private Whisper: The City Of Darkness

[Unicorncob 5,687]

"I am here, Ab'ahn," Lavender called out in a deep voice that was not her own. 

 

Lavender quickly covered her mouth with her hooves, not expecting to do that. Nope, that was definitely not her.

 

She blinked as she saw her hoof was... off, and twisted as she looked around herself.

 

 

One of her forelegs seemed to be trying to grow scales and talons, but eventually seemed to settle for a faint dappled pattern. Her wings, however, grew in size again, the phoenix wing burning with a lavender tint at the edges. Arclight and Gala, each with similar if less impressive wings flew out to join her as well. 

 

"Whoa," she muttered, checking out her larger wings, "...cool~"

 

She grinned as Gala and Arclight flew up to join her. "Crew's on point, let's go!"

 

 

Then let us have a reckoning, traitor.

 

The Luna alicorn-demon rose from amongst the buildings, flanked by half a dozen pegasus mutants. 

 

Celestia is dead, her court is shattered and her beloved little ponies cannot stand against us. Tonight I shall end you, and the legacy of Astra's rebellion will finally be extinguished. 

 

"Celestia is dead, and we killed her." She suddenly blurted out.

 

...what the heck did I just say? I hope that was a reference to something or I'm going to look really awkward.

 

 

'Lavender' and 'Luna', if either could truly be called by their original names any more, faced each other down. 'Luna' drew a sword from nowhere, and as it cut through the air to point a 'Lavender' it seemed to cut a hole in the world - barely visible through the almost two-dimensional line lay a realm of biting cold snow and steel-grey rock, a desolate wasteland that seemed to stretch on forever.

 

To Tartarus with you, Discord.

 

With that, 'Luna' charged at 'Lavender'.

 

She smirked and threw up her hooves in a boxing motion at 'Luna'. "We'll just give ya the ol'--"

 

She froze as she suddenly learned something about that sword.

 

"...so that sword's gonna hurt both of u-- OH CELESTIA!" She quickly ducked a sword swing and sped off, in the opposite direction of the Everfree. "I hope you've got a plan in there!"

 

How do we get him to attack himself... or her to attack herself... this is weird.

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp was speechless. What was this magic? Somehow they were broadsiding themselves, all the while trying to fend off an army of the undead? In all reality, Sharp would have preferred to be on the ground. "Take us towards the forest, full ahead! We might lose them in the confusion!" He shouted to the Helmspony. They faced enemis on all sides, and there was little they could do but try and smash their way out. It was suddenly hot, he could feel himself sweating.

 

He saw the demon alicorn fly towards Lavender, and knew he had to do something, anything. He snatched a loaded musket from one of the marines and leveled it on the navy-blue shape. It was a difficult shot for a musket, but he fired anyway. Anything he could do to distract the beast. He felt some of the burning powder from the pan settle on his muzzle, a couple more powder scars. They were unavoidable. He tossed the musket back to the marine and drew the heavy sword. this was no weapon for fine fencing, but a weapon that beat the enemy to death as much as it cut them. He roared at the limit of his voice, his face a mask of glee and madness, ensouled by the spirit of battle.

 

"Alright, let's show these buggers how the Equestrians fight! Fire! For Captain Chaser, and for the King!"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Orion Caelum,@@Unicorncob,@@Ethan Sawyer, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

"Celestia is dead, and we killed her." She suddenly blurted out.

 

 

What? The alicorn demon seemed confused,  hovering in the air in front of her, Discord, the sower of treachery and disharmony... it was a ploy to... It's face hardened, No! I will not be fooled again! You betrayed us all, and two thousand years has not quenched my fury.

 

 

He snatched a loaded musket from one of the marines and leveled it on the navy-blue shape. It was a difficult shot for a musket, but he fired anyway.

 

 

The shot grazed the alicorn's flank, and it looked over at the source of its irritation. It let out a roar, echoed by the mutants, which all turned their attention on Sharp. Three of them had been taken down by the cannon fire, and two of the remaining ones were quite badly wounded, but the airship had also fared quite badly. Somehow the grapeshot had looped down and round, striking the closer pegasus mutants but then hitting the side of the airship as well, sending splinters flying across the deck. The angle of impact, from below, had sent the shrapnel through the lower decks first, preventing serious injury but a number of the ponies on the deck had been wounded, and the deck was covered in debris.

 

 

"Alright, let's show these buggers how the Equestrians fight! Fire! For Captain Chaser, and for the King!"

 

 

 

Seeing a relatively stable patch of Everfree on the horizon, the helmspony turned the ship towards it, some parts turning faster than others as though the light were refracted through water. The mutants gave chase, point-blank musket fire keeping most of them off the deck but one managed to break through, crashing down on the deck just to Sharp's right. Bolter and Windy dived in, weapons drawn, striking at it and then jumping back as it flailed around in pain. Two more pegasus mutants looked like they were about to charge in as well, flying in single file with one shielding the other.

 

 

She quickly ducked a sword swing and sped off, in the opposite direction of the Everfree.

 

 

The sky seemed to shrink, Canterlot on one horizon seeming to meet the Everfree on the other, and Lavender realised that she was flying directly upwards. Sharp's distraction had given her a moment of respite, and from up here she could see the airship moving towards the Everfree like a ship climbing a huge wave. The alicorn was focusing on her again, hatred burning in its eyes, and Gala moved in front of her, staring down the demon whilst Arclight hung back, clearly intimidated. 

[Unicorncob 5,687]

Lavender scowled up at her central horn. "I thought YOU had a plan!"

 

 

What? The alicorn demon seemed confused,  hovering in the air in front of her, Discord, the sower of treachery and disharmony... it was a ploy to... It's face hardened, No! I will not be fooled again! You betrayed us all, and two thousand years has not quenched my fury.

 

"Two-thousand years? Really" She scoffed, smirking at the alicorn. "Wow, keep a grudge much? Gotta let things go, bro."

 

She had no idea why in Equestria she was mocking the dangerous looking monster pony, but something inside her was possessing her to do it. Probably the voice, since it had already turned her into the personification of a hyperactive foal's imaginary friend.

