone. His look now could only be described as one thing. Fear, uncontrolled fear.

“What are you!” The alicorn roared as he tried to hide his fear. Alex turned his head slightly as blood dripped from his dark hair. “I said what are yo-” He was cut short as a large explosion went off right in front of him sending flying into the pony ranks.

Alex turned as another shell went whizzing past him. A large tanks was stampeding down the corridor straight towards him and dozens of men were behind it. A tall man ran up. “Quae ad pacem tibi,!!” He shouted before Alex fell to the ground.

Alex awoke with a start only for strong hands to push his shoulders down. “Alex don't panic! It's me !” Someone shouted and and Alex calmed instantly at the sound of his voice.

“Patt?” Alex asked as he looked at a tall man with grey hair and heavy wrinkles that sat on a chair next to his bed.

“Yes now calm down. Please.” Alex was breathing heavily as he  sat up and looked at the old man.

“What happened?” Alex croaked.

“You lost control again.” Patt said in a sad voice before shaking his head.

“What? No I couldn't hav-... Max” He trailed of quietly, his eyes suddenly staring into nothing.

“He's gone Alex.”

“No he cant be dead! If he survived Boston he can survive here!” Alex said defiantly even though his words sounded hollow.

“He was...” Patt sighed. “He was converted Alex.” He said before his head dropped. His face was full of sadness as he thought about what happened.

Kill

Alex slumped back at the news. He couldn't believe it, Max was actually gone. A look of fear raced across his face as he looked at Patt warily. “Wait what happened to me then?”

“Don’t worry you didn't fully transform, no were near it in fact.” He shook his head. “It was to close though, far to close.”

Alex's head dropped at the words. How could he have been so careless? “And the ponies?” He asked trying to change the topic of conversation.

“The ponies were driven back and we detonated the tunnels. The second barricade was evacuated and all troops were moved back to the fort.”

The fort was a massive underground bunker that was created at the beginning of the war by the European governments and was situated in Scotland. The bunker was designed to be humanity's last line of defence against the oncoming pony hordes. Similar bunkers were built in Russia, The United States and Australia as they were the furthest way ponies from the oncoming barrier.

Luckily for humanity the Magical barrier that was slowly terraforming the planet and would kill any human that came in contact with it was moving slowly, very slowly. It had taken over fifteen years to reach the point it was at now but no matter how hard humanity tried, nothing could stop it.

“You best get on your feet as McClain wants to speak to you.” Patt said before rising from the chair and offering Alex a hand. Alex grabbed and heaved him self up. A wave of nausea washed over him causing him to stumble. Patt reacted quickly and grabbed him by the waist..

“Easy now.” Patt said as he steadied Alex. “You OK?” He asked.

“No.” Alex stated flatly as he mad his way to the doors with Patt's assistance. They pushed the doors open and Alex looked glumly at the fort. Hundreds of tents covered the large open ground just in front of the main complex. Complex was built into the side of the large cavern and looked over the large camp and the main gates.

Barriers were erected all over the place at strategic locations which gave the men stationed at them the best view of the gates. Tanks rolled around the open areas spewing plums of black and grey smoke that quickly floated upwards.

The complex it's self was a large concrete structure that jutted out from the caver wall and had a bird's eye view of everything that went on inside the fort. Dozens of gun emplacements lined the top of the structure. Machine guns, Cannons even mortars were all aimed for the main gates.

Alex and Patt scuttered through the crowd of people that were scuttering about doing one thing or the next. The walk to the complex didn't take long. Five guards stood at a security check point scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble.

“Identification?” One of the guards asked as Alex and Patt reached the check point. Patt pulled a small laminated card from under his shirt and passed it to the guard. The guard eyed it for a second before handing it back to him. “Clear.” He said.

Patt moved on and Alex fell in step behind him only to be stopped by the guard shoving him away. “No pass no entry.” The guard gruffly as he pointed the gun at Alex's face.

“Sir, he's with me.” Patt said as he ran over to the guard.

“It doesn't matter, we received new orders from general McClain. No pass, no entry.”

“The general ordered him here himself.” Patt said only for the guard to look at Alex with suspicion.

“Alex Duncan?” The guard asked.

“Yes.” Both Alex and Patt replied at the same time.

The guard turned to Patt. “An Alex Duncan has already arrived.” Both Alex and Patt started at each other in surprise then shock as the words dawned on him.

