//------------------------------// // Chapter 76 – Fight Another Day // Story: Infinity Era // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// 76 Ponyville, Equestria Crystal Cave 8:16 a.m. Maud Pie lowered her chisel from her jaw, settling the tool on the ground and raising her head slowly, carefully, as her younger sister Pinkie Pie screamed and rambled behind her. “And I got Gummy and the Cakes and as many ponies as I could out of their homes and out to join Twilight and the others! Oh, and you don’t have to worry about Mom, Dad, Marble, and Limestone! I already ran over to the Rock Farm before I came to get you just so I could tell them to stay indoors, stay in the basement, and stay with each other! Just like we planned for the apocalypse, and by ‘we’ I mean ‘I’, and by ‘I’ I really mean me and Gummy! And by ‘me and Gummy’ I mean—!” “Pinkie.” The adrenaline-fueled pink party pony halted in her actions, her hooves holding the small, toothless alligator high above ground while she stood balanced on just one hind leg. As for the ponies behind her, the Cakes stood underneath the light of the crystal caves Maud Pie chose to live. They held their little ones, Pumpkin and Pound Cake, whimpering softly in their parents’ hooves. All the while Pinkie Pie kept spouting off and rambling about nonsense to her older sister the past few minutes. All the while Maud Pie, chiseling away at the nearest stone fragment within the cave, finally stopped and listened, her hardhat’s light bulb keeping the darkness away. But just the tone of her voice, the complete lack of humor that Maud Pie practically breathed, managed to stop Pinkie of all ponies dead in her tracks. And from that silence, Maud Pie turned around, and adjusted her plain as rock stare to Pinkie Pie and the Cakes. She noticed their bags, their disheveled manes, all of them seeming to be out of breath, except for Pinkie, of course. Maud caught on quickly. “Do you need me to come with you?” “Um… well… yeah! That’s why I was here in the first place, to pick you up! Thanks for reminding me!” Pinkie exclaimed with a squeak and grin. Maud stared at her sister and her smile for several seconds on end, nothing but the silence of the caves and the sounds of the nearby waterfalls echoing across the walls. The Cakes were clearly unnerved, looking about at every tremble of the earth, at every roar filling the world above them. Maud especially took interest into that sound, pausing and caressing the nearest wall of crystal. “Been noticing changes in the rock structure. Lots of unnatural vibrations and cracks. Whatever caused this is still out there,” Maud noted, silencing herself when that same roar struck over their heads like thunder in the clouds. Pumpkin and Pound Cake quivered and whimpered, the parents trying to calm them down. They hardly took notice to Maud slipping past them, finally noticing the lack of light in the dark caves and turning towards the only source. Pinkie, Gummy in her hooves, and the Cakes all followed Maud out of the caves and into the light. She walked over to her room, or what could be considered a room. The ceiling rose higher than even the caves, waterfalls and what little sunlight there was pouring down from above. She approached her bed, her wardrobe, and pulled out the bottom shelf. Firstly, removing her helmet and setting it inside the shelf, her eyes turned to the only bag in that sat snugly in the center of the shelf, Maud bending down and picking it up between her jaws. She closed the shelf and proceeded slowly to her bed. Behind her, the Cakes stamped about impatiently, turning to Pinkie to hopefully have her hurry things up. Unfortunately, even Pinkie wouldn’t be any help, the mare shushing the two and watching Maud cautiously. Laying her saddlebag on her bed and opening it, Maud was greeted to a sight she once thought she would never see again, nor find the need for ever again. However, just a part of her knew she would be needing them. The fear in her sister’s voice—even if she tried to hide it and hide it well—was there, meaning something else was. Just gazing onto it brought back memories of past adventure, of past pain, of past friendships and past… Just the past. Maud reached inside, without even a smile, and pulled out her Asteroid Gloves. She checked each, glad to see they still fit and functioned just as the day they were given to her. She set them back into her saddlebag, tossing it across her back and turning appropriately to Pinkie and the Cakes, seeing their jaws agape and eyes wide to the strange, alien devices she once held out. “Ready,” Maud replied, voice monotone, eyelids half closed. Or half open. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she was ready and Pinkie was smiling again. A smile that Maud somehow felt wasn’t going to last forever. Just a feeling. Ponyville, Equestria 8:18 a.m. The remaining buildings that hadn’t fallen nor burned had ponies rushing out in droves, some collecting their prized possessions, their families, anything that held meaning to them as the sirens in Ponyville cried out. Warning them. Screaming to all that had survived the wave of fire to evacuate the town immediately. Those sirens came from above, from the Mark 45 Iron Man armor flying over the remains of Ponyville. By order of Mayor Mare and Princess Twilight Sparkle. The town was a frenzy, but on the outskirts certain ponies took the opportunity to find their closest friends and get them to safety. For instance, Starlight Glimmer picked up Trixie in her brand new, freshly repaired wagon after the last one was… well… crushed by a spaceship. Trixie made certain to keep this new wagon safe and secure, opening it and responding only for Starlight and friends. So it came as no surprise to the Great and Powerful Trixie that when Starlight arrived ragged, heavily breathing, with tears in her eyes from the smoke in the air… that she took caution. And action. Mostly action. She gathered her favorite magic tricks, stuffed them in a large suitcase, and trailed swiftly behind Starlight back into Ponyville. What was left of it. Leaving her wagon in secure location within the trees, Trixie had to pause and take it all in, the burning skylines and shattered earth infecting not only Ponyville, but all of Equestria. From the highest peak in Canterlot—a city that was no longer there—to the darkest edges of the Badlands—a smoldering ball of fire burning the atmosphere deep into the wicked southern lands. Everything was burning. Screaming and dying. Starlight had to nearly drag her into the hellfire in order for her to move again. Applejack tended to her family, galloping as fast as her hooves could carry her all the way to Sweet Apple Acres. Once entering her house, she noticed that nopony was home. Everything was seemingly abandoned in an instant. She called out to Granny Smith, to Big McIntosh, and definitely to Apple Bloom, perhaps screaming her name the loudest. The only response she received was a quiet, shrill cry from below. A cry that almost sounded like her name. The cellar. The doors were thrust open in less than five seconds, Applejack gazing down ferociously into the dark depths of the Apple Family’s cellar. And within those shadows, deep in the darkness, huddled together in the tightest corner with several empty barrels surrounding them as some kind of false shield were the three ponies that meant more than anything in Applejack’s life. She sighed heavily, relief filling her veins to see Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom safe and sound. She didn’t even hesitate, ordering all three of them out of the cellar and back inside to pack their things. Granny Smith asked why. Big Mac asked what was going on. Apple Bloom asked the only question Applejack could truly answer. “Where are we goin’?” But even that seemed difficult. “Somewhere safe,” Applejack responded in a shivering voice. She tried to act strong, for them, but even then couldn’t hold in the fear of doubt. Deep into Ponyville, within the Carousel Boutique, Rarity finally found Sweetie Belle clutching onto Opalescence beneath Rarity’s bed. Both were obviously frightened from the explosions, from the storm, from the roars of thunder and the clashing of lightning infecting the heavens. And Rarity… she could offer no words of comfort, no words to soothe the damage that had already been done to her boutique or to her little sister. All she could do was hold her, she and her feline companion. Hold her as tight as she could and never let go. Never break away. Never again think of the tragedies that were certain to come. But they slipped in anyway, the body in Rarity’s hooves becoming much colder. Much stiffer. Losing that heartbeat. “Rarity?” Sweetie Belle’s precious voice brought the unicorn out of her nightmare, bringing back the real world and the real dangers that lied ahead. Shaking her head, she held Sweetie Belle’s own between her hooves, telling her very carefully, very cautiously what they were going to do. Where they were going to go. And no matter what happens, no what she sees, she will never leave her side. Sweetie Belle, though slightly confused, grew more and more fearful after seeing the dread in her sister’s eyes, the shake in her voice, and the shivering in her hooves. And Sweetie Belle nodded. Together, the two sisters rushed out of the boutique that was barely standing, that had somehow managed to survive the wave of fire. With Opal in Sweetie’s hooves, both Rarity and Sweetie Belle ran to the Town Square, where Friday flying from above ordered civilians to retreat to. Sweetie Belle gazed up and saw the Iron Man armor fly over her head. And she didn’t leave Rarity’s side. Never did. As for Rainbow Dash, she bucked open