Chapter 1: A Simple Messenger
Shining Heart stood atop a small bridge over an otherwise pleasantly babbling stream, shocked at what his own rage had done. He always knew his temper would get him into trouble one day, but he never thought that day would be so soon, or in this amount of severity.
“Do you know what you've done?” the injured pony said, grunting in pain. Shining Heart lowered his head as he imagined the other pony's blood that was on his horn, matching his own naturally red fur.
The cyan pony ignored the pain, and slowly rose to her hooves. Her left shoulder was cut and bleeding, but it wasn't too serious.
“Celestia will hear of this,” she said as she flew away, leaving a very worried unicorn.
Weeks earlier, Samgus, a tall but stout brown earth pony, stood at the foot of Celestia's royal throne. To his left flank, stood Shining Heart. The throne room was often used to host great celebrations, but now the room was empty aside from the usual guards around the perimeter of the room and the ones standing at each of the Princess' flanks. Celestia spoke first; her voice echoing in the large royal chambers.
“Samgus. You have done me great service in the past, but I'm afraid I cannot grant permission for what you ask of me.”
“Princess Celestia,” Samgus said, speaking with the utmost respect for the ruler of Equestria, “I believe you misunderstand what I'm requesting. I ask not for a private army, but for a humble defense squad to protect us from the beasts of the Everfree Forest. By granting them limited military power, you allow them the technology and the training required to protect our citizens, and visitors to our fair community.”
Celestia slowly lowered her head, her eyebrows forming a faint but distinctive V shape.
“You refer to your group as citizens, yet your community has not been recognized as a city of Equestria. Your group is one of exploration, and no more.”
“My deepest apologies, Princess, a simple slip of the tongue. Our simple exploration group has grown into quite the community, and we often mistake ourselves for something we aren’t. You know as well as I that we bow before you and recognize you as our only ruler.”
Samgus gave Celestia a slight bow, lowering his head in respect. Celestia's head slowly rose as she spoke.
“Fair enough. My royal guard shall train and equip your defense force to protect your team. Do remember that they are not soldiers, and are not permitted to enforce the law upon any citizens of Equestria. They are only to fight off any dangers that your camp may face on the edge of the forest.”
“Thank you,” Samgus said, “once again, you have proven your exceeding wisdom in knowing the importance of our mission.”
Samgus slowly backed away from Celestia's throne, keeping his head down. Celestia quietly watched as Shining Heart followed his actions, and together they slowly exited the throne room. Once outside, Samgus spoke.
“Filthy dog! How dare she refers to us as merely an encampment. She knows the time and effort we spent developing Samgus City into the prosperous and successful town it is today. If she won't accept us as a proper city, what can we do but declare our independence?”
Shining Heart slowly lowered his head. As Samgus' aid, he was pretty much forced to agree with the brown earth pony's twisted reasoning, but resorting to insults and name calling behind the Princess’ back? Shining knew he had to do something, or else Samgus' so called 'city' could find itself in great conflict with Celestia's royal guard. Shining wasn't even sure why Samgus had requested help from Celestia at all, they had been able to handle themselves thus far with no outside assistance.
In that moment, two of Celestia's guards came up to their flanks.
“We have been instructed by the Princess to escort you out of the Canterlot Castle,” one of them said. Samgus remained silent as they led him and Shining away, knowing that this was a subtle warning on Celestia's part.
“But Twilight, I don't even know the Princess that well, not the way you do at least.” Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway of Twilight's library, watching the purple unicorn as she flipped through her books. On Twilight's left stood a chemical set of various beakers and tubes.
“I'm sure the Princess has good reason for requesting of you what she did,” Twilight said, preoccupied with her books and soon-to-be overflowing chemicals.
“I'm a weather pony,” Rainbow said, “not a lame messenger! Why can't the Princess just send messages using magic somehow? Wouldn't magic be faster anyway?”
Twilight closed her book and looked up at Rainbow Dash.
“I'm not sure. Where did she want you to bring messages to?”
