//------------------------------// // 3: Rodan // Story: MLP: Lord of the Skies // by The Bricklayer //------------------------------// Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Ho’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through the footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. --- High Flight, John Gillespie Magee Jr Needless to say, when Twilight had learned what exactly had transpired in Baltimare, she called in a few favors. She’d seen the look on Snap’s face, and however hesitantly, had agreed to help. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” Rainbow screamed upon walking into the morgue. She noticed Snap Shutter in the corner of the room looking rather uncertain. Uncertain but hopeful. Twilight spun around and glared angrily. “I’m going to give Scootaloo a second chance at life!” Rainbow’s eyes shot open. “By doing what?” “Technology has advanced to the point that we can do many glorious things to help those who have been injured,” Twilight said. “I believe that if we use this, and a bit of… well, let’s say a newly discovered -or should I say rediscovered- form of magic, we can give her a new body,” Twilight said, her eyes roving over to the battered corpse that rested atop the cold, steely table. “Her old one may be gone, but I believe that we can give her a second chance if we simply transfer her soul to a new one.” “What, did Snap put you up to this?” Rainbow snapped glaring at the stallion. “I knew it, he did, didn’t he?” Snap’s expression said more than words ever could. “This… this is a bit unconventional, I know but…” Twilight stammered out before Rainbow let out a snarl and grabbed Twilight by her regalia. “Look, you may be the freaking all-powerful Princess of the Sun, Moon, Tides, and whatever else Celestia and Luna gave you when they retired but that gives you no right to just… go all frankenmare on my sister!” Rainbow shouted. “I am not going to ‘frankenmare’ your sister!” Twilight snapped. Snap had already taken his leave so he could give the two privacy. “I’m going to do what anyone would do to help a child!” “Fine, you’re going to zombify her and make her into some hideous abomination!” Rainbow sneered. “You want to play the role of the all-mighty Goddess who can give and take away life from whoever she damn well pleases. How would you feel if that was Spike? How would you feel if we throw his soul into the body of a … I don’t know, a microwave? Would he still be Spike, or would he be some mechanical monstrosity with his voice?” “I… I... “ Twilight stammered out, Rainbow’s words giving her pause. The door creaked open behind her, the sound of hoofsteps soon to follow.  “Look, I just want to save her life, that’s all. We’re not performing mad science here, we’re just transferring her soul to something different while we try and salvage -repair- her original body, that’s all.” “And how the flying feather are you going to do that?” Rainbow shouted. “I mean, look, I know you’re a genius Twilight, but this is… well, it’s a little bit beyond you.” “I’ll do it with delicacy,” a new voice said, and in walked in Mage Meadowbrook, of all mares. Clearly, Twilight thought… No, she knew she couldn’t do this alone. “Through the use of the most powerful spells known to us as a species and with the knowledge of magic at our disposal. I can transfer her soul to a new body. Sure, her old body may not be a vessel that functions any more, but her soul is still intact and as such, I can give it a new place to reside and she’ll be back on her hooves in no time!” “You know what this sounds like, right?” Twilight muttered, remembering Ocellus’s words all too well. “What we should be worried about is genetic power. That key has been unlocked, and once we opened that box… I don’t think there’s any going back. I’m talking about homemade, cataclysmic change. And to be honest, -and yes, I know how this sounds- but it’s like death. I’m not sure what we’ll know what we’re looking at till it’s standing at us at the front of the gates.” “I mean, this is… bioengineering in some regard, and I…” Twilight muttered. “I’m really not sure what we’re doing here is the right thing, maybe Rainbow’s right. Maybe we should just let Scootaloo… pass on.” Twilight stood motionless, her mind racing. Thoughts of how Scootaloo’s parents would react to the news—and at their child’s own funeral—played and replayed in an endless loop. No, I can’t allow her to pass on. I can’t let a foal die like this. Not to such a… horrible act like this.” “Uh, Twi?” Rainbow waved a hoof in front of Twilight’s face. “You there? Yoo-hoo.” “Sorry…” Twilight murmured to herself. “Just lost in… thought I suppose.” “I should hope so!” Rainbow bellowed. “This type of magic does not lend itself without precedent,” Meadowbrook said in that soft and rather kind bayou accent of hers. “Back during the old days, curses were transferred from ponies to pigs for disposal. It was something