Tales of Past Times: The Scourgeby ElmozChaptersC1 - Hopeless EffortsC2 - My Little Ponies!C3 - Fleeing MemoriesC4 - The TruthC5 - Cold iceC1 - Hopeless EffortsIn the quiet evening of the great nation of Equestria, a young colt begs his father to tell him one last story before bed time. His father sighs, agreeing to it. Tucking his son in, he opens an old book. Starting from page one, he looks up to his eager son, seeing the beaming interest on his face. He quietly chuckles to himself before starting with the first words. It has been many years since he read this story, and still believes it to be rubbish, but his son would find no difference in his own beliefs. He remembers his father reading this to him when he was young, as if it was a family tradition. He wonders where this story can from, who wrote it? He one day asked his father that question, many times in fact. Yet, he would only recieve the same response, "Time was weaved into this book, my son. Time wrote it." The stallion shook his head, shaking the thought off. The young colt laying in his bed didn't seem to care either way, he just wanted the story to be told. The stallion coughed, clearing his throat. "Once upon a certain time, a old evil was released unto the land of Equestria and beyond." The young colt shifted with excitement, which got small chuckles from his father. "It was said that a creature from another world entered our own. First thought to be a monster, later became a hero amongst our ponies. Yet, what we thought was soon rewritten as he fell into corruption, eventually leading the entire country into a dark era. We trusted the creature, and we payed the price with our lives. Yet, it didn't end there. Using a magic so dark that nopony could even conceive, he forced their soul back into the body, forcing them to his will. We were caught off guard, nopony expected this from the hero we once praised." The stallion flipped the page. "Our leaders, the princesses left us to die. It was too sudden, unexpected of them. They swore to protect us with their lives, yet they left us with no leadership, no belief of winning. However, from their loss, the six rose to the throne, swearing to lead our ponies through this dark era, and to defeat the dark evil threatening to destroy our land. For once, we actually believed we could win this war, so we fought with all our might, until the end. Yet, the end wasn't what we thought. Wasn't what we wanted. What happened in the end was something we thought we could never forget, yet somehow we- "Left side! Watch your backs, they're coming on to us!" Cyan said firing various spells from his horn, many which blinded his vision, obviously too powerful to look at. "Damnit! I'm out!" He said, looking to his friend, the squad medic. "Cyan! Last pot, make it count!" The medic screamed, tossing him a vial of blue liquid, which Cyan caught with his magic. Flying projectiles flew over their heads in every direction, the sound of cannons, and artillery filling the cold winter air. Cyan sprinted a few feet ahead tossing himself down into a foxhole he made earlier that day. He forced himself against the dirt, cracking open the vial. He immediatly drank it's contents, feeling a new rush of energy pulse through his body. He grinned, laughing even among the thousands being slaughtered beside him. With a burst of energy he shot out of the hole, forming a force field around him. "Here comes the pain train, you undead meatbags!" He screamed, focusing all his energy into a single shot. His horn starting to glow, and the aura around him grew brighter then ever before. In between his charging he glanced over at his team, giving the signal. "That's the signal, let's move! Arc, Get us out of here!" Riptide said, charging her horn to throw various shots of blue energy outward to the enemy. The squad tactician slid behind a piece of metal, trying to find some cover, "Wait for Cyan to release the bomb! That's when we'll move!" "Too much power! I can't..." Cyan writhed with agony as his horn exploded, shattering into hundreds of pieces. The magic released into the air, exploding on Cyan's body. "Cyan! No!" Riptide screamed, rushing towards Cyan's body, visible from the plumes of arcane smoke around him. Tears starting forming in her eyes as she thought of the possible outcomes of the situation of this event. She thought she would have lost him, the only pony she ever loved. The future they could have had together, the times they could have spent together, forever lost. She ran harder, ignoring the sounds of her brother telling her not to. She ignored everything around her, even the dead charging at her from afar. She approached his body, stopping to see the results of the explosion. His horn was gone, just a stalk of it left sticking from his head. Several of the shards were impeded in his body, and he was losing a lot of blood. "No, no no no! I can't lose you now, not now!" She writhed in pain, her heart being crushed by the display before her. She forced her head into his chest, crying hard into him now. "Please! Just please, Light, for this once, don't let him die." She prayed, focusing magic into her horn. She charged all she had into a single spell, one that she developed in her own training of the magic arts. She closed her eyes, the stinging of her own tears pushed her beyond the limits she previously known as her own. With a shock, she shot the light into his chest. She waited, hoping for the best. She for once glanced around her, finally taking notice of the dead running straight to her. She closed her eyes, holding her love in her hooves. The world seemed to stop, as she opened her eyes once more. She immediatly held her head against his chest, listening for any signs of a spark of life within him. For an eternity she waited, even for the smallest sound of a heartbeat. Yet, it never came. She realized that he was lost, and there was nothing left she could do. This realization made her snap, letting her emotions free from the prison it was kept inside. The sounds of battle stopped, the screams, and the cries of the fallen stopped. The only thing audible was the cries of a desperate mare, sending several shots of light into her lovers chest. Cyan's team approached, Riptides brother forcing her off his former leaders body. "Enough, he's gone. There's nothing we can do, Riptide." She sniffed, "He can't be. He never dies, he just can't be gone." She whimpered, trying to force her tears back inside it's prison. The mass of dead retreated by an unknown force, for no apparent reason. But that didn't matter to the team, what mattered was that they were alive, at least some of them, for others were not so lucky. The emotional scene was interrupted by a foul wind sweeping through the air. Everyone opened their eyes, expect Riptide, who was busy crying her eyes out in her lovers corpse. "A touching love story isn't it?" A voice said from within the mist. Snaps' eyes widened, "Is that..?" A mad evil laugh filled the cold air, getting louder. From within the mist a figure, on two legs walked into view. With it, a sword glowed, its mere presence disgusting to the everypony around it. "Yet, all stories come to an end, don't they?" He asked, chuckling to himself. Riptide completely ignored his presence, lifting her head from