Chapters Author's Note
This is liable to change as the story goes on, but I decided to make this for all the upcoming chapters for when I simply skip over something or state something matter-of-factly. This way, when a reader is confused about something they may refer to the bestiary of the world to learn more.
Beastiary.
Griffon : These creatures are hard to distinguish from the average Griffin. Griffon’s tend to be more aerodynamic. They prefer to fight but can think just as fast as any other. They lie somewhere in between the freakish build of a Gryphon and the cat-like arches of a Griffin. They tend to be more robust to plumage than either race.
They live within the society of Griffs but they are hard to pin down. Their race is primarily male so they tend to find themselves wherever there is a lack of other males. Aside from this, they tend to travel and act as the poor man’s bodyguard or mercenary.
Gryphon : Warmongers. They have a natural resistance to magic, have eyes that can see even the fastest of movements, and have the strength of even the weakest minotaur. What they have in their bird-like abilities and strength, they lack in brains and foresight. They rely heavily on luck and the thoughts of those smarter than them. They are creatures of action and usually live separately from every other Griffon or Griffon.
Griffin : More cat-like than bird-like. They tend to be lazier and more money-oriented. They build cities, villages, ports, and everything else in between. They tend to rely on their minds more than they do their talons. While they are great for building, they lack war tendencies. Almost all born Griffin are females and tend to steer clear of anything that would cause them too much physical harm. There are a few outliers within this, but it mainly remains true.
Earth Pony : Earth Ponies, while lacking the raw talent of magic or agile wings, are a force to reckon with on their own. being seen as the lesser of the three races for so long, they have adapted their ways of life to adapt. When given any challenge, You can always count on one of them to step up to the plate and for a hundred. They are the backbone of the pony society being the first to settle most of the very untamed land of Equestria. And due to having to be on their own for multiple fights against both magical and nonmagical creatures, they have grown to be somewhat magic resistant and sturdy enough to take a fatal blow and sometimes walk it off. While they rely heavily on both their mind and strength, Earth Ponies tend to be naturally stubborn and even more so in their later age.
Unicorn : Unicorns are, if not a close second, the most magical species in Equestria and possibly Equis. While their magic talents range upon their cutie marks, many unicorns have learned to not be defined by just their cutie marks spells and have branched off to learning various degrees of different magic. While sometimes hard and easier depending on who you are, Unicorns have an unnatural drive to things that retain magic and knowledge. Due to their talents, they have grown arrogant over the years to the point where they see every race below them. While there are outliers to this, many Unicorns grow up to be nobles due to their birth and prowess of magic. A non-Unicorn noble is heard of, but is often scoffed at and told their only "nobles" as a joke.
Pegasus : Pegasi are something completely different in regards to most airborne sentient creatures within the world. While most airborne sentient creatures within the world known as Equestria are pictured as being very lax, Pegasi are known for their more warlike attitude to life. Unlike their other cousins such as the Thestrials, Hippogryphs, or Hippogriffs they tend to be top of the top being ever more competitive to the point of seeing almost everything and anything as a competition. Most Pegasi tend to be hot-headed and often find themselves in more trouble than it's worth. Despite how fanatic they are about fighting, there are those that tend to lean towards the more peaceful side and ignore their base instincts. They range from being pacifists to borderline vigilantes of forces of nature.
Kirin The Kirin is one of the few half breeds of ponies that roam the lands. They are born of both dragons and ponies. They hold the fire resistance of their dragon lineage, their short tempers when put into difficult situations, and the distinct ability to consume meat. On top of this, some of the Kirin's have been able to show the ability to use powerful breath attacks based upon their father's lineage. The other half, the pony half, seems to give the Kirin the distinct ability to be able to master one's emotions to use various abilities such as mood-changing transformations. They also hold a more equine form than a dragon when looked upon from afar. Upclose one can start to notice various things about their bodies that hint toward their more dragon-like lineage. Most Kirin's are seen as outcasts among their own kind and often live in remote villages within the mountains or volcanoes.
Sea Pony : Sea ponies are one of a kind and are very rare to see far from their homes. Sea ponies are a fish-based subspecies of ponies that take more after the earth ponies than they do others. Stubborn to a fault, they tend to keep themselves and the creatures that rely on them, safe from harm and are not easily swayed from a decision. Unlike Earth Ponies, Sea Ponies hold magic within them to allow them to after the water around them and even call forth great storms to destroy both sea-born and air-born monsters. They have never been successfully dominated by any creature, but have cut it close with several. They share somewhat of the same lineage as the Hippogryphs. but the less said on that the better.
Their cities and town are formed from coral and taken care of by various fish-like creatures that are often rare or unheard of. In a battle between a Sea Pony and the rest of its kind, you would be hard-pressed to see the Sea Pony lose both in and out of water.
Changeling : Changelings, or just lings, are hard to be bested. They come in several different variations and forms that are often based upon their status within their hive, reformation, or environment. The most base ling is that of the drone. Most drones are mindless to the point that they know no language other than that of the telepathy that they all seem to share. They do most of the work and fight on the front line. They are the less desirable. Next up on the totem pole would be the worker drones. Their sizes and advantages depending upon the job they're born for. Ranging from miners that tend to be larger both in size and bulkage to gathers that tend to have multiple wings and smaller bodies to flee from predators that may hunt them down.
Saddle Arabian
Breezies
Thestrials : Thestrials are a very secretive race among the other races. Some would say the secret behind their kind is as elusive as the Dragons. What is known of the Thestrials is that they were seen as warriors before and during the 1000 years war between Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Sometime after, they seemed to disappear from the public eye after the loss of their Princess Luna who, at the time, was calling herself Queen Nightmare Moon.
Thestrial society seems to work upon a sort of kinship mixed with clans amongst themselves. While they often speak of the ponies as kindships, such as brothers and sisters, no pony has been thought of as a clan member amongst the various different clans.
Clans are based upon merit and desire such as that of the warrior clan, craftsman clan, medic clan, etc. Some Thestrials may end up in more than one clan, but most usually end up in only one clan.
Hippogryph
Hippogriff
Deerkin
Dragons
Drakes
Dragonlings
Hybrids
Minotaurs
Manotaurs
Major ponies of Neo Canterlot
Onyx Gem- The leader
Golden Hour- Leader of commerce
Sliver Cut- Health and welfare.
Jubilant Mass - Culture social events and social justice.
Steel Rampant- General
Killer Flight (Whisper Feather)- Aviation leader
Willful Wisp- Head mage
Everypony - Head Intelligence
Joy Maker-Head of Working Ponies
Happy Tales- Head of Hearth and Home
Welcome to the New Equestria!
The morning sun rises upon another day. Its cascading rays bring the only warmth the once-bustling capital of Equestria knows. Despite it being the sun's rays, this heat is cold. Lacking.
Lackluster.
This Equestrian monument once knew what actual warmth was. The sun is only a pale imitation of what true warmth is. No. It's a mockery of what warmth is. The sun would never know what true warmth is. Because there is only one and no others.
Isolated.
There is no love from this lonely blazing sun for it knows not what love really is. It knows only an imitation. It does not know how to truly give love. Anything that does not know how to truly love is disharmonious and an enemy to harmony itself.
Unlovable.
Yet it provides for life along with its sister, the moon. Both are disharmonious with themselves and each other. Despite this, they manage to rule the world with their endless cycle of heat and cold.
Careless.
None knew this more than the ponies that once mingled within the streets of the bustling center of culture and economy. From the early morning shoppers and openers to the late-night partiers and sulkers, there was never a time that the epicenter of all of ponykind rested. And above it all sat the princesses upon their respected thrones. They ruled over their nation and all that believed in them. One of day and one of night.
It was a jewel.
Now it is nothing more than just a husk of what it once was. Picked nearly bare of all the festivities and culture that once took place. Licked cleaned of the once-beloved creatures that cantered and pranced their way to and fro. Polished of the reputation that it once held.
Ravaged.
But all is not lost. Amongst the corpses and shattered homes, some lie in wait for the day they might one day return to their former glory. There are those amongst the wreckage that believe that one day, their princesses will return to them. That once they return, they will usher in a golden age in which none have ever seen before. They'll reunite the tribes and push back the villainous scourge. They'll cast out their armies and give them what they deserve.
Retribution.
The few remaining ponies scattered across the wastelands of Equestria have all clung onto different virtues to lead their groups. Some hold a belief in their strength and believe that only through this can they bring back their homes. They gather like-minded individuals and hone their abilities and strengths. The might makes right principle is drilled into them as they fight off invaders, slavers, and each other.
Warmongers.
Others believe that they simply must continue their way of living and hold onto the hope that everything will be made right again. They believe that this is all only temporary and that within time, everything will be made right. Hope is their virtue and pain is their toll.
Blinded.
And yet there are others. So. Many. Others. They cling onto what they believe and break harmony all the more.
Thus, an endless cycle of disharmony begins anew.
Celestia would sigh at it all if she could. The most she can muster now is but a mere mockery of the once possible physical action. She's had some time to come to terms with this. With her new self. Something incorporeal and unheard by everything that comes near her.
From one of her many throne room windows, she has watched the world unfold before her. She has seen various leaders gather the pony races and regress them from where they first started. She's watched them fight, bicker, and blame each other for things that were out of their control.
And yet at the same time, she has watched them band together to fight the overwhelming odds against them. Their enemies are plenty, but their will in overwhelming. She's proud of them. Even if she can't necessarily feel it anymore.
She's been unable to feel much of anything since the day of change. The sun, her magic, or the touch of another living being. After the first few months, she began to understand the meaning of you never know what you have till it is all gone. Never had she ached for so little so much.
Her one solace is that one day, much like her fallen kingdom, she too will pass. It may not be any time soon. Or perhaps it will be in the midst of another thought sometime soon. She'd never know it till it happened. And it is only one of the few hobbies she's picked up while trapped in the world of the living.
Aside from the downfall, she's been reassessing her goals. Her main goal as of late is to finally fade away into eternal sleep she has been denied. Her second goal is to figure out why such a thing has yet to happen. Of course, the second is much harder to do without being able to interact with the simplest of objects. Her third goal is to try and keep an account of all the creatures that come and go from the former capital itself.
So far she's been keeping a good mental chart of it all.
Even now, far above the streets of Canterlot, Griffons fly overhead. She's not sure what else they mean to find within these ruined lands but apparently, their hunt is far from over. Perhaps a slave had managed to escape somewhere within the confines of their old home in an attempt to find someplace safe and comfortable. A fool's thought.
But a comforting one in a sense.
She's seen many ponies picked up and flown away from families and friends now. Even if another one were to be caught in this instance, she'd only feel a dull ache that would hardly be taken note of. Such is this new world.
She begins to make her trek away from the window, seeing as the latest residents have decided to cut their losses, when a sudden breeze catches her attention. It pulls at her mane and causes it to float like it once had.
This gives her pause. Her mind comes to a screeching halt. A spike, or perhaps a flutter, of emotions.
Never once since she's taken this form has she felt anything like this before. After all, nothing has been able to interact with her. Does this mean that this wind is unnatural? Perhaps magical in origin? Or is there something more? She hadn't seen a Unicorn come into this area in quite some time. She would know. Her mind has yet to fail her where her body has.
Her head turns the way the wind is tugging her. Without so much of a thought, she follows behind the ethereal tug. It plays within her hair and around her body. It almost warms her non-existing body.
The winds lead her through passages littered with bodies and constant reminders of her failure. Not only to herself but to her parents and the ponies she swore to protect. She even sacrificed herself in an attempt to end it all. But at the end of the day, even that wasn't enough. Every option was exhausted and it only proved to be nothing more than a setback or two against the scourge.
The winds bring her to an empty hallway than ends with a dead end. There is no indication of this being different than any of the other hallways and deadends, yet she instantly recognizes this area.
She approaches the dead-end wall with caution. She knows that beyond the faux wall lies her own personal research area of arcane implements, knowledge, and lore. The only way someone could reach this, however, is through her magic alone. Traps lie in wait for those who try to brute force their way into her inner sanctum.
Yet the winds persist she continues. Perhaps they know something she doesn't. She's already dead, what more does she have to lose? Perhaps she can simply walk through her own magic and not incur the wrath she had set for those attempting to do what she plans.
A hoof is the steeple of this test. It passes through the faux wall with ease and allows her passage into the winding steps of her private area. No alarms, traps, or spells are activated as she descends the darkened steps.
They end with an entryway into a wide well lit room filled with benches, tables, notes, scribbles, magic circles, research, and just about anything else she wanted to keep her own. Many diaries winded up here to never be seen again amongst the clutter and disarray. She had once thought of turning the research lab into a storage area with how clunky it had gotten.
Funny. She once thought of trying to organize everything once she had the time. She certainly has it now, but the possibility to clean has once again eluded her. Ironic, is it not?
Though one thing she hadn't considered was the new addition to the room. In the middle of one her, she would happily admit, more impressive circles of summoning stands a form in mid panic.
The creature seems to be figuring out where it is as it frantically looks around. It stops, facing Celestia, and clutches at its slightly protruded chest.
It stands like a minotaur, yet has the build of one of their lesser cousins. It almost reminds her of a certain satyr. The creature is fully clothed with two gangly arms ending with hands that clutch continue to clutch at its breasts. Further up lies the mop of thick hair reaching down to shoulder length. A waterfall of black and shades of blue. Eyes, panicked and wide, are emerald green. Its face is rounded and very cute looking.
The creature, panicked still, shows signs of hyperventilation. Celestia moves closer out of instinct to comfort the creature and quickly remembers her current state. So she simply waits as it seems to stare directly at her. It seems in the midst of deciding whether to keep panicking or flee.
The creature's arms wrap themselves around its body. It seemed to be working its jaw as if figuring out what to say or do. Faint words could be heard but none made out. The two stares in each other's direction a bit more before one of them speaks out.
"H-Hey?"
Celestia looks behind her to see if someone had followed behind her. Seeing no one there, she turns back.
In hindsight, no one should've been able to follow her due to the whole invisible thing. Even more so considering the loads of deadly traps she had placed to ward off her own sister, but here she was being proved wrong once again. The wind, the creature, and then what? It'll turn out she's actually alive?
She watched her own body rot away to know the truth of that one.
"Today is just going to be all about firsts, isn't it?" Celestia breathes out with disdain, "Yes, hello. I'm assuming you're talking to me?"
"I-I'm sorry."
"For what? Are you the one to blame for my current state? You have nothing to be sorry for." Celestia waves a disinterested hoof, "Unless you've come to fix everything. Then I suppose you could be sorry for being so late to act."
The creature replies with silence.
A sigh escapes Celestia's mouth. She'd dwell on this if it wasn't for the fact that the shock value is already wearing thin. Here she was assuming that nothing would ever change in her life, once again, to only experience change in a way she never predicted.
It would seem she hadn't learned her lesson after all.
"W-Where am I?"
"Hm? You're in what used to be Canterlot."
"Canterlot? Did you mean Camelot?"
"No. I do mean Can-ter-lot. I'm not sure what the camels have to do with anything."
"I-I'm just a bit confused is all."
"You seem to be more than just that." Celestia says as she lays down and rests her head upon her hooves, "I can tell a frightened creature when I see it."
"S-sorry."
Celestia lets out a dry chuckle, "You remind me of a certain butter Pegasus. She was friends with my personal student."
"Is that a good thing? I wouldn't want to remind you of someone you don't like."
"No no. She was just a very timid creature. Except for when it came to her animals and nature itself. Her reactions to them always made me think of Twilight when she finds something of interest to study."
Silence reigns once more. Celestia watches as the creature becomes calmer. She, she assumes from the sound of her voice, begins to take deeper breaths. Arms slack, eyes begin to drift around. She's certainly opening up more to the world around her. Nervousness and anxiety are still prevalent.
"So who are you, dear?"
"M-Me? Oh... I'm just a nobody really."
"Everycreature is somecreature. Whether they know what their part in something is or not, is another deal. You might believe that you're a "nobody" but I assure you that you're someone. And that someone must have a name, correct?"
"Milly, ma'am."
"A cute name for an adorable creature. And with manners that are so rare here."
"Th-Thank you. Umm... I'm sorry to ask this but are you?"
Fear no longer seems to be visible among her features. Her arms are at her side, eyes seem to be focused on Celestia alone, and curiosity seems to have overwhelmed her fear to a degree. Despite this, Celestia can clearly see in her motions that she's prepared to flee if she has to. The tension in her muscles and way she seems to be scanning for something.
"A spirit? Dead? I can answer at least one of those. I died some years ago. I'm sure I'm some sort of ethereal being, but I'm not fully sure of what it is. I don't seem to fit any of the notes taken about the ethereal creatures within our realm. So all signs would point to me not being a spirit, wraith, or ghost-like being."
"O-Oh. My condolences."
"That's far behind me. I've been dead long enough to come to terms with myself and my death."
"R-Right."
A pause.
"H-How did you die exactly? Y-You don't have to answer that, of course!"
Celestia notes that Milly is a very active talker. She uses her hands and body to emphasize words. Perhaps something her people do or a mannerism took up when nervous.
"Foolishness. At the end of the day, it was foolishness."
"Do... do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"O-Oh."
Silence. More than a pause or a beat. The two lay and stand in silence. Celestia with her disinterest and Milly with all of hers.
"Um. So how do I get out of here, exactly?" She asks rubbing the back of her head trying to figure out how to get out of this awkwardness.
"The staircase behind me. But I assure you, you won't like what's up there."
"How come?"
"You must come from somewhere very far away if you're not aware of the current situation of the world. Canterlot was the center of the Equestrian nation. It has fallen to the talons, hands, and hooves of our enemies. Now they pillage, destroy, enslave, and rape anything they can out there that moves, breathes, and talks."
"Wh-What! Th-They can't do that! That's evil! Someone should stop them! Where are the troops? Where are the forces of good to make them stop their villainous ways!"
"Gone. I and my sister did everything we could with the help of my student and her friends. I died, my sister was beaten and tortured, and the last I saw of Twilight was her upper portion hung from the wall. Her friends were all enslaved and my captains were used to feed their troops. So they've failed. We've failed. I more so than them."
Shock and disgust fill the face of the creature. She looks away trying her best not to break down at the news given to her. Fear comes back, not in full force, but in mounting panic.
"There... There must be something. There always is. What about all this stuff down here? Couldn't we use it to, I don't know, get away from them? I'm not just going to stay here and die!"
"I suppose you could. I'm not sure what all works, but I can tell you what they do. But where will you go? What do you plan to do? A half-cooked plan is as good as no plan at all."
"I-I'll think of something... There are others out there right? They couldn't have gotten to everyone. I'll just find them and convince them to band together to fight back! Like in the storybooks..."
Celestia snorts in an attempt to prevent her laughter. But it only works a moment before hysteria grabs hold of her. Rage paints itself upon the female's face as she listens to the apparition mock her.
"Y-You! This isn't funny! I'm serious here!"
"Oh, I can tell! That's what makes it funnier! You've only been here for, what, minutes and have already blinded yourself with the thought of granger brought about by a foal's storybook! What part of that couldn't be more hilarious! I guess you expected me to get up and be motivated to help you fight off the villains of my people. But let me tell you something.
"This isn't a story.
"There is no hero to come riding into the rescue. There is no mare waiting to be rescued at the top of the highest tower. There are no fabled creatures of wish-granting powers waiting for you at the top of these stairs.
"From the way you act and talk, you'll be beaten, raped, or enslaved in minutes. A Griffon will look at you and you will cower. You'll hesitate at the sight of blood. You'll fold up and quit before it even begins. Creatures like you are nothing but talk.
"You're better off down here where it is safe. Away from the pain, torment, and death that lies before you."
Silence once more. The female hangs her head as she crouches and curls into herself. Sobs break the silence as she begins her breakdown.
Celestia berates herself for going too far. The first contact with anyone and the first thing she does is shoot her down and break her spirit. She's even gone as far as making her cry.
But the filly is foolish! She wants to save the world without even knowing the world is dangerous! She acts as if she's meant to be some sort of shining light in the dark. She is naive and careless with her actions. She thinks of the end goal first without considering the means to reach it.
Much like her lost Twilight.
Celestia rises and approaches. She mulls the words around her head in order to figure out the best course of action to take with this one. Its been a while since she had to play with someone's emotions and thinking. But this could be the change she's been longing for. Or the change to bring about her end.
Celestia moves behind the balled woman and moves her wings to wrap them around her.
"Shhh... I'm sorry I ah! Ah!!"
As Celestia's wings press themselves against the woman's body, a brilliant light shines from both of them. Celestia feels everything the woman does. She can smell what she smells. For the first time in forever, she felt.
Alive.
"Ahh!!"
The woman screams out in pain and horror. Through the contact of Celestia, she feels only the strongest of emotions she has ever felt throughout her life. The oppressive feeling of loss over her mother and father, the endless fear of Grogar and the Smooze, the unending feeling of hopelessness against Discord, the momentary happiness of her rule, the silent depression over her sister, the repetitious suicidal thoughts, the agonizing pain of fighting, the burning rage of betrayal, the haze of feeling all-powerful.
Darkness overtakes the woman's mind as the light fades away. Despite this, she does not fall from her position. No. She rises unsteadily to her feet.
Her body shakes as she brings her hands to her face. They linger tightening and relaxing as if getting used to the feeling of feeling. Every muscle in her body seems to tense and relax as if figuring out how to work for the first time in ages.
"Ha... Haha... Hahaha. Hahaha! Hahahaha!!"
Let Us Find Hope in the New Equestria
The babbling brook speaks to the very essence of Celestia as she washes her blood-covered appendages. Her hands glide across her un-spoiled porcelain body and pristine white legs. They run through her technicolor hair that has faded into muted colors of what they once were. Everything radiates beauty beyond comparison and sexiness that only comes naturally to a select few.
Yet behind it, a(n) ugliness and fury left unsated by the blood just spilled boils beneath the surface. Despite the elegant movements of her body casting the water droplet free from her form, there is a sharpness to her act. Her suppleness coated in moisture and lust is nothing more than a(n) act to catch those that seek easy prey. If anyone is watching, they've already fallen into her venus fly trap. She simply lies in wait for the right moment to catch the insect whole.
In truth, there is no reason for her to wash her form in the open as she is. She has no reasoning to take this moment to bathe within one of the creeks and streams running down the mountainside, but the scene of the glade was too tempting.
She had promised herself to never let moments like these pass her by despite the risks. With everything considered already, she had prepared several spells for those that may wish to catch a glimpse of her.
Or simply catch her.
A nude feminine form that looks so delicate and untouched by fighting and slavery would catch anyone's eyes. The price she would fetch alone could put anyone into retirement. She could always be kept as someone's pet as well. Passed around to subordinates to raise morale when times are tough. Celestia considers herself a prize too succulent to give up.
Despite this, the glade itself holds an untamed beauty as well. This serene glade of a babbling brook can easily be seen as once connected to one of the few lesser-known hot springs along the outer edge of Canterlot. The fringe was the first to suffer much damage and, as a result, nature has taken over the lesser-known areas.
This reminds her of herself in a way.
Like the brook, she too had found herself contained within Canterlot. Never free to go wherever she liked. Never able to venture into various paths for herself in fear of what her ponies would do in her absence. Or what they wouldn't do.
She had let her nature be contained by the armors and crown. The walls and buildings built up around her became cages. But now that it is all destroyed or in disarray, she can finally let her nature take control.
She can finally set herself free.
A flare of magic dries out her hair and scares off a curious bystander. It hadn't tripped any of her wards, but she had noticed the beast looking at her with curiousness. She couldn't blame it honestly. It's not like she was a creature of this world. Or even a pony anymore.
Oh, her lovely ponies.
As much as she loved them, she also loathed them. As the years went by, she began to yearn for what they had. She knew she shouldn't, but couldn't help herself. She often spent nights and days with her sister reminiscing the times that have gone by. Times of when they used to be considered just another citizen. Days of never having to worry about villains and their plans.
Days of just, them. And their journey through their teenage years.
Celestia pulls back from the void that threatens to consume her. Some foreign part of her mind nearly sucked her away to somewhere pleasant again. But she can't afford to lose herself.
Not here. Not now.
She shakes her head to clear away water and fuzziness lingering in her eyes. Perhaps tears? But she hadn't hurt herself. Or at least not that she could remember.
She sighs before making her way towards her clothes set up to dry upon the branches above. A flourish of fingers causes the winds to free her clothes from the helpful branches and into her waiting hands. Nothing has yet to trigger any of her alarms which should calm her ever-increasing nerves, but her newly found bloodlust says otherwise. Ever since those two entered and exited her life, she's been having cravings.
Dangerous cravings.
After dawning her wears, she heads back into the city.
Sure there isn't too much there, but what is there is just as important as the rest.
Several destinations play around in her mind. She knows of several hideouts she could potentially visit to see what sort of ponies still linger in graveyards. She's rather sure she can convince them that this is the second coming of Celestia, but she isn't sure how they'll react to it. She knows her ponies love her.
But... she's failed them once. Even if she devotes her second life to never fail them again, how true could that be?
But the power of friendship will be our sword! We'll grant them the kindness of wiping them out of existence, we'll gather the ponies under loyalty, we'll break them with honesty, we'll shower their funerals in laughter, and give them the generous offer of being our slaves or death. Anything will be possible with the greatest magic of all, friendship!
Celestia froze.
Despite it being her mind, the sudden unbridled thought came from not her own. This isn't the first time something as strange as this has happened. This one was stronger than the others.
She shakes her mind free from the sudden assault of thoughts and makes a note to study her own mind when she has the time and place. Celestia returns her mind to more important matters. Such as convincing the others that her new two-legged form is as good as her four-legged one.
There are many ways she could go about it. In that past, some loved her from the sole fact she could raise the sun for them. Others were subdued due to manipulation and a show of power. Some came to know her behind the mask and loved her for who she was. They were few in number, but she truly loved the time she spent with the ones that became her personal student. Albeit only two, but the two will forever hold a special place within her heart.
"Hm... I wonder if she would recognize her home in the state it is now? Or even if her mirror is still intact."
With another item on her bucket list, she heads for the first bastion of ponykind amongst the rubble and decay. Hidden away beneath the forgotten monasteries, Celestia's Chosen await.
The children giggle and push one another as they play amongst the remains of Duckfield Park. Despite the wreckage around them, the park itself had somehow remained intact and untouched. Slides, swings, and even the brightly grotesque colored pink and yellow merry-go-round remain untouched by war and strife.
Much to some ponies annoyance.
On one of the many benches sit mothers who look on with smiles long thought lost while fathers keep an open eye on the sky and ground. The glow known as joy and children's laughter is infectious and brings fuel for the fire burning deep within their breasts.
Despite the joyous setting, there is still danger lurking just beyond the veil. The ponies have remained safe for so long by being cautious and avoiding avian patrols. They've accepted more and more into their numbers and have gained strength and trust within the various groups within the area.
At the helm of it all, Celestia's Chosen.
The few mares around have hushed conversations about recent news as well as jewelry rediscovered amongst the ruins. Stallions dressed in armor, crudely made, hold crossbows and carry bladed weapons at their side in case of emergencies. Despite their obvious importance, they often find themselves interacting with the children and becoming involved with their games.
With all of this, they formed a peaceful environment. Very rare, but a welcomed sight. Through the many webs of messages, ponies have discovered other safe havens such as the park.
Some say that the spirit of harmony guards over these areas as a silent guardian. Others say the long-dead spirits of the princesses protects them from harm in these sites. They might not agree on where this protection comes from, but they can agree that it is there.
But peace can only last so long. A lesson to have yet be learned by the once again turned tribes ponies.
"You're never gonna catch me!" A Unicorn colt cries out ducking beneath a burnt-out beam while an Earth filly gives chase.
