//------------------------------//
// XXXII - Before the Storm 
// Story: Pony Fantasy V: Exodus of the Void 
// by GMBlackjack 
//------------------------------//

The City of Man flashed into existence and scooped the Vlerryn up out of the sky, then vanished again in a blast of light. The idea was if they kept moving faster than normally possible Exdeath wouldn’t be able to surprise them with anything from the Void. The anti-Void technology only went so far.

Lyra was there waiting for the Warriors of Light, along with Marble. Lyra grinned as the door opened. “Welcome back- WOAH.” She looked up at Twilight. “…Mom?”

“Yes Lyra?” Twilight said.

“You grew. And are sparkly.” 

Twilight smiled. “We got the keys to the Void. We can now defeat Exdeath and end this needless destruction.”

Marble smiled, looking up at Discord. She nodded. 

“Wait…” Discord frowned. “Was this some kind of test to see if I was able to be trusted on my own?”

Marble nodded.

“…Did I pass?”

Marble nodded.

“Not sure if I should be livid with you or happy.”

Marble shrugged, then trotted up to Fluttershy for a hug.

“Oh! Auntie Marble! How are you holding up?”

Marble sighed. 

“I know… It’s hard. It always is. It always will be.” Fluttershy smiled sadly. 

Maud nodded, looking to Lyra.

“Oh. Right.” Lyra coughed. “We’re holding a funeral later today, for those who have fallen. …Mainly Pinkie and the Warriors of Dawn. We’ll be stopping in Magent for it. It was rushed since we expect to be heading into the Void within a day or so.” She sighed. “They need a chance to be honored before the end.”

“Don’t think like that.” Twilight said, looking down at Lyra with wise eyes. “This will not be the end. Trust me.”

Lyra smiled. “What happened to you down there?”

“I was unlocked.” She said. 

“I’ll say.” Chrysalis stated, appearing in a flash of green. “Not only an alicorn, but fully activated now. Not an easy feat, let me tell you. You are the seventh ever to exist.”

“Oh?” Twilight said, shrugging. “If it helps me defeat Exdeat-

“It’s much more than that. You have the right to rule in the eyes of many now. Most have lost their Queens, their rulers, their hope. You and I are the only remaining - it is up to us to repair this world now.”

Twilight sighed - she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t used to leading at this point. “Of course. What should I do?”

“Become the face of this army. A Warrior of Light, an alicorn, and a face many recognize. Be the unspoken leader of this endeavor. Charge at the front, spearhead the efforts.” Chrysalis smirked. “Become Queen of the world.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Queen…”

“You’re not the only Queen dear.” Rarity said, walking up to her. “I can give you the pointers. First, smile and wave. That’s always the most important part.”

Twilight nodded. “Okay…” She spread her wings and walked through the City of Man, purposefully drawing the attention of ponies to her. They stared in awe - a hero walked among them, and she filled them all with hope. 

She hadn’t even said a word yet, and she had gathered a crowd. Chrysalis smiled - she had truly become the leader these people needed.

“Everyone!” She yelled. “Changeling, pony, dragon, griffon; wizard, knight, hero, outlaw - the time will soon come when I ask you to fight for our world. You all have already said yes - already pledged yourself to the cause. But I see among you strife and arguments - disagreements over how things are done. A lack of hope in our cause. A feeling that everything is going to end.”

“Let me tell you right now - not everything is going to end. We have procured the means to take down Exdeath and stop the Void from destroying our world - this new, beautiful world. Even though it was created by an evil plan, it is truly beautiful. Things lost to either of the originals have been found one more. Rivalries that existed before are being ironed out. All of us are banding together despite our differences to fight for our world.”

“We spit in the face of Exdeath and his plan to destroy everything. Instead of decaying into chaos, we band together in order. Instead of falling to internal violence, we overcome our differences. It is not what he expected, it is not what he wanted. And we will use the ties that connect us together to defeat him! He will not be allowed to destroy everything we have found in our lives! This world matters, and it will not return to nothing! We will stand strong for our own existence! So come, my people, come with me. Overcome your differences and your prejudices - become one. Do not let Exdeath have what he wants. Do not let the Void become what we are. We are not nothing - we are the most important thing to ever exist.”

