"Seldom does actions of pure intent result without dire consequence, often when we ignore enemies we believed beaten, they come back with a vengeance..."
Tirek has been beaten hands down for the second time and sent screaming back into Tartarus Prison, a defeat like his would perhaps be lesson enough to concede defeat and for Tirek, that was what he resigned himself to do lest his next attempt cost him more dearly. But for Tirek this was once again not the end for him whether he likes it or not, fate has plans for the fallen prince as he is greeted by a shadowy figure, but only a voice is what he receives first in the dark meeting.
"Defeated again?...You are pathetic!"
"Who mocks me?! Leave me in peace so I may live my wretched existence til time ends...." Tirek weakly replied curling in a corner of his cage, his chains clink and scrape as he moved.
A dark echoing cackle responded instead to the centaur's futile request and soon more words follow...
"You misunderstand me Tirek, I come not to mock your tragic circumstance, but to offer you freedom once more; and the power you seek..." the voice hissed in a tempting tone.
"What makes you think I would take your offer?" Tirek asked not bothering to try and find the source of his guest's voice.
His reply was a startling and sudden glow of the cage of which it corroded away in seconds, next his chains also turned to rust dust...
"How did you do that??" Tirek asked in genuine amazement.
"That was merely a taste, of the power I've acquired over my time spent in hiding, deep in the shadows, in the darkest place I could find, buying time for my plans...Of conquest! Of power!"
Tirek paused as he considered his options, his new 'friend' freed him within a minute; the offer the guest was giving became more tempting the more Tirek sat there free once more.
"I'm listening..." Tirek said trying to stand after a long time being down, only to collapse.
"Allow me my starving friend~" The voice crooned as soon magic wafted toward Tirek, upon smelling the energy Tirek absorbed it like a starving animal, the power he felt was amazing! Instantly Tirek felt at least 90% his old self.
"What-...What is this power??" Tirek asked again in a more amazed tone, he was purely in awe.
"A gift, tis a mere appetizer compared to the main course~"
"Am I to understand you want Equestria as well?"
"But of course! But unlike Discord I will not be naive to give you full free range in this partnership, allying yourself with me...Comes with a price."
"And what such price do you place on this 'alliance'?" Tirek asked stepping away from the spot he stood to seek his liberator.
"The price I ask..." The voice began, still echoing off the stone walls around Tirek eliminating chance of pinpointing, "Is that of...Your soul."
"What?! You ask me for such a deal as this!? I'm no weak pony! Nor a lesser being!" Tirek thundered.
"Would you prefer I leave you here and seek out other allies?" The voice replied coolly.
Tirek was silent from that and looked in conflicted thought; what was he to do? Freedom was his and if this presence could free him with such ease, how easily could perhaps he imprison him again?
"Despite my power I still need an army so consider your answer please, and wisely...I have only one other and she is...Not enough."
Tirek took his time on this one, he wanted another chance at revenge, power, freedom; maybe it was desperation, maybe freedom tasted too good despite it being only 3 years after his crushing defeat, or it could be a buried hatred and sense of injury from the ponies who beat him.
"Join me and take revenge on the 6 who humiliated you..."
"............Deal." Tirek said at last.
"A wise decision, welcome to the 'Army..." A dark cloud appeared imposingly floating toward Tirek in a slow menacing pace, after drifting toward him it stopped 30yds from Tirek, and finally, out stepped the mystery figure hooded and bearing a black staff with a Equine skull on the top with rubies for eyes, and a snake's skeleton worming up the shaft above where he gripped it.
After walking to Tirek the figure lifted his hood revealing a goat headed figure burn burning red eyes and black, hollow pupals.
"...Of Tambelon's Hell-spawns'! The figure proclaimed.
Tirek's eyes widened as it soon dawned on him who he sold his soul over too...The Shadow Lord of Tambelon, The Dark Sovereign of the Damned....
"You.....I-I don't believe it..." Tirek said developing a what would be impossible cold sweat on the back of his neck.
"Believe it Prince Tirek, I Lord Grogar, leader and master of cursed souls, Ruler of Tambelon...I have returned..."
Meanwhile in Ponyville, Twilight and Starlight were reorganizing books in the library...Again, Starlight put up with it best she could like the helpful drake but now Starlight had a comment on this matter after returning 30 books back to their spot on the shelves.
"No offense Twilight but I see why Spike hates this task."
"Starlight you know why that happens; I reorganized whenever I remove more that 10 books at a time and if not careful put books back just for the sake of re-shelving and end up putting books out of order." Twilight explained as she flew to the highest self and inserted a book.
"Then try to be more careful then."
"With me Starlight? You know by now I am very careful, things just happen no matter how cautious you are." Twilight retorted back.
"Of course..." Starlight deadpanned as she shelved the books tossed with care into piles for later shelving, all 735 of them.
"Where did you come across these?" Starlight asked looking at books that looked out of place, which was a given since they looked very very old.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"These here."
"Oh those! Those are from Celestia and Luna's old castle; I decided to help myself to some of them for my own collection." Twilight beamed, blushing a little as if her act was a guilty pleasure.
"That so? I'm sure the princesses have plenty to share of their past should they choose to."
"I would think they would share most of their past Starlight."
"Maybe; even they like secrets for a reason, I sure they're like everypony and they don't share their whole life's story."
"I guess so; see anything that catches your attention?"
"Nothing much but old literature, old stories, memoirs, and other no offense boring books."
"Well some books are not for everypony." Twilight said completing one level of books re-shelve; Twilight was about to start another level when...
"Whoa! Who's this guy?"
"Who you talking about Starlight?" Twilight asked floating down to see what Starlight discovered.
"I found something in what looks like a storybook."
"What's the book?"
"The title reads 'Tambelon: Kingdom of the damned'."
"Oo~ Spooky, who's the guy you talk about?"
"His name is 'Lord 'Grogar' '."
"Grogar? From the children's book about Dusty the unicorn?" Twilight asked a little amused to hear a book featuring a childish storybook villain.
"I know but this isn't a book for foals...This reads..." Starlight began, then quoting the description in the prologue.
