Equestria. The land of ponies.
A land filled with sunshine and rainbows, magic and harmony. From their castle in Canterlot, at the very heart of Equestria, the kind and benevolent rulers, Princess Celestia, Regent of the Sun, and Princess Luna, Queen of the Night, governed the lands, ensuring both peace and happiness for all of their subjects. The majestic castle, set into the side of Canterlot Mountain, provides view to many of the land’s wonders, from the ice-covered mountains of the Frozen North, to the grandiose Pegasi city of Cloudsdale, to the quaint little town of Ponyville and the wild Everfree forest.
But look even further, past the Unicorn Range of the West, past the Crystal Empire of the North, past the extravagent, luxurious Las Pegasus to the south, and past the rustic frontier town of Appleloosa beyond that... and you'll see what has come to be known as the Badlands; a seemingly endless expanse of red dust and sand, where predators roamed free and only the strong survived. Save for the changelings, a race of shape-shifting insect-pony hybrids that fed off the love of others, there was no intelligent life here. Not on the surface, at least.
A the very center of the Badlands, a single solitary mountain jutted out from beneath the barren wasteland, it's peak reaching high into the clouds; Mount Cataclysm. Once an active volcano, Mt. Cataclysm now lie dormant, a stagnant existence amidst a every-shifting sea of sand. Deep beneath the sleeping giant, hidden from the eyes of mortal beings, and known to none, save a few, lie a single, yawning cavern; a chamber, once lavishly decorated, now lay in utter ruin, the once stunning tapestries, now piles of dust, and the exquisitely carved statuettes eroded to dust, a single pool of lava filling the room with an earie red glow.
Seated at the far end of the cavern, a throne stood atop a raised dais, its black glass spikes crumbling with age. On that throne sat a figure known only to a few; a single dragonnequus, stone features unmarred by the test of time, and red ruby eyes glaring out, angry at the world that had slighted him.
Above ground, life went on. A certain dark Alicorn had returned from exile, and was made to see the light once more. A lonely god, spirit of chaos and disharmony, had broken free of his rocky prison only to be sealed away once more, and later released, as he too was shown the light of friendship. A tyrant king, bound in shadows and sealed in ice, rose again, only to be dethroned.
A tremor shook the entire cavern as these events did unfold. Loose stalagmites falling to shatter on the cave floor, what remained of the broken stone monoliths came crashing down, the dust from the tapestries swirled about violently on an invisible gust of wind.
And the ruby eyes of the dragonneguus shattered, as if made of broken glass, revealing two swirling orbs of crimson red.
Cataclysm had returned to Equestria.
Chapter 1 - Release and Return
(Cataclysm's POV – Beneath Mt. Cataclysm - Present)
The stone around me shattered in an explosion of fire and light as I fell to the ground. Coughing deeply, I panted and took in some air, only to cough and hack harder as the superheated air scorched my sensitive lungs.
Note to self: Move secret lair to someplace thatisn't beneath a dormant volcano.
Pushing myself up, I began stretching before my throne, cracking my joints to relieve my stiffness, aches, pains, and everything else that came with being stuck in the same position for the better part of five millennium.
Five thousand, one hundred and ninty-seven years. I thought, staring into the swirling red pool of lava before me. Five thousand, one hundred and ninty-seven years since I was dropped into Equestria, and four thousand, nine hundred and twenty-nine since Celestia and Luna sealed me in stone and left me here, another relic of past mistakes, to be forgotten and cast away.
Even now, just the thought of those two made my blood boil and seethe within me.
And to think, There was a time when I'd actually have wanted to be here....
With a growl and a huff of fire, I plopped back down onto my throne, a scowl on my face as I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do know that I was free from my rocky prison. While I was all for just getting out and doing something, my release also meant I was now faced with what may be the single most important decision in my life, and would no doubt hold the fate of Equestria, if not the entire world of Equus, in the balance.
Do I - A) Become the harbinger of absolute destruction once more, and exact revenge on Princess Sun-butt and Moon-pie for betraying my trust, friendship, and sealing me in stone beneath a feakin' mountain...
Or do I - B) Let it all go, and return to Equestria, a changed man, or dracconequus, as the case were, and rule by there sides as we used to, as if their betrayal never happened, the matter no more than water under the bridge?
Hmmm.... decisions, decisions, decisions....
….
….
Oh, who am I kidding? I'd waited too long for this, and I wasn't about to start pussy-footing around it now.
With a snap of my fingers, I vacated my subterranean prison, and now stood on the edge on Mt. Cataclysm, looking out on the horizon of what was, to me, a new world, full of places to go, things to destroy, and vengeance to exact. Raising my arms wide, I felt power surge into my limps, as lightning crackled from my fingertips, and storm clouds began to gather overhead. Beneath me, Mount Cataclysm rumbled and shook in response to my power, the once sealed lava tubes tearing open, allowing a deluge of molten rock and metal to flood the magma chamber. A cruel smile spread across my lips.
