The Conversion Bureau: The Palladium Wings

The Conversion Bureau: The Palladium Wings

Chapter 6

Dutch Opening

Cadence and Shining felt sick as Grozny retold his experiences during the Second Chechen War.  “How could your leaders be so…brutal?” She asked.

“When your country is hijacked by racist Ultranationalists, the neighboring ones will jump in to defend their interests and any citizens that are living there.” Grozny explained. “It was a brutal time for being a soldier. You had to follow your orders, I have to guess that in the Royal Guard, disciplinary action was taken. Not in the Russian Army. Defying an officer meant death by his hand.”

Shining Armor stuck his tongue out in disgust.

“I was just a soldier, I still believed in orders.  Yes, I burnt a town full of innocents.  I executed civilians who were accused of supporting the insurgency.”

“Do you even regret doing all that?” Cadence wondered.

Grozny sighed. “I do. But sometimes, sleep is not possible. Every night or so, I go back to those days, forced to relive the moment and I can’t do nothing about it. Other times, I see the ghosts of who I killed, they came back to get their revenge on me.”

“Ghosts? Impossible.” The white stallion countered. “Ghosts are just an old pony’s tale.”

“When you kill people, you will feel their souls have been wronged. They want payback for what you did. Their bodies may be resting from living but their souls are immortal, they live forever. Some go to Heaven and live in paradise, others go to Hell to pay for their evils, while others go to Purgatory to be cleansed of the sins they regret.”

“I see.” Cadence nodded.

“From what I hear, Hell sounds like a horrible place compared to Tartarus.” Shining commented.

“A place that’s full of fire and brimstone and being punished for all eternity. No one wants that, and there’s a old saying around here: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Cadence raised an eyebrow. “Hmmm?”

“A saying, no matter how good or noble your intentions are and they are hurting everyone, then you are surely going to burn for all eternity. No amount of good can save you from eternal damnation.”

Shining Armor shrugged at the thought of being punished for all eternity for all wrongs he did.

“Changing the topic.” Grozny smiled as he sipped his tea. “Have you thought about the current offers?”

“We haven’t discussed that yet.” Cadence replied.

“Take your time.”  The man said as he got up. “Excuse me.  I have more pressing matters to attend to.”

As the door was closed, the two ponies began to discuss the offers.

“I can’t say your Aunt will send a retrieval team to get us.” Shining said. “If we stay with the British, it can be worse, we can’t be a burden or give your Aunt the excuse to send a migration capsule.”

“Hmmm….” Cadence placed a hoof on her muzzle.

“The Wonderbolts are mercenaries, they might think you’re gonna pay them cash. From what Grozny told me earlier, mercenaries  are after cash, to them, this is what did he say? The jackpot?  Is that the word?”

“Seems we don’t have much of a choice, we’ll have to go with the pirate.” Cadence said.

Shining sighed. “I hope he isn’t planning to kill me in my sleep…”

“We’ll discuss this more.”

Crete

The Exiled Greek ships began to hover over the island. The surviving Pony populace looked with fright and awe.  Messages were written in the sky by their military fighters, demanding all ponies to leave the island or suffer the consequences. A team of pegasi flew to intercept the ships only to be quickly shot down by a volley of AA fire.  The ships began to land across the island.

Many of the Exiled began to look around. So this was the land of their ancestors before the Colonization. The ponies tried to fight back but were quelled and executed to avoid any confrontation. Whatever was left of the Colonizer Ponies, they were expelled from the island to make way for the original settlers of the island and the Peninsula.

A highly customized battleship flew above the island.

Nikolaos shed a tear of joy as his people finally reclaimed one part of their land. It may not be much, but to him, this was more than enough.  It was the start of taking back what was stolen 10 years ago.

The Chimera departed, heading into the horizon.

Canterlot

“Princess Celestia.” Gold Scroll said. “I have received a report from the colonists in the Mediterranean Sea.  The Exiled Greek Fleet has expelled all Colonizers from the island and begun settling there.”

Celestia’s nostrils flared up.  Walking up to the highest tower in the castle, she looked at the giant swirling storm that raged in the skies.   “Those humans…they’re ruining EVERYTHING! But I’ll show them what I am capable of doing.  No one rejects my friendship and no one will. This world and the world beyond the Corridor are MINE!”

The wind blew a foul aroma.

The next day came, it was the day that all of Equestria was ready to celebrate: The Day of the Covenant.

