A Vengeful Returnby The-Follower-of-LunaChapterschapter one: Godhood and mistakes(4/24/23 rewrite)Chapter two: Birth of Many Mistakes (4/24/23 Rewrite)Chapter 3: Blood is thicker then waterchapter one: Godhood and mistakes(4/24/23 rewrite)My little pony: A Vengeful Return chapter one: Godhood and mistakes Since time immemorial, there stood two groups at the forefront of creation. One side stood as holy beings spreading harmony across what would be the known universe. They created life in all its forms, sowing in them the seed of godhood so that one day their creation may sow more life and continue the cycle of creation. They saw themselves as shepherds leading sheep that one may lead themselves. The second group was born shortly after the first seed of life was planted. The Chaos, fear, and hatred of the New mortal races gave birth to those who only know destruction and pain. As the mortals grew in number, so did this new faction of gods. Soon they became as strong as the creators of harmony, and a war for the universe began. This new faction of gods stood only to sow death. They struck out into the known and unknown, killing all those they saw as a threat to the new power they wielded, seeing the mortals as nothing but a source of power to be exploited. The foundation of war between the two god-like factions was laid, one fighting for life, the other its eternal damnation, the root of existence in the balance; with this, the greatest war of the cosmos began. A battle that looked as if it was fated to last till father time took his last breath. Life and peace would come to be, but in the blink of an eye later, it would disappear if it never existed; a galaxy would spring into existence only to be snuffed out in a blaze of hellfire from dying stars driven to their end by the strings Chaos. Time continued with each battle, moving the stakes higher and higher, every loss on both sides showing as the created universe around them changed in unfixable ways. The war never slowed as the two sides fought with all the power they could spare. The war dragged on, and like the tide of an ocean, the strength and victory of both sides came and went. It wasn't until the first second of infinity passed that the war to last forever came to a very sudden quiet end. The accurate account of what happened was lost to antiquity disappearing with the gods that fought in the war of all wars, but legend says that the seed of godhood planted all these eons ago finally grew, and with it, a new generation of gods came to be. Hidden in the texts of time lies the story new God with the power to rival the ones of old; with such force, their first act was to look on in disgust at how the old gods fought, using their new limitless power to trap the two warring factions. Placing them on a distant planet far from the reach of any mortal that would dare look out of curiosity or greed so that the old gods may never escape seeking revenge. The gods were trapped, stranded with but a fraction of the nearly unlimited power they once held, given mortal forms to inhabit as punishment. While this stripped them of the once godly powers they possessed, they were by no means weak; compared to an ordinary mortal, they still stood as gods, able to use their vast powers to lord over those weaker than them. Sadly nothing was learned, as both sides took up armies again, fighting over the new barren rock they called home. The once all-powerful harmony users took a form that matched the grace their name once held, taking the shape of a unicorn, the Symbol of power and beauty throughout the universe. To add to the strength they lost, they added earth magic to the body, giving the physically weak body the endurance to survive where other mortals couldn't, giving them the advantage in any hardship they faced. Lastly, they added wings, so they may live above the lands they would rule. The compaction of these three forms gave them the name Alicorns. Their chaotic counterparts, however, were content on deciding the new forms with the flip of a coin, resulting in an animal of miss match parts, one side a deer antler with the horn of a goat, and two different wings adorned the backs of their long dragon-like bodies. The only constant part of their bodies was the pony head, used to taunt the Alicorns and their so-called perfection, coining the name Draconequus. Peace between the two could only last so long, and soon the war of old came to the forefront as the two sides fought over the right to rule their new home. To spread life, to promote free will, or to chain it so that their new creations couldn't lash out in retaliation like the last, lines were formed armies clashed in the field of battle. It would last a few short minutes and end as the bloodiest conflict in the war. The Alicorn and Draconequus races fought, and with the new mortality of their bodies for the first time in the war, true blood spilled, and death hung in the air, greedily taking souls never meant to be touched by its scythe. This battle made both sides pause in alarm. What was happening? Having never been as weak as they were now, none had experienced death. This act had almost ended the war, each side taking time to honestly think if the barren rock they called home was worth killing or even dying for; the game had changed, and the consequences were more real than ever. It was later that the Alicorn grand council met in an emergency meeting. What where they would do? Such battles would be fought in the future. Would they fight and put themselves at risk to end the chaos threat once and for all? They would lose too many Draconequuss. Such a fight would be the last for both sides. So as a one-last ditch effort, they devised two plans: to make an army of pawns, fodder for the cannons of war. It was with a heavy heart the plan would come into effect. The Alicorns threw away an eternity of moral guidance for the greater good of ending the war. The second plan was one of the last resorts. The foundation was to be laid but would have to wait. The time was not right and had too many conditions unmet, but for now, an army was built and led to the slaughter. The Alicorns turned to themselves for inspiration for their new army. The first creation was the earth pony, a front-line troop, an unmovable force connected to the ground it walked on. The next creation was the unicorn, a creature to wield power cosmic, physically weak, But its mental power is unrivaled in the three races. Lastly was the Pegasi, winged ponies that are masters of the air, built to be small but fast, to go where most couldn't be, and to see what others couldn't. Sadly it was not under their own will, for the Alicorns ripped the choice of the ponies away for them so that they would fight without question or hesitation. This army would lead to the end of the war, hopefully long before the second plan would ever be needed. Chapter two: Birth of Many Mistakes (4/24/23 Rewrite)Chapter two: Birth of failure Many generations later On this day, the last Alicorn, the last of the original old gods, died, taking with them the hopes of a bygone generation. With his passing, the hope of returning to godhood died, as most of the new generation had never experienced what the old rambled about. While their power is great, time and age still get the best of all mortals. The only thing the new generation cared for was the end of the war so that they may finally know an era of peace, only it would have to come at a cost few genuinely wish to pay. Some would make that sacrifice, throwing themselves into the endless battle with the pride of knowing they could make a difference in victory or defeat. Yet many, many others had no choice in the sacrifice they made, endlessly born to be thrown to the fire without care of death or life; all that mattered was the result that came from the battle they slaved their lives away for. New lands were taken, old grounds lost, a battle won, and " freedom " spread further. While some plans failed, battles were lost, chaos taking the day and spreading its poison. It was sheer numbers alone that kept the draconequus army at bay. While a single pony was weak, the herd tactic of many vs. one was more than effective on the confident chaos users. However, it was an unstable system, and the second plan that the Council of Old thought would never be used quickly became the only thing the new Council believed would save them. The vote was close, but in the end, the war's end was deemed above the morals of the damned fools that started it. The plan was put into motion, and the candidates were chosen. The foal to be born from such experiments was sure to be at the level they would need, and for the sake of all pony kind, they hoped it would be. 13 months later "This can't be right," a deep male voice spoke as he eyed the medical paper hanging in the air by his magic. He lowered it to look at a silver-eyed, green-coated unicorn mare. The unicorn stared back without emotion, her body still as a statue, waiting for an order. The male Alicorn sighed, "Are you sure that these are right" a look of determination spreading across his face as he asked. The unicorn nodded once as she responded in an unemotional response, "Yes, sir, councilor Iron Shield, those numbers are correct; Nurse Heart said that she checked and rechecked" The unicorn seemed to fade back into the background when she finished speaking, waiting to be called on once more. Iron Shield levitated down the paper to his desk next to him as he turned to look out his room window, trying to relax his raging mind. 