Chapters Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
Dear princess Twilight
I must congradulate you on your recent ascension to Equestria’s throne, I must confess I wasn’t a fan of Tia’s reign. anywho my reason for writing this letter, is twofold. the first is two inform you of my existence. I am Arch Hortate Scorch ruler of the UTRLSEPT you may have heard of us we were allied with the Hooviet Union during the 3rd world war and we continue to be alllies, though i do disagree with the cuurent leadership, Alliance’s aside my secratary tells me that westerners don’t no much about the the Legion and few know i even exist. Now on to the second reson my primary reason for this letter is tell you is that I will be traveling to Equestria in the near future for… familial reasons I will be bringing along my 5 brothers a number of my praetorians, my secretary, 8 Frumentarii, and some… servents. my point is don’t be alarmed I’m not an envader i just have some issues to resolve and I’d appreciate the privacy to do so.
Yours in confidence,
Twilight looks up from the letter.
“Legionnaires, aren’t big on spelling are they?” Starlight asked
“Guess not.” Twilight replied
“Should we tell pinkie pie to prepare a welcome party, it sounds like he’ll be here a while.”Starlight said
“Well he did ask for his privacy, besides he didn’t even give a date” Twilight explained
“True, I doubt that’ll stop her though” Starlight replied
“Maybe we should ask Celestia,” Twilight Suggested
“Good idea.” starlight said
“Spike!” Twilight yelled
“What!?!” Spike yelled back
“Could you come here?” Twilight asked
The now teenage dragon walked down the stairs and came to the throne room
“ There you are Spike, I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia” Twilight explained
“Why? can’t you just email her like normal ponies, I’m skyping my girlfriend” Spike said
“Because, She’ll receive it faster..” Twilight exclaimed
“Twilight, Sunset Shimmer didn’t introduce the internet to Nirnequus just so you could keep writing letters”
“But, Celestia doesn’....”
Spike cut off twilight by pulling up Luna’s YouHub channel on his A-phone
“Email. Her.” Spike said
“Fine, if you don’t want to be helpful,” Twilight replied angrily
“Doesn’t work anymore” Spike said walking off
Meanwhile
“LUNA!!! I’ve changed I’m a gun pony now!” Celestia yelled after entering the house
“Luna?”
“Back here”
Celestia walked back into Luna’s “studio” Where she recorded her videos
“So how was the sports shooting course, You sounded like you enjoyed yourself”
“Like you would not believe I kept telling myself I would hate it but after I hit my first bullseye I think I finally realized how Scorchie felt”
“Indeed, shame he turned out the way he did” Luna
“Yes, but that’s the past now and we can enjoy our freedom!” Celestia said
“I’ve got it” twilight said finally sending her Email
“Hooray” said Starlight worn out
*ding* *ding*
“Up E-mail from Twilight, wonder what happened this time” Luna said nonchalantly
“Just follow your best judgement” Luna replied
“Problem solved”
“Alright, well I’m gonna order a pizza for dinner and an escort for desert you want anything?” Celestia asked
“No thank you, I’ve got a leftover cheeseburger from lunch”
“Alright, then I’ll get Scarlet instead of Tempest then.” Celestia replied
“Remind me how you have three sons, again sister” Luna retorted
“Trinimac and Alex” she replied
“Oh yeah Trinimac the one who got his butt kicked by Orion, Sagittarius, Grim, Scorch, and Boe.” Luna retorted
“Hmph” celestia grumbled
“What!?!” luna said
Legion Mobile Command center, over the sea of ghosts
“I can’t believe we have to fly all the way to equestria just because of some Neo Fazis” Thunder said annoyed
“They’re trying to resurrect Him, not like we can just let them do that, besides I’m not confident Celestia’s runt has the power or personality to win that fight” Scorch explained
“She beat Discord” thunder replied
“A nine year old could beat Discord, Equestria’s just to distracted by “the horrors of chocolate rain and ballerina buffalos” buncha foals they are” Scorch said
“Speaking of which” Thunder said
“Yes” Scorch said
“The Windhelm-Canterlot Treaty specifically…”
“Brother!... Treaty or not she has a history of bumping off Equestria’s old enemies including your former apprentice” Thunder explained
“Oh well “alert the media” I understand she and her elements of harmony are powerful but you better believe not even they can defeat me” Scorch said
“As you say” Thunder replied
Twilight’s Castle
“The Legion! You mean those crazy slavers who tried to take over the world 13 years ago” Rainbow Dash argued
“Well it’s a lot more complicated than that but yes that’s them” Twilight explained
“And we’re just letting them walk in the front door!” Rainbow argued
“Of course not, We’re going to help Scorch Ember whoever that is resolve his issues, and hopefully teach him the magic of friendship “ Twilight explained
“An’ if that don’t work?” Applejack asked
“Then we banish him” Twilight explained
“Let’s hope he hears us out then” Applejack said
Castle Brimstone
“My Brothers the time has come, has come for us to raise our Dread Father and finish what our Fuhrer started all those years ago and begin anew as the Fourth Reich”
“Haray Heil Histler Heil Sithis We are Hammerfurs!” The crowds shout in praise
“Now That we have decoded the Lexion all we need is a blood sacrifice of a virgin”
“Haray” The Hammerfurs yell
“Now go forth my brothers and bring me a virgin and the tyranny of Harmony will be at an end!”
