A Fractured World

(Canterlot)

“Incoming fire!” A scout shouted from the tower. Celestia turned to see something heading for the castle at a frightening speed. She was confused because she didn’t see any cannons being prep and didn’t know of anything else that can produce something this fast. She realized it wasn’t a cannon but a pony that was coming at the castle. She ducked in time to see the pony fly right over her and crash into the wall behind her. She watched as the pony slid down to the ground, leaving a blood smear on the wall.

“What was that?” Rainbow Dash said, flying down from her post. Twilight ran into the room and saw the cripple earth pony on the ground.

“They’re throwing their own ponies at us!?!” Twilight said, shocked at the sight. The three heard a moan from the pony and they turn to see him roll to his side to face them. They gasp to see it was General Scorpio, beaten and bloody. He was muttering and seem to be senseless.

“What wrong with him?” Rainbow Dash asked, getting closer. Celestia cast a wound finding spell onto him and saw several bones broken, including his spine. “Did his own do this to him?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking down at him.

“Why would they do this?” Twilight asked, seeing several cuts bleeding profusely. “If they didn’t want to do this anymore, why do this to him?” Scorpio suddenly grabbed Twilight and pull her close to him.

“It wasn’t my soldiers.” He manages to groan, blood mixing with his spit. “It was that monster.” He started to struggle to get his words out as the flow of blood increase. “I…should of …kill it… when I first had… the chance.” As he spat out the last words out, he let out a loud rattling breath and stop moving.

“If it wasn’t his soldiers, then what did this?” Twilight asked out loud. Rainbow Dash turned around and look down to the battlefield.

“I think I know.” She said, pointing down. The two turned to see what could only be described as a massacre happening on the field. The army seemed to try to kill something in the center but whatever it was, it was cutting through them like paper. Twilight summon a pair of binoculars to get a better look. She couldn’t get a good look at whatever was doing the fighting was moving a lot faster than she expected. A loud noise came from behind and Starlight teleported back into the castle.

“Alright, I’m going to teleport Pinkie and WHAT THE!?!” Starlight was startled to find a dead body in the corner. She looked to see Celestia, Twilight and Rainbow Dash watching something from the balcony. She trotted over to see the massacre happening below. “What is going on?”

“We don’t know. I can’t get a good look at what the army fighting.” Twilight said, scanning the field. Starlight quickly summoned her own pair of binoculars and look down at the chaos below. Both she and Twilight watched as a swarm of soldiers got cleared out and got the first good look at what was killing them all. They saw a human holding a large sword wearing only a piece of clothing around his waist and a large pair of white feather wings. Twilight didn’t understand what was going on but she heard Starlight gasp. She looked to see Starlight lower her binoculars slowly.

“He said they weren’t real.” Starlight mutter.

“Who said they weren’t real? What are you talking about?” Twilight asked. Starlight pulled a book from her bag. Twilight recognized the book from earlier, the one she was supposed to give to Luna.

“That, right there!” Starlight shouted, flipping to the front of the book. “It’s called an angel. Something from one of their religions, a warrior of a god or something.” She stopped at one of the pages. “There. Right there.” She lifted the book up and showed it to the rest that was standing there. In it showed a picture of a wing human stabbing what looked like a dragon with a spear. Twilight quickly read the passage and look back to see another group of soldiers getting wipe out with a swing of his sword.

“Well, there only one. I think we can handle it.” Rainbow Dash said, wincing as she saw one pony get its head knock clean off with one punch from the angel.

“What if there more than one?” Twilight asked a little panic. “What if they’re sending more to the Wonderbolts or…” Twilight paused as a horrible thought cross her mind. “or the Crystal Palace?” She turned to Starlight. “Get Pinkie and Rarity to the Wonderbolt. Then, go back to Apple Jack and Fluttershy to warn them of this creature.”

“What makes you think it going to fight us?” Rainbow Dash said. A loud cry from the ground caused the group to look out from the balcony. They saw the angel jump into the air and was heading right for the castle. “I take that back. That thing is definitely going to attack us.” Celestia stepped forward and started charging a spell.

“Do as Twilight say,” Celestia said, gathering her strength. “I will deal with this intruder.” With that, she launched herself into the air.

