Elements of Nature - Fall Of Equestriaby davidrangerChaptersCome to My Aid, Hero of AirFall of PonyvilleEarthWaterCome to My Aid, Hero of Air**********Equestria - Equus 42 - Ponyville Royal Library********** "...and that is the end of the story." Several "aww's" and "come on's", coupled with a "just one more" could be heard among the foals as their storyteller wrapped up his tale. One in particular tugged on the hem of the white leather coat that splayed out on the floor underneath him as he sat indian style. "Mithter Wind, ith it true that your God thent hith Thon to pay for the thinth of the whole world?" The stallion, now identified as Mister Wind, ruffled the colt's mane. "Why yes, little one. It is. He died and rose again, conquering death, Hell and the grave." The colt's eyes widened like saucers and several of those listening let out "oooo's". One in the background, a bright yellow pony with a cherry red mane and equally red bow yelled out in a deep country accent, "Mah fish died. He ain't never come back. How do you conquer summ'm lahk that?" The four fillies sitting around her nodded in agreement. One had a pastel white coat and a two-tone purple and pink mane, another had a bright orange coat with equally bright purple hair, the next was pink with a purple and white mane topped with a tiara, and the fourth was dark gray with a two-tone light gray mane, blue glasses and necklace. The storyteller chuckled. "That's something you'll learn in Sunday School." With that, all five of them let out a collective "awww". A few minutes later as the last of the foals were being picked up by their families, he was organizing the contents of his satchel on a counter when he felt two strong arms wrap around his waist, two soft mounds press against his back and and a soft kiss placed on his neck. He didn't even turn around as he chuckled once again, for a different reason, "Hey you." "Hey, Darlin'" came the happy response, the accent thick with southern drawl. "I was a-passin' by when I saw the lights still on. Thought I'd give ya a visit 'fore I headed upstairs. I thought y'all'd be done by now. I know Lulu and Twi prolly got dinner already on the table." He turned around and looked at his wife with a small smile. She was wearing her normal garb, a red plaid button down shirt with the sleeves torn off at the biceps along with her Daisy Duke shorts. Finishing the ensemble was her customary Stetson which covered braided blonde hair that draped around her shoulders and down her back. As stunning as always, he thought. "Well, the little ones were especially eager to have me recount yet another Bible story to them," he responded as he wrapped his arms around her waist in kind. Applejack giggled. "And I know y'all were too eager ta indulge 'em." Mr. Wind feigned shock. "Why, AJ! You used a grown-up word! Is Twilight getting to you?" The cow-mare laughed heartily, ensuring there were no foals around before mashing her husband on the lips in a deep, passionate kiss, then lowering his upper half almost to the floor in the way a sailor would kiss a girl coming home from war. He loved it when she did that. When the kiss was finished, she looked in his steel blue eyes with her bright green ones. "So, big man. Are ya comin' upstairs or what? It's gettin' late." Indeed, the sun had set and both of them saw a flash outside the window followed by the light of the moon. AJ lifted her husband up and they both looked out at the Princess of the Night as she walked off the upper balcony back inside. Applejack sighed contentedly as she held him close. "Ah never thought I'd be in a herd, David. Let alone with a human stallion leadin' it." She pecked him on the lips once more before walking back to the door from whence she entered. Before she left, she turned around at the doorway, looking at him with an appraising, loving gaze. "You workin' as the library custodian seems ta be helpin' ya after you took down them terrorist junkies, Sugarcube. Y'all are settlin' in mighty fine." He smiled at her, but before he could respond, a bright light shone in the room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Celestia's voice. "David Wind, Hero of Air, I request your aid. My Equestria has come under assault by a force that we have not yet seen, so much so that Tirek pales in comparison. Please, if you can help us, come quickly." He looked and he saw his token which he had sent into the multiverse floating in front of him, shining brightly. It was circular, a black and white Yin and Yang medallion. David looked at AJ with that look...the same look he had before he took on the Terror Ponies. AJ recalled the threat, terrible equines loyal to Tirek and all that stands for him, desiring only to check everyone on Equis into the Afterlife Hotel. She sighed and nodded. "I know I ain't gonna be able ta stop ya, Sugarcube. Y'all hurry back, ya hear?" she said before walking over to him and pecking him on the cheek. He nodded to her, caressing her face gently. "Tell Lulu and Twi I'll be back soon, and that I love them." He turned to the token. "I accept the summons." With that, he and the light were gone. **********Equestria, Equus 58, Canterlot Castle********** Celestia sighed after she sent the summons. The one thing about displaced summoning was that one never knew if the displaced accepted the summons unless they showed up. She leaned back in her chair in the large study, the only place she knew of where she wouldn't be disturbed. "Do you think he'll come?" A voice that was usually jovial asked in a too-somber tone. Well, almost not disturbed. She sighed again, deeply this time. "I don't know, Discord." She looked distantly at the fire crackling in the hearth. "I really don't know." The Draconequus, with a grave look on his face, nodded slowly before slinking back into the shadows. He ripped open a tear in space time with his claw and stepped into the multiverse fabric. After ringing a doorbell that appeared out of nowhere, another Discord showed up. "Ah, 42. How goes it?" he asked the newcomer. '42' shook hands with himself - literally - before detaching one to float over to his counterpart, who shook the flying appendage. It disappeared and a new hand grew on the 42 discord. "Very well, 58. And you?" he said. Plush armchairs materialized under each of them and they started puffing on bubble pipes which they took from their respective ears, then played a silly game that vaguely represented chess. 58 responded after they both - somehow - managed to checkmate each other simultaneously. "Well, we have another Caribou crisis on our hooves." He sat back and puffed on his bubbles some more before dispelling the chess board. "They've set magical dampening spells and runes all across the country somehow. They just barely started attacking and their mages are using the Fel. I'm using what little magic I have left to come here and inquire on the summons which my Celly sent to your Displaced." 42 lowered his pipe and looked at 58 directly. "The Fel is nothing to play with. Using the souls of the living as power." He scoffed. "Now that's just cowardly, and no fun at all!" A monocle appeared over his right eye. He summoned a filing cabinet and opened one of the drawers before pulling a file out and inspecting it. "Hmmm, let's see...yes yes yes...Ah! Here," He traced his hand on a paper in the folder as he spoke, "Your Celestia summoned a displaced, and he accepted." He leaned back in his armchair after dispelling the monocle and filing cabinet, then shook his head. "Those Caribou..." he smirked, "I almost feel sorry for what's about to happen to them." 58 raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Pray tell." 42 shook his head. "Your magic is barely hanging on. You have to get back before it's too late. Just..." he looked off into the void thoughtfully before looking back at his doppelganger, "Be ready. I've seen a lot of heroes. Some merciless, some benevolent. This one..." he shook his head... "is a whole different breed." He then gave a burst of images to his counterpart before disappearing back into his universe. 