Chapters Prologue: The Fall of Arcadia
My breathing was ragged as a ringing filled my ears. The muddy ground beneath my body squelched. My vision blurred. I was on the ground. My body shook from the purple shockwave. I took in my surroundings.
What had hit me?
I was in a grassy field, trees and hills dotted the land, in the distance were great rolling mountains of green and gray. The clear night allowed the moon to illuminate the plane.
I smiled at the beauty and grandeur of them. For a moment, I forgot why I was in that field in Greece in the first place.
I was so bitterly reminded when I heard something small land next to me. I looked to the ground, it was metallic and cylindrical, with a small red light circling the top, and a button and switch capping it, an instant beeping accompanying it.
By some innate, primal instinct to survive, I jumped to the side as the beeping stopped and a flash of light and flames exploded forth from the grenade, blowing me forward and onto the muddy ground.
A ringing filled my ears to the point that it was deafening.
A man with a beard came over to me and yelled something at me, but the ringing muffled it.
The ringing suddenly stopped, and I could hear clearly. I could hear the explosions and gunfire all over in the field, men screaming in the distance and the whistle of mortars. I could hear the machine guns firing from our trenches, and the magic firing from the enemy's.
"...ivate! Get up!" He ordered.
My commanding officer, who was dressed in a uniform consisting of green camo with dragon scales sewn into the fabric. Dragon Combat Armor with loose areas at the joints and hands for maneuverability and a green scale helmet on his head. A black jacket donned over his armor. He had a utility belt around his waist, a pistol and a combat knife standing out, as well as a small device that folded out into a shovel. This was the standard uniform of the United Nations of Earth army. The dragon scale mail was a new addition given to a few select officers. It is lighter than kevlar and harder than titanium. Magic burn marks dotted his armor and his jacket had more than a few holes in it.
"C'mon! We're getting out of here!" The man, who had a black beard and blue eyes ordered, pulling me up from the ground.
"What! We need to defend the Fortress of Arcadia!" I replied in confusion.
"The Fortress fell!" He yelled in sadness and anger.
I turned, horror danced on my features. Off in the distance in the valley where the mighty fortress stood, a gargantuan purple mushroom cloud danced on the horizon.
They had used a mega spell on us!
"Those fucking horses!" I screamed.
A blast of yellow magic shot right past my face, grazing my cheek. I turned around, machine gun in hand, and stared as the battalion of Equestrian Soldiers, dressed in golden armor, charged, brandishing swords, crossbows, spears, and a few battle saddles.
"RUN! BEGIN EVAC!" I heard the commander scream. The entire battalion got out of the trenches and scrambled for the transport planes, I myself joined, turning to fire off a few energy shots from my gun as me and the commander ran for our lives, my comrades did the same.
The ponies replied with blasts of their own from Battle Saddles, Enchanted Crossbow Bolts, or just plain magic blasts.
By some miracle, I managed to not get hit, yet I would learn my comrades were not so lucky, as I would hear a thud next to or behind me. I would turn, only for a moment, to either see holes in their torsos, bolts sticking out of their backs, or their brains splayed across the grass.
I continued to run, adrenaline pumping through me as I saw them; Mega C-19's! Our ticket out of here!
In my hope, I accidentally slowed down, and I suddenly felt something akin to a sledgehammer ramming into my upper leg, and I screamed in pain as I fell to the ground.
I looked at my leg, seeing a crossbow bolt impaled in it, the head and part of the body jutting out from just above my knee.
"Private! Shit, you have a bolt in your leg!" The Commander said, trying to add some brevity as he picked me up.
"I noticed!" I grunted, putting my arm around his shoulders as we limp-ran to the open plane. We continued to run as the pony battallion grew ever closer, like inevitable doom.
We somehow managed to reach the jet, a soldier waiting for us, gesturing for us to come and yelling for us.
"COME ON! WE'RE TAKING OFF!" He screamed as we got closer.
I managed to use my free hand and grab the soldier, who pulled me in. The commander was about to enter, but a hole suddenly appeared in his forehead and a bullet drove itself into the floor next to my legs.
"Medic!" The soldier called as I saw the gangplank to the plane closing shut and the engines coming online. The plane began to jerk upward, but I didn't care. I was too busy weeping over my fallen commander, and oldest friend.
I sat on the bench, noticing I was the only soldier here alive, aside from the plane crew. I looked outside the round window and saw other C-19's flying alongside us. Like a ray of hope in this dark hour.
Suddenly, flames burst on the other plane's wings and tails, causing them to crash on the ground in screaming, spinning blazes of flames.
Our plane, by some miracle, made it out of the city, the mega spell forming a purple mushroom cloud in the city formerly known as Arcadia, now it was a roaring bonfire of lavander flames, spreading radioactive fallout through the field, an Equestrian airship flying over. It was a dark lavender, with pinkish and silver streaks running along both the ship's and balloon's side.
I recognized it for some reason, but I was busy crying over my loss, tears running down my cheeks as I began to wonder how this all started.
Late in the year 2020; on All Hollow's Eve, something.......strange happened. Our world was suddenly sandwiched, merged with another world, one we once thought was fictitious; Gaias.
At first, confusion abounded. The world reeled from this reveal.
Creatures once thought to be mythical were suddenly very real, and very dangerous. Dragons and Griffins eating humans and pillaging small towns and villages. Tensions rose as this increased. Hate crimes rose. Gaian citizens took the worse of it.
Over time, the governments of Gaias began to get accepted, even a few of the Gaian nations got seats on the United Nations Council, the Equestrians, represented by Twilight Sparkle. The Dragon Lands represented by Lord Ember. The Changelings represented by Prince Pharynx. The Crystal Empire represented by Shining Armor. Griffinstone represented by Grandpa Gruff. Yakyakistan represented by Prince Rutherford. And Hippogrifia and SeaQuestria represented by Queen Novo's daughter.
Laws were put in place to protect both worlds' citizens. Major laws that depending on which was broken and how egregious the crime, would result in total war. Mutually assured destruction was not a factor because the Equestrians hadn't learned how to use any sort of offensive magic similar to Nuclear missiles or Atomic bombs.
Or so we thought.
And for a few years, all was good. Hate crimes decreased, towns stopped getting pillaged, murder went down. Technology and science sky-rocketed. The merging of Equestrian magic and Earthen technology created things that were once science fiction. we merged our knowledge to make something new.
Equestrian towns got indoor plumbing, electricity, air-conditioning, TV, Wi-Fi, even internet connections.
We even shared our nuclear knowledge. We taught them how to split an atom, and harness the energy into power with technology. Then they adapted it into magic with specially trained unicorns working in tandem with the top minds of the world, leading to the creation of mega spells. Using focused magic stored in a specially-made container, a unicorn would use a certain spell to split the atom, creating the desired reaction, and the energy would be harnessed in a power plant. This was a tremendous help to both sides and eased tensions. This, by many, was considered the greatest and most terrible creation to come out of the merging.
Humans benefitted as well, greatly.
The magic of the Equestrians effected us and helped us greatly. Humans learned magic! We learned how to bend reality to our whims! Things which would've taken millenia to even scratch the surface, we nearly mastered over the span of a decade!
We got fusion! Clean, self-sustaining energy! Things like medical care improved vastly because of medical magic! We eradicated diseases and viruses like cancer! Famine was a thing of the past! Because of a united effort between Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Earthen farmers allowed us to get clean water and fresh food to countries who needed it the most!
Homelessness and poverty.......was still a problem. While the increased landmass and more options for jobs helped, especially since one Equestrian Bit was worth 100 US Dollars, it was still a major problem, just not as much as it was.
Some humans even developed their equivalents of Cutie Marks and had innate magical abilities!
No one really knew exactly how humans got Cutie Marks, but there is a unified theory. It goes as such:
Since homo sapiens , human beings, are naturally adaptable and able to adapt to nearly any situation and environment, and since Gaias has magic practically sewn into the very air they breathe, and humans were learning magic on their own, a few humans, specifically humans who live in or near major Gaian territory, or are descended from humans who learned magic, reacted to the magic which was now imbued in their DNA by adapting and gaining Cutie Marks.
Now, I dunno, a few friends of mine got Marks and were moved to special classes specified around it. Now, I took magic as a side thing, like I took woodshop, both I excelled in. Though, nowhere near as those who had Cutie Marks.
Yet, peace didn't last.
Hate groups popped up, (no surprise there) and practically warred, doing the increasing tension no favors at all. However, the most prominent groups on both sides were considered in charge of all the smaller ones. On the human side was Humanity First, a radical movement that committed horrendous crimes against the Equestrians. And on the Gaian Side; Equis Forever. These two warred all over the globe, killing many of all races.
Then Prince Armor was assassinated.
One day, when returning to the Crystal Empire on a train with a few human tourists, the train came under attack by Humanity First and Equis Forever. They were passing the mountain border to the Frozen North, which merged with the North Pole, and the two groups attacked the train, Humanity First killing Gaians, and Euis Forever killing humans. Shining Armor stepped in and attempted to calm the situation down, and someone killed him.
