You regroup outside the temple after the battle. You had a few casualties in the battle, and you mourn for them. But this isn’t the time for grieving. It’s a time for action, and you prepare to head off as soon as you can. “So we have your word then?” Ahuitzotl’s allegiance is shaky and you have to be sure he’s on your side.
”We will fight by your side, but we’ll be back soon after.”
“And I’ll be ready when you do.” He saunters back over to his forces who’ve already began reconstruction. “Group meeting, now.” You leave your forces to rest as your team gathers in the command tent. It’s about time to prepare for the upcoming battle, and that starts with your army. “We’re going to split up, each into a different direction.”
”Hold on Anon,” Iron Will starts, “That doesn’t seem like the best idea.”
“Every second we waste is another second Anonymous has a chance to ready his defenses. We do not have time to backtrack across the countryside.”
”Anonymous is probably chilling on his throne without a care in the world,” Soarin jins in.
“No, he’s not stupid. Trust me, I know.”
”And just how is that?” He shoots back. You pause at his response. You’ve kept this off for far too long.
“I know, because we’re alike, almost one and the same. I know him… because he’s my brother.”
Crickets chirp in the aftermath of this revelation, the only ones brave enough to speak up. “Bullshit.”
”It’s true. He told me himself, and I’m sure those four and verify it as well,” Vinyl says.
Dash and the others nod, “The only reason he’s allowed him this far is because of the blood in his veins.”
Soarin sits on his haunches, “Well then. That’s interesting.”
“Wait, you’re not pissed? Shouldn’t you be railing on me?”
”Anon dude, we’ve been through some shit. I’m not going to throw it away because some dick happens to be your brother.” You’re relieved. “However, I am pissed that you didn’t tell us in the first place.”
“It’s not something you just throw into a conversation. ‘Hi I’m Anon. I like reading and video games, also my big brother is a blood thirsty tyrant.’”
Iron Will chuckles, “Anon’s got a point. You would’ve turned on him before our first battle.”
Fluttershy peeps up, “Umm, what’s the plan then? I mean, if you want to tell us…” Oh god she’s so fucking cute.
“We need to get word to the other leaders to begin the march, but first we need a place to meet up.”
”How about Ponyville?” Big Mac offers as a solution. You honestly hadn’t thought about that.
“Is it close by?”
”Just outside the forest yonder, about a day’s travel outside of Canterlot.”
“Any objections?” They shake their heads, content with his choice. “Then it’s decided. We’ll regroup in Ponyville. What about the residents though?”
”Ponyville’s our home silly. They’ll always be loyal to us,” a certain pink pony answers.
“Alright, if you say so.”
”So who’s going to get the word out? I can make it the fastest,” Rainbow Dash boasts.
“I’m going to assign each of you with a destination, only one.” Dash pouts playfully, still hoping to test her speed. “Soarin, Dash, you’re going back to Aviaris. It’s the furthest away so you’re informing Stormguard of our progress.”
”Won’t he be a little pissed since our last encounter?”
“He’s a sharp one. Just give him a rundown of the plan and he’ll follow suit.”
”If you say so.”
“Iron Will, you can take a guess as to where you’re going.”
“Cervida, got it.” He thinks for a moment, “And just how in the hay do you plan on getting me there? It’ll take months.”
“Well I’m sure someone would be able to part with a certain flying noodle monster.”
Fluttershy fumbles over her words, “Oh. I don’t- He doesn’t- He’s… He’s a bit shy.”
“I’m sure Iron Will’s still got one seminar left in him.”
”You just have an answer for everything don’t you?” the minotaur asks.
“Just about, now next… Big Mac, you’re taking a contingent back north.”
”I’m not real comfortable going there Anon.”
“You know the grounds and are sturdy under pressure. You’re the stallion for this job.”
”But what if she wants to do things… love type things.”
“She’s waiting for someone. That’s all you need to know.” He doesn’t look completely convinced, but begrudgingly accepts.
“And finally, Pinkie Pie and Vinyl. You two will lead everyone else to Ponyville and get ready for our arrival.”
”Okie dokie lokie.”
Fluttershy pokes you softly in the arm, “Umm, what about me?”
