//------------------------------//
// Chapter 37: Transfer of Power 
// Story: World of Chaos 
// by ugugg93 
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	“Woah.”

There weren't many other words that could possibly describe the scene that Rainbow was presently looking at. She had never before seen so many ponies gathered in one place, the only other instance of seeing such a huge crowd was at a Wonderbolt exhibition many years ago, and even then, maybe not even there. Not only that, the thought that every single pony was under Sarlaka's command was... well... pretty crazy. There were thousands down there, every single one of them formed up into a hundred little groups, segregating certain collections of ponies from each other. Why? She had no idea. She didn't even have an idea of what the entire concept of an army was! Sure, there were pony wars in the distant past... err... the distant past of her timeline, but those had been far removed from modern history. In fact, if her memory served her right, there wasn't a pony war since back when the three pony races had not formed Equestria yet, and instead, shared only animosity between each other.

Or maybe it was when Nightmare Moon rebelled. She wasn't very good with history.

“Hmm... that's very interesting...” Sarlaka scratched his massive chin with his free claw, the voice interrupting her thoughts.

Rarity took a step forward, her steps quick and abrupt, “Interesting!? What's interesting!? Maybe that there's a giant army out here!?”

“Hmm? Oh, of course not,” Sarlaka waved his claw dismissively at the mare, as if he was completely unaware of her frazzled tone. “You already admitted to overhearing that conversation I had with my captain a week ago. No point in you trying to act surprised now. No, what's interesting is that I only see the First, Second, Fifth, and the newly conscripted Seventh Armies. Now where is Sixth Army? Hmm... oh! Maybe I can get answers from them.”

Rainbow saw Sarlaka turn towards his right, and when she followed his gaze, observed a group of about twenty earth ponies trotting up the snowy ledge. All of the stallions were extremely muscular, and while not bodybuilder levels of bulked up, each could probably take her to the cleaners if it was just a test of strength. Also, each was armored in some sort of metal cuirass and helm, though whether they were made of steel, iron, or some other kind of metal was completely lost on the pegasus. With the exception of the two in the lead, their armor was a mundane sheen, and while it reflected the sun overhead, it did not have a particularly high gloss that, say, a gemstone inside Sarlaka's hoard would have.

Now the other two, those two in the lead were a completely different story. These two lead stallions were, somewhat surprisingly, actually a little bit smaller than their apparent bodyguards, though they were still very toned and fit. The one on Rainbow’s right, closer to the cliff wall, had a completely black coat with a gray and white stripped mane like a zebra. Granted the stripes flowed in the direction like Twilight's sole pink stripe, so he was definitely not a zebra by any definition of the word. Rainbow was curious on why he looked so familiar, until she realized that this was the same stallion that had led the guards in the mare's initial capture in Confloud almost a month ago. 

The gut instinct to dash forward and slam her forehooves into his face surged through her for a split second before reason returned, and her muscles relaxed. Trying to knock out a high ranking officer of Sarlaka's military, especially considering that military was here to help them, probably would not get on their collective good side.

The second stallion, bearing a light brown coat and a fiery red mane, she did not recognize. He appeared like he was a higher ranked stallion as well, though not quite as high of a rank as the first one, for while both of their armors were heavily glossed, the former's had a much more regal gold trim to his.

As soon as the group of soldiers got close to Rainbow's little group, they bowed at Sarlaka's feet, as if the dragon was their god or something. It was a little funny, and the prismatic mare wasn't entirely successful in stifling her snickers at the sight. If any of the stallions heard her humored snorts, they did not show it, for none gave her any sort of look. A few seconds later, they rose back to their full height, and while the main group of stallions stood fast, the captain and the other higher looking officer took a few steps forward.

“Lord Sarlaka,” the captain earth pony addressed the dragon. “First, Second, and Fifth Armies have arrived and are at your disposal as you see fit. Further, Seventh Army is completely filled out to the standard seventy-five hundred strong, and is awaiting approval of a list of officers I will submit after this report.”

