Alicorn Genesisby The Cowardly ChristianChapterschapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 1chapter 2Alicorn Genesis ... CHARLES RONSON: I'm locked out of core control- Alpha clearance overridden- What the hell is Omega clearance? (Ted Faro appears via hologram) SAMINA EBADJI: Oh no. TED FARO: Alpha Personnel... Sorry to alarm you, but... I need you to listen, okay? To what I'm about to say. This isn't easy. See, I've... uh, Please, stop trying to access the system, okay? See, what this is about... is... I said stop trying to access the goddamn system! What I'm trying to say is, I can't stop thinking about the ones who'll come after us. Those innocents. Those blameless men- and, and women. We're going to give them knowledge? Like it's a gift?! SAMINA EBADJI: Ted. Ted, we've talked about this before. APOLLO has three thousand plus failsafe conditions- TED FARO: It's not a gift, it's a disease! They're the cure, and we're going to give them the disease? Our disease?! No. We can't. And it's not too late... if we're willing to sacrifice. SAMINA EBADJI: Ted, it doesn't need to be like this. TED FARO: It already is, Samina. I did it three minutes ago. I've purged APOLLO. It's gone, all of it. Every copy. CHARLES RONSON: A sacrifice? It's not a sacrifice, it's cultural obliteration, you crazy bastard- millennia of culture- TED FARO: I'm sorry. Really, I am. But sometimes, to protect innocents... innocents have to die. JACK HARPER: (appears as a new hologram) Technically I agree...but there's sacrifice...and then there's just being a wastsful moron. Travis Tate: YOU!? TED FARO: What the- Who are you- (BEEP!) What the, what happened to my Omega access- Wha- Who are you?! How did you get in- NO! GET AWAY! YOU FOOLS! I'M THE SAVIOR OF THE NEW GOLDEN AGE!(image grows staticy and brief images of armored men grabbing Faro and taking him away). Samina Ebadji: What? What's going on...who are you?! Jack Harper: Before I say anything else...you should know that APOLLO is safe- Samina Ebadji: What!? Jack Harper: Faro merely Believed he'd purged it. It's completely fine. Samina Ebadji: (sigh of relief) Oh, thank god... Travis Tate: I can't believe this...your here... Charles Ronson: You know who this is? Travis Tate: Spooks call him the 'Illusive man' he's the proverbial 'boogeyman' of the espionage world! Him and his CERBERUS!(shakes his head in disbelief) Never thought he'd be here though... Jack harper: Indeed, Cerberus infiltrated this project. Humanity was putting all it's eggs in one basket after all...needless to say...this made people 'nervous'... Travis Tate: ...So what happens now? Jack Harper: That's all up to you...See, although Farro was a moron...he was right about one thing: This is an opportunity for a new beginning...to make things RIGHT. Which is why...I've made my own addition to ZERO HORIZON DAWN. (a new hologram appears...entitled: HECATE) Ayomide Okilo: Wha...Hecate? The Greek goddess of magic? What is this? HECATE: Listen...and I'll explain... (PAUSE) The Mane six stood stunned by this new developments...for the last hour they'd learned so much...about these humans...about the 'Farro plague'...about ZERO HORIZON DAWN... "This is amazing! These humans...their technology was so many years ahead of us!" Says Twilight as she examines the hologram amazed. Celestia nodded with a sad smile, "Indeed it is." Applejack frowned, "With all due respect your majesty...so far I'm not seeing what this Jack has done to deserve your ire, seems like he did everyone a favor taking down that Farro fool." "Of course he did everyone a favor!" Exclaims Twilight suddenly, "That monster was going to destroy KNOWLEDGE!" She runs over and hugs her precious books- which for some reason instead of being destroyed at her library had been sent to the Astral plane along with Harper - "Precious, Precious knowledge! I'll never let you out of my sight again!" She gives them a kiss while caressing them lovingly. Everyone gives her weird looks...Celestia coughs awkwardly, "Yes...ANYWAY! This next part will make it more clear..." (UNPAUSE) (FASTFORWARD) Samina Ebadji: I...I don't believe this! Magic...magic really exists? Charles Ronson: And...there's a whole secret society that practiced it? JACK HARPER: Well...there used to be. Travis Tate: ...Dare I ask what happened? Jack Harper: There was a megalomaniacal dark wizard named Voldemort...who conquered all of wizard kind in the late 1990's- Margo Shĕn: What? Just like that? Didn't they put up a fight? Jack Harper: (looks annoyed)Yes...apparently they put all their hopes into a eleven year old boy with NO experience to save the day FOR them. Travis Tate: ...I'm sorry...what? Jack Harper:(rolled his eyes) Apparently he was the 'CHOSEN ONE'- (PAUSE) "Huh, you'd think that would've worked." Said Applejack confused. "Certainly worked for us." Agreed Twilight. "I suspect a 'Cerberus retcon' mixed with a 'deconstruction fic'." Contemplated Pinkie Pie. ...Everyone just looked at her weird...before shrugging in off as 'Pinkie being Pinkie' and starting the hologram up again. (UNPAUSE) -...naturally the poor boy was killed immediately, voldemort gained the means to resurrect himself, and the wizarding world- literally having made no other plans and filled with useless adults stuck in a 'fairy tale land where it was always someone else's job to save them' -quickly folded." Ayomide Okilo: (reads data) And apparently, he then attacked the 'muggle' world by...wow, this guy was an idiot, has he never heard of 'tactics' or 'war of attrition'? Jack Harper: ...evidently not...needless to say, although he had quality on his side, muggles had quantity and a better grasp of tactics...thus he lost. But in a last bout of petty spite, he cast a great curse that took all of Wizardkind with him to the grave...and caused all the environmental disasters that made Farro famous- Naoto: -Which is what gave him the influence and resources to create his dang machines that caused all this- gestures around to everything - in the first place!(shakes head in disbelief) Hard to believe one lunatic could cause so much death and destruction LONG after he was dead... Jack Harper: Naturally, we covered up the whole thing. Not hard considering all the disasters that came after...During that time...we researched the 'remains' to figure out how their magi worked...and shorty before the Farro plague occurred...we discovered it. By the time we figured a way to harness it properly, it was too late to save mankind...but now, now we have so much more options... Patrick Brochard-Klein: Hold on, I may not know a lot about 'magic' but I'm well versed in biology. And by the looks of this data...simply saturating a 'muggle' genome with raw magic is more likely to kill it then anything! And it doesn't look like you have enough 'wizard' DNA to extend to integrate to all the craddle facilities either, so that's out! Charles Ronson: And saturating every other living thing on the planet with magic? ...there's no predicting how that'll shape out! So many crazy new specise popping out of the wood work! Manticore! Basilisks! Griffins, ding-Dang Dragons for all we know! Humanity will never survive in all that! Jack Harper: Saturating the world with magic...if done right, will increase the power of the new residence of earth exponentially, allowing them to manipulate the forces of nature as a child would a tinker toy. Some of my analysts theorize that one day evolution on such a world might produce someone capable of controlling the sun! Or more! Patrick Brochard-Klein: You haven't answered our question... Jack Harper: (sigh) Very well, your right...humans wouldn't survive such an ordeal...but a NEW, BETTER race will... ... And the conversation on the hologram basically fell apart after that, the 'Illusive man' tried to convince the Alphas to help him bring this about...but they refused...he then asked if they would at least step aside and allow him to do this on his own...they again refused. With a heavy sigh...Jack Harper then fills the room with a knock out gas...and has his men drag them out... Jack Harper: minds such as your are terrible things to waist...hopefully in time...you'll help bring about my goal... It goes on a bit more...telling how, horse DNA was found to be the best conduit for raw magical energy, apparently they cannibalized all the human DNA stock in all Craddles to create the ponies and makes sure they'd have human intelligence...they then added 'normal' Pegasus and Unicorn DNA to diversify the whole lot... (PAUSE) The Mane six were stunned by all this...they didn't know what to say...what COULD they say? Celestia was the first to speak up; "I know that this is a lot to take in...and I know the concept of being 'princesses' has been- more or less -thrown at you without warning..." Celestia sighed. "My sweet little ponies...I won't lie to you, Twilight alone was supposed to gain this gift- I mean no offense toward any of you, but the fact is I have been grooming her for this position almost her whole life. How to be a learned, diplomatic leader- She looks at the other five awkwardly..."and you five...well... "Are a farmer, fashion expert, 50% cake, veterinarian, and speedster junkie." Listed out Applejack with a sigh, "It's okay your majesty, we know who we are..and were proud of it...but I can rightly see why that would be a concern for you." She conceded reluctantly. Celestia smiled, "Thank you for understanding, ordinarily I'd try to help you properly acclimatize better to your new roles...but we don't have time. The strange and malevolent force that 'tampered' with Twilight's ascension has set events in motion that may spell the doom of Equestria. So I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a 'crash course'." She points toward the image of the human still inside the cell under Canterlot castle. "Your first lesson...voting to decide his fate..." ... The Illusive man sighed as he looked toward the two princesses that interrogated him, "I resigned myself that I would do horrible thing for what I thought was right. I had a motto to do what I must and let history judge after-wars...of course...I never thought I'd live to see that last part...in any case, I've given you all the facts, laid out all my crimes...I regret none, your presence here is vindication of all I did, far as I'm concerned. Now...I shall let you decide my you decide, i'll abide..." (PAUSE) The mane 6 watched his confession stunned...they also looked through the laptop at all the other 'projects' that Cerberus had done...some was beneficial and benevolent...but others were just horrifying. "Coup's, Grabs, sponsoring revolutions, tampering with elections, blackmail, assassination, character assassination, brainwashing, kidnapping, human experimentation...it's like a horror movie here!" Shouts Twilight! Celestia nods, "Indeed, for all this plus him exterminating his own race...I'm going to vote for him to be sent to Tarturus." The mane six gasp at this, that punishment hadn't been used in centuries! They turned to Luna who just snorted, "I don't think it needs to be said what my opinion is of wiping out any race, let alone your own." She said firmly, siding with her sister. Applejack nodded, "The only other thing I could say is that it it was lazy." She said flatly. Rarity nodded her agreement, "Indeed on the one hand he's like the nobility I put up with every day. Instead of fixing something that's broken, he just throws it out and replace it with something bigger and more jewel encrusted." Raiinbow Dash glares, "Uh...you realize that analogy kinda indirectly insults all ponies, right?" Rarity frowns, "Oh, right...might need to work on that. In any case, on the other hand- She takes a deep breath knowing what she was about to say won't go over well -Look, what he did was unforgivable...but for better or for worse his actions are the reason we even exist! I hate to say this, but we can't just pretend that's not a THING here! It's too big!" Most of the others gasp at this. "Rarity, he murdered his whole race!" Pointed out Twilight, "This wasn't a 'needs of the many' situation. It was not a do or die scenario. He wasn't forced to chose between two groups and sacrifice one so another...He 'could' have saved his own species, but he chose not to." Rarity groaned, "I'm not saying he's NOT guilty...maybe...but maybe...he's also kinda...NOT not guilty-ish? Or...GAH! I don't know what I'm saying! I'm sorry, I'm just trying to do the right thing here!" She admits distressed. Rainbow Dash sighed, "I REALLY hate to say this...but Rarity's right." Applejack glared, Rainbow glares right back. "Don't give me that look! you think I like it? Of course I don't. But I can't just say "thanks for creating the world and everyone in it, now go rot in a hole somewhere. Sure, He sacrificed his people to do it, and sure he didn't 'have' to. But I'm not going to feel guilty that I, or you or any pony or dragon or gryphon or any one else is alive because of it. I'm not sorry I'm ALIVE." She says firmly Twilight sighed, Rainbow and Rarity were making some fairly good points...but still... "No one is asking you to feel guilty for existing. But the fact remains he chose to let his species die. He can't be let off for that. We can't say "you killed millions of innocent sentience's for no reason. But its the reason we're alive, so I guess we'll call it even." She then turns to Pinkie and Fluttershy...just standing off alone. "Girls? You've been awfully quiet..is everything okay?" ...drip...drip... "I...(sniff)...I can't do it..." Says Pinkie quietly, her mane unnaturally flat and lifeless...and covering her face... "I hate how it happened...but I can't deny that I owe him for me- Mom, dad, grandma pie, my sisters Maude, Limestone, and Marble! ALL MY FRIENDS! -being around in the first place!" She whips back her hair- Everyone gasps -Pinkie was crying! "I HAVE TO VOTE HIM INNOCENT! I'M A BAD PONY!" She falls down to the floor and sobs, everyone races toward her and comforts her. After Pinkie Pie calms down, Twilight- reluctantly -turns to Fluttershy. "Dare I ask how you feel about all this?" Fluttershy just frowns, "Honestly...this whole thing doesn't feel right, this decision...it affects ALL of Equestria?" Twilight frowns, "What are you saying?" Fluttershy musters up her courage, "I'm saying, we should have ALL of the kingdoms of the earth, every citizen who wishes to...vote for his fate. For better or for worse...he created us all, everyone should have a say in how he's punished." After some more back and forth...it's agreed that Fluttershy's idea has merit...and so it's decided that they'll go along with it. Celestia nods, "Right...now that that's over with- "WE CAN GET TO THE CRAZY STUFF!" Shouts Discord as he appears in a puff of smoke dressed as KISS rocking out and flapping his large tongue about. Celestia rolls her eyes, but waits for him to finish. Once done, he turns to her. "Right then, sun-butt. What's the buzz today?" Ignoring the dig, Celestia continued. "Discord...have you ever heard of a chaos spirit named...Slenderman?" It was at that moment, the ponies saw something they NEVER thought they'd see...Discord was TERRIFIED! "...get the elements...and turn me back to stone...NOW!" ...…... TO BE CONTINUED? Chapter 3Alicorn Genesis 3 I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ... ... This response naturally stunned everyone. "Wha- Discord, why would you want to- Began Fluttershy before Discord interrupted, "Or send me to Tarturus...or the moon! I don't care where you send or imprison me JUST GET ME OFF THIS DOOMED, FORSAKEN ROCK!" "Discord! Please! Calm yourself! Why has this Slenderman got you so frightened?" Asked Celestia concerned. Discord sighed, "Look we creatures of chaos...were not really into the whole 'organization', 'ranks', or 'hierarchy' thing. Sorta counterproductive to what we do really...but IF we were to have a position for 'god'- "He's the god of chaos?!" Interrupted Twilight horrified. "No, he'd be the guy who'd KILL the god of chaos! That's how dangerous he is! And don't even think of using the elements of harmony on him, you'd be better off just throwing a bucket of water on him, at least he'd get pruney then. Which is more damage then your trinkets would cause!" Suddenly he got thoughtful, "In fact..." He takes some spectacles and puts them on to better examine everything. "Looks like he's gone and put a new coat of retcon all over reality...makes me wonder if this 'Horizon Zero Dawn' even existed a couple hours ago or he just rewrote the past with a snap of his finger...wouldn't be the first time." "I'm sorry, what was that lat part!?" Demanded Celestia. Before Discord could respond- "Discord! Stop breaking the fourth wall! On top of everything we don't need ponies going emo from an existential crisis!" Shouted Pinkie to everyone's confusion. Discord shuddered, "Quite right Pinkie, priorities!...petrify me immediately!" Before anyone could say anything- CRASH! Everyone saw a THING crash on to the floor...it looked like someone had torn a pony inside-out, twisted them until they burst, then used a blow torch to weld the pieces back together...it gurgled out blood and flapped it's arms around for a bit as it struggled to breathe...then it just laid down and died... All the ponies looked on in horror... "We'll that's a relief," Said Discord happily. Everypony looked at him like he was insane...well, more insane then usual. "EXCUSE, me!?" Barked Rarity aghast. Discord shrugged as he pointed to the corpse-like thing, "Roughly translated in chaos 'speak' that means: 'Chill Discord. I've already set things in motion, and I'm sitting things out for the rest of the adventure to watch the 'fireworks'.'" "Wait, so every time a 'thing' like that hits the floor- "Of course not EVERY time, it only means that when the orange becomes Tuesday, but not before the apricot turns the Orion, but also only AFTER the elephant becomes to spaghetti what cars are to dollies! DUH!" Shouts Discord with his eye's rolling. "Makes sense to me!" Shouts Pinkie Pie before her baffled friends could say anything. Celestia coughed nervously, "Right, for the sake of everyone's sanity...let's just move on." She then explains how Jack Harper told them that many years after Cerberus had 'taken over' the project from the alpha's Slenderman had attacked the bunker and overpowered them...the next thing Harper knew...it was millennia later and he was in the Astral realm with Celestia with nothing but the clothes on his back, a laptop, and a challenge from Slenderman. "Apparently, Slenderman speed up the process of propagating the world with life, magic and ponies...then erased all memory of the facilities- Including APOLLO - from our ancestors minds and culture. He then shut them down...until now." She shows them the message: Greetings hero's! Terribly sorry about not being their to celebrate your ascension. So instead I give you the greatest gift a band of hero's can get...an epic quest that decides the fate of their world! "How is that a gift?" Demanded Rainbow Dash. "Come now Rainbow, was it not an 'epic quest' that ensured your friendship? How is that not a gift?" Asked Discord slyly. There was a long pause... "Yeeeaaahhhh, that ain't gonna fly." Said Applejack as they went back to reading the message- Okay, fair enough Applejack- "What!?" Shouted the fairly creeped out girls, "Yeah, he dose that a lot." Explained Discord with a sigh as they continued to read... Indeed I do Discord. In any case, how about a REAL gift then? Attached to this message are all the locations of the Horizon Zero Dawn facilities; each one filled with enough knowledge, technology and industrial resources to send Equestria several hundred years forward tech-wise- Twilight squealed in delight...the promptly flustered in embarrassment as everyone stared at her...she coughed awkwardly and continued to read... Yes, squeal away Twilight. "Huh, this message makes a lot more sense when read the second time." Admits Luna just as creeped out as everypony else... And all you have to do to get them is: 1: use two alicorns to unlock my seal on each facility 2: defeat each facility guardian, their minions, and traps. 