 

 

The sky seemed to shrink, Canterlot on one horizon seeming to meet the Everfree on the other, and Lavender realised that she was flying directly upwards. Sharp's distraction had given her a moment of respite, and from up here she could see the airship moving towards the Everfree like a ship climbing a huge wave. The alicorn was focusing on her again, hatred burning in its eyes, and Gala moved in front of her, staring down the demon whilst Arclight hung back, clearly intimidated. 

 

She blinked as she realised she was flying straight into the sky. "Well, reach for the stars or die trying, right? At least they're getting away." She mumbled to herself.

 

She giggled nervously as the alicorn stared her down with intense hatred. A gasp escaped her as Gala got in front of her.

"Oh no you don't," she said, and put a dappled hoof around Arclight so that both mutants were by her side, "we'll take him together. Sisters are doin' it for themselves!" She swung a few boxing jabs at the air.

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp screamed in fury at the wounded mutant, reared, and slammed one of his rear hooves down on the creature's neck, trying to pin it to the wooden deck. He swang his sword in both hooves, over his head and into the beast's neck. He swung again, and again, until he felt the sword bite deep into the deck. He wrenched it out, spraying fetid blood over himself and anyone unlucky enough to be stood by him. Grinning madly, he turned to the nearest marines.

 

"Are you loaded? Fire at those two, charging us! Fire!"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Orion Caelum,@@Unicorncob,@@Ethan Sawyer, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

She blinked as she realised she was flying straight into the sky. "Well, reach for the stars or die trying, right? At least they're getting away." She mumbled to herself.

 

From her vantage, Lavender could see the airship making its way towards a stable point on the horizon. On the deck, things were less clear as the mutants tried, again, to storm it.

 

 

 

Sharp screamed in fury at the wounded mutant, reared, and slammed one of his rear hooves down on the creature's neck, trying to pin it to the wooden deck. He swang his sword in both hooves, over his head and into the beast's neck. He swung again, and again, until he felt the sword bite deep into the deck. He wrenched it out, spraying fetid blood over himself and anyone unlucky enough to be stood by him. Grinning madly, he turned to the nearest marines.   "Are you loaded? Fire at those two, charging us! Fire!"

 

On Sharp's command Bolter and Windy turned their attention from the mortally wounded, but somehow still alive pegaus on the deck to fire at the two approaching mutants. As Sharp finished up the grisly work on the deck, Windy's pistol shot went wide, curving through a ripple in the air, but Bolter had taken a moment longer to ready his musket and his bullet flew straight into the wing of the lead pegasus. It fell out of formation, diving down below the ship whilst the other kept going straight for the deck.

 

 

 

She giggled nervously as the alicorn stared her down with intense hatred. A gasp escaped her as Gala got in front of her. "Oh no you don't," she said, and put a dappled hoof around Arclight so that both mutants were by her side, "we'll take him together. Sisters are doin' it for themselves!" She swung a few boxing jabs at the air.

 

Gala let out a wordless cry, echoed a moment later and slightly more reluctantly by Arclight. The pegaus mutants broke off their attack to look at her, confusion visible on their warped faces. The second pegasus that had been heading straight for Windy, Bolter and Sharp followed its comrade below the ship as well, turning its head back to look at Lavender's mutants.

 

The alicorn-demon looked on in shock as its mutants broke off their attack. With a bellow and a gesture, they circled back around to attack, although a couple of the now four-strong mutants seemed a bit more hesitant.

 

Discord! The alicorn-demon shouted, the faintest hint of desperation in its voice.

 

"The spirit of disharmony," Lavender answered, "How merry a little band we four gods of chaos were. Destruction, Misrule, Recklessness... and Disharmony," Discord grinned, "Can you honestly say you were surprised I betrayed you?"

 

The alicorn-demon struck out at Lavender/Discord, who preemptively split in half, allowing the blade to pass right through them before coalescing back into their 'normal' form. Then Gala flew at it, attacking the alicorn-demon's wings. It batted her away, and Arclight went in. He managed to deliver a solid blow to its side and escape unharmed, enraging the alicorn-demon further. 

[Unicorncob 5,687]

From her vantage, Lavender could see the airship making its way towards a stable point on the horizon. On the deck, things were less clear as the mutants tried, again, to storm it.

 

Lavender smirked as the airship was sailing toward the horizon, though with the mutants trying to attack it again. She was sure the others could handle it. Besides, she had an angry giant mutant to deal with.

 

 

Gala let out a wordless cry, echoed a moment later and slightly more reluctantly by Arclight. The pegaus mutants broke off their attack to look at her, confusion visible on their warped faces. The second pegasus that had been heading straight for Windy, Bolter and Sharp followed its comrade below the ship as well, turning its head back to look at Lavender's mutants.

 

The alicorn-demon looked on in shock as its mutants broke off their attack. With a bellow and a gesture, they circled back around to attack, although a couple of the now four-strong mutants seemed a bit more hesitant.

 

Discord! The alicorn-demon shouted, the faintest hint of desperation in its voice.

 

"The spirit of disharmony," Lavender answered, "How merry a little band we four gods of chaos were. Destruction, Misrule, Recklessness... and Disharmony," Discord grinned, "Can you honestly say you were surprised I betrayed you?"

 

The alicorn-demon struck out at Lavender/Discord, who preemptively split in half, allowing the blade to pass right through them before coalescing back into their 'normal' form. Then Gala flew at it, attacking the alicorn-demon's wings. It batted her away, and Arclight went in. He managed to deliver a solid blow to its side and escape unharmed, enraging the alicorn-demon further. 

 

She blinked after 'speaking', covering her mouth. She was not gonna get used to that. Or the splitting in half - that was weird.

 

Though, hear ears flicked as she heard something, though not from her ears. Her mutant friends... they were chanting. Chanting to the enemy mutants, trying to free them. Some even called out to her mind for help, before being reigned back in.

 

We gotta get the others free! We'll have more friends to play with the big guy with!

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp clapped Bolter on the back in congratulations, but he had only dropped one of them. There was still one heading for the ship, and it had to be dealt with. He spotted a grappling hook attached to a length of rope, normally used to drag an enemy ship closer to board, and tied the loose end fast about one of the strong beams connecting the balloon to the hull. As the overgrown pegasus grew closer, he threw the hook across its flight path, hoping to catch it and pull it off course.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

We gotta get the others free! We'll have more friends to play with the big guy with!