Sarlaka calmly set down Twilight, the mare quickly joining the rest of her friends near the cave entrance. Turning slightly towards the captain, the dragon smiled, “Very good, Captain Johnathan. I must inquire though, what is the status on Sixth Army? I distinctly remember me telling you that General Manda was to make all due haste to the mountain as soon as she got the order to recall.”

“Indeed you did, my lord.” the stallion nodded, his face neutral. It was a little disconcerting with how calm the stallion and dragon were acting considering with what they were talking about. “However, they were also farther away from the mountain than the other three armies, so they needed a little more time to get back here. Still, as long as the weather holds, I do not expect them to take longer than another day; two at most.”

Sarlaka nodded. “Excellent. Once again, you have exceeded my expectations.”

There was a silence after that. At first, Rainbow attributed it to one of the parties delving into his mind to relay another bit of information to the other, or maybe Sarlaka was going to tell the mares what their duties were going to be during the battle, or maybe Captain Johnathan was going to tell the dragon the battle plans, or something! Instead, the howling wind continued to be the only sound to break through the quiet lull in the conversation, the situation became much more awkward with each passing second that they stood there. Rainbow herself, used to the fast paced lifestyle of being an athlete, was absolutely dying. She needed to get out, fly around a little bit, go for some kind of run, or, if she wasn't allowed to burn off some energy, at least let her have some time with Fluttershy! Instead, there they all were, idling away the day as they didn't know what to say.

Finally, Captain Johnathan shifted his weight again, pointing towards the mares with his shoulders. “So... when are you planning on taking care of them? Just give the order, and I'll do it myself.”

Sarlaka let out a heavy sigh, squared himself fully to the captain, and brought himself to balance on his hind legs. From this position, he was tall. Very very tall. His voice, when he finally spoke, was a serious rumble that almost shook the mountainside. “Change of plans, Captain Johnathan. I have decided to blatantly rebel against Discord and his pathetic rule. Further, I fully intend on using the Elements of Harmony to send that monster back into whatever hole he crawled out of. I hope I can trust you to obey the will of your lord.”

While all of the stallions, curiously save for the second in command, looked shocked at the news, Captain Johnathan was outright furious at the prospect. He narrowed his eyes, and glared at the colossal dragon. “This is some kind of sick joke, right?”

“Of course not,” Sarlaka spoke as he glared back with his single eye. “Why would I joke about something like that?”

This statement merely served to further enrage the stallion. “What? No... NO! I will not allow you to do this! Discord is our god, and I will stop you! Soldiers, engage Lord Sarlaka!”

Captain Johnathan waited for a few seconds before he turned around, looking at the still ponies behind him. “What is the matter with you soldiers!?”

“I think that they are more inclined to follow their lord than some lowly earth pony that thinks he has the entire world figured out. You think that just because you favor Discord, that your life will end up grand. I can tell you from centuries of personal experience that that prospect is laughable. Now...” Sarlaka continued, taking a few threatening steps forward, “the question is, now that you are aware that you are alone in your little crusade against me, what are you going to do?”

Captain Johnathan's gaze shifted a dozen times at least, his glares alternating between the six bearers of the Elements of Harmony, the massive Lord Sarlaka, and the two dozen stallions he had assumed would back him up in his attack. Rainbow caught his eyes more than once, and every time she looked into them, she saw the same thing: foolhardy desperation. He truly believed in Discord, and was desperately trying to find a favorable solution to the dire situation he was now placed in. The chromatic mare knew that such ponies were the most dangerous out there, for they were the ones that would do something off-the-wall crazy. All it took was the slightest of forces in any direction to set off the powder keg.

That ignition came from the sudden cough from her marefriend.

“NO!” the stallion yelled as a collapsible spear shot out of his armor, the spearhead gleaming in the sunlight. A fire in his eyes, he looked at all of her friends. “I won't let you! That's not going to happen!”

