//------------------------------// // Monsters // Story: Politics // by Dai Kirai //------------------------------// He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. FriedrichNietzsche Tow sat, pissed though she would never let it show. My own God-damned pride did this. If I had listen to Brent this aggressive war monger wouldn’t be trying to aggravate the situation. He all but admitted our involvement. Or was that his plan? Trick me into hiring a bad candidate. What would that bastard gain? No, I can’t afford a game of mirrors. I have to ignore what others what. What do I have to do? *** Celestia narrowed her eyes at the human, she could burn him where he stood and teleport out before any guns were even raised at her.  She wondered if she could burn the whole room before anyone noticed, and she was tempted but she couldn’t let them know how she felt. That would leave only conquest and would explode quickly. The rest of the world would only know this was a peace talk. They would attack at first chance and they wouldn’t hold back. A young human; manly, tall and lanky burst into the room but virtually wilted under Celestia’s gaze. “Uhhh.” He looked from the Princess to the President and stopped dead. “What is it?” Tow asked of the youth. “Um.” His gazed focused on the alicorn. “It’s classified ma’am. It has to do with the current operation.” “It’s fine. The good general has already revealed the plan.” Celestia could see Tow’s mouth shrink into a narrow slit, her own gaze as heated as the Princess’. “Spill it. If this is an emergency we don’t have time to worry. She is staying here for the time being.” “R-r-right.” He struggled to pull a slip of paper from a pocket in his cheap suit. “Oscar Charlie reported in. They say Nightmare Moon has shown up.” The male shook. “You can leave now.” The President said and the youth couldn’t get out of the room quick enough, it took him three tries to open the door to exit. “Did you truly expect me to trust you? I am not a little foal.” Celestia said at the President’s questioning glance. “That’s preposterous.” The fat general spoke up again. “Your own history says she was defeated years ago.” Celestia couldn’t help but laugh. It was harsh, not her normal sweet chuckle. “How little you humans understand. Assuming that a creature of magic once destroyed cannot return. My sister, Luna, became NightMare Moon over jealousy and tried to kill me so she would get recognition. But any strong emotion would have done. NightMare Moon was just a personification of her sorrow. The Elements cleared her of such petty emotion, but they can always return.” This had been unexpected but she could use this to her advantage. “Then she is just as much a threat to you. How do we stop her?” Celestia laughed at the man again, such a pitiable little creature. “You assume her motivations are the same. It isn’t me she wants to kill, but you.” She replied with her own cold smile. Let them believe death is imminent. “And the only thing that can stop her are the Elements of Harmony, which you made sure could never be used again by killing the Element of Generosity.” “Why has she returned?” The old grey man asked. “For a thousand years she sat alone with her thoughts before being freed from her prison and then you go and kill one of her saviors, try to kill her sister and threaten to destroy her home. How did you expect her to react?” Never back your prey into a corner or they can become the predator. A snake can kill a mouse, a monkey can kill a tiger, and a pony can kill a monkey. “Ma’am. Thor still has five more rounds. What should we do?” All these humans look the same but that should be her Secretary of Defense. “Thor, god of thunder. Does that mean you really have access to your own gods or is this just another machine inspired by them? Another Icarus, firing lightning down from the heavens?” “Do it.” Tow ordered *** “Do it.” Tow ordered her General of the Air Force. There are five rounds left and the marines should already have armed the nuke. Any luck we can take out one or both of these alicorns. Why didn’t we plan for both being at this side? Because one of them was supposed to be running their own country, their society had less redundancy in leadership. “This meeting is over then.” Celestia stood from her spot. General Adams raised one had and the six guards around the room raised their rifles. “Don’t even try anything. These marines are carrying special rounds using our own gems and based off the technology of the field you are currently standing in. You won’t be able to stop or deflect them. So why don’t you just wait.” This time Tow would not even try to stop him; General Adams was at least a smart bastard when he tried.  