I have never been to a convention before, heard some things, saw some streams, but finally I get to attend E3, and I came dressed as Reaper from Overwatch...I should have believed the stories.
Coming from a broke and broken family, I never kept high hopes for anything. When my mother died and I moved out of the house, finally making a life of my own, I decided to treat myself. I had a few grand saved up for a rainy day, and I was going to use them to go to E3, video games were one of the few things that kept me sane before and now. That and MLP, but with the show on hiatus, again I figured it would be fun. I got a pretty good Reaper costume. I rarely played him in Overwatch, but I liked his backstory and character. Riding to E3 in a train was kinda fun dressed as him, mainly since I was not the only one dressed up. When I got to E3 I got the usual, games, little trinket things, then I came across what was a sad looking stall, but there was a pair of really good looking guns Reaper carried, and my costume didn't come with those, so naturally I bought them. When I tried them out by myself in the bathroom, my luck, the lights went out...and I was falling...Okay someone spiked my cherry root beer!
Three days. I had three days to enjoy E3, my first time at any kind of convention really. It was a long drive, and I had to take a train from the PARKING LOT! I knew these things were huge, but damn! I checked my phone, looking over my checklist. I’m forgetful, sue me!
Find a reasonable hotel
Took forever, but check.
Get dressed in Reaper costume
Check. I looked myself over. It was a pretty good costume, good thing too, cost me four hundred dollars. Detail was good.
Did you forget the tickets idiot?
I checked my pocket, the ticket there. Nope, take that past me!
I then pulled out my earbuds and played some music, seeing as I was dressed for it, I played Soldier 76 VS Reaper by JT Machinima. I had a lot of songs, and some movies and such on this phone, or rather, the 500 gigabyte Micro SD card. Internal Storage is only five, three of which is used my by the OS software on the phone. Why phones...why you do dat?
The train ride was an hour, finally stopping a block away from E3. Once off, it was like I was in a herd of sheep with all the people around. Waiting in line just to get in took two hours...my legs, wake up!
“Ticket sir?” The doorman asked.
“Huh, oh!” I said, reaching into my pocket and taking it out. He looked at it, scanned it with some kinda scanner and let me pass.
Once in, game tracks blasted from the loud speakers, stalls showing off indie, up and coming games, demos of games in development...this is my heaven!
I went up to a retro gaming stall, they had vintage and remade NES’s, 64’s, and games to match. I got an NES, 64, Gamecube, and ten games for each with extra controllers. I used to have a gamecube, but a puppy apparently thought it was a square fire hydrant. Yeah call me paranoid, but I brought my consoles from my home with me, games included...shut up, I’m paranoid. Though, carrying a duffle bag this large around had perks, I could put all the things I buy in it, even though I will be carrying probably a hundred pounds of stuff with me, or more, I say it’s worth it.
A few stalls later I bought a portable gaming environment, which was basically a suitcase with a flat screen and storage for consoles. I also got adapters just in case for the NES and 64. With that out of the way, I searched for games for my PS3, PS4, PS2, and nintendo systems, just a gameboy, 3ds, and the switch...and Wii U...It’s a BIG bag. Biggest I found between stores, Ebay, and Amazon. Kept all my games in a sleeve folder though, to that saved space.
After buying more games, and downloading some on my laptop. Wifi here is amazing. Thank you for a terabyte laptop. This thing, and the games I have in my oversized backpack, are most of my saved up money that I splurge on myself, probably more than the few grand I’m spending on myself here. But by far, this Laptop is my most expensive buy ever, an Alienware 17.3, cost me little over two grand plus taxes, but it’s storage and power alone are worth it! I also keep my games that are known to be heavy on consoles here, it plays them easy.
After downloading more games from steam, some indi ones from Gamejolt, I packed that all up and decided to buy some trinkets, gonna have to find a outlet soon, thank god I also brought all my chargers. A bit of walking and I found something odd.
It was a stall near a window, just a fold out table, and a man in a hoodie sitting there...but there was a display case, well, stand, whatever, and it had exact replica’s of Reaper’s shotguns! My costume didn’t come with those… My inner collector/OCD made my legs move, walking up to the stall. “Hey, um...how much?” I ask, looking at them.
“Fifty dollars each.” The man replied. Damn, he sounds like he needs a cough drop of something.
“Why so cheap?”
“Just overstock from my online store, figured I can get rid of them here cheap.”
“Oh, alright.” I said, taking out a hundred dollar bill and handing it to him. I too the replicas. Damn, they got some weight.
“Thanks for taking them off me stranger.” He said, starting to pack up. “Don’t go getting into trouble now.”
I chuckled. “You either sir.” I said, walking off. I placed them into my bag and headed to the bathroom. Upon entering I quickly realized it was empty. My inner child, who often makes my decisions, I took out the shotguns. Heh, damn they look realistic. “Bang, bang, bang!” I said, pretending to shoot the stalls. “Heh, cool.” I said, looking at them.
I flinched, the lights suddenly going out. “Oh shit…” I mutter, suddenly feeling like...falling. Damn, mom warned never leave your drink unattended. Swear I chugged that thing empty before putting it down to check out that Fallout 5 demo.
As I was falling I began to see lights, then I was falling from a sky. I managed to turn around, and saw myself falling into a city. “Craaaaaap!” I yelled, falling face first onto the brink ground of an allie. I laid there, a crack echoing from my neck...before a dark fog came out of my body and I was able to move again...I immediately backed away from the spot...Did I just die...and come back?! ...Reaper can’t do that!
I sat with my back against my backpack against the wall. Heh, least I still got that...where the hell am I? How the hell did I get here? I got up and walked slowly towards the alley entrance, seeing...anthro ponies… Am I in an anthro Equestria? Colors look right...and from the style of those clothes...Canterlot...great, I’m in snob city. Damn...how to do this...I look different, and this outfit won’t help at all. One of these ponies, people...whatever, sees me, and I’m in the dungeon for crime against, what’s something stupid...disturbing the peace? Probably.
I wonder...I fell to the ground, broke my neck and got back up, there was that black fog of Reaper’s around me when that happened...huh… I looked up, seeing the top of one of the building’s that made this alley. Wonder… “Uh...Shadow Step?” I said, taking a step as it felt like my body became the fog that came out of me and I went up the side of the building and onto the roof, returning to normal once I was on top of the roof. “Cool.” I said, looking at myself. “Whatever did this to me...I don’t mind.” I then realized the shotguns were on my side. “...did that guy...huh, the rumors were right...Heh, still gonna enjoy this.”
It was then that something hit me...I’m Reaper now… “Am I gonna be a hero...or a terrorist?”
Boom!
I Ran to the other side of the building’s roof, seeing what looked like a donut shop burst in flames. I could see some pony people trapped by the fire. “...Hero for hire...depending on what it’s for.” I said, quickly taking off my bag and jumping off the edge. The second I landed on the ground, I must have Reaper’s body cause that did not hurt, the pony people got scared as I walked towards the burning building.
A pony person in gold armor pointed a spear at me. “Halt! What are you?”
I looked at him. “Name’s Reaper.”
He then raised the spear to my neck. “No pony in there is going to die.”
I chuckled. “Who said anything about dying?” I said, Shadow Stepping forewards, through the fire, not feeling it and to the ponies trapped. My eyes widened. It was Twilight, but young...Really young, Shining Armor, no older than maybe twelve, and their parents. “You four the only ones here.”
Twilight’s father, Night Light, if memory served, gulped. “Please...not our children.”
“Or for the love of…” I said, grabbing Shining and Twilight, who must have been like, two, and Shadow Stepped back through the fire, dropping them into the safety of the street then going back in and grabbing Night Light and Velvet. “My name is Reaper, I’m not the reaper.” I goran, SPears surrounding me suddenly. “Okay really? I just saved these people and you’re pointing weapons at me?”
“Put them down!” Velvet yelled, yanking one of the guards spears out of their hands and throwing it to the side. “This pony saved our lives! Have some manners!”
I tried not to chuckle, seeing Velvet lecture the guards who hesitantly put the spears down. “So...who and what are you?” Night Light asked, looking at me. “That was some...fancy magic.”
“Just...call me Reaper. As for what I did...Not even sure how it works myself, but it does.”
“Well, thank you. Can we repay you?”
“That depends, what can you pay?”
Night Light looked surprised. “Oh, um...Well...Do you have a place to stay?”
“Ah...no...I kinda...fell into the city.”
“Well, we have a spare room you can use for as long as you need.”
“Thanks...just like that?”
“You saved our lives, it’s the least we can do. RIght hun?”
Velvet stopped her lecturing, the guards now looking a bit scared of her, and turned to look at us. “Of course, stay as long as you’d like.” She said with a warming smile.
“Alright...I’ll get my stuff.” I shadow stepped back onto the building, grabbing my bag and shadow stepping back down. “So...you going there now or…?”
“Might as well, it’s been a day.” Velvet said. “Come on kids, hun, let’s show our hero our home.”
Hero...Oh alright...I’ll see if Celestia will pay me.
The Sparkle house was a fair sized, two story house, nice yard, and well kept. Upon entering I saw it was really well furnished, an elegant staircase leading to upstairs. “Shining, can you show Reaper to the spare room.”
“Sure.” Shining Armor said, his tone seemed...Well, I can tell he’s unsure of me. I followed him upstairs and passed what I am assuming was the main rooms. He opened a door near the end of the hall, a wood stairway leading up was behind it. “Mom redid the attic as a spare bedroom. It’s got a nice view, bed, dresser, and a TV.” He explained.
“Really?” I ask, surprised that there are TV’s in this Equestria. Well, it is anthro.
“Yeah, but it’s not hooked up to anything other than a DVD player.”
“That’s fine.” I said, walking up the stairs. When I got to the actual room It was about as big as my bedroom back on earth., bed was big, built for two, and the dresser was large, about six feet long, four feet high, plenty of drawers. The Tv was on it. It reminded me of my first TV I had in my room, very big, and heavy looking.
I saw the DVD player on it and looked behind the TV, two outlets, same as back on earth, were where the plugs were plugged in, and the inputs were the standard Red, Yellow and White like on earth. Good, looks like paranoia paid off. I then but my bag down, it making a bit of a thump as I it hit the ground and began searching for all my consoles. I got each one out and placed them around the TV on the dresser. I then pulled out my disc folder, it was packed, easy six inches thick. I kept all my ds games and Switch games in a small box I glued on it’s spine from the outside. I knew how to reset it to the red, yellow, and white cables, so I pulled out my ps4 and looked through my games. I then saw Overwatch...heh, why the hell not.
Canterlot was a buzz with the news of Death itself sparing a family rather than harvesting their souls. When this news reached Celestia, she took a carriage with her niece Cadence and nephew Blue Blood. She was told Death had gone home with that family, and part of her war worried, the other was curious. Death, saving ponies...what purpose would there be in that?
“Auntie, why are we going with you to see this poser?” Blue Blood said.
Celestia sighed. “He may not be Blue Blood, can you turn into black fog and pass through blazing fire unharmed and bring others with you and keep them safe from the flames?”
“Uhhh...Well no, but can’t a spell do that?”
“None that I know of, and I have had time to learn most all, even the dark ones.”
“What do you think he’s like?” Cadence asked.
“No idea, he must be good if he saved them, but this is all odd.”
“How so?”
“Death exists to let the dying find peace, the afterlife.”
“Well, maybe it wasn’t their time?”
“Perhaps, but this is the first time he has made a physical appearance, if it is him.”
“You talk as if you know him?” Blue Blood asked.
“...Once, a long time ago I came face to face with Death. He spared me, and I returned as the alicorn you two see now.”
“But, you made Cadence and Alicorn, and she didn’t die.” Blue Blood pointed out.
“Cadence is a different type of Alicorn, unlike me, she can age and die. I cannot age, nor die. The reason for that is that my soul is bound to my Celestial, the sun. Cadence’s soul isn’t, they are linked, but not bound.”
“That’s...kinda nice to hear. I was afraid I was going to be thirteen forever.” Cadence said, making Celestia laugh.
“No, you will grow up Cadence.”
“Princess, we’re here.” The carriage driver said as it came to a stop.
“Thank you, you two, come, and please be respectful.” Celestia said as she stepped out, Blue Blood and Cadence close behind. She walked up to the door, and rang the doorbell.
Twilight Velvet opened the door, and upon seeing the Princess as her front door she nearly fainted. “P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-Princess! What brings you here?!”
“I think you know miss...Velvet, correct? Where is Death?”
“A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-Attic room.”
“Thank you. Could you please lead me and my niece and nephew there?”
Playing overwatch offline was weird, they made a DLC that makes it able to play offline, no internet at all. The Ai’s are pretty good, smart, and ass holes sometimes, but it’s...weird.
There was a knock at the door. I immediately turned off the TV and threw the sheets over the consoles. I then got up and walked down the stairs to the door. When I opened it, I stared right into the face of Equestria’s monarch...and closed the door.
I went back to my bed and put in my ear buds and tried listening to some music. When I looked to my side, I saw Celestia standing there, looking a mix of annoyed and confused. I sighed, taking out an ear bud. “Can I help you?”
“Yes you may.” Celestia said, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. “Mind telling me why you appear as Death, and seem to posses powers related?”
“Short answer, I bought these.” I lifted up the shot guns. “From some guy at a convention and was messing with them when the power went out, next thing I know I’m falling from the sky into an alleyway.”
“I see...so in other words you think the person you bought those, whatever they are, from somehow did this?”
“Well maybe. I heard rumors of people going to these conventions and disappearing. Just thought they got lost and ended up in some other city or something.”
“I see...and where are you from?”
“Earth.”
“What nation is that?”
“Not a nation, a planet.”
“Wait, you’re from another world!” I looked behind Celestia, seeing a young Cadence there.
“Yup.” I reply simply.
“Are you not wanting to go home? You seem...pleased with where you are.” Celestia said.
“I had nothing back home, family was...not worth talking about, job was boring.”
“So what are your plans?”
“Well, that depends, you hiring?”
“E-excuse me?”
“I got powers, abilities, and I strike fear into all who see me just by standing somewhere. You could hire me for something.”
“Uh…”
“You can be my servant!” I looked to Celestia’s other side, seeing a young Blue Blood there. “Or body guard, whichever.”
“Blue Blood!” Celestia snapped.
“Deal.” I said, making the three of them look at me in surprise.
“You...accept his offer?” Celestia asked, confused.
“Well, I need a job.”
“Alright...But, on one condition.”
“Shoot.”
“Take off your mask. I want to see your face.”
I sighed, clicking the straps on my mask and took it off. Hair fall down from my forehead and sides. My hair was short cut before this all happened. I really became Reaper then. Huh. I looked up, seeing Celestia surprised. “Well, as you can see, I’m not a pony.”
“What...what are you? In all my years. Physically you are similer to us, but…”
“No pony ears, or fur, or multi colored hair. Or tale. I am what’s known as a human.” Listening to myself in a calm room. At least I still sound the same.
“Well then...When will you be able to start?” Blue Blood asked.
“Tomorrow I guess. If you’ll let me I’ll pack up now and hitch a ride with you.”
“Sure.” Blue Blood said.
I got up and pulled the sheets off my games and consoles. Celestia, Cadence and Blue Blood all looked at the items in awe. “What are they?” Cadence asked.
“Entertainment, and very expensive.” I say, packing them carefully. Once everything was back in my oversized duffle bag I strapped it on. “Let’s go.” Cadence and Blue Blood made their way down the steps, and placed a hand on Celestia’s shoulder. “Keep an eye on the filly that lives here. She has a destiny.”
“What?” She asked, I ignored her question and walked downstairs. She’ll get it sooner or later. As I was at the door I saw the filly Twilight there, watching me from a corner.
“Practice your magic some kid, I have a feeling you’ll be good at it.”
As Blueblood’s bodyguard/servant, I had two basic things to do. Get him what he asks for, and keep him safe. By any means, Celestia clarified, same went for Cadence too. So I gotta split my time between the two somehow, or keep them together as often as possible...Bingo.
When I requested a large TV, Celestia looked at me strangely, but I explained it was to make my job easier and entertain Cadence and Blueblood she didn’t question it further. She got a Really large TV and had it placed in the sitting room, I kept my room locked but brought with me the NES and Mario World. I hooked it up and, thank god, it worked right away. “What...is this?” Blue Blood asked.
“Entertainment from my world, this thing and game here are actually really old back home.” I explained, hooking up the two controllers.
“It’s a game? Like chess?” Cadence asked.
I chuckled. “Do you know what a video game is?” I asked, the two shaking their heads. “Wow, you have DVD movies, but not video games. You poor deprived children.” Than made those two look at each other confusingly. When the game booted up I selected new game and set it to 2 player. I then gave Cadence the player 1 control and Blueblood the player 2 control. “Alright, control are simple, that little cross on the left controls the character on the screen, the buttons on the right make them do specific actions, and the ones in the middle pause the game, most of the time, and yes, that’s what they do in this game?” They both looked at me confused. “Trust me, once you get the hang of it, it’s fun and easy...just remember to blink when you get into it.”
Five Hours Later
“Blueblood, Cadence?” Celestia asked, walking into the sItting room. She saw them both sitting on the couch, I watching them as they, played the game. Celestia walked up to me. “What show is this?”
“Not a show, a video games.” I explained, followed by a brief explanation as to what a videogame was.
“I see, so those strange boxes allow you to play as another in a fantasy world?”
“Like a movie you control.”
“How long have they been...playing?”
“Five hours.”
“Are their eyes supposed to be that red?”
I looked at the kids eyes. “Damn, I told them to blink.” I said, turning the system off.
“NOOOO!!!” Cadence and Blueblood yelled. They then both yield and rubbed their eyes.
“I told you two to blink.”
“We were almost at the fifth castle…” Cadence wined.
A month passed since my first day and now it was time for the Grand Galloping Galla. I am to watch over Cadence and Blueblood and when it gets late, escort them to their bedrooms. This might be a challenge, since there will be a lot of ponies here and I will have to keep them both in check.
Cadence was dressed in a pink and sunset orange dress and Blueblood was dressed in a simple black tux. Since I’m their guard I get to wear my Reaper attire, much to the dislikes of the snobby guests here.
“This is boring.” BLueblood sighed.
“Agreed.” Cadence said.
The three of us were at a table just ordering drinks and the occasional snack. “Yeah...Well, since we got nothing else better to do, how about we do this.” I start, sitting up right. “I know little about you two despite being your guard/servant for a month now. You each ask me a question, and I ask a question about you two. Deal?”
Cadence and Blueblood both looked at each other and sat up. “Alright...What’s your name. Your real name.” Cadence asked.
“Chris.”
“Odd name.”
“DIfferent world, remember?”
“What’s earth like?” Blueblood asked. “You only talk about it in small bits.”
I chuckled. “Earth is...strange. To you anyway. There’s no magic, no pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies there kinda are, but they aren’t like you two, able to walk and talk… Actually only humans can talk, and have sentient.”
“Sentient?” Cadence asked.
“It means smart enough to know right and wrong, and who you are. We...humans. We are obsessed, always asking questions we have to find the answers too. It used to be that when something new and strange came around we’d call it evil and burn it, kill it, just want it to go away. Nowadays, when something we don’t understand comes around we wanna know how it works, what makes it tick. That change in mindset lead to things like the games you both seem to enjoy, advancements in technology, science. Hell, we put people on the moon and into space.”
“Wow…” They both said.
“My turn. Cadance, Blueblood. Where are you two from?”
“Well. I came from village west of Canterlot. My village was being torn apart by a witch that was harvesting the love and energy from everyone. I confronted her and managed to stop her, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in Canterlot, had a horn, and auntie filled me in on the rest. Village was safe, and for my selfless actions auntie made me an alicorn.”
“Alright, Blueblood.”
Blueblood sighed. “I am from here, Canterlot. My parents were nobles that worked with the crown as finance managers. Well, about seven years ago it turns out they were taking money from the crown, so they are in the dungeon, and aunt adopted me. I was just three and had nothing to do with what they were doing. I don’t remember much about them, but when I did see them in the dungeon ones they seemed...nice.”
“I’m sorry. Money can turn nice people into monsters if they let it.”
“Well. What were your parents like?” Blueblood asked.
Now I sighed. “My dad, I never knew him, the man I grew up calling dad when I was young was fun, but after a move to another state, when he finally was able to come over he was...different. He would rather drink and smoke than be with us. My mom was a good person, a little too religious and superstitious personally but she was good...til she got ill. She was in pain, began hating everything, no medicines worked, and since she couldn’t be left alone I had to stay with her. Some days she would sleep through it all, all day, others...she was screaming, crying all day and night from the pain. It got to the point where...I snapped. I couldn't’ handle it any more, had her sent to a nursing home...she died not long after. She just let herself go.
“I had known for a long time that, my family...we can get along, but not for long term. We do best when we only talk and meet up here and there...So I left, didn’t tell a soul where I went, even changed my last name to make sure they couldn’t find me easy.”
“Why?”
“Because the things I said to my mom when I snapped...I couldn’t face my family. I got a job in the one place I figured they’d never look. A place called New York. It was a crowded, noisy city, but I made due. Worked in records for a company. Basically I just sat in the basement where all the past files and such were kept, and when someone needed one of those files, which was rarely, I lead them to it. All in all, I kept my life simple, and even when I was working I had free time, so I gamed. Watched tv, and still got paid.”
“What changed to bring you here?” Cadence asked.
“Curiousity. I had a few grand, about three thousand dollars saved for a rainy day, and I was gonna use it to go to a convention. E3. It was being held a few states away from where I was, all video games, and video game related stuff. I was there for a few hours, buying mostly before I was gonna go to any reveals. I got those weapons you see me with and was playing with them. They weren’t real, before anyway. Next thing I know the lights went out and, well, here I am.”
BANG!
I reacted, pulling the table over and keeping the kids low behind it. I looked out from the side, seeing one of the nobles missing their head. “Kids, look down and stay close.” I said, getting them up with me and leading them to where guards were leading the crowds. Once they were safe I pulled out the shotguns. Here’s hoping they “reload” Like Reapers. “Show yourself!”
“Well well,” I turned around. My eyes widened at who I was looking at...Widowmaker. “Took long enough to find you Reaper. Sombra took her time making an interdimensional locater, but finally we found you.”
“...So she made a portal?” I asked, playing dumb.
“Yeah, and it seems you have your boney fingers in this world’s kingdom. Got any plans?”
“Just my job here.”
That made her chuckle. “Doing what? Playing bodyguard to some rich brats?”
When she turned around as some guards were entering, I pulled both shotguns out, and fired, both her arms being blasted off as she screamed in agony. “Yeah.” I said, the guards looking scared as they walked up. “Get her a doctor. And restrain her legs, she can still kill you without her arms.”
“Grah! Traitor! You’re not Reaper! Who are you!?” Widowmaker yelled as the guards started to pick her up, carrying her to a medic. Heh, good thing her heartbeat is slowed, it will keep her alive longer.
“Who was that Reaper?” I turned around, seeing Celestia there.
“Widowmaker. An assassin for a terrorist organization, not from earth, or at least mine.”
“Yet another world?” She asked.
“Sort of. Follow me.” I said, leading her to my room, where I kept my games and other consoles when Blueblood or Cadence wasn’t playing them. I turned on the PS4 and pulled out the Overwatch disk. “She comes from this.” I said, handing her the disk.
“A...one of your games?”
“It was supposed to be a game...but then again, here I am with Reaper’s powers and there Widowmaker was, thinking I was him.”
“So...what do you think is going on?”
“Something tells me that what I thought were games, what everyone on my world thought was just games on my world, might be real, at least in other realities. So, that makes it a possibility of this world.” I tapped the game disk in her hand. “Flowing out into this one. And god knows what else.”
“That’s worrying. Are these games why you told me about that filly, Twilight Sparkle?”
I sighed, grabbing my laptop and booting it up, quickly entering my media folder and finding the MLP episodes/movies. I then played the first episode ever and showed it to Celestia. “Your world in mine isn’t a videogame, like the one Widowmaker is from, it’s a TV show, though, as you can clearly see there are differences, I am only assuming there will be similarities.”
“So in other words this...TV show version of this Equestria might have similar if not exact events similar to what happens in this show?”
“Bingo. But, with me, and now this event with Widowmaker, I am not sure how much of this show will still ring true in this world.”
“But you are thinking that preparing for them, even if they end up not happening.”
“Better safe than sorry, right?”
“True...on one condition.”
“Being?”
“I wish to have all these consoles, and games, and this…”
“Computer, laptop specifically.”
“Computer. Wow, ours are still rather large. These items all examined, copied, and made for our markets, though, we will take some artistic licensing with the games and what they hold. We don’t want too many details being similar enough for the citizens to make connections.”
“Well, alright...but promise, that once they know what they are doing, everything will be working properly when returned. As I told you when you first saw them, these things are expensive.”
“Relax, a simple examination spell should let us learn all we need to know. As for things like operating systems, we will have to create that from the ground up.”
“Okay fine. You had me worried.”
“They already sent someone to retrieve him?!”
“Calm yourself, thanks to Tracer and Lucio’s work, we have the blueprints that Sombra used to make the portal machine. I can recreate it, and thank to the Overwatch medical records Mercy kept, we have Reapers DNA. Even if it’s from before he became Reaper, it should be enough.”
“Alright...just let me know when it’s ready so you can send me to deal with him.”
“No.”
“What?”
“When it’s complete, we will be sending Genji.”
“You can’t-”
“Jack! Your past with him is the reason we decided on this. Look, from what I can tell, so long as the portal is operating, we can tell vital signs. If Genji… Then, and only then will we send you.”
With all my consoles, games and laptop going through magical reverse engineering, I decided to take Cadence and Blueblood out for a bit. I talked with Celestia and she said that Fillydelphia’s beach would be fun. The kids packed their things and we were on a train. At least I still had my phone.
“What is that?” Cadence asked, Blueblood’s ears perking up and his eyes looking in interest as Cadence pointed at my phone.
“It’s called a phone. Celestia wants to take this away from me for more than a day she’ll be prying it from my cold, never-dying hands.” I said, searching though the music files.
“What does it do?”
“Think of it kinda like my laptop, only has less stuff/power than it, but still does a lot.”
“So do you got games from your world on it too?”
“Yeah, they’re not like the ones you and Blueblood play, and frankly I am unsure if I can trust you two with it-”
“Because A, these things are very fragile, screen breaks or it falls in water, it’s dead. And B...Well, there’s some things I keep on here that kids are not suited to see.”
“So we get no entertainment? It’s a three hour train ride.”
“Well, how about some music from my world. What do I have here that you two might light?” I asked myself, looking through all the songs I had. After a bit, I found one I thought would be alright. A Hero Never Dies. I put an earbud each for them and let the song play.
Halfway through the song. “Got anything else?” Blueblood asked.
An hour or so passed, changing songs every so often. I kept any songs I knew had swears in them out of this selection and when we reached the train station I put my phone and earbuds away. We grabbed our bags and got off. As usual ponies stared at me. I was used to it. A carriage was waiting for us and it took us to a fancy hotel where Celestia had a room for us all ready. When we got up to it, it was like the inside of a house, living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, four bathrooms, patio, and an personal library and indoor pool.
While the kids unpacked I went into the library. It was nothing like in Canterlot, or even the one in Celestia’s bedroom, and no, nothing happened. As I figured most of the books were different encyclopedias. There were also mostly dictionaries, thesauruses, and what few actual books there were all seemed to either be books about the cities tourist attractions or autobiographies of ponies famous to the city.
All in all, this library sucked. “Hey Reaper!” I turned around, seeing Blueblood at the doorway. “Cadence and I were thinking about going somewhere to eat.”
“Sure, let’s just unpack and you two get into something comfortable, alright?”
“Alright.” Blueblood said as he walked off. Wonder why he is such an ass in the show? He’s a nice kid.
I picked out a room quickly, unpacking my bags, which wasn’t much, and saw the kids at the door. Blueblood was in a tux and Cadence was in a poofy dress. “Oh no…” I groan, shaking my head.
“What? This is eating attire.” Blueblood said, confused.
“Not where we’re looking.” I went into Blueblood’s room, finding his most casual clothing was, what I found out, was brand name blue jeans and a white collar shirt. Cadence at least had a normal sun dress and flip flops. With the kids changed I had Cadence wear a poncho type thing to hide her wings. I’m overprotective, shut up.
Once we left the place, me just not wearing my mask and keeping my hood down, we headed for the common man's food district. The whole way, seeing my new face…his face. There was a scare going along both eyes. Ponies gave me stars, but I ignored them and most that did look looked away just as fast. Big cities...only good thing about them is that you can look as odd as can be and most people will only give you a quick glance. Blueblood was a mix of scared, uncomfortable, and bitter about wandering around as a common pony. Cadence though, seemed happy about it. Seems about fright, she was a normal pony before she became an alicorn.
Once at the food district, Blueblood’s attitude seemed to change, the smell of delicious foods calming his groomed princely(jerkly) deminer. Cadence seemed happy too...until I found the restaurant I wanted us to eat at. “Um...are you sure Reaper?” Cadence asked.