"Oh yeah! We'll see about that!" The two continue their giggling and chasing until the colt runs into something. With an oof, he falls to his flank while rubbing the side of his face.
"Oh! Forgive me, little one. I didn't mean to get in the way."
The filly tries to backpedal her speed but finds herself rolling across the ground to be beside her friend. The colt looks up to have fear grip his heart. The rough voice from above him could only belong to one creature.
A Gryphon.
Gryphons are very rare and very different from the regular Griffon or Griffin. For one, their bodies are built to be monsters. They stand taller and are stronger than their lesser kin. They claim to be pure-blooded and are rare to see outside of their own territories.
Only recently have they made themselves known outside of the Griffonian Empire. The first encounter with these behemoths showed that they were not to be taken lightly. Five Gryphons took two entire brigades made of four platoons to take out four. The last one took out half of another brigade before they finally put the beast down.
On top of being killing machines, they're known for their perversion and hunger. They often raided less than secure lands to capture stallions, mares, colts, and fillies. They were used as food, slaves, and cattle.
One Gryphon was reported stating how cute it is to watch a stallion break as his wife gets passed around by every creature.
It's even better when it's his daughter.
"Now now, boy. I can see panic building up in those eyes of yours. You'll do well to not scream. Or else. I'm sure you've heard stories of what happens to bad fillies and colt, correct?"
The colt nods his head rapidly as the filly only cowers and tries to make herself look smaller. Defiance could be seen in the colt's eyes. But it was overlayed heavily by fear.
"Good. Now, I'm not in the neighborhood to make trouble. You see, you guys have invited trouble into your home. You haven't happened to see a stallion with two axes for a cutie mark have you?
And no. Lying."
The colt shakes his head quickly before his cracking voice speaks up, "N-N-No sir!"
"Is he telling the truth, girl?" He asks moving his talons to run across her face.
He presses hard enough to cut through her soft flesh and mat some of the fur on her cheek in blood. Tears run down her face as she stares death in the face. The stinging sensation of the cut and her tears become too much. She feels on the verge of breaking down completely.
"If you tell me the truth, I'll let you go."
Her mind was made for her.
"He's in the park!" She quietly yells as the Gryphon brings his claw closer to her neck.
"Ah! Thank you, filly."
The Gryphon turns to the colt and, with little effort, tears his throat open with a(n) singular strike. His beak opens revealing several canines in the back of his mouth. Grips hold of the flesh beneath the wound and tears before swallowing.
"Ah... The liars are always the tastest."
The filly can only hyperventilate as the murder turns towards her. The Gryphon makes a quick movement as two Griffins make their way out of the brush nearby and pick her up.
"Now you be a good girl, okay? I'll see you tonight."
With a lick of his lips, he turns towards the direction he saw the filly and colt come from. Apparently, his scouts had forgotten to mention a park nearby.
"No matter, let's move boys. We've got some sheep to herd."
New Equestria has problems
Morning comes without the sun. The sleepy home of the dwellers beneath Canterlot's ruined housing find their days started in a different mean. Canterhorn's residents, once moved in, found purple and translucent crystals that mimic the sun in both warmth and utility. It might have taken days for them to behold this treasure, but find it they did. And put it to work they have.
Due to this discovery, farms have managed to make a profit here. The farmers who are used to growing trees, cash crops, and various options for food have fully found themselves a home here. More at home than the broken former noble houses that used to annoy them to no end. One could say that farmers are the new nobility in this forsaken land.
And they've taken to it like fish to water.
Somehow, the crystals know when the sun rises on the outside and make their change likewise. When the sun vanishes and the moon rises, they go into a dormant state. They shed little light, but those who were already used to seeing in such a way found no problems. The others simply had to adjust or do something about it.
With magic no longer being a safe option, they have turned their attention to science. They took artifacts from the past and began to reverse engineer everything they could. From the simple lantern to the grand machines ran simply through magic. They began to run a course away from their traditional learning.
In a time before this, such thoughts and actions would never be tolerated. Many saw science as a way of moving backward rather than forward. Many of them questioned why they would have to learn what the lesser races treasured. Their magic had always seen them through.
Shame how quickly the mind changes when on death's bed.
This new world of science was met with anticipation and anxiety. Many wondered whether this dark age would last forever or simply be a bump in the long road of their victory. Some even wondered would it be worth it at all. Some only wanted the luxury of what they lost and saw this as a faster means of getting it back.
Others simply kept moving.
For it was all they ever knew.
"Precious jewelry for your lady!"
"Freshest bread this side of the underground!"
"Extra! Extra! Griffon warlords last saw going at each other's throat! Learn what this could mean for you and your family! Read all about it!"
This is how Neo Canterlot truly awakens. The original hustle and bustle of Canterlot never ended.
It simply moved.
The sound of vendors opening their doors, hatches, and windows for their soon to be customers are heard echoing through the cavern system known as commerce. Heads and bodies poke free from homes built into the stone around them. Each abode decorated by trinkets of old and crystals of new.
Outside of their style of living, this isn't the only change the ponies have had to go through. With society being flipped upside down, racial tensions between one another have increased despite the true object of their pain. But this, in a way, has forced them to be even more brilliant than before. They have begun to go further underground than before to fully express themselves and their discontent. But whispers have a way of reaching the right and wrong bodies.
For all of this hiding and secrecy to work, they have undertaken a change in their mane and coats. They are still nearly every color of the rainbow, but their exaggerations seem to have been muted. The brightest of furs can no longer be seen among the main population. The once neon mane styles and tails have all be traded out for dimmed down version of them.
There was no law passed among them to have this done. They simply agreed that this was the way things had to be. They promised that color would return after they win.
And this is what they truly focused on.
Ponies have always been known to get something done when they put their mind to it. No matter the challenge rating or the impossibility of it all, you could trust a pony to figure something out. Throughout the war, they proved this to be more true than ever. Despite their final loss, they made sure to do everything in their power to never be forgotten in history.
They've left a scar in every nation. Every soul. And everybody.
These same ponies now seem... dull.
Empty
They almost seem to be practicing a routine that they've had instilled into them. They follow this pattern as if its the last bastion between them and the oblivion that waits outside of it.
Many of the technicolored creatures have grown accustomed to always stowing away a weapon on their person. They never seem to entertain the thought of using them on one another but remain prepared in case something were to find their new home. They would fight tooth and hoof to protect one of the last regions of living. Though they have remained undetected, they know not how long this may last.
Death could come at any time they are unaware. Unsuspecting.
They would not let themselves be blinded once again by what they have. The glittering gold they once coveted has turned to ash. The alcohol that once played across the tongue of the nobles has turned into bitter reminders of foolish antics.
To help with this, various orders and guilds found themselves formed. The Neo-Canterlot Army stands at the forefront of it all. Second, the Legions of the Sun. Third, Hunters of the Night.
The epicenter of it all lies nowhere near the middle as the once illustrious spire of Canterlot once did. The fall of Canterlot taught them the errors of their ways and they elected to hide their leaders' abode away beneath the stone and crystals alike. Camouflaged from the viewing eye of the public, they remain safe and untouched by the meandering of others.
Sure, they appear here and there to alleviate fears, pass laws, spread news, and intermingle. But aside from this, they are hardly ever seen. Even rarer are they seen together.
Rumors have begun to spread that the leaders don't see eye to eye. It wouldn't be too far fetched to believe this. After all, they once were at each other's throat before the war that banded them together.
But rumors are rumors and nothing more. Fact and fiction can not coexist. From one person's lips to another's mind, they move by the will of the bodies that use them. The ones that give into them are dangerous.
And those that make them so believable, even more.
Everycreature has an agenda. Every agenda is part of a plan. Every plan is an ideal idea. In inching increments into society, it wiggles and writhes. It is alive.
And it is here.
Yet no one notices. Or they care not to. The normality of it all might be what's keeping them sane.
Or what has driven them to their unknown madness.
The city beneath Canterlot has grown in popularity over the latest years, months, days, and hours. What was once thought of as nothing more than a rumor passed amongst the guard and nobles became the safe haven for those that found themselves trapped within the burning walls of old Canterlot. The mines underneath Canterhorn provided shelter against their enemies. They stumbled upon the entrance by chance thanks to its founder, Onyx Gem.
Onyx Gem has gone on from being a sergeant of her Majesty's army to a leader of the new world. Under his guidance and command, he has accomplished much in his short reign.
Yet he could never bring them back to where they were. He and the others like him have tried their hardest to keep the peace. To help those that need help. To keep alive the tradition of ponies wanting to help each other. But the idea of helping is different among them now.
Some, like himself, think building up defenses and learning from their past mistake will help them on the path forward. They gather people of different cultures and ideas to form a society in which they left behind. A way of a constant reminder of what they lost. A way to remind everyone what they are striving to return to.
Others see this as a weakness. They see this as not learning from their past mistakes. They believe that building their defenses and wasting time on nonessential things it wasteful of the time they all still have in this world. Ponies are dying and being enslaved every day. And they're focused on building relations with one another instead of what they should be doing.
War.
A simple knife in the heart of any Griff will do. These ponies believe that killing and showing an excessive amount of force will make them back off. They've shown them what they can do on the defensive side, now it's time for some offense.
But they need more backing. They can only do so much on their own. They need something to push them over the edge
"So... you're the new Celestia, huh?"
A nod.
"I... I don't know what to say honestly. Sure the legion has always talked about the day you would return, but to see it actually happen in my time and age is... surreal. Honestly... I don't know my own feelings at the moment as well.
I feel joy. I feel sorrow. Hatred. Disgust. And more than all the others... Confusion."
"I can understand where you are coming from. I had no plans to... return as you say. I was but a spirit trapped on this plane of existence. I thought it would be my final punishment for all of my negligence and ignorance. That the gods themselves deemed me unworthy to rise to Elithium.
Yet, here I stand. Or rather sit in this instance. I gained this figure in a way I am not sure I understand as of yet. What I do understand is that I have another chance at fighting our enemy. No more holding back. No more politics. No more restraints. This is a war. And I plan on winning it.
At all costs."
The stallion goes quiet and stares at the desk in front of him. The ratty piece of furniture has seen better days. Of course, everyone has seen better days. The time before the war, known now as the Golden Era, is far behind them. Now is the Dark Ages.
In these Dark Ages, he has made a name for himself. He's gathered the ponies of various different races to help move forward. He wants them to remember the past, but never cling to it. This is a time to change everything that was wrong with them.
The stallion, after a heavy sigh, looks Celestia in the eyes.
"The Solar Guardians are at your beck and call. As you can probably already guess. The others; Lunar Hunters, Heart Protectors, and Friendship Brigade, you might have trouble with. We all make up the Equestrian Rabble and receive help from Equestria's allies where they can be found. Mainly our Deer-kin and the Kirin. On top of this, a few dragons have come by to help as well. After the incident of their eggs, younglings, and wyrms they see that the scourage means more harm than good.
I doubt they'll ever fully recover, but the elders and adults are doing their fair share."
"That's great to he-"
"But! There are conditions to this aid, Celestia. We are not warmongers. I understand that the war is, as some say, at a standstill. It's gone cold with the fall of Canterlot and the hiding of Cloudsdale. We will not mobilize to march against our enemies. We only wish to protect all those that fall into our territories. We want to rebuild our civilization better than what it was.
"The other leaders do not share my ideas in the same way. If you want warmongers, you'll have to look elsewhere. We will support you in the act of taking refugees and expanding our knowledge in areas we do not yet understand. But the ponies come first. All ponies.
"No unnecessary sacrifices. I've seen enough of your 'tactics' when you were the leader. Now, you aren't. And I want, no, need you to understand this. I will not tolerate any behavior that places our people in danger.
"Secondly, everything is mutual. If we help you with something, we want something back. What we mainly want is your knowledge. We know you've hidden all manner of objects, artifacts, and books through Canterlot and the caves beneath. We have found some of your caches, but not all.
"I do not say this lightly either. If you help us, we will help with something of equal value to you. Though we are weak and smallish in number, we can still accomplish much.
"Third, you are no longer our leader. You can't boss anyone around here or anywhere else. Your time has come and go. The reign of the Alicorns is over. Now, we must govern ourselves. Though, if the rumors are true, that might be more of a blessing for you than us."
A smirk, "I agree to your conditions. There is much I still need to do before I go crusading across the coastlines. There are a few ponies I need to find as well."
"I'm going to assume you're talking about the former bearers?"
Celestia's eyes shift from the light purple, perhaps magenta, playful tone to a darker shade. Her face contorts slightly as if suddenly struck by something.
"Where are they?" A voice unlike Celestia's eeks out.
The question seemed less so of it and more of a statement. Perhaps even a demand. A doubled voice of Celestia and... someone else merged together.
Concern covers the stallion's face. An immense pressure could be felt around the room. There was no magic to be felt. It was nothing but an aura.
As suddenly as it came, it left. Leaving both at a loss of words.
"For... forgive me. I've yet to gain complete control of myself. I can assure you that this isn't a hazard for anypony. It only happens every so often when sudden strong feeling overcome me."
"R-Right. Well. Ummm. The bearers are not here within this city. They are scattered about. Though some will be easier to find than others. I suppose I'll start with the easiest.
"Applejack will be the first one you'll stumble across. Either through wanted signs by the enemy or simply having somepony pass you a pamphlet about her and her army. You see after Twilight sacrificed herself for all of them, she and Rainbowdash took it the hardest. They decided that if the Equestrian army had lost, they'd just make one that wouldn't. And so far, they have.
"Now they haven't done anything too major as of late. They've mostly been hitting the enemy where it hurts repeatedly and escaping capture where they can. But they've been gathering more and more into their forces. In fact, I've heard word from the others that they're planning to take back Ponyville."
"Really? They must have amassed quite the size for something like that. Where are they running from? "
"The Everfree."
Celestia gives a curious look before nodding her head, "So that places Applejack, and I can only assume, Rainbowdash. Now, what of the others?"
"Third easiest for you would be Rarity. She's part of various different factions. They come to her for anything essential they need. She fits in with anyone easily. You need someone broken out of a breeding camp, you ask her. You need goods smuggled out of a keep? You ask her. You need someone to slit the throat of a local slave farm? You tell her where and she'll do it for free. A master of espionage.
"A born natural some say.
"But she also works a smithy and boutique. Which brings me around to Pinkie."
He points to a mounted blade behind Celestia, "One of her specialties. She handles most of the orders when it comes to arms, armor, and ammunition. Since not too many ponies are looking to be cheered up or eat cake, she's gone to using her mastery of party planning and cooking to another use. Raiding parties and cooking up utensils of war. She's even got her entire family backing her up in the business. Everything they craft, they mined it themselves."
Celestia continues to look over the blade long after the stallion finished talking. It was impressive. So impressive, she couldn't see any sort of deformity or mistake within the blade. It seemed to radiate earth pony magic as well.
Perhaps a visit to the Everfree is within her near future.
Yet there was a forlorn ache within her chest. A sadness grasping at the edge of her mind. A depression waiting to swallow her.
"Now isn't the time to wallow... I'm assuming that Rarity and Pinkie have no part of Applejack's war party?"
"You would assume correctly. Both parties are strictly freelance. They travel a lot as well. Pinkie from one forge to the next and Rarity from one colony to the next. They seem to have some overall objective, but I couldn't tell you what it is."
"And that leaves just Fluttershy."
"... Yes."
"I feel like I won't like what I hear," Celestia says with a frown.
"I... I don't have much info on her. But according to her friends, she broke down. She broke down hard. She didn't take all of this well. They're pretty sure her heart snapped in two when everything is said and done. Discord appeared, nearly broken himself, and they both just disappeared. Nobody knows where. And nobody has seen either or since."
"That's... not pleasant to hear."
"Well, the bright side of it is that Discord is fully out of our manes now."
Silence. Not from a lack of words, but swelling of thoughts. Both sides have to consider what's been laid on the table before them.
"So, what will you do with this information?"
"I'll sleep on it. It has been a while since I slept on something comfortable."
"Of course, of course. Before that, I'd like to ask you for help with something. We've noticed some of the smaller colonies disappearing as of late. As well as a much larger griffon force in the area. I'm sure I don't need to explain how to connect the dots.
"But what I will explain is what needs to be done. I'm sending out runners to the places that have yet to be hit by them. We need to get as many ponies as we can from their current homes here. I don't know where the Gryphs are watching from, so I'll be sending some of my fighters with them to protect them. I'll be sending you to protect one of the runners tomorrow. You'll be going to one of the more outskirt areas, but it should still be safe. Harmony seems to soak that place and most invaders tend to ignore it."
A nod and a chuckle, "It's strange to be the one taking orders." She stands and gives a mock salute, "At your word, Sergeant."
"Not Sergeant. Commander perhaps, but no longer Sergeant. For now, just call me Leader Gem."
Author's Note
As usual, point out any mistakes seen throughout the chapter. I would've had it finished sooner, but I got held up by life.
Fighting in New Equestria is hard...
The old roads of Canterlot lie in ruin. Polished stones reduced to cobble caked with dried remnants of a battle too long ago. To travel along these damned paths means climbing over toppled buildings and graves of those unlucky enough to find their once beautiful homes crushing them beneath its weight. To perform hard labor before even taking your first step to one's destination is the main road. But the problems do not end there.
Damnation and ruin follow those along this chaotic path.
This is why new roads were made where there once weren't. Or perhaps, they were always there. Unseen by those within the light and good graces of Canterlot herself. Alleyways and underground escape routes have turned into the main way of transportation. Hiding behind rocks, rubble, and underground are the only safe ways to travel. While long in their own rights, they have proved to be a grace within this forsaken world.
A place to hide away from the light they once cherished seemed to affect them more than they had originally realized. It's a shame what they have become to survive. But adaptation is the natural state of the world.
And adapted they have.
Traveling beneath the skies has become a luxury all on its own. With the Pegasi's main force stripped of their rights to fly freely, there is little to no one who can keep a constant watch for Griffons, Griffins, and Gryphons that may lurk atop the clouds. Most of their bird-like kin are spotted in opened skies or when they're already attacking. That's why many remain armed when traveling or doing anything beneath the endless expanding sea of space above their heads.
Even worse is the weather. With no one able to continue the trend of weather control, much of the land has become blanketed by rampant dark clouds and storms. Especially atop the mountain, which they so cherish. Rifled with irregular storm patterns and sudden overcasts, they compare these events to the start of the end times.
But their time is not up yet. Not here, nor now.
So they cast away their aboveground life, unlike many others. They decide that if they can't live safely under the light then they'll hide away from sight within the dark. They continue their civilizations as if the fall of their world had never truly happened. As if it was merely a dream or a nightmare than their collective minds had.
But they won't forget what the truth is.
Underground, they have not to worry about this. They once thought the changelings were barbaric in their minimalistic lifestyle. Mining new areas to live in, making their homes further and further underground, and keeping away from the sun and all its likes. Even the newest changed changelings all seem to enjoy the presence of something over their heads as well.
One can suppose they always knew better in the end.
For now, the skies have become dominated by the enemy and nature. The Griffons have made sure that pegasi can no longer fly freely. Yet, this only applies to the day skies. For the night, belongs to the Thestrals.
Thestrals, unlike their other pony kin, never showed love for the day in the beginning. Born from the power of the night and those who worship it, they sought their strength from kinship, family, and the night goddess herself. They hold allegiance with everyone and seek to protect those that cannot protect themselves from the evils that night can bring. Despite this, they took the recent loss harder than everyone else.
They have exiled themselves from those they have called friends and family. They no longer see themselves able to stand side by side with their Equestrian brothers and sister due to their own inability to overcome their own loss. With the fall of Luna and the country, they seemed to have lost their collective calm.
Now, Thestrals come out to play in the dead of night. They fight like rabid dogs with weapons, claws, and fangs alike. They have fallen short of their once graceful nature before and after the war. The once-proud quiet race of Thestrals now stands as a beacon of carnage and insanity. They prey upon Equestria's enemies yet no longer hold sway with leaders and communion.
Rare is it to have a conversation with one of their kind. Even rarer to see or interact with them in some meaningful manner. To find a Thestral that does not rave about the fallen grace of their people or how they alone will purge the lands of all evil would be a saving grace. Only one thing would bring these people back together. The return of their moon Goddess and the purpose they once lost.
It is not a night that the two odd travelers move beneath. They travel within the tunnel system of Equestria to a destination hours away from their home. They avoid the sun to the disappointment of one and the happiness of another.
The one filled with disappointment is no other than Celestia herself. She finds her form too tall for the stout tunnels they travel within. She remains either crouched or hunched over to prevent herself from slamming her head into low-hanging rocks or the top of the ceiling. But that is only her first concern of discomfort.
The rocky surface above them fills Celestia with a sense of anxiety. Being unable to see her sun or feel its warmth drives her on edge more so than the rock tomb around them. She understands why it has to be the way it is, but she would have preferred to walk alone to their destination if possible. But she had made a promise and would not break it for some luxury she could have at some other time. Her orders were to join the runner and protect him while he delivered the message and brought the ponies that chose to come.
On the opposite spectrum, the Earth Pony she travels with known as Sturdy Hoof seems to be having the time of his life. A never faltering smile graces his lips and he seems to hum a song that Celestia knows all too well. Oak brown fur matches well against the dirt and darkness around them. His mane and tail have been dyed along the frays to be both swamp green that clashes against the rest of the ash-gray coloring.
Every so often he'll stop and look back to check up on his protector to make sure she hasn't decided to just leave him by teleporting to the surface or snapping and destroying everything around them. Normally, such thoughts would be seen as a jest, but some of her grumbling and mutters tell him otherwise. He also knows she has the power to do so if she likes. Which makes it all the more concerning for his waning health.
Despite this, he's happy to be away from Neo Canterlot. As much as he likes their new home, nothing beats getting out of the cave once and a while. After all, there's so much more to explore with the fall of everything. But there's just so much danger as well. It's what makes everything so exciting for him.
At his right side lies a knife handed down through the family. It's not as ornate as some of the noble blades, but it's sturdy and was made to never break. The enchantments laid upon it still hold true and allows it to remain as sharp as the day it was made. Aside from this, he wears no armor and wields no other weapon.
As they travel together, they have only one destination in mind.
Sunny Grove.
The area lies within the midsection of Canterlot where traffic was at its highest. The tunnel they travel through at the moment will take them as far as three blocks from where their location has been recorded as. They expect to reach their destination within the next few hours in hopes to get there before the Gryphs.
"Tell me, Steady Hoof. What makes you so happy in this tunnel?" Celestia asks with a grunt.
Steady thinks about the question for a moment, "I suppose just the idea of helping others makes me happy. My father fought in the war and he helped a lot of ponies. He was a private, but he followed orders well and did his best to make sure that everypony go home safe and sound. He believed in no pony behind and held true to his belief even in the end.
"When I heard about the mission for runners to go and help ponies that may be in danger by the Gryphs, I could only think of going to finally do something other than craft, farm, and wait to die. Sure I trained here and there in case I ever had to fight, but I could never be my father.
"But I want to continue his legacy. I will do my best to help ponies just like he did. I believe that this is my calling in life. Not just wasting away waiting for something to happen. Sorry if it seems long-winded. I suppose that's just my nervousness coming through."
"It's fine. I just felt as if I needed to know more about you. We'll be traveling together for some time, so you can talk all you like. I wouldn't mind hearing more about your life and father."
The nervous flutter in Steady's chest seems to smooth out upon her words. Something about them seems so... magical. So he begins to speak, never noticing the frown upon Celestia's features. She hadn't said those words. Not really. They came from somewhere else. She felt a spark of power upon him speaking. But not of her own power, but of another.
A familiar tinge of magical essence seemed to have brushed against her. It felt comforting and estranged at the same time. As if there was another's magic helping it along.
Freed from the confines of the earth, Celestia glows with power. The mighty sun joyous upon her return. Her back and knuckles pop as she releases built-up tension within them. Finally free from the tunnels, she sets about figuring out where she is.
"We should be north of the town now if the map is to be believed. They'll probably see us coming before we even get there fully. They actually have some pretty component scouts despite how lazy the town may seem. They're a village of builders and architects that just spend most of their time building all sorts of estranged things."
"Estranged? How so?"
"Well... they like to experiment with various weapons and armors. They're lead by the legendary Iron Shackle who is said to have made armor that could withstand even the hottest of dragon's breath. He took apprentices on during and after the war and showed them how to craft with all the elements of pony-kin."
"Iron Shackle... Yes. I do remember such a pony. He was a very eccentric pony growing up. He caught my eye in my school due to how excited he seemed to be at the prospect of crafting magical items. I'm glad to know that his legacy lives on."
She awaits a reply as she continues walking while examining her environment but runs into the back of her runner. She looks at him curiously before noticing the look of horror on his face. She looks in the direction he faces to see a sea of smoke rising to greet the sky above it.
A frown crosses her face. It has already begun before they could even make it there. That means even more senseless slaughter of her people. Celestia places a hand upon the Earth Pony's head allowing him to be warped away in a brilliant blast of white light. The two appear once again much closer to the action going on.
Before them, Earth Ponies hold shields before them in a line. On top of them, are other Earth Ponies that hold their shield up into the air while holding onto metal lances with strings attached from the spearhead to the butt. Every so often, the spearhead will fire out of the metal lance striking out against the mounted up Griffons that take potshots at the Ponies below the.
The Griffons are equipped with crossbows, shortswords, and gauntlets. The ones in close combat seem to be doing better at fighting than the ones firing bolts. They twist, turn, and stab at anything they can get close to which seems to be rather hard as the close combatants have taken up a strategy of two per Griffon. Several Unicorns are seen with these close combatants to help reflect crossbow bolts or to cover up weaknesses in their difference. If a Griffon goes for the unicorn, they leave themselves open to several, sometimes lethal, stabbings from the Earth pony in question using a more common wooden spear.
"Let's go," Celestia demands hopping down from their perch upon the roof of a nearby building, "We need to get everyone out of here before it's too late for them. I don't know how much longer they'll be able to keep this defense up, but I can tell some of them are starting to tire."
"Shouldn't we help them instead?" Sturdy asks quickly hopping down behind her, "I mean, I know what our mission is, but that was already messed up the moment I saw the smoke. If they're already under attack we sho-"
"No. We do our mission and that's it. No fighting. Not today at least. We have more important things to do. We can fight with increased numbers and push them back together. It'll be the perfect way to show them that we need to band together instead of working apart. Death will breed out new life from this altercation."
"W-What!? You can't be serious right!?" Sturdy asks moving in front of Celestia stopping her, "There are Ponies dying and you're just going to ignore that!"
"I'm not ignoring it. I'm using it to the best of our chances of survival. Since they're taking up the grunt work, we can focus on what we need to do."
"And that's just ignoring them! Damn that! You have power far beyond the average Unicorn! Even the unaverage unicorn! And you're not going to use it! Maybe death hasn't taught you shit!" Sturdy says snorting and stomping his hoof.
The world around Sturdy grows hot. He can hear the earth crack around him as his anger suddenly disappears into fear. Celestia stares down at him with rage unhidden within her eyes.
"If you really want to go out there and waste your life so much, " Celestia raises a hand cloaked in magical aura towards the Pony, "Than go ahead and-"
Celestia stumbles. The magical aura around her dies. She clutches her head. She grits her teeth and falls to her knees.
A weapon of radiant magic strikes from the air faster than the eye can see. It startles Sturdy and some of the unknown onlookers. Her hand grabs hold of the radiant weapon crafted from the sun itself and use it to help her stand. Sweat beads down her forehead and her eyes flash from their brilliance to magenta several times.
"I'll.... fight... for..."
"No!"
Her voice staggers as she seems to be fighting with herself. Perhaps a magical ailment unbeknownst to them. After all, Alicorn magic is unlike any other magic in the world. Then again, the dark arts also are unique to its wielder as well. And little is known about both.
