//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Battle of the Gods // Story: Friendship is Chaos // by Word Worthy //------------------------------// Ponyville, Equestria Town Library Everyone: Pony, Forerunner, and Villain alike, had gathered in Twilight's library to discuss preparations for fighting the evil force when it arrived. "Didact, just how are we going to fight these monsters if they are capable of destroying entire worlds as if they are mere toys to cast aside?" Celestia inquired. "The only way we can, Princess. We shall use our Elements for what they truly are." The Forerunner ran his blade around in his hands. "Weapons. Powerful...and elegant, weapons." "Are you sure they cannot be reasoned with, must we resort to violence to settle this?" Twilight wondered. Discord shook his head sadly. "Oh, my dear. So naïve." Sheogorath frowned at her. "Weren't ya payin attention when ya heard that creäture yappin' its trap, girly? A being like that cannot be stopped with words, only pure, unadulterated magical power. Why do ya suppose we wanted your elements so badly, huh? It's because you six, are so very, very naïve." Twilight was about to prepare a snappy remark, while Rainbow Dash's temper began to flare, but both were interrupted by the Librarian. "Stop! Let us not be divided! Petty squabbles will mean the doom of us all. Don't you see? These creatures feast off of our hatred and resentment. Fighting ourselves will only make them stronger." Interrupting all, a booming voice tore through the Library. "Indeed! Your conflict, your disputes, your bickering. It is all so very, very refreshing. Continue!" The Didact's rage was released once again. "Who are you, Precursor? Reveal yourself to us all, face us so that we may be rid of you forever!" The ancient voice laughed it's insane, echoing laugh. It shook the very walls of the Library Tree. "Such arrogance, young one, it is most amusing. You may call me... the Timeless One." At this, the Promethean's rage only grew, as he recognized the name. "I destroyed you on Charum Hakkor, abomination! Your very body disintegrated! How is it that you still exist?" "Do you not understand our ways? We can transcend reality itself with our very consciousness. As lesser mind would say: 'mind, over matter'. When my most recent physical body was destroyed, I merely pulled my essence back into the Domain. When the Array fired, and the Domain destroyed, I took shelter with my brothers and sisters in the outer realms. And now, we shall return. We have defied even gods and demons to reach this point, and now, nothing will stop us. Prepare for our arrival, Elements, for we are the Precursors, and our answer is at hand!" The creature's laughing echoed all across Equestria this time, before it faded into nothingness again. "They're closer now then ever! I can feel it! In ma bones!" Sheogorath interjected. "I say we just drag them here right now and freeze em" Ice King suggested, casting snowflakes around in his hands. Everyone began murmuring about ways they planned to fight the Precursors. Some mentioned how uncertain they were about fighting beings they had never even heard of before. Didact faced everyone, as if ready to give a speech. Just before he could do so, the Timeless One's disembodied voice boomed again. "We're coming! Second by second, we march towards our victory, aeons of waiting.." "SHUT UP WITH THE PHILOSOPHICAL NONSENSE! Now you've done and pissed off the wrong Daedric Prince, you meddling, power-hungry little mortals!" Sheogorath raised the Wabbajack and began channeling energy from the Elements of Chaos and Harmony. "What are you doing Mad God!" Discord and Celestia shouted simultaneously. "What do ya think I'm doing? I'm forcing them here! It's time we face them for a little one-on-one! They've wasted enough of ma time already." "Finally!" Ice King exclaimed. Wabbajack increased in power until it unleashed it in a massive shock wave that drove hundreds of books off their shelves, shattered windows, and toppled loose furniture. Everyone tried to calm down as the charged air in the room dissipated. But then their eyes were drawn to the doorway. "Our enemy has arrived." Voldermort declared, peering out the door. The sky had become a nightmarish scene. The clouds were blood-red as massive portals of fire opened up all across to the horizon. Deep into the depths of the portals, one could see the swirling blue maelstrom of trans-dimensional slipstream space. What emerged from the portals, however, was nearly