me and mama were very good at. I however do admit transferring a soul from a… body is something different. This has never been done before.” “Gee, I wonder why?” Rainbow deadpanned. “This… this is just wrong on so many levels.” she whispered trying to fight back the tears. Twilight furrowed her brow before shaking her head. “Listen, Rainbow, I want you to go inform Scootaloo’s dad that we’ve found a way to save his daughter’s life. Can you do that without wording it as us doing some sort of horrible bioengineering experiment that will make her look like an abomination?” “So what?” Rainbow snapped. “You're asking me to flat out lie to him!? Just look him in the eye and tell him that we're not playing My Little Goddesses?” “Rainbow!” Twilight grit her teeth. “This isn’t me playing ‘My Little Goddess’! This is a chance to revolutionize what we now about the concept of death. If this succeeds, think of how many lives we can save from tragic accidents not only in Equestria but around the world!” She stormed up to Rainbow and pressed her muzzle against her friend’s. “Which would you rather be known as? The one who let a father see his deceased daughter come back to life, or the coward who let her own personal bias get in the way of her own petty morals because she couldn’t accept that sometimes, science has to break boundaries to let us advance as a species?” Rainbow sighed. “You know, for such a smart mare you can be really really stupid sometimes.” With that she marched out of the room. As soon as she was out in the hallway she let out a scream, punched the wall—leaving a noticeable dent in the brick as she did so—and broke down sobbing. Time and time again, it seemed science and stupidity went hoof and hoof. “That stupid… airheaded bitch.” Rainbow let out a shaky sigh and wiped a tear off her cheek with a wing. “How can she just up and decide that ‘Oh, I’ll just bring the dead back to life because it’s morally justifiable!’? Is she out of her fucking mind!?” “You think I'm a fan of this either?” Meadowbrook asked.  Rainbow swallowed a lump in her throat. “N-no, but I wish she’d listen to us for once when she gets one of her so-called ‘genius’ ideas.” “Sometimes, the only way to learn is to see the failure of what you set out to do,” Meadowbrook replied. “Only then will one learn.” “You don't really believe that do you?” Rainbow sighed. “I mean we're…” “Playing Goddess here. Yes I heard,” Meadowbrook said. “Truth be told back when me and mama performed similar magic it was seen as… unnatural.” “And you didn't take that as a hint to stop?” Rainbow asked. “I want to ask you a question,” Meadowbrook stepped in front of Rainbow. “Do you believe that times change at all? That what was once immoral will one day be seen as moral or normal?” “Yes, I do believe they change but…” Rainbow swallowed. “Remember what Twilight said? About how science sometimes has to break boundaries for us to succeed? Well, that kind of thinking brought us the Oxygen Destroyer.” Meadowbrook shivered, the color draining from her face. There are necessary evils that must exist to maintain a balance within nature… She shifted around, pawing gently at the floor. “Rainbow, you do understand that sometimes there are… things that happen for a reason, right?” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Yeah, so? That doesn’t excuse what that abomination of ‘science’ did! Manehattan’s fishing industry is ruined. Goddess only knows what else is to follow.” Meadowbrook took a step back. “Yes, but that was a weapon used to kill. This is something we’re doing for the betterment of us all, not to kill.” “Are you sure?” Rainbow asked. “Because I'm pretty sure that's what they were saying when the Destroyer was being thought up to kill the MUTOs.” “The Oxygen Destroyer was designed to kill at a great cost, but what if we hadn’t used it?” Meadowbrook asked. “What if we’d let the MUTOs continue to rampage, and Mothra failed to stop them? Think of the number of lives that would have been lost in the process. We would’ve lost more than just Manehattan’s fishing industry. We would’ve lost Manehattan as a whole. Everyone who lived there would be without a home and without a family.”  She rested a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I understand you fear this experiment, Rainbow, but you have to understand that not everything that you don’t understand will be just like the Destroyer. This isn’t something you should fear, but something you should hope does us good for the whole of our species. If it works, we can make sure those who lose their lives to these Titans aren’t truly lost. Would that not be better than having to bury millions of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters?” “I…. I don't know.” Rainbow took a small step back. Her personality… it reminds me so much of Fluttershy. I don’t understand how somepony could be so willing to do something so… stupid, yet have their heart set in