Ray slowly descended down the stairs from the platform on which he had introduced himself. There were noises of surprise from the Fallen, who hadn’t moved an inch after he’d finished his speech, as if they hadn’t been expecting his staying. He wanted to snort at the thought. One didn’t simply say hi to someone who was going to die beside them, and then leave. Those that did didn’t deserve to be leaders, he concluded. If he was to be their leader, whether by his will or Twilight’s, he would have to at least know who was who, and what was why with them.
As he finished descending, one of the Fallen stood up from their seat, approaching him with a raised head. Before Ray could say anything, the Fallen went to its knees and stated loudly, “If the lordling has honored us in a second chance for redemption and has deemed us worthy of visitation, he is truly choice for we cursed Fallen.”
Ray stood awkwardly as the other Fallen, some with the same formality as the one before him, others with the same awkwardness he felt, bowed. Despite having just spoken to the thousands of them, he found himself feeling a blush creep across his face. With a wave of his hand, he cried, “Don’t bow, please! We’re all equals until we prove otherwise!”
Standing up sharply, the Fallen responded, “Aye, but you have already proven yourself more than us. If you wish though, I will not bow. My name is Rohan, captain of the Third Spear Legion. I am truly honored to serve under you, sir.”
“Seriously, none of that sir or lordling stuff, please. It’s strange enough being an entirely different race while leading an army of undead ponies.” The adrenaline rush that had been keeping Ray from realizing his situation to its fullest was fading fast, making him consider regretting staying. He shook the thought away mentally. He’d managed to survive being teleported from one world to another. He would have to stay his strength now to focus not on what should make sense, but on what reality was.
“I will have to disobey that order, sir,” the captain responded. He turned and gestured to the entirety of the chamber, saying, “These ponies have lived almost five hundred generations in these caves, training for the day when they should be called upon to complete their eternal duty. Part of that training was to respect the traditions of the military and the art of war, and trying to beat out a thousand years of training would be like trying to clean dirt. Impossible. With all due respect, sir, it would be better of you to just… adapt.”
“If you say so, Rohan,” Ray said dully, pressing a hand against his temple. Even as he stood strong, his vision seemed to waver, and he felt unsteady.
“Of course, lordling,” a distant voice answered.
“Breathe,” a much quieter, clearer voice spoke.
Despite only having his own ears, he could tell no one else had heard Skalos’ insistence. He took a slow, simple breath, feeling his head clear as oxygen filled his lungs and his blood began to pump normally. He subtly nodded to Skalos, unseen by Rohan, who had turned to stare at the crowd of thousands.
“Come now,” he shouted almost scornfully to them. “Have we forgotten hospitality in our years? Come and greet our guest. There is no reason to delay him like a private in waiting!”
Despite his nervousness, he smiled at the light mocking of the soldiers. From what he saw, the captain took his duties as a responsibility to the extreme. He wondered how ponies like him had been inspired to betray their own, but the thought was overturned by the realization that that had taken place well over a thousand years ago. If anypony here was the same as they were fifteen hundred years ago, they were either insane or dead. Still, the way the captain conducted himself, like he was under the rule and thumb of the word honor, was admirable. He took notes mentally.
“Relax, Rohan,” Skalos muttered to his comrade. The other simply gave him a slightly unamused over-the-shoulder look. More Fallen strode up to him, and suddenly the stone seats were alive with movement, crawling like a snake pit. Some cried out their names, some stood silently as they watched their companions rise and go to greet, and some simply turned and walked away towards the distant town on the walls. They walked away shamefully, not disrespectfully, towards the tombs of their despair, looking over their shoulder regretfully. They’re sorry, he realized, sorry that I have been brought to their level. Have I?
The thoughts were clouded out by the din of ponies rising and talking. He found that the ponies in the first row all came to him, and were all ranked of some sort. The Sixth Spear. The Second Archery Division. General of the Second Division. They all sounded similar, yet different. Some said only their rank, stating there was no reason to know a dead stallion’s name. Others stated both their name and rank, such as Pelvis, General of the Second Division. That was the highest ranking he heard, though he had no doubt that Skalos held the highest rank among them.
The cacophony of noise seemed to only grow as the ranked subsided and the unranked, the standard soldiers, began introducing themselves. Some spoke with the same dignity and honorific tone as Rohan, while others spoke as nervous as young children to adults. Funny, he thought, seeing as how they, even without the fifteen hundred years, were older than him. But he could understand. He was still taller than three of them standing on each other’s backs, and it was probably hard to discern exactly what he was and his aging. He had no clue as to how much Twilight had told them about him, something he really wished he had thought through.
Still, there was a sense of determination in each of them, no matter how they introduced themselves or upheld their demeanor. Their eyes always held the same familiar self hatred. He could see exactly how they felt about themselves, the result of a Princess’ curse and years with only themselves and others of the same sin. He couldn't conceivably think of how long fifteen hundred years was, to them or himself, but it was tortuous to think that one could be cursed to only their sins for so long.
Hundreds of names were spoken to him, thousands most likely, as the massive crowd that converged in front of him began to depart. For the most part, he found that they would say their names and leave, allowing the next batch of ponies to do the same. The process was quick, but also rather slow. There were thirty, forty names every few seconds, but in a group of thousands, there was no time to hear, let alone remember them all. He regretted it, but he did what he could. He easily remembered the first female he spoke to, as it had surprised him slightly. Coronet, a faded sunflower yellow mare, Captain of the Fifth Archer Division. Well, more like she had spoken her name and rank stiffly, then had turned away.