her lovers body, "He's dead. He's actually dead." The dark figure laughed, "maybe I can fix that for you?" "It's him, it's actually him." Snap said, cowering in fear. "The Dark One." C2 - My Little Ponies!"It's actually him..." Snap said, cowering in fear. "The Dark One. The creature that started this war, the creature that created these monsters, he's the reason this whole war is in action." Arcs eyes widened, as he took a few steps back. "We have to get out here" he whispered. Yet as he turned around to run away his body froze, trapped in ice. The ice moved like a snake up his legs, trapping his entire upper body in cold hard ice. "You're not going anywhere, little pony." The creature said, grasping his fist. "Arc!" Snap yelled, trying to fire a shot at the ice to break it, but was immediately trapped in his own prison of ice. Everyone was trapped, all except Riptide, who was busy spacing out from her loss. This isn't good, at this rate she'll... Arc thought to himself. "Rip! Wake up, Rip!" Snap yelled, trying to get her attention. "Quiet you!" He said, bending his magic. The ice grew, and a spike of ice went straight through his jaw, forcing his mouth shut. He writhed in agony, which received various chuckles from The Dark One. "I've heard much about you four..." He started, "What you have done, was not kept in the dark. The accomplishments you made out on the battlefield did not go unheard." He plunged his sword into the ground, creating a force of energy that nearly shattered the ground. "Yet, though you may have succeeded in destroying everything I threw at you...You are still ponies. Nothing changes, your weaknesses still apply. You living creatures desire bonds so much, that you would be willing to sacrifice yourself for one another." The Dark One shook his head, "Such foolishness. Now I rewrite this code of sacrifice for you, so that you may give your body and soul to your true master." "We will never serve you!" Arc screamed, this time getting Riptides attention. The Dark One chuckled, "You? Who said anything about you. I speak only of him." He said, pointing at Cyans' body. "He holds a power unlike I've ever seen before. You know what I mean...Don't you?" He asked seriously, but not no response from Arc. Arc knew exactly what he was talking about. "What are you going to do?" Riptide finally said, regaining her senses. With a quick movement, he grabbed his sword. "First, I'm going to kill each of you in the most painful way possible for what you did to my armies. But first, I'm going to raise this pathetic fool, so that he may watch his friends die before his very eyes. Then I will-" "Shut up!" Riptide said, struggling to get up. "I won't let you touch him..." "Rip..." Arc said, staring in unbelief at his younger sister. The Dark One chuckled, "Still have a little fight left in you?" "I SAID SHUT UP!!" she screamed, sprinting at the unholy creature, charging her horn. "Like I said, nothing changes." He said, driving his sword with a quick motion deep inside her chest. She coughed up a good amount of blood, before passing out. "Pathetic..." He said, spitting on the body of the pony. "RIP! NOO!" Arc screamed, trying to struggle his way out of the spell. "Now to finish the job..." He said, raising his sword up, then down straight at her heart. What filled the air was the sound of flesh being ruptured. Rip opened her eyes, wondering if she was dead. Yet, what she was before her was something she never expected. "Oh...What's this?" The Dark One said, a little surprised. She didn't speak for several seconds, too shocked by the display before her. "P-Princess!!" Arc managed to get out. The air suddenly grew warm, and life starting to bloom around the area they were trapped. The ice melted almost instantly, releasing Snap and Arc from their prisons. Riptide was speechless, trying to gather some words to explain her thoughts. After several seconds she managed to ask, "M-Miss.." "I will not have you harming my little ponies, Isan. Quit hiding in that form, and go home. You are NOT welcome here." He chuckled, "So be it, but remember this...Next time we meet, there will be no second chances, Twilight." "We won't need any." With a snap, the figure was gone, the mist cleared and the scars of the battle was healed. "Such intense magic..." Arc whispered to himself. "Princess! Your wound!" Riptide said, worried about her master. "A-And my wound!" "What wound?" She said, looking at her shoulder, which was no longer torn apart. The same to Riptides chest, no longer punctured... Healed...By what? Arc thought. "Princess...I'm sorry." Riptide whimpered, starting to cry. She motioned to her lover who lied lifelessly on the ground. "I tried to...But it wouldn't work." "No matter." She said, trotting over to the body. "Watch and learn pupil. This can only be used twice. But be weary, every time you use it, it takes 20 years of your life." She said, starting to focus her magic in her horn. "But princes what about your life!" Riptide cried. "Worry not about me, for I have learned much in my life. Plus, I'm only 30. What do you think I am? 70?" She gaffed. "Well your certainly as wise as one..." Twilight chuckled, "Studying the arcane arts tend to make you sound wise. Now pay attention." Twilight charged an odd light into her horn, as bright as the sun, yet as white as...white. It glowed brightly, and it would beat like a heart. "Please Light, give me one final blessing. Send this soul back to where it came, back into this world. We need him more than anyone..." With those words she shot the light into his chest, and within seconds she heard his breathing moving at a steady rate. His injuries were gone, like they never existed, leaving the team confused how they even left. Riptide didn't care anymore, she was just glad that he was alive. She went on to hug him, and cuddle with him. Twilight stood up, trotting away. Snap stopped her, "Princess. Thank you so much for saving us...I don't want to think what could have happened if you didn't arrive. He could have-" "Don't worry friend, just relax. The battle is won." She said, with a very calming sense. Snap smiled, thankful for his leader. "When he becomes capable of walking once more, I expect you to report back to me in canterlot." She said, recieving a nod from Arc. She trotted a few more steps, opening a portal in front of her. "Oh and one more thing. If he asks what happened. Tell him nothing of my appearence. If he knows I gave him 20 years of my life, he wouldn't be so happy." Twilight chuckled. She turned her head, smiling. "Rip...Take care of my little colt for me, will you?" "Of course miss..." She said, grasping Cyan a little tighter. With that said, Twilight nodded in agreement, stepping through the portal. "Those four..." She said, while flying through the twisting vortex. "They are the only hope we have left." C3 - Fleeing Memories12 YEARS AGO June 13, 1265. Escargoat, 5 hour march from Pearis. Frost stared endlessly at the flaps of his tent being yanked around by the wind. He paused for a moment wondering to himself why he was doing that in the first place, clearly lost in thought he ignored the figure trotting in. Realizing his state of mind, he quickly pulled himself out of his trance to meet the pony in front of him. Before speaking, he