“I know it will be weird for you two, but I naturally eat meat, and greens. This is a vacation for me too after all.” I said. The restaurant I had us all stand in front of was a griffon run restaurant, the smell of cooked meat caught my attention instantly. “BEsides, the sign says they serve pony diets also.”
“What’s all you can eat?” Blueblood asked, reading more of the sign.
I smiled. “Exactly what it says.” I said, leading the kids with me into the front door, Inside were several ponies, thestrials, a Minotaur, and, as expected, griffons. Walking up to register, the gryphoness looked surprised to see me. Then again, I am likely the only human she has ever seen. “Hey, how much for one adult and two kids?”
“Oh, uh, ten bits per youngling, er, foal, child...twenty five for adults…” She said, trying not to sound offensive I guess.
I laughed it off, pulling out my bag of bits, stuffed like Naruto’s purse from the earlier episodes, and payed the price for us all. She gave me three plastic cups and I gave the kids each one. “Come on, let’s get some drinks then get the food.”
“But we didn’t order anything?” Blueblood said.
Again, I smiled. “Kid, you are about to learn the meaning of gluttony this day.” I said, taking the kids the the soda dispenser. Cadence seemed to know what to do, and Blueblood watched, mimicking when it was his tur- HEY! Cherry root beer!
When we all got our drinks I picked out a nice booth, the kids on one end and me on the other. “Alright, drinks down, follow me.” I said, Blueblood looking even more confused.
After showing Blueblood how an all you can eat buffet works, he seemed to get the idea as he filled his plate with some kind of Lasagna and pastries, jello, and a rather large bowl of ice cream...I think he grabbed a soup bowl rather than the false glass cups that were there… Eh, kids will be kids....Why didn’t I ever do that when my parents took me to places like these...Oh yeah...not much of a sweet tooth.
Cadence was right along with Blueblood, plate filled with all kinds of things and an equally big bowl of ice cream. I kept my plate simple, some equestrian equivalent of chinese noodles, kabobs, with real meat. Chicken I think. And mashed potatoes covered in gravy.
As we ate at some point smalltalk started up. “So, how many of those...games, do you have?” Cadence asked.
“In total? Well, some I’ve had for years, others are newer, but all in all I think it’s over...two hundred...maybe more. WIth the ones that are able I have a lot of games on the consoles themselves.” I reply.
“Really?” Blueblood asked.
“Yeah, the ones on my PC, the one I told Celestia ‘Take this and mess it up I break you horn’ I modded.”
“Modded?”
“Things people from my world do. Whether it’s for fun, of because they felt it needed something...more, they make a mod. A file the base game, aka, Vanilla game, that the game can load and have work as if it’s part of the game normally. Some mods add little things, new characters, an item, others change the way the game looks, how some things are done, even change the whole game itself.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, this one game of mine, my favorite mods for it are called Dust, and MoMonsters.”
“What do they?” Cadence asked.
“Well, MoMonsters is self explanatory. Dust changes the whole game, takes away all the quests, everything wants to kill you, and everything is reduced, weapon damage, carry weight, HP, ammo and healing items are harder to find, enemies drop much less, and there’s one goal. Find Safety.”
“How do you do it?”
“Do that hardest thing in that mode. Play the game. Heh, first time I ever played that mod, died about a mile from where I started.”
“Yikes. Think we can play it?” Blueblood asked.
“When you’re older.” I reply.
“How old?”
“...Fourteen, fifteen, around there.”
“That’s three years away.” Blueblood said sadly.
“Time flies Blue.”
“How come you call us by our names and nicknames?” Cadence asked. “Most everypony else calls us Prince and Princess.”
“Cause A, I am not from here, so not under any of your crowns laws of social manures about addressing royalty, and B, you two are kids, you should act like such, and be treated like such.”
They seemed to nod in agreement at that and we kept eating. When Blueblood got up for his third plate I got up to use the bathroom. Some guy half shoved me on my way there. He was a Griffon, and something about him felt bad. I quickly used the bathroom and walked back out, relieved to see both Cadence and Blueblood in the booth. “Hey. I miss anything?”
“Not really.” Cadence replied, taking a bite of what appeared to be tofu.
After we had out fills I took the kids on a walk to help push the food down. Five blocks in on the walk I noticed we were being followed. I informed the kids and had us keep to the heavily populated streets. Cadence and Blueblood were reasonably worried, from what I could tell he was still following so I headed back to the hotel. Once inside the kids seemed to calm some and once back in our room they let go of some long held breaths.
I took a seat in the library and relaxed some. Whoever that guy was, he can’t have gotten in he-
Slice.
Something sharp sliced my neck open, my blood spewing out across the floor. My own blood was pouring into my lungs and my body was reverting to smoke to heal. When it finished I heard Cadence scream and grabbed my shotguns. When I entered her room I saw the griffon that shoved me in the restaurant holding her, and holding a knife to her neck. “How?! I sliced your neck clean open!” He shouted, now pointing the knife at me.
“I’m hard to kill.” I reply, pointing both guns at him. “Drop the princess. Now.”
“I- I’ll hurt her, I swear!” He said, taking the knife back up to her neck.
“Do that, and you’ll be kissing the pavement thirty stories below.”
“You- You wouldn’t kill me.”
“I am ordered and sworn to protect Prince Blueblood and Princess Cadence at any cost. I may not have blood on my hands now, but are you going to be the one to change that? Think hard about that, I’ve already blown off someone’s arms, now she has to have someone feed her and wipe her ass in the dungeons.”
That made him shake, and it’s not a lie. Widowmaker is in the dungeon, legs restrained and upper body held down, nurses and guards making her eat and...cleaning her. I visit, every so often. Every time she looks at me she spits before talking. That would hurt, if I was really Reaper...then again, he wouldn’t care either.
The griff seemed to be weighing his options. As he was putting the knife away he gasped, Cadence running to me. I grabbed her in a tight hug and looked up seeing Blueblood….holding a bloody knife. “Blueblood.” I said, worried.
“I...I...he…” I went over to him, Cadence still with me and comforted BLueblood. “I’m sorry. I was scared, and, and…”
“Shh. It’s alright. It’s alright. You’ll be fine. It’s alright...You did nothing wrong...You were protecting your cousin.”
I informed Celestia personally about what happened. Needless to say, she was distraught. Cadence and Blueblood were given therapy and Celestia and I rarely left their side. In order to make more time to spend with her niece and nephew, she made a small group of trusted friends to run the day courts so they could take over in her leave, and anything they felt she should look at they gave to her in a report at the end of the day.
It has been a week now and the kids were in bed. Celestia sat next to me, I got my consols back a while ago and have been too distracted to really play them. This was the first time in a while I was playing them. “Looks like their nightmares are easing up.” She said.
“Good.” I replied, pausing the game and giving a groan as I rubbed my forehead. “I still can’t believe that happened.”
“Neither can I… How did you cope?”
“Huh?”
“When you shot off Widowmaker’s arms, how did you cope with it after words? You seem fine now.”
“I guess...It’s cause I know.”
“Know what?”
“She expected me to be an allie they lost. I had an opening and took it. This body I’m in, it’s killed countless, and she about the same. She didn’t deserve what happened to her, but she deserves to find peace...and I’m just not...able, to give it to her.”
“What happened to her?”
“...Long ago, on her world. She was a ballerina. One of the best, and her husband was a well respected and high ranking government official. A terrorist organization captured her, and was brainwashing her to kill him. She was saved, her programing removed...so they thought. It kicked in while she slept, and she killed her husband then and there. She woke up after the deed was done...Broken and alone, she went back to the terrorist group, where she let them change her, her morality, emotions, gone, her heartbeat slowed to hide from infrared scanners and all kinds of bad. The woman she was was gone...and the Widow was all that was left.”
Celestia seemed a mix of horrified and sad. “How...How can they do that to her?”
“How can the people who tried to harm the kids and kill me do what they did?” I asked back. As expected, I got no answer. “Race, species, in the end, there are three facts. We are born, we live, then we die. The beginning and end are plain and simple, they just happen. What people do when they’re living is their business, but some people...don’t deserve to live.”
“I don’t believe that.” Celestia said sternly. “I believe everyone has good in them and can make the better choices.”
“Maybe some, but not all. That’s a lesson from both Widowmaker’s world...and mine.”
“Name one person from your world who deserved their death.”
“Here’s a list. Starting off with the worst, Adolf Hitler…”
Over the next few hours I told her about all the tyrents, wars, and death my world has gone though. As I kept on she just seemed...I dunno. Shocked I guess that it’s one after another.
“Stop.” She said, covering her mouth, eyes teary. “How...how can your world keep doing that to itself?”
“Ignorance, selfishness, greed. Can’t even name them all. The good are too few and far between and the bad and selfish are always the ones in power.”
“Tell me something, where did you learn how to fight?”
“... I did everything to make my mother proud. It was never enough. Get a job, she didn't like it, despite the fact that she was always telling me to get one. Join the Navy, did that, she got pissed. When I was overseas for a few years... that's when I learned to fight. Enemy submarine, new type, invisible to our radars, sunk the ship I was on. Only me and about fifty out of six hundred men and women got out of that alive. We washed up on enemy shores and were being gunned down as we ran through the thick forest.
“I spent the next four months being hunted down like a pig for sport while day after day someone I knew died. It came down to three of us left. We took a big risk, and went for their base, which had a radio tower so we hoped to get a message to some Ally of ours. We snuck in alright, but once the message was sent, that's when hell broke loose. My last two friends were killed, and I was captured. A week later troops came in and I was rescued, but it was a week of hell. All my ribs were either cracked or broken, and my legs were screwed, literally, they took an electrical drill and drilled screws all the way down my legs, into the bone. I was honorably discharged after that.”
“You learned to fight in your world’s armed forces?”
“I learned to fight while stuck on the food forsaken island. Navy only teaches you to sail and point a gun.”
“And your abilities?”
“Smoking I learned day one. I don't know how exactly, but, it's like If I want to get somewhere but there's an obstacle, my body reacts, turning to smoke and I float up or through it. I have other abilities, but I am not sure how those work.”
“Like?”
“My guns, for example, game logic just has me toss them to the side and two more magically appear on me, fully loaded and ready to shoot. I don't think that will actually happen, it's why I only used them the once, dealing with Widdowmaker. Then there's my…’Ultamit’ Death Blossoms. I half smoke up and fire in all directions at incredible speeds. I’m not sure how to use it, but I'm guessing I have to either be pumped with adrenaline, or really pissed off to use it.”
“I see. So, aside from your family, leave anyone back on your world?”
“No. To busy with work and my lack-of social life to have a special girl. I always thought about having a family, wife, kids. Heh...lots of kids, but I’ve labeled that as wishful thinking.”
“Heh...same.” I looked over to Celestia, her face was happy...and sad. “I have had relationships in the past, but being ageless… it just made them all the more special when they died. I miss them, but I don't isolate myself, I cherish all the memories I made with them. Good and bad.”
“I bet stallions line up by the mile to date you huh?”
“No. I wish, but mostly my ponies have put me so high up that my relationships all started out with a guard or servant I find has a crush but is the shy type. Heh, it's cute when they get so flustered when I tell them I know they have a crush on me.”
“Heh. Sounds like you like the shy types then.”
“Yes. It's been like that for years... though I wish I could just go up to a stallions...or any race male and ask for a date~”
I looked over at Celestia, and chuckled. “Princess Celestia, are you asking me out?”
“Depends. Are you accepting?”
“I might…” I say grabbing my NES controllers and handing her one. “If said solar monarch can last an all nighter trying to beat the levels in Super Mario.”
“Harder than I expected Genji. I’ll give Nyx this, she's smart, it seems she left out a keep component in order to make this thing working, and likely keeps that formula on her head.”
“What is it?”
“A power source. Right now, it can be turned on with a basic power source, but it's not stable. Organic matter disintegrates when entered.”
“Even armored my organic parts wouldn't survive?”
“Sadly no.”
“Damn. What about an Omnic?”
“We know for a fact Widowmaker Maker is also there, likely either aiding Reaper or looking for him. That combination is not easy.”
“You're right. What about that Bastion Omnic we found in the forest?”
“I don’t know, he seems to like it there as is.”
“Yes, but before all this Reaper did nearly end his animal friends when they tried to kidnap and reprogram him. I think a bit of talking and we can come to an agreement with the ancient warmachine.”
“If you think you can do it, find Zenyatta and go find Bastion. We likely will need him.”
“Will do, my friend.”
You can imagine that dating a princess is hard. It really is. She has little free time and that’s only when she is ready to sleep. It’s been a while and nothing much has happened. Celestia and I went on a few dates over the span of two months, Blueblood seems to be recovering from that event and Cadence has been focusing on her studies more rather than trying to deal with her trama. Well, she was, until…
I spotted Cadence looking through one of Celestia’s special long range telescopes in the gardens. Not being able to resist, I snuck up behind her, and moved just behind her. “Spying on the hunt?” I asked, the young alicorn jumping almost five feet in the air before crashing back down.
“Reaper! You scared me!”
“I could tell when you jumped from the ground to about my upper chest.” I laughed. “You looking at that Shining Armor colt again?” Her blushed slices was all my answer. Called it.
“He's cute.” She whined.
“Then go ask him on a date.”
“No! It's the Colt’s job to ask the mare out!”
“So you're settling for keeping distance and stalking him?”
“Well, what else can I do? Auntie says it’s unlady like for a princess to ask or take the first move when courting.”
“Hmm… Come with me.”
“Huh? Where are we going?”
“The Sparkle house.”
“It’s so good to see you again Reaper.” Night Light said. I arrived under the guise of a friendly visit, bringing Cadence along. While Shining Armor was out with friends Cadence was playing with Twilight, his little sister and sooner or later to be aprencance to Celestia.
“Same. Life in the castle has been… interesting.”
“Oh we heard.” Velvet cut in, entering the room with some tea. “There was an attack at the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Yes. I dealt with it.”
“Did you…”
“No, no. Just crippled them. Back home I...did too much of that.”
“Oh well, it seems she and Twilight are hitting it off like a charm.” Velvet pointed towards the window, The two dancing along with some music coming from a small radio nearby.
“Heh, seems so… Say, how often do you two go out?”
“Oh since Twilight not that much. She’s kind of a shut in, Shining can’t really look after her since his finals are coming up and he’s been eyeing the Royal Guard summer academy for the past three months. We’re going to surprise him with his acceptance letter come school’s end.”
“Well, one kid away for the summer but still stuck with the youngest… What if I got Cadence to Babysit for you?”
“But, Cadence is a princess.”
“She’s also a teenager, and seems to get along with Twilight very well. And as her and Blueblood’s bodyguard, I’d be here as well. A babysitter for the babysitter if you will.”
The two looked at each other. A silent conversation among couples as they debated the positives and negatives. “Well, that would give us time to finally have some much needed alone time.” Velvet stated.
“Maybe even go on some trips you’ve been wanting too dear. We traveled a lot before we had shining and I know Velvet here still has the travel bug.” Night Light chimed in.
“Oh, well in that case I think we’ll talk with Cadence about it.”
“No need, allow me.” I said, getting up and heading outside. “Hey there.” I said, gaining the two’s attention. “Twilight, mind if I talk with Cadence for a while?” The little filly nodded, standing up and heading back inside. “So, having fun?” I asked.
“Yes actually. Twilight’s little, but really smart for a foal her age.”
“How’d you like to babysit her for her parents?”
“Huh?”
“Well, you two seem to get along, plus it can give you a few chances to speak with Shining Armor.”
“Well, yeah but Twilight said he’s heading for the Royal GUard training camp this summer. I’d still Babysit Twilight reguardness, she’s adorable.”
“Hmm… Well, who says I can’t make a stop there some time? Maybe bring you and Blueblood along as well.”
“That...can work! I get to spend time with Twilight and get to meet Shining!”
“Seems so.”
It’s been a month since Cadence agreed to be Twilight’s babysitter. I’ve had to drag Blueblood along as well but he didn’t mind all that much given I typically brought my games. I had a few educational games which Twilight enjoyed, mostly they were math games, yes I had a few of those too. Meanwhile, I was gonna have Cadence and Blueblood play an old favorite of mine, a classic of my generation. “Demon’s Souls? Is this a horror game?” Cadence asked.
“In some parts, yeah.” I admitted, finding stage two of the tower of Latria to be the freakiest thing ever. Those human centipede things just...ugh, still gives me shivers. Biggest what the fuck of my life then they showed up and would break my armor..spent so many fucking souls to repair them from that crap…
“So what do you do?” Bluelood asked.
“You play as a character you create, class, race, male, female, all up to you. They are taken after death to a place called The Nexus, where you are one of many who came to this cursed land to slay the demons, for whatever rhyme or reason is up to you, all choices lead to two endings either way, but I won’t spoil that for you.” I said, starting up the game as the opening clip started playing.
When it ended, Cadence and Blueblood where both interested and a little cautious. Hehehehehehe. You poor fools!
Two Hours Later
“I am in so much trouble!” Cadence whined, covering her face. She was doing...oddly well all things considered. She beat Demon Phalanx and Tower Knight, and wanted to slay the dragon before heading to the next ares to unlock the rest of that one, but I recommend going to all other areas before finishing that one. Yeah, that threw me for a loop too. Still doesn’t make much sense to me in that regard. Sadly though, she did as I instructed, the long ass wait to slay the damn thing being fire arrows at it until it’s dead then bam, there’s been like half and hour to an hour gone. Sadly...she ran out of arrows. Out of her past deaths and such that broke her, causing her to curse at the top of her voice.
Then, like any child, Twilight asked. “What does Fuck mean?”
I was holding back laughter, though from the looks of it Blueblood was laughing for the both of us. “Well...it...uhhh…” She was struggling.
“It’s an adult word Twilight.” I cut in.
“Adult word?” She asked.
“Yes. Adults know and use certain words from time to time to express displeasure or just shout it out in anger without thinking.”
“Like Cadence did!” She perked up.
I let out a chuckle at that, the pink alicorn teen’s face a bright red of embarrassment. “Heh, yeah. But adults typically try and refrain from saying these words around foals like you.”
“Why?”
“Because… each time a foal says an adult work, an alicorn loses a feather.” I said, grabbing a feather that fell off of Cadence in her anger. “See, Cadence lost one already.”
Twilight’s face became a shock with youth driven imaginative horror. “Oh no! I’m sorry Cadence! I’ll never say that word again!” She declared.
“ANd let’s keep this between us and your parents. Don’t wanna be grounded and have them take your library card away for the week, right?” Twilight shook her head in fear. “Good, now then, let’s order pizza and play a less… rage inducing game.”
“Yay!” They all declared, Cadence relieved I defused a possibly employment hazard. Twilight ran to get the phone and the take out menus her parents kept for lazy days, and I took out Demons Souls, replacing it for something easier. inFamous… maybe a movie instead… A filly as magically gifted as Twilight might get some...ideas...
With Cadence and Blueblood back in their rooms for the night under the normal guard watching them I was off to meet up with Celestia. Her court should be wrapping up by now, and we can go on our date. She did win that round of Super Mario after all.
“I wonder what place she has in mind?” I wondered to myself, wondering if our date will be out and about in town or just taking a stroll around this massive castle.
Arriving in the throne room Celestia and Raven were finishing up paperwork. "And these are those new trade tariffs for the Minotaur arms deals… and that should be about everything." Celestia said.
"Alright, and we're done for the day then Princess." Raven said, taking the paper and heading off.
Celestia gave off a long sigh, but smiled as she saw me. "Hello there Reaper. Long day as well?" She asked me.
“Not as long as yours.” I said honestly. “Paperwork is never fun.”
"Yes well, after several hundred years I've learned to skim and reject the bad ones and spot the actually important documents while I skim. Majority of it gets rejected anyway." She said, getting up and giving a stretch. "So, shall we?"
“We shall.” I nodded with a smile. “So, where would you like to go on our date?”
"My room."
Woah!
“So soon?” I asked in surprise. “I thought I’d have to wine and dine you first before getting the luxury of entering your room on the first date.”
She laughed. "If we ever want to wine and dine we must first look the part." She said, leading the way. Once there she gave me a simple blue shirt and jeans with shoes. "Hurry and put these on, I'll be back." She said as she rushed to her walk in closet.
“Alright…” I muttered while getting dressed in the clothes Celestia picked out for me quickly, not wanting to let the good lady wait on me.
Once they were on and Celestia walked out of her closet, sporting a simple yet slim fitting pink and yellow sundress. "How do I look?"
“Amazing.” I smiled.
"One final touch." She said, her horn lighting up and in a flash there was a green coated, blue eyed unicorn mare inside the dress Celestia was in. "And Tada, from Alicorn Princess to common unicorn mare."
“Perfect.” I nodded. “So what should I call you while you're like this?”
"How about… Tia, it's a nickname only a few people know. Now then, one last thing."
“What’s that?” I inquired.
Her horn lit up again and in a flash, nothing seemed different, but then she gave me a hand mirror. Taking it- woah!
I was an earth pony, all black coat, golden eyes and neon blue mane. "Like it? It's an illusion spell but the complexity makes even your fur and ears feel real to both yourself and those around you. This way, we can go out properly without all the fuss."
“This is fantastic!” I said in amazement, lightly tapping my chest and feeling my brand new fur like it was real.
"Yup. Now, come on. I have a secret way out of the castle." Tia said, moving aside a large wall painting and revealing a fair sized passageway. We entered and began walking down some stairs and a ladder until finally we were on a walkway tunnel. The noise above gave me the feeling this was under the main roads in Canterlot.
“Secret underground passage?” I asked.
"I actually use this form a lot going out and just having fun some nights. Can't do much as a Princess, so I created an identity that can. Also helps me a lot keep connected with the common folk."
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “Plus you can finally relax and not be surrounded by servants or other royal things that would get annoying after so long.”
"Oh you have no idea." Celestia sighed. When we got to the exit and she opened the door we were in a store room filled with alcohol. We emerged from the storage cellar to a bar, mostly empty, save the barkeep, a red unicorn stallion in a black and gold suit and har with a black and red mane with emerald eyes. "Whiskey Song." Celestia said with a nod.
"Tia, pleasure as always." He said, cleaning a glass.
“Hello.” I nodded to the stallion.
"Hey there, who's the colt Tia?" Whiskey Song said.
"This is my date, …Grip Chase." Celestia said.
"Heh, well you two have fun now, just don't forget ta' lower and raise the sun and moon."
"Haven't yet." Tia said as we left the bar.
“Grip Chase?” I asked curiously.
"I had a brain fart, can't come up with something good after day court." She sighed. "Anyway, don't worry about Whiskey, he and his family have actually watched over that tunnel exit and entrance for me for about seven generations. Their bar may be mostly empty but the crown buys their excess every year for the Grand Galloping Gala. They also got a lot of great booze from other kingdoms."
“Really?” I asked. “They have that great of booze?”
"Yes, of course the Nobles scoff their noses at it since it doesn't cost four digits or more. Jokes on them since all the Gala booze comes from here and they eat it up. Heh, shit eating ass kissers."
"What colorful language that's totally true." I laughed.
"I don't get to swear when I'm up on the throne. Last time I did the poor stallion died of a heart attack." Celestia sighed. "When you're a goddess in flesh and blood anything of insult to anyone is taken as gospel."
"At some point you just have to set the record straight." I shrugged. "But I wouldn't know what it feels like to be a literal walking talking goddess.""
"You're closer to that than you think. You heal from fatal wounds already so even if you're not immortal you're pretty much nearly unkillable. At the very least very durable."
"Yeah...still hurts like a bitch though." I grumbled.
"I can relate." Tia said as we walked down the streets. We arrived at a small cafe called Caffeine Marco and made our orders. "So, we've talked a lot about your world before but you still don't know all that much about Equis. Any questions?"
"I have no idea where to start." I said honestly. "Cause there's...a whole lot of questions and I don't know which one to ask first…" I said sheepishly. "So...from what I've told you...what's different if I may ask?"
"Well, based on what little I have seen of this show version of our world, several things. Aside from physical appearances, locations look greatly different as well as size seems… odd."
"How so?" I inquired.
"Well, the sky image of the town of Ponyville looks far too small, as does the Canterlot view from the town."
"I did notice these places are a lot bigger." I brought up.
"Yes. I can… somewhat guess why the differences but all in all it's more irksome to me than a real issue. Plus those maps of Equis are also far too small to be accurate at all. And that would be giving it a generous suspension of disbelief."
“I mean, I kind of thought it was more ‘this is the continent we’re focusing on’.” I started. “They never brought up that it was a ‘world map’ weirdly enough.”
"Well, even still it's not accurate in shape or size. Equis is far larger with still much of the lands unexplored, say nothing of the seas aside from the east ocean."
“Fair.” I nodded. “But gotta keep it scaled down enough for the kids, but open ended enough for people wanting to expand on the story ya know?” I shrugged.
"Still, no way that map of Equis could be more than a few thousand miles in diameter. This Equis is at minimum 750,000,000 miles in diameter."
To say my brain trying to process that information came up with 404's popping up, would be an understatement.
Now I flunked science class, but I remember that our own sun was like, 800K in miles around...
“So...I’m not good with math but...that would be ninety three times the size of our sun...” I said slowly.
"Really? How could such a small sun support a planet with life?"
Small she calls it… granted there are bigger that were found, none that come to mind, but still…
“Do you have...legitimately any idea how huge this planet is?”
"I just said, roughly 750,000,000 miles minimum. No one has traveled across the whole world but spells have given us enough data to make estimations."
“I flunked science, but I know for a fact that when you have something this enormous, bad things should be happening.” I started.
"Normally, you'd be right, I'll admit. But Equis and our sun and moon are unique cases. Main reason being, the Heart of Equis."
“As in the core of your planet isn’t about to become a black hole given another thousand or so years?”
"Well, how to put this… Does the Phrase, Mother Earth exist in your world? I know your planet is named it but still, here we just refer to earth as dirt and soil."
“That’s what we call ‘earth’ as well, if you want to get technical the name for ‘Mother Earth’ is Gaea but that’s getting into naming semantics.” I started. “But no, on my world there’s literally no magic, so no ‘earth goddess’ or anything like that...sadly.”
"Heh, well there's no shortage of magic or gods here on Equis. The Heart of Equis is exactly that, a physical beating heart that keeps life and magic flowing throughout the world."
“So when do we adventure down to the heart to turn this planet into a giant Alicorn fighting Unicron?” I joked.
"Heh, doubtful. In any case we don't know too much about the heart, but some say there is a means to see it."
“With a pure soul, heart of gold, and about a few hundred people beaten to a bloody pulp, you can find the door to the mystical heart of Equis.” I said in a mock ‘fantasy narrator’ voice.
"Har har." She said. "But that aside, did you want to know anything specific?"
“What races are on this world if I may ask?” I inquired. “Cause I do know quite a bit, but I’d like to hear it from someone who knows...practically everything.”
"Well, Ponies, Minotaurs, Griffons, Hippogriffs, Changelings though I haven't encountered any for the last five hundred years, Yaks but they've been in an isolation thing for the last two hundred years, Zebras, Deer, Caribou, and various other races I can't list off the top of my head."
“Interesting.” I said honestly. “How are...relations with them if I may ask?” I asked, curious as to if people are on friendly terms more than any socio-political crap.
"Well, As I said the Yaks are in an isolation so I am unsure. Haven't encountered any Changelings in five hundred years, Hippogriffs are mostly quiet but last I heard all was well. The Griffons have been… better but their pride won't help them rebuild after the civil wars. Minotaur relationship is fairly well, lots of trade. Zebra relationships are well as are the Deer and Caribou. In fact the only race we don't get along with is the Demons and Sirens."
“Excuse me?” I asked. “Demons and Sirens?”
She nodded. "Demons, most are mindless monsters that eat everything and anything, even each other but the ones you need to worry about are the ones capable of thought. And the Sirens while mostly nomadic sea dwellers when they sing they can cause various terrible actions. Long ago three when they sang caused violent riots and chaotic fights all around the coasts."
“Normally they would just sing to drown unknowing sailors and eat them...but I suppose it’s different here than ancient greek stories.”
"I thought you said there was no magic in your world?"
“That’s why I said ‘stories’.” I pointed out. “Mythology and the like, just some people thought it was a mythical creature when it could have been just normal animals or something.” I shrugged. “Also they're probably different because in my world's mythology, their bird people.”
"Huh, strange. So, tell me about yourself… Grip, aside from those videogames and vast media archives in your computer, what did you enjoy doing in your free time?"
"I like reading." I said honestly. "Fictional stories especially."
"Oh, then perhaps the royal library has something of your fancy? Many think it's all historical documents but it actually acts more like an archive for all texts we can gather, fiction and nonfiction."
“Sounds amazing.” I said honestly. “Do you have a favorite fictional story to read?”