“The Samgus encampment.”
“Oh, that would explain it. It's a fair distance from Canterlot; using magic to send messages at that distance isn't very reliable when crossing the edge of the Everfree Forest.”
“Even for Princess Celestia?”
“I suppose so, but it's also possible that she wanted somepony to deliver messages in person for some reason,” Twilight said, returning to her large stack of books. Rainbow Dash slowly walked over to her, and spoke.
“What are you looking for this time?”
“I'm doing some research on the artifact that Samgus' group is searching for in the forest, but I'm having trouble finding anything about it in these books.”
“Why don't you just ask the Princess?”
“Because it's none of my business,” Twilight said, as she continued to flip through the pages in her book. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“Well, I better get going. I'll be in Canterlot speaking with the Princess if you need me, now that I'm a messenger pony.” Rainbow Dash slowly withdrew from the library, and sighed loudly before she took flight. Twilight smiled at Rainbow Dash's audacious attitude, then stomped an annoyed hoof when she noticed that her boiling chemicals had overflowed.
Samgus stood on his castle's balcony, proudly overlooking his creation. Below him, merchants and markets lined the central street, selling and buying various items. Samgus knew it was only a matter of time before his great city grew to be as famous as Canterlot. After all, Samgus City had already become a prosperous resource for surrounding cities. The city was on the very edge of the Everfree Forest, which contained many rare materials nopony else dared to collect. Manehatten was only a day or two's trip to the south, and a road between the two cities quickly formed as merchants found this new source of profit.
“Samgus. Somepony approaches,” Shining Heart called out to his leader. Samgus turned his focus to the right, where the tall wooden gates stood, protecting the city from the creatures of the forest. At the moment, the gates were open, and various merchants and workers passed through them regularly.
Rainbow Dash slowly walked through the open gates and closed her wings against her body, looking around in wonder at this strange new place. She expected a few tents to house the forest explorers, not an entire city. Perhaps this was why Celestia had sent her, to report back what she had found.
Guards high above on castle walls and turrets eyed Rainbow Dash as they did with all visitors, but quickly decided that she was not a threat. Samgus sighed, as he turned to Shining Heart.
“Ah. Looks like one of Celestia's friends. Escort our guest to my central chambers, will you?” Shining Heart nodded, and made his way outside to greet Rainbow Dash.
“Hello, I'm Shining Heart, welcome to our humble community.” Rainbow Dash turned her gaze away from the tall castle turrets and faced Shining.
“Hia, I'm Rainbow Dash. The Princess sent me to speak with...um...Samus?”
“His name is Samgus. Right this way.”
“Oh, okay.”
Rainbow Dash followed Shining as he led her to Samgus' living quarters, which was built right into the walls surrounding the small city. Rainbow Dash looked around in awe.
“How did you guys build this place so fast? Seems like it was only a month ago Celestia first sent you out here for some secret mission or something.”
“Actually,” Shining said, “its been five months. Still, it's amazing what you can accomplish with enough willpower. These stone structures were all mined from beneath the forest, not an easy thing to manage with all the strange creatures that inhabit it. In the past couple months alone, we have discovered and documented dozens of creatures, both friendly and hostile.”
As Rainbow Dash admired the intricate wall carvings and wished that Shining had elaborated on the 'secret mission' part of her comment, Shining led her into the stone structure and up to the second floor. Torches lined the halls, causing flickering shadows to move about as if they were alive and ready to grab a passing pony hoof. The building itself was tiny compared to Celestia's castle, but its construction was still a large feat considering the dangerous conditions and time restraints the workers must have been under.
“Ah, you must be Rainbow Dash,” Samgus said with forced glee as she and Shining entered his chambers.
“You must be hungry after your trip. Can I interest you in some refreshments?” Samgus motioned to a table with various foodstuffs at the other side of the room. Rainbow Dash politely refused the offer, as she had brought food in her saddle bag and was quite full.
“How do you know my name?”
