Arms of Arceus

Joan walked through the beautiful streets of Canterlot, taking in the sights of the Equestrian capital. When God’s Breath had first arrived in Equestria to recruit the help of the Elements of Harmony, the ponies of Canterlot had been remarkably warm and receptive. When Dark Arceus had dragged the Pokémon city through dimensions, Equestria had been left to defend itself from the hateful legions of destruction. They had fought a months long war, but they were just as warm and friendly as Joan remembered. The ponies were already helping to finish repairing the damage God’s Breath had sustained in recent months, just as the Pokémon were helping the ponies stamp out the last remaining shades. Still, despite the warm atmosphere, Joan couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place in Canterlot.

“Oh, my gosh!” said a voice from her left. Joan turned to see two unicorns sitting at a table, staring at her. One of them was pale with a dark, black mane. The other was light pink with a spiky, blonde mane. Between them sat a silver tray with two porcelain cups and a purple porcelain pitcher.

“Um, excuse me?” Joan said as she looked around, unsure if she was the one being addressed.

“My sister was just commenting on how you look like you’re walking alone,” said the dark haired unicorn, her voice low and raspy, but not unfriendly. “You look like you could use some friends.”

“You should totally come and sit with us!” said the blonde haired pony, her voice excited and bubbly. “I’m Sunshine Smiles, and this is my sister, Moonlight Raven. Come on. Join us!”

“A-alright. My name is Joan.”

“You’re one of the leaders of the Pokémon, aren’t you?” Moonlight Raven asked as she poured Joan a cup of tea. “We’ve been fighting monsters like you for a while now.”

“But it’s not like we don’t know the difference between the good ones and the bad ones,” Sunshine Smiles said as she frowned at her sister. “You’ve taken really good care of our princesses and their friends, and we’re really grateful.”

“We really are,” Moonlight Raven said, smiling apologetically. “I didn’t mean to imply anything. Sunshine and I haven’t even been on the front lines, really. We’ve been with most of the other unicorns, and half of the pegasi from Cloudsdale, manipulating the weather to make sure it stays to our advantage.”

“Your magic is fascinating,” Joan said as she accepted a teacup, holding it with her mind in emulation of the sister’s levitation spells. “We’ve come to respect it greatly. In truth, we wouldn’t have survived without it.”

“Rumor has it, you’ve seen some nasty monsters since you left,” Sunshine said. She leaned over the table and spoke softly, as if trying to guard a secret. “What were they like?”

“We’ve seen quite a bit. I’d rather not go into detail… it’s not pretty.”

“Sometimes, the coolest things in life aren’t pretty,” Moonlight said as she pulled a book from her saddlebag. “I’ve got a book on monsters of the north that’s full of awesome stuff, but most of these things are hideous. I wouldn’t want to meet them in person.”

“I’m not sure if anything in your book quite compares to the horrors we saw. They’re avoiding this planet, for the meantime. The protections we put in place are quite strong. Unless the princesses choose to send your people onto the battlefield, you probably won’t get to see more than pictures.”

“Even if they send some of us out there, we trust our princesses,” Sunshine said, proudly. “They’re all awesome and wise, and some are really old!”

Moonlight Raven gave her sister a questioning look and the unicorn continued, a bit more cautiously.

“What I mean is that they lead us in upholding love and friendship. It’s what our society is built on. The same is true for you guys, right?”

“It is,” Joan said, smiling. “In our world, Pokémon often work together for the benefit of all. Most choose to live close to nature, despite our ability to achieve the creation of cities, like God’s Breath. The humans are very kind, as well. We fight for, and protect one another. Our king often told us to admire and value the relationships humans and Pokémon create in the world outside of God’s Breath. He called it a ‘beautiful bond of trust’. I just wish some of us had seen the wisdom in those words…”

Joan suddenly realized she was crying. She quickly wiped her tears away as the blood rushed to her cheeks.

“Don’t worry,” Sunshine said, putting a comforting hoof on Joan’s arm. “You’re with friends here.”

“You can tell us what’s going on,” Moonlight said, as she poured Joan more tea. “Did one of your friends turn evil?”

“He’s… he’s just lost,” Joan said as she accepted the cup. “It’s been ages since we’ve been friends, really. He was in the dungeons recently, held captive for trying to hurt the princesses, and he never even crossed my mind. Once we were in Octaria, I couldn’t see past my own fear and sense of duty. I feel like… I abandoned him to this fate.”

“He’ll come around!” Sunshine said, optimistically. “I’m sure he will!”

“Well,” Moonlight said, more thoughtfully than her sister. “We don’t fully understand the situation, but if there’s a shred of good left in him, he might come around someday. Though, bitterness and hatred are powerful emotions. Equestrian history has shown that, given time, negative emotions can eat away at a creature’s heart until the goodness in them is so small they see it as worthless and throw it away. Your friend has a choice, and no one can make it for him. If he chooses to embrace the evil within him and cast off the good, there may be nothing you can do about it.”