"....*The Hircum lord of dark power and derisively nicknamed 'Fallen kin of Death's pet' or 'The Devil's pet', ruler of a domain he fashioned of the souls of damned ponies who were non-believers, heretics, or blasphemers. His goal was a micro empire colony for the fallen one's empire and his own power hungry ambitions."
*Hircum: Pronounced 'ear-coom' literally meaning goat in ancient archaic Equine, used to describe a race of bipedal goat beings.
"Woof; that's a heavy handed description and story." Twilight commented, "Who's the author?"
"The author is...Huh...It says 'Ghost Writer for: 'Alpha Phoenix' ' his name was '**Michael Bell-Clapper'."
" 'Alpha Phoenix'?" Twilight asked looking perplexed as she looked closer to see if Starlight made a mistake.
"That's what it says..."
"Who is 'Alpha Phoenix'?...." Twilight pondered.
"Why would he want a ghost writer?"
"Maybe he didn't want attention, but that name sounds like a pseudonym."
"You mean like a stage or false name?"
"Yes Starlight...It doesn't sound like any normal name so whoever it is code for must be somepony important."
"Somepony important who didn't want attention for writing this story? Why go through so much over a fiction novel?"
"....I don't know Starlight, I don't know..."
Meanwhile after Tirek and Grogar escaped Tartarus they retreated to a secluded hideout located in the Arimaspi Territory which was on the southeast corner of the continent, there Tirek meet is partner in conquest.
"You can't be serious, who is this creature?" Tirek asked in disbelief and annoyance.
"I am no 'creature'...I am a changeling, I am Queen of the Changelings 'Chrysalis'." Chrysalis hissed back in outrage for what she thought was being insulted.
"Ex-Queen, she was defeated and usurped by one of her own and allies including Discord." Grogar clarified.
"Then what ally is she if she was beaten by lowly foes?"
Chrysalis hissed loudly in reply to Tirek's remark but a single glare from Grogar silenced her.
"I will not allow in-fighting in my army, do you understand?"
"Understood Lord Grogar." Chrysalis growled reluctantly.
"Excellent; now Tirek, as per enlisting in my army, you have a form to sign as any soldier would sign." Grogar said as he in a flaming flash made a long piece of paper appear, the terms were written out but this document had a name scratched on, Chrysalis signed it as well.
Before Tirek could ask Grogar held a needle in his grasp instead of a quill.
"I find blood contracts more...Personal, then merely hexed parchment." Grogar explained as he gave the pin to Tirek.
Tirek was not fond of this idea of such control over him, in his ego and pride it forbade him from agreeing to this...But desperation won out and Tirek pricked himself and placed his bleeding finger to the spot of his choosing in which his name appeared in what would be his handwriting.
"It is done; you are now in my ranks and must obey all and every command I order."
"I don't need any explanation Grogar..." Tirek growled.
"Perfect! That saved me the trouble; now then for us to attack we must be shady and swift, Chrysalis had successfully mastered that so that is why she is on my team."
"With it refined there will be no mistakes this time, the change I made was her new horde will not only be able to change form, but have the ability to perfectly imitate their subject; with a spell I crafted they will be using the mind of their target via telepathic link, that way they have their memories, habits, mannerisms!"
"They will be perfect copies and unable to be discovered as impostors."
"A generous gift my Lord." Chrysalis chimed in genuine gratitude.
"What will we do with the originals my liege?" Chrysalis asked.
"Do with them as you please, so long as they can't be a threat."
"I'll toy with them but one will be lucky I don't kill her right away..." Chrysalis growled bitterly.
"I advise caution when taking on your opponent with your emotions, your temper and impulsive nature is a weakness." Grogar warned.
"Of course." Chrysalis acknowledged.
"What part do I play here Lord Grogar?" Tirek asked showing a little concern about not hearing a role set for him.
"Ah yes, fear not Tirek I have a special assignment for you; you will lead a battalion of my legion when the time is right."
"As you wish."
"Good; now that we have our assignments, Chrysalis? What is the status of your hive?"
"I have at the moment 100 drones."
"That will be enough, don't get ahead of yourself Chrysalis." Grogar suggested.
"I won't pressure myself since there is a limit to what I can birth."
"Superb; now then, I need to plan and rest, you two get along and be acquainted so that you may learn about each other and learn to trust and work with each other." Grogar said as he retired to his chambers.
"...So..." Chrysalis began unsure what she should say to her cohort.
"What do you think about this agreement with Grogar?"
"I don't know whether to be honored or concerned."
"I feel the same..."
"Victory or defeat, we're bound by contract to him."
"Of that we have another common ground, besides having been at rock bottom."
"That is an understatement my associate, a grand understatement; we are truly an army of the damned."
“If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Tirek and Chrysalis could for the most of seeing each exchange looks, and little conversation as they were weighing the consequences of allying with a stand in for the devil, for the 2 royal outcasts to be brought so low and selling their souls was insult to injury and a contract to their damnation...They had one thought in mind, Grogar cannot lose or they will pay the price along with him.
"I am honestly concerned, I've never been more frightened by something as much as this." Chrysalis confessed sitting in a gothic looking chair in what looks like a small dining hall.
The room itself was dingy and gray, on the walls of the hall there were torches of an eerie black-red fire, the torches themselves were goat skulls and where the flames were located gave the skulls a look of having flaming crowns; there was 6 of these.
The table looked to be able to seat only about 18 guests and had a semi-ragged crimson table cloth, on the table was 6 candle holder each bearing 3 candles, the candles were not lit and covered in cobwebs; the air smelled of staleness and a hint of rotting flesh.
"Being afraid is something I hate to admit but I concur, Lord Grogar practically has nothing to lose and I feel we are expendable." Tirek replied laying on his lower half's stomach on the cold stone floor.
"Exactly the words I was looking for; I feel there is no defeat with Grogar, and we were merely signing up to be his sacrifice to avoid paying that price of defeat."
"A reason why despite this we have to give our all for our new 'master', to ensure we avoid said likely outcome." Tirek said cringing a little at having called Grogar his master.
"You needn't tell me that, what matters more to me is my new hive and whether they will be duped into betraying me as well..."