"Well, I guess an old favorite of mine would be Decipher Starmap. It's an old story about a Pegasus filly who wants to see her parents again and crosses the stars themselves to find them. It's… exactly how it sounds, sad really but being told from her perspective, it's such an innocent point of view."
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “Even if it’s from an innocent point of view about traveling to meet one’s family again...not being with family to start with is always sad.”
"Any books from your world you enjoyed?"
“There’s quite a lot of stories I’ve read through my life...but my favorite would be...A Confusion of Princes.” I said honestly.
"Oh? Pray tell, what is that about?"
“It’s...a little hard to explain.” I said sheepishly. “But the short of it is basically a retelling of how one man became a Prince of a galactic Empire, died three times fighting aliens, other Princes like him, which are cyber augmented and bioengineered super people, and his own sister just so he can give up the possible life of being the Emperor and adding himself to a galactic wide hive mind so he can live a life as a normal human with the love of his life.” I said sheepishly. “The author said it’s a ‘space opera’ in book form so...unless I go into detail about it it’s a little weird to explain, but it’s still a good book.”
"..." Celestia laughed. "I'm sorry, but I didn't understand a word of that."
“My point.” I said sheepishly. “But in simpler terms, super soldier died three times so he can be a normal human again with his wife outside of the space empire shenanigans. That make more sense?”
"Not by much." She giggled. "Though it does say a lot about your world's fiction and imagination."
“Yes, cause when your world is devoid of magic, gotta let your imagination run free to whatever realms it wants to take it, from an old guy who loves old fantasy tropes, to some racist douchebag who believes Cthulhu exists.” I shrugged.
"Wait… now I'm interested, how did your world know about Lhu?” Tia asked me as I just stared at her.
“Your...you’re joking right?” I asked carefully. “Some guy from Rhode Island who was ‘too rich and white to understand basic things’ was correct on Old God’s existing?”
"Well, yes. Lhu was one of the first. These days he just sleeps in the south seas deep end, but back in the early days he spent his time eating sea monsters causing issues with the port towns… given your… show, version of this world you know of my sister… he taught her about the dream realms and how to traverse them. Funny considering he is the God of the Sea, Nightmares and Gluttony."
“And all of this is because of some guys raging paranoia, illiteracy, classism, and racism…” I started, taking a deep breath. “Do the other Old God’s exist?”
"Well, what do you consider an old god?"
“Well...the only time I've heard of ‘Old God’ or ‘Outer God’ in some cases, are beings that are just...incomprehensible to mortal minds.” I said honestly. “Like with Cthulhu, at least the few times he wasn’t being used to crap on people, was a being that mortal’s couldn’t look at without going completely insane as their minds tried and failed to comprehend whatever the hell he was.” I explained. “Even though some were like ‘he’s some mash of a giant octopus, a dragon, and a human in some weird amalgamation that brings about the end of the world’.”
"Okay, still many gods of all types live here or there on Equis or even on the moon and sun. Save for that one weird group that live below the earth."
“Mole people?” I asked.
"Heh, no. Can't remember their names for the life of me but they love gold and pyramids." She shrugged.
“Weird that Egyptian gods would be underground when a majority of their religion is the cycle of the sun.” I said honestly. “I mean...it can’t be weirder than Horus and Set’s whole grudge match...now that’s fucking weird.”
"Oh that, Set's still just pissed Horus slept with his wife, and it was before they were married so, honestly it's a pointless grudge."
“Thought it was because Set murdered Osiris and wanted to take control of Egypt.” I frowned. “You know, Horus’s father?”
"Huh… yeah, that didn't happen here. Gods can't die unless everything on their Portfolios is wiped from existence."
“It’s better than being told Set tried to jizz inside Horus to murder him cause Egypt thought semen was stupidly poisonous.” I said. “I’m not kidding either, that’s legitimately what they wrote down in ancient Egypt.”
Celestia laughed. "Oh, that, it was just a drunken orgy that got out of hand. Let's just say that's how homo and bisexuality was invented and leave it at that. Well, as well as Homophobia, but that's not too much of an issue these days."
“Is in my world but that’s neither here nor there.” I shrugged. “So...this is rather interesting to hear that gods that my world worshipped exist and are a bit different than their mythological counterparts…”
"Heh, well, just because we're immortal doesn't mean we're perfect."
“Looking at you Zeus.” I rolled my eyes.
"Oh so you know about him too." Celestia said with a sigh. "Honestly I'm amazed he isn't the God of Lebido."
“Yeah, every myth was him unable to keep it in his pants, in whatever form he wanted…” I sighed out.
"You have no idea…" Celestia sighed.
Our meal finally arrived and after quickly devouring it Tia and I walked to a nearby park. "So… do you think it will all turn out alright?" She asked, looking up at the moon, the mare in the moon, Nightmare Moon… Luna, gazing down on the world. "Knowing the future often alters the outcome."
“I’m sure it will.” I said honestly. “Even if this world is...a lot different than what i know, the same key points should still happen as they should...and if not, then I’ll be there to help make sure it stays on track.”
"One can hope. Still, that Incident with Widowmaker concerns me. Some scientists have been studying her gear, comparing it with your technology and found similarities and differences. Some believe that making complete replicas will be a long ways away, unless they substitute certain parts with magic replacements."
“I’d personally like this place not to have powerful firearms cause of...the obvious.” I said nervously.
"I can understand the concern, still though, not even you can deny their usefulness. Some of these games of yours show worse and frankly one God can deal worse damage than your world's nuclear bombs."
“It’s less the fact that nuclear bombs can destroy entire cities and everything in a couple hundred miles around it in an instant, it’s how the area there becomes a barren wasteland for decades after.” I pointed out. “And...yeah, you’ve got a point.”
"Not every unicorn can cast a shield or summon fire. You and I know how dangerous these technology and magics can be. Maybe together… we can ensure they're safe. Gives us more time together as well." She said, giving me a smile. "So, think we can revolutionize Equestria?"
“I’m sure we can.” I nodded. “Just gonna take a lot of time and effort, but I’m pretty sure we’ll both have the time for it.”
"Sounds like fun."
"Portal is up and running. Is Zenyatta prepared?"
"Yes Winston, he's got plenty to find and capture Reaper, but that bug we left in Talons system informed us they already sent someone else in. Apparently Widowmaker was sent but hasn't made contact."
"Lovely… once I get a proper power source for ours I'll be sending a proper team. Think you can hold up op Zenyatta?"
"I will act only if needed."
I yawned. It had been a week since my date with Tia and we were now in the royal Laboratory. Their first take on computers was like the first computer that took up a whole room. Thankfully once they got a better understanding and invented a new field of magic to replace coding and OS, they got something working. "Well, this might not be exactly as yours but think it will work?" Celestia asked as she held the metal case 'laptop' in her hands. In truth it was pretty thick but seemed to work just as well, even managed to transfer a copy of some files from my PC and store and play them here.
“It turns on fine and has transferred some files over, so it’s already doing wonders.” I nodded.
"I'm glad. So, what next?"
“Now is for me to give this thing a stress test.” I said honestly, booting it up. “Better for me to see if it can handle a lot of things at the same time without crashing or accidentally burning someone cause it’s overheating.”
"Fair."
And so I ran the stress tests. To my surprise, it did fairly well, running multiple games I was able to copy over, movies and music all at once without getting warm. On top of that the battery was holding pretty well too.
When I was done with the stress tests Celestia pulled me aside to give me a… "It's basically a magical Physical." She said, putting some wrist straps and a helmet on me. "I find it odd that your world knows so much, if a little wrong, about so many gods yet you say your world has no magic. I know you said this isn't your original body, but It should still be 'lacking' magic, yes?"
“My world has no magic, Reapers world...kinda does.” I started. “Which explanation do you want to know first? Gods on my world or why Reaper’s world is kind of magic?”
"Hm, still this will tell me if you have any or are capable of it." She said, moving over to a glowing yellow gem and looking into it. "Hmm… Huh… I expected as much… Still, seeing it is surprising."
“What up?”
"You're not only capable of using magic, but your magic reserves are actually higher than I anticipated." Tia said.
“How so?” I inquired. “Cause I can understand how I’m able to use magic to begin with cause of...Reapers backstory, but why is it higher than you anticipated?”
"Well, we rank mana reserves on a scale of one to ten. Rank one is the most common, every foal from age one to ten and even some adults have rank one. And as you can imagine higher ranks means more magic and spellcasting possibilities. Your mama reserves put you in a solid seven. Mostly advanced warlocks have that mana reserves rank."
“Huh...that’s a lot stronger than I thought.” I said honestly.
"Yes, but I expected your magical affinity, it’s in dark magics and Necromancy."
“Considering what I think I am...yeah that sounds about right.” I nodded, not entirely surprised by that.
"Yes, however I believe I know why your race was unable to utilize magic." She said. "You lack an inborn conductor."
“Yeah, that would do it.” I nodded. “But...since I might not be thinking it right, what’s an inborn conductor?”
"It's basically a series of special nerve endings that work to expel mana from the body. For most races like unicorns, they're in the horns, races like earth ponies, the hands and feet, or even all along the body. Pesasi the wings primarily, and Alicorns like myself are more Inborn Conductors than normal nerve endings. You seem to lack them entirely, not even dorment ones."
“That’s fair.” I nodded. “And what’s changed for me right now?”
"Nothing as far as I can tell. But we can make you something so you can use the magic."
“What do you got in mind?”
"Well in your games some magic users have wands and staffs. The same principle applies here, allowing some earth ponies and Pegasi to utilize magic like a unicorn if they have a high ranked mana reserves. Normally the ingredients to make one are a tad hard to come by, luckily I'm here for this already."
“I could have just brought up my shotguns.” I pointed out. “But what do you have in mind?”
"Simple." Tia said, grabbing her-
Crack.
I just stared as she broke off her horn. I continued to stare and after half a minute the stub where her horn was glowed and a new one popped out like… kinda like playdough before it finished getting back to the old height. "What?"
“You...just...excuse me wat?” I asked incredulously.
"I told you, I am a Goddess, and immortal. A broken horn to a normal unicorn would be a crippling issue, but for me it just grows back."
“Well...I mean, I’ve had my throat cut open and it regenerated and I’m not a god...just been ignoring a lot of…” I shook my head. “So...just some magical unicorn horn shavings and it’ll help build me a magic wand?”
"Hmm… Close. Your magical attunement is in Necromancy and Dark Magic. I only know a little but…" She took her broken horn, placing it along my arm and her regrown horn lit up black as the void, her broken horn seemed to melt into my skin and I felt my arm go numb for a moment. When her horn stopped the numbness left. "There. I infused my horn into the bones of your arm and hand. The Natural conductor in my horn is also merged into your arm. With a little practice you'll be able to cast magic from it."
“Fascinating.” I said in awe, feeling something suddenly wash over me. “Whoa, okay...that feels weird.” I started, lightly shaking my head.
"A light headedness rush of something?" She asked as I nodded. "That's normal. Most foals get that feeling when their reserves start flowing into their Natural Conductors. That normally follows with a few surges of magic but since the ones I gave you are matured already that shouldn't be an issue."
“Let’s hope for the best.” I said, remembering some key details about Reapers origin and hoping my new magic won’t make it worse.
"Now, it seems the rest of the lab staff has left already…"
“Oh? And what do you have in mind?” I asked curiously.
"Well, well, as fun as our date was I felt like we forgot something."
“And that would be?” I asked, having a sneaking suspicion I know where this is going.
She walked up against me, and gave me a kiss. I blushed but kissed back, not wanting to be rude and giving a middle finger to awkwardness. When we broke it she smiled, giving me a hug. "You're a good man Chris."
“I try my best.” I said, hugging the wonderful mare back.
A few months passed and at last today was an important day. The day of the Entrance exams for Celestia's school. The Day Twilight Sparkle should get her cutie mark. Hopefully, all will go well. I was patrolling the outside yard of the school. The examiners we're all already inside, and Twilight wasn't gonna get her test until three. It's almost noon now, so there's time for something to go wrong.
“Things have been...really quiet as of late…” I muttered to myself, knowing that Talon would do something sooner or later, but a few month’s seemed a little...strange.
With a sigh I moved from hallway to hallway. Who could be sent next, assuming there's not a full on invasion.
I stayed nearby the exam hall, sighing as various foals came and went. Some were happy, some were crying. The entrance exam was fairly simple, Hatch a Dragon Egg. Thing is, apparently the Egg Celestia uses is a long since fossilized one she painted to look more, well, alive. The idea is to see how they tackle a seemingly impossible task or how to work around it, and how they handle the failure afterwards.
"Oh, you must be Reaper." I looked up, seeing a young mare with an orange coat and Red and Yellow hair. Sunset Shimmer? She's still here?
“Hi there.” I nodded to the young mare. “And yes I am, I believe your Sunset Shimmer, Celestia’s personal student?” I inquired.
"And you are Celestia's boyfriend if what she told me is true." Sunset replied with a smile. "Nice to meet you."
“It’s nice to meet you as well.” I nodded. “And well...that’s also true.”
"So, sticking around to see Twilight as well?" She asked, catching me off guard.
“Well...yeah.” I nodded. “Celestia has high hopes for her.”
"She told me… everything. Honestly was a shock but seeing that bitch possibility of me and then ya know, the rest, Made me reconsider my priorities and many life choices." Sunset admitted.
“How so?” I inquired. “Hopefully it’s all positive things you're thinking about.”
"Pretty much. We figured a few things. One being I'm still going to this Human world. If Equestrian dangers are there then best I go to study them. Plus, if all goes well enough then maybe we could start trade and if we study the portal enough, might even be able to find the world you came from. Plus, let's me come and go to see Twilight and help when it if needed. Seeing as she's now my co-student under Celestia after today.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." I nodded. “But I wonder if the mirror will be to the world Widowmaker and myself are from, or if it’s something else.” I wondered.
"Definitely the one with the human parallels of all of us. Magic tracking showed Widowmaker came from outside Canterlot, not inside. Whatever portal she came through doesn't open in the city, but close to it."
“And hopefully the next person that decides to come here from my world is a little more...civil than Widow.” I frowned.
"Yeah. That gear of hers is insane. Using our reverse engineered computers based off your laptops they're trying to break into the helmet's data storage. So far it hasn't been going well."
“Well...considering who might want to come here, I think all that won’t be an issue sooner or later.” I said honestly, knowing that Sombra would probably enjoy being friend’s in a world where things are actually fair and there is no literal Illuminati trying to run the world in secret.
"Well, whatever happens hopefully you won't be alone in dealing with it. At least not for long. Your Shotguns in design and function are fairly easy to replicate. Some magic and we can probably make a small army of knock off versions of you even."
“I’m just concerned about what people will do with those guns…” I started carefully.
"Relax. Unlike your ammunition they'll be using rock salt rounds boosted by magic to give all the pain but none of the physical damage." Sunset informed.
“Well...at least that’s one concern off my chest.” I sighed out thankfully.
"Yeah. It was actually my idea to replace the lead balls with rock salt. Less lethal and the salt, being a crystal, is easier to enchant than metals."
“Let’s just hope someone doesn’t decide to make their own...more dangerous versions.” I said nervously.
"If they try, we'll deploy the guard. Phasing spells are tricky but one enchanted to the armor those 'lethal' bullets will pass through them."
“Fair enough.” I nodded. “And I presume the guns will be heavily regulated?”
“Only allowed by police or higher.”
"That's good." I nodded, glad it's going to stay out of crazy people's hands.
With a nod and a wave Sunset went on her way while I kept watch on the exam hall.
Soon, I saw a very young Twilight walk into the room. She was dressed up rather formerly for a foal, and soon was presented with the egg. As if watching an anthro take on the events from the show’s flashback to this day, once Twilight had basically given up, the Sonic Rainboom went off, and Twilight went off like a god of chaos.
Spike bursts to life full sized in a flash of magic, her parents are now rather nice looking plants, and it kinda looked like Discord decided to pop in.
Soon Celestia came in, calming the panicked Twilight down and all the damage was undone. Twilight jumped around, happy at her new cutie mark and before you ask, yes they are apparently on the hips. Yes, she had to move her skirt over to see it there.
When all was calmed down and Celestia left with Twilight and her parents to discuss the plans for her studying directly under Celestia, I spotted another familiar young foal.
His orange coat and mane were only matched by that cape. So was the blue mare with the ever iconic hat next to him. Hmm… Well, if I’m gonna alter the timeline for the better, I might as well start at the roots of various problems.
"Hey there you two." I said gently to Sunburst and Trixie.
"Oh, um, hi there mister Reaper sir!" Sunburst said in a near panic. Trixie didn't say anything, just looking at me with a mix of awe and fear most foals do. Only downside to this mask really.
“How are you two doing today?” I inquired to the two, trying not to act scary to the two even if my mask was doing most of the fear for them.
"Well, uh, just… worried about my results." Sunburst admitted, Trixie just nodding as well.
“I understand.” I nodded. “The test is pretty difficult, but what did you two do during the test if I may ask?”
"Oh, I uh, wrote out a simple matrix that should have accelerated the egg into hatching, but I… couldn't cast it…" He sighed.
"I- Er, Trixie made an illusion of the Egg hatching, the judges believed it but Trixie could not hold the spell for very long…" Trixie admitted.
"Then that means you're both really good at magic." I told them both. "In your own special ways, Trixie with illusions, and Sunburst with creating magical matrix's."
"I just can't cast them…" Sunburst sighed.
"And I can't cast them for long at all…" Trixie added.
Hmm… I wonder…
"A whole class?" Celestia asked. "I've never taken on more than one or two students before."
"Well, this'll be a first for you then." I chuckled. "But Sunburst and Trixie have potential as well, plus it would at least help with friendship stuff." I brought up. "Better than Twilight becoming a shut in bookworm ya know?"
She chuckled. "I believe we both know that answer. Hmm… it won't be easy… but maybe…" She seemed to think, a deep thought process I imagine can only come from being a long lived immortal goddess. "Perhaps that could work… How good is your acting?"
“Depends.” I said. “What do you have in mind?”
"Well, the information of the future you have given me and a few select others who know of it, that technically qualifies you as a Profit. We can gather these… foals of interest, and ensure they follow a good path."
“Well, with Sunburst and Trixie...well I’m trying to stop possible bad things from happening in the future, one massive problem involves someone close to Sunburst using time travel.” I explained. “And a profit huh? Well...I suppose being called ‘Reaper’ would also help that out.”
"Reaper the Prophet. Somehow it fits in a grim dark way." Celestia laughed. "Which is typically the usual for most Profits."
“And considering my powerset…” I said, raising my hand as dark mist formed around it. “It would fit even more so.” I chuckled. “Funny how that works huh?”
"Quite convenient, yes." She nodded. "So, before we begin this project, there is something else I do think should be handled."
“Making our relationship public so soon?” I asked in mock shock.
She chuckled and smiled. "No, let's wait til later. Will anger many nobles that way." She grinned, but it dropped into a sad sigh. "Involving Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis."
“Those three…” I frowned. “What do you have in mind for those three?” I inquired. “Cause for Tirek...well I know one thing the rotten bastard could do without.”
"Well, in regards to Cozy Glow I may have a theory." She said, her horn lighting up as a map of Equestria appeared with a small red X in the center of some mountains. "These are the Heavens Gateway Mountains. They are home to a special sub-race of Pegasi. As you know, Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi all have a form of magic, but when reviewing those… episodes, somehow Cozy Glow was still able to fly despite all the magic in Equestria being removed. A normally impossible feat, save for the Gateway Pegasi."
“What? Are they fueled by Eden itself or something?” I asked.
"No. Actually, they have no natural magic at all. Their bones, like birds, are hollow and their muscles thinner. This is what gives them their ability of flight. In fact even an Adult pegasus of the Gateway breed weighs no more than forty to fifty pounds. A foal can weigh between six to nine pounds. Their organs are also a more streamlined version of the usual digestive system. Consisting of a single highly acidic stomach and a single, short but effective colon. Their hearts are half the size of a normal ponies but twice as fast, and their lungs are actually larger than the typical ponies. Frankly, they're a completely evolutionary take on the Pegasi race."
“Fantastic.” I said honestly. “Now the only problem is, why the hell does she want to get rid of magic and subsequently ruin the world?”
"Simple. The Gateway Pegasi have long been jealous and spiteful of their magical sister species. They can't rest on clouds, move them or help with weather control in any way. Their bodies are far more fragile so labor jobs are risky to their long-term health. They have always been hateful towards other ponies or any race with magic in their bodies. My guess is that either Cozy Glow was planted on behalf of the clan to be their agent within Equestria, or she took matters into her own hooves to 'liberate' her people from a magic superiority based world."
“So stop a weird racist pegasus cult, got it.” I nodded. “Now onto Tirek and Chrysalis...Chrysalis weirdly believed friendship was a poison, like it’s mere existence has taken away much more than her hive at that time.” I frowned, remembering her freak out when Cozy, Tirek and Chrysalis were about to figure out that friendship was actually a really good thing.
"I don't know too much about Changelings sadly, but given the possible location of her hive, I'm having some special guards look into it. For Tirek, well, it was actually a simple solution."
“Blow his brains out?” I asked simply. “Or give him the good ol ‘Death threatens the bastard’?”
"Worse. I found his Ex wife and the two are now enjoying quite the one sided argument." She chuckled. "Plus we reinforced his caging and now have monthly check ups for Cerberus to ensure he doesn't run away."
“Okay, dealing with an ex wife is a lot worse than a shotgun blast to the face.” I chuckled.
"All this in mind I am hoping we can make some form of trade or agreement with Chrysalis. She Truely believes her species can't survive on love freely given, so I plan on helping to change her mind and hopefully better the future. Plus, if my theory is correct then we may not have to wait long at all."
“You think she’s already here?” I asked curiously.
"Either her or her subjects. Think about it? A species capable of shapeshifting in such a way can best hide in plain sight. They can easily acquire a life, jobs. The Canterlot invasion was well planned, and a royal wedding is typically only announced a week before it is to be held so she would have had to have an inside agent to know in advance to plan the attack. Frankly, I believe dealing with her will be a simple matter, since I plan on offering an invitation."
“Offering an invitation would certainly screw with her plans.” I said honestly. “Cause if she’s not around then it would look suspicious on her end, plus as far as I know they can’t transform into other changelings.”
"We can, actually." Celestia and I looked up. Somehow clinging upside down to the ceiling was the anthropomorphic form of Queen Chrysalis. With a quick drop and buzzing of her insect like wings she was between the two of us. She looked, body wise, similar to Celestia… so kinda hot actually… though her face and hair, if that is hair, were her iconic thin whatever that is.
"You arrived faster than I thought." Celestia said with a smile.
"Well when one of my subjects reports in that another worlder with knowledge of the future and my people shows up basically on your doorstep, it's not really the type of thing I can ignore." The queen replied plainly, looking over at me. "So, you are this outside being. Chris, correct?"
"Yes I am." I nodded. "It's nice to meet you in a more...friendly environment."
"From what I hear of your abilities, I agree." Chrysalis said, looking back to Celestia. "So… you Truely with to help my people?" She asked with a mix of disbelief and some, slight hope.
"Yes. Based on our knowledge of the future events, you seem to perceive freely given love as a poison almost and view friendship with disgust. Is there a reason for that?"
Chrysalis was silent for a while thinking that over. "For… my subjects… my children, I'll give you the honest answer." She started before taking a deep breath and crossing her arms. "For as long as I have existed, and therefore my people, Changelings have had to exist as a form of parasitic race. Stealing emotions and magic because we are unable to produce It naturally."
"You are unable to produce Magic and Emotions naturally?" Celestia asked.
"Yes. When we feed off another, we take both magic and emotions. Magic for us to use for flight or spells, and emotions to keep our minds, personality, and to express emotions as well."
"Hmm…" I hummed. "And what if you could do both but you don't know how?" I asked, thinking about when Thorax was able to spread that whole thing in one of the season finales.
"Then we wouldn't be Changelings. Not really. I don't know what we would become. For better or worse, a sudden change and evolution like that still sounds like a form of extinction to me." Chrysalis replied simply.
"So...you think what makes a changeling is the parasitic part of it and not...literally what your name suggests as shape shifters?" I asked.
"I… Don't know. It's ironic really. Officially I am the Goddess of Changelings, Secrets, Insects, and Change… yet I seem to fear the idea of change itself." She said, giving a hollow chuckle.
"Sometimes change can be difficult." I said honestly. "And I'm speaking from personal experience here, but do you fear them changing for the better...or are you afraid they won't need you anymore?"
"... The latter, really. While true they already don't need me to reproduce, I alone can basically replace thousands in a single birth, I've been… watching over them, worrying and teaching them for centuries… the idea that they one day won't need me… does scare me. Even if most of the Changelings alive today are descendents of previous generations, somewhere in that I birthed their ancestors myself…"
"You're their mother, no matter how many generations pass." Celestia summarized.
I nodded. Chrysalis isn't a crazy power hungry villain. She's a mother terrified for her kids' uncertain future.
"Well, all I can say is, change with them." I said honestly. "You're the...goddess of change, be the role model for it all...or wait until a certain changeling is born who's truly capable of their own emotions."
Chrysalis stood there for a time, seeming to think my words over before she turned to me. She looked me right in the eyes of my mask that I quickly took off. Even if this face isn't even my own, I gave her a soft yet concerned expression. "Can you Truely promise me that if I do, they'll be as free as any other species in this world?"
Before I could reply, Celestia quickly rose from her seat, and gave Chrysalis a hug. The Changeling Queen was surprised at the act, various mists of pink and red seemed to flow from Celestia into Chrysalis.
While this happened Celestia seemed to whisper something into the Queen's ear. While I could hear it, It seemed to be enough for the Queen to return the hug. Suddenly, the room filled with a blinding flash.
When it faded, Chrysalis was changed. While she kept her general shape and figure, her 'hair' now looked more like, well, hair. Her wings, once fly like now resembled that of a moths or butterfly's. Her black chitin was now a bright blue and pink. Blue along her torso and head, and pink along her arms, legs and hips. Her eyes were no longer the predatory sharp slits, now wide and seemed to be sparkling pools of a bright lime green. Lastly, her crown and horn seemed to merge, forming a bright rose red tiara as part of her skill where the tip of her also now whole blue born emerged from.
"You look lovely." Celestia said as she broke the hug and looked Chrysalis over.
"I feel… a bit girly, but… good, otherwise." Chrysalis admitted.
"Beautiful." I complimented Chrysalis.
"Heh, thanks. I guess… comes the next part…" Chrysalis stated. "I'll go inform my… children." She said, her horn glowing a light green before she vanished in a flash of teleportation.
"Well...that went better than I expected." I said honestly.
"So it seems." Celestia said with a smirk as she took my arm and placed it between her breasts In a rather close hug. I've seen this in a lot of anime so… "Hope you don't mind but I did promise her some… extra, as insensitive for joining Equestria."
"Wait...you want to share?" I asked in surprise. "But...wait, are harems a thing?"
"If by harems you mean Polygamy, then yes." She said, giving my unmasked face a boop on the nose with her finger. "In Equestria, mares typically outnumber stallions five to one. Legally a herd, or Polygamist marriage can have no more than seven mares per stallion or male."
"Uh…" I blinked at that. "Wow...cool...so I have you and maybe Chrysalis...anyone else in mind?" I asked, having a feeling she weirdly has a plan for this.
"We'll see as time goes on. For now, I think just you and Chrysalis will be fine. Will be fun to go on a three member date."
The next few days flew by. Chrysalis. Is. A. Nerd. She picked up gaming instantly and has a complete obsession with sci-fi and comics. She blended in perfectly with Celestia and I.
The announcement about the Changeling race being migrated into Equestria was well received and their new, more welcoming forms helped a lot with public relations.
Speaking of Public relations, Celestia also announced about she, Chrysalis and I being… courting, as it were. Chrysalis handled the press better than I did. Pretty sure so long as we are near her none will even try to come within a mile of us. It was epic.
She's also been a huge help with Celestia in terms of dealing with paperwork and the daycourt. Turns out her subjects had lots of evidence proving many nobles crooked and helped bust crime organizations too.
This gave Celestia the time in her day she needed to have a proper class. There was Twilight Sparkle, Moon Dancer, Minuette, Lyra Heartstrings, Sunburst, Trixie Linamoon, Starlight Glimmer, and Kevin the Changeling. I don't know how he got in exactly, but he's here.
I also had my own class. Young but talented and so far, consisted of Cadence, Blueblood, a young Shining Armor who was trying, and failing, to not look at Cadence with a blush, and one Fizzlepop Berry twist I got out of Canterlot Juvee early for entering this program of mine.
"So, what are we doing here exactly?" Blueblood asked.
"This class is a combination of self defense, and elite guard training.” I said simply. “Cause there's going to be danger’s out there that even the normal guard can’t handle, so I’m here to fix that.”
"And why am I here?" Fizzle asked. The young Tempest Shadow already had her horn broken off, something Celestia said she'd fix if Fizzle proved herself worthy of it. After all, it was her driving force in the movie after all.
But that didn't stop her from becoming quite the little… demon.
