"Sometimes, the only way to stop Evil is not with Good. You must confront it with another kind of Evil."
— Aereon, The Chronicles of Riddick
The grand city of Ionia was split into two. One was revolutionary prior to taking an aggressive stand against those who opposed them. Whereas the other half wished to remain passive behind their walls, believing that war is something that should not be practiced by ancient peacekeepers. Since the rogue EON attack on Ionia, the passive-half of Ionia barely took any damage. While the other half was completely decimated, thanks to the recklessness of Singed. The ruined half of Ionia was controlled by Karma.
She stood alone before the grand council of Ionia's elders. They all sat in high sophisticated desks, looming around the circumference of the room. There was a dim spotlight on each council member, then a bright one that shone down in the center. She stood in that spotlight, constantly being judged by the elders.
The grand council member spoke who sat on the highest chair spoke first. "As an act of mutual understandings, we allowed you to take control of those who seek to fend off invaders, or those who seek to breach our culture. Meanwhile we here remain in peace and tranquility."
"However!" Another member picked up from where he ended, "You have failed to uphold your behalf of your responsibility!"
"I will confirm these statements, " Karma talked back, "But it does not change the fact that the rest of Ionia is now vulnerable!" she stomped her hoof, "You think those walls will protect you forever! Who will be there for the people? Sometimes, pacifism can no longer be an option."
The lowest member sighed loudly. "Foolish child. How else have we remained protected for many centuries?"
"Perhaps we should sentence her to elementary history classes!" said the next member.
Then with silence, the highest member stood up.
"She is young. She is also a very courageous leader through my eyes. However, it is apparent that she can no longer be trusted with part of Ionia, which is a mistake we made. Karma, you have shown us promise of a strong resistance against bandit raids, but that is no longer needed. In truth, we would like to share knowledge with you of our protector. We have come to an understanding that you will keep your title, but your power over your part of Ionia has been revoked. We are dealing with a new threat, according to our neighboring kingdoms."
"I reject." she firmly stated.
"You can't reject the council's judgement!" blurted the 3rd member.
"In fact, I can, and I'm doing it now! I am not pleased by those terms!" she replied.
"Then tell me Lady Karma. What displeases you?!"
"The fact that we rely on some protector for Ionia's sake. Where has this protector been all this time? Where was he during the bandit skirmishes and our most recent battle?!"
"The discussion is closed Lady Karma." said the highest member, "Now if you'll excuse yourself, I'll let you meet our secret protector, so you can tell him yourself."
Although Karma was still not satisfied, she concurred. With disapproving glances, the rest of the council members dismissed themselves. The spotlight on Karma faded slowly, eventually leaving her in darkness. Then the highest member opened the door behind her, refilling the room with a bright light once more.
"Come now child." he ushered. Karma strutted with a fierceness that would make anypony nervous.
While they walked side by side down the extravagant halls of the Ionian keep. They were decorated with blank white walls with gold and purple carpets that stretched throughout the whole hall. There were a few primroses and albino roses that were fitted into handcrafted pots at each corner. They kept walking in silence through confusing mazes of halls that she had a hard time memorizing.
Finally they reached their destination. They were two grand doors, seemingly made of glass. As the member pushed through the doors, inside was a cloud. A puffy and thick cloud hovered above a grey crystal that sat on a stand. As they got closer, the cloud became darker and for lively.
"Please do not try to offend him in any way." he said as he turned back to see Karma.
"I give you no promises."
"Then I bid you mercy." he said before he approached the crystal. Standing still about 2 meters away from it, he spoke, "I apologize for disrupting your activities, but we need a word with you."
The crystal resonated and said, "It is always a pleasure to commune with citizens of Ionia. Especially with you old friend of mine. What must you say to me?"
"I have another friend of mine who wishes to speak with you."
"Let them step forth."
Karma did so and sighed.
"Hello. I prefer to be called Karma at the moment. I have a concerning issue I wish to discuss with you."
"Greetings young pony. To many, I am a demi-god, but to you, I am your friend. In your language, I am called Ao Shin, bringer of winds and storm. What concerns you friend?"
"I believed in an alternative to protect Ionia asides from pacifism. I practiced war."
"Interesting." he commented.
"The council allowed me to do so, but not in Ionia. So I gained control over half of Ionia thanks to numerous volunteers to join. For years, we have successfully defended all of Ionia from invaders. Until recently. They identified themselves as The Black Rose according to rumours; there was also Noxus or organised renegades. However, they had another particular member. That soldier was like none other, and wiped out all troops, disregards for friendly or enemy. He then totaled my part of Ionia. So I was prepared to accept my consequences.
However, the council member said it was you who protects Ionia from all harm, as an alternative for protection. So I ask you: Where were you during those times?"
