Chapters The War of Understanding
Prologue
Twilight Sparkle
One lavender unicorn, known as Twilight Sparkle, and Equestria’s protégé of Friendship gazed out onto the massive plains of this strange world. She, like her resident Displaced, had been brought to this world though she herself was merely observing whereas her resident Displaced was a fighter in this War , bolded for some reason. Twilight didn’t dare say what her fears were out loud, but this was her way to determine whether her resident Displaced was good for her home, or not.
The plains, though massive, were impeded by two large fortresses and a variety of small outposts here and there. Yet, Twilight couldn’t help feeling that none of the outposts would see use, and that the fortresses were merely an aesthetic choice by whichever mad mare, or stallion, had set this entire thing up.
As she watched, one by one little figures appeared in the window she observed from and met the two smaller figures on each end of the field. Some moved to the opposite side of that which they approached, and the rest moved into the fortresses. The air tensed as the person who had moved her here entered the room, followed by another.
The man of shadows, or whatever he was called, muttered a few things to the cat-eared woman and disappeared with a strange noise, Vworple, to be exact. The cat woman approached her and peered out the window with one eye closed. Snapping her fingers, she disappeared and two more Twilight Sparkles appeared in the room with Twilight. They stared at each other for a moment before each went silent and looked out the window.
“I don’t suppose either of you really get what this is about?” Twilight, an alicorn version, asked the other versions of herself. One of them, thankfully, had the scar on her face from awhile back and this allowed another differentiation between themselves. The shaking of heads clued her in. “Apparently Auric,” the alicorn princess said, “which is the Displaced from my world, is getting into a fight with some other Displaced called Makuta Teridax.”
The hushed silence was the only response and the ponies looked back out the window as the small people kept moving around before their numbers finally dwindled out. It was a few more moments before the room darkened as did the sky. A second later, a very loud female voice began speaking.
“I should like to welcome all to this battle between Auric Fulcrum, the Golden Bastard, and Makuta Teridax, Queen of Shadows,” a few of the figures on the ground seemed to be shaking their fists at the sky though a few of them were hunched over. “Suffice to say, the rules are placed inside the strategy room of each fortress. You get one life, and if you die you will join the observers. All reality warping powers are off limits, and lastly, your powers will not work for the next two hours until you either choose to get a jump on it, or work out a strategy. Enjoy the fight, refreshments are provided should you ask.”
The light returned and the three Twilights raised their eyebrows in unison before the alicorn shook her head. “That woman…” The other Twilights looked even more confused before the cat-eared woman from before entered the room and began floating in a lawn chair whilst eating popcorn.
“What?” both Twilights asked.
“I should probably explain in greater detail,” the alicorn Twilight said, before getting a snap of fingers from the cat-eared woman and a chalkboard rolled up next to her. “Thanks Essence,” she got a nod and then began drawing on the board, somewhat crudely.
“You both were accompanying your Displaced before you ended up here, right?” A nod and the Twilight began drawing a few circles along with some stick-ponies in them next to a stick figure. “These worlds are you,” she gestured at two of them, “this is me,” she tapped a third. “And this is where we are,” she tapped the fourth circle which had a bunch of stick figures.
“Multiverse, right?” one of the Twilights offered.
“Indeed, now. The Displaced I accompanied,” she tapped her circle again, “was Auric Fulcrum who has been challenged to a fight by Makuta Teridax. They both Understand, which apparently means they know how everything in the Multiverse works, not that I’ve ever seen them apply that knowledge if they can.”
The cat-eared woman nodded again as the Twilight kept going, “As you can see, they got others involved through recruitment by various means. Auric primarily used Umbra, who has retired, according to Essence, and he refuses to have anything to do with this.”
“There are two sides, in this war. Auric, with the heroes, and Teridax, with the villains. Its fairly simple, but they all seem to have agreed to not fight in their own Equestria,” the speaking Twilight looked skywards and muttered a soundless ‘thank faust’, before she went on. “So, we are here as observers, since we got pulled along.”
“Why aren’t we fighting?” the original Twilight asked, “Certainly we could beat some of them.”
“According to Essence here, it’s both for our safety and the Displaced’s. If we were to die, there would be quite an amount of repercussions from our Equestrias. Mine especially would have Celestia coming to kick the flank of whoever killed me, if she could,” Twilight had nearly started rambling and caught herself. She slid the chalkboard away and it vanished the moment it touched the wall.
“I think you get it, right?” she asked herselves. They nodded and started watching the window again. The alicorn Twilight flew up to Essence and poked her in the side with her hoof. “Can we see what’s happening inside the fortresses? I think we all want to see what they’re doing.”
