City of Thundera, Mission Clock at 33:00
Dusk

“I’m sorry, but you’re an idiot!” After running down what had led to the missile bombardment with Lion-O, who until now I didn’t realize was the de facto leader of this entire species, I had been standing in the ruins of the palace throne room while he and his ‘brother’ Tygra gave me a verbal beat-down that I hadn’t had since before I left the military.

By this point I had finally reached a breaking point, because if I’m being honest I HATE being on the receiving end of lectures. “Well it worked out in the end, didn’t it?” I spat. “Mumm-Ra’s soldiers didn’t get anything out of their raid and no one on our side of the line got hurt.”

“But we can’t even confirm that there were lizards in the market district where there’s nothing left!” Tygra yelled. “Better yet, who the hell are you to decide to launch any sort of attack on our territory?”

“Oh I’m sorry, I mistook it for abandoned ruins!” I yelled back. “Now I’ll admit I do need to get back up to speed on our current military doctrine and codes. But what does it matter now?”

Tygra seemed ready to say more, but Lion-O stopped him. “Dusk, look. I can’t complain about the results but the execution was far from ideal. We need to make sure that this doesn’t happen again. But until you can a handle on things I think you’ll need someone with a bit more experience to back you up.”

“Then do you have any suggestions?” I asked. “Because I know the files of most of the Northern Guard agents. Believe me, they don’t have the training to handle a full-scale military operation.”

“They got here somehow.” Tygra pointed out. “Could you use the same method to find someone who fits the bill?”

“Not without the Nexus we can’t.” I countered.

“Well… What if something like this ‘nexus’ existed in this universe?” Lion-O asked.

“It could… You’d just have to find it. And the universe is BIG, so good luck finding it easily.” I said. At that point I simply stormed out of the throne room in a huff.

“So how’d it go?”

I glanced off to my left and saw that Pumyra was leaning against the doorframe. “Well they didn’t have me executed.”

“I guess that’s a good start.” Pumyra said as we started walking down the stairs to the plaza below the palace. “How are you doing?”

“Well I could be better.” As my feet hit the broken cobblestones of the plaza I sighed. “This was just a mess. I didn’t bother trying to figure out what was going on before I called you and Archer in, and then I put us all in jeopardy by ordering the Endeavor to level the market district. That discounts the fact that I didn’t even realize what I ordered them to do! Now there’s the potential for a military conflict and I’m the colt that every other pony here is looking to for leadership.”

“Do you think that you can handle it?” Pumyra asked.

I shook my head. “Maybe… I just don’t know. I’m really not trusting my judgement at the moment.”

“Endeavor to Dusk, you there?” Rush’s voice chimed out over my radio.

I fished out the small device and clicked the transmitter. “I’m here, go ahead.”

“We’re picking up another energy surge down there. Grey seems to think that it’s another portal.” Rush explained. “Can you go check it out?”

“Just where-”

SHOOM!

“Nevermind, I’m looking right at it.” I said, putting the radio back into my vest pocket. As the flickering white tear in the fabric of the universe began to shrink, there was a blur of color as something came flying through it and smacked through one of the palace walls. The portal closed immediately after the blur hit its mark. “Want to go see who showed up?”

***

Somewhere Outside of Canterlot, Some Time Ago
Meteor Shower

“Come on, keep it moving!” I heard a guard shout over the murmurs of panicked Canterlot elite.

“Ugh… What did I miss?” I groaned as I spoke, the pounding pain in the back of my head growing slowly and steadily.

I felt someone prop me against a face of rock and I finally opened my eyes. We were on one of the footpaths that led down along the cliffs away from Canterlot. “Oh thank Faust, you’re awake.” Celestia said.

As I rubbed the back of my head it came away wet with some dried blood. “What hit me?” I asked.

“Just a brick, nothing too fancy.” Luna said as she crowded in next to her sister. “How are you feeling General?”

“Do you really want to know?” I offered.

Luna rolled her eyes. “At least he’s still pleasant.”

Celestia glared at Luna for a moment before she turned her attention back to me. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

I thought for a moment before it came back to me. “We were under attack… But what attacked us?”

“We still don’t know for sure. All we know is that we were dealing with some sort of dark magic.” Celestia explained.

“Could it be Tirek?”

“Even if it was Tirek he would’ve already attacked us.” Luna pointed out.

“Wonderful… Where do we stand on response?”

“Meteor, we don’t even know how to respond.” Celestia said. “So until we can figure that out I’m far more concerned with protecting the civilians from harm.”

“Then wouldn’t it be a good idea to work on stopping this madness?” I countered.

“Meteor…”

“Don’t give me that tone Tia. You and I both know that we need a plan, and fast.”

“Then allow me to offer a solution.”

