The Glorious Sun

by xCRAZYxFACEx

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Crossover, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 12946

The flame of Equestria is ending, and the Royal Sisters have disappeared. Waking up in the Crystal Empire, Thunderlane must piece together what happened to Equestria, and discover what he can do to fix it.

There was nothing before the flame.

But with the flame, came disparity.

With disparity, came light and dark.

Chaos and Harmony.

The first flame is dying, and with it, so will Equestria. Because with every flame, comes a shadow. And the greater the flame, the deeper the shadow. The fire will fade. It is inevitable.

The only choice is when to extinguish the flame.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-07-09 17:06:22 UTC

Prologue

The past of Equestria is obscured by time. The most ancient of beings can only remember to an age where the land was gray, and everlasting dragons dominated the land. In this eternal twilight, there was no death, no growth, no decay. It was time immemorial, and history had no meaning.

But one day, the sands of time began to flow, and there was disparity. The first fire was ignited, far below the ever-watchful gaze of the dragons. From this fire, the first souls of equinity emerged. There was the Light, and the Dark. Chaos, and Harmony.

Light, the brightest of the four souls, was claimed by the elder of three sisters, and she came to harness the power of the sun, and fire.

Dark, the most intangible of the four souls,  was claimed by the second sister. In time, she wielded the power of the night, and the shadow.

Harmony, the calmest of the four souls, was claimed by the third and youngest sister. She wielded the soul carefully, discovering wisdom and patience.

It was the youngest sister that suggested they split the fourth soul, Chaos, between them. She realized Chaos would require careful supervision in order for its power to stay in check. But before they could do so, a cunning everlasting dragon interrupted them. He claimed the soul for himself, oblivious to its true potential.

As He touched Chaos, His form was rent asunder, and He became a monstrosity born of pony and dragon kind. The dragon was marked, His body and soul tarnished. He was Discord, the first demon.

The youngest sister collapsed, the essence of her soul shattered by the brash dragon. Harmony both shared and derived its power from Chaos, and as the dragon was ripped apart to form a new being, so was she. Earth, Air, and Magic; the base elements of the world. The young sister became the first of pony-kind.

With their sister gone, the two remaining sisters were forced to collaborate with the abomination, and he with them. It was decided that the remains of the youngest sister would be spirited away, so that they would withstand the coming fight. Together, the three beings, brandishing the power of gods, fought and overthrew the everlasting dragons.

Celestia, harnessing the strength of her sun, smote the dragons with fire and brimstone; their scales were sundered, their skin blackened.

Luna, collecting her darkest magics, overwhelmed the weakened dragons. Their eyes were blinded, and their senses dulled.

Discord, with his trickery and knowledge of his brethren, spread death and disease, utilizing Chaos as only he could. He dealt the final blow, overpowering the depleted dragons.

Behind the three, the power of Harmony drove them, tempering their furious determination into a single, cohesive trio.. The sisters fought for those they had left behind; Discord, to sever the bonds of what he had lost.

The small creatures that held the shattered fragments of Harmony were quick and wry. They soon escaped their confinement, multiplying as they spread. They roamed distant lands, searching for a land to call home. They formed tribes, and from tribes, nations. They fought. They prospered. They grew.

When the three gods completed their task, with a mere handful of the weakest dragons left, they returned to where they had left their charges. The sisters were shocked to see their ponies had gone, and were left to grieve without the remains of their dearest sister. Discord, in his apathy, provoked the sisters. The three argued and fought, soon waging war over both the land they had won and the fate of the youngest sister’s remains. This schism lasted for centuries, with battles fought on and off for centuries. Without Harmony, the trio was doomed to a lengthy, bloody war.

The feud culminated with the imprisonment of Discord, frozen in the same everlasting stone that had once armored his brothers. The sisters, their victory hard won, spent years searching for the remnants of Harmony. They found the remnants in their self-proclaimed nation, Equestria. The sisters adopted their roles as leaders, embracing what Harmony had created in their absence.

The history of Equestria, as we know it, starts here.

----------

Following the banishment of Nightmare Moon and the events that followed, Equestria began to change. The fire that had fueled the gods’ power for millennia was fading, and the Royal Sisters struggled to find a solution.

Discord, once more accepted by the sisters, attempted to use his soul to recreate the first flame and extend their power. Alas, by its very nature, Chaos refused to be sacrificed. Instead of creating a new flame, Discord was once again rent apart, his body and spirit reduced to the basest of forms. With no recourse to save Discord, the sisters were forced to deliver his desecrated corpse to Tartarus, where he could do no harm.

With little time remaining, the Royal Sisters were forced to make a choice. Luna made the suggestion to wait and see what would come of the fading light. Celestia, in desperation, refused to wait for an uncertain future. In unusual rashness, Celestia traveled to the hearth of the first flame, leaving Luna behind. Upon finding the dull embers of the fire, Celestia used her own soul in a vain attempt to rekindle the dying flame.

She succeeded, but only just.

The world had been in an unsteady balance after Chaos and Harmony were remade. The imbalance caused by the destruction of three of the original souls wrecked havoc in Equestria, throwing the land into a fragmented twilight and destroying any concept of time - and so began the decline of the world, to its original state. Harmony, spread throughout the population of Equestria, was lost.

----------

It has been twenty years since that fateful day. Though, that is only what I have felt. Others have likely experienced centuries of this disconnected land, while others may just be waking to this nightmare. My own body has felt little of the ravages of time, but my mind weighs heavily on me.

My friends... I haven’t seen them in a long time. But it has been no time at all.

One day, I will find Celestia. I will fix this. Or I will hollow trying.

Chapter One

The cell was dark. Shadows covered the walls. The corners were filled with the remains of previous occupants, and the odd rat. The only light source was from the barred opening up above, high above the stone floor. The light threw the small room into a sharp contrast - the walls were old, and mossy, but they held strong.

The opening above seemed to mock the newest inhabitant, who was currently curled up on the cold floor. He sat there, unmoving. What little sunlight there was shone on his body. His body was thin, and emaciated. Small strands of electric blue hair hung from his head, and what remained of his tail was the same color. His skin was clearly visible between the patches of dark gray fur that had managed to stick onto his body. That skin was mottled brown; it was more appropriate for a decaying body than a living being.

Or perhaps not; the last thing the stallion remembered was a large sword flying towards his chest, and an instant of pain that dulled away quicker than he could blink.

He flapped his wings, trying to see what they could do. Unfortunately, they were just as decayed as the rest of his body. Taught skin covered these limbs, with the majority of his feathers missing. Sighing in defeat, the stallion looked up at the small window, wishing he could still fly. He wondered what he had done to be put into such a poor condition.

Time passed slowly for the stallion; minutes grew into hours, hours into days. That same light persisted throughout, never ceasing, never fading. He wondered if he had gone insane. After several moments of thought, he realized that could very well be the case. Before he could take his thoughts any further, though, he heard the shuffling of armor and labored breath. The stallion looked upwards, his eyes widening in surprise.

A body fell through the window, smacking into the ground in front of the dark coated stallion. He looked upward, wondering who had interrupted his imprisonment. Astonished, he saw a milky brown face peer at him from beneath a metal helm. The pony above nodded once, then moved onward, his slight build covered by sturdy armor.

The stallion in the cell moved forward cautiously, approaching the dead body. A faint glow ensconced the body, and the stallion’s eyes were drawn to a metal chain around the body’s waist. A grabbed it, and he realized it was a key chain with a single key. Hoping beyond hope, he rose and staggered to the door, pressing the key through the metal bars and into the hole on the other side. After a second of struggle, the key slid into place, and a small click could be heard.

The stallion pushed the door outward, free from his imprisonment. He walked forward, a long hallway in front of him. He was cautious, side stepping ponies that were in a worse state than even he. They were mindless, or seemed very near so. Their cries and moans were disconcerting, more proper for a beast than a rational being. Shuddering in strange horror, the stallion found a staircase that led upwards.

After a brief climb, the stallion found himself in a courtyard, enclosed by the same stone from below. There was a large wooden gate at one end, and there was a small pile of ash in the center, pierced by a small sword. The stallion regarded it curiously, wondering why there would be a sword embedded in the ground. He nudged it with a hoof, and recoiled. The sword was blazing hot, and glowed a dull red. The stallion’s interference stirred the flame, and a small red flame flared to life at the base of the kindling.