“Fluttershy. You get to stay here with our new friends. It’s the least you can do after wrecking their temple.”
”Oh… ok…”
“Hey now, I need you to keep this guy in line my little stare master.”
Twilight’s the only one left, “So I’m going with them?”
“No, you’re coming with me.”
Cue Pinkie, “Oh haaay nawww. She’s not well enough to travel alone.”
“But she’s not alone. She’s got me.”
”I don’t think that’s what she meant. I’m not well enough to travel without help.”
“Once again, you’ve got me.”
”There’s no convincing you otherwise is there?” Twilight questions.
“Nnnope. Chuck Testa.” That night you enjoy a nice plate of spaghetti courtesy of Wuten. He tried to eat you, so in return he allows you to eat some of him. No homo. Everyone takes off in the morning, Iron Will boarding Wuten and launches into the sky. Big Macintosh heads north again, taking a handful of men with him. You shake Soarins hoof and give Dash a hug before they leave as well. You decide it’d be best to go yourself, packing your things and joining Twilight on the way out.
”Anon!” You turn around as Vinyl plants a quick peck on your lips, “Do be careful.”
“Don’t worry about us.”
”I’m not.” Her disdain has no end it would seem.
“They’re our friends now. Treat them as such.”
”Can we really trust them?” You look out to see Pinkie cleaning her cannon and chuckle when she accidently causing it to misfire.
“Yes. Yes we can.”
You scratch her behind the ear causing her right leg to spasm. Every little secret she had you’d learned over the many months you’d been together. ”What did I- tell you about doing that?” Her eyes roll around in her head before she gathered the strength to escape your reach.
“See you soon Vinyl.”
”Hurry on now would you?” Holding onto Twilight you help her off into the forest.
The forest’s usual chatter is missing as you prowl your way out of the thick brush. ”You could’ve gone yourself. I should rest.”
“Don’t wimp out on me. You’ve got information in that big head of yours and I need what’s inside.”
”And what if Discord won’t meet with you?”
“I’ll make him.” The dirt trail picks up dust behind you as the sun’s rays cut through the treeline.
”Don’t underestimate him. Anon made that mistake…”
“The dead can do no harm to the living, that much I am certain.”
”Then you are certain of nothing.” This is going to be a long trip.
~~~
Hoisting her around everywhere turned out to be more trouble than you had thought, plus the heat began to intensify, turning your armor into a makeshift microwave. Sweat permeates your body as it drenches your undergarments. Twilight expresses her concern for you, but you brush it off and keep on. The faster you walk, the faster fatigue sets in and the faster you feel the effects of dehydration. You uncork your flask and bring the crusted edge to your lips, gulping at few dribbles that remain.
“So hot…” You rub your drenched neck, knees buckling, unable to keep your body upright.
”Anon,” she cries out as she tries to pull you up, “Please get up.” You look back up to the sky as the sun fades out from the darkening clouds. You close your eyes in exhaustion. *drip* A wet plop hits your forehead, the liquid chilling your skin. ”Luck is on our side,” Twilight says as more rain begins to penetrate the treetops.
Twilight fills up your flask and you drink heavily of its contents, feeling your vigor restore. With her help you manage to stand. Seems she’s the one who’s here to help you. ”Are you alright Anon?”
“Yeah. Thanks for asking.”
She catches more of the rain and takes a swig, “We’re lucky for this weather. I don’t want to think about what would happen if it hadn’t come around.
“I’d get to Tartarus a bit quicker than I expected.” You stand on your own again, legs still a bit wobbly, but nothing you can’t handle. A soothing breeze cuts through you as you spot the exit of the forest.
”This breeze really is something.”
”She really is…”
”Excuse me?”
“Nothing, forget about it.”
”Come on then, we can make it to the river by nightfall if we keep this pace.” You look back up to the clouds as you emerge and imagine the three of them swirling about up there. Using your cloak as raincoat you shield the both of you from the rain as you trot down the muddy path.
The grassy fields are a welcome change to your eyes and feet as the soil cushions them upon impact. Twilight breathes a sigh of relief when she spots the stream, “I think we should make camp for the night. Get our bearings before we move on.”
