Equestria: Rise of Cataclysm

(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.”