Outside the Castle
“Bukin’ Fazis, Commander, it’s worse than we anticipated, They’ve decoded the Lexion apparently they need a virgin for some type of Nirnian Sacrifice, Thankfully virgins are pretty rare in Equestria” The spy explained
“I’m sorry what? No they didn’t specify an age? Oh. OH! That makes things darker… will the Emperor be arriving anytime soon”
A large shadow moved overhead
“Well, speak of the Daedra” the Spy exclaimed
Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
Over the everfree forest near Ponyville
“My Lord, we are now over the township known as “Ponywille” reports indicate that this is where Princess Twilight resides” One of Scorch’s Praetorians explained
“ “Ponyville” what the bloody tartarus kinda name is that? You know what! feck it! prepare the vertibyrds let’s make this snappy why don’t we” Scorch retorted
“ What the Buck!” Spike exclaimed
“Language!” Twilight said scolding spike
“ It’s a giant flying island!” Spike exclaimed
“I thought he said he’d only be bringing a few dozen soldiers” Rarity said
Helicopter noises emerge in the distance
“What in tarnation!” Applejack explained as a pair of vertibyrds emerged from the island
“That must be Arch Hortate Scorch” Starlight said
A large crowd of ponies started to gather in front of Twilight’s castle
The vertibyrds began to descend as they approached Twilight’s castle
“Oh boy oh boy I wonder how many ponies could fit in those things thirty forty!” Pinkie exclaimed thinking of the size of the parties she could through
“Brother it would appear that a large crowd has gathered at our destination” Deus Ex explained
“Damn, Praetorians!” Scorch exclaimed
Scorch’s praetorians turn to him when we land you are to form a shield wall around me and my brothers we cannot be seen
The vertibyrds land a group of black arnored guards pour out forming a path through the crowd
“Uh what ur they doin’?” Applejack asked
“I guess their his bodyguards” Twilight suggested
After all the guards are done A finale group of six stallions emerge from from the two Vertibirds
The first one was tall and muscular, solid black with a dark blue mane. He dressed in frontier esk attire with a large duster and bowler hat atop his head. He looked to be in his 30s to 40s and whiskers adorned his face. He had a rectangular scar on his right cheek as if that patch of skin had been removed. His were steel grey far older than his body. He was the Gunslinger
The Second to emerge was much shorter than the first and wore a far more modern black jacket with a thick scarf looking more akin to something from Spike’s japanese comic books, He was a pale grey with mane as black as the night, His right arm unlike his left which rested at his side, was rigid and stiff suggesting a prosthetic, His eyes were bright orange almost like lights a stark contrast to his body, He had no visible scars just a cold glare. He was the Cyberpunk
The next stallion was visibly much more flamboyant than the first two he leapt out of the vertibird, He was snow white and his mane spiked and dyed like a rainbow. He wore a bright blue suit and sunglasses. He had several piercings and maintained a blissful stride. He was the Playcolt
The fourth to emerge was brown like a tree trunk and his mane like spring leave, He wore an equstrailian cowboy hat and a bomber jacket. He had yellow wolfish eyes. He was roughly the same height as the first and walked just as slow. He had two scars slashed across his left cheek and a gun at his side, he wore a hunting knife on string like a necklace. There was a slight grin across his face. He was the Hunter
The last two were much more distinct then the first four one wore a button up black long coat with a green scarf The other wore an open black leather trench coat over a red nuka cola tee shirt and a pair of surprisingly shiny jeans.The one in the long coat was a bright white with a green and gold mane and was quite handsome despite this he kept his head down and seem almost sheepish like he didn’t want to be their. The one in leather had a mane like fire no not like fire of fire his hair was blaze his coat was an ashy gray, a cigar rested in his mouth and his face had an unnatural look to it as did the other stallions’. They were The Twins.
