A Spark Ignitesby CyranoChaptersChapter 1: Apocalypse ChimeChapter 2: Allied StrategiesChapter 3: Praetor's GraspChapter 1: Apocalypse ChimeThe sun smiled down upon the dirt road that led from Sweet Apple Acres, where two figures were making their way towards the town of Ponyville. The first was an orange earth pony whose work-hardened hooves kicked up clouds of dust as cantered along, the second being a cyan pegasus with a wild rainbow mane who soared erratically around her companion. A gentle breeze tugged at their manes and brought a welcome reprieve from that warm summer’s day, but did little to cool their heated debate. “I don’t know about this… It is Trixie we’re talking about!” Rainbow Dash stopped abruptly, spinning around in midair and grabbing Applejack by the shoulders. “What if she got the Alicorn Amulet back from Zecora and is using this show as a—“ she paused, her face scrunching up as she searched for the word “—a ruse! To rule Ponyville!” “A ruse,” deadpanned Applejack. “Yeah!,” – Rainbow released her friend and flew about dramatically to give emphasis to her words – “a ruse! She probably heard about the Elements! And now she decided it was the time to go back to her evil ways! She’ll use the magic show as a reason to get everypony into the center of town, and then she’ll–she’ll…” she paused, resting her chin on her hoof while racking her brain for something devious enough to prove her point. “Mind control them or something!” Applejack stared at her for a moment before responding, “I reckon you’ve been readin’ too much Daring Do, Rainbow. Twi’ said she checked with Zecora an’ the amulet’s fine—and since when has Trixie been usin’ ‘mind control’ on ponies?” Rainbow interrupted her aerial pacing with a huff, crossing her front hooves and glaring down at Applejack. “It could happen! We’re not unicorns, who knows how those crazy horns work? Look, I’m just saying Trixie has been nothing but trouble for us in the past. Somepony needs to be thinking about this stuff.” Applejack sighed. “I understand you’re worried, Rainbow, but I trust Twi’ when she says Trixie ain’t here to cause trouble.” “I trust Twilight, it’s Trixie I’m not so sure about.” “I understand, and I also understood the other fifty times you said it since we left the farm. It ain’t me you gotta talk to if you want this show canceled, and if that’s your plan you’d better hurry, seeing as the show starts in twenty minutes.” Rainbow’s hooves went limp as she hung, barely aloft, in defeat. “Whatever. If something happens don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Her tirade at its end, the two ponies headed for the center of town where a large stage had been erected. As they neared the stage, Rainbow could tell that she wasn’t the only one having doubts. There was an aura of excitement and nervousness over the crowd – as Pinkie would say, ‘nervousitement’ – but it only seemed to make everypony more anxious to see what would happen. Half of them are here to see magic, the other half is here so they won’t miss out when everything goes off the rails. She rolled her eyes. Again. It took them nearly ten minutes to find their friends in the crowd, and by the time they had taken their places in the front row it was just about time for the show to begin. There was a thundering of applause as the curtains opened and revealed the showmare herself, and after a quick introduction—albeit with far less boasting then their last meetings—the magic began. The crowd was quickly taken in by the well-rehearsed tricks unfurling before their eyes, all except Rainbow Dash. She watched Trixie with crossed hooves and narrowed eyes; though whatever warning she hoped to convey was lost by the bouncing form of the giggling pink mare beside her. “Wow!” cried Pinkie Pie after a particularly daring stunt. “Trixie is pretty good when she’s not being a big meanie—huh, Dashie?” Rainbow merely shrugged, she wouldn’t admit defeat so easily. This could still be a ruse. “I didn’t think Trixie was capable of such powerful magic,” came a reply from Rainbow’s other side. As if to illustrate her point, a brilliant flash of light from the stage illuminated Twilights face as she spoke and the crowd erupted into applause once more. “These aren’t just parlor tricks this time, I guess she really has been practicing.” Rainbow’s sneering intensified. The remainder of the show went by spectacularly—not that Rainbow would ever admit it—and soon the grand finale was upon them. There were shouts of excitement and terror as a maelstrom of fireworks erupted from Trixie’s horn and illuminated the evening sky. The showmare curtsied, horn still ablaze, and the curtains came forward again as the crowd roared with approval. Fireworks continued to spew from the stage, though with far less flare than for the finale. With wide grins on their faces, ponies all around them began heading home. All of them, in fact, except two. “Something’s wrong,” Twilight said urgently. “She’s not in control of her magic, come on!” The six mares rushed up to the stage and behind the curtain, and there they found Trixie. Her horn could barely be seen beneath the inferno that surrounded it as it continued to belch fireworks into the sky. “I knew it!” Cried Rainbow, pointing an accusatory hoof. “Stop… Whatever it is that you’re up to!” Trixie opened her eyes as much as she could without exposing them to the blinding light coming from her forehead. Her coat was slick with sweat, and the look she gave the group was not one of malice—but of desperation. “Help! I- I can’t-“ Twilight leapt into action, her horn began to glow and the fireworks began to slow, but only slightly. “It’s no use! Something’s using her to dump excess magic, we’ve got to find it before it kills her!” “Before it what?!” What little of Trixie’s composure remained was gone at the mention of her death. The girls sprang into action, ripping curtains aside and looking under props in a desperate attempt to find the source of the rogue magic. Rainbow was about to spring into action when she stopped. What was that? She shook her head, no time for that, Dash, time to prove how awesome you are by- there it was again. Rainbow felt something, some sort of pulse. She waited for a moment, the shouting ponies and roaring of fireworks seeming to die out around her. This time she was sure of what she’d felt, and more importantly she knew where it was coming from. A twitch of her tail was the only warning Pinkie got as a streak of rainbow crashed through the stage where she had stood only a moment before. Rainbow Dash emerged from the hole no worse for wear, holding… something. She examined her treasure: a large red orb crisscrossed with bronze lines with a small bronze sphere at each intersection, and marked with a strange symbol of a sun. For a moment she was confused, but when the pulse rippled through her again she knew she’d found the source of the trouble. Evidently Twilight knew it as well, because a familiar purple aura surrounded the object and pulled it from her grasp. “I think I can cut the connection, just give me a… there!” Trixie’s horn was suddenly extinguished, and she dropped to the floor, exhausted. Fluttershy went to check on her as the other girls approached the orb. “What is it?” Applejack asked. “You mean other than the most hideous object I’ve ever set my eyes on?” Rarity gave the object a scornful look. “Not to mention dangerous.” “Oh! I know! It’s a fireworks machine, we could put it on top of the mayor’s office and have fireworks all year round! Can we borrow it, Trixie? Can we, can we?” There’s that pulse again… But we turned it off! Rainbow shook her head and tried to pay attention to what her friends were saying. “Don’t look at the Great and Powerful Trixie! She has no need for help to perform her magic! I’ve never seen it before in my life!” Trixie got back on her hooves as she joined the group. “Umm…” Rainbow glanced at Fluttershy before her attention was torn away by Twilight. “I think it’s some sort of magical battery! If we could harness this energy, even the weakest unicorns could wield magic the likes of Starswirl the Bearded! Imagine the possibilities!” Twilight’s eyes lit up as she gave her theory to the group. Pulse. “I don’t know, sugarcube. I don’t reckon Equestria could handle every unicorn usin’ that much power.” “Twilight…” “Of course it would have to be regulated, but power of this magnitude made portable! Shining Armor could keep his shield up in his sleep! Imagine how much could get done if was in the right hooves!” Pulse. “Hmm. I see your point, dear, and surely we could do something about the container. I wouldn’t want to turn customers away by having something like that in plain sight.” “Should it really be–“ Pulse. “Hang on! It was under Trixie’s stage after all, surely there is–” Pulse. “You ain’t suggestin’ you hang on to it after it nearly killed you, are you?” Pulse. “Well obviously not, but I mean if there’s some sort of compensation…” “Everypony SHUT UP!” Five pairs of eyes turned upon Rainbow Dash, who was clutching her head with her hooves. The pulsing was happening every other second now, and it was driving her insane! A meek voice cut through the silence that had followed Rainbow’s outburst. “I don’t think it’s supposed to be glowing like that…” The orb had taken on a glow of its own. Twilight dropped her levitation spell, but it continued to hang in the air as a sickly orange light surrounded it. Small cracks began to form on its surface as it began to get brighter and brighter. “Oh no! Something must have damaged the container, the magic inside is breaking it apart—It’s going to explode!” Not a moment had passed after Twilight had finished her revelation before the curtains parted and the Scared and Cowardly Trixie was fleeing. “What do we do? There must be some way to contain it!” cried Applejack. “We’re not doing anything. You girls have to go,” Twilight said grimly. “I think I can stop it from leveling the town, but anyone in the immediate blast area is at risk,” she lit her horn and began concentrating on the spell. “Run!” “Consarn it, Twilight, we ain’t going nowhere!” Rainbow barely heard the rest of her friends chime in with their own arguments. The pulsing was too intense, it shook her to the very core. She knew that it was somehow tied to that orb, and that it was far more powerful than Twilight realized. She knew that Twilight’s spell wouldn’t be enough. “I appreciate your concern, everypony, but I can–“ Rainbow shook her head. “No, you can’t,” Twilight was about to argue the point when Rainbow dove. She snatched the floating orb from the air and dashed through the curtains, up and away from Ponyville. She heard the shocked cries of her friends behind her, but they were soon drowned out by the rush of wind. Good, she thought,I wouldn’t want them getting in the way, anyway. She reached a sufficiently high altitude before leveling off, putting all her energy into finding somewhere appropriate to drop the bomb. Because she was going to drop it, right? But every time she looked down she spotted something, some sign of equine life that she couldn’t bring herself to wipe out. She took a moment to glance back to the shrinking speck that was Ponyville behind her. Still too close. I’ve got to go faster. Rainbow felt the barrier of air forming before her, indicating that she was reaching Rainboom-level speeds. But there was no exhilaration here, only the dread of watching Rarity fall from Cloudsdale all those months ago- multiplied for each friend she had back in Ponyville. Rainbow’s wings were beating in time with the orb’s pulsing now, and as she forced her way through the cushion of air before her the world froze. She watched as the rainbow-shockwave began billowing out around her, creeping millimeter by millimeter. She saw the orange glow of the orb she held, so bright, she was sure to anyone looking on would think she appeared to be a star falling from the heavens. The light forced her eyes closed and through their lids it projected a cascade of familiar images. She