//------------------------------// // Ruined Utopia // Story: The Dresden Fillies: Extra Stuff // by psychicscubadiver //------------------------------// Ruined Utopia Author: psychicscubadiver Editor: Silentcarto Pre-reader: Coandco “Our mages have issued their report on the Conversion Project, your Highness.” Princess Celestia nodded regally, her calm mask betraying little of her underlying excitement. “And the results?” The messenger scanned down the scroll and broke into a smile. “A perfect transformation. Every one of the test humans have become healthy Equestrian citizens. The doctors want to wait a few days, run some more tests, and confirm that the process is completely safe, but they are being very hopeful about the results.” Princess Celestia allowed herself a small smile. At last, after years of planning, she could begin the purification of this world. When the professors of her academy had first approached her with a spell capable of reaching other worlds almost a decade ago, she would never have believed it would have come to this. Yet, after seeing the downtrodden realm of the humans, her heart had been moved. It was her – no, all of Equestria’s − duty to bring enlightenment to such creatures. The messenger continued reading. “They would like more subjects for testing, to confirm and perfect the process.” Princess Celestia flinched internally, though the emotion never made it to her face. She had wanted to perform testing only on those humans who were already near death, so that if the potion failed, nothing was truly lost. However, her mages insisted that they needed healthy subjects. It was with a heavy heart that she had granted their requests. It was a sacrifice that could never be repaid, but would always be remembered. “Very well. Tell Lt. Shade to retrieve the lowest estimate of humans the doctors say they need. He should only take those without homes or family that would miss them.” Though they didn’t know it yet, those humans would pave the way for a better tomorrow. Her heart soared as the future unfolded before her eyes. It would be the work of years, maybe even decades, but eventually she would transform these creatures into pure-hearted Equestrian citizens. Against their will, if necessary, but she devoutly hoped it would never come to that. She didn’t pretend that the task would be easy, but she and her country were more than equal to whatever obstacles would appear. Before her messenger could continue, the great doors of her throne room were thrown open in panic. “Your Highness!” bellowed a guard as he charged towards her, performing only the barest minimum of a proper bow. “Your Highness, there is a human at the gates!” Princess Celestia carefully concealed her slight irritation. Her guard was running as though Discord himself was on his tail. True, it was disconcerting that a human had found the island, as it should be invisible to both man and machine, but such theatrics were an overreaction. “Have you taken them into custody yet?” The guard flinched at the question, but stammered out his reply. “I-I’m sorry, but we tried to. He shattered our weapons and froze our hooves to the ground with a single spell. He let me go to tell you that he is the Emissary of Queen Mab, and that his liege instructed him to secure an audience with you immediately.” “He did what?” Princess Celestia asked in shock, but she quickly schooled her face into a blank mask. She had thought humans to be magicless, dependent upon their technology. She had evidently been wrong. Still, there was no reason to assume the worst. “Very well, then. Bring this human before me.” ……… Twenty minutes later, a knock came at the door of the throne room. A herald stepped forth to announce their ‘guest’. Celestia saw no harm in giving the human proper diplomatic concessions. She had hoped to delay a formal first contact for several more weeks, but perhaps she could still salvage something from this unexpected turn of events. The revelation that humans had magic was the more important consequence. Still, she did have to wonder about this Queen Mab. From what she had learned of human governments, few of them were ruled by monarchs. More often, squabbling and ineffectual groups of politicians guided the countries of this world. The nations that still had royalty had reduced them to little more than figureheads. It was possible that this Queen Mab was another figurehead, but Celestia doubted it. Her messenger had spoken of being her emissary, not the emissary of his country. If this meeting went well, she could be seeing her first group of converts to the Equestrian cause, though she would be satisfied with a polite exchange of formalities. “Announcing the Knight of Winter, former Warden of the White Council, Za Lord of the Lesser Fae and… ” the herald sputtered a bit, but continued reading the titles the human had given him, “the Once and Future Burger King, Harry Dresden. He is here on behalf of his Mistress, the Queen of Air and Darkness, Ruler of the Unseelie Fae, and Monarch of Winter, Queen Mab, to