Aidan:

I stood alone in the throne room while Colin and the others decided what to do at the moment. What a funny feeling death gives. Even when I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, I have the blood of a roomful of ponies on my hands. If I hadn’t made a promise I wouldn’t still be here right now. This would all be over a long time ago.

Prophet…

Need something?

How did you deal with it… all the killing?

I bottled it all up, just like you. Just knowing that it was for a good cause was enough to keep me going. Besides, I just couldn’t let the ponies I loved be harmed by the plague, and if that meant I had to go, then that’s what it meant.

It just feels so easy to give up… end all this suffering.

That wouldn’t do anything for the ponies, or your friends. Now’s not the time to be selfish, Aidan.

I suppose that makes sense, thanks.

Always here to help.

Hey, where did that gun come from, back at Canterlot?

I thought you made it. Anyway, there was always a gun in the end. You always died.

Always?

Every time... I just had to make sure this time it wasn't permanent.

Wait, you planned all this?

You wouldn’t believe how long it took, how many ponies I had to convince that the plague was real. Hell some of them even began to worship me…

Zecora?

One of them, yes.

Another thing that I’ve been wondering, who is Mendax? I asked, remembering the one who started all this mess.

A good friend, that best be forgotten now…

Why is that? I asked in response.

Our history wasn’t exactly perfect after my degradation. He swore to fix me, change me back into a normal human. After seeing the plague firsthand, I had other plans. He made it his mission to ‘help’ me. I wish he had seen the truth sooner, he might still be alive now... Then again, he might have been killed sooner.

Sorry…

I don’t hold it over you; he knew what was coming when he brought Dan here. I think most of all he just wanted things to be normal again, for us to be friends again. Prophet manifested into a humanoid form and walked beside me as we walked the halls. We never got along again after I changed… something about me was too different to care about him anymore. He always tried, but I never cared. He sighed as he looked upon the ruins of the castle. Even as gods we still die…

I couldn’t say anything to move the conversation along, so we just continued walking aimlessly. After a few minutes I thought, I’m sure wherever he is, he’s happy that we’re finally ending this.

Trust me, he is. All he wanted was to get another chance, just one more chance to fix everything. With you and Colin… he did. Prophet said as he faded back into the depths of my mind and went silent, leaving me to ponder our words.

Colin:

Discord, Iron Hoof, and I sat in the hall. None of us said anything, each contemplating the unfortunate events that unfolded for the guards. While I’m happy we’re all okay, they are dead now, and nothing will change that. Well, such is life in a war… Not that I know anything about being in a real war, but I suppose things are looking that way now.
I noticed Iron Hoof looking down at one corpse in particular: the only day guard to side with us. I had never seen Iron Hoof show any emotion deemed weak, but now he was looking down at the dead guard with a face of sadness, regret even. Maybe the life of a guard has been though on the guy, and it’s only now catching up to him. There were his allies after all.

Discord was leaning on a cracked pillar with arms crossed and a blank expression on his face. The Draconequus had done its share of killing, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed it. On top of that, the princess that converted him sent them to their graves like this. It pisses me off just thinking about it, I wonder what it’s doing to him.

I got up and walked into the throne room, which was empty, save the dead or unconscious. Life had changed from back on Earth, but now it was more apparent than ever. The three of us were good friends back on Earth, but not like now. Still, Aidan and Dan seem more distant, like a piece of them was left back there. Dan copes with it better, now that he has Luna. Aidan has no one anymore, just Prophet, and I still don’t know how good that is for him. I kept walking the throne room before I saw a certain guard. The poor pony was as young as they come, and Celestia sent them here to die.

After my six months of working with her and improving Canterlot’s defenses I regret it more than ever. Even after all the times we shared, and all I gave to her with little to nothing in return she still betrayed us. That tyrant needs to be removed. The wheels of war are turning… But there was one thing I learned about her: She knew far more about magic and Aidan’s latent power than she showed. Talking to her a few times I knew that Aidan’s magic could save the world, but could also destroy it. The plague aside, there is something else brewing in Canterlot. There is no way Celestia would prepare this much for that alone.