saw her parents. Sorry, mom, looks like you’ll have to wait a little longer for those grandfoals. And dad, I’m sorry I was never the Wonderbolt you said I’d be. She saw Twilight. I’m the one vanishing in the burst of light this time, can’t let you have all the fun. Rarity. Keep your eyes open, you won’t want to miss this one… Fluttershy. Take good care of Tank for me-- what am I saying, of course you’ll take care of him. I want you to take good care of yourself, too. Pinkie Pie. Keep on smiling, Pinkie. Applejack. Keep it together, AJ. Keep it together for everypony. And please don’t name a tree after me, but if you do make sure it’s on a hill somewhere. Somewhere touching the sky. Scootaloo. Sorry, kid, I guess I wasn’t big sister materiel after all... She had done it: Ponyville was safe. The pulsing in her head was gone, and clarity like she’d never experienced overwhelmed her. She allowed her body one final moment of rest. So this is it then. Everypony always said I’d go out with a ‘bang’. I wouldn’t want to disappoint. ~~~ Back in Ponyville, two earth ponies and a unicorn watched the sky. Twilight and Fluttershy had taken off after Rainbow, leaving their earthbound friends behind. “Think she’ll be alright?” Applejack jogged in place nervously, watching the two distant (and one not so distant) shape disappearing into the horizon. “Of course, dear, Rainbow is the fastest pony in Equestria. If anyone could do it… And Twilight is right behind her, I’m sure she has some sort of spell to…” Rarity couldn’t keep it up any longer. Her head drooped and she fought back tears. Applejack placed a hoof over her shoulder, and Rarity looked up with an expression of gratitude. The two of them looked up to the heavens, and watched as they were torn asunder. At first it looked like a classic Rainboom, its multicolored shockwave further solidifying the fact that neither Twilight nor Fluttershy ever had any real hope of keeping up with Rainbow let alone stopping her. But something was different, something was wrong. Behind the first wave came a second, angry and crimson like a cloud of flames. It seemed to be guided by the Technicolor wave, for they stuck together as they tore through the sky as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful, and it was terrible. Time seemed to slow around them. The world remaining unchanged. The silence between them was broken when Fluttershy returned. Her eyes downcast, she didn't speak, most likely unable to. She walked next to Rarity and stood, waiting. When Twilight arrived the girls could tell she bore no good news. "Twilgiht?" said Pinkie Pie. Twilight tore her eyes from the ground and looked at Pinkie. Every second Twilight continued to look upon her she deflated. "I..." Twilight's voice broke. Her eyes slammed shut and she screamed "I couldn't save her!". That was when Twilight broke, sobbing on the ground. Fat tears rolling down her muzzle only to meet their end on the ground. Pinkie was completely deflated. Rarity was speechless. Fluttershy was crying silent tears. It was Applejack who broke the silence. "Now wait just an Apple-buckin' minute!" she yelled in Twilight's direction. Startled, Twilight looked up, momentarily stopping her sobbing. Applejack trotted up to Twilight. "There had to be somethin'! Anythin'! This is Rainbow here! Rainbow Dash!" she poked Twilight's chest with a hoof. "She can't be gone! She jus’ can't be!" Tears were pouring down Applejack's face. "She’s.." Her voice broke. "She’s mah best friend..." she choked out a sob. She reached up and pushed her hat down over her eyes. Hiding her tears. At this Twilight begin to cry again, not the racking sobs from before. Tears of sadness. Burning down her face. "There was... there was nothing" she managed. "No trace of her..." Applejack straightened "No!" she yelled to no one in particular. "It ain't true! I refuse to believe it!". She looked to Twilight, her eyes already bloodshot, "Tomorrow, we are gonna go to make sure— you hear me?! I ain’t givin’ up so soon on her. She’s out there somewhere, I just know it!" Twilight looked at her in the eyes. "Okay" she said. Her eyes fell back to the ground. In a lavender flash she was gone. Rarity turned in the direction of the library, only to see a purple force field erected around the library over the rooftops. "I suppose she has the right idea darlings" Rarity sighed. “We shouldn't give up hope yet though. Tomorrow is a new day and we will find her... if there is anything left to find.. that is..." She realized her mistake and turned away. She started walking to her boutique, her usual canter gone. In its place a depressed trot remained. The remaining three could see that her tail had lost a curl or two. Without a word, both Applejack and Fluttershy began to walk in separate directions. Fluttershy's were eyes glued to the ground, while Applejack's stared defiantly ahead. Pinkie watch her friends go, a look of utter sadness upon her face. Her face fell, only an eye could be seen between her straight locks. "Dashie..." she squeaked out, as the first of her tears hit the ground. Chapter 2: Allied Strategies“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash groaned. She felt like a tree in apple-bucking season. What happened… Memories of rocketing through a never ending void burst into her mind, accompanied by the feeling of being ripped apart at the seams. She remembered leaving Ponyville, and finally she remembered the bomb. Suddenly, the lethargy that had been gripping her was gone and Rainbow was distinctly aware that she was most certainly not dead. Leaping to her hooves, she gave herself the once over. Four legs, good; mane, messy as always; wings, a bit sore but no worse for wear. Yes, Rainbow Dash was definitely alive. With issue number one solved, Rainbow had to deal with a more pressing issue: where the hay was she? Her surroundings were utterly alien. She seemed to be standing on some sort of immense metal platform; shaped as if someone had taken a circle, cut it in two, and slid the halves slightly apart before reattaching them giving it two pointed edges. Around and above the platform, Rainbow could see only a night sky filled with unfamiliar constellations. The sight of them reminded her of Twilight, and brought upon a sudden and crushing loneliness that nearly brought her to her knees. It was then that Rainbow noticed another figure on the other side of the dais. Ignoring her body’s complaints, Rainbow shot into the air and rapidly closed the distance between them. “Hey!” she shouted. “Yeah, you! I’m talking to you!” As she approached the figure, Rainbow was able to determine a few things. First, and most importantly, it was a mare—not that she would have been upset had it been a stallion, Rainbow was just glad she wasn’t shouting at a statue. Secondly, it wasn’t one of her friends. This realization stung a little, but for the moment Rainbow would have taken Discord himself if it meant she’d get some explanation of what happened and how she might get home. The mare had a sandy brown coat with strange patches of golden metal sprouting from her joints. Her white mane was spiky and short, and a long braid hung before each ear. Rainbow’s gaze was drawn immediately to the mare’s right leg, which Rainbow realized was made entirely of metal! Unlike the gold that seemed almost natural, this limb was obviously artificial—though more advanced than any prosthetic Rainbow had ever seen. When the mare leapt back in surprise from the speeding pegasus, the appendage acted just like a ‘regular’ leg would. Rainbow came to a stop barely a foot in front of her and stared expectantly. “Alright, start talking,” she said, crossing her front hooves. “…I’m sorry?” The mare stared at her in disbelief, as if Rainbow was the weird one. “You heard me! One minute I’m heroically saving my friends from this magic-battery-bomb-thing, the next you’ve brought me here!” Rainbow said impatiently. “So come on, get to it!” The mare merely cocked her head, “I didn’t bring you here.” “A likely story! I need to get back, my friends need me!” A confused expression came over the mare and she began to speak, though it seemed to Rainbow that she was more talking to herself than the pegasus. “Let’s see… I was helping out in the medical tent, then dad came rushing in and he said—“ a look of horror came over her as memories came flooding back “—They found us!” Her words turned into incoherent cries, something about her dad and ‘them’. “Whoa- whoa!” Rainbow grabbed the panicking mare by the shoulders “Whatever ‘they’ are, they’re not here now. If you didn’t bring me here—and I’m still not convinced that you didn’t!—we’ve got to figure out who did!” “I did.” Rainbow spun around, searching for the source of the voice. It was hollow, almost mechanical sounding, but with an undeniable wisdom that reminded her of a masculine Celestia. In the center of the platform, where there had previously been nothing, stood an incredibly lifelike metallic statue of alicorn. It was so lifelike, in fact, that Rainbow only freaked out a little bit when the statue took a step towards her. The white maned mare recovered from her shock faster than Rainbow, and with a sudden composure so distant from her actions a moment ago she took a defiant step towards the statue. “Then you can send us back, right?” The statue’s long strides closed the gap between them quickly, and Rainbow realized that it was at least as tall as Celestia, and the starlight shining off its silver plating made it seem almost as regal. When it responded, it sounded as though it felt genuine regret. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Rainbow’s confusion and anger boiled over and her courage came back with a vengeance. “Can’t? Or won’t?” The statue turned its gaze from the sandy mare to Rainbow, its blank expression remained unchanging. “Both.” When the mares reacted with outbursts of anger, it continued. “I am truly sorry, but I cannot send you back. Even if I possessed that power, I would not use it. You are both here for a reason.” “Whatever reason you had for bringing me here, it can wait! I need to get home, there was a bomb!” “And I need to get back to my family—the Phyrexians found them!” The statue visibly winced when the other mare spoke, and when he spoke his voice was brimming with remorse. “Again, I am sorry. This bomb you speak of must have detonated, and if Phyrexians found your family then there is no helping them now. You know this.” The other mare choked back a sob as Rainbow flew face-to-face with the statue. “Detonated? Are you trying to tell me I’m dead?!” “No.” “Then can you please explain what the hay is going on here?!” If the statue was irritated by Rainbow’s close proximity or her shouting it showed no sign of it. “Certainly. One in a million sentient beings are born different. Inside these beings resides a certain potential—a ‘spark’ if you will—that is tied to their very essence. For each million of these individuals, only one will ignite their spark, transforming into a being known as a planeswalker.” “But what does that have to do with us?” asked Rainbow with irritation. “Get to the point already!” With patience only afforded to beings made of metal, the statue nodded at her. “This spark can be ignited in many ways, though one of the most common is in a moment of great crisis or trauma. I believe that the detonation of this bomb, and the encounter with the Phyrexians, triggered the igniting of your sparks. You two, like me, are planeswalkers.” “That still doesn’t explain how we got here,” interjected the other mare. “The primary purpose of the spark is allowing the planeswalker to do just that—walk between the planes. When your sparks ignited, they instinctually whisked you away from your respective dangers and with no destination in mind, they brought you here. This is not something to rely on, however, a planeswalker is not invulnerable.” “So where is ‘here’ exactly?” she asked. “A creation of mine. There was a time that the planeswalker’s spark brought unimaginable power to all those who were lucky enough to wield one, power enough to create an entire world from nothing. Those times have passed, but I retain enough power for this: a nexus built between the nearby planes, an island afloat in the chaos of the Blind Eternities. From here I can watch over these planes, and guide those who get lost in the chaos to a safe place. For this reason, I call it ‘The Hub’.