Time to remind the Royal Pony Sisters who their dealing with.
(3rd- Person POV - Canterlot)
Princess Celestia's day stated out as a pretty good one. She woke up, raised the sun, ate a hearty breakfast as she casually sipped her favorite Zebrafrican herbal tea, the usual routine. But that was where the good part of her day ended, as she'd forgotten that today was appeal day, meaning nobles from all across Equestria flocked to Canterlot, and talked. And talked. And talked.
Currently, she sat on her throne, smiling politely as one of the Canterlot nobleman droned on and on about wanting a tax break for his business, and 'how the resulting ripple effect would end up benefitting all of Equestria'. Celestia just rolled her eyes at this; she would not grant it, of course, but her good reputation required she at least act as if she would consider it.
Sweet Maker, she thought, resisting the urge to yawn for the hundredth time that day. I wish something, anything interesting would happen soon.
BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!
Everypony in the room froze, and Celestia snapped back to alertness to the sound of a cannon going off in her ear. Rising from her throne, Celestia rushed over to the window, as the castle trembling violently, the marble floors cracked and shaking beneath her feet. What she saw left her at a loss for words. As luck would have it, one of the guards happened to know exactly what words the situation called for:
“BY CELESTIA'S SWEET FLAMING TITS, WHAT IN TARTARUS IS THAT!?!?!?!?!?!”
A gargantuan cloud of black smoke and ash bellowed high in the sky over the Badlands, so high it threatened to blot out the sun, streaks of red lightning and fire swirling within the smoky depths of the monstrosity. Celestia felt a tremor race through her body, as waves of hostility, blood lust, and killing intent radiated across the rapidly blackening skies.
Celestia returned to the center of the room immediately, looking a little worse for the wear. “Everypony, I’m afraid I have to cancel the appeal court early. My sister and I have a matter we must attend to.”
As everypony quickly filed out of the room, Celestia summoned a scroll and quill with her magic, quickly jotting something down. Luna stormed into the throne room, a worried look on her face. “Sister, what's happened? We were roused from our slumber by an explosion; are we under attack?”
Celestia looked at Luna with a look of steely determination, but couldn't keep the twinge of fear from her voice.
“No, we are not, but for the first time in centuries, I have never wished it to where otherwise. Luna ready your armor and prepare for battle. Cataclysm has returned.”
Chapter 2 - A Meeting of Sun, Moon, Fire, And Brimstone
Rage. Hatred. Vengeance.
As I soared over the boundary between the Badlands and Equestria, emotions I'd been forced to bury for five thousand years began to rage within me, no longer willing to be ignored or restrained. They felt...hot, festering....smouldering, like a pressure deep inside that kept building and building and building. It felt so much hotter than anger, hungry, no....starving for release, for satisfaction. Each emotion felt like a bomb about to blow, trying to will itself into exploding with all the unbridled beauty and destructive force of a volcano.
Far below, I could feel the world tremble and heave in tandem with my torment. I felt the ground quake, as jagged spikes of stone burst from beneath the once rolling sands, and great, yawning fissures open wide, swallowing up what little plant and wildlife had inhabited the area. With each beat of my massive wings, a plume of fire and ash surge down to the earth below, scorching it black and barren as it was when the planet was first formed.
On the horizon, a small frontier town came into view.
...Excellent
(Canterlot Royal Palace - 3rd Person)
Normally, Twilight was a very calm, level-headed mare. Ever-faithful to here beloved mentor, she believed that there were few situations that she could not handle, especially if she had the help and support of her dear friends.
Now was not one of those times.
No sooner had she returned from a visit with Candence in the Crystal Empire had Spike presented her with an urgent letter from Princess Celestia. On the hastily scrawled message, Princess Celestia had vaguely detailed an impending threat to Equestria, and, in no uncertain terms ordering Twilight to gather her friends, including Spike himself, and transport them all to Canterlot immediately.
Wasting no time, and thoroughly unnerved by her mentor's uncharacteristic actions, Twilight gathered friends, and using a chain-spell rather than flying, managed to drop them just inside the mountainside city.
What they found was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The entire city had been placed on full-alert; every guard seemed to be doing something, whether it was constructing various fortifications, or manning artillery placements. The usually crowded streets were empty of all non-military forces, and the various stalls and vendors that dotted them lay by the wayside, vacant and deserted. Juggernauts, Mobile Cannoneers, and Ponies-at-arms patrolled the streets below, while Pegasi and batpony Thunderers, Wing Riders, and Heavy Lancers squadrons swarmed in the skies above.
