//------------------------------// // History // Story: Quest To Unite // by JazzieQ //------------------------------// I do not own MLP:FiM although I wish I did. Credits to Hasbro, Lauren Faust and yadda yadda yadda. The OCs are mine and yeah... you get it. -------------------------------- The four lights floated calmly in the darkness, through time and space, Celestia, Luna, Terra and Zeal. Each represented the life force of the world. Without each one in harmony with the other, disparity will occur, creating chaos. Thus, when the world was formed each of the life force flowed into each pony tribe to keep the balance of the world. Each had its special purpose. Celestia saw the rising of the sun, Luna made the moon travel through the skies every night, Terra was the essence of the Earth and all that grew and Zeal was the overseer of love and harmony in the world. As such, in the beginning everything lived harmoniously until chaos crept into the pony tribes and began to corrupt them. Each saw themselves as more important than the other. Then, the harsh winter came. Each tribe blamed the other for the misfortune. Nevertheless, they were hungry and cold and could not afford to fight so a meeting was held to form a treaty. But, it was not to be. On that fateful Hearth’s Warming Eve, the unification treaty of the pony tribes had failed. Each was so absorbed in arguing who was better that a riot broke out at the meeting. The tribes then decided to find new land on their own. The tribes journeyed westward and came upon land on which to settle. However, each laid claim to the land and consequently the first pony war broke out. The unicorn ponies and the pegasi ponies at the time had greater advantage over the earth ponies in battle due to their special magic and flying abilities and rallied against the earth ponies. This ended in utter defeat of the earth ponies. The victors saw themselves as the dominating betters of the earth ponies, who they thought had no wings or horns and as such had no place in world or their country, as a matter of fact, except dead or as slaves. The unicorns with their strength in magic and love of knowledge took the highest noble ranks of kings and officials, the pegasi were by nature a warrior class with the magic to control the weather and made up most of the military and weather stewards. No doubt there were commoners who were average magic users and fliers but alas! Thus, left the earth ponies. No sooner than the first pony war had ended the powerful unicorn and pegasi allies had put the defeated earth ponies to work as slaves on farms, gem mines, kept them as riding ponies or killed them for sport in the bloodthirsty gladiator arenas. Earth ponies were reduced to less than the bot flies that infested them. To keep the earth pony separate from civil society, the first rule of the unicorns and pegasi was to forbid their kind from intimate contact with an earth pony. Sex and intermarriage were allowed between the pegasi and unicorn tribes but never with earth ponies. They were nasty, brutish and inferior, never to be touched, for fear of contamination. Second, they were not allowed to touch the belongings of their betters. Thirdly, earth ponies were never to be spoken to except when giving orders. Fourth, no music, singing, dancing or celebrations were allowed for earth ponies and finally, never try to teach an earth pony apart from obeying his master. They are stupid and incapable of learning. These five forbidden rules were grinded into the minds of ponies from foalhood. Anyone who breaks these rules commits a heinous sin. Life as an earth pony was daunting. Attempts to escape by one pony either ended up in more earth ponies losing their lives by execution en masse or a trip to gladiator arenas. Disease that could have easily been cured also ravaged the impoverished beings. In those times, earth ponies began committing suicide or infanticide to escape their bleak fate. ----------- Terra saw the horrors of the earth ponies and cried. “Sisters… why don’t we help them?” The other three lights tried to comfort her but she pained greatly at her loved ones suffering. “We are only to keep the balance” Luna said, “We cannot interfere.” But Terra couldn’t ignore the cries of the unfortunate earth ponies and she planned. ----------- Grey Willow knew his outcome. He tried to escape a few days ago when he was caught just at the edge of the Everfree forest. Locked in chains he was being hauled off to the Gladiator arena in Platinum city. He looked at his fellow earth pony comrades who were also to share his fate. “Psst… Hey you!” a voice called in his direction. He looked over at a tan coated stallion with a grey mane and yellow eyes. The stallion probably had the same expression he had and was staring directly at him. “Me? ” “Yeah... what did you do?” The expression of the stallion changed to curiosity. “I tried to escape. Got caught near Everfree forest. You?” “I swiped a few apples from the shipment to Platinum City to feed mah filly…. didn’t eat for two days. What now?” “What do ya mean? “I mean what do you think will happen to us now?” “Same as the stories. We’re gonna kill each other in front of the pegasi and unicorn crowds for entertainment.” Grey Willow answered monotonously. The stallion looked at the other prisoners for a moment and contemplated his fate. “I’m Silver Oak by the way.” “Grey Willow.” “At least before we kill with each other, pleasantries first.” Silver Oak stuck out his hoof. Grey Willow thought for a moment. At least, someone else accepted their fate same as he. The other prisoners looked pallid with fear. “Pleasure.” He