I read her file from the penitentiary. She's committed a few acts of destruction of public property. Some of which ended up in accidental arson. Sent fifty three different ponies to the ER. Most of which were Penitentiary staff, and various accounts of petty theft, pickpocketing, and graffiti. Girl has only had her horn missing for the last three years and she's already got a file almost an inch thick. No wonder she ends up in The Storm Kings army.
"Because you have the potential to be an actual good pony instead of continuing this bad streak of yours." I explained. "It's to show you're better than your anger, and how you deserve getting your horn fixed."
She frowned but gave a nod at that answer.
"So, what will we be doing?" Shining answered.
"I'm going to be putting you all through a whole lot of physical and magical training, and make you not scared when this noise happens." I said while bringing out one of my shotguns, and fired it straight into a target dummy behind me.
"Are we gonna learn how to shoot those?" Tempest asked with a growing grin.
"These? No, but the guns Equestria is making, yes." I nodded. "But that's only if, and I do mean if," I put emphasis as I stared at Tempest. "You prove you're better than what your record is telling everyone."
"She has a record?" Blueblood asked.
Fizzle gave him and the others a grin that sent a shiver down their spines. Well, she's gonna be… a challenge.
"And this will teach you three to laugh at people thinking petty destruction is fun." I stated simply.
For the next few hours I out the kids through some various endurance tests. Sit ups, push ups, laps, weight lifting. The usual.
Cadence did well, well above average for a girl her age, at least by human standards. Not sure how these standards work for pony Anthros or Alicorns.
Blueblood did… kinda bad. Endurance wise he's a… well, let's just say my old drill Sargent would have haunted this kid in their nightmares.
Shining Armor did pretty well. For a pre-teens, he's pretty fit.
Lastly, Fizzlepop did… inhumanly well. Inequinly well? Either way she can't be a normal foal… she did, in order… two hundred and fifteen sit ups. Two hundred and fifty push ups. Ran four miles in three and a half minutes. And lifted almost five hundred pounds!
To say she set the bar high in an understatement.
"So… how did Fizzle do… any of that?" Cadence asked me as the kids were all taking a break.
"Unless she somehow hit the genetic lottery and her parents were a unicorn and an earth pony and got all the benefits with none of the negatives…" I frowned.
"Actually, I think it's the fact her horn is broken." Blueblood said through tired breaths. "Auntie taught a class about Unicorn biology once. Something to do with how the lack of a horn will cause the excess magic to flow elsewhere."
"I remember that." Shining spoke up. "Twilily had me read her Pony Anatomy, Magical and Physical 101 for her bedtime for years. While all ponies can use magic, certain paths remain more active than others. For Unicorns, it's through the horn. Pegasi the wings, and earth Ponies it's the whole body. Thing is, all ponies have magic pathways within the entire bodies, but Earth Ponies are the only ones who develop them to create their strength and magic through them. The book stated that if at a young age a unicorn or Pegasi loose their primary pathways, the excess mama will flow through the bodies pathways. Thing is, it's usually more than the body can handle and results in… what she was able to do."
"Your sister had you read her an anatomy book for a bedtime story?" Cadence asked.
"She's very gifted."
"Well...yeah that sounds about right." I nodded. "It works with the senses back where I come from actually."
"So, because my horn is broken, I'm a super pony?" Fizzle asked from her bench across from us.
"Well, yeah. In a sense. While a normal earth pony would have to train for years, you can do it… easily. Though I think I remember an unprepared body would easier cause self inflicted harm." Shining informed.
"Makes sense I suppose." Fizzle shrugged.
"Yep." I shrugged. "Learn something new everyday...but then that begs the question, how strong would your magic normally be if you're a super pony without it?"
"I killed an Ursa Minor." Fizzle answered.
"You… what?" Blueblood asked.
"An Ursa Minor?" I asked, not knowing much of the wildlife on the planet.
"It's a star beast." Cadence informed. "They're born from wild magics in the void of space and crash down to Equis. Ursa Minors and Majors are giant star beasts that start as big as a barn and can grow into as big as a mountain."
"Damn." I said in surprise. "At this point, I'm disappointed at how little you did so far Fizzle." I said. "If your magic is strong enough to kill a star beast, then you should probably be able to do a whole lot more."
"Did you not hear the part where overuse of this while her body isn't able to handle it yet would likely cause her to break herself?" Shining asked me.
"I'm reckless, not stupid." Fizzle nodded.
"We'll find where that breaking point is sooner or later, and we'll work to get past it." I said simply. "Cause unless it would irreversibly ruin her body, then it's a limit that can be pushed past."
Two Hours Later
"So, because of Tempests broken horn glowing her magic along her body rather than through it for spellcasting, you decided to test her limits before her body would hurt itself?" Celestia asked, that stern motherly disapproval I'm a bit too familiar with...
"And I made sure she wasn't hurt." I stated simply. "So what's the problem?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe the giant hole in what was the guard training grounds that falls sixty miles into the core of Canterlot Mountain?" She asked, motioning to the almost thirty foot wide hole Tempest made on accident. I barely got her off of that in time.
"And now that we have a base for what she can do without injuring herself, I can continue with things." I shrugged. "I'm sorry for the massive hole, but if I don't know what she can do, then I wouldn't know how to train her properly."
"And you didn't ask me to use a diagnostic spell on her or, I don't know, talk to a doctor for this because?"
"Because you were busy with your class, and then the doctor’s notes I got before starting my class,” I brought up the papers in question. “Which was brought to me by the juvenile penitentiary she was in, gave me enough information that this wouldn’t have happened.” I explained carefully. “I did look over it, it didn’t say specifics on her actual capabilities.”
"Because it's rare for a unicorn to survive their horn getting broken off. The horn is not just a part of the skull, it grows into and with the brain itself. So most of the time a broken horn… kills them instantly. The fact she is even alive is a miracle in all honesty…" Celestia sighed.
“The fact she killed an Ursa Minor is another miracle.” I brought up. “So...at this point, there might be something more special with Tempest than just what’s on the surface level here.”
"Clearly. A normal unicorn body, especially at her age, should not be capable of such feats… where is she now?" Celestia asked.
“Currently she’s eating with Blueblood, Cadence and Shining, under guard supervision.” I brought up. “After that little stunt of her’s she would not stop asking for food.”
"Hmm, makes sense. Usually the body produces magic in a similar manner to energy from food. Part of why sweets are a common part of pony diets is because the sugar gives excess energy and magic than a normal meal would. I think I need to examine her. If I'm right then there might be more to her eventual joining of the Storm Kings army than a false promise." Celestia said as we headed towards the kids.
They were all enjoying a meal, and Celestia quickly used a spell on Tempest. Once she seemed to get the results back, turned to look at me. "Well, I just found out how she can do… all that."
“What up?” I inquired.
"She had a unique genetic makeup. Thirty percent Earth Pony, Thirty Percent Unicorn, thirty percent Yeti, and ten percent Fey." Celestia said.
“Yeti and Fey?” I inquired. “Also hey, I was right, she did hit the genetic jackpot.”
"Yes. The Yeti race, while still fairly young, are akin to earth Ponies but more attuned to the harsh snow covered plains of the high mountains or Frozen North. They are incredibly durable. An adult could jump off the edge of Canterlot and plummet to the ground below and land unharmed, if a little sore. Their magic is attuned to frostimancy and healing magics. Strength wise they are on par with a well trained earth pony guard. The Fey race are all, well, spirits. Pure magic with a semi physical form and oftentimes childlike personalities. Add these two races traits with her majority Earth Pony and Unicorn DNA, and her Physical and magical potential is… well, she'd easily be able to go fists or magic with me in a few short years. Possibly even beating me as well." Celestia admitted.
“Ho-kay…” I started. “Uh...yeah, that’s certainly a thing…”
Celestia nodded. "Yes. All this in mind, She's akin to a natural born Demi-God, only missing the divine essence in her if she was."
“Right…” I started, before taking a deep breath. “Hey Tempest, you want to learn how to suplex a guy three times your size?” I asked the extremely hungry filly.
That filly could not jump out of that chair any faster.
"So you're teaching a weak prince, an above average unicorn colt, a teenage Alicorns and a naturally born dami-god only missing divine essence…?" Chrysalis asked as we were playing a relaxing game of Minecraft on my PS4.
“I’m teaching them cooperation, planning, and building skills.” I explained. “Three things that many children need to learn growing up.”
"Do you actually believe that or is that what you want to believe?" She asked me.
“Would you believe me if I said Minecraft is being used to do the exact thing I just explained back in my world?” I asked.
"Hmm… nope." She stated.
“Well it is a legitimate thing in my world, Minecraft can help kids learn planning skills, cooperation cause it’s a multiplayer game, and they can build a whole lot of things so there’s also that.” I shrugged.
"Sounds more like you have no idea what you're doing." She chuckled as a Creeper blew me into a ravine. Thankfully, I survived. Yay water.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.” I said honestly. “If I didn’t, then why would I be doing this?”
"Prove something to yourself, Celestia, compensation for past failures. Shall I go on?"
“Do you want me to repeat myself?” I asked.
"I'm just saying, powers or not you're just one person. If something happens then the future could end up worse."
“Things could already get worse with certain...individual’s getting involved.” I frowned, still shocked at how long it’s taken Talon to send someone else, and hell I’m surprised Overwatch hasn’t sent someone.
"True. So, who should we be expecting?"
“It depends, cause two of them could possibly be friends, while the other two…” I frowned. “I just hope it’s not Doomfist as the second one...I’d rather not have that jackass try to do something bad…” I sighed out.
"Doom fist?"
“It’s a title for someone dangerous.” I said. “His name Akande Ogundimu, a warrior that’s able to destroy solid concrete, and powerful robots, with his bare hands...he’s tall, strong, and with a massive cybernetic arm that can level building’s in a single punch.” I explained. “And when I say ‘he’s a warrior’...I mean it, where he believes people truly thrive and become better through conflict, even though he was the heir to a very successful prosthetic company...he let his technical genius help his really high strength.”
"Prosthetics? Did these people not have limb regeneration magics?"
“We don’t even have magic.” I started. “Even if a lot of the thing’s from...at least one world seem mystical, it’s all brought upon by technology.”
"Huh. Guess I shouldn't be too surprised. So, what should we do tonight? Celestia is busy with some stuffy nobles party and I tossed my invitation out the window."
“Go on a date?” I suggested. “No harm in that right?”
"Date? Isn't that the same as courting, which we are already doing?" She asked.
“Courting sounds too...formal.” I said honestly. “A date doesn’t have any of the ‘royalty’ or ‘formality’ to it I suppose, now that I’ve actually experienced courting, now dating is just...more of a casual type of thing if that makes sense.”
"It sounds a bit like Changeling courtship."
“How does changeling courtship work?” I inquired.
"Well, usually it involves a changeling confessing a desire to mate and establish a bond to another. The two then brawl to determine who the Alpha in the bond is. And… that's kinda it. Simple, to the point, and like with Equestria should another wish to join the two they must willingly accept their submissive role under the Alpha and beta, beta being the loser of the initial duel."
“Huh…” I started. “So...I won’t be seeing you and Celestia have a mud wrestling match anytime soon?”
"No, Celestia and You are already courting so I'm kinda mixing it together. Celestia is clearly your relationship Alpha so I've already accepted my role as the extra party." She shrugged.
“I won’t make you feel like an extra.” I said simply. “Just uh...need to start feeling prepared on the ‘I have multiple girlfriends’ part…”
She shrugged again. "Honestly, as long as my children and people are free and safe, well fed you can make me your slave for all I care. I actually was one, or rather I was disguised as one for a few years in the Minotaur Kingdom several hundred years back. Wasn't as bad as you'd think and I stole so many crown secrets."
“Huh, neat.” I nodded. “So, got anywhere in mind today or just wing it?”
"Well, I actually did have something in mind. I've been playing other video games of yours, and watching some movies you have saved. I was wondering if you'd rate my shapeshifting of them? I still don't know if there are differences in my shapeshifting in this form compared to before."
“Well…” I started, having a feeling I know where this is going. “Sure, let’s do some testing.”
"Great." She said, pausing the game as she stood up. Her flash of fire wasn't really fire anymore, rather a flash of blue and green light. What stood before me now was the ever iconic Princess Peach. "What do you think?" Chrysalis's voice asked from the Nintendo Princess.
“Spot on actually.” I said while looking over her carefully. “How does your shapeshifting also create clothes if I may ask?”
"Our exoskeleton actually. It's rather durable and when shapeshifting alters to fit the feel and flexibility of our new form, be them organic, clothed or inorganic. The skin and dress look and flow like the normal but it's all just my chitin."
“That’s pretty cool.” I nodded. “So uh...you can probably guess what my next question is…” I said sheepishly, knowing we only started courting for a little bit but might as well ask about the lewd things that could be involved.
"No, what do you wanna ask?"
“Uh...it involves lewd things.” I started carefully. “Basically, how does your shapeshifting work when it comes to sex and stuff like that?”
"Hm? Oh! Oh. Well, for my children they don't actually have a gender per say, rather they need to shift to have the organs needed for sexual reproduction. In my case I am definitely female but I can change that at will as well. I usually don't unless my form requires it. And in case you are wondering, for my children their forms are identical in appearance but their children will always be a changeling. For me however my child will be whatever the form I was shapeshifted as upon… conception or a hybrid if that's the case. With the only exception being my normal form. If I breed in that I will produce a clutch of normal Changelings."
“Fair enough.” I nodded. “Didn’t expect all of this...but it’s a welcome bit of knowledge.”
She nodded. "Also, if I specifically take the form of another who, well, already exists, like Celestia or you, the… child, would genetically be yours or hers. The only relation the child would have to me is that I birthed them. No genetic relation at all. Something I still find very strange."
“Huh...that is strange indeed.” I nodded. “But...I suppose given you’re shapeshifting affects you on the genetic level I suppose it makes sense.”
"I suppose. Anything else?"
“Well, what do you think of your new form at the moment?” I inquired.
"It's… normal. Holding it isn't difficult at all and it's not uncomfortable." She admitted.
“Fair enough.” I nodded. “What other forms do you have in mind to show me?”
With a flash she changed again. This one surprised me. Before me stood Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy. Big ass Buster Sword and all. "Pretty cool huh?" Chrysalis spoke, only their voice was a spot on Cloud.
“That is pretty cool.” I agreed. “The sword is apart of your chitin as well?”
"Actually." They started, grabbing the handle and picking it up in their hand. "No. It's a new perk of this form I learned. I can shapeshift other items or craft simple replicas from magic alone."
“That’s really cool.” I said.
"Thought you'd say that. Been wondering how far this new ability could go. Gonna experiment with it later." With another flash Chrysalis changed form. Now they were a perfect replica of Celestia. "Not bad huh?" She asked, her voice also an exact copy. "I'm betting Celestia asks me for help one of these days. Hold a court with me like this and we can confuse the Fuck out of the nobles "
“That would be hilarious.” I chuckled.
"Plus it would make for some interesting… bedroom exploits~" Chrysalis purred as she pressed hers/Celestia's cheat against mine. Yup… those feel… right.
“Well...you got the...feeling correct.” I gulped at the sudden feeling of soft goodness.
"I figured. We do have the same general body type. Though I will admit hers are way squishier." She said, stepping back and grabbing her shapeshifted breasts. "Mine are more firm and not as… moldable." She stated as she shifted back to normal. Still holding her breasts.
“Well...good to know.” I nodded. “And I get to grab both of them...what a life.”
That made Chrysalis blush, but she quickly gained a mischievous grin. "Care to try them out then?" She asked, actually holding them up to me. "We are courting after all, and as the submissive in this relationship I am sworn to… satisfy my Alpha and Beta's needs~" she purred as she stepped closer to me.
“Yes please.” I said with a growing grin, reaching up and grabbing one of Chrysalis’s titties.
"Uhh…" Chrysalis and I froze, turning to see Celestia entering the room at that time. She was also blushing a bit. "Am I… interrupting something?"
"... That depends, you want in? He's your male too after all." Chrysalis said with a smirk.
"... After a night of 'partying' with nobles? Sure." She nodded, closing the door as she walked in and locked it.
Oh… wow…
Last night was great. We didn't do… much. Just some fondling and nudity. I can happily say I've seen them both nude and it's a lovely sight.
I was making my rounds around the castle when I noticed something. Graffiti? Who the Fuck is dumb enough to graffiti the royal castle? Actually, how did they even do this? Guards walk though here every five minutes.
I looked over the vandalism. It displayed a red hand with a single finger raised up. Is it pointing up or is it a number one? I looked up but saw nothing of interest. Must be a number one then.
“Well...red for Talon at least…” I frowned. “And...there’s only one person that would want to have that little bit of being number one…”
A quick run and I put in a request with the guard to look out for more of these special graffiti tags.
"Chris!" I turned, spotting Celestia rush into the room. "We have trouble!"
"What kind of trouble?" I asked quickly.
"I just received word from the Minotaur lands. The king has been dethroned." She explained.
"By who?" I asked carefully.
"One of the ones you were worried about coming here. His name is Doomfist."
"Mother fucker." I growled. "No wonder why it was taking them forever...so he now rules an entire country, which is really bad…"
Celestia nodded. "The Minotaur Lands are much like Equestria, ripe and rich in resources both above and below the ground. They are expert craftsman and metal workers. While they don't use magic like Ponies do, they can enchant and perform alchemy and Transmutation magics as good as any Unicorn."
"Well...shit." I frowned
"And he sent an announcement for his arrival In one week."
"So either one of two things are going to happen…" I sighed out. "He's either going to declare war, or try and set up a gladiatorial colosseum."
"This… will not bode well for the future we hoped for, will it?"
"Doomfist...you'll learn it when he shows up, but he is a Warrior...he thinks combat helps people progress more."
"Then it's definitely… a declaration of war…" Celestia shuttered. "Equestria hasn't been at was since…"
"I'll make sure it doesn't come to that." I said carefully. "Even if I have to blow his head off to do it."
She shook her head. "That would only solidify a war. If he comes and does declare war, by law he is to return to his country unharmed. If he is slain then the people will declare war for vengeance, and Doomfist will have been a martyr in their eyes."
“Crap…” I sighed out. “Fine fine...I’ll play along here.”
"This will not end well either way…" Celestia sighed.
“It won't, sadly…” I sighed out. “Wish it was someone like Sigma or Sombra...at least they’d possibly be friends.”
"... I'll… send word to the guards, send letters to allies and… give them warning." She sighed.
“That would be for the best.” I nodded. “Now...is there any rules or regulations when it comes to war? Like a Geneva Convention or something?”
"It depends on the rulers. When one declares war… Doomfist and I will be placed within a conference room and… discuss the lengths of… this conflict. How… cruel and where the lines are drawn. If one or both sides breaks one of these laws, then it will devolve into what we call a Deprived War. A war without rules."
“He’s a warrior, not a monster.” I started. “Even if he’s apart of a very dangerous terrorist organization...hopefully he won’t think ‘scorched earth’ is a good idea…” I sighed out. “And one thing I most definitely don’t want to see is what happens when you piss off the Sun itself.”
"I just worry about his… other allies."
“Now are you talking about Talon agent’s or whatever region is allied with the Minotaurs?” I asked carefully.
"At this point… both."
"Winston, this is Zenyatta. We have a development."
"What is it Zenyatta?"
"It would appear that Doomfist has arrived."
"Christ. Has he made contact with Reaper?"
"Negative. It appears the two are on the oppostsides of the planet for the moment, though rumors within the castle suggest that Doomfist has dethroned a monarch and taken over that kingdom."
"And Reaper?"
"... I will need more time to confirm, but it would seem Reaper is… aiding, this Kingdom."
"What?"
"There is something more going on here Winston. I will report back with more data."
“All the guards are in position, both Equestrian and Changeling.” Chrysalis informed as we went through the checklist of items. Today was Doomfist’s visit… and Security was being cranked up to fifty.
“Let’s hope this asshole has more respect and honor than I give him credit for…” I frowned. “But hey…there’s always Fizzy suplexing the bastard into a massive crater.”
“As fun as that would be to witness I doubt that will happen…” She sighed. “From what you’ve told me about him, he might have already added magical augmentations to his cybernetics.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised…” I sighed out. “He’s a tech genius…if he puts his knowledge of tech to the Minotaur’s knowledge with magic…”
“Even with all we know about Widowmakers gear and your own, we might not be able to catch up with the Minotaurs speed on mass productions.”
“So…” I sighed out. “The best we can hope for is he accepts one on one combat against me to end this war before it even begins…or I do something I really don’t want to do and show you why the person I am is called ‘Reaper’...”
“Remember the rules Chris, if he dies then the Minotaur people declare war against us anyway.”
“That’s only if he dies before he gets back to his cozy little throne on time.” I said simply. “But I’ll stay my hand as much as I can.”
“Right, well, head off to the throne room. With luck he is civilized. I’ll keep an eye on the students.”
WIth that, Chrysalis and I parted ways.
I stood next to Celestia while we waited. The Minotaur Airship was no Equestrian design. It looked like Doomfist brought some Talon Tech with him when he arrived.
Soon enough he entered, his cybernetics adorned in etched markings, like runes, and his attire a somewhat formal take on a King’s outfit, crown included.
“Princess Celestia.” He addressed her with a bow. “Reaper.” He added as he rose. “A pleasure to meet you formally.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you formally as well.” Celestia answered politely. “Now, just so I mind my manners and not accidentally call you something I shouldn’t due to what my associate has informed of me, shall I call you King Akande or Doomfist?” She inquired, a simple innocent question due to his real name, his title based on his new and improved machine arm, and his new title as King of the Minotaurs.
“I have no preference.” Doomfist informed. A seat was given to him, the weight of his cybernetics threatening to make the chair give way as he sat down. “Now then, I’m assuming you’ve already guessed as to my visit.”
“Reaper has informed me that you are a Warrior. Is that correct?” Celestia inquired of the new King. “If yes…then I believe we know exactly what you are here for.”
“Indeed. I pride myself on my skills in battle, and I have come to aid your kingdom in developing similar skills, and… more.” He stated with a smirk as he looked around.
“Is there any way we can create peace without going to War?” Celestia asked, cutting immediately to the main issue she wanted to dodge. “I have been told from Reaper that you are a man of Science, a bright intellectual that could do more good with a hammer and anvil, with machines and medicine, than you would with fist and blood.”
“Perhaps, but in nature, isn’t it the threat of death that helps animals to learn faster, adapt quicker, and develop skills they otherwise would never need or conceive in peaceful times?”
“And isn’t it also in nature for those same skills, adaptations, and learning to continue the cycle of violence?” Celestia countered evenly. “To be used against those weaker than it until something else comes in and kills the monster only for it to happen again?”
“Like all things, everything exists in a cycle. Endings and beginnings repeating are part of nature. Day and night, you know this one all too well… it’s why you had to imprison your sister for trying to break this cycle, yes?”
“That part actually had nothing to do with it.” Celestia said simply. “But what do you know of my war against Nightmare Moon? I haven’t re-read the story the Minotaur’s tell about that age-old war in some time due to my duty’s.”
“Minotaur records show, it wasn’t even a war. It was just a battle between you and she, and in the end, in less than an hour, your sister was imprisoned into the moon. I imagine it was hard, the whole world likely never even knew what occurred that night.”
“The only thing they would know is certain areas having an extra hour of daylight or moonlight.” Celestia answered. “But…when it’s between two Gods, like me and my sister that was corrupted by…certain things.” She shook her head. “But my battle with my sister is not what we’re here for today.”
“True. We are here to discuss… the rules for the coming conflict.”
“I will ask you…one more time.” Celestia said. “We don’t have to go to war, we don’t need to have possible thousands of lives taken just because you believe violence is the answer to problems that don’t exist.” She stated. “Please, don’t do this. There is nothing this war can do to help either side.”
“Ah, but that is where you and I see differently. After all, magic can do wonders, and Reaper has clearly shown you the advanced technology of our home world. His body itself is a prime example of such… advancements. He needs not to fear death, no sickness can claim him and age itself halted. A true marvel. Besides, if you insist on going to war, I can always play the… long game.” Doomfist stated simply.
“And that is where you’re wrong.” Celestia shook her head. “Reaper has told me…” Celestia tried, but I put a hand on her shoulder.
“May I?” I asked, which Celestia nodded as I stepped forward. “Alright, you have literally no idea what’s going on here.” I growled. “You say I’m a ‘prime example’, when I am far from it…I am in a constant state of pain and agony as my entire body decays and rots, but immediately heals just as fast. The only reason why I’m not in a pain addled rage right now is due to this world's magic keeping it at bay…and then there’s the technology, where we have developed thing’s not meant for violence, not meant for war, but simple peaceful fun. This world is not some new war zone with fun little trinkets to use, it’s not some ‘test of might’ bullshit you believe…it’s a place where honest peace can be made, where violence isn’t the answer, where problems don’t need to be started just because someone said ‘fuck it, let’s just start some trouble’.”
Doomfist sat there, his smirk never faltering. “And, I should take your word on that? Someone who has stolen my allies body?” I took a step back. “I had my suspicions. The rumors, the intel from back home telling me Reaper’s brain chemistry and waves were different than before. Hearing you speak now confirms what Widowmaker came to see. So, what is your name? Or do you insist on using the name you stole with that body?”
“See…that’s where it gets…complicated.” I replied carefully. “And I’m pretty sure, even after all this…you wouldn’t believe me how this happened to me.”
“Perhaps, but in the end it doesn’t matter. Reaper, body and soul is still… Talon company property. Soul it seems you’ve removed, so the body I’ll be reclaiming for us. Though, I get the feeling you don’t want that, do you?”
“The only reason you aren’t seeing me holding your still beating heart in my hand is because I have to follow the rules of this land, and also in some vain hope that you might see things differently.” I countered. “As one man that’s fought in a war to another…don’t.”
“You have, have you? Then you should know better than to compare us. We may both have shed blood for different sides, but I’m betting you fought for a cause you don’t believe in. I found my reason to fight in the violence that changed my home for the better. All worlds run on a balance and this world has had that balance broken for a millenia, by the very ruler seated before me. The world, no matter where, always needs someone to be the evil in it, and if I must, I will be the evil to challenge the good.”
I sighed. “Cause of course you do…” I muttered, stepping back as Celestia took over.
“So I was told about this Geneva Convention, what is it exactly?” Celestia asked curiously.
“It is simple, it is a set of rules in place that must be followed by all parties contributing to a war with soldiers. The rules are in place to protect civilians, food and power distribution and such of the home countries, and are largely in place to ensure one side doesn’t go too far and commit genocide of an entire country like some armies did in the past.” Doomfist stated simply.
“And I presume you will abide by these rules?” The solar monarch asked curiously. “Also, I will need a full list of what it entails, just to make sure I know of your world’s military customs and laws so the…alternative isn’t accidentally brought upon.”
“I have them modified given our… your country's technological disadvantage.” Doomfist said, opening a panel on his massive mechanical arm and getting up, handing the removed document to Celestia.
She opened it, reading the contents slowly.
I leaned over slightly, able to read the exact same thing fully just as her so I know exactly what I’m able to do and not able to do. “So all Royals are exempt from fighting…”
“That is fair…last time I fought well and truly…well where Las Pegasus is wasn’t always a Desert…” Celestia admitted.
“And…I’m not allowed to fight until both parties are of equal technological and magical prowess…” I read off. “Now this might cause a bit of a problem, cause it would also hinge on the actual war either starting to begin with, or if a massive ceasefire has to happen in the middle of it all for both sides of the conflict to fully assess if both sides are of equal strength in both tech and magic.” I explained. “Even if both Royal’s are exempt from fighting, they can still be used as hostages when it should be an otherwise peaceful check up on progress.”
Nobility, while exempt from the battlefield are also non targetable persons for hostage or assasination purposes. The businesses both native and offshore are targetable only if the noble in question is supporting or profiting from the war.
“Alright, that part is sorted, but what about the first part?” I inquired. “Cause even if we get a third party to investigate, it would still have to cause a Ceasefire and you traveling to hear the Third Parties verdict.”
“Simple. We won’t be attacking Equestria directly. Not for a while at least. While you work on gaining and building your technology and military, the Minotaur Kingdom will offer alliances to the other kingdoms, as I am sure you will do as well.”
“I have already contacted every leader I was able to and informed them about our meeting and the possibility a war might break out.” Celestia brought up. “Who they join after we…put in our pitch meetings…will soon decide it all.”
“Now this is also in the agreement, but just to clarify, if any Party remains Neutral in this conflict, they will act as Neutral Zones for both Warring Parties and their allies, where we are not allowed to Occupy it’s space in any militaristic endeavor, but as Safe Havens for any Refugee’s, or Soldier’s who legitimately need breaks cause…fuck does fighting a war take too much out of you.” I said honestly. “Cause sometimes…we need a form of Christmas Truce every once in a while to show that we’re all still people…that this war, while plainly needless, can at least help bring people together from other nations and just…well be friends funnily enough.”
