Equestria... a land of magic and friendship. It is a land known for its magic, for its friendships, its beautiful mares and handsome stallions, plentiful gem mines and the benevolent leadership of Princes Celestia, the Goddess of the Sun. Millions of ponies worshiped her, for her beauty and noble and kindhearted nature knows no bounds. There used to be another sister, one of the moon, but alas... eons ago she was banished to the moon... for now.

Celestia, while she is proclaimed as the goddess of the sun, is only one of the many gods and goddesses that claim their own element amidst the vast and wondrous world of Equus. Of course, they do not reside in the world of Equestria, or even beyond its borders.

They live in the city of Asgard.

Asgard, a city of myth and legend, that sits atop the highest point in the skies, overlooking the vast almost never ending world that is Equus. It is a city that very few have ever seen in their lifetime, what few that have seen it and returned to the world below brought back tales of a vast and ancient city made of Gold and a rare metal known as Alicore. With tall towers and buildings unlike anything Equestria has today, one might be foolish enough to claim it resembled the city of Canterlot. Canterlot was nothing but an attempt to mock the beauty and masterful architecture that was the city of Asgard. Rivers of crystal clear blue water flowed through aqueducts and reservoirs throughout the city, the gold of the walls and buildings reflecting off of it with such radiance it was incredible to any mere mortal's eyes. Rare species of birds flocked to this city, perched on archways and walls as they watched the citizens of this glorious location.

Atop this city was a massive palace, one that spanned around a mountain of clouds and floated high above. Tall spires and golden Alicore towers spanned upwards towards the sky above, with fluffy white clouds floating near them. A massive staircase led up to this palace of wonder, with firepits at every rest along the path up lit with a bright golden/orange flame that never ceased as red and golden banners flapped gently from the winds that constantly cascaded through the city. When one reached the top of the stairs they would find themselves in the courtyard of the Palace of the Gods, with green grass in the middle and a large ornate and beautifully crafted fountain. Pathways with status of the gods themselves along the paths lead to the left and right from there, with one heading right into the palace itself where one could find an audience with the gods themselves.

This was a place where the Gods of Equestria lived and ruled for a millennia, it was truly a place that was godworthy.

To the far western portion of the palace, atop a plateau with beautiful looking archways and a open wall dome, adorned with plenty of pretty flowers and plants, and a single luxurious looking lounge bed laid a mare. This mare was an Alicorn, an incredibly beautiful one that stood quite tall at a solid 6 feet in height. She was a golden color, like that of gold coins with a smooth and silky mane of bronze, and piercing sharp eyes of yellow. Her bust was easily a D, as shown by her tightly clad stola and cloak wrapped around her nicely formed bodice. One that would make any stallion drop to their knees and beg her to marry them, and bare their spawn. By her side was gladius with a golden laden hilt and grip, with a shiny ruby inset into the pommel and two coins on either side of the hilt.

Next to her was a small bowl filled with cherries and other assorted berries, some she picked out before plopping them into her mouth and chewing. She watched the skies with a gaze that many might have perceived as boredom, when in fact it was anything but. This mare was watching the world below, her horn lightly glowing a golden color as her eyes watched a battle taking place in the world below. She was witnessing a war that was happening between two very large forces, the newly birthed Equestria and the old Caribou Empire. This was a war she had been watching for a few decades now, one in which thousands of lives were being lost on either side as Equestria was fighting against the caribou to stop them from raising a foe she had fought herself eons ago.

One she wanted to stay in his prison within the deepest pits of Tartarus, it was a shame...

However, it seemed Equestria was slowly beginning to lose the battle...

With a small burst of her magic, she subtly turned the tide of the battle in Equestria's favor, causing the previously wounded soldiers and fearful stallions and mares to suddenly gain a boost in confidence. She watched as they reformed their lines, shields held up and spears outward as a flood of the caribou slammed against them, the Equestrians held tight and firm as they fought back, much more fiercer then before. They slashed and hacked at the oncoming caribou, ripping limb from limbs and slashing off heads. Their battle cries were like music to her ears as they pushed back the caribou forces, as pegasi rained down arrows from above in great torrents of wood and steel.