"One thing I have to point out is Grogar will prevent that, as you saw he has a disdain for in-fighting, and I'll bet you would pay dearly for committing treason against him."
What was unknown to Tirek was despite Chrysalis' stance in all this part of her was 'softening' on the idea of expecting loyalty to her under the sword, she wanted deeper devotion than what she may be realizing was what her archenemy said, that her old ways in ruling was incorrect...
"True..." Chrysalis halfheartedly agreed, "But if one of us turn soft he may control my new hive to turn on me or you..."
"Turn soft? One of us?...You talk as if you think one of us will back out, or...." Tirek paused to think about this then he chuckles darkly, "You're getting cold feet Chrysalis, you honestly think you can just walk away because you grew a conscience?"
"You're a fool Chrysalis, take back your thinking or I may inform Grogar of your conspiracy of treachery."
Chrysalis could only be silent to the threat Tirek proposed, she showed her hand by mistake so now Tirek will actually play along and keep her under watch.
"You wouldn't understand, you never had anyone you actually cared about...I may seem like a power-hungry insectoid pony...But I have care enough for my hive." Chrysalis spat.
"I had my brother, so I know what it means to care...." Tirek growled.
"And he betrayed me!"
"I heard how that happened...Was your own damn fault." Chrysalis hissed.
"You dare mock me?!" Tirek roared, that tears it and the centaur lashed out at the changeling monarch.
Chrysalis then evades the attack hissing viciously at Tirek.
"You want to start something Tirek?! I'll save Grogar the trouble of infighting and kill you!" Chrysalis hissed at him with venomous rage.
"You're the one speaking of going back on your deal! I despise this arrangement but I'm not going back to Tartarus because of you!" Tirek roared back.
"Enough!!"A thunderous voice boomed from seemingly nowhere, it was Grogar..
"I will not allow this bickering to continue, if anyone considers backing out you shall deal with me! I will not stand betrayal atop bickering! Do I make myself clear?...."
The two remained silent in response to the declaration but glared at each other.
"Answer me!" Grogar thundered.
"I understand Lord Grogar..." Tirek groaned.
"As do I..." Chrysalis reluctantly replied also.
"Excellent, now that we have that settled I require your presence in my Throne Room immediately."
The two grumbled still having unresolved tension between them.
"Perhaps if you two have a need to vent any feelings you may be harboring maybe the assignment I have to offer may present that release you seek."
The two agitated disgraced royals then made their way to the Throne Room to meet with Grogar to take on the task their leader had in mind for them.
"You better not think about backstabbing Chrysalis...I'm watching you."
Chrysalis could only say nothing for she knew she was caught and saying anything would sink her deeper, so she bit her tongue and ignored him; Tirek on the other hand was only more wary of her cause of her silence.
Once in the demonic throne room of 18 torches of the same type as in the room they were in, there was Grogar sitting on a menacing throne with pony skulls at the end of each arm rest and above him a pentagram in a circle at the top of the back of his seat, the throne itself was of solid obsidian with a crimson cloth on the seat stretching to the floor laying then on a dried blood brown carpet leading to the throne.
"You have a readiness to draw blood, I can make use of that elsewhere, here is the task you are to complete; Tirek: You are to lead a raiding party on the settlement of Appleloosa, Chrysalis: You shall raid with a squad of your hive at neighboring Dodge City."
"I want the attacks to be brief yet destructive, kill some ponies if you so wish, anything to draw attention but make your egress fast as your ingress."
"As you wish my Lord." Chrysalis said bowing her head lightly.
"Chrysalis; do not fail me..."
"Of course my liege." She replied sweating a little from the veiled threat in that order should she fail or try to get one past him.
"Who shall be moving first?" Tirek asked.
"It will be you Tirek who strikes first, then you Chrysalis 1 hour after Tirek's attack."
"Why such a gap in between raids?" Tirek asked.
"We want to draw attention, and attacking one target at a time is more distracting than attacking 2 targets at once."
"Then what after we attack these two places?" Chrysalis asked.
"You fall back, return here and await further orders; these have to be random attacks, I want them clueless."
"A clueless opponent is an insecure one, they will be cautious...That is where it starts before caution turns to paranoia, and from paranoia breeds mistakes."
The two cohorts looked at each other then to Grogar before Tirek spoke.
"When do I move?"
"Your attack begins now, mobilize the forces I assigned you and strike; take the path that I charted." Grogar ordered levitating a scroll over to him and another to Chrysalis.
"You have your orders...Unleash Hell."
The two actually grinned in eagerness as they looked forward to wanton destruction with a high success rate as they bowed to the dark lord and turned to exit the room and take command of their troops and as Grogar said, 'unleash Hell.'
Meanwhile in Appleloosa, it's inhabitants of ponies and buffalo co-existing peacefully since the truce forged a few years ago; Little Strongheart and her father were just entering town for a meeting to discuss the status of one another and handle any issues in need of resolution.
"The apples the ponies sent us were amazing this harvest were they father?" Little Strongheart chimed waving to ponies who greet her.
"Indeed, we have benefited much from the harvest, and may we have many more to come." The buffalo chief Thunder-Hooves spoke sagely.
"Our truce has been strong and I intend to see it span generations more."
"It has, thanks to them we also have more ready access to water and other fresh meals in short supply in the desert; I hope they can solve that issue because we've been short on water for 2 weeks." Strongheart reminded.
"We shall address this, but also address another issue with the sheriff and Breaburn..."
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I speak of Little Strongheart." Her father said knowingly.
"Father..I can't...It's too soon to talk about this."
"No it is not, you may not be my daughter but you are like one to me, a reason I hold you in such high honor, you know I won't be around forever and my health hasn't-..." The chief stopped mid-sentence cause of yet another coughing fit, these no matter how minor startled Strongheart no end and she stopped when he did to hold him until he ceased.
It was worser this time, and it scared her.
"I'll be alright...Just something tickled as the ponies say." He said dismissively.
Strongheart silently begged to differ as she walked onward with him to the town hall.
The meeting was held and the two species conversed, a solution to the water problem was going to be met and finally the 2 week drought was finally ending.
"Thank you for all your efforts." the chief said with warm gratitude.