 

Apparently coming to the same conclusion, the alicorn-demon darted after Gala, who went into a dive to avoid it. Arclight tried to go in for another attack, but the alicorn-demon saw him coming and lashed out with a hind leg, catching and crippling Arclight's wing and sending him plummeting groundwards.

 

Go on, save your little pet, the demon taunted, or will you betray his trust as you betrayed mine?

 

 

 

He spotted a grappling hook attached to a length of rope, normally used to drag an enemy ship closer to board, and tied the loose end fast about one of the strong beams connecting the balloon to the hull. As the overgrown pegasus grew closer, he threw the hook across its flight path, hoping to catch it and pull it off course.

 

The hook came close, but the strange fluctuations had altered its trajectory and it passed harmlessly under the pegasus pony's hooves. The rope trailing it, however, twisted and flexed as it passed through the distortions, revealing the pattern of the chaos-bent reality. Suddenly the rope dipped down in unison and the hook fell back and around towards the airship again, much as the grapeshot had.

 

"Cannon loaded... ready," one of the crewponies called out.

 

"Fire as you bear!" the marine sergeant called back.

[Dust and Memories 557]

As the battle played out, despite his concern and the pertinent facts that he could be attacked any any moment, Wilhelm had the oddest smile on his face. For him, this was one of the Celestial Grails of magical theory -- actual, experiential, empirical evidence for... oh, well, Wilhelm didn't even know how much his observations here could help science!

 

Idly, he watched the battle go by. ...And the nature of the "sword" -- if one may define an oscuratimagical construct bearing occasional resemblance to a sword as such -- would indicate proof of lower natures of reality clearly differentiated from the one ponies normally perceive (but made perceivable by the "sword's" tearing effect) but with perhaps entities with unconfirmed levels of intelligence inhabiting the Lower Regions. This implication may yet prove Warlockess-Denuntiata Gleam correct in her...

 

As Wilhelm adjusted his glasses to look into one of the rifts more closely to observe the impossible, writhing geometries within, he realized he was crying blood, and hastily looked away. Yes, enough of that. Enough of that for as long as equinely possible. Wiping the tears from his eyes with the edge of his much-battered, once-proud coat, Wilhelm switched his gaze back to the pitched battle on deck.

 

Wilhelm dropped into a crouch on the deck, sitting on his haunches. Carefully, he nocked an arrow to his bow and drew it back until the fletching was touching the edge of his left primary feather. Unlike most archers, Wilhelm didn't sight down the arrow -- his talent was astronomy, not archery. Instead, he used those skills to formulate a "simple" firing solution.

 

...Account for movement of bodies i, ii, and iii along (statistically-compensated most likely) trajectory T, defined as a relative course to the trajectory J of ship S; calculate length of curve, take the integral, compensate for...

 

No, Wilhelm might not have been an archer. But he was a Celestia-damned good mathematician.

 

The bow twanged, speeding the first arrow on its way. Before the first had made contact, Wilhelm loosed two more and waited.

 

Thanks to his cracked glasses, Wilhelm's depth perception was off, and his first arrow didn't deliver a killing shot, instead tearing the jaw off of the leading Knight, along with a shallow cut along its jugular. The next arrow pierced the brain of the next Knight, dropping it to career off the hull down to the ground below. The final arrow tore the wing off of the third Knight, sending it spiraling into the Scion's next barrage of cannon-fire.

 

Wilhelm shuffled low across the deck, moving to the next-optimal firing position. The smile from before returned, and triumph glittered in his eyes. Two down, one damaged. Let's see how many want Teacher's cane, eh? The analogy was somewhat dampened by the fact that Wilhelm never actually used a cane on his students, but he was reasonably sure it worked anyway.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Orion Caelum,@@Unicorncob,@@Ethan Sawyer, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

Go on, save your little pet, the demon taunted, or will you betray his trust as you betrayed mine?

 

@@Unicorncob. 

 

Arclight let out a piercing howl as he fell, the strange geometries giving him a twisted half-parabola of a descent path, falling towards a ground that reached round to bypass the sky.

 

 

"Cannon loaded... ready," one of the crewponies called out.  

"Fire as you bear!" the marine sergeant called back.

 

 

 

Too late the gunner realised the implication of the falling hook and the slack rope. The cannon roared, spitting metal balls which followed the rope around and down, this time smashing into the side of the hull, filling the lower deck with deadly wooden shrapnel. 

 

 

Thanks to his cracked glasses, Wilhelm's depth perception was off, and his first arrow didn't deliver a killing shot, instead tearing the jaw off of the leading Knight, along with a shallow cut along its jugular. The next arrow pierced the brain of the next Knight, dropping it to career off the hull down to the ground below. The final arrow tore the wing off of the third Knight, sending it spiraling into the Scion's next barrage of cannon-fire.

 

 

Repeatedly harrowed by musket fire, with their leader distracted and most of their number dead, the two remaining mutants retreated towards their master, now a small smudge facing a tiny speck on what could tentatively be called the horizon. Ahead, the topology seemed to be settling, the Everfree stretching out in front of the battered airship's prow with the Castle of the Two Sisters rising above the treeline like jagged teeth.

[Unicorncob 5,687]

Apparently coming to the same conclusion, the alicorn-demon darted after Gala, who went into a dive to avoid it. Arclight tried to go in for another attack, but the alicorn-demon saw him coming and lashed out with a hind leg, catching and crippling Arclight's wing and sending him plummeting groundwards.

 

Go on, save your little pet, the demon taunted, or will you betray his trust as you betrayed mine?

 

Lavender let out a gasp of horror as Arclight was struck and sent hurdling toward the ground. "Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no!"

 

This guy does not play fair!

 

She zipped down after Arclight, in hopes of catching him.

 

 

Arclight let out a piercing howl as he fell, the strange geometries giving him a twisted half-parabola of a descent path, falling towards a ground that reached round to bypass the sky.