'two times, two times as powerful as we Predicted,' Iron Shield thought to himself, 'If the council is correct, this new alicorn could win the war itself.' The sound of an opening door drew him from his thoughts as he turned to face the new guest. A female Alicorn; had a light Blue coat with a red mane, a nurse cap on her head, and two bags on her side with red crosses. "nurse Heart," Shield greeted as she walked towards his desk with a light frown. Nurse Heart stopped in the center of the room, giving a slight bow as she observed Iron Shield in front of her. She had never seen a council member so close before. He stood tall, Even for an Alicorn of his age. He had a Black mane with small silver streaks running through it. His eyes were ice blue, and he had a stare that could get a brick wall to move out of the way if he tried hard enough. His coat, at least what you could see past the heavy full plate armor he wore, was a light sunset orange, Nurse Heart's eyes looked at the large Alicorn stallion up and down as she waited for him to Speak still in her bow. Iron Will cleared his throat and gave a hoof wave for the mare to stand; giving her a small smile, he spoke, "Nurse Heart, it is nice to make your acquaintance" He put his hoof out to gesture to a large sitting Pillow in front of the desk as he sat in the one behind His. Nurse Heart sat on the pillow, slowly getting comfortable as she spoke to Iron Shield, "Thank you, Sir, But if I may ask, what is it that you called me up here for." Iron Shield had just sat down as the nurse asked her question, to which he raised a hoof as if to push it aside for a moment. At that moment, he turned the unicorn standing off in the corner. "Hazel, could you be a dear and fetch us some tea, please" The unicorn bowed her head as she walked off and out of the room. After the unicorn mare left, he lowered his hoof and faced a somewhat quizzical Heart. "Hazel," she asked, raising an eyebrow at the council member. "When did we start naming them? They are just mindless drones, are they not." Iron Shield forced a simile as he nodded his head. "They are, but it is not as if they are not alive, be it with or without a mind. They still deserve a name." Nurse Heart blushed with embarrassment at her question. "I apologize, sir. It's sometimes hard to see them that way from how they act; it makes them seem unlife-like. "It is fine. No offense was meant, and none was taken," Iron Shield said, waving a hoof as he spoke. Hazel reentered the room at this, stopping the conversation; two cups of hot tea floated in her magic as she arranged the cup before the two alicorns bowing her head as She did. "Will that be all, sir?" she asked emotionlessly. Iron Shield nodded as he took a Sip of tea before speaking, "Yes, that will be all; take an hour to freshen up Hazel, then find Celly and Lulu. I am sure they are causing trouble somewhere." "As you wish, Sir," Hazel replied before exiting the room again. As soon as the door closed, Iron Shield turned to nurse heart, giving her a stern glare. "Now it's on to more serious matters" His voice was deep as he spoke; long gone was the peacefulness that had a place. "How is the child, and where is he now." Nurse Heart almost wanted to run from the cold blue eyes dug into her as the question was asked, instead she hid behind the teacup in her magic as she responded, "The child is fine, while the birth could have gone better for both. It was by no means a bad one" she stopped to take a sip of her tea. Trying to get a feel for what the council member was thinking. When she got no response, she continued, "The mother had it a little worse but is in stable condition." Iron Shield let out a small sigh, a frown forming as he took a large sip of tea. "That's what I was afraid of," He said, putting his teacup down as his eyes and mind drifted. "indulge me for a moment if you would, Nurse Heart, But do have a mate by chance" The question was sudden but didn't go answered by the alicorn mare. "I do, Sir, Sargent. Silver Lining," she replied carefully but truthfully to the question, an eyebrow raised as she did Iron Shield nodded in approval. "Yes, I have heard of him, a fine, young promising lad" He let a genuine smile escape from his professional mask before pulling it back in. "tell me, where is he stationed now." "The front lines of the dragon Kingdom, sir," replied the nurse "That's quite the dangerous position, fighting off the dragons, and very far from our peaceful capital" Iron Shield moved his tea Cup aside as he put his hooves down on his desk. "Sounds to me like it must be tough on the both of you." Nurse Heart looked at the floor solemnly, trying to push back against the sadness that crept up in her at those words and for anger to grace her for only a second as she spoke, "If you don't mind my asking, Sir, what does this have to do with anything." Iron Shield let the mare finish speaking before putting on a forced smile. "Well, as it so happens, I need some help with a project'' He stopped for a moment to let the mare drink in what he said, "and the payment for the help could be very beneficial for the both of you." Iron Shield leaned back as he tapped a hoof to his chin. "Say a transfer to the council guard and a glowing promotion to the head nurse of the councilors' medical wing in the capital." He watched as Heart's face went through a rainbow of emotions, surprise, fear, surprise again, happiness, then lastly, determination. She eyed him slightly as she aired the following question carefully, forcing herself into a calm state. "What... what is it that needs to be done." The answer to her question was opening a desk drawer and removing a crystal no larger than a golf ball. Iron Shield placed it on the desk between them, eyeing it just like the mare across from him was. He looked closely, watching as the insides went from multi-colored plaid to a rainbow of colors not even visible to any living being. Somehow, the interiors grew larger than the container, warping the space around it. The mare recoiled away, trying to find her words, "Is.... is that a..." She was cut off as Iron Sheild spoke over her Panicked voice. "It is," he said, his face displeased at looking at it. "A small yield Chaos magic bomb not big or strong enough to kill a fully powered alicorn, But say a mother weakened by birthing and caring for a foal, this would be a death sentence." Iron Shield eyed the nurse as he spoke, trying his damndest to give the message, lucky for him, the nurse was no idiot. Her mind caught on to his words, thinking carefully, "Why, if I may ask, and what of the child." Iron Sheild eyed her respectfully as he responded, "Sadly, she must die for Council plans to move along, and to answer your second question, we need the child alive. The only problem is that he must be there for his mother's death. He will be in her embrace; she WILL protect him over herself." He stopped talking momentarily to gesture at the medical document from earlier. "And as you and I both know, he has the power to Survive unaffected, traumatized, but physically unaffected." Iron Shield set the hook and cast it; now he needed only wait, and he didn't have to wait long as nurse heart took the orb. "All I have to do is kill her, and I get to have my Silver back," She asks in an almost giddy tone. Iron nodded as he stood and helped direct the mare to leave and do the task she was called to do. "Yes, now go. Time is of the essence." Nurse Heart nodded in agreement as she took the Chaos bomb and quickly walked out the door. Only a second later did Iron call upon his magic as a shadowy unicorn rose from his shadow, glowing red eyes, eager for a job. "Go follow her. Make sure the task is completed; make sure that nurse heart dies in that blast; I need her dead." The shadow nodded before disappearing under the door in a wisp of smoke. Iron Shield, with his magic, watched through his shadow's eyes as it made its way to the mother's room, following the nurse. Iron Shield was pulled from his thoughts as his shadow entered the room with the nurse. He thought as he watched; it had to be this way. It must look like an attack from the draconequus for the second plan ever to work, which requires great sacrifices. In the back of the room lay two alicorns, one a large mare of sky-blue fur and purple mane. While the second was a dark orange colt feeding off his mother for the first time, A mane of purple sat on his head and tail. The curiosity of the new ponies walking in the room made him stop feeding and open his eyes to look. They