“If you wish.” Doomfist said with a shrug.
“Any chance for the Minotaur’s and Ponies to see past this war and to see the better in each other, and prove that Peace and Friendship is the better alternative than this, I’m all for it.” Celestia nodded.
“If that is all, I believe this meeting is concluded.” Doomfist said, giving a bow.
“So, it went… okay?” Chrysalis asked.
“We’re at war so no.” I sighed out. “Thankfully we have some time to prepare before the actual fighting starts…”
“Well, better than the battle starting the same day.” She shrugged.
“That is also true…” I sighed out. “So we’re scrambling to get as many allies as we can, as well as starting to speed up productions on weapons, armor, enchantments, and a whole host of other things…”
“Well, in terms of allies Changelings are already with Equestria, and if anything the factories and jobs this will make will definitely be an economic boost.”
“A war is not something we needed…” I sighed out. “But at least we have you all…that’ll definitely help us in the long run.”
“Spying is part of what Changelings are best at.”
“Which will help in many many ways.” I nodded. “And considering how deep your transformations go…I doubt Doomfist will be able to figure out a way to cancel it.”
"I do have a question though. From what Doomfist said, if this body isn't your original, what happened to your old body?"
“No idea.” I shrugged. “Cause I didn’t say this in front of him…but all I did was buy Reaper’s Shotguns for fifty dollars, the lights went out and I fell.”
"Hmm… well, since having this body have you even felt, thought or done things you typically don't. Or something along those lines?"
“One thing has been…bugging me…” I replied cautiously.
"What?"
“So…currently I’m in a state of constant decay and regeneration, and the only reason I’m not in such excruciating pain that I’m either bedridden forever, or driven completely bat shit is due to all the ambient magic in the world…” I explained, looking down at my hands as a gentle mist surrounded them. “But…a strange hunger is gnawing deep within me…the hunger for actual life essence…it’s not too bad now…but it’s something very concerning…”
"Hmm, mind if I?" Chrysalis asked.
“If you can understand it…that would be fantastic.” I said, ready for whatever she needs to do.
She placed her fingers to my temples, I felt that gnawing hunger suddenly suppress and lessen until I barely felt it. "Hm, it's similar, but still different. I'll be right back." She said, quickly getting up and leaving the room, returning with a small hard candy. "Eat this."
“Uh…sure?” I asked, taking the hard candy, unwrapping it and popping it into my mouth. “So what’s the problem doc?”
"You're hunger, as you put it is similar to what I and the Changelings went through, it's a form of illness commonly appearing with necromancy and necromancer's. Basically your soul has a rot or decay on it, and while it's not enough to kill you, it will be enough to need replacing with mana or more powerful energy."
“That…makes sense.” I nodded. “Honestly…one thing I’m scared about is…if I get involved and walk into the front lines…” I shuddered, fearing that I would absorb so much life from either friend or foe I go out of control.
"Well, I just gave you pure mana, which is why you feel it so little now. There is also alternative methods to help treat this, King Sombra, a notorious necromancer, managed to controle his hunger with the magic found in gems, in the same way Dragons absorb the magic in gems by eating them."
“And I find it through the power of love from both you and Celestia.” I joked.
"So lots of shagging? Seems like a win win." Chrysalis added with a chuckle. "But seriously, gemstones hold lots of magical power, dragons eat them to fuel their fires and fly, Zebras use them for enchantments and as potion ingredients. I hear they can be tasty if you end up able to eat them."
“Well…I doubt I can eat Gems.” I said simply. “I can maybe just drain their magic then?”
"You can. How was that candy?" She asked. I awkwardly crunched the small bits that were left. "Yup."
“Yeah…it was good though.” I nodded. “Thanks Chrysalis.”
"So, that all aside you can't actively participate in this battle?"
“Not until Equestria becomes as technologically and magically advanced as the Minotaur Lands…while the Minotaur Lands have Doomfist who is a mechanical genius…”
"So he basically made it so you probably won't ever see the battleground?"
“But that also means the war won’t ever start.” I pointed out. “Because if he chooses to disobey that rule that he created, then it would become… a lawless war…and I doubt the Minotaur’s want to see what I’m capable of, and I really doubt they want to know what the scorn of a woman who embodies the sun would bring.”
"Unless he's hiding something." Chrysalis stated. "After all, I doubt his Talon would not back him up."
“If they did back him up, then this would become a Lawless War.” I said simply. “But also, I doubt they have the tech to send a lot of people into this world, if all they’ve done is have Widowmaker and Doomfist here instead of an entire squad of those damned terrorists.”
"Does make me wonder why they built this portal though."
“I’ll have to ask Doomfist when I see him again…cause something about what he said about me ‘stealing Reapers body’ doesn’t make much sense…and it would be hilarious to see his reaction when I say Reaper’s Shotguns were only worth fifty bucks.”
"Somehow I doubt things like that will phase him."
"Probably." I shrugged. “But really wish it was Sombra or Sigma that got here before that asshole…”
"Can't always be lucky." Chrysalis sighed. "You should go check on the students. They were all fine when I left but I imagine by now they heard the news."
"Knowing Fizz she's probably already wanting to beat the shit out of Doomfist…which that's my greatest concern right now…"
"True, I could sense the mana from those runes from the castle tower, add to whatever that mechanical limb does normally and even Celestia won't be healing from that so easy."
"Yeah…" I said. "Though I doubt it could last long enough from the heat of a sun on it every second." I brought up. "But even if Tempest is overpowered as hell…she's still a kid…she shouldn't have to experience this…"
"I wouldn't be so sure. Other lands have gods of their own and not all of them are friendly with Celestia."
“Never fought a god before…wonder how that’ll work?” I chuckled at the thought I might be fighting a God sooner or later because they don’t like Celestia for some reason.
"Just be glad you aren't fighting an All Maker. That's the definition of a losing battle."
“And…would this All Maker look like a weird Merchant that was bored out of his mind?” I asked carefully, finding that name very strange and also feeling a weird sense of ‘deja vu’ just by hearing that title.
"I don't know. Maybe? The All Makers are old, powerful entities that created the universe, the laws of physics and magic, the world's and the Gods to oversee the mortals, if a race gets a god that is. They're as countless as they are powerful, but so we stand out more than others in history."
“Right then.” I nodded. “That’s…very worrying…”
"Only four regularly interfere with the world's they make, and only two do so in a bad way."
“That doesn’t sound good…” I frowned. “And…who would these All makers be called?”
"Well, if my memory serves me right the main four that appear are Genie, Demon, Voodoo, and Pain. Genie, like his name suggests, grants a chosen person a wish but usually just the one. Demon is a deal maker, he'll offer you what you want for something in return and no it's… rarely, a soul. Voodoo is known as Fates Gambler. Win his games and what you seek will be yours. Lastly, there's Pain, often referred to as the Maker of Monsters. Anything with a sole desire to kill, spill blood or cause carnage and violence in the universe is of her making."
“That’s…rather interesting.” I said honestly. “Wonder if it was either Genie or Pain that wanted me here…Genie because I was just some cosplayer having fun and a Convention…or Pain cause I’m literally a life devouring monster with twin shotguns…”
"I honestly doubt it was either of them. Genie is quite the show off for starters, and Pain doesn't really dabble in anything outside of spawning nightmarish abominations to slaughter a planet and stain the soil red. Assuming she isn't doing that all on her own."
"Maybe." I said with some thought. "The merchant that did this was rather…unassuming to be honest."
"Well, however you got here, Celestia and I are glad you are here. I have a feeling even if you never showed up they would have."
"It's a lot better than the Alternative with Reaper…" I said nervously.
After that I went to check on the kids. Most of Celestia's class was pretty much out cold, asleep in beds prepared for them in a dorm room tower. Cadence was still up, sitting by the fireplaces in the dorms main room.
"Hey kiddo." I said to Cadence softly. "Something up?"
"Just… nervous. Is Equestria really going to war?"
"Sadly…" I sighed out. "Not something I want…but it won't happen for a while…and when it happens, you won't have to be apart of it."
"Why not?"
"To what? You not being apart of it or why the war won't start soon?" I inquired.
"Both, I guess."
“Well, to the first one…your all children, and I don’t want you to be apart of war.” I stated simply. “War’s are never a good thing…you do terrible thing’s to other people whether you like it or not…” I sighed out. “And why the war won’t start soon? Because Equestria is behind in technology by a lot compared to what the MInotaur Lands most likely have…”
"And they… took pity on us?"
“Pity in the fact that he wanted a fair fight, not because he gives a crap about the lives he’ll be taking because of this stupid decision.”
"That's not really any better is it?"
“It’s really not.” I shook my head. “That just means…maybe less lives will be taken…but many, many lives will be taken…”
Doomfist walked back Into his war room, formerly the old King of the Minotaurs throne room. Windows bricked, and enough enchantment and technology to make this room a true deadzone. No data or sound escapes this room.
"And it all went according to plan?" He looked up to the old king's throne, still stained in his blood as a woman, pale skin like the dead and hair black as the void with fogged, milky eyes looked at him with a smirk.
“Everything went according to plan.” Doomfist nodded. “Almost too easily…this world has a lot more…care to it’s war’s than on Earth.”
"That's the fault with the Equine races. Too few variations keep a healthy sense of paranoia. And how was Reaper's body?"
“They seemed more…whole than back home.” Doomfist answered readily, wanting to kneel to the All Maker in front of him but knowing she despised worship like that. “Both mentally through the new mind, but also physically as they didn’t need a constant stream of…volunteers.”
"This world's magic is stronger than your own, they have been creative with it. I'll give them that. But I'm interested in Reaper's physical body, not the accident in control."
“Physically they are still as strong as ever.” The robot armed king said. “If not stronger due to the magic of this land, but I will need to see him in action to fully understand his capabilities.”
"Interesting. And thankfully, the accident that put this person in Reaper, put Reaper in his body." Pain said, shifting in the seat as she flicked her hand, a dark miasma flowing from her finger tips to the nearby wall. An image of a man, short cut hair and several scars along the torso and face floated there. "Poor thing was stuck in that void in between this plain and the home. Looks like that machine uses a stream too close to the edge that… Echo uses." Pain said with a mutter, snapping her fingers as a file folder appeared on the war room table. "Have your little friend Sombra make those modifications, and this won't be a future issue."
Doomfist nodded, taking the file folder in his robot arm as some of the runes glowed and sent it straight to Sombra via the portal tech and teleportation magic. “But I must ask, who caused Reaper to switch bodies? I believed your powers could just shapeshift someone into whatever you pleased.” Doomfist inquired his Patron of might and death.
"They can, but where's the fun in that?" Pain replied with a chuckle. "As for who did this, well, that little… Echo, is a remnant of a bygone battle that refuses to stay dead and lives only to annoy us all."
“Sounds like Sombra on one of her…’trolling binges’.” Doomfist shuddered a bit, remembering the time she plastered all over the Internet Widowmakers internet history and the only reason why he didn’t break her spine was because she was still useful in every regard ever. “How did that woman have so much Tracer porn?” Doomfist muttered to himself.
"So, how many more of your Talon allies should I expect?"
“Besides many, many grunts, two or three. Moira, Sigma, and maybe Sombra if we can get the two way portal stabilized.” Doomfist answered readily. “And how each of them will react…it’ll be best if they know where they’re allegiance lies.” He said, clenching his titular doomfist at the thought of more people deserting their cause.
"Good, and tell me, are you aware of the Overwatch Spy roaming Canterlot?"
“I wouldn’t have realized it if this worlds magic didn’t resonate with the great Omnic Monk so well.” Doomfist answered. “They may help Equestria in some capacity, but their mistrust for Reaper as a whole will prevent them from giving their full support, if they manage to send any more.”
"Especially should a certain Soldier find his way here." Pain spoke, a pur in her voice as she imagined the chaos that would cause. "The pieces are falling onto the board, and soon the games can begin."
“And the battles will be glorious.”
"And, as promised." She added, opening her hand and raising it to her mouth. She blew the ichor of miasma from her palm towards Doomfist.
It touched his skin and burned like hellfire, the heat radiating from the point of contact on his chest to his limbs, even his cybernetic arm, he felt it heat up and burn as if it was organic as the metal darkened and changed. It thinned and slimmed into a more organic shape, but glowed with a vile aura.
Doomfist fell to his knees, his cybernetic arms keeping his balance. Upon touching the ground, the aura leaked out, and formed from the shadows of the room five monsters.
As the pain subsided and Doomfist looked his new arm and the monsters he created over, he grinned, feeling true power, power beyond mortal capabilities.
“Perfect.” The former human said happily, ready to bring about the destruction to those that can’t keep up with true progress.
Doomfist stood atop his castle’s tallest tower. Looking below the developing industry, the arena where soldiers were trained and fought to battle the monsters he could now create with weapons from Equis and Earth. He smirked, Pain walking up to his side and looking it all over. “I rarely get a chance to enjoy taking these games slowly.” Pain said. “Were it not for the mortal races' constant desire to worship us, I’d do this more often.”
"With the powers you bestowed upon me, I can understand why." Doomfist said simply, looking over his strengthening army. "This'll be almost too easy…"
“Never say something will be easy Akande.” Pain stated. “After all, even if the enemy is weaker than yourself, it doesn’t mean they can’t surprise you.”
He lightly rubbed his titular ‘Doomfist’, remembering how strong Winston was in his tr myue primal fury. “You are correct.” He took a deep breath, trying to get past the sense of nostalgia.
"Besides, through a lack of… pressure, Equestria will likely develop a… lackluster army. I am more than happy to apply the needed pressure."
“Anything that can help Equestria and their allies grow into the fighter’s they need and deserve.” Akande nodded. “They must be fully prepared for the coming war, and they will need everything at their disposal. No half measures.”
"I was hoping you were going to say that." Pain said with a smirk as she lifted her hand, the same dark, ichor-like energy she used to change Doomfist flowed out much more prominently. A small sphere no bigger than her palm was formed. She lifted it above her and soon it floated to the air. Reaching the clouds and soon, burst. Sending a thin layer of it's darkness across the whole sky, and soon across the whole of the planet. "I just love causing problems for others."
“If this doesn’t spur them to action, then I honestly don’t know what will.” The newly created Hunter Shadow shook their head.
"If they don't act then they will die out. Simple as that." Pain said. "Them and the rest of the world."
It had been a week since Doomfist showed up for the official declaration of war and I was putting all the guards, Rookies and Vets, through the ringer. All in all, it was going but I had an ever present bad feeling.
“Something’s not right…” I frowned. “And I hate not knowing what it is…”
"Spoken like a soldier." Chrysalis said as she walked up to me. "I've felt it too. Something isn't right. It almost feels like the world itself just got the chills."
“But we need to work faster if that’s the case.” I stated simply.
"Unlike you these soldiers need rest Chris." Chrysalis reminded. "They'll go as fast as they can, push as hard as they can, but they can't go forever."
I sighed. I know that but even so… what can be done?
"Captain Reaper." A Pegasus guard flew up to me, giving a salute before handing me a rolled paper. "News from the nearby town of Ponyville. Mayor states there is an odd upscale of activity from the Everfree forest. Strange new creatures not seen before have been spotted along the forest border with the town."
“Oh come on…” I groaned, rubbing my temples. “First a war with the Minotaurs, now monster’s never seen before? At this point I think the universe is just fucking with me.”
"What about the local guard?" Chrysalis asked.
"Four injured, one dead so far. The rest are just trying to keep up the defense at the time." The guard answered.
I opened the paper and looked over the details. Seems like they were first spotted two days ago but kept a distance… but began getting closer the next day. Yesterday the local guard went to try and scare or slay them. A team of five… one of which is now dead and the rest are injured badly. Very badly…
There was a particle photo in here, likely taken by a civilian. The image was blurry and it seems to be… some huge ass spider with a rather non-spider like head.
“Fucking…of course…” I sighed. “I’m gonna need to help solve some of this…”
"Any idea who you plan on taking?" Chrysalis asked.
“Your…right…” I sighed. “Crap…who should I bring? Cause all my personal students need practical experience…but I’d rather have some vet’s to see what Equestria has to offer…” I hummed.
"Maybe take a veteran guard?" Chrysalis offered. "One with some combat experience."
“Sure.” I nodded. “Now…the question is, which vet should I bring? Cause there’s plenty to bring.”
"Permission to speak captain." The Pegasus guard spoke up.
“Go ahead.” I answered to the soldier.
"I might know the pony you're looking for. He's retired but he has fought in active combat several times."
“And who would this retired pony be?” I inquired.
"His name is Gum Drops. One of the few earth Ponies to have residents in Canterlot. He was a guard for thirty years before retirement and has fought in the Saddle Arabian civil war."
“Gonna suck to try and get them back on the front lines if he’s fought that long and been in a bad war.” I frowned. “But worth a shot, where are they?”
"Their home here in Canterlot. I'm sure Records should have his address."
“Alright.” I nodded. “I’ll be back with either Gum Drops…or somehow injured from an old guard vet who does not want to rejoin the guard.”
It was a quick trip to Records and once I had the address I headed off. Former Major Gum Drops. One of a handful of Earth Ponies born in Canterlot in any generation. According to his file he joined the guard to travel and see the land. He was in Saddle Arabia at a time when tensions between the rebellious Cultists known as 'Alqiama'. Apparently they're some death group that still held power from the region's rather dark past.
He was the only guard to remain in duty after the civil war and seemed to be more or less fine after it ended. He was given some awards, medals and mandatory therapy but all his results deemed him mentally fine. A rare thing for a Pony to process death and walk out rather fine. Especially in modern days.
His house was a fairly well kept two story home made from stone and metal. On the porch sat an old cream colored earth pony with a blue mane. He was looking over the papers with a smirk when he looked up and saw me. "Wondered when you'd show up here." He said, closing and folding the paper. He looked maybe about sixty.
“Major Gum Drop.” I nodded. “You’re country needs you again, for…many growing problems."
"I figured." He said, waving the now folded news paper at me. "Seems like everypony and their grandma is panicking over it."
“Vast majority have never even heard the words ‘War’ before.” I shrugged. “But the current problem right now is monster’s not of this world are now attacking innocents, so I’m asking for your help…either to fight on the front lines, or help me get some of these lazy bastards into fighting shape.” I explained honestly.
"Now that's not fair. Calling them all lazy when there's never been a real conflict in Equestria before for a thousand years."
“That is why I said ‘some’, not ‘all’.” I pointed out. “The new recruits need help from Veterans like you that have seen hell…other Veterans help, but you're one of the best from what I was told.”
"I'm the only one to see any active combat. And live." Gum Drops said with a nod.
“Damn.” I blinked. “The hell kinda war’s do you people fight that leaves practically everyone dead?”
"Just the mess back in Saddle Arabia. It's not even really our kingdom. It's a neutral territory a lot of other kingdoms use as a trade hub and even farm land. I was stationed there to help keep watch over the trade routes, and on a normal afternoon I'm talking to the guard next to me, I feel something wet hit my face. First I thought it was raining. Ended up being the guy's blood. He took an arrow to his neck. Enchanted so he didn't feel it, and by the time I realized he had an arrow in his neck, he already hit the ground dead."
“Yeah…I’ve sadly had to experience that…” I sighed, remembering a buddy of mine during our tour in Iraq…was not fun breaking it to his fiance. “But…sadly this war might be even bloodier than what you went through…”
"Well now, that sounds like a culture shock Equestria probably won't bounce back from." He sighed. "So why do you need an old timer like me for this again?"
“Because so far, even though there are plenty of veteran’s in the Guard, you're the only one to have actually fought in active combat, and I want to see what actual fighter’s of Equestria look like.” I answered simply. “You’re the one that can help me teach the Guard what it truly means to take a life…and how to lay down their lives for the people they care about.”
"Heh. You aren't wrong. Sounds just like my teacher too." He chuckled. "Not sure how much I can do, I am old now after all."
“Experience is one thing that never leaves.” I shook my head. “A saying back in my world is ‘beware the old man in a profession where men die young’.”
"Ooh, I like that. Who said that?"
“A modern day philosopher named Bodhi Sanders, and that’s just the first line of that entire philosophical statement.” I explained.
"Impressive. Well, I guess if I am needed, I shall see if I can dust off my old armor."
“Also, how are you with giant spiders?” I inquired.
"I can manage I suppose." He shrugged, getting up and heading inside his house. Some time.later he came back out in a Royal Guard's armor. The Major's Armor was a mix of blue and gold, over the standard pure gold coloring.
“Nice armor.” I nodded. “So we’re going to be heading down to Ponyville to help out the local guard.”
"Alright then. Lead the way."
Gum Drops and I took a Pegasus chariot to Ponyville. It was faster and once we were in Ponyville I headed right for the local guard building.
Inside was just one stallion, a tan/yellow coat and a light red mane on his head. "You're Captain Reaper?" He asked me.
“Yes I am, and who are you soldier?” I asked politely.
"Oh, I'm not a soldier. The name's Bright Mac. I was just asked by the mayor to make sure you got here alright."
I was thankful for my face mask. I was surprised I didn't recognize him. The father of Big Mac, Applejack and Applebloom. If he's still… around… maybe I can change some more events from the past. Just wish I knew what exactly happens to him and Pear Butter. Being a kids show it does not go in depth about things like death.
“Nice to meet you Bright Mac, why is a well known farmer here at the barracks?” I inquired.
“The mayor asked me to keep an eye on the… well known? Heh, maybe the apples I grow are but I doubt I'm something special." He chuckled. "But yeah, the Mayor just wanted me to keep an eye on the place til ya got here. With all that's going on she's worried about some ponies grabbing the weapons for themselves and hurting themselves with them."
“Yeah, that would do it.” I nodded. “No need o get the general populace involved without any form of training to fight brand new monsters.”
"As if the Everfree didn't have enough." Bright Mac said with an eye roll as he got up. "Well, now that' your here I best head home. I got apples to harvest and three little ones to keep in line. Heh, well two at least. The third is still in diapers."
"Alright." I nodded. "And stay safe, not sure what monsters could be roaming around near your farm."
"Ah will." He said, giving me a wave goodbye as he hurried off.
"So, what's your weapon of choice?" Gum Drops asked me as he looked through various swords and spears.
I pulled out my twin shotguns. "These lovely guns."
"Heh. Whatever suits your fancy." He said as he picked up two daggers, strapping them to his sides and a fair sized broadsword and strapped that across his back. "Well then, let's go Spider Hunting."
"Some good ol monster hunting." I nodded with a hidden smile. "So…I've only heard things about the Everfree Forest, but how bad is it besides nature working normally?"
"Mantacores, Hydras, few feral dragons, Timber Wolves, Trees that turn ya ta Stone, bees that zap ya with a few thousand volts of electricity and that's just what resides within the borders of the forest. Lot more crazy stuff the further in ya get."
"Cool." I nodded. "Sounds like a fun time trying to survive all that."
"Maybe."
Getting to the Everfree was easy as the border between it and the town was two miles away from the town proper. From there I noticed the smell of some fresh blood. Following that led me to a dead Manticore. It's torso was torn open, exposing it's organless insides.
"Nasty." Gum Drops said.
"Agreed…" I nodded. "But it's still fresh…so it should still be around here somewhere."
"Why only eat the organs though?" Gum said as we walked along, finding many more large monsters all lacking their essential insides.
As we made our way we began to find Spider Webs… huge ones covering the treetops entirely. Given the thickness all around us, we were in it's territory… or nest.
"Hey Chris." Gum said, gaining my attention.
What I saw was… ungodly. Several hearts, stomachs and other such organs were stitched together by the webs of the spider… to make it worse, the hearts, beating, the organs… moving. A liquid the organs were all excreting was leaking onto the webs holding it together and growing something…
It needs the organs of others… to make more of itself… literally.
"Now that is disgusting." Gum said.
“The fuck kinda Demonculaba shit is this?” I asked in disgust. “No, fuck this, fuck them, I’m not dealing with this.” I said while pulling out my shotguns and started blasting away at the disgusting web of organs.
It all turned to gore and chunks of meat and blood. Walking deeper into this nest there was more. Some were further along than others. I blasted them all until we reached the end of the nest where the last few were that I also shot into pulp.
"Well, that's part of the problem down." Gum said. "Now where's the mother?"
“Good point…” I frowned, looking around carefully for the ‘mother’ as I did have my ultimate up and ready to kill this thing.
We were about to turn back when-
"My children!!!!" Came a deep, wet distorted female scream.
"And there she is…" Gum said as rapid heavy footsteps came right at us.
We're in the heart of the nest. No way out save the way she is coming down. Goodie.
When it came into sight I actually felt some bike ride in my throat. The body was similar to that of a typical spider, save her head. Distinctly human shaped save the six pure black eyes and maw split into four segments with pincer like fangs on the sides.. "You dare to kill my children?!"
I'm not gonna lie… I didn't expect it to talk…
“Surprised you can talk, lady.” I said honestly.
"You will pay for this" It yelled, swiping a rather sharp, blade like leg at me. Gum and I dodged before I began shooting right into it's face.
To my surprise the buckshot ricocheted off and around the nest. Shit, adults are bullet proof?
“Shit…” I muttered. “Well…good thing these bullets don’t just do bullet things.” I muttered as I kept firing, even as the bullet’s plinked off I still felt slight bits of her life force ebbing away, no matter how miniscule it’ll mean something later.
When I stopped to reload Gum Drops jumped in. He moved way faster than I expected an old timer like him to move. He rushed in with the broadsword, taking a swing for it's legs. I expected his blade to bounce off… only for it to slice through… okay how?
“Okay, what the hell?” I frowned, having the dumb idea to put my gun’s away and just use my super soldier strength to help fight the thing since bullets really aren’t working.
I charged in, grabbing hold of a limb and that's when I noticed it… the body was made from strong, tightly wound webs almost glued together… it's acts like Kevlar. Bullet proof, but not knife or blade proof. So that's how.
It shook me off. I landed next to Gum. "Need this?" He asked, handing me one of his daggers.
“Yes.” I nodded, taking one of the daggers. “It’s body is made of some tightly wound webs, really good kevlar, but suck’s against blades.”
"So that's why." He said, looking his broadsword over. "Well then, time to get hacking."
Now that we knew it's weakness it was rapidly disposed of. It's dying breath was that of hatred at me before it finally went limp.
"Damn. That was… unpleasant."
“Yes…yes it was…” I nodded.
"So, what now?"
“Well, right now I’m happy to know what a…I suppose ‘baseline’ pony can do, cause the most I’ve seen is either from special studen’s of mine…or Tempest…”
"Well, the can do is the easy part. The Will to Do is the hard part- oh fuck!" He helped. My own instincts yelled as we both dodged, evading a rather odd giant centipede. It was a dark brownish purple with yellow legs, two large glowing golden eyes and its two antennae were pulsating with a dark energy.
“Oh what the fuck is that?” I asked incredulously, knowing I won’t get an answer but the second giant weird insect monster is a little annoying.
I immediately picked up my shotguns, blasting the thing and was happily rewarded with it's body splitting into multiple chunks. I wasn't expecting it to immediately dissolve as if it was evaporating.
"Well, that's new." Gum stated.
“Yeah…this is really fucking weird, and I’d like to know who the hell decided to throw this shit at us.” I frowned. “It better not be that merchant wanting to fuck with me all of a sudden…”
As we began exiting we spotted a whole lot of new monsters feasting on the dead spider things. They weren't too difficult but they had numbers. Once back in the Everfree proper and out of that nest we saw all the harvested bodies now being devoured by all manner of monsters.
I rubbed my temples. “Alright, what cosmic level bullshit’s going on now? Cause a whole ass ecosystem of monster’s don’t just spring up out of thin goddamn air.”
"Maybe Discord escaped?" He asked. I was surprised he knew Discord but it's too early still.
“How do you know who Discord is, and would he really cause…this to happen?” I inquired, motioning around to the monster’s.
"I've read legends and given how old the Princess is I figure there's some truth to all the stories of the past. And in the same said stories he has turned the whole world into a playpen of chaos. So I wouldn't doubt them."
“Right then.” I nodded. “We’ll have to check the Royal Garden to see cause…that’s always a nice topic for tourism.”
Once we were back in Canterlot I had more guards dispatched to Ponyville as well as some supplies to start making a physical defensive barrier between the town and the Everfree. From there Tia and I were walking to the Garden. "This isn't Discord's typical bout of chaos. I would know." She said as we were making it through the maze hedges now.
“Because he doesn’t like having his creation’s kill and or injure people?” I inquired.
"Injure, sure but the worse was a broken leg and that was before he took over the world and on accident." She said. "Discord is a foal at heart. All he ever wanted was attention… and acceptance." She sighed.
“Yeah…sounds about right.” I nodded. “So…any idea who it might be that caused this? Or do you think…Discord might know?”
"I… have a theory. But to confirm it… we will have to free Discord." She admitted. "He's always been more in tune with them than Luna and I were."
“Considering how screwed everything is…I’m inclined to agree…also, who are ‘them’?”