“ Rainbow thought for a moment. “So if this spark lets us walk between ‘planes’ or whatever, does that mean I could just walk to whatever plane Equestria is on?” “Unfortunately, no,” before Rainbow could argue with the statue, a large sphere appeared before her. She instantly recognized it as a globe, with the kingdom of Equestria proudly carved into it. Before she could comment, the statue continued “I’ve watched your plane for a time, but have never been there. You see, for many years there has been a barrier preventing beings such as us from entering.” Around the globe, a mesh of red light appeared, capsuling it completely. “But when your spark ignited, your journey into the eternities ripped a hole through this barrier.” Something seemed to force its way through the red mesh, distorting it and leaving a small cone shaped point over the region of Equestria. “Do you see? Through this hole you could, perhaps, find your way home. But such precision in planeswalking is difficult, if not impossible for one who has not taken the time to practice. It could be many years before you are powerful enough to accomplish such a feat.” As Rainbow fumed, the other mare spoke up. “What about me? Does my world have a barrier like that, too?” For the first time since she’d met him, to Rainbow’s surprise the statue’s stoic expression changed into a look of pain. “No. You are from Argentum—or Mirrodin, as you would know it. There are no magical defenses preventing planeswalking to your home, not any longer. But I fear returning there would prove unwise. Your kind is at war with the Phyrexians, a war I’m saddened to say you’ve already lost. If you ‘walk to Mirrodin you will die, and your potential will be wasted.” “Hang on a second!” Rainbow held up her hooves, the outburst surprising both the other mare and the statue. “You’re telling me there’s a whole world being attacked by these Phyrexian whatevers? And we’re just standing here doing nothing?!” “We are not doing nothing. As planeswalkers, it is our duty to prevent the abomination that is Phyrexia from spreading. Unfortunately, this may not be as easy as I had hoped.” The statue looked grimly at Rainbow Dash. “Long ago, the Phyrexians tried invading another plane. Through the machinations of some of the multiverse’s greatest minds and heroes, they were stopped. But as you can see, Phyrexia does not give up that easily. “I have little knowledge of their plans, but I do know that the old Phyrexians had many dark schemes to spread their corruption across the blind eternities. I believe that in ages past, an artifact of great evil was sent to your world to herald the coming of the Phyrexians, and to make the conquering all the more simple by corrupting the world from the inside. Sometime after, the barrier that surrounds your world was erected—effectively cutting off the artifact from its creators and rendering it mostly powerless. With the barrier broken, the Phyrexians will learn of the artifacts presence and seek to use your world as their first step into the multiverse.” “So you’re saying that these monsters from her plane are going to attack Equestria if we don’t stop them?” “I’m afraid so.” “Then what are we waiting for?” Rainbow flew high into the air, fiery determination burning within her with such strength she thought she might burst into flames in any moment. “Let’s take the fight to them! Show them they’re messing with Equestria’s best flier—and best planeswalker, too!” “If there’s any chance of stopping what happened to my people from happening again… Count me in” Rainbow beamed at the sandy mare as she spoke. “It will not be quite that simple,” cautioned the statue. “There is no hope in fighting the Phyrexians head on—they are much too strong. What we need to do is go to this ‘Equestria’ and destroy the artifact, severing the link between the planes. We must then discover the source of the barrier around the plane, and replicate it so we might trap the Phyrexians within their own world, where they will be unable to harm anyone else.” “But I thought you said I wouldn’t be able to get back!” “Not yet, but I believe I have a plan. There are three ponies that have come to my attention—ponies with unignited sparks. If we can ignite these sparks and recruit the walkers to our cause, I believe we may have a chance. With a planeswalker of each distinct type of magic, we should be able to combine our power and use it to trace your path back through the Blind Eternities, back into your homeland.” “Hang on—magic? Hate to break it to you, shiny, but I’m a Pegasus. We don’t do the whole ‘magic’ thing.” Rainbow pointed at her wings for effect. Beside her, the other mare indicated with her mechanical limb that she, too, was lacking a horn. The statue merely let out a hollow chuckle, his grim expression making it seem a little more sinister than was intended. “You know so little about the power granted by the spark. Do not worry, it will all become clear in time.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why does everypony always have to be so cryptic?” “I believe I have spoken far too much already. In order for our plan to succeed, we must act quickly. The two of you will be headed to the plane of Innistrad. In the city of Havengul in the province of Nephalia, you seek the one called ‘Shade’. But be warned: knowledge of the planes is very secretive. Tell none but Shade of your mission, or disaster will surely strike. Now come, I will guide you on your walk to Innistrad.” “You won’t be coming with us?” asked the other mare. “No, I must prepare other pieces of the plan. When you return from Innistrad, I shall be here to show you the next step on your path.” “But we don’t even know your name!” Rainbow argued, before sheepishly turning to ‘the mare’ beside her. “I don’t actually know your name, either. I’m Rainbow Dash.” “You can call me Steel, Steel Shaper,” she responded with a small smile. “And I am Karn,” spoke the statue. “Now come, there is little time and much to be done. Allow me to tell you what I know of Innistrad.” Chapter 3: Praetor's GraspTo Know Is To Rule. Information is power. Ignorance breeds failure, for the ignorant do not understand why they fail. With knowledge, one accepts no outcome that does not further their goals. To the ignorant, it would appear as though Sheoldred was thoroughly beaten. Her forces were dominated by those of the rival praetor, Elesh Norn, and her every movement was meticulously recorded documented. But despite these setbacks, Sheoldred continued to smile. She had still come out ahead. Sheoldred’s true strength was never drawn from her military might, but from her vast networks of spies and informers. She was rooted so deeply within every aspect of Phyrexia it was only fitting that she made her home within the very core of the artificial world. For a time she had kept the location of her domain a secret, but recent events had led to a change of policy. Sheoldred expected a visitor. A skittering noise from below pulled the praetor from her revelry. Looking down, she saw one of her servants standing nervously at the door. It was a gruesome creature, covered with points of jagged metal and bone, woven together by the very flesh of the ponies it now cut down with such fervor. Such was the way of Phyrexia: impure parts combined to create a perfect whole. With a beckoning hoof, Sheoldred bid the hulking creature enter. It was very large by pony standards- nearly half and again the size of your average stallion, but it was nothing compared to Sheoldred. A massive fiend with four crab-like legs and a gaping maw filled with rows of jagged teeth served as Sheoldred’s lower half. From it grew a body not unlike that of your average pony—It even had two front hooves—but with several key differences. The oily black plating that served as the ‘flesh’ of the fiend spread up her torso and over her head, curling into two thick horns atop her head. Instead of the large eyes of the equines, Sheoldred sported eight glowing slits in her plating, giving her visage an almost spider like quality. The plating parted around her muzzle, revealing a soft purple muzzle and making it seem as though there was a pony beneath all this armor. This, of course, was an illusion. Sheoldred was a phyrexian pure: an artificial being, a mockery of the life around her. Her servant prostrated itself below her, and for a moment Sheoldred considered giving in to her lower half’s burning desire to feast upon the lesser creature. “Milady; the Grand Cenobite is coming. She will be here any—“ its voice was cut off by the crunching noise of its body being crushed by her jagged fangs. She shook it as a dog would a toy before tossing it against the wall where it landed in a broken heap. At that moment another creature entered her domain. The fiend snarled at the intrusion, but the being didn’t seem to mind, in fact Sheoldred thought she noticed a hint of a smile forming on its face. It was a tall, feminine form that stood before her, a build normally reserved for royalty. But instead of a floating ethereal mane and pristine coat, this creature bore only horrors. The mare-thing was covered in hardened plates the color of bleached bone, giving it the appearance of a macabre doll. Upon its face was mask of the same material, shaped in a large arc with sharp points on either side. The beings muzzle stuck out from an opening at the opening at the bottom, making it look like she was balancing a crescent moon upon her nose. Perhaps this would have been more amusing had the few places of exposed flesh—her muzzle, neck, ear, and waist, not been completely devoid of skin. Instead there was a mesh of red; an unholy combination of muscle and machine that served to give this abomination life. A luxurious crimson gown hung from her flank, suspended from the floor by a legion of skittering abominations formed from the same curious metal as the Cenobite herself. “Sheoldred—“ spoke Elesh Norn, each word sounding as though it was sung by a choir,”—long have your whispers been felt across Phyrexia. Would you not share your wisdom with The Machine Orthodoxy?” Sheoldred composed herself, casually crossing her hooves and resting upon her bulbous lower half as a mare would her lover’s bed. She spoke coyly in a soft, grinding whisper that Norn had to strain to comprehend. “What is it that brings the Grand Cenobite herself to my humble abode? The others may start to wonder…” Despite her rival’s lack of eyes, Sheoldred could tell she was being glared at. “If you have to ask, than perhaps you are not as well informed as I have been led to believe. Your forces are in ruins, whisperer, your networks crippled. You are a spider clinging to a single strand of silk.” “Surely you did not come here just to gloat? No… Only divine will moves the hoof of the great Elesh Norn. Have you come to put an end to me, once and for all?” Despite her accusations, Sheoldred did not seem particularly worried. “Many advised me to do just that, they view you as a threat to the glorious vision, and as you know I can allow no threat to Phyrexia to harm it. But I see more in you—I see a wayward servant of the Father of Machines whose gifts could be of great use to the orthodoxy. I extend my hoof to you, Sheoldred, know that this is not an act I do lightly.” “I’m flattered,” deadpanned Sheoldred. “But what makes you think I would give up all of this”—she waved a hoof at the dismal black room—“to stay in some stuffy church? Besides, white isn’t exactly my color.” “You do not fully comprehend what my offer entails. Division is weakness, and a weak Phyrexia is no Phyrexia at all. You will join me at my seat of power