The stallion wasn’t sure why, but he felt safe at that moment. A sense of calm washed over him. He jerkily kneeled down and rested on the sparse grass near the bonfire. Warmth spread through his body, and many of his aches melted away. He sat there, basking in the fire’s warmth. It was only when he shifted that he noticed a bright glint in the corner of his eye. Looking down, a small pendant lay on the ground, its chain rusty and a faint picture on the inside; it was eroded to the point where he was only able to make out the general shape of a mare.

The stallion picked up the pendant, inspecting it closely. There was a small note on the side opposite the picture. He unwrapped the ripped paper carefully, and read it.

“-while you’re gone. I know that the Princess is drafting all eligible stallions for the guard, but that doesn’t change how I feel about this ridiculous war. Please, I don’t want you to come back boasting a minotaur’s horn; just come back safe. I love you, Thunderlane.”

The stallion squinted at the writing, and felt a pang in his heart. The writing had been covering a picture; it was of a dark coated stallion, with an electric blue mane. He tucked the note back in and hung the pendant over his head, letting it rest against his chest. His thoughts drifted to his own identity. He remembered nothing, save for how his life had ended. It almost seemed ridiculous: how could he be alive, if he had already died?

Standing up, the stallion decided he had spent more than enough time resting. He moved to the gate, and pushed it open with what strength he could muster. After a moment’s exertion, he had opened it far enough so he could walk through. Stepping through, the stallion gaped at the sight before him.

A large tower, composed entirely of crystal, captured his immediate attention. It stood high and proud above the surrounding cityscape. The sky was a light gray, and the surrounding mountains were speckled white and black. The streets closest to him were blocked off by debris and mounds of dead bodies. Stepping forward, the stallion noted that one of the bodies was not, in fact, dead.

It was the same pony that had helped him escape from his cell. The same armor, same slender build. He was bloodied, and had collapsed near one of the debris mounds. The stallion rushed over, unsure of what to do. His savior raised his head as he approached, then spoke softly.

“Ah... hello there. I had hoped you weren’t hollow. It appears I was unmistaken. My name is Pipsqueak... I came here for a purpose... to find someone. But, as you can see ... I don’t have long to live. I suppose I failed in that regard. But you...you can carry on the torch. Hear me out, will you?”

The stallion stood still as a memory jogged in the back of his memory.

Pipsqueak... he’s a friend, of my - brother. Rumble. Pip was so small, but this stallion is so... old. What happened?

The undead stallion nodded. “Of course, just... tell me,” he said raspily.

Pipsqueak wasted no time. “I came here, to find a stallion named Thunderlane. No doubt he’s hollowed, but ... he’s the older brother of my friend. He asked me to find his brother while he tried to find a way into Canterlot... and so here I am, bleeding out in the Crystal Empire.” Pipsqueak coughed loudly. “Please... find him. He must be here somewhere, I know it. All those that died after … after the Light, have been brought here. Please, find him, and tell him his brother is looking for him.” He coughed again, blood dripping from his mouth.

The stallion stood straight and took a step away from Pipsqueak. That name... That picture was so similar, and we both have a little brother... I think I’m who he’s looking for.

“I - I’ll tell him. I’ll find him, and help. Is there anything-?”

Pipsqueak shook a hoof at him. “No, no... no. I’m done for. There’s no time, and I would hate to harm you after I hollow... Please, take this.” He reached for something in his pouch, and pulled out a dull green flask. Pipsqueak shoved it into Thunderlane’s grasp, who took the offered flask, inspecting it closely.

“That there is an estus flask. The bonfires will provide you with estus - it will heal any injury you may endure. Incredibly useful. A shame I ran out when those hollows came by...”

The older stallion nodded gratefully at Pipsqueak. “Thank you. I’ll find your friend, er...”

“Thunderlane.”

Thunderlane flinched. “...Yes. I will find him for you, or … uh ... I will die trying. Right. Farewell.”

Thunderlane stood up and walked away from Pipsqueak, hoping he would never have to see the poor colt again.

Pipsqueak’s voice carried over the stale air as he walked away. “It’s not death you have to fear, friend. Your sanity is much more important.” Thunderlane shivered.

Thunderlane continued along the street, making his way to the center of the city. The Crystal Palace loomed over him like an ominous guardian. Most buildings had collapsed, blocking any alternate routes. That suited Thunderlane fine; he was making decent progress regardless.

He had found what looked suspiciously like an old table on the ground, but upon picking it up he felt several straps on the underside. After fiddling with the old planks for a minute, he had managed to sling the straps around his left foreleg and pull it up. Secondary straps attached the shield to his back, ensuring it wouldn’t slip to the ground as he walked. Testing out the makeshift shield, Thunderlane found he could simply plant his left leg into the ground in front of him, and the old wood provided a solid barrier against enemies in front of him. Glancing around, he found what he guessed was one of the legs of the table. Picking it up, he realized it was surprisingly hefty; it would serve admirably as a club.

I’ll be forced to walk on three legs if I fight, but that shouldn’t be too hard. Just need to practice not tripping.

Working through the motions, Thunderlane eventually became comfortable with the act of holding out his plank shield and makeshift club. Trotting along, he came across one zombie - whom he easily beat aside. The next zombie was holding a broken sword in its mouth, which Thunderlane was barely able to deflect before driving his club into its skull. The next encounter, though, surprised him.

He had traveled most of the distance to the center of the city, where the Crystal Palace loomed over him. To his consternation, there was a group of three zombies right next another sword driven into an ashen mound. Two held broken swords, like before, but the third held a bow. As he slowly approached, Thunderlane saw the bow pony look at him and, in an amazing feat of dexterity, stand up on two legs and draw the bow. Thunderlane caught a glimpse of the zombie’s hooves - they were covered in strange, glowing gauntlets. That was all he saw before it released an arrow, hitting Thunderlane straight in the shoulder.

Howling in pain, Thunderlane was almost blindsided by a rushing attack from one of the sword wielders. He blocked its attack, delivering a firm blow from his club to put it down. The zombie’s companion had snuck up on him, and managed to get several slashes in before Thunderlane jumped back a foot. Panting, he jumped forward, striking the zombie as it recovered from its flurry. At that moment, another arrow hit his leg. The limb seized up, Thunderlane grunting through the pain. Turning to his foe, Thunderlane saw the bow wielder trot away, enraging the stallion.

Doing his best to sprint, Thunderlane managed to catch up to the cowardly zombie, catching its tail in his teeth. It stumbled, not expecting to be stopped. Thunderlane took the opportunity to strike with his left hoof, pinning the zombie down, and then bringing his club down on the back of its head.

With all of his opponents dead, Thunderlane collapsed, exhausted beyond measure. His vision was blurry, a creeping blackness encroaching on its edges. Shaking his head, Thunderlane could only think of one thing. Estus. I need estus. Reaching into a sack he was using to carry his few belongings, Thunderlane grabbed the green flask and brought it to his lips. After a second, he realized nothing was flowing out. Empty. Damn... need to get... bonfire...

Thunderlane limped to the embedded sword, panting in agony. Roughly knocking the flame to life, he held out the flask, not knowing what to expect. When the flames touched the flask, the dull green disappeared in a flash of gold. Thunderlane swirled the container, feeling the contents slosh to and fro. Without hesitation he threw his head back and drank his fill. He gagged when the viscous fluid hit his lips, but the momentary disgust was swept away when he felt glorious relief. Looking down, Thunderlane noticed that not only had his injuries been partially healed, the arrows had been forcibly shoved out - at worst, it seemed he had only suffered bad scratches.

Happily exhaling, Thunderlane sat down, willing to ignore what remained of his maladies - until they were completely swept away too. The pegasus looked at the small fire in awe.

The bonfire heals one fully... and the flask captures its essence? Why has this never been thought of before?

A radical thought gripped Thunderlane’s mind. Standing up, he held up his club and extended a hoof in front of him. Taking a deep breath, Thunderlane swung the club with his full might at his own hoof. There was a sickening crack.