Sunshine threw a spoon at her sister and frowned angrily.

“But I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Moonlight added, blushing slightly as she rubbed her head.

“Thank you,” Joan said. She sighed and looked to the palace in the distance as the words of her new friends mulled about in her mind. “We did all sorts of things together, from conquering the trials of the four zones of nature, to exploring the depths of the ocean, and traveling the human world. But you’re right, it’s his choice to make in the end.”

Joan rose from her seat and bowed in gratitude, a smile on her face as a strategy began to form in her mind.

“The princesses are holding a war council in the palace, and I am needed there. It may be true that Charles has a difficult choice to make, but I can influence him. I know I can.”

The sisters said their goodbyes and she departed for the castle as hope once again filled her heart.

“Dark Arceus has overextended itself,” Princess Celestia said as she addressed her war council in the comfort of her Canterlot throne room. “We are but a speck in a storm of violence that is tearing through this place. Around us, we see the horrors we encountered on Octaria waging war against the alien ships that defend Battleworld. Our planet is protected by the joint efforts of ponies and Pokémon, set behind the first line of defense presented by the creatures known as the Kree and Skrull. For the moment we are safe, but we are lost. We do not yet know how to return to our own universe. Until we discover a means to go home, we will bring order to this war torn landscape.”

“We are vastly outnumbered and surrounded by foes on all sides,” Lord Gallah said. “How do you suggest we fight everyone at once?”

“We don’t,” Princess Luna said. “We are in a very fragile position, but we can turn this to our advantage. Presently, we are small and insignificant in this war. Chaos wants the power of harmony we ponies possess, for what purpose, we don’t know. The Tyranids wish to devour the Pokémon so they may add your power to their own. They can affect neither of us, here. So long as we’re cautious, we have the ability to strike at our leisure, without fear of counterattack.”

“We have had many long discussions on this matter,” Cadance said as she walked forward to share her part. “Due to the information we have received, our forces are bogged down in three places; Greenland, Dystopia and Ashes. Doom seems to have left them to their own devices in favor of sending his troops elsewhere. Greenland and Dystopia are under assault by Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza. Ashes is under assault by Lugia and Ho-oh. We will send forces to deal with the threats in those kingdoms, while freeing the legends that assault them from their slavery to Dark Arceus. Then we will focus our attention on Charles.”

“Majesty,” Joan said as she rose from her seat at the table. “I request permission to deal with Charles, when the time comes.”

“You would deal with Dark Arceus yourself?” Princess Celestia said, concern and apprehension in her voice.

“I would. I don’t know if I can get through to him; to convince him to reject Dark Arceus, but I would still like to try.”

The princesses turned and looked to each other, weighing their choices in soft whispers. After a moment, they returned their attention to the group.

“If you’re determined, then you may accompany me,” Celestia said, calmly. “I will be leading the assault on Doomstadt. Luna will focus her power on destroying the chain that joins these realities together, while Twilight Sparkle, Cadance, and Shining Armor will deal with freeing the enslaved legends.”

“You are dismissed to organize your troops as you see fit,” Princess Luna said as she turned to leave. “Due to their greater experience, the High Council has priority on devising our strategy once battle has been met. Follow the plan, but most important my subjects, follow the wisdom of our Pokémon friends.”

“Sister,” Gallah said as he took Joan by the shoulder and led her away from the group. “You and I need to have a word.”

“What is it?” Joan asked telepathically.

“You know,” Gallah responded as he fixed her with a hard stare.

Joan looked out across Canterlot and marveled at the beauty of the city. The ponies walked through the streets, relieved at the return of their princesses. Celestia had kept them calm while explaining their situation, taking care to thoroughly emphasize the measures that had been taken to protect the planet. Joan couldn’t help but smile as she watched the friendly ponies going about their daily business.

“I met a couple of sisters today,” Joan said as she looked out from the castle veranda. “They were unicorns. One was dark and brooding, the other was bubbly and full of life!”

“Joan…” Gallah said as he read his sister’s emotions and began to see where she was going.

“Listen, Gallah. I know what you’re thinking, but we can get through to him! I just know we can! The citizens of this land remind me of the kindhearted humans of our world…”

“Not all of them are kindhearted, Joan,” Gallah interrupted.

“And I’m sure the ponies have their own… deviants. That doesn’t change the fact that we owe Charles. He was our friend. We need to try to get through to him, no matter what.”

“And if we fail? Regardless of any prior planning, the fact remains that Princess Celestia will be charging head first into a battle between two unspeakable powers. Can you honestly say that your efforts to speak to Charles won’t hurt her ability to do what she must do?”