The Day of the Covenant was a big time celebration. It was the pact that the three pony tribes made with the Alicorns to ensure the safety and prosperity of Equestria.  Nationwide, the feasts were being prepared while the religious temples received many flocks of the faithful to receive a blessing from the priests while others fasted before sundown.

Canterlot was preparing for the festivities.  As the hours flew by, the Princesses and the Bearers of the Elements began to prepare for the ritual dance, the same one done by the three tribes, followed by the offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Princesses.

“DOWN WITH EQUESTRIA!” A voice cried.

Everyone gasped.  Several Diamond Dogs and Griffins were heading towards Celestia with swords and flintlock weapons. Shots were fired, many were wounded or killed by the lead balls.  A pair of Diamond Dogs pulled out their sabers and began to slash anyone who got in their way.

“THIS IS FOR SCYLAS! SKIRI! AND THE CONFEDERATION!” A Scylatian screamed as he fired his pistols at incoming royal guards.  Dropping them, he pulled out another pair of pistols and fired them again.  With a sinister cackle, he brandished out a sword and decapitated the last guards.

Canterlot exploded in panic, the ponies began to look for a safe place to hide.

A pair of zeppelins with propellers on their wings came into view.  Diamond Dogs and Gryphons fired their weapons down at the streets.  Battle cries echoed as the ones in the ground massacred everypony that dared to stop them on their rampage.

A team of Gryphons and Diamond Dogs walked up towards the Princesses and the Elements.  They pulled out their pistols and aimed it at the Princesses.  “Today! The detachment of our ship’s Units end! Today marks the day that the Solar and Lunar Tyrants are gone from this world! TODAY IS THE DAY THE WORLD KNOWS PEACE!”

Celestia remained calm despite the gun barrels aimed at her. “Monsters…” She managed to whisper.

The Gryphon prepared to pull the trigger. Something didn’t make sense… why was she smiling? Her horn began to glow, a golden aura wrapped every inch of his body. Screaming, he looked at his team, they too were wrapped by the golden light.

The weapons were dropped, the team of attackers yelling as they tried to break free.

The Zeppelins flew towards their comrades in distress. Musket fire rained down towards them. Rainbow Dash flew up towards the dirigible. The crews pulled out their pistols, yelling racist slurs at her. Cyan hooves flew in all directions. Screams of pain were heard as the crews were thrown out. The craft began to spin and crashed against a building, fire consuming the rest of it.

The last zeppelin began to unload its musket balls into their targets. “SISTER!” Luna dashed to push Celestia out of the way.  The Night Mare screamed in pain as a musket ball hit her foreleg, blood seeping out of the wound.

Celestia brought the zeppelin down. The crews disembarked with their sabers in hand. As they got close to the Sun Princess, she gave a smile as they were restrained by the Bearers of the Elements.  “You fools! You have damned us all!” The Scylatian growled.

The 6 ponies looked at them as if they were insane.

“Scylas and Skiri are going through an ecological crisis and the Diamond Dogs offered help but YOUR so called benevolent Princess recalls the Star Swirl Units on their ships!” A Skirian exclaimed. “We are suffering from thirst and hunger while your Princesses here eat and drink to their hearts desires! Is this the message Equestria promotes? Friendship? While the Dogs offered us a hand, Equestria has not.”

“I was not even aware of an ecological crisis affecting Gryphon lands.”  Celestia said with false sincerity.

“LIAR!” A Skirian cried. “LIAR! YOU SAID THAT THE WORLD AND THE HUMAN WORLD BEYOND THE CORRIDOR ARE YOURS!” He struggled to break free of Rainbow’s hold. “ YOU ARE A MONSTER! YOU ARE COMMITTING GENOCIDE ON THE HUMANS LIKE YOU ARE DOING IT TO US! EQUESTRIA IS BEHIND THE SUFFERING OF THE GRYPHONS!”

The Bearers of the Elements gave the team of attackers looks of doubt.

The Skirian broke free and grabbed his saber. “FOR HONOR! FOR REVENGE! FOR SKIRI!” The blade was raised as the gryphon lunged towards her. “DIE MONSTER! YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!”

Celestia’s horn fired a dark red beam.

The Gryphon screamed as every single atom of his body was torn, his body was turning into sparkles that were pushed by the air. The curved sword was dropped. The Elements gasped in shock. They have never seen the Princess do this.  The angel white Alicorn turned over to the rest of the team. “I was forced to this as your comrade tried to kill me. But I will be merciful and let you go after your interrogation.”