“Guards with me!” Patt cried as he and Alex ran passed the checkpoint and into the complex. “We have an intruder in the complex.”

Five men were running down the small narrowed corridors at break neck speeds. Alex and Patt were leading the group and three guards from the check point were hot on their heels. The endless grey corridors seemed to go on forever. They had climbed the stairs to the top floor at breathtaking speed but the main corridor seemed to go on like end. Well that’s what it felt like to Alex any ways.

“Move your asses.” Patt shouted back at the three guards as they began to fall behind. The group could see the end in sight as the corridor stopped in front of two metal doors.. They stopped at the large metal doors and stopped. Faint voices could be heard from inside.

Patt turned to Alex. “You hear anything?” he asked as Alex tried to zone in on the voices.

“What’s he doing?” one of the guards whisperer to Patt only for him to be told to shut up. Alex could faintly make out the voices from inside.

“You cant fight the inevitable general. Pony kind will be triumphant and humanity will be cleansed of their evils.” A voice said from within.

“You are nothing more than a traitor to your own species.”

“I am trying to save humanity by offering them the chance to become ponies. To cast aside old grievances and hatred, to be united in true harmony.”

“True harmony is not destroying an entire race.”

“What's going on?” Patt asked, pulling Alex away from the heated conversation from within the room.

“McClain and another man are arguing.”

“Hostile?” Patt asked.

“Yes.” Alex said flatly.

“Fuck all right everyone get ready, on my mark” Patt said as everyone got into position by the door. The guards clicked the safeties of their guns, Patt drew his pistol and Alex stayed motionless, which drew a few confused glanced by the Guards. Two of the guards grabbed the handles on the sliding doors.  “1...2...3... MARK!” Patt shouted. The two guards pulled the doors with all their might and the others ran forward.

The room was a large control centre. Screens of sizes covered the walls and a large wooden table sat in the centre. The table was cover in an assortment of maps and computers. Large windows looked over the refugee camp out side and it gave the observers a perfect view of what was going on outside.

Everyone stopped as the man who was previously arguing walked forward with the general in front as a human shield. A pistol was pressed against the generals head.

“Don't come any closer.” The man said before pushing the gun firmly against the generals head.

“What do you want?” Patt asked as he aimed his pistol directly at the man's face, the guards followed suit and slowly moved out as to get a better shot at the man.

“I want you to lower your weapons and embrace harmony.” The man said. “I want you to forget your hate filled lives and live a life of peace and unity.”

“Now please, if you excuse me I have some very important people to meet and they don't like to be kept wait-” The man stopped his rambling as the sound of cracking filled the air quickly followed by a blood curtailing scream.

The man dropped the gun. McClain sent and elbow into the man's face sending him reeling backwards. He continued to scream, still clutching at his hand. “Please sto AHHHHHHHH!” he screamed as there were more sounds of bones breaking. His arm caved inwards and became a red gooey mess that as only the size of a tin can.

“I hate PER.” A quiet voice whisperer. Patt turned quickly and saw Alex staring at the man. His face was emotionless.

“Alex stop!” Patt cried as he ran over to his friend. “Don't let in control you.” This had no effect on him as the man continued to scream as more bones were broken. Patt needed to think of something fast. He could already see the slight green glow forming in Ale's eyes. Then it hit him.

“Think about Matt!” Patt yelled. The sound of breaking bones came to a halt but the screams continued. “Would he want this!”

“No.” Alex whispered.

“No. No he wouldn't” The green glow in his eyes slowly faded away.

The screaming of the man were silenced as one of the guards put a bullet in his skull. “No one should live through that.” He said as everyone stared at him.

“Get the body out of here.” McClain said two the three guards.

“Yes sir!” they said in unison before garbing and hauling the body out of the room.

“Are you all right sir?” Patt asked as the general rubbed his face.

“I'm fine, but we have bigger problems.” He said as he looked towards Alex. “ Leave us please.”

Alex nodded and walked out of the room and closed the large metal doors. Once the general was sure it was safe he turned to Patt. “What just happened?”

“Alex hates PER, and well, you see what happens if he looses it.” Patt responded throwing the general a wary look.

McClain sighed. “You said he was a mage but I have never seen anything like that. He crushed the man's arm without moving a single muscle.” He shook his head. “What is his power exactly?” the general whispered to Patt as he glanced at door Alex was behind.

“No one fully knows.” Patt said with a shrug. “We just agree not to get him angry and hope for the best.”

“That is the plan? To hope he doesn't get angry?”

