Sunset in the gods

A LONG TIME AGO

Princess Celestia was walking through the library looking for someone, she was looking for a young alicorn named Mi Amore Cadenza or as she liked to be called Cadance.

Cadanse always tried to go to the library at specific times, times where he wouldn't run into Sunset Shimmer, Princess Celestia had noticed that detail, although she was not sure, she believed that the young alicorn avoided Sunset because she felt responsible for the incident with the 'royal voice', she even asked her to transfer her to another school, although she wanted to know the reason, Celestia didn't dare ask.

“Sunset is grounded for the entire week because of the fight she had at school, I guess you can use the library without problems during that time.” The princess said.

"What happened?". Cadance asked.

“She hit someone who was apparently speaking ill of the griffons.” She said as she sighed.

“She's like that, she's always been proud of having been raised by griffins.” Cadance said as she remembered how Sunset told her stories about Griffonstone.

“If she keeps this up she won't be able to make friends.” Celestia said. “She's been like this ever since you stopped going to her classes, why did you stop going? I even thought you were friends already.”

Cadance puts on a sad face thinking about that. “I don't think we can be friends... not anymore.”

“I don't think Sunset is mad at you for the accident.”

“It's not because of the accident!” She suddenly shouted but then calmed down. “I just don't feel capable of looking her in the face.” Said the young alicorn.

"but I need Sunset to make friends!"

“She is your student and that is why you can't force her to make friends.” Said the young alicorn knowing that those words could hurt Celestia.

Cadance knew the type of relationship the two had, Sunset despite being an orphan never lacked a father figure since a griffon had raised her, but the filly did lack a mother figure that she unconsciously tried to fill with Celestia, Cadance had also observed how Celestia had slowly grown fond of the filly and without realizing it tried to be a mother and a teacher at the same time.

“Friendship shouldn’t be forced, why do you want to force that feeling on Sunset?”

PRESENT

It had been four days since they started crossing the desert, Sunset had been exercising her magic as usual and also practicing the mobility of her prosthesis since that helped her practice the flow of mana, incredibly her human body had been getting used to magic a little.

"We're almost there, if you want you can look out to see." Scorpan said.

Twilight peeks her head out and the first thing she sees is red fog. “What is this?” She asked.

“This fog prevents anyone from entering or leaving, only the Wrath Faction can pass through at will and decide who enters or leaves.” Scorpan replied. “Look, we're here.”

Sunset also looked out to see and could see many iguanas that had the same type of tent-mount she was in, she also saw some six-meter-high stone walls and a huge iron door that seemed to be the entrance to the city.

“Everyone get out now.” Scorpan ordered, Sunset and the others got off their mounts.

“How was your trip bro?” Twilight asked but she noticed that Shining Armor didn't say anything. “Brother? Is something wrong?”

“He can't hear you.” Flash said. “It was his turn to go into a trance.” Then he snaps his fingers in front of Shining making him wake up.

“What's wrong?! “Am I done with my shift?!” Shining Armor said as he looks around. “Finally it's all over!”

“Anything we should know?” Applejack asked.

“We’re finally here!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she also came out and hugged Shining and Flash. “Even though these four days of traveling are over, I will always treasure each of the memories we made together!”

“I think we should not ask,” Sunset said as she noticed the two boys’ empty gazes.

“Open the doors!” Scorpan shouted.

When the giant doors opened, strange gray-skinned people appeared. Although they seemed thin, one could notice the muscular development they had. It also seemed that none of them had hair and their eyes were completely black. Sunset noticed that none of them were gods, but they weren't human either.

“Great god Scorpan, we are glad you are back... I see you brought more humans but...” The beings stare at Sunset and her group. “I see they are still children.”

“Don't underestimate them, they can use the aura and one can use a power similar to divine power.” The god said. “I lost count of how many times they killed me.”

“Their fight happened more than a month ago?” One of the beings asked.

“Yes.”

“Great god Scorpan, more than forty died that day, so were they responsible?”

“It seems so,” Scorpan said, happy with the news, then looked at Sunset. “I have high expectations.” After those words, they continued moving forward.

As they followed Scorpan, Sunset and the others looked at the city, the city of bricks, carved stones and tiles, one would say that it is a typical desert city.

“Aren't there any activities on the streets?” Twilight asked.

“Look at the walls.” Sunset said.

Everyone noticed that there were some strange marks. “They look like claw marks, but they don’t seem to be from any animal that you’ve seen before.”

“There are also dried blood marks.” Shining Armor observed. “Whatever happened happened a long time ago.”

“Everyone keep walking, I will take you to the citadel.” Scorpan ordered.

As they continued walking they began to see more humans being guided by gods.

“It seems that once again the others preferred quantity over quality, if they continue like this their torment will never end.” Scorpan said with a tone of disappointment.