3: Purge the facility A.I. of corruption(for the sake of sportsmanship I've allowed your Elements to work on them) 4: do all this before the activated and now rouge facilities destroy Equestria. "WHAT!?" Screams everypony. The message then goes on to explain how slenderman had corrupted each facility and reprogramed them to destroy the planet in their own way. The first one would activate at the time of their ascension and as time went in not only would more activate, but their power would increase. Also there were rules: 1: it will take no less then TWO alicorns to unlock each seal 2: only one Mane Six Alicorn per facility is allowed to unlock the seal 3. Once an alicorn is used to unlock a seal, that same alicorn is barred from unlocking any other seals 4. Celestia and Luna are barred from this. 5. only the alicorn's that unlock the seal are allowed to enter the facility to fight the guardian, everyone else is barred until it's defeated. Twilight frowned, she ran the numbers in her head... "Wait, their are 10 facilities in all! With these rules, their's no way we can possibly do this! there's too few of us!" Celestia coughed, "Uh...that's not quite true." ...several hours ago... Outside the Illusive man's cell the sisters were beginning to panic having just read the message and the data on the laptop. "How can we protect our people under these conditions!? Even with our newest additions we do not have enough!" Exclaimed Luna. Celestia nodded, "Indeed, Alicorns don't grow on trees!" "Uh, excuse me?" Asked the human from inside the cell. The sisters glared at him, "What do you want?" Asked Celestia sourly. "If I might inquire...why not just use this 'Starswirl's spell' again? To make more alicorns I mean?" Both Celestia and Luna just looked at him dumbstruck...then face-hoofed themselves for their obliviousness... ... "Huh, wow...that actually is kinda obvious." Admitted Twilight awkwardly. "Oh, don't beat yourself over it. If not for that, that spell would've been completely forgotten about and never mentioned again by ANYpony." Said Discord dismissively. Pinkie nodded sadly, "Yeah I can see that happening...what a waste of a perfectly good plot point!" Again, they all looked at the two confused...Celestia coughs again, "Riiiiight...moving on. It is imperative we find more alicorns. Me and Luna did some quick research and although the spell CAN make more alicorns...but it can't be any pony...it has to be SPECIAL ponies, ponies who have proven themselves through trial and tribulation like you six have..." "Well, how in tarnation are we supposed to find them? Especially when clearly were on deadline!" Asked Applejack concerned. Celestia and luna used their magic to levitate some maps, charts and other documents forward. "First, things first...were going to send a contingent of guards to every marked location on this map to test to see if there is another way to get in beside the one indicated by Slenderman- "Stop saying his name! It gives him power!" Shouts Discord. Everyone looked at him in horror...until he get's a thoughtful look on his face, "At least...that's what he says...he could be just messing with everypony though...he dose that a LOT...but better safe then sorry with that guy." He admitted fearfully. Celestia gave him a weird look...but continues on. "Anyway, if...You-Know-Who -Discord mouths 'thank you' in her direction -is being honest, we'll keep the contingent there on standby in case anything happens at the site." Luna continues, "As for finding other alicorns, me and Celestia are going to bring the best and brightest to canterlot under the guise of a 'meeting of the minds' so that they can secretly partake the ritual to see if there WORTHY. I trust that we don't need to explain how imperative it is that we keep this quiet to avoid a panic?" The Mane Six nods, "However, since simply the 'official' best and brightest might not be enough...we'll have to send you to search Equestria for the 'unofficial' best that Equestria can offer." Twilight frowned at this, "But how do we- "Slender- You-Know-Who." corrects Luna quickly. -Has already pointed out potential spots to find them...along with this note: Now I know what your thinking...this must be a trap... Well of course it is! No, DUH! Is it my fault that all the places for potential Alicorn will soon be rife with carnage and intrigue? ...oh, wait it totally is. Well, too bad for you! Try not to die too quickly, I want to squeeze a few more story arcs out of this crazy ride! (insert maniacal laughter) The assembled ponies just groaned at this. "The sad thing is...we don't have a choice. We have no other leads, and we don't really have the luxury of time to look for others." Admitted Celestia. "And even if it is a goose chase...most of these areas are greatly populated, we can't afford to turn a blind eye to a potential threat that this mad man might have caused!" Pointed out Luna. It's a reluctant Mane 6 that view their options...although many, 6 locations in particular catch their eyes: Canterlot Museum of natural history Cloudsdale Prance *Eden's gate* *Oddtown* *The Rotten Apple* "I CALL PRANCE, NO TAKE BACKS!" Screams Rarity, Twilight rolls her eyes. "Rarity, remember that you'd be there on BUSINESS." "But of course darling! I'll search the whole city for potential alicorns, I'll leave no shop unturned!" Before Twilight can say anything- "I'm calling Cloudsdale of course! It's my hometown, I know the lay of the land!" Twilight gives her a skeptical look, "And the fact that the next Wonderbolt airshow just happens to be shown there?" Rainbow jack chuckled nervously, "Oh...is it? Completely slipped my mind", she lied lamely. "Um, could I go to Eden's gate? It's famous for it's nature preserves." Asked Fluttershy nervously. "And The Rotten Apple is one of the greatest, wildest party destinations in Equestria! CAN I GO!? CAN I!?" Pleads Pinkie Pie. "Uh...while were at it...Oddtown is famous for it's top of the line agricultural equipment and products...I've been wanting to see it for awhile now." Admits Applejack awkwardly. Twilight throws up her hooves in resignation, "And OF COURSE the Canterlot Museum is chosen as a destination right before the opening of it's 'Pre-three tribes Exhibit' that I've been looking forward to for months! Surprise! Surprise!" She snarks sarcastically. "Indeed, all those locations being dream destinations for you lot CAN'T be a coincidence." Twilight sighs, "Oh, what the hay? If were going to spring a trap we might as well do it doing what we love!" She said in a 'mock-cheer/resignation/reluctant excitement' attitude. "That's the spirit!" Shouts Rainbow Dash. Celestia nods and is about to go make preparations when she remembers something, "Oh, before I forget. It's imperative you keep your elements with you at all times, their a needed component in Starswirls spell(Both for the amount of power it has to fuel it and it's connection to the harmony magic of Equestria to help sync an ascending alicorn to said magic). I believe that as alicorns you'll eventually embody those elements where you won't need them anymore...but until then we'll need the actual elements." Twilight frowns, "Wait, But we'll be scattered across Equestria- "I'm making a spell that should allow you to unite the elements magic even at great distances." Explained Luna. "I'm confident I'll have it finished before you depart, never mind that now. Just focus on your mission and keeping the elements safe, and no matter WHAT happens or disaster comes our way do NOT in ANY circumstances relinquish the elements! Or Equestria is doomed!" ... Meanwhile...deep beneath the Everfree forest...ancient seedlings...filled with malevolence and dark magic...begin to GROW...and fulfill their thousand year purpose... ...…... TO BE CONTINUED? Chapter 4Alicorn Genesis I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ...III... "YOUR SUING US!?" Asked Celestia confused. The blue-maned pony adjusted his glasses as he nodded, 'You-Know-Who' is a registered Trademark of 'Harry Potter', the estate of J.K. Rowling demands an immediate stop of the unauthorized use of that nickname!" Shouted the lawyer Pony. Celestia just face-hooves herself...she didn't have time for this nonsense... ... They had to delay Departure for another day or so; Preparations needed to be made, relatives needed to be called, politics needed to be wrangled. All that. It had been decided that their official coronation...and the Trial of Jack Harper would be postponed until AFTER the current crisis was dealt with. It had been decided that the Mane Six would be sent on Airships piloted by a small garrison of loyal royal guards, 'officially' they'd be touring the country on a PR trip to ease the populace into the idea of their now being 'six' more princesses... "Soon to be more." Thinks Twilight to herself with a chuckle, then frowned as her thoughts went back to the current situation. They'd just been told by Celestia that the royal guards sent to the various Zero Dawn facilities had not only reported them completely impregnable to means both mundane and magical, but at least one of the facilities had come online already... Naturally, her friends were confident that despite everything they'd triumph like they always did! And Twilight wanted to share their confidence...and yet...this time felt DIFFERENT- "TWILLY!" Twilight immediately brightened hearing the voice of her BBBFF Shining Armor, she turns around just in time to be glomped by her former foal-sitter/sister-in-law. "TWILLY! YOUR A PRINCESS LIKE ME NOW! WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT!" Squealed Candance excited, Twilight just smiled and hugged her back and greeted her parents as they walked in... ... "I don't like this Applejack, I don't like this one bit." Stated Granny Smith flatly. "Nope." Agreed Big Mac. Applejack shook her head, "Come on Granny, Big Mac. me and the girls have saved Equestria numerous times and NOW were Princesses on top of everything- Gestures to her wings while extending them -This is gonna be a piece of apple Fritter!" Says Applejack confidently. Granny just shakes her head at this 'youthful bravado', one look around shows that the rest of the six- Except perhaps Twilight and Fluttershy -seemed equally confident in the missions success...Hopefully those two would keep their wits about them and keep the others afloat... "Still...at least she'll be safe...in the air of a military-grade ship, surrounded by armed guards, and equipped with her new alicorn powers and the element of honesty...in fact..." Granny nods, and makes a decision. "Applejack I'd like you to take Applebloom with you..." Little did she know that Sweetie Belle and Scotaloo would be going with their respective Sister-figures. Scotaloo because her house was being fumigated and Sweetie Belle since their parents were going on yet ANOTHER extended trip...much to Rarity's irritation. ... Twilight was excited! They were going to test Starswirl's spell on Shinning! He'd volunteered, and if this works...he'd be an Alicorn just like them! She trots happily toward the main hall, element of Magic perched proudly on her Tiara. As she's walking past the princesses Room- Luna sigh's can be heard, "Candace is certainly a lucky girl...soon she'll have a partner to share eternity with." She said in a rather melancholy way. "Now sister, don't fret. Need I remind you that by the sound of it Shining will simply be the first of many new Alicorns MALE's..." Points out Celestia optimistically. Curious, Twilight listened in. Luna perked up, "Yes I suppose your right- she gets a thoughtful looks -OH! Perhaps we could tell the girls to make finding the males a priority!" She asks with a devilish smirk. Twilight blushes, were they seriously going to ask her and her friends to play matchmak- Twilight let out a sigh of relief when Celestia shook her head, "I'm sorry Lu-Lu, maybe under different circumstances... But we can't afford that luxury right now. We need all the Alicorns we can get!" Luna sighed but nodded, "Oh, what I wouldn't give to wake up to find a warm body beside me who wasn't going to just die in a mere century while I lived on..." She admitted sorrowfully. Celesita gave her sister a hug, "You always have me sister." Luna smirks, "Thanks Tia...but you know I don't swing that way, right?" Celestia giggles, "Oh, YOU!" She playfully slaps her shoulder as they both laugh together. But while they laughed, a young purple Unicorn was suddenly very thoughtful. "Huh...I never thought of it like that...But I guess being immortal WOULD be tough on any relationship to a mortal pony...poor Luna. Well, I'll do what I can to find her an alicorn Stallion! She won't be lonely anymore!" With a resolute smile Twilight walks forward with determination...and then her thoughts turned to less pleasant matters... "Wait a minute...what dose that mean for me? Will...dose this mean I won't ever find a special Somepony?...wait, will ANY of my friends get to have a special somepony?! Will everyone we love age away and die!? ...wait...will I outlive my parents?!" Fortunately this downward spiral of thoughts did NOT derail her concentration during the ritual as Shining became an Alicorn. Although he eagerly embraced his ecstatic wife...he excused Twilight to go to bed. He'd known her long enough that when she got that 'look' on her face...it was best to give her space...you only had to experience your room being set on fire one time before you got THAT message. ... They spent one more night at the castle both to rest after the ritual and to give Luna and Celestia time to take what they'd learned from the ritual to calibrate the elements to work long-distances so the Mane 6 could still do the ritual even when scattered across Equestria. When they packed up and left on their airships, there was no fanfare, no real ceremony. Time was of the essence after all. No, it was just a quick goodbye to family and friend then off with them...well, most of them. "Thanks for coming to keep me company Discord, I appreciate it." Bubbled Fluttershy happily as she flew up and gave the chaotic Chimera a hug. Discord went blushed a nice shade of purple/green then shook her off. "Don't get the wrong idea! I'm just going with you because otherwise I'd have no one to spend time with except the Debbie Downer sisters!" Huffed the Trickster spirit as he points toward the two amused looking alicorn princesses. "Whatever you say, Discord!" Said Celestia trying VERY hard to keep a straight face. "Yes, whatever I SAY! And don't you forget it!" Said Discord with a snarl. "hungry?" Asked Fluttershy helpfully as she held up a tray. Discord's eye's brightened, "COOKIES!" He clapped his hands enthusiastically, he then took off his horns which grew mouthy tentacles that ate the treats gleefully. Fluttershy just giggled happily... ... Twilight smiled as she looked over to her pink-haired friend as she ascended into her airship. "Well, Fluttershy seems taken care of...but what about the others? What about...me?" She thinks forlornly... She knew that there'd be plenty of guys that would become Alicorns during this trip, and that would probably work out well for the others...but HER? Twilight was self-aware enough to know that her 'interests' and 'hobbies' although exciting to her was only tolerable to others(in her age group) in small dosages. Nope, probability was against her either. Either guys would be within her age group but wouldn't touch her personality with a 10-ft pole, or would like her personality but be too OLD to desire a relationship...hoping for a mixture of the two was just unlikely as it was impractical! She sighed, she tried to go back to the more noble and selfless pursuit of trying to figure out a way to extend the Alicorn ritual more so that her friends family could be added... And yet...she couldn't help but occasionally fantasies about a teenage Stanford Pines...no mater how laughable the scenario was... ...Later... They took