finally answered when the Pegasus guard called out. “OPEN UP!” Grey Willow looked up and finally realized that they had arrived. The garrison guards looked down and shouted for the gates to open. Grey Willow took a good look at the outer appearance. On one side of the gate stood a giant unicorn statue looking regal with a crown on its head and on the other a pegasus proudly clad in armor and wings outstretched. Both were about fifty feet in height. Inside, the city was huge. It seemed to be made out of marble and covered in gems everywhere. Unicorn and pegasi ponies who were dressed quite elegantly and not wanting to have their hooves dirty were riding on the backs of earth ponies with saddles strapped on. Some were dressed in elegant shoes and trotting merrily down the paved pathways with only one or two downtrodden earth pony slaves and zebra servants treading close behind their masters hauling laden saddle bags struggling to keep up. Then the prison cart turned to a lesser decorated area where the crowd seemed less endowed. Then they stopped. The guard came and opened the back of the cart. “Every one of you mud ponies, OUT! NOW!” Sheepishly, the prisoners came down with great difficulty because of the chained weight on them. They were attached to one another by a long chain. “FOLLOW ME MUD PONIES!” The first guard took up the chain by his mouth and began leading the prisoners toward the giant colosseum that seemed to be a prized structure in Platinum City. Grey Willow looked down at the chains. He could not tell if the chains were clanking because of the walking movements or the quivering of the terrified prisoners in front of him. The air was had the stench of fresh blood. Grey Willow looked to his right. He saw a few pegasi guards brutally whipping some earth pony slaves into hauling off dead bodies of other earth ponies probably just killed in the arena. With each merciless crack, fresh bloody wounds opened and the poor beings let out a blood curdling scream and pulled harder. Grey Willow took a deep breath and just walked on. He then noticed to his left a pegasi general giving orders to high ranking officers. He was grandly endowed with golden and purple armor and a blue crest on his galea. The briefing ended and the officers flew off to which the general approached the fresh batch of prisoners. The pegasi lead officer saluted and reported to the General. He walked along the file looking at each one. He suddenly stopped at Grey Willow looking at him. Grey looked back at the general who seemed to be looking extensively into Grey's eyes. One of the guards came up and hit Grey on his muzzle for looking directly at a pegasi, let alone a General. Grey bled heavily through his nose, but he did not relent. The guard was about to hit him again but the General stopped him. Grey could swear he saw a slight hint of nervousness. The general then shuffled on, took a few steps back, turned and walked off. "OKAY MOVE IT MUD PONIES!" the back guard cracked a whip over the group and they shuffled on. The wave of excited euphoria filled the stadium. It echoed right up to outskirts of the huge area surrounding it. The prisoners were then led down to the hypogeum. As the chains were taken off, Grey Willow looked at Silver Oak. The guards began handing out various weapons and poorly made armor. Grey Willow got hold of a spear and Silver Oak got a club. Unfortunately no armor was given to them. “YOU! YOU! OUT NOW!” the guard called to two prisoners ahead of them. The prisoners feverishly obeyed. Then the doors closed, leaving Grey Willow to guess what was happening on the other side. This repeated itself five times. It did not take long for the crowd to burst into jubilation; however, no victor returned. Grey could faintly hear the Pegasus soldier calling orders to shoot at the end of each battle. Within one hour, Grey Willow’s turn had come. As he and Silver Oak entered the arena, the cheering crowd were already calling for blood. Grey Willow looked up and saw the notorious King Sombra looking on at the battlefield. Then the arena announcer called out. “FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! OUR LAST BATTLE FOR TODAY! BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU TO SEE! SOMETHING DIFFERENT! ACROSS THE PLAINS TO FILLYDELPHIA, ONE BRAVE PEGASUS SOLDIER SINGLE HANDEDLY TOOK ON A DRAGON! THIS MIGHT BEAST TERRORIZED A NOBLE UNICORN VILLAGE UNTIL A BRAVE KNIGHT OF OUR BELOVED KING SOMBRA, LIEUTENANT CIRRO, FLEW RIGHT UP TO….” As the announcer gave his tale, Grey Willow’s heart beat rapidly. He knew what was coming. But he convinced himself not to let fear take the better of him. He glimpsed Silver Oak to see him breathing hard. “ A THREE WAY BATTLE!!! RELEASE THE MIGHTY DRAGON!” Grey looked over to his right to see a metal door opening and out of the darkness a HUGE, raging, chained dragon came out darting towards him and Silver Oak. It looked rather young but Grey had no time to think about that. Silver Oak looked completely frozen. He quickly sprung into action pushing Silver and rolling out the way. “MOVE DAMMIT!” Grey shouted to snap Silver out of his terror. Grey Willow focused on the dragon, trying to calculate the dragon’s every move. Silver finally composed himself. The dragon seemed to have been starved into a hungry rage, Grey Willow thought. The dragon inhaled deeply. “SILVER! RUN TO THE DRAGON!” Both stallions ran up to the dragon who craned it long neck and let out an angry flame. They dove under the dragon’s belly just in time to avoid his breath. Grey Willow then stabbed the beast with his spear just on the soft underbelly tissue. While Grey