In a flash, he rocketed towards Fluttershy, and Rainbow saw out of the corner of her eyes, the yellow pegasus crumple in fear. The stallion was quick for an earth pony. Very quick. All at once, her friends reacted. Applejack's muscles in her legs tensed up as she prepared to intercept the hopeless charge. Twilight's horn ignited as it prepared one of many of the deadly spells she was capable of. Rarity ignited her own horn as a dozen razor-sharp gemstones emerged from her saddlebags, as well as her weapon emerging from it's scabbard. Pinkie had somehow pulled a literal cannon out in front of her, and was about to press a large button that undoubtedly meant 'fire'. As for herself, her wings flared out, and she prepared to fight to the death.

Of course, it was Sarlaka who surprisingly, given his size, acted first. The massive wing he possessed extended outward, forming a massive wall between the mares and the violent stallion. There was a dull 'thunk' as Captain Johnathan slammed into the large wing, the spear puncturing through the skin-like material. While it did look quite painful, Sarlaka didn't let out a single noise to register any sort of pain or discomfort. Instead, with speed that a pegasus would be proud of, the massive dragon turned, reached, and snatched the earth pony captain in his claws. Slowly closing his wings, Rainbow finally was able to see the scene with her own two eyes: the jet black stallion in the clutches of the dull purple dragon.

Sarlaka merely narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, that isn't going to happen. Any final words?”

The captured stallion had no fear in his eyes, just fury. “Your time on this planet is almost up! Defying Discord is defying the will of your god, and will only bring you torturous misery. I relish the—”

It was there that Sarlaka threw the stallion to his left, the former captain sailing through the air, and into the abyss of the valley below. The black stallion's form quickly became nothing more than a small black speck blemishing the rest of the landscape, the only way that she was even able to track his form was from the shine his still glorious armor gave. It took a while, a full thirty seconds or more, before the black speck stopped its movement's downward, a small cloud of dust forming around it as it impacted the ground below.

“You always were long winded,” the dragon chuckled darkly. As soon as he uttered those words, he turned back to the stallions still on the ledge. “Lieutenant Wilks.”

Rainbow's attention, at least for now, was now returned to the only other stallion of note in the group. The red-maned stallion, apparently Lieutenant Wilks, trotted forward, until he was about level to where the former captain had been standing. Slowly, he nodded. “Yes, my lord?”

“Lieutenant Wilks,” Sarlaka spoke, “I am promoting you to Captain of the General's Council, and giving you all the privileges and duties of the position. Your first order is to make sure that the generals understand my new intentions, and that Operation Chaos is beginning. To the best of my knowledge, the only general that might have had an issue with this was General Debora, and considering I recently learned that Discord removed that problem for us via a giant tornado, there shouldn't be any dissent from the rest of the high ranking officers. As for the Seventh Army situation, do you think that you could lead those troops yourself when the time comes?”

“I think I can, Lord Sarlaka.”

“Good, then I am giving you acting command of the Seventh Army as well. Pick whatever officers you trust to get the job done for your own army, and consider all of them pre-approved. Unless you have any questions, you are dismissed.”

The stallion gave a slight bow. “Of course, my lord.” He turned, and with a surprisingly neutral walk, considering all of the responsibilities and burdens that had been placed on his shoulders, as well as the recent circumstances behind his promotion, he rejoined his entourage. The group of soldiers turned and, albeit somewhat hesitantly at first, filed in around the now Captain Wilks, and together, the group began to make their way down the mountain.

“Heh... sorry about that.” Sarlaka's voice drew not only Rainbow's, but the rest of her friends' attention as well.

“Umm... wow...” Rainbow tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat, her brain slightly frazzled by the violent turn of events.

“You... you...” Applejack blinked, “... you jus' threw 'im? Jus' like tha'?”

“Sadly. Personally, I would've preferred to have squished him, but I don't think you ponies would've liked to have seen the end result of that, so I think this is a fitting enough end to him.”