“Her goal is only to speak to the gods of space, time, and anti-matter…”

“…and get into the Hall of Origin atop the Spear Pillar. Charles and Korish aren’t likely to let her do as she pleases.”

“I know I can help her accomplish her goals. I won’t put her mission in danger.”

“If your focus is on talking to Charles and not fighting him, you will be putting her in danger.”

“So what are you saying? We should try and stop Charles? We can’t. Should we just ignore that he is our friend?”

“No. I’m not so pessimistic about stopping him, however. I will come with you and the princess. A moment will present itself for us to assault Charles at his weakest. When it does, we will take him into the Hall of Origin with us.”

“Allowing the dark god to enter the Hall of Origin is forbidden…”

“If we wish to help our friend, it may be the only way.”

“I knew you would never give up on him,” Joan cried as she hugged her brother.

“Keep in mind, Joan. No plan survives contact with the enemy. Things will be chaotic. In the end, we must be prepared to do what’s best for everyone.”

“I just know Charles will see the light. Have faith, Gallah.”

In the void above Battleworld, Ronan the Accuser was in the process of cleaning up the remains of a boarding action on his ship. He lifted his hammer from the collapsed skull of a beast he had come to learn was called a Tyranid. It was as large as he was, with two guncreatures attached to its primary arms.

“What do you call this one, again?” Ronan asked as he lifted the broken skull from the ground.

“It’s a Hormagaunt,” said the sharp, brutal voice of the human named Ragnar Blackmane. He sounded as if he would rather not talk to Ronan, but he had been ordered by his superiors to gain what allies he could. At the very least, they had come to respect one another’s skill in battle.

“They are violent beyond description,” Ronan said as he turned to his soldiers. “No words could do justice to the monsters we’ve killed today. Your people fight these things regularly?”

“In some parts of our galaxy we do. It’s not like they give us a choice.”

“And what of the leader I killed?”

“That was a Hive Tyrant. You did a fine job of slaying the beast, alien or not.”

“And you’ve done a fine job of helping me understand these creatures. Both our sides will benefit from this relationship.”

“By Russ, I never thought I’d see the day,” Ragnar whispered to himself in disbelief. He had been doing that a lot, lately. Most of his ramblings had been curses about having to fight alongside a being not of his own species. Ronan had chosen to ignore him, for the time being.

“We’ve lost ten battleships thus far,” Ronan said as he accepted a data slate offered to him by one of his soldiers. “The Skrull have lost twelve, though their forces are engaged with the ‘Orks’. Four enemy ships have made it past their lines. Reports indicate screaming, lustful cries, and the stench of rot in their wake. What do you make of it, Ragnar Blackmane?”

“Chaos is heading for your world. If they can break through your god’s shields, then your world will suffer.”

“There are two more defensive lines for them to break through,” Ronan said as an idea began forming in his mind. “Word has it that God Doom’s attention is entirely focused on a surface battle with a completely different foe. If Chaos is as capable as you claim, they might be able to break through his shields while he isn’t looking.”

“The Tyranids and Orks will follow them, though I couldn’t care less. Your world’s safety isn’t my concern. I care only about stopping those ships.”

“They are large as moons…” Ronan said before being interrupted by a loud beeping alert from his dataslate. “And they are turning.”

“Where?” Ragnar growled as he rushed to Ronan’s side.

“I told you of the small planet that appeared along with the Chaos dimension, didn’t I? The one directly behind the first line?”

“But what purpose could they have with that little rock?”

“They seem to be turning to face it, but they are holding position around the golden chain.”

“Then we must engage them. By the blood of the Allfather, there’s no time to waste.”

“Our line has holes in it, and many ships are in need of emergency repair or evacuation,” Ronan said as he handed the dataslate back to his subordinate. “In our current state, approaching those massive ships is a mistake.”

“Then we’ll attack them ourselves,” Ragnar growled, his voice low and filled with violence. He turned to the twelve marines he had brought with him aboard the Kree ship and called for them to follow. Ronan put a hand on his shoulder to stop him, and was met with a stare that would make lesser Kree weep.

“I did not say we wouldn’t attack them,” Ronan said, his demeanor calm and measured despite the berserker rage in the other man’s face. “I cannot let them reach the second defensive line. While they are stopped, we will take the initiative and gather our strength. We will let the Orks and Tyranids advance forward and distract Chaos, even if we must force them to engage one another. Ten standard hours from now, assuming they haven’t begun encroaching on the second line, we will attack. The Skrull will join us.”

“And if they move before then?”

“I cannot let them reach the second defensive line. If they move, we will launch the assault.”

“What’s so important about the second defensive line?” Ragnar asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“We Kree and Skrull do not often agree,” Ronan said, as his lips formed into a sly smile. “Together, however, we have found a way to escape our meaningless watch over God Doom’s world. When the time comes, make sure you are not among us.”