Both sides were suspects because he was an active advocate for peace on both sides, donating to charities, assisting with protests. Lead an anti-hate group task force. That sort of stuff. Good guy, so I heard.
I remember when I saw the news, everybody mourned him, all races came together to honor his memory. After that, the Equestrians blamed us, we blamed them, fingers, claws, and hooves were pointed wildly in blame until all hell broke loose.
It all came crashing down once Sparkle joined the fray. She was angry at us, at the, as she so eloquently put it, "Warring, uncultured, uneducated, hairless pink apes". And she didn't just insult us, oh no. Seeing as she was a princess, she had some political power. She put a special tax on all humans in her realms of rule, especially those in Ponyville. She was ruthless, too. Creating needless laws specified for humans alone.
The laws are as such:
"Law 1: Humans cannot, under any circumstance, own property on the Gaian territory or where a large population of Gaians makes residence! They can, however, share a property with Gaians!"
"Law 2: Humans cannot use any kind of Gaian, or Gaian driven, transportation!"
"Law 3: Humans are to pay their tax to the royal family with Gaian Currency! Not human!"
"Law 4: Humans cannot work in any way, shape, or form in Gaian-owned territory!"
"Law 5: Any crimes humans commit against Gaians, which include major and minor crimes, will be met with extreme prejudice!"
"Law 6: Humans and Gaians are forbidden from living under the same roof together in any Gaian territory!"
"Law 7: Humans living in the Gaian territory cannot work at any Gaian-owned and Gaian headed businesses! Nor can they start a business!"
"Law 8: Humans and Gaians are not to use the same appliances as Gaians. Restrooms, water fountains, etc. to be used by humans and Gaians will be separate, and labeled as such!"
"Law 9: Humans cannot be in the same presence in stores as Gaians, and will have to carry out their business from the back of the store from the outside! Nor can they ride in the front or on top of any Gaian transportation!"
"Law 10: Humans are to be viewed with the utmost scrutiny and suspicion, for they are untrustworthy and suspicious! They are to be paid less in jobs! They are to be legally discriminated, and restricted!"
Needless to say, these cause more than a bit of outrage.
Some said she was the new Hitler, others said it was the Civil Rights movement all over again. While I think the first was an exaggeration, the second holds some water. Some of the laws were a bit similar to the segregation laws. Jim Crow laws?
Whatever.
Point is, this only made things worse.
Then, when protesting turned to riot in Canterlot, Twilight, and her personal Princess Guard; Sparkle's Hoof, proceeded to massacre the humans present, all the while awarding the ponies for "defending their Princesses and Nation against this...naturally violent species."
Now, while Twilight was chastised, because this happened on Gaian soil, the U.N couldn't intervene and do much else. So she got off with a slap on the wrist.
Yet, the Ninth Circle broke loose once humans decided to do something.
Twilight's laws got out of hand, we even got word of a spell which changes the very nature of a creature, from its natural form, to that of a Pony, even wiping away their very sense of being and identity ! Stripping them of their very sense of self, and replacing it with a pony.
All human nations voted this a complete violation of the laws made to keep the peace. So, it was decided that we would arrest Princess Twilight and put her on trial for violation of the international laws.
It....didn't go well.
For example, in history books, it's referred to as the Great Ponyville Massacre.
The battle went as such: a human platoon of soldiers was sent to Ponyville to attempt to bring the Princess alive. What they found, was Sparkle's Hoof, ready and waiting with magically enhanced human weaponry. Heavy losses were inflicted on both sides, as well as numerous civilian causalities. Any surviving humans were turned into Ponies and became cannon fodder.
This is what prompted Celestia to officially declare war on the human race, and doing what neither Napoleon nor Hitler could do.
She conquered Russia.
With the assistance of both the Yaks and the Crystal Empire (which were practically neighbors with Russia), she managed to conquer it swiftly and effectively, Princess Sparkle and a grief-maddened Cadance, they steam-rolled the initial defenses, the Pegasi manipulating the wheater, keeping it warm, so that no snow causes them any trouble, and wet so that the Scorched Earth tactics were rendered null.
After they were done, any surviving humans were turned into Ponies and joined the ranks of the army as loyal and devout followers and patriotic servants of their Equine Overlords.
Point is shit went down.
Now, shit went sideways, even more, when humanity invaded the Hippogriff Kingdom. Submarines dealt with SeaQuestria, as fleets of fighter jets bombed Mt. Aris to oblivion. Any survivors either escaped to Equestria propper or were captured and interrogated.
Equestria too offense to that.
They replied by sinking most of New York City into the ocean.
Basically, Pegasi using the weather, mainly clouds, to help increase the water and flood the city. Luna manipulating the tides with the moon which pulled the increased water and flooding the city even more, hordes of unicorns using their magic to weaken the foundations of the island as well as destroy a few buildings and bridges, all working together to destroy New York City, and everyone who lived there, and again, survivors were all turned into loyal Ponies. After that, they stormed the Eastern Seaboard.
It was then we discovered the Ministries; Military branches headed by a Bearer of the Elements of Harmony. The most famous and most dangerous being the Ministry of Knowledge, headed by Twilight Sparkle.
Once humans saw that the ponies could attack anywhere and at any time, and with terrible efficiency and power, they began huddling into specialized cities called Shelter Cities by the masses. They used the technology made during the Golden Age against any attackers. Using force fields to protect the outer perimeter, and the inside was protected by using some special anti-Equestrian weaponry. The police force for these cities, called the Knights, were specially armed, trained, and had a seething hatred for the Equestrians.
Great for protecting the people, right?
Wrong.
Ya see these cities were really expensive to make, and with most of the world economy going to the war, there was only enough money to make a handful of these cities, so the governments of the world, especially the US government, pulled their funds and built one Shelter City in each nation, one for each capital.
So, the common folks, especially those living on borders for where the Gaian continents and Gaian controlled lands, built fortress cities.
Think the castles of old, upgraded for the modern era. And much bigger.
Arcadia, Greece became one of the first of these fortress cities, seeing as the Gaians controlled Africa thanks to their Zebra allies, and humans flocked to these cities.
However, I didn't, because, at the time, I enlisted in the army to help with the war front, and was going through boot-camp.
My family went to Arcadia with a volunteer effort to help ease most of the troubles there.
The good that did them.
I was pulled from my musings with a jolt, the lone plane landed in a human airfield safely. My cheeks were stained by my tears.
I exited the plane, greeted by a variety of emergency services, who were shocked that I was the only one there. I was the only survivor of the Fall of Arcadia.
It got worse, for as my mind cleared, I recognized the purple airship that launched the mega spell: It was the personal ship of Twilight Sparkle! The Princess of Friendship and Minister of Knowledge!
It was in that moment while I was being driven to a hospital for propper care, that I vowed that she would pay!
It was in that moment, that I vowed to kill the Princess of Friendship!
"Twlight Sparkle, vengence will be mine!"
Chapter I: Rest and Retaliation.
Author's Note
All Greek is taken from Google Translate. Feel free to correct it.
Also, SIR means Sparkle's Iron Ranger.
Chapter I: Rest and Retaliation.
I awoke in a hospital bed. My vision was blurred. Crust covered my eyes. I moved to rub them, but I felt something digging into my arm.
Needles.
I hate needles.
I blinked hard, attempting to get rid of the crust. I succeeded after a few minutes. I looked around, seeing that I was in some sort of hospice.
A nurse took notice of my stirring and came over.
"Boreís na me akoúseis? ," She asked.
"I-what?" I asked, not understanding what she said. "What was that?"
"Eísai xýpnios! O giatrós prépei na to xérei! " The nurse said before rushing out of the room.
I blinked as I looked around, attempting to ascertain my current state.
First I looked down at my legs. I was donned in a hospital gown, and my leg was bandaged just above the knee. Right where the arrow had punctured me.
I looked to my left, seeing four more beds, all empty. I looked to my right, seeing three other beds, also empty. Slowly, it donned on me as to why.
"I was the only one to survive....." I said quietly, unsure of how to take it. Those words bounced around my head as I processed what that meant. I was the only survivor of Arcadia. All my friends, my commander, even those pilots, and other planes didn't make it. Not even the city itself was spared.
I was the only one to survive. Gods, all those people! Dead! Yet I live!
My thoughts were broken as the Nurse came back in, along with the doctor.
The doctor was a kindly older man in his fifties. He was bald, yet had a full beard of Brunette hair and wore glasses over his blue eyes. He dressed in a lab coat and a simple green shirt tucked into blue jeans which were held up tightly by a brown leather belt, and brown shoes. The most interesting thing about him was the Cutie-Mark he had. It was located on his neck, right between his shoulder and lower jaw. It was a blue caduceus, with a heart monitor background.