58's eyes widened and he was dropped back in Celestia's study with a *POOF* The diarch jumped at the sudden interruption - again - and began to scold the Lord of Chaos. "Discord, wha-" she stopped short when she saw that he was as pale as fresh snow - literally. He looked up at her from his prostrate position on the floor and she saw what was in his eyes. Fear. Pure, unbridled fear. He whisper-yelled at her in an uncharacteristically scared tone, "What have you done?!" Fall of Ponyville*************Ponyville, Equus 58************* Twilight Sparkle was on her knees, helpless, looking at the ground. She had tried using her magic earlier, but for some reason, couldn't. She and her five friends were scattered throughout Ponyville as the Caribou had come crashing down just an hour earlier. The only thing that stopped them from completely destroying everyone instantly were Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow dash, who weren't bound by magic as their primary defense. Pinkie would pop up out of nowhere and use her party cannon, disorienting and sometimes incapacitating the intruders. AJ would obviously use her strength and agility to evade and strike, evade and strike. Even Big Mac got in on the action. But even that was not enough. No matter how much they fought, the Caribou kept coming. For every one that was knocked out of the fight, three more would show up from Celestia-knows-where, always preceded by some icky green glow. The Caribou were overwhelming them, and soon there wouldn't be anypony else to fight back. As Twilight wallowed in her despair, AJ and Rainbow were back to back on the other side of town, facing down a horde of invaders. The Caribou knew their magic-dampening staffs and amulets weren't effective on the duo as long as Rainbow stayed on the ground, and they hesitated coming into contact with the muscle-bound fists and hooves that would no doubt pulverize anything they came in contact with. Rainbow thanked her time competing with AJ with her wings bound, as that had prepared her to fight without flight. By this time, though, most of the town had been taken captive. Some mares were being raped in the streets in broad daylight while some of the stallions were being forced to watch, or participate. If they refused, death was the punishment. One Caribou shouted, "Females bow before the might of the Caribou! The Fel aid us! Praise Lord Dainn, king of all things living!" The soldiers not engaged in battle chanted in unison, "Praise Lord Dainn! Praise Lord Dainn! Praise Lord Dainn!" AJ smirked. "Y'all can praise the dirt when I'm done with ya!" RD laughed, "Yeah, right. Me first!" She raised her right arm and gestured with her hand to the invaders, "Come on!" They obliged and all but rushed her. AJ heard the ensuing commotion and smiled. "You can't get all of 'em sugarcube!" she yelled as she readied her lasso. One unlucky soul ran within her range and she nabbed him, yelling, "Yeeeeeeehaaaawwww!", then proceeded to use his body as a makeshift flail, knocking down dozens of his counterparts while taunting them. "What was that y'all were yellin' about? Females should bow? Where's yer bravado now?" Meanwhile, Fluttershy was hiding under the platform behind town hall, covering her head and trembling. Rarity was holding on to her, both to comfort her and find comfort for herself. "I-i-i-it's ok, Fluttershy, dear," she said, trembling. "I'm s-s-sure the others are taking care of the bad ponie-er-whatever the hideous things are." In reality, she was really assuring herself, as she didn't really know how her friends were faring. Suddenly, the platform exploded and a giant hole was made above them. Fluttershy looked up and felt something wet on the side of her face. She looked back and screamed as she saw what had been Rarity's head was now a mess of red flesh. A large, brown hand reached down and grabbed her out from under the platform and she started screaming bloody murder in as loud of a voice as she could muster, which wasn't very loud. "You mean, nasty ponies! Let me go! What did you do to Rarity! Let me g-ghghghghg!" Her screaming turned into a gag as something musky and salty was shoved into her mouth. She looked up and saw the stomach, then the face of a caribou soldier, and realized what it was that had been introduced to her orifice. She started crying, hopelessly desperate for somepony, anypony, to save her. AJ, Rainbow and Pinkie all heard Fluttershy's cry and rushed over to the sound. When she saw a soldier raping her, Rainbow's rage got the best of her and she ran forward, aiming a roundhouse at the head of the offending whoremonger. Her wings flared out and for a brief second, her magic returned. With the power of her muscles and her wings combined - along with her fury - she struck. The caribou was enjoying his victim when he felt the strike on the back of his head. He first saw his victim, then his body, then the sky, then the grass, then his body now further away, then the sky, then everything went black. AJ and Pinkie were slack-jawed. Rainbow had just knocked the block off of the caribou! She pushed the headless body backwards and as it fell away, Flutters' mouth was freed from its disgusting prison. The rainbow-maned pegasus knelt down to comfort her friend and wrapped her arms around her. Fluttershy was still in shock from everything that had happened in the last sixty seconds that she didn't even register that telling her friends about Rarity's death was important. Twilight arrived at their location, just behind town hall and saw the gore that ensued. She saw something familiar on the platform, a lock of purple hair. When she went over to investigate, she saw it was sitting by itself on the wood planks, with one end red and fleshy. She investigated the area with her eyes and when she saw what she was looking for, she leaned to the side and wretched, all of her lunch coming up. After looking at her previously consumed food and the grass it lay in for a minute, she steeled herself and looked back in the giant hole in the middle of the platform. There, on the ground underneath was the telltale body with white fur and three-diamond cutie mark, with her signature purple corset dress. The hair strewn about and mass of red that sat atop her shoulders showed that she was, in fact, deceased. A scream from her friends broke her from her mourning her dearest friend on this planet. She ran over to them and a scream caught in her throat at what she saw. A Caribou mage stood by her friends and Fluttershy was several feet away, bleeding. She gasped and ran forward trying to get to her friends, but a green aura surrounded her and lifted her up into the air. A deep, dark voice chuckled and spoke, "Oh, the hero has come to save the day..." The laugh emanated from him again as he started crushing her body. Despite her Alicorn transformation and subsequent immortality, she was not invulnerable to death by unnatural means. She began begging the mage to stop, "Please," she said, her breath starting to leave her from the pressure, "please let them go. Take me. Do whatever you want. Just let...them...go..." As she said this, she focused on Fluttershy's immobile body. She could tell she was alive, but hurt. Everything started going white. "Hey, you varmint!" Shouted AJ, "You do anythin' ta her and you'll have ta answer ta me!" Rainbow and Pinkie joined in as well, adding their own threats. By this time, the commotion had drawn both residents and invaders alike to gather around. The mage raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He looked at the direction of Twilight's gaze and rested his eyes on Fluttershy. "You care for this one?" He let Twilight go and she took in a deep breath after she hit the ground, savoring the air that filled her lungs. He walked over to the downed pegasus and kicked her, sending her body sliding across the ground. She awoke from the sudden jolt and started whimpering again. "This will break you," he said, turning to the to the group and grinning maniacally. "Then you will all be our sluts." As Fluttershy's friends tried rushing toward her, several Caribou soldiers stepped in between them and their friend. Big Mac jumped in from the crowd and slugged one of the soldiers, but then his eyes turned green and he collapsed. The rest of the Mane Six looked on in horror as the mage lowered his hand which was glowing green. "No need to worry for him," he said darkly, "He'll be our drone soon enough. As for you," he turned to Fluttershy, "Die." He raised his hand and charged a green fireball in her direction. "No!" her friends cried. As their tears flowed and their hope failed them, the green ball of flame hurtled at the butter-colored pegasus. Everyone shut their eyes to avoid seeing the inevitable. BOOM! A cloud of dirt was kicked up from the impact and the mage smiled in satisfaction...until he heard a meek, quiet voice, "Oh! Um, wh-wh-who are you? Um...If you don't mind me asking, that is." Author's Note I hope you guys enjoy this. I know this was a bit of a dark chapter, but the sun shines brightest after the darkest night. I tried being descriptive without being too graphic. Enjoy! Earth********One Hour Earlier******** David shielded his eyes to protect them from the bright light as he was transported to the other Equis. When the transportation was over, he found himself in a mountain range that reminded him of the Himalayas. "Hmm," he said to himself, "I must be in Yakyakistan. But why would I be dropped here?" He felt the area using the air flowing around him as he said a prayer, his eyes closed. "Jesus Christ, Creator of Heaven and Earth, grant me the strength to rescue the weak and plead their cause against their oppressors. Amen." As he continued his reaching out, he found a village a few miles away filled with Yaks, then a larger village further out, then a city further from there. He focused on the city and listened to the sounds coming from it. He heard heavy hooves walking around and bazaars bustling with activity. Yep, definitely Yakyakistan. He then felt in the direction where he knew Equestria was, and it hit him. Chaos. Screams of terror, maniacal laughter, a sickly slurping sound followed by the sound of formed armies marching. His eyes shot open. "Found you," he said menacingly. He then felt for a certain area of Equestria, very close to home. He heard the voices of two of his wives on his Equis, and...a new one. Dark, deep and ominous. He focused on the earth beneath him and the air above him simultaneously to paint a picture of what was going on in the little hamlet he called home. When all was revealed, his head lowered slightly, he lifted off the ground silently and his coat was secured to his body