Author's Note

I’m so sorry to my fans that this release took so long. My internet died half way through the month and I was also swamped with work. But it’s all taken care of now and we can continue as we normally would. I hope your all enjoying this so far. I’m going to be making my chapters a little thicker to give everyone more to read and enjoy!

Please send your support and love to the original artists who made the art featured here!

Haunting Emotions

(Gravon Ashe, 1ST POV)

The Disfavored, that’s what our father has named us. A “small” army of elite warriors whose abilities and skills could rival the Gods' Champions! I sat in a large throne-like chair overseeing the training of my first eight hundred children as they fought one another or trained in formations. Father and I set a training regiment for the three major types of troopers.

First we had set up the Stone Shields, the back bone of my legion! The Stone Shields were brothers and sisters who knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, a Phalanx of men and women who would make slow but unstoppable advances on enemy positions. They Wore Heavy Leather Armor Lined with Tempered Iron. Equipped with a large Iron shield and spear with a sword on their hip for closer encounters. The Stone Shields were meant to be our most frequent soldier on the battlefield numbering in the Hundreds our current forces held four hundred and fifty Stone Shields.

Next were the Iron Walkers and Iron Guard. The Iron Walkers were your basic foot soldier who carried a sword and shield mostly, with few exceptions like spears and axes when necessary or warranted. The Iron Guard were more of an elite force or Iron Walkers, usually seen with large two handed weapons like great swords and spears. Both wore medium to heavy Iron Armors Lined with heavy amounts of leather. They Numbered a hundred and fifty in our current forces.

Then lastly we had the Crescent Runners, functioning as our scouts they wore light iron and leather armors usually equipped with bows, swords, one hand spears or javelins. They had the delicate job of supporting the army with information gathering, scouting, ranged support when needed, and even medical care when required. They had numbered a hundred and twenty-five

And Lastly, The Few and Powerful Iron Marshals. Leaders and Generals of the disfavored they wore the Heavy set Marshal Armor and carried any number of personally chosen weapons out into battle. Distinguished by being a force on the battlefield and being adept in combat tactics and a mind for leadership rather than just grunt work. They had only severity five members in total.

(The Stone Shields)

(The Iron Walker)

(The Crescent Runner)

(The Iron Marshals)

I myself was wearing my new Heavy Iron armor with my two handed bladed mace resting beside me, I watched as two of my Sons spared with each other, One was Barik, an up and coming lad of a man in the Stone Shields, whose loyalty to our causes and ways was exemplary. And his brother Dirk, Dirk was a recent addition with his training befitting that of an Iron Walker. He was a near polar opposite to his brother, he was brash and Quick on his feet, but also impatient and had a mean streak with his greed for glory. He was also a bit full of himself as father would say. But despite this I had high hopes for the lad, and even though I doubt he’d say it aloud, like all his brothers and sisters here he loves his family and even if he and Barik had a rivalry going I saw it as a good thing. A father wants what's best for his children, sometimes that’s a helping hand, sometimes it's the crack of the whip. But in this instance, both my boys needed a challenger. Someone to look forward to beating or going and giving a task they're all so they could one up the other.
As I watched them continue to fight I saw my cousin approach me from the side flanked by two nervous looking and thin guards. It seems the hunger still left a lasting effect on them even after father fed them all. This was actually the first time I've gotten a good look at my distant relative. Her changelings and my Stone Kin have had very little interaction surprisingly. And the Disfavored army was already showing signs of being one of the greatest forces in history.

Once she came to a stop I turned my head away from the training to acknowledge her. “Hello Cousin, I do believe this is our first time speaking, allow me to start us off. I am Graven Ashe, The Chosen Child of Gaster to be his Archon of War. ''I said proudly as I stood up at my full height towering over her. Leaving my mace leaning against the throne.

She gave a small smile and gulped down some of her saliva as she raised a hand to me “greetings Graven Ashe. I am Chrysalis, Queen of the changeling race and lost granddaughter of Gaster.” she was clearly nervous of my reaction if her shaking was anything to be believed.

I gave her a small smile before swatting her hand to the side and closing the gap between us before enveloping her in a warm hug. “There is no need to stand so straight with me Cousin, we are family and I'd love to know my family a bit more.” It was clear she was caught off guard and her bodyguards were nervous and even fearful of what they should do. But to their relief chrysalis acted first and hugged me back softly weeping into my shoulder as i felt the years of sadness and loneliness was away with her tears.

The tears steadily stopped as she basked in the love she was given, I simply smiled as she enjoyed our connection. Eventually she stepped back having a small smile adorn her face “thank you cousin… I-I am still getting use to having family surround me again.”

I have a chuckle nodding “of course. I may be new here but I was blessed with an understanding of family and feelings. I think father wanted us close so I could add you in the times to come. For now though we should focus on getting ready for the battles ahead.”

Nodding she turned to the men and women training. “Are they my siblings too?”

I barked with laughter “Ha no no. They are closer to being your Nieces and nephews. Father has named me the father of the disfavored, they are my children more then my siblings.” I turned and gestured to the other end of the vast room. There chrysalis could see a woman in marshal armor. She stood at 5foot 8 inches with bone white hair that reached down to her shoulders. Her pale skin gave way to her bright sapphire eyes.

