Armageddon: The War of the Gods

“Look at the slaughter. It’s as if he doesn’t even care.”

The screams of the agonized and the laughter of demons almost drowned out that statement. A man with a short, wispy black beard turned to who said it. He looked incredibly old; his face was wrinkled and he little hair on his scalp.

“Yes, it does look like it.” The man said, “Though we would expect as much from them.”

“Tell me, Hades,” his companion said, “Do you really think that they will destroy that planet just to get to Celestia?”

“Lucifer,” Hades turned to him, and nodded, saying, “We have quarreled with them many a time. We know how they will act when they invade.”

Lucifer crossed his arms. He wiped away the view of the destroyed city of Baltimare, and walked away from the fountain showing it. He was eager to find a way to fight both God and Celestia, but he needed to find the perfect time to strike.

“When do you think that they will both be at their weakest?” Lucifer asked Hades. “You know Zeus and the others more than I.”

“I cannot tell.” Hades responded. “We will need to watch closely.”

Lucifer nodded.

Hades looked at the only true companion he had in the Underworld. Lucifer had many forms, but when he was alone with Hades, he chose his true form. His true form was quite frightening. He was half man, half ram. Although he did not deserve to be called half man, as his skin was blood red, the fur very dark red, and had large ram horns growing out both sides of his head. His eyes were dark yellow, and showed pure evil. Hades saw those eyes when they were angry, and they were not something one would want to see in a dark room.

Lucifer turned to Hades, and said, “We must attack. We must. If we ever want to escape the Underworld and live as kings would in Heaven, we must attack in the midst of this war.”

“And we have everything ready.” Hades replied. “We only need to find the right time to strike.”
***

“Sister, oh big sister, thank the heavens you are alright!”

Luna nearly flew off of the throne to embrace her sister. She had stayed behind in Canterlot while Celestia toured. After Luna received word of the Baltimare disaster, she immediately told her sister she needed to come home.

“Luna,” Celestia smiled. “It is so good to see you!”

“I wish it were under better circumstances that you returned.” Luna frowned.

“Well anything is better when I have my little sister with me,” Celestia smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

“I guess you want the bad news then.” Luna sighed.

“Of course,” Celestia nodded her head, “Out with it, dear sister.”

“The Grand Assembly has called into question your ability to protect us, especially after what happened in Baltimare.” Luna explained, “There is a new party of representatives forming now, sister. These ponies are the radicals of the Assembly. They call into question every flaw you have, and some have called for your abdication!”

“That is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard!” Celestia cried. “After all that I have done for my people, these fat-bellied ponies in Canterlot, the epitome of fine living, might I add, have decided to cry foul at my failure to protect my subjects! If I did not have more important things to worry about, I would have them banished!”

“Yes,” Luna said. “We must try to keep the Assembly looking towards us with favor. It is the utmost importance after the military. We would not find it optimal to fight a cosmic invader if we are fighting a civil war!”

“Exactly, Luna,” Celestia replied. “We shall stay in Canterlot to keep the Assembly pacified while Shining Armor and the Elements prep the military. I hate to have them do it, but what else can we do?”

Celestia trotted out onto a balcony looking over the city of Canterlot. The city was still bustling, and life seemed to be going on as usual. Celestia could only wonder how long it stay like that.
***

“Dearest Twilight,” Spike read aloud, “I hate to put you in this situation, but I cannot go with any other option. There are talks of severe dissent among the Assembly representatives, and I must stay in Canterlot to quell their dissent. I ask you, your friends, Shining Armor and Princess Cadence to continue the touring of Equestria to inspect our military readiness. I detest staying in Canterlot to appease a few angry politicians and having you go in my stead, but, alas, I have no choice. Deepest apologies, Princess Celestia.”

“You mean we still have to travel?” Rarity complained, hurling herself onto a fainting couch, holding her hoof over her eyes to show her frustration. “Traveling is for me at all!”

“Quit your whining, Rarity!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she hovered above. “The Princess asked us to do this! How can we say no?”

“Exactly,” Twilight said. “I know we are all exhausted from the past three weeks, but we need to press on!”

“But Twilight,” Rarity whined loudly, “I can’t go on!”

“Will ya shut up for a second Rarity?” Applejack snorted. “We need to do this, no matter how tired or hankerin’ we are for a good bed, am Ah clear?”

“Crystal.” Rarity said sullenly, getting off the chair. “Where are we off to next?”

“Well,” Twilight said, grabbing a map of Equestria out from a pouch she was carrying. “We stopped in Baltimare before we had to come back here. I would guess that we need to go to Fillydelphia. After that, we leave the northwestern parts of Equestria. I would think that heading to Trottingham or Flankfurt would make the most sense.”