(By the way, a caduceus is that little winged staff with the snakes wrapped around it. In Greek, its called a kerykeion. The more you know.)
"Ahh.... you're awake," the doctor smiled, speaking with an American accent, extending his hand to shake. "My name is Dr. White."
"I uh....." I blinked, still woozy from the morphine, before telling him my name and shaking his hand. I kept shaking it before my brain started working again, saying the first thing that popped in it. "Your American?"
"Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was brought here to help out. My family was visiting Greece when this all started, and well....." Dr. White trailed off. "Anyway, I assume you have a few questions."
"I....yes. Yes. First off, how long was I out?" I asked.
"Two days," Dr. White replied, much to my shock.
"Two days?! What's new on the front?" I asked, causing the doctor to sigh.
"The Gaians have broken through the front lines, and are making their way up north. The mountainous terrain is slowing them some, but their leader has an airship, so.....its anyone's guess," Dr. White admitted.
"An airship?" I mused. "Sparkle..... OK, next question. Are there any other survivors from Arcadia? Anyone else from the front?"
Dr. White sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose before answering.
"No. you are the only survivor we know of currently that fought in Arcadia before it fell," He answered. "Aside from that, there were a few others that managed to make it, only to get...Converted."
I sighed, falling back into my bed. A final question danced on my tongue.
"How long until I leave?"
"A week at most, so that your leg can recover," Dr. White said. "I'll leave you be for now. I assume you have a lot to think about."
I nodded, laying back onto the medical bed with a sigh.
"Gods above. Why has this happened to me?" I asked. "All of my friends, dead."
With these questions bouncing around my mind, I lied (laid?) back into the bed and closed my eyes, sleep taking me.
For the first time in a while, I dreamed.
You see, since the Gaians have a dream walker in the form of Princess Luna, most people were worried if she can infiltrate our dreams and give away tactics and lines and weaknesses and such. So the governments found a special technique used to make people stop dreaming. Or at least suppress it.
But, because of the drugs in my system and me not have been sleeping for a while, I dreamed. And I had a lot to dream about.
I stood in the field of Arcadia in the empty trenches. Only, they weren't empty. They were filled with the bodies of my comrades and commander.
"Oh, dear gods....." I gasped out, nearly falling to my knees. "Gods above."
I turned, and saw Arcadia, before suddenly being transported to its streets. All around me was the bustling metropolis of a fortress. Then a shadow grew overhead, and all the people in the city let out a scream and tried to dash away, an Equestrian Airship overtaking the horizon.
Then, I saw...her .
Princess Twilight Sparkle.
She dressed in a pseudo-colonial jacket, but rather than the British red or French blue, it was purple. A horn protruded from her mane, and two wings poked from the jacket. She charged her horn, lavender magic bathing it.
She then whispered something, before firing a beam of magic into the air, arcing through the clouds overhead before slamming into Arcadia!
There was nothing at first, but then a ringing invaded my airs, Arcadians running desperately down the street past me. Then it happened. Purple smoke and flames rose from the area of impact, before violently expanding outward, destroying buildings and city blocks, like inevitable doom.
Then I was consumed by the smoke. All around me was ash and dust. I heard screams in the distance, before I saw more people getting consumed by the smoke and flames, only, as soon as they were touched by it, they turned to dust, not even leaving a shadow behind!
Then, the flames died down, and the purple smoke retracted in on itself, creating a mushroom around the center, before that too disappeared.
In the end, I stood in the ashes of Arcadia, Sparkle seeming content in her work before trailing after the escaping planes.
Wait. What?
I awoke in shock, a hand covering my mouth. Above me was another patient (going by his hospital robe he was wearing), and his face was covered with bandages, minus his mouth and eyes. He held a finger to his mouth, telling me to be silent.
He then removed his hand and finger before he spoke.
"Call me Jonathan. You are Abraham." He said simply, his voice a whisper.
Confused, I nodded in agreement before it clicked. Code names. All right, if there are code names, that means.....
"Are we under assault?" I asked.
Jonathan nodded. "Sparkle's Hoof has made their way here. They are killing or converting all people in the hospital. Tell me, are you the survivor of Arcadia?"
I nodded.
"Good. I need you with me. Command needs you alive." Jonathan said. "Get your stuff, and come with me."
He then slinked towards the door, poking his bandaged head out of the frame and looking around before gesturing for me to follow.
I obeyed to the best of my ability, getting up from the hospital bed with a grunt, before feeling pain spike in my leg where the wound was.
"Motherfucker that hurts!" I scream out, prompting a hush from Jonathan.
"Need I remind you that the enemy is here?" He asked with a harsh whisper.
"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." I said, grunting as I stood up fully, pain taking my leg again, but I soldiered on.
I looked around the room, finding no sign of my gear.
"Uh. Mr. Jonathan, where would my gear be?" I asked sheepishly.
"First floor, lobby, check-out area." He replied, still keeping watch.
"And which floor are we on?" I asked.
"The fourth." He said simply.
"Fuck," I muttered, removing the needles from my arm because they were starting to really dig into me, and I don't want to move through four floors infested with pony soldiers with an IV and morphine. Rubbing the areas where the needles were, I looked around the room for anything useful. Next to my bed on an end table was something familiar; a tanto dagger. It was short, only six inches long with a wood handle and scabbard. It had belonged to my father, who gave it to me when I went off to boot camp. I still remember his words that day.
"Know your enemy as well as I know you, my son. Nothing is black and white. This war is no exception. Be sure the side you end up fighting on is the right side. "
Believe me, dad, I know which side is the good guy now. The ones not trying to turn every species that isn't them into horses.
I pocketed the tanto and went up to Jonathan, nodding in confirmation that I was ready to go.
He nodded back, and we exited the ward, rushing down a darkened hall.
It was night outside, and the lights in the hall were shut off, leaving us to use our own eyes in the darkness. We turned the hall once more, but we stopped short as we heard something approaching. It sounded metallic and heavy. A shadow danced on the wall, illuminated by the moonlight of nearby windows.
Jonathon and I rushed to find a hiding place, and we found a nearby broom closet, only a keyhole and small blinds allowing us to see outside.
What was there scared us.
It was an earth pony, donned in heavy metal armor painted lavender with pinkish streaks. Their entire body was covered by the armor, with even their tail being heavily armored. Their eyes were covered by a black visor. On their back was a specialized Battle Saddle, consisting of a Gattling Gun and Rocket Launcher, both powered by magic. Featured prominently on their flanks where their Cutie Mark would be, was the Star of Twilight Sparkle.
It was an Iron Ranger, one of Sparkle's it seems, going by the Star of Sparkle on their flank. These guys are the elites of their species in the war. Every Earth Pony in the Equestrian Army one day aspires to be an Iron Ranger. The process of becoming one is quite...disturbing. The Earth Pony subject goes through severe bodily enhancements, both magical and cybernetic, and the armor is built around them and bonded to their nervous system, making them a sort of Cyborg. The pony they once were underneath the helmet is gone forever, now they are an Iron Ranger.
"I'll give the horses this, they're just as good at war as we are," I said, my voice a whisper.
The Iron Ranger stopped patrolling, and brought its heavily armored hoof to its ear.
"SIR-9949 to command. Staircase and hallway of fourth floor secure. Now heading to the medical ward to dispatch of objectives, " It said, its voice distorted heavily by the mask.
It then turned down the hall and continued on, its heavy armored hooves making booming clopping sounds.
Once we were sure of its distance, Jonathan and I exited the broom closet and continued down the hall.
We eventually came to a staircase. It was dark and oddly damp.
"Well, geronimo chap," Jonathan said, putting on a British accent before trekking down the stairs, myself following shortly after.
We went further down than I anticipated, yet we only got off on the second floor, told to me as such by a nearby bronze plaque on the wall.
Δεύτερος όροφος Το 9ο Στρατιωτικό Νοσοκομείο του Ελληνικού Μετώπου
Third Floor Ninth Military Hospital of the Greek Front
How tall is this hospital?!
With a sigh and a grumble, Jonathan and I went down a nearby hallway, quieter than mice. We came to a hall of windows near the outside of the building, no doubt, and our eyes were assaulted by searchlights, Jonathan pulling me under the windows as the lights slowly illuminated parts of the hallway, before moving on.
"What was that?" I asked curiously.
"Pegasi search squadron. They must be looking for survivors," Jonathan deducted.
"Why?" I asked, perplexed. "To convert them?"
"No. The horses got strict kill-on-sight orders," Jonathan said, before he began crawling forward underneath the window sills, getting the idea, I followed suit.
"Kill-on-sight? If that's true, shouldn't others be escorted out? Not just me?" I asked.
"Uh.....Command said to rescue only those good enough to walk. The other patients in this hospital were.....less fortunate than you." Jonathan said. Oddly enough, it made sense. While I couldn't condone innocent people to the brutalities of the enemy, some people just can't be saved. If I was the only one who could......at least these people won't live out their lives as Janies. As in Janisaries, but rather than serving a sultan , they would serve the enemy.
