//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Welcome to Equestria // Story: Hero Anon // by Bastinator //------------------------------// Fucking hell your head hurts. ”Stay still, pain is to be expected.” “Ugh, my head…” ”You’ve come quite a ways. Just try and stay calm.” “W- What happened to me? I was- sitting on my couch- and there was a light.” ”We can explain everything in time. Please rest.” You can’t rest. It’s not in your nature to do nothing. ”What is your name?” You struggle to your feet. “Anon.” ”Hydra’s Piss!” ”Silence!” There’s more than one of them. You’re slowly getting your vision back. ”You really should sit down.” She rests a hoof on your chest and- “Hoof?” ”Oh my… please stay calm.” You step back and rub your eyes. “You’re a- pony?!” She’s a bit smaller than you and a vibrant pink. She also has a pair of wings and a horn on her head. “Pegasus? Unicorn? Where the fuck am I?!” ”Please remain calm.” “How the hell can I remain calm when I get kidnapped by a fucking mystical creature?!” It’s not just her either, there’s a dozen other unicorns and pegasi about. ”My name is Cadence, I wish we could’ve met in better circumstances. “You think?” ”I will explain everything in time, just let me.” Okay Anon, calm your dick down. “Fine…” She leads you off of some kind of altar, the guards keeping a close eye on you. “Exactly why am I here?” ”We brought you here.” “So you did this? Why?” ”Because Equestria needs a hero right now, and you’re it.” Hero? That’s just rich, what are they going to think of next. ”This is no laughing matter. Things have gone to Tartarus and back.” “Don’t mean to disappoint you, but I’m not a hero. I was barely an athlete.” ”A hero transcends the physical, Anon. We know this well.” The two of you enter a great hall, pictures etched into the stone walls. ”You are not the first to come.” ”When the Griffon tribes united against us, a hero rose to fight them.” ”When the Dragon Migration threatened our existence, a hero rose to sway them.” ”When the Gates of Tartarus broke open, a hero rose to send them back.” She turns to the last picture at the end of the hall. ”When chaos tore its way across the land, a hero rose to bring peace. You are that hero.” “You may not know this, but I’m not exactly from around here.” ”Neither were they.” She places her hoof on the wall. ”They were like you, human.” “Bullshit. I’m a nobody, literally. It’s in my god damn name.” ”You’re the hero Equestria needs. Please…” “I’m sorry, but I can’t.” She bows her head in defeat. ”Then he has won.” A minotaur bursts through the doors wielding a giant axe. Thank god you said no. ”Iron Will, what’s wrong?” ”The gate’s have been breached. He’s coming here, now.” ”Not this soon, we aren’t ready yet.” “What’s not ready?” ”Take him, get him and as many others out as you can.” The minotaur nods without question, ”Understood Princess.” Cadence escorts you back to the main chamber. “Princess? Something you want to tell me?” ”I am royalty no longer. Not since he arose.” “He?” you ask. ”The god of Chaos… Discord.” The doors to the chamber throb as they block the oncoming horde. ”I promised to give you an explanation as to why you’re here, but for now I need you to follow Iron Will.” “This conversation isn’t over.” The minotaur grabs you by the collar and drags you back. ”It is for you boy.” Your struggles are useless against him. ”When things are at their darkest, do not give in to temptation.” “What does that even mean?” ”It means you’ll figure it out later when the plot needs you to.” “Did you just-“ ”Shut up.” Iron Will grinds open a hidden tunnel, a line of ponies swarming inside. ”It’s been an honor Ma’am.” ”Keep him safe.” He nods, the last of the ponies through. He replaces the stone wall, blocking you off from Cadence. Wood shatters from the main room, a familiar hiss cutting through the air. ”Ripley, down girl.” That must be Discord. You can hear the evil within him. ”Cadence my dear, such an honor to finally meet you.” ”Do not think you can sway me like the others.” ”If I wanted to, you’d be kissing my feet like a good little slave, but I’m in a good mood today. Your little resistance has finally come to an end.” She chuckles, “You are too late, he has already returned.” ”And you think some hero