Johan is a displaced human stuck as a deer. Suffice to say, he doesn't have anything special going for him, which becomes all too apparent when his friend who was displaced beside him becomes the most special person ever. Jealousy arises.
After dying in a car crash, (or whatever generic Isekai opening best suits you) Johan finds himself in the magical world of Equestria. Of course, magic is subjective, especially considering that Johan doesn't seem to have it in the slightest.
Now he's stuck in a world he doesn't seem to belong in, while his friend starts to reap in the glory of being the main character. All the while, mysterious conspiracies centuries in the making start to flare up, as villains from the ancient past and the present seem to both be gunning for the poor deer.
As if it couldn't get any worse, apparently he's developing a voice in his head. Great for him.
Cover by: Lux Arume links to their accounts can be found here: Fimfiction Twitter
For Johan, it all happened so suddenly. One second, he was walking across the street... Or was he sitting in a car? It was hard to remember. All he really remembered hearing was the screeching of tires and the loud bang of metal striking something, and then it all went white. An infinite, unending void of white. One he couldn't seem to escape from no matter how far he moved in any direction. Up, down, left, right forwards, it didn't matter. He was alone and trapped, that was all that mattered.
It is impossible to measure eternity. Not even the wisest scholars, most eminent philosophers, nor the most intelligent and respected of scientists could accurately measure exactly how long nothing lasts for. But, Johan supposed, even nothing must come to an end.
Johan sprang up with a cry, sitting up with terror written in his deep green eyes. At first it was hard to tell where he was, his eyes were so used to the infinite white void of death, that they had trouble adjusting to the darkness of night. It took him several minutes to get an actual bearing of his surroundings. Trees, grass and rocks, that was all that sat in front of him. He was in a forest of all things.
His eyes widened as he sat up, looking every which way. He found it somewhat hard to make out his surroundings though he could have sworn he saw lights in the far distance. An uncomfortable grimace came to his face, that was going to be a long walk. No harm in starting now though.
He attempted to shakingly rise to his feet, but instead, he collapsed forwards. It was then that he noticed that he no longer had control over his feet. Or his hands. Or anything really! Looking down, he saw a set of four hooves. Noticing a sudden weight on his head, he looked up soon after, seeing a set of two antlers.
"Oh my god... I'm a deer?!?" Johan screamed. He cried bringing his hands... hooves to the sides of his head. As soon as he did, however, images filled his head. Flashes of images, more like.
He saw himself surrounded by pale blue and white fire, staring down something immense. It was but a silhouette, but he could easily make out two massive antlers, which somewhat resembled jagged crescents. Then he saw a flash of a horse of some kind. It was green and black and had both wings and a spiral horn. Finally, he saw a flash of another horse, cyan and white in color.
Shaking his head and grunting in discomfort, the small deer pulled himself up. With a nervous movement, the deer started to stand up. Initially, he was shaky on his legs, quickly learning that it was impossible for him to stand on two legs, the deer settled for standing on all four legs.
Though it was dark, and hard for him to see, he resolved that he would have to move. Being in the forest during the night was dangerous, especially for a deer. What if a pack of grey wolves came? He was their perfect prey, especially because he had no idea how to survive as a deer!
"What does a deer do when they're in danger again?" Johan asked to the empty forest as he stood up and started walking. "Do they like... bury their heads in the sand? No wait... that's ostriches."
He was so lost in thought, that he failed to notice something laying in front of him that he had missed when initially observing his surroundings. With a cry of fear, he tumbled forwards, his upper half striking the ground while his back legs stuck straight up in the air.
He attempted to rise back to his feet... hooves but quickly noticed that during his fall his antlers had impaled themselves into the trunk of a tree. He didn't even know that deer antlers were sharp enough to do that!
He let out a sigh of annoyance and looked back to see what exactly he had tripped over, only to have his heart catch in his throat. It was moving. It was alive! It was going to eat him! With a cry, he tried desperately to pull himself loose, but he only found his hooves digging into the ground, kicking up dirt behind him.
Eventually, he slipped, sinking to the ground just as the creature behind him pulled itself into a sitting position. He let out a cry of fear as it turned towards him, its two large eyes with yellow irises piercing his soul.
"Please don't eat me!" He cried, covering his head with his hooves.
"Woah... A talking deer?" He heard behind him in a surprisingly normal voice. A surprisingly normal voice he recognized.
"Derek?!?" Johan called back. "Is that you?!?"
"Johan? What the... Why are you a deer?" Derek replied in shock as he sat attempted to stand up. Instead, he ran into the same problem that Johan had, his back legs shaking before he tumbled forwards, landing on his front legs. He quickly took a moment to observe himself.
He, as far as he could tell, was some kind of horse with green fur and a black and yellow mane. His hooves were black, and he had a marking on his... rear. It was of two swords with lightning-bolt-shaped blades crossed over a shield. He had two wings, which seemed to emerge from his sides and when he looked up he saw a spiral horn.
"Dope..." He mumbled to himself.
"I don't know why man," Johan grunted as he struggled to rise to his hooves again. "I just woke up like this. Are you a deer too?"
"Nah man, I think I am some kind of... horse maybe?" Derek replied as he started looking around with a raised eyebrow. "Wh... what happened?"
"I dunno man, I was in some kinda void thingie then I just... woke up here... look can you help me out here?" Johan grumbled aloud as he tugged at the tree trunk he was stuck in.
"Oh yeah sure, one sec," Derek replied, wrapping his hooves around Johan's hind legs. "Ready?"
"Ready!" Johan replied with an annoyed sigh.
"Heave!" Derek yelled as, with all his might, he pulled back on Johan's legs. The deer cried in pain. It felt like his skull was gonna get torn out! Though, in the end, the strength of the wood gave out before the strength of the deer's skeleton.
The two former humans tumbled backward, landing in a crumpled heap, Derek at the bottom, Johan on top. "Ow." The two said in unison.
The two quickly pulled themselves back up to their feet... hooves and looked at each other. Johan got his first good look at Derek and vice versa.
"W... What the heck are you?" Johan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I said earlier. I think I'm a horse. Just a weird - potentially radioactive - horse with a tattoo and wings." Derek replied, turning back to look at said tattoo and wings.
"So are you like... a unicorn? A pegasus? Both? What would even be the word for that anyway, a pegacorn?" Johan chuckled. Derek shrugged in return.
"I dunno man. You are lookin' at a guy who failed high school biology. I don't even know if I can even use these things to fly. They seem a little... small don't they?" Derek responded with a grimace. There was an awkward silence before Johan cleared his throat.
"I think we should find civilization... if there is any." The deer said grimly turning to find a random direction to walk in.
"Yeah, one hundred percent." The pegacorn replied as the two set out, unknowingly walking deeper into the Everfree Forest. Neither of them noticed that they were being watched.
It was a map of the world. Something that he often found himself staring at, instead of sleeping. It was disunited, ugly and chaotic. Back in his day, it was a clean, tidy, and uniform #00FFFF. The best color.
He couldn't help but chuckle. Reminiscing about the old days before the era of iconoclasm he now found himself in was something that always brought a smile, however fleeting, to his face. A better time. A better era. Before the primitive horses took over. Before their nullfidian rulers they dared call gods wrested control over the sun and moon. Before they spread across the world like a tumor, gnawing and deforming the once perfect flesh.
With a growl, he charged his horn and antlers and disintegrated the map and the table it sat on in a flash of brilliant white light.
"My lord." A voice called out behind him, prompting him to turn around, an all-black silhouette with a single glowing all-white eye on the right side of his face. Behind him stood a similar silhouette, but with two glowing white eyes rather than one, alongside being much shorter.
"They have finally arrived." They said with a nod.
"Excellent," The larger shadow said, a dark smile of sharp teeth spreading across his face. "After fifteen hundred years of waiting, the time has finally come. Go Tril'ik, set our plans into motion."
"It will be done, my Dominie." The voice responded, before disappearing back into the shadows.
There was a moment of quiet before the first silhouette started to quietly laugh in the shadows. "It's time... It's finally time... After so long, we shall finally be reunited. I shall see you... returned."
While trudging through the forest, Johan couldn't help but periodically look over his shoulder every couple of minutes. Early on during their forest hike, he had seen something out of the corner of his vision. Two glowing, all green, eyes. When he turned his head to get a better look and called it out to Derek, it disappeared, but ever since then, the two had been on high alert.
They felt like they were being watched.
"I... don't like this man, we don't even know where we are going..." Johan said scooting closer to his friend.
"Nonsense! Haven't you ever watched Man vs Wild? All we have to do is find a river or something. Then we just have to follow it to civilization." Derek said, his voice oozing confidence. Throughout the entire ordeal, he held his head up high, despite the darkness of the underbrush.
"Man vs Wild? You know that entire show is staged right? I guarantee none of the advice will actually help us." Johan replied, nervously looking over his shoulder.
"Oh really? Thank god." Derek chuckled. "I was not looking forwards to drinking my own-" He was interrupted when the two heard a twig snap behind them. They both quickly reeled around, looking in the direction of a rustling bush.
"Wh-who's there?" Johan cried as he stepped closer to his friend.
The two grit their teeth and lowered into an aggressive stance, their eyes narrowing as they readied to either fight or run the heck away as fast as they could.
The bush stopped rustling, and the two prepared themselves for whatever came next. Just then, a small rabbit hopped out. It was white, with a pink nose and two large sparkling eyes. Johan's face went slightly red as he stepped away from Derek.
"Oh, hey little guy... or gal." Derek said with a laugh, kneeling down. "You scared us, pal."
Johan muttered to himself for a couple of seconds. "I was not scared."
Just then, a wolf, made out of wood and leaves with glowing green eyes, leaped from the foliage. With a single bite, it snapped up the rabbit, swallowing it in seconds. A deafening silence filled the air as time seemed to stop for a couple of seconds.
Derek and Johan leaped into each other's arms (or forelegs) with a totally not girlish scream as the wolf turned its gaze towards them with narrowed eyes. The two instantly spun around and began booking it through the woods, the wooden wolf hot on their tails.
Twilight Sparkle let out a content sigh as she stepped out of the front door of her Crystal Castle. On her back were two saddlebacks that covered her cutie mark. They were filled with archeological equipment. Shovels, brushes, ancient texts used for translations, and more.
It was a nice, warm Saturday morning. She thankfully didn't have any 'royal duties' to take care of today.
"Starlight, I'm going to the dig site, make sure Spike doesn't burn down the kitchen again... or something." She called back into the house.
Starlight herself approached Twilight from inside the house and cleared her throat. "Are you sure you don't want me to come this time? Maybe a second set of eyes will help you out?"
Twilight chuckled. "I'm sure I got it Starlight. Don't worry."
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where I'll be." Starlight said with a bored sigh as Twilight closed the door behind her and took off in the direction of the Everfree.
Just last week, during an ill-fated nature hike through the Everfree forest to visit Zecora, Fluttershy and Applejack got separated from the trail and lost for a little. They did manage to get out, of course, but while wondering they ran into a collapsed stone building, the location of which they quickly relaid to Twilight.
When Twilight visited the next day, she was shocked to find that the architecture was similar in design to collapsed buildings that had been found all over the globe by different archeologists. It was covered in a strange written language that no pony, gryphon, yak, or other creature had ever translated, though, thanks to her magical powers and tendency to go through books about ancient cultures and languages, she was certain she would be able to make a breakthrough of some kind, no matter how minor.
She had already made one, of sorts. The building was five hundred years older than Equestria! That was certainly something.
Upon arriving at the edge of the Everfree after a short flight, she came to a stop and landed with a content sigh. She was about to enter the underbrush of the woods but came to a stop when she heard something. It was... screaming?
"Oh my god, it's right behind us!" One voice called.
"Just keep running!" Another, slightly deeper voice replied. Next, she heard the sound of trudging hooves, as two shapes quickly sped past her. She turned around to get a good glimpse at them but quickly turned back when she heard something approaching from the forest.
A timber wolf lept forth from the foliage, landing in front of her with a growl. Twilight frowned at the creature, spreading out her wings and charging her horn.
The creature must have known not to mess with a princess of Equestria, at least not alone, and quickly turned around and retreated back into the woods.
"What was that thing?" the slightly higher-pitched voice said, prompting Twilight to turn back to them with a sigh, wiping sweat from her brow.
"They're called Timberwolves. They are easy to deal with alone. It'll be back soon though, and with greater numbers. You guys had better go into town..." She trailed off as she finally got a good view of them. A green and yellow pony and a deer. She had never seen them before, in Ponyvile at least, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she recognized them. It wasn't until the pony, who she thought was a unicorn, spread his wings that she knew where she had seen them before.
Almost instantly her jaw dropped. "Sweet Celestia. You're an Alicorn!?!"
"What? No, I'm not. I'm a deer." Johan said with a raised eyebrow. Derek chuckled.
"I think she was talking to me, Johan," he replied, giving the deer a pat on the back, who rolled his eyes.
"You two have to come with me!" Twilight cried out to them desperately, quickly doing a heel turn and rushing into the forest.
The two former humans looked at each other confusedly. They merely silently agreed to shrug and follow after her.
It was a little difficult to keep up with the purple alicorn, as she sped through the forests rather quickly, stopping every now and then to look back and make sure the two were following after her.
"So uh," Derek suddenly cried out, trying to break the ice and awkward silence. "I don't think we introduced ourselves... or vice versa."
"I'm Twilight Sparkle." The purple alicorn said while waiting on a small boulder for the two to catch up to her.
"Twilight Sparkle?" Johan said with a raised eyebrow. "That's a pretty weird name..."
"Well, technically it's princess Twilight Sparkle, but eh..." Twilight replied with a shrug. The two humans looked at each other for a couple of seconds.
"Princess?" Johan asked with a raised eyebrow. "So your parents are the rulers of wherever we are?"
"What?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow as the two caught up to her. She started walking again, though this time much slower, evidently tired of having to stop every couple minutes to allow them time to catch up. "No, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers. My parents live in Cantlerlot. My mom's a writer and my dad... does things."
"So... what, are you an elective principality?" Johan asked as he pulled up alongside her.
"No. We are a theocratic monarchist magocracy lead by immortal rulers." Twilight replied without a second beat. The awkward silence returned.
"M... Magocracy?" Johan asked, blinking confusedly.
"Well, I'm Derek." Derek replied. "And this is Johan."
"And you said my name was weird." Twilight chuckled with a sly smile.
Eventually, they arrived at a small clearing in the forest, and standing in the middle of it was a collapsed, overgrown structure. Though it was mostly covered in moss, dust, and vines, the three could see that it was marble white in color, covered in deep blue hieroglyphs. One massive carving covered a wall of the building, and despite being presumably hundreds of years ago, the paint that gave color to the painting somehow wasn't chipped or damaged.
As the three approached, Johan and Derek felt some kind of weird pull, that demanded they lock their attention on the carving. Unfortunately, it was dominated by a gap that destroyed more than half of the carving. What they could see, however, was foreboding the say the least.
A green and black alicorn in golden armor stood atop a mound of dirt and stone, holding a spear which he pointed at a 45-degree angle upwards towards... something. A deer laid at his hooves, bleeding from dozens of wounds, an antler shattered and his eyes closed. What the alicorn was pointing his weapon at was, sadly, part of the gap in the carving. All they could tell was that it was massive, as evidenced by the fact that all that could be seen of the creature were its hooves. They were large and metallic, most likely armor. They were cyan in color.
"Oh my god," Johan said, pointing up at the carving. "Derek, that's... us!"
"W-what is this?" Derek asked, reaching out a hoove and rubbing it along the carving, feeling the grooves and lines of its elaborate, yet cold and dusty, stonework.
Johan was less interested in the carving itself, and more in the message it seemingly carried. That being a wounded deer at the foot of a spear-wielding alicorn. "Oh my god... you don't think this thing is prophetic, do you? Why else would a ruined building know about us? I'm gonna die here! Oh god I'm gonna die here!" He cried out to himself, his hooves coming to the side of his head.
"Yo, calm down man," Derek said with a frown, putting a hoof on his friend's shoulder. "It's probably just a coincidence. Besides, you aren't dead in the carving, your... probably still alive."
"That's not much better!" Johan cried, Derek silencing him with a sly chuckle.
"Don't worry man! I would never let anything happen to you man." Derek said with a smile. Johan let out a sigh after that.
"Ok..." Johan replied, but a frown soon came to his face. "But if I do end up dying here, I am going to haunt your ass."
Derek laughed, turning over to Twilight. "Anyway, let's let Twilight tell us more about this place. The stage is yours."
"Ok then..." Twilight replied with a smile, turning back to the collapsed structure.
"This is an old ruin. One thousand five hundred years old, to be specific. There are similar ruins like this dotted all over Equestria. Nopony can read the hieroglyphics, thus we have no idea who built them. As far as everypony knows, these things have just always existed." Twilight said with a shrug.
"You said your rulers are immortal, right?" Derek asked, turning to look at her. "Were they around when these things were built?"
"No. They are only a thousand years old. These things predate both them, and the foundation of our nation, by a rather wide margin." Twilight responded, approaching a section of the wall covered in hieroglyphs. One particular marking attracting their attention. It was a head with two jagged crescent-shaped antlers, then something that vaguely resembled an elegantly carved hyphen, then another head with jagged antlers.
"This marking appears pretty often, on every single ruin all over the world. I really wish I knew what it means. Maybe then I could use it to translate the rest." Twilight said with a frown. "Then again, Hieroglyphs don't really work with ciphers."
"Kes'kel'Kes." Johan suddenly said, causing Twilight to quickly turn around and stare at him in shock. "It means God of Gods."
"You can read this?" Twilight asked, her jaw dropped and her voice ripe with surprise.
"What?" Johan said, his brows furrowing. "No I just... knew what that said somehow. Wh... what's going on?"
The small form of a young one scurried through the glimmering halls of a castle. He was equine in shape, yes, but a cursory glance would confirm that he was anything but. He had a cyan carapace which was smooth and shimmered in the light, not a single crack, gap, or imperfection was visible. A curved horn jutted from his forehead, which gently sloped upwards. His compound eyes were a platinum white, shining with innocence and life, and his backplate, which periodically opened and closed in excitement as the young creature ran, was a similar white. A platinum circlet sat around his head, a cyan gem in the middle, just below his horn. Two small bumps emerged from the sides of his head. They were pure white, and looked jagged, like the tips of mandibles.
"Father, mother! You have to see this!" He cried excitedly as he entered a new room. A study. Two similar creatures sat in leather chairs near a fireplace. One was blue in color, with orange eyes. She wore a purple dress that was covered in runes and designs, the bottom of the skirt was translucent allowing one to see her hind legs. A small butterfly wing-like head fin ran down the back of her head, making it look like she had a mane. Her eyes quickly darted to her child as he entered, a bright smile on her face.
The other was wearing a platinum crown, his carapace yellow, with orange compact eyes. He wore a green robe, with similar runes to that of his wife. When the younger creature had entered, he had his face buried grimly in his hooves, but as soon as he heard the voice of his son, he had quickly perked up, a small smile coming to his face. He noticeably lacked antlers and was the same size as his mother.
"Oh my! What do you need to see?" The mother asked with a warm smile, holding out her hooves for her son.
"Look, mother! I'm growing Antlers!" The young creature cried, turning his head slightly to the side, allowing them to see the small nubs on the sides of his head.
The two elders couldn't help but gasp with excitement, their eyes widening in joy.
"Oh look at my special little guy!" Mother said, pulling him closer and nuzzling his cheek. A blush came to his cheek as he tried to pull away from her, eyeing pleadingly turned to his father. His father meanwhile beamed down at his child with pride, rising to his hooves, and approaching.
"Never in a million years would I have considered one of my line being a Vurion, or even perhaps a Kes!" He said, reaching down and tussling his son's head. "This is such good news my son, you would not even believe how I feel."
The young one opened his mouth, but before any words could come out, the door opened, and two guards in silver armor walked in.
"My Satrap. We need you in the throne room. It's time." One said.
Dread came to the older male's face, he grimaced darkly, letting out a sigh. "Stay here. Please." He said, his lips quivering as he slowly walked out of the room, following after the guards.
The younger one pulled himself closer into his mother's chest and watched as he left. He didn't know what was wrong... how could he? Yet... a feeling of dread gripped his soul. Something told him everything was going to change. And soon.
"So... where are we goin' again?" Derek asked as he and Johan trudged through the forest back in the direction they came.
"My castle. I have to send a letter to Princess Celestia as soon as possible. You are the first male alicorn anyone has seen in at least a thousand years!" Twilight said, staring at the green pony.
Derek's eyes widened for a second before a devious smile came to his face. "The only male Alicorn you say?" He smirked. He was interrupted in this line of thinking by a harsh elbow to his side from Johan.
"So, how did you guys even get here? I am genuinely curious. For instance, I don't think I've ever heard of a sentient deer before. With all due respect, all of the other deer here in Equestria are... well... animals?" Twilight asked, turning to look primarily at Johan.
"Oh um... no offense taken I guess. The last thing I remember was seeing this car-" Johan stated. A sudden cry from Twilight cut him off.
"Car?!? As in those things humans have?!?" She shouted, skidding to a halt.
Johan and Derek turned to each other with raised eyebrows. "Humans exist in this place?" Derek asked, stopping and turning back to her.
"Yes! Well... kinda... sort of." Twilight stammered. "I can certainly take you there just... not yet. I have to get you to my castle. There is this magical mirror there that I can use to take you home. It just... only actually activates once every thirty moons."
Johan blinked twice. "Thirty moons? Is that... like a measure of time or something?"
Twilight nodded. "Yeah. It's a measure of time. Two weeks long to be more specific." She said, slowly starting back up her pace, beckoning the two to follow her.
"Oh. Back where I'm from, we call that a Fortnight. At least until the game came around and all of those nose-picking, squeaky voice having kids ruined that word permanently." Derek chuckled.
"Wait a sec..." Johan came to a stop. "Sixty weeks? That's over a year!"
"Wait what?" Derek's eyes widened as he looked back at his friend. "You don't mean-?
"That we are going to be stuck here for a year?!?" Johan shouted, his voice shrill and panicked. Both of their eyes snapped to Twilight pleadingly.
"Oh, yeah... that is a long time. Guess I should have explained better." Twilight replied awkwardly with a nervous chuckle. "Don't worry. The last time the portal was active was a year ago today actually. Don't worry, in a month's time it'll work again."
"Oh thank the lord." Johan sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "I really don't want to be stuck like a deer for a year.
Eventually, the party left the forest, and after a short walk, they arrived at the top of a small hill, overlooking a small town with thatched roofs. A massive crystal structure, that wasn't keeping with the village's rustic aesthetic in the slightest, towered over everything else. It was in the vague shape of a tree, with a massive gate in the middle.
"Gentlecolts." Twilight started with a smile, gesturing to the town. "Welcome to Ponyville!"
The two former humans blinked for a couple of seconds, turning to each other than to her.
"That name sucks," they replied in perfect unison.
Entering the town with the uncreative name was easy enough. Putting up with the stares of everyone - er.... everyhorse, less so.
From the moment Derek and Johan had entered the town, they couldn't help but feel like they had a target on their backs, what with all the stares.
Johan in particular couldn't help but pick up on what they were saying, they were talking about Derek mostly, phrases like; "Is that an Alicorn?" or "Do we have a new prince?" were common, but one particular sentence burned into his head the second he heard it.
"Why does that Alicorn have a pet deer?" a female voice said. His head whipped around towards where he heard that, but he didn't see who had said it.
Johan grit his teeth and continued following Derek, though, his mood had been understandably soured by that particular upset. The Deer let his head fall as he followed after the two alicorns, mumbling to himself.
Suddenly, his vision was filled with something pink, and his ears were filled with a loud gasp, loud enough to give him a headache. Jumping back, he saw a light pink horse with an extremely messy mane, which was a darker shade of pink mind you. She had a butt tattoo like all the other horses he had seen so far. Hers was of a couple of balloons of different colors. She was currently floating in the air after making said loud gasp... somehow, before falling to her hooves.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" She cried, prancing in place. "A new pony in Ponyville! I can't believe it!"
Johan's frown deepened. "Yeah, I'm here too by the way." He hissed slightly, but the pink... thing... was far too hyper to notice.
"I gotta set things up!" She cried, quickly zooming off in some random direction. A purple bubble enclosed her before she could get too far off, however, and slowly brought her back. She kept running inside of the bubble as if she didn't know she was even enclosed in one.
"Pinkie, they aren't staying," Twilight explained, her voice a little run down. Both Derek and Johan noticed her horn was glowing the same color as the bubble, rapidly piquing their interest.
Almost instantly, the pink horse deflated. Like... literally deflated. Her hair drooped and she dropped to the ground of the bubble.
"Awwwww...." She sighed. "Fiddlesticks."
"Don't worry, there is always next time." Twilight chuckled as the bubble dissipated and the pink horse dropped to her hooves and started shuffling away in a bummed mood.
"What was that?" Derek and Johan asked in unison, stepping closer to Twilight.
"Oh, that was Pinkie Pie. She lives here in Ponyville and really loves throwing parties. I'm sure you'll get to know her more while you are staying here." Twilight chuckled.
"No we mean...," Johan started before Derek stepped forwards and continued.
"What was with the glowing bubble?!? And the glowing horn!" He practically shouted, rapidly looking up to his own horn, then over to hers.
"Oh, that was magic, something Unicorns, and especially Alicorns, have a natural control over. If you want I can teach you how to use it." Twilight said with a warm smile, sparking Derek to let out an excited squee.
Johan on the other hand frowned. "Do I have magic?" He asked stepping in front of Derek and looking up at his antlers.
"I..." Twilight responded, raising an eyebrow. "I actually don't know. The only two races on the planet that I know about that for sure have the ability to use magic are ponies and changelings. And you aren't a unicorn and I don't think you are a changeling... maybe."
"Wait, why do you say maybe? What's a changeling?" Johan asked, growing concerned.
"They have the same body shape as us ponies, but they are insectoid in nature and have the magical ability to change their appearance at will. They used to be, like... really evil, but recently a friend of a friend became their king and they are good now." Twilight responded, gesturing with her head to follow after her as she continued walking. The two followed after her, Derek staring up at his horn with a stupid smile the entire time.
"Insectoid?" Johan asked with a raised eyebrow. "That sounds freaky. God, I hope I'm not one of those."
"Oh yeah, they used to be super freaky. They are super friendly now though. If Thorax comes to visit this month I might introduce you guys to him." She said with a smile. "But anyway, we are here."
The group arrived at the base of the massive crystal tree, a big door carved into it.
"Welcome to my castle, you guys are going to be staying here for the next month until the mirror is ready," Twilight said with a smile, looking up at her tree with pride.
"This is a castle?" Both of the humans replied.
Day 2 In Equestria
Derek and Johan stood in a park, intensely staring at some cans sitting on a table, both Twilight and her lizard assistant (as far as they could tell anyway) Spike stood off to the side, looking at them.
"Now then, to use magic, you have to focus. I think levitation would be a good place to start, it's one of the easiest spells around, and it is the first one most unicorn foals learn. First, you need to feel the magic inside of you. The warm feeling of goodness and joy inside of your heart, then, transfer it into your horn. Then, it's as simple as thinking about grabbing the cans, and reaching out with your mind." Twilight said with a smile, carefully directing the two the same way she was directed by her teacher, Celestia.
The two scrunched their faces and grit their teeth focusing as hard as they could. Derek's eyes widened slightly as, almost instantly, he felt some kind of connection form. A warm feeling flooded his system as he felt everything else fade out for a second. What first grabbed his attention was just how much magic he felt filling his body. It felt massive, like an ocean of energy. Though, something else grabbed it shortly after... as if there was another person or mind or soul or something, just underneath the surface. With a snap, he felt the magical energy flood directly towards his horn.
They were then alerted to a slight twinkling sound. Opening both their eyes, they saw the can on the left glowing in a golden aura of energy, Derek's horn shimmering in the same color.
"I did it!" Derek said, a massive smile forming on his face as he shook his head slightly watching as the energy followed after his horn. "I can't believe it! It was so easy!"
"Great job Derek! Now, think about lifting the can." Twilight said as both alicorns turned their attention back to the can on the table. "Since this is your first time using magic, I don't imagine you'll get it more than a couple of inches into the air, but don't worry about that because there is always more time to-"
She was cut off as the can went zooming hundreds of feet into the air in seconds, flying upwards until it was a glowing speck in the air.
"Sweet Celestia! That is amazing!" Twilight cried, clapping her hooves together and bouncing in place. "I've never seen a first-time magic-user do something like that before! I need to send a letter about this to the Princesses! Come on Derek, I have to study you!"
"Oh, sure!" Derek cried, quickly following after her as the two sped away towards the castle, leaving Johan and Spike alone.
"Wait! What about me?!?" Johan cried after them, but they didn't seem to hear. He let out a curt sigh and turned back to his can, his brow furrowing yet again. He would do this!
Before he had a chance to focus, however, something struck him in the head from above, knocking him to the ground and giving him an instant splitting headache. Glancing over, he saw Derek's can on the ground next to him.
He let out a pathetic whine as Spike nudged him with his foot. "You ok man?" He questioned in a concerned voice.
"No..."
Day 6 in Equestria
Johan and Derek were walking side by side in the fields surrounding Ponyville, listening to the chirping of birds and that kinda naturist junk. This world was certainly way greener than their home. But then again, they were from Utah, so they basically lived in a desert.
"You know what Johan? I am really starting to like this place!" Derek said with a laugh, as he looked around.
"Yeah... I guess it's nice, sorta." Johan said as the two came up to a short bridge.
Just then, they heard the distinct sound of buzzing, and it was loud. Initially thinking it to be a bee, or some other kind of sting-y insect, the two quickly looked around, only for their eyes to lock on a small green hummingbird that had perched itself on one of Johan's antlers.
"Oh... that thing's kinda cute!" Derek chuckled, looking it up and down.
"Yeah well... get it off! Birds poop when they are perched, I don't want it on my head!" Johan grimaced, shaking his head harshly. The bird simply stayed on his head, letting out a series of tweets, which confused the two. They didn't know hummingbirds could even sing.
Then again, back in their world, hummingbirds randomly just keel over dead from over-exertion if they fly for too long without eating. And this was a world with magic... so anything goes they supposed.
After a couple of seconds of staring at the bird, who looked rather comfortable perched on Johan's head, the two were alerted to another set of flapping wings, and a soft voice calling out.
"Hummingway? Where are you?" The voice called out, and the two quickly turned towards the source, a yellow pegasus with pink hair and a butt tattoo featuring three butterflies. Her teal eyes slowly turned over, as if she was looking for something until she locked onto Derek and Johan.
"Oh my!" She said, her voice still soft. She quickly looked away from the two, hiding behind her hair. "Erm... hi."
"Oh, Hello!" Derek said with a smile, taking a slow step towards the mare with a smile. "Are you looking for someone? I'd be more than happy to help you look!"
The yellow and pink pegasus mumbled to herself as she quickly looked away from the two. "Oh um, no thanks... I'm goo-"
That's when the hummingbird on Johan's head let out another series of tweets, causing the yellow pegasus to quickly turn her head over to it, and let out a quiet squee.
"Oh my goodness! You found him!" She cried quickly closing in on Johan and yoinking the bird from the top of his antlers, pulling the happy-looking bird close to her chest. "Thank you so much! Normally he's nervous around ponies. Are you the new pony that came in recently? Everypony is talking about you... Everypony I know that is... I don't usually talk to a lot of ponies."
"Hey, I guess that's why he went for Johan instead of me." Derek chuckled, approaching her with a smile. "Yeah, that's me. I'm Derek, nice to meet you!"
"I'm Fluttershy. I take care of all the animals around town... the non-livestock ones." She said with a slight smile. She held out of hoof for Derek to take, which allowed Hummingway to slip free of Fluttershy's hooves and return to his perch on Johan's head, which sparked a frown from the buck.
"So, any idea why er... Hummingway here likes Johan so much?" Derek asked with a chuckle, cocking his head
"Er well... I do have a couple of deer at my animal sanctuary, and he loves to perch on their antlers while they are grazing, so I think he just conflated them and Johan here. I really should have brought Buckley or Fawna to help look for him... speaking of which, I know a lot about deer, and to pay you back for finding him, if you ever need help looking after your buck I will be more than happy to-" Fluttershy started, but she was cut off by Johan.
"Wait a minute, do you think I'm a pet?!?" He suddenly cried up at her, causing Fluttershy to very quickly whip around to look at him, her eyes widened in a mix of shock, surprise, and the slightest bit of regret.
"Oh goodness! I didn't realize!" Fluttershy replied, her face going entirely red. "I'm so sorry! I've never met a talking deer before..."
Johan sighed in response. "It's ok... Everyone here is always making that mistake anyway. You're certainly not the first person to call me a pet." He bemoaned, thinking back to what he heard the first day he got here.
"Back up real quick. Animal sanctuary? So you have a bunch of exotic animals?" Derek asked with a child-like smile, craning his neck towards Fluttershy.
"Oh yes, I certainly do. I have a bear, a giraffe, several exotic birds like hawks and eagles, otters, tigers, a cheetah and-" Fluttershy started, but she was once again cut off, this time by Derek.
"Oh my god! You have to take me there! I want to see these guys!" He cried out, practically prancing in place.
"Oh, sure thing! I have to take Hummingway here back there anyway. Feel free to follow me." Fluttershy replied, slowly flying in the direction of the forest, Derek excitedly following after her, leaving Johan be.
"I know I probably shouldn't ask this, but say I were to stay here in Equestria, is there anyway I could get one of those guys as a pet?"
"Oh yes, though not from the animal sanctuary. If you want to come to my house later at some point, I can help you pick out the perfect pet for you. It could be a dog, or a cat, or an eagle."
"I CAN HAVE A PET EAGLE!?!?!"
Johan scoffed and turned around, started his walk back towards the crystal tree castle.
Day 9 in Equestria
Johan and Derek were in the Ponyville Farmer's market, which was something they apparently did every Sunday. It was nice, quaint, and rather snug. Although... they couldn't shake the thought that they were being watched. Which they were.
There were plenty of eyes staring at the two, mostly on Derek due to him being an Alicorn and all.
The market was a kaleidoscope of good-smelling and good-looking foods. Bread of all sorts, pears, other farm-fresh foods, the works. The smell of baked goods wafted in from Suger Cube Corner, just down the road. Derek took a deep inhale and sighed contently.
"You know Johan, this place is really starting to grow on me..." He said with a smile.
"Oh, how could I ever guess?" Johan said with a roll of his eyes and a small smirk. "Maybe the fact that you've said that like five times since we got here."
Derek chuckled, this time it was his turn to do an eye roll. However, in so doing, he caught a glimpse of a market stall and a pony who instantly caught his interest. She was an orange one, of the earth variety. She had white freckles, was wearing a cowboy hat, and when Derek caught a glimpse of her cutie mark, it was three red apples. Speaking of apples, it looked like she was selling just that. Apples of all kinds. Red, yellow, green, and more.
With a smile, Derek approached her, ignoring Johan as he started talking about home behind him.
"You know... everyone back home must be really nervous about us man. I mean, we haven't been seen in like... nine days atleast. I wish I could like... send Ma a letter or something." Johan said, his words fading out behind Derek as he finally arrived at the stall.
"Well, mornin'!" She said with a smile and a very obvious western accent. "I don't suppose you happen that new Alicorn Twi' told me about?"
"Yep, that me!" Derek said with a smile, spreading his wings.
"Well, it's very nice to meet ya!" Applejack said, holding her hoof out, which he bumped with his own (having previously learned that handshakes are practically impossible in this world.). "Any friend of Twi is a friend of mine."
"Yeah, nice to meet you too ma'am," Derek smirked, looking down at her stock. "Those are some nice apples."
"Why thank you. I grow um myself." Applejack replied with a smile. "My family owns Sweet Apple Acres outside of town. We make the best apple's this side of Canterlot."
"Awww, dang." Derek sighed, visibly deflating.
"What's wrong sugar cube?" Applejack asked, slight concern in her voice.
"I don't have any money." He chuckled visibly perking up, a smile on his face. "Which is a shame, if these apples are as good as you say they are, it sucks that I can't buy any before I go."
Applejack laughed. "Well, if you need some money to buy some, I can always help you make some. We could use an extra pair of hooves down at Sweet Apple Acres, and I've always wanted to see how good an Alicorn would be at apple bucking. I'd be more than happy to pay you for your work. I'd even throw some apples in for free!" She explained, a smile growing on her face.
"That'd be great! Which way is Sweet Apple Acres?" Derek smiled, prancing in place. He was eager to see what he could do in regards of apple bucking... Whatever that was.
"I can lead you there." Applejack responded looking around real quick. "I just need to wait for Applebloom. She usually tends to the stall, but she asked me to cover for her in the morning. Something about cutie mark troubles."
Derek blinked twice, before quickly glancing back to his butt tattoo. "Cutie mark trouble? That can happen?" He asked a slight tinge of nervousness in his voice.
"Oh no, she's just part of a club that helps little fillies and colts find their cutie mark. I can't remember the last time an adult pony had trouble with their cutie mark." She giggled.
"Oh, that's good to hear... I only recently got it... no idea what it actually even does?" Derek said with a raised eyebrow looking to his rear tattoo, which, he noted, shimmered slightly when he did that.
"Hmmm... I ain't as good at this kind of thing as my little sister... but if I had to guess something involvin' fightin'? I dunno." Applejack chuckled, before looking around. "Tell ya what. Business is kinda slow today, so, I probably could stand to call it a day and we can meet her at her treehouse."
"That'd be great!" Derek said with a smile.
Just then, they heard a voice from behind him. "There you are, Derek. Sheesh, almost lost track of you." Johan said with a smile as he walked up next to him and looked down at the stall. "Ooh, apples. I've always been one for pears myself, but these look pretty good. How much?"
Applejack scoffed at that. "I beg your pardon?" She said, sitting up in her stand.
"Erm... I'd like to buy some?" The deer said, taking a step back.
"Sorry, but I don't sell to those who consort with pears. You'd best go on and get." Applejack said, looming over the Deer.
"B-b-but..." Johan stammered. Applejack merely groaned and stepped out from behind her stand, heading in the direction of her farm.
"Come on Derek. I'm gettin' out of here." She hissed, flicking her tail in annoyance.
Derek looked between her and Johan a couple of times before prancing in place for a second. "Oooooo crap, sorry Johan. I gotta go find out what this thing means," he cried, gesturing to his cutie mark. "I'll try to tell her she misunderstood you! Sorry man!"
And with that, Derek ran off after the earth pony, leaving him behind.
Day 15 in Equestria
"You ever notice how no one around here wears clothes?"
Johan blinked twice and turned to his friend. The two were sitting in the dining room of Twilight's castle. A plate of 'food' placed in front of them. It consisted of grass, raw hay, and two pieces of bread in the vague shape of a hamburger.
"What?" he asked as he absent-mindedly poked at his food, before pushing the plate away from him. He wasn't hungry enough to eat grass.
"Oh you know, everyone here is kinda naked. No clothes at all." Derek laughed, picking up his 'hayburger' and taking a bite. His eyes widened as he looked down at it. "Hey, this is actually kinda good!"
"I mean... yeah?" Johan replied, picking at his 'Prench Fries' and almost throwing up at how terrible of a pun that was. "I guess it's cool that I don't have to worry about what I have to wear before I go outside."
"I was just thinking the same thing." The Alicorn returned, with a full mouth as he finished up the burger. "It's actually kind of liberating ya know?"
Just then, the two heard a knock at the door to the room. The two looked at each other for a moment with raised eyebrows before turning back to the door. They were supposed to have the house to themselves today. Twilight and Spike were off visiting some people in 'Canterlot' today, and 'Starlight', the other person who was living at the castle whom they hadn't actually met yet, wasn't due back from her vacation to 'The Crystal Empire' for another week or two... There were too many places and person names to keep track of for Johan these days...
"Urm... Come in?" Derek said, glancing over at Johan.
"Don't let them in!" Johan whisper yelled. "What if it's a serial killer or a burglar or a... hobo or something. I don't think Twilight would want us letting some dirty gross vagrant in-" He started, but he was interrupted by the door slamming open and a white and purple unicorn strutting in. Her coat looked immaculately well pruned and polished as if she spent an hour every day cleaning it. Her hair was curled elegantly into beautiful locks that caused Derek's jaw to drop. Her sparkling rear tattoo was that of three diamonds,
"Oh hello darlings." She said in a posh, refined voice, which only caused one of Johan's eyebrows to raise and the other eye to narrow.
"I heard the news from Applejack, Pinkie and Fluttershy that there were two newcomers in town and I just had to come and greet you in person. I'm Rarity, owner of the Carousel Boutique it is so nice to meet you." She said as she walked right up to Derek, a welcoming grin plain for all to see on her countenance.
"Oh errr, hi." Derek said, a blush quickly coming to his face. He cleared his throat. "I'm Johan, and this is Derek... er wait. I mean I'm Derek and this is Johan."
Derek chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head with a hoof, before holding out the other one for her to shake, which she did happily. "It is always a pleasure to greet a new pony." She said with a smile.
"Urm, uhh, the pleasure is all mine," Derek replied, pulling his hoof back and looking at it. Then he threw a glance over to Johan, who was currently staring at the two with glazed-over eyes.
"What an interesting coat you have, I like the color. Somewhere between emerald and shamrock green." Rarity said, leaning forwards on the table. Said coat almost instantly turned a shade of red.
Johan, meanwhile, slammed his hooves on the table and stood up. "Yep, I'm out." With a quick turn, he started jogging towards the door, slamming it shut behind him.
"You see, I'm a fashion designer, and when I heard that there was an alicorn stallion in Ponyvile from my friends, I couldn't help but think about designing for them." Rarity said, her eyes sparkling with determination as she loomed over him. "Imagine that, Rarity, the first pony to ever design for a male alicorn!"
"Oh urm... yeah that sounds great," Derek stammered shaking his head, his blush dissipating. "So er... what is it you design?"
"Clothes of course!" Rarity replied with a bow. "You are looking at one of Equestria's greatest designers of dresses, suits and other such things."
Derek nodded along as she talked. "Ahhh.... you know, I really wasn't thinking that when you first came in here. I probably should of." He chuckled, scratching his head.
"So, if, at some point, possibly even today, would you be willing to come to my boutique at some point? Maybe today? I have to do a little tidying up, but I should be done with that quick." Rarity said, leaning towards him with a smile.
"Sure!" Derek said, sitting up. "Where's that again?"
"It's down the street from Town Hall, you probably won't miss it. It's the building that looks like a carousel." Rarity giggled.
"Great, I'll see you there!" Derek said, sitting up with a smile, and holding out his hoof, which Rarity shook again.
"It's a date." She winked.
Derek's face once again turned a shade of red before Rarity walked out of the room, leaving him be.
"Wow..."
Day 26 in Equestria
Johan let out a hiss as he and Derek sat on a hill near Twilight's castle. Derek spent the entire time with his head turned to the skies, watching the pegasi as they flew back and forth through the air. Envy filled his head as he turned back to look at his own wings.
"It's a shame we are leaving so soon man." Derek sighed, sinking in place. "These things have been sticking out of my back for days now and I'm never gonna get a chance to use them."
Johan sighed as he turned to look at Derek with a deadpanned gaze. "I wish we could leave sooner." he hissed, equal parts poking fun at Derek, and seriously decrying his situation.
"I miss ma, and if you think the wings are bad, look at these!" He cried, pointing up at his antlers. "At least yours can use magic. Mine are just here to get tangled in branches and make it hard to go through doors."
Derek laughed, leaning back against the hill, Johan joining him with a grumble. "Hey man, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll find something good here... you know, if that whole magic mirror thing doesn't work out."
Johan groaned. "Oh please don't put that thought in my head." He whimpered. Just then he noticed something coming towards them. It was fast. Superfast. And Rainbow in color.
"What the heck?!?" He asked, but just then it landed at high speeds shooting dust, grass, and small rocks all over the place, which practically buried the deer and alicorn.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh it's true!" A rough feminine voice said, the two turning to see a cyan and rainbow-colored pony said, practically prancing in place. Her 'cutie mark' was that of a rainbow-colored lightning bolt. "You really are an Alicorn! Oh my gosh, this is perfect!"
Derek pulled himself out of the dirt pile he had been buried in with a smile. "Woah Woah. Calm down. You've said 'oh my gosh' like... four times in the span of a couple of seconds. " He said, standing up and shaking off the dirt. "Maybe introductions are in order before anything else?"
"Oh right..." The rainbow-colored pegasus said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. "Hi, my name is Rainbow Dash, fastest pony around!"
"That's quite the boast." Derek chuckled.
Rainbow laughed. "Well, it's true. I've never met anyone else who can keep up with me, though, I've always wanted to try racing an alicorn. Now that I'm in the Wonderbolts, it's the only thing I haven't done on my bucket list." She laughed, a smirk coming to her face.
"Never raced an alicorn?" He returned, a slight tinge of confusion in his voice. "Are we really that rare?"
"Urrr... duh. Where have you been living all this time." Rainbow chuckled.
"Earth," Derek replied, deadpan. Rainbow blinked a couple of times.
"Can't say I've heard of that place." She said, before shaking her head. "Anyway, yeah, Alicorns are actually pretty rare. That's why I've always wanted to race one! The only Alicorns I know are Twilight, Cadence, Celestia, and Luna. Twilights a little... slow... to say the least, and I don't think it's actually legal to ask the princesses for a race... I might have to look that up."
Derek shook his head. "I mean... I'd love to help you with that, but I am going to assume you want this race to be of the flying variety, and to be honest with you..." he explained, before spreading his wings and looking back at them. "I have no idea how to use these things."
Rainbow blew a raspberry and shook a hoof. "Oh come on. That's an easy fix. I could teach you how to fly like a master... aka me!" She laughed, a smug but ultimately playful grin on her face. "I mean, I want this to be a challenge, after all, wouldn't want to race some beginner would I?"
"Doesn't it take like... months at least to learn how to fly?" Derek asked, eyes suddenly widened. "Twilight told me it took her almost a year to figure that out."
Rainbow shrugged. "Well, between you and me, Twilight isn't really the best source of knowledge on all things flying. Not very athletic." She said, stretching her own wings. "It's actually pretty easy really. You know how to cast spells right?"
"Oh yeah, I've been practicing that for a while," Derek said with a smile, looking up at his horn. He remembered what he was taught and, with a slight delay, his horn lit up in a golden aura. "Why?"
"Well, from what Twilight told me in her nerdy science talk when she finally actually got flying down, is that flying is just like using unicorn magic, except instead of focusing your magic on your horn, you focus it into your wings and flap them." She extrapolated, taking to the air with a couple of flaps of her wings.
Derek paused for a second, a smile slowly coming to his face. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, focusing. Like before, Derek steeled himself and reached into his magical heart... or mana pool, or whatever it was called. A tingling feeling ran down his wings as if they were restlessly begging for him to move them as he pushed the magic in that direction. With a smile, he gave them a flap. Derek kicked off the ground, leaving behind a crater as he took to the air.
Johan had just finished digging himself out of the debris from Rainbow's landing with a snarl before another wave of dirt and grass buried him. He looked up, a feeling of forlorn grasping his soul like a knife as he saw Derek take to the air. He let out a hiss as he stood up, turning away from Derek and walking down the hill towards Twilight's castle, a sudden frown on his face.
Derek opened his eyes to see himself at least twenty feet in the air. He shot his hooves into the air in response, his wings flapping themselves to keep him stable on instinct. "Wooo! I'm doing it!" He shouted his voice carrying in every direction.
"Yeah!" Rainbow said with a smile, flying up next to him. "That was quick! Usually, it takes ponies a while to figure out how to do that."
"I can imagine why!" Derek said, whipping through the air to look for his deer friend. "Johan! Can you see me! What do you think!" He cried. A sudden look of confusion filling his face when he couldn't see him anywhere.
"Johan?" He asked, more quiet this time. He started to lower towards the ground but he was stopped by a hoof.
"Woah Woah, where you going, man? We are only just starting. You still need to know how to fly fast!" Rainbow said with a smile.
Derek looked between her and the ground a couple of times before shrugging. "Eh, I'm sure he's ok. Let's do this!"
Derek looked at the magical mirror with a look of dread and disappointment. He slowly paced in place, looking between it and the window, Equestria shined to him on the other side.
He let out a pensive whimper before he turned to look at Johan. The deer was standing next to him, his eyes narrowed and one of his lips raised in a snarl, and his eyes locked directly on his reflection in the mirror.
"I..." Derek started before he was interrupted when Twilight entered the room.
"Ok guys." She said as she wrote in a book with a quill. She stepped up next to Derek and cleared he throat. "I sent a message to Sunset Shimmer and asked her and my friends to meet me at the other side of the mirror before school-"
"Wait what? School?" Johan asked, his brow furrowing.
"Oh yeah, even though my friends and I are like, in our twenties, for some reason on the other side of the portal we are in our teens and at a high school. It's actually pretty lame." Twilight chuckled, before, with a shimmer, the mirror lit up, rainbow light filling the reflective surface.
"Whelp, here we go." She said, taking a couple of steps forwards. Johan followed after her, but Derek stayed put.
Twilight went right through, but Johan stopped, his frown faltering for a second. He saw Derek's reflection. It wasn't coming with him.
"Are you coming?" He asked, looking over to Derek.
"I... I don't want to." Derek said, sitting on his haunches. "I'm gonna stay."
"You're what?!?" Johan asked, quickly spinning around and narrowing his gaze.
"I said, I'm going to stay," Derek said, straightening up and a frown coming to his face. "Back on Earth, I was a loser, we both were. Here though? Here I can fly. I can use magic. I'm actually cool!"
Johan snarled. "So you'd rather be stuck on four legs than have hands? You'd rather stay here with a bunch of pastel horses than go home to your real friends and parents?" He hissed, genuine anger filling his voice.
Derek only nodded. Johan paused for a second before he turned around and kept walking towards the mirror.
"Fine." That was all he said before he was on the other side of the portal.
Equestria Girls Earth
Johan walked through the portal on all fours with a sigh. "Bad news Twilight." He said with a sigh. "Derek's going to stay in- What the heck?!?"
What he saw was almost nightmarish. Impossibly thin multiple colored humans with massive heads. They looked identical to the ponies of Equestria he had already met, the 'Elements of Harmony' as they were often referred to as, plus one whose hair looked like bacon. They looked identical to them if they were twisted into some thin man-like mockery of a person.
They were looking at him like he was the most confusing part of this picture.
"I thought you said he was a human Twilight?" the Rainbow Dash look-alike said.
"Excuse me? Was there a chemical spill here or something? Last I checked, humans weren't blue with rainbow hair." Johan hissed, sitting up. Perhaps he was a little too rude in his tone, but right now he was pissed, and for probably good reason. "Maybe you've never seen a normal person before."
He stood upright, happy to be back on two legs at least. Just then, however, he tumbled backward onto his back. That's when he realized he still couldn't feel his toes or his hands. And then there was the weight on his head that, over the past month he had grown accustomed to, but now only felt all too apparent.
Looking down, he saw brown and white fur, black hooves kicked up in the air, and his deer tail.
"I'm still a deer!?!" He yelled, rolling onto his front and standing up on four legs. "What the fuck!?!"
"Woah woah," Twilight said, rushing to his side and crouching down next to him, a comforting hand on his back. "I'm sure there is some kind of logical explanation to this. Calm down."
"No! You promised me I'd be able to go home through this portal! Instead, all I've found here are flamboyant mutants and I'm still something that's about to be mounted on someone's wall!" Johan shouted at her, straightening up and glaring down at her.
"I'm sorry, really I am. I genuinely thought this would work." Twilight said, a slight frown. She sat up with a sigh. "Where did you live, maybe we could at least get you there?"
Johan sighed. "Maybe I can at least say goodbye to mom... how far away is Salt Lake City?" He asked, looking over at the human versions of the Elements.
"Do you mean Salt Lick City?" the bacon-haired one said, raising an eyebrow. "That's about 2,500 miles away."
And then it hit Johan. This wasn't even his Earth, it was just another Equestria. Johan felt his heart sink. He would never get home now. The deer stammered on his hooves, almost collapsing to the ground so many times that he just gave up eventually.
"W-what... No..." He said as he fell to his knees. "I'm never getting home, am I?"
Twilight pursed her lips and sighed. "I'm sorry."
Johan shook his head. "Let's go back through the mirror." He sighed with a whimper.
Twilight nodded grimly before the two stepped back through the portal together.
Derek sighed as he stood up. Johan and Twilight were taking a while on the other side of the portal. The thought crossed his mind that, he really should have gone through to the other side... at least to make sure Johan was going to be ok.
He shook his head and let out an exhale. He was in the wrong in this situation, he knew it. But he just couldn't give this place up. This was his chance to be something. Back on earth he was and was always going to be, a nobody. Someone who was going to be forgotten and ignored by everyone.
His eyes returned to the portal mirror thingie, and a grimace came to his face.
"Maybe I should at least make sure Johan is ok." he sighed, approaching the mirror. Just then, a pair of purple hooves emerged.
Twilight stepped through with a grim expression. She was then followed by Johan, who looked... broken.
"W-what happened?" Derek asked, concern building on his face.
Twilight sighed, a dry smile coming to her face. "Looks like Johan is staying here in Equestria after all." She said.
The second she finished speaking, there was a blast of confetti as a certain pink horse appeared in the center of the room out of nowhere, throwing her hooves in the air.
"That means it's time for the 'Welcome to Ponyvile' Party!" She cried in a high-pitched voice, rolled up white banners unfurling on the walls, the words; 'Welcome to Equestria.' written on them in bold pink and purple lettering.
"Now's not really the ti-" Twilight started but Johan interrupted her.
"No, please. Go ahead. Don't call off the... 'party' on my account." he sighed, his voice shaky. He continued walking going in the direction of the door.
Twilight grimaced once again before she shook her head and walked over to talk to Pinkie Pie, as guests, who somehow knew there was going to be a party despite there being no invitations, started to stream in.
Derek turned to Johan as he arrived at the door.
"What's going on Johan? Is everything ok?" He asked with a grim look.
"It wasn't home," Johan replied as he walked through the door. He turned and looked at his friend, a miserable smile on his face. Derek saw the deer's eyes water as he tried to put on a happy face.
"Looks like you got your wish. We live here now." And with that, Johan closed the door behind him.
The changeling paced back and forth in a forest clearing, her black form standing out in the greenery of the wood. Deep green, serpent-like, eyes narrowed in hatred as she mumbled to herself. She was tall, very tall with wispy green hair and a jagged horn.
The clearing was small, but it was about as cozy as the changeling could have made it, especially because of her... situation. A rock sat in the middle of the clearing, with small items stacked on top of it like a table. A fireplace burned nearby, green in color instead of orange. A stolen tent, stolen camp chair, and some stolen supplies were all the changeling had to call her own.
It was nighttime, and the green fire did little to light her surroundings, but she still liked it. It reminded her of the dark of the hive. The Hive that had been stolen from her. Her eyes narrowed even more.
"Damn that traitor... Damn Starlight Glimmer... I will reconquer my hive..." She repeated to herself as her face scrunched up in thought. Plans formed in her head.
"Gnnn... How am I supposed to do that without an army though... and it's not like any kingdom near Equestria will support my claim... Or even far away from it..." She hissed, sitting down, snarling.
Chrysalis stood up and shook her head, walking back towards her fire and sitting down in front of it. "This is hopeless." She hissed.
"Oh my." A voice rang out, causing her to rapidly stand up and charge her horn, scanning the treeline around her.
"Do the changelings of this day and age make a habit of talking to themselves, or are you just insane?" It said. The voice was refined, and androgynous. She had trouble telling if a man or woman was speaking, but it nonetheless radiated power.
Her eyes continued to scan the horizon until a glowing white eye in the darkness caught her attention, it was only one, but it was compound, identical to that of a changeling.
"Who are you?" Chrysalis demanded, readying a combat spell. The eye started to approach, revealing itself to be attached to a black silhouette. It was slightly taller than her, with two jagged, mandible-shaped antlers emerging from its head. Her eyes instantly widened and a hiss of rage emanated from her mouth.
"Thorax!" She roared, a green spell firing from her horn. It sailed through the air directly towards the creature's heart.
Before it could connect another black shape darted from the treeline, faster than her eyes could track, and slid in front of the first shape. The spell struck it in the chest, before deflecting into the ground. Chrysalis got a good look at it through the light of her spell as it struck them. It had a similar shape to the one-eyed creature behind it, but wore some kind of armor, with shorter antlers. It was cyan in color, with platinum highlights to make shiny white sections of the armor. A single visor, with a black, reflective lense covering the eyes. A knife-like blade sat just below the creature's horn, which was charged with cyan magic.
"I'm a potential... benefactor." The silhouette said as the armored creature stepped aside. Its single eye narrowed slightly. "And I know you may be new to this exile thing, but when you are a claimant it is considered extremely rude to shoot at someone offering to sponsor you."
Chrysalis took a step back, her eyes widened. At first, it was in surprise at the appearance of the armored individual but that surprise rapidly changed to confusion.
Then her eyes shrunk into slits, a smile coming to her face. "This is obviously a trick." She chuckled, her gaze steeling. "Why would mutated, 'reformed' Changelings be helping their former queen? Obviously, you just plan to trap me."
There was a pause before the shape laughed. Then it started a slow strut. It kept to the shadows at the edge of the light of the fire as he walked in a circle around her camp, its gaze locked with Chrysalis the entire time.
"I am going to keep this simple, child." It spat as it walked, returning to a more civilized tone soon after. "There are forces at play right now far older and far more knowledgable than you could ever be. I am not going to waste the breath explaining something you could never wrap your head around but suffice to say our goals align at this current instance, and I have always been one to use every tool at my disposal."
Chrysalis growled, baring her fangs. "And how then, pray tell, do you plan on using me?"
"Simple." It replied. "There is a mountain 30 miles to the east of here. Your mother hid an army of elite and loyal drones inside in a magical stasis, some three hundred-odd years ago. While it is likely they would be loyal to Queen Metamorphosis, I'm sure they'd follow her daughter when they find out she is dead. Just, leave out the part where you killed her."
Chrysalis blinked a couple of times, taking in the information. "And what do you want in exchange for this information."
"Oh, nothing much. I just want to prove myself as someone you can trust. Do whatever you want with it." The creature said, turning away and starting to head towards the darkness of the treeline. "But, if you want to do me a favor, please attack Ponyvile before your hive. Just as a matter of principle."
Chrysalis laughed at that, throwing her head back. "Oh, trust me, I was going to either way!"
"Goodie." It chuckled.
The armored changeling, who hadn't taken its blank unreadable gaze off Chrysalis since it appeared, slowly turned and followed after its master. Just before they both disappeared into the darkness, Chrysalis called out after them.
"Before you go, what should I call you?" She said with a smile. The silhouette's single eye simply turned and stared back at her for a second.
"It doesn't matter. But, I'll keep in touch." And with that, they both disappeared into the woods, leaving the Queen alone.
Chrysalis wasted no time in dousing her fire and pulling down her camp. She slung all of the items with her into a bag, before taking to the air, heading eastwards.
Meanwhile, the two creatures trudged through the woods, stopping only when Chrysalis sailed over their heads.
"My Domine," The armored one spoke, his voice gruff, metallic, and pitiless. "Are you sure we can trust her, is giving her an army wise?"
"Of course not." The taller one replied, eye narrowing.
"Then why give her an army?" The armored one replied, stepping forwards.