were ice blue and full of nothing but love and innocence. Such innocence did nothing to stop the following events that played out like a stop motion picture in Iron Shields's mind. the activation and throwing of the chaos bomb the forming of a magical dagger and the slashing of the nurse's neck. Her lifeless defenseless body fell to the floor almost instantly The alicorn mother wrapping herself around her foal before the detention of the bomb detonation, screams, and a lost connection to the shadow It was with a gasp and a stager that Iron was thrown back into his own body, now hearing and feeling the events happening down the hall from him. He managed to stand Straight once more, making his way to his desk. His mind was blank with what had just happened; death was a tragedy in any form, but sacrificing the lives of two alicorns for one was a high price, even for this plan. Iron Shield sat in his chair, opened the file on his desk, and sorted through the files until she came across the one he was looking for. A picture of both Silver Lining and Nurse Heart, they had been tired be the project before this birth, but now they were both just loose ends to clean up. Even in death, they still have a role to play; Nurse Heart Magik should benefit the young foal being dug out of the explosion; now, all he had to do was play his part. He drew out an ink bottle, quill, and paper and then wrote. 'to one silver lining, tis with utmost apologies that I write to you.... Chapter 3: Blood is thicker then waterIt was one simple act that doomed the acorns to the end of their reign over world, one simple act that damned them to the fires of hell, fires that they created in the fires of the bomb that killed his mother. He had finally found the truth, what truly happened the day of his birth, it was not the Draconequus that tried to kill him, no, it was his own kind that had betrayed his family, and it was he who now carried the scars of those sins both mentally and physically. They were right to assume that he would live but not without consequence. The fires from the magical bomb that killed his mother burned his once orange coat into one of pure black, burning away the purity that he was just only given, his coat now only reminding him of not only his mothers death but of his loss of self. That was sadly not the only scar that he bears, His mother that so kindly brought him into the world, died to keep him in it, before the bombs detonation she had wrapped herself around her newborn son, taking the brunt of the detonation. It was her silver ashes mixing with an abundance of magic that gave him even more of a chance to survive, at the cost of his own magic mixing with hers, changing it from the dark blue that it would have been to the color it was now, a ghostly gray. The Alicorn stared into the body mirror that stood in front of him, running a hoof over the final scar that marked him, a magical cut that was directly under his right eye, it was a sign that it was not only a bomb that the assassin carried but a knife as well. It had gotten caught in the blast shattering the blade and sending a piece to cut him across the face, the doctors could never tell him why it never faded, but now he knows why it didn't. It was a sign to him, a reason to remember what had happened the one day of his life that he was weak, it was a sign to show him what happened when he trusted the ponies around him, but that all ended today. Everything ends today, this war, these so called gods that fight for no other reason than petty difference, and today ended the slavery of the mortal races that the gods created to fight a war they themselves were to scared to fight themselves. It was his time to show them the error of their ways, that the gods they so claimed to once be, meant nothing in this world. It was time for the weapon they created to be the cause of their own downfall, it was time for justice and freedom to ring across the planet that for all of its life has never seen the beauty of peace. The Alicorn turned from the mirror completely, his eyes taking in the spartan room that he called his own for all his life, it was no larger than the room any officer of the army would have, it gave only enough room to breath and sleep, all a soldier in this war would need. His bed sat in the very far left corner of the room facing the door that was the bottom of the bed faced, to its left was a small writing desk with an oil lamp for the late nights. The only true difference that his room held compared to his other peers was a smaller cot in the right corner next to the desk, it was for her, and yet the cot was empty. The Alicorn shook his head walking over to his bed and looking more closely at it a mass under the large covers of the bed were moving in a pattern of rhythmic sleeping, with a sigh the Alicron called upon his magic carefully as not to disturb the sleeping mare under the covers moved them from her sleeping form revealing a tan furred unicorn, a long disheveled mane and tail wrapped around her as if another blanket the top of each hair colored as if a fading sunset moving slowly into the color of night in all its grace. The large Alicorn smiled lightly as he lent down putting his muzzle against hers and nuzzling her gently as to wake her from sleep. It was returned only slightly as the opening of gray eyes greeted him, they were cold and emotionless, yet for only a second he caught a glimpse of the amber eyes that the gray hid, fear showing through them, she didn't realize that it was him. It only hurt a little, it was only natural he could suppose she has been a slave for all of her life, surviving the small fallen gods that created her, he has done his best to help her after he resaved her as a “gift”, gods such an act still sickened him, but such thought have no place in todays plans. The could see the muscles of the mare tense as she awoke more realized that she had been caught in the bed of her master and not the cot she was too sleep in, yet for all the panic rising within her it all came to a grinding halt when the Alicorn placed his head on top of hers a deep voice coming out as he spoke as gently as he could giving reassurance that she was fine. “It is fine Amore, please relax, it is only me, we are alone” It took a few moments more till the wrapped beating heart calmed and the mare could return the nuzzle she had received, it was after this morning routine that the mare closed her gray eyes, opening them back to show the emotion filled amber ones that had slipped through earlier. “I am sorry, I thought a guard had caught me” her voice was a soft tone, one that almost didn't fit the demanding beauty that she held. The Alicorn said nothing as he laid down next to the mare, well more so around her, as his larger from took up most of the small bed, calling on his magic as he levitated a small brush from the desk and began to brush the mares hair, letting her calm herself more before speaking “today is the day, my love, for your kind to be freed” he felt her stiffen as he spoke again his voice low and serous “it is the same plan as we have deduced before, everything will go just as we have talked about, and they are going you” The mare let out a slight whimper letting out a choked sentence “what about me, I will need you” a flow of tears ran down the mares face and she turned to face the aircon “in this plan you don't even know if you will survive, please, my Somber Moonlight I can't lose you” The large Alicorn again put his head on hers, and reaching up with a hoof dried away the mares tears “you are so much stronger than you know my dear, even if I do not come back I have faith that you will be great” He could still feel it, the burning pain, it’s always been with him, and even now in this *eternal* banishment he could still feel it, for as long as he could remember he has always had to deal with that pain that came with his power. It was all the fault of those damned Alircons, the gods fallen from grace that seemed to believe that it was their destiny to rule the stars once again. It almost made him sick that he was related to such creatures, ponies who abandoned their own kind in the pursuit of power that they never should have had in the first place. It was that power and arrogance that they could control it that led to their downfall, it was he that washed away the Alicorns and Draconequus from Equus in the last days of the war, it was he who watched as the two last Ailcorns gave their lives to defeat him in battle, and they couldn't even do that right, no they had stripped him of his body. Yet they couldn't kill his god-like soul, merely banish it. What could be considered a smile formed on his nonexistent body as he felt another magic chain snap as his power grew, he had to hand it to the Alicorns even if just a little, they were very good at shoving all of their problems off to other races, even now the last act of banishing him only slowed him down in the long run. It was with a snap that the second to last chain broke, he could feel his power rise that little