doubted very much that the stab did much, the dragon probably felt something like the prick of a needle. It roared and craned its neck once again to snap at the stallions. The stallion each ran in a different direction. The dragon headed for Grey. Then grey saw the chains and quickly thought. “SILVER! COME TOWARD ME!!” Silver Oak ran up to Grey and the comrades eyed the dragon. It again inhaled and its neck became red hot. Grey quickly with his strength pulled Silver and both ran toward the chains binding the dragon to the arena. The dragon once again let out its scorching breath. Without thinking, they dove behind the metal barricade that served as a weapons holder. Grey willow felt that he was going to be roasted from the heated metal. But the flames died down. Just as Grey Willow guessed, the chains of the Dragon melted. Grey saw this as their opportunity. Resisting all his fear, he speedily grabbed the club from Silver Oak and ran up to the dragon hitting it in one of its eyes. The dragon howled. Grey took the opportunity while it was distracted to climb onto its head and pulled on its horns. “SILVER!” Silver quickly followed and scrambled up as well. As if by reflex from the pulling of its horns, the dragon’s bat wings flapped and both ponies and beast rose in the air. The guards realizing what was happening sprang into action but were frightened of the anger from the dragon to get close. The dragon turned its head and breathed fire onto the pegasi guards located in its vicinity. The flame engulfed pegasi howled as they dropped down, writhing in pain and flames, to the arena below. As wild as the dragon was flying trying to get Grey Willow and his comrade off its back, the pegasi guards that followed were either not able to keep up because of the heavy gusts from the dragon’s wings or was too terrified to get close. The dragon flapped and continued to move away from Platinum City…..It finally dawned on Grey. They had escaped. Grey looked back and saw the skies were clear. The dragon became a little calmer once it realized it was out in the open air. It began to soar more peacefully. The stallions waited till the dragon managed to reach the deep forested area close to the sea on the east. They then tugged on its horns to steer the dragon to fly a little lower. They then relieved the dragon and dropped into the trees. Never have any pony done this. Never have any earth pony escaped certain death by the hands of the ruling class and betters a dragon at the same time for that matter. Word spread quickly like wildfire through the ears of all ponies of the daring escape on a dragon by two earth ponies, Grey Willow and Silver Oak. The unicorns and pegasi were astonished at the news of what the two earth ponies did and the earth ponies did not know what to feel, pride or fear. Silver Oak’s wife broke down in tears of joy hugging her daughter at the news of her husband’s escape. Happiness for the first time filled many earth ponies when they heard the news, as if it were themselves who had gotten freedom. They finally had somepony to look up to. A hero had come and a glimmer of hope finally shone upon a tribe so long oppressed. ------------ Terra saw the events of the two brave ponies. “Grey Willow…. The chosen…. He will lead” and she watched further. ------------ King Sombra paced up and down his throne room. His two generals, one a pegasi and the other a unicorn, quivered in his presence, while five of his officials lay dead on the floor including the announcer of the colosseum. The furniture was upturned and the tapestry burned from the rage sparks from his horn. “You did not think to have the chains protected by a flame proof spell? Did I not say nothing is to be left to chance with these filthy beasts?” “M-M-My Lord… w-we did b-but the spell was weak” “General Albedo… you have always been loyal to me, always. But I cannot ignore this folly of yours.” The unicorn general lowered his head. “I will search all the land for the escapees, my lord, and ensure they are duly punished” General Albedo said. “Yes… look at me General Albedo” The unicorn general slowly looked up at the king, but before he could fully stand straight a flash of energy hit him squarely and the unicorn fell down dead. “General Gustnado.” “My lord!” the Pegasus stood straight at attention. “These filthy beasts of a pony will begin to think they can do the same. Begin to exterminate all of them” Gustnado hesitated for a second. “Immediately my lord” “Good. Go” The Pegasus swiftly flew out of the room. ----------- Grey Willow and Silver Oak spent many nights in the forest recovering from their ordeal. They lived off of wild fruits and water from the stream nearby. Grey has never heard so many ‘thank yous’ in his life as Silver repeated those words over and over. On their sixth night in the woods, Silver chew away at some wild pomegranates over the camp fire. “So,” Grey started, “what about your filly and wife?” “I wish to also get them away.. I-I mean, I want to get them away… it’s just that on the farm… so many overseers and guards.” Silver said rubbing the back of his head. Grey Willow looked at him and could help be feel pity and the urge to help him. “We’ll journey tomorrow night, under cover of darkness.” Grey said. “Really?!” Silver had a touch of excitement in his voice. “Yes, now get some rest.” And with that the two stallions laid down and almost immediately fell asleep. Grey was awoken by a formidable yet gentle presence. He got up looking around for danger but saw nopony around. Then, something in the distance caught his eye. A gentle glow floating amongst the trees. He slowly got up, picked