Applause.

Powerful, intense applause. 

<Well said.> The Earth Crystal announced.

“I need to have a talk with you later.” Twilight told the Earth Crystal. “You probably won’t like it.”

<Intriguing. I await your coming.>

—

Magent was somber. 

A funeral for four of their greatest heroes was being held that day. Daring Do, Gilda, Maud Pie, and Pinkie Pie. A brilliant marble statue of them stood in the center of the square, looking down at the gathered ponies and other assorted races. 

Usually the statue was a bringer of pleasant memories and a feeling of safety.

Now the look of Gilda seemed menacing, the determination of Daring Do pointless, the face of Maud emotionless, and the smile of Pinkie Pie insane. 

There were four coffins, but there were no bodies. The only object that could be found was that of Maud’s helmet, which was sitting atop the coffin that was supposedly hers. 

Virtually everyone was crying. The greatest heroes - all gone. 

There had been speeches for each hero individually - A few griffons had spoken on behalf of Gilda, Applejack and a few others on the half of Daring Do. Fluttershy managed to get out a few words for Pinkie, and the Warriors of Light said a few words for their compatriot. The most words were spoken for Maud - the mare who was essentially leader of an entire planet for a while. Everyone knew her - she was odd, but she was good at what she did.

Limestone walked up last, biting her lip. “Well, those were a lot of sappy speeches…” She sighed. “And now I hope you can stay around to hear mine.” She took a breath. “Most of you didn’t know them that well or for that long. I spent most of my life around them, all four of them. Two of I’ve known all my life. You may think of them as the reckless hero, the grumpy griffon, the serious leader, and the powerful insane one… All of these things are true. But there’s a lot more to each of them than you know.”

“Daring Do… Now there was a mare who understood what honor was. I still don’t understand it myself, and all the other legendary heroes often thought she was being silly half the time. But she was the only one to call us out when we were doing questionable things. The only one to defend the ‘bad guys.’ The one who would rush into danger to save a guy who had just tried to kill us minutes before.” Limestone chuckled. “She… She was the only one who stayed behind, left her world permanently to watch over the mess we left behind. Had she survived this long I expect we wouldn’t be in this crapfest we’re in right now. I honor her as the one who knew when it was time to do the right thing, even if we didn’t always listen to her…”

Limestone looked at the next coffin. “Gilda… She and I understood each other the best. We were both people who tended towards anger and violence. I suppose that’s why our rivalry became legendary. Many of you tell stories of our battles together, or duels that broke so many records. And yet… she was much more than me. I was just angry all the time for generally no reason whatsoever. She… She had a reason to be angry. Her life was hard. She was cast out by her own family. She was given the short end of the stick - and despite that she became a hero renowned worldwide. She kept her anger in check… Sometimes I wish I was more like her. Even when she became infected, she still stood strong…”

Limestone shook her head, turning to the pink coffin. “Ah… Pinkie. You were the most unique individual I ever had the chance of knowing. You were completely insane and more random than a deck of cards flung into the air during a tornado. And yet, you cared more for everyone than anyone I know. You always sought to make people laugh - even your enemies. Even people you didn’t know at all. You always just seemed to know exactly what to say to make them chuckle. You were in touch with something beyond what we knew - something bigger than all of us. Bigger even than this fight with Exdeath that you gave your life for. I don’t know where your knowledge or your intuition came from - and I don’t think I can know. But I do know that the knowledge was disturbing. That it would have been too much for anyone else to handle. But you… You just took it in stride. You were stronger than all of us…” Limestone’s face became haunted for a second, remembering one of the times her sister had broken down… Had been overwhelmed…

She shook her head, turning to the last coffin. “Maud… You were in charge. You always were. Everyone saw you as the strong mare who never broke, never faltered, always continued on despite the overwhelming turmoil around you. But I know you - behind that rocky exterior of yours, you felt. You felt everything that everyone else felt. You empathized with every person you met. You may have been dry, you may have not been a conversationalist - but you knew what other people meant. You knew the meaning of the world, and you devoted yourself to protecting everyone. And for that, we all thank you.”