bit more, ever so closer to the freedom he has been without. Then he would find them, he would find them and they could finally leave and all be a family once more, yes a family. If only he knew the world that awaited him. Present day Equestria (start of season 2) Celestia sat upon her throne, a large bag of mail laid to the side filled to the brim with letters, most of them from nobles requesting something or other from the princess. The other letters were from the lower class ponies, most of those letters were thank you notes or letters praising her, she had seen them all over her years of rule. Sometimes she would get the weird love letter from unnamed ponies but, being shown as the regal princess the media has presented over her many years of rule, it was expected. Celestia over the many years have gotten used to spotting and disposing of them but sometimes a well written one would slip past into the pile of 'the need to read'. This was one such case as she disposed of the letter in a small burst of fire, disposing of the ash in the trash with her magic. She picked up more letters reading each one thoughtfully and fully, that is until she got to the last one in the small pile she removed from the over drugged bag, scoffing as she read it. Another letter, from a noble, one Greedy Needy, requesting an audience with her for more land, she thought to herself as she pulled out ink, parchment, and a quill, already forming a response. How many times am I going to have to tell him that I can’t give up any more land until the environmental council says what can be given and what needs to be kept. She continued to think on the topic as she wrote the response to Greedy's letter doing her best to hold in the anger of the current noble cast fallen so far from what it had used to be, Celestia was thrown out of her thoughts when a puff of green fire flew in front of her, forming a neatly rolled up scroll. ‘Right on time as always, Twilight’ Celestia thought, taking the scroll in her magic and carefully opening it. She read through the report laughing at some points and smiling at others. She read the addition at the end of the note, smiling at the statement, then thought to herself as to why Twilight was still asking if she was ok. Clestia knew more than anypony that Twilight cared in her own way, but It has been a week since the Everfree forest kidnapped her and Luna, and it was nearly everyday now for a week that Twilight wrote to her. Celestia rolled back up the scroll placing it in a pile of its own, the smile still on her face as she went back to the large bag of letters. Before the smile could be whipped away from the contents of such letters, a loud mysterious voice echoed in the room, it was deep and rich, flowing as if a dragon roared yet it came without the gruffness that came with eating rocks, it was an odd sound. It started what sounded as if a sigh then formed into an almost amused chuckle. “Oh, Celestia, you always did find the most simple things amusing, but I am not one to judge because now that I am free I too enjoy the simple things, such as the amusing thought on why you are still alive” the voice poke starting out in a jovial and by the end gave off a tone of anger. Then for the first time, in what Celestia could recall as a long time, the hairs on her neck stood on end. Celestia’s head darted around the room, looking for the owner of the voice as the guards, who were to the far left and right sides of the room, moved in front of her. "Who are you? Show yourself", Celestia called out, her smile turning into a grimace of frustration. The voice answered a few seconds after Celestia had finished "In all due time, Tia, in all due time” Celestia her eyes narrowed from suspicion. Her scrutinizing gaze quickly turning to one of anger as she resided the urge to use the royal voice, but still yelled as she spoke forcefully “I will ask again, who are you and what is the meaning of THIS” The voice let out a small chuckle of amusement “find something amusing” Celestia asked her anger getting the better of her. “I must have hit a nerve for you to yell like that, but the explanation of what it is can wait, The final piece has fallen into place” The voice faded away with its last words before Celestia could ask what it meant as the throne room doors burst open, Luna rushing in, a large group guards following suit. “I heard all The commotion from my room sister,” Luna said seriously “what is it that is wrong” Celestia, still keeping her guard up, answered to Luna her wing flared in a defensive manner “there was a voice….” before Celestia could continue her mind kicked into action replaying the last thing The voice had said. ‘The final piece has fallen into place’ it echoed her head as she scanned the room for anything as Luna next to her did the same, it was a wise mind and years of experience that finally kicked Celestia in the rump, as she realized it was a trap. “What about this voice sister,” Luna asked, throwing Celestia out of her racing thoughts “you aren't going mad ar…” Luna was cut off by Celestia grabbing her and pulling her towards the large throne room doors, a trap set in her own castle, who was this voice. “We need to leave now,” Celestia said still pulling Luna “this was all a…” the sound of the large throne room doors slamming shut blocking the few guards that had yet to enter, cutting off Celestia as she said the last word of her sentence with a hint of distress “...trap” Luna and Celestia watched as a black wave of magic flooded over the door leaving only a slight shimmer in its clearing. They knew the spell well. It was a sealing spell and if they were right, and they usually are, the spell was cast over every exit of the room. Before Luna or Celestia could speak the voice returned, this time it had a very malice tone “you two are familiar with the game of chess correct” after receiving no answer from the two sisters he continued “you should know I played it with you many times my dear Tia, as for you Luna you were far too young to be taught. The room grew cold as the voice continued his rant, power seeming to leave the world around Celestia and Luna “It is a simple game of wits and plays, a game that is only over when the enemy king lays dead at the other's hooves. It is a game of the mind, of one's collective will and intelligence. If you can recall we played all those years ago, to test one other, yet as i grew older I found that it was only a test for me, and to this day I still have yet to win for with al my planning, with all the moves I made in advance and the peace off of the board, with the very enemy king dead the queen still plays. Why are you still ALIVE” , “I cast that spell,to kill all those that didn't share my bloodline, and yet here you two are alive and well, still corrupting the world with our alicron filth!” The room itself seemed to grow darker, as the voice started to yell at this point, the light that once shone through the throne room windows started to disappear absorbed into a dark mass that was forming above the tone itself. The room now only has light enough to barely see with, as a ring of black fire formed in a sphere around the throne burning away the regal red carpet that led up to it. The voice let out a long sigh as it went back to a lighter tine leaving behind the gruff anger that it once held, “that can only leave one option left, sisters” When the voice Finished speaking the dark sphere that formed, pushed out a wall of black magic at an alarming speed pushing away the unlucky guards that stepped forward to stop it or were just standing near it, knocking them out instantly. Light and color returned to the room as the flames of the magic died down, leaving a large Alicorn with black a suit and purple tie sat out on Celestia red and gold throne, Light pouring in from the windows lighting up the smirk that made its way across his face. He sat tall, his fur as black as a starless night, could be seen past the suit, Fire danced where his main and tail would have been shining regal blue and power flowed from them biting the very existence around them in a silent show of dominance. He stretched out his limbs a vicious smile on his face “I do love the clothes of this century, such a way to show power without the need of heavy armor, such a wonderful creation” His eyes shone two different colors as he spoke, the right eye a crimson red the left an icy blue. The guards that had been watching the whole thing rushed forward at him, their weapons ready to strike. As the guard's reached striking distance, the first attack was thrown only to be stopped by a black barrier, the barrier crackling with lightning, leaped out and through the guards weapon shaking him into unconsciousness. The lightning that struck the guard start to branch off him moving from guard to guard knocking them out one by one, Soon a group of five guards that had pushed this intruder laid on the ground unmoving. The Dark Aliron leaned into the throne ever so slightly “ So now that the distraction has been taken care of let us talk, it is time to leave behind the lies of the past and look to the future, my dear sisters”
