A Long Time Ago, Far Far Away...
Author's Note
Here it is, the story that starts it all. Started years ago, being made reality today.
A Long Time Ago, Far Far Away...
The quiet calm of the sky above; it’s blue hue and fluffy clouds. That is what he saw. This confused him for a second before the sensation of zero gravity and loud snapping of timber could alert him to the situation. Though in that second, he felt a unique wonder. A fleeting smile left his face as his wings unfolded and began flapping to create the necessary lift to pull him up from his now destroyed observation platform. He flapped his wings some more to carry him over to a nearby cloud his loyal pegasus legionnaires were bringing him.
The sloped plain they were on was flanked by steep hills, making it an ideal choke point. The deep green grass filled the air with its sweet scent, the occasional pine tree could be seen, the Tombstone Forrest edge lay not too far north. The scent of sweet grass was interrupted by the wafting scent of burning and blood. Tufts of grass had been razed by fire coated arrows, clumps of earth had been rent asunder by massive boulders being slung about. Scattered bodies laid about, cut down by the onslaught of his army. The war painted tribals shouted war cries, while his armor clad soldiers shouted in unison. The well drilled tactics and training made them superior at war, but not invincible. Some of those bodies were his soldiers.
His coal black coat and pitch black mane were pristine, his flank adorning a spiraling galaxy with four reaching arms, unscathed by the massive boulder launched by the enemy catapults. Having rigged two together, they were able to fire much larger stones than normal. Mainly as a countermeasure to the great siege engines his army possessed. His steel gaze directed his golden eyes on the contraption responsible. With a childish huff his horn glowed ablaze with brilliant gold aura, the same aura which now encompassed the winches of the double catapult. With a soft fanged smile, his aura crushed the winches, causing the half wound spools of rope that pulled the weights to unwind. In the wake, the large boulder failed to fly far enough to inflict harm on his forces, rather it landed nicely on top of some archers.
“You are too cruel my Lord.” Mirthfully commented Lenis Laedere, a commander of the pegasus cavalry.
Trained in aerial combat, the pegasus cavalry used the open sky to deliver deathblows to the enemy at their weakest points. Laedere himself, whose sky blue coat and white mane camouflaged him in the sky, showed unmatched skill in the air. The brilliant green tunics of the cavalry were a sight as inspiring as that of any vexillum.
“Maybe I am, but it is merely because I am so worn by these foes. Thou should know me by now. I offer peace til the last moment before war. But alas, they adamantly refused all such offers, to the point of engaging us in open warfare without any formal declaration. Indiscriminate of who they slaughtered. So to the last willing soldier will they be felled.” Lord Caelestis Niger responded.
Lord Caelestis Niger, or Black Sky as the new Imperial Tongue translated it, was a scholar from unknown parts. All that was known of him was that he arose to power in Sempivita, what was now the capital of his Holy Equine Empire. He started with great speeches and rallies to build the first empire in Matavita, or Mater Ab Vita; Mother of Life. A vast land of varied species and terrains.
He immediately laid out an outline for an ideal society. His philosophy cast into ironclad law. All races of pony were to be united together, all villages within grasp, conjoined. They were left with their traditions and ways, but in turn, they also had to learn the Imperial ways and language. Most necessary for community and communication.
“Take cover my Lord!” Shouted a pegasus legionary in response to a flurry of arrows.
“Yes, you should.” Black Sky said as his aura formed a shield to bear the brunt of the assault.
“You show such concern for your legion my Lord, one might think you refuse them a proper battle.” Lenis announced with mirth as he watched the multitude of arrows hit the magic shield and break, falling harmlessly into the gap between the two armies.
The Holy Equine Empire rose to power swiftly, though not peacefully. “Those who refuse peace, and deny it to others who do so deserve it, shall be wiped from the earth like thistles from the garden. Tis’ not an easy task, but much like tending any garden, it must be done. Let each cut be not in vain, rather, let it be in thoroughness and care for the garden. With honor and pride.” So said The Great Black.
Lord Black Sky, the leader of the Holy Empire, an empire built by soldiers first, then laborers and only then the citizens. True to this process, Black Sky first leads on the battlefield, then through the careful construction of public works. Only after all that, would he tend to the politics of the ponies he conquered.
Nothing is perfect, only better than the alternative. The empire was now massive, more well armed and far more civilized than anywhere else in Matavita. Though it’s populace was not yet far removed from the barbaric tribes it once was. Not enough time had passed in the generations for progress to properly advance. Rebellions had bloomed and been swiftly crushed, but their damage done even in defeat. The fresh scars creating fear in the citizens, the bloodshed holding back progress. Not only in the waste of resources to extinguish the rebellion, but in the loss of lives to build the future.