Dan:

The camp was assembled in silence. All we did was get sleeping bags and throw them on the cave floor. We avoided starting a fire because guards might still be on patrol. Another fight is the last thing we need, especially in the emotionally vulnerable state of the ponies. Also, I’m the only fighter here right now, and I don’t know how many I can take before one of the ponies gets hurt.

Before long we were all sitting in the cave, ready for sleep. Twilight and I rigged up a dim lantern out of an ice cage and a firework spell. The ice trapped the spell perfectly, preventing it from detonating.

“So what are we going to do now?” Twilight asked, mainly for her distressed friends’ sake.

“Get some rest, Aidan and the others will be here by morning. Then we can decide on the bigger problems,” I said, sitting against the cave wall next to Luna.

“How will Aidan get here?” Rainbow asked.

“I have no clue, but he will manage,” I replied.

“What if they got caught?” Applejack asked.

“Or killed!” Rarity added.

Before Pinkie had a chance to throw in something silly I sat forward. “Listen I know that there is no way those guards got Aidan. Didn’t you see him back in Canterlot, how he shrugged off Celestia’s magic? How could some ordinary guards catch or kill him?” I asked while rolling my eyes.

“Yeah, come on, guys! Aidan is like a super duper super pony!” Pinkie said excitedly.

I was a little surprised at her support of me. Usually I expected her to spout nonsense. “Thanks, Pinkie.”

The other ponies were satisfied with that and talked amongst themselves. I looked to Luna who was tired from being up for a long time, not properly getting to bed before being attacked in the ruins. She leaned on my shoulder and closed her eyes, falling to sleep quickly. I know how she felt; I worked night shifts a while back on Earth, sometimes my family kept me up for well over a day. She looked so peaceful, given our current circumstances.

Aidan:

After gaining no comfort in thinking to myself, I decided that it was time to see the others and plan our next move. In no time at all I was back at the throne room, where Colin was sitting on the steps with his head in his hands. “Hey man, you good?” I said.

He looked up, “Yeah, ready to get out of here?” He asked.

“Yeah, where are the others?” I asked.

“Still in the hallway,” Colin replied.

“Alright, come on, I don’t want to stay here all night,” I said while walking to the door.

Discord and Iron Hoof were talking quietly to each other in the hallway. Both of them looked up when Colin and I approached.

“Got any plans on getting to Dan?” I asked, not wanting to talk about the events that unfolded here.

“Can’t teleport us, your blast back there caused too much interference for complicated spells,” Discord said, stroking his beard.

“Well, I guess we have to walk then,” Colin said.

“Guess so,” I said, cracking my knuckles. I always do that when things are moving slowly, it’s a bad habit of mine, one of many. “Any objections to leaving now?” I asked.

“We can’t just leave the wounded here,” Iron Hoof said with a glare.

I crossed my arms, “Look, if you want to stay with them, be my guest. I’m not going to be here when more guards show up.” I turned and started walking with Colin in tow; I can always count on him to follow me. Discord looked to Iron Hoof for a second and started walking after us, while he liked Iron Hoof, he didn’t want to risk being found by Celestia.

“Sorry, Graymane, I’m with Aidan on this one,” Discord said before following.

Iron Hoof was left to himself, and like any clearly thinking man would, he turned to follow us, leaving the wounded and dead behind. With one final glance back, he vowed that he would get revenge…

I lead our group out of the castle through the cave below. “Discord, can you track Dan and Luna?”

“Oh yeah, they’re not too far off, actually,” He said as he sniffed the air before pointing, “That way.”

“How exactly does this ‘interference’ work?” I asked as I started to walk in the direction Discord pointed.

“Well, Magic is in all things in Equestria. In the trees, in the animals, even in the planet itself. You humans are naturally resistant to the magic, as a sort of self-defense. It can still affect you, if you aren’t ready for it, but with the attack we’re all a little on edge. Dan and Luna don’t absorb the magic in the air, leaving small pockets of… emptiness. It’s actually pretty easy to spot,” Discord said as he and the rest followed me in the general direction of Dan.

