The Clockwork Sword: The invasion of Equestria

by Clockwork94

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Human, Other, Original Character, Spike
Length: 3430

Something strange is coming from the western coast. Visions of steam, steel and blood haunt the princesses, announcing bad news to all the citizens of Equestria

"I can see a new world to be conquered. I can hear the guns blazing and the natives running. I can feel my heartbeat and the clockwork sword in my hand, guiding the imperium to a new dawn." A man in a officer suit is resting in his throne. His visions of glory may cause the extincion of a magical race. Meanwhile in Canterlot, Celestia is dreaming. But a grim shadow will transform her worst nightmare into a vision of a dark future...

Human forces inspired by the Vinci faction in Rise of Legends. Picture is similar to the Human cities.
Yes. Another story about humans in Equstria. But I added the steampunk touch to it.

UPDATE
Due to important appointments and some college studies, I will rewrite the story and make it more deeper. Sorry for make you wait until now.

Published 2014-01-23 00:10:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-06-07 21:49:00 UTC

Prologue: Visions of Steel, Steam and Blood

The land of Equestria, is not the same anymore…

Dark clouds covered the sky. The ground is covered with the blood of the fallen royal guards. The cities were burning so the forests and fields which were close to them. This land used to be full of live, light and lush. Now, it became a wasteland... a bloody, bloody wasteland.

A white alicorn named Celestia is walking through this dark landscape. Her eyes saw the atrocities of the recently discovered species. Her memories were crystal-clear like the first time.

It began with a simple excursion, they were called humans. They came from a world without magic or harmony. They settled down in the west coast of Equestria. Their mission was to explore new lands. What called the attention of the citizens was their technology. It was way advanced. They can be strong to resist the forces of nature, they were capable of fly without wings and they could perform wonders without magic.

But the greed in their hearts of these monsters became huge and it fueled the gears of war. Their real goal was to achieve global domination, nopony can’t stand against them. Soon, their machines brought chaos to the land, but the ponies have their skills. Together, the humans pulled back from the bastion they founded. The final battle was already won; Celestia sent all the troops to finish with their misery. She committed the huge mistake of her life.

What happened to the magic of the world? What happened to the might of the princesses? Where are the Elements of Harmony? Some ponies were asking those questions since the beginning of the storm. After three months of storming the huge fortress, a massive device was erected in the top it. When it was activated, the tables were turned. The giant tower of coils and rotors changed the atmosphere and no earth pony could work the land. No pegasi could change the weather. And no unicorn could perform magic spells. They became vulnerable, so the living creatures which depended on them and the elements of harmony as well. The magic friendship wasn’t enough, because there was no magic at all. The next days, Equestria became into a living nightmare. The tree of harmony was destroyed by human heavy artillery. The cities fell, so the castles of Canterlot and Ponyville. The Crystal Empire was no match for their supremacy, it took one day to destroy the crystal heart so the morale of the crystal army and its citizens.

She shifted her sight to reality. The flashback was interrupted by a weak breathing. She stopped in the middle of the battlefield. A soldier was resting against a wrecked stone wall. His armor was covered in blood, so his spear and shield. He opened his eyes to see her majesty one more time.

-“They… They…” He contemplated the horrors that the race could achieve, in the battlefield. He made an effort to complete the sentence. “They were too powerful. We couldn’t stand their weapons. My comrades fell in front of me. They lost their limbs in the explosions. I ended their suffering, for good. It was… horrible.” His time in this world is ending.

-“Don’t try too hard to breathe. Your duty with the kingdom is done. Let your brothers finish this.” Her voice calmed the dying soldier.

-“How painful death could be?”

She sat down next to him, and then she placed her head close to his, whispering words to his ear: “I don’t know... But try to close your eyes. You will see a light at the end of the tunnel... Go to it.” He closed his eyes and the tears of the depressed princess fell to his blood-covered visage.

-“Thank you… your… majesty…” The world has lost a part of its light.

-“Ah Princess Celestia. Is good to see you again.” A deep voice came from behind.

-“You monster! Haven't you done enough damage here?” She shouted to the masked two-legged creature.

-“Oh, excuse me you majesty. Shouldn't a war cause this kind of damage? Oh yes! It should.”

-“Why are you here, human demon?”

-“Such harsh words for the one who rejected us, from your ‘utopian’ society. And indeed, this war was caused for your actions against us.”

-“You wanted us to kneel to your king and his dark throne. You’re just a tyrant who wanted the power of this land for your selfish purposes, like the rest of them!”

-“With ONE difference, princess… We are many and you are alone” Then, a huge group of soldiers wearing gas masks were carrying six ponies and another human with a black canvas bag covering his face.