saluted. "General. They have arrived and seek your company. Shall I escort you to them?" Upon hearing this news, he frowned. "Good to hear." He sighed, "I was wondering when they would show up. As for the escort, no thank you Cl. Beak." The colonel stays in full position waiting for his orders. "You are dismissed, Colonel." The large pegasus pony salutes one last time before heading out into the snow filled world. Frost sighs as he puts on his armor yet again. He hates the armor, but he has no choice. He must represent the army he worked so hard to forge. He quickly shrugs and winces at the memories of his past with this army, lest not the guilt overcome him again. Frost Eye has made quite a name for himself over the past 3 years. He remembers it all, every single battle he raged ever since the war began. He used to regret it, all the death, all the suffering, all the pain, but now he knows that these were the necessary ingredients to make a great army, and to finally bring peace, and unity. He shrugged off his worry, wondering off into the world beyond the flaps of his tent. The two guards stationary at the entrance of his tent, stood straight up, boldly saluting. Frost wandered through the camp, passing his tens of thousands of soliders. They saluted, but said nothing. Instead they all just stared, some hiding behind others. He was feared, but he was loved. He was the army, as were they. After several minutes of trotting through the camp, the high ranking officer approached a much larger tent, previous to his own. He entered without a moments notice, gathering the small chitter chatters to a complete stop. Without a glance at the 6 ponies sitting at the table, he boarded the small platform in the back. He cleared his throat, "Let's make this quick. I have a war to win." "As do we, General." A lavender unicorn, sitting in the middle of the six said. "Yes I suppose you do, Ms. Sparkle." Frost said while shooting her a smile, which she nodded to. "Princess. Princess Sparkle." She stated. Frost completely ignored her, not caring for any kind of royal nonsense. He floated the paperwork in front of his face, and began to read. "Hello. My name is Frost Eye, General of the Civil Equestrian Army. I have gathered you here today to come to an agreement between us, and the Royal Army. I understa-" -Twilight interrupts him- "Save it, Frost. Where's the paper. Every minute we waste, more ponies die." "Whatever you say, Ms. Sparkle." He said, grunting. "That's Princess Sparkle. I am the Princess of this country, and I will respected as so." Very annoying, Frost thought. "As I said, Ms. Sparkle." Frost said, smiling, avoiding contact. "How dare yo-" - "Alright, Twilight. There's no need for dis kind'a behavior. Jst' let'em be." The orange coated, yet heavily armored mare said. "With this document, it will officially state that we will join forces for at least until we take Pearis. Do you understand what this means? You will be under my command. I have the majority of the forces, ammunition, and supplies. I have you agree to this?" Frost said. Twilight shot him a glare, slowly looking at the other mares in the tent. They each nodded, which Twilight gave the final nod. "Great, now please sign here." Frost levitated the documents to Twilight. He could clearly see that the pony in white clothes, with a pink mane was disturbed. "Is something wrong, Ms. Fluttershy?" She nodded, "How can you do that? You aren't even a unicorn?" Twilight giggled. "Because he's a monster, Fluttershy." She shot him a glare that pierced him like daggers. "He is no pony. He is not Equestrian." Fluttershy looked confused, "Why?" she asked. Frost decided to answer instead of allowing Twilight to send more insults at him. "Twilight, you speak such awful words to your founding fathers. If it were not for us, the war with Discord would have never been won, and your precious princess," Twilight cringed with anger at the mentioning of her formally active mentor, "would have never been able to establish this country." He sighed, switching his attention to Fluttershy. "As for you, that is classified information, only obtainable by someone I can trust. No offence of course." Frost sighed again before taking up the paperwork. "Enough talk. We have a war to win." --=+=-- --===-- "Is something the matter, Twilight?" A voice said from behind the royal figure. She groaned, "Past memories are surfacing again." Twilight turned and faced the figure, revealing it to be Applejack. "We need him." "I know Twi, but it's been months...No years since we have heard from him. For all we know he could be..." She said, trailing off at the end. Twilight turned back around, trotting over to her window in her royal palace. She looked upon the nation of Equestria, and all its glory. She looked to the right and saw all the beautiful success she has created the past few years since her mentors disappearance. Yet, she loathed to look to the left. She did, seeing all the vast destruction just beyond the city gates. Black scars covered the land from the tide of death that descended upon them. "I know, but I still believe." C4 - The Truth..."Next time, there will be no second chances..." Twilight cringed, shoving the memory deep into the back of her mind. She sighed, continuing down the hallway. It was dark, not just outside, but the lighting inside were oddly dim as well. She saw a faint light in the distance, knowing it was the meeting hall. She approached the door, taking a few deep breaths. With a small sense of confidence she swung open the doors, putting her 'princess face' on, just what she was expected to do. Inside sat four ponies, two of them being elements. Twilight eyed the first, closest to her seat. Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, head of the medical department. She seems to be the only one not changed by the war. Well, at least she gave up her fear of death... Twilight then moved to the next pony, Rainbow Dash. Rainbow has grown so much since the start of the war. She is a hero among our ponies, but equally feared as a murderer. I guess you get named that when you control an army. She has...No, we have done unthinkable things to win this war, all for the price of what? Even so, she will never be the same hyper, sweet, energetic Rainbow Dash I once knew.A knot formed in her stomach, as she knew things would never be the same. At least she wasn't the worse changed by it. Twilight looked around to the other three seats occupied with other ponies. She immediately recognized them as her main force of righteousness. The first, to the far right is General Beak, previously serving under Commander Frost, but due to his disappearance, now he controls the army. Twilight then looked at the pony in the middle. She wore dark robes, and a hood that completely covered her face. The only thing visible was her eyes. Those cyan eyes. I forget her name, but I suppose asking wouldn't make much of a difference either... The last chair was unoccupied for some reason. Twilight wondered why the last wasn't here, or here yet, but she quickly shrugged it off. Taking a seat, she cleared her throat. "So then, let's get started shall we?" She asked, receiving nods from everypony. "First order of business, Hoofington is lost. I'm sure we all know what happened?" Twilight