Dagger's End:

The Swine Tide &

The Underworld Uprise (Vol. 2)

Chapter 3

A Daughter Born &

A Hero Blamed

Canterlot's courtroom... Dagger never thought, that he would revisit this place again, after he had explained to them, about the zenoids and their races past, fighting against numbers and upon numbers of zenoids. The zenoids had never stopped coming, until Dagger had slain their god, Zues... the biggest zenoid that anypony, had EVER seen...

As the courtroom was being occupied by multicolored ponies, both colts and mares, would fill the room up, as they would discuss about Dagger, blaming him for starting another mess, on their beloved planet... The thing was, that the Hogz were just crossing by, seeking a new planet to fight on, as they fought many different kinds of creatures and civilizations.

The whole room was filled to the brim, as Celestia had summoned ponies from Canterlot and Ponyville, alike, as they had to fill the seats that other guards and soldiers that had used to sit on, as those ponies were already dead, or simply late... Before the hogz came, Equestria was attacked by the massive swarms, of Zenoids, as the battle was a massacre of ponies deaths and quantillian ponies as well, as the quantillians are now extinct, all except for one...

" Order! Order!" bellowed the honour, as he slamed his gavel on a base, set for the gavel. Everypony quieted down, as the subject was about Dagger and these barbaric warthogs, that call themselves Hogz... Dagger, placed his helmet over his head, covering his face, as he feared the planet's locals, as well as he respected them. This made Dagger to feel a lot better, as he felt hidden, with his helmet on. Dagger's body, also looked calm, as he didn't show any nervous twichy movements, or constantly made a constant move such as playing with something around him, or moving his hoofs around the floor, as he would have tapped on it. Dagger, just stood there all calm looking, as he waited for Celestia and Luna to show up.

On the high tables, where the leaders and important ponies would be, sat, was Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and their newest member, Twilight Sparkle. While to the left of them was Shinning Armor, Spitfire, and a new leader of the Secret Forces of Equestria, as he was just promoted to the highest rank, and was the first youngest colt as well! Also, between Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia was the rest of the mane six, as each of them had their own seats.

Celestia started, as she spoke to Dagger, with a bit of anger, "... Mr. Dagger!... Do you know why, you are here?..." she asked. Dagger, gulped as he looked through his helmet, seeing their goddess, as she was very upset with him. He didn't know why their ruler was so upset with him, as all he did was protected them, from a certain disaster, yet again... " No, your highness." spoke Dagger, as he firmly and calmly spoke. Celestia, did not look happy, whatsoever, as barely anypony had ever seen her being so angry, with somepony... " You are here, because we think, that you had attracted a new threat to into our lands..." answered Celestia. Dagger, knew that it wasn't his fault that he had got the Hogz to come, into their planet, but he thought that he should bite the bullet for this one, and just somewhat go with it, taking on the blame... Dagger bowed to them, as he apologized to them, "... I am sorry, that this had occurred... and I am willing to fix this, somehow..." answered Dagger. Celestia, raised an eyebrow at him, as she was curious to where he was going, with this, " And what can you tell us, that you say, that 'you are willing to fix, this problem.'... Dagger?..." spoke the Princess. Luna, leaned twords her sister, as she whispered into her ear, "...Sister! It is not his fault that these monsters, have came across our lands!... I have seen, many other species, crash landing into other planets, as I was banished on the moon! You can't just blame this poor, young, colt as he has nothing to do with this!..." she finnished, Celestia whispered back to her, as she spoke to her directly, " Luna, I don't care what you think right now, this young colt, has brought danger into our world, and had probably attracted them, with their big ship, they have left behind..." " He has lost his entire RACE, Tia! I am sure, that if his kind was smart enough, to build those ships and weaponry, that they were also smart enough to not to attract too much attention! Therefore, saying that all this was NEVER, Dagger's fault." Finnished Luna, as she tried to defend Dagger's life, against her sister's rage. Celestia, then gave her sister, a slight look at her, as if she was now angry at her too... "... Sister, sit back down... For all we know, whether Dagger had brought these brutes into our lands or not, he could still have some sort of connection with them! He could also be... envious... that our race has lived through their war, and now is the last of his race, as he could be ploting revenge against us!" " But Tia!-" " Not another word, my dear sister..." hissed Celestia, as she gave Luna a look, to sit back down.