Rarity moved to take a step back, but changed her mind. “I think dear Applejack is saying... that you just killed a pony... without even a second thought in the matter.”

For his part, Sarlaka had now faced the mares, and gently, he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Yeah, like I said, sorry about that. I was pretty sure this meeting wasn't going to go well, for I was well aware that Captain Johnathan was a fanatic. Still, I’m surprised that he decided to go violent in front of me. I guess, sometimes, in the heat of passion, even the best of ponies can fall... literally in this case.

“But anyway, we must discuss another, and much more important, matter. Are you ladies ready to take command of your military?”

Needless to say, that proposition took Rainbow by surprise, any idea of potentially leading an organized attack against another military was well outside of her expertise. Sure, she was no stranger to combat, and the recent weeks only served to make her better at it, but that was definitely much different from coordinating two armies! Twilight might be able to handle the organization part, but what experience did they have in actual strategy and tactics!? None!

Applejack was the first one to stammer out a response out loud, “Wha'!?”

Sarlaka, upon both hearing and seeing the mares' reactions, laughed heartily to himself, a laugh that broke the prismatic mare out of her stunned stupor, and planted a glare onto her face instead. The dragon continued to laugh until he finally was able to speak, “Didn't think so. Don't you little ponies worry though, for I was able to find some suitable... replacements for you mares.”

Twilight cocked her head. “Replacements?”

“Indeed! Look exactly like you six actually.” Sarlaka nodded, a smile still on his face.

Rarity joined Twilight with confusion. “How exactly?”

“Well... alright, so maybe they don't look exactly like you girls. Fake Laughter is a much darker pink, her color more akin to magenta. Fake Loyalty has seven colors in her mane, Fa—”

“Really? You put seven in there?” Rainbow rolled her eyes.

Sarlaka waved his claw as he rolled his eyes. “Yes yes, seven. I thought that RAINBOW Dash would have, well, every color in the rainbow in her mane and tail. Guess I was wrong about indigo. Anyway, Fake Kindness has a much more curly mane and tail, much more like Laughter's own. Finally, Fake Honesty has a dirty blonde mane. Close, but not quite.”

“Umm... what about Twilight and Rarity?” Fluttershy asked, her wings twitching slightly in nervousness.

“Those two? I got them right. Maybe their manes are a tiny bit off, but no, I got them right. Well... except that the actual mares that I used aren't actually unicorns, and are instead merely wearing fake horns, but there aren't many unicorns left for me to work with, so I had to make due with what I had.”

“Wow! So there's, like, another me!?” Pinkie jumped up and down; Rainbow could swear that she heard a springing-bounce noise at each little hop.

“Heh, kinda. Like I said, it's not perfect, but it's close.”

“Hold up.” Rainbow finally had to urge to fly up a little bit, her wings taking her weight off of her hooves. “What are we going to be doing while all of this is going on?”

Sarlaka looked straight into their eyes, his violet eye shifting to each of them as he spoke, “You girls are to remain inside the cave, out of sight, and stay safe. No matter what happens out there, what you hear, see, or anything, you are to remain in that cave until either Captain Wilks or I personally come to tell you otherwise, hopefully with the Element of Loyalty in our possession.”

Rainbow lowered herself to the ground. “That's it? Just hide like a bunch of fillies?”

“Yes, Loyalty, hide like a bunch of fillies. Your safety far outweighs anything else that could possibly happen.” Sarlaka pointed down into the valley behind him as he continued, “Every one of those ponies down there knows, or at least soon will know, the stakes that this battle holds, and each and every single one of them would throw down their life for any one of you. They are fighting for the slim chance of a return to the world before Discord, where peace and harmony were a reality, and not just some small fairytale that they were told of when they were young. Don't be a fool or a hero, and try and do the fighting yourself. You only serve to insult them if you do.

