Multiverse in Conflict: The Gathering Stormby Dimitri2278ChaptersSpiesInn (re-written)Где я?Завтрак со шпиономДень в городеПохмельеSpiesInn As Void continued her way down the street, she once again came upon The Snoring Drake. As she walked up to it, she made sure to keep an eye on her belongings and less on the strange creatures. Oh yeah, humans are what he called them. Then she came to the door and walked inside to see that the Inn was almost full. "Ah, it's you again." Said the Innkeeper as polite as she remembered, and she came to a stop in front of the counter. "If you wish for a room, it will be fifteen storm bucks. So, do you have the money, or will I have to force you out again?" Then, she reached into her scabbard's pocket and, much to her relief, found her money and pulled out the needed amount. "There you go." She said as she slipped it over the counter. "Thank you." He said as he put it under the counter. "I'll be right back with your key, Miss?" "Streak." She stated. "Well, Miss Streak, I will only be a moment." He stated as he walked to the back and came back with a key in his mouth. "Here you are." He said as he dropped her room key on the counter, and she bit it using her teeth before placing it into her pocket. "Your room is number five. It is just up the stairs on the right. Now, will that be all, or would you like a drink?" "Uh yeah, I would. What you got?" "Well, we just had a fresh shipment of our signature ale. Would you be interested?" He asked as he grabbed a dirty shot glass and started to clean it with a cloth. As he finished, she could do little else but stand there at the prospect of a nice cool shot of ale. "Uh yeah!" She yelled in excitement before realizing she had caught the attention of most of the patrons. And so her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she cleared her throat. "What I meant to say was, that would be nice." As she gave an awkward chuckle, thankfully, most of the patrons went back to what they were doing previously. "How much?" She asked. "I'd say, five storm bucks per shot." He said as she pulled out five storm bucks and slid them across the counter. "I'll be right back with your drink." Then he went over to the barrel and poured the ale into a shot glass before walking back to the counter and sliding the drink across the table. "Thank you." She said as she gleefully placed it on her back and headed for the nearest unoccupied table. But before she sat down, she spotted a hippogriff and a human staring at her, but she ignored them as they weren't the only ones. Nevermind them, they don't matter. She placed it on the table before sitting down on a stool that was once again not made for ponies. Eh, I'm used to it. Then she cupped the glass in her fore-hooves and, in a single gulp, swallowed the contents, letting the bitter-sweet liquor roll around in her mouth before letting it pour down her throat. "Ahh, that hit the spot." She said as she wiped her muzzle with a hoof, but careful not to rub her scars or the hole in the side of her face. Welp, I think I should get to my room and pack all this stuff away, and then I'll see about getting a bath. Then she got up and headed up-stairs, took a right, and walked until she came to room number five. Here it is. Then, she took out her key and opened the door before heading inside. The room was small, sparse, with nothing but a bed, a cupboard, and a dresser with a bathroom door adjacent to it, but to her, it was what she needed. About an hour later After she had finished dumping her supplies by her bedside, hanging her scabbard in the cupboard, she went into the bathroom and straight into the tub. Then she turned on the water and just let it run the mud, blood, and gore from her body. When she was done showering, she shook the water from her fur before walking over to the mirror. Her mane and tail were still overgrown, but they did appear slightly less faded, and they were no longer caked with mud. Well, that looks better. Then she turned to look at one side, then the other. Again finding her sight resting on the stub where her other wing should be, then on the patch-like scar where her cutie mark should have been,and lastly, to the gaping hole in the side of her face. None of that was my fault. It was theirs! She growled slightly in themirror, before turning and she headed back into her room before going to the cupboard and grabbing the bag of food Skystride gave her. She then opened the bag and grabbed a bun. The overwhelming smell of freshly baked bread filled her nostrils, causing her mouth to water before she quickly stuffed it into her mouth. Then she took another, and another, and before she knew it, she had eaten half the bag. Oops, guess I should stop eating the buns. She pulled the draw-string tight before putting it back inside the cupboard. Maybe I should see what they have downstairs? Then, she strapped on her scabbard before heading out of her room, taking care to lock the door behind her. Then, she headed down to the bar finding that it was mostly empty now, and walked up to the counter. "May I help you?" Asked the Innkeeper who was wiping a shot-glass with a cloth. "Yeah, you serve any food?" Asked Void. "Well, yes. What can I get you?" "You guys have hayburgers and hay fries?" "Yes, we do. That will be ten storm bucks." "Alright," She searched her pocket before pulling out ten storm bucks. "Here," She passed them over the table. "Thank you," Then, he went back behind the counter and shouted at someone, before walking over to her. "Your food should be ready in a few minutes." He stated. "Thanks." She said as she walked over to one of the empty tables and waited for her food. Once again, finding that the human and the hippogriff from earlier were still watching her closely. What's their problem? Ever seen a mare before? Then, she decided to see for herself, so she dropped from the stool and made her way over. "Hey, why were you guys staring at me?" She asked gruffly. "Well?" The gruff brown-haired man shuffled his collar and looked down at her. "I am terribly sorry it's just, how can I not stare at someone as beautiful as yourself." He stated simply in an accent similar to the bartenders. And while it was hidden under a mask, she noticed his eyes looked surprised and slightly nervous. There's something about his eyes...I think he's lying. "Indeed," Said the hippogriff as he stepped down from his seat. "You are a thing of beauty. But from now on-" He looked at his partner for a moment before turning back to her. "We will respect your wishes." He once again turned to his partner. "Come on, let's go get some shut-eye." "Agreed," Replied the human, as they both made their way downstairs. Then Void started to back-track. "Okay..." Then, once they were out of sight, she turned and trotted back to her table. Something is off with those two. First, they stare at me, and when I tried to confront them, they just left? I thought- She was cut-off by the bartender coming with her food. Maybe I could ask and see if he knows anything? "Here you are, Miss Streak." He said as he placed her Hayburger and Hayfries on the table. "Now, if you will-" "Wait. Who were those guys earlier?" She asked. "Oh, you mean the two you were talking to previously?" He asked as he turned back to face her. "Yeah, you know them?" "No, I can't say I do. I just know they're not from around here." "What do you mean?" She asked, curiosity taking over. "Simple, I have never seen them before today. Actually, now that I think about it, they came in here just before you did." He stated as he put a claw to his chin. "Why do you ask?" "Uh, just curious." She shrugged. "I see..." He gave her a confused look before walking back to the counter. Okay, after I'm finished I'm going to figure out what's up with these guys. Once she was full, Void quietly made her way down the stairs where the man and hippogriff went. Okay, now, if I'm quiet, I should be able to see what those guys are up-to. Then, she came to the first door on the right in the hall and put her ear to it. "Oh, come on, lassie? Why not?" She heard a masculine voice say. "Because I'm too good for ya!" Yelled back a feminine sounding voice, then Void ducked to the side as she heard footsteps, and the door opened