//------------------------------// // Unified Threat // Story: Among Luna's Stars // by LadyofSorrows //------------------------------// Unified Threat “Just like you griffons to rush into a fight, that is why you lost two wars to the ponies. What Equestria lacks in strength is made up in their strategy. They do not waste resources in battle, and the sun and moon have powerful resources at their command. The elements of harmony, weather control through the pegasi, and very powerful magic through unicorns working together. Terribly powerful the two sisters might be, but if we screw this up Cecilia will join them. I don’t think Luna or Celestia even fully understand the battle capabilities of just her mortal side, throw in a ship with orbital artillery…” “It has gotten much worse than that…” The group in shadow turned to face the approaching changeling queen. The speaker stepped into the shaft of light, Chrysalis stopped in her tracks. “You…You’re one of them…” It was hard to fake surprise, but the sweetness of knowledge was about to turn the tables. Chrysalis just waited for the moment that was fast approaching. Tatiyana laughed at the look on her face. “You can thank 5 idiots for cursing them to look like me, but I am in no way one of them. What have you learned Chrysalis, I am rather busy keeping these fools from blowing a month’s worth of work.” Chrysalis smirked and her horn glowed with its green energy and the weapon at Tatiyana’s side was wrenched free of its place and taken out of her reach. “I’ve learned that you are more valuable a hostage than a leader, and I’m quite thankful you laid it all out for us. You will be quite useful in keeping Cecilia from attaining her goal, and we can take Equestria for our combined personal reasons.” Tatiyana wasn’t about to take this without a fight, and launched at the changeling queen baring her claws. (The dragon lands) Yulee’s ship form broke through the clouds of smoke; the volcanoes below poured forth rivers of lava that were red lines that glowed in the darkened land. Rarity didn’t seem bothered given several dragons were rising up to meet Yulee out of curiosity. She went back to her sketch pad. Cecilia easily maneuvered around them watching her rear view screen as they rolled over to give chase. “So you were going to explain now why you had us come all the way out here Princess?” Celestia spoke from a screen as she sat on her throne. Cecilia had left her tablet with her since she could not leave for the day or two the trip might require. “You have progressed well, but there is still your fear of power. A crown means nothing without the power to support it; the person you are going to see just so happens to know quite a bit about that sort of thing. Twilight should be out of the hospital by the time you return.” Cecilia looked back forward as she checked the directions. “I’ll have Yulee record everything so she can see it when we get back.” “Just be careful Cecilia, not all dragons are warm and receptive to ponies running around in their territories.” Cecilia shrugged as she looked at another screen. “We’ll keep you up to date, apologies ahead of time if I wake your sister up. If we’re successful my magical footprint might trigger her caution.” Celestia only smiled warmly. “Relax Cecilia, you told her yourself already. Just try to listen to a good friend of mine. I have to get back to matters of court so I wish you luck.” The screen closed out and Cecilia looked back at Rarity. “Why were you so insistent on coming along?” Rarity looked up from her work, the pencil hovering over the pad. “Well if you must know, I was sketching a few ideas for your celebration dress.” Cecilia nodded; “We should be there shortly, but any other poses I should give you?” Rarity got back on her hooves. “Well, now that you mentioned it I do need to get some measurements.” “How about a commission to create my new royal adornments for the party I intend to throw once we are successful? You would have an unlimited budget to work with.” (New Hoofen) The village of New Hoofen was smoldering ashes, a horde of changelings and a pack of Diamond dogs led off the defeated ponies towards the tunnel entrance. A defeated look upon their faces, the crying of fillies and colts as they stepped around the bodies of those that resisted. Chrysalis looked at them with a smile before turning to look at another pony. “Is it everything you expected it to be, did you see the looks on their faces. You wanted fame Trixie, I gave it to you in the form of the most infamous traitor in Equestria. Your performances were perfect cover to hide the tremors of digging.” Chrysalis laughed at the pony who stared at the ground. “You wouldn’t shut up before, what has stayed your tongue. This is what you wanted right?” Trixie picked her head up, tears starting to run down her face. “This is nothing what I wanted…I don’t want to do this anymore…” Chrysalis laughed at the reaction the truth did to Trixie. The arrogant, self loving showmare finally