//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Ahriman's Answer // by SuperSaiyanDiclonius //------------------------------// Twilight silently listened to the beeping monitor proving Rarity was still alive, her chest barely rising through the bandages as she slept. The sound of an opening door broke the silence as a nurse walked in. "Princess Twilight? They're here." "Thank you." Twilight said with a nod as she left her unconscious friend in the nurse's care. Twilight made her way to the hospital's waiting room. There she saw her oldest friends, her former mentor Princess Celestia, and her former foal sitter/ sister in law, Princess Cadence. The three Alicorns shared a brief customary hug before addressing their new problems. "Luna is amassing the Royal and Lunar Guard as we speak, she has already dispatched messengers to our allies in the other kingdoms." Celestia stated. "And Shining is mobilizing the Crystal Guard as well. If their invasion threatens to overtake Equestria, you can start evacuating civilians to the Crystal Empire." Cadence added. Twilight went pale at the thought. Despite it's name, the Crystal Empire was vastly smaller than Equestria, more a large city than a small country. They would not be able to evacuate many civilians if that were the case. "Okay, the others should've finished evacuating Ponyville by now, and Neighsay's probably fortified it excessively, so now all we have to do is figure out how many invaders we're dealing with, how powerful they are, and how to stop them...no pressure." Twilight twitched. Celestia put a wing over her former pupil. "I know these are trying times Twilight, but we will overcome them. Tirek came from another world as well, and there were times we believed he was unstoppable too. But-" Whatever point the retired ruler was trying to make was lost when a puff of green smoke appeared over Twilight's head and solidified as a scroll. The three Alicorns gathered to read it, and not a one could hide their anxiety. Twilight! Ponyville was attacked and Neighsay's leading a mob to go after the enemy! Neighsay shouted his rage as he seized one of the evil alien cannons in his magic and threw it at a group of invaders with a heavy turret, the viscous weapon had been belching thunder and throwing explosions into the angry mob of magical creatures that found and assaulted them, now it was silent. With the turret out of commission, the Dragons charged forth. Red beams of hateful magic injected concentrated heat onto their scales to no effect as the Dragons closed the gap and began pulverizing the enemy force. They had pushed through the enemy's defense...in one spot. Two more of their turrets protected their center and right flank while their treaded cannons retreated. More of their flying machines came and rained down on any group that wasn't shielded by Unicorns, but most of these machines focused on collecting the cannons. These cannons were surely placed here to destroy Ponyville, and surely they could've used them before we recovered from their first attack...why didn't they? Neighsay pondered as the enemy continued to withdraw when suddenly, a sensation seized the warring sides as their skin tingled and their teeth itched. The itch felt as if it was pulling Neighsay's skull towards the center of the battlefield and then a bright blue flash blinded the zealous Unicorn. When his vision returned, he felt a cold dread overwhelm him. The horrible hulking brutes he encountered in the Evergreen Forest had returned, with several smaller warriors with more refined armor and weapons that appeared less destructive but more precise. Neighsay ignored them, his eyes locked solely on their leader. A wizard, a wizard greater than himself, a wizard greater than Twilight Sparkle... perhaps even greater than Princess Celestia or Starswirl the Bearded. Neighsay lost all of his nerve as fear overwhelmed him. He stepped back, trying to will himself to run, but he couldn't take his eyes off the wizard. The Dragons were blissfully ignorant of his power and lunged at him. Neighsay screamed as he pictured what would happen next. He saw the entire mob vaporized before his eyes, he envisioned himself projecting a shield only for to shatter as the wave of magical energy washed him away. The wizard's staff went up and down, a shockwave rippled through the battlefield...but no one perished. Neighsay slowly pulled his front legs from over his eyes when he realized he was still alive and saw that the wizard had simply gathered everycreature's attention. Neighsay felt a buzzing in his ear, and then he heard a deep, yet eerily pleasant voice in his head. Creatures of Equestria, I came to this world believing that we would be enemies. That I would have to destroy you in order to achieve my goals...I was wrong. Neighsay couldn't believe what he was hearing... literally. This was the most obvious attempt at deception he had ever heard. These creatures had proven they were willing to kill themselves just to cause suffering. And now he's expected to believe it was an accident!? As you have probably determined for yourselves, we are not from your world. We have visited millions of worlds, and every world that held another species held a new enemy. He have never encountered a peaceful species. And we acted as if we were already enemies, I am sorry for our actions. The Sorcerer bowed his head before the Equestrian mob that begun mumbling to themselves. "Don't listen to him! They're just trying to make our conquest easier!" Neighsay shouted. His dread overpowered by desperation. Dread swiftly returned as the wizard focused his attention on Neighsay. Even in spite of his helmet's frightening visage, the Unicorn could envision the hairless ape beneath narrowing his eyes in scrutiny. Hmm, you are wiser than most of your breed... Chancellor Neighsay. But you know of my power. I have no reason to lie. I could simply make you serve me. The wizard spoke into his mind. "Liar! You need us for something! WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING!?" Neighsay screamed. I need your Guardian. The Spirit of Harmony. And it has agreed to cooperate, as long as I protect your kind from a coming threat, a threat that challenges my strength. The wizard explained. The message was clear. Something capable of challenging this monster was beyond anything Equestria had ever seen. Neighsay stared blankly as his mind tried to comprehend such a thing, let alone how to fight it. Neighsay has grown over the years since his embarrassing experience with Cozy Glow, but he wasn't a fool. "How could we possibly trust you!? He shouted, trying his best not to tremble before this being. Simple, I- Whatever promise the wizard wished to make was silenced as a dark blue beam of energy struck his armor and knocked him to the ground. The other armored warriors shielded the wizard but didn't return fire, the remaining soldiers however turned their weapons skyward and fired on their adversary. "HAVE AT THEE!!" Princess Luna shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice as she projected a powerful energy shield and allowed her Lunar Guard Pegasai to shoot crossbows from within it. Had the Guard been caught unprepared in Canterlot Castle(again) these weapons would be useless, but for Twilight's report on their new foes, the Royal Sisters had authorized the use of enchanted crossbow bolts that could pass through armor. They were still useless. What few enchanted bolts weren't turned away by the wards of the Thousand Sons bypassed their ceramite armor and broke skin only to stop dead on the surface of hardened bones. They were then melted by acidic transhuman blood which clotted mere seconds after running free from their wounds. Jerrik had drawn most of their fire through his sheer presence. And he was ready to return the favor. My Lord, permission to- NO!! All forces, cease fire and withdraw!! The smaller soldiers ceased fire and redoubled their efforts to evacuate. Which became evermore difficult when Neighsay's mob joined Luna's forces in attacking them alongside the Unicorns and Earth Ponies of the Lunar Guard. Quinton's Angel Killers were not as willing to be assaulted as the Thousand Sons, so when the mob and Lunar Guard closed the gap, monomolecular knives came out and a vicious melee insued. Ahriman cursed the mortals' survival reflex as any hope for easy amends died around him. The Equines were passionate, but hopelessly outmatched. Only their Dragon Allies could give the Angel Killers some form of grief, and their durable hides were no match for Heavier Weapons like the Melta Gun. Ahriman put aside the wider battle unfolding as the Alicorn he recognized as one of Equestria's retired rulers prepared to attack him again. The Psyker had raw talent, perhaps even a Beta level, but her mind was far too open. Ahriman implanted his message into her mind with just enough force to cripple her before casting forth a blast of energy to knock the attackers down. It looked like that did it. And with all the mortals' Artillery finally withdrawn and only four dropships left lingering to extract the rear guard, Ahriman saw fit to take his leave, and plan his next attempt at... hostile diplomacy.