by leather straps that floated from the back and buckled together at his chest in an "X" shape. He lifted his hood over his head, and once he was at a good altitude, he shot forward. The ground underneath him shattered due to the sonic boom that he created, and a few mountaintops were reduced in size slightly or the snow blown off completely as he passed by. Two more booms could be heard as he made his way to Ponyville as fast as he could. In his head, he could still hear Twilight mumbling in hopelessness as he saw her on her knees. He passed Griffonstone and soared over Manehattan. Trottingham passed underneath him and he at last saw the Everfree. He came to a stop just above Ponyville and could now see what was going on. He saw a figure powering a green fireball and aiming it directly at Fluttershy. He moved without thinking. He landed in between his friend's doppelganger and the fireball with a BOOM!, splitting the magic as he used the air molecules in the ground beneath him to grab a slab of granite, shooting it out of the earth and splitting the green orb. The explosions the two smaller energy blasts made de-materialized parts of the Everfree behind him. ***** "Oh! Um, wh-wh-who are you? Um...If you don't mind me asking, that is." The girls opened their eyes, unsure of what to make of hearing their friend, though she had obviously been reduced to ash. The dust obstructed their view, but they did see the mage preparing for another strike. Amazingly, the new missile was deflected into the air above them by an unseen force. Then, something emerged from within the settling dust: a creature with no muzzle, tan fur on its head and striking steel-blue eyes, dressed in an all-white ensemble of hooded trench coat, boots, and gloves. The mage, infuriated at the intruder, fired yet another blast, which was easily deflected by...his hand? Then the creature struck. He stomped the ground, and spires of granite shot out, impaling all Caribou fighters in the visible vicinity. Then more came and pushed the civilians and elements of harmony back, clearing room for their master to work. "What are you doing?!" He screamed at his lackeys. "KILL HIM!!!" They obliged, or tried to, as weapons materialized in his hand seemingly from thin air. It was the iron, tin and wood in the area that he gathered right after he landed, forming a two-ended glaive that he separated essentially into short spears. The caribou soldiers assaulted him and he started swinging the weapons and moving through them with practiced experience. The mage fired through his subordinates to hit the newcomer, but the granite spires that had killed the two-dozen warriors blocked his aim, split or eliminated the magic altogether. He growled, infuriated, as he tried taking aim again, but the white-coated fighter was gone and only a dust cloud remained. Once it settled, he saw the soldiers that tried taking his enemy down were all dead. Some had blunt force trauma, some were leaking red fluid from slices in their torsos or headless necks, and even more were scorched from the magic blasts that had been diverted. Where had the insufferable whelp gone to? If one could see from a bird's-eye view, they would witness a white blur dashing through the town like a frenzied pinball, caribou soldiers falling with every pass. To most residents, it was a blast of wind, then freedom from their oppressor. Only one pony in the town could see what was happening due to her heightened reflexes, and that was the only Wonderbolt in the area. Rainbow watched in awe as the steely-faced, furless...creature eliminated the Caribou with extreme prejudice. It...he didn't leave one alive in his wake. He came to a stop back by the platform, where it had all started. The mage fired another blast, but the spear in his right hand deflected it. The mage kept firing, but the attacks were useless. One strike was even deflected back to him, which he barely dodged, the fur on his right ear singed and part of his antlers gone. That fireball hit the stage in front of Town Hall, which revealed the bloody corpse of Rarity. The newcomer froze, and looked at the mage in rage. He bolted forward with a gale-force burst of air and grabbed the mage by the neck, looking him dead in the eye. He didn't say anything as he snapped the mage's cervical spine with a twist of his hand. He unceremoniously let the body fall to the earth, looked at Rarity again, then scanned the area. [A/N: Pause Music Here] He eyed Fluttershy, Twilight and Big Mac, then dropped on his knees and clasped his hands together. The girls and townspeople looked on in confusion, some cocking their heads and others raising eyebrows. But their attention was taken off of him when they heard a regal scream. Rarity shook off the bloody gown she had been wearing, reducing her garb to her undergarments. "Oh! How filthy! How dare these ruffians put blood on my dress! Oh! How I'll wring their necks for-" She stopped speaking when she saw everyone staring at her. "What?" She said obliviously. Twilight bolted from her sitting place and crushed her friend in a bear hug. "Darling, Rarity can't breathe," she whispered. "Oh!" Twilight said, snapping out of her celebratory musings. "I, I, how?" As Twi and Rarity talked about her death and resurrection, Big Mac groaned as he held his head. "Ah feel like Ah got hit bah a herd o' cattle." AJ leapt from her position and bear hugged her big brother. To him, it was simply a hug. He chuckled as he patted her blonde mane. "What? Ah couldn't jus' leave y'all, now could Ah?" Finally, Fluttershy walked up to the group as the stranger rose from his praying position. The three remaining members of the Elements of Harmony looked on in awe as they saw Fluttershy's dried blood on her head, but no evidence of where it came from. They looked at the newcomer for answers, but he was walking toward Rarity and Twilight. "Hail," he said simply. Rarity motioned with her head to her best friend who turned around. Before he could say another word, she was upon him. "Is it true you talk to divine beings? Can you do it again? Is that how you healed Big Mac and Fluttershy? How'd you do that thingy with your hand? Who are you? Where are you f-" Her ramblings were ceased by a pearl-white-furred hand covering her mouth. "I'm so very sorry, Darling," the Element of Generosity apologized as she stepped from behind the Alicorn. "I am-" [A/N Start Music Again]"I know who you are." Rarity was slightly taken back. "E-excuse me?" "I'm not here for pleasantries, Miss Rarity. More Caribou are coming." He flicked his wrist and several crossbows and bows with ammunition, swords, spears, clubs and knives, along with chain mail and armor emerged from the earth next to him, enough to supply an army. "Arm yourselves. Arm the townspeople. And don't be afraid to use your magic. They aren't." He pointed to the dead offenders to solidify his point. With that, he turned away and walked to the center of town. Twilight followed him, wanting to ask more questions, but was stopped by a dust cloud that formed around the white-clad stranger. She heard several clinking sounds, then felt her magic come back to her. Rainbow shot into the air with an "Ohhhhh yeah!!!" The alicorn looked at the man and sent a message to his mind. How did you have magic and we didn't? The response was quick and unregal. I didn't. I used air. With that, the air circling around him tightened into a miniature tornado that was wrapped around his feet, and he rocketed off, leaving a small crater in his wake. Twilight looked at the direction he was traveling, and from her study of maps, knew Manehatten was in that direction. She whispered under her breath, "Please. Help them too." And help them was why he was here. He headed to the coastline city, the sound barrier crackling twice once again. He was almost to Manehatten when it hit him. A cacophony of screams, yells and pleas for help from the sprawling metropolis hit him like a sack of bricks. He steeled himself and burst forward, intending on ending the lives of all who'd harm the innocent. Air ships hovered over the city like omens of death, green magic shooting from their decks at the populous and buildings below. ***** Celestia jumped in shock when her study door was slammed open, and stood quickly to see the intruder. A stallion in golden armor stopped, breathing heavily, his hooves falling just inside the threshold. Before he could speak, a letter appeared in green flame before her. She opened it and read through her former student's report, then looked at the stallion. "Captain Breaker, assemble our armies. The Caribou are coming." She set the letter down and walked out. A small part of the message was still visible after the scroll partially rolled up. ...saved us from the caribou, with extreme prejudice and no emotion. Discord emerged from the shadows after Celestia left and read the note as well. His face was grim as he thought aloud, "So...42...this is what you were warning me about." He burned the letter up and slinked off to follow Celestia. He loved Chaos, but he dreaded what this country would become after this...hero turned it into a land of war-hungry, armed ponies. WaterThe cries of the ponies hit him like a sack of bricks. He still had his senses up to detect any incoming threats, but that also kept him open to any and all vibrations that reached him, to include audio vibrations from the throat