above. You will report only to me, all my might will be at your disposal—so long as yours too is at mine. But you needn’t take me at my word: I bring with me a gesture of good faith.” On cue, one of the beings holding her train walked to the front. It ripped a white metal plate from its chest—and act that would have been incredibly painful if the conversion hadn’t removed its capacity for pain—exposing a hidden compartment. From this the being withdrew a severed, semi-mechanical, head. “Roxith, Thane of Rot,” continued Norn. “And from what I understand a rival of yours. With your armies defeated, he meant to use his own to stage a coup and take your place as praetor. I intervened.” A sickly black aura surrounded the head and it lazily floated towards Sheoldred, who examined it thoroughly. Yes, it was indeed Roxith. Sheoldred had never cared for the brute, he had been little more than a thorn in her side for years, but none the less she saw this for what it was. Roxith was an anathema to the orthodoxy; under his rule Phyrexia would sooner destroy than indoctrinate the lesser creatures on Mirrodin’s surface; the same creatures who now made up the majority of Norn’s followers. No, both praetors knew what this head meant: something stood in the way of Norn’s ambitions, and was destroyed. The message was loud and clear. “It does not seem as though I have much of a choice, now does it?” mused Sheoldred, dropping all pretenses. “Very well then, Norn. You win, I shall accompany you above. But I insist on keeping the head.” “What you do with the trophy is no concern of mine. I shall give you a moment to prepare, then we shall head for the surface. Two praetors will emerge from the depths, for the glory of the divine vision. Phyrexia: unified at last.” With this, Elesh Norn turned dramatically and exited the room. For a moment, a look of fury overcame Sheoldred. This was all necessary, as before with the wretch that had announced Norn’s arrival mere moments before she entered her dominion. The walls had eyes after all, and they had to believe that Sheoldred thought she’d been outplayed. But Sheoldred was never outplayed. There was no secret on the layered world that could escape. To know is to rule. Roxith’s death came as no surprise to her, for she had planted the seeds of his betrayal herself. She had allowed Norn’s agents to infiltrate her organizations, feeding them what Norn wanted to hear, and now everything had fallen into place. Norn still clings to the ravings of a madmare. Her ‘father of machines’ was nothing more than a halfwit golem who did little more than deliver us to this world. Karn’s escape of this plane damaged her plans, but only furthered my own; he saved me the trouble of killing him. The father of machines is the supreme beings, the ultimate Phyrexian. Karn was impure and ignorant, both his schemes and those of the orthodoxy are shortsighted. This is why they fail. But the machinations of Sheoldred had no such limitations. For knowledge was power, and her foes knew only what Sheoldred allowed them to believe. They worried about ruling this single plane, while Sheoldred worried about ruling the entire multiverse. They pondered over the possibility of travel between planes without a spark, while Sheoldred held the blueprints. But most importantly, they were all stuck here whilst Sheoldred already had a foot upon another world. The artifact had called out like a beacon, and Sheoldred had been happy to reply. It had not been easy to keep this revelations from her enemies, many of whom searched constantly for just such an event, but she had done it. For years it had lay dormant, a relic of the old Phyrexian Empire, but finally it had awakened. It sent her visions of a world rich with mana; a world free of meddling ‘walkers due to a shield that had protected it for generations, a shield that had just developed its first crack. And through that crack the taint of Phyrexia would ooze, with Sheoldred at its head, ready to conquer yet another civilization as was their divine right. The artifact itself was a receptacle for the glistening oil: the putrid black substance that coursed through every Phyrexian and corrupted all it touched to their way of life. Many a time had some foalish creature spilled the ‘blood’ of Phyrexia, only to have that very blood turn them into that which they once fought. It was a beautiful system, and it meant that when Sheoldred took her first steps onto the new world, she would already have a foothold. While the artifact did its work on the other side, she had lots of her own ahead of her. Fortunately much of that work had been done for her, an army doesn’t just fall into your lap every day and Sheoldred intended to take advantage of it. Elesh Norn would surely have eyes on her, but eluding her would be child’s play for Phyrexia’s master of subtlety. Under the Grand Cenobites very muzzle, using blueprints devised by their enemies, Sheoldred would construct a device that would transport her and her legions to the unsuspecting world. It would be a glorious slaughter. And when she was done, with a plane’s worth of thralls at her back, Sheoldred would return a conqueror. Norn was right; Phyrexia would be unified. But it would be at the feet of the new father of machines: Sheoldred. And there’s not a force in the multiverse that can stop me now. ~~~ “The ground is just so… Squishy!” “You have got to be kidding me!” Karn had been very knowledgeable about the plane of Innistrad. He told them about vampires, undead, angels and demons. He told them about the local religions and superstitions. He’d given them a disturbingly detailed description of Havengul’s signature dishes and nightlife. Unfortunately, he’d neglected to mention there’d be dirt. “I’m sorry! Back home the ground is made of metal! This is just—Eww, it’s moving around my hoof!” Rainbow let out an exasperated sigh. Their grand, multiverse saving adventure had come to an immediate and grinding halt. Because of dirt. Dirt. “Am I going to have to carry you?” Steel Shaper looked at her sheepishly, ceasing the shuffling of her hooves in the dirt but continuing to look uncomfortable. “Sorry, this is just really new to me, you know? Well of course you know, I mean you’re not from here either… So what’s your world—er, plane, like?” “Can we talk about this and walk at the same time? It’s getting kind of dark…” Steel nodded, and the two mares began their trek down the dirt road, towards the settlement known as Havengul. Strange name for a place like that… I’d have called it ‘Fogsdale’ or ‘Spooky-Building-Ville’. Heh, guess I know why I didn’t get my cutiemark in city naming… The sound of her companion clearing her throat snapped Rainbow back into reality. “My ‘plane’, right. Well, we have dirt. That’s something, I guess… And buildings, and trees, and grass… Do you have grass where you’re from?” I’m an idiot. “Yeah, but I don’t think it’s the same. Mirrodin grass is metal, and it’s sharp. Really sharp. The plains where I grew up were full of the stuff. This one time, when my sister was a filly, she fell right into a whole patch of the stuff! Dad was digging through it, getting himself all cut up—he still has the scars—but all of the sudden, there she was. Not a cut on her, lying on a bed of the stuff!” Steel laughed at the memory. “Dad didn’t let her out of his sight for a week.” Rainbow silently thanked Celestia that she managed to steer the conversation somewhere reasonable. “Oh, you’ve got a sister, huh? How old?” “Well, she’s five years younger than me, so—wait, do you guys use years?” Rainbow nodded. “Okay, so—hang on, how long are your years? Is five a lot where you’re from? How old are you?” Uh-oh, I’m losing her. Come on Rainbow, reel her back in! “You know what? Her age doesn’t really matter. Just tell me about her, what’s she like?” Steel smiled as she spoke of her sister. “She’s super brave, even got her cutie mark defending the tribe against a dross-horror!” Her smile faded. “Yeah, she’s a real hero. Not like me, while she was off fighting the Phyrexians I was stuck at home, building weapons and reinforcing our defenses… Fat load of good that did, they tore through it like it was nothing.” Rainbow cringed. She knew talking about these monsters was hard for Steel, but at the same time she was overcome with a morbid curiosity. She needed to find out exactly what she was up against eventually, right? And at least it’s not dirt. “So, Phyrexians. What’s the deal with those guys anyway?” Smooth. Steel raised an eyebrow at her, but when it became clear that she was serious she began to speak. “They’re... horrible. Monsters from the center of the world. Something happened where the elders of our tribe—elders from all across Mirrodin if the rumors were true—just vanished, and that’s when they came. Before we knew it we were at war, but it wasn’t a war like any of us had ever known. “Phyrexia isn’t an enemy that can be fought with traditional means, we learned that the hard way. It’s a disease, spreading across the world—plane—whatever. If they ‘got’ somepony, they’d drag them underground. Next time you’d see them they’d be one of them, but different. They’d take the bits from one pony and put them on somepony else. Even when we did manage to take one of them down, they’d scavenge the pieces and tack them on somewhere else. Dad always said they had to have a weakness, but I’m not so sure…” For the first time since she had undertaken this mission, Rainbow felt like she was thoroughly in over her head. Legions of mass-murdering, body-snatching, monsters? Suddenly, all her experience with ‘world saving’ felt woefully inadequate. Nightmare Moon wanted to rule Equestria, and even Discord hadn’t actually hurt anypony. Sombra and the Changelings were bad, but everypony had come out of those situations alive. This was different, millions of lives had already been lost to this enemy, and by the sounds of it that was only beginning. And Equestria is next on their list of places to conquer… a shiver tore through Rainbow’s spine. The Elements were gone, Rainbow was gone, and her friends had no idea what was coming. Worst of all, their only hope lay in Rainbow convincing a bunch of ponies she’d never even met to help save a world they didn’t even know existed! It all seemed so— A loud crack filled the air, and Rainbow’s face stung from the impact of her hoof. Get it together! You’re Rainbow Dash, you’re awesome! Your friends need you, and if these ponies don’t want to help, well, you’ll drag them kicking and screaming back to Karn! The fires of determination burning within her once more, Rainbow picked up the pace. Steel followed suit, examining the city that lay before them. Tall buildings of wood and stone, strange slanted roofs, architecture the likes of which she had never imagined. But it was dark, unlike Mirrodin whose vast metal plains would shine under the light of the suns, this place was soaked in a dull gloom. As they approached the gatehouse Steel got her first look at the ponies of this strange plane. The guards were earth ponies, their grey and brown coats perfectly matching the dreary nature of this place. They wore tricorne hats and had a blade, resting in its sheath at their side, ready to defend their city from whatever threats came charging out of the forest. Unease crept over her, what would these ponies think of them? Artifice was common on Mirrodin, but would the residence of this plane take offence to her metal hoof? Would they even speak the same language? She understood Rainbow well enough, hopefully it would be the same with these ponies. Speaking of Rainbow, what would these ponies think of her multicolored mane and bright blue coat? We’re going to stick out like a sore hoof… The grey stallion took a step towards the duo. “Halt! That’s far enough. State your business, travelers, what brings you to Havengul?” Well at least that’s one question answered. Steel glanced over at Rainbow who was staring at her expectantly. She turned back to the stallion, feeling his harsh gaze bore into her metallic leg. She cleared her throat. “Hi, we’re umm…” Buck.
