The Taken King comes to Equus to take revenge on the ones who murdered his son, and nothing will stand in his way, not even the new God and his children who have taken residence their.
Arceus, God of Pokémon, Master of Creation and Leader of the Legendary Council has made Equus a new home for his Pokémon hoping to give them a fresh start and escape the Darkness and evils of Earth and protect his children.
But little does he know that Equus has been in the crosshairs of Darkness for One Thousand Years.
Oryx, The Taken King, First Navigator, Lord of Shapes, and harrowed God has come to Equus to avenge the death of his son who was killed by the Princesses. With his army and his fleet at his disposal he arrives at the planet only to find resistance in the form of creatures known as Pokémon, united in an effort to defend their new home.
But what Arceus and the people of Equus don't realize, its that Oryx is called the "The Taken King" for a reason.
"There was life, and He spoke unto it; and it was silent, and lived no more"
-Word of Crota
Date Unknown
The Zoroark knelt down at the body of her friend, tears streamed down her face like a river, the saddness and pain threatening to overtake her.
Her Pokemon where either dead, dying, or fighting off these invaders who sought to destroy everything. All she could see were the raining ashes and smoke-filled skies of the former city. What was this placed called again?
Oh right, it was Baltimare.
In her moment of sorrow, the Zoroark began to recall what happened up until this point.
It had been a few weeks since the World Summit, the future of Pokemon living the lives they had been denied so long on Earth, free to love their trainers and whoever they wanted, the future seemed bright and full of hope.
Then fate being the merciful thing it was, played a very very cruel joke.
For another alien race came to Equis, with a completely different motive.
They came, they attack, they killed, they took.
Within a short time, the world was at war, a war the good guys were losing...
Baltimare was just the latest battle between these monsters, her longtime best friend, the Lucario had taken a shot that was meant for her, even after....the truth came out.
She felt a tap on her shoulder, she turned to see one of her Pokemon exclaiming something.
She followed the direction of its hand, a group of invaders where headed their way, they didn't see them yet, but it would be a matter of time until they spotted her.
The Zoroark was left with two options, either leave her friends body and flee for her life, or take it with her and possibly slow her down.
For a normal person, they would have ditched the body and get their tails out of there.
Fortunately, Phantom Thief Foxes are masters of escape.
Grip the universe. Reshape it. Disregard the screams.
-Deathsinger's Grip
Crota, Son Of Oryx
INTEL: Crota is one of the many gods worshiped by the Hive. Though he is the "youngest" member of this pantheon, he is noted to be "the heir to the Osmium Throne", a position of high importance among the Hive on their Gas Giant home planet of Fundament.
One thousand years ago.....
Princess Celestia stood over her fallen adversary, a large green sword erupting from his chest.
All around her lay dead bodies, corpses as far as the eye could see.
Some belonged to her royal guard, others were followers of the deceased creature.
"Is it dead... sister?"
Celestia looked to her side. Her eyes were soon greeted by the battered and bloodied Luna, who was clutching a sharp wound at her side.
But otherwise she was still alive.
Seeing that she was about to fall, Celestia rushed to her sister's side to support her.
"I believe so, Luna."
The creature in question was recently known to be an alien monstrosity called Crota, but his presence on Equus was made known long before this battle had been fought.
A month ago, Luna had complained about strange energies emanating from her moon. A few days later, the king of The Zebra Kingdom sent word to the sisters that his land was being besieged by strange, dark creatures and leading them was a large green skeletal titan.
It was not long before word got out that the Zebra Kingdom had fallen to these strange invaders.
Within weeks, many countries had been ravaged by what the general populace called the "Hive", for all that was left in their wake were entire nations crafted in their image of death and darkness.
Eventually the day came when the Hive was at Equestria's doorstep.
The Princess had long prepared for this battle, having amassed an army for a final confrontation that would decide the fate of the world, for if Equestria fell then nothing would stop these creatures from eating away all trace of civilization on Equus.
The two armies fought for days, both sides holding lines fast.
Where the Hive had ferocity and strength in numbers, the Royal Guard had creativity and purpose.
Much blood was spilled on both sides, and soon only Celestia, Luna and the leader of the Hive, now known as the God Prince Crota, remained.
However, for all their power the Princesses could not harm Crota. He saw their attempts to harm him as an annoyance, at best.
However, the battle soon began to go sideways when Crota infected Luna with his magic, using a spell that left her not only drained and weak, but also meant only Celestia alone could stand against him.
With the battle going sour and Crota hardly harmed, things were not looking good for poor Celestia, who's energy was scarce and deteriorating with each failed blow.
However, in a moment of desperation and weakness, Celestia suddenly remembered something from a few nights before.
Luna had come to her bed chambers complaining about a strange dream she had.
In that dream, she found herself confronted by an unknown entity who called itself 'Taox'. Luna said she only got a short glimpse at the entity before waking up, but that Taox had spoke a single sentence.
Use the Sword.
In a moment of inspiration, Celestia picked up an Ascendant sword from one of Crota's fallen knights and fought Crota with it.
Finally, after a long and bloody fight, Celestia managed to run the cleaver through the God-Prince, killing him with his own sword.
And so it was the power that Crota used to kill thousands, was the same power that caused his undoing.
When the light in his three eyes faded, Celestia knew the battle was finally over.
"So many died this day Sister. Was... was it all worth it?"
"...I... I don't know Luna... But I do know this, today we have won, tomorrow is another day. This nightmare is over and now we can rebuild what we have lost."
For a moment Luna's eye drifted to the remains of Crota as his body began to fragment and fall apart, his physical from now cleansed from this world, never would the forces of the Hive bother them again.
But then a unusual thought crossed her mind.
'How is it that Celestia managed to slay this beast and not me? It was my dream that told us what to do, plus I am more experienced in the ways of combat and war, yet sister who is all about peace and diplomacy killed him. Why should she have the glory and not me!?!'
The thought left her mind as soon as it had entered it, and a feeling of confusion fell over her as she recounted what she just thought.
'I shouldn't be thinking about such things, this isn't about who slayed him, all that matters is that he is dead.'
Taking a deep breath, Luna turned to her sister.
"Yes, sister, rebuilding is the first thing we should do."
The aftermath of what legends would refer to as "The Hive Wars" left many nations crippled and near collapse. Only Equestria emerged from the fallout with the least wounds.
Nevertheless this had left many who had experienced the horrors of the Hive with scarred minds and tormented memories. This proved to be a problem as people from around the world woke up screaming.
Many spoke of how their friends and family were delirious, speaking of nightmares and darkness that came after them, there were even rumors of suicide as some could not live with what they had seen.
Soon a meeting of world leaders, A World Summit, was called, and it was there that the majority agreed that the events of the Hive should be erased from the minds and history of everyone. Some did it to preserve the innocence of their subjects, while many just wanted to to move on from the experience, and while there were a few who wanted to preserve the history of what had happened in so that they may learn from this experience, the welfare and well being of the people overrode any logic or reason preserving history might benefit.
All recollections of the Hive where sealed away in the deepest of vaults, while Princess Luna personally entered the dreams of the subjects of the world and did the long and tenuous job of removing the horrific memories the Hive had left in them.
Over the years the Hive wars were all a distant memory, and only legends of their darkness remained alongside others like Nightmare Moon and Discord.
Only the world leaders who passed down the truth of the Hive wars over the generations knew what happened all those many years ago, and in the end it became just another old mare's tale parents told their foals at night.
One side effect of the war was that with all the other nations struggling to survive, and over the course of a thousand years Equestria emerged as the dominant superpower that stood as the central pillar of light that would keep the world in balance for generations.
Finally, present day came when another alien race appeared on Equus, brought forth by another god....
Arceus and his Pokemon.
While many world leaders were hesitant to trust another alien race, eventually the Pokemon were allowed to call this New World home.
As a new age dawns on Equus, it would seem that the final curse the Hive left would be gone forever.
But the past has a very nasty way of catching up with the future and we all know the saying, 'all actions have consequences'....
Unknown Location in Space, Present Day
An incredibly long ship flew ominously through the depths of the void, flanked by a fleet of smaller ships bearing the larger ships apparel.
Within this large Dreadnaught laid a vast labyrinth of pits caverns and winding corridors, the ship grave of a sense of death, darkness and dread, while at the same time looked regal and worthy of royalty.
If one found the throne room of this Castle in the sky, they would come upon a large forty foot being sitting upon its throne with mixed face of contempt, calmness and focus.
His attire was that of a king's, his crown a symbol that was recognized by all his subjects.
To many he was the father of all Hive sects, a God whose age was impossible to comprehend. His eyes were that of one who had seen the light by peering into the darkness, someone who had seen the endpoint of the universe and wished to bring forth that glorious and inevitable future. It was because of this his title was spoken with fear and respect by all.
His name is Oryx, Ruler of Osmium Throne, The Taken King.
"The ground upon which you walk shall burn. YOU shall burn."
INTEL: Scion of Oryx, Urrox kept watch over a long-forgotten brood long ago. With the remnants of that spawn at his side, Urrox calls out to all wielders of the Light— to burn away all they are until only the Darkness remains.
Oryx looked up at the stars.
His personal balcony allowed him to behold the universe in all its starry glory, and across the cosmos were glitter-like specks of light that constantly broke the pitch black that was the vastness of space. Each and every one of them told a story, and gave hope that the planets and the creatures that lived and played there thrived without a care in the world.
And it was absolutely tragic.
"I shall enjoy the day when all I can see is Nightfall," the King said to himself.
If Oryx had his way, it would all be absolute pitch black, a universe where no sun shined, where there was only one law, Darkness, a universe creased by the edge of the sharpest sword, it was a war, nay a crusade his kind had pursued since he and his sisters made that pact so long ago.
The Darkness once ruled the universe, and it was the destiny of the Hive to help the Darkness reclaim that position.
But first... he had to attend to some personal business.
1,000 cycles ago his son Crota ventured into the what its inhabitants called the horseshoe Nebula to destroy a potential source of the Light and claim another world in the name of shadow.
He expected to hear of his son conquering and snuffing a world of light, he expected to hear his child sing praises of death and ash of a planet shattered.
He did not expect to feel a sense of emptiness and the last breath of his son call out to him before being silenced forever.
Oryx would soon learn that Crota was murdered by the insects of that world.
Immediately the King dropped everything he was doing and made preparations for a great campaign, raising an army to average the death of his son.
Then he entered a deep sleep in his realm to recharge his power, only to wake up on the day of the thousandth year anniversary of his son's death.
That day had come.
And so Oryx began the long journey to the place of Crota's End. The voyage took a little over 2 years, and along the way his Hive children also awoke and gathered for the coming war. Knights sharpened their cleavers, blunted by the slaying of countless lives.
Others took to ancient rituals in the Dreadnaughts personal summoning pits, birthing abominations of the most scaring features and might.
"My King."
Oryx looked behind him to see Banuk, Ur Prince, one of the four makers of his sons sword who fled after his broods demise.