of a screaming pony. As he neared Manehattan he saw, around the skyscrapers and various buildings, different hues of color. One was multi-faceted and dispersed, the other was brown and concentrated. His eyes narrowed, and he steered toward one of the many concentrations of brown. As he landed, the brown mass of Caribou stopped their assault on the group of ponies they'd been chasing and looked at the newcomer oddly - and the small crater his impact created. This group was lightly armed and had little in the way of mages, mostly consisting of light infantry and a few officers. The biggest one with the biggest antlers stepped forward, his sword drawn. "Who are you to dare to stand in the way of the might of the Caribou? We shall smite you in the name of King Dai-" his speech was cut off as a white, blurry after-image whizzed past, the human now standing behind him in a fighting position. David straightened up and smoothed out the wrinkles in his coat, then looked at the speaker to watch him slowly crumble to the ground as his neck spurted blood. The rest of the company of soldiers took a step back as one, brandishing their short swords. There was no armor, clothes or other weaponry upon them, letting their disgusting junk hang free, just as the group in Ponyville did. They obviously were the light cleanup crew. David looked around calmly. That meant there was something bigger and badder around, handling the bigger threats. As he was searching with his eyes, a fireball impacted a skyscraper a few hundred meters away from them. From the now-burning skyscraper fell some unicorn mages and earth ponies with crossbows. There it is. "Haaaaaa!" screamed the group in front of him. As the caribou charged, David swept right with his arm and all of them were thrown into a nearby wall and swallowed by the now-liquefied stone of the building. "I don't have time for you," he said as the last helplessly reaching, grasping brown-furred hand disappeared into the slowly solidifying wall. He rocketed up and toward the burning building, looking for the source of the fireball. He heard another scream, this one a filly. His head snapped in that direction, then back in the direction of his primary objective. He narrowed his eyes, frustrated as he now had to make a decision. He gritted his teeth and scoffed then disappeared in a burst of air. ~~~///***\~~~ Golden Gleam was crying, holding tight to her Celestia plush as the lone Caribou approached her, cackling lowly. "Come on, little one," the soldier said. "I ain't gonna hurt ya. Just wanna have some fun." Golden's parents lay on the cold kitchen floor. The glow of her father's horn faded slowly and her mother, an earth pony held a blood-covered rolling pin in a death grip. Blood pooled out from under both, and the light had left both their eyes. The only pony left was Golden, scooting behind their couch in the living room, her clothes bloody and torn from trying to hold onto her parents as they fought to protect their child. On the floor behind the invader lay three of his comrades. Two were scorched to a crisp and one had a deep, cylinder-shaped indent on the side of his head. But alas, despite the valiant effort to protect their child, a cowardly assailant attacked them from behind once they thought the fight was over. This coward was now preying on Golden. Golden shut her eyes tightly and buried her face in Celestia's cotton belly, a whimper escaping her lips just as the brown-furred hand grabbed her mane. "C'mere, bitch! Suck me good!" The worst possible scenarios flashed across her mind. Her life flashed before her eyes as more tears threatened to soak her stuffed animal yet again. "Please, Celestia, help," she whimpered. As quickly as it happened, she felt the grip go slack. She heard the same male voice say, "What the...? Who are-" followed by a crunch, then a whoosh and a male scream departing into the distance. After a minute or two of shivering and staying put, she dared to look up and saw a male creature clothed in all white lowering its hood and crouching down to her height. He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, then stood and looked to the kitchen. Golden heard coughing come from the kitchen and saw her mom and dad slowly getting up. She screamed in joy and bum-rushed her parents, crushing them both in a bear hug. "Mommy! Daddy! You won't believe it! There was this stallion, and he saved me, and..." she turned to show them, but he was gone. She looked in confusion, trying to find her savior, then turned back and continued rambling the last few minutes' events to her newly revived parents. Meanwhile, a white-clothed, maneless creature looked in from the balcony window of their apartment, his steel-blue eyes twinkling as he smiled softly. He turned back to his original target, the smile vanishing from his face as he flew off. As he went, his breathing became slightly labored. Captain Steel Hoof was walking through the Manehattan streets, holding onto two female ponies by their hair as he drug them through the streets, his company behind him. They had just ransacked a supermarket and killed everypony except for two beautiful cashiers, whom he had claimed as his personal sluts. His men would get theirs soon. He, being senior came first. He stopped his walking and turned when he heard his Lieutenant say, "Wait...what's that?" He was pointing up and Steel Hoof turned to see a brown speck sailing through the air, hit a few walls on its way down, then hit the street and slide to a stop just before the Caribou captain. "It's a caribou!!" The group screamed almost in unison and a few rushed forward to look at him. Steel hoof silently dropped his captives, they whimpering as their bodies hit the pavement, squirming in pain, begging for him to just kill them and end their suffering. One grasped his ankle, to which he kicked her in the snout, breaking her muzzle in the process. "Don't touch me, bitch!!!" He said loudly and growled, then stepped forward to examine their fallen comrade more closely. "Step aside!" he bellowed and his men complied, leaving an opening for him. He knelt down, looking at the scrapes, bruises and right arm missing a hand. He pointed. "This happened earlier," he said calmly. "This was broken and torn off violently." "By what?" the lieutenant asked. Steel hoof looked up from the direction they saw him fly from. "Definitely not a pony," he said angrily. He stood and turned to his mage. "Send a message to the other companies in the city. We have an unknown variant in the mix." "Yes, captain!" the young caribou said, whose eyes then glowed green and he lowered his head, bringing two fingers to his lips. ~~~///***\~~~ As David weaved around the skyscrapers, he could tell he was getting closer to his objective. His chest hurt, and he shook his head. He really needed to stop exerting his Chi to heal the fallen, or he wouldn't have any energy to stop the invaders. He scoffed in frustration once again and prayed as he flew. "Lord, I need your help. Give me wisdom and discretion to help those who need it most. Restore my Chi. In Jesus name, Amen." As he finished his prayer, a giant fireball flew right in front of him. "Fuck!" he yelled, stopping quickly. He had let himself get distracted by his own second-guessing and almost died. He turned in the direction from which the fireball came and saw several blimp-style airships hovering just outside the city limits over the water. Without them, the ground forces wouldn't stand a chance against the guardsponies and others who fought back. David saw the water partially surrounding the city and nodded his head. He knew just how to take them down. He landed on top of a particularly tall skyscraper that had a twin next to it, taller than most of the others directly around them. David bowed his head, respecting the memory from his world surrounding these twin towers, which gave him even more of a fire to stop the attackers. He would NOT let them fall again. Freedom would ring. He took in a breath, closed and opened his eyes, and breathed a few more times. "Jesus, help me," he said before lifting his hands. He could almost hear the song he sung in school as the water began to concentrate underneath each of the ships. The water bubbled and hardened into form, watery tendrils slowly coming out of the depths. Once complete, each one shot up, wrapping around the ships as they hovered over the water shooting their flame. The crews screamed in terror as their vehicles were rocked back and forth, some slammed into each other, exploding into flame as their lava-mages' mana stores became unstable from the impact. Down below, Ponies and Caribou looked on in awe and horror at the beautiful display. Rockets shot out into the sky, exploding like a show of fireworks, signaling that the oppression from the airships was no more. The ponies cheered at the unknown ally coming to their aid and rallied together, their courage burning once again. They caught the shocked caribou by surprise, striking them down by the droves. Battle mages stood together, pooling their magic and scorching entire companies to ash. Guardsponies formed up once again, their battle tactics overcoming the numerous invaders as they burned with the fire of freedom, fueled by the watery serpents that aided them against their foe. As the sun set, a lone silhouette stood on one of two towers, lowering his hands as the tide was now turned against those who would take freedom away.