Chapter 1: Apocalypse ChimeThe sun smiled down upon the dirt road that led from Sweet Apple Acres, where two figures were making their way towards the town of Ponyville. The first was an orange earth pony whose work-hardened hooves kicked up clouds of dust as cantered along, the second being a cyan pegasus with a wild rainbow mane who soared erratically around her companion. A gentle breeze tugged at their manes and brought a welcome reprieve from that warm summer’s day, but did little to cool their heated debate. “I don’t know about this… It is Trixie we’re talking about!” Rainbow Dash stopped abruptly, spinning around in midair and grabbing Applejack by the shoulders. “What if she got the Alicorn Amulet back from Zecora and is using this show as a—“ she paused, her face scrunching up as she searched for the word “—a ruse! To rule Ponyville!” “A ruse,” deadpanned Applejack. “Yeah!,” – Rainbow released her friend and flew about dramatically to give emphasis to her words – “a ruse! She probably heard about the Elements! And now she decided it was the time to go back to her evil ways! She’ll use the magic show as a reason to get everypony into the center of town, and then she’ll–she’ll…” she paused, resting her chin on her hoof while racking her brain for something devious enough to prove her point. “Mind control them or something!” Applejack stared at her for a moment before responding, “I reckon you’ve been readin’ too much Daring Do, Rainbow. Twi’ said she checked with Zecora an’ the amulet’s fine—and since when has Trixie been usin’ ‘mind control’ on ponies?” Rainbow interrupted her aerial pacing with a huff, crossing her front hooves and glaring down at Applejack. “It could happen! We’re not unicorns, who knows how those crazy horns work? Look, I’m just saying Trixie has been nothing but trouble for us in the past. Somepony needs to be thinking about this stuff.” Applejack sighed. “I understand you’re worried, Rainbow, but I trust Twi’ when she says Trixie ain’t here to cause trouble.” “I trust Twilight, it’s Trixie I’m not so sure about.” “I understand, and I also understood the other fifty times you said it since we left the farm. It ain’t me you gotta talk to if you want this show canceled, and if that’s your plan you’d better hurry, seeing as the show starts in twenty minutes.” Rainbow’s hooves went limp as she hung, barely aloft, in defeat. “Whatever. If something happens don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Her tirade at its end, the two ponies headed for the center of town where a large stage had been erected. As they neared the stage, Rainbow could tell that she wasn’t the only one having doubts. There was an aura of excitement and nervousness over the crowd – as Pinkie would say, ‘nervousitement’ – but it only seemed to make everypony more anxious to see what would happen. Half of them are here to see magic, the other half is here so they won’t miss out when everything goes off the rails. She rolled her eyes. Again. It took them nearly ten minutes to find their friends in the crowd, and by the time they had taken their places in the front row it was just about time for the show to begin. There was a thundering of applause as the curtains opened and revealed the showmare herself, and after a quick introduction—albeit with far less boasting then their last meetings—the magic began. The crowd was quickly taken in by the well-rehearsed tricks unfurling before their eyes, all except Rainbow Dash. She watched Trixie with crossed hooves and narrowed eyes; though whatever warning she hoped to convey was lost by the bouncing form of the giggling pink mare beside her. “Wow!” cried Pinkie Pie after a particularly daring stunt. “Trixie is pretty good when she’s not being a big meanie—huh, Dashie?” Rainbow merely shrugged, she wouldn’t admit defeat so easily. This could still be a ruse. “I didn’t think Trixie was capable of such powerful magic,” came a reply from Rainbow’s other side. As if to illustrate her point, a brilliant flash of light from the stage illuminated Twilights face as she spoke and the crowd erupted into applause once more. “These aren’t just parlor tricks this time, I guess she really has been practicing.” Rainbow’s sneering intensified. The remainder of the show went by spectacularly—not that Rainbow would ever admit it—and soon the grand finale was upon them. There were shouts of excitement and terror as a maelstrom of fireworks erupted from Trixie’s horn and illuminated the evening sky. The showmare curtsied, horn still ablaze, and the curtains came forward again as the crowd roared with approval. Fireworks continued to spew from the stage, though with far less flare than for the finale. With wide grins on their faces, ponies all around them began heading home. All of them, in fact, except two. “Something’s wrong,” Twilight said urgently. “She’s not in control of her magic, come on!” The six mares rushed up to the stage and behind the curtain, and there they found Trixie. Her horn could barely be seen beneath the inferno that surrounded it as it continued to belch fireworks into the sky. “I knew it!” Cried Rainbow, pointing an accusatory hoof. “Stop… Whatever it is that you’re up to!” Trixie opened her eyes as much as she could without exposing them to the blinding light coming from her forehead. Her coat was slick with sweat, and the look she gave the group was not one of malice—but of desperation. “Help! I- I can’t-“ Twilight leapt into action, her horn began to glow and the fireworks began to slow, but only slightly. “It’s no use! Something’s using her to dump excess magic, we’ve got to find it before it kills her!” “Before it what?!” What little of Trixie’s composure remained was gone at the mention of her death. The girls sprang into action, ripping curtains aside and looking under props in a desperate attempt to find the source of the rogue magic. Rainbow was about to spring into action when she stopped. What was that? She shook her head, no time for that, Dash, time to prove how awesome you are by- there it was again. Rainbow felt something, some sort of pulse. She waited for a moment, the shouting ponies and roaring of fireworks seeming to die out around her. This time she was sure of what she’d felt, and more importantly she knew where it was coming from. A twitch of her tail was the only warning Pinkie got as a streak of rainbow crashed through the stage where she had stood only a moment before. Rainbow Dash emerged from the hole no worse for wear, holding… something. She examined her treasure: a large red orb crisscrossed with bronze lines with a small bronze sphere at each intersection, and marked with a strange symbol of a sun. For a moment she was confused, but when the pulse rippled through her again she knew she’d found the source of the trouble. Evidently Twilight knew it as well, because a familiar purple aura surrounded the object and pulled it from her grasp. “I think I can cut the connection, just give me a… there!” Trixie’s horn was suddenly extinguished, and she dropped to the floor, exhausted. Fluttershy went to check on her as the other girls approached the orb. “What is it?” Applejack asked. “You mean other than the most hideous object I’ve ever set my eyes on?” Rarity gave the object a scornful look. “Not to mention dangerous.” “Oh! I know! It’s a fireworks machine, we could put it on top of the mayor’s office and have fireworks all year round! Can we borrow it, Trixie? Can we, can we?” There’s that pulse again… But we turned it off! Rainbow shook her head and tried to pay attention to what her friends were saying. “Don’t look at the Great and Powerful Trixie! She has no need for help to perform her magic! I’ve never seen it before in my life!” Trixie got back on her hooves as she joined the group. “Umm…” Rainbow glanced at Fluttershy before her attention was torn away by Twilight. “I think it’s some sort of magical battery! If we could harness this energy, even the weakest unicorns could wield magic the likes of Starswirl the Bearded! Imagine the possibilities!” Twilight’s eyes lit up as she gave her theory to the group. Pulse. “I don’t know, sugarcube. I don’t reckon Equestria could handle every unicorn usin’ that much power.” “Twilight…” “Of course it would have to be regulated, but power of this magnitude made portable! Shining Armor could keep his shield up in his sleep! Imagine how much could get done if was in the right hooves!” Pulse. “Hmm. I see your point, dear, and surely we could do something about the container. I wouldn’t want to turn customers away by having something like that in plain sight.” “Should it really be–“ Pulse. “Hang on! It was under Trixie’s stage after all, surely there is–” Pulse. “You ain’t suggestin’ you hang on to it after it nearly killed you, are you?” Pulse. “Well obviously not, but I mean if there’s some sort of compensation…” “Everypony SHUT UP!” Five pairs of eyes turned upon Rainbow Dash, who was clutching her head with her hooves. The pulsing was happening every other second now, and it was driving her insane! A meek voice cut through the silence that had followed Rainbow’s outburst. “I don’t think it’s supposed to be glowing like that…” The orb had taken on a glow of its own. Twilight dropped her levitation spell, but it continued to hang in the air as a sickly orange light surrounded it. Small cracks began to form on its surface as it began to get brighter and brighter. “Oh no! Something must have damaged the container, the magic inside is breaking it apart—It’s going to explode!” Not a moment had passed after Twilight had finished her revelation before the curtains parted and the Scared and Cowardly Trixie was fleeing. “What do we do? There must be some way to contain it!” cried Applejack. “We’re not doing anything. You girls have to go,” Twilight said grimly. “I think I can stop it from leveling the town, but anyone in the immediate blast area is at risk,” she lit her horn and began concentrating on the spell. “Run!” “Consarn it, Twilight, we ain’t going nowhere!” Rainbow barely heard the rest of her friends chime in with their own arguments. The pulsing was too intense, it shook her to the very core. She knew that it was somehow tied to that orb, and that it was far more powerful than Twilight realized. She knew that Twilight’s spell wouldn’t be enough. “I appreciate your concern, everypony, but I can–“ Rainbow shook her head. “No, you can’t,” Twilight was about to argue the point when Rainbow dove. She snatched the floating orb from the air and dashed through the curtains, up and away from Ponyville. She heard the shocked cries of her friends behind her, but they were soon drowned out by the rush of wind. Good, she thought,I wouldn’t want them getting in the way, anyway. She reached a sufficiently high altitude before leveling off, putting all her energy into finding somewhere appropriate to drop the bomb. Because she was going to drop it, right? But every time she looked down she spotted something, some sign of equine life that she couldn’t bring herself to wipe out. She took a moment to glance back to the shrinking speck that was Ponyville behind her. Still too close. I’ve got to go faster. Rainbow felt the barrier of air forming before her, indicating that she was reaching Rainboom-level speeds. But there was no exhilaration here, only the dread of watching Rarity fall from Cloudsdale all those months ago- multiplied for each friend she had back in Ponyville. Rainbow’s wings were beating in time with the orb’s pulsing now, and as she forced her way through the cushion of air before her the world froze. She watched as the rainbow-shockwave began billowing out around her, creeping millimeter by millimeter. She saw the orange glow of the orb she held, so bright, she was sure to anyone looking on would think she appeared to be a star falling from the heavens. The light forced her eyes closed and through their lids it projected a cascade of familiar images. She saw her parents. Sorry, mom, looks like you’ll have