Legends of Equestria: HeroSoul

The Void, unknown time after the war

The three ponies and knife had the portal ready before them, it was nothing special, just looked like a tall semi-circle made of gold and iron metal alloys with random lightning sparks coming out of it. Oh wait, that’s what it was. The sparks flow in random directions and Haze continued to pour magic into the magic, Heart was looking at a small piece of metal that he was supposedly using for a control, once the metal got to a certain colour, it would be Equestria. He hadn’t said which colour, just when it happened, they should run like crazy. Spectra had agreed to the idea pretty quickly; as soon as Heart sat him down to explain how it all worked, twice. Nick on the other-blade was not as impressed, being a tower of metal, he would be a perfect conductor of magical electricity, and since that’s what brought him to life in the first place, he’d rather not tempt fate. Haze had agreed that Nick was a good target for the wild lightning; he had no control over it.

“We are kind of in a rush though Heart, I don’t think the Void has much magic left in it.” Haze suddenly shouted over the lightning that was slowly becoming much louder than before. His eyes flinched at the flashes every time they sparked up; being in the darkness for so long they were reacting to sudden, bright lights terribly. It will only get worse when we get home. Haze thought. If we get home.

Haze continued to pour magic into the makeshift portal conductor whilst Heart stared at the ever changing colours of the metal. Spectra was still standing, looking ready to gallop into their exit as soon as the order was given. Nick had climbed onto the Pegasus' back and was holding tight onto the Grey mane of the stallion. The circle slowly began to hum that low, familiar sound and Heart looked up from the metal, stepping back to ready the next step.

"Haze, you can stop now. Be ready." Heart ordered, the other pony compiled and stepped forward. Slowly the purple colour of a portal formed inside the shell and instantly the three galloped forwards, not needing any orders from any of the group. Nick hung on tight as he was shot into the air, almost stabbing Spectra as he slides back. Haze's wings were out and flapping, as if he intended to fly as soon as he was out. Heart was almost crying as he and the others passed through into their home.

Equestria, five days after the war

The two princesses and queen had exited the tent, leaving the sleeping form of Twilight on a wool bed. Faust nodded to the ponies sitting outside and four of them entered, all but Dari. The queen looked to the dark blue pony with sadness; she knew what the question would be. It had been the same question asked for five days.

"My queen-" Dari begun, Faust then quickly interrupted her, not noticing the small ball of fluff which was Treeborn hiding behind her mother.

"I'm sorry Dari, I still have unicorns on the task, and still they have not found any answers. I promised you to give you news as soon as I received it. Since I haven't, then I haven't spoken to you." Faust quickly said, looking down at the made. Dari nodded in understanding, that was the worst part. She understood Faust was trying, yet still wished for her friend’s survival. The Pegasus walked away and noticed the sun slowly begin to descend the sky making way for night. The pyres would be burned soon and Tree needed food and bed before that happened. The royals had cleaned up the city best they could and gave homes to all those who now needed it in the direct aftermath of the war. Sadly, those houses once belonged to ponies that never made it back. Dari and her daughter had been given a key for a house near the wall apparently, but neither had gone in to their new home yet and had mostly been sleeping outside with a lot of other refugees unwilling to move into some other pony’s house. But Tree was restless outside and they both needed a good night sleep, not that after everything she'd been through, Dari would get one. The walls were still damaged enough that Dari and Tree could just walk over, much to the annoyance of the stone mason ponies. But after they decided to rebuild the gates, which later collapsed under its own weight, the walls were the only way into the still ruined city. Most of the damage had been cleared up; demon bodies did still litter the ground, but not as much as before. The ponies that had fallen had already been gathered for burning; the enemy had either been left or simply thrown off the side of the mountain. Some even used their guns to decay any remains left, leaving black marks of burn and acid.

Dari looked down at her daughter who stared at the dead laying in the rubble with an emotionless glance, either the war had broken her completely and she was too scared to even think about the implications dead ponies and other creatures meant, or Treeborn was a stronger mare Dari would ever be, which in a way was true.

Tree was strong during her infancy, where Dari was under the influence of a rebirth and in theory mother and daughter had grown up together.

Tree had been strong in the months and years Dari contemplated the fact her daughter was one of magic, rather than love. Thus Dari didn't care for her as much as she now knows she should have.