Even though they could maintain most traditions, it was not enough for the elders of the tribes. Some truly barbaric traditions had to be outlawed for the sake of civilization. In this, Black Sky personally took offense. Not only was he letting them live, keep most of their primitive ways, he was also providing them with a great future!
“Finish off those catapults, then we can unleash the Titans!” Commanded Black Sky to Lenis Laedere, who with a nod shouted to the signaler to order the pegasus cavalry onto the enemy positions.
“Archers, unleash a wall of raining arrows to blind all those who might look upon our cavalry.” Black Sky ordered as he readied to lead the hoof soldiers into frontal assault.
Not far behind the archers, he could hear them. Despite the great clamor of the battlefield, there was no hiding the rumble of a great mass moving. Three Titans de Niger were moving in behind him. The Titans of Black, often behemoth magic weapons. The titans were crafted personally by Black Sky, for the sole purpose of winning any battle. Using magic infused crystal cores, the titans used elements, magic, brute force and sheer terror to utterly destroy the enemy.
These three titans were giant rock types. Solid stone marching in the form of a bipedal bull, capable of smashing with incredible force. Also in their arsenal was the ability to alter the earth beneath them, and blast the enemy with a magic spell called "elrusione", meaning eruption. Even though the titans wielded great power, they were not invulnerable to damage themselves. Which is why the enemy made their twin catapults, and why they now had to be destroyed.
The pegasus cavalry swooped down from the clouds, chasing the wave of arrows down upon the enemy. The arrows made sure most of the enemies covered themselves in shields, those who didn't ducked behind some other cover, least they catch an arrow in their face. This gave the cavalry some level of surprise. Hard to predict, mainly because the moment was chosen at random, the enemy never knew when an arrow barrage was covering the cavalry or just punishing their reselience.
He watched as the pegasi briefly landed long enough to slash, stab or spear an enemy at the catapults, then quickly climb out of reach. Dodging few arrows, most of the survivng archers were either without arrows, or were retreating from the cavalry. Most lacked any other weapon besides their bows. His sky archers then used the choas to form firing lines, taking out high priority targets and hitting enemies from behind their battlements.
Most of the enemies pegasi having died in a great arial battle the previous day, leaving his virtually unopposed. The remaining few struggled to defend the command tent of the tribal leaders, stray pegasi cavalry probing them for weakness.
"Now my hoof soldiers, we take them!" Lord Black shouted to his assembled army, producing his own spear as he quickly leapt forward, blasting his cloud into vapor.
He flew over the top of the enemy forces diving down and clearing small circular patches before regaining the sky, the gaps slaming shut behind him. He kept checking the front, the back, the sides and the far rear of the enemy line. He had to keep a careful eye on the progress of the battle, ordering his lines around the enemy.
With a mighty battle cry, his hoof soldiers eight hundred strong charged forward, their stampede shook the ground, though it was not enough to overcome the growing quake of the oncoming Titans. They needed to quickly force the enemy line into a tighter formation, so the Titans could quickly crush them. Victory was assured, but the cost of the victory was still growing, they had to hurry, to save as many lives as possible for both sides.
The clash of shield, sword, spear and mace drowned all other sound out of the air momentarily. The tribal line was violently shoved back, packed against the second line, the third line and fourth packed against them from the opposite direction, the cavalry having dispatched the archers and catapults. Their harassing forced the line tight, then pressure on the flanks forced the enemy line into a blob with bulges, then a near perfect circle.
Three behemoth Titans stomping stone hooves reached the battlefield, their towering forms stood fifteen and a quarter meters tall and five and a half meters wide. The bull horns angled forward and down, focused magic beams of elrusione. Eyes of green, reflecting the crystal core within the chest of the stone beast. Created through a complex spell weaved by Arcanian wizards.
Scientist really, but most tribals knew no difference between magic and science. Even the unicorns lacked an understanding of their power. These scientist of the vast desert far to the south were the ones responsible for the Great Black's power. With him at the head of their research, in mere decades they furthered their knowledge incredibly. From simple equations that changed hair color, to ones that changed dirt into powerful crystals or water into towers of stone.
The nearest Titan acquired it's target. With a brilliant flash of orange from it's eyes, that then flowed up to it's horns, followed them in a narrow slit to the points, there the two globes of energy joined inbetween the horns, floating freely. The globe of energy began to rotate into a growing spiral, reaching branches of orange energy curved clockwise as the ball of energy reached peak mass, the branches drew in and vanished. The Titan had charged and was now ready to fire elrusione.