to reveal one of those lizards wearing a torn and tattered dress. Walk straight past her without so much as a glance, as another one came running after her. Phew, that was close. Then Void came to the first door on the left. "..." Hmmm, sounds empty. Then, she came to the second door on the right. "Zzzzzzzzzz." Guess they're asleep. Then, she went to the second on the right, then the third on the right, then back to the left. Ugh, where are these- "Tovarishch, ya dumayu, ona nas poymala." (Comrade, I think she caught us.) A masculine voice stated from the door on the other side of the hall. What? She followed the strange voice to the fourth door on the right and put her ear to it. "Nu, eto ne to, chto nablyudat' za ney, kak yastreb, uslozhnyayet zadachu!" (Well, it's not like watching her like a hawk makes the task difficult!) Shouted another, seemingly pointed at the voice she heard first. What am I hearing? "Shhhhh, ne tak gromko, idiot!" (Shhhhh, not so loud you idiot!) Shouted the first voice she heard. If only I knew who was speaking and what they were saying!? She wanted to scream. But then, she spotted the keyhole. Maybe I can answer at least one question. She carefully snuck up to it and peered through. Inside, she saw the human and hippogriff from before. Huh? Well, I guess there's my answer, can't say I'm surprised. She wanted to snort, but she held it back in case they heard her. "Kha, vy nazyvayete menya idiotom? No vse zhe imenno vasha ideya privela nas syuda." (Ha, you call me an idiot? Yet it was your idea that brought us here.) Said the man disapprovingly as he stared down with a smug grin. "Slushay, pogovorim ob etom pozzhe. Interesno, yesli-" (We'll talk about this later. I wonder if-) He stopped when they all heard a metallic ringing that was coming from the cupboard. The man then turned and opened it before pulling out a strange device with a single wire attached, that he put to his ear. "Zdravstvuyte; Zhdet tovarishch general-polkovnik Leonid Volkov;" (Hello; Comrade Colonel-General Leonid Volkov is waiting;) He spoke into it, as a single bead of sweat ran down his forehead, and the hippogriff looked like he had seen a ghost. "Zdravstvuyte tovarishch general-polkovnik Volkov;" (Hello comrade Col. General Volkov;) His hand shook slightly, and he appeared to be nervous. But his voice did not show his discomfort. "Novyye zakazy;" (New orders;) He now had a hint of curiosity in his tone. "prem'yer prikazal nam smotret' Tovarishch 'Void Streak';" (The Premier told us to watch comrade Void Streak;) He stated- Wait, did he say my name!? How does he know my name!? She stopped looking through the door to collect her thoughts. Who are these guys? Then she went back to spying. "Chto zh, ya dumayu, chto ona podozritel'na, poetomu nam nuzhno deystvovat' bystro; Vozmozhno v blizhayshiye dni; ponyal, do svidaniya, tovarishch." (Well, I think she is suspicious, so we need to act quickly; Perhaps in the coming days; understood goodbye comrade.) Then, he put the device back in the cupboard. "Chto sluchilos'? Pochemu zameshan general-polkovnik?" (What new orders? Why is the Colonel-General involved?) Asked the hippogriff fearfully as he looked up at the man, who then turned back to him. "Nashi zakazy izmenilis'. Teper' my dolzhny ponablyudat' za ney izdaleka i opredelit' tochki vysadki dlya vtorzheniya." (Our orders have changed. Now we must observe her from afar and determine the landing points for the invasion.) He stated matter-of-factly. At this, the hippogriff perked up significantly. "Ponyatno, tovarishch. Kogda eto vstupit v silu?" (I see, comrade. When will this take effect?) "Vstupayet v silu nemedlenno. My uyezzhayem zavtra utrom." (Effective immediately. We're leaving tomorrow morning) Said the man. "Vy khotite napitok?" (Do you want a drink?) "Da, vody, pozhaluysta." (Yes, water please.) "Ponyal." (Got it?) Then the man headed for the door. Oh crap! I gotta' go! She ran as fast as she could, through the hallway, through the dining area, up the stairs, and straight into her room. "That was close." She said as she prostrated herself to the doorway to seel it and cold sweat poured down her face. She remained in that position for a few minutes until she managed to control her breathing. "Breath-in, breath-out. Breath-in, Breath-out." She kept repeating to herself as she started to claim down. When she realized no-one was coming, she got down and walked over to her bed. Who are those guys? And what do they want with me? Ugh, all this stuff is too much. Maybe I should sleep on it? So she walked over and collapsed onto the bed. Author's Note Who are these strange characters? What do they want with Void Streak? And, most importantly of all, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!? Well, keep reading to find out. Inn (re-written)Author's Note Just as a heads up, this is a dream chapter. But, I would still advise you read this. Sence it does have an impact on the main story. The Night Before: Part I "What do you think you are doing out past curfew!?" Her ears twitched as she heard a strong voice bellow out. As Void registered the odd phrase, she attempted to roll off the bed. She proceeded to scrape her back on what felt like- How did I get outside!? She thought as her eyes shot open to reveal a dark, moonless sky, where the only light came from odd street lamps that glowed unnaturally in the dim midnight fog. When she finished her roll and got to her hooves, she noted the pain that seemed to emanate from her left side as she quickly remembered that was the side she had lost her wing on. "Ahh!" Why did I have to roll on THAT side!? She shook the dirt from her body but found that there was nothing there except dust. Huh? She looked again at the road. It felt too hard to be dirt or cobblestone, and it looked far too uniform as well. What is this road made- "Well, I still need an explanation. So, why are you outside?" Asked the same voice. "Or, do I need to take you in for interrogation?" At this, Void moved quickly to track down the voice. But as she ran, she noticed huge buildings sticking out of the fog. Not huge in terms of height, but of width, and all seemed to be built in the same way. This place is really starting to look like all these buildings were created by a cookie cuter- Stupid Pinkie Pie! And as she continued running, she started running out of breath, so she slowed down and allowed herself to breathe. But the instant she did, she immediately started hacking and coughing as she took in the toxic air. What the heck? Why does the air smell like smoke!? Once she managed to stop, she continued following the voice. But, when she got there, what she saw repulsed her. A stallion, dressed in a grey overcoat and grey fur hat, stood poised to strike with an oddly shaped spear at another stallion, who was pressed up against the wall. "P-p-please! I-I did not mean t-to break the c-curfew." Stuttered the stallion. As Void looked on in bewilderment, she noted how malnourished he appeared. She also took note of the grey uniform he wore. "Sorry, that doesn't cut it. You're coming with me!" Yelled the other stallion as he proceeded to stand on his hind-legs and point his weapon threateningly close to the other stallon's throat. As he did, she realized he wore black boots and grey pants, but she quickly shook off the odd choice in clothing and prepared to charge the armed stallion. "Hey, get away from him!" She yelled as she surged forward, intent on tackling him to the ground and thrusting his own spear into his gut. And, just as she expected, he started turning to face her. "What the-" But, as he finished his turn and came to look at her, he did something...VERY unexpected. As he looked at her, his smirk (that had presumedly been worn when facing the other stallion) quickly dissipated into a look of sheer terror, and his eyes shrank to the size of pinpricks. And she started to slow down as a look of confusion adorned her. "A-as you command comrade Premier!" He yelled as loudly (albeit not as imposingly) as he had when yelling at the poor stallion before shouldering his very odd spear. (Which appeared to be made of both metal and wood interspersed throughout the main structure.) And raised his right fore-leg over his right