//------------------------------//
// The Pelopeneighsian War: Trains, Entrances and Sentences 
// Story: Equestria and the Olympians 
// by Mrtyranno 
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Shining Armor didn’t like it. He knew that the Olympians were going to arrive soon but he was not in favour of how they were going to do so. The Princesses had informed him that their entrances would likely be destructive as to make a grand entrance. The thought of powerful beings entering the Crystal Empire so brazenly made him want to paw the ground needlessly. 

That aside he had several of his crystal citizens on standby to deliver food to the Olympians once they arrived. Hermes had assured him that they would all land in the center of the city’s grand stadium so he had many guards place shielding along the lines of the stadium so that the infrastructure would not suffer damage. He had made sure to deploy his guard Flash Sentry to wait at the train station to receive a special guest for the matter.

Hearing the beating of wings he felt at ease as he saw the four princesses land in the center of the stadium followed by the rest of Twilight’s friends rushing through the doors. In a blinding flash, Discord appeared behind Fluttershy with a very dour look on his long face. Shining Armor didn’t think he’d ever saw Discord look so uncomfortable. Though he had seen Tirek gain power previously that was done by stealing Discord’s own magic, so the thought of a large number of beings far stronger than the Draconequus was very...upsetting. 

Fluttershy saw the look on Discord’s face and reached out to his hand with a gentle hoof and tapped it. Looking down with a jolt Discord instantly relaxed the moment his saw Fluttershy’s smile. Taking a deep breath he spotted a dot on the horizon and he knew immediately what was to come, and what he had been dreading for quite a while since the whole incident with Tirek. As the shape started to get closer he could feel the ground start to rumble under his feet. Feeling the increased wind pressure in the air as coal black clouds started to form over the stadium. From afar he could hear the sound of surprised yelling coupled with the sound of a large wave.

The princesses quickly set up a forcefield spell as Hermes forcefully landed in front of them. The great tetsudian being gave a quick smile as he bowed before everyone. Taking in a deep breath Hermes bellowed with all his might, “I present to you, the lords and ladies of might Olympus, may it never fall.”

The moment his words ended there was a great flash of lightning crackling across the sky and to everyone but Discord and Hermes’ surprise a gigantic funnel of water appeared over the stadium, bending inward whilst roaring, it’s saltwater spray sliding down the shields that had been placed before. The ground shook with an unbearable heaving as the water bore into the ground before finally parting to reveal six figures standing proudly in the middle of it.

The first, to Shining’s surprise, was a large Zebra mare, but instead of black and white stripes she was sea-green and black. Her hair was the colour of sea foam and it was curled to resemble a nautilus at the back of her had. Atop her forehead was an ochre crown, forged in the shape of crab claws with a crescent moon shaped diamond at the center. Running down her back was a large glistening platinum coloured dolphin fin. On her hooves were shoes shaped to look like royal purple starfish. Her eyes were large and round like an ox, with no sign of an iris in them, just darkness black. Where there should have been an equine tail, there was a tail akin to a dolphin moving up and down in an irritated manner. Shining’s mental note identified her as Amphitrite, so-called Queen of the Oceans. 

The second was a Zebret. Though he leaned more towards a horse type lineage he seemed to have twin fish tails erupting from his hindquarters. He had a few stripes at the front of his body, but like Amphitrite the rest of him was a sea-green colour. The Zebret sported multi-coloured hair that looked like a coral reef, held back by a smaller crown that looked like lobster claws. His long flowing beard and his large eyebrows were a dark blue and they seemed to be reflecting the images off the ground. Slung around his spiny finned back was a large golden conch horn, it’s inner works adorned with bright pink pearls. His hoof adornments were salt white and it appeared like the white was floating off into the air constantly. Shining thought to himself, “Triton, prince of the seas!” 