Come to My Aid, Hero of Air**********Equestria - Equus 42 - Ponyville Royal Library********** "...and that is the end of the story." Several "aww's" and "come on's", coupled with a "just one more" could be heard among the foals as their storyteller wrapped up his tale. One in particular tugged on the hem of the white leather coat that splayed out on the floor underneath him as he sat indian style. "Mithter Wind, ith it true that your God thent hith Thon to pay for the thinth of the whole world?" The stallion, now identified as Mister Wind, ruffled the colt's mane. "Why yes, little one. It is. He died and rose again, conquering death, Hell and the grave." The colt's eyes widened like saucers and several of those listening let out "oooo's". One in the background, a bright yellow pony with a cherry red mane and equally red bow yelled out in a deep country accent, "Mah fish died. He ain't never come back. How do you conquer summ'm lahk that?" The four fillies sitting around her nodded in agreement. One had a pastel white coat and a two-tone purple and pink mane, another had a bright orange coat with equally bright purple hair, the next was pink with a purple and white mane topped with a tiara, and the fourth was dark gray with a two-tone light gray mane, blue glasses and necklace. The storyteller chuckled. "That's something you'll learn in Sunday School." With that, all five of them let out a collective "awww". A few minutes later as the last of the foals were being picked up by their families, he was organizing the contents of his satchel on a counter when he felt two strong arms wrap around his waist, two soft mounds press against his back and and a soft kiss placed on his neck. He didn't even turn around as he chuckled once again, for a different reason, "Hey you." "Hey, Darlin'" came the happy response, the accent thick with southern drawl. "I was a-passin' by when I saw the lights still on. Thought I'd give ya a visit 'fore I headed upstairs. I thought y'all'd be done by now. I know Lulu and Twi prolly got dinner already on the table." He turned around and looked at his wife with a small smile. She was wearing her normal garb, a red plaid button down shirt with the sleeves torn off at the biceps along with her Daisy Duke shorts. Finishing the ensemble was her customary Stetson which covered braided blonde hair that draped around her shoulders and down her back. As stunning as always, he thought. "Well, the little ones were especially eager to have me recount yet another Bible story to them," he responded as he wrapped his arms around her waist in kind. Applejack giggled. "And I know y'all were too eager ta indulge 'em." Mr. Wind feigned shock. "Why, AJ! You used a grown-up word! Is Twilight getting to you?" The cow-mare laughed heartily, ensuring there were no foals around before mashing her husband on the lips in a deep, passionate kiss, then lowering his upper half almost to the floor in the way a sailor would kiss a girl coming home from war. He loved it when she did that. When the kiss was finished, she looked in his steel blue eyes with her bright green ones. "So, big man. Are ya comin' upstairs or what? It's gettin' late." Indeed, the sun had set and both of them saw a flash outside the window followed by the light of the moon. AJ lifted her husband up and they both looked out at the Princess of the Night as she walked off the upper balcony back inside. Applejack sighed contentedly as she held him close. "Ah never thought I'd be in a herd, David. Let alone with a human stallion leadin' it." She pecked him on the lips once more before walking back to the door from whence she entered. Before she left, she turned around at the doorway, looking at him with an appraising, loving gaze. "You workin' as the library custodian seems ta be helpin' ya after you took down them terrorist junkies, Sugarcube. Y'all are settlin' in mighty fine." He smiled at her, but before he could respond, a bright light shone in the room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Celestia's voice. "David Wind, Hero of Air, I request your aid. My Equestria has come under assault by a force that we have not yet seen, so much so that Tirek pales in comparison. Please, if you can help us, come quickly." He looked and he saw his token which he had sent into the multiverse floating in front of him, shining brightly. It was circular, a black and white Yin and Yang medallion. David looked at AJ with that look...the same look he had before he took on the Terror Ponies. AJ recalled the threat, terrible equines loyal to Tirek and all that stands for him, desiring only to check everyone on Equis into the Afterlife Hotel. She sighed and nodded. "I know I ain't gonna be able ta stop ya, Sugarcube. Y'all hurry back, ya hear?" she said before walking over to him and pecking him on the cheek. He nodded to her, caressing her face gently. "Tell Lulu and Twi I'll be back soon, and that I love them." He turned to the token. "I accept the summons." With that, he and the light were gone. **********Equestria, Equus 58, Canterlot Castle********** Celestia sighed after she sent the summons. The one thing about displaced summoning was that one never knew if the displaced accepted the summons unless they showed up. She leaned back in her chair in the large study, the only place she knew of where she wouldn't be disturbed. "Do you think he'll come?" A voice that was usually jovial asked in a too-somber tone. Well, almost not disturbed. She sighed again, deeply this time. "I don't know, Discord." She looked distantly at the fire crackling in the hearth. "I really don't know." The Draconequus, with a grave look on his face, nodded slowly before slinking back into the shadows. He ripped open a tear in space time with his claw and stepped into the multiverse fabric. After ringing a doorbell that appeared out of nowhere, another Discord showed up. "Ah, 42. How goes it?" he asked the newcomer. '42' shook hands with himself - literally - before detaching one to float over to his counterpart, who shook the flying appendage. It disappeared and a new hand grew on the 42 discord. "Very well, 58. And you?" he said. Plush armchairs materialized under each of them and they started puffing on bubble pipes which they took from their respective ears, then played a silly game that vaguely represented chess. 58 responded after they both - somehow - managed to checkmate each other simultaneously. "Well, we have another Caribou crisis on our hooves." He sat back and puffed on his bubbles some more before dispelling the chess board. "They've set magical dampening spells and runes all across the country somehow. They just barely started attacking and their mages are using the Fel. I'm using what little magic I have left to come here and inquire on the summons which my Celly sent to your Displaced." 42 lowered his pipe and looked at 58 directly. "The Fel is nothing to play with. Using the souls of the living as power." He scoffed. "Now that's just cowardly, and no fun at all!" A monocle appeared over his right eye. He summoned a filing cabinet and opened one of the drawers before pulling a file out and inspecting it. "Hmmm, let's see...yes yes yes...Ah! Here," He traced his hand on a paper in the folder as he spoke, "Your Celestia summoned a displaced, and he accepted." He leaned back in his armchair after dispelling the monocle and filing cabinet, then shook his head. "Those Caribou..." he smirked, "I almost feel sorry for what's about to happen to them." 58 raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Pray tell." 42 shook his head. "Your magic is barely hanging on. You have to get back before it's too late. Just..." he looked off into the void thoughtfully before looking back at his doppelganger, "Be ready. I've seen a lot of heroes. Some merciless, some benevolent. This one..." he shook his head... "is a whole different breed." He then gave a burst of images to his counterpart before disappearing back into his universe. 58's eyes widened and he was dropped back in Celestia's study with a *POOF* The diarch jumped at the sudden interruption - again - and began to scold the Lord of Chaos. "Discord, wha-" she stopped short when she saw that he was as pale as fresh snow - literally. He looked up at her from his prostrate position on the floor and she saw what was in his eyes. Fear. Pure, unbridled fear. He whisper-yelled at her in an uncharacteristically scared tone, "What have you done?!"