eye before dashing away as quickly as he could. "Okay then..." She said as she started to regain her thoughts from the odd display. She quickly remembered the reason she had come when she once again saw the stallion. Much to her shock, however, the stallion looked even more terrified than before. Huh? Why is he looking this way like that? She checked behind herself, just in case another one of those crooks had snuck up on her, but she beheld nothing. Slowly, she turned her head to face him, and what she saw shocked her more than the crook's reaction to her arrival. He was on the ground now. He appeared as though he had slid down the wall as she was looking away. Tears stained his hollow cheeks, his eyes were red and puffy, and he looked as though he was begging for something. "P-please, spare me." He crooked laboriously. "I-I am not a counter-r-revolutionary, see?" He then took in a deep breath and proceeded to sing: "United, forever in friendship and labor, our united repu- She then put a hoof over his muzzle. Which caused him to flail his fore-legs around to try and stop her. "Shh, I'm not going to hurt you." She said, which seemed to calm him down slightly. "And why is everyone- Everypony so frightened of me? I mean, I did just save your life, so the least you could do is give me an answer. Okay?" At this, he nodded vigorously. She then mentally counted to three before she recoiled her hoof. He coughed as he regained his breath. Before he cocked his head, his eyes now wide and displayed nothing but purest confusion. "What do you mean why? You should know why everypony fears you! After all, isn't it you who signed your signature on this curfew?" He was standing now, his look of confusion turning into one of determination. "Is it not you who forced me to kill my soul working away in a coal mine to feed my family?" He was walking closer now, and so Void started to retreat. "And isn't it YOU who gives the orders to the militia to have street patrols in the night to lock up anypony who dares go against you!? Well!?" He spat as she found herself up against one of the other buildings. As Void registered what he had said, she realized she was clearly being accused of things she had no recollection of. "I-I never did any of those things!" She yelled back at him. "You are lying! I'm not this Premier. In fact, I'll prove it!" She looked straight at him as her eyes were consumed by wild determination. "I know this sounds cringy. But where does she live?" He looked flabbergasted by her response. "I-In the main square." "Alright, miss Premier, you're in for a world of hurt!" And so, she dashed off to find this so-called tyrant that looked strangely like her. As Void Streak rushed down the foggy, empty streets, all her thoughts could focus on were the words the stallion had said about her. Some nerve, I never even met him before, and rather than thank me for saving his life, he just accuses me of being the source of his problems!? Like, really!? I literally saved his li- Her internal rant came to an end the instant she caught sight of it. It was a massive square, with more housing complexes jutting out from it and with more roads continuing between them, along with the first sight of vegetation, in the form of trees that lined the edges. In the center stood a giant tower-like structure that reached straight up into the sky. It had to have been the tallest building she had ever seen. But what really caught her eye was the statue that stood in front of it. It was a giant 'stone' statue of a pegasus that stood on its hind legs, with the left fore-leg pointing out and the right held at its side. Well, I guess I found the place, but since no one's around, I think I might as well take a closer look. She carefully walked up to the statue. But, as she got closer, she started to notice various details. For one, it was clearly a mare, this she noticed almost immediately. (Do to the face shape and body structure being smaller and more angular in appearance.) She also realized that it was made wearing a suit and tie, but with odd medals over the left side. (which she did not recognize.) A skirt that covered its cutie mark and a pair of tall boots. (Similiar to the ones she saw that thug wearing. Except these boots had heels on the back, which made her appear taller.) As she stood directly in front of it, however, she noticed something was off. Its wings were not the same. The one on the right looked completely normal. The wing on the left on the other hoof looked like it was- made entirely out of metal. She quickly dashed to the left side to get a better look, and sure enough, it appeared like it was made of small metal pieces shaped to look like feathers. Why would it have a metal wing, unless...It was cut off... She backed up to see the entire statue from the side. But as she did, her eyes grew wide with realization. "T-The statue...I-it looks l-like, m-me!? W-why d-does it l-look like me!?" She screamed out in horror, only to be answered with silence. That is until she heard the sound of hooves coming from the direction of the tower. Great, more trouble! She brought herself into a defensive stance and pointed herself in the direction of the threat. From the fog emerged a few uniformed stallions. (This time, it was a unicorn and two pegasi.) "Comrade Premier, are you alright?" Asked the unicorn who held another one of those odd spears in his magic. "We heard yelling, so we came to investigate." "I-I'm f-fine." She stuttered as she came out of her stance. Did these guys just- Ask if I was okay? This just keeps getting better and better. "And why are you not wearing your coat? It's -15°out here." Said one of the pegasi as they all shouldered their weapons. "You should probably head inside." "Not to mention the rebels." Replied the other as he gave her a determined stare. "They would love to catch you outside and without an escort." "U-Um, sure?" Well, I guess this is my way in. "Alright then, let's get you inside." The unicorn marched up beside her until they were only less than a meter apart, with the other two falling into step behind them. As they marched, he suddenly turned his head to face her. "So, what was the screaming about?" He asked with curiosity in his tone. "O-oh, that." Come on, you gotta think of something, quick! She thought hard for a few seconds, until- Ah-ha, I got it! "I Just- Wanted to go for a walk, to clear my head." She stated while trying to sound commanding. "I mean, it's not like being a Premier is an easy job." That should do it. "Yes, I'm sure. I apologize for asking such a foolish question." He responded before turning his head to face the front. But, as he did so, she caught a glimpse of his eyes. And she could just read the emotion that they exuded. After all, it was one she was very familiar with. Fear, he's afraid of me? Why does every pony fear me? The entire rest of the walk up to the tower (Or would 'castle' be more appropriate?) was almost entirely silent, apart from the rhythmic clip-clopping of hooves that echoed throughout the square. When they finally came to the entrance. Void saw more of the- Well, these guys clearly are not thugs. So, guards? Guards at the entrance to the tower. And as they got closer, they opened the large double doors. And as she walked through, the ones holding the doors stood and sharply saluted her. Well, I guess I know how Celes- No, I will not think of her EVER again! As soon as she got inside, they closed the doors behind her. Wow, they weren't kidding. This place is WAY warmer than outside. And as she turned to look around, she realized just how beautiful the interior was. Its walls were made entirely of marble. And it was fully lit by lights similar to the lights she saw outside. The roof went all the way up to the second floor and- "Oh, there you are, comrade Premier!" Shouted a feminine voice. Huh, I was starting to think that there were only stallions here. Not that it would be a problem, but it would be wired. She turned this way and that until she spotted her. She was on top of the stairs leading to the second floor. She was a small unicorn mare, who wore a black suit and tie, with a skirt, and carried a clipboard. "I heard you decided to go for a walk. You should know better!" She