The other three females were also Zebrets like Triton, with the same appearance but each a wildly different colour. The first seemed to have her body stripes contour to look like a low mauve coloured tide crashing along the beach constantly, and unless Shining’s eyes were deceiving him, the tide was constantly moving. Her mane was covered by a large sea shell with a solar emblem atop it and her muzzle had sandy brown freckles covering it. 

The second Zebret female’s stripes move around similar to ocean currents, bobbing upwards and downwards with deep aquamarine swells. Her crown oddly enough was not sea themed but had two large points resembling the stumps on the head of a giraffe. 

The third’s stripes were disturbing, violently thrashing like a terrible sea storm, with the center of her stripes swirling like a dizzying hurricane. Her crown had many small numerous little primate hands jutting out from it. All three Zebrets were listed as Rhode, Benthesikyme and Kymopoleia, the three princesses of the sea. 

The male figure in the center though, commanded the most presence. His jet-black mane flowing in the wind. A golden trident hovering in the air before him. He was a tall horse-like unicorn with a horn shaped like the spiral horn of a narwhal. Unlike the other four large figures he did not have a fin or spines on his back, rather his back was metallic grey and looked like seal skin with his tail ending in the shape of a seal’s tail as well. He was cloaked in a pearl encrusted cape with starfish and trilobite emblems across its edges, like the stripes of the Zebrets the cloak appeared to be moving in a wave motion. Shining Armor could feel the pressure coming from the figure and the trident he was holding. Poseidon, the being who styled himself King of the oceans, earthshaker and benefactor of equine races.

Though the thunder boomed overhead and there were small cracks in the ground still forming the five Olympians proceeded to sit down on the ground. At first Shining was confused but then he saw Poseidon’s horn glow, and five thrones shaped like clams appeared around them, with Poseidon’s the largest. Poseidon turned his head and gave a slight smile and a nod to Celestia who gave a curt smile and nod back before looking at the small cracks in the ground start to spiral. 

Discord snapped his fingers and had everyone hover above the ground just before it caved in under everyone’s hooves. A large hole now was in place of where the center of the stadium was and from the great hole burst a swarm of terrible creatures looking like a mix between moths and vultures circled above, taking clear to avoid the lightning. They were lead by a more beautiful looking creature, one that looked like a mix between an iridescent butterfly and a dove. Beneath the swirling mass of Keres the three Erinyes soared upwards, their clouds billowing high as they observed the crystal ponies running in terror from the commotion they could witness at the stadium. 

Shining could see large onyx steps forming as they climbed up to the edge of the hole’s mouth. Peering through the darkness he could see four shapes walking upwards with three larger ones coming behind them. Each of the approaching four gracefully stepped out of the shadows, three he recognized from the books, the fourth was a being he had not heard of before. 

She was a tall bipedal kitsune. Her otherwise red matted fur was powdered ghostly white with large black lines around her eyes. She wore a large furisode kimono, the great sleeves a mixture of black, gold and red. In the center of the kimono was the image of a crab holding up a series of islands together . The large robes failed to hide the nine tails trailing out from behind her across the steps. In her left hand she held a small red umbrella and strapped to her back was a naginata spear. The blade tip of the spear was a dancing swirl of red and black and the kitsune’s face would alternate from looking healthy to a decayed head to a skull and back with frequent intermittent pauses. Shining was wrestling with his knowledge because he knew this Kitsune was not an Olympian so who was she?

He didn’t have time to as the other 3 figures were certainly striking but much more familiar to his knowledge. The first was a large Minotaur dressed in gold and black robes. The gold and black colours edged around each other in the shape of a large labyrinth. However his skin looked as though it had been boiled by scalding water. Large red patches where the matted blue fur should have been. His horns were curved inwards and pointed upwards like that of a buffalo. “This must be former King Minos”, Shining observed mentally

The second was also another Minotaur, this one with gigantic horns protruding from his head at a 45 degree angle like those of a watusi. He was also dressed in the same manner as Minos but his fur was untarnished. In his hand he held what looked like a book of law, clutching it tightly and in the other he held a large pen. This would be Rhadamanthus and Shining noted that the four figures must be the judges of the underworld, though he still did not know who the kitsune was. 