“AAARGH!!! Ah, ah, ah!” Thunderlane panted, grimacing at what he had just done. His hoof was limp, the skin and bone underneath crumpled in a way that looked and felt horrible. Strangely, though, there was no blood. A chill running down his spine, Thunderlane sat next to the fire again, hoping his hypothesis was correct. A moment later he was justified. A small groan escaped his lips as the muscles and skin reformed, another crack ringing through the air. An itch, and then relief. The broken hoof was completely healed.

Well... never doing THAT again. But, I was right, the bonfires and the estus flasks heal me up perfectly.

Thunderlane stood up. He looked down the street ahead, making sure no more zombies were in sight. With nowhere else to travel, Thunderlane walked down the street, approaching a large gate that seemed to lead to the Crystal Palace. Pushing it open, he found himself in a large arena-esque courtyard. The surrounding streets were all blocked off by debris and metal bars - the gate he had walked through seemed to be the only entrance.

“Damn... I knew I should have fixed up the gate before resting.” Thunderlane’s ears swiveled, hearing a somewhat gravelly voice above and in front. Looking up, he saw a large, white unicorn stallion with a navy blue mane stare at him. The unicorn held a large halberd with his magic, and Thunderlane’s eyes widened when he realized the weapon could easily skewer him.

With a leap, the unicorn landed in front of Thunderlane, swiveling the halberd with a practiced motion. He addressed Thunderlane directly.

“Get out of here, hollow. You seem a bit more... lucid than the rest, so take my advice, and go back the way you came.”

Thunderlane smacked his lips nervously several times. “Uh... listen, I just want to know how I can get to Canterlot. I’ll leave right away, just... tell me? Please?”

The unicorn narrowed his eyes. “The Crystal Empire was sealed by Celestia’s magic to make sure the undead didn’t spread. You’re obviously undead - I’m not letting you leave.”

“...Wait. Who’s Celestia?”

The unicorn sighed and shook his head. “Right. Decomposing does stuff to your head. For your information, Celestia is... was, our regent. I’m the Captain of her guard, Shining Armor. As such, I’m charged with making sure all undead interred here remain here. That includes you.”

Thunderlane gaped at Shining incredulously. “Wh-why would she do that? Aren’t we her subjects!?”

Shining Armor stepped forward, lowering the halberd so it almost touched Thunderlane. “Yes. But for the good of Equestria, and for your own good, you may not leave. Turn back, or I will take any measures necessary to make sure you stay in your place.”

“What!? No! Listen, I need to find my brother! He’s in Canterlot, just let me-”

Shining Armor shoved Thunderlane back with his halberd, sending the pegasus sprawling. “That’s my final warning. Leave.”

Thunderlane couldn’t believe his ears. I’m being held against my will. What kind of government does that? No... I’m not letting him do this. He stood back up, holding his shield in front of him.

“I’m not leaving.”

Shining Armor took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “Fine. But make my job easier and don’t come back when the bonfire revives you.” Stepping back, the unicorn tensed his muscles and held the halberd with a firm magical grip. He jumped, swinging the halberd at Thunderlane.

Thunderlane put up his shield at just the right moment, but the sheer force of the blow staggered him and cut him on his side. Gasping, Thunderlane tried a counter-attack, bringing the club to bear on Shining.

The strike connected, but Shining was hardly fazed. Grunting, Shining thrusted the halberd, and completely pierced Thunderlane’s side. The pegasus screamed, but Shining ignored him, lifting him up with the halberd, then throwing him aside by flicking it.

Thunderlane was tossed several meters, and hit a wall. He collapsed, his breaths ragged and halting. His vision fading, he saw Shining Armor roll his shoulders before walking to the center of the courtyard. There was a small statue of a heart there, which Shining rubbed absentmindedly with a hoof.  “Damn hollows...”

Thunderlane laid his head down, too tired to keep looking. Breath in... breath out...

There was darkness.

Chapter Two

The stallion gasped, air filling his lungs in one painful stroke. Rolling onto his side, the stallion looked about, wondering what had just happened. He stood up and stretched, listlessly thinking of what he should do.

Why am I carrying a bunch of wooden planks and the leg of a table around?

Without any hesitation, the stallion dropped the two tools. It was only when he started to move did he feel something brush against his chest. Looking down, he saw an old pendant dangling around his neck. Curious, the stallion opened it up.

Thunderlane...

Thunderlane collapsed onto the ground, the memories of what had transpired mere minutes ago flooding back in.

Did I really just die and come back to life? For a secondtime!?Dear, uh... Celestia, yeah, dear Celestia, what is going on? What should I...

Thunderlane looked up and grimaced, breathing in calmly. The quiet blaze of the bonfire next to him crackled suddenly.

Rumble. I have to find him. And that guard, Shining Armor, is blocking the way out. I need to find a way to get past him, or to beat him.

Thunderlane looked forlornly at the discarded shield and club.

I’ll need something more substantial than that. Let’s see...

Picking up his weapon and shield again, Thunderlane explored the street, running into the same number of zombies he had killed before. Killing the undead ponies was much easier this time around, and Thunderlane was easily able to avoid their lethargic movements. His confidence growing, Thunderlane moved along the side of the street, looking for anything that could help him.

A broken store window caught his attention. Carefully stepping across the broken glass, Thunderlane peeked inside, searching for anything that could help.

Nothing. Drat.

The only thing left was a door that had been left partially open. Pushing it aside, Thunderlane found himself in a narrow alley occupied by a single zombie. The undead pony noticed him and gargled, holding up a rusty dagger. Thunderlane sighed and readied himself.

Damnit, not another one. I’m getting tired of these bastards. Come on and take your beating already...

The zombie was more than happy to comply. Dashing forward, the zombie made a motion to slash into Thunderlane. Rather than try and merely block, Thunderlane decided to take a proactive approach; he bashed forward with his plank shield just as the dagger struck. The zombie was dumbstruck, the dagger almost falling out of its hoof, and its body poised precariously to the side.

Thunderlane was surprised, to say the least.

Huh. Aggressive defense. I like it.

Wasting no more time, Thunderlane took advantage of his opponent’s vulnerability. Raising his right hoof up, he slammed the club into the side of the zombie’s head, sending it sprawling to the floor. Not finished with his foe, Thunderlane then raised his club again and smashed it into the zombies skull.

Good. Nowhe’s dead.

Thunderlane explored more of the alleyways behind the store, now casually batting aside his opponents with his new found technique. Minutes passed as he searched for something, until a beam of dull sunlight caught his eye.

That’s another street. Let’s see...

No zombies were on this particular street, but there was an old police station right in front of him. Thunderlane smiled in delight.

Great! A police station should hold at least something for the officers; maybe I can find something a little less haphazard.

Stumbling inside, Thunderlane quickly found his way to the back of the station. Once there, he couldn’t believe his luck: there was an armory, and the door appeared to be unlocked. Thunderlane rushed forward.

In his haste, Thunderlane was blindsided by a sword, which he managed blocked at the last second. Looking at his attacker, Thunderlane realized that this zombie was much better equipped than his previous foes. The zombie was clad in an iron vest and helm, and was wielding a straight sword and metal shield.

Jumping back a few feet, Thunderlane debated what he could do.

If the gear’s any indicator, he’s at least trained to fight. I gotta step carefully...

The zombie dashed forward with frightening speed, thrusting with his sword. Thunderlane side stepped with inches to spare, and then swung his club. There was a loud clang as the club struck the metal plating on the zombie’s side.

The zombie gargled loudly as it bashed with its shield in a counter attack, sending Thunderlane sprawling to the ground. Grunting, he stood up as the zombie swung with its sword. With no time to dodge or block, Thunderlane was forced to take the blow, and he felt a long gash along his chest. Snarling in anger, Thunderlane brought up his shield just as the next swipe came in. The zombie recoiled, not expecting to hit solid wood.

Thunderlane took advantage of the lull in combat to jam his club into the zombie’s face, who howled with pain and stepped backwards. With yet another opening, Thunderlane swung his club at the zombie with the entirety of his weight. With a sickening smack, the zombie collapsed on its side, too stunned to move.

Noticing the movement of his opponent’s chest, Thunderlane gritted his teeth and bashed his club several times onto the zombie, until it finally stopped breathing.

Panting, Thunderlane shakily walked back to the armory, where he found a longsword and shield similar to the ones the armored zombie had been using, only less beat up and rusty. Thunderlane had no similar luck finding armor, and he didn’t think he would be using the zombie’s armor in it’s now mangled state. He inspected it to be sure.