off and landed at their destination at Canterlot without incident. To prevent from being mobbed, Twilight had an illusion of a rather plain and grey earth pony put over herself. She'd have to appear before the mayor for a grand ceremony later that evening(they had to do things like that to keep a lid on their TRUE purpose), but for now she was going to the Canterlot Museum. Now Twilight knew that something bad was probably going to happen here...but until then she vowed to enjoy the new 'pre-three tribes era exhibit!' "Explain to me again why I have a disguise of a purple infant colt?" Asked spike annoyed as he leaned against a nearby wanted poster of a little blue colt. Twilight sighed as she paid for their tickets at the Museum front desk, 'I'm sorry Spike, but I'm rusty on my illusion spells. This spell was the only one I could still remember that was your size." Said Twilight as she picked him up to carry him on her back. Spike sighed but went with it...what else could he do? Twilight examined her pamphlet at all the new exhibits showcasing all the civilizations that existed BEFORE the pre-unification three tribes of Equestria: Roamen, Haysian, Neighgypt, the Empire of Thulsa Doom- "OH! Thulsa Doom! Now's my chance to see if all those letters I sent the curator paid off!" Exclaims Twilight excitedly. Spike groaned, 'letter's' was putting it mildly. His throat had hurt for days after sending a proverbial catalogue worth of complaints to the poor curator...who had responded in a VERY inflammatory way. He'd hidden the 'responses' so it didn't hurt Twilight's feelings...but he guessed he had no choice now... "Twilight, I'm sorry to say this...but the Curator won't do as you ask." Twilight's eye's wiped toward him so fast, Spike was worried she'd get whiplash. "What?" She asked in a hurt tone. Spike winched at this, he then tried to give her a more...'watered down' version of the curators response that wouldn't hurt her adopted mother's feelings...or wouldn't end with his mouth rinsed out with soap... "I'm sorry, Twilight. But apparently their budget was tight and all the exhibits you talked about already had their placements decided and insured. So apparently it would've cost too much to correct a...frivolous concern?" He says that last part as delicately as possible while bracing for the explosion. "FRIVOLOUS CONCERN!?" Screams Twilight enraged, her mane in flames. Spikes screams as he's forced jump off as his fanny burns. "I can't believe this! Am I the only one who cares of the seemingly constant misconception of the 'Cult of Set' getting grouped together with the 'Spawn of Set?!' Yes, technically they were sub-sects of the same cult with only a few minor aesthetic differences separating them that were only implemented for tax reasons! BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING! They were treated as different groups by their culture! Therefore, it's our duty as academics that we should label them as such! Honestly, am I the only one who cares about the cornerstones of- -THE CORNERSTONES OF TRUE ARCHEOLOGY! THE CULT OF SET AND THE SPAWN OF SET WERE CONSIDERED DIFFERENT GROUPS BY THEIR CULTURE! THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH!" Twilight smiled at this proclamation. She begins to turn her head toward a fellow TRUE academic- And her entire world froze... There standing/shouting in front of an increasingly annoyed guide who in turn was standing in front of the forbidden burial chamber of Thulsa Doom...was Stanford Pines...No, it was a look-alike of Stanford Pines...THAT WAS HER AGE! HER TEENAGE FANTASY HAD COME TRUE! "Look buddy, if you don't calm down I'll have to have you kicked out!" Snapped the guide. Her heart racing and her hormones overriding her usual love of rules and order- "Spike! Quick! Cause a distraction! NOW!" Hissed Twilight between her teeth. Spike looked at her confused, but obeyed with a shrug. He threw a small fire ball at a nearby tapestry. The guide, seeing this. Panicked and ran to save the priceless ancient relic, as did the nearby guards... Twilight smiled seeing this...then gaped in horror as her mind finally regained control from her loins. "GAH! I JUST DESTROYED A PRICELESS WORK OF ANCIENT ART!? WHAT WAS I THINKING!?" She groaned, what was wrong with her!? Just because some random guy just happened to look like her fictional crush and just happened to have the same pet peeve over the same common historical misconception was no reason to lose her senses and go Ga-Ga over some GUY! She wasn't Rarity for crying out loud! She had dignity! She was smart! She was a princess! She- And then she saw the Stanford Pines look-alike take advantage of the distraction to pull 5 viper teeth from 5 separate creatures from the lands of isle 'Mc-dosen't-exist' from his satchel and places them into the glyph's based on how the ancient 'This-culture-is-a-load-of-baloney' people organized their math...OPENING A HIDDEN DOOR IN THE BURIAL CHAMBER!? "MY BOOKS ARE COMING TO LIFE BEFORE MY EYES!" Squealed Twilight with delight And like that...Twilight's loins resumed control as she blissfully followed the apparent avatar of all her fantasies and dreams... ... The 'look-alike' smiled as he looked around the hidden chamber, "Just one more obstacle...good thing I can read ancient 'Stupid-made-up-language'...wow, the ancient people who came up with these names must've had a LOT of anger issues." He read the ancient writing correctly as the magic contained within highlighted them...and once done, the nearby snake pictogram peeled itself from the wall, morphed into a real snake and spat out the snake Talisman into his waiting hoof. He smirked, "Okay, and now just need to get out of here before- SQUEAL! He looked behind him and saw a grey earth pony squealing and delight and practically bouncing up and down like a loon. "OHMYCELESTIA!THISISSOAWESOME!THISISJUSTLIKEINBOOK3:KINGSOFKATMANWHO!WHENSTANFORDPINESDICOVERDTHEANCINETSUNSPHEREOFSOLARISBYFINDINGTHE- As Twilight let out her inner-fangirl, He just stood there stunned at this unexpected intrusion. "What the- Who are- he shook his head, "Never mind. Listen to me, you need to get out of here! Some dangerous men are- His eye's get wide, "GET DOWN!" He shouts as he leaps and pushes Twilight to the side- ZAP! GAH! He screamed as he writhed on the ground in agony- STANFORD! Screams Twilight horrified. "Whoa, man did you just try and shoot the girl?" Asked a grey maned, green earth pony named Ratso. "Nah, man! Finn don't hit the ladies! I knew he'd jump in front of him! That's what goody-goody types like him do." Said a red maned,white unicorn named finn. "Still man...that's a bit of a gamble, what if he'd been too slow?" Asked a black maned, orange pegasus named Chow. "Fine! I won't do it again! Can we PLEASE just grabbed the talisman and go!" Shouts Finn impatient. "You...hurt him..." The three thugs looked up at the grey, sobbing earth pony that was looking over Dipper's writhing body. "Excuse me?" Asked Finn confused, out of the corner of his eyes he sees an infant purple colt somehow run out of the room fearfully. Still crying, Twilight turned around...her disguise falling away...and her mane turning to flame... Now the enforcers may not be the smartest cookies at times...but like most males they shared the survival instinct of knowing when an angry girl was about to kill them... "Mommy." They whimpered. ... The next day the Canterlot museum would close it's door's permanently...or it would have if there were any left standing...or any walls to HOLD the doors at all... But that's a story for tomorrow...let's get back to TODAY... ... Inside the ruins of what was once a institute for historic learning...a Purple Unicorn began to panic. "GAH! WHAT HAVE I DONE!? MILLIONS OF YEARS OF HISTORY DOWN THE DRAIN! I'M A DISGRACE TO ACADEMICS EVERYWHERE! CELESTIA WILL BANISH ME FOR SURE! OR WORSE! SEND ME BACK TO MAGIC KINDERGARTEN!" "TWILIGHT! A LITTLE HELP HERE!?" Twilight turns around to see Spike trying to help up a stunned Stanford look-alike, "You...Your Princess Twilight." He said amazed. Twilight had to suppress a squee at seeing HIM alive and ready for another adventure! This amazing, brilliant, selfless Stallion! If only he was a...hold the phone... Twilight got a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Wait, so you had an illusion on to go see the exhibits too?" The Stallion chuckled, "Wow, that's funny cause actually- Wait, what are you doing?" He asked as Twilight summoned the Element of magic to herself and began to activate it- ... All across Equestria, the rest of the mane six felt the call from their friend and eagerly responded with their own elements harmonious energies... ... "I know this sounds crazy, but I'm about to turn you into an Alicorn! An honest to goodness Alicorn PRINCE!" Shouts Twilight excitedly as the power in her element began to reach it's climax. The stallions eyes went wide, "Wait, what?" He asked confused. Twilight continued on, "I'm sorry for acting so weird earlier, but between looking/acting like my all-time favorite fictional character and some other emotional issues I've been dealing with...SHOOT! I almost forgot to ask! Would you like to be a prince and live Forever with me!" Shouts Twilight excitedly, then blushes when she realized she said too much in her excitement. "Er, I mean live forever with me and my friends of course." She lied weakly. Spike slaps his face, "Real smooth." He groans. Honestly, this whole thing read like a poorly-written romance novel... The stallion was equally flustered as well as confused. This was all happening so fast! And that earlier blow to his body wasn't helping his thought process either. "Wow- I- What- I don't- I mean, YES. I want to do that, but there's something I need to- "HE SAID YES!" Interrupted Twilight excitedly and she let loose the magic! The Stallion's eyes went wide, "WAIT! THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YO- ZAP! Twilight fought off the exhaustion and rushed toward the best thing that ever happened to her! She could feel it! The ritual was a SUCCESS! The whole area was now shrouded with smoke from the ritual. But she could see his general outline! For the first time since overhearing that conversation between Luna and Celestia, she felt HAPPY! Twilight didn't care about what happened next! She's never felt this way about someone before! YOU ONLY LIVED ONCE! EVEN IF HE REJECTED HER, SHE WAS GOING FOR IT! "I LOVE YOU!" Screamed Twilight as he lifted up the obscured visage of the stallions face and kissed him! ...Candance always told her that her first kiss would be special...but that STILL didn't do it justice! She...she felt...COMPLETE. Like there'd been a missing piece of her heart all this time and she'd never known, never suspected, never even thought POSSIBLE. And now...now it was home...SHE was home...with HIM. After an eternity...Twilight finally- reluctantly pulled away, opened her eyes as the smoke dissipated...AND SAW A LITTLE, FLUSTERED, BLUE aLICORN COLT IN HER ARMS!?" "what?" Asked Twilight uncomprehending... Dipper Pines looked at the PRINCESS who just gave him the best kiss EVER and winched, "Okay, I just want to say it was NEVER my intention to deceive you! I swear, I was about to tell you everything before you hit me with the elements! I ESPECIALLY would have told you sooner if I knew you felt that way!" He exclaimed frantically and sincerely. "What?" Whimpered a baffled Twilight. "It's just- I've caused problems at the museum before...I needed a way to fool the guards! And also fool any 'Dark Hands' who saw me! I'm so sorry!" He pleaded. "What?" Said Twilight again...what could she say? "I-I...I am so sorry! I promise I'll do ANYTHING to make it up to you! I would NEVER hurt you intentionally...are you mad?" He whimpered. Twilight...her heart in pieces...sobbing a storm. "I...I have to be alone now..." She ran away in tears. Dipper groaned, "Wow...I really messed up this time, didn't I?" He looked sorrowfully as the Princess he admired most ran away... Spike put a comforting claw to his shoulder, "Don't take it too hard...she's going through some things right now." He said in an equally sorrowful voice as he looked toward the direction his adopted mother went... ...Meanwhile... Deep with the Zero Dawn facility...HEPHAESTUS stirred...the ancient machinery that powered and enabled him...were coming back to life...and the machines...his glorious machines...were ALIVE once more. His new master had made improvements...and now he would use them... And thus the Royal Garrison staking out this particular facility could only watch helplessly as giant cannons formed on top of the structure that recently rose from the ground...and fire canisters carrying a new threat to Equestria...to every corner of the globe... And soon...his brothers and sisters would wake too... ...III…... TO BE CONTINUED? Chapter 5Alicorn Genesis I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ...III... It had been a LONG night for Twilight, she'd mainly locked herself in the airship and had a good cry. When she'd finally calmed down she made sure the museum would be compensated for the damage and sent Spike a message to bring the newly ascended alicorn prince to the airship..and her. She quickly apologized to him for acting inappropriate toward him and leaving him like that. She promised to be more professional toward him from this point out. Dipper tries to speak- "-And now if you'll talk to Spike I'm sure he can get in contact with your family to make arrangements. But for now it's imperative you stay with me and get trained, is that okay with you?" Said Twilight cutting him off. Dipper blushed at the 'stay with me' part but quickly said, "Uh, yes- yeah! That's okay. But I really think we should tal- "Good, then get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us!" Said Twilight cutting him off again and trotting back to her room before Dipper could say anything else. "Uh, okay. But I just need to- She slammed the door behind her and was gone. Dipper sighed, that hadn't gone like he'd hopped but he was still confident he could make this work! His favorite princess had literally taken him under her wing! That had to be a good sign...right? He shook his head, he'd worry about that later. Right now he had more pressing issues! He turns to Spike, "Okay when she gets up could you give her this?" He gives him the snake talisman. "Also this." He gives him a 500 page essay on the talismans. "This too." And 1000 page thesis on the 'dark hand' organization; including color coded hypotheses on WHY they want the talismans. "And this." Spike struggles as he's also given a several thousand pages of copied source material on possible locations on the other talismans all organized by size, shape, color, date, author name, and author's shoe size. "Don't forget this." Spike could feel his legs nearly give way as he was given a dozen itineraries each filled with dozens of different possible meticulously detailed schedules of numerous different ways of getting the talismans. "Sorry their so short, I was in a hurry when I wrote them." Admitted Dipper as he went to his assigned room. Spike promptly collapsed under the weight of everything, "Great...now there's TWO of them." He groaned. ...The next morning... Spike ended up watching his adopted mother in all but name squeal non-stop in delight over all the organized lists! "This is amazing! I've never met someone who loves meticulous organization as much as me! I never thought I'd ever meet such a kindred spirit- And just like that the excitement died out as she realized what she was saying, she blushed but quickly composed herself. "Er, right. This information is VERY important. I'll have to give it to Princess Celestia and the other girls. Spike set up a conference!" Spike gives her a weird look but dose as she asks... Using a bunch of specially made magic mirrors, the various Alicorn were quick to give their progress reports. Most of them hadn't gotten to their destinations yet- Rainbow would be at Cloudsdale tomorrow, but other then that the only noteworthy thing for the others to report was Pinkie parachuting hundreds of cupcakes and streamers on every town she passed over. "Just because Equestria's about to end, doesn't mean there still can't be parties!" She affirms. Celestia and Luna tell them that the guest are starting to arrive at the castle, but they hadn't had the opportunity to 'talk' to any yet. So then it was Twilight's turn. She quickly gave a run down about Dipper's ascension- leaving out all the 'unimportant' bit's of course -as well as the talismans power's- she demonstrates the snakes invisibility -and how this 'dark hand' was hunting for them. "As it happens...the places Dipper feels that the rest of the talisman 'might' be, correspond with Slendermans 'suggestion's' perfectly...so naturally this all must be connected with whatever he's planning." Celestia nods, "You have my permission to proceed in this, the last we need is another threat popping up right now." Twilight nod's and just when it looks like the meeting must be over- "Hey, Twilight...I can't help but notice that you skimped out on the details about the kid's ascension." Said Rainbow Dash with a smirk. Twilight stiffened. "Oh, yes darling I couldn't help but notice that too...are you sure that nothing else happened?" She asked in an equally smug manner. "Yes, absolutely nothing of importance happened!" Said Twilight firmly, not technically a lie...'importance' was relative after all... Celestia giggled, "Nothing important? My, my. I hope your new 'Beau' doesn't hear that." She says as she brings up the morning paper- Twilight Sparkle will make a STALLION out of you! ...and an alicorn! Twilight went very pale at the sight of the front-page picture of her making out with Dipper Pines after he ascended... "Oh, no." She groaned. "Oh, YES." Said Rainbow with a predatory grin. "I must say Twilight, I never would've taken you for a cougar...I guess what they say about the 'quiet one's' is true." Said Rarity. "So come on 'Mrs. Robinson'! Dish