the doors to the only other house that held meaning to her, seeing it practically abandoned and not a pony in sight. No parents. No aunts. Nothing. With her heart in her throat, Rainbow soared up the stairs, found the only other bedroom, and nearly slammed right through the door with how fast she was flying. Inside, Scootaloo turned away from her window, gasping to see the one and only. “Rainbow Dash!” “Hey, kid!” Rainbow breathed, opening her right wing to allow Scootaloo to sneak in a quick but warm hug. After breaking away, Rainbow continued to look about her room, as if by some false hope to find somepony else within Scootaloo’s bedroom. “Where is everypony?” “They… they were all at work! Then this huge dust storm just blew through Ponyville and—” Rainbow’s eyes shot open. Slowly she turned back to Scootaloo, those fear-riddled eyes meeting Scootaloo and causing the young Pegasus to falter in her words. “They were outside?” Dash asked. So quiet, So weak. So unlike her. “Y-yeah… why?” Rainbow only gulped, shaking her head and spinning around to face the exit. She stared only at Scootaloo, bending down just for her. She spread out her wings, leaving her backside bare and open. “All right, kid, hop on. And keep your eyes closed. Don’t want any dust getting in your eyes.” “Is the storm pretty nasty out there?” Scootaloo asked, hopping onto Dash’s back, trying to meet her eyes. Only she couldn’t. Rainbow couldn’t meet hers. Instead, she stared dead ahead, tightening her jaw and shortening her breath. “Yeah,” she choked, gulping down whatever tried to arise. “It’s pretty bad.” That was more than enough motivation for Scootaloo to hold on tight. Once feeling her tiny hooves wrapped around her neck, Rainbow Dash didn’t hesitate any longer and flew right out of the empty house. Right out into the burning and desolate world of Ponyville, of Equestria. And Scootaloo kept her eyes shut tight through it all. Fluttershy had returned to her own little cottage near the outskirts of Ponyville, by the edges of the Everfree Forest to gather as many of her animals as she could. Once together, she soothed their worries and their fears by telling them to retreat to Zecora’s hut. Throughout all the Everfree, perhaps in all of Equestria, that was where she knew they would be safe. Fluttershy knew Zecora wouldn’t mind. Plus, she still owed Fluttershy for helping her with the whole Swamp Fever epidemic. Entrusting the safety of all of her animals in Angel Bunny and Harry the Bear, she was forced to watch every little creature slither, fly, and rush into the depths of the accursed forest. Every creature she had spent months, years knowing, caring, and loving… all leaving her cottage an empty, dark, and lonesome home. Fluttershy didn’t stay long. She could only watch as the last bird flew into the trees before the tears blotted her vision, forcing her to turn and fly back towards Ponyville. And it was in Ponyville where the commotion really started to heat up. Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Capper, Spike, and Mayor Mare all trying to ease the tensions and worries of Ponyville’s populace. When Friday soared down to them, fell right out of the skies and landed feet first upon the shattered and burning earth, she brought with her torrents of civilians, several of which carried bags, colts, fillies, and their wounded loved ones all towards Town Square. With them were the others. Rainbow Dash carrying Scootaloo, Applejack and Rarity rushing along with their families in tow, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie hurrying along with Maud Pie and the Cakes close by, and finally Starlight and Trixie entering the madness for what it was. Twilight and the others tried to see them. They really did. But all they saw were the desolate, horrid remains of Ponyville. Nearly all of the town had been wiped out of existence, burned to ash and vanished from the face of the earth. Pillars of smoke lined the skies and reached higher than any clock tower, as black as the worst sickness known to ponykind. The clouds were gray with that snowfall of ash and burned with the reds and oranges of pure hellfire straight from the bowels of Tartarus. The rain that once was acid and venom had subsided for the briefest of moments, giving the ponies of Ponyville enough time to gather and flee. Within the clash of blood red lightning, however, Twilight's hopes of escape were all but vanquished, the constant shadow of the seven-headed dragon flying over their heads, ready to strike at any moment, forever haunted her. At any moment he could fly down and finish what he started, snuff out the remaining shred of life and hope that survived from his desolation. But he waited. He taunted. He hunted, circling the clouds from above and waiting for the right moment. His roars clashed alongside the thunder. They were the thunder, shaking