She begins to scream.
She can't stop screaming. Celestia's mighty voice could be heard far across the miniature battlefield, causing every creature to stop their violent assault and defense. The halberd held within her hand clatters to the ground in a violent burst of power and destruction. It's sun made blade and shaft dissipates into the air, gathering around her form that seems to shift back and forth between her current one and... something else. She falls to her knees, grabbing hold of her head, still screaming all the air within her lungs.
"No! No! Stop! This! Now!" She yells out while swinging her arms wildly at some unforeseen attacker, "This has to be done! They knew the risks! We'll wipe every one of them off the face of the Equis! Why are you trying to stop me now! We'll gather everyone under our banner of wartime and strike them where they live!"
Her porcelain skin slowly turns darker. From top to bottom of her exposed skin, one can see it shift from whites' purest to peach, then caramel, then oak. The pigments respond to the demand of another now. An entity deep within her calls for control of the form. And it will have it with or without permission.
The magic floating around her flickers as the sun flares. Something is happening. Something is wrong. The power floating around her no longer feels like that of Celestia.
Something powerful. Unnatural. Even the Gryphon could feel it despite his thick resistance to magic. The purest form of magic would not be denied here. No one could resist its call for blood, strength, and unity.
"What the hell are you doing! Fire at her!" He yells, pointing at the downed form of the former princess. The Griffins around him cowered in response.
They were struck by fear, unlike any other—the horrors of their death playing before them over and over again. In various ways, they would be turned inside out and fed to the rats below the earth. Perhaps they would be spared only to be beaten and hung publically before their long time enemies. Even more, they could be used as offerings to the dragons in return for protection and alliance.
A griffin drops his crossbow. Its trigger snaps, letting fly an arrow towards the creature by accident. The magic collected around the being grabs holds of the bolt before it can reach its body. Then, the bolt is gone, and several of the griffin's comrades are covered in its' blood and entrails. Feathers and a beak fall to the ground after the explosion of meat and gore.
Frozen in fear, many begin to panic as the tall humanoid creature rises from the floor once more. No longer does it wield the power of the sun. The power it draws from is power itself. The more powerful power is, the stronger she becomes. Gryphons have never known fear, until the day they met her upon the wall. The one being that could beat even their own magical resistance. Her power could be felt for miles even after the day she died. The tower before him was
"Twilight..."
Drowning. Sinking.
There is nothing but me here. There is nothing but shadows here. There is nothing but pain here. There is nothing but memories here. There is nothing but her. Only her. I am nothing.
I. Am. Nothing.
I'm so scared. I'm alone. Why am I alone? Why were they so alone? They only knew fear with only false love. This loneliness feels even greater now.
The castle. It was all the castle's fault. They shouldn't have done that to themselves. They should've lived closer together. They should've made time. They could've made time. They knew what it meant to only have each other. Yet...
No... Maybe I don't understand. Maybe I never understood anything. Maybe that's why I'm here and she's.... gone.
But hope did come. Look past the past. Look toward the more recent memories. She loved and laughed. She stood for what she believed was right. Doesn't that count for something?
Maybe... Then why am I here? I feel so trapped here... I feel like I'm suffocating in her memories.
Than let me help. I've known her longer than you have. The two of us can shift through her memories easier. I know what it's like to be left in the dark. To be left alone with no one else to be with. I won't let that happen to you. I'll be your friend. And you'll be mine.
Friend... she didn't make too many of those growing up, did she? Luna was always the easier one to approach. Do you think she envies her?
Perhaps.
You won't leave me alone here, right? I feel like I've been here forever. With no end in sight of what I see. What I learn. There are so many names running through my head, I doubt I'll remember them all.
Of course. I doubt I could leave if I wanted to. I'll happily stay by your side and we'll figure this out, together. I...
The strange voice. The entity seems to stop. Something grows in this space. Something massive.
And then, she's gone. No...
Replaced.
Ah... I had wondered what had become of you. I suppose you would wind up being lost somewhere deep within my own mind. Or I suppose... Our conjoined minds. I felt Twilight's presence before, but not as strong as this. She even forced her way into my form. I know I should be proud of her, but all of my emotions feel... muted.
Why are we like this? Why are you like this?
Time can do a lot to someone. But from looking through your own time, you and yours certainly don't have as much as we did. You would have died in another, what, sixty seventy years? Meanwhile, time would continue on with or without you there.
But you were dead too! So it's not like you had forever to live...
That, is where you may be wrong. I thought that when I died, I would be gone forever. But I continued living even after death. And apparently, others have as well. We managed to pick up Twilight at some point, which means my sister could be somewhere as well. Trapped in that eternal limbo state. I'll find her-
No, you won't. Not while you're here. You should work with us.
Working together has shown me weakness. I don't need a weakness. A crutch. I need power. I need to right every wrong and repay my pain tenfold to those that have done this.
You're psychotic.
... Perhaps. Then again, You really don't know anything. You're still sifting through my memories when I merely took minutes for yours. You'll be trapped here for years. Hopefully long enough for you to become one. I already have enough to deal with. I'll have to wrestle control back out of Twilight's hands and teach her a thing called time and place.
She's right you know. I can tell she's more powerful than you.
Mayhaps. But everyone slips.
The two forces look towards the window of the present. The first slips away into memories once more, while the other watches the world outside through eyes no longer hers.
Rallying in New Equestria is complicated!
Twilight, as she knows herself, scans the field before her. Bodies on both sides lie impaled, cut, and shredded apart. Opposite of her the Griffons are panicking in silent frozen fear. Beside her, the ponies stand mouths agape in stunned awe.
With the reason for both beings, she has appeared. If she had to go up against herself, she too would quake in fear. And if she were one of her ponies, she would rejoice at the sight of her. A being that brings forth both fear and delight within each being.
That is Twilight.
She flexes her fingers squeezing them into the palm of her hands as she balls them into fists. She hadn't taken on such a form in quite a while. Even then, she hadn't felt this powerful before. The world in which she was forced into a human's body seemed to suck at her magical gifts. But now that she's in her own world in such a form, it's like every pore in her body allows magic to flow in and out of her body. The very act of breathing deeply causes her magic to flare brighter than before.
She relaxes and walks towards the field of battle. She raises a hand glowing with power before speaking.
"Ponies! Hear me! This battle is not lost! Together, we can push them back! Together, we can make them pay! Remember unity! Remember love! Remember the kindness you show to others! Laugh in their faces when they demand our surrender! Remain loyal to the cause! We'll show them our honest opinion of them! And when they are cornered and realize that they should have never messed with us, we'll show them generosity by making them our underlings.
"For we have the greatest power that no enemy of Equestria can copy or come close to! The one thing they fear and the one thing none of them have! Unity! Love! And -"
Twilight stands in the middle of the battlefield staring down every griffon at once. She spreads both of her arms to the side as her body's glow forms ethereal wings that spread out in front of her allies. No, her new friends and comrades.
"Friendship."
A spread of courage. Fear melts away before their feet. Shadows in their mind give way to thoughts of family and friends both here and long gone. The fire once thought burnt out in their hearts burn hotter than dragon fire. Eyes, once dull, find color once more.
A roar of sound begins behind her. Several ponies close to her begin to strike the butts of their spears into the ground. Hooves begin to stump the ground. Shields clank together in mock applaud. The sound of the turning tide.
And it is beautiful. An orchestra unlike any other.
"Take them out." Twilight commands casting both hands forward to fire off several magical bolts that all find their targets amongst the crossbow-wielding griffons.
The ponies behind her charge through her magical created wings suddenly seeming brighter and more energized. Their spears skewer the griffons before many can react. Even if they do, a lethal blow seems to glance off of them as if they're all being protected by magic. They squawk in panic and attempt to flee through flight.
But Twilight will have none of that.
She reaches out towards them and shoots down every sky-bound Griffon before they can make it five feet off the ground. She knows she's on a magical high right now, but she'll make use of it while she can. As much as she hated to admit, she might be running on limited time. Even then, she'll count this a large victory for herself and them.
All of them.
She walks her way through the one-sided gorefest a target locked in her mind. Said target has unfrozen and orders his men to focus on grabbing what they can and flee. The two make eye contact and they both show defiance within them. The Gryphon frowns and retreats into the woods with what few men he still has.
Twilight focuses her mind on teleporting to them before they can get too far but finds herself frowning. She turns and looks back to the cheering ponies. Seeing the birds fly from them has raised morale and joy by ten-folds. If the Gryphon had to die, he had to die meaningfully.
Plans begin to form and file themselves away. A slow grin, pleasant and sadistic, sketches itself across her face. An eerie chuckle escapes her throat as she looks back at the way they ran. Celestia might have had her own plans for them, but Twilight would show them all how it is done. Word will spread about them. This means unity is everything from now on.
She turns and lets the magic go around her. Despite this, she still glows with power from the ambient magic of the world. And her own released magic. Every creature shot down by her magic seemed to leach into her. It was delicious and cold. Much like minty ice cream.
"All hail Twilight!" The ponies roar as she approaches them, "Hurrah!"
Twilight can't help but let herself melt into the environment. This is what she missed. Being locked away on and around the wall taught her so much. She could see nearly everything, but could only do so little. Even now, she can tell the first spells she was able to cast in her death was starting to fade with the presence of the Gryphon. She taps a finger to her chin in thought.
She supposes that now that she is alive once more, she can finally find the time to actually take a good look deep inside some Gryphon's guts. Find out how they tick and what makes them so magical resistant. If the powers she has now lasted for a while, she might be able to test pain tolerance and the most effective way to break the Gryph race.
A subservient race of hunter warriors would do well as fodder for taking down other empires. After all, she remembers quite distinctly that any Griffon who disobeyed often were fed to the rabid Diamond Wolves. So, yes. Fodder will do quite nicely.
Food treating food as it should rightfully be. Plus, in some year's time, perhaps she can figure out how to get other ponies to grown canines like that of the Kirin race or Pegasi. Now that would put some fear into their enemies.
But another time and another place.
For now, she has to focus on the here and now. The present time of what's happening before her. To make do with the time she's managed to reign away from Celestia. The crowd of ponies quiets down and part as an elder stallion and mare make their way forward.
Their coats mimic one another being dull in coloration. The manes and tails are tied or cut to prevent getting in the way of whatever work they partake in. And their eyes are worn and sullen from what looks like a lack of rest and water. Something Twilight had never really noticed when Celestia had first approached. Nearly everypony here looks haggard in sleep or just slightly too skinny and sunken. How long had they been living like this?
"Is it true? You're Twilight? The aura is uncanny, but your form. It fits much of your notes of the mirror world, but I thought you couldn't take it into this one?"
"You're correct. I gained this form through... other means. I'm not able to tell you as much as I would like to about this whole situation, but I can assure you that it is completely safe as long as I remain in control. But enough about that, I'm assuming that you're the leader of this area?"
"Yes. My name is Burst Forge and this is my wife Golden Alloy."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both! I'm, as you probably know, Twilight and I came here with a new friend of mine named Sturdy Hoof. We're here to bring you back to the main settlement under Canterhorn to keep everypony safe and sound. We could also take the time to bring about the council and discuss what we should do about Equestria as a whole."
The two Earth ponies share a look before the stallion speaks up, "I... I don't think we'll be able to do that Twilight. This place here is our home. And we could never abandon it. Not with how much we've made and built here."
"You can bring whatever you have with you. We would never abandon your home. Just like how I and my friends never gave up hope in our own homes, I'll be sure to never give up your homes either. We just need to come together once more to show the heathens of the other nations what Equestria truly means. We should never be measured by our worth, but by our actions. We've gone too long being nice. It's time to show them what an angry pony looks like." Twilight nods her head at each pony she can see, " I have a few ideas, but I need some great forge workers to make it come true. We already have the material and the ideal space to build what we need in, but it would be hard to bring everything back and forth through the tunnels and alleyway without getting harassed by the Gryphs."
"Plus there is so much I'd like to learn from you all. such as the metal lances that shoot their points. How are they made, how do they work, can we mass-produce them, and are they easy to learn."
Forge lifts up a hoof cutting Twilight off from continuing, "I understand what you mean. But that isn't what I was referring to. I wish to show you something. Something that we have constantly been working on that might make Canterlot hospitable again. To help fight against the threat of the Gryphs. But also, make it so we can travel around under the sun again."
"I'm assuming that is the reason why everpony looks haggard and starved. I hope you're not putting your ambitions before others. A leader is nothing without their people. Celestia knew that the most."
Forge hesitates, "No. Food is... hard to come by here. We grow enough to get by, but not enough to properly feed ourselves. But we give it our all so we might one day give more to our foals and colts after us."
"I understand, but those same colts and foals still require their mothers and fathers to look after them and make sure they grow up ideally to fit into the environment they grow up in. If you're forcing the two to be apart or, Celestia forbids, making the foals and colts work on your project as well, I might have to pull the plug on your idea."
A beat of silence before Twilight continues, "But I haven't seen any evidence of that. And hopefully, I won't, for your sake. For now, go ahead and show me this project of yours and we'll talk about everything else after."
"Of course, Princess."
"Not Princess. Friend. Just call me Twilight."
"Of course, Twilight. Right this way."
View Online
Learning about factions in New Equestria is hard...
The scarred and battered mare slams into the floor and skitters away bleeding from freshly opened claw marks upon her barrel and flank. She cowers in the corner as the creature before her continues to lash out. More and more glass and wooden objects become destroyed upon being slammed into the floor. The overturned dark oak table, once smooth, now has rivets carved into it by claws.
The room that was just recently cleaned from his recent activities finds itself in an even worse state of affairs. then it was before. Blood lies scattered through the room, sheets freshly folded lie shredded across shelves and the bed. One of the end tables lies on its top due to the legs being broken and embedded into the wall through the head of one of the stallion servants who happened to be in the wrong place wrong time. A tragic fate for both him and the mare's sanity.
All of this is due to his rage coming from recent events. Though nopony or anygrph will speak up, the rumor of the recent loss has already spread quite far. The Gryphs that are not loyal to the commander has been seen sending messages and making runs to whoever they actually answer to. Though she is nothing more than just a slave to this vile Gryph, she's able to hear much going around the ship.
The latest news, while leaving her very terrified and bloodied, allows her to hold hope once more in her heart that the world will once against begin to turn in their direction again. The information she has gained from this Gryphs' loss has increased morale quite a bit. The return of one of the princesses! There was always disillusion about such a thing happening, but they were nothing more than such. To hear confirmed information about such a thing...
She knows who will really enjoy such news. The thought nearly brings a smile to her face, but knowing smiling in such a delicate situation would certainly be her untimely end. She can't afford to die here and now. Not when there was so much to bed done. Not when she still needs to get her revenge.
Thankfully, there are mainly Griffins on the ship rather than griffons. Due to the more cat-like nature in Griffins, the ponies are able to get away with more than usual when it comes to sneaking around and managing to escape to deliver messages. Though getting caught can mean a lot worse fate than being caught by a Griffon. Griffins are creative and tend to know how to drag things out to best benefit them in the long wrong. This is why most of them are traitors when it comes to Gryphons.
The Gryphon in charge of this battlement is known as Grimtail. He used to go by something else, but he earned the name through the many raids he's gone through. One of the lesser-known Gryphons, but still powerful in all respects.
Grimtail stands breathing heavily before snapping towards the knock on his door.
"What," He growls out.
The door opens to reveal a silver griffin who seems to look at the room skeptically, "I just came to deliver a message from Duskfeather."
Grimtail's body seems to stiffen as he regards the Griffin, "And?"
"He said that he's heard about your recent victories and your second defeat. He was wondering if you were in need of some extra help. And that his offer stills stand."
Grimtail growls and lashes out against the wall, "You tell that pigeon breeder he can stuff it! This is my operation and I will rip the rewards from it! Not him or any of the other warlords! If he wants what I have here, you tell him he's going to have to take it from me!"
The griffin shrugs before turning towards the door, "Hey, I'm just here to pass the message along. Oh, before I forget, I hope you don't mind if we take some of your crew with us. They seemed very discontent with your leadership and asked if they could join up. We could always use some more fodder so we happily accepted."
"You what! Those treasonous bastards! Who the hell do you-"
Grimtail goes stock still as he feels claws pressing against his neck and sinking into his back directly where his spine is.
"I'm the Griffin you don't want to piss off. Now, I'm going to leave and you're going to try and do your best not to piss me off further okay? Or else, Duskfeather won't have to worry about dealing with you, because I will. Got it?"
He hadn't seen her move from her spot. Yet she was there, lethally ready to disable him. She slowly walks back from around him and gives him a wink, "Now you be a good hatchling and hurry up to your death, okay? Duskfeather is a very impatient Gyphon and he does not like to be made to wait for what should be his."
With that, the Griffin leave leaving Grimtail conflicted on what he should do moving forward. With his crew cut down, even more, he'll have to play very differently now. He turns to the mare he remembered was still in the room to find that she's no longer there. He snorts and figures he'll just find somepony else to relieve his stress out on.
Or in.
Twilight stands before the project dubbed Fall of the Sun. FotS for short. She glances down at the document they've managed to write up about the idea behind it, but still can't fully grasp what has led them to this. The mixing of machinery and magic was never unheard of, but to go on to this sort of lengths.
It was sickening. Yet comforting to know that the ponies have begun to think outside of the box. Unorthodox ways of achieving goals were frowned upon in her old life. She sought to figure out why and found kinship in her friends. She went on to join various different shadow groups much to the disappointment of her teacher. But she felt a similar disappointment in her as well.
Forge taps a hoof against his chin contemplating the question asked of him. She had asked what all material did he still require for the machine to be working. Or at least close to working enough to be used.
"Perhaps," He begins gazing at the mechanism, "Perhaps gems and crystals to help with the focus arrays. We've managed to get the science part down, but we can't yet get the magic to focus precisely on what we wish it to do. I know I needn't tell you that magic requires will and foci, but attaining such a thing, or replicating it, has been very difficult. We have thought of some... more inponmane ways. But none of us could go through it.
"Though your insight would be very welcomed into this problem. I'm sure my wife would be a lot happier if I could sleep better at night."
"I'm sure she would be." Twilight says running a hand across the front of the machine glancing at the exposed inner mechanism, "But you have the magic part inefficiently though. We could go at it from a completely different angle. I like what you have here honestly. To make use of things that no longer have use and give them purpose once more.
"Waste not want not at its finest.
"But, I want you to take a look at this. As you can see, the magic channeling through these lanes stagger or slow down depending what's near it. As you mentioned before, you had never witnessed the machine move like this before. And that's because it never had a proper magical supply. But we can fix that easily by adjusting the purpose of the components. We'll charge them like scroll spell arrays and have it focus more on fueling the spell than willing the spell. That way the foci I have in mind don't become overloaded by the various different forms of magic being channeled into it.
"As far as crystals and gems go, we could always use the ones under Canterhorn. That is, of course, if you choose to work with their military effort. If not, I'm sure the two of you could come up with some trade agreements."
Forge grimaces at that. Twilight can tell that the old stallion does not like the war in any sort of mention. He'd rather be far from any sort of military movement if possible. Yet he doesn't seem to mind helping to supply it. Of course, in his mind, he sees what he's doing as one thing that beats all. What he has in his hooves is a superweapon unlike any other. Something to put the fear of pony into all those that have caused grief upon their lands.
Twilight can't know everything about anything. As well-read as she may be, her knowledge can only extend so far. When it comes to magic, the theory, application, and power requirements are all there. But when it comes to how otherworldly matters take place such as machinery and how they are combined with magic, she's fairly in the dark. She would once call herself a pioneer before the fall but now she has quite the catching up to do.
It excites her. Many new experiments to test. New ways to fight. New ways to live. New ways to die.
"We're living in very interesting times~" Twilight sings out a bit giddily, "So what can you tell me about the others in the area? Or just in general. I'm sure you haven't been able to get everything here from the ruins around you."
"Ah. Well. A few of our partners would like to remain anonymous, but I'm sure I can tell you a few things here and there." Forget says unsure about his own answer.
Explain away as you can.
After a long conversation, it has become very apparent how split up most of the pony kin has become. Despite knowing that the Kirin decided to be half race traitors, it appears that there is a new race of ponies as well that have managed to crop up. They've been giving no official name, but they apparently live within the woods of the Everfree, Whitetail, and any other large masses of woods. Aside from this, the only real notable groups of ponies that are sensible seem to be Forge's, the Neo Canterlot, Friendship Guard, Apple Empire, and the Crusaders.
In order of power, it seems to be Apple Empire, the Crusaders, Neo Canterlot, Friendship Guard, and then everypony else. It is no surprise that the Apples were able to overcome whatever came at them and turn it in their favor. Especially since there are so many apples across the land. Their sense of community and oneness has been unlike any other Earth Pony family.
In all actuality, more than any family.
The other two raise some questions tho. Apparently, the Friendship guard is made of multiple factions that are meant to represent the various elements of friendship each with its own unique practices and names. They are each lead by their respective leaders and have the leader of the all dubbed The Magic. Nopony seems to know who this pony is, but it certainly has caught her attention.
Another thing would have to be their policy regarding the other friendly races. Apparently, their friendship doesn't expand that far. It's either ponies or nothing. Xenophobia within the Friendship Guard doesn't sound right. Meaning, one of her friends can't be involved with them.
Hopefully.
The Crusaders, as she had assumed upon hearing the name, is run by the Crusaders who have apparently matured quite a bit. Not only do they have their cutie marks, but they apparently are leading the ponies' second-largest army. The first belonging to the Apples who have taken up the same crusade as them. The only difference is that the Crusaders seem to be willing to forgive and forget while, as it has always been, the Apples remain stubborn to those that hurt them once. It seems they won't accept any traitorous help or help from those that they once called enemies.
Understandable, but quite short-sighted. A problem that will have to be fixed later when she's able to finally speak with Applejack about all of this. For now, she has to focus on the closest settlements. Or at least what's left of them. Ponies apparently don't get up here much due to the Gryph movements and looting. The ones that do come are usually very well guarded caravans that had to fight tooth and nail to get here. Due to this, trade for food that they need has been quiet, if the pun could be forgiven, fruitless.
More things to plan and consider. Any comments my dear teacher? Silence? Quite petty of you. Then again, you've always been quite the petty horse, haven't you? I'll take control from here on out for a while. Maybe after you simmer down and actually starting thinking, I'll see about letting you out of timeout.
Farming material in Equestria is easy?
Author's Note
So this was the chapter that was supposed to come out for January. February's chapter is about halfway done. My GF has been making snuggle appointments so nothing could be done *shrug*.
Farming material in Equestria is easy?
Twilight can only marvel at the sight before her. She had nearly forgotten how abundant the caves beneath Canterhorn had been. And to think, the ponies had nearly only scratched the surface of what all there is to be down here. They have found all sorts of different magically charged gems and ancient crystals, but none could compare to this recently found bounty of magically infused krustallos. She may not be a Crystallographer, but even an Earth Pony could tell that the energy being emitted from this mine is unlike any other.
Twilight, with a fiendish grin upon her lips, turns to her mining mates and announces that they have hit the jackpot. It has been several weeks since the joint mining operation began and the last raid by the Gryphs. The runners had all managed to come back with loads of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies from various different locations. The majority of them decided to stake their claim in making various items, crafting tools, or joining up with the war efforts. Others have decided to become miners, farmers, and scholars. One would have thought Twilight would have locked herself away with books plenty due to her natural affinity towards learning. But instead, she has found herself unnaturally drawn to things outside of her base knowledge.
To feel everything first hoof seems almost... correct to her.
This has shown itself to be the case when she first discovered how much she actually liked cooking her own meals. Sure she did here and there later on in life when Spike was more out of the picture and when her body was on four legs, not two, but she hadn't really enjoyed herself and mainly had used magic to do so. Cooking by hand has been quite a different experience altogether. While not as dexterous as she would like to be, she's managed to make use of everything she can.
From flipping pancakes, squeezing oranges, and handpicking garnishes that are rare in between, she hadn't relied on magic as much as she had in her past life. Perhaps it was for the better. After all, all of ponykin is trying to move past that part of their lives. where magic ruled everything and science was for those that needed a hobby that didn't include going outside. After all, what was the need for science if you have magic?
The foalish nobles and the simple-minded. She once wished she could go back in time to rub it in their faces, but remembered that messing with time can have some very... disastrous result. And she would rather avoid that if at all possible.
And then she soon discovered exercising and stretches. The sound of popping joints and the feel of strain within her hardly used muscles became increasingly enjoyable as the days went by. She decided to take practice with the guards on their early morning runs. After which, she would join others in makeshift gyms to work on her lifts and "gains" as one pony had put it. She certainly wouldn't consider herself a muscle head, because the greatest muscle is the mind, but she never really knew being fit was so much fun.
That using her hands and making use of her body would actually be an enjoyable experience.
Thus when it was announced that a new mining team was being put together, she decided she would be fully on board. She went through a course, read a few books, got her gear, and went to work every day outside of running, lifting, and planning. At one point, she had forgotten that life had changed so much for all of them.
Despite all of this, she didn't think she would take to mining so well, but something about the body seems well suited for it. An easier grip than magic. The ability to strain muscles again stone. She hadn't noticed, but the body has become more and more muscled as the days went by. Pudge that had been her belly has shrunk and disappeared only to be replaced with a solid smooth surface. It squishes a bit here and there, but she has certainly gotten stronger through all of her efforts.
Unlike her previous life, she had decided she will be well equipped in both body and mind.
Speaking of mind, it has been eerily silent. The presence of both entities within her has been oddly distant. She's been trying various different ways to contact the spirits within her but has born little fruit. Celestia she is fine from not hearing from, but the other. She knows Celestia would never help her through the scape that is her mind but would she try to hinder her is a question all on its own.
Despite the joy she should be feeling at finding a new source of gems for pony kind, she can't help but think of so much which takes place in their world now. From her current possession of a body not her own to the helping of the war effort, and to her own unbridled rage towards those that deserve it. She had never been one to give in too quickly to her emotions, but it could be an influence on the bond the three share. The connection is obviously still unstable...
Perhaps there was something within the spell they used to-
"Ahh!"
A sudden scream breaks Twilight free from her own darkening thoughts. One of the crystals has moved and lashed out against some of the nearby ponies. It seems that some of the gems refuse to be used by others. Understandable, but problematic.
Twilight pushes herself through the fleeing crowd of ponies while giving the pickaxe, custom made with the help of Iron Forge, a few test swings. She's never gotten the chance to use it on any creatures before. But now seems like the best time to test its durability against more sturdy opponents.
"Hey ugly!" She yells while yanking free some of the smaller gems and tossing them at it with magic, "Over here! I wanna use your face as mining practice."
That's.... not what she was going for. It seems that Celestia's rash emotions are still affecting her. Perhaps more than just meditation needs to take place. Either that or a sit-down...
No. she definitely needs force to make her do anything now.
The beast rises fully from the ground revealing its more disproportionate shape. It resembles that of a bear but made of point multicolored gems. The right side of the bear seems to be larger than the other yet the paws on each leg seem to be built for crushing instead of slashing. The bear quickly takes notice of Twilight and roars.
Seeing it roar and lash out makes her wonder how these constructs actually work. From timberwolves to the lesser know Firblings. They're animated or construction anomalies that seem to be able to do things that organics can do. From eating, sleeping, and even using a voice. It's very strange and leaves a lot to be desired in the idea of fighting various different creatures. If they could be tamed and used against the enemy effectively, how much of a fighting force could they have?
The bear bull rushes towards her. Twilight allows her magic to flow into the pick while calmly walking in its direction. She once read somewhere that this was how bounded weapons were formed. Celestia's halberd and rapier, Luna's great-ax and maul, and Cadence's longbow. Twilight never thought of taking up a weapon due to her friends being the most powerful weapons in all of Equis.