That mattered little as the final judge was insectoid in appearance. He appeared in the form of a large soldier fire ant standing upright. His large jaws chomped the air as if in slight distaste. He wore no raiments unlike the other three but his thorax and abdomen were patterned with images of lightning bolts streaking across from them. The final judge Aeacus.

Beneath them the hole began to shrink in size as the ground was returning to normal, feeling it was safer Discord lowered everyone down to the ground. Poseidon and his group were unperturbed, looking bored by the whole ordeal, with Triton fiddling with his beard. To everyone’s shock though, out of the ground leapt two ponies, both familiar and surprising to see. One was the former tyrannical King Sombra, looking maliciously at Cadence and Spike and the other figure, one that put a great amount of sorrow on Celestia’s face, was Starswirl the bearded, bounding up before setting next to the underworld entourage.

To Celestia and Luna’s joy a very friendly and familiar figure leaped out of the whole, surrounding by a yellow magical haze. Bounding out on all fours the being had the front half of a Polecat with a dark mask across her fur and a red and white underbelly, and the back half resembled that of a large dog. The being waved at Celestia and to this Olympian the sisters of Sun and Moon gave beaming smiles to. This being they knew to be Hekate, the Olympian of magic. Hecate gave a snort and planted herself next to the Kitsune who nodded and whipped out a small fan as thrones made of precious gems arose behind them, causing Rarity to have a fit. 

The final two to exit where a pair of beings with hands intertwined. The first wore a black helmet in the style of the ancient Pegasi that covered most of his face. A long flowing cape the colour of multitudes of precious stones flowed behind him as the wispy air lifted it up. He was covered head to toe in black and gold feathers, his face like that of a Screech Owl. Gigantic brown wings unfurled themselves from underneath his robe, jutting out behind his shadowy black armour. Hades lord of the Underworld! 

His companion had a much less imposing appearance. Where Hades appeared similar to a screech owl she appeared similar to a normal fruit bat but her colours resembled the patterns of a parrot. Atop her head was a wreath of pomegranates and she held a scepter in her left hand that was adorned with many flowers at it’s top and as she walked, the grass beneath her feet began to grow quickly. Noting this the figure moved her scepter and the grass receded before nodding at her husband and continuing on. This had to Persephone queen of the underworld. Hades gave a stern look at his brother Poseidon as he sat on his throne facing opposite from him. Shining then calculated, that if Hades and Poseidon were here then the clouds above could only indicate the main guests to appear. 

As if to answer his questions large gusts of wind swirled around everyone with a rage. Opening his eyes weakly Shining swore he could see the images of gigantic Pegasi inside the wind, but as if their bodies themselves were made of wind. His mind was confirmed as one of the Pegasi smiled at him before continuing on its way. Thunder boomed and lightning crackled as the clouds parted to reveal a golden light and several figures floating downwards from that ray of bright light. 

To Shining’s shock the first figure to burst out of the light was a Draconequus, similar in appearance to Discord but with much greater wings and horns. She did not sport a beard of any sort, but her long white hair flowed chaotically in the wind as she landed in front of the group, staring intently at Discord before looking at the Princesses with loathing. With a twitch of her eye she disappeared and reappeared next at the center where the hole in the ground had finally vanished sitting on a curved throne in the shape of a golden apple. At the sight of the throne Discord rolled his eyes till they fell out of his head before picking them up. 

Large vines erupted from the ground, rising to catch the second figure before lowering her gently downwards and retreating back into the ground. This was Demeter and she had the head and wings of a crane with red and black rings around her mostly white feathered neck. Her arms were similar to that of a green spotted gecko with a serpentine torso and pig legs. She held a lotus staff and gave a withering look at Hades before sitting down on a throne made of vines and harvest plants. Persephone sighed and squeezed Hades’ shoulder as his feathers had started to rise in irritation. 

