A Death March To The Fall Of Equestria

Frostine made her way down the right side of one of the first-floor hallways. Heading for the medical room, wanting to check up on her subject's condition.

It was during this that Frostine had spent her time thinking about everything that had transpired. The destruction of her home, her entire race enslaved and everything that has happened since she had met Satou.

During her recollection, she had arrived at the end of the hallway. Door to the medical room has a red crystal cross emblem.

Frostine gave a short pause, taking a slow breath before opening the door.

The room is rectangular, two individual rows of beds being separated by curtains for each bed that hangs from a railing on the ceiling. To the far left where Frostine entered are a few cabinets and a work table, just three feet away from the workbench and 16 feet away from her is a single; soft table.

She spots four open curtain beds having her race sitting or laying down with Marble Stone talking to them.

“Now please avoid agitating those injuries and you’ll be in full health within a week.” Marble calmly said before looking over a clipboard.

“You better pass that onto King Satou.” One of the Lizardman said calmly.

“I can’t do that sir. That’s not my job.” She said, turning to look at the one that spoke.

“Then what is it?” Same Lizardman asked.

“I work for Miss Eliza as her assistant and maid. We don’t have an actual doctor here, so they chose me since I have some experience in medical skills.”

“You’d think that he would have hired a real doctor to look after everyone.” Another one of the Lizardmen remarked.

“Hmm, I’ll ask Eliza that when I get the chance.”

The Lizardman just rolled his eyes at her. “I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t relay it to our king immediately.”

Marble raises an eyebrow in confusion. “Why should I be?”

“Is he not the owner of both the house and everyone in it?” The Lizardman question back.

It was then that Frostine interjected, getting everyone's attention. “Well he may own this place, but he doesn’t make any claim to anyone in the house as his possession.”

All lizardmens; hearing Frostines' voices, drop to one knee and lower their heads, with one saying. “Our queen. We are glad to see you are unharm.”

Frostine looked at each of the four lizardmen before shaking her head. “Why are you bowing to me? You must know that I am no longer the leader of our people. I lost to Satou, he leads us all now.” She said.

“Surely you jest my queen? He is not even a Lizardmen, he does not even know our ways.”

“I agree with Garret, your highness. We can’t just let any creature rule our kind.” Another lizardman said.

Frostine's mind reels to a halt at the name, looking towards the Lizardman known as “Garret”. “Wait… Garret… as in, Captain Garret?”

“Yes, my queen. I’m glad to see that you can remember me.”

“Well, it is hard to forget my parent’s captain of the guard.” Frostine remarked then adds. “This may be a sore subject. But what happened when they attacked our home… What happened to my father?”

Garret went quiet for a moment, looking at the other lizardmen who tried looking away from Frostine, clearly not wanting to answer her question.

Captain Garret took a breath before nervously answering his princess. “While our home was attacked; I was with your father and mother in the main room along with everyone else here and four others. Suddenly a black smog filled the room and one by one we all collapsed to the ground, we couldn’t move our bodies. When the smoke cleared up, the doors opened and a small army of caribou’s forced their way into the room and tied everyone up except your mother and father. Then that caribou leader came in, walked all the way up to your parents and threw your father to the foot of his throne. That caribou sat on our king's throne, placing his hooves against his head...” He bit his lower mouth, not wanting to finish as it was a sensitive topic for the lizardmen and himself.

Marble; feeling uncomfortable, decides to change the subject back by saying in a nervous voice. “Why do you not wish for Mr.Satou to be king?”

“That thing does not know our ways, our laws. He may have beaten our queen, but he did not know that made him our ruler, nor do I believe he has beaten her in a real duel.” Garret responded.

“O-oh! I-I see.” Marble nervously said.

“And besides, it’s not like you seem to care for him much either. After all, it seems that you would rather follow this Eliza than you would him.” Garret pointed out.

Feeling more uncomfortable, Marble moves to the door. “Ohh look at the time; I got to get back to work. Bye!” With that she dashes out of the room and out of sight.

As soon as she closes the door behind her, Frostine walks up to Garrat, shaking her head. “You’re an idiot.” She said.

“Uh, what? Why your majesty?” The lizardmen before asking in confusion.