"Brace!" Ordered Lord Black as he quickly gained altitiude to avoid the blast.
The Titan fired the orange ball, which moved faster than any arrow, right into the center of the enemy circle. Shields raised, the Imperial soldiers only had enough time to take a few steps back and brace before the spell was fired. Once it hit, the spell vanished, two seconds later, the very ground beneath the enemy exploded, much like a violent volcanic eruption. Sending skyward bodies, earth and fire. He had to marvel at it's dark beauty, such a magnificent spell, such deadly power. It always impressed him, but also made him sad. Watching so many ponies die, all so pointlessly.
The other two Titans fired simular but weaker blast into the remaining enemies almost instantly annihilating the entire enemy force. With the enemies destroyed, the hoof soldiers gave a mighty battle cry and continued forward past the craters. Joining the calavry and moving on to the command tent of the tribals. Their army destroyed, their land conquered, their very lives now in the balance. The southern lands now bent to their knees before the might they so dared to oppose.
A successful campaign, yet a failure in his eyes. Had they not instigated the conflict, or simply surrendered a week ago, the carnage of today wouldn't be. They wouldn't be bent to their knees, in time they would choose to be neighbors if not allies to the empire, still free either way. But their arrogence and bloodlust led them to ruin instead. Many lives lost, all for nothing. There had to be a better way.
He landed infront of his army, staring down the tent of his enemies with a glare filled with spite and sorrow. The surviving warriors either cowared or used the last of their courage to stand tall. From inside the tent much arguing could be heard, though the language used was a primative tongue destined to be lost to time.
"Come Before your new Master, and kneel!" He bellowed at the tent, his magically enhanced voice echoed along the hills.
There was a very sudden silence, followed by intense murmering, then a coarse shout. Mere seconds later a tribal chief, one he recognized from the onset of the war, Kavish of Germane came charging out of the tent, sword held firm in his maw. A simple and stout earth pony with orange hide and green and brown streaked hair, he was a warmonger ever since his tribe turned mercenary for another that sought to fight the Empire. Their crippling defeat had turned his heart black with hatred, hatred he now displayed while attempting to cut down the Emperor himself.
"Love the espirit, but it is now too late." Black Sky gritted through his teeth.
He stuck his form low to the earth, then with the aid of his wings, he kicked up and barreled right into Kavish, sending the oaf sprawling to the ground, he sword continuing on it's path, along with the air from his lungs. He could've killed Kavish, the beast certainly deserved it, what with the massacres and raids. But, it would serve no purpose other than self gratification.
"Any other savages in there whom seek my blood? Come then, try and take it, I'll go easy on you!" Black Sky taunted.
When he was not greeted with a suicidal charge for final glory, he let free a long held sigh of relief. He hoped they certainly knew now how foolish they had been. If they would accept their punishment with any show of decorum, was yet to be seen.
A mare emerged from the tent, Lanka the Mauler, her grime covered coat of red could hide what the bandages would not, her many cuts along her flank. Her pale gray mane had singes from her own encounter with the Titans, her sunken jade eyes glared at him, then to Kavish. Her horn bore a long crack down it's length, making the casting of spells pure agony, and weakening them to near uselessness. Had she any words, she either refused to speak them, or was unable to.
"Well? I am left in waiting here, far less patient than our prior meeting. Will they kneel, or must I drag them out here and humiliate them?" He groaned, trying his best to hold back the tide of rage.
Lanka gave her best shrug before bowing before him, not eager to lose another fight. What a Manegolian mare was doing here, fighting a tribal war, he knew not. He would like to know, but only after the affair at hoof was ended. She would remained locked in that low humble bow until every last chief joined her, save for the winded and nearly unconsious Kavish. His revenge a complete failure, his new prison was shame.
Next came Kavish's daughter, a more competent mind, wrapped in coat of pastel yellow and light blue mane. She had fierce piercing green eyes that sent a volley of daggers his way, while shedding pity towards her fathers pathetic form. She would certainly become a fierce warlord in her time, perhaps a suitable bride for his harem as well. Their spawn would inherit a vast territory along with their fine blood. Though such thoughts at this time were uncouth and should be banished until later.
As she begrudgingly kneeled, more emerged from their tent and slowly, almost too slowly, began to kneel. One after the other, their eyes divided between boring into the ground, and cursing his very soul with a glare. It stroked his ego, though he didn't intend that. This was submission, submission to a higher power. A power that knew what was best for everyone, that was making life better, a power that hadn't offended them. They transgressed, it was they who had to atone.