Celestia, was then getting back on subject, as Luna pouted, because of her sister. Luna, knew that she was trying to do her best to protect their kingdom, but they both know, they don't know the truth, between the Hogz and Dagger, as they were both unsure of themselves. "... I am not entirely sure, your highness... But I look to your planet, right now, as my new home. As my own home planet has been destroyed, by my enemies!... I value your race's survival, as you were of my kind.-" "But we are not, of your kind!..." snapped Celestia, " Your race, has left a mess of our world, as you left us in almost in complete, ruins! In almost in a condition, that our way of life would have never returned to!" Continued Celestia. Everypony, was a little worried, about their princess, but she did prove a point. Celestia, calmed down, as she could tell that she was scaring her society, around her. Celestia, took a breather, and went back on subject, " The point is Dagger... I have summoned everypony here, to make their own decision..." stated Celestia, as she spoke more calmly. Everypony, was a little surprised, as they herd about this! " My ponyvillians... Under your seats, or handed to you, is a paper. You may vote on one of three, answers... Either, Dagger will be guilty, for bringing danger into our world, and be sent to the dungeon, eventually executed... Or he will be givin a chance, to stop these new invaders..." said Celestia. The moment Dagger, had herd this, his mind raced as he guessed what the last and final, vote. Dagger was about to sweat, a bit, as his mind scrambled! "... And finally... sentence to banishment, to the moon..." Dagger, heart had almost stopped, as he herd the last choice for the ponies to pick from... He would rather be stopping the Hogz, or be banished to the moon, but execution... was something that he hoped, that he wouldn't have to go through...

"... You herd the Princess... You may vote now, and please remember... A life is now at your hoofs... Make your choice..." spoke the honour, as he planed on voting to allow Dagger, to fight off the Hogz, giving him a chance to live, or at least not rot on the moon. Twilight, voted for Dagger to fight for Equestria, as she wasn't happy for Celestia's choices, but she wasn't angry at her... Rainbow Dash, voted for Dagger to fight, as she wanted him to live, and was confident, that he would live. At the same time she was worried for him, as she looked at him, from down below, hoping that this wouldn't be the last time, that she would finally see him, in a while. Pinkie Pie, voted for Dagger to fight as well, as she too wanted no pony to die. Pinkie Pie, then hummed to herself, as she sat there happily. Rarity, voted for Dagger to be banished to the moon... As business was terrible for her, in the past as Canterlot and the Krystal Empire, had the need to raise the taxes, of rebuilding itself. Now both Canterlot and the Krystal Empire was fully restored, as they both now only have a few construction work, from the damages left, as the taxes had gone down, dramatically. Ever scince, both kindoms were getting close to the finnishing touches, of the buildings, Rarity's boutique's business was booming after that, as she made a few dresses of the Quantillian's race's designs of clothes. Rarity, thought about it, then changed her mind, as she crossed the previous answer, and instead went for Dagger to fight against the invaders. Apple Jack, voted for Dagger to fight on as well, as she remembered Tank, one of Dagger's friends, as he was now dead, after the war... Fluttershy, felt a lot of pressure, as she didn't want to anger anypony, with her vote. She closed her eyes, as she let fate to take it's course, and voted, for Dagger's execution!... She opened her eyes, and gasped quietly... She then wanted to cross out the answer, and close her eyes yet again... Now she voted for Dagger to be banished to the moon, as she gasped again, and repeated of what she did to the previous answer. Fluttershy was about to mark down, the final aswer, as it was already too late to vote, just as the paper was scooped up, off of her table. Fluttershy, opened her eyes, only to find that her paper was gone, and noticed that a stallion, who was collecting all the papers, had already collected her paper... Fluttershy, was sad, as she had failed to answer her vote, as she thought that the final answer could cost Dagger's life...