said, looking around at the few. Rainbow nodded, "An attack completely unexpected from the scourge. We are used to their attacks being up front and direct...However, this was not like the others. Instead of being attacked from the outside," Rainbow forced her hoof against her face to relieve some of the stress, "we were obliterated from the inside out." The hooded pony looked over at Rainbow, "What do you mean? Did someone betray us?" Rainbow sighed, "No, nopony betrayed us thankfully, but now we have to be much more careful on what we do. More careful of what we drink." Rainbow looked at her glass of water, denying the urge to drink due to thirst. "What a minute...Are you saying they somehow got the plague in the cities water system?" The hooded pony asked, surprised of the new methods of the enemy. "It seems that way. Though this is highly unlike the scourge to do something so...smart. We cannot forget their leader. Isan is extremely powerful, and not even I know what he is capable of." Twilight said. Beak nodded, "Griffon learned that the hard way." "I agree." Rainbow Dash said, "But they were weak, and let their guard down too soon. To be honest, they had it coming." A silence filled the room after Rainbow's remark. "Fluttershy, what do you say on this?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy never looked up from her trance, seemingly dead. "Okay then, continuing on..." --=-- --=-- After the meeting was over, everyone left. Rainbow went off with Beak, and the hooded pony disappeared without a trace. Twilight was about to leave but a certain yellow mare stopped her. "Twilight..?" She's worried about something.. "Yes Fluttershy?" Fluttershy came a little closer. "Twilight, as a friend, I want to know the truth. I know what you told the others about Isan was a lie." Twilight squinted her eyes, "Your point?" "I want you to tell me. Tell me what happened to the man we once knew as a hero." Twilight closed her eyes, "I can't..." "Tell me!" Fluttershy said, much louder than her usual tone. Twilight was a little surprised by this. "Fine. I'll tell you...But promise me something." Fluttershy perked up, "Anything." Twilight turned around, looking Fluttershy straight in the eye. "You must never Pinkie Pie of this." Pinkie Pie...? Fluttershy thought. "I promise. Pinkie promise." She said, getting a small chuckle from Twilight. "It's glad to see that not everything is forgotten." Twilight smiled. Twilight sighed, her smile fading into one of sadness. "Well Fluttershy, here is the truth. Isan wasn't always like this you know. Well of course you know, I mean you're the first to meet him. But, he wasn't always like...This. And it's..." Twilight sniffed, her sadness quickly resorting to rage. "And it's all his fault! If it weren't for Discord then none of this would have ever happened!" Fluttershy lifted her hoof in an attempt to confort her friend, but was quickly swapped away. "Twilight..." "Forgive me Fluttershy..." Twilight said. She sighed again, "Discord was never gone. That...Thing we imprisoned was only a shadow of his former self. I don't know how and I don't know when, but Discord got to him. By the time I had heard of his sickness, and the magic corrupting his body, I sent a potion that would eradicate the evil...But I failed." "I don't know how he did it, but Discord...Or should I say The Lich King expected it, and countered the potion. Isan was confused, angered by the burning sensation the altered potion gave him. He was easy prey for the Lich King. Once he heard I created the potion, he sent out to kill me, and he almost did. Driven mad by the whispers of darkness, he left Ponyville." A silence filled the room. "That's not everything is it Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Before he left he said he was leaving to protect everyone. To protect her." She said. "Her?" "Pinkie Pie. Now I hope you understand why you can't tell her." "Well then maybe there is still a chance to-" "There is nothing we can do Fluttershy. Isan is gone, only that monster remains." Twilight stated firmly. Fluttershy nodded, "I understand...This is so much to take in, but thank you for telling the truth Twilight." "Of course. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to lie down. Good night, Fluttershy." "Oh um...Good night Twilight." Fluttershy said, turning the other way, heading down the hall. --=-- Twilight reached her room and flopped down on her bed. From the corner of her eye, she looked out to the moon. Memories flooded her head of his presence, but she quickly shoved them away. "He's never coming back Twilight. Just forget about it..." Yet, the longer she looked out at the midnight sky, the greater the desire, the lust to see him again grew. A single tear fell from her eye, making its landing in the soft bed sheets. "Oh Frost...If only you were here, then this war could finally be over." C5 - Cold ice"Say Wither, do you know how cold it is outside?" A blurred voice said through the bombardment of snow filtering the lands of Northern Equestria. "I must say I have not the ability to tell, my friend!" Another voice called, slightly lighter than before, obviously belonging to something of another gender. The previous voice sighed in disappoint. The presumed female chuckled, "Sorry Commander, but if I knew such things, you would be the first to know. This I promise!" "Yeah, yeah..." The two continued babbling on in useless conversations while the blizzard threatened to tear their very soul apart. Each and every step was hard for them, the cold, crisp, yet heavy ice trapping them in their movements. The 'Commander' had just about enough of it. "Curse this damn body! If I was back in my own form, I would have half the trouble! Besides, I'm getting too old for this..." "But sir, you must remember why we are doing this, am I correct?" She asked. "Are you? Tell me, why are we moving at such a pace, besides the life threatening conditions." He asked rather hastily. The mare sighed, "Besides the latter, we just returned from Griffon, found to be completely destroyed by the scourge. Much to our luck, Canterlot lies just behind this mountain up ahead. On another note, you are not old, in fact, you do remember you age slower then any of us?" She could have sworn she saw an exclamation mark appear above his head in a bright flash, "Yes! You are correct. Oh dear, I hope she has not done anything to hurt herself yet. She is quite insecure under pressure..." Wither shook her head, rubbing her eyes. She silently agreed, though still trying to process what she could have seen. "Please now, Wither. Will you quit spacing out! We have much to do, besides, it looks like the blizzard is gone!" He said, rather excited. Wither looked around, taking noticed effect that in fact the blizzard was no longer combating them. It just went away. How the bollocks? She thought. "No time for fretting, my dear. Grab hold to me, I'll make this trip a little quicker. Besides, I'm sure your kind doesn't particularly like the snow, seeing your type." "You know me all to well, Commander." She laughed, grabbing hold of him. "Exactly, why I chose you, my dear!" With those spoken words, they were gone. Shortly after their departure, the blizzard covered up the hole, and everything went back to the way it was. AN Short Chapter. Yes, very short. However, this just means that I'm back! :DD