"What news do you bring, Maker of Blades?"
"My King, the fleet has arrived at our destination, we have hidden behind the dark of the moon to hide our presence from prying eyes, the horde now awaits your word."
".....Send... a message... to my lieutenants. Tell them... Tell them it is time for war."
"As you wish, my King."
The Swarm Prince then left, for there was much to do.
The Founts
Urrox, Prince of Flames, knelt down in the Founts of the Dreadnaught, and unlike the sword bearers of the Hive, his red/orange color scheme made him stand out from the crowd. He was a rarity among the Hive ascendant, a Knight who wielded the flames of Solar.
Some would question the wisdom of wielding the power of sol when they are commonly most associated with the light, but Urrox had a logic that made sense to whoever listened and understood.
Where water cleanses, it washes away impurity and still leaves something behind, where fire cleanses, it burns away everything until nothing is left nothing except ash and bone.
Fire never surrenders. If it cannot burn through, it burns around. Block its path and it sends sparks through the air, to begin the blaze anew somewhere else. Fire always finds a way.
Now Oryx had summoned him and his brood to help him burn away all trace of will, so that none could stand against the Night.
"What is it, Merok?"
The Swarm Prince of Eir emerged from the shadows, having already deduced that his presence was known long before it was acknowledged.
"Oryx has requested that his lieutenants shall be among the first to set foot upon the world of Crota's End in preparation for the Coming War."
"I see, and who shall be joining me?"
"You, Urzok The Hated and Sardok shall lead the assault, and Sardok will be there so Oryx can see what will be taken."
"And what of Crota's slayer, are we not going to find the name of his murderer?"
"That. Is something Oryx will decide."
"....Point Taken."
Urrox hefted his cleaver over his shoulder and summoned his boomer from its pocket realm.
"When shall we leave?"
"At the 4th hour."
Sardak and his companions walked down the gateway leading to the altar of Oryx, to his right was Urrox the Flame Prince, at his left was Urzok the Hated. No words were spoken as he passed numerous Hive boarding Seeders and Tombships, waiting to called upon when the king gave the order.
The three Knights walked until they were at the feet of their King.
Sardak spoke for the three of them "My King we are ready to begin the first step of your campaign for this world, just give us your command and it shall be done."
Oryx who had his back turn the entire time whirled his head and looked down at his kneeling servants.
"When Crota died, he could not provide me with the identity of his killer, but before he was slain he was able to provide me with the resting place of his spawn. You will go to this place and awake my sons brood as we will need their knowledge of this world for the coming world, also..."
A door opened to the side and Urrox turned to see a wizard float out of it.
"Xyor, the Unwed shall accompany you to translate any foreign scribes they may have, we need as much information on our enemies as possible."
"As you wish, my King," Urrox said.
"Move quickly, do not give them any chance to rest, do not let have a moment to understand you, show them no mercy."
"Yes, my King."
"Now go, you may delay, but time will not."
The Temple Of Legends
Arceus looked up at the stars.
The Alpha Pokemon took solace in the fact that with the World Leaders (at least most of them) had accepted the Pokemon to live in their world. Yes, there were still some stubborn former humans to deal with, but he truly believe that things would go uphill from here.
For the first time in thousands of years since his imprisonment within the twinkles of space he saw hope for his children, and a future full of light.
On his back his eldest daughter Mew slept quietly and peacefully just as how he wanted.
His children, especially his legendaries meant the world to him, for years humans had pursued them intending to capture them with few succeeding, if any more of them had been captured.
"No...not again..."
Memories of Latios, who had died at at hands of Team Rocket, resurfaced. Poor Latias was heartbroken, to ease both their sufferings Arceus disobeyed the laws of death and brought Latios back to life.
It was a risky move, but Arceus would do anything for his family, even if it meant abandoning his home world.
He sighed.
"I feel I will never hear the end of that."
Many Pokemon and former humans had come either asking or demanding their old lives back, some were polite, others....not so much, there had been many time when the elder god felt like throwing them out, as with every demand his annoyance only grew.
"Maybe I should have been more selective in deciding to to bring with us."
With the recent World leaders summit The Pokemon were allowed to stay, and while many of his children were happy and content with their new lives, many still wanted to return to Earth.
"I will never allow my creations to be subjected the cruel Darkness of evil again."
"Daddy..?"
Arceus turned his head to see a droopy Mew waking up.
"Are you talking to yourself again?"
"....No, my little kitten."
"Okay....I love you, daddy."
"......I know, sweetheart."
Satisfied with the answer, Mew once again drifted to sleep.
"I will protect my subjects, even if it means some will hate me for it."
Canterlot Castle
Princess Luna walked down the corridors of the castle as night dawned on Equestria, the Princess of the Night for the most part was feeling rather pleased at the moment.
And she should be, Celestia as well as Twilight and her friends had put down some usurpers who tried to enact what they saw as Justice upon Gene and Belle, those who attacked were arrested and currently awaited trial for their crimes.
"They shall get a firm reminder of who is in charge of this country, and that the world they knew is no more"
Princess Luna entered the Castle Royal Library, nodding to the guards at the door as they let her in, once inside she traveled down an isle of records and transcripts which contained the sole total of Equestira's history.
As she neared her destination the Lunar alicorn could not help but let her mind drift, she began to wonder how history had passed without her, how many records and books told the tale of Equestira's 1,000 year Celestial rule without its second princess.
Luna banished those thoughts from her head, the past was past, she was here now free from any selfish desires about being a ruler, she took this duty for her ponies just as her sister did for centuries.
But now with the Pokemon now living on Equus, the duty only increased, for better or worse was yet to be realized.
"Your late Princess"
Luna snapped out of her daydream and cracked here head to see a certain Pitch Black Pokemon emerging from the shadows.
"Forgive me Darkrai, I recently got held up on another matter concerning Ponyville, I'm sure you understand."
"Oh of course, Lord Arceus told me of those former humans *Sigh* I guess you could say old habits die hard"
"Hard or easy they die anyway, those usurpers tried to separate two loved ones for ridiculous reasons, as such I am now privy to the knowledge of just what the humans on Earth were thinking when they made those laws"
"Whatever laws were establish on Earth are moot now, Arceus has made it one of his priorities after that little event to stamp out all remaining outcry from whatever humans that can't adapt to this change"
"All in good time Darkrai, now shall we begin tonight's lesson?"
"Of course Princess"
The Dreadnaught, launch Deck
Over one thousand Hive were boarding a number of Hive Tombships and Seeders. Knights, Thralls and Witches crammed into their harbingers ready to take off into the night.
Sardok watched as Urzok materialized into a Tombship while he and Urrox would take a Hive Warship to the surface.
"Hhmmm...I almost feel sorry for those who would wake up this morning, almost."
"Yes, it's a shame that we have to be the ones to kill them, had Crota killed their ancestors we would not have the privilege of killing them today."
"I believe destinies are to be fulfilled today Urzok, let us help them on the way."
King Trotankhamun sat in his throne room, finally being able to enjoy herself after the World Summit.
Paperwork related to the new laws placed after the Summit was done and filed, Sev and his army were doing a good job of pushing back the Thirst, and all was peace and quiet at the moment.
Feeling the bliss setting in, his mind drifted to thoughts of delicious foods, life's pleasures, and lovely mares, specifically a certain Queen.
"Ah Chrysalis, what I would give to see you again."
The Changelings may not have been the most popular race on the planet, but like Celestia, he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, even after the things Chrysalis had done.
Maybe it was his attraction talking, but he still liked her.
"Maybe I can get Carapace to release her on my terms. A parole on reformation like Celestia did with Discord, perhaps?"
The rumors that surrounded the Changeling Empire for so long has been disproved, and given what was said it was not a surprise, outrageous accusations like Changelings being mass produced by eggs? There would have been shells. Suspicion that there were multiple colonies throughout the world? No such colonies were found. The Changelings were all controlled by a Hive mind? That would have been obvious from the start-
".....Hive."
As soon as the word entered his mind, it triggered a old memory in the young king's mind.
His father once told him an old bedtime story about how 1,000 years ago Celestia and Luna had battled ancient evils that wished to conquer either Equestria or the world, among them where evils such as Nightmare Moon, Discord Sombra, and the most powerful of them all, the Hive.
Trots dad exaggerated how the Hive were the most powerful and evil of all the threats Equestria faced, that the Hive came from the stars in an attempt to bring about their destruction, starting from the Zebra Kingdom, the Hive overran all the nations of the world before going after Equestria, however the tales always ended with Celestia slaying their leader, a monster known as Crota with his own blade.
These tales of victory and triumph were just one of many reasons why he admired Celestia, in many ways he saw her as a second mother, and they had a bond that would last their whole lives.
"No doubt I would expect nothing less from the greatest leader in the world."
But yet again another thought came up.
As of recently many evils had Celestia defeated had somehow come back. If he remembered correctly, the order of the threats she faced were TIrek, The Hive, King Sombra, Discord and Nightmare Moon.
And the order of which they resurfaced was Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra and....
Fear soon began to creep up the Zebra King's spine before logic set in.
Unlike the other evils that Equestria dealt with, Crota and his Hive were not imprisoned or sealed away, they didn't get that mercy, out of all the evils of the past the Hive were eradicated, their leader killed with his own sword, on that day Equestria didn't just win that battle, but all future battles.
"I really need to lighten up more, good has and will always win in the end..."
He looked up worriedly.
"Right?"
"Are we ready for launch?"
The Warpriest looked at the boarded ships and nodded.
"Yes, my King just give the word."
".....Proceed."
From within the bowels of the Dreadnaught, dozens of Seeders and Tombships rocketed towards Equus.
1,000 years ago, Crota with his last breath reached out across the night.
Third surviving sister of the Osmium King’s last brood —
A STORMJOY. A stormjoy is a living cloud. When it passes over our continent, it lowers its feeding tentacles. On each tentacle are the BAIT STARS. Although light makes you happy, you must avoid it. You will be eaten.
A stormjoy is a good way for an old person to choose death. Also, a daring knight can cut the bait stars from the tentacles. I have six!
FALLING. If you fall off the edge of the continent, you will die in the ocean! This is a special hazard when our father the Osmium King uses the engines.
HELIUM DRINKERS. The currents of the Fundament Ocean bring us near other continents. The Helium Court is near us now. They are of our species, but they are our enemies. Their knights raid us every day. Helium Drinkers have two legs, two arms, and three eyes, just like us. But they are bright/evil. I want to be a knight and fight them! The Helium Drinker ambassador ate ten of my sisters as tribute. This is normal. However, I resent it.
MOTHERS. Mothers can fly! They live much longer than ten years. Mothers are extremely smart, and they guard their spawn. If you try to tamper with the eggs, they will eat you. Sathona wants to eat the jelly and become a mother when she turns four.
STORMS. The rain is often poisonous. Sometimes it dissolves flesh. When lightning misses the lightning farm, it can vaporize a person. This entire world is deadly to us.
