//------------------------------// // Chapter 92 – Worlds on the Edge // Story: Infinity Era // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// 92 Everfree Forest, Equestria Castle of the Two Sisters 4:53 p.m. Princess Cadance soothed her whimpering child, cradling the young Flurry Heart as the foal cried for her father. The Alicorn rocked her back and forth, sat atop the peak of the staircase overlooking the Great Hall. Her lullabies did little to ease Flurry Heart, and the more Cadance stared into her glistening, tear-filled eyes, all she could see was more of herself. A pony waiting alongside everypony else. Waiting as the soldiers, the leaders, the brave went off to fight a war even Cadance couldn’t fathom the outcome of. She was left alone, in charge with the remaining Crystal Guard and the populace of Ponyville and the Crystal Empire under her watchful gaze. Under her protection… and maybe even her future leadership in case… Cadance didn’t want to think of what might happen tomorrow. She only needed to think of today… and a lot could happen today. Thankfully, Zecora was there, helping as many ponies as she could. But even then, the overwhelming, underlying pang of worry and fear gripped every last pony, zebra, what have you within the Castle of the Two Sisters. Almost everypony felt the same, clutching onto one another for comfort, for warmth, for the unknown that awaited as the sky cracked and the thunder roared. The Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled closely around Granny Smith and Big McIntosh, the burly stallion holding onto his marefriend Sugar Belle as the storm outside grew more and more intense. The three little fillies gazed skyward, stared onto the alien planet hidden between the openings in the ceiling and the shattered storm clouds above. Sandbar and his family saw it, too. Princess Cadance especially saw it. The red eye of the storm growing over planet Earth, breaking through all obstructions and glaring right at her. At every last one of them. Then the clouds covered the light and the darkness of the storm washed over the Castle of the Two Sisters. Leaving everypony in that perpetual, inescapable black. Yakyakistan 4:54 p.m. Yona heard the horn of the yaks cry out, prompting her and her family to escape the warmth of their home and enter into the village of their people, the capital city of the nation of Yakyakistan. She charged ahead, hooves pelting and crushing the piles of snow standing in her way as she and her family finally came to a rest near the center of town. And it was there that Prince Rutherford broke away from the mighty horn displayed in the center of town. Slowly, deliberately, he turned his attention to the large crowd of yaks gathered together in one conglomerated swarm, one single tribe. Despite his eyes being hidden underneath his heavy bangs, he still managed to spot Yona and her family amongst the masses. It was no time, no place, no moment for such a yak as young as her. For all the yaks so young and so innocent to be witnesses. But they needed to learn one way or another. They needed to understand the world of which they lived and the world they would inhabit and rule once Rutherford and his people passed on to next life. For the world in which they lived… Prince Rutherford turned his head up the skies, through the falling snow and between the storm clouds. Every yak followed, every eye opening, every jaw falling, and every breath failing. Yona herself caught her heart in her throat, raising a hoof to press it firmly against her chest. It was all she could do when the alien planet came into view between the storm, the red eye staring down onto their home. Peaks of Peril 4:55 p.m. Autumn Blaze heard the commotion outside her home and immediately felt her heart drop into a pit of dread and horror. There were screams, shouts of anger, fear, worry, adrenaline fueling all of it with enough power to get the attention of the entire Kirin village. Practically tossing her book across the room and throwing herself off her couch, Autumn Blaze nearly took off at a full gallop towards her door that led to the outside world she called home. All the while, the lurking sense of dread continually filled her heart and soul until she could hardly take it. For as long as she could remember, the Kirin were not normally a “calm” race by any means. Certainly, they experienced the longest moment of peace and prosperity in their village since Applejack and Fluttershy arrived to solve their… vow of silence problem, but that was only because they previously torched their own home because of some stupid disagreement. Which escalated into a fight. Which ended up turning several Kirin into fearsome Nirik and nearly burning