such a good place. Maybe… maybe she’s right? Maybe I’m overreacting. I mean, the Destroyer’s effects did save—no, no, I can’t let her do this. Rainbow took a deep breath. “Meadow, I can’t… I can’t let this happen. This will do nothing good.” She wiped a tear away from her eye. “That thing—that Destroyer—it wasn’t for the better. It wasn’t… it wasn’t right. And neither is this!” “I… I see, and I understand.” Meadowbrook said even though her voice betrayed her. “No you DON’T!” Rainbow screamed. “You say you understand but you don't! I don't know what will come of this but it sure as Writer’s Quill won't be Scootaloo. This… this won't bring her back "to me…” Rainbow finally broke down. “She was my sister… she had so much in front of her. She wanted to confess to Sweetie and now look at what’s happening! You want to make her into some sort of monster!” “Rainbow, please, calm down.” Meadowbrook said. “We aren’t going to turn her into a monster. We merely want to help her live her life to her fullest.” Then came a shout. During their little… heart to heart so to speak neither mare had noticed a certain changeling walk by. And he was not happy. “Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Pharynx bellowed his voice shaking the walls. “Oh shit…” Rainbow thought. Twilight looked up to see the Director of Monarch looking right down at her. She swallowed. She never knew how tall Pharynx was until now. Rushing back, Rainbow and Meadowbrook barged into the room in time to see Pharynx staring down a cowering Twilight Sparkle. “By the fucking Goddess herself, Twilight!” Pharynx bellowed. “What the hell have you done!? You—you want to play judge, jury, and executioner of what the natural cycle of life dictates to be as it should be!?” “Let me e—” “I will not allow one single mare to play Goddess with anyone!” Pharynx snapped. “Especially not a foal! I should kill you right here and now for thinking you're above the natural course of life!” “But-”  “But nothing! While you are working on anything Titan related -anything at all!- you are under Monarch jurisdiction. And that means I can do with you as I please,” Pharynx said. “Now ask yourself what would Professor Serizawa think?” Finally Twilight regained her courage. “You dare!?!” “Yes I do indeed dare!” Pharynx bellowed. Twilight scoffed. “And I’ll have you know that I’m the one who has higher authority than you!” She pressed her muzzle against Pharynx’s own. “So ask me this, little Changeling, what moral and political authority does a little bug like yourself have over me?” Instantly she knew she had said the wrong thing, and instantly she regretted it. “Quite a bit I should think!” Pharynx said. “But if you won't listen to me…” He in a flash of green flame changed into an all too familiar face. “...maybe you'll listen to your marefriend!” Pharynx said in Tempest’s voice. Twilight’s face went through a series of emotions. Anger, sadness, confusion, before finally settling on content. Her muscles eased up. She fell to her haunches. “W-what…” Tears ran down her face, her muscles tensing up once more. A few shaky breaths escaped her mouth. “What have I done?” She looked back up, Rainbow and Meadowbrook having joined by Pharynx’s side. Twilight’s eyes snapped between each of her friends that stood in front of her. She scooted back, letting out a series of shaky breaths in rapid succession. “I… I’m sorry,” she sputtered out, her back now against the wall. “I’m so… so…” She slumped down, covering her face with her hooves. A few faint whimpers filled the otherwise deathly silent room. “I… understand,” Pharynx said resuming his normal form bring Twilight in for a hug. “You just want to save another life, isn’t that it? But… why? You barely even know this filly.” “...Maybe I do,” Twilight answered as Rainbow leaned up against the doorway, listening in her heart breaking even more with every passing moment. “But… But at the same time, she reminds me of myself, in some ways. So… Driven. Her and her friends, they used to get lessons from me you know? I adored that time, being a teacher if only for a little while. I suppose that’s part of the reason why I created the School, so I could… do that some more in the end I guess. But more than that, she’s Rainbow’s family. So that makes her my family. Maybe Rainbow will hold it against me, but she has every right to. Every right.” “Oh Twilight…” Rainbow thought trying not to break down and cry again. “I could never hold this against you. Not now… Not after this.” “This experiment? Maybe it’s mad science, and maybe it’ll save Scootaloo’s life but it’s not a risk I’m going to take. Not if it costs me my friendship with Rainbow. Nothing’s worth that!” Twilight conceded flipping off the lights, but not before giving one last look towards Scootaloo and a whisper of: “I’m sorry…” Azteca: The Stormcatcher “You really sure the information that Soulshine stallion gave us is accurate?” Ocellus said. “Actually, why am I here anyways?” Pharynx sighed. To be perfectly honest, he wasn’t quite sure to the answer of that himself. Especially after the incident in Baltimare. He grimaced at the thought, Hivemother be damned if that mare didn’t drive him up the wall at times. He remembered Soulshine’s words even now.  “Look, I know you don’t have reason to trust me Monarch, why should you? Especially after all the trouble I caused in Saddle Arabia…” “THAT WAS YOU!?!” Fizzlepop shouted before both of the Shobijin glared at her. “Silence, please Madam Fizzlepop. For the mercy of our poor ears!” they said in unison and to her credit Fizzlepop actually looked rather ashamed of herself. “You know how much trouble you caused us?” Fizzlepop asked. “We’re still getting yelled at by the Embassy!” “Yes, yes and I… well, I’m willing to give myself up,” Soulshine said causing a few gasps to echo around the room. “But I’ve got to warn you about something. My top scientist, Bubbling Beakers? I’m worried he might do something rash. There’s a Titan in Azteca, okay?” “How do you know about that?” Pharynx inquired, his eyes narrowing. “That information is supposed to be top secret! I could have you arrested for treason! “Yes, and I’m quite sure you’ll do that,” Soulshine agreed. “I… I have a source inside Monarch. We had a source… That’s how I knew about where Mokele was resting. But none of that matters now! Bubbling, he wants the G-Cells, to further the cause of his research! Goddess above, I’m not sure what he’ll do but I know it’ll be disastrous! I just know it! So please, I beg of you!” He was pleading by now over the viewscreen, and Pharynx studied him. Yes, he’d been the cause of a lot of trouble for Monarch, but he had no reason to lie about any of this. What would he gain giving himself up aside from a cell in prison? He turned to the Shobijin. “Thoughts?” he asked them. “Why do you look at us?” the small beauties asked in unison. “Sorry, I suppose I guess I just… default to changelings, or something a little bit like them in your case. What do you suppose I do? Is he telling the truth?” “Well, he has no reason to lie,” the Shobijin said. “After all, you said it yourself, what else would he have to gain from all of this aside from a cell in prison?” “How did you…?” Pharynx said before he (almost) blushed. Changeling warriors did not blush! No sir! “...I suppose I was talking aloud to myself again, wasn’t I?” “Yes, you were!” the Shobijin chimed. “Say this goes south, say these Rodans does get his nine-o-clock wake up call,” Pharynx whispered to them. “Can’t you call Mothra or something? Something tells me we might need your Goddess.” “We can try, but we cannot guarantee she would be able to reach you in time,” the Shobijin said. “...Well, isn’t that just wonderful.” Pharynx grumbled to himself. He then turned his attention back to Soulshine. “Alright, you have your little deal. We’ll have someone pick you up on the Saddle Arabian border. Can’t toss you in a cell just yet, we’re too busy as it is right now with this… new information.” “I… I understand,” Soulshine said taking a long, deep sigh. “And for what it’s worth? I’m truly sorry. I just wanted to help the world, not… destroy it.” “Yes, well you know what they say about the road to Tartarus, right?” Fizzlepop muttered. “Yes, I do,” Soulshine said gripping his pendant tightly with his hoof. “Just please… stop Bubbling. Whatever else you do, just stop Bubbling!” A thunderous boom echoed through the land, trees being flattened like an ant beneath the hoof of a fully grown stallion. Smoke billowed into the sky as lava was spewed through the air, crashing down and burning everything around it with ease. “Oh boy…” Pharynx said as Ocellus hid behind her. A loud scream cut through the air, and to his dying day Pharynx would swear the sound was that of the sound of metal and steel grinding against one another. It was like they being blasted through the largest speakers never conceived by a mortal being. He saw ponies, a squadron of both Wonderbolts and Royal Guards flying above, leaving behind contrails in their wake as the sound barrier was soundly ripped open. All wore battle saddles, outfitted for aerial combat. A fat lot of good it’ll do them. Pharynx thought to himself. “Gold Squadron, hold your fire! I repeat, hold your fire!” Rainbow said from nearby as she was suited up in her own uniform. “Hold your fire. We don’t know if he’ll attack. But he sure as Tartarus will if you keep those pulse rifles on him!” “They’re going to panic, aren’t they?” Rainbow muttered trying to stay professional. “Oh, Celestia above, they are!” She looked towards Ocellus. “So, the study of Titans in their natural habitats?” she asked. “Hell of a grad school science project. Well, at any rate you’re about to get an up close and personal look.” Maybe too close. With that thought she took a running jump off of the cloudship and unfurled her wings, rocketing off towards the volcano in a rainbow blaze of light. And then massive wings, smoldering with volcanic embers appeared from out of the smoke, as another loud cry split the air. SKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! A massive, twin horned head rose out of the smoke, as eagle-like claws slowly took a few steps forward. Rodan studied the area around her. Strange, she(?) mused. This was not how the world was when she’d laid herself down to rest. No matter, the One Borne of Fire decided. It would do, for now.  “That town’s going to get leveled…” Pharynx muttered as he looked down below to see the ancient streets and market places beneath the cloudship. “How goes the evacuation?” “Well, do you want the good news, or the bad news?” Star Hunter asked, the pegasus trying to argue with a local mare. “...Isn’t all news bad?” Pharynx deadpanned looking at him through a seer’s orb, similar to the one found in Grogar’s old lair. “You should have just said ‘news’. I would have gotten the picture.” “Well,” Star Hunter said. “If I could understand a word of Azteca, I might be able to get these ponies moving. Then again…” he muttered upon hearing Rodan’s roar split the air again. “I think in a minute they might get the picture!” “Do the best you can,” Pharynx barked. “Meanwhile, let’s hope Rainbow can lead featherbrain away from the area.” He flashed back once more, to how this all started. Pharynx and several other changelings ran up the peaks, through a thick jungle. “Give it up, Bubbling!” he shouted as pulse rifles were trained on the scientist. “No cells are worth this! Not even Godzilla’s!” “None you say!?” Bubbling replied. “Hah! What would a meathead like you know about science?” “A fair bit, I’d say,” Pharynx said casting a glance up to the nearby mountain. “I know it’s not supposed to hurt others, for one thing!” “You? Knowing anything about science? Pah, don’t make me laugh!” Bubbling wheezed, wiping a tear away from his eye. “Oh goodness, look at that. You’ve made me laugh. Now listen here, Pharynx. I have these G-Cells and I’m going to do everything that the world of science has merely dreamt of! I shall find cures for all known diseases, discover immortality, and I will grow wings and dance on the surface of the sun with your skull taped to my testicles!” “...Well, I can see why Soulshine fired you,” Pharynx said in absolute deadpan. “Far as I can see, you’re no absolute use to the world whatsoever. In the Hive? Madmen like you, they’d have been… cleansed.” “Ah tut-tut! You can’t kill me, remember? Your people want me alive and if you shoot little old me, you’ll be staring down the barrel of five rifles!” Bubbling said, sardonically. “Now what would your precious friends say if you defied the orders of your superiors? Oh wait, they can’t talk to dead things.” “Point being?” Pharynx said. “I think they’ll allow me to make an exception if the threat is deemed great enough. And I think threatening to release two Titans ‘all in the name of science’ and hopefully attract Godzilla counts. ...actually, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I’ll just let him step on you.” “Psh, let a giant lizard that spits out blue splurgey splurge? Gimme a break! Now that’s not very ‘friendly’ of you, is it?” Bubbling asked. “Yes, well neither is threatening to release two Titans, and you’re a pony who are generally renowned for their friendshippy skills,” Pharynx replied. “It seems there are exceptions to every rule, yeah?” “Yeah, sure, whatever. Hey, y’know what I will be known for?” Bubbling slammed a hoof on a button. “Blowing this entire mountain up!” He was then promptly shot to pieces by pulse rifle shots even as the mountain exploded… Pharynx sighed. “Good times…” He lit up a cigar and chomped on it. “Hivemother please let me die to this thing.” “Let’s hope the mechanics can get this cloudship’s storm creation features working, otherwise we’re going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble. Hivemother above, Tempest, why couldn’t you have given me a WORKING cloudship?” Pharynx sat back and exhaled the smoke. “Ah shit, he doesn’t look happy.” He leaned forward sat back up. “I really need to stop getting so comfortable whenever there’s danger around. It’s not good for my membrane.” “...Wow, he’s big…” Fire Streak said. “Yeah, and he’s…” Misty Fly muttered. “Well, I don’t know what he’s going to do, but… I don’t want to be the one to find out.” SKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWKKKKK!!! Fleetfoot swallowed nervously as she looked the devil dead in the eye; the devil merely staring back at her, seemingly studying them. Eyeing the aerial forces to judge if they were any actual threats to her reign.  