Perhaps there was a way to bound them to her? Now that's something to look into. A way to teleport all of her friends to her as the simple flick of the wrist. To bring the elements together at any moment's notice. A smile cracks upon her face as the point of the pick cracks against the gem created skin of the bear's side.
"Oh! Sorry! I had forgotten all about you for a moment!"
Her body had reacted on its own. Or perhaps...
"Celestia?"
No response and the Bear turns around to lash out to try and crush her beneath its paws. Twilight, agile and slim, weaves between its attack and body before slamming the point into the stomach breaking through the gem and into whatever makes its inside. It howls in pain while rising up on hind legs. She rips free the weapon before swinging it into the right hind leg of the best. Instead of ripping it free, she yanks it towards her causing the best to lose balance and fall to its back.
It attempts to roll back to cover its belly but finds itself pinned and a glowing hand pointed in its direction. The spilling liquid from the beast's belly seems to glow the same color of magic as Twilight's.
"Interesting. So all of that magic has to reside somewhere huh? I guess that makes it that much easier to control you. Yet, it isn't the case with the Timberwolves. Or perhaps we're using the wrong magic for the Timberwolves."
A solid crack followed by the shattering of the injured hindlegs causing even more magic to flow free from the inside of the beast. It would attempt to scream and scamper away but finds itself completely stuck and unable to do anything. It whimpers for mercy.
"Oh shush now. I'm experimenting. Now, just hoooold still for me~"
Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.
Crack...
War in Equestria is Silly!
Author's Note
Sorry for the super long delay but I have been on and off with being sick as of late. Now that my waning health is finally starting to turn around after visiting the doctors several times, I'm finally able to get back to writing again and finishing up where I last left off.
War in Equestria is Silly!
Deep within the caverns of Neo Canterlot, a powerful waterfall could be heard. While not natural in its creation, it still somehow retains the beauty of the crystals around it as they all seem to sparkle and glisten from the excess water splashed across them from the change in nature. The earth beneath the ceiling has been carved to form a river of nourishment that leads back to the ever-blossoming unofficial capital of ponydom.
While water has not been an issue of late, there has always been an ever lingering thought of the ever-shrinking reservoirs of water beneath the mountain. What would have been an easy fix under a pony-controlled weather system has now become a liability. While large and pure in its own right, with the ever-increasing number of tunnels being made to allow safe passage of various goods, trades, and ponies, more and more water has begun being drained from it to allow more ease for digging through the harder and more condensed portions of the earth.
This formation of a pony-made river system from the various above-ground streams and rivers has been a celestial send for three key reasons. The first is the increase in the yield of crops and the expansion of farmlands. With softer soil now flowing with magic and nutrient from the crystal growing above, the size of said crops have increased and have allowed more land to be used to farm food for those within Neo-Canterlot's region. This has also caused new crops unheard or seen before to appear as well.
Rare and unheard of plants can be seen growing along the newly created river bed. The ones that catch the most eyes are the luminescent ones that seem to have the ability to trap magic within their fruits. A sort of magic blackberry and raspberry has quickly become the favorite amongst the children and the bane to adults due to how energetic the fillies and colts become after consuming.
Shopkeepers of both pastries and candies have begun the process of figuring out how best to include these new fruits into their foods without losing those magical properties. While the testing and tasing has been underway in the new development of life for the main populace, those within the branches of the military or higher form of work have begun researching possibly drawbacks and benefits from these blackberries and raspberries.
Some have begun to call them the magic berry.
The second advantage this river has brought unto the ponies is that of hope unlike any other. Even when their world has been torn from their teeth and hoof, they have managed to find a way to make life livable. The aura of peace that they have long sought after has yet to return, but a glimpse of what it could entail could easily be seen from the increasing changes of the world around them.
Not only has the river brought forth hope, but the innovation of inventions that cater towards the betterment of pony life. The first water wheel to allow faster production of energy and crushed grains. A source of entertainment for the fillies and colts that have been recently born or were of the world from before. And the empowerment that ponies can once again feel as if they have their lives in their own hooves.
The third is the need course of progression with this new source of water. The naturally made caverns are only so numerous and once they had reached the end of them, hard and unforgiving walls made sure that progression further could be halted. Twilight's strength along could pile through some of the solid slabs of rocks, slate, and crystals, but the process still remained slow.
Thus water was used to try and dampen much of the none support walling to achieve progression through the stone roadblocks. The thought once caused distress, but now only the thought of what more could they do with this endless supply of water.
Yet there is one whose thoughts are not of water and the ever progression of pony-kind. No, she currently finds herself beneath the crashing waves of the waterfall once again to alleviate the constant migraine and to meditate on her predicament. The creature in question is none other than a nude Twilight Sparkle who has grown quite fit in her line of work.
Off the side of the riverbank lies her clothes dirtied, torn, and otherwise unkempt from weeks of work. And weeks of sleepless nights brimmed with both energy and thoughts.
Meditating beneath the crashing waves has been the only way of relief to her thus far. This is why the owner of the clothes seems to be oblivious of the world around her and that of the pressure of the falling water against her form. The waterfall could be compared to that of rainfall for all she could care. Her body had grown stronger while her mind weaker from the exertion.
She hadn't known it. And if she would have before, she might have attempted to stop herself. Or mitigate the damage sharing a mindscape would have on her. For just as much as she took, she also gave. To have control of the body meant losing one's mind.
Is the price worth it? Perhaps. But the ever-constant fighting. Celestia was once silent and seemed to just float in the background. Twilight had never once given thought to her past mentor, till the aggression started.
Till she started agreeing with things she wouldn't have. The slight whispering of what she thought were her own thoughts. When she would reach out to Celestia about these, she would not reply or simply ignore her. Twilight has forgotten how old Celestia was. How used to she might be at playing the long.
A master of chess.
This is why despite the aura of lavender floating amongst her body, Yellow and white could be seen nipping away at edges of weak points of her magical hold of the body. She had thought Celestia was repressed, but no.
She was simply biding her time.
The same could be said for another. Despite being lost in the mindscape of a conjoined mind, the host, the original owner of the body, could be felt drifting with purpose through memories and images of life events of her own. Even now, Twilight could feel her being intertwined with that of the body's true owner.
And she could feel her stirring ever more and more. Communication with her had been cut off due to her former teacher's meddling, but she hoped the pulses of magical reassurance were reaching her. Because she knows that Celestia can most likely feel it too.
Something was getting ready to happen. Whether it be the true return of the owner or perhaps a metamorphosis. Either way, something was about to go down. Which made it ever the more serious for Twilight to help speed things up before Celestia could ruin it.
For now, Twilight can only wonder how much she has changed from the Twilight she knew. She also wonders what the original owner would think of all of this. she had brief conversations with the woman before, but she never got a complete read on her personality. As far as she knows, she's just a timid and fragile creature. But she had thought of that herself once upon a time before the war came.
The body that they share was once pudgy but now has become toned and athletic. Something Rainbowdash would most likely appreciate more than anything. As for Twilight, she has mixed feelings about it seeing as the effort wasn't in her mind entirely for doing this. Perhaps some hidden desire by the host, or another strategy employed by her former mentor.
Twilight sighs as she slowly floats down towards the bed of the waterfall and river. She sits there no longer meditating but enjoy the wash of water and the coolness it brings. After this, she knows there are multiple locations that she wishes to visit before heading back up to the surface. There are a few places she would like to go in order to get things back on track for herself. Since she stills has some of Celestia's magical signature, there are probably enchanted areas throughout the castle that she'll be able to get into now that she wasn't before.
Perhaps even find some of Celestia's personal storages or labs. An interesting prospect for sure. A decision a certain somepony would most likely be against. But she could care less what she thinks or want.
She rises from the river and makes her way for her clothes drying herself off with magic once out of the water. Once redressed within her baggy long pants and lavender t-shirt, she pulls a note out of her pocket and re-read it for the hundredth time this day alone.
Dear Twilight,
Our runners have found a town that had recently managed to get in contact with a spy upon the nearby Gryphon army. It seems that they're planning something big and are amassing quite a few fighters from the nearby encampments. They also seem to be slaughtering every pony they come across instead of enslaving them meaning that this is now due or die time. We request your presence in the war room to discuss further planning.
A hastily written note. Twilight had been making plans of her own, but her new friends and family needed her here and now. Looting the castle would have to come later. Hopefully not much later, but later. Closer to soon would be reasonable.
So now she makes her way through the epicenter of Neo-Canterlot greeting everypony as she goes. From the workers to the shoppers and the owners. She grew to know just about everypony's name that is within this town. Twilight can't help but chuckle to herself at how much she's become so much of all her friends. Especially Pinkie in remembering the names of everypony she meets, Rarity at making sure those around her have encouragement and something to look for, Fluttershy in showing kindness to both her enemies and those not as fortunate as her, Rainbowdash and her ego-boosting and pridefulness as well as her extreme loyalty to all those she cares for, and Applejack and her stubbornness to do as she pleases and being honest through both her words and actions. Thanks to them, she was no longer the same Twilight. She was something greater than the old Twilight. Then even her Alicorn formed Twilight.
Maybe she was just becoming too self-conceited. She's had to recharge all the mana fields many times to even keep close to the mana flow and output that she's been going at. She has also figured out a way to make a portable mana charge for herself through some of the more magically inclined crystals, but that only provides her with a temporary buff instead of a constant like being on home turf.
But she digresses. Right now, she has something else to worry about instead of her own powers and mental state. She has to figure out what to do about the immediate threat of Griffs without endangering the Ponies that are all left. As much as she wishes she could simply take care of their enemies without worry, she knows that even she has her limits. While empowered at first against the threat when she first arrived on the scene, she knows that the magical high is gone now and she has to be more aware of her state of being. Especially with the threat of Celestia having the opportunity to take over.
A migraine. A sigh. If only she would be more cooperative. Then they wouldn't have such a large problem at hand in regards to the body's state.
"Hey there Twilight!" A jubilant voice calls out as she rounds the corner headed for the cut-off section of rock meant to look like a mine but acting as a cover for the third war room, "I'm guessing you getting called off for some important business?"
The speaker a dulled shade of turquoise Pegasus with yellow and white mane and tail. She calls herself Rain Shine and works in town as the local mail delivery service. While not as good as a certain crossed-eyed pegasus she used to know, she certainly doesn't slouch when it comes to making sure everything is delivered on time. Not only is she's good at her job, but she does well as a friend on top of it.
"Sure have. Just between me and you, " Twilight moves in closer to her, "I'm sure they want me to lead the troops into battle as a morale boost."
Rain nods her head understandingly. It makes sense in all honesty. Who else to lead the groups than the one that has inspired them to do better and has brought oh so much joy into our lives. I think you would do a fantastic job as a leader for our troops against the horde and Gryphs that plague our lands! If you couldn't do it then then, gosh, I don't think anypony would be able to!"
"I guess that's one of the main reasons huh? I'm not really a pony anymore. I may be one on the inside, but I'm not on the outside anymore. I'm different, but I'm okay with that more than ever before. I want to embrace my uniqueness just like everypony else. I want everybody, not just pony, to fully understand my teachings of the past and of the present. This is why I need to get into the castle more than ever to uncover more of the truth behind everything." Twilight says the passion in her voice gradually gaining.
Rain frowns a bit, "Just don't let it consume you okay? If something were to happen to you again, well. I don't think Ponies would be able to recover anymore."
Twilight nods her head solemnly completely agreeing with the statement. Ponies do not have the best track record in regards to keeping themselves together without an authority figure around to do it for them. After learning this fact, Twilight almost pitied Celestia after Luna's banishment.
Almost being the keyword.
After her own experience with isolation from the outside world aside from her manipulation of mana around her, she doesn't blame Nightmare moon as much as she once did. Something about being lost to time and space really wears away at your mind. But the real kicker was constantly looking at her crippled, beaten, torn, and raped body.
At the start, she was wondering whether or not all of that was a nightmare. That she was waiting for Luna to wake her up from a powerful realistic nightmare. But she never woke up. Well, not in the same sense of a dream. When she had awoken from her death, she had simply thought she was waking up from a nightmare that she had. A long terrible nightmare.
"...Twilight?"
Startled from her memories she glances towards Rain who seems to be looking at her with concern as well as a few other ponies that are standing around now. She might have been lost in the moment of her memories, but that should cause them to suddenly look at her estranged-like.
"Please forgive me my little pony. I had simply-" Twilight's hand slaps across her mouth as the words leave her.
It was her voice, but those weren't the words she was saying.
"Hey, Twilight? Why did you sound like-"
Twilight dashes off with a quick flash of magic gathering around her body. She re-appears a moment later outside of the designated meeting area. Another spell summons forth a magic mirror before her. Half of her hair has turned a mix of blonde and lavender while her eyes are that of Celestia. And the smirk upon her face. She punches the mirror shattering the imaginary glass and causing it to disappear.
A mass amount of magic suppresses the rise of Celestia's magic that had gone unnoticed while she had distracted herself in her memories. The slightest slip of concentration had almost undone her. Of course, Celestia was good at playing the long game. This proves that more than anything else. She shouldn't be so surprised but.
"Damnit!" She says turning and punching the hardened wall next to her, "Just leave it alone you bitch! Your time has come and gone and I do not need you trying to mess with these ponies any more than you already have! Do you really think fighting against the change coming forth is going to be good for them or us!? What will you do at the end of all of this! Think Celestia think!
"You have had almost all of eternity to set us up for success, but what did you do! You fucked it all up because you didn't want to be overbearing! You wanted to be seen as malevolent and yet you've fucked things up more than anypony else! Do you know how long you've kept everypony around you in your shadow? Me, Luna, Cadence, Chrysalis, your own children?
"Yeah! That's right! I found out! I bet you didn't know that one did you? That you and Luna both have your own secret line of children that never once became Alicorns. But all these other ponies outside of your own family line have. You don't think I don't see the jealousy in your eyes when you gaze at me or Cadance? You say you're proud of us, but is that really true?
"I hate you, Celestia. I honestly never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth, but I slowly came to realize how true that is over the many months and years that I've been dead and the course of the war. Even when you first came to me in the hallway of accession, you hardly would look at me. You were more concerned about what was around me. As if you wanted to learn the secret to how I managed to get there.
"Tell me something, Celestia. If you could do it all over again, would you change the way you live? We are timeless. Even in death, we never die. So when all of this is dust, and everypony you've ever known is dead, and all of the world's kingdom has fallen into despair and have parted this mortal coil, what will you have in the end?
"Nothing lasts forever. I and you both know this. Yet you treat it as all of this is your plaything. As if the world is your toy box and every broken toy can easily be replaced. But you're a captive to your own amalgamation. And now that you have the freedom away from all of it, now that you have seen the other side, that you have finally come down from your golden throne to see the world has fallen around you, now. Only now. Do. You. Act.
"So what is that you want at the end of it huh? Answer me that Celestia."
Twilight stands there breathing heavily. She had yelled so much at herself. She had a lot to get off her chest. And there is still more that she wants to yell, but for now, this would do.
Death. I will have death. Yours, mine, everything. You are right about many things, but my motives you were always wrong about. Till recently I thought I could control the world. That I could shape it in the way that I wanted to be through both my actions and inactions. Then, I learned that it was all too easy. That I no longer had a challenge.
Do you want to know why I do this, Twilight? It is because I have a true challenge now. To wipe the world clean. To start is anew. To erase everything and possibly rewrite everything in the way I see fit. To have a clean slate.
And this time, I would not make the same mistakes as I did before.
"... So you wish to play god? Or I guess goddess in your account. Heh..." Twilight could only shake her head and try to stifle the laughter rising in her chest. Twilight was expecting many things, silence being the first one that comes to mind, but not this. Though she supposes it makes sense.
"You wish to see the end of it all huh? Meanwhile, I want to see the rebirth of it all. I wish to give them real hope. To give them a reason to live. I've never been truly at odds with you Celestia, but now. I really have to be. I hope you never see the light of day again."
When the time comes Twilight, you will not.
Twilight grits her teeth before turning and making her way into the meeting area. She would have to apologize to Rain later.
Planning a fight is troubling.
Author's Note
I've finished up with school for a while so now I can finally focus on writing again.
Planning a fight is troubling.
The sun does not touch here. Deeper within the walls of Mt. Canterhorn lies rooms, pony made, and numerous to hide away that which needs to be hidden. Each has a purpose unknown to the populace as a whole. Only those within higher ranking positions know of the true nature of the caverns cut off from the rest of society.
One such room holds a large rectangular table carved from the mountain itself. Chairs, polished and meticulously made, are set up around it waiting to seat twelve. The twelve members of Neo Canterlot's elites and leaders. From those that work in the shadow to the public figureheads of the masses. Each one plays a key role in Neo Canterlot's survivability, culture, and planning
At the top of it all leading the leaders and the population with ideas and speeches, Onyx Gem. The male Earthpony with muted and dulled colors that match his name remains the very beginning of change for all of Neo Canterlot. The founder of the cavern some call him. The indomitable leader and warrior the soldiers cry.
He worked his way through the trenches of war from a lowly recruit to that of a sergeant before everything went to Tartarus in a handbasket. The kill count on him ranges well into the hundreds from all the fights he's been in. Over this time, he has become numb to the pain that affects most others within his position.
Even if the nightmares of the war still plague him in his sleep and every waking moment, he has dedicated himself to his cause more than any other. Flashbacks after flashbacks. Sounds that set him off in a panic to act against an unknown assailant that others can not see. Perhaps some type of mind magic has afflicted him. Or could it be something far more serious?
Under him in power would be that of the Commence. After all, everything revolves around bits and trade. And somepony, a Pegasus in this instance, needs to oversee it all. The pony in question is known as Golden Hour. The Pegasus holds a marely gait and slender form yet wields none of the products to display wealth. She holds her head high but her funds low.
Her fur is that of a dull yellow with light fringes of pink upon her wings. Her mane has been dyed black and she stands slightly shorter than your average pony. The only jewelry she does wear is a locket in which holds only something she knows. Perhaps a lover, her parents, or simply a reminder of her past to keep her humble. Who could say?
Next would be the leader of health and general welfare. A paranoid Unicorn who goes by Sliver Cut or just Sliver by most. After all, you had a Sliver of a chance of death when he's around. He may not interact much with most, but he knows the body of every creature like the back of his hoof, hand, or appendage he may be using at the time of operation.
A little known fact to those outside of this room, but the Unicorn known as Sliver Cut is actually a Changeling by the same name. Not one of the reformed Changelings either, but one of the holed and fearsome-looking ones. A higher intelligence Ling within his now destroyed hive. He was here within the first few days and easily spotted out by Onyx Gem himself within one of the few understaffed hospices dealing out surgery at a much lower price than all others.
Onyx to this day refuses to let others on to how he knew the Unicorn was actually a Changeling in disguise. Some have begun to question whether or not Gem himself is a Changeling in disguise. But after Twilight had proved this to be a false statement, other rumors have begun to run wild. But none concrete and none that he will comment on.
The form the Unicorn has assumed is that of lime green and yellow maned male who often spends the night going through paperwork after paperwork and or performing late-night surgeries that are life-threatening. He is seen as the best of the best and is looked up to by every remaining doctor within Neo-Canterlot. On top of this, he makes sure that every hospital, hospice, nursing home, and general welfare center are all up to snuff and are doing their jobs to the fullest to keep patients happy and healthy no matter what it takes.
Upon the same level as the other two, an Earthpony by the name of Jubilant Mass runs the culture centers of making sure events, social justice, courts, and other such forms of mass socialization are up to snuff and are running perfectly. Festivals, carnivals, and cultural exchanges are all overseen by Jubilant Mass and all of her giddiness. For the mare is not actually a mare, but a filly that has managed to beat out all the others in authoritative tones, thought processes, and organizational skills in regards to everything needed to run the position. Many would wonder why a filly was chosen to be the seer of everything fun when she would most likely become distracted by the entertainment itself. Others know better as she would run logic circles around you while writing a paper on why you're wrong about everything.
She is primrose red with a teal mane and a mane styled in the way reminiscent of old Equestria 80s. She is one if not the only filly they have seen so far that holds the idea that the old is in. Not only just other fillies, but most ponies do not see the old way as hip and cool. Perhaps the reason why she has been so successful is that her uniqueness knows no bounds. After all, if the goal is that everyone knows your name is there any wrong way?
Below the trio stands the military branches. First, one must address the General and all of his glory. A decorated soldier that has stood at the side of Onyx Gem from day one. Steel Rampant. A gruff yet young Earthpony whose specialty is a tower shield and a spear, has been with Onyx almost as long as his parents. He stands higher than most everypony and could almost be said to be the same size as the Princesses. He stands out in a crowd with his vanilla coat and neon blue mane and tail. Born of a Crystalpony and a Earthpony, he holds the tenacity of both of them deep within his very being.
Despite this, some would call him a gentle giant. This holds especially true when it comes to him and his sweet heart Sunny Days. The once-proud owner of a butterfly garden turned moth garden holder melts his heart and turns his tough exterior to mush. Yet, if she's ever in any sort of danger, some say that he can literally move mountains for her.
Next would be the latest edition of the army, the aviation leader. He goes by Killer Flight, but his actual name is Whisper Feather. He is a dark green Pegasus with feathers of yellow-orange and an orange mane and tail. He often acts seriously before the soldiers, but off duty he can be seen spending most of his time lounging about either in his home, outside, or with one of the few friends he does have.
While not being a part of the army as long as some of the others, he has done more to prove himself than the average pony. Once, he managed to sneak past the Gryphons' main force of Griffins with a small crew of Pegasi carrying Unicorns and left a deadly mark in the war with some of the first pony victories. His name will forever be etched in history as a free-form thinker and how working smarter can be better than working harder.
Another pony of note is the leader of the newly established magic division of Neo-canterlot's army. The head mage goes by the name Willful Wisp and they often find themselves at odds with both sides of their wills. While one side remains masculine and dominant, the other remains feminine and willful. They often argue on which should be in charge and what would be the better option for them, but they usually come up with a compromise to make both sides happy.
Now, Willful is a strange pony with a multicolored swirl of a coat and a blue mane and a pink tail. They often wear a collar around their neck in order to indicate whose more in control of their body that day. They have also shown a very key interest in Twilight Sparkle and the two have often been seen meeting up within Wilful's homes.
Next would be someone of importance yet hidden away from the public eye very well. He often keeps to himself and out of the view of everyone. Yet, he's most likely the one with the most friends and has been seen the most. He's both generic and unique at the same time that often make others look over him or simply see him as just one of the group.
While the shadow group may not be directly under the Neo-Canterlot army, it often finds itself being considered the splinter cell group of elite soldiers among the troops. Others see them as the silent guardians that pick off Gryphs in the night. Yet their leader calls them a bunch of lazy ponies that can't tell useful information from their own tails. Sure there are a few good pickles in the pickled barrel of the shadows, but most of them are former thieves and con ponies that decided they would use their gifts for the sake of other ponies than themselves. A sort of redemption group.
It finds itself led by a rather slim and ambiguous looking Pegasus with ice colored mane and beige colored mane and tale. He looks so out of place and yet nopony bats an eye at him no matter where he goes. He reflects himself onto others and they often find comfort in him with their personal matters. He calls himself Everypony but nopony knows his real name.
The last three are known as the ones over the public welfare and general thoughts upon the population. They stand for the working class and those that truly keep society from falling apart. The others can not complete their tasks and jobs without the populace to back them and apply themselves to work for them.
The first of the leaders would have to be the one over all of the work force. He governs the rules and makes sure that all of the work the ponies put in is rewarded fairly and evenly to prevent disruption and dissatisfaction within them. After all, the mass of production belongs to the people.
He is well known across every bar, work field, and forgery as Joy Maker. He's a lofty Unicorn with much Earthpony blood mixed in. He stands taller than every other Unicorn and often finds himself pointed out due to how much higher he stands in a crowd. On top of his height, his fur is that of a blood-red orange with crimson, almost violet, mane and tail.
He often keeps a pick-axe or a hoe at his side at all times. Both are his own creations made from the hardened natural crystals of the cave. They work quite well and are often well polished to the point that they manage to gleam in the underground light. As impossible as it seems, he manages to make everypony feel as if anything possible.
Next in power, though some would say higher in power than Joy Maker, is his loving and supportive wife Happy Tales. While her husband sees over the adult working fields, she makes sure that all of the children and those within their homes are all taken care of. She makes sure that nopony is allowed to go hungry or cold at night.
She sees to it that work orders are placed in order to make sure that certain aspects of people's lives are taken care of and anything broken is fixed. If a pony can not afford groceries, she has a certain bank of food and donations set aside from them in order to make sure they at least have something rather than nothing.
She is a robust maple syrup brown mare with dark blue mane and tail. She is what most ponies would refer to as thicker than a bowl of oatmeal. She simply tells others that she just eats well and its genetic in regards to her Earthpony blood. Most feel as if she's being modest in order to not cause the other mares to be as upset with her.
Last is one who holds no official station within the party, but is known all throughout the lands. Many fear her name while others celebrate it. The illustrious Twilight Sparkle finds herself holding the station of foreign relations. Seeing as she passed up multiple stations that she could of held, they eventually allowed her to decide herself something that she would like to do or at least take part of so she could be included into the meetings. Eventually she decided that she would handle the state of foreign affairs and everything that it entails.
“I’m happy the great and illustrious Princess of Failures has come to finally join our strategic meeting. Was the importance of friendship keeping you too busy?” Steel Rampant scoffs upon the princess turned human lazily walks into the room.
“Mmhmm. Just as busy as you are when your neck deep into your personal bodyguard's asshole.” Twilight replies merrily taking her seat to the right of Everypony.
The normal steely gray muzzle of Rampant begins to turn a scandalous red as the the rest of the members begin to smirk at the crass humor being started. Several can be seen attempting to stifle a chuckle. Rampant tries to grunt out something in remark but finds himself quickly cut off by another member.
“You think that’s the same noise he makes when he was choking on him?” The Everypony asks as he leans over and whispers just loud enough to be heard by both the insulted and those around them being major general and the newly appointed aviation Corp leader who both had to hold themselves together from snickering while Twilight simply nodded her head as if agreeing.
“Enough, the three of you. Leave your petty squabbles outside of the war room.” The head of the meeting barks silencing the three of them from continuing.
“Yes, Onyx.” The three say apologetically.
“Good. Now, on to the first note of business we have to conduct here today.
As you all have most likely been informed, the Gryphon of our area has begun to amass vast amounts of Griffons and Griffins for a final push against every small settlement, base, and harmony filled place there is left here. There is no knowing if they know of Neo-Canterlot but it is best to be safe and assume that after they’re done on the surface, they’re going to be coming into here.
Now I don’t, and I’m sure you don’t, want that to happen. So we’re attempting to cut it off at the base before they can get the ball moving. One of the intelligence agents has managed to bring up some good info on how they wish to go about their attacks.
From what I have read, the Gryphon’s plan seems to send larger forces to the small areas to take them out quickly while smaller forces will harass larger areas to weaken defenses so that when the larger group can quickly and effectively wipe out the smaller threats and allow the larger, now combined, force the ability to march in and take it.”
He takes a moment to let what he said fully sink into the room. The reactions are a mix of exasperation and anger. It’s understandable because it’s a long the same lines of what happened towards the end of the first war and seeing the same strategy implemented again. That would anger anybody.
“Now we all know how this strategy works in person, but I wanna know what everypony else thinks of counteracting their plans just by hearing it.”
“I believe that the steps we should take should be in action to these larger groups. Send out a strong force to take them down, than do the same with all the other.” The aviation group leader suggests raising a hoof.
