The Rise and Fall of Chaos and Order

by TheSnarkyKiwi

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Adventure
Length: 1033

Discord was the scourge of Equestria, universally feared by pony, griffon and changeling alike. Everyone thought that the coming of the two alicorn sisters was their saviour. They were very, very wrong.

[DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS, AUTHORISED FOR DISPLAY BY THE INQUISITION]

Our glorious leader, Empress Celestia, governs us with a hoof well suited for stamping out the chaos that permeates this land. Her guidance of us to order was an event most wonderful, nothing able to match it. Her slaying of the devil Discord was just the first of her great deeds, as she found a race beset on all sides by the enemies of order. Even her own sister fell, forcing her to be banished to the entity that she once guided. Our enemies are numerous, but they hide in the shadows like the cowards they are, and we are ever vigilant. They claim to bring 'Harmony' to us. The only harmony that can be found in chaos is that of death.

However, incidents of heresy are growing, and more sightings of the dreaded Changeling threat are reported every day. The talk of rebellion, once limited to a small set of workers or a street of families that are easily cleared, have expanded to entire neighbourhoods, entire establishments. While the Empress maintains her base of loyalty in the Canterlot and surrounding nobility, the outer cities are beginning to bite at the leash. It seems only a matter of time before somepony sparks the powder keg.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-22 06:40:04 UTC

Prologue - Imperium 101

[AUTO-SCRIPTER: START.]

[… ONLINE. RETRIEVING INFORMATION.]

[LOCATION: PONYVILLE ELEMENTARY. CLASS: HISTORY. SUBCLASS: STANDARD LECTURE ON THE FELLING OF CHAOS AND THE EARLY YEARS OF THE GLORIOUS IMPERIUM OF THE SUN.]

[TRANSCRIPT BEGIN.]

Equestria. A world that lived in chaos under the rule of Discord. Many at the time called him the Mad King, although that would imply he had subjects. Others would call him the Scourge of Equestria, although that would imply he specifically wanted harm for the nation. In truth, neither was so. He did not claim a kingdom, any form of authority. It was the creatures of the land beneath that believed such things. Nor did he mean harm, he merely thought of himself as a child with an entire civilisation as a toy box. However, there were those who disagreed. The alicorns, especially, took exception to his reign, and many fought against him (and suffered cruel fates as a result). In the end, there were so very, very few left. Several species had been wiped out, others created in the attempts to win from both sides. It was the two sisters, Celestia and Luna, who finally felled this creature that spread chaos throughout the land through the Elements of Harmony.

They took their rightful place as our diarchs, rulers of the day and night, and they would each rule with a hoof that would define their reputations… and themselves, for the rest of their lives.

[FIGURE 1A: A PORTRAIT OF OUR GLORIOUS EMPRESS, IN BATTLE WITH THE BRINGER OF CHAOS HIMSELF, DISCORD. AUTHORIZED FOR DISPLAY BY THE INQUISITION.]

Celestia’s hoof was one of iron, one determined to stamp out any trace of the chaos that Discord had sown over the centuries. She instituted many great laws, that we may be safe from the evil of disorder and live our lives not in fear of having our loved ones taken from us in the blink of an eye… so long as they follow the rules. Our great Empress established the Inquisition, an organisation that ensures the safety of order in our Imperium, one that roots out the evil of chaos wherever it may hide itself under the cloak of good intentions. The Inquisition is both everywhere and nowhere, seeing with every eye of every citizen of our great nation. It watches over all of us, and we are reassured by their presence. They are a constant reminder that we are all safe here in the Imperium of the Sun.

[FIGURE 1B: A PORTRAYAL OF LUNA’S HERESY. WHILE THE SISTER COMMITTED HER CRIMES ON FAR MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THIS WAS THE POINT WHEN OUR EMPRESS’ PATIENCE FINALLY RAN OUT, AND BANISHED HER TO THE MOON THAT SHE GUIDED. AUTHORIZED FOR DISPLAY BY THE INQUISITION.]

Luna’s hoof, however, was one of feathers. She saw her subjects as victims, that needed care as if from a mother. A foolish sentiment, I’m sure you’re all aware, class. The chaos finds no better home than incubation inside a broken pony, its tendrils seeking to corrupt them and control them, with such temptations as ‘happiness’, ‘pleasure’ and ‘friendship’. These are mere tricks, designed to undo all that our great Empress has done for our great Imperium. If Discord was its originator, then the heretic Luna was its herald. She sought to unleash chaos upon us, make us weak. She opposed our wonderful Empress at every turn, determined to prevent the rise of order. While the Empress tried to turn her from the way of wickedness, the heretic proved immovable in opinion. So, she was banished to the satellite that she was named for, that her heresy would never spread. Even now, she lies dormant in the moon, waiting to twist anypony that dared to question the wisdom, the might, the intelligence and the power of our Empress, and the great nation that she has built into a force of evil that will do anything it can to undermine us.

[FIGURE 1C: STANDARD EXTERIOR ANATOMY OF GRIFFONS. AUTHORIZED FOR DISPLAY BY THE INQUISITION.]

However, there are other forces that work against us. The remnants of the griffon race, a kingdom that thought itself a bastion of order like ourselves, however their true selves were soon revealed when we attempted to liberate one of their cities from the forces of chaos. They resisted at first, a resistance that escalated into a full-scale war. Not that it lasted long, as they were plagued by infighting and their so called ‘numbers’ were no match for the might of the Imperium, and they were soon utterly defeated. The fools attempted to beg for permission to surrender, but they soon learned that opposing the Imperium always results in death. The remainder of the vile species that managed to escape capture now lurk in the dark alley ways and the narrow streets. Be sure to report any creatures that look in any way like the picture, children.

[FIGURE 1D: A SNAPSHOT OF A CHANGELING ABOUT TO FEED ON THE EVIL SPAWN OF CHAOS. AUTHORIZED FOR DISPLAY BY THE INQUISITION.]

Not only that, but the changelings are an especially hated foe of the Imperium. While their Queen, like the griffons, claims to serve the side of order, they feed on the very things that chaos spawns. Emotions, especially that of such a strong nature that we are forbidden to speak of them, are their meals. Their only true purpose is to signal the presence of heresy, and while the Inquisition does not complain about making their jobs easier, the changeling can take the form of any pony. In truth, the filly or colt sitting next to you could be a changeling right now. However, they must reveal their true form to feed, and as such they can be stopped before being allowed to take their fill. However, make sure to report the victim as well, as the Inquisition will be interested in them for interrogation.

So remember, my little ponies, that order is the only reason we are strong, our Empress is the only reason order exists, and that the alternative to the Imperium can only be far, far worse.

[TRANSCRIPT END.]

[GLORY TO THE IMPERIUM.]

[AUTO-SCRIPTER SHUT DOWN.]