"Shucks no problem at all, I know it was bad and I'm happy to at last show results." Breaburn said cheerfully and modestly as they shook hands to conclude the meeting.
"And I believe that won't ever be a problem for you." Strongheart says complimentary.
But as the meeting wrapped up when all chaos and horror struck...
It was then the group heard screams of ponies outside, then a stallion comes barging in yelling.
"Breaburn! Sheriff! We're bein' attacked by monsters!"
"What?!" Breaburn exclaimed in disbelief.
Before the stallion could elaborate further the poor pony stops mid-sentence crying out before falling to his face with a dark, decayed looking shaft in his spine...
The sheriff immediately drew his revolver before shooting at the ghoulish figure standing in the doorway right in the head dropping the creature on it's back, the soulless solider looked like what once might have been a red pegasus stallion wearing devilish armor with pauldron's resembling goat skulls.
"What is that?!" Breaburn asked in horror.
"I don't know...I don't intend to ask I want to get these bastards out of our town!" the sheriff declared as he took to the door, Breaburn followed.
Being a proud chief, Thunder-Hooves was not going to stand idly by, poor health or not he was not letting the Appleloosan's fight alone, and he himself was not alone, he had others of his tribe in town and they tried their best with brute muscle to stem the tide.
"Father! No don't do this!" Strongheart protested.
"You'll be killed out there!"
"I must help the ponies and be a leader of the tribe...Don't stop me Strongheart, and stay put." He ordered as he let out a battle cry and charged out, the sounds of combat ringing the air.
The townsfolk were armed modestly with frontier long-arms and side-arms, some bore double-barrel shotguns and fought back, but the motley militia of locals was like a finger in a hole in a dam, the size of your fist and many were slaughtered where they stood, no one was beyond reproach and even foals were laid low...Blood staining the dirt streets of the town, blood of marauders & townsfolk alike.
Tirek meanwhile as ordered by Grogar held back standing in the rear outside town, the reason was so the innocent ponies had no definite clue who was attacking them with unholy fury & blood lust.
"This is going well...Shame I won't be enjoying spilling blood by my own hands but at least I get to watch." the centaur prince stated darkly grinning at the callus and wanton destruction and murder.
Meanwhile back in town Breaburn and the sheriff tried to hold the thinning line of resistance, Breaburn had picked up a lever-action, the sheriff was armed now with his pistols and a scatter-gun.
"We're takin' too many losses! We can't hold 'em!" Breaburn exclaimed panic within his eyes, his mane on his neck straight up.
"We have to hold 'em off! Just cause we lost ponies don't mean we quit on those who are still alive! We're stayin' where we are as long as possible!" the sheriff roared over the gunfire and yelling.
Breaburn had nothing to say and kept fighting as the brave sheriff wanted.
The brutal and sudden attack soon ended as fast if not only a tad slower than it began after 45 minutes the Fallen Forces of Grogar fell back in a full retreat.
Breaburn and the sheriff with some locals stemmed the tide and were alive...But at a high cost..
Of the current population of 250, a heart-stopping 115 were slaughtered, 25 were foals and of that 14 were under the age of 8, and another 40 were wounded; the ponies then tended to the hurt, and dealt with the dead.
Strongheart having obeyed stayed in the town hall, once the battle ended she left the safety of her hiding place; what she saw stepping out was a nightmarish war zone.
Strongheart could only look around in horror and shock and bodies of ponies and buffalo laying about the town streets, she knew most of the fallen being wept over by neighbors or relatives.
As she walked about, she saw a large buffalo body...Her worst fear was realized, among the weeping that the survivors did, Strongheart's anguish sounded above them all.
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
The raid on Appleloosa was brutal, ruthless, and savage; the sudden attack and loss of life horrified the residents of the desert apple farming town. In addition Little Strongheart had a terrible personal blow to deal with in the wake of the unprovoked act of war Tirek's forces launched but keeping his distance on Grogar's orders to prevent anypony from knowing who was to blame; while the townsfolk mourned and tended to the dead and wounded, Strongheart had to find strength in the face of losing her chief and adopted father.
"Nooo!!!" Strongheart wailed in sorrow while also speaking in the tongue of her species at times as if talking that way would get her the answer nopony could give.
The sheriff and Breaburn ran up to see what was the matter when they saw what she saw, Breaburn could do very little on his part but try and comfort the buffalo maiden.
"Strongheart?..." He began softly so not to spook her, Strongheart took a moment from her grief to respond to the stallion.
"B-Breaburn.." She croaked, wiping her eyes before taking to her feet.
"I'm so sorry I-..." Breaburn was about to give his condolences when Strongheart threw her arms around him and wept more, Breaburn could only return the embrace while patting & rubbing her back to comfort her.
"Why did this happen?! What was this??" Strongheart sobbed grasping for answers behind the raid.
"I don't know Strongheart...I wish fer the life of me I had a clue about what the hay just happened."
"Please Breaburn, do something to make these demons who attacked us pay."
"I can write my cousin and her friends, if anypony can help it's Aj and the others."
"Yes! Please do!" Strongheart begged tears still pouring.
"Then we should waste no time, who knows what this could mean..." The sheriff advised, not knowing how right he truly was to be worried.
Meanwhile miles away in Dodge City, Cherry Jubilee was busy managing her cherry farm and shop; it was a good calm day not much excitement going on here, Cherry was actually expecting a visit from Applejack and Pinkie Pie soon and she planned a nice meal and drinks to await their arrival.
"You're pretty busy today Cherry, what's got you hoppin'?" A mare entering her shop asked.
"Oh expecting company today, Applejack and Pinkie Pie." Cherry answered as she restocked a shelf of freshly made jam.
"Oh that's pleasant, I hope you have a good meet and greet."
"Thanks Olivia, it's been so long since I had Aj over and I appreciated her company, even Pinkie."
Olivia Oak-Grove was the local Inn Manager, age 33, light brown Earth mare with a semi-curly blonde mane and tail, standing at '6-3" and between a thin and medium build, emerald eyes.
"By the spread you set it should be worth the trek here."
"Hope so."
