Havoc

by Histy

Chapter 20: Special Cases

Deep underground the city of the Crystal Empire, beneath the towering Palace which watched its inhabitants, lay the large and dormant dungeons. These dungeons had been once used by the Dark King who had once ruled the city, using them as his personal pleasure grounds for… numerous things.

Even after the end of his tyrannical reign, the Crystal Empire, now under the leadership of the brutal, but effective, Imperatrix, still saw a use for the dungeons. Those sentenced to re-education, charged with treasonous/heinous activities, and caught intruding onto the Palace grounds, were often brought to these dungeons. These prisoners were often tortured, insulted, and on some occasions even killed.

But there are a few… special cases found within these dark, torturous walls.

One such case was “Ferox”, a gray minotaur native to the Empire who was brought in after having a bar fight with a few local ponies. His case was special mainly for the reason that the Imperatrix herself ordered for him to be interred within the dungeons, the reason as for why is still unknown.

Another case was a rather odd changeling. The bug had been sighted travelling the Frozen North for some time before a Manipuli on patrol to the east encountered him. According to the Manus in command, the changeling had attempted to blend in with the Manipuli, but the Manus noticed how undisciplined and unprofessional the shapeshifter was, and was able to root him out, after which he immediately surrendered. The changeling was then brought to the dungeons, where, after a short interrogation, revealed why he was on his own at the time of his capture.

Apparently, he had defected from his hive, and was looking for somewhere to live on peacefully with ponies. Whether this is true or not is a topic of debate.

The last notable case was that of a violet-colored Equestrian unicorn named Esmeralda. She was captured along with a so-called “film crew” by a Manipuli on a patrol to the south of the city. If what she revealed in her interrogation is to be believed, then she was travelling along with her film crew to a village named Rainbow Falls to “film” what they called a “motion picture”, until their locomotive - “train” they called it - derailed from the tracks. Fortunately, they all survived, and also fortunately (for the director travelling with them), all of the “filming” equipment survived.

After a day and a few hours of gathering supplies and the filming equipment, they continued to go to the direction they believed was the way to Rainbow Falls for two days before finally encountering the Manipuli, and taken to the dungeons for interrogation. After hearing of this, the Imperatrix ordered thorough scouting missions to the east and south in search of this so-called Rainbow Falls.

These individuals’ skills and former professional fields have made the Imperatrix see that they may have some uses in regards to furthering her plans of ruling over the mortal realm as the new almighty Creator, and she wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waste.

---

The loud clanging of a baton hitting the jail bars made Esmeralda, along with the film crew, awake with a jolt.

“Rise and shine! Today's a special day!” the guard who woke them stated eagerly.

“Special day? What's he talking about?” Esmeralda wondered as she stood from the very uncomfortable bed the cell had offered to her.

The cell was small, and hastily arranged. There wasn't even any kind of distance between all of the beds in there, except for a bucket of cold water that was used for bathing and other cleaning services. Besides the uncomfortableness of the beds, it was hard to sleep with all of the screaming from the other cells. As well as rats. Lots of rats.

“What's so “special” about today?” said one of the film crew, voicing Esmeralda’s thoughts. He then asked excitedly, “Are we being freed?” He also looked very excited as well.

Esmeralda’s velvet eyes couldn't see the guard's expression because of the helmet he wore covered his entire head (with the exception of the eyes), but she could tell that he was frowning in irritation. “Don't get carried away with your naive beliefs, heretic.” The guard then addressed everyone else in the cell, “You have five minutes to prepare. It would be best to not keep her waiting.”

Her? What was he talking about?

They prepared (that is, doing mostly nothing) for the five minutes given to them, with Esmeralda futily attempting to organize her pink mane, before the guard returned to take them out of the cell they occupied. Peculiar to note that the guard forced them to take their confiscated film equipment along with them, citing that “she” had interest in them.

What in tartarus was he talking about? Who's “she”?

Esmeralda and the film crew were then escorted out of the dungeons, past other cells with inmates screaming in agony, sleeping, or having long since been deceased (those were indicated by rats actively feasting on an unmoving body). Esmeralda felt bad for all of the ponies within these dungeons, but there was nothing she could do with their suffering. That didn't mean she never tried, but she never succeeded, mainly due to the paranoia they developed while isolated here.

Esmeralda and the film crew were soon joined with the two other so-called “special cases” within the dungeons, a large, gray Minotaur with auburn eyes that screamed determination, as well as a harmless looking changeling.

Together, they were escorted by the guards through rocky walls, which soon became stone walls, before becoming shiny, crystal walls.

Esmeralda, the film crew, and the changeling looked at the walls in awe. Never have they seen walls such as these. Not even in Canterlot could you find anything such as pure crystal hallways!

Then again… neither have they ever seen a guard wearing armor that was pure crystal. Black and orange crystals at that, making it all the more clear that crystal was not in short supply in this place. This was further proven when they passed several other guards who wore plain white crystal armor.

But the minotaur didn't look at any of these things in awe. His expression remained the same. Cold.