"Technically… our parents." Celestia said as we approached the statue of Discord. I was kinda surprised he didn't look any different from his show version. "Chrysalis told you about the All Makers, that they are the ones to make existance, worlds, species and gods. Well, that Includes all beings like Chrysalis, Discord, even Luna and I."
“Oh…” I started. “So…these All Makers are…deciding to step in for some reason?”
"One way to know for sure if it is them." She said, taking a breath. "Haven't done this in a while." She said, her horn lighting up. Rather than her usual golden glow, black and purple energy flowed along her horn and struck the statue like a bolt of lightning. There was a distinct scent of… peaches, when it ended.
The statue then began to crack and break apart, revealing a stretching Discord. "Finally! One thousand years gives you such a crick in the lower back." He said, twisting and giving out an audible pop. "Oh sweet divines that's better." He finally looked down at us. "Well well well, if it isn't Tia and… a cosplayer."
I mean… technically he's right?
“It’s not my fault that fifty bucks from a merchant at a con made me like this.” I said a little defensively.
"Regardless, why am I out of my stone so early? Swore there was roughly ten years left."
"I believe they are here Discord. And you know who I am talking about." Tia said.
"Oh… oh you mean the four our… oh… oh well that is concerning…" Discord said, looking almost pale… no, wait, he is pale. The color dropped from his body like water. "Are you positive?"
"Monsters not native to Equestria are appearing." Tia said.
The color jumped back into Discord as he closed his eyes taking a very deep breath. "They… they are here… one anyway." He said, shuddering.
"Can you tell which?" Tia asked.
"Given the… power plus the monsters… her."
Now Celestia looked pale, I actually caught her from collapsing. "Then we are in more trouble than I was afraid of…"
“What the hell are you two talking about?” I asked carefully. “Who is ‘she’? Why are you two scared shitless, and why do I get the feeling she’s going to pop up just to spite you two?” I asked.
"That's not her style. But… when we were little, all the Equis gods grew up together in a place we called The Nursery. It's where the All Makers made divine beings and raised them. Not the one or four I'm worried about. Different ones. They taught and raised us. When we were old enough we were given a choice. We were told there was a chance one or all of four certain All Makers might show up in our worlds. We were given the choice to keep that knowledge and worry about something that may never happen or forget and begin fresh with no memories of our birthplace or history. This world's gods put it to a vote and majority chose to remember. We were then told their names. Voodoo, Genie, Demon, and Pain."
“Oh no…” I frowned…but then I couldn’t help myself. “And I’m guessing…we’ve got a major ‘Pain’ to deal with now.” I punned with a cheeky grin.
I was surprised when Discord slapped me with his tail. "As much as I appreciate a good pun this isn't a joking matter. If Pain has chosen this world as her personal project then a lot more lives are going to die very quickly."
“Geez…tough crowd.” I muttered, lightly rubbing my cheek. “Anyways, angry god lady that summons a lot of monsters just before a war starts…cool, more problems.”
"She is more than a god, Chris." Celestia said as she stood herself back up. "Discord, Luna, Chrysalis, Tirek are gods. She is an All Maker. The difference in power is bigger than the distance between the two ends of the universe in its infinite expansion."
“Right then.” I said. “So she’s most likely supporting Doomfist in some way shape or form and I don’t like that.”
"And what exactly do you expect to do about it?" Discord asked me.
"Well, killing Doomfist would be a good start." I said honestly. "And also…even if this place is her 'personal project', you make it sound like we should already be in some post apocalyptic scenario…but so far, I haven't heard half the planet got nuked yet."
"Don't jinx it buddy. You sound like you want it when you ask questions like that."
"Just saying, you two have made it sound like she's the end of the world incarnate and there's nothing much we can do." I pointed out.
"End of the universe actually." Celestia said. "And while you are right, there isn't much we can do, she doesn't leave us without an out. If someone can win a battle with her, then she'll leave the planet and universe alone. Taking her monsters with her."
"So just beat someone that's supposed to be unbeatable? Sounds simple enough." I shrugged.
"I think this one is a few screws loose from a full box Tia, and that's coming from me." Discord said.
"When you've been in a war and have personally killed a lot of people, I'd kinda agree." I answered simply.
"Well you can't even kill her. There's few beings in existence that can even touch her in a fight. And you'll need to ascend to divine status and above to even hope to be able to fight her."
"And how in the hell am I supposed to do that? Even with what I am, I doubt I can eat a gods soul and get it's powers…right?"
"Well that is an option but there is a more straightforward way." Celestia said.
"But Celestia, I thought you weren’t ready for marriage.” I said in mock surprise, joking about how marriage being seen as a ‘sacred ceremony’ with a literal God would do something like that.
"Oh hush." She chuckled. "I mean the Temple of Divine Birth. It's a place where mortal beings can go and receive a set of trials that will ascend them into godhood, and above."
"Huh. Wasn't expecting to see that place in… ever." Discord admitted with a shrug.
“And I can already see it now, step one on becoming a god ‘eat someone’s soul in front of a live audience’.” I said with a dramatic hand wave.
"It depends on what type of god the God Maker sees is best suited for you." Celestia stated.
“I was…joking but sure, let’s go with that.” I nodded. “So where is this temple?”
"Across time and space~" Discord said, wiggling his fingers like worms before snapping his fingers, forming a purple and gold portal. "So let's take the shortcut."
“Fair enough.” I nodded, entering the portal and ready to deal with whatever nonsense this is gonna throw at me.
Exiting the other side I was greeted by a fair sized stone room, a rather fluffy rug under my feet and hanging glowing crystals on the wall… huh. Not what I expected…
"This way Chris." Celestia said as she walked up from the portal and headed down the hallway in front of us.
“Honestly…didn’t expect the ‘Temple of Divine Birth’ to look like…this to be honest.” I said honestly, following after Celestia carefully.
"Well what did you expect?" She asked as the next room we entered was similar to a church. Complete with a podium with a large open book on top.
“I suppose…more ‘divine temple’ I guess?” I said, not sure how to describe it.
"Well, here it is. The God Maker." Celestia said, motioning to the podium and book.
“Remember kids, learning is only half the battle.” I joked as I walked over and decided to open the book.
The other half is extraordinary violence.
I blinked at that. “Uh…the book both talked and…knew about the other half of that joke…” I said to Celestia nervously.
"That is the God Maker Chris." Celestia said.
The book's text changed, now saying something different.
There are three paths of Divinity that suit you, but only one can be chosin. The God of Death. The God of War. The God of Souls
“Hmm…” I hummed, thinking about it. “What does the God of Death and the God of Soul’s do?”
A God of Death collects the souls of the lost, bringing them to their respective afterlife. A God of Souls takes Corrupted, damaged and shattered souls to heal, remake and reforge them anew. To create a new soul for all things that live.
“Neat.” I nodded, thinking about which one I should choose based on what I can do and what I’m good at.
God of Death would honestly be the obvious choice… but God of Souls definitely seems more interesting… it's weird that they aren't the same thing. Or that I can only do one.
“So…question, why aren’t they the same and why can’t I choose both?” I inquired.
Death and Souls are but two parts of the same whole. To be a God of both can be done, but notno without first mastering one.
Huh. So in that case, which should I choose first?
“Well…names Reaper, so let’s go with Death first.” I said simply.
The text on the book changed again.
The Path is Set, the Divine Power has been planted. Now all that remains are the trials.
Trial 1. Break your mortal coil and die only under the right means. Complete.
Trial 2. Walk the realm of Purgatory, and find a soul lost and bring them to their afterlife.
Trial 3. Meet the gods of Afterlife and inform them of your role.
“Alright…so my first part is done, now all I need to do is go to Purgatory and help a lost soul go to the afterlife…however the hell that’s going to happen, and lastly, go up to the God’s of the Afterlife and slam down my resume…” I frowned. “Sounds…both exceedingly simple…but also a might pain in the ass…”
"Most of these often are." Celestia admitted. "Once you have become a God you can partake in the trials to become an Elder or Eldritch God. Though given you have chosen the role as a God of Death you will only be able to ascend to that of an Elder God."
“Neat.” I nodded. “So, how do I get to Purgatory again?”
"There are several ways." Celestia stated. "Come on, let's go back and hope Discord hasn't done anything too wild."
Doomfist overlooked his new Kingdom with a smirk and a sigh. The army was coming along smoothly, and now that Sombra had arrived, industry and technology was jumpstarting like wildfire amongst the population.
“So, how’s it feel to suddenly become part Spawn Akande?” Sombra inquired to Doomfist, the young mexican appearing out of thin air with her brand new runically enhanced cloak.
"The power is like nothing technology could have ever given me." He smirked, looking his hands over. "And the magic this land has is a power source the likes of which earth has scarcely seen."
“Hmm, true.” Sombra shrugged, lightly tapping away at a hardlight keyboard. “A land of magic and mythical creatures, could almost believe it’s one of the kid’s shows I used to watch as a kid.”
"Possibly. The point of your machine was to study the Multiverse and the potential for expansion. And I'd say this is quite a success." Doomfist sighed again. "I'm planning a trip to the neighboring kingdom. I hear the Dragons also respect strength and power. Should be fun."
“Careful with that, a quick search through the Multiverse show’s that dragons tend to be in the top five strongest races if they’re not specifically hard countered by something.” Sombra pointed out, still fiddling with more work as she scratched her head. “Even with all these minotaurs…having to jump start an entire country with all these networks…”
"I'll be going alone. No need to bother the troops with… trivial matters." Doomfist said as he turned to Sombra. "How have the set ups been going? I imagine coming to this place where not even simple telegrams exist must have been a bit of a nightmare."
“Puta’s can’t stop being in awe at my work…most of their hands are too big for the fine work and…” Sombra groaned as she started to slip into a spanish rant that Akande could barely understand through her fast paced talking, before she shook her head. “No no no, building an entire machine to scour the multiverse and have logistics on that is fine, trying to get an entire civilization out of the stone ages?” She groaned, snapping her fingers as a bottle of tequila appeared in her hands. “At least they make good Tequila…”
"They have metal and steam engines. Stone age might be a bit harsh." Doomfist said with a chuckle. "In time the younger generations will adapt faster than the old. Imagine it. Soldiers with advanced knowledge on technology and mathematics, science, but bodies of warriors. They'd be quite the adversary. Especially armed with magic. Speaking of, any luck on learning it?"
“Oh magic has been going swimmingly.” She said honestly. “Who would have thought my talent with hacking and technology would also correlate to magic and all these runes.” The hacker admitted, having had an honest blast learning all the magic stuff the Minotaur’s had to offer and getting all her gear and cyborg enhancements upgraded to hell and back. “Still new, but I can at least do some minor spells without my cybernetics, learning to make a bag of holding with a combination of both is a god-send if I’m real with you.” She chuckled, keeping the bottle of tequila floating in the air next to her to prove a point.
"I can imagine." Doomfist nodded. "How are… Reaper's vitals?"
“They’re stabilizing thankfully, we’re managing to at least calm down his bodies reaction’s outside of his stasis pod.”
"Good. Sombra, I have a request to ask."
“What up?” Sombra inquired, glancing to the still very strange version of her co-worker.
"Can you track down the reality the body Reaper now has came from?"
“Would be simple enough, his body still has his dimension’s signature at least.” She shrugged. “Why? Want to conquer that too?”
"Possibly, but more than that I want to understand. This new body of his seems to take to the treatments just as well as his old body to the… procedures we put that through. I want to understand if this is a single chance case, or if there is a world of humans who can… survive the process as well as Reaper and this one can. After all, it's takes a special breed of human to survive it, and if a whole world of them exists well, can't let a valuable resource like that go wasted right?"
“Hmm, fair.” Sombra shrugged. “I’ll get onto it as soon as I can…and hopefully I don’t accidentally stumble onto another Warhammer world…” Sombra shuddered a bit at that.
"Thank you Sombra." Doomfist said as he took his leave.
Sombra sighed out, still tapping away at her holoboard. "This is too much…" She shook her head, the war orphan hating everything Akande is doing right now. "Just need…to find his connection…" She muttered, continuing to try and find the signal from Equestria and get into contact with them.
It was late at night. Celestia and I were looking up at the moon. The silhouette of her sister, the head anyway, imprinted on it's surface.
"So soon yet also so far away." She sighed.
“We…really need to figure out how to fit that in with…all this…” I sighed. “Cause if we’re too slow…she might either be with Doomfist…or something worse…”
"We have ten years. I don't know how much can be done by then but I can hope Twilight will be ready."
“It’s also if Twilight’s Friends are ready…whatever Friend’s she’ll have by that time due to…outside circumstances.” I shook my head. “I really hate how…me being here has made so many things more difficult.”
"Nobody blames you Chris. This was unexpected and all we can do now is adapt and persevere."
“Which reminds me, how many of our allies have we got against Doomfist?” I asked. “And should I be making my way towards any of the…more stubborn races?”
"The zebra's and Deer both thankfully send aid for an alliance. The Hippogriffs have an issue that they say if we can help them with, they'll lend us aid as well. The dragon lord so far states that while the threat is understood he will remain neutral until such a time neutrality is not an option."
“So Doomfist is already heading to the Dragon Lands to piledrive them into the ground unless they follow him…fuck.” I frowned. “What about the Hippogriffs? What’s their issue?”
"There is an upstart near their lands. Typically all activities from their neighbors in the Badlands don't effect them, however this new upstart is growing in power and support fast. He claims to be the King of the Yetis. A typically self isolating species. He is armoring the largest of his kind and any who don't recognize his authority become an example. A tyrant more than anything but he has no powers of his own save the strength of his race and affinity for ice magic, a natural thing for Yetis. Each day his army moves closer and closer to the Hippogriff Kingdom. Queen Clarion is worried about her people's safety as any ruler would."
I nodded. Without Tempest as his lap dog he won't be too much of an issue, and clearly this is well before he finds that staff. Still, don't know what he has. Doubt he has those petrification bombs yet.
“Alright, so go off and either kick the crap out of an upstart dictator…or somehow get the Yeti’s on our side if his claims are true.” I said honestly.
"I don't know much about Yeti culture so I'm afraid to say you'll be going in blind-"
"I know about them." Chrysalis said, walking out onto the patio with us, half dressed in her underwear and a lose tank top. God I loved her sleepwear. Felt a bit like home and was easily removable should certain moods arise.
"What do you know?" Celestia asked.
"They're peaceful. Normally. This 'King' had to have worked really hard to get them to be violent let alone kill. I suspect manipulation or even magic is at fault."
“Alright.” I nodded. “So I’m not liking this already…but what else can you tell us about the Yeti’s?”
"They're typically ruled by Queens like Celestia here or myself. So for a King to rise in any kind of power must mean he does have some biological ties to the former Yeti royal family."
"I'm a princess but you do make a point. What would make them crown a king then?" Celestia asked.
"Sole heir." Chrysalis said.
"Yeah that sounds fair." I nodded. "So probably blowing his legs off wouldn't be a good thing."
"I don't know much about the Yetis customs or culture but I do know that normally a Yeti is strong enough to throw five ton boulders and can be hit by them and survive so armored ones will be… difficult to deal with."
"So how should we deal with them?" Celestia asked.
"I have an idea, but first, bed you two. I'm all mostly naked and ready to be spooned and you two won't stop talking."
I chuckled at that. "Well, we have a lot of important business to tend to."
"I'm important business…" Chrysalis pouted.
Celestia chuckled. "Alright. You two head on, I'll join in a moment."
With that I went to bed, Joined by Chrysalis and soon Celestia.
The next morning I was preparing to head out for the location of the main Yeti Kingdom. Chrysalis knew where it was and after that I was gonna head for the Hippogriff Kingdom.
I was halfway to the chariot when suddenly I felt something vibrate in my pocket. Stunned I stood there in shock as I reached in and pulled out my cellphone. Since I arrived here it just had photos, music, some Ebooks and a few videos I downloaded to have and watch… now, it had service…
"This…this isn't right in the slightest…" I muttered. "How and…" I suddenly realized a thing. "Sombra…"
As if on cue my phone screen changed to that iconic Hacked image. "If you are hearing this then my Satellite has launched successfully and detected technology not of my making and alien to this dimension. I know who you are, and I know what you are, and I want you to know I'm an ally." The audio message started before showing me an image of a beach. "Find me at this location at these coordinates. I know you have little reason to trust me but you need to know how bad things are here, and with Doomfists new upgrades it's gonna get worse."
With the message done my phone still had service, the hack was now gone but now I had an new App.
Contact Sombra.
Oh boy…
Checking the app it also showed me the coordinates… these are very close to the Hippogriff Kingdom. Good. Won't have to worry about that.
"So good news, we're going to meet a friend." I said readily.
I got into the chariot and was off to the mountains just before crossing into the badlands.
The cold here was fucking insane.
I walked through the seemingly endless blizzard til I found something. An all ice tower.
I managed to find the door and when I pushed it open, the smell of something old and metallic hit my nose…
Oh no.
I pushed the door open and used my flashlight.
Corpses and blood were all frozen to either the walls or floor of this hallway.
What did he do?
"What the fuck…" I muttered angrily. "This isn't good…not in the slightest…"
I walked in, examining the corpses… they were, maybe a month old? The frozen bit is new to me, but given how much ice and frost is on them it's a decent guess.
As I walked through the halls and saw more bodies I felt sick. Almost all of them seemed to be females… almost. There was a few males, and… young. Also, mostly female.
I stopped when I heard a grunt. Carefully I looked around a corner to see a single armored male watching a cage where a female sat in thick chains.
The female looked maybe, given the corpses I saw… maybe a bit older than a child? Young adult maybe? The male was a behemoth. That armor was thick too. Okay, guess it's time to see how much kick these shotguns have.
"Alright…" I muttered, pulling out my shotguns and misting over to the prick, before firing my gun pointblank into the males back.
The armored faceplate took the first two shots. Broke on the third, and red painted the ice walls behind as the fourth, fifth and sixth shots were offloaded into his now obliterated head and neck.
I walked over to the cages female, breaking the bars open and her chains off her.
She was… honestly, really pretty. And… fluffy. "Thank you…" She said, rubbing her wrists.
"Your welcome." I said. "Now what the hell happened here and who do I need to pump full of lead?"
"....My brother, Throll…" She said quietly. "After our mother died, I was to be named the new queen. But Thrall wanted the crown for himself. Sought to become a conqueror and a tyrant. In truth he just wants to keep us from going extinct in the worst way possible."
I looked back at all the dead bodies…
“You’re brother’s a complete and total dumbass you know that?” I asked.
"I'd agree with you had I not seen his plan myself." She took a breath. "Yetis are a unique race. We can only breed with one another. Well, sort of. If the father is a yeti, the child is born as whatever race the mother is. But a female yeti, whoever we mate with we will birth a yeti. While female are… were, larger in numbers, males were dwindling. First one in three births. Then one in six. Now there are one male for every ten births is male. And I like other Yetis, we females birth one litter of up to four only once in our lives while males… produce, like any other male of the species. He plans on capturing females of any race and augmenting them with potions to force their offspring to be born as a Yeti."
That is… beyond convoluted and a really bad plan.
“That’s convoluted, and extraordinary bad.” I frowned. “So let me ask you this…why didn’t you literally ask any other race for help?” I asked. “Instead of trying to take over a country…I’m an Ambassador and current boyfriend of both Queen Chrysalis and Princess Celestia…” I rubbed my temples. “Culling your own people is retarded and a bad idea…”
"I didn't have a choice, brother locked me up just hours after our mother passed." She growled at me. "Mother always did tell me he was a Child of Pain…"
That's… a new phrase… also huh?
“Child of Pain?” I inquired. “What do you mean by that?”
"It's what we use to refer to someone as irredeemable. Acting on violence and hatred and anger and not caring who gets hurt or dies. Truly Evil."
Huh… makes sense given what I've heard of Pain.
“Alright, so shove this down his throat and pull the trigger, got it.” I nodded, lifting one of my guns happily.
"May I accompany you?"
“Sure.” I nodded. “Any and all help is appreciated, especially from a beautiful and fluffy lady like yourself.” I said…though I did notice what I said. “Ugh…fucking Chrysalis flirting is rubbing off on me…”
"You… actually think me beautiful?" She asked, standing up now. She was a bit taller than me and despite the fluff she was… built like Celestia and her worn and dirty dress was… not hiding much now that she was on both feet…
“I mean…yeah?” I said, blushing behind my mask at the…big fluffy lady. “We need to get you some better clothes…and I’ll take you out on a date after I deal with your brother being an idiot.”
"Uh, right." She looked down at her clothes. "I shall go change." She rushed off.
I waited for a bit for her to return. Eventually she walked back up adorned in a light, silk dress that wasn't poofy or even all that fancy. It actually looked a bit like… a longer version of Celestia's night gown. "This was all I could find. It seems brother torched my belongings…" She huffed. So it is a night gown…
“Ma’am…” I lightly rubbed my temple. “God help my hips when we get home…” I muttered. “That’ll do for now, anyways, we need to get to brother murdering.”
"At least let me get to know you first…" She said, blushing. "I might be a princess but Fairytale esc romances are for children…"
“That’s what I thought to before I started dating Celestia and Chrysalis.” I said. “Celestia cause…well I was her niece’s bodyguard, and Chrysalis cause…well I solved her entire nation’s problem.”
"Meanwhile it looks like I might be the only Yeti left when this business with my brother is done…"
That hit me like a truck… I knew her brother, Throll, his plan was stupid but he seems to have…
I kill him and his army… she becomes the last Yeti on Equis…
“That’s…” I muttered, before shaking my head. ‘No, you will not be the last Yeti on Equis…I’ll think of something, I promise.”
With that I escorted her back to the Chariot. Before we left she closed the doors and sealed them over with a thick layer of ice. The Tomb of her people…
Our next stop was the coordinates Sombra sent me.
This was gonna be a long ride… well, might as well talk to her… shit I didn't even ask her name! And I was already making mental preparation to plow her…
Chrysalis really has rubbed off on me… and not just in that way…
“The thing’s I do for love and pretty women…” I sighed. “So…what’s your name princess?”
"Frost." She stated. "And yours?"
"Chris." I nodded. "So…tell me about Yeti culture, cause the only things I know about are you're really strong, really fluffy…and one of my students is part yeti."
"Well, the females are actually stronger both physically and magically compared to the males, we actually were created by one of the Gods of Nature long before Equis had a name. And in recent years the females have become rather… possessive of our males… we can only birth one litter in our lifetimes and with the male population in decline for generations it regrettably put our race into an… awkward situation."
"I find the 'one litter per lifetime' as a massive drawback." I frowned. "And dumb…"
"We made do for generations until recently. As a result males became more akin to… public servants…"
Public… oh…
"Brother wanted nothing to do with it, and was often belittled and outcasted for pursuing solitude and alchemical research. A few times he was… forced, into the Service by groups of females. He was never the same after. Growing angrier and more wrathful."
"I mean…yeah, rape is not cool in any regard." I frowned.
"Even after punishment was given, many still tried or harassed him. I tried to console him but he was such a different person after it happened. And when mother died he made his move. Somehow he made a potion that imprinted his hatred and ideals into the minds of as many males as possible and with a word began the slaughter."
"Oh…that's…that's really fucked up…" I frowned.
"What has he been doing while I was locked away?"
“Currently he’s trying to take over the Hippogriffs.” I said. “Which…considering what you just said with him using potions to turn them into Yeti’s or…at least, bear Yeti children…” I hissed.
"Yes. What he is doing can't be allowed to happen."
“Now I need to know if me murdering this rat bastard would either stop the rage in all the others…or it somehow giving me control out of nowhere.” I said honestly.
"I don't know." Frost sighed.
“We’ll just have to figure that out later.” I nodded. “What sucks more is that…this is happening while the world is going to war and also going to absolute shit because an All Maker decided to throw in all their monsters…”
The rest of the ride was silent.
We arrived at the beach and once I was outside the chariot I opened the app and waited.
“Alright Sombra, I’m here.” I called out, knowing the hacker was around here somewhere.
“Took you long enough.” I heard the woman in question answer, seeing Sombra materialize from nowhere and looking…a lot more high tech than before.
“I know, I just had to…deal with somethings.” I said carefully.
“Be glad it’s me and not Akande knowing about the Yeti’s.” Sombra rolled her eyes. “Deplorable bastard…” She shook her head. ‘But that’s not why we’re here, we’re here so that I can help you deal with our…mutual issue.”
“Doomfist.” I nodded.
“So…first off, bad news.” Sombra said nervously. “He’s been…’blessed’ by his Patron, Pain as you have probably heard about from the local gods here.” Which was a rousing goddamn start to this conversation. “Even though the Dragon’s have explicitly stated to be remaining Neutral until stated otherwise, he has gone off to probably murder the current Dragon Lord.”
“Mother fucker…” I growled.
“Yeah…it’s bad.” Sombra shuddered. “Especially when…even with my new Tech…Pain knew I was watching…” The poor mexican shuddered in pure fear. “Currently, I’ve been taking the Minotaur’s into the Future with their Magic and my Technical knowledge, so already your off to a…not so good start.” Sombra said as she brought up screen’s showing just…how outlandishly far ahead the Minotaur’s are than Equestria.
“Shit…” I grumbled. “That’s…that’s not good at all…” I said worriedly. “So…mind telling me a bit about Pain?”
“Ever seen the girl from The Ring?” I nodded. “Yeah, now imagine that, but infinitely times worse…her eyes are as black as the Void, her very presence is fear inducing…and she’s currently sponsoring Akande to destroy this world.”
“Yeah…that’s not good at all…” I shook my head. “So…I take it that you’re helping me here cause you’d rather not have another war ruin a world?”
“I joined Talon so I could stop The Eye…but yes, I’m here to stop Akande from doing something completely outlandish and bullshit.” She answered simply. “As a war orphan…I’d rather it not happen here…”
“We’re trying…” I sighed. “So, what’s your army looking like?”
“Currently…” Sombra sighed. “He’s turning the Minotaur soldiers into Savages, not giving a single damn about life or limb as they’re training is forcing them to practically kill each other so they can be ready to slaughter any and all in their way.” She shook her head. “With the Minotaur’s smithing prowess, Akande’s knowledge on biology and cybernetics, and my help with communications…if you don’t figure out something fast, this world is as good as gone.”
I rubbed my temples bitterly. “Ugh, this fucking sucks…” I grumbled.
“Trust me, I know.” Sombra sighed. “But besides the Minotaurs, we’re gaining ground with more of the…’monstrous’ races, and currently Akande is turning his sights to Tartarus and whatever Talon merc’s I can transport here.” Sombra said.
“This is getting worse and worse…” I sighed. “Do you think Sigma and Moira would join my side?”
“Considering Celestia is literally Goddess of the Sun, Sigma might enjoy talking to her about how Gravity works or some other nonsense…while Moira…well, considering how much of a huge Weeb you are, I’m pretty sure you can strike a deal with her or something.” Sombra shrugged.
“Still can’t believe she’s a weeb.” I chuckled. “Also…how much do you know about me?”
“Everything I can.” Sombra said. “Also…really? That much porn?”
“Shut it.” I said quickly. “No need to delve into that subject…” I shook my head.
"I won't lie, so far your odds and Equestria's are looking extremely bleak. Luckily I have an idea that can possibly give you some kind of fighting chance."
“Anything that can help would be very appreciated.” I nodded.
"Here." She said, tossing me a small tablet. "That tablet has all my blueprints. Including the portal I made. Despite your appearance I'm willing to bet the Overwatch is willing to help if you can make contact. Plus before I arrived two of them broke into Talon and stole copies of my early beta plans. Secondly, it also contains a special signal tracer. Doomfist plans on sending supplies and cargo to his allies or locations he plans to build bases of operation. It can tell you what the cargo is, and the level of security it has so raiding them on site or during their transport will at least get you weapons, ammo, or whatever is being shipped."
“Thanks Sombra.” I nodded. “This means…so much.”
"Don't thank me yet. I might be able to avoid and even trick Doomfist, but there's not a doubt in my mind that Pain will suspect or know I'm working against her. Part of me doubts she'll say anything, but I know at any time she can kill me. I think the only reason she hasn't is because she sees this as entertaining."
“Also…let’s be honest, Doomfist probably wouldn’t give a shit either even if he knew.” I shrugged. “Whatever will make him happy in this dumbass needless war and his thoughts on ‘progression’...” I sighed. “But with Pain? Well…Pain is an All Maker, a being that God’s Worship…and fear for good reason.”
"Maybe. Either way now that Doomfist is less tech and more freaky black magic I know I'm not gonna survive a fight if he decides to pick one. This will probably be the last time I contact you for a while."
“That’s fair.” I nodded. “Contact us whenever you can Sombra, and I’ll get this back home to get thing’s started.”
"Be seeing you around not-Reaper." She said, vanishing in a shimmer of light as she turned around.
I put the tablet away and went back to the chariot.
“Well…that was very informative…” I sighed.
Now, we were on the way to the Hippogriff Kingdom.
Upon our arrival I was met by two of them. A male and a female. They looked almost like a mix of griffins and ponies.