lightly scolded as she ran down the stairs. "Come, come, I'll take you to your room." And with that, she grabbed her hoof and led her to a magic room. That brought them all the way to the 52nd floor. Then, once it arrived, she led her through countless hallways until she came to a room that was separate from all the others. "Here we are." She pulled open the door and led her inside. To say Void was shocked would be an understatement. The room had blue wallpaper, a carpeted floor, a wooden desk, a large mirror, various lamps, a large couch, and a massive bed. "Wow! This is all mine?" "Indeed, it is. Although I would advise you rest. As you have a meeting with the central committee in two hours." As she turned to leave, she looked back one last time. "If there is anything you need, just ring the bell." Then she closed the door as she walked out. Her body wanted to lie down, but she felt like she had some thinking to do. Okay, first, that guard ran from me. Then that other stallion accused me. And then that other guard was afraid of me. She decided to sit down on the couch. Of course, I couldn't be this Premier, right? I mean, I don't wear a suit, and I don't have a metal wing. So why is every pony treating me like I am her? Then, it dawned on her. You know what? I know EXACTLY how to deal with this! Then, with a flash of determination, she slowly approached the mirror. But, before she could see herself, she closed her eyes. Alright, on the count of three, I'll open my eyes. One. Two. THREE! But what she saw was NOT herself. It was the same pony that the statue was made to replicate. The only difference was her eyes. They shone bright crimson, and the story they told...it chilled her to the bone. Through them, she saw a blood-red banner raised over Canterlot, as the city burned, and as an enormous crowd sang and chanted as they burned, looted, and murdered. She tried to back up, only to hear a loud clang to her left, and heard something smash on the floor. She turned to see what had caused the crash, and when she saw it, her eyes shrank to pin-pricks. For, attached to her left side, was a steel wing. Где я?The Night Before: Part II As Princess Luna was doing her nightly rounds in the dream realm, she came upon something...abnormal. For, as she peered through hundreds of dreams of all of her various subjects. Luna then found one that stood apart from the others. This one practically glowed crimson, and, just by looking at it, there was only one thing she could think of: That has to be the worst nightmare I have ever seen! But, as she attempted to enter the dream. She was entrapped by an invisible force, which proceeded to pull her away from it. As it did so, however, she could feel herself becoming light-headed. And quickly slipping out of consciousness. I-I must hold on... Then, the darkness took her. When she awoke, she found herself in an endless void of storm clouds. Where the only light shone from the occasional burst of lightning, and the only sound was that of thunder. "Where am I?" Her voice echoed as she spoke. "What is this place!?" Then, she saw a bright flash of lightning, brighter even than the sun, flash before her eyes. But, what shocked her most was that it did not disappear. It remained in place, appearing to fill the void before her. And, when he (she presumed it was a male) spoke, his voice shook the clouds like thunder, yet came to her as a still, small voice. "Woe be unto thee, Luna, for thou and thy sister hast erased all mention of me from thy memory. And for this crime against me, thou and thy sister will be punished. For it is I who created the heavens and the earth from the beginning of time." Luna looked stunned. What had she done? And, more importantly, just who was speaking to her. "I am sorry. But I do not understand, what, have I done to wrong thee? And, moreover, how did thou stop me from entering this dream?" "I have stopped thee. Because thou wouldest attempted to intervene, as thou hast done in the past." Luna pointed her hoof accusingly. "But that still doesn't answer my question. And what gives thee authority to prevent me from seeing into the dreams of my subjects?" "Because thy power is a false one. For it is thee who made a pact with the devil. And, it is thou and thy sister who hast been granted false power." "My power is NOT false!" She growled in anger before losing a pure beam of magic. One that should have been strong enough to destroy an entire city block. And yet, when it connected with the being, he absorbed it. "How art thou still there? You should be in severe pain!" "It is so, for thou art as a single grain of sand compared to my glory." Luna slowly back-peddled, her rage turning to fear. "W-who art thou?" Her voice trembled with every word. For, gone now was the proud demeanour of the Princess of night. Only to be replaced with a look of shock and pure horror, one more befitting of a frightened foal. "I am that I am. And thou shalt know that the day of judgement shall soon be upon thee. And that thou and thy sister shall be swept from the earth. And that thy nation shall be smitten with fire." Her eyes turned to pinpricks as she looked up at the creature before her. "What do you mean!? Why are you doing this!?" "Have I not said already? Thou and thy sister are to be destroyed for keeping thy people from doing the very thing that has been set out from the creation of the world. The ability to choose good and evil. And thou and thy sister have prevented this. Why?" Luna took a deep breath. "Because we wish to keep them safe from harm." "And yet, thou keepest them entrapped in lies and falsehoods?" Luna looked puzzled for a moment before she once again stood defiantly. "Of course we do! Because we love our ponies! And, if that means burying the past for the sake of harmony, then so be it!" "Then thou art nothing more than a hypocrite. For thou wouldest also erase me! For thou and thy sister persecuted and murdered my children! All the while raising yourselves up as idols!" Luna's eyes scrunched shut in pain. As images flowed through her mind. Memories of bloodshed, war, and destruction, pledged her soul before she slowly looked back upon the giant pillar of lightning. "Y-you are t-their God?" "I am that I am. And now, thou shalt be gone from my sight! For the souls of those, you have murdered testify against you. And they shall have their justice!" Luna once again felt her grip on reality slip. Before she was taken by the darkness. Void could not help but stare as she carefully flexed the metal wing. It felt no different than moving her real wing. Seeing as it did, exactly, what she told it to, which, to her, was quite unsettling, to say the least. What the heck? How does it even know what I want it to do? After a minute more, she had started to get bored. "So, what was the other thing I was supposed-" She stopped herself mid-speech as she saw her right fore-leg. I'm wearing that stupid uniform, aren't I? And, sure enough, she felt clothing on her back and a pair of boots on her hind-legs. Seriously!? What is it with people dressing me up like a psychopath!? She grunted before she sprawled herself on the couch. Yeah, no wonder that stallion thought I was her. In fact, I'm starting to think that she is just like that evil version of me- Her eyes widened in realization. Wait a sec...I think I'm in a dream! Well, more like a nightmare. But if I try, maybe I can wake up! She tried closing her eyes and clearing her mind. But, as she did, she felt herself become enveloped by a powerful force that restricted all movement. "Hey, what gives!?" She tried to resist, but, very quickly, she felt herself become very tired. The last thing she heard: was a still, small voice. "Unless you wish this to become your reality, you will leave Kell's Keep at once and flee into the wilderness. For there, I have a purpose for thee." Void shot out of bed and looked around. She could feel as cold sweat dripped down her fur and saturated her wounds. But none of that mattered to her. To her, the most important thing was finding that voice. Upon finding nothing, however, she went back to sleep. Must've just been in my dream. She crawled into her bed and covered herself with the sheet. Завтрак со шпиономSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.День в городеSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.ПохмельеSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