“No way am I fighting you there,” you reply as you drop your bag of goodies. You gather some wood for the fire and plop them down in a small fire. Whipping out your flint and steel you light the fire, attempt to at least. The wood is too wet for the spark to spread and you soon lose your patience, throwing down your equipment in a fit.
Twilight counsels you, “Here, allow me.” She touches her horn to the wood and it ignites in a splendor of violet flames.
“Feeling better then?”
”I’m trying not to wear myself out. It’s… been a while since I performed typical magic.” You set out a pot and start up a fresh stew with assorted veggies. Twilight holds her hooves before the fire.
“So what type of magic did you use when…?” You scratch your back, the scars a constant reminder of her.
”I learned a primal form of sorcery, one that had lain dormant for centuries.”
“Discord?”
”Discord.” You stir the brew, but stay focused on Twilight.
“And he passed that knowledge onto you and Anonymous?”
”Just him. He taught me later, after Discord’s demise.” You try and remember him back on earth, but it’s all fuzzy now. Only the insane tyrant remains. ”He was a good man, your brother, as well as a friend.”
“It doesn’t matter who he was, only who he’s become.”
She nods in agreement, “I see a little of him in you as well. You would’ve liked Ponyville as much as he did, after things had calmed down.”
“I heard it caused most of his troubles.”
”He was a tad unstable, but anyone would be with Discord prattling about in your brain.”
You chuckle in response. “I get that.”
“That night- I wasn’t thinking straight you know. I was changed, just like him.”
“Twilight, it’s in the past. Right now all I see is the unicorn who stands by my side.”
She smiles and helps stir your dinner, “Rarity would’ve liked you, maybe not as much as Rainbow Dash, but pretty close nonetheless.”
“Yeah yeah, I’m a real ladies man.”
”Do you really not see it?” She asks as you pour yourself a bowl.
“Damn you’re right,” you pull out a long hair, “One always finds a way to get in there.”
She slams her hooves to the ground, “Rainbow Dash likes you, you numbskull.” You choke on your food, a noodle shooting out of your nose.
“Come again?”
She immediately regrets her outburst, “It’s not my place to talk about this.”
“Oh hell no, you’re not shutting down on me.”
She looks at you plainly, “How the hell didn’t you see the signals?”
“What am I, some kind of psychic?”
”Really? She spends all her time with you, talks to you about being with someone better, none of this rings any bells?”
“How do you know she said that?”
”I’m her friend Anon, she talks to me.” You collect yourself. It only makes sense that she’s lonely, and as far as you know she hasn’t been with anyone since she betrayed your brother.
“She doesn’t like me. She likes my brother, who he was anyways.”
”And just how close are you to your brother? You’re basically one and the same.”
“He was my big bro, I tried to be just like him…”
She places her hoof on you, “She likes you. Anon. Not Anonymous.”
“But, Vinyl…”
”She understands how you feel about her; it’s the only reason she hasn’t forced herself on you.” A tinge of fear hits you thinking about that scenario, “Kidding. She’d never do that to you.”
“I can’t. I just can’t. Vinyl and I are a thing now, and I can’t just throw that away.”
She is content with your answer, but you can hear her disappointment. “We’re all on borrowed time you know. Who knows how long she has?” She settles to her bedside, “Sleep tight, you need your strength.”
~~~
You shove aside the bushes and let Twilight go through. ”There it is. The gate.” An everlasting blackness is cut into the mountain side, runes carved into the adjacent stone. “We should hurry, Cerberus doesn’t take kindly to those who linger.”
You jog over to the portal, its guardian busy rolling around in its own drool. ”These runes are ancient, sealing the dead within for all eternity.” You look at the runes and grin.
“The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it. The way is shut.”
”You- you can read that?”
You laugh in response. “Pfft, nope.” You look back into the swirling darkness, “So how does this work?”
”From what I understand, you picture where you want to go or someone you want to see and enter. The rest is unknown.”
“No one’s come back from this have they?”