the earth with every cry. Forcing her head away from the clouds, Twilight instead turned it to the north, to see those trails of smoke escape from the decimation of Canterlot at long last. And leading that smoke trail, finally unveiling themselves, Spitfire and the Wonderbolts came to a sliding halt within Ponyville. Every single Wonderbolt behind her took what little moment of rest they had to collapse and catch their breaths, only a select few somehow managing to remain standing. Those select few were Spitfire herself, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. Removing her soot-covered goggles, Spitfire coughed heavily and approached Princess Twilight, declaring, “Your Highness! Things just went from bad to worse! Canterlot is gone!” It was all she could utter before she fell into another coughing fit, her left wing rising to cover her mouth. The other Wonderbolts fell prey to the sickness of the smoke filling the air, several Pegasi clutching their throats and shielding their mouths. It wasn’t long before Rainbow Dash flew down and landed next to Twilight, allowing Scootaloo to hop off of her before approaching Spitfire herself. Laying her hoof on her captain’s shoulder, Rainbow was surprised to see Spitfire wave her off, assuring her she was fine. “What about Celestia?” Twilight begged, Rainbow and Spitfire turning to the princess. She grew even more desperate from Spitfire’s prolonged silence. “Luna? The Pillars?!” “We can neither confirm nor deny their current location,” Fleetfoot piped up, heads swiveling back to the mare. That hadn’t soothed Twilight’s worries in the slightest, the Alicorn on the verge of a mental and physical breakdown right in the heart of Ponyville. “That doesn’t mean nothin’! They could still be out there for all we know!” Soarin exclaimed, trying to heighten the spirits of the crestfallen Wonderbolts and Princess of Friendship. “In the meantime,” Spitfire interrupted and pointed at hoof right at Twilight’s chest, Twilight and the others facing her, “you’re the only other highest command in the nation. So… what are your orders, Princess Twilight?” Twilight hesitated only momentarily, Rainbow Dash shifting her way, waiting alongside the rest of the Wonderbolts for an answer. Even Dash wasn’t quite clear what Twilight’s endgame was in Ponyville, other than evacuating as many ponies as possible. Their answer came shortly, Twilight affirming her stance with a solid stamp in the dirt. “Help us gather any stragglers and bring them to Town Square. We’re evacuating Ponyville.” Spitfire replied with a firm salute, adjusting her goggles back over her eyes and turning to the remaining Wonderbolts. They all followed suit, in one organized unit, following their captain back into the skies and deeper within the remains of Ponyville. Every member kicked off the ground and spewed dust from where they once stood, Scootaloo gazing in awe to see the several trails of smoke and lightning following the squad of Wonderbolts. As the Wonderbolts scoured the skies and the grounds of Ponyville, the growing crowd of ponies started to pile up, forming a rather restless mob. Within that mob, Derpy flew back and forth, dodging other Pegasi that shot back and forth across the air. Derpy tried her hardest to remain at a steady flying pace, but holding the rather heavy saddlebag while dodging ponies in the air was growing too tiresome of a challenge for her. So, she landed on the ground, cautiously making her way through the crowd until eventually… her unequal pupils shrunk. She gasped. “Trixie! Maud!” Both ponies turned accordingly, almost losing their conjoined breath when Derpy slammed into them with a speeding and powerful hug, the added weight from her saddlebag nearly launching the mares on the ground. Mostly Trixie and Derpy, as Maud stood as still as stone as Derpy finally broke off, smiling with heavy relief their way. “Oh, I’m sooooo glad I found you guys! I was afraid I’d be alone during all of this!” Derpy explained, smiling sweetly to the two mares. Trixie managed a weak grin. Maud didn’t even move. Not even a flinch of her lips. Just that same, solid, emotionless expression. She had never been happier to see Derpy all right. Her eyes trailed to Derpy’s backside. “Looks like you and I had the same idea in mind,” Maud noted, bringing forth her saddlebag. Derpy, more ecstatic than ever, pulled her large saddlebag forward, and the same time as Maud, unveiled what was inside. While Maud revealed a metallic glove with a glowing green gem upon its surface, Derpy barely managed to pull out the large mechanical vest, eventually settling it on the ground near Trixie’s hooves. The unicorn backed away, hoof held up, as she grimaced at the sight of the dreaded vest Derpy brought with her. “Ugh! Why would you carry that horrid thing?!” Trixie asked. Stuffing the vest back into her