"I am simply testing the waters," It laughed. "Besides, if she is going to attack Equestria before her hive, not a single one of those drones are going to survive."
Johan sat on the balcony of his and Derek's shared room. Well, he was more so sitting on the railing, his back pressed up against a wall and one hoof on the ground to keep him from sailing over the edge accidentally. He sighed as he looked out over the 'Everfree' forest as the ponies called it. His face was blank, with no emotions on it, but inside he was a swirl of feelings. Sadness gripped his heart like a claw, but slipping through the cracks were feelings of anger, resentment, and even hatred. He tried pushing those feelings down, but they wouldn't go away.
He let out a long sigh as he sat back, his head pressing against the wall. He tried looking up at the sky, but his antlers scraped against the wall, letting out a sound similar to nails on a chalkboard, causing him to quickly sit up, a chill going down his spine. It would most definitely take him a while to get used to that.
A quiet moment passed, then too. He shook his head. This was his life now. He was stuck as a four-legged deer now. He would never see his mom, his friends, or anyone else ever again. Johann let out a sigh as he looked over the railing to the grounds below. Briefly he considered simply throwing himself down there, maybe the next world he arrived at wouldn't be as bad as this one, but he shook his head.
"Hey man," he heard from the door to the balcony. He quickly whipped around and saw Derek standing there, a small comforting smile on his face. "You doing ok?"
Johan sighed, turning his gaze back towards the forest. "No. Not really." He sighed, bringing one of his knees up to his chest. "Shouldn't you be at the party right now?" It was hard for him to hide the tone of spite in his voice.
"I've been in that doorway this entire time. I didn't want to go to the party without you," Derek said with a smile as he joined the deer on the railing, sitting down in front of him. "Just wanted to wait until you felt like talking... which I guess I failed at?"
"No. No. It's fine..." Johan said, turning away from the Alicorn.
A quiet moment passed before Johan finally spoke up again. "So, we're stuck here." He seethed. "Must be a dream come true huh?"
"Well... maybe we should make the most of it, ya know? I mean, this place is so... great!" Derek said, flapping his wings slightly and taking into the air, a smile on his face. The smile quickly dropped as he locked eyes with Johan, who was simply glaring. Derek let out a long exhale before he lowered himself to the ground.
"I'm sorry that was rude. I know how much it must suck for you to-" Derek started with a sigh of his own, but Johan cut him off by sitting up and growling.
"Do you?" Johan asked, his eyes narrowing. "You have all these cool powers just from being here. Magic, wings, hell even all of the women are basically flocking to you! What do I have?!? These two useless bones sprouting from my head! Oh, that and everyone thinking I'm your pet!"
The deer's voice rose into a vicious roar before he sank back into his chair. His eyes started to water before he looked back over to Derek. Derek looked absolutely dejected, his eyes widened in surprise and his mouth opened in concern. Johan sniffled slightly, shaking his head to stop his tears.
"I'm... I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Johan started, covering his eyes with his hooves. Derek patted him on the back.
"No man. Not at all!" Derek started, a small smile coming to his face. "I can't imagine how hard it was for you to bottle that all up. I know I wouldn't have been able to hold that in if our places were traded. I'm sorry."
Johan exhaled, deflating slightly. "I..." He started, but he couldn't continue, choking up slightly.
Derek's smile widened slightly. "Come on man. Let's go downstairs. I think everyone's waiting for us." The alicorn exclaimed as he stood up
Johan shook his head. "You mean you." He said in a low tone.
"No. I mean us." Derek chuckled, reaching a hoof for Johan to take over to him. "Can you promise me something?"
"What?" Johan asked as he took the hoof and stood up slowly, head still facing downwards.
"Promise me that, before you write this place off completely, you'll at least try to find something you like?"
The young changeling ran through the castle once again... though this time without the youthful smile he was accustomed to. The entire castle shook with a boom, causing him to fall to the ground. The sound of collapsing stones and breaking rocks became all too apparent to him. Gazing out a window, he saw a nearby buttress give way, the tower they were supporting snapping in two and falling to the ground with a crash.
The nymph whimpered. He saw people on top of the tower before it fell.
The changeling waited for a couple of seconds before he rose to his feet again and started running. He had to make it to his mother and father. He had to.
"Young Lord!" a voice called out to him. He came to a stop, down the hall from him were two changelings in armor, who quickly ran towards him.
"Your father sent us to find you! We need to get you to your mother quickly! She is down that hall in the atashgah!" The guard said, quickly pointing down a hall to their right. It led deeper into the castle.
The younger 'ling turned to the guards, opening his mouth to thank them before, without warning, a golden blast of magical energy burst in from the wall to the guard's left. The younger one cried out in pain as he collapsed to the ground.
The guards were both instantly disintegrated, but their pain was his own. He felt like his entire body burned, inside and out. Thankfully, it was over quickly as the beam dissipated, leaving behind nothing but ash, the smell of burnt carapace, and broken stone.
The changeling slowly and shakily rose to his hooves, tears in his eyes. He inhaled and exhaled several times, his breathing heavy. He looked at the piles of ash that used to be the guards before he shook his head and turned quickly speeding off towards the atashgah.
He soon arrived. A set of massive stone double doors, richly decorated in mosaic images, the chief amongst them was the head of an antlered white changeling, with two cyan antlers. Its eyes were narrowed as it leered down at him. The changeling shuddered slightly before he threw himself against the door, trying with all of his might to push the door open.
It wouldn't even budge. The changeling let out a weak whimper before focusing. He took a deep inhale, reaching out towards the door with his mind. His antlers and horn glowed a deep cyan, the door shimmering the same color shortly after. With a heavy inhale, he started to use his magic to slowly separate them. It was a slow process, and through it all, the nymph shook and sweat.
Finally, after minutes of struggle, the door had opened wide enough for him to quickly run through.
The atashgah was a large room, equivalent in size to a concert hall. Pews filled the room from the front to close to the back, stopping at a raised stage. At the front of the stage stood an altar, and at the back stood a tall metal brazier, a raging cyan, and white fire burning within.
Kneeling in front of it, no doubt in prayer, was his mother.
"Mother!" the Nymph cried, quickly running forwards. His mother flinched when yet another massive boom shook the building. She quickly turned around and saw her son running towards her.
That was the last thing she saw before the ceiling collapsed.
Johan let out a deep exhale as he stood at the end of the room. The party was actually pretty ok. While, as expected, Derek had been swarmed as soon as he arrived, Johan had been surprised when a sizable minority of the party-goers had actually tracked him down to talk with him, asking things like 'what was your home like?' or 'Is it true that you used to walk on two legs.'
A small hesitant smile came to his face as he took a quick sip from a drink he was holding. Surprisingly, at least to him, somehow he had learned in the past month that it was actually kinda easy to pick things up with hooves. Hands were probably still way better, but at least he didn't have to survive entirely by holding things with his mouth. That would have turned this place from a 1/10 to a 0/10.
The party was in the winding down stages, for which he was certainly thankful. It was way too kiddy for his tastes. He had almost left the second they busted out the 'pin the tail on the donkey' boards. He let out a sigh as he turned to return to his room before he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. On a table nearby him were a bunch of comic books. He raised an eyebrow before he approached, setting his drink down on a nearby bookshelf.
He sat down and grabbed one of the books. It was about something called the 'Power Ponies'. He briefly skimmed through it for a second before groaning and putting it down. It seemed way too generic. Like another run-of-the-mill avengers remake.
Then something else caught his eye. 'Spidermare Issue #1' was the title. His eyes widened before he reached over and picked it up. He skimmed it too and laughed. It was basically a 1 for 1 copy of the first Spiderman comic, except that Peter Parker was now a mare named Spinnerette Seamstress, and instead of a photographer, she was a fashionista. Well, that and it was published by a company called 'Wonder Comics' instead of 'Marvel Comics'. He rolled his eyes before he got back to reading.
Then he heard someone clearing their throat behind him, causing him to quickly jump and drop the book down on the table. He quickly spun around to see the small dragon, Spike, behind him. He hadn't heard him approach over the sound of people chatting and dancing and overall mingling.
"Whatcha doing there?" Spike asked with a smile. Johan quickly stood up and sheepishly stepped away.
"Oh um, sorry. I was just reading these... books here." He said clearing his throat,
"Oh, no worries," Spike said as he approached the table and straightened them up. "I ain't one of those kinds of people who freak out over creases or anything in his comics. Besides," he held up the Spidermare comic. "Not like this is one of the original Spidermare comics. It's just a reprint from a couple of years ago."
"So are you a Wonder or PC kinda guy?" Spike smiled up at Johan expectantly, obviously waiting for an answer. Johan blinked twice before shrugging. Might as well entertain the little guy or something.
"Eh... Marvel... or uhh... Wonder is a little too upbeat for my tastes and D-sorry-PC Superheros tend to be a bit too overpowered for my tastes. I've always preferred third-party comics." Johan said smiling slightly. Spike gasped, almost bouncing on his hooves.
"Like the power ponies?!" the dragon cried out with a smile, practically prancing in place.
Johan's eyes widened a confused look coming to his face. "The what ponies?"
"The power ponies! I have issue one of that! You have no idea what I had to do to get that! Want me to show you?" Spike shouted, quickly turning around and rushing in the direction of his bedroom. Johan shrugged before quickly followijg out after him. Through it all, neither of them noticed Derek watching with a small smirk.
"Told you you'd find something nice here." He said under his breath before turning back to Twilight to continue their conversation.
"That bastard lied to me!" Chrysalis shouted into the air. She was flying over the side of a large cliff face, the east side of a tall mountain.
It had been hours since her meeting with the one-eyed changeling, so many in fact that the sun had risen. The queen had visible bags under her eyes as she hissed. Hours of searching for nothing but sore wings and exhaustion. Thoughts began to fill her head rapidly. What did that... thing have to gain from sending her here alone! He must have been working with Starlight Glimmer! Yes, and that traitor Thorax! They were all in cahoots! Why, this was clearly a trap!
Thoughts filled her head on what to do with those treacherous snakes when she got her hooves on them. She would squeeze their lives from their bodies as easily as she squeezed the air from their throats. She would feel their bones snap beneath her righteous rage! She would-!
"I did no such thing, and frankly I am appalled that you thought I would." A voice rang out to her. She gasped, quickly scanned her surroundings, until she saw it again. The changeling was hidden in the shadow of a tall outcropping near the top of the mountain, so as to still appear as a silhouette. Its single glowing eye was visibly narrowed in annoyance.
Chrysalis hissed. "Well, it's hard not to think that! I still don't see an entrance anywhere!" She started to fly towards it, horn glowing as she readied a combat spell... just in case.
"The only reason I haven't disintegrated you yet is that no one would be dumb enough to show their face to me after double-crossing me, which means I know you are telling the truth." She said, landing on the top of the mountain, just in front of him. She still couldn't make out his actual features in the shadow, he was still too far away.
The silhouette cocked its head to the side before it was completely engulfed in a ball of pure white fire. The blaze lasted for less than a second before an earth pony of all things stepped out of it. The silhouette was no longer there. It became much easier for her to tell thing's gender now though. It was male.
The pony was cyan in color, with slicked-back platinum white hair. A black eyepatch covered his left eye, but aside from that, he was wearing no clothes, as was typical of most normal equines. He didn't seem to be any bigger than the average pony, not Cadance sized, Luna sized, and certainly not Celestia sized. Chrysalis couldn't tell if that made him more or less unnerving. A small, warm smile came to his face as he stepped forwards, slowly approaching her.
"You've taken a disguise to talk to me, why? Do you not trust me?" Chrysalis smirked, horn only brightening.
"Oh, like you have never done this before as well? Tread carefully. I am fine giving weapons and armies to psychotic conquerers, but I will never arm a hypocrite." The 'pony' said, as he started to pace, his smile only widening. "Besides, I want to keep a slight air of mystery about me. Surely you understand, yes?"
Chrysalis snarled bestially as she took a step towards him, but she stopped when something landed in between the two of them. It was the cyan armored changeling again, antlers charged with cyan magic, visor glinting in the light. Two more crashes behind her caused her to risk a glance behind her, to see two more of them.
She was now surrounded on three sides by things that could seemingly shrug off one of her magical spells with no problem. Things weren't looking good.
"What are these things anyway?" She asked, turning around to face the two behind her, before turning back.
"In my language, they are known as vurions, but the less... civilized creatures of my day referred to them as platinum guards. The name is apt I suppose, though... horribly tacky." The 'pony' explained, walking with an exaggerated swagger towards her, a slight downtrodden look coming over him. "Terribly rare these days I'm afraid. I think these are the last three in existence, though I do plan on finding or, if worst comes to worst making, more very soon."
Chrysalis steeled her gaze. "And you are telling me this why?"
"Oh, I just wanted to clear the air amongst friends. You know, make it apparent that you can trust me, and I find that to be one of the most harmless of your, no doubt many, questions in need of answering." The pony said, his warm smile returning to his face. "Though, since that clearly wasn't enough I will give you one free question, that I will answer truthfully, as the Kes'kel'kes as my witness."
The pony sat on his haunches and put one of his front hooves over his heart and the other in the air, the famous 'scouts promise' pose. Initially, Chrysalis was quiet, debating her options before she settled on the one that had been eating her thoughts the most.
"What, exactly, are you?" She asked, brows furrowing. The pony's smile widened.
"Why, I am a changeling like you... though I am far older." He said, standing up and cocking his head to the side. "I am exactly... hmmm... 1,526 years old now I believe, though I may be off by a year or two. I come from a better time. A much simpler time. Back when the equines squatted in caves, scrawling along the walls with whatever measly pigments they could get their hooves on."
Chrysalis's eyebrow raised in skepticism. "Really? And I am supposed to believe that why?"
"Well... I suppose cynicism is to be expected. Especially because the changelings were parasites for the majority of your and your ancestor's lives, just know that there was a time that the sun and moon moved at our command, rather than at the beck and call of a pathetic horse." He replied, disgust filling his voice. He snarled before clearing his throat and perking up. "Now that that is out of the way, onto the more pressing matter."
He did a full heel turn and approached the stone outcropping he had previously been standing in the shadow of. As soon as he arrived, he raised a hoof, before roughly punching it. There was a snapping sound before a large section of the grey rock fell away to reveal something black.
Chrysalis gasped and quickly rushed up to his side, the gaze of the platinum guards not leaving her for even a second.
In the rock was a perfectly carved circular tube, which was bored deep into the rock out of obsidian. Complex mechanisms filled the inside of the tube, just waiting to be activated. This was a lock, a specialized one. One only a changeling, a true (or so she believed) changeling could open.
"You were simply looking in the wrong place, my dear." The pony said as he turned and started walking away, back towards the shadows. "Remember, I'll keep in touch. Until then, remember our bargain." The pony threw a wave over his shoulder before he disappeared into the dark, his guards following after him.
"Of course I remember!" Chrysalis laughed, as she slowly inserted her hoof into the hole. "Ponyville will burn!!"
The second her hoof reached the bottom of the lock, it pressed against a pressure plate. Slowly solid stone cylinders started to emerge from the sides, inserting themselves into the holes in her leg. Chrysalis laughed with glee as they locked into place. Slowly, she started to twist her leg to the left, and as she did, the entire mountain started shaking.
The grinding of stone alerted her to the sound of the massive doors opening on the cliff face below her. And it was soon followed by the slowly growing buzzing of wings. Her laughter turned into an insane cackle.
Johan groaned as he pulled himself up. He was in bed, and unfortunately for him, he had been rudely awakened by Derek opening the blinds to the room with a content sigh. The alicorn quickly turned around to see his friend pull himself up and rub his eyes.
"Morning!" Derek said with a smile. "Eager to start our first offical day as Equestrians?"
"No," Johan sighed. The deer yawned before kicking off the blankets. "But I might as well get it over with."
"That's the spirit!" Derek laughed, holding out a hoof for Johan to grasp. The deer took it and, with a roll of his eyes, stood up.
"So, what are we doing first?" The deer asked.
"I was hoping you had an idea..." Derek nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof.
"Well, the appropriate thing to do, if you ask me, is going to the library and reading up on this place's history and geography. You know, so we know what we are getting into." Johan said turning to walk towards the door.
Derek let out a long groan. "But that's boring," he whined.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we can find some magic books for you to read through," The deer replied, walking through the doorway into the crystalline castle hallways of Twilight's tree. He suddenly laughed. "That, or maybe some coloring books for you to draw in."
"Dude..." Derek mumbled after an awkward pause, brow furrowed. "Uncool."
"Yeah..." Johan said, cringing slightly. "That was really uncalled for..."
"Yeah, like, what the heck." Derek laughed, putting a hoof on Johan's shoulder and jostling him slightly. "Ah, it's all good. Just know that I now have the right to throw something back at you."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"Imma hold onto it. You know. Keep it a surprise." Derek deviously cackled. It made Johan shudder slightly.
The two continued their back and forth banter until they finally made it to the castle's library to find that Twilight was already inside, sorting some books.
"Oh, hey guys. I wasn't expecting you two to be up so early." Twilight said as soon as she caught a glimpse of them.
"Oh? Why's that?" Derek replied with a grin, stepping towards her.
"Well, the party did wear on a little late." She laughed putting the books she was holding back into place with her levitation spell.
"Eh, that's no biggie." Derek shrugged with a smile. "I'm used to late nights."
"Well still, I know it can be a little hard adjusting to a new place and a new timezone and all that, I actually have to do that a lot. You know, frequent adventures and all that." Twilight giggled, a hoof to her mouth.
"You're an adventurer?" Derek asked, eyes widening in curiosity.
"Er... sorta." Twilight awkwardly laughed. "You've met all my friends, right? Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow?"
Derek nodded. "Yeah, I met um all while I was waiting for the mirror to boot up." He stopped for a second. "Barring er... Pinkie. I met her at the party, and uh...."
"Yeah, she's pretty intense," Twilight remarked. Then she continued. "Well, the 6 of us are something called the elements of harmony. We are supposed to use these magical necklaces, and our skills, to keep the entire world in balance. You know, solving problems, ending disputes, that sort of thing."
Johan, who was listening in on the conversation suddenly perked up. "Wait..." he started, a slight look of discomfort coming to his face. "Twilight, earlier you mentioned that there are more than just ponies on the planet right?"
"Oh yes, there are changelings, yaks, gryphons, and dragons, just to name the races that neighbor Equestria." Twilight explained with a nod.
"And all these races, they are, like, sapient, right?" Johan asked eyes narrowing ever so slightly in thought. "Like, they have their own cultures and countries and stuff right?"
Twilight nodded again.
Johan's brows furrowed. "Then don't you think it's kinda suspicious or weird that only ponies are responsible for keeping the world in balance? Like, that strikes me as super... er... Imperialistic?"
"Not at all," Twilight responded with a warm smile. "We Equestrians strictly pride ourselves over our abilities to make friends and allies with anyone, which we have done with all of our neighboring nations, and we make sure not to overstep our boundaries when we help them. At most, we attempt to stop wars from occurring, or save them when they are under attack from monsters of any kind."
Johan's brows parted slightly. "Hmmm, I suppose that's... less dire than I thought."
Twilight sat back on her haunches and clapped her hooves together. "Now then, is there anything I can do to help you guys?" She asked with a warm smile.
"Actually yes, there is," Derek replied looking over to the bookcase. "Johan here was wondering if you had any books on history?"
Twilight couldn't help but squeal happily. "As a matter of fact, I do!" She cried, taking to the air and quickly zooming through the library. She landed momentarily in front of Johan, holding a rather tall stack of books, which she quickly dropped onto Johan's back.
The deer struggled to keep himself and the pile upright. He quickly started moving towards a nearby table to quickly drop them off, so he could start reading. With a slight crash, they fell all over the table, before Twilight neatly organized them for him.
"Woah..." He mumbled as he sat down in a chair. "That's a lot of reading material."
"Better get started then, eh Johan?" Derek winked before he turned back to Twilight, the topic quickly changing towards the discussion of magic.
Johan rubbed his head and grit his teeth. He frowned as he set down yet another book. "Why does every history book stop at a thousand years ago?" He suddenly asked.
Spike, who was sitting at the table as well, looked up from the comic book he was reading and raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm?"
"Why doesn't a single history book say anything about what happened before a thousand years ago?" Johan asked as he grabbed yet another book and flipped through it. "Not to mention, why did so many events all happen at once a thousand years ago? The founding of your nation, those alicorn princesses taking over, this whole Crystal Empire thing."
"Well urrr... I dunno, maybe it was just a jampacked year?" Spike asked scratching the side of his head. "Ya know, I never really gave any thought about that."
Johan sat the book down and brought a hoof to his forehead. "A thousand years ago isn't that long ago. Surely you'd still have at least some information about that kind of thing. Human history goes back five thousand years, and we know a lot more about what was going on in 3100 BC compared to what your historians seem to know about just a thousand years ago."
Twilight, who was over with Derek reading up on magical spells, was quick too but in. "Well, the divisions of pony kind back in the days before Equestria made studying history extremely hard to do."
"That's no excuse. We, humans, were divided from the moment the first civilizations were formed." Johan said with a raised eyebrow. "I doubt the Assyrians and the Egyptians would have ever gotten along and united peacefully, but we know plenty about them."
Twilight blinked twice, both of those names sailing directly over her head.
Johan sighed. "I dunno, I guess this place does seem pretty medieval. I suppose we didn't know that much back in those days either."
He was just about to settle down to read when Derek raised his head and blinked.
"Does anyone else hear that?" He asked.
The three of them both stopped. There was a slight buzzing in the air, which seemed to slowly and gradually get louder and louder as time passed.
"No..." Twilight said, both her and Spike's eyes widening in fear. It was a sound they hadn't heard in years. Not since her brother's wedding, in fact.
"It can't be..." Spike asked, nervously biting his lip.
The alicorn turned and started sprinting towards the door, Spike alongside her. Johan and Derek looked at each other for a second, before the two of them quickly sprinted towards the door to follow them.
When they got outside, they saw that the entire town had left their homes and businesses and was frozen in place staring up at the sky in the direction of the Everfree forest. It rapidly became apparent what they were looking like.
Rising above the trees, high into the sky, was a swarm of biblical proportions. All that Johan and Derek could make out from this distance, though, was that they were black in color. And that there were thousands upon thousands of them.
Standing on top of a nearby hill were the one-eyed changeling and his three platinum guards. The changeling's single eye narrowed as a smile came to his face.
"And so it begins." He chucked. He turned to one of the guards and nodded. "Bring me Jelen."
The guard nodded back, drawing a cyan metal rod from a slot near the back of his armor. With a very audible shing the rod extended and a halberd blade emerged from the tip. Then he took to the air flying in the direction of the crystal tree in the center of the town.
"Twilight!" A voice cried out to their right. The group turned around to see a pinkish unicorn with a purple and blue mane, followed closely behind by a blue one with a white mane. They were running towards them, pure desperation and fear written on their faces.
Derek and Johan recognized her, somewhat. They had seen her around, but never really talked to her during the past month. Her name was Starlight Glimmer. The same could not be said about the blue one though.
"It's Chrysalis, I just know it!" Starlight said, skidding to a halt in front of them. "This must be the revenge she told us about..."
"How did she get a new army though? Did Thorax get overthrown or something?" the blue one cried out. "I thought changelings were good now!" Johan grimaced.
"Wait a minute, those are changelings? I was right, they are creepy." He shuddered.
"Not the time," Derek said a grim look on his face as the swarm started to dive downwards towards the town, blotting out the sun and sky.
Twilight's brows furrowed as she thought for a second. She rapidly turned around to Derek, Johan and Spike. "Spike, send a letter to Cadance and Shining Armor and tell them to get down here with the Crystal Guard as quickly as possible."
Spike nodded before his gaze quickly turned upwards towards the mountain that Canterlot sat on. "What about Princess Celestia and Luna?"
"I think at this point they can already see the swarm. Now go write and send the letter. Quickly, so I can put up a magical shield to buy us some time." Twilight ordered. Spike nodded, before quickly rushing inside to find a piece of paper and a quill.
"Derek," Twilight said as she turned to the alicorn. "You are probably one of the most naturally gifted magicians I have ever seen. We need your help. Do you know how to cast combat spells yet?"
Derek shook his head. "No, but I'll probably get it if you showed me how." He said, a small smile coming to his face.
Twilight smiled back. "Good, Starlight, please show Derek what to do while I put up a shield." She said as she noticed a plume of green and white smoke leave from a window of her house before speeding off northwards at a breakneck pace. Twilight turned around as both Trixie and Starlight started running towards the town center, Derek in quick pursuit.
She let in a deep inhale. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, calling on her inner wells of mana. She opened her eyes as she exhaled, and her horn started glowing. With a roar, a beam emerged from her horn, heading directly towards the center of town, before shooting upwards and pooling in the sky over the town hall. A large purple dome of shimmering light started to form from the top-down until it gradually enclosed the entire town.
Just in time too, as just mere seconds after the dome had completely closed she felt the first wave of the swarm slam against the shield. She grunted as she felt the push of hundreds of changelings against her magic, but it held up.
Twilight let out a deep breath. It was working. That outta buy them a couple of hours at least. Long enough for relief to come from both Cantlerot and the Crystal Empire. That's when she felt something tap on her shoulder. She gasped in shock, quickly turning around. She let out a sigh of relief when it was just a certain deer.
"Oh geez, I'm sorry Johan. I forgot you were there for a second." She mumbled, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.
"Ur... I suppose that's ok, what with the shield and all. No doubt that takes a bunch of focus." Johan squeamishly said, a slight look of discomfort on his face. "It's just that, I couldn't help but notice you told everyone else how they could help, but not me."
Twilight rubbed her chin. "Urm... I'm sorry Johan but we still don't know if you have magic or not, and I'm not really sure what you can do right now without unicorn, pegasus, or even earth pony magic." She stated apprehensively. "I think it would be best for now if you found somewhere to hide until everypony is safe."
Johan grimaced. "Seriously?"
"It's for your own safety," Twilight said softly. She suddenly flinched, bringing a hoof to the side of her head.
"Are you ok?" The deer asked, holding out a hoof.
"Grn, yeah. They are just starting to hammer the shield with spells. It's headache-inducing."
Johan was silent for a second until he spoke up. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do to help, cause like... this looks bad. Like, really bad."
Twilight hesitated for a second, before an idea came to her mind, just as Spike walked outside the castle's front door. "Actually there is." She said, turning towards the castle and gesturing for Johan to look. "In the library, in a secret room behind a bookcase, you are going to find a display case with five necklaces and a tiara inside. These are powerful artifacts that I need to get on my friends asap. I need to go to the town center to coordinate a defense, so do you think you can get them for me and meet me there?"
Johan quickly perked up. "Oh yeah! Totally!" He cried, sudden conviction filling his gaze.
"Good, Spike will show you where it is. Hurry quickly!" She cried as she quickly turned around and started rushing towards the town hall. Johan nodded after her. Then he turned around and sprinted into the castle, Spike following after him.
"Which bookcase is it?!" Johan yelled.
"It's the one covered in books on ornithology!" Spike replied in a shill cry.
Starlight looked up at the dome with an uncomfortable grimace. She didn't know why, but she felt like it wouldn't be enough to hold the changelings back. she grimaced as she turned to Trixie.
"Trixie, I need you to go get all of Twilight's friends and tell them to meet us in the town center. Quick!" She said. Trixie nodded.
"On it!" She shouted, before sprinting off. Then Starlight turned to Derek, who was staring at her expectantly.
"Ok, combat magic is pretty simple. Still, we should keep it easy for now I think. You know how to do levitation right?" She asked, brows furrowed. Derek quickly nodded.
"Yeah, I got that down a while back." He flinched slightly at the sound of a distant explosion. The changelings were starting to hammer the shield.
"Ok, ok ok ok." Starlight said with an exhale, shaking nervously. "Now, tap into your mana again, and aim your horn at... uh..." She scanned the town center, her eyes locking on the nearby fountain. "There."
Derek spread his legs and lowered his head into his best attempt at a combat position and closed his eyes, letting in another deep breath. Once again he reached deep, towards the golden sea of mana inside him. Once again, he felt the other presence, though, oddly enough, it was much closer to the surface than before, as if there was someone standing next to him, but he knew there wasn't.
He exhaled as his horn ignited into golden light. "Ready." He said, gaze steeled.
"Now, this is a simple stun spell, anything hit with the beam will be knocked unconscious on conta-" Starlight started, turning towards the fountain. She was interrupted by Derek.
"I don't think a stun spell is going to cut it right now..." He said, clenching his teeth as another explosion slammed against the shield. Starlight gulped.
"Yeah, your right. Ok then. This kind of spell is only used by soldiers but, I sorta picked it up in my research. A kinetic spell. It's used to punch through stuff like a crossbow bolt, it's good against light and unarmored opponents, but heavily armored opponents will be close to immune to it." She said as she took a couple of steps back, she really didn't want to get hit by it. "Now then, you know how with levitation you imagined slowly reaching out and grabbing what you wanted to pick up?"
Derek nodded.
"Ok, instead of that, imagine you are striking out with a fist with your magic. Don't hold back!" Starlight said pointing at the fountain.
Derek did just that with a slight roar. Instantly, a massive golden beam, about the width of a pony, shot out of his horn and zoomed forwards. It completely absorbed the fountain and kept going through trees and walls until it struck the shield in the distance where it dissipated.
The spell soon died down, allowing both Starlight and Derek to see the damage. The entire upper half of the fountain was just gone, alongside several sections of walls in several houses, which now had ponies peaking out of them to see where the beam that had just demolished their living rooms had come from. Thankfully no one was hurt.
"Uh... woah," Starlight started, flinching slightly. "I think you might have put a little too much force into that spell."
Derek blinked twice. "Really?" he asked, turning to Starlight with a raised eyebrow. "I was trying to hold back a little..."
Starlight's jaw dropped. She stammered for a second, but just then Trixie and Twilight's friends arrived, quickly rushing up to join the two.
"Sweet Celestia," Rarity started grimacing as she saw the horde of changelings around them.
"Pardon mah Prench but," Applejack said, slowly taking off her cowboy hat and bringing it close to her chest. "I don't think we got a chance in Tartarus right now."
"Don't worry guys, I'm sure Twilight has a plan." Starlight said as she stepped forwards to join them, Derek following after her. Just then Twilight started to sprint into the town center.
"My queen!" An armored changeling roared as Chrysalis landed next to him. They were on the ground just outside Twilight's magical dome. Green flashes and explosions hammered the dome, magical spells meant to bring such a shield down, but they had close to no effect. "This spell has obviously been put in place by an alicorn of great power. It could take hours, even days to bring it down."
Chrysalis snarled loudly. "I don't care," she hissed slamming a hoof against the shield. "Even if Celestia herself put this shield up, I want it ripped down now. We need to level this town to the ground before their reinforcements can muster and get here."
The armored changeling turned back to the shield. "With the deepest of apologies my queen, I don't think that is doable under these circum - urk!" The changeling started, but he was stopped with a choke as Chrysalis grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air and slamming him back first into the shield.
"What makes you think you have the right to voice your shoddy little opinion at me, drone." She hissed. Her horn glowed, but a crashing noise behind her made her instantly stopped. She, and every drone near her, turned around to see a plume of smoke and a small crater. Slowly, a large, antlered shape slowly rose out of the dust. A platinum guard stepped forwards, light glinting off his visor as he started to approach the shield, a halberd floating next to him, grasped in a shimmering white field, is horn and antlers glowing the same color.
"Halt! No one approaches the Quee - AH!" A drone said, bravely moving to block the platinum guard's path, but a quick and merciless vertical slash of its halberd completely bisected the changeling in two. The drones surrounding the queen quickly dropped into combat positions, but Chrysalis stopped them with a raise of her hoof.
The platinum guard merely walked forwards without acknowledging anyone else. It was given a wide berth by Chrysalis's soldiers. Eventually, it reached the shield and silently raised a hoof, running it along the dome with a slight cock of its head. Chrysalis growled and, with a quick squeeze, snapped the neck of the disobedient drone in her grasp.
"Hmmph, so, did my mysterious benefactor send you here to gloat at how my army can't break this shield, or are you here to actually help?" Chrysalis growled, her eyes narrowing. It didn't respond, merely taking a couple of steps back. Chrysalis rolled her eyes and began turning back to the dome, but, in a single swift movement, the platinum guard charged forwards, his horn ignited with white light.
Then he jumped, colliding horn and antler first with the dome. There was a screeching sound as the armored creature instantly went through the shield like a hot knife through butter. The shield shuttered then instantly started to dissipate. Unlike most shields, which shattered, it disintegrated like a paper held over a fire. The hole the platinum guard made quickly grew until the entire dome was down.
Then he stood up, twirled his halberd once, and began the sprint into the town.
Chrysalis blinked in shock then threw her head back and cackled. "The shield is down! Attack! Bring me Starlight Glimmer and her friends!" She roared. The swarm, in unity, took to the air and began to dive-bomb into the city.
The Platinum Guard in the meanwhile skidded to a halt near the edge of the town and began to scan the horizon, eyes narrowing behind his visor. His eyes locked on the Crystal Tree Castle just as the shadow of the hive passed over him, and he returned to a sprint, heading right towards it.
Twilight collapsed with a scream of pain, grabbing the sides of her head. Her friends and Derek quickly rushed over to her, as her shield fell around them. There was a screeching roar and then a loud snap. A single crack appeared on Twilight's horn going from base to tip right above her forehead.
Rarity let out a gasp and covered her mouth with a hoof as both Rainbow Dash and Applejack rushed to her side to help her up. Fluttershy shrank and whimpered slightly as almost instantly a shadow started to cover their surroundings. The swarm was above them now.
"Oh no!" Derek said, rushing to Twilight's side watching as she brought a hoof up and touched her horn, quickly pulling it back and grunting in genuine pain. "Are you ok?"
"I-I'm fine. It's just my h-horn." She said tears forming in her eyes as she let out a moan, grasping at her head. "It'll h-heal. I just can't use any spells for a few weeks." She chuckled, it was a hollow dry one. Derek could tell she wasn't ok, especially with the swarm now starting to dive-bomb towards them, green fires engulfing them as they fell.
"Y-you have an idea to save us all... right?" Trixie asked, gritting her teeth. Explosions started to ring throughout the town as changelings landed. Twilight shook her head. "N-no. All my plans were reliant on the spell lasting for at least a couple of hours. Without it, we won't have time to reach the elements or hold out until help arrives or anything!"
Derek furrowed his brows and charged his horn. "Don't worry. I'll cover you until you think up a new plan." He turned his gaze upwards and spread his wings. With a roar, he fired yet another one of his beams of light up into the sky. He held it this time around, keeping it from dissipating. Then he started shaking it like a glowstick, striking changelings out of the air, some were disintegrated, others were knocked from the air and sent sailing to the ground.
Starlight nodded before joining him, readying several spells of her own. Rainbow rolled her shoulders and spread her wings. She turned to Twilight. "Don't worry, we got this!" She said. With a single flap of her wings, she shot into the air, a rainbow trail behind her.
She started doing twirls and dives in the air, years of being a cloud kicker as her experience. She started joining Derek in his work, knocking them out of the air with kicks and punches. Between the three ponies, it wasn't much compared to the utter swarm they were dealing with, but it did clear out their numbers slightly and prevented any changelings from landing in the town center, both giving Twilight time to think, and giving the ponies of the town a safe rallying point to hide in safe from changelings. However, temporary that space of time was.
Fluttershy turned to Twilight as Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity all stood up to join in on keeping Town Center clear. "Do you know anything that could help right now Twilight?"
"Right now," Twilight started, turning towards her castle. "All we can hope for is for Johan to get the elements to us."
Johan grunted as Spike helped him sling a bag that held the elements over his back. He swayed back and forth for a second before he sighed and started making his way out of the library, Spike right beside him.
A quick glance out the window made Spike and Johan do a double-take, their faces going white. "Oh my god. The shields down." Johan stammered. The weight on his back suddenly became way heavier.
Spike took a step back before he started to sprint down the hall. Johan gulped before following after him. "We need to get the elements to Twilight, and fast!" He shouted.
They had just arrived in the main hallway of the Castle when the front door exploded inwards and fell off its hinges, crystal shards raining everywhere. Johan and Spike froze as the dust started to settle, but Spike recognized the shape in the cloud somewhat. He let out a sigh of relief as it started walking forwards.
It was a tall figure wearing white and cyan armor with a sunglasses-like visor. It had two antlers shaped like mandibles and had a halberd clenched in magic floating right next to him. It glanced left, then right until its gaze locked on Spike and Johan. Primarily Johan. The deer didn't know why, but something about the thing's shape and the color of his armor made his heart race. And not in a good way.
"Oh thank Celestia," Spike said, wiping sweat off his brow. The figure started walking towards them. "It's you Pharnyx!" Spike quickly walked forwards up to the creature, who instantly stopped in place, gazing down at him.
"We need your help! Chrysalis is attacking! Did you bring anyone to help?" Spike started, reaching out a hand and grabbing his armored leg with a raise of his eyebrow. "And where did you get this armor? It looks sick!"
Suddenly, and without warning, in a single move the creature raised, its leg and backhanded Spike across the face, sending him flying through the air until he slammed against a nearby crystal wall.
"Spike!" Johan cried, watching the dragon as he slid down the wall and came to a stop at the base. He didn't move.
Johan took a step back as the creature turned its gaze back to him. There was a glint on its visor as it stepped forwards and held out a hoof to grab him.
Then it said a single word, and almost instantly a fear grabbed his heart, one which instantly activated a fight or flight response in his mind. He didn't know the word's meaning or significance, but hearing this... thing say it almost triggered a literal heart attack.
"Jelen..." It said slowly in a deep voice that reverberated through the hall, making Johan's knees quake. He started hyperventilating as it took another step towards him.
The deer closed his eyes and whimpered before turning in the direction of Spike and running, or rather jumping away as running deer are prone to do. Looks like he made the right decision, as just as he started bounding away the armored... thing pounced directly at him. He didn't open his eyes until he felt himself brush a leg against Spike. He quickly slung the dragon over his back and kept going.
When he next arrived at the front door, the first thing he noticed was the screaming. The swarm had landed all around the town, making pockets of 'fighting' that spread from one end to the other. Now they were working on uniting the regions of the town they controlled together, a classic paratrooper tactic that, while close to useless against actually fortified positions, was almost unstoppable on undefended towns like this.
Smoke rose throughout the town as green fires burned in the distance. Ponies scattered in each direction as black insectoid creatures chased after them, both from the air and on the ground. Those they caught were quickly snatched up and cocooned in green gooey pods. Johan hesitated for a second, wondering if he should take his chances out there or wait for Derek and everyone else to get to him in the castle.
A loud grinding sound behind quickly caused him to change his mind. A quick glance back at the armored creature as it rose its hooves, its halberd slicing into the ground behind him, leaving a large gash in the crystal. Johan decided he had much better odds outside than inside. Johan gulped before leaping out the door, just as a roar and a crash emanated from behind him. The creature, in a burst of speed unbecoming of something of its size, had shot forwards on buzzing bug wings with a hoof outstretched to grab him.
Johan sailed down the tall golden stairs and landed on the dirt path leading up to them with a force that shook his entire legs. He hardly noticed it due to adrenaline pumping through his veins. Like a gazelle he started running, or more like skipping, in a zig-zag method towards the town center. He had underestimated how fast he was when he was terrified like this it seemed, as the creature was having a somewhat hard time keeping up. At least at first.
Soon he arrived at what looked like a massive barricade made up of tables, chairs, and couches. A makeshift militia of unicorn and pegasus townfolk stood on the top, throwing... pies... and slinging spells at any changeling who came close, but the only pony he recognized ontop of the barricade was Rarity, who saw him as he approached.
"Rarity! It's after me! Help! It's after me!" Johan cried as he approached in a fast movement.
Before he made it to the wall, however, the deer heard the tingle of magic behind him. But, it wasn't the calming gentle effect he had come to associate with unicorns and alicorns. It was like the hiss of electricity, the crackle of lightning. The Deer let out a cry of surprise and pain as he felt some kind of force grab him by the leg, yanking at it with an extremely hard force, almost enough to dislocate it. The deer failed his next jump, face-planting on the ground as his leg was lifted into the air, and he was dragged towards the tall armored creature.
The deer's hooves dug into the ground as both Spike and the elements of harmony toppled off his back onto the ground. He cried out as a metal hoof grabbed one of his skinny legs and picked him up off the ground, lifting him until he was on eye level with it. Its visor showed the reflection of a terrified, close to tears, deer.
Emotionlessly, it slung Johan over its back, binding his hooves together with a magical spell, and started walking away, seemingly not even noticing the ponies behind it.
Rarity let out a gasp when she saw Johan approaching, Spike and a knapsack slung over his back. He was running from something, most likely some changeling soldiers.
Rarity gasped and turned around, hoping off the barricade, her position being quickly taken by a pony throwing random assorted items at the changeling soldiers flying above them.
"Twilight! Johan's here, and I think he has the Elements with him!" she cried, getting the attention of the wounded Alicorn, as well as Derek, who was taking a second to recharge his energy after fighting.
The two Alicorns quickly rose to their hooves and rushed to join Rarity. They peaked their heads over the barricades and were introduced to a rather distressing scene. Johan was being held up by one of his back legs by something armored and tall. The creature wasted no time in slinging Johan over his back and started walking away, a squad of changelings rushing past it towards the barricade, noticeably giving it a wide berth.
Another equally distressing sight was that of Spike, lying unconscious on the ground and the elements of harmony scattered in the dirt around him. It wouldn't be long until the changelings were on top of them.
Twilight grit her teeth before jumping into action, spreading her wings and flying over the barricade landing next to Spike. In the excitement, she forgot her cracked horn, attempting to charge a combat spell to hold them back, but it had no effect at all. Before the changelings could pounce on her, however, they were disintegrated by a golden beam of magic. Derek landed in front of her with a growl, eyes narrowed.
"Keep Spike and the elements safe, and get ready to use them. I'll take care of this." He hissed, his voice taking a dark inflection that Twilight had never heard before. The alicorn stomped forwards, his horn glowing and eyes narrowed in hatred. Twilight gulped before slinging Spike onto her back and collecting the elements.
"Rarity!" She said, turning up to the Unicorn still on the barricade. "Go get everypony else, let's finish this!"
She nodded down at her and rushed off. Twilight took a second to stop, turning to Derek.
"Be careful." She said quietly before she spread her wings and returned to the safety beyond the makeshift wall.
The Platinum Guard walked forwards, ignoring the cries of battle around him and the distant explosions of spells going off. That didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had his objective and he could return to his master. He ignored the squirming and whimpers of the deer on his back. No matter how much he moved he couldn't escape his magical bindings. Soon it would all be over.
A stomp quickly attracted his attention and he stopped, slowly turning his head to see a yellow and green alicorn, which emanated an unintentional hiss of hatred.
"Stop right there!" Derek roared, wings flaring and horn igniting into golden magic. "Put. My. Friend. Down. Now!"
The Platinum Guard stared at him for a second before slowly turning around, his antlers ignited as well, chilling cyan-colored magic laced between them like tesla coils.
"I warned you," Derek said suddenly before a wave of magic shot forth from his horn, a golden beam that filled the street they were standing in almost from end to end.
The armored changeling took a step back, his eyes no doubt widening slightly behind his visor. In a single movement, he grabbed the deer from his back and threw him towards the door of a nearby house. Johan crashed through the door just in time to avoid being caught and likely disintegrated in the magical attack. The Platinum Guard wasn't so lucky.
Derek smirked as he ended his attack. Dust and ash rose from the ground in front of him in clouds. He started walking forwards. He had accidentally put a little too much force into that spell, but it had worked out in the end, because Johan managed to dodge to the side to avoid it... somehow.
Derek quickly rushed forwards, poking his head into the doorway Johan had been thrown into.
"Hey Johan, you ok?" he asked as he stuck his head inside. The deer was laying on his front and groaned as if stunned, which he probably was.
"I'm... un... I'm ok." Johan said, bringing a hoof up to his head. Suddenly, there was a flash of white magic and Johan's hooves were once again bound in white magic.
"What the-" Derek asked, eyebrow raised.
"Derek behind you!" Johan yelled. Derek barely had time to turn around until the Platinum Guard, his armor glowing a deep red from the heat of Derek's spell, back hooved him across the face. Derek was sent flying towards the barricade, the fur on his cheek where he had been struck singed black. The Platinum Guard took a second to stare at Johan, cocking his head to the side, before he turned his attention back to the Alicorn. A long hiss left his throat as he walked forwards.
Derek sat up slightly, grabbing his cheek with a hiss of pain. He suddenly heard the ponies on the barricade behind him cry out and quickly rush down from their fortifications. He immediately saw why. The creature's antlers were glowing again.
Derek barely had time to rise to his feet and dodge out of the way, before with a screech, a spell came hurtling towards him. It was a small beam, but when it struck the ground where he had been, it exploded into a cyan fireball. The barricade was consumed in an explosion of light blue fire, chunks of furniture were flung in every direction, pieces of wood raining down on the defenders, breaking their concentration and allowing changeling drones to swarm in through the new hole in their lines.
Derek had only barely been spared from the same fate, but he didn't make it out unscathed. He was thrown into the wall of a nearby house, his back covered in deep cuts and scratches, and the fur on his entire back burned and black. The alicorn landed in a pile of wooden rubble at the bottom of the wall, and he felt a snap, one of his legs breaking. Derek cried out, trying to rise up again, but his knees buckled and he fell back into the rubble. He looked up and shrunk slightly as the armored creature slowly stomped towards him, his pace leisurely.
Johan barely had time to shimmy out of the building he had been thrown into before he saw the Platinum Guard reach down with a hoof and pick Derek up by the throat raising him into the air. It reared back and then threw the Alicorn towards the town center, where he skidded across the ground and slammed back first into the destroyed fountain, the stone pen forcing him into a sitting position.
All eyes in the town were now on him, be they changeling or pony. The elements quickly scrambled to ready a rainbow beam, but they were stopped when they were suddenly pounced on by changelings, who quickly went about removing their magical jewelry.
Once again, the Platinum Guard leisurely approached the Alicorn, and once more it reached down to grab Derek by the throat, likely to finish him off via strangulation, but this time Derek's horn ignited, in a last-ditch effort to stop it. A small golden beam shot forth from it, and struck the armored changeling directly in the visor, where it's left eye would have been.
The changeling strumbled back, taking a couple of steps to righten itself. The changeling's head was forced upwards from the blast, but slowly it lowered its gaze back to Derek. The visor was shattered and slowly fell apart to reveal two deep orange compound eyes narrowed in pure hatred. Derek smirked slightly.
"Heh... looks like I got a good shot in after all." He tried to laugh, but all he could do was cough.
The Platinum Guard merely drew his Halberd, raised it into the air, and plunged it directly into Derek's chest.
Many voices rang out at once, all of them crying a single word;
"Derek!"
Johan's breath hitched in his throat as he watched the platinum guard slowly pull his halberd out of his friends chest, twirling it to clean it of his friend's lifeblood. It then turned, flinching slightly as it turned towards the sun and raising a hoof to cover his now exposed eyes. It visibly growled and started slowly walking towards Johan. All the while, more and more changelings poured into the square, carrying captured ponies with them, gathering the entire town into one place.
Chrysalis was one of the last to arrive.
With a cackle she threw her hooves into the air and cheered. "Oh ho ho! What wonderful karma!" She cried, approaching Twilight and the elements. The six ponies, their eyes full of tears at the death of a friend, slowly turned their heads to look at her. The changelings holding them down tightened their grip, so as to prevent them from attacking.
"Oh, to think that the very same ponies who caused my exile in the first place are going to be the batteries I use to launch my reconquest!" Chrysalis gloated, bending down to be eyelevel with them. Her gaze then turned to Starlight, a dark smirk coming to her face. "And then there's you. I'm going to have to schedule a very public execution for you once I am back in my throne. Maybe involving rabid dogs."
"Y-you idiot." Starlight said with a growl, her eyes narrowing into hateful slits, even as tears started falling down her cheeks. "Don't you understand what you just did?"
"Won?" Chrysalis chuckled, turning to walk away. She stopped when Starlight let out a dry laugh. She couldn't help but stop and raise an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah, sure. You won." Starlight chuckled. "Now what? Celestia, Luna and Cadance are both on their way with Equestria's best soldiers. And they already know exactly where you are going. You have what, a couple thousand changelings here? How are you going to beat thirty thousand trained soldiers, on top of three doubtlessly angry alicorns."
Chrysalis paused for a second. She turned towards Derek. Then back to Starlight. A smile came to her face. "Shut up. I killed one already, how hard could three more be."
Starlight laughed, this time for real. "One who only figured out how to do magic a month ago. And who had only started using combat spells today. And Celestia? You only beat her because of magical steroids." The unicorn said with a smirk. "Besides. You didn't do anything. It did."
Chrysalis's eyes widened as she gestured to the platinum guard, who slowly reached down to pick up Johan by the shoulder. Looking back at her with a dismissive gaze in his orange eyes.
Chrysalis paused for a second and furrowed his brows in thought.
"What the hay are you doing Starlight!" Trixie hissed at her with a look of panic. "You seem to just be trying to make her mad!"
"I'm trying to distract her. To buy us time for Twilight to come up with a plan." Starlight whispered back, turning her head towards her friend before rapidly turning it back to Chrysalis who let out a gasp.
"You're just trying to psyche me out." Chrysalis hissed, gesturing for several changelings to come over. "Looks like I'm going to have to shut you up the hard way."
"Oh please, go ahead. That's not going to stop Celestia and Co. I think you've already wasted enough time bragging about how you've won that Celestia and Luna have probably already mustered their soldiers and are on their way here right now." Starlight smiled.
"Y-Yeah! The way I see it, you are gonna need all the love you can to even stand a chance!" Trixie suddenly yelled.
Chrysalis hissed, taking a step back. Then her smiled returned. "You're right. I do."
The queen suddenly stomped forwards, the act of which made both Trixie and Starlight flinch. "I've moved up the date of your executions. To today!"
"No! Stop!" Twilight cried, but it was already too late, as Chrysalis slowly opened her maw. With a hiss of magic and a roar of dark energy, the two ponies felt a burning in their chest, which only got worse by the second.
With two screams of agony, a pink stream of magical energy left their bodies, sailing towards the open mouth of Chrysalis.
The swarm of changelings laughed, but all Twilight and the elements could do was scream alongside their friends.
Derek found himself stranded in another void. The alicorn was standing on top of a shimmering sea of golden mana, which seemed to stretch on as an eternal flat plane. The sky was entirely black. He sighed. At the very least, this time it wasn't all white.
Derek kicked his leg and sat down. "I am a loser." He whimpered with an exhale. "I couldn't even keep my friends safe."
"Aww c'mon. That isn't your fault." A voice rang out. It was... his own voice. Derek instantly sat up and looked around.
"Who's there?!?" He cried. He wasn't greeted with an answer until a alicorn shaped pool of shimmering gold energy rose out of the ground in front of him. It stayed that shape for a second, then with a white flash it solidified into an alicorn with a green coat and a yellow mane, his hair was styled in a swept back side part, and he had a cutiemark consisting of a sword with a lightning bolt shaped blade. It was like looking into a mirror. In fact he was. It looked exactly like him.
He sighed. "Whelp, only three minutes in this place and I'm already hallucinating." he mumbled.
"Nah broski. I'm real." The other Derek said with a smile. "You remember how when you were trying to connect to your magic a while back and you felt another person? That's me!"
Derek was taken aback for a second, falling onto his back from surprise. He really didn't expect the other Derek to talk. He took a second to adjust standing up and looking at the other pony from every angle.
"Wait so... the other person inside me... was me?" He asked. The other Derek shook his head.
"Nope. Look there is a really, really complex history to this. I can't really explain it now cause you are literally bleeding to death from a massive hole in your chest, but I can give you a cliff notes version. The name is Auream, and I'm here to help." The other Derek said standing up. Derek did the same.
That's when they heard screaming. Screaming they recognized. Derek panicked for a second. It was coming from above. He looked up and grit his teeth.
"I can save them, but I'm gonna have to ask you to let me take her for a spin real quick." Auream said, holding out a hoof for Derek to take.
"Take what for a spin!?!" Derek said, panic in his voice. The Alicorn desperately turned to his clone.
"Your body. Don't worry, I'll give it back the second I am done with it. Take my hoof, and I'll save them, no strings attached." Auream said, a warm smile coming to his face. Derek hesitated, holding up his hoof before rapidly pulling it back. "Trust me, I'm you after all."
"Ok, ok ok ok. Not like I have a choice right now." Derek sighed, looking at Auream brow furrowed. "In the future though, you should work on your delivery. You genuinely sound like you're some Faustian bargain maker."
Auream chucked and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I was probably laying it on a little strong there. Don't worry, you're not giving up your soul or anything, cause like... not like I can take it. We do technically have the same soul."
Derek nodded. He raised his hoof once more, but stopped just short of taking his clone's hoof. "Broski?"
Auream snorted. "Sorry. I'm fifteen hundred years old, I am just trying to use some modern lingo."
"Well, unless you're a surfer douche, that's probably not one you should use." Derek smiled. Then he took Auream's hoof. A golden flash filled his vision, and then he was alone. He looked left then right and sighed. It probably was just an illusion.
Just then though, like the sea during a storm, the golden ocean of magic beneath him started to roar and churn. Something was happening.
Johan numbly kept his gaze on his friend's body. He felt as through his soul had just been crushed. His friend... his best friend had just died trying to protect him. It was all over. He was alone now. At the very least it probably wouldn't last for long.
The platinum guard slung the deer over his back once again and started to walk away, ignoring the cheering of the changelings around him as they watched their queen absorb the love of a pathetic pony, he couldn't care less.
Just then however, every changeling in the town, even Chrysalis and the platinum guard froze in place. They started to feel a slight burn in their chest, along side an all encompassing feeling of dread. Slowly the platinum guard froze, turning his gaze towards the corpse of Derek... or atleast, he thought it was a corpse. Golden energy started to gather around it, the burning and feeling of dread only got worse with every second.
The ponies around them felt a warm feeling pierce into their souls. Joy, love, valor. Those feelings all burned together in their breasts. The feeling was the opposite for the changelings who were all collectively backing away from the Alicorn's body.
All around the world, ponies and changelings felt it... somehow. Celestia and Luna both froze in their mad aerial dash towards Ponyville, they had felt this feeling before. Discord raised an eyebrow. Starswirl the Bearded gasped, his gaze instantly turned towards Ponyville, from his Canterlot tower. "He's back..." He said, a small smile coming to his face.
The Changeling Hive felt a panic rush through it's tunnels, as all changelings, from King Thorax to the youngest of drones, collectively felt panic burn into their brains. A collective racial terror that had long been dormant. A single thought burned through all their minds at once. He is back.
On a hill overlooking Ponyville, the one eyed changeling and his two remaining platinum guard stood. They had their halberds drawn, glancing between Ponyville and their master.
"My Domine, we have to go down there! Tza'ak is alone with him!" A deep feminine voice called out behind him, one of the platinum guard. The one eyed changeling lowered his head.
"There is nothing we can do for him now." He said, a deep sadness in his voice. "Come. We were too late. I need to rethink my plans." he turned and started to walk away, head lowered.
Both of the platinum guard turned to look at each other for a second, before following after their master.
Chrysalis collapsed onto her knees. "What's happening!?!" She cried, turning towards the platinum guard. Golden energy started to flash around them, sailing towards Derek's body.
"Run." The platinum guard hissed, pointing the tip of his Halberd at Derek.
Then there was an explosion of golden magic. A burst of hurricane like force flew in every direction. Chrysalis's hair flapped in the wind, her hooves digging into the ground. She saw as her soldiers were tossed away like ragdolls. Her eyes widened for a second until she too was swept off her hooves, and sent careening into a nearby wall.
The ponies were unaffected by the power going off, but Johan was. Just before he was sent flying away the rough grip of one of the platinum guard's hooves stopped him, holding onto him for dear life, seemingly.
As abruptly as they started, the winds died down. Standing in a crater that had once been the town's fountain with his eyes closed, was Derek. There was now a massive diagonal scar across his chest, but other than that he looked fine. Derek smiled as he slowly stepped out of the crater, his horn glowing a brilliant gold.
He slowly opened his eyes, they were glowing the same color as his horn. He cracked his head to the left than to the right before rolling his shoulders.
"Hey bud. Long time no see." He said. Though he was staring at Johan, the deer got the distinct feeling that he wasn't talking to him.
The platinum guard growled setting Johan down and stepping in front of him. "Still can't keep the stallions off you huh?"
Johan felt a weird felling, as if there was someone inside him... laughing.
Derek then turned his attention back to the platinum guard. "Tza'ak? That you? Almost didn't recognize you without your boss glued to your crotch." The alicorn smirked, his horn only brightening.
The platinum guard let out a bestial hiss and charged. "Ah yeah, there's that suicidal loyalty I remember!" Derek laughed lowing into a combat pose.
"You know, for 'the perfect soldiers', you platinum guards-" he suddenly shot forwards with a flap of his wings, his right forehoof being wrapped in an aura of golden energy "-sure are idiots!"
In a single movement, faster than almost everyone could track, Derek delivered a punch to the guard's chest. It roared out in pain as it was sent flying back, the armor on it's chest shattering like glass. It crashed into the front of townhall, shaking the building. The platinum guard cried out, stepping out and gasping. With another flash, Derek was suddenly behind him.
It barely had time to turn around before Derek's horn shot a beam of energy that consumed him sending him flying back. He landed in the same crater Derek had just walked out of. It shakily tried rising to it's hooves, it's armor disintegrating to dust around it. Twilight and the other ponies gasped at what they saw. The platinum guard looked nearly identical to a reformed changeling. His carapace was yellow in color, fading into a green color towards his chest. With two compound orange eyes and two green antlers emerging from his head.
It slowly turned towards Derek, slight panic written on it's face. Derek smirked. "You know, as fun as this little reunion is, I kinda have a deal to uphold and a body to give back. You understand right?" Derek chuckled, his horn glowing. Suddenly he charged forwards. The magic around his horn suddenly solidified into a blade made of hard light, which Derek swung downwards.
The platinum guard raised his halberd to block, but the blade cut clean through it like it was a flimsy stick. Derek landed on the ground in front of the Guard and then raised his horn one final time. One last beam of energy shot upwards, consuming all but the guard's left antler. With a crack it was sent sailing through the air in an arch, landing right next to Johan's head. Soon the beam died down, and this time there really was nothing left but smoke and ash.
Derek stood up with a smile, looking around. Everyone was staring at him, Changeling, pony, dragon and deer alike. His eyes locked on Chrysalis and he grinned. "I think this is the part where you run away."
With a scream of pure fear, Chrysalis rose to her hooves and took to the air, bolting in the direction of the Everfree forest. Screaming echoed from every direction as her army scattered in every direction. Just then both the Sun and Night Guard arrived. They shot downwards catching changelings on their spears, or tackling them to the ground and locking them into hoof-cuffs.
Derek smiled and inhaled. "Good to be back." he said before the glow in his eyes disappeared and he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Chrysalis landed in the Everfree with an ungraceful crash, face planting in the dirt. She panted, grabbing at her chest. His heart was racing, as if she was seconds away from a heart attack. She let in a deep inhale trying to calm herself, but it was close to useless.
She heard a series of similar crashes around her, quickly flopping onto her back to see a small scattering of about eight armored changelings land at random around her. At least the armor implied that they were high ranked, and thus, responsible for cataloging numbers. That'd be useful, using them she could possibly get an account of losses, and thus an idea of what to do next.