“It takes a lot to get him angry.” Patt retorted.

“Obviously not! Did you see what he did?”

“He did that because he was a member of PER” Patt paused. “They converted his family in the London attack.”

That shut the general up. The attack on London was mercelise. The once great city was almost completely converted when the Pony airship fleet bombarded the city with the conversion potion. PER infiltrators had begun their attack on the surrounding airfield stopping any reinforcements from arriving. All attempts to destroy the ships were stopped as the unicorns created barriers that surrounded each ship. Half of the city was converted in two days and not a single airship was destroyed.

“YOU LIED TO ME!” Alex shouted as the doors were smashed from their hinges. “You told me they got away!” He shouted at Patt. “You said they had made it to the American bunker!”

“At the time I didn't know!” Patt shouted back as he and McClain backed away from Alex.

“So you decided to keep it a secret from me!"

“I did what I ha-”

BOOM

The ground shook as a massive shock wave rippled through the entire complex. “Perimeter breached” A loud, worried voice shouted over the base speakers. “ I say again perimeter breached! Ponies have made it to the main gate! All personal move to designated positions!” The voice cut off and All three men looked at each other.

“We finish this later.” Alex said before turning on his heels and made is way to the doorway.

Alex was fuming, he was making his way towards the main gates trying to doge all the frantic civilians that were trying to make it inside the complex. “I'll kill him.” Alex muttered as he remembered the previous conversation with Patt.

BOOM

Another shock wave went through the complex as the main gate shuddered. Alex could already see the gate slowly start to warp as the the concrete around it began to crack. He could now see where his group were. Seven mages stood in a small open area and they were all facing the gate.

A tall am wearing a white cloak waved Alex over. The existence of magic in humans only came to light after the war had started. Magical communities lived in isolation and out of the public eye in fear of persecution.

During the attack on Berlin hundred of mages joined the fray in hopes of holding back the barrier. It was fruitless though as the barrier merley soaked up everything they could throw at it. It only took three days for Berlin to fall and almost every solider and mage stationed there was either killed or converted.

“Alex, I want you to support group B.” He said motioning to a group of tanks and soldiers forming up on the right side of the gate. “Don't let anything through.” He said casting a worried glance to Alex. “Is it true the king is here?” He asked.

“Yes.” Alex stated flatly causing the mage to flinch.

“Then god help us.”

Alex turned and made his way to Group B. “He's not listening.” He mumbled just inside of earshot causing all seven on the mages to turn to him.

Alex made good pace to the group B. The group was a mixture of soldiers and a dozen tanks. The soldiers took cover behind sandbags and other pieces of scrap that could be found. Each solider had a look of fear on his face as they fiddled with their weapons, waiting for the inevitable.

kill

A loud whizzing sound could be heard and Alex turned to the gate. His mouth dropped as the centre of the gate began to glow red. Bolts began shooting off from the door. One unlucky Marine was hit dead in the chest sending him flying backwards.

“Here they come!!”

BOOM

Alex was thrown backwards as the doors flew forward. A beam of fire erupted from the smoking doorway aimed directly for one of the tanks. The tank exploded in a shower of fire and shrapnel as the beam disappeared.

“JOIN THE HERD!” A chorus of voices sang from inside the doorway as the first of the ponies emerged.

“Open fire!” A voice called over the comms. Gun fire erupted from the human fortifications turning the advancing ponies into bullet ridden husks. The tanks were the next to open fire as the 120mm high explosive shells detonated in the hallway causing chunks of pony to go flying.

“FOR THE KING!” They shouted as another wave tried to push through only for them to be cut down. The slaughter went on and on as each wave of the ponies was cut down before reaching the plaza.

Blood covered everything in the door way as chunks of pony went flying in all directions as the tank shells continued to pond them from inside. Alex tried to rise up only to stop as a wave of powerful nausea washed over him causing him to stumble backwards.

He turned slightly to left so he could get a better view of what was going on. Another Beam of light emerged from the doorway causing another tank to explode into flames. Using this chance dozens of pegasi emerged from the door way and shot upward. They came to a halt and dives straight down at the human lines. Dozens of vials of potion were dropped. Impacting Dozens of soldiers.

The soldiers lurched in agony as the potion got to work. Their hands and hooves merged into solid stumps. Fur began to cover their bodies and their face elongated. A tall bushed out from their back and few of them sprouted either wings or horns.