MYSTERIES. The Fundament is very large. We are the smallest things in it. If you don’t understand something, it will probably kill you. My teacher Taox says this is why we have such short lives. So we can breed and adapt quickly.
MOON WAVES. My sister Aurash is afraid of moon waves. When she gets back from her expedition to the Tungsten Monoliths, I will ask her why.
"By pleasing their gods, the Hive carve scars on the fabric of our realm." -Toland, the Shattered
INTEL:Among the lesser Hive, there is no higher honor than that of the Hated.
Not all can be hallowed, fewer still gods, but all can do their part to smite the Light. The Hated, though, holds a unique place among the Hive. It is a singular position. Only ever one. And the emerald marrow on its blade is not from combat, but the ritualistic execution of those the Wizards have deemed Forsaken.
Commander Sev, leader of the Pokemon Liberation Army, for all his claims, strategic brilliance and all around insanity, was trying,(and failing) to play a game of checkers.
"Why must I move only diagonally?! Why can't I move straight forward and just win right now!?"
Lightning Dust, Sev's "Significant other" for all her flying skills, weeks of knowing Sev and "feelings" towards him... still could not fathom what drove his brain functions.
"Because the guy who made up the rules wanted it that way."
The Pegasus was felt her mind running harder then it usually did, ever since she left the Wonderbolt Academy her life had taken a most unexpected turn, from Wonderbolts to Pokemon and Thirst, it was at times like these she wondered if fate enjoyed toying with her life.
"Well, if I ever meet that guy he shall regret the day he made Commander Sev play a game with a completely outrageous rule!"
"Heh, good luck then."
"Why would I need luck? I am luck!"
"Well considering the dude who invented this game has been dead since like, forever I wouldn't expect you to get very far."
"Then I shall journey to Tartarus and strangles his soul until he squeals."
It was at this point were Lightning lost track of why Sev was playing this game in the first place.
"Anyway, shouldn't you be preparing for the talk with King Trot about how to deal with the Thirst?"
"Actually I am to talk with the General Ahmos, but fear not my consort, I already know how to deal with them."
"Oh really? Tell me," Lightening Dust said, ignoring the mention of her being his consort.
"I shall destroy them with my potato gun with the rocket booster. Remind me to fill them with cheese and death!"
"... Right. Will do, Commander..."
Urrox stood at the helm of the HIve Warship as it speed along towards the planet in the distance, along the way he noticed various Seeder ships fly past them, no doubt the smaller ships would arrive minuets long before The Flame Prince's army got there, and the Warp Drive was not fully charged yet so teleporting all the way was not in the cards yet.
"Well you know what they say, let the Thralls go first."
The Seeder Ships soon began to enter the atmosphere the trails of red masking their true appearance. To those who looked at the sky they were just falling meteors.
How wrong they were.
Ebony Stripes played with the little Wurmple, feeding it some snacks he had brought with him.
Normally, he would be on guard duty, as this was the only way he could earn income for his family of five.
But his interest in these Pokemon had taken his mind off his duties for the moment.
"I should really get back to work, I promised my little daughter I'd take her to pick out a puppy today...or should I take one of you guys home?"
Just as he was about to resume his post Ebony's ears began to hear a low rumbling, which grew louder with each passing second. Seeing as the ground was not shaking the guard looked for the source of the sound.
After realizing the rumbling was coming from the sky, the zebra looked up to behold a frightening sight.
The stallion then dropped his weapon and promptly ran into the castle.
Ahmos, for all his experience and long years as a soldier and High General of all Zebrica's armed forces, did not expect his King to ask this of him.
"You're asking me for advice on how to persuade Emperor Carapace to let you have custody of Chrysalis?"
".....Yes, basically."
"Why are you asking me? Would you not have more success in asking one of your advisers, or maybe Princess Celestia for that matter? From what I heard Carapace respects her dearly."
"Well considering I gave my advisers the day off and Celestia is dealing with an incident involving some former humans in Ponyville, you were the only other friend I knew who was not unavailable."
"...Well, while I appreciate you thinking of me for advice, I am a soldier. My job is to organize armies plan attacks, form strategies and lead them into battle, so why do you think asking a general on how to deal with a love sick heart would produce a good answer?"
"....When you put it like that, I guess I expected-"
BAAM!!
The doors to the throne room were flung open, standing in the doorway was a panting Royal Guard.
"Soldier!" Ahmos exclaimed "What is the meaning of this outburst? Didn't anypony ever tell you to knock?"
"Meh....Meh...."
"Slow down, what are you saying?"
"Meteors! I saw them falling from the sky!"
"....What?"
The General was not expecting this answer.
"Look outside, I saw them!"
As if on cue, a low rumbling began to shake the palace.
King Trot, who had already gotten up from his throne, went to the open the doors to the balcony.
And sure enough as he was joined by Ahmos and Ebony, fiery comets pierced the sky, some already making landfall, with more tailing behind.
Ahmos was the first to snap out of his daze.
"Sound the Alarm! Get the citizens to the the underground shelters!"
As the High General and Ebony left, Trot lingered there a few more seconds to say.
"And here I thought today would be uneventful!"
Sev who had gathered his sister Lia and General Rio were currently making their way to the castle when a growing rumble began to fill the air.
"Anyone else hear that?" Lighting Dust asked.
"Yeah, but I can also see it," Rio said, looking upwards.
The Pegasus followed the Lucario's gaze to see several balls of fire falling from the sky.
"SWEET LUNA WHAT'S THAT!?"
"Isn't it obvious!? Princess Kuba has finally gone forth with my idea and is now raining judgement up my enemies!" Sev exclaimed.
Lia however was of a different mind.
"No you dolts! Those are meteors from space!"
"So Luna has decide to call upon the meteors of deep space upon my enemies? I'll still take it!"
The Krila proceeded to face palm.
'Why do I even bother?'
The first rock to hit the ground and promptly knocked them of their feet.
When the group got back up to take a look at the flaming rock, what they saw was no Meteor.
What laid before them was a narrow ship with a large midsection and a narrow antenna growing from the top. But what was even more strange were the creatures who began to emerge from it.
They appeared to be biped and each of them had a grey and red coloring.
Some wielded weapons and swords while others floated, their hands changed with an electric and ethereal power.
It was only when aliens then proceeded to attack nearby citizens, Sev finally got the message that these creatures were not sent by Luna.
"No one instills fear into the populace but ME!" The Seviper then proceeded to charge head first into the group of aliens.
"Did he seriously just do that?"
Lightning said as some of the aliens then sought to focus their fire on the group.
"Yes," Rio said as he began to charge his Aura Sphere, "Yes, he did."
The howls of terror told Xyor that they had arrived on the ground. She then gestured for the ship's hatch to open, revealing the sight of various creatures screaming and running in all directions.
Most of them were four legged quadruples while the others seemed to vary in shapes and sizes.
The Ascendant Wizard also noticed that some of the non quadruples where fighting back other Hive who were coming out of their Seeder and Tombships.
The Wizard observed the many powers they displayed and came to a logical conclusion.
Oryx will want his hand in this.
"Urzok?"
Xyor telepathically contacted the Hated who had just exited from his Tomb ship.
"Yes?"
"I will need you bring me one back alive, we must learn of their language and world so that Oryx may better understand his foes and by extension better eliminate them."
"Of course, Oryx's will be done."
The Knight then proceeded to stalk the battlefield, looking for his prey.
Rio for all his days as a General of the PLA had fought many battles against the humans alongside Commander Sev, but It was rare, very rare when there would be a fatality.
This was not the case as of now.
These invaders from the stars, whoever they were, did not fight to defeat their opponents, they fought to kill, unlike the Pokemon battles when a fight would end with one Pokemon passing out, the aliens showed no mercy, no remorse and fought with a fury that anyone could see in their eyes.
Whether it made it easier for Rio to show them the same kindness he didn't seem to care as a Focus Punch put a hole in the head of one of the smaller pale aliens who tried to claw his eyes out.
"I see you have met our new guests?"
The Lucario spared a moment to see that the Zebra General Ahmos had joined him as he cut down another of the creatures who bore a red attire.
"Yes. What do you reckon they want? To conquer us, or just slaughter?"
"Do you really want to find out, or would you rather survive this first?"
"...Point taken."
Meanwhile.....
Lia, for the most part, was worried for her brother and the current situation.
Sev had somehow gotten his tail on a bazooka which he had emptied already but acted like it still had ammo. These invaders had set fire to several homes which somehow burned green fire.
"These guys must know some alien magic if they can do stuff like that."
Lia barely had time to ponder the thought when she saw something even stranger.
A group of the larger sword wielding invaders had somehow brought a Rhyperior down to its knees( although given the height of their legs Lia wondered if they even had knees) but instead of killing it, a small black orb with a white center appeared behind the fallen Pokemon, a tether appeared from the void and latched onto the Drill Pokemon who struggled against it before being ultimately sucked into the black sphere and disappeared.
It took a moment for Lia to take in what she just saw.
"What!? Can't you see I am threatening this bazooka to shoot more cheese filled rockets!?"
"Forget about the bazooka! The aliens they aren't just killing people, some of them are Taking Pokemon away!"
"What! Where?"
"I don't know, but we have to tell someone about this. We also need to get the civilians to safety!"
"Ugh, fine! I suppose we can absent ourselves from battle to try and protect our fellow Pokemon."
Sev dropped the empty rocket launcher and slithered away with the Krila.
But as they ran away a thought crossed her mind.
Why are they taking people, and what are they doing to them?
Rio took down another wave of smaller aliens with a sweep of his Bone Rush, followed by an immediate Focus Blast at one of the flying aliens.
"I'm actually starting to enjoy this. How 'bout you?"
"Between you and me even I am getting too old for this," Ahmos said as he cut down another alien.
"Well then lucky for you general I happen to have a long lifespan."
Ahmos mentally rolled his eyes as he continued to kill, cutting down another alien with his sword.
But their conversation was cut short as their adversaries suddenly began to retreat.
"Look, they're leaving."
"Guess we must have scared them off."
But then both Generals saw the creatures were not running away, but regrouping.
"Looks like they don't know when to quit," Rio said as he summoned a pair of Metal Claws.
But instead of attacking again, the crowd parted way a one of the larger aliens walked forward wielding a large cleaver like sword and his eyes locked on Rio.
"Looks like they have summoned a champion," Ahmos said.
"Then he just met his match."
Rio then walked forward to challenged the Knight-like alien.
Urzok looked bemused as the canine like creature walked to him as if answering his challenger.
"I hope you fight well creature, it's been long since I was entertained."
The Knight, as Rio had decided to call it spoke in a foreign tongue before attempting to bring his sword down on the Lucario.
"Bad move."
Using an Extreme Speed to sidestep the blade, Rio struck the Knight at the legs with a critical Metal Claw.
He expected the warrior to fall on one knee, but was surprised when he didn't.
'Must have thick skin, I'll give him that.'