Fall of Ponyville*************Ponyville, Equus 58************* Twilight Sparkle was on her knees, helpless, looking at the ground. She had tried using her magic earlier, but for some reason, couldn't. She and her five friends were scattered throughout Ponyville as the Caribou had come crashing down just an hour earlier. The only thing that stopped them from completely destroying everyone instantly were Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow dash, who weren't bound by magic as their primary defense. Pinkie would pop up out of nowhere and use her party cannon, disorienting and sometimes incapacitating the intruders. AJ would obviously use her strength and agility to evade and strike, evade and strike. Even Big Mac got in on the action. But even that was not enough. No matter how much they fought, the Caribou kept coming. For every one that was knocked out of the fight, three more would show up from Celestia-knows-where, always preceded by some icky green glow. The Caribou were overwhelming them, and soon there wouldn't be anypony else to fight back. As Twilight wallowed in her despair, AJ and Rainbow were back to back on the other side of town, facing down a horde of invaders. The Caribou knew their magic-dampening staffs and amulets weren't effective on the duo as long as Rainbow stayed on the ground, and they hesitated coming into contact with the muscle-bound fists and hooves that would no doubt pulverize anything they came in contact with. Rainbow thanked her time competing with AJ with her wings bound, as that had prepared her to fight without flight. By this time, though, most of the town had been taken captive. Some mares were being raped in the streets in broad daylight while some of the stallions were being forced to watch, or participate. If they refused, death was the punishment. One Caribou shouted, "Females bow before the might of the Caribou! The Fel aid us! Praise Lord Dainn, king of all things living!" The soldiers not engaged in battle chanted in unison, "Praise Lord Dainn! Praise Lord Dainn! Praise Lord Dainn!" AJ smirked. "Y'all can praise the dirt when I'm done with ya!" RD laughed, "Yeah, right. Me first!" She raised her right arm and gestured with her hand to the invaders, "Come on!" They obliged and all but rushed her. AJ heard the ensuing commotion and smiled. "You can't get all of 'em sugarcube!" she yelled as she readied her lasso. One unlucky soul ran within her range and she nabbed him, yelling, "Yeeeeeeehaaaawwww!", then proceeded to use his body as a makeshift flail, knocking down dozens of his counterparts while taunting them. "What was that y'all were yellin' about? Females should bow? Where's yer bravado now?" Meanwhile, Fluttershy was hiding under the platform behind town hall, covering her head and trembling. Rarity was holding on to her, both to comfort her and find comfort for herself. "I-i-i-it's ok, Fluttershy, dear," she said, trembling. "I'm s-s-sure the others are taking care of the bad ponie-er-whatever the hideous things are." In reality, she was really assuring herself, as she didn't really know how her friends were faring. Suddenly, the platform exploded and a giant hole was made above them. Fluttershy looked up and felt something wet on the side of her face. She looked back and screamed as she saw what had been Rarity's head was now a mess of red flesh. A large, brown hand reached down and grabbed her out from under the platform and she started screaming bloody murder in as loud of a voice as she could muster, which wasn't very loud. "You mean, nasty ponies! Let me go! What did you do to Rarity! Let me g-ghghghghg!" Her screaming turned into a gag as something musky and salty was shoved into her mouth. She looked up and saw the stomach, then the face of a caribou soldier, and realized what it was that had been introduced to her orifice. She started crying, hopelessly desperate for somepony, anypony, to save her. AJ, Rainbow and Pinkie all heard Fluttershy's cry and rushed over to the sound. When she saw a soldier raping her, Rainbow's rage got the best of her and she ran forward, aiming a roundhouse at the head of the offending whoremonger. Her wings flared out and for a brief second, her magic returned. With the power of her muscles and her wings combined - along with her fury - she struck. The caribou was enjoying his victim when he felt the strike on the back of his head. He first saw his victim, then his body, then the sky, then the grass, then his body now further away, then the sky, then everything went black. AJ and Pinkie were slack-jawed. Rainbow had just knocked the block off of the caribou! She pushed the headless body backwards and as it fell away, Flutters' mouth was freed from its disgusting prison. The rainbow-maned pegasus knelt down to comfort her friend and wrapped her arms around her. Fluttershy was still in shock from everything that had happened in the last sixty seconds that she didn't even register that telling her friends about Rarity's death was important. Twilight arrived at their location, just behind town hall and saw the gore that ensued. She saw something familiar on the platform, a lock of purple hair. When she went over to investigate, she saw it was sitting by itself on the wood planks, with one end red and fleshy. She investigated the area with her eyes and when she saw what she was looking for, she leaned to the side and wretched, all of her lunch coming up. After looking at her previously consumed food and the grass it lay in for a minute, she steeled herself and looked back in the giant hole in the middle of the platform. There, on the ground underneath was the telltale body with white fur and three-diamond cutie mark, with her signature purple corset dress. The hair strewn about and mass of red that sat atop her shoulders showed that she was, in fact, deceased. A scream from her friends broke her from her mourning her dearest friend on this planet. She ran over to them and a scream caught in her throat at what she saw. A Caribou mage stood by her friends and Fluttershy was several feet away, bleeding. She gasped and ran forward trying to get to her friends, but a green aura surrounded her and lifted her up into the air. A deep, dark voice chuckled and spoke, "Oh, the hero has come to save the day..." The laugh emanated from him again as he started crushing her body. Despite her Alicorn transformation and subsequent immortality, she was not invulnerable to death by unnatural means. She began begging the mage to stop, "Please," she said, her breath starting to leave her from the pressure, "please let them go. Take me. Do whatever you want. Just let...them...go..." As she said this, she focused on Fluttershy's immobile body. She could tell she was alive, but hurt. Everything started going white. "Hey, you varmint!" Shouted AJ, "You do anythin' ta her and you'll have ta answer ta me!" Rainbow and Pinkie joined in as well, adding their own threats. By this time, the commotion had drawn both residents and invaders alike to gather around. The mage raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He looked at the direction of Twilight's gaze and rested his eyes on Fluttershy. "You care for this one?" He let Twilight go and she took in a deep breath after she hit the ground, savoring the air that filled her lungs. He walked over to the downed pegasus and kicked her, sending her body sliding across the ground. She awoke from the sudden jolt and started whimpering again. "This will break you," he said, turning to the to the group and grinning maniacally. "Then you will all be our sluts." As Fluttershy's friends tried rushing toward her, several Caribou soldiers stepped in between them and their friend. Big Mac jumped in from the crowd and slugged one of the soldiers, but then his eyes turned green and he collapsed. The rest of the Mane Six looked on in horror as the mage lowered his hand which was glowing green. "No need to worry for him," he said darkly, "He'll be our drone soon enough. As for you," he turned to Fluttershy, "Die." He raised his hand and charged a green fireball in her direction. "No!" her friends cried. As their tears flowed and their hope failed them, the green ball of flame hurtled at the butter-colored pegasus. Everyone shut their eyes to avoid seeing the inevitable. BOOM! A cloud of dirt was kicked up from the impact and the mage smiled in satisfaction...until he heard a meek, quiet voice, "Oh! Um, wh-wh-who are you? Um...If you don't mind me asking, that is." Author's Note I hope you guys enjoy this. I know this was a bit of a dark chapter, but the sun shines brightest after the darkest night. I tried being descriptive without being too graphic. Enjoy!
Earth********One Hour Earlier******** David shielded his eyes to protect them from the bright light as he was transported to the other Equis. When the transportation was over, he found himself in a mountain range that reminded him of the Himalayas. "Hmm," he said to himself, "I must be in Yakyakistan. But why would I be dropped here?" He felt the area using the air flowing around him as he said a prayer, his eyes closed. "Jesus Christ, Creator of Heaven and Earth, grant me the strength to rescue the weak and plead their cause against their oppressors. Amen." As he continued his reaching out, he found a village a few miles away filled with Yaks, then a larger village further out, then a city further from there. He focused on the city and listened to the sounds coming from it. He heard heavy hooves walking around and bazaars bustling with activity. Yep, definitely Yakyakistan. He then felt in the direction where he knew Equestria was, and it hit him. Chaos. Screams of terror, maniacal laughter, a sickly slurping sound followed by the sound of formed armies marching. His eyes shot open. "Found you," he said menacingly. He then felt for a certain area of Equestria, very close to home. He heard the voices of two of his wives on his Equis, and...a new one. Dark, deep and ominous. He focused on the earth beneath him and the air above him simultaneously to paint a picture of what was going on in the little hamlet he called home. When all was revealed, his head lowered slightly, he lifted off the ground silently and his coat was secured to his body by leather straps that floated from the back and buckled