As they introduced themselves, he began to realize things about these Fallen. They had no coats, no fur at all. Their heads were bare and smooth, without a mane or tail even. It was strange, but at the same time, felt fitting, life a stain on a tie dye shirt. They seemed not to even notice, but then again that made sense too, with time being the main factor. Although, he couldn’t ever imagine getting used to seeing a bald pony that wasn’t semi-translucent in nature.
A breath, long and drawn out, came from his side, causing him to turn his head to the Fallen behind him. Skalos, while attempting to hide his emotions, was glancing at the crowd and back to him. When he saw that Ray had caught him, a frown overtook his face and he gestured subtly back to the balcony. After a moment of confusion and three names he forgot in the moment, the Fallen whispered, “It’s been three hours, at the least.”
Ray’s eyebrows shot up. He knew that the introduction of himself to them and them to him was taking a while, but the amount of time passed amazed him. While he couldn’t say that he had thoroughly enjoyed the time, at least now he knew maybe a hundred of their names, and had spoken to at least a fourth of them. It was hard to think about, really, considering that his high school had only a triple digit attendance, and he’d spoken to less than twenty of them in his two years of attendance. He cocked his head slightly in refound confusion. Sure, it may be taking a while to get through it all, but he didn’t know why it really mattered.
With a flash he remembered Twilight, and for the first time among his soldiers, he laughed. A very confused group of Fallen stared at him with cocked heads, quirked eyebrows, and confused frowns.
“Sorry sir,” the one immediately in front of him apologized. “I didn’t realize that my name was so... strange.” The masculine unicorn bowed before him, the faintest signs of embarrassment in his downcast eyes.
“Oh no no no,” Ray said, shaking his head and shooting straight up. “I didn’t, and don’t, mean to offend. I just was reminded of something by Skalos. Please, I wasn’t paying attention. What’s your name again?”
The Fallen stood up, relief in his eyes. “My name is Pelios, commander of the Ninth Spear, sir.”
“Wait, I thought all of the ranked ponies were the first to greet me,” Ray remembered, confused.
Another shameful expression bespoke of his humiliation. “We… were supposed to,” he muttered obviously uncomfortable about it. “I was carried away though, with... something else.”
“What exactly,” Ray inquired. As far as he’d seen, while the Fallen ranged from shameful to self loathing, they all shared a general sense of loyalty to their fate. This was the first sign of something otherwise, and it genuinely interested him.
The stallion gulped visibly and audibly, ducking his head in even further as he answered, “A mare.” Ray resisted laughing, merely snorting. Pelios shot back up defensively, declaring, “It won’t happen again, sir.” Though it was spoken to Ray, he could see his eyes shoot to the only ambient being behind him.
“I won’t hold it against you,” Ray said with a dismissive, and rather easing wave of his hand. His brows furrowed though as he remembered that indeed they had left the god of the land in perpetual darkness in pony hell. Probably not the best move to make, especially considering that he was now supposed to be gaining her trust, and her his. Hard to do with somebody who you just left alone in the dark to walk with some strange glowing pony.
Oh well, what’s done is done, he reasoned, standing up from his sitting position on the stone steps of the amphitheater. Surprisingly, his rear end wasn’t numb from hours of sitting on the smooth stone. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it did make him wonder if the stone here was a softer version, one that didn’t scuff up the ponies’ hooves. It would make sense, he figured, seeing as how having a constant flow of horse shoes.
That brought up a question, though, one that nearly derailed the entire point of getting up. Were horse shoes called horse shoes here, or were they called pony shoes, and horse was some sort of derogatory term? He shook his head unconsciously, ridding himself of the ridiculous thought, moving back on the steps.
Looking out over the Fallen, those few thousand that still remained, and called, “I do believe I must go now. Twilight has been waiting for me for something like three hours, alone in the dark beyond here, and I don’t think she’ll have half the mind to forgive me for that. I thank you all for your friendliness, and look forward to the next time we meet.”
He received various forms of response as he turned away, from agreements to light hoof stomping. The clicking of Skalos’ hooves on the stone behind him foretold of him following him. That was good, because he still had questions, and they would probably be asked in private. He climbed back up the stairs swiftly, desperate to leave the room not for want to leave or want to get to Twilight, but to avoid any more awkward situations. As much as these ponies were sure of him, and as much as he didn’t doubt their good, he still felt a need to enact the leave part of “goodbye”.
As he ducked under the entrance back to the now claustrophobic feeling section of the cavern, he felt his breathing finally become less compressed, and more loose. His chest finally pulled itself off of his lungs, his ribs recurving to give the organ the space it needed to fill with oxygen. He took silent deep breaths, ever careful to at least try to stay strong in Skalos’ presence. He could still feel the pony’s gaze in him as they wove their way between the floor to ceiling stalactites. The glowing blue seemed dimmer now, though that might just have been a side effect from staring at a crowd of slightly brighter ponies.
They walked in silence until he asked, stiffer than he meant, “When and where will we be doing training?”
Skalos scoffed lightly. “That unsatisfied with them? They’re trying to impress you, lordling.”
“Uh, no- no I didn’t mean to be so… stiff. It’s just, I don’t think- you know what, it’s too hard to put in words. I just feel… betrayed almost, but at the same time, what evidence do I have otherwise!” Ray paused briefly, realizing nothing he’d said was going to help Skalos understand him. “Sorry, let me explain,” he revised, trying to filter his confused and jumbled thoughts into a comprehensible explanation.