the dirt! When did you decide to get into cradle-robbing?" Asked Rainbow Dash. Twilight blushed, "No! It's not like that! He was wearing the illusion of a hot teenage ford Pines! I- She went even redder in the face realizing what she just revealed, leading to another bout of laughter from her friends, her mentor, and Luna. Finally- after many agonizing minutes -Celestia calmed everyone down and returned to business. "Fortunately, the more sensationalist of ponies seem to simply think you have the power to turn stallions into alicorns and other ponies have bought into this gossip. Thus, our mission remains a secret." Stated Celestia. "The amount of Stallions asking for your hand as well as mothers asking you to 'bless' their colts has skyrocketed however." Added Luna with a chuckle. Twilight further groaned as her reputation continued to go up in flames. Applejack coughed, "Okay, fun's fun...but in all seriousness I hope you sat that colt down afterward and explained how obviously nothing can happen between the two of you." Before Twilight can say anything- "Never mind that now! When do we get to meet the little darling?" Asked Rarity excited. Twilight, thankful for the interruption. Quickly agreed before Applejack could ask anything else. ... Dipper Pines gulped as he was summoned before the now numerous Princesses. He was extremely nervous...and not just for the reasons you'd think! Dipper Pines nervously looked over his notes to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, "This is nuts...am I really doing this? Maybe I should just leave we'll enough alone...no...somethings just need to be said, no matter how unpleasant...more importantly...your doing this for princess Twilight!" That last thought steeling his resolve...he cautiously walks into the rooms. Naturally the first thing that happens is to be gushed over. "Oh, my! Well aren't you adorable!" Cooed Rarity. Dipper blushed at that, but desperately tried to keep his composure for what he was about to do... "My dear child, where do you hail from? Tell us about yourself." Asked Celestia with a warm, motherly smile. Dipper stiffened briefly under the gaze of the 'mother' of all Equestria, but started talking awkwardly. "Um...well, I hail from a little, rinky-dink town called 'Gravity Falls'...don't bother looking for it on any map, it's so small and out of the way that most cartographer's don't even bother acknowledging it. I...live with my two great uncles, I'm a quadruplet with two brothers...and one sister." Luna and Celestia frowned at that last hesitation as well as the dark glint in his eyes when mentioning his sister...but said nothing... "Do you think your uncles will be okay with you staying with Twilight for the foreseeable future?" Asked Celestia. Once again the concept of 'staying with Twilight' made Dipper fluster...and feel more then a little awkward and sweaty. He coughed to hide this, "Uh...Yes, yeah. I think they'd be cool with that...provided they know where I am." Twilight sighed, "I sent a message but they still haven't called back." She admitted. Celestia shook her head, "I'd prefer to have their immediate consent... but we're simply too pressed for time at the moment, especially considering the latest intel sent from the squads watching the HEPHAESTUS facility..." She quickly gives a rundown on how said facility had been observed shooting strange canisters across Equestria. "All means of tracking them have proven useless, Luna will be sent out to head the search while I stay here to ferret out potential Alicorn candidates." While they discussed things...Dipper's mind was in conflict. "This...this is huge! All of Equestria is in trouble...again. Maybe...maybe I should just let this go? They seem to have far more important things to worry about right now...no, no. This needs to be said! If someone had just stepped forward and confronted me earlier about Mable...no, this has to happen! For Twilight's sake!" "Well, I think we've said all that can be said on the matter. We'll convene again after Rainbow Dash touches down in Cloudsdale. I wish the rest of you- "Wait! There's something I need to say." Said Dipper suddenly. Everyone turned to Dipper surprised, "Um, alright then. Let's hear it." Said Twilight confused. Dipper took a deep breath and turned to the mane 6(minus Twilight), "Um...Princesses Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. First and foremost I just want to say that Equestria owes you all a great debt of gratitude for saving them as often as you have." "Why thank you Sugarcube." Offered Applejack happily. "Right...well, that being said...I can't help but feel that- Whatever he said next no one could hear as the nervous colts volume had dialed down to 'inaudible mumbling'. "Uh, could you repeat that darling?" Asked Rarity confused. "i think your taking your friendship with Princess Twilight for granted." Mumbled Dipper again, his perspiration really going at it now. "Um, Dipper? Even I can't hear you and that's saying something." Admitted Fluttershy. Dipper again tried to speak up, and AGAIN all that came out was, "I THINK YOUR TAKING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH PRINCESS TWILIGHT FOR GRANTED- "GAH! Will you just speak up already?!" Shouted Rainbow Dash annoyed. "I THINK YOUR TAKING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH PRINCESS TWILIGHT FOR GRANTED!" He shouted in a panic. ...there was deathly silence. Everyone just gaped in horrified disbelief. Rarity was first to give an indignant response. "Excuse m- "At the wedding, you guys just ABANDONED Twilight! Even after everything she'd done for all of you! Non-stop helping all of you and never asking anything for herself!" Everyone just gaped in horror, "Wha- "YOU TWO!" Dipper points at Pinkie Pie and Applejack. "Us?" Asked Pinkie Pie pointing a hoof to herself reluctantly. "Applejack claimed to have learned 'never dismiss another friends concerns' during the 'Smartypants incident' and Pinkie Pie claimed to never assume the worst about friends during the 'party of one' incident! WHERE WERE THOSE FRIENDSHIP LESSONS DURING THE WEDDING AND TWILIGHT WAS SOBBING AND TRAPPED UNDERGROUND!? DID ANYONE EVEN BOTHER TO CHECK TO SEE IF SHE WAS ALRIGHT?! SHE COULD'VE DIED! ALL BECAUSE HER FRIENDS VALUED A WEDDING OVER HER HAPPINESS!" Many of the Princesses were crying now. "And the worse thing? Aside from Applejack- NONE OF YOU EVEN SAID YOU WERE SORRY!" "What!? Of course we did!...I think we did...didn't we?" Asked Rainbow Dash sounding increasingly unsure... Dipper took a deep breath and then turned to a very distraught and confused Twilight. "Twilight...I know that you think just forgiving them and hoping they've learned their lesson will let you keep the friendship's that are so important to you alive and well...but it won't. Your problems will just fester...like it did between me and my sister Mable." Dipper was starting to cry at this point. "I was terrible at making friends...for most of my life my siblings were my only friends. But none more so then Mable, we were inseparable and we loved each other more then anyone..." "...But as great as that sounds...it wasn't, I would constantly sacrifice my needs for hers. Constantly shield her from the consequences of her actions...and ask nothing in return...I enabled her..." "And when I had this great opportunity to live out my dream...she freaked out because it would mean I'd be away from her for the first time in our lives...and she..." Dipper was sobbing even faster now. "...She did something horrible to keep us together...and people...people got HURT...our relationship wasn't healthy, and it was decided we needed to be separated...it's been over a year since I've seen Mable...and it'll probably be many years more...I can no longer love her...not after the 'Dippy fresh' incident...and I don't want that to happen to you Princess Twilight...your my favorite princess and you deserve so much more..." There was a silence...broken only by Twilight walking over...and hugging the sobbing little colt. "Thank you." She whispered. Taking their cue...the other princesses shut off their mirrors...and left these two in privacy... ...III…... TO BE CONTINUED? Chapter 6Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 1Author's Note I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ... ANNOUNCEMENT! I'M GETTING A BOOK PUBLISHED! SUMMARY: On the 13th day of the 13th month of the 13th year...magic will return to the world...and the streets will run red with the blood of the (semi)innocent...unless the world is saved by the most unlikely of hero's...baking cupcakes?! The title is '13/13/13' and it'll be coming to a bookstore or E-Book site near you! Xilbris is the publishing company. It's also now available at Amazon and BarnesandNoble ... ... https://www.amazon.fr/13-Dakota-Umlauf/dp/1984511963 Above is a link to amazon for my book https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128212357?ean=9781984511966 Above is a link to barnesandnoble for my book https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001178898 Above is a link to Xilbris for my book https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/217373 Above is a link to Inkitt.com for my book https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota-umlauf-487523169/ Above is a link to my Linkedin account https://thecowardlychristian.tumblr.com/ Above is a link to my Tumblr account https://www.facebook.com/dakota.umlauf.90 Above is a link to my facebook account https://www.patreon.com/TheCowardlyChristian?alert=2 Above is a link to my Patreon account ....... If you want to see more, go to my fanfiction account: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5874134/The-Cowardly-Christian-du911 ................ AN: this chapter was collaborated by Wolvenstrom. ... I know it says "in-progress" but really I just don't like boxing myself into a corner. For now this is more of a one-shot that I might continue one day...but probably won't. But, hey. Feel free to use whatever elements you want from this, if you want! Or maybe give me ideas? Love me, flame me, review me Chapter 1 Alicorn Genesis ... With all her friends gathered around, Twilight Sparkle began to fix Starswirls spell... "A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled... Wait a second, that's it! I understand now! I know how to fix the spell" She began to add her own verse to it: "From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!" ...in many universes, this would be the moment that Twilight goes from student to princess, achieving the next step on her grand journey...this was not that universe. For at the moment Twilight intoned the last bit of the spell... "Witttth...thhhe...maaaarks... Twilight and time itself slowed to a crawl...none saw the intruder enter the room...a dark, tall, slender man with no face and impeccable business attire. He peeked over Twilight's shoulder and tsked. "My, my...it's true...read the wrong way...this spell COULD be interpreted as several ponies power enslaved to one to help that ONE succeed." He turned to the unsuspecting ponies...still frozen in time...and chuckled. "Well...will just have to fix that, won't we?" He rolls up his sleeves and gets to work 'fixing' the spell. "Let's see...a pinch of Cerberus Retcon...a dash of Darker and edgier...and what the hey? Drown it down with some cosmic retcon as well!" His deed done, he turned invisible and silently observed as time speed up again- ...ooofff...ouur...destinies made one, there is magic without end!" Finishes Twilight without missing a beat! The spell glowed...and EXPLODED! Enveloping the six of them and destroying the library! ... Celestia was giddy! She couldn't wait for her star pupil to appear in the astral plane! She had a whole song prepared! She was so proud of her! FLASH! "Ah, that must be her now!" Celestia smiles as she trots toward the noise. "Congratulations, Twilight. I knew you could- Who are you?!" The human called Jack Harper simply looked around baffled, his oddly colored eyes danced in these strange new surroundings. "Well...this is new." He said finally... Celestia knew then and there...that her plan had gone terribly wrong... ... Twilight groaned as she woke up ...her friends scattered about amongst flaming debris, "Girls?" Asked Twilight groggily, then her eyes went wide...her tree...her library...her home...was ablaze... Rainbow Dash...woke up next...and saw Twilight cry. "Twilight...what's- "My tree." Stated Twilight mournfully. "Wha?" "LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY TREE!" She shouted horrified. Fortunately, Twilight quickly remembered what happened, and apologized to the girls for blaming them...they then comforted their sobbing friend. Many residents walked over to see what all the commotion was about...in the dark of the night, they could tell the library was up in flames...but who was next to it...it almost looked like "Princess Celestia?!" Twilight wiped away the tears and looked toward the pony who addressed her, "What? No, I'm Twilight Sparkle. Why would- And then she sees everyone pointing at them...more importantly...they see WHERE their pointing...she had- "WINGS!? I HAVE WINGS!?" Shouted Twilight in shock. Rainbow's eye's went wide, "Awesome! I get a new flying buddy!" She shouts as she reaches back to grab a camera from her pack- "Ow! Watch where your leaning Rainbow! You nearly poked out my eye with your...horn?" Applejack trailed off as what she said hit home... A shocked Rainbow touched her forehead...and indeed found a horn! "Whoa...no way!" She shouted. Having enough of this stupid dark obscuring her vision, Twilight ignited her horn...revealing to Ponyville SIX new Alicorns...so naturally pandemonium ensued... Pinkie screaming, "Alicorn party' didn't help either... ... It took awhile to calm the residents and themselves down, but they- barely -managed to do that...just in time for an armed Pegasus escort to come down and escort them back to Canterlot. They were then asked to wait for the princess as she handled an urgent matter... The Mane six were a bit overwhelmed...but Twilight's reassurances that Celestia would explain everything did wonders to clam everyone down. While they waited, twilight pulled out the latest book in her favorite series out- "Oh, hey Twilight. You reading more Daring Do?" Asked Applejack. Twilight smirked, but shook her head. "Nope, it's actually a new series I just got into, 'The Adventures of Stanford Pines'." She hugs the book affectionately, "it REALLY speaks to me...I think I've found my newest favorite book series!" Rainbow rolled his eyes, "I've read that series...it's okay...for an egghead." She teased Twilight glared, "Oh, do let me guess. Too much focusing on the rich academia side of archeology and puzzle solving and not enough gratuitous fight scenes?" She asked scathingly. Rainbow shrugged, "Pretty much- But don't get me wrong, it has it's good points." She said quickly, seeing her friend get annoyed. "The fight scenes- although few and in between -are AWESOME and have easily made it into my top 10 fights. And the main villain- Bill Cipher? He's my favorite Villian hands down. Yeah, he's evil- but he dose it with such style you can't help but love him! Not to mention he's scarily competent and could run circles around those chumps Dr. Caballeron and Ahuizotl...if it weren't for the hero being a boring egghead, I'd definitely make it my new favorite." Fortunately, before Twilight could fly into a tirade defending her favorite character- "The princess will see you now!" Announced a guard! Silently Resolving to finish this 'discussion' later...Twilight and her friends walked out of the room...and into the throne room... Their they found Celestia and Luna pawing over a strange device...and they did NOT look happy. "Uh...Princess Celestia?" Asked Twilight. Celestia and Luna quickly went to attention as they saw who entered the room. "Twilight! Girls! It's so wonderful to see you!" Shouts Celestia as she flew over to them and nuzzled them affectionately. "Princess...I'm...I'm an alicorn! We all are!" Exclaims Twilight in disbelief. Celestia smiles and nods..."Indeed you are...a most pleasant surprise indeed..." She then sighs, "If only all the news was so good..." "Princess Celestia? What's wrong?" Asked Twilight concerned. Celestia sighed, "I won't lie to you Twilight...this was a test, that you were supposed to pass and you alone was supposed to become an alicorn...for all your friends to become alicorns as well...I suspect interference from an outside force...and I fear they had less then altruistic motivations for doing so." Twilight and her friends were floored by this...but before they ask more questions- Celestia held up her hoof, "Please save your questions for that later, right now...we have another...'situation' that must be seen to. And must be seen to immediately." "Situation? What do you mean?" Asks Twilight. Celestia's horn glowed and a nearby mirror's surface warped and changed to show an image...an image of a strange hairless ape with oddly mismatched eyes waiting patiently in the palace dungeon... The newly anointed princesses simply looked stunned, "What...what is he?" Asked Twilight confused. "That...is a human." Stated Celestia sadly. Applejack's eye's widened, "A human? Like that loco Lyra keeps mooning over?" She asks. "It would seem that in this case, the 'crazies' were right...humans DID exist. They existed BEFORE us...and now this one is all that's left." Pinkie was naturally excited, "OH BOY! I'm going to have to dig into my party reserves! like REALLY, REALLY, REALLY dig deep! I'll need everything i can get my hands on to throw the biggest, 'Welcome back, glad your not extinct' party and- "There's not going to be a party." Interpreted Celestia flatly, "This man has willingly turned himself in and confessed all his crimes, and waits to be judged." Everyone looked at Celestia shocked... "Wha...what are his crimes?" Asked Twilight with confused dread... Celestia stared down at the 'lap top' that the human had given her... "He murdered his entire species...to create us ponies..." ... TO BE CONTINUED?