That new voice got me to perk up. In an instant I felt my splitting headache disappear, and in that same moment I could feel a new weight drape itself across my body. Once all was said and done it took another few moments for me to figure out that my suit had given way to a black and gold set of armor. “Well this is new…” I said, looking down at my new attire.

“And just who the hell are you?!” I heard Luna exclaim.

The source of her ire quickly became clear. A unicorn mare, wearing some rather tribal-looking armor, with hood pulled up to obscure most of her face. “I’m nothing more than an emissary Luna, one that was sent to help develop the solution that you seek.”

“Faust sent you, didn’t she?”

“She did, and of course your mother sends her regards to all three of you.” The mare said. As soon as she said that a portal behind her opened. “Now get going General, your grandson will need your help.”

As I stepped towards the portal I heard Luna clear her throat. “And just why would mother be concerned with all three of us?” She asked.

“Well why wouldn’t she send greetings to her daughters and son-in-law?” The mare asked.

“Son-in… You and Meteor are married?” Luna exclaimed.

“No we’re not!” Celestia said, a slight blush becoming visible on her cheeks.

“But you consummate your relationship and sired a child by the General. By Equestrian law you two are married.” The mare retorted.

“Wait, I’m an aunt?” Luna wondered aloud.

“Great aunt too.” The mystery mare added.

“Great… It’s Dusk, isn’t it?” Said Luna as she deadpanned.

I didn’t say anything as I turned back to the portal. “Well I catch you two later!”

“Here, let me help you!”

Suddenly I felt something slam into my back and throw me through the portal. The next thing I remember after that was crashing through a stone wall, right before skidding to a stop on my heels. “Son of a bitch…” I muttered. In the future, I should probably avoid in keeping secrets from angry siblings, in-laws or not.

“What makes you think that was someone?” I heard a female voice ask from outside my makeshift door.

I turned around to two faces, one incredibly familiar. “Because I have a feeling that there’s an all-knowing deity watching out for me.”

“Dusk?” I muttered.

My grandson, who I noticed was now missing his entire horn, simply nodded. “Glad you could make it Gramps.”

***

Northern Guard Camp, A.K.A. Thundera Market District
Half an Hour Later
Dusk

While leveling part of the city isn’t necessarily a good thing, it created a vast open space that the Northern Guard put to good use. They set up their larger tents and equipment, while setting up a number of fold-out hesco barriers that they filled with the rubble from the ruined buildings, making walls that bordered the center of the quickly-established complex. Since we had left the ship Rush had managed to recharge the cells of the shuttle, and used it to bring Northern Guard crews back to Endeavor so they could pilot down the handful of Pelicans that were aboard with vehicles and munitions to bolster the already substantial equipment that the Northern Guard had brought. By the time we had arrived with my newly-arrived Grandfather the central command tent had already been set up.

“So that’s what we’ve got.” I said, putting down the tablet that was used to establish an uplink with the Endeavor. “The last of Mumm-Ra’s soldiers have finally showed up and it appears they’re all getting ready to move out. We don’t know where they’re going for sure but after talking to Lion-O I’d bet they’re coming here.”

“Then we dig in and establish fortifications along the ruins of the city wall. In addition to that we’ll position artillery batteries in the palace courtyard.” Gramps replied, marking the locations for the positions on the holotable that had been set up at the heart of the operation. “Cosmo, go have your ponies get started on the front line positions.” As Cosmo left the tent I took stock of those present. Besides myself and Gramps, there were Archer, Pumyra, and Rush. “I take it there’s more that needs to be discussed.”

“Well of course there is.” Archer pointed out. “Last time I saw you, you were unconscious after getting smacked by a chunk of stone.”

“True, and the last I saw of you Archer was your jaw heading for the floor.” Gramps retorted. “As for what I’m doing here, you can thank Faust for that... Although getting thrown through was Luna’s doing.”

“Then are the Princesses alright?” Archer asked in return. “Better yet what was attacking the city?”

“They are, last I saw them they were leading ponies down the mountain out of Canterlot. As for what was attacking, all we know for sure is that we’re dealing with dark magic of some sort.” Gramps explained. “Although I do have to admit that this connection to Mumm-Ra that you all have discovered is concerning…”

“Then what do you think we should do?” I asked.

“Well we should stick around until we know what Mumm-Ra is doing, and hopefully learn something about him in the meantime.” Gramps said.

“Sounds like another reason to go to the Cleric archives.” Pumyra pointed out.

Before we had the opportunity to go anywhere the flap that acted as the door to the tent was pulled open. “What was that about the archives?” Lion-O asked as he stepped inside. He stared at Gramps for a moment before he turned his attention to me. “And who are you?”

“I’m the stallion that’s going to save your asses. Now how about you tell me who you are.” Gramps said pointedly.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Gramps has only been here for half an hour and he’s already throwing his weight around. “Might I point out that we still don’t know what Mumm-Ra’s plans are?”