“How could anypony not know your name? You and your five friends are quite famous all across Equestria.” Rainbow Dash hoofed the ground, quietly accepting the praise. Samgus continued.
“But what's this? The fastest, bravest pegasus that had helped to save all of Equestria, reduced to a simple messenger? I sure hope what you have to tell me is important, or else I'd say I'm not the only one getting a message from Celestia.”
Rainbow Dash didn't know how to respond. Samgus seemed to know a lot about her, and there was something about his tone that she didn't like. Rainbow Dash also hadn’t yet mentioned that Celestia had sent her.
“Um...The Princess wanted me to tell you that she is readying few soldiers to assist you. They should arrive in a couple of days,” Rainbow Dash said, repeating the message even though she didn't understand why Samgus needed help from the royal guard at all. The city seemed very well-fortified as it was. Also...why did the Princess send her when the soldiers themselves were capable of announcing their own arrival...?
Samgus remained silent for a moment, then spoke.
“Very well. So, Rainbow Dash, how would you like to see the city? We have quite a few technological advancements I'm sure you'd like to see, as would the Princess like to hear about, I'm sure.”
“Alright, sounds good.” Rainbow nodded, and began to follow Samgus out into the town square. As Samgus led her back downstairs, Rainbow couldn't help but notice his cutie mark. It was a black crow, with outstretched wings. She quietly wondered what his special talent could be.
Once outside, Samgus motioned to Shining Heart.
“Shining. Show this kind mare around. I have some business to attend to.”
“Yes sir. Follow me Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow smiled and followed Shining, a little nervous but also excited to see this new place.
Samgus knew he was in trouble. He thought for sure Celestia was on to him, yet she had still sent the soldiers as per his request. Either she was planning something, or she really was oblivious to his plan. The only thing he could do now was expedite his scheme, and hope he wasn't already too late.
Turning to one of his assistants, Samgus spoke quickly but quietly.
“Make sure that overweening blue pegasus doesn't leave the city.” The assistant nodded and trotted off to alert the rest of the guards.
Samgus pushed past a curtain hanging in a doorway, and was faced with two cream-colored unicorns. They were seated behind a large round table in the center of the small, dark room.
“I'm sorry for the delay,” Samgus said, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
“I'm not sure why we are still having this discussion. We already gave you our final offer, and we are not willing to lower our asking price any further. Especially not with this much risk involved.”
Samgus motioned to an assistant, who then brought forth a bag. The bag was opened on the table in front of them, and a large amount of currency poured out. The two twins leaned forward in amazement.
“This is double what you had originally asked for. If you can complete the project in double the time, it's all yours.”
The brothers looked at each other, and slowly nodded in agreement.
Chapter 2: Past and Present
Princess Luna stood atop a small hill made of moon rock, gazing down upon the planet in which she called home. Equestria had yet to be founded, but it was still the two sisters' duty to protect the inhabiting nomad pony tribes. By Luna's left flank stood her older sister, Celestia. Both of the alicorns' horns glowed as they cast a spell to keep them alive in the vacuum of space.
“Sister, thee wisheth to know, what shall become of thy planet if thy foe triumph?” Luna asked, slowly shifting her gaze to look up at her sister. Celestia's face bore the expression of a soldier going into a battle.
“They shan't,” Celestia said, with a look of hopeful determination in her eyes. Even then, dim lights could be seen in the distance, slowly closing upon them. A battle was imminent.
Twilight carefully held up a beaker of green liquid to examine it. Once confident of the precise measurement, she poured it into another container, mixing two chemicals together. She didn't even turn her head as somepony entered the room from behind her.
“What are you working on now?” Spike asked. Twilight sighed.
“I could ask you the same thing. You've been in the basement most of the day,” Twilight turned away from her work to look at Spike, “And you're covered in dirt. What have you been doing?”
“I'm digging a tunnel!” Spike said cheerfully. Twilight turned her head back to her work, not interested in Spike's coltish endeavors.
“If you want to dig in the dirt so badly, why don't you ask Rarity if she needs help finding more gems?”