“That’s why Aidan shrugged off Celestia’s magic back in Canterlot?” Colin asked.

“Yeah, he was fully aware that time, so his resistance fully blocked that spell,” Discord replied.

My mind was still in military mode, “Doesn’t that mean that Celestia can track us?” I asked, maybe a little too bluntly.

“Unfortunately, yes. Whether or not she has found out that she can, I don’t know,” Discord said.

“Let’s hope not…” Colin said.

It was a short walk in relative silence for the four of us. Iron Hoof didn’t say a single word the whole time. I could just make out the reflection of my electricity on the front of the truck, which was parked in a cave. I looked about before entering; making sure no one was following us. “Alright, let’s get some sleep,” I said as I walked into the cave. I hadn’t slept in over a day now. With all the crap going on at the moment I found it hard to.

Inside the cave we found the mane six, Dan and Luna all sleeping. There was a dim light trapped in some kind of ice lantern. The four of us walked inside slowly, attempting to avoid waking our friends. Colin slumped down against one of the walls away from the other ponies, and Iron Hoof followed him. Colin and Iron Hoof quickly fell asleep – within five minutes of lying down. Neither I nor Discord could fall asleep.

“…What are we going to do tomorrow?” Discord asked, following me to the wagon. I checked that we didn’t lose any of our gear during Dan’s retreat.

“Probably go further south… I don’t really know anymore…” I said.

“How you holding up?” He asked.

“Heh… been better, you?” I asked.

“Well this is certainly something different from the run of the mill chaos I’m used to,” Discord said as he leaned on a rock. “What are you running from?” He asked.

My gaze turned to him, “Nothing, why do you ask?”

“You’ve proved that you can handle Celestia’s guards no problem… what is it that you’re not telling us?” Discord asked.

“Not telling you?” I asked.

"Yeah. You showed us yourself that Celestia can't hurt you. Why are we still running?" he asked.

"I don't want to hurt any of the ponies. I made a promise," I said while looking over the gear in the wagon.

"I know about your promises, there's more to it than that? Isn't there?" Discord asked.

I leaned on the side of the wagon. "Listen, you know I'm dying. Not even Prophet could help. Discord, you know more than the others; I know that. If Prophet can't help then that only means one thing," I said. "I can't have that... not now, not ever. You know what I'm running from..."

Discord's eyes opened wider, "But, are you sure? Can it really be?"

I gave a curt nod, "Best not tell anyone else. I don't need any more panic."

Discord nodded and the pair of us walked deeper into the cave to get some sleep.

ONE MONTH LATER

It’s been a ride since that night in the cave… Our little group of refugees started our journey to the southern tip of the world. While the truck would have been a great means of transportation it just wasn’t practical for our journey. Because we are on a different world, one without industrialization, the whole idea of a loud truck would give away our origins. By this time nearly everybody knows what happened in Canterlot… well, knows Celestia’s side of the story. She has made herself out as the victim and us as enemies of the country. Nearly any of the ponies we meet either flee in fear or attack on sight. Some, however, know the truth about her and want to help us; they are almost unseen though.

We’re still in Equestria, however, and haven’t yet met the southern border. I also should clarify; Celestia is the only one vain enough to name the world after her country. As it stands, there are the gryphons to the east, diamond dogs and changelings to the north, and dragon country to the west. In the south there is The Republic of Transients, more commonly called TROT, compromised of every race on Equestria. TROT was created by a group of freedom fighters who had escaped Celestia’s rule and managed to set up a colony far in the south. Word got out and that’s where other runaways went. TROT didn’t care where you came from, they accepted anybody. After years and years of governmental instability and tensions with the surrounding countries, gangs inside fought for power. Celestia jumped on the opportunity and started tearing down what was left of the government, bit by bit. The country has now devolved into a state of lawlessness, run by gangs and violence, drugs and greed. It’s where any person with a bad history with the law ends up in the end.