down their home. Since then, their leader Rain Shine ordered all Kirin to no longer speak in hopes to prevent another tragedy, but Autumn just couldn’t seem to keep her mouth shut. Banishment was the worst, but she managed, and thanks to Applejack and Fluttershy, the Kirin were ale to find their voices again and cool off their anger in simpler, non-harmful, non-burning down the village kind of ways. And since then, the Kirin were able to experience their longest moment of peace and happiness. Not a Nirik to ruin the day, not an argument that didn’t escalate into something worse, just… nothing that reminded them of the past. Even then, Autumn still held a dreaded feeling that that day would return in full, horrifying force. When she heard those screams, already Autumn Blaze knew that it finally had. Yet she was able to find herself pleasantly surprised to see that she was wrong. Once she stepped hoof outside her door and into her village, there were Kirin out in the streets, many of them fleeing for their lives, but mostly all of them gazing skywards. Not a Nirik in sight. Rain Shine stood with her people, all of them watching as the darkness fell over their land and wind picked up. It was heavy, rain beginning to pelt their village relentlessly. Autumn Blaze stood in the epicenter of it all, watching as Kirin she knew and loved ran past her in screaming droves. She pushed past all of them, the rain soaking her mane and pressed flat against her skull, but never blocking her sight. She stopped just short on Rain Shine’s side, tapping the Kirin leader with her hoof and asking what was everyone freaking out about. It was just a storm. They had faced far worst in the past. Rain Shine didn’t even look at her, but Autumn didn’t truly need her answer. That answer came from above, from the dark red light shining on them and earning Autumn Blaze’s attention. Her jaw fell, her eyes shot open, and all else fell into a sound of silence as the horrified storm on the alien planet grew even fiercer as the seconds ticked away. The eye of the storm, the great red spot, shined down directly onto their village. Autumn Blaze held her breath. It was all she could to keep from screaming. Changeling Empire 4:56 p.m. Ocellus, her younger sister, younger brother, mother, and father all worked tirelessly to repair their home. The destruction of the Changeling Empire left a mark on them that just couldn’t be repaired, though. No matter how many stones they replaced, how many homes they rebuilt, and how much they cared for their home, it could never fill the void within them of what they had lost. Queen Chrysalis’ rule left every changeling as but a drone, a soldier, a simple pawn in the wicked queen’s plans to take Equestria. Ocellus could hardly recall a time where she was just another one of them, just another mute, faceless, drone willing to give her life for the bug that wouldn’t even hesitate to sacrifice a hundred changelings to get what she wanted. Her family was lucky. They were spared the inevitable that so many other changelings had in the past. But when Thorax brought them out of the light, showed them they could survive by giving love instead of taking it, Ocellus was one of the first to follow. One of the many to experience the life they had been missing all along. And all was new. All was different. And for the better. The changelings had never known such prosperity until Thorax came into power. But that prosperity never could have lasted. All good things came to an end. They always have and they always would. When Typhon came from deeper within the Badlands and torched their empire… that was it. All they could do was rebuild, but even then, they could never fix the hole the demon left in their hearts. Something else filled it. Not with happiness. Not with assurance or the promise of prosperity and healing to come. Every changeling dropped what they were doing, stopped in their tracks, and stared. Ocellus and her family could only stare alongside every other changeling as the alien world hovered ominously over their heads. The eye of the storm stared openly at them, the red spreading a fire of color across the torched landscape of the Changeling Empire. Mount Aris Hippogriffia 4:57 p.m. Silverstream was joined shortly by her brother Terramar and her mother Ocean Flow by the edge of Mount Aris. The Hippogriff capital stood against heavy, dangerous tides as the alien world of planet Earth hung over their home. The storm clouds that weren’t natural—fueled by an external and evil force—filled the air but just so happened to create that break, that glimpse to the world above and the impending battle that awaited. Everygriff watched on from the safety and the comfort of their homes. Those