“Very well,” Essence snapped her fingers and the perspective of the window changed, allowing them to see inside the strategy room which contained a group of people. Twilight watched as Auric stood up, and opened his mouth to speak.
I: A Tactical Understanding
The War of Understanding
I:
Auric took a seat at the head of the long table, looking at the people and other variations thereof. The fact Essence had elected to restrict their powers before they agreed to start or as they strategized was likely a boon considering the tempers of some of those present, namely Ben. As it stood, most of them looked rather uncomfortable at the current state of events. Though most of them seemed uncomfortable, a few seemed relatively unappalled. One particular member, Zero if he recalled correctly, seemed rather smug.
After a few moments, Auric stood up. "Welcome to Hero Castle, though that is not our name, I do feel it's correct in the statement of what we are in this war." A few nods, followed by a few scoffs were the only response. "I would have preferred this be a fight between myself and Teridax but things didn't work out that way, as you all well know."
"Now, we need to come up with a strategy, does anyone have any ideas they want to present?" Auric looked at those seated, when Zero spoke up.
"Obviously we need to know what the enemy's strategy is, otherwise we can't exactly counteract it, now can we?" A smug undertone took to his voice as he spoke. All of the attendees nodded, whilst one in particular sprung to her feet. Blonde hair bobbed as the girl's furrowed brows gave way to the aggravation she seemingly felt at the current situation.
"First we get our powers back from that egotistical kitten with a goddess complex, then we crush them!" Kat Shifter offered before slamming her hand on the table. Perhaps normally, the table would have broke, in fact for the majority of the people in the room such an action would have broken the table. Instead it shuddered slightly, "It's obvious!"
Another woman, this one with silver blonde hair, looked across the table from her place next to another member at the vibrant woman. "Within a few minutes, the majority of our side would be out of the battle," Aranea Highwind gave Kat an exhausted look, "so if you wish to put us, and the worlds we represent to death, then we should follow your strategy. I would also refrain from insulting our host."
Auric nodded and voiced his agreement, "Aranea is right. Both on that strategy and on insulting the host."
Zero himself remained silent.
"I find that most Void Dwellers aren't quite so... reasonable, when it comes to insults," a man in a very uniquely blue suit said, "Granted, this one seems less explosive than most but it's still a bad decision."
"Shut up," Kat huffed.
A chorus of chuckles permeated the room, and Auric went back to speaking. "Perhaps we should wait out until we know what their goal is? Or their strategy?"
"I can always like, go into bullet time and get into their headquarters when the fight begins," Nicholas offered, if a little sheepishly. The room pondered this for a minute as Nick offered another statement, "Though Micheal might know I'm there."
"Oh yeah, if you want to be the first to die," Ben offered, rather sarcastically.
Auric sighed, clearly it was going to be difficult to get everyone to cooperate calmly. "As morbid as that remark is, Ben has a point. It is best to avoid unnecessary deaths or risk them," he said, "and as well as I might know Teridax, even I cannot predict his exact actions." The room was still as everyone pondered the statement, before there was an interruption by the man in blue.
"Well, considering they are villains, we do have a few guarantees," he proffered, "the first being they will not hold back. I can also predict the consistent monologue that seems common amongst that lot."
Aranea nodded, "Both are generally true, but if I am correct about one of their members, monologuing will not save you, or even likely happen if he knows you have the possibility of escape. Of course, some of them are also insane."
Auric frowned, "You both hold good points, of course, I am wondering who that member might be."
Aranea looked the man dead in the eyes, "If I am correct, you won't have to wonder. Linearly, both he and I come from well after this has allegedly taken place, however with the Void, time is never a certain thing. I am, however, certain that our host would restrict him and keep trouble away so do not be too worried for now."
Auric frowned, "A villain like Teridax himself?"
"It's best I leave the rest unsaid, it is not important right now," Aranea gestured back to the table, "the majority of you here work by yourself, only a select few have experience with armies or groups. Some of you do have minions, but they are mindless and do not have minds of their own. Free will is an important aspect of an army, it allows snap judgments in emergencies. Of all your minions, only Dahaka's may possess even a certain level of self thought."