The attackers managed to break free. They all grabbed their swords and performed a salute. Raising them, they twirled the blade so it would point down. “Princess Celestia! L’inferno ti aspetta!”  The gryphon stabbed the blade into his gut until it sticked out of his back.

The rest of the attackers did so.

Fluttershy gave a scream of terror as she saw the bodies drop. All she could see was the blood pooling up near the corpses. Their soulless bodies looking at them calmly, their lifeless eyes just staring… as if they were judging their very souls. Despite no one could hear them, the souls of the dead released a vengeful yell as they departed to the afterlife.  They would come back later for them, but now it wasn’t the time. The end of the hourglass wasn’t full yet.

It was a horrible Day of the Covenant… aside from a terrorist attack by enraged Gryphons and Diamond Dogs, blood tainted the day. News spread about the attack, wondering why did this happen in one of Equestria’s sacred days.

Deep in the secret passage of Canterlot Castle, several crucified  noble ponies looked at the human endure the pain brought by this torture. They didn’t understand what did they do to deserve this, and yet, here, in their presence was a human. They envied the willpower, from what they learned about him was that he was pirate and he was captured 6 years ago. He was in this condition because Celestia made a mockery of his religious beliefs. Many knew that one of the human faiths talked about a man who died like this and resurrected, promising salvation not in an earthly form like Celestia offered, but spiritual.  Such concept was unknown to them.

Royal Guards came in pikes on their hooves.  The blade was plunged into their bodies, screams and wails of pain echoed across the rooms. Many begged to die to end their pain, while others began to spew blasphemies against Celestia.  The guards moved towards the human, they wanted to see if he was still alive. Stabbing the stomach, the man reacted by twitching.  The other guard stabbed the pike into the right side, this time deeper.  With their check done, they left.

Knowing that this was his last moments of life, he began to sing to soothe the suffering of the ponies.

When dark days came to us

We found no haven or escape

All our prayers go unanswered, to take away this fear within

Our screams shake this tear stained land

They all looked at him, why is he singing? Is this how the pirate wants to die? Did he regret it all he did?

Our souls have been stripped bare

Can madness be the only Cure?

Even death is no respite from all this pain, our worldly plight

When will we see heaven's light?

Blood and tears mixed, the marble floor staining with the combine.  Screams of agony echoed for a while. Many asked the human what is Heaven, where is it?  How does one see its light?  Many began to think when they made contact with the humans, and the opening of the Bureaus. The violence that started out from a simple offering of friendship. Why were humans like this? Why were they so violent? Did these lines meant they all regret the evils they did?

I think of you whenever a bell tolls

If I tell your tale, will this pain cease?

For I pray for tempest tossed, lost souls

Eternal sleep is where you find true peace

Many yelled for the human deity to take them with him. They did nothing wrong to deserve this cruel punishment.  Others closed his eyes to listen to the heartbeat slow down until there was nothing. A pegasus mare looked at the human. He was dead, but she now she understood what the last line meant.  The real peace is the one when you die, it’s not found in any worldly paradise, there are no Elements of Harmony, there is no magic, no Equestria, no world, no troubles.  All there is rest for the body after years of living.

And now his eyes were closed. He was now gone from this realm. “Sleep well…you deserve it.” An Earth Pony noble whispered.

Hours later, Celestia came to check on the prisoner.  All the tortured ponies were silent, refusing to give her a look. Despite the room was dirty with stains of blood, tears, and other bodily fluids, the room smelled like frankincense. Impossible! All the blood should have made it smell horrible. Thrusting her horn into the man’s body, she expected blood to come out. It did not. “WHAT!?” She exclaimed. Out of the wound, milk started to seep out.  “W-what is this!? What’s the meaning of this!?” Scanning the body frantically, no trace of magic was found.  How can he bleed milk out? Why does the room smell like burning incense?

The ponies began to sing in a choir-like fashion. Celestia ordered them to stop but their voices got louder as they went over the lyrics.   The angel white alicorn began to panic, those lyrics, even though being nailed and suffering pain beyond anything imagined, their spirits were unbroken… Silence filled the room for a few seconds, and they began to sing it again, their voices getting louder. Ordering to stop, it was useless. The song was heard all over the palace, from there, all of Canterlot, and from there, all of Equestria.