She was strong when her mother went to war, after that short time Haze had spoken to Dari and now understood she was ready for motherhood no matter how it had come to be.

Treeborn was even stronger when Dari came home powerless and wingless, a sacrifice to save one pony. Now however, it did not matter whether her mother had her powers or not, without the Heart of Equestria there was no way Tree would gain her powers. All she was was a Pegasus, much like how Dari is now an earth pony. With the Heart infused with both Haze and the atmosphere, and Haze being trapped and the atmosphere magic out of the question. There really would be no more Sirens. At first Dari and Tree could have rebuilt their race, but Haze was in control of that now, not them. And after watching his only daughter physically get turned to dust before his eyes and his wife also get shot, he probably wouldn't have any more children. That is if he ever returned.

The two made it into their house and stepped inside. The place was small and had little in the way of lighting. The only really light source that could be seen, besides the few blackened windows, was a small electric lamp in the kitchen. As if on cue Dari's stomach began to grumble and she realized how hungry she was. She looked to Treeborn who also held her stomach.

"Want some food daughter?" Dari asked, as casually as she could.

"Yes please mother." Tree replied looking into the kitchen, the older mare gave a small, warm, smile and made her way into the kitchen to fine bread, flowers and enough hay to last them a month. Dari began to make the sandwiches and watched her daughter explore the living room out of the corner of her vision. The filly seemed content with living here but wasn't really at home. Their house in Ponyville had been destroyed during the human invasion but they had been living with Spectra in his relatively untouched home. With three adults and three children it had been fairly cramped but otherwise livable. Despite this being Somepony else's hone Dari felt that she could at least survive up here with her daughter. But she would have to take the train to see everypony else. Except Twilight maybe who would certainly be here with the other royals doing her new found duties as Alicorn princess. The only issue was with the amount of princesses. With Luna keeping an eye on the Dweller kingdom there would be three princesses overlooking Canterlot. Which wasn't exactly a bad thing but tactically they could spread out the Princesses to overlook Equestrian's borders. Not that invasions had been coming from the world recently. But later on.

Equestria, six days after the war

Lauren Faust was walking around the torn battlefield outside of Canterlot. Great machines took over the skyline of the city as attempts to repair it went underway. The dead bodies of both the enemy and ponies had finally been dealt with. The ponies burnt over night with celebrations and an attempt at a party to remember the fallen in a good way, which failed miserably. The enemy, whether they be Demons or otherwise were simply thrown off the side of Canterlot mountain, many ponies spitting of shooting Decay at the already dead creatures. There was nothing of the Mo'ka to desecrate, since they simply turned to dust after death. Their remains had floated away in the wind, scattered across the world. Faust had three guards in the newest royal armour, with leg blades on their preferred legs, a metal sword-spear like blade attached to a guards helmet which could make a unicorn horn be used as a weapon with damaging the actual bone of the horn, and an exoskeleton of three small dagger-blades which attached to ones wings. The Faustian guard was certainly the more armed guard of the three, second only to Luna's. The castle blacksmiths had been working daily to create the perfect alloy for the armour and to get the right size for half a hundred guardsmen. As well as the queen herself. They hadn't been all that happy to be making more wartime armour and weapons considering the war had been declared over, but Faust knew better than to tempt fate.

The queen herself had thinner armour on than her guard but had different types of weaponry than the standard wear. Her horn was considerably longer than the average unicorn being an Alicorn, and the silver metal had a long, sharp Axe blade running alongside the smooth horn cover. She had a blade on one hoof, only a few inches longer than the others and on the other hoof a miniature Decay gun arm which shot when she pulled down on a metal bar. It was the remains of one of the pistols the commanders had been using and normally seemed too small for pony use. But with science, magic and smithing, the job had been complete for hoof guns. Much easier to use than the saddle guns and could be fired easier whilst moving. Much of Faust's wings were covered in the flexible metal with numerous blades just small enough to be mistaken for a reflection of light coming off the wings armour. Her helmet had two long wings on it that almost resembled ears, the queen wasn't wearing it and had it strapped across her back by a leather bond.

