The last human war

It didn’t take them too long to understand one simple thing: they cannot win on their own.

Ponies were stronger, faster, more durable than humans, but they couldn’t match war machines, that now moved towards their hideout, to destroy the pony squad.

Honey Bun knew that she has to retreat with her friends back to Equestria. To inform the Princess about humans and ask help.

They did exactly that.

“...so we need your assistance, Princess. We can’t handle it on our own” Honey Bun finished her speech and now was waiting for Celestia’s verdict.

The alicorn seemed to be deep in thought. But it took only a minute or two for her to come up with a possible solution.
Or solutions?

“To defeat such force, we have to use all our potential together. Every single pony, capable to fight should join the war.
The downside, though -- it would put a great burden on our shoulders. We would need to send all goods and all resources to our forces on Earth. There will be also casualties. A lot of casualties."

"Even when we win, it won’t be the victory to celebrate. It’d be the victory, builded upon our sufferings and our deaths.”

Celestia sighed, looking at Honey Bun, who became pale after hearing the Princess’ speech.

“But there is also another solution. All of ponies can redirect their magic energy to one pony for some time. Normally, I would expect it to last for several hours. But… there’s also a downside."

"Not only that pony will cease to exist after time’s up. Her soul will become restless for the rest of the eternity. It will wander around the death world it created, consumed with never-ending hatred and rage.”

Honey Bun didn’t hesitate.

“Then, I’m going to be that pony.”

“No, you won’t. I’m the one who’ll fit that role just fine.”

All the ponies turned around to see Arum, who entered the castle just recently.

“Arum? What are you doing here? I thought-” Honey Bun was interrupted by the pegasus.

“I was wrong. After I left, back in the tunnels, I want to go to humans. To warn them… but only then I understood how big was a mistake I’ve made...”

She came closer and now everypony was able to see horrible scars all over her body.

“They wanted to burn me alive. They tied me to… something, then poured lots of some liquid on me and…”

She didn’t finish, instead looking Honey Bun in her eyes.

“I was able to escape, but couldn’t go too far, without a large part of my muscles. So I was hiding, until I regenerated and then I returned here.
I was a fool, and worse than that, I was a traitor. So I want to redeem myself. This is the only way I can earn redemption from Equestria.”

Honey Bun went to Arum and suddenly hugged her.

“You are forgiven already, my friend. Don’t forget -- we are ponies. We forgive each other, when we see the true remorse. But it’d be right if I will go. I started this war, I will finish it.”

She let the pegasus go and looked to Celestia.

“I’m ready, Princess.”

=============

And then… everything was over. Everything just… vanished. Leaving nothing, but charred surface.

Had any human survived there, he’d told about their feelings. About wild, primal fear they felt. About unimaginable events. About screams of pain, about agony of millions.

Humans didn’t know what is going to happen to them. They pulled many war machines and troops to the portal, and tried to destroy it by firepower.

It didn’t work.

But what happened next… it made them curse the day when they were born, curse their parents for giving them lives.

Because she appeared.

How to describe her? Nobody knew. Because it goes beyond any words anyone can possibly say.

Honey Bun, once loyal subject, good friend and trustworthy pony now was gone. Her consciousness was hibernated deep down. Her body was controlled by something else.

It was controlled by pure hatred and wrath.

Humans didn’t have a chance to shoot her. She made them all burn in a second. They burned and melted alive, yells of pain echoed the area.

In several hours humans realised, that she’s not just causing death and committing genocide. She was death and she was genocide herself. Or, to be correct, omnicide, because she didn’t discriminate in her killing spree. All living creatures, from bacterias to elephants and whales were destroyed along with humans.

It took twenty hours. Only twenty hours to turn a habitable planet into charred wasteland.

She knew what was coming after that. The price she must pay for destroying humans. But something wasn’t right. She didn’t turn into a ghost of hatred. She just… passed out. And it felt… so right.

=============

“Honey Bun!”

“You’re alive!”

“I can’t believe it! Oh, I’m so happy for you!”

Honey Bun opened her eyes. She was in the castle, with her friend surrounding her.

“W-what happened? Did we… destroy them?”

“We did. Or, more specifically, you did it.” Princess Celestia spoked.

“But… why I’m here? I should’ve turned into… you know?”

“Equestria itself changed your fate, Honey Bun. ” Princess continued.

“Your labour was so monumental, that you were given the second life. You earned it by your actions, your determination, by your desire to set things right. From here on out, you will be the Champion of Equestria, and you will be known as one of the greatest heroes.”

Honey Bun bowed to Celestia.

“It’s the greatest honor for me, Your Majesty.”

The earth pony smiled. She earned this title.