chapter 2Alicorn Genesis ... CHARLES RONSON: I'm locked out of core control- Alpha clearance overridden- What the hell is Omega clearance? (Ted Faro appears via hologram) SAMINA EBADJI: Oh no. TED FARO: Alpha Personnel... Sorry to alarm you, but... I need you to listen, okay? To what I'm about to say. This isn't easy. See, I've... uh, Please, stop trying to access the system, okay? See, what this is about... is... I said stop trying to access the goddamn system! What I'm trying to say is, I can't stop thinking about the ones who'll come after us. Those innocents. Those blameless men- and, and women. We're going to give them knowledge? Like it's a gift?! SAMINA EBADJI: Ted. Ted, we've talked about this before. APOLLO has three thousand plus failsafe conditions- TED FARO: It's not a gift, it's a disease! They're the cure, and we're going to give them the disease? Our disease?! No. We can't. And it's not too late... if we're willing to sacrifice. SAMINA EBADJI: Ted, it doesn't need to be like this. TED FARO: It already is, Samina. I did it three minutes ago. I've purged APOLLO. It's gone, all of it. Every copy. CHARLES RONSON: A sacrifice? It's not a sacrifice, it's cultural obliteration, you crazy bastard- millennia of culture- TED FARO: I'm sorry. Really, I am. But sometimes, to protect innocents... innocents have to die. JACK HARPER: (appears as a new hologram) Technically I agree...but there's sacrifice...and then there's just being a wastsful moron. Travis Tate: YOU!? TED FARO: What the- Who are you- (BEEP!) What the, what happened to my Omega access- Wha- Who are you?! How did you get in- NO! GET AWAY! YOU FOOLS! I'M THE SAVIOR OF THE NEW GOLDEN AGE!(image grows staticy and brief images of armored men grabbing Faro and taking him away). Samina Ebadji: What? What's going on...who are you?! Jack Harper: Before I say anything else...you should know that APOLLO is safe- Samina Ebadji: What!? Jack Harper: Faro merely Believed he'd purged it. It's completely fine. Samina Ebadji: (sigh of relief) Oh, thank god... Travis Tate: I can't believe this...your here... Charles Ronson: You know who this is? Travis Tate: Spooks call him the 'Illusive man' he's the proverbial 'boogeyman' of the espionage world! Him and his CERBERUS!(shakes his head in disbelief) Never thought he'd be here though... Jack harper: Indeed, Cerberus infiltrated this project. Humanity was putting all it's eggs in one basket after all...needless to say...this made people 'nervous'... Travis Tate: ...So what happens now? Jack Harper: That's all up to you...See, although Farro was a moron...he was right about one thing: This is an opportunity for a new beginning...to make things RIGHT. Which is why...I've made my own addition to ZERO HORIZON DAWN. (a new hologram appears...entitled: HECATE) Ayomide Okilo: Wha...Hecate? The Greek goddess of magic? What is this? HECATE: Listen...and I'll explain... (PAUSE) The Mane six stood stunned by this new developments...for the last hour they'd learned so much...about these humans...about the 'Farro plague'...about ZERO HORIZON DAWN... "This is amazing! These humans...their technology was so many years ahead of us!" Says Twilight as she examines the hologram amazed. Celestia nodded with a sad smile, "Indeed it is." Applejack frowned, "With all due respect your majesty...so far I'm not seeing what this Jack has done to deserve your ire, seems like he did everyone a favor taking down that Farro fool." "Of course he did everyone a favor!" Exclaims Twilight suddenly, "That monster was going to destroy KNOWLEDGE!" She runs over and hugs her precious books- which for some reason instead of being destroyed at her library had been sent to the Astral plane along with Harper - "Precious, Precious knowledge! I'll never let you out of my sight again!" She gives them a kiss while caressing them lovingly. Everyone gives her weird looks...Celestia coughs awkwardly, "Yes...ANYWAY! This next part will make it more clear..." (UNPAUSE) (FASTFORWARD) Samina Ebadji: I...I don't believe this! Magic...magic really exists? Charles Ronson: And...there's a whole secret society that practiced it? JACK HARPER: Well...there used to be. Travis Tate: ...Dare I ask what happened? Jack Harper: There was a megalomaniacal dark wizard named Voldemort...who conquered all of wizard kind in the late 1990's- Margo Shĕn: What? Just like that? Didn't they put up a fight? Jack Harper: (looks annoyed)Yes...apparently they put all their hopes into a eleven year old boy with NO experience to save the day FOR them. Travis Tate: ...I'm sorry...what? Jack Harper:(rolled his eyes) Apparently he was the 'CHOSEN ONE'- (PAUSE) "Huh, you'd think that would've worked." Said Applejack confused. "Certainly worked for us." Agreed Twilight. "I suspect a 'Cerberus retcon' mixed with a 'deconstruction fic'." Contemplated Pinkie Pie. ...Everyone just looked at her weird...before shrugging in off as 'Pinkie being Pinkie' and starting the hologram up again. (UNPAUSE) -...naturally the poor boy was killed immediately, voldemort gained the means to resurrect himself, and the wizarding world- literally having made no other plans and filled with useless adults stuck in a 'fairy tale land where it was always someone else's job to save them' -quickly folded." Ayomide Okilo: (reads data) And apparently, he then attacked the 'muggle' world by...wow, this guy was an idiot, has he never heard of 'tactics' or 'war of attrition'? Jack Harper: ...evidently not...needless to say, although he had quality on his side, muggles had quantity and a better grasp of tactics...thus he lost. But in a last bout of petty spite, he cast a great curse that took all of Wizardkind with him to the grave...and caused all the environmental disasters that made Farro famous- Naoto: -Which is what gave him the influence and resources to create his dang machines that caused all this- gestures around to everything - in the first place!(shakes head in disbelief) Hard to believe one lunatic could cause so much death and destruction LONG after he was dead... Jack Harper: Naturally, we covered up the whole thing. Not hard considering all the disasters that came after...During that time...we researched the 'remains' to figure out how their magi worked...and shorty before the Farro plague occurred...we discovered it. By the time we figured a way to harness it properly, it was too late to save mankind...but now, now we have so much more options... Patrick Brochard-Klein: Hold on, I may not know a lot about 'magic' but I'm well versed in biology. And by the looks of this data...simply saturating a 'muggle' genome with raw magic is more likely to kill it then anything! And it doesn't look like you have enough 'wizard' DNA to extend to integrate to all the craddle facilities either, so that's out! Charles Ronson: And saturating every other living thing on the planet with magic? ...there's no predicting how that'll shape out! So many crazy new specise popping out of the wood work! Manticore! Basilisks! Griffins, ding-Dang Dragons for all we know! Humanity will never survive in all that! Jack Harper: Saturating the world with magic...if done right, will increase the power of the new residence of earth exponentially, allowing them to manipulate the forces of nature as a child would a tinker toy. Some of my analysts theorize that one day evolution on such a world might produce someone capable of controlling the sun! Or more! Patrick Brochard-Klein: You haven't answered our question... Jack Harper: (sigh) Very well, your right...humans wouldn't survive such an ordeal...but a NEW, BETTER race will... ... And the conversation on the hologram basically fell apart after that, the 'Illusive man' tried to convince the Alphas to help him bring this about...but they refused...he then asked if they would at least step aside and allow him to do this on his own...they again refused. With a heavy sigh...Jack Harper then fills the room with a knock out gas...and has his men drag them out... Jack Harper: minds such as your are terrible things to waist...hopefully in time...you'll help bring about my goal... It goes on a bit more...telling how, horse DNA was found to be the best conduit for raw magical energy, apparently they cannibalized all the human DNA stock in all Craddles to create the ponies and makes sure they'd have human intelligence...they then added 'normal' Pegasus and Unicorn DNA to diversify the whole lot... (PAUSE) The Mane six were stunned by all this...they didn't know what to say...what COULD they say? Celestia was the first to speak up; "I know that this is a lot to take in...and I know the concept of being 'princesses' has been- more or less -thrown at you without warning..." Celestia sighed. "My sweet little ponies...I won't lie to you, Twilight alone was supposed to gain this gift- I mean no offense toward any of you, but the fact is I have been grooming her for this position almost her whole life. How to be a learned, diplomatic leader- She looks at the other five awkwardly..."and you five...well... "Are a farmer, fashion expert, 50% cake, veterinarian, and speedster junkie." Listed out Applejack with a sigh, "It's okay your majesty, we know who we are..and were proud of it...but I can rightly see why that would be a concern for you." She conceded reluctantly. Celestia smiled, "Thank you for understanding, ordinarily I'd try to help you properly acclimatize better to your new roles...but we don't have time. The strange and malevolent force that 'tampered' with Twilight's ascension has set events in motion that may spell the doom of Equestria. So I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a 'crash course'." She points toward the image of the human still inside the cell under Canterlot castle. "Your first lesson...voting to decide his fate..." ... The Illusive man sighed as he looked toward the two princesses that interrogated him, "I resigned myself that I would do horrible thing for what I thought was right. I had a motto to do what I must and let history judge after-wars...of course...I never thought I'd live to see that last part...in any case, I've given you all the facts, laid out all my crimes...I regret none, your presence here is vindication of all I did, far as I'm concerned. Now...I shall let you decide my you decide, i'll abide..." (PAUSE) The mane 6 watched his confession stunned...they also looked through the laptop at all the other 'projects' that Cerberus had done...some was beneficial and benevolent...but others were just horrifying. "Coup's, Grabs, sponsoring revolutions, tampering with elections, blackmail, assassination, character assassination, brainwashing, kidnapping, human experimentation...it's like a horror movie here!" Shouts Twilight! Celestia nods, "Indeed, for all this plus him exterminating his own race...I'm going to vote for him to be sent to Tarturus." The mane six gasp at this, that punishment hadn't been used in centuries! They turned to Luna who just snorted, "I don't think it needs to be said what my opinion is of wiping out any race, let alone your own." She said firmly, siding with her sister. Applejack nodded, "The only other thing I could say is that it it was lazy." She said flatly. Rarity nodded her agreement, "Indeed on the one hand he's like the nobility I put up with every day. Instead of fixing something that's broken, he just throws it out and replace it with something bigger and more jewel encrusted." Raiinbow Dash glares, "Uh...you realize that analogy kinda indirectly insults all ponies, right?" Rarity frowns, "Oh, right...might need to work on that. In any case, on the other hand- She takes a deep breath knowing what she was about to say won't go over well -Look, what he did was unforgivable...but for better or for worse his actions are the reason we even exist! I hate to say this, but we can't just pretend that's not a THING here! It's too big!" Most of the others gasp at this. "Rarity, he murdered his whole race!" Pointed out Twilight, "This wasn't a 'needs of the many' situation. It was not a do or die scenario. He wasn't forced to chose between two groups and sacrifice one so another...He 'could' have saved his own species, but he chose not to." Rarity groaned, "I'm not saying he's NOT guilty...maybe...but maybe...he's also kinda...NOT not guilty-ish? Or...GAH! I don't know what I'm saying! I'm sorry, I'm just trying to do the right thing here!" She admits distressed. Rainbow Dash sighed, "I REALLY hate to say this...but Rarity's right." Applejack glared, Rainbow glares right back. "Don't give me that look! you think I like it? Of course I don't. But I can't just say "thanks for creating the world and everyone in it, now go rot in a hole somewhere. Sure, He sacrificed his people to do it, and sure he didn't 'have' to. But I'm not going to feel guilty that I, or you or any pony or dragon or gryphon or any one else is alive because of it. I'm not sorry I'm ALIVE." She says firmly Twilight sighed, Rainbow and Rarity were making some fairly good points...but still... "No one is asking you to feel guilty for existing. But the fact remains he chose to let his species die. He can't be let off for that. We can't say "you killed millions of innocent sentience's for no reason. But its the reason we're alive, so I guess we'll call it even." She then turns to Pinkie and Fluttershy...just standing off alone. "Girls? You've been awfully quiet..is everything okay?" ...drip...drip... "I...(sniff)...I can't do it..." Says Pinkie quietly, her mane unnaturally flat and lifeless...and covering her face... "I hate how it happened...but I can't deny that I owe him for me- Mom, dad, grandma pie, my sisters Maude, Limestone, and Marble! ALL MY FRIENDS! -being around in the first place!" She whips back her hair- Everyone gasps -Pinkie was crying! "I HAVE TO VOTE HIM INNOCENT! I'M A BAD PONY!" She falls down to the floor and sobs, everyone races toward her and comforts her. After Pinkie Pie calms down, Twilight- reluctantly -turns to Fluttershy. "Dare I ask how you feel about all this?" Fluttershy just frowns, "Honestly...this whole thing doesn't feel right, this decision...it affects ALL of Equestria?" Twilight frowns, "What are you saying?" Fluttershy musters up her courage, "I'm saying, we should have ALL of the kingdoms of the earth, every citizen who wishes to...vote for his fate. For better or for worse...he created us all, everyone should have a say in how he's punished." After some more back and forth...it's agreed that Fluttershy's idea has merit...and so it's decided that they'll go along with it. Celestia nods, "Right...now that that's over with- "WE CAN GET TO THE CRAZY STUFF!" Shouts Discord as he appears in a puff of smoke dressed as KISS rocking out and flapping his large tongue about. Celestia rolls her eyes, but waits for him to finish. Once done, he turns to her. "Right then, sun-butt. What's the buzz today?" Ignoring the dig, Celestia continued. "Discord...have you ever heard of a chaos spirit named...Slenderman?" It was at that moment, the ponies saw something they NEVER thought they'd see...Discord was TERRIFIED! "...get the elements...and turn me back to stone...NOW!" ...…... TO BE CONTINUED?
Chapter 3Alicorn Genesis 3 I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ... ... This response naturally stunned everyone. "Wha- Discord, why would you want to- Began Fluttershy before Discord interrupted, "Or send me to Tarturus...or the moon! I don't care where you send or imprison me JUST GET ME OFF THIS DOOMED, FORSAKEN ROCK!" "Discord! Please! Calm yourself! Why has this Slenderman got you so frightened?" Asked Celestia concerned. Discord sighed, "Look we creatures of chaos...were not really into the whole 'organization', 'ranks', or 'hierarchy' thing. Sorta counterproductive to what we do really...but IF we were to have a position for 'god'- "He's the god of chaos?!" Interrupted Twilight horrified. "No, he'd be the guy who'd KILL the god of chaos! That's how dangerous he is! And don't even think of using the elements of harmony on him, you'd be better off just throwing a bucket of water on him, at least he'd get pruney then. Which is more damage then your trinkets would cause!" Suddenly he got thoughtful, "In fact..." He takes some spectacles and puts them on to better examine everything. "Looks like he's gone and put a new coat of retcon all over reality...makes me wonder if this 'Horizon Zero Dawn' even existed a couple hours ago or he just rewrote the past with a snap of his finger...wouldn't be the first time." "I'm sorry, what was that lat part!?" Demanded Celestia. Before Discord could respond- "Discord! Stop breaking the fourth wall! On top of everything we don't need ponies going emo from an existential crisis!" Shouted Pinkie to everyone's confusion. Discord shuddered, "Quite right Pinkie, priorities!...petrify me immediately!" Before anyone could say anything- CRASH! Everyone saw a THING crash on to the floor...it looked like someone had torn a pony inside-out, twisted them until they burst, then used a blow torch to weld the pieces back together...it gurgled out blood and flapped it's arms around for a bit as it struggled to breathe...then it just laid down and died... All the ponies looked on in horror... "We'll that's a relief," Said Discord happily. Everypony looked at him like he was insane...well, more insane then usual. "EXCUSE, me!?" Barked Rarity aghast. Discord shrugged as he pointed to the corpse-like thing, "Roughly translated in chaos 'speak' that means: 'Chill Discord. I've already set things in motion, and I'm sitting things out for the rest of the adventure to watch the 'fireworks'.'" "Wait, so every time a 'thing' like that hits the floor- "Of course not EVERY time, it only means that when the orange becomes Tuesday, but not before the apricot turns the Orion, but also only AFTER the elephant becomes to spaghetti what cars are to dollies! DUH!" Shouts Discord with his eye's rolling. "Makes sense to me!" Shouts Pinkie Pie before her baffled friends could say anything. Celestia coughed nervously, "Right, for the sake of everyone's sanity...let's just move on." She then explains how Jack Harper told them that many years after Cerberus had 'taken over' the project from the alpha's Slenderman had attacked the bunker and overpowered them...the next thing Harper knew...it was millennia later and he was in the Astral realm with Celestia with nothing but the clothes on his back, a laptop, and a challenge from Slenderman. "Apparently, Slenderman speed up the process of propagating the world with life, magic and ponies...then erased all memory of the facilities- Including APOLLO - from our ancestors minds and culture. He then shut them down...until now." She shows them the message: Greetings hero's! Terribly sorry about not being their to celebrate your ascension. So instead I give you the greatest gift a band of hero's can get...an epic quest that decides the fate of their world! "How is that a gift?" Demanded Rainbow Dash. "Come now Rainbow, was it not an 'epic quest' that ensured your friendship? How is that not a gift?" Asked Discord slyly. There was a long pause... "Yeeeaaahhhh, that ain't gonna fly." Said Applejack as they went back to reading the message- Okay, fair enough Applejack- "What!?" Shouted the fairly creeped out girls, "Yeah, he dose that a lot." Explained Discord with a sigh as they continued to read... Indeed I do Discord. In any case, how about a REAL gift then? Attached to this message are all the locations of the Horizon Zero Dawn facilities; each one filled with enough knowledge, technology and industrial resources to send Equestria several hundred years forward tech-wise- Twilight squealed in delight...the promptly flustered in embarrassment as everyone stared at her...she coughed awkwardly and continued to read... Yes, squeal away Twilight. "Huh, this message makes a lot more sense when read the second time." Admits Luna just as creeped out as everypony else... And all you have to do to get them is: 1: use two alicorns to unlock my seal on each facility 2: defeat each facility guardian, their minions, and traps. 