"Total Conquest, up to your games again I see?" A cultured voice from behind spoke up.

The mare, known as Total Conquest cast one final spell to make sure the Equestrians won before she ceased her magic spell and turned to look at whoever spoke. Standing behind her was a stallion dressed in a robe with a cloak, a pristine white one with a gray cloak with a golden trim to it. The stallion himself was snow white, with a neatly combed gray mane and gray eyes. He walked with a staff in his hands, at the top of his staff was a pair of angelic wings curving upwards, and in the middle of it was a bright blue jewel that radiated with a form of magic that felt rather peaceful to her.

Of course, peace was never her thing to begin with... in some cases that is.

"Mercy, what brings you to my little side of the palace?" Conquest questioned him, still laying on her side as she turned to look back out into the sky. She grabbed another berry before popping it into her mouth, and chewing.

Mercy stood in silence for a few moments, gathering his thoughts before speaking with the mare in front of him. "You've no doubt seen what is to come..."

Conquest stopped chewing for a moment, swallowing her little treat as she replied with, "I have seen it..." She muttered, she had seen it long ago and knew it was only a matter of time before it was to pass. "It was only a matter of time before it happened, the Prophecy within the Tombs said so."

"Yes it did... our mother was all knowing of course." Mercy told her as he walked up closer and placed a hand on her lounge chair. "She knew of what was to come for this world we watch over in her stead."

"That she did." Conquest agreed, sighing softly as a gentle wind blew over them both. Looking to her brother once more, she saw one of his many looks of deep thought, and asked, "Is there something more on your mind, brother dearest?" She knew he was a deep thinker, especially when it came to the places he watched over and did his best to maintain. Of course, during this war going on now, his efforts had been rather useless when trying to maintain the peace throughout Equestria.

Mercy sighed heavily, looking out into the skies ahead of them both. "This coming war will be beyond any scale we have ever seen in our lifetime, I fear it will even grow even larger then our last conflict with the Dark King." Mercy was worried, Conquest could tell that much about him from the way he spoke. "His power grows stronger each day, and his forces have grown more fanatical in their search for the keys..."

"I am well aware." Conquest sat up, adjusting her cloak before standing and walking towards the edge before looking down. "The keys are well hidden, but it is only a matter of time before they scour the realm in search of them. His cult is growing by the day, their numbers swell with opportunistic slavers and misogynistic males looking to take advantage." Conquest scowled, her hand gripping the pommel of her sword.

The Caribou were a slaver race that lived in the far far northern reaches past the Crystal Empire and the Northern Wastes, thousands and thousands of miles away from Equestria. They had been lead by a Dark King of the Caribou, one who wielded such power, he had decided to use his gifts to try and enslave the females of the world and bend them ales to his will, with the promise of a life of willing sluts and whores for the males to take pleasure in riding until they were broken. To use as playthings, it wasn't surprising to see thousands upon thousands of people from all over join him in realizing that dream.

He was gone now, imprisoned in Tartarus for eternity. But his followers were hellbent on freeing him, and enslaving Equestria for what they did to him.

Conquest had been seeing to it that Equestria did not lose, and slowly they were winning thanks to her efforts. She had been watching them battle for decades. ensuring that Equestria would come out as the victor in this war and that the Caribou would become nothing more then a forgotten name. However... she knew the Equestrians were not the type to exterminate another race, simply for their crimes against the very nature of the world. She was angry because of that... but couldn't fault the mortals for their views on how precious life was... no matter how unworthy some were of it.

