Infernal
By Unicron and Nodd, the Blind Horse
Prologue
Andros.
This is the world from which Humanity first evolved. The planet was hospitable to them, allowing the species to quickly become the most dominant it had ever seen, with a rapidly growing population. In time, the humans developed a Grand Council to control the population, and the planet. For millennia they ruled, and lived in calculated, drone-like unison, but also in misery. Their technology advanced for millennia, but there was little change in the homogenous society, or the emptiness in their hearts. That is, until one man named Praxis sought out change and freedom.
Praxis was strong of will, and he abhorred the treatment of his people, but he was just one man, and he could not take on the great empire by himself. Any attempts to form a resistance would also be fruitless. The Grand Council’s stranglehold on the proletariat was too strong, for they had been bullied into submission for over thousands of years.
So Praxis secretly left his world in search power, in hopes that it would help him tear down the heartless shackles of autonomy that oppressed Andros. For years he searched for the masters of wisdom and power. His journey took him out of his own galaxy of Andromeda into the neighboring Milky Way galaxy, where he found powerful beings, the Alicorns. He looked upon these creatures, which were much like his own, differenced only by strange anatomy and females being the dominate sex. In hopes that these beings could aid him in his journey, he gained counsel with Planet Alicornia’s Empress Xena.
Xena, who sympathized with the terrible plight on the inhabitants of Andros, shared many secrets with Praxis. She told him of magic, a powerful force that existed even before existence itself. She explained that it was a primordial and fundamental force of the universe, and those who wielded it were capable of great things, but she also warned of the dangers of corruption that followed the user, and the consequences to befall those who abused the gift. Praxis, in his sorrow over the treatment of his people, did not heed Xena’s warning, and he absorbed the magic, knowing fully that his intentions were violent.
After years of tireless learning and training, Praxis learned how to use magic to slow his body growth, and extend his lifespan to eons. He learned how to channel magic, and bend it to his will to give him great strength. He knew that he was now capable of saving his people from the corrupt council, and he left Alicornia to reunite with his own planet in Andromeda. His journey for power was over, but this would not be the last time Praxis would see the Alicorns.
When Praxis arrived back on Andros, it was the same. The Grand Council still oppressed the hearts and the minds of his people. Face to face once again with the product of his rage, he was compelled even further to put an end to those whom he saw as his enemies. He summoned his magic, and took flight in the direction of the tower of the councilmen.
Once there, Praxis burst into the tower. Surrounded by an aura of pure hatred, the energy he emanated brought the councilmen to their knees with fear. They had never seen anything so awesomely powerful. He let loose all of the anger that was in his heart. His emotion, which he saw as the essence of his very humanity, had been taken from him for all his life, but no more. It was primordial, elemental, and it roared like the hot blue sun in the Andromidan sky. This is the price the Council would have to pay. Praxis saw it only fitting that these tyrants fall by the very subject of their tyranny. The councilmen begged for his mercy, but there was no hope for them. In only a matter of seconds, Praxis had exterminated the entire council.
Before the entire planet, Praxis announced his defeat of the oppressive council, and declared himself ruler of all Andros. For the first time in history, things would change for the Andromidian people. All rejoiced at the fall of the cruel empire that had plagued them. They bellowed joyous songs of their freedom and praised their God King. The people of Andros were in high spirits, but this would be short lived.
In the beginning, Praxis ruled benevolently and the people of Andros were free, but as time passed, Praxis became corrupted by the power of his magic and his crown. He began to abolish old laws that promoted freedoms, and institute new laws which promoted limitation. In his quest for power, his taste had become insatiable. He started to attack innocent nearby alien planets, executing and/or enslaving the population, processing their planet’s resources and space for mankind’s escalating population.
As Praxis pulled planets into his empire, his descent into darkness grew deeper. He was the most powerful being in the entire galaxy, he had everything he could ever dream of, and he began to fancy himself a god. He constructed a sword, which glowed bright orange, matching his own aura. He cast aside royal robes and clothing, dawning one black robe, and in time he cast aside all other parts of his former self, including his own name. By now, the entire Empire knew him by one name only: the Infernal One.