“I already did. She said she was too busy repairing Fluttershy's dress after Angel used it to go hang gliding.”
Twilight perked up and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, shaking the silly image out of her head as she resumed writing down the effects the two chemicals had on each other.
Spike walked up to Twilight's table, and casually placed his scaly elbows upon it.
“This isn't one of your more dangerous experiments, is it? Just because I'm fireproof doesn't mean I don't worry about you.” Twilight smiled, and replied, “No Spike, I'm just mixing two completely harmless compounds that will-”
Suddenly the beaker exploded, dropping the thick, boiling chemical onto a metal tray beneath it. Twilight stood still, in mild shock from the small explosion. Spike giggled.
“Completely harmless?”
Valiant slowly awakened as he heard guards approaching. The cold, dark cell had been his home for three long, lonely days as he waited for his hearing to come to an end.
“Come along, scum. Celestia has finally decided what to do with you,” the guard said, opening the cell door as another unicorn guard stood by with a levitating spear at the ready.
Valiant obeyed, not knowing for sure if he was walking to his freedom or execution.
The holding facility doors opened suddenly, powered by the unicorn guard's magic. Valiant was blinded by the sun in which he was deprived of for far too long. Before him stood a group of ponies who came to hear his trial's verdict. Some were friends that were concerned about him, while others were rougher folk looking to witness an execution. The atmosphere was a grim one, meaning bad news was in store for Valiant. Drops of water fell upon his face as a light rain began. Those weather ponies just had to schedule rain for today, of all days.
“Valiant,” Princess Celestia spoke, “You have been my loyal assistant for a long time now. I find it difficult to believe that the crimes against you are true, but the evidence is overwhelming.” Valiant closed his eyes and cringed as he waited for Celestia to declare his punishment.
“You shall be banished to the Everfree Forest for the rest of your life. You have not only broken the law of Equestria, but you have also broken my personal trust. For that, you will be punished severely and fairly.” Celestia's expression remained mostly unchanged, quotidian for her personality, but it was obvious that this punishment afflicted her. nopony else had been banished in this fashion for as long as Valiant could remember.
A guard behind Valiant prodded his flank with the dull end of a spear, and guided him toward the dark forest. A single tear slowly ran down Valiant's face. Banishment was equivalent to death, only far slower and more painful. As per tradition, he was given a saddle bag with minimal supplies, but he was not permitted to enter any city of Equestria. Anypony caught assisting him would receive the same fate as he. There was no hope for survival in the forest, especially not for an inexperienced unicorn such as he.
“Daddy!” A young colt's voice interrupted the slow-moving procession. Valiant recognized it immediately.
A young crimson colored colt pushed through the legs of the crowd. He tried to hug his father, but was met with the chains that bound Valiant. Normally, the guards would have stopped anypony from approaching the prisoner, but this was an exception they all silently agreed to allow.
“Where are you going daddy? You can't go into the forest, there are monsters in there!”
Valiant's vision blurred as uncontrollable tears welled up.
“I...I have no choice...your uncle will take good care of you,” Valiant said, briefly noticing his brother in the crowd.
“But I don't want him, I want you! Why do you have to leave?” The colt cried, not understanding the situation at all.
“Here,” Valiant said, “Take this. Remember me by it.” Valiant removed a golden necklace from around his neck, and put it around the colt's. It very nearly dragged on the ground, but Valiant didn't care.
“But...this is the locket with mommy in it-”
“And that is why you should take it. When you are lonely, look inside and remember your mother; then remember that it is a gift from me. We'll both always be with you so long as you have this.”
A poke from the guard behind told Valiant that it was time to move.
“Goodbye son.”
Shining Heart could tell Rainbow Dash was pleased with the city. It was sunny and warm; the perfect setting for a look around. Shining Heart felt relieved to be away from the depressive attitude of Samgus and was happy to give the friendly cyan mare a tour.