The Lucario tried something different and switched to an Aura Sphere which when connected with the Knight seemed to stagger him.
But the Knight quickly recovered and fired a blue bolt of energy at Rio who managed to dodge the shots.
Urzok watched as the creature evaded his attacks and tired to use a varsity of powers in an attempt to harm him.
'This one fights with spirit, his death will almost be a shame.'
Urzok tried to behead the creature as it moved again to strike him, only to see him duck and deliver another blow to his side.
It was only Urzok’s Arc shields which prevented the attacks from damaging him.
But his opponent didn't know that.
Rio looked in satisfaction as the Knight appeared to have been greatly wounded by that last Metal Claw, his foe began to clutch the area where he had struck him.
With his foe vulnerable, Rio charge forward with a Close Combat and blindly pounded the Knight with a flurry of blows that made Rio sure that his enemy was defeated.
However it was only until after he was done punching that he realized he had been hitting a black wall.
He was even more surprised when the wall dropped to reveal an unscathed Urzok the Hated.
Rio immediately tried to put some distance between him and the Knight.
Urzok was faster.
The last thing Rio heard was a loud "SLETCH!" sound before looking down to see a sword erupting through his chest.
Immediately the father of 15 began to feel the life slip away from his body.
No, I can't die! Ah have a family, a mate, Cario, Little Lu, what will they do without me? Can't let go...... must...fight for...them.....
The Auro Pokemon fell to the ground his eyes closing for the last time.
Ahmos gasped in horror as the Knight pulled his sword out of the Pokemon and watch as the lifeless body of the Lucario fell to the ground.
The General snapped out of his stupor when the Knight trained his eyes on him.
Anger and determination on mind, Ahmos charged the alien to avenge his fallen ally.
Urzok just summoned his boomer and fired one shot at his hooves, and sent the zebra sprawling into the pavement.
Ahmos cried out in pain as he clutched his broken leg. The shot had left a sizable burn on his side as the pain shot through his body.
The zebra could only lay there as the aliens begin to surround him, as if waiting for something.
"What are waiting for? Do you want me to beg monsters!? Even if I did I would not be sure if you would understand."
Urzok watched as the creature squirmed as he supposedly begged for life, (Not that he understood a word he was saying).
But he would not kill him, not yet.
First things first.
"Xyor, I have what you need."
A few minutes passed before the wizard arrived at the scene.
The Hive Wizard floated over to where Urzok was and looked down at the injured Ahmos.
I am Taox, sterile mother, teacher to the children of the Osmium Throne.
As a mother, I live long. As a neuter, I can rise above the small battles of court politics.
I alone see the patterns of survival. Alone I designed the great engines that move the Osmium Court. Now —
Alone I must act to save my kingdom.
Senility has claimed my lord the Osmium King. He is ten, and mad. The study of ancient text consumes him. Today he raves about moons above the storm. Tomorrow he will wander the halls, speaking to his familiar, a dead white worm from the deep sea. He keeps it in glass, and he tends to it, and he neglects the duties of a king.
The Osmium King has three surviving heirs, each two years old:
Xi Ro, the youngest and bravest, who wants to be a knight.
Sathona, most clever, who wants to be a mother.
Aurash, navigator child, who dreams of the infinite ocean. Tomorrow she will return from the Tungsten Monoliths.
None of these are suitable heirs. None of them will protect the Osmium Court from the howling Fundament. Xi Ro can fight, but not lead. Sathona can think, but not fight. Aurash’s curiosity will draw her away from duty. I fear for all future children.
Soon the Osmium King will lock himself into the Royal Orrery to study the moons. Gather your knights, o Helium Drinkers, and invade our continent. Kill the three heirs. I will rule the Osmium Court as your regent, and build engines for you.
And if I fail, let the Leviathan in the deep eat me.
"That shriek, that wicked laugh. If you listen closely, you can hear power in its song.”
INTEL: Consort of Crota, Omnigul commands Crota's Spawn in the battlefield, she is the will of her mate and the architect of his plans.
General Ahmos struggled against the bonds that held him, but to now avail he was nothing more now then a captive of his foes
"Xyor, would you do the honors?"
The Hive Wizard floated down to the quivering stallion and placed both hands at the sides of his head.
"Whatever you think your gonna do wretch it won't work!"
The wizard ignored his shouts as she began to chant a spell that would sends shivers down a persons spine.
The zebra tried to squirm as he felt his mind being picked apart like putty, memories, knowledge of secrets being siphoned and eaten, like the creature was looking for something specific.
And it was finding what it wanted.
Xyor looked through the memories of the captive general, while she had already created a translation spell for the other Hive(which she had already cast upon the whole group), she also found something of great interest.
From his memories she learned that apparently another God named "Arceus" who was from an alternate dimension had recently brought his people, creatures called Pokemon to this world, the Pokemon had came to this world to escape evil and they all posseded strange and powerful abilities.
This...was something Oryx would also need to know.
"Lets dig a little more aannnd, Oh whats this?
*Ahmos's Memories*
A Young Zebra laid in his bed as his father tucked him in.
"Daddy, will you tell me a story?"
"Well son, what kind a story do you want to hear? A War Story? or a Tall Tale?"
"War Story!" a young Ahmos exclaimed.
"Well then" The zebra sat by he sons sides "Allow me to tell you war story as old as Celestia herself"
The young Zebra sat up earnestly as his father spun the tale
"Once upon at time, in the land of Equestria, Peace and Harmony stood as the pillars of which the Kingdom were built on. Its rulers the sisters Celestia and Luna defended it from many evils who wanted to rule with fear and terror."
"But the greatest threat the sisters would face came not from Tatarus, but from the stars."
"Oooohh"
"It was a Demon who called itself Crota, and he had come to Equus with a Hive of followers. He wielded a sword that could make cracks in the earth as large as canyons, and wherever he went the sky turned green, his army scorched most of the world before turning their scrying eyes to the Realm of Equestria.
Ahmos grinned as his father got to the good part.
"Crota met the sisters and their armies on the borders of their land, while the sisters were able to hold the demon off for as long as they did, the Hive slowly but surly pressed into the heart of the pony homeland, it is even said that a strike from Crota's sword created Ghastly Gorge"
"It was only after days of battle and bloodshed on both sides that Celestia was finally able to defeat the demon Crota, sending his soul screaming into the pit between the stars."
"Whoa!"
"And so with their leader vanquished, The Hive scattered to the winds and peace returned to the world, The End"
"Another daddy more more story?"
The father gave a low chuckle "Sorry daddy has to go to bed too! How about tommorow?"
"Oh, okay. Good Night daddy"
"Good night my little Ahmos"
"I got what we need" Xyor said as the she left the Zebra's mind "And more"
"What do you mean?" Urzok inquired
"Oryx may have some....significant resistance when he comes to this world"
"Let us find Sardok, you can give the information to him."
Xyor nodded, Sardok was called the "Eye of Oryx" for a reason, Everything he saw was broadcast directly to Oryx's mind he was basically a direct line to the Hive King, all they had to do was just relay what Xyor had learned from the zebra's mind.
"Very well, I last saw Sardak and Urrox Taking these 'Pokemon' near that large building where I believe their leadership is held"
The Hated and the Unwed then proceeded to march with their troops in the direction of the castle.
"HEY!"
Xyor looked back at the still bound Zebra, realizing that since she had cast the translation spell, he had heard and understood every word they said.
"If you think you will get away with whatever it is your planning to do, then you got another thing coming, I don't know much about Arceus, but he is a God and he will protect his own!"
Urzok walked up to Ahmos with a blank expression on his face, knelt down and looked the General in the eye.
"Well then its a good thing we brought-" Ahmos noticed the Knight's gaze look above him for second "-a contender"
All of a sudden the General felt something latch onto him, then the zebra felt himself being pulled through a narrow space, his body becoming fluid as his vision of the world was replaced by blackness.
When he could see again, his eyes could not believe what they beheld.
He found himself floating in a infinite void their where various shapes and sizes, some he could make out, other threatened to drive him to insanity trying to at least comprehend.
But despite the strange and yet for some reason terrifying sight, he soon began to feel a cold presence as if something was behind him.
Ahmos looked behind him to see what it was.
But the thing about being alone in a dark dimension, is that no one can hear you scream.
"How much use will he be as a Taken?" Urzok said
"Don't know don't care, but one thing we know about darkness, once its inside you, it never leaves"
"Indeed, so were do we start looking for Crota's spawn?"
"Oryx provided me with her energy marker, so I will about to track her once we are done here"
"Done taking citizens, or killing them?"
"...Yes"
Sev for the most part was either having the most fun in his life or was possibly dreaming about conquering and warfare again, but considering Princess Luna was not here it was most likely the first.
"They fight with the fire of warriors, but they are still not worthy of fighting me!"
"Is that your biggest worry right now?!" Gard said as his psychic powers melted the minds of another wave of aliens, the General for the most part was more then happy to have an excuse to kill something for once.
"Their is always time to consider the optics of the situation General Gard, especially in a crisis"
The Embrace Pokemon mental rolled his eyes as he and Sev continued to battle wave after enemies.
All the while Gard tried glimpsing in the minds of the creatures to see what they were thinking in hope that they which give him a clue as to why they were here and why they were doing this, unfortunately he could not concentrate long enough before an alien tried to claw his eyes out.
Soon the pair after 5 minutes of fighting found themselves surrounded by a field of ash that was what remained of the aliens,
"Ha! Look at them we beat them so bad all that remained was dust, this is what happens when the foolish dare challenge the great Commander Sev!"
Gard paid him no mind, as he was currently looking into the brain of a dying Acolyte, as he peered into its mind he found a language of glyphs and carvings of a language he had never seen before in his life, so it was nearly incomprehensible to understand what they were thinking.
But in the short time he had with the dying creature he did manage to pull one legible sentence from its mind
Vengeance, for Crota!
"Crota. What does that mean? Is it a name? Someone or something?"
"Gard!"
The general snapped out of his train of thought and turned to face Sev.
Are you listing?"
"Yes, of course, pardon me commander but were are the others?"
"I sent Lia with General Char to take her back to base were she would be protected, as for the other they are probably of fighting these creatures"
"We need to call everyone back to base, I believe I may have learned something from these creatures that may help us understand why they are here"
"Hmm, very well send a signal"
Gard nodded and them concentrated as a sent a mental message to throughout the PLA's mental mind link that each of them shared.
Attention all PLA members in the area! Regroup back at base do we can asses the situation!
General Ag was busy pounding a group of Thrall into dust when she received the message from Gard, much to her chagrin.
"And just when I was starting to have fun" The Aggron said as she dropped an unconscious Knight she had knocked out.
The General then began walking down another path when along the way she spotted General Drill looting an abandoned store.
"DRILL!"
Not expecting anyone around the Excadrill gave a yelp as he dropped a handful of jars he was carrying.
"Ag! Don't sneak up on people like that!"
"I could say the same about you stealing things!"