Yup. Not going to be using this anytime soon. Huh, what’s...

There was a nametag on the bent iron. Thunderlane read it out carefully. “Scrapper.” The corners of Thunderlane’s mouth firmed up in a frown.

“I’m sorry, Scrapper. I guess... we both had a life once.”

Standing up, Thunderlane paced to the door of the police station and took a swig of his estus flask. With new gear, Thunderlane struck out for the gate where he had encountered Shining Armor.

Locked.

Thunderlane glared at the gate, now stubbornly refusing to budge underneath his weight. He pushed it, bashed it, tugged it, even swung his sword at it once or twice. Nothing would open it.

Thunderlane heard a voice from behind the gate. “I’m not letting you back in here, hollow! The only reason you got in last time was because a group of hollows knocked down all of the barricades! Now beat it!”

Thunderlane growled in anger, but there was nothing he could do. While Shining Armor grunted, putting the barricade back together, Thunderlane mentally explored his options. Looking up, an idea came to him.

The roofs.

Going back through the storefront, Thunderlane found a set of stairs leading to the second floor, and then the rooftops. Using numerous makeshift paths on top of the buildings, Thunderlane was easily able to find his way to the top of the gate.

The top of the gate held a small room with large, spacious windows - all broken.

A guardhouse, or watchpost. Makes sense.

Stepping in, Thunderlane inched closer to the window that faced the inside of the makeshift arena, and the underside of the Crystal Palace. A gargle graced his ears.

Flinching, Thunderlane spun around, only to see a pathetic looking zombie sitting in the corner. It lolled its head around, as if wondering who or what Thunderlane was. Raising an eyebrow at the seemingly tame zombie, Thunderlane made a shushing noise, after which the zombie dropped its head and laid silently on the floor.

Huh. Well, whatever works.

Thunderlane turned his attention back to the open window. Peering over, he could see Shining Armor working on the gate, gradually stacking up heavy planks of wood against the side of the gate.

Sensing an opportunity, Thunderlane waited until Shining Armor was directly below him, then jumped down with his sword pointed down.

He collided with the unicorn, digging the blade straight into his back. Shining Armor yelled in pain before lighting up his horn, magically blasting Thunderlane off of him. Thunderlane righted himself from the unconcentrated blast, while Shining Armor struggled to stand back up, blood dripping all over him. Shining glared at the smug pegasus in front of him.

“Think you’re so damn smart, huh? I’ll kill you again and again until you learn to stay away, hollow!” With a bellow, Shining Armor grabbed his halberd telekinetically and stabbed at Thunderlane. Thunderlane raised his shield, taking the blow much easier with a real and very solid shield. The halberd raised again, now trying to slice downwards. Thunderlane rolled to the side, then ran forward. Stabbing forward, Thunderlane managed to pierce Shining Armor again as the unicorn struggled to recover his halberd.

Shining Armor punched Thunderlane, sending the smaller pegasus sprawling once again. Shining Armor was faring much worse, now bleeding copious amounts of blood from his chest, back, and belly where the blade had punctured all the way from his back.

Thunderlane was ready to end the fight, and waited for Shining Armor to make his next move. With anger and a tint of fear in his eyes, Shining swung low with the halberd, hoping to catch one of the pegasi’s legs.

It was to no avail - Thunderlane jumped forward and flapped with what remained of his wings, just enough to both dodge the halberd and swing at Shining Armor. The blow connected, and Shining Armor screamed as his horn was lopped off.

Thunderlane was moving again as soon as he hit the ground, his lungs burning furiously as he thrust the sword up and into Shining Armor. The unicorn stood still, shaking in pain and disbelief. As Thunderlane withdrew the sword, Shining collapsed, his breath ragged.

Thunderlane stood over him with a remorseful look.

“Why couldn’t you just have let me pass before?”

“Because, , because that’s my job. I s-serve the Princess, even in her her absence. I... h-how did you...?”

Thunderlane shrugged, then firmed his mouth. “I’m sorry, Captain. But, I need to find my brother, at any cost.”

Shining Armor glared at him. “You think you’re the only pony who lost someone in this chaos?”

Thunderlane stayed silent.

Shining Armor sighed heavily and rested his head on the ground. “S’no matter... Celestia... Twily... please, forgive me... I failed you both...”

Thunderlane waited several minutes until the unicorn’s breath faded. After a moment, Thunderlane saw something wiggle its way out of the cracks of Shining Armor’s plating, something pink and blob like. Thunderlane approached, picking up the object before promptly dropping it.

“What the-”  It’s warm, it’s breathing, and it’s creepyas all hell.

Thunderlane regarded the strange creature, which was now looking at him with wide eyes, with confusion and apprehension. It had stubby little wings which fluttered for a second before petering out, and the creature seemed to gasp for air for several seconds. Looking around, Thunderlane had no idea what to do with the bizarre insect-fluffball. Shrugging, he picked it up and placed it into his bag, unwilling to leave it but unsure of what to actually do with it.

The pegasus, now free of distractions, stepped away from the body of his opponent and treaded to the statue of the heart underneath the Palace.

Thunderlane glanced around, wondering just how defeating Shining Armor allowed him to go to Canterlot - he was still in the middle of the city, and there was no obvious means to leave. He approached the statue, wondering why Shining had looked at it so peculiarly earlier.

Thunderlane grazed the statue, growing curious. At his touch, the heart lit like a beacon, and an engraved message showed itself on the glowing heart.

Peace and Harmony for All

Thunderlane had but a moment to read and understand the message before there was a loud crack and a blinding flash of light. He could hear a loud hum vibrate from above, something he almost felt more than heard.

The Crystal Palace radiated brilliant light before sending a pulse of energy into the air, and cackling energy formed underneath where Thunderlane stood. With a ray of light shooting into the sky, another pulse of light flashed upwards before the glow of the Palace faded. The thrum of energy dissipated gradually, leaving the cold winter of the north lifeless once again.

Below the palace, heat radiated around the statue of the heart, its unearthly glow and odd engraving gone, along with the pegasus standing next to it. Only the bleeding body of a tired and faithful guard remained in the makeshift arena.

Chapter Three

(A/N: If you finished the last chapter before this one was published, go back and re-read from the start of the battle with Shining. I made one small but crucial change. Hope you enjoy!)

The air over Ponyville rustled and swayed, a thrum of energy passing through the area. Birds started to fly and squirrels and chipmunks hid in fear. Suddenly,  a burst of light broke through the clouds and hit the outermost edges of the town, sending a shockwave of sound over the town and into the forest. An aged red drake lifted its head, sniffing the air from the unexpected disturbance.

“Hmm... Fresh meat.”

On the outskirts of Ponyville, Thunderlane gasped as he was suddenly deposited onto a grassy knoll. Excess warmth left his body as the light beam dissipated, leaving him dazed and displaced several hundred miles south.

Groaning, Thunderlane stood up and peered around. What immediately caught his eye was the dainty cottage right in front of him, in stark contrast to the gloom he had been subject to moments before. As he looked about, more of his surroundings became clear: Thunderlane could see a small stream near him, chicken coops near the house, and numerous trees all around - though there appeared to be a forest right behind him.

To his eye, the setting seemed idyllic - but after a moment, he noticed subtle clues that not all was well. The grass was alive, nowhere near dead, but it seemed far duller than it had any right to be. If Thunderlane had to put a word to it, he would say that the grass was depressed - and that said nothing of the trees and general atmosphere. The trees were gnarled and twisted, possibly suffering from years of poor sunlight or water. And the sound; Thunderlane flicked his ears, listening for any hint of movement. Nothing. No chirping birds, no scampering rodents. Only the sound of running water and a strong breeze.

Thunderlane stood there, absentmindedly grasping his pendant. He looked down at it momentarily before sighing.

“This is... Fluttershy’s cottage. Fluttershy. I wonder if she’s still here. In... Ponyville.”

Thunderlane glanced to his right, the outline of a village plain as day.

“I used to live here. This town. But... everything seems so different from what I remember. Maybe I can find some answers here.”