up a nearby branch and cautiously approached the glow. Could it be a unicorn found them? He tried to move stealthily. The glow floated away a bit and Grey followed. Just as he reached a clearing the glow stopped. Grey continued slowly and closer. Then he stopped. The glow began to change form. It moulded and took form of a glowing Alicorn pony. Grey had never seen anything like it. He quivered at the presence seeing a horn and wings. Surely, he will die now. “Grey…Willow……” the glowing pony whispered gently. “W-w-who are you? A unicorn pegasus?? You’re here to kill me... no more will I run. I will NOT yeild! I WILL FIGHT!!” Grey said holding the branch tightly. “Grey Willow…. Do not be afraid…. You are chosen….” “Chosen?” “Yes… to lead your ponies to a place I have prepared just for you…” “I-I do not understand” “I am the earth, I am your life force… and I have seen your ordeals and their treason to life. I have chosen you to lead your earth ponies to a land for you, and no unicorn or pegasus will be allowed there.” “Me? But how can I lead?” “Trust in yourself… and your friends… lead the ponies to the coast in the west, I will be there waiting… and hurry. Terrible things are about to happen” “But I don’t…” “Hurry…” The glowing alicorn disappeared before he could finish grasping the message. Grey looked flustered. A million thoughts were flowing through his mind all at once. He quickly ran over to Silver Oak fast asleep and snoring loudly. “Silver! Silver! Wake up!” Grey shook the sleeping stallion vigorously. Silver instinctively became alert. “YES MASTER!.... Huh? What?” “We gotta hurry! Get up!” “What’s going on?” “We gotta get a move on. I think something terrible is going to happen to the other ponies. We need to move fast.” “I don’t understand.... how?” “I’ll explain on the way. Let’s move” The two stallions walked through the thick brambles while Grey explained his story to Silver Oak. Will he believe me? Grey wondered, but Silver said nothing until Grey had finished. Then Silver stopped in his tracks. “What is the matter?” Grey asked. “I always heard the stories from my grandmother about the goddess lights... I believe the goddess has chosen you to be our king...” “King? Me? Oh no no no. Let’s just get to the other ponies fast!” Grey Willow and Silver Oak continued their journey and finally they reached the clearing. It was dawn and the Unicorn sorcerer must be raising the sun. They carefully searched the entire area for any sign of danger. When they saw none, they moved on. They were quite careful not to take any roads and keep along trees and bushes. Finally, after half a day they came upon a small farm. Silver scouted the scene. “Five guards, two are unicorn and three pegasi, one pegasus overseer, the owner is a unicorn, he’s drinking tea in that gazebo over there, and about twenty or thirty slave ponies. What’s the plan Grey? We can’t just bust in!” “We move in when night comes.” Grey said while looking serious in thought. Suddenly he pulled Silver down under cover. A sixth guard, a pegasus, was approaching from the direction of Platinum city. He headed straight for the other guards and showed them a roll of paper that seems to be orders. Grey got a really bad feeling in his stomach. The guards went over to the owner and began speaking with him, after which an argument started. The stallions looked on. One of the guards then pointed his spear to the unicorn and the others rushed toward the farm and stabbed the first earth pony that came within range. Grey and Silver’s expressions went from one of tense to aghast. The unicorn guards shot magic beams at every stallion, mare and foal. The pegasi were flying past with swords in their mouths, slashing away. Grey’s mind went blank. He could not remember when his legs started moving but found himself darting toward a guard and bucking him straight in the face. Silver followed him picking up a spear that a unicorn guard left in a dead earth pony and plunged it into the unicorn himself. The overseer cracked his whip at Silver but Silver caught it on his hooves and pulled the pegasus to the dirt, reared and stomped his head in. The remaining earth ponies stood in shock at the two strangers fighting off guards. The remaining earth stallions too joined in the fight, bucking the unicorn guards as he was about to blast Grey. The mares were throwing rocks and anything hard they could find. The guard that held the unicorn owner rushed over but was taken down by another earth stallion with a pitchfork. The unicorn owner was taken captive by another stallion and mare. As Grey fought a pegasus guard, they grappled for the sword. The pegasus might had done him in if it were not for a mare who ran up from behind and bucked him. The guard fell over unconscious and Grey scrambled to his feet. “Thank you” he managed. The remaining pegasus guard managed to escape flying away. Grey breathed heavily standing over the bodies of the remaining guards and the overseer. The other earth ponies grief finally caught on and the sound of wailing mares for their foals and stallions could be heard. The mare that kicked the last guard approached Grey and Silver. “Are you Grey Willow and Silver Oak?” Grey was still breathing heavily but he looked at the mare. She was dirty and mane untidy but she was quite lovely. Her mane was two shades of green that matched her eyes. Her coat would have been a bright shade of pink if not for working so hard in dirty ditches. “Yes, I am.” “IT’S REALLY GREY WILLOW AND SILVER OAK!!” the mare announced to the remaining ponies. In unison, the ponies hailed Grey and Silver with excited elation. “I’m Raspberry