The line of fire broke and ponies began to pour in. Hundreds of ponies emerged from the gateway and charged directly at the human lines as they struggled with the newly converted ponies. A earth pony was charging directly at Alex, he had a purple vial in his had and was preparing to throw it. Alex extended his hand and a beam of fire shot out incinerating the pony.

“Fall back to secondary positions!” A mage called as he sent a beam of light at a peagsus turning him to ash. He aimed at another pony just as a vial hit his shoulder. He doubled over in pain as the transformations began to take place.

“Humans do not resist the inevitable!” A large booming voice said as the same blood red alicorn emerged from the gateway, only this time he was not alone. A tall blue alicorn stood by his side, this one was a mare. “Accept the gift we offer you!”

He killed Max. Kill him

Alex shakily got to his feet and aimed for the red alicorns head. He was just about to send a bolt of fire at him but was stopped when a blue pegasus slammed into him, he fell to the ground in a heap with the pony on top of him. The pony on top of him was trying to hit him in the chest with a vial of the potion but was stopped when Alex sent a fist into his face.

The pony went flying off of him and landed in a heap a few feet away. The pony shakily got to his feet and got ready for another attack. Ben extended his arm and shot another beam, the pony barley dodged the beam as it singed a few of his feathers.

“Come here.” Alex growled as he readied for another attack. The sound of breaking glass stopped his  attack as he looked to his feet. A vial of potion had shattered only a foot away from him covering his feet in the purple potion. Realisation dawned on his face just as the pain hit.

Searing pain passed through his body as the changes took effect His feet changed into hooves and black fur began cover much of his body. A pair of wings sprouted fro his back and his face elongated into a muzzle. He stood on shaky legs as whispers began in his head. Thoughts of flowing green hills and lush forrest filled his mind. Voices telling him to worship the king and queen echoed in his mind, and then, then it reached his memories.

Memories of his friends were slowly being replaced by pony doubles. His memories of home were being moulded into what the ponies  would have viewed as paradise. The memories of his parents flashed before his eyes. They were sitting at a small table eating lunch. They slowly began to change. They grew fur, wings and slowly shrunk. They all turned to him and smil- NO

The changes memories stopped. 'I don't want any of this!' Alex screamed inside his mind. 'They will not change me!'

kill

“AGRRRAAAAAAA!” Alex let out a primal roar. His now large pony eyes shrunk into bright, glowing green dots. “I will kill all of you!” He shouted as pony body was engulfed in flames. Causing the pegasus beside him to be turned to ash.

Ten ponies charged directly at Alex as he was engulfed in flames. The Red alicorn's attention turned to the wall of flame that was surrounding Alex. Is look of confusion changed to one of horror as the ten ponies that charged the human burst into a fountain of blood.

Alex was now standing at his full hight. Fully human once again. Flames whipped and swam around him as locked eyes with the red alicorn. His face contorted in horror. “Kill him!” He ordered. “Kill that human!” He bellowed as half of the ponies in the plaza charge at Alex.

A demonic smile spread across Alex's face as his white teeth slowly elongated to a point. Several ponies only inches away from Alex, exploded into a bloody mess.

Fire engulfed Alex's hands as two large sabres grew from the flames. Then, he walked forward. Ponies in all shapes and sizes ran at him in fruitless determination as only to become a pool of blood.

The red alicorn's face contorted in rage as his horn began to glow. “Stay behind me.” He said to the blue alicorn as she moved behind him. He shot his head forward and a beam of light came from his horn.

The beam shot straight at Alex and impacted with impunity. The light was so bright Everyone who had witnessed it had to shut their eyes not to be blinded. A smug grin spread across the alicorns face as black smoke surrounded where the human had once stood.

The blue alicorn was the first to speak up. “Honey, do you think you kil-” A gust of wind pushed out from the smoke and smashed into the side of the Blue alicorn sending her flying across the the plaza.

“Star light!” The red alicorn shouted as he ran over to her. “Star light, are you OK?”

“I'm fine sunburst.” She wheezed before trying to stand up only for her to fall to the ground.

“We need to get you out of here.” Sunburst said as his horn began to glow.

“ARGHHAAAAA.” Alex shouted just before he collided with the red alicorn.

“Sunburst!” Starlight cried as the red allicorn went flying. She tried to get back to her hooves only to stop when she saw a pool of blood... move?

Patt was not having a good day. First he got into an argument with his best friend and second the ponies had decided it would be a good time to attack during said argument. Patt pulled another mag from his belt and slapped it into his pistol and continued fiering.