“Interesting idea, but do you know how many soldiers to send forward? You know our forces, but do you know theirs? I had just said that they are recruiting more soldiers. So how many soldiers do you think they’ll put in each group. Furthermore, how many groups do you think they’ll make? We know ourselves which ones are the hardest to take possibly, but what do they consider the hardest to take and the easiest? I like your spunk but think more before you answer.”
“R-right…” he replies lowering his hoof.
"Now, does anyone have any good, more thought out, ideas moving forward?"
The room remains quiet for but a moment before Twilight speaks up.
"Do you have something in mind already?"
"Well, since you ask, I do."
Fighting a Battle is Peaceful.
The familiar noise of a war camp could be heard throughout the encampment. The all too familiar grinding of metal on stone, the grating thud of hammer on armor, and the heated arguments of impatient chicks and kits waiting for the blood of their enemies. The sounds of war would never grow old to the elder Griffon.
War is bred into the very blood of ever kit and chick. It only festers and grows as they become the feathered Gryphs they are today. Every Griffon knows into what world they are born. What role they must play.
Despite their hollowed bones, they remain strong as the weapon that each of them grip. Despite their smaller brain capacity, each are drilled within them the very basics of war ethic and every strategy under the sun. Their forefather's blood runs through all of them which ignites within every Gryph's heart every time they spill the blood of those that stand against them. Gryphs are literally bred for war.
And war never gets old. It never changes. Senseless blood shed and never ending violence. The endless chasm of the void awaits each and every one of them. Its effects upon the mind and body are no better than the end.
Even as the elder Griffon looks around, he can see the many blood shot sunken eyes of the bird brains around him. Several missing wings and muttering to themselves how they'll never be able to grace the sky just as their ancestors once did. A fate some would consider the ultimate punishment and worse than death. Several look as if they haven't slept for days and are holding on to what sanity they have left. Another Griffon rubs absent-mindedly at the spot where an arm once grew and carried him through his childhood.
The destruction of the lives of their enemies came at a heavy price. A price only a few were willing to make. While the other simply had to make due with the cards they had been dealt. Or have come to simply face the reality that death is none negotiable and wish to make something of it. A pretty death as a warrior may call it. The ultimate end to a Gryphs life would be dying blade in hand beside the brothers and sisters that toss themselves into the slaughter.
But is there truly any glory in it? If all that waits is the void and the death of your own kin later down the road, is there even a point? If the same war you fight only carries onto your chicks and kits, is it truly worth it? Perhaps... Perhaps war is a punishment in on itself.
Perhaps war itself is a sin. And the destruction onto the lives and ways of living on those that actively participate in it is the reward for committing. A taboo unlike any other. Perhaps that is why the Pony race prospered while others suffered. Even the Minotaur kind began to prosper after they got rid of their Manotaur brothers and sisters. And now look at them. Right back to where they began all those years ago.
And the Dragons... The less said the better.
Yes... War was the ultimate sin. All who participate will see the end one way or another and meant their next of kin soon after due to their own negligence. Until the day peace, true peace, rings true as a virtue; there would be no end to sin.
Just as the elder Griffon grows weary and tired of war, he can see many of the younger Gryphs do as well. Many probably assumed they had seen the last of these ruins all those years ago upon the final breach of the Canterlot walls. Yet here they are again. Repeating history as they once more take Canterlot and turn it into what? More ruins? How can you make ruin to something that already lies in it.
Senseless. Idiotic even.
And to think, its not event he true icing on the cake. No. That belongs to the leader of this entire thing. The one that continues to press them on despite the complaints and backlash. Anyone that does not conform to his way find themselves into an earlier grave. Its not like it could be avoided any how. They've all picked their path.
And their is only one destination at the end.
“Out of my way! Where is he!” The Gryphon orders as he pushes and throws various Gryphs out of his way, “I’ll have his gizzard for what he’s done!”
And so the dim witted fool comes. A holder of all but a master of none. His strategy may be sound, but he has put little effort into thinking of his troops.
As powerful as the Gryphons are, they’re rather short on patience and even short on temper management. Their oh so glorious leader has been like this for the past several days going back and forth threatening the lives of those that dare to oppose his magnificent plan. In all retrospect, there wasn’t much any other Gryph could really do against such a monstrosity.
He is the ultimate Gryph and what all Gryphs wish they could be born into. The powerful aspects of both lineages of the Gryph name. Yet the majority of Gryphs had one or the other more powerful than the other. Yet many choose not to follow what is meant to be their ultimate form due to the simple fact that they are more flawed than any other Gryph. Following them to the end would undoubtedly lead to the end of everything.
Which brings up the reason on why many of the injured are gathered in one place to rest instead of following the orders of a lunatic. The balance of the world has already been flipped over several times more than any creature would expect. And yet the Pony breed still finds a way to survive. Any Gryph could see this as the sign of something greater than them at work. There was a reason why they couldn’t find all of them at first and why, despite all the death, capturing, and stock piling of the Ponies, they still seem to remain in greater numbers than before.
It’s almost maddening. Than again, the Gryphs got much of the raw end of the deal as anybody else. Promised an golden age only to fall back into obscurity due to the negligence of their own Gryphs. Their government has always been one sided and it finds itself even more so now than ever with the return of Gryphons into their society. A revolution could be seen on the horizon and every Gryph knows it.
It was just a matter of time. It required the right Gryph to lead it though. Or perhaps not even a Gryph at all. Just any creature with good intentions and a plan unlike any other to save not only them, but every body that lives under the sun.
But perhaps is is the wish of a dying old fool. A last chance at redemption before the eternal void came to swallow him much as it has so many others.
Nobody responded to the Gryphon as he marched through the injured flanked by two other Griffons wielding scowls and disgusted look. Little did they know they would look like them soon enough if they continued to follow their foolish leader.
“Look at you all! Weak! Pathetic! Is this really how far our race has fallen! To not even be able to win easily against a lesser race! A prey race!
“You are all nothing more than baggage of the future. If you have enough time to complain about your injuries you have enough time to pick up a spear and fight! Do you truly wish to disrespect our ancestors lineage like this.”
The elder Griffon couldn’t help but snort causing the Gryphon to snap towards him.
“You got something to say you decrepit bird!?”
“No, no. Nobody wants to listen to the wise bird sing it’s melody. You speak of our ancestors, but what do you know of their struggles? Your kind were banished for more reasons than not. I remember how your kind would turn to cannibalize the weak. You would eat other Gryphs kits and chicks just to make sure your own would remain at the top. And when we drove your kind out you begged and pleaded to come back because you couldn’t live without a society.
“And now look at you. Fat and dumbed up from the lack of contact with superior minds. Lost in your old fashioned ways in a ever change hell scape. The way you treat lives and make strategic maneuvers is abhorrent. “
The injured camp grows silent. Every Gryph seems to be trying to advert their eyes and senses from the coming anger they knew would soon follow from their leader. He’s known for his harshness and his seek-age of blood shed for a reason.
“You don’t think I know that.” The Gryphon replies in a somber voice as he straightens himself and makes his way towards the elder Griffon “You don’t think I’ve considered our history and the things my ancestors have done to yours and what yours have done to mine? No. I know what is at stakes and I know the opinion of my army. The Gryphons have paid a heavy cost to gain what we have and we’ll be damned if we lose it.
“You may think I’m being harsh with you all, but none of you know what true harshness is. Being hunted constantly by creatures that should fear you for game and sport. Watching your own kind bend a knee to their sworn enemies. It drove us made. Your kind drove us all mad.
“What’s even worse is that a lot of your ancestors never gave a Vorka’s ass about any of this. They had rather play their make believe game of politics instead of taking what rightfully belongs to them.
“And so here I am gratefully defiling myself with interacting with those that hold grudges and scorn us even after the time we spent repenting and regretting our very genetics.
“So tell me “Elder”, “ he leans in close beak to beak staring into the eyes of the older Gryph, “Which of us is truly hateful. And which of us is trying to do what’s right.”
The elder Griffon grunts, “You would be wise to remember that history is never black and white with things. What’s right today will be in the wrong tomorrow. If not than then long into the future where we both become so obscure that we might not even be remembered as the race we are.”
“You’re a decrepit fool.”
“And you still remain blinded by your hatred. I don’t have to listen to the ramblings of a lunatic.”
The Gryphon growls like a lion before sinking his claws into the elder Griffon’s throat.
“Then don’t. And be remembered as nothing more than a stepping stone for the true Gryphs.”
The Gryphon tears open a flowing river of blood from the dying Griffon’s throat. Bubbling squawks can be heard but never understood as he grasps his next and falls to his back. Several of the nearby Griffons begin to shake shaking and look on in fear as the Gryphon licks to blood dripping from his claw.
“Vile. Kill them all. They’re no use to us anymore.” From around the camp, armored and armed, Griffons come out and begin to slaughter their weakened kin, “Be sure follow as I’ve instructed you both to do. When it comes down to it, it’ll be us or them.”
“”Yes sir!”” They both yell snapping a salute.
“May the great Sphinx have mercy on all of us in the end.”
Twilight stands amongst the unicorn brigade mixed within the midst of the Earth Pony armada. A strategy of having a moving living wall between them and the outside attackers. Several Pegasi fly over hand to redirect the wind flow to prevent arrows from falling on top of them as they cast their spells.
The outer circle of mages are those specialized in healing and shielding. They protect the wall that protects them and tend quickly to any major and minor cuts that could possibly break their formation. The second lining is those specialized in destructive magic. They shift the earth, fling magical arrows, and scorch their enemies with whatever spells they know. In the middle of their square lies the head mage. The head mage specializes in everything but is most known for their war spells.
Unlike normal destructive spells, war spells are specifically made for the one thing it’s name implies. From shattering the brains of hundreds before the advancing line of Earth Ponies to turning the battlefield into a hellish nightmare of fire and lightning to forcing enemy soldiers to fall into a slumber they’ll never wake from. Nothing was off limits to the head mage which is what made them priority number one to both the enemies and the allies.
In that spot stood Twilight and her seemingly infinite wisdom upon war spells, destructive magic, unstable magic, dark magic, unstable magic, supportive magic, and much more. She knew she would have to be the one in this spot upon listening to the hair brained scheme of their leader. Hopefully it works as well as he has suggested to them all.
“You seem a little nervous, Twilight.” A camouflage colored Unicorn says to her, “Something on your mind?”
“Mmmmm not particularly honestly. It’s less nervousness and more pre war jitters you know? The last time I was posted into a spot like this…”
“What happened? I know you died fighting but everyone said it was on the final wall not on the battlefield.”
“Yes. That is where I died. But there was a time where I felt that I needed to be there on the battlefield with every pony else fighting against the Darkness. So I took up the position of head mage against Celestia’s and Cadence’s wishes.
“That was the first and last time I did that, till now. Perhaps I was too naive, no, I was too naive. I thought that I would simply demoralize our enemies and send them packing back. No need for casualties and every pony remains safe.
“Oh how wrong I was. It started out with the heavy air fire and the Griffons attacking the Pegasi so their artillery and arrows could reach us. I remained cool under pressure due to having faced, what I had assumed at the time, worse. I had in my mind to use stuns, sleep spells, telekinesis, and teleportation spells in order to help both the ground and air troops.
“At first, everything seemed to be going well until it became harder to stun some of them or suddenly they would wake as soon as they fell asleep. Some of them would fake being affected by the spell only to strike out as soon as a pony grew too close to it.
“I then began to strike out with harder spells. Concussive bursts of energy, mind numbing spells, paralysis, etc. Just like before, they grew used to it and moved to advance their own agendas. I let so many Pegasi and Earth Ponies die to my own negligence and innocence.
“I grew more and more desperate. And with it came anger. I thought how dare they scoff and laugh at this mercy I was trying to show them. And thus I cast a spell that was not like the others. I grabbed held of lighting from one of the Pegasi and threw it through the many soldiers of the sky.
“I’m sure the smell of so much cooked flesh would’ve made me lose my lunch, but I didn’t even notice it. I was angry and just made my first few kills. I felt so powerful.
“That was the moment where I lost most of my kindness and turned to simply magic to slay everything our our path. I used magical energy like a blade and threw the heads of our enemies to the ground. I was unstoppable.”
Silence follows. Several of the unicorns listening in grew nervous as Twilight’s eyes grew further way from the coming battlefield.
“What changed?” One asked to break the suffering of the unasked and unanswered question within their minds.
“I saw the monstrous acts I was committing. I had tripped and nearly fallen forcing me to commit the one thing our commander told us not to do. The one rule for every unicorn that day on the battlefield…
“I looked down. Worst mistake I ever made second to considering letting my friends die to kill Tirek.
“I saw a Minotaur without its body. A headless creature flowing blood and eyes sunken and white. I couldn’t pull my eyes away. Than I froze.
“That’s when I gave our enemies the one thing they had been looking for the entire time. The one thing that condemned so many to death.
“An opening.
“They rushed into the center of the Earth Ponies and made a b line straight for us. I remember each unicorn they killed to this day. I fucked our marching order and cussed so many to die. But you know the funny part? Do to my blunder, we also came up with a new strategy that saw war several times before they caught on to what we were doing.
“Our enemies didn’t think about what would happen if the square closed again while they were in it. And it was a blood path. We used that strategy several more times… so I heard. That was the last time I saw the front line.
“I left it behind to support the troops any other way I could aside from fighting. I walked the very back line burying the dead, healing those I could, and just being a friend to cry to. I received a lot of scorn for not touching the battlefield again. But just as much respect and glory for everything else I did off of it too.
“It’s strange how different the two sides of the street look. But I digress. You’ll have to forgive me for blathering away like that. Sometimes I fall back into old habits.”
“It’s perfectly fine. Oddly enough, hearing how even you could make such a life changing mistakes kind of calms me a little.” One of the fodder states.
“I know right? If a princess can make a mistake and come out on top in the end, we’ll be just as fine.”
“Hey! I’ll toast to that with ya later!”
“Ya damn right we will! We’ll make those Gryphs pay and reunite the Ponies once and for all!”
A chorus of cheers sound out cussing Twilight to smile, just barely, as her mind wanders off to the days before. She can’t help but think how every battlefield always looks the same to her no matter where she stands. A light feeling in her chest makes her feel as if this time… this time could be different.
Author's Note
I didn’t realize November went by so fast but I just finished up these two chapters enough to where I was satisfied with them to help along moving further ahead. Hopefully the next one won’t take as long.
[Season 1 Complete] The Day It Started
The sun rises on another eventful day of the ruined castle town of Canterlot. Not a single noise could be heard as the birds and various animals that once roamed the streets of this desolate place they used to call home no longer decide to show their faces here. After all, things have become more eventful.
What used to be rubble and dug up cobblestone roads now house the bodies of both Griffons, Griffins, Pegasi, Earthponies, and Unicorns. The blood either freshly shed or caked across buildings, grass, and roads. Such a gruesome sight is welcomed to add a dash more color to the grey and rotted Canterlot of legends.
Yet, despite it all, there will always be time to ponder and think. A time to forget the exhaustion building up within ones body in order to find some solace of rest despite the death and destruction all around.
"Have you ever wondered what life would be like on the other side? Like... think about it, right? We're enemies sure, but have you ever wondered how they view us and our history with them? Like if we were them, would we be doing the same thing as them if our positions were switched or do you think Ponykind would have just let everything be."
"Can't say I've put much thought into something like this honestly. Never seen a point in asking questions. I just blindly follow orders like the next bloke and let everypony else deal with the consequences. I think if we ask too many of questions we'll wind up second guessing ourselves in the most important moments."
"I think we're viewing this differently honestly. Like... I've been doing some reading-"
"That's a first."
"Shut up! Look, I've been doing some reading and you won't believe the type of stuff I found in the ancient libraries. The restricted section has all sorts of forgotten or unknown knowledge. This is all stuff that Twilight Sparkle would have learned and things the princesses knew from the start. They could've even started to work on better diplomatic deals with the Gryphs to stop this from ever happening."
"You don't know that really. Honestly, this might be the best outcome. You would think that with their long lives they would have done something more to prevent something like this happening. No, I think something out of their control happened. That eerie darkness and the nightmares everypony was having. I don't think this was something they could've predicted."
"So why didn't they tell anyone until it was war?"
"How do you think you would've responded? Calm and collected or panicked and scared?"
Silence returns to the darkness of the building.
"You see? You can't just claim that you know something would be for the better without actually thinking about it. Yes we had knowledge, yes we had the resources and the power to back it, but when force comes to shove we tried diplomatic relationships instead of militaristic. I'm not gonna say whether one way was right or wrong, but we are where we are and we shouldn't keep asking what if questions.
"Don't misunderstand me. I get where you're coming from. What if we were them and how do they feel about all of this as well. Do they want this war as much as us or are they being forced to partake into something they don't wanna do either. Its ridiculous yes, but we are here despite the multiple options that were covered."
"Soldiers don't ask questions huh?"
"Damn straight. We just go along with what the hell others say."
"... I just can't believe it."
"Than you are a better pony than me Silver Streak."
"I don't really think I can take that compliment, if I'm to be honest the only reason I've made it as far as I have is because of you and your unwavering devotion to what you know and do."
"That is true. You are pretty lucky to have a pony like me at your side."
"Even in the dark I can still see your shit eating grin you know."
"Haha! This is why I love being with you. Despite our differences I always manage to bring out the best in you!"
"You're such a dick you know that. To be able to even laugh in this situation..."
"What can I say. I have a dark sense of humor!"
"You are something else you know that?"
"I can still hear the smile in yours~."
The two chuckle before returning to silence once more.
"Hey, Stolen Breeze?"
"Yea, Silver?
"You wanna get a drink after all of this? Like none of the fruity stuff you like but like the hard stuff that they've been making. It's suppose to burn like Tartarus going down but make you feel like you could take on an entire platoon by yourself. Once heard that Molly got hit by that stuff so hard she managed to tear down half an entire building on her own by accident."
"Horseapples man. You know I don't believe in that stuff. Besides, I'd rather have something tasteful in my body. Not something that could probably kill me after the first sip."
"Pansy."
"Himbo."
The two return to chuckling but find it cut short as the door holding them within the room opens bringing light into their small room. Stolen Breeze finds himself covered in blood matting down much of his dark brown fur while Silver Streak finds himself with blood all over his face with a black band wrapped around his eyes.
While one turns towards the sound of the door opening the other looks up and rolls his eyes at the sight before him. A Griffon stands looking at the two with bored expressions. It twists its head and motions with it for them to follow it before patting the blade at its side.
Breeze sighs before forcing himself up onto his hooves before helping Silver to do the same.
"Where are we going?" Silver asks confused at the motion of them walking.
"Who knows. Just don't think about it alright? I got you." Breeze tries to reassure him as he glares at each Griffon and Griffin he passes, "Beside, you wouldn't like the sight anyway. Nothing but a bunch of ugly birds. They don't even sing either let alone chirp."
A nearby Griffin returns the ponies glare before fluttering its wings and smiling at the de-winged Pegasus. Breeze only chuckles, "Better enjoy them while they're there. I'll be coming for them soon."
A quick smack from the Griffon they're following silences him. They find themselves walking out of the makeshift barracks made from several abandoned homes of ponies that once lived there before the war.
"Celestia... I've missed the feeling of the sun..." Silver breathes out his body shivering from the slight winter breeze.
"Yea... I know how you feel. Though I'm glad you can't see what they've done to this place..."
Wooden walls can be seen erected allowing the Gryphs to have some form of protection from their attackers on the ground. Several patrols could be seen flying over head to make sure that Pegasi don't get the drop of them. To think the Gryphs have become this entrenched into their positions, its ridiculous. But a war camp is a war camp.
And every war camp needs its form of entertainment. Silver and Breeze are stopped before a gated ring where several Gryphs have gathered around eating, laughing, and cheering at whatever is taking place inside. A familiar grunt and cry is heard by Silver as he turns his head and flicks his ears towards it.
"I could sworn I heard-"
"You misheard. Now close those ears of your Floppy. You'll wind up making a dust storm if you keep that up."
"Get inside" The now known female Griffon states pointing at Breeze, "You already know the deal. Do well and everything will be the same. Don't and well, some of the Griffins have already started picking out parts. And holes."
Breeze spits on the Griffon's talon causing her and squawk indigently before attempting to strike out at the offender. Her claw is stopped by a nearby Griffin who simply shakes its head at her before putting its full attention on Breeze.
"Make it interesting." He speaks out before lifting him up on the throat, "Because I've got a hell of a surprise for you today."
The Griffin than proceeds to throw Breeze into the ring before leading Silver off to sit beside him.
"Fucking hate that Grim Claw..." Breeze says pushing himself up mumbling all the way.
He looks up in front of him to see something he never thought he would see here of all places.
A Timberwolf. Covered in blood and holding organs within its sap dripping teeth. Several dead bodies lie around it, all pony in origin, which causes Breeze to panic all the more. No weapon was given to him this time and the only thing he can really tell about today's battle is that it's life or death. Or more like death or death given the situation he's in.
"Come the fuck on..." Breeze says starting to do the circle dance he's grown used to ever since becoming a POW.
The Gryphs begin cheering for the Timberwolf to tear him to pieces. Much to Breeze's enjoyment. He's going to enjoy disappointing these bigoted Gryphs if it's the last thing he does. Breeze rolls his shoulders before popping his neck knowing full well this was going to take some time. But boy would he try.
The Timberwolf grows impatient and lashes out running quickly to topple him over. Despite the lack of wings, Breeze still remains fast as she quickly moves out of it way but not before kicking up dirt to try and blind the creature. It seems to work as the beast begins to shake its head. Breeze makes his way over to a nearby Earthpony body before yanking out its spine with as much force as he can muster, all the while asking to be forgiven by it's soul, and faces back towards the Timberwolf that's already recovered.
The Gryphs laugh and make crude comments about using his once comrade's spine as a make shift weapon. He ignores them, as usual, but he can feel his soul shaking from this type of defilement he's never considered before. But he has to survive. If not for himself, but for Silver. He'll be damned if he lets anything happen to him. His grip tightens upon the spine his hooves already bleeding from gripping the bones too tight.
"Bring it." Breeze whispers as the two make their way towards each other.
Breeze on his hindlegs and the Timberwolf on all fours looking to take his mobility out.
"So tonight is the night, right?" Twilight asks while moving her arm up and down holding the solid piece of enchanted stone within her grasp.
Weeks have already gone by since the start of the "light" skirmishes. The were supposed to take place and force the Gryphs out of their lands but something had gone inexact. A fallacy of thinking that the Gryphon would plan accordingly to them. That he would just go about ransacking everything without thinking to be challenged.
That was proven wrong on the first pincer attack. The dastardly Gryphon forced his soldier to rig everything to explode incase something like this were to happen. Several were taken with the suicide bombers, but other areas where the same plan had been put into action were not as malevolent. This Gryphon's malicious intent goes beyond just lives. Total annihilation of everything is what he most likely seeks.
Many Pony lives have been lost, but equally so on the Griff side as well do to his silly planning. Than again, life is more precious on the Pony side seeing as there aren't many to be given. Despite it all, moral stays higher than ever. The fact that the Gryphon would force his troops to give their lives to readily without thought has stirred something deep within everypony. Almost every mentally strong Pony has stepped forth to take a part in this war one way or another.
Twilight considers that this would all be over if it wasn't for the fact that their leader is nothing more than a coward who refuses to put his life down when it matters. He shows up suddenly and as soon as Twilight appears, he decides to duck out when things get rough. The few bouts they've had, he's always managed to slip out between her fingers. Its entirely frustrating!
She glances down at her arm where several claw marks have been left by the bastard in her mind. The ones on her face also flare slightly, but she ignores it for the moment. There are other things she has to focus on.
But this has led to another advantage that her fellow Ponies have begun to take advantage of. Several Gryphs have began to give up on their leader and have chosen to defect or completely give up whenever he turns tail or nearly fall in battle. They see it as an easier way out rather than a meaningless death.
Well... for those that don't end up dying at least. Several of the Gryphs have gone... "missing" on several routine walk throughs. Nopony says anything and nopony asks anything. Twilight slightly wonders if she's turning her comrades into savages. But than again, even before now they had managed to pull the worse out of themselves to find an all or nothing war. Especially the Earth Ponies. Strap them to the bottom of a Pegasi and you have the best destructive force aside from the Horde itself.
"Yes. Just as long as you hold up your end of the bargain, Twilight. We know how clever your Ponies can be and how vicious you can be when things take a turn. So we would rather not feel the back lash."
"Yeah yeah. You'll get your Queen... I've been doing research for long enough to know the failsafe. So as long as everything goes the way it's supposed to, you'll be able to get whatever you want. We'll even talk about trades. After all, we'll probably have more Gryphs than what we'll know what to do with.
Despite the dim light within the personal workout room, Twilight is unable to see the smile, but she can certainly feel it and hear it within the creature's voice.
"Good! I look foreword to doing more business with you! Oh, and do be sure to keep that temper under control. All the magic leaking off of you is quite slickening. Especially the yellow bits."
She says nothing as she continues her training, muscles straining under the enchanted weight, until the presence is gone. She grits her teeth and slams the stone into the nearest wall nearly causing the entire section of the cave to crumble under her power. She uses to magic to suppress her aura as well as the aura of Celestia. She sighs and quickly moves out of the room and out into the hallway.
Twilight knows she can't let her anger take hold of her. Else it'll be their destruction. She's so close to setting a stake in this world for everypony else. It might not be the greatest place, but a foundation can lead to so much more than just a hovel in the ground. Despite all of her anger, stress, and inner doubt, she won't let this be the end of her no matter what.
She stops as her eyes catches something in the corner of her eye. She reaches out and picks up the picture of her old princess self with all her friends. Unchanged by war, anger, and magic. All of their wonderful smiles and energy that seems to radiate off the picture itself. Its kind of unfair when she thinks about it...
This war, the rift, the Horde and all of its Demons. She places the picture back down and wipes away the tears she hadn't realized had started falling. She was doing this for them. She had to remember that. Keep focused and stay centered. It'll all be worth it to see them again. This was nothing more than a stepping stone in the path she had to walk.
Than why does it all hurt so much? She forces herself to move away from the distraction so she can go get ready for tonight. This is her make it or break it moment. And she would be damned to miss her own party.
The darkness is a comforting place. Even to those that are not as naturally drawn to it as his and his brethren, it still comes out as a sort of comfort unlike any other. Despite how dark it is, none of them are burdened by much of what the surface dwellers call the lack of sight. In fact, many of them see better in this darkness than they do on the surface. It is, of course, do to the fact that many of them were born into the darkness. Though, not as of late. There haven't been any larvae in quite a while.
Too long of a while. A misdeeds placed upon the hive do to the lack of foresight by their former queen. Their brood mother more like it. She forced others to submit to her, but now they have become much stronger than they were before. They would force her to obey instead. To birth more larvae in order to continue the lineage of the Changelings.
Yes. Yes. This was the way the course of nature had to progress. It was either that or stagnate and die out much like the other hives had done in the glass wars that made the badlands in the first place. Recovery from ancestor's mistakes still have not been felt. Perhaps many years before even the start of that. But in time, perhaps, there will come a time to be free of it.
After all, there are the Givers as well as the Takers. Despite them not seeing eye to eye, they still coexists providing to one another needs and purposes the other can not. And with the queen returned, both sides will hopefully see an increase in their ranks.
Though he’s sure there are those that wish for their race to fail. Though one that he once thought would have wanted it to be so has chosen instead to strike a deal to insure their survival.
Twilight Sparkle… Even just her name radiates so much power. She was fearsome when angered within her Alicorn body, but now she is just fearsome. This… amalgamation of spirits into one being. The various radiating power and yet something darker lurks beneath.