The final two beings were covered in robes of splendor, with brightly flashing patterns. The female, Hera was a large peacock with her robes resembling the tail of the male of the species. She had large peacock wings on her back with the face of a Heifer and the body of a Lion and her crown was shaped to resemble a cuckoo. The male, Zeus had the face of a Golden Eagle with the horns of a bull atop its head. Large eagle wings were spread out from his back and his lower half resembled a minotaur but with the legs of a swan. Poking from out of his golden lined toga a great crackling lightning bolt in his hand in his other hand a bangle with the image of coins draped across it. The pair landed on the largest thrones, shaped like oak trees that towered over the other thrones. As Zeus firmly took his seat the clouds dispersed as quickly as they appeared. 

Once Shining was convinced that everything was clear he sent a magical bolt into the the air sending out a bright signal and almost immediately tables carrying a lot of plates with great amounts of food on them flew in and positioned themselves before all the different olympians. Each plate corresponding to what he hoped his research had borne fruit about their different tastes. To his relief all the Olympians unceremoniously started to dig in, marveling at the foods and content to eat them. 

￭￭￭￭￭

An hour later once the Olympians had their fill the crystal ponies cleared the tables. With Twilight and company starting to feel very nervous once again. With the last table cleared Celestia decided to be bold and make the first move, knowing the risk and knowing all eyes were upon her. 

“Zeus, lord of the sky and king of the Olympians, what do you portend for us?”
Luna muttered to herself that it was archaic that the Olympians wished to be spoken to in outdated fashions. She kept quiet as she could feel the pressure from everyone’s looking at Celestia, the air was even humming as the large wind-Pegasi in the background snorted. 

“What I portend, Alicorn,” Zeus slowly said in a great booming voice, “Is for you and your mortal companions to bear witness to or partake in the trial of Hades, for his negligent management causing the release of multiple prisoners of Tartarus, leading to the temporary loss of Discord’s powers.”

Everyone fell silent, especially Discord as he could see Eris frowning and looking at Hades who was bristling under everyone’s gaze. Zeus made a wave motion with his arm and Rhadamanthus got up from his seat and walked to the center of the stadium and opened the large scroll he had been holding.

“The charges filed against Hades,” he began, “Are sent by Eris, Queen of Chaos, mother to the victim Discord, and Ares Lord of War who could not appear here today. You are charged with leaving the underworld with Persephone and your judges, including your new one Izanami-no-Mikoto in order to take your citizen Orpheus to attend a concert manned by a female pony named Octavia for reasons not revealed. At which time Sisyphus and a lot of other denizens of Tartarus were somehow able to chain Thanatos lord of Death, Cerberus, Charon, the Erinyes and the Keres, preventing them from doing their duties and preventing every being on the planet from dying.” 

Twilight’s ears dropped as she looked at Hades whose face was riddled with fury as his judge was listing off the accusations. 

“Your negligent actions,” Rhadamanthus continued, “Were only halted by Ares discovering soldiers were not dieing and freed the denizens of the underworld and sent Cerberus to find them which he was unsuccessful in doing so. Thus we come to Tirek, a prisoner sent there by Alicorn Princesses Luna and Celestia, who proceeded to wreak havoc across the land of Equestria and steal Discord’s magic. It was thanks to the Princess Twilight and her companions using Harmonia’s magic that Tirek was sent back to his cell. Hades, the other prisoners are still on the loose and any havoc they cause is a result of your negligence. This court puts you at the center to ask you questions.”

Rhadamanthus put down his scroll, shaking as he did so and as he walked back he was not willing to meet Hades’ eyes but Hades nodded and tapped him reassuringly on the shoulder before standing at the center. Zeus rose from his chair and slammed the ground with his lightning bolt, sending the very air crackling around him. 
“Hades, would you be kind enough to tell the court why you were listening to a pony concert?” Zeus said menacingly 

Hades looked up at the surprised equines behind him and sighed before replying, “My wife enjoys Orpheus’ music. But Orpheus wished to know what advances music had made since his time. I thought it would be both a learning experience for Orpheus and a chance for my judges to get the time to observe the mortal world, we are stuck in there so often that we run the risk of losing touch with the newly dead.”