chapter one: Godhood and mistakes(4/24/23 rewrite)My little pony: A Vengeful Return chapter one: Godhood and mistakes Since time immemorial, there stood two groups at the forefront of creation. One side stood as holy beings spreading harmony across what would be the known universe. They created life in all its forms, sowing in them the seed of godhood so that one day their creation may sow more life and continue the cycle of creation. They saw themselves as shepherds leading sheep that one may lead themselves. The second group was born shortly after the first seed of life was planted. The Chaos, fear, and hatred of the New mortal races gave birth to those who only know destruction and pain. As the mortals grew in number, so did this new faction of gods. Soon they became as strong as the creators of harmony, and a war for the universe began. This new faction of gods stood only to sow death. They struck out into the known and unknown, killing all those they saw as a threat to the new power they wielded, seeing the mortals as nothing but a source of power to be exploited. The foundation of war between the two god-like factions was laid, one fighting for life, the other its eternal damnation, the root of existence in the balance; with this, the greatest war of the cosmos began. A battle that looked as if it was fated to last till father time took his last breath. Life and peace would come to be, but in the blink of an eye later, it would disappear if it never existed; a galaxy would spring into existence only to be snuffed out in a blaze of hellfire from dying stars driven to their end by the strings Chaos. Time continued with each battle, moving the stakes higher and higher, every loss on both sides showing as the created universe around them changed in unfixable ways. The war never slowed as the two sides fought with all the power they could spare. The war dragged on, and like the tide of an ocean, the strength and victory of both sides came and went. It wasn't until the first second of infinity passed that the war to last forever came to a very sudden quiet end. The accurate account of what happened was lost to antiquity disappearing with the gods that fought in the war of all wars, but legend says that the seed of godhood planted all these eons ago finally grew, and with it, a new generation of gods came to be. Hidden in the texts of time lies the story new God with the power to rival the ones of old; with such force, their first act was to look on in disgust at how the old gods fought, using their new limitless power to trap the two warring factions. Placing them on a distant planet far from the reach of any mortal that would dare look out of curiosity or greed so that the old gods may never escape seeking revenge. The gods were trapped, stranded with but a fraction of the nearly unlimited power they once held, given mortal forms to inhabit as punishment. While this stripped them of the once godly powers they possessed, they were by no means weak; compared to an ordinary mortal, they still stood as gods, able to use their vast powers to lord over those weaker than them. Sadly nothing was learned, as both sides took up armies again, fighting over the new barren rock they called home. The once all-powerful harmony users took a form that matched the grace their name once held, taking the shape of a unicorn, the Symbol of power and beauty throughout the universe. To add to the strength they lost, they added earth magic to the body, giving the physically weak body the endurance to survive where other mortals couldn't, giving them the advantage in any hardship they faced. Lastly, they added wings, so they may live above the lands they would rule. The compaction of these three forms gave them the name Alicorns. Their chaotic counterparts, however, were content on deciding the new forms with the flip of a coin, resulting in an animal of miss match parts, one side a deer antler with the horn of a goat, and two different wings adorned the backs of their long dragon-like bodies. The only constant part of their bodies was the pony head, used to taunt the Alicorns and their so-called perfection, coining the name Draconequus. Peace between the two could only last so long, and soon the war of old came to the forefront as the two sides fought over the right to rule their new home. To spread life, to promote free will, or to chain it so that their new creations couldn't lash out in retaliation like the last, lines were formed armies clashed in the field of battle. It would last a few short minutes and end as the bloodiest conflict in the war. The Alicorn and Draconequus races fought, and with the new mortality of their bodies for the first time in the war, true blood spilled, and death hung in the air, greedily taking souls never meant to be touched by its scythe. This battle made both sides pause in alarm. What was happening? Having never been as weak as they were now, none had experienced death. This act had almost ended the war, each side taking time to honestly think if the barren rock they called home was worth killing or even dying for; the game had changed, and the consequences were more real than ever. It was later that the Alicorn grand council met in an emergency meeting. What where they would do? Such battles would be fought in the future. Would they fight and put themselves at risk to end the chaos threat once and for all? They would lose too many Draconequuss. Such a fight would be the last for both sides. So as a one-last ditch effort, they devised two plans: to make an army of pawns, fodder for the cannons of war. It was with a heavy heart the plan would come into effect. The Alicorns threw away an eternity of moral guidance for the greater good of ending the war. The second plan was one of the last resorts. The foundation was to be laid but would have to wait. The time was not right and had too many conditions unmet, but for now, an army was built and led to the slaughter. The Alicorns turned to themselves for inspiration for their new army. The first creation was the earth pony, a front-line troop, an unmovable force connected to the ground it walked on. The next creation was the unicorn, a creature to wield power cosmic, physically weak, But its mental power is unrivaled in the three races. Lastly was the Pegasi, winged ponies that are masters of the air, built to be small but fast, to go where most couldn't be, and to see what others couldn't. Sadly it was not under their own will, for the Alicorns ripped the choice of the ponies away for them so that they would fight without question or hesitation. This army would lead to the end of the war, hopefully long before the second plan would ever be needed.
Chapter two: Birth of Many Mistakes (4/24/23 Rewrite)Chapter two: Birth of failure Many generations later On this day, the last Alicorn, the last of the original old gods, died, taking with them the hopes of a bygone generation. With his passing, the hope of returning to godhood died, as most of the new generation had never experienced what the old rambled about. While their power is great, time and age still get the best of all mortals. The only thing the new generation cared for was the end of the war so that they may finally know an era of peace, only it would have to come at a cost few genuinely wish to pay. Some would make that sacrifice, throwing themselves into the endless battle with the pride of knowing they could make a difference in victory or defeat. Yet many, many others had no choice in the sacrifice they made, endlessly born to be thrown to the fire without care of death or life; all that mattered was the result that came from the battle they slaved their lives away for. New lands were taken, old grounds lost, a battle won, and " freedom " spread further. While some plans failed, battles were lost, chaos taking the day and spreading its poison. It was sheer numbers alone that kept the draconequus army at bay. While a single pony was weak, the herd tactic of many vs. one was more than effective on the confident chaos users. However, it was an unstable system, and the second plan that the Council of Old thought would never be used quickly became the only thing the new Council believed would save them. The vote was close, but in the end, the war's end was deemed above the morals of the damned fools that started it. The plan was put into motion, and the candidates were chosen. The foal to be born from such experiments was sure to be at the level they would need, and for the sake of all pony kind, they hoped it would be. 13 months later "This can't be right," a deep male voice spoke as he eyed the medical paper hanging in the air by his magic. He lowered it to look at a silver-eyed, green-coated unicorn mare. The unicorn stared back without emotion, her body still as a statue, waiting for an order. The male Alicorn sighed, "Are you sure that these are right" a look of determination spreading across his face as he asked. The unicorn nodded once as she responded in an unemotional response, "Yes, sir, councilor Iron Shield, those numbers are correct; Nurse Heart said that she checked and rechecked" The unicorn seemed to fade back into the background when she finished speaking, waiting to be called on once more. Iron Shield levitated down the paper to his desk next to him as he turned to look out his room window, trying to relax his raging mind. 