Limestone looked up at the sky. “The Warriors of Dawn have fallen… they have passed the torch to the Warriors of Light.” She turned to look at the five mares in the crowd. “Exdeath was defeated once before by these four legends - now we have five legends.” She smiled. “And several armies. The Warriors of Dawn have set this up for us - created a world where Exdeath can be defeated for good, and defeated by all those he oppressed rather than just a legendary few. Let us take this fight to him and destroy him in their memories!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Limestone grabbed Maud’s helmet and put it on her own head, then she raised her swords to the sky and cheered before stepping off the stage and mingling with the crowd.

Fluttershy rushed her into a hug. “That… That was beautiful Auntie Limestone…”

Limestone smiled, trying to keep the tears back. “I… I try. I tried to keep my anger out of it…”

“It was great-“

Then the entire area shook - in the center of town erupted another Void sphere. The City of Man acted quickly, slowing its progress, but several buildings had already been consumed.

Limestone roared. “EVERYONE EVACUATE!” She glared at the Void Sphere with her eyes. “We’re coming for you blue boy. And you can’t stop us. Destroying our homes will not keep us away. It will not slow our resolve. It will only make it stronger.”

—

“We’ve settled on a plan.” Amethyst said, laying out a scroll. “The armies will be arranged like so, and all the ships of the City of Man will be manned and ready to go. The moment we enter the void all the ships and those who are able to fly and survive on their own power will be released. Then we charge directly for the center.”

“What will the center look like?” Rarity asked. 

“It will look like a crystal podium floating among a sea of stars.” Discord said. “As for what the rest of the Interdimensional Rift looks like, that’s anyone’s guess.”

“So prepare for everything.” Applejack said. 

“Precisely, my dear Applejack.” 

<We will charge through all the demons and other such beings that plague the rift, using all our force to cut into the center.> The Earth Crystal announced. <I will coordinate all technological devices towards that singular goal. We will need to work fast, for we know not how long we have until Exdeath unlocks more power from the Void.>

“So…” Rainbow Dash said. “The plan is essentially crush, kill, destroy?”

<…Essentially.>

“I like this plan.”

<It is a bit more complex than that. Fluttershy will continually use Phoenix to resurrect any and all the soldiers of ours that we can restore. We will not let anyone fall if we can help it.>

The alarm lights went off. Chrysalis sighed. “Spire Hive was just hit by the Void. This is now the planet’s last major seat of power.”

“Well then…” Twilight said. “Everybody, do what you want. We are running out of time - wrap everything up you can. We will attack at dawn.”

The group nodded and dispersed. Soon it was just Twilight. “Earth Crystal?”

<Yes?>

“Starswirl said he created the Void to fight against your kind. Why would he do that?”

<Interesting, but understandable. We are the highest authority, it only makes sense to rebel against us.>

Twilight frowned at the Earth Crystal’s choice of words. “Are the highest authority?”

<Why, yes. We are the highest level of being known to exist. Well, I suppose we don’t exist anymore.>

“You really think you’re better than us?”

<What reason do we have to believe otherwise? We are better at using magic than you are, live forever, and are can define worlds by our own aspects.>

Twilight frowned. “That suggests you chose to define the world by yourselves. It didn’t have to be that way?”

The Earth Crystal paused. <…No. We chose to anchor ourselves to the world, so we could improve our lives->

“What about us? Did you not think maybe we would have wanted the world to ourselves?”

<Never crossed my mind back then. Perhaps it did to the Life Crystal, but not the rest of us. But what right do you have to tell us what to do?>

“What right do you have to tell us what to do?”

<Your kind would not have existed were it not for us.>

Twilight blinked. “What?”

<Humans. Humans were the only race that existed before we came.>

Twilight took a step back. “…And your actions ended up killing them.”

<Mainly their fault, never should have approved that Starswirl.>

Twilight growled. “…You really do believe you’re better than us don’t you?”