“I feel cheated. I mean, the only reason I’m standing here and not laying six below is because Twilight needs me to fight a war she cannot, but she actually kinda can. I mean, your entire purpose now is to fight this war too, so doesn’t it seem unnecessary for me to be here? And I get it, you want an intelligent leader to make sure there’s better victories and easier defeats, if any, but don’t you think it excessive to bring me from another universe to do it? I mean, you might not be an extreme intellectual like Twilight, but you’re better than a walking cow with an axe, right?
“I mean, I guess I won’t complain about being alive still, without being a burden to any of my family, but I thought I actually had a place here.” Ray turned to face the commander of the Fallen, his face void of any emotion except pained confusion. Skalos stopped and eyed his general, milky eyes emotionless, but ears twitching to better listen. Ray took a deep breath as he continued.
“I thought that here, even if it was only to fight and quite easily die, I had a purpose to live longer than to ensure another’s survival. I haven’t had time to tell you, but I have a new family already. Not even a week in this… strange land. Things have been moving so fast. I have a home and a job already, one that pays better than what I’m used to, and actual friends. At least they care about me, for me sometimes already. I just thought that this all was to at least give me something to live for while I waited for war, but no, there’s already an army.
“What’s my purpose here, Skalos? Twilight, you, all of the Fallen, you all take me for a hero and general that will save this land from destruction, but I don’t see it. You could just as well lead this army better than me, I know it. You know war a hundred times better than me, and I haven’t even lived through one yet. The best I can do is swing a sword or whatever around and use chess tactics to beat them. That’s not adequate in a war, though!
“Don’t you see. I’m more useless here than even as a soldier on the front lines. What do you think will happen when we come face to face with the minotaurs, hm? I’ll lead us to ruin. I’ll get you all killed, get the last hope for Equestria and half the world destroyed because Twilight thought I, of anybody, could save you. It’s ridiculous, a-”
“Quite frankly, lordling, your yelling has only proven to give me a headache,” Skalos interrupted. Ray shot him a look, but received only an unamused expression. Skalos looked briefly to the ground before stepping closer to him, craning his neck to keep eye contact with him. “Sir, you don’t realize your own worth much, do you? You talk of your uselessness, say it’d be better if you weren’t here at all, but have you actually considered the implications. If you weren’t here and dead instead, that would simply mean Twilight would have brought someone else slightly less capable in, and not you.
“This isn’t a matter of if you have purpose here or not, because the answer is obvious. No, this is a matter of taking your worth and making it the reason why we win, taking the iron in your blood and turning it into the spear that we drive through our enemies. Here, you lead us not only because we need a leader that’s intelligent, but cunning, brave, and downright foolish. You aren’t some regular specimen, not of your own species or ours. You’re a warrior, one who’s been fighting since the moment you saw the danger of your life.”
“Even if that may be true, about me being a warrior, it doesn’t mean I’m a particular good one, and especially not an intelligent one,” he retorted, painful memories testifying his truth.
“No, no sir,” Skalos spoke softly. “You’re intelligent and you know it. Why did you drop out of your junior year of high school?”
“Because I was stupid,” Ray snapped, turning his head away. Liar.
“No sir. You were three grades ahead. One doesn’t simply drop out of school after doing so much. You knew there were people watching you, people interested in where your career was heading. You were advanced in intellect in every subject, especially in history. You knew well of your family’s situation, and instead of hoping it would get better, you gave up a life of success to ensure your siblings, and even parents, had a chance. That is a move few would make, especially for so tough a fight.”
Ray took a step backwards, striking his head against a stalactite, but care for the pain was beyond him. He was still too shocked by what Skalos was saying to care, too perplexed by the notion that this pony knew everything about him. He stared at the pony, who met his gaze steadily, with only the hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
“H-how do you know about… that?”
“Twilight told me everything about you. I do trust that you understand why. One cannot and should not follow someone unknown to them. It also helps the other Fallen to believe you. If they see that their former leader has found someone trustworthy both by the Princess to lead the army and himself, they will follow you to the end of the world. And I will be by your side if and when you do.
“A wise pony once told me that fear is a stallion’s companion in war. If you push it away, you will fall to reckless abandon, a sinister mood of killing without care. If you embrace it, you will become a coward, one who hides in the light because they are too afraid of shadow. You need to keep it at hooves length, sir, lest you become either.
“That’s one of the many differences, but definitely the most important, between you, and the rest of us. We’ve tasted the stale and bitter cup of cowardice, and none of us will try at it again, even to death by our own hooves. Now, however, so few of even the best of commanders and generals in our army can resist the bloodlust we’ve turned to. Especially me. You are here to keep us from it, from becoming like the brutes we are destined to destroy. Not for the sake of morality, but for the sake of keeping to our purpose. One can easily be lost in battle, among the screams, and the crunching bones, and the spraying blood. Humans, you aren’t so different, but your will is stronger than you know. I don’t think even Twilight realized how perfect you are for us.
“We need you now, not only because you are an intelligent, strong warrior, but because you are everything we need to strive to be in order to win this war. There isn’t any back up, no reinforcements, just seventeen thousand and twenty three of us against them, tens of thousands, quite possibly hundreds of thousands. A long ways from victory, if it’s possible. Across the sea and over the hills, mountains, valleys, forests, and plains, by my reckoning, but still there. We just can’t reach there without you.”
Ray was silent, staring to the side of Skalos, unable to meet the Fallen’s eyes. His mind was firmly wrapped around every word he’d just had shoved into him, still trying to pull apart everything said in the last few minutes just to try to understand the pieces. He was leaning against the stalactite behind him not leisurely, but breathlessly, as if he’d ran through a blizzard. He certainly felt like it, the way his chest was once again suffocating him, but it wasn’t of stress this time. This time, it was of reverence.