-“I’m sorry princess; they ambushed us in the Everfree forest. We couldn’t escape.” Said the purple alicorn named Twilight Sparkle.

-“Take this scum and this traitor to their princess! Prepare the rifles for a quick execution.”

The soldiers began to release the safe lock of their weapons and the ammo was charged to the gun chambers. Only one bullet is going to be used this day.

He approached her and he whispered: “Any last words, your majesty?... No?... Well then” He returned to his position.

-“Listen carefully, this is the day when the immortals finally meet the reaper and from the ashes of the old kingdom, a new superpower will ascend to rule this land, and their enemies will suffer the edge of the clockwork sword. Long live the king! Long live the throne of steel!”

-“Long live the throne of steel!” They shouted.

The nightmare ends with the heavy breathing of Celestia in her bed inside her room. It was two in the morning, three weeks after Tirek’s attack.

-“Sister, are you alright?”

-“I just have the most terrible dream.”

-“Why do you think I’m here? You know as well as I that this was not a dream, but a vision.”

-“Then we haven’t much time, we must be ready when the time comes.”

By the moment these words were said a human expedition to the new world has begun. Both sisters knew that the upcoming events could carry the destruction of Equestria and the kingdoms and tribes attached to its borders.

Author's Note

Here we go again! Remember, constructive feedback and tolerance. Soon, I will rewrite the current chapters.. Right now I'm very busy due my works at college.

Chapter 1: Silhouettes from the west

Equestria, is a land full of might and magic. It was created by three races which were shattered by an age of darkness, ice and snow. They’re known as the earth ponies, the pegasi and the unicorns. Both share the land with other races like, the donkeys, the zebras from the savannah, the buffalos from the “mild west”, the Saddle Arabian Horses, the Griffon kingdom, the Minotaur tribe and the dragons. They called this world: “Equus”. But something was coming from the west, and one little earth pony could feel their coming.

-“Oooooh nnnnoooooo, hheeeeerrrrreeeee wwweeeeee ggooooooo aaaaagggggaaaaaiiiiiinnnn”

Pinkie Pie was very known not only for her ability to make ponies happy or hang around with all her friends. She had a special sense called “The pinkie Sense”. With it, she can predict what is going to happen right now or in the future. Today, her body is shaking badly and nopony can stop her.

All the ponies from Ponyville didn’t know what it means. But her friends knew that something big is going to happen soon. They decided to reunite inside Twilight’s Crystal tree-castle to obtain some clues from her pink friend.

-“Calm down sugarcube. Tell me what’s going on?” Applejack said to her shaky pink friend.

She calmed down for a second “Something doozy is going to happen”

-“We know about it, darling. Just try to be a little bit specific.” Rarity replied

-“I can feel something. It’s coming from...” Pinkie’s shivers resumed

-“Where!?” Rainbow Dash couldn’t resist the stress for long.

-“W…W…Western-coast-of-Equestria-close-to-White-tail-woods-and-the-Smokey-mountain.” She revealed the location very quickly while trembling.

-“You heard her! Let’s move up!”

-“Wait! You forget something” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “We must prepare a plan before rushing without one.“

-“No time! Let’s go now!”

-“Remember the dragon incident…?” She drew a small grin in her face.

A quick flashback changed her emotional state quickly. “Yeah... point taken.”

-“Then, prepare your saddles for a trip; take food, tools… and maybe my new book of strange and mythical creatures. I’ve been waiting to use it in a special location, and today it’s the day. Besides, we must know what we going to face.”

-“Sounds like a good plan for me, but without the Elements of Harmony?” said Rarity in a worried tone.

-“Yes, we know that we left them in the Tree of Harmony. And we have to use the rainbow power only in dire emergencies, so we have to figure out something.”

-“Alright then, darling.”

-“We’re going to depart in three hours… And no, there won’t be dragons there.” The small princess directed to her shy friend, who was hiding behind her friends.

-“What a relief” said Fluttershy quietly as always while she was returning to her position, next to Applejack.

A small silhouette appeared in the edge, between the great doors of the hall of friendship. Somepony heard the conversation, or in this case, some dragon.

-“Can I go Twilight?” Spike said eagerly because he didn’t want to miss another adventure.

-“I don’t know Spike. It seems to be a dangerous task…”

-“Please.”

-“But we don’t know …”

-“Please, I can help.”

-“But…”

-“Please Twilight; I want to go with you.” He supplicated to her.

-“Alright Spike, let’s move out!”

And so the group prepared their saddles for their journey. And before leaving the castle…

POOF!