The six made their way through the path and into Twilight’s castle without so much as a grunt when the door behind them finally shut, the twin in leather let out a sigh of relief
“Huh, Thank Faust that’s over” he said as he snapped his fingers revealing his true draconic appearance namely a set of horns atop his head, scales on his face, and a green gem on his horn.
“Uh What the hays goin on?” Rainbow asked
“Frumentarii!” scorch shouted and a few of the guards ran up to him and stood at attention
“Find a large room with a large table and lay out all the intelligence we’ve collected, praetorians secure the castle if anyone tries to get in” he glances at Twilight “stop nonlethally” he said begrudgingly
“Excuse me Scorch is it? I would like…” Twilight started
“Thunder you got the blow darts?” Scorch asked in Horse
“ Exy said he finished rigging the syringer to your wrist blade” Thunder replied in horse
“Gotchya” Scorch replied in horse
“What?” Twilight asked
Starlight tried to talk to the other twin
“Could you talk to us?” she asked
“I don’t know Equestrian’’ he replied in horse sign language
“Guess you can’t talk to anypony” Starlight replied
“What are you saying?” He replied anxiously
“‘course they don’t speak ponyish they’s foreign ain’t they” Applejack said
“Hey Scorch, considering we’re using her house as a base of operations, you think you wanna give her the time of day” Thunder said
“Urgh fine” Scorch said rolling his eyes
“Greetings Princess I’m Scorch Ember and these are my brothers, Blizzard, Deus Ex, Dragon mist, Thunder Storm, and Wild Hunt, we’re hunting a traitor anything else you need to know” Scorch explained frustrated
“Actually yes, what did this traitor due to warrant the “Arch Hortate” to come all the way to Equestria to find them” Starlight replied
“Huh Thunder can you” Scorch started in horse
“Yeah I got it” Thunder replied”
“Alright , So first some context about four thousand years ago there was a technologically advanced civilization known as the Deep deer they were so advanced they keep entire libraries inside small data cubes called Lexions almost like modern flash drives” Thunder explained
“Makes sense” Twilight replied
“Well about a 130ish years ago a british archeologist by the name of Robert Jackson discovered one after exploring a dwarven ruin, when the Legion guides examined it, it appeared to corrupted and unusable, so when Jackson asked if he could keep as a souvenir unfortunately for him the guides were wrong so when he opened it…” Thunder fell silent
“ W-What happened?” Fluttershy asked meekly
“The lexion had been used to contain a dark power and by opening that power was unleashed into Victorian London the resulting tragedies...”
“Oh great another villain” Rainbow dash said under her breath
“...are known today as the Whitechapel murders”
“Wait! You don’t mean?”
“Eventually we travelled to London and put a stop to the madness and returned it to the Lexion, but not before it started a cult following one that would cause pain and suffering throughout Nirnequus” Thunder explained
“So what yer sayin’ is that this feller your after is part uh that there cult” Applejack replied
“I’m saying he stole it and is now actively working with the cults remnants in a nearby castle, in an effort to raise that god” Thunder explained
“But we’re gonna feck his shite long before that happens, Ain’t we Thunder!” Scorch says from the doorway to the throneroom
“Hel yeah We are!” Thunder yelled back
“Come on, we’ll need your help gettin’ this som’bitch” Thunder said
“Well I guess that time of year again” Twilight said
“You said it Twi” Applejack said enthusiastically
Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
Twilight’s throne room
“...at which point we discovered that Strike Force was in fact a member of the Sword of Colovia and a neo Fazi but by that point he had already taken the Phylactery” Scorch explained in Horse
“You got any idear what their sayin’ Twilight?” Applejack asked
“At which point she witnessed him make contact with Dragan Strauss leader of…” Scorch continued
“Not a clue, I think I might have a Horse to Equestrian dictionary somewhere” Twilight
“No need darling, I have a translator app” Rarity said
“... Xera was eventually able to track Strike and Dragan to a nearby castle about 2 clicks due east of here fortunately for us they seem to buy the fake ritual I put with it” Scorch continued
“Someone tracked someone to a nearby castle something something fake ritual” Rarity explained
“However I’m sure your all aware that in 5E 120 that you can find anything on the interweb meaning they very well could find the correct method following the ritual’s subsequent failure making our mission that much more crucial” Scorch
“The bad guys have the interweb” Rarity explained
“...Should they succeed in their goal it would be a terror the world hasn’t seen since the The Big Brothers” Scorch said
There were several gasps following that statement
“The Big Brothers!” Rarity gasped
“Ain’t they the Alicorns who started World War 3” Applejack replied spooked
“This Darkness must be one heck of a bad guy!” Pinkie exclaimed
Scorch glares at Pinkie
