Sunset in the gods

AGO YEARS

“Fluttershy, was this massacre necessary?” asked the priestess Cinch as she watched a young goddess crying.

“I didn’t want this, I didn’t know about famine, I didn’t know that they only wanted to feed their families to survive.” She says through tears. “When I saw the dead animals I just burst into anger and my animals came out of my shadow.”

Cinch continued to observe the destroyed village, the town was relatively young, the houses newly built, it is natural that a newly built town has food problems the first few months but in a year they would have the first harvests to be self-sufficient but now all the inhabitants were being devoured by Fluttershy’s animals, a town that was now nothing.

"When you were assigned to a forest I was against the decision, despite your natural talent with your divine power, I was going to tell the council that you were still immature, still a rookie but..." Cinch didn't know what else to say. "How did it happen?"

“I had decided to live for the sake of the animals. I knew every animal in this forest, but I couldn't stand what the humans did.”
h didn't want to do what she was going to do. “Do you know what will happen now?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied.

“Do you know why we call it the wrath even though many of that faction don’t express it as such?” Fluttershy remained silent then the priestess continued speaking. “Half of the punishment goes to the gods, but the other half goes to the cause that caused the gods to commit such acts, I mean those who you wanted to help, in their minds they will feel pain, their souls will be torn and will be linked to the god and the god will feel all their anger to the point of wishing for death and none of them will be able to do anything against each other”

“But I only did this to help animals.”

“And that is why the animals will be the ones to bear your sin”

PRESENT

GATES OF TARTARUS

Fluttershy was petting Cerberus while at the same time she saw the gigantic gates of Tartarus open for the first time since the Eleventh Demonic Incursion or as others called it the Stygian Rebellion and the goddess was sad because she knew there was no turning back.

“Do you feel sorry for having participated in this?” Aria asked as she walked over to Fluttershy.

“I still don’t know how to feel, Discord told me that many will die no matter what I do but he also told me that my part in this would save some lives.” Fluttershy replied.

“I guess only time will tell.” Aria sighed as she watched the army leave the gates. “So do you know where the Beast City is now?” She decided to ask directly.

“You ask that as if the city had been somewhere else.”

“There was another city, didn't you know that?” Aria asked a little surprised.

“I thought they rebuilt it after it was destroyed during the Tenth Demonic Incursion.”

“I guess the gods don't like to talk about their defeats.” The demon said with a small smile.

“Defeated? We younger ones are told that after the Tenth Demonic Incursion, all the gods of the Wrath Faction were given full pardon.” Fluttershy noticed that Aria was trying to suppress a laugh. “I don’t know why you find that so funny.”

“The reason why after the Tenth Demonic Incursion those gods were pardoned is that none of them were actually left alive.” Aria said.

“The Wrath Faction is supposed to be the second strongest faction after the Battle Faction, but how is it possible that none of them were left alive?” The goddess asked in surprise.

“Because I found out the secret of how to kill them easily, while the Supreme King and his army fought against the Wrath Faction, almost all of my clan and I invaded the City of Beasts, we killed each of the Wrath Beasts we found, do you understand now?”.

“Yes... I understand.” The goddess said, surprised by such an achievement. “Will you do the same with the current city?”.

“No, this time we have to be discreet, and if I take my entire clan then we risk the gods realizing that another raid has begun, so don't worry, your beasts are safe.”

“My beasts are not in the city, my beasts have always been with me.”

Those words surprised Aria. “Don't tell me you let those monsters loose out there?”

“No, they are always with me, they forgave me for the consequences of my selfishness and I only accept my punishment without accepting the solution that the city offers me.”

Aria looks at Fluttershy's shadow and the demon begins to laugh. “I don't know if you make me laugh or scare me.”

“The same can be said about the demon who decided to attack the ancient city of beasts and from what I know that city was bigger than the current one.”

“I can't argue with that.” And they both continue laughing.

“How big will this Demonic Incursion?” Fluttershy asked.

Then Aria stops laughing at the question. “Do you know how many Demonic Incursions I participated in?”

“I don't know... two? Three?”

“I participated in all of them, but I never submitted myself or my clan to any king or queen. I knew them all, some were good rulers, others were bloodthirsty despots, even some of the kings were my friends although others hated me to death, but none of them could subdue all the clans... I never submitted to any of them.”

“But you participated in all the Raids.”

“Yes.” She answers. “But I never swore loyalty to any of them, I offered my help but nothing more, but Starlight Glimmer succeeded, she subdued.” Aria pauses for a moment. “Subdued is not the word, she unified each and every one of the demonic clans, even me and my clan decided to march under her banner, you asked how big this Incursion would be, this will be the biggest Demonic Incursion of all and this time we will not back down, believe it or not all the demons will leave Tartarus never to return, whether we win or lose the Twelfth Demonic Raid will be the last.”

CITY OF BEASTS

Sunset and her group were still contemplating what they had just seen.

That wing was made of aura.” Twilight said surprised. “She made an organic materialization.”

“It would be amazing if she helps us with your arm dilemma, your majesty.” Shining Armor said.

“Let's not rush, we must first know what our situation is exactly.” Flash said.

Then Pinkie Pie raises a hand excitedly. “I know, I know! We're trapped in some kind of cursed city in the middle of the desert!”

“I guess we should see that detail too.” Applejack sighed.

Then atop the wall stands a woman wearing blue armor, she had yellow skin and orange hair. “Attention everyone! My name is Spitfire! As you may have noticed, everyone is here because they are dangerous in one way or another...”

“Is something wrong Shining?” Applejack asked.

“I know her, she was a cadet of the Wonderbolts.” Shining Armor answered.