We eventually got to the next hallway, each door wide open and leading to one of the many medical wards.
A liquid coated the floor, feeling odd to my bare feet. It was thick, and, wet. And it soaked my feet. Bleh. I hate the feeling of wet feet. Though, oddly enough, it reminded me of my teenage years, of when I would walk my dog. He was beautiful Black Lab, with white whisps on his paws and the edge of his tail, and his entire belly was white, along with the underside of his neck. We named him after the dwarf, Gimli.
I shook my head, clearing myself of the nostalgia. Further down the hall, we heard someone speaking in Greek, and he sounded desperate.
"Sas parakaloúme! Egó écho mia oikogéneia! Enas gios! Mia kóri! Parakaló, akómi kai tha boroúsate na to katalávete! "
Then there was a loud bang, and light flashed from a medical ward.
"Yeah, we understand. We just don't care," a gruff female voice replied tauntingly. "This is UT-1414. All patients in this area have been killed. Moving on to find the survivor."
I looked at Jonathan, asking him what to do. He then opened his mouth and began to tell me his plan.
I distract her, while you go in from behind, and slit her throat. Then we loot her body. He mouthed.
Isn't that.....' bit brut'l? I asked. I'm not really good at mouthing.
They started this war! It's them or us. He replied curtly.
I sighed but nodded before looking around. I turned around and pushed lightly on a door behind me, finding it unlocked. I stepped in, that odd liquid seemed to have been partially coming from the room. Now that I think about it, the liquid came from the other wards as well.
Probably just a few leaks.
I closed the door ever so slowly and quietly, but let it open enough for me to see. My left hand gripped the scabbard, and my right wrapped around the handle.
Both of us soon heard trotting, and from the ward came a unicorn warrior. She had a pearl white mane and blue fur. She dressed in the standard armor for the equestrian military, a sort of fusion of earthen military uniforms and the Equestrian Royal Guard uniform. They even had a kevlar body glove the armor went over. But, rather than the solar gold, or lunar blue, she was painted the same purple as the Iron Ranger, with the same stripes, and the same insignia over her flank. However, she also had a crystal castle imprinted inside the star. A horn protruded proudly from her main, and a Battle Saddle of magically charged rifles was donned on her back, and her horn illuminated the hallway, revealing the liquid on the floor to be a deep, thick red.
"Oh? Another human," she smirked as she saw Jonathan.
"Hmm. And you're an equestrian unicorn trooper. And, judging by the crystal castle, a veteran of the Ponyville Massacre. Your one of those murders, eh?" Jonathan asked tauntingly.
"Is that what you humans call it?" She asked. "The proper name is the Equestrian Rebuttle against you humans incurring on our lands!"
"Encroaching," Jonathan corrected. "And, it was a massacre of good men and women."
"Humans," the mare corrected, spitting the word like bile. "Retched monkeys. Pests. You're no different from the cockroaches you so hate."
"I'll take that as a compliment. After all, cockroaches are quite hardy and can survive almost anything. And if we are as alike to them as you claim, we will survive this war." Jonathan said calmly.
"You won't." She said, charging the guns on her battle saddle. Quickly, I opened the door in her face, knocking her back a few inches, and, before she could fire off a shot, I unsheathed my tanto and stabbed it between her eyes. I felt her skull give, and her brain cells move around my knife as I severed crucial synapses. Then, I watched as the lights went out in her eyes.
"Well done, kid," Jonathan said, putting his hand on my shoulder. He saw the paleness in my face and the green of my cheeks. With concern in his voice, he asked: "That your first real kill?"
I nodded weakly.
"Its always the hardest. Your first time. I wish I didn't have to say this, but you get used to it." Jonathan said. "Now, come on. We gotta get the hell outta dodge. Once they don't hear back from her, they'll investigate. And most likely, they'll send the Iron Ranger a few floors up."
"Let's see what she has first. She could have some intel," I said, Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm...maybe," He mused before bending down, his hands scanning the body. He then took out a combat knife in its sheath, a radio from her ear, as well as a keycard of sorts from one of the doctors. Furthermore, he took out a small file and cut off the horn of the unicorn.
Yuck. I've heard about soldiers like him, who like their "souvenirs". The hoof of an earth pony, horn of a unicorn, or wings of a pegasus. Some soldiers will just....take them. Either as trophies or proof of a kill. I even heard that one soldier castrated the body of an earth pony stallion. I think they were court-martialed, I forget.
"Here," he said, tossing me the horn. "Keep it. As proof that you did what you needed to do, and that you did it well. Hopefully, we might get Sparkle's horn soon enough"
I stared at the horn in my hand as he went further down the hall with the collected items, before sheathing my tanto, and gripping the horn tighter, following suit.
We made our way to the second-floor staircase with relative ease, with Jonathan listening to the chatter of the troops as we went, advising us as to when we could walk right into a patrol.
The second floor was an entirely different beast.
The Horses were everywhere. At least ten patrols and two Iron Rangers roamed the halls, which were occasionally filled with gunfire as soldiers cleared out entire wards, filling the halls with crimson liquid.
Yet, somehow, we got to the first-floor staircase without anyone seeing us.
We landed in the front entrance, with two pairs of twin doors acting as the entrance. On the ground of the large and spacious room was a kerykoin painted onto the floor, with a reception/check out area near the twin doors. Lamps lined parts of the walls, with overhead lights illuminating the room.
Even worse, the entire room was filled with a battalion. Iron Rangers guarded the front doors, and regular troopers stood at attention, and a unicorn was going through the reception and check out the area.
In the middle of the room was Dr. White being escorted by a Ranger to meet someone. The doors opened, a handful of unicorns brandishing spears lined with mana and purple plumes to their helmets came out to meet the good doctor, before lining up to the side.
A new set of hooves clopped along, before Twilight Sparkle walked up to Dr. White, her nose turned upward as she scanned the room critically.
"Hmm....so this is what passes for a hospital with humans. It's.....competent, at least," the Alicorn said.
"Look, Ms..." Dr. White began.
"Princess."She interrupted. "You are to refer to me as Princess Sparkle. Or sir. Or General. Understood?"
"OK. Princess. I don't know what you want, but please, spare my patients. They're in my care. If you do that, I'll give you whatever it is you want," Dr. White said.
"What I want?" She asked mockingly. "I want the extermination of your entire race! I want your chaos and evil to end completely!"
"I....why? What did we ever do to you?" Dr. White asked. "Is it about your brother? If so, I'm sorry about it. But, humans didn't kill Shining Armor!"
Sparkle sneered before charging her magic, a beam of purple energy shooting from her horn and burning a hole in Dr. White's head, killing him instantly, the body crumpling to the found.
"You don't get to speak his name, Primate!" She said angrily before addressing the Iron Ranger. "Clean that up. And the rest of you! Raze this pathetic box to the ground! And bring me the survivor of Arcadia!"
"Why does she want me so badly?" I asked Jonathan.
"I got no idea, Abraham," he sighed. "Come on. Let's get your stuff and get the hell out."
"She's right there......." I mused, staring at the princess. Twilight Sparkle. The Element of Magic. Princess of Friendship. Head of Sparkle's Hoof. Enforcer and Student of Celestia. And the bitch who killed my family!
About 20-30 soldiers in total...........10ish yards between me and her. No armor. I got my tanto, which I only then realized I was unsheathing.
Was I really gonna do this?
Hell to the yes!
"Abraham," Jonathan said, seeing how I held my tanto. "Don't."
I didn't answer. Instead, I put one foot out, then another, then another. Soon I broke into a run. I jumped up, rearing back my tanto, about to strike.
"SPAAAAAAAAARKLE!!!!!!!!!" I cried, getting her attention just as I was about to pierce her head. Yet, inches from her eyes, a purple aura consumed my body, freezing me in the air.
She regarded me for a moment, before chuckling. "Hm....survivor of Arcadia. Much younger than I expected. No matter, life as a Janie will suit you well."
"I, Janie?" I asked as she straightened my body, removing the tanto and scabbard from my hand, as well as the horn, all of which she regarded critically.
"Yes. Janie. You are special. You're gonna affect this war heavily in the future," She explained, only adding to my confusion before she chuckled. "Well, you were. Now you're going to die. Well, the "you" that you are now. You will be killed and reborn as a pony. A member of our society. The transformation is painful, but when is death not? I'd tell you to brace yourself, but....well. Hehe, you can't."
Her horn then shone brighter, and the field around my body, the mana seeping under my skin and searing into my soul.
Then I saw it. My biology was changing. My hand and fingers condensed into a hoof, and I felt fur poke through my skin. But it also affected my mind. I saw it as my memories were replaced. My first love, my home, my upbringing, everything. It was either cut out or ponified.
But then I saw as my parents shifted, from their human forms to equine mockeries. But then, I curled my hand that was still a hand into a fist, and I fought. I fought harder than ever to keep them human. To keep them as they were. The kindness of my mother, the guidance of my father, how they affected me. My tastes. My politics. I held on to that. I fought the spell, my body writhed in pain, but I fought!