 

She sped up as fast as possible, trying to catch up to Arclight. "Hang on, buddy! Mama's coming!"

 

She extended her forehooves when she felt she was close enough to the mutant. "Come with me if you want to live!"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Orion Caelum,@@Unicorncob,@@Ethan Sawyer, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

She extended her forehooves when she felt she was close enough to the mutant. "Come with me if you want to live!"

 

Light flared for a brief moment in Arclight's eyes before they turned completely black and he lashed out at Lavender. His hoof made contact with hers, a hard impact that pushed the two of them further apart. The darkness seemed to fade to grey slightly when Arclight actually hit Lavender, but the darkness returned and he started flailing wildly to try and get at her, his one working wing flapping furiously and sending him into a corkscrew, although it did also slow his descent slightly.

 

They are mine, the alicorn-demon taunted, His will bends before mine and his mind is turned to serve me. You cannot save them. The King shall rise from Hades, and our dominion shall be complete.

 

Lavender and Arclight were dangerously close to the ground now - Arclight was within reach, but grabbing him would leave him free to attack Lavender. Gala was somewhere above Lavender, and was either able to resist the alicorn-demon's will or had escaped his attention. The alicorn-demon itself was descending to confront Lavender, albeit at a much slower rate and clearly focused on controlling Arclight as his two pegasus-mutants had simply fled the fight with the airship.

 

 

 

Ahead, the topology seemed to be settling, the Everfree stretching out in front of the battered airship's prow with the Castle of the Two Sisters rising above the treeline like jagged teeth.

 

In front of the airship, a large purple sphere of magic appeared around the Castle of the Two Sisters and a magical, booming voice rang out over the Everfree.

 

"Leave me be."

 

"Rudder full starboard! Rudder full starboard!" the marine sergeant called out, "Or we'll be dashed to pieces on it!"

[Unicorncob 5,687]

Light flared for a brief moment in Arclight's eyes before they turned completely black and he lashed out at Lavender. His hoof made contact with hers, a hard impact that pushed the two of them further apart. The darkness seemed to fade to grey slightly when Arclight actually hit Lavender, but the darkness returned and he started flailing wildly to try and get at her, his one working wing flapping furiously and sending him into a corkscrew, although it did also slow his descent slightly.

 

They are mine, the alicorn-demon taunted, His will bends before mine and his mind is turned to serve me. You cannot save them. The King shall rise from Hades, and our dominion shall be complete.

 

Lavender and Arclight were dangerously close to the ground now - Arclight was within reach, but grabbing him would leave him free to attack Lavender. Gala was somewhere above Lavender, and was either able to resist the alicorn-demon's will or had escaped his attention. The alicorn-demon itself was descending to confront Lavender, albeit at a much slower rate and clearly focused on controlling Arclight as his two pegasus-mutants had simply fled the fight with the airship.

 

The hard impact caused Lavender to roll away from Arclight, but she quickly recovered and she sped off after him again.

 

Her ears pricked at the alicorn demon's taunting. He had taken Arclight's will, and turned her buddy against her!

She did something she hadn't done in a long time.

 

She got angry. "That is not kosher."

 

Arclight, no matter whose mind was controlling him, was still her friend, and he needed help. He sped after the demon, and wrapped her hooves around his front while squeezing into his back.

"Fight it, buddy!" She pleaded, trying to get into Arclight's head in her own way. "He'll make you wear stuffy suits and listen to Beethoofen all day!"

Edited June 18, 2016 by Unicorncob

[nolongerabout 403]

 

 

"Rudder full starboard! Rudder full starboard!" the marine sergeant called out, "Or we'll be dashed to pieces on it!"

 

@@Unicorncob,

 

Sharp heard the shout. There was a chance, a slight chance, and it had to be taken. He always trusted his gut, and his gut was telling him that Princess Twilight wouldn't kill her own. "Belay that order! Head straight for it! if she's a shred of pony left in her she'll open up!" He was calling a mighty bluff, and betting a damned lot on it. "Go in low, skirt the treeline! Any pegasi who can fly, grab one of the wounded, bring those below up on deck!" He wiped his cutlass on the edge of his jacket, and sheathed it harder than he intended. The heavy hoofguard rattled on the steel scabbard, and the sound distracted him for a second. His head snapped back to the ponies on deck. "Be ready to take off if the barrier doesn't drop. The rest of us jump."

 

He ran to the Prow, and shouted at his loudest to the rapidly approaching wall of magical light.

 

"Princess Twilight, we can't slow down! Help us!"

 

Well, he never said he was beyond lying. Sharp darted back across the blood-slick deck, and up the small flight of stairs to the quarterdeck. He grinned at the probably-mortified helmspony, and looked for the dwindling spot in the distance that was Lavender. He doubted she'd hear at their distance, but he had to try.

 

"Lavender! Get back here, lass! Hurry!"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

"Fight it, buddy!" She pleaded, trying to get into Arclight's head in her own way. "He'll make you wear stuffy suits and listen to Beethoofen all day!"

 

 

Arclight's eyes started to clear, and without his struggles Lavender was able to stabilise their altitude only fifty feet above the ground. The gratitude in Arclight's eyes was clear, a huge smile on his deformed face, but something made him look up, and his smile was replaced by an expression of panic. Lavender could see their shadows on the ground below them, with Gala off to the side and a fourth shadow - the alicorn-demon - speeding towards Lavender and Arclight. Lavender didn't even have time to look up, as Arclight headbutted her and then kicked her away with both hind legs. 

 

 

Still reeling from the unexpected shock, a deadly silent shape dropped straight past her with the force of a freight train and the deadly Tartarus blade held in front of it. Arclight was swatted from the sky, and along with the alicorn-demon smashed into the ground at near terminal velocity.

 

 

 

 

  He ran to the Prow, and shouted at his loudest to the rapidly approaching wall of magical light.   

 

"Princess Twilight, we can't slow down! Help us!"   

 

 

Well, he never said he was beyond lying. Sharp darted back across the blood-slick deck, and up the small flight of stairs to the quarterdeck. He grinned at the probably-mortified helmspony, and looked for the dwindling spot in the distance that was Lavender. He doubted she'd hear at their distance, but he had to try.  