Thunderlane walked up to the cottage, debating if he should enter. Settling on a compromise, he knocked twice and called, “Hello?” After no response, he opened the door cautiously. Inside, he saw a small bonfire crackling away, and he carefully stepped inside. He was immediately greeted by a gruff voice.

“Oi! Who are ya, and what’re you doin’ in here?”

Thunderlane looked to his right and saw an elderly stallion, somewhere in his sixties if he had to guess. The stallion had  a light gray coat with a dark brown mane, though numerous gray hairs were popping through. Said stallion was glaring at him, and was waiting for a response.

Thunderlane coughed in surprise, then muttered, “Uh, my name’s Thunderlane. I was just... looking for someone.”

The elderly stallion continued to glare at him before barking out, “Bullshit. I knew Thunderlane, and he’s been dead fer decades.”

Thunderlane stared at the stallion, his mouth agape. “W-What!? No, no, wait. What’s your name, uh,  sir?”

The stallion regarded him carefully, no longer glaring, but keeping a close eye on him. “M’name’s Truffle. I’ve been living here for close to sixty years, so I don’t know what kinda trick you’re trying to pull by saying you’re Thunderlane. Cuz you’re not.”

Truffle. Truffle...  “You were one of my little brother’s friends. Rumble, right? I’d pick him up from school every day, and he’d be playing or talking with you and Pipsqueak, sometimes Featherweight. But... you’re an old stallion now.” At this point Thunderlane paced around the room, his breath hitched. “Wait, wait, I’ve been gone for sixty years - dead? There is just no way-”

“Stranger.”

“-way that I could have been dead that long and suddenly been brought back to life. It’s impossible. Hell, resurrection itself is-”

“A-hem?”

“-is impossible, this is all crazy! Celestia, why is everything so fu-”

“THUNDERLANE!”

Thunderlane stopped pacing and sat down, his heart pumping and his mind running at a million miles an hour. He looked at Truffle incredulously. “What?”

“Thunderlane, calm down. Yes, that was a long time ago, but I’ve seen stranger things happen. Believe me, it’s not too far-fetched. Now, I still have my doubts about ya, but I’m willing to set that aside for the moment. Ya calm yet?”

Thunderlane nodded his head slowly.

“Good. I should probably fill you in on what’s happened since ya died. Whatch’a remember?”

Thunderlane racked his brain for a moment before looking back up at Truffle. “...Not too much. I remember dying, I think it was by a sword. There was also a war, which I was apparently enlisted into. I think I may have also had a wife, or a girlfriend. That, and my little brother.”

Truffle nodded sagely. “Right. So, next to nuthin’. Let me fill you in: That war you mentioned? About sixty years ago, there was a war between Equestria and the Minotaur tribes up north. Things had been wonky with the sun and the moon, and minor catastrophes started to pop up. The sun would sometimes stay up for more than twenty four hours, before suddenly plopping down for an hour of nighttime. Happened the other way ‘round, too. We never knew what we’d get. Played havoc with the crops.”

Thunderlane grimaced, only imagining what it would be like to live under those conditions.

“So, we had problems with the sky. There was also minor scuffles here and there in Equestria, but nothing too bad. But, outside? Volcanos long dormant would erupt. Freak storms would approach and wreck havoc, despite anyone’s efforts. Earthquakes, daily.” Truffle’s eyes darkened. “Cerberus even left his post at the entrance to Tartarus. Demons started to trickle out an’ roam the land. Bad times. Very bad times.”

Thunderlane was silent for several seconds before he asked, “So, how did that spark a war?”

Truffle was only too happy to reply. “The minotaurs were both angered and fearful at what was happenin’. Their shamans foretold the end o’ the world. They blamed Celestia and Luna for purposely messing up the daily cycle - though they were apparently doin’ their damndest to keep the sun and moon in check. So, without warning, the minotaurs gathered up their war bands and invaded from the north. The villages they found were flattened in hours. They had a steady march comin’ down, and it took every ounce of the guard’s strength to stop ‘em. It wasn’t long before the guard and the reserves were depleted fighting ‘em. That’s when the draft started.”

“That-That’s horrible! What the hell were the minotaurs thinking, that it was Celestia and Luna’s fault? That by invading they could force them to do something?”

“Huh, that’s exactly what they thought. Nuthin’ like fear to make a pony - or a minotaur - reckless.

“...So, what happened next?”

“Like I said, the draft started. Stallions and eventually mares were pulled out to train and join the fight on the front lines. That’s what happened to you.”

“...And?”

“We got the news you were killed in action two weeks after you shipped out to battle.”

Thunderlane paled.

Truffle scoffed. “Relax, ya wuss. You’re alive now, aren’t ya? Well, granted, for a given value of ‘alive’. Anyway, we had bigger worries back then. The war went on for years, and the catastrophes kept gettin’ worse. Discord tried something odd up in Canterlot, apparently tried to fix everything, and there was a loud explosion that you could hear for miles. Canterlot was half in ruins from it. From what I heard, he messed up so bad that the Sisters were forced to banish him to Tartarus - he was simply too dangerous. And, it only kept going downhill from there. The frontlines... they kept getting pushed back farther and farther south.”

Truffle paused, collecting his breath. He was silent for almost a minute, glancing around the cottage nervously. Sweat ran down the stallion’s neck as he took ragged breaths. Another minute passed.

“Ahem... uh, Truffle? What happened then?”

Truffle glared at him. “I was gettin’ to it, ya fool! It’s just - it’s damn hard to think back to that day.” Truffle sighed. “The frontlines were pushed back all the way to the mountainside underneath Canterlot, pretty much grazing Ponyville. I was old enough to fight then, and so there I was - thrown into my first fight. The largest battle Equestria has ever seen.” Truffle paused, his breath shaky.

“It was bad, Thunderlane. There was, blood, screaming... limbs, just scattered about... the roars of minotaurs, the cries of ponies... Terrible. I don’t - I don’t know how I survived it.” His voice cracked on the last word, and he looked down ashamedly, cradling himself with a forehoof.

Thunderlane looked down awkwardly, unsure of how to comfort the old stallion. Minutes passed as the elder stallion sobbed silently. It was a long while before Truffle was able to take a deep breath. He wiped his eyes with a fore hoof and sighed, his composure restored.

“So... Three days of absolute hell on Equestria. On the third, Celestia disappeared. At least, that’s what I heard. On the frontlines, no one really noticed. But that was when the sun stopped moving entirely. And when I got back the day after... no one in town was quite the same.”

Thunderlane had a dozen questions in his mind, and he spoke the first one on his mind. “So, who won?”

“We did,” Truffle declared. “But we lost a lot of good ponies. Speaking of - don’t head north.”

“Why?”

“The ghosts.”

“...Ghosts.”

“Mm-hmm. Restless spirits that couldn’t find peace after the battle. Minotaurs not so much - they live to fight, and see death as the ultimate glory. They’re fine with dyin’. But lots of ponies died during the battle that weren’t able to say goodbye to loved ones. From what I’ve heard and seen, anyone that heads into the old battle ground is swarmed by lonely ghosts. Presumably, they’re torn apart. And if they don’t come back from a bonfire... well, there’s not much worse than goin’ hollow where the ghosts can grab your soul and make ya one of ‘em.”

“Okay... what about Celestia, and Luna? Actually, who is Luna? Did she rule alongside Celestia?”

“Yeah, she did. S’pose ya wouldn’t, since you didn’t mention it. But yes. Luna controlled the moon, Celestia the sun. Co-rulers. When Celestia disappeared, the sun couldn’t move. No one to control it, and Luna was apparently unable to do it. Something tells me Celestia is still alive, in Equestria, because otherwise Luna would have taken that responsibility. But, whatever. It’s a moot point - Luna disappeared a year after that, too. No one knows what happened to either of ‘em.”

“Right... what about the minotaurs?”

“They retreated after that last battle. Haven’t seen one ‘round these parts in years. Not like we could reach them anyway.”

“Why not?”

“Because of the ghosts, ya dumbass! Geeze,  listen why don’tcha... They’re pretty much overflowin’ in the valley where the battle was. You’d have to take a railcar to Canterlot, then hop off to trek through the mountains up north. Or, go through the mountains to the west, then head up north. No point going through the valley - you’ll just die.”

“Wait a sec, you said railcar to Canterlot?”