“You’s ain’t militery types are ya?” Scorch said
“Oo oo Rainbow is a wonderbolt their part of the army” Pinkie replied
Scorch looks at Rainbow Dash, and she strikes a pose
“She a princess too? Probably given the standards”
“What!?” Rainbow exclaimed angrily
“Excuse me?” Twilight said offended
“Well I’m just sayin’ if aye were in Celestia she’s a wee las with a b’t a introversy woudn’t be mah first choice” Scorch said non chalantly
“Scorch!” Thunder said shocked
“Ok that’s it we’re taking this guy out!” Rainbow said furiously
“Wait rainbow Darling !” Rarity said trying to calm her down
Scorch drew his gun “Bring it on”
“Legion!” a Zebra yelled and the soldiers drew their weapons
“Spike! Grab the elements and get down here!” Twilight yelled in a panic
“He won’t get here in time” Scorch said
“Take aim!” the Zebra said
“Oh dear this doesn’t look so hot” Blizzard said
“For them, she really needs guards” Wild Hunt replied
“HOLD IT!” Thunder yelled desperately
“Too late now” Wild replied
“I said HOLD IT Faustbuck it!” Thunder yelled again
“Twilight! I got the elemen. Whoa!” Spike said entering the room
“A Dovah it’s been so long since I’ve fought one of the Dov” Scorch said
Scorch points his gun at Spike “SPI…” Twilight is cut off by a gunshot
Meanwhile in ponyville
“Ugh! I’m never going to get laid” poindexter said annoyed
“Don’t worry theirs someone out there for everyone” Knuckle Head replied
Across the street
“Commander I think we have our pony” The Hammer fur pony said via text
“Excellent, capture him and bring him to the castle immediately” Dragan replied
“Heil commander” he replied
Poindexter and Knuckle head get up to leave
“I’ll need to get rid of the friend first” he thought to himself
Back in Twilight’s castle
“Do I have your attention now!” Thunder yelled with his Desert Eagle drawn
Everyone nods
“Good now, Twilight you and friends take this seriously and Scorch, try to be less of a dick, they ain’t exactly our standard counterbunium but their good at what they do” Thunder explained
“Alright, but we’re still bringing the elements of harmony along with us” Twilight
“Fair enough, Scorch” Thunder replied
Rolls his eyes “Fine” Scorch says
“Alright, now Twilight, have ye any weapons ye could bring along?” Thunder asked
Twilight started“It’s against Equestrian trad…”
“I do Applejack and Rainbow Dash” said in unison
“But Royal cus…” Twilight was cut off again by thunder
“Oh thank Faust you don’t all follow that hippie bullshit Celestia tried to push”
“Well, I whadin’ call Celestia’s anti aggression policies bullshit but i can’t say i didn’t strongly dislike her all equines are herbivores belief” Applejack responded
“Gotchya, can you two spare some ordinance for yer friends?” Thunder asked
“No, just my handgun” Rainbow replied
“I might could by my heat’s pretty big though” Applejack responded
“Alright then, Praetorians any of you speak equestrian?” Thunder asked
The Praetorians stare back in silence
“Not speak as in talk, speak as in understand y’all don’t “speak” anything” Thunder correct
A small group of them nod
“Alright, When we storm the castle, you guys watch these girls’s backs” Thunder explains
The Praetorians nod in response
“Good then, now back to planning” Thunder says walking back towards Scorch
*aside to scorch*
“Whenever, you wanna start using normal guards again my men are ready” Thunder says
“To quote Whiplash “Drone better” comprende” Scorch replies
*end aside*
“Blizzard, Thunder, Wild Hunt, and Exy will enter through the west entrance neutralizing the guards, I will infiltrate through a balcony window and identify any targets Xera may have missed during her preliminary sweep so Misty and the sniper’s can take them out, after which the rest of will take up positions around the perimeter in particularly around the four entrances, during which myself and the others will make our way to the ritual chamber neutralizing any hostiles along the way, once we arrive there they will most likely have their main force concentrated there thus I will give the signal to attack the castle and begin assaulting their main force” Scorch explained
“This is a high priority mission and failure is not an option so I’m only sayin’ this once, Do ah make mahself clear?” Scorch asked in horse
“Uh, can you repeat that in Equestrian?” Twilight asked looking a little embarressed
Scorch rolls his eyes annoyed
Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
‘Near brimstone Castle
Scorch breathes heavily “Next time we’re drivin’ to the castle hu”
“Maybe if you didn’t wear a black trench coat in the dead of summer” Blizzard retorted
“Says the stallion wearing a bright blue suit to a gunfight, could’ve at least worn your femcolt outfit least that’s flexible” Scorch said
“Oh so you do like it don’t ya Scorchie”blizzard teased
Scorch rolled his eyes “Buck off Blizz’”
“How much you payin’?’’ Blizz teased
“Hey, can you two knock it off castles just over the hill” Xera said
“Fine, hold!” Scorch orders “Thunder!, Wild! On me”
The four sneak over the hill into a small grove near the front of the castle. Two hammerfurs guard the door and another watches the windows above.