Chrysalis sat up and let out a guttural growl. "Which of you is in charge?" She hissed, attempting to stand up on shaky legs.
One of the changelings, his armor slightly shinier and thicker than his compatriots, quickly stood up and saluted in a disciplined and rigid manner. "My Queen! General Mandible at your service!" He yelled.
Chrysalis frowned. "Status report, now. I want to know if we can bounce back from this." She said looking the changeling up and down. To be honest, she didn't even know she had a general.
"Hard to say Ma'am, judging on a cursory glance of what happened during our retreat-" He started.
"It was a tactical withdrawal!" Chrysalis instantly hissed, raising her hoof to backhand the ignorant ling. She stopped herself when the general flinched and let in a deep inhale, lowering it back to the ground.
"- R-right my queen. Our tactical withdrawal has left us scattered. Between the Equestrian army catching up to us, and that... green guy disintegrating a good chunk of soldiers as collateral during his fight, casualties are likely high. If I had to guess, at least fifty percent of our forces have been wiped out in this engagement. That is of course, the optimistic assumption." The General spoke, keeping a firm stuffy tone throughout. The other seven changelings the in clearing visibly grimaced, one of them even looking sick to the face. Chrysalis's mouth merely dropped.
"We had a force of eighty five hundred changelings, are you telling me that this single battle killed as many as four thousand of them?" Chrysalis asked, stepping towards the changeling, her slack jaw quickly turning into a snarl. A single bead of sweat dropped from Mandible's forehead.
"Killed or captured my queen. In which case, the prisoners would likely end up starving to death in Equestrian prisons." The guard responded without a second beat.
Chrysalis hissed. "That or converted into brainwashed traitors like my hive." She spat when she finished, the general merely nodded in response, but several of the other changelings in the clearing couldn't help but raise their eyebrows in confusion. Converted? Whatever did the queen mean by that?
"My best assumption is that the remaining members of the army are scattered in the woods surrounding town. With how exhausted we, and likely they, are my best advice would be to return to the mountain and hole up and hope at least some of our forces think to regroup there. Alongside hoping that the Equestrians don't find it." Mandible said with a slight frown. "We will likely have the abandon the rest if we want to survive."
Chrysalis let in a deep inhale, looking away and gritting her teeth. She had all that power, and now she was back to square one. She closed her eyes and shook her head. At least now she wasn't alone. Tiny blessings.
Chrysalis suddenly let out a roar of anger and stomped her feet. Her soldiers flinched and quickly stepped back as she approached a nearby tree and punched it.
"That bastard! I knew it was a trick! He was probably sent by Thorax to convince me to attack Ponyvile on purpose! It was obviously a trap!" She roared as she slammed her forehead into the tree.
"A very paranoid way of thinking." A voice rang out. Her soldiers instantly spun around, sticking their glowing horns in the direction of the sound. Chrysalis hissed as a single pure white eye appeared in the darkness. "Or have you forgotten that one of my soldiers died in the fight too?"
Two platinum guard stepped out of the underbrush, flanking the changelings, their halberds at the ready. Chrysalis grimaced, she held up her hooves for the changelings to stand down. They quickly did, especially after just witnessing what only one of those things could do.
"Oh, now if the perfect time to show up Mr. tall dark and mysterious? Let me guess, you've come to gloat?" She hissed.
The silhouette of the changeling stepped out, his single eye narrowing. "On the contrary, I've come to offer some help and at least attempt to improve your situation." he waved his hoof and the two platinum guard quickly looked to their master, hesitated for a second, before turning and leaving the clearing.
"Where are they going? Back into town to get slaughtered like 'Tza'ak' was?" Chrysalis said eyebrows furrowed. The one eyed changeling shook his head.
"I've sent them to attempt to round up the rest of your followers. And your assumption was wrong, Mandible. 70% of your army was captured or killed in that battle, and the Equestrian guard are already moving through the woods to finish off the stragglers. Thankfully, my platinum guard are stealthy enough to dispatch any guards in their way without being noticed." He said stepping forwards.
Chrysalis hissed with a smile. "So you just sent away your only protection to go patrolling the woods to find my army? Hah! Good!" She roared green magical fire igniting in her eyes as magic danced around her horn. Her wings buzzed as she rose into the air. "That means I can take my revenge for getting my army killed!"
With a roar of energy, a bolt of magic zapped from her horn, lancing like a lightning bolt directly toward the antlered changeling's single eye.
The young changeling felt pain as the roof collapsed on top of him, but he quickly realized that it wasn't his own pain he was feeling. It was his mother's, just as he had felt the pain of the disintegrated guards before. In an instant, he felt his every bone crack and shatter and then, he felt nothing. He awoke what he could only assume were hours later.
There was a weight on him, like nothing he had ever felt before. The six-year-old came to regret his people's monolithic architecture, for now the entire weight of one such building was pressing down on him. With a groan of pain, he felt the weight shift, alongside the sound of stone hitting stone. Another section of the roof had fallen, likely directly on top of the ones pinning him.
The changeling let out a weak whimper as he tried to wrap his head around a way out of his current predicament. Just then, he remembered his mother. He had seen rubble land on top of her just before he lost consciousness. He let out a sudden roar as his horn and antlers lit up with cyan magic. A spherical burst of energy of the same color flew out of him, flinging the rubble in every direction. The dark of the sky now visible from where the roof had once been told him that it was night. It had been day when he was buried. He didn't even take a second to process what had just happened, how he had managed to do that, before he was up on his hooves, haphazardly scampering across the rubble that covered the floor of what had once been the atashgah.
He kept running across the rubble, ignoring the splinters of stone and wood that stabbed and cut into his hooves. He only stopped when he saw a deep blue hoof sticking out of the rubble in front of him. It looked cracked and broken, like a nearly shattered pane of glass. With a cry of agony, the changeling quickly rushed forwards, coming to a stop next to the hoof. He collapsed to his knees and instantly started trying to dig at the rubble. The small stones and wooden beams cut into him causing him to bleed light blue blood. He didn't care.
He cried out in agony once again as he tried lifting a particularly heavy rock. It didn't budge. He stopped, panting as he closed his eyes and tried reaching out to the same magic that had unburied him. All he managed to do was give himself a headache. He closed his eyes and inhaled, and then thought to do the only thing one of his age could do.
"Help! Please! Help!" He cried. His voice echoed throughout the empty room. At first there was no response, until, he saw something in glittering armor moving around above him. Initially he smiled slightly, thinking they were the same soldiers who had been guarding his family since the day his eyes first opened. Then he saw what they really were as they landed all around him.
They were equine in shape, with fur, spiral conical horns, and bird wings. They wore golden armor that glinted and shimmered in the moonlight. Their eyes seemed to glow a deep white as they powered their horns which were holding up weapons of all kinds, primarily golden-plated swords and spears. The young changeling's eyes widened as he fell onto his back, watching as they slowly encircled him with smiles on their faces. The changeling grabbed his mother by the hoof as one of them came close enough to tower over him.
"Lookie here mates!" He said in a guttural accent, licking his lips. He slowly raised his sword and tapped flat against one of the young changeling's small budding antlers. "Looks like we missed one. And by the looks of it, this one's one of them special types."
"Dibs on the antlers! I found 'im, and I need something to hang above mi fireplace." Another laughed as the first slowly raised his sword. The changeling closed his eyes and whimpered looking away. He should have been more scared, but the only thought that filled his head was that he would soon be reunited with his mother.
"Stop!" A deep commanding voice said suddenly. The other equine fumbled and dropped the blade, quickly retreating away from the changeling and looking behind him. The changeling slowly opened his eyes as a single figure landed where he had once been buried. He was tall, the tallest creature the young changeling had ever seen in his life. He was similarly a horned and winged equine like his compatriots, but both his wings and horn were much, much larger than his compatriots. His coat was a golden yellow in color, and his short stylized mane was a multicolor of silver, gold and copper, which swirled and moved in an ethereal manner.
"Lord Aeternum! Sir!" One of the equines said, dropping into a bow, the others quickly followed suit. 'Lord' Aeternum merely gave them a passing glance before he slowly and gracefully walked forwards, stones in his way being lifted up in a golden aura and merely set aside as he walked forwards, a path cleared between him and the ling.
When he arrived Aeternum bent down slowly, reaching out a hoof and grabbing the ling by the chin. Fear filled it's white compact eyes as Aeternum observed him from every angle, his eyes locking on the antlers before moving on. Suddenly Aeternum smiled.
"Why hello there little one. I am king Aeternum. I own you now." he hissed, his smile widening. He let out a disarmingly kind coo when the changeling whimpered. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not a bad guy. Think of me as.... Think of me as your new father."
Like a meteorite in atmosphere, the green bolt of magic aimed for the one eyed changeling's head ignited, uselessly burning up before it came even close. A deep reverberation filled the clearing as the changeling's single eye widened, his horn and antlers igniting into cyan magic. There was a burst of energy as cracks formed in the ground around him, they spread, snaking across the ground, going up the trucks of nearby trees, which shattered into splinters collapsing to the ground. Chrysalis barely had time to react before she felt a force wrap around her neck. She was lifted into the air and slammed against the trunk of a nearby tree. Her subjects let out cries of panic as they saw their queen choked out, but it quickly became apparent that they could do nothing when the same force grabbed each and every one of them, freezing them in place.
Slowly the one-eyed changeling stepped forwards, revealing his appearance to her for the first time. He was visibly androgynous with a soft chin and snout. His carapace was a shimmering cyan in color with two large, mandible-like white antlers coming from the sides of his head, with what looked like a significantly smaller second set sprouting out just above his ears. His eye was locked onto Chrysalis with a look of pure disgust. An eyepatch covered his left eye.
Chrysalis felt the force on her neck tighten and she let out a wheezing cry. "You seem to have forgotten your place in this arrangement, queen." he hissed, his eye narrowing even further. "I am the single most powerful changeling you will ever meet, and you thought, in your infinite wisdom, you could stand against me? Perhaps I should have taken the advice of my followers and strangled you in that pissant camp I found you squatting in. Spared us all the embarrassment of seeing your attempts at conquest."
"W-who are you?!?" Chrysalis wheezed. The one eyed changeling merely laughed.
Twilight was the first to rise to her hooves after the changelings were driven off. She quickly rushed to Derek's side, joined just seconds later by Johan. Twilight wasted no time in bending down and pressing the side of her head against Derek's chest. When she heard the steady thumping of his heart, alongside the rhythmic inhale and exhale of life, she let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Oh thank Celestia. He's ok." She said wiping her brow. Johan himself grit his teeth and slowly ran his hoof along the scar that now sat emblazoned on Derek's chest. He brought his hoof back to his face and stared down at it, his breath shaky.
"He... He almost died because of me..." he said quietly to himself. "He got hurt because of me..."
"Don't beat yourself up Johan. If I know Derek, he'd of put himself through the same thing for anypony." Applejack said as she came up to their side, putting a hoof on his shoulder. The deer shook his head and looked away.
"You don't understand..." he once again spoke in a quiet voice. He let out a short sniffle before his eyes locked on the green antler. The one that had once belonged to the Platinum Guard... Tza'ak if he remembered what Derek said... if that really was him.
He sat up as Pinkie Pie rushed over to the now thoroughly destroyed town hall, throwing her hooves into the air after jumping to the top. "Who's ready for a victory party!" She cried loudly.
Johan ignored the resounding cheer that came from both the citizens of Ponyvile and the soldiers who had come to break the siege. Instead, he simply started walking towards the antler. Just as he reached down to grab it though, he watched as it was picked up in a midnight blue aura and lifted into the air, slowly flying away from him.
His eyes trailed it until it landed in the open hoof of a blue Alicorn. His eyes widened for a second when he saw her. She was tall, one of the tallest people she had met while in Equestria, beaten out only by that big bug queen who had been gloating at him earlier, being more comparable in size to the Platinum Guard. Her mane and tail both shook and hummed with magic as they danced in an ethereal pattern. Her 'cutie mark' was that of a white moon on a black background.
"Hmmmm..." she hummed, gazing intently down at the antler.
"What is it sister?" A second voice said as she was joined by an even taller Alicorn. This one was white with a pink, blue and green mane, which similarly floated through the air with some kind of ethereal power. Her mark was that of the sun. For some reason, Johan felt he recognized them. His brow furrowed. He also felt deep down that he didn't like what he was recognizing.
"This antler. It's a changeling antler." the blue one said, her eyes locking over on one of the changelings, who was desperately trying to escape his guard captor. "And not belonging to one of these ones."
"You don't think...." The second one said, a look of disapproval coming to her face.
"I don't know sister... I don't want to think Thorax betrayed us, it seems unlikely with how he acts, but for now..." the first one replied, grimacing down at the antler.
"You are too paranoid." The white one said shaking her head. "There is probably an explanation for this."
Twilight quickly stepped forwards, clearing her throat. "I agree." Twilight said stepping forwards. "I don't think that changeling had anything to do with Thorax and his kingdom. It was too brutal. Even Chrysalis's hive didn't have it in them to execute someone like it did... not to mention..." She turned towards Derek who was still on the ground, now with Fluttershy and Rarity looking over him.
"Whatever is in Derek knew about it."
They both stared at her for a second and nodded. Then the white one locked it's gaze on Johan.
"Well, hello there. You must be the other human. Johan right?" She said with a smile. "Greetings, it is very nice to meet you, my former student here has told me a lot about you."
"Oh? And what has she been saying?" He said with a deepened frown. She merely laughed and stepped closer to him.
"That you are angry, confused... but that's to be expected for someone lost in a new world." She said. Johan's jaw dropped for a second and he looked over to Twilight with death in his eyes, who sheepishly giggled. The white alicorn giggled, sitting down in front of him.
"She also told me that you have what it takes to be a wonderful Equestrian, we just have to get through that rough exterior." She said warmly, holding out a hoof for him. "I'm Princess Celestia, and it is so nice to meet you."
Johan looked at her hoof for a second, before grabbing it and giving it a slight shake. "I probably should have guessed as much." he chuckled dryly, "And I'm guessing she's Luna?" He shot a glance to the other Alicorn who nodded.
"Charmed," Luna said with a smile.
"I wish I could also shake your friend's hoof, but he seems a little... incapacitated right now." Celestia sighed. Johan slowly looked back to Derek, his heart sinking.
"Yeah..." He similarly sighed, shaking his head. "I hope he's ok."
"As do I my friend... as do I."
Just then a slight commotion nearby caught the attention of the three princesses, as well as Johan. Slowly a gold armored guard approached, dragging an armored changeling behind him.
"My princess, this one is a commander, he might know something." She said, tossing the 'ling to the ground in front of them. All three of the alicorns flared their wings and stared down at the commander, who slowly craned his neck to look up at them.
It hissed. "I'm not saying anything to any horses no matter how powerful." He spat up at them. Celestia's eyes only narrowed.
"Are you sure about that? Maybe a thousand years on the moon would loosen your tongue." She hissed. There was a pause as both Twilight and Johan turned to each other and blinked.
"What?" Johan asked.
The changeling only laughed. "Oh yeah sure! Some threat! Shoot me to the moon for a thousand years! See you then, maybe then you'll have solved the problem on your own!" he hollered kicking his legs.
Celestia merely smirked and shook her head. "Oh deary me... you're right. I am no good at this interrogation business. Maybe I should just hand you over to my sister instead." The changeling could only raise an eyebrow before he was suddenly spun around with great force as Luna grabbed him by the collar of his armor, lifting him into the air with no effort.
"I swear to whatever it is you changeling's worship," she started, her eyes glowing with a deep white light and her teeth suddenly turning into fangs. "If you don't tell us what we want to know right now, I assure you that a thousand years of banishment will be a mercy compared to what I'll do to you."
The changeling let out a sudden shriek and brought his hooves up to cover his face. "Alright! Alright! I'll tell you!" he cried with a whimper. Luna dropped him to the ground at Celestia's hooves before she similarly smirked, then the two princesses bumped hooves as the changeling sat up.
"Now then, tell us where you all came from, and where that... 'Platinum Guard' came from." Twilight said, brow furrowed.
"We were all put into magical stasis by her mother, three hundred years ago I think. We were supposed to be reserves in case my queen was ever deposed." The changeling said. "It was our duty to awaken at our queen's call and then retake her kingdom for her."
"Great job you did at that." Johan chuckled. The changeling ignored him.
"As for the big guy... I have no idea where he came from. All I know is that I saw my queen talking to some shady figure when we all woke up. He had two more of them with him and that's the last I saw of them. I swear!" The changeling said with a gulp. "I don't even know his name!"
"U'val." A voice behind them suddenly said. A male one. Everyone instantly turned around to see Derek, propped up on one of his elbows, his other hoof on his forehead nursing his headache.
"How did you..." Twilight started.
"The guy in here..." he tapped on the side of his head. "He told me his name just before I woke up."
"Did he tell you anything else about him?" Luna said, frowning.
"Only that he's bad news," Derek responded. He glanced around for a second. "Starlight and Trixie... are they ok?"
Twilight nodded as Celestia and Luna turned to each other, locking eyes. Celestia suddenly closed her eyes and nodded. "Before we figure anything else out... we need to get every creature together. Twilight send for the global council." She ordered standing up.
The other Alicorn nodded, quickly rushing over to Spike who was just now picking himself up.
Johan himself just looked back to the antler which had been dropped to the ground when Luna had assaulted the prisoner. He felt a chill go down his spine. Just the name U'val had triggered a memory in him. A memory of a single platinum-white compound eye.
U'val kept his eye narrowed on Chrysalis as she sputtered and choked, his magic squeezing down even harder around her throat. For a split second his eye wandered, locking onto her subjects. He saw the distraught and fear written on their faces. He saw them staring at their Queen with pleading eyes, praying for her survival. His eye widened, then quickly returned to Chrysalis.
"Feh." he suddenly said, dropping her to the ground and releasing his grip around her neck. He turned away from her as her subjects were similarly released. They quickly ran to her side, helping her pull herself up. U'val took a step away from her and stopped, just at the edge of the clearing.
"I'm going to forgive this little overstep of yours, on one condition." He said, slowly turning over his shoulder to stare her down.
"And... that is?" Chrysalis wheezed, grabbing at her throat.
"Work with me. I still have need of your services." He said as he walked into the underbrush. Chrysalis hesitated, her eyes following after him, then she looked to her subjects, before finally she sighed, stood up, and followed after him.
Derek scratched the side of his head as he stood in the front yard of Twilight's castle, the cheering of people and laughing of party-goers constantly acting like a lure to take his attention away from his thoughts.
After 'he' had saved the town, a victory party had been in order, but with the arrival of Celestia and Luna's army, alongside that of Twilight's brother and sister in law not long after, the castle was a little too small for everyone, so the front yard had been (literally within an eyeblink) converted into a barbeque like outdoor party by Pinkie. It had actually been kinda scary. While he appreciated the celebration, he didn't appreciate the sound, especially now when he was trying to think.
He also didn't appreciate everyone coming up to thank him for saving the town. Of course, he liked being thanked for his hard work as much as the next guy, it just that he didn't like being credited for other people's work. He didn't actually do anything. It was all this 'Auream' character.
Derek sighed when a crash rang out, turning to see that some guy had just dive-bombed a table like this was a frat party. He turned and shook his head preparing to leave for someplace quieter before he was stopped by three ponies. The Princesses.
He recognized two of them, Celestia and Luna, from earlier that day and quickly gave a bow, but the third one he had only seen from a distance and heard mentioned now and then. Cadance was her name.
"No need to bow on our account, especially considering you're one of us," Luna said with a slight chuckle, gesturing to his wings.
Derek smiled and straightened up, a devious look on his face. "Does that mean I'm technically a prince now?"
"I wouldn't go that far yet." Cadance laughed. "But in order to become an Alicorn, you have to do something extraordinary, so no doubt you might become one eventually."
Derek rubbed the back of his neck. "Urrr... to be honest, I haven't really done anything to earn it, I just sorta... came like this."
Cadance smiled. "So did my daughter, but I can already tell you that she's destined for great things." She said, holding out a hoof for him. "My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. It is wonderful to meet you."
"Derek," he said, taking her hoof and giving it a quick shake.
"I must say Derek, me, my sister, and my niece have been very interested in your magical abilities, the only person as naturally gifted as you is the young Flurry Heart," Celestia said, sitting down next to him, levitating a small cup of punch into her hoof, wrapped in golden energy. "Would you care to talk to us about it?"
"Errr... sure, why not," Derek said with a smile, doing the same with his own magic. Instantly both of the elder alicorns locked onto the color of the magic, a brilliant gold, just like Celestia's. They shot a glance at each other and smiled. "What would you like to know?"
"Well, all alicorns, myself included, have a natural inner realm of sorts, a mental zone we can connect to at times," Celestia said, taking a sip of her drink and smiling down at him. "Mine is a void filled with balls of pure magic."
"Mine is rather boring actually, just a void filled with a backdrop of a stary night," Luna said with a chuckle.
"Crystals and Hearts." Came Cadance.
Derek scratched the side of his head. "Eh... mine's all black." He started, thinking back to his meeting with Auream. "Except the floor is like, a big shimmering sheet of golden energy." The alicorns nodded along as he spoke.
"Ah, my mentor Starswirl mentioned that that kind of thing was common among young alicorns. Apparently, it will change as you age," Celestia said bringing her cup up for another sip. "And you mentioned that there was someone in there with you?"
Derek nodded. "Yeah, Auream is his name."
Celestia brought her free hoof to her chin. "And he is just naturally in there?" When Derek nodded she furrowed her brow.
"Hmmph, it isn't unheard of for an Alicorn to summon someone into their head-" She started
"I had the entire town of Ponyvile once." Luna reinforced her point.
"But that usually requires a conscious effort on the Alicorn's part. Do you know if this 'Auream' has a body of his own?"
Derek shook his head. "I think I'm his body," he responded, looking down at himself.
Celestia shook her head. "I will admit, this is beyond my knowledge." She suddenly smiled. "Perhaps my old Teacher Starswirl will know more. When we go to Cantlerlot for the meeting, I will introduce you to him, he will know much more than I. He always does... mostly."
Derek grinned. "That sounds great!"
Johan had been surprised when he saw how quickly the town of Ponyville had managed to piece itself together after its unfortunate sacking earlier as if total town destruction was normal to them. They had everything fixed in only an hour or two and jumped almost instantly into a victory party. One which he had skipped going to.
Now he was sitting on the balcony of his and Derek's room, the same place he had retreated to during the last party. Luckily, it sat over the back of the castle while the party was in the front yard, so he could be completely alone. He needed it. All he had was his thoughts, the chirp of crickets, and the occasional loud shout from the party. He shook his head, bringing a hoof up to cup the side of his head.
"He almost died... for me..." he said, feeling his eyes water slightly. "I almost got my best friend killed..."
He pulled himself up into a ball, almost sobbing as he looked down. Just thinking about how he felt towards his friend, even yesterday, was sickening. Feeling so bitter and spiteful towards someone who had risked his life to keep him safe, made him feel disgusted. Disgusted with himself. And what made it worse? He still felt the underlying taint of jealousy ripping through his soul.
Johan brought a hoof to either side of his head, letting out a pathetic whimper. There was something wrong with him, no ifs ands or buts about it. He was a terrible person, a terrible friend.
His self-pity was suddenly interrupted by the sound of flapping wings, then something four legged landed in front of him. He didn't look up, keeping his gaze towards the crystal floor. When, who he could only assume was Derek, didn't say anything, he took the first initiative.
"I-I know," he started, his voice pathetic and shakey. "You want me to join you at the party... I just..."
He was silent for a second, trying to find the words until he finally let out a pathetic sob. "I can't... I'm sorry. I almost killed you... I'm sorry..." He cried, burying his head further into his hooves. For a second, he flinched when, whoever it was, approached him quietly, loomed over him for a second, and then... licked him?
He quickly sat up, blinking twice. "W-what the?" He asked, his eyes still red and watering. Standing in front of him was a dog, about as big as him. It was a Caucasian Sheperd Dog to be specific. It was white in color, with grey highlights along the edges of its fur. What was most shocking to him though were the two massive bird wings that spread out of its back, alongside a collar that sat around his neck, a small tag hanging from the front.
It barked for a second, prancing in place before it shot forwards, licking his cheek. He stammered for a second, spitting and pulling back, putting a hoof on the dog's head, pushing it back slightly. He shook his head before righting himself slightly. He had seen so many weird things so far, but for some reason, a winged dog took the cake for him... mostly because so far all the other dogs he had seen since getting here in Equestria had been normal... wooden ones notwithstanding.
He gave the thing a quick head pat as he lowered his head to get a better look at the tag hanging from its collar. The writing was in a weird language, one he hadn't seen in Equestria. At first, he had thought they were hieroglyphics of some kind, but after a couple of seconds of staring, made harder by the dog's over eager jerkings, he recognized them as Cyrillics of some kind, though the type he couldn't pin. Though, what made it far weirder was the fact that, for some reason, he could read them. Just like he could with the ruin when he had first arrived in Equestria.
"Aralez? Is that your name?" He asked. The dog barked shaking its tail. He smiled as it licked him once again.
Johan smiled running his hoof along the creature's back. "Heh, can't say the name fits, mostly cause I don't know what it means..." He giggled as the dog pressed its snout against the chest.
Just then the door opened behind him and he quickly turned around, the dog pulling itself from his grasp. It was just in time to see someone join him on the balcony. And this time it really was Derek. Johan stared at him with wide eyes, before he quickly averted his gaze away back towards the horizon. He just managed to see the tail of Aralez as the dog jumped off the balcony, disappearing into the night before Derek could see him.
The alicorn slowly stepped forwards, sitting next to Johan. There was a moment of silence before the alicorn spoke. "I thought I'd find you out here." He said warmly. "You're missing the party man, they sent me in here to come to find you."
Johan shook his head. "S-sorry. I just don't think I should be around people right now. Besides. I'd just bring the mood down." He said quietly, barely more than a whisper.
The silence returned.
"I'm sorry." Johan suddenly said breaking the quiet.
"Sorry? For what?" Derek asked, sitting up slightly and looking down at the deer. Johan slowly raised his gaze his eye stopping at the scar running in a horizontal slash across his chest. The deer slowly raised his hoof, pressing it against the Alicorn's sternum.
"That." He said, looking away.
"What are you apologizing for?" Derek chuckled, making Johan's eyes widen. "You weren't the wackjob with a halberd. Besides, I think it looks pretty cool!"
"But... I almost got you killed! It was my fault the guy went after you!" Johan cried. Fresh tears threatened to roll down his cheek.
"You don't know that," Derek said, shaking his head and furrowing his brow. "For all, we know he'd of tried to stab me no matter what, and if he didn't then that crazy bug lady would have."
"But you still tried to defend me... I..." Johan pulled his legs into his chest. "I didn't deserve it. I don't deserve it."
"Bullshit. You're my friend, and I would have done anything to defend you." Derek said standing up suddenly, his horn glowing. "And I still will."
"I'm not your friend." Johan suddenly said, looking away. "I... I can't be. Friends don't hate each other. Friends don't resent each other's company. They don't-"
Derek stopped him, gently grabbing him by the hoof and pulling him up into a standing position. "Johan. If there is anyone alive with the right to be jealous, it's you." He suddenly said with a firm tone. "I mean, look at me, I'm just some asshole who's had everything handed to him with a silver platter this past month. Do you think I've earned anything I've done? NO! I'm just like some lazy frat boy who's just been handed his rich CEO dad's will. I hate it! Hell, if I were anyone else, I'd punch myself square in the mouth, in fact, with what's going on in my head right now, I probably could!" He shouted, tapping on the side of his forehead with a hoof.
"But you know what?" He said, his frown softening slightly. "No matter how you feel about me, I'd still do what I did. You could have stabbed me that morning with a knife covered in salt and I'd still throw myself between you and that thing, you know why?"
Johan shook his head, his eyes widened and his lips pursed. Derek smiled.
"Because as far as I care," Derek put a hoof on Johan's shoulder. "Until I know what's going on in my head a little better, you are the only real friend I have here."
Johan let out a dry laugh, what followed was a moment of quiet before Johan suddenly shot forwards, wrapping his friend in a hug. "T-thank you... I needed to hear that." The deer said quietly as Derek returned the hug. "Really."
"It's what friends do when they see each other going through a hard day." The alicorn said, pulling the deer closer. "By the way, if I ever start acting like a smug asshole, I do want you to punch me in the face."
Johan laughed again. This time for real. "But did you really mean what you said about the knife?"
"Oh god no. Real shit if you actually did that, I'd never want anything to do with you ever again." He replied with a chuckle.
The two stayed embraced like that for a couple of minutes before they both agreed to go to the party together, it was being thrown in their honor after all. But, as the two left the room, neither of them noticed as a small flash of magic lanced between Johan's antlers.
Johan was slow to wake up the next day. He always was after-parties. They always kept him up super late. The deer struggled to get up out of bed, the struggling came only worse when Derek opened the blinds with a content sigh. The sun beamed directly into his eyes like it was a laser made of hatred and spite.
"You ready Johan?" Derek said, his voice overly giddy, like a child on Christmas day.
"For?" The deer asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. A quick glance at the clock showed that it was 7 in the morning.
"We are going to the Equestrian Capital! The global council is meeting and we are front row center to meet the people in charge of basically the entire planet!" Derek cheered as he rushed to a nearby closet, fetching out a special suit, one Rarity had made for him after styling for her back on their fifteenth day in Equestria.
It was a navy tuxedo-like overcoat over a greyish blueish undershirt with a similarly colored tie. The suit also included a navy blue pair of dress pants. Both the pants and the coat also had vine-like embroidery sewn in a darker blue shade of clothes that stretched across them in intricate patterns. Derek was visibly giddy as he held the suit, finally a chance to use it!
"Hate to burst your bubble or anything Derek," Johan started with a sigh, looking out the window as Derek got himself all dressed up. "But they probably just want to talk to you, not me."
"Actually," a voice said, causing them both to spin around to see Spike standing in the doorway. "They want to talk to both of you."
Johan almost did a double-take. "W-wuh... really?" He cried, eyes wide. A sudden feeling of childish giddiness filled him for a second before he shook his head.
'No, no. Stay calm. Don't act like a little kid.' He thought, breathing in for a second.
"Ok then, I'll get ready... sucks that I don't have a suit like Derek." He mumbled as he quickly got out of bed, rushing towards the bathroom to take a quick morning shower.
"Do you know if I should pack anything? Not that I have much..." He said as he closed the door behind him.
"Beyond your toothbrush? Nah, your probably good." Spike replied, avoiding direct eye contact with Derek. Despite living in a world where everyone was naked, he was still quite uncomfortable watching a dude getting dressed or undressed... no clue why.
Spike shook his head, waiting for the two former humans to get ready outside the door until, eventually, it was time to head out. The walk through the castle was a short and quiet one, Twilight, Starlight and the rest of the elements were apparently already on their way to the train station. Throughout the entire walk through the castle, Johan would occasionally shoot a glance over to his friend before shaking his head and looking away.
When they finally left through the front door, he looked at Derek one last time and spoke up.
"So uh..." He trailed off. "Ah never mind, it's a stupid question.
"So what?" Derek replied with a smirk. "Ask away."
"When what's his name takes over," Johan asked, tapping the side of his head with a hoof as he walked. "Do you like... see what your body is doing? Cause like, honestly being unable to control your own body and watching it do stuff sounds absolutely nightmarish."
Derek shook his head. "Nah. Instead, I get stuck inside this weird 'inner realm' where I basically just sit around and wait for him to give my body back. Though that place gets freaky when he's in charge. Like all my... magical whatever is splashing around like the sea during a storm." He said, staring up at his horn. Johan noticed the slightest shiver of discomfort run down Derek's spine. "Out of curiosity, why do you ask?"
"Hmmm..." Johan rubbed the back of his head. "W... well he said something to me... about stallions or something, that part doesn't really matter."
Johan looked down, towards his chest. "It's just that... when he said that, I felt something... something deep inside." He paused again turning to Derek with a frown. "I think... I might have someone in me too."
Derek's eyebrows raised in concern. There was a pause as the two friends turned their eyes back to the path. The alicorn was the one to break the silence.
"There is definitely something weird going on here."
Derek threw his head back with a groan. "Seriously man? What's with the wait!?" He cried. He, Spike, Johan, Trixie, Starlight and the elements were all waiting at the Ponyville train station, alongside a rather sizable contingent of guards still waiting to get back to Canterlot after that whole battle business earlier.
Johan was sitting on a bench squished in between Derek and a rather large grey unicorn in golden armor - the standard issue for 'sun guards' for some reason - while Spike and the Elements were all sitting across from them, three per bench - though four in Spike's case as he was little.
It was now 9 am, and the train wasn't scheduled to arrive for another hour at least. The alicorn was visibly getting irritated the longer and longer he was sitting there. Suddenly he perked up and stared over at Twilight.
"Hey, quick question," He said, sitting up. "Is teleportation magic a thing here?"
Twilight let out a small chuckle and lit up her horn, there was a flash and suddenly she was standing next to Derek, who quickly turned to look at her wide-eyed.
"I think I can guess what your thinking. It sure is but," Twilight said flapping her wings slightly. "I can only teleport so many people at a time, and long-distance teleportation is exhausting. I could only really manage three trips from here to Canterlot on a good day."
"And how many would it take to get all of us there?" Johan pitched in.
"About four trips, at least." She said with a shrug. "Though my math might be a little off."
Derek suddenly lit his own horn, staring up at it with determination. "I betcha I could do it." he chuckled. Twilight merely giggled in response.
"I'm sure you could if I taught you, but teleporting blind is extremely dangerous, you'd have to be able to at least visualize where you are going, but you've never even seen what Canterlot actually looks like up close. You might end up accidentally teleporting yourself inside a wall, or worse. I've seen what accidentally teleporting something into another thing looks like, let me just say, it isn't pretty." The alicorn said, returning to her seat.
Johan himself let out a sigh when he suddenly noticed Applejack staring at him. He blinked a couple of times before he returned her gaze. She stared back at him and opened her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by the screeching of metal and the loud blow of a horn. All eyes turned to see as a large pink and purple train started to pull into the station.
"Oh finally! I was going insane!" Derek roared, quickly hoping to his feet and rushing towards the edge of the platform. He was quickly joined by Twilight, Spike and Pinkie who all seemed just as eager as he was. Johan could only hazard a guess as to why Twilight and Spike were so excited, but Pinkie and Derek were obvious.
The deer threw one more glance to Applejack before he stood up and started heading towards the platform too.
Boarding the train was a rather quick affair, apparently, Twilight had been given VIP tickets at the front of the train... she was one of four Princesses of Equestria so that only made sense. Unfortunately for Johan, however, he was one of the last people to get a chance to get aboard.
He quickly noticed that each little alcove of the train consisted of two booths across from each other with a table in the middle and that they could only fit four people at a time. He also quickly noticed that Spike, Twilight, Derek and Pinkie had already taken all four seats of one area of the train, leaving him unable to sit next to the only people he really knew. He also noticed that Rainbow, Trixie, Starlight, and some random equestrian guard had also taken up another booth.
That left him with the last two alcoves to choose his seat. One was occupied by three unicorns wearing black tuxedos with yellow undershirts, alongside sunglasses with glowing neon yellow lenses. Johan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he noticed that, aside from having different colored coats and manes, they all otherwise looked exactly the same. The second they noticed him staring at him, all three turned their gaze towards him, instantly giving him the creeps.
The other alcove was occupied by Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack who were having a rather quiet conversation with one another. Deciding to take the seat not next to total strangers, Johan quickly approached.
"Did you get a chance to see Derek?" He heard Rarity say with an extremely happy tone. "He's wearing the suit I made for him!"
"Yeah, he does look pretty good in it..." Fluttershy said, her face turning red for a second. Johan rolled his eyes and spoke up when he was close enough.
"Hey, do you guys mind if I sit here?" He asked, towering over them for a second. All three quickly snapped their gaze to him. Rarity smiled up at him, while Fluttershy merely hid behind her bangs and Applejack looked away for a second.
"Of course!" Rarity replied, patting the space next to her.
"Thanks," Johan said as he took his seat, propping his head upon a hoof on the table as he settled in. He felt the train's wheels start to churn as it started pushing along the track towards Canterlot. An awkward silence passed over them for a second, the longer it went on the more out of place Johan felt until Applejack cleared her throat.
"Hey, Johan... I wanted to say..." She started rubbing the back of her head. Johan turned his head, staring at her as she sheepishly froze up.
There was a pause as Johan raised an eyebrow until eventually, she sighed. "I just wanted to apologize. I realize I never said sorry for what I said to you when we first met. You know, about the pears."
Johan let out a sudden laugh. "Oh, that? That was fine. Don't worry that is not the worst thing anyone has said to me, even here." He said sitting up with a smile. "You can ask Fluttershy here what she thought of me when we first met."
Fluttershy went red as the other ponies turned to stare at her. After a second of hiding behind her mane, she spoke in a quiet tone; "I thought he was Derek's pet..." She said. Rarity's jaw dropped while Applejack couldn't help but snicker.
"It's all fine of course. I do understand the mistake. After all, if I saw say... an intelligent dog, I'd think he was a pet too up until he talked." Johan said with a shrug. "Plus, she's not the only one who thought as much." Fluttershy gave a small smile in return for his forgiveness.
"Well, I am very glad that you aren't the Canterlot nobility sort. They rarely let people off the hook for that kind of thing, I should know!" Rarity said, looking at Johan. "Speaking of which if you need to know anything about Canterlot... and Twilight isn't around... I am your go-to mare!"
"Oh yeah, I probably should figure something out about the place huh?" Johan said, sitting up and turning his attention to Rarity. "Anything I should know first and foremost? I read a little bit about the place when I was trying to figure Equestria out. That's your capital right?"
"Yep, it's the capital of Equestria and our most important center of culture and refined living." She said practically swooning. Johan took a second to scoot a little farther away from her on their shared bench. "Buildings of marble, golden embroideries along every wall, rich purple rooves-"
"The smuggest ponies in Equestria." Applejack suddenly interjected with an eye roll. "Like Rarity said, the city is flooded with them fancy rich types, the ones who look down on a hard-working country farmer like me, even though I literally feed um."
"Nobility right? I didn't think you ponies had a feudal system... you seem a little too uh... Laissez-faire for that kind of thing." Johan said. Rarity instantly sat up.
"Oh? I didn't know you spoke Prench!" She said, her eyes filling with wonder.
"I don't it's just a phrase..." He said, with a groan at the pun. Why was everything a pun here? Rarity sighed before getting back onto the topic.
"Well... we don't actually have 'feudalism' and Equestria never really did for that matter. The nobles in Cantlerlot are just the descendants of the old Unicorn Aristocracy before the three races united... or that's what the Hearth's Warming play always says." She said, her gaze returning to the window. "My old... 'crush' as Rainbow Dash would say, Prince Blueblood, is the living descendent of Princess Platinum, the original Unicorn leader. That's why he is still a prince, despite not being an alicorn."
Johan nodded along as she spoke. Then he turned to Applejack. "You think any of these nobles are going to be there for this... global council?"
The farmer shrugged. "I don't know myself, but probably, considering most of Princess Celestia and Luna's advisors are nobles."
"So beyond that, who else is coming? The name makes me think of the leaders from other countries." Johan asked.
"Well..." Applejack started, rubbing her chin. "Prince Rutherford and King Thorax are probably sure to come, they are from Equestria's two closest allies, Yakyakistan and the Changeling Empire."
Johan sat up. "How did that even happen? You guys becoming allied to the Changeling Empire? Seems those guys ain't exactly friendly."
Rarity waved her hoof. "It's a long story, suffice to say Chrysalis used to be their queen until Thorax took over and we became their friends."
Johan nodded. "Continue."
"Dragonlord Ember may show up. She's technically our ally, but the dragons are an... odd bunch to say the least. Very independent and not into cooperating." Rarity said nodding. "Though she is a very nice dragon once you get around her prickly exterior."
"And then there is Grandpa Gruff..." Applejack started, her face taking on an expression like she had just bitten into a sour fruit.
"Grandpa?"
"That's just what the gryphons call him. To be honest I doubt he is even going to bother showing up. He, alongside most gryphons, at least of the Gryphonstone variety, are... grumpy to put it politely." Rarity said with a frown. Johan took a second to process this all in.
"Thank you guys, this is all great to know. It means I can plan accordingly." Johan said, nodding his head while focussing on nothing in particular. Then his eyes caught a glimpse of one of the unicorns with the neon yellow sunglasses. He raised an eyebrow before he gestured to one with his head.
"What about those guys? They give me the creeps." He said. Rarity and Applejack both turned their heads non-suspiciously.
"I don't know, but their clothing is simply ghastly," Rarity chuckled.
Johan turned to her and frowned. "Speaking of clothing, how come you made Derek a suit, but not me?"
Rarity laughed. "Well, I believe that is a sin I have to rectify, how about when we get back to Ponyville, if you model for it, I'll make it."
"Sounds good to me," Johan replied. And then the conversation drifted off into random directions, Johan laughing along with the three as they took the time to randomly chat.
While doing that, however, they failed to notice one of the sunglassed unicorns poke his head out to stare at Derek and Twilight's table, before rapidly retreating.
"Two more Alicorns... that might complicate things," he said in a monotone voice. Another shook his head.
"Negative. We picked this moment precisely because the Alicorns would be there. More guards in the meeting chamber mean less elsewhere." He replied in the same monotone.
The third spoke up last, still with the same drone. "Remember the plan, the VIP will not be happy if we fail..."
Derek gave a very long stretch after he stepped off the train onto the platform. He really hated being confined in a sitting position for so long, even if he was now stuck on four legs. He turned to Twilight as she, her friends, and Johan stepped out.
"So where to now?" Derek asked with a smile.
Twilight pointed to the massive castle in the center of the city. "I think they are waiting for us at the castle, we should hurry there now."
"Looks like more of a palace than a castle, I mean, where are the fortifications?" Johan asked, throwing his forehooves up in the air. "Why does no one here know the difference between those two!?!"
Derek ignored him, too captivated by the city around him. He took to the air, hovering a dozen feet in the air to try and get a better view of both the city and the castle in the distance. Then he smiled. "Hey, Rainbow! Race you to the castle!" he shouted down to the group before rocketing off in the direction of the city.
"Oh, you're on!" Rainbow said, bracing for a split second before taking off, rapidly closing the distance with Derek. Twilight grimaced when she saw them take off.
"Those two have no sense of propriety." Rarity said with a sigh. "Besides, it's technically illegal to fly without a specialized license here in Canterlot."
"Not like anyone is gonna stop them though." Starlight said with a shrug. "One's an element of harmony, and the other's an alicorn."
"I think we should hurry up though, the Council might be waiting for us," Twilight said, and the group quickly rushed off.
The council room was a large, open room, with high ivory white walls and a domed purple ceiling. A single circular skylight stood open at the top, and with it being high noon at the moment, the room was bathed in light. A donut-shaped table sat in the middle of the room atop a brilliant checkerboard pattern floor of black and white tiles. Johan found himself sitting in between Celestia and Derek, the feeling of sitting between the person who apparently controlled the sun and a guy who just single handily saved a town while he was... a normal deer was rather... awkward. The elements, Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor - who he hadn't met quite yet - were all also sitting at the table. The meeting hadn't started yet, as they were still waiting for the last guest.
What really caught his attention were the... people... he hadn't met yet.
First, there was the massive hunk of hair and muscle - but not much brain - called Prince Rutherford. The Yak was sitting next to Luna his forehooves crossed over his chest. He was flanked by two, somehow even bigger, black-furred yaks. The yak was rather aggressively tapping one of his back hooves on the floor waiting for the meeting to start, the sound more akin to banging as he was seemingly putting all of his strength into it.
Next to him was a rather slender-looking winged lizard with turquoise scales, navy spines along her back, and blood-red eyes. Dragonlord Ember, if he had to guess. She was clenching onto a large scepter with a ruby embedded on the top as big as Johan's head. Johan shrank under her predatory gaze as it glanced over him. She blew smoke from her nose before leaning forwards.
"A new alicorn? Really? Weren't four enough?" She groaned, propping her head upon a hand. Derek frowned at her while Johan merely gulped. There was something about her extremely sharp teeth that really intimidated him... probably because he was a deer who was no doubt a prey item to dragons... probably.
Finally, next to her was someone who stuck out like a sore thumb... probably because of his colors, neon green, and orange. King Thorax, by process of elimination. Just the mere sight of him made Johan uneasy, though if that was because of his earlier meeting with the platinum guard - who was the same species as this guy - or due to some deep down prejudices he didn't know. The king looked haggard, with deep bags under his eyes, nervously glancing between Ember and Celestia. Johan saw the bug shiver when his gaze lingered on Derek... the deer couldn't guess why.
The chair in between him and the first of the elements of harmony was empty, probably because it was for the guy who was still yet to arrive.
A sudden commotion outside the door caught everyone in the room's attention. There was a sound of a slight scuffle before it slammed open to reveal a bird-lion, aka a gryphon. He had black fur and feathers, with a dark grey tuft of fluff around his neck. His head was nearly sparse of feathers, only enough to give him 'eyebrows' and some around the back of his head. He looked blind in one eye, with a red and yellow fez on his head, his overall coloring made Johan think of a vulture and considering this guy's age, he would probably end up in one of those thing's stomachs in a half-decade or two.
"Out of my way you fannies!" The gryphon roared as he pushed two Equestrian guards, who had been outside of the door, out of his way. The gryphon took a couple of steps forward, before stopping to brace himself against the door frame, coughing and hacking into a fist. After a couple of seconds, he continued stomping forwards before taking his seat, giving a death glare to both Thorax and Rainbow Dash, who were next to him.
"Grandpa Gruff, nice of you to finally arrive," Celestia said with a smile, only to be met by the same one-eyed glare.
"Yeah yeah yeah," Gruff said... gruffly. "I debated whether I should even show up at all. You know that Equestria isn't the center of the planet right? We also have stuff going on in our nations as well, stuff more important than some random ball or children's party that you horses throw all the time."
Rutherford nodded. "Almost dead bird is right!" He almost roared. Gruff's frown only deepened despite the agreement. "Yaks have ten-thousandth year anniversary of Yakyakistan Independence to celebrate!"
"Yakyakistan is only seven hundred years old..." Shining Armor said quietly with a frown.
"As much as I hate agreeing with Gruff," Ember said with bored eyes. "You have brought us here for some stupid stuff in the past. Like when you invited us all for that alicorn foal's first birthday. I'm fine showing up for the occasional 'Gala' to promote cooperation or whatever but that was just ridiculous."
"I liked it... and you had fun too," Thorax said, turning to her with an almost betrayed look, causing Ember to bring her index and thumb to her brow.
"Not now Thorax, I'm trying to prove a point." Ember groaned.
Luna sat up, slamming a hoof on the table. "Yes, I know we have called the global council in the past for frivolous manners, but this is important." She said, then she turned her eye to Twilight, who nodded back.
The smaller alicorn reached into a saddlebag and pulled out a Tza'ak's green antler, and set it on the table in front of her. Then her horn lit up. A beam of energy flew into the antler, then a projector-like light shot from it to the center of the room, in between everyone.
There was a flash and then a holographic image of the platinum guard appeared. First, he was unarmored, then after a couple of moments, the holograph switched to show him wearing his suit and wielding his halberd. All eyes were on the hologram, before a couple of the other world leaders threw suspicious glances at Thorax.
"We have recently become aware of a new threat to Equestria, and some new ponies who might be able to help," Twilight said.
Chrysalis let out a growl as she trudged through the jungles of Southern Equestria. Since yesterday, U'val and her guards had been practically slave-driving the queen and her subjects southwards, and for what she didn't know. With a growl she took to the air, and shot forwards, landing next to U'val she growled.
"First you made us fly for hours without rest, and now you're forcing us to walk for miles." She snarled. "And you won't even explain why you are having us do this?!?"
U'val turned his head to her, continuing his walk. "Very well, if you are so averse to surprises. I am here to pick up a weapon that I will use to... collect something from Canterlot."
"Why not just sneak in?" Mandible suddenly said as he landed on the other side of Chrysalis. U'val smiled down at the smaller 'ling.
"Sneaking is more your MO. I prefer the... direct option." He replied.
"And you call yourself a changeling." Chrysalis hissed.
"No, I call myself a god, I thought we already went over this," U'val said with a roll of his eye.
"Well then," Chrysalis chuckled. "If you are a god, why not just go by yourself?"
"I may be powerful, but fighting five alicorns at once, three of them being descendants of Aeturnum, is a bit above my capabilities," U'val said coming to a stop. "Besides, we are here, and I don't want to waste all the effort we just did by going back."
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, turning her head to see what was in front of them. She expected an ancient temple or some kind of gate. What she got was a regular cliff face, with absolutely nothing special about it. She snarled. "Seems like we already wasted the effort. There is nothing here."
"Take a step back please," U'val said stepping towards the mountain. Then he sat down. His antlers ignited to life as he closed his eye and spread his hooves.
Chrysalis took a step back only when pure white lightning started to dance across both U'val and the hill. A massive crack suddenly appeared along the hill that caused her forces to rapidly start backing up. U'val smiled as a massive stone hoof broke through the cliff face, slamming into the ground next to him. Then another. Then the wall gave way, throwing dirt, rock, and dust in every direction.
Chrysalis gasped as the dust settled. Standing before them was a massive statue, equivalent in size to adult dragons. It took the shape of an antlered changeling, a larger version of Thorax or U'val, only wearing armor that covered everything but its head. It was a deep grey in color and stood static as U'val stood up and turned to stare at her.
"This is the weapon. We referred to it back in the day as a Kes Eramassu. Close to unstoppable, save for some fatal weaknesses that ended up leaving them completely useless in the closing days of my people." U'val's antlers lit up once more and lightning streaked from him to the statue.
It started to glow as the color slowly seeped into it, the carapace on its head-turning cyan, its antlers turning white and its armor slowly taking on a silvery shine.
"Of course, that was fifteen hundred years ago, so no one knows its weakness anymore. Lucky me." He laughed as his eye glowed. The mech's eyes slowly opened, both platinum white. Then it jumped into the air, the ground around them for a mile shaking as if there was just an earthquake. Two massive wings shot from the statue's back as it took to the air, heading north, towards Canterlot.
Chrysalis couldn't stop herself from smiling. Things were about to get fun.
Chapter 16: *Insert Rules of Nature Refrence Here*
Three sets of hoof steps rang out through the back hallways of the Canterlot palace, heading in the direction of the artifact vault. It was the strange unicorns in the black and yellow suits. Their yellow sunglasses had been joined by surgical masks to cover the lower halves of their heads, alongside boxy-looking vambraces on their right forelegs, with a yellow crystal sticking out of the end, pointed towards the floor.
The front one was carrying a briefcase wrapped in a yellow levitation spell next to him, while the other two strode forwards, one carrying nothing and the other with a welding torch.
Soon they arrived at a set of double doors, guarded by two Solar Guard.
"Stop right there tourists." One of them said, stepping forwards. "This is a restricted area, how did you even get this far?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Wordlessly the three unicorns raised their right hooves and pointed them at the guards. Yellow beams streaked out of the crystal rapid-fire and shot forwards, striking the two several times each. Holes were burned through the guards and both of them dropped to the floor. Dead.
Without a second pause, they continued, pushing open the double doors and entering a second room, this one filled with stained glass windows and obviously magical artifacts sitting on pedestals in jars. A crown here, a scepter there.
None of them were their concern, however. Instead, they were focused on the massive vault door at the other end of the room, behind which all the dangerous artifacts were stored. The lead one passed the briefcase to the agent with the blow torch before he and the unburdened one took cover behind the door. The one with the blowtorch quickly approached the vault door and began cutting into it.
"We have 30 minutes before the next set of guards arrive from patrol, then the bombs we planted go off. We have to be out of here by then." The leader said with eyes narrowed behind his shade. The second nodded as he brought his gauntlet up to the side of his head.
"What bug pony planning!" Rutherford suddenly roared, stomping his hooves on the table and standing up, shooting a death glare at King Thorax.
"I assure you I have no idea what is going on!" Thorax said with eyes widened, backing away from the table.
Ember slammed her fist on the table and stared down Rutherford, fire building in her throat.
"Lay off him, hairball. If you think for one-second Thorax has anything to do with this, you're an idiot, or would it also be fair to accuse you of some conspiracy every time a yak smashed something they didn't own?" She hissed, smoke pouring from her nostrils.
Gruff laughed. "Hah! Of course, the fire-breathing monster would take the side of the giant bug." He hissed, a smile coming to his beak.
Ember's eyes shot wide and a fire started visibly building in her mouth.
Johan took a second to nod. "Hmmm... at least politics are the same in this world." He said blankly.
Celestia stood up quickly, her horn glowing. "Everypony, please! Let's all calm down! I am sure we can all settle this like adults!" She shouted in a gentle tone. It did little to clear the tension, but it at least managed to get everyone to sit back down and quiet down.
"Now, let's handle this one at a time," Celestia said, turning her head to her student to talk next. Twilight quickly stood up, looking at Thorax.
"As the changeling representative, do you have any idea what this could be?" Twilight asked in a non-confrontational tone.
"I'm sorry, if I did I would tell you," Thorax said, visibly shrinking under everyone's gaze. "C-can you tell us where you met this guy?"
"We met him in Ponyville, during an invasion led by Queen Chrysalis." Shining Armor said, a firm but non-accusatory tone in his voice. Thorax's eyes instantly widened.
"Chrysalis led an invasion on Ponyville? But how? With what?" The ling cried. Luna quickly raised her voice.
"According to several prisoners we have since interrogated, the queen before Chrysalis hid an army in reserve during her rule, and Chrysalis managed to recruit them," Luna said, eyes narrowed slightly. "They also spoke of a shady one-eyed figure named U'val. Does that name sound familiar to you by any chance?"
Thorax shook his head. "No ma'am." He quickly replied.
A sudden hum of thought came from Gruff, and all eyes turned to him. He was resting his beak on a fist, his eyes closed. He slowly opened them with a glare.
"I promised myself I wouldn't interact, but I can't stand to see you all run around confusedly without asking the obvious questions," he said, his gaze then turning to Thorax.
"Have you considered that, maybe, there are other Changeling hives around?" He stated. "Maybe there was another hive who went through that same eyesore transformation as you, but instead of turning into pussies they stayed warriors. Trust me it happens, there is no race on this planet more divided than us Gryphons, so I am sort of an expert on the matter.”
Thorax instantly shook his head. "There is only one Changeling Hive." He said.
"And how do you know?" Celestia chimed in.
"In a thousand years of history, We never found so much as a drone from another hive, never mind a hive itself. And not for lack of trying, Chrysalis sent scouts to every corner of the world." Thorax said, clearing his throat. "We also have, well... I feel silly for bringing this up..."
He inhaled. "We have legends and stories. Stories that reinforce the idea that we are the only hive. But you know, they are probably just mythology."
Johan suddenly spoke up. "All mythology has at least the smallest basis in reality, such as historical figures being aggrandized into being deities." Everyone's gaze instantly shot onto the deer. Twilight opened her mouth and looked over the rest of the group.
"I was just about to say that." She said with a nod.
Thorax gulped as all eyes returned to him. "Well... our legends do speak of a cataclysm that hit the changeling race: some kind of war, or a natural disaster. The specifics are a little... vague, but they do claim that practically all changeling life was exterminated, and only a single city remained. Before the cataclysm reached them too, a blacksmith by the name of Ka'vad used his apron as a banner to lead the people away into the wilderness to escape." Thorax explained. "Ka'vad was real of course. He was Chrysalis's great grandfather... which I guess makes him my great great grandfather, but we changelings don't know if this is all really true or not. It might have just been a story Ka'vad's daughter made up for legitimacy which passed down the years as fact."
Twilight grimaced. "Well, I can see why you would think there aren't other hives," she said grimly.
Johan piped up once again. "Hold on a second..." He said looking at the antler. "This Platinum Guard guy. What if he is what you changelings were like before the cataclysm?"
The door to the room suddenly slammed open and an obviously old unicorn marched inside. He was grey in color, with a white beard. He was wearing a rather cartoonish robe and wizard's hat covered in bells and stars. A knapsack full of books was resting over his back.
"I do believe you are correct Mr..." he said, narrowing an eye at Johan.
The deer, and everyone else in the room for that manner, blinked in confusion. "Uh... it's Johan."
"Thank you." The unicorn said, placing the bag on the table between Gruff and Rainbow Dash, pulling up a chair and sitting down. "Mr. Yawn is correct."
Johan's confused blinking turned into a scowl.
"Ah, yes. Derek, Johan, this is Starswirl the Bearded, the greatest unicorn wizard to have ever lived. Previously in limbo for the past thousand years. If anyone knows anything, it's going to be him!" Twilight said with a smile. Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes.
"Unless that something includes common sense or respect." She whispered to Derek. Derek snickered.
"While I will admit that I know more about the topic than most of you. I will admit I too am in the dark as to exactly who these... creatures are." He said, throwing a suspicious glance at Thorax and Ember. "Like citizen Thorax here, I am merely going off legends, though mine has only gone through a couple of centuries of corruption, rather than a millenia."
Johan's eyes widened for a second and he threw a glance to the changeling. Referring to a king like that could be taken as nothing but disrespect and he expected an explosion of rage. Instead, Thorax pursed his lips and put a hoof on Ember's shoulder, who looked like she was about to jump over the table and bite the Unicorn's head off in his stead.
"In my day, legends of Alicorns were extremely plentiful, though they were mostly extinct at that point as Celestia and Luna and their Mother and Father were the only Alicorns that I am aware of at the time," Starswirl said setting his hooves on the table. Johan noticed Luna and Celestia's eyes lower to the ground at the mention of their parents. "The most prolific legend of the time was what was referred to at the time as a 'War of Gods.' Every race had a legend similar, though I consider the pony one closest to the truth."
Starswirl pulled up a book, an old one covered in dust with a ragged cover, and set it on the table. The title read 'Bellum Deorum', old equestrian for War of Gods.
"The legends speak of a war between Alicorns and a race of extremely powerful creatures who claimed to be Gods and fed off the worship of, in the words of the author, 'lesser races'," Starswirl explained. The non-ponies at the table couldn't help but frown. "I am ashamed to admit that the thought never reached my mind that the pretenders in the story were Changelings."
"Of course," Luna said, nodding along. "After all, what is worship but a stronger form of love."
Starswirl nodded. "I asked Queen Mundus and King Solis," Johan assumed he was talking about Celestia and Luna's mother and father respectively. "But they refused to answer my questions. They claimed they wanted to 'keep the past buried.' I can only guess why."
"So wait," Derek said, eyes narrowing. "You're telling me we are going up against a god?"
Starswirl shook his head. "No, I am telling you we are going up against someone who claims to be a god. It is a big difference."
"That difference being?" Gruff asked with a raised eyebrow.
"One is a near-omnipotent being, the other is a bug with delusions of divinity," Starswirl said with narrowed eyes. "I doubt he can do anything to stop five alicorns, the pillars of Equestria and the Elements of Harmony. We merely need to track him down and finish him off. Then we can focus on more... important matters." The unicorn said, turning his gaze to Derek.
"A new alicorn, and a male one at that. This could prove... useful to my studies." He said with a nod, a smile coming to his face. "Especially if my theory about you is correct."
Derek smiled back. "Hey, so long as you can teach me some magic. I'm up for anything!" He said.
"Wait a minute," Rutherford said with a frown. "Rutherford not been paying attention. Yak spaced out. Rutherford did not notice green horse and small antler horse until now. Who are you?"