Meanwhile on the outskirts of the town Chrysalis was watching from a distance the small town, showing a willingness to enact violence for gain, her army of new changelings were chomping at the bit to attack...
"My Queen, we're ready to move when you are."
"Excellent, take shape and attack." Chrysalis cooed with a double-voiced purr.
"Yes my queen." The officer changeling barked with a bow while saluting by crossing his arm over his chest, then left to engage the assault.
The New Hive forces then shape-shifted into the undead soldiers of Grogar's army before rumbling in stamping feet as they charged the town; phase II had begun in earnest.
The attack was sudden and without mercy...As brutal and bloodthirsty as the Appleloosa raid, local law valiantly tried to stem the tide but losses were great..
Cherry and Olivia sought shelter best they could...Lucky for them this attack was more true to nature of the orders Grogar laid down, Chrysalis' attack was swift and sudden, leaving only room to attack those in the open and not straying into buildings for victims of the wanton death and destruction.
So far the casualties were lower, 12 dead outright while 27 were wounded; of that 3 were Law out of 7, 4 stallions, and 3 mares, the 2nd mare was a mother of a 7 year old daughter...Cut down like game the both..
Chrysalis could hear the panic and anguish, she took immense pleasure in this grinning with fangs bared.
As like the other raid it was over soon as it began, the final count was 18 dead, 38 wounded; 4 foals were butchered, one was beheaded before his mother who survived.
With the hurricane of hellion marauders gone Cherry and Olivia emerged from their shelter to over look the carnage left in the invader's wake...
"My God...What hit this town?..."
Before Cherry could reply a local came to her rushing, he was terror-stricken, sweaty, and dirty.
"You are alright! Thank Celestia....It was awful, monsters, beyond anything I ever saw I didn't know what they were!"
"How many are hurt? Anypony still alive?" Olivia asked.
"They count 18 dead so far...."
"Who would have wanted to attack us like this?....Why would they? What motivation do they have?"
"I don't know Cherry.. All I know is we had been attacked, and it was unprovoked."
"I wonder if we're the only ones attacked."
"Not sure if we were but soon as we find out it may give us more information."
Just then another pony ran up, she was from the Telegraph Office and she was screaming at the top of her lungs...
"APPLELOOSA WAS ATTACKED!! APPLELOOSA WAS ATTACKED!!"
The 3 gasped at the news, so Dodge City was not alone after all; who else was next??
"Hold on a minute now! Who attacked Appleloosa?" The stallion asked the panicked mare.
"Monsters! Zombie soldiers in ancient armor!"
"Just like us!" Olivia said with a gasp.
"So this was planned, but who's the brains behind this?...."
Meanwhile back at Grogar's castle, the evil mind behind the attacks was delighted to hear his random raids succeeded beyond his expectations! The ponies the 2 teams assured with Changeling spies sent after running that they had 0 clue as to who struck them.
"Well done! This is exactly what I had hoped." Grogar said gleefully as he rose from his throne to greet his generals' Chrysalis and Tirek.
"It was hardly a challenge my Lord." Chrysalis chimed with a smirk and bow of her head.
"Exactly my thoughts, even though I came upon resistance they merely slowed the agony." Tirek reported.
"It matters not Tirek if they had fought back, there is very little that can be done on their part; also the bodies of my army will disintegrate if they are slain in minutes after leaving nothing to trace."
"Clever Lord Grogar, what next do you ask of us? Who is our next victims of your might?" Tirek spoke.
"For the time being you are to rest, you have done much already so indulge while I plan our next moves."
The 2 fallen rulers bowed and thanked him before leaving the room to spend their free time and take up on the idea of rest though it was hardly exhausting the journey taxed them more than the raids did of course since they only watched as their troops did the work.
"I'm still keeping an eye on you Chrysalis....And no doubt Grogar is as well, he may very well have heard your plans to back out of your deal but chose to say nothing."
"Be as it may possibly be..."
"What? You think you have a plan? You think Grogar hasn't prepared a plan of his own to quash any coup you incite?"
"Be reasonable-..."
"I AM REASONABLE!" The insectoid queen hissed with a growl.
"Sure you are..." Tirek chuckled as he went off on his own.
Chrysalis was proven wrong many times hence why she was here at all, but she will be damned literally or figuratively if she is wrong about her plans to craw-fish the deal with Grogar...If she could; if she could was not the issue, so much as if she can. That was her problem glaring more intensely than the evil Hircum Emperor.
In another part of the main land of Equestria's area of Equus in Ponyville Twilight and Starlight were unaware of the hell unleashed when Spike came barging in with a scroll.
"Spike?? What's going on?" Twilight asked her companion.
"Twilight! Urgent letter!....From Celestia!..." Spike panted as he looked like he sprinted a mile.
"Urgent letter? What's so urgent?" Starlight asked.
Twilight then floated the scroll in her magic and read carefully, Starlight didn't need to know what it read as she saw Twilight's expressions contort into ones of horror, shock, sadness and pure surprise.
"What happened?"
Twilight took a moment before she could say one word to her, but feeling one word was not what she wanted to hear and feeling that forcing her voice to work would be slow she could only shakily hand the scroll to her.
Starlight then read the letter and she gasped before cupping her mouth in horror....
"Who could have done this?..."
"I wish I knew." Twilight finally let out of her mouth just above a whisper.
CANTERLOT: Thrones' Room.
Celestia was devastated and worried to the point of feathers from her majestic wings falling off, she had not been so caught off guard than right now, over her thousand plus years she never was blindsided like this.
Luna was equally stunned and saddened by the news of the massacre of Appleloosa & Dodge City; she was feeling as helpless and scared as her elder sister but in comparison, Celestia was having what would be equivalent to a break down.
"Those poor ponies...Who could be so heartless?! Who would just attack our subjects?! Who is it that dares?!..."
Luna seeing her sister losing it rushed to her dear Tia's side and grabs her by the shoulders even with Celestia being a tad taller than her being a towering '7-7" while Luna was '7-2".
"Tia! Get a hold of thyself and be still!" She barked slipping into her archaic language she was used to when tested or taxed.
Celestia ceased her rant and looked her younger sibling's eyes as tears fell from her own.