“I got a silencer…” Scorch suggested
“I got a better idea” Wild then stood up and shot toxic dart at one of the hammers
“Gah! Ugh…” the hammer groaned
“Ryder? What the…guh!”
“Wrist mounted dart gun… beat that” Wild bragged
“Beat that!” Scorch muttered sarcastically
Scorch teleported to the castle door and aimed his grappling hook at the balcony above
“ up we go” he muttered
Scorch repels up the wall then hangs off the side
The hammer approaches the balcony
Scorch grabs him “What th fu… Aaaaahhh!!!!” he yells before hitting the ground
Xera, Blizzard, Deus Ex, and a Khajiit sneak over to wild and Thunder waiting at the door
“Alright Bliz do your thing” Thunder says
Blizzard starts picking the lock “huh weird you’d think a buncha Neo fazis would have place locked up tighter than a virgin pussy”
“Thank you for that image sir” Xera says
Blizzard glares at Xera
*click
“We’re in”
The door opens to a grand entry way with a large stairway A single Hammerfur stands guards
“Stand back this preys mine” Wild says hungrily
A corpse falls from above
“By the Fuh.” Scorch jumps onto him stabbing him with his wrist blade
“Kill stealer” Wild says quietly
“*groans By Faust it’s been awhile since ah’ve done that ah must be gettin’ old” Scorch complains
“Old? Your like 12,000” Deus Ex retorted
“Doesn’t change the fact that mah back hurts like a boomer's butt” Scorch replied
“Whatever let’s keep moving” Deus Ex replied
The 8 of them easily sneak through the next few parts of the castle until they come to a room with five hammers
*gunshot
“What was that?” one of them yelled
And four of them ran toward the gunshot
“Sounds like the Snipers are doin’ there job” Scorch said
“All yours Thunder" Ex says
"FUR HEAD!" Thunder yells
The last hammer turns to thunder gun raised but Thunder quickly dispatched him with a throwing knife
"Khazir check for hostiles" Scorch orders
"Sire" he confirms
Khazir walks into the next room
The room is a large ballroom with a chandelier and a few long tables, Khazir turns to the others to confirm when he notices something out of corner of his eye, A large stone door with a skull on it
"What the Fuck" he says
"Clear!!!" He yells
The others enter room
"Find anything?" Scorch asks
Khazir stares at the door
"He khazir" Scorch snaps
Khazir points at the door "My lord that door it looks like… like the ones described in those old tales… a-about.."
"The Dark Brotherhood" Scorch finished
"But sire, I-I thought the were only a legend meant to scare people" Khazir explains
"They are… Now but back in the day they were the real deal question is…" Scorch starts
"What's one of their doors doin' here?"
*Back outside
Rainbow Dash paces back and forth obviously board
While Rarity tries to explain to Twilight how to use her smartphone translator
Pinkie engages in a staring contest with a praetorian even though it's face is covered by a latex hood
"*groans what's taking them so long" Rainbow complained
"Rainbow, you are aware that this is technically an army thing right?"
"Yeah, Well the wonderbolts wouldn't take this long" Dash replied
"Rainbow y'all don't go into combat" Applejack pointed out
"Yeah, true"
"What is the goal of life?" The door asks
"Death, my brother" Scorch answered
"Ah never got these passwords just say "the most edgy thing" my brother and bam your" Thunder says
"They were a lot more discreet back in the day" Ex explain
"Alright in we go" Scorch says
Faint echoes fill the the dark corridor as the walk into the sanctuary
"Hold" Scorch says
Scorch walks closer clinging to the stone wall as he gets closer he notices to hammerfurs in Dark Brotherhood robes
"I can't believe we're actually summoning a dark god" one Hammerfur said
"Not just any dark god the Black Sun The very god who made Histler" the other explained
Scorch attaches a silencer to his gun
"Shit I need to pee" the first one says
"Alright but hurry up" the second says while looking at some papers
Scorch crouches down and walks towards the the second hammer, he raises his gun and
"Ahhhhhh"
A large calibur gunshot echoes out
Scorch turns his head to see the second hammer writhing on the ground with a gunshot wound
"By Sithis don't shoot!!!!" the second yells
Blizzard walks into the room his Vegas themed .357 magnum drawn
"The hell was that!?!?!"