The human defences had been pushed back to the third defensive line as the wall of ponies continued their advance. The humans took cover behind makeshift barriers as spells and potion vials flew overhead.

A beam of purple magic hit a marine to his left and sent him falling to the ground, a large black hole present where his chest had once been. Spells whizzed past Patt's head as he fired another round into the chest of an advancing pony.

“Hold the line.” He yelled before firing again. “We cant let them get through.”

A distant rumble was heard but no one paid heed as a second wave of ponies made their push. “Keep firing!” Pat yelled as he sent another round into a ponies face. A vial of potion fell from the sky and hit one of the men beside him in the back. The effects were instantaneous as the potion began it's work.

The new giddy unicorn got to his feet and gave a toothy smile. “Join us.” He managed to say before Patt fired a round into his skull. Another rumble only this time more power full ran through the human lines

Patt ignored it as he ducked behind a sand bag as a beam of purple magic grazed the top of his head.

“Fuck!” He shouted as he randomly fired a few rounds over his head in hopes of hitting the attacker.

Another rumble.

Patt pressed the button for his comm on his arm. “We are getting hammered out here! Where is our support?!” He yelled.

“Support cannot reach you. I say again support is unavailable.” The voice of general McClain said from over the radio.

“What do we do sir?” A royal marine asked as he fired the last of his clip at a pegasus flying over head.

“We hold out as long as possible!” Patt said as the gravity of the situation sank in. With no reinforcements they would have to fall back soon and then the entire west flank would collapse.

Another rumble was heard only this time much more intense. Three soldiers fell over as a large concrete building to Patt's left began to crack. What the fuck.” He managed to say before the building exploded in a plum of dust.

A large Red alicron was thrown from the building and fell to the ground with a thump. His body was covered in blood and there was a large smouldering black mark on his right flank were his cutie mark should have been.

The Patt saw him. Alex was standing on top of the now destroyed building. His eyes were glowing a ghostly green and his skin began to take on a light purple colour.

Pony and human alike were mesmerized by the scene. Everyone but Patt. “Everyone fall back” He roared as he sprung to his feet and ran. “Everyone fall back!” At the sight of their commander running the soldiers upped sticks and ran like fuck in the direction of the fourth, and final defensive line.

The ponies stared in shock at their badly beaten king as he quickly rose to his feet. Alex smiled grimly as he watched the beaten pony get to his feet.

“I have faced dragons and daemons!” The king declared as his horn glowed again. “A single human shall not defeat me!” A beam of light shot towards Alex only for it to impact against an invisible barrier inches from his face.

The king snorted in anger as the ponies around him watched in awe. He was about t send another beam at Alex only to stop as a scream ripped through the air. The kings eyes went wide. “Starlight!!” He cried.

Alex took the chance and lunged forward. He sent a fist into the pony’s face sending him flying into an abandoned tank. “For the king!” The ponies roared at the sight of their king. Alex waved his hand and a wall of flame erupted from the ground. The barrier of flame stopped all but the fanatical as a few tried to make there way through. It did not end well for them.

The king slowly emerged from the ruined tank. A large gas went from his forehead all the way down to his chin. “I will not be defeated by you!” The king said determined. His legs buckled and he fell to the ground on his stomach.

Shouts for the king were drounded out by the roar of the flames as ponies tried depretly to get passed the barrier. “I will destroy you!” The king roared as he put all his strength into his hind legs and lunged.

The king continued to roar as his skin split and his bones broke. His eyes caved in shortly followed by his muzzle.

*crush*

The kings body caved inwards as his bones and organs turned to pulp. An evil grin split Alex's face as he inspected the crushed and mutilated body of the king. The wall of flame slowly faded and the ponies froze in shock. The mutilated body of their king was only meters from their feet. And then, they ran.

The ponies turned tail and ran. Screams ensued as they scampered over one another ans Alex slowly moved forwards. A wave of his hand sent several ponies flying. Another wave of his hand saw ten become a bloody paste.

With each kill his body slowly grew. Once standing at little over six feet Alex was now reaching seven. He craned his head back and lead out a thundering roar. His skin had taken on a snow white colour with small specks of purple showing.

The rumble of vehicles could be heard in the distance as an armoured truck sped towards him. Alex turned and saw patt in the passenger seat with a megaphone in hand. “PUAE AD PACEM TIBI,” Patt screamed into the megaphone as Alex fell into darkness.