'two times, two times as powerful as we Predicted,' Iron Shield thought to himself, 'If the council is correct, this new alicorn could win the war itself.' The sound of an opening door drew him from his thoughts as he turned to face the new guest. A female Alicorn; had a light Blue coat with a red mane, a nurse cap on her head, and two bags on her side with red crosses. "nurse Heart," Shield greeted as she walked towards his desk with a light frown. Nurse Heart stopped in the center of the room, giving a slight bow as she observed Iron Shield in front of her. She had never seen a council member so close before. He stood tall, Even for an Alicorn of his age. He had a Black mane with small silver streaks running through it. His eyes were ice blue, and he had a stare that could get a brick wall to move out of the way if he tried hard enough. His coat, at least what you could see past the heavy full plate armor he wore, was a light sunset orange, Nurse Heart's eyes looked at the large Alicorn stallion up and down as she waited for him to Speak still in her bow. Iron Will cleared his throat and gave a hoof wave for the mare to stand; giving her a small smile, he spoke, "Nurse Heart, it is nice to make your acquaintance" He put his hoof out to gesture to a large sitting Pillow in front of the desk as he sat in the one behind His. Nurse Heart sat on the pillow, slowly getting comfortable as she spoke to Iron Shield, "Thank you, Sir, But if I may ask, what is it that you called me up here for." Iron Shield had just sat down as the nurse asked her question, to which he raised a hoof as if to push it aside for a moment. At that moment, he turned the unicorn standing off in the corner. "Hazel, could you be a dear and fetch us some tea, please" The unicorn bowed her head as she walked off and out of the room. After the unicorn mare left, he lowered his hoof and faced a somewhat quizzical Heart. "Hazel," she asked, raising an eyebrow at the council member. "When did we start naming them? They are just mindless drones, are they not." Iron Shield forced a simile as he nodded his head. "They are, but it is not as if they are not alive, be it with or without a mind. They still deserve a name." Nurse Heart blushed with embarrassment at her question. "I apologize, sir. It's sometimes hard to see them that way from how they act; it makes them seem unlife-like. "It is fine. No offense was meant, and none was taken," Iron Shield said, waving a hoof as he spoke. Hazel reentered the room at this, stopping the conversation; two cups of hot tea floated in her magic as she arranged the cup before the two alicorns bowing her head as She did. "Will that be all, sir?" she asked emotionlessly. Iron Shield nodded as he took a Sip of tea before speaking, "Yes, that will be all; take an hour to freshen up Hazel, then find Celly and Lulu. I am sure they are causing trouble somewhere." "As you wish, Sir," Hazel replied before exiting the room again. As soon as the door closed, Iron Shield turned to nurse heart, giving her a stern glare. "Now it's on to more serious matters" His voice was deep as he spoke; long gone was the peacefulness that had a place. "How is the child, and where is he now." Nurse Heart almost wanted to run from the cold blue eyes dug into her as the question was asked, instead she hid behind the teacup in her magic as she responded, "The child is fine, while the birth could have gone better for both. It was by no means a bad one" she stopped to take a sip of her tea. Trying to get a feel for what the council member was thinking. When she got no response, she continued, "The mother had it a little worse but is in stable condition." Iron Shield let out a small sigh, a frown forming as he took a large sip of tea. "That's what I was afraid of," He said, putting his teacup down as his eyes and mind drifted. "indulge me for a moment if you would, Nurse Heart, But do have a mate by chance" The question was sudden but didn't go answered by the alicorn mare. "I do, Sir, Sargent. Silver Lining," she replied carefully but truthfully to the question, an eyebrow raised as she did Iron Shield nodded in approval. "Yes, I have heard of him, a fine, young promising lad" He let a genuine smile escape from his professional mask before pulling it back in. "tell me, where is he stationed now." "The front lines of the dragon Kingdom, sir," replied the nurse "That's quite the dangerous position, fighting off the dragons, and very far from our peaceful capital" Iron Shield moved his tea Cup aside as he put his hooves down on his desk. "Sounds to me like it must be tough on the both of you." Nurse Heart looked at the floor solemnly, trying to push back against the sadness that crept up in her at those words and for anger to grace her for only a second as she spoke, "If you don't mind my asking, Sir, what does this have to do with anything." Iron Shield let the mare finish speaking before putting on a forced smile. "Well, as it so happens, I need some help with a project'' He stopped for a moment to let the mare drink in what he said, "and the payment for the help could be very beneficial for the both of you." Iron Shield leaned back as he tapped a hoof to his chin. "Say a transfer to the council guard and a glowing promotion to the head nurse of the councilors' medical wing in the capital." He watched as Heart's face went through a rainbow of emotions, surprise, fear, surprise again, happiness, then lastly, determination. She eyed him slightly as she aired the following question carefully, forcing herself into a calm state. "What... what is it that needs to be done." The answer to her question was opening a desk drawer and removing a crystal no larger than a golf ball. Iron Shield placed it on the desk between them, eyeing it just like the mare across from him was. He looked closely, watching as the insides went from multi-colored plaid to a rainbow of colors not even visible to any living being. Somehow, the interiors grew larger than the container, warping the space around it. The mare recoiled away, trying to find her words, "Is.... is that a..." She was cut off as Iron Sheild spoke over her Panicked voice. "It is," he said, his face displeased at looking at it. "A small yield Chaos magic bomb not big or strong enough to kill a fully powered alicorn, But say a mother weakened by birthing and caring for a foal, this would be a death sentence." Iron Shield eyed the nurse as he spoke, trying his damndest to give the message, lucky for him, the nurse was no idiot. Her mind caught on to his words, thinking carefully, "Why, if I may ask, and what of the child." Iron Sheild eyed her respectfully as he responded, "Sadly, she must die for Council plans to move along, and to answer your second question, we need the child alive. The only problem is that he must be there for his mother's death. He will be in her embrace; she WILL protect him over herself." He stopped talking momentarily to gesture at the medical document from earlier. "And as you and I both know, he has the power to Survive unaffected, traumatized, but physically unaffected." Iron Shield set the hook and cast it; now he needed only wait, and he didn't have to wait long as nurse heart took the orb. "All I have to do is kill her, and I get to have my Silver back," She asks in an almost giddy tone. Iron nodded as he stood and helped direct the mare to leave and do the task she was called to do. "Yes, now go. Time is of the essence." Nurse Heart nodded in agreement as she took the Chaos bomb and quickly walked out the door. Only a second later did Iron call upon his magic as a shadowy unicorn rose from his shadow, glowing red eyes, eager for a job. "Go follow her. Make sure the task is completed; make sure that nurse heart dies in that blast; I need her dead." The shadow nodded before disappearing under the door in a wisp of smoke. Iron Shield, with his magic, watched through his shadow's eyes as it made its way to the mother's room, following the nurse. Iron Shield was pulled from his thoughts as his shadow entered the room with the nurse. He thought as he watched; it had to be this way. It must look like an attack from the draconequus for the second plan ever to work, which requires great sacrifices. In the back of the room lay two alicorns, one a large mare of sky-blue fur and purple mane. While the second was a dark orange colt feeding off his mother for the first time, A mane of purple sat on his head and tail. The curiosity of the new ponies walking in the room made him stop feeding and open his eyes to look. They were ice blue and full of nothing but love and innocence. Such innocence did nothing to stop the following events that played out like a stop motion picture in Iron Shields's mind. the activation and throwing of the chaos bomb the forming of a magical dagger and the slashing of the nurse's neck. Her lifeless defenseless body fell to the floor almost instantly The alicorn mother wrapping herself around her foal before the detention of the bomb detonation, screams, and a lost connection to the shadow It was with a gasp and a stager that Iron was thrown back into his own body, now hearing and feeling the events happening down the hall from him. He managed to stand Straight once more, making his way to his desk. His mind was blank with what had just happened; death was a tragedy in any form, but sacrificing the lives of two alicorns for one was a high price, even for this plan. Iron Shield sat in his chair, opened the file on his desk, and sorted through the files until she came across the one he was looking for. A picture of both Silver Lining and Nurse Heart, they had been tired be the project before this birth, but now they were both just loose ends to clean up. Even in death, they still have a role to play; Nurse Heart Magik should benefit the young foal being dug out of the explosion; now, all he had to do was play his part. He drew out an ink bottle, quill, and paper and then wrote. 