Almost everyone else in the room facepalmed/face hooved.
"Oh, well, I am Derek, and this is my friend Johan." The alicorn replied with a smile as he wrapped a hoof around the deer's shoulders. "We're foreigners. Like... really foreign. I don't want to get too much into it yet, cause it'd take a while to explain, but we are here to help!"
Gruff rolled his eyes. "Yes well, between Derek here, your fancy jewelry and those two." he waved a claw over to Celestia and Luna. "I think you have this handled. Let me know next time you offer free food, and stop calling me because some random new unthreatening villain just showed up in the future, please. Thank you." Gruff sat up and turned to leave.
Just then, the skylight at the top of the room went dark. All eyes shot upwards. Something massive and cyan was passing over it. Then it was gone and the sunlight returned. There was a second of dreadful quiet.
"What the..." Gruff started.
Then there was a massive earsplitting crash coming from the castle courtyard. The entire mountain shook for a couple of seconds. Everyone in the room could hear the screaming. Then alarms went off and the shouting of guards became apparent outside of the room.
The first agent struggled to keep his footing as the room shook. The second had to brace himself against the wall to keep steady.
"What in Equestria was that?" The third one asked, looking back from the vault. "The bomb wasn't supposed to go off for another ten minutes!"
The first growled. "Something's wrong. We have to get out of here. Now."
"I agree." The third agent returned as he finally breached the vault door. Tossing the blow torch aside, he rushed inside with the briefcase, coming upon his target. Resting on a pedestal, in the middle of the room, was the Alicorn Amulet. The agent quickly picked up the amulet and shoved it inside the briefcase.
"We are leaving. Come on." The second agent finished, and quickly all three of them took off.
Johan gulped as he, and everyone else in the room for that manner stayed still and kept quiet, the all-encompassing feeling of dread kept them from doing anything else.
"Could it have just been an earthquake?" Derek asked. Twilight shook her head.
"We're aren't near any fault lines." She said.
Then it happened. Like the lid of a can, the roof of the room was ripped clean off and then tossed aside like useless trash. Rocks and rubble rained down from above, large enough to smash someone flat. Shining Armor sprang into action, jumping into the center of the room. His horn lit up, and a purple barrier formed above everyone.
Wooden beams, boulders, and shards of broken glass fell from above, piling onto the shield. Cracks formed in it, making the shield resemble a window that had a dozen rocks thrown at it, yet it held. Shining Armor let out a grunt as the shield creaked. Then he saw what had just deroofed the room.
A towering monstrosity of cyan and white stone slowly came into view, looking down into the room from above. One of its two massive antlers blocked out the sun as it slowly and curiously tilted its head to the side staring down at them. Its eyes then started to glow.
Shining Armor's eyes widened. It didn't take a genius to know what came next!
"Everyone! Out! Quickly!" He roared.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Gruff cried as he quickly rushed out of the room accompanied by the others. Johan however hesitated for a second. He gulped before rushing to where Twilight was sitting, grabbing Tza'ak's antler in his mouth, then rushing after Derek.
Shining dropped the shield as soon as the last creature was out of the room and ran, dodging rocks and wood and glass as he went. Just before he made it out, the statue fired.
Two pure white beams of energy shot out of its eyes, disintegrating stone and wood-like nothing. The beam landed just behind shining, following after him as he ran. He felt the heat of the beam singe the back of his tail, which only inspired him to run faster.
When he reached the exit to the room, the unicorn jumped out of the way of a falling support beam, landing in between his wife and sister. Unfortunately for him, he landed at an awkward angle. He felt the bone in his right foreleg twist in a very unnatural way, and both of the Alicorns heard a very loud snap. Shining grunted out in pain as he grabbed his leg.
"What is that thing?" Rainbow Dash cried, shortly before a massive hoof smashed through the ceiling a couple of meters down the hall in front of them, crushing pillars and shattering priceless stained glass windows. The hoof moved around like it was looking for something for a second before quickly retracting.
"I don't want to come off as a prick," Johan growled, glaring at Starswirl. "But I think it has something to do with the 'bug with delusions of divinity.’"
Starswirl snarled back, turning to a wall to their left, on the opposite side of the building that the statue was ripping through. "It doesn't matter. All that matters is that we need to get out of here. Now," he said looking to the Alicorns of the group.
"I am going to blow this wall and lead everypony into the secondary courtyard. I need you five to destroy the statue so it doesn't cause any more damage," he said, powering up his horn.
"Uh yeah... there is a problem with that," Derek said, rubbing the back of his horn. "You see... I am very, very, new to this whole magic thing. All I know how to do right now is levitate stuff and shoot combat beams and something tells me that that isn't going to cut it!"
"And I damaged my horn yesterday, the best I can manage is simple projection spells and minor enchantments," Twilight said pointing to the crack running down her horn.
Starswirl facehooved. "Great, the fight has only just started and we are already down two alicorns," he said. Then Cadance spoke up.
"Three," she said as she slung Shining's unbroken foreleg over her shoulders. "I am not leaving my husband."
Starswirl growled. "Fine then, I guess we should hope that the two of you should be able to stop this thing. Though considering your magical skill you probably will be able to handle this."
Celestia and Luna both nodded. Ember spoke up next, "Don't worry, if not, I think I can bring some guys in who can even the odds a little once we get outside."
Starswirl turned his eyes back to the wall and with a single spell, blasted the wall open. Then the party broke, Celestia and Luna taking to the air out the hole in the ceiling in the hall, and everyone else quickly rushing through the hole in the wall.
Celestia and Luna hovered in the air, about a hundred meters above Canterlot Castle, surveying the damage as well as the creature, trying to spot any possible structural weakness in the massive statue. They watched as it ripped a wall tower off it's foundations and used it as a javelin, throwing it into the castle proper, lancing off an entire section of the building. Then it turned back to the hallway Celestia and Luna had just left and started literally wading through the castle.
It was going towards the secondary courtyard, where the elements and the world dignitaries were fleeing to.
"This destruction isn't random," Luna said quickly, eyes narrowed. "That thing is looking for something... or someone."
Celestia nodded. "We need to stop this before it hurts anypony else. Come on," she said, determination filling her gaze. Then she flapped her wings and shot down from the air horn glowing.
Luna nodded after her, then she too quickly followed down after her sister.
Johan blinked the dust out of his eyes as he dove through the broken wall. He found himself in a large ballroom with a checkerboard floor, one of those fancy red carpets, and a grand staircase to their right. Johan gulped, barely having enough time to contemplate his surroundings before everyone else took off.
"Come on, the courtyard is this way," Twilight cried, gesturing for them to follow her.
"Are you sure?" Derek asked before there was another earth-shattering crash nearby causing the castle to shake once again.
"Yeah, this is the Gala room, I'd remember the ways out of here anywhere, considering how much this room sucks," Rainbow answered for her. Another crash, this time right behind them made them all look back through the hole in the wall. The statue had just smashed a section of the wall and was now walking towards them, wading through the walls and ceiling of the castle-like it was nothing but tall grass.
"It's following us!" Thorax cried, stepping back, his face going white. "Why is it following us?!"
"We have to move! Now!" Gruff roared, before taking off, leaving everyone else behind.
"Get back here bird!" Rutherford cried before him and his guards took after him. Everyone else quickly followed behind him.
The run to the courtyard was fast, but that didn't mean it was over quickly for Johan. All of his adrenaline glands were firing at once, he felt the same fear right now that he did when the Platinum Guard was chasing him, though this time it was amplified by the urge to not get stepped on, cause you know, that probably really hurt.
Gruff at the front ran into a set of double doors. He tried as hard as he could to push it open but no dice. "Locked!" He cried in pure abject panic. Almost everyone came to a stop, turning back as one of the statue's hooves slammed through the ceiling in the center of the room, followed by another.
"Out of the way!" Starswirl roared, charging up his horn once again. Before he could do anything though, Rutherford ran forwards, almost trampling over Gruff, and smashed clean through the door, landing on the other side with a rain of splinters and wood chunks. His guards quickly caught up with him.
"That's one way to do it," Applejack chuckled, as she and the others rushed out of the room.
The second Ember got outside, she slammed the base of her scepter on the ground and put two fingers in her mouth. She gave a deep inhale before she let out a loud and steady whistle, which echoed throughout the courtyard, traveling beyond and reverberating across the mountainside. The Bloodstone Scepter's tip glowed for a second, and then went dim.
"What was that about?" Starlight asked the dragon as the ballroom behind them collapsed in on itself.
"You'll see Twilight," she said with a smile. There was a pause.
"Starlight."
"Right."
Just then with another crash, the statue slammed its hoof down right behind them, then it started to slowly lean down. Its eyes started to glow as they did. Everyone turned to run once again, but once again two lasers shot drowned from its eyes, lancing across the ground in front of them, digging a deep trench in the dirt and igniting the grass and trees of the garden. They came to a stop as the ground before them burned.
The statue let out a hissing sound as steam escaped from its stone mouth and nose. As it came to eye level with the comparatively tiny creatures, it brought a hoof up, which crashed through the wall. Stone claws emerged from the hoof with a grinding sound, making it resemble a hand as it reached down towards them. More specifically, it was reaching for Ember.
In a deceptively quick motion for something of its size, the tips of its new clawed fingers grabbed onto the Bloodstone Scepter and started to pull. Ember let out a roar and planted her feet, digging into the ground, not letting go of the crystalline rod for even a second. Thorax quickly rushed to her side, wrapping his hooves around her and similarly digging in.
"Grn... Ember! Let go!" He cried as he tried to maintain his footing. He was quickly joined by the Yaks and stronger elements, Applejack and Rainbow.
"I can't!" Ember roared back, her arms shaking as the rod slowly started sliding from her hands.
Cadance let out a growl, powering up her horn. "Let her go!" She roared, a turquoise beam of energy shooting from her horn, striking the statue on the right cheek. The statue's head to the side as if it had just been slapped in the face, smoke rising from its face. The smoke faded as it turned its head back to them. The spell hadn't even scratched it.
Everyone's faces went white as the statue's eyes started to glow again. They knew what that meant. Ember's eyes widened as steam started shooting from its mouth as its head started to rear back. She flinched and closed her eyes when it looked back at her.
Then there was an explosion. A golden beam of energy shot down from above, striking the statue in the left antler. It let out an ear-splitting roar as it let go of the Bloodstone Scepter and quickly stood up, its antler falling off its head as it did. It stumbled back into the ballroom, collapsing what remained of its walls and ceiling before scanning the skyline.
Celestia and Luna came screeching down from above, magical energy wrapped around them like suits of armor. Luna flanked it from the left, while Celestia flew to its right. They each charged their horns and fired.
Johan watched as the statue, its head now held at an awkward angle - the loss of an Antler tended to make your head lopsided, after all, sat back and raised its hooves in a frighteningly quick movement. He saw Celestia's golden beam fly harmlessly into the statue's palm, but he watched as its left hoof missed Luna's attack entirely, the hoof raising in a far more sluggish manner, and when it was all the way up, it wasn't even close. It stood up, its focus on Celestia as it started to walk towards her, bringing its hoof back to try to smash her out of the sky.
He quickly thought back to how every time one of the Alicorns fired a spell at the statue that had done actual damage, it had been from the left, partially because the Statue didn't see it coming. His eyes widened.
Johan quickly rushed forwards and shouted up at Celestia and Luna. "Hey! Princess!" He roared. Both of them turned down to him, Celestia narrowly missing a massive stone hoof. "I think this thing is blind in its left eye! Try hitting it from that side!"
The two nodded at him, and Celestia quickly dodged around to the side in question, before both of them charged their horns at once and fired again. Two massive beams, one golden and one midnight blue, slammed into its left haunch. The statue was instantly swept off its hooves and tumbled onto its side, smashing a castle wall between two towers and almost tumbling off the mountain.
U'val let out a sudden grunt of discomfort, flinching. Both of the Platinum Guard quickly rushed forwards, but he raised a hoof before they could do anything more.
"What's wrong?" Chrysalis asked brow furrowing.
"Hmph, it seems that they found one of the Statue's weaknesses..." he started opening his eye. "Not a structural one, though. Unfortunately, it is a personal issue."
U'val tapped his eyepatch twice before he snarled. "Hmph, the blue dragon did manage to signal for aid before I could claim the first artifact I needed to continue my plan. Fortunately, that one can wait. The other is far more necessary for the short term. I will change my methods accordingly... and how fortunate, it seems three equines just brought it right to me..."
The three agents ran through the castle hallway, ignoring the crashes and explosions everywhere. The one holding the briefcase stood in front, flanked by the other two behind him.
Following their pre-planned escape route took them onto a wall, and then they would jump over the side of the mountain. Said wall was just up a tower with a spiral staircase. As soon as they arrived on the third floor and kicked open a door, they ran into the problem.
The entire wall they were supposed to use, barring a small walkway outside the door, was simply gone. The agents walked to the edge of the walkway and peered down, though their faces showed no emotion, an all-encompassing sense of confusion and, to a lesser extent fear, filled their minds.
A gargantuan statue, no doubt the thing that had been causing all the chaos around town, had smashed their way out, presumably by falling on it.
"What do we do now?" One of the rear agents said.
Before the others could respond, the statue started to stand up. The three quickly took a step back as the statue braced itself against the tower they were in, knocking the top off accidentally, leaving them without a ceiling to hide under.
Its gaze then snapped to them. The three instantly raised their hooves, pointing their wrist devices at it. Yellow beams of magic rapidly shot out but did nothing to the stone armor. In a single movement, the statue raised its hoof and smashed it downwards on top of the two rear agents, squashing them flat. Then its hoof grabbed the first one, lifting him into the air. Without the slightest bit of trouble, the statue ripped the briefcase from his grasp and haphazardly dropped him off the side of the mountain. The statue brought the briefcase to its eye line and nodded. Though it likely couldn't get both of the artifacts it needed, it could make do with this.
Johan watched as the statue reached up and put something it had grabbed from a far-off tower in its mouth, then firmly planted its feet. Two massive stone plates opened on its back. Johan knew what they were rather quickly. Elytra.
There was a roaring, buzzing, noise as two truly gargantuan insectoid wings started to rapidly vibrate on its back. The statue was preparing to fly away.
"It's about to escape!" Johan cried, turning to the rest of the group. "We can't just let it get away right!?"
"It isn't," Ember triumphantly roared with a smile.
Two gigantic shadows then passed over them. Johan turned his gaze upwards just in time to see the statue get tackled to the ground. A massive scaled beast equal in size to the statue stood over it. Its scales were blue, with orange spines running down its back. A second one landed right next to it, perching on top of a wall, this one red and orange. Both were smiling.
"Eh? This is the big bad monster stomping around?" The blue one laughed. "It doesn't seem so tough-" He didn't get a chance to finish its sentence before the statue's head turned around a full 180 degrees and fired two eyebeams directly into the dragon's face.
The dragon roared in pain, stumbling back and covering his eyes with two claws. The statue once again tried to take to the air, but the other dragon suddenly intervened. His tail soared forwards like a wing and smashed directly into one of the statue's wings. There was a sound like shattering glass as the wing broke in one hit, shards raining down in all directions. Then the dragon jumped forwards, punching the statue in the face. The statue's left eye exploded into shards of stone as it almost went flying over the edge of the mountain.
It caught itself by grabbing onto one of the castle towers and pulled itself forwards, headbutting the red dragon in the face, stunning it. The red dragon shook his head and took a couple of steps back as the statue reached up with a hoof, grabbing its own antler. It jerked to the side as it ripped the antler off in one move and, using it like a dagger. Shooting forwards, the statue stabbed the knife through the red dragon's left wing, punching a hole clean through it.
Then, it grabbed the dragon and like a trained wrestler, grabbed the dragon by the neck. It threw him over its shoulder, off the side of the mountain. The Red Dragon let out a final roar before it fell out of sight to the ground far below.
The blue dragon let out a roar, staring down the statue with bloodshot eyes. It turned to him neutrally, brandishing it's new antler dagger. The dragon roared and rushed forwards, pouncing towards it. The statue brought the dagger back, but before it could bring it forwards to stab the dragon, two magical beams, one gold, and one blue struck its hoof, knocking the antler from its grasp. The statue turned to look at the antler but was too late to grab it as the dragon wrapped two claw's around its stone throat, pinning it against a tower.
The statue's own hooves shot forwards shortly after grabbing the dragon's throat in turn, grappling him so he couldn't simply push the statue over the side of the mountain. Through the grapple, Celestia and Luna flew around, firing beams and bolts to try to distract it, but doing little but lightly shoving the stone monstrosity.
Johan's breath hitched in his throat as he watched the dragon start to gasp and slow down, desperately needing air. He grit his teeth and turned to Derek who was sitting down desperately trying to slow his breath, his hooves on the side of his head and eyes closed. Everyone else barring Twilight, who was sitting next to Derek trying to get him to move, was already running towards an escape route.
"Come on man, now isn't the time to panic," he said, rushing to the alicorn's side. "We have to move!"
"I'm not panicking," Derek said, opening his eyes again. Johan could tell he was lying. "I'm trying to get Auream to take over again. He can stop the statue. In fact, I don't know why he isn't out here right now!"
Johan shook his head. "That doesn't matter. All that matters is we need to get out of here before one of the massive blue whale-sized monsters steps on us!"
Derek suddenly stomped his foot. "No! I am not letting that thing continue to stomp around! I'm not letting it hurt anyone else, when I know I have the ability to stop it!" He snarled
The deer took a step back, his eyes wide. He wasn't used to hearing Derek snap like that, much less at him. He opened his mouth but a crash stopped him from speaking.
Just then, the statue stood up straight as the Dragon loosened its grip due to air loss. It picked the drake up with its hooves and threw it like a ragdoll. The dragon went sailing over their heads, over the wall, and landed in Canterlot proper, presumably smashing houses and city streets.
Twilight's face went white. "My parents live in that direction," she said, shock filling her tone.
The statue, in one movement, then batted both Celestia and Luna out of the air with a hoof. Both of the princesses went sailing into the castle keep, slamming through the wall and landing in the throne room. The statue rolled its shoulders and turned back towards the broken wall, walking to the edge of the mountain preparing to jump off.
Suddenly, Johan had an idea.
"Twilight!" He shouted, turning to the alicorns. "Do you remember what you said about teleportation at the train station? About what happens when you teleport something into something else?"
Twilight's eyes instantly widened. For a second, she forgot about her fear for her parents. "Of course!" She suddenly said. "Derek, I need you to teleport some of the rubble around her into the statue!"
"I don't know how! And you said that that was a really complicated spell!" Derek cried back. Twilight shook her head at him.
"Only when you are teleporting yourself. All you have to do is grab an item with your magic and imagine it somewhere else. Don't imagine it moving there, just imagine it disappearing and then reappearing where you want it!"
Derek nodded before his face scrunched up, he reached out and grabbed a piece of rubble with his magic, and then it disappeared. Johan's eyes widened for a second before he turned his eyes to the statue. The statue froze for a second before there was an explosion of stone on its left haunch. The statue stumbled to the side as it looked back at its wound. There was now a car-sized crater where the cutie mark of a pony would have been. It quickly turned around to stare daggers down at Derek.
Derek laughed. "It worked!" He cried. Then he smirked and lit his horn again.
The statue's remaining eye started to glow as it readied an eyebeam, but before it could fire, Derek teleported another boulder. This time, it was its eye that exploded with a mix of stone rubble and magical energy. The statue roared as Derek started to teleport more and more rocks, rapidly.
Johan watched in awe as it looked like the statue was being shot by an uzi, holes, and craters opening all around its form. The statue then collapsed onto its stomach, desperately trying to stand up. Derek's smile widened.
"Time to finish you off!" He cheered as he reached out with his magic, grabbing the largest chunk of rubble he could.
Just before Derek could teleport it, Johan noticed the statue reached into its mouth and grabbed something small, square, and black. It looked like a briefcase, which made the deer raise an eyebrow. Just the rubble disappeared in a flash, the statue reared its hoof back and threw the case like a baseball. Johan followed it as it sailed over the horizon heading southwards.
Then its entire head exploded, popping like a grape. Chunks of stone and crystal flew in all directions as the statue started to crumble. Soon all that was left off the statue was a cyan and white pile of rocks.
U'val suddenly cried out in agony, grabbing the side of his head, collapsing to his knees. This time he didn't stop the Platinum Guard as they rushed to his side and helped him up.
U'val suddenly stomped a hoof. "Damn it!" He growled, though his voice more so registered as a slight annoyance than anger. "I was hoping I could have kept that Eramassu. Those things are so dreadfully rare in this day and age."
"I take it you failed?" Chrysalis asked, a smug tone in her voice.
"I never said that," U'val responded as he held out a hoof. Suddenly, a black briefcase landed on the floor next to Chrysalis, smashing open. The single item inside bounced, flying through the air and landing perfectly in the changeling god's outstretched hoof.
Chrysalis's eyes widened at what she saw. "That's..."
"Yes," U'val said as he held the small red, black, and grey item up. "The Alicorn Amulet. Unfortunately, only usable by ponies. The good news is, I know the perfect candidate to use this against our enemies."
It was raining at the Changeling Hive. Unlike the Equestrians, the changelings couldn't control their weather and were thus at the mercy of mother nature. Even more so due to the fact that their wings didn't work in pouring water, they were too thin and flimsy.
That left a young drone and her two younger siblings stranded in a cave to wait out the storm. Ocellus let out a sigh of discomfort. The cave was cold, and the warmth of the hive was just there in the distance, only a couple of minutes of flight away. But she knew better, walking was much slower than flying, and in the cold rain like this? That was a death sentence for a small drone, like her. Never mind her two baby siblings. She shouldn't have let them fly so far away from the hive to play, but the two were just so eager to use their wings now that they actually knew how to fly.
"Mom and dad must be so worried right now." She said with another sigh, sitting up and moving away from the cave entrance, going deeper inside where she had set up a small firepit for her brother and sister, who were shivering while curled up together.
Ocellus took a seat next to them with a sigh, buzzing her wings slightly. "Don't worry you two, I'm sure the rain is going to stop soon, it can't keep going all night right?"
The two nymphs nodded as Ocellus took a seat at the fire next to them. Just then, her brother heard a noise, a weird one. It kind of sounded... was that humming? He sat up and looked around.
"Lumbar? Are you ok?" Ocellus said, raising an eyebrow.
"Did you two hear that?" He whimpered in a high-pitched voice. His sisters quickly looked at one another before turning back to him.
"No?" Axillia said, but Lumbar ignored her, quickly turning around and walking deeper into the cave. Ocellus and Axillia looked to one another before standing up and following after him.
The three changelings walked deeper into the cave until they came across a small horizontal crack in the wall, barely large enough for one of the nymphs to squeeze into. The three couldn't even tell how long it continued on for, only that they couldn't see to the other end, even with the light from their horns.
Of course, the size of a hole didn't mean a thing to changelings. With a flash, Lumbar transformed, reappearing the same shape, only the size of a field mouse. His sisters looked at each other before back to him. The much smaller ling looked up at them, before quickly heading into the crack.
"This seems like a bad idea." Ocellus said as Axillia transformed and followed after her brother with an excited smile. Ocellus sighed before she did the same.
The crack continued on for dozens of meters into the ground, twisting and turning until it finally opened up into a large perfectly carved cubic chamber, about the size of their bedroom back in the hive. Ocellus raised an eyebrow as they entered the room. The entire room was humming, like one of those speakers the ponies had. It was actually rather irritating like there was something buzzing inside of their skulls. The three dropped their transformations at once, grabbing their horns. Their magic flickered and sputtered but they managed to keep their horns and the light they were providing under control... for the most part.
"Ugh, what is that?" Axillia said, covering her ears while Lumbar did the same. Ocellus herself looked around the room, her eyes eventually settling on something embedded on the right-hand wall of the room. It was a vertical strip of dim, barely visible cyan light running from the top of the room to the floor.
"Ok, this room is definitely not a natural rock formation..." Ocellus mumbled aloud, furrowing her brows. "First the walls, then the humming now the light? Something magic is definitely going on here."
"What do you think that is?" Axillia said as she approached the light, running a hoof down the stone next to it.
"I dunno, but something tells me we shouldn't touch it. Come on, let's go, we can tell Pharynx when we get back to the hive about this." Ocellus said as she started to walk back towards the crack in the wall. Lumbar and Axillia both groaned before they followed after her.
"You're always soooo boring Ocellus." Lumbar said with a sigh. As he went after his sister, though, he stepped into the middle of the room, accidentally putting a hoof down directly onto a hidden pressure plate. He instantly jumped back with a cry of shock. His sisters quickly turned to him with wide eyes as the room started to shake.
The light along the wall expanded as it seemingly split into two, the sections sliding away like a massive stone gate. The three lings froze in place as the wall gave way to another, much smaller, chamber. In the center of it stood a stone... statue or something. It was cylindrical in shape, made of a cyan stone. It was large, very large. King Thorax probably wasn't even the same height as this thing.
The buzzing and humming in the room only grew more intense, preventing the changeling's from concentrating and thus using their magic. The three of them instantly covered their ears with their hooves and whimpered.
Finally, there was a loud hiss of steam. Magical energy crackled around the room as a perfectly straight crack appeared along the front of the cylinder. The three changeling's felt panic grip their hearts as, like a cocoon, the cylinder opened and... something walked out, standing on its two back legs.
It looked like Prince Pharynx, only it was wearing a suit of cyan armor, with a sunglass-like visor covering its eyes. Its antlers and pauldrons were a pure, platinum white in color, without the slightest dent or stain to be seen. The towering figure stared down at them for a second, its emotions hidden behind its helmet.
Then it suddenly collapsed forwards onto all four. There was the sound of sliding metal as its helmet retracted into the suit leaving its head completely exposed. He had a deep blue carapace, while his eyes were an amber orange. His antlers were the same color, but what made it odder was the massive... tattoo he had on his head, a pure black pattern that ran from his forehead, down the side of his temple to his left cheek in a flowing pattern, zigzagging like a snake before ending in a spiral on his chin.
Ocellus didn't even know changelings could get tattoos. Ink didn't really stick under carapaces like it did under skin.
Before the siblings could do anything else, the odd changeling lurched forwards and retched. A pure white, sparkly liquid poured from its mouth onto the ground. As soon as the liquid hit the ground, the humming in the room stopped completely. It dry-heaved for a second more before its helmet snapped back over its head.
The metallic sound of breathing washed over the room for a second as the armored changeling tried to catch its bearings. Then it looked up, staring the other lings dead in the eyes. Finally, after a moment of silence, it spoke.
"Ann veran Kes'kel?"
With the destruction of half of the castle, Celestia had deemed it a bad idea to continue the meeting with the world leaders, in case another one of those... statues showed up. A second meeting would be held in a month to figure out what to do next. All of the other leaders quickly rushed back to their kingdoms, to make sure the same thing hadn't happened to their subjects while they were away.
Cadance and Shining Armor had quickly bid Twilight goodbye before they returned to their kingdom too, they had a daughter to worry about, and the mere thought of a statue rampaging through the Crystal Empire filled them with panic. The elements themselves, alongside the two diarchs, quickly got to work looking for survivors in the rubble of the castle, alongside the town at large. The destruction was near biblical in its proportions. Fires, smoke, rubble. It was everywhere. Thankfully, there weren't many civilians in the castle when the statue arrived.
However, that didn't mean they weren't in the line of fire. When the statue had thrown the unconscious dragon, it had done so in the direction of Canterlot's downtown. While the other elements focused on the castle, and Celestia and Luna tried to move the blacked-out drake, Twilight rushed down a ruined street with Spike, Derek, and Johan trailing along behind her.
"Where are we going?" Johan asked as he trailed behind the sprinting Alicorn, pulling up the rear with Spike on his back.
"My parent's house." Twilight cried back as they turned a corner coming face to face with the blue dragon's body, lying atop an entire block worth of houses smashed flat. The dragon was in the midst of slowly being lifted into the air by a joint blue and golden aura of energy.
Twilight's face went white. This was her block, the one she had been raised on. Her eyes darted around, desperately looking up and down the street until her eyes settled upon her house. Miraculously, it was still standing! She let out a sigh of pure relief, a sound echoed by Spike, as she stopped running, slowing down.
The dragon had missed the house when it landed in town, but only barely. One of its claws had landed in the front yard, completely destroying her dad's garden - and he had worked so hard to grow his peonies too - while its head had landed in the back yard, narrowly missing their porch.
By the time they had reached the house, the dragon had been lifted completely out of their way, Celestia and Luna making their way over to the city park with the wounded drake in tow. The second the four set foot on the sidewalk in front of the house, the door slammed open and two unicorns rushed out.
One was a mare, with a white coat and purple and white hair. Aside from the color differences and lack of wings, she was the spitting image of Twilight. The other was a stallion blue in color, with blue hair. Johan instantly raised an eyebrow and eyed Derek.
"Why are they both Unicorns? Shouldn't one of them be a pegasus, what with the wings?" He asked nervously. Derek rolled his eyes.
"I don't think that's how that works dude." He said with a chuckle.
Twilight herself through quickly rushed to her parents, alongside Spike. Instantly, the four joined in a hug.
"Mom, dad! I was so worried!" Twilight cried.
"So were we!" Her mother pulled her closer, "We knew you were in the palace, and then there was an explosion and that thing showed up!"
"Is everyone ok back at the castle?" Her father said, staring down at Spike with raised brows.
Spike nodded. "Yep, we managed to take down the statue, with some help from those guys." He said, pointing over his shoulder to Derek and Johan, who were both awkwardly standing on the sidewalk. The family quickly separated and cleared their throats before the two approached.
Twilight's mother was the first to rush forwards, taking Derek's hoof into both of hers. "My name is Twilight Velvet, and let me just thank you so much for helping my babies." Both Spike and Twilight blushed. "If there is anything I can do for you just let me know."
"Oh it's really nothing." Derek replied with a smile, subconsciously spreading his wings. "My name's Derek, it's so nice to meet you!"
Instantly Twilight Velvet's - and her so far unnamed husband's - eyes widened before she suddenly smiled. "Well Twilight, you are just like your older brother." She suddenly said, turning back to her daughter with a wink. "Not only did you keep us in the dark that you met a handsome new stallion until the last minute, but you also bagged an alicorn."
Derek and Twilight both went white. Spike merely fell onto his back and pointed at the princess, laughing wildly. Johan felt a force crush his very soul, as the bags under his eyes suddenly got bigger.
"What!?! Mom no it's not like that!" Twilight suddenly stammered all while Derek himself could only facehoof.
Meanwhile, Twilight's dad approached the deer and nudged him with his elbow. "I'm Night Light. And what's your name, Sir?" He asked with a smile.
Johan blinked twice and turned to him. "Oh uhhh... Johan."
"Something the matter?" Night asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry, I am just not used to people actually noticing me," Johan said, rubbing the back of his head.
"My wife's a famous author, I'm a stay-at-home dad. Trust me, I know how you feel." He chuckled, nudging the deer with his elbow, letting out a chuckle before he started to walk away. "I hope everyone's hungry, I'm cooking tonight."
Johan blinked twice before he quickly followed him inside, ignoring the laughing dragon, arguing mares, and extremely embarrassed stallion. After almost getting stomped on by a blue whale-sized statue, dinner sounded nice.
Celestia and Luna let out a huff as they set the unconscious dragon down in Canterlot's central park. It was the only place on the mountainside large enough to hold him until he woke up without crushing anything or preventing rescue operations.
As the Alicorn sisters collectively wiped the sweat from their brows, a pegasus guard came up to them. The guard quickly came to a stop in the air just below them, giving a salute.
"My Princesses, I have the damage report... alongside something worse." He said slowly lowering his hoof.
Luna and Celestia eyed one another.
"Worse?" Luna said with a frown. "How much worse."
"The Alicorn Amulet. It's gone."
The Manhattan was easily the largest city on the planet, atleast in terms of building size. Towering skyscrapers dominated the skyline, visable from miles in all directions. One particular skyscraper stood taller than the rest, dark grey in color. It more so resembled a bunker than the art deco style of it's neighbors, lacking windows on all levels except for the top floor, and several elevators along the sides which had a glass wall that faced outwards. All along the side of the building were walkways and balconies, which were regularly patrolled by Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies, who all wore the exact same uniform. Black suits, neon yellow undershirts, black ties, and neon yellow sunglasses.
It's near uniform dark grey color was only broken by a yellow stripes that ran from the the top of the building to the bottom on all four of the building's corners, and a sign near the top that read 'Corlina Industries' in yellow neon lights. The building was brand new, having only finished construction the month before. Almost thirty different construction companies were hired to build it, each one working on a different part of the building and each were kept totally in the dark from the others, so none knew what the others were doing, and as soon as the work was done, the enigmatic Corlina Industries ordered all documents and blueprints shredded.
Already the building had built an ominious reputation, no one besides the suited ponies ever left or entered. No one in the city had any relatives that worked for the company, and no one actually knew who the CEO of the company was, but city officals let the company do their own thing. They always paid their property taxes on time, not to mention Corlina Industries was one of the main producers of medicines and chemicals for the entire western coast of Equestria and beyond.
The top floor of the building was a single room, an office. Staring out the window, sitting on his haunches while drinking from a martini glass was an earth pony. He was wearing the same styled suit as his employees, barring two notable differences. In place of a tie, he was wearing a yellow victorian cravat. On his head was where the real difference came into play.
He was wearing a black helmet, that resembled a fully closed barbute without mouth or eyeholes. In their place was a single glowing verticle line that ran from the top of the helmets forehead down to the chin. The helmeted stallion paused before taking another 'sip' of his drink. The alchohol merely poured from the glass onto the line in his helmet, instantly evaporating when it touched the light.
"I do trust you have a good reason to be in here." He suddenly said in a distorted mechanical voice, his accent posh and refined. Behind him, on the otherside of a large desk, stood three agents, an earth pony, a pegasus and a unicorn. Like the ones on the train, they all looked physically identical, as if they were all twins. The only difference were the colors of their coats and their manes.
"Epoxy, Sir." The lead agent, - the pegasus - stepped forwards with a salute. "The three agents sent to Canterlot failed to report back in. We believe they have failed to claim the Alicorn Amulet as was planned."
All three of them flinched as Epoxy turned around and started walking to his desk, taking a seat in the swivel chair, setting his Martini down on on a coaster. He sat there quietly staring at the three with a cocked head before raising a hoof. A beam shot from a crystal on his wrist, striking the pegasus directly in the forehead. The pegasus collapsed to the ground dead as Epoxy slammed his hoof on his desk.
Epoxy inhaled and stood back up. The other two agents looked down at their dead comrade outwardly impassive as Epoxy walked around his desk. The earth pony started to pace infront of them.
"Tell me? Would you two say I am incompetent?" Epoxy asked as he paced.
"No sir." They responded instantly.
"Really? Than would you mind telling me why all of my clones turn out that way?" He asked, stopping in front of the Unicorn leaning forwards until his mask almost touched the agent's face.
"Sir, if you would allow us to expl-" The unicorn started, before Epoxy slapped him across the face, shutting him up instantly.
"No excuses," He hissed, turning around. "And if I can't take my frustrations out on those three failures, that corpse next to you will have to suffice."
Epoxy snarled, stomping around his desk back to the window. "But you know what? I'll humor you." He said, staring down to the streets below. "Why, pray tell, did my agents fail me?"
"Sir, some of our assets in Canterlot told us about an attack carried out on the palace while we attempted to retrieve the artifact." The Earth Pony said stepping away from the pegasus corpse.
Instantly that gave Epoxy pause. He slowly turned around cocking his head to the side. "Attack?"
"Yes sir, reports claim it was a statue in the shape of a Changeling, of the antlered variety. Dragon sized."
"And the Changeling 'Empire' had nothing to do with it?" Epoxy asked, slowly turning around.
"Yes sir, apparently their king was almost killed during the attack several times." The unicorn finished with a nod.
"Hmmm. You two are excused." Epoxy said, turning back to the window. He raised his hoof. The crystal on his wrist glowed and his drink lifted off the table in a yellow aura floating to his hoof.
The earth pony took a sip as the agents dragged their compatriot towards the elevator out of the room. Epoxy's eyes narrowed under his helmet as he watched the sun start to set.
"It appears there are some... complications in our future."
Johan couldn't help but widen his eyes as he took a bite of Night Light's cooking. This was actually the best thing he had eaten since he arrived in Equestria. The deer instantly turned to the unicorn, who was sitting at the head of the table.
"This is excellent! What's in it?" Derek asked, turning to Night Light. The unicorn merely smirked.
"Secret family recipe!" He said with a smirk, but Velvet instantly elbowed him in the side.
"Not at all." She giggled. "Night here just asked a nearby restaurant for their recipe, I think it was some Saddle Arabian-inspired place called The Tasty Treat. The owners are just so nice."
"Zaniskari mom," Twilight replied with a smile. "It's actually Zaniskari food they are serving."
Johan paused. "Zaniskari? And can I assume that Zaniskar is a large, densely populated landmass, that is surrounded on nearly all sides by deserts, mountains, and the ocean, which also produces almost all of the world's spices?"
Everyone at the table froze, staring at Johan with wide eyes.
"What? We have a continent back home that is exactly the same, just like every other country or continent here." Johan explained, in between small bites of his food. "Not to mention, the rice and curry tipped me off."
Silence remained for a couple of seconds before Twilight let off a slight chuckle. "I must say, I am fascinated by your world, I never really spent much time studying human history when I was with Sunset Shimmer, I was too caught up on the technology."
"Well, warfare was a lot more common," Johan said, looking up at her. "To be honest, I don't know why you make your royal guard carry around spears if you never use them. I read up on it, and apparently, Equestria has been war-free for the past millennia."
Twilight nodded. "Indeed, Celestia's position as the controller of the sun means that to challenge Equestria is to challenge the sun itself, not to mention Luna now. As such only the most powerful magic users risk a war with Equestria, and as the only known magical races asides from ponies are Centaurs and Changelings, we've never really had any prolonged wars. Centaurs are almost entirely extinct, and the Changelings were defeated within a single day on both occasions."
"Yeah, Earth ain't like that. We didn't have anything that could end a war in a single movement until about sixty years before I was born, and before that, it was nearly constant warfare for years and years and years. The first three thousand years of our history was basically twenty-four-seven genocide, first by the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, then the Romans." Johan casually explained, picking at his food. Almost instantly the mood at the table grew dim. All four of the Sparkle family members stared at Johan wide-eyed.
"G-genocide?" Spike finally asked, dropping his fork.
"Yep, the number of cultures and people in our world that were completely wiped out... whoof. I can't even begin to list it off." Johan said shaking his head.
"That's just... awful," Night Light said, pursing his lips. "I'm just glad that our history has been more civilized."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that." Johan said staring up at him. Instantly the mood in the room shifted. Johan straightened up, his previously slumped over and downtrodden look replaced by a straight back and a glazed over, judgemental stare. Everyone's eyes widened even further as he seemed to gaze down on Night Light with a look of disgust.
"You ever wonder why there are no records of your history from before a thousand years ago? Or why no one knew about those new changelings that just appeared out of the woodworks these last two days?" He said, his voice taking on a much... darker, more refined tone. An accent seemingly appeared out of nowhere as he rolled his Rs and Hs. "I have a simple explanation. It's most likely your 'civilized' history was based on a foundation of bones that the Alicorns covered up."
The second the last word left his mouth, Johan gasped, dropping his fork and collapsing slightly, grabbing his head with a grunt of pain. He started hyperventilating slightly as an image filled his head, the same one he had experienced a month ago when he first arrived in Equestria.
Pale blue and white fire, and what he now recognized as the silhouette of an antlered changeling staring down at him with glowing white eyes.
"Johan! Snap out of it!" He instantly looked up, his gaze turning to the one who called to him. He saw a green alicorn wrapped in a full suit of golden plate armor, he was bleeding out of a verticle slash that ran from his throat all the way down to his stomach. His eyes, the only thing peeking out of his armor were pale and dead.
Suddenly the Alicorn reached up and grabbed him by the shoulder and, instantly, his vision disappeared, replaced by Derek. He was back in the dining room, and everyone was staring at him with worried eyes. Johan's mouth was dry and his breathing deep.
"Are you ok?" Derek asked, his brow furrowed, and his horn glowing. Johan looked around the table for a second, everyone had the same look of concern.
Johan gulped. "What happened?" He asked his voice sullen.
Derek opened his mouth to answer but just then there was a knocking at the door.
"When did you notice the Amulet was gone?" Starlight asked as a guard walked her, Twilight, Trixie, Derek, and Johan through the halls of Canterlot Castle.
"Shortly after we started taking stock of the damages, a guard found two others who were killed by magical attacks, not in line with the statue's normal attacks, and followed a trail to the artifact vault. The door was opened and it was gone." The guard explained as they rounded a corner.
Round the corner sat a hallway leading to an ajar door, inside were dozens of pedestals with crowns, amulets and scepters, though Johan paid them no mind. What really caught his attention was the massive vault ahead of them, the door cut open by intense heat. The inside of the vault was dark, so he could only see a single display case sitting in the middle of the darkened room. It was empty.
Johan frowned as he approached. Something about the way the door was cut open seemed familiar to him. Suspiciously so.
"So, what, do you think the statue just ripped its way through here and cut open the artifact vault?" Johan said with a chuckle. Everyone in the room just stared at him for a second.
"Uh... no. It would be too big to fit in here." Trixie said with a raised eyebrow. Instantly Johan let out a groan of pain and walked away, towards one of the pedestals to look around, maybe for clues.
"But that is a good point, Johan." A voice called out from behind the group, all of them except for the deer quickly spun around to see Celestia approaching. "The statue must have been a distraction so that this... U'val character could get his hands on the Alicorn Amulet, though I have no idea why he would want it."
Derek raised a hoof. "I mean... this thing does have a connection to Alicorns, who are the most powerful magical creatures around, right? Why wouldn't he want it?" He asked, rubbing the back of his head.
"For one simple reason," Celestia started, turning her head to Derek, concern filling her eyes. "The amulet is only usable by ponies. Other creatures, even magical ones like changelings, simply cannot connect and thus use it."
"Ah." Derek suddenly smiled. "Then what's the problem? The idiot just got his hands on a useless piece of junk."
Twilight quickly spoke up. "Just because he himself can't use it, doesn't mean it's not extremely dangerous. The amulet can amplify a unicorn's magical power to ludicrous degrees. Even a pony who is completely incapable of casting even basic levitation spells can reach alicorn levels using the Amulet. Of course, that power comes at a cost, otherwise, we wouldn't have had it locked away."
"Yeah, those costs are some nasty side effects," Trixie replied, shivering slightly.
Derek's jaw dropped. "Oh no... we have to get that thing out of his hands quick!" The alicorn said. Everyone in the room barring Johan raised an eyebrow at the mention of 'hands'.
Johan, in the meantime, was walking through the non-dangerous section of the artifact room. Though he was listening to what the others were saying, he was focusing on the pedestals. There had to be clues somewhere in here right?
Something instantly caught his eye as he neared the vault itself. Resting on a marble pedestal was a crown of some kind. It was a rather tall cylinder of solid silver, that much was obvious by it's shiny nature. The top of the crown was crenelated with elegant carvings that were evocative of branches... or something else maybe. A headdress sat cushioned up at the bottom of the crown, which looked like it would cover almost the entirety of the wearer's head, baring their face. Perhaps the most evocative part of the crown, however, was the image of a winged dog on the front. Most specifically, a caucasian shepherd dog.
Johan couldn't stop himself from approaching the crown. Gently he reached for it. The deer slowly raised the crown for a second. As his hooves touched the metal, he felt tingles run up and down his forelegs, like little shocks, but they didn't hurt at all. The deer couldn't help but smile slightly as he felt it... for some reason, it felt right.
He let in a silent inhale, closing his eyes as he set the crown back down. He'd definitely have to inquire with Celestia and Luna about the origins of this particular artifact.
As Johan opened his eyes again, however, he caught sight of something in that had been haphazardly thrown corner of the room. Something that instantly gave him pause. He quickly started walking towards it, a frown rapidly forming on his face.
"The statue came from the south," Celestia said, the conversation she had held from earlier still carrying on in full swing. "So our best bet would be to head there first. If we send enough guards we might be able to head them off if they are coming northwards."
"Hey, Princess," Johan called out. All eyes were on him now. "Something tells me that the statue guy wasn't the one who did this."
"And why do you say that, Johan?" Celestia responded staring at him with confusion on her face.
"Well, I personally don't know the guy but," Johan slowly held up an empty gas canister and a welding torch. "Something tells me he is a little too sophisticated to be using blowtorches."
"I saw the statue pick up a briefcase out of a tower and throw it southwards during the scuffle in the courtyard," Johan said, dropping both items onto the ground approaching the alicorns and unicorns. "So the bad guys probably still have the amulet regardless, but even then, this means that either they had help from someone or..." He trailed off staring up at Celestia.
"Or there is someone else after it too." Celestia finished a grim look on her face.
The young changeling sat in a carriage seat across from Aeternum, his head lowered. Bags sat under his eyes, but he was in no way tired. Instead, he was trying to process the events that had unfolded only an hour before. He let in a shakey inhale as he looked up, staring up at the massive alicorn.
The alicorn's golden, silver and copper mane swirled through his side of the carriage, completely obscuring the wall behind him as he smiled down at the changeling.
"Why so glum child?" Aeternum asked, leaning forwards, looming above the young one. "This is a new golden opportunity for you."
"O-opportunity?" The changeling asked quietly. Aeternum's eyes widened for a second before a smile returned to his face.
"Ah wonderful, you can speak Equish, I was worried I'd have to teach it to you." The alicorn said with a laugh before sitting up. "Yes! An opportunity. You are my new... test subject if you will. You are going to be used to determine if your species can be taught to... unlearn... their 'customs' and be educated in our ways. The right ways."
The changeling looked down again when Aeternum said this, gulping. The silence returned for a couple of minutes before Aeternum cleared his throat.
"I never did ask your name, did I?" Aeternum asked as the carriage started to move, heading northwards.
"U'val" The changeling said, looking away from the alicorn.
"Hmph, typical," Aeternum said with a sudden frown. "I've always hated your species names. Too many apostrophes, not enough syllables. I think the first order of business will be finding you a better name."
Aeternum rubbed his chin for a second. "Well, your species does have an obsession with that ghastly metal." Aeternum shuddered for a second. "Blech, gold is such a better color. Even silver and copper are superior to it in a way."
Aeternum perked up. "That's it. Your new name. Platina." He said with a laugh.
"Yes, sir." 'Platina' said as he looked up at the alicorn, misery rapidly building in his eyes, but Aeternum merely shook his head, grabbing the changeling by the chin with a hoof.
"I told you, son," Aeternum ordered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I am your new father, refer to me as such."
Aeternum instantly sat up chuckling. "Of course, you won't be an only child, I have two other sons for you to bond with and a future daughter! My eldest is betrothed, how wonderful, yes?"
Platina merely looked out the window, staring at the destruction of his home as the carriage started to lift into the air. The castle looked as though it had been smashed, there were barely any walls left standing. And that didn't even cover the blood. A slick coating of cyan liquid covered the stones and grounds he had been raised in. Fires burned through the courtyards he had played in. Towers he had jumped off of when he was trying to fly sat collapsed on the ground. The Atashgah he had prayed in every Tuesday since the day he could walk was the last resting place of his mother, and his father was nowhere to be seen. It didn't take a genius to tell that he too had been killed.
Platina felt it hard to breathe as he turned back to Aeternum. "A-and what are their names... f-father?"
Aeternum laughed, a proud smile coming to his face. "The princes, Solaris and Auream."
Ocellus and her siblings said nothing in regards to what they assumed was a question. They merely stared, fearfully, at the tall armored changeling in front of them. It merely stared back at them, his helmet completely obscuring any emotion. For all they know, he could have been staring daggers at them, smiling friendly, or even crying maybe... For minutes on end, the two groups stared at one another. Ocellus dared not make the first move.
Slowly changeling's helmet tilted as he looked from them to the sparkly white puddle at his hooves, then back to them. Finally, a metallic reverberation ran through the room, a distorted sound that almost resembled someone clearing their throats.
"Ah, krah ann tzal tek uriah." He spoke cocking his head to the side. Then he placed a hoof on his chest. "Uriah Ka'Rel. Ann veran Kes'kel?"
"W-what is... he saying Ocellus?" Lumbar whimpered hiding behind his sister. Instantly, after the words left his mouth, the armored ling seemed to recoil, taking a step back.
"Equish?" He said, staring down at them, they could almost see a look of pure confusion behind his visor. "Ann ack-es Equish?"
"I recognize that word." Ocellus suddenly said, with a gulp. "Y-yes, we are speaking Equish..." She slowly took a step forwards.
"My name is Ocellus, and these are Lumbar and Axilia." She said, pointing to herself, then to her siblings.
The armored 'ling started to look around, tapping one of his hooves almost... nervously.
"Ach... tel uriah ult Kes, parte." He said, a new desperate tone filling his voice. Slowly he started to walk forwards. He paused at the edge of the puddle, before very carefully stepping over it. Then he continued his slow walk towards Ocellus. The three changelings flinched as he bent down to be eye level with them.
"O-ocellus what do we do?" Axilia suddenly said as she visibly shrunk. "We can't understand a single word this guy is saying, b-but he clearly wants something. D-do we run away?"
Ocellus gulped. "I-I don't kn-" She was cut off by a grumbling. It sounded like... a stomach rumbling.
The three siblings instantly snapped their eyes to the changeling as he let out a groan, a hoof coming to his stomach.
Lumbar suddenly smiled. "Oh I get it!" He said with a laugh. "The poor guy is just hungry! We should take him back to the hive so he can eat!"
Ocellus looked back at him, concern growing on her features. "A-are you sure about that? W-what if he's dangerous?"
"W-well we did see his face, he is reformed like us, that means he shares love, right?" Axilia filled in for her brother.
Lumbar's smile widened. "Yeah, he was probably a guy who discovered how to do it centuries ago, and Chrysalis sealed him in here!"
Ocellus gulped, she shook her head. "King Thorax is away, so I guess we will have to show him to Pharynx if we do bring him back. He probably won't be happy with us bringing a stranger to the Hive."
Ocellus cleared her throat, turning back to the ling. "Excuse me, sir?" She asked. The armored creature looked back to her, his lense glinting in the light of the room as he craned his neck downwards.
"C-can you transform? Like this?" She exclaimed before she disappeared in a flash of light and cold fire, and in her place stood a field mouse. Both of her siblings did the same. The ling cocked his head to the side before there was yet another flash in the room.
Like Ocellus and the others, cyan fire engulfed the armored ling, though it was tinted with white lines that almost gave the flame a spiral appearance. When the burst of fire was done, they were joined by a cyan armored mouse. Ocellus chuckled. He actually looked kinda cute like that.
Ocellus wasted no time in gesturing for the other mice to follow her as she went into the crack in the wall. After a rather long walk through the dark, they finally returned to the cave the nymphs had been sheltering in. As soon as they were out, the changelings all dropped their mouse disguises at once.
"Ocellus! Look!" Lumbar suddenly cried with a smile, pointing to the cave entrance. The rain had stopped. The three siblings let out sighs of relief, they would be able to get back to the hive before nightfall, even by foot... er... hoof.
The armored ling, however, merely cocked his head to the side staring at the monolithic pile of rock and dirt that constituted the changeling hive. He turned his head to stare at the nymphs before looking back. He seemed... distressed.
Ocellus didn't pay him much mind, he must have just been confused at the fact that the hive was overgrown with nature now. As far as she knew, the hive was all the changelings had ever known. Instead, she walked forwards, putting a hoof outside of the cave. She let out a small sigh.
"The air outside is still a little too damp for us to fly, so it looks like we are going to have to walk." She said, shaking her head. Both Axilia and Lumbar instantly groaned.
"Awww, can't we just wait in the cave until we can fly?" Axilia grumbled. Ocellus shook her head.
"Nope." She said. "Mom and Dad must be super worried about us, and the hive must have already sent guards looking for us! We have to get home asap!"
The eldest ling started walking. Initially, her two siblings stayed still, pouting, but they quickly started to follow their older sister when the armored ling walked past them.
The four lings began their hike through the forests that surrounded the changeling hive. The walk was quiet, every so often Ocellus would glance over her shoulder to make sure he was still following after them. Eventually, their hike took them into a small clearing. The leaves and trees around them looked tattered, bites and scratches ripped through several of them, and more than a couple looked dead. Ocellus let out a small whimper of sadness.
"Aww, these poor trees. They must not have healed from the Maulwurf yet." Ocellus said, approaching one of the trees with a sigh, rubbing her hoof along the bark. She opened her mouth again to say something, but she was interrupted by a deep gravelly yell.
"HEY!" A voice cried out to them. Instantly the four lings turned their gaze to the other edge of the clearing, to see a tall deep greenish-blue changeling with red antlers and red highlights marching towards them, anger written in his purple eyes. The three nymphs instantly turned white.
They didn't notice as the armored ling started to shake.
"Where the heck were you three! Everyone in the hive is freaking out and forced me to come out here looking for you!" Pharynx roared as he stomped towards them, eyes narrowing. "And who the heck is that!?"
Ocellus hung her head and sighed as she started walking over to Pharynx to meet him midway, her brother and sister following after her. The armored ling merely stood still, his gaze frozen on Pharynx.
"We're sorry Pharynx." Ocellus whimpered, "We were just exploring and we lost track of time and-"
"That's not an excuse. I just hope you weren't in the rain long, because everyone is probably gonna blame me. If you catch a cold or something." Pharynx hissed, sitting down and crossing his hooves over his chest. "And you still didn't tell me who this guy is."
"Oh uh..." Ocellus said, looking back at him. He was frozen in place still. "We found him in the cave we were hiding from the rain in. We don't know his name or anything b-but he seems nice..."
"Did you're parents not tell you that you shouldn't talk to strangers?" Pharynx said with a roll of his eyes. Just then a voice rang out from the armored ling.
"What is going on?" He asked as he shook. Instantly Ocellus's jaw dropped.
"Y-you could speak equish this entire time?" She asked, confusion ripe in her voice, but he ignored her.
"You speak the language of the Equines. You live in a hive." He said, sitting down, looking down at his hooves. He looked up, pointing to Pharynx. "You are a vurion, but you wear no armor!"
"I'm a what now?" Pharynx asked with a raised eyebrow. Again he was ignored.
"How long... How long did my imprisonment last? How long has it been since the end of the Platinum Empire? Please, tell me!" He asked, standing up and walking towards them, his legs shaking uncontrollably. Pharynx turned his gaze down to Ocellus, before taking a step forwards.
"Uhhh look, I'm not very good at this consoling crap, but you need to calm down. We don't know anything you're saying, but if you come with us to the hive, I'm sure my brother or someone could answer some of your questions." He said, holding up his hooves.
The armored ling turned back to him, his visor once again glinting in the light. "Y-yes. Pl-" He started, but he was interrupted when the ground started to rumble.
The lings all looked down at once, horror filling their eyes. Pharynx and Ocellus knew exactly what that rumbling meant. In a single movement, Pharnyx grabbed Ocellus, while the armored one did the same to Lumbar and Axilia. No sooner did they jump out of the way, than did a massive mole-shaped monster, larger than even a manticore, burst out of the ground with a rain of stone and dirt.
They were both sent flying. Pharynx flew back first into a tree. There was a loud snapping sound as he smashed into it. He let out a scream of pain as he dropped Ocellus to the ground. She barely managed to dodge out of the way when Pharynx hit the ground, the trunk of the tree following after him. With a crash it hit the dirt, pinning the changeling prince to the ground.
The armored ling on the other hand managed to slow his flight through the air, slamming one of his forehooves into the ground while the other remained wrapped around Lumbar and Axilia. The ling left a large trench in the ground as he skidded to a halt, landing in a crouched position. He quickly set both of the nymphs down.
Ocellus gasped as she turned her gaze to the purple and blue mole-shaped monster before them. Two yellow eyes scanned the area before they settled on Pharynx, pinned under the tree. It suddenly slammed both of it's arms onto the ground, claws digging through the dirt as it let out a violent roar. It was then that Ocellus noticed a very large scar on it's arm... one that resembled a bite mark that perfectly resembled the creature's own teeth.
"The Maulwurf never left!" Ocellus cried. Then it charged directly at Pharynx. Somehow, the creature recognized the ling. And it didn't like him, not one bit.
"Get into cover." The armored creature hissed, standing up. A slot opened near the back of his armor, and he pulled a cyan metal rod out of it. With a single movement, he extended the rod, and a pure white halberd blade shot from the tip. He twirled it slightly before charging forwards.
Ocellus and Pharynx both flinched when the Maulwurf reached them. With a roar, it raised both of it's claws into the air and brought them down towards the two changelings. Ocellus screamed and looked away, while Pharynx let out a grunt as he tried to push the log off him.
Then there was a sudden crash. Both of them looked up to see the armored changeling standing on top of the log with his back hooves, his forehooves holding up his halberd horizontally, which had blocked the Maulwurf's downwards strike. With a grunt, the armored ling, pushed the Maulwurf away, which stumbled back. He quickly lept off the log with a side flip and ignited his horn and antlers.
The entire log was wrapped in an aura of cyan energy, before lifting into the air. It then swung through the air like a club, slamming directly into the Maulwurf's chest, knocking it over onto it's back.
While the Maulwurf struggled to catch it's breath and sit up, the armored ling reached a hoof down for Pharynx to take. "Stand with me, Vurion. It is battle time."
Pharynx blinked twice before nodding, grabbing his fellow ling's hoof and standing up next to him.
"Thanks... uh... never caught your name." Pharynx said as he ignited his own horn.
"I was named Ka'Rel, brother." The armored ling said as he rolled his neck and adjusted his grip on his polearm. The clearing shook as the Maulwurf slammed it's arms down and stood up, another roar leaving it's maw.
The two changeling warriors stood side to side as it turned towards them. Like a charging gorillia it ran towards them, slamming it's arms down as it charged. Pharynx took the initiative, quickly transforming into the four-legged five-eyed beast he referred to as his combat form, while Ka'Rel braced himself readying his halberd.
Ka'Rel was the first to spring into action when the Maulwurf tried pouncing at them. The armored changeling used the blunt pommel of his halberd to stab into one of the Maulwurf's eyes. The creature cried out, coming to a stop and grasping at it's eye. The mole-shaped monster cried out in pain, before stumbling back when Pharynx rammed directly into it's chest knocking it over.
"How many times do we have to teach you this lesson!" Pharynx roared in a bestial tone as he rose into the air, before dive-bombing directly into the creature's stomach.
The Maulwurf let out a gasp as the breath was once again knocked out of it's lungs. It grunted and wheezed as it rolled onto it's stomach, desperately trying to rise to it's feet and claws. The Maulwurf barely could do sit up before Ka'Rel jumped into the air, sticking a leg out in a flying dropkick directly into the Maulwurf's face, knocking it over. The beast landed on it's back once more, as it finally opened it's wounded bloodshot eye to see Pharynx hovering in the air above it. The combat formed ling landed on the mole's chest with a growl.
"Find somewhere else to eat already!" he roared violently. The Maulwurf let out a whimper, not dissimilar to one you'd hear from a dog before it desperately spun around and started to dig, fleeing underground.
Pharynx let out a sigh of relief as he transformed back into his normal form, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I hate those things." He said, shaking his head as he saw a mound of dirt rise into the air, quickly speeding off through the forest away from the hive. "Waaay to stubborn for their own good."