See us stair at her she smiled and waved to us both. I returned it with a blown kiss and she giggled at my romantic gesture. Chrysalis smiled and waved back at her

“And that would be the woman I was given as my wife… it’s odd, in another life romance would hold little sway over me but here with here. I couldn’t imagine life without it, or her.” I was honest with my feelings and I had a changelings testimony to prove it’s genuine.

Chrysalis smiled at me and nodded “now we simply need to fallow grandfather’s plan and our family will only grow and all our past troubles will melt away… at least that’s what I’m hoping for.”

I turned and sighed growing a sad and frustrated look. “Unfortunately nothing will melt away. We will be dealing blows against those who sought to contain or to harm our family. Gaster will burn they’re existence away… and few will be understanding or forgiving of such acts. Trouble will eventually leave us but it always returns. And even if we melt away these troubles we still have to deal with the fallout of such choices. All actions have reactions and not all will be good ones.”

She grew a somber look as she turned to the men and women training “will they all perish? Do we plan to send them to their deaths?”

“That is the unfortunate part chrysalis… they see being sent to they’re deaths as they’re way of life… some are correct. But for those who survive and make it out of this fight… they will quickly question what to do next. Warriors of all kinds live for war. Even the ones who fight for peace. Once war is over a Warriors purpose in life is done.” I explain, Putting a hand on her shoulder to comfort her about the fate of my children and the fate of all who go to war. “The sad truth is… even those who hate at detest war. Can’t seem to forget or leave it behind once they’ve tasted it for themselves.”

She nodded and looked back to me “I will find a place for them… I’ll make it so everyone who survives had something worth fighting for waiting for them. I’m sure my mother will be all to happy to agree and help them once we find her.”

I smiled at her declaration and bowed slightly “I’ll be waiting for the day you show me what we have fought for.”

No sooner had I finished bowing I saw father walk in, he had his scythes out in hand and a look of fury in his eyes, he was pissed.

(Perspective change, ten minutes ago)
(3rd pov)

Gaster was sitting in a dark room, the only light he had was from his own glowing eyes. I’m front of him he had written a phrase on the floor in wingdings. The white of the chalk he used was shimmering purple with void energy as he peered into the void he called his prison and home for so long.

As he peered into the dark abyss of darkness around him he saw the walls shimmer as if they’re physically properties were unstable. The floor while solids swished and crashed on itself like a ocean surface during a storm. The air around him was cold and empty.

He gave a calming breath and noticeably relaxed calming his mind and body. Soon the walls and floors physicality came to a stand still looking as normal as his own body. The wall closest to him shimmered as he turned to look at it, the walls center split apart like a giants eye opening. As the ‘eye’ opened fully Gaster could see to the other side, he gave a small smile seeing his two little girls.

Celestia and Luna sat on a couch wearing PJ’s that matched they’re themes. With Luna wearing black and blue bottoms that had stars and nebulas sown in and her top having and large star with a winking at everyone in front of her. While Celestia wore a long bright yellow nightgown that had white glitter and trims giving her a shine.

He also saw a group of young woman and a young man clearly a drake sitting in a circle in what looked like a library, books lined the walls and in the center of the room was two couches and a few beanbag chairs with a purple carpet under a small coffee table lines with homemade snacks and sweets

“Haha ok ok my turn!” Yelled out Luna as she span a bottle with her magic that laid on the floor. It slowly cam to a crawl and stopped on twilight sparkle “ok twilight! Truth or dare?”

“Dare!” She shouted back with a determined glare

“I dare you to not use magic for a week! Failure to do so will see you in your undies walking around town!” Dared Luna, Gaster had to stop himself from laughing as twilight suddenly went pale as the rest of the group laughed. They had clearly been playing and drinking for a bit now.

“Ugh fine!” She shots and get up to spin the bottle manually. One is started spinning it slowed down till landing on Celestia. Who had a confident smirk “ok princess! Truth or dare!?”

“I am not one so easily goateed twilight. I’ll take truth.” She calmly responded

“Hmm ugh well…” she clearly wasn’t expecting that so it took her a minute to come up with a question “what was Gaster like as a father?”

That question. Shot any joy the two princesses had down and as for Gaster he was conflicted as well. He loved them but he knew he could never be a father like lance was.

“Well… he was kind… loving and spoiled us rotten when he could… he was always there watching over us and making sure we were okay at the end of the day. Even when he created the others he never loved anyone any less. He always had space in his heart for love.” She said with a small smile and a far off look in her eyes.

“Made others?” Asked Rainbow as she leaned back in her beam bag.

Nodding Luna picked up on that “As we mentioned, Gaster was a master of creation. Having made many of the schools of magic and even several species we know today. He is the father of many people not just ponies.”

“Wait I remember you telling us he mad the bat ponies too. So has he ever tried to make something cool like something close to perfect?” She asked as her wings fluttered a bit.

The word perfect left a bad taste in the sisters mouth. “We asked him once. Why not make perfection. He told us perfection is a lie.” She shivered “but it was more then that… I had a feeling he has a deep hate for perfection, and no one ever knew why that was.”

“It’s because perfection is a dead end.” Gaster a voice trailed in, causing all the girls and dragons to perk up. Luna and Celestia especially shot they’re heads behind them to the wall behind the couch we’re a grey door now sat.

“Uhh twi? W-when did y’all get the new closet?” Applejack asked clearly unnerved by the sudden addition to the house.

Before she could answer the door slowly opened, allowing a fog to slowly drift out and into the library. “Please come in.”