to wait a little longer for those grandfoals. And dad, I’m sorry I was never the Wonderbolt you said I’d be. She saw Twilight. I’m the one vanishing in the burst of light this time, can’t let you have all the fun. Rarity. Keep your eyes open, you won’t want to miss this one… Fluttershy. Take good care of Tank for me-- what am I saying, of course you’ll take care of him. I want you to take good care of yourself, too. Pinkie Pie. Keep on smiling, Pinkie. Applejack. Keep it together, AJ. Keep it together for everypony. And please don’t name a tree after me, but if you do make sure it’s on a hill somewhere. Somewhere touching the sky. Scootaloo. Sorry, kid, I guess I wasn’t big sister materiel after all... She had done it: Ponyville was safe. The pulsing in her head was gone, and clarity like she’d never experienced overwhelmed her. She allowed her body one final moment of rest. So this is it then. Everypony always said I’d go out with a ‘bang’. I wouldn’t want to disappoint. ~~~ Back in Ponyville, two earth ponies and a unicorn watched the sky. Twilight and Fluttershy had taken off after Rainbow, leaving their earthbound friends behind. “Think she’ll be alright?” Applejack jogged in place nervously, watching the two distant (and one not so distant) shape disappearing into the horizon. “Of course, dear, Rainbow is the fastest pony in Equestria. If anyone could do it… And Twilight is right behind her, I’m sure she has some sort of spell to…” Rarity couldn’t keep it up any longer. Her head drooped and she fought back tears. Applejack placed a hoof over her shoulder, and Rarity looked up with an expression of gratitude. The two of them looked up to the heavens, and watched as they were torn asunder. At first it looked like a classic Rainboom, its multicolored shockwave further solidifying the fact that neither Twilight nor Fluttershy ever had any real hope of keeping up with Rainbow let alone stopping her. But something was different, something was wrong. Behind the first wave came a second, angry and crimson like a cloud of flames. It seemed to be guided by the Technicolor wave, for they stuck together as they tore through the sky as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful, and it was terrible. Time seemed to slow around them. The world remaining unchanged. The silence between them was broken when Fluttershy returned. Her eyes downcast, she didn't speak, most likely unable to. She walked next to Rarity and stood, waiting. When Twilight arrived the girls could tell she bore no good news. "Twilgiht?" said Pinkie Pie. Twilight tore her eyes from the ground and looked at Pinkie. Every second Twilight continued to look upon her she deflated. "I..." Twilight's voice broke. Her eyes slammed shut and she screamed "I couldn't save her!". That was when Twilight broke, sobbing on the ground. Fat tears rolling down her muzzle only to meet their end on the ground. Pinkie was completely deflated. Rarity was speechless. Fluttershy was crying silent tears. It was Applejack who broke the silence. "Now wait just an Apple-buckin' minute!" she yelled in Twilight's direction. Startled, Twilight looked up, momentarily stopping her sobbing. Applejack trotted up to Twilight. "There had to be somethin'! Anythin'! This is Rainbow here! Rainbow Dash!" she poked Twilight's chest with a hoof. "She can't be gone! She jus’ can't be!" Tears were pouring down Applejack's face. "She’s.." Her voice broke. "She’s mah best friend..." she choked out a sob. She reached up and pushed her hat down over her eyes. Hiding her tears. At this Twilight begin to cry again, not the racking sobs from before. Tears of sadness. Burning down her face. "There was... there was nothing" she managed. "No trace of her..." Applejack straightened "No!" she yelled to no one in particular. "It ain't true! I refuse to believe it!". She looked to Twilight, her eyes already bloodshot, "Tomorrow, we are gonna go to make sure— you hear me?! I ain’t givin’ up so soon on her. She’s out there somewhere, I just know it!" Twilight looked at her in the eyes. "Okay" she said. Her eyes fell back to the ground. In a lavender flash she was gone. Rarity turned in the direction of the library, only to see a purple force field erected around the library over the rooftops. "I suppose she has the right idea darlings" Rarity sighed. “We shouldn't give up hope yet though. Tomorrow is a new day and we will find her... if there is anything left to find.. that is..." She realized her mistake and turned away. She started walking to her boutique, her usual canter gone. In its place a depressed trot remained. The remaining three could see that her tail had lost a curl or two. Without a word, both Applejack and Fluttershy began to walk in separate directions. Fluttershy's were eyes glued to the ground, while Applejack's stared defiantly ahead. Pinkie watch her friends go, a look of utter sadness upon her face. Her face fell, only an eye could be seen between her straight locks. "Dashie..." she squeaked out, as the first of her tears hit the ground.
Chapter 2: Allied Strategies“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash groaned. She felt like a tree in apple-bucking season. What happened… Memories of rocketing through a never ending void burst into her mind, accompanied by the feeling of being ripped apart at the seams. She remembered leaving Ponyville, and finally she remembered the bomb. Suddenly, the lethargy that had been gripping her was gone and Rainbow was distinctly aware that she was most certainly not dead. Leaping to her hooves, she gave herself the once over. Four legs, good; mane, messy as always; wings, a bit sore but no worse for wear. Yes, Rainbow Dash was definitely alive. With issue number one solved, Rainbow had to deal with a more pressing issue: where the hay was she? Her surroundings were utterly alien. She seemed to be standing on some sort of immense metal platform; shaped as if someone had taken a circle, cut it in two, and slid the halves slightly apart before reattaching them giving it two pointed edges. Around and above the platform, Rainbow could see only a night sky filled with unfamiliar constellations. The sight of them reminded her of Twilight, and brought upon a sudden and crushing loneliness that nearly brought her to her knees. It was then that Rainbow noticed another figure on the other side of the dais. Ignoring her body’s complaints, Rainbow shot into the air and rapidly closed the distance between them. “Hey!” she shouted. “Yeah, you! I’m talking to you!” As she approached the figure, Rainbow was able to determine a few things. First, and most importantly, it was a mare—not that she would have been upset had it been a stallion, Rainbow was just glad she wasn’t shouting at a statue. Secondly, it wasn’t one of her friends. This realization stung a little, but for the moment Rainbow would have taken Discord himself if it meant she’d get some explanation of what happened and how she might get home. The mare had a sandy brown coat with strange patches of golden metal sprouting from her joints. Her white mane was spiky and short, and a long braid hung before each ear. Rainbow’s gaze was drawn immediately to the mare’s right leg, which Rainbow realized was made entirely of metal! Unlike the gold that seemed almost natural, this limb was obviously artificial—though more advanced than any prosthetic Rainbow had ever seen. When the mare leapt back in surprise from the speeding pegasus, the appendage acted just like a ‘regular’ leg would. Rainbow came to a stop barely a foot in front of her and stared expectantly. “Alright, start talking,” she said, crossing her front hooves. “…I’m sorry?” The mare stared at her in disbelief, as if Rainbow was the weird one. “You heard me! One minute I’m heroically saving my friends from this magic-battery-bomb-thing, the next you’ve brought me here!” Rainbow said impatiently. “So come on, get to it!” The mare merely cocked her head, “I didn’t bring you here.” “A likely story! I need to get back, my friends need me!” A confused expression came over the mare and she began to speak, though it seemed to Rainbow that she was more talking to herself than the pegasus. “Let’s see… I was helping out in the medical tent, then dad came rushing in and he said—“ a look of horror came over her as memories came flooding back “—They found us!” Her words turned into incoherent cries, something about her dad and ‘them’. “Whoa- whoa!” Rainbow grabbed the panicking mare by the shoulders “Whatever ‘they’ are, they’re not here now. If you didn’t bring me here—and I’m still not convinced that you didn’t!—we’ve got to figure out who did!” “I did.” Rainbow spun around, searching for the source of the voice. It was hollow, almost mechanical sounding, but with an undeniable wisdom that reminded her of a masculine Celestia. In the center of the platform, where there had previously been nothing, stood an incredibly lifelike metallic statue of alicorn. It was so lifelike, in fact, that Rainbow only freaked out a little bit when the statue took a step towards her. The white maned mare recovered from her shock faster than Rainbow, and with a sudden composure so distant from her actions a moment ago she took a defiant step towards the statue. “Then you can send us back, right?” The statue’s long strides closed the gap between them quickly, and Rainbow realized that it was at least as tall as Celestia, and the starlight shining off its silver plating made it seem almost as regal. When it responded, it sounded as though it felt genuine regret. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Rainbow’s confusion and anger boiled over and her courage came back with a vengeance. “Can’t? Or won’t?” The statue turned its gaze from the sandy mare to Rainbow, its blank expression remained unchanging. “Both.” When the mares reacted with outbursts of anger, it continued. “I am truly sorry, but I cannot send you back. Even if I possessed that power, I would not use it. You are both here for a reason.” “Whatever reason you had for bringing me here, it can wait! I need to get home, there was a bomb!” “And I need to get back to my family—the Phyrexians found them!” The statue visibly winced when the other mare spoke, and when he spoke his voice was brimming with remorse. “Again, I am sorry. This bomb you speak of must have detonated, and if Phyrexians found your family then there is no helping them now. You know this.” The other mare choked back a sob as Rainbow flew face-to-face with the statue. “Detonated? Are you trying to tell me I’m dead?!” “No.” “Then can you please explain what the hay is going on here?!” If the statue was irritated by Rainbow’s close proximity or her shouting it showed no sign of it. “Certainly. One in a million sentient beings are born different. Inside these beings resides a certain potential—a ‘spark’ if you will—that is tied to their very essence. For each million of these individuals, only one will ignite their spark, transforming into a being known as a planeswalker.” “But what does that have to do with us?” asked Rainbow with irritation. “Get to the point already!” With patience only afforded to beings made of metal, the statue nodded at her. “This spark can be ignited in many ways, though one of the most common is in a moment of great crisis or trauma. I believe that the detonation of this bomb, and the encounter with the Phyrexians, triggered the igniting of your sparks. You two, like me, are planeswalkers.” “That still doesn’t explain how we got here,” interjected the other mare. “The primary purpose of the spark is allowing the planeswalker to do just that—walk between the planes. When your sparks ignited, they instinctually whisked you away from your respective dangers and with no destination in mind, they brought you here. This is not something to rely on, however, a planeswalker is not invulnerable.” “So where is ‘here’ exactly?” she asked. “A creation of mine. There was a time that the planeswalker’s spark brought unimaginable power to all those who were lucky enough to wield one, power enough to create an entire world from nothing. Those times have passed, but I retain enough power for this: a nexus built between the nearby planes, an island afloat in the chaos of the Blind Eternities. From here I can watch over these planes, and guide those who get lost in the chaos to a safe place. For this reason, I call it ‘The Hub’.