 

 

"Lavender! Get back here, lass! Hurry!"

 

 

 

 

With mere moments to spare, the purple shield imploded and the airship powered straight through. With another flash of purple, all the engines stopped and the air thickened to treacle, slowing it to a stop. 

 

 

A figure standing on one of the towers spread its wings, and Princess Twilight Sparkle flew out to the airship.

 

 

"By royal decree," she began, every inch of august majesty condensed into the three words that granted her total power over Equestria, then a distant thud drew her attention. With a purple flash, a pair of binoculars appeared in front of her, and she looked towards the distant figures of Lavender and her one remaining mutant.

 

 

“Gala,” she breathed, all of her power and authority vanishing and being replaced by a strange mixture of fear and joy.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Lavender looked down at the crater that the alicorn-demon had made. Arclight’s body was, mercifully, nowhere to be seen, but the shattered remains of Luna were starting to meld themselves together again. Lavender felt herself fly down, her eyes focused on the Tartarus blade that lay by the shattered alicorn’s side. Lifting it in her hooves, she looked down on Luna, whose ruined face stared back up at her with utter contempt and loathing.

 

 

Traitor.

 

 

Twilight Sparkle appeared with a burst of magic, the airship being teleported with her in an awesome display of magical power.

 

 

“Leaver her be, Discord,” she said to Lavender, a dangerous glint in her eyes warning of the consequences of crossing her, and Lavender felt the presence in her subside. It didn’t even dare talk to her, though its intentions were perfectly clear, and Lavender was still wielding the sword in her hooves. Twilight watched her with a grim expression, clearly waiting to see what she would do.

Edited June 22, 2016 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Dust and Memories 557]

"By Royal decree, and predestiny..." Wilhelm whispered. "You've come so far." Wilhelm was in the cheering crowds at Twilight's coronation. In the select group of field experts next to Twilight when she opened her Ponyville laboratory. Even, a grand total of once for a grand total of a half-hour, across from her in a candlelit restaurant, however quickly they mutually realized relationships weren't built on intellectual compatibility.

 

But that was... Wilhelm frowned. Was that from here, or from one of the other... places? The closer he got to any of the rifts, the more confused his thoughts grew.

A younger Wilhelm, chatting with his sister. Wilhelm's mortarboard was cocked at a rakish angle, and his sister was laughing at one of his jokes.

That can't be right. She died before I graduated.

 

A much older Wilhelm, whose mane had become streaked with white and grey. A mare stood next to him, equally as old, who was wearing a ring around her horn. Wilhelm realized with a start that the ring matched the one around one of his primary feathers, in a traditional style for pegasi who didn't fly much. A small foal gamboled around their legs.

That... couldn't, shouldn't be right. I never saw Anette again after I was sent back to Canterlot. In Bangcolt, I was foolish enough to challenge one of the Princesses... and I used something. Some sort of... Whatever it was, the Princesses -- or I think it was the Princesses -- demanded I destroy all copies of the weapon and my research on it. There was some sort of... My memory isn't working. Why isn't it working?

 

A Wilhelm around the age he is in the Prime Timeline, waiting for something or somepony. The Wilhelm of now is puzzled, but quickly realizes what's going on when Twilight Sparkle -- a unicorn, strangely -- enters from... offscreen? Prime Timeline Wilhelm's wings perform an extremely undignified but completely natural reaction, colloquially referred to by idiots as a "wingboner."

...I would remember if that ever happened. Very, very much remember.

 

Wilhelm hastily stepped back to the center of the airship, not only the better to get a view of the upcoming likely-disaster, but to avoid any rifts that may -- probably are -- causing problems with the memories of anypony too near them. Then again, there was always that Wilhelm was the only pony to be stu- "adventurous" enough to look into the rifts directly.

 

Finally, to Lavender, Wilhelm said "Stand down! Give up the sword, Lavender." Then, his voice became iron. "Discord, I know of you. I know of your depravities. I am a scholar of Harmony, and I know that if you do not release my student from your clutches, Her Highness will show you the consequences of harming Her subjects." Quietly, he murmured "I hope."

 

Wilhelm could almost feel the magic in Lavender subside somewhat after Twilight's display, and Wilhelm breathed a silent sigh of relief. Discord was still in Lavender -- Wilhelm could feel that much -- but he wasn't her.

Edited June 20, 2016 by Orion Caelum

[Unicorncob 5,687]

Arclight's eyes started to clear, and without his struggles Lavender was able to stabilise their altitude only fifty feet above the ground. The gratitude in Arclight's eyes was clear, a huge smile on his deformed face, but something made him look up, and his smile was replaced by an expression of panic. Lavender could see their shadows on the ground below them, with Gala off to the side and a fourth shadow - the alicorn-demon - speeding towards Lavender and Arclight. Lavender didn't even have time to look up, as Arclight headbutted her and then kicked her away with both hind legs. 

 

 

Still reeling from the unexpected shock, a deadly silent shape dropped straight past her with the force of a freight train and the deadly Tartarus blade held in front of it. Arclight was swatted from the sky, and along with the alicorn-demon smashed into the ground at near terminal velocity.

 

Lavender returned the enormous grin as she saw Arclight was getting his free will back, but she tilted her head with puzzlement at his look of pure horror. "What, something on my face?"

 

Before she could look up, she was assaulted by a skull, then a kick in the gut away from her.

"I guess we're not dating," she mulled to herself as she was sent back, before quickly adjusting herself in the air. 

 

An enormous shape sped past her, making her spin in the air, and as soon as she caught herself, she yet out a shriek as she saw the alicorn demon had created a massive crater in the earth, and Arclight was gone.

 

Well, he never said he was beyond lying. Sharp darted back across the blood-slick deck, and up the small flight of stairs to the quarterdeck. He grinned at the probably-mortified helmspony, and looked for the dwindling spot in the distance that was Lavender. He doubted she'd hear at their distance, but he had to try.  

 

 

"Lavender! Get back here, lass! Hurry!"

 

She heard the call, begging her to return to the ship, but she couldn't. Not without Arclight.

 

Girls are doing it for themselves. Well, girls and guy, now that she thought about it.

 

She sped off toward the crater.

