Displaced: Fallen Kingdom

“I haven’t been on a plane in over 4 months…” Well technically it was more of a fantasy styled airship but that didn’t really matter. Point was Noah hadn’t been in the air for a good while now. Then again it was hard to get in the air when seemingly all the planes were grounded. Staring out the airship window for a moment longer Noah took a moment to get a look at the landscape below. Equestria, it really was a mess now that he got a better look at it. Trees were twisting and winding just about everywhere, the ground was cracked and battered from some previous event he was lucky enough to not of been part of. Plains were scarred with lightning forged impact craters and what few cities that had passed over were pulverized, either reduced to atoms or covered in greenery for some reason. And the reason he was able to see all this, was because the airship - the Princesses personal carrier at that - was flying relatively low. Certainly lower than the planes back home, but still high enough to not crash into any of the buildings.

He wondered if Celestia and Luna made that intentional; let him get a look at what he was dealing with. Let him see what had become of the ponies nation. He frowned though, as he stared on, his eyes resting on yet another destroyed city before grunting. This sight... scary thing was it reminded him a lot of home. Destroyed buildings, some hanging together only because overgrowth instead of black tar. “Wonder what caused this… wonder what caused both.” Not getting an answer Noah finally pried his eyes away from the sight before walking further into the ship.

The ship wasn’t that bad looking. Wood was well made and the ships interior was pretty spacious. Planes back home could definitely take a few pointers from these airships. Lots of space and the bathrooms weren’t small boxes. The cargo room wasn’t that bad either been though it was pretty much empty today. Whatever supplies that were here had been packed only covering a portion of the room, leaving the rest of the of it pretty much barren. He did see shadows on the floor though, places where the rest of the supplies had been at some point. Where they were now though that was anyone’s guess. Probably distributed amongst the people… ponies. “Whatever…” He muttered after a moment before using magic to discard his sword, bag, jacket and pistol. Stepping away from the gear Noah took a breath before forcing his body upward and after struggling for a moment or two balanced himself on his hind legs.

***

Maybe it was a pegasi thing, but the cold always bothered her for some reason. Everytime the cold seasons came she had to bundle up more than the rest of the Canterlot populous. Maybe it was a Pegasi thing; after all she had been one before her ascension. Regardless Cadence released a breath, shivering slightly as she took a moment as the weather started to get to her. She could tell they were starting to get close and if her auntie was right the airship wouldn’t be able to carry them that much farther.

Regardless she felt somepony wrap around her a moment later as she smiled slightly, feeling somepony else’s body heat starting to transfer over to her. “Cold?”

“Not anymore.” Cadence looked back at her husband and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks.”

“You don’t need to thank me you know.”

“I know.” Leaning back she rested her head on the nook of Shining Armor’s neck and sighed lightly.

“Bit for your thoughts?”

“I’m just… thinking you know. Equestria gets attacked by some unknown force and our nation is virtually in shambles. We’re going north to try and protect the Crystal Empire - which just so happens to pop up again out of nowhere…” Cadence released a small noise. “This wasn’t really how I expected to spend my first year of being married.”

“Me neither.” Shining Armor admitted.

“It’s actually a bit better.”

“… what?” Shining actually pulled back from his wife for a moment as she giggled.

“Shining you know I’ve always been a bit of a thrill seeker, and how many couples can say that they got to save a resurrected kingdom together?”

“Good point.” The stallion muttered as he leaned back into his wife. “We get to be the couple with the most awesome story to tell.” Smiling the two fell into a relative silence before one of the ships staff approached them, a trio of covered plates resting on a tray beside them.

“Princess Mi Amore, Captain Armor, your meals.”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks, and please, Shining Armor will do.” The stallion stated as he scratched the back of his head. “I’m not really Captain of Celestia’s Guard anymore.”

“You’re right it’s ‘Prince’ now isn’t it?” Cadence received a look from her husband as she giggled and the plates were set down before them.

“Ugh~ I thought being called Captain took a while to get used to but Prince?”

“You’ll get used to it my love.” Cadence nuzzled her spouse as she smiled. Looking to the third plate she noticed the staff starting to walk off with it before stopping at her words. “Excuse me, where's Noah?”

“Ah~ Well earlier Sir Noah asked where the cargo bay was. He said that if we were to search for him that would be the place to find him.”

“Cargo bay?” The royal couple looked at each other for a moment in confusion before looking back at the staff.

“Why would he be in the cargo bay?”

“I…” The staffpony coughed into her hoof. “I’m not entirely sure, all he said was he needed a bit of space for something important.”

“Oh…” The couple fell silent as they shared another look. “I wonder what’s so important that he’d need to go to the cargo bay.” Shining Armor shrugged before he and Cadence levitating their plates into the air.

“Let’s find out.”

