This story is a sequel to Shadow Pony
After centuries of peace, the unthinkable has happened: the dragons have invaded Equestria. Celestia knows that her country could never survive a war against these terrible beasts, and so journeys south in hopes of bringing a quick peace. She is not the only one seeking answers: the young assassin Fine Crime has been dispatched by the Archons to determine exactly what has stirred the dragons into action, Fancy Pants has found himself on the front lines with no idea if he'll make any difference, and Fleur Purpurnyj has more enemies than dragons to worry about.
Nothing could prepare any of them for the sheer brutality of the Burning Lands' most fearsome inhabitant: the dreaded Reddux the Tyrant.
A prequel to No Heroes set roughly 7 years before the beginning of the show. Sex tag is for thematic elements only.
Pre-read by Majora. Edited by Danger Beans.
Cover art commissioned from viwrastupr.
Now with a review by Cerulean Voice!
The No Heroes Series
Chronological from Top to Bottom:
Shadow Pony
Reddux the Tyrant
No Heroes Part I - The Roster
No Heroes Part II - The Journey Home
Lightning's Bolt
No Heroes Part III - For Dreams
No Heroes Part IV - The Crystal Empress
No Heroes: Beyond the Everfree
No Heroes: Life of Pie
No Heroes: Hot Chocolate at the Isekai
To My Uncle
The Fleur-Verse
Chronologically from Top to Bottom:
Shadow Pony
Reddux the Tyrant
No Heroes Part I - The Roster
No Heroes Part II - The Journey Home
Lightning's Bolt
The Weed
The Challenge of Fleur
Ordinary World
A Challenge for Fleur
Sweet to Eat: Tales of Nightmare Night
Is this title a play on words with the Dragonforce song "Through the Fire and the Flames"?
4895774
Yes, but I only chose it because I couldn't think of anything better. The original title was going to be Reddux the Tyrant, but then I realized the titular character was not, in fact, the primary topic of the story.
I may change it back with the second chapter, though.
4895782 Well still, I enjoy a good reference to a good metal song any time.
4895791
At least I now have one vote in favor of it.
That's good to know.
4895874
Here it goes here it goes here it goes again...
I loved the dialogue with fancy playing off his upbringing. It makes him extremely likeable. Awww, and poor little Fleur right from the get-go. I was a little confused over whether they were in the fortress that had the restaurant in it and why Fleur was in the fortress, but that got cleared up near the end.
There were a few jumps and rushes; you probably have enough material here for two chapters to divide up the buildup and worldbuilding from the intensity of the dragon attack. But i'm not one to talk. It really is funny that I decided to post Forging Steel the same day you post Reddux. It's fun to notice similarities in the stories knowing the coincidence.
4896038
I decided against using two chapters for this because I wanted to get the attack in right away. After all, it's the big draw.
4896099
Awww. But the buildup that you do have before it is so good! I would love more 'young Fancy Pants escapes to the army.' Also, little Fleur showing up as an orphan is very intriguing. Since they are such well known characters people are intensely interested, wondering if they will develop into the cannon versions they know. I'm very much enjoying the story if you can't tell...
Uh... In the picture, witch pony is Fine Crime, again?
4896644 Take a closer looks at the cutie marks! Two of those characters are from the show.
Oh hey, you made popular box. That's kinda cool.
*throws on read-later*
I'll be back for youuuuuuuu!!!!
4896932
I did?
*runs to check*
I did! Heck, didn't see that coming.
OH BUCK!
Not Reddux!
This should be interesting!
4895874 I completely agree with this statement.
Dragons, fire, death, definitely my cup of tea, or at least the stuff I like to read.
This chapter is also quite gruesome to say the least. I'm interested to see what exactly will develop between Fleur and Fancy, and how it led to their future.
It's cool to see Fine in his early days. In a more common role and life (common as it gets for him) where he's just a pawn himself.
The new title puts some real meat behind this chapter after seeing the bare results of the slaughter. It alludes to the cause behind it all: some fearsome figure the characters possibly have yet to recognize.
4933041
I'm having a tiny bit of difficulty with my planning, as Fleur needs to spend time with both Fancy and Fine, and while I have a strong idea for her spending time with Fine it makes it hard to find time for her to spend with Fancy.
4933136
I've got a number of ideas for Fine's development in this story, some of which I'm really looking forward to.
You should include a link to sequels in the description of stories. I'm lazy. D:
4948508
Says the guy who literally just favorited half my stories in one sweep (thanks for that, btw). If you check to the right of the page, you'll notice that the sequel is linked.