together at his chest in an "X" shape. He lifted his hood over his head, and once he was at a good altitude, he shot forward. The ground underneath him shattered due to the sonic boom that he created, and a few mountaintops were reduced in size slightly or the snow blown off completely as he passed by. Two more booms could be heard as he made his way to Ponyville as fast as he could. In his head, he could still hear Twilight mumbling in hopelessness as he saw her on her knees. He passed Griffonstone and soared over Manehattan. Trottingham passed underneath him and he at last saw the Everfree. He came to a stop just above Ponyville and could now see what was going on. He saw a figure powering a green fireball and aiming it directly at Fluttershy. He moved without thinking. He landed in between his friend's doppelganger and the fireball with a BOOM!, splitting the magic as he used the air molecules in the ground beneath him to grab a slab of granite, shooting it out of the earth and splitting the green orb. The explosions the two smaller energy blasts made de-materialized parts of the Everfree behind him. ***** "Oh! Um, wh-wh-who are you? Um...If you don't mind me asking, that is." The girls opened their eyes, unsure of what to make of hearing their friend, though she had obviously been reduced to ash. The dust obstructed their view, but they did see the mage preparing for another strike. Amazingly, the new missile was deflected into the air above them by an unseen force. Then, something emerged from within the settling dust: a creature with no muzzle, tan fur on its head and striking steel-blue eyes, dressed in an all-white ensemble of hooded trench coat, boots, and gloves. The mage, infuriated at the intruder, fired yet another blast, which was easily deflected by...his hand? Then the creature struck. He stomped the ground, and spires of granite shot out, impaling all Caribou fighters in the visible vicinity. Then more came and pushed the civilians and elements of harmony back, clearing room for their master to work. "What are you doing?!" He screamed at his lackeys. "KILL HIM!!!" They obliged, or tried to, as weapons materialized in his hand seemingly from thin air. It was the iron, tin and wood in the area that he gathered right after he landed, forming a two-ended glaive that he separated essentially into short spears. The caribou soldiers assaulted him and he started swinging the weapons and moving through them with practiced experience. The mage fired through his subordinates to hit the newcomer, but the granite spires that had killed the two-dozen warriors blocked his aim, split or eliminated the magic altogether. He growled, infuriated, as he tried taking aim again, but the white-coated fighter was gone and only a dust cloud remained. Once it settled, he saw the soldiers that tried taking his enemy down were all dead. Some had blunt force trauma, some were leaking red fluid from slices in their torsos or headless necks, and even more were scorched from the magic blasts that had been diverted. Where had the insufferable whelp gone to? If one could see from a bird's-eye view, they would witness a white blur dashing through the town like a frenzied pinball, caribou soldiers falling with every pass. To most residents, it was a blast of wind, then freedom from their oppressor. Only one pony in the town could see what was happening due to her heightened reflexes, and that was the only Wonderbolt in the area. Rainbow watched in awe as the steely-faced, furless...creature eliminated the Caribou with extreme prejudice. It...he didn't leave one alive in his wake. He came to a stop back by the platform, where it had all started. The mage fired another blast, but the spear in his right hand deflected it. The mage kept firing, but the attacks were useless. One strike was even deflected back to him, which he barely dodged, the fur on his right ear singed and part of his antlers gone. That fireball hit the stage in front of Town Hall, which revealed the bloody corpse of Rarity. The newcomer froze, and looked at the mage in rage. He bolted forward with a gale-force burst of air and grabbed the mage by the neck, looking him dead in the eye. He didn't say anything as he snapped the mage's cervical spine with a twist of his hand. He unceremoniously let the body fall to the earth, looked at Rarity again, then scanned the area. [A/N: Pause Music Here] He eyed Fluttershy, Twilight and Big Mac, then dropped on his knees and clasped his hands together. The girls and townspeople looked on in confusion, some cocking their heads and others raising eyebrows. But their attention was taken off of him when they heard a regal scream. Rarity shook off the bloody gown she had been wearing, reducing her garb to her undergarments. "Oh! How filthy! How dare these ruffians put blood on my dress! Oh! How I'll wring their necks for-" She stopped speaking when she saw everyone staring at her. "What?" She said obliviously. Twilight bolted from her sitting place and crushed her friend in a bear hug. "Darling, Rarity can't breathe," she whispered. "Oh!" Twilight said, snapping out of her celebratory musings. "I, I, how?" As Twi and Rarity talked about her death and resurrection, Big Mac groaned as he held his head. "Ah feel like Ah got hit bah a herd o' cattle." AJ leapt from her position and bear hugged her big brother. To him, it was simply a hug. He chuckled as he patted her blonde mane. "What? Ah couldn't jus' leave y'all, now could Ah?" Finally, Fluttershy walked up to the group as the stranger rose from his praying position. The three remaining members of the Elements of Harmony looked on in awe as they saw Fluttershy's dried blood on her head, but no evidence of where it came from. They looked at the newcomer for answers, but he was walking toward Rarity and Twilight. "Hail," he said simply. Rarity motioned with her head to her best friend who turned around. Before he could say another word, she was upon him. "Is it true you talk to divine beings? Can you do it again? Is that how you healed Big Mac and Fluttershy? How'd you do that thingy with your hand? Who are you? Where are you f-" Her ramblings were ceased by a pearl-white-furred hand covering her mouth. "I'm so very sorry, Darling," the Element of Generosity apologized as she stepped from behind the Alicorn. "I am-" [A/N Start Music Again]"I know who you are." Rarity was slightly taken back. "E-excuse me?" "I'm not here for pleasantries, Miss Rarity. More Caribou are coming." He flicked his wrist and several crossbows and bows with ammunition, swords, spears, clubs and knives, along with chain mail and armor emerged from the earth next to him, enough to supply an army. "Arm yourselves. Arm the townspeople. And don't be afraid to use your magic. They aren't." He pointed to the dead offenders to solidify his point. With that, he turned away and walked to the center of town. Twilight followed him, wanting to ask more questions, but was stopped by a dust cloud that formed around the white-clad stranger. She heard several clinking sounds, then felt her magic come back to her. Rainbow shot into the air with an "Ohhhhh yeah!!!" The alicorn looked at the man and sent a message to his mind. How did you have magic and we didn't? The response was quick and unregal. I didn't. I used air. With that, the air circling around him tightened into a miniature tornado that was wrapped around his feet, and he rocketed off, leaving a small crater in his wake. Twilight looked at the direction he was traveling, and from her study of maps, knew Manehatten was in that direction. She whispered under her breath, "Please. Help them too." And help them was why he was here. He headed to the coastline city, the sound barrier crackling twice once again. He was almost to Manehatten when it hit him. A cacophony of screams, yells and pleas for help from the sprawling metropolis hit him like a sack of bricks. He steeled himself and burst forward, intending on ending the lives of all who'd harm the innocent. Air ships hovered over the city like omens of death, green magic shooting from their decks at the populous and buildings below. ***** Celestia jumped in shock when her study door was slammed open, and stood quickly to see the intruder. A stallion in golden armor stopped, breathing heavily, his hooves falling just inside the threshold. Before he could speak, a letter appeared in green flame before her. She opened it and read through her former student's report, then looked at the stallion. "Captain Breaker, assemble our armies. The Caribou are coming." She set the letter down and walked out. A small part of the message was still visible after the scroll partially rolled up. ...saved us from the caribou, with extreme prejudice and no emotion. Discord emerged from the shadows after Celestia left and read the note as well. His face was grim as he thought aloud, "So...42...this is what you were warning me about." He burned the letter up and slinked off to follow Celestia. He loved Chaos, but he dreaded what this country would become after this...hero turned it into a land of war-hungry, armed ponies.