Cadence felt slightly touched at that remark but also sorrowful, so he was being punished for doing something to please his wife. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Izanami,  the identified kitsune, squeezing Persephone’s hand as she looked distraught, but Demeter and Eris looked ecstatic. Poseidon’s group began to murmur amongst themselves but everyone was waiting for Zeus’ response to this.

“You feel out of touch with the mortal world Hades?” Zeus asked with an innocent tone, “Well I can understand, and maybe we have a solution to your problem, I will consign you to search for the other prisoners on your own. Though they are hidden to us for unknown reasons, I’m sure they will turn up sooner or later.”

“If it makes amends for what occurred I will gladly take your quest, “ Hades replied brazenly.

Zeus mouth twitched with anger and he raised his bolt, the pure energy crackling from it and aimed it at Hades who tensed up as the Alicorns quickly set up a shield. To everyone’s surprise a large voice boomed out the words, “STOP!” and everyone turned to see a Centaur, with a bovine face similar to Tirek but without the nose ring. His fur was glistening silver and small starry lights danced around his flank as he galloped towards everyone. His appearance looked very aged, but his body looked fit and the epitome of health oxymoronically.

“Why are you so late Chiron?” Starswirl asked worriedly from his seat.

Chiron chuckled before replying back to Starswirl, “I arrived on time but the Pegasi guard waiting for me at the station was trying to prevent me from going into the stadium worrying I would get hurt by the bombastic and overblown storm that was there.” he said with a bow as graceful as he could make to Zeus.

Poseidon and the others snickered a bit before quickly shutting up as Zeus glared at everyone. Chiron cleared his throat as he stood beside Hades. “Lord Zeus, how do you expect Hades to find the prisoners if they are hidden to us. He does not know how the land has changed since his time and I fear him getting lost would be a blemish to you, so I wish to make a suggestion. Let him have guides to the lands to aid him in his search.”

Twilight started to get an inkling of dread and relief as Chiron then pointed at Celestia. This was Celestia’s plan, she had previously engaged in dialogue with Chiron to use this quest that Chiron knew Zeus would set for Hades, to improve relations between Equestria and the Olympians and at the same time to clear any possible outside threats to their lands. Of course Zeus was not aware that everyone knew what he was going to say but they had to play their parts of course. 

“So who will guide Hades across the lands?” Luna piped up, causing all eyes to turn on her, “It needs to be a mortal, as only mortals will be in touch with the lands. I elect Princess Twilight and her companions, for they were ones that imprisoned Tirek and would have the best ease of access around the lands.”

Zeus stared at Luna,aware of Demeter and Eris looking at him with asking glances. He knew what the moon Alicorn said was correct, but he could not agree so easily, not without a consequence. Who knows, maybe the ponies would have a greater chance, and it would amuse him to see Hades beholden to mortals. But as he looked at Poseidon he knew that his brother would give them aid, as would the wind Pegasi that looked ready to help them.

“I have considered your statement, Luna of the Moon.” Zeus replied with a voice that reverberated around the stadium, “But I have my own conditions, you and Hades may not receive any direct aid from any Olympian. Plus, if Hades is to travel with mortals then he shall be mortal until I feel he has earned his immortality back.”

The Olympians except for Eris and Demeter gasped and before anyone had time to respond Eris, Zeus and Demeter stretched out their hands and Hades was on the floor in agony as an ichor coloured stream was being pulled from his body and coalescing into Zeus’ hands in the shape of a small apple. Persephone looked like she was about to burst into tears and Hades stood gasping as if he was breathing for the first time in his life. 

Eris shrieked out as the apple was fully formed, “He still has his powers of shadow, shape shifting, minerals and release my Lord Zeus. If he is to quest like Herakles once did then we must diminish him further.”