realized the options left to her. “I will fix this…” “I learned my lesson at leaving prisoners free, you signed a deal Trixie. Fail to uphold your end and in a week you will be dead. This is why you started here, it’s a week’s travel to the closest town we are not planning to hit, you’re next destination should you choose to live is only two days travel from here. I’ve already set your audience; all you have to do is show up and perform your rather boring show. Even if you die there will be others I can tempt into contract.” (The Dragon Lands) Cecilia entered the first chamber of the massive cave. To her surprise the walls were not jagged unfinished rock, or even the semi smooth of flowed lava long cooled. These walls were smooth, and etched upon them were terrible scenes. “Cecy these scenes, they are part of your past are they not?” Cecilia shook her head turning to look at Rarity. “This is my parent’s legacy; these are scenes from Tri Star. Stay close to me, only two races fought on that planet and would have such clear memory and the ability to etch them into stone. I don’t think my parents have been here.” The floor began to glow a soft white light, in the massive archway to the next chamber stood a huge dragon. Her scales yellowed with age, but her eyes still held youth of many more decades to come. “They are so I never forget the blood of the children I slain in those days.” Cecilia didn’t seem to blink, or take her eyes of the dragon across the chamber. “I’m Cecilia…” The dragon spoke over Cecilia. “It is customary for me to address myself first, as you are guests I forgive the rudeness.” Cecilia nodded and waived for her to proceed and the dragon entered the chamber. “I’m Isis, former commander of the 3rd army of the interstellar empire.” Cecilia went next. “Cecilia Barnum, daughter of Lola 9723 and Mindy 9724.” Isis nodded before turning her attention to Rarity. “To see a hybrid walk with a pony is a strange sight, by what title and name do you go by young mare?” Rarity responded after a brief glance at Cecilia. “I’m Rarity, Element of Generosity.” Isis responded with lighting the rest of the room. “I do not honor the Cleansing Act signed by my king, it is the reason I have left his service and empire. I will not be party to the annihilation of a race that proved worthy to stand on its own.” The dragon moved into the room. “I welcome you to Star Fall Mountain, if you would like to take a moment to refresh yourselves from the trip by all means you need only ask. The princess of the sun mentioned there would be more than just you Rarity, are they coming later?” Rarity shook her head. “They stayed behind to take care of obligations and look after a dear friend who injured herself recently.” “Are they also element bearers as well?” Rarity nodded slightly and Isis turned for the archway to the next chamber. “Come with me, there is something you need to read; too many pieces are falling into place.” The next chamber was a library to rival that of the palace library. This chamber also had multiple archways leading off of it. Isis moved to a huge rack of scrolls. “Some of these books came from my personal archive when I lived within the empire. Are you familiar with the oracle of Pi 3?” Cecilia spoke as she made herself comfortable leaning against a bookshelf. “I’ve heard rumors mostly, I was not active in gathering intelligence on your empire. From what I have heard the predictions are very accurate once you decipher the meaning. How does the oracle apply to me, Rarity, and the rest of the elements of harmony?” Isis pulled a scroll from the mid rows on a stack. “I went to visit the oracle after Tri Star; this is what she predicted for me.” Isis magically shrunk the scroll to be more manageable for Cecilia. Cecilia took it from her talons gently given it was already showing age despite the preservation spells no doubt present on it. Opening it carefully she shook her head. “This is one language I do not know, you’ll have to read it to us.” Cecilia held it back out and Isis gently took it from her and after resizing it she placed it back in the stack. “The fog of many battles will set in, a fallen star you shall become, a world torn asunder for a queen’s crown when the second and third stars fall. In this place of your heart’s desire you will find your true leader, and serve faithfully until the dying hour.” Cecilia leaned up off the bookshelf. “May I have parchment and quill?” Isis moved to get them but Rarity spoke up. “No need to move Isis, I have something on hoof.” Rarity floated her sketch pad and a single pencil out. Flipping the book until it was a blank page she moved the materials over and Cecilia took them. Cecilia wrote out the entire prediction word for word, and then below it she began to drew a large circle and labeled the inside Isis. Smaller circles contained clips of the prediction that applied to her obviously. When Cecilia finished they were left with two questions. Who was the second fallen star? What kingdom would be