“Come along, lordling,” Skalos encouraged softly, respectfully. He began trotting silently, save for his hoofsteps. Ray picked himself up, striding unsteadily behind the stallion. There wasn’t anything he could say, no defence he could use against the words forced into his ears. None that came to mind anyways. It made no sense, him the perfect choice for the Fallen, but then again, there was no denying that Skalos was correct.
Maybe that was the thing. In the stories of heroes on Earth, they would never be able to understand that they were meant to be, but here, now, he could feel why. There was just a sense of unease, of shock, that came with being in any situation like his. But at the same time, he realized that his was the situation of heroes. He felt suddenly very self aware. There was no denying. This was his life now. The life of a hero, whether he wanted it or not. There would be histories written of him if success or defeat befell him and the Fallen, if there were even ponies to even write those histories. Maybe minotaurs kept history books?
He scoffed at the thought, earning a look over the shoulder of Skalos. It wasn’t one of question though, just mute observation as they weaved in between stalactites and stalagmites. Ray met his gaze, but they held it for less than a second as Skalos turned back to the spread of blue-lit stone. He kept pace with the Fallen easily, never breaking stride or thought afterward.
They came upon the exit of the cave soon enough, or at least, the exit of the chamber into the larger, darker section of the cave. As they exited into the hazy darkness, Ray felt his skin dampen with cool droplets of water. He let out a short, quick breath at the sudden transition of temperature, a shiver taking him as goosebumps rippled across his arms. A question popped into his head, one he’d meant to ask sooner than this.
“Um, Skalos,” he began, taking two longer strides to be right beside him. ”When exactly are we training, and more importantly, where? I can’t imagine it’d be here. As much as I’d like to see and meet you all daily, it seems kinda inconvenient that it’d take an hour or so to get here.”
“Ah, yes sir, it would be. Which is why I’ll be meeting you in the outskirts of the plains west of Apple Acres. Nopony has, even the Apples, go that far. The little stretch of land in between the Acres and the Everfree will do nicely. Just make sure you don’t allow yourself to be followed by anybody except Twilight. The rest of the world has forgotten my kind, and that’s what we want.”
Ray nodded, looking out across the distance of misty blackness. No light save for Skalos’ illuminating skin shone, like before. They traveled the long distance in relative silence, not having reason or need to speak. After unknown minutes of walking, they saw a distant light, though not the faint blue of the crystals, but a sparkling purple aura. Ray’s pace quickened, as did Skalos’, tension rising as they feared what caused the magical glow.
As they began racing, they noticed something about the glowing. It wasn’t moving, wasn’t making any noise actually, just staying in place. He began to slow down as soon as he saw the form of a pony in the center of it. Much closer up, the light was brighter, enough that he had to squint to see Twilight in the center of it all. She seemed to be in some sort of meditation, her hind legs crossed in front of her lap, her forelegs in the little gap formed by the crossing. Her eyes were closed, firmly but relaxed.
“Excuse me, my Princess,” Skalos said loudly. Twilight’s eyes opened slowly, but in surprise. She opened her mouth, looking as if to yell, but instead, a large yawn escaped, almost startlingly loud for the size of creature that made it. She smacked her lips a few times, eyes drooping slightly, before finally speaking. “It’s about time,” she mumbled, giving the both the medium between a glare and neutral look. “I’ve been waiting here for over three hours now. I thought we agreed that Ray needed to meet the soldiers, but to keep it quick.”
“We did meet the soldiers, Princess, and I have to say, three hours is rather quick for meeting with over seven thousand of them. Wouldn’t you agree?” Skalos’ question was passive, but had a trace of snark to it, but barely detectable.
“I suppose,” Twilight mumbled, rolling her eyes. “It does take me three hours to introduce myself to a hundred nobles, so I’ll have to commend you for making it quick. Now, if you’ll excuse the two of us, we must be getting back. It’s lucky that I planned nothing until roughly six, but that only gives me an hour and a half to prepare.”
“Of course, Princess,” he agreed respectfully. Turning to Ray, he met his eyes, saying solemnly, “I’ll see you tomorrow, lordling. Six in the morning.”
He turned, his sharp hoofsteps echoing as he succumbed himself to the misty darkness. Twilight watched him go with Ray, before mutely turning to the wall behind them. He turned too, and found Twilight lighting her horn slightly to illuminate a lever almost hidden on the stone face. She pulled it down, a mechanical clicking sound following. The platform shook a little, threatening to topple Twilight, but she caught herself against the now moving wall.
They ascended out of the darkness, slower than they had descended due to the weight of them and gravity’s pull. They were silent for a little while, but Twilight quickly spoke up as they were once again hovering in darkness.
“What did you think of them? Them of you?” She asked these calmly, but an undercurrent of urgency and worry easily caught Ray’s ears.
“Well, I find them a rather charming group,” he said. He gave the princess a sidelong glance as he added. “Just like me, I would say.”
The words emancipated a wince from Twilight as she glanced upwards to him. Yep, played like a trumpet. And he’d caught her off note.