-“Oh, another great adventure. I hope there is another space for one more” Discord, the spirit of chaos appeared with a Daring Do outfit a backpack and a whip while floating above the ground.

-“Discord… I know that you can be helpful sometimes but…”

-“…But sometimes dear, you can’t control your enthusiasm.” Rarity supplemented Twilight’s ideas.

-“Oh…” Discord instantly vanish the outfit with the items. “And I thought that you accepted my apology …” He stopped floating and sat down “I thought that you were my friends, after all.”

-“Oh, don’t be sad Discord” Fluttershy approached swiftly to him. “You helped us all in rough times. And without you, we could not discover the final key and defeated Tirek with the rainbow power” Her hug can melt the coldest heart and Discord did that same.

-“Oh Fluttershy… Don’t make me blush” He blushed and his entire boy turned red. Then he restored his colors and stood up from the dirt “I have to warn you about this. Your dear princess Celestia had a terrible nightmare yesterday, and she can’t deal with this situation, ´professionally´.”

-“And what do we have to do?” Asked Applejack.

-“I suppose it’s up to you to investigate. I will try to calm her, and her sister Tuna”

-“It’s Luna, Discord.” Twilight corrected his little mistake.

-“Alright… Luna, with capital ‘L’” He appeared for a few seconds a floating letter ‘L’, dancing Can-Can with a Top hat and a Black Cane. “Well farewell, my friends. My planet needs me.” He appeared a superhero costume and the objects that the mane six and Spike needed for the mission. “Up, up and away!” Then, he soar the skies leaving a trail of sparkles.

-“I´ll never understand him…” Said Applejack.

After leaving Ponyville, the group passed through White Tail woods. Fluttershy’s ability to communicate with the animals helped the mane six plus Spike to follow the right path. During the entire journey, Pinkie’s shivers were getting worse every second. And after a day of following the trail, they arrived to the bay in the morning, a strange and dense mist was covering the beach. Then after a few seconds, Pinkie Pie’s body stopped shaking.

-“Strange. Did you saw something through the mist, Pinkie?” The purple alicorn asked her.

-“No. That’s very strange, my Pinkie sense never fails…” something interrupted her.

Strange sounds could’ve been heard in the distance. An odd silhouette was emerging from the fog. It has the shape of a strange ship, and there were three approaching to the shore. Also, three flying contraptions that appeared from nowhere scarred the six ponies and the little dragon. They took cover in the forest, and they watched the flying machines scouting the area.

-“Spike, pass me the quill and my notebook. I must write it down in my journal!”

Chapter 2: The Arrival

“Tell me Lorenzo, What day is it?”

“Sunday, sir. Sunday the 25th”

“How many days have passed since we left home for new lands?”

“I think… almost a month.”

“One month, Lorenzo. One month. I still remember the great iron tower of the capital city of New Vinci, the beauty and lush of the Great Valley, the factories from the industrial city-state of Tarquinio and the Great Bay from whence we came.”

“I miss my homeland, sir. I miss the land of Vernazza”

“Like most men, private, we left our homes with the promise of a new world waiting us. Keep looking the horizon, I presume that today is our lucky day.”

“Yes sir.”

Alfonse Cortez is the name of the captain. A tall and straight man, whose mind is clouded by the days sailing through a strange ocean. He really misses his country… and his family as well. But, Private Lorenzo Aquino is an eager soldier. He enrolled the military force to accomplish his dream of discovering a new land. He stood still over the superior deck. The weather wasn’t pleasant of the fleet presence. A heavy fog covered his sight since the dawn. He took a look of his pocket windup clock. It was ten in the morning, and the horizon didn’t change.

“I guess today is not our lucky day after all” muttered Lorenzo.

Then a vision, something was behind from the silver curtain, the illusion of a huge piece of land. He checked twice with his spyglass, and then again, and again. His sight wasn’t playing tricks
.

“I can’t believe it… Land, at last. And I’m the first man in discover it!”

With haste, he ran through the ship passing through stairs, few crew members and some crates in the middle of his path. His goal was to reach the alarm bell and the speaker next to it. After reaching it, he pulled down the lever without hesitation and triggered the alarm.

“Land ahoy! Land ahoy! Everybody, there’s a new world ahead us!”{

Those words were hear by the entire crew through the ship’s speaker network. The alarm caught by surprise all the idle crew members and the rest of the small fleet. The ship’s captain approached to him.

“Lorenzo, are you sure the truth of your finding” He said.

“Affirmative. I spotted the land mass at thousand and one, sir. It appear to be a continent”

“Great. Call Lieutenant Tolentino’s pilots to make a surveillance flight. I need all the data to establish our first colony.”