"Oh, you poor human. You can't resist." Twilight mocked, increasing her mana output. "No one can."
"No!" I screamed. "I am......human! I am Ameican! I am Aurelius Elliott! YOU WILL NOT TAKE THAT FROM ME!"
Twilight must've poured in more mana because I felt it practically running through my veins, and searing pain on my neck made itself known, and heat enveloped my body.
Then it all stopped. I felt my feet back on the ground.
I opened my eyes, and I saw that my hands were still hands and that the fur was gone! I was out of Twilight's field of magic, and gold and black flames lit the room, and unarmored soldiers were ablaze, some alive, some dead.
"What the fuck did this?" I asked aloud. Loud, wet coughing making itself known in front of me. I turned to see Twilight Sparkle with parts of her fur burned, and she coughed up drops of blood as she got up from the floor, shaking her head before her eyes locked with mine, and she adopted a combative stance.
"Impossible! That-that's impossible! That sort of power! It's impossible!" She said in utter shock.
The fuck? A minute ago she was going all "oh your pathetic and your gonna lose everything you love! Mwahahaha!" Now she's looking at me like a cat would've looked at Gimli!
"YES! I FUCKING KNEW IT!" Jonathan cheered statically, looking at me.
"THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" I asked, more than confused.
"You have a Cutie-Mark!" They said in unsion.
Chapter II: I HAVE A WHAT?!?!
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. I was in a bunk on the plane. It was small and spartan with only a bed, end table, and a closet. The bed lacked sheets and the closet lacked clothes.
I was looking at my helmet, having traded the hospital gown for my old military uniform. It was a mix of magic-laced armor, a kevlar undertone. And of course the uniform itself.
It was based on the old US uniform for the Army branch. With all the bells and whistles. It was modified in the years of the war. Made to go under a soldier's armor and allow for comfort. The armor itself was based on the Horses' Royal Guards.
Which, in itself, seemed based on ancient Greek and Roman armor.
The armor overall was made from thick, heavy metal with magical lines of energy running about on it in patterns. Supposedly generating a small force field where the armor didn't cover. The same lines were on my metal armbands and shin armor. Around my waist was a utility belt that held a medi-pack, spare ammunition, my sidearm, and my tanto. As well as a grenade on the back. And even a grappling hook in a small pouch!
The plane shook and rumbled again, reminding me of the danger outside.
I slipped on my helmet. As a visor came down and brought up a HUD. After checking I had everything in order, I left the bunk.
Outside alarms blared as someone swore from the cockpit. I looked around from the bunk area and ran down the hall and through the bridge, finding the cockpit.
In it were Alexander and a woman in a pilot's uniform. Both flying the plane as they dodged various spheres of lavender energy from behind.
"Hey, Sir is there any way I c-" There was a crash from outside as if something exploded as the plane shook.
"Verdammt noch mal diese Pferdebastarde! " The pilot swore in...was that German?
"You wanna help rookie? Make sure we don't die!" Alexander ordered. "Left wing just got hit! Head out there and fix it!"
"Me?! But I'm not an-"
"There's an Omni-Tool in the cabinet in the lounge. Grab that and head out!" Alexander ordered as more shots were fired.
I blinked and rushed out. Heading past the bunks into the lounge. Which was an odd mix of a kitchen and living room. Finding an ornate and antique cabinet and opening it.
Inside was some form of metal exoskeleton meant to go on my forearm and hand. It also had orange magic lines running along with its frame and a button on the wrist strap. I didn't have time to wonder how it worked before there was another rumble as I took off my armband.
I lopped my fingers through the grips, and strapped it to my wrist and just below my elbow with resounding clicks.
I tested out the mobility and watched as it flexed and bent in time with my arm. As well as matching my fingers even as I snapped them in various ways.
I pressed the button, and the magic lines glew bright and the rest of the tool folded out as solid light. It was like the armband of my armor, with it covering the entirety of my forearm in solid light. Over the back of my hand was a circular fabricator of sorts that lightly spun with a small hum.
My visor beeped and the Omni-Tool came up as listed in my inventory. the light of the hologram going from orange to azure.
A message appeared in my HUD's lower corner. I selected it and the following came up.
Thank you for using Shepard Technologies Omni-Tool! A multipurpose tool that fulfills ALL your needs! This is a unique Premium model designed for everything from domestic life to warfare! It has several modes. Each mode can be accessed at ANY TIME!
The Fusion Cannon-two focusing prongs will come out from the fabricator that comes with all Tools. From the prongs, a barrel will form. This is a small cannon that you can use to take out even the strongest of Unicorn Elites and iron Rangers! Holds a max of 10 shots! After you run out, it will simply disappear and recharge!
Insta gun-An instantaneous gun of light of your choice produced by your Omni-Tool. Holds a max of 20 shots before it disappears and recharges.
Light Blade-A blade of pure light able to cut through steel! Size changes to your whims!
Engineer-a mode meant for repairs and construction. It will help you craft tools and items from anything! As well as repair said items and even structures and vehicles!
Sentinel-an exoskeleton that covers your entire body with our holographic armor! However, it takes a while to charge and has limited use! Especially if you use our other features with it!
Warning: if-
The plane began to creak and groan, causing me to fall over as the warning began to scroll past my eyes until it landed on the "accept terms and conditions" bit.
I got up and shook my head as a final message popped up.
Thank you for accepting! Your purchase of the full Premium features has been transacted and received. This message will self delete!
Use it wisely and well.
~OV
The message then dissolved into code before my eyes, gone to the ether as the plane shook again. I clenched my fist and ran off.
I found a maintenance hatch in the lower deck near the bridge. It had several consoles dotting the walls with radars and computers and the like.
I opened the hatch and pulled down a red ladder. Climbing up onto the roof of the plane.
The wind whipped around me in deafening volumes. I looked back and saw Sparkle's Airship following us. Its mortar cannons visible on the deck and letting out steady shots of giant lavender spheres. The plane buckled and turned to dodge them.
I activated my boots Grav-Anchors and looked for the damage. Noting that the ship was 284 feet long! And its wings it had a wingspan of, like, 168 feet! With rectangular thrusters towards the back of the ship, as well as dotting the wings, and turbine props alongside the engines.
I saw one of the wing's thrusters was damaged and on fire, smoke trailing behind us. I ran towards it, my Grav-Anchors keeping me on the roof even as clouds whizzed past us.
The Horses must've seen me, cause I soon heard the shouting of orders and the beating of wings as a squad of Pegasi took flight. Just as I made it to the wing, I heard gunfire.
I dodged to the side as a squad of Pegasi soldiers dressed in purple Guardsmen uniforms fired with their battle saddles. The machine guns giving steady pops as they dotted against the wing.
I watched as they turned for another go.
I was gonna take out my sidearm, but then recalled my Omni-Tool. It must've read my mind, as I soon felt a weight in my hand.
I aimed the newly formed sniper rifle of solid light and aimed at the Pegasi. A crosshair appearing in my HUD over my dominant eye.
I pulled the trigger, killing one with a headshot. Rolling out of the way as they fired again.
Unfortunately, that meant I let my feet, and my Grav-Anchors left the wing's metal embrace. I stumbled and rolled off the wing. My hand stumbling to find a grip. The Omni-Tool developing claws just as I was about to fall.
I looked down in terror at the ground below. Buildings and structures like ants as they passed beneath.
Swinging my weight, I brought my other hand up to grab the wing. Pulling myself up, I soon hear as the Pegasi went in for another series of shots.
I aimed a new light rifle and fired. The beam of energy shooting into the skull of one Pegasus, sending them plummeting down.
I couldn't see their faces behind the pilot's helmets, yet I felt how pissed they were.
I fired again, this time hitting one of their wings as they made the pass. The wounded Pegasus falling and tumbling onto the wing with me.
They got up, allowing me to get a closer look. They were wearing a skin-tight purple suit, with modified armor on and battle saddle on their backs, that reminded me of jet wings. The saddle had two high caliber guns. The primary weapon was some form of a minigun. Over their heads, they wore pilot's helmets modified for their head shape and ears. And some form of breathing apparatus. A purple visor over their eyes. On the flank was a Star of Sparkle, with a crystal castle inside it.
The Pegasus shook their head, and the "wings" of their battle saddle folded into little boxes on their side. They looked at me, and let out a neighing growl. A compartment on their foreleg armor folded into a magic-bladed combat knife. As they gestured at me in a "come at me bro" fashion.
I took out my own tanto and adopted a combative stance. Before rushing them.
They stabbed at my chest, I blocked with my armband, replying with a slash at their neck. The Pegasus dodged, suddenly jumping back. I heard the familiar wing beats and jumped out of the way just as the squad made another turn.
"That's gonna get annoying," I muttered. The Pegasus reminded me of it existing with a slash at my chest. My armor held, yet the magic left a deep gash in it.