“Twilight, why do you feel like you need to manipulate me?” he asked, refusing to glare, but allowing a bit of his resentment to slip through. “First you send me to Ponyville, the home of your best friends where I conveniently become fast friends, and even family, with all of them. Next, you refuse to speak honestly until I drag it out of you, even after I said that I’d fight for Equestria. That should’ve been it, but no, you then decided to have the soldier of your army personally relate to me and call me things like ‘lordling’ and ‘sir’, and I’m questioning why? It’s not like I’ll change my mind, I can’t now, but you feel I will, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Twilight said, meeting his eyes with surprising hardness. “Yes, they do personally relate to you, but you know what, that was unplanned and was gonna work to my benefit if you had decided to not. You becoming friends with my best friends, my sisters, that was something unplanned. I thought I told you that already, but maybe you don’t remember it or there are just too many things to say that that wasn’t on the list of necessary things to say. In fact, it hurts seeing them become friends with you, because neither you nor I know if any of us, especially you, will survive this. I would do anything to protect them, but as the Princess of Friendship and as a friend, I have no right to take you from them. Either way, there may be pain.
“I refused to say things you didn’t ask about. I told you that I’d be honest with you, that I wouldn’t lie, and I didn’t. I want to protect at least a part of you, because even if you’re protecting Equestria from an unpredictable force, you may have a life afterward. Who knows? You may survive, end up marrying or something, raising some sort of family, despite you not being able to with a pony. You’ll make more friends, live a happy life, all of it if war or perfect knowledge doesn’t ruin it. Because, trust me, perfect knowledge will ruin any chance at a relationship. It has for me.”
Twilight was yelling now, an angry curve to her eyebrows. “And finally, have you ever wondered how time works here? Have you been too busy thinking about wringing my neck and the war business to actually consider technical properties of this world? Of course you haven’t, because you’re too busy with the rest of your new life to, so let me spell it out for you.
“Have you noticed how Discord is the Lord of Chaos. Not the Prince, like the Princess of Friendship, Lord. A ‘ling’ is something younger, or underdeveloped. The Fallen call you lordling not because I ordered them to, but because that is their name for infinites. Sombra was an infinite, and they called him lorling, because even though he was one, he wasn’t a Lord, like Discord. They call you lordling because you, Raymond, are an infinite. You will live for an unknown amount of time, maybe forever, because you don’t belong here.
“I checked. Transdimensional travel with magic has many side effects, one of which is displacement of the body. In every dimension, there is some form of difference in every element. Thicker oxygen, softer stone, harder wood, it all adds together to be a new and complete world. Your cells are displaced and slightly dysfunctional. Not in a way that will harm you, but they’re trying to deal with a better atmosphere. They’re working at max capacity, reproducing and producing new cells quicker, you’re brain working at about twelve percent, and your body in general is at a level dangerous on Earth. Your heartbeat right now represents a heart attack, but it’s completely fine.”
“You wanna know what all of that means? It means that you're infinite. With your body working so well, it’s going to be on a perpetual high, like mine, allowing you to be at the best it can right now always. You’re not just superhuman now, but amplified to another field of mortality. Immortality.”
after this would i be wrong is saying that ray might want twilight to tell the truth to the public about both the fallen defending them and why they themselfs couldent (eg curse of undeath and the geas).
Also after this i think Ray might be done with just letting twilight ease him into things and insted be more likely to want all the info up front so it doent put him at a disadvantage. because if im not mistaken she has given him whiplash with the ammount of changes she has put him through from taking him from his home, being told he needs to fight and kill in a war, comming to terms and accepting what he must do in equestria and finaly low key seeming to threaten him with the ponys who have betrayed equestria in the past then telling him he is immortal.
im not expert but i do think this might be the thing which makes him less relaxed with twilights straglehold on info.
(also just rememebrd he was told twilight has looked over his entire life so that could stress him out aswell as he can have no secrets she doesnt know)
How many chapters long will this story be?
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I mean ALL of them. BJ Blazkowicz from the Wolfenstein Series. Doomguy/DoomSlayer, and Commander Keen too. And maybe BJ Blazkowicz's Twin Daughters from Wolfenstein: Youngblood ( BUT, WITHOUT the Feminist SJW Drama! I'm NOT Sexist!!! It's just they are taking it too far with it in Movies and Video Games.)
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Well, Twilight NEEDS TO STOP! Or Ray might just give her the Middle Finger and just leave, because of her being an Total Bitch to him.
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or just be be the one to tell the truth about things to her freinds because i dont see that going over well.
10437991
I hope so. Because she is in Thin Ice with BOTH of her Friends, and Ray.
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proberbly her family too if they knew the whole truth. also im pretty sure that this point that the war will be caused or was in the past startid by the ponies as twilight knowing pretty much everything about ray but not able to tell anything other then the minotors invading is random could mean that it is either a planned and now that the ponies cant remove the geas they are attacking or that it is caused in the future by other countrys finding out that there is suddenly an army capable of killing alot in equestira. add to that discord is their ally and the alicorns who can make an immortal army has been vastly depowerd im leaning towards that this is happening for the same reason as why the world might go to war with a country that suddenly gains 10 times the nukes then stops managing boarders. in other words this war could be entirly pinned on twilight for her take over and powering up of equestira and to make matters worse her bringing ray in could be what makes this all fall apart.
long rant short: pretty sure that celestia and luna have a history with the minotors and this could just be a retaliation war that they are wageing after finding out that the geas canot be removed in time now
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Ummm... don't know where you got threatening him with the Fallen, because, if anything, they'll take his side. They may be her soldiers, but really Ray's their commander. Remember everything said in this chapter or it will come back to haunt you.
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50-55 is the best estimate I have. Long, in one word.
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While not uncharacteristic of Ray to so, {spoilers}. Oh, the spoiler ban hammer has struck. Um, well, you'll see next chapter!