"When I was but a nymph those beasts kept themselves to the western badlands, past the fringe of the Empire. I am thankful for that, their ceaseless digging would have no doubt weakened the foundations of our cities." Ka'Rel said as he landed next to Pharynx shaking his head. "Some engine of destruction must be at work to push them this far east."
Pharynx paused, turning to look at Ka'Rel. "Uhhh... we are in the western badlands... I think."
Ka'Rel instantly straightened up. "What?"
"Ehhh, at least I assume as much. We are pretty far west, at least on Equestrian maps, and we live in a forest surrounded on all sides by wastelands. If that doesn't say 'western badlands' I don't know what does."
Ka'Rel was silent for a second as he turned his gaze back to the hive. He ignored Lumbar as he suddenly cheered out to Pharynx, shouting things like 'that was so cool!' and 'How did you guys beat that thing?!'
The clean-up of Canterlot, even with magical powers and the help of two super-powered alicorns, took almost the entire day. The revelation that there could, possibly, be not one but two antagonistic forces working against Equestria had shaken the princesses to the core. Even now as the elements of harmony and co rode back to Ponyvile on a train, Twilight still racked her brain on who it could have been.
Johan let out a sigh as the train slowly rode down the massive hill that lead up to Canterlot, looking out the window to the distant horizon. The sun was setting. If he remembered correctly, that meant that Celestia was lowering it, so Luna could raise the moon... He didn't know if that was Equestrian propaganda, or if that was very much the case. Either way, the very concept of two individuals, who also happened to be the leaders of the planet's dominant superpower, controlling the very celestial bodies struck him as messed up. Living in a world where global destruction could occur with the press of a button had really put him off the idea of a single person holding that much power... let alone two.
Johan sighed as he slumped onto the table, propping his head up with a hoof. First the statue, then the thing that happened at Twilight's parent's place, finally the crown... especially the crown. So many things happening in such quick succession... it was hard for him to wrap his head around it all.
He shook his head. There was something he was missing... that crown, it had a winged dog/wolf on it... he had seen that kind of thing before. His eyes widened as he remembered the night before when the dog appeared. Aralez. He had also been on the crown... Johan sat up instantly. He had originally just thought Aralez had been a hallucination or a dream of some kind, the whole situation of it just appearing when he was sad, licking him, and then running off into the night the second Derek appeared had seemed too implausible to him. But now...
"Are you ok Johan?" He heard. The Deer turned to look around the table. He was sitting with Fluttershy, Twilight, and Spike. Twilight was the one to ask him.
He has wanted to sit next to Derek, but unfortunately for him, the Alicorn had been given a private car alongside Starswirl the Bearded, who was returning to Ponyvile with them. Something about studying the Alicorn and training him.
The deer brought a hoof to his head and slumped back over. "Oh... I'm fine." he said, shaking his head again. "Just thinking, you know?"
He looked over to Fluttershy quickly. "I actually have a question for you." He said, raising an eyebrow at the pegasus. Quickly she shrunk under his gaze, trying to hide under her hair. "You know animals, right?"
She perked up slightly and nodded. "Oh yes, animals of all kinds. Natural, magical, even supernatural." She said with a smile. "I even have an animal sanctuary where I take care of hurt creatures... but you already knew that." She let out a nervous chuckle.
"Do you have a winged dog named Aralez at your sanctuary?" Johan asked sitting up slightly. "Or have you ever heard anything about a winged wolf or a winged dog?"
Fluttershy blinked twice. "No, sorry. I don't know about either of those things. I didn't even know winged dogs existed in the first place."
Twilight instantly turned her head towards him though. She had been only vaguely paying attention to the conversation up until that point.
"Wait, did you say Aralez?" She asked as the Deer slumped down in defeat.
"Uh... yeah?" He replied tentatively.
Twilight's eyes widened. "I have actually heard about that before... or rather read about it."
Johan once again perked up. "Oh?"
"Yes. It was a couple of days before I met you in fact. I was studying several archaeological reports on ancient ruins around the planet, so I could better understand that old building I took you to on the day we met." She started straightening her back. "The word 'Aralez' is used several times in several books, all of them dating back about 700 years ago, or older. Aralez are a species of magical creature native to a mountain range called the Temple Mountains, to the east past the Gryphon Kingdoms."
Johan was listening intently now, raising an eyebrow. "Gryphon Kingdoms? There are multiple?"
Twilight nodded. "Oh yes, dozens. After the collapse of Gryphonstone most, if not all, of the outer communities of the Gryphons split off to form their own nations, but that isn't important now." She said continuing on her previous point. "The Temple Mountains have a somewhat sinister reputation to them, apparently tribes of Keythong live along their slopes, and they attack any explorers who come close, preventing any proper studying, and they are almost constantly wracked by lightning storms that make flying over them impossible." She said, not noticing Spike sigh and cover his ears, flopping his head onto the table. "Gryphons living nearby, however, to this day speak of creatures that resemble dogs and wolves flying through the air around the summits of the Temples. They say they can get struck by lightning and nothing happens to them. In fact, apparently, they fly faster when that happens."
"Aha." Johan nodded along. He now only had more questions than when he started but deemed to let her continue her rambling.
"Now, the books don't go much into detail, they are mostly travel guides to the eastern reaches of the planet, but one of them, much older than the others, mentions something beyond the Temples, something that no living creature has been to in generations as far as I am aware. It was just a single word. Theispas."
The second the word left her mouth, Johan shot up, his eyes widening. Memories flooded into his brain for a split second. First, he saw a city full of deer, just like him. Winged wolves... or Aralez apparently, walked among them, each one accompanying a deer. Then his vision changed. The streets were wrapped in fire, he was surrounded by screaming. The bodies of deer filled the streets. Explosions filled the air, shaking the street and in the distance, he saw... something... standing at the end of a road. He could only make out its size before the vision ended. It was tall... twice as tall as the average pony, comparable to an alicorn.
He cried out and grabbed the sides of his head, collapsing. He almost headbutt the table as the vision ended. He panted as he slowly laid his head on the table, shaking.
"Are you ok!?" Twilight cried, putting a hand on his back. Johan suddenly became aware of the fact that all eyes on the train were on him.
The deer let in a deep inhale, shaking his head. "Y-yeah... I'm f-f-fine..."
A voice in his head suddenly spoke up. It was his voice. "You and the alicorn caught me off guard. Clever, but you aren't ready."
Derek let out a grunt as Starswirl pulled at one of his wings, raising it up then lowering it down several times in a flapping motion.
The wizard hummed as he looked the alicorn up and down. Derek in the meanwhile just tried his best to keep an awkward smile going.
"So you mean to tell me that you are an Alicorn naturally?" Starswirl asked eyes narrowing.
Derek nodded. "Uh, kinda. Why does everyone keep asking me that?" He asked with a frown.
"Hmph, well, your friend Twilight was born a unicorn. And if I recall correctly, Princess Cadance was a pegasus." Starswirl answered as he walked in a circle around the green alicorn. "Celestia and Luna were born as alicorns, but as far as I am aware they are very special cases, same as the new Princess Flurry Heart."
Derek instantly raised an eyebrow. "So wait, you can turn a normal pony into an alicorn?" He said as he turned his head to the unicorn. The wizard replied by roughly adjusting the alicorn's position with magic, straightening his gaze.
"No, you cannot just 'turn' them into an alicorn. It is a barely understood natural occurrence, one that only happens to ponies destined to greatness," Starswirl hissed. "Now keep looking straight, I am not done with my tests yet."
Derek gasped as he felt a ring of some kind latched around his horn. He quickly looked up at it. It was covered in white and red jewels that glowed and vibrated rhythmically.
"This is a magic suppression ring, used to prevent horned creatures from casting spells. This is just a minor one, so it shouldn't cause any major damage." Starswirl said, taking a step back. "I want to test your ability to use the magic under stress."
"And how will something that stops me from casting anything test that?" Derek replied with a frown.
"Simple, I want you to see if you can overload it," Starswirl replied, sitting down at the opposite end of the private carriage the two had. "If you can, I'll take up training you to use your magic. If not, well, I guess you can wait until Twilight's horn is fixed in a month or two."
Derek looked to Starswirl for a second, then up to his horn. He paused for a second.
"Uh sure, how hard could it be?" He said to himself as he tried channelling magic into his horn. There was a sputter, before with a cry, he fell back. His horn sparked once, then twice, then the magic backfired into his head, leaving the alicorn with a splitting headache.
Starswirl rolled his eyes. "Had to test it eh?"
Derek collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily as he did. He quickly brought a hoof to the side of his head, running it up and down. "How do I overload the ring?" He asked with a grunt.
"Don't ask me." Starswirl hissed. "This is your test after all."
Derek sighed in response and looked back up to the horn. Maybe this was a trick quiz? Meant to make him think in an unconventional way? Slowly, Derek reached a hoof up towards the horn. He was earned with a zap as a beam of magic struck it.
"Ouch!" Derek cried, bringing his hand back putting the burned bit in his mouth.
"And no using your hooves either." Starswirl hissed.
Derek couldn't help but sigh... This was going to be a long train ride.
Platina slowly opened his eyes blinking twice. He turned his gaze to the one who said it, cocking his head to the side. He was sitting in a courtyard in Aeternum's palace, far to the north of his old home. It was summer now, which meant that the clearing in the castle's architecture was vibrant and brilliant, filled with dozens of different colors of roses and other flowers. He had come to appreciate it while it lasted, the garden was buried by snow every other season of the year.
Looming over him was a green alicorn with a black mane, a single yellow streak going through it. The alicorn had a goofy smile on his face as he bounced from one set of legs to the other. He was young. Same age as Platina in fact.
Platina looked up at him before returning his gaze down to his hooves. They were covered in cyan fur instead of the carapace of his people. He had been barred from taking on his original form the second he had landed in Aeternum's palace, forced to permanently take the form of an alicorn. Keeping his spell going for months on end without break had taken a toll on his mind, leading to a headache that never went away... but he had come to be able to ignore it... mostly.
"E-excuse me?" He returned slowly, shrinking slightly, a shiver running up his spine.
"I've known you for ten years, and I've never seen you smile once. How come?" the alicorn said, sitting down in front of him. The alicorn's smile faltered as he cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "It's not something I'm doing is it?"
Platina flinched when he said that. He quickly shook his head. "N-no not at all Auream... it's just that..." He trailed off. Had it really been ten years since the changeling had been abducted? Forced into his new role as Aeternum's youngest son? He guessed it only made sense... it had been so long that he had forgotten what his mother and father's faces looked like... he had even forgotten what his own face originally looked like.
"Auream? What are you doing?" A deeper voice said, causing both of them to turn their gaze to its source. Standing on the other side of the garden were two other alicorns. One was a stallion and the other a mare. They were both 20, making them four years older than them.
"I thought I told you not to talk to that... thing without father around." The stallion said, eyes narrowing. He had brilliant orange fur. His short mane was flowy and filled with magic, just like his father's, though instead of being a field of rich metals, it seemed to be made of a roaring fire that glowed yellow, red, and orange.
"Oh come on Solaris!" Auream hissed as he sat up, crossing his forehooves over his chest. "Is it so wrong that I want to cheer up my little brother?" The alicorn pouted.
"Let us get something straight," Solaris said marching forwards. "Something I have been trying to hammer into your head for ten years. That bug is not my brother, and neither is it yours. It's an animal father scooped up to be his pet."
Solaris then suddenly jabbed a hoof out at the changeling turned alicorn. Platina didn't even flinch. He knew Solaris talked a big game, but he had learned to tune out his verbal abuse... he only got physical sometimes after all.
"When I am king, the first thing I am doing is throwing him out into the wild where it belongs," Solaris said, a smirk coming to his face.
"Back off!" Auream suddenly shouted, stepping in between Solaris and Platina. "You know, you can be a real dick sometimes. Father told us to be nice to-"
"I don't care! Father's an idiot sometimes!" Solaris returned but he was stopped by the mare suddenly clearing her throat. Slowly, and elegantly, she stepped forwards. She had a beautiful silver coat of fur, which reminded Platina of the moon at times. Her mane was a similar white color, with grey dots that invoked craters. She smiled as she walked up to Solaris.
Mundus, Solaris's wife by betrothal. Apparently, she was not an alicorn by birth and was born as one of the primitive equine tribals the alicorns ruled over. She had cast a spell or done something similar to that that had earned her horns and wings. Aeternum had quickly picked her up after that, raising her as a daughter and betrothing her to his son, something about wanting strong grandchildren. Platina had always liked her, mostly. She was never as cruel as her husband.
"What did we talk about dear?" Mundus asked, her eyes narrowed. Solaris looked at her for a second before he frowned and shook his head.
"I know... kindness..." He sighed, looking away from her sheepishly.
"Yes, if you want to be a king, you have to be kind to your subjects... even the weird ones." She said with a small smile directed at Platina. Platina merely stared back at her with his usual blank stare.
Solaris sighed. "Fine..." he said, turning around. He was about to walk away before the door to the courtyard opened, and Aeternum walked in, flanked by two golden armored alicorn soldiers.
"Ah, perfect. All my children, all in one place." Aeternum said with a warm smile, which was primarily directed at the other three, not Platina. "Come along children. I have a surprise for you all. Your first diplomatic meeting! How exciting!"
U'val looked down, the memory fading back into the recesses of his mind as he awoke. He took a deep inhale as he did. He was back home... or rather... back to what was left of it. U'val sat up in his sleeping spot and shook his head, glancing around the ruined, dusty room. It had been his mother and father's room long ago... but now it was a barely standing stone square at the bottom of a pile of rubble. A hole smashed through the ceiling, letting a freezing breeze roll into the room from the night.
He had grown numb to the cold centuries ago, so it didn't bother him.
U'val sat up and slowly turned to the hole in the ceiling, spreading his wings and quickly flying outside. Time had not been kind to his former home... though... there wasn't much to spare anymore. Where there had once been an elegantly carved castle that dominated the horizon, now sat a pile of eroded stone, the occasional still standing wall, and snow and ice. In another couple centuries perhaps, there would be nothing left of this place he supposed. Not even ruined architecture for archeologists to blindly make guesses about.
They'd probably think it was made by ancient ponies. The thought sickened him. U'val shook his head and sighed.
He had left Chrysalis and her changelings to their own devices for now... he hoped that wouldn't explode in his face later. Now he had traveled with his two remaining platinum guards to the far north, to find the next crucial piece in his plan. Night had arrived faster than U'val had expected, no doubt Celestia wanted to sleep early today, which meant that they needed to find shelter and make camp fast... his parent's castle was the closest they could find.
It had been a rather bad coincidence.
U'val looked down to the alicorn amulet hanging around his neck. Though it offered him no additional power, not that he needed it, it was easier to carry it this way. He shook his head before raising his gaze back to the horizon. The distant glow of the Crystal Empire permeated the skyline. It only made sense, the 'Empire' was only about two or three hundred miles away.
"Can't sleep eh?" A voice behind him said. Slowly U'val turned to someone standing on his left (no wonder he didn't see them approach.) It was General Mandible.
The black and hole-y changeling was wearing his navy blue beetle-shaped armor, as was typical of his kind. Over it was a black greatcoat, the only thing keeping the cold-blooded ling from freezing. That and U'val's magic which was providing a barely noticeable shield around the ling from the cold. His death to frostbite would throw a wrench in the god's future plans after all.
Chrysalis had ordered him to accompany them north. She claimed that she wanted U'val safe and deployed Mandible to keep him as such, but a toddler could have seen through her ruse. She wanted someone spying on him.
"Either you aren't as divine as you say you are," Mandible said as he put a cigar in his mouth. The changeling general's horn sparked as he unsuccessfully tried to light it amidst the snow pouring down around them. "Or even gods can have bad dreams."
U'val's eyebrow raised. He then shook his head and snickered. "You're lucky I'm not your queen. She would have killed you the second you opened your mouth then." U'val said as his antlers glowed white for a split second. Instantly the general's cigar lit.
Mandible looked at it for a second before taking a drag. The general held it in for a second before the smoke escaped his nose.
"True, she can be cruel." He said eyeing the taller ling. "But I promised to be loyal to her mother, and I will be the same to her. No matter how she acts."
"Loyalty is a two-way street, Mandible," U'val said, looking down at him. "There will come a time when the lie you just told yourself shatters."
Mandible chuckled at that. "You could have killed Chrysalis in the forest the day before yesterday. That's the only reason I'm not going to tell her about what you just said." Mandible took another drag of his cigar, then used his magic to flick it off the pile of rubble the two were standing on into the snow below.
"I don't care if you are a minor demigod or the literal creator of the universe," Mandible said as he tightened his coat around him. "You should get some sleep. Something tells me whatever it is we are after is going to be hard to find."
"So let me get this straight?" The squeaky voice of Thorax said as he rubbed a hoof up and down his forehead. "You three just found him, in a cave?"
Standing in front of him were Ocellus, Axilia, and Lumbar. Behind them were Pharynx, and Ka'Rel, who was currently kneeling at Thorax, a position he had been in for the past several minutes while Ocellus and Pharynx explained what happened while the king was away. They were all at the top of the hive, just in front of the King's wooden throne.
The three nymphs all nodded at once to Thorax's claim. Instantly the king let out a rather high-pitched whimper, which made Ka'rel raise his head and cock his head to the side.
The lime-colored ling started to pace back and forth in front of them. "Oh what am I gonna do, what am I gonna do!" He said, as he hobbled around on three legs. He was nervously chewing on his fourth. "Everyling were already so suspicious of me back in Canterlot... it'd only get worse if I brought him to them. Oh, but keeping him hidden would only make things even worse!"
"Hey, Thorax, what's wrong?" Pharynx said frowning as he approached.
"Oh n-nothing much, don't worry about me!" Thorax said quickly turning around and facing his brother with a very obviously fake smile. "It's just that, oh, armored changelings that look exactly like him just attacked Equestria and a statue presumably piloted by one almost just leveled Canterlot Castle. And now one just showed up at the hive, right after almost every other leader on the planet accused me of having some sort of secret army of... him that I am using to try to conquer the world."
Ocellus and the Nymph's eyes all widened at once as Thorax started to hyperventilate. Pharynx slowly started to frown as sweat started pouring off Thorax's brow like a waterfall.
"And now I have to somehow go back to them with him and tell them 'Oh yeah, three little nymphs just found him in a cave just outside of the hive! I totally wasn't hiding him from you all!' Oh my stars, is it hot in here, or is it just me?!"
In a second, Pharynx slapped his brother across the face. "Hey! Calm down Thorax!" The prince said. No sooner did the words leave his mouth than did he suddenly have a blade against his throat. A halberd blade to be specific.
"You dare to lay your hoof upon the face of your god!" Ka'Rel suddenly roared beneath his helmet. "I know not whether to behead or behoof you for your nullfidianism!"
Everyone was quiet for a second before they all spoke out at once. "His god?" Everyone instantly asked. Ka'Rel blinked under his helmet for a second, confusedly lowing his halberd.
"Y-yes, his god. His Kes. Antlered Lord. What have you." Ka'Rel said looking at the nymphs, then to Pharynx and Thorax.
"I'm not any of those things," Thorax said, nervously approaching and slowly reaching for the Armored Ling's halberd, who didn't reject when he took it from him, handing it to Pharynx. "I am just their leader... not by choice, but everyling wanted me to be king."
"I didn't." Pharynx rolled his eyes.
"But, you stand tall. You have antlers," Ka'Rel said, looking Thorax up and down. "You are thus of the Kes, not of the Shahs."
Thorax was quiet for a second before he frowned slowly. "How old are you?"
"37," Ka'Rel responded without a second of deliberation. "But I was sealed in magical stasis, and thus have lost all track of time. I believe I am now several centuries older."
Thorax gulped. "I think it might have been over a thousand years." He said, turning his gaze to Pharynx, who merely gazed back, pity written on his face.
"B-but that cannot be," Ka'Rel said looking down at his hooves. "My sentence was only supposed to be a couple of centuries at most."
"Wait wait wait." Pharynx interrupted stepping forwards and igniting his horn. "Sentence? As in something you get when you commit a crime?"
"Yes," Ka'Rel replied, not even wasting a second. "I did a most heinous act in our society and thus had many of my memories wiped as punishment. Then they sealed me into magical stasis. Unfortunately for me, they left very little of my original mind intact. I believe all that's left is my name, my role as a Vurion, the crime I committed, my linguistic skills... and useless trivia about fauna and flora around the Empire, apparently, I was quite fond of that."
The casual manner in which he spoke about his mind being so thoroughly scrambled did nothing but unnerve the other changeling.
"A-and what crime did you commit?" Thorax asked, gritting his teeth.
"The same act dear Pharynx just committed," Ka'Rel said, looking the other ling up and down. "I raised arms against my Kes. I, unfortunately, do not remember why."
Pharynx's jaw dropped. Thorax in the meanwhile couldn't help but feel the slightest bit hopeful... though that was tempered by fear and shock. This whole thing seemed... unbelievably cruel to him.
"You do seem the forgiving sort, so I assume that Pharynx here will not be receiving the same punishment as I received," Ka'Rel said, suddenly bowing to Thorax. "I do thank you my Kes. I will admit that the prospect of having another Vurion around fills me with great comfort."
"P-please stop calling me that!" Thorax suddenly squeaked through grit teeth. "Especially if they did... that to you! I'm not a god, or a Kes or whatever! " The king pointed at Ka'Rel's head when he said that.
"I don't understand," Ka'Rel said cocking his head to the side. "So you would rather me treat you as a Shah instead of a Kes? That seems disrespectful to your status."
"N-no! I want you to treat me as a regular changeling!" Thorax squeaked again, his voice getting progressively higher pitched as he cried out. "How are you so calm about... everything!"
"Simple, I have no idea who I was before my sentence," Ka'Rel said, straightening up. "For all I know, I was a horrible creature who caused untold suffering, and this is an excuse to start over. Of course, there is also the chance that I was a hero of legend who has been cursed to forget my deeds, in which case I would be very distressed. However, as I am only 37, I doubt that is the case."
Thorax took a deep inhale, looking around. Eventually, he exhaled with a sigh. "This might actually be a good thing..."
"What?" Pharynx responded, a frown coming to his face. "How is anything about that good?"
"Well, obviously him having his memories erased is bad," Thorax said, steeling his jaw. "But that means that he has no idea about the new threat to Equestria. If Equestria believes him that means that they might not attack us..."
Thorax was silent for a second before he gradually became paler and paler. "They are never going to believe this."
Ka'Rel cocked his head to the side, slowly furrowing his brows under his helmet.
"Worry not, My Ke-" he paused and cleared his throat. "Thorax, you are an obviously honest and respectable Shah. No doubt you will be trusted by the rest of these... Equestrians I believe you called them."
Thorax shook his head. "I don't know... oh why did this new threat have to be changelings. I think people were just starting to trust us again." He whimpered, sitting down.
Ka'Rel spoke up quickly after that. "You remind me of my previous master, U'val. Like you, he was kind, generous, and sensitive. Worry not, I have faith things will turn out well again for us changelings."
Thorax instantly paused, turning to Ka'Rel, eyes wide.
"What did you just say?" He said, a sudden shift in his tone becoming apparent.
Ka'Rel was still for a second. "What? Oh!" he suddenly sat down and clapped his hooves. "I remembered my previous Kes! Perhaps there is more up there than I gave credit for! Huzzah."
Thorax was quiet for a second before he turned to Pharynx who looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. "C-call in the guards," Thorax said in a weak voice, which certainly didn't match his order. Pharynx was silent for a second before he let out a whistle, shaking his head to the side.
Suddenly almost a dozen changelings wearing dark blue armor, the same kind they wore under chrysalis, just with more intimidating features sheered off, came rushing into the throne room. Though, considering the Throne was sitting on a flat open balcony at the top of the hive, it wasn't really a room.
They quickly rushed to their king and prince's sides, armed with spears. Ka'Rel shifted his gaze from them to Pharynx, who was currently holding his halberd. He noticeably started to get tense.
"I am s-sorry for this Ka'Rel," Thorax spoke, standing up straight towering over the former platinum guard... as best he could really. He was still a very unintimidating creature. "But for the time being, I am going to have to confine you to the dungeon, at least until we figure out how connected you are to this U'val character."
Ocellus quickly rushed forwards, stepping in between the two. "Thorax! You can't! He helped save us from the Maulwurf!" She cried. "T-tell him Pharynx!"
"Sorry Ocellus." Pharynx said, gazing down at her. "If Thorax of all changelings thinks this guy might be a security risk, I can't let this slide."
The guards quickly started to converge. Ka'Rel merely remained static as they approached, before presenting his forehooves to them. "Far be it from me to deny the will of my superiors," he said after he cleared his throat. "Might I recommend a cell with steel bars and restraints rather than iron ones? Much harder to escape from."
Thorax sighed as he sat on his throne. "Thank you for cooperating Ka'Rel. We will make sure you are well fed and given as many comforts as you need until we figure something out." He meekly exclaimed as the guards started to lead the armored ling out.
Thorax put his head back in his hooves and whimpered once more as he stared at the floor. Pharynx quickly accompanied after the guards, giving a couple of idle practice swings with Ka'Rel's halberd as he went. Ocellus, Axilia, and Lumbar only stared on as their savior was led deeper into the hive, looks of confusion and betrayal written on their faces.
Thorax merely tensed up as he heard a distant door slam shut as the guards went deeper into the hive. "Why did this have to happen now of all times..." He quietly repeated to himself.
Johan was in the bathroom of his train car, just looking at himself in the mirror. He looked frazzled, to say the least. The bags under his eyes had only grown worse, and his haggard hunch had only gotten worse. And for once, it wasn't Equestria's fault. Something was up with him. He inhaled deeply, shaking his head.
"You're ok Johan," he said as he exhaled. "Get it together..."
Just then his reflection straightened up, the bags disappeared, replaced by a disgusted glare. His eyes were suddenly glowing a deep silver, lightning dancing out of them in an elaborate shimmer.
"You are a disgrace." His reflection said in a light accent making him roll his Rs. "By Aramazd at least take better care of yourself, you look like a lost urchin."
Johan instantly jumped back, slamming his back into the wall. As soon as he did the reflection went away. Johan quivered for a second, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. That had to have been a trick of the mind right?
He found himself hyperventilating for a second before he shook his head yet again and straightened up.
"Don't worry Johan... It's just schizophrenia or something. They probably have some kinda magical cure for that here right? hehe..." He stammered as he looked himself over in the mirror. No weird glowy eyes or lightning all over the place... yay.
Johan let out a groan as he stepped outside of the train's bathroom. It was nighttime now, meaning the train was lit up only by the lights within. A couple of his pals, Spike especially, had fallen asleep during the ride, leaving him without anyone to talk to beyond magical babble with Twilight, which he just wasn't in the mood for.
Just then he heard a zap of energy behind him, then a series of swears. He quickly turned around. The Bathrooms, like in all trains, were right next to the entrance to another car, and a window in said door allowed him to see Derek, struggling and cursing as magic sparked up and down his horn. For some reason, he was wearing a ring around it?
Johan paused for a second. He turned back to the other ponies before he shook his head and walked forwards, pushing open the door and entering Derek's cabin after a short walk outside. He noticed it was starting to rain as he did... that couldn't bode well. They were still an hour away from home.
He was quick to duck out of the rain, staring at Derek as he struggled with the horn ring. Johan couldn't help but flinch when he saw Derek cry out in pain and grab his head as a flash of magic blasted across his forehead. He paused for a second, looking over to Starswirl the Bearded, who was observing the Alicorn with a growing look of disappointment.
"So uhhh... what are you guys doing in here?" Johan asked the wizard, cocking his head to the side.
Starswirl stared at him out of the corner of his eye for a second before he sighed. "If you must know, I am testing your friend here. I fit him with a ring that prevents him from using all magical powers. I am trying to see if he can overload it."
Johan cocked an eyebrow. "Well, first of all, I didn't know that was even possible."
"Myes, add that to the list," Starswirl said. "The younger generations, so unknowledgeable. What are they teaching in schools these days, how to make friends instead of maths?"
Johan bit his tongue for a second before he continued.
"Secondly, is overloading those rings even... possible?" He continued.
"Not for a Unicorn," Starswirl said sitting up and watching as Derek stomped a hoof and let out a rather loud f-bomb."Alicorns, however, can if faced with a large enough... emotional catalyst. Usually, anger. Which is why I am testing him like this?"
Johan grit his teeth as he watched his friend let out a rather pathetic whimper. "So wait, you are trying to test him on something you can't even do yourself?"
"Don't judge my teaching methods. This is how I taught Luna and Celestia to master their magical abilities, and they turned out well enough." Starswirl said narrowing his eyes at Johan. He paused for a second. "Granted one of them did almost destroy the planet because people have to sleep at night..."
"Excuse me, WHAT?!?" Johan cried, causing Derek to pause and stare at the two. Instantly Johan straightened up both his neck and back, towering over the unicorn. He glared down at the wizard with disgust.
Derek's eyes widened slightly as he saw electricity flash between the deer's antlers like a pair of tesla coils. Starswirl noticed too, his jaw clenching, and eyes narrowing.
'He isn't a pony. How can he do that?' Starswirl thought.
"We are done here," Johan said in a sudden authoritative tone. He quickly turned, marching up to Derek. With a single quick movement, the deer ripped the ring off his horn, rather aggressively tossing it on the ground. Starswirl suddenly slammed his hooves on the table he was sitting at as he stood up.
"What do you think you are doing?" Starswirl hissed, narrowing his eyes. "This is my lesson how dare-"
"Shut up." Johan hissed, turning back to the Unicorn. "You know what, I tend not to raise my voice and get authoritative like this, but you... Oh, you have to be the worst teacher I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of bad teachers."
"Johan-" Derek started but he was shut up with a glare.
"You are going to wait until Twilight's horn is fixed to learn more about this magic stuff," Johan said as he started to drag Derek out of the room. "And you had better stay on this train and get back to Canterlot, because you aren't doing anything with Derek as long as I am in Ponyvile too."
Starswirl growled slightly, sitting up. "The Princesses and the Equestrian Nobility will be hearing about this if you don't stop right now!"
Johan chuckled. "You know, I was in Canterlot all day today and I didn't see a single one of them while I was there. I'm starting to think they don't even exist. As for your former students, I wonder which one is going to come down to Ponyvile to your will. Maybe the one who 'almost destroyed the planet because people have to sleep at night' hmm?"
Derek and Johan stepped into the rain and then slammed the door behind him. There was a pause as the two stood on the gangway connection of the moving train.
Derek suddenly spoke up. "Why did you do that?" He said, a deep frown coming to his face.
"It was for your own good. Trust me, people like him are just going to turn you into a dick." Johan exclaimed as he started to walk back to his old car.
"You just cost me my chance at learning magic!" Derek suddenly shouted.
Johan stopped. "No. I didn't. Twilight can teach you."
"B-but he trained Celestia and Luna!" Derek cried sitting down. "That means he knows what he's doing when it comes to people like me!"
Johan let out a dry chuckle. "That guy doesn't know a thing about teaching. Sure he's got all the knowledge in his brain, but I know how you work. That guy would have been terrible for you. Now, are you going to come inside, or are we going to stay out here getting soaked?"
There was another pause as the two stared at each other. Finally, Derek sighed and nodded. "I could use a break..."
Slowly the two turned and opened the other door, stepping inside.
"Nice of the weather ponies to warn us beforehand!" Trixie suddenly cried as she stepped out onto the train station, bringing a hoof to her wizard hat to stop it from blowing away in the wind.
"I'm in the weather team." Rainbow Dash replied, flinching because of the crack of distant thunder. "And this wasn't planned."
Johan grimaced as he looked out along the train station, the rain was coming down in buckets. He sighed... he was about to get really wet, wasn't he?
"Come on guys," Twilight cried as she covered her head with a hoof. "My castle is a lot closer than any of your places, so you guys can stay the night there until the storm passes."
And just like that, everyone started rushing after Twilight as she marched ahead. Everyone except for Johan and Starswirl the Bearded.
Starswirl sat at the train station, leveling a glare at Johan. "As I said, the princesses and nobility will be hearing about this."
"Yeah. Sure." Johan said as he moved to start to follow after Twilight. "Lemme know if anything comes of that."
"Hmmph, I may not know much about this whole friendship thing, but you seem like a poor acquaintance for Derek." Starswirl hissed. Instantly Johan froze in place.
"Excuse me?" He replied with a hiss.
"You are obviously holding him back." That was all the unicorn replied with before he stomped back onto the train.
Johan was silent for a second before he stomped his hoof and turned to leave. Just before he did, however, his eyes locked on a distant lightning bolt. He stared at it, a newfound feeling of contempt grabbing his heart. He snarled before stepping out into the rain following everyone else.
Chapter 24: Thunder and Lightning, Very Very Frightening
Twilight's castle was the closest dry place to the train station. As such, it was only logical that everyone rushed inside the second twilight unlocked the door. Everyone except for Johan that is, who slowly walked inside last, still seething after his conversation with Starswirl. The deer barely paid any mind to anyone else as he walked to the map room and sat down inside, fully expecting to have to give his room up for the night, and so wanted to sit down in one of the (horribly uncomfortable) crystal chairs for the night.
He was surprised when he saw everyone else pile inside as well. Even more so when Twilight's horn ignited and a bunch of pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags levitated into the room.
"It looks like the rain isn't going to stop for a while everypony," she said, unexpectedly excited. She quickly set all of the sleeping stuff into a pile on top of the map. "And you know what that means!"
"Slumber party!" The main 6 all cried out at once, throwing their arms up into the air with a cheer.
Johan very visibly cringed at that, while Derek merely looked confused. That confusion quickly transformed into a look of excitement.
"Really? How old are you guys?" Johan hissed, rubbing his ears as he did.
"28." Pinkie Pie cried out with a goofy small, "Fluttershy is 29, though, so she's basically an old mare."
The mare in question scowled.
Johan only sighed and quickly turned around and started walking towards his room.
"I've been to enough girl's sleepovers to know that I don't want to stick around," Johan said, deadpan. "You guys have fun."
"I'm with you there Johan," Spike said frowning deeply. He was quick to follow after the deer. "C'mon let's go read some comics or something."
Johan nodded as the two disappeared around a corner, leaving Derek alone with all of the mares. The alicorn blinked twice. First, he looked to the door, then to the mares surrounding him. He was silent for a second before he blushed and smiled. He had never been to one of these before... especially one with girls... or mares in this case.
"So uh... what do you do at one of these slumber parties?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head as a blush came to his face.
Johan sighed as he read through another chapter of one of Spike's comics. This one was original to Equestria and didn't strike him as some sort of pony parody of work from Earth. The Power Ponies, it was called. It honestly struck him as kinda unoriginal, but hey, he wasn't gonna knock Spike's favorite work. Especially considering it was apparently the number one work in Equestria.
Still, he did have some concerns he couldn't help but voice.
"So, Humdrum gets better right?" Johan said aloud as he turned his gaze from the comic to spike, who was sitting on the buck's back, likewise caught up in a book of his own. "Cause honestly he just seems annoying right now. I mean... how many times can a guy get kidnapped, enslaved, or mind-controlled before you just throw your hands up and fire him?"
Spike nodded back at him. "I mean... Sorta," he responded. "He has a few moments here and there but to be honest I didn't think he was cool until the last issue... That was a weird night."
Johan blinked twice in response. "Why, what happens in the last issue?"
"You'll find out when you get there," Spike said with a chuckle. "If you keep reading of course."
Johan nodded slightly before turning his gaze back to the comic. Just then he felt a skull-splitting headache pierce through his head. He grunted in pain, grabbing the sides of his head and headbutting the comic. He almost started whimpering, then it went away.
"W-what the heck was that..." He groaned. He sighed and opened his eyes. Then they widened in shock.
He wasn't in Spike's room anymore, he was standing on top of a mountain in the middle of a roaring storm. Lightning and rain surrounded him on all sides. It was silent for a second before the wind and thunder roared to life all at once. He grunted as the wind sent him to the ground.
A set of hooves stepped in front of him seemingly out of nowhere. His breathing became heavy as he looked up to see who they belonged to.
It was Johan... except at the same time it wasn't. The deer was wearing a blue and black overcoat with silver buttons, a dark grey dress shirt, and a silver circlet, with two glowing blue eyes. Streaks of white fur ran in lines across his face. Lightning danced between his horns like a tesla coil as he glared down at Johan with half-closed eyes.
"I am tired of waiting for you to figure this out on your own, boy." The deer said in the same rich accent he heard when in front of the mirror. "As such, I will be taking over for the time being."
Johan grunted, slowly trying to pull himself up as the other deer started walking away from him. "W-who are you?"
All the other deer did was throw him a glance over his shoulder before there was a crack of thunder and he disappeared with a flash, leaving the Johan completely alone, only the roaring wind for company.
Johan shot up, standing and straightening his back in a second. Spike was caught off guard, falling off and hitting the ground rather hard. He quickly turned his gaze to the deer.
"Woah, Johan," Spike groaned, pulling himself up and glaring at the deer. "A little warning next time you get up like that."
Johan paid him no mind and instantly turned to walk to the door. Spike's eyes followed him for a second before he noticed that Johan's own were glowing. His frown instantly disappeared. There was something wrong. The drake sprung to his feet, quickly following after Johan as he pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway. He looked left, then right, then started marching down the hall towards the map room.
"Hey, slow down!" Spike called after him as he followed the Deer. "Don't just run off, is something wrong?"
Johan continued to ignore him, only focusing on the hallway ahead of him. Spike saw small flashes of electricity dance between the branches of the deer's antlers. They were weak and short-lived, but they were noticeable.
Eventually, the deer made it to the map room, all while ignoring the dragon desperately following after him. Sitting around the table, all of the mares and Derek were currently in the middle of a game of truth or dare. The game ended the second Johan slammed open the door to the room.
All eyes were suddenly on the glowing-eyed deer. The deer stared at them for a second, particularly Derek as lightning continued to lance between his antlers, then he turned towards the front door.
"Johan? Where are you going?" Twilight asked, but like Spike before, she got no response. Said dragon shortly rushed in, looking desperately at the elements and co.
"Something's wrong with Johan!" Spike said as the howling of wind became apparent. The deer in question had just slammed open the front door and stepped into the rain.
"Yeah... we noticed..." Trixie said with a grimace.
"C'mon! We have to stop him!" Derek cried, rapidly sitting up and rushing out the door, the others following.
The deer came to a stop in the empty field in front of Twilight's castle. He paid little mind to the rain hammering against his fur. He let in a deep inhale, and looked up into the sky, feeling the rain land on his face... he hadn't felt this in so, so long. A distant howl above caught his attention, his gaze snapping to a flying shape rapidly coming towards him. A weak smile came to his face as it landed in front of him, prancing happily.
A winged caucasian shepherd dog. Aralez. His smile grew for a second as he reached a hoof out, gently placing it on the dog's head. "What are you doing this far from home, boy?" the deer laughed dryly as he scratched behind the wolf's ears, who whined slightly.
"Johan! Come back inside, it's dangerous out here!" He heard from behind him. He quickly turned his head to see Derek, Twilight, and the others rushing towards him. He let out a small snarl, a glare coming to his glowing eyes.
Then there was a crack of thunder and a flash. The last thing he saw and heard was everyone scream in horror as he felt a bolt of lightning strike him on the crown of his head. Then it all went dark, and he was back on the mountain... alone.
Johan groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, once again the morning sun was pouring directly into his eyes. The deer had a killer headache right now, and the light wasn't helping. It only became worse when he realized that the blinds were already closed, meaning that there was little he could do to solve his problem.
Johan growled, turning over with a snarl. As he did it, in an instant, he felt some kind of force pass from his chest, up his spine, and then into both of his antlers. Then, a split second later, he felt it shoot out, and heard an explosion that shook the room, knocking him from his bed, and kicking dust into the air.
The deer quickly sat up, coming face to face with a massive hole in the wall, where there had once been a window. In the far distance, he saw a lightning bolt rocketing away, without a cloud in sight. It didn't take a genius to tell where it had come from. He quickly looked up towards his horn. Electricity was arcing between his horns, dancing from one to the other as if he had a pair of tesla coils attached to his head.
Johan couldn't help but gasp as he brought his hooves up towards his head. Just before he made contact with them, the door to the room slammed open, and Derek, Twilight, and Spike rushed into the room, staring between him and the hole in the wall wide-eyed.
"D-did Johan do that?" Spike asked jaw dropped.
Twilight and Derek were both staring in silence, similarly shocked. Twilight was the first to get her bearings, her eyes instantly turning towards the Deer's antlers. Magic still danced between them, instantly filling her with cheer and glee.
"Sweet Celestia!" She suddenly cried. Initially, Johan thought that meant she was freaked out or something. It rapidly became apparent that that wasn't the case when she rushed to his side, crouching down in front of him, staring at his horns like a child enthralled by a bug on a stick.
"Lightning magic!" She cried, bringing a hoof up. She quickly retracted it when a bolt zapped from Johan directly into it, giving her a bit of a static shock, and making her mane stand on end. It did nothing to stop her overall excitement.
"This is amazing! I've never seen magic like this before!" She said, walking in a circle around Johan.
"Don't you guys control the weather?" Derek asked, stepping closer to the two.
"Well, yes, but we have little control over the ionic forces of thaumatic lightning." She said, pulling a ruler out of nowhere, measuring the space in between both of Johan's antlers. "Instead, we have to use the natural electricity stored in the stratocumulus lining of artificial clouds to control them."
"Artificial clouds?" Johan asked, incredulously.
"Ionic forces of what?" Derek similarly asked, blinking twice.
"I'll explain all that later." Twilight grinned. "But now I have two creatures I have to teach magic to! Oh, this is so exciting!"
"Youch... that sounds stressful..." Derek hissed through clenched teeth.
"Not at all! This is going to be just as much a learning experience for me as it is for you! Come on, I want to start now!" She said, turning and rushing out of the room. Derek was quick to follow after her, eager for more
"Don't I get a say in this?" Johan hissed slightly, looking up at his antlers. "I mean... I don't even know how to work these things..."
"Eh," Spike said with a shrug as he casually pocketed crystal shards off the ground to eat later. "If anyone can teach you how to learn how, it'd be Twilight."
"That's a good point." Johan groaned, sitting up. He turned his gaze to the front door, grimacing slightly. "I wouldn't want to cause any more holes in the wall though."
"Ah, you're fine Johan." Spike laughed. "The tree usually fixes itself on its own. Plus, it means I can have more snacks."
Johan straightened up slightly, blinking twice. "Snacks?"
"Oh yeah, Dragons eat gems," Spike said, popping one of the crystals into his mouth and chewing on it like it was a piece of popcorn. "They taste really good by the way, kinda like rock candy."
Johan's jaw dropped. "You must have like, diamond-hard teeth to be able to eat that kinda thing."
Spike shook his head. "Nah, we are just magically able to do it."
"Wait, hold on, I thought only Ponies and Changelings were magic..." he shot a quick glance up to his antlers. "And... deer too apparently."
"Nah, they are the only races who can like, naturally use spells. Dragons are full of magic. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to breathe fire." Spike said, happily puffing out his chest. "I can do other stuff too, like sending scrolls with my fire breath, but that's a me only thing."
Johan nodded down at him. "Hmmm, I guess that is a fair point. I don't imagine something getting as big as those dragons at Canterlot without a little magic in their systems." He said, turning to slowly follow after Derek and Twilight. "Excuse me, I'm gonna go after them."
"Yep. Take things slow though. Sudden movements might set off your antlers." Spike said, taking a couple of steps after the Deer. "I'll come with you, just to make sure nothing goes wrong."
A warm smile suddenly came to Johan's face, staring down at Spike and not paying attention to what was in front of him. "Yeah. Thanks, man, that's actually really nice of you-"
He was interrupted when he was tackled by something large, fluffy, and white. Johan let out a cry as he hit the ground, another bolt of lightning shooting from his horns out of the hole towards the ground, where it struck a tree sheering it of all its branches and scorching it black.
Johan landed on his back with a crash, looking up at what had just tackled it. It was Aralez! Johan coughed and sputtered as the dog attacked his face with his tongue, covering the deer in a thick layer of slobber.
"Oh yeah, him. He just sorta showed up last night, and invited himself in when we were bringing you indoors after you got struck by lightning." Spike chuckled as Johan pushed the dog off him.
Johan instantly sprang up. "Wait what? I was struck by lightning!?!"
Spike blinked twice. "Uh yeah." The dragon explained. Johan spun around to stare at him, shooting another lightning bolt into the air as he did.
"Excuse me what?" He cried in a panic. "How am I alive!?! How is everyone so calm about this!?"
"D... Didn't you know?" Spike asked, furrowing his brows.
"No!" Johan cried, bringing his hooves to the side of his head.
"Well, all of a sudden last night you stood up while we were reading comics and started acting really weird," Spike explained in a calm fashion. "Don't you remember any of this?"
"No! I just remember blacking out all of a sudden and then..." he paused... The lightning did explain why he suddenly could shoot lightning all over the place. "M... maybe I stored the lightning in my antlers?"
"Yeah, that makes sense..." Spike said with a nod. The deer paused then shook his head.
"Yeah, let's just go with that..." he said, turning his gaze back to Aralez, who was excitedly prancing in place. "Now, what are we going to do about him?"
"I'm sure Twilight'll be fine with you keeping him... gonna have to come up with a dog bowl and dog bed for him somehow..." Spike explained, scratching the side of his head. "Maybe my old bed would be good."
"You're old bed? Isn't that a little weird for a dog to sleep in a proper bed?" Johan asked as the two turned to walk out of the room, Aralez eagerly following him.
A laugh in the dark caused Mandible to bolt upright, turning his head this way and that, observing every inch of his surroundings. U'val had marched him into a barely visible cave in the side of a glacier, farther north than even Yakyakistan. Ice coated the walls and ceiling, while the floor was coated in a layer of snow so dry it felt like he was walking on rocks.
"Not scared of the dark are you general?" U'val asked, stepping ahead. The black changeling stammered for a second, before the platinum guards brushed past him, dutifully following after their master.
"Tril'ik, Ezin'dle. Stay here." U'val ordered quietly, stopping the two dead in their tracks.
"B-but my Domine..." The female guard started, but U'val shook his head.
"And keep Mandible from freezing. The poor ling looks like he is about to shatter." That alone settled it. Instantly both the guards nodded their heads and turned towards Mandible. The general couldn't help but feel intimidated as the two stared down at him, their visors not betraying the slightest hint of emotion.
Silence reigned for a second before the female growled.
"I saw a forest or something a couple of dozen miles that way. I will look for some firewood." She hissed shaking her head. "That is how you keep mortals warm, yes?"
"Go, I will watch this one. Stay safe, Ezin'dle." The male guard said calmly in a deep voice as he sat down across from Mandible, not taking his eyes off him for a second.
The newly identified Ezin'dle didn't respond as she turned to march out of the cave. Mandible went silent as he was left with the towering goliath sitting across from him.
"So..." Mandible started nervously tapping a hoof. "Tril'ik right?"
If that was his name, he didn't respond to it, merely staring down at him.
"It's an... interesting name. I'm noticing you tall antlered types really like apostrophes." Mandible said rubbing a leg. Still no response.
"We've been traveling north together for like, what now, two, three days? And I just realized the two of us haven't said a word to one another in that entire time. That's a little strange ye-" He was stopped when Tril'ik suddenly spoke up.
"Stop trying to converse with me, mortal," he said, not moving.
Mandible's jaw dropped. Instantly he rallied and sat up. "Why, because you are a demi-god and I am unworthy to bask in your presence?"
"No. Quite the opposite," Tril'ik responded. "I will only say this once. You are a mortal, full of life and exuberance. You have choice and free will, even if you can choose wrong. I am a shield. A tool. An object. My one purpose is to stand between my Kes and danger and die in his place should the need arise. I am not even a living being."
The platinum guard's voice was monotone and robotic, it was obvious he was repeating a code that had been drilled into his psyche.
Mandible's jaw dropped. And he thought he had loyalty issues...
"What... that is insane! You are clearly alive. You're breathing. Thinking." Mandible started. Tril'ik sat up slightly, clearly annoyed causing Mandible to flinch.
"That is the creed of the Vurion. We are the Kes'Kel'Kes' shield and shepherds. We both look over his flock, and stand between him, his subjects and danger. Our minds and bodies are not our own. They are his." Tril'ik said, shaking his head. "Ezin'dle and... Tzar'ak... might have forgotten this, but I remain."
Mandible flapped his mouth open and closed for a couple of seconds. He steeled himself and gulped, furrowing his brow. "So... your 'Kes'Kel'Kes' down there have you guys so brainwashed that you will willingly kill yourselves if commanded eh?"
Tril'ik responded quickly. "U'val is not the Kes'Kel'Kes. But if he wished me to, I would slit my throat with my halberd without hesitation."
U'val felt like he was being watched... and he was. The same dark laughter echoed through the crystalline ice around him. In a second, the teal and white ice and snow turned a shadowy black, as if someone had poured ink into the water that formed them.
"A thousand years of exile, surviving my own death..." A masculine dark voice echoed through the dark. "And I had thought I had seen everything."
U'val stopped casually looking around, his eye locking with a pair of glowing neon green circles in the dark.
"Now... seeing one of your kind again after all of these years, now that is a surprise." The voice said as two blood-red pupils appeared in the glow. "I had assumed the alicorns had driven your kind into your rightfully deserved extinction. Or at the very least devolved you back into obscurity."
"Oh, they did," U'val replied, cocking his head to the side. "First one than the other. Thankfully their new king is managing to turn them in the right direction... for the most part."
"And what is the right direction to your kind creature?" The voice laughed. "This world is based around a constant balancing act between light and dark. A delicate scale. But you... you beasts rose from nothing to throw the scale-out entirely. You hijacked the world from its true purpose to play out your own little delusions of divinity for millennia."
The voice was quiet for a second until a smirk filled with sparkling white fangs appeared under the lights. "But I guess the truth finally caught up with you huh?"
"Indeed it did," U'val said, rolling his eye. "But your little scale still isn't balanced, is it? Otherwise, you'd be out there standing on the same level as the Alicorns, instead of wallowing in this cave."
The voice snarled, a bestial hiss ripping through the cold air. The cave wall shifted, as the head of a unicorn with a curved bladelike horn formed from ice, shooting towards him, coming to a stop an inch away from his face. "And there is no one to blame for that but your master. I know who you really are, U'val. Nothing but a pampered pet to the real 'god' of this world. I assume he is still alive too eh? Pulling your leash around like a good dog? Or maybe your other master got through to you again eh?"
U'val's single eye narrowed for a second before he shook his head. "No. I am an independent these days," he responded with an exhale. U'val turned away from the crystal head. Slowly he started to walk away. "But I suppose you are right. You and I have nothing to gain from a partnership. Such is life, I'm afraid. I hope you don't mind staying in this cave for another thousand years then, right?"
"Wait..." The crystal head called back. There was a pause before it hissed.
"Fine... you're right. I'm stuck here, and you are likely the only creature on the planet who knows where I'm stuck... If I want to get out of this literal hole..." the crystal head seethed, tapering off slightly.
"Very well then," U'val said turning on his heel to stare over at him. "But I want to make this clear. This is a mutual deal. I scratch your back..."
U'val stepped forwards, smirking as he brought his face an inch away from the crystalline one. "You scratch mine."
The voice growled once again. "How? Even if you somehow reconstitute my body, my Empire has been taken away from me. Light rules triumphantly over every inch of this world. Without the Crystal Heart to corrupt-"
"I am well aware of that, which is why I brought you this," U'val said with a smile as he held up a certain amulet he had recently acquired. There was a grinding sound as the crystal statue raised its eyebrows.
"How did you...?"
"I have my ways," U'val said, grinning ear to ear. "Now then, do we have a deal?"
The crystalline head was quiet for a second, before it slowly opened its mouth, revealing, in place of a tongue, a red and gray curved horn.
Mandible let out a sigh of relief as he held his hooves over the fireplace. It was a welcome feeling of warmth, something he hadn't really experienced since he left his queen's side.
Ezin'dle had since returned from finding firewood, hence said fire infront of him. The Platinum Guard was sitting next to the cave's entrance, watching the outside for danger of some kind... not that there was any danger this far north. He supposed it was just some sort of natual paranoia, that made sense for bodyguards.
Mandible quickly turned his head deeper into the cave as he heard the sound of foot steps. The single glowing eye of U'Val appeared in the dark, as he came closer.
"Good news." U'val spoke simply. "We have what I need and can move onto the next phase of the plan."
Mandible raised an eyebrow for a second, then his eyes latched onto what U'val had held up in his magcial grasp. A red and grey curved horn. His eyebrow only raised.
"We came all the way out here for that?" The changeling asked, barely hiding his indignation.
U'val merely nodded, dropping it into his outstretched hoof. "Once upon a time, this horn belonged to the most powerful unicorn in history." He said as he balanced the sharp end on the tip of his hoof like it was a knife. "Him, coupled with the Alicorn amulet, will serve as a perfect lynchpin for the foreseeable future. Until then, Ezin'dle."
She straightened up and stood firm the second U'val's eye was on her.
"Begin preperations for phase three."
Without a second of hesitation, Ezin'dle instantly turned and left the cave, flying to the south east.
"Come." U'val exclaimed to Tril'ik and Mandible. "We return south."
Johan grunted as yet another one of his lightning bolts missed its target, a tin can on a fence post, striking a tree in the distance. The deer face hoof as he watched the tree burn away. Derek and Twilight both walked up to him.
"Any advice?" Johan groaned as Spike quickly rushed towards the tree with a bucket. The fireproof dragon was probably the best firefighter they had.
"Hmmm, I can't really think of any. You are using a type of magic we ponies have no idea how to use," Twilight said, scratching the side of her head.
"Surely there is someone out there who uses lightning magic. Or just lightning in general," Johan sighed, frowning slightly.
"Well..." Twilight went silent for a second, pondering. "There are stories of unicorns who actually properly break this horn, instead of, well..." She looked up to her own cracked horn. "That."
"And this gives them lightning magic?"
"No, but the natural arcane magic in our horns instead gets released as a type of arcane electricity. It's almost impossible to control, but apparently, some with extreme willpower can learn to manipulate it properly," Twilight said, shaking her head. "But I don't think there are many parallels between the two besides being unruly."
"And I'm guessing horns are pretty hard to break huh?" Johan sighed.
"Yes. Extremely," Twilight exclaimed as Spike returned to her side.
"Maybe you're going about it in the wrong way?" A voice rang out. The gathered four turned to see Starlight and Trixie approaching. Surprisingly, it had been Trixie who spoke out.
The Deer blinked twice. "Do you have any idea of the right way?"
"Well," Trixie said, flicking her cape and letting out a smug laugh as she approached. "The Great and Powerful Trixie, is well-versed in pyrotechnics!"
She was quick to throw her hooves into the air, fireworks shooting out of her cape into the air.
Everyone else blinked.
"Oh... ok," Derek exclaimed.
"And that helps... how?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, when you are learning pyrotechnics, it's important to figure out how electricity works. I learned that the hard way." Trixie said with a slight laugh.
Starlight, who had been following her, was quick to look at her and ask; "Hard way? What do you mean?"
"Well, I skipped that part in the manual when I was learning about this stuff... it turns out, static electricity can activate fireworks if you touch the fuse... I lost my first cart because of that." Trixie bashfully explained, rubbing her head. "But don't worry, the crowd thought it was an amazing show, and thanks to that I could afford a new one."
She shook her head and approached the tin can on the fence. "For starters, lightning is just pure electricity, and tin is a bad conductor," Trixie said as she knocked it over with a hoof. "Since lightning is obviously hard to control, there is probably a way to force it to cooperate."
Everyone else was quiet as they stared ahead at her.
With a magic trick, Trixie placed an aluminum soda can on the post instead. She quickly pulled back, hiding behind Starlight slightly.
"Try it now!"
Johan stared at her for a second, then glanced over at Spike and Derek who both shrugged. Then at Twilight who nodded.
He braced himself for a second, spread his legs, and then charged his antlers. The smell of ozone filled the air around him as electricity bounced from branch to branch, then from antler to antler. There was a pause, before, with an audible crack, a bolt of lightning slammed from his antlers. It branched through the air, before striking true, hitting the can square on the label.
In an instant, it was melted to slag metal, fusing with the post while at the same time setting it alight.
Johan's eyes widened. At first, it was in shock, then glee. "I hit it! I can't believe I hit it!"
"Hah!" Trixie cried. She quickly turned to Starlight and turned up her nose. "Told you I was right."
Johan smiled and laughed for a second, before his smile quickly faded, replaced by a look of disappointment. He was quick to look up at his antlers. "So, you're saying I can only use these things on conductive metals? That... seems useless."
Twilight shook her head. "I wouldn't say that. I think with time you will be able to aim your lightning better and actually control where they go."
"But... say we get attacked again by those... what did you call them... changelings. What if that armor they wear is non-conductive?" Johan asked, frowning slightly.
"Well, in that case," Derek said, wrapping a hoof around his shoulder. "Why don't you carry conductive metals along with you?"
Johan blinked. "Like... carry cans with me everywhere?"
"Nah nah, imagine this. You carry javelins of metal around with you, and you like, throw um at the ground near the guy you're fighting. Then bam, you shoot your lightning at them." Derek said, a goofy smile coming to his face. "Man, that sounds anime as fuck."
Everyone else paused.
"What's anime?" Spike asked.
"It's a human thing," Johan sighed. "A degenerate human thing."
"Don't you mean deergenerate?" Derek said, elbowing him in the side. "Get it? 'cause you're a deer?"
"I hate my life."
U'val stopped on a hill overlooking the Crystal Empire, his eye narrowing slightly as he looked down upon the frolicking crystaline equines and the Alicorn ruling over them. He let out a disgusted grunt as he did. He was silent for a minute, Mandible and Tril'ik standing silently behind him.
"Sombra..." He suddenly said, turning to the red horn, which was being held aloft by his guard. "It will take the magics of myself and my followers a month to reconstitute you a body. Then I will set you loose on the empire, do we have an agreement?"
There was no response, for obvious reasons. U'val merely smiled and looked back to the empire as the horn was picked up by a platinum white energy and lifted into the air.
"I'll take that as a yes, but... I do have one caveat for this deal, I hope you understand." U'val spoke with a light tone and a small smile on his face. "During your invasion of the Empire, you will likely encounter a deer."
Mandible flinched slightly as U'val's eye suddenly darkened, a new aura surrounding him. A snap suddenly rang out through the air as a crack appeared in Sombra's horn, running from tip to base.
"He. Is. Mine." U'val said, his magical grip tightening. More and more rifts formed across the horn, causing Mandible's eyes to widen. "If you so much as crack one of his antlers, I will ensure that every last trace of you is eradicated from history. Understood?"
The horn quivered in his grasp.
U'val smirked before half hazardly throwing it over his shoulder, where it was quickly caught by Tril'ik.
"Far be it from me to question you," Mandible claimed, furrowing his brow. "But what was the point in coming all the way out here if you're just going to damage the horn like that?"
"It'll be healed in a month." U'val laughed. "But, for the time being, it never hurts to get a point across. For now though, come. Chrysalis has been left unchaperoned for far too long."
U'val then took to the air, Mandible and Tril'ik following after him.
Johan rubbed his eyes as he slowly opened the door to his room, holding a small stuffed deer in his hand as he peaked into the living room. He had woken to the sound of screaming, and broken glass. The six-year-old silently walked across the carpet, his onesie picking up static electricity as he dragged his feet. Once again he could do little more than peak around a corner as he saw the source of the yelling.
His mother was on her side on the kitchen tiles, propped up on one arm, while the other was covering her eye, a shattered vase on the ground next to her. And standing over her was his father, hands balled into fists. The man turned towards Johan, rage, and hatred in his eyes before he turned towards the kitchen door, slammed it open, and walked into the darkness.
Then there was the crack of lightning as everything changed in a flash.
"Jelen." A voice said with disgust, causing the kneeling stag to turn his gaze upwards. His gaze first drifted to the two deer guards standing over him, lightning coursing between their antlers. Then it dragged around the room they were standing in.
They were standing in a rich throneroom. Silver statues sat in alcoves along the room, depicting his crowned ancestors staring down at him with their blank stares. Branching, antler-like, decorations of lead danced along the galena walls of the room, as see-through blue-white curtains hung from the ceiling. A balcony overlooking the palace courtyard stood on the righthand side of the room, even now he could hear the jeering of a crowd below.
Then finally, his eyes fell on the one who had called out to him. An aged deer, brown in fur but with notable white and grey highlights, fitted with his tall silver crown and blue-white robes. The deer was lounging in a rounded throne of the signature metal, his massive knobbled and knotted antlers pressed against it, causing lightning to dance across its surface. A massive winged wolf sat behind the throne, almost the size of a full-grown bear. Its eyes locked onto Jelen with a murderous glare, gnashing its teeth, only for its master to calm it with a stroke of its chin.
"Father..." Jelen hissed, his eyes narrowing up at him. A smug smile spread across his face. "Finally, dragged me out of the dungeon eh? Does that mean I'm forgiven?"
The aged deer let out a laugh as he stood up and approached his son. "No. You are most certainly not. The embarrassment you have caused our dynasty with your little stunt is still rippling through the nation. If the alicorns of Epona, the centaurs, or Aramazd forgive the Platinum Empire find out about this..."
"Heh, sorry to say but I doubt anything will come of this, lest you forget those nations at least have the common decency to not burn people like me at the-" Jelen started, only to receive a slap across the face from his father, the hoof strike almost breaking the deer's jaw.
"Every day you give me nothing but disappointment and disrespect! I tire of your attitude boy!" The king roared, turning around with a snarl and stomping a hoof, which prompted the Aralez behind his throne to let out a bark, almost springing forwards.
Jelen flinched when he raised his hoof again, prompting his father's glare to soften, for a second. Slowly he lowered his hoof down, stroking where he had previously struck his son. Hesitantly, Jelen opened his eyes, locking them with his father.
The king sighed, shaking his head, tsking as he did. "Your mother's death means I cannot replace or disinherit you, and Theispas needs a king when I die, though your heretical rejection of the fairer sex puts a damper on those prospects..." He said, turning to walk towards the balcony, the two guards hoisting up the much smaller Jelen and forcing him to follow after his father.
"As such, I think I have no other choice but to find ways to fix you. Starting by showing you what you've done to him." The King said as one of the guards grabbed Jelen by the back of the head and slammed his chin on the balcony railing, forcing him to turn his gaze to the center of the palace courtyard.
Kneeling on a raised stone pedestal, surrounded by a jeering crowd was a young buck, he couldn't have been older than sixteen, the same age as Jelen. The two locked eyes as another deer walked onto the pedestal, a curved yataghan sword resembling a khopesh raised above his head, wrapped in electricity.
Instantly, Jelen's eyes widened, tears pouring from them as the blade was raised. "No! No! Father, please! Don't hurt him! Stop!" He cried, but his pleading fell on deaf ears. The executioner turned his head to the king, who nodded down at him.
And in an instant, the blade fell.
The guard pinning Jelen to the railing let go and took a step back as Jelen collapsed to the ground, his breathing light and his eyes hollow.
"Send a letter to King Aeternum of Epona and ask him to take my son under his wing as his ward for the next four years, if you would." The king said as he emotionlessly turned his gaze away from the courtyard to the other guard, who nodded. Then the two of them turned and marched out of the room.
Jelen's breathing suddenly intensified as he stood up. He let out a roar of rage as he turned, lowering his head and charging towards his father's back, antlers first. In a single movement, the king whipped around, and a wave of lightning shot from his own antlers, slamming into the younger deer and sending him to the ground. He could only writhe as electricity coursed up and down his body, ripping through his muscles and veins like knives.
Finally, after an unbearable moment of torture, the king straightened his back and let the energy dissipate, smirking slightly. "Better make that five years." And then he turned around and returned to his throne, leaving his son to merely sob on the stone floor.
Johan gasped as he sat up, a cold sweat covering his body. Wherever he was, it was dark, and it was outside. He could tell from the whipping wind around him. He was alone in the night for a moment, before the distant flash of lightning illuminated his surroundings. He was back on the mountain top, the one he had hallucinated last night. The other deer standing away from him, with his back turned.
Johan panted for a second before he grunted at sat up, his legs shaking in the wind. It was weird, the other deer was still as a statue.
"You-" Johan started, his voice was high pitched and shakey. He took a second before composing himself, straightening his back.
"You must be Jelen, right?" He said as he fought against the wind to approach.
"Yes," Jelen said, turning back to the deer, a grimace on his face. "I... apologize you had to see that. It appears those two memories are linked in our head... for obvious reasons."
"So... shitty fathers eh?" Johan said, chuckling slightly. "I guess we have that in common as well, you know... besides sharing a head."
Jelen said nothing, merely staring ahead into the darkness surrounding them.
Johan stayed silent for a sec. "W-well... yours seemed much worse." he chuckled for a second. "I mean, the worst mine ever did was hit my mom once and then go to get cigarettes for fourteen years. Yours did... all that."
"There are no tiers for bad fathers. You are either supportive and love your son, or you don't." Jelen said, turning back to him. "I didn't intend for you to see that, again, I apologize, now stay silent until this dream ends and you wake up. Then I can go back to my solitude."
Johan grimaced. "Can't you at least tell me who you are? How did you get in my head? And why did you just not talk to me for a month, and then now you're suddenly taking over my mind to get me struck by lightning!"
The other deer turned around, marching past him and sitting down on a rock near the peak of the mountain. He narrowed his eyes for a second, prompting Johan to quickly join him.
"You are a smart stag Johan, obviously you have already deduced that I am the one living in your head. Like how Derek has Auream." Jelen said, turning his gaze to the sky. "As for how we got in your heads... We've always been there. From the moment your eyes first opened on... Earth I believe you called it."
"Wait... you mean..." Johan started, blinking.
"The two of us died. Fifteen hundred years ago it seems." Jelen said, his eyes growing dim for a second, his voice shaking. "There was so much magic flying about when we did, that our souls were lost to limbo, sent spiraling between dimensions for centuries... until we ended up being reincarnated into you and Derek. We are the same person Johan. And when you died, things must have been corrected and you were sent here."
Johan was silent for a moment. "So, if you're a reincarnation of me, then why are you..."
"So different? Nature vs Nurture." Jelen spoke, simply, eyes softening as he did. "You at least still had a mother who loved you and raised you. I didn't."
Johan shrunk slightly. "I'm sorry about that then..."
"Don't be," Jelen said, shaking his head, chuckling slightly. "But, you must understand that spending twenty years in the body of an alien creature, forced to watch as a body that was not my own lived a life better than mine... it was rather traumatic."
"So... what made you go this long without interacting with me?" Johan said, leaning forwards.
"Magic," Jelen said, standing up. "We Deer... our magic is different than most other races on the planet. Most of them produce their own magic internally, such as the Ponies. We, however, symbiotically siphon it off from sources of natural magic. It's complex, and we can only do it with certain things, but it works out well enough for us."
"So, that's why you got struck by lightning, to get a bunch of magic in me in a short span of time," Johan said, smirking slightly. "I mean, I kinda figured that that's how that happened."
"Actually no. We didn't get our magic from the lightning." Jelen said, smiling slightly.
"What?" Johan asked, blinking slightly. "Then why did my antlers suddenly get all sparky? And, come to think of it, where did it even come from in the first place so I could do it at all?"
"There were two sources you came across in the past couple of days," Jelen said, his smile widening. "For instance, when you touched my father's crown."
Johan's eyes widened. "You mean..."
"Yes. For some reason, Celestia owns the Crown of Theispas." Jelen said leaning forwards. "But that only had a minor effect on us. The real power came from the other source."
Jelen stood up, pacing back towards the cliff face.
"As you should know, electricity conducts. The blue unicorn explained that after all, but if you didn't already know that... well... you might be a bit of a lost cause." Jelen said. Johan only stared at him blankly as he did. "Now then, who was I touching when I was struck by lightning?"
"How should I... wait... wait!" Johan quickly stood up. The dog! "Aralez!?"
"Precisely," Jelen said, turning back to him with a smile. "Though that is his species, not his name. We will have to come up with something more clever at some point."
"Of course... that explains why I didn't start to hear you until after I met him for the first time. But... but how does that even work?" Johan asked, looking up at him.
"Simple," Jelen said, walking towards him. "Aralez are a naturally magic creature. They live in the high peaks of the storm-wracked Temple Mountains where they absorb lightning that strikes them, though on occasion they can absorb other types of magic. Then, that lightning magic is passed on to us through osmosis, simply from being in the presence of them."
"I knew he was important!" Johan cried, standing up quickly. "And you know what this also means!?"
"What?" Jelen asked, smirking. He already knew the answer, but it wouldn't hurt to humor his other half.
"It means that I am actually important!" Johan said, almost bouncing in place. "I thought that the only way I could have any magic was to get shocked by lightning, which is probably never gonna happen again! Now, I am always going to have it! I won't be useless ever again!"
Jelen sat back on his haunches, clapping his hooves. "Bravo Johan, bravo. Though you have to keep this in mind. That dog out there is the reason for that magic. It's the reason we can talk, and the reason you can cast any magic at all. You must keep that thing safe at all costs. Otherwise..."
"Yeah, totally," Johan laughed. "Nothing's going to touch that mutt so long as I am around... although..."
Jelen knew what he was going to say before even he did. "Where did it come from?"
Johan nodded.
"I will be honest, I have no idea. It would have had to cross thousands of miles and even an ocean to reach us..." Jelen explained. "Most likely, he felt our presence and came to us. It's probably why he didn't show up until after a month."
"Do... do you think he's the last one?" Johan asked, dread in his eyes.
"Last aralez?" Jelen said, his face growing grim.
The other deer nodded.
There was a pause before finally, Jelen spoke again. "Listen to me, Johan. Fifteen hundred years ago... the world was a savage place. The kingdoms of the world collapsed into violence, everything rapidly unraveled around us all... and I was partially to blame. Theispas burned... but you already knew that didn't you?"
Johan nodded slightly, his throat going dry.
Jelen looked to the sky. "My people... are likely extinct in this day and age. I... I wouldn't be surprised if that dog is the last of his kind. Just like us."
"What happened?" Johan asked. "W... why did all of that happen?"
Jelen went silent again, turning back to the darkness. "I cannot say yet... but I played a large role in it."
"A large role? What kind of role?" Johan asked, but Jelen didn't respond. Then the mountain top started to brighten. The storm ended, and the sun rose in the distance. Everything started to shake, and then it all disappeared as Johan's eyes opened.
He was laying in his bed in the crystal castle... alone.
Johan took a moment to get his bearings as he pulled himself up. That was all in all a pretty vivid dream he just went through. The deer shook his head. He found the room completely empty, save for Aralez who was sprawled out on the ground next to the bed.
The deer raised an eyebrow, turning his gaze to the other bed in the room. Empty and unmade. That wasn't exactly unexpected though. Derek always was the first to get up between the two. Johan let out a slight sigh, turning to look down at his winged dog. Said dog turned his head towards him before cocking it to the side. Johan blinked twice before lowering his hoof to give the dog a pet.
"So... I guess you were way more important than I gave you any credit for." Johan chuckled slightly. "You do definitely need a name though..."
The deer paused, a list of names, probably shoved in there by Jelen, filling his head. "Hmmm... How about Sebastatsi?" he instantly blinked. That name was terrible. "Nope, way too many syllables. And none of these others are doing it for me either."
He sighed. "Jelen, can you like... let me name him? Please?" He said aloud. There was a slight pause before he quickly forgot the list.
The deer shook his head looking down at him. Johan paused as he stared at him. He raised an eyebrow for a second. He was silent.
"... Doodles?"
Johan felt just then like his brain had been punched in the face.
Derek smiled as he walked around the cobblestone streets of ponyvile, taking his time to nod and wave at every pony he passed by. It was very early in the morning, around seven or eight, meaning there weren't all that many people out and about yet, but those and were were all too happy to return his cheery disposition.
Eventually, after a while of walking he found himself in the center of Ponyville. Taking a second to look around, he smiled as he saw all the ponies around them going about their day in the bustling market. He cringed slightly when his eyes settled on the fountain in the center however, feeling the scar on his chest flare up slightly.
Derek shook his head slightly as he looked around, seeing two ponies approaching him. One of them was holding... it looked like a jar of candy? He raised an eyebrow.
One was a mint green unicorn with white hair, while the other was a cream colored earth pony, with purple and pink hair. He had seen them around town a couple times, but like most everyone else he hadn't actually ever gotten the chance to talk to them.
"Hello, Derek right?" The earth pony said as she held out a hoof for him to take. He blinked twice before smiling and shaking back.
"Yep! That's me." he said, smiling over at them.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Bon Bon, and this is my... friend Lyra." She returned, gesturing over to the unicorn who grinned back at him.
Derek obviously didn't pick up the subtext.
"We just wanted to thank you for saving Ponyville the other day. You know, from all the changelings." Lyra said, gesturing over to the jar being held up in her golden levitation. "Bon-Bon here owns a candy store and it's all we really have lots of... I hope that's enough."
Derek's eyes widened. "Are you kidding!? I love candy!" He said excitedly, like a foal. His own horn glowed as he took his gift, pulling it close to him, he was quick to pop the lid and shove a piece of the stuff, a caramel cube, into his mouth.
The two mares stared at him wide eyed, before looking at one another and giggling slightly. "Well, now we know what to get you next time you save the town." Bon-Bon chuckled, causing Derek to raise an eyebrow.
"Next time?" He asked putting the lid back on his jar. "What do you mean?"
"Oh you know, Ponyvile is probably the single most dangerous town in Equestria." Lyra laughed, rolling a hoof. "It seems every other week there's some kind of monster showing up out of the Everfree or villain tearing through the place. I love it."
Bon-Bon grimaced slightly. "Well... she certainly does. Thankfully nopony ever really gets hurt. The princess and her friends are always around to stop that. And with an extra alicorn around... well. I can't really tell if that means more threats are going to be attacking us now or less."
Derek's jaw dropped slightly. "That is awesome." He said he looked around the village, his smile only widening. "Man, I have to get my hands on an actual place to stay around here if that's the case. Me and Johan are just crashing up in Twilight's castle, but that seems kind of temporary."
"Well, you did save Ponyvile recently, I'm sure if you talked to the Mayor she'll find some place for the two of you to live." Lyra said, smiling at him.
Bon-Bon stared at the other mare. "Maybe. We don't want to give you false hope or anything, but it wouldn't hurt to ask her."
"Thank you guys for this, and thanks for telling me! I'm going to go talk to her right now!" Derek said with a smile before turning and quickly running off in a random direction, taking his jar with him. The two mares stared after him for a couple minutes before he sheepishly turned around and walked back, head held low.
"Uh... sorry, which way is the Mayor?" He asked, a blush quickly coming to his face.
The two giggled slightly.
"That way," Bon-Bon said. "It's the big circular building, you can't miss it."
"Thanks, I won't forget this." Derek said with a smile before he took off in the opposite direction, flying above the town on his wings.
"He seems nice." Bon-Bon chuckled. Lyra nodded over at her, and the two instantly turned to go about their days again.
In the far south, past the southern deserts, Kludgetown and the desolate Mount Eris sat a knobbled citadel resting on a stormwracked island, and in the center of that citadel was a throneroom, where The Storm King sat.
He gave a slight hiss as he looked around the room, his eyes settling on his General, a unicorn with a broken horn by the name of Tempest Shadow, who was stood over a map, currently drawing a red x over a mountain. The yeti threw his head back with a annoyed groan.
"Have you found it yet?" He grunted, propping his head up on a hand. Tempest turned over to him, shaking her head.
"I've dispatched soldiers and slaves to every corner of your empire and I am still pulling up blank on the staff's location my lord." Tempest sighed, looking back at the map. "Maybe it's lost in ocean?"
"Or maybe it never existed in the first place?" A rather scratchy voice said as the head of Grubber stuck itself out from under the table.
That made the Storm King's eye twitch. He stood up from his throne, snarling as Tempest looked to the much smaller Yeti.
"So, you mean to tell me, you've been lying to me Tempest?" He said, marching towards the much smaller Unicorn. Tempest shook her head.
"No my lord. I know for a fact it exists. It's just turning out to be harder than we expected to-" She started, she was interrupted by the sound of screaming in the hallway. The three, alongside the many storm beasts standing along the walls of the room, instantly turned their heads to the throne's main doorway.
The massive blackwood doors exploded inwards, flinging splinters in every direction. The rather tall form of an antlers creature coated in armor stomped in, dozens of storm beasts behind it, struggling with all their might to hold whatever it was back. Some had tried to tackle it, holding it's back legs. A particularly large stormbeast, which dwarfed the antlered creature in size was riding on it's back, holding it in a chokehold, but he seemed to be little more than an annoyance.
One enthusiastic guard tried to rush forwards past the Storm King and his general, thrusting his two pronged spear directly at the creature's face. With a minimal effort, the guard's spear was snatched form the air. His glowing blue eyes widened for a moment, before he took a blow to the face that sent him spiraling through the air. He struck the wall with a crash, toppling over a pillar.
The rest of the guards watched wide eyed as the antlers and horn of the armored monster glowed. A burst of cyan magic shot out from around it, sending them all flying away like ragdolls. Finally, the creature turned it's gaze back to The Storm King, continuing it's march towards it.
Tempest rushed forwards, lightning shooting from her missing horn directly towards their perceived attacker. It merely raised a hoof, to cover it's face, the magic uselessly dancing across it's armor like it was nothing.
"I presume this is what you are looking for." It said in a deep feminine voice, throwing a piece of paper that had been balled in it's hoof directly to the Storm King.
The Yeti raised an eyebrow as he caught it out of the air. He was quick to unfold it and take a glance down at it, Tempest stopping her attack and staring up at him. Drawn on the paper was the Staff of Sancas, causing his eyes to widen.
"How did you-" he started but he was cut off by the creature speaking again.
"We have it." She responded, lowering her head slightly. "If you want it, all you have to do is come to a meeting my Kes is holding, and you will be given it free of charge."
Tempest's eyes widened at the mention of a Kes. She had heard that word, many of times in the Storm King's conquests. Isolated tribes they had run into and conquered in the wilderness used that word to refer to a god. Whoever this thing was, she could tell it meant bad news.
She flinched when the Storm King chuckled, balling the paper back up and casually throwing it over his shoulder. "And if I decline?"
"You won't. You've been after the power of a god for as long as you lived. We are offering it to you on a silver platter. No strings attached." The armored creature responded before spinning around and marching out of the room, past the downed guards. "We will be meeting in the ruined city in the middle of the desert to the north. I'm sure you know where that is yes?"
Tempest's eyes widened slightly. She had flown past that city many times on her airship, and has heard stories of it from local nomads living there. All signs told her that is was cursed. It was millennia old, predating every civilization in the region, and yet it hadn't been swallowed by the dunes. And all of the slaves constantly spoke of how no one ever came back.
She turned to the Storm King, who was staring down at her with a smirk. "Ready my ship. I want to see where this goes." he said, spinning on his feet and returning to his throne.
"But..." She started. She stopped with a sigh, lowering her head. "Yes sir."
She turned to Grubber, who was cowering under the table, covering his head.
Johan let out a sigh as he scratched the side of his head. It had been at least an hour of staring down at the dog in front of him, and he was still no closer to finding a name for the poor mutt. He was considering just giving up, but he was still obligated to come up with something, otherwise, the poor dog would be relegated to being named after his species for the rest of his life.
That'd be like calling him Deer, or calling Twilight Alicorn. Johan grimaced for a second, pursing his lips before he heard some rustling outside his and Derek's bedroom door. He turned just in time to see it open and Spike walk inside, humming to himself as he carried a dustpan and brush.
Derek blinked for a second as he watched the dragon quickly get to work in the room, getting down on his hands and knees to brush up some of Aralez's shed fur. Johan instantly cringed.
"Oh... you really don't have to do that." He said as he kicked out of bed and quickly tried to stand up. "He's my dog, I feel bad making you have to clean up after him."
"Eh, it's fine. I'm used to it." Spike chuckled as he stood up. "So long as he's potty trained that is. That is where I draw the line."
"Used to it?" Johan asked, his frown deepening. The deer let out a sudden sigh. "Well, between this, and you sleeping in a basket I'm starting to get really worried about what your position is in this house..."
"What, that I'm a slave or something?" Spike snorted, grinning as he did. "Well, to put you at ease I'm not. To be honest, the basket thing is just because before Twilight and I lived in a library with only a single bedroom back in the day. Not exactly enough room for me to get a bed in there. It was either a basket or the floor, so I chose the basket. Now I got my own room though so it's all good."
Johan nodded for a second, but his grimace didn't exactly go away. "Please don't take this the wrong way or anything Spike, but... Well, what exactly is your relationship with Twilight like?"
"Eh, it's nothing exactly sinister, though I do have a lot of dragons and ponies thinking I was kidnapped as an egg or something. Nah, the truth is that Twilight kinda sorta used magic to hatch me when she was eight, and then she and her family took me in. Everyone in the Sparkle family treats me as her little brother, so I guess that's what I am." Spike shrugged as he spoke, rolling his brush through the air idly. "As for why I'm always doing chores... eh. I just see it as helping around the house and pulling my weight. It gives me something to do, and it's better than just lounging around like a bum. I've met a lot of stallions who don't work and don't help around the house. I don't want to be anything like them, trust me."
"Ok then, that makes me a little less worried about things... wait a second... you said she hatched you when she was eight? Isn't she twenty-eight now? Wait..." Johan did a double take, his jaw-dropping. "You're twenty?!?
Spike pursed his lips slightly. "Yeah, I know. I ain't exactly the tallest dragon around. But yeah, I'm twenty. Legally an adult in both Equestria and the Dragonlands. Whoop-de-doo." He sighed.
Johan cringed, obviously he could tell that he struck a nerve. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm actually rather relieved, all this time I thought the only person in Equestria I've really managed to hit it off with was an actual child. Good to know you're the same age as me." The deer chuckled slightly, rubbing the back of his head as a blush came to his face.
Spike echoed his laugh, shrugging. "Hey, it's cool. Don't worry about me, I'm very hard to make mad." The dragon said, a blush of his own coming to his face. "Besides, I think it's kinda cute that you thought I was younger than I am."
Instantly after the words left his mouth did he realize what he just said. His hands instantly clasped over his mouth. Johan's eyes widened for a moment, blinking twice. Both of their collective blushes grew even larger, prompting Aralez to cock his head to the side and let out a confused whine.
"Urm... I mean..." Spike stammered for a moment, unable to get any words out. Johan was similarly speechless for a moment, but before either of them could say any more, Aralez sniffed the air, turning his head to the door. Just then, it slammed open, Derek panting in the doorframe as he held up a piece of paper next to his head with a levitation spell.
Johan and Spike instantly turned their heads to the alicorn, chuckling, and embarrassedly rubbing their shoulders in mirrored unison.
"Johan. You'll never believe what this is." Derek said, a goofy smile spreading across his mouth. Johan raised an eyebrow, turning his head towards the floating parchment, wrapped in gold as it was. He only had to read the first two words to instantly get a grip on what it was.
Homeowners Deed.
Johan's eyes widened. "How did you..."
"Well, I was walking through town and these two mares came up to me. We talked and I told them about how we were crashing at Twilight's castle. They told me to talk to the mayor about getting a house for us so we have somewhere proper to live. So I did it, and since I saved the town and all the other day, bam, she hit me with this, and now we own a home near the edge of town!" Derek cried in a barely intelligible spew of words. "Come on get all your stuff and I'll gather everyone! I wanna show this place off!"
The alicorn didn't even give the stunned Johan a chance to respond, instantly turning and running out of the room, kicking up dust as he did. The deer, Aralez, and Spike were left alone for a moment before they turned to each other. Johan shrugged. "So uh... think we should humor him?" He said with a slight smirk.
Spike laughed, avoiding eye contact with the deer. "Yeah, sure." The dragon said. Aralez yipped before quickly taking to the air and zooming out of the room as Johan and Spike followed after him.
Through it all, Johan heard the voice of Jelen pipe up in his head. "Seems the inescapable charm of my good looks has claimed yet another male. Get used to this, you're likely to build a harem in the coming months."
'Shut up.' Johan thought back, blushing.
"Heh, deny it all you want. It's still going to happen." Jelen laughed, "Good luck managing it without my help though. Unfortunately, my heart belongs to one and one only."
Johan instantly cringed thinking back to what he had seen last night. "I'm... sorry that happened to him."
Johan could tell Jelen flinched even without seeing him. "Ah... unfortunately, though it is likely cruel to say, as I did love that poor stag, and my father took him from me too soon... He isn't the one."
Just the night before, near the peaks of the mountains across the lunar sea, all was not right.
Ezin'dle turned her gaze towards the city in the distance, the lights in their windows contrasting the dark blues of night rather well. Ezin'dle merely gave them a moment, making sure none of their occupants were staring in her direction before she turned her sight down to the crevasse below her. She paused, holding out a hoof and feeling a large burst of wind from below. It would be enough to slow her descent, but not enough to blow her away unless she spread her wings to create air resistance. Good for the main crux of her mission, but remarkably poor for what came next. Ezin'dle let out a long sigh.
Without further hesitation, she leaned forwards and threw herself over the side, falling towards whatever awaited her at the bottom at high speed.
Celestia sighed as the golden light wrapped around her horn slowly dissipated. She kept her eyes on the distant horizon, as her sun set below it. She slowly inhaled, before turning to stare back at her destroyed palace. Casualty reports still weren't in, even a day later. They were still sifting through the rubble, finding the bodies of castle staff and guards. And that wasn't even thinking about the destruction levied to the city itself. It was... horrifying to think about. So many lives were lost in such a short span of time.
The door to the balcony slowly opened, prompting her to sigh and turn to see Luna staring at her, with a grim expression on her face. The two sisters were quiet for a moment before Luna finally spoke up.
"Starswirl is back from Ponyvile," she stated, "And he's called a meeting of the Canterlot Nobility."
Celestia gave a slight frown. "I knew this was coming. No doubt they want to find someone to hold accountable for all of this damage?"
"That's part of it, but Starswirl's main concern with this meeting was the training of Derek." Luna grimaced. "Apparently, Johan has barred Derek from doing any training with Starswirl. As such, she wants Derek pulled from Ponyville and taken to Canterlot for the foreseeable future."
"What? Why would Johan..." Celestia started, but she shook her head and let out a sigh. "I supposed I can understand why. Starswirl isn't the most... compromising of teachers. Still..."
Luna shook her head. "Frankly, I am in agreement with the deer. Twilight would be a much better teacher for Derek than Starswirl. For one, she's an alicorn as well, and thus more in tune with alicorn powers."
"I... can't help but agree." Celestia sighed. "But if the Council does end up agreeing with Starswirl, there is little either of us could do."
"I don't understand why we keep that thing around." Luna sighed, shaking her head.
"Father wanted it." Celestia sighed, shaking her head. "Though it is frustrating, I choose to keep his memory alive... for the most part."
"Father sure had a predilection to choosing the regular ponies over us Alicorns didn't he?" Luna laughed slightly.
Celestia smiled, shaking her head slightly. "Do you... do you ever wonder what he was like? Personally? Neither of us has a firsthand account of mother and father."
"No, but everyone in the palace back in the day constantly told us about them," Luna said, shaking her head slightly. "I can't even picture mother's voice."
The two alicorns trailed off for a moment, turning their gazes back to the horizon, before, with a loud grinding rumble, they felt a tower slide off the castle, plummeting to the ground below. Their eyes widened, but before either of them had a chance to reach out with their magic, it slammed into the ground far below, exploding into rubble and splintered rocks.
Luna let out a snarl, while Celestia merely grunted with a sigh, shaking her head slightly.
"We need to do something about this... U'val." Celestia said, turning her gaze back to the castle, looking for any more damaged structures that needed righting right away, before they suffered a similar fate.
Luna inhaled. "First we'd need to find out where he is and what his plans are. Then we can go about it," she said, her brain instantly shifting into crisis mode. "You go meet with the council. I'm going to attempt to dream walk into his mind."
Celestia instantly did a double take. "You're what?" She cried, jaw-dropping. "You can't seriously be-"
"I will be careful," a small smile came to Luna's face. "Besides, I doubt he can keep me out for long. He's obviously insane."
"That's what I'm worried about," Celestia said. "It's far more dangerous to be inside the mind of a maniac than to be kept outside."
Luna shook her head. "I assure you, the torture of the tantalus has immunized me against that kind of thing. Whatever he can unleash upon me, I've been through worse. Now then, please, you have a meeting to attend."
Celestia took in a deep breath before shaking her head. "Fine. But if things go wrong, or heavens forbid he notices you in there, I want you to pull out. Understand?"
Luna nodded. "Of course."
Celestia let out her breath before nodding. "Good. Stay safe Luna. Please. I can't lose you again."
Luna watched her sister turn and walk into the castle. The younger alicorn waited until she was out of earshot before turning to the horizon. She closed her eyes and let her horn glow, raising the moon, as was her duty, before she went all in on dream walking. There was a certain mind she was looking for, and he would probably be hard to crack.
There was a hole in the ceiling, which was the first thing Celestia noticed when she entered the chamber of nobles. It was massive, large enough for a full-grown manticore to fly in without having to squeeze. She found it far more pleasant to stare up at that rather than the ponies in the hall. They were all unicorns, universally so, wearing elegant suits, and expensive jewelry. She took a deep inhale. She, thankfully had the foresight to take an aspirin beforehand, which should kick in at around the time the headaches from the nobility's constant arguing started to form.
"It just seems rather cruel don't you think?" One of the nobles, and white and blue one by the name of Fancy Pants called out.
"Cruel? Last I checked you aren't the one sleeping in a room that had its roof ripped off," Prince Blueblood scoffed. "Canterlot is the capital of Equestria, and if more monsters like that statue show up, we need more alicorns to protect this place, as auntie Celestia and Luna clearly weren't enough!"
"To be fair," another noble suddenly spoke up. "Ponyville is often attacked much more than Canterlot by monsters and the like. Perhaps this new alicorn being there would better protect the people?"
"While I will not deny that, Ponyvile is a town with a population in the hundreds at most. Canterlot is the third largest city in Equestria, population-wise," Blueblood responded, frowning slightly. "Pragmatically, Canterlot should thus be better defended."
"You're just saying that because you live here, Blueblood," The mare sitting at Fancy's side, Fleur De Lis, responded, frowning slightly. "If you had a private manor down in Ponyvile, you'd demand half of the royal guard be stationed there at all times."
"You are dramatically missing my point here, though I suppose I cannot expect any less from the descendant of lesser nobility instead of those with the blood of royalty," Blueblood hissed, which resulted in Filthy slamming his hooves onto the desk.
"How dare you insult my sister!" he roared, the eye under his monocle twitching slightly. "You are nothing more than a spoilt boy, who is coasting off the prestige that comes from a relative who died over a thousand years ago, using it to lord over the rest of us. My family earned our position at this table, you on the other hoof-"
"Gentlecolts!" Celestia suddenly shouted, silencing the arguing with a wave of her hoof. "This is not the time to resort to petty insults. Especially because we have gotten horribly off track."
"Indeed we have, thank you, my apprentice," Starswirl responded, nodding his head. "Now then, to get back to this meeting's main point. The new alicorn. He is currently having his potential shackled by the deer he keeps company. He needs to be trained, and as such I demand he be taken to Canterlot for the foreseeable future."
"On that point I must disagree," a new voice suddenly said, the door to the room slammed open as a new unicorn strode in, with a rather smug stride in his steps. He wore a grey suit, with a neon yellow ascot which stood out as rather ghastly in a fashion sense, though aside from that he looked extremely unspecial. A grey unicorn with a slicked-back black mane, it would be hard to pick him out from a crowd. "I apologize for my tardiness fillies and gentlecolts, living in Manehattan has its downsides when these meetings are called."
"Ah, Pretext, good to finally have someone intelligent here," Blueblood sighed, giving a slight nod. "Though, I do find it rather odd that you are... disagreeing with us on this."
"It's simple really. Starswirl here is a great wizard of ancient knowledge," The newcomer responded as he took his seat by Blueblood's side. "It would be best if he stayed the course of researching who this new attacker is. The new princess is more than capable of training this alicorn."
"With all due respect... urr.... I'm sorry I don't believe I caught your name." Starswirl said, frowning slightly.
"Noble Pretext, at your service," the unicorn bowed slightly, "My family has ruled an estate in the hills around Manehattan for the past three hundred years, so we are rather... new in the grand scheme of things. Suffice to say though, you'll come to find I hold much sway in these meetings."
"Well, Pretext, with all due respect I don't agree with you in the slightest," Starswirl responded, his frown deepening. "Twilight Sparkle is completely inexperienced in matters of teaching."
"And yet, she is one of the most powerful unicorns to ever exist. Greater than even you if she managed to become an alicorn while you couldn't," Pretext said, his neon yellow eyes narrowing slightly. "I fail to see anyone more qualified in that case, no offense."
Starswirl - and most of the other nobles in the room for that matter - were left completely dumbfounded, their jaws dropping as Pretext smirked slightly.
"B-but her horn is damaged, it will take at least a month for her to heal from that! You can't truly believe that he can wait on his training for a month!" Starswirl roared, standing up and slamming his hooves down on the table.
"I very much do," Pretext responded. "Our enemy launched an attack on Canterlot with what was no doubt a tremendously advanced weapon, which we now know exactly how to defeat in future uses. Coupled with the changeling invasion of Ponyvile, that, if you remember correctly, was thwarted by the very same alicorn, using exceptionally advanced spells if witness testimony is to be believed."
Starswirl tried to speak up, but Pretext silenced him by continuing.
"I don't personally know much about magic, but being able to form a solid sword made out of magic attached to your horn is something that a novice can't do, would anypony else like to agree?" he said, looking around the room. The others were slow to respond, most of them entirely flabbergasted by the dressing down the arch wizard was receiving.
"Granted he's a natural, but a month is a long time. Equestria's new enemy could launch several attacks during the time Twilight is recuperating," Blueblood stepped in.
"Granted that is a possibility, but in response, I look to the pile of cyan rubble in the courtyard," Pretext responded, cocking his head to the side. "I will reiterate, it was a tremendously advanced weapon, which was destroyed. He, in all likelihood, only had one. And considering the fact all eyewitnesses claimed they saw it attempting to escape, it probably played a major role in future plans, which have probably sent him back to the drawing board. Starting over will no doubt delay him by at the very least a month, maybe far longer. As such, I firmly believe that one of the strongest alicorns in history will be able to recover her horn and train her new student in time."
Pretext quickly turned to the princess in the room. "Now then your majesty, I believe I have solved this meeting in record time, and would like the meeting adjourned, it's a long ride back to Manehattan, and weak as I am in magic I can only ever manage a single teleport a day, so I want to get started on the ride home as soon as possible if you wouldn't mind."
Celestia didn't respond, merely staring at him wide-eyed. She couldn't help but smile. This was most definitely the most... interesting noble meeting she had ever been to.
"I certainly do not. I feel as though it is decided, but just to be sure, I say we put it to a vote," Celestia nodded.
Noble Pretext had quite the open look of smug satisfaction on his face as he walked back to his carriage, which was pulled by two stallions wearing black and neon yellow tuxedos, with the same colored sunglasses. Both looked completely identical besides their colors.
"Are you ready to move out sir?" One of them said in a monotone as he opened the door to his cart.
"Yes, back to my manor please." He stated simply, before sitting down inside and slamming the door. He waited for a moment until it he was sure they were out of sight of Canterlot before he held up a hoof, revealing a yellow crystal on his wrist. There was a flash of light as a holographic image was projected from the gem's point directly into the center of the small boxlike cart room. There were a couple of sparks before the form of an earth pony in a similar suit wearing a helmet with a glowing vertical strip in the middle appeared in front of him.
"Noble," the stallion nodded down at him. "I trust it all went well?"
"Yes sir," The stallion said chuckling darkly. "I believe I have succeeded in crippling the alicorn's development for the time being. If all goes well, it will be another month before he starts figuring out how to use his power. Should be enough time for us to start creating... countermeasures."
Epoxy nodded slightly, humming beneath his helmet. Its tendency to make his voice sound more metallic and robotic distorting the noise into a rather harsh hiss that caused Noble to involuntarily flick one of his ears.
"Good job Noble, you've served me much better than the clones. Return to your manor for the time being, I will contact you if I have need of you again. But watch yourself in the future. There is no us in this business." Epoxy said darkly, before the crystal shut off and Noble was back alone in the carriage.
Derek let out a long whistle as he looked up at his new place. A small double decker home, white walls with brown support beams, yellow hay roof. It wasn't much compared to the rest of the town, just a normal house, but it was still bigger than anything he had ever lived in before. Barring Twilight's castle, but that wasn't really his house.
The same could be said for Johan, as he stared at his own identical home right next door. His mother's home, if you could call it that, was just a small 4 room condo, which consisted of a bathroom, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. And now he had been handed a free two story house basically just for existing. To say it wasn't exciting would be an understatement, though there were a couple small issues he was noticing...
"Thatched roof eh..." he said, frowning slightly. He felt the slight zapping of lightning dancing between his antlers, filling him with a niggling feeling of... apprehension. "That seems like a fire hazard."
The deer turned to the others that had joined them for the new house unveiling. It was him, Derek, Rarity, Pinkie, Twilight and Spike. Derek had intended to get the rest of their friends, but they had all been rather busy. He had convinced them to come over in a couple hours for a house warming party though, and Pinkie was all too happy to stop what she was doing to come help set it up.
"Oof, don't I know it brother," Spike sighed, a blush came to his face as he remembered several rather close calls he had in the past.
"It certainly was before Twilight showed up in town, but thankfully with her around we've been able to enchant all the thatch in town to be mostly fireproof," Rarity replied, turning over to him with a bemused look.
"Plus the magic makes the hay taste really tingly," Pinkie Pie chuckled. Everyone turned to her, unsure of whether she was joking or not.
"Ur... right. Have to remember that that stuff is edible to me now." Johan chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, yeah. But it is rather... dirty," Rarity grunted, curling up her lip slightly.
"I can imagine," Derek said, looking up at the sky. "You know, rain and all."
"And bugs," Spike said, sneering slightly. "Good thing I eat gems and stuff, don't got to worry about worms in apples or anything."
"I... how hard are your teeth man?" Johan gasped, jaw dropped, but Derek silenced him.
"Let's not worry about that right now! Let's talk about our new houses, man!" Derek laughed, pulling the deer closer with a foreleg around his shoulder.
"That's fair," Johan said with a slight chuckle, turning his head back to the house - his house.
That felt weird to him, to be able to say that. His entire life he had lived with his mother, never even imaging he'd one day have a place this big to call his own. In reality, he had always assumed he'd end up on the streets or in a small one room apartment that he had to share with six other people. But no, now he had a full on out house. A sudden feeling of guilt grabbed him by the heart. He grit his teeth slightly, turning to Derek.
"I don't think I deserve this place," Johan sighed. All eyes instantly turned to him. "I mean, you did all the work, I didn't even really do anything. Not anything important that is."
"Wha? Man, you did plenty," Derek chuckled turning to Twilight. "I mean, we wouldn't have gotten the elements to Twilight without you."
"Yeah, but it's not like they did anything," he said, looking away from him.
"There was the statue though Johan," Twilight said a smile coming to her face. "It was your idea to use teleportation to stop it after all."
"Yeah... I did do that didn't I," Johan said, smiling slightly. "You know what? Yeah, I did earn this house."
The deer straightened his back slightly, standing tall. He was stopped, however, when a sudden thought filled his head, he quickly turned to Derek. "So, did the mayor mention if these houses were coming pre-furnished or not?"
Derek opened and closed his mouth several times before gritting his teeth. "No... They gave us a bed, a table to eat at, a bathroom and a kitchen in both houses, but that's about it."
"Yeah, these two are brand new, I'm surprised they even got those in there before giving them to you," Spike replied, shaking his head slightly.
"Yeah, she did mention that when she gave me the deeds," Derek trailed off.
"Well I guess an empty house doesn't sound too bad," Johan groaned.
"Yeah, it means you get to decide the layout of the place yourself," Pinkie said, bouncing towards the front door to Derek's house with a wide smile.
"Yeah, see? Always a bright side to everything," Derek responded, winking over to the deer before quickly following after the pink pony.
Johan simply stared at the two of them as they walked forwards. "I wish I was better at seeing it," Johan sighed.
"Still, they are right about us being able to design the layout ourselves," Spike laughed. "Here, let's go inside, I might be able to help you find some places to put things, maybe sketch up some blueprints and stuff."
"You know, I'd actually like that," Johan said, turning to walk towards the door, with the purple dragon following closely behind. "I can't draw to save my life with hooves."
Twilight and Rarity both watched them enter their respective homes, before they turned and nodded to one another.
"Well, I have to get back to the boutique, the dresses won't make themselves," Rarity nodded. "See you at Pinkie and Derek's party later?"
"You bet! I have to get back to working on a lesson plan for Derek though. Johan was very adamant that I train him, and since yesterday's training went off without a hitch, I'm excited to plan some more advanced lessons." Twilight responded with a smile, before she too took her leave, taking to the air.
Luna frowned slightly as she wandered the depths of the dream realm, far beyond the dreams of her subjects, in the minds of those who lived outside Equestria's borders. It was a place she had previously promised herself she would never go. Intruding on the minds of non-equestrians wasn't something she ever saw herself doing, but now that one of them was directly threatening her subjects, in a manner far worse than any that came before, she felt it was her duty.
She hummed to herself as she wandered through the dreams of those sleeping in the lands south of Equestria, that's where the massive statue had come from, so it only made sense to her that her target must have been from here. Many of the glowing orbs around her, representing the subconscious minds of thousands of mortals, were those of ponies living in the jungles to the south, some others belonging to undiscovered tribes. But one particular clump stuck out to her. They were all rather dim and clustered together. A quick probing of the bunch revealed their alien nature. Changelings. Thousands of them, and their slavish devotion to Queen Chrysalis showed her that they clearly weren't of Thorax's reformed variety.
Pushing through the lights, she eventually found herself at the center of the cluster, to one mind that was far brighter than the rest. Chrysalis. Luna stopped for a moment, rubbing her spectral chin. While she wasn't her main target she might be able to find something in there that was useful, maybe her dream contained some recognizable landmarks she could use. She took a step forwards, then paused.
No, if her enemy was smart, and he likely was, he'd be using Chrysalis as a mere pawn, especially if he knew how treacherous she was. While she might know his general location, she wouldn't know exactly where he was, and she definitely wouldn't be clued in on any of his plans. Still, it would be useful to figure out where she was. Even if she presumably wasn't as powerful as U'val, she was nonetheless a significant threat, especially with an army at her back. Even if Derek had cut a significant portion of it down during the battle of Ponyville, it still had enough manpower to threaten Equestria's south.
She made a mental note to double back around once she was done probing U'val's mind to track Chrysalis down. That done, she got back to searching. After a couple more moments of looking, she found another mind in the far distance.
This one was... eldritch. She felt uncomfortable staring at it, as it throbbed and pulsed irregularly, the signs of a nightmare. As she approached, she felt a chill go down her spine. While most dreamscapes took the form of a ball of white light, this one was a spiraling shape that shrank and grew like an amoeba, or maybe a fire. Every so often it would change colors, between a cyan that made her eyes hurt, and a platinum white that was so incomprehensibly pale, that it was almost see-through. For a split moment, she could have sworn it changed into something else, a color her brain couldn't even comprehend that seemed to lash out and eat at the world around it, simply erasing the dreamscape it touched before settling back down into its natural pale shade.
Yes, this was definitely it. And she wished it wasn't. She took a deep inhale. This mind... it was so hostile, and yet at the same time, it seemed to call to her. Tendrils reached out towards her as if they knew she was there, but that couldn't be the case. She was the only one who had any knowledge of this place and how to traverse the worlds of dreams... No. Luna took a deep breath and ignited her horn. She was strong, she was an alicorn. She could handle anything U'val threw at her.
Just to be safe, however, she attached a mental line to the outside of the dream, and then wrapped the other end around her mind. Just as a safety rope, in case she needed to make a very hasty retreat. Steeling herself, she took a moment to lean back, and then she took the plunge, diving headfirst into the mind of a god.
When Luna landed in the dream she found herself... somewhere she recognized! Luna quickly shot up, looking around her surroundings. She was in a nursery room in a castle. Her castle. The Castle of the Two Sisters. Her gaze passed over the room. She saw two cribs sitting against the far wall, and standing over him was someone she only vaguely recognized. A white alicorn, with an orange, yellow and red beard, tail, and mane all of which danced around like fire.
"F-father?" She asked, taking a step towards him.
"Ah, Luna... I think that's a good name for you," Solaris said, chuckling as he held a hoof above the crib.
"Naming her after me? Oh, that's so kind of you," Another voice said. Luna quickly spun around towards the door, seeing a silver alicorn walk into the room, grey spots filling her flowing and otherwise white mane that made her think of the craters of the moon.
"Well... it's hard not to think of her when I look at you. I think she has your eyes." Solaris responded, standing up and nuzzling against his wife with a content hum.
"Husband," Mundus chuckled. "I think we should leave the room, you know growing fillies need their rest."
"You're right... you're right," Solaris sighed, turning back to them. "I just... I'm so excited my dear. I can't wait to teach them magic, to be there as they shape into the perfect mares."
Mundus chuckled as she shook her head. "You haven't matured a day since we met have you?"
"Well, I am immortal," Solaris said before letting out a deep laugh. His face quickly filled with remembrance. "The days we met... I haven't thought about them in centuries."
"Neither have I. But... maybe we should. It would do Celestia and... Luna, some good to know about their family," Mundus smiled as she took a step closer to the two cribs. "If our brothers were still around... Well, you can't help but wonder how they'd feel."
"I know Auream would be over the moon at the sight of them. He'd probably deprive himself of sleep taking care of them and standing watch to make sure they were safe," Solaris said, joining his wife as they both stared at their daughters. A sudden sourness filled his eyes. "As for the other two..."
"Your Majesties... We have a bit of an issue." A third voice interrupted as a stallion stepped into the room. Luna spun around to stare at him, and her breath almost caught in her throat. He was a deep grey, with a black mane. Though he lacked the armor and his signature curved horn, Luna instantly recognized him, it was impossible not to.
"Sombra?" Solaris asked, eyebrows raising. "What's wrong?"
"Well, it's nothing too major, but some travelers arrived at the gate seeking audience with the King and Queen, something about a threat to Epona, I think you should see them," Sombra said with a quick bow of his head.
"A threat to Epona?" Solaris growled. "What kind of threat?"
"They didn't specify much. Only that someone, or something, was trying to unleash a... thing trapped in one of the Platinum Empire's old citadels. It seems very urgent." Sombra replied.
"No one threatens my kingdom on my watch. Come on Mundus, let's see what this is about." Solaris said, marching out of the room passed Luna. Mundus quickly followed passing directly through her future daughter. Sombra was the last out of the room, delicately shutting the door as he did. He paused just before closing it completely, taking a second to stare into the darkness, before he shook his head and pulled it shut.
Luna was left alone in the darkness for but a moment, before a pair of shining arcane mobiles both came to life above the two cribs, one depicting a crescent moon in a field of stars, and the other the sun on a clear day. They both spun and let out a calming lullaby that played in perfect synch, sparking a slight stir from both of the babies who awoke with a series of giggles and coos.
Then there was a flash of cyan and they both exploded. Luna let out a gasp as shards of glass started to rain down toward her younger self and her sister. She almost rushed forwards, but she stopped herself when all of the shards were stopped in the air by a shimmering aura. She heard movement behind her, prompting her to slowly turn as a figure, taller than her, walked out of the shadows in the corner of the room. Two crescent-shaped antlers emerged from the sides of his all-black head as a single all-white eye pierced the shadows of the silhouette. She recognized him immediately, based on his previous descriptions.
"U'val..." She silently mouthed as he strode forwards, phasing through her to tower directly over the two cribs. Both of the fillies were crying now. She couldn't blame them.
"Shhh shhh shhh," U'val said, a factitiously friendly tone filling his voice. "Uncle Platina's here."
There were three flashes of white fire as three creatures that matched the descriptions of Platinum Guard filled the room, taking up flanking positions on his sides. Luna grit her teeth, panting slightly as he slowly reached a hoof down into Celestia's cradle.
The filly still bawled, tears streaming down her face, but when she was offered U'val's hoof her tears slowed. She stared up at the chitinous appendage with a look of curiosity. Cooing slightly she wrapped her hooves around it, laughing as she did. It was something new to her and she was happy to have it. The alicorn babbled, a warm smile filling her face as she gazed up at the creature whose hoof she had grabbed.
Luna was confused for a second. For a moment, she couldn't help but smile slightly, it was rather cute all things considered. That feeling was instantly shattered when her gaze locked on U'val's eye. His eye was twitching, filled with a flurry of emotions. Hatred. Disgust. Scorn... Malice.
Luna didn't breath as he slowly lowered his head towards Celestia, his eye narrowing.
"Every instinct I have right now is screaming at me," He spoke slowly with a hiss that sent shivers up and down Luna's spine with every syllable. "Telling me to slit your throats right now and throw your lifeless carcasses out the window, and yet, I won't. No matter how far I fall, I can't bring myself to kill a mere nymph. I'm not your father."
Then several explosions rang out, causing Luna to almost lose her balance. Instantly all three of the platnium guard snapped their vision toward her. For a moment she thought she had been discovered. It was only when she heard a noise in the hallway behind her, that she realized they were merely looking at the door.
"The castle is under attack!" a voice cried in the hallway. "Quickly, we need to get the princesses out of here!"
"Right!" Another said. The door to the room slammed open and three unicorn guards started to rush inside. They barely had a second to acknowledge what was going on before one of the platinum guards sprung into action.
"Hey! They're in her-" One of them started, but that was all they managed to say before the guard swung his halberd. Luna quickly averted her eyes. Blood splattered out from the door, coating the room. They reached as far as the cribs, splashing over Celestia and Luna. Both of the fillies screamed as they were lifted into the air by a cyan aura, the shards falling once they were out of the way shredding the blankets they had been sleeping in.
"But, that doesn't mean I'm not going to kill your parents," U'val said as he stepped into the light of the doorway, a smile spreading across his face. "Say goodbye to mommy and daddy."
And in an instant, he was gone in a flash, just as Solaris and Mundus rushed into the room. Mundus let out a gasp, bracing herself against the doorway, while Solaris merely screamed in agony. Luna turned her gaze from them back to the cribs. She and Celestia were gone.
The dream suddenly shifted, the first thing she noticed was that it was day, but the sky was a deep grey rather than it’s normal bright blue, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Next, she noticed the crying. Quickly turning her head, she saw her and her sister bound in blankets laying on a stone table. A massive cliff stood behind them, with two statues built into the rock face featuring two antlered changelings crossing a pair of halberds over a gargantuan stone door covered from top to bottom in magical seals and shields. Cracks were rapidly spreading up and down the door, as tendrils of pure blackness started to snake across the stone.
But those weren’t the only things that caught her attention. No, more than almost anything else, it was the dozen or so platinum guards staring her down with halberds raised. They stood in a wedge formation antlers glowing and deadly still. Behind them stood dozens of changelings in tattered suits of light blue scale mail armor wielding random assortments of rotten and broken armaments, and at the very back, standing over the table the baby Luna and Celestia was a changeling in white robes, ranting in a language she couldn’t understand towards the breaking door.
“Do you understand what you’re doing?” she heard from behind her. She instantly spun around, coming face to face with her father and mother, Sombra and a veritable legion of guards in golden armor, hundreds of them.
Solaris stomped forwards igniting his horn, a suit of flaming armor slowly enclosed him. “The Araphel won’t stop with just us, it will corrupt and destroy everything on the planet! There is a reason your people sealed it away in the first place!”
“What other choice did we have Eponan,” The lead platinum guard said, his voice reverberating through his helmet making it sound horrifically deep. Still, she could hear every inch of rage in the words he spoke. “You shattered our empire. You took the life of our immortal Kes’Kel’Kes. You killed all of the gods and burned our cities to ash. Whatever we have been forced to do, it’s your fault, you-”
Just then there was a screech. In a second, all of the non-platinum guard changelings suddenly let out a scream of panic before they suddenly flopped over onto the ground, cold and unmoving. Then the door shattered.
Mundus screamed and Solaris took a fearful step back. The pony soldiers all stared on in pure horror as an amorphous blob of pure darkness slowly pulled itself out of the mountainside, tendrils of pitch-black darkness lashing out in all directions. The previously gray sky slowly turned black, the sun itself turning a dark grey as the creature started to morph and grow erratically, shooting upwards into the sky.
“The Araphel! It’s loose!” One of the pony soldiers cried out, and a rout broke out as they started to flee.
The platinum guard instantly all turned around in perfect unison, dropping into a kneeling position as twelve rays of darkness shot from the Araphel towards them, stabbing them all in the chests in a single callous movement. The platinum guards all stumbled back for a second, before tendrils of darkness started snaking across their armors, consuming the blues and whites they wore until their armors had taken on a new look, black and dark grey.
Luna grunted as similar tendrils started making their way toward the table where her younger self and Celestia lay, their crying only getting louder as they did.
“Mundus! You handle the guard, I’ll deal with the Araphel! Sombra, get my children out of there!” Solaris cried, before rapidly taking to the air. Mundus nodded at him, horn igniting with silver magic before she rushed forwards, firing a beam of magic at the lead platinum guard. It easily and casually dodged out of the way in a blur of movement. Then they all leaped into action at once, charging towards Mundus so quickly that Luna couldn’t even track their motions. Mundus’s eyes widened for a moment, and all she could do was raise a shield before they were upon her.
Luna turned her gaze to Sombra, who rushed forwards, his horn shimmering with green magic as he ran towards Luna and Celestia, blasting away at the tendrils with his own minuscule attacks.
Luna’s eyes widened as one of the platinum guards rushed towards him from behind. She almost cried out to him, telling him to look out, before a cyan bolt of energy screamed down from the sky, striking the platinum guard in the skull and dropping him to the ground dead. Luna barely had time to parse this before Sombra reached the table, scooping up Luna and Celestia and making a run for it.
He didn’t notice one last tendril shoot out, and this time there was no bolt to stop it. Sombra was impaled clean through the chest by pitch-black darkness, which emerged out the other side. Luna barely saw the tendril lash against her, making a cut on her younger self's cheek that oozed shadows before Sombra fell forwards to the ground in a crumpled heap.
The unicorn cried out in pain as his horn mutated and curved into a blade-like shape. The last act he could manage was tossing Luna and Celestia out of the way of the battle before he melted into a puddle of black goo, which formed into a shadow and slinked off into the darkness, a pair of neon green eyes forming inside.
Then the dream shifted once more.
Solaris was hammering the still-twitching blob of the Araphel with spell after spell. It noticeably shrunk with every strike until it had reached the size of a pony, flames, and fire lashing out at it as Solaris screamed in rage. Luna scanned the battlefield, she and her sister were still safe, and all but one of the platinum guards were laying on the ground still, wounds pouring black blood onto the ground. But one sight came to her vision that caught her gaze. Mundus. She was lying still on her back, gazing into the sky. Three separate halberds were impaled through her chest.
Luna inhaled deeply, taking a step back. Her mother was obviously dead… she had always known she had died, but now… now she had seen how it happened. Had she known her better she would have been bawling at the sight. She felt her eyes water for a moment, but instead, she shook her head, turning to stare at Solaris.
Just as the Alicorn king was readying a spell to finish the beast off. The last platinum guard struck, shooting toward Solaris at speeds faster than the eye can see. Solaris barely had time to lock eyes with the platinum guard’s visor before he was struck in the chest by the halberd’s blade, making a vicious slash that dropped him to the ground screaming.
The platinum guard then raised his halberd as the Araphel started to slowly reconstitute before them, but just before he could, a new beam of magic struck the blob of darkness in the central mass, causing it to let out a screech of pain before a section of it split off, dropping to the ground as a puddle of blackness as the rest evaporated.
The guard cried out in pain dropping its halberd and stumbling forwards clawing at the sides of its head. Before it could do anything else, a second guard, this one still in cyan armor shot out from the shadows halberd at the ready. The black guard barely out time to cry out before it was beheaded, its helmet falling to the ground with a crash.
“W… what?” Solaris whimpered as the sky rapidly turned back to its normal blue, the sun burning yellow once again.
“Brother… fancy running into you here…” A voice said. Luna quickly turned to see U’val step out from where the uncorrupted guard had previously emerged, a deep smile on his face.
“U… U’val… how…” Solaris tried to stand up, but a blow to the chest from the guard dropped him to the ground.
“How did I survive? That doesn’t really matter Solaris, now does it.” U’val said rolling his eye as he came to a stop next to Luna and Celestia. He sat down and slowly picked them both up, cradling them to his chest. “Shh shh shhh… it’s alright…”
“Put them down… now…” Solaris cried, igniting his horn. He barely managed to get a spell going before the guard lashed out with their halberd, instantly severing his horn, which fell to the ground harmlessly. The alicorn king screamed in pain, collapsing to the floor and grabbing at the stump emerging from his forehead.
“Whyever would I do that?” U’val said, lifting the two babies into the air with a levitation spell, allowing him to walk toward the king. “I need to get them back to bed.”
There was a burst of white flame as U’val transformed, taking on the shape of Solaris, though noticeably wounded, covered head to toe in deep cuts, missing an eye and a leg. “Then I need to fake my, or sorry, your death and disappear into the night so I can get back to planning the downfall of your race. Yada yada yada work work work. So very tiring.”
“What do you mea-” Solaris started, but he was interrupted when U’val’s horn glowed, though rather than the normal cyan of his magic it was a color her brain couldn’t even comprehend, and with a single casual movement blasted him in the face. Luna let out a sudden scream as in a second Solaris was consumed by magic - or what she believed was magic - and completely and utterly erased without even a word. There was no body, there was no magic residue, no blood or ash, there was simply nothing left.
U’val instantly moved on, turning his gaze towards the new puddle of darkness formed from the death of the Araphel. “That’s unexpected… though useful. Remind me, what’s the name of that wizard Starswirl’s new apprentice?”
“Stygian, my domine.” The Platinum Guard responded.
“Ah, wonderful,” U’val started, clapping his hooves together. “Remind me in fifteen years or so to get him to drink from this. I’d very much like to see what would happen.”
“Of course, my domine.” the guard replied with a nod. “As for Sombra? Shall we hunt him down?”
“What for? He’ll be a useful tool once he masters his new powers,” U’val stated, walking to the edge of the black pool. “Hmmph. The Araphel, an eldritch force that predates the very world itself… reduced to nothing more than a disposable pawn in a 'lesser' creature's plans. Nothing more than a mere footnote in the story. Hah, the irony is almost palpable. Between this and the upcoming end of Epona, I can’t help but feel incredibly giddy at this whole situation.”
