The Lost Worlds

Chapter 2: Hatred

"Hatred is a thing that never forgets and never forgives. Its very existence poisons the mind, making the victim and the victims enter a never ending cycle of pain and evil. Sometimes, even one small act of hatred can even change the world."

~Star Swirl the Bearded, On Black Magic

Luna and Celestia sat on their thrones, awaiting the arrival of the Serpony royals.

Luna was a bit curious. She was eager to see this new heir to the Serpent Throne. Her mind was swimming with thoughts on the filly, on how she would grow, and how she would carry on Featherfang’s legacy. Celestia was more concerned about the filly herself. She was trembling in thought as she realized that the filly had probably inherited all of Featherfang’s powers and abilities. Mixed with Unicorn blood, that filly had more magical power in her blood than either of her parents ever did. Although Celestia was happy for Lyra and Featherfang, she could not shake the feeling of fear, a fear of the future and what it has in store.

Also attending were two representatives from Applekoto and Lunardom respectively. Representing Applekoto was Applejack’s second-in-command, Vinyl Scratch. During the year of peace she became a different type of Hoshidan samurai known as a Master of Arms and has led many successful battles against the barbarous Chimerae Raiders that raided the coastal villages along the South Luna Ocean.

Representing Lunardom was a Nohrian-style earth pony General named Iron Sides, famous for curb-stomping the Griffon army during the Battle of Baltimare. This battle caused Baltimare to favor Lunardites and scorn Equestrian forces, for the Equestrian army failed where the Lunardom forces did not.

The two representatives glared at each other, daring the other to draw their weapon.

Soon, a commander of the palace guard galloped into the throne room, shouting, “The Emperor and his Empress has arrived!”

The two princesses nodded and the representatives stood up, ready to gauge the Serpony royal family.

The doors to the throne room opened, and Featherfang and Lyra Heartstrings made their way with their heads held high. following them were some Serpony warriors and Serponies carrying strange baskets.

The royals stopped in front of the two rulers of Equestria, and took a bow.

“Welcome, Lord Featherfang and Lady Lyra,” Luna said.

The two got up and looked at the representatives. “Are these two the representatives of the two warring kingdoms?” Lyra asked.

“Indeed they are.”

Iron Sides trotted up to the two royals, his armor clanking and his steps shaking the ground slightly. “My name is General Iron Sides. I have the honor of representing Lunardom.” He then bowed.

Featherfang nodded and the general got up. Vinyl trotted up to Lyra and said, “do you remember me, marelady?”

Lyra smiled, “how could I forget you? It’s good to see you Vinyl.”

Vinyl bowed, and then Celestia spoke, “I must ask, what is inside those baskets?”

“Gold and jewels, marelady,” the lead Serpony warrior said. The Serponies that carried the baskets opened them and dumped the goods on the floor, causing a cascade of gems and precious metals.

The sheer amount of riches piled on the floor caused the Royal Guards’ jaws drop.

“Is this why bandits try to enter your borders so much?” Celestia asked.

“Indeed. My ancestors kept tombs of wealth hidden deep inside their temples. What you see is the amount that came out of a rather large jar,” Featherfang said.

“...wow,” Luna said as she gawked at the treasure.

Lyra broke the silence, “this is payment for a deal we wish to make.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, “what deal are we talking about?”

Featherfang said, “we wish to offer monthly payment, the same amount that you see on the floor, if you help us with our bandit problems.”

Celestia replied, “we will talk after we see you offspring. After all, that’s why you are here, right?”

Featherfang scowled, then turned to his wife and nodded. Lyra moved to the side to reveal the filly that was hiding behind her.

The filly had a very faint blue coat. Her mane had streaks of white and icy blue, her eyes shone like sapphires underneath a running brook. She had a Unicorn horn and inherited her father’s wings and snake tail. Not one bit of her was covered in feathers.

The entire group gasped in awe and wonder.

“Princess Celestia and Luna, I present my pride and joy, my daughter Aurora Stream,” Lyra said.

Celestia was speechless. In front of her was an Alicorn filly that has the blood of the sky god flowing through her with Unicorn blood tossed in for good measure. If she lived long enough, that filly could very easily kill Celestia and Luna if she wanted to.

While Celestia was thinking about all the things that could go wrong, Luna was thinking about all the things that could go right. With enough training, Aurora Stream could become the best Empress the Serponies have ever known.