“Twilight.” Sarlaka looked down at the mare next to him, and gave a small smile. “I am so sorry that I was never able to complete your gift before I could give it to you, but I guess half done and two and a half weeks late is better than not giving it to you at all. Your gift is in the final room, the one you have never gone into. The door is unlocked, so don't worry about trying to unlock it.

“As for me, I think it is finally time for me to go now. I pray that I survive to see you when this is all over. However, if it is my fate to... well...” Sarlaka placed himself back onto all fours, lowered his head low, and smiled, “...just know it was the greatest privilege knowing you six delightful mares.”

“You're leaving?” Fluttershy trotted up closer to his head. “Where are you going?”

Sarlaka chuckled. “Why, I’m going to be with Discord, and stand by him as I fight against Harmony's Coalition.”

Applejack was the one who trotted up now. “Say wha' now? Ah though' you were gonna figh' with us?”

The dragon continued his dry laugh as he explained, “Sadly, I can't do that, at least not at first. I have to make sure that I am next to Discord. How else am I going to obtain the Element of Loyalty from him?”

“Spike...” Twilight trotted closer, and with tears welling in her eyes, gave the gargantuan dragon a hug around his snout. A few seconds past before Fluttershy came up, and with the most beautiful of smiles, wrapped her forelegs around his face the best she could. It wasn't long until the rest of them, even Rainbow herself, came up close, and joined in on the group hug. All the while, there were collective laughs, sniffles, jokes, and at least one “fat-face” joke against the dragon's head.

Rainbow might have been responsible for that last one.

Sadly, even for the athletic mare, the hug was broken, and Sarlaka got up onto his hind legs, and opened his massive wings. Those massive panels, other than the tiny hole from former Captain Jonathan's spear, were completely flawless flying surfaces. A smile on his face, the dragon turned his body around, and from personal experience from her own flying, she realized that he was preparing to jump off of the cliff-side. It was then that a sudden thought flashed through her mind.

“Wait!” Rainbow cried out.

The sudden call visibly stunned the dragon, for he had to do his best not to fall down the ledge from his earlier preparations. Finally, after nearly tripping over his own feet, he regained his balance, and turned his head to face her. “Yes, Loyalty?”

She cleared her throat, then spoke, “It's been killing me since you started doing it, so I gotta know. Why do you keep doing that?”

“Hmm? Doing what, Loyalty?”

Rainbow took to the air again, and pointed with a forehoof. “That! You keep calling me 'Loyalty', Fluttershy 'Kindness', and so on. Why? Why not just call us by our names? And don't tell me that you were trying to keep up that whole 'Sarlaka not knowing our names' thing, because we told you who we were pretty quickly, and you still didn't call us by that. Not only that, but you still are calling us that!”

Sarlaka gave an embarrassed grin, “Honestly? With the exception of Twilight and Rarity, I completely forgot what your names were. The Elements you embodies I remembered sure, but not your names.”

“You're kiddin' me,” Applejack deadpanned.

“Nope. Keep in mind that it's been about fifteen hundred years since I had seen any of you, and with the exception of Twilight, I didn't even know you ponies for even a year. That's a long time to try and remember the name of four mares you only knew for a few months.”

“So...” Pinkie snickered, “what your saying, is that means every time you called me 'Laughter', you were—”

“—trying desperately to remember your name after you told me, yes.” Sarlaka smiled. “Well, technically, I started to remember your names around the time you ponies left for your little adventure, but let's face it, calling you by your elements was pretty cool, wasn't it?”

He was met with nothing but silence.

“Hmm... I guess not. Oh well, at least I’m a hundred and fifty hoof long dragon, so I guess I get all of my awesomeness from that.” Sarlaka turned, and with a final smile to say goodbye, he jumped off of the ledge. At first, it appeared to be a terrible takeoff, much less graceful than even an inexperienced pegasus, but it was only a few seconds until his purple form appeared over the ledge once more. With the most gentle of flaps, he sped off into the distance and slowly shrank from their vision, his destination being the spot right next to the God of Chaos himself...






A/N: Cue dramatic music.