SpiesInn As Void continued her way down the street, she once again came upon The Snoring Drake. As she walked up to it, she made sure to keep an eye on her belongings and less on the strange creatures. Oh yeah, humans are what he called them. Then she came to the door and walked inside to see that the Inn was almost full. "Ah, it's you again." Said the Innkeeper as polite as she remembered, and she came to a stop in front of the counter. "If you wish for a room, it will be fifteen storm bucks. So, do you have the money, or will I have to force you out again?" Then, she reached into her scabbard's pocket and, much to her relief, found her money and pulled out the needed amount. "There you go." She said as she slipped it over the counter. "Thank you." He said as he put it under the counter. "I'll be right back with your key, Miss?" "Streak." She stated. "Well, Miss Streak, I will only be a moment." He stated as he walked to the back and came back with a key in his mouth. "Here you are." He said as he dropped her room key on the counter, and she bit it using her teeth before placing it into her pocket. "Your room is number five. It is just up the stairs on the right. Now, will that be all, or would you like a drink?" "Uh yeah, I would. What you got?" "Well, we just had a fresh shipment of our signature ale. Would you be interested?" He asked as he grabbed a dirty shot glass and started to clean it with a cloth. As he finished, she could do little else but stand there at the prospect of a nice cool shot of ale. "Uh yeah!" She yelled in excitement before realizing she had caught the attention of most of the patrons. And so her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she cleared her throat. "What I meant to say was, that would be nice." As she gave an awkward chuckle, thankfully, most of the patrons went back to what they were doing previously. "How much?" She asked. "I'd say, five storm bucks per shot." He said as she pulled out five storm bucks and slid them across the counter. "I'll be right back with your drink." Then he went over to the barrel and poured the ale into a shot glass before walking back to the counter and sliding the drink across the table. "Thank you." She said as she gleefully placed it on her back and headed for the nearest unoccupied table. But before she sat down, she spotted a hippogriff and a human staring at her, but she ignored them as they weren't the only ones. Nevermind them, they don't matter. She placed it on the table before sitting down on a stool that was once again not made for ponies. Eh, I'm used to it. Then she cupped the glass in her fore-hooves and, in a single gulp, swallowed the contents, letting the bitter-sweet liquor roll around in her mouth before letting it pour down her throat. "Ahh, that hit the spot." She said as she wiped her muzzle with a hoof, but careful not to rub her scars or the hole in the side of her face. Welp, I think I should get to my room and pack all this stuff away, and then I'll see about getting a bath. Then she got up and headed up-stairs, took a right, and walked until she came to room number five. Here it is. Then, she took out her key and opened the door before heading inside. The room was small, sparse, with nothing but a bed, a cupboard, and a dresser with a bathroom door adjacent to it, but to her, it was what she needed. About an hour later After she had finished dumping her supplies by her bedside, hanging her scabbard in the cupboard, she went into the bathroom and straight into the tub. Then she turned on the water and just let it run the mud, blood, and gore from her body. When she was done showering, she shook the water from her fur before walking over to the mirror. Her mane and tail were still overgrown, but they did appear slightly less faded, and they were no longer caked with mud. Well, that looks better. Then she turned to look at one side, then the other. Again finding her sight resting on the stub where her other wing should be, then on the patch-like scar where her cutie mark should have been,and lastly, to the gaping hole in the side of her face. None of that was my fault. It was theirs! She growled slightly in themirror, before turning and she headed back into her room before going to the cupboard and grabbing the bag of food Skystride gave her. She then opened the bag and grabbed a bun. The overwhelming smell of freshly baked bread filled her nostrils, causing her mouth to water before she quickly stuffed it into her mouth. Then she took another, and another, and before she knew it, she had eaten half the bag. Oops, guess I should stop eating the buns. She pulled the draw-string tight before putting it back inside the cupboard. Maybe I should see what they have downstairs? Then, she strapped on her scabbard before heading out of her room, taking care to lock the door behind her. Then, she headed down to the bar finding that it was mostly empty now, and walked up to the counter. "May I help you?" Asked the Innkeeper who was wiping a shot-glass with a cloth. "Yeah, you serve any food?" Asked Void. "Well, yes. What can I get you?" "You guys have hayburgers and hay fries?" "Yes, we do. That will be ten storm bucks." "Alright," She searched her pocket before pulling out ten storm bucks. "Here," She passed them over the table. "Thank you," Then, he went back behind the counter and shouted at someone, before walking over to her. "Your food should be ready in a few minutes." He stated. "Thanks." She said as she walked over to one of the empty tables and waited for her food. Once again, finding that the human and the hippogriff from earlier were still watching her closely. What's their problem? Ever seen a mare before? Then, she decided to see for herself, so she dropped from the stool and made her way over. "Hey, why were you guys staring at me?" She asked gruffly. "Well?" The gruff brown-haired man shuffled his collar and looked down at her. "I am terribly sorry it's just, how can I not stare at someone as beautiful as yourself." He stated simply in an accent similar to the bartenders. And while it was hidden under a mask, she noticed his eyes looked surprised and slightly nervous. There's something about his eyes...I think he's lying. "Indeed," Said the hippogriff as he stepped down from his seat. "You are a thing of beauty. But from now on-" He looked at his partner for a moment before turning back to her. "We will respect your wishes." He once again turned to his partner. "Come on, let's go get some shut-eye." "Agreed," Replied the human, as they both made their way downstairs. Then Void started to back-track. "Okay..." Then, once they were out of sight, she turned and trotted back to her table. Something is off with those two. First, they stare at me, and when I tried to confront them, they just left? I thought- She was cut-off by the bartender coming with her food. Maybe I could ask and see if he knows anything? "Here you are, Miss Streak." He said as he placed her Hayburger and Hayfries on the table. "Now, if you will-" "Wait. Who were those guys earlier?" She asked. "Oh, you mean the two you were talking to previously?" He asked as he turned back to face her. "Yeah, you know them?" "No, I can't say I do. I just know they're not from around here." "What do you mean?" She asked, curiosity taking over. "Simple, I have never seen them before today. Actually, now that I think about it, they came in here just before you did." He stated as he put a claw to his chin. "Why do you ask?" "Uh, just curious." She shrugged. "I see..." He gave her a confused look before walking back to the counter. Okay, after I'm finished I'm going to figure out what's up with these guys. Once she was full, Void quietly made her way down the stairs where the man and hippogriff went. Okay, now, if I'm quiet, I should be able to see what those guys are up-to. Then, she came to the first door on the right in the hall and put her ear to it. "Oh, come on, lassie? Why not?" She heard a masculine voice say. "Because I'm too good for ya!" Yelled back a feminine sounding voice, then Void ducked to the side as she