C1 - Hopeless EffortsIn the quiet evening of the great nation of Equestria, a young colt begs his father to tell him one last story before bed time. His father sighs, agreeing to it. Tucking his son in, he opens an old book. Starting from page one, he looks up to his eager son, seeing the beaming interest on his face. He quietly chuckles to himself before starting with the first words. It has been many years since he read this story, and still believes it to be rubbish, but his son would find no difference in his own beliefs. He remembers his father reading this to him when he was young, as if it was a family tradition. He wonders where this story can from, who wrote it? He one day asked his father that question, many times in fact. Yet, he would only recieve the same response, "Time was weaved into this book, my son. Time wrote it." The stallion shook his head, shaking the thought off. The young colt laying in his bed didn't seem to care either way, he just wanted the story to be told. The stallion coughed, clearing his throat. "Once upon a certain time, a old evil was released unto the land of Equestria and beyond." The young colt shifted with excitement, which got small chuckles from his father. "It was said that a creature from another world entered our own. First thought to be a monster, later became a hero amongst our ponies. Yet, what we thought was soon rewritten as he fell into corruption, eventually leading the entire country into a dark era. We trusted the creature, and we payed the price with our lives. Yet, it didn't end there. Using a magic so dark that nopony could even conceive, he forced their soul back into the body, forcing them to his will. We were caught off guard, nopony expected this from the hero we once praised." The stallion flipped the page. "Our leaders, the princesses left us to die. It was too sudden, unexpected of them. They swore to protect us with their lives, yet they left us with no leadership, no belief of winning. However, from their loss, the six rose to the throne, swearing to lead our ponies through this dark era, and to defeat the dark evil threatening to destroy our land. For once, we actually believed we could win this war, so we fought with all our might, until the end. Yet, the end wasn't what we thought. Wasn't what we wanted. What happened in the end was something we thought we could never forget, yet somehow we- "Left side! Watch your backs, they're coming on to us!" Cyan said firing various spells from his horn, many which blinded his vision, obviously too powerful to look at. "Damnit! I'm out!" He said, looking to his friend, the squad medic. "Cyan! Last pot, make it count!" The medic screamed, tossing him a vial of blue liquid, which Cyan caught with his magic. Flying projectiles flew over their heads in every direction, the sound of cannons, and artillery filling the cold winter air. Cyan sprinted a few feet ahead tossing himself down into a foxhole he made earlier that day. He forced himself against the dirt, cracking open the vial. He immediatly drank it's contents, feeling a new rush of energy pulse through his body. He grinned, laughing even among the thousands being slaughtered beside him. With a burst of energy he shot out of the hole, forming a force field around him. "Here comes the pain train, you undead meatbags!" He screamed, focusing all his energy into a single shot. His horn starting to glow, and the aura around him grew brighter then ever before. In between his charging he glanced over at his team, giving the signal. "That's the signal, let's move! Arc, Get us out of here!" Riptide said, charging her horn to throw various shots of blue energy outward to the enemy. The squad tactician slid behind a piece of metal, trying to find some cover, "Wait for Cyan to release the bomb! That's when we'll move!" "Too much power! I can't..." Cyan writhed with agony as his horn exploded, shattering into hundreds of pieces. The magic released into the air, exploding on Cyan's body. "Cyan! No!" Riptide screamed, rushing towards Cyan's body, visible from the plumes of arcane smoke around him. Tears starting forming in her eyes as she thought of the possible outcomes of the situation of this event. She thought she would have lost him, the only pony she ever loved. The future they could have had together, the times they could have spent together, forever lost. She ran harder, ignoring the sounds of her brother telling her not to. She ignored everything around her, even the dead charging at her from afar. She approached his body, stopping to see the results of the explosion. His horn was gone, just a stalk of it left sticking from his head. Several of the shards were impeded in his body, and he was losing a lot of blood. "No, no no no! I can't lose you now, not now!" She writhed in pain, her heart being crushed by the display before her. She forced her head into his chest, crying hard into him now. "Please! Just please, Light, for this once, don't let him die." She prayed, focusing magic into her horn. She charged all she had into a single spell, one that she developed in her own training of the magic arts. She closed her eyes, the stinging of her own tears pushed her beyond the limits she previously known as her own. With a shock, she shot the light into his chest. She waited, hoping for the best. She for once glanced around her, finally taking notice of the dead running straight to her. She closed her eyes, holding her love in her hooves. The world seemed to stop, as she opened her eyes once more. She immediatly held her head against his chest, listening for any signs of a spark of life within him. For an eternity she waited, even for the smallest sound of a heartbeat. Yet, it never came. She realized that he was lost, and there was nothing left she could do. This realization made her snap, letting her emotions free from the prison it was kept inside. The sounds of battle stopped, the screams, and the cries of the fallen stopped. The only thing audible was the cries of a desperate mare, sending several shots of light into her lovers chest. Cyan's team approached, Riptides brother forcing her off his former leaders body. "Enough, he's gone. There's nothing we can do, Riptide." She sniffed, "He can't be. He never dies, he just can't be gone." She whimpered, trying to force her tears back inside it's prison. The mass of dead retreated by an unknown force, for no apparent reason. But that didn't matter to the team, what mattered was that they were alive, at least some of them, for others were not so lucky. The emotional scene was interrupted by a foul wind sweeping through the air. Everyone opened their eyes, expect Riptide, who was busy crying her eyes out in her lovers corpse. "A touching love story isn't it?" A voice said from within the mist. Snaps' eyes widened, "Is that..?" A mad evil laugh filled the cold air, getting louder. From within the mist a figure, on two legs walked into view. With it, a sword glowed, its mere presence disgusting to the everypony around it. "Yet, all stories come to an end, don't they?" He asked, chuckling to himself. Riptide completely ignored his presence, lifting her head from her lovers body, "He's dead. He's actually dead." The dark figure laughed, "maybe I can fix that for you?" "It's him, it's actually him." Snap said, cowering in fear. "The Dark One."