So what was this feeling that writhed around in his chest? Was he ashamed at the sense of entitlement he had, how he was grooming them for mates and servants whom would best serve his empire? Such a dangerous delusion to have, he feared it with great reason. He merely earned his status and power, having it given freely by his supporters, without which, he would rule as a monster. He much preferred being the benevolent Emperor of a civilization that wanted to be better. Not being the enslaving God-King who ruled with Titans and vast powers. Both were true, both were effective and both marked his legacy.
As much as he wanted to be a kind loving leader, he had been forced to lay waste to armies killing thousands upon thousands of beings. Such violence was the only way to dissuade armies bent on pillage and massacre, or so it should have been. Yet here he was, crushing yet another army. He needed a better way, because there was certainly no brighter future in this.
He sighed, looking over his enemies as they braced for death and worse.
"You kneel now, because you have transgressed, no- Have acted in foolish malifide, unleashing a pointless war!" He yelled, attempting to withhold his fury once more.
"You would've struck us down and taken our land, our way of life!" Yasmir the Cold bellowed, still kneeling despite his outburst.
"No! You know not the future, instead acting out of nightmares and falsehoods. You drew first blood, not me! You have brought about your own ruin this day." Black Sky retorted, growling and baring his fangs.
"At least this way we die honorable deaths!" Yasmir proudly exclaimed.
He began to pace, trying to control his urge to purge the world of these stupid beast. Such a pointless war, it made no sense to him. He had never launched a conquest on neutral or friendly ponies. Not against the gryphons, the donkeys, the changelings nor the nocturnes of the isles. It was infuriating, each time he felt they were leaning away from the violence of war, heading towards the next step of his plan to build a brighter future. Each time, something like this would happen. If logic and reason were not enough, then what would it take?
"Yes, I can see the great honor in this. Nothing like getting yourselves killed after you slaughter several villages to prove you're honorable. Why I remember when I was slaughtering a village... Wait I never led a massacre! I never started a war just to prove something!" He chastised.
His golden glare forced Yasmir's eyes to the ground, though he felt no guilt. There was a rumor going around that he had the power to turn ponies to stone with his gaze alone. Such superstitions didn't dissuade tribal attacks, so it served no use to him.
"Ten years dungeon! Just as a start for all of you. You might seek a proud death, instead you will be granted rot in the most vile hole I can imagine. Some of you..." He looked at the unmoving form of Lanka, knowing she and some others were merely there as mercenaries or coerced into fighting. "Didn't instigate this conflict, but your choice to aid in it has some weight, and your punishment will be adjusted accordingly." Black Sky continued to pace, less enraged, more somber.
Without protest, surprisingly, the chiefs and other instigators were dragged away. The few remaining warriors were disarmed and led off, as the tent dwellers passed them, they pleaded with their leaders.
"You promised us glory!"
"We did everything you said!"
"Where is the honorable death in surrender!"
Kavish and Yasmir in particular clenched their jaws harder than others. All hung their heads in shame, knowing imprisonment was not the same as execution. They would be made to grow weak and old, rotted and less than pony. As they passed the unmoving Titans, the fear and rage was clear.
"We were fools, such weapons could never be beaten. The power of a God is impossible to triumph over." Bellock the Terror, a gryphon warlord from Champaign glowered.
Some agreed, others just gritted their teeth even harder.
"It's over my Lord." Lenis announced as he landed next to his Emperor.
"No, it's never going to be over." Black Sky exasperatedly moaned.
"I don't understand my Lord, we won." Lenis asked.
"We might win the battles and wars, but we don't win the lives and hearts. Each time we kill the aggressor, their foals grow with hatred towards us. We need a better means of ridding ourselves of these beast." Black Sky informed Lenis.
"But how? Each time a spear is raised, it must be answered with a blade. How else could we stop them?" Lenis inquired.
"Not by killing them, that much is certain now. A fate worse than death perhaps?" Black Sky mused.
The blood soaked battlefield littered with the dead answered his thoughts.
"What could worse than this?" He considered with a twinge of fear. "There are some thoughts best left unexplored."
In the capital city of Sempivita, three weeks later.
The clamor of the celebration rang throughout the halls behind him. He had sat around listening to their praise long enough. After the main course, he got up and made for his bedroom balcony. The limestone exterior walls were painted a light tan color, the interior walls were left white, where they weren't covered in black marble. The floors shone with polished marble of reds, greens and grays. The red granite pillars of the halls and grand rooms was a difficult import, like the green tiles that adorned the roof tops of the palace. The thick rugs and ornate tapestries were from all over Matavita. He had his own little museum of artifacts and relics from the various tribes and races. The first public library had been in these walls, until the new one had been built, then it became his personal library, one his children would enjoy some day.