The platinum guard remained quiet as U’val stared into Solaris’s reflection on the pool’s oily surface. “Once I have Stygian drink from this I will knock the ‘Pillars’ out of the equation and then it’s only a couple years until these two are of an age I no longer feel guilty curb stomping them at.”
“And what of Epona, my Domine?”
“With Mundus and Solaris gone, the last two Alicorns on the planet are a pair of babies without any knowledge of the past. Epona will accept the futility of their continued survival and disband as a nation, it will be Solaris’s dying wish after all. Then it’s as simple as burning books and assassinating historians until the… ‘Equestrians’ forget it ever even existed in the first place.” U’val smirked. “I grow closer to erasing Aeternum’s legacy with each passing day.”
“Of course, my Domine.”
“Now then, one final loose end to deal with,” U’val said, with a smile, turning his gaze to stare directly at Luna. Instantly he dropped his disguise. “I know you’re there.”
Luna couldn’t help but gasp, her face going white for a moment before the dream around her shattered, leaving U’val and her alone in an all-white void. “How-”
“I knew from the moment you stepped inside my dear niece. You don’t exactly live as long as I do without knowing a thing or two about the inner workings of your brain,” U’val stated, eye narrowing. “Or do you want to insult my intelligence by implying you’re the only one who knew about dream walking.”
Luna growled, frowning. She had to get out now. Her horn glowed as she reached for the strand of thought to pull her out, but the moment it went taught, she felt it sever.
“Ah ah ah, I’m not done talking with you yet. No need to be rude,” U’val hissed with a smile.
The void suddenly shifted, reaching out like a claw to grab her, pinning her in place. Luna desperately tried escaping it’s grip, but all the void did was squeeze tighter around her soul.
“W-why?” She screamed as U’val stepped closer to her. “Why would you show me all of this… Why did you kill my mother and father?”
“It’s rather simple really,” U’val said, rolling his eye. “I just wanted to give you context for how long I’ve been gunning for you and your sister. As for your second question… They took something important from me.”
“Your Empire?” Luna hissed as he leaned down to stand on her level.
“Certainly not. I would have thought showing you how I dealt with those imperial revanchists proved otherwise,” U’val smiled. “Besides, it was never my empire in the first place.”
“Then what did they take from you, what was so important that you’d erase them for it?” Luna growled up at him.
He merely smiled. “It’s a variety of things, but most pressing for you right now, he took my eye. Do you have any idea how painful it is to have your eyeball melt out of its socket?”
Luna didn’t respond, merely grunting and lowering her head slightly.
U’val smirked, taking a moment to walk in a circle around the alicorn. “Tell me, for a while there after you came back from the moon, you made a habit of torturing yourself while you slept, correct?”
Luna stayed quiet.
“Yes yes, I remember, you used a magical construct you created to give yourself nightmares every night,” U’val laughed, eye narrowing as his smile widened. “Well then, let me show you a real Nightmare, my niece.”
U’val suddenly changed before her, becoming nothing more than a silhouette, the darkness of which rapidly started to morph and change, becoming squirming scribbles as he rapidly grew.
Luna felt herself lifted off the ground before she felt herself fall toward his eye, piercing through it into another all white void. As she passed into it, however, she suddenly felt pain, more pain than she had ever felt in her life. Her left eye went blind as she felt burning in her eye socket. Boiling liquid poured out from the now-empty cavity scarring her face and melting the flesh.
All she could do was scream out into nothingness as she spiraled through the void, blazing a path deeper and deeper into nothingness. Claws made of nothing suddenly slashed from the darkness, ripping into Luna’s soul while millions of invisible voices all speaking in the same tone laughed in unison.
Words ripped through her mind just like the second claw that ripped through her. She didn’t understand a single one of them, not only were they in a different language, but they were seemingly both sideways and upside down at once. Images rapidly flashed through her mind, images of her sister, her friends, and her subjects all being brutally ripped apart in microseconds before another shaking and terrified pony take their place.
Their screaming joined hers as the laughing face of U’val appeared in the void above her, a full maniacal laugh escaping his mouth as yet more claws ripped out from the dark, hooking into her and pulling her down deeper and deeper. There was nothing she could do to defend herself, nothing at all… but there was one thing he had overlooked by revealing himself.
Channeling all of her mental might into a single point, Luna’s horn ignited, firing a small beam into the void towards the laughing changeling’s eye. It widened mere seconds before she struck, drilling a hole straight through his conscious mind into his subconscious. All the claws broke at once, giving Luna a moment of freedom.
Taking to the air on her wings, she made a break for the hole healing in U’val’s mind. Blades of thought started shooting from the walls, trying to impale her. Each one barely dodged by a fraction of an inch. U’val let out a scream of rage as she broke through, escaping into the recesses of his mind.
She didn’t have a chance to stay still as everything morphed around her, walls became eyes which became gnashing teeth which became blades and talons that reached out for her. She flew towards the edge of his Id, which shot out at her with screams and blasts, burning away at her now empty eye socket, towards the Superego. Just as she submerged herself in the temporal morality of the hateful god, she let loose another barrage of magic from her horn, smashing through the outer edges of his mind. With a cry, she broke through, back out into the realm of dreams.
She didn’t stop there, in her panic she put as much distance as she could from that horrific place, mind and soul screaming at her to reunite with her body, even as the wounds U’val had given her rapidly healed.
Luna came back into her body and instantly collapsed to the ground, panting and wheezing as her eyes, both of them, rapidly focused and unfocused, pupils shaking. She could only whimper as she pulled herself into the fetal position, rocking slightly. With shaky breath she turned her gaze towards the stars, tears pouring from her eyes… it was all she could do at this moment.
She thought back for a moment… seconds before she managed to escape, she pulled a single memory from his mind… one which burned into her mind like a branding. One which involved a deer.
Solaris, Mundus, Auream and Platina were dragged by their father to the throne room, who lined them up in front of him and sat down on his throne. It was a large room, decorated with copper doors, silver floor tiles, and golden statues. A massive skylight took up the room's entire ceiling blasting sunlight directly into the reflective metal room, making the room hurt the eyes.
Aeterunum clapped his hooves together several times, causing the room to quickly fill with alicorn guards, who took up flanking positions next to the many statues that lined the walls. After all else was said and done, Aternum took a moment to breathe before he got to work.
"My children, since you are all of you prince and princess alike, it is important for you to be there for these kinds of meetings," Aeternum said, gesturing for them to take their places by his side. "Now then, Solaris, since you are the most trained in this, you are the one I will be quizzing on this, everypony else, pay attention to his answers."
The alicorns quickly, and rather awkwardly, took positions flanking their father's throne. Mundus and Solaris on one side, and Auream and Platina on the other.
"Now then, Solaris, what are the three major powers of the modern era?" Aeternum said, sitting back with a smile. Platina furrowed his brow slightly, evidently, he was starting easy.
"Easy father, The Kingdom of Epona, The Kingdom of Theispas, and the Platinum Empire," Solaris responded, a notably smug smile growing on his face.
"And what are the relations between those three powers?" Aeternum questioned, turning to his son.
"Poor, father. Religious differences keep all three nations at each other's throats. Though Epona and the Platinum Empire have the poorest of relations with frequent border skirmishes and slave raids-" Platina grimaced slightly when he noticed everyone in the room was staring at him. "- Theispas sees itself as a third side in the conflict that is above direct intervention. Many in Epona and the Platinum Empire feel that they think that they can play both sides."
Aeternum suddenly laughed. "Well, at least, they used to. My children, you will be receiving a new brother today." He suddenly said, sitting up. Instantly, both Auream and Platina turned to look at each other, with raised eyebrows.
"F-father?" Solaris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"King Yeghnik has reached out to me, and asked me to take on his son as my ward for the next five years. Should I raise him... well, then an alliance between Epona and Theispas is guaranteed. With our nations united..." Aeternum's smile widened deeply as he leaned back in his chair, tapping the tips of his forehooves together.
"Then the Platinum Empire's days are numbered!" Solaris cried out, his lips splitting into a darkened smile.
"Precisely," Aeternum said turning to his eldest. "Now then, be ready children, he should be here in but a moment."
As if on queue, the throne room slammed open, and a single deer wearing ornate silver armor marched into the room, with a straight back and head held high. Platina blinked twice at the sight. That was certainly a creature he had never seen before in his life...
The deer turned to the side as, held up in a ball of lightning, a parchment of paper floated into the room, resting at eye level for the deer. "Announcing the arrival of his majesty, Prince Jelen of Theispas, Son of King Yeghnik, Grandson of King Szarvas, Great-grandson of King Cerb, Heir of Theispas, youngest scion of Armazd, he who created the world's creators, and inheritor of the light of creation."
Aeternum kept his head held high, bowing it slightly when the deer had finished speaking. Platina, empath that he was, could feel the pungent feelings of annoyance and disgust wafting off him like a stench. Platina sighed, lowering his head slightly. He kept his stare ahead at the door as slowly, a double line of deer guards marched into the room. Both of the rows turned face to stare at one another, then in unison stepped back, forming a part that gave Platina sight of a certain deer.
Instantly, Platina straightened up slightly, his eyes widening. He took a sudden inhale, his cheeks warming up as a deer slowly walked forwards through the guards, his head held low. The deer was wearing a pure silver circlet, which wrapped around his forehead. He wore a deep blue unbuttoned overcoat over a black suit that had lightning bolt-like stripes of white snaking across it. A similarly blue capelet hung from his left shoulder, attached to his body by a silver chain. His fur coat was luxuriously pressed and exceptionally clean. For a moment, the deer's eyes locked with Platina's. His deep green irises staring into his own white eyes... it almost made the changeling-turned-alicorn shudder.
The only thing breaking the illusion of Jelen being perfect were the two bags under his eyes, and the extreme hunch in his walk. While the other deer rather smugly stared down their noses at the alicorns, the Prince kept his head lowered glumly.
A grey and white-winged wolf happily trotted next to him, head held high and tongue lulled out as it looked around the exceptionally shiny room with wonder and joy. It was actually rather endearing to watch.
Platina raised an eyebrow he looked around the room for a moment, all eyes were on the deer, giving him a moment to act. Discretely, he activated his horn, extending his own emotional aura, to perhaps tap into Jelen's. It made sense to him, to understand the emotions of the deer in front of him, if they were to be brothers after all. The instant he did, however, Platina was suddenly struck by a wave of sorrow that burned its way into his brain like wildfire. Caught off guard, Platina took a step back, his eyes instantly tearing up. Platina grunted, bringing up a hoof to wipe away the steaks of water now pouring out of the corners of his eyes.
"Platina!" Aeternum whisper yelled, turning his eyes to stare down at him with gritted teeth.
Auream took a step away from him as Platina turned to look at his father. "M-my apologies, I j-just have something in my eyes." he lied.
Aeternum snarled, discretely shaking his head. Instantly, two alicorn guards approached Platina, grabbing him from behind by the shoulders and dragging him towards the closest exit to the room. "We will talk about this later." Aeternum hissed.
Auream opened his mouth for a moment to speak, but quickly shut up, turning away from his adopted brother.
Johan let out a sigh as he rolled over in his new bed. He blinked several times, looking around his dark bedroom. The only source of light he had was from a window that shined moonlight down onto the bare wooden floors of the room. The deer couldn't help but grimace slightly. Yeah, he liked the new home, and it was a terrible idea to look a gift horse - pun unintended - in the mouth, but he'd definitely take some time to get used to all this.
Ever since he arrived in Equestria, he'd been sharing a room with Derek. Now, sleeping without someone in the room was actually rather disconcerting. For a moment, he shivered, throwing his gaze over to the window as he felt waves of discomfort travel up and down his spine. He threw a glance down towards Aralez - still using his placeholder name - asleep in the corner. Then he looked over at his nightstand, one of the few pieces of furniture he had in his new house. Resting on top was the green mandible-antler-thingie that had belonged to that... Tza'ak character. The platinum guard who had almost killed Derek just a couple of days prior...
Johan quickly sat up in bed, reaching out to pick up the chitinous object. He held it up for a moment, looking at it this way and that. What if another one of those things came after him... how many did U'val have? And why did he want him, or rather Jelen, as much as he did? These questions and more burned through Johan's head, before he quickly stood up out of bed, tossing the blankets aside.
The dog in the corner quickly raised its head, before cocking it in confusion at his strange behavior. The dog made to follow after him as he trudged across the floor of the room. His master suddenly stopped, frowning at him which quickly brought his movements to a stop.
"Stay," Johan said, pointing over at Aralez, before pressing forwards, slamming open the door to his bedroom, and entering the rest of his house. He closed the door behind him gently. He found himself in a hallway that was rather bare, only featuring a door on his left which was the bathroom, his bedroom behind him, and a set of stairs ahead of him.
He rolled his shoulders and gulped, quickly rushing down the stairs to the ground floor. It too was similarly bare, featuring only an open kitchen, an empty dining room, and an empty living room. No furniture at all besides a fridge and oven. The kitchen featured several counters and an island, alongside several raised cupboards though they were all completely empty. He and Spike had earlier written up plans to fix that, but that would wait for later.
Johan quickly rushed forwards to the front door, making doubly sure it was locked. When it was, he quickly turned, rushing to double-check the windows as well.
"Relax," Johan let out a squeel at the sudden voice that entered his mind, almost falling over and shooting a bolt of lightning from his antlers. Thankfully, it merely flashed through the air of the room, dissipating before it could start any fires. It did, however, leave behind an extremely unpleasant smell of ozone.
"If a platinum guard was after you right now, wooden doors and glass windows aren't going to slow them down, locked or not. You're just stressing yourself out over nothing," The voice continued. Johan looked around in a panic for a moment, before coming to the realization that it was Jelen talking to him.
The deer shuddered, grimacing as he did. "S... sorry. Stressing myself out is something I'm really good at..." Johan said, rubbing his face with a hoof. He needed to deflect, quick. "How are you?"
"You're the one freaking out right now, seems to me like you are the one who needs to answer that, not me," Jelen said rather sternly.
Johan went quiet for a moment, shaking his head. The deer took in a deep inhale before walking over to the kitchen and sitting down, leaning against one of the counters, bringing a hoof to his chest. His breathing was heavy and his heart was beating like a jackhammer but other than that...
"I'm sorry..." he started, gulping. "It's just... you know..."
"You're scared, it's understandable. When I was your age, platinum guards were a source of extreme fear to me as well. I've killed dozens of them, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still apprehensive over them," Jelen replied.
"Dozens of them?" Johan asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. "You mean-"
"All will be answered in time," Jelen replied.
"You know, that kind of mysterious shit really gets on my nerves," Johan sighed, sitting down, back pressed against the counter. He cleared his dry throat.
"God... It's only been three days," he said, shivering as he did. "I guess with Derek around I could repress it but..." He shook his head.
"Why was he after you?" he said, looking up to the ceiling. He couldn't stare Jelen in the eyes, so that was probably the closest he could get.
"Tza'ak's master and I have-" the disembodied voice trailed off for a moment. "-history. In fact, I knew Tza'ak personally long ago."
"You did?"
"Yes, though he was rather boring. Keep in mind, most platinum guards were brainwashed from near birth to stop seeing themselves as people, and instead as living shields for their master. Most of them still maintained some semblance of a personality, but Tza'ak, he was just an empty shell," Jelen explained. The subject manner he was speaking of did not fit the casual tone of his voice.
"I... see," Johan replied with a mumble.
Silence reigned for a moment. Johan broke it by speaking up again. "What kind of history."
Jelen stayed quiet.
Johan frowned sitting up. "Jelen, I need to know this."
Still nothing.
Johan suddenly snarled, quickly standing up. "Answer me!" He roared at the ceiling.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jelen responded, but not with an answer.
"May I show you something?"
"That's not an-" Johan stammered, but Jelen cut him off.
"It's related," The older deer said, prompting him to shut up. "Now, step outside, this will be quick, then you can go back to locking all your windows, or trying to sleep or whatever it is you were trying to do."
Johan glared around him for a second, his antlers flashing with lightning until finally he merely sighed and lowered his head. "Fine."
Jelen's gaze followed the light blue alicorn for a moment as he was led out of the room, before turning his gaze back to the much larger equine on his throne. He merely stared up at the alicorn, locking eyes with him. He could tell enough about the creature just from looking into his eyes. Clearly, he thought himself superior to him.
"Welcome, Prince Jelen. I happily welcome you to my castle, I hope with time you will come to see me as a second father," Aeternum regally expunged with a smile, crossing his hooves over his heart.
It took every inch of Jelen's willpower to not scoff at the alicorn. "Of course sir, I hope these next few years go as you plan," those were his father's, his real father's, words he had just regurgitated. Not his own.
A smug smile split across Aeternum's lips. The alicorn nodded, sitting up. "Excellent."
Then the king launched himself into a diatribe of political nonsense, which only prompted Jelen to tune him out, his mind returning to the thoughts of home... or rather...
Jelen lowered his eyes to the ground, the blood... the sound of the stag's head hitting the ground. The crowd cheering at the death of his love... Jelen's breathing became heavy for a moment, stopped only when one of the guards next to him cleared his throat. The deer straightened up slightly. Turning to look at the deer guard, the two locked eyes. Then the guard did something strange.
He gestured with his eyes toward the ground. Following the other stag's gaze, he saw a folded piece of paper at his hooves. The guard must have dropped it while no one was looking, and slid it toward him. Jelen's eyes widened for but a moment before he returned his gaze.
"Thank you," he silently mouthed before he quickly moved his hoof, covering the paper to prevent any of the other guards from seeing it.
The guard merely gave him a hollow smile, before straightening back up to look at the alicorn king, who was now standing up from his throne.
"Now then, if all is said and done, I think it is time for you to dismiss your guards, I would like to lead you to your new room. You must be tired from your travel over the Temple Mountains, and I see it only fitting to allow you to sleep it off." He laughed, approaching him with a smile. To anyone else, it would appear warm and real, but Jelen could tell it was a hollow gesture. Aeternum saw him as a diplomatic tool, nothing more.
Jelen nodded as the Theispas guards, in unison, turned and began the march out of the room. "Of course, my king. Please lead on," He said, eye twitching slightly.
Aeternum smiled and turned his back to him. Jelen took this as an opportunity to discretely pick up the note and stuff it in the front pocket of his undershirt before he quickly followed after the alicorn in front of him.
"Come Arman," he said to the winged wolf next to him, who let out a quick bark before prancing after him.
Johan was quiet as he stepped out into the dark of the night. "So, how far away is what you wanted to show me?" he sighed.
"Not far at all, just look up," Jelen responded. Johan grimaced and did as he was told. "What do you see?"
"The moon?" Johan sighed.
"No, past that." Jelen sighed.
"What? The stars?" Johan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Jelen responded, his voice perking up slightly.
Johan went silent for a moment, honestly, he had never just taken a moment to observe them since he got to Equestria. Not really anyway. One of the first things he noticed after turning his eyes to the sky was how similar it looked to the stars back home. In fact, after but a couple of moments of looking he found the big dipper of all things!
He smiled to himself ever so slightly, the sight of the stars, stars he recognized... it was enough to make his eyes water.
"You want answers, I will give you some," Jelen said with a sigh. "Piecemeal however, trust me there is so much I want you to know, but I can't give you the full story yet, I need you and the alicorns to trust me."
"Why wouldn't they?" Johan asked.
"I think I might start with teaching you about your heritage then," Jelen said, instantly changing topics. "You and I are probably the last deer on the planet. Sentient deer that is."
Admittedly that was a topic Johan indeed was interested in, so he decided not to pursue that for now, though it did fire more than a couple of red flags in his head.
"Why is that anyway?" Johan asked, following the tail of the big dipper to the north star. "Did something happen that turned all the deer into animals or suck out their intelligence or something?"
"No, quite the opposite actually. Our people have a legend, which you already know that most legends have some relevance to history, that we were actually raised from the animalistic deer into intelligence. Changelings, gryphons, and ponies especially were created or evolved to attain intelligence, but we are notably artificial in that regard." Jelen explained.
This made Johan raise an eyebrow. "And who raised us then?"
"Armazd. He's a... complex fellow." Jelen chuckled slightly.
"Yeah, I heard you use his name a lot before. Who is he anyway?" Johan asked, sitting down. He really wished he could have a face-to-face conversation right about now...
"Armazd has several titles amongst my people, his most notable is the creator of creators," Jelen explained. "There is some history to it, but basically 4 entities created this world to be a balancing scale between themselves, and he created them. Really you would need to ask your pony friends about that, namely the alicorns. The four are the gods of their pantheon after all... though considering how much history has been lost since then, they might have forgotten their religion. It happens."
Johan scratched his chin with one of his forehooves. "I see... the title of creator of creators seems rather interesting honestly. By any chance, is Armazd also the Kes'kel'kes?"
Johan suddenly got a splitting headache, one of the worst he had ever experienced in his life. It was like there was a thunderstorm going off inside his head!
"Zinvats, heretikosov!" Jelen suddenly roared. "The only thing keeping me from exploding your head from the inside out is that I live in here!"
"Ow!" Johan cried, grabbing the sides of his head. "Ok, ok! I'm sorry! I didn't know!"
The storm calmed with a loud sigh.
"It is fine... I cannot fault you for connecting those two in your head. Just know that if you had made that kind of connection in my time, you would have been killed where you stood." Jelen stated, his voice notably grim.
"I know I might regret this but... why?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Kes is the ancient changeling word for god," Jelen growled. "To the changelings of my day, a 'god' was merely a powerful changeling who had attained immortality. They had dozens of gods, each one feeding on the worship of slaves like a drug, driving themselves to grander and grander acts of self-indulgence and debauchery. That was the Platinum Empire, Johan."
Johan grimaced. "Is that what that U'val guy is trying to bring back? He's one of these Kes right?"
"For both of our sakes, I sincerely hope not," Jelen sighed. Silence reigned for but a moment before Jelen grabbed the reigns of the conversation again.
"There is a reason I wanted you to see the stars before I told you about Armazd my friend," he said. "He lives up there, just beyond them in fact. I know in your world the stars are apparently burning balls of gas billions and billions of miles away, but in ours, the stars are actually holes."
"Huh?" Johan asked, frowning slightly.
"Yes, when they created this plane of existence, the four creators made the void to serve as a wall between our world and the cosmic forces that they were formed from. When the world was new, the night sky was pure black, dominated only by the moon. Then Armazd created us deer and blessed us with a fraction of his own power of creation, which is the lightning we control. He also blessed our souls. When one of us dies, our souls ascend, to the edge of the void, where they punch a hole clear through it, reentering his domain, where they live alongside him for the rest of time. Every star in the sky is one of our people."
"And... you didn't get the chance to join them, did you?" Johan interrupted. He suddenly heard Jelen hiss through clenched teeth, but not out of anger.
"I... I did not." Jelen exhaled after a moment of silence. "And... and that hurts me on a level you wouldn't be able to comprehend."
"I think I do Jelen... I think I do," Johan replied.
Johan turned his gaze back to the sky, eyes closed and breath even. The cold air of the night brushed against his fur in a pleasant wind as he thought for a moment. Maybe he was important after all, if his race was created by, for all intents and purposes, the world's grandfather. And now, all of the former deer of the world were up there, staring down at him, wanting to see him succeed.
He smiled slightly. Yeah... that sounded nice.
Suddenly his eyes shot open.
"Hold up a second, that's just the Lion King!"
The last words written on the note were the ones that burned into Jelen's soul the hardest.
There isn't a single thing I would change, thank you for the time we spent together, however short it was.
He stared down at it feeling the knot in his chest grow ever worse and worse until he suddenly keeled over his new desk sobbing slightly.
Arman suddenly let out a whimper, cocking it's head to the side. Slowly, the deer turned to stare over at it, his eyes watering. The aralez was sitting on the edge of his new bed, the one he would be stuck in for the next five years. The room was bare, consisting of stone block walls, a glass window, a fireplace and the desk he was currently sitting at.
Jelen's breathing suddenly became uneven. He started panting, looking around the room until his eyes settled on the window, and the snow falling outside of it. Jelen hung his head for a moment, closing his eyes. He tried to calm his breathing, his thoughts going to the place he found comfort in before. His lover's face, smiling up at him as the two embraced. The way he always delicately cupped Jelen's chin before the two kissed.
It was only then that Jelen noticed the lightning burning through the room, giving it an ominous blue glow. Arman stared up at it with growing unease, even as electricity harmlessly struck his fur. Jelen suddenly slammed a hoof on the desk, balling the note slightly as he did. Instantly the lightning stopped, but the loud noise of hoof striking wood instantly made the aralez on the bed jump.
Turning, Jelen stood up from his chair and started towards the door, slamming it open and entering the hallway. Arman made to jump out of bed to follow after him, but Jelen merely slammed the door in the wolf's face and turned to stomp down the empty stone hallway. He ignored the frantic scratching at the door and screaming of his companion, a deepening frown growing across his face.
"Who does he think he is," Jelen hissed, eye twitching yet again. "Who does he think he is that allows him to kill everything I love and just expect me to live with it."
"Damned if I become your perfect son father, and damned if I live with these alicorns just so you can brainwash me into being who you want me to be," His voice became more and more manic as he ripped the crown from his head, tossing it aside like trash. "I am a prince and a prince is not mocked! I'll spit your 'kindness' right back in your face!"
Soon he arrived at a doorway, which he quickly slammed open as well, entering a stairwell that lead upwards. He didn't daddle or waste time, instantly beginning his ascent. A sudden thought ripped into his mind, causing him to stop in his tracks, halfway up the second flight.
He closed his eyes, taking in a deep inhale. "It... it should have been me," He said shaking his head. "He was perfect, father. He was the brightest light I had in my life... and you took him from me. It should have been me!"
Jelen screamed into the dark, lightning shooting around the room. Jelen buckled over slightly, staring at the ground with hollow eyes. "Instead you forced me to live. In my own personal hell."
He continued on. He stayed silent the rest of the way, stewing in his thoughts which rapidly drifted apart, ripping into his mind like knives.
Soon enough he arrived at the top of the stairway, which concluded at another door. Once again he passed through the doorway, slamming it behind him. He was instantly met with a blast of cold wind which caused his overcoat to dance behind him.
It was night, the only thing out here to greet him was the frigid air and wind, and the falling snow. And yet, he wasn't cold.
He turned his eyes to the dark sky above him. The clouds were blotting out the stars, ripping away his one lifeline in this moment. He needed to see it, he needed to see the new star in the sky. The one his love had made. And yet they were blotted out, in a final act of spite towards him.
He stumbled over to the edge of the parapet, collapsing onto the edge of the crenelations. Only then did the water trapped in his eyes start to flow as tears poured down his face, almost instantly freezing on his cheeks.
"Why... why are you doing this to me..." He cried, turning his gaze back upwards, in a vain attempt to stare past the stars themselves. "I was a loyal follower. I worshipped you with every drop of my heart Armazd. And you turned on me. Why?"
He started hyperventilating as he pulled himself up, staring into the distance. He was greeted with frozen mountains covered in pine trees and snow. Jelen lowered his head slightly, staring at those mountains with pure hatred.
"Answer me..." he growled, eye twitching at he did. No response.
"Answer me!" He screamed into the dark, throwing his head back as lightning shot out in every direction, the crack of thunder ripping through the air, causing avalanches in the far distance. He heard screaming behind him as suddenly the castle sprang to life, lights coming on inside as alicorn guards were awoken.
And still there was no response.
Jelen merely closed his eyes and inhaled before stepping up onto the castle parapet, turning around and leaning backward. He opened his eyes just as he felt gravity take over, tearing him towards the ground many hundreds of meters below, just as the door he had previously exited opened and the light blue alicorn he had seen in the court stepped out. The two locked eyes for the briefest of moments before Jelen's gaze was ripped toward the sky.
Ka'rel sighed deeply as he stared at his prison cell. His eyes narrowed beneath his visor as he stared at the pathetic defenses he had been contained in. An asymmetrical opening with a series of bars hammered into the stone at odd intervals and angles kept him confined in an irregularly shaped room.
He had a 'bed' of sorts as his only piece of furniture in the form of a waxy cocoon filled with green goop that was too small to fit him. Aside from that he had a window, similarly blocked by nonsensically placed bars, which allowed him to peer outside the cell into the wastelands beyond. The crisp night air filled the room, blown inside by the wind. Were he not wearing his armor, he suspected he would be feeling rather chilly right now. He lowered his head and went back to pacing back and forth in the small room, though due to his size, it meant he could clear the cell in but a few steps.
He stopped dead in his tracks after a couple of steps and stared up into the sky, following the contours of the ceiling for but a moment, before he turned to stare at his prison cell once again. He had been doing this same repeating movement for days now, all while the guards in their beatle-shaped armor were cycled out again and again, each one staring at him as if he was about to rip his way through the cell and go on a rampage. His current guard had a bad habit of shivering every time he stepped towards her during his bouts of pacing, but he supposed it was better than the last one who almost passed out whenever his gaze passed over her.
"I have to say," he spoke, causing his guard to squeal and fall back, clutching her spear to her chest. "I am rather disappointed by this cell. I may not remember much, but in my day our kind constructed prisons of much sterner quality."
The guard whimpered, taking a moment to gulp before straightening her back. "Our old methods were deemed too inhumane by our current King and his brother, and as such we had these constructed only recently." She spoke, her voice tense.
"Inhumane?" Ka'rel asked, taking a step towards the cell bars which made the guard's heart jump into her throat.
"A-all but the w-worst offenders were merely executed," the guard started. "Those guilty of more... substantial crimes were drained dry of love by the queen herself."
This gave Ka'rel a pause. "Queen? I have not heard of a... queen before. Was she of the Kes?"
"Kes?" the guard whimpered slightly.
He rolled his eyes under his helmet. Of course, she didn't know. Not even the actual Kes in the hive knew what a Kes was.
"Did she have antlers?" Ka'rel asked, rubbing his chin. "While most Kes and Vurions are male, it is not unheard of for one of our female kin to join our ranks, such as my sister at arms. What a shame I cannot remember her name... or her face."
"The queen?" the guard raised an eyebrow. "No, only Thorax and Pharynx have antlers, the rest of us are basically the same as we were before they took over, just without holes in our legs, and more colors. And better tails."
She smiled slightly as she looked back at her butterfly wing-shaped tail, giving it a quick swish.
"I admit the tails are rather aesthetic," Ka'rel chuckled. "Though I do find this news about your 'queen' rather intriguing. Is there anything else you can tell me about her?"
"Well, she was pretty strong, at one point she fought with Princess Celestia and beat her in a fight. She also had hair, which I always thought was rather weird. Oh, and her eyes were different from the rest of us's. They were more cat-like." The guard stated, taking a closer step to the cell bars, pointing at her eyes with her free hoof to accentuate her point.
Ka'rel sat down, raising an eyebrow under his helmet as he lowered his hoof. "That is... odd to say the least. Nothing that existed before I was sealed away resembled that though. Was she the only queen?"
"Yes and no..." the guard sighed. "She was the only queen I knew, the only several generations of changelings knew for that matter, but there were apparently others who came before her. We don't actually know what they did though, only that their names are in the history books she made us all read... the ones she also happened to write."
"And these queens were?"
"Well, there was Chrysalis's Mother, Queen Viscera, who she, according to the history books, struck down in single combat for control of the hive. We recently found out that before her death she hid an army in magical stasis in a mountain inside of Equestria, but that's really all we know for sure. Then there was Queen Spiracle, who was apparently poisoned which started a massive civil war between her children, and finally, there was Queen Tar'sus, who was the daughter of Ka'vad and unlike the rest of the Queens was apparently mortal."
"Fascinating," Ka'rel hummed. "And do you have any idea what could have made the queens immortal?"
The guard merely shook her head.
"Hoarding love," a new voice suddenly spoke out, one that Ka'rel recognized. The guard let out another squeal. This time she couldn't stop her spear from hitting the ground as Pharynx walked into the room.
"Sir, I-," she stammered but Pharynx merely raised a hoof and shook his head.
"It's fine. Ka'rel isn't exactly a prisoner right now—more of a guest who can't leave. You're fine to talk to him," he sighed, repeating what his brother had told him just this morning. "And to answer your question Ka'rel, the queens became immortal because they started hoarding all of the love in the hive for themselves, giving the rest of us scraps. They used the magical powers gained from doing this to keep themselves going for centuries."
Ka'rel nodded slightly. "I see... With all due respect, these queens of yours seem rather short-sighted. The Kes always made sure the kine were well fed as they ruled them. Did she never realize that well-fed subjects are far more likely to be loyal than starving ones?"
"Trust me, pal, these days 'Chrysalis' is basically synonymous with short-sighted," Pharynx sighed. He approached the cell, tapping the bars with a slight hint of disgust. "She had us all convinced that the only real way for a changeling to live was blind obedience and thievery. I give my little brother a lot of crap, but he's a better ruler than she could ever be. And if either of you tell him I said that, you're both dead."
The guard flinched slightly, but Ka'rel was quick to sit back, putting a hoof over his chest. "My lips are sealed, brother."
The two kept eyes on one another for a moment before Pharynx cleared his throat. "I came here for a reason just so you know. I have... questions."
"Questions?" Ka'rel cocked his head to the side. "What about?"
"I know you probably don't remember much about the old days, but what little you can help with would likely be of great assistance to us," Pharynx sighed. "Maybe if you tell us enough we could help convince Equestria that you aren't a threat."
"Logically sound," Ka'rel responded simply.
"What can you tell me about U'val? I know it's unlikely, but do you think he might have given you any kind of hint of future plans when you knew him?" Pharynx asked, brows furrowing. "I know it was super long ago, but I know immortals tend to have long-reaching plans like that... right?"
Ka'rel grimaced under his helmet. "No, unfortunately."
"I thought as much..." Pharynx grunted, staring off to the side. "Don't know why I thought you would anyway."
"I'm sure whatever plans my former Kes have, you will be able to deal with them. Anyway, I strongly doubt any of his plans really are that sinister. What little I can remember points to him being rather benevolent."
Ezin'dle let out a grunt as she slammed her arm into the rockface to her side. There was a grinding sound as gravity kept pulling her downwards. Rocks were ripped from the wall, sent screaming into the darkness below, which was rapidly becoming illuminated by lava. Heat steamed up past her as a hot wind, desperately trying to throw her out of the crevase to keep the treasure it kept hidden within it's own.
Ezin'dle grunted she came to a complete stop just inches above the lava. Her armor kept her safe from the heat, but it was still rather uncomfortable. She looked down at the boiling magma, then back up. She sighed. It was going to be a very harsh climb to return to the surface.
Shaking her head she turned her task to the job at hand. She had a mission to continue. Slowly lowering herself closer to the edge of the magma, she braced. Then, with a hiss, she slammed one of her forehooves directly into the molten stone. She flinched slightly as she reached around in the lava, like someone reaching around for their keys between two sofa cushions.
Then she felt it. With one last grunt of pain, she wrapped her hoof around it before ripping it out of the stone. Both it and her hoof were molten hot, burning white. She kept her breathing even as the metal calmed down, allowing her perfect sight of her prize. The Idol of Boreas. She nodded at it, a slight smile spreading across her lips. Her antlers and horn glowed as the idol was picked up in a cyan glow, before she turned back to the rock face. With a grunt she hammered her free hoof into the wall, forming a hole to act as a hoof hold. Then she did the same with her other hoof.
In a rhythmatic but slow she made her way up the cliff, the idol lazily levitating in the air next to her. This was going to take a long, long time.
Millions of voices cried out in ecstasy as I consumed their souls. And yet the spokes still spun around me. My legions annihilated hundreds of races. And yet the rim rolled over my world, crushing it into dust.
Those who rebelled against me were reforged, gifted mindless loyalty.
The four creators' laws were disregarded and destroyed, remade in my image.
There I stood upon the precipice of the world, finally Apex in all regards.
Then did I stare the creator of creators in the eyes, his equal at last.
That infernal wheel spun in his eyes, moments away from destruction at my hooves.
And yet, now I am dead, and you were dead. And the wheel keeps on turning.
Johan creased his brow, chewing the tip of his tongue as he flipped through the yellowed paged manuscript front to back, then back to front again, a motion he had been repeating often today he found.
"Any luck?" Spike asked, causing Johan to raise his head. He was sitting in the crystal library of Twilight's castle, an ancient book sitting on a table in front of him. To his right was an ever-growing pile of discarded books, all equally or perhaps even more ancient than the one he was reading. To his left, was a comparatively much smaller pile, and a certain purple dragon, who was staring him down with his head cocked to the side.
"Nope," Johan sighed, reaching down and setting the book off to the side as well. "This one stops at a thousand years ago too."
Spike's look of curiosity was quickly replaced by a concerned frown. "You know, I never really gave much thought to this before you pointed it out, but now it's becoming more and more suspicious by the second. I mean... did someone just gather all the books a thousand years ago and torch them all?"
Johan grimaced, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Maybe? In my world, we had this massive library that burned down, called the Library of Alexandria, something like 2,000 years ago, which did result in us losing much of our history, but it was never as bad as this."
Johan felt Jelen rolling his eyes inside of his head. "I told you as much. For all the importance these equines put on knowledge and magic, they've never been adequate history keepers."
"You know, you really aren't helping," Johan growled, looking up at his forehead. He was quick to turn to Spike afterward, the dragon looking at him with a slight look of betrayal. "Not you Spike, you're great. I'm talking to the voice in the head... and definitely looking crazy in the process."
Johan sighed, while Spike merely chuckled. "It's good man, I've seen much crazier stuff in my time around Ponyville."
Spike leaned forwards, staring down at the pile of fresh, unread books. There were only about five or six left. "Well, these are the last of the really ancient books we have here in the castle-"
"Palace." Johan sighed through clenched teeth. "You need to have actual defenses to be a castle."
Spike carried on regardless. "- and I don't think they'd be of much help. But... that thing you just said. About the Library of Almalexia. We have a kind of similar thing."
"You do?" Johan asked, swiveling in his seat towards him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. About a thousand years ago, we had this nation in the north, the Crystal Empire. It has this massive library, one of the biggest I've ever seen in my life. And trust me, I've seen a lot of libraries as Twilight's Assistant." Spike stated, a small smile coming to his face.
"And let me guess, it burned down?" Johan asked, the bags under his eyes growing yet larger.
"Nope!" Spike laughed. "You see, the library, and the whole Empire for that matter magically disappeared a thousand years ago, and just four or five years back it all reappeared as if nothing had happened. We had a big adventure there and everything to defeat an evil king, and now it's one of Equestria's closest allies. Remember Cadance and the white unicorn you met during the world council meeting? They actually are the places, rulers."
Johan's eyes widened and he sat up. "If the empire disappeared a thousand years ago, that must mean that any history books they have there would have to be have gone back farther than a thousand years by default! That's it!" He roared a smile spreading across his lips.
Spike smiled, giving the deer a double thumbs up. "You got it!"
Johan's smile slowly faltered and he sat back down, a grimace coming to his face. "And now comes the work of planning a trip to get up there to check at all. Food, housing, travel expenses... that's going to be a headache."
"Worry not Johan," Spike said, puffing up his chest and arching his back as he did. "You happen to be friends with Spike the brave and glorious, hero of the Crystal Empire. So long as I'm around you don't have to worry about any of that."
Johan paused. "Spike the... what?"
"Don't worry about it," The little dragon laughed, polishing his nails on his right hand on his chest as he did. "Just remember, I'm a bit of a bigger deal than most ponies would think."
Johan nodded slightly, a small smile coming to his face. "Well, then I guess I'd better be thankful to be pals with someone so connected, huh?" He chuckled. "So, when are we going to be good to go?"
Then the voice of Jelen called out. "I wouldn't be so eager. A reminder, U'val still wants to get his hooves on us, remember?"
Instantly Johan froze, all the color leaving his face.
"I mean, we should be good to go tomorrow," Spike replied with a shrug, not seeming to notice. "All I have to do is pack some stuff and ask Twilight for permission. I've got family who owns an entire castle over there after all."
Johan's reply was slow and shaky. "A-actually. I think it'd be best if... if we waited. At least until Twilight's horn's healed. I... I'd be way more comfortable with another alicorn around. Or two."
Spike nodded slightly, and an understanding smile came to his face.
"I understand you man," Spike chuckled slightly. "My jaw still kinda hurts from that backhoof. I kind of agree with you. I'd definitely want Twilight around if one of those guys showed their faces again."
Johan nodded slightly a dry smile growing on his pale face. "How long do you think it'd take for her horn to get all healed up?"
Spike shrugged. "Probably a month at most, but to be honest I've never seen her crack her horn before. She's usually really careful with it. So, for all I know, it could take longer, or no time at all."
Johan grimaced slightly. "Well, I guess sticking around here for another month doesn't sound too bad..." Johan grimaced, rubbing his chin as he did. "Sure, let's head up north in a month when they're both better, what's the worst that could happen?"
Spike chuckled. "Yeah, that's the spirit. Just wait, the month will totally fly by."
Johan nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. The thought of facing another dangerous situation without Twilight's magical abilities was daunting, and the idea of waiting a little longer seemed like the best course of action.
"Thanks, Spike," Johan said, smiling gratefully. "I appreciate your understanding."
"Of course, man," Spike replied with a nod. "We're all in this together. Besides, I've got plenty of things to keep me busy while we wait. I could finally finish that book series I've been putting off, or maybe try out that new recipe for gemstone cupcakes."
Johan couldn't help but smile at Spike's enthusiasm. Despite everything that had happened the past couple days, Spike's positive attitude was contagious and reassuring.
"Sounds like a plan," Johan replied. "I think I'll try to work on figuring out my antlers while we wait. Maybe I can even come up with something that will help us out in the future."
Spike grinned. "Now that's the spirit!"
With that, the two friends settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts and plans for the future. While they couldn't predict what dangers lay ahead, they knew they would face them together, and with Derek and Twilight's help, they would be even stronger.
"Are we there yet?" The Storm King hissed as he picked at his teeth with the nail of his pinkie. He was relaxed in a lounge chair in the aftercastle of an airship, the room decorated by countless skulls, weapons, and trophies from his conquest. A storm beast stood off his side, slowly fanning him with a somewhat oversized fan.
His flagship had been floating over the Bonedry Desert for almost a day, and even with the breakneck pace of the airship, it still felt like it was taking forever for the Storm Monarch.
"We will be there shortly my lord," Tempest Shadow said as she stood staring down a map of the desert spread out over the flag, staring directly at a second of it that was clearly crossed out, with a large 'never go here Tempest' written on it. It had been her main tool for navigating and expanding the Storm Empire. She had written that months ago, but now she was, defying her better instincts at the behest of a master she barely tolerated.
She inhaled deeply, no. This was for her own good. If this worked, she'd get her horn back after all.
The Storm King narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by a sudden commotion on the deck above, causing them both to quickly snap their gazes to the door.
"Ha! I see it! Finder's fee is mine! Pay up!" The voice of Grubber called out from above, prompting both Tempest and the Storm King to lock eyes.
A smug smile split across the King's face as he rose to his feet. He nodded down at her, before he and his servant quickly made their way to the door to the aftercastle, and stepped out onto the deck. Tempest took a moment to gulp, before gathering herself and following after him. The two pushed through a crowd as they made their way to the front of the airship. Whispering and grumbling from the crew filled her ears.
The closer she got to the bow of the vessel, the more palpable her feeling of discomfort became until she found herself staring down at the city below. Thanks to the vector of their approach, the storm beasts and unicorn got a bird's eye view of the ruined city, and it wasn't pretty. It was built into what looked to be a massive volcanic crater, with cliffs surrounding it on all sides. The buildings themselves looked to be made of a white and cyan stone of some kind, possibly microcline bricks.
The layout of the city was mind-numbing, to say the least, with the streets themselves seemingly spelling out words in an ancient language. There were dozens of massive plazas, each filled with pavilions, gardens, and forums that dwarfed any found even in Canterlot. At the very center of every Plaza was a ruined ziggurat of massive scale, each being almost as tall as a Manehatten Skyscraper. Many of the Ziggurats appeared irreparably damaged, but they all had a similar motif in the middle. A massive spire rose from the very tops of the pyramid-like structures, and emerging from the sides of the towers were pairs of mandible-shaped antlers.
However, in the very center of the city, where one would expect to see the largest building in the city, there was simply nothing. Just a massive oval-shaped crater. Yet, it didn't look like the ground had been displaced by an explosion or digging. Instead, it had seemingly been simply... deleted. Four similar craters sat around the central crater, these ones resembling hoof prints, and they were far far deeper. It was as if a truly gargantuan creature, as large as a mountain, had stood over the city at one point, and then had fallen directly on top of the center. Or... maybe it emerged from the center? Whatever it was, it was gone now.
There were obvious signs of battle throughout the city. Crashed airships, rubble in the streets, and collapsed towers were spread all around. There wasn't a single part of the city that didn't have some kind of destruction around, and yet... for a place that apparently predated Equestria itself, it didn't look nearly damaged enough. There was no sand in the city, period. It was as if there was an invisible force surrounding the canyon walls that prevented the wind from filling the crater with sand, burying the ancient evil within.
Her breath caught in her throat when the ship started to lower. That's when she saw the bodies. Every street in the city was filled with them. Skeletons spread throughout the roads, some piled so high that they blocked the arteries and walkways of the metropolis. Many of them were of creatures she knew. Ponies, Gryphons, Buffalos, and more. Some were a complete mystery to her, creatures of a kind she had never seen. Still more, however, were a grizzly sight, to say the least. Empty exoskeletons of changelings of the reformed variety, hollow and bleached white. They were the vast, vast majority of the bodies.
Spread throughout the bodies were also scattered pieces of armor and ash, the armor being cyan in color, featuring white antlers emerging from the sides of the helmets. She recognized these immediately. They belonged to the platinum guard creature that had broken into her King's palace and given them the note telling them to meet them here. She froze at the sight. That guard had been powerful enough to ignore the Storm Empire's soldiers as they tried to stop her, yet here was their legacy. Empty suits, covered in dirt and debris, as if the wearers had been disintegrated to a fine ash, while their armor was left almost entirely unscathed.
The more Tempest took in, the more the feeling of wrongness permeating her psyche grew. It grew and grew until she started to feel the base of her horn throb as if the magic inside of her body was starting to squirm and writhe.
"Tempest," The Storm King asked, staring her down slightly. He understood what she was feeling almost immediately. "Is it dark magic?"
Tempest flinched, arching her back and clearing her throat. "T-there is definitely dark magic here, your majesty. But..." She trailed off, trying to find a way to describe it.
"But?" The Storm King's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he turned toward the city. Neither of the two noticed as a bird landed on the guard railing closest to them, cocking its head to the side. In fact, the only one who did notice was Grubber, who raised an eyebrow and approached.
"It feels like it's being buried, sir. By something... something worse. Something unnatural. Something that shouldn't even exist." Tempest said, shuddering as she did. "I... I can't even begin to explain it."
It was then that Grubber reached out a hand to touch the bird, but he quickly pulled it back when it started talking.
"I can't help you with that part, but I can show you where to go," The bird said before with a flash of green fire, the bird disappeared, and in his place was a very much alive changeling. A black changeling, with holes in his hooves. It gave a quick bow, even as the guards quickly rushed forwards, pointing spears at its head.
The Storm King quickly stopped his beasts from eviscerating the poor bug by raising a hand, quickly prompting his warriors to lower their weapons.
"Who are you?" He hissed as Tempest and Grubber both rushed to his side.
"Dactylus, at your service," The changeling said with a bow. "Former loyal servant of Queen Viscera, now loyal servant of Queen Chrysalis after her apparent death. I have been chosen by my queen to find you and bring you to meet our benefactor."
"Benefactor?" The Storm King raised an eyebrow. "Your queen isn't the one who called this meeting?"
"No, sir." The changeling said with a slight bow. "My queen is in a similar position to yourself, in that she has been recruited to participate in the plans of our benefactor, U'val. The only difference is she has been working with him for longer than you have."
The Storm King's eyes narrowed, his teeth baring. "I haven't been recruited to anything, bug. I am merely here because I was offered the Staff of Sancas to come here, nothing more."
The changeling smirked. "Even so, sir. I think you will find U'val's pitch rather convincing. Nonetheless, I ask you to follow me to your landing zone. You are the last to arrive, so I feel it best if we hurry." Dactylus said as he turned towards the guard rail and prepared to leap off the ship, his wing case snapping open as he did.
"Wait, wait," Tempest said, stepping forwards, her horn crackling with energy. "Explain the dark magic, now."
The changeling merely turned to look over his shoulder. "You'll see that when the meeting starts, now, follow me please."
Then he lept off, taking to the air and quickly making his way towards the city below.
The Storm King let out a loud bestial snarl, turning back towards the after castle. "Tempest, hurry this up so we can get this over with. I can already tell this is going to be very annoying."
"Right away, your majesty," Tempest said, as another shudder ran up her spine. This place was evil, no question.
"Buncha weirdos here..." Grubber grimaced as he and Tempest both glanced around the room. They were in a massive hexagonal room, full of intricately carved wooden furniture. The room itself was inside the top of a minaret that emerged from one the four corners of a ziggurat, a small one on the edge of the massive crater that had consumed the city center. Unlike much of the rest of the city, this room, and infact the entire building for that matter, were completely free of the damage that so plagued their surroundings. She supposed it had to be because their mysterious benefactor lived here and had thus done some repairing of a sort.
The room, as previously stated, was a hexagonal shape, with five thrones along the walls. Most of them were filled, but several were empty. There was but a single door into the room, with two statues flanking it, alongside three additional statues along the outer wall, most featureless, only having eyes and a mouth to set them apart from one another. The ones by the door featured a changeling with two antlers emerging from his head and, of all creatures, a deer. The other three featured three alicorns This made her raise an eyebrow.
She turned her head to stare at the other parties that had arrived for this meeting, and what parties they were.
Closest to her and the Storm King was a group of four griffins. The lead one, sitting in a large chair, was an elderly lord, with grey feathers and black fur. He was wearing a suit of dark grey plate armor, that covered his chest, legs -back and fore- and rear, with a red cape emerging from his shoulders. In his hands was clasped a longsword, the tip pressed into the ground as he almost seemed to use it as a brace to keep himself upright in his chair. Tempest watched as he slowly scanned the room, suspicion in his yellow eyes. He was flanked by two knights in similar dark grey armor, also wearing red capes and tabards that showed a black fist holding up the idol of boreas on a red background.
It was the griffin standing next to the older one that gave her the heeby jeebies. He wasn't very bulky or strong, actually appearing very lithe, but there was something off about the way he carried himself. A seeming confidence that put her off slightly. It seemed to her like this griffin felt he could take on anyone else in the room and win with little difficulty. She silently scoffed. Such pride would be his downfall, she thought. Nonetheless, he was wearing a suit of black armor, forsaking the cape and tabard his fellow griffins wore, with a sword on his waist. She raised her eyebrow when she saw his hindquarters. Rather than the normal lion or feline back legs and tail griffins normally had, his seemed to be wolfish or canine in nature. It seemed her confusion was obvious as she watched as the griffin turned to face her and the two locked eyes. His eyes were, just like the lord's, a deep yellow. He gave her a wink, causing her to grit her teeth and growl slightly.
Then the lord buckled over, coughing into a closed fist. The one in black armor quickly turned to him, concern written on his face. He turned and lowered himself slightly, reaching down for the lord's shoulders, but he stopped when his elder merely waved a hand and gestured for him to back off. The younger griffin stared at him for a moment before sighing and doing as instructed.
Next to the griffins were the changelings. Their Queen was sitting in a throne similar to the griffin lord's similarly flanked by two guards. Tempest frowned at the sight of them, she didn't know much about the bugs, she ran away from Equestria far before their attempted invasions of her homeland, but she had heard of them as second or third-hand rumors on the fringes of the Storm Empire. While she was never particularly patriotic, the sight of them still filled her with unease.
Following them, however, was a species she had never seen nor heard of before in her life. They in some ways resembled Deer, but they had paler, multicolored, coats and blacker noses. Unbeknownst to her, these creatures were known as caribou, led by their king, King Dainn. The king himself, wearing a crown and a suit of iron armor, lounged back on his throne, a head propped up on a hoof. He was flanked by two stags in far less ornate armor, who in turn were flanked by two soldiers each. Tempest watched as Dainn periodically fidgeted, turning his head to stare down both her and Chrysalis with disgust. It made her eye twitch.
Finally, she turned her head upwards to stare at the room's ceiling. She was greeted by a massive ball of shadows. Neon green lightning danced across its surface as dark magic crackled and hissed. She took a step back as a pair of eyes turned to stare down at her from deep inside the ball, a head made of shadows very slowly forming around it. It became obvious to her rather rapidly that this was where the dark magic she had felt earlier was coming from.
She flinched as the eyes turned scanning over the other gathered figures. She followed his gaze, ignorant of the others, until suddenly the Storm King slammed his fist down onto the armrest of his chair, prompting her to jump slightly.
"As much fun as it's been staring at you inferiors in silence, does anyone actually know when this 'benefactor's going to show up? Because contrary to popular belief, I have important business to attend to that I can't deal with in this crappy run-down ruin." The Storm King hissed, barring his teeth.
As if on cue, the room's only entrance suddenly slammed open, and the two platinum guard marched in, their heavily armored hooves making loud bangs on the mosaic floor of the room. They both came to a stop, heads raised high, staring down their noses at the gathered dignitaries. There was a pause as an ethereal operatic singing filled the room. All noise was quite literally silenced. Just to test it, she opened her mouth to scream. Though she felt her vocal cords move, and the air leave her mouth, she still heard nothing but the music.
Through the doors to the room emerged something she couldn't even parse. It was a tide of... something. A color she couldn't understand, something far beyond the color spectrum her mind could see, and yet she saw it all the same. It shot into the room, like water filling a cup. It quickly covered the walls as the room's occupants, barring the Platinum Guards, flinched in fear, covering their faces with their hooves and hands.
Tempest watched as the statues the energies slowly shot up to cover the statues around the room's walls, prompting them to suddenly spring to life. Tempest stared in horror as they started to writhe, throwing their heads back and letting out silent screams as they thrashed their limbs. What made it worse for her, was that she couldn't tell if they were writhing in agony, or pleasure.
She quickly turned her head upwards, back to the ball of dark magic, deciding that of the two evil forces in the room, it was the more pleasant. It didn't avail her much. She watched as the arcane lashed out toward the energy, only to be devoured and consumed, ripped apart at a cosmic level. The ball of dark magic screamed, the only noise she heard over the music, and shrunk in on itself.
Then the singing reached a crescendo as the energy started to retreat just as quickly as it entered the room. It pooled at the door, before rising into what almost resembled a solid shape. It went through many form as it did, a wall of screaming faces, an alicorn, a deer, an eagle, and then it finally took the shape of the silhouette of a changeling, with two mandible-shaped antlers. The silhouette slowly opened a single eye, turning to stare her down. Her specifically.
Then finally, the singing stopped. There was a snap as all sounds returned, mostly the sound of screaming. The silhouette of alien energy was instantly covered in a shell of cyan and white carapace, and standing before them all with a smile, was their benefactor.
"Greetings," He said, slowly striding forwards. "Welcome to Dir-Kelukia, the ancient capital of the Platinum Empire. I am your host. U'val."
Sharp Spear was a Canterlot Guard, of the solar variety. He had been for a long time, since his stint as a young boy at a military school. A young pegasus with, he believed, a heart of gold. Trained and educated by dozens of officers and teachers, one of which was even Shining Armor himself. Years of training, however, couldn't have prepared him for what had happened just a few days earlier.
"Not even the changeling invasion did this much damage," Night Shield said. Sharp slowly turned to look at him, a grimace splitting his face. The grey bat pony in his blue armor turned back, the two locking eyes.
They were standing in front of the collapsed Canterlot Palace, though the fires had been put out, and most of the rubble moved, it didn't make the destruction any harder to stomach. Night Shield shook his head with a sigh, looking away from Sharp Spear.
"Come on, we're on train duty..." the bat pony sighed, "And by the looks of things it's going to be a long night."
Sharp Spear nodded as he followed after his fellow guard towards Canterlot station, a quick walk in the crisp night air. The walk through the streets of Canterlot was a quiet one, with the guards being unmolested the entire time. Not that they would have to worry about that in the first place, Canterlot used to have the reputation of the safest city on the planet. Still, a sense of unease filled all of the ponies within the town. There was a feeling of unease in the air that felt suffocating. If this kind of attack had happened once, there was a high chance it could happen again.
Sharp Poke shivered as they walked down the empty city streets. He decided he'd better get his mind off things.
"So, why do they have us on train duty again?" He asked, glancing uncomfortably to his left then his right.
"Because they felt that we were best for it?" Night responded, staring his fellow guard down.
"N-no that's not what I..." Sharp stammered, then he sighed and shook his head. "No, I meant what are we transporting on the train?"
"They gathered up all the stones from that giant statue and their loading it into a train as we speak," Night replied. "They are transferring it up to some magical research center near Vanhoover, and it's up to us and a couple of other guards to escort it."
Sharp Spear nodded, grimacing nonetheless. "Let's... let's hope it goes smoothly then..." He chuckled.
Rainbow Dash clapped her hooves together, signaling it was time for Derek to take to the air. The alicorn was quick to do as he was told, flapping his wings and taking off into the wonderfully blue daytime sky. He and Rainbow kept going higher and higher, soaring above the highest buildings in Ponyvile, before coming to a stop amongst the clouds. Derek chuckled to himself as he rightened himself, feeling a warm, giddy feeling go up and down his spine.
This place, up here in the skies, this might as well have been his heaven.
Rainbow chuckled as she pulled up next to him. "Never gets old huh?"
Derek laughed and shook his head. "Nope!" he laughed. "Dude, you have no idea how many times I wished I could fly when I was a kid."
"Yeah, I was the same way until I learned how to use my wings, and after that, I spent days without touching the ground, my parents had to chase me to get me into bed!" She laughed, swishing this way and that through the air. After a moment she looked down at Derek from above, she quickly moved on from that; "You've been keeping up on your wing exercises though right? If you want to fly right, you have to make sure your wings can take it!"
"Yes ma'am! Ten wing push-ups a day, and thirty flaps an hour! As instructed!" Derek instantly saluted, faltering in the air slightly.
Rainbow nodded. "Good! Now then, follow me!"
Instantly the pegasus rocketed away with a blast of rainbow light, shooting toward the ground. Derek gawked for but a moment, then he shook his head and went after her, flapping his wings as quickly as he could after her. However, despite his best efforts, he couldn't catch up!
Rainbow noticed, quickly slowing down to pull alongside him; "Here's a hint, it's not about how quickly you flap your wings. Having them open at all when your falling actually slows you down." She chuckled as she matched his speed. Derek had the slightest amount of trouble hearing her with how quickly they were going, but he caught the gist of what she was saying.
"If you want to go fast, you have to fold your wings," Rainbow laughed, before she demonstrated! "Like this!"
Derek's eyes widened as Rainbow instantly shot past him. His eyes quickly darted towards her wings, which, he noted, were folded close to her sides. He quickly did the same, following after her at a similar, though much still slower, speed.
The two dove towards the city streets, before Rainbow suddenly pulled up, with Derek following after her, laughing as he did.
"This is so awesome!" Derek cried, narrowly avoiding a tree for his trouble.
Rainbow Dash nodded as she flew just over the ground, turning sharply at the last moment to do a quick loop in the sky. Derek followed her, making a few loopsey-loops as they went.
"You know, this would be even better if I could just... fly at the speed of sound," Derek admitted, a smile on his face as the two caught up after a moment.