3: Purge the facility A.I. of corruption(for the sake of sportsmanship I've allowed your Elements to work on them) 4: do all this before the activated and now rouge facilities destroy Equestria. "WHAT!?" Screams everypony. The message then goes on to explain how slenderman had corrupted each facility and reprogramed them to destroy the planet in their own way. The first one would activate at the time of their ascension and as time went in not only would more activate, but their power would increase. Also there were rules: 1: it will take no less then TWO alicorns to unlock each seal 2: only one Mane Six Alicorn per facility is allowed to unlock the seal 3. Once an alicorn is used to unlock a seal, that same alicorn is barred from unlocking any other seals 4. Celestia and Luna are barred from this. 5. only the alicorn's that unlock the seal are allowed to enter the facility to fight the guardian, everyone else is barred until it's defeated. Twilight frowned, she ran the numbers in her head... "Wait, their are 10 facilities in all! With these rules, their's no way we can possibly do this! there's too few of us!" Celestia coughed, "Uh...that's not quite true." ...several hours ago... Outside the Illusive man's cell the sisters were beginning to panic having just read the message and the data on the laptop. "How can we protect our people under these conditions!? Even with our newest additions we do not have enough!" Exclaimed Luna. Celestia nodded, "Indeed, Alicorns don't grow on trees!" "Uh, excuse me?" Asked the human from inside the cell. The sisters glared at him, "What do you want?" Asked Celestia sourly. "If I might inquire...why not just use this 'Starswirl's spell' again? To make more alicorns I mean?" Both Celestia and Luna just looked at him dumbstruck...then face-hoofed themselves for their obliviousness... ... "Huh, wow...that actually is kinda obvious." Admitted Twilight awkwardly. "Oh, don't beat yourself over it. If not for that, that spell would've been completely forgotten about and never mentioned again by ANYpony." Said Discord dismissively. Pinkie nodded sadly, "Yeah I can see that happening...what a waste of a perfectly good plot point!" Again, they all looked at the two confused...Celestia coughs again, "Riiiiight...moving on. It is imperative we find more alicorns. Me and Luna did some quick research and although the spell CAN make more alicorns...but it can't be any pony...it has to be SPECIAL ponies, ponies who have proven themselves through trial and tribulation like you six have..." "Well, how in tarnation are we supposed to find them? Especially when clearly were on deadline!" Asked Applejack concerned. Celestia and luna used their magic to levitate some maps, charts and other documents forward. "First, things first...were going to send a contingent of guards to every marked location on this map to test to see if there is another way to get in beside the one indicated by Slenderman- "Stop saying his name! It gives him power!" Shouts Discord. Everyone looked at him in horror...until he get's a thoughtful look on his face, "At least...that's what he says...he could be just messing with everypony though...he dose that a LOT...but better safe then sorry with that guy." He admitted fearfully. Celestia gave him a weird look...but continues on. "Anyway, if...You-Know-Who -Discord mouths 'thank you' in her direction -is being honest, we'll keep the contingent there on standby in case anything happens at the site." Luna continues, "As for finding other alicorns, me and Celestia are going to bring the best and brightest to canterlot under the guise of a 'meeting of the minds' so that they can secretly partake the ritual to see if there WORTHY. I trust that we don't need to explain how imperative it is that we keep this quiet to avoid a panic?" The Mane Six nods, "However, since simply the 'official' best and brightest might not be enough...we'll have to send you to search Equestria for the 'unofficial' best that Equestria can offer." Twilight frowned at this, "But how do we- "Slender- You-Know-Who." corrects Luna quickly. -Has already pointed out potential spots to find them...along with this note: Now I know what your thinking...this must be a trap... Well of course it is! No, DUH! Is it my fault that all the places for potential Alicorn will soon be rife with carnage and intrigue? ...oh, wait it totally is. Well, too bad for you! Try not to die too quickly, I want to squeeze a few more story arcs out of this crazy ride! (insert maniacal laughter) The assembled ponies just groaned at this. "The sad thing is...we don't have a choice. We have no other leads, and we don't really have the luxury of time to look for others." Admitted Celestia. "And even if it is a goose chase...most of these areas are greatly populated, we can't afford to turn a blind eye to a potential threat that this mad man might have caused!" Pointed out Luna. It's a reluctant Mane 6 that view their options...although many, 6 locations in particular catch their eyes: Canterlot Museum of natural history Cloudsdale Prance *Eden's gate* *Oddtown* *The Rotten Apple* "I CALL PRANCE, NO TAKE BACKS!" Screams Rarity, Twilight rolls her eyes. "Rarity, remember that you'd be there on BUSINESS." "But of course darling! I'll search the whole city for potential alicorns, I'll leave no shop unturned!" Before Twilight can say anything- "I'm calling Cloudsdale of course! It's my hometown, I know the lay of the land!" Twilight gives her a skeptical look, "And the fact that the next Wonderbolt airshow just happens to be shown there?" Rainbow jack chuckled nervously, "Oh...is it? Completely slipped my mind", she lied lamely. "Um, could I go to Eden's gate? It's famous for it's nature preserves." Asked Fluttershy nervously. "And The Rotten Apple is one of the greatest, wildest party destinations in Equestria! CAN I GO!? CAN I!?" Pleads Pinkie Pie. "Uh...while were at it...Oddtown is famous for it's top of the line agricultural equipment and products...I've been wanting to see it for awhile now." Admits Applejack awkwardly. Twilight throws up her hooves in resignation, "And OF COURSE the Canterlot Museum is chosen as a destination right before the opening of it's 'Pre-three tribes Exhibit' that I've been looking forward to for months! Surprise! Surprise!" She snarks sarcastically. "Indeed, all those locations being dream destinations for you lot CAN'T be a coincidence." Twilight sighs, "Oh, what the hay? If were going to spring a trap we might as well do it doing what we love!" She said in a 'mock-cheer/resignation/reluctant excitement' attitude. "That's the spirit!" Shouts Rainbow Dash. Celestia nods and is about to go make preparations when she remembers something, "Oh, before I forget. It's imperative you keep your elements with you at all times, their a needed component in Starswirls spell(Both for the amount of power it has to fuel it and it's connection to the harmony magic of Equestria to help sync an ascending alicorn to said magic). I believe that as alicorns you'll eventually embody those elements where you won't need them anymore...but until then we'll need the actual elements." Twilight frowns, "Wait, But we'll be scattered across Equestria- "I'm making a spell that should allow you to unite the elements magic even at great distances." Explained Luna. "I'm confident I'll have it finished before you depart, never mind that now. Just focus on your mission and keeping the elements safe, and no matter WHAT happens or disaster comes our way do NOT in ANY circumstances relinquish the elements! Or Equestria is doomed!" ... Meanwhile...deep beneath the Everfree forest...ancient seedlings...filled with malevolence and dark magic...begin to GROW...and fulfill their thousand year purpose... ...…... TO BE CONTINUED?
Chapter 4Alicorn Genesis I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ...III... "YOUR SUING US!?" Asked Celestia confused. The blue-maned pony adjusted his glasses as he nodded, 'You-Know-Who' is a registered Trademark of 'Harry Potter', the estate of J.K. Rowling demands an immediate stop of the unauthorized use of that nickname!" Shouted the lawyer Pony. Celestia just face-hooves herself...she didn't have time for this nonsense... ... They had to delay Departure for another day or so; Preparations needed to be made, relatives needed to be called, politics needed to be wrangled. All that. It had been decided that their official coronation...and the Trial of Jack Harper would be postponed until AFTER the current crisis was dealt with. It had been decided that the Mane Six would be sent on Airships piloted by a small garrison of loyal royal guards, 'officially' they'd be touring the country on a PR trip to ease the populace into the idea of their now being 'six' more princesses... "Soon to be more." Thinks Twilight to herself with a chuckle, then frowned as her thoughts went back to the current situation. They'd just been told by Celestia that the royal guards sent to the various Zero Dawn facilities had not only reported them completely impregnable to means both mundane and magical, but at least one of the facilities had come online already... Naturally, her friends were confident that despite everything they'd triumph like they always did! And Twilight wanted to share their confidence...and yet...this time felt DIFFERENT- "TWILLY!" Twilight immediately brightened hearing the voice of her BBBFF Shining Armor, she turns around just in time to be glomped by her former foal-sitter/sister-in-law. "TWILLY! YOUR A PRINCESS LIKE ME NOW! WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT!" Squealed Candance excited, Twilight just smiled and hugged her back and greeted her parents as they walked in... ... "I don't like this Applejack, I don't like this one bit." Stated Granny Smith flatly. "Nope." Agreed Big Mac. Applejack shook her head, "Come on Granny, Big Mac. me and the girls have saved Equestria numerous times and NOW were Princesses on top of everything- Gestures to her wings while extending them -This is gonna be a piece of apple Fritter!" Says Applejack confidently. Granny just shakes her head at this 'youthful bravado', one look around shows that the rest of the six- Except perhaps Twilight and Fluttershy -seemed equally confident in the missions success...Hopefully those two would keep their wits about them and keep the others afloat... "Still...at least she'll be safe...in the air of a military-grade ship, surrounded by armed guards, and equipped with her new alicorn powers and the element of honesty...in fact..." Granny nods, and makes a decision. "Applejack I'd like you to take Applebloom with you..." Little did she know that Sweetie Belle and Scotaloo would be going with their respective Sister-figures. Scotaloo because her house was being fumigated and Sweetie Belle since their parents were going on yet ANOTHER extended trip...much to Rarity's irritation. ... Twilight was excited! They were going to test Starswirl's spell on Shinning! He'd volunteered, and if this works...he'd be an Alicorn just like them! She trots happily toward the main hall, element of Magic perched proudly on her Tiara. As she's walking past the princesses Room- Luna sigh's can be heard, "Candace is certainly a lucky girl...soon she'll have a partner to share eternity with." She said in a rather melancholy way. "Now sister, don't fret. Need I remind you that by the sound of it Shining will simply be the first of many new Alicorns MALE's..." Points out Celestia optimistically. Curious, Twilight listened in. Luna perked up, "Yes I suppose your right- she gets a thoughtful looks -OH! Perhaps we could tell the girls to make finding the males a priority!" She asks with a devilish smirk. Twilight blushes, were they seriously going to ask her and her friends to play matchmak- Twilight let out a sigh of relief when Celestia shook her head, "I'm sorry Lu-Lu, maybe under different circumstances... But we can't afford that luxury right now. We need all the Alicorns we can get!" Luna sighed but nodded, "Oh, what I wouldn't give to wake up to find a warm body beside me who wasn't going to just die in a mere century while I lived on..." She admitted sorrowfully. Celesita gave her sister a hug, "You always have me sister." Luna smirks, "Thanks Tia...but you know I don't swing that way, right?" Celestia giggles, "Oh, YOU!" She playfully slaps her shoulder as they both laugh together. But while they laughed, a young purple Unicorn was suddenly very thoughtful. "Huh...I never thought of it like that...But I guess being immortal WOULD be tough on any relationship to a mortal pony...poor Luna. Well, I'll do what I can to find her an alicorn Stallion! She won't be lonely anymore!" With a resolute smile Twilight walks forward with determination...and then her thoughts turned to less pleasant matters... "Wait a minute...what dose that mean for me? Will...dose this mean I won't ever find a special Somepony?...wait, will ANY of my friends get to have a special somepony?! Will everyone we love age away and die!? ...wait...will I outlive my parents?!" Fortunately this downward spiral of thoughts did NOT derail her concentration during the ritual as Shining became an Alicorn. Although he eagerly embraced his ecstatic wife...he excused Twilight to go to bed. He'd known her long enough that when she got that 'look' on her face...it was best to give her space...you only had to experience your room being set on fire one time before you got THAT message. ... They spent one more night at the castle both to rest after the ritual and to give Luna and Celestia time to take what they'd learned from the ritual to calibrate the elements to work long-distances so the Mane 6 could still do the ritual even when scattered across Equestria. When they packed up and left on their airships, there was no fanfare, no real ceremony. Time was of the essence after all. No, it was just a quick goodbye to family and friend then off with them...well, most of them. "Thanks for coming to keep me company Discord, I appreciate it." Bubbled Fluttershy happily as she flew up and gave the chaotic Chimera a hug. Discord went blushed a nice shade of purple/green then shook her off. "Don't get the wrong idea! I'm just going with you because otherwise I'd have no one to spend time with except the Debbie Downer sisters!" Huffed the Trickster spirit as he points toward the two amused looking alicorn princesses. "Whatever you say, Discord!" Said Celestia trying VERY hard to keep a straight face. "Yes, whatever I SAY! And don't you forget it!" Said Discord with a snarl. "hungry?" Asked Fluttershy helpfully as she held up a tray. Discord's eye's brightened, "COOKIES!" He clapped his hands enthusiastically, he then took off his horns which grew mouthy tentacles that ate the treats gleefully. Fluttershy just giggled happily... ... Twilight smiled as she looked over to her pink-haired friend as she ascended into her airship. "Well, Fluttershy seems taken care of...but what about the others? What about...me?" She thinks forlornly... She knew that there'd be plenty of guys that would become Alicorns during this trip, and that would probably work out well for the others...but HER? Twilight was self-aware enough to know that her 'interests' and 'hobbies' although exciting to her was only tolerable to others(in her age group) in small dosages. Nope, probability was against her either. Either guys would be within her age group but wouldn't touch her personality with a 10-ft pole, or would like her personality but be too OLD to desire a relationship...hoping for a mixture of the two was just unlikely as it was impractical! She sighed, she tried to go back to the more noble and selfless pursuit of trying to figure out a way to extend the Alicorn ritual more so that her friends family could be added... And yet...she couldn't help but occasionally fantasies about a teenage Stanford Pines...no mater how laughable the scenario was... ...Later... They took off and landed at their