"Hey look I'm not stealing I am merely collecting things for the commander!"
"......That excuse didn't work with Gard so why do you think its gonna work on me?"
"Ehh worth a try"
"Ugh just walk with me, we are expected back at base with everyone else"
Drill shrugged his shoulders before walking behind the Iron Head Pokemon.
"You know Drill when this is over, these zebra's will want to rebuild you would think they will want something to come back to"
"Okay okay! I get it, you really know how to guilt trip someone"
The two walked through the battle torn streets of the city before arriving at the town square.
"Whoa, this place has become a warzone"
"I suppose it is-"
"Yeah but its probably a good thing we are an army, after all you can't fight a war without an army am I right"
But Ag wasn't listening anymore, she was staring at a very specific spot on the ground.
"Hey Ag? What are looking?" Drill walked around her to see why she had stopped "What's got you soooo.....oh no"
Laying before the two Generals in a pool of his own blood was the lifeless body of Genreal Rio.
Sardok for the most part was an observer, his duty was to act as the eye of his King, to guard his shines and never lose them until the Formless one had reclaimed the universe.
But now he was on the battlefield overseeing the first salvo of the coming war.
The Castle which apparently was home to the leadership of this land was on lockdown, no one could get in or out even if they wanted to.
Chosen Shriekers, security measures to Hive used to guard their deep architect, had been set up all over the Castle a total of 40 floating void spitters surrounded the giant building, should a zerba attempt to try and escape the Hive would now.
And they had all the time in the world to wait, one of the perks to having indefinite lifespans.
"Sardok"
The Exalted Hive Knight looked back to see Urrox approaching him.
"Are we not going to storm their castle and wipe out their leadership? After all they are on the losing side."
It was true, in the hour they hand invaded the Hive pretty much controlled the entire city, all its inhabitants were either dead or being Taken, the only resistance left was the few who holed themselves up in the castle, all they had to do was bust down the door any eliminate whoever was found.
Oryx told me not to kill them, he wishes to have to first blood in killing their leaders, once our King gets here then we shall resume.
Before more could be said, Urrox noticed Urzok and Xyor arriving at the castle.
"Ah good, your here, tell me what news do you have about our enemy?"
"I bring both Good tithings and Bad tithings"
"Oh, how so?"
"We have the name of the one who killed Crota a being of Light called...Celestia, she apparently presides over a land called Equestira, but we have yet to know were that is or if she is still alive"
"That will be up to our king to find out, but what are the bad tithings?"
"We have reason to believe that this planet has become the new home og a God of creation called "Arceus" and the these creatures of power, these "Pokemon" are his progeny"
This....was not something Sardok was expecting to hear, Oryx had face a number of beings who claimed to be deities and slew them just to prove a point. But if this Arceus was really a God of Creation, which was in Contrast of Oryx's nature as a God o Destruction, then their King may have more resistance them initially prepared for.
"Very well we shall make the necessary arrangements should this Arceus interfere with our plans for this world"
Within the Dreadnaught Oryx began to ponder all that Xyor had told Sardok, which was in term relayed to the King himslef.
"Well this.....makes things more interesting"
Alak-Hul, the Darkblade who stood beside his foster dad as he pondered the news of this revelation was confused at his fathers statement.
"Forgive me my King, but what do you plan to do about this?"
"Nothing, we shall continue as planned"
"And what if this other god, this Arceus should interfere with your quest for vengeance?"
"....Then he and his children may share their fate, either way the Sword-Logic demands that this Arceus must prove his right to exist"
"Very well, shall we advance the fleet on the planet now?"
"No, not yet...Sardok!"
Yes my King!
"Proceed as planned, awaken my daughter's spawn then I shall join you, once these "Zerba" have been taken we shall, send a message to this world"
"As you wish my king"
Back on the ground Sardok barked to newly received orders from their King, Urrox with his brood would take Xyor and Urzok to a nearby system of caves which lead underground, as it was the most likely place were Omnigul and her spawn slept.
"It is also most likely we shall encounter more of these Pokemon beneath the Earth do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path"
"As if we needed convincing Urrox"
Meanwhile
The Griffin stood atop the hill, her eyes gazed upon the damage these invaders has brought to the Zebra City, much blood had been spilled, no doibt she would use that blood to empower herself to further aid in bringing back her master, but she knew how outnumbered she was and could not make a move until the creatures have had left the city.
But then again Thirst had waited 1,00 years to resurrect Ragnoros, she could wait a little longer.
Verse 1:4 — Syzygy
The Syzygy — Carved to endure by Aurash — The high vengeance —
Only Xi Ro’s bait stars let us escape. Only Sathona’s tricks let us reach the coast. But now that we have my ship, I must lead the way. I am the navigator.
We may never see our homes again. Xi Ro seethes with hate and fury for Taox.
But this is my deepest fear —
Our civilization drifts on the Fundament. At the Tungsten Monoliths I learned that thousands of other species drift with us, coexisting on a vast world sea. And the tides of the Fundament move us all.
The Timid Truth says that we are the smallest, most fragile things alive. The natural prey of the universe. Taox would have us believe that our ancestors came to the Fundament to hide from the hungry void.
My father died afraid. Not of vile Taox or the Helium Drinkers, but of his orrery. He screamed to me —
“Aurash, my first daughter! The moons are different! The laws are bent!”
And he made the sign of a syzygy.
Imagine the fifty-two moons of Fundament lining up in the sky. (It wouldn’t take all fifty-two, of course: just a few massive moons. But this is my deepest fear.) Imagine their gravity pulling on the Fundament sea, lifting it into a swollen bulge...
Imagine that bulge collapsing as the syzygy passed. A wave big enough to swallow civilizations. A God-Wave.
I have to find a way to stop it. Before the God-Wave annihilates my species. If I could only get back into my father’s orrery, I could learn exactly when!
We are weeks of travel and many continents away from home.
When I’m paralyzed by fear, Xi Ro sits in the cabin with me and comforts me with soft, brave words. But more and more we have come to rely on Sathona’s wit. She will go off to be alone (she insists she must be alone) and return with some mad idea — steer into the storm, throw down a net, eat that strange beast, explore that menacing wreck.
Somehow Sathona seems to manufacture good luck by sheer will.
For the more light the worms consume, the hungrier they become. -Mouth of Ur
Taken Thrall
You are a Thrall. Numberless spawn of the Hive. Shrieking and expendable: one pebble in an avalanche. You have been taken. Stop howling. Set down your claws. Your fear is over. Your weakness is done. You will be strong now. What is your purpose? What law drives you? To close with the enemy. To rend it. To move in great numbers, to cower when alone, to swarm when together. But you are predictable. Frail. You cannot pass through fire and shot. You need to be elusive. There is a knife for you. It’s shaped like [sideways]. Take up the knife. Use it. Take your new shape.
PLA Home base, Capital of Zebrica
The inconspicuous meeting room was full of all the leaders of the PLA army, along with King Trot and others who had arrived after receiving the message, everyone was ready to discuss the current crisis at hand.
"I believe we all know why we are here" General Gard said breaking the silence.
"What are these things!?" General Char exclaimed, his tail being more fiery them usual.
"Char deary" Vapora began "Calm down we have to go about this in a calm manner"
"...I'm sorry Vapora, but I will only calm down once I see these invaders six feet under"
The Vaporeon could only sigh as she relented.
"This invaders appear to seek our destruction" Gard continued " But, if what Lia saw is believed to be true then they may not be here on a whim"
"What do you mean?" Char asked
"Lia" Gard said as he motioned the little girl forward "Tell them"
The Krila who for the most part was quiet during the entire meeting spoke up. "I saw a group of aliens surround a Rhyperior before they brought it down then this black and white little sphere appear above it and sucked the entire thing inside"
"....A little orb swallowed a 623.5 pound Pokemon?" Vapora asked
"I know what I saw"
King Trot could only sit in a corner as he fumbled through his thoughts.
"Okay so its obvious these creatures deal in some kind of magic, since this is something we never encountered before I suggest we study our foe before engaging any further" Gard recommended.
"So your plan is to sit here and twiddle out claws while these heretics are out their allowed to go about and do their blasphemous ways!?" General Char yelled.
"Do you want to end up like that Rhyperior, Char?" Lia said.
"I'd rather die for what I believe in than let villainous scum roam free!"
"So you would die with no care for those who love you!?" Vapora cried
"That enough!" Sev's shouted. "We are an army, and we must act like one! Be soldiers not bickerers, we will handled this crisis like soldiers. for we have something these beasts don't a purpose true and pure, sanctioned by our patron Princess Luna herself!"
The Char after hearing Sev's words sat down and kept his mouth shut, it was also at this point that the commander noticed King Trot stareing off into space, as it distracted by something.
"King Trot?"
"Huh? what" The zebra king lost his train of thought as Sev's words brought him back into reality
"You have been sitting there since we started this discussion, what is wring?"
"Umm, well I have been thinking about something"
"Then share it with us, whatever it is it must be important if you are not in conversation with us about the situation at hand"
"Well, its just that, this is not not the first time our planet has been invaded"
"What do you mean?" Char asked.
"You see, in ancient times a race of beings called the Hive tried to destroy our world, they were only stopped by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna"
"...What are you getting at?"
"Well, the Hive were described as three eyed sword wielding warriors who destroyed everything in their path. These creatures have three eyes and we have seen many of them using swords"
"So.. you believe that these guys are the same invaders form your planets distant past?"
The room became silent once more as Trot put on a face of sorrow.
"Wait. Even if these guy are the ancient aleins you speak of, why are they attacking now?" General Gard said
"Maybe they think second times the charm?" Lia suggested
"Maybe, Trot what else do you know about these creatures?"
"Well when they tried to take over our planet, they were lead by a space demon called Crota"
Gard's eyes widened when the name left the kings mouth. "Wait. Did you say Crota?"
"Yes, why? Have you heard that name before?"
"Indeed, I managed to look into the mind of a dying Hive and I was able to translate a single sentence from its wretched mind"
"What was it?"
"It was "Vengeance for Crota" "
Immediately King Trot began to sweat a look of pure fear on his face.
"I must leave, right now"
"Whoa wait why!?"
I don't even have time to explain why I don't have time to explain!" Trot exclaimed as he rushed to the door.
Only to have it slam in his face.
The Zebra turned around to see the face of a waiting Gardivor, his eyes glowing, evidence he had used Physic.
"Make time, if their is anything we will help us know these creatures better you must tell us."
"This isn't about the Hive"
Trot stood up and looked at everyone in the room.
"Its about Princess Celestia"
Khaba walked forward and made eye contact with his king.
"What about her?"
"....You see in the stories my father told me as a child, he spoke of how it was Princess Celestia who personally killed Crota"
Almost all the Zebra leaders who were in the room widened their eyes upon hearing this.
"And if the Hive have returned to this world in order to seek retribution for their leaders death, Celestia will be at the top of their revenge list."
Trot turned away and faced the door once again.