Oh how I wish to exterminate those cretins... to erase them from this world would bring me nothing but satisfaction. Conquest wanted nothing more... but alas, she could not leave her post in Asgard for more then a day or so, and even if she were to use those few days in the mortal realm. It was not enough to start and end an extermination run against a race she loathed with every fiber of her being. Some of the others among her kind called her a racist tyrant because of her desire to erase the Caribou from existence, was she in the wrong? She certainly didn't think so.

In the past she had tried doing such a war, choosing a mortal soul to carry her name and but a sliver of her power into battle against the Caribou, to destroy their kingdom, loot their wealth for their own, and burn their history from existence. He was her Prince of War, a stallion with a noble heart and golden ideals for his own kingdom. However, the mortal she had chosen had let the power go to his head and foolishly turned against her and Equestria. He was swiftly dealt with, after he had tried to take Conquest as his own when he had somehow invaded Asgard.

No mortal was to take her in that way. She had her standards after all, and would only choose one she might find worthy to seed her fertile womb. She wanted someone strong, someone who was worthy in her eyes, who she would willingly disrobe for and mount and let ravage her body until she cried out for more. Conquest shivered just thinking of such a mate, but sadly she had seen none worthy through her eons of living, despite her the many suitors who had come in hopes of her hand in marriage... none of them were good enough.

Dirty farmers and smelly fishermen, desperate peasants and stuck up nobles... its as if I have been cursed. She shook her head rapidly. How did I get onto this train of thought? Even though she is a god, she still felt the burning desire to feel a male inside her like many mortal females did in their lives. She wasn't the Goddess of Lust, so she did not dabble in mindless group orgies like a certain family member of hers.

She was a proud warrior, one worthy of being called the Goddess of War, Conquest, and Spoils. One who had controlled one of the largest nations to ever grace the fertile soil of Equus, before she ascended to an Alicorn and became a god among her kind, worshiped by millions for her beauty and ferocious fighting prowess.

"I can only hope the keys will remain hidden, Faust forbid if any mortal finds them and foolishly tries to unlock their secrets..." Mercy spoke, clutching his staff tightly.

"And if they do not?" Conquest asked her brother, turning to face him fully with her hip cocked out and a hand on it. "You know how mortals are... they are curious, too curious for their own good. I recall the one, Danger Do having gotten his hands on one of the keys years ago."

Mercy nodded glumly. "Yes true, but at least he knows of the dangers the keys hold. He has hidden the one he found in a much better place then we put it originally." Mercy then turned to Conquest, then continued. "And if the keys are found... then the worlds will be at war, and we must make some very hard choices..."

War... that was something Conquest knew all too well. Having been apart of many as an ally and an enemy, and the flame that sparked thousands more across the face of Equus. Her mark and namesake were both something she had gotten during war, that told Conquest of who she was and what she was destined for... greatness.

Of course, this war that was coming for them... was one they could do nothing for, except prepare. The armies of Equus will all be forced into the conflict, human and pony, minotaur and caribou, zebra and horse. It was one she was both excited and nervous for, for it meant the forces of Asgard may be used to fight against the Dark King once more alongside the mortals, in their fight to preserve the world and keep it safe for another millennia. Unless by some miracle, the Dark King was completely and utterly destroyed.

"I know what choices I shall make dearest brother..." She told him, looking to him before turning and looking out across the heavens. Her eyes had a fire burning deep within them, one that carried over into her heart and soul. "When this war comes... I shall not hold back, any who stand in my way will know the full wrath of Total Conquest." She gripped her gladius, which had begun to glow slightly. "This war will be the bloodiest of them all, and I intend on my blades tasting every ounce of it. My next Lord of War will be among those to feast in the Great Hall once we are victorious, and the Caribou have been defeated in humiliation."

Mercy watched his sister, raising an eyebrow at the mare. "Your next Lord of War? Do tell me you are joking... after the last couple of times you have given a mortal some of your power, they turned against you and joined the Dark King in his quest to enslave the worlds." Mercy told her, looking worried at her sudden declaration. "You cannot be serious!"