Ripple, and I’m coming with you.” ------------ The guard awoke and found himself striped, bound to a post along with the owner of the farm and surrounded by angry earth ponies. “UNTIE ME THIS INSTANT!! THAT’S AN ORDER YOU PIECE OF SH-!” Grey put the sword to the pegasus’ neck . “Mind your tongue or it might just end up UP his ass,” Grey said menacingly looking at the unicorn. Silver walked over to the guard’s armour and picked up the paper that was stuffed in it and gave it to Grey. “Now, what are your orders?” The pegasus spat on Grey. Silver in anger pushed Grey aside and bucked the guard this time right in the stomach. The Pegasus got winded and coughed up blood. “I’ll ask again…. what…. are…. your…. orders?” The pegasus laughed. “YOU DON’T HAVE ANY PLACE HERE OR ANY RIGHT TALKING TO ME OR ASKING QUESTIONS! SLAVE! MUD PONY! DIRT-EATER!” Silver took up the sword and was about to strike at the Pegasus when Grey stopped him. “No Silver… let THEM deal with him…” Grey pointed to the group and walked off after that. Silver followed, then Raspberry Ripple letting the group close in on the Pegasus and unicorn. “No wait! I can set you free! Wait! Waiiit!” the unicorn pleaded. Screams was heard from both captives and the mob jeering as Grey and his comrades sat down for a moment under the shade of some apple trees. Silver glanced at Raspberry. “What do you think yooooou’re doing?” “Like I said… I’m coming with you.” “No you’re not. “Yes I am. Look I can help you. I won’t be in your way.” Grey opened the paper. He’d only ever seen writing once or twice in his life. He was completely befuddled by it, scratching his head. Raspberry noticed him wondering whether he believed if some divine being would bestow the ability to read upon him. “Give me,” Raspberry said stretching out her hoof. “You can read?” Silver asked. “My former master... a unicorn... taught me some.” “A unicorn taught you?” Grey and Silver asked in unison looking even more confused. “He was different, a bit kinder than the rest or so I thought. He caught me looking at his books while I was cleaning one day. I thought I was surely going to die, but he said he’d show me if I could keep it secret between us. He said he did not believe earth ponies were completely stupid and incapable although he did say we are more limited and cannot grasp... what words did he use?... oh... ‘complex concepts’ like unicorns and pegasi could. He taught me once a week in secret how to read a little until...” Raspberry suddenly stopped. “...Until what?” Silver asked. Grey knew how this story was going so Grey nudged Silver from inquiring too much. “It was like any other day. I was with him practicing reading and he was just staring at me. After a while, he started touching my mane and kissing me. I could not move because I was scared that if I ran he might send me to the arenas. He held me down and...” Raspberry could not finish as she had a lump in her throat. She looked down in shame as tears filled up her eyes. Silver and Grey said nothing. “...anyway unicorns aren’t supposed to do those things with earth ponies. It’s one of their forbidden rules. One of his acquaintances came over that day and caught us. Master was banished to Tartarus, I was going to be killed but the owner of this estate bribed the guards and brought me here. It’s cheaper to get slaves that way.” Grey and Silver looked at each other still lost for words. Then Raspberry wiped her tears and began to read the message on the paper with a bit of difficulty. “It says.... to eggs...ter...mi...na...te all earth ponies. No, that can’t be right..” Raspberry said and read the paper again more carefully, “EXTERMINATE! They’re going to kill us all!” Both stallions’ eyes became wide like tennis balls in shock and horror. The other ponies came over to the trio. Raspberry with great difficulty explained to them what was happening or going to happen as he also was horrified about everything. Now the earth ponies felt troubled. Grey stood up and addressed everyone. “EVERYPONY! Listen to me! We have to warn as many as we could and have the message pass on before more ponies die! Please are there more farms around?” “The closest one is about forty kilometres from here. It will take at least forty five minutes if we run but we can’t just take the road without a pass.” said a stallion. “Silver, where is your family?” Grey inquired. “They’re over at Furlong ranch just off the White Tail Woods!” “That’s THAT way. Seventy five kilometres, give or take.” said a mare. “Okay we’ll head over there now,” Grey told Silver “in the meantime can everypony head to other farms or mines? You can take an off route, through bushes, trees... hide when necessary. Don’t be caught but hurry and warn everypony to gather at the west coast.” “But even if we warn them what can the other ponies do? They can’t run! There’s guards, unicorn and pegasi everywhere!” another mare said. “We have to try! If we can save as many earth ponies as possible.” “Why meet in the west coast?” said a stallion with gray coat and a white mane. “I have been told to meet.... uuh.. somepony.... who will take us to safety!” “Who?!” the same stallion asked. “Do you trust me?” Grey asked. He had an earnest look in his eyes that showed he was telling the truth. “I do!” Raspberry answered. And the rest of the crowd also agreed in unison. “Okay, please tell everypony you can find and have them pass the word. The crowd dispersed. Grey, Silver and Raspberry continued on the direction to Furlong while the others set off to nearby farms. ---------------- General Gustnado walked the long stretch of carpet leading up to King Sombra’s throne