10437993
Also, very correct. Ironically, (if you haven't noticed already) winter is coming, so the ice may just thicken.
are we sure this isn't some sadistic or manipulative plan of twilight to create an immortal lover. She's making sure he gets to become friends with her friends, raising his ranking in society since back in the old days, you needed a certain rank of nobility to marry a princess. What's next, he's going to suddenly meet her parents for some bullshit reason.
When your immortal, you have all the time in the world to forgive someone for jerking you around, there is a romance tag and him being an immortal took any other mares off the table if they aren't immortal.
10438008
Really now? And even though I said earlier that Twilight COULD have just Summoned a Season War Veteran. An Engineer that builds Weapons, Guns, War Vehicles. An General, Admiral, Air Force Ace Pilot, Spec Ops Soldiers and Marines, etc.
BUT, she just choose a Young Adult (Ray) who is just a Citizen, NEVER went to Military School, or learn Hand to Hand Combat Lessons, or learn how to use Weapons. Is probably a High Schooler/Collage Student. Not to mention come he and his family have some sort of a insane Suicidal Mental Issues. And she is being a Major Bitch to Ray.
Another Major Problem is that WHY CAN'T Celestia and Luna just use their Alicorn Powers? Their Sun/Moon Power? Or even Discord make the Minotaurs to away. And IF the Minotaurs are really a Major Threat! Where the hell are Equestria's Allies. Where are the Dragons, Griffins, Zebras, Reform Changelings, Yaks, Hippogliffs, Buffalo, Kirins, etc??!!
ALL of them have Different Skills, Military Branches, and tactics. Like Super Strength, their Massive Size, and Fire Power from Dragons, Yaks, Buffalo, Kirins. Having Shape Shifting Abilities like the Changelings, Hippogliffs. To Becoming Spies, and infiltrators. Zebra being Mages, medical Mages/Clerics, and having Arcane Magic and Potions.
Heck, maybe some of them like the Griffons might have Weapon Specialists or Engineers that can make Medieval Weapons or even early Versions of FlintLock Pistols, Regular Pistols/Handguns, Revolvers, Assault to Sniper Rifles, Gatling Guns, Grenades, Rocket Launchers, and other Guns from the 14th-19th Centuries. To the Early 20th Century in the WW1 Era, and even WW2 Era Guns if they get lucky. Maybe even Tanks, Biplanes, Airplanes, Motorcycles, and Warboats/Battleships from the 17th-19th Centuries to the 20th Century of the WW1 and WW2 Eras.
What about Tempest Shadow or Shining Armor that both have Miltary Leadership and Training? And where is Starlight, Trixie, Sunburst, And Starswirl the Beard and the Pillars? All of them could use their Powerful Magic or Intelligence to help! It's like the Storm King Invasion all over again!
And WHAT does Ray have? Minimal Miltary Training, and barely learn how to use Medieval Weapons Properly! And NO Powers, Weapons, Magic or skills from Anime/Movies/T.V. Shows and Series/Comic Books/Video Game Media like the Displaced in other Stories. And he is facing over an HUNDRED THOUSAND OR A MILLION of Minotaur Bad Guys!!!
Is Twilight using the Idiot Ball Trope here??!!
10438074
Wait, HOW the heck is he Immortal?? Because, it can be a Blessing AND a Curse! So, it might mess up with his Mental Issues, and his Moral.
10438074
Oh PLEASE! After everything she has done. Ray might NEVER forgive her for a LONG TIME! Plus, what's STOPPING him for becoming the Villain himself when he finally Snaps! And wants Payback/Revenge on Twilight.
10438041
sorry was just thinking that the fallen are the army that betrayed equestia if i read it right so her taking him there could be some manipulation i thought on her part to carefully put the idea in his head that if he crosses her he will get worse. it could just be me but thats what i took away from the encounter as a whole
10438090
i feel like the reason for the invasion will be on the ponies or spesicicly celestia and luna but time will tell
10438118
Please. IF she threatened me. I just Bitch Slap her!
10438074
Are you sure about that? I mean, Fluttercord and every Luna and Celesta ship (besides Twilight and Discord ships) are mortals. And with Cadance and Shining Armor already being a thing, I think we're a bit ahead of ourselves. I know it's been a few chapters, but Fluttershy till exist, and his feelings for her. Right now, though, he got what he wanted, really. A bombshell of explanation.
10438118
The Fallen are an army of fifteen hundred year old traitors. They aren't a threat anymore, and I want to better clarify that later, but they are a personal connection to Ray in many ways, which you'll see soon enough. I's not a threat, but pity and empathy are dangerous ways to manipulate. I think the thing that I haven't gotten well off to you readers is the fact that Twilight's means for the manipulation aren't out of malcontent or merciless need, but rather, desperation to sway him more fully to the cause. Also, I'm seeing all of the other questions, but I can't answer them yet because {spoilers}. Yeah...
I just want to try to justify what is wrong with this Twilight, where did she get the skills to manipulate others into doing what she wants along with learning how to withhold information until its vital to tell someone. She even did a background check and is judging someone based on their past. This twilight sparkle has been acting so out of character, its a bit jarring to me.
I wouldn't be surprised if there's still something she's not telling him.
10438543
Twilight is precisely in character. Remember, she's unsteady around strangers she's either offended or embarrassed in the show. well, I'd say Ray was just slightly offended. Also, Twilight studied him. She made sure that all the facts lined up, and then made her choice. She's thinking mathematically and studiously on this matter, much like the Twilight we know. The manipulation is the first time she's actually tried to manipulate someone, as she hasn't had to before. Not that she does now, but she feels that, in order to have the perfect outcome, she needs a hoof on his shoulder the entire time. That's where the older Twilight from the show plays from to, the organizer who needs to know the dirt in everything. She feels like if she lets Ray be, something will happen, to him or Equestria or both, and it will be her fault.