heard footsteps, and the door opened to reveal one of those lizards wearing a torn and tattered dress. Walk straight past her without so much as a glance, as another one came running after her. Phew, that was close. Then Void came to the first door on the left. "..." Hmmm, sounds empty. Then, she came to the second door on the right. "Zzzzzzzzzz." Guess they're asleep. Then, she went to the second on the right, then the third on the right, then back to the left. Ugh, where are these- "Tovarishch, ya dumayu, ona nas poymala." (Comrade, I think she caught us.) A masculine voice stated from the door on the other side of the hall. What? She followed the strange voice to the fourth door on the right and put her ear to it. "Nu, eto ne to, chto nablyudat' za ney, kak yastreb, uslozhnyayet zadachu!" (Well, it's not like watching her like a hawk makes the task difficult!) Shouted another, seemingly pointed at the voice she heard first. What am I hearing? "Shhhhh, ne tak gromko, idiot!" (Shhhhh, not so loud you idiot!) Shouted the first voice she heard. If only I knew who was speaking and what they were saying!? She wanted to scream. But then, she spotted the keyhole. Maybe I can answer at least one question. She carefully snuck up to it and peered through. Inside, she saw the human and hippogriff from before. Huh? Well, I guess there's my answer, can't say I'm surprised. She wanted to snort, but she held it back in case they heard her. "Kha, vy nazyvayete menya idiotom? No vse zhe imenno vasha ideya privela nas syuda." (Ha, you call me an idiot? Yet it was your idea that brought us here.) Said the man disapprovingly as he stared down with a smug grin. "Slushay, pogovorim ob etom pozzhe. Interesno, yesli-" (We'll talk about this later. I wonder if-) He stopped when they all heard a metallic ringing that was coming from the cupboard. The man then turned and opened it before pulling out a strange device with a single wire attached, that he put to his ear. "Zdravstvuyte; Zhdet tovarishch general-polkovnik Leonid Volkov;" (Hello; Comrade Colonel-General Leonid Volkov is waiting;) He spoke into it, as a single bead of sweat ran down his forehead, and the hippogriff looked like he had seen a ghost. "Zdravstvuyte tovarishch general-polkovnik Volkov;" (Hello comrade Col. General Volkov;) His hand shook slightly, and he appeared to be nervous. But his voice did not show his discomfort. "Novyye zakazy;" (New orders;) He now had a hint of curiosity in his tone. "prem'yer prikazal nam smotret' Tovarishch 'Void Streak';" (The Premier told us to watch comrade Void Streak;) He stated- Wait, did he say my name!? How does he know my name!? She stopped looking through the door to collect her thoughts. Who are these guys? Then she went back to spying. "Chto zh, ya dumayu, chto ona podozritel'na, poetomu nam nuzhno deystvovat' bystro; Vozmozhno v blizhayshiye dni; ponyal, do svidaniya, tovarishch." (Well, I think she is suspicious, so we need to act quickly; Perhaps in the coming days; understood goodbye comrade.) Then, he put the device back in the cupboard. "Chto sluchilos'? Pochemu zameshan general-polkovnik?" (What new orders? Why is the Colonel-General involved?) Asked the hippogriff fearfully as he looked up at the man, who then turned back to him. "Nashi zakazy izmenilis'. Teper' my dolzhny ponablyudat' za ney izdaleka i opredelit' tochki vysadki dlya vtorzheniya." (Our orders have changed. Now we must observe her from afar and determine the landing points for the invasion.) He stated matter-of-factly. At this, the hippogriff perked up significantly. "Ponyatno, tovarishch. Kogda eto vstupit v silu?" (I see, comrade. When will this take effect?) "Vstupayet v silu nemedlenno. My uyezzhayem zavtra utrom." (Effective immediately. We're leaving tomorrow morning) Said the man. "Vy khotite napitok?" (Do you want a drink?) "Da, vody, pozhaluysta." (Yes, water please.) "Ponyal." (Got it?) Then the man headed for the door. Oh crap! I gotta' go! She ran as fast as she could, through the hallway, through the dining area, up the stairs, and straight into her room. "That was close." She said as she prostrated herself to the doorway to seel it and cold sweat poured down her face. She remained in that position for a few minutes until she managed to control her breathing. "Breath-in, breath-out. Breath-in, Breath-out." She kept repeating to herself as she started to claim down. When she realized no-one was coming, she got down and walked over to her bed. Who are those guys? And what do they want with me? Ugh, all this stuff is too much. Maybe I should sleep on it? So she walked over and collapsed onto the bed. Author's Note Who are these strange characters? What do they want with Void Streak? And, most importantly of all, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!? Well, keep reading to find out.
Inn (re-written)Author's Note Just as a heads up, this is a dream chapter. But, I would still advise you read this. Sence it does have an impact on the main story. The Night Before: Part I "What do you think you are doing out past curfew!?" Her ears twitched as she heard a strong voice bellow out. As Void registered the odd phrase, she attempted to roll off the bed. She proceeded to scrape her back on what felt like- How did I get outside!? She thought as her eyes shot open to reveal a dark, moonless sky, where the only light came from odd street lamps that glowed unnaturally in the dim midnight fog. When she finished her roll and got to her hooves, she noted the pain that seemed to emanate from her left side as she quickly remembered that was the side she had lost her wing on. "Ahh!" Why did I have to roll on THAT side!? She shook the dirt from her body but found that there was nothing there except dust. Huh? She looked again at the road. It felt too hard to be dirt or cobblestone, and it looked far too uniform as well. What is this road made- "Well, I still need an explanation. So, why are you outside?" Asked the same voice. "Or, do I need to take you in for interrogation?" At this, Void moved quickly to track down the voice. But as she ran, she noticed huge buildings sticking out of the fog. Not huge in terms of height, but of width, and all seemed to be built in the same way. This place is really starting to look like all these buildings were created by a cookie cuter- Stupid Pinkie Pie! And as she continued running, she started running out of breath, so she slowed down and allowed herself to breathe. But the instant she did, she immediately started hacking and coughing as she took in the toxic air. What the heck? Why does the air smell like smoke!? Once she managed to stop, she continued following the voice. But, when she got there, what she saw repulsed her. A stallion, dressed in a grey overcoat and grey fur hat, stood poised to strike with an oddly shaped spear at another stallion, who was pressed up against the wall. "P-p-please! I-I did not mean t-to break the c-curfew." Stuttered the stallion. As Void looked on in bewilderment, she noted how malnourished he appeared. She also took note of the grey uniform he wore. "Sorry, that doesn't cut it. You're coming with me!" Yelled the other stallion as he proceeded to stand on his hind-legs and point his weapon threateningly close to the other stallon's throat. As he did, she realized he wore black boots and grey pants, but she quickly shook off the odd choice in clothing and prepared to charge the armed stallion. "Hey, get away from him!" She yelled as she surged forward, intent on tackling him to the ground and thrusting his own spear into his gut. And, just as she expected, he started turning to face her. "What the-" But, as he finished his turn and came to look at her, he did something...VERY unexpected. As he looked at her, his smirk (that had presumedly been worn when facing the other stallion) quickly dissipated into a look of sheer terror, and his eyes shrank to the size of pinpricks. And she started to slow down as a look of confusion adorned her. "A-as you command comrade Premier!" He yelled as loudly (albeit not as imposingly) as he had when yelling at the poor stallion before shouldering his very odd spear. (Which appeared to be made of both metal and wood interspersed throughout the main structure.) And