”No one living.” You grunt and hold onto your sword, keeping your shield tight against your body. ”You can’t kill those who are already dead, but do not expect the same in return.” Perfect. Hopefully Discord is in less than a killing mood. You reach your hand into the void, the abyss wriggling around your arm like living ooze. The slime slivers up your arm and begins to encase your body in a warm cocoon. ”Don’t fight it Anon. Think about Discord and let yourself go.” It crawls down your spine. Think Anon, Discord. Lord of Chaos and soul of the damned. Your vision is hindered as it rolls over your eyelids. You open them painlessly, as if nothing were there at all. Drowsiness hits you as the last inch of your body is devoured. ”Where do you want to go Anon?” Twilight’s voice echoes in your skull. Where? No, not where. Who?
“Bring me to Discord.” Your body falls inert as you’re dragged into the portal.
~~~
”Taking number 25472.” A ding shakes you awake, finding yourself in some sort of waiting room.
“What is this place Twilight? Twilight?” Where did she go? The others around you roll their eyes and twiddle their thumbs. They don’t act dead, but their color is faded to an unmistakable grey. Five guards stand around the room decked with SWAT worthy armor and matching nightsticks.
You stand up, the guards gripping tighter at their weapons, a bolt of electricity coursing through their hands. “Number 25473.” The changeling beside you stands up, “About time.” He walks over to the unicorn at the room’s end behind the safety glass and turns in a card. ”Through there please.” A door swings open and he passes through it, locking closed behind him.
You follow in his footsteps and approach the glass, “Business?”
“Excuse me?”
She glances at you before returning to her Sudoku puzzle, “What’s your business?”
“I’m here to see Discord.”
She stifles a laugh and fills in another blank, “Who’s not trying to see him?”
“So are you going to let me see him?”
”Look honey, he doesn’t take visitors. Not even high profile ones like yourself.” She adjusts her glasses, “Anything else I can help you with?”
“Yeah, what is this place? I assumed Tartarus was some sort of wasteland.”
”It is. For the majority of its residents the isolated landscape is enough to keep them from acting up.”
“And for the others?”
”We keep them here in Frostbite Prison where the Warden keeps the inmates in line.”
“So the guards are just for show?”
”They’re temporary, after the break-in we upped security?”
“Who’d want to break into a prison?”
”The same type of person who asks too many questions.”
“Well what should I do now? I need to see Discord.”
”Take a seat and wait for your number,” she hands you a card. 789574.
“Ha, no. I’m not waiting that long for this.”
”Sir, take your seat or we’ll make you.”
“I guess you’ll just have to make me then.”
You both stare at the other, your wills battling it out for dominance, “Please?” You shake your head, to which she sighs, “I’ll inform the warden of your request. I’ll let him handle this. Good enough?”
“Why yes it is. Thank you for your time.” Your grab a mint and sit back in your seat, the guards relaxing. Plopping it in your mouth fills you with disgust and you resist the urge to purge. You spit it on the floor, red goo seeping from its interior. It tasted like blood.
”Just to take the edge off, can’t have us tearing at each other’s throats,” says your neighbor.
“Edge off what?”
“The thirst of course, not that you warm bloods understand that.” You ask him about it since you don’t have anything better to do. ”Imagine a hunger deep inside of you, always present and thirsting for more. We dead crave the flesh of others, specifically the blood in their veins. Should we give into those urges we become something else, something evil.”
“Sounds like bullshit to me.”
”Warm bloods never believed until their bodies grow cold and the hunger first sets in.”
“Well I don’t plan on finding out for myself.” He huffs and fiddles with his number. He’s not going to talk to you anymore, and you better rest while you can. You close your eyes and drift off into slumber, the ashy air coating your lungs the more you inhale. Mmmmm, ribs…
~~~
”Anon to the desk. Anon to the desk.” An electric shock jolts you awake and into two guards.
”She’s calling you warm blood.” You dust off your armor and yawn before they escort you down to her.
“So?” You ask her, the guards settling in behind you. She doesn’t even look up form her game.
”Seems the warden gave you a waver. Consider yourself lucky.”
“Really? Awesome, I would’ve waited to death out here.”
The doorway opens and you step through. “If only…” she mutters under her breathe.