Three guardsmen had her sides and flank, all wearing gun saddles and the back also holding a Faustian banner. The queen wasn't going anywhere in particular, after just talking with the researchers on rebuilding the bridge between the Multiverse. Mainly, the Void and Equestria, she had gone to see Princess Twilight. But neither had particularly stunning results. The queen was therefore bored. She laughed at that realization. The queen, the creator who not only turned herself into one of the most powerful monarchs in the Multiverse, but created Equestria, created life. All from a childhood idea. A pony/human who created a history, a longing for this place by thousands of 'Bronies' back on Terra. She had done marvels people can only dream about, and now. She was bored.

"Are you alright? My prin-, my queen?" The guardsman to her right asked, still not quite used to any hierarchy above Celestia. Faust realized she had stopped just on the edge of Canterlot plains and was facing the dirt trail down into lower Equestria. She moved her head about to focus, flicking her ears a little and smiling at how adorable that might look if she were a filly.

"Ye-, yes. Sorry captain. Lost in my own thoughts. Do you have any reports?" Faust asked, then gave herself a strange face when she realized what a stupid question that was, the guard answered anyway.

"No Your Majesty, I have been following you since this morning, you would know what I know. More so in fact." The guard replied, Faust gave the guard a look, not sure if that last remark was sarcasm or not. She smiled at last, the guard looked away and the queen turned, guardsmen following close as Faust made her way up the hill back toward the city. A few Pegasi wagons were flying by showing that trade was beginning again for the great city. Faust stared up at the different ponies moving in and out of Canterlot as workers shouted out orders to each other, the noise had dimmed considerably with such little population but she could still hear the city's inner works from where she stood. Above the noise however, she did hear her daughters worried shouts.

"Mother! Mother!" The two were shouting from somewhere far away, Faust looked to her guards who were looking in the direction of the call, confirming that Lauren had heard her daughters' cries. She began to gallop at a fast pace, leaving her bewildered guards in the dust, who quickly sped after the now abandoned queen. Lauren gave little care for the risks she was supposedly taking from leaving her small party but her daughters sounded worried, almost, scared. Faust caught sight of Luna first, flying above the ground trying to scout for the missing Alicorn, then Celestia, galloping down the hill with a likewise guard party slowly running after her, holding onto helmets and weapons, tripping now and again. In another time, it would have been a comedic sight.

"Children. Luna, Celestia. What is the matter?" The Queen asked concerned for her Princesses.

"The, the gates. Come. Come with me." Celestia replied quickly, out of breather even after a short run. She had been eating a lot the last few days, but that shouldn't affect her health so badly so quickly. Should it? Faust ignored the panting princess and nodded, before running off toward the city gates. Guardsmen following far behind after only just catching up to her. Luna flow past in the air, surprisingly guardless. Only wearing a black metal helm and a rapier strapped to her side.

The gates were fine, still in one piece, very much being rebuilt, so nothing out of the ordinary. Except, those five ponies standing nearby. Three mares, two stallions. All in a line, one had a wonky eyed stare and another looked thoroughly pissed off. They all had various wounds inflicted onto them, which was the worrying thing. All of these ponies should be dead, or at least laying in some field somewhere bleeding out. The blue one alone had a large claw mark running from one end of her body to the next, she had been attacked during the Demon invasion, and if this pony really had received those wounds then it could explain the missing cutie mark. The Queen took a step backwards with the realization. These ponies were dead, and something big must have forced them out of Paradise. Faust slowed to approach the ponies and the wonky eyed one trotted toward her.

She had a bright blue mane and a light brown coat, short hair all over and strangely, no cutie mark. Which only encouraged Faust's thoughts, this mare was either a 'blank-flank' or had died, and that wound would certainly have killed her. The mare spoke, with a voice that didn't match the body.

"Queen Faust, I have heard legends about you, but never imagined to meet you. Especially like this." The mare said, gesturing to her body.

"Believe me little pony, I am very much real. But who is it I speak to?" Lauren Faust asked the strange mare. She’d heard the stories, and she had a hunch on this wall eyed mare with bright short hair. She may not be in her original body, but something was wrong for her to be, back.

"Ah yes, allow me to introduction my friends first. From the mare here leftwards. You have, Aeb, Shadow, Rainbow Dash, Professor-" The mare groaned in annoyance. "- Cockwhistle, and me. My friends call me Dee.

But my real name is Derpy Haze. Wife of Sir Bright Haze, now my Queen.

Where is my husband?"