feuded over for the queen’s crown? There was a third pertaining to who Isis would dedicate the remainder of her life to, but Cecilia assumed whomever this queen was would probably be it. Cecilia took care and sliced the page out of the book with her claw. Rarity had to blink a few times to actually believe her eyes watching Isis shudder a bit. “Isis, do Cecilia’s abilities frighten you?” Isis hung her head a bit answering Rarity’s question. “To see what I have seen claws like that do…it brings back bad memories of friends I had to say final goodbyes to.” Rarity shook her head. “There is no need for you to fear Cecilia; she came to you after all. I’m sure if she found you a threat I would have been whisked away before the first attack was thought of. If we are to be of any help to anyone we must set our pasts behind us, and through assisting one another achieve our mutual goals.” Isis smiled a bit looking over a still pondering Cecilia . “That is some rather out of character advice for you Rarity?” Rarity nodded glancing over at Cecilia who was still focused on the page in front of her. A looking back she answered Isis. “I may have borrowed a teeny tiny bit from Twilight.” “Try most of it…alright Isis, add in where the elements of harmony fall into this?” Isis pulled a rather dusty book, and setting it on the reading stand she opened it to reveal it held a scroll within it. “Celestia brought me this for safe keeping, this was given to her by an old mage shortly after my arrival in this world. She like most ponies take the words of prophecy with skepticism, but never so bold as to completely ignore them. I solidified her fears a week ago when she visited and spoke of how you arrived, and I showed her the prediction I just did.” Cecilia readied her pencil. “Alright what does it say?” “Those who plot against you will seek the last of the fallen stars protected by harmony. When harmony fails and with the injury of second fallen star, the choice made by the third will tear the world apart. You’re greatest accomplishment will come to pass in your darkest hour, and will be marked by the burning sky.” Cecilia didn’t want to think about it, she wanted to deny it. Her mind screamed for it not to be true. Her hand betrayed, and part of her consciousness needed to solve what they could and what it solved was a tragedy for an innocent kingdom. “Tri major, the third star and parent to the planet was the first to collapse, it ripped the world apart burning the sky. Harmony failed, the second, Tri Minor, was injured and no longer shines as it used to. The first, Tri Solaris failed to be coaxed into detonation; the spell control was sloppy and a black hole formed within the core. It fell from the sky…” Isis shook the floor as she half ran half leapt through the archway back into the first chamber where she greeted Rarity and Cecilia. “The fog of many battles will set in…a near week’s worth of fighting before I retreated.” Isis turned in place looking at the various murals. “All I see is the source of my resignation…my fall to depression...” Rarity watched Cecilia just slide down the bookcase to sit on the floor, just staring off into space. “Cecilia, listen, pleeease listen, you can change this outcome if you can stop it before people get hurt. You came here for that reason, to fix your problems to go home, promise me you will do that?” Cecilia looked up at Rarity. “You are leaving?” Rarity levitated up the piece of paper that Cecilia used that had the partial answer to both predictions on it. “I have to…my parents…Sweetie Belle; I have to make sure they are safe before this terrible tragedy occurs.” Cecilia looked to her left and Yulee transported to the spot beside her. “Yulee our friends are in imminent danger, I’m placing you in their service to protect their homes. No one takes Ponyville on your watch, but try to keep the damage to a minimum.” Yulee saluted with her paw, and bouncing over she hopped up on Rarity’s back. “Cecy, you don’t have to…” Yulee transported them both back to Ponyville. Cecilia walked back through the archway speaking the first incantation. Isis turned to look, her eyes widening as a complete Cecilia stood in front of her. “M…my queen, if you are complete, why is it you are here?” “My friends are on the line, they have sacrificed much to help me. You and I have an army to gather; will you bear me as a burden upon your back?” “I will bear you anywhere you wish, I’m…” Isis never finished and just looked at Cecilia’s growing smile. “You went to the oracle of Pi-3 too…” “When given the pieces of a puzzle, and faced with your greatest fear. The path to redemption will open, be wary for the mistakes of old will be easy to redo.” Isis shook her head in disbelief at how complicated this whole mess had become. “Where are we to find this army you speak of?” Cecilia crouched and jumping straight up wings of white materialized on her back, she hovered over and settled on Isis. “I am about to see just how good I am at making new friends.”