Canterlot itself was covered in a familiar pink energy barrier, the very same barrier that had been used in the changeling invasion roughly a year ago, and the Royal Armada, a fleet of fifty-four of the finest most heavily armed and armored airships ever built, lie docked just outside.
Now, Twilight and company stood inside the palace, and that wasn't much better, as the Solar, Lunar, and Crystal Guards were at work, hastily converting the throne room into a makeshift command center. Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence now stood at the center of the room dressed in full battle armor, each more elegant versions of what each princess's specific group of guards wore. What shocked, and quite frankly frightened, Twilight the most was that all three armed. Celestia, her gentle and soft-spoken mentor, had a massive serrated broadsword sheathed in its scabbard and tied to her right, while a golden halberd hung at her left. Luna had a bladed tonfa strapped to either side of her armor while she casually held a massive silver scythe with her left hoof. Cadence, her endearing sister-in-law and princess of love, was the most terrifying to behold, as she sported two full-sized battleaxes and short-swords strapped to either side of her, a massive spiked warhammer as big around as Celestia was tall slung over her withers, and somehow looked none the worse for wear.
The whole situation left Twilight reeling, desperately trying to process what had happened to cause such a drastic change is such a short amount of time.
Luckily for her, Rainbow Dash was one step ahead of her.
“You gotta be kidding me!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “We just dealt with Tirek, like, two days ago and now we’ve got another crisis on our hooves!? How the hay does everything go to Tartarus so fast!?”
“Rainbow Dash, language please!” Rarity snapped.
“It's quite all right, Rarity. In truth, I'm rather surprised most of you aren't reacting in much the same way, given the situation. Neither Discord's escape nor the changeling invasion required we take such drastic measures to ensure the safety of our little ponies.” Celestia stated dismissively, monitoring the fortification of Canterlot through several enchanted mirrors.
“R-Right, sorry. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, the information in the letter was helpful, exactly who or what are we up against?,” Twilight asked, recovering and grabbing her friends’ attention.
Princess Luna spoke first. “Although he is a draconnequus like Discord, I can say without a doubt that Cataclysm is an enemy unlike any you have faced thus far.”
“The very essence of calamity and destruction, he embodies all of the destructive forces that occur in nature if ever left unchecked,” Cadence continued, “and his presence alone causes all manner of disasters to occur, regardless of how well controlled the area may have been. Earthquakes, raging fires, floods, you name it.”
“He first made his presence known almost five thousand years ago, only a decade or so after the unification of the three main pony tribes and the establishment of Equestria. For the next half century, Cataclysm rained fire and destruction on Equestria, Tartarus-bent on turning all of Equus into rubble, and Equestria, as he proclaimed, was first in his sights.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case with a most of Equestria's villains,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned. “out of all the other nations all over Equus, somepony just has to go after Equestria first.”
“Quite,” Princess Luna agreed, before continuing the explanation. “Celestia and I stood against him many a time, but each time we were defeated, and rather badly at that. It was only with the combined armies of every great nation on Equus, as well as a grueling, ten-day battle, did we finally manage to gain the upper hand, and defeat Cataclysm. Sealing him in stone beneath the mountain in the Badlands he used as a base of operations.
“And even then, Equus was never the same again,” Celestia said, now giving the group her full attention. “Areas like the Everfree forest and the Badlands had sprang up all over the world, and have persisted even to this day.”
The six mares stared in shock at these claims. It just sounded so...surreal, like a horribly twisted nightmare that a filly or colt might have. Yet, judging by the expressions on the Princesses's face, there was no doubting just how real the danger was.
“Um, excuse me for being the one to point this out princess, but if this is the case, then how exatly are we supposed to defeat this Cataclysm fellow?” Rarity cut it, looking slightly ill, but otherwise maintaining her composure, absentmindedly patting at her mane with a hoof in a calming gesture.
“I believe that our only option defeat him now, while he is still weakened from his time as a statue. If it were just the three of us, I believe our chances of victory would be slim, but with you six, I think we may have a chance. If we do not, than I truly fear, not only for Equestria and it's inhabitant, but for all of Equus.”
“But how 'er we suppsoed ta do that? With Mt. Cataclysm eruptin' like it is an' all, he could be half way around the world by now.” Applejack pointed out.
“True, but Cataclysm, while incredibly powerful, was never the brightest of individuals. He was largely ruled by his emotions, and had developed an especially fervent hatred for Luna and myself. I have little doubt that he will make his way here, so as to get revenge for his imprisonment.”
“And you're dressed like that because...?” Rainbow asked.