C2 - My Little Ponies!"It's actually him..." Snap said, cowering in fear. "The Dark One. The creature that started this war, the creature that created these monsters, he's the reason this whole war is in action." Arcs eyes widened, as he took a few steps back. "We have to get out here" he whispered. Yet as he turned around to run away his body froze, trapped in ice. The ice moved like a snake up his legs, trapping his entire upper body in cold hard ice. "You're not going anywhere, little pony." The creature said, grasping his fist. "Arc!" Snap yelled, trying to fire a shot at the ice to break it, but was immediately trapped in his own prison of ice. Everyone was trapped, all except Riptide, who was busy spacing out from her loss. This isn't good, at this rate she'll... Arc thought to himself. "Rip! Wake up, Rip!" Snap yelled, trying to get her attention. "Quiet you!" He said, bending his magic. The ice grew, and a spike of ice went straight through his jaw, forcing his mouth shut. He writhed in agony, which received various chuckles from The Dark One. "I've heard much about you four..." He started, "What you have done, was not kept in the dark. The accomplishments you made out on the battlefield did not go unheard." He plunged his sword into the ground, creating a force of energy that nearly shattered the ground. "Yet, though you may have succeeded in destroying everything I threw at you...You are still ponies. Nothing changes, your weaknesses still apply. You living creatures desire bonds so much, that you would be willing to sacrifice yourself for one another." The Dark One shook his head, "Such foolishness. Now I rewrite this code of sacrifice for you, so that you may give your body and soul to your true master." "We will never serve you!" Arc screamed, this time getting Riptides attention. The Dark One chuckled, "You? Who said anything about you. I speak only of him." He said, pointing at Cyans' body. "He holds a power unlike I've ever seen before. You know what I mean...Don't you?" He asked seriously, but not no response from Arc. Arc knew exactly what he was talking about. "What are you going to do?" Riptide finally said, regaining her senses. With a quick movement, he grabbed his sword. "First, I'm going to kill each of you in the most painful way possible for what you did to my armies. But first, I'm going to raise this pathetic fool, so that he may watch his friends die before his very eyes. Then I will-" "Shut up!" Riptide said, struggling to get up. "I won't let you touch him..." "Rip..." Arc said, staring in unbelief at his younger sister. The Dark One chuckled, "Still have a little fight left in you?" "I SAID SHUT UP!!" she screamed, sprinting at the unholy creature, charging her horn. "Like I said, nothing changes." He said, driving his sword with a quick motion deep inside her chest. She coughed up a good amount of blood, before passing out. "Pathetic..." He said, spitting on the body of the pony. "RIP! NOO!" Arc screamed, trying to struggle his way out of the spell. "Now to finish the job..." He said, raising his sword up, then down straight at her heart. What filled the air was the sound of flesh being ruptured. Rip opened her eyes, wondering if she was dead. Yet, what she was before her was something she never expected. "Oh...What's this?" The Dark One said, a little surprised. She didn't speak for several seconds, too shocked by the display before her. "P-Princess!!" Arc managed to get out. The air suddenly grew warm, and life starting to bloom around the area they were trapped. The ice melted almost instantly, releasing Snap and Arc from their prisons. Riptide was speechless, trying to gather some words to explain her thoughts. After several seconds she managed to ask, "M-Miss.." "I will not have you harming my little ponies, Isan. Quit hiding in that form, and go home. You are NOT welcome here." He chuckled, "So be it, but remember this...Next time we meet, there will be no second chances, Twilight." "We won't need any." With a snap, the figure was gone, the mist cleared and the scars of the battle was healed. "Such intense magic..." Arc whispered to himself. "Princess! Your wound!" Riptide said, worried about her master. "A-And my wound!" "What wound?" She said, looking at her shoulder, which was no longer torn apart. The same to Riptides chest, no longer punctured... Healed...By what? Arc thought. "Princess...I'm sorry." Riptide whimpered, starting to cry. She motioned to her lover who lied lifelessly on the ground. "I tried to...But it wouldn't work." "No matter." She said, trotting over to the body. "Watch and learn pupil. This can only be used twice. But be weary, every time you use it, it takes 20 years of your life." She said, starting to focus her magic in her horn. "But princes what about your life!" Riptide cried. "Worry not about me, for I have learned much in my life. Plus, I'm only 30. What do you think I am? 70?" She gaffed. "Well your certainly as wise as one..." Twilight chuckled, "Studying the arcane arts tend to make you sound wise. Now pay attention." Twilight charged an odd light into her horn, as bright as the sun, yet as white as...white. It glowed brightly, and it would beat like a heart. "Please Light, give me one final blessing. Send this soul back to where it came, back into this world. We need him more than anyone..." With those words she shot the light into his chest, and within seconds she heard his breathing moving at a steady rate. His injuries were gone, like they never existed, leaving the team confused how they even left. Riptide didn't care anymore, she was just glad that he was alive. She went on to hug him, and cuddle with him. Twilight stood up, trotting away. Snap stopped her, "Princess. Thank you so much for saving us...I don't want to think what could have happened if you didn't arrive. He could have-" "Don't worry friend, just relax. The battle is won." She said, with a very calming sense. Snap smiled, thankful for his leader. "When he becomes capable of walking once more, I expect you to report back to me in canterlot." She said, recieving a nod from Arc. She trotted a few more steps, opening a portal in front of her. "Oh and one more thing. If he asks what happened. Tell him nothing of my appearence. If he knows I gave him 20 years of my life, he wouldn't be so happy." Twilight chuckled. She turned her head, smiling. "Rip...Take care of my little colt for me, will you?" "Of course miss..." She said, grasping Cyan a little tighter. With that said, Twilight nodded in agreement, stepping through the portal. "Those four..." She said, while flying through the twisting vortex. "They are the only hope we have left."
