//------------------------------// // The fifteen Traitors // Story: The God of Anger // by The Toaster //------------------------------// It was as if the beginning of Armaggedon had begun. Being at the end of the lines, in the last platoon can seem tedious and something considered as a huge burden, is one of the most important, but the least glorious parts of the army, protecting the backs of your allies if an ambush is the main objective and just watching the frontline soldiers go headlong into goal and fame. But for him, staying on one of the last lines was proving to be the only reason he was alive. When they were ordered to capture a random human, rebel leader, the first reactions were laughter and cheers, ending a war was an honor never seen before thousands of years since the wars against chaos, and what could they do? They had been trained to take down fucking minotaurs! It was supposed to be a cake walk, and when they saw that little black dot on top of a hill watching the army march they were notified that it was the leader they were supposed to capture they were even more excited. By myself? Fully open place without a tree in sight? It was the prize on a golden platter for them. And immediately everything went to shit. The 'little dot' literally threw itself headlong into the army, for a moment an explosion that came out of nowhere happened, and then he was no longer able to follow what was happening. He could see only the aftermath of everything the blurr did, bodies flying as the figure cut through everything and everyone at an absurd speed, he saw the golden tide being completely destroyed with an absurd ease. It was terrifying to see huge clouds of dust forming with shockwaves coming from what could only be hits from him. What chances did they have? That power should not even exist! It was not possible! It wasn't fair! "Why?? What do you think will gain from all this?? You Crystal noble fool! Power?! Recognition?!" The world seemed to stop while Gallus asked breathlessly, his armor in pieces and blood running down his feathers, one of his wings was crooked the wrong way. "Do you not see the damage and all the lives you have taken?? HOW COULD YOU BETRAY US ALL??" Vader, in curiosity about Gallus' outburst, followed the direction he showed with his hand to the surroundings, observing the destruction and death he had caused himself. The thousands of bodies killed in different ways, members outside their bodies, others with an expression of despair on their faces and some with only closed eyes, the various craters formed by shock waves and the panic and fear expressions of the survivors. He came back to face the angry Gryffin. "Are you ignorant to the point of believing that I'm a kind of Pony nobleman because of my power is bigger than a normal human? That I'm really doing this for a reason as pathetic as some grudge or status?" Gallus looked shocked at Vader that started to walk around him with his hands on his back "Fine, let me amuse you." He said in an annoyed tone as he stopped in front of the Griffin in his deplorable state. "Do you truly believe because you all can utilize magic makes you some sort of guardian of this world? That give you all the right to slave and torment anyone you see as 'inferior'? We cannot match the strength of wolves, we cannot walk on branches without slipping and falling, Make no mistake, we are frail in body, but not mind or soul. We are not weak because we fight in armor. We are not cowards because we strike our enemies from afar. We are not evil because we harness the power of destruction. It is merely equalization. We are somewhere in the middle of all the life, and every single one of them, animal or sentient being has and is trying to kill us or enslave us." He lectured the shocked Gallus, who in turn roared in anger at Vader. "You really believe that what you are doing is right?? With this twisted vision of your species?? I can already tell from your aura! You are not a creature of good, you all are simple mindless beasts! If your maniacal species isn't tammed you have the potential to destroy everything in your path!" His aura just lit up with a powerful fervor, making Gallus take a few steps back in surprise. "Do not talk to me of your 'moral integrity'. I have seen rage, jealousy, religious indignation, lust, apathy, and failure to forgive amongst you. There is nothing wrong with our nature that you do not have, in the end, you are no better beast then us Equestrian." Before Gallus could retort, Vader continued. "And that is your weakness. Not only are you blind and deaf to the magic of the world, you rejoice in your ignorance. You actually believe your handicap is something to be proud of, instead of something to be pitied." He said seeing the indignation growing in Gallus and the more and more shocked expression of the Royal guards around them. "Spare us your fake lessons Slaver. You gush about your connection with nature with your magic, your primal wisdom, but what has it brought you?" He asked to the Outraged Equestrians. "Where are your marvels of engineering? Your voyages of discovery? Your great insight into the nature of the universe?" The ponies looked at each other while Vader continued. "Even at our basest, when we dressed as you do, dwelt as you do, hunted as you do, lived as you do hundreds of years ago, we did more than merely survive. We built wonders. We expanded, we became united, something you have not, in your pathetic jealousy destroyed what you couldn't accomplish." While some scoffed, what he said, a few had looks of shame. "You speak so proudly of the horns coming out from your skulls, and wings from your backs little realizing that they are but strings and you puppets. What little you have accomplished you attribute to the wisdom of your goddess, who is nothing but a useless statue for all eternity