The Stars Burn <Temporary title>

There seems to be no end to the noise that leave the speakers. Everything she hears can be described as screams; and as expected many of those screams are born from an innate fear; but at the same time she can tell that some of those screams are born not from fear, but a feral rage. And yet, in the midst of the screaming fest and crying though, there is a sense of “normalcy” filtering through the speakers. There’s chatter on the radios, brought by those who were trying to report exactly what the Hell is going on. Then there’s the rest of the chatter, the voices that reek of false - forced hope; the sound of those praying to a God/dess that has already turned a blind eye to their suffering.

“Turn it off.” That is the order an Empress gives, and it’s one carried out. The sound of radio chatter dies in an instant, replaced only by the mare sighing in annoyance as she leans forward. Peach colored hooves reach for her temples, and she rubs them without much prompting. She closes her eyes, frowns and for a while just lets the silence speak for her. “So…” She begins addressing her council. “This sounds~.” She pauses trying to find the proper word. “horrible.” That has to be the understatement of the century.

“I told him.” She begins as she looks at the edge of her war table and lifts a cup of coffee and takes a drink. It’s lukewarm, but that’s fine, her fault for letting it sit for so long. “I told him to be patient.” The mare admitted. “When we were ready we would go to the realm of the Dark Masters together when our strength was at its zenith...” The mare whispered as she took another drink. “And what do that fool do?” The cup wrapped in her magic started to distort and boil. “HE GOES AGAINST MY ORDERS!!!” The entire facility distorted; metal screamed, electrical equipment started to short and spark, and the ground started to split as her staff struggled to keep their standing.

“Your highness…” The mare raised her head, taking a deep slow breath as she stared at her ceiling.

She breathed, closing her eyes as everyone looked at her, watching as the mare’s mane turned from a scorching inferno of orange-red flames to simple strands of ruby red. Her horn pulsed, and her facility started to repair itself. Metal bended itself back in place, wires and circuits snaked between plates of refined metal, and the floor stitched itself back together.

“2 Eons.” The mare grumbled before shaking her head. “2 fucking eons.” She repeated. “Goddess that feels like such a long time.” She muses. “And still, that’s how long it’s been; that’s how long it’s been since we took to the stars, since we planted our hooves into the soil of alien worlds and solar systems and made them our own…” She admitted before taking a breath. “That’s also how long it’s been since we’ve been preparing to go to the realm of the Dark Masters…” She paused her brow arching as if she was contemplating something. “And he decides to jump the gun…” She groaned in annoyance, hand rubbing her temples as she took a breath. “Still, I have to give credit where it's due, he managed to open a door to the Dark Masters realm and he did so under my nose.” She flicked the orifice. “Impressive indeed.” She stated with a smile that faded an instant later. “But he still did so without my consent, and he did it before we were ready.” The mare sighed. “Now Hell lies at our doorstep. And don’t mean “ The cozy fire and brimstone hell you hear about in the good book, I mean the cannibalized nightmare that fucking eats reality!” She slammed her hands on the table as she caused it to dent. “Two eons worth of preparation wasted because of an over-eager child who wishes to strike hell before our designated time.”She breathed as she calmed herself. “And now we pay for his impatience.” She rested her chin on a knuckle. “Such a pity.”

“What shall we do, your highness?” The mare glanced in the direction of one of her councilmembers before looking at another.

“How many of our worlds are burning?”

“As it stands, twenty seven.” Her addressed councilmember stated. Just twenty seven; that wasn’t to bad, when compared to the untold billions of worlds she had colonized to build her exostellar empire.

She looked elsewhere.

“Awaken the Lords.” That got everyone to perk up. “All seventy-two of them. I will decide which twenty-seven will go to the burning worlds and who will stay by my side.

“Yes, your highness.”

“If I may!” One of her council spoke up. “I know I speak out of term but… the Arch-Lords? Are you certain we must call upon them so soon? They are -

“My personal army.” The Empress stated. “Back when I was but a Warlord of the Old World they conquered it in my name. When I started my conquest of the stars they brought universes to bend the knee.” The mare stared. “If I told them to bring me the thrones of Hell and Heaven they would do it without question.” The mare narrowed her eyes. “I know what they are, and what they are capable of.” The mare took a breath. “And I know that they are needed now.” The mare stressed. “The gates to hell have been opened, and soon so shall those of Heaven. The mare stated. With the Dark Masters moving about, the High Lords will not allow themselves to stay idle.” She stated. “They will come, they will respond to Hell’s march.”

“If that is the case…” That same counsel pony muttered. “Would it not be best to simply ally ourselves with Heaven.”

“Of course not.” The Empress stated. “The ‘Angels’ have a morality that is completely alien from our own. Their idea of ‘helping us’ - ‘saving us’ is through the use of a purifying flame that burns away all they turn their gaze upon.” The mare hissed. “They are not our allies, they are as much an enemy as those we call ‘demons’.” The mare paused as she took a breath. “Besides.” She looked at the mare. “Do not forget, our goal is to not only break hell, but heaven as well.” The mare stated. “That is why I’ve been having us prepare for the last two eons. So we may be ready when we choose to break the backs of both the High Lords and the Dark Masters.” The entire chamber fell silent as they took in her words. Seeing as her words were sinking in the mare turned her head to look at someone else. “I want a message sent through to all channels. As of this moment the empire is at war.”