indescribable. Massive ships made of a crystalline type metal emerged, greatly resembling Forerunner Fortress-class Ships, or High Charity, but far larger and angular. A few of the mighty starships seemed to bend in between time and space, creating warped images of themselves. All observing them on the ground were left speechless, their fear and curiosity leaving them frozen in place. "Very well, deluded ones. If you seek to hasten your destruction, then we shall see fit to accommodate you! We creators of life shall now give naught but suffering! And now, you shall have us!" As the Timeless One laughed once again, the occupants of the ships manifested themselves before the 12 Elements. They were massive, armored creatures, resembling a strange cross between Human and Forerunner, with two sets of powerful looking arms. Their eyes glowed with pure white energy, and their hair and fur were the color of fresh snow. Their armors' appearance was similar to the Didact's, but made of pure white, crystal-like energy and seemed to float around their bodies rather than being worn by them. Underneath, the beings appeared to be garbed in body suits that conformed to their musculature. The one that called himself the 'Timeless One' was the last to appear. Unlike his comrades, he was cloaked in a flowing, exquisitely snow-white robe with crystalline embroidering. The elegance of the robe was almost enough to make Rarity faint. The Precursor also had a beard that any elder wizard would be proud of. Giving the robed Precursor a cursory glance, Librarian mused to herself. How could creatures of such god-like grace and power have resorted to such dark barbarism and corruption as the Flood? It is unthinkable! Didact himself glared at the demigods, his sword gripped firmly in his massive six-fingered hand. Suddenly, the blade changed from it's peaceful blue to a savage orange. His helmet formed into position, obscuring his face in the visor's skull like appearance. The Didact raised his sword into the air. "Rise! Rise my Prometheans!" He bellowed. "Rise, and protect, the Multiverse!" He held his head to the heavens with that final shout. All around him, Promethean Knights, and swarms of quadruped Crawlers winked into existence around him. The Knights stood tall, their hard-light blades flaring to life. Dozens spawned Promethean Watchers from their backs, who hovered above their masters, awaiting battle. There were now mechanical Prometheans everywhere. In the streets, on balconies, and roofs, their rifles and blades waiting to be unleashed on the enemy. The Promethean General than waved his sword at his assembled allies. "Harmony, Chaos, all Elements to me! Today, we fight as one force! Princesses, get your citizens far from this town! This no place for the defenseless to stand!" Princess Celestia did not hesitate. "Everypony, with us, get off the streets, get to Canterlot! But above all, do not panic!" The denizens of Ponyville tried their best, but many were still moving at frantic paces. "Is it the end of days?" One asked. "What's happening?" Many more wondered with worry. The assembled Precursors did nothing to stop the Ponies that fled past them. They might as well have been leaves in the wind to the demigods. As soon as the streets had cleared of bystanders, the Precursors began to multiply. Hundreds, if not thousands more of the massive beings teleported in. They flicked their four hands with force, vicious looking energy blades and exotic looking devices appearing in them. In response, the Elements of Chaos summoned their own minions. Jack of Blades brought in Hollow men and Summoners. Ice King conjured enormous Ice Golems. Voldermort summoned up a swarm of spectral Death Eaters and Dementors. Discord snapped his eagle talon hand and hordes of Manticores, Timber wolves, and Changelings appeared. Lastly, Sheogorath summoned an army of his Golden Saints and Dark Seducers. The mostly female warriors turned to the Mad God for orders. Scores of other Daedric creatures gathered in waiting behind them as well. Didact looked to their new-found armies with admiration. He turned to speak to the Mane Six. "Twilight Sparkle. I understand that you and your friends are not warriors. I order you all to stay in the center of our forces, well away from the fighting." "What! You can't possibly expect us to just sit back and watch those giant four-armed dudes up and destroy our town!" Rainbow Dash argued. "Yeah, Ah reckon that we have just as much of a right to fight as all of y'all. We need to protect