I drew my sidearm and fired a flurry of shots at the Horse. They went low and dodged, before lunging at me with their knife.
Thinking fast, I stabbed up with my tanto! I felt the flesh give as the Horse gurgled. Gripping their neck with their hooves, my tanto causing a steady flow of blood to stain their suit as they wiggled and writhed.
"Heh..." I smirked, putting my pistol back in its holster. Approaching them and moved to remove my tanto.
Just as my hand gripped the handle, I heard guns whirring again. I jumped back, tanto in hand. Just as the Horse was drowning in their own blood as their body suddenly riddled with holes.
The writhing stopped. The blood increased. I went to loot its battle saddle and armor. Figuring the helmet would be a cool trophy. I pressed a button where the helmet met the neck and watched as the lower part of the helmet retracted. Allowing it to be taken off.
I did and saw that I had killed a mare. With purplish skin and messy, cloud-white hair.
Her badge said:
Capt. Flitter
"Heh, shoulda been a better fighter."
I tore off the badge. And kicked her body off the wing.
The Pegasi came in for another turn, as I lined up a new light rifle.
"Bang."
I fired another beam into the head of one of the soldiers.
"And then there were two," I quipped as they fired on me again. I turned and watched as they also turned. I lined up the rifle and fired two consecutive shots.
Bang! Bang!
The first one died quickly, a bullet pierced their temple as they quickly descended. The second one tried to dodge, only for me to shoot off their wing by accident. They swerved and crashed into one of the turbines. Said turbine quickly shredding its upper torso and sending bits of it flying about. Leaving only its lower half.
Satisfied I went over to the damaged engine, the light rifle dissolving as the Omni-Tool transformed into its engineer mode.
It scanned the engine, a schematic appearing in my HUD. Showing me where the damage was and how to fix it. The Tool developed, well, holographic tools of various kinds.
I first put out the fire, spraying some form of retardant on it. Before little holographic grabber arms appeared, along with a holographic toolbox filled with exactly what I need.
I repaired what I could. But the fuel coupling and a few breakers were destroyed. So I had to bridge a few gaps. It wasn't permanent. But it would hold us over till we got......wherever this thing is going.
I sighed in relief, my task finally done as I approached the patience hatch once more. Apparantly we were hit a few more times. I saw various singe marks all over the body of the ship as I walked. Yet nothing seemed broken.
I let out a hup and began to climb back down. Closing the hatch behind me.
I returned to the bridge, seeing more people than before. Several people on officer uniforms populated the consoles and were consistently talking with one another.
There were happy german noises from the cockpit.
"Whatever that Rookie did worked! Entering stealth mode now!" The pilot said with a laugh. The officers all pressed a sequence of buttons, and the ship increased suddenly in speed.
"Well done, Rookie," I heard the voice of Kronos behind me. I turned and saw him there, looming over me again.
"Thanks....sir..." I said nervously. "Where uh....where we going?"
The time manipulator shrugged. "Wherever the boss takes us."
Speaking of him. Alexander's voice came over the PA system.
"All Basterds. Meet in the briefing room in ten. " He ordered.
"Well, you heard the boss! He's a-calling!" He chuckled as he began to walk away.
I quickly realized I didn't know where that room was, and followed.
We soon made our way to the briefing room. Other Basterds following us in.
The room was moderately large, with a table in the center and a large board dominating the back wall. Alexander was in front of the table, the board behind him.
"Is that everyone? Wheres Gem and Fritz?" Alexander asked.
"Here we are!" A pair of voices rang behind me. I turned and saw a woman with gorgeous red hair and emerald eyes. Dressed in, well, oddly normal clothes. A navy blue blazer and skirt with an emerald shirt. And a Cutie-Mark of a DNA double helix on a computer screen, made from ones and zeroes.
Next to her was a man in his late twenties. Dressed in a simple blue polo and dress pants. His dress shoes were the same blue as his eyes. He had windswept hair and stubble.
His Cutie-Mark was of a wrench made from electricity, with a computer screen background.
"Sorry, we're late." The woman, Gem, said apologetically. "The project we're working on ran into some issues."
"Yea." Nodded the man, Fritz. "The power output was less than optimal, and if we were to apply it in the field as is could be disastrous."
"Understandable." Alexander nodded, observing the squad. "Well, looks like everyone's here."
"Why'd you call us here, sir?" I asked after a minute of silence.
"Who's the kid?" A Dragon Trooper muttered.
"He...is the survivor of the Arcadia Fort Defense Legion," Alexander said, tapping the table, bringing up a hologram of Arcadia Fort.
It was big and beautiful, running along the center of the Arcadian region, edge to edge of the peninsula.
Made to keep the horses out of the northward countries, It was made of steel and concrete. With numerous turrets, watchtowers in key places along with the various patrol decks, and soldiers guarding it at all times.
The fort itself was within the wall. It housing a small factory for tanks and guns, barracks, a training ground, even heating, and plumbing! There was also a prison for anyone who got to rowdy, and research labs.
Spots along the wall facing the Horses' land dotted with turrets. The top of the wall housed artillery guns and A-A guns, in case any of the Horses got curious.
Such Forts on borders between the Horses' land and our own were nicknamed Gate Cities. Seeing as they kept the bad guys out, and each fort could house a city.
Each Fort had a defense legion. Meant to keep it safe in case of an attack. You could also have your military training in a select few of these forts.
Arcadia itself was just behind the Arcadian Fort. As well as the rest of Greece. Given that most of the real fighting was in the region of Zebrica and Africa, Arcadia became a bit of a hotspot for medical care as well. Sometimes for both sides.
In the planes in front of the fort were several trenches and land defenses. Mines, tanks, traps. And that was the first few miles.
Then they would get to the trenches, which . Along points in the trenches were more watchtowers and guard towers.
They were supposed to be foolproof, unbeatable defenses. These were supposed to be the best on the planet. The best on both worlds!
Yet it was decimated under a second, with a thought.
The knowledge of my service caused unsure murmurs amongst the Basterds. After a while, a Basterd spoke up.
"Are you sure about this, boss?"
"I am, at least, I hope I am. Am I right, Loki?" Alexander chuckled.
"Yep, I can vouch for the Rookie. Saved him myself." A taller man said next to me. He had sickly green hair and emerald eyes. He dressed in a green fur cape, and charcoal black clothes resembling Norse royalty. On his neck was a Cutie-Mark of emerald flames.
"God help him...." A trooper muttered.
"He's a college kid! He's no younger than my eldest!" Another sighed.
"Fate is a cruel mistress indeed...." A Basterd mused.
At the final comment, I was confused but said nothing. The memories of my lost comrades still fresh in my mind.
"Al, does he know?" Loki asked, seeing my confusion.
"That's actually why I called this meeting." He replied.
"Know what?" I asked after a minute of silence.
Alexander and Loki shared a silent conversation, and in the end Loki sighed.
"You owe me for this..." Loki sighed, before turning to me. "Alright.....storytime. Back when the first people got their Cutie-Marks, the first Late Bloomer got her's. And her's, allowed her to see into the future, allegedly. She forsaw the war, but no one listened to her. But after Manhatten went under, they suddenly decided to listen to the chick that sees the future. Especially since she saw this coming."
Alexander brought up a picture of a young woman, about my age, with long ginger hair and emerald eyes. On her neck was a Cutie-Mark of a sun, with a lyre made from the flames. As well as pictures of the flooded Manhatten. buildings and streets were submerged.
Images of rescue helicopters and boats looking for and helping people. The survivors living in the skyscrapers and on the rooves of the tallest buildings.
The torch of Lady Liberty being the only mark she existed. The rest of it submerged neath the waves.
Newspaper headlines and articles came up, showing missing persons and deaths statistics. As well as newspapers and war propaganda from the beginning of the war.
"After that happened and the war broke out, she came up with a new prophecy." Loki continued. "That the war would end, when the Survivor of Arcadia took up arms, and killed the tyrants at large."
"Alledgedly." Alexander added. "We don know if she actually can see the future, or is just really good at guessing. Most of her prophecies are vague enough that they can happen."
"Yes, well, this prophecy gives a ton of people hope. And most of the people back on the homefront believe it." Loki sighed. "And you Rookie, you're the survivor."
"In short, for bettor or for worse, you're our Messiah." Alexander said. "For lack of a better word."
Author's Note
Please comment if you enjoyed it. Sorry for the longer time it took to make this. School and IRL issues are a common thing for me. I'll try to update more regularly.
View Online
Chapter IV: And now for something completely different
Author's Note
Warning: This is from the perspective of Twilight Sparkle.
Enjoy.
Chapter IV: And now for something completely different
I laid on a cushioned operating table, a cast over my head, wrapped tight as a vice.
My right eye was sore. Having been just healed over the last few hours. Hours I stared into absolute blackness. Forced to heal and recuperate in my airship's medbay.