Curious, Rodan thought to herself. She didn’t actually remember this many small ones when she’d laid her nest. And if they’d existed, they’d always seemed to cower in caves. They weren’t even good enough for a meal. Nevermind, she’d let them be. If they didn’t bother her nor her mate she wouldn’t bother them. If her mate thought differently, she would bring him back into line. Rainbow flew up to the front of the group and cleared her throat. “Wonderbolts!” she bellowed. “We’ve trained for this day.” She turned her head and looked at the troops. “We cannot let that creature get any foothold here. We’ve got to stop him here.” “...Attack that?” High Winds said. “You’re kidding, right?”  Deep down, Rainbow was basically thinking the same thing. This entire mission was crazy. But the idea was to hold it off, or drive it away. She could only hope the cloudship’s storm generation abilities were working. They’d need all the help they could get. And a lot of luck. Soarin’ gave a salute and rushed ahead of everyone else. “Alright then… Start the clock, we’ll have this finished in 20 seconds flat! Isn’t that what you say, Rainbow?” “Let’s not get cocky now, okay?” Rainbow said as she tucked in her wings and flew ahead of Soarin’, golden armored guards flying past battle saddles spinning up. Soarin’ narrowed his eyes; Rodan staring back. She tilted her head and Soarin’ tilted his own. With a faint click, a massive pulse of energy fired off, striking the pterosaur in its chest. An ear-piercing screech filled the air as Rodan reeled back in a mixture of shock and moderate irritation. Moderate irritation that grew to fury as a second blast struck her. “Hah, take that you ugly bastard.” Soarin’ snickered to himself. Rodan regained her composure. The indifference she had felt before was gone. They were small, yes, but they clearly had no respect for the quiet, normal life she wished to live. The little one ahead of the rest began a retreat of sorts before stopping and doing some sort of ritualistic dance. Perhaps a mating ritual for the one who was yelling like an alpha male? Yelling up a storm like that bitchy golden dragon? That mattered not for now. Her skin may have been a sky blue shade, but her temperament alone was enough to drive her blood pressure through the roof. Yeah, she was definitely a mini Ghidorah in disguise. She needed to be silenced, if only for her own peace of mind. SKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERAAAAAAAAAAAAAW Stretching out her wings, Rodan took the skies. Freedom after so long was cathartic, invigorating even! And there was nothing like a good fly to really loosen up her joints. “Soarin’!” High Winds screamed. “H—” In one blink-of-an-eye motion, Soarin’ was gone; a faint mist following behind the embers that trailed in Rodan’s wake. The first meal in millenia—and his arrogance was as spicy as his personality. Now for the rest of them. But first things first, there were other matters that needed to be attended to.  Letting out a call, she tried to see if there were any other Titans in the area. Listening for several moments, she closed her eyes. So, she was alone. Then she felt that irritating sensation, several little ones clad in gold were pointing these strange shooty sticks at her. She felt infuriated. They dared to wield the garb of the Golden One? Surely they were either brave… or foolish. Then again, the two generally went hand in hand. It was of no consequence to her, and surging forwards, she went into a spin. Ponies were swatted out of the sky like flies. First there was the cracking of bone. Then the gargled moans of pain. Then the sweet release of death. Though knowing how that obnoxious cackling bastard is, he’ll be back up and running in a few seconds—typical of someone whose reputation is in his name. What was it they called him? The Golden Demise? Fitting, really. She remembered the last battle he and the King waged, ripping the land apart. Rainbow shook her head. “There goes Rolling Thunder, Rainbow Swoop, Wave Chill, Sightseer,” she said, her voice numb as she began to list off the names to herself. “Sky Stinger… Starburst…. What in Celestia’s name is she…” Her heart sank as she realized what was happening below her. The city was being flattened like a pancake, the great downdrafts surely required to keep such a great beast aloft doing it. Star Hunter ran, a veritable typhoon at his hooves. Great howling winds threatened to toss the pegasus aloft. He thought fast, even as he was threatened to be crushed by terrified townsfolk—if he was lucky.  