10438090
While I do agree with some of what you are saying, we can't just blame Twilight. Earlier chapters say that Ray was different than the other humans that "liked to fight". Sure it might have been a smarter choice to bring a veteran or someone experienced in combat, and I won't say that you are wrong in the fact that there are stronger ponies out there that could probably take care of this business in a matter of seconds (I can just see discord snapping his fingers and POOF! The Minotors are in a dimension full of cat-faced humans). But if I had to guess, and I could be wrong, there won't be much that those allies can do. As stated in "Life Anew" we learn that ponies are very gentle beings and the thought of killing something could break their minds, this might not be the case later, and they might learn that either fighting for honor or cowardice will be their choice, but the way I see it, Twilight had seen a very destructive future and wanted to make sure that no matter what, there would be a way to win, no matter the cost. This can be controversial, we all see it, but I always am the type to see both sides of things, and while Twilight is annoying the crap out of me in this story, I know it only is from the stress of realizing that most ponies she had known her whole life, might just die right in front of her
10443036
Okay then, BUT I DON'T see HOW is Ray different with other Humans that KNOWS Combat/Military Experts. Ray just an Normal Citizen that is in High School/College. HOW can he STOP an MASSIVE ARMY that is in the Thousands to Millions of Soldiers with Killer Intent. He's NOT an One Man Army Badass like Master Chief, Doom Slayer, John Wick, Kratos, Dante, etc. NOT having Highly Advanced Weapons and Guns. And NO Powers that comes from Anime or something. And he has No Leadership Skills to turn the Ponies into Badass Soldiers.
Sure he has a "team" somewhat. But, I don't think they are skilled, or powerful enough to take on A LOT of Minotaurs.
NOT to mention he has very mess up Mental Issues/Illness. I'm not trying to insulting people with Mental Issues. I have Autism. It's just his Mental State is so BAD!!! He is in Suicidal Protection!!! Plus with War, there's ALWAYS PTSD!!! So having Ray with it, has an HIGH SUICIDAL RATING!!!
Plus, with Ray SOMEHOW having "Immortality" ( Which I think is Bullshit!!!!) might screwed with him more. Since Immortality is Not just an Blessing, but a Curse! And living with Somepony like Twilight might make him Snap, and just find a way to "Remove" the Immortality and kill himself. OR become the Next Villain, and overthrow Twilight.
Plus, WHY CAN'T the Allies help??!! I know the Ponies are Pacifists, BUT they should Fight Back, and having A LOT of Allies ( Dragons, Griffons, Reformed Changelings, Zebras, Yaks, Hippogliffs, Kirins, Buffalo, Good Diamond Dogs.). Plus, WHAT'S stopping the Hostile Minotaurs for going to OTHER KINGDOM'S, when they finish with the Ponies. Unless the Minotaurs are ONLY Hostile to the Ponies. But still, the Allies should help since they are Friends to the Ponies.
The ONLY thing for Ray to win is to MAYBE Befriend and make a "Truce" with the Minotaurs, IF it's the Ponies FAULT to begin all of this. OR find a Deus Ex Machina Weapon to ONE SHOT the Minotaur Army. Then I got nothing.
10443070
I could probably say more, and anger a lot of others, but really the only way to get the answers we need is to wait until the author is ready. For now, I understand your anger and believe me, so many theories have gone through my head I practically can write out a parody! But I guess this excites me how so many people like you are just as anxious to see how Ray can help Equestria. And I, for one, can't wait to see how the Fallen, how Twilight, and how so many more could play out in this. To The_Darker_Fonts, you really got some good fans here.
10443093
Well I can't help it, so sorry. It's just I HATE Twilight being a Cocky Bitch to Ray. And NOT being a Good Friend to her Friends by NOT TRUSTING THEM!!! Plus, I am anxious on HOW Ray can win the War? He is not an Displaced with Powers and Weapons from Popular Anime/Video games/Movies/Shows/Series/Etc.. And the fact he is Suicidal, which I really HATE!!! I mean no one likes it, but that's beside the point. Sure, he has Minimum Military Training Combat and Weapons. And has a Squad/Team. But I DOUBT they can beat an ENTIRE ARMY, Without some Powerful Weapon/Armor/Magic Power or anything Overpowered.
10443070
The difference is, he's young and selfless. He doesn't really care about himself, because all of his life, he's only cared for others. The immortality thing is because in a different dimension, where time is ultimately different, his body won't adjust. It will grow, but never age. So, eventually, he'll be a man, and an ageless one. Ray has control over himself now. The main factors of his snapping are the sudden change in environment and information mishandling. Twilight didn't ease him into the news, just kinda dropped it on him, which is what he asked. Notice how Skalos eased him into the knowledge of his leading of the army, and let him become a little more comfortable with it, whereas Twilight was like "Yup, you're here to fight minotaurs."
Really, the biggest thing you aren't taking out of this chapter is the correlation between Ray and the Fallen, and the way they react to him. This chapter wasn't really here for any Twilight BS, and really her dropping the "I word" was accidental on her part because she did mean to ease him into it, Ray just forced it out. She was under aggressive fire from Ray, and while it was for a good reason, it was too intense for a pent up Twilight to handle, so she burst.
10443093
Thank you for being one of them! I can't wait to see how you all react to it!
