A Calamity of Epic Proportions
Chapter 1
The Elementals of Tartarus
This is a My Little Pony parody. All characters, places, things, and ideas belong to their rightful owners. Spartans belong to Halo, and to its owner. Only their armor, and some weapons, are used in this story. Blazeclaw, Jetfire, Frostbite, Starlight "Quin" Shadow, and the P.I.B. (Ponies In Black) belong to me. All, with the exception of Blazeclaw, are derived from Mlp.
Many dangerous entities are kept locked away in Tartarus. Most are extremely destructive and dangerous. The Elementals were no exception.
Before Princess Celestia, Luna, even Discord, the Elementals ruled. The consisted of six deities: Wind, Earth, Fire, Water, Plant, and Electricity. The Elementals are at least 100 feet tall. When Equestria was young, they were created with the idea to be kind and gentle souls to protect the living. But the creator did not see his folly. They became violent, hurting many and destroying lands and civilizations. The Elementals hungered for destruction. Equinox was the name of the creator. In an attempt to stop the Elementals, Equinox opened the gates of Tartarus, which rarely happened at the time. Equinox fought them, right into their prison cells. But the doors could not keep them shut in for long. In Equinox's last attempt, he used his soul energy to seal their doors. It worked, but in the process drained Equinox of almost all life. He left Tartarus, and made a home deep in the heart of a vast forest, which today is called the Everfree Forest. History became legend, legend became myth. Equinox faded away from the world, and the whole thing was passed off as an old wife's tale (or in this case, old mare's tale).
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"Twilight, you've been studying that valley for weeks now. You need to rest." She hardly heard the person, being so intent on her work. The person was Starlight "Quin" Shadow. She was visiting Ponyville after an expedition. The ponies believed that she was Rainbow Dash's older sister, because of her rainbow mane and tail. Except that she was a unicorn, and had a pelt color similar to Twilight. She also had a suit shirt, black leg warmers on each leg, wore shoes and glasses. Her cutie mark was a crystal.
"Sorry, Quin, but I'm worried about the Gates of Tartarus. Strange anomalies have been reported all over Equestria. Odd weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, overgrowth of all kinds of plants, and a volcanic eruption. Something is going to happen, I just know it." She looked through a telescope.
"I'm worried too, but you need to relax. Too much stress can be dangerous."
"No, things like the Elementals are dangerous!" She started to read through a journal.
"Well, I'm going out for a while. Try to relax at least some please?" Twilight nodded. Quin turned around and left her friend's house. She walked through town, passing by many ponies, exchanging hello's and good morning's. After a five minute walk, she left town, heading for the Everfree forest. After she entered, she found a small abandoned cabin. It had signs saying "keep out" and "danger". She ignored them and entered it. After she went in, Quin closed the door behind her.
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"Wake, brothers." Something uttered. Voices started to sound, and conversed with each other.
"Soon. Soon we will be returned to full strength."
"Will we take back what was ours?"
"Is our creator ready for our vengeance?"
"I can almost taste the destruction."
"We will have our revenge!"
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Applejack and Rainbow dash met up at Aj's family farm.
"Something's up with this "Quin" pony." Applejack said.
"I know. I have never even heard of her before, and she just suddenly appears out of nowhere, claiming to be my sister? Something stinks, and it has Quin written all over it. She thinks she's alone when she goes off to Everfree forest every day. I've shadowed her to and old cabin, and I followed her into it, but she wasn't inside when I got there!"
"Yea, I agree. We need to find out what she's doing."
The ground shook again for the third day. This time though it was more aggressive. A few houses collapsed from the force. Inside a valley, the ground was slightly torn open from the tremor. This alarmed Twilight Sparkle, who saw this as it happened.
"Spike! I need to send an urgent letter to Princess Celestia!" Spike came running to her with a quill and parchment. "Dear Princess Celestia:
I need to inform you that I believe that the gates of Tartarus are weakening, and that all of Equestria needs to be ready for it.
Twilight Sparkle." Spike rolled the letter up, tied it, and sent it off to Canterlot. A few moments later, a respond came to Twilight. She read it aloud.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle:
Have you and your five friends on standby to use the Elements of Harmony if necessary. Also, I'm aware of it. I have read the signs, and believe that the Elementals are attempting to escape. I alerted all cities, and they will alert their regions. Thank you for watching too. I have taught you well.
Princess Celestia." Twilight turned around and excited her house. She ran to Rarity's house, since it was the closest. After a minute of running, she pounded on her door.
"Twilight! What's wrong?" Rarity said, surprised and confused with the panting Twilight.
"Need...to...get...everyone." She gasped.
"What for?"