WaterThe cries of the ponies hit him like a sack of bricks. He still had his senses up to detect any incoming threats, but that also kept him open to any and all vibrations that reached him, to include audio vibrations from the throat of a screaming pony. As he neared Manehattan he saw, around the skyscrapers and various buildings, different hues of color. One was multi-faceted and dispersed, the other was brown and concentrated. His eyes narrowed, and he steered toward one of the many concentrations of brown. As he landed, the brown mass of Caribou stopped their assault on the group of ponies they'd been chasing and looked at the newcomer oddly - and the small crater his impact created. This group was lightly armed and had little in the way of mages, mostly consisting of light infantry and a few officers. The biggest one with the biggest antlers stepped forward, his sword drawn. "Who are you to dare to stand in the way of the might of the Caribou? We shall smite you in the name of King Dai-" his speech was cut off as a white, blurry after-image whizzed past, the human now standing behind him in a fighting position. David straightened up and smoothed out the wrinkles in his coat, then looked at the speaker to watch him slowly crumble to the ground as his neck spurted blood. The rest of the company of soldiers took a step back as one, brandishing their short swords. There was no armor, clothes or other weaponry upon them, letting their disgusting junk hang free, just as the group in Ponyville did. They obviously were the light cleanup crew. David looked around calmly. That meant there was something bigger and badder around, handling the bigger threats. As he was searching with his eyes, a fireball impacted a skyscraper a few hundred meters away from them. From the now-burning skyscraper fell some unicorn mages and earth ponies with crossbows. There it is. "Haaaaaa!" screamed the group in front of him. As the caribou charged, David swept right with his arm and all of them were thrown into a nearby wall and swallowed by the now-liquefied stone of the building. "I don't have time for you," he said as the last helplessly reaching, grasping brown-furred hand disappeared into the slowly solidifying wall. He rocketed up and toward the burning building, looking for the source of the fireball. He heard another scream, this one a filly. His head snapped in that direction, then back in the direction of his primary objective. He narrowed his eyes, frustrated as he now had to make a decision. He gritted his teeth and scoffed then disappeared in a burst of air. ~~~///***\~~~ Golden Gleam was crying, holding tight to her Celestia plush as the lone Caribou approached her, cackling lowly. "Come on, little one," the soldier said. "I ain't gonna hurt ya. Just wanna have some fun." Golden's parents lay on the cold kitchen floor. The glow of her father's horn faded slowly and her mother, an earth pony held a blood-covered rolling pin in a death grip. Blood pooled out from under both, and the light had left both their eyes. The only pony left was Golden, scooting behind their couch in the living room, her clothes bloody and torn from trying to hold onto her parents as they fought to protect their child. On the floor behind the invader lay three of his comrades. Two were scorched to a crisp and one had a deep, cylinder-shaped indent on the side of his head. But alas, despite the valiant effort to protect their child, a cowardly assailant attacked them from behind once they thought the fight was over. This coward was now preying on Golden. Golden shut her eyes tightly and buried her face in Celestia's cotton belly, a whimper escaping her lips just as the brown-furred hand grabbed her mane. "C'mere, bitch! Suck me good!" The worst possible scenarios flashed across her mind. Her life flashed before her eyes as more tears threatened to soak her stuffed animal yet again. "Please, Celestia, help," she whimpered. As quickly as it happened, she felt the grip go slack. She heard the same male voice say, "What the...? Who are-" followed by a crunch, then a whoosh and a male scream departing into the distance. After a minute or two of shivering and staying put, she dared to look up and saw a male creature clothed in all white lowering its hood and crouching down to her height. He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, then stood and looked to the kitchen. Golden heard coughing come from the kitchen and saw her mom and dad slowly getting up. She screamed in joy and bum-rushed her parents, crushing them both in a bear hug. "Mommy! Daddy! You won't believe it! There was this stallion, and he saved me, and..." she turned to show them, but he was gone. She looked in confusion, trying to find her savior, then turned back and continued rambling the last few minutes' events to her newly revived parents. Meanwhile, a white-clothed, maneless creature looked in from the balcony window of their apartment, his steel-blue eyes twinkling as he smiled softly. He turned back to his original target, the smile vanishing from his face as he flew off. As he went, his breathing became slightly labored. Captain Steel Hoof was walking through the Manehattan streets, holding onto two female ponies by their hair as he drug them through the streets, his company behind him. They had just ransacked a supermarket and killed everypony except for two beautiful cashiers, whom he had claimed as his personal sluts. His men would get theirs soon. He, being senior came first. He stopped his walking and turned when he heard his Lieutenant say, "Wait...what's that?" He was pointing up and Steel Hoof turned to see a brown speck sailing through the air, hit a few walls on its way down, then hit the street and slide to a stop just before the Caribou captain. "It's a caribou!!" The group screamed almost in unison and a few rushed forward to look at him. Steel hoof silently dropped his captives, they whimpering as their bodies hit the pavement, squirming in pain, begging for him to just kill them and end their suffering. One grasped his ankle, to which he kicked her in the snout, breaking her muzzle in the process. "Don't touch me, bitch!!!" He said loudly and growled, then stepped forward to examine their fallen comrade more closely. "Step aside!" he bellowed and his men complied, leaving an opening for him. He knelt down, looking at the scrapes, bruises and right arm missing a hand. He pointed. "This happened earlier," he said calmly. "This was broken and torn off violently." "By what?" the lieutenant asked. Steel hoof looked up from the direction they saw him fly from. "Definitely not a pony," he said angrily. He stood and turned to his mage. "Send a message to the other companies in the city. We have an unknown variant in the mix." "Yes, captain!" the young caribou said, whose eyes then glowed green and he lowered his head, bringing two fingers to his lips. ~~~///***\~~~ As David weaved around the skyscrapers, he could tell he was getting closer to his objective. His chest hurt, and he shook his head. He really needed to stop exerting his Chi to heal the fallen, or he wouldn't have any energy to stop the invaders. He scoffed in frustration once again and prayed as he flew. "Lord, I need your help. Give me wisdom and discretion to help those who need it most. Restore my Chi. In Jesus name, Amen." As he finished his prayer, a giant fireball flew right in front of him. "Fuck!" he yelled, stopping quickly. He had let himself get distracted by his own second-guessing and almost died. He turned in the direction from which the fireball came and saw several blimp-style airships hovering just outside the city limits over the water. Without them, the ground forces wouldn't stand a chance against the guardsponies and others who fought back. David saw the water partially surrounding the city and nodded his head. He knew just how to take them down. He landed on top of a particularly tall skyscraper that had a twin next to it, taller than most of the others directly around them. David bowed his head, respecting the memory from his world surrounding these twin towers, which gave him even more of a fire to stop the attackers. He would NOT let them fall again. Freedom would ring. He took in a breath, closed and opened his eyes, and breathed a few more times. "Jesus, help me," he said before lifting his hands. He could almost hear the song he sung in school as the water began to concentrate underneath each of the ships. The water bubbled and hardened into form, watery tendrils slowly coming out of the depths. Once complete, each one shot up, wrapping around the ships as they hovered over the water shooting their flame. The crews screamed in terror as their vehicles were rocked back and forth, some slammed into each other, exploding into flame as their lava-mages' mana stores became unstable from the impact. Down below, Ponies and Caribou looked on in awe and horror at the beautiful display. Rockets shot out into the sky, exploding like a show of fireworks, signaling that the oppression from the airships was no more. The ponies cheered at the unknown ally coming to their aid and rallied together, their courage burning once again. They caught the shocked caribou by surprise, striking them down by the droves. Battle mages stood together, pooling their magic and scorching entire companies to ash. Guardsponies formed up once again, their battle tactics overcoming the numerous invaders as they burned with the fire of freedom, fueled by the watery serpents that aided them against their foe. As the sun set, a lone silhouette stood on one of two towers, lowering his hands as the tide was now turned against those who would take freedom away.