For eons Mankind branched throughout the galaxy, and soon other planets that had been inhabited by creatures of all shapes and sizes were now inhabited by the same two legged figure. The Infernal One had an entire galaxy at his disposal, yet he was still not satisfied. He needed more, for himself, and to expand his ever growing empire. The once bright blue star of Andros now glowed with the deep red of an ending cycle. The Infernal one required magic for it to burn, and the only place he knew to acquire that magic was Alicornia.
This would not be an easy task. He was powerful, yes, and he had conquered many planets, but the inhabitants of those worlds were not like the Alicorns. The Alicorns were like him, or, quite possibly, even more powerful than him. This was not a plan to be taken lightly, so he summoned an armada of humans from all across the Andromedan Empire to aid in his conquest of the Alicorns’ magic.
The battle was short. The Infernal One and his vast army was no match for the superior power of the Alicorns. They were forced to retreat back to Andromeda where the Infernal One, defeated, and lamenting his dying sun, bitterly planned for his revenge.
In fear that the Humans and other outsiders would continue attempts to harvest their magic for immoral desires, the Alicorns travelled to the far corners of the universe, gathering their most sacred and powerful artifacts, and protected their energy within six separate crystals. To ensure no one could ever again use the power inside the crystals for evil, the Alicorns cast a lock upon five of them, and only those who were kind, generous, joyful, loyal and honest could activate the sixth and most powerful crystal of all, the crystal of magic.
Confident in their attempt to guarantee harmony in the forces of magic, the Alicorns launched their retaliation on Andros. Mankind was again no match for the magic of the Alicorns, who quickly invaded the heart of the Andromedan Empire, Planet Andros. The former empress of Alicornia, Xena, led a team of six Alicorns on the dying planet, each soldier with one of the crystals. Their mission was to fight the Infernal One face to face.
The team stormed the tower. The Infernal One was indeed there, waiting for the small squad of assassins. Xena was able to strike the first blow, but the Infernal One struck back. The Alicorns bravely fought the tyrant, waiting for the right moment to activate the crystals, but upon delivering what was to be the killing strike, the Infernal One blocked the magic with his sword. Much to his horror, however, the sword, which was a talisman for his own magic, reacted with the talismans of the others.
The orange glow of the sword grew bright white and the Emperor could feel the magic pulling him in. As he dematerialized into his blade, he spoke to Xena and the team of Alicorns…
“Do you think you have defeated me, Empress Xena? Did you think I had not calculated a plan since we last met? Well, let me assure you, Alicorns, I WILL be back!”
The blade dropped to the ground, still glowing white, but not as bright as before. Xena walked closer to it, and slowly reached out to hold it in her hooves.
“Your Highness…,” called out a concerned sounding Alicorn, which caused her to hesitate. Xena looked at her sternly, but she continued anyway, “Your Highness chose me for this mission for my honesty, so I absolutely must say that I do not think it is wise for Your Highness to touch that sword!”
“While it is correct that I did choose you specifically for your honesty, and while I do also appreciate your fervor, I will decide what is wise,” commanded Xena, keeping a firm hand on her personnel, while still showing them respect.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Xena reached out once more for the relic, but as she grabbed it, the light shifted orange once more, and burned her hoof. She winced and quickly tossed it aside. The other Alicorns gasped.
“My Leige!”
“Are you hurt?”
“I am fine,” said Xena, still holding her hoof, “There must be some kind of protection on--”
Just then, there was a bright flash from the sword. The Alicorns shielded their eyes, and took cover. They had no idea what kind of hexes the Infernal One may have put on the sword. Once the light had subsided, they all came out from shelter. Xena and the Alicorns walked toward the sword again, and when they got close, they saw that the swords glow was completely gone
So Xena’s army returned home, taking with them the talisman that held the Infernal One. They had won, and saved the forces of magic from succumbing to the cruel perversions of darkness. The Infernal One was imprisoned and all was harmony.