***

Thinking was hard, wasn’t always this way, but being gone for a thousand years had it’s side effects. Made even harder when your corporal form was scattered, and with it most of one’s consciousness. Would take a bit of time to fully regather himself. Least physically anyway. His powers were deeply tied with his mind. Regain the mind - regain control of the power that raged inside him. The body, the body could wait. He needed the mind under his control.

“Hello~o.” A voice calls out, allowing him something else to focus on for a moment as peer from beyond the shattered consciousness. “Wow you’re a bit of a mess right now aren’t you?” A giggle reached him as did the sound of something rusting for a moment. “What do you say we fix that.”

For a moment he didn’t feel anything, then the pain came; only he wasn’t certain if the pain was from his “body” or his mind exploding. Broken images turned into a full picture, and shadows forcefully birthed flesh. He would have screamed, might have if he had a throat. When it came - his throat that was- he roared, the sound erupting from his throat that it may have sounded like some demon’s roar instead of a pained scream.

“There, that’s better, big boy.” When the pain subsided he growled, looking upon the figure that was before him with hate in his eyes before letting it subside. He stalked forward, stopped when he felt his hooves touch the snow covered ground and looked at them.

“What did you do?”

“Oh nothing much, just sped up your recovery by sa~y five - six days. Just don’t expect me to do it again big boy.” The mare stated as she slipped forward, her eyelashes fluttering for a moment as she stared upward at the stallion. “Mh~ give you one thing you certainly are a looker partner. A lesser mare would certainly fall in love at first sight.” Wasn’t quite certain if that was a dig at something or just her own ego talking, regardless he dismissed it. Raising a hoof he pushed the mare away from him as he made a noise.

“Why did you heal me?”

“Oh no major reason.” The mare stated as she settled herself down and pulled down the hood of her cloak. “I healed you, and now you owe me one.”

“A royal favor.”

“Bingo big boy.” The mare stated as she stretched. Sombra for his part growled before looking upon the mare. A tyrant or not he was still a king. And now he was one that was in a mare’s debt. Even thinking the word was like bile in his throat. But that didn’t change anything, and he refused to remain indebted to her. No royal in their right mind would desire to remain under a mare’s hoof. “I want something.”

“And what might that be? Jewels? A place among my council?”

“Oh I wouldn’t ask for something so extravagant. I just want you to put on a good show.” The mare stated as she picked herself up.

“What?”

“I have some homework you see, I have to do a research paper on an Equestrian Princess and make a class report later; an~d it just so happens that she’s heading up this way.” The mare shrugged before smiling. “Normally I’d take care of things myself, but since you are here I’d like you to play with the princess while I kick back and study.”

“That’s it?”

“Nothing to hard right?” The mare stated as she started walking around the stallion for a moment. “I don’t really care if you play too rough with her, but so long as I get my class report in, I’m good either way.”

Sombra stayed silent, trying to read the mare in front of him as she stepped forward, resting further into the blizzard before stopping. “I fail to see how any of this benefits you…”

“Don’t get it huh; I get my homework done and I barely have to put any effort forth, this time around anyway.” She shrugged. “After I get that report in I get to relax until my last class assignment comes in.” She gave a smile. “So big boy, can you do this little mare this teeny tiny favor?” Sombra stayed silent before making a deep growl.

“Very well.” This benefited him regardless. He had a debt to settle with Celestia and Luna anyway, if one was coming to him, coming to his empire. He’d gladly pay them back for past transgressions. “I’ll give you a show… mare.”

“That’s the spirit.” The mare clapped her front hooves together as she took a deep breathe. Then in the blizzard she whistled. Made one so loudly that she actually deafened the storm for a moment. Soon as she was done though, an odd silence passed over, at least before something started to move in the blizzard behind her.

“What in Grogar’s name?”

“Oh don’t mind him, he’s harmless - to you anyway.” The mare stated as she started to climb. “Anyway, it’s a long walk from here to the Crystal Empire so I recommend you start walking. I’ll make sure you get there before the princess but that’s it, after that I’m backing out.” The mare called out as she tapped her pet’s head and took off. “I’ll be seeing you at the Crystal Empire big boy!”

***

“Wow…” Shining Armor took the words right out her mouth. Staring at Noah, Cadence and her husband stood in a daze, watching the unicorn move from left to right in this strange rhythmic pattern of his. It looked like he was dancing, alternating between biped and quadruped movements. Sweat clinging to his body as he kept up these strange movements of his. Eventually though he stopped, his body stumbling as he misplaced a step and landed with a small hiss.

“Damn, still can’t…”

“That was beautiful.” Cadence clapped a few times, Shining Armor as well as they drew Noah’s attention.

“Uh… how long were you standing there.”

“Long enough.” Shining stated gestured to the three plates the staff had let them take with them. “Hungry?” Noah didn’t say anything, instead just touching his barrel before nodding his head. Walking over he enveloped a plate in his magic as he set down next to the two royals as they started eating on the floor.