can stop me? Didn’t you learn anything from before?” ”If you think you have a chance against me hero, think again. This is not my first rodeo.” You listen at the wall, Iron Will waiting for you. ”I think it’s time you met an old friend.” Cadence screams in agony. ”You hear that hero? You’re next.” ”Stop! I’m begging you!” You can hear the smugness in his voice, “Ok…” A sickening crack rings out, followed by a heavy thud. ”Twilight tear this castle about until you find that man, and bring me the prisoners, I want them alive!” Iron Will pulls you away and down the corridor. She stayed back… she could’ve betrayed you to him. But she didn’t. She was the better man, manlier than you. You follow the group through the caverns eventually finding the way out. The cold air chills your body, but it’s nothing you haven’t felt before. “Where are we?” ”The Shoh mountains, our last home.” Snow drifts down from the sky, coating the brute with a small white layer. ”We are broken.” This is all that’s left of them. A group of around thirty, cast out from their home. You get a good look at where you were, the castle ablaze in an inferno. An army stretches out from the gates, a sea of evil and death. And you’re supposed to stop that? Fucking hell, you’re beyond screwed. Your group makes camp for the night. You sit by the fire, shivering as the ice begins to wear on you. A blanket is wrapped around your shoulders. ”Thought you could use this.” A unicorn sits next to you, her coat white as snow, with the snow atop snow. Snowception. “Thanks.” She smiles and holds her hooves in front of the fire. The fire shimmers against her shades, her cobalt hair swaying slightly. ”So you’re the big hero we were expecting…” “You could say that.” You. A Hero. A pipe dream at its finest. “How long have you been at war? It can’t have been easy.” ”Two and half years if I recall, not that it matters anymore.” You can’t even comprehend fighting for that long. It doesn’t seem possible. “Where to next?” ”There is no next. We left our last home behind. For now, we run and we survive.” “That’s no way to live.” ”Nop0ny said it was living.” You slip into an uncomfortable silence between the two of you. You pull the blanket around her as well. “My name’s Anon.” ”Vinyl.” The two of you watch the fire burn away. “Nice to meet you Vinyl.” You wake up on the ground next to Vinyl. A good night’s sleep is supposed to get rid of your problems. Whoever said that was a liar. You wrap the blanket around her and walk around camp. Most of the ponies are still asleep, though a few are attending to their effects. They look up at you with hazy eyes. They’ve gone for so long fighting a losing battle. They’re tired of fighting. They just want it to end. A sizzling sound flutters to you, drawing you in. Nothing smells quite as good as bacon in the morning. You find Iron Will sitting at the edge of camp, holding a skillet over his own fire. He’s cooking some eggs and bacon. Delicious. “Mind if I join you?” ”Not at all.” You clear a spot of snow and sit beside him. ”Care for some breakfast?” “Never turn down bacon.” He laughs a little, slipping you a few slices. “Thankya kindly.” ”We’re in this together. To the End.” He gnaws on a fresh strip, still steaming hot, though he doesn’t make a show of the pain, “Tell me a little about yourself.” “Nothing much to tell. Just a regular guy, making his way through life.” ”Any family?” “Nah, they passed by the time I got out of College, and I haven’t seen my brother in ages.” ”Sorry to hear that.” “Don’t worry about it. It’s all in the past now.” You savor your meal, knowing the picking are going to get scarce. Out of all the people in your world, they picked you. Not a soldier, or a politician, or a doctor. A run of the mill guy. Why? Iron Will slurps down his eggs, getting on his hooves. ”We got a long day ahead of us.” He whistles, one of the stallions approaching fast. ”Yes sir?” ”Get everyone ready to move. We can’t afford to be sitting around.” ”Aye aye.” He rushes off, stirring up the rest of your group. “We have a place in mind?” ”We’re going to regroup with one of our scouting parties that was caught outside when they struck.” “Strength in numbers right?” ”I’d rather us be together.” He lifts his axe over his shoulder and looks