C3 - Fleeing Memories12 YEARS AGO June 13, 1265. Escargoat, 5 hour march from Pearis. Frost stared endlessly at the flaps of his tent being yanked around by the wind. He paused for a moment wondering to himself why he was doing that in the first place, clearly lost in thought he ignored the figure trotting in. Realizing his state of mind, he quickly pulled himself out of his trance to meet the pony in front of him. Before speaking, he saluted. "General. They have arrived and seek your company. Shall I escort you to them?" Upon hearing this news, he frowned. "Good to hear." He sighed, "I was wondering when they would show up. As for the escort, no thank you Cl. Beak." The colonel stays in full position waiting for his orders. "You are dismissed, Colonel." The large pegasus pony salutes one last time before heading out into the snow filled world. Frost sighs as he puts on his armor yet again. He hates the armor, but he has no choice. He must represent the army he worked so hard to forge. He quickly shrugs and winces at the memories of his past with this army, lest not the guilt overcome him again. Frost Eye has made quite a name for himself over the past 3 years. He remembers it all, every single battle he raged ever since the war began. He used to regret it, all the death, all the suffering, all the pain, but now he knows that these were the necessary ingredients to make a great army, and to finally bring peace, and unity. He shrugged off his worry, wondering off into the world beyond the flaps of his tent. The two guards stationary at the entrance of his tent, stood straight up, boldly saluting. Frost wandered through the camp, passing his tens of thousands of soliders. They saluted, but said nothing. Instead they all just stared, some hiding behind others. He was feared, but he was loved. He was the army, as were they. After several minutes of trotting through the camp, the high ranking officer approached a much larger tent, previous to his own. He entered without a moments notice, gathering the small chitter chatters to a complete stop. Without a glance at the 6 ponies sitting at the table, he boarded the small platform in the back. He cleared his throat, "Let's make this quick. I have a war to win." "As do we, General." A lavender unicorn, sitting in the middle of the six said. "Yes I suppose you do, Ms. Sparkle." Frost said while shooting her a smile, which she nodded to. "Princess. Princess Sparkle." She stated. Frost completely ignored her, not caring for any kind of royal nonsense. He floated the paperwork in front of his face, and began to read. "Hello. My name is Frost Eye, General of the Civil Equestrian Army. I have gathered you here today to come to an agreement between us, and the Royal Army. I understa-" -Twilight interrupts him- "Save it, Frost. Where's the paper. Every minute we waste, more ponies die." "Whatever you say, Ms. Sparkle." He said, grunting. "That's Princess Sparkle. I am the Princess of this country, and I will respected as so." Very annoying, Frost thought. "As I said, Ms. Sparkle." Frost said, smiling, avoiding contact. "How dare yo-" - "Alright, Twilight. There's no need for dis kind'a behavior. Jst' let'em be." The orange coated, yet heavily armored mare said. "With this document, it will officially state that we will join forces for at least until we take Pearis. Do you understand what this means? You will be under my command. I have the majority of the forces, ammunition, and supplies. I have you agree to this?" Frost said. Twilight shot him a glare, slowly looking at the other mares in the tent. They each nodded, which Twilight gave the final nod. "Great, now please sign here." Frost levitated the documents to Twilight. He could clearly see that the pony in white clothes, with a pink mane was disturbed. "Is something wrong, Ms. Fluttershy?" She nodded, "How can you do that? You aren't even a unicorn?" Twilight giggled. "Because he's a monster, Fluttershy." She shot him a glare that pierced him like daggers. "He is no pony. He is not Equestrian." Fluttershy looked confused, "Why?" she asked. Frost decided to answer instead of allowing Twilight to send more insults at him. "Twilight, you speak such awful words to your founding fathers. If it were not for us, the war with Discord would have never been won, and your precious princess," Twilight cringed with anger at the mentioning of her formally active mentor, "would have never been able to establish this country." He sighed, switching his attention to Fluttershy. "As for you, that is classified information, only obtainable by someone I can trust. No offence of course." Frost sighed again before taking up the paperwork. "Enough talk. We have a war to win." --=+=-- --===-- "Is something the matter, Twilight?" A voice said from behind the royal figure. She groaned, "Past memories are surfacing again." Twilight turned and faced the figure, revealing it to be Applejack. "We need him." "I know Twi, but it's been months...No years since we have heard from him. For all we know he could be..." She said, trailing off at the end. Twilight turned back around, trotting over to her window in her royal palace. She looked upon the nation of Equestria, and all its glory. She looked to the right and saw all the beautiful success she has created the past few years since her mentors disappearance. Yet, she loathed to look to the left. She did, seeing all the vast destruction just beyond the city gates. Black scars covered the land from the tide of death that descended upon them. "I know, but I still believe."
C4 - The Truth..."Next time, there will be no second chances..." Twilight cringed, shoving the memory deep into the back of her mind. She sighed, continuing down the hallway. It was dark, not just outside, but the lighting inside were oddly dim as well. She saw a faint light in the distance, knowing it was the meeting hall. She approached the door, taking a few deep breaths. With a small sense of confidence she swung open the doors, putting her 'princess face' on, just what she was expected to do. Inside sat four ponies, two of them being elements. Twilight eyed the first, closest to her seat. Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, head of the medical department. She seems to be the only one not changed by the war. Well, at least she gave up her fear of death... Twilight then moved to the next pony, Rainbow Dash. Rainbow has grown so much since the start of the war. She is a hero among our ponies, but equally feared as a murderer. I guess you get named that when you control an army. She has...No, we have done unthinkable things to win this war, all for the price of what? Even so, she will never be the same hyper, sweet, energetic Rainbow Dash I once knew.A knot formed in her stomach, as she knew things would never be the same. At least she wasn't the worse changed by it. Twilight looked around to the other three seats occupied with other ponies. She immediately recognized them as her main force of righteousness. The first, to the far right is General Beak, previously serving under Commander Frost, but due to his disappearance, now he controls the army. Twilight then looked at the pony in the middle. She wore dark robes, and a hood that completely covered her face. The only thing visible was her eyes. Those cyan eyes. I forget her name, but I suppose asking wouldn't make much of a difference either... The last chair was unoccupied for some reason. Twilight wondered why the last wasn't here, or here yet, but she quickly shrugged it off. Taking a seat, she cleared her throat. "So then, let's get started shall we?" She asked, receiving nods from everypony. "First order of business, Hoofington is lost. I'm sure we all know what happened?" Twilight said, looking around at the few. Rainbow nodded, "An attack completely