saddlebag, Derpy stared at Trixie only momentarily, finally saying, “The Domino Gun saved me more times than I could count! Don’t you remember?” “Oh, how could I forget?” Trixie deadpanned, not so fond memories resurfacing of just how Derpy acquired such a weapon in the first place. Maud, on the other hoof, managed a small smile, stuffing her Asteroid Glove back into her bag. A smile that never could have lasted. The skies broke apart, unleashing a hellfire of lightning and thunder. The crowds of Ponyville began to panic, Pegasi trying to flee and the Wonderbolts instantly soaring to the stragglers, pushing them back safely into the herd. They, too, found themselves turning skywards, watching alongside everypony else. From Trixie, Maud, and Derpy all gazing to the heavens opening, to Twilight and her friends all gathered and doing the same, to Mayor Mare and the populace of Ponyville standing in horror, shaking under the weight of the tremor that shook the skies and the earth. From within that opening, breaking through the storm and soaring across the air, the mighty Typhon made his presence known once again. Then panic. Complete, frantic, uncontrolled. And rightfully so. Ponies ran for their lives, for their loved ones, for everything left they held dear. Everything that could be taken in a mere instant if Typhon just turned one of his many heads downwards to the remains of Ponyville, just to finish what he had started. It could have been so easy for him to breathe in and exhale upon the town, wiping it off the face of Equestria. Like it never even existed. It could have been so easy for him to act upon it and finish it… Only he didn’t. To everypony’s surprise, the seven-headed monstrosity landed on the furthest mountain outside of Ponyville, the only mountain capable of holding such a beast. Within the mountain ranges, Typhon flew down until he found a mountain capable of his size. Despite the towering peak practically scratching the heavens, Typhon still towered higher, making the mountain dwarf under his shadow. The earth shuddered and trembled as he settled himself upon the mountain peak. His claws scratched the edges, sending rock slides and avalanches of snow down to the earth below. The seven heads growled, slowly rising higher and higher, all gazing in the same direction. North. Then all was still. Even with the distance, even when separated by miles, Typhon was still so utterly massive. The mountains, several thousand feet tall, appeared like mere boulders beneath the gargantuan dragon. The ponies of Ponyville settled themselves in silence, all eyes widened with both fear and wonder to the massive dragon and what he would do next. Even the storm seemed to calm momentarily, the beast seemingly focused on something, needing that silence to… Twilight Sparkle breathed silently, slowly narrowing her eyes on the titan. His body slithered and slunk upon the mountain peak, the seven hundred serpents on his body crying out, hissing, all finally shushing in unison, leaving the lands of Equestria… unnaturally silent. It was an unnaturally silent day. Silent and cold. Despite everything, the windchill finally arrived, ponies shivering on the spot, but not a single utterance. Not one. It was as if the temperature, the atmosphere, the very natural environment shifted in the dragon's favor/ Everypony was focused solely, only on the titan upon the peak, all eyes watched as the seven heads rose higher and higher, stretching further and further north. Listening. The reds of each eyes on the beast narrowed slowly, the nostrils on the seven serpent heads widening as torrents of air entered and exited even slower. Everypony held their breath. All was quiet on the Equestrian front. It took nearly a full minute for Twilight to realize where exactly Typhon was staring. She followed his gaze, meeting it at the destruction of Canterlot Mountain. What was left of it, the dust cloud rising and eventually fading away… leaving nothing. No city. Just nothing. Typhon’s eyes narrowed only further, a few heads growling at the absence of the city of Canterlot. The serpents upon his body were becoming unruly, acting only in correspondence to Typhon’s growing aggravation and rising flame of anger. He held still, the seven heads stretching even further, listening far more carefully for every and any sound that arose from the mountain. His claws tightened against the mountain, shattering the rock upon it. His wings slowly started to unfurl once more, but he held together. Just a little bit longer. He breathed in, smelled the air for their blood. Again and again… And still nothing. But what was there, smiling over the destruction of Canterlot and every life within it, the Mad Titan himself hovered in mid-air. Upon his gauntlet the five Infinity Stones were bright and alive, and he, Thanos, was smiling over it. Over all of