She knew they couldn’t let Celestia leave yet. The alicorn knew what the current plan was and had an idea what would happen next. And if the plan had a higher likelihood of success if they only had to deal with one alicorn at a time. Although she knew there was no such bullet, yet. Shepherd would be putting someone on it immediately. The star off continued for several seconds. The General himself pulls a small pistol from under the table. “Why don’t you sit. If you truly trust this NightMare creature than what will a few minutes cost you?” Celestia’s ire turned towards the General, fire poured from her eyes and as she spread her wings the room heated up. “You asked me hear under the flag of peace while the only intention you had was using it as a distraction to attack my loyal subjects. When that didn’t work out you tried to hold me hostage and strip my powers.” There was an echo to her voice that caused it to bounce around the room. “You still do not understand who you are dealing with. I control the sun and the moon, have lived longer than you can imagine and yet you continue to threaten me.” Adams laughed. “Outside of a few cheap shots you haven’t done shit. Clever information releases and a sun spot. You didn’t even take out our bases, that was your subjects,” He mocked. The light in the Princess’ eyes extended further. “I realize you are a young species and that the very young do not always like to listen or think.” The air grew thick. “But know this, I will not stop until I punish the ones responsible if I have to burn this world until it becomes a molten piece of glass.” There was a blinding flash of light and the alicorn was gone, leaving behind a smoking crater. Tow sat in shock, the Celestia who left was not the one that entered. Her mane had brightened, it was as if there were novae going off in there, and her eyes had shifted, going from circular to slits like a cat’s. She feels drained, the air was at least ten degrees hotter and the aircon fought to keep it from going higher. But Tow had more to do and turned to the General. “Did you have to antagonize her?” General Adams was visibly sweating; he set the pistol flat on the table. “Yes. You told me to delay her and that was as long as I could manage.” The marines around the room were recalcitrant to lower their weapons. “And an angry enemy is a stupid enemy. We need them to make stupid mistakes. I’m sorry.” President Tow stopped dead. “What?” She could not have heard that properly. “I should have listened. These creatures are a threat and should be treated as such. I have some ideas on how to do that though.” *** Celestia fumed, she had to get to her sister before whatever Thor was hit. Though she may have just figured out a special spell and she had tests subjects to spare, if that didn’t work things would get much bloodier. *** Jenkins stared at the alicorn hovering in the sky. She stared down and spoke with a silky voice. “But I must thank you for killing one of the Elements for me. Now nothing can stop me!” Lightning crashed as she tossed her head back in laughter. “Fire!” Sergeant Finnley yelled as one nearly struck him. The staccato of rifle fire and brass hitting the ground filled the air moments before the tanks swiveled their cannons around to get a bead on the target. Jenkins couldn’t fire. The reticle was centered on her chest, the sound of controlled bursts and his Sergeant yelling through the gale that started up. NightMare Moon didn’t flinch or move, merely cackled and spoke. “You will not survive the night.” A shell exploded and blocked her from sight. An ominous laugh filled the air as a bolt of lightning flash from the sky, straight down into the nearest tank, the tank sputtered as an acrid smoke poured out. “Celestia warned me about your weakness to electricity.” Lightning struck the two other tanks as the oprators tried pouring out of them. “Kneel before your new Princess and you may yet see the sun again.” O’Toole continued firing, trying to switch out magazines as a bolt hit him. The marine spasmed and collapsed to the ground. Jenkins could smell the burnt skin and cloth mingling with the smoke from the tanks and the crisp air of night. He unslung his rifle and let if clatter to the brown earth. I never agreed to fight gods. He stepped back, distancing himself from the fighters. Images from school about battles in mythology between gods. How in the news, a special showing the damage to the Castle of the two Sisters, the damage they did to their own castle, even a short fight made the area uninhabitable for centuries. The massive spell used to expel a storm of invaders. They had disabled the country, he had to run. “Everyone, stay in formation! All forces open fire! Is the bomb ready yet?” Finnely yelled into his radio. “That includes you Jenkins. Pick up your rifle and fire!” There was no answer from the troop transport. “But…” Jenkins stammered. “NOW!!” He roared. “But she’s an alicorn.” He didn’t care what happened, he wanted to live. “Coward!” The Sergeant yelled into the wind as he pulled out something heavier. *** Luna sat atop the human research facility and turned to the bright blue sky. She had seen the meteorite a moment before but it had vanished and despite feeling around for it she couldn’t find it. Feeling further she notices human moving up from the North and South and her ponies ran for cover. A massive crash crumbled the shield and the troops started marching through. Luna pulled the ambient moisture in the air, it wasn’t enough so she began pulling from the earth and formed light wispy clouds in the air above her. If she could get them large enough they wouldn’t need upkeep from her and she could move onto the next stage of her plan. We shall teach them a fine lesson indeed. Luna prepared the next spell, grabbing the pair of false teeth at her side. She had to take care with her magic, Luna had nowhere the experience of her sister using magic on Earth and