“ Rainbow thought for a moment. “So if this spark lets us walk between ‘planes’ or whatever, does that mean I could just walk to whatever plane Equestria is on?” “Unfortunately, no,” before Rainbow could argue with the statue, a large sphere appeared before her. She instantly recognized it as a globe, with the kingdom of Equestria proudly carved into it. Before she could comment, the statue continued “I’ve watched your plane for a time, but have never been there. You see, for many years there has been a barrier preventing beings such as us from entering.” Around the globe, a mesh of red light appeared, capsuling it completely. “But when your spark ignited, your journey into the eternities ripped a hole through this barrier.” Something seemed to force its way through the red mesh, distorting it and leaving a small cone shaped point over the region of Equestria. “Do you see? Through this hole you could, perhaps, find your way home. But such precision in planeswalking is difficult, if not impossible for one who has not taken the time to practice. It could be many years before you are powerful enough to accomplish such a feat.” As Rainbow fumed, the other mare spoke up. “What about me? Does my world have a barrier like that, too?” For the first time since she’d met him, to Rainbow’s surprise the statue’s stoic expression changed into a look of pain. “No. You are from Argentum—or Mirrodin, as you would know it. There are no magical defenses preventing planeswalking to your home, not any longer. But I fear returning there would prove unwise. Your kind is at war with the Phyrexians, a war I’m saddened to say you’ve already lost. If you ‘walk to Mirrodin you will die, and your potential will be wasted.” “Hang on a second!” Rainbow held up her hooves, the outburst surprising both the other mare and the statue. “You’re telling me there’s a whole world being attacked by these Phyrexian whatevers? And we’re just standing here doing nothing?!” “We are not doing nothing. As planeswalkers, it is our duty to prevent the abomination that is Phyrexia from spreading. Unfortunately, this may not be as easy as I had hoped.” The statue looked grimly at Rainbow Dash. “Long ago, the Phyrexians tried invading another plane. Through the machinations of some of the multiverse’s greatest minds and heroes, they were stopped. But as you can see, Phyrexia does not give up that easily. “I have little knowledge of their plans, but I do know that the old Phyrexians had many dark schemes to spread their corruption across the blind eternities. I believe that in ages past, an artifact of great evil was sent to your world to herald the coming of the Phyrexians, and to make the conquering all the more simple by corrupting the world from the inside. Sometime after, the barrier that surrounds your world was erected—effectively cutting off the artifact from its creators and rendering it mostly powerless. With the barrier broken, the Phyrexians will learn of the artifacts presence and seek to use your world as their first step into the multiverse.” “So you’re saying that these monsters from her plane are going to attack Equestria if we don’t stop them?” “I’m afraid so.” “Then what are we waiting for?” Rainbow flew high into the air, fiery determination burning within her with such strength she thought she might burst into flames in any moment. “Let’s take the fight to them! Show them they’re messing with Equestria’s best flier—and best planeswalker, too!” “If there’s any chance of stopping what happened to my people from happening again… Count me in” Rainbow beamed at the sandy mare as she spoke. “It will not be quite that simple,” cautioned the statue. “There is no hope in fighting the Phyrexians head on—they are much too strong. What we need to do is go to this ‘Equestria’ and destroy the artifact, severing the link between the planes. We must then discover the source of the barrier around the plane, and replicate it so we might trap the Phyrexians within their own world, where they will be unable to harm anyone else.” “But I thought you said I wouldn’t be able to get back!” “Not yet, but I believe I have a plan. There are three ponies that have come to my attention—ponies with unignited sparks. If we can ignite these sparks and recruit the walkers to our cause, I believe we may have a chance. With a planeswalker of each distinct type of magic, we should be able to combine our power and use it to trace your path back through the Blind Eternities, back into your homeland.” “Hang on—magic? Hate to break it to you, shiny, but I’m a Pegasus. We don’t do the whole ‘magic’ thing.” Rainbow pointed at her wings for effect. Beside her, the other mare indicated with her mechanical limb that she, too, was lacking a horn. The statue merely let out a hollow chuckle, his grim expression making it seem a little more sinister than was intended. “You know so little about the power granted by the spark. Do not worry, it will all become clear in time.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why does everypony always have to be so cryptic?” “I believe I have spoken far too much already. In order for our plan to succeed, we must act quickly. The two of you will be headed to the plane of Innistrad. In the city of Havengul in the province of Nephalia, you seek the one called ‘Shade’. But be warned: knowledge of the planes is very secretive. Tell none but Shade of your mission, or disaster will surely strike. Now come, I will guide you on your walk to Innistrad.” “You won’t be coming with us?” asked the other mare. “No, I must prepare other pieces of the plan. When you return from Innistrad, I shall be here to show you the next step on your path.” “But we don’t even know your name!” Rainbow argued, before sheepishly turning to ‘the mare’ beside her. “I don’t actually know your name, either. I’m Rainbow Dash.” “You can call me Steel, Steel Shaper,” she responded with a small smile. “And I am Karn,” spoke the statue. “Now come, there is little time and much to be done. Allow me to tell you what I know of Innistrad.”
Chapter 3: Praetor's GraspTo Know Is To Rule. Information is power. Ignorance breeds failure, for the ignorant do not understand why they fail. With knowledge, one accepts no outcome that does not further their goals. To the ignorant, it would appear as though Sheoldred was thoroughly beaten. Her forces were dominated by those of the rival praetor, Elesh Norn, and her every movement was meticulously recorded documented. But despite these setbacks, Sheoldred continued to smile. She had still come out ahead. Sheoldred’s true strength was never drawn from her military might, but from her vast networks of spies and informers. She was rooted so deeply within every aspect of Phyrexia it was only fitting that she made her home within the very core of the artificial world. For a time she had kept the location of her domain a secret, but recent events had led to a change of policy. Sheoldred expected a visitor. A skittering noise from below pulled the praetor from her revelry. Looking down, she saw one of her servants standing nervously at the door. It was a gruesome creature, covered with points of jagged metal and bone, woven together by the very flesh of the ponies it now cut down with such fervor. Such was the way of Phyrexia: impure parts combined to create a perfect whole. With a beckoning hoof, Sheoldred bid the hulking creature enter. It was very large by pony standards- nearly half and again the size of your average stallion, but it was nothing compared to Sheoldred. A massive fiend with four crab-like legs and a gaping maw filled with rows of jagged teeth served as Sheoldred’s lower half. From it grew a body not unlike that of your average pony—It even had two front hooves—but with several key differences. The oily black plating that served as the ‘flesh’ of the fiend spread up her torso and over her head, curling into two thick horns atop her head. Instead of the large eyes of the equines, Sheoldred sported eight glowing slits in her plating, giving her visage an almost spider like quality. The plating parted around her muzzle, revealing a soft purple muzzle and making it seem as though there was a pony beneath all this armor. This, of course, was an illusion. Sheoldred was a phyrexian pure: an artificial being, a mockery of the life around her. Her servant prostrated itself below her, and for a moment Sheoldred considered giving in to her lower half’s burning desire to feast upon the lesser creature. “Milady; the Grand Cenobite is coming. She will be here any—“ its voice was cut off by the crunching noise of its body being crushed by her jagged fangs. She shook it as a dog would a toy before tossing it against the wall where it landed in a broken heap. At that moment another creature entered her domain. The fiend snarled at the intrusion, but the being didn’t seem to mind, in fact Sheoldred thought she noticed a hint of a smile forming on its face. It was a tall, feminine form that stood before her, a build normally reserved for royalty. But instead of a floating ethereal mane and pristine coat, this creature bore only horrors. The mare-thing was covered in hardened plates the color of bleached bone, giving it the appearance of a macabre doll. Upon its face was mask of the same material, shaped in a large arc with sharp points on either side. The beings muzzle stuck out from an opening at the opening at the bottom, making it look like she was balancing a crescent moon upon her nose. Perhaps this would have been more amusing had the few places of exposed flesh—her muzzle, neck, ear, and waist, not been completely devoid of skin. Instead there was a mesh of red; an unholy combination of muscle and machine that served to give this abomination life. A luxurious crimson gown hung from her flank, suspended from the floor by a legion of skittering abominations formed from the same curious metal as the Cenobite herself. “Sheoldred—“ spoke Elesh Norn, each word sounding as though it was sung by a choir,”—long have your whispers been felt across Phyrexia. Would you not share your wisdom with The Machine Orthodoxy?” Sheoldred composed herself, casually crossing her hooves and resting upon her bulbous lower half as a mare would her lover’s bed. She spoke coyly in a soft, grinding whisper that Norn had to strain to comprehend. “What is it that brings the Grand Cenobite herself to my humble abode? The others may start to wonder…” Despite her rival’s lack of eyes, Sheoldred could tell she was being glared at. “If you have to ask, than perhaps you are not as well informed as I have been led to believe. Your forces are in ruins, whisperer, your networks crippled. You are a spider clinging to a single strand of silk.” “Surely you did not come here just to gloat? No… Only divine will moves the hoof of the great Elesh Norn. Have you come to put an end to me, once and for all?” Despite her accusations, Sheoldred did not seem particularly worried. “Many advised me to do just that, they view you as a threat to the glorious vision, and as you know I can allow no threat to Phyrexia to harm it. But I see more in you—I see a wayward servant of the Father of Machines whose gifts could be of great use to the orthodoxy. I extend my hoof to you, Sheoldred, know that this is not an act I do lightly.” “I’m flattered,” deadpanned Sheoldred. “But what makes you think I would give up all of this”—she waved a hoof at the dismal black room—“to stay in some stuffy church? Besides, white isn’t exactly my color.” “You do not fully comprehend what my offer entails. Division is weakness, and a weak Phyrexia is no Phyrexia at all. You will join me at my seat of power above. You will report only to me, all my might will be