Everypony, had voted, as there were a lot of answers for Dagger to be sent to the moon, being executed, and finally fight off against the Hogz. Hours had passed, as the final answers were being counted!... Eventually, then answers had arrived... A stallion, had come out, as he had the numbers of the answers coming out, from three seperate emvelopes... The stallion, cleared his throat, as he was ready to open the first emvelope... " Two-hundred and twenty-four votes! On Dagger being banished to the moon!..." he stated, as the mane six gasped, especially Rainbow Dash!... Then next note was about to be torn open, as he the stallion gave a scarce look on his face of the numbers!... "... Oh... my Celestia... U-um!... One-thousand, two-hundred and fifty votes... On Dagger to being executed... at once..." Ponies gasped, as they herd how many everypony wanted him dead. Celestia, wasn't ready for Dagger to be executed, as she thought that perhaps this was a big mistake, she has ever made!... Equestria would soon, have it's very first execution, if Dagger was to be executed! They never have had to execute anypony, before!

Twilight, was upset of them... She was upset with them all! Twilight, hopped up on the table, as she looked at the crowd of ponies, " Listen, everypony!... I know Dagger's race, the quantillians, have brought war into our lives!... But think about it, we would be no better than the new invaders, that have come across our lands! We would be just as barbaric as they are, as we would finnish a race, that we hardly have ever known in our lives... So please, don't do this because his race had brought war into our planet... Don't do this because your lives were miserable after the war... I know we have lost our loved ones, but think of how many Dagger has lost! He has lost everypony! Everypony, but himself!... And now he is to suffer, to only see his reflection of himself!... So please!... Don't do this for revenge... Don't do it... even if you were to be the last of our race... Please... and thank you!..." finnished Twilight, as she quietly, sat back down... Everypony in the room, sat there quietly... as they thought about it... They couldn't belive what their new princess was saying... Many ponies now wanted to change their votes... While other, didn't have any heart of any sort, as they had a lot of anger, inside of them...

Twilight, closed her eyes... as she let out a few breaths... Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Shinning Armor were all very surprised, that Twilight would do such a thing! Celestia, was happy to see her old former student, was taking a stand for others, even if they weren't from this world...

Now... The announcer, was about to open the last emvelope... Dagger, looked at hope, in a whole new level, as he held his breath... Rainbow Dash, had stopped nibbling on her hoofs, as she then looked down at the table, and had her hoofs over her head, as if she had done something horribly wrong... The emvelope, was being torn slowly, as it noise echoed through the room... Everypony, watched and listened, as they were about to get their answers very soon!... The paper, of the numbers was coming out, and was being unfolded. The announcer, opened his eyes slowly... as his face expression, froze... He looked and scaned, at the numbers, and checked again... and again...

Dagger, looked down at the floor, as he closed his eyes, in his helmet... No such thing called hope, rung into his mind, as he thought about his sister, Silvy... and his friends... Tank, Storm Spirit... and Krystal, as she had a crush on Dagger, then had died, right before the war had ended...

"... T-the... t-the number of this last vote i-is..." spoke the announcer, as his vision was all blury, from his sweat rolling down, into his eyes... " One-thousand... Two-hundred... and-" just before the announcer could finnish, he wiped both of his eyes, with his hoofs, as he could see more clearly... Hearts were pounding, tesion was rising, time ran slow... then... it finally all came out... " One-thousand two-hundred and FIFTY ONE!" exclaimed the pony, as the whole room, cheered!

Celestia, was surprised, as she looked at everypony, happily! The mane six had jumped out of their seats, as Rainbow Dash had flown out of hers. The crowd, went wild, as most of them, if not, all of them, were happy that Dagger was given a second chance, but was now given the responsibilty, to defend all of Equestria...