entreat with Equestria’s reigning Princess, the Unconquered Daystar, the Bringer of Dawn, the Unwavering Light, the Sovereign of all Equestria, the Eldest and Greatest of the Alicorns, the−” “The modest, the humble,” murmured a voice from beyond the closed doors. Celestia’s supernatural hearing barely caught the quiet words, but she could still read the amused sarcasm in the speaker’s voice. “− Princess Celestia!” the herald finished as the doors were swept open. The human strode forward as though he owned the palace, and Celestia got her first look at him. He was tall, even for a human. Their bipedal structure put many humans on Princess Celestia’s eye level, but this one exceeded her height by several inches, nearly reaching seven feet. He was thin as well, all of his features sharp and angular. A strong chin was covered in thin stubble which extended up to his high cheekbones. Small, dark eyes glimmered with interest as he inspected her in return. He carried a carved oaken staff almost as tall as himself in one hand. Unknown symbols covered its surface, lending it an exotic appearance. His clothing was unremarkable except for his long coat of black leather. Both the coat and staff buzzed with magic, but neither was half as strong as the man. Sir Dresden moved with a predator’s easy grace as he strode smoothly into the room. Celestia’s eyes considered him curiously. Everything she had learned told her that humans were magicless, but this man obviously proved otherwise. His strength was on par with that her greatest mages, though Twilight had greater potential. Still, as surprising as it was, she had no need to fear him. He was more powerful than her guards, certainly, but he did not even begin to reach her level. If he were half as observant as he appeared, then he would know that too. Hopefully that would keep any of the aggression humans were prone to exhibit under control and they could have a pleasant conversation. Sir Dresden stopped a touch closer to the throne than was appropriate and bowed. “Greetings, your Highness. My Queen has sent me here to extend her welcome, deliver some messages, and explain the rules of the game to you.” Princess Celestia was confused. “The game? You have come all this way and demanded an audience just for some royal human’s pastime?” If there was a joke in this, she did not understand it. He grinned wolfishly, a fact she found mildly unsettling. “Not quite. For starters, my Queen is not human, she’s Fae, one of the Fair Folk.” He chuckled. “And their games are matters of life and death. In this case, the existence of this island and possibly the realm which you come from as well.” At this, her eyes narrowed and she glared at him. Celestia neither liked nor trusted those who opened diplomatic channels with threats, whether subtle or direct. “For what reason do you threaten me and mine? We have done no harm to you or your queen.” Her guard bristled with anger and more than a few spears were readied for action. “I do not intend to threaten you,” he replied. “I merely mean to let you know the danger you’re in.” Despite his reassuring words, he eyed both her and her guards carefully. Then he reached for something within himself, something Celestia only saw through her mystic senses. It was a wellspring of power, but not a source she had ever felt before. It was colder than the most remote mountain of the Northern Wastes, stronger than even the greatest Windigo. The magic did not come from him, though he was able to draw upon it, holding the merest fraction of its might within him. Celestia abruptly understood why his Queen was called the Monarch of Winter. As impossible as it seemed, Princess Celestia had found an equal in this world. She calmed herself, and regarded Sir Dresden with much greater interest. His queen was someone of consequence, though that made it even stranger that Celestia had never heard of her. Even more intriguing was his assertion that his queen was not human. So far as Equestria had been aware, humans were the only intelligent species on this world. “Be at peace,” Celestia commanded her guards. They reluctantly relaxed, but still glared at him. “I apologize for taking your warning the wrong way. I had thought it an implied threat. However, I would be very grateful if you would explain this danger to me. We were unaware we faced any such thing.” “And I should know better than to kick a hornet’s nest,” Sir Dresden mumbled under his breath. He let that cold power slip away from him, and relaxed from his defensive stance. Aloud he went on. “Pardon me, your Highness, but I didn’t mean that as a threat. I only meant to impress upon you how serious the situation is. My Queen does not wish conflict with your people, she only wishes to welcome you to our world and address an issue of your arrival: you and your nation are not signatories of the Unseelie Accords.” “Unseelie Accords?” Celestia asked, once confused. This human had brought all sorts of yet unknown information. Privately she wondered how her scouts had missed such things. “I