Auric nodded, "That is a fairly apt assessment but I do not think-"
Her hand slammed onto the table, "Auric, silence yourself for a moment. As far as I am aware all of you have little experience actually leading armies, and before any of you interrupt allow me to explain," she glared across the table at each of the members. "Auric, you have acted mostly alone. Both as Dullahan and as yourself. Kat, I literally don't need to say anything. If I did, you would get pissed off like you have in the past. Jason, you take the frontlines in far too many situations to pose even the slightest bit as a leader for this. Dahaka, you have enough experience to make a valid officer but I'm not going beyond that. Ben... honestly, you'd probably get everyone killed if what I know of you is correct. The Doctor is the only person here who can honestly say he knows how War goes, aside from myself, and that is why I will be relying on him for strategical advice."
A few people at the table grimaced, "As for the rest of you, I don't know you well enough to trust you with tactics, so for this I will take the lead as the main general and commander. Each of you will be leading your own section of the army, after I dole out your most fitting and apt opponents. Auric is the "King" or the person of power in this and our goal is to capture Teridax and bring him before Auric to finish the fight."
The room remained silent for a few moments, "Now, any arguments?" Nothing but more silence, aside from a few grumbles and glares. "You do not have to like me, merely listen. Here's our strategy..."
Hero Roster:
Auric Fulcrum - Kat Shifter - Xemnas - Zed - Jason Hughes - Aranea Highwind - Nemesis - Lich King -
II: Darkened Understanding
The War of Understanding
II:
Meanwhile at the Legion of Doom...
Unlike the previous location, eagerly lit with light gray walls and beautifully decorated, this castle held a dark presence to it. Where the other had light, this had dusk, where the other had shade, this had darkness. The only light came from the oil lanterns placed along the table. At the end of the room, Makuta Teridax, in all his metallic glory, sat atop a dark throne. Before him, at a long table, sat all those he had successfully recruited and one lone stranger. The stranger seemed almost disinterested and the Makuta chose to address him.
"What has you so unenthused , my unknown guest?" the stranger merely raised an eyebrow at his words and when he spoke, his voice sounded wavy and dreary, monotonous and distant. The rest of the table listened intently.
"Unlike those here, my reasons for being here are not related to my fate, their fates, or the elimination of those who oppose us, for in truth, they pose me no threat at this time nor will they for some time, or in some cases ever," the shaded being answered, pure blackness allowed no variation in his depths. He had no face, and no defining features, "Perhaps I may enjoy what is about to occur, however."
"Watch your tongue," Pyramid Head, his voice graveled and animalistic, commanded. The stranger waved his hand dismissively and looked back to Teridax when the massive butcher's knife flew clean through him only to crash into the table with a heavy bang, pulling the beast to the side. The stranger looked down at the massive object that now lay through his body.
"Oh look," he said, "I've been impaled."
The room went deathly silent as the figure stood up and walked through the table as if it weren't there, "As if a knife could actually kill me," the entity snorted, "far more dangerous things have tried." The entity leaned against the wall, further confusing the people at the table as Teridax let out a sigh.
"If you would," he winced, "refrain from trying to kill one another for the moment, we have a strategy to discuss." They all took their seats, the stranger remaining against the wall. The others glared at him, before the shade took a step forward.
"Before we decide, there is something you all should see," the being sounded smug and a mass of shadows flurried forward before coalescing into a three dimensional image of another table. The figures solidified and one of those seated at the table started cursing loudly. The figure was frail and wore a dark robe upon his form, white wrinkled face furrowed in anger.
"How dare my brother attempt to-" Teridax chose to interrupt with a loud cough.
"What is this?" He directed the question at the entity, "And how am I to trust you aren't Umbra in disguise?"
"Why, that's just the Heroes forming a strategy of course. Seems like this, Aranea Highwind, is attempting to gain control of the armies so they have some sort of general. Sadly, I don't know much or anything of her," the shadow shrugged, "And the other question is unimportant, Aaron retired some time ago."
"And why, pray tell, is my brother there?" the angered lich asked.
"Trust me, Lich King, your brother is perfectly fine and quite excited about this plan," the entity laughed, "Although, perhaps I should have let Teridax come up with something prior. He is the leader , after all." The lich's eye twitched in anger as Teridax shook his head in disagreement.
"Ingenius," Teridax admitted, "And they do not know who he is?"
"None, though that's to be expected as more Wild Cards have entered this play than I remember from what I know," the silhouette responded, waving his hand at people on the screen. He began writing in the air with his finger and names appeared above each participant in the image. "Comparatively, you just have me. That is, not that I am weak, but you only have me as a Wild Card, though I don't doubt they know I am here."
"And how do you plan to assist us?" Teridax asked, staring at the shade as two red ovals manifested on what seemed to be it's head and came quite quickly to represent eyes as it squinted. The entity looked up at the holographic projection, then back to Teridax, then back to the projection. It squinted again and remained silently staring at the so-called master of shadows.