I couldn't see, but I could hear the doctors around me. Making sure I was healing properly. Medical equipment beeping steadily.
This was a result of that bucking Monkey!
I had him in my aura. In my aura ! But that Basterd Loki had to gouge my eye out. With the knife of an Equestrian soldier, too!
That operation was a complete failure. What would Princess Celestia say if she was here? Those damned Monkeys are too clever for their own good!
I sighed and closed my eyes. Recalling what happened, and where it all went wrong.
I smirked as I entered the hospital, my hooves clopping along the tiled floor.
I had glanced around the human hospice, noting the large symbol on the floor. A symbol for one of their so-called gods. Hermes, I believe.
Aside from that gaudy display, there wasn't much odd. Lamps dotted the walls with staircases on either side. And a hall in the far back. To my right was a check-in booth, in which one of my soldiers was looking around.
"Hmm...so this is what passes as a hospital for humans," I mused. "It is competent, at least."
That wasn't a dig or an insult. But a simple observation. There was no needless clutter or dirt. Yet not as advanced or organized as an Equestrian hospital. It was competent. Perhaps I even considered using it as a hospital for my own troops.
One of my Iron Rangers approached me, showing me that human doctor who treated the Survivor. He was hiding in the medicinal ward the Survivor was supposed to be in.
His hands were cuffed and the Ranger leveled one of its Gatling guns to his back. Lightly pushing him with it as they walked.
He looked me in the eyes, and for a moment he was silent. Taking him a moment to realize who I was exactly. Humans are so slow.
"Look, Ms..." He began.
First mistake human. We are not equals. Nor would I want to be equal with a creature like you.
"Princess." I reminded firmly. "You are to refer to me as Princess Sparkle. Or General. Or Sir. Is that understood?"
Seriously, how hard is it to recall my titles?
"OK. Princess. I don't know what you want, but please, spare my patients. They're in my care. If you do that, I'll give you whatever it is you want," The human begged.
He was offering his own life in exchange for his patients. It was almost cute if it wasn't a pitiful attempt to mimic Equestrian ideals. Strike two, human.
Besides, if what the reports I heard are true, all the humans in this hospital are supposed to be dead. Save for him and the Survivor.
"What I want?" I asked with a mocking tone. "I want the extermination of your entire race! I want your chaos and evil to end completely!"
Human history is nothing but chaos from what I've seen. War after war after war. Deaths in the thousands over petty political squabbling and traditions. If there were Wendigo here, their world would've had a second ice age five times over!
It's like this world exists to purely create disharmony! It's almost blasphemous!
"I....why? What did we ever do to you?" The human asked in confusion, before briefly pondering. "Is it about your brother? If so I'm sorry about it, but, humans didn't kill Shining Armor!"
Strike three, human.
I couldn't hide my sneer, as I charged my horn. The mana flowing into it like blood in veins. The lavender energy charging in my horn. Before shooting out and drilling into his skull.
The flesh and bone offered no resistance, my magic slicing through it like a knife through butter. Leaving a perfect outline of the beam as his flesh and brain matter charred and sizzled.
I deactivated my horn, and he crumpled forward.
"You don't get to speak his name, Primate!" I said, unable to hide my contempt. I turned to the Iron Ranger and issued an order. Gesturing to the corpse, I said, "Clean that up. And the rest of you! Raze this pathetic box to the ground! And bring me the survivor of Arcadia!"
I will not be denied. He will become one of us. And Equestria's victory is assured.
Humans think they can threaten us with a prophecy of a false messiah. Hah! Tau knows the only true God is Princess Celestia. How many of their so-called gods control the sun? And are actually seen doing so? We don't need faith, we have proof. Proof as sure as the sun itself.
I was broken from my pondering with the sounds of footsteps and a warcry.
"SPAAAAAAAAARKLE!!!!!!!!!"
I charged my horn and turned, quickly casting a levitation spell as a bladed weapon flirted with my forehead.
Sweet Celestia, this monkey was mad! Charging a Princess, and the Enforcer of Celestia! Who is he?
I looked the monkey over. His hairless skin was barely covered by a sort of medical gown. As there was a bandage over his left knee.
Like an arrow wound. One of the Guards reported a confirmed hit on one of the enemy soldiers. The one who escaped on the surviving plane.
His eyes observed me with unadulterated rage. As he struggled in my telekinetic grip, partaking in an exercise of futility so many of these Monkeys enjoy.
"Hm, Survivor of Arcadia." I mused as I observed this specimen. He looked young. Perhaps just short of exiting the Monkey adolescent stage. A boy. Their false messiah is a boy? I could barely contain my glee. Equestrian victory is all but assured! "Much younger than I expected...."
I sighed and contained my glee, partaking in the breathing exercise Cadance had taught me. Focusing myself.
But a question entered my mind. Should I kill him? He is but an adolescent. I think he just turned into a legal adult this year. It's not his fault he was born into the wrong species.
Luckily, I can change that.
"Life as a Janie would suit you well," I said, deciding to spare him.
"I...Janie?" The Monkey seemed confused. Yet he shouldn't be, Equestrian mercy is legendary. I chose to show mercy, even as he carries such a primitive weapon and the remnants of what is no doubt one of my fallen soldiers.
"Yes, Janie," I smiled. "You are special. You're going to affect this war heavily in the future."
I began to charge the spell. Unfortunately on a technical level, it's going to kill him. So I may as well tell him as much. Just to be as clear as possible.
"Well, you were. Now you're going to die." I said. before realizing how evil it sounded. "Well, the "you" that you are now. WIll be "killed" and reborn as a pony! A member of our society! The transformation is... painful. But, when is death not?"
I began to ignite the spell.
"Uh, I'd tell you to brace yourself. But, heh, you can't." I said. Worry not human, this will be over in but a moment.
The spell activated, as the transformation began. Morphing his body to match that of an equestrian. From what I could see, he was going to be a brilliant unicorn stallion.
Yet he seemed to...struggle? Why would he struggle against this mercy? Mercy that other humans rarely get.
"Oh, you can't resist," I tried to explain. "No one can."
"No!" It screamed. "I am......human! I am Ameican! I am Aurelius Elliott! YOU WILL NOT TAKE THAT FROM ME!"
There was a blinding flash, as I barely had time to conjure a shield. A shockwave deafened the room. The feeling like an explosion as flames danced around us like hydra heads.
I was pulled from my memories as the bandage around my head was slowly unwrapped, the fabric coming off with ease. my eyes were shut. But I felt the light beating on them. Both of them. Both eyes getting the glare from the light directly into them.
I attempted to open my eyes, hissing as the light of the medbay glared into my retinas, yet I kept them open. After being trapped in the darkness so long, my eyes hurt from the light, yet I should get past it. I am Twilight Sparkle! Celestia's Brightest!
A doctor came over, dressed in a lavender coat and a badge on his left foreleg shoulder. Signifying his name and rank.
"Princess!" The doctor smiled. "You ok? The surgery took a while, and we were able to fully heal your eyeball. But, for safety's sake, I need to test you."
"Sounds sensible." I nodded, adjusting my position and stepping off from the table.
"First, try to follow my magic dot." He said, summoning a sphere in the air in front of him.
He moved it from side to side, as I followed with my eyes. After a full minute, he seemed satisfied.
"OK, you see well enough," The doctor said. "How about now you see if you can read these letters, seeing as you have such an affinity for the written word, My Princess."
I nodded and looked to the wall expecting to see a board of letters. Yet the wall was blank.
"Oh, right I forgot. Janie! Bring in a letter board!" The doctor barked.
In came an anorexic unicorn stallion, extremely malnourished and beaten. His Cutie Mark was branded over with my mark. His main and tail dyed purple.
"Y-y-yes M-m-m-milord..." They shook, picking up one of the boards and shakily putting it on the wall. Meekly activating their horn and levitating it onto the medbay wall.
"Good, here is your reward, Janie," the doctor said, hovering over a piece of half-eaten, moldy bread to the stallion. Who took it and greedily ate it, like a savage Diamond Dog.
I sighed and paid him no second glance. Instead looking at the letters and reading them aloud, going down until the final smallest line.
"Good. I feel confident in discharging you my liege," the doctor smiled.
I nodded and trotted from the room. Briefly bumping into the Janie in the middle of their meal.
"You insolent dog! How dare you treat your Princess with such disrespect!" The doctor said, fury in his eyes as the Janie jumped back. Staring at him as a hound would stare at its owner when being disciplined. "To the stocks with you!"
Two guards came in and picked up the Janie, who kicked and screamed as he was dragged from the room.
I couldn't help but look on, seeing the terror in his eyes as he screamed for help.
"Do forgive me, princess, perhaps a night in the stocks after ten lashes will teach that scum some manners," The doctor said with a sigh. "Humans are such primitive creatures."
"Yes, well, I must get going now. I have a report to deliver," I said, nodding my goodbyes.
"Oh! Cpt. Sentry has a report for you," the doctor said. "He's waiting in the bridge."