only as NightMare Moon had they ever had equivalent power. Luna wove the disguise; she grew a foot taller as her fur and mane darkened. The sky above mirrored the night despite tis early time. The alicorn flew into the night as wind whipped back and forth. She waited until someone whispered her name before looking down at her prey, making sure to smile and show off the pearly white fangs. Two humans moved to a large vehicle in the middle of their small group, she made sure one bolt seared it as the other bolt of lightning fell around the humans. “You insolent foals dare attack her majesty of the night?” NightMare Moon roared. “You attack and threaten and deceive. But I understand you and you shall pay for such duplicity.” Upon hearing the leader yell fire she turned to smoke yet retained her shape, it took focus and she felt each round pass through herself, and large ones started to come, filled with some sort of mixture that exploded upon hitting the ground behind her. The forces coming up from the South were almost there and if they missed then it could easily hit Bridal Lake. The alicorn became solid again only to have a round sear through her leg and a shell approached her face. A blast of force from her horn detonated it, heat and shrapnel blasted past. Luna had to take out those tanks, she felt larger ones further back, the tension and fear as they loaded rounds. “Celestia warned me about your weakness to electricity.” She cackled, the last time she had done something like this was merely to scare foals; but then added to it by forcing lightning down into the tanks without regard to their passengers. A dark smoke poured out of the machine as Luna picked another. A strong wind protected the Princess from most of the rounds fired at her; pinpoint hits of force stopped the rest. “Kneel before your new Princess and you may yet see the sun again!” Luna felt sweat trickle down her brow as most of the heavy vehicles were destroyed. She zapped another human, modulating the milliamps to not prove fatal and laughed as the one next to him ran. She felt her sister in the clouds above, attention rapt on the sky. Thy sister must be fighting off another attack from space. Luna sent a tremble of magic out through the area. Guards came pouring out of the Embassy after receiving the signal, taking down the ones brave enough to stay and fight. Several humans ran, some in random directions. One ran straight into a mine while Luna followed another into Bridal Lake, ponies still cowered in the streets afraid. Luna saw the human spy her and grab up a small yellow colt off the ground. His breath was ragged and a trickle of blood ran down his arm as his pointed a pistol at the young foal’s head. “Let me go or I will kill him.” The foal struggled but with an arm under his forelegs, the tiny pony couldn’t get the needed leverage. Luna settled onto the ground and took one step forward. Some humans could be dealt with. “If you so much as flinch I swear to God I will put a bullet through this thing’s head!” His eyes darted about, trying to look for anything coming up behind him while keeping an eye on the Princess, his hands shook. “THOU SHALT DO NO SUCH THING!” Luna boomed, Royal Conterlot Voice shook the human. The Princess had just reacted as the human tightened his finger on the gun. She ripped it from his grasp, hearing the snap of several fingers breaking as she twisted it. The human fell to the ground in shock, holding his fingers and the whimpering foal to his chest as Luna pointed the gun between his eyes. “Pray tell. Dost thou like this?” He dropped the foal and backed up until he found a wall, shivering the whole time. Luna felt the rage burn, she let it pour from her, mane whipping as if it were in a hurricane. She followed. “You think it is such an easy thing to kill.” The gun followed his every motioned. “With narry a thought to what if the horseshoe was on the other hoof.” The temperature around Luna dropped ten degrees and she could see both their breath. Tears streamed from the human’s eyes, he tried crawling away. Luna flipped him back over and placed a hoof on his chest until he had to grasp for breath. He tried kicking and she just stared with the gun pointed at his ugly muzzle. She leaned in close so he could her whisper. “Do not worry.” She purred. “We shant kill you. Yet.” And rapped the gun across his brow. He slumped to the ground. “Guards!” Luna called. Two pegasi came up and saluted. Looking at each other and trembling. “Take this one to a special cell.” Luna felt the burst of magic behind her. “Hello Sister.” She spoke slowly as she turned around. “Tis been a while.” “Hello Nightmare Moon.” Celestia looked to the human being dragged away, guards easing visibly now that the two alicorn weren’t turning the area into even more rubble. “Is he dead?” “No, merely unconscious.” Twas tempted though. Celestia smiled at her little sister. “You do love the theatrics little sister.” Luna still felt the poor foal trembling and bent down. “Tis ok young one. The threat has passed.” She soothed, spitting out the false teeth and letting the disguise spell fall as she hugged the foal to her chest, the foal grabbed on as if the world would disappear if his grip lessened.         “What happened dear sister?” The Two alicorns walked back to the wreckage to inspect the damage.         “They do possess the ability to remove all magic from an atmosphere but it doesn’t appear to work on enchantments or latent magic in the body. They claim to have another device we can discuss later. They tried launching more missiles when they revealed their true plan.” “How many?” Luna looked at the dark sky, unable to see through the clouds. One had been disastrous, if it hadn’t been for the shield. “I do not know.” Celestia lowered her head, she looked exhausted with her mane having lost most of its sheen and her hooves moving slowly. “Their machine only managed to launch one before something forced it to collide with the atmosphere.” She was having visible trouble breathing. “What happened sister?” Luna asked, nudging the elder alicorn with a hoof. “It wasn’t easy.” Celestia moved up to the covered vehicle Luna had electrocuted near the start of her tussle. “But the humans have now given us a great prize.” Luna stared at the large silver tube. It had some sort of yellow and black symbol on its side with two humans slumped on the ground next to it. ***         Ileana sat in the trunk of a car parked near the artillery cannons. A large rifle stuck out the end, her sights focused on the advancing troops. Her job was simply to watch and report, unless the alicorn should show up. The weather sent shivers down her spine, this did not bode well. Her family had come from a soviet bloc country and had always been superstitious; the appearances of actual magic just reinforced that. She grabbed the small brass necklass, the remains of a sniper round that had once come within inches of her skull and let out a relaxing breath. Mind on the job El. When the weather turned worse she got on her mic. “J.” The radio hissed with static as she talked to her spotter in the front of the car. “See anything?” “Yeah. There’s some shape rising over the research facility, should be twenty degrees to your left.” Ileana moved her rifle, centering it on the familiar shape of an alicorn. “Shit. We have a Princess here.” She called over the radio and waited. Several dozen yards away from her were artillery canons roared and spat. The sniper lined up a shot and held the trigger as everything passed right through her target. She hated waiting while the small force was taken down, feeling static as lightning lanced down from the sky never daring to take her reticle off the blue shape, hating as it flew into the village. There were so many more targets now, but it provided plenty of time to watch their movements, the guards remained within the shield’s area of effect despite it not being up. They must be waiting for its return. The sniper sat, it was nothing new; for a scout sniper this was an easy job. She didn’t have to get close to her target, didn’t have to wait for days without moving, even had a ride out and active comms. She couldn’t see anything happening in the village. “Forward everything we have to base.” There was a white shape now descending toward the village. She watched as the two targets moved back to the destroyed force, guards leading new prisoners away. The two alicorns settled near the bomb. Ileana wished she could see inside the truck, then maybe she would have a chance of detonating the nuke and killing both major threats. The only way that would work would be if she could hit the pencil thin detonator, if it even worked still, at a distance of a mile without being able to see her target. The other option was to aim for the gas tank and hope to start a fire that might set off the detonator. The explosive core was too stable for anything else to set it off. Ileana noticed sweat trickling down both their faces. “Jay, make note of their faces, look at the sweat, whatever they’ve had to do, they’re tired. I’m gonna take the shot.” “Roger.” Was his only response. She looked between her targets and debated which one to aim for, which leader would she take out. There was no way in a tired state and unaware of her presence could they stop a .50 caliber bullet going almost 2,800 feet per second, closing the distance in less than two seconds and more than capable. Ileana like the new bullpup design being smaller and lighter to improve accuracy with an added suppressor. She decided to aim for Luna, after that display of force with the weather she was the larger threat on the battlefield. Celestia could cause havoc but now there would be invented ways around that. Luna also had the penchant for angery outbursts, it was known she almost killed her own people while Celestia was the calmer and more logical of the two, the one more willing to work things out. The Princess might finally get the warning not to mess with humanity. The sniper hoped as she said a small prayer for both herself and her target. Guide my bullet and absolve me my sins. Take our souls into heaven to be cleansed. Let no grudge be held as we do as we believe will meet the best ends. She waited and counted her heartbeat, slowly tightening on the trigger. Ileana know this was her last mission, after she took the shot she would either be found when they tried to escape or be stuck as guards moved out to find her. Slowing her breathing as much as possible, the sniper aimed for the silver pendant along her target’s chest. Counting heartbeats, waiting for the right time, always between heartbeats. She