'to one silver lining, tis with utmost apologies that I write to you....
Chapter 3: Blood is thicker then waterIt was one simple act that doomed the acorns to the end of their reign over world, one simple act that damned them to the fires of hell, fires that they created in the fires of the bomb that killed his mother. He had finally found the truth, what truly happened the day of his birth, it was not the Draconequus that tried to kill him, no, it was his own kind that had betrayed his family, and it was he who now carried the scars of those sins both mentally and physically. They were right to assume that he would live but not without consequence. The fires from the magical bomb that killed his mother burned his once orange coat into one of pure black, burning away the purity that he was just only given, his coat now only reminding him of not only his mothers death but of his loss of self. That was sadly not the only scar that he bears, His mother that so kindly brought him into the world, died to keep him in it, before the bombs detonation she had wrapped herself around her newborn son, taking the brunt of the detonation. It was her silver ashes mixing with an abundance of magic that gave him even more of a chance to survive, at the cost of his own magic mixing with hers, changing it from the dark blue that it would have been to the color it was now, a ghostly gray. The Alicorn stared into the body mirror that stood in front of him, running a hoof over the final scar that marked him, a magical cut that was directly under his right eye, it was a sign that it was not only a bomb that the assassin carried but a knife as well. It had gotten caught in the blast shattering the blade and sending a piece to cut him across the face, the doctors could never tell him why it never faded, but now he knows why it didn't. It was a sign to him, a reason to remember what had happened the one day of his life that he was weak, it was a sign to show him what happened when he trusted the ponies around him, but that all ended today. Everything ends today, this war, these so called gods that fight for no other reason than petty difference, and today ended the slavery of the mortal races that the gods created to fight a war they themselves were to scared to fight themselves. It was his time to show them the error of their ways, that the gods they so claimed to once be, meant nothing in this world. It was time for the weapon they created to be the cause of their own downfall, it was time for justice and freedom to ring across the planet that for all of its life has never seen the beauty of peace. The Alicorn turned from the mirror completely, his eyes taking in the spartan room that he called his own for all his life, it was no larger than the room any officer of the army would have, it gave only enough room to breath and sleep, all a soldier in this war would need. His bed sat in the very far left corner of the room facing the door that was the bottom of the bed faced, to its left was a small writing desk with an oil lamp for the late nights. The only true difference that his room held compared to his other peers was a smaller cot in the right corner next to the desk, it was for her, and yet the cot was empty. The Alicorn shook his head walking over to his bed and looking more closely at it a mass under the large covers of the bed were moving in a pattern of rhythmic sleeping, with a sigh the Alicron called upon his magic carefully as not to disturb the sleeping mare under the covers moved them from her sleeping form revealing a tan furred unicorn, a long disheveled mane and tail wrapped around her as if another blanket the top of each hair colored as if a fading sunset moving slowly into the color of night in all its grace. The large Alicorn smiled lightly as he lent down putting his muzzle against hers and nuzzling her gently as to wake her from sleep. It was returned only slightly as the opening of gray eyes greeted him, they were cold and emotionless, yet for only a second he caught a glimpse of the amber eyes that the gray hid, fear showing through them, she didn't realize that it was him. It only hurt a little, it was only natural he could suppose she has been a slave for all of her life, surviving the small fallen gods that created her, he has done his best to help her after he resaved her as a “gift”, gods such an act still sickened him, but such thought have no place in todays plans. The could see the muscles of the mare tense as she awoke more realized that she had been caught in the bed of her master and not the cot she was too sleep in, yet for all the panic rising within her it all came to a grinding halt when the Alicorn placed his head on top of hers a deep voice coming out as he spoke as gently as he could giving reassurance that she was fine. “It is fine Amore, please relax, it is only me, we are alone” It took a few moments more till the wrapped beating heart calmed and the mare could return the nuzzle she had received, it was after this morning routine that the mare closed her gray eyes, opening them back to show the emotion filled amber ones that had slipped through earlier. “I am sorry, I thought a guard had caught me” her voice was a soft tone, one that almost didn't fit the demanding beauty that she held. The Alicorn said nothing as he laid down next to the mare, well more so around her, as his larger from took up most of the small bed, calling on his magic as he levitated a small brush from the desk and began to brush the mares hair, letting her calm herself more before speaking “today is the day, my love, for your kind to be freed” he felt her stiffen as he spoke again his voice low and serous “it is the same plan as we have deduced before, everything will go just as we have talked about, and they are going you” The mare let out a slight whimper letting out a choked sentence “what about me, I will need you” a flow of tears ran down the mares face and she turned to face the aircon “in this plan you don't even know if you will survive, please, my Somber Moonlight I can't lose you” The large Alicorn again put his head on hers, and reaching up with a hoof dried away the mares tears “you are so much stronger than you know my dear, even if I do not come back I have faith that you will be great” He could still feel it, the burning pain, it’s always been with him, and even now in this *eternal* banishment he could still feel it, for as long as he could remember he has always had to deal with that pain that came with his power. It was all the fault of those damned Alircons, the gods fallen from grace that seemed to believe that it was their destiny to rule the stars once again. It almost made him sick that he was related to such creatures, ponies who abandoned their own kind in the pursuit of power that they never should have had in the first place. It was that power and arrogance that they could control it that led to their downfall, it was he that washed away the Alicorns and Draconequus from Equus in the last days of the war, it was he who watched as the two last Ailcorns gave their lives to defeat him in battle, and they couldn't even do that right, no they had stripped him of his body. Yet they couldn't kill his god-like soul, merely banish it. What could be considered a smile formed on his nonexistent body as he felt another magic chain snap as his power grew, he had to hand it to the Alicorns even if just a little, they were very good at shoving all of their problems off to other races, even now the last act of banishing him only slowed him down in the long run. It was with a snap that the second to last chain broke, he could feel his power rise that little bit more, ever so closer to the freedom he has been without. Then he would find them, he