4948573
Oh. Not on mobile. :L
I tend to use my favorites list as a read llater list. So I guess feel flattered that you interested me enough I'm going yo read everything ever.
4948660 My heart pitter-patters with barely contained excitement.
Now, why wouldn't Fleur want to be left alone with her uncle? Hmmm...
4969281
...give it a chapter. Or two.
4969281
The scenes with Fleur are great. Her behavior suggests abuse to me and that last comment on her uncle is leaning my mind back that way. But things were oddly mild when the two met. He made no move to be close to or very worried about her, as someone hiding something might do to feign care. It could be something else entirely. Good chapter!
4978919
What for you praise things I cannot talk about because spoilers?
So Fleur's uncle turns out to be abusive after all. Not so much a hero as one fallen. We could kinda sense that from him since he showed up but couldn't be sure, so good job there. His first meeting we see with Fleur leaves me confused, though; he's not as careful around her as I would expect for someone with his reputation at stake. A conversation for elsewhere perhaps. A depressingly interesting subject.
5009746
Daring Deeds is another sore issue for me. I have a very specific scene in mind for him but, like with Hoofknife, he's going to spend most of the story off-camera. So, when the moment finally comes, I dread that it won't have the same impact as it could. I'm still trying to figure out something to fix this. A similar situation also exists for Reddux.
Maybe I can squeeze in a chapter or two from these characters' perspectives, but I dunno if that would really be beneficial in the long run...
Oh wow! I completly forgot that this was a thing!
Anyhoo, good start. Little more violent than my usual fare, but its pretty cool to see the final Boss from twilights inferno in his own story.
Oh wow! I completly forgot that this was a thing!
Anyhoo, good start. Little more violent than my usual fare, but its pretty cool to see the final Boss from twilights inferno in his own story.
5012473
Despite the violent opener, things have been going kind of slow.
Glad you could join us!
Well, there's one more 'slow' chapter and then the proverbial fecal matter will hit the equally proverbial spinning blades. Afterwards I will be looking for ways to enliven the entire story.
Ahh, I figured this was Fleur's issue but it was still so hard to see it. That's so brutal. Hero or not, her Uncle is real scum and should get screwed over sometime.
It's neat to see Fancy and Fine's differing views on Celestia, that's definitely not gonna cause friction between the two of them when they start working together. Definitely.
5036098
Yeeeah, about that whole 'hero' thing...
5036646
...
Good. Hope Reddux eats him.
But to where are they going?
I also wonder just what they're expecting to achieve... Friggin' dragons. xD
5036767
You misinterpreted.
I do not mind this.
5038881
Can't tell if this is said in disdain or not.
Looking back on it, I really wasn't expecting those two to die as quickly as they did. I mean, I expected them to die, but not in the first chapter!
Good chapter. Things move quick in this story. Lots of things are happening, and I'd say I like it more than gentle nights at the moment. It's more exciting, but the dragons are getting much more involved, and for that reason I am going to put off reading any more of this story for a bit. I am still trying to get out chapters for my own dragon story, and I need to keep my own details straight until I get to a certain point.
5042076
How is it that I totally missed this comment? Anyway, yeah, boom, fire, dead they bees. I have no regrets.
5052138
Aww, for shame! You're going to stop now, when the next chapter is one of the most important ones for finalizing the setting? Although I will say that it surprises me you think this story is moving along quickly; I thought it was going rather slow, considering everything I want to do.
5052180
Yeah. It's them interacting that set me off, and I can tell the next chapters might twist me up a bit. I'm too analytic when I enjoy a story and I need to keep my ideas isolated so I don't leech off of you. You have the dragons organized by some sort of monarchy, which I have none, and you also touched on their sleep schedules, something that is key to my story right now. I would probably be fine if I kept reading, but my writing would be slower and less smooth. I just want to get it done.
5052754
I suppose I can understand that. I'm sort of avoiding dragon-related stories myself while writing this, after all.
About halfway through this chapter, when Fancy tried to keep Fleur in a shed, I thought to myself: "Man, this would be the most elaborate setup for a clopfic. Ever.
5056580
Stop polluting my comment threads, ya perv.
Hey-Ho! I decided to read the chapter here before I went to work on it. So Fleur has a funny uncle who also just happens to be a "legendary" dragon slayer. . .
Yep. I'm calling it. Mr. Deeds is a dick, possibly a rapist, and more than likely a double agent for the dragons as well.
Rapist: Confirmed.
Dick: Confirmed.
Double Agent for the Dragons: Still callin' it.
5069531
Not hinting at anything, just thought it was a glaring omission.
You forget the question of just how 'heroic' he really is.