outwards. ”Let’s get moving. We’re burning daylight.” Your group moves through the icy wastes. You stay up front with Iron Will, helping him clear a path forwards. “So what exactly are we up against here? Dragons? Hydras?” ”Kid, I’ve been fighting this war since the start and I still can’t answer that question.” “How can you not know?” He sighs, his voice tired. ”I’ve seen all of what Equestria has to offer, and they’re not it.” “So they don’t exist in this world.” ”You got it.” So you’re fighting things they haven’t even seen before. Iron Will stops, eying the peak of a nearby hill. ”Something’s wrong.” He looks back to the group. ”Prepare for battle.” “There’s no one there, you’re just overreacting.” ”Let’s go.” He charges up through the thickened snow and up the hill. You can hear the clanging of steel as you get closer. Fuck he was right. You get to the top and overlook the battle field. You’ve got ponies on one side and… that can’t be right. “Charge!” You’re left stunned as your group advances into the fray. They- They don’t exist. It’s not real. ”You coming or what?” Vinyl pushes you downhill and into the war zone. A rush of heat hits you as the battle turns into a cluster-fuck. You can’t fight them. This is just… ”Look out!” Vinyl pierces one of the creatures with her horn. It collapses, Vinyl beating it to a pulp. “It’s not real…” ”Better start believing, cause they know you are.” You reach into your pocket, finding your knife still there. You flip it open, standing back to back with Vinyl. One of the creatures lunges at you and you meet it with a knife to the neck. It gurgles as its blood oozes from its neck. You kick out its front legs and curbstomp that bitch. You stab it repeatedly in the skull, its blood spraying onto your face. “Die you piece of shit!” You stab it in the eye socket, a few sparks shooting out. You breathe deeply and lean back. “Fucking husks.” Adrenaline pumps through your veins. ”Good job with that one.” But there’s more. You tackle a second husk landing on its back. You punch at its ribs, neck, skull, legs. Whatever you can. This thing doesn’t exist for a reason. Vinyl rushes over and breaks its spine with one buck. ”You need to work on your form.” You want this to end. A deep metallic groan escapes from the crowd. You know what that is as well. ”Show them that you rock!” You push your way over to Iron Will, standing face to face with a Black Knight. Your mind is so full of fuck right now. He lunges forward, striking it dead in the chestplate. The creature roars in pain, smacking him away with one hand. Fuck fuck fuck! It pulls the axe out of its chest, twirling it around with ease. You charge forward, the Knight’s axe raised. *clunk* You fall back on the ground, stars spinning around your head. The Knight looks at you, freezing. ”Target Acquired.” He drops the axe, picking you up by the throat. ”Hero…” You lay limp at his mercy. ”Return to base.” He turns around, Iron Will picking up his axe. ”Forget something?” He plunges the axe into the knight’s back. You fall to the floor as the knight wails. Its body disintegrates into ash, floating away. The axe however, keeps going, landing between your legs. Inches from your junk. You look up at the minotaur. “The fuck man? You trying to kill me?” ”Not yet anyways.” He drags the axe backwards, slicing another husk in half. He gets you back to your feet, though you’re still disoriented. With the Knight gone, the husks aren’t much of a threat. The group dispatches them one by one. You take a rain check while Iron Will protects you. That bump to the head really took it out of you. The last of them scurry off past the horizon. ”Status report.” Vinyl gets back to you two. ”Three casualties, seven wounded.” ”And the others?” A pegasus lands beside her. ”No casualties, though we’ve all taken some hits.” Iron Will nods, “Good to see you still kicking Soarin.” ”Likewise big guy.” He looks at you warily. ”Who’s the new recruit?” ”He’s our last hope,” Iron Will replies. ”So the ritual worked? This is great news, we may be able to turn things around.” He extends a hoof, “The name’s Soarin, Captain of the Wonderbolts.” “Anon, pleased to-“ ”Anon.” He pulls his hoof away looking to Iron Will. ”You playing a joke on me or what?” ”It’s no joke.” He grunts and rolls his eyes. “Was it something I said?” ”You better be worth it.” He looks back to Iron Will. ”Keep the guy at bay, or I will.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Soarin trots away, only angering you further. “I said, what the fuck is that supposed to mean!?” He bucks you as you try to follow, sending you on your rear. ”Maybe you should put him on a leash?” “Fuck you!” You stand up and dust yourself off, swatting Iron Will’s hand away. Vinyl pulls you away from him. “I’m going to kill him.” ”I think you need to calm down.” You’re as fucking calm as you can be right now. “How do you expect me to react? Huh?! I was stolen away from my fucking home for a fight I don’t have a god damn stake in!” ”Anon please-“ Iron Will starts to speak. “No. I had a life, I had dreams and aspirations. And then you guys just said ‘NOPE! Chuck fucking Testa.’ You have RUINED my life.” You kick one of the corpses next to you. “And don’t even get me started on these fucking guys! You metallic husk pieces of shit.” You pound the lifeless body with your shoe, only serving to tire you out. ”So… you know what these things are?” “Yeah I do,” you kick the husk in the skull, “These things are called husks. Basic infantry type units, weak as fuck.” ”Do you know how to fight them?” “I know how to pull the right trigger on my controller. This thing isn’t supposed to be fucking real.” It’s from a video game for god’s sake. ”I don’t follow.” “This thing doesn’t exist. It’s an idea, a fucking thought. This place entire place is one shitty nightmare.” Kicking the body one last time you storm off through the bloodied battlefield. A frozen stream lies before you. You sit down and place your head in your hands. This seriously can’t be happening to you. You pick up a small stone and roll it in your hand. ”Care if I sat next to you?” “Kind of.” She sits regardless, “Good view you have here.” “Shame the smell ruins the occasion.” You toss the stone onto the frozen water. ”I know how you must feel.” “No, you really, really don’t.” She lowers her shades, her dazzling red eyes shimmering. ”Fair enough, but I do know what it’s like to lose a home.” She bows her head, “When the mane 6 fell, so did our hopes at salvation. Chaos spread like a plague, my home, Canterlot, was at the center.” “How did you escape?” ”I didn’t. I was in Ponyville at the time, one of the lucky ones I’ve been told.” “No one is lucky in war.” ”Only the dead can truly find peace… I know you don’t have a stake in this fight, but we do. Every day that passes, more of us fall to that tyrant who calls himself our leader. We need a hero, and you’re the closest thing we’ve got left.” “And what if I can’t win? What if I can’t beat Discord?” She cocks her head, “Discord?” “The tyrant. The guy who I’m supposed to stop. That’s his name right?” ”Discord’s been dead for years. Didn’t the princess tell you this?” No she didn’t. She didn’t tell you anything. ”Our hero slew the chaos god in Canterlot Castle, only to turn into something far worse.” You look back to the stream, gingerly getting back to your feet. ”I thought they would’ve told you.” “It doesn’t matter. Human or… whatever the fuck Discord was, he’s nothing more than a rabid dog, and I’m supposedly the vet who puts him down.” She joins in your walk back to the camp. ”You had me worried back there you know. You almost sounded like Anonymous did.” You freeze, Vinyl not noticing until you speak up. “What did you just say?” ”I said you had me worried-“ “After that. Who did you say I sounded like?” ”Anon you’re scaring me.” “Please. Just… tell me his name.” It couldn’t be him. You were told he’d died. Could it though? No, it’s not possible. But neither were husks and black knights, and here they are. ”His name…” You hold her and look her dead in the eye. ”Is Anonymous.” You shiver, though not from the cold. But from something worse. His voice was different. Aged maybe? ”Why’s his name so important?” “I knew this man… At least, I think I know him.” Could he have really changed so much, so fast? ”You- really?” He wouldn’t do this. He couldn’t. “Anonymous, Anon. We were always so close…” Your eyes drift back to the burning castle lying on the mountain’s edge. “The man is my brother.” The bastard who left you…