"The Elements, just in case." Rarity closed her door.
"Ok, I'll go get Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack. You get Pinkey Pie and Fluttershy." The two split up to gather their friends. Twilight went to Pinky's place first. Then, after collecting a bouncing Pinky Pie, they went to Fluttershy's house. Twilight knocked on her door.
"Coming." her soft voice was hear through the door. Fluttershy opened her door. "Yes, Twilight?"
"We need to be together in case we have to use the Elements of Harmony." She said quickly.
"Ok." She said, shyly. Someone else came from inside her house.
"Hi Quin." Twilight said. Quin nodded.
"What's going on?" Quin asked.
"We need to gather in case we need to use the Elements." Twilight said exhaustedly.
"You seem like you have said it quite a bit." Quin replied. Twilight nodded. The four left Fluttershy's house and headed for Twilight's. As they made their way, the other three met up with them. Already up to date with current events, the seven moved into Twilight's house.
"First of all, why is Quin here?" Rainbowdash demanded. Quin looked confused.
"Yea, you might get in the way." Aj said.
"Hey, I might not look like much, but I'm a formidable fighter when the occasion calls for it." She replied to them, with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Ok, well just hang around if we need you." Twilight said. "As you all know, the valley which one of the Gates of Tartarus rests in, is weakening. I have consulted with Princess Celestia, and she wants us on standby in case the Elements of Harmony need to be used. For various reason, she wanted me to keep them here so they could be handy when they were needed. Got that?" They all nodded with recognition. Without warning, the whole place shook violently. Books and tables fell over. Twilight ran to one of her telescopes and looked through it. She saw an enormous fissure appear in the valley.
"Girls! Outside, it's happening now!" Twilight used her magic and put on the five's necklaces, and her tiara. They all ran outside. The six went in the valley's direction, while Quin ran towards the Everfree forest.
"What's she doin?" Applejack asked.
"Probably running off to her cabin. Forget about it, let's go!" Rainbowdash yelled.
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As the six got closer to the valley, the Elementals broke free.
"Fresh air!"
"Freedom!"
"Vengeance!" They yelled. All split up to cause their individual destruction. Plant headed in the Ponyville direction.
"Alright, ready?" Twilight asked them.
"Yes!"
"Bring it!"
"Let's do this!"
"I guess so.."
"Absolutly!" They took their positions around Twilight and readied their elements. Twilight activated them, and aimed the beam towards the Elemental, Plant. It hit, and the beam exploded into light. The six cheered. But it didn't last very long. Plant was virtually uninjured in any way. The only thing it did affect was its temper. It took its right hand and smashed the fingers into the ground, causing vines to come up and attack the six ponies. They were being bound by the vines. They struggled, but none prevailed.
A blast of light hit Plant, and it stumbled. The vines lost their grip, and each broke free. They turned to see who saved them.
"Quin?" Rainbowdash shouted.
"Who were you expecting? Chuck Noris?" She replied, and remove what was apparently a wig. "Sorry for the crappy disguise." Her mane was actual cobalt, with two golden streaks.
"Who in tarnation is Chuck Noris?" Applejack asked.
"Remind me to hit you later. Anyways, the Elements of Harmony won't work because the Elementals arn't like Discord and Nightmare Moon. They are ancient behemoths from the early ages. They are impervious to most kinds of magics. Even some of the strongest, like what you tried." Plant roared and moved towards the seven ponies.
"What do we do?" Fluttershy asked.
"Wait for the lazy ass to show up..." Quin said offhandedly.
"Lazy what?" Pinky asked.
"Nothing, nothing." She said quickly. Plant came closer, and prepared to slam its fists on them. Suddenly, a flying object whooshed past the seven and hit Plant smack in the chest area. Plant stumbled, and fell back again. The flying object landed in front of the seven. He was an orange Pegasus, but was wearing a helmet. Not just any helmet, a spartan EVA helmet. He also had black protective cloth covering each leg, and spartan boots on. His armor color was light blue. He had a black mane and black tail. His cutie mark was a meteor on fire.
"Um, who are you? Twilight asked. The Unknown pony took his helmet off. He was larger than most colts, but not as big as Princess Celesta.
"A good question. And the answer is quite simple.
I am...JET FIRE! S-358."
"S-358? What's that suppose to mean?" Rainbowdash asked.
"Spartan 358. I'm part of a Pegasus/spartan program. Very successful, if you ask me."
"Which I tried to keep a secret, until now, that is." Quin said.
"Wait, your in on this?" Twilight asked. Quin nodded.
"In fact, I'm the head of the organization, the P.I.B., Ponies In Black. We came across the notes of somepony in a strange wreckage. Inside were all of the directions to utilize the Spartan program."