raised his right fore-leg over his right eye before dashing away as quickly as he could. "Okay then..." She said as she started to regain her thoughts from the odd display. She quickly remembered the reason she had come when she once again saw the stallion. Much to her shock, however, the stallion looked even more terrified than before. Huh? Why is he looking this way like that? She checked behind herself, just in case another one of those crooks had snuck up on her, but she beheld nothing. Slowly, she turned her head to face him, and what she saw shocked her more than the crook's reaction to her arrival. He was on the ground now. He appeared as though he had slid down the wall as she was looking away. Tears stained his hollow cheeks, his eyes were red and puffy, and he looked as though he was begging for something. "P-please, spare me." He crooked laboriously. "I-I am not a counter-r-revolutionary, see?" He then took in a deep breath and proceeded to sing: "United, forever in friendship and labor, our united repu- She then put a hoof over his muzzle. Which caused him to flail his fore-legs around to try and stop her. "Shh, I'm not going to hurt you." She said, which seemed to calm him down slightly. "And why is everyone- Everypony so frightened of me? I mean, I did just save your life, so the least you could do is give me an answer. Okay?" At this, he nodded vigorously. She then mentally counted to three before she recoiled her hoof. He coughed as he regained his breath. Before he cocked his head, his eyes now wide and displayed nothing but purest confusion. "What do you mean why? You should know why everypony fears you! After all, isn't it you who signed your signature on this curfew?" He was standing now, his look of confusion turning into one of determination. "Is it not you who forced me to kill my soul working away in a coal mine to feed my family?" He was walking closer now, and so Void started to retreat. "And isn't it YOU who gives the orders to the militia to have street patrols in the night to lock up anypony who dares go against you!? Well!?" He spat as she found herself up against one of the other buildings. As Void registered what he had said, she realized she was clearly being accused of things she had no recollection of. "I-I never did any of those things!" She yelled back at him. "You are lying! I'm not this Premier. In fact, I'll prove it!" She looked straight at him as her eyes were consumed by wild determination. "I know this sounds cringy. But where does she live?" He looked flabbergasted by her response. "I-In the main square." "Alright, miss Premier, you're in for a world of hurt!" And so, she dashed off to find this so-called tyrant that looked strangely like her. As Void Streak rushed down the foggy, empty streets, all her thoughts could focus on were the words the stallion had said about her. Some nerve, I never even met him before, and rather than thank me for saving his life, he just accuses me of being the source of his problems!? Like, really!? I literally saved his li- Her internal rant came to an end the instant she caught sight of it. It was a massive square, with more housing complexes jutting out from it and with more roads continuing between them, along with the first sight of vegetation, in the form of trees that lined the edges. In the center stood a giant tower-like structure that reached straight up into the sky. It had to have been the tallest building she had ever seen. But what really caught her eye was the statue that stood in front of it. It was a giant 'stone' statue of a pegasus that stood on its hind legs, with the left fore-leg pointing out and the right held at its side. Well, I guess I found the place, but since no one's around, I think I might as well take a closer look. She carefully walked up to the statue. But, as she got closer, she started to notice various details. For one, it was clearly a mare, this she noticed almost immediately. (Do to the face shape and body structure being smaller and more angular in appearance.) She also realized that it was made wearing a suit and tie, but with odd medals over the left side. (which she did not recognize.) A skirt that covered its cutie mark and a pair of tall boots. (Similiar to the ones she saw that thug wearing. Except these boots had heels on the back, which made her appear taller.) As she stood directly in front of it, however, she noticed something was off. Its wings were not the same. The one on the right looked completely normal. The wing on the left on the other hoof looked like it was- made entirely out of metal. She quickly dashed to the left side to get a better look, and sure enough, it appeared like it was made of small metal pieces shaped to look like feathers. Why would it have a metal wing, unless...It was cut off... She backed up to see the entire statue from the side. But as she did, her eyes grew wide with realization. "T-The statue...I-it looks l-like, m-me!? W-why d-does it l-look like me!?" She screamed out in horror, only to be answered with silence. That is until she heard the sound of hooves coming from the direction of the tower. Great, more trouble! She brought herself into a defensive stance and pointed herself in the direction of the threat. From the fog emerged a few uniformed stallions. (This time, it was a unicorn and two pegasi.) "Comrade Premier, are you alright?" Asked the unicorn who held another one of those odd spears in his magic. "We heard yelling, so we came to investigate." "I-I'm f-fine." She stuttered as she came out of her stance. Did these guys just- Ask if I was okay? This just keeps getting better and better. "And why are you not wearing your coat? It's -15°out here." Said one of the pegasi as they all shouldered their weapons. "You should probably head inside." "Not to mention the rebels." Replied the other as he gave her a determined stare. "They would love to catch you outside and without an escort." "U-Um, sure?" Well, I guess this is my way in. "Alright then, let's get you inside." The unicorn marched up beside her until they were only less than a meter apart, with the other two falling into step behind them. As they marched, he suddenly turned his head to face her. "So, what was the screaming about?" He asked with curiosity in his tone. "O-oh, that." Come on, you gotta think of something, quick! She thought hard for a few seconds, until- Ah-ha, I got it! "I Just- Wanted to go for a walk, to clear my head." She stated while trying to sound commanding. "I mean, it's not like being a Premier is an easy job." That should do it. "Yes, I'm sure. I apologize for asking such a foolish question." He responded before turning his head to face the front. But, as he did so, she caught a glimpse of his eyes. And she could just read the emotion that they exuded. After all, it was one she was very familiar with. Fear, he's afraid of me? Why does every pony fear me? The entire rest of the walk up to the tower (Or would 'castle' be more appropriate?) was almost entirely silent, apart from the rhythmic clip-clopping of hooves that echoed throughout the square. When they finally came to the entrance. Void saw more of the- Well, these guys clearly are not thugs. So, guards? Guards at the entrance to the tower. And as they got closer, they opened the large double doors. And as she walked through, the ones holding the doors stood and sharply saluted her. Well, I guess I know how Celes- No, I will not think of her EVER again! As soon as she got inside, they closed the doors behind her. Wow, they weren't kidding. This place is WAY warmer than outside. And as she turned to look around, she realized just how beautiful the interior was. Its walls were made entirely of marble. And it was fully lit by lights similar to the lights she saw outside. The roof went all the way up to the second floor and- "Oh, there you are, comrade Premier!" Shouted a feminine voice. Huh, I was starting to think that there were only stallions here. Not that it would be a problem, but it would be wired. She turned this way and that until she spotted her. She was on top of the stairs leading to the second floor. She was a small unicorn mare, who wore a black suit and tie, with a skirt, and carried a clipboard. "I heard you decided to go for