 

 

Meanwhile, Lavender looked down at the crater that the alicorn-demon had made. Arclight’s body was, mercifully, nowhere to be seen, but the shattered remains of Luna were starting to meld themselves together again. Lavender felt herself fly down, her eyes focused on the Tartarus blade that lay by the shattered alicorn’s side. Lifting it in her hooves, she looked down on Luna, whose ruined face stared back up at her with utter contempt and loathing.

 

 

Traitor.

 

 

Twilight Sparkle appeared with a burst of magic, the airship being teleported with her in an awesome display of magical power.

 

 

“Leaver her be, Discord,” she said to Lavender, a dangerous glint in her eyes warning of the consequences of crossing her, and Lavender felt the presence in her subside. It didn’t even dare talk to her, though its intentions were perfectly clear, and Lavender was still wielding the sword in her hooves. Twilight watched her with a grim expression, clearly waiting to see what she would do.

 

As soon as Lavender had any idea what she was doing, she found herself being glared down by Princess Twilight Sparkle herself!

 

"Princess Twilight!" She chirped, before the glare of contempt from the alicorn, and then her teacher, finally clicked. "...um, do I owe you money...?"

 

She looked down and noticed the alicorn demon's sword was in her hooves, and she dropped it with a frightened yelp, like she had found a spider on it.

 

"W-wait, this isn't what it looks like!" She cried, flailing her hooves frantically. "I didn't know the guy! He was trying to kill me and Arclight did a thing and saved my life and I never asked him to and he was really sweet and I don't think this is helping shutting up now."

Edited June 20, 2016 by Unicorncob

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

She looked down and noticed the alicorn demon's sword was in her hooves, and she dropped it with a frightened yelp, like she had found a spider on it.   "W-wait, this isn't what it looks like!" She cried, flailing her hooves frantically. "I didn't know the guy! He was trying to kill me and Arclight did a thing and saved my life and I never asked him to and he was really sweet and I don't think this is helping shutting up now."

 

 

 

Finally, to Lavender, Wilhelm said "Stand down! Give up the sword, Lavender." Then, his voice became iron. "Discord, I know of you. I know of your depravities. I am a scholar of Harmony, and I know that if you do not release my student from your clutches, Her Highness will show you the consequences of harming Her subjects." Quietly, he murmured "I hope."

 

 

 

As Lavender cast the sword aside, Twilight turned her gaze on the alicorn-demon, which began spitting insults and curses at her. Ignoring them, Twilight walked up to the broken body that had once been Luna and knelt down next to it.

 

"I'm sorry, Luna. I hope you know that, wherever you are now," she said in a broken voice, tears starting to run down her cheeks. Looking up at the moon  that was rising over the horizon, Twilight enveloped Luna's body in magic, reducing it to dust. In the distance, thunder could be heard from the chaos storm, but for a moment around Twilight all was still. Exhaling, Twilight stood up, and in another flash of purple she, Lavender and Gala were standing on the deck of the Scion. Most of the crew and marines had disappeared below, and there were muffled voices, but Twilight ignored them and cantered straight to Gala and hugged her.

 

"Gala Apple," she said, her relief palpable, "You're safe... whatever happened to you, I can fix it, I promise."

 

"Twilight," Gala said, "I..." she broke from the embrace, looking up at the alicorn above her, "I don't know what happened, it's so hard to focus or remember anything," her eyes opened wide, "The experiment! Did it work? Is Rainbow Dash alive? Can... can we..."

 

"I'm sorry, Gala," Twilight said, starting to cry again but holding her voice steady, "But my experiment failed, and I have unleashed something horrific." Holding up a hoof to forestall any further questions, she continued, "I will explain soon, but first I must see to these intruders."

 

"Don't be too harsh, they helped me," Gala said, before being silenced by a look from Twilight.

 

"You sought me out. You returned Gala to me. You brought a powerful demon with you... and Discord," Twilight seemed to be thinking out loud as much as she was addressing the group. Looking to Wilhelm with a thoughtful expression, she continued, "You... I know you, from somewhere, some time ago. Dr... Winter?" she glanced at Lavender, "I cannot 'free' your student from Discord, doctor, any more than I could free her from her cutie mark," she gave a sad sigh, "It ties into the heart of the matter - the Tarot powers. Not the magical powers that she, and I suspect some of the rest of you posses, but the beings themselves." 

 

"Celestia swore to silence on the matter," Discord interjected.

 

"I did not," Twilight countered, anger flashing in her eyes, "So do not interrupt me. Conventional history goes back to the rule of Discord, ended by Celestia and Luna, which supposedly destroyed all records of the times before. The only exceptions lay in the minds of those beings that were still alive then - Celestia and Luna chief among them. What they knew, and told me, was that before the reign of Discord there had been another age of chaos, where the demons of Tartarus held sway. They were defeated by a coalition of powerful, nigh immortal beings that led a rebellion against them, imprisoning them in Tartarus. After the war ended, there were disagreements about what they wanted to make from the ruins of the world. They very nearly destroyed each other, but ultimately it was decided that they should not interfere, instead simply guarding against the return of the hordes of Tartarus. They became something between gods and guardian angels, acting through champions that they gave their blessings to - the Tarot, who granted you all your powers." Twilight paused, thinking over what to say next.

 

"There had been four demons that led the hosts of Tartarus, if 'led' is the right term. One of them had turned traitor, siding with the coalition and delivering a decisive victory to them. That demon was called Discord," Twilight looked over at Lavender, "Discord later betrayed the coalition, ruling in an age of chaos until he was overthrown by Celestia and Luna, the very beings he had saved from the hordes of Tartarus. Such is the nature of a chaotic god of trickery and treachery," She stopped again, addressing Lavender directly.

 

"So you see, Discord has not possessed you - he has blessed you. The creature known as Discord never truly existed in the material world, instead acting through champions that he warps and twists into something akin to his own image. And as treachery is in his very nature, he is always an unknown factor."

 

"If I can answer any more questions I will, you deserve the truth about what I have done, but after that I will insist that you all leave me be. I know why you sought me out, or at least, I can guess. Gala will remain, as may any of you that wish, but I will not interfere with pony affairs again. I have done enough damage."