at your disposal—so long as yours too is at mine. But you needn’t take me at my word: I bring with me a gesture of good faith.” On cue, one of the beings holding her train walked to the front. It ripped a white metal plate from its chest—and act that would have been incredibly painful if the conversion hadn’t removed its capacity for pain—exposing a hidden compartment. From this the being withdrew a severed, semi-mechanical, head. “Roxith, Thane of Rot,” continued Norn. “And from what I understand a rival of yours. With your armies defeated, he meant to use his own to stage a coup and take your place as praetor. I intervened.” A sickly black aura surrounded the head and it lazily floated towards Sheoldred, who examined it thoroughly. Yes, it was indeed Roxith. Sheoldred had never cared for the brute, he had been little more than a thorn in her side for years, but none the less she saw this for what it was. Roxith was an anathema to the orthodoxy; under his rule Phyrexia would sooner destroy than indoctrinate the lesser creatures on Mirrodin’s surface; the same creatures who now made up the majority of Norn’s followers. No, both praetors knew what this head meant: something stood in the way of Norn’s ambitions, and was destroyed. The message was loud and clear. “It does not seem as though I have much of a choice, now does it?” mused Sheoldred, dropping all pretenses. “Very well then, Norn. You win, I shall accompany you above. But I insist on keeping the head.” “What you do with the trophy is no concern of mine. I shall give you a moment to prepare, then we shall head for the surface. Two praetors will emerge from the depths, for the glory of the divine vision. Phyrexia: unified at last.” With this, Elesh Norn turned dramatically and exited the room. For a moment, a look of fury overcame Sheoldred. This was all necessary, as before with the wretch that had announced Norn’s arrival mere moments before she entered her dominion. The walls had eyes after all, and they had to believe that Sheoldred thought she’d been outplayed. But Sheoldred was never outplayed. There was no secret on the layered world that could escape. To know is to rule. Roxith’s death came as no surprise to her, for she had planted the seeds of his betrayal herself. She had allowed Norn’s agents to infiltrate her organizations, feeding them what Norn wanted to hear, and now everything had fallen into place. Norn still clings to the ravings of a madmare. Her ‘father of machines’ was nothing more than a halfwit golem who did little more than deliver us to this world. Karn’s escape of this plane damaged her plans, but only furthered my own; he saved me the trouble of killing him. The father of machines is the supreme beings, the ultimate Phyrexian. Karn was impure and ignorant, both his schemes and those of the orthodoxy are shortsighted. This is why they fail. But the machinations of Sheoldred had no such limitations. For knowledge was power, and her foes knew only what Sheoldred allowed them to believe. They worried about ruling this single plane, while Sheoldred worried about ruling the entire multiverse. They pondered over the possibility of travel between planes without a spark, while Sheoldred held the blueprints. But most importantly, they were all stuck here whilst Sheoldred already had a foot upon another world. The artifact had called out like a beacon, and Sheoldred had been happy to reply. It had not been easy to keep this revelations from her enemies, many of whom searched constantly for just such an event, but she had done it. For years it had lay dormant, a relic of the old Phyrexian Empire, but finally it had awakened. It sent her visions of a world rich with mana; a world free of meddling ‘walkers due to a shield that had protected it for generations, a shield that had just developed its first crack. And through that crack the taint of Phyrexia would ooze, with Sheoldred at its head, ready to conquer yet another civilization as was their divine right. The artifact itself was a receptacle for the glistening oil: the putrid black substance that coursed through every Phyrexian and corrupted all it touched to their way of life. Many a time had some foalish creature spilled the ‘blood’ of Phyrexia, only to have that very blood turn them into that which they once fought. It was a beautiful system, and it meant that when Sheoldred took her first steps onto the new world, she would already have a foothold. While the artifact did its work on the other side, she had lots of her own ahead of her. Fortunately much of that work had been done for her, an army doesn’t just fall into your lap every day and Sheoldred intended to take advantage of it. Elesh Norn would surely have eyes on her, but eluding her would be child’s play for Phyrexia’s master of subtlety. Under the Grand Cenobites very muzzle, using blueprints devised by their enemies, Sheoldred would construct a device that would transport her and her legions to the unsuspecting world. It would be a glorious slaughter. And when she was done, with a plane’s worth of thralls at her back, Sheoldred would return a conqueror. Norn was right; Phyrexia would be unified. But it would be at the feet of the new father of machines: Sheoldred. And there’s not a force in the multiverse that can stop me now. ~~~ “The ground is just so… Squishy!” “You have got to be kidding me!” Karn had been very knowledgeable about the plane of Innistrad. He told them about vampires, undead, angels and demons. He told them about the local religions and superstitions. He’d given them a disturbingly detailed description of Havengul’s signature dishes and nightlife. Unfortunately, he’d neglected to mention there’d be dirt. “I’m sorry! Back home the ground is made of metal! This is just—Eww, it’s moving around my hoof!” Rainbow let out an exasperated sigh. Their grand, multiverse saving adventure had come to an immediate and grinding halt. Because of dirt. Dirt. “Am I going to have to carry you?” Steel Shaper looked at her sheepishly, ceasing the shuffling of her hooves in the dirt but continuing to look uncomfortable. “Sorry, this is just really new to me, you know? Well of course you know, I mean you’re not from here either… So what’s your world—er, plane, like?” “Can we talk about this and walk at the same time? It’s getting kind of dark…” Steel nodded, and the two mares began their trek down the dirt road, towards the settlement known as Havengul. Strange name for a place like that… I’d have called it ‘Fogsdale’ or ‘Spooky-Building-Ville’. Heh, guess I know why I didn’t get my cutiemark in city naming… The sound of her companion clearing her throat snapped Rainbow back into reality. “My ‘plane’, right. Well, we have dirt. That’s something, I guess… And buildings, and trees, and grass… Do you have grass where you’re from?” I’m an idiot. “Yeah, but I don’t think it’s the same. Mirrodin grass is metal, and it’s sharp. Really sharp. The plains where I grew up were full of the stuff. This one time, when my sister was a filly, she fell right into a whole patch of the stuff! Dad was digging through it, getting himself all cut up—he still has the scars—but all of the sudden, there she was. Not a cut on her, lying on a bed of the stuff!” Steel laughed at the memory. “Dad didn’t let her out of his sight for a week.” Rainbow silently thanked Celestia that she managed to steer the conversation somewhere reasonable. “Oh, you’ve got a sister, huh? How old?” “Well, she’s five years younger than me, so—wait, do you guys use years?” Rainbow nodded. “Okay, so—hang on, how long are your years? Is five a lot where you’re from? How old are you?” Uh-oh, I’m losing her. Come on Rainbow, reel her back in! “You know what? Her age doesn’t really matter. Just tell me about her, what’s she like?” Steel smiled as she spoke of her sister. “She’s super brave, even got her cutie mark defending the tribe against a dross-horror!” Her smile faded. “Yeah, she’s a real hero. Not like me, while she was off fighting the Phyrexians I was stuck at home, building weapons and reinforcing our defenses… Fat load of good that did, they tore through it like it was nothing.” Rainbow cringed. She knew talking about these monsters was hard for Steel, but at the same time she was overcome with a morbid curiosity. She needed to find out exactly what she was up against eventually, right? And at least it’s not dirt. “So, Phyrexians. What’s the deal with those guys anyway?” Smooth. Steel raised an eyebrow at her, but when it became clear that she was serious she began to speak. “They’re... horrible. Monsters from the center of the world. Something happened where the elders of our tribe—elders from all across Mirrodin if the rumors were true—just vanished, and that’s when they came. Before we knew it we were at war, but it wasn’t a war like any of us had ever known. “Phyrexia isn’t an enemy that can be fought with traditional means, we learned that the hard way. It’s a disease, spreading across the world—plane—whatever. If they ‘got’ somepony, they’d drag them underground. Next time you’d see them they’d be one of them, but different. They’d take the bits from one pony and put them on somepony else. Even when we did manage to take one of them down, they’d scavenge the pieces and tack them on somewhere else. Dad always said they had to have a weakness, but I’m not so sure…” For the first time since she had undertaken this mission, Rainbow felt like she was thoroughly in over her head. Legions of mass-murdering, body-snatching, monsters? Suddenly, all her experience with ‘world saving’ felt woefully inadequate. Nightmare Moon wanted to rule Equestria, and even Discord hadn’t actually hurt anypony. Sombra and the Changelings were bad, but everypony had come out of those situations alive. This was different, millions of lives had already been lost to this enemy, and by the sounds of it that was only beginning. And Equestria is next on their list of places to conquer… a shiver tore through Rainbow’s spine. The Elements were gone, Rainbow was gone, and her friends had no idea what was coming. Worst of all, their only hope lay in Rainbow convincing a bunch of ponies she’d never even met to help save a world they didn’t even know existed! It all seemed so— A loud crack filled the air, and Rainbow’s face stung from the impact of her hoof. Get it together! You’re Rainbow Dash, you’re awesome! Your friends need you, and if these ponies don’t want to help, well, you’ll drag them kicking and screaming back to Karn! The fires of determination burning within her once more, Rainbow picked up the pace. Steel followed suit, examining the city that lay before them. Tall buildings of wood and stone, strange slanted roofs, architecture the likes of which she had never imagined. But it was dark, unlike Mirrodin whose vast metal plains would shine under the light of the suns, this place was soaked in a dull gloom. As they approached the gatehouse Steel got her first look at the ponies of this strange plane. The guards were earth ponies, their grey and brown coats perfectly matching the dreary nature of this place. They wore tricorne hats and had a blade, resting in its sheath at their side, ready to defend their city from whatever threats came charging out of the forest. Unease crept over her, what would these ponies think of them? Artifice was common on Mirrodin, but would the residence of this plane take offence to her metal hoof? Would they even speak the same language? She understood Rainbow well enough, hopefully it would be the same with these ponies. Speaking of Rainbow, what would these ponies think of her multicolored mane and bright blue coat? We’re going to stick out like a sore hoof… The grey stallion took a step towards the duo. “Halt! That’s far enough. State your business, travelers, what brings you to Havengul?” Well at least that’s one question answered. Steel glanced over at Rainbow who was staring at her expectantly. She turned back to the stallion, feeling his harsh gaze bore into her metallic leg. She cleared her throat. “Hi, we’re umm…” Buck.