"And I'd see myself hanged before those monsters lay a single claw on the one pony who is the closet thing I have for a mother"
With that said, Trot barged out of the room, Gard made no effort to stop him.
After all...he knew what it was like to loose a mother........
Sinnoh Region, Eterna Forest
The little Krila's head for the most part ached, but it did tell that he was alive.
"Ugh what did I eat last night......wait wrong lines"
One of the last things he remembered was fighting those humans who had hurt Sev until something knocked him out.
Gathering his bearings, he saw that he was in the middle of the forest he looked around to see various PLA members moving equipment around nurses tending to the wounded while Generals barked orders and soldiers answered them.
It is good to see you awake little Gard.
Recognizing the voice the Kirlia turned around to see Commander Viper, leader of the PLA army standing before him.
"Commander, were are we whats going on?"
"The humans somehow managed to drive us out of the island I have lead us to the Eterna Forest as a temporary base"
"But, what about Rayquaza? If mother was able to open his eyes to your greatness surely he would have destroyed any human oppressors"
At that moment, the Commanders Expression became unreadable.
"Commander Viper...What happened to the mission?"
"....The mission was a failure"
"What!?"
"Rayquaza escaped the humans released our brother before your mother could make him see the light of our cause"
The news was...saddening to Gard, Rayquaza was a legendary, a child of Arceus, had he been recruited to the PLA their power as well as their support would have bolstered, his loss was a tragedy.
Speaking of which...
"Commander, where is my mother, I to talk to her more about what happened, after all would she have keep the humans from reaching him?"
At that moment Gard saw the commander stiff for a moment, before seeing something in his eye that he had never seen before...or should not ever have been seen from the commander.
Sorrow.
Suddenly a feeling of emptiness began to emanate from the Seviper, as if something important from his life had been taken from him, but the Kirila didn't know what yet.
"Gard, I want you to know that I have always regarded you and your mother my family and that I will protect my own to the last scale on my back.....but I have failed, I could not protect my beloved ones"
"Commander.......what are you saying?"
"I am sorry Gard....but your mother was killed doing her her duty, she died at the hands of the humans"
As soon as the words registered in Gards mind, everything went blank as his entire world collapsed around him.
And on that day the cries of sadness broke the night as a child mourned for its mother
Urzok walked with the rest of his brood as the energy marker of his mother, Omnigul, grew stronger the deeper they descended into the caves.
In truth family was not one of the things the Hated gave much thought about, as a member of the Hive sect, "The Spawn of Crota" that made Crota his father and Oryx his Grandfather.
Even though he did not give blood ties much thought, it was a crucial part of Hive society, if one survived the battle the Hive constantly threw their Thrall in they were granted the rank of Acolytes followed by the choice to become a Mother/Wizard or a Knight if a Knight and in turn become Princes leading their own broods.
In short, if a Hives glory was only measured by the amount of light one claimed for their patron Gods.
Crota knew that, Crota knew many things, unfortunately Crota took whatever knowledge he had with him to the void. So when Oryx found out that his son, his champion, his Eater of Hope extinguished, you can guess that fatherly instincts kicked in.
Despite what most other species thought, the Hive were not completely heartless, they knew love, and this love was war.
And it was our of war/love that Urzok keep descending, egar to find the one who had spawned him.
"We are close" Xyor said "The energy maker is getting stronger"
But the deeper they went a thought entered Xyor's mind.
"These cave have been here for centuries surely these creatures could have stumbled upon the Hive resting place?" Cunning and curiosity were the natures of Savuthan and Oryx, she that many other possessed these traits, knowledge was power in the eyes of almost everyone, if the Hive did such a number on this world, enough that the Hive would be reduced to the stories fathers tell their spawn at night, surely they would have checked every crack, every crevice in order to make sure those stories stayed stories right?
"Then we havn't they?"
Xyor was interrupted from her thoughts when the energy maker suddenly started to glow brighter, indicating that their target was near, very near.
Xyor looked around as the tunnel got smaller and smaller.
Finally the end came when the cave ended in a solid wall which prevented from advancing any further.
King Trot at the moment was both angry and worried, which emotion was stronger was yet to be determined.
"Try and find a way! This is Celestia's life we are talking about!"
His secretary at the moment was feeling nervous. "But my king its just impossible to get ANY sort message to the outside world with these monster breathing down our neck"
"Then find a way! see it one of those flying pokemon or pegasus can fly all the way to Equestria"
"We tried! Any attempt to leave the castle has been halted by those floating spheres that shoot anything that gets near"
Trot look as if he was gonna make another excuses, only the slump down in his throne putting a hoove to his forehead in frustration "Leave me"
As Zebra quickly left the room, a maid who has been eavesdropping on the conversation found the opportunity to walk in.
"My King?"
Trot looked up to see one of his maids, Sunny Days enter the throne room. "Oh, Sunny, what is it"
"I couldn't help but overhear you shouting at the secretary, is something wrong?"
Trot was initially about to say "its nothing" and ask her to leave, until the need to tell someone about this crept up.
"Sunny can I tell you something?"
"Of course" the maid walked closer and then sat down at the foot of the throne.
"Have you ever felt like their was someone you cared about in danger and that you where powerless to save them?"
"...I can't say I have"
"Well I now know what Sev felt when his sister was kidnapped"
"Pardon me?"
"I have reason to believe that the aliens who besiege us are the ancient evil known as the Hive, creature who visited the planet 1,000 years ago and tried to destroy us all"
Sunny's eyes widened at this revelation but lamented because she knew her from the look in his eyes the King was not lying.
"Oh I see"
"The PLA have determined that they are here to finish what they started as well as avenged the death of their leader, the Demon Crota"
"Which means?"
"If revenge is one the top of their to do list then Princess Celestia will be at their prime target"
"Oh no" Sunny knew how close Trot was to the alicron, he practically saw her as his mother, if she was in danger I would make sense that Trot would do anything to warn her about the impending danger, which given the state to the current situation was not an option.
"But here I am stuck in my own castle with no way contacting her, that is if they haven't reached her already"
As Trot began to fall into dispare knowing full we Celestia would have now way knowing what was coming for, he felt a pair of arms warp around his neck.
"It will be alright my King their is a reason Celestia has lived for as long as she has, warning or not I'm sure she can take care of herself"
"But what if she can't? What if this time she loses, and I loose the closest thing I have to mom, considering I don't die in this place first"
Sunny let go of the hug and look her king in the eye.
But you have forgotten on thing"
"Oh, whats that"
"Arceus, and the Pokemon, this world in now their home to and you can bet my life they won't stand by while the Hive try and wipe us all out
"Thats....true, your right Sunny"
"I am, so stop worrying about Celestia and start worrying about your Kingdom and your people, they are the one that need you right now, not Celestia"
Trot nodded in agreement, his duty and his responsibility was to the citizens of Zebrica, Celestia could wait.
"Sunny"
"Yes"
"Call all my officers and lieutenants, its time we plan our counter attack"
The zebra acknowledges and left the throne room.
Trot then walked to the closed window looking in the direction of the setting sun.
"Please look after her Arceus"
"Their is nothing here!" an impatient Hive Knight exclaimed as Xyor checked the rock for the third time.
"Be still, sometimes the best way to hide things is in plain sight"
"Well all I see is rock" said Urzok "I have to agree with him what is here that we cannot see?"
Xyor maid then no mind was she floated to the center of wall.
Suddenly she fell her hand fit into an small hole that she had not noticed before, Inspecting it she discovered that it had the same shape of the energy marker that lead them here"
"Well then you know what they say Urzok, sometime the best way to hide things"
The wizard took out the marker and inserted it into the hole.
"Is in plain sight"
To the surprise of the other Hive, the wall crumbled away to reveal a hidden chamber that contained various Hive sarcophagi
The group walked into and began to examine their discovery.
"Well what do you know, that wall was warded to that the natives would not dig any further, Omni is very clever"
"Why don't you tell that yourself"
Urzok turn to she Xyor in front of a tomb that was more decorative than the rest, as he approached it the wizard poured her magic into the box which then began to glow.
After a few seconds the cover opened to reveal a sleeping wizard which bore the mark of the Will of Crota.
Soon the Hive mother began to stir and came back to life.
"Omnigul, Will of Crota, you father, our King demands that you once again rise to the task of cleansing this world of the life.
Fully awake, the consort of Crota rose from her resting place and faced Xyor.
"Well then" Omnigul said "What are we waiting for?"
The Taken
From the Journals of Ikora Rey
I have been talking to Eris about the Taken.
She agrees that what we observe — the apertures, the starlight, and of course the Taken entities — is not Hive magic. If Hive arcana is a metaphor, this is the meaning; if they make appeals, then this is the judge.
Oryx wields this power. But Oryx did not make it. We face the same flower we met in the Black Garden.
The process is simple: an aperture opens, like a jaw, and swallows a living thing. It passes into — another place. Later, it returns.
What returns is...
I try to use the word ‘shadow’ but Eris hisses at me. A shadow is a flat projection cast by a light and an object. Less real. Eris insists that these Taken are more real, somehow. She uses words like inhabited, exalted, rendered final...
Is this power blind? Just a natural energy Oryx discovered? I cannot believe it.
My Hidden tell me that the Taken shine with seething, negative light. As if the universe is curling up around them. As if they radiate some pathology that decays into our world as nothingness...
The Taken serve Oryx. But I think those jaws lead elsewhere.
I dream about what happens on the inside. I dream about what might happen. Are the victims devoured, and replaced by simulacra? Husked out and filled up? Is some mathematical operation conducted on them, translating them from one shape to another?
What would I see, if I leap inside? What would happen to a Guardian? Is that how we end this — all of us leaping into the dark, to fill it up with light?
Eris thinks there’s a poetry to how the Taken change. She thinks we can chart the difference, and understand the will behind it.
At the beginning, they stood in the thrall of the Formless One, and they offered themselves to its depth
-Grasp of Eir
Sardok, Eye of Oryx
"Until the Darkness reigns, the Eyes must never close"
INTEL: There are whispers of shrines to the fabled Oryx peppered across the stars. Stories tell of walking nightmares, protectors of bones and fury, towering over these prized chambers.
General Ag had seen and experienced many things, fought many battles, and watched comrades fall before the hands of the enemy, at it all accumulated to point when you think she would be used to this stuff by now.
Yet somehow, looking at General Rio's lifeless body as she set it down in what as essentially the makesift PLA morgue, it struck a chord within her metal frame.
"He was one our our greatest members" The Aggaron turned to her left as she saw General pay his respects to the dead commander.
"Yes, may Arceus give him eternal peace" Ag said respectfully.
As Drill covered the Lucario's body with a white cloth, another thought entered his mind just as they left the room, as the duo walked down the hallway Drill broke the silence by saying something that only made their hearts sink even more.
"What are we gonna tell his family?"