It’s slowly rising to the surface though. She seems to realize this, but not exactly what “it” is. She’s suppressing it heavily but it’ll soon break free. There is currently a betting pool amongst the Takers to see if the form she takes on will be worse the last.
“You’re nervous.” One speaks out to Twilight, “and yet excited at the same time. I’m sure you’ve made proper planning on your side?”
Twilight snorts at the question, “I’m no Pinkie, but I do know how to organize, plan, and manipulate. I’ve had many years of practice, thank you very much!”
“Ah, yes. You’ll have to forgive me for my tongue.”
“I know you mean no offense but… I’m worried about the way this will turn out. I know I’m doing my best and this is the best for everyone. But… what if everything goes wrong?
“ You worry too much of that which will go wrong. You must focus on which that may go right. Do not let your confidence erode because of your doubts. When the time is right, everything will click together.
“ After all, the best laid plans are often unseen.”
“Yeah you would know all about that, wouldn’t you.”
Twilight could feel the collective smiles behind her, “Guilty as charged.”
“We are almost here.” A digger speaks out causing many of the Takers to prepare themselves for the fight that is to come.
“Good. I’m itching to get my hand around that bird’s neck.”
“Patience is key. Never forget that. But if that fails, unleash hell.”
Twilight smirks and rolls her shoulders, “Sounds fine to me!”
Minutes pass by in silence once more. Tension could be felt through the tunnel until the moment finally came.
“Ready yourself, Twilight. We are in place to strike.”
Twilight focuses on the spells that will alert the other know that the dual strike of both the Changelings and the Ponies will commence.
“Ready.”
“Now!”
The Changelings proceed to shoot up into the ceiling ripping the earth apart with focused ease. Twilight follows shortly after through the falling earth to the pathetic cries of the Gryphs around her. Her hands shoot up into the air firing off a spell that forms a magical image of her cutie mark for all to see.
Thus the final assault was on as Pegasi rained from the sky taking out those confused by the sudden appearance of Changelings and the burst of magic. The Pegasi make quick work of the throats of those that don’t catch on quick while Earth Ponies come rushing into the camp quickly taking out the more heavily armored soldiers who grasp toward their weapons. The other are less prepared as other magical signals begin to light the air signaling the success of the secret assault.
Twilight smiles as her direction is turned towards the real reason she came here. The Gryphon stands in anger and silence as he watches he troops suddenly get torn to shreds. Their eyes lock and they both seem to come to an understanding that this is their final moments.
The Gryphon screams and rushes forward with the few soldiers that managed to survive the surprise attack and those that hadn’t been in the area.
Twilight runs at the Gryphon through the piling bodies and various strikes against her to full on body check the Gryphon before her. He stumbles back only to catch an glowing fist to the face causing him to lash out with his claws taking some of Twilight’s clothes and blood with him.
Twilight takes up a brawler’s stance as the Gryphon steadies himself and eyes her.
“I’ll have your liver for breakfast, your heart for lunch, and your brains for dessert.” The Gryphon grumbles out licking the blood from his claws.
“I’m going to break every bone in your body, reset them, and do it all over again you bastard.”
The two move towards one another. The Gryphon goes high while Twilight keeps low, arms tight, and body loose. She sways to her own rythme keeping an eye more on his body than the strikes coming at her. Her fists glow with power causing the rest of her to seem dim in comparison.
The Gryphon jumps and lashes out with his wings in an attempt to blind her, but she moves in quick taking the opportunity to aim for a vital. The Gryphon is quick to move and slams a paw into her arm to throw the blow off and give a glancing blow. She winces as she feels his claws dig into her as he tries to take off.
Using her I grabbed arm, she grabs the offending legs and yanks him to the ground. She quickly rushes to take on a dominant position over him on the ground, but he uses his own body weight and talons to fend her off causing her to back and rise from the ground. The Gryphon tires to as well but quickly catches a foot to the side sending him skidding likely cracking bones in the area.
She is about to follow up when two Griffons nervously get in her way to buy their boss some time. Rage feels her as she growls, “Not. Again!”
She’s had it with these interruptions! Every time she grows so close, something stops her! Every fucking time! She’s tired of the near constant interruptions! She’ll have that Gryphon’s head!
The Griffon on the right lashes out with a sword only to watch it break against the hand of Twilight as he hand takes hold of his lower beak and yanked his face closer to hers. The Griffon skwawks in fear before it quickly turns to silence as a second hand grabs the back of his head and twist sharply causing him to look behind him in a near instant.
The other Griffon drops his spear in fear and attempt to take off only to find himself held in magic.
“ No running.”
Every part of his body screams in pain as he can feel his insides becoming increasingly closer to one another at a frightening pace. Not a sound is made from him aside from the cracking of bones and squelching of meat being pressed together like a compactor.
“You’re a monster!” The Gryphon yell.
“Rich coming from you! You know what the hell i had to go through to be here! To see you! To finally put a end to at least this! How many children, how many lives, how many slave!”
The Gryphon tries to react with a talon strike as Twilight is suddenly before him only to find the length of his arm firmly held by the hand of hers before being ripped out of at the base of his shoulder. He screams for an instance before her fist smack into his beak shattering the protective shell and skewing it on his face almost comically if not for the blood freely pouring from both his offices and the lack of an appendage.
“Shut the fuck up! I'm tired of those stupid noises you make!” Twilight yells reaching into his gaping mouth and learning what amount of his tongue as she can from his mouth and throat causing him to gurgle on his blood.
“You won't die from this much. I've made sure of that. You birds are tenacious and I'm sure you more so than them. Oh no. I'm going to have my fun with you.”
A smirk, unlike any usual one, appears on Twilight’s face. Something darker was in her eyes. Something he's never seen.
Despite his mind telling him to beg for his life, his body is unable to. A talon reaches out to force her off of him, but his energy has already gotten weak.
He would smile if her could as his saving grace come in the form of a spear through her back and out her front. Despite it newly spearing him in the process, hebcoulsnt help but feel triumphant in the thought she would go down with him. Though the thought was vanished as the Griffin behind her simply evaporates spear and all.
A sense of fear fill him as her eyes meet his again. Twilight Sparkle was no longer there. What was left was something filled with hatred? Or could it be seen a pitty?
“You lonesome creature. Your spirit cries out for release. She truly made you suffer more than you would have thought.”
He could feel something caress something deep within him. It wasn't painful. There was no discomfort. He manages to glance down to see a portion of her arm had entered his body.
“Sleep now, caged bird. Your time to rest is now.”
And it was so. Vacant eyes met her own as he slipped into slumber. A hush had overcame the battlefield. The aura that once stirred them all to fight to the death had suddenly stopped. In it's wake, tranquillity followed.
It's consequence is confusion and revulsion. Many couldn't comprahend what had happened until now. Other understood it all to well. The feeling of being swept by emotions only to realize the mistake too late. Each of them had to realize they had been turned to savagery. Sure they wanted the Gryphs out. But to annihilate them all? To secretly take out their aggression on the captured? Was that truly who they were?
What had broken them from this thought? Was it Twilight all along? Or was she just pushing forward the thoughts that wanted action?
It was too aick of a thought to entertain. A few hoped that it was all a sick dream as they looked into the eyes of the Gryph they had speared or cut down in order to preserve their lives and take back what was theirs. It was only fair, right?
They had decided who lived and who died so why not the Ponies in return? It wasn't like the world was fair to anycreature.
The creature who was known as Twilight releases the slumpped body of the Gryphon who only fought because he thought he had to. She turned to the Gryphs too scared to fight back and allured by the thought of treasure and glory. The Ponies who believed they had taken up a righteous cause to take hold of a world they had lost.
Were they all right? Were they all wrong? It was hard to tell and everycreature will tell a different story.
The one thing that will remain the same is the description of the figure that had taken Twilight’s form. No longer were there taunt muscled legs and arms. They had been replaced by slender smooth tanned skinned. The dirt and grime that once clung to her disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Her face, while gentle, held a stern set of emotions. Anger and sadness radiated from her glowing emerald eyes. Her face, sharp, still holds a sort of elegance other could look up to. The pull her body holds leaves others captivated and lost within the vision that seems to hold 1000 years of experience in what seems to be such a young form.
She says nothing as she walks past each creature silently. She makes her way with no heed of the bodies before her gracefully stepping past each one until she reached what felt to be the center of the battlefield. There, she raised her arms and dropped to her knees.
She opened her mouth and everyone waited with baited breathe for what would happen next. She inhales heavily...
And proceeds to scream causing those closest to reel back at the sudden shift of demeanor. Tears fell and the cry of desperation and frustration cupuld not be mistaken for anything else. The rattle of despair from such a beautiful creature caused all those nearby to feel guilty for what they had done.
Author's Note
So uh a lot has happened just know that I'm back again. I'm currently writing out season two and we should be getting back into the swing of things soon.
Within the mindset of the being once known as Twilight, a light flickered before bursting into being as a young looking alicorn of purple and magenta coloring. She seems startles by the sudden shift in her presence before nervously wondering if she had let Celstia consume her in her hate.
“No! No no no! I was so close! I gotta do something quick before.... Celestia..?”
Before Twilight was the form of Celstia, no longer bound to a ball of yellow light, but in the form of her prime. Pristine white and seemingly glowing with health. The stragestbpart of seeing her though was that she was bound and gagged like a hogtied, well, hog.
“Wait... If you're here than?”
Celestial rolls her eyes unable to answer the question in the first place.
“Hmmm. I know I should, but since I doubt either one of us are going anywhere, I prefer you like this for the meantime.”
Celestia glares daggers before attempting to wiggle herself free. Celestia would show her what for if it was the last thing she would do!
Twilight can't help but giggle at her futile attempts before sighing feeling more akin to peace for once. It might not be the way she wanted to end, but she was satisfied with the results that had been produced.
"Ah!"
The sound of heavy breathing follows the startled noise of awakening. Despite the darkness, the creature in question desperately looks around to find the object of it's fear to no success. It attempts to calm its breathing and places a rounded head into its hooves in an act of some sort of comfort.
Another nightmare, another day. That was all it could think in that moment. Every morning for the past week or so has been nothing but nightmare induced dreams. Some would be manageable but others were too much. It forces its way out of the bed it had grown accustomed to and grabs something from the nightstand beside it. It's thrown back and the liquid burns going down forcing the Pony more awake.
It slams the glass down before making its way to the the only source of light the room is provided. A quick turn of the hoof is enough to give the room a dim light. Enough to see most of the room and who the Pony is.
Once was once a mix of white and teal tail and mane has given way to nothing more than white. On top of the the fade of color from her mane and tail, her body also likes that sheer shine that it once held while traveling from time to time. For the most part, grime, dust, and sweat clings to the fur as if she hasn't washed herself in ages.
Which is most likely true. She can't remember the last time she decided to stop and take care of herself beyond the need to eat and sleep. After all, she had more important matters to take care of. With all of her magic, tricks, and ideas, she had a world to change.
She takes a deep breath and makes her way to what was once her magic tricks trunk. She pops it open to reveal a variety of potions, knives, strainers, and ingredients more associated to an assassin to a magician. She carefully pulls forth a belt of knives before casting a spell to turn her fur and hair from white and teal to that of gray and black.
Her target tonight was someone not as big of a contributor as she would like, but still has done enough to warrant her attention. Slave trading has truly become the norm in regards of Pony lives and that of other creatures that don't see them as a higher standard anymore. Nothing is completely wrong with that. It's always been a strong eat the weak ideology despite what some Ponies may think. But, what matters is not the slavery itself but who they have enslaved and what they plan to do with them.
Usually it never matters on who it is that gets captured just as long as the bits keep flowing. But, the some of bits payed in poultry to the information she received. This recent job turned out to be the largest hint towards her own mission she never thought she would get.
After turning out the light, she pushes the door open to step out into moonless night. At the very front of the carriage pulling it forward across the dirt road is one of her life long friends. She never thought the two of them would get along so well, but after studying under Zecora for so long to learn the ancient secrets locked away in her mind to be passed down, the two took up a profession that needed them both. Especially after one of her friends was taken from her.
"Applebloom, how are you doing?"
Said mare looks back and nods her head, a somber look upon her face. Despite the years gone by, she hadn't lost much of her charm. Same yellow fur and dulled apple blossom mane and tail. The biggest change had to come with how much she managed to bulk up. One would think she tried to take up after Bigmac the most instead of her sister.
"Trixie knows how much this mean to you, but do keep in mind we have another job to do here as well, Applebloom."
She merely snorts and turns her attention back to the road before her. Despite her lack of words, Trixie could easily tell what as eating her up on the inside. It was the same for her. This would be a game changer for everypony! Trixie was sure of it! Just as long as nothing went wrong and the information was correct, of course. Even if it wasn't, it would be good enough to rid this world of another menace for sure.
[Season 2 Start] New person same problems
The sun rises on another beautiful day. Much of the upper echelon of Neo-Canterlot find themselves milling about the surface taking stock in the wreckage of the war. Funerals were being planned, celebrations considered, and parties to be had from what goods they could now, safely, get ahold of. After all, this was a moment to surely celebrate!
The Gryphs within their region had been soundly defeated, rounded up, and enslaved or killed. While not ideal towards the usual pony-way of dealing with such matters, many have relished in this sudden shift of power. This is far from the prey-predator relationship the two species once had. No, this was a master-servant relationship in which the whip could be easily replaced with a sword to the throat.
Some see this as a step forward while others see it as a step back. Some relate this to the same situation that Celestia had the entire time. After all, why strike at something that could drop the sun unless you could guarantee the continued life of the planet? In this context, why fight against something that could end your life in a single instant if you stepped out of line?
Either way, this is a new step in Neo-Canterlot's life! No longer were they confined to the underground. They have begun the initial steps to starting a new nation that they could look forward to. Of course, the majority of it will be underground as that was simply how they had grown used to the idea of living, but they could start expanding further above ground! How exciting!
No more were they told that the outside world was too dangerous for them. No longer did they have to repeatedly watch the skies and waste mana to shield themselves from the thought of prying eyes. The fear and doubt they once held were replaced with a serene sense of peace. As if the storm had finally resolved into a cooling mist. Now they were the predator! They were the ones that others had to keep a lookout for! They learned much from the past warfare and would put all of their deadly thoughts and tactics into play.
The horizon was finally clear of dust and blood for the time being. No longer was the thought of what if tomorrow they found us. Now it was, what can I get the most out of the day? All that needed to be done now was to address the elephant in the room. One, what would Ponies do now with their freedom, and two, now that they have had a taste of what they can really do, can they go back? If every war was like this, could they really do this? Sure they've had a war before this but it all seemed much more... civilized. If you could consider the slaughtering of others that.
There always seemed to be an order to follow. A unit to stand by. Ranks, coat of arms, royal processions, and the considering of the enemy. What they had just done with the Gryphs...
Absolute savagery of killing whatever was closest to you and caring not for whose body you trampled over. And yet, everypony seemed fine with it. Were Ponies truly that adaptable? Were they not once considered closed-minded creatures with a singular purpose? Had it been switched off, or had they repurposed that?
Lastly, there was the ticking time bomb currently sitting? Crouched? Squatting before two equine Unicorns that seemed to be pondering said thought now. A debate has already been thrown around that they should just exile the creature and be done with it. Whatever its purpose is, it had led them to absolute savagery without a second thought. Was it truly Twilight? One side would eagerly say no while another would question why couldn't it have been.
After all, trauma can really change anyone. There's something about watching all your friends and family die around you that can really bring out the best or worse in a pony. Much like one of their soldier, they found using the bones of long-dead companions to murder his Gryph enslaver chanting the names that each bone belonged. Currently, he was placed in a case study of what extreme forms of torture can do to a mind.
This will then be applied to the Gryphs but that was an entirely different subject.
After all, everyone saw Celestia's true colors at the end of everything. Whether it was considered wise, foolish, or even the correct thing will be debated for years to come.
But that was beside the point. Twilight had taken a grip upon the emotions of everypony and used them for her own gain. She had convinced them all that it was merely friendship that drove them forward. That harmony was on their side to take up arms and slaughter those that stood in their way. And they bought it.
Like a newly born Kid, they suckled from the teat of that Nanny. The sweet addicting taste of being right claimed their souls and minds. And before they could even attempt to wean off it, it was ripped away leaving many feeling cold, lost, and hungry for more.
Was it a wonder why they tried to push the initiative to bring happiness unto the Ponies before they could turn against themselves? Or the fact that something had to be done about this being that seemed to influence everything around them. Or even more so the importance that several of the allies that had joined the war efforts were now thinking of starting their own rival Canterlot that focused on manufacturing and starting wars.
Was it all fated to happen? Or did something go wrong?
Whatever the old ways things were meant to be done, they were long gone. This is meant to be the new normal. This is their generation of discovery amongst themselves. Making everything that their minds could think of, creating whatever necessities they needed to achieve their goals, and learning everything they could from past mistakes to future ones. Nothing would be off limits to them. This world would be ruled by Ponies and their slaves or the Ponies and their allies. There was no room for any creature else.
"How long do you think she's going to stay like that? It's been three days and she hasn't eaten anything. As far as everything goes, I would say that she's most likely dead." A purple-coated Unicorn asks looking back between the mysterious creature that took the place of one Twilight Sparkle and his tawny-coated associate.
The creature continues to sit, crouch, squat, whatever you want to call it; as it was honestly hard to tell from the angle the two had taken to look upon her, and stares at the ground, once emerald eyes closed in contemplation or possibly even, asleep.
"Doc says there isn't anything wrong with her. Also, wouldn't it be kind of silly for a creature like this to simply just die by starving? I think she's just sleeping honestly. Imagine what it's like to just suddenly shift forms like that. She probably had to wrestle Twilight for control and then even heal the wound she got to. Honestly, I would probably want to sleep awhile after that as well."
"Then why doesn't she move!? She's just been kneeling there for who knows how long." Purple yells with frantic motions toward the motionless being.
"I mean... we don't really know anything about this being, right? After all, I don't think any Pony has taken the time to actually stop Twilight and start asking what the Tartarus is going on. So... has anyone even tried to say anything to her?"
"I mean... no?"
"So.... let me get this straight... No Pony has decided to walk up and say, hello? Or good morning?” Tawny says giving Purple a deadpan stare.
"Well... when you put it like that it sounds silly. What, do you think she's shy or something? That's ridiculous don't you think? " Purple scoffs before looking away from both Brown and the new being.
"Oh really!? Being shy is ridiculous!? That's what's ridiculous about our lives right!?" Brown shouts incredulously.
“Well, I mean, think about it. Everypony has been a lot happier, a lot more productive, and very creative as of late. I'm fairly sure she's the cause of it all. Why interrupt that? Like, I'm all for doing the right thing...
But shouldn't we do right by ourselves first?”
A look of confliction upon the other Unicorn’s face, “Yeah... Times have been rough so I see where you're coming from. We'll give it a few more days than we have to gather up and do something about her. I'm still on the fence about whether or not to exile such a powerful creature.
I mean... Could you imagine what she would do if she knew we wanted to get rid of her?”
“Right?” They both shudder in fear at the thought.
The two look back towards the woman who now is crouched at eye level behind them. She wears a serene smile on her face as her eyes open revealing the same emerald sparkles as before. Her peach lips part slightly as she speaks.
“Calm. Would you mind telling me your names?”
The angelic voice was nothing like the horrific scream they had heard before. The welling panic they had begun to feel suddenly washed away with her words. The thought to flee was nowhere to be found in any of their heads.
“I'm Regal Shine. And this here is Arbour Autumn. I hope you didn't mind our rudeness of talking about you in your presence.” Purple, now known as Regal Shine, begins, "We were simply concerned with your health and well-being as you no doubt already know."
“No, it's perfectly fine. I'm quite used to it by now. You could even say I've lived a thousand years' worth of experiences like it." Her smile slowly fades from her lips, "But I have to ask you something. What sort of food do you have here?"
"That's... Well... It depends on what you would want Miss?" Regal begins.
"Ah, you'll have to forgive me for the moment. I haven't really thought about what I should be called yet. I've been too busy... listening... to things beyond your comprehension most likely. As much as I want to go by my actual name, I don't really see myself as what I was when I first came here.
Currently, there's a heated debate on whether or not. I'm some sort of demonic spirit or amalgamation. So I'll have to get back to you with a formal name. For now, you may call me Thems."
Arbour and Regal glance at one another, "Thems?"
"Yes! I find it most befitting of the current situation!" She says her eyes shutting slightly and a playful smile crossing her face.
"I... Okay." Regal says thinking that it would cause more problems than resolve them, "Well... Thems, we have a wide assortment of food. I've been fairly partial towards a mushroom-based food type known as a stalkdog. It's cooked or grilled and placed between two things known as stalkbuns before being topped with an assortment of condiments."
"If you don't want that, we can go with something a little more classical like a hayburger! Honestly, all these new types of food discoveries haven't really been too great. You can never beat the classics!" Arbour puts in.
"And this is why your palate will never change along with your mind."
"Oh hush you."
Thems giggles before standing at her full towering height. While not as muscular as Twilight had been, she kept the height for sure. Perhaps even a bit more so. Something about her hair seemed to always manage to keep it shining. Magic perhaps? Or was her beauty magical itself?
The two ponies proceed to lead the mysterious creature into their home causing concern and relief to those they pass by along the way into the food district of Neo.
"So what's the plan Onyx?" one lime green and yellow maned Unicorn asks sitting on the seat to the right of him.
"I'm not sure at the moment... While I want to tell everypony that everything will be fine, I'm a bit concerned about whether or not we'll have to prepare for another fight sooner rather than later. Right now we're currently in a... how did you put it, Willful?"
"External Peace Period." A blue and pink swirled Unicored response readjusting the blue collar around his neck.
"Right. But the Internal Peace Period is a lie. I know a lot of the citizens, both old and new, are becoming a bit restless in wondering what the next step of life will be. Will it always be war, or will there be a time of peace and discovery?"
"Honestly, doesn't that just mean that we're more lost than we were before?" A lush blood-red orange and crimson maned and tailed male Unicorn asks as he leans back in his seat slightly causing it to creak from the strain, "Don't get me wrong here, I understand that a lot has changed from Canterlot to Neo, but it doesn't seem like much as changed at all. Heck, I even hear some of the working class talking about becoming royalty in the new world order as they put it."
"And many of the mares have been talking about how having a Matriarchy would be against their wishes. A lot of pressure was put upon a mare's back in the old days and we want more than just a few changes if we are thinking of leaving the past where it belongs." replies a plump maple syrup coated and dark blue mane and tale Earth Pony mare speaks out placing her cup of honey brewed tea away from her lips.
"I understand what you mean Joy and Happy. We are not in the most ideal place to tell them where they need to focus their attention. This is why our culture expert Jubilant isn't here right now. She's currently out there trying to keep the peace as much as she can. And Everypony has been filing in reports of all sorts of activities here and there. Some are a bit more worrisome than others."
Onyx takes a moment to stand and step away from the table towards a large map of the Canterlot area before the destruction of its buildings and towers, "Honestly speaking, we need to focus our efforts on making sure something like this doesn't happen again. As much as I'm sure you all would like to focus on Ponies and their well-being, we got to make sure that we are actually safe first. I purpose following Killer Flight and Steel Rampant's ideas of building barracks and towers within key areas of the city in case our enemies decide to show their ugly mugs to take back what isn't theirs."
The lot of them murmur both approval and disapproval at the idea that they have to keep playing war despite the apparent peace. This wasn't easy on anypony. After taking back everything that once belonged to them and figuring out what to do with the Gryph survivors, not much has been done. Debates on what should actually be done have been tossed back and forced. While this has been taking place, others have taken it upon themselves to do things they want to promote their idea of what should come next. Secret societies and openly disapproving of ideals and actions. It was truly showing how restless the citizens were becoming. And while they didn't really have an official government, some could be seen as leaders over certain areas of the place they call home. From Onyx being the first leader of Neo Canterlot to Happy Tales whose known as the mare among mares of house and home. There was always a leader for something and the majority of them met her beneath the secret tunnels below the homes of the masses.
While secretive themselves, they had done much to ensure that their society survives the shift in ideals and war.
"Next, I'd like to put it to a vote soon on whether or not we should follow the ideals of an archy or if we should continue the ideas of this... uh..."
"Republic." Willful helps.
"Republic. Yes, right. Thank you Willful." Onyx says coughing into a hoof.
"That's... a difficult one. We don't even really know how many forms of government there are. And just having rulers or at least beings that ought to rule show up and just take over is a bit... you know." Joy starts.
"Stupid?" Onyx finishes giving him a deadpan look.
They all knew what really drove a lot of the royalty and upper civilians crazy. The fact that anypony that could grow a horn and wings could be considered royalty was a bit of a stretch. Even then, they could simply refuse the idea in the case of Twilight and eventually Flurry Heart. Which drove the idea of it as a legitimate form of government even more out the window.
"Well seeing as we don't have to worry about Alicorns, I think, we should be in the clear from that problem ever happening again," Onyx says chuckling.
"You forget. It might not be an Alicorn, but there is currently something just as powerful sitting on our porch steps." Happy says as she leans forward bringing her hooves under her muzzle and staring Onyx dead in the eyes, "And what would happen if it becomes no longer content with just the following order and decides to lead?"
Tension begins to form in the room. Another reason the meeting was called. That... creature was known as Twilight Sparkle. It shifted and turned into something else during the final battle and put an end to the majority of conflicts that would've come. Yet before then, it was known as Celestia. Each form has some sort of... influential aura bleeding off of it. It wasn't a pleasant thought, but having it here would mean that something like that could most likely happen. Especially if one of the forms it takes turns out to be eviler than the last.
"What do you suggest then, Happy," Onyx says locking eyes with her.
"We kill it."
Another Place the Same Time
The start of autumn winds could be seen blowing in. They wrap themselves amongst the leaves and gently play with the foliage like a child with a prized toy. It flips, dances, and glides with the invisible force known as the air before being laid gently upon a stream of water.
Quietly the leaf goes unaware of the journey ahead of it. Unaware of the world that it shall find itself a part of. Will the stream lead to its doom crushed beneath the mighty roar of the maelstrom of crashing waves and violent rocks, or will it find comfort within the lulling grasp of the slipstream awaiting a final resting place upon the water-soaked edges of a pond? One could not say because one does not know the leaf and its struggles to survive.
When given all the possibilities in the world of where one may end up, life can be more unsure than you would think. Anything can happen anywhere; nothing is impossible unless otherwise stated. That's why hope is always present in the mind of most creatures. Despite the varying degrees of intelligence, any creature can hope.
The same could be said for the plant. As it is not seen as a creature, one would think that it bares no feelings. It does not hope nor does it fear. For what does a mighty oak grown in the solitude of a forest require feelings such as these?
But that is where they forget that it lives.
Just as anything classified as a "creature" does. It eats, thinks, and wishes to live its life to its natural conclusion. While longer than most things, a death of age is long sought out by most creatures. But just like any creature, they have to struggle to get there. From diseases to other creatures trying to snuff its living flame out early.
Warry is the bush that grows amongst massive oaks and buried is the flowers that find themselves sprouted beneath the willow. Life is cruel to all of its "creatures" no matter the limbs or organs.
Nature as the concept of a creature is something one can easily sympathize with. To apply that concept to something more... monstrous. Impossible for some.
Monsters, while often seen as not creatures but a thing of their own, can hope as well. Their hopes and wants may be different than the hopes and want of most others. Their dreams, if they could be called that, ebb and flow much like a leaf in the wind. They're always guided by something they most likely will never understand.
The sun guides plants in a path that allows them to eat the most. The people guide the monsters in a way that allows them to feed the most. The monster guides the people to survive and strive so they may feed the most.
Few question it. The motive. Most figure they already know everything about said monster and simply write the plot out the only way they can see it. Then they push the narrative onto others. Others believe it over the monster and soon everyone knows everything there is to know about monsters.