"You must be Reaper, yes?" The female asked. "I am Queen Novo. And this is my husband, King Kelvo." She introduced.
Queen Novo was rather regal. A pinkish white color with large wings. Kelvo was large, broad and had a few scars exposed from his armor/regal attire. He's combat savvy… a soldier even.
“It’s nice to meet you both.” I nodded. “Yes, I am Reaper…and boy do I have a lot of things to talk about.”
"We must make it quick. The Yeti King is barely a day's travel from here." King Kelvo said.
I nodded and began explaining to them what Frost told me and her brother's twisted plan.
"I don't approve of his actions but at least now I can understand where they come from." Novo said with a grim frown. "But it does not justify them."
"Should we begin the counter attack my Queen?" Kelvo asked.
“What do you have planned?” I inquired, wanting to know what they have in mind before I try and bring up me just going up there and killing him myself.
"We Hippogriffs have Magic Relic from our Gods that allow us to switch between a land/air form of body to a sea based one." Kelvo stated. "My wife wishes to use it to hide below the ocean should the enemy get too close, but I know we can Weaponize it."
"I don't like the idea of weaponizing the relic our gods left us." Novo stated.
“Well, how about I just go up there, blow his brains out with this,” I brought out one of my shotguns. “And see if I magically obtain control of all the Yeti’s?” I inquired.
"It would be a good alternative." Kelvo said.
"I suppose. If the other male Yetis are just under mind control, please try to spare as many as you can. We have Alchemists and I imagine Celestia would lend mages to save them should we capture them. But do kill the Yeti King. His crimes are far too great for a court to decide his fate." Novo said.
“Yep.” I nodded. “And I also get to test…something important.” I said, now thinking of how absorbing souls might work in this world.
"Then make haste Reaper. Before he arrives on our boarders." Novo said.
"I'll be quick." I nodded. "But where are they coming from if I may ask? Since I just got here and don't know much of the layout of the land."
"North East along the coast." Kelvo said.
“Cool.” I nodded. “I’ll bring back something to prove he’s dead if you want."
"No need. Just be quick." Novo said.
The battle was… actually, really anti-climactic. I got into the airship, knocked out a whole lot of the mind controlled guards, went up to the not to be Storm King and ended it.
Sadly control did not pass along to me like I hoped but I did manage the Soul Devouring thing. I got an affinity for Ice magic and some basic knowledge on it which has been helpful in training.
The following months passed in a blur almost. Our first raid using Sombra's tracer tablet and such got us the supplies and advantage we've been needing. Everything from state of the art medicine to high grade Sci-Fi armor, weapons and vehicles.
Frost, in that time took to working on helping the afflicted break out of the mind control her brother put them under and ended up a form of Diplomat/Refugee. Including her and the afflicted, there's only a hundred and nine Yetis left. She became part of our little harem too after several dates, a discovered love of video games and anime, and one rather interesting first time later she was part of the harem. Or, herd, as they call it here.
With the high tech gear to combat these monsters properly a lot of work began getting focused on defenses for towns and cities. Walls, either physical or energy based were being built. The trains were being armored. All in all Equestria has jumped centuries into the future.
I was on patrol around the Everfree. Supposedly some new monster had been sighted that was different from the rest. Smaller and seemed to be wielding weapons.
“Alright…where in the hell is this thing?” I wondered, carefully stalking through the darkened woods in search for my prey. “Though I still need to figure out how to get to Purgatory…that’s gonna be a hassle and a half…”
As I was walking I faintly heard something move, then felt the sharp and powerful slice across my neck as someone slashed it. Myst rushed out as my body began to repair itself. I grabbed my throat and saw the attacker. He was dressed in ragged all black cloak and hood with some mask that looked like leather over his face.
In his hands were two Scythes, small and glowing with a dark and unnatural aura.
"Darn. I was hoping that'd hurt you more." He said before leaping up and kicking me in the head and across the ground.
“Ugh, the fuck.” I grumbled, getting back up quickly. “Who the fuck are you?”
"You should know." He said, leaping and moving with inhuman agility as he closed the distance between us fast.
I raised my guns but he used his scythes to knock my aim off course and head butt me into a stager. Before I could recover he struck both blades I to my torso, lifting til they were caught in my ribs.
I lifted my shotgun and blasted it at his left leg, hoping to at least cripple the speedy prick so I can get some answers.
His cloak or skin seemed to just… deflect the shot. In anger I ripped and pulled his leather face mask and gasped… that's… my face. My old face!
"You getting it yet?" He asked, pulling his blades up more, cutting through my ribs, lungs and heart before kicking me into a tree hard enough to crack it and my spine as he walked up to me as my body was working overtime to heal all that.
“R-Reaper? The hell…” I coughed. “Why the fuck are you doing in my body?”
"The same reason you're in mine." He said plainly. "Crossed paths in the place between dimensions. Left something with one another. Took from one another." He said, slamming the heel of his boot onto my barely healed ribs, cracking them again. "I don't appreciate having something as personal as my body taken from me."
“Well…” I coughed. “Blame the bastard that sold me your shotguns for fifty bucks.” I wheezed, before grabbing onto his leg and started to use Ice Magic onto him, hoping to siphon away his internal heat to make him slower and weaker.
The second I grabbed his he jerked his foot lose and kicked my chin hard enough to knock the mask off.
"Pathetic. All the power in that body and you waste it. The technology and dark magic that was poured into it."
“Like you were doing any better with it.” I said, getting back up carefully. “Ugh, so what? Taking my body out for a test drive or are you pissed that you aren’t in constant pain anymore?” I asked, taking a deep breath as I prepared my next move.
"I do miss it you know? The pain. It was a constant reminder I am me. And now it's gone. You can't even begin to imagine the hollowness the absence of that pain has left me."
“No, I can.” I nodded. “So why the fuck are you here specifically?” I asked, ready for the instant he moves.
"Just thought I'd give you something back." He said, reaching into his cloak and pulling out some dog tags. Dry blood was all over them. "Turns out DNA can also be used to trace home dimensions of people. So I paid a visit to yours." He tossed them to me. I recognized the names instantly. "Once your old Unit friends were dealt with I let Doomfist take over. Your world now belongs to Talon."
I moved, faster than I thought was possible as I turned my arm into mist and shoved it into Reapers chest. “Make one sudden move, and I will crush your heart.” I growled, my phantom hand grasping at his heart.
"Awe, try it." He laughed.
I grabbed onto his heart but despite the strength it wasn't crushing. It just kept beating in my palm as he laughed and kicked me away. "You can't harm me. Pain made sure of that!" He yelled as began cutting me with his scythes. "I should thank you, really. Talon wanted a whole other universe for resources and slaves and test subjects and yours delivered quite well. Billions of people with no one there to save them." Reaper said. I slammed my fist to his face, breaking my hand on impact. "The man who can't die and the man who can't be damaged. We can do this for all eternity Chris." He laughed.
“Let’s try something else.” I growled, pulling out my Shotgun and blasted the bastard in the chest, hoping that it’s soul stealing effect would work against him.
It knocked him down but he managed to backflip back to his feet. He smirked at me before snapping his fingers and vanishing.
I did see wisp’s floating around where he vanished, tiny little specks but it still showed I was able to chip at his soul. “This is…fucking fantastic…” I grumbled, walking over and collecting the small wisps.
When I was done with that I looked at the Dog Tags… those men saved me from that hell… we bled and fought together… I don't care if his body is indestructible. I. Will. Kill. Him.
"It is good to have you back Reaper." Doomfist said as he and Reaper walked down the halls of the Empire, as Doomfist began calling it.
Reaper only grunted and nodded, going to a comfy chair and sitting down and just…enjoying the feeling of no pain after so long.
"So tell me, what was your body snatcher like in a fight my friend."
"He understands how I work, and has military training, but he doesn't fully understand how strong I truly am." Reaper answered simply. "Tried to crush my heart inside my chest." He added.
Doomfist laughed. "A smart move. Had your new body not been augmented it might have done some serious damage."
"He's a quick learner, to say the least." He shrugged. "But if he doesn't figure out the true strength of my body, he'll be truly dead soon."
"Few things can kill that old body of yours."
Reaper shrugged. "In this new insane world, a lot more things can do it."
"Which brings me to our meeting. Now that his home dimension is under Talon Companies foot, more raw materials are being sent in. With all these new resources in hand we can expand this empire further and faster than ever before. We just need to bring some more associates over."
"Now is that before or after our supply lines have been raised with ease?" Reaper brought up. "But…yes, we probably should…between Sigma and Moira…a deranged old man or…Moira."
"Either or, but Mistress Pain has also decided to introduce us to some of her other followers. I genuinely look forwards to it."
"Cause of course." Reaper groaned lightly.
"Are you not Intrigued?"
"Just more grunts to deal with, and the only thing I'm intrigued about is if they kiss her ass more than you." Reaper said, because while he can respect Akande for his strength and smarts, he was getting a bit tired with how much the new Shadow praised her as if he'd lick the very grown she stood on.
"Ah my friend, while your attitude is the same, You should remember it was she that pulled you from that void, made you near invulnerable and gave you those fancy new scythes you've been using. We both owe her much and her cause and goals align very closely to my own. Growth of strength and power, innovation and knowledge, all accelerated by threats, war, and slaughter."
"I'm only in this for my Revenge." Reaper growled.
"Against who? 76, or Chris?"
"And Overwatch as a whole." The petty man stated.
"And how pray tell will you go about this endeavor?"
"Killing all their members, not sitting here while my 'boss' acts like a goddamn priest for a lady that thinks this is the best Soap Opera ever." He answered. "And I can't go back cause you're forcing me here incase my body snatcher decides to get cheeky on this war, as well as me being bait to start the Lawless War." He explained, seeing Akande going more heavily into his 'survival of the fittest' mantra to the point of zelatism, a point he never was before.
"While killing all of the Overwatch is the goal, there are plans grander passed the Overwatch." He said, leaning in. "Tell me, what do you know of Talon Companies high up works? Their leaders? Financers? The ones who really pull the strings?"
"I've been doing Talons dirty work for twenty years." He answered. "I know enough, especially when we killed some of them to replace them with your personal choices." He explained.
"Yes, and for those that remain of the old, they shall be replaced as well. With that weaker Earth and this new dimension under their Belt, the old heads of Talon just aren't thinking big enough. Once full control is ours, Overwatch is in ashes and the new empire takes full control, conquering stars and dimensions will be part of the job."
"And that's if my body snatcher doesn't blow your head off." Reaper answered. "Kill the head, and this band of savages you've made will crumble like a house of cards in a tornado." He pointed out, which was always a possibility in this line of work.
"Maybe. Killing a king, or tyrant, is easy. Killing the culture they leave behind? Not so much. Every day more and more of the Minotaur people fight, getting stronger, craving the battle. Those that fall are saved, augmented and, of course, reborn as something between Omnic and Flesh. And of course the children, born and raised knowing nothing but this culture of fighting and combat. It helps to add certain… additions to their food to ensure they grow up physically and mentally into the soldiers I need."
Reaper shook his head, knowing he was petty and only using Talon to get his revenge on those that scorned him and threw away his hard work, but this was beyond ridiculous, even for Akande. "You're losing focus," Reaper said, getting up and walking away. "And that'll get you killed when you bore your goddess."
"And, what about you?" He asked. "At any moment she could send you back to whatever purgatory she pulled you from. Like it or not Reaper, we are in the same boat. Isn't that exciting?"
Reaper stared at Akande. “As long as you stay out of my way, you can do whatever.”
"You two Reaper and Doomfist?"
Looking behind himself, Akande smirked as Reaper looked up at the twelve foot tall armored being that irradiated energy.
"Yes. And who are you my ally?" Akande asked.
"I am Amon."
I sat defeated. Resources low and so far from any means of hope. I needed pure luck to-
"Go straight to jail, do not collect two hundred bits." Cadence said with a smirk as I landed on the saw pile and she read my card aloud.
“Why~?” I whined in pain. “This is awful…”
"It was your idea to play." Twilight reminded. "You said it was just like a game from your home world."
I normally don't lose this badly in that game, sadly pony monopoly, or, Goldopoly, was similar… different enough to be interesting and I still suck…
Why do I always want to play this game?
“I hate Monopoly…” I grumbled. “This sucks…”
"Goldopoly." Blueblood corrected, tossing the dice and landing on his own space.
“Same thing.” I retorted.
After all the crap recently I needed a break, so, game night with the students.
Save Keven, who played a rom of Pokemon Gold on my PC.
His luck with shiny hunting is as legendary as his shiny Entei.
“Just wanted to have a nice game night to relax…and I’m getting destroyed…”
"How is your luck this bad?" Shining asked.
“It’s not normally this bad.” I frowned. “I don’t know why dice are mean to me all of a sudden.”
"Must just be a run of bad luck." Fizzle shrugged as she rolled the dice, moving her piece and landing on the gold mines. Buying it and smirking.
“I hate you.” I frowned, grabbing my dice and throwing it and hoping I got out of jail so I can continue playing the game.
After a few hours I left the kids to keep playing and I went to check on some of the supplies raided from cargo transports Doomfist had moving around.
Long story short, it's not good.
The armor alone has more tech than my cell phone, their rifles are either shooting bullets, energy, magic or are basically gauss rifles.
The explosives are another category entirely. Seeing these on the battlefield will make my time in the army look like a picnic…
“This is…beyond what I thought was going to happen…” I muttered, honestly fearing what nonsense Doomfist had planned for this war.
"It will take way too long to reverse engineer and rebuild this." Chrysalis huffed. "Our best option is to keep up the raids on his transports and take what we need. Otherwise we won't stand a chance."
“Damn it…” I sighed. “And that’s not to mention if he isn’t already getting all the supplies he needs from another world…”
"It's risky to send in spies."
"Maybe we can use his own advantage against him." Celestia said, walking up into the lab with us. "The whole reason you, he and all this happened was because of a portal to another world, another dimension, well, we just might be able to craft one of our own through magic."
“We do have Sombra’s blueprints for the portal to help make that easier.” I nodded. “And yeah…it would be a good idea to try and get some help here.”
"Not just that." Celestia spoke up. "I was digging through some old magic artifacts my late teacher, Starswirl, created. Well, some time after Luna was Banished, he created a series of magic mirrors that took us to parallel worlds. Each one was vastly different from the last, I believe we can rework the spell matrix and create a portal similar to his own."
"That old coot made magic portals like that?" Chrysalis asked.
"Yes. Among other, more… questionable inventions."
“Alright, so when do we get started?” I asked. “Also…what ‘questionable inventions’?”
"We can begin immediately, plus, the mirror portals he built are all here in the Canterlot Vault. We just need to modify their activation triggers, which will admittedly take time."
“Take the time you need but please hurry…” I sighed. “Ugh, this bites…”
"In the meantime we should test and learn how to use these weapons. Then start warming soldiers." Chrysalis said, picking up one of the rifles.
“Yeah…” I sighed. “But we’re not going to have our soldiers be like the Minotaurs…Sombra told me that they're practically savages at this point.”
"Then, I guess killing them is more an act of mercy than part of a war."
“And who know’s what Pain has been feeding Doomfist, he’s probably gone completely feral in his quest of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ to the point where…the Minotaur’s might not be salvageable…”
"Well, we best hope we can reverse it. So, shall we begin training with these?"
“Yes, let’s begin the training.” I nodded, wanting to push back some of those terrifying thoughts.
I spent the next few hours giving Chrysalis a crash course in firearms safety and use. While most were not at all what I was used to they all functioned the same. She was a quick learner, and enjoyed the lesson.
With that done I began to head back to-
"Hi there!"
Ahhh!
I fell back on my ass in surprise as a small, talking puppy appeared in front of me.
"Talking puppy…" I said slowly. "Uh…hi there…"
"Hi." They said, smiling. They were small, a dark lapis blue coat with brown eyes and wagging tail. "I'm Dolo."
“And you are adorable.” I said, giving them a head pat. “So why have I been graced with the smol pupper today?”
"Because I'm gonna help you deal with my auntie!"
“Hold up what?” I asked. “Back up, I feel like I’m missing something here…like a lot of things…especially the vibrating pupper over there.” I said, pointing to a chibi fluff potato in a cloak, laying on the ground, and just vibrating like they had too much caffeine.
"Hi mom!" Dolo said.
“Mom?” I asked in even more confusion, as I could swear I was hearing earthbound music somewhere. “I’m so confused and concerned even if you two are just absolutely adorable.” I said.
‘My name is Princess.’ I saw the vibrating doggo hold up a Looney Toon’s esc sign that seemed to be readable even with the adorable vibrating.
"Oh well that's my mamma and she's auntie Pain's sister in law."
“Oh…” I said slowly, even though I was petting Dolo. “So…how are you going to help me here? Cause right now I need help with…everything…”
"I'm gonna help you become a hero!" Dolo declared.
"I'm about to go to war…" I said carefully. “You sure I can still be a hero while having to help with the war?”
"Yeah, it will be fun!"
I looked at ‘Princess’, and was worried about their enthusiasm to help me be a hero in war, but they held up a sign. ‘They know the dangers of war, but they’re going to help you be a Hero, even against Pain’. “Well…you got a vote of confidence here Dolo.” I said with a smile.
"Yay, thanks mamma!" Dolo said, walking behind me and pushing the back of my heel with their head. "Now come on, we got work to do."
“You are just…so adorable.” I said, clenching my chest at how adorable this pupper is. “Alright, let’s get going.” I said, walking off as I noticed Princess got on a cloud and followed along.
"First we gotta get you more weapons. And better armor."
“Well, I have an insane healing factor and…well, I have my twin Hellfire Shotguns.” I said. “How much better do I need to be?”
"Better." He said, leading me to a random door. He then moved in front of me, jumping up and biting onto the knob. The door swung open and whatever was in that room was something else now. Now it was some kind of… forge?
“Uh…when did this become a forge?” I asked in surprise.
"I made it into one." Dolo said, walking inside. This forge was odd. It was like a mix of high tech and ancient. There was a large section in the wall with a glowing blue light inside.
"This looks…like a weird but a pretty neat forge." I said honestly.
"It's the only forge Mamma let's me play with. But it will work." He said. "Put a thing in there." He pointed a paw at the blue light box. "And the forge makes a copy."
I looked at Princess nervously at the part of 'only forge I can play with', but they waved me off. "Well…alright, how are we going to be doing this?"
"You need more stuff. This place can make more stuff."
"Correct." I nodded. "So, do I need to start hunting for materials?"
"No. It's got plenty."
"Cool." I nodded. "So…I just put my Shotgun in here, and out pops something new in the blue box?" I inquired, pulling out one of my shotguns and ready to test it out.
"Yup." Dolo said.
I did so, the blue lights scanning my gun as the walls of the forge made various noises and soon a mold popped out of the molten slag, opening and revealing a cooled, chrome looking replica of my shotgun.
“Huh…” I said, gently picking up the brand new shotgun and looking it over. “So…what’s special about it besides it might be able to shoot a higher caliber?”
"Oh no, it's not upgraded, it's just a replica of the weapon."
“Alright…” I said. “Well, it’ll help us start mass producing something’s at least…”
"Yay! Now we need to help you become a god."
“Yes, and currently I need to go to Purgatory…somehow.” I said carefully. “Cause that’s at least part of what that weird book said.”
"Okay, let's go."
“Well, how are we supposed to get there?” I inquired.
"Follow me." He said, walking back out the door.
I nodded, following after the good boy and wondering what this adventure is going to be like.
I followed him into a hallway, he howled and the air before us tore open Into a rift in space. "Come on." He said, jumping through the rift.
I blinked, absolutely shocked at what I just saw…”Uh…okay.” I said carefully, walking into the portal carefully and kinda scared as to how this pupper just…tore open a portal to another dimension.
Purgatory was… more lush than I expected. Everywhere around was jungle-forest of all kinds of strange plants.
“Ya know…when I thought ‘Purgatory’...I didn’t think ‘Forest’.” I said honestly.
"It has different environments and such just like any other place." Dolo said as he led me through the place, walking under large roots and over rocks and such.
“Well…this place looks nice, wonder how I’m supposed to find a lost soul in this dense as hell place.”
"They'll probably be around here somewhere."
“Just gotta know where to look.” I said, ducking under some branches as I looked around the rather beautiful landscape.
"Once you find them you need to take them to either heaven or hell, or whatever afterlife they're going to."
”And that’s going to be difficult cause…I have no idea where those places are given that they are in fact real.” I said carefully.
"I'll help take you there once we find a soul to help."
“Thank you.” I nodded. “Cause I am…way out of my depth here, I’m just a soldier that was…body swapped with a super soldier.”
"I'm… nine?" Dolo offered, clearly unsure how to respond to… I'm sorry he's nine?!?!
“Okay, hold up…” I said. “Why!? Shouldn’t you be in school, hanging out with friends, doing…literally anything else than helping decide the fate of an entire world?” I asked in absolute shock.
"I already finished school. And a lot of my older siblings do this too so, I thought it would be fun."
“Uh…huh…” I said carefully. “Right…so why did you want to help me out with all this?”
"Auntie Pain always makes the world's she's personally overseeing hard. So. Thought I'd help out. Plus Auntie is fun to be around."
This kids family sounds… beyond odd.
“Okay…so I have a good boy…that is the son of a fluff potato…and your the nephew of someone that I have to fight against…” I said. “I’m…so confused…”
As we walked through this thick jungle I spent some time wondering how exactly this all began.
Eventually we came across a large tree in a clearing… that seemed to be growing skulls…
“Alright, what the hell is that?” I asked. “Why is there a Skull tree and do I have to shoot it?”
"It's apples!" What? Dolo rapidly began climbing up the tree, biting onto one of the skulls on the branch. The skull crunched under their teeth… only rather than bones crunching it was indeed the sound of an apple being bit into. Looking I saw under the 'bone' was the normal apple flesh and even seeds.
"Uh…sure…" I said, picking one of the apples, pulling my mask up and taking a bite out of it.
"Eeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" The apple screamed.
"Dkgiesjthej!" I blurted out, throwing the thing and shooting it into lead filled applesauce.
"They scream when you pick them." Dolo said, eating his apple that was still on the stem.
"I literally bit into it first so what the hell!" I panicked.
"Takes a few seconds sometimes." Dolo shrugged, finishing his apple and leaving the core on the stem.
"Well…okay…" I said slowly, grabbing another one of the skull apples and this time ate its 'face' so it wouldn't scream at me.
It tasted pretty good. Sweet and tangy and surprisingly juicy for fruit shaped like a skull grown in purgatory.
"Alright…the fruit tastes good." I said honestly.
After eating a few more Dolo and I walk along until we come across a cliff leading… down. Just down. I can't see the bottom.
"Awh. It's a hole…" Dolo huffed.
"It's…a very big hole apparently." I said with a frown.
"Well, come on." Dolo said, jumping off the edge.
Wait hold up!
"Dolo!" I panicked as I jumped after them, not caring if they were the child of some super pupper this was a giant ass hole.
I managed to reach close to him as we reached the bottom and-
Crunch. Splat.
…Ouch.
"Are you okay?" Dolo asked, poking a nose at my flat, mangled corpse.
I grabbed my head and pulled it off of the rock. "Look Dolo, I'm roadkill." I joked, referencing The Mask. "Ha ha ha." I chuckled, as I turned into mist and reformed myself and had all my bones crack. "Ugh…that could have gotten better."
"That looked like it hurt." He said, my body returning to normal and as I looked the pupper over, he was fine. Seemed to take no damage at all from that fall.
"One of the most painful things I've experienced so far." I answered. "But glad to see your okay."
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because it was a rather long fall and was worried you'd be hurt." I said honestly. "I don't know much about your family or how strong you are…but if this was long enough to turn me into a looney toons character for a hot moment, I was concerned you would get at least a little hurt."
"I'm fine." Dolo said. "The fall wasn't that long anyway."
What kind of life has this probably immortal nine year old had?!
"Okay, how are you this nonchalant about this?" I asked worriedly.
"What's nonchalant mean?"
"It means to be calm or relaxed, or not be concerned." I said honestly
"Oh. I've dropped from much further."
"Cause of course you have…" I sighed. "How tough are you little guy?"
"Mamma says I'm a little wrecking ball. Mainly when my siblings use me as ammo."
"Excuse me, I didn't expect a good boy like you to be the next Baldur." I said, gently patting the now apparently indestructible pupper.
I got up, stretching as I looked around where we were. Some purple grass and such for as far as the eye can see.
"So where are we now?" I inquired.
"Looks like Lost Valley."
"Well, if there was any place to find a lost soul, this would be the place." I said honestly.
"Souls here would have been here for a long time."
"So might have to calm people down." I said honestly.
"Maybe." Dolo shrugged, walking along as I followed.
After a while, we finally came along a lost soul… who was half buried in the ground.
They were a unicorn, older fellow and had a lime green mane, purple coat and an old set of guard armor.
"So, how'd you get stuck there my guy?" I inquired, starting to dig the poor guy out.
"Some weird bird thing grabbed me and dropped me down here. Woke up like this." He said. "So, what are you?"
“I’m the person that’s going to get you out of here and back to whichever afterlife you’re supposed to go to.” I said, continuing to dig up the stallion.
"So… a different grim reaper?" He asked.
“Pretty much.” I shrugged. “So, who are you if I may ask?”
"Captain Alchemy of princess Celestia's royal guard."
Alchemy… right, I remember hearing about him from Shining Armor. This guy died in one of the last major wars Equestria had before I came here some… six hundred years ago.
“So…good to know.” I said carefully, digging him out finally and pulling him out. “It’s been…a long time…”
"I figured." He said, dusting off his armor and stretching his legs. "Still hate that legs can get numb when you're dead. Makes no sense." He grumbled.
“Yeah, that doesn’t make much sense but…well, you technically still have a physical body for some reason.” I shrugged. “Alright…so let’s go see which afterlife your supposed to go to…and also wherever the hell the proper direction is.”
"I got it." Dolo said, walking up to and sniffing the guy before turning around and howling again, opening yet another tear in space to elsewhere.
“Good boy.” I said, kneeling down and giving him some headpats. “Alright…now just gotta take you through the portal and then talk to the gods of the Afterlife…that’s gonna be a fun talk…”
We walked through the portal and on the other side was… well, it was kind of like Canterlot but… larger.
"Greetings!" Said a being that was shaped like a pure light silhouette of an Alicorn that flew down to greet us. "I see you two have brought us a lost soul from Purgatory. Thank you for the help."
“No problem.” I nodded. “So…I have something to talk about with you and…many other Gods of the Afterlife.”
"You and a million other Grimm Reapers…" They sighed. Before I could reply they snapped their fingers and I was at the end of some line. Dolo was in my arms and before me were a lot of other beings and people largely wearing black suits and uniforms all with some form of skull mask…
“Bruh…” I frowned. “Damned book knew I would have to wait…” I grumbled.
"Doesn't look too long." Dolo said, looking over and seeing maybe… twenty people ahead of us.
“Still twenty people…” I sighed, taking a seat in the waiting room. “Jeez…it’s like enlistment all over again…”
And so, I waited. Almost four hours later I was called up.
The person I met was a seven foot tall, six eyed, mouth going gown from forehead to chin. No nose and their body looked human… is lengthy. "What brings you to complaints today Mr…?" She asked as I snapped back to this reality once I processed her appearance.
“Chris.” I nodded. “And well…I’m here because the ‘God Book’ said I needed to talk to you about me becoming a God of Death…” I said carefully. “Which sounds like complete nonsense if…everything I’ve experienced begged to differ.”
"Wait, so you aren't a field agent?"
“Nope, had to do a quest to try and become a god…one of three domains it said I’m allowed to be.”
"Oh then you are in the wrong department sir. You need Divine Ascension Services, this is Ethereal Planes Workers Complaints and Divine Resources."
“Why in god's name was I sent to HR first?” I frowned. “Also, why does this place even have an HR?”
"This is a business, so, an HR department is mandatory. As for why you are sent here, your attire resembles that of various Grimm Reaper uniforms."
Huh… lot of those guys in line did look like their outfits were similar to mine…
“I know Gaberiel was an edgy bitch but come on…” I frowned. “Alright, I am very sorry for…wasting your time…now how do I get to the DAS?”
"Walk out the main lobby, three doors down to your right." She informed.
“Thank you.” I nodded. “Again, I’m very sorry for…this.” I said sheepishly, getting up and starting to head out.
I did as she said, finding the proper room and entering. It was smaller, the waiting room anyway, than the other room but seemed almost empty save one other person… a very humanoid looking Blaziken.
“Sup.” The Blaziken said to me, which honestly didn’t surprise me.
“Sup.” I nodded, taking a seat next to them. “So, what you in for?”
“War, you?”
“Death…and possibly Souls…War is a possibility for me.” I shrugged.
They nodded, and we both sat waiting for a while.
Eventually he was called in, leaving me alone with Dolo as we waited.
About an hour later, I was called in.
Once in the room I was sitting at a desk where a literal orb of light was floating in the chair on the other end. "Greetings. Chris, correct?"
“Yes.” I nodded. “Sorry for being late, got a bit mixed up because…I never changed my get up to look less ‘grim’.”
"Ah yes, you are dressed as one of the Grim Reapers. Anyway, you helped bring a soul to their corresponding afterlife. Marking you for eligible for Ascension into Godhood under the title of a God of Souls."
"Thought it was Death but the book said it was interchangeable." I shrugged. "So, how does this fully work?"
"Simple. I will implant the Godly powers into you, making you stronger, faster, smarter, as well as able to open portals to all the respective ethereal Planes where souls are found. Please keep in mind that this does not give you the power to create new souls, but you can reincarnate a soul. You will also be able to pull a soul still bound and lost on the mortal planes into the physical ones."
"Cool." I nodded. "Sounds like a plan…will it hurt?"
"I have already implanted the power within you during our conversation." The orb said. "Please take an instructional manual to aid in understanding your new divine powers." The orb added, a small but thick book appearing on the desk. 'God of Souls for Beginners.'
“Cool.” I nodded. “Thank you very much…so I suppose I can just open a portal out of here or should I ask how to become a God of Death and War since that ‘God Book’ said I could do those things too.”
"To become a God of Death requires advanced knowledge on necromancy and the void arts. To become a God of War requires you to slaughter an entire tribe or species into extinction, or enslave what remains after battle."
“Oh…” I said, gulping as I remembered that Blaziken…”Well…both are probably going to be necessary given what I’m up against…”
I arrived back in Equestria with Dolo in my arms. So… God of Souls. Honestly I don't feel any different.
“Ya know, I kinda expected to feel…different when becoming a God.’ I said honestly.
"It depends on what you do to become one. I helped you go through the more streamline process." Dolo said.
“Right…” I said, pulling out my ‘God of Souls 101’ book to see what special things I can do now. “Well, at least I have this handy dandy book can tell me what I can do.”
"Yeah. My family made the process and all that much easier. Mom used to say back before the process was about gaining so much power or getting lucky and even when you got it it wasn't explained to you the extent and limitations and capabilities. It was all trial and error before."
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “I thought Godhood was all about worship and crap like that…glad it’s not.”
"It's a part of it but not the central thing. A god can be unworshiped and powerful, but again that's only a part that can be ignored or used."
“Fair enough.” I nodded, starting to read through my guide book. “Now just have to look up what I can do, and train…and hopefully we won’t have anything suddenly crop up on us…”
I headed into my room, well, Tia's room. Chrysalis and I just sleep and…sleep here with her.
I put Dolo on the mattress and sat down, and opened the book.
So you've become a God of Souls. Congratulations on your achievement and ascending from mortal life to a divine being.
Please note that despite the Ascension, you are still fully capable of dying via combat with another divine being of equal or greater power, artifacts of specific craft made to slay gods, or your Godly Weakness.
Every God does possess one singular weakness that can kill them if it is applied to a lethal weapon. This weakness is unique to each god and is rarely the same as another.
To discover your Godly Weakness, say 'Locate Weakness' and the item or substance in question will illuminate in your vision.
“Alright…Locate Weakness.” I said, doing what the book said.
Immediately I saw something in the corner of my eyes glow. Turning I spotted it, a gem on Celestia's hand mirror. I stood up and walked over to it, picking up the mirror and looking the gem over. This is an… Opal, if I recall?
So, my weakness is Opals? I shrugged, taping a- FUCK!!!
My finger burned like I touched hot oil and I dropped the mirror. Okay, note to self, don't touch Opals either.
“Well, that’s going to be annoying…” I frowned.
The burning went away after a bit, leaving a faint ache in my finger where I touched it. Damn, that was through my gloves.
With a frown I went back and checked on the book.
As a God, you already have a variety of powers and abilities to utilize at your disposal. Instantaneous teleportation, speed and reflexes near, at, or faster than light, the strength to lift or demolish mountains, and endurance that can keep you going for days on end before tiering.
Sleep as a God is optional, but highly recommended.
Food and drink are not necessary, but should be included in your daily life.
The following chapters will cover; Soul Collecting, Soul Manipulation and Alteration, Soul Reaping, Soul Creating, Reincarnation, Opening portals to the Before, Purgatory, and various afterlifes. And lastly, Worship and what worshipers can do for you and what you can do for your followers.
Thank you for taking on the role as a God of Souls, and may eternity be kind to you.
I blinked…no…no I couldn’t be that strong? “Uh…Dolo? Is this book right? It says I’m able to just…move faster than light, destroy mountains without much issue…and is all around stupid strong…”
"Godhood multiplies the base strengths and abilities of your species and multiplies them exponentially." The pup said. "A normal human turn god can do all that easy, you, a trained soldier with an augmented already super human body? You'll be faster and stronger."
“Oh…” I muttered. “That’s…that’s good to know…” I said, now kinda scared as to what I was actually capable of doing before.
I flipped the boom to the first chapter. Soul Collecting.
Soul Collecting. This is an ability shared by many gods and divine beings, this allows one to collect souls either through finding them as lost spirits in purgatory or the living realm, making deals in exchange for said souls, or killing and claiming the soul that way.
This has several uses and benefits.
Firstly, souls are a form of power. Collecting souls and absorbing them will increase your own powers by anywhere between .5% to 300% depending on the soul in question.
Alternatively, you can re insert a soul collected into a fresh body, bringing the soul back to the land of the living in either an organic or inorganic body.
Making deals with mortals for souls is typically seen in demonic divinity but gods are fully capable of this as well. The result is that a mortal who's soul you own can and must do all your bidding if it is a direct order. They can also safely utilize all and any powers, abilities and divine artifacts you bestow upon them if you see fit to.
Killing for a soul is also applicable to all the above listed benefits.
Note that if you absorb a soul to increase power, the soul and therefore original entity is near effectively erased from all planes. In rare occasions, the consciousness can survive and haunt you for devouring them, but this too will fade over time.
“Oh…” I muttered. “That’s…horrifying.” I frowned. “Though that does fit with what Reaper was like pre-rework…” I hummed.
I flipped to the next chapter. Soul Manipulation and Alteration.
The manipulation and Alteration of a soul is often seen as taboo in the mortal worlds, but is in fact a very common practice amongst divine beings.
Manipulation of a soul simply means you pull and tug at aspects of your target's soul until the desired response or outcome is achieved. This is typically used by demons to trick greedy mortals, but is also used by angels and spirits to guide or lead mortals to alternative paths throughout life.
Alterations to a soul change the target entirely. This has been used to reform criminals while they are alive, turn good people bad and even is necessary to ensure a mortals survival. Such as the case of soldiers. Not every soldier in the mortal planes can or even will kill but the phrase 'You get used to it', 'Numb to the Feeling', and 'It gets easier over time' are all examples of soul alterations. A soldier in battle needs to kill to survive, and thus their soul is altered slightly to help ease guilt or to help them continue on. The same is often done for mortals who experience loss of a loved one, while the pain can not be removed, soul alteration can and often does make it easier on the mortal to live with the pain.
Alternatively, one can rework a soul entirely into a whole different being. Afterlifes use this in Reincarnation before sending a soul off for another go at life. While not completely removing the original being from the soul, it soft resets the soul.
“Alright…so that’s…a lot to take in.” I frowned, manipulating and altering souls to be whoever I want them to be or even removing certain things? This…this is some heavy shit.
Next chapter, Soul Reaping.
Reaping a soul, typically the work of Grimm Reapers, as a God of Souls this ability is also yours. The task and act is simple, when a portal being, beast, intelligent or plant dies their soul shifts to the ethereal plane, the existence of reality layered on to/next to the mortal plane. It is where Reapers and Soul Gods can gather the soul. From here, as a God of Souls, your options are similar to mentioned in chapters 1, 2, 4 and 5.
It is to be mentioned that each soul delivered to the afterlife they are meant to go, you are rewarded with God Tokens. These tokens are used to exchange for specific services and goods within the Divine Realm.
"Okay, so that's good to know…" I muttered, wondering what I could possibly get with the tokens and how many I'd need…especially given how many souls might be tossed to the Ethereal plane…
Next up, Soul Creation.
Soul Creation is the most important feat a God can do. While various gods can do the task, a God of Souls can create any form of soul, including Demi-God souls.
This power is often used to even create new life, follow gods or help to increase a mortal population. The type of soul is important as a Beast Soul can't have Intelligence, an intelligent soul must contain Beast Soul like traits but not be completely overtaken by them. Lastly, Nature souls, souls found in plants, rocks and celestial bodies can contain intelligence but are weaker and more frail than Beast or Intelligent souls, despite having far greater life force energies compared to the other two.
The creation of a soul is a deed worth it's weight in gold and as such many soul crafting gods are compensated for their additions to the Realms with Divine Tokens or increases to their divine abilities and power.
“So…I can just…create life…” I muttered. “Alright that’s going to be pretty heavy…”
Now, Reincarnation.
Reincarnation, a surprisingly simple act done by taking a pre existing soul and placing it within a new body. It is recommended to Manipulate and Alter the soul before placing in the new body upon reincarnation, but it is not necessary as many gods do this as a fun pass time or as a means to make up for an accidental early death.
Many mortals picked up on this trope and one created an entertainment genre based on the event in question.
I actually laughed at that one.
“Okay, that’s actually a bit funny.” I admitted.
Okay, next is portals to the… other places.
The Before. This place exists are the primary processing of all souls in the realms before they are sent to their bodies in the physical realms. This is where celestial beings work to put the souls into the bodies at birth.
The below Matrix is how to open a portal to The Before.
Purgatory is another realm for the souls, to be specific, lost or neutral souls. These souls were not good enough for a restful afterlife and also not bad enough for a punishment afterlife. These souls wander an endless landscape. Some even form a type of permanent residence within the realm, slowly changing into a Divine Spirit. For good or bad depends on the soul.
The below Matrix is how to open a portal to Purgatory.
Lastly are The Afterlifes. Most every intelligent species has a form of religion and every religion has a form of afterlife. While technically speaking all of these are true, they also are not as the Mortals would expect. Each soul crafts their own ideal afterlife, if they are judged to receive such ideal rest.
Those who were cruel and wicked to the world in life will be punished in one of the various Punishment Afterlifes. Depending on their crimes and guilt will determine their stay and can either qualify for reincarnation to try again or are reformed into Monsters by All Maker Pain to use as disposable pawns.
“Oh…fucking goodie…” I grumbled, hating how other’s in my situation are probably feeding Pain’s growing army that she can use just to fuck with people. “But…good to know there are many different kinds of places for the soul.”
Alright… now for… worship…
When one thinks of religion or Gods one often also images worship of followers under these gods. This is only a fraction of the truth of the matter. A God does not need to have an established religion or pantheon to have worshipers. Solo God's who tend to their followers or share worshipers across a variety of Pantheons are called Boundless Gods.
This means that despite someone officially belonging to another faith or religion, a Boundless God can easily perform miracles, answer prayers, and receive power from a mortals praise and worship as well as offerings and bestow blessings upon them.
Typically, belonging to a Pantheon allows one a grander supply of power both as the god of their profession and when one of the pantheons is praised or worshiped all receive the power that comes from it.
While if one chooses to go down this path, either as part of a Pantheon or Boundless, keep in mind you choose your Alters, means of receiving prayers, and offerings.
It is common curiosity to repay your followers faith and loyalties through granting miracles or bestowing blessings. These can range wildly based on your preference and what you are the god of. One might see these as wish granting but as the god who granted them you can also just as easily take them away.
“Alright…” I said slowly. “So…might as well try and do the monkey’s paw thing with that kind of thing or at least be somewhat benevolent…”
I put the book down, took my mask and gloves off and sighed as I rubbed my eyes. Shit… this is… a lot to take in.
I sighed, seeing Dolo was taking a nap already.
I gently pet the sleeping pupper, trying to think of what to do now. “I should talk to Celestia and Chrysalis…maybe they can help me with this God nonsense…” I sighed, flicking my hand up and bringing out my Hell Shotgun and looking at it. “Hmm…” I muttered, knowing that these things technically harm the Soul due to it’s lifestealing capabilities, but I do have to wonder if I can or should reshape one of these into a Scythe just to play up my ‘Reaper’ look.
"Ah, there you are." Chrysalis said, walking into the room. "I've been looking for you."
“Hey Chrysalis.” I nodded. “Just finished reading up on all my God powers…and am a bit overwhelmed on the fact that I can now pretty much nuke a country and can do pretty much whatever I want to a Soul.”
"Well, looks like we'll need that. There's something walking it's way here."
“Oh come on…” I groaned. “What now?”
"Some giant armored… I think it's a God but not native to Equis." Chrysalis said as she and I walked down the halls. "It radiates with power and corruption."
“Alright, so I was about to guess Sigma cause he’s both Armored and probably is a God in this world due to him being powered by a Black Hole…but the corruption bit is not correct.” I said carefully. “What did this guy look like?”
"Tall, fully armored, sounds a mix of intrigued and annoyed."
“That’s not Sigma.” I shook my head. “So, we’ve got a growing problem and I don’t like it.”
"Well better hurry, they were asking for you."
With a nod I bolted down the hall, down the roads of Canterlot and there I saw them. The guy was huge, easy twice my size and frame covered completely in some strange armor that… did, kinda look familiar too.
"Greetings." They spoke. "You are the one they call Reaper, Chris, correct?"
“Yes…and who are you and why do you look…vaguely familiar?”
"I am Amon. Third God of the Void and subject of All Maker Pain. She has brought me to your realm to assist Doomfist."
“So that’s why you looked familiar…” I said. “So…my only guess is that someone like me who was into Starcraft beat you and now your Pain’s personal soldier.” I said carefully. “Welp, we’re fucked cause this guy nearly destroyed an entire galaxy with his tactics…” I thought to myself worriedly.
"While I serve here on request, majority of time is spent expanding my empire within the void and the species I created." Amon stated.
“Wow, you went from wanting to murder everything because you felt slighted to creating things. Good job.” I said honestly, surprised to see a god like being go from murder to creating life was quite a change.
"Oh, cosmic genocide is still part of my routine. After all, materials are hard to come by in The Void, so what better place to pillage them from than worlds like this?"
“And I’m going to make sure you don’t pillage this world.” I growled.
Amon leaned forward and down, meeting me almost eye level. "Try." He said, suddenly two black pit like portals opened behind him, and out shot two, platted, maybe chitten wearing beings that stood just shy of Amon's height, despite their sleek and lethal limbs ending in sharp talons, they had… almost pony like faces, ears, and three sets of feathered wings.
They immediately split up, and before I could react Amon punched me.
I went flying through the streets and crashed into the castle walls.
Fucking… Ouch!
I growled as I crawled myself off the stone wall.
“Alright asshole, you asked for this.” I growled, grabbing my two hellfire shotguns and practically teleporting towards one of the bastards that split up, trying to blast it’s head off before it could make it too far away from the fight and cause havoc.
To my shock they dodged the gunshots with blur like speeds before each slipping into a building.
As I was charging in I was suddenly slammed down by Amon, who now sported a large Warhammer he slammed into my back. "I am your opponent Chris." He stated. "Focus."
“Then what about those two? Some referee’s or to make sure we don’t get too far?” I asked, getting back up quickly and readying myself. “Okay…so I now have godlike powers against someone that’s been a godlike being for millions of years…yeah, this should be simple enough if he’s clearly going easy on me.” I thought to myself.
"They are gathering what their people need." He said, picking me up then throwing me across the street.
I landed back on my feet and rushed him, shooting off my shotguns into his armor. They staggered him at least before he slammed his foot down and shook the mountain.
“Oh no you don’t.” I said, moving quickly as I tried to get him staggered again, moving around carefully to get him on the ground to make it easier for me to deal with him and less likely for him to counter me or destroy the place.
He kept up with me, keeping his front facing me as he waited for me to make a-
"AAAAHHHH!" Someone's scream caught my attention, and that was when I saw it. A unicorn thrown into one of those pitch black portals.
He's kidnapping people?!
When I turned back Amon slammed his hammer Into my head, sending me crashing through someone's house.
“That is it!” I snapped, in a fit of rage I dashed forward towards Amon, swinging something heavy in both of my arms as I saw a blade try to slice into him
It clashed into his armor, the echoes vibrating the air as he fell back. "Finally." He said, jumping back to his feet as I looked at my shotguns had both suddenly turned into twin Buster Swords. "You start fighting like a God."
“The hell?” I frowned. “How, why…and awesome…” I said, before trying to swing at one of the kidnapper beasts again, not caring that I’m supposed to face Amon they are kidnapping the people damn it!
They swiftly dodged and avoided every swing. Amon grabbed me by the head, and slammed me into the ground. "My Hybrids are no mere mortals. A fledgling new God like yourself would find even touching them an impossible task." He said, stomping on my back before kicking me rolling onto it.
“Fuck you.” I growled, getting back up again and readying my new weapons, still not sure how I did it. “What? Was Pain bored and decided to sent you to fuck with us and give Akande a handicap?”
"She sent me to show Akande how one Truly strikes an enemy."
"Reaper!"
I know that voice!
I pushed out past Amon, seeing Twilight Velvet and Night Light being pulled into the portals.
I bolted, feeling time slow as I ran, only to grasp at air as they closed, sending me sliding into a crash…
No…
"It could have been worse." Amon said as he started walking towards me. "But I was given limits on who I could take."
I…never felt this mad before…I felt my entire body mist over as I lashed out towards Amon like a wraith and swung down at him, not caring if he was a God or some pet for Pain, as my swing’s were meant to reap his very soul from him.
My blades cleaved through his armor, sending him crashing back into a building. I defended upon him, impaling him with both blades again. And again. And again. And again!
By the time I stopped my body felt tired and numb.
Amon twitched, then pushed me off. I fell to the ground as he stood up, pulling my blades from his body and dropping them at my feet. "I must say, that was impressive, but I'm afraid you can't kill me. I've already been slain twice, when I die a third, it will be when I choose."
“Why…” I asked, coughing a bit from how exhausted I felt. “Why…kidnap the people?”
"With every world, every realm I travel too, I take inhabitants and analyze their DNA, picking out any that would be of use and add it to my Hybrids. I only had the two targets really, Night Light and Twilight Velvet. In my return and first working with Pain, I was told to kidnap that realms them. The hybrids they produced were far beyond what I expected. So, I made it a habit to take them whenever I come across another realms version of them. Do not fret, none of those taken today will ever even remember being Equines once they are turned into the new Hybrid Den Mothers."
“What…in the actual fuck…” I muttered in horror.
"Rest for now, now that Doomfist has seen how to hurt you, how to break you, he will come at you to finish the job." Amon said, one of those portals opening as the two hybrids of his rapidly ran into it. He turned around and began walking through it. "Word of advice… dispose of your mortal ideals. They'll only drag you down." And with that, he was gone as the portal closed once he entered.
I limped back into the castle. My new godly healing helping to fix me, but much as I hate to admit it, Amon was a stronger god. He easily could have killed me, but just gave me a beat down on Pain's orders.
The aches, pains and throbbing meant nothing to me at the moment. I need to check on Twilight and Shining.
Their parents are gone now… because I failed.
“God…damn it…” I growled, feeling my body start to mist over in my ever growing rage at this. “Also…why am I limping when I can teleport?” I frowned, needing to remind myself that I can just do that now.
I managed to find myself outside of Twilight's door, and she was crying. I could hear it from out here.
Opening it, I saw Shining armor there, red eyed and arms wrapped around his sister tight as she cried into him.
I fell to a knee, as even though the pain and injuries were subsiding, this…this was too much. “I’m sorry…” I said weakly.
The two said nothing, just clinging to each other in their loss.
I got up and walked to a window. In rage I blasted it and looked out. The nearest minotaur camp is two hundred miles north of here.
…
Amon was right… I'm a God now… time to stop thinking like a mortal man…
I brought out both my Shotguns…and I put them together and created a long two handed scythe that fit the motif of my Hellfire Shotguns. “When you two feel better…tell Celestia I’m going on a walk.” I said to the two as I used my new god speed to rush towards the Minotaur Camp. “Pain wants to give Doomfist a lesson? Well I’m going to give him a lesson that he’ll never fucking forget.” I thought to myself in abhorrent rage.
As I felt the wind rush around me and the scenery become a blur, I felt my body change. Altering to match my rage. I felt my muscles stretch and elongate, growing thin yet feeling thousands of times stronger. My armor felt more akin to skin as soon colors faded to black, leaving only lined silhouettes of the world and people illuminated by a colorful light.
Their souls, I realized. Looking at them I saw everything about who this person was. My hearing felt stronger. Conversations of people I passed miles ago I could pick up. My sense of smell, better than a sharks as I could smell the blood pumping in them.
New titles obtained. God Chris is now the God of Souls, Wrath and Rage.
Good.
“Slightly annoyed that my anger and rage literally gave me a new divine portfolio, it’ll do.” I thought to myself, flying closer and closer to the minotaur camp as I saw the hundreds of soul’s, all blazing brightly acting like…like savages!
I crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave out that kicked up dust all around the camp.
"The hell is that thing?!" One of the Minotaur soldiers shouted.
"Kill it!" Another yelled.
I grinned.
“So many souls…” I said, shoving my hand into a Minotaur that got too close to me as I grabbed and slowly pulled out their soul, hearing gasps of horror ring out. “So little time…” I said, turning the minotaur shaped soul, which was colored in blues and whites, and slowly turned it into reds and oranges as the minotaur shaped soul screamed as it was shaped into a brand new creature. “If you have any God left in your miserable existence…just know…” I said, as the new soul beast roared. “I’m not listening.” I hissed, raising my scythe up behind the one minotaur that yelled to ‘kill it’ and pulled back, the blade sliding cleanly through the Minotaur’s body and pulling their soul towards me as I turned it into another soul beast.
The panic was like a symphony. Their guns blasted against my hide to little effect as I made quick work of the fools. Those I didn't turn into more beasts, I devoured, gaining strength and knowledge as I soon cleared the camp. When it was done I had twenty soul beasts still and new knowledge on other camp locations and the city layout of the Minotaur lands capital where Doom Fist resided.
“Unless they surrender and plead for mercy, kill and devour.” I said to my soul beasts, as their creator I knew they still held at least the knowledge to not murder the ones that give up as the soul’s of our enemies never lie. “Akande wanted this…so I’m giving it to him.”
(meanwhile in some far off undisclosed location)
“Oh ho ho he’s pissed!” Sombra laughed in fear at seeing what Chris just did to that camp. “Oh boy…good thing I have a backup plan…” Sombra said as they started to pack their bags quickly.
(back with literal Death)
I flew closer to my next target, knowing that even if they had surveillance cameras for these places they wouldn’t have made it in time to do anything productive against me as I saw the soul’s waiting to be reaped.
Each camp I slaughtered added to my own numbers and power. My soldiers informed me Equestrian soldiers handled the clean up and acquisition of the loot I left after the slaughter.
When the last camp was gone I made it to the boarders of the Minotaur lands… here, I saw Reaper standing.
"Wow. You embraced that mantel better than I did." He said.
“And you are a sorry pathetic waste of a man.” I said, seeing into their soul and learning everything about them. “All because one Jack Morrison was better than you.”
"... Maybe." He said. "But one thing I always do is fight til the end." He said, putting on his own Reaper mask and raising those weaponized scythes. "I know you're going to kill me. Whatever Amon did to you, it stuck. So come on. Show me you're worthy of inheriting the mantle of Reaper."
“If you insist.” I said, raising my scythe and swinging it down onto Reaper, as ripping out his soul would be too easy and quick for him.
His previously unbreaking skin ripped under my blade, his bones and organs, my former body, cleaved in two. I saw his soul begin to vacate at the death and I grabbed it. Being the god of souls I was able to store it without absorbing it. I'll find a new use for you later. For now…
Doom First sat on his throne. The video footage he watched sent a smirk on his face into a manic grin.
"It looks like it worked." Pain said, sitting at the thrones steps. "He has accepted his full godly strength and even gained two new titles."
"And once I slay him, this planet, and the multiverse, will be mine to conquer in your name." He said.
"Unless he kills you." Pain added.
"Should that happen, I'd be in your eternal service. Either way, I win."
Pain smirked, vanishing right as the doors to the throne burst down and I walked in.
“Akande Ogundimu, The Successor, Doomfist…tell me, on a scale of one to ten, how fucked are you?” I growled.
He laughed, standing up as he walked up to me without an ounce of fear. No. He looked thrilled. "For the man who played at being Reaper, you sure surpassed him." He said. I swung my scythe but he dodged, leaning back then as he rose punched me with his new arm, sending me back out of the room and into a wall. "How does, Doomfist the God Killer sound to you?"
He was completely insane.
“You sound like an idiot that’s let your lust for power, your incessant drive for conflict get the better of him and have become nothing more than a soulless monster hell bent on licking the very ground some ‘The Ring’ cosplayer stands on.” I growled.
Without a word he rushed, slamming into me and in the free fall began slamming that void infused fist into me.
For the first time this new body of mine felt pain. Brushing and some cracks in my skeleton.
The impact to the ground kicked up dust and I used it to slam my scythe into him.
His void arm managed to block it, he then kicked me into a building where civilian monitor citizens were.
"Come on 'Reaper' you're one to talk about Cosplay considering how you got here." He called out as I got back up and rushed him.
“Need to remember, he’s got experience on his side…but I think I have an idea.” I thought to myself, rushing towards him swiftly and swinging my scythe down, ready to shift my weapon into another form in an instant if he tried to dodge or block it.
He raised his arm to block. I smirked, shifting it immediately back to the form of a shotgun. Not two, just one very large one and fired.
Doomfist was blasted back and through several buildings. I ran over and saw him standing up. Bleeding and holes along his body closing. He laughed. "Been a while since I bled. Let me return the favor."
He rushed at me. I fired again, blasting his void arm clean off only for his other-
Crack!
The impact broke my jaw and sent me the out more buildings. As Doomfist walked back over to me I noticed his other arm was now coated in not skin… opal.
Fuck. He knows my divine weakness. Course he does.
I rubbed the area he punched. It was bruised, blistered and bleeding… and not healing.
“Cause of course he knows…but I know better…” I thought to myself, as I looked up and saw a flicker in his soul, as I dodged his right straight…rather easily. “Huh…that felt different.” I thought to myself, seeing his soul flicker again as I dodged a left hook. “Yeah…I think I got it.” I hummed, seeing it flicker again but brighter in growing aggravation as he used a dash punch that I side stepped and stuck out a foot, causing him to trip and fly straight into a wall.
He got back up and rushed me, his void arm regrown or reattached, I didn't see, and rushing at me.
I turned to mist, and flowed into him. His opal limb burned me like touching the flames of the sun but I held on, forcing his organs to bleed and tear. Finally, I materialized myself, erupting from his torso in a bloody shower and grasping his soul.
I looked at it. The corrupted, twisted thing… and crushed it.
New Titles Unlocked. God Chris is now the God of Souls, Wrath, Rage, and Death.
Fitting…
Doomfist was dead. I let myself return to normal… it was over… just like that?
I heard clapping. Turning around I saw Pain standing over the gore that was Doomfist's corpse. "Congratulations. You won."
“Felt…a little anticlimactic?” I said, frowning as I thought there was something else to it. “But hi…I suppose your Pain?”
"Correct." She said, a sickly dark portal opening up and claiming Doomfist's body. "Now that you have won, I have two options for you."
“And what are those two options?” I inquired.
"You can take your skills, powers, and travel to a new realm where you can fight and grow stronger. Or, you can stay here as you are."
I blinked, rather confused and slightly concerned here. “And…what if I go to this new world? Is everything I know here gone? Also where the fuck is Amon and all his kidnapped people? I still need to save them and wring his neck.”
"Amon resides within my realm, in a land I gave to him and his species. And if you go to the new realm, everyone here would love and move on, but you would be gone and unable to return. As for the people he took, you remember what he told you? They aren't who they were when he took them. They're gone, and what they are now isn't even the same species as the equines or anything on this planet."
I growled and rubbed my temples. “God damn it…” I said, thinking about the Amon thing and how he gets away with his bullshit…but then realized what the first thing meant. “Wait, fuck no! Why in god’s name would I lose everything that I know and love?”
"Is that what you desire?
“I don’t want to lose my family, I’m already strong enough to single handedly destroy an entire army, and you're ‘chosen’ in less than four hours…”
"Yes. It seems Doomfist may have underestimated you. If that is what you desire then I shall take my leave. You might hear and meet my associates, but I shall leave you and the realms you have access to alone. Enjoy your life." With that, Pain walked off…
Once she was gone I fell to my ass. Ugh… heh… so it's really over…
“Only thing that I hate, that was a complete missed opportunity on my end…I didn’t use Death Blossom and that hurts me…” I groaned, hating how I couldn’t have nerded out so goddamn hard over that.
I huffed… oh well… guess I should head home now… at the very least, I can take care of Twilight, Shining… they need me.