our livelihoods!" Applejack agreed. "We need you six alive and unharmed for when we begin our final move to vanquish the Timeless One! This is not the time to test my patience, Equines!" Didact said, irritated. "You guys, Didact is right. There is nothing we can do to help right now. We would just be a hindrance." Twilight said. After a second, they all nodded and the six mares reluctantly went back into the Library. "Discord, erect a barrier around this structure! Nothing is to get near it until we are near victory!" "Very well, I'll do it I suppose." The Draconequus sighed and summoned the magical bubble around the Library. He then turned back to his personal horde of minions. Didact turned back to face his opponent, his species' vengeful creators. "You do realize your actions these past Aeons are in direct violation of the Mantle?" The Timeless One had a look on his face that resembled amusement. He spoke to them in person for the first time. "Foolish creature. We have cast aside our obsolete Mantle long ago. Our creations are unworthy of it. Even the mighty Flood, the remains of our fallen siblings, is useless to us now. We will crush the last of your defiant race and all its allies ourselves." The Precursor's true voice was surprisingly soothing and melodic, and flowed like wine made by the Olympians themselves. This was quite unlike the unnatural, demonic voice everyone had heard before. "Such vanity! How is it that races like mine and Humanity were created by such self-important, false gods! The Mantle dictates that such beings be annihilated, and I for one, am I proud follower of its teachings. We shall finish what my ancestors failed to do so long ago, Precursor!" The Timeless One's face quickly lost it's amusement, being replaced instead, with pure hatred. "Prepare for your end, Forerunner. Once we have cleansed this world of its unworthy inhabitants, we shall return to Our Galaxy to test Humanity, and hunt down the survivors of your kind that may remain. You face the Masters of time and space itself, and Our answer is at hand!" The Precursor declared with malice. He raised his own arms, and in his hands appeared a staff and two energy blades. He waved his free hand in a dramatic wave, and every building and obstacle save for the library was turned to debris and ruins. Luckily, their former inhabitants were all in Canterlot by now. "And now, the Gods face their unworthy children in battle. Forward my Brothers and Sisters! Strike our defiant creations down!" The Precursors roared and charged, or rather, warped, towards their enemy. "My Prometheans, Elements of Chaos, to battle!" Didact bellowed. Promethean Knights ignited their blades and opened their helmets, the glowing skulls underneath roaring. With the crawlers and watchers in tow, they swarmed at the charging demigods. The Elements of Chaos likewise unleashed their forces. Legions of minions descended upon the Precursor army. The air was lit up with spells, energy weapon fire, time disruption, arrows, ice spikes, and explosions. The roars of Knights and Manticores mixed with the shrieks of Dementors and Changelings, battle cries of the Daedra and Deatheaters, and the groaning of the zombie-like Hollow Men. This combination created what was arguably the strangest chorus of sounds in the entire multiverse at the time. The Precursors destroyed or teleported countless scores of minions out of existence with their exotic weapons, but their enemies vast numbers was beginning to take its toll. Many of the demigods began to crack under the strain of the Dementors' screeches and fell prey to the fists of the Ice Giants. Other Precursors were felled by the combined force of Promethean Lightrifle and Suppressor fire, arrow volleys, and spells that were being thrown at them. Some, to their great surprise, had their armor and shields broken by Knights that phased in behind them, scoring critical hits with their Scattershots and hardlight blades. Sheogorath and Discord made the enemy's situation even worse. Discord's spells and the Wabbajack wreaked havoc in the Precursor ranks. Some were turned into piles of coins, desserts, or various wildlife. Others were set ablaze under their armor. Really unlucky ones had their minds hijacked, causing them to attack their own comrades. In one instant, the Princesses returned. Celestia obliterated entire battalions of the enemy with blasts of pure energy and light from the Sun. Luna cast unnatural shadows over many, causing confusion and disorientation among the Precursors. In