“I agree,” Demeter concurred, “Bind his gifts, and have it so that only an Olympian can take off the binding and for each prisoner he captures one seal may be lifting. I want him to only show his full strength though, to the prisoner he is about to capture though at a reduced level if he does so before the binding on that power is sealed.”

Zeus nearly balked but kept his face steady and looked at Poseidon and the other Olympians who sighed as they all stretched out their hands. From Poseidon’s corner came a large stream of ethereal blue chains that wrapped themselves around Hades’ neck, squeezing tightly whilst a chain of bones came from Thanatos, Persephone and the other Judges, combining with Zeus’ corner. Even Chiron looked uncomfortable as a large wispy black smoke cloud appeared as though it was being forced out of Hades who was still writhing in pain. Then the darkness erupted in a brilliant white light and in place of Hades was a small Screech owl with a golden collar around its neck with several gems encrusted on it and glowing. Hades shakily got up as Eris and Demeter floated gleefully towards him, Eris turning herself into a magic mirror as she did so. Hades touched his face with his wings and let out a scream that was unbecoming of his now miniscule body as he saw his reflection and Persephone looked away. 

Zeus bowed his head as he made a sweeping motion as he and the other Olympians disappeared, Persephone stretching out her hand, then she was gone from her husband’s sight and the arena was finally silent. Hades was still breathing heavily as Chiron picked him up in his arms and started walking outside as everyone began to follow him just as Flash Sentry arrived at the entrance heaving. 

A few minutes later Hades calmed down and spread his wings and perched himself on Chiron’s back looked ashamed at his body whilst Twilight and the others remained silent. Hades looked at Luna and spoke finally, “I….thank you for offering to assist me, but I doubt I will not be doing much for this particular quest as I am very….diminished.”

Before Luna could say a word Fluttershy flew towards Hades and started petting him on the head saying with a soothing tone to her voice, “There there Mr. Hades, we’ll get you fixed up soon.” She quickly drew her hoof back as Hades angrily tried to bite her. In response Fluttershy gave him an intense stare and to Hades shock he immediately felt cowed which made Discord snicker,but as soon as Hades glared at him he pulled a zipper across his mouth.

“Regardless, Chiron, I’m assuming you know where to start looking? Tirek disappointingly didn’t know anything despite all my….prying.” Hades asked

Chiron nodded as he responded, “Yes Hades. I’m aware of Ixion’s location but the others I’m afraid not. But he’s conveniently in Centaur Lands and I have a suggestion to find the others, but let’s get on Toumazos first.”

Hades looked up in surprise, “You came with an Atmomichani? I suppose I’ll have to listen to it blither the whole way there.”

Chiron scoffed, “Relax, he’s a really useful engine Hades, I’m sure you’ll appreciate is help. But citizens of Equestria, Alicorns and present company, I give you my old friend, Toumazos.”

As they came upon the train station the mane 6 finally saw what Chiron and Hades were talking about. They spotted a short blue locomotive 10 metres long. It had a boiler protruding at its center, a long black funnel at the top. Red lined buffers at the front and back and extended side tanks at its rear. It had two white coloured lights above the front buffers and on its sides read AK&SI in bright gold letters. Two cylinders lay inside the driver’s seat, but where there should have been a driver there was no one there. Behind the driver’s station was a small container with glowing green rocks inside of it and a golden whistle placed just in front of it. Attached to the locomotive where two long brown and white coaches which had the names Annio and Claire. 

What surprised everyone the most though, was that there was a round face attached to the front of the train. It was a gentle and kind face with puffy cheeks and it was smiling kindly at them. Twilight felt she had seen this time of face before in one of the worlds she had visited before but she pushed it out of her mind.  

“Hi!” The train said beamingly, “I’m Toumazos and I’ll be your train for today.”  

The mane 6 looked at each other but Rainbow Dash was the one to speak her mind first, “Looks like it’s time for a long and crazy adventure.”