Vinyl and Iron Sides were both shocked. If the Serponies had an Alicorn that could wield all the potential power that the filly had inside her, they would be unstoppable. After they leave the meeting, they both will tell their respective lords to prepare… just in case.

Before they could say something, a guard galloped into the room. When he reached the bottom of the two sister’s thrones, he knelt and gasped for some air before saying, “marelady, riots in the streets!”

Celestia immediately jumped off her throne and asked, “riots?! Are you sure?”

“Yes, marelady. The rioteers have found out that princess Aurora is here!”

“Who told them that?! nopony, save the embassy, knows that she was supposed to visit today!” Luna said.

The guard responded, “a hooded stallion told them and worked the town into a frenzy. We tried to stop him, but he… cut down my friend…”

“Wha-”

“He leads the riots, and they are heading this way. Their intent is to get Aurora, and kill anypony that is in their way.”

A loud crash and bang was heard outside the throne room, and the galloping of royal guard hooves filled the hallway outside the throne room. The guards shouted orders to pull all guards to defend the gate.

Featherfang growled and transformed into his sky serpent form. Lyra drew her sword, Chillrend, and told Aurora Stream to get behind her.

“Mama, Papa, what’s going on?”

Lyra looked down at her daughter, “Nothing, my dear quetzal. Stay close to mommy, alright?”

The filly nodded and she hid behind her mother.

Iron Sides picked up his silver lance and said, “I’ll join the defence of the gate with the guards. I’ll make those rebels wish that they were never born!”

“I’m coming too!” Vinyl Scratch said.

“I don’t need help from Applekotojin pussies,” Iron Sides spat.

“You can’t stop me, Lunardom scum. I’m coming, whether you like it or not.”

The General growled, then he turned and galloped to the gate, with Vinyl close behind.

~//\~

The two warriors went up to the gate. The gate was closed, but if the riot continues, the gate will fall. As the two stopped in front of the gate, a captian of the guard trotted up to them, horror written all over his face.

“What’s wrong, captain?”

“My watchtowers sent word that the rioteers have… raided the Canterlot Arsenal.”

Vinyl’s eyes widened, “then that would mean-”

Thwack!

The body of a guard dropped from the rampart that was on top of the gate, an arrow in his head.

“captain! They are armed and are trying to kill us!” one guard said as he fired an arrow at the crowd, killing the rebel archer.

“Why did you kill one?! Deadly force is not authorized!”

“They are killing us captain!”

The captain cursed and then shouted, “deadly force is authorized! I repeat, deadly force is authorized!”

Another guard fell with an arrow lodged in his throat, he gurgled and spasmed before he was still.

The Lunardite General hefted his spear and said, “good luck trying to stay alive, Applekoto bitch.” He then galloped up the stairs and jumped off the wall, landing in front of the gate and crushing some rioteers as he landed. He swung his silver lance and killed five ponies with one fell stroke. He laughed and said, “behold, the power of a Lunardite General!”

He got up on his hind legs and began thrusting and swinging his lance into every rebel he could reach. Arrows and normal weapons and rocks bounced off his armor like rubber balls on pavement. Vinyl rolled her eyes and grabbed her naginata. Before she could jump off the wall to join the General, She felt a searing pain on her side. It was an arrow.

Then another arrow hit her head, and the world went pitch black.

The General then noticed a hooded stallion making his way through the crowd, holding a Nohrian sword called an armorslayer. Armorslayers were made to go through armor like Iron Sides’s.

The General twirled his lance, ready to shish-kebab the hooded stallion.

But suddenly, the hooded stallion disappeared from the General’s vision, then reappeared in front of him.

Before the General could respond, The armorslayer sliced into his belly, almost disemboweling the Lunardite. As the General doubled over in pain, the hooded stallion sliced off his head. The General’s body fell over, lance still in hoof.

~*¥*~

“They broke through! All remaining guards to the gate!”

Royal guards galloped through the hallways, hoping that they survive the fight ahead.

Featherfang and Lyra were ready for anything. With Celestia and Luna next to them, ready to defend the throne and the heir.

Soon, a group of rioters burst into the throne room with weapons taken from the fallen guards.

They charged at the group, aiming for the little filly behind them.

Featherfang roared and swung his tail, smashing aside some of the aggressors while his wife engaged in some swordplay with three others. Luna charged and swung Moonbolt downwards, slicing a pony in half. Celestia summoned a spear of white light and flung the spear at the main body of rebels, a flash of light was followed after an explosion that sent the rioteers in many directions.