“Yes sir!”

The gigantic ironclad was carrying some ‘air screws’, a type of flying machine which its propeller was an enormous fabric with the shape of a small endless screw. Lieutenant Tolentino and her team of pilots were chosen to do the task. Her piloting skills were well known by the citizens of Vernazza during The Great Clash of Steel, a war between the separated City-States of Vernazza that happened ten years ago. They started the engines and the helix began to rotate. A big gate opened above the vessel’s inner hangar.

“First Lieutenant Lenora Tolentino, requesting permission to flight immediately.”

“Roger that lieutenant.”

And the three flying contraptions lifted off from the helipad and exited from the steel behemoth’s insides. They began to fly with haste towards the beach.

Meanwhile, the crews of the three vessels were alerted to disembark. The cargo was ready to be loaded. And the clockwork machines were activated. A voice in the speakers made an announcement. Everybody stopped for a second, just to hear the message of their captain.

“Our time has come. Our wait has been rewarded. This was the promise from our king: Pietro Sforza. And we will proclaim this land as ours. For the throne of steel!”

“For the throne of steel!” Everybody shouted together, with one voice. Their morale was boosted by those encouraging words.

The small army with the main officer went down to the main cargo platform. Square formations were executed. And when the ships touched the land, the platforms were lowered. They marched to the beach with guns in both arms and their backpacks. Cortez was carrying the flag of their nation, a triangular red flag with silver edges in which three gray shiny gears, one big and two small, were crossed with a rapier.

“I claim this land, in the name of the King Sforza and the throne of steel!”

He sunk the banner in the sand and the soldiers roared with energy, raising their rifles in the air. “Bring the caravans close to that big mountain. We found a good place to establish our new colony.” said the fierce soldier. The trucks which transported materials and tools stored inside the ironclad were mobilized around the beach.

“Private Aquino…”

“Yes sir!”

“You will be reassigned to the scout squad for the area reconnaissance.“ Then he gave to him the authorization in his hand.

“Me sir…? I… I… ” He was speechless. He was waiting for this unique opportunity.

“Yes, private, you.”

Lorenzo swallowed his eagerness “Affirmative sir.”

“Then double time! They’re going to depart soon”

He ran to the group of soldiers which were receiving their briefing. The captain knew why he entered the first Terra expedition, and the team needed Lorenzo’s orientation sense. Besides, he was the one who spotted the land, he truly deserved that.

“The captain gave us the order to…”

“Wait for me!” The silver squad captain was interrupted by the incoming soldier that wasn’t part of the mission.

“Soldier, explain yourself!” He shouted.

“Captain Cortez reassigned me to this squadron, sir.” The officer read the signed paper in which described Lorenzo’s abilities.

“Well, I’ve never rejected an assignation authorization from the Captain.” He muttered. “I hope your talents are not just simple words, because we need these skills to explore the surroundings, understood?!”

“Sir, yes sir!”

“Have a seat, I’ll continue to explain the details of the mission. Now where was I…”

Lorenzo took a seat next to the young man equipped with a scientific monocular. He has brown hair and the branch where he was, was from the Terra’s scientific team.

“Hey, I’ve never seen you before” He said.

“I’m from the 5th squad. And you?”

“Well. I am from the scientific team on the expedition. My name is Raphael, Raphael Buonarroti”

“I’m Lorenzo Aquino.” Then he focused his attention to his backpack, it looked pretty heavy for a skinny guy to carry. “It seems that you carry a lot of stuff.”

“Nah, it’s nothing. I used to take huge encyclopedias inside my backpack when I was twelve. I was worried that it may rag every time I came to home from the library.” They giggled quietly, but the ears of the officer could hear, even the chirp of a cricket.

“Aquino, Buonarroti, stop doing that or I will make you peel all the potato boxes that still inside the frigate!” Both rookies stopped and began to pay him attention with a serious face. ”Alright, It’s time to go. Remember; don't spread out too much from yourselves, and don’t go far away than 100 meters from the camp, understood?!”

“Sir, yes sir!”

All the soldiers including Lorenzo and Raphael stood up and marched to the forest, meanwhile the rest of the forces were managed to build the colony with some civilians who were chosen in this expedition.

“Captain Cortez, We placed the wooden fence around the perimeter and we’re ready to build the structure of first bastion on the base of the mountain.”

“Excellent, we must build it for the arrival of the duke, at once!”

“Yes sir.”

“I hope there are no natives around the place or the duke will burn the place to the ground.” He thought.

Author's Note

I'll try to expand the small chapters. I didn't know where to place some secondary characters in the beginning of this fic. I'll need some help to find an editor.