War for Ponytron

Chapter Three: Atop the Throne of Darkness

Database entry 03 from the log of Megatron:

The High Council is nothing but a gathering of fools! It is I who should’ve become the next Prime! Yet they chose the product of my tutelage, Orion Pax. Perhaps...I should say Optimus instead. Orion is but a child, an introvert who spent his life in the archives of Iacon. He possesses neither my strength nor my intelligence. In what way is he fitting of such a title?

I will show the Council the power of a true leader! Dark energon will fill this planet’s core. It will begin the countdown to the Autobots’ demise. I will be the harbinger of such demise. When the spark of Optimus Prime is extinguished by my hands, all will understand the wrath of Megatron!

End of log.

        The young Lunarcons, Snips and Snails, fumbled cubes of energon like newborns attempting to stack building blocks. The unbridled fury of Commander Trixie shone like the fury of a rust storm. Her blue finish, with streaks of pale cornflower blue and an even paler version of the same variation, were unorthodox among the Lunarcon ranks. The echo of her hoof tapping the floor acted as a constant reminder to the two that their performance was less than satisfactory. A cold chill went down everypony's spines as Nightmare Moon entered the room, bringing with her an aura of malice and general unpleasantness.

        Trixie’s optics shifted to their leader for an instance. Opportunity shined in her eyes. “Be careful with those, you ingrates! That energon is worth more than both your sparks combined!” ordered Trixie. “I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, will not allow such failures of soldiers to serve under our mighty Lord Nightmare.”

        “Yes, Commander Trixie,” said the two.

        “My loyal right-hand,” began Nightmare Moon, narrowing her eyes on the Commander, “do not forget which of us is greater and more powerful.”

        “Oh, yes of course, Lord Nightmare,” said Trixie. “I wouldn’t soon forget something of such importance.”

        “Yes, I trust you wouldn’t.”

        The Lunarcon leader sat atop a throne as black as her spark. Rusted heads of Solarbots rested atop spikes protruding from the seat of power. Defiant Lunarcons found their heads resting with those of their enemies. They served as a sign, to any who entered the presence of Nightmare Moon, that nopony is safe from her wrath. Not being a pony for regality, the room was not decorated with precious objects and jewels of any sort. Monitors and consoles adorned the walls of the heptagonal room. Nopony escaped the menacing gaze of Nightmare Moon.

        Rarity, the gleaming, white communications officer, entered the room. The purple spiraling down her backside matched the accents on the black walls of Lunus Omega. Snips and Snails dropped an energon cube. Rarity’s radiant beauty tended to catch the eyes of most stallions. Trixie snarled at the sight of her.

        “Ah my most trusted follower,” began Nightmare Moon, “have you word of the construction progress at Tyger Pax?”

        “Yes, that’s what I wished to speak with you of,” replied Rarity. “Preferably, away from undesired company.”

        “Surely, anything within your jurisdiction is of my concern as well,” retorted Trixie.

        “Surely, you should keep to what you do best. I don’t watch over menial labor in your stead. Such a place of authority is best suited for you, Trixie.”

        “Thank you. Wait...”

        “Enough!” shouted Nightmare Moon. Her deathly gaze struck fear in their sparks.

        “Apologies, my Lord,” said Rarity.

        “No apologies are needed from you. Trixie is at fault in this instance. Let us speak outside. Just the two of us.”

        Nightmare Moon followed Rarity out of the room. The glimpse of a smile from Rarity was caught by Trixie. She grit her teeth. The sound of yet another energon cube striking the floor penetrated her ears. She turned to see the two young laborers looking back at her. “I said be careful! I won’t take the blame for your screw-ups!”

The dome covering Lunus Omega depicted an endless night. A true monument to the darkness of the Lunarcons. Artificial stars reflected off the tops of towers. The entire city appeared as one big lunarscape. Blue lights acted as stars on the ground, illuminating the buildings and walkways in the city. Preparation for war commenced on the ground floor. A battalion of Lunarcons stood in formation, awaiting orders.

“What a lovely sight. The advent of war fills me with such delight,” said Nightmare Moon. “Now, what about Tyger Pax did you wish to speak of?”

“Before that, I’d very much like to ask you something,” replied Rarity. “Provided, you will allow it, my Lord.”

“Speak freely.”

“Why do you allow Trixie to hold such a role of power? Her brazen impertinence must worry you to some degree?” asked Rarity.

        “The lascivity Trixie holds for power grows ever more troubling,” replied Nightmare Moon. “I feel she will be relieved of her post at some point during this war. If only she gives me a reason. I am not, after all, entirely irrational in my actions.”

        “Permission to speak freely, my Lord?”

        “Granted.”

        “I feel that it would be best to remove Trixie at the first given cause.”

        “Oh, you needn’t tell me. I have plans for that one. And should she find herself without her position, the spot will be available to you.”

        “Thank you, Lord Nightmare. However, I feel my talents are best suited in the command center. I’m sure you’d have no trouble finding somepony else suited for the role.”

        “Now, Tyger Pax.”

        “Ah yes. Well, you see, the thing is,” began Rarity, “there was an attack.”

        Had Rarity not been watching her master, she would’ve been knocked back by the abrupt stop in Nightmare Moon’s gait. If Ponytronians could sweat, Rarity would be soaked. Naught but the corner of her master’s optics acknowledged her at this point. Rarity’s mouth formed the words she wished to say, but no sound came out.

        “Exactly how much damage was caused?” asked Nightmare Moon.

        “A single cannon, an entire energon stockpile, and a dozen or so casualties,” answered Rarity, her head lowered.

        Nightmare Moon bore her sharp teeth. Her rage welled up inside. “And how many casualties on their side?”

        “None, my Lord.”