a walk. You should know better!" She lightly scolded as she ran down the stairs. "Come, come, I'll take you to your room." And with that, she grabbed her hoof and led her to a magic room. That brought them all the way to the 52nd floor. Then, once it arrived, she led her through countless hallways until she came to a room that was separate from all the others. "Here we are." She pulled open the door and led her inside. To say Void was shocked would be an understatement. The room had blue wallpaper, a carpeted floor, a wooden desk, a large mirror, various lamps, a large couch, and a massive bed. "Wow! This is all mine?" "Indeed, it is. Although I would advise you rest. As you have a meeting with the central committee in two hours." As she turned to leave, she looked back one last time. "If there is anything you need, just ring the bell." Then she closed the door as she walked out. Her body wanted to lie down, but she felt like she had some thinking to do. Okay, first, that guard ran from me. Then that other stallion accused me. And then that other guard was afraid of me. She decided to sit down on the couch. Of course, I couldn't be this Premier, right? I mean, I don't wear a suit, and I don't have a metal wing. So why is every pony treating me like I am her? Then, it dawned on her. You know what? I know EXACTLY how to deal with this! Then, with a flash of determination, she slowly approached the mirror. But, before she could see herself, she closed her eyes. Alright, on the count of three, I'll open my eyes. One. Two. THREE! But what she saw was NOT herself. It was the same pony that the statue was made to replicate. The only difference was her eyes. They shone bright crimson, and the story they told...it chilled her to the bone. Through them, she saw a blood-red banner raised over Canterlot, as the city burned, and as an enormous crowd sang and chanted as they burned, looted, and murdered. She tried to back up, only to hear a loud clang to her left, and heard something smash on the floor. She turned to see what had caused the crash, and when she saw it, her eyes shrank to pin-pricks. For, attached to her left side, was a steel wing.
Где я?The Night Before: Part II As Princess Luna was doing her nightly rounds in the dream realm, she came upon something...abnormal. For, as she peered through hundreds of dreams of all of her various subjects. Luna then found one that stood apart from the others. This one practically glowed crimson, and, just by looking at it, there was only one thing she could think of: That has to be the worst nightmare I have ever seen! But, as she attempted to enter the dream. She was entrapped by an invisible force, which proceeded to pull her away from it. As it did so, however, she could feel herself becoming light-headed. And quickly slipping out of consciousness. I-I must hold on... Then, the darkness took her. When she awoke, she found herself in an endless void of storm clouds. Where the only light shone from the occasional burst of lightning, and the only sound was that of thunder. "Where am I?" Her voice echoed as she spoke. "What is this place!?" Then, she saw a bright flash of lightning, brighter even than the sun, flash before her eyes. But, what shocked her most was that it did not disappear. It remained in place, appearing to fill the void before her. And, when he (she presumed it was a male) spoke, his voice shook the clouds like thunder, yet came to her as a still, small voice. "Woe be unto thee, Luna, for thou and thy sister hast erased all mention of me from thy memory. And for this crime against me, thou and thy sister will be punished. For it is I who created the heavens and the earth from the beginning of time." Luna looked stunned. What had she done? And, more importantly, just who was speaking to her. "I am sorry. But I do not understand, what, have I done to wrong thee? And, moreover, how did thou stop me from entering this dream?" "I have stopped thee. Because thou wouldest attempted to intervene, as thou hast done in the past." Luna pointed her hoof accusingly. "But that still doesn't answer my question. And what gives thee authority to prevent me from seeing into the dreams of my subjects?" "Because thy power is a false one. For it is thee who made a pact with the devil. And, it is thou and thy sister who hast been granted false power." "My power is NOT false!" She growled in anger before losing a pure beam of magic. One that should have been strong enough to destroy an entire city block. And yet, when it connected with the being, he absorbed it. "How art thou still there? You should be in severe pain!" "It is so, for thou art as a single grain of sand compared to my glory." Luna slowly back-peddled, her rage turning to fear. "W-who art thou?" Her voice trembled with every word. For, gone now was the proud demeanour of the Princess of night. Only to be replaced with a look of shock and pure horror, one more befitting of a frightened foal. "I am that I am. And thou shalt know that the day of judgement shall soon be upon thee. And that thou and thy sister shall be swept from the earth. And that thy nation shall be smitten with fire." Her eyes turned to pinpricks as she looked up at the creature before her. "What do you mean!? Why are you doing this!?" "Have I not said already? Thou and thy sister are to be destroyed for keeping thy people from doing the very thing that has been set out from the creation of the world. The ability to choose good and evil. And thou and thy sister have prevented this. Why?" Luna took a deep breath. "Because we wish to keep them safe from harm." "And yet, thou keepest them entrapped in lies and falsehoods?" Luna looked puzzled for a moment before she once again stood defiantly. "Of course we do! Because we love our ponies! And, if that means burying the past for the sake of harmony, then so be it!" "Then thou art nothing more than a hypocrite. For thou wouldest also erase me! For thou and thy sister persecuted and murdered my children! All the while raising yourselves up as idols!" Luna's eyes scrunched shut in pain. As images flowed through her mind. Memories of bloodshed, war, and destruction, pledged her soul before she slowly looked back upon the giant pillar of lightning. "Y-you are t-their God?" "I am that I am. And now, thou shalt be gone from my sight! For the souls of those, you have murdered testify against you. And they shall have their justice!" Luna once again felt her grip on reality slip. Before she was taken by the darkness. Void could not help but stare as she carefully flexed the metal wing. It felt no different than moving her real wing. Seeing as it did, exactly, what she told it to, which, to her, was quite unsettling, to say the least. What the heck? How does it even know what I want it to do? After a minute more, she had started to get bored. "So, what was the other thing I was supposed-" She stopped herself mid-speech as she saw her right fore-leg. I'm wearing that stupid uniform, aren't I? And, sure enough, she felt clothing on her back and a pair of boots on her hind-legs. Seriously!? What is it with people dressing me up like a psychopath!? She grunted before she sprawled herself on the couch. Yeah, no wonder that stallion thought I was her. In fact, I'm starting to think that she is just like that evil version of me- Her eyes widened in realization. Wait a sec...I think I'm in a dream! Well, more like a nightmare. But if I try, maybe I can wake up! She tried closing her eyes and clearing her mind. But, as she did, she felt herself become enveloped by a powerful force that restricted all movement. "Hey, what gives!?" She tried to resist, but, very quickly, she felt herself become very tired. The last thing she heard: was a still, small voice. "Unless you wish this to become your reality, you will leave Kell's Keep at once and flee into the wilderness. For there, I have a purpose for thee." Void shot out of bed and looked around. She could feel as cold sweat dripped down her fur and saturated her wounds. But none of that mattered to her. To her, the most important thing was finding that voice. Upon finding nothing, however, she went back to sleep. Must've just been in my dream. She crawled into her bed and covered herself with the sheet.