Luna seeing her sister so distressed then embraced her to calm her down and comfort her, Celestia began to respond and hugged back slowing regaining her composure as Luna soothed her.
"There there sister, I know; I know..."
"Th-Thank you Lulu..." Celestia croaked as she was now calmed, she wipes her eyes after breaking the hug and looks Luna in the eyes again.
Luna only smiled warmly and caringly back now that she had put her sister back at relative ease.
"Better?" She asked.
Celestia nodded and sniffled before speaking.
"What should we do Luna?"
"Do what you would do first, inform Twilight about the situation then we shall tend to the ponies in need, we must be put on alert so I will assemble the guard and hold a war council, also we shall address Parliament immediately."
"Right, of course; I shall write Twilight right away, thank you Luna I needed to be reminded of proper action in response to such an outrageous, unprovoked assault."
"Always ready to help you sister." Luna said softly as she hugged Celestia again before walking off to do her task.
In roughly hours the two addressed in an emergency session of Parliament the officials of the simultaneous attacks.
"Members of Parliament, we have summoned you all here for a very important matter, one of grave urgency; just hours ago we were attacked." Celestia announced, the whole room gasped and murmured.
"Attacked?! By whom?" A stallion member asked.
"We only know it was a highly dangerous, well trained army; Appleloosa had been the one to put up a larger fight but both yet had taken grievous losses."
"Appleloosa was attacked?...While it is terrible lives were lost your Majesties that town is not a significant town; what is the meaning for alarm?" A mare member asked a tad selfishly.
"Because this was no random attack this was a message, they were both attacked at once! This was a threat." Luna replied coldly making the mare regret her poorly spoken and worded response.
"'Both'? You mean Appleloosa was not attacked only? Where else?" Another stallion asked.
"Dodge City was also attacked, and these are the figures of the casualties from each town."
"Appleloosa: 115 killed including 25 foals and of that 14 were under the age of 8; 40 were wounded." Luna read out causing gasps to ring from all in the room some gagged and most actually hurled into their trash can.
Celestia then decided to read Dodge City's statistics and after composing herself she read the other list of carnage.
"Dodge City: 18 dead, 38 wounded....4 foals were among the dead.." Celestia finished with a croak as more gasps rang out, and more ponies lost their meals.
"This is an act of war; deliberate, vicious, unprovoked, heartless, and destructive. Because of this I am moving into order a vote to be at a state of alertness and partial war against the terrorists responsible for the violence that had struck our land."
"With this I plead you to consider this course lest we be complacent and allow more suffering to plague not just our kind but maybe others."
Celestia pleaded and suggested, hoping the horror and death of innocent lives be met with decisive action and unselfish compassion & devotion to country and her subjects in the face of a threat to said nation and the races/species therein.
"All in favor of Martial Alertness say 'Ay'." Luna stated.
What greeted Luna and Celestia in reply to these words and the atmosphere? All stood up and casted votes in favor!
“ In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity .” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Edit: I replaced Tirek with Storm King to help with continuity.
As the Princesses began their efforts to counter this sudden and vicious attack, Pinkie and Applejack had arrived in Dodge City, when they got there they were given a terrible greeting, they were welcomed by the remnants of the raid...They could only gasp and stare as they looked about the carnage and destruction.
"What the hay happened here?" Aj said in a low horrified tone.
"Something awful..." Pinkie replied herself near tears.
She and Aj seeing everything, it looked so depressing, so grim, so....Raped; it was like the life and joy had been murdered and left in the streets like the locals cut down.
"Applejack!" A voice shouted, it was Cherry.
"Cherry?? What happened?" Aj asked.
"It was horrible, nightmarish; some army of monsters attacked us and ran off! We don't know who t hey were, what they were and why but they came in, killed ponies did some damage and left."
"What did they look like?"
Cherry took a moment before describing the invaders, Aj and Pinkie were unsure how to respond.
"How many....A-Are dead?" Pinkie squeaked sounding like she regretted her question.
"18 dead, 38 wounded." Cherry replied, the mares gasped at such a toll.
"There's more, Appleloosa was also attacked."
"WHAT!? When?!" Aj blurted out.
"Not sure we got the news after our attack."
Aj started to panic, her cousin was a resident and she was afraid her cousin had been taken from her by raiders and was another victim of this double assault.
"Hold on Aj, that doesn't mean Breaburn was killed...Or hurt....We don't know what happened."
"All I know is they got hit worse...Chief Thunder-Hooves is dead."
"No....Not him..." Pinkie said heartbroken.
"This is awful, I gotta tell Twilight unless she already knows."
"She's a princess of course she will know, Celestia and Luna may already know by now too." Pinkie stated.
"Can we telegram Appleloosa ta ask if he's okay?" Aj asked trying to be calm.
"We can do that, please follow me; I'm so sorry you had to come to this."
"It's okay Cherry, how were we ta know?" Aj said as they walked to the Telegraph office, passing the left overs yet to be cleaned up and tended to.
"How many were killed and hurt at Appleloosa? Did you get info on that?" Aj asked.
"We did, it was a slaughter; 115 killed, 40 wounded." Cherry replied to now more sickened and horrified mares.
"Who did we anger?...Who did we bother that they would kill so many ponies outta the blue like that?!"
"What monsters would hurt and....K-Kill so many?" Pinkie asked as well a with lump in her throat.
"That we will find out soon Pinkie, first I wanna know if my cousin is safe."
The mares continued their walk to the telegraph office to get more needed info; meanwhile in Appleloosa Breaburn and the sheriff were continuing their clean up when they noticed what Grogar spoke of, the bodies of raiders disintegrated to nothing leaving nothing to identify as evidence to lead to the one responsible for this unprovoked attack.
"This is insane, they show up and those we cut down turn to dust? What black magic made these?"
"I wish I knew sheriff, but what I do know is this may not be the last we see of this; we should build up defenses in case we're attacked again."
"And then what? What if it's not enough? We can't take another blow like this."
"That's why I called for help to the nearest town, they already sent help by now to Ponyville then to Canterlot."
"I hope this ain't somethin' serious...Tirek was the worst thing we ever suffered I don't wanna go through worse."