"Bliz!!!" Scorch yells
"Oops" Blizzard says
"Fuck Fuck Fuck"
Back outside
Over the radio:
"We're compromised storm Castle Wolfenstein I repeat Storm Castle Wolfenstein!"
"Charge!" A Frumentarii yells
The soldiers charge toward the castle guns drawn and open fire on any remaining guards not killed by the snipers
They blast open the doors and begin firing on the remaining Hammerfurs
"Yah just had to shoot him didn't yah" Scorch says firing his M9FS
"He was gonna shoot you!" Bliz replied behind a stone pillar
"You could've stabbed him" Scorch said
"But I don't have a knife" Blizzard replied
Scorch glares at Blizzard "You could've strangled him with a dildo for all I care if you'd just stayed quiet"
Wild gets clipped by a bullet
"Fuck this Thunder says as he rips of an amulet causing two additional arms to sprout froms his torso allow him weild six guns at once
"Hey Angel Dust you wanna help your brother" Scorch taunts
"Fine Val " Blizz replies as he removes a ring producing the same effect
"Gotta love Sleipnir" Wild says smirking
Deus rolls his eyes with his gun trained on the captured Hammer
Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
Scorch shoots the last Hammer as he flees from the onslaught
"Faustdamned Hammerfurs!" Scorch mutters
"Alright into the sanctuary" Thunder orders the Frumentarii as they enter the room
"Deeper into the sanctuary was littered with typical Fazi occultist propaganda about how herb furs were the master race and that Avians and preds were the worst thing ever"
"Thank Faust we're reptiles and omns " Blizzard jokes
Khazir elbows him
"Ow, dick," Bliz responds
"Look for a lever or a chain, Strauss always was a fan of secret passageways" Scorch
"It's know use soldier, Strauss is likely long gone by now" the captured hammer says
Scorch's hair flares up slightly and he turns to the black robed hammer
"Then for your sake, I hope you plan on cooperating" Scorch says
"While I'm certainly not unafraid of your wrath I fear the wrath a Sithis far more" the Hammer replied
"Of course you do, Exy! You still need donors for your robo brain project?" Scorch asks
"Neuro robotics, and as it happens one of our donors wound having a brain tumor so yes, there's exactly one position open" Ex explained
" and how exactly do you use said donors ?" Asked
"I am so glad you asked, well you see Darkie after the subject expires their body is exhumed and their brain is extracted via machine" Ex explained
The Hammer now looks visibly uncomfortable
"How interesting, now tell what would happen if a living pony were to be put throw the extraction process"
"Oh I'd imagine it would be extremely painful downright…"Ex replied
"By Sithis! I'll di… ah" he was cut off when Xera plunged a syringe into his neck
"Damn, I really thought we had him" Scorch replies
"You can still scan his memories after extraction, correct?" Scorch asked
"Of course" Ex answered
"Misty park the Castle in the nearby lake, we drawn to much attention as it is"
Mist made a thumbs up and left
"What 'bout you" Bliz asked
"I'm gonna go brief the princesses"
Scorch explains the situation to Twilight and her friends
"... and so we've taken the last hammer into our custody" Scorch finished
"Do you have any idea were Strauss went?" Twilight asked
"To be honest, not a bucking clue" Scorch replied
"Well there aren't many Neo Fazis here in Equestria So I guess that narrows it down" Twilight explained
"Don't count yer sheep before their sheared" Scorch replied
"What?" Twilight asked confused
"Y'know like the chicken thing" Scorch explains
"Y'all horses sure do talk funny" Applejack interjected
Scorch rolls his eyes
"Longma, but my Pyrish accent aside, what I mean is neo Fazis and void cultists have learned to blend in, Coldhaurbor you got one for a vice president course yer head of state ain't that competent either"
"Tell me about it" Twilight says rolling her eyes
"Eh we all go through that, thankfully their ain't many Homo Capras 'round here, so a big white goat like him aught to stick out"
"Wait! Strauss is a goat but all the hammers are earth ponies" Twilight said
"Histler was a goat, the Fazis thought the Germanes and Capraustrians were the same" Scorch explained
"Oh right, right, sorry I haven't done much reading on World War II in a while" Twilight explained
"Faustdamn millennials" Scorch mutters
"Ok Boomer" Twilight retorts
"It amazes me that Equestrians through the term Fazi around so casually despite knowing almost nothing about D6-39" Scorch complained
"D6 what!?" Twilight asked
Meanwhile in Brinstone Castle
"The Dark Brotherhood in Equestria?" Hyperion asked