It is shameful.
No one can know anything about that person unless they have been that person. Or a mile in someone else's shoes, they say. What is it like to be so scared of life and death that all you know is to take so that you can't lose? Is the loss so scary that you force others to lose in your place so you can never know hurt?
Was the narrative really so false that you can start to believe it yourself? If you believe in what others say about you, doesn't that mean you've been lying to yourself from the start? Did you question when did it ever become true? Did you ever wonder for a moment if this was the way that life was always supposed to be for you?
It's hurtful.
It hurts.
It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts
Autumn is coming a bit sooner than expected. At least that is what every Earth Pony could feel. It was soaked in the air. The chilling nip of the start of the fall season. It would be bad for what crops remained in the ground if they are taken out too late. But that also means that the growing season has changed again.
A phenomenon such as this was never really such an odd occurrence. After everything had happened, of course. If the world was still the way it was supposed to be, well, perhaps they would be freaking out. Instead, there is a law to this series of events that would have otherwise started, who knows, a wild stampede of ponies trying to figure out why everything was wrong all of a sudden.
Such a thought would bring a chuckle to mind. If not being so accurate to how many of them were once.
Being wrong was okay now. Being wrong was a bit of the norm. Despite the pride built up inside of her throughout the years, a young rainbow-colored Pegasus could admit that. As a leading Pegasus of the Pegasi race, specifically known as Contrayls, she could understand a thing or two about admitting when you're wrong.
She has had to admit to it a few more times than she would like in her ever-shortening life. From little things such as admitting she was wrong about another cookie before bed to grandiose actions such as assuming an entire town had to be burned due to them turning against the main faction because they thought their way would be better.
Letting your best friend in the whole wide world befriend a demon could also be seen as one of those. On a scale of wrongness, she'd have to say completely wrong.
She haphazardly, almost as if in a daze, looks towards what was once known as the Everfree forest. Her mane, cut down just above her ears and pulled back into a tight knot, seems to move in its own stream for a bit. The start of the autumn air was not yet strong enough to cause the flowing of one's mane but was a nice refresher after a long day of exercise Her eyes, unfocused and swimming, continue to scan the Everfree for something that may not even be there.
Before, one would look and feel nothing but dread and fear from it. Now, all they could do was feel either hatred or pity. A dome had covered the entirety of the forest preventing anything from coming out or going in. Many had tried, herself included, but none could get through.
Whether force, trickery, or persuasion of all things, the dome would not budge. It was like it was mocking them. Mocking her. Telling her that she would never be good enough.
It enraged it.
It's crazy, really. She once almost broke her neck on that thing. Yet despite that, she continues to try. Every day, every week, every month, and every season. Some new or repeating plan. Sometimes crazier than the last. Until one day, she snapped.
She had something of an epiphany. She stopped during the middle of one of her crazy constructions and thought to herself, if there was nothing that she could build or do herself to break the dome, she'd just have to find somepony who could! It was genius!
And so, she got to work hunting down the knowledge she needed. She took notes and began to do experiments outside of her normal lunacy.
If it hadn't been for Applejack slowing her down, she'd have been dead for sure.
When discord came and took Fluttershy for her protection, everypony protested. But he wouldn't hear it. Fluttershy tried to convince him, but he looked shattered. Like he was coming apart at the seams. As if he was the only one suffering...
After he had disappeared, the barrier went up. From then on, not a peep was ever heard from him.
Now if only that was the only thing she was wrong about...
Twilight... Dear lovable egg-headed Twilight... The thing she didn't want to be wrong about. She always had an ace up her sleeve. She believes, or well believed, that one day she'll show up again at her front steps with that sheepish smile of hers looking for the right words to say to apologize to her. After that, she would gather up everyone, break down the barrier, and fry that bastard back to wherever it came from along with the rest of its ghoulish horde.
But that was supposed to have been years ago. What feels like ages ago. She knew the exact time as she would always think about it while flying. It's what kept her flying. It's what keeps her trying.
"Attempt number 5,678."
She turns towards the machine crafted for recording and playing back sounds the user makes. She has already logged so many of her experiments and ideas into this thing. She's even had to go out and buy more simply because they're not to hold as much as she puts in. But all of this would be worth it if she could just figure out how to...
"Rainbow! Consarn it! Why the Tartarus are you out here again! Don't you know this is a fools' errand! You'll wind up doing who knows that type of damage that you already haven't!"
"Leave me alone! I got to figure it out! It's not like you've done anything to find her!"
"I have! You think I haven't!? We both know her bo-"
"Don't you fucking dare!" Venom could be felt and heard.
Rainbow was in her other "friend's" face in an instance. A dark shadow had fallen over both of their faces. Their resilience against one another had grown even worse over time. No longer were they rivaling friends, but heated neighbors.
"You have to face facts. She's. Not. Coming. End of discussion. End of story. No rainbows and sunshine and happy songs. Rainbowdash, everypony is concerned for you. They want their general back."
"I'm not coming back. Not without her. Not without everything fixed. I'll do it on my own if I have to. You and all of you cowards and stand back and watch me fix it all myself! I'll prove everypony wrong and I'll do it my way!"
"You'll only hasten your death! Damn it, girl! Don't ya see what all of this has done to you!? What it done to the town!? Do you even care if anypony else gets hurt!?"
"Twilight will fix it!"
"Twilight is dead! Stop this foalish nonsense and oof!"
Rainbowdash hadn't made a noise. She didn't show any signs of moving, but suddenly Applejack had found herself on her back at the front gates of headquarters where many of the resistance to corruption stay. They had started spouting off a name for themselves, but she could care less what they were called.
The only things she really cared for were her family, her friends, and putting everything right again.
Rainbowdash was once again wrong. In thinking that she would be the one to fix everything by herself and wrong for thinking everyone was a coward. Day in and day out they would hunt through ruins captured bases, and the corpses of their enemies to find what they could. To find what she needed, and to help bring closure to all of this.
At times, Applejack had wished it was her instead of Twilight. For Pinkie to even be here to somehow work her magic to put things where they need to be. Applejack merely shakes her head watching the trail of rainbow disappear back to where they had been. Was she going to become another threat of her own? Or did she actually know what she was doing...
"Did... did you talk to her?"
Applejack didn't have to look to know who had approached her. While some ponies were content with letting the world slip by, Applejack simply took it as another obstacle that needed to be beaten. And beat it she did.
She slowly turns smiling at her friend and lover Sturdy Trunk. While many broke down around them and questioned what the point of living was, there were all the same those sane enough to know that this was only the start of something new. Something that could be used to make things better than they were before. One such ponies were Sturdy Trunk and all his glorious ideas and motivation.
Sturdy Trunk wasn't big in stature. Most of his body was built, ironically, the opposite of a sturdy trunk. Lanky and built like a fallen twig, Sturdy proved himself to be on the weaker side of the spectrum of ponies. Now, this wasn't bad per se. What he lacked in strength was made up for by his ideals, charisma, and endurance. Much like a freshly cut trunk, he stayed rooted to whatever he had his mind set to. It didn't matter how much one would try to remove him from where he stands, because he wasn't going to budge for anyone or anything. The world would end, or end more so than usual, and he would still be there to argue his point of view to the utmost perfection. He was the sole reason why they had chosen Ponyville for their Head Quarters in the first place.
Honestly speaking, the two being together seemed like the worse thing imaginable. Two headstrong ponies that always seemed to butt heads in the simplest of situations? Certainly a recipe for disaster. Yet, they proved everypony wrong by not only announcing that they were dating but even going so far as to find a way to not only implement both of their ideas at once but even effectively push back the Scourage and all of its horde. Currently, the leader of the area they reside in, known as Scraggle, has been seen hopping mad trying to figure out how they manage to defend themselves and yet take base after base from underneath him. Even now while this was happening, Applejack had already sent out her elite team to take care of a pesky little creature known as a Liquefier that had managed to halt the front team from sieging one of Scraggle's research stations. Once they succeed, because there was no other option, they would cut off a key point of Scraggle and he would be forced to show himself. At that moment Sturdy would reveal his hand and have the Horde shaking in their boots.
"I did." She states her eye probably betraying her smile.
"And?" he asks moving out of her way as she makes her way inside.
"I think she might just be as stubborn as us on this one. She wasn't even gentle on the landing this time around."
"I'll just have to kiss and make it better later."
Applejack whirls on him heat raising into her face, "H-Hey! You watch yer tone in public!"
"Ah yes there's that beautiful accent I love." He says giving her a surprise kiss before moving past her, "Now if you aren't too distracted with the promise of later, we do have something to oversee hun."
"Consarn it! You really know how to push my buttons don't ya! I swear on Granny's grave I'm a give you a lashing later fer that!"
"But of course, but of course." He says chuckling at her turn of demeanor.
Applejack quickly follows after her mate blush still present on her face as she tries to rectify her appearance.
Another night Another fright
A blanket of cool air hangs over the sleepy village. Despite the high rise of the moon, several figures could be seen milling about the dimly lit huts and tree porches. While most would find such a sight bewildering, the ones that live here simply address it as another Tuesday night. While Pony is in shape, they would refuse to be called anything less than what they are.
These Thestrials are creature kin to the Pony race and yet uniquely their own. Unlike many of the Pony subclasses that fall under them such as Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, Kirin, and so forth, Thestrials are coming considered Ponylike yet not Ponies at all. Genetically they are vastly different than your average Pony. This is why they are considered a Class of their own with some, very few, under them. This would include the elusive Bat Ponies and Nightlings.
Thestrials and their kin are nocturnal and generally keep to themselves regarding wars and political struggles. Next, one would need to consider their omnivore diet. While Batponies eat more bugs than actual meat, Thestrials find themselves craving the unique taste that only cooked or raw meat could give. While most of their kind avoid raw meat, it isn't shunned. Lastly, while the Thestrials can fly like Pegasi, they mainly use their wings for more dexterity-based actions that Pegasi, whose bodies seem to have been built with speed in mind, could never accomplish.
But as great as they sound, they do have their downfalls. To begin with, they have poor vision during the day and are very sensitive to noise. Due to this unfortunate feature, you won't be seeing many of them out during the day or in anything less than a rural environment. Yet, even when it turns dark their vision isn't all too great. So they rely heavily on other senses.
Secondly, Thestrials are not commonly social. They rarely speak to those outside of their clans for the large majority of their lives. If communication is held outside of the clan, it's usually through only one representative or is within a dire situation. Otherwise, this could be seen as a breach of etiquette and can be harshly punished depending on the clan one resides in. This proves very difficult to learn about them as they hold their silence very well.
Lastly, Thestrials, as dangerous as they seem, are much more vicious than they let on. Both verbally and physically. Many from the warrior clan learn how to verbally abuse their enemies and implement mental warfare with the utmost efficiency. Some say the tongue cuts sharper than any sword if used correctly. This rule applies to almost every other clan as they can often be found competing against one another in various violent sports with the favorite of them all being, blood ball.
Blood ball is a violent sport of three rounds in which two teams compete to score the most goals. The two sides have a team of eight, four forwards, three guards, and one controller. The four forwards are put into teams of two known as defenders and attackers. The defenders' jobs are, as understandable, to protect the ball controller so they may make it to the goal and score past the guards. Secondly, they much do everything within their power to heal and ensure that the attackers are not able to make a pass at the controller. The attackers are the ones that make their way past the guards and take down the ball controller to get the ball back. If their team is already in control of the ball, they may try to take down the guards to allow the controller to score. Guards are heavily outfitted defenders on either side of the playing field in which they protect a large rectangular net that the controller has to throw the ball into. While simple in thought, defenders come equipped with not only armor but a steel club to fight attackers and the controller off. The ball in question is usually made from a collection of material taken from an enemy's bases or simply the skull of a former enemy general or leader. The game is either held every Friday and Sunday or is held after an important event in which a new ball is used.
Yet, under the blanketed skies of this wonderous and rare Thestrial village, all is far from well. It has been known for quite a while, but none of them dared to believe in rumors and anything that would hinder their day-to-day work lives. Buch much like their lesser cousin, every bat can fall pray to the whispers of deceit spread out amongst themselves. It keeps the majority of them on edge while others treat it as just another happenstance as many of the extra precautions against said rumor could just be over-the-top unnecessary worrying. It just depends on who you ask, when you ask, and the way you ask it.
The rumor in question is... unclear. Some speak of a conspiracy that could decimate their entire way of life as well as wipe out every clan in a single night. Horrifying sure, but impossible. It has to be. After all, there was nothing around so strong as to end their unnatural lives. The latest and most damning rumor is that a rogue Nightling was uniting the clans as the head of a super army to return them into the ranks of just not bat ponies, but every Pony possible. An ambitious goal and foolhardy as some would put it. Despite the truth being masked, all were certain that change was on its way to every creature in this world once more.
The first to note this within the pairings were the warrior clans. They had gone from battling day in and day out for the war to simply living the best they could without it. They became mercenaries at first, then peace negotiators, and finally living relics of the past. They would tell stories and poems of the days that have gone by. The days of war and fighting for unlike any born to their clan had ever seen. Because of the peace found, they began to grow restless in the aftermath.
The warrior clan is madly primarily of not just the best fighters, but the best in general. Spies, assassins, poets, storytellers, and generals. They all brushed shoulders as brothers and sisters. They all learned from experiencing what they earned themselves and share it with those that will listen. Or show it to those that do not.
So it came as no surprise that the first rumors passed through the warrior clans. They interwove lies and truths into their stories to allow those that know the key phrases to gleam into what they know and those that do not are none the wiser.
Despite little truth being within these stories, it was enough to spark intrigue and parties to rally to seek out the Nightling in question. The great search as it had grown to be called eventually. Many would hunt but none would bring back anything useful. Even now a party forms along the edge of the village center.
A Thestral of raspberry fur and dark purple mane and tail finds herself accompanied by two ocean blue Nightlings. The Nightlings wear no disguise as none is necessary amongst friends and allies. The two Nightlings seem to be siblings with the larger of the two being the older sister. The younger brother seems to hear a scar across his lower chitin abdomen section. Despite its faded nature, it seems permanent in possibly magical ways.
“So you heard it, right? The mid-morning whistling?” The older Nightling speaks looking between the two others.
“Yes! This could be exactly what we need! No creature else has spoken about something like this! So we might be on the right case for sure!” The raspberry speaks out next hopping from side to side.
“Or this could be what a predator would want. After all, it’s not like the mountainside is any less dangerous at night than during the day.” The youngest speaks shifting his haunches every so often.
“Yes. But at least we can see at Night better than day. Or are you looking to be picked off already? Little brother.”
The stern tone in her voice was enough to keep him quiet. Something seems to play on his tongue, but he keeps it to himself. All the while the Thestral makes her way closer to the village’s edge. Anticipation is written in every part of her body as she waits for the other two to catch on. With a lack of enthusiasm, the two follow.
“You think the debt will be paid after this?” The younger asks.
“Knowing her, no.”
The nocturnal bugs play their nightly orchestra as the party waits out their hunt. While not the normal prey for a Thestral, she takes great pleasure in it nonetheless. As a Pony from the warrior clan Chasseurs, the hunt was everything. The thrill of the chase, the planning, and finally the killing. Except for this pray would not be killed. Much to her disappointment. The client was particular about keeping it alive for questioning. Especially since it may lead them one step closer to learning the truth.
She glances at the horizon noticing the first glints of sunlight. The comforting purple and blue darkness yielded to the harsh orange of the first-day break. Her ears perk listening for her target while moving quickly to awaken the two Nightlings. The whistling would be the key to their success. Despite not napping as her compatriots had, due to her built-up anxious energy, she felt more awake than ever before. Others would have given up as far as she has gone to succeed. But with the taste of success already on her tongue, there was no other option.
The wait for a sign felt like ages. And then, it came. A faint whistle that could easily be mistaken for a common early morning bird’s song. But the distinction between Nightling and Bird is almost inseparable if not for those trained in the styling. A certain flair on the high notes. The almost unnoticeable quickness to the change of beat.
And the rare song that only a few know.
The raspberry smiles before mouthing, “I’ve. Found. You.”
The three cover their campsite and make their way quickly through the sparsely grown foliage. While not quite under the night, they move as agile as any other nocturnal predator. With the grace and ease of a snake hunting through the underbrush, they search for their songbird. For the nest they guard holds all of the golden nectar they seek.
Time slips by as the song play further and closer to them. The most stressful game of hot and cold. No matter how close they seemed, it was always just a bit out of earshot. Even when they seemed to be on top of the noise, it would just grow. Quieter and seem to be somewhere else. Perhaps magic was in play? How could they find something that didn’t want to be found? The answer was simple and came to the raspberry all too easily. If it didn’t wish to be seen or for it to be found, you must instead not look. If it is found by chance, then so be it.
And thus, the songbird was found unaware by a hug from behind. Fear filled the yellow-coated Earth Pony’s heart as a whisper entered its ear.
“Tag~”
O’ gentle the Light the light it shines
So joyous and free
O’ But every light has a chilling fright
So scared of the dark
O’ hurt is the Moon that gives it all
They come in a flash
O’ glad is the Moon that stands so tall
Jealousy of sun
O’ the Sun the Sun does it’s best
Weep and cry
O’ the Moon the cruelty you show
Fight and kill
O’ soon comes the Sun that ends it all
Bested and bruised
O’ but the Moon knows it not done
Preparing attack
Walking through Running past
Author's Note
Sorry this is late had a bunch of exams.
Walking through Running past
The assault of smells that overstimulate the senses. The shouting and pushing of bodies; both rough and light. The beckoning motions and performances of the various merchants and employees. The moisture of anticipation builds up in one’s mouth when gazing at the cacophony of flavors and shapes.
All of this is an experience unlike any other. None of her passengers, nor herself, have experienced something remotely close to this. She had once read about a truly open market in books during history class or seen in various movies. Nothing does this well-orchestrated ballet of movement and chaos justice. Seeing it take place before she is something that will remain etched into her memory.
“Is there… anything you see; you want to try?” One of her guides asks. She believes his name had something to do with royalty, but the only thing clouding her mind was the spread before her. She would have to at least start with one of everything.
After that, she will have to see where her mouth takes her. And her nose. After all, she was a lady of both exquisite and simple tastes now. This is simply due to the mingling of memories in her head, but this isn't anything new to her.
Despite her memories telling her how everything should taste, she knows better than to trust them. Her head has been so messy with memories, both foreign and familiar, that she could hardly call them her own. Hell, she could hardly remember the things she wanted to remember when she wanted. To remember everything and yet retain nothing. A curse disguised as a blessing. Or perhaps a gift that hasn't shown its true brilliance?
What even was her name anymore? Did she know what her actual appearance was? What does she actually hate and like? Does she have a sister? Is she who she thinks she is? What even was the point of her being alive? It was always hard to tell. At one point, she knew all the answers. And then it fell apart. Her memories are like sands through a grate leaving nothing behind but the treasures she hardly wants nor seeks. Thus, she continues to search. Forever lost in her mind and memories. Or was it their heads and memories? To share a place with beings that you hardly understand or agree with is something she could go without for a while. Despite that, she's stuck this way with them and in this place, none of them could call home.
“Sad.”
The cacophony of noise fades from the cheers and booms of merchants to that of the cries of stallions and mares weeping into their products, themselves, or one another. Tears flow freely from the creature’s eyes much like those around her. She openly weeps and gazes at the scene before her. Everyone weeping alongside her for the memories both gained and lost.
She places a hand against her lips remembering that she has to pay more attention to what she says. All the powers in her body have managed to manifest themselves in all sorts of different ways. Both bad and good. While she feels as healthy as can be, she also can't help but constantly feel sick and lost. On top of that, the words she speaks are infused with magic. Empathy magic to be more precise. Due to the fusion of both friendship and authority magic, she has managed to create something new and all the more powerful. The connection she feels with everyone around her through Twilight and the absolute authority she can breathe through the power of Celestia. Her gaze alone could probably cause someone to fall to their knees in benevolence. It is why she has to constantly keep everything in check and balance. If something were to overcome something else, it would be too much. Same to say with someone and someone else.
"Reset." She breathes out with a sigh.
With that, the flowing of tears and snot stops leaving only confusion in its wake. Bystanders and shop owners begin to pull themselves together and quickly aim to get all of their produce and money in line again. They all act as if nothing had ever happened and quickly get back into the swing of things.
"W-What was that?" Regal asks wiping away tears from his face, "I... I never felt..."
"Sorry. Sometimes I forget what I can do. And remember what I can other times. Its... complicated. But enough of that. I'd love to sample at least one of everything." She says clapping her hands together not even bothering with the tears as they seem to soak into her skin.
"R-Right... W-Well... Let's start with this over here first."
And so began the flourish of steps against the crowds. The spearhead of their charge from stand to stand snapping delights up into the maw of the never-ending maw of gluttony. No matter the size, shape, or amount, nothing was safe. Regal and Arbour can only look on in horror and amusement, respectively. Before they knew it, they were already on the other end watching as she spins in circles a strip of toast coated in cinnamon and butter hanging between a lip.
“I don't know about you, but I like her.” Arbour leans over and says to Regal.
“She certainly has her…. Charm.”
“Charm ain’t the half of it. It’s like a mixture of proper and down south that ain’t even know was possible. A unity of chaos and order mixed into one bundle of confusion.”
“Yes… I feel like she might be a problem unlike any we have ever seen.” Regal says narrowing his eyes as she finishes her toast and bends over to greet some shinier stones.
“Sure she’s a half-baked potato, but that ain’t no fault of her own. Can’t rightly blame her for it.”
“You know it is dishonorable to speak of a lady’s worth within earshot you know.” She speaks up looking to chuckle at their embarrassed faces, “Déjà Vu huh?”
“S-Sorry, Thems. Seeing as we have a bit of free time, I was hoping to talk more with you.” Regal says trying to keep his stoicism up.
“Shhhh. The mountain is speaking.” She says leaning closer to the crystal.
The two ponies just give each other a curious glance before watching as she nods her head. She makes noises of affirmation and shock before standing up and clasping her hands together.
“Alright! I know what I have to do now!”
“And that would be?” The two ask at the same time.
“The mountain hungers and it requires a sacrifice.” She says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
One. Two. Three beats pass. The expression of confusion slowly morphs into horror followed by despair. The silence between the three is going into labor with the tension.
“Just kidding~”
For a moment, Arbour agrees with Regal. She will be a big problem.
“Thank you, come again!”
A blushing stallion rubs the back of his head as he walks away from the storefront. Another successful night of indulging in the passions of the weaker-willed sex. Some creatures believe that her profession is disgusting and immoral and will “corrupt the youth”. She's a succubus, as some of her customers call her, and her prey is that of those with idle wealth and youth to spare.
They're not all bad. There are a few nice ones that only want a companion to keep them company during these turmoil and trying times. They weep and mourn all that they have lost. Wives, children, loved ones, etc. It's heartbreaking and she's heard so much and learned everything she could from everyone here. Every single pony has a secret, something they have lost, or something they can't give to anyone else.
“E-excuse me miss.”
And her favorite one of all has just arrived. Smile still plastered on her face, she turns toward the voice from the side of the building.
“You’re pretty early tonight~”
There was none of the usual charm to her voice that she would use with her usual customers. The charm of words is ineffective against this one. Too stubborn and dense for it. Always the straightforward approach for him else he’ll miss the mark.
“W-well you said I needed to stop coming so close to closing, so.”
“I meant I would like to see you first, for once.”
Despite his shrouded appearance, she could see the blush across his face, “N-N-No! Never! I I I I couldn't! T-they would say me in a heartbeat!”
“You wouldn't risk a little death for me?”
“Not for anyone!”
Her smile falters as she sighs before giving a genuine one. She motions with her head to the door behind her. “Come on, Lugnut”
“Not my name...”
“Should I call you 148-”
“A-stop! Lugnut is fine...”
“See how much better things are when you listen to me?~”
Lugnut says nothing as he moves past her keeping his head low and clutching to his hood with a hoof. Once inside he seems to straighten his posture and relax a bit letting his hoof slip away. Once his grip is relaxed, he soon finds a shoal ripped from the top of him revealing his form.
“H-Hey!”
“Oh, hush. You don't get to wear that ratty thing here,” she says closing the door as she enters.
Before she stood something that could be considered a pony upon first glance. Green and yellow fur mixed with highlights of white covered his body. The part not covered by this, specifically his hind legs and the left side of his face seems to be grey and metallic in makeup. The fur and skin that would be there to protect his insides are replaced with that hard unfeeling metal.
Despite his name being Lugnut, that was not it before the incident. It was only after he was discovered that the name was given to him. Based upon the numbers etched into the metallic side of his face. 148-n47.
“You know I hate it w-when you do that..."
"Don't fret about it too much. Now go get cleaned up, there's some libs stun in your leg still."
"F-Fine.."
Once he's upstairs, the mare sighs and brushes some of her curled hair behind her head. She can't help but wonder how the two of them got so involved in one another. She has always considered it up to fate, but if he hadn't been there when he was.
She shakes her head to clear her mind from some of the darker thoughts in her head. This is their life and nothing would change that. As long as they're safe about it. She would never do anything to hurt him. As much as he might imagine so, she only has the best in mind for him. His self-destructive tendencies make it hard on not just himself, but her as well. He's her savior and he deserves so much more than he already has.
"Get it together, mare. You gotta get everything together."
She takes a big breath and makes her way to the kitchen to start on late-night snacks and some appropriate drinks for the house. After all, it wasn't like they were the only two that were here in the first place. In the kitchen hunched over the sink washing dishes is a dwarfed Changeling humming away a tune of unknown origin. She once tried to ask her about it, but she refused to elaborate other than "when the time comes you'll know". Such a useful and mysterious mare...
"Evening, Ink." She says while rummaging through the cupboard.
"Evening, Mistress." The Changeling, "I'm assuming sir Lugnut is in?"
"You would assume correctly. Are the other girls in?"
"I don't believe so. Snow and Aura are currently taking their time coming back from a client's house. Isabelle said that she was going to go collect a bounty and would most likely be at the tavern most of the night."
"Hm. I see. Whelp, nothing to be done about it. They're all smart girls, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Especially Isabelle. Out of everywhere to stay, she chooses here. I'll never understand it."
"At least you don't have to get hired muscle to keep some of the rowdier boys in line." The Changling snickers, "Aside from that, I hear Lugnut has taken quite a liking to her."
"I think he sees her more as a protective older sister than anything else..."
"Is that jealousy I hear, Mistress~"
"Watch your tongue!" She stammers out nearly cutting herself with a knife.
"I kid I kid~ Unless~"
"Ink..."
"I'll let it go, for now, Mistress. But you'll have to face your feelings at some point."
"Hm."
A few minutes pass and the living room finds itself full of life and noise. Lugnut rolls the dice across the living room table pumping his hoof upon rolling doubles for the second time.
"Lucky~" He comments moving his piece across the board before drawing a card, "Reveal one card from a player's hand and have them perform the action or answer the question. I'm going with you, Mistress."
Mistress sighs and flicks some hair from her muzzle before holding out the hoofful of cards she's managed to, unfortunately, collect during the runtime. He takes his time examining each one before pulling from the middle.
"Chance! Now let s... Uh... C-Can I put this one back?"
"Sorry young Lugnut, once chosen there's no going back." The Changeling speaks grinning earhole to earhole, "So what have you gotten for her?"
"I... Er... It says... Selected player has to flirt with you for the rest of the game or a null card is played."
Silence. A beat passes. A devilish smirk is formed. Nervousness enters his eyes as he glances from the card to her he feels as if he's prey caught by an apex predator. In this case, it was true.
"Oh?~ What an interesting card~ If the card says so, I wouldn't mind flirting with such a young strapping stallion such as yourself~" She says leaning forward towards him from across the table.