“You really think refusing the fact that Satou beat me means anything? I submitted to him of my own volition, but I didn’t think he was ready to know the truth of what he claimed… I mean, at the time; I thought I was the last of our kind. I honestly believed he was the only leader of me, hardly making him a king of anything.” Frostine respond.

“Well. Now you know you're not. We could all group up on him and beat him ourselves, then settle this as our laws dictate… If you won’t take the throne back from him yourself that is.” Garret responded as he peers at everyone in the room.

A knock came from the door, Frostine turned to look while Garret moved his head to look over her shoulder towards the door.

Frostine stops a few feet from the door before speaking up. “Who is it?”

“It’s me.” Owner of the voice opens the door. Stepping into view is the familiar android teenage girl, Eliza.

“... Who is this?” Garret asked as he looked at Eliza.

Eliza looks at Garret. “I’m Eliza.” She answer simply.

“Eliza, why are you here? I thought you were busy?” Frostine asks Eliza.

“I am checking on everyone and decided to check on the new people.” The android women said.

“Well, you’ve checked on us, so you can leave.” Garret responded as he glared at Eliza.

Eliza looked at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“From what I remember, he looks at everyone that way.” Frostine admitted.

“Not everyone… just anyone who’s not of our kind.” Garret corrected.

Eliza rolls her eyes. “I see. You're a speciesist.”

“So what if I am, we are superior to you in every way.” Garret smug.

Eliza raised an eyebrow. “Superior on what exactly?”

“As I said, we are better than every other race in every way.” Garret repeated as Frostine shook her head in annoyance at his response.

The android woman folds her arms. “What do you have that I and others don’t?”

Frostine then cut in, glaring at Garret. “We aren’t better than anyone else… You know what happened, those damn Caribou are better than us. Eliza is likely better than us, and Satou is undoubtedly better than you!”

“How dare you say that we are weaker than that thing!” Garret shouted at Frostine suddenly getting angry as he towered over Frostine.

“Tell me, how many of you chose to accept his offer? And beyond it, how much did he have to try for it to happen?” Frostine responded as she stared at Garret, sharing a similar glare as his.

“That’s enough!” Eliza moves between them. “Frostine, what are you talking about? What do you mean by ‘offer’?”

“It doesn’t matter… These lots won’t follow anyone without getting some sense knocked into them.” Frostine state.

Looking at the situation; Eliza sighs before looking at the lizardmen group then to Frostine. “As long as they behave, they are allowed to stay here. But if any of them cause any trouble, I’ll personally do something about it.”

“Oh and what are you even going to do if we don’t, poke us to death?” Garret responded with a smirk.

Eliza summons her katana in scabbard and her hand already grip the handle. “You don’t want to push your luck.” She said sternly.

Garret continued to glare at Eliza for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders. “I hardly think it would hurt.”

Frostine just groaned at his actions before she picked up a piece of wood that had been resting against a wall as she quickly grabbed it like a staff and swung it against the side of his head, knocking him off balance before striking it into the top of his chest, causing him the bend forwards; gasping for air as she kicked his legs out from under him, knocking him to the floor. She stood on his chest, pinning him down.

“I’m sorry for his dreadful attitude Eliza. I’ll make sure to sort him out so he doesn’t cause any more trouble.” She then glared at Garret before adding. “And if you could get me a Caribou stun prod, I will teach him to respect everyone in this house.”

Eliza moves her hand away from the handle. “Nah, he’ll learn sooner or later.” She looks at Frostine. “And no Caribou prod.”

“Fine… although, I guess it’s going to be chaos with him for a while though.” Frostine admitted as she glared at Garret again.

“Anyways, I’ll be checking on the other new arrivals. See you.” With a wave of her free hand as her weapon vanish; she leaves the medical room. Searching for Satou recent addition members.

Meanwhile, Onyx Star had been wandering aimlessly around the mansion. She was only taken in her immediate surroundings when she realized that she's getting more and more lost in the maze of corridors.

This continued for a couple minutes until she lays against the wall, muttering. “This sucks. Why am I getting so lost in this place.”

“Hello?” A voice spoke out from her blind spot, causing her to turn her head towards the voice and saw Eliza standing beside her.

“Who are you?” Onyx asks.