"What?" Teridax asked.
"Did you HONESTLY just ask me that question?" the entity retorted, one black hand pointing at the image above them, specifically pointed at the Lich King's brother. "Frankly, I'm no longer surprised I heard you lost after hearing that." It then shook it's head and the red eyes closed as a sigh echoed throughout the room before Teridax let out something that was a mix between a scoff and groan.
"My question was in regards to other matters of assistance, I had assumed you were going to do something else as well," Teridax responded, the metallic sheen of his body causing a beam of light to run across the wall as he waved his hand in minor annoyance. The entity blinked and then nodded slowly.
"Well, yes, I could, but seeing as I currently have a few other matters I have to deal with as this takes place, which I assure I will be present when possible, the best I can do is offer you part of my army. The meddling cat wants my help and she did make quite a lucrative offer this time," the entity held out his arms and the entire castle began to rumbling and it quickly became an eerie and almost impermeable black before all settled down and the light returned.
What had once been a solid wall in part of the castle was now a window that overlooked a field of dark monsters, various shapes and sizes, displaying all kinds of creatures. One such being entered the room and his strange form was one many of them recognized, though the dark mist and miasma that emanated from him were new. As was his color scheme, pure red eyes stared back and his coat and skin were all a shade of dark grey.
"Discord?" Teridax muttered. The entity merely laughed.
"Yes, but he is mine now," it brushed the draconequus' head with one hand. "He will lead my troops and fight along side all of yours. I leave you all to it," the dark silhouette vanished without a single trace and the room went silent.
"I still don't like him," Pyramid Head grumbled. Another figure looked at the place the entity had been before commenting.
"Nonetheless, he has style," the man cloaked in deep brown robes with black gloves commented, "And that, you cannot deny."
Pyramid Head grunted in response. Teridax merely chuckled and made his way out of the room as his council followed in silence. Discord, in all his dark glory, followed in silence as he stared at the mutilated man with the blades attached to his fingers. A familiar striped shirt and worn out fedora made it clear to those who knew who this was.
"What's his problem?" the man questioned. The lich, not unsurprisingly, shrugged, but another one of the many there finally answered. It was a ghost of some sort, or so it seemed. Either way, like the entity from before it was possibly incorporeal, however, it lacked the presence, the sheer pressure the other had exuded.
"You, probably," it said, a smirk gracing it's face, "That thing emanated fear, primordial fear, and this, " he gestured at Discord, "is one of it's minions. You, are a nightmare that kills people. A simple conflict of clashing strengths."
The nearby Charizard laughed, "Can't believe you didn't notice that, leave it to Shade." Several others in the group chuckled as well, getting a roll of the eyes from the man. "Freddy Krueger of all people not noticing another nightmare," another chuckle.
"Really Geo?" Freddy retorted. This time the Charizard shrugged in response as the door before them opened and light filtered down on the group. Yet another cloaked figure towards the front immediately bent down to take a look at the creatures before him.
"Hm, some of these are corporeal and some are not," it commented offhandedly as it prodded one of the creatures with it's hand.
"That certainly is interesting Dominus," Teridax answered as he looked out at the half of the extremely large courtyard and the swarm of strange creatures. After a moment the makuta raised his hand and the ground shook as a large portal materialized and a swarm of metallic bipedal creatures marched forth. Spears, swords, and a variety of weapons were held forth as the moved in formation to stand before Teridax.
Following suit were several of his allies, their forces each moving forth to stand in the courtyard, a sizeable army far beyond what they expected their opponents to muster. Finally, as the last of the soldiers came to a standstill, the second cloaked figure removed his hood and birdlike mask to reveal a dark skinned man, his black hair a mess atop his head and his eyes lacked any shine, whisps of black floating through his eyes. As he raised his hand, a dark flame of violent indigo appeared in his hand and he threw it into the sky.
A large magical circle of unfamiliar runes to all below appeared and each soldier glowed briefly with deep blue light before the circle of flames vanished. "I believe that covers what I was requested," the figure said.
"Indeed it does, Master Stire," Teridax nodded, "You may do as you wish."
"This fight of yours sounds intriguing..."
Author's Note
Took longer than expected, but some of these characters took me a bit to grasp their styles. Yes, I realize some of you will note discrepancies, andif you are an author of one of these characters, feel free to message me if I've done something wrong.
Brel Stire is a new addition, though not a Wild Card as our other friend and Teridax both know him. SOme of you may have thought this was purely a simple rewrite with little to change, but, I didn't see any reason to make things so uninteresting.