I nodded and left the medbay. Passing winding halls and even briefly passing the gun bays.
Large cannons stuck out the side of the ship, aiming and ever vigilant as loyal soldiers aiming to the skies.
Each cannon was large and long, made from metal. magic lines running along the barrels, and a body propping it up connected to the ground.
To compare it to human ships, my ship would be considered a "Destroyer" battleship. Yet much more superior to such human terminology and technology.
I trotted up the staircases and passed three gun decks, before ending on the fourth top deck.
Equestrian airships are some of the best in the world, in times of ancient yore, our navy was what made us the superior race on Gaias. A large balloon tethered to the ship by titanium wires, giving it lift. And at the bottom of the ship were large thrusters in the place of what would've been the rudder. Two both at the bow and stern. The body of the ship itself was similar to a human galleon.
I looked around on the deck, seeing four mortar cannons aimed into the air, as soldiers patrolled around. Janies were in their stocks or serving their masters.
The Janie from earlier was receiving his lashes from a boatswain, occasionally crying out in pain as a magic whip slashed across his back. A few other Janies were forced to watch.
I hummed a tune as I walked, passing soldiers as they saluted me. I of course returned the favor, it's the polite thing to do.
Two Iron Rangers stood guard in front of the bridge. With a glair from me, they stepped aside and bowed robotically.
"As you were, Rangers," I said as I entered. The cyborgs returning to their posts.
The bridge was large and spacious, with ponies working control consoles to navigate the airship, as others looked at a partially holographic map in the center of the room.
In the front of the room, near the helm, was an orange-haired Pegasus, with a lightning blue mane and tail, and dressed in a solar yellow and lavender guard's uniform with crystal accents.
"Captain Sentry," I said, getting his attention.
"Princess Sparkle," Flash Sentry bowed low, his snout touching the floor. "What can I do for you?"
"Rise Flash, and deliver the report," I said with a chuckle, sighing at the bow.
"The Magic Flashes air squadron were all KIA," he said bluntly. "And the survivor of Arcadia has escaped our radar. Possibly deeper into the human borders."
"KIA...." I gasped, before steeling my nerves. "They will be remembered. Send condolences to their families."
Flash nodded. "And the Survivor?"
I sighed. It was one thing to attack a hospital on the front. I only have around a couple thousand troops with me, even less from the Basterd's assault. The rest of the army is slowly moving inward, yes. But it would be a full week before we could ever hope to track down the enemy ship, and by then this war could be lost if the Survivor develops his power.
But if we do head behind enemy lines, we risk being caught and killed, or worse, POWs of the humans and used as bargaining chips. Whoever would catch the "Great Twilight Sparkle" would be promoted in the least. If not that route they could see fit to execute me.
Stupid Monkeys, they resist the natural order and they dare to judge me? At least I don't treat my prisoners like them. I give them a second chance at life with the transformation spell Princess Celestia taught me.
Strange, she seemed to know of the spell before the war.
I sighed and shook my head from my musing.
"I will....consult with the Princess," I decided. "For now, continue on the course."
Flash Sentry nodded and implemented my orders. The bridge officers going back to their duties as I went into my private quarters.
It was just behind the bridge, accessible by a door of ironwood oak with magic runes carved into it. Meant for protecting against scrying and reinforce its strength. Not even Applejack could buck it down. After all, she was the one who made and tested it.
My room wasn't too large. the back wall was a window, allowing some light. Owlicious sat on a T-shaped perch sleeping, as two bookshelves dominated the walls, and a singular lantern was on the ceiling, illuminating the room. I sat at the table and watched as holographic figures and models moved about on the map, showing me the progress of the battles raging in real-time.
The Monkeys call it a Holomap. It takes data from nearby coordinates and displays them in real-time, using a magic crystal to power it. One of the most useful inventions from the Ministry of Technology and her own is the Ministry of Magic. It was a product of the Great Exchange of Knowledge, as the history books call it. When we blended our magic with the Monkey's tech. I was there, meeting greats called Elon Musk and Bill Gates, and spoke with them. Apparantly another extremely intelligent human named Stephen Hawking would've also loved to speak with me, but he had passed not two years before the convergence. They were intelligent Monkeys, yet Monkeys nonetheless.
After that, I spoke with world leaders as a Princess and helped to get Equestria recognized as a sovereign nation. As did my brother and sister-in-law. Oh how long ago that seems now. And how soon ago it was that those Monkeys betrayed his love and killed him.
I shook my head of the past and examined the map. Marking points for troops to head to and writing it down in letters. Before using a spell and the letters were enveloped in green, they turned to ashen mist and embers, appearing to the generals and commanders they were addressed to.
I checked the clock ticking above my door.
"It's noon..." I sighed. "I suppose I shouldn't keep Celestia waiting."
I ignited my horn as the lights dimmed, the window became opaque and darkened the room further. Satisfied, I turned my attention to the roof of the room, as the lantern turned yellow.
"Princess Celestia," I said aloud. The lantern pulsated as a projection of the Sun Princess appeared before me.
She was dressed in gold trinkets and armor, with yellow billowing robes. Atop her head was a golden crown, a necklace mirroring it where her neck met her torso. Both were gold, with pearl jewels adorning them. Her eyes shone with the age of a millennia-long life, and the wisdom that came with it.
She was a living goddess. The wrath and power of the sun, given flesh. Charismatic, regal, perfect even!
At least that's what the posters say.
In a time that feels so long ago, she was my teacher. I learned almost everything I know from her.
And now, in this time of turmoil, I was her blade. Loyally smiting her enemies. While my Legion is referred to as Sparkle's Hoof, a few Monkeys called me Celestia's Horn. While the Monkeys are usually wrong about such titles, I can't help but wear it with pride.
"Oh, Twilight. What do you require? " She asked with a regal aloofness.
"Princess Celestia," I bowed. "I come to give my report."
"Rise Twilight. We are as equals in this war ," she chuckled. "And, do so. "
I nodded and got up, and began to give my report.
"The human's fortress-city Arcadia has fallen. We sustained minimal casualties in the charge. And almost all the enemy planes were shot down. the one that did manage to escape, we pursued into enemy lines. We weren't detected by human radar and patrols, luckily enough. And we arrived at a border hospital." I began. Hesitating for a moment. "We executed everyone there, as ordered."
"I sense hesitation in your voice, Twilight, " She said with a regal firmness. "What are you hiding? "
"The Survivor of Arcadia slipped past my patrols and even killed one of the soldiers. A Veteran of the Human Pushback," I said. This caused Celestia to gasp. "Furthermore, he attempted to Assassinate me. However, I took advantage and attempted to Convert him. Yet, just as the spell was about to finish he shouted something about being a Monkey and released a surge of energy. Decimating most of my forces that were on that floor. My liege, he developed a Cutie-Mark."
"Impossible! Do you think he's one of those Late Bloomers? " Celestia asked.
"Yes. Unfortunately, it gets worse. As I was about to execute him, as at that point I knew he was beyond Conversion, the roof caved in and a squadron of Marked Basterd Dragon Troopers attacked," I continued. "My Elite and Ranger reinforcements managed to kill a majority of them. But the enemy killed just as many. And unfortunately, the Survivor was not one of the ones we had killed. He escaped the hospice."
Celestia listened and processed this. Before finally asking, "did you pursue further? "
"Yes. As soon as the enemy aircraft began to leave the area, I mobilized my airship. We bombarded them with mortar fire, yet the ship had a shield of sorts. It took up to five shots just to damage an engine. Unfortunately, a crew member went onto the hull of the ship to manually repair it. My commander mobilized a squad of Pegasus troopers known as the Magic Flashers," I continued. "Unfortunately they were all killed by that crew member."
"All of them? " She asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Princess," I nodded in regret. "And the enemy ship managed to get away."
"These are dire straits indeed.... " Celestia mused to herself. "Well then, Twilight. Is that all? "
"No my liege. I'm asking what should be my next course of action? Do I lead the campaign into human territories myself? Or take my Legion and hunt down the Survivor?" I asked, maintaining my formal posture.
"If he's as dangerous as you say. He cannot be allowed to live Twilgiht. Hunt him down and kill him. " She ordered firmly. Such words wouldn't felt foreign from such a benevolent soul as her before the war. But now they are all to common.
In response. I nodded.
"Yes, princess Celestia." I nodded with a bow. "It will be done."
Celestia nodded her approval. And disappeared.
The lights returned as I sighed and examined a map. Moving pieces to certain points. Before getting up and heading back to the bridge.
I trotted up to Flash Sentry.
"Princess. What is it?" He asked.
"Captain. We have our orders!" I said, adopting an authoritative tone. "We are to find the Survivior and kill him!"
He nodded. And barked orders to the men.
"Soldiers! Be ready! We are heading behind enemy lines!" He yelled.
Celestia help us. I sighed to myself.
Chapter V: Back to the familiar.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. 