Dagger, looked up, and thanked his mortal god, who was dead as well, Mai Sight, as he had almost saw him, flying above him, guarding Dagger's life, like he was his angle!... Dagger smiled, as he felt like he was now part of these ponies's race, as if they had accepted him as one of their own, and yet he wasn't, as this was all only in it for the votes, and not the acceptance of being one of them...

Somewhere in the deepest, darkest parts, of the Underworld lands... was King Sombra's masive lair, as it was well hidden from everypony's eyes... In the Underworld city, there lived minotaurs, dark ponies, which were just ponies who had darker colors on their skin, with also sharp pointy ears. Some of Princess Luna's followers, such as her dark knights, who used to serve under Nightmare Moon's command, back when she used to prey, on Ponyville. A few diamond dogs, lived there as well, as there were also a few griffins who were an outcast, to the Griffin Kindom...

In a dark room, that had little lighting, and was very spacious, was a young mare, as she was just a simple earth pony... King Sombra was watching her, as she would performed a few quick, and most deadly moves... The mare, stood on her hind legs, has she held behind her back a magical sword, as it glowed an aqua blue color, as it was giving out radiation, while it was pointing back... The mare's skin was as black as Sombra's... Her mane, had a light blue color, as it was almost the color of an ocean. Her eyes, were just like Sombra's, as well as her teeth were just like his!... The mare, had her eyes closed, as she stood there, waiting for something to happen... Then... something was coming after her!...

A huge lizard beast, had lept out of no where, as it was about to swallow the dark mare, whole! The dark mare, had lept into the air, only to land on the lizard's back. The reptile, looked almost like a dragon, but only it didn't have any wings, or a long neck, as it looked like some sort of iguana or crocodile. The dark mare, had jumped off it's back, as she readied her sword to fight back. The lizard turned twords her, as the dark mare then pointed both of her front hoofs at the beast, as she looked like she was going to push it, from a far distance... Then... The lizard was flung back, by such powerful force, as it hit a nearby wall! The dark mare smiled, proud of her skills, as she used some sort of magic, or force, to push the lizard back, as she was not a unicorn, or a pegasus...

The lizard, got back up, as it then raced twords the dark mare, as well did the mare, as she dashed twords the monster, as she then ran underneath it, and grabbed onto it's tail, with one of her hoofs, as she had the other hoof, hanging onto the magical, bright sword... The lizard, flung it's tail up in the air, as the young mare was heading straight twords the lizard's jaws... Then, she fell into the monster's mouth!...

The dark mare, was inside the lizard's mouth, as it was all wet and slimy inside. She then jumped inside the mouth, and pointed both of her front hoofs away from herself, as one hoof pointed to the right, and the other to the left. " Nnnn-HRA!" grunted the young mare, as she used some sort of powerful force to open the jaw, of the lizard's strong jaws.

The lizard was surprised, as the dark mare had quickly jumped out from his mouth. She shook off all the saliva, off of herself, and dashed twords the lizard, again. The lizard, swung it's mighty tail, as it slid across the floor, only to find that the mare had hopped onto it's tail. Now, the dark mare was running on the creature's back, as the lizard moved around, violently, trying to get the pony off of it's back! The lizard, then reached for it's back, as it used it's claws to get the young mare, off his back. The mare, was grabbed, as the lizard had a tight grip on her. She grunted, as she tried to break free, but it was no use, as the grip was too tight! She then, used both of her hoofs again, as she pushed her hoofs away from herself, creating some sort of force repulse, around herself! She was free once again, as she then flew up into the air, and landed onto the lizard's head, then stabbed it, stright down the middle of it's head! The glowing bright aqua sword, had went throught it's skull, as it screeched in great pain... " SCREE! SCREEEE! SCREE! SCREEEEEEE!" shouted the lizard, as it then fell on the cold dark floor...

The young dark mare, jumped off from the monster's head, as she then saw King Sombra, walking twords her... " Well done!... my daughter... well done!.." spoke the dark krystal pony, as he smiled at his creation... The young mare's name, was Kora, the light killer, the hope slayer... and... to be the anit-magic hunter... as she could easily kill Celestia or Luna, