I stood over the cold and smoldering corpses of my fallen brothers and sister. Their hollow eyes glaring up at me, eyes that once held ambition, passion, and a dedication to their duties. I now stood over their mangled bodies, as the last of my kind.
I stood over the cold and smoldering corpses of my fallen brothers and sister. Their hollow eyes glaring up at me, eyes that once held ambition, passion, and a dedication to their duties. I now stood over their mangled bodies, as the last of my kind.
Author’s note: I do plan to come back to this story at some point in the future, please be patient
All I could hear, all I could feel was ice and snow. The sound of the snow crunching beneath my titanic clawed feet. The ice cracking below them as I walked along. My black protosteel exoskeleton clashed with the white air and ground, my glowing red eyes deeming it impossible not to spot me. If anyone knew I was out here, they no doubt had an army waiting for me.
My spines suddenly snapped to attention, thousands of the sharp barbs that lined my back twitched like antennae as I listened to the whistling wind, watching for anything or anyone to approach. I made out the sound of crunching snow, a sort figure coming my way, possibly standing seven feet tall. My crimson eyes narrowed as I examined the newcomer, its form obscured by the snow and wind. But when the figure drew closer, it had the distinguished curves of a feminine body, draped in a torn blue cloak. Her eyes were large, the size of Kohli spheres, crystal-blue eyes staring back at me. A long horn rose from her skull, at least a foot long, large broad ears flicking irritably in the wind. Short pink fur covered her body, a three toned mane of violet, cream yellow, and lavender. She was dressed in a ruined sky-blue dress with silver lining, a singed rose on the collar.
I reached out with my mind’s eye, weaving my way into hers. She was scared, but not of me. No, I wasn’t what brought this upon her. But in seeing me, she thought of me as a deity of death, here to end her suffering and let her rest forevermore. However, I had no such plans. In a way, I decided I was going to end her suffering; to help her return home and punish the one who did this to her. I delved deeper into the tired mind, searching for what happened to this… “mare” or “Alicorn”, as she deemed her kind. Apparently, there were a number of species on this planet, ranging from strange to overly ridiculous. But I shook my curiousness away, determined of identifying her bane.
Before long, I’d found the cause of her trouble; a buff “stallion”, the male equivalent of her race, with a curved red horn, grey fur, and wild black mane. But what intrigued me were his eyes. Sickly green outer layers, red irises, and purple and black smoke rose from the eyes’ corners. An interesting development, I’ll have to see why he’s this way. But enough admiring, time to help this “Cadence” and restore her to health.
I activated my power of sleep, casting an armored claw in Cadence’s direction before she fell limp into the snow. I then lumbered closer and placed a stasis field over her, capturing her body’s warmth and allowing her a comfortable rest. Just as I picked her up and cradled her in one arm, my four-foot comrade trudged his way up the snowbank, shivering in the immense cold. His tan and brown armor contrasting against the white powder around him, his scorpion like tail bobbing as he walked. Four poison green eyes gazed up at me, then to the slumbering mare, his four mandibles curved up into a smile before speaking. Choosing his words carefully…
“Ah, found one of this world’s natives have you Master? What do you plan to do with it?” The Zesk said as he walked up to me.
“I plan to aid her in returning home and restoring her to the throne. Her people are under siege by a tyrant known as ‘Sombra’, a dark species called Umbrum. I plan to end his reign and restore her rule. In return, I hope to gain their trust, and through time, possibly find an element that can help restore my people.” I informed, my deep, almost mechanical voice echoing through the wind. “Is that sufficient, Torahk?”
“Very, Makuta Valkaan, very sufficient.” The Zesk nodded, flexing his barbed tail to keep the blood flowing. He then took a look around and decided to ask a question. “Master, it is immensely cold, might we find shelter for me and our host? As we are not suited for such conditions.”
I gave him a nod of approval. “Very well, one moment.”
I then activated my mask of Far Sight. A large black mask with a curved three-pointed crown that bent over my head, a pair of silver horns that formed from the crown’s base. However, unlike most Makuta masks, mine was able to split in two. Meaning that the lower half could detach and reveal my jaws. A bone coated mouth with retractable teeth. Contrary to what others would assume, my mouth also had no tongue, so I opted to use the sides and base of my jaw as taste buds.
Though, enough about my biology. As my mask activated, my vision expanded as I used the earth’s vibrations and air currents to find a cave two and a half miles away. I pointed in the cave’s direction with my free four-fingered hand. A thumb on either side of the palm while two index fingers at its peak.
“Up that ridge is a cavern where we can rest and start a fire, no use in letting you two freeze.” I nodded in return went he thanked me.
“Y-yes, Makuta.” He shivered, his tail curling inward on itself. Knowing what I was about to do, the Zesk grasped my leg, ready for transport.
I then teleported the three of us to the cave’s entrance, content on the distance we’d just traveled. My maximum distance, last I checked, was 4.2.46 miles. Once inside, I set Cadence down on the stone floor, keeping the stasis field over her. If I let her out now, she would’ve frozen to death as a result and my plans would have gone to waist. Not that I enjoyed using her as a pawn, quite the opposite. Cadence, when stripped down to her core being, was a young child called into the role of royalty when she was about sixteen. Not the wisest choice in my opinion to place a child in that position, I shall need to talk with this… Princess Celestia. Using children to fulfill your goals is not an honorable way to win in life’s battles. This said, Cadence was indeed a strong, mature, and wise mare. I did not doubt that.
Torahk had already built a fire using twigs and a formula I’d concocted a while back, one that was long-lasting and extremely flammable. Once the Zesk had laid down next to the flames, having let them grow, I released my hold on the mare. I then allowed a claw to hover over the sleeping mare, waves of healing energies engulfing her. Soon, all wounds, cuts, and blood were torn away, leaving an untouched snoring Alicorn mare. In the time it took for her to finally stir, I sat down with my back against the wall and claws resting in my lap, humming a soft tune. When she awoke, I decided to use a less threatening tactic and closed my eyes, silencing my song. I dulled all other senses and listened to her slowly rise and clop her way over to the cave’s entrance. However, before she could leave, I spoke.
“It’s very cold out, best to wait till the storm clears. Come and rest by the fire, you seem to need it more than I.” I opened my eyes and looked her way.
Her eyes were wide and full of horror, her thoughts racing with what I could possibly be. When she couldn’t think of any logical answer, she opted to ask. “Who and what are you? Why did you save me? And did you escape from Tartarus?”
I inwardly smiled, finding it funny how she thought I would flee from my judgement. Truthfully, if I was guilty of any crime, I would face my sentence with honor. Not hide away like some cowardly Matoran. “Young one, to answer your questions, I am Makuta Valkaan, former member of the Brotherhood of Makuta. As for what I am, I’ve already told you. As to why I saved you, you were in danger and needed assistance, thus I kept you alive and in good health.”
She was about to ask another question, walking closer to the fire opposite of me before I interrupted her. “And no, I didn’t escape from this ‘Tartarus’. I escaped from something far worse.”
“What’s that?” Her curiosity spiked as she sat down, her arms resting on her knees.
“My people’s grave.” Was my simple answer.
“…oh.”
We lapsed into silence, both staring into the fire. Her curious mind stirred with questions, but one kept returned to the forefront of her head; why did he save me? Deciding to answer and reveal my true nature, I answered her unasked question.
“I saved you because I needed to gain favor with your kind.” The Alicorn stared at me with her mouth agape, her pupils shrinking. “I hoped to gain favor so that I may search your world’s minerals, one day finding a component to restore my race... It is very hard being one of the last.”
Cadence’s mouth almost hit the floor, but after a moment, recovered and retrieved her slack jaw. “Y-you… But I…Wha-a-at…?” Her eye started twitching.
I chuckled at her dumbfounded expression, deciding to give her the truth. Better to reveal myself in full than to have it come back to ‘bite me’, as some say. “My kind are shapeshifters and mind readers by nature, I apologize for the force of habit.” She could only nod, her jaw once again finding its way to the ground. “Makuta possess 42 powers, each can be filtered or combined with one another to create something deadly or helpful. One of these abilities is Healing, thus how you awoke with no scars or bruises.”
She nodded again, closing her mouth and listening attentively. “Though I could list all my abilities now, I’m afraid that it would take too long, and your people would suffer further at Sombra’s hands. If you’d like, I can demonstrate a few as we enter the city and take back your homeland.”
Her eyes suddenly widened, a gape escaping her lips as she covered her mouth. “I-I need to save them! A-and Shining! The girls! Twilight! Everypony!!” Her eyes became misty, starting to flow with tears.
I stood and walked over to her side, lightly resting a claw on her shoulder, sensing her troubled mind. “Here me, young one. You do not face this challenge alone, you have me to assist you. I, your friends, your family, and all others who respect and love you… Know this, if you wish for me to end Sombra for your defeat, I’ll do so. And if not, then say, and I will leave his judgement to you or your aunt.”
She looked up into my crimson eyes, her tears fading. “Cadence, you are never alone in life.”
Her eyes cleared to give way to a beaming smile, then began crying tears of joy. Her voice cracking and arms suddenly thrown around my neck, she sniffled out. “T-thank you, V-Valkaan. Thank y-you for that.”
I smiled behind my mask, rapping an arm around her closed feathered wings. “You are quite welcome, young one.”
“Ha! Aren’t you love Gahkus a pretty sight.” Chimed the Zesk’s voice, now sitting on a nearby rock, legs swing like a Matoran. I inwardly groaned at his comment.
Then Cadence disconnected, blushing wildly as she gawked at the scorpion like creature. “W-what are you?!”
“A Zesk named Torahk, servant and interdimensional companion of Makuta Valkaan.” Torahk smiled behind his fangs, intent on scaring the mare. And according his desires, it worked.
“Anyway, we should be going.” I stated, wanting to steer away from this topic.
“Where are we going, Master?” Asked the Zesk.
“To put an end to a tyrant’s rule.”
Once we exited the cave, I centered my control over the weather and ceased to storm. All the excess snow drifting to the ground as my clawed feet crushed them. My leg muscles flexed under the black and silver bone, their double-jointed knees bending with little difficulty, much like the natives of this world. Until the storm was cleared, we’d only been guessing as to where the ‘Crystal Empire’ was. Don’t bother asking, I would’ve changed the name too if I could. But upon seeing the city itself as we reached the hill top, the name actually made sense. Before us stood a massive city, much like Metru Nui in its prime, except that the buildings were forged from pure dimond. Blue and violet, I’m not going to say pink, crystal houses, streets, shops, banks, and other establishments. But it was want lied at the city’s center that caught my attention; an enormous spire of blue crystal rose from the earth, forming what I could only assume to be the palace. In all honesty, this city reminded me too much of Metru Nui… and the Makuta who was once stationed there.
I shook the thoughts from my head as I saw the Princess walking down the hill, a string of determined thoughts running through her. In a crack of displaced air, I teleported in front of her, blocking Cadence’s path. “Hold, let me deal with Sombra, you can free your allies.”
She didn’t argue, just nodding as I took her and Torahk’s hands and teleported towards the castle’s balcony. It took two jumps, but we finally made it without being spotted by any black knights. From what I could tell, they were imprisoned, not blackmailed nor promised riches. These natives were held captive in their own bodies, moved around like puppets on strings. If Sombra could do this, then what else was he capable of? Well, he’s never met a Makuta before, so let’s see how this plays out. Once we reached our target, I let go of Cadence and Torahk, both keeping behind me.
I took a moment and scanned the castle, soon finding Cadence’s friends and… husband, in the throne room. “They are in the throne room. Thanks to the guards’ knowledge, we can teleport there and end this quickly.”
The Alicorn nodded, hoping for the best. “Good.”
I then reached out in search of the mare known as ‘Twilight Sparkle’, or if she wasn’t available, I’d try Shining Armor. Luckily, I found her in the throne room, moping as she and her allies were chained to the wall with nine guards surrounding them. I focused on her mind and extended my voice to her.
Rise, little one. Your day is not done yet. I mentally spoke.
What?! Her mind shouted. Who was that?! No, no Twilight, you’re just imagining things. There’s no voice in your head, that’s crazy tal—
I can assure you, Twilight Sparkle, I interrupted, not wanting to waste time. You are not insane, you’re quite intelligent and a keen part in your friend’s survival. I, as well as Cadence, are here to rescue you. Now, tell me, is Sombra in the room?
Please keep in mind that I could see through the guard’s eyes, as well as any beast that was near. However, I wanted Twilight to be involved, not wanting at least one other than Cadence to be left in the dark about me.
Well, um… yes, he’s here. Why? He’s too powerful for us, even Cadence nor Celestia could best him at this point.
Oh, ye of little faith. I grumbled before grasping Cadence and the Zesk. Have you so little faith in your leaders that you abandon all hope at first sight? But, yes, he may be too powerful for you. But not for me.
I then teleported into the throne room, seeing all guards present frozen like statues and a dark unicorn sitting on a large black crystal throne. Sombra. Cadence went to go attack the guards holding the prisoners, Torahk staying by my side, unyielding in the unicorn’s curious and seething gaze. I noted the sounds of battle; metal clashing with metal as the young Alicorn fenced her way to her allies. I locked my crimson eyes with Sombra, after a few moments, he spoke in a deep and prideful voice. His ego was like that of a star, burning away any soul he had left.
“How DARE you enter my throne room unannounced!? You shall be executed for this, you monster!!” He roared, standing up from his perch and pointing a sword at us.
I’d been called monster before, it was nothing new. Makuta were often observed as such, our appearances taking a liking to horrible creatures only found the darkest nightmares. My eyes narrowed as I spoke. “Sombra, Tyrant of the Crystal Empire! You will relinquish your control of these natives and return ownership of the throne to the Royal Family. Do so unwillingly, and your end will be long and infested with mutation. This is your final warning, nose wiping little whelp.”
The unicorn burned with furry, lips pealed back in an adorable snarl. But as soon as it came, it vanished to with a confident smile. “If you beat me in combat, then yes, the throne is yours… If not, then I will be the one to end you.”
“Cute.” My eyes narrowed further, now nothing but slits of blood. “I accept.”
The tyrant let out a baleful laugh, his fangs showing. “Excellent.”
I motioned for Torahk to leave, to which he scuttled over to Cadence’s side. He then assisted in freeing the prisoners, but all were too busy to realize he was there, their attention was on the massive black and silver titan who just accepted the all mighty tyrant to a dual. Sombra calmly trotted down the dimond steps, his hooves clopping on their freshly polished surface. Once he reached the bottom, I noticed how he stood up to my abdomen, his curved horn below my chest. I glared down at him, his eyes seething with barely contained rage, his hands shaking as he grasped a smoking scythe as it materialized.
I then brought my right arm up across my chest and thrust it down, my own signature scythe appearing. Its curved silver blade shimmering in the light, black spikes adding to it deadliness. We slowly circled each other, both studying our movements, weaknesses, and strengths. Though I had a weapon that Sombra knew nothing about.
This beast dares to enter my throne room, and then accepts my challenge with eager? He’s more of a foal than I previously thought. I will demonstrate my power in this attack, then inflict it on the prisoners. Yes, no need to make them suffer, quick and painless. I heard the Tyrant muse; his pride was growing to the point where it consumed him. And like Taridax, it will drive him to his death.
Sombra suddenly burst into waves of black ocean, his form transforming into pure shadow. I dodged and slung a ‘surprised’ shadow blast, hitting the wave in its center, a malice filled laugh echoed throughout the chamber.
“FOAL!! Do you really think that you can beat me at my own game?! I am the KING OF SHADOWS!!” The unicorn boasted, a set of green eyes appearing where the voice emanated from.
I let out my own laugh, a hollow screeching following as a red energy coursed down my scythe. Thousands of terrified screams and wailings were heard as the power of fear licked at my weapon. “I control all shadows, and by extension… you.”
I could have simply took control of his body, bending his fluid form to my will… But at this point in the day, I sought a little entertainment. And thus, I allowed him to attack and make his first mistake.
Sombra, in his sudden case of terror, slung several bolts of shadow. I density shifted, the strikes passing through my atoms before I rematerialized. In a stunned gawking, Sombra left himself open, leaving me free to attack with a blast of Heat Vision. The Tyrant shifted back to his solid form, stumbling back as the intense heat met his now scorched chest. After the whining king let loose a war cry, I activated my chameleon power and placed an illusion where I previously stood. I snuck around behind the unicorn with silence. Sombra took the bait as he fired a jet of green and purple flames at my decoy, now fading into the breeze for all to see.
I revealed myself as I stood over the tyrant, now floating his silver crown above his head with magnetism, just for the fun of it. “Loose something?”
The king only snarled in response, hissing.
“I’m so scared.” I taunted. “Let me show you my snarl.”
I took a breath and shouted with my Power Scream, waves of devastating sound pouring onto the king as he was pushed back. The unicorn screamed in agony as wave upon thunderous wave lashed out at him, his back already meeting the wall. The force of a freight train was being carried with every wave, sending him further into the wall. I finally stopped to see Sombra curled into a ball, covering his bleeding and most likely ringing ears, shivering with dread.
“I-I w-wil-ll k-kill you-u.” He wheezed out, an eye twitching.
I just scoffed, shaking my head.
Sombra shook his head, clearing his thoughts for the most part. “Y-your just… PLAYING with me?!”
“Was that not clear?” I mockingly asked with a raised brow, my mask bending with the movement. I then floated the unicorn’s crown down to my hands, an instant latter, I shattered it and reduced it to powder. The shimmering grains fell through my claws, littering the floor. “Do you yield?”
The former king sneered, his gaze drifting around the room. He paused at a darker alicorn named Luna, then continued until his eyes locked onto me again. He snarled once more before spitting out his reply. “Never.” My eyes narrowed, his face that once sported a snarl, now twisted into one of total and complete fear. And I didn’t even have to use that power.
“Then all you will feel is PAIN.” I then extended my arms out toward him and let a torrent of chain lightening to strike him. His screams of torment echoed throughout the room, groans and whimpers between blasts.
“STOP!!” Cadence’s voice rang as she trotted over to my side, resting a hand on my arm. “He may have caused all this suffering, but he doesn’t deserve this. I agree, he has done things that I want to see him answer for but torturing him won’t solve it. He’ll stand trial, as all other enemies of Equestria. Right Auntie?”
I lowered my arms and turned to face a pure white Alicorn, her alabaster fur reminding me of a certain Toa of Light. What was his name again? Sir Talkalot? No, wait… Yapsalot, that’s right. Come to think of it, he was an Av-Matoran, right? So then, why did he need a Mask of Light to become a Toa of Light? Seems a little redundant, don’t you think?
The white Alicorn’s magenta eyes fearfully made their way up to mine, then froze as she had witnessed me pounding her enemy. With her fear overtaking her, I then spoke to her mind. Choosing to use something that would wake her up, but not harm her. Hello Alicorn?
Her eyes blinked rapidly before refocusing on me with slight embarrassment, her thoughts centering around what to say. She finally finished conducting her mental notes before speaking. “Gr-greetings, uh, um…”
“Makuta.” Cadence informed her leader and mentor.
The elder Alicorn nodded in thanks. “Makuta.” She repeated. “Greetings Makuta, I’m Princess Celestia, Co-ruler of Equestria… You clearly have great power; would you be willing to help protect my kingdom in exchange for room and board? I may have a few rooms that could—”
“No.”
“E-excuse me?” Was her delicate question.
“I said, no. I would like a place to call my own, but under my hand will it be built. Plus, I’d rather not burden you with such a task, seeing as you have enough to watch over.” I took a quick peek into her mind, skimming over any information that could be useful. But I did see one thing that was of humorous note. “And I would like to make a request Tia.”
All ponies present suddenly stared at me, different levels of mental shock shining like beckons. The one deemed ‘Rainbow Dash’ was the first to speak.
“Wha—how… Did you just read her brain?! T-that’s only, like, in comic books!! Right?!” Her mind suddenly took on an enraged feel, her eyes narrowing.
“Quite.” Was my casual answer, all but Cadence showing their surprise.
“Don’t blame him.” The pink Alicorn said, all looking to her. “His kind are mind readers by nature, so he told me.”
Celestia motioned for her to continue.
The young princess looked to me for a moment, her mind surging with worry. “H- he also told me th- that he’s a shapeshifter… and the last of his kind.”
A chorus of gasps erupted from the group, all ranging from fear to pity. I didn’t need such empathy, I needed the restore my race. And I couldn’t get that while being gawked and pitied on by these naive mares. And thus, after more internal debating, I made my request.
“Princess Celestia.” I interrupted, as the mares had continued asking Cadence questions, too frightened to ask me. The Sun Princess turned, keeping a calm and collected falsehood. “I ask with mild respect that I be aloud to mine your lands for a component in my people’s restoration. I had hoped to gather at least one material for such a fixation.”
The Princess smiled, trying and failing to hide her worry and over all fear of me. “Of course, Makuta.”
Makuta were said to be fearless. Hulking titans with no fear, facing any danger to protect and provide for their world’s inhabitants. That being said, I indefinitely planned to do that with this world’s population. Regardless of how annoying, naive, or rude they were.
I was currently seated in Princess Celestia’s chariot, hooking my claws into the armrests. The three Princesses sat on the opposite of me, all watching as I struggled with my grip. I took note that my limbs were jumpy, scrambling to grasp anything that could support my large frame against the thrashing cabin. If there were any other Makuta in the area, I would’ve done my best to suppress my troubled mind and body. And if I could hold my dignity as a fearless Makuta, I assure you, I would’ve. And if there was one thing I feared more than anything else, it was heights.
Most Makuta would forgo their troubles and focus on their plans, I however had no want to do such a thing. I was too… panicked, by my predicament. I’d more than once stayed below deck on many transports back home… or at least… what used to be home. I remembered them well; the towering city of Metru Nui with its gleaming skyscrapers, the grass filled planes of the Central Continent, and the pure snowcapped mountains of Suva Nui. All these breath-taking sights had been seen on foot, not in any confounded contraption that Mutran had decided to build. Often using me as the test dummy… don’t ask. I still get nightmares when I think of those times. They often ended with me in a full body cast, at least it felt that way with those vats he used to heal me in.
In any case, yes, I hate heights and any vehicle that goes up. Especially if I’m not the piolet. However, as I seethed and lamented over my past, Celestia had apparently asked me a question. One which I replied to with as much grace and calm as fundamentally possible.
“What?” I grumbled, my voice echoing in the small space.
My crimson eyes stared down at her, the Alicorn’s own eyes wavering in panic. “I- I asked if you’re alright. You seem disturbed. Would you like anything?”
I gave her a huff before speaking. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” She pushed, looking concerned. “It wouldn’t be any trouble, I assure you.”
I gave her a scowl from behind my mask, my eyes narrowing slightly. “I said, I’m fine.” I restated with folded arms.
The Princess frowned further, contemplating on whether it was a good idea to extend aid. I agreed with her when she came to her conclusion; that I was too stubborn to accept help. As it was back in my world, Makuta have never needed help. At least not in my memory. If any help was needed, I’d simply spawn Rahkshi for aid. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, Toa have always been known to get in the way and die. Useless Karzahni spawns.
After a quick probe, I saw that the nefarious “King” was strapped next to Pinkie pie. The mare in question kept Sombra from going bored with numerous word and eye-spy games, to which the former tyrant grumbled at constantly. I then found that my eyes had been staring at Celestia’s younger sister, Luna. I couldn’t tell why, but she held me in curiosity. The fact that I, a Makuta, was a creature of darkness and she, being the ruler of the night. We no doubt shared, in the very least, a miner connection. But a connection I felt was unnecessary.
My Zesk companion sat next to me, his long tail bobbing with the accursed chariot we rode in. Torahk sat with his legs swinging wildly below him, humming and watching with interest as the clouds sailed by.
However, my obversions were interrupted as an explosion of light and sound erupted from the east, causing all contraptions present to waver in their paths. My eyes snapped to the accursed light that dared threaten to blind me. But what I saw only fueled my panic and awe.
It was a ship. A massive ship. What hovered before me was an aircraft of pure madness. Said ship was a vast silver spire with three rings hovering around it, the spire acting as their center piece. Between each ring and the spire lay a maze of sickly green webs, the Visorak webs spanned from the rings’ inner layer and anchored the rings in their positions. At the sharp spire’s tip I could see a sliver of clear protodermis, clearly acting as a view port. I looked down to see the lower half of the spire acted as a massive blade, slicing and battering rock and earth with relative ease.
Each ring gave out a thunderous hum as they pulsed with blue energy, with each wave of sound a bright flare of power surged its way to the spire, continuing to power the kio high ship. I looked over the ship once more to see if I’d missed anything. No, all was well, until they spotted us.
Seconds after this thought was finished, a small (bio high and two bios wide) hanger door slid open, the shrill hissing of the doors flooding every pony’s ears. Once the doors ground to a halt, another low hum took the hissing’s place. Suddenly, millions upon millions of Rahkshi swarmed through the air toward us, their own hissing and shrieking drowning out the rings’ hums.
“W-what are--?” Stuttered a shaking Luna as she peered from her window.
“Fly, fly!!” Shouted Celestia to her guards, urging her warriors to flee with them in toe. Yet I decided to stay and face my new foes.
I then density shifted and fell through the floor of the cabin. Once freed of my crushing enclosure, I sprouted two pairs of rahi (bat) wings to keep myself afloat. I turned toward my assaulting armada of Rahkshi, all multicolored eyes glaring at me.
By my calculations, I had 16.3 seconds before they reached me. I took a look at my current body. Its limbs were thin and brittle, more than likely to snap at the sharpest of blades. My legs were no better. My torso was flat and unimpressive. This was the body of a scientist, a thinker. What I needed now was a warrior and a berserker, not this weakling that drifted in my place.
My mind focused on my frame, activating my shapeshifting ability. My limbs grew in thickness, gaining both silver and black spiked armor where there once was little. My frame’s torso grew in armor and bulk, wicked blades and hooks formed my newly shaped armor. I still retained my four-digit hands and spines, wanting to keep something familiar. My head quickly sprouted a short muzzle and a set of serrated horns, these horns sprouted from my muzzle’s sides to curve over my forehead, ending in sharp tips. A simple pair of eyes became two, one pair near my new jawline and the other set along my forehead. And finally, another set of wings formed, needed to carry my newly added bulk. In the end, I had changed from one monstrosity to an enormous beast of utter destruction.
After my transformation, I ignited my clawed hands with drooling green poison and shrieking white rage. All wings flapping menacingly as I veered toward my oncoming enemies. I then released a mighty roar that turned into a sonic scream, tearing into my opponents’ armies. Within 4.1 seconds I was surrounded on all fronts. To counteract this action, I unleashed a virgae of spiked tentacles and Fear from my back, chest, and hands. All Rahkshi within range were imediantly obliterated and torn asunder, screaming in horror. Four laser beams erupted from my eyes, all beams shifting at various degrees to cut through their targets (Darkside style).
I soon produced my scythe and proceeded to cleave a Rahkshi of Sonics in half, its gears and parts falling to the earth along with its wreathing slug. All four of my eyes were suddenly drawn to a somewhat familiar presents above me. There, among the swarming Rahkshi, hovered a black and olive-green figure. The body showed the curves of a female Makuta. A pair of wings graced her waist, her legs were bent like mine (double kneed), a set of mandibles lay at her jawline, a glowing orange orb sat in her chest. Finally, she wielded a wicked sword and twisted spear.
The female Makuta regarded me with a nod and then directed her spear’s tip toward me. I response, the surrounding Rahkshi coiled around her, only to divebomb me in seconds. And I, not wanting to get torn apart, shifted into my ghostly form. After a tiring moment of unending screeching, claws, and grotesque tentacle faces, I teleported to my mysterious hostess. At first appearance, she was unfazed by my arrival. After a moment of looking me over, she nodded again and raised her sword above her head. The army halted their attack as they’d been coming back around for another swipe, intent of following their leader’s previous command.
Her two crimson eyes stared into mine for a few seconds, dancing between my two sets of eyes, apparently curious as to why I’d chosen four instead of two. She then focused her thoughts on mine, her voice sliced through my thoughts like a well-placed dagger.
‘Come brother, our leader wishes to speak with you.’ She mentally said, her eyes narrowing with a slight glow.
I stole a glance behind me at the petrified ponies, their faces wreaking of terror. I sent a questioning glare at my host. They’ll be well so long as they behave. She reassured, gesturing for me to enter the hanger doors as they screeched open.
I looked back to Celestia, deciding to quickly order her. Stay put little ones. The Princess blinked in response and slightly nodded, content on staying her safety zone.
With that said, I followed my host into the hanger along with the Rahkshi army. Now, I know what your thinking. Going into the lair of another Makuta, possibly more, and an entire army behind me? Sounds ludicrous doesn’t it?
Once my titanic feet landed, I retracted my wings and looked to my hostess. She motioned for me to follow her down the corridor, the curved walls loomed overhead to form a sharp line for the ceiling, the dull glow of green light peeked through the symmetrical waved holes in said walls. Smooth rivets shoved themselves toward us, every inch hooked into the walls at equal distance from each other. An almost circuit board (techno-organic) design was edged into the floor, giving it a very artistic look. Unlike the Makuta of my world, who just left things as they were, never valuing the beauty and elegance of another’s creation. So engrossed was I in the floor’s pattern, I failed to see the other Makuta’s eyes glaring at me.
She clicked her mandibles together before clearing her throat, my head snapped up to meet hers. “Are you done? Kahkor doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
I nodded in response. “Very well then, lead on.”
The Makuta turned around and gracefully strode down the hall, I took up walking behind her. After a few minutes we arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, the sheets of metal curving upward and around a large circle, the image of a Kanohi Kraahkan carved inward. My counterpart stepped toward the wall and placed a clawed hand on its cool surface, only for the wall to hiss and slit down the middle, the Kraahkan cracking as the doors slid open.
From out of the darkness shimmered several pairs of red eyes, all from behind various masks. A hulking white Makuta sat at the long table’s end, a large sword resting in his grasp, its bladed tip grinding into the floor. My female companion stepped forward and nodded to the white Makuta, he nodded in return before she spoke.
“Makuta Kahkor, I present the Makuta who decimated my shear of the army. Makuta…” She turned to me, obviously expecting me to pickup where she left off.
I stepped next to the green Makuta. “Makuta Valkaan.”
Kahkor looked me dead in the eye(s). “Valkaan, when we entered this reality we hardly expected to find another of our kind here. Tell us what your story is, what happened on your world?”
“I had been…” I looked off to the side for a moment. “Hiding… from my world’s Teridax. He’d just claimed leadership of my Brotherhood and planned to extinguish Mata Nui, in turn taking control of the world and no doubt ruling with an iron fist. It wasn’t long before I heard that Makuta who originally opposed Teridax were being hunted down. After hearing this, I was able to build a gateway to another world, though not this one mind you.”
Kahkor nodded for me to continue.
“It was a door to the Shadow Realm, the pocket dimension that the Visorak god lived in. A pity really, I can never seem to remember its name.” I took a moment to remember my tale. “After three years of waiting, I exited the Shadow Realm to watch as my fellow Makuta burned by a great storm. Antroz, Gorast, Chirox, Mutran, Krika, Vamprah, and Bitil all died at Teridax’s hands. And thanks to the growing intensity of the storm, I had no option but to stand and watch.”
I watched as multiple eyes glanced over at one another, a few mumbles exchanged low enough that I couldn’t hear. I nodded as the whispers died down, taking it as the moment to pick up again.
“After this, I dedicated my work to restoring my race, being the only one who cared enough to bring us back. My world’s Miserix declined my offer to help, saying it was not worth the effort to rebuild. I’d soon gather many ingredients for my project, but I needed something to complete my goal, something I felt that I couldn’t find there. So, I then decided to traverse the multi-verse, seeking out this new element. However…” I felt like smacking myself in the head. “It never occurred to me to just simply look next door to find other Makuta, instead I had to go the long way around. And I arrived here not a few hours ago with my Zesk companion, Torahk.”
“That wouldn’t be the one currently trying to ram the door down with his face, would it?” Chuckled a black and ocean-blue Makuta off to my right, jabbing his thumb (I think, the guy had six fingers on each hand) at a monitor that showed the Zesk doing just that. “I’m surprised he hasn’t given up or just passed out yet.”
I groaned at my companion’s display, inwardly wishing he would stop harming himself. I turned back to face Kahkor. “If you would allow it, I will go and retrieve my Zesk.”
The white Makuta sat up straight. “We use little formality here, Valkaan. I don’t know how tight they were on your world, but here, we don’t judge on relaxed behavior.”
My escort grumbled in reply, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Most of us, anyway.”
I released the tension that I’d been holding in, relaxing in this new environment. I then took a moment to look around the room we were in, seeing numerous machines, vats, chemical stabilizers, and much more scientific equipment. Yet, there was one wonder of the multiverse that caught my immediate attention.
All four eyes widened in awe, my mind swirled with billions upon billions of future experiments, and I felt a sudden itch creep into my claws. “W-what in Mata Nui’s name…”
I could feel several of my fellow Makuta grinning and chuckling at my childishness. A silver and blue female Makuta walked up behind me, chuckling at my awed state. “Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you, Valkaan.”
She gazed down at the device with me. “The MC7-563 Xianic Orchestrator. MC7-XO for short.”
If my eyes grew any larger, they might have leaped right out of their sockets. “Thi-this was only in the construction phase before Teridax took over, it’d barley even began to work. I’d only seen it in action once, literally blew up in Chirox’s face, but still...”
“Perhaps… I’d like to try it?” She proposed, her hand presenting the devise.
“Careful Valkaan! Rahaa’s known for her aging touch, she even flicks it, that MC7 will be nothing but dust in seconds!” Chuckled a nearby Makuta in silver and red armor, his hands pressing against each other.
“Enough of this foolish fooling around. Introductions are in order.” Kahkor said with annoyance. “Rahaa, would you start?”
Said Makuta nodded before stepping back to give me a full view of her form. Her rare green eyes locked onto me, both of us studying each other. Her Hordika styled head mimicked that of a dragon, a large pair of blue and silver wings rustling on her back. From behind her, a lashing tail was seen, its curved spines glistening in the dim light. But what caught my attention the most was the glowing limb green sack held firmly in her abdomen. The organ lay between the plates of armor, pulsing softly. Rahaa noticed my gaze and draped a hand over it, intent on protecting the priceless organ. That brings us to my second observation. Her hands only had two digits on them, the rest looking as if they were removed by a sharp blade. What could have done that?
“I am Makuta Rahaa of Spherus Magna 2X-34.” She announced, her voice nearing a snarl. “Don’t even consider it.”
Consider what?
“I’m deemed Makuta Salruus, from Bota Magna 6Y-78.” Said a skinny, red and black Makuta, his eyes obscured by a blank black mask. A mouth full of sharp teeth and long fangs was the only hole in said mask. The interesting thing about this Makuta was that he possessed no legs, only a short tail that dangled above the floor ending in a sharp blade. His long claws threatening to be used as pliers.
“Oops.” Shouted a Makuta in bronze armor, his hand pressing a button on the table. All present looked to the monitor to see the hanger’s doors open, Torahk and the ponies making their way into the ship. The screen flipped to see them all hesitantly walking down the dark halls, the pony’s eyes all darting from left to right. They radiated fear.
“Well,” Said Kahkor, a smile edged onto his Visorak styled head. “Time to meet the natives.”
My clawed feet scraped against the beautifully designed floor, the metal glowing blue with each step, following our steps. I, as well as the other Makuta, walked along to hall’s expanse, coming to intercept our invited guests. We all kept silent, deciding to convers telepathically.
‘So, why don’t we just teleport there? Or density shift through the walls and floor?’ Asked Havuuk, a red and grey Makuta with massive claws and a Mask of Manipulation. ‘It’d be much faster, and it wouldn’t waste all this time walking. That, and my feet are starting to grow stiff. That usually happens when I sit though.’
‘Can you not complain for one moment?’ Grumbled Gorast, shooting Havuuk a glare.
‘If I was allowed to drift like Salruus there, I would. And save you the trouble of snarling, but alas; no.’
Said Makuta hovered above the floor as always, never touching the floor. ‘I sometimes wish I could walk, but then you remind me how taxing it is, and I stop dreaming.’
Havuuk grumbled to himself, mumbling a few curses.
‘Enough, we will greet them as others of their world would.’ Barked Kahkor. ‘Thanks to the information Valkaan delivered, we need not rely on assumptions. If they are greeted a certain way, then that is how we will proceed. Understood?’
All present Makuta nodded, continuing our walk. After several minutes, I felt the ponies’ presents ahead. With a mental note, Kahkor ordered that we pass them without a glance. We did so. After a moment, I felt the ponies’ confusion grow into curiosity. The most potent of this emotion was Twilight Sparkle. Her mind burst forth with numerous questions and possible answers. I noticed that her mind worked like that of a Makuta, in a way. She was curious, strong willed, dedicated to her studies, and had a way with friends.
“Twiligh’?” Asked the orange mare, Applejack, as she whispered to her alicorn friend. Both hid behind us, sheltered by metallic crates and cylinders filled with shadow leeches. “Why’d they just gone an’ walked past us?”
The young mare gulped. “I-I don’t know.”
I suddenly noticed that Rahaa wasn’t among us.
“Who are we spying on?” Whispered the female’s voice, standing behind the two mares as another of their kind. She’d shifted into a black mare with solid red eyes, smiling wickedly at the two as they shrieked and backed away.
“Rahaa,” Kahkor warned, using his four mandibles to speak. “Leave them alone.”
Rahaa grunted and shifted back to her real form, teleporting behind me as I stood behind the white Makuta. The two mares saw me and calmed, looking at each other nervously. I then sensed Celestia and the others come out of hiding, decloaking themselves from their shared shrouding spell. My head turned to face them, but I then saw that neither Luna nor their guards were with them.
“Where is Sombra?” My voice thundered throughout the hall, gathering the others’ attention. “He is one of your world’s most dangerous foes, and you leave him practically unguarded?”
“My sister is with them, they are fine.” The Solar Princess combatted, looking at me with a mix of fear and courage.
“Except the part where he beat both you and her, without so much a breaking a sweat. He may be your equal, but he is far from ours.” I motioned to the other Makuta, all standing proudly.
“I understand that you defeated him, but I believe we can handle him. He’s our enemy, and now he’s our problem.”
A blood red Makuta by the name of Ulvehk, Mask of Deception planted on his face, pulled up a live video feed from the ship’s external cameras on a disk. The three dimensional image showed Sombra in a whirling mass of shadows, tentacles choking Luna as she slipped into unconsciousness. Ulvehk frowned at the white alicorn. “Are you willing to bet your sibling’s life?”
With a mental command, Kahkor teleported the entire chariot into the hall. It crashed behind the ponies, they shrieked as it smashed itself to bits, all turning to find a stunned Sombra with his hands rapped around the Lunar Princess’ neck. A slender bronze Makuta lashed his arm out and grasped the former King’s throat, tearing him through the carriage’s roof and into the ceiling. The Makuta’s silver wings hummed as he let go of Sombra, snarling at the deformed unicorn. His mandibles clicked, we all watched as Sombra fell to the floor, landing in a heap.
Bitil then turned to Celestia, grinning under his distorted Mask of Duplication. “Yet one of the smallest Makuta beat him within a single breath. How hard do you think it’ll be to detain him for however long, hm?”
The Makuta received no comment, only looking into her stunned magenta eyes. Bitil huffed and moved back next to Antroz, the red Makuta sparing his friend a nod.
Kahkor stepped forward, motioning for the ponies to follow. “If we are to assist one another, I shall need your capital’s position, seeing as how fast you all want to leave this ‘dreadful’ place.” He stole a glance at Rarity, her eyes wide as his glowed, digging through her mind. “Salruus.” “Yes, Brother?” “We have our heading.” The slim Makuta nodded and vanished through the roof. Kahkor turned back to Celestia and a now awake Luna. “A tour, perhaps?” They all agreed with a nod. Sombra was dragged along with us by eight Rahkshi, four carried him while four acted as guards.
:=FOURTY MINUTES LATER=: “… though I do advise against going in there when it’s hot, don’t want to spend the next few millennia searching for your scattered fragments, do we? Anyway, and this is my lab.” Said Havuuk as he lumbered through the door after it hissed open, waving a hand toward the various equipment and machines. “What’s this?” Twilight asked as she stepped up to a large vat full of clear liquid, a small control panel sitting in front of her. I watched her carefully, hoping she wouldn’t go for the big red shiny button. “That is something very dangerous, please keep clear of it.” He warned. However, we hadn’t anticipated the pink pony’s antics. “Hey, everypony! LOOKI, LOOKI WHAT I CAN DO!!” Shouted Pinkie as she spotlessly juggled three screeching Kraata slugs. She continued this for several seconds before she backed her way into Twilight, the young unicorn tumbled into the control module and the vat opened with a hiss. Pinkie pulled a gas mask out from nowhere and placed it over her head, rushing away from the thick silver mist that now engulfed Twilight. Everyone either gasped in shock or tried to rush forward to help, but we knew that would happen. Spike, Twilight’s dragon assistant, rushed forward. “TWILIGHT!!” “Don’t! If anyone touches that toxin, we don’t know if we can cure them!” Shouted Havuuk, stretching out an arm to pull him back. I stood by, knowing that if I tried to help, I’d become mutated. But wasn’t helping another live better than keeping your hands clean? I’d done it once before, but I would not let my regret and fear swallow me. I shook my head and rushed forward, eyes narrowed in concertation. My right claw lashed out and grasped the unicorn by her deteriorating arm, pulling her away from the leaking vat. The mist touched my limb, pain shot up my arm, spreading throughout my system and mutating my anatomy back to its original state. Grey organic tissue twisted and wormed its way through my armor, steadily growing and replacing green and black antidermis. Ignoring my own pain, I looked to Twilight as she started to fade. Her body transforming into a pulsing purple and black cloud. Wisps of green energy circled the former unicorn, her frantic thoughts screaming into all the Makuta’s minds. Yet, the chaos wasn’t done. “TWILIGH’!” Shouted Applejack as she dove for her friend. All Makuta and ponies/dragon helplessly watched as the mare touched the green energy and was soon engulfed by the same mist, altering as her friend previously did. Applejack screamed her last as her head vanished in a wisp of golden smoke. “No, no, no, no.” Whimpered Fluttershy off to my left, hiding from the horrible sight behind her mane and friends. “Twi… Twiligh…” Celestia moaned, her face stricken with tears. Kahkor whipped around to Havuuk. “GET THEM IN CONTAINMENT VATS BEFORE THEY DIE!!” The blue Makuta did just that, Celestia and the others looked up with hope. The white Makuta then turned to Rahaa. “Rahaa, make sure their pulses are stabilized and don’t let them drop! Salruus, be sure to connect with them and see what would best suit them.” “W-what’s going on?” The Solar Princess asked, clearing her tears, eyes alight with hope and awe. “That vat was filled with a compound I’d been experimenting with. Designed to convert organic tissue into antidermis if a Makuta ever wished to return to their younger stage, or to transform back if need be.” Havuuk explained, his fingers scuttling over a keyboard, and he looked to me after pulling a switch. Two Exo-Toa were then lifted from an opening cellar, placed before the two vats that contained Twilight’s and Applejack’s essence. “And seeing what happened with you and them, the compound works. How do you feel?” However, I was too focused on my forgotten senses. The feel of breath as my chest expanded to fill its new lungs. I could actually feel my limbs, tapping each finger tip to one another, smiling behind my mask at the returning sensations. Heavy breaths escaped my new nostrils, my mind stricken with joyous emotion as I felt the engraved floor beneath my feet. I looked over to see the two former mares being emptied into their new shells. Once they were fully inside, the helmets clasped shut and the eyes glowed red. Ear piercing screams suddenly rippled through the room, making me regret having organic ears again. Their friends rushed over to sooth the two, Cadence and Shining asking Twilight if she was ok. Celestia turned to Kahkor, though I could tell she wanted to be with Twilight to help her stay calm. “Is there any way this can be fixed? Do you have any cure? Anything?” The leader hummed to himself, considering. “I don’t know.” “What?” “I don’t know. They are new Makuta. With the two of them transformed, seeing as how they’re both ponies, they have different DNA codes entirely. Unicorn and earth pony. Even if we did have a sure-fire way to change them back, we’d still have to do countless tests to make sure they didn’t die from the strain. If one strand was out of place, they’d die. I don’t want that, and neither do you.” He looked over the two with a troubled sigh. “In the meantime, we’ll need to teach them how to control their abilities. Don’t want them shooting someone’s head off with a laser blast, disintegrate, fry with lightning, crush someone with gravity, or melt them with acid.” “WHAT?!” Shouted the two mares/Makuta in unison. “B-but—” Celestia started, falling into tears as her sister hugged her. “I’m sorry, I truly am.” Kahkor bowed and went to knock on the Exo-Toa helmets, getting the two mares’ attention. “Are you well?” Twilight’s head, the eyes red and bodily lights purple, turned to the white Makuta. Her eyes shimmered in furry. “Am I well? WELL?! WE’RE NOW MAKUTA!! ALIENS! HOW CAN WE BE ALIENS?! WE’RE MARES!!” “I understand you’re upset, but—” “OH, I’M BEYOND UPSET. HIS ENTIRE SITUATION IS BUCKING CRAZY!!” Growled Twilight. Applejack being in pure shock and not responding, hidden away in her armor. “SHINING!” “I’m here Twili.” Reassured her elder sibling, stepping away from the Exo-Toa armor to look his sister in the eye. “You ok?” “Yeah, I guess.” Her words grew heavy and her thoughts wishing this had happened to someone else. Wishing she weren’t the victim of mutation and alien science. “I feel a little cold, though I doubt you can do much about that.” “Actually…” Chimed Salruus as he leaned over his console and turned a nob up before returning to his task. I noticed the designs for an insectoid body ready for construction. Twilight sighed in relief as the temperature in her shell warmed, her eyes dimming as she relaxed, her joints hissing as tension eased. The former mare gulped as she looked at the floor and her huge body, eyes widening as she looked at the massive canon for her left arm and a hook for the right. “Uh, what is this thing I’m in?” “Exo-Toa armor, class Cordak-27.” Answered a towering red Makuta, his split jaw clicking and orange eyes narrowing. “A weapon of mass destruction.” I noticed her eye twitch, Applejack looked over her armor to see the same results. “WHAT?! Why would you put me in this thing?!” Havuuk shrugged. “It was the only thing I had at the moment.” “Oh.” Twilight’s eyes shifted to a pink hew, indicating she was embarrassed. “How long do we ‘ave to be stuck in here?” Piped up the former farm mare, playing with the hook she had for a hand. “Ah reall’a don’ want to be in here fer much longer… if ya’ll forgive ma’ bluntness.” Kahkor nodded and turned to the assembled Makuta and ponies. “Makuta, be sure to halt all projects and aim to construct our temporary sisters. This should be our top priority for now. Be sure that they’re comfortable and easy to maneuver.” He looked to the ponies. “I assure you that they are in the best of hands, they will be fine.” Twilight shrieked as her canon went off, the bolt of yellow plasma launching through the floor below Rahaa’s feet. She looked down lazily and remained where she stood on the air, stepping onto solid ground after a moment. The female Makuta raised a brow to the former unicorn, relaying a comforting message. Twilight blushed again after a second. I smirked at the sight, finding it strangely cute. “Ready for Twilight’s transfer.” Said Salruus, his fanged smile sending a chill down the mare’s spine. She gulped heavily. “Prepare.” Kahkor chimed as he teleported behind Twilight, pressing a button on her collar as the helmet retracted and released her swirling and churning essence. Rahaa’s eyes dimmed to the point where they grew cold and black, her green and black cloud filing out of her draconic shell, coming into line with Twilight’s, guiding her to her new shell. I looked to see a feminine like insectoid Makuta standing on a raised platform. Its alabaster armor shining in the light, golden mask and trimming adding to its brilliance. Her mask was like that of a hornet, sleek and predatory with jagged mandibles. Four arms, two strong limbs above two pony sized ones. Matoran limbs would be too small in comparison. The suit’s hands had three fingers, all asserted with long hooked claws, the sharp shoulder armor coming up in smooth tips. The legs looked similar to her pony body’s, only coated in white and gold armor, ending in sharp hooves. Rahaa parted with Twilight as the purple mist fully entered the insectoid eye sockets, then returned to her own vessel. Twilight’s eyes glimmered a bright red, blinked, and looked around. She then observed her new body, struggling with her new set of lower arms. She took a step of the platform. “WOW TWILIGHT! YOUR—” Pinkie shouted in a burst of excitement, bouncing gleefully. She was cut off as Twilight snapped to her, eyes glowing before lasers erupted from her sockets, shaving a hole into the pink mare’s poufy mane. Pinkie felt around her bare scalp in shock, whimpering as she felt nothing but warm skin. Her eyes tearing up, lower lip trembling. Twilight looked at her handiwork and gasped, claws covering her gaping mandibles. “Pinkie! I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened! H-here, maybe I can fix it.” The golden Makuta lifted her hands, preying that she had powers to renew her friend’s smoldering mane. To her dismay, she only managed to release a red cloud that whispered and wailed, the power of fear. In reaction, Pinkie’s eyes shrunk, and her whimpering grew into sobs. “Y-you hate me.” The pink mare managed, crying into her hands and trying to hide her bald head. She shrunk into Rarity’s arms, pushing herself away from the former unicorn. “G-get a-awa-away from m-me.” Twilight felt devastated, eyes shifting from blue to yellow. “P-pinkie, I don’t hate you.” I stepped forward, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Yet, to her, that hand only served to add weight to her growing fears and worry. In response to this, I lifted my hand and observed her back, where four pale wings rested, buzzing in irritation. Twilight looked at her hands, perceiving what she’d become. A monster in her friend’s eyes. “Twilight, dear.” Rarity assured, still rubbing the pink mare’s back in comfort. “Don’t blame yourself, it was an accident.” The young Makuta held her head, fears bubbling over. With only one thought, to be anywhere but here, she teleported away. A flash of dim light and she was gone, pulled in on herself as if a blackhole swallowed her. The ponies looked about in fear, the Makuta looking to one another in worry and curiosity. Rahaa knelt down and closed her green eyes, searching for the young one through the mind. I didn’t kneel, but I did the same, wanting to help as much as I could. After a few minutes, Rahaa opened her eyes, a look in them. “I know where she is.” Celestia looked up at her in hope, preying that she could calm her student. “Let me come, she’ll need help to calm down. I know her best.” Rahaa looked to the white alicorn, then to all the others, even the still unconscious Sombra who lay on Bitil’s back. The Rahkshi having gone on their lunch break. “So be it, little one, but I fear she won’t listen.” With that, she and Celestia teleported away, me not far behind. In a quick flash, I stood on a balcony overlooking a valley, the ship moving at a steady pace toward the pony capital. On a nearby crate sat Twilight, slouched over and crying tears of acid. Celestia slowly approached her student. “Twilight? Are you ok?” Asked the alicorn. The former mare sniffled, her red eyes pulsing blue for a moment. “No, I’ve been turned into a monster. Pinkie and everypony hates me. I look like a freak.” Rahaa stepped around to meet Twilight’s fallen gaze. “You are not a monster.” Twilight looked away and sighed. “What happened was an accident, same as what happened with Pinkie.” The draconic Makuta reassured, lifting the younger female’s head to meet her. “The event may have changed your body, but what of your mind? Who you are is still the same wonderful and brilliant mare you were before. You love science and new knowledge. Your passion for discovery surpasses even the eldest Makuta. And the accident with your powers can be remedied.” Twilight looked into her elder’s eyes, hope rising out of inky misery. “How?” “I will teach you.” I stepped forward, announcing my presents. “So will I.” Rahaa nodded in thanks, her eyes turning a warm orange before turning back to Twilight. “I’ve taught many Makuta in the past, my children. I may be a little rusty, but I have much experience.” “Your children?” I asked. Rahaa nodded, her breath shaking. “Yes, mine. Among all Makuta here, I’m the only one who can bare and birth new generations. This is my womb.” She patted the pulsing, fleshy sack in her abdomen. “It is the organ that allows me to carry and birth infant Makuta.” My inquisitiveness peeked. “And how many have you birthed?” She drew a sad sigh, fighting back her shame and pain. “Years ago, I was under Teridax’s command as his second general. When he took over, he ordered me to murder my offspring.” Twilight and Celestia gasped, both modified. “I said no. And for that disobedience,” She held up her hands, spreading the brutalized fingers wide. “He cut off my hands and killed them all as I watched.” Both former and current ponies tried to hold back tears. I myself felt my organic heart sag into my gut, the feeling confusing me for a moment, only to realize it was sorrow. Rahaa shed a few acid tears, they burned their way into the floor. “I wept for years, no one sparing me a glance. I berried my children… all six hundred thirty five of them. I spent most days there, at their graves, thinking of what I could’ve done differently. That… Oh, Deliivak…” She drew in a shuttering breath and held her drooping head. “I could…” My sorrow doubled, threatening to cripple my chest. Twilight leapt forward and embraced Rahaa, pulling the elder Makuta into a hug. “I-I’m so, so sorry.” Rahaa returned the hug, her expression relaxing. “Thank you.” The former mare pulled away, her thoughts racing. “Is that why you want to teach me? So you can remember what it’s like to be a mother?” The Makuta looked away, ashamed. “I’m sorry, i-if you don’t—” “Want to?” Twilight shook her head, a smile appearing as she wiped away her green tears. “I’d be honored.” Rahaa smiled back, her eyes gaining new joy. “I’d be honored to be your student.” Rahaa nodded, standing with the young Makuta. “Among your powers, we’ll also teach you and Applejack or science and mechanics. If she wants to, that is.” “I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed. She’s mostly into agriculture and earth science though.” The golden Makuta beamed. The elder hummed, her tail slithering along the floor in thought. “I think I might know something along those lines for her. It’s not as simple as growing food, but it’s still agriculture.” “Good.” Twilight continued smiling, her new mandibles clicking in excitement. “I’m sure she’ll love it.” The two females started down the corridor, me and Celestia following behind. Not long after we were intercepted by a bony Makuta in white and red armor, his body covered in spikes and three leathery wings. “Rahaa, Kahkor wishes to see you. And Applejack’s armor has been completed. All polished and ready.” Said Makuta Krika. We soon arrived in the main hall, the bio tall pillars edged with more artwork, like giant fire eels slithering up their expanse. Applejack was loaded into her new armor. A hulking, slim titan of black and bright red protosteel. From her upper back came two limbs that connected into her shoulders, acting as more muscle for her arms. Two limbs also reached from her waist and into her thighs, giving her faster movements and better agility. Like my own spines, she possessed spikes along her arms and elbows, all acting as sensors for her body. “Howdy Twi’.” Applejack greeted, nodding with her new cowboy hat, enlarged for her frame. Her red Mask of Shadows with blades forming the cheeks and sleek eye holes staring at her friend. “Hi AJ.” The two hugged. Luna, Celestia, and the others smiled at the sight. All but Pinkie, still under fear’s grip.
“I CAN’T! I JUST CAN’T!” Screamed the newest Makuta, her freshly painted armor gaining more scratch marks with each blast I threw. Twilight’s limbs were instinctively covering her head and torso, an unnecessary attempt to protect her core. “What you ask is impossible!”
“No, it isn’t.” I countered, halting my barrage of lightning and acid. “You were bound by the laws of your former self, now you are more. Stretch out with your feelings! Embrace what you have become!”
The violet Makuta steadied herself against the wall behind her, a single slab of metal among an army that dotted the elliptical arena. While Twilight had asked only for her armor’s color to be changed from white and gold to violet and bronze, Applejack had asked for a body closer to her original one. The only things that separated the earth pony’s old body from the new one were the orange protosteel, being a creature of living energy, and the knives along her elbows and knees. Twilight had asked to truly experience what it was like to be a Makuta and seeing as she was a scholar at heart and endlessly curious, we’d obliged.
“I’ve-I’ve never done this! How can I? I’ve never had to use my hands for magic, only my horn. WHICH IS GONE!!” The young Makuta complained, finally getting her balance. “Could you at least give me a few pointers like Rahaa does?”
“I believe in learning on the job.” My back suddenly released a legion of hissing tentacles, all grasping something in the area and suspending me above her. My four eyes narrowed down at her, I then allowed a small chuckle to roll off my figurative tongue. “Let’s play a game, I’m sure you’re familiar with it.”
One of my free tentacles slowly poked her between the eyes. “Tag.”
With that said, I rushed away from my momentarily stunned predator, tentacles lashing around me with barbs tearing through everything I passed. I paused for a second, worried that my student was still shocked, but guessing from the five-inch-thick spear that impaled the pillar beside me; I had nothing to fear. Twilight came racing atop the slabs and ‘ruins’, another spear in hand. I watched as she launched the weapon at me, the spear whistling as it sped toward me. Two seconds before it could impale me, my body elongated and curved around the impact zone, five of my tentacles were reduced to stumps. I wanted her to be proud that she’d at least hit me.
Thirty of my tentacles suddenly fused and became three two-foot-thick limbs, each with a four fingered claw at the end. Landing on my feet among the pillar’s base, I gave her the supposed advantage of higher ground. But from the ground, traps could be sprung. As she leapt over the last slab, intent on tackling me, all tree of my large tentacles burst into view and grasped her upper arms and legs. Twilight struggled for a moment, but seeing that she couldn’t break the arms’ hold, she decided to teleport out. The young Makuta popped back into existence five feet away, giving me a frown as I dismembered my larger tentacles.
“What kind of tag is this? The pony who’s IT does the attacking, not the players.” The indigo Makuta huffed, awkwardly crossing all of her arms.
I smiled down at her, lifting myself into the air via magnetism. “This isn’t your regular game of tag.”
Her reply was stalled by me discharging acid at her, she just barely dodged the shot, scuttling away on all six. I watched her curiously, seeing at she was too familiar with her former self and not to the powers she now possessed. I shook my head at the display.
“You were a protector of your people, were you not?” I asked, calming her down with a gesture. She nodded in response. “Have you ever had to work with something outside your usual skillset?”
She took a moment to think, recalling many adventures, but none where she had to deal with things such as this. “Not really. My brother taught me a few moves in case a stallion ever tried to hurt me, but that’s about it. I’m not a warrior.”
“Yet you faced Nightmare Moon and Discord without any trouble.” I offered, coming to stand next to her. “If anything, you have a knack for being a nuisance to stronger enemies. Perhaps this can be utilized into our current matter.”
“A nuisance?” Was her annoyed response as she glared.
“Don’t even think for a moment that you can be replaced. Your position in the Elements of Harmony is vital, any attempt to try and fill your role would be suicidal.” I looked into her thoughts, finding a large force of self-doubt and anxiety building. I placed a claw on her shoulder, doing what I could to calm her. “While you are weaker in this point in time, you will gain strength in the future. And when that time comes, I couldn’t be prouder to have passed my knowledge to any other. You have been given a chance to bring a peaceful beginning to our two people; the Makuta and Equestria. Whether as a Makuta, pony, or otherwise, you will do great deeds. They shall be spoken about through the generations, the grand feats of Twilight Sparkle shall ring through all ears, future and beyond.”
I then crouched down next to her, whispering. “And I shall be a witness to them, from now and forever.”
Twilight stared at me, struck by awe and embarrassment, her eyes turning a rosy red. I took this as an achievement, seeing her in such a state. I stood, focusing back on the task. “Now, it seems you require a demonstration. Come, I shall guide you in shapeshifting.”
With a slow nod, the young Makuta stood, ready to continue. Three hours went by and Twilight progressed, slightly hesitant at first, but soon came to grips with her new ability. When the three Princesses returned from their daily duties (however they managed to raise and lower the celestial bodies, I could never say), Twilight was shifting into her unicorn self. The now lavender unicorn bowed to the Princesses as they approached, wide eyed at the former mare’s progress.
“Twilight, you’re ok!” Cheered Cadence, previously worried that I’d harm her old charge and friend.
“Of course she is. And despite your doubts, your former charge is safe and in no pain.” I nodded to the three alicorns, casting a slightly longer look at Celestia, she and I still needed to have that talk. The one about using children as pawns.
Luna smiled and bowed her head, silently respecting my ability to train her sister’s pupil. “I thank you for taking the time to assist Twilight and Applejack in their current states, I would be fraught with grief if they lost control. Even for a moment… as I once did.”
I slowly nodded in understanding, knowing it was hard not to let the power go to one’s head. “I see your plight, and I hold no ill will toward you.” I then turned to the elder sister. “However… using another’s child is no way to achieve victory. Even when you yourself had trouble with the same foe, she was still no match for him, however many years ago it was for you. You essentially sent her in alone, hoping that she would rise to the occasion. If he was so powerful, wouldn’t it been wise to at least send an army to assist?
“Especially if there isn’t a BACKUP plan. Just because a weapon hasn’t failed in the past doesn’t mean it wouldn’t now. Sending in a band of children, without reinforcements, without a secondary plan of attack, nor warning her of the true dangers of her failure! That is careless, exceedingly careless.” I narrowed my two sets of eyes at her. “You should’ve listened to her Celestia, your sister was right. There was room for a backup plan, yet you had your supposed faith in your student. Who had no battle experience and hardly any training, blindly plunging headfirst into battle is a death sentence. And by the looks of how it went, even you O-mighty-Princess couldn’t stop him without an army. And yet, as it was all those years ago, you didn’t listen to your sibling when it mattered. Isn’t that what drove her away to begin with?”
Everyone was stock-still. Celestia hung her head low, looking to be in tears. Luna’s thoughts ranged from anger, sorrow, pity, and back to anger, most of the anger was directed at Celestia. It seemed her older sister had a habit of shutting down whatever she didn’t want to hear, deciding to bat away any thoughts that didn’t appeal to her. Cadence was confused and worried, looking between the three of us from the sidelines as the rest of the ponies and dragon gathered around. Sombra was escorted into the room via a pair of hovering shackles, four Rahkshi flanking him with spears in hand.
“True dangers?” Twilight looked to her mentor with tears in her eyes, also confused and concerned at my words. “Wh-What does he mean, Princess? Y-You wouldn’t send me into a fight witho-without a plan-B would you?!”
The Solar Princess lifted her head to speak, but ultimately hung her head again with a sniff. Twilight gasped as she stepped away, covering her slack mouth with her hands. In a sudden shift, the purple unicorn was replaced by the indigo Makuta, her red eyes narrowing down at the cowering Princesses. She loomed over the Two Sisters, glaring at the eldest.
“Y-You sent us to the Crystal Empire… knowing at we’d fail?!” Shouted Twilight, eyes now a light shade of blue and then flaring red, acid tears slipping into view.
“Twi-Twilight, that’s n-not—” The Solar Princess stuttered, only to be cut off by the young Makuta. “YOU SENT US AFTER SOMBRA, KNOWING THAT WE COULD’VE DIED?! I TRUSTED YOU FOR THE BETTER PART OF MY LIFE!! AND NOW LOOK AT ME, AFTER A FREAK ACCIDENT, I’M A MAKUTA!! I LOOKED UP TO YOU! I’D HOPED TO MAYBE BE JUST AS GREAT, I WANTED TO LEARN FROM THE GREATEST MARE I KNEW! But now… I don’t know any more…”
The violet Makuta stepped back to sit on a broken slab, bent in half enough that it constructed a seat. Her tears soon passed through the protosteel floor, a choking sound in her metallic throat.
Fantastic, I’d now just severed an old friendship. But what was done was done. From diving into Celestia’s thoughts, I knew that she’d hoped against hope that Twilight and her friends would succeed, but in the end, they’d failed and nearly died. She brought no army, no special forces, and no ‘magical’ artifact to save them. Just her sister, armor, and weapons. Not a very good plan, I’d have to say.
I looked over to Twilight to find her calming down, but still agitated. With no small amount of courage, I decided to put this anger to use. “Ready to continued our training? We still have another hour. But if not, then it is alright.”
The violet Makuta nodded before standing, awkwardly cracking her knuckles, working to push her troubles away to focus on her training. “Sure, what about more shapeshifting? I’d like to learn everything I can.”
“Very well. To start; use that piece of scrap as a spear and throw it at me.” I motioned toward the long slab of protosteel on the arena floor, watching with one eye as the others exited the arena for their own safety.
“Are- are you sure? I’m not going to hurt you, am I?” Twilight positioned herself to throw, but stopped short when she asked, looking at me with worry.
I chuckled at her concern, not to mock her, but at the warmth in my organic heart for her concern. “I’ve faced worse things than a spear made of scrap.”
The former mare then thrust her makeshift spear at me, arcing for my chest. The spear reached my chest. An inch ahead of the spear’s point, I spread my armor and flesh, mentally carving a path for the weapon. The spear continued, and with each passing Milla-second, a tunnel was dug through my torso. 1.6.3 seconds after the spear entered my body’s space, it exited and impaled the wall behind me. I left the two inch hole in my chest open for all to see. I looked to the ponies behind the glass, all stood with hanging jaws and wide eyes. All Makuta present either had impressed smiles or jealous glares. I then turned to Twilight to see her with a similar reaction to the ponies; eyes wide and mandibles slack.
“H-How did yo—” She asked, dumbly pointing at the closing hole in my chest, the armor and organics slipping back into place. “How did you DO THAT?!”
“Many years of practice.” I smirked behind my bestial mask before a thought accrued to me. “Speaking of practice; have you been working on your Density Shifting like I’d asked you to?”
Twilight beamed with an almost wicked smile, her mandibles clicking in her excitement. “Oh, yes! It was just a simple matter of concentration and will power. Much like my old magic, mastering all my new powers takes the ponie— or in this case, the Makuta’s… sorry.”
At the young Makuta’s sudden fear that I’d be angry for old habits not dying easily, I waved it off and nodded for her to continue.
“Ahem… the Makuta’s strong will and intent are the key factors. The intent of the ability and a strong enough will behind it to back the power up. I’d first thought it was like a unicorn’s or alicorn’s magic, where the will was the only component. But upon further insight from Rahaa and Havuuk, I found that a third factor was in place. A strong factor that was the last key for success; emotion.” She seemed to take a breath, but then remembered that it wasn’t necessary. She was now a green and black cloud stuffed inside a protosteel shell, there was no need to breath air. “Illusions, Heat Control, or Accuracy for example, don’t need to ‘feed’ off emotions like Heat Vision, Vacuum, or Electricity. These powers require a small amount of emotion to work, but only a little bit. I honestly dread to think about what could happen if even more emotion was poured into our powers.”
“I once did that; loosing control and lashing out at everything in sight. Nearly reduced an entire island to rubble like that. My brothers were able to calm me down, but I still left the island in bad shape.”
“Oh,” Twilight felt a little hesitant to comment, but spoke anyway. “I hope no-one get hurt.”
I breathed out a tired sigh, partly relishing the feel of my organic lungs pumping air. “I wish I could say no one did, but in my anger, I injured many.”
“D-did anypony…” She trailed off with a shattered look in her eyes.
“Only five.” I closed my eyes at the memory, remembering their screams of agony and horror, as well as their last breaths. “Thankfully, only five. And I regret every life taken.”
My student solemnly nodded, but suddenly flicked her eyes toward the reinforced glass that everyone else observed from, their minds buzzing with activity. The Makuta were currently monitoring Twilight’s vitals, making sure all was well and that their were no defects. The Equestrians however, many of them were ‘freaking out’ as it were.
Shining and the three Princesses were conversing and arguing over how to explain the situation to Twilight’s parents. Cadence did what she could in soothing her new husband, trying to get him to calm enough to think rationally. Prince Armor paced with a scowl on his muzzle, hands clenched behind his back. He soon aimed that look at his younger sister.
“Twily, how are we going to explain THIS?!” He all but blurted over the active speakers, now rubbing his hands together in apprehension. “How do we explain that you’ve been turned into… THIS?!! An alien monster, by the way, who the VERY SAME aliens are trying to ‘cure’! How do we even know if they’re even going to keep their word? How do we know that this ‘cure’ can even be made? What if it’s all a hoax?! What if they’re only saying that they can cure you and then don’t?!!”
Kahkor stepped next to the white stallion and looked him in the eye. “I can assure you; we are doing all that we can to find a solution. But it will take time.”
Shining Armor rolled his eyes, following it up with a glare at the large alabaster Makuta. “Yeah right. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
With that, the Prince stormed out of the room, shoving past a startled Krika as he entered. Krika looked between the fleeing unicorn and the Brotherhood Leader. “Dare I ask?”
“Only if you want to hear the concerned brother ‘watching out’ for his blood relative.” Grunted Chirox in an annoyed tone as he folded his winged arms, dull red eyes narrowing.
I looked back to Twilight, her eyes flashing an array of colors and her mind alight with fear and sorrow. Her broken voice flexed through her shell’s vocal cords, reminding me of a weeping Matoran. “I-I’m sorry… BBBFF.”
A loud beep sounded over the speakers, grasping everyone’s attention. “Will Makuta Rahaa remove her Cryo-Hounds from the bridge? They’re freezing the controls and I don’t want to send Deltaax back down to the third power core for repairs like last week.”
Deltaax grumbled something about stupid Rahi as he exited the room, Rahaa not far behind.
Kahkor lumbered over to the arena’s control console and pressed the intercom switch. “Not to worry, I’m sending a group of Rahkshi to inspect the cores for damage. Anything else?”
All Makuta didn’t have to guess, knowing that lay before Ulvehk’s eyes; the Equestrian capital city of Canterlot. But the Equestrians didn’t know that, thus the Makuta elaborated.
“Yes, we’ve arrived just outside Canterlot’s borders.” Said the crimson armored Makuta, adding a chuckle. “The natives seem to be in a panic though… should we send out a legion of Rahkshi to scare them even more?”
Our leader chuckled, motioning for the Makuta and ponies to follow. “While that last part would be fun, no. We must remain in their favor and return their leaders without hesitation. Lest we want to be branded enemies of their world, and I believe we’ve all had enough of that.”
The other Makuta chuckled over the intercom. “No, we don’t.”