“Yeah. It’s broken though. Magical problem or sumthin’. Need it to keep it running, since a pony-pulled train is impossible nowadays. You’d also need the magic to keep out the ghosts, otherwise you’re just a meal on wheels.”

“How could I fix it?” Thunderlane was now riveted to Truffle, intently curious on how to reach Canterlot.

“Um, well, ya’d need a magical sumthin’ to fix it. Listen - I’m not an expert on that. Maybe ask Twilight Sparkle, if she’s still hanging around. Or you could head to the Town Hall, see if the Mayor left something in her office. If those aren’t options, you could always head south to Ghastly Gorge, where all the squatters are. See if one of ‘em has the know-how, as long as they all haven’t hollowed.”

“Wait, you’ve said that before - hollowed. What does it mean?”

“Hollowing? Hell, you should be pretty intimate with it, friend. It’s when you die and lose your equinnity. You end up looking like a zombie and smelling like a damned corpse. And if you lose the will to live - well, good luck on restoring on your complexion, along with your equinnity.”

“How do you restore it?” It wasn’t a question - it was a demand.

“You get equinnity by scrapping around for it, finding a parasprite, or - Celestia forbid - steal it from another sane undead like yourself by killing ‘em. After that, sacrifice it to a bonfire and purge yourself in the flames.”

“What’s a parasprite?”

“Oh, right. They look like little puff balls, colorful, kinda cute. They used to fly and eat anything they could get their mouths on - even ponies - but now they mostly just roll around and be lazy. They can’t reproduce like they used to neither, so all the food that goes into making another is just stored up into fat, making ‘em lazy. So, no point in holding onto ‘em to try and breed ‘em.”

“A parasprite... like... this one?” Thunderlane pulled out the small pink insect thing he had found on Shining Armor’s body.

Truffle inspected it carefully, looking over its puffy body. “Yup. That’s a parasprite. Great, now just smash it on the floor and use the bonfire.”

Thunderlane gawked at Truffle. “Wait, what!? Did you just say to smash it on the ground?”

“Or crush it. I’m not too picky on how you say it or do it.”

“Wha- bu- wha- No. Just... just what the hell are you talking about?”

Truffle frowned at Thunderlane. “Well how else did ya think you were gonna get the equinnity? By petting it and givin’ it kisses? Just smash the damn thing and be done with it!”

Thunderlane put the purring fluff ball back into his bag and sealed it tight. “Um, no. I’ll get equinnity another way.”

“Pff. Do whatever you want, ya wuss. Not my fault if you hollow out there,” Truffle scoffed at Thunderlane. “Now, are ya gonna stand there like an idiot, or do ya have more questions?”

“Well... uh... what do you know about a unicorn named Shining Armor?”

“Shining? Sure, I know about him. He’s Twilight’s brother, the Captain of Celestia’s guard, and co ruler of the Crystal Empire alongside his wife, Cadance.”

Thunderlane grimaced, trying to soothe his guilt over killing the well-meaning guard.

Even if he did act like a jerk.

“Okay... and what’s the Crystal Empire? Where is it?”

“To the north. It acted as a refuge for ponies that wanted to escape the war down here - sort of our last bastion of peace. Unless the minotaurs wanted to travel through the Northern Wastes, they weren’t even gonna get close to the Empire. ‘Course, after a while, the graveyards in Canterlot and other towns were filled. They started to send the bodies up there, where they wouldn’t be desecrated. Lots of mass burials there.”

And guess where I woke up...

“What about now?”

“Haven’t had contact in years. Not like our government really exists anymore, but there ya go. The rails went through the valley anyway, so they were likely torn up during the battle. And, without anyone able to go in and fix ‘em, or even check to make sure they’re still there, it’s a deathwish to try and take a railcar up to the Crystal Empire. Seriously, don’t try it, friend.”

“Alright. I think I only have a few more questions. I came in here because I know the mare that lives here. Fluttershy. Do you know her?”

Truffle nodded sagely. “Yup. She’s upstairs, probably thinkin’ or drinkin’ some tea. She won’t talk to no one now, not after the battle.”

“Wow. She must eighty now, or something like that.”

“Nope. She looks like she’s in her mid-thirties, but don’t let that fool ya. She’s older than I am by a good amount.”

“Huh? How?”

“Hell if I know. Ask Twilight, she’s the one that’s been studying this damn perpetual sun and curse for the past sixty years.”

“I know that the sun stays still now, but what does that have to do with aging?”

“Like I said, I don’t know. Stop pestering me already, will ya? Just go ask her if you’re so damn curious.”

“Right. One last thing - Is there anything in the forest? I was thinking of heading in there for-”

“HAAAAHAHAHAAAA!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!”

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow at the stallion’s outburst. “Um, what’s so funny?”

Truffle wiped an eye in mirth, still chuckling. “Hehehehe... boy, that was funny! Listen up: ya wouldn’t last two seconds in there. It’s just as much a deathtrap as the valley.”

“Let me guess: a wild assortment of beasts that would love to make me their dinner?”

“Nope. All the manticores and timberwolves were driven out. Notice how I said that the valley was overflowin’ with ghosts? A good number of ‘em decided to make the forest their eternal home. Somethin’s drawing ‘em in. The old ruins, if I had to guess. So, with their bloodthirsty nature, naturally they’ll kill anything that steps a hoof in there. They literally killed the forest - nothing but trees and shrubs grow in there now. Sorry, but you’re pretty much stuck here in Ponyville, friend.”

Thunderlane sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Wait... I’m sitting?

Thunderlane glanced and confirmed he was sitting - he was even holding a mug of what looked like tea. Evidently he had been so engrossed in conversation that he hadn’t noticed when he sat down and Truffle offered him a cup. Thunderlane had yet to take a sip of the now cool liquid. He hastily slurped it down.

Truffle guffawed. “Heh. I was wondering when you would drink it.”

Thunderlane grinned wryly. “Got distracted. You’ve thrown a heap of stuff for me to juggle, and now I’m wondering what I’m going to do.”

“Well, you sounded like you wanted to head up to Canterlot. That right?”

Thunderlane nodded.

“Okay. Then head to Twilight’s Treehouse and see if there’s somethin’ there. If not, go to the Townhall and find Mayor Mare’s office. Just watch out for the hollows - they tend to make travel a tad... difficult, ya know?”

Thunderlane grimaced as he set down his cup. “Tell me about it...”

“So, why you so dead-set on gettin’ to the mountain? You’re riskin’ a lot going around at a time like this, when there’s hollows everywhere. Hell, Canterlot might be a deathtrap for all ya know. So why?”

Thunderlane looked down for a moment, debating whether he could tell the stallion.

A moment passed in silence.

Another moment passed.

“I think I’ll go and see Fluttershy now, see if she’ll open up to me,” Thunderlane said before standing up and heading to the stairs. Truffle watched as the younger stallion walked off. A droll smile lifted his face.

“Heh. Dumbass.”

Thunderlane knocked on the closed door softly, wondering if he should even be interrupting Fluttershy. He admittedly didn’t know her too well, but it would be nice to see a familiar face that wasn’t one of his brother’s old friends or a bloodthirsty guard.

The door creaked open with no effort. Stepping in, Thunderlane immediately saw Fluttershy’s yellow coat. She was sitting on her bed, looking out the window, presumably to Ponyville. The town was a decent distance away, and had an even more distinguished outline from higher up. Thunderlane looked out the window for another second before returning his attention to the butter-yellow pegasus. She was currently facing away from him, and hadn’t reacted to the open door at all.

“Hey... Fluttershy? Hello?”

Thunderlane walked to the side of the bed, looking curiously at Fluttershy. “Fluttershy? It’s me, Thunderlane. Do you remember me?”

Fluttershy’s face held no emotions, no indication that she even heard him.

Thunderlane half frowned, unsure what to do. “...Hello? Can you hear me?”

Fluttershy closed her eyes and tilted her head down. Before Thunderlane could do anything, she looked up again and barely glanced at Thunderlane, a mournful look plastered onto her face. Thunderlane recoiled a bit, not expecting such a look.

I wonder... it must be the dead skin...

“Listen... it’s not that bad, Fluttershy. As soon as I can get some equinnity-”

Fluttershy emitted an almost inaudible “eep” before facing away from him again. She stared out the window, apparently done with her one-sided conversation with Thunderlane.