[Unicorncob 5,687]

Lavender sat down on the Scion and listened intently to Twilight's tale about the demon coalition. Her tail waggled beneath her cloak in intrigue.

 

 

"So you see, Discord has not possessed you - he has blessed you. The creature known as Discord never truly existed in the material world, instead acting through champions that he warps and twists into something akin to his own image. And as treachery is in his very nature, he is always an unknown factor."

 

"So... Discord is some kind of eldritch creature who lives inside me and gave me my good looks?" She pieced together, and tilted her head with a grin. "That's actually pretty cool!"

 

She glanced up at her natural horn. "So, you're the Discord I read about! I knew it!"

 

...but the voice was silent. As was Gala.

 

Lavender blinked, and started to feel a bit... empty. She couldn't feel Discord's chaos magic flowing through her, despite her still being rather disfigured. Even her phoenix wing wasn't burning!

 

"Uh, what's going on?" She muttered, almost sounding nervous as she tapped her horn. "Discord? Buddy? Come in, Discord! Do you copy?"

Edited June 23, 2016 by Unicorncob

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp paced the battle-worn deck, his anger slowly building. When the princess finished, he slammed a forehoof onto the deck, to angry to acknowledge the screaming pain from his wound, which dripped blood onto the already bloody deck. He spoke with rage, tenaciously, as though each word had a mighty punch behind it.

 

"So that's it. All for bloody nothing, eh? You were the princess of friendship, for Celestia's sake! The last surviving princess in Equestria, at that! You can't hide away forever, while the rest of us fight and die to fix your mistakes. Soon enough, when we're all shambling wrecks motivated only by our need for Equestrian blood, we'll be coming for you. Either that, or the King's doomsday weapon will blow this place off the face of the world, and there won't be an Everfree Forest to hide in." He calmed a little, and paused to take a breath.

"Look, ma'am, it's not so much the mistakes you make, but what you do to correct them. I know I've made a few mistakes, some more recently than others. And while they're hardly on the scale of summoning a demon army, I ain't exactly an all-powerful alicorn princess, am I? So, it's up to you. You can cower here in fear while your home, friends, family are destroyed, awaiting your inevitable and most likely painful death, or you can bloody well do something about it! Equestria needs you, now, more than ever. And if this is the end of our nation as we know it, we'll need a princess to lead us into battle, one last time."

 

He sighed, and sat down on the deck. His mood had suddenly plummeted, gone with his adrenaline.

"Ain't like we can get back to Canterlot without you anyway, Princess. Whole bloody sky is swarming with the enemy. With the airship damaged as it is, I doubt we'd make it half way, fending off those monsters. Much as I hate to admit it."

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

"Uh, what's going on?" She muttered, almost sounding nervous as she tapped her horn. "Discord? Buddy? Come in, Discord! Do you copy?"

 

"He is silent because I told him to be. There was no magic, I promise. Your chaos magic, your physical changes... all of these are driven by him, so when he is compelled to stop they will cease to function. The reverse is also true, as the more power he gives you the more control he has over you. The last pony that was the Fool, the one most think of as Discord, was so consumed by chaos that they became one and the same, their body an effigy of chaos itself. Be careful how much power you give the chaos god of treachery over you."

 

 

 

"So that's it. All for bloody nothing, eh? You were the princess of friendship, for Celestia's sake! The last surviving princess in Equestria, at that! You can't hide away forever, while the rest of us fight and die to fix your mistakes. Soon enough, when we're all shambling wrecks motivated only by our need for Equestrian blood, we'll be coming for you. Either that, or the King's doomsday weapon will blow this place off the face of the world, and there won't be an Everfree Forest to hide in." He calmed a little, and paused to take a breath. "Look, ma'am, it's not so much the mistakes you make, but what you do to correct them. I know I've made a few mistakes, some more recently than others. And while they're hardly on the scale of summoning a demon army, I ain't exactly an all-powerful alicorn princess, am I? So, it's up to you. You can cower here in fear while your home, friends, family are destroyed, awaiting your inevitable and most likely painful death, or you can bloody well do something about it! Equestria needs you, now, more than ever. And if this is the end of our nation as we know it, we'll need a princess to lead us into battle, one last time."

 

 

"If I am lynched then it will be no less than I deserve," Twilight answered, her face grim, "This is my mistake, but it goes beyond that. I tried to use my power to make Equestria a better place, and this was the result. Project Ferrous Phoenix concerned mere magi-mechanical limbs, but Project Phoenix went far beyond that," she looked down at her hooves, "Applejack, the element of honesty, died almost seven years ago - the same wasting disease that claimed her parents took her and Big Macintosh as well. And like that, the Elements were broken, and Gala here was almost certain to suffer the same fate as her father and aunt had I not done something.  That set me on the path to Phoenix - magic that could raise the dead. Forwards to just over a month ago, and Rainbow Dash was killed in a minor boarder skirmish with the Gryphon Kingdom. This time I was ready, or so I thought." Twilight looked into the middle distance, tears in her eyes again.

 

"Using the forbidden magics and alchemies I had spent years working on, I was able to resurrect her body, but her mind was not restored. A blank slate, with a huge surge of magic to weaken the barriers between our world and Hades, was too tempting for the denizens of Hades, and something else took over her mind. Perhaps I could have stopped her, but I could not bear to destroy my friend. She... it... rampaged through Ponyville, the vile alchemies I had used melding its victims to it, forming an aberrant  mass of possessed flesh that only grew in power as it consumed more. Worse, its very presence weakened the barriers more, allowing more demons to assault the minds of those nearby. Most failed, although they damaged their would-be host's mind in the process, but some succeed. Celestia, Luna and Cadence arrived to confront it, and I hid. They tried to destroy it, but the magic that bound it, my magic, was too strong even for them. Ultimately, they sacrificed themselves to create the shield that enclosed Ponyville, leaving their bodies to be possessed by the demons," There was anger in Twilight's voice now, although it was an impotent rage more than it was a driving fire, "I broke through the shield and escaped, heading to my lab in the Everfree. I had learnt my lesson - my power was too dangerous, and I could not risk loosing it on Equestria again. You talk of a super-weapon - most likely one of my design, at least in concept. I did a great deal for the military in return for their support... more destruction wrought by my hoof..." she trailed off, shaking her head sadly.