have heard of the Geneva Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and a number of other international statutes, but no word of these ‘Accords’ has ever reached me.” “They couldn’t have, because the vast majority of people don’t even know they exist. Most of the world believes that magic is a myth, but it thrives only inches beneath society’s mundane surface. Whether they are good, bad, or indifferent, the supernatural nations hide themselves from mortal eyes even as they continue to exert significant influence on human countries. In fact, the Red Court of Vampires used to rule the entire continent of South America from the shadows.” Curious, Celestia frowned. “Used to? What happened to them?” That was evidently a cue Sir Dresden had been waiting for, because his smile grew even wider and more wolfish. “I did.” The Princess of Day frowned at him. Even assuming his boast was true, what sort of person bragged about slaughtering an entire people? It was one more unpleasant foible that humankind would leave behind after they embraced her changes. “No doubt,” she stated, her tone unimpressed. “However, that tells me little about these ‘Accords’.” He shrugged. “They are similar to the Geneva Convention. They let everybody settle disagreements without all-out war or centuries-long blood feuds. Not that battles and vendettas don’t happen anyway, but the Accords minimize the casualties.” Celestia mused over his words. The assertion that these shadowy, violence-driven nations secretly influenced humans would explain the cruelty and entrenched vices of this world. Clearly she would have root out the source of the humans’ depravities before reforming them, but to work with the very creatures poisoning this world made her stomach turn. “If Equestria were to join, then what would be expected of us?” Sir Dresden nodded seriously, seemingly ready to dispense with word games and get down to business. “I have brought a copy of the Accords for you to review. My Queen understands that you will likely need some time before making your decision. I can give you the Cliff Notes, though, if you’d like.” The phrase was one with which Celestia was unfamiliar, or perhaps it was an idiom that Clever Lingo’s Loquacious Language Learner spell found untranslatable. Either way she was able to guess its meaning from context and nodded for him to continue. “The big one is secrecy,” he announced, dropping into an informal, although not improper, tone. “Nobody wants the normal world to know we’re here, so no announcing your presence. Next is the code for interacting with other supernatural nations. Basically, it lets you get a mediator when conflicts arise, and gives some indication for who’s at fault and what reparations are appropriate. It covers everything from personal duels up to all-out war. Also, there is no spirit of the law in the Accords,” he said bitterly, as though he had personal experience with that fact. “There is only the letter and it is ironclad.” Princess Celestia watched him through half-lidded eyes. All this talk of war and secrecy only confirmed her thought that these Accords and the nations they served were the root of all the evil in this world. Besides, were she to reform this world she could not remain forever in its shadows. Equestria was a beacon of hope for these people; no wonder these Accords sought to hide it away. Celestia softly shook her head. “You do not need to wait for my answer. Equestria will not join into this compact.” Sir Dresden’s eyebrows raised considerably. “You sure?” he asked, in a tone of voice that made it clear he doubted her sanity. “If you aren’t part of the Accords, then it’s open season on you and your country. That would be a bad idea even if you weren’t facing a laundry list of complaints.” “Complaints?” the Princess asked, both insulted and confused. “We only entered your world a few short weeks ago, and I have never left this island.” “Uh huh,” he snorted, obviously unconvinced. “Here, I’ll read the list off to you.” He paused and drew out a small, battered slip of paper, clearly a personal reminder rather than any formal list. “First and foremost the Fomor accuse you of trespassing in their territory, and seizing their land.” “Preposterous. I raised this island from the ocean depths myself. These Fomor could not possibly have a claim to it.” “That might be true,” Sir Dresden drawled, a sardonic tone to his voice, “except that the Fomor are aquatic. This area of the ocean is under their control. The land you took to make this island was uninhabited, but they are still angry that you violated their borders. If not for my Queen’s intercession they would have already declared war.” Princess Celestia had not considered that possibility, but if it was as he said, then she was in the wrong. “Perhaps reparations can be made there. It was not my intention to take that which belonged to anyone. And the other complaints?” He stared at her with a thoughtful look, then continued reading. “The White Council has some concerns over the wards you have been building into the island. I’m no expert, but their wizards claim that those wards are designed to destroy humans and anything of human manufacture.” “The Barrier is for defense only. We are aware of the missiles and bombs humans have developed. Should I allow us to be defenseless before them?” Celestia said. “Right. And I’m sure you’d stop at ‘defending’ this island.” He shook his head and continued before Celestia could speak. “Next, the White Court of Vampires has complained about you ‘poaching their prey.’ They claim you stole some people in thrall to them. Normally, I’d applaud that all day long, but those people haven’t reappeared since the vamps reported them missing.” Sir Dresden shook with suppressed anger even as his voice became cold as the heart of a blizzard. “It’s a little convenient that you managed to build something capable of specifically targeting humans after only a ‘few weeks’ in our world. A suspicious wizard might even wonder why you would start construction unless you know it works.” The accusation in his question was impossible to miss. With a heavy heart Celestia sighed. “It is true we took those humans, but not for the reasons you think. They were not used to test the Barrier. Such a thing would be barbaric and disgusting. Instead we have tested potions on them, making sure that the Transformation will work.” “The transformation?” he asked, skeptical, but less hostile. “Yes,” she said. This would be her chance if only she could impart in this man her passion to help this world. “You see, we come from a peaceful, prosperous world unlike this one. Wars, crime and violence are almost nonexistent. There are of course malcontents and other dangers – Equus is not a perfect world – yet we do not have even a tenth, even a hundredth of the conflict that occurs here. I have studied you from afar for some time now and come to the realization that something within your very nature compels you to this wrongdoing. Humanity also has good within it – many of your religions and philosophies embrace that goodness – but it is all too easily overshadowed by evil. The Transformation would change your body and certain primitive parts of your minds. The result would be the same individual, only better; less aggressive, more friendly, and not as ruthless.” “And you get that result how? By alchemically lobotomizing us?” Sir Dresden seemed less receptive than Celestia would have hoped. However, it was a valid concern if one was untrusting, and given the world they faced, distrust was only rational for a human. Celestia shook her head. “Of course not. We were not even familiar with such a practice until your race introduced us to the concept. It would simply change the consumer into a pony – age, gender and personality unchanged. The race of pony would depend upon the human, but each one would be happy and healthy in their new, improved body.” Sir Dresden’s hand curled into a fist so tight that she could see his bones press to the surface. “How many people didn’t survive this potion?” His voice was quiet and unshaken, yet all the more terrible for its calmness. There she could not blame him. “Fifty-three. Carlos Aguero, Josephine Paulson, Timothy McGovern…” She listed every one of them. Celestia had forced herself to learn the name of every human who died in their attempt to help these poor people. It was the least she could do for them. Sir Dresden remained silent as she recited. Celestia gave the last name, and raised her eyes to meet that of those of the human mage. “I am sorry, and if there had been any other way we would have taken it. Monkeys or chimps would not have worked; we had to use humans. I know that such a sacrifice can’t be repaid but–” “Don’t call it a sacrifice,” Sir Dresden said, his voice hard. “They didn’t make that choice willingly.” Silence ruled the room before Celestia gave a diplomatic nod. “Call it what you will, but we shall always be grateful to them. They have paved the way for this planet’s rebirth. For its redemption.” “Look,” Dresden said, any diplomatic tone gone. “Aside from your insane racism or xenophobia or whatever, you don’t seem evil. I’m not willing to call you good, but hell, the White Court probably kills that many people every day, and they aren’t the worst offenders by a long shot. If I were you, I’d turn around, go back to your perfect human-free world, and forget about us. That solves everyone’s problems. If you’re really stubborn enough to stay, then sign the Accords. You’ve made an enemy of at least three powerful factions, and you’d be adding a fourth by turning down my Queen’s attempt at diplomacy. I doubt you and your soldiers will survive the week.” His anger still simmered beneath his surface, Celestia could read that from his body language alone, but he seemed earnest. He truly believed in what he was saying. As much as he hated her, he did not wish to see her dead. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. It was something she could build on. “I understand, and I thank you. It means very much to me that you do not wish to see us dead. Yet, I cannot go. These factions may be powerful, but we will weather this storm. If you wish to change a world, you must be that change. I cannot help humanity while bowing to the powers that hold them bondage. Convey my highest respects to your Queen, as I wish no violence to come between us, but I cannot and will not sign her accords.” Sir Dresden sighed and massaged one of his temples with his free hand. “You’re crazy, and it’s going to get you killed. But you can’t say I didn’t warn you.” His hand fell to his side and his formal tone returned. “I will give your response to my Queen. I’m certain the Dragons will be glad to hear you refused her.” “Dragons?” the Princess asked. She was unaware their worlds shared that common trait. “Dragons,” he confirmed. “They can smell all the gold and gems you’re storing. They held back because of the Accords. Now they will come for them.” Celestia frowned at him. “I have fought dragons before.” He chuckled darkly, and it echoed in the otherwise silent chamber. “Not like these.” “The greatest fire can begin with but a spark. I will cleanse this world and bring it peace and prosperity. Against that, all else is meaningless.” Her guards nodded. They were volunteers and believed in the reformation of humanity as strongly as their Princess. Sir Dresden shook his head sadly and murmured something to himself. Even with her hearing Celestia was only able to catch one word: ‘Aurora’. Without a word of farewell, he opened a rift in reality and stepped through it. In less than eight hours, the Fomor launched their first offensive. ……… Three weeks later, the island was no longer a tropical paradise. It was barren battlefield. Celestia sat in the remains of her castle on a rebuilt throne. She was dozing as Lt. Ice read the latest casualty report, but nopony interrupted her. Their Princess had been lucky to snatch an hour or two of sleep between the constant attacks. Five hundred guards had accompanied her to this world; eighty-four of them still lived. They had aged years in those long weeks, becoming veterans more proficient and deadly than anypony in Equestria. The sight of her little ponies, killing and being killed, wounded Celestia to her core. It was only those ponies best suited to conflict and slaughter that had survived this long. She still loved the remaining guards of course, but those ponies who had showed mercy, fear, or hesitancy had not lasted long. She struggled to pay attention, wanting to remember the name of each soldier who had died under her care. They deserved so much more, but that honor was the least she could do for them. Despite her fine words to Sir Dresden, she knew it was well and truly time to return home. Not forever, but certainly long enough rest and heal. She would return better prepared to deal with the puppetmasters that pulled this world’s strings. Unfortunately, that option was not open. The painstakingly constructed portal had been destroyed by the second dragon attack. Sir Dresden been right that they were not like the dragons she had known. They had been stronger and more aggresive than even the fiercest of drakes in Equestria. She would have given either of them every jewel on the island if they had only asked, but both had attacked without preamble. She had been forced to kill both of them, sadly, but neither battle had been easy. In addition to wrecking the portal, the second dragon had broken one of her wings, shattering the delicate bones within. Ninety-five of her ponies had died in those battles, and the island had been torn to shreds. Unnatural screeches reached her ears from the shore line as the Fomor abominations attacked their defenses again. The spells she had woven and re-woven into the very bedrock of the island released their energy again and again, killing dozens of the monstrosities. She winced. The spells had to be deadly; nothing could drive them away and a barrier could only hold so long against ten thousand brutal fists. The guards on duty handled the few monsters who survived the field of death that surrounded the island. That was more like a slaughter than any battle, weakened as the abominations were. Yet they couldn’t be underestimated. More than one pony had died to a creature they had believed harmless. Eventually, the Fomor sorcerers would puzzle out her latest spells and weaken them in time for another attack. But that was later and she was so tired now. Princess Celestia had killed dozens of Fomor mages and hundreds, maybe thousands, of their twisted creatures, but there always seemed to be more waiting in the murky depths. Even more terrifying was their practice of stealing the bodies of fallen ponies. Nopony knew what they did with them, but it couldn’t have been pleasant. Funeral pyres had become mandatory, and even now Celestia could smell one of them burning. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” she croaked, and gestured for a guard to bring her water. He brought it forward, careful to avoid bumping her broken wing. “How goes the work on the portal?” He grimaced. “Too slowly. The mages swear they are moving as quickly as possible, but it won’t be completed for another three days at least.” The mages and scientists of Equestria had fared better than the guards, but more than half of their number would never return home. “We will hold,” Princess Celestia commanded and her guard saluted. “We must hold,” she whispered, more to herself than anypony else. Saying, however, was easier than doing. She was just so damned tired. Without warning, a rift in reality tore open; gray-cloaked humans armed with staves and pale, beautiful humans covered in blue-white armor and armed with swords poured into the room. “Force them back into the rift!” Celestia shouted, seizing several in her telekinesis and tossing them back. If she could reach the portal, she could close it against these invaders. Her guards were already firing off spells at the humans or charging them. The cloaked ones brought forth shields of energy, most of which held, and the beautiful ones dodged with alien grace before relying with a quick counter-attack. A few humans sprawled bonelessly to the ground, but more and more continued to pour from the rift. The remains of the Royal Guard reacted with incredible speed, but they would soon be outnumbered. Celestia turned, her horn glowing like a miniature sun. She would close the portal now, and they would simply have to fight the humans that had made it through. She never noticed the attack until it slammed into her. Alicorns were strong enough to defeat even the brawniest of earth ponies, but the force that crashed into her was far beyond that. She slid backwards several steps, losing the spell she had almost finished. “I told you to leave,” Sir Dresden said, flat and emotionless. He moved with even more of a predator’s eerie grace, and his eyes were cold. “I would like to,” Celestia replied, her mouth twisted into a wry grimace, “but our way home was destroyed.” She paused and sighed. “You don’t have to do this; you can rise above your base human nature.” Sir Dresden said nothing, merely gathering that icy wellspring of power within himself. The blast of cold magic was met with her own jet of flames. The two forces struggled for dominance, but even exhausted, Celestia was able to force his spell back, her magic overcoming his. Until another blast of arctic power hit her from the side. The beautiful humans had surrounded her, and that first blast was only the beginning. Wave after wave of winter magic washed over her, and she was forced to focus on defense. Thinking quickly, she teleported out of the ring of attackers. Celestia had barely reappeared before another spell hit her. She realized with stark clarity that they must have watched her fight with the dragons and expected such tactics. “No! My dream cannot die here; it will not!” she shouted, fire streaming from her in a burst that melted every shard of ice the humans had summoned. A group of humans, both cloaked and beautiful, were heading towards the basement, where the mages were frantically trying to get the portal working. She landed among them with a crash and the heat surrounding her killed them instantly, setting their clothing afire. She turned her head, looking for the next threat to her ponies. But she was tired and her reactions had slowed. Sir Dresden appeared before her in the throng of battle and ice poured from his outstretched hands, quenching the blazing heat around her. She fought against him, keeping that creeping cold at bay, but other humans followed his lead. Frozen power poured from them in a mighty stream. Celestia concentrated the heat around her, melting anything that came close, but their assault didn’t weaken. If anything, it only grew stronger as time went on. The cold begin to break through, spots of frost forming on her coat, shards of ice gathering in her mane and tail. Slowly, Celestia sank to her knees, her power still active but waning. It was cold, so cold, and she was exhausted. The light around her horn faded, flickered and died as her long-overworked magic finally gave out. The freezing blasts stopped, but she was still frigid. Her body was unable to respond to the simplest of commands. She reached for more power, but found only emptiness. One of the humans neared her, his eyes hard but strangely sad. “I just wanted to help,” she whispered. “I would have given humans utopia.” Her eyes closed, and small tears trickled from them, freezing as they reached her cheeks. Sir Dresden laid a gentle hand on her, but she felt no warmth from it. “You meant well, but you couldn’t build a utopia. Forcing people to change would have torn this world apart. I’m sorry it had to be this way.” He stood and his hand withdrew. Celestia gave a hollow laugh. “Is this justice for the humans who died? Do you really believe in washing blood with blood?” “No, it’s just the way of this world. Welcome to the jungle, Princess.” He might have said more, but all she heard after that was the sound of swords being unsheathed. And then she didn’t hear anything at all.