They then looked towards the busted doors, seeing a hooded stallion. The stallion had a Nohrian wyrmslayer, a sword made to kill dragons and anything related to them.

Featherfang growled and lunged at the hooded stallion, his teeth flashing.

The hooded stallion fought back, trying to get the dragon-slaying blade to land a blow on Featherfang’s serpent body. Then, the hooded stallion with the armorslayer appeared and galloped at Lyra, who barely parried the incoming attack. More rebels poured in, attacking Luna and Celestia, and trying to jump onto Featherfang to bring him down.

Then, Lyra was kicked down.

Featherfang roared and bit and thrashed, but those that did managed to climb onto him weighed him down, making it the perfect opportunity for the hooded stallion with the wyrmslayer to make his move. He jumped, and swung the wyrmslayer as hard as he could.

Featherfang screeched in pain as the serrated blade went through his flesh like a hot knife through butter. Featherfang flopped to the ground and the hooded pony didn’t let up, slashing and slicing Featherfang’s flesh. He then held the blade high and brought it down on the Emperor’s head.

Featherfang was no more.

Celestia and Luna were cornered and desperately fighting the mass of rebels that were pouring into the throne room. They saw Featherfang and Lyra go down, and looked in absolute horror as the hooded stallion with the armorslayer advanced upon Aurora Stream.

Luna and Celestia were fighting like madmares, trying desperately to get to Aurora before it was too late.

The hooded pony dropped his armorslayer and drew a decorative knife. He stood on his hind legs, grabbed Aurora by the throat and lifted her up.

Celestia broke free and flew at the hooded stallion, reaching out towards Aurora. Then, the hooded stallion with the wyrmslayer tackled her and raised his blade high.

Celestia formed another light spear and stabbed the hooded pony through the chest, causing ghostly flames to spring forth. The hooded stallion looked at the wound it just recieved, then it dissolved.

The other hooded stallion rammed his knife into Aurora.

Then he stabbed her again, and again, and again, and again. Luna killed the last pony that was in her way and ran at the hooded stallion that was stabbing the child of Featherfang and Lyra. She rammed Moonbolt through the hooded stallion’s skull, causing him to dissolve, and Aurora to drop onto the floor.

Then, an Equestrian military force burst into the throne room. Led by Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle, the Equestrian force began to slaughter all the rebels in the room.

Seeing that they were outnumbered and outgunned, the rioters fled, with Equestrian soldiers in pursuit. Shining Armor went with them.

The dust settled, and the throne room was quiet.

“AURORA!!!” Lyra cried as she got up and hobbled over to her filly, who was still clinging to the last hoofholds of life.

Aurora was breathing hard and turned to see her mother crying. She said, “Mommy...I’m scared…”

“Don’t be, my quetzal, you will be alright.”

Lyra turned to Celestia, “please, I need your help!”

Celestia had tears sliding down her cheeks, and didn’t respond. Lyra’s eyes widened and she yelled, “please, can’t you help her?! This is my daughter! Don’t make me live while she dies!”

Celestia choked out, “She… she was stabbed with a reaper knife, no amount of magic will save her…”

“No… no,no,no,no,no,no. NO! She will not die, not today!”

Luna and Twilight trotted up to the group and saw that Aurora was a bloody mess. Luna counted the wounds.

“Twenty-six…, she was stabbed twenty-six times,” Luna whispered to herself.

Aurora said weakly, “Mommy…”

Lyra, with tears flowing, turned to her filly and asked, “Yes, my little quetzal?”

“I see a light… a bright light… I’m scared.”

“Don’t go to the light! get away from it!

“I can’t… I… I can’t see you! Mommy! where did you go?! Don’t leave me alone…”

Lyra shook her filly, “I’m here! Mommy is right here!”

“I hear you, mommy… I’m getting cold.”

Lyra began to lose control of her tears, and began to weep.

“Mommy?”

Lyra drew a shaky breath, “Yes, my quetzal?”

“I see daddy. He says he is sorry, and... he loves you…

Aurora stared at the ceiling and said, “I...love...y...ou.”

Aurora’s eyes glazed over and she stopped breathing.

Lyra couldn’t control it anymore, she wailed and sobbed and beat the floor beneath her.

Her cries could be heard throughout Canterlot.