"Me too sheriff, me too..."
Just then a stallion came running toward them yelling, "Dodge City was attacked like us!"
"You serious?! What happened?!" Breaburn demanded.
The stallion relayed the information, it was the same alright; right down to the monsters responsible that also turned to dust leaving no trace.
"Your cousin asked for you."
"She's there?!"
"She's safe, showed up after the attack ended, she heard about us before we knew about them."
Breaburn was relieved that Applejack was not harm's way but this was starting to look more and more serious, like the Storm King attack all over again.
"Has word gotten out?"
"Yes it has it reached all the way to Canterlot."
"This can't happen again...I just can't."
Back in Ponyville Twilight and Starlight were recovering from the horrific shock they got from the double onslaught on Equestria's remote cities.
"I wonder if Celestia knows...Spike?" Spike was already with paper & quill in claws, "Ready Twilight."
Twilight then dictated the letter and had it sent to Celestia in a flash of green, the 3 waited a while before Spike burped the letter up, it reported Celestia had been aware and put the nation on alert, Equestria was not yet at war because there was no enemy yet identified, nor anything to give an indication who was to blame; Grogar covered his tracks as well as he claimed, any reports about the raiders were vague and broad to be of any help right away.
"What should we do Twi?"
"Gather the girls Starlight, all of them...And be careful."
"I will Twilight, I promise."
Starlight in no time went to gather the girls up including sending a message to Aj and Pinkie to make their return to Ponyville, after a while more all the girls gather in the Thrones' Room to discuss the matter at hand.
"This is beyond dreadful, what beasts would commit such terrible acts of murder?" Rarity asked a little ill to her stomach.
"I'm scared girls, and heartbroken by this..." Fluttershy peeped showing more fear than mourning.
"Whoever's responsible is going to get the ass kicking of a lifetime!" Rainbow brashly vowed.
"Simmer down Rainbow fists ain't gonna do any good here especially with what happened and the enemy we're dealin' with."
"Aj is right, from what they said these were horrifying monsters." Rarity stated.
"What else did the victims say?" Starlight inquired.
"From what Breaburn telegraphed us he said some got a very loose look and from what it was they were undead and wearing some kind of ancient armor with skulls on their shoulders."
"That's not bad Intel but it isn't enough for us..."
"This sounds ancient Twilight, not saying this because but..."
"I know what you're thinking Starlight and I am way ahead of you, Spike? Take another letter."
Back in Canterlot Celestia and Luna were readying the Guards for the heightened state of alertness, one would think Equestria was at war while trying to just be on standby for any open hostility; though personally Celestia would not like anything else but to hunt down this scourge herself, though cooler heads and Luna kept her from becoming emotional and reacting instead of acting.
"That should be enough Sister, Canterlot is safe enough and we can start defending our other territories."
"Have you written Cadence?"
"Yes Tia I have, they are on high alert as well; trains are even check-pointed to ensure that no hostiles sneak in."
"They won't travel by rail Luna."
"You can't be too sure, we are just covering the bases."
"I only wish I knew what we were up against." Tia said staring at her stallions-at-arms.
"If anypony can figure it out it will be Twilight and her friends."
"I do not lack faith in her Lulu, but I hope this is not something out of her talents and ability....I wouldn't live with myself if I finally push Twilight too far."
"Twilight and her friends are resilient, they can take on this challenge."
"I pray you're right." Just then a scroll appears, this was from Twilight! What could she need or be reporting now?
"What does it say?"
"Twilight is telling us the form of our foe, but I never encountered such demons as what they describe."
"This is ill news, an enemy neither of us have faced? This will be troubling news to her."
"I dislike it as much as you do." Tia said scratching back her answer about this which spoke unfortunate honesty on behalf the 7 mares and dragon eager for any knowledge.
When the letter was received Twilight's heart sank, the girls were on their own far as knowledge gathering; but that meant going to the source, they all had to return to the attacked towns and get more data and see if the can filter more info from chaos wrought by this new and dangerous foe.
Back at Grogar's hideout Grogar's generals were awaiting for the next move to be ordered but during this wait there was still not quite resolved tension between Chrysalis and Tirek, both were eyeing the other because Chrysalis was hinting a revolt against Grogar in the event that Grogar would face defeat.
Tirek was not going to permit it though a small sliver was thinking the same idea, that was when Tirek decided to keep things in his own favor as he went to consult with Grogar.
"What Tirek?..." Grogar asked almost sounding annoyed.
"My Lord, I am meaning no trouble to you but I wish to bring up...A deep concern."
Grogar's brow went up with moderate interest, that in turn prompted Tirek to proceed.
"I am worried about Chrysalis, Sire; she may be conspiring behind you."
Grogar simply chuckled darkly which again strange to Tirek sent a chill through his spine.
"You think I'm not aware of her treacherous intentions?" He asked sounding like it was no surprise smirking while resting his cheek on his left hand.
"Chrysalis is quite manipulative, and cunning~ I found it useful and appealing, but she couldn't convince me if her life depended on it, I saw through her since I found her barely alive."
"Then...Why Grogar?"
"Why keep her? Because she is an asset, one that is useful and like you, you are mine under a contract and if you were to betray me? Well....You use your imagination."
"I thank you for showing your loyalty Tirek but your concern is unnecessary, and I also find it...Distasteful."
"Distasteful? Why?"
"You think you can earn favor by ratting out your cohort? Please...I'm ancient not senile." He replied drumming his fingers on his right hand on his throne.
Tirek got a cold sweat from this statement, how could he have seen through him so easily? What made him so special?
"Just how ancient?"
"Very; I saw much including the rise of that miserable nation of Equestria, I even watched their racial quarrel that nearly destroyed them."
"That was amusing, funny what one thing can do to set off such distrust; it was most irritating to see it backfire, I underestimated them in my youth of their love and....Friendship." Grogar growled on the last word and his right hand fingernails scratch the armrest making a slight scraping sound.
"I would not make such foalish mistakes again!...I thought I had them when their nation was at my mercy, even after they unified they were not strong enough together to stand in my way."