destination at Canterlot without incident. To prevent from being mobbed, Twilight had an illusion of a rather plain and grey earth pony put over herself. She'd have to appear before the mayor for a grand ceremony later that evening(they had to do things like that to keep a lid on their TRUE purpose), but for now she was going to the Canterlot Museum. Now Twilight knew that something bad was probably going to happen here...but until then she vowed to enjoy the new 'pre-three tribes era exhibit!' "Explain to me again why I have a disguise of a purple infant colt?" Asked spike annoyed as he leaned against a nearby wanted poster of a little blue colt. Twilight sighed as she paid for their tickets at the Museum front desk, 'I'm sorry Spike, but I'm rusty on my illusion spells. This spell was the only one I could still remember that was your size." Said Twilight as she picked him up to carry him on her back. Spike sighed but went with it...what else could he do? Twilight examined her pamphlet at all the new exhibits showcasing all the civilizations that existed BEFORE the pre-unification three tribes of Equestria: Roamen, Haysian, Neighgypt, the Empire of Thulsa Doom- "OH! Thulsa Doom! Now's my chance to see if all those letters I sent the curator paid off!" Exclaims Twilight excitedly. Spike groaned, 'letter's' was putting it mildly. His throat had hurt for days after sending a proverbial catalogue worth of complaints to the poor curator...who had responded in a VERY inflammatory way. He'd hidden the 'responses' so it didn't hurt Twilight's feelings...but he guessed he had no choice now... "Twilight, I'm sorry to say this...but the Curator won't do as you ask." Twilight's eye's wiped toward him so fast, Spike was worried she'd get whiplash. "What?" She asked in a hurt tone. Spike winched at this, he then tried to give her a more...'watered down' version of the curators response that wouldn't hurt her adopted mother's feelings...or wouldn't end with his mouth rinsed out with soap... "I'm sorry, Twilight. But apparently their budget was tight and all the exhibits you talked about already had their placements decided and insured. So apparently it would've cost too much to correct a...frivolous concern?" He says that last part as delicately as possible while bracing for the explosion. "FRIVOLOUS CONCERN!?" Screams Twilight enraged, her mane in flames. Spikes screams as he's forced jump off as his fanny burns. "I can't believe this! Am I the only one who cares of the seemingly constant misconception of the 'Cult of Set' getting grouped together with the 'Spawn of Set?!' Yes, technically they were sub-sects of the same cult with only a few minor aesthetic differences separating them that were only implemented for tax reasons! BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING! They were treated as different groups by their culture! Therefore, it's our duty as academics that we should label them as such! Honestly, am I the only one who cares about the cornerstones of- -THE CORNERSTONES OF TRUE ARCHEOLOGY! THE CULT OF SET AND THE SPAWN OF SET WERE CONSIDERED DIFFERENT GROUPS BY THEIR CULTURE! THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH!" Twilight smiled at this proclamation. She begins to turn her head toward a fellow TRUE academic- And her entire world froze... There standing/shouting in front of an increasingly annoyed guide who in turn was standing in front of the forbidden burial chamber of Thulsa Doom...was Stanford Pines...No, it was a look-alike of Stanford Pines...THAT WAS HER AGE! HER TEENAGE FANTASY HAD COME TRUE! "Look buddy, if you don't calm down I'll have to have you kicked out!" Snapped the guide. Her heart racing and her hormones overriding her usual love of rules and order- "Spike! Quick! Cause a distraction! NOW!" Hissed Twilight between her teeth. Spike looked at her confused, but obeyed with a shrug. He threw a small fire ball at a nearby tapestry. The guide, seeing this. Panicked and ran to save the priceless ancient relic, as did the nearby guards... Twilight smiled seeing this...then gaped in horror as her mind finally regained control from her loins. "GAH! I JUST DESTROYED A PRICELESS WORK OF ANCIENT ART!? WHAT WAS I THINKING!?" She groaned, what was wrong with her!? Just because some random guy just happened to look like her fictional crush and just happened to have the same pet peeve over the same common historical misconception was no reason to lose her senses and go Ga-Ga over some GUY! She wasn't Rarity for crying out loud! She had dignity! She was smart! She was a princess! She- And then she saw the Stanford Pines look-alike take advantage of the distraction to pull 5 viper teeth from 5 separate creatures from the lands of isle 'Mc-dosen't-exist' from his satchel and places them into the glyph's based on how the ancient 'This-culture-is-a-load-of-baloney' people organized their math...OPENING A HIDDEN DOOR IN THE BURIAL CHAMBER!? "MY BOOKS ARE COMING TO LIFE BEFORE MY EYES!" Squealed Twilight with delight And like that...Twilight's loins resumed control as she blissfully followed the apparent avatar of all her fantasies and dreams... ... The 'look-alike' smiled as he looked around the hidden chamber, "Just one more obstacle...good thing I can read ancient 'Stupid-made-up-language'...wow, the ancient people who came up with these names must've had a LOT of anger issues." He read the ancient writing correctly as the magic contained within highlighted them...and once done, the nearby snake pictogram peeled itself from the wall, morphed into a real snake and spat out the snake Talisman into his waiting hoof. He smirked, "Okay, and now just need to get out of here before- SQUEAL! He looked behind him and saw a grey earth pony squealing and delight and practically bouncing up and down like a loon. "OHMYCELESTIA!THISISSOAWESOME!THISISJUSTLIKEINBOOK3:KINGSOFKATMANWHO!WHENSTANFORDPINESDICOVERDTHEANCINETSUNSPHEREOFSOLARISBYFINDINGTHE- As Twilight let out her inner-fangirl, He just stood there stunned at this unexpected intrusion. "What the- Who are- he shook his head, "Never mind. Listen to me, you need to get out of here! Some dangerous men are- His eye's get wide, "GET DOWN!" He shouts as he leaps and pushes Twilight to the side- ZAP! GAH! He screamed as he writhed on the ground in agony- STANFORD! Screams Twilight horrified. "Whoa, man did you just try and shoot the girl?" Asked a grey maned, green earth pony named Ratso. "Nah, man! Finn don't hit the ladies! I knew he'd jump in front of him! That's what goody-goody types like him do." Said a red maned,white unicorn named finn. "Still man...that's a bit of a gamble, what if he'd been too slow?" Asked a black maned, orange pegasus named Chow. "Fine! I won't do it again! Can we PLEASE just grabbed the talisman and go!" Shouts Finn impatient. "You...hurt him..." The three thugs looked up at the grey, sobbing earth pony that was looking over Dipper's writhing body. "Excuse me?" Asked Finn confused, out of the corner of his eyes he sees an infant purple colt somehow run out of the room fearfully. Still crying, Twilight turned around...her disguise falling away...and her mane turning to flame... Now the enforcers may not be the smartest cookies at times...but like most males they shared the survival instinct of knowing when an angry girl was about to kill them... "Mommy." They whimpered. ... The next day the Canterlot museum would close it's door's permanently...or it would have if there were any left standing...or any walls to HOLD the doors at all... But that's a story for tomorrow...let's get back to TODAY... ... Inside the ruins of what was once a institute for historic learning...a Purple Unicorn began to panic. "GAH! WHAT HAVE I DONE!? MILLIONS OF YEARS OF HISTORY DOWN THE DRAIN! I'M A DISGRACE TO ACADEMICS EVERYWHERE! CELESTIA WILL BANISH ME FOR SURE! OR WORSE! SEND ME BACK TO MAGIC KINDERGARTEN!" "TWILIGHT! A LITTLE HELP HERE!?" Twilight turns around to see Spike trying to help up a stunned Stanford look-alike, "You...Your Princess Twilight." He said amazed. Twilight had to suppress a squee at seeing HIM alive and ready for another adventure! This amazing, brilliant, selfless Stallion! If only he was a...hold the phone... Twilight got a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Wait, so you had an illusion on to go see the exhibits too?" The Stallion chuckled, "Wow, that's funny cause actually- Wait, what are you doing?" He asked as Twilight summoned the Element of magic to herself and began to activate it- ... All across Equestria, the rest of the mane six felt the call from their friend and eagerly responded with their own elements harmonious energies... ... "I know this sounds crazy, but I'm about to turn you into an Alicorn! An honest to goodness Alicorn PRINCE!" Shouts Twilight excitedly as the power in her element began to reach it's climax. The stallions eyes went wide, "Wait, what?" He asked confused. Twilight continued on, "I'm sorry for acting so weird earlier, but between looking/acting like my all-time favorite fictional character and some other emotional issues I've been dealing with...SHOOT! I almost forgot to ask! Would you like to be a prince and live Forever with me!" Shouts Twilight excitedly, then blushes when she realized she said too much in her excitement. "Er, I mean live forever with me and my friends of course." She lied weakly. Spike slaps his face, "Real smooth." He groans. Honestly, this whole thing read like a poorly-written romance novel... The stallion was equally flustered as well as confused. This was all happening so fast! And that earlier blow to his body wasn't helping his thought process either. "Wow- I- What- I don't- I mean, YES. I want to do that, but there's something I need to- "HE SAID YES!" Interrupted Twilight excitedly and she let loose the magic! The Stallion's eyes went wide, "WAIT! THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YO- ZAP! Twilight fought off the exhaustion and rushed toward the best thing that ever happened to her! She could feel it! The ritual was a SUCCESS! The whole area was now shrouded with smoke from the ritual. But she could see his general outline! For the first time since overhearing that conversation between Luna and Celestia, she felt HAPPY! Twilight didn't care about what happened next! She's never felt this way about someone before! YOU ONLY LIVED ONCE! EVEN IF HE REJECTED HER, SHE WAS GOING FOR IT! "I LOVE YOU!" Screamed Twilight as he lifted up the obscured visage of the stallions face and kissed him! ...Candance always told her that her first kiss would be special...but that STILL didn't do it justice! She...she felt...COMPLETE. Like there'd been a missing piece of her heart all this time and she'd never known, never suspected, never even thought POSSIBLE. And now...now it was home...SHE was home...with HIM. After an eternity...Twilight finally- reluctantly pulled away, opened her eyes as the smoke dissipated...AND SAW A LITTLE, FLUSTERED, BLUE aLICORN COLT IN HER ARMS!?" "what?" Asked Twilight uncomprehending... Dipper Pines looked at the PRINCESS who just gave him the best kiss EVER and winched, "Okay, I just want to say it was NEVER my intention to deceive you! I swear, I was about to tell you everything before you hit me with the elements! I ESPECIALLY would have told you sooner if I knew you felt that way!" He exclaimed frantically and sincerely. "What?" Whimpered a baffled Twilight. "It's just- I've caused problems at the museum before...I needed a way to fool the guards! And also fool any 'Dark Hands' who saw me! I'm so sorry!" He pleaded. "What?" Said Twilight again...what could she say? "I-I...I am so sorry! I promise I'll do ANYTHING to make it up to you! I would NEVER hurt you intentionally...are you mad?" He whimpered. Twilight...her heart in pieces...sobbing a storm. "I...I have to be alone now..." She ran away in tears. Dipper groaned, "Wow...I really messed up this time, didn't I?" He looked sorrowfully as the Princess he admired most ran away... Spike put a comforting claw to his shoulder, "Don't take it too hard...she's going through some things right now." He said in an equally sorrowful voice as he looked toward the direction his adopted mother went... ...Meanwhile... Deep with the Zero Dawn facility...HEPHAESTUS stirred...the ancient machinery that powered and enabled him...were coming back to life...and the machines...his glorious machines...were ALIVE once more. His new master had made improvements...and now he would use them... And thus the Royal Garrison staking out this particular facility could only watch helplessly as giant cannons formed on top of the structure that recently rose from the ground...and fire canisters carrying a new threat to Equestria...to every corner of the globe... And soon...his brothers and sisters would wake too... ...III…... TO BE CONTINUED?
Chapter 5Alicorn Genesis I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ...III... It had been a LONG night for Twilight, she'd mainly locked herself in the airship and had a good cry. When she'd finally calmed down she made sure the museum would be compensated for the damage and sent Spike a message to bring the newly ascended alicorn prince to the airship..and her. She quickly apologized to him for acting inappropriate toward him and leaving him like that. She promised to be more professional toward him from this point out. Dipper tries to speak- "-And now if you'll talk to Spike I'm sure he can get in contact with your family to make arrangements. But for now it's imperative you stay with me and get trained, is that okay with you?" Said Twilight cutting him off. Dipper blushed at the 'stay with me' part but quickly said, "Uh, yes- yeah! That's okay. But I really think we should tal- "Good, then get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us!" Said Twilight cutting him off again and trotting back to her room before Dipper could say anything else. "Uh, okay. But I just need to- She slammed the door behind her and was gone. Dipper sighed, that hadn't gone like he'd hopped but he was still confident he could make this work! His favorite princess had literally taken him under her wing! That had to be a good sign...right? He shook his head, he'd worry about that later. Right now he had more pressing issues! He turns to Spike, "Okay when she gets up could you give her this?" He gives him the snake talisman. "Also this." He gives him a 500 page essay on the talismans. "This too." And 1000 page thesis on the 'dark hand' organization; including color coded hypotheses on WHY they want the talismans. "And this." Spike struggles as he's also given a several thousand pages of copied source material on possible locations on the other talismans all organized by size, shape, color, date, author name, and author's shoe size. "Don't forget this." Spike could feel his legs nearly give way as he was given a dozen itineraries each filled with dozens of different possible meticulously detailed schedules of numerous different ways of getting the talismans. "Sorry their so short, I was in a hurry when I wrote them." Admitted Dipper as he went to his assigned room. Spike promptly collapsed under the weight of everything, "Great...now there's TWO of them." He groaned. ...The next morning... Spike ended up watching his adopted mother in all but name squeal non-stop in delight over all the organized lists! "This is amazing! I've never met someone who loves meticulous organization as much as me! I never thought I'd ever meet such a kindred spirit- And just like that the excitement died out as she realized what she was saying, she blushed but quickly composed herself. "Er, right. This information is VERY important. I'll have to give it to Princess Celestia and the other girls. Spike set up a conference!" Spike gives her a weird look but dose as she asks... Using a bunch of specially made magic mirrors, the various Alicorn were quick to give their progress reports. Most of them hadn't gotten to their destinations yet- Rainbow would be at Cloudsdale tomorrow, but other then that the only noteworthy thing for the others to report was Pinkie parachuting hundreds of cupcakes and streamers on every town she passed over. "Just because Equestria's about to end, doesn't mean there still can't be parties!" She affirms. Celestia and Luna tell them that the guest are starting to arrive at the castle, but they hadn't had the opportunity to 'talk' to any yet. So then it was Twilight's turn. She quickly gave a run down about Dipper's ascension- leaving out all the 'unimportant' bit's of course -as well as the talismans power's- she demonstrates the snakes invisibility -and how this 'dark hand' was hunting for them. "As it happens...the places Dipper feels that the rest of the talisman 'might' be, correspond with Slendermans 'suggestion's' perfectly...so naturally this all must be connected with whatever he's planning." Celestia nods, "You have my permission to proceed in this, the last we need is another threat popping up right now." Twilight nod's and just when it looks like the meeting must be over- "Hey, Twilight...I can't help but notice that you skimped out on the details about the kid's ascension." Said Rainbow Dash with a smirk. Twilight stiffened. "Oh, yes darling I couldn't help but notice that too...are you sure that nothing else happened?" She asked in an equally smug manner. "Yes, absolutely nothing of importance happened!" Said Twilight firmly, not technically a lie...'importance' was relative after all... Celestia giggled, "Nothing important? My, my. I hope your new 'Beau' doesn't hear that." She says as she brings up the morning paper- Twilight Sparkle will make a STALLION out of you! ...and an alicorn! Twilight went very pale at the sight of the front-page picture of her making out with Dipper Pines after he ascended... "Oh, no." She groaned. "Oh, YES." Said Rainbow with a predatory grin. "I must say Twilight, I never would've taken you for a cougar...I guess what they say about the 'quiet one's' is true." Said Rarity. "So come on 'Mrs. Robinson'! Dish the dirt! When did