For a split second Ag froze in fear, he was right, Rio was the father of 15, not to mention an irate wife who be absolutely crushed when the fate of mate reached her ears. Her thoughts also turned to Lu, the poor child would be devastated when he would her the news, the little Riolu looked up to his father a lot, the inevitable scene would be heartbreaking for all no doubt.
Ag remember how whenever she asked her mate General Gard about the subject of her mother, he would avoid the issue, but almost every time she would notice a pang of sadness in his eyes.
"We will tell them the truth, General Rio died fighting, and that he died an honorable death"
Drill was a little surprised at her answer, but relented as his conscious told him she was right.
"Yes, that is exactly what we shall do"
Light to the Hive was delicious, it provided their Gods with tithe in a chain of command that went all the way up to the Formless One, it was also a source of power for them, the more light the Hive consumed the more powerful they became, but in the hands of the enemy it was a weapon to be used against them, a warrior of light could slay and entire legion of Thrall and if used correctly, fell their King's and Queens, sending them back into the Ascendant realms.
So when Omnigul breached the surface of caves for the first time in a ten centuries, she was greeted by the sight of the setting sun as it started to disappear over the horizon.
But the Will of Crota paid the shrinking light no mind, their was work to be done, and little time to do it.
"How long have I been asleep?" Omnigul asked as the rest of the group exited the caves.
"You have been in slumber for 1,000 of this planets years" Xyor said "Long enough for Oryx to build up enough power in order to destroy this world once he has killed his your mates slayer"
"I see" The mother wizard was loyal to her mate and had for centuries planned and executed every aspect of Crota's raids and attacks on various worlds of Light. When her spawn invaded this world, she was the commanding general to all their battles, so when she learned that her consort was somehow slain by that creature of light, the one called Celestia, she carried out the final wish of her master: to hide the remainder of their spawn and wait until the day Oryx would send for their awakening.
And now that day had come.
"So how exactly does Oryx plan to avenge my husband?"
Xyor relaid the tale of Oryx's quest for revenge as they made their way back towards the city where the other Hive were, she told her how she fit into his plan for revenge as command of the Spawn of Crota was still her title and she would be instrumental as she knew this world better than Oryx or the other Hive did.
"We know the name of the one who killed Crota, a lump of flesh and light called Princess Celestia, do you now of where she is and if she may still be alive?"
Omnigul turned around and gave Xyor the closest thing Hive could to a smile.
"Oh yes, not only is she still alive, but I know how to hurt her"
"Really? How do you know this"
"I may have been asleep for centuries, but that does not mean I was ignorant of the world around me"
"Do tell"
"As a consort of a Hive God I have special "privileges", I can detach my soul from my body the way Crota does with his Oversoul, but I used mine in the way unlike how Crota did to hide from death, no what I did had far more reaching consequences"
"And just what did you do?"
"Oh, I did a lot of things" It was at this point that Omnigul began to drift back into the past in which she had left a legacy of evil.
1,000 years ago
Luna was not happy, in fact she could not smile to save her life.
And could one blame her? Despite her indefinite lifespan the Lunar alicorn was still subject to the laws and emotions of a normal pony, things like anger, joy, sorrow...even depression.
"I guess no one is coming today"
The younger of the royal sisters sat in her Night Court, flanked by two of her personal guard, as per her duties she held her court at nighttime to coincide with her raising the moon, at the same time she would answer any audiences or resolve whatever grivences her pony subjects may have.
Unfortunately no one was even awake to make a single complaint, their beds and the dreamscape called to them now.
"I probably should have suggested to Celestia that we share the day court, at least it would take some work of her shoulders"
Who says you need her permission? Are you not equals with your sister in terms of political power.
Luna for a moment thought that she heard someone, however the voice was so low and had little influence that the Princess dismissed it as one of her own thoughts.
But for some reason she found the need to answer her own mind.
"Yes, I am but we are in this together, whatever decisions we make about the Kingdom have to be agreed by both of us" Luna whispered to herself.
Maybe, that what you see it as, but do your subject see it that way?
"....What do you mean?"
When was the the last time YOU suggested a Law or decision when it came to your shared "Kingdom"?
Luna tried to form the words but found she could not force herself to admit it.
Exactly, EVERY single New Law the was brought up came from Celestia's mouth, Whenever a choice came regarding Kingdom relations or civil rights, Celestia was the one to suggest them, and do you know why?!
"..........."
Its because your so called beloved subjects bring all their matters and problems to your sister! They don't want to talk to someone who got her butt handed to her by the demon who razed half the planet, no, they wish to seek the guidance and wisdom of hero of Equestria and the world! Celestia, slayer of Crota, destroyer of Demons! Why would they waste their time with someone as weak and pathetic as smaller fish in basket!?
"ENOUGH!" Luna shouted, she had heard just about enough of this voice!
"Uhhh....Princess?"
Luna immediately calmed down when she realized that she just yelled in front of her own guards.
"Is everything alright?"
Luna looked at her guards and then at the banner that hung above the doorway to the throne room the one which depicted the crests of the Royal sisters.
She noticed that where Celestia's colors shined even at nighttime, her side faded and blended in with the darkness.
"Everything is fine Skyshear......you are all dismissed court is adjourned"
As Luna said this she waked in fast pace to the door and out of the room leaving a pair of very confused Batpony Guards.
Luna slamed the door to her room and leaped into her bed, she put a pillow over her ears, as if a futile attempt to silence the whispering thoughts.
You know i'm right, in time they will one day think of the Princess of Equestria they shall say Celestia first every time
Luna squeezed the pillow tighter
And this ins't just a fact my dear princess, it is the truth, the final truth
Omnigul looked to the sky as the Hive fleet descended from the sky, carrying with it the full force of the Hive broods.
But all her attention was drawn elsewhere as darkness began to gather in the air, beginning to form a shape of some kind.
Until finally the darkness dissipated and in its place was and Echo. An Echo of Oryx.
The mother Wizard approached the shadowed image of her King, and bowed before it.
"My King"
"Omnigul, you are here"
"That I am father, now that I am awake what shall we do about the one who killed Crota"
"Patience my child, death will come to this Celestia in time, but first she must watch as her world burns"
"I see, a wise decision"
“The best way to break someone — mentally, physically, emotionally — wait until they’re happy. That is why I let this planet live, love and thrive for so long instead of just attacking immediately . Once something knows the value of a life well lived… THAT’S when you move in for the kill. When shall take everything from this world and these Pokemon who foolishly now call it home, because you can’t take anything from someone who has nothing to lose.”
Lu did not like the thought of standing around and doing nothing, he wanted to be out there fighting those aliens and villaisn who dared to try and destroy their new way of life. He wanted to be like his dad and go fight these evil creatures.
"Speaking of which, were is dad?"
"Hey Lu!"
The Riolu turned bright red when a playful Krila tackled him from behind.
"Watcha doing?"
"L-l-l-Lia! Don't scare me like that!"
"Aww, does that mean you don't like my surprises" The Kirla then gave her boyfriend a set of baby eyes that would make even Kyurem himself relent.
"N-n-no! That's not its, just I'm was thinking about something"
"Oh, like what?"
"Well, why are we still in the building when we should be out there fighting aliens and keeping them from eating our brains?"
"Big bro said that its too dangerous to go outside since the aliens have the entire place surrounded. Plus We haven't got a sure plan to as to how we fight back"
"So we are just suppose to sit here until they decide to bust down the door and kill everyone!? I don't like the idea of that"
"Well...I don't either, but if you go out their guns blazing, you'll just get hurt, or worse I might lose you, and you don't want to do that to me do you?"
The emphize this Lia laid her head on Lu's shoulder in a way that made him even redder.
"Umm Lu?"
The Riolu looked up to see General Ag looking down at him, she seem the have a sad face.
"Yes?"
"There is something I need to tell you, its about your father"
"What? What happened to him!?"
The Riolu started to get up out of fear, only to be stopped as the Aggron put her hands on his shoulders.
"You have been a brave boy, me and the other Generals have seen you come a long way since we moved here, but now I need you to brave a little more"
"What's going on? What are you talking about?"
"...You father, was fighting the aliens when they first came here, we found him after the battle was over and...."
Somehow the Riolu began to tear up, somehow already knowing what she was going to say.
"He didn't make it, I'm sorry"
The hallways were then filled with the sorrowing cries of a Emanation Pokémon.
1. This year of wild voyaging, these lightning nights and golden days, these forays into ancient wrecks and windblown flights from monsters: these are the happiest times of my life.
2. I want to be a mother not because I want to spawn but because I want a long life. Long enough to make a difference. We have been at sea a year and I am afraid, afraid we will die out here.
3. I know where to find secrets. I know where vast slow things with long memories live.
4. The needle ship...
The needle ship — Carved in my code by Sathona — A liar —
1. We salvaged the needle from the Shvubi Maelstrom. I knew it would be there.
2. The needle is a gray ship, as long and slender as hope, as unbreakable as time, and old. Older than death. It tumbled through the maelstrom before our ancestors crashed into the Fundament. This is not a sea-ship, like Aurash’s. It is an artifact of high technology.
3. I know its purpose. I know what happened to the crew.
4. Xi Ro wants to sell the ship at Kaharn Atoll, where species gather. At auction, it would earn us enough wealth to hire mercenaries. We could retake our Osmium Court and send the baby-eating Helium Drinkers screaming into the ocean —
5. — but I told Xi Ro the ship was worthless.
6. Aurash wants to open the ship and see if we can take command of it. I know this is the right thing to do. I know because I asked the worm...
The worm — Carved in my code by Sathona — Who should be afraid —
1. It was my father’s familiar. I ripped it from him as we fled. It is a dead white thing, segmented, washed up from the deep sea.
2. It’s dead, but it still speaks to me. It says: listen closely, oh vengeance mine...
"One sword stands tallest among them, leading the charge against us all."
INTEL:General of the Swarm Princes and by default Crota's overall army Sardon uses his special ability "A Dark Burden" to slow down his foes, making them easier to hunt kill.
Zebrica, 36 hours later
Urrox walked through the field of dead bodies as his "day job" just came to an end. He passed the decaying corpses as they all began to lit on fire due to his mere presence.
It had been over one planetary rotation since he and his fellow Hive had invaded this world and besieged this land, during this time the leaders of this land had held up in the a palace ever since they arrived. Since it would be too easy to just go in and put them out of their misery.
When someone asked Oryx why they don't just kill them here and now, he said this:
"A swift death benefits no one but the victim. Let them wait. Let them panic and argue. Let them lose themselves in a frenzy of reproach. Postponing our assault is not an act of mercy, it is an act of torture"
So to pass the time and prolong the suffering of those inside, Urrox and his kin began to travel the land and just killed everything in sight, while the zebras were easy to cut down, these "Pokémon" provided the occasional challenge.
Soon they had for all intents and purposes committed genocide by razing the entire Kingdom, those that survived were captured and transported to the Dreadnaught where they would eventually be ground down into chitin for making Tompships.
But all good thing must come to an end, as Oryx had now just summoned all the Hive back to the palace where they would finally storm the place and destroy all its occupants.