Buildings were ripped from their foundations and thrown around like they were nothing more than crumpled up pieces of paper being thrown by a furious writer. If they weren’t all but dust within a few seconds, they crushed whatever other homes lay in front of them. “Oh Goddess, what have we awaken?” Star Hunter muttered to himself. “We’ve awakened the devil himself. We’re screwed. We’re all screwed. No, we didn’t awaken him. DAMN THAT RAT BASTARD OF A SCIENTIST!” He then grabbed a filly and a foal, hiding them in the cover of a building. A nearby mother screamed as the winds threatened to rip her child away from her, and a unicorn reacted fast grabbing the kid in a ball of magic. “Thank goodness for small miracles.” Star Hunter said to himself even as Rodan flew over their heads. “...They’re getting slaughtered down there!” Pharynx shouted as he saw the body of what had once been Rainbow Swoop fly onto the deck, now a meaty paste. “They’re all—” Mountain Haze’s body slammed onto the deck mere inches from what was once Rainbow Swoop, followed by a guard. Ocellus let out a scream. Enough of this! Pharynx decided then and there as he went for the cloudship’s wheel, and spun it taking the massive zeppelin-like craft in for battle. He gestured for a guard to get down into the engine room, see what was keeping the storm generation crystals from firing up. Pressing a button to the side of him, green bolts of energy were fired towards Rodan.  Rodan’s eyes narrowed in fury as she was struck. The Golden One dared to bring out a friend!? Where did he find one? No, since when were ponies allied with the Golden Demise? Something was wrong here. Then she realized. By the creator, she was slaughtering… No, she had to stop this. These were no acolytes! They were merely innocent ponies; they too would cower in fear of The Three-Headed Devil. Rainbow flew as fast as her wings would carry her desperate to outpace the one behind her. Now, as has been said before, Equestria had many speedsters. But it only had one Rainbow Dash. A sharp crack cut through the air, seconds behind Rainbow before the whole sky was awash with color. She looked back, to see the giant pterosaur who had formerly been at her hooves knocked backwards by the force of the blast. “Still got it, not that it’ll do my comrades any good…” she thought sorrowfully. Rodan meanwhile stared at this pony. She wasn’t like the either. She wasn’t malicious in her intentions. She emitted an air of… purity. And arrogance. But not like the one she’d felt before. Her arrogance didn’t come from a place of hatred, but a place of pride. She knew, like her, that she was born to fly, and loved nothing else. If anything, this small one had earned her respect. Then she felt the impact, powerful bolts of energy hitting her again and again. Then she saw this shape emerging from the clouds. Her eyes widened. Another Titan, she thought at first. Then she realized something, it didn’t move like a Titan. It didn’t sound like a Titan. So therefore, it was not a Titan and not worthy of her attention. Rainbow’s eyes widened as she saw Rodan veer off. “Damn it, the big turkey’s lost interest. ...Well, just like any other stallion I know. I always leave ‘em in the dust.” Meanwhile, down in the storm generation room Thunderlane and a former flightmate of his -Short Fuse, as he was named- worked desperately to replace the cracked crystal. “Short!” Thunder said. “How goes the storm? Are we ready to unleash her to land that giant flaming squawker?” “HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU, OLD MAN!?” Short Fuse shouted, and Thunderlane was reminded of why he got such a name. And it wasn’t because of his height. “THE CRYSTAL’S CRACKED AND YOUR INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN STAND THERE AND WATCH OUR MEN AND WOMEN GET THROWN AROUND LIKE PING-PONG BALLS ISN’T HELPING ME!” Thunderlane had finally had enough, and grabbed Short Fuse by the throat and threw him up against the wall. “Then help me, or I’ll be feeding you to that thing! Understood?” “...Got it.” Short Fust croaked out before Thunderlane released him, dropping him on the floor with a small thud. Short Fuse scrambled to his hooves. “...Okay… Okay, thank Celestia and Luna those bone-brained yetis left behind an instruction manual. ...even if they’re the ones who probably cracked the crystal in the first place.” Thunderlane and Short began searching the room, tossing tools and weaponry like a whirlwind had hit the place until they’d found what they’d been looking for. “...Keep Rodan off us, while I replace the crystal!” Short shouted. Thunderland nodded and went for a nearby cannon. “This is for my comrades, bastard.” He fired, several globs of green magic hitting Rodan and making the massive pterosaur cry out in pain. She turned her head towards the cloudship. “...Okay, I think we’ve got his attention!” Thunderlane shouted. SKEEEEEEEERAAAAAW! “Oh yeah, we’ve definitely got his attention,” Thunderlane decided. “How comes the-” “I’m too short for Celestia’s sake!” Short shouted. “I can’t reach!” “Oh for…” Thunderlane muttered. “You’re a pegasus, aren’t you? Use those wings!” “I have psoriatic arthritis and they really hurt you pea-brained dick!” Short Fuse shouted back. “...Oh, of all the times!” Thunderlane said knocking him out with a punch and then replacing the crystal. There was an audible hum, before the whole room began to glow blue. “Oh yes… OH YES!” Thunderlane shouted, a cheshire smile of relief plastered on his face for the first time since this started. The sky above the ship began to broil over and crackle with life. Angry black clouds began to blot out the sun, and Rodan looked -if only for the briefest of moments- fearful. Had he returned? Were these small ones in league with the Golden Demise after all?  