"W-Wait! H-Hold on! My heart isn't ready!"
"Your heart may not be, but I'm sure we could get another part of you ready~" She says flicking her eyes down before meeting his.
A large blush spreads across his face. Something inside of him was beginning to stir and the two females could easily tell.
"H-Hey! Y-Y-Y"
"Enough talk, dear~ You can use that mouth for so~ Much~ More~"
Suddenly Lugnut's luck was beginning to turn against him.
"A strange time we find ourselves in, don't you think?" Celestia asks lounging in a hammock a book floating in front of her.
The only other creature within the void she hangs in is Twilight watching the world from the screen in front of them. While Celestia holds no interest in the fact that their world has been changed so much by not just their own actions recently, but by the influence, they have put into the world. That they have put into her.
"You worry too much."
"You worry too little."
Celestia sighs and lets the book plop on her barrel as she gives a curious look to Twilight. Celestia had worked so hard to make her into what she is now. And yet she scorns her for it all because it was all through manipulation. The hatred Twilight breathes is because of her own actions. Not Celestia's. This is what she believes to be the truth as it is the truth. There is no higher truth than her own. She was a goddess at her height of life and nothing has changed since. Only the form she takes.
"Do you fear her?"
"I fear for her."
"Twilight are we really doing this?"
"Are we?"
"..."
Celestia lifts her book up and the world returns to silence.
Trixie couldn't help herself but be astonished at the sights before her. The spires were lurking above the closest mountains, the mighty castle made of stones so black they absorb the very light around it, and the lack of life or color from anything around. If the mountains were alive, they would quake in fear.
Yet, the majestic stoic and sleek design of it all can not cover the undesirable creped filth and degeneracy within. Experimentations and barbaric abominations alike. If you weren't food, you were a test subject. If you were neither, then you were dead. They cared not for age or sex. If you breathed you were beneath them.
At one point, she did exactly what she thought the mountains would do. The fear ate at every moment of her life when she was stuck in one of these detectable cesspools of hell all while constantly being woken up for pain or pleasure. It was demeaning and it taught her what true hatred was. They experimented with her body in ways she never thought were possible. And when they were done, they let the others test out their “work”. Even the thought of it sends a revolting shiver down her spine. But it also increased the fire burning within her stomach. With all the fear they fed her, she learned what true hatred was. With that hatred, she learned to stop fearing. Once she had conquered her fear, she learned to teach it.
While they experimented on her in their labs, she began experimenting with herself in her cell. While they did not need to seal off her magic, as most were fast enough to kill as soon as the flick of an aura appeared, she didn't need to cast to theorize.
She could still recall the books she read. Memorization was important to her. Her time as an actor taught her that timing and remembering who was who and what places liked what more was more important than the act itself. So she did the spells in her head envisioning scenario after scenario, remembering which classes don't mix, and most importantly, how to stop herself from dying. It was during a moment of lucidity of being used like a rag doll that she came to a sudden realization. If she could just be invisible, they wouldn't bother her. But she would still give off an aura. So if she could turn her magic invisible...
A plan was formed.
She spent the next of her time there learning to do just that. She knew that if she could target her magic with magic, she could escape. It opened doors she hadn't thought possible. She began to play around with the idea when she could and put it into practice when they weren't looking. Her greatest creation was learning that she could turn her magical aura invisible with a single spell and concentration. Once her aura was invisible, all of her spells would be invisible including the spell she used to turn it invisible. Thus, when her captors thought they were safe, she proved them wrong with two spells. Invisibility and a thin binding spell around the throat. Three were dead unsure of what happened to them. All the while Trixie smirked realizing her true potential.
If only Twilight could see her now.
After that, she went on a rampage freeing prisoners, killing creatures of The Horde, and eventually destroying the building that caused her so much pain. Needless to say, she ended up in a magic coma for a week after the feat, but it was worth it. Not only had she begun something greater than herself, but she was now known more for her assassinations than her old career. As sad as that was, she had to ignore it to do what she needed.
Eventually, she came across Applebloom who was cleaning herself in a river surrounded by at least 10 bodies of those devilish green short things. Not even a single mark was on her. So it was in Trixie’s best interest to ta- ask her to come along to help other ponies in need. The fact that she could move the cart around better than Trixie was just a bonus.
And so a bond was formed for the same goals. A vanguard and an assassin move from town to town, castle to castle, and battlefield to battlefield doing what they know best. Trixie soon became known as the moonlight’s assassin while Applebloom became simply known as Juggernaut.
Despite all of Trixie’s feats, there was just one thing that constantly bugged her. Applebloom’s point of change.
For starters, Trixie hadn't thought the pint-sized filly would grow up to be so massive. Perhaps even more massive than her late brother. And her strength... Trixie has had the pleasure of watching Applebloom crush an entire hulking abomination in between her front hooves. It just popped like a grape.
It was at her first battlefield that she learned of Applebloom's healing abilities. She could recover from any strike against her body and magic seemed to just glide over her. Despite her best attempts, Trixie could never figure out the reason for it. And she already knew Applebloom wouldn't tell her herself.
The conclusion Trixie came to was that young Applebloom had too come from her own castle of experimentation.
So the infamous band of Ponies made a name for themselves and drew the attention they both wanted and hated. They were welcomed everywhere they went and ambushed at every opportunity they gave. It was a luxury and a nightmare in one package.
Yet they push through. Neither giving an inch to those that try them. Saving, killing, and escaping day in and day out.
But this hunt is different.
This isn't your average run. Simply causing chaos while freeing the slaves to kill the master is their usual go-to; This is an assault. Everything that moves dies and the castle will fall. Master and beasts alike. The rumor goes that any creature that goes in is already dead the same day.
They become husks and join The Horde. So there must be a nest here and it must be destroyed at all costs.
But the fortress that houses the infernal worms is not what was astonishing to her. There are sure to be a dime a dozen of them and one castle starts looking like the next after a while. No, the part that was messing her up was.
“Where the hell is everyone!?”
Trixie looks to Applebloom for an answer but she merely shrugs and walks over the hill they had been camping on. They've been staking the place out for three days and they haven't seen anyone enter or leave the entire time. So that means either their information was leaked or false. Both are terrible prospects and could lead to a series of problems. Or, an even worse scenario, they're all marching somewhere. If that were true, it's all the more important they find the hive and kill it.
“We act quickly. In and out this time. I know we promised to burn this place to the ground, but something isn't right here.”
Applebloom snorts and makes her way to the bridge in front of the closed gates. Trixie's magic flares to form two eyeballs that quickly turn invisible. They would keep both of them safe and alert them of any magical danger or traps along the way. Especially when those damned worms are involved.
Applebloom spins on one hoof before launching her hind legs into the large gates sending them open with a giant crack. Inside was nothing. Scratches, burns, and signs of fighting could be seen. Aside from this, not a creature could be seen.
“Eerie,” Trixie states walking past her guardian to take stock of the room in general.
Whatever has happened here has happened a long time ago. Most of the blood has already dried to the point of peeling or blending into the stone and wood. The wood itself is already warped from the amount of liquid it's absorbed and the air is stake and suffocating. Many of the windows are boarded and several doors have been barricaded off. She sends her eyes out to look further down the foray and only comes back with the same conclusion.
“The nest grew too big.”
So the question now is, where is the nest? How many hosts do they have? And how come none of them have left? A spell? Couldn’t be. She hadn’t felt anything when she came in. A sense of danger? But if something was threatening the Queen… a faulty Queen? Possible…
“Applebloom, we ha…”
It… it wasn’t possible. Applebloom holds the same expression as Trixie as they start at the glowing and circling mark of Applebloom’s cutie mark. It had been years since a cutie mark had don’t anything like that. And the last time was when the Princesses were called with the Elements of Harmony to come to the castle before the last stand. Did that mean harmony was still alive? But why was it only acting now?
The mark suddenly shoots off down the foray with Applebloom hot on its tracks. Trixie reaches out to stop her but curses her bad luck. She quickly attaches an eye to her and takes off behind her knowing she won’t be able to keep up.
Applebloom blows through a barricaded door and quickly makes her way into the room it holds back. She doesn't stop as her body slams through and topples through a table scattering chairs and the like all over the place. Trixie stops bewildered at how she seems so unphased by everything around her. Even more so, she cares not for the danger that lurks deeper within for them most likely. But even Trixie couldn't help but wonder where everything was. Not a single infected or wormhead in sight and worse yet of all, not a single body.
The twisting paths that Applebloom follows eventually lead the two, one more tired than the other, to a large gate. The mark in question hovers above a lever that would unleash whatever was behind it. Applebloom takes a step towards it.
"Wait! A-Applebloom! D-Don't forget why we came here... W-We don't know what's behind there."
They lock eyes. Even with the lack of words, Trixie knew that they would be alright. There was always this reassurance about her. Anytime Trixie began to doubt herself or what she was doing, the sigh of
Applebloom always managed to clear her head and steer her right. And her eyes... The steel and fire within them.
Trixie takes a deep breath to try to steady her breathing before backing up some.
"Look. I'm going to put up some spells first."
Applebloom shakes her head and places a hoof on her chest. Right where her heart is. A sign of trust.
Trixie sighs before shaking her head, “Just to let you know if I die before you then my spirit will haunt you forever more.”
Applebloom turns and yanks the lever back unleashing the horrors within upon them. Tears move and grind from inactivity and noises of shuffling and things being broken could be heard. Against her better instinct, Trixie stops herself from running. All of her life has been nothing but that. But she was done with it. Just like with Starlight, she would stand by Applebloom. Until the bitter end…
The inside of the inactive room reveals darkness. No light source is to be seen. The two stand there staring into eternity waiting for something, anything. Seconds felt like hours as eventually, a creature stepped forward.
Trixie's heart began to race and her blood began to go cold. It was as she feared. The creature before them is known simply as a husk. This Husk in particular is that of a Pegasus dressed in a Prench maid outfit. A Husk is the last stage of the worm infection. The stage in which everything has been consumed inside and the parasite have fully fused with the host. Generally seeing one is a bad sign.
This is why seeing forty walking out was driving her crazy.
“N-No! G-Get back! All of you!”
Surprisingly, they all came to a halt starting at her. Even as more stood at the edge of darkness, they just stopped and stared at her. And unlike anything either had seen, they began to part giving a path to them straight down the middle.
Every alarm bell in her head was going off. This… was too much. This is a trap. A very elaborate trap indeed. She wasn’t sure how they did the cutie mark thing, but this… this had to be! There was no other explanation! Harmony wouldn’t just lead them to their death like this.
And yet Applebloom walked. And Trixie followed behind.
Despite the darkness, the two could tell where they needed to go. Harmony was truly with them despite everything leading to the opposite. Deeper they go where they find all manner of beats turned into either Wormheads or Husks. The most shocking of all was the head of the supposed leader of this forsaken castle being displayed before the stairs leading down into the dungeon before them. Its tri-horned face is stuck in a permanent state of both awe and horror.
“You can feel it, Applebloom?” Trixie asks into the darkness.
Silence rules but she could feel her vanguard’s affirmation.
“I never thought I’d find myself willingly walking into a breeding pit. If all goes wrong, we take turns haunting each other.”
Applebloom snorts before the telling sounds of her hooves against stone stairs down a stairwell. Trixie keeps silent as the two make their way down the rather clean stairwell. As the bottom echo because quieter, light can be seen further in. And not magical light either. Light from a fire most likely, but where was the smoke going?
As they go around the final bend and into the corridor of cells, Trixie is once more at a loss for words. Silk woven curtains hang loosely from the ceiling as Wormheads and Husks move about cleaning, arranging, and crafting a matter of all sorts of things from fur, leather, and feather. Disbelief was hardly the start of what she felt.
They were using torches to help them see better as well as candles. The one thing they should fear is being used by them to help? Surely she must have already died somewhere and she was only realizing now that this is but a mere dream state. Yet no matter how much everything was surprising her, the largest surprise had to be that of Applebloom walking towards the Queen of said hive who looks to be talking to a husk as if he was having the time of its life.
Ridiculous was too weak of a word here. Trixie would have to come up with a new word to… incredulous. Yes yes. That seems about right.
“Applebloom… Incredulous.”
Not as magnificent as she had in her mind, but she’s sure she got the point across. But Applebloom paid her no mind as she stops before the Queen as it took stops and stare at the Earth Pony before her.
The staring contest begins in earnest. A look of intrigue passes the two. Followed by concern. Then surprise and… glee?
“Forgive me but I do believe something has been lost in translation.”
Applebloom turns and motions toward the Queen who in return radiates a warmth of happiness. This sweet filling flowing through her clashes with the alarm bells going off. Wait…
“Sweet… Bell… No. There is only so much I can deal with at once, and this is far from it. You both better not be telling me that this… thing! Is Sweetiebelle!?”
An affirmation from both. In sequence despite Sweetie’s large and faceless cylinder white form. The only thing that could be considered the head is that of a mouth and claw-like appendages that the other queens are known to use to feed themselves. Yet here was one with full sentience using them to motions ideas and craft. Using its hive mind for something other than death and food.
“I… I need to lie down.” Applebloom gives Sweetie? A sheepish look before shrugging. Sweetie in return waves her off before letting loose a sound of clicking mixed with squelches. Several husks immediately lift Trixie, much to her horror, and carry her off in a wordless scream.
Let Us Travel Through the New Equestria!
Clouds float lazily through the sky as if they're sleeping themselves under the radiant light of the moon. It's meant to be peaceful and harmonic to those who witness it, but the Griffon that stands to look up at them with a piercing gaze is anything but.
His beak is marred with scars of times gone by. His eyes are a steely gray. Upon his side sits a shortsword resting neatly in its scabbard decorated with marks and ticks with a purpose known only to him. His body has aged, but his mind more so. He's grown knowledgeable in his years and has honed his trade.
As he watches the once midnight purple night skies turn to a bloodred orange, he can't help but feel a shiver up his spine. He knows this sign for he has seen it before. He hardly ever feels fear, but when he does, he takes it seriously.
As the sun breaks the horizon to rise once more, he feels fear. The sun seems to loom over him like a predator. Like it is watching his every movement. If he takes his eyes off of it, will it strike him down?
Something sinister is in the air this morning.
He lets his eyes wander across the art before him once more. Red and orange conquer the blue that is meant to be there. The clouds, once fluffy, look ominous and sharp in the hue of light.
"Red skies. Bad Omen."
A quick flap of wings signals the landing of another behind him. This one much younger in appearance alone. No blemishes upon feature, softer green eyes, and sharpness to his movements that even a blade would be jealous of.
"Oh? I wasn't aware the skies could tell the future."
"Shows how much ya know, little hen."
A scowl crosses the younger's face, "I'm not a hen, oldy."
"Den stop actin like it. Now, urry up and grab yer weapon. We leave in two."
The younger makes no move to do so.
"What for! We haven't seen a damned thing since we got here! We haven't even found the missing slave! Why the hell would he come here anyway! Nothing but ruins and boredom...
"Even the animals avoid this place! I haven't had a good piece of meat in days..."
"You have much to learn if you wanna make it in this business. Wisdom lies in Patience and vice versa. "
"Yeah? What wisdom do you have to bestow upon me?"
The older Griffon says nothing as he continues to stare at the horizon. The shadow of Canterlot seems to be darker today. The mountain it stands upon seems sturdier. As if it is ready for a fight.
The younger growls impatiently before going and yanking his lance from his tent. He comes up beside his partner, annoyance in every step.
"So what sort of omen do you see? At least tell me that if nothing else."
"Death. Injury. Blood. Don't know whose, but we betta be ready."
"So you some sort of cloud prophet now?" the younger says in a mocking tone.
The older Griffon takes off followed shortly by the younger with a grunt of disappointment.
From a distance, the once mighty capital of Equestria doesn't seem that worse for wear. The larger of the buildings still stand in a testament of time. The hill's greenery seems to have grown over the bodies and debris that once scarred the sides. The growing scene of destruction becomes more apart with the higher one climbs and the further in they go. It would be hell to shift through the rubble and debris to find someone or something amongst the burnt down and blown up buildings. Especially only with the two of them.
"Are you going to answer any of my questions or not?"
"Stop askin stupid ones and we'll see."
"Alright, I'm game. Here's a question, what if our target went underground? Pushed some debris over and found some underground bunker."
"Ponies can't stand the dark too long. We can thank the bitch for that one. They can't stand not being near each other either. You watch for signs. You look for signals." The rustic Griff holds up a taloned fist before pointing towards a random pile of used to be house.
The two fly down with the younger landing further away to pick at stones while the older focuses on a mission. He scours for a few moments before he shifts some rubble away to reveal a steel collar. He would've missed like his partner if he didn't know what to look for.
He inspects it for a second before finding the sign of his employer.
"He's gotten his collar off. Used some of the rocks nearby to snap it off. Look for blood. I doubt you'll smell it with all the dirt and dust around. If we're lucky, he'd have forgotten to mask his trail."
"Yeah? What makes you think that isn't some other slave's collar? You said it yourself, ponies migrate to where they feel safe."
"Cause the blood is still fresh on this one. Now quit yer yappin and use yer eyes more ya idgit."
"I'm not an idiot! And I know what I'm doing! That's why they sent me here. I could've brought him back faster if I didn't have to wait for your bones to warm up to fly."
The older says nothing more as he begins his search for signs. Through his years of hunting down slave after slave, he has established a way to notice signs between the ones that still believe in something and the ones that just want to be free. It is in the way they act and think; Rationality and the irrationality of it all between the two.
One might think he's scot-free once they find a hiding spot. Some might think ambushing better-armed troops might earn them something. Yet others seem to know how the system works. Just like him, they know the signs. They know the signals. They know what to look for.
He sees tracks leading away from the stallions collar, but no blood.
His attention returns to the collar in question. A slave on the run's collar would be dirtier and scratched. This is obviously an attempt to throw them off, but that means he might not be working alone. This is usually the case for most runaways, but this seems too planned.
The older draws his blade and listens beyond the wind and movement of his partner. His eyes are pinpricked and watching for movement from anywhere. Anything irregular amongst the stones and wreckage will not go unnoticed.
"Hey, isn't this close to The Wall?"
"Yea. It is."
"Think he could've gone there out of some sort of respect? I hear they really worshipped their princesses."
"We'll check together. No flying, just walk."
"What!? It'll be faster and we'll have the chance to catch him by surprise if he's stilly praying!"
"That is if somepony hasn't already spotted us. And if he ain't there, we might get spotted if we fly in. We'll stick to the shadows and watch fer-"
"Fuck off with your paranoia! I'm going ahead." The younger takes off while cutting the other party off.
The older Griff can't help but think of how many tail feathers he's seen fly off without the chance to return. It was always the brash ones.
"Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer."
The older begins his walk, sword clutched in talon, towards The Wall.
The Wall itself isn't anything spectacular. But what is on The Wall and the history behind it is. During the later parts of the war against Equestria, it became apparent to everyone that Canterlot would not fall easily. Something had to be done about the walls and towers around it. Even more so when it came to the various shields they dropped down before everything.
The first plan came as a wall of bodies. This was met with disastrous results and did nothing more but increase the moral of the Equestrians and their allies. The second came with magical pressures and stealth. The spies were killed and the princess of magic manged to counter everything they used. And the plans continued until one day, it broke.
When the shields failed, so did The Wall. The initial push was hell, but once they were inside of their walls.
They knew hell.
Respect was given to the Equestrians for actually putting up a fight and holding off their forces for so long. The leaders decided to leave one of their walls standing.
The older Griffon stops a few feet away to admire the sight before him for a moment.
"It's always somethin' to see fer sure. But another to see it in action."
Thereupon The Wall, hanging from chains untouched by time, hangs the upper half of one Princess of Magic. Her body shows wounds and scars from the fight that eventually took her life. The cutoff point of her body still drains blood like a perverted fountain. The red river spills forth from her creating a pool at the base.
The reason for this is still left a mystery. Even the lower half remained bleeding as much as the upper.
Or at least that is what he was told.
It could always be chalked up as some sort of freaky alicorn magic. There is nothing special about the blood other than the fact it continues to flow as if the body is still alive. Researchers have come and gone to figure out the mystery, but none have.
He scans the ground around the monument and sees nothing.
"That ain't right..."
He was sure the younger Griff would make it here before him. Maybe cause some panic in the ponies or make them alter their plans. If they did, he was going to be sure to keep an eye and ear out for them. But so far, everything has been silent.
Eerily so.
Perhaps the watchers went after the younger first due to his hot-headedness. The younger would seem more prone to make mistakes that the older wouldn't. They could take advantage of that with ease.
Or perhaps there is something more at play here.
The Griff stows his blade before approaching. He takes a moment to press his finger into the puddle before placing it in his mouth.
Refreshing.
The Griffon tenses and snaps his head towards the sudden noise of rubble and bricks moving. He stares at the source as it stumbles over the hill of debris.
"Damnit. I'll never understand how they climb stuff without hooves..."
The Griffon pulls free his blade before turning towards the voice. A top the rubble, a woman steps free of her tribulation, grimace upon her scratched bright white face. Her body seems to radiate light as she stands there hand clutched upon the semi burnt frame of a home. Her hair seems to flow as if caught in an invisible wind. She gives a breath of air before slowly smiling upon making eye contact with the Griffon.
"Well... look what we have here. I didn't expect to see more of you today."
"I'm assumin ya ran into my partner."
"More along the lines of him running into me. Quite the chance encounter actually. Though lately, I've been having quite a lot of those." She chuckles darkly while eying the Griff up, "Tell me, what is your name?"
"And why should I do that?"
"Well, I was hoping I could start a collection of names."
"Of names? What sorta hobby is that? Why would ya need names fer anyway?"
"Oh? An inquisitive type huh? Or are you looking for a way to get an edge up on me, hm? Either way, I'm collecting names for a new hobby of mine!"
A shiver runs down the older Griff's spine, "That hobby being?"
"Keeping up with the names of every Griffon I rip the wings off of! Of course, I only have one name on that list right now. But I'm looking to increase it very soon."
The Griffon's grip tightens upon his handle. His body is ready for battle. He watches for any movement from her. To his surprise, she doesn't make any sort of aggressive move. She seems to just eye him before sliding down the pile of rubble.
She stumbles at the end and the Griffon is quick to attempt to take advantage of this. His wings snap open and he launches himself at her clumsiness, but he quickly finds that his body refuses to move.
"Whoops! Clumsy me haha! I nearly fell there for a moment!"
The woman makes her way up to him. His body shakes in an attempt to move away, towards, and to the side of her. But nothing happens other than his futile attempts at freedom. Some invisible hand has him trapped within his spot.
"You know, I used to think that Griffons, Griffins, and Gryphons could be reasoned with. I truly believed that everything could be worked out with words and gifts. Little did I know how wrong I was. I was so wrong that it cost me everything.
"My dear Twilight. She fell way before her years. Even with her dying breath, she stood for something much more than Equestria itself. She and her friends deserved more than what they got.
"She once was my student, you know? Then, she became even more than that to me. She became the daughter I could never have.
"After the walls fell, I watched my daughter be beaten, raped, and eventually ripped in half by the Manotaurs and parts of her flesh eaten by the Minotaurs. And despite that, she still held true to her powers and life. She saved her friends instead of herself from the fate that was sure to fall on them after her.
"She begged. Much like your partner actually. As I slowly ripped his wings off, he cried out for you. It was the cutest little thing. Much like a kitten mewling."
Her eyes move from the body nailed to the wall to the soon to be one underneath her.
"I wonder what sort of noises you'll make?"
Her fingers slip through things that feel like water and yet feel like nothing. She suffocates and breathes. She suffers and relaxes. Her body aches for something beyond her control.
She tries to scream, but it comes out like a sigh. She tries to fight, but she only lies down. Imagines distorted and twisted flash her by, and yet it's like she's seen them all her life. Name and faces appear in heart.
Luna. Cadence. Twilight. Raven. Shinning Armor. Onyx. Ebony.
So many names to faces. Their past. Their history.
She's there standing next to her sister arguing on who should follow Start Swirled into the next portal beyond their realm. Pushing. Screams. Shatter of glass. Cursing and crying.
Begging. So. Much. Begging.
Despair beyond words swallow her alive and she finds herself spit up into happiness of reunions after reunions. Memories upon memories. Like a home she never had, she's welcomed.
Yet rejected.
It's too much. It's too much.
It's.
Too.
Much.
The children sleep peacefully beneath the weeping tree. High above in its branches lies yet to be touched fruit that will one day feed them upon their awakening. Before them stands the lone guard. The Last Guardian. Taller than the average pony, he resembles that of the ancient race of horses that were rumored to be the ancestors of the pony race. Not much of his features can be seen due to the helmet and visor obscuring any prying eyes.
Not as if they could pry in this area anyhow. The Last Guardian has been here for ages. Longer than any being has the right to be. Before the founding of this world, there was him and them.
He turns and looks upon his most recent charges placed upon him by the spirit of the world. A Changeling, a Unicorn, a Pegasus, an Earth Pony, a Kirin, and a Hippogryph. These six will grow here and learn to grow powerful together. From there, their fates are in their own hands.
Within a sense. They'll forever be guided by the Spirit of the World, but how they interpret that will be on their own. There is much going on within this world, but it matters little in the grand scheme of everything. Of course, there are those that try to fight fate.
They will be taken care of in time.
The Kirin turns slightly shifting in its slumber. It latches onto the Changeling signaling change somewhere in the world between the two. The Unicorn seems to inch further away from all of its pony counterparts while the Earth Pony seems to grow ever larger within its struggling sleep. Thrice have they threatened to awaken early.
Catastrophic events have plagued the timeline of this world, but not enough to fully awaken them. Only to temporarily disturb them. But when they fully awaken, it will be up to him to decide on how to train each one of them. And it will be up to them to decide what to do with the power they've been given. After which, he will move onto the next assignment.
Until the day that there are no more guardians.
You’re not her are you?
Hate.
I’m not quite sure exactly what you are…. But I can tell you’re not wanted.
Hatred. Jealousy. Revenge.
Hmmmmm I think I could use you to my advantage actually. Let’s see what happens if I…
blood…. blood. Blood. BLoOd. BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD!!!
Whoa! Perhaps a bit too much! Maybe if I to-
Do you really want this? Just all of this? You see how much she’s hurting right? Do you care? Did you ever care? There was a time for both you know. This isn’t the first time this has happened. When you felt all you could do is take action or sit to the side.
Are we crazy? Am I crazy? Are they crazy? What is crazy? Would this be considered normal?
I’m so cold and alone here. I don’t even know if you can hear me any more. But if you can….
I’m going to take everything :)
The beat of hearts sounds like the beating of drums. Each thump pumps blood and adrenaline through the body. Each step only causes the actions of life to prolong. Each step brings it closer to the goal. Every creature around it knows not why it fights, but knows that when it does, it seeks the death of everything around it. It never speaks and only its weapon has anything worthwhile about it.
At its side, a stuffed animal remains clutched in its oblong hand. Marred by scratches, blood, and filth. Yet despite everything it has been through, it remains intact. The amount of fighting and death it has seen means nothing to the creature that clutches onto it so dearly.
And the small greenish creatures that trail behind it know all too well what it means to disappoint it. Not it as in the hulking mass of meat, rock, and magic. But the infernal thing it clutches onto. It always holds it close to what can be considered the head before doing anything. The beast never speaks and neither does that bear. Yet, whatever moves it forward is through actions unheard and unknown to every creature else.
Even the leader of their little Warband keeps a distance from the creature. Yet he's supposed to rank above it. But the sheer battle strength alone commands respect all on its own. The regeneration and powers held within that monstrosity...
It keeps them in line. It hungers for death and destruction. It cares not for friends or foes.
It will have what it wants.