"Tribe by tribe I made their armies kneel before me, those who did not kneel died; those who did not submit, destroyed."
"I commanded legions of warriors, armies ten's of thousands strong! I was enough to conquer for my master a whole world."
"But I underestimated them a second time...Their damned king proved more...Resistant to my powers and overpowered me; he banished me thinking me dead, but his mistake was not finishing me off."
"That was his and their weakness, they refuse to see death as a proper means of defeating their enemies, instead they seek to 'befriend' them, or in that pathetic deity wannabe Discord's case 'reformed'."
"He may be pathetic...But he's a threat."
"Only a moderate one, his powers does have it's limits; it is powerless against the magic I wield."
"I am not doubting your power Grogar."
"By which you actually are Tirek, please spare me your weak faith in my abilities."
Tirek was being made a fool of and saw through as though made of glass, he hated this vulnerability; the last thing he wanted was to feel like a loose end while trying to throw Chrysalis under the train.
"I get the message Lord Grogar you don't trust me either and you sense my own betrayal of you."
"You finally speak truth, about time..." Grogar replied dryly.
"Anything else you wish to speak about? Or are you through?..."
"What about our enemies? What good is our raids if they mobilize? Or have you prepared as you sounded when you gave your grand strategy?"
"As I told you both, you make mistakes when you panic; and I intend to make them as insecure as a foal in the woods, when that happens, then you bring the wolves to kill it."
"So we do nothing? For how long?"
"Patience Tirek...Patience; you will spill blood again but I am giving them a false calm first before I strike again with random violence, once I do that it will set them on edge even more than the first time, I will repeat it only a few times because a consistent pattern can be a risk to an effective battle of the mind."
"You want to be unpredictable as long as you can, while making your opponent paranoid."
"You actually amaze me Grogar with your intelligence."
"Flattery and truth?...Interesting combination from you Tirek but effective and on point; this is only what I learned from defeat, something you are capable of as well Tirek, Chrysalis is...A slow learner at this art."
In this one moment the 2 actually share a genuine chuckle at a shared belief in a statement regarding the shape-shifting sovereign.
"And I don't mean that statement lightly Tirek, a reason I chose you as well; not just because I lack those of a common goal but because you do show much potential to be a match of mine to some degree."
"You question me because you're not used to success absolute, that is why I am offering you more favor than Chrysalis and why I will grant you a more solid method to gain my favor."
"And what might that be?"
"Become my right hand general, so that you are not just my soldier but my confidant."
"If it's all I need then I will accept your generous offer."
"Not so fast Tirek, such a position of honor demands an act of loyalty fitting to that role."
"What act must I commit to gain this position?"
"You will know what it will be when the time comes Tirek; just wait for my commands to strike when the right hour strikes, now go, continue your respite until I have need of you two."
Tirek left Grogar's presence with a bow then left the throne room, Tirek dodged a large slug and he knew it very well; it seemed Grogar has a clear vision and mind much more than he thought of his unwanted master, now with a deal atop a deal over his head Grogar had him against a wall, the questions now is does he run right, left or straight ahead?
Equestria and her allies were on the alert, from the Crystal Empire to Yakyakistan, from The Dragon Empire to Seaquestria and all in between answered the call and readied their warriors against the threat that could spread, the Storm king was bad enough, they were not going to let this or anything like it happen again. In Canterlot the leaders of each nation was brought forward, tensions were pretty high and besides that was a shared feeling of sadness and sympathy for the innocent lives lost in the 2 raids.
The leaders met in the dining hall, the one the sisters ate their meals with each other or with guests, according to the seating arrangements the leaders sat like so; Celestia sat on the side of the table so to be next to her sister on her left and the other leaders. Beside Luna sat Lord Ember, beside Celestia sat Queen Novo, on Novo's right side was Prince Rutherford and the recently elected first New-Prime Minister of Griffonstone Apex Ptera a male griffon. On the other end sitting next to Ember was King Thorax, and beside him finally was Princess Cadence.
However the rulers were not alone, with them at the table across from the Heads of State, were those who witnessed the 2 town's raids, namely Breaburn and Cherry Jubilee.
"Thank you for coming you two, I understand that this is a stressful time for you." Celestia said first speaking in a consoling and tender tone.
"Thank you Princess, this is an honor for us; we couldn't stay where we were after this, we need to be heard." Cherry said humbly before her two sovereigns and the leaders abroad.
"Yaks want to hear for themselves what you saw, Yaks sorry for terrible attack on ponies."
"Take your time when you speak sweetheart there's no rush here." Novo encouraged soothingly.
"Thank you, you see the creatures we saw were like nothing we have seen before, they were....Like..." Cherry began.
"Walking armored zombies, skeletons....It was like the dead come to life." Breaburn finished, Cherry nodded in agreement to the description.
"Anything else that stands out?" Ember chimed in.
"What else?...Oh right, they looked like ponies, mostly ponies; and the armor they wore..."
"I can't remember what the armor looked like, I only recall...Skulls, on the shoulders." Cherry spoke shaking a little recalling the horror she endured.
"Pony corpses?....Armor with skulls on the shoulders?..." Luna parroted.
"Yes Princess." Breaburn confirmed.
"This is evil beyond anything we have faced before." Cadence piped in having a sense of dread and fearful concern in her tone, her voice was shaky like she had a chill.
"As if we needed more problems, with Chrysalis out there who knows what she could be up to."
"Chrysalis is not far from our minds Thorax, but until we determine the immediate threat Chrysalis is hardly a danger." Novo said dismissing the secondary concern.
"I suppose you're right." Thorax sighed.
"Hey I'll keep an eye out for her and our new threat."
"Thanks Ember, that eases my worries."
"Now that we have an idea what our enemy looks like what are we to do?" Apex at last addressed, speaking in a proper tone with a slight accent that of Latin.
"For now I advise a high alert but keep your nations calm, we don't want a panic this is what our enemy must want; if we panic we're prone to mistakes." Celestia advised.
The leaders agreed, even Breaburn and Cherry were less nervous about the danger sensing the leaders have the best interests of the planet's nations at heart, a sense of solidarity.
But little did they know this was the calm before the storm.