What the hell did I say? Did I offend her? Is she...?

Thunderlane could see some light reflect off Fluttershy’s cheek; there was a single tear.

Thunderlane grimaced, slowly backing away from the bed. “Uh... sorry, Fluttershy. I guess I’ll... head on out, now. Um... nice seeing you. Yeah... Bye.”

I can’t believe she didn’t say so much as a single word. I mean, yeah, she’s quiet and timid all the time, but she should know me well enough to not be nervous around me! Well, sixty years... and, now that I think about it, she still looks pretty young...

Thunderlane sighed, closing the door behind him as he walked back down the stairs.

“So, no luck talkin’ to her, huh?”

“Nope.”

“Heh. Don’t go feeling sorry for yourself. Or her, for that matter. She’s been like that ever since the battle under Canterlot started. Haven’t heard a peep from her since.”

“Right.”

“Mm-hmm. So what now, mister walking corpse?”

Thunderlane glared at Truffle, who was smirking. “I’m heading to the Treehouse. I’d imagine Town Square is filled with hollows, so it would probably be easier to get there first.”

“Okay. Well, see ya later.”

“Wait, what?”

“Ya seem to like saying that a lot. Are ya going or not? Ya look like ya have everythin’ ya need, and you’re only wastin’ your own time by waitin’ around. So, are ya going?”

Thunderlane shrugged. “I... guess I am. See you around, Truffle.”

“Uh huh.”

Thunderlane left the gruff stallion and the bonfire inside Fluttershy’s house. Once outside, he pointed himself in the direction of Ponyville and set off, intent on finding Twilight’s Library.

Hell of a way to start finding my brother...

Chapter Four

Thunderlane ducked as a wave of fire narrowly passed over his head. Hitting the ground, the stallion crawled his way alongside the collapsed wall he had found himself hiding behind. Another stream of fire hit the opposite side, heating up the air - and Thunderlane - considerably. Sweat dripped down the pegasi’s brow as he curled up, waiting for the blast to stop so he could move again.

I wonder how I ended up in this situation...

The wave of fire ceased. Thunderlane jumped up from his now crispy wall and dashed for the gutted building fifteen feet off to the side. A roar pierced the air, and as Thunderlane crossed through the doorway and dived to the side, yet another wave of fire blasted through the doorway. Thunderlane waited until the fire was gone before sprinting to the back of what he now recognized was an abandoned house. A rumbling voice called out from behind him.

“Keep running, squirt! You’re just making it fun for me! Hahahaha!! I haven’t had someone put up so much of a fight in years!”

Thunderlane was almost to the doorway in the back before he heard the crunch of wood being snapped and torn apart. Looking back, a large red claw destroyed the front half of the first floor, the walls collapsing inward and flaming splinters speeding through the air. Thunderlane took a tentative step towards the door before an even louder groan shook the house. All of the front support beams and columns snapped, causing the second floor to lean to the front of the house before crashing down completely.

Thunderlane threw himself at the far wall, trying to avoid being crushed. His luck held - the far wall had yet to be scratched, though the stress from the collapsing building ensured it wouldn’t hold for long. With dismay, Thunderlane noticed that the door he had been running towards was crushed and blocked by support beams.

I think I remember now. Lots of running, fire, laughter. Lots of destroyed buildings, too.

The stallion feverishly looked around, trying to find any path back outside. Aside from the destroyed side door, his only options were to go back to the flaming, debris ridden front entrance and risk being killed, or to head up the now crooked staircase to the second floor. With only a split second of hesitation, he ran up the stairs.

“GRAAAH!!! As soon as I get out of this tinder pile, I’m crushing you!”

He’s certainly a charming individual.

Thunderlane paused at the head of the stairs. Amazingly, no windows could be seen on the second floor. Thunderlane screamed in frustration, “Who the hell doesn’t have windows on the second floor!?”

The collapsed floor in front of him shifted in response to his yell. The leaning wood floor lifted up for a second before slamming down again, sending another flurry of wooden slivers at Thunderlane. He raised his shield up, deflecting the majority of the wood. When he dared to peek over the shield again, a large, red reptilian face looked up at him, smoke wafting up from its nostrils.

Thunderlane readied his sword, knowing this would be his only chance at retaliation, and possibly to escape the rapidly disintegrating house. He roared in defiance, leaping forward and driving his sword downward.

Fucking dragon.

Twenty Minutes Earlier...

Thunderlane trudged along the path to Ponyville. He hadn’t encountered any enemies, but he was tired. Years of neglect and overgrowth made the path more akin to an animal trail than an actual road. Ten minutes passed before he walked across a bridge and entered Ponyville proper, and he was mildly shocked by what lay before him.

The town appeared to be near abandoned. The majority of houses were run down and boarded over. Grass grew to prodigious heights all around, and weeds sprouted from every crack in the walls. Even worse, it appeared that most of the inhabitants had lost the will to continue living - dozens of hollowed ponies roamed the streets, mindlessly searching for food or a scrap of equinnity.

Thunderlane methodically carved his way through the town, blocking the attacks of the former residents and slicing them with his sword. He encountered few problems; most of the hollows did a pitiful job of attacking Thunderlane. There had been one exception, though.

Thunderlane found himself cornered by three spear-wielding hollows. They had their shields raised, and had managed to block all of Thunderlane’s attacks while wounding him heavily. Thunderlane backed up to the front of a house, muscles spasming from his wounds. “Come on...” he muttered. “Come on, already...”

The hollow on his right thrusted with its spear, and Thunderlane managed to duck and avoid the tip with inches to spare. The spear pierced the door behind Thunderlane, cracking the boards nailed to the front of the door.

Just as Thunderlane was standing up, the hollow directly in front of him charged, bashing him with his shield. Thunderlane took the hit hard, and both he and the hollow broke through the door. They landed with a thud, both disoriented from the fall and the shattered wood. Thunderlane was able to recover first, and managed to shove off the hollow before thrusting his sword into its head.

Standing up again, Thunderlane noted that his two remaining pursuers were running right through the door. He avoided the pair’s thrusts and managed to close a door on them, buying him precious seconds. He reached for his bag and grasped the the golden flask. He flipped open the top and took two swigs.

Its half empty... he silently commented as he stuffed the bottle back inside his bag.

The door he was hiding behind jolted from the hollows pounding on the other side. Thunderlane stepped away from the door, raising his shield in preparation for the two spear users. After three more seconds of battering on the door, they broke through and the first one charged at Thunderlane.

Thunderlane was ready for it, and knocked aside its spear before thrusting his sword up into its neck, instantly killing the hollow. His final opponent took advantage of the distraction to step to Thunderlane’s side and thrust. As soon as Thunderlane had withdrawn his sword from the hollow, his side was pierced.

“Damn it!” he cursed, stepping away from the hollow who had just injured him. The hollow thrusted with its spear again, but hit solid metal as Thunderlane blocked. Thunderlane swiped his sword quickly, cutting the hollow’s front hooves and chest. Staggering back, the hollow bumped into the wall and gaped at Thunderlane with an open mouth. Thunderlane didn’t hesitate to shove his sword into its chest, and ended the frantic fight.

Thunderlane stood in the room, panting for air. After a moment he took another swig of estus and was ready to move on, before he heard something scampering upstairs.

Stepping into the room that had stairs, he heard the same noises from upstairs increase before he heard a door open and heard someone come down the stairs. He was shocked to see a mare with a filly on her back, both evidently alive and sane. “Uh...”

“P-please! Don’t hurt us! Don’t - I won’t let you hurt my baby!” the mare shrieked, backing away from Thunderlane in fear. Thunderlane stepped back himself, surprised by the mare’s fear.

“Whoa, whoa! I’m not gonna hurt you, lady! You can leave if you want, I was just trying to get away from that bunch!” he answered back, pointing to the dead hollows near the front entrance.

The mare glanced at the dead bodies before setting her eyes back on Thunderlane, her breath fast and uneven. Without saying another word she bolted for the back of the house, and Thunderlane heard a door thrown open and the galloping of a panicked mare. He sighed and shuffled back to the front door. Stepping onto the street, Thunderlane was ready to keep moving before he heard something rumble from above.