You flip her off before the guards shoving you forward, “Keep moving.” You raise your hands innocently and perform as instructed. The bars to your right reveal the dirt courtyard below, a range of creatures prowling about lifting weights and the like. God knows how long they’ve been trapped here. They must’ve come to terms with their imprisonment after all this time.
The cells on the adjacent wall are locked up tight, not only physically, but by the glyphs on the wall you’d also say magically. Two guards stand outside each cell, though you see a mass huddled up ahead near the stairway. You peer inside over the various guards, just another cell from the looks of it. “Wasn’t this a break in?”
”Break in to break out.”
”Just keep moving whelp.”
“Don’t kill me for asking, jeez.” You follow the ancient corridors of Frostbite until the guards stop you just outside a heavily guarded cell.
”Don’t expect any help from us if he’s in a sour mood. By the time we got the door open you’d already be dead.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.” He mutters a primal incantation, the door creaking open, the sweet scent of cotton candy floating through.
”Come in my dear Anon. Do not be afraid.” The guards sense your hesitation and help you out… by shoving you through the door and locking it behind you.
“Assholes!”
”Such language. So invigorating.” You turn to see the twisted draconequus lying down on his cot, sipping from a glass of what you hope is chocolate milk.
“Discord…”
He smiles, “The one and only, but enough about me. Let me see you.” You walk over by your own will, “You really are a spitting image of your brother.”
“And you look like an image someone spit on.”
He narrows his eyes and grabs you by the neck, “Feisty as well, just like him. He really was my greatest student.” You tear his hand off your neck, Discord having a hoot, “Hit a nerve? The similarities keep piling up.”
“I didn’t come here for chit chat you freak.”
He wipes a tear from his eye, “Of course not, though we’ll have plenty of time for that later.”
“I need you to do what you did to my brother.”
”Beat him to a pulp and allow his true power to reveal and overtake my own? Because that can be arranged.”
“Teach me magic.”
He blinks a couple times and stands up, his voice deep and fucking terrifying, “You come into my cell. Insult my image. Not having the courtesy to bring me a present…”
You back up into the cell door, “Ten souls says he pisses his pants.” The other guard replies, “You’re on.”
”Then you want me to bestow on you the gift of chaos? An art so powerful that it brought the world to its knees?” You straighten up as he presses his head against yours.
“Yes.”
”Then why didn’t you just say so?” He flops back on his bed slapping his knee, “You should’ve seen your face. You were all oh eh ah. Muahaha, priceless.”
“I- I think I’m confused. No, I think you’re confused.”
”Such is the way of chaos, but come, sit with me.” He practically drags you over, “Why such big arms you have. Do you work out?”
“Don’t make this gay.”
”Now Anon, please, we’re in prison. It’s not gay.”
“That doesn’t make it any better.”
”At least I’m not asking if you to play a game of rape.”
“Things could always be worse I guess.”
”Exactly, that’s a great attitude to have.” He takes a deep breathe, “It’s been a while since I last did this so forgive me if I’m a tad sloppy. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He grips the sides of your head and looks at you, his yellow eyes mirroring your own. ”Hmm, that’s strange. I can usually do this fairly easily.”
“Don’t worry it’s a common problem amongst guys your age.”
He gives you a knowing look and look down your neck, “Maybe if you took this off.” He reaches down your cuirass with his talon making you jump instinctively.
“I need an adult. I need an adult!”
”I am an adult,” he grabs onto your necklace and pulls it out, the ruby shimmering from an unknown source. ”So this is what’s been keeping me out of that big head of yours. Why don’t you take this off so we can continue?” You begin to pull it off, “Wait, do it… slowly…” You stop yourself from vomiting and continue. “Yes, this pleases me.” A gush of vomit washes into your mouth and you quickly swallow it down. He laughs at your discomfort.
“You’re a sick fucking guy you know that?”
”Would you have me any other way?”
“Yes.”
”Well too bad,” he grips onto your skull, talon and paw digging into your skin. “Whatever you do, don’t fight it.” Your vision blurs into green as sparks shoot into your head and into the rest of your body. You flex your muscles by nature, but the searing pain forces you to stay down. ”Good boy. Let ol’ papa Discord help you.” It hurts… fuck! That douche is going to-
“GAAAH!” You pummel your fist into his torso and send him flying into the wall. That felt… good. He gives you a dopey look before shaking his head and leaping to his feet.