“The Wonderbolts?” Sunset asked, surprised that there was also a parallel to the Pegasus team.

“Yes, the late Queen Luna is supposed to have sent most of the young recruits along with a small company of veterans to the eastern borders to ensure that the tribes of the barren lands did not attack Equestria during the war against the Crystal Kingdom and the gods.” Shining Armor said.

“Do you think they can help us?” Sunset asked.

“I don't know, I don't even know if any high command is still alive.”

“I hope you all understood!” Spitfire finished saying.

“Did anyone understand the instructions?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Then Twilight heard what Spitfire said and was about to answer, but noticed everyone's gaze implying that they wanted a simple explanation. "She basically gave us a motivational speech and then told us to walk in a circle around the walls of the inner citadel, what do you think we should do, your majesty?"

“For now we are just going to gather information, find out what this place is for and finally try to escape.” Sunset said.

“Attention, everyone follow us!” One of the guards shouted and everyone started walking.

For an hour everyone had been walking around the citadel, everyone thought it was strange and for some reason there were guards watching all the prisoners but not to watch them but as if they were evaluating them.

“That's strange.” Applejack said. “Twilight, Pinkie, did you notice it too?”

“Is something wrong?” Flash asked.

“I don't think this is an endurance test, we just walked, some even stopped to rest and no one says anything to them.” Sunset replied. “I'm sure that...” At that moment Sunset felt something and stopped walking.

“What's wrong, your majesty?” Shining asked, also stopping with the others.

“Twilight, I need you to look where I just passed.” Sunset ordered.

Twilight obeys without hesitation. “I see… I think it’s a mass of air.”

Applejack also observes. “That’s true, but this one looks slightly different.”

“Different how?” Sunset asks.

Then Twilight answers. “The ones we usually see are the ones that are randomly found anywhere but this one, it's like it was placed here intentionally, I didn't even know you could do that.”

“But they're everywhere.” Pinkie Pie said. “I thought everyone noticed?”

Then Sunset realized what the test was about.

Then some guards approached. “You three will go to the central citadel.” They said pointing at Twilight, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. “And you three will stay in the outer citadel, you can leave.” He said to Sunset, Shining Armor and Flash Sentry.

“Wait! You can't separate us!” Twilight complained.

“Twilight do what you're told.” Sunset ordered trying to avoid making a fuss although she sees that Twilight reluctantly obeys. “I'll find a way for us all to meet again.”

“Don't worry sister, I will continue with our duty.” Shining Armor said to calm his sister.

“I don't think anything bad will happen to her with us here.” Flash said.

“I'm not so weak for you to say that.” Sunset said a little offended.

After they separated Flash asked, “Why do you think they took them?”

“Pinkie said that the air masses were everywhere and we were the only ones who couldn't see it, only Twilight, Applejack and Pinkie Pie have mind vision.” The redhead replied.

“That means they are gathering potential aura users.” Shining Armor said.

“But anyone can learn about the aura, you don't have mind vision and you still know how to use it.” Flash said.

“Yes, but remember what Discord and Diamond Tiara said, that although everyone can learn, those with mental vision have an innate talent.” Sunset said. “But what worries me is knowing what will happen to us.”

“Everyone pay attention!” said one of the guards with pale blue skin and dark grayish blue hair and dressed in armor just like Spitfire had. “Welcome! My name is Soarin and I will be in charge of this part of the tests! I know that everyone wants to rest after this long journey through the desert and I promise that after this you will be able to rest!”

Then a group of guards begin to hand out wooden swords.

“All newcomers will have a one-on-one fight!” Soarin replied. “You will go to the combat arenas, everyone will have an opponent and you will have to fight, killing is strictly prohibited.” After those words the guards led them to the combat arenas.

When they arrived at the place Sunset examines the wooden sword that had been given to her.

“I know they said killing is forbidden, but this sword, despite being made of wood, is still dangerous.” Flash Sentry said.

“Yeah, I remember when Timber had to stop us from one of our training duels because we almost beat each other to death.” Shining Armor said as if that was a pleasant memory.

“Shining.” Sunset said as she watched the guards assign opponents to everyone. “How would you say our sword skills are?”

On the terrace of a tower, Rainbow Dash watches the battle arenas. "I don't like these tests."

“Really? I remember two years ago you kept bragging about how you beat everyone.” Spitfire said.

“That was before I knew what that meant.”

“There's nothing we can do.” Said a woman who was sitting in front of a desk, the woman had almost the same appearance as Spitfire but looked older. “The hunt will be in a month and we can't afford to be soft with the newbies.”

“Whatever you say Stormy.” Said Rainbow Dash without giving it much importance but continued looking at the combat arenas.

“At least this year few children have arrived.” Said Spitfire.

“There's nothing we can do,” Stormy said with a bit of frustration. “Many cities take advantage of getting rid of their criminals here, it's not unusual to have a few children, Spitfire...”

“Don't worry, mom, the tests will be as usual.”

“I hope they can avoid the hunt this month at least.”

“I don't know, the young people I saw had potential, half of them have talent for the aura.” Rainbow Dash said. “Right now the other half are in the combat arena.”

“Remember that here talent is not enough to survive.” Spitfire said. “Besides, Sorarin will make sure that they get beaten up so that he can train them well later.”

Then while Rainbow Dash watched the tests she began to smile with excitement. “Well, I'd say that they are well trained.” She said while continuing to look outside.

“What do you mean?” Spitfire asked as she peeked over to see what Rainbow Dash meant, she was shocked to see a young redhead standing in front of an unconscious man who was almost twice her size. “What happened?”

“Something twenty percent cooler.”