Author's Note

Before reading this story, I'd highly encourage you guys to read my previous story 'Discord' if you haven't already, because some terms and plots will be confusing because this is somewhat of a sequel to 'Discord'.

Prologue: The Curtain Rises

The wind howled within the dust blown into the air, swirling into the vortex and fading into the emptiness.

14 DEC. 2033 DESOLATED AREA IN THE BADLANDS

"The Badlands is a place that has been scorched, not only by the Sun but by the traumatic aftermath of two wars that could only be defined as devastation. It's quite rare to find anycreature that is willing to spend their days here unless they're motivated by...

Wealth.

Power.

Desire.

Or perhaps... Peace."

A figure sat on a very old and crumbed-up-looking seat, a hood over his face as if the speaker was purposely avoiding being recorded. Right next to his seat is a guitar, the surface of the woods is of course, scratched due to the amount of wind and dust, yet the strings remained tight, as if its owner had been polishing it every so often. The voice of the figure sounded relaxed, or perhaps he just accepted a fact that he'd denied all his life.

"You know, somepony like you is the last type of pony I'd expect would be showing up on my doorstep." The figure chuckled a little, facing the camera, "So, mind stating the business?"

The pony behind the camera is revealed to be a young stallion, in his early 20s, with glasses on and a very stereotypical white-collar shirt, of course. with a coat covering almost his entire body, from his dressing, it's not hard to tell that it's this stallion's first time in the Badlands.

"Ah yes, uh, I'm Filmshot Photocraft, a journalist working under the New Equestria Daily," The young stallion stammered a little in the process as if he's speaking to a figure that either he would've never had the chance of meeting with... Or with fear, "Recently I've been working on a project that involved the topic of the Inter-Draconian Conflict."

The figure's head raised upon hearing these phrases, "Oh? I thought stuff like this that ended a decade ago already faded from the public?"

"Well, it would've if the documents were incorrect."

"Documents?"

My parents lived through the Second Draco-Equestrian War, and my grandparents survived the first. My father was a fighter pilot and so was my grandfather, so flying runs along my family. As a colt, I'm always into history, especially the most recent one; It's not a war, although it would've become another one.

A decade ago, after the end of a devastating war that tore apart the Dragonland, came a conflict that nearly became the spark of another war which would've become, the end of everything...

The Inter-Draconian Conflict.

Now, 10 Moons after the end of this conflict, documents of the details of this conflict were finally released, and I quickly got hold of it using help from a source that I will not speak of both for the safety and privacy of the source provider.

The reason for my curiosity and obsession with this conflict is something I noticed within each report, No matter what perspective was it written from, or whoever wrote it, they all share one thing in common. A name that sent fear deep into his opponent's heart and admiration through his colleagues.

Acheron.

The River of the Dead.

A pathway for the souls to enter the underworld, to be judged by the Lord of the Dead.

This name is what ultimately brought me to the stallion I'm interviewing.

He was called by the nickname "Discord', he once fought alongside this 'Acheron'.

Both "Discord" and "Acheron" were known as the 'Twin Masters of the Sky', but after the end of the Inter-Draconian Conflict, "Acheron" mysteriously vanished into the river of history, lost to the world since then.

Despite the missing puzzles, "Acheron" still pulls my attention, and with some help, I was able to find each member of the once fearsome Egret Squadron of the dissembled Mikiro Mercenary Armed Force, these members scattered across Equis, living their new lives.

Now, I just need one last piece of the puzzle.

"Oh him? Heh heh," 'Discord' chuckled, "You found the right creature then. Find yourself somewhere comfortable to sit, it'll take a minute."

"It was a hot and dusty day, the kid came from the IPF (International Peacekeeping Force), at that time, us mercenaries never really liked these guys, and of course, we had a test for him..."