the shadows, Hordes of Hollow men encroached on one Precursor flank ever so slowly. Dozens of the undead were put to rest, but there were simply too many. Jack of Blade's Summoners were so massive that they were able to pick up Precursors, throwing them like rag dolls across the battlefield, while destroying others with elemental lightning. What really put the demigods on edge was when the Summoners would approach a group of slain Precursors, resurrecting them into more Hollow Men. Sheogorath's Golden Saints, Dremora, and Dark Seducers were alongside the Knights fighting the Precursors hand to hand. They wove in between the massive warriors, hitting weak spots and breaking through shields while their compatriots fired swarms of arrows. Watchers were creating shields for Knights and all other Humanoid warriors on the field. Crawlers backed them up on the ground by drawing the Precursors' fire away from the fragile floating sentinels. As the battle raged on, the Precursors became far more desperate. They began setting off slip-space bombs whenever a group of them became overwhelmed. The explosions would draw matter in much like a black hole, tearing apart anything in its proximity. Hundreds of minions were lost in this way. Other Precursors overloaded their armors' systems, causing them to go into a berserker state, killing as a many beings as they could before the overload put their bodies in critical condition. The Timeless One was constantly opening slip-space rifts with his strange staff, teleporting many would-be opponents to parts unknown. But as the demigod gazed upon the battle, he could tell they were slowly losing. "Precursors, converge your power on me, we shall herald our victory this instant!" The ancient alien held his arms out high, raising his staff into the air. The Precursors nearest him complied, raising their guns and blades towards him. Energy shot towards him and it erupted from his staff towards the heavens. Yet another portal opened, this time to admit what ominously resembled the silhouette of a massive Halo ring. "Behold, defiant ones! Your doom! The last remaining Halo ring of the original twelve-ring Array! You will perish at the end of your people's' mightiest weapon. We have learned how to transcend its destructive power, but you cannot say the same. This world will be cleansed, then we shall remake reality anew as we see fit!" "An Array Installation? It cannot be!" Didact gazed upon the massive installation in shock "What is that object Didact?" Celestia asked urgently. "A Halo, Princess. A great weapon designed by my political rivals to kill all living things in its pulse's range. If we can't stop it from firing, we will all perish. Can you destroy it with your Sun?" Celestia looked at him sadly. "I spent the last of my current energy firing on the Precursors." Didact fell to his knees. "Then we are hopeless to stop them, Sun Goddess." The Librarian floated to him. "Didact, surely there is some other way to destroy it. I sense something...I can't quite place it, but it's coming." "More Precursors?" Celestia inquired. "No, something far more powerful, something..." The Librarian saw something before she could continue, something extraordinary happened. A new portal, this one of a magical sort, opened up right next to the Halo as it began its firing sequence. The ring lit up with blue energy, ready to release its mighty pulse. But then, everything happened at once. A great roar, the roar of a dragon, erupted from the direction of the Halo. Suddenly, the blue of the Halo's outer shell turned to a fierce fiery red and orange as a section of metal began to melt, crack, and shatter. The pulse of energy it had built up died instantly as the massive installation began to buckle and shatter as the planet Equestria was situated upon shook the Halo apart with its gravity well. Everyone present could see the inner lattice-work of the ring as a massive chunk drifted across the horizon past them. The sky was now pulsing with tiny lights as the setting sun glinted off the metal surfaces of the now massive debris field. The roar returned, this time with its source appearing, just above them. It belonged to a massive dragon that looked nearly large enough to swallow a house whole. Past its reptilian head and slender, scaled neck was a set of massive, powerful wings, and one set of equally powerful looking legs. The great beast's body ended in a pointed scaly tail that could topple a building with a single swing. The Dragon stood on his hind legs