you decide to get into cradle-robbing?" Asked Rainbow Dash. Twilight blushed, "No! It's not like that! He was wearing the illusion of a hot teenage ford Pines! I- She went even redder in the face realizing what she just revealed, leading to another bout of laughter from her friends, her mentor, and Luna. Finally- after many agonizing minutes -Celestia calmed everyone down and returned to business. "Fortunately, the more sensationalist of ponies seem to simply think you have the power to turn stallions into alicorns and other ponies have bought into this gossip. Thus, our mission remains a secret." Stated Celestia. "The amount of Stallions asking for your hand as well as mothers asking you to 'bless' their colts has skyrocketed however." Added Luna with a chuckle. Twilight further groaned as her reputation continued to go up in flames. Applejack coughed, "Okay, fun's fun...but in all seriousness I hope you sat that colt down afterward and explained how obviously nothing can happen between the two of you." Before Twilight can say anything- "Never mind that now! When do we get to meet the little darling?" Asked Rarity excited. Twilight, thankful for the interruption. Quickly agreed before Applejack could ask anything else. ... Dipper Pines gulped as he was summoned before the now numerous Princesses. He was extremely nervous...and not just for the reasons you'd think! Dipper Pines nervously looked over his notes to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, "This is nuts...am I really doing this? Maybe I should just leave we'll enough alone...no...somethings just need to be said, no matter how unpleasant...more importantly...your doing this for princess Twilight!" That last thought steeling his resolve...he cautiously walks into the rooms. Naturally the first thing that happens is to be gushed over. "Oh, my! Well aren't you adorable!" Cooed Rarity. Dipper blushed at that, but desperately tried to keep his composure for what he was about to do... "My dear child, where do you hail from? Tell us about yourself." Asked Celestia with a warm, motherly smile. Dipper stiffened briefly under the gaze of the 'mother' of all Equestria, but started talking awkwardly. "Um...well, I hail from a little, rinky-dink town called 'Gravity Falls'...don't bother looking for it on any map, it's so small and out of the way that most cartographer's don't even bother acknowledging it. I...live with my two great uncles, I'm a quadruplet with two brothers...and one sister." Luna and Celestia frowned at that last hesitation as well as the dark glint in his eyes when mentioning his sister...but said nothing... "Do you think your uncles will be okay with you staying with Twilight for the foreseeable future?" Asked Celestia. Once again the concept of 'staying with Twilight' made Dipper fluster...and feel more then a little awkward and sweaty. He coughed to hide this, "Uh...Yes, yeah. I think they'd be cool with that...provided they know where I am." Twilight sighed, "I sent a message but they still haven't called back." She admitted. Celestia shook her head, "I'd prefer to have their immediate consent... but we're simply too pressed for time at the moment, especially considering the latest intel sent from the squads watching the HEPHAESTUS facility..." She quickly gives a rundown on how said facility had been observed shooting strange canisters across Equestria. "All means of tracking them have proven useless, Luna will be sent out to head the search while I stay here to ferret out potential Alicorn candidates." While they discussed things...Dipper's mind was in conflict. "This...this is huge! All of Equestria is in trouble...again. Maybe...maybe I should just let this go? They seem to have far more important things to worry about right now...no, no. This needs to be said! If someone had just stepped forward and confronted me earlier about Mable...no, this has to happen! For Twilight's sake!" "Well, I think we've said all that can be said on the matter. We'll convene again after Rainbow Dash touches down in Cloudsdale. I wish the rest of you- "Wait! There's something I need to say." Said Dipper suddenly. Everyone turned to Dipper surprised, "Um, alright then. Let's hear it." Said Twilight confused. Dipper took a deep breath and turned to the mane 6(minus Twilight), "Um...Princesses Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. First and foremost I just want to say that Equestria owes you all a great debt of gratitude for saving them as often as you have." "Why thank you Sugarcube." Offered Applejack happily. "Right...well, that being said...I can't help but feel that- Whatever he said next no one could hear as the nervous colts volume had dialed down to 'inaudible mumbling'. "Uh, could you repeat that darling?" Asked Rarity confused. "i think your taking your friendship with Princess Twilight for granted." Mumbled Dipper again, his perspiration really going at it now. "Um, Dipper? Even I can't hear you and that's saying something." Admitted Fluttershy. Dipper again tried to speak up, and AGAIN all that came out was, "I THINK YOUR TAKING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH PRINCESS TWILIGHT FOR GRANTED- "GAH! Will you just speak up already?!" Shouted Rainbow Dash annoyed. "I THINK YOUR TAKING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH PRINCESS TWILIGHT FOR GRANTED!" He shouted in a panic. ...there was deathly silence. Everyone just gaped in horrified disbelief. Rarity was first to give an indignant response. "Excuse m- "At the wedding, you guys just ABANDONED Twilight! Even after everything she'd done for all of you! Non-stop helping all of you and never asking anything for herself!" Everyone just gaped in horror, "Wha- "YOU TWO!" Dipper points at Pinkie Pie and Applejack. "Us?" Asked Pinkie Pie pointing a hoof to herself reluctantly. "Applejack claimed to have learned 'never dismiss another friends concerns' during the 'Smartypants incident' and Pinkie Pie claimed to never assume the worst about friends during the 'party of one' incident! WHERE WERE THOSE FRIENDSHIP LESSONS DURING THE WEDDING AND TWILIGHT WAS SOBBING AND TRAPPED UNDERGROUND!? DID ANYONE EVEN BOTHER TO CHECK TO SEE IF SHE WAS ALRIGHT?! SHE COULD'VE DIED! ALL BECAUSE HER FRIENDS VALUED A WEDDING OVER HER HAPPINESS!" Many of the Princesses were crying now. "And the worse thing? Aside from Applejack- NONE OF YOU EVEN SAID YOU WERE SORRY!" "What!? Of course we did!...I think we did...didn't we?" Asked Rainbow Dash sounding increasingly unsure... Dipper took a deep breath and then turned to a very distraught and confused Twilight. "Twilight...I know that you think just forgiving them and hoping they've learned their lesson will let you keep the friendship's that are so important to you alive and well...but it won't. Your problems will just fester...like it did between me and my sister Mable." Dipper was starting to cry at this point. "I was terrible at making friends...for most of my life my siblings were my only friends. But none more so then Mable, we were inseparable and we loved each other more then anyone..." "...But as great as that sounds...it wasn't, I would constantly sacrifice my needs for hers. Constantly shield her from the consequences of her actions...and ask nothing in return...I enabled her..." "And when I had this great opportunity to live out my dream...she freaked out because it would mean I'd be away from her for the first time in our lives...and she..." Dipper was sobbing even faster now. "...She did something horrible to keep us together...and people...people got HURT...our relationship wasn't healthy, and it was decided we needed to be separated...it's been over a year since I've seen Mable...and it'll probably be many years more...I can no longer love her...not after the 'Dippy fresh' incident...and I don't want that to happen to you Princess Twilight...your my favorite princess and you deserve so much more..." There was a silence...broken only by Twilight walking over...and hugging the sobbing little colt. "Thank you." She whispered. Taking their cue...the other princesses shut off their mirrors...and left these two in privacy... ...III…... TO BE CONTINUED?
Chapter 1Author's Note I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING! ... ANNOUNCEMENT! I'M GETTING A BOOK PUBLISHED! SUMMARY: On the 13th day of the 13th month of the 13th year...magic will return to the world...and the streets will run red with the blood of the (semi)innocent...unless the world is saved by the most unlikely of hero's...baking cupcakes?! The title is '13/13/13' and it'll be coming to a bookstore or E-Book site near you! Xilbris is the publishing company. It's also now available at Amazon and BarnesandNoble ... ... https://www.amazon.fr/13-Dakota-Umlauf/dp/1984511963 Above is a link to amazon for my book https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128212357?ean=9781984511966 Above is a link to barnesandnoble for my book https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001178898 Above is a link to Xilbris for my book https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/217373 Above is a link to Inkitt.com for my book https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota-umlauf-487523169/ Above is a link to my Linkedin account https://thecowardlychristian.tumblr.com/ Above is a link to my Tumblr account https://www.facebook.com/dakota.umlauf.90 Above is a link to my facebook account https://www.patreon.com/TheCowardlyChristian?alert=2 Above is a link to my Patreon account ....... If you want to see more, go to my fanfiction account: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5874134/The-Cowardly-Christian-du911 ................ AN: this chapter was collaborated by Wolvenstrom. ... I know it says "in-progress" but really I just don't like boxing myself into a corner. For now this is more of a one-shot that I might continue one day...but probably won't. But, hey. Feel free to use whatever elements you want from this, if you want! Or maybe give me ideas? Love me, flame me, review me Chapter 1 Alicorn Genesis ... With all her friends gathered around, Twilight Sparkle began to fix Starswirls spell... "A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled... Wait a second, that's it! I understand now! I know how to fix the spell" She began to add her own verse to it: "From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!" ...in many universes, this would be the moment that Twilight goes from student to princess, achieving the next step on her grand journey...this was not that universe. For at the moment Twilight intoned the last bit of the spell... "Witttth...thhhe...maaaarks... Twilight and time itself slowed to a crawl...none saw the intruder enter the room...a dark, tall, slender man with no face and impeccable business attire. He peeked over Twilight's shoulder and tsked. "My, my...it's true...read the wrong way...this spell COULD be interpreted as several ponies power enslaved to one to help that ONE succeed." He turned to the unsuspecting ponies...still frozen in time...and chuckled. "Well...will just have to fix that, won't we?" He rolls up his sleeves and gets to work 'fixing' the spell. "Let's see...a pinch of Cerberus Retcon...a dash of Darker and edgier...and what the hey? Drown it down with some cosmic retcon as well!" His deed done, he turned invisible and silently observed as time speed up again- ...ooofff...ouur...destinies made one, there is magic without end!" Finishes Twilight without missing a beat! The spell glowed...and EXPLODED! Enveloping the six of them and destroying the library! ... Celestia was giddy! She couldn't wait for her star pupil to appear in the astral plane! She had a whole song prepared! She was so proud of her! FLASH! "Ah, that must be her now!" Celestia smiles as she trots toward the noise. "Congratulations, Twilight. I knew you could- Who are you?!" The human called Jack Harper simply looked around baffled, his oddly colored eyes danced in these strange new surroundings. "Well...this is new." He said finally... Celestia knew then and there...that her plan had gone terribly wrong... ... Twilight groaned as she woke up ...her friends scattered about amongst flaming debris, "Girls?" Asked Twilight groggily, then her eyes went wide...her tree...her library...her home...was ablaze... Rainbow Dash...woke up next...and saw Twilight cry. "Twilight...what's- "My tree." Stated Twilight mournfully. "Wha?" "LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY TREE!" She shouted horrified. Fortunately, Twilight quickly remembered what happened, and apologized to the girls for blaming them...they then comforted their sobbing friend. Many residents walked over to see what all the commotion was about...in the dark of the night, they could tell the library was up in flames...but who was next to it...it almost looked like "Princess Celestia?!" Twilight wiped away the tears and looked toward the pony who addressed her, "What? No, I'm Twilight Sparkle. Why would- And then she sees everyone pointing at them...more importantly...they see WHERE their pointing...she had- "WINGS!? I HAVE WINGS!?" Shouted Twilight in shock. Rainbow's eye's went wide, "Awesome! I get a new flying buddy!" She shouts as she reaches back to grab a camera from her pack- "Ow! Watch where your leaning Rainbow! You nearly poked out my eye with your...horn?" Applejack trailed off as what she said hit home... A shocked Rainbow touched her forehead...and indeed found a horn! "Whoa...no way!" She shouted. Having enough of this stupid dark obscuring her vision, Twilight ignited her horn...revealing to Ponyville SIX new Alicorns...so naturally pandemonium ensued... Pinkie screaming, "Alicorn party' didn't help either... ... It took awhile to calm the residents and themselves down, but they- barely -managed to do that...just in time for an armed Pegasus escort to come down and escort them back to Canterlot. They were then asked to wait for the princess as she handled an urgent matter... The Mane six were a bit overwhelmed...but Twilight's reassurances that Celestia would explain everything did wonders to clam everyone down. While they waited, twilight pulled out the latest book in her favorite series out- "Oh, hey Twilight. You reading more Daring Do?" Asked Applejack. Twilight smirked, but shook her head. "Nope, it's actually a new series I just got into, 'The Adventures of Stanford Pines'." She hugs the book affectionately, "it REALLY speaks to me...I think I've found my newest favorite book series!" Rainbow rolled his eyes, "I've read that series...it's okay...for an egghead." She teased Twilight glared, "Oh, do let me guess. Too much focusing on the rich academia side of archeology and puzzle solving and not enough gratuitous fight scenes?" She asked scathingly. Rainbow shrugged, "Pretty much- But don't get me wrong, it has it's good points." She said quickly, seeing her friend get annoyed. "The fight scenes- although few and in between -are AWESOME and have easily made it into my top 10 fights. And the main villain- Bill Cipher? He's my favorite Villian hands down. Yeah, he's evil- but he dose it with such style you can't help but love him! Not to mention he's scarily competent and could run circles around those chumps Dr. Caballeron and Ahuizotl...if it weren't for the hero being a boring egghead, I'd definitely make it my new favorite." Fortunately, before Twilight could fly into a tirade defending her favorite character- "The princess will see you now!" Announced a guard! Silently Resolving to finish this 'discussion' later...Twilight and her friends walked out of the room...and into the throne room... Their they found Celestia and Luna pawing over a strange device...and they did NOT look happy. "Uh...Princess Celestia?" Asked Twilight. Celestia and Luna quickly went to attention as they saw who entered the room. "Twilight! Girls! It's so wonderful to see you!" Shouts Celestia as she flew over to them and nuzzled them affectionately. "Princess...I'm...I'm an alicorn! We all are!" Exclaims Twilight in disbelief. Celestia smiles and nods..."Indeed you are...a most pleasant surprise indeed..." She then sighs, "If only all the news was so good..." "Princess Celestia? What's wrong?" Asked Twilight concerned. Celestia sighed, "I won't lie to you Twilight...this was a test, that you were supposed to pass and you alone was supposed to become an alicorn...for all your friends to become alicorns as well...I suspect interference from an outside force...and I fear they had less then altruistic motivations for doing so." Twilight and her friends were floored by this...but before they ask more questions- Celestia held up her hoof, "Please save your questions for that later, right now...we have another...'situation' that must be seen to. And must be seen to immediately." "Situation? What do you mean?" Asks Twilight. Celestia's horn glowed and a nearby mirror's surface warped and changed to show an image...an image of a strange hairless ape with oddly mismatched eyes waiting patiently in the palace dungeon... The newly anointed princesses simply looked stunned, "What...what is he?" Asked Twilight confused. "That...is a human." Stated Celestia sadly. Applejack's eye's widened, "A human? Like that loco Lyra keeps mooning over?" She asks. "It would seem that in this case, the 'crazies' were right...humans DID exist. They existed BEFORE us...and now this one is all that's left." Pinkie was naturally excited, "OH BOY! I'm going to have to dig into my party reserves! like REALLY, REALLY, REALLY dig deep! I'll need everything i can get my hands on to throw the biggest, 'Welcome back, glad your not extinct' party and- "There's not going to be a party." Interpreted Celestia flatly, "This man has willingly turned himself in and confessed all his crimes, and waits to be judged." Everyone looked at Celestia shocked... "Wha...what are his crimes?" Asked Twilight with confused dread... Celestia stared down at the 'lap top' that the human had given her... "He murdered his entire species...to create us ponies..." ... TO BE CONTINUED?