“At least we’re going to Trottingham.” Rarity pouted, “I would hate to go to Coltenhagen. Those ponies do not even know how to wear a hat correctly!”

“Alrighty then,” Applejack said, ignoring Rarity’s input. “When are we leavin’ for Fillydelphia, Twi?”

“Is tomorrow alright?” Twilight asked. “I doubt there would be a train leaving for Fillydelphia at this late an hour.”
The sun had set long ago over Canterlot. The shining capital of Equestria brightened the dark night sky and the valley below. From here, the Mane 6 could see Ponyville, their hometown. It had been so long since they had been there. Since Celestia addressed the Grand Assembly, they had been touring cities like Manehattan, Baltimare, Tampa Neigh and Neigh Orleans.

The six friends then walked into a restaurant that wasn’t too classy or expensive for them, even though Rarity said she needed to go to Chef Hoof D'oeuvre’s new restaurant. As they trotted inside the door, they found the atmosphere surprisingly joyous and drunk, given that Baltimare was almost completely destroyed only days before.

They stayed together as they got a table close to a radio giving the news. The Royal Equestrian Press, or REP for short, was broadcasting an update on Baltimare.

“The entire city was washed under a gigantic wave.” A female reporter said as Twilight listened closely, “While there a number of Pegasi terrorists that could cause such a disaster, Princess Celestia insists that it was the act of the divine invader she is so afraid of.

“’I have warned you all of what will happen once this divine force invades,’ Celestia said in a press conference just moments ago, ‘And now he has shown his hand. The entire city of Baltimare is underwater, and thousands of ponies lay dead in the flooded streets. I have dispatched thousands of emergency weather Pegasi to Baltimare, and they, along with aid from Princess Luna and the moon, are working around the clock to recede the waters back into the Equine Ocean…’”

“Twilight, hello, you there?” Rainbow Dash snickered, “Is anypony home?”

“Oh,” Twilight blushed at the embarrassment. “Sorry.”

“Anyway,” Dash said, “Are you going to order anything? I’m getting pretty hungry.”

“Oh.” Twilight looked down towards her menu, and read through the options. “I’ll have the spaghetti with a side of garlic bread and a cup of Manehattan Iced Tea, please.”

As the rest of her friends ordered their meals, Twilight tried again to listen for the news update, only to hear that it was switched to play some music. Twilight sighed, and turned back to her friends, and tried to join the conversation.

“Are we ever going home?” Fluttershy asked quietly, “I’m worrying about Angel. I hope she’s alright.”

“Well Ah better get goin’ back to the ranch,” Applejack replied, “Before it’s harvest time. Ah can’t keep on travelin’ across Equestria just to watch some soldiers march.”

“I think some of the soldiers are cute.” Rarity said, supporting her head with her hoofs. “There was this one in Manehattan who had the dreamiest dark blue mane…”

As Rarity drooled over the cute soldiers she saw, Dash rolled her eyes, and shook her head.

“So,” Dash said, changing the subject, “Will we be staying in the Castle tonight?”

“I’m sure the Princess will allow us.” Twilight smiled. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s asking us to do something huge for her.”

“Hey,” Pinkie Pie interrupted, rubbing her stomach with her hoof, “When’s our food coming? I’m hungry!”

“We know, Pinkie.” Applejack said, “Just let ‘em get the darn food out. It takes awhile to cook food, ya know?”

“It does?” Pinkie tilted her head. “It doesn’t for me.”

“Well you’re Pinkie Pie!” Dash exclaimed, “Do you really expect the laws of physics or something to apply to you.”

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie beamed, “That doesn’t happen to me!”

Pinkie then started laughing uncontrollably. While she was, two waiters arrived and dropped off their food and drinks.

While Pinkie ignored her food, the others dug in. It was delicious, especially after eating train food for three weeks.
As they ate, the Mane 6 exchanged small talk, avoiding the big elephant in the room. They needed a night off from saving the world for once. And it seemed like they actually might.
***

Zeus sat on his throne on Mount Olympus outside of the Kingdom of Heaven. He watched the golden gates he so desired, and grew green with envy at the shining jewel-encrusted buildings towered into the infinity that was space.
Next to him Hera sat on his right and Poseidon on his left. They had left the Kingdom a few hours before, and the Olympians were preparing their forces for war.

“Look at it, Poseidon.” He said, “It is magnificent, is it not?”

“Very, brother,” Poseidon replied. “Tell us, when will God be ready for the invasion?”