with his wings folded at his side, gazing down to regard the crowds of smaller creatures who now look up in astonishment. "Why, it's Akatosh! The Aedra have returned!" Princess Celestia exclaimed. Even Sheogorath and Discord looked up with surprise. "Martin Septim, is that you ma old friend?" The Mad God said with a cheerful chuckle. The massive dragon regarded Sheogorath for a moment with a knowing twinkle in his brilliant eyes, then turned back to face Celestia and the Didact. Akatosh drew a great breath to speak. "Drem Yol Lok, Shul Kulaas Fahdon*. Greetings,Princess Celestia. It has been an ul, an eternity, since we have last met." The Dragon God said. "Tidings to you, noble Aedra of Time. I take it you are the one responsible for saving us all?" The Princess inquired. "Mmm, so it would seem. The Bruniik, the Savages, sought to unleash the Qahnaarin Lein, the vanquisher of all, upon this realm, but I destroyed it. I witnessed you all fight the Paal, voth Ahkrin, Fight the foe with courage. I considered it my heyv, my duty, to intervene and ensure your survival." "Well...we appreciate the gesture...erm, Akatosh." Discord stammered. The Divine turned his mighty gaze upon the Draconequus. "Discord? Spirit of Chaos? I am unsurprised that you're free from your stone prison. Unslaad Krosis, a thousand pardons. I did not mean to startle you." Next, the Dragon turned his gaze back to the Didact, who peered back expectantly. "You, Forerunner, have proven yourself bahlaan, worthy, of wielding the combined might of the Elements. You know now what you must do." Didact nodded. Akatosh stared at him one final time, than the dragon turned to stare down the Precursors for the first time. The God of Time reared back, his wings fully unfurled, and roared at the arrogant beings. The roar became a series of discernible, but foreign words. "STRUN...BAH...QO!" The self-proclaimed gods felt a very mortal chill run down their alien spines. A massive electrical storm formed over their ranks, striking them with heavy rain and elemental lightning. Their Tier 0 technology ironically did nothing to protect them from the storm's unnaturally fierce strength. Akatosh then dropped to the ground, to the Precursors' level and peered into their faces. "You arrogant mortal beings resemble my Dov, my Dragonkind children, in your blind pride. You attempted to kron Tiid, to conquer time itself. You bent younger races to your will, claiming to be their creators. Such Vokul, such evil, shall earn not but our Ahzid Bah, the Gods' bitter wrath. In your efforts to defy the natural order, you sought to Viik, defeat the very creators of existence, even going so far as to assume such titles as 'Timeless One', implying transcendence you do not possess. And now, they shall show you the consequences of your actions." The Dovah snatched up the Precursor Leader in his massive jaws, bringing him about to face the Didact and his allies, still dangling from Akatosh's teeth. Didact spoke to all, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "These beings have sought to destroy time and reality itself in their desperate bids to achieve godhood. They have fractured and manipulate our worlds, rendered countless races extinct, and extinguished innumerable civilizations in their wake of destruction. It ends now. You may lower the shield, Discord!" Discord complied. The magical bubble receded, and the Elements of Harmony emerged from the Library, shocked at the state Ponyville was in. "Twilight Sparkle, I trust that.." "You don't need to say anything more, Didact. We've heard everything that has happened. We are ready to combine the Elements." The Unicorn said, a powerful, confident expression on her and her friends' faces. "Very well, let us finish this everyone." The Forerunner said with a sigh. The Timeless One was not ready for defeat just yet. "No! We cannot be vanquished like this! Our will is unstoppable, we alone are allowed to shape the fabric of fate and reality!" Akatosh released a guttural growl. "Silence, Joor." "Elements, unite your powers!" Didact raised his sword in the air, as it began to glow, blade and handle. Sheogorath raised the Wabbajack, while Discord raised his paw. Jack of Blades raised the Sword of Aeons, while the Ice King put his hands to his Ice Crown. Voldermort was the last, as he raised his crimson wand into the air. The combined powers coalesced withing Didact's sword, bathing it and it's wielder in a blinding white light. "Alright girls, time to unleash ours too!" Twilight