<Life may be sacred, but we are the highest of life.> The Earth Crystal said. <Or we were… Perhaps we misjudged, for we have all fallen. But be careful what you call us out on. You have us to thank for your existence.>

Twilight turned and walked out. “I don’t have to be happy about it.”

<We didn’t ask to be seeded here either Twilight.>

She stopped herself. “…Where did you come from?”

<The details are sketchy at best, but from what we have discerned our race is interdimensional in nature, seeding crystal spores throughout worlds wherever possible. I know not what the purpose is besides multiplication of our race. But I do know that the six of us were sent to this world together - and we shaped it.>

“You should have shaped it better.”

<Probably. But would you have done any better?>

Twilight just left - she was done talking now.

—

“Ah have a question.” Applejack said.

“What?” Fluttershy asked. 

“What IS Exdeath?”

Fluttershy blinked. “You know… nopony knows.” 

Applejack groaned. “What do you know? At this rate we know more about the Void and humanity than we know about our enemy!”

“He came out of the Everfree Forest one day.” Fluttershy said. “Made his castle on an island nopony knew existed and tried to conquer everything. The Warriors of Dawn fought him, send him to the Otherworld, and sealed him. That’s… all of his story we know. Nopony knows what created him or where he came from.”

“What about the Everfree Forest? The Tree of Harmony?”

“Er…” Fluttershy blinked. “Those have kinda… always been there?”

“You’re a big help.” Applejack muttered. “Ah guess it don’t matter all that much - we don’t have to know where he came from to defeat him…”

An alarm rang out. 

The Everfree forest had just been consumed by the Void. 

Fluttershy winced. “All those poor animals…”

Applejack grunted. “Wonder what he’ll take next…”

—

Applejack had taken the Vlerryn out for a spin - Rainbow Dash was in the craft with her.

“Just wait till you see Sweet Apple Acres and get a taste of our cider!” Applejack said. 

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Can’t wait. Your sister going to be there?”

“Yep. Probably going to serve us as well. Gosh, it’s bene a while since I bucked some apples…”

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack strangely.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Rainbow Dash said. 

They crested over the horizon, Applejack pointing. “There she is! Sweet Apple Acres! And look, you can even see Big Mac out in the field-“

SHOOM.

Form nowhere a Void Sphere appeared, engulfing the farm with dark impersonal energy. The acres were gone in a manner of seconds. 

“NO!” Applejack yelled. “NO!” She yanked the throttle, pushing the Vlerryn as fast as it would go - right into the Void Sphere.

Rainbow Dash kicked Applejack out of the seat and pulled up - the bottom of the Vlerryn scraping the edge of the Void Sphere. “MAYDAY! CITY OF MAN! VOID EMERGENCY!” 

The City appeared and picked them up instantly - slowing the progression of the Void Sphere in the process. But it was too late - the farm was long gone.

Applejack yelled. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?”

“YOU WERE GOING TO KILL US!”

“AND AH WOULD HAVE GIVEN THAT VOID SPHERE SOMETHING TO-“

Rainbow Dash slapped her. “GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF! THINK! THINK! Destroying the Vlerryn would have accomplished nothing!”

Applejack cried angry tears. “AH WOULD HAVE FELT LIKE AH DID SOMETHING!”

“THAT DOESN’T MATTER!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “YOU CAN’T JUST GO FLY OFF RANDOMLY SCREAMING AND HOLLERING WHEN YOUR SIBLINGS DIE! IT DOESN’T WORK!”

Applejack backed up. Then glared. “Easy for you to say, yours came back.”

Rainbow Dash glared. “You take that back.”

“No. Ah’m not gonna.” She glared back, tears streaking down her face. “Ah’m gonna make you feel what I feel.” She drew the Excalibur.

Rainbow Dash kicked the door of the Vlerryn open and flew out. She could here berserk Applejack chasing after her. “Crap crap crap RARITY!”

“What?” Rarity said, looking up form her book.

“Get ready to Revive Applejack.” She said. “Or me.”

Rarity blinked. “Wha-“

Applejack came flying out of nowhere, the Excalibur shining with energy. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and engulfed Applejack in a Flare. The orange mare exploded… But somehow managed to absorb the blast with her sword.