“I am known by Eliza.” Eliza replies. “And you are?”

“O-Onyx Star. I was selected by Mr. Satou earlier from the dungeons and was brought here.” Onyx said nervously.

“Oh. So you’re new here then?”

“Umm… Yes. And very lost… and bored. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“Where did you want to go? Or are you just wandering around?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know what my purpose is here to know what this collar is for.” Onyx stated before adding. “Do I go around serving Satou base desires or do I have a different job to do?”

“Didn’t Satou say anything to you before you joined?” Eliza asks in confusion.

“He said “that I think I’ll take you”. And then told me to wait with the others and… I may have wondered off when I arrived before he could tell me more.”

“I see. Well anyways. What did you want to do?”

“I don’t know… I don't have any kind of skills that could help here… I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

The android woman hmms to herself in thought, trying to think of something. “I would have put you somewhere for you to do but, hearing that you haven’t worked before…” She pauses, thinking for a moment before speaking up again. “What are you good at?” Eliza asks the black mare.

“I don’t really know how to answer that. I’m not really that good at anything useful to those around me.” Onyx responded sadly before she muttered something under her breath.

“What was that?” Eliza question, probably heard her say something.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Alright.” Eliza turns to leave. “Well, I'll help you get used to this place. Be more familiar with the place.” Turn her head to look at Onyx.

“You sure? Why would you waste your time on somepony like me?” Onyx asked curiously.

Eliza giggles at that. “You're the first one to ever ask me that. But to answer that question, it’s because I want to help.”

Onyx slowly got off the wall as she spoke. “Where are we going first?”

“I think showing you the kitchen first, then the lounge room, the staff room where everyone gets ready for work, and lastly your room where you will be staying.” Eliza list.

“Okay.” Onyx responded, suddenly her stomach grumbles. The black mare looked down in embarrassment as she walked behind Eliza who giggled at her stomach calling.

As the duo arrived at the kitchen. Marble Stone was already there, preparing some food. The mare was humming a tune, not noticing them entering the kitchen.

“Here we are, the kitchen slash dining room.” Eliza said to Onyx.

“Okay.” Onyx responded as she looked around the room. Her stomach rumbles once again, this time loud enough that everyone could hear it as she whispered to herself. “No… please no more of that white stuff, just stay quiet.”

Marble heard the rumble and grabbed a plate that has crystal apple and berry, hashbrown, scrambled eggs and crystal apple juice. She turns and heads to the table where Eliza and Onyx are standing near, placing the plate and drink down.

Turning to Onyx, Marble gave her a nervous smile and spoke in a cheery tone. “Hello there, your new member; aren’t you?”

“Umm yes I am.” Onyx responds nervously as she looks to Marble.

“I hope you like your meal miss.” Marble gesture to the food.

Onyx looks at the food on the table, then looks to the floor and pauses. “... Where is mine… I don’t see a small dog bowl with that white stuff inside of it? Isn’t this one of yours?” Onyx asks, looks at Eliza and Marble.

“That's your food Onyx, she suggested making food for the new members and I agreed.” Eliza looks to the black mare.

“But… I thought that the only thing ponies like me were allowed to eat were bowls of that white stuff on the floor beside whoever owns us?” Onyx asks.

“We are against the idea. You can ask Satou later about that. But for now…” Eliza guides Onyx to her seat in front of the food. “eat.”

Onyx just looks at the food in front of her before slowly sitting down and begins to eat only for her eyes to begin to water after the first bite. She began to shovel the food in as fast as she could, seemingly crying as she did.

“I-Is the food to your liking?” Marble nervously ask. Onyx simply nods her head happily before getting back to eating.

“I’ll be right back.” Eliza said before leaving the kitchen.

Satou sat in his room looking over his desk that held some of the scrolls he received from Dainn. He slowly reads one of the scrolls, showing him a spell called ‘Zoom’.

“So... If I go large distances I can use this to teleport me and a group to a location I’ve visited before.” Satou mutters to himself. He looks over to Glacier who is asleep on the bed, his clothes in a neat pile on a side table.

Standing up from his chair; he walks up to the side of the bed. Deciding it’s time for a healing dose, the young boy carefully pulls the covers back, revealing Glacier’s scarred form, most of them had been healed into noticeable scars.

Satou held his arm out, whispering. “Aqua Heal.” His hand lit up in a cool blue glow before gathering to the palm as it forms the spell. The glow turned into a drop of water and fell onto Glacier inflictions, mending his wounds.

“One or two more times until he’s better.” Satou mutters to himself. He covers the young lizardmen sleeping form with the blanket before he goes back to his seats where it stands next to a desk.

After a couple of minutes, there was a knock coming from the door. “Who’s there?” Satou asks.

Frostine’s familiar voice called back “Master, it's me. The other Lizardmen want to talk with you.”

Satou just sighs at this. “Come in then.” He manually turned his chair to face the door. The door opens to reveal Frostine and the other lizardmen. They came inside, Garret had this glare directed at him. “What did you need to talk to me about?”

“Master… You remember how you defeated me when we first met?” Frostine asks.

“I remember that yes.” Satou responds. “What about it?”

“Well… at the time, I was the leader of the remaining members of my race. And after you-” Frostine said before she was cut off by Satou.

“Let me guess. After I beat you; your kind laws dictate that everything you own becomes the property of the one who defeated you, including your title, status and life?”

“Yes. That also includes them and my brother as well, we all are now your possessions.” Frostine said as she dropped down onto her knees and rested her head in Satou’s lap.

“Like Tartarus he is!” Garret shouted back. “I’m not accepting him as the owner of what’s left of our race until I see him defeat you personally!”

Satou just looked down to Frostine and rubbed her head before he said. “Do you share his feelings on this?”

“No I don’t. I’m happy to be yours. You’ve always done what you said you would for me. I am content to be yours in both body and soul.” Frostine responds, rubbing her head against his chest.

“And do you share his opinion?” Satou asks the remaining Lizardmen.

“We do.” One of the lizardmens said and the others nod in agreement. “We can’t trust princess Frostine’s words if she's telling the truth or just being affected by some odd power! After all; we have been apart for a long time, anything could have happened.”

“Okay then. How do we resolve this issue. In fact; I think the better question is ‘how do you want it to be solved’?” Satou asks as he looks at the Lizardman who answers first.

“We want to see proof, fight against our princess in an honorable battle!”

“Two things. One, inside voices, we have a sleeping child here. And two, if she is willing I will accept a duel from her.” Satou responded.

“You know she wouldn’t. That’s why we can’t trust her in this state.” First Lizardmen said.

Satou looks down at Frostine. “Frostine, will you challenge me to a duel so we can settle this properly?”

“Of course. If it will help them move on to follow our new leader I will be glad to fight you again without holding back.” Frostine responded.

“Does that appease you all?” Satou asked as he looked at the Lizardmen.

“Yes. But just so we’re clear, we want to see it all happen. If you try anything suspicious, we will see you as unworthy.”

“And what do you deem suspicious? What am I not allowed to do?” Satou asked.

“We can’t just tell you, that would ruin the test.” One Lizardmen said with a deadpan.

“Well is magic allowed? What weapons are allowed? Do either of those cause us any issues?” Satou asked in an attempt to learn what limitations he would have.

“You just fight, and we’ll see if you are worthy or not. As for what you're allowed to use, you ask Garret.”

“As for what’s allowed… it doesn’t matter as you will never be worthy of leading a race like ours.” Garret answer.

“Then do you need me to pin you to the floor again as you look even more like a submissive pet?” Satou asks as he looks at Garret.

“I did not get beaten by you!”

“That’s weird. I remember you jumping at me and being pinned down and submitting to be while looking at me like a sad puppy.” Satou responded.

“Fine! You did beat me! Just stop telling everyone I tried to beat you dishonourably!” Garret shouts before lowering his head. “Dammit… I just said that out loud, didn't I.”

“You did.” A young womens voice spoke up as Eliza lay on the door frame.

“How long was she there?” Garret asked.

“During your whole conversation.” Eliza said as she push off the frame.

“Is something wrong?” Satou ask, looking at her.

“Onyx is having trouble with what she was supposed to do, but at this moment she's eating.” She explain as she walk to Satou before smacking him behind the head, gaining a wince from him.

“Ouch! What was the slap for?” Satou asks, rubbing the back of his head.