exclaimed. The six friends cheered, and came together. The Elements of Harmony combined into one, coming to resonate within Twilight, who now glowed as brightly as the Didact. The two glowing beings' power connected into a brilliant show of color and light, and lanced straight out at the Precursors. The demigods' faces registered true fear for the first time in their Aeons-long existence as the light and energy finally struck them, causing them to fade into nothingness. "Zah. finite! Frul, temporary! Joor, mortal! Now, Precursors, meet the fate of all who challenge the natural order of the worlds!" The Dragon God roared. At last, the energy struck the deluded leader of the Precursors, the one responsible for millions of years of imbalance and destruction. He met his fate with a bellow of rage, showing defiance to the very last second. After the final second, nothing was left of the once mighty race of aliens, save for what remained of their armor and weapons. They lay their as silent testament to the arrogance and vanity of the creatures who once wielded them. The massive Precursor vessels now drifted about the sky uselessly, their crews now vanished as a quiet serenity finally fell over the battlefield. The unidentified Halo Installation's debris field still shined brilliantly in the night sky above, accenting the silver and yellow gleam of Luna's Moon. "Vodahmin, forgotten the Precursors shall become, as they always should have been. Well done, Elements. You have ensured that the balance of Harmony and Chaos has been maintained throughout the universes." Didact nodded at the massive reptile. "And thank you, for making it possible, Aedra." "You need not thank me, Bahlaan Kinbok*, I was merely performing my duty. And it was you and your wife, who had discerned the enemy's Grahmindol, their plans. But now, I must take my leave, for yet another threat encroaches upon Nirn. Fare thee well, Krilot Kendov, valiant warriors." A ripple in time erupted in the air, and a mysterious black-haired man emerged from a blue telephone box labeled 'Police'. "Akatosh, we must hurry if we are to stop the bloody Master! We are running short of time, as you know!" "I am coming, Time Lord. With the God of Time at your disposal, you need not worry about being too late, or too early, Doctor*." Akatosh proclaimed with a deep, loud, and throaty chuckle. The time travelers then vanished to parts unknown. Everyone present rubbed their eyes, to be sure what they had seen had indeed happened. With the Divine gone, the Didact now addressed the army of allies arrayed before him. "My fellow warriors, Elements of Chaos and Harmony alike, rejoice! The greatest threat to our existence is vanquished forever! Our worlds, are now safe again!" Every creature present roared or cheered in victory and celebration, even normally cheerless, expressionless entities like the Dementors, Hollow Men, Summoners, and Knights seemed to be celebrating in some shape or form. "You all know what this calls for...?" Pinkie Pie declared. "OOOHH! I know, cheese! Wait, no,no. That's it, a PARTY! I love parties! Especially the wild kind, oh well except that one where Molag Bal tried to crash it by bein' a total git and teasing poor old Malacath, forcin' him to smash a lotta fine party decor with that monster hammer o'his !" Sheogorath rambled with a chuckle. Pinkie Pie practically teleported in front of the Mad God. "YOU LOVE PARTIES TOO! OOH! I KNOW WE SHOULD TEAM UP AND PLAN ONE OH MY GOSH ITS GOING TO BE SO EPIC, AND WE CAN INVITE ALL MY FRIENDS AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYBODY CAN HAVE A BLAST!" Pinkie ranted in a single breath, defying both established biology and physics. "Nocturnal's armpit hair, girlie! You're more excitable then a thousand adoring fans put together*! We'll have a bloody party then!" The Daedric Prince replied with a grin. "What about reconstruction?" Celestia and the Librarian said simultaneously. "Yeah, what are we going to do about the town, look around! There is no Ponyville left to celebrate in." Twilight agreed. Discord yawned at them. "Already taken care of." The Draconequus snapped his fingers, instantly restoring the town to it's formal glory. If one were to ignore all the ash piles, scattered armor and weapons, as well as the hordes of minions in the street, everything would seem as if no battle ever took place at all. "I for one, agree with Sheo and miss Pinkie Pie. Its high time for a party!" Discord mused. "But only if it's... chaotic." He added with a maniacal laugh.