"Crazy I know, but it was them black door an everything" Blizzard explained
"...This is not good if they truly have returned Sithis or not, they pose a significant threat to both our Empires" Hyperion explained
"Well the good news is we shot most of them" Blizzard replied
"I suppose that is good, but Strauss still has the cube, has Scorch tried with the Note yet?" Hyperion asked
"Yeah, he tried to make Strauss yeet himself off a building on the flight, didn't work" Bliz explained
"Damn, I guess Sithis didn't want his best weapon turned on his followers" Hyperion explained
"No shit, Sherlock" Blizzard retorts
"I know It seems obvious, but we killed 3 high level Fazis with with that Note" Hyperion explained
"Or hear me out they actually got and the Killer book had nothing to do with it" Blizzard corrected
"Very seldom are such coincidences the case in terms of magic" Hyperion explained
"Very seldom do people talk like that in real life" Blizzard mocked
"And you wonder why the mortals left you out of the pantheon" Hyperion retorted
"Hey! I gave just as much of power as the rest of you" Blizzard retaliated
"Yes, that's why you left with the Magne Ge for a third of the creation process" Hyperion corrected
"Fuck off!" Blizzard replies
In the sanctuary
"Damn, I can't that believe that MaFloca slipped through our fingers again" Wild complained
"Me too I'm gettin' tired of huntin' down the same targets over and over again"
*dripping
"You hear that?" Thunder said
"Sounds like it's on the other side of this wall, Xera! breaching charge" Wild yelled
"Right here" Xera says as she tosses the charge to Wild
"Rig it up!" Wild says
Thunder sets the bomb
"20 seconds!" Thunder says quickly stepping back
"3, 2, 1" the 3 say in unison
Nothing happens the three look at each other confused then Thunder turns to Xera
"got any grenades?" Thunder asked
"Found a whole box of them just sitting there" Xera explained
Thunder places a the box in front of the wall
"Alright as soon as Xera pulls the pin on one of these suckers it'll explode starting a chain reaction that should bring the wall down"
"Wait why am I the one that has to pull the pin you're the explosives expert!'' Xera objected
"Because you're the soldier and we're the royals"
Xera looked frustrated then quickly pulled one of the grenades pins and ran
"And that princess is why the Germanes elected Histler" Scorch explained
There a loud series of explosions in the distances
"What in Tarnation!" Applejack exclaimed
"Sounds like Thunder found a secret passage again" Scorch replied
"*Coughs* I forgot how much of an idiot you can be" Wild said
"Really now, cause I haven't" Xera said trying to stand
Wild helps her to her feet, Thunder looks at the damage
"Well at least we put an opening in the wall" Thunder says pointing to a small hole on the passage wall"
"Well guess we know how he got out" Xera said
Darkness Rises when Silence Dies
“Tunnels lead down to a sewer outlet, apparently they used it to dispose of their victims” Khazir explained
“Found someone down there?” Scorch asked
“Two Zebrican redguards and what I’m guessing was a rushed pony sacrifice” khazir replied
“Guess Strauss didn’t want any baggage” Thunder reasoned
“Least we’re free to kill Strauss when we find him” Scorch said
“Scorch!” Thunder said
“What you know that fucker has it coming” Scorch replies
“Yeah and you enjoy killin’ more than he does!" Thunder explained
"So what doesn't matter if they have it coming" Scorch replied
"Like you care if they deserve it" Thunder said
"Y'know you're right who am I to decide if they deserve it's not like I'm an E'tada" Scorch retorted
"That's not what we're meant for!" Thunder replied
"As if! Mother's never been that hands on! except with Craikirk" Scorch argued back
"And how do you know that?" Thunder asked rhetorically
"I've met her" Scorch replied calmly
Wild steps between Scorch and Thunder
"Ok ok that's enough for now mates let's go ahead and have the princess and the local coppers put out an APB while we look for a Dwemerologist with some very politically incorrect cultural views" Wild said
"You got that Princess" Thunder said
"Uh sure" Twilight replied
The mane six begin to leave the castle
"It feels kinda weird not being on our own on this one" Applejack said
"Yeah these guys are like the exact opposite of Celestia and Luna" Rainbow added
"This bad guy their after must be PRETTY bad" Pinkie exclaimed
"Well it is supposed to be Jack the Ripper" Applejack replied
"Yeah, the more I think about the less I buy that story" Rainbow explained
"And they look pretty scary too" Fluttershy chimed in