“He told me through Hermes that he has to break open a scroll or something.” Zeus answered. “He always was one for show.”

“He was when he took Olympus.” Poseidon agreed. “If only had attacked us in our prime...”

“He didn’t,” Zeus said, “He chose to attack when we were weakened. After that heathen Constantine converted, we lost most of our power. But, he is weakening as well. We are growing old without living believers. If he hadn’t ended his universe, we would still be in our prime!”

“If you resent him so, why pledge allegiance to him?” Hera asked.

“Because,” Zeus answered, “Either side with my enemy, or be annihilated at the hands of God! He only spared us because he relented!”

“You do have a point, brother.” Poseidon agreed. “But what if we turned the tables on him, and sided with Celestia?”

“No,” Zeus said, “I believe we should play along with God. Then, we shall make our move. Mark my words; I will be sitting on the throne of Heaven!”
***

While three weeks had passed on the planet Equus, only three days had passed in Heaven. God looked down onto the planet again, and focused on where Celestia lay sleeping. She looked so weak, so vulnerable. If only it was that easy!

“Lord,” his heavenly messenger, Gabriel, cried, “Michael returns with the scroll!”

“Good.” God replied, “I had no idea we had moved so far away from it.”

He watched his Archangel flew across space, the large scroll in his left hand. In his right, he held a shining gold sword that lighted his way back towards the Kingdom. The sword illuminated everything in sight, including supernovas, stars and even some planets.

As Michael approached the open-roof throne room, he knelt down. He raised the scroll up with both hands, and bowed his head. God took it with his right hand, and looked to his right side, where Jesus stood.
In front of him, stood Moses, Mohammed, Heracles, Achilles, Theseus and Perseus, looking onto Jesus, who now held the scroll.

“This action will begin our acts of hostility towards the sentient beings of Equus and their Goddesses, Princesses Celestia and Luna.” God declared, “Let it be known that the end of this civilization is at hand, and that Celestia will pay for her crimes.”

Jesus raised a blood-red knife, and put it in front of the scroll, which he held in front of his face. He moved the knife slowly towards the scroll, and carefully broke the first seal.

“Come forward.” God bellowed. In the floor in front of him, a dark blue haze materialized.

“Go now,” God ordered, “And deceive the Equestrians. I give you the righteous bow and crown, and the power to conquer. Let evil reign over Equestria.”

The haze disappeared from the throne room. All of the spectators, who had been kneeling, looked up towards God.

He stood from his throne, and exclaimed throughout the Kingdom, “It has begun!”
***

“Luna, are you alright?”

Luna had fallen onto the floor of the throne room in Canterlot Castle. Celestia and Luna had been leaving for a walk through the Royal Gardens, when Luna suddenly collapsed. The Royal Guard had descended upon her, and were trying to get her up.

“I, I feel ill.” Luna stuttered, “I believe I require bed rest. Excuse me, sister.”

She got up, and began to walk away. But then, she went to her knees, and this time Celestia galloped to her side.

“Luna!” Celestia cried, “Can you hear me?”

“Be silent!” The voice startled Celestia and shook her to her core.

Luna got up, only she wasn’t Luna. Her mane was dark purple, and flowed in the wind much like her sister’s. She was as tall as Celestia now, and her horn and coat was black as night. She frowned, and smirked at the sight of Celestia.

“Oh, is it not good to be in control again!” Luna cried, laughing at the end of her statement.

“You are not my sister!” Celestia exclaimed, dragging one of her hoofs across the dirt. “You are not Luna!”

“Right you are, Celestia.” Luna said, “I am Nightmare Moon! I have returned to conquer all of Equestria and make the night last forever! Never again will your wretched sun rise over the horizon again!”

At that time, lightning struck on both sides of Nightmare Moon. Two black Pegasi appeared, armed with swords. Their wings resembled that of a dragon’s, and their armor was dark purple. The most terrifying part about them though was the fact that their eyes were slit, much like a cat’s. They complemented their equally terrifying fangs. Since they were features of a pony, it made it that much scarier.

With that, the three ponies disappeared. Celestia remained standing there, frozen in fear.

The invasion of God had begun.

Tell me what you think! For clarification, the Equestrian cities are the real-world equivalents of Birmingham (Trottingham), Frankfurt (Flankfurt), Copenhagen (Coltenhagen), Tampa Bay (Tampa Neigh) and New Orleans (Neigh Orleans). Thanks to all the comments and favorites everypony! Next chapter: As the First Horseman possesses Luna and turns her into Nightmare Moon, how will Equestria react to this sudden catastrophe? Find out in the next chapter!