They all eventually halted at a large, double doorway that anyone within the group would know lead to a throne room. That's when it hit Esmeralda. That “she” the guards were talking about, was someone important, even though that was easy to point out. What wasn't expected was that important pony was the ruler of this mysterious place they were all in.

The guards stationed at the doors, ones who's armor had a unique difference in that they wore black and red crystal armor. They also had a large crest on their helmets, but instead of the EUP Guard, where they had a blue crest that extended vertically to their necks, these guard's crests were a menacing red, and extended horizontally over where their ears should be. Last, but certainly not least, their eyes were covered with what resembled visor goggles, which glowed a menacing red.

Clearly, these individuals were meant for intimidation, if anything else.

Before anyone had time to prepare for the very important meeting that was about to transpire inside the throne room, they opened the throne room doors without a moment's notice, revealing what was inside.

It wasn't what anyone had expected.

There, sitting on the throne, was a bipedal creature, wearing a stylish black dress outfitted with orange highlights here and there. It also wore what looked like a beret, with the same colors as the dress. Above the beret was a menacing orange halo, although the stare and expression the creature bore suggested that it was something other than angelic. It's face had pale, white skin that was whiter than the whitest fur, along with a matching white mane. Her eyes glowed a sickly orange, and glared at the group with such intensity that Esmeralda felt like she was turning to ash.

Resting on both of the armrests of the throne lay a large, black staff. It looked as though it been through quite a lot, judging by the many white scratches on its surface. It also had a large cross at one of its ends, in which glowed a dull orange, although it seemed it could get much brighter at anytime.

“Stop standing there. Move!” the sudden shout of the escort behind them brought them back to reality, and they walked slowly to the center of the throne room, under the piercing gaze of the creature. She did not say anything, nor did it give any hint that it would. She just… stared at all of them, judging them silently.

When they were all in the center of the room, the escorts bowed respectfully to the creature, before leaving, the slamming throne room doors behind them echoing throughout the space.

Seconds ticked by in the throne room as an uncomfortable silence reigned. The creature sitting on the throne cast looks over all of them, looking at all of them with eyes that screamed she wanted to see more.

“She's analysing us,” Esmeralda realised.

Indeed, the creature was analysing them, yes, but what for? Usefulness? How they were to be executed? Esmeralda hoped it wasn't the latter, but if she were honest, what did she have left to live for anyway?

One of the film crew grew tired of the wait, and broke the silence. “Excuse me miss, but wha-”

“Do not speak so casual to me, mortal,” the creature responded harshly, speaking for the first time. “And you shall address me as “Imperatrix”, as should everyone else in your group.”

It was at this moment that the minotaur looked as though he lost his cool.

Without a moment's notice, he began to march up to the throne, his eyes burning with hatred, fully intent on destroying the individual that was in front of him.

The Imperatrix looked over at the minotaur, and instead of panicking at the sight of the massive species charging for her, she smirked rather devilishly. “Ferox. I've heard a lot about you.”

Ferox growled at the Imperatrix, stopping directly in front of the throne which she sat on. He glared at the insulting smirk the ruler was giving him, daring him to do something stupid.

“Bar fights, resisting arrest, killing a Conditor, breaking out of your cell more than once, and almost inspired a riot in the dungeons,” the Imperatrix said, listing all of Ferox’ offenses. She frowned, “You've proven yourself to be quite a pain in the ass.”

Ferox narrowed his eyes, “So, you sent me here so that you can kill me yourself?”

The Imperatrix chuckled at this notion, her smirk returning. “Ferox, if my intention was to kill you, then would you be standing where you are right now?”

The minotaur remained silent for a moment. “…No, I suppose not,” he conceded.

“Good,” she said, satisfied. “Now for why I brought you here.”

The Imperatrix shuffled in her throne, perhaps preparing for the monologue ahead. “Based on the many reports on you, I have surmised that you are a rather strong individual. Not that I didn't expect a minotaur to be strong, just not as strong as you are, which definitely makes you a special case.”

“…In what way?” Ferox asked questionably.

The Imperatrix narrowed her eyes dangerously at the minotaur. “Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you held yourself against ten normal ponies along with two manipuli, killed a Conditor, wrecked an armory, and had a Praefector begging me to allow you be killed!?” At the end of her rant, the ruler was glaring so harshly at Ferox that even he felt himself shrinking. “If that doesn't say you're a rather special minotaur, then I guess killing you is the best option. These are actions I'd expect from the likes a of a centaur!” Now done with all she had to say, the Imperatrix then began to massage her temples. Esmeralda swore the ruler muttered something about a hangover, as well as swear words in an unknown language, but she was just assuming things.

The Imperatrix soon ceased her actions, and returned to the subject at hoof. “Anyways, you are a formidable person, and one that has caused fear within the ranks of my Exercitus for obvious reasons.” Once more, she smiled, “…That's why I deemed it necessary to let you live.”

Just where was she going with this?

“Henceforth, I grant you with the rank of Atticus. You are to be the strength which most of my commanders lack, the shadow that will make my army fear more of what is behind them rather than in front of them. A true warrior to be reckoned with by my enemies.”