that remained outside, only the brave, stood together, in one harmonious unit as the wind tore at their manes, the water droplets of the ocean and rain splashed against their faces, and the assault of the thunder raged against their eardrums. A pair of Hippogriff Royal Guards stood by and watched the chaos unfold in the outside world. They remained frozen in their statue-like state, gripped their spears tighter and tighter as the storms raged. Unlike their stone-faced stature, Princess Skystar was calm, composed, and quiet on her mother’s throne. As acting queen of the Hippogriffs, Skystar would remain in that calming state, ensuring to her people that she would be the leader they needed. Not the one she didn't feel like. The Dragon Lands Dragons’ Lair 4:58 p.m. Celestia faced many storms in her lifetime. During times of peace, political and emotional of every kind. During times of suffering, of wars, of plagues unimaginable, she had only survived because of the ponies by her side. Because there were still those willing to fight with her through the fire, grime, and wind. Today would be no different than every other battle. The storm from Earth glared down at her, the eye of it burning like a newborn star. Like a second sun. And Princess Celestia glared right back. The armor she wore resembled that of the kind she wore during the Ultron Offensive three years prior, her golden spear the very same weapon she led into the fight with. Her scowl was just as horrible as the moment before Ultron’s legion fell onto Canterlot, and it was probably even worse awaiting for the Mad Titan in the Dragon Lands. Because that time she didn’t have the assurance of her Royal Guard or the Equestrian Army to back her up. She lost that assurance of her younger sister to be right by her side. Yet with every loss came a gain. Queen Novo was right by Celestia’s side, golden armor and spear resting on her person and the Hippogriff queen turning to Celestia and nodding her way. That supportive, reassuring stance, that smile, everything she was and held was almost enough to ease Celestia’s pangs of fear. That lonesomeness she once felt was gone, however, thanks to the various species who chose to stand with her. Like once before… so many years ago against a demon with seven heads. Dragon Lord Ember gripped the Bloodstone Scepter with both claws, her golden armor and mask sealed tightly over her scales and face. In her narrowed eyes, there was only a fierce sense of readiness, the dragon and her people gazing up alongside Celestia and Novo to the clouds, to the alien world, to whatever awaited them in the storm. They weren’t alone. None of them ever were. Every single creature apart of the One United Species Army—from Hippogriffs, to dragons, to griffons, to changelings, and to the newest race recently joining them… the ponies—they all stared above, looking up to Earth, to the continent of Africa with a massive storm brewing over it. All of them were waiting… dreading… fearing… ready for what would inevitably happen. Gallus and Smolder turned to one another, each one flashing a confident smirk. Smolder turned away and put on her silver, dented helmet, lifting her mace and shield. Gallus lifted up the griffon saber he was given by one of the griffon generals, that confidence still burning in his eyes as the two of them stared onto the alien world. The wind blew heavy, fires in the distance raging, the apocalyptic wasteland of the Dragons’ Lair… waiting. The Avengers were waiting. The Defenders were waiting. The Guardians of the Galaxy were waiting. The agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were waiting. The sorcerers were waiting. Tempest Shadow, Captain Celaeno, both of their crews were waiting. Sunburst and the Crystal Guards were waiting. The Wonderbolts were waiting. Doctor Strange was waiting. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, Friday, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike were waiting. All of them waiting for the Helicarrier above and the Sorcerer Supreme before they would get into position. Not a word was spoken for so long. The only sounds possible were that of the crying wind and the approaching storm. They didn’t need another word. Everyone knew what to do. And yet they still heard the approaching radio chatter from the Avengers, Phil Coulson telling everyone good luck, especially them. Especially… “It’s been an honor fighting by your side, Steve,” Coulson said via comms. Steve Rogers slowly raised his finger to his ear. Paused. He could never look away from home, from the eye of the storm, the glowing red hellhole that every eye in the world saw. He breathed again. “The honor was mine, Phil.” Earth The Nation of Wakanda 11:59 p.m. Thanos stepped forth onto the crescent hill overlooking the landscape. As he emerged, he was greeted to a fresh wave of sulfur, smoke, and ash blowing into his face and flowing downwards from the storm-filled skylines. He gazed in that initial direction, spotting the heart of the demonic storm resting, circling, approaching the lone stump, that single mound erected amongst the valley. The Black Order followed right by their father’s sides. Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive nearly hand in hand, Midnight planting the end of her spear into the scorched grass resting on the hilltop. Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian joined them, the Maw calm and calculated, Obsidian growling upon the wretched sight displayed before them. Ebony Maw pressed his fingers tighter against one another. Midnight narrowed her eyes. Glaive barred his fangs. Thanos sneered. Shining Armor reached the top of the hill, stopping just short on Thanos’ left. His irises—colored a bright, alien blue—gazed upon the land of desolation displayed before them. The burning hellscape hadn’t escaped the wrath of the Father of Monsters. Whatever remained of the Golden City was but a blip of its former self, a simple cinder resting in the distance. Between it and the mound, a trail of fire and destruction remained, clear signs of the beast’s looming and everlasting presence. The skies burned, storm clouds constantly swirling overhead and unleashing an unquenchable fire upon the nation of Wakanda. Yet it was the eye of the storm that brought light upon the darkness, brought day onto the night. The burning red spot plastered upon the heavens gazed straight downwards onto the valley directly ahead of Thanos and his Black Order, unleashing a soft, red haze upon the nation. Both Thanos and each member of the Black Order turned their heads to the equine standing on their left. Corvus growled as he spoke. Proxima bared her sharpened teeth. Ebony stared bemusedly upon him. Cull tightened his claw against his axe. All of them already sick of the pony Thanos brought along with them. Shining Armor didn’t even care. His expression showed clear signs of lack of rest, heavy bags under his eyes but clear, forced determination and will etched over it. He took a step forward, analyzing the valley like the skilled tactician he was. “Typhon’s demon army is surrounding the mountain,” Shining explained, his eyes wide, unblinking, and mind out of his control. “We can clear them out with the Outriders. Then the Black Order and I—” Thankfully, for Shining Armor’s sake and safety from the Black Order, Thanos raised his left hand. Shining was instantly silenced without even a word of command, the power of the Mind Stone still ultimately affecting his thought process. Ultimately making him unquestionably loyal to the Mad Titan. The swirls of control flowed in the unicorn’s bright blue eyes, all of which Thanos saw when he turned to him. “I admire the optimism, Shining Armor, but it won’t be necessary,” he addressed, lowering his left hand and the Infinity Gauntlet as he did so. Shining nodded without question, without complaint, and turned to face the same direction Thanos had. It was beyond the valley filled with crying demonic entities, beasts of Tartarus upon the earth and within the air, swarming like vultures and buzzards around the great storm of fire hanging over the mound. Demons and titans great and small, fodder and behemoth, all turned in the same direction, the same place where Thanos and his children turned. Out of the wall of smoke shielding the rest of the nation from Thanos’ eyes, the beast finally emerged and stomped forth onto the land atop the Great Mound. His titanic, leathery wings extended, pushing away the smoke and unveiling to his children once and for all… who stood atop the universe itself. They cried and cheered and screamed for him. Their father. Their savior. Their salvation. Typhon roared out to all, for all, and glared down onto Mount Bashenga. And Thanos slowly glared to him. To the one standing on top of the Soul Stone. Sanctuary II, an Outrider army, and Thanos’ Chitauri fleet hung behind them, waiting. Numerous more Command Centers emerged out of the smoke near the outskirts of the valley, waiting. The entire valley, the entire nation, the entirety of all reality and the universe was silenced. Waiting. He was far passed waiting a second longer. Thanos clenched the Infinity Gauntlet, slowly beginning the approach. He practically left the Black Order, Shining Armor, and his army in the dust. But it was their eyes that fell to the Gauntlet and the five Infinity Stones did they finally move again, finally react when their father said, “Come, my children. Destiny awaits.”