"I see your point friend, and there is an incoming dire threat. One mistake that the council worded, I come only to protect Ionia when it needs it most. I do not have enough power to summon myself for each raid and attack. I let the council decide that for themselves. If they choose to use pacifism, than so be it. Be warned my friends, I'll descend very soon. Be prepared."
The crystal fizzed, then stood still. The cloud became white and puffy again.
Without another word, Karma walked out of the room.
Caitlyn laid still as her chest heaved up and down. She was in peaceful sleep. Kassadin came barging through the cell doors, disruptively waking Caitlyn.
"Wait! It's too dangerous in there!"
"You can't go in there!"
"This is not wise sir!" the ponies yelled from behind him. However, Kassadin ignored them all and grabbed Caitlyn by the tuft of her neck fur with his hooves. Startled, Caitlyn panicked and kicked about. She struggled to break loose from his grasp as she was slammed into the cell wall. Restricted by enchanted chains, she could not retaliate.
"Where is your void army heading?!" he screamed into her face,
She laughed, "Bad move void walker."
He unsheathed his void blade from his leg and drew it close to her neck. "Tell me what you are scheming or I will spill your blood here!"
"My orders were simple. Take over all of Equestria, then move on."
"How dare you waste my time!" He made a cut deep into her ribs, causing her massive pain. With new fury, she pushed him off and kneeled over. Before Kassadin could pin her to the wall again, she screamed. She did not scream of pain. She screamed so loud, she caused everypone else who were spectating to shield their ears. It could also be heard outside. It could even be heard from Ponyville.
She then smiled and looked at Kassadin, "Another bad move void walker." Furious, Kassadin kicked her.
"What have you done?!" he yelled, but he got no answer. Everyone else didn't dare break the silent tension in the air. Kassadin sighed and sheathed his blade. He moved past the door of the cell, but he was stopped by Luna when she suddenly raised her hoof in his way.
"Allow me." she burrowed her brows. When she was in, she wrapped her magic around the windows and doors, enchanting them so that no other can hear or see inside. However, it still leaked the sounds of screaming.
A small gust of chilling breeze could be felt as they walked through the mercy of the underground temple. As usual, they let Ezreal gain the leading role, since he insisted to dive headfirst into any deathtraps. Their only source of light came from Lux's lance. As they walked through the dark temple, Ezreal took interest of the paintings on the walls. Many secrets laid beneath sand dunes of Shurima Desert, maybe they will find one as they ventured further.
"This is very exciting," said Sivir sarcastically, "How much time have we wasted in here?"
"We have time." Ezreal replied.
"I'm not even surprised at this point."
"What do you mean?" he turned to face her, containing a neutral expression.
"Forget it kid. Let's move on." she said through gritted teeth. Her menacing cold glare didn't flinch Ezreal. It took her a moment to realize that no one was moving. “I said let’s go! You idiots are taking your sweet time…” she continued to walk on.
Garen was second to move, then Kennan. Ezreal turned to Lux.
“I’ll go this way,” he pointed to an empty hall that branched away from the main hall, “I’ll come around meet you guys up top.” He trotted steadily into the darkness before anyone can argue. Lux was concerned, but she felt frustrated with his immaturity. She would’ve went along with him if she knew what would happen later.
"Sorry your highness. The train to The Crystal Empire is for military purposes only." said the guard pony who was already dealing with a crowd of other ponies. "And even if you commanded an override, the train has not returned. It's 2 hours late."
Darn! Twilight cursed to herself. Well that ruins my plan.
"Sorry Twilight," Applejack laid a hoof on her shoulder, "But what were ya gonna do anyways?"
"I was hoping I can somehow combine our elements to the power of The Crystal Heart." she sighed. Once Twilight turned away from the guard, he became once again bombarded by the demands of the crowd. She frowned in pity for him. Normally she would take control of the matter because she knew that small problems may grow into larger ones, no matter what they were, but that time may have been an exception.
"Hey! Why don't we ask that mysterious pony over there?!" Pinkie zipped up to a shaggy and small pony who was facing the tracks. Upon noticing the pink mare's outburst, he turned and adjusted his spectacles.
"Oh why hello there." he said.
Twilight immediately recognized him and waved, "Hello again Heimerdinger!"
Rarity shifted a bit and tapped Twilight's shoulders and whispered, "You know this maniac?"
"He is not a maniac." she gave her an offended look, "He is a sane, intelligent pony like any other whom I met in Appaloosa."
"Your point?"
"He's not a maniac!" Twilight huffed. She turned back to Heimer to notice that he was leaning back on the small cart on the railroad track. Pinkie smiled in glee as she finished her conversation with him and trotted back to Twilight
"Twilight! Good news!" she shouted excitedly, "That mysterious pony over there can give us a lift to The Crystal Empire with his thing!"
*Perfect* Twilight smiled.