Sunset preferred not to ask, not caring about her curiosity, and began to observe the other humans that the gods brought. She noticed that many of them were in good physical condition despite the fact that they had scars from cuts and marks of blows as if...

“Bandits, mercenaries, ex-soldiers, criminals, prisoners who couldn’t be locked up, that’s all they bring,” said a teenager who appeared behind Sunset, she has amber hair, turquoise skin and was wearing chainmail. “If we’re lucky, there might be a few real warriors in this lot.”

“It's not that we're not grateful for the information we were obviously going to find out, but who are you?” Applejack asked suspiciously.

“My name is Lightning Dust, the current leader of the Washouts, and you don't have to distrust me. We're all prisoners here.”

“Who are the Washouts?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“They are a mercenary company that is known for recruiting only soldiers or warriors of questionable origins.” Twilight interrupted.

“I see that our reputation precedes us, most of the recruits are people who have not been admitted into their own armies, renegades or who have simply been kicked out of their respective groups, we have ex Royal Guard, ex Shadowbolts, ex Crystal Guard, ex Wonderbolts, although technically all Wonderbolts are now ex.”

“He also has a reputation for accepting any job assigned to him, no matter how questionable it is.” Flash Sentry said.

“In our defense when we accept a job we will never betray the contract or the client no matter how much gold they offer us to betray it, the only way to cancel our contract is for the client to cancel it.” Lightning Dust said proudly.

“Why are you suddenly approaching us?” Sunset asked.

“Finally an intelligent question, because you are young, too young to be considered dangerous people, that means you are more than you seem and if we want to get out of here we will need to collaborate.”

Since she entered the city Sunset was trying to formulate a plan to escape, she knew it would take time to create a plan but suddenly someone notices and offers a collaboration. “Why do you think we will try to escape?”

“Everyone here has been complaining that they won't get out alive, that they will die here...”

“Of course we’re all going to die!!” A short, dark orange man with yellow hair yelled.

“Of course we are all going to die if you continue with that attitude!” Lightning Dust yelled at the man. “His name is Short Fuse and he has a terrible temper but he’s a good guy, but what I was trying to say is that another thing I noticed about you is that you’ve been looking around like you’re planning something and I think we could work together.”

"So what if I have anger issues?!" Short Fuse yells as he punches someone.

"We'll talk more later." Lightning Dust then sighs in frustration, "That guy will be the cause of my death."

“Do you think we can trust them, Your Majesty?” Shining Armor asked.

“Applejack, did you notice if she was lying?” Sunset asked.

“She told the truth, I didn't notice any lies.”

“Twilight, you said they were from questionable backgrounds.”

Twilight understood what Sunset wanted to know. “It's true that they recruit from rejects and expelled people, but they weren't expelled because they were mediocre, they were expelled because they didn't follow rules, rules that, if not followed, put the lives of others at risk.”

“Are you going to trust them, Your Majesty?” Shining Armor asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

After two hours of walking they reach the citadel. “The walls seem to be twice the size of the outer walls.” Flash said.

At the entrance of the citadel you could see how the gods were guiding the humans inside the citadel. “Once everyone enters, listen to everything they are told if you want to survive.” Scorpan told them. “Redhead girl.” He called Sunset. “In a couple of days I will take you to see someone, so I want you to wait here for me then.” Then the god just left.

“What should we do now?” Flash asked.

“For now, let's go inside and see what this place is.” Sunset said.

When they entered the citadel, they could see that there were more people, and they noticed that there were guards in armor guiding the newcomers to some rows.

“You guys are practically children.” Said a man who looked disheveled and ragged as he approached the group, looking at the girls with a depraved smile. “They say that if you want to survive here you might need protection.” While taking Sunset by the shoulder, Shining was about to do something until someone intervened.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.” Then a light blue teenage girl wearing light leather armor with long rainbow-colored hair approached the man. “I don't know if you noticed but it was the god Scorpan who brought that group of humans.”

“As far as I know, we are all here because a god of Wrath brought us here.” The man replied, somewhat annoyed by the teenager's intervention. “And a god of wrath only brings you here if you are dangerous... and that includes me.”

“Yes, but even though we are all here for one reason or another, the god Scorpan is known for choosing quality over quantity.”

The man was irritated by the teenager's challenge but decided to stop. “I suppose you are right.” The man said, calming down.

“It's good to know that you understood.” The teenager said with a smile.

Then the teenager turns around to leave but when she turned her back the man picks up a rock to attack her, Applejack was going to warn her but Sunset stops her, Applejack was going to reply to Sunset's decision but when the man was going to attack the teenager something appears on the teenager's back, a light blue wing materialized and with a quick movement she cuts her attacker's neck causing him to fall and bleed to death.

"I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Rainbow Dash and welcome to the City of Beasts."