        Nightmare Moon let out a shout of anger and drove her hoof through a walkway support, shattering it at its center. “How did the Solarbots get that far into the site without suffering a single casualty?!”

        “We believe they used the old tunnels to sneak past our defenses.”

        “Have Pinkie Pie seal off all tunnel access!”

        “But, my Lord, we use the tunnels to store excess energon.”

        “Yes, and look what good that’s done. Seal them off!”

        “Yes, my Lord. I’ll go give the order right away.”

        Once alone, Nightmare Moon remained on the walkway to gather herself. Nothing quite upset her like the insolence of her followers. She took flight and ascended to the pinnacle of her command tower. Atop it, stood a monument to the Ancients. Her one true inspiration, Megatron. During her time with Celestia, she learned much of the Ancients. She took a liking to the tactics of Megatron and his Decepticons. Tactics that she put into action.

        “I swear to you, Lord Megatron, the Solarbots will not have this planet,” she said, resting a hoof upon the statue’s fusion cannon. “When I extinguish Celestion’s spark, I will spread her energon across the lands as a tribute to your glory.”

        Nightmare Moon looked up to the dome above. “When this war is over, I will cast my endless night over all of Ponytron. Nopony will be able to hide from my watchful eye. My throne of darkness will extend to all lands! The courtyards of Canteon will be coated blue with energon spilled from the corpses of Solarbots, and in the center, our magnificence will be seen by all.”

        She locked eyes with Megatron. “As much as it pains me to say, I had hoped Celestia would side with me. She would have been useful in the command center. She certainly would’ve made a better commander than Trixie. However, I knew of her views towards the Decepticons. She claimed them to be vile, malicious beings. If only she could see you for your true glory. It was you who fought for freedom. If that foolish Prime that Celestia adored so much had joined you, there would’ve been no extinction. The Cybertronians would still live.”

        “And we would not exist.”

        Nightmare Moon turned to see a blue pegasus coated in streaks of white. “Fleetfoot. Have you ever heard the phrase, “Curiosity killed the Con?” Because, I take its meaning very literally.”

        “Pardon the intrusion, Lord Nightmare,” began Fleetfoot, the distance between the two mares growing, “but I wished to inform you of our current status. Bon Bon said she saw you come up here.”

        “Well, be on with it then. I’m a very busy pony.”

        “The Lunarcon army is ready and waiting. Give the word and the troops will carry out your will, my Lord.”

        “This is excellent news. What of your Wonderbolts? Are they ready?”

        “About that. There was some...dissention among the ranks.”

        “To what degree?” Bad news was the last thing Nightmare Moon desired.

        “Rapidfire, Misty Fly, and I were forced to execute all other members of the team. They were questioning whether your leadership is best, and claiming that we should have stayed with Spitfire and Soarin.”

        “Your loyalty is appreciated, but I needed those flyers. I trust you found suitable replacements.”

        “On such short notice, I had to make do with Lightning Dust, Cloudchaser, Thunderlane, and Midnight Strike. They aren’t as skilled, but they’ll get the job done.”

        “Excellent. If any of them should choose to question our cause, do not hesitate to remind them of the fate that awaits those who defy me.”

        “Yes, Lord Nightmare. Unless you have more to say, I’ll return to organizing the troops.”

        “No, that is all. You are dismissed.”

        Fleetfoot wasted no time in departing her master’s side. Nightmare Moon’s patience grew further tested as the day progressed. Her defeat at the hands of Celestion Prime during the Battle of Canteon only served to strengthen her resolve. A piercing beep struck Nightmare Moon’s audio receptors. She raised a hoof to switch on the transceiver.

        “Hey, Lord Nighty! How’s it hanging at HQ?”

        “Pinkie Pie, my uncontrollable warden, I hear there was trouble at the Tyger Pax construction site. This worries me. I need that canyon entrance sealed off by the fortress, so that we may construct New Tyger Pax in peace, and I’m beginning to fear you may not be the pony to see this through.”

        “No worries! After we cleaned up the scrap from that nasty Solarbot attack, I tripled the defenses at the fortress. This baby will be up and running in no time!”

        “Excellent, Pinkie. At least, there’s some good news to be had today. Look forward to the next assault on Canteon. There will be many travelling to your cells soon enough.”

        “Really? I can’t wait! Bring forth the endless night, my Lord!”

        The transmission died. Nightmare Moon wore an eerie smile. “Yes, the endless night shall be brought,” she said. “Now, there is one more matter I must attend to, before we head out.” The transceiver switched on again. “Bon Bon, how goes the scientific pursuits?”

        The mare’s voice was muffled by the sounds of machines. “We-difficulties-longer-expected.”

        “Turn off those infernal machines, and speak clearly!” commanded Nightmare Moon.

        The background noise reduced to a low hum. “Apologies, my Lord. I said, we have experienced slight difficulties, and it will take longer than expected,” said Bon Bon, chief technician and lead scientist.

        “What kind of difficulties?”

        “The biological makeup is unfamiliar, and thus is taking time to fully analyze. We should be ready to conduct the experiment in a deca-cycle.”

        “Very well. Patch me through to the city alert system.”

        The blue lights illuminating the city turned red. All foot soldiers gathered in the courtyard and entered the already present formation of soldiers. “Attention all Lunarcons, this is your leader speaking,” said Nightmare Moon. “At the first sign of light tomorrow, we leave to take Axiom Nexus. It is paramount that no Solarbot be allowed to leave this planet. The Wonderbolts will remain here for this mission, as there has been a change in lineup. Do not disappoint me.”

        The lights returned to their state of normality. Nightmare Moon returned to her throne room, maintaining her smile, as she found herself alone. Her hoof passed over an impaled Solarbot head, and she took a seat on her throne. An image of Ponytron appeared on the central monitor. She watched it rotate, eagerly anticipating days to come.