 

"So no, I will not do any more. Not after what I've done already. Not with the power I wield. I have shielded my archives from the destruction that is to come, along with those few that stay with me, but I will not evade my fate."

 

 

 

"Ain't like we can get back to Canterlot without you anyway, Princess. Whole bloody sky is swarming with the enemy. With the airship damaged as it is, I doubt we'd make it half way, fending off those monsters. Much as I hate to admit it."

 

"If you wish, I can protect all of you as well. This at least, I can do."

[Unicorncob 5,687]

"He is silent because I told him to be. There was no magic, I promise. Your chaos magic, your physical changes... all of these are driven by him, so when he is compelled to stop they will cease to function. The reverse is also true, as the more power he gives you the more control he has over you. The last pony that was the Fool, the one most think of as Discord, was so consumed by chaos that they became one and the same, their body an effigy of chaos itself. Be careful how much power you give the chaos god of treachery over you."

 

Lavender bit her lip at Twilight's explanation. "Wow... somepony who can shut him up." She giggled.

 

She tilted her head, trying to picture the idea of Discord looking like something other than the draconequis everypony knew.

 

"...nope, ain't happenin'." She shook her head.

 

She scoffed at Twilight's warning, waving a hoof. "Naaaah, Discord and I are buddies! We'd probably be painting each other's hooves if he was around for real."

 

She hesitated, her smile fading and looking more uncertain as she glanced up at her forehead. "...right?"

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp lost some of his vigor after her story, saw how sad she felt about it all. But she was the only pony whom the Equestrians believed in, for Sharp doubted the estranged king was in touch with the common pony of Equestria. She would be the only pony to rally them to victory, however that may be achieved.

 

"Look, princess... I know how you feel. I've lost more than a fair few friends, plenty to griffons. But Captain Dash was a soldier. She knew the risks, aye, just as I did when I joined. We honour our dead. Remember their names, so that they are never forgotten. Remember what they fought, and died for. I'm not asking you to use your magic. Another pair of hooves on the walls of Canterlot would not go amiss. You're the only pony that we can trust to lead us, without bias or personal interest. Without you, Equestria will die. Though I never met Miss Dash, she had an impressive reputation for loyalty. No more loyal a soldier in all Equestria, in fact. You were made a princess to lead us, to lead Equestria. We're still loyal to you, we of the guard would lay down our lives in your defence. Why turn your back on those who would follow you through Tartarus? It doesn't matter what you did. What matters is your decision now. You talk about fate as though it's forcing you to stay here, but it isn't. Any soldier knows you make your own luck, and fate is the same. You might not want this duty. But it's yours, all the same, and the life of every pony in Equestria depends upon it." Gods damn it, but he could not lose her! "Please," He pleaded, "Don't abandon us! Without you, the king will wipe out Canterlot, Ponyville, and most of central Equestria, in the vain hope that they'll be stopped. I don't want to have all those lives wasted, knowing that our last hope was too stubborn to help. Think of all those ponies, fillies, colts, that you could save, if you just act."

 

He cursed himself. He was becoming far too emotional. But that was his duty, he supposed. Any means necessary, unless you want to blow up half the country. That was taking it a bit far.

 

"If you'd rather see us die, just send us to Canterlot. But I won't be evacuating the capital with the rest of the army. I'll stand and defend my home, even alone. The last soldier of a true Equestria, you could say. one that doesn't run from its fears, but confronts them. Regardless of the result. Who knows, I'll probably be killed by my own side. But I'll have a sword in my hooves and a scream of defiance on my lips. Can you say the same?"

[Dust and Memories 557]

"Twilight." Wilhelm said, softly. "Do you remember the Astronomy Tower? With the telescope of steel and brass, etched with gold for magical conductivity? The intricate arrangement of gears that opened and closed the dome, working somehow in perfect concert? The King dismantled the telescope and stripped the gears and the desks and bookshelves, to install a weapon he did not know how to control oand which could -- and still might -- scorch the life from half of Equestria."

 

"Can you say, Princess, that you have never made mistakes before? That none of us have ever made mistakes? It is only equine to make mistakes, and if you believe doing so means that you're somehow less of a pony than others or more of a threat to others, then you're wrong. And that's something I never thought I'd have to tell Twilight Sparkle." An amused smile flickered across his face before disappearing as Wilhelm continued to pace the deck of the airship.

 

"Your mistake was bigger than most, yes, and its consequences unfathomable at a glance. But hubris... Hubris, and the degree of friendship you and Rainbow Dash had, would drive anypony to do whatever it took. And think they could do it. You see, Twilight... You haven't made many small mistakes. And that builds up your confidence. You were a Princess, a coronated alicorn, a respected researcher at the head of a team consisting of the best and brightest minds from all fields of science. How could you have failed?" Wilhelm paused and wheeled around to face Twilight.

 

"What did every book on thaumaturgy and the recounted travels of the thanatonauts say? Printed in massive letters inside the front cover of the thaumaturgy books: THEORETICAL MAGIC. ATTEMPT AT OWN RISK. And then several lines about jail time, punishments, liability for any loss of life of limb... Nopony had ever succeeded at raising the dead. Nopony made the Veil twitch more than an inch without incurring horrible consequences. And you thought you could do what nopony, even Star Swirl, would think of attempting."

 

"And I'm sorry to say this, but I can't forgive you for that. But I will tell you this. If your hubris and your pride made this mistake previously -- Project Phoenix -- then what is making this decision for you now? Do you imagine you're embarking on some noble sacrifice? That you will hold one hoof to your forehead like a swooning penny dreadful mare, and wave us off as we trudge to our deaths? Do you honestly imagine you're doing us a favor by sending us to death or worse? Well, Twilight Sparkle, allow me to tell you this..."

 

Wilhelm finally looked directly into Twilight's eyes. "Instead of making another mistake, atone for your first. Help us. Help all of Celestia's little ponies. Or when we leave here, you will have another regret, another blotch, another weight I don't think you can afford on your conscience."