Ferox looked at the Imperatrix suspiciously, but that didn't mean that he wasn't interested. “…So you're just going to give me command of entire armies just like that?”

At that notion, the ruler glared at Ferox, and snarled, “Do not count me as some sort of imbecile who promotes everyone who disobeys them openly. Those kinds of fools who base their entire army upon only strength or the wit of a single individual fail miserably in the end.”

“Aren't you technically the single witty individual you speak of, though?” the minotaur countered, a smirk appearing on his muzzle.

The Imperatrix’ glare on him hardened. “I am a different matter. Unlike those ridiculous mortals, a cannot die, thus my Empire can rely on me for an infinite amount of time. My reign will be eternal.”

Ferox looked as though he was about to challenge that statement, but he wisely held his tongue.

The Imperatrix shifted her eyes elsewhere, eventually settling upon the changeling. The ruler hummed curiously as the bug squirmed in her gaze.

“I've seen your kind before, bug, but at the time I didn't know of what you were capable of. But now, I do” Her trademark devilish smile appeared once more. “And I have to say, I am quite… intrigued with your capabilities.”

She then announced what he will be used for. “Therefore, you shall be assigned to my Inquisitores. Mostly for infiltration missions, which I was told you rathered excelled at due to your shapeshifting abilities. Your job will be to rat out any dissenting groups you find by infiltrating their ranks. I trust you will pass these missions with flying colors. After all, your reward for doing so will be to live peacefully among us.” She then shot a cheeky smirk at the bugpony, and asked rhetorically, “That is what you want, is it not?”

Finally, the Imperatrix set her cold eyes on Esmeralda and the film crew, her crude smirk remaining implanted on her face.

One of the film crew, the same which had spoken “casually” to her earlier, dared to speak again. “What shall we do-”

…Before his body was slammed into a wall by an unknown force, his muzzle taking the brunt of the collision.

The pony staggered back upon his hooves, and reached for the stinging pain on his snout with a hoof, only to recoil slightly when it was covered with his own blood from his severed nose.

“Sorry about that,” the Imperatrix said rather sarcastically. “I just needed to properly punish you for addressing me so casually like you did.”

Esmeralda and the others looked on the event in surprise. This being had magic? But she has no horns! She has nothing to project magic through!

Then Esmeralda noticed. The staff. It was brighter than it was when she entered the room, and now the Imperatrix had a firm grip on it, as though she was about to use it as a weapon. Well, it is a weapon, but what for? How powerful is it!?

The crewmember stared at the ruler in disbelief for a moment, before turning and walking back to the film, although not without a few grumbles of discontent. But the Imperatrix payed that no heed.

“Now then,” the ruler continued. “I have heard of that so-called “film equipment” of yours. I have also heard of its ability to, in your words, “create moving images”.” She remained silent for a moment, but suddenly lost it and laughed for a long, joyous moment before exclaiming amusingly, “That's the dumbest shit I've heard in a thousand years! Moving images!? Ha!” The Imperatrix continued laughing at the film crew's expense, making them become uncomfortable and made them slightly worried of their fates.

She eventually stopped herself again, but only for the purpose of further humoring herself.

“And you also spoke about carts that can move on their own if you put some rock in a fire! How in Jupiter's name does that make any sense!?” At this point, Ferox joined in on the laughing, as him being a native to this land made such things sound ridiculous to him as well.

For a last time, the laughing continued for some time before quieting down to silence.

The Imperatrix looked down upon Esmeralda and the film crew, her smile from the laughing remaining etched in her face.

“Anyway, tomorrow, you are to show me the workings of your “film equipment”,” she chuckled for a moment, “and at that time I will decide what use all of you will be to me - or I'll just kill you all. And judging by how ridiculous you sound, the latter is rather more enticing for me.”

The ruler’s cold stare made a return as she motioned her right hand to shoo the special cases away. “Leave. You all have things to do, especially with your new positions. Bellatores! Show them out.”

The guards outside the throne room opened the doors again, indicating that they were these “bellatores” the Imperatrix called to. They did their job, letting the special cases take their leave, and let their ruler have some alone time with herself.

Once the doors slammed shut, Zerstörung attempted to look back upon what had transpired, but only one thing kept running through her mind.

“…Carts that move on their own by putting rocks into a fire,” she repeated, her voice cracking into a chuckle as an amused smile returned. “How idiotic can these mortals get?”

Author's Note:

Finally! Chapter 20! Woo!

Anyway, there's been two new unit formations introduced, so let's get into them.

Inquisitores: An organization of soldiers who are well adept to infiltration, spying, and other types of espionage. They're essentially the secret police.

Bellatores Martianae: Translated from latin as "Martian Warriors" (not from the planet). These individuals are ones who excel in combat, and are undyingly loyal, as well as only take orders from, to the Imperatrix herself. These individuals are to show the wrath of the God of War Mars himself, no matter the cost.

Oh, yeah, and Esmeralda's back, too. Yay.