Both Gramps and Lion-O both looked like they wanted to say something, but they were cut off when the holotable flickered and Grey’s avatar joined us. “Dusk, we have a situation.”

Without even asking all eyes in the room turned to the AI’s holographic representation. “What’s wrong Grey?”

“It appears that Mumm-Ra’s army has disappeared.” Grey said.

“An army doesn’t just disappear.” Gramps pointed out. “So where’d they go?”

“That’s just it, I’ve located the lead elements of Mumm-Ra’s forces about a five hour march from your current position.” The AI replied. “And at the moment they’re closing on your location.”

“Looks like we don’t need to guess or educate ourselves anymore.” Archer pointed out.

“And now it looks like we won’t have all of our defenses ready…” Gramps muttered. “Grey, is the Endeavor capable of atmospheric flight?”

“To a limited extent it is. We can hold station, but maneuvering will be heavily limited.”

“Then get in here.” Gramps ordered before he flicked on his radio. “This is the General. We’ve spotted hostile forces inbound, prepare for battle!”

***

Five Hours Later…

Lucky for both myself an Archer the armor racks aboard Endeavor are removable, and after gathering some of Porter’s marines we had all of our equipment on solid ground inside of two hours. It didn’t take much to convince everyone to ditch the equipment that we had landed with and go for the heavier, more durable stuff. Going around the city fully clad in Mjolnir armor certainly turned some heads of the locals, but with the whispers of what they believed to be their impending doom they seemed far less concerned with me. Of course I wasn’t the only one getting the looks. While Archer got her fair share, some of the local guards that Tygra was slowly rearming seemed to be steering clear of Pumyra. With what I know about her past in mind, I think it’s safe to assume that her people still don’t trust her yet.

Even with the black Equestrian-marked BDU that she was wearing, the looks of disapproval and disgust from the cats spoke volumes of how they felt. It didn’t matter what she was wearing, they still thought she was a traitor. “Just don’t think about it.” I said as we walked back into the camp.

“Don’t think about what?” Pumyra asked, trying to play off her downtrodden demeanor.

“I’ll have you know that I do have eyes of my own.” I replied. “Your people will come around eventually. They just need to see how you’ve changed.”

“That’s easy for you to say…” Pumyra muttered.

“Does that make it any less true?” I asked as the two of us entered the command tent.

“Whatever you’re talking about, I’m just going to assume that Dusk is right.” Gramps said as he walked in behind us. “Now is your team ready to go?”

“As ready as we’ll ever be.” I said as we all gathered around the holotable. “Now what do you need us to do?”

“It's rather simple. You’re backing up the Thundercats while they make a run at Mumm-Ra. You just keep his soldiers off of them.” Gramps explained. “The rest of us will try to hold the line.”

“Are we sure that taking Mumm-Ra out will stop the offensive?” Archer asked.

“It likely would.” Pumyra added. “Why keep fighting if your immortal leader is dead? If his soldiers see him die that would crush their morale.”

“Which is exactly what I’m hoping to accomplish.” Gramps said. “It's the only option that stands a chance of working given the present situation, because I’m sure by now that you all know that we’ve vastly outnumbered.”

The holotable flickered and a map of the outskirts of Thundera grew from the blue light. Approximately a mile away was a mob of large armored walkers and foot soldiers approaching the entrenched marines and Northern Guard agents at foot of the ruined city walls. “Just in case this isn’t clear, are we boned?”

The rather blunt and somewhat vulgar question that Archer posed left both Gramps and myself stunned. “I guess we are…” But I stopped once everything around me slowed to a stop and every pony in the tent started looking rather grey. “What the fuck?”

“Why hello…” I turned around and saw a cloaked, sickly looking figure standing behind me. “Do you remember me?”

It took a moment but I quickly recognized the voice. “Mumm-Ra… How are you in my head?”

“My power isn’t limited to those standing next to me.” Mumm-Ra croaked. “That should tell you that you cannot hope to survive the onslaught of my army.”

I couldn’t help but shake my head. “I’ve dealt with worse than whatever you can toss around.” I retorted. “Now how about you tell me why you’re here. What do you want?”

“Why I want you to join me.” The projection of the dark influence said.

“And what happens if I refuse?” I asked.

Mumm-Ra shrugged as his form dissolved and the world around me began to move again. “Then you’ll be the second one to die.”

Author's Note

Sorry this one's a day late, but here we are in the next chapter of this installment of mine. But next week we hit the finale of this story arc, and face down the first real villain on the journey back to Equestria. Questions will be answered and raised, so stay tuned!

We've also got a new cover that went up yesterday thanks to my buddy Marik. So there's that tidbit too...

Get in on the Mirrorverse Discord here!

Anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section and the Mirrorverse Codex. Read and comment away, because I want to hear from you fellow denizens of this corner of the internet. Until next time gang!
-Striker