”Now that’s what I’m talking about. I haven’t felt a surge of chaos that strong since I was alive.”
“I- I’ve never felt anything like that in my life…”
”Chaos is such a good feeling. You don’t need concentration or practice, only your emotions fuel the fire.”
“I feel like I can do anything.”
”In a sense you can, anything you know or wish to do can be done.” You throw a few punches in the air, your jabs feeling like they can break through mountains. ”So are you going to try something?”
“Like what?”
”Anything. Try and do something you’ve always wanted to do.” Anything? Interesting. You hold your hands together in front of you.
“I don’t have to concentrate?”
”Pull on your emotions and go with the flow.” You like the sound of that. You use happiness, pulling your hands together and thrusting your palms forward.
“Hadouken!” The cell’s door and surrounding wall cave in due to the explosive force of your blast, the guards knocked out on the floor. “Holy hell! I’m a fucking super hero!”
Discord laughs heartily behind you and claps, “Good boy! You’re doing better than I thought you would.”
“Can I levitate stuff as well?”
”You can do whatever you want.” Driven by adrenaline and excitement you pull a series of stones around you, four guards turning the corner and freezing in shock.
“I’m an earth bender mother fucker!” You knock them all out in a single wave of your hand.
”Anon?” Twilight rounds the corner as well, a unicorn Pegasus thing behind her.
“Twilight?” You’re torn out of your power fantasy. “Where the hell have you been?”
She looks at the taller mare, “Just talking with an old friend.”
”I think it’s time the two of you leave,” she says.
The unicorn you saw in the waiting room steps through the rubble and bodies, “The warden does you a favor and you wreak his prison in return. Nice.”
“Sorry,” you reply realizing the damage you’ve caused, “I wasn’t thinking.”
”Forget about it. I have bigger things to worry about.” She looks to Discord, “I trust you won’t be a problem until we get you a new cell.”
”Oh me?” he says coyly, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
”Ahuh,” she smirks, “Do be sure to keep him in line princess.”
”I’ll do my best,” the unicorn Pegasus answers.
”Just like old times ‘ey Celestia?”
”I will hurt you.”
The prison attendant leads the two of you back to the waiting room, Discord’s laughter rubbing off on you. ”It’s been a real treat having you two in our prison. Hopefully next time we meet you won’t make a mess of it.” Before you have time to reply you’re overcome by the familiar black void.
~~~
You cover your eyes from the sun as it near blinds you. You smell the fresh scent of flowers and the aroma of wet dog. Just like home. ”Are you feeling alright Anon?”
“Alright? I’ve never felt more alive.”
She gives a weary smile, “Don’t let the power go to your head like your brother.”
“Alright then, which way to Ponyville.”
”That way,” she points north east. You put two fingers to your forehead and repeat the name in your head. ”What- What’re you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. Lay your hoof on me.”
”Umm, ok.” Her hoof presses against your back.
“If we’re going to Ponyville, then we’re travelling in style.” A picture of Ponyville appears in your mind, almost as if you were already there. You will be in a second. “Hold on tight.” You disappear in an instant, the gateway to Tartarus falling silent.
~~~
In Canterlot… ”Glad you’re back Anonymous. How was your trip?”
“Good. Is everything ready?”
”We’ve got as many ponies as we can within the city, but we can’t keep it that way for long.”
“Prepare yourself Applejack, a storm is coming.” She leaves the throne room, and you sit down on the throne. At long last your plan is coming into fruition. In one smooth stroke you will eliminate all of your enemies. Then there will be no one who stands in your way. But first, you must deal with your pesky little brother. He’s come far you’ll give him that, but he’s not you.
”Sire, we’ve received a message from our contact in Ponyville.”
“Speak then.”
”She says that the last of the forces will be gathered by day’s end. If we strike now…”
“No. Let them come. Tell her that the plan will proceed as instructed.”
”Yes sire.” Sweet silence…
“Octavia, one more if you will.”