What might be sealed in a garden of power, watched over by five immortal shades? Discord? Tirek? No, just an unstable unicorn.
Pyrrhic Victory was one of the chief commanders in Celestia's army during the Griffon Wars, pre-NMM era. Well, he was until he tried to sack Canterlot. He was sealed in a magical garden, to which the souls of five of he most loyal Generals were bound. the Gardens of Aegis. Now, he's escaped, and trying to regain his memory, struggle with his arrogant side-personality, and avoid getting his brain eaten by gardeners. Where did his life go wrong?
Prologue: Captain, we have a critical failure in the rhododendrons!
These are often the words outsiders think of to describe the Gardens of Aegis. Low hanging leaves flow with willow curtains as flowers sway beneath them. Neat stone paths slide and bridge across the garden, never obtruding but always there. Shades flit about the garden, running ghostly hooves across plants at random. the move in concert, dancing gracefully.
That's what outsiders see.
"Aaaaaah! Quick, spin the bloom! Move power to the central willow!" In reality, its more like an eternally crashing ship. "Loosing life on the central rhododendron!" "Use the backup!" A bush begins to smolder."We can't! It hasn't been repaired yet!" The smell of smoke permeates the garden "But- but what can we do?!" Embers glow dimly among the leaves. "Life has reached 0% in primary containment! The ember flare, scrambling up the bush. "He's loose! He's loose! He's lo-" Flames hungrily engulf the garden. ..... ..... .... ++Hello Wardens~! I'm baaaaack~!++
"Freedom! And it doesn't smell like rhododendrons! finally, I'm out of that bloody prison! I can now....... now... What was I going to do again? .... I've got to be kidding me! One thousand and one years in that bucking garden, and I can't remember why- ARG! Alright, keep calm, keep calm. You're an intelligent something or another, you can figure this out. Let's got through what I know..
1.)I've been sealed away for a very long time, so only scholars would know about me. 2.)I was apparently dangerous enough to warrant the binding of five other souls just to keep me there. 3.) I have no clue why, or why I remember what little I do. So, avoid scholars, then find a scholar, and learn what I did and can do. Before that though, I need a mirror and a pond. I'm covered in grime, so much that I can't even see my leg. After that... find scholar, and hope they don't recognize me, at least not until I'm safely away."
Days since last prison break: 0
***
There is a special set of alarms in Canterlot Palace. These alarms were once seldom used, but have seen much more action since the return of the elements. These are the A.E.R. (Ancient Evil Returning) alarms, They will blare and whine loudly all throughout the castle. Recently, they have been installed in the crystal palace as well. They are now going off. In the middle of Celestia's morning coffee, no less. Activating Royal Canterlot voice in 3... 2... 1.. "Sister!" "Luna!" "Aunty!" "Princess!....es!"
*** "Jet set Darling, did you feel something just now?" "No Upper Crust, I don't believe I did. I'm sure its just your imagination."
***
"Sister! What hath-" *Thok* "Luna, please, for the love you bear me, lower your voice. Now then, I'm going to take my hoof out, and your going to speak quietly. Understand?" Nod nod nod. "Good." *BLAM* "Aunty! I heard the alarms and-" "Princess, is everything-" "SILENCE!" Celestia's voice echoed throughout the castle, as the three alicorns felt their unofficial-but-not-really-leader voice. Her glare of pre-coffee irritation pass over each of them, leaving them shaken and fearful one by one. Having calmed her fellow princesses down, Celestia takes a long drink of her coffee. "Aah~ Much better. now that we're all calm, let's get things straight. Yes, the alarms are going off. Yes, an ancient enemy has returned. However, we should not discuss this where all of Canterlot will hear. Let us adjourn to the meeting room, and make our plan there." With that, Celestia leads her fellow rulers through the great double doors, sipping her coffee all the while.
***
So let's see here~ Ah ha! A pond, excellent. Time to finally shed what appears to be a solid shell of grim.. Brushie Brushie Brushie~ Damn that Gilded Brush , why can't I get her song out of my head? there we go! So, unicorn, green coat, pinkish-gold mane... so I look like an off-color watermelon. Great. Ah well, at least I'm finally clean and presentable. So, its time to fine a library. Or food.... Damn conflicting desires. At least there's what appears to be a town in the distance. I'll have to get some food there. Hmmm, feels like I'm missing something. Eh, I'm sure it will come to me eventually. Hopefully the town won't be too expensive. I need food, but I barely have any bits at all. In fact, I don't...have...any at.. al... .... .... ... ... BUCK!
***
"Sister, what is the meaning of this? Those alarms are pre-banishment runes. Anything we sealed away during that time would've already attacked the palace by now." "That you know of, dear sister. There was one menace that I had to deal with while you were away, fighting the Griffons. Your 'transformation' occurred so soon after your return that I never got around to tell you." "Yes, my trip to the moon did complicate things. What was this menace, exactly." Luna says, shuddering. "Not what, but who. He was one of our generals, actually. Do you remember a stallion by the name of Pyrrhic Victory?" "Hmmmm.... Green coat? Pink and brown mane? Rather effeminate, kept getting mistook for a mare by the soldiers?" Luna asks, putting a hoof to her chin. "Yes, that's the one. While you were gone, he betrayed me. I suppose he saw it as revenge, considering I had revoked his credibility as a general and any authority he may have had." Cadence speaks up ,"Aunty, why did you do a thing like that? From what little of him I've read, he almost never lost." "While it is true he rarely failed to win a fight, the cost was... Well, there's a good reason the phrase 'Pyrrhic Victory' has the meaning it does today." Celestia winces as old memories resurface. Cadence shakes her head, stopping her aunt before she's lost on memory lane. "No, I mean why was he imprisoned? My understanding was that would've been a dungeon sentence or execution. Trapping his soul in a garden seems like overkill." "He united the Twelve Everfree Cults of Madness, took on a portion of each Avatar, and then tried to make off with the treasury while leaving the cults to die." "He... what? How?" "Perhaps I should give a bit more detail..."
***
Trudge. Trudge. Trudge.
It looked a lot closer from the pond.
Trudge. Trudge. Trudge.
Almost there. I think.
Trudge. Trudge. Trudge.
Finally! I'm here, and nopony has run away screaming. So far so good. I need only- "Hi there!" Ack! "Wh-wha? Who-?" *Gasp*"I've never seen you before!" "Erm...Er...What?" "This means a PARTY!" "Huh?" Where did the confetti come from...? "Gottagobye~!" "O-kay. Um, bye?" What in Tartarus?
"First time meeting Pinkie?" She called it a 'Pinkie'. Must be some sort of new species... Turn around, greet the nice pony and- Oh. She's ah... Nice. Blue coat, blue and white mane. Reminds me of Gilded Brush, but with different colors. "My name is Colgate. Yours?" Name, name, name. Can't be Pyrrhic Victory, for obvious reasons.... Uhhh.... "Pyrite Fortune." Where did that come from? eh, I'll take what fortune I can- Oh no, did I seriously just think that? "Pyrite Fortune? Rather ironic name. Anyways, based on Pinkie's reaction, you're new here. Need a tour?" "Oh! Yes, yes that would be nice. Tell me, does this village have a library?" "Golden Oaks? Right this way..."
***
*BAM* "Roseluck, what's-?!" "Cult meeting, now!" "What?! Why?!" Roseluck grins with equal parts joy and dread. "He's back! Pyrrhic is back!" "I'll go get Lily. The two mares run their separate ways, Roseluck to set up the meeting ground and Daisy to grab the third member of their group. Both think on phrase repeated endlessly.