Rainbow Dash laughed, "Well, technically you could. If you tried to do it you'd burn out your wings though, they wouldn't be able to handle the air resistance at that speed. It would probably be like running into a wall."
Derek blinked, and shook his head. "Dang... that would suck." He chuckled.
"Yeah, I get around that though," Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Have you ever heard of the sonic rainboom?"
"No..." Derek said, cocking his head to the side.
"Okay, so it's this awesome trick that only the fastest pegasus can do! It's when you do a sonic boom, but not at the same time." Rainbow Dash explained.
"That sounds cool!" Derek laughed, he grinned as he looked up at Rainbow Dash.
"I'm guessing you want me to show you?" Rainbow asked with a chuckle.
"You bet!" Derek laughed, shaking his head.
Rainbow Dash nodded. "Alright, hang on tight!"
Derek barely had time to respond to that before Rainbow took off in a blast of wind and rainbow, going faster than Derek had ever seen her fly! Derek didn't even bother to follow after her as she suddenly turned skywards, shooting up into the sky as, with a sudden boom, there was an explosion of magical energy that launched a rainbow colored shockwave in all directions, almost knocking the alicorn out of the sky!
Derek laughed as she shot through the sky in an arch, creating a rainbow of light behind her as she went. Derek laughed, clapping his hooves as he did. Rainbow Dash's arc of rainbow magic passed by Canterlot as he did, and it was only then that he noticed the massive plume of smoke emerging from a forest between Ponyvile and Canterlot. When he turned his head down to stare at it, he saw, between the trees, the burnout form of a train.
The train barrelled through the woods. The late-night silence was disturbed only by the engine's chugging and the gears' cranking as it sped down the track.
For the most part, the train was unmanned, with only the conductor, and a small squad of half a dozen guards deployed at either the front or back of the train. Two of those guards being Sharp Spear and Night Shield, who were both standing at the front of the train. The conductor was hunched between them, managing the ship's engine and occasionally feeding it with coal.
"Why cyan?" Sharp Spear suddenly asked, staring back toward the full cargo containers that trailed behind the engine.
"Excuse me?" Night Shield asked in return, raising an eyebrow. He turned to look at his fellow guard, taking his attention off the conductor.
"It's just... a weird color. You know?" Sharp responded. "And it doesn't flow well. Why choose bright cyan instead of like... blue?"
Night Shield shrugged. "Well, we know the guys who built that thing were reformed changelings, I mean, did you get a good look at it?"
"And that applies how?"
"Well, reformed changeling magic is cyan. Maybe it's a theme thing." Night replied turning his gaze back to the tracks just in time to catch sight of something.
"Woah woah woah! Stop!" He cried, quickly rushing to help the conductor pull the breaks. The metal on the train screeched and roared as the train gracelessly came to a stop, causing all of the ponies aboard to jerk forwards. When it was over, Sharp pulled himself up with a grimace, before he rushed to Night's side.
His eyes widened at what had caused the train to make it's sudden stop. "Speak of the devil..."
Hovering in place just a foot above the track and staring at them was a changeling. There were no holes in it's hooves, it was neon yellow, and it had an insect-like wing for a tail, quickly cluing them in that this changeling was of the reformed variety. But the issue quickly arose... was it of Thorax's group, or their new enemy.
The two soldiers locked eyes for a moment before Night Shield nodded at him. Sharp Spear quickly understood what was asked of him. He quickly grabbed the whistle he had hanging around his neck and slammed it into his mouth. With a quick blow, he signaled the other guards around the train to join them. The changeling remained in his position as the guards quickly gathered and dismounted the train, surrounding him.
"You, we want your name and what the heck you are doing here, now!" Night Shield said as the other guards slowly approached.
"Quite simple sir," The changeling responded in a monotone voice. "I come here to secure this train and it's cargo in the name of the Changeling Hive."
"Excuse me?" Sharp Spear asked, turning to Night. "Why would King Thorax want the pieces of that statue?"
"Truthfully sir, I do not know. But I know that my employer was very insistent that I claim this in his name. So if you don't mind me." The changeling said. Then he started to glow.
"What the-" Was all Sharp and Night managed to get out before the changeling exploded, and they, the front of the train, and the track were consumed in a ball of light.
When it faded, the conductor was left alone with a massive crater before her. She was shocked for but a moment, before she let out a horrific scream, that echoed through the forest. She was silenced before she could do anything else when a bolt of magic zipped through the air and struck her directly in the side of the head.
That's when the ponies in black suits and neon yellow sunglasses poured out of the woods, quickly forming a perimeter around the train.
"Rip it apart, piece by piece. The V.I.P. wants every last stone. Once we have everything, burn the train." One of them said, taking a step forwards.
"Yes sir," The others responded with a salute before they quickly got to work.
The room stayed quiet after U'val's introduction, as everyone stared at him wide eyed. Everyone that is, except for the young griffon, who kept his quiet smirk. The griffon's father turned at him beak agape as he sat back and started to clap.
"Wonderful introduction," the griffon said, his beak widening into a smile. "I particularly liked the song and all the writhing statues. Really tied it all together, but next time maybe spare the theatrics."
U'val merely walked forwards into the center of the room, coming to a stop. He stared down at the Griffon with his single eye, narrowing slightly. Then he smiled, laughing. His laughter very quickly obliterated the tension in the room, as the other rulers grew slightly antsy.
"Right you are," U'val said, giving the slightest nods. "Next time we all meet up, I'll be sure to walk into the room like a normal person." Then he paused turning to the others. "Before we begin, allow me to introduce you to one another. I've had my eyes on each and every one of you as potential recruits since your grandchildren were mere children, thus I am very familiar with all of you."
He started going clockwise, starting with the caribou. "King Dainn, the... Chauvanistic ruler of the far northwest. My current vassal Queen Chrysalis-" the changeling snarled but he ignored it "- Lord Gilion and his son Gadreel, rulers of the Duchy of Karthon, longstanding rivals of the kingdom of Griffonstone, and last but certainly not least, a creature who needs no introduction, the... illustrious Storm King."
"Now then, doubtlessly you are all tired from your travels and want to get back on the road home, so to speak. As such, I will keep this meeting brief." U'val explained, sweeping his gaze over the gathered rulers and their retinues. U'val slowly smiled. "I plan on bringing down Equestria and slaughtering their alicorn rulers. To. The. Last. I really don't care what happens after that. So, all the four of you need to do, to have the world in their hands and or hooves, is serve me, and aid me in achieving that goal."
The room was silent for a moment, as the rulers all paused, turning to lock eyes with their comrades and each other, before turning their gaze back to U'val. Barring of course Chrysalis, who was already well aware of all of this...
"I know that may seem like a tall order, but your service and... worship will be greatly reward-" U'val started. He was interrupted when Dainn of all creatures slammed his hooves down and stood up.
"Never!" Dainn suddenly cried, prompting everyone barring U'val to widen their eyes and drop their jaws. "You ignorant wretch! Do you really think I, a great king, would stoop so low as to serve a non-caribou in any capacity? Not to mention the whores you dare keep in your presence who you would dare to treat as an equal to me!"
The stag waved his hoof in the direction of Chrysalis and Tempest, who locked eyes. U'val merely stared down at him blankly, his face monotone in appearance.
"Not to mention the mess your 'pet' made in my castle! A mere female slaughtering the guards sent to apprehend her and put her in her place! A mere female daring to stand up tall in my presence and order me around! I blame you for that animal!" Dainn continued, stomping towards him.
"And is this... refusal... your final position?" U'val merely asked.
"Yes!" Dainn roared back.
"Excellent," U'val responded. Then his antlers burst into magic... or whatever that ability he used was. In a mere instant all of the caribou who had accompanied Dainn were instantly deleted. Not even ash was left over as their empty suits of armor clattered to the ground where they had once stood. Dainn's jaw dropped as he turned to see his men eradicated.
Then he turned back to U'val, his face going white as he slowly started walking away from him, his jaw working as he stammered inanely.
"Of all the heirs of Theispas, I feel your race is the least deserving of its previously noble blood. Even the mere antlered animals are superior. To be quite honest, I knew you would act this way. I brought you here merely to serve as an example to the other, far more deserving candidates. An example of what will come of them if they reject my patronage." U'val calmly and coldly explained.
Gadreel's hand went to his sword as Dainn let out a pathetic sequel and turned, attempting to run away. U'val's antlers merely activated again and with a cry of agony, the caribou was similarly erased from existence. U'val didn't move for a moment afterward, merely glaring down at the space the once 'great' king had stood. Then he spoke up again.
"Tril'ik, Ezin'dle." U'val called over his shoulder. "Once our meeting is complete, return north and drive the rest of his pathetic race extinct, would you?"
Both of the Platinum Guards merely nodded.
Then he turned his one-eyed gaze to Gilion and Gadreel. Gadreel instantly drew his sword as U'val slowly approached them.
Something materialized in his hoof as he came closer, Gadreel stepped forwards, in between him and his father, before U'val held his hoof up. Both of the Gryphon's eyes widened. "That's..."
"The Idol of Boreas. Yes. One of the two artifacts I had my guards acquire to sweeten the deal for you." U'val said, lifting the artifact up in a cyan aura of magic. It floated up for a moment before gingerly setting itself down on one of the armrests of Gilion's chair.
The Storm King, still trying to process all that had happened, was shaken from his confusion when one of U'val's platinum guards - he didn't know which - stepped towards him holding up the Staff of Sancas. Tempest watched as the Storm King hesitantly reached out a hand and grabbed the staff. The Platinum Guard nodded at him, then turned and marched out with his compatriot. They had a race to obliterate.
"Make no mistake, I am a kind and generous master. Under my will you will be guided into the Kings you have always wanted to be." U'val explained, straightening his back and neck to look down at them.
"Kings huh? And what does that make you?" Gilion asked, frowning slightly.
"Quite simple really," U'val said, his eye starting to glow darkly. "I will be your god."
Ka'Rel was where he was supposed to be, his cell in the changeling hive. He was repeating the same routine he had picked up over the course of the month he had been willingly imprisoned by his younger kin. Stare at the cell bars, pace back and forth, and stare at the ceiling. Stare at the cell bars, pace back and forth, and stare at the ceiling. Stare at the cell bars, pace back and forth, and stare at the ceiling.
Were he not a trained Platinum Guard, he suspected he would have gone quite mad by now. Boredom had that effect on changelings after all. But no, he couldn't explain why, but he seemed quite used to this kind of waiting.
Suddenly a feeling of dread washed over him. Something was wrong.
Ka'Rel suddenly stopped his routine, spinning in his cell to stare out the window. His mind was suddenly filled with images. Lightning bolts flew past him from behind as he charged at a wall of pikes. The barking of dogs and the screaming of voices. The sight of himself on his knees cradling a dead deer in his forehooves.
"Ka'Rel?" A voice called out that he only barely heard. "What's wrong?"
He quickly turned to stare down the changeling guard outside his cell. The same one he had talked to all those weeks ago. He had later learned her name, Spinnerette.
"N-nothing." Ka'Rel started, shaking his head. "It's just old memor-"
He was silenced when a voice rang out, seemingly from nowhere. "North... Now."
Ka'Rel and Spinnerette's eyes both shot wide. Ka'Rel remained still as Spinnerette spun around to search the room.
He recognized that voice.
In a single movement, Ka'Rel spun around, his horn and antlers igniting with potent magic. With a flick of his horn, a beam of cyan energy shot forth, striking the wall with a horrific explosion of light.
Where there was once a wall and a window was now a massive hole.
"What are you doing? Stop!" Spinnerette meekly shouted as she rushed forward to open the cell and tried her best to calm him down. But it availed her nothing. Ka'Rel merely took to the air, his wings buzzing as he started flying northwards.
Johan nervously tapped his hoof as he sat in his booth. Every so often, he would glance over to Derek and Twilight, who were sitting in their booth right across the aisle that split the center of the train. Just to make sure they were there. Twilight had opted to be the only one of the 'Elements of Harmony' as they were called to join Johan's little expedition to the Empire. The other elements had important business to attend to back home, and he wasn't about to interrupt them, no matter how paranoid he was.
Besides, Twilight wanted to visit her niece who apparently lived up here. Likely in the palace... all things considered. His eyes locked on her horn, the crack that had previously split it down the middle having long since healed during the month of waiting. That gave him some comfort, at least now there were two alicorns who could protect him with all their power.
Every time he saw them, he shook his head and sighed. That was until the stress would overwhelm him again and force him to throw another glance over to them.
"Hey, you ok Johan?" Spike asked, turning to the deer, a look of concern written plainly on his face.
"Yeah... yeah," Johan replied, shaking his head. "It's just that... ya know... the guy in my head, Jelen, he told me that that U'val guy is gonna keep coming for me. And last time he did Derek almost died."
The deer whimpered. "What happens the next time he goes after me?"
Spike pursed his lips slightly. He was quiet for a moment, then he opened his mouth to speak. "Don't worry about it Johan, everything will be okay, I promise you. Between Twilight and Derek, you have nothing to fear."
Johan sighed deeply, "I hope you are right," he mumbled.
"You remember our deal, correct?" U'val asked as he walked in a circle around an orb of pure dark magic. Resting in the center of the orb was the mostly reconstructed form of Sombra. They were on top of a mountain, overlooking the Crystal Empire far below. If U'val looked hard enough he could almost see the ponies inside scurrying about like ants.
The unicorn snarled, before nodding. "Of course. No harm is to come to the deer, but everything else in the Empire is mine."
"Correct," U'val nodded before he held up a hoof. In it was the Alicorn amulet, shimmering in the light of the sun. With a tilt of his hoof, the amulet slipped from his grasp and fell into the snow. "You will be freed from this orb in several hours. Once you are out, the amulet is yours. Do with it as you whilst."
Sombra nodded in response. "And... pray tell, what is to stop me from using that Amulet against you once I finish off the Empire?" He suddenly asked with a smirk.
U'val kept his same monotone stare as he looked down at the unicorn. "Nothing, I suppose. Though you'll find the empire to be harder to conquer than you'd think."
Sombra merely smirked. "With the ultimate power of the Amulet? I truly doubt that." He chuckled.
U'val merely shrugged his shoulders. "Do try not to get too overly confident," U'val replied, narrowing his eye. Then he turned, unsheathing his wings from his elytra as he did. "Alas, I must leave you for now. I have business to attend to in the empire, and your little invasion will be the perfect cover. I trust we won't get in each other's way."
Sombra remained silent, which caused U'val to smirk as he took to the air, his guards quickly taking up flanking positions on either side of him.
"I thought not."
Johan's eyes widened when he stepped off the train and saw the Crystal City. Everything, from the train station to the city walls and even the city streets themselves were made of shimmering crystal. The sun reflecting off of it was almost blinding!
The residents' homes were made of crystals that appeared to have shot out of the ground before being hollowed out from the inside. They were coupled with gardens and pavilions behind every house. This place, in terms of pure fanciness, blew what little he had seen of Canterlot out of the water. What confused him then were the city residents themselves who, instead of looking like elitist nobles and rich guys, seemed to be normal ponies, the same kind he'd find in Ponyville... just a bit different.
They looked to all be earth ponies, with a slight shimmer to their bodies, and strange hexagonical pupils. They were coupled with an aesthetic and cutie marks that were obviously Greek in inspiration. Johan cocked his head to the side, smiling slightly as he observed the city around him.
He tried his best to ignore the ooo's and ah's coming out of Derek's mouth as he looked at every last thing. Johan chuckled slightly, shaking his head and Derek's enthusiasm. And that's when he noticed the 12-foot-tall solid diamond statue of Spike. And his jaw dropped.
"What the... Oh my god... You really are this place's hero..." Johan stammered as Twilight, Derek and Spike all looked at him.
Spike smirked, blowing on his claw tips before polishing them on his chest. "Did you expect anything different from-"
He was interrupted when a crystal pony noticed them.
"SPIKE THE BRAVE AND GLORIOUS!" The pony roared with near-religious reverence before suddenly he was swarmed by dozens of ponies seemingly appearing out of nowhere, hoisting Spike into the air. Spike's eyes rolled in his skull as he was bounced from pony to pony in a very much non-consensual crowd surf.
"He seems... popular..." Johan blinked.
"Well, he did kind of save the Empire. Three times." Twilight chuckled with a shrug.
"What? Three times?" Johan asked, eyes widening. "I mean, Spike's awesome but... is he really that awesome?"
Twilight merely smiled and shrugged.
Derek, meanwhile, laughed loudly, pointing towards Spike. "You ok there buddy?" The alicorn asked, taking to the air slightly.
"Yep! Fine!" Spike called back as he slowly disappeared from sight.
"Well... I'm suddenly feeling much, much safer." Johan mumbled turning to Twilight and Derek. "Sorry for dragging you guys along."
"It's fine dude, I woulda come even if you didn't need me," Derek chuckled, putting a hoof on Johan's shoulder. "I love exploring new places like this."
"And it was the perfect excuse to visit Flurry Heart!" Twilight laughed, perking up. "So I probably would've come too."
Johan returned their smiles with a hollow one before nodding. "I'm gonna wait for the crowd to be done with Spike then the two of us are going to head to the Library together. You guys are free to do... whatever it is you want to do."
Twilight nodded before she turned her head to the crowd her smile disappearing instantly. She turned back to Derek; "The crowd seems too dense to walk through. Up for some flying?"
Derek quickly bobbed his head up and down. "Oh heck yeah. Rainbow's flying lessons have really been helping out! Plus I really wanna see what this place looks like from the air!"
Twilight quickly took to the air, soaring over the crowd. Derek was restless in following after her, almost shooting past her.
That left Johan alone with the crowd, waiting for them to calm down... though he wasn't entirely alone.
"There was a time when Auream and I received the same treatment from the adoring populace..." Jelen reminisced. "Maybe one day you'll get the same?"
Johan instantly cringed. "God I hope not."
Derek found it hard to imagine moving anywhere within the city without passing under the castle’s shadow. The ponies here moved in a rush around the castle, some going in, some coming out. The arterial center of the crystal empire, shining in its resplendent glory! It was hard to take his eyes off it.
Derek stared the castle up and down before his eyes locked on one of the balconies, where he saw a trio of ponies standing next to what looked to be a floating crib of some kind. Derek's smile widened when he recognized two of the ponies on the Balcony. One was Princess Cadance, he'd recognize her anywhere. The other was Shining Armor, whom he had met at the meeting.
Derek quickly sped down towards the balcony landing next to Cadance and Shining. Twilight quickly joined him.
"Twily!" Shining said, quickly approaching his sister. Cadance followed after him, dropping down next to Twilight. Derek watched as the two did a little dance which made him raise an eyebrow, though his smile never left his face.
"Sunshine sunshine ladybugs awake!" Twilight started. Cadance quickly stepped in to finish it off for her.
"Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
Derek laughed. "Oh dude, that kind of thing would probably kill Johan if he saw it," the alicorn laughed, before he approached, holding out a hoof. "Nice to see you guys again."
Shining took his hoof, giving it a quick shake in response.
The third pony on the balcony approached, the cradle following closely behind him. "So, what brings you to the Empire?" he asked in a rather nerdy voice. He was an orange pony with white hooves, a goatlike red bear and messy mane, and a pair of glasses. He was wearing a blue cape that had a couple of teal stars along its back.
Derek turned to him, cocking his head slightly to the side. "Oh... We're here 'cause my friend Johan wanted to check the library and didn't want to come alone," Derek said giving the pony a quick nod. He paused; "Sorry I don't believe we've met before?"
"Oh, sorry I really should have introduced myself," The pony gave a quick bow. "I'm Sunburst, royal crystaler of-"
He was interrupted when a sudden explosion ripped everyone's attention from their impromptu meeting. A boom ricocheted off the mountains, quickly drowning out all other sounds in the Empire. Suddenly all eyes were pointed northwards.
A massive burst of black smoke shot out from the top of one of the mountains, forming into a single cloud that came close to covering the sun. Then a pair of green and red eyes opened on the cloud.
First, a black cloud covered the sky above the Crystal Empire. Then it started to rain.
Except, it wasn't water that fell from the sky. To Johan, they almost resembled helmets. His theory was confirmed when one of the falling helms latched directly onto the head of a pony standing in the street next to him, who screamed and fell to the floor, clawing at his new involuntary piece of clothing. He clawed and screamed for but a moment before the helmet's eyes glowed neon green and the pony went limp.
Then they slowly pulled themself up in a robotic movement, almost like a puppet on strings. Johan nervously took a step back away from the pony as the crowd which had previously been cheering at Spike's arrival dropped him to the ground and scattered, screaming in horror as raining helmets picked them off one by one.
Johan watched in horror as one of the helmets flew towards Spike's head too. With a grunt, he charged his antlers and fired a lightning bolt directly towards the helmet as Spike slowly picked himself up and rubbed the side of his head. An explosion above made him pause as small shards of dull metal rained down on him.
Johan laughed at the sight, smiling, before suddenly something whacked him directly on the head making him fall onto his stomach. With a grunt he slowly picked himself up, seeing a helmet harmlessly on the ground in front of him, having been knocked off his head by an inability to wrap around his face with his antlers in the way.
Johan chuckled slightly. "Thank you branches," he said looking up, but he quickly rose to his hooves afterward, sprinting towards Spike. "You ok man?"
"Ngh... Yeah," Spike said as he looked to the sky, his eyes wide. "We need to get indoors quick! These helmets have Sombra written all over them."
"Sombra?" Johan asked as he looked around the street. By now, a majority of the ponies were wearing helmets now, standing still as statues.
"Creepy evil king guy, used to rule the Crystal Empire," Spike answered simply, looking around in a panic. "He should be dead though."
"Why do you say tha-" Johan trailed off before he noticed another pair of helmets shooting for their heads. Thankfully he was quick on his hooves, igniting his antlers before shooting lightning directly up into the air, catching them both with a chain effect. They both exploded into shards which harmlessly rained down upon the dragon and deer.
"Cause last time I saw him he exploded!" Spike responded, quickly grabbing Johan by the leg, and pulling him towards the train station. "Now quickly, we'd better get inside!"
And then, as if on queue, every single one of the helmeted ponies, dozens upon dozens of them turned in perfect unison, snapping their attention towards Spike and Johan with the thunderous slamming of hooves.
Spike and Johan both froze, staring down the horde of Spike's previous admirers.
Things got worse when they spoke, all of their voices came out at once, drowning out all other sounds; "Spike. Our master wants you dead."
In a quick motion, Johan threw Spike over his back and started to sprint away. And they followed.
The dark cloud towered over the Crystal Empire, leaving little cover. And the palace was hit hardest by the falling helmets. Hundreds of black metal caps rained from above, striking the crystal of the castle with enough force to crack it. Derek watched in horror as several helmets rained towards them, only to be stopped seconds before reaching them when a shield snapped shut around them.
A bubble of purple magic had quickly formed around the palace. Shining Armor, though his leg was currently wrapped in a cast, was standing tall, a grimace on his face as he held his shimmering horn high.
"What are those things?" Derek asked as he watched a cluster of helms harmlessly smack against the shield before falling to the ground far below.
"Those are mind-control helmets!" Sunburst cried in a panic, "They were used by Sombra over a thousand years ago."
"This makes no sense! Sombra is dead!" Twilight replied, turning to Cadance and Shining.
Shining Armor frowned, straightening his back. "I need to mobilize the guards," he said, staring down at his cast. Then he shook his head and turned his gaze to his wife. "Get Sunburst and our daughter somewhere safe."
Cadance quickly nodded, before she and Sunburst took off into the castle. Shining meanwhile turned to Twilight and Derek.
"You two are probably the only people in the empire right now who can stop Sombra. I need you to track him down and put an end to this madness." Shining said, before he turned and started limping towards the castle.
"Right, we'll do it," Twilight said, spreading her wings and turning to Derek. "Are you ready? Looks like you're going to get to use your training after all."
Derek smiled back at her in response. "I know, this is gonna be sick."
Twilight cleared her throat, frowning slightly. "Just remember that all of the ponies we will be fighting have been brainwashed, so don't hurt them."
Derek nodded, "If they got a helmet I'll go gentle on them."
Twilight nodded back before she took to the air as a small portal opened in the shield before them. The two quickly flew through, heading towards the densest congregation of the clouds. Where they knew Sombra wouldn't be far off.
Sombra merely smirked as he watched the two alicorns leave the temporary protection of their shield and make their way towards him. He was no more than a cloud of inky darkness right now, sitting within the much larger black fog that was slowly consuming the Crystal Empire.
Their stupidity was almost palpable. He was unstoppable! Nothing they could do could stop him. A wicked smile split his face as he slowly started to gather shadows around himself.
The sudden crack of thunder in the distance made him stop. Looking down to the city below, he watched as a massive lightning bolt exploded from the ground into the air arching in all directions before slowly dissipating. He smirked. He knew what lightning from the ground meant.
"The light of creation..." he smirked darkly. He looked from where the lightning bolt originated, to where the alicorns were coming from, then back to the mountain he had come from. Then he smirked.
"No one can stop me as is. Not even you U'val. I might as well secure myself a new... pet." Sombra said, his smile only growing. With a small flick of his horn, a small section of his dark cloud split off from the rest, before it hurled toward the ground where the lightning had originated.
Then Sombra turned his attention back towards the two alicorns, who were only getting closer.
Sombra merely laughed at their impudence before his shadows started to coalesce into equine shape. It took but a moment before he was entirely solidified. He fell through the sky for but a moment, before he caught himself with a solid cloud, rising higher as he made sure to show off the amulet resting upon his chest. Yes, that would be quite a surprise for his enemies...
Sombra stretched his back for a moment, then started to dive down towards the two alicorns, heading in the direction of the crystal palace.
U'val landed just outside of the Crystal Library, his two guards in close escort formation, weapons at the ready. Thankfully, there was no one around, so most of their duty right now consisted of batting aside helmets heading towards their master's head with their halberds.
It was a large building, the library. Second or Third largest building in the city, if he had to wager a guess. Not that he cared.
The building sat on a raised foundation, with a set of stairs leading up to a set of incredibly large double doors, with crystalline arches and pillars surrounding it on either side.
U'val stared at the massive doors to the library with hatred in his eye, before he slowly started ascending the stairs that lead up to the building, his carapace hooves click-clacking on the crystal pavement.
"I really should have done this earlier, shouldn't I?" he asked, turning to Ezin'dle, who merely stared back at him in silence. "But I suppose I got caught up in scheming that I forgot the important parts."
With a burst of magic, the doors to the building exploded inwards, U'val and his guards confidently striding past the rubble into the library itself.
The library was probably the largest concentration of knowledge outside of Canterlot itself, full of countless tomes on magic, history, the arts and literature, science, and more. It was made up of three open levels, each housing countless bookcases of crystal filled with paper taking up three open floors.
It was a shame it all had to go.
U'val heard a whimper which made him pause. Slowly the changeling turned to his right, his cold eye catching sight of a pony librarian hiding beneath a desk. U'val merely stared down at her for a moment before staring back at the library itself.
"You might want to find a different hiding place," he said as his horn and antlers ignited with magic. The librarian merely nodded in fear, before she scrambled to her hooves and rushed through the shattered doors. She barely got more than a dozen or so feet outside of the library before a falling helmet latched onto her head, knocking her to the ground.
U'val was only dimly aware of the librarian's fate before his spell activated. In a moment, a cyan fire ignited across the entire library, every single bookcase bursting into flames. U'val nodded before he turned.
"We are done here," U'val exclaimed as he made his way towards the exit. "Now, let us find somewhere to sit back and watch the fireworks as Sombra inevitably fails."
"Of course, my domine," Ezin'dle responded before the three changelings took to the air, heading north towards the mountains.
Johan and Spike made their way down the city streets with Sombra's new soldiers in hot pursuit. Every time they thought they were in the clear, more and more enslaved crystal ponies would spill into the street behind them, following after them. Johan, fast as he was, was getting tired. And fast.
The slaves were right on Johan's tail, almost literally, and the path ahead was blocked by a pile of rubble, consisting of destroyed barrels and cast-aside carts! They had entered the market district of the Crystal Empire, and the enslaved ponies had cast aside their produce the second they had had their wills shackled to Sombra.
"Sweet Celestia, we're doomed!" Spike cried, covering his eyes with his hands as he rode on Johan's back.
"Hold on!" Johan responded, steeling his brow. He inhaled deeply, before he too closed his eyes and prepared to leap.
The deer struggled with a grunt as he bound forward. Spike wrapped his arms around his neck, holding on for dear life as Johan jumped over the crystalline debris. The deer skid to a halt. Slowly, he and Spike both opened their eyes as they turned back to the rubble pile. Johan had cleared it, quite easily in fact!
The enslaved crystal ponies who had previously been chasing them were now struggling to climb the debris, practically tripping over one another as they struggled to keep up with their targets.
Johan straightened his back and beamed, while Spike cheered. "Hah! That shows them!" Spike roared, pointing at the carts with a smirk.
Then Johan and Spike turned. The blood instantly went cold in their veins when they saw yet another group of enslaved ponies, much larger than the first slowly stomping towards them, heads held low. The two found themselves surrounded with slaves on one side, and the rapidly being climbed pile of rubble on the other.
"S-stay behind me," Johan said, frowning. Lightning started to arch between his antlers like Tesla coils. "It's you they're after."
With a deep inhale, the deer stepped forward toward the enslaved ponies. The helmets were made of metal, he reminded himself.
With a sudden cry, the deer raised his head into the air, before shooting forwards. Lightning danced between his antlers for the briefest of moments, before two separate streams of electricity shot towards the crystal ponies. They connected with the helmets of the two closest, who were knocked backward by the force throwing their heads back.
With the crack of thunder, the lightning started to jump from pony to pony, shocking their helmets as in a second almost the entire crowd of ponies was engulfed in lightning. After a moment, their helmets all exploded in unison, dropping the ponies to the ground, unconscious.
Johan inhaled deeply, eyes wide as he watched in momentary horror, thinking he just killed an entire group of ponies. Thankfully, that fear was dissipated when he saw the ponies were all breathing, though many of them had singed hair and slight burns on their faces.
Johan inhaled for a moment before he scanned the plaza and continued running down the nearest street, Spike clinging to his back.
"Woah! Johan that was incredible!" Spike cried from behind, holding onto him as Johan turned another corner. This one was thankfully completely clear of enslaved ponies.
"Thanks," Johan dimly responded, his brain barely even processing what was going on. He was more focused on finding someplace safe to hide.
Just then, a crack reverberated through the street. Johan skidded to a halt, turning to where he heard the crack. Spike turned too, to see as one of the buildings in the city looked to be in the process of shattering. Suddenly, a crystalline hoof exploded out of the side of the building, slamming onto the ground below. It was joined by three more before a golem of crystal ripped itself out of the building. It shook a pony-shaped head for a moment, before looking up to Johan and Spike, opening its eyes to reveal they were neon green, with red irises.
The golem stared at them for just a moment, before it let out a horrific hiss and started marching toward Johan and Spike, its hooves cracking the pavement.
Johan's eyes widened at the sight for a moment before he raised his antlers into the air again, before bringing them down towards the creature's head. There was a long crack of thunder, as lightning shot forth again, striking the golem directly in the chest.
The golem paused for a moment, its hooves sliding through the ground before it straightened up and let out another hiss, and continued towards the two like nothing had happened.
"Right," Johan grunted. "Crystal."
Just then, there was another crack behind Johan. Then yet another to his right. The deer whipped around to see two more hooves had exploded out of two other buildings, as more golems started to pull themselves free.
Johan took a step back from the constructs, gulping loudly, before he turned and once again bounded down the street, Spike still pressed firmly into his back.
The dragon let out a weak whimper as a golem pulled itself out of the street in front of them. Johan grimaced before he charged forward, jumping over the golem's head and landing on the other side.
"We just gotta find someplace to hide, then it'll be all good!" He lied to himself, more so than to Spike.
Twilight and Derek soon arrived in the middle of the darkest cloud in the sky, the Crystal Empire spread out below them.
Derek and Twilight both scanned the clouds around them for a moment, before a set of green eyes opened in the shadows next to them, a dark chuckle emanating through the dark.
"Well well well, last I saw you, you were but a mere unicorn falling victim to trap after trap in my palace," Sombra said, as he pulled himself out of the clouds in solid form, black fog forming at his hooves to keep him in the air. The dark king cocked his head to the side, smiling as he stared down at Twilight. "Now an alicorn... with some help. There haven't been this many of your kind running about since the days of Epona. It's almost sickening."
Twilight raised an eyebrow at that. "Epona?" She asked, turning to Derek. The other alicorn didn't bat an eye... at least until he saw the necklace hanging around Sombra's neck.
"The alicorn amulet? How did you-" Derek asked, the words making Twilight instantly freeze, her face going white when she saw the very same amulet hanging on Sombra's chest.
Sombra interrupted him with a loud guffaw. "I have friends in high places, alicorn," Sombra said, licking his teeth. "And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you do too dearest Twilight. The stallion standing next to you is the spitting image of my old master's brother. I heard stories about you Auream, shame we find ourselves on opposite sides, otherwise I'd of liked to pick your brain. I assume the little deer running around down there is the legendary Jelen too?"
Derek frowned, a snarl coming to his face. "Leave Johan out of this."
Sombra merely laughed, his voice echoing throughout the sky.
"Bold of you to assume you can order me around, foal," Sombra said, "I hold all the cards here."
Suddenly Twilight sprung forward, her horn charged and ready. With a blast of magic, she sent a beam of pure purple light screaming through the sky directly toward the alicorn amulet. Sombra's eyes widened slightly before he was completely consumed by the purple magical energy.
Derek's horn glowed as well. With a quick flick of his head, a golden beam of slightly larger width shot out of his horn too, slamming into Sombra as well. All sound besides the blast of magic went silent as Derek and Twilight held their spell for a minute. Soon exhaustion crept in, however, and Twilight was forced to end her attack, panting and breathing heavily.
Soon Derek did the same, though he found himself far more energized than tired.
When their spells faded however, standing where he formerly was, not even budged an inch, stood Sombra. The same smug smile on his face.
"Oh, you thought that would work. How... disappointing." He said as he started to walk through the air towards them.
Johan skidded to a halt as more than a dozen hooves ripped themselves from the street in front of him. He turned around to run in the other direction, only for another dozen golems to start forming there as well. The golems were soon joined by even more mind-controlled ponies, who shambled toward Spike and Johan in unison.
"We're trapped!" Spike cried, clinging harder to Johan's neck, almost enough to cut off breathing for the deer. Johan steeled his brow, his legs shaking as he slowly scanned his surroundings.
To his right was a wall of crystal, part of a house. To his left was an alleyway, large enough for Johan and Spike to fit through, but small enough that it would funnel the numbers of the baddies chasing them. Johan inhaled deeply and decided to take the risk, and turned left, barreling down the alley.
"Let's hope it's mostly the ponies who chase us, them I can deal with!" He cried to Spike as the two started to make their way through the maze-like alley system of the Crystal Empire.
Twilight cried out as a blast of dark magic sailed towards her. She barely had enough time to raise a bubble shield up around her before it smashed into her, slamming her backward through the sky. She caught herself only inches from the shield surrounding the Crystal Palace. With a flap of her wings, she managed to stabilize herself.
Rubbing her head with a hoof, she watched as Derek charged at Sombra, his horn glowing. When he was but an inch away from the king, he fired his horn, blasting Sombra with another massive beam of magic. Derek held it for a moment, a growl escaping his throat, but he was silenced when Sombra's white-hot armored hoof shot out of the beam, wrapping around the alicorn's throat.
Derek's eyes widened and he let out a gasp as Sombra cut off his airflow. His attack instantly faded to reveal an unharmed Sombra, who merely laughed.
"I'm barely even trying! If this is what the famed alicorns are capable of, I don't know if I even need the amulet!" He roared with a laugh, before he casually tossed Derek aside, and raised his head into the air.
"Derek look out!" Twilight cried, but it was too late. Sombra lowered his head and fired a beam of his own at Derek. Neon green energy crackled through the air as dark magic ripped through the sky, making the entire empire darken. Derek couldn't even put up a shield; the spell came at him too quickly.
All he could do was close his eyes and tense up before it smashed into him. Derek was sent careening towards the ground at high speeds, all while his body shook and trembled as Sombra's spell coursed through him like knives cutting through flesh. Derek let out a scream of pain before he smashed into the ground, forming a large crater in the center of a city park.
"Derek!" Twilight cried, reaching out a hoof towards the crater. She quickly turned to Sombra with a snarl, charging up her horn.
"We both know that isn't a good idea, 'princess'," Sombra smirked as the fog below him started to move. The dark king started walking through the air towards her. His horn charged again and he fired another beam of black magic towards her.
This time his victim managed to dodge, but Twilight rapidly realized that she wasn't the target. The beam smashed into the shield surrounding the Crystal Palace, shattering it with no difficulty. After the shield fell, the beam ripped through the palace. The top of the building was shorn off, falling to the ground with a crash as the bottom half trembled.
Sombra merely smirked down at them and raised his head again. The black cloud behind him started to swirl as hundreds of mind-control helmets formed int the air around Sombra.
Twilight saw Cadance and Shining scurrying through the throneroom a force of guards with them. She also saw Sunburst and Flurry's crib next to them. And Sombra was looking right at them.
"Stop! Please, you don't have to do this," Twilight begged, turning to Sombra. "You can still-"
"Hah! Do you think words are enough to assuage me? No, this kingdom is mine. This world is mine! It belonged to Mastema, and it will belong to me as his heir. Darkness rises again!" Sombra cackled madly before he lowered his head and the helmets flew directly towards the palace.
"Cadance! Look out!" Shining Armor cried as he pushed his wife to the side, free from a falling helmet, which crashed directly onto his head instead. The unicorn tried to free himself, headbutting the floor with the helmet, but the eyes flashed and he went limp.
"Shining! No!" Cadance cried, rushing to his side. She grasped the helmet with both hooves and quickly tried ripping it off the unicorn, but before she could make any progress, another helmet rained down and landed directly on her head as well.
She screamed out and fell back, trying to pry it off, but she too went limp when the helmet's eyes flashed neon green.
All around the two rulers, the guards were panicking. Some tried to hide and cover their heads, others tried to defend themselves with magical beams or thrown javelins. In the end, their attempts were useless, and they quickly fell victim to the same fate as Cadance and Shining Armor.
Meanwhile, Sunburst himself watched on in horror, a weak golden shield put up around himself and Flurry Heart's crib, but the shield didn't avail him much. The moment a helmet smashed against the shield it shattered like glass. Sunburst barely had time to cry out in fear before the helmet latched around his head, knocking him to the floor.
For a moment, the throne room was silent besides the sound of Flurry Heart screaming, but that sound was soon silenced when one last helmet landed in her crib...
Johan panted as he and Spike worked their way through the labyrinthine alleyways, going this way and that at random, desperate to escape the golems and enslaved ponies nipping at their heels. Johan ran this way and that, going as fast as his legs could take him, yet he didn't seem to be making much progress. Golems continued to rip their way out of buildings in front of them, and even despite his natural speed as a deer, the ponies behind him seemed to be capable of keeping up!
First, he turned left back onto the main streets of the empire, then he turned right diving back into the alleys, then another right.
That's when he made a mistake. He almost ran face-first into a solid wall of crystal. He only stopped himself by a hair's breadth. Johan froze as he looked right, then left. All he found were more walls of crystal. A dead end. He quickly spun around, hoping beyond hope that his pursuers hadn't caught up, but there they were. They had stopped running, and now a crowd of ponies, equal-sized golem and enslaved, was slowly marching towards him, heads lowered.
He had nowhere to go.
Johan gulped, taking a step back, pressing his rear into the wall. He steeled his brow slightly as lightning started to crackle around him. Spike let out a loud whimper as the deer started shaking.
"We're dead..." Spike whimpered, holding Johan even closer.
Johan grit his teeth and tried to put on a brave face... but it didn't work. "Yeah... yeah we are." he sighed, bags forming under his eyes. He turned to Spike and squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his head into Spike's as the crowd got closer. "Let's hope it's quick..."
The crowd closed in, the golems in front and the slaves behind. Soon they were a mere couple of feet away from the drake and deer. The lead golem held out a hoof and growled as it slowly transformed into a blade. The golem raised it in the air, intending to bring it down on Spike's head, and then-
Suddenly, the wall on the left exploded outwards, raining shards of crystal down on those in the alley. Johan and Spike's eyes both shot open as a cyan blur smashed its way out of the wall. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Johan watched as a Platinum Guard slid into the alley, three of its hooves skidding against the floor shooting up sparks as the third held onto a small bar which rapidly expanded into a halberd.
The Platinum Guard, with a single swing of its mighty weapon, cleaved through a small contingent of the golems, shattering them instantly, before coming to a stop in front of Johan and Spike, it's back to them.
The guard spun its halberd for a moment before it levitated into the air, hovering next to the guard. The Platinum Guard inhaled deeply, as it towered over Johan, and everything else in the alley for that matter, before it raised its weapon into the air and brought it down.
With hoof, halberd, and magic, the Platinum Guard ripped and tore its way through the golems first. The constructs didn't stand a chance as they were ripped to pieces in mere seconds. The mind-controlled ponies meanwhile merely watched as their allies were torn apart. When the last golem fell, the ponies all turned to Spike and Johan. They paused for a moment as the guard stood above them, halberd raised. The ponies slowly started to walk backward, disappearing, even as their glowing eyes stayed locked with their targets.
Then everything was still. Johan and Spike merely stared in horror at the guard, not moving an inch. The guard kept his back to them as it watched the disappearing enemies, taking a slow step towards them.
Johan's breathing was uneven as he pressed his back even further into the wall. He felt like his heart was about to explode out of his chest with how fast it was going. He felt like screaming, but he was worried making any noise would only make the guard more likely to pounce on him.
"S-spike... You need to run..." He whimpered turning to the dragon.
"Not without you!" Spike cried, which caused the guard to spin around, staring down at both of them. The guard's visor gleamed in the light as it slowly started walking towards them. Its halberd shrunk back into a small rod, which the guard deposited into a socket on its back before it came to a stop a mere foot away from them.
Spike and Johan both closed their eyes once again and tensed up, expecting the guard to lay into them. They were taken off guard with what came next.
"Quickly, I must get the two of you somewhere safe," the guard said in a male voice as it turned to stare down the alley, looking for more threats. "I bought us some time, but I suspect that whatever is controlling those creatures will be after you next."
Johan and Spike both opened their eyes in unison, turning to stare up at the guard.
"What?" Spike asked, blinking twice. Johan's face mirrored the dragon as he merely watched the guard in puzzlement.
"Ah yes, you two must be confused," The guard said, turning back to them. "Suffice to say, introductions can wait for later. All you need to know is that I am here to get you to safety."
The guard knelt down, causing Johan the back away from him, pressing himself even further into the wall.
"Now, if you would rather stay here to be killed by the golems, I am willing to leave. Otherwise..."
Johan and Spike turned to one another for a moment, then they both nodded
"Lead the way..." Spike said as Johan hesitantly separated himself from the wall.
Derek groaned as he laid in the bottom of his crater. Everything hurt, from the tip of his horn to the bottom of his hooves. With great effort, he pulled himself up on shaky legs. It took much more effort than it should have.
Derek breathed deeply as he tried his best to climb out of the crater, his legs giving out several times. Unfurling his wings, he was greeted with a blast of agony that quickly made him resheath them.
"Broken... definitely broken" Derek groaned, shaking his head. He turned his head to the sky to see Twilight still trying her best to hold out against Sombra. Derek frowned. Closing his eyes he paused to think; "What do I do? What do I do?" He thought, hitting himself on the side of the head with a hoof.
"You look like you're in trouble, buddy," a voice - his voice - suddenly said. Derek whipped around, looking this way and that for a moment before he quickly sighed with realization.
"Auream," he said, frowning slightly.
"The one and only," Auream laughed, then his voice got serious. "No, but seriously, this isn't something you and Twilight can fix. Let me take over, I can get the amulet off him, and then the two of you have a chance at beating him."
"How? Twilight told me the only way to remove that amulet is if the wearer willingly takes it off themselves," Derek asked, looking to the sky as brainwashed ponies started to fly up to join Sombra in the air quickly. He tensed up, many of them were heading right for Twilight.
"I've got my methods. All I need is your permission to use them. And your body," Auream said.
Derek sighed, shaking his head. "Fine, let's do this."
Auream laughed. "Time to save the world again."
Derek blinked, and when his eyes opened again, they were glowing gold.
Spike and Johan hesitantly made their way through the streets of the empire, the Platinum Guard following behind them. Thankfully there weren't any of the constructs or enslaved ponies around meaning they were free to walk on the main streets.
They moved in silence for a few moments, until it was broken by a certain dragon.
"So uhh... you got a name?" Spike asked, turning to the Platinum Guard as he rode on Johan's back.
The Guard turned to Spike and nodded. "I am Ka'Rel, loyal servant of the great Kes Thorax." He said. Instantly both Spike and Johan whipped around to stare at him.
Jelen's voice ripped through Johan's mind. "It can't be Ka'Rel..." Johan frowned. Looks like he had some more questions for his unwilling mental roommate.
"Thorax?!" Spike asked, his jaw dropping. "What do you mean you're a servant of Thorax?"
"It is rather self-explanatory. Kes Thorax's subjects found me in my stasis pod outside his hive. With my former master... unavailable, I have pledged my services to him. Though most of that service has been mostly sitting inside a prison cell while he figures out what to do with me. Admittedly he also never explained to me what he was the god of, so I am rather confused with his leadership structure," the guard explained as he kept his eyes out for any threats spilling into the empty street, his weapon at the ready.
Spike laughed. "Thorax isn't a god..." he chuckled, waving a hand through the air.
Ka'Rel merely stared at him in response. "Ignoring the iconoclastic lies you are spewing... you do not use his title? Why?"
"Oh, me and Thorax go way back, you could even say we are best friends," Spike said, a dumb smile coming to his face.
"Ah, so you are one of his Kesbanu? I will be sure to keep you doubly safe then, on top of the deer." Ka'Rel responded.
"Kesbanu?" Spike and Johan asked in unison.
"That means consort," Jelen said in Johan's mind. "Not a very flattering title."
Johan quickly blushed in response. Awkward silence reigned for a moment before suddenly the sound of metal slamming on crystal caught their attention.
All three of the creatures whipped around at once as a shadow of an equine started walking towards them. Ka'Rel instantly drew his halberd, stepping forward.
"Behind me," he ordered, crossing the weapon in front of his chest. Johan quickly did as ordered, and Spike, attached to him as he was, did the same.
The shadow continued towards them before a pony turned the corner of an alleyway, a dark smile on his face. "Ah... what do we have here?" he said as he stomped forward. It was a dark grey unicorn with a blade-like red horn. He was wearing a suit of dark grey armor with a red cape and a black and red circlet wrapped around his head. His eyes were white with red irises, though as he approached he ignited his horn, black and purple mist starting to surround it. His sclera turned a neon green as his magic activated.
"Sombra..." Spike hissed, holding on tighter to Johan.
Ka'Rel took a step back closer to the two as Sombra approached. "I've been after you for a while now. You've been giving my servants quite the runaround." Sombra said, smirking. "I suppose the age-old adage is true. If you want something done right and all that."
Sombra stepped within a dozen feet of the three, his eyes flashing green. "Now, don't make this hard on yourselves and surrender. I can be quite merciful, believe it or not."
Ka'Rel suddenly pounced, raising his halberd into the air as he closed the distance between himself and Sombra in a mere second. Sombra's eyes widened in surprise, right before Ka'Rel brought the halberd down in a downward swing that cleaved the dark king in half. The two halves separated for a moment as Sombra let out a slight scream.
Ka'Rel quickly pulled back as the two halves of Sombra started to fall away from each other... then they started to laugh.
Sombra smiled at Ka'Rel as he melted into shadow, before quickly recombining into one again.
"That would've really hurt... were I anything more than a projection," Sombra smirked before his eyes widened and his horn activated. Ka'Rel barely had time to take a step back before he was consumed by a blast of dark magic that sent him careening through the air. He landed with a crash in front of his two protectees skidding to a halt at Johan's hooves.
The Platinum Guard struggled to his hooves as Sombra slowly marched forward. With a flick of his head and a small burst of magic from his horn, there was a crackle of darkness as crystal hooves started to rip themselves out of the ground surrounding his targets.
Sombra's smirk darkened as he stared directly at Spike. With a flash of darkness, Spike was grabbed and lifted into the air by a black aura. The dragon cried out in fear, kicking his legs through the air. Johan watched in horror as Spike was removed from his back. He quickly turned and tried to catch the drake, but Spike was ripped further into the air away from Johan's grasp.
"Don't think I forgot about you dragon," Sombra hissed before he raised Spike further into the air and slammed him directly on the ground in-between himself and his other enemies, knocking the air out of the poor drake.
"Leave him alone!" Johan roared suddenly, raising his antlers. He brought them down quickly, blasting a lightning bolt directly at Sombra's head.
The bolt flew true, striking Sombra in the face who gave a sudden scream of pain, stumbling back.
Sombra caught himself after a moment of struggle. He snarled like an animal as he stared down Johan.
"Deal with him," he suddenly ordered, gesturing to the golems who had formed a circle around Johan, Ka'Rel and Spike.
Johan's eyes widened for a moment, before he was pounced by two of the constructs, who quickly dragged him to the ground, slamming his head down into the crystal pavement.
"Now then, back to you," Sombra said, turning to stare down Spike, who was trying his best to pull himself up. Sombra's horn crackled to life as he stared down at Spike, he paused to lick his teeth. "I have no use for a dragon as small as you, especially not one so involved in my former defeat. As such..."
Ka'Rel quickly sprung up as Sombra flicked his horn and blasted a wave of dark magic towards Spike.
"No!" Johan cried, reaching out towards his friend.
Ka'Rel himself quickly rushed forwards, jumping in front of Spike. The Platinum Guard took the full force of the blast to the chest and was once again propelled through the air backward, slamming into Spike.
The two went flying like ragdolls, sailing over Johan's head before smashing into the building behind him. There was a loud crack as the wall gave way, before the building collapsed downwards, burying both in rubble.
"Spike!" Johan cried, struggling as the golems held him down on the ground. He couldn't free himself from their stone-hard grasp, and he was pressed even further into the ground. His hooves scrapped and scratched themselves on the ground.
"Now then, as for the deer," Sombra said, grabbing Johan by the shoulder. The two constructs holding him down both took a step away from him as Sombra took over the role of holding the deer down. "I have need of you, Jelen."
Johan growled, his antlers activating. With a single movement, he shot a lightning bolt directly towards Sombra's face. This time however the dark king was prepared. A shield of neon green surrounded him for a moment, the lightning harmlessly dissipating against it, like nothing happened.
"Don't try to fight, it will only make things harder for you," Sombra hissed darkly, before he raised his horn. Black energy formed in the air next to him, before solidifying into a helmet, this one slightly smaller than the others, with two holes at the top and a latch at the back.
Johan quickly realized what that meant.
"S-stop!" He cried, trying to squirm away from the dark king. Sombra merely smirked, unlatching the helmet, before he lowered it towards Johan's head. Johan barely had time to let out a cry of panic before Sombra latched the helmet around his head and stepped back.
The deer quickly brought his hooves up, clawing at the helmet as he was submerged in complete darkness. Then the eyes flashed green.
Twilight turned to Sombra, her eyes glowing white as she summoned the full strength of her alicorn magic.
"How dare you!" She roared, purple magic crackling through the air around her as she summoned up her full strength. Even as she did, Sombra merely stared down at her and smiled.
Twilight growled before she shot toward Sombra at full speed, purple flames igniting around her. Just then however she was struck from behind by a turquoise beam of magic that made her stop. She almost fell out of the sky, but she managed to catch herself. She quickly whipped around wide-eyed to see Cadance and a unit of crystal guards flying toward her at full speed.
"Cadance wait-" Twilight started, but she was interrupted when the other alicorn tackled her out of the air. The two sailed towards the ground, at high speed. Just before she hit the ground Twilight grimaced and activated her horn. With a flash of white light, she teleported herself away from Cadance. She fell for a moment, then caught herself with a flap of her wings.
Twilight quickly spun around getting a grasp of her surroundings. She was in the air just above the Crystal Palace. She paused to catch her breath; to form a plan on what to do, but before she could do much thinking a blast of magic struck her in the back, this time purple in color. She whipped back around and stared down at the palace to see Shining Armor at the head of a large force of unicorns. The unicorns all raised their horns at once and fired a wave of magical beams at her in unison.
Twilight's eyes widened as she raised a shield around herself. It took the full force of the magic spells, cracking in places as Twilight was propelled backward through the air towards Sombra, who merely laughed and clapped his hooves together.
"Ah, this is better than the theatre," he guffawed as Cadance and the pegasus guards joined him in the air, staring down at Twilight as she struggled to hold her own against her family and friends. "I might just have them kill you, alicorn. Just so they have to live with that if they ever escape my control."
Twilight cried out in exertion as her shield started to crack and buckle in on itself, cracks forming through it like a shattered windowpane.
Sombra cocked his head to the side and smirked, a helmet forming in the air next to him. "Then again, having three alicorn slaves is better than two," he said, rubbing his chin as a wicked smile covered his face. He started to walk through the sky closer to her.
He slowly raised the helmet into the air as he closed in on Twilight's shield. Just as her shield was about to shatter, however, there was a sudden golden flash behind Sombra. The king's eyes widened for but a moment as he turned to look as Derek... or Auream, appeared behind him. A smile on his face as he raised a hoof. Everything went in slow motion for Sombra as the hoof was surrounded by golden light, then Auream brought it down directly on top of Sombra's head.
The dark king let out a scream of pain as he was suddenly smashed towards the ground at high speeds. He was consumed in golden light that burned at his flesh before he hit the crystal street. He skidded along the ground for several meters, making a long crater as he did, before he came to a stop when he slammed into the side of a building, which instantly collapsed around him.
Twilight paused, turning back to look as Auream hovered in the air for a moment. The alicorn stared back at her before smirking.
"Don't worry, the cavalry's here" he said, before his horn activated and a blast of light exploded in all directions. Sombra's slaves in the air and on the ground near the palace all averted their eyes to look away and hiss.
Auream then turned in the direction of the ground and smirked, staring down at the crater Sombra created in his fall.
"Think you can hold back Sombra's army for me?" He asked turning back to the purple alicorn.
Twilight stared in shock at him for a moment, before she shook her head to collect herself.
"Right," She nodded. "Yes, yes I can hold them off."
Auream punched a hoof into another, "Good. I'll focus on getting that amulet off Sombra."
Then he took off, leaving a golden streak in the air behind him as he shot toward Sombra at near supersonic speeds.
Sombra roared out in anger as he sprung to his feet, the rubble being propelled away from him in all directions as he scanned for whatever pleb it was that knocked him from the sky.
Just then, there was a boom of magic in front of him that almost knocked him back. His hooves dug into the ground as wind blasted over him. He lowered his head slightly and let out a loud hiss as the creature that made the boom came into focus.
Standing in a much smaller crater, created from his landing, was Auream. His eyes were glowing a bright golden, the same color as his horn as he stared down Sombra with a smirk.
"You know, it's kinda funny Sombra," Auream said with a smile as he walked towards the king, magic emanating off him like an aura. "You got your hooves on a little amulet and you suddenly think you are on the same level as a true alicorn? If what you said about serving my big brother is true, you know that will never be the case."
Sombra hissed and shot up, dark mist and green light surrounding his horn for a moment. He threw his horn back before launching it directly at Auream.
The alicorn in question merely sidestepped the beam, which sailed past his head and struck the Crystal Palace in the distance.
"Touched a nerve have I?" Auream chuckled darkly as he started walking towards Sombra, head held low. "Let me lay something on you, Unicorn. As much as I love Twilight's attempts she isn't even scratching the surface of true alicorn magic. Beating her and Cadance? Not really much of an accomplishment."
Sombra snarled and threw another blast of magic at Auream. This time Auream's horn glowed as a blade of hard magic grew out of it. With a single movement of his head, he slapped the beam of dark magic aside, smashing it into a building to his side.
"Now then, let me show you what a true alicorn is capable of," Auream said with a smile before he suddenly shot forward faster than Sombra could track. The dark unicorn could only raise a wall of crystal before Auream's sword could stab him, the blade digging through the crystal like a hot knife through butter. Auream quickly passed through the wall before jumping into the air, bringing the blade down towards Sombra's head.
Sombra's eyes widened, as he turned himself back into shadows. The shadows shivered as the blade cut through his body before they quickly started to scatter in all directions.
Auream saw this and smiled, raising his head into the air. His horn flashed with a blast of all-encompassing light, which made the shadows all scream. The shadows shivered and quivered as they all painstakingly made their way through the light like it was acid. They were all heading to the same spot, several meters away from Auream.
They slowly all recombined, clearly with great effort on their part, into a panting and battered Sombra, who stumbled back away from Auream. Sombra fell onto his back staring up at the alicorn as he turned his attention back towards him, slowly walking in his direction.
"What... What are-" Sombra started, but he was interrupted by Auream.
"You know, that spell wasn't even supposed to kill you. Just hurt you. Bad." Auream laughed, his eyes narrowing. "I don't like tyrants Sombra. You should know that if you paid attention to what my brother would've said about me. Much less if they are the 'Heir of Mastema'."
Sombra struggled to his hooves and roared, blasting another wave of dark magic at Auream's head. This time the alicorn didn't even move he just took the beam full force to the face. Sombra held the beam for a full minute, snarling like an animal as he did.
When exhaustion finally set in and he was forced to drop the spell, his eyes shot wide and his face went white. Standing there, slightly smoking but otherwise unharmed, was Auream. Sombra's breath caught in his throat as he slowly took a step back on shakey legs.
"You can't beat me, Sombra." Auream hissed, his eyes narrowing. "Even with your fancy jewelry. Make this easier on yourself and everypony else in this city and give up. I promise I'll go easy on you then."
Sombra roared standing up. "Never! I am blessed by the dark through the Araphel itself! I am the true god of the darkness! I will never surr-" he was cut off in his speech when suddenly Auream teleported behind him. The alicorn grabbed the alicorn amulet by a hoof and spun it around so that the idol itself was on Sombra's back. Then he pulled it taught cutting off Sombra's airflow like a noose.
Sombra sputtered and coughed, grasping at the chain now wrapped around his throat.
"I've killed plenty of gods," Auream responded coldly. Sombra gagged and wheezed as Auream pulled the chain even tighter, strangling him. Sombra's eyes started to water from the lack of air for a moment before he let out a gagged scream and turned to shadows. Auream pulled the chain further, retaining the amulet as the now unsolid Sombra beat a quick retreat away from him.
Auream smirked and raised his horn, creating a bubble shield around himself that trapped Sombra inside. Sombra rammed against the shield at full speed, not even cracking it.
The green alicorn turned to stare down at the king with nothing but contempt in his eyes.
"And there we go," Auream laughed. "Without this, you have nothing."
Sombra quickly solidified, pressing his back against the shield, his breathing uneven. Then he saw something that made him smirk.
Auream raised an eyebrow. "What are you looking at?"
Just then a lightning bolt shot towards Auream, effortlessly passing through the shield like it wasn't even there. The green alicorn cried out as electricity struck him right in the back, coursing up and down his spine. The shield shattered as Auream dropped the alicorn amulet on the ground and stumbled forward.
Auream quickly snarled and spun around, but what he saw instantly made his eyes shoot wide. The glow disappeared as they returned to normal.
"Johan!" Derek cried as he took a shakey step back.
Marching towards Derek, a mind-control helmet firmly fastened on his head, was a deer.