Looking up, he saw a large red dragon fly overhead. Then he heard it take in a deep breath. His eyes widening, Thunderlane stumbled back inside the house just as a fireball struck the ground. The fire persisted for several seconds before most of it petered out. Looking back out, Thunderlane could see the dragon perched on the roof of one of the buildings on the other side of the street. It was looking down at him.

“Heh. You’re the first pony I’ve seen that’s tried to take cover from me in a long time. I like hunting, and it’s gotten boring over the years. So, here’s my offer: I’ll give you a twenty second head start down that street before I kill you. Or, stay in there and I’ll crush you and that house in tenseconds.”

The dragon narrowed its eyes at Thunderlane, a smirk forming on its face.

“Clock’s ticking, meat.”

Present time

Thunderlane drove his sword deep into the dragon’s snout. The dragon roared in anger and lifted itself up, sending most of the debris flying and collapsing what remained of the house. Thunderlane just held onto the sword, praying he wouldn’t fall off. As the dragon stood up, he became painfully aware of the fact that his wings didn’t work. The dragon was standing, and it seemed to only get higher and higher.

Eventually the dragon was standing straight up, its full height twice that of the houses below. Its eyes centered on Thunderlane, who suddenly felt like an ant. A second passed before Thunderlane slowly withdrew his sword and the dragon gritted its teeth. Another second passed in silence, the giant glaring at the pegasus standing on its nose.

...Shit.

The dragon roared, almost throwing off Thunderlane from the vibrations alone. Then, the dragon lifted up a claw and dragged it along its snout, trying to brush off the pegasus. Thunderlane jumped over the claw and managed to half walk, half crawl up to the dragon’s eyes. He gripped the scales on the dragon’s face as it shook violently, trying to throw him off. It paused and looked to see if it had succeeded, and Thunderlane took advantage of the pause. He leaned over and stabbed the red dragon in its eye. The dragon bellowed and quickly swiped at Thunderlane, who was smashed against the dragon’s face before a claw dug into his body and flung him off.

Thunderlane fell, his sword spinning away from him and his shield attached to him bodily only by its strap. The few seconds he was falling felt like an eternity, and he was too shocked to scream.

In the back of his mind, he thought, This is going to be a hell of a walk back to town.

Thunderlane closed his eyes and braced for the inevitable impact, but it never came. Opening his eyes, he realized he was hovering in midair. He looked at his wings, wondering if he had spontaneously fixed them, before noticing the faint purple glow ensconcing his body.

A roar rattled Thunderlane. He looked up and saw the dragon swipe at him, one of its eyes bloody and shut closed. Before the claw could reach him, a bright purple beam struck the dragon, knocking it and making it stumble. The dragon glared to somewhere behind Thunderlane before another beam hit his nose, making it yelp. The dragon widened its eyes before it took a step back. It thought for a moment and evidently decided to retreat, flying away while clutching its face.

Thunderlane sighed in relief as he saw the red drake fly off. He noticed he was being lowered to the ground at a steady pace, and he looked to who or what had saved him. He was mildly surprised to see a purple mare looking straight at him, her horn aglow and her demeanor one of bemusement.

She had said two words.

“Follow me.”

The thought of disobeying didn’t so much as cross Thunderlane’s mind, not when he was acutely aware of the fact that she could crush him in a heartbeat. He had no clue where the mare was taking him, but he followed wordlessly. The walk was peaceful, at the very least.

Several minutes passed in an awkward silence. Just as Thunderlane worked up the courage to ask where they were heading, they entered a large, open area in the city, and in the center was a tree. When Thunderlane looked closer, he saw windows, birdfeeders, and even a door.

“A literal treehouse?” he said to no one in particular.

“Yes,” came a response. Thunderlane shifted his attention back to the purple unicorn mare that was leading him. She had answered his question, and held a neutral gaze at Thunderlane.

“Oh. Uh...”

“Relax. It’s my house, and we’ll be safe in there.”

Wait, she lives there? Then-

“Is your name Twilight Sparkle?”

The mare at him curiously. “Yes. Strange, I don’t believe we’ve met before. Of course-” Twilight held a hoof to her chin and looked up in thought - “there are lots of ponies that know me, even nowadays...”

Thunderlane stepped forward and held a hoof out. “No, no, we haven’t met before. My name’s Thunderlane.”

Twilight shook his hoof cautiously. “Thunderlane? But I’ve heard that name before... if you’re a pegasus... huh.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Thunderlane asked, dropping his hoof back to the ground after the shake.

“The only Thunderlane I remember was the stallion that was sick the day Rainbow Dash attempted to create the tornado outside of town. But, that was years ago. And I remember his name was called out in the casualty lists not long after the war started... You’re him?”

“Uh... I guess?”

Twilight looked at him incredulously. “Wha-?? How!? It’s been twenty years since it ended! You should be dead, your body rotted!”

Thunderlane frowned at Twilight, holding his shield in front of him protectively. “Hey, I don’t know what’s going on right now. And my body isn’t that bad off - do I look dead to you?”

“You look like a walking corpse. Like every other pony in this town,” she deadpanned at him.

Thunderlane scoffed, “What? Those brain dead fools that attack anything with a heartbeat? I’m at least coherent, thank you very much.”

Twilight sighed. “Well, you have a point. What are-”

There was a moan from behind the pair. Thunderlane turned around and saw a hollow sprinting at them with a dagger. He threw his shield up, preparing for the hit, when a blinding shaft of light blew right past him. When he could see again, the hollow was gone. Thunderlane smelt a faint hint of ash.

Twilight spoke up from behind him. “How about we take this inside? Less chance of an interruption.”

“Yeah, let’s,” he replied, still eyeing the scorch mark that had been the hollow.

“So, Thunderlane, I was going to ask you what you are doing in Ponyville. You’ve been dead twenty years, and here you are, wandering the streets like a clingy ghost.”

Twilight and Thunderlane were sitting in her Treehouse, the walls lined with books and the decorations still cozy. The whole building harked to better times. At the moment, Twilight had just served tea and was questioning Thunderlane while they sat on opposite couches.

Thunderlane sipped his tea before answering. “I’m trying to find my brother. And last I heard, I was dead for sixty years, not twenty.”

“Sixty? But, it’s only been- oh.”

“What?”

“Who told you that? That you’ve been gone sixty years?”

“Some gruff old stallion named Truffle. Talked to him outside of town, at Fluttershy’s house.”

Twilight set her teacup down. “...Well, I knew him when he was a colt.”

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “But you don’t look anywhere near-”

“I know, I know,” she waved off with a hoof. “Listen. Time is convoluted here. In Equestria. Strange things happen, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“So... has it been twenty years or sixty?”

“Both. Neither.”

“...Huh?”

“It’s best not to question it. I’ve spent almost all of my time since the end of the war trying to find an answer, a way to fix it. Hah! And I have nothing to show for it!”

Twilight laughed grimly, her eyes pinned to floor. Her pained smile disappeared quickly, replaced with a morose frown. She tapped her hoof on the side of the couch, staring at the floor silently.

Thunderlane sipped more tea. “So...” he muttered, letting the word hang in the air.

“Pay attention to what time feels like to you. That’s all that really matters, in the end.”

Thunderlane swiveled his head, unsure how to reply to her comment. He stood up and slowly walked to the window, peering outside. He saw scarce movement outside, hollows both on the street and standing in front of windows in their own buildings. He stared for a long time, not thinking of the undoubtedly long journey ahead of him.

He heard the couch squeak from behind. There was the steady clop of hooves on hard wood approaching him.

“If you want to stay sane out there, to not lose yourself and become a lost soul in a sea of lost souls, you need to have a goal. Something to fight for. Without one... you might as well have let that dragon swallow you whole. So, do you have one?”

Thunderlane took in a deep breath, his eyes glued on the outside world.

“I’m looking for my brother. He’s somewhere in Canterlot. And, well, I have this pendant.” He absentmindedly toyed with the pendant around his neck. “Apparently, I knew someone from before. Someone close. I’m trying to find her too, but, my biggest priority is Canterlot at the moment.” Thunderlane glanced back at Twilight. “And you? Twenty years is a long time. What’s your goal?”

Twilight smirked and shook her head.

“I guess you could say I’m trying to find my own personal sun.”