unexpected from the scourge. We are used to their attacks being up front and direct...However, this was not like the others. Instead of being attacked from the outside," Rainbow forced her hoof against her face to relieve some of the stress, "we were obliterated from the inside out." The hooded pony looked over at Rainbow, "What do you mean? Did someone betray us?" Rainbow sighed, "No, nopony betrayed us thankfully, but now we have to be much more careful on what we do. More careful of what we drink." Rainbow looked at her glass of water, denying the urge to drink due to thirst. "What a minute...Are you saying they somehow got the plague in the cities water system?" The hooded pony asked, surprised of the new methods of the enemy. "It seems that way. Though this is highly unlike the scourge to do something so...smart. We cannot forget their leader. Isan is extremely powerful, and not even I know what he is capable of." Twilight said. Beak nodded, "Griffon learned that the hard way." "I agree." Rainbow Dash said, "But they were weak, and let their guard down too soon. To be honest, they had it coming." A silence filled the room after Rainbow's remark. "Fluttershy, what do you say on this?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy never looked up from her trance, seemingly dead. "Okay then, continuing on..." --=-- --=-- After the meeting was over, everyone left. Rainbow went off with Beak, and the hooded pony disappeared without a trace. Twilight was about to leave but a certain yellow mare stopped her. "Twilight..?" She's worried about something.. "Yes Fluttershy?" Fluttershy came a little closer. "Twilight, as a friend, I want to know the truth. I know what you told the others about Isan was a lie." Twilight squinted her eyes, "Your point?" "I want you to tell me. Tell me what happened to the man we once knew as a hero." Twilight closed her eyes, "I can't..." "Tell me!" Fluttershy said, much louder than her usual tone. Twilight was a little surprised by this. "Fine. I'll tell you...But promise me something." Fluttershy perked up, "Anything." Twilight turned around, looking Fluttershy straight in the eye. "You must never Pinkie Pie of this." Pinkie Pie...? Fluttershy thought. "I promise. Pinkie promise." She said, getting a small chuckle from Twilight. "It's glad to see that not everything is forgotten." Twilight smiled. Twilight sighed, her smile fading into one of sadness. "Well Fluttershy, here is the truth. Isan wasn't always like this you know. Well of course you know, I mean you're the first to meet him. But, he wasn't always like...This. And it's..." Twilight sniffed, her sadness quickly resorting to rage. "And it's all his fault! If it weren't for Discord then none of this would have ever happened!" Fluttershy lifted her hoof in an attempt to confort her friend, but was quickly swapped away. "Twilight..." "Forgive me Fluttershy..." Twilight said. She sighed again, "Discord was never gone. That...Thing we imprisoned was only a shadow of his former self. I don't know how and I don't know when, but Discord got to him. By the time I had heard of his sickness, and the magic corrupting his body, I sent a potion that would eradicate the evil...But I failed." "I don't know how he did it, but Discord...Or should I say The Lich King expected it, and countered the potion. Isan was confused, angered by the burning sensation the altered potion gave him. He was easy prey for the Lich King. Once he heard I created the potion, he sent out to kill me, and he almost did. Driven mad by the whispers of darkness, he left Ponyville." A silence filled the room. "That's not everything is it Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Before he left he said he was leaving to protect everyone. To protect her." She said. "Her?" "Pinkie Pie. Now I hope you understand why you can't tell her." "Well then maybe there is still a chance to-" "There is nothing we can do Fluttershy. Isan is gone, only that monster remains." Twilight stated firmly. Fluttershy nodded, "I understand...This is so much to take in, but thank you for telling the truth Twilight." "Of course. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to lie down. Good night, Fluttershy." "Oh um...Good night Twilight." Fluttershy said, turning the other way, heading down the hall. --=-- Twilight reached her room and flopped down on her bed. From the corner of her eye, she looked out to the moon. Memories flooded her head of his presence, but she quickly shoved them away. "He's never coming back Twilight. Just forget about it..." Yet, the longer she looked out at the midnight sky, the greater the desire, the lust to see him again grew. A single tear fell from her eye, making its landing in the soft bed sheets. "Oh Frost...If only you were here, then this war could finally be over."
C5 - Cold ice"Say Wither, do you know how cold it is outside?" A blurred voice said through the bombardment of snow filtering the lands of Northern Equestria. "I must say I have not the ability to tell, my friend!" Another voice called, slightly lighter than before, obviously belonging to something of another gender. The previous voice sighed in disappoint. The presumed female chuckled, "Sorry Commander, but if I knew such things, you would be the first to know. This I promise!" "Yeah, yeah..." The two continued babbling on in useless conversations while the blizzard threatened to tear their very soul apart. Each and every step was hard for them, the cold, crisp, yet heavy ice trapping them in their movements. The 'Commander' had just about enough of it. "Curse this damn body! If I was back in my own form, I would have half the trouble! Besides, I'm getting too old for this..." "But sir, you must remember why we are doing this, am I correct?" She asked. "Are you? Tell me, why are we moving at such a pace, besides the life threatening conditions." He asked rather hastily. The mare sighed, "Besides the latter, we just returned from Griffon, found to be completely destroyed by the scourge. Much to our luck, Canterlot lies just behind this mountain up ahead. On another note, you are not old, in fact, you do remember you age slower then any of us?" She could have sworn she saw an exclamation mark appear above his head in a bright flash, "Yes! You are correct. Oh dear, I hope she has not done anything to hurt herself yet. She is quite insecure under pressure..." Wither shook her head, rubbing her eyes. She silently agreed, though still trying to process what she could have seen. "Please now, Wither. Will you quit spacing out! We have much to do, besides, it looks like the blizzard is gone!" He said, rather excited. Wither looked around, taking noticed effect that in fact the blizzard was no longer combating them. It just went away. How the bollocks? She thought. "No time for fretting, my dear. Grab hold to me, I'll make this trip a little quicker. Besides, I'm sure your kind doesn't particularly like the snow, seeing your type." "You know me all to well, Commander." She laughed, grabbing hold of him. "Exactly, why I chose you, my dear!" With those spoken words, they were gone. Shortly after their departure, the blizzard covered up the hole, and everything went back to the way it was. AN Short Chapter. Yes, very short. However, this just means that I'm back! :DD