it. Directly at him. Typhon’s eyes shot open. All fourteen of them. Realization struck him like the powers of the earth a millennium ago, thus unleashing his pent-up hatred and rage when the pieces of the dreaded puzzle came together at long last. Their blood was nowhere to be found. He couldn't smell it. Not flowing. Not alive. And Thanos was still there. Alive. “The Princesses… the Pillars… They were mine to kill, Thanos!” His voice shot out throughout the silence like the horrid crack of thunder, shaking the very foundations of Equestria once again. Ponies screamed and held onto each other, gazing fearfully to the towering dragon menacingly turning towards Ponyville. Twilight gasped at his words, eyes widening when the horror of the situation, the worst possible scenario, fell upon her. The princesses… the Pillars of Old Equestria… they couldn’t be… Only her thoughts could be considered for later, as the now, the reality of the world, needed her attention. She watched alongside every life in Ponyville, maybe even every life in all of Equestria, as Typhon slowly, horrifyingly turned his many heads directly above. The swirling vortex of clouds broke apart upon his command, unveiling the blue planet molded in with the sky. The lone continent directly in his line of sight, the fires burning upon its surface, the battle for the very universe occurring just on the face of Africa… And even then… Typhon saw deeper. He saw beneath it. And there was light. The last light of the six. Typhon’s wings unfurled fully. “If you would take what’s mine… I shall take what’s yours!” From afar, Thanos’ smile vanished as Typhon spread out his wings, ripped himself off the mountain peak, and took off right for the heavens. Right out of the atmosphere. Into the darkness of space and the stars and towards the only other object standing in his way: Earth. Thanos watched the entire time, in stunned silence, as Typhon did just that. The mountain was shredded as the gargantuan dragon leapt off from its surface. With the beat of his wings, a gust of wind so powerful was sent forth upon the world he flew off of. It encompassed nearly all the land, that wind decimating a portion of the Everfree Forest, of the distant wilderness, and especially the remains of Ponyville. Every building that had survived the initial wave were all vaporized instantaneously, boards of wood, chunks of cement and brick flung across the roads and demolishing anything in its path. Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Trixie Lulamoon, and every other unicorn that could manage created a vast shield to protect the ponies around them. They did very little once the wave of air, dust, and debris struck them. Ponies were flung right from their hooves, every Pegasi pulled right out of the air and tossed to the earth fiercely. Unlike the first wave of fire, the second wave of dust and air did not last as long, merely fifteen or so seconds before slowly dying down and unveiling the carnage. Ponyville was gone. Everything was gone. Nothing but desolation, a graveyard of what once was. Twilight and her friends could only watch with their surviving friends and family. Watch as the mighty Typhon disappeared from the sight. Watch as the storm slowly faded. Watch as the clouds broke apart and unleashed the sunlight, the warmth, and the horror from above. And they ran once more. Off to nowhere. Anywhere except where the Chitauri Command Center hung over Ponyville. But it wasn’t alone. Not by a long shot. Twisting her neck over her shoulder, Twilight Sparkle looked passed the massive stampede of ponies she had created and towards the skies behind her. Every cloud broke apart. Every shred of the sky was opened, and out came many more Chitauri ships. Many more warships. Many more Command Centers. So many that they dotted the skies and fully unleashed their invasion force upon the defenseless Equestria. And the world. So they ran, following Princess Twilight Sparkle out of Ponyville and towards the only other form of a safe haven she knew of. And she wasn’t alone in that regard. Zecora stood on the edges of the Everfree Forest, several of Fluttershy’s animals by the zebra’s side and waving everypony towards the forest just like Zecora. Waving them towards safety, towards sanctuary. In that mighty stampede, the remnants of Ponyville disappeared within the trunks of the trees, the shadows and veils of the Everfree Forest concealing them from the rest of the world. Zecora and the animals waited until every last pony was safe and inside the forest foliage. Then followed the animals, leaving just the lone zebra standing on the edge. Leaving Zecora to watch Equestria be plunged into the fires of the alien invasion. Leaving her to watch Typhon’s body disappear into the atmosphere, vanish just over the continent of Africa. Then she turned around and ran. Not a word. None.