(In the mountains below Cloudsdales.)

“WHERE IS OUR BACKUP!?!” Spitfire shouted over the sound of arrows being fired, causing the small group to be corner behind a rock wall. Blaze send a couple of air grenades over the wall and duck down next to Spitfire.

“We can’t get any messages because they’ve blocked us out!” Blaze called out, as a blast of wind prevented more arrows for a few seconds. “We are running out of wind grenades and we don’t have a decent fighter with these trainees. WE are outmatched and outnumbered. And I think they know that.” As if to prove her point, the arrows stop and a voice echo from the entrance.

“Guess who has no weapons and no way to reach back up?” The voice called out. Spitfire recognized the voice and groan in annoyance.

“Who is it?” Blaze asked.

“Aquarius!” Spitfire shouted. “You joined this fail rebellion? I thought you were smarter than us?”

“From where I’m standing, it looks like I made the smart choice.” Aquarius’s voice called out. “While you stick to the fool Celestia, I’ve made the right choice and decided to evolve. We cannot show mercy to every species we meet. We are the ones with power. WE are the ones with the stronger armies and what does the princess do with this power? Forgive the changeling just because they got a new paint job. I thought her student was stupid after allowing the little psycho living with her.”

“A lot of smart words for some pony who going to be in jail soon!” Spitfire shouted. “How long until Celestia sends her armies to find you? Or her “Stupid” student? Do you really want to be on the receiving end of their rainbow?” A loud pop noise filled the air and Spitfire saw three ponies appear in front of her. She recognized two as Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

“Oh, thank Celestia,” Spitfire said in a whisper. “The rest are coming too, right?”

“Nope, it just us.” Pinkie said with a smile. Spitfire’s jaw dropped in shock.

“We are trapped in a cave by at least twenty flyers and they send me a party planner and a dress maker!?!” She said in a harsh whisper. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I respect what you can do but we kind of need fighters. Why couldn’t I get Rainbow Dash or Twilight?”

“They’re busy.” Starlight mutter. “I’m just going to rest a bit before…” She was cut by Pinkie shuddering like crazy. “What is it?”

“My Pinkie senses!!!” Pinkie said, shaking her head. “Something big is coming down the tunnel.” As she said this, a loud roar filled the cave.

“What the… KILL IT!!!!” Aquarius’s voice shouted and the sound of combat came into the small cave at full blast.

“About time!” Spitfire said, wiping her forehead from sweat. “It sounded like back up has arrived.”

“I don’t think it on our side.” Rarity pointed out as the sound of combat started to die down.

“Who else could it be?” Blaze asked. A loud thud came from the tunnel and they turn to see something land right in front of them. It was the head of Aquarius, torn right from her body.

“What in the name of…” Spitfire started when a low growl cut her off. They look to see a pair of cat eyes that glow green start come down the entrance.

“There no exit from here, is there?” Rarity asked as they started to back out.

“No,” Spitfire answered. “We were discussing the plan of the exercise in here when they attack. We were basically stuck in here; me, Blaze and about five trainees. This is where we train for a hostage situation and there is no way out.”

“Poor little ponies.” A voice floated into the room. “Trap like mice and nowhere to run.” They watch a lion’s paw step into the light and a face came into the light. Starlight recognized it as a human face but didn’t understand why it had a lion’s body. She quickly opened her books and flip to S. She saw a picture like what was standing in front of them.

“Girls!” Starlight shouted. “I know what it is. It’s a Sphinx!”

“What a Sphinx?” Spitfire shouted, watching the creature walk back and forth in front of the tunnel entrance.

“A creature of riddles.” Starlight read it out loud from the book. “Know to block path or roadways, it allows travelers to pass if they answer a riddle. If they answer wrong, the Sphinx would rip them to shreds and feast on the bones.”

“It asks riddle? What was their riddle!?!” Spitfire shouted, pointing to the head of Aquarius.

“Oh, they had a riddle.” The Sphinx said, drawing circles in the dirt. “The answer wasn’t "kill it".” It came closer to the group, purring softly. Starlight stood in front and starting to charge a spell.

“Alright, I’ll answer any…” Starlight started but was cut off by Pinkie jumping in front.