10443103
Valid points. Except Twilight being cocky. She really isn't, haven't you noticed. Unsure around Ray and her friends, confident on nothing, because she doesn't have any information on the minotaurs. Also, Ray's no longer suicidal. He saw the reaction of Fluttershy, and he took it to heart. If you remember, in the past seven chapters, no thoughts or mentions of Ray being suicidal have been made. Like I said earlier, it was mostly about him being displaced and feeling useless. I'm glad to see you don't take this story without second thought, as it means you really think it through. Another thing: I promise you, no Deus Ex Machina weapon or Anime/Video Game/TV show/Movie ultra powers. It'll be more realistic (for this Universe).
10443325
I'm glad he is alright. And not suicidal anymore. So, it's just a normal Medieval Fight. It would be cool if Ray have at least some Mortal Kombat Special Moves, and X Rays. So he could at least have an Edge against the Minotaurs.
10443353
He's about to be trained by a badass undead horse. Does that count for something?
10443575
Damn, really!
10443584
I mean, that's what's insinuated when Skalos says "Ah, yes sir, it would be. Which is why I’ll be meeting you in the outskirts of the plains west of Apple Acres." and later adds "I’ll see you tomorrow, lordling. Six in the morning.”
Twilight has just created the biggest potential threat to her reign ever. Forget the minotaurs, forget Firek, forget Chrysalis, forget Cozy Glow, forget Sombra, hell even forget Grogar, she has created a potential monster by pulling a 13 year old with severe emotional issues and you're going to give him not only military training, but are going to subject him to warfare which will give him combat PTSD and on top of that he's going to be at least functionally immortal, if not truly immortal. Considering that the magic of Equestria has already changed him in dramatically, unless it's going to eventually transform him into a pony, the cells of his body will adapt and he will be able to use magic, to top it off, if the magic doesn't transform him into a pony and if in your universe ponies reproduce like mammals, Ray will become a powerful warlord that could very well rise up and overthrow the alicorns, at best installing them as political puppets, at worst their skulls decorate his new castle in Canterlot. Twilight spent nearly a decade learning about friendship, only for her to alienate her closest friends, maybe Celesti and Luna will step in before she completely screws the pooch and give her a few decades of a timeout on the moon. If Twilight needed humans to fight her war, she had seven humans that could wield magic right through the mirror portal, unless the EQG story arcs don't exist in this continuity. In which case, what happened to Sunset Shimmer? Is she alive and running around somewhere in the world? Is she a loose thread that could potentially hamper her reign? There are too many questions left unanswered, unless Sunset never existed in this world.
10487662
So, the way in which EQG is interpreted is a humanized Equestria. The passing through the mirror and interaction between has sorta ceased, mainly due to the huge amount of magical destructiveness and turbulence from the occurrences from season 6 on. That is kinda my interpretation of why it's no longer relevant; that magical interference severed the connection rather effectively and made it dangerous. Especially with Cozy Glow's shutting off of magic.
On Ray: he really doesn't have that mentality. As long as he has actual definition, wherever, he'll survive. He might not be content, like right now, but he will commit. That was how he raised himself. Ultimately, Ray has never had a quiet life, or peaceful one, even loosely so. He wouldn't know what he'd do if he had one now. Really, this is what's saving him. If Twilight had simply brought him here for a peaceful life (which she wouldn't), he would have gone full berserk, because if he didn't have definition, his mind would make one, that being as the subjugator. Right now, his human instinct is to adapt and survive. Later it will be conquer, but more than likely (I'll never tell!) the actual war will satisfy that.
On Twilight: This is also Twilight's story. Twilight has not learned something very vital, in all of the show. She hasn't learned how to be the ruler of all of Equestria. There's a great deal of time between her coronation and the events of the "The Last Problem". This is the in between. It can, in all technicality, be canon, but of course, it's not. I don't have the AU tag on, and that is where many forget. The events of "The Last Problem" will play out in one way or another, whether it be as a reminder of death and defeat or not, though, is left unsaid. This is the main thing Twilight learns in this story, the art of leading. She thinks that by leading, she must keep secrets, even from her most trusted friends, to protect them. She hasn't realized that in all of Celestia's reign, she was always honest.
In summary, this was a nice comment that allowed me to answer without spoiling. I'm hoping other reader's read this so they can understand a bit better along the way.
10487662
Celesti and Luna step in? They already did...into his head...and STILL haven't been called out for it.
10643486
If you haven't noticed, things take a while in this. Remember, Twilight hasn't properly paid her due yet either.
I'm probably taking this outta' context, but that sorta implies all infinites don't necessarily 'belong' in this specific world. Like maybe a super-close one to the one we're in, but as soon as they came here their biology went into overdrive and made them functionally immortal.
Now, I can believe Discord, or Sombra would pull that shit on a whim, but Twilight? I dunno. Maybe she inadvertently did so while getting her wings in the memory hallway... just 'poof!' parallel dimension- everything's the same, save for ponies say Aluminum weirdly.
Just one thing I would like to make clear and hope for…you’re not thinking of putting Fluttershy and Ray together as lovers? Because at that point that’s a drop from me. The Apple family was a massive good move! But Fluttershy and Ray? Discord needs that not ray but seeing as how it has been decided I will keep reading until I don’t see a reason too anymore. This is simply my opinion. Your the writer and already have made your choice.
11838838
Trust me, you won't be disappointed. It'll be one of the first mature things dealt with characterwise by Ray, Fluttrrshy, and Discord.
11713999
Idk how far you've gotten into the story at this point, and I didn't respond at the time for fear of spoiling, but Part 2 answers that question.