"Clearly their more interested in intimidation than style" Rarity explained
"Come to think of it I have been wonder why Celestia never told me she had any brothers" Twilight explained
"I bet they made it all up to distract us so they'd have an excuse to invade Equestria" Rainbow exclaimed
"Now hold on Dash theirs still a chance their being honest" Twilight replied
"But what if they aren't?" Rainbow asked
"That's what we need to find out meet me at the castle tonight and we'll go over everything we have on Equestrian Royalty
Later that evening
"Command we have a situation the ritual failed, our hideout is compromised" Strauss said quietly into a pay phone
"Yes…. I understand… I'm on my way" he says before boarding a train with the Lexicon on him
"Fuck!!!" Blizzard moans
"What is it?" Thunder asked
" we've been searching for hours and we haven't found a damn thing"
" Maybe that's because Zoozling evil racist dwarf scientist and Fazi porn aren't the best keywords" Deus Ex replied
"Go to Coldharbour" Blizzard
"Well if we're telling people to go places, how about yah grab a few of our lads and get some grub" Scorch said
"Ugh. Fine what do you all want"
"Burger, Pizza, rib sandwich, fried chicken, roast beef sandwich" the others all say in unison
"Why do I have to have five brothers he turns around to all of the Frumentarii from them"
*sigh "who wants what?" Blizzard asks
In Twilight's castle
"Welp that's another dead end" Twilight said tossing away a book
"you'd think there would more stuff on a guy with a flying island" Rainbow exclaimed
"Yet all we've found is some vague references a handful of short stories"
"There doesn't seem to be much on him but their sure is a lot about his country" Rarity explained
"What did you find?" Twilight asked
"Well apparently it's centered far off continent with a strange culture called Tamriel, They do a loose alliance with the Hooviet Union and Huoshan, Foenum" Rarity explained
"Welp at least he got that part right" Applejack said
"Does it say anything about an Arch Hortate?" Twilight asked
"Yes, but it doesn't give any name" Rarity explained
"Mine does!" Spike exclaimed
"Really Spike! what book are you reading?" Twilight asked
"Internet" Spike replied
*sighs "Spike the internet isn't a credible sou… hey!" Twilight says
The rest of the mane six crowd around Spike
"Does it have a picture of the Arch Hortate?" Rarity asked
"No, it says whenever he's in public he covers his face with a magic mask and crown because of facial deformities" Spike explained
"Doesn't the big scary one have a scar"
"But he used magic to change his look" Rainbow pointed out
*knocking
"Anybody home?" Blizzard asks
"One minute, hide everything" Twilight says
*slight crashes
"The fuck are they doing?" Blizzard asks
"Probably some friendship sex ritual" Xera suggests
"Hmm weirdos" Blizzard replied
*Twilight opens the door
"Oh Hello, lizard was it?" Twilight asked nervously
"Blizzard, anyways are their any like fast food places around here like Burger Queen, Harbies, Pizza shack, or razin' Azrhukhaul" Bliz replied
"Oh well there aren't many places like here in ponyville but over in Horseton it's about ten minutes away from here" Twilight explained
"Thanks, Frumentarii les be off" Blizzard said
*Blizzard and the Frumentarii leave and goes back inside
"What did he want Twi?" Applejack asked
"He was looking for restaurants all that serve meat" Twilight
Fluttershy *gasps
"lots of ponies eat meat it's normal" Applejack explained
"Maybe, Spike look up Frumentarii"
*Castle Brimstone
*eerie whispering
"What?" Scorch asks
*the others look around
"I didn't hear anything" Thunder says
"Mah pills mus' jus' be wearing off" Scorch replies
"Maybe take some more?" Thunder says
"It's 20 o'clock you what them things do to me when I sleep" Scorch replied
"But still" Thunder started
"Knock it off Thunder I don't like my pills either" Mist signed
"Fine" Thunder replies
"If my pills bother you two so much why do you take them?" Deus Ex asked
"Because we don't like being starred by mortals" Scorch explained
"For our health" Mist corrected
"Yet you two still won't let me optimize you" Ex replied
"Till we recover mah heart after that then you put whatever gizmos and gadgets in us as you want" Scorch says
"Alright the 12 down 12 to go" Ex replies
"By the Anu, Zenithar what is with you and puttin' machinery in people" Thunder exclaimed
"I am not Zenithar I am Deus Ex Machina, and I have vested interest in giving them their fullest potential" Ex proclaimed
"Some days I wonder if Scorch and Mist really are the mad ones" Thunder replies