“Treating others as though they are lower than you. Also to shut you up.” Eliza said plainly.

“Eliza, there was Dainn and other Caribou in a room next to me behind glass.” Satou stated. “You know how I need to act with that lot around.”

“I’m talking about right now, not before.” Eliza corrects Satou, turns to the Lizardman. “I hope he’s not causing any of you stress. He’s not good at socializing.”

“And neither are they,” Frostine added. “so they are both perfect fits for each other.”

“Anyways, if you're going to fight;” Eliza starts saying as she looks back at Satou. “you guys can spar in the yard, the one I use.”

“I think I’ll take you up on that.” Satou responds calmly before adding. “Also do you think you could keep an eye on the kid till I get back?”

Eliza sighs, two copies of her appear, one just walks out of the room and the other walks to the boy. “There. I’m watching you fight as a referee. I’ll just let my VR give Onyx the tour.”

“You don’t need to watch me fight. Why do you even want to?”

“I need to be there to stop you, also to see how you’ve been handling yourself in a fight. And no, my VR doesn’t count.”

“I see what you mean.” Satou responded with a shrug of his shoulders. “Anyway, do you want to lead the way or should I?” Rolling her eyes, Eliza gestures for them to follow as she heads out with the group not far behind.

As the group arrived at the yard, Satou looked towards Frostine. “Any idea what you want for a weapon?”

“I would say a spear.” Frostine calmly responds.

Satou simply nods his head before reaching into his bag and pulls out a large wooden staff. He passes it to Frostine before taking out a second identical one for his own use.

It was then that they were stopped by Garret who turned to Satou. “Those staves aren't tampered with I assume?”

“Do you want someone to check them?” Satou asks.

“I will.” Garret snatches the staff from Satou before swinging it at another one of the lizardmen. Lizardmen cross his arms when the staff is heading his way and it stops between the cross arms. He pass the staff back to Satou before repeating the process with Frostine’s staff, getting the same result. He grumbled at this. “Dammit. I hope one of them would’ve break.”

“Did you really think I would have given her tampered equipment?” Satou asks, raising one of his eyebrows as he did.

“He’s not like everyone else who requests challenges from my father in the past, Garret.” Frostine responds, feeling a little bit annoyed by the memories.

“He’s still not one of us.” Garret spat in annoyance.

Eliza sigh. “It’s just a precaution Satou, usual protocol.”

“I know that.” Satou acknowledges before looking at Frostine. “You ready?”

“Yes.” Frostine responded before adding. “But if I lose this time, I want you to take me and truly mark me as yours.”

“Are you really that desperate that you’re adding that as a thing?” Satou question.

“She means both what you think and a marking in line with our beliefs… I believe that the Caribou call it ‘branding’. She would have your emblem brand on either her rear or pelvis, or if she desires it both.” Garret states.

“We don’t do branding.” Eliza glare at Garret and Frostine.

“And if this is my choice and I desire it?” Frostine argues. “It is how we have lived as long as we can remember. And I will offer myself as such if I lose.”

Eliza just pinch her temple, shaking her head before walking towards the center of the smooth flat dirt land. “Anyways… Fighters, get to your starting point. You two will be fifty feet away from each other at the start of the fight. Arena is two yards in radius.”

Both Satou and Frostine made their way to their spots as she explain the rules. “If any of you get knocked out of the arena, you lose a point. There will be three rounds and whoever has the highest points wins. Your levels and stats will be fixed to a fair level to prevent level and stats advantage, your equipment must be within the current level or lower. No O.K. moves, damages will stop around nine thousand and no interference from non-competitors. Understand the condition?”

They both turned to Eliza and said; “Yes” “We understand”

“Okay...” Eliza stares at Frostine level to see 15. She closes her eyes, Satou Stat’s Menu pops into his view and sees the level and stats handicap have ‘turn on’, level becomes 15 and stats follows accordingly.

“Okay let’s see what I’m at...” Satou thought to himself as he saw that all of his stats were now in the low 50s, with him still having his current ranks on his skills.

Eliza wait for a moment before announcing. “Readyy,” to which she got a nod from each of them as both readied their weapons. “Seeeet,” Eliza moves away for the fighters. When she steps out of the arena, she shouts. “FIGHT!”