would find them and they could finally leave and all be a family once more, yes a family. If only he knew the world that awaited him. Present day Equestria (start of season 2) Celestia sat upon her throne, a large bag of mail laid to the side filled to the brim with letters, most of them from nobles requesting something or other from the princess. The other letters were from the lower class ponies, most of those letters were thank you notes or letters praising her, she had seen them all over her years of rule. Sometimes she would get the weird love letter from unnamed ponies but, being shown as the regal princess the media has presented over her many years of rule, it was expected. Celestia over the many years have gotten used to spotting and disposing of them but sometimes a well written one would slip past into the pile of 'the need to read'. This was one such case as she disposed of the letter in a small burst of fire, disposing of the ash in the trash with her magic. She picked up more letters reading each one thoughtfully and fully, that is until she got to the last one in the small pile she removed from the over drugged bag, scoffing as she read it. Another letter, from a noble, one Greedy Needy, requesting an audience with her for more land, she thought to herself as she pulled out ink, parchment, and a quill, already forming a response. How many times am I going to have to tell him that I can’t give up any more land until the environmental council says what can be given and what needs to be kept. She continued to think on the topic as she wrote the response to Greedy's letter doing her best to hold in the anger of the current noble cast fallen so far from what it had used to be, Celestia was thrown out of her thoughts when a puff of green fire flew in front of her, forming a neatly rolled up scroll. ‘Right on time as always, Twilight’ Celestia thought, taking the scroll in her magic and carefully opening it. She read through the report laughing at some points and smiling at others. She read the addition at the end of the note, smiling at the statement, then thought to herself as to why Twilight was still asking if she was ok. Clestia knew more than anypony that Twilight cared in her own way, but It has been a week since the Everfree forest kidnapped her and Luna, and it was nearly everyday now for a week that Twilight wrote to her. Celestia rolled back up the scroll placing it in a pile of its own, the smile still on her face as she went back to the large bag of letters. Before the smile could be whipped away from the contents of such letters, a loud mysterious voice echoed in the room, it was deep and rich, flowing as if a dragon roared yet it came without the gruffness that came with eating rocks, it was an odd sound. It started what sounded as if a sigh then formed into an almost amused chuckle. “Oh, Celestia, you always did find the most simple things amusing, but I am not one to judge because now that I am free I too enjoy the simple things, such as the amusing thought on why you are still alive” the voice poke starting out in a jovial and by the end gave off a tone of anger. Then for the first time, in what Celestia could recall as a long time, the hairs on her neck stood on end. Celestia’s head darted around the room, looking for the owner of the voice as the guards, who were to the far left and right sides of the room, moved in front of her. "Who are you? Show yourself", Celestia called out, her smile turning into a grimace of frustration. The voice answered a few seconds after Celestia had finished "In all due time, Tia, in all due time” Celestia her eyes narrowed from suspicion. Her scrutinizing gaze quickly turning to one of anger as she resided the urge to use the royal voice, but still yelled as she spoke forcefully “I will ask again, who are you and what is the meaning of THIS” The voice let out a small chuckle of amusement “find something amusing” Celestia asked her anger getting the better of her. “I must have hit a nerve for you to yell like that, but the explanation of what it is can wait, The final piece has fallen into place” The voice faded away with its last words before Celestia could ask what it meant as the throne room doors burst open, Luna rushing in, a large group guards following suit. “I heard all The commotion from my room sister,” Luna said seriously “what is it that is wrong” Celestia, still keeping her guard up, answered to Luna her wing flared in a defensive manner “there was a voice….” before Celestia could continue her mind kicked into action replaying the last thing The voice had said. ‘The final piece has fallen into place’ it echoed her head as she scanned the room for anything as Luna next to her did the same, it was a wise mind and years of experience that finally kicked Celestia in the rump, as she realized it was a trap. “What about this voice sister,” Luna asked, throwing Celestia out of her racing thoughts “you aren't going mad ar…” Luna was cut off by Celestia grabbing her and pulling her towards the large throne room doors, a trap set in her own castle, who was this voice. “We need to leave now,” Celestia said still pulling Luna “this was all a…” the sound of the large throne room doors slamming shut blocking the few guards that had yet to enter, cutting off Celestia as she said the last word of her sentence with a hint of distress “...trap” Luna and Celestia watched as a black wave of magic flooded over the door leaving only a slight shimmer in its clearing. They knew the spell well. It was a sealing spell and if they were right, and they usually are, the spell was cast over every exit of the room. Before Luna or Celestia could speak the voice returned, this time it had a very malice tone “you two are familiar with the game of chess correct” after receiving no answer from the two sisters he continued “you should know I played it with you many times my dear Tia, as for you Luna you were far too young to be taught. The room grew cold as the voice continued his rant, power seeming to leave the world around Celestia and Luna “It is a simple game of wits and plays, a game that is only over when the enemy king lays dead at the other's hooves. It is a game of the mind, of one's collective will and intelligence. If you can recall we played all those years ago, to test one other, yet as i grew older I found that it was only a test for me, and to this day I still have yet to win for with al my planning, with all the moves I made in advance and the peace off of the board, with the very enemy king dead the queen still plays. Why are you still ALIVE” , “I cast that spell,to kill all those that didn't share my bloodline, and yet here you two are alive and well, still corrupting the world with our alicron filth!” The room itself seemed to grow darker, as the voice started to yell at this point, the light that once shone through the throne room windows started to disappear absorbed into a dark mass that was forming above the tone itself. The room now only has light enough to barely see with, as a ring of black fire formed in a sphere around the throne burning away the regal red carpet that led up to it. The voice let out a long sigh as it went back to a lighter tine leaving behind the gruff anger that it once held, “that can only leave one option left, sisters” When the voice Finished speaking the dark sphere that formed, pushed out a wall of black magic at an alarming speed pushing away the unlucky guards that stepped forward to stop it or were just standing near it, knocking them out instantly. Light and color returned to the room as the flames of the magic died down, leaving a large Alicorn with black a suit and purple tie sat out on Celestia red and gold throne, Light pouring in from the windows lighting up the smirk that made its way across his face. He sat tall, his fur as black as a starless night, could be seen past the suit, Fire danced where his main and tail would have been shining regal blue and power flowed from them biting the very existence around them in a silent show of dominance. He stretched out his limbs a vicious smile on his face “I do love the clothes of this century, such a way to show power without the need of heavy armor, such a wonderful creation” His eyes shone two different colors as he spoke, the right eye a crimson red the left an icy blue. The guards that had been watching the whole thing rushed forward at him, their weapons ready to strike. As the guard's reached striking distance, the first attack was thrown only to be stopped by a black barrier, the barrier crackling with lightning, leaped out and through the guards weapon shaking him into unconsciousness. The lightning that struck the guard start to branch off him moving from guard to guard knocking them out one by one, Soon a group of five guards that had pushed this intruder laid on the ground unmoving. The Dark Aliron leaned into the throne ever so slightly “ So now that the distraction has been taken care of let us talk, it is time to leave behind the lies of the past and look to the future, my dear sisters”