Luna sighed heavily as she suddenly opened the door. Nopony dared to ask her about what she had done, except for one who wasn't a pony.
"Heya Luna," Spike tapped her shoulder gently, "Have you seen Twilight and the others? I think they left me." he prodded his index fingers together as an act of innocence of a child. Luna smiled, and brought him closer with a gentle push with her wing.
"Sorry Spike, I have not seen them in awhile, but perhaps you should stay with me until we bump into them." she said.
"Sounds good to me." he shrugged, "I mean, it is dangerous out there, and I'm sure Twilight will come back for me. She always does." he started walking ahead into a hallway that Luna did not intend to go through, but trotted alongside Spike anyways. He then continued, "Anyways, I'm just really confused about everything right now. We left so many things back at home, we never even knew what happened to Applejack's family yet." Luna feigned a small smile, remembering those memories back in Ponyville, "Same goes with our pets and friends. But I'm a big dragon now," he huffed, "And I know that I can't hold onto things forever."
"I wish I can let go just as easy Spike. You're growing up ever so quickly, it's starting to make me pity you." she chidded.
"Ah it's nothing. It's all because of Twilight that I--uh--how should I say it?"
"Enlightened you?"
"Yea!" he cheered, "And you dropped your old royal Canterlot voice?"
"Did I?" she shrugged, "I guess I have."
"So where's Celestia? I couldn't find her around the castle while I walked around."
Luna bit her bottom lip and cringe, but luckily Spike didn't notice, so she put up her normal expression.
"She was hurt badly," she said, "But she's in a safe place right now."
Spike sighed in relief, "That's good. I don't think any other pony is fit to rule Equestria but her."
She felt it. That moment, she felt it badly. Her gut and mind screamed at her, taunting her that her doubts were all right. Luna managed to recollect herself before she bursted into tears, and simply reply, "You'll understand someday, that many ponies are fit to rule Equestria. It's just what it'll become which is what one should worry about."
Alistar managed to haul the debris off and lift Leona off. Twitch was standing on his shoulder, keeping a watchful eye for anything suspicious or more survivors. She coughed and dusted herself off as the minotaur set her down gently behind him. They nodded to eachother as a silent thank you.
"Hey buddy! I think I see 'nother over there!" Twitch pointed to the direction opposite of Leona. Alistar was hasteful to rescue more survivors. Not sure of what to think of what just happened, she sat down to think it through. She was fighting off an odd group who were later revealed as rebellious soldiers who called themselves The Black Rose, but she was interrupted as the sirens of more intruders sounded. She abandoned the soldiers and rallied her forces against the oncoming horde of unworldly creatures. Her forces and her allies were quickly wiped out and that's all she mainly remembers. Then she woke up to a massive grab from a minotaur. She looked around for another glance.
She began taking slow steps, which progressed into a confident trot. She went towards the half-ruined castle with a wicked smile. On her ear, she placed a Black Rose that Leblanc dropped her.
The crystal ponies were all gathered in the wide hall of the castle. Not huddled in fear, but filled with hope. Together they sat around in small groups, discussing to eachother about different ways the day can be saved, such as
"The crystal heart will reignite and wipe out all of the void creatures!"
"Skarner is going to evolve into a huge beast and smack all of their flanks back home!"
and some perhaps a little too creative...
"If the stars aided in Luna's escape, who's to think that they won't aid in our issue? Imagine: stars falling from the skies, wiping out all of the bad guys, then they will overpower the crystal heart and the Elements of Harmony combined because the former alicorns still lay in the stars and will bless the stars with their might!"
"Uh--yea--Scootaloo, I really don't think that will happen." Applebloom shook her head.
"I'm with Applebloom on this one." Sweetie Belle shrugged, "Sorry Scoots."
Scootaloo sighed in defeat. She brought her chin back up and glared at Sweetiebelle, "Why do you always take her side anyways?"
"Because I'm right." Applebloom crossed her hooves.
"And you!" Scootaloo pointed to Applebloom, "Why do you always have to act like a smarty-tail?!"
"Oh yea!?" Applebloom retorted, "You think it's always about you! Everytime! It's like you think you are the only pony with problems!"
"Girls!" shouted Cadence as she approached from behind, "What's going on here?!"
"Nothin'" Applebloom grunted. Cadence moved her eyes to Scootaloo who shrugged, then to Sweetiebelle who nodded her head. Not convinced, Cadence burrowed her eyebrows.
"Come with me." she softly said. Obedient and careful not to offend their majesty, they obliged but went back to resenting eachother. Each of them stayed as far from eachother as possible while they walked along Cadence. It proved to be difficult as they had to dodge oncoming ponies while they kept up with the pink alicorn. She sighed. It reminded Cadence of her younger self as she too had to walk down a hallway with Celestia because she wouldn't reveal what was bothering her. Apparently, walking fillies down a maze of halls will eventually get them to speak. Cadence never tried it on any other pony, but she needed to practice if she was going to rule The Crystal Empire on her own.