room. As he entered, he gave a low bow to the formidable presence that was sitting within the already dark aura radiating throughout the room. “My lord,” Gustnado began, “Platinum City is purged of all earth ponies. However, we’ve encountered some opposition from the population about their financial losses…” “They will be compensated Gustnado,” King Sombra assured. “Yes my lord, we have also begun in the outer regions but many are worried about the food and labor shortage afterwards….” “With our magic unicorns can do ten times as much as an earth pony, we have the knowledge and our magical abilities will allow crops to become even better. Earth ponies are useless now. They are a pestilence and an eyesore that kill keep growing.” Sombra said proudly. “There is also another issue my lord,” Gustnado hesitated a bit, “the escapees from the arena had attacked our soldiers when they were carrying out their duties. It is reported that five stallions are dead. I have set out a hunt party for them.” Sombra looked quite annoyed and Gustnado swallowed a lump. “Gustnado,” Sombra said amazingly calm, “call out all troops and expedite this mission now. We do not need an uprising from these low scums. The quicker it is done, the better.” “Yes my lord.” Gustado said with a little head bow. He turned and quickly marched out of the room. ---------------- “LISTEN UP! THESE ARE THE ORDERS FROM HIS MAJESTY KING SOMBRA! ALL MUD PONIES IN EQUESTRIA, STALLION AND MARE, FILLY AND COLT ARE TO BE EXTERMINATED! THESE NO LONGER SERVE ANY PURPOSE TO UNICORN AND PEGASI SOCIETY. ANY OPPOSITION FROM SOCIETY SHOULD BE QUELLED DOWN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT FORCE UNLESS NECESSARY!” the captains called to the troops that just came rushing from off duty and junior ranks who haven’t been assigned duty yet, “ALL PEGASI ARE TO DO AERIAL DUTY AND UNICORNS ARE FIRING SQUAD! USE THE FLESH BURNING SPELL! MOVE OUT!” Pandemonium broke out into the country side. The earth ponies were scattering trying to avoid spears, arrows and deadly magic shots from the unicorns while the pegasi swooped down, lifted the wretched earth ponies and dropped them over cliffs onto jagged rocks below. Even screaming foals were ripped from their mothers’ hooves, flown up and dropped to their deaths or thrown on the ground and blasted with magic till their flesh peeled off and they were on fire. Hoards of stallions, mares, fillies and colts, young and old were lined up and blasted by the unicorn firing squadrons. The pleading of mares and fillies went onto the deaf ears and hardened hearts of the soldiers. With the all the forces out, the massacre was going just as quickly as Sombra wanted it. Few of the unicorn and pegasi communities had opposed to the eradication but with the assurance that compensation was on the way, they quickly assisted by locating earth ponies hiding and pointing them out. Heaps of corpses were piled and soldiers climbed on top and danced in jubilation. Crowds also cheered them on. This only hyped their blood frenzy more. Within that morning three quarters of Equestria were purged of earth ponies. ---------------- Terra wailed. “I will keep them safe…. I will keep them safe…. Hurry Grey Willow… Her sister came to her. “Terra…” Zeal began but was interrupted. “I will go through with my plan! I have to help them!” Terra said angrily. “Then do so… we too do not approve of this.” Celestia said. ---------------- Grey and his group had reached the Furlong ranch just in time, it seemed that the soldiers had not reached that particular part of the country yet. They scouted the area for any trouble when suddenly a squad of pegasi was headed their way. They quickly ran toward the ranch shouting, alerting the other ponies of the impeding danger. “SILVER QUICKLY!!!!” Grey shouted. Silver ran toward his shack. “Rosebud!!! ROSEBUD!” Rosebud, a pink coated and purple maned mare, came running out with their daughter, Summer Shade, in a panic. Silver quickly put Summer on his back and ran out the door with Rosebud. The pegasi had already started slashing and scooping up scampering earth ponies, flying away to drop them off cliffs. “Rose! Stay close to me!” Silver ran into the frenzy and zigzagged hoping to dodge any attack. Rosebud was trying feverishly to stay close to her husband. Silver spotted Grey bucking a Pegasus away from a cowering mare and nudging her to run into the woods. “EVERYPONY!! RUN TO THE WOODS! THE WOODS!!” Grey shouted. Scores of ponies began running in that direction with the pegasi close behind slashing and picking up the slow ones. Suddenly Rosebud screamed. Silver looked back and saw she was being carried off to her death. “ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!! NOOOOOOOO!” “MAAAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAAA!” Summer cried. The unicorn firing squad arrived and began blasting in every direction. “SILVER!!! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE NOW! WHERE’S RASPBERRY RIPPLE?!” Raspberry was hiding tactfully behind a wagon and a barrel, armed with a sword she picked up from a soldier knocked down earlier by Grey. “RASPBERRY! GO GO GO! NOW!!” Raspberry came out of her hiding and started dodging every strike as if she could calculate exactly where it would hit. Grey Silver, his filly and Raspberry began racing toward the woods themselves. Just as the soldiers were up close behind them a bright light seem to have stopped them in their tracks allowing Grey and company to escape. --------------- The group fled deep as far as they could until they dropped down by a pond, panting hard. Raspberry stuck her head into the water to refresh herself while Silver was hugging Summer so tightly and crying and Grey looked around to see if anyone was following. He heard hoof steps and he took up his sword, readying himself. A small number of earth ponies, about twenty in number, looking tired, scared and frantic came up to them cautiously. Grey dropped his sword. “Thank you….. thank you…” he muttered with eyes closed. He didn’t know who he was thanking but the alicorn from before came to his mind. An old stallion addressed him, “We saw you fighting those soldiers for us, and we wanted to thank you.” Raspberry stood up and tried to calm everypony. “Everypony come…. Rest for a moment.” The group came and also refreshed themselves in the cool water. It was a heavenly feeling amongst the chaos. “What’s happening?!” whimpered a frightened mare. Nopony could say anything until the same old stallion said to Grey, “we ran into the woods like you told us and some pegasi followed us in. We were able to escape them by ducking into those mangroves over there and hiding. We waited then we saw you three running here.” Grey stood up and spoke, “we are no longer safe nor welcome here. I have a way out. Do you all want to come with me?” “Where?” asked a mare. “West coastline.” The group looked at each other. “You’ll be killed if we don’t stick together! Unicorns and pegasi say they don’t need us anymore so they are exterminating us. Please, this is Grey Willow and Silver Oak, the stallions who escaped the arena on the dragon….” Raspberry said. “Grey Willow?! Is that true? You really escaped on a dragon?” everyone said surprised with a somewhat elated feeling. “Yes…I am and I did.” The murmurs began again then a stallion spoke up. “You’re my hero! You made us believe we can finally do something about our situation! Of course I’ll follow you!” Everyone nodded their heads and said, “Of course! Lead us Grey!” Grey and Silver looked at each other, Raspberry looking at them with great respect and expectant. Grey smiled weakly and began to walk through the woods. As they reached the edge of the western side of the woods they stopped. “We’ll rest here until night then we move under darkness” The group sat down and nursed their wounds, ate some wild fruits and rested till night came. The whole time Grey thought about the alicorn. Who was she? Was she telling the truth? Can she really help them? What if it was just a ploy and he was leading them to their deaths? He internally panicked. He closed his eyes and just prayed for everything to go okay. “Grey… Grey..” a calm voice called, “wake up it’s night.” Grey opened his eyes, it was hard to tell but Grey realized it was Raspberry. “What happened?” Grey asked. “There’s no moon Grey.” Raspberry said in a concerned voice, “Did the unicorns forget to raise it?” Grey thought otherwise. He thought it was perfect to move. Grey scrambled to his feet and looked for Silver. Silver had Summer on his back and walked up to the front waiting for Grey to lead. “We’re ready…” As normal protocol they looked for any danger and then they made their way out of the woods. As a group they moved swiftly and quietly enough to compare to a secret ops team. They made their way past the still burning heaps of corpses of earth ponies left and still there were bodies strewn over the plains of those from other farms. Foals, old mares, fillies, colts and stallions with arrow points, fatal wounds or blasted with magic were left to rot where the earth ponies call the “field of tears” Finally, Grey found his way going up the hill where he can see the distant coast. “We made it!! We made it….” a mare said crying. Everypony made their way down to the beach sands and waited for Grey to lead them to safety. Suddenly the group became startled as cheering was heard. The ponies turned around and saw that the ponies whom had dispersed to warn other ponies had also made it to the shores with a few others. There were also some zebras among them. Altogether they totaled about a hundred. “what now Grey?” Silver asked. Then a light shone out of nowhere. The same glow Grey had seen. It manifested itself to the glowing alicorn. Everypony was frightened to see the sight of the glowing pony with wings and a horn. “Welcome Grey Willow, we meet again.” “Grey…” Raspberry said with a frightened tone. “Do not be afraid Raspberry Ripple. I am … Terra.” The alicorn said with a gentle smile, “I have come to bring you to safety.” “What are you?” asked Raspberry, “How do you know my name?” “I know all of you. I am the life force of the earth and I have seen the strife of the earth ponies.” Nopony said anything.. “Look toward the sea,” Terra said. A huge mass in the distance was coming closer. It was a ship. “Where are we going?” asked Grey. “I have prepared a land for you, and I will protect it. No unicorn or pegasi will step foot or fly there. You will be safe until the time of unification will come. Earth ponies play a very important role in this world. You have the magic of the earth. Only through your life force can you can produce the fruit of the land and have that special connection with nature. No other pony can do this. Not even unicorns. Without you, the others will see famine and great suffering. They have become greatly misguided. And I intend for them to see that.” The group looked at each other, feeling easy with the words of comfort Terra has told them. The ship came close to the shore. And then it stopped. “Grey Willow,” Terra said, “I and they have chosen you as their leader. Now go.. the ship will take you there.” Terra cast a magic bridge leading straight up to the ship. One by one the ponies walked along the