“I’ll handle this,” Pinkie announced, standing in front.

“Pinkie, what are you doing?” Starlight whisper, keeping her eyes on the Sphinx.

“You need to get to the Chrystal Palace. You don’t have time for playing games.” Pinkie whisper back. “I, on the other hoof, can play games all day. Go to Shining Armor and hopefully it’s something simpler to deal with. Go.” With that, Starlight teleported. The Sphinx smiled and drew its claw in and out.

“Alright, little pink pony.” The Sphinx started, showing a bloody smile. “I have three riddles for you. The first riddle…”

“Hold your horses.” Pinkie cut her off, causing every pony to look in shock. “I have a riddle for you.” The Sphinx look shocked for a second then return to smiling.

“Alright, I’ll play. What your riddle?” She said, continuing to draw circles in the dirt. Pinkie cleared her throat dramatically and begun.

“If I have to have experiences to have a job but I need a job to get experience, how is this possible?” Pinkie asked. The Sphinx face dropped.

“What?” The room all said in union.

(Crystal Palace.)

Starlight popped in to see the castle was dead quiet. She didn’t like this at all and was getting a bad feeling when she felt something wrap around her waist and pull her back. She landed in a room to see Fluttershy closing a trap door behind them.

“What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked quietly. “We thought you wanted to help Twilight and Rainbow Dash to defend Canterlot.” Starlight saw that Apple Jack was rewrapping the rope. “Cadence and Shining Armor are being held up a safe room. We have been helping the guards secured the castle but so far, we haven’t seen any pony approach.”

“There been a change of plan.” Starlight said, brushing off some dust. “So far, something been following the three leaders and each one seems to be from human lore. Maybe we got lucky and whatever was following the group that was coming here caught up with them. Maybe they’re fighting to the death in the snow.”

“Or maybe…” A voice said from the darkness. “We weren’t stupid enough to charge in but go through the back door.” Starlight felt magic wrap around her throat and before she could react, was lifted into the air. Starlight started gasping for air as she watched four unicorns appear out of thin air, being led by Gemini.

“So, my comrades are fighting monsters,” Gemini said, concentrating the spell on Starlight. “So that what happens to those human, how interesting.” Apple Jack made a move to stop him but another unicorn put a shield up to block her. “If either of you tries something, you will have to deliver Starlight here back to Twilight in pieces.” The two stayed still and he looked back up to the struggling Starlight.

“You said that monsters were attacking my partners. What kind of monsters are we talking about?” Gemini asked, slightly tightening the spell around Starlight’s throat.

“Not really fighting.” Starlight said, struggling to breathe. “Both Scorpio and Aquarius are dead. Your rebellion is finish.” There was a moment of silence and the Gemini started laughing. The whole room looked at him, a little unsettled, as he continued to laugh.

“You think I care about those idiots!?!” He said, his laugh going down to a slow chuckle. “My rebellion has far greater than that. I told you, magic is more powerful than friendship. I just used those two to get to my real goal. The alicorns.” He started pacing back and forth. “Why settle to rule when you can be a god. Twilight prove how powerful we could be and if I could reproduce it, imagine the possibility. And now, with proof of other worlds, why stay in this one? We could become the most fear race in all the galaxy, maybe in all of the existence.”

“You’re insane.” Starlight said harshly, still struggling to breathe. Gemini looked up at her annoyed.

“And you just have a lack of imagination,” Gemini responded. “But it won’t matter because I’m going to…” He suddenly stopped and a weird look came across his face.

“Sir, what wrong?” A unicorn asked. He turned his head slowly to the unicorn.

“I can’t move.” He said through gritted teeth. He shot into the air and smash into the ceiling with enough force that it cracked the crystal. Starlight was let go from the spell and drop to the ground, gasping for air. She looked up in time to see Gemini smash on to the floor, breaking the ground underneath him. He spat out a wad of blood and look around.

“What is going on?” He muttered as blood poured from his mouth. A loud crack came from the trap door entrance and the whole room turned to see something float in. It was cover in tatter black cloak and seem to be nothing but bones. The eyes were deep red and went it spook, it sends shivers down Starlight’s spine.

“I’ve become death, destroyer of worlds.” It said in a gravel filled voice.