"I am dear brother... this time it will be different." She told him with a stern face. "I will not make the same mistakes I did last time, I will not turn a blind eye when they are under the Dark King's influence... the next one will be mine... and mine alone, not his little plaything to use and corrupt over to his side as if it were a pawn."

Mercy shook his head. "I highly advise against this action Conquest." he told her, walking over to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Every one of the ones you had chosen over the years had turned against you in favor of him... who is to say this next one w-"

"It will be different!" Conquest shouted, growling as her eyes flared with golden magic making her brother back up. "I will not allow him to take what I have claimed once again." She growled. Everyone of the chosen she had were influenced by the Dark King's promises of great riches, whores upon whores to fuck until they were just piles of meat, whatever they so desired.

Of course... whenever she chose a new Lord of War... she had plenty to offer them.

"I have made up my mind dearest brother." She told him, turning to look at the stallion who just gave her a sad look.

"You know what I will do when you choose a new Lord..." Mercy told her in a warning tone. "I will have to inform the others of your decision, and I myself... may be forced to draw my sword against your Lord."

"I know... I wouldn't expect anything less." She replied, looking away. "I am sick of losing my property to the Dark King, this will not happen again Mercy... never again, this time he shall be the one to fall and never again rise from his prison." Her voice was as hard as stone, her words laced with venom, "I will strike him down and mount his head upon my throne as a trophy!"

Mercy shook his head. "None can kill the Dark King, he has grown too powerful... the only thing we can do is imprison him once more."

Conquest just growled, before turning on her heel and walking away with a slight sway to her hips. Mercy watched her go, he could clearly see the mare fuming from his words of imprisonment being his punishment. What other choice did they have? He could not bring himself to kill, he had only done so on a few special occasions that required him to draw his blade and use his more powerful combat magic. But even so he did not wish to draw blood and end life, regardless of who or whatever it was, he was a pacifist long before he became a God.

Killing someone as evil as him was something that not even he could bring himself to do, no matter how easier life would be without him. But to kill a god is nearly impossible, it is doable of course... just incredibly difficult, considering how powerful they are. Total Conquest's ideals were completely opposite of his own, while he was peaceful and solved everything with diplomatic discussions and helped with negotiations, and did not want to spill blood. Conquest was more like a dictator, pillaging and looting for spoils of war, taking slaves as boon, and stealing both territory and resources to win a war, as well as executing survivors, taking prisoners and killing those who stood in her way.

It was crude, harsh, even evil in a sense... but it worked, considering how much territory she controlled before ascending into the Goddess of War. She was as powerful as she was beautiful, incredibly so, she won the hearts and minds of stallions the world over with her looks, and inspired mares to take up arms and fight for what was rightfully theirs.

Mercy sighed as he looked away and out into the vast open expanse of the skies, watching as a few birds flew away. He had no idea what was to come in the future, the only he did know was the war... the one that would decide the fate of the entire world, both Equus and Asgard as a whole. He knew not who Conquest would choose as her Lord. Every god in Asgard could choose a mortal to wield but a mere sliver of their power and be considered a Lord, the reason for being able to do was because sometimes a mortal would catch their eye doing something that would appease their eyes, and perhaps they wished to make them a paragon among mortals.

Celestia and her sister, Luna were two such mortals.

Mercy however had not chosen yet.

Whoever Conquest would choose was one that worried him the most, as everyone she had given power turned on her in the past, becoming vicious warlords for the Caribou Empire.

He prayed to Faust that whoever she chose... would be different.

A sigh escaped him as he turned and started to walk back towards the Palace, his thoughts turning to whither or not he should make a choice and choose a Lord.

He could only hope that in the future, one would appease his eyes.

Conquest meanwhile was the same way. I swear on my mother's name... you will not stop me Dark One. You will fall either by my hand... or my Lord's. With that in mind, she continued back into the palace, she had some training to do.

If only they all knew what lie ahead of them...

Author's Note

Part of my Conquestverse, a sub-verse of Fall of Equestria