magic bridge that was a wonderful sight. Many hues of color radiated off of it. Grey waited till everypony got on board. He had a gloomy look on his face. “Grey Willow,” Terra addressed him once more, “you have done well.” “I have not. I felt if I had more time, I could have saved more.” Terra smiled once more. “No, you have done well. To face so many trials and have survived, you are a unique and special pony. Now the unicorn and pegasi outnumber you. You will not be able to go up against them. Live peacefully in the new land and become strong in number once again” Grey looked at the alicorn who nodded her slightly and signalled for Grey to get on the ship. Grey stepped onto the bridge and walked a few steps toward the ship looking back once more at the alicorn. “Thank you” he said and he continued on. The ship sailed off, and Grey looked at the shoreline where the alicorn had become a glowing light once more that disappeared with the first gleam of sunlight. Tears filled his eyes as Raspberry came up him and put her hoof on his shoulder. He hugged her suddenly which startled her a bit, but she returned the embrace. ------------- General Gustnado looking weary once again enetered the throne room. “My lord. It is done. All earth ponies are gone. However upon my inspection of the western shores I saw a ship leaving. I speculate that some may have escaped on that ship.” “Nothing to worry about Gustnado. You have done well. You see only the strong will survive. The weak ones are not needed. Remember that.” “Yes my lord.” That morning there was a huge parade full of pomp and circumstance to celebrate the army’s victory of eliminating the earth ponies. King Sombra gave his speech. “WE HAVE RID THE LAND OF THE PESTILENCE THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR SOCIETY. NOW WE WITH OUR ABILITIES CAN MAKE MUCH BETTER LIFE FOR OURSELVES AND PROVE THAT WE ARE THE STRONG AND DOMINANT ONES!...” The crowd cheered joyfully on at King Sombra’s speech but Gustnado who was looking solemn stood just behind had a deep regretful feeling in his heart. ------------------ Grey and the others slept until the ship that steered on its own pulled anchor. The ponies woke up and looked over squinting through the mist. As it cleared the ponies beheld the most beautiful sight they’ve ever seen. Lush green land, that stretched for miles and miles. Shouts of joy echoed on the ship. One mare started thanking Terra with closed eyes. They all hailed Grey, Silver and Raspberry for saving them. As they reached ashore, ponies bent down and kissed the ground. Summer the only filly started running excitedly taking in all the sights. “Ponies… this is now our land.” Silver said, “What shall we call it? I think Grey should name our land. He is our leader.” Grey scratched his head then it came to him, “Argil.” “ARGIL!” everypony shouted. Grey spoke again “this be our land now, we start anew. We must not forget our troubles in Equestria. We will teach our foals about our journey here and no pegasi or unicorn may step foot in our blessed land until they learn what they have done is wrong and they have redeemed themselves. We will build our farms, towns and cities live as we are supposed to live. FREE. And may Terra bless us all.” Everypony cheered Grey saying “Hail Grey Willow! Our King!” And thus began the earth country of Argil. ---------------- “what will you do now Terra?” Zeal asked. “I will now draw my life force to Argil that it be prosperous. With my magic I have created a force field that will cloud Argil not allow unicorn or pegasi to enter Argil. Equestria will begin its famine, I will give it little sustanence.” -------------- 6 MONTHS LATER “My lord.” Gustnado bowed before Sombra. “Yes Gustnado” Sombra said most wearily. “I have come to report another failure in the attempt to sow the crops, my lord, it is of very poor quality or in small amounts and the trees on the eastern borders are slowly dying.” “What of the agri-spells that the officials have found?” “It does not work my lord. The ponies are growing hungry, and they are saying…” Gustnado stopped. “What?!” Sombra hissed, “What are they saying?” Gustnado breathed deeply, “…that life was better when the earth ponies were around to do the work.” “They were nothing! Now have the scientists keep trying with those spells!” “Yes my lord” Gustado swiftly turned and went out the door, “Now we suffer for our sins. We needed them more than they needed us.” Sombra sat in his throne and put his hoof on his head, “I was wrong…” ------------------- EPILOGUE Sombra died five years after the massacre of the earth ponies by poisoning himself. There were threats of a pony uprising. A new unicorn queen was then crowned, Princess Moonstone. The great famine continued to affect Equestria and the once lavish unicorns and pegasi were becoming impoverished from tax payments as the kingdom was now importing food from the zebra and griffon lands. The army was downsized to barely half of its original size. The unicorns and pegasi started to see the error in their ways and treatment of the earth ponies. A valuable magic has left their land, and they struggled without it. Gustnado retired from service to the throne and wrote his dairies about his life. Before his retirement he informed the queen of the ship that he saw leaving the west shores. The queen despatched envoys to search for the earth ponies, to see where they settled in hopes of enticing them back to Equestria, or trading with them for food and giving them equal status as everyone, but all the envoys came back empty handed. They never found the land of Argil. It was a time to pass into history.