With what little conversation we had with the inhabitants of Equestria that didn’t immediately try to kill us or run in terror I gathered that Celestia turned into the tyrant I always knew she was. She completely controls everything in the empire now and isn’t forgiving to the ponies who try to fight her rule. Since our exile and subsequent flee from civilization she started a quarantine of the whole city to combat the plague. With all borders closed and the infection everywhere outside she was low on options. Small anti-empire groups wanted to remove her from power, as they should I suppose. Of course, there are rumors of a cure… but I think it’s too good to be true. I don’t think Prophet would have missed anything in his research, so how could some pony discover it? Hell, it’s probably just a scam to line some pony’s pockets.

THREE DAYS LATER

We got to the border today… As I should have expected Celestia’s troops were patrolling the borders. The border actually had a ten or so foot high wall with checkpoints every few miles. Whether or not construction of this wall was because of us or TROT I don’t know, either way this makes our job a whole lot more difficult. Our group waited behind some distance away from the wall, closer to a small village while Colin and I scouted the wall. Dan has grown quite close to the ponies, but more so to Luna. He didn’t feel comfortable when I asked him and Colin to come scout with me, said something along the lines of they needed protection. Luna still hasn’t discovered her own powers, which is annoying, but for now Dan can be the group bodyguard when Colin and I are away.

There were smaller groups of guards patrolling every few hundred meters and more at each checkpoint. If we were going to get past them, it was either going to be loud, or quiet. There wasn’t a chance at getting through the checkpoint so we would have to come up with something else. “Got any ideas?” I asked in a disappointed tone.

“Well, I can use my stealth blanket,” Colin replied.

“Nah, that won’t work,” I said while inspecting the guards. “They have dogs…” I said while pointing to the diamond dogs walking with the ponies. “We could just punch a hole through the wall.”

Colin scratched his chin, “Then the ponies wouldn’t be safe to follow. Who knows how many guards are waiting nearby? Prophet got anything?”

“Nope…” I said while continuing my observations.

“Wana head back, ask the others what they think?” Colin asked.

“Why not?” I asked in response before we turned and walked away.

After a few short minutes of walking, Colin and I were talking with the rest of our friends. “Ok… Here’s the deal. Guards are patrolling the wall, there are no gaps except checkpoints that are monitored tenfold and diamond dogs are accompanying the ponies,” I explained.

“What should we do now?” Rarity asked.

I sat down on a rock and covered my face with my hands, “I don’t really know; if we attack head on we put you in jeopardy, but if we sneak the dogs can track us.”

“Can we just teleport to the other side?” Dan asked.

“No, that wouldn’t work. The borders are magically sealed off. You can’t get past at any place other than the checkpoints,” Twilight said.

“Oh joy…” I said, shaking my head. “Wait… where’s Pinkie and Dash?” I asked.

“They went into town real quick,” Applejack said.

“Of course they did…” I muttered before I started walking to the village. “You all wait here; I don’t want to chance getting spotted.” I said to my friends before leaving.

Colin:

As Aidan walked away I couldn’t help but remember how things used to be, even just weeks ago. In these past weeks he has distanced himself from everybody, even Dan and me. Aidan is gone, has been for a long time now. It’s obvious that his mind is broken; I wish there was some way to get him back. I looked back to my friends, “So, what now?” I asked.

“We wait.” Dan said as he lay down in the frosted grass. It’s cold out now, winter is coming soon. Aidan says that we’ll be fine, but I’m worrying about the ponies. We don’t have the gear to survive in the cold for long, and if we’re going to the South Pole that just means we need even more clothes. That’s our story, overambitious and underprepared, quite the life this…

“And then?” I asked, at least hoping to form some kind of plan.

“You ask a lot of questions…” Dan said while sitting up. “You know Aidan will figure something out. Stop worrying so much, man!”

“Yeah…” I said as I sat down on the cold ground.

Author's Note

Hello everyone! Sorry for the long break. Just been a bit busy, and have some other things on my mind right now. (Mainly the future of this Fic) I planned for this to be a double length chapter, but it was just taking too long. I figured that it would be better to give you what i had written.