“I didn’t know you danced Noah.” Cadence said after a while before smiling, trying to make small talk with the unknown pony.

“I dabble a bit.”

“Just dabble? You’re really good at it though.”

“That wasn’t dancing though.” Shining Armor stated as he turned to Noah. “That was some kind of martial arts, wasn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“That was martial arts?” Cadence blinked in surprise as she looked at her husband only to see him nod his head. “I never knew martial arts could look like that.”

“Me neither, what style was that?”

“It’s mostly street-fighting, mixed with a bit of Aikido, Capoeira, Muay Thai, Silat, Systema, Wuxia…”

“I’ve never heard of any of those.” Noah just shrugged as he returned to his food.

“I’m not surprised. Different countries have different styles after all.”

“Well you have a point…” Shining Armor noted as he started to eat. “So who were your teachers?”

“My grandparents mostly, but got some refinement by heading offland to different countries..”

“Was that what led you to Equestria?” That actually made Noah laugh for a moment as he got looks of confusion.

“Sorry, sorry. No I didn’t come to Equestria to refine my style, to be honest I’d never even heard of Equestria until I woke up in your hospital a few hours ago.”

“Really?” Noah just nodded as Cadence developed a curious look. “Then… how’d you get to Equestria?”

“You can thank Celestia and your mom for that.” Noah stated, though he didn’t sound even remotely upset about the fact. Cadence though looked at him in confusion, Shining as well as the stallion continued to eat.

“Your mom?”

“My mom?”

“Yeah, your mom; Luna They brought me to Equestria after I blacked out.” Cadence stared for a moment before a light went off behind her eyes.

“Oh! Sorry there’s some misunderstanding; Luna’s not my mom.”

“She’s not?”

“No.”

“But you called Celestia “auntie”, I heard you.”

“That’s right.”

“So Luna is your…”

“She’s my aunt as well.”

“So~ one of your parents are their sister? Their brother?”

“No Noah, I’m adopted.”

“Ohhhh~.”

“My parents adopted me when I was a filly, and then when they passed away after my Ascension Celestia took me under her wing. I’ve been calling her auntie ever since.” Noah made another “oh” as he nodded his head.

“That makes more sense.” Noah muttered as he yawned for a moment. “I don’t think I've ever ran into someone that was adopted.”

“We don’t usually talk about it.” Cadence’s ears dropped to the sides of her head as she took a breathe. “Ponies… tend to think we’re not real ponies when they find out we’re adopted. Say things that really hurt.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Shining Armor reached for his wife as she gave him a smile.

“By the way Noah, what is that?”

“What’s what?”

“That thing you rested near your sword.” Noah turned his attention towards his gear as he looked them over for a moment. Shining Armor couldn’t have been talking about his jacket let alone his bag, only thing left was…

“This?” Noah levitated his pistol and brought it towards their little group. Another bit of crimson hued magic and he extracted the magazine.

“Yeah I’ve never seen it before, what is that?”

“It’s called a handgun, a Glock 20 to be exact. It’s a weapon from where I’m from.”

“That’s a weapon? It doesn’t look like much.”

“Not supposed to.” Noah shrugged as he removed a shell from the magazine and let it float in the air. “But this little thing is one of the most dangerous weapons ever developed. Revolutionized modern warfare."

“I find that hard to believe.” Shining was obviously skeptical at the tiny weapon. Noah just shrugged as he extracted a bullet from the magazine.

“You see this shell; this is a 10mm Automatic cartridge. Like the gun it doesn’t look like much, but when fired from the pistol.” He telepathically shook the empty handgun. “This little thing will go over 300 miles per second. You could be over 45 metres away and this thing could punch a hole through your skull in what seems like an instant.” He returned the shell to it’s magazine and then the Glock before resting it in it’s holster.

“You’re joking, right?” Noah gave Shining Armor a look as he eyed the gun more cautiously. “Oh Faust… your serious.”

“Where did you get something like that?”

“I stole it.” The royal couple blinked in surprise as Noah shrugged. “Other guy wasn’t gonna be using it.” Then again the other guy was dead so~ yeah. “So… how long you two been married?” Changing the subject the two actually perked up.

“A few months actually.”

“Ah~ newlyweds, congratulations. how was the wedding?”

“It was one you’d never forget.” Cadence said with a smile, one that told an interesting story. Cadence opened her lips to start as Shining looked down in embarrassment. To bad the airship shook before Noah got to hear the story. “What in Equestria?” Another shake sent the trio tumbling.

“This is your captain speaking! We’re under attack, I repeat we’re under attack by -”

“What in Tartarus is that thing!?”

Some kind of screech ripped through the ship, though neither of the trio were certain if it came from over the intercom or from outside the ship. All they did understand however was that right after there was another tremo,r this time accompanied by the sound of something exploding.