who only attends at party's and walk all mighty? She moors you to the past, serving as a leash that keeps you as little better than dogs, sad parodies of civilization that lack that special spark to become something more." Gallus looked he was ready to charge Vader in complete rage. "Why you-!" Only to fall on his knees by his wounds. "Once again, you wallow in your ignorance. You talk of your machines and monuments as great and wondrous things, when they are nothing more than lumps of sand that will soon be washed away by the tides of time. And you actually boast about such works, as if raping the earth and soiling the air and fouling the water with your magic are achievements! Our world is choking itself to death as we speak, and still you dare to hold yourself as something to aspire to!" The ponies looked completely shocked, looking at each other. "Such words from a stagnant and blinkered race? Even if our monuments are worn away by the millenia, we still will have built them. Even after our home is dust, and our houses burnt down we still will survive!" He said while sparks of electricity ran around his body as his aura grew. "Every human life spent pushes us forward, whether immeasurably or in great leaps. Our 'loneliness', our fraternal struggles only make us stronger. We remember and honor our past, but are not chained to it. While you, slaver scum, are eternally bound to the same stretch of history, preening at your own simplicity of 'harmony' because you cannot grow into something more. You boast that your elements and princess protects you. I say you are coddled, pampered by an indulgent parent. Perhaps that is why your Goodness will not let you advance? Does your smothering "mother" refuse to let her children grow? Would she be lonely if you left her, and therefore grasps you tightly to her bosom, keeping you ignorant and childish?" He asked in amusement while the Ponies looked at each other completely surprised by the lecture they received from their enemy. "But enough of this lecture. You are proud of your 'natural power', so you will appreciate this simple fact - the strong always survive! SO COME PONIES! SHOW ME YOUR 'POWER OF HARMONY' AGAINST ME! SHOW ME!" He roared as red spheres of electricity formed in his hands and completely surrounded his body with crackling sparks, his aura of hatred and mockery completely engulfing the remnants of the Legion who looked completely horrified. "WAIT! PLEASE WE SURRENDER!" A voice from the crowd shouted. The electricity around Vader waned and he looked at where the voices in the legion came from, he didn't expect that, a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. 15 Equestrian Soldiers came out of the crowd, 4 unicorns, 2 pegasus, 3 Earth ponies, 1 Griffin and surprisingly 5 changelings. Everyone of them threw their weapons at the dark lord's feet and knelt with their heads basically touching the ground. "Please save us! We will serve you only! Please forgive us!" Vader couldn't stop his lips to curve into an smile. "A Wise decision." He said while nodding to the kneeling Royal guards. "TRAITORS!" Gallus roared. "Celestia will hear of this y- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Commander Gallus was unable to complete his screams of indignation when he was hit by a huge wave of electric shocks coming from Vader's fingers, causing him to immediately fall to the ground, his body lifeless. Those who knelt down were able to see the fate of their ex-commander, the other Royal Guards of the legion, even indignant, could do nothing, as soon after, with a powerful roar, Vader raised his hands to the skies, launching a gigantic electric wave at the sky, creating a frightening crimson pillar, the Equestrians were unable to withstand the pressure with the incredible light show, and immediately started to retreat, losing all their morale with the humiliation they suffered. But they did not manage to escape very far, when the red pillar suddenly fell on what was left of the legion, completely annihilating all the survivors. The 15 traitors just looked at the fate of their former comrades in complete horror, they really did not regret having surrendered. "Rise my new Warriors, We have a nation to burn." Heirs of Shame The first heirs of shame were the 15 Royal Guards who defected and offered their services to the God of Anger, they were the first real outsiders to join the Ranks of the Human Empire and obviously hated for it, their name was given to them by Darth Vader himself and they would be the first of an entire future legion composed only of outsiders, who would join for many reasons, with only one goal, fight against Equestria. Whether it was out of shame for their actions, convinced by Darth Vader, believers to the end of slavery or complete fear of Vader was never revealed, but speculation believes they were fighting to try to lessen the damage to civilians by the Equestria authorities. Celestia declared them as traitors to the motherland and their families were publicly embarrassed and blacklisted for decades to come, this must have been one of the reasons why they gained an extra fervor in their fight against Equestria. They were put in the direct command of Thorax, the reason of Vader doing this is simple, he is an Ex-Equestrian like them, which for years to come they have become an effective and loyal group. They wore armor almost identical of the humans, the difference being many were designed specially for their species, together with Thorax, they wore an Blue stripped theme in their armor, making them truly unique. Futurally they would enter into various conflicts with the Blood Venerators, who would become their bitter rivals, as their beliefs and fanatism made them a Xenophobic group that hated anything Equestrian, something that in the future would bring an wave of problems between both legions