Eventually they ended up in a hall where it was free of traffic. Back then, Celestia always knew what to say. Cadence wondered what she would say to the fillies without damaging their friendship further. Celestia would ask consoling questions, to show that she was cautious to approach the problem, but was eventually isolating it until they both can identify the problem, then think of solutions. What she was mostly impressed about was the warm presence her aura gave off, making it much more simpler to open up. She reminded herself to go see Celestia once this was all over.
But then she also reminded herself about the struggle taking part outside of the castle. The void horde is getting closer each moment, possibly consuming the whole empire up to the shield, which is also crumbling. Yet, she much preferred to trot alongside these 3 fillies. They were Twilight's friend's sisters, but they were also her flower-fillies at her wedding with Shining Armour. Shining Armour, her destined lover, which was how he liked to describe it. Cadence saw it more as a choice she made in life, and she wouldn't have it any other way. For her, it was hard to remind herself why she was in love with him. One thing he does is he isn't a good listener, so long talks get him extremely tired and sometimes fall asleep, but it was alright. Cadence didn't mind if she would tell him about her day while he slept, because she just wanted someone who she could tell everything to without holding back.
She should stop daydreaming and perhaps do something about the 3 fillies.
And that was when she realized, they weren't at her side anymore. Luckily nopony was near when she spat a foul curse, able to toil a toddler's vocabulary.
Shining Armour brought every soldier, warrior, and battle-ready civilian he could muster. As they all surrounded him, they awaited his "big plan" that he hadn't thought up yet. Skarner, Galio, and Luio stood together among the large circle. Nopony muttered a word to eachother as they stare at their prince at center. As time went on, doubts began to grow.
Meanwhile, Shining Armour was in a crisis mode. He could not think of anything that will aid in their situation with minimal loss and high efficiency. He could no longer rely on the shield or the crystal heart, because it was his turn to protect it.
Originally, he wanted archers and magic users to garrison the castle, meanwhile they have Skarner conjure up crystal walls so no void creature could barge inside. The flaw in that plan was the enemy artillery would beat them down while they awaited outside.
Another plan was to have Galio and a handful of pegasi to lead a strike team against the artillery, also to have Luio lead an escape group with the civilians and Cadence, while Skarner and the rest of their fighters would make a counter-attack. It was his final resort plan, if nothing else proved to be better. It would also mean extremely heavy losses and high risk.
Reinforcements didn't seem likely since every other kingdom was attacked and are dealing with their losses.
It sounded selfish, but he wanted to live. Before the whole fiasco, he and Cadence was expecting a foal to come. Cadence kept reminding him to not place his personal life ahead of his duty. Although she was right, Shining will always have his family as a priority.
"Sir?" a crystal pony guard broke the silence, "What do you think we should do?"
It was strange to be asked that. Normally, it would be Shining himself who asked Swain what they thought would be best, and he never failed. He was indeed a master tactician.
"We need more information on these guys." he said, "I want scouts and unicorns to analyse their movements. I also want pegasi guards to defend the castle from the skies, to fend of any of those flying creatures. I want Galio and most of our skilled close combat guards ready at the base of the castle. Prince Lucious and the rest of those guards will defend the civilians within the castle in case there is a leak in the defense. A handful of hoof-picked elites and guards will come with me."
Enab flew strongly towards the northern dragon tribes. With the armor he wore, he felt empowered and unstoppable. He felt content that he no longer needed to cling to his father for hospitality and work, he could go where he pleased. A small part of him felt lost, because he barely has prior knowledge of the north. Also because of the fact that he didn't know where he was going.
But eventually, he was fortunate enough for them to come to him instead.
With no warnings, he was suddenly hooked with large steel chains that pulled him out of the sky. However, he was able to remain in flight. As he struggled to break free of the chains, northern dragons started to ascend from below. Their scales were all teal or ice blue, meanwhile their underbelly and eyes varied in colours. Their largest member out of the 8 spoke first.
"We do not welcome strangers, dragonkin or not. Choose to leave now or you'll be forced to."
"Well you'll have to force me to because I come with a request." said Enab, "Allow me to join you."
"You?! Hah! Take him down!" he said, then almost immediately, he felt the chains become much much stronger. Then a new feeling overtook him. The feeling of power. He erupted into fury. Without much struggle, he broke free of the chains and ripped open the guts of one dragon with his sharp claws, instantly killing him while he fell from the sky. He then conjured up a mighty roar which shook the mountains and was engulfed in magical flames which ignores other dragon's natural resistance to heat.
"THEN I'LL MAKE YOU JOIN ME!!"