"Not to be rude, or anything, but aren't we suppose to do something?" Fluttershy asked. Plant slammed his fists onto the ledge they were standing on. They all managed to doge it at the last moment.
"That was too close." Quin said.
"Yea, we have to watch what were doing." Jetfire said. A low, roaring sound was heard. Three pegasuses flew high above them, heading for Plant.
"It's the Wonder Bolts!" Rainbowdash yelled.
"What can they possibly do?" Jetfire asked. They circled around Plant, and planted blows on it. Rainbowdash jumped up and took off after them.
"No! You fool!" Jetfire yelled after her. He tried to go and stop her, but but Quin stopped him.
"Wait for Frostbite. You can't fight this alone." She told him. Plant swung its arms around, and took out each of the Wonder Bolts. Rainbowdash came up by its head and smashed hooves on it. Vines shot up and grabbed at her. She deftly dogged them, but was blindsided by a punch from Plant. She was sent flying into a nearby mountain.
"No!" Jetfire shoved his helmet on, and took off towards the place she crashed. He came up to her side.
"Ugh! That hurts..." Rainbowdash grunted. Jetfire helped her up.
"You'll be alright kid." He said. Out of nowhere, Twilight and Quin appeared. "How did-"
"Don't ask." Twilight said. They got on either side of Rainbowdash, and teleported her to safety. Jetfire was left by himself.
"Ok, Elemental. Time to send you back to Tartarus!" Jetfire jumped up, and shot towards Plant. He came at it faster and faster. Soon, he managed to break the sound barrier. "I. Am. JETFIRE!" He yelled. His entire body was surrounded with flames. He came to Plant in a split second. Jetfire hit plant, made it fall back, and blew out from its back. Plant managed to stay up though. Jetfire made a come-around, and blasted through Plant a second time.
He landed on the ledge, and the fire ceased. Plant stumbled around, and fell to the ground.
"What was that?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know." Jetfire huffed. Twilight thought for a moment. Then she got an idea.
"I think I know what it is! I read in a book once of legendary heroes using a technique called "Soul Attack". It was an element related to their personality. Jetfire is kinda a hot head-"
"Hey!" Jetfire yelled.
"Sorry, but it's true. You have a fierce and fiery personality. So your soul attack is fire." Twilight finished. The someone else landed near them.
"Frostbite. Where the hell have you been?" Quin asked. The newcomer had blue fur, black and grey mane and tail, and snowflake as a cutie mark. He had a spartan Gungnir helmet, with the leg covers and boots. The armor color was black.
"Relax, Ma'am. I was just on my way when-"
"When what? You got caught up by a pretty face?" Quin demanded. He shrugged.
"Well, in my books, not so pretty. When the Elementals broke free, someone left the valley in a hurry. I didn't have time to tell you, so I went to see who it was. And you'll never believe who it was." Yet again, another new person showed up.
"It was the notorious Queen Chrysalis." They all turned to this newcomer.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight shouted. They all bowed. Quin instead walked up to her.
"Celestia, this is a very serious matter. I am glad that you have personally got involved in this." The others, except for Jetfire, Frostbite, and the Princess seemed surprised at her ignorance to authority.
"Hey! That is Princess Celestia! You should show some respect, Quin!" Twilight yelled. Quin turned to her.
"I know who she is, Twilight. I'm a close friend of hers, so she doesn't expect me to. She already knows I respect her." Quin snapped. Jetfire walked towards the ledge. He looked into the valley, but something was missing.
"Plant! It's gone!" He shouted. The others looked. Jetfire was right.
"I guess it buggered off when we were talking." Frostbite said. They all headed back to Ponyville.
The group came to the old, condemned cabin that Quin kept disappearing into.
"Step inside, if you would please." Quin said to them all. They moved into the cabin, and once everyone got in, it seemed cramped.
"What are we doing in this unsanitary, horrid cabin?" Rarity demanded. Jetfire chuckled.
"You'll see." Jetfire said. Quin moved to the far wall, and moved a wooden panel on the wall. A mechanical device activated.
"-Retinal scans, please.-" a computerized voice said. Quin got close to it, and it scanned both of her eyes. "-Scan complete. Welcome, Quin.-" The floor suddenly started to descend. Except for Jetfire, Quin, and Frostbite, they all seemed startled by it. It slightly picked up speed, and sank deeper.
Lights activated when it got too dark in the shaft. After a minute of a long descent, the lift came to a stop. A sliding door opened, and they all stepped out. The door closed behind, and the lift returned to its point of origin.
"What is this?" Twilight asked. Quin smiled.
"This is the Headquarters of the Ponies in Black."