Then, she felt it. A piercing hot lance going through her body. Rainbow Dash had to shield her eyes with a wing as she saw the lightning bolt strike Rodan almost dead in the heart. She let out a cry, one of both rage and pain. And then it happened. The true nightmare began.  If the first explosion was thunderous enough then this was one could be considered a sign of the end of days. The mountain didn’t just explode, it was torn apart into a million little pieces that were scattered in every which direction. Two massive wings unfurled, lava dripping from them and scorching the earth below. In one swift motion, the figure was airborne. There he was. The truly One Borne of Fire.  The Fire Demon himself. The 871 foot wingspan beast of the skies. “Oh sweet Celestia.” Rainbow fluttered back slightly as he surveyed the land in front of him before slowly turning her head to her right. “That wasn’t the devil…” She gulped and fluttered, her eyes glued to the true Rodan, who shifted around and scanned his surroundings. “Another one…? He’s bigger?” Pharynx thought then his eyes widened in horror. “...Of course! How can I have been so stupid, the first was only the female! And this is his… mate.” he swallowed, Rainbow Dash landing beside him and staring in equally awestruck terror. Words could not express this. Then came the order. “Retreat.”  Ocellus rushed through the streets—or what remained of them. The street itself had been torn up and scattered around. In her terror, she’d accidentally teleported herself down into the streets via changing into a unicorn. “W-what’s going on?” she wondered aloud. “What in the Hivemother’s name is going on!?” Then she heard it. Ocellus froze in place. There it was again. That horrible sound. A shiver ran up and down her spine twice over. “Mommy…” She huddled against the remains of a house and sat down. Up above, she could see the devil that had ripped apart this city cry out in pain before collapsing to the earth. To her surprise though, she then saw the second Rodan, the male veer down and land next to his mate. With a gentle tenderness, he nudged her trying to coax her back to life. He let out a cry of relief when he saw her eyes open again, and wrapped his wings around her. As for the Stormcatcher, the cloudship was veering off. And then Ocellus realized. Nobody even knew she was gone. She let out a sniffle and then a sob, as she realized in her hopes of getting a good term paper on the habits of Titans, she’d gotten that little too close for comfort.  “H-how could…” Ocellus choked on her words as another ear-piercingly loud scream tore through the air. “How could I be so stupid? Now… nobody’s going to find me...” Meanwhile, Soulshine had been brought by unicorn to Monarch’s underground bunker, beneath Canterlot. Ponies were rushing back and forth, while Soulshine thought out his actions up till now. He’d been such a fool, and now from the sounds of it his former head scientist had just unleashed something far worse than any MUTO upon Equestria.  “What have I done?” Soulshine thought to himself. He wandered aimlessly, eventually finding himself in the morgue. He choked back a sob, for a brief moment Scootaloo being replaced by this dark green filly. In his mind, he heard the clap of thunder and a scream of rage and of sorrow. His mind jolted itself back to the present as he watched the filly, a small potted rose on a nearby table. It was so pure, and so innocent. Just like she’d probably been in life.  “...who was she?” he asked, not expecting any sort of answer. And then to his surprise, he got one. “Scootaloo, her name was Scootaloo.” Meadowbrook said from beside him, Soulshine having not heard her come in. “I… wanted to save her, Princess Twilight did as well. But… we were shot down. Told what we were doing to do so was unethical. In hindsight, I wonder if Rainbow was right. Were we going to save a filly, only to doom her to an even worse fate?” “There’s that old saying, right?” Soulshine asked. “Where there’s life… there’s hope right?” Meadowbrook nodded. “So? I hardly call this state… life.” “You’re Mage Meadowbrook, right?” Soulshine pressed. “The world’s greatest healer? So prove it. And I shall help you. I’ve caused too much death, now let me remedy that.” “...Okay.” Meadowbrook decided after a long moment of mental decision making. Going back to a locker, she grabbed some medicines. What she failed to see however in her haste, was one vial marked something very dangerous indeed. It had been marked with the phrase ‘G-Cells’. It was this simple motion, this simple act which would set in motion the course of the coming events. A simple act of carelessness, a simple mistake would be the cause of what was about to happen.