His wives were currently scattered abroad, his unborn foals with them. They would all vie for his attention and birthright one day. He left dozens of gifts to placate them and their mothers, a sort of consolation for his constant absence and future absences. If the wars continued like this, he would never be around to raise them.
His circular room took up the top of the palace, overlooking the city. It's lavish decorations consisted of numerous gifts, and items of personal taste he had acquired over the decades. His actual age was a mystery, even to him. The time spent in the Arcane's Desert had been without measure. The night sky was his, the infinite stars and bodies that dwelled within all danced for his pleasure, so he had been told. Without the aid of those Arcanian Wizards, their science and magic mingled processes, he wouldn't have learned his true potential. Together, they created this Empire, though they refused to move away from their monastery in the desert.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock upon his bedchamber door. With a sigh, he turned from the view before him to answer. At the door he found a nervous officer of the guard, his brow furrowed with concern.
"My Lord, there is a traveler, he claims to have come here from some distant land. He is some sort of mage, and he is requesting an audience with you." The Guard relayed, petrified to have interrupted his Lord.
"A traveler eh? Distant land... Well, let us meet this mage then." Black Sky replied, his interest piqued.
Ever the scholar, he couldn't resist learning the mysteries of new lands. More so over, having an audience with a foreign entity was his job, making peace with them could lead to relations with his homeland, making one less enemy.
"He came alone, just his staff and clothing. He didn't claim to be a dignitary of any kind." The Guard informed.
He followed the guard, descending the circular staircase as fast as they could. Down the tapestry bellowing and overly drafty hall that helped circulate air in the palace. Then through the thin decorated doors and into his audience chamber. Not eager to sit upon the black granite throne, he opted to stand before it, watching the doors where the traveler would enter, like a tiger stalking prey.
With no fanfare, the doors were flung open and in stepped a blue clad bearded stallion. His hat jingled with bells, the stars and moons on his cloak and hat looked silly to Black Sky, his soft gray coat had spots of grime from his travels. His beard was turning white, almost entirely white already. His age was also to be seen in the lines upon his face, Black Sky if not for his power, would also have those lines, maybe more. Not knowing how old one is could be difficult at times.
"Come hither traveler, you sought my audience, here I am." Black Sky announced, trying to be regal despite his excitement.
The traveler obliged with a nod, not sure if he should bow.
"At this hour, it is best to skip the ceremony. I am Lord Caelestis Niger, Emperor of the Holy Equine Empire." Black Sky introduced himself.
"I am well aware of who you are. I am Star Swirl the Bearded. I have come from the distant land of Equestria, seeking answers." Star Swirl loudly announced, one for professionalism.
"So I have heard, though, what answers do you seek?" Black Sky asked, feeling awkward in the exchange, as if the authority he wielded was in the way of getting to know the traveler.
"I have come in search of a means to bring peace and order to my land. Though now, I feel I am in error." Star Swirl grumbled the last part.
"Forgive me, but, why then would you seek my audience?" Black Sky interjected, feeling somehow insulted.
"You have order here, but it is a tyranny. Your behemoths, what were they called, yes, Titans I believe. They rampage about, enforcing your power. The fear with which you are held may cause order, but it is not the means I am seeking for my homeland." Star Swirl stated in a matter of factly tone that made Black Sky grit his teeth.
"So, you seek peace, as do I. With my best efforts alone, I could not create order out of the chaos, that is why I have my, yes, Titans." He cut a sharp look at Star Swirl.
"They are not tools of terror as you imagine, they are the beloved protectors of my citizens. The outlaying tribes have these primitive ideas of what the Empire is about. They see our expansion as conquest and tyranny, but they are quite mistaken, I assure you." Black Sky retorted, letting a hint of snark enter his words.
"I rule not with tyranny, but wisdom and strength. I forged this Empire with the support of my ponies. Not as a tyrant, but as a leader. I will admit, the means are not ideal, but I am working on a plan to change that Star Swirled. So you were not in error coming here, but you are out of order in insulting my Empire." Black Sky finished with a tilt of his head and deep stare.
"Sounds like something a tyrant would say, a self aware and intelligent tyrant at that. You say you have a plan?" Star Swirl probed.
"I am seeking a non-lethal means to subdue rebellions and hostile tribes, I have ideas, but nothing is set in stone yet." Black Sky replied, though the phrase "Set in stone" had a different meaning for him.
"That would be prudent of you." Star Swirl observed.
"So, traveler, my question for you is, just how might we help each other. And, just what can you tell me of your homeland, I am curious to know so much more about it." Black Sky grinned a toothy and fangy grin that visably creeped Star Swirl out of his skin.