The fact that the Dreadnaught was now in the skies above the capital city basically confirmed this.
"Let this world bear witness to our ascension, and its destruction" Urrox said.
King Trot was sweating beads as a giant ominous ship loomed out the remains of the capital city, its very presence casting a shadow over the palace as it blotted out the sun.
"A display of power"
Trot turn to see that Sev was next to his observing the scene that was unfolding before them.
"What?" Trot asked.
"They wish to try and show a display of power order to strike fear into our hearts, I used to do the same thing to the humans back on Earth"
"Did your display's work?"
"Of course it worked! I'm me!"
Trot narrowed his eyes before changing the subject.
"Have you been able to contact Princess Luna yet? Does Equestria know of our situation?"
Sev's face immediately went from proud to sorrow, a reaction Trot hope he wouldn't get out of him.
"No, for whatever reason Luna has not shown up in my dreams for the past two nights, I would chalk it up the these aliens, they must be blocking her out somehow, you would think the Princess of dreams would notice the nightmares of the people in this Kingdom."
"Sev has a point," Trot thought to himself, surely someone would have a nightmare about these creatures enough that Princess Luna would know about all this, something is very wrong here.
"Well if we can't reach Equestria though dreams, then one of us will just have to sneak out and go there"
"We have tried that already, anytime a zebra or Pokémon has tried to get out, they get mauled by those pale skinned aliens"
"True, but there is one thing we haven't tried before"
"Oh? Tell me"
"As you know Gard is the most capable Psychic in the PLA"
"Yes, you said that almost all the time"
"So, what I propose is that he teleport some of us far away from the patrols outside the palace, then he can just teleport in short jumps away from here and be in Equestria in no time."
"...Okay, but say we your plan works, I don't think Gard would get to Equestria in time, seeing as our doom is literally looming over us"
"Do you have a better idea?" Sev said in an annoyed tone.
Before Trot could respond, a sudden rumble shook the entire palace. When Trot regained his balance, he looked outside to see that the aliens were now bombarding the place with a barrage of firepower.
"Yeah let's go with your idea"
Urrox was surprised when the door wasn't blown away in the first blast, he was even more impressed when it was still standing when Gulrot started banging on it.
"Hmmm, they are more resilient than I thought, what do you think Malok?"
The Taken Knight said nothing, but he did step forward and with a wave of his hand a taken blight began to spawn.
And when in was done, a taken Pokémon stood before them.
Urrox noted how the creature had a horn on it head, as well as two long arms that appeared to be able to shoot rocks out of them.
"Ah yes, I have yet to see what these creatures can do when taken, seeing as they already possess some interesting powers"
The Taken Rhyperior stood there twitching in place, waiting for a command from its masters.
Malok then uttered an incomprehensible word which Urrox could not understand.
But the Taken Pokémon clearly understood what he said, as it as now charging some kind of energy in its mouth.
Gard flinched a little as another quake shook the whole palace, he was busy concentrating as he directed the remaining PLA to their battle stations.
"This will not end well, for both of us" Gard said as he broke the link and went to join the fight"
The Gardevoir looked to see as the palaces foundations began to crack and shatter, screams from both Zerba's and PLA could be heard at the aliens began to storm the place and attacked everything in sight, Gard didn't even look as he blasted a Thrall back out a window.
Gard then found Ag fighting...Pokémon, at least that's what they looked liked.
These Pokémon were completely black, except for a single white "eye" on their heads, also they appeared to twitching with a emotionless look on their faces.
Gard put his curiosity aside as he went to help his mate.
"What are these things? Pokémon?" Ag said.
"They look like Pokémon," Gard responded as he dodged a Focus Blast "They act like Pokémon, but they sure as hell don't feel like Pokémon"
"Think those aliens must have done something to them? Cause they sure seem to working side by side with them"
"I can't seem to read their minds, they must have used some kind of dark magic to turn them"
"Or space magic"
Soon Gard and Ag had cleared the room of the strange dark Pokémon, albeit they were tired from the ordeal.
"Man, those things were relentless, even I had a hard time dodging all those attacks"
"Same here"
After Gard caught his breath, he looked around at the damage caused by the battle, not a single corpse laid before them.
It had not escaped his notice that whenever they defeat one of those things, their bodies either vanished into thin air or were sucking into a small singularity in a fluid like motion.
"What have these aliens wrought" Gard thought
"Gard!"
The General turned to see a battle stained Sev and Trot running up to them, they both looked worse for wear.
"Sev, what is it?"
"I have a plan and I need your help to do it."
General Char shifted through the chaos of the palace as he cut down alien after alien, his righteous fury being channeled into every swipe of his claw.
"Alien heretics know not what they sow, I shall show them retribution unlike any who I have encountered before!"
Char was about to ambush another group of pale skinned aliens when he heard a familiar scream coming from another hallway.
"Wait a minute...that was!"
Char drop what he was doing and rushed to where the dressing rooms of the palace where.
And his heart dropped when he came upon the scene.
The room was on fire and it was not the smoke that made Char hold his breath, no, it was the sight of a red color 30 foot tall alien in the center of the room.
And in his claws was an unresponsive Vapora.
It took the alien raising his giant sword to snap Char out of his shock.
"RAAAAAAGGGHHH!"
Urrox looked to his left to see another a Pokemon lunged at him, this one was orange and resembled an Ahamkara, the Hive didn't even blink when he smacked it aside with the flat of his sword.
Char, immediately got back to his feet when the alien knocked him aside, even more angrier than before. This monster had hurt his mate, the very thought alone made this guy worthy of his wrath.
"If you so much as look at her again I will end you before you you can start!"
Thanks to Omnigul, Urrox could understand most of what this one said, apparently the water creature was his mate. And if his talks with Alak-Hul had told him anything, mates were one of the most cherished things mortals had.
"Then do it, what's stopping you" Urrox said
At those words Char lunged at the fiery Hive with the fury of a inferno.
"You want me to what?" Gard said
"I need you to take Lia and Lighting Dust to Princess Luna and warn her of what is happening here"
"But-"
"I have every confidence that you can teleport them all the way past the alien blockade,"
"Sev!"
"Yes!"
"I can do this yes, but why just Lia and Lighting Dust? What about you and everyone else"
"And me!" Ag injected
"I shall stay here, and go down fighting with the King, and everyone else"
"What!?"
"What!?" Trot said.
"We will all die fighting, our deaths shall be glorious enough that they will never notice you leaving."
Despite Gards psychic intelligence and his acceptance of Sev's mental state of mind, it took him a while to process the logic of his plan.
"Sev, I will not let you die here"
"I wish I could come with you, but you know the saying, a captain goes down with his ship"
"You're a commander and this is not a ship" Gard deadpanned.
"Will you follow my commands or not!?"
".....Yes"
"Sev!"
The Seviper turned to see a little Kirlia towards him.
"Lia, I was just about to go looking for you"
His sister stopped in front of him before puffing out her chest, taking in a much needed breath.
"Well I'm here, what do you need"
"I have a very important mission for you, the most important mission I will ever give you!"
"Alright what is it? Fight some aliens? Help the wounded? Provide army moral?"
"Lia, this is your mission, tell the world of our sacrifice here, give them the warning we never got!"
"Wait....what?!"
"I shall hold them here, while you and the others escape under the cover of my battles, my sacrifice shall give you time to get away unnoticed"
"But you won't sacrifice yourself right? You're gonna be okay!"
For the first time, Sev was unsure of himself. "I...I can't promise that"
"NO!" Lia shout was enhanced by her psychic powers, pushing everyone back a little. "Your Commander Sev! Nothing can defeat you! You said it yourself" the Kirlia was practically at tears.
"Lia...."
"I won't leave you! I won't loose my brother"
"...Yeah, you're right anyone who is the sister of Commander Sev is never fall unless I say so"
The Kirlia started to smile as hope dawned on the situation.
"Exactly, you're my brother and family always looks out for each other.
"Yes, they do"
The Seviper wrapped himself around his sister in a loving embrace, Lia returning the hug.
"Which is why I still have to do this"
*shunk!*
Lia gasped as she felt a pair of fangs sink into her back, but before she could do anything she quickly lost conscious.
The Kirlia fell the floor sleeping soundly.
"What did you do?" Trot exclaimed.
"I use a strain of my venom that puts people to sleep, she will be fine"
It took Trot a second to process what Sev was trying to do, and soon came to agree with his choice.
"Gard, you know you orders"
"Yes...find Lighting Dust, then take her and Lia to safety"
"General Ag"
"Yes sir?"
"It has been an honor serving beside you, take care, that is an order"
".....Yes sir"
Sev then turned around and began to slither away, only to stop and gave one last glance at the sleeping form of Lia.
"Forgive me"
Verse 1:6 — Sisters
A register of tokens and gestures exchanged before the end of sisterhood.
“Xi Ro, my brave sister, you have worked too hard to move the carcasses out of the birthing room! Come. Steer the ship for a while. Take joy in what our needle can do.”
Xi Ro tried to protest, but secretly, she was so glad for Aurash’s care. She flew the needle ship in cutting circles, down beneath the sea: and their wake rose up to the surface like a traitor’s dying breath.
“Aurash, lonely navigator, we have traveled so long with only each other. I know you love to hear and speak new tongues. Come, sit in the flesh garden room. I will read you these stories I bought at Kaharn.”
Aurash sat among the mummified flesh fans with two of her eyes closed and listened in silence to Sathona’s stories, hungry to understand, voracious to know as much as she could before her ten year life died.
Later, Xi Ro said, “Sathona, cutting mind of ours, you grow lonely in your thought. Play swords and lanterns with me!”
But Sathona was heavy with sorrow, and couldn’t pretend any joy as she chased Xi Ro through the needle’s glistening halls.
“Sathona, pensive one, what is it? What troubles you?”
Her sisters listened as Sathona said “Oath-bearing siblings, we are five years old. For two years we’ve worked to repair this ancient ship and understand its systems. I am almost too old for the mother jelly, and the knights who killed our father are surely dying of age.
“We three will die here, in exile. Taox will outlive us. And Aurash, brilliant-eyed Aurash, you will die of old age long before you have proof of your God-Wave, or any way to stop it.”
Aurash and Xi Ro looked at each other. “I wish you weren’t so honest,” Xi Ro said. And Aurash thought that Sathona had never been wrong.
In her soul Aurash knew that the only way to keep their oath was to find a great, powerful secret. A secret that could change everything. This was Aurash’s soul, her fire and her shadow — her desire to cut through the flank of the world and find its beating heart.
“We have to dive,” Aurash said. “That’s what this ship is built to do. Dive into the Fundament, the world below us... towards the core.”
“That’s where the ancient crew died so obscenely,” Xi Ro protested. “That’s where the atrocity in the birthing room was born...”
“We have to dive,” Sathona said, following the whispers of her familiar. “In the world beneath us, in the metallic depths, I hope we may find what we need most...”