depressed the trigger, causing the bullet to soar. Before she could complete another breathe, the bullet struck home. The entire area lit up, Ileana turned her head away in reaction until the light faded, and she blinked the remaining flashes from her eyes. The sniper repositioned her scope, looking for the target. Did I kill it? Is that what happens when you kill a god? The blonde haired human had no doubt these were gods from another world, they had the power to create and destroy, what more did a god need. The only thing in that spot that had contained two alicorns the moment before now only contained the white one. The armor that had adorned the chest of the blue one sat on the ground, the crescent shape from the middle completely gone. “I’m getting us out of here!” Jay roared into the mike, the sniper winced as the sound pierced her ears. She wanted to rip the earmuffs off her head; training took over as that was the only thing protecting her hearing in the tight confines of the trunk. Even with the muzzle break and suppressor it could still lead to hearing loss. The mic was set into the earmuffs so she could hear her spotter even while firing. The white one turned its head, focusing right on their black armored Mercedes. Ileana lined her scope back up as the tires squealed, letting off another three shot at the remaining alicorn. They ricocheted off a ball of purple. As the car turned she noticed the moving blue shape on the ground behind Celestia, she could see a seeping wound on the chest as well as blackened flesh, but the wings were still moving. She emptied the mag, six more shots in Luna’s direction. The sniper knew they probably didn’t hit as the car was bouncing and the growing distance threw off her sights. But, it would keep the white one stationary to protect her sister just in case, and a lucky shot may have just finished her off. Her heart raced, she could barely catch her breath. Ileana sidled backwards, into the main body of the vehicle, setting the rifle on the seat next to her. The blonde hair bun provided a cushion as her head rested against the seat back and waited for her breath to return to normal. “I think I need a drink.” She looked at her hand, still shaking uncontrollably. “I think I need one, or two.” Date: Unknown, Time: Unknown Pinkie watched the poor soldier through the vent grating. He looked so sad. Nopony had even cared that it was his birthday. She sooo wanted to throw him a party, but she couldn’t. Her mane lay straight on her head, she knew her coat had taken on a tint of grey. She had no party supplies. “oooh,” The pink party pony whined. “Twilight would be so mad at me if I tried to throw a party while being sneaky. She hated this job, all it was was hiding in vents and watching people work at desks. Building the giant party cannons had been fun. Why did they get to throw a party and send her out to some giant white building in someplace called Verginia. “But Walter looks so sad.” Pinkie pouted pitifully. She smiled at one thought, “Maybe he would like to help me make cupcakes.” “No, bad Pinkie. Remember what Twilight said. No parties and no cupcakes.” “But I just can’t help it!” The pink party pony was ready to pop, it felt like years since she had even seen her friends and she didn’t have the time to throw a ‘I’m going on a super-secret mission to Verginia’ party. Pinkie couldn’t hold it in any longer, there was a table near the desk Walter was working at all alone, some kind of computer on running. She waited til Walter turned around and zipped out of the air vent and pulled an emergency cupcake out of her mane and set it on the desk before scurrying back to her hiding spot. She watched as Walter turned back around. He looked about the room after seeing the cupcake that had materialized, even looking outside his door for anyone there. The small man went back to his desk and picked up the mass of pink icing. He eyed it suspiciously, turned it around and inspected every angle of the thing before taking a bite. But when he took that bite his mood brightened and a smile erupted on his face. Both moods were brightened at least for a time. “But how much longer do I have to hide?” Pinkie had regained some of her color. Her orders just said to stay hidden in the pent-something until she got word. *** Heart Under Blade slowly opened her eyes, the king of all headaches raging her beak. She let out a soft whimper, felt it reverberate up her throat as it rattled out with not her voice. She forced her primary eyelids open past the pain. It wasn't just her head that hurt, but every unfamiliar muscle burned. Wherever she was at was pitch black, yet she could see, or thought she could. There were no walls, or ceiling, the floor stopped after forty hooflengths in any direction. Is this Tartarus? If so it was worth it. Now get up and take stock. Barreling through the pain she used her hand to push off the ground and stood on two legs. What am I? What had once been a pony now sported a black leathery skin and stood upon two taloned feet, her new arms were long, ending in three sharp knives each that seemed to ooze. "You are being rewarded for your faithful service." The voice she had heard all her life spoke Heart Under Blade instinctively took a knee. She was in front of her Lord. "There is still much work for you to do."