“THE BUCK?” Rainbow Dash yelled, unable to stop the sword from driving into her chest. She fell down, limp. 

Rarity stopped Applejack’s time, and healed Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash gasped. “That sword is painful. That sword is painful. That sword is painful.”

Rarity frowned. “What happened to her?”

“Sweet Apple Acres was consumed.”

“Oh my.” Rarity said. “How…”

“I’m going to talk some sense into her.” Rainbow Dash said. “That’s how this is going to go. Keep reviving us.”

“…I’m going to call Fluttershy, see if I can borrow Phoenix for this…”

—

“…How long have they been killing each other?” Twilight asked.

“Three hours.” Rarity said, watching as Phoenix raised Applejack this time. “She still hasn’t calmed down.”

Twilight sat down. “…I wonder why she’s the one who has coped the least with losing family…”

Rarity frowned. “I think it means the most to her… I’d had time to come to terms with the fact that my mother might be gone, Fluttershy got to talk to her mother as she went…. Though Rainbow Dash had around this level of reaction.” She sighed. “I guess this is why she’s trying to talk Applejack down…”

The two mares exploded and Twilight winced. “…That’s some harsh talking.”

Rarity shook her head. “It’s what Applejack needs.”

The two mares watched as Applejack and Rainbow Dash went at it - Applejack no longer even speaking in coherent sentences.

In ten minutes, she broke down. Collapsing and dropping her sword. She entered a fetal position and just kept crying.

Rainbow Dash walked up to her, raised her hoof…. …and offered it to Applejack. “We’ve all lost ponies we care about. And all of us have learned that sometimes, you need to pull yourself together and do what they would have wanted. I don’t know much about your family - maybe they want you to grieve, maybe they want you to continue on however you can, maybe they want you to save the world. Whatever, I know this isn’t it.”

“It hurts…”

“I know.” Rainbow Dash said. “Spike may be back…. But I thought he was gone for months. I still felt what you felt. I reacted badly, like everyone does. We won’t think any less of you for this.” She helped Applejack up. “But we need you back Applejack.”

Applejack smiled. “…You’re an idiot.”

“We’re all idiots.” 

“Alright.” Applejack sighed. “Let’s stop this… Pointless fight. We set out tomorrow…”

—

Before dawn, nobody was sleeping. 

Fluttershy was spending time with Marble and Limestone, crying and laughing, talking about their family. 

Applejack set up a little memorial for her family - next to the memorial for Daring Do. 

Rainbow Dash and Rarity talked the night away - being sisters. Laughing and crying about everything that came.

Twilight just stood on a balcony, staring at the stars. Thinking about those lost. Thinking about the Crystals. Thinking about the Void. Thinking about the keys given to her…

Would she do better? She had been trusted with a great power… Would she be able to rebuild everything?

It was time to find out. The sun was rising. 

The Trotton Void Sphere eclipsed the star, giving the black orb a bright halo of sunshine. Twilight looked right at it for a few seconds.

“THE TIME HAS COME!” She yelled as loud as her magic let her. “WE ARE ENTERING THE VOID! SET COURSE!”

The City of Man warped the very space around it, giving the entire City a strange aura of distorted sky. It slowly moved towards the Void Sphere, the two touching. The sphere itself began to warp around the City of Man slowly, encasing it in an inky blackness, drawing it in slowly. There was no vaporization, only a slow shifting of realities.

Then the City of Man was enveloped, and everything seemed the same as before…

—

Exdeath looked up.

They had entered. 

He wasn’t sure if this was going to be fun or annoying. 

He shook his head, turning back to his work. Images of places far apart appeared around him, connections. Bridges. Cameras. 

He was beginning to understand more. To see more. He had only seen a fraction before, only a sliver. But now he began to see the bigger picture, and to truly understand what it meant. 

He began to laugh. It was not his regular laugh - it was the laugh of someone whose entire world was falling apart around them. It was the laugh of an evil mastermind who realized that his plans were accomplishing something very different than what he intended.

He wasn’t sure if he minded or not…