“Because even with your help, Cataclysm is still far too powerful for just you six alone. When he arrives, we will attack him with everything we have, and try to weaken him as much as possible. You six are to lie in wait, and when you feel the time is right, strike hard and fast. Twilight, once we have him cornered, you are to cast the petrification spell. Luna and I will assist you if we are able.”
Twilight took in a sharp breath and exhaled before opening the chest and turning to look at her friends, now standing proud, tall and confident, then looked back at the princesses.
“Don’t worry, your majesties. We won’t-”
Her no-doubt heartfelt promise of loyalty and respect was cut sort, as a pegasi Wind Rider plowed through the throne room doors.
"Princesses! You must come quickly!"
Turning about, Princess Celestia drew herself to full height before addressing the guard.
"Yes, Flash Sentry, what do you have to report?”
“A dragon, headed this way, ma'am. I don't think I've seen anything like it before.”
Celestia felt blood run cold. “Luna, Cadence, with me! The rest of you, you know the plan!”
Instantly, the Luna and Cadence adjusted their gear, and were thundering down the halls of the royal palace,leaving Twilight and company to their own devices.
Outside, a metallic black dragon, easily the size of Canterlot itself, loomed on the horizon, fire crackling along its scaly hide, and clouds of ash and smoke were thrown away from it with each flap of its massive wings.
As the city of Canterlot drew near, I began to notice a great many things, even from the distance I was at. Soldiers at every turn, each armed to the teeth. Every tower, rooftop, and battlement covered with cannons, ballistas, chainguns, and even giant thunderers. Airships floated just out side the safety of the barrier surrounding the city, and all of them had their various weapons turned in my direction. I was not amused.
“Celestia,” My voice boomed like thunder as I stopped short, to address the object of my contempt. “at last I have returned. My hatred burns through the cavernous deeps. The wretched kingdoms of Equus quake beneath my rage. This is the threat I pose, this is the monster you face, a monster that you yourself created, and THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO OFFER ME?! ME, CALAMITY AND DESTRUCTION INCARNATE!?!”
I could feel myself growing more enraged, as my gaze swept across the miniscule army before me. Was this really all she expected of me? Had she forgotten just who she was dealing with?
“So be it then.”
Raising my head high into the sky, I summoned up even more of my power, and let loss a deafening, earsplitting roar. A black swirling smog bellowed from my gaping maw, and I watched, with an almost schoolgirl-like giddiness, as the smog reshaped itself, reforming, and dispersing into hundreds of thousands of pony-sized storm drake constructs. Within moments, the airships began opening fire on the wall of black death barreling down on them, only for them to pass through the shower of lead and magic unimpeded.
“Soon, the whole of Equestria will break, and all will burn beneath the shadow of my wings.”
The air ships virtually taken care of, I continued my approach on the mountainside metropolis, and in mere moments, I slammed into the force field separating me from my quarry with all the force and ferocity of the natural disasters I'd come to represent. Instead of it shattered like a sledge hammer hitting a snow globe like I was surprised to find the shield surprisingly sturdy, wavering violently, but otherwise holding firm. Celestia must have somehow managed to get Shining Armor from the Crystal Empire before I arrived.
Like that'll be enough to stop me.
“I will take your throne, devour your ponies like so many sheep. I will kill where I wish, when I wish wish.”
Pulling back slightly from the field, I raising my claws high above my head, reeled back, and thrust them into the force field like two spearheads. Almost immediately, I felt more magic flow into the field, as the caster(s) tried to reinforce the barrier, attempting to force my claws out; it all amounted to not. I continued to force my claws forward, until each hooked talon was all the way through, and started pulling them apart, watching the magical field stretch and tear like a giant slab of saltwater taffy.
“My skin is armor of iron and steel; no blade can pierce me. I will not be stopped, I will not be thwarted, and I will not be denied what should have been mine all those eons ago.”
With a final flex and push, the field, stressed beyond its limit, shattered with the sound of broken glass. I would have liked to revel in my victory, but the second the barrier fell, every form rooftop-mounted artillery opened fire, and I was peppered by a hellfire of lightning, fire, and lead. Too bad for them, as the torrent glanced off of my armored exterior without so much as leaving a scratch. What fools these ponies be.
"My teeth are swords, my claws are spears. My wings, hurricanes. My breath, an inferno."
As if to prove my point, I lashed out, knocking down buildings and battlements with ease, as each structure fell beneath my unrelenting assault. With a flap of my wings, I wiped up several dust devils, only to light them on fire with a burst of fire breath. I listened to the screams of hundreds of ponies, as they died, burned alive by my fire-devils,or swallowed up by my constructs, or simply cast off the mountain itself to plummet to the lake or the ground far bellow. It felt...good.
“I am fire. I am Death.”
Now...where was Celestia?