As small as it was, Samgus' designs for the city were quite genius the way they utilized every inch of space. Buildings were multistory, and many of which were built into the walls surrounding the city. The main street wasn't so much a street as it was a large area of compacted dirt and stone for ponies to trot upon; there were no vehicles or carts for the most part.
“Are those lamps powered by electricity?” Rainbow Dash asked Shining, pointing a hoof at one of the many tall black lamps that populated the city. It was the middle of the day, and the lamps were off, but Rainbow Dash still noticed that there was something different about them.
“Indeed they are. Don't you have electricity in Ponyville?”
“Not really. The hospital uses it for some things, but other than that we rely on magic and fireflies.” Shining Heart walked over to a lamp and placed his hoof on it.
“These lamps draw power from our city's generator. Beneath our hooves at this very moment is an underground waterfall that powers everything electric in the city. It's another invention that Samgus came up with.” Rainbow Dash nodded in amazement, not truly understanding what Shining had just said. Electricity was one of those things that really only eggheads studied. Rainbow Dash thought about how much Twilight would love to see these things in action.
A menacing boom sound enveloped the city. The ground shook as Rainbow and Shining struggled to remain on their feet.
“What the hay-?” Rainbow Dash yelled out, but was cut off by the cries of a group of ponies running through the city gates. They appeared to be some explorers that had been sent into the Everfree Forest.
“Close them! Close the applebucking gates!” One of the explorers cried out, eyes wide with terror. The guards obeyed, rotating the large crank that controlled the gates.
“What is it? What's going on?” Shining asked the one that appeared to be the group's leader. Another ground shaking boom hit them like a shock wave before Shining Heart could receive a reply.
“HYDRA!” A guard yelled from above, pointing a hoof at something that was outside the city walls. Even though it was outside the city walls, it was not out of their view. A large three-headed green creature shook the ground with each step it took.
Rainbow Dash had heard of a Hydra before, as one had previously attacked her friends a while back, but nothing could prepare her for this encounter. Her first instinct was to fly away and be safe from harm, but she didn't feel right about leaving the city to be destroyed.
The monster crashed through the city gates; not even giving the castle walls or wooden barriers a second thought. At that moment, Samgus came out onto his balcony. He shouted to one of the guards.
“Well?! What are you waiting for?!” The guard replied nervously,
“But it's untested-” The guard was cut off by the loud roar of the three headed beast.
“I don't give a flying feather! Don't let that monster destroy my city!” The guard gave Samgus a quick nod, and signaled to the guards atop the city walls.
“FIRE!”
Rainbow Dash looked around frantically as she heard the strangest sound in her life. It sounded like a magical spell charging up, but there was also a, ear-piercing mechanical ring to it. The noise came to a climax, shaking the ground almost as much as the Hydra had, and then it fired.
Rainbow Dash wasn't sure where it had come from, but a large magical bolt of energy struck the Hydra just moments before it took another step into the city. After impacting with the creature, large bolts of electricity surged through its body. The beasts's eyes rolled into the back of its three heads as it fell to the ground, landing on a large section of the city wall. Luckily it had not fallen forward, or else it would have caused extensive damage to the city and would have crushed dozens of ponies.
Samgus came running out of his castle to see what damage had been done. After scanning the area, he smiled at how effective the energy gun was. The Hydra was dead.
Rainbow Dash let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She sure didn't enjoy witnessing a living creature being killed, but she also knew the city would have been destroyed otherwise. She looked up at Shining as he smiled weakly at her.
The ground shook. Wait, what was this? The monster was dead, what was- suddenly, a large crack opened up in front of Rainbow Dash and Shining Heart. Every expression in the market quickly changed from relief to terror. A crack ran from under the Hydra, right between Rainbow's hooves, and stopped near the center of the market. The crack slowly expanded as dirt and other items were seemingly sucked into it like a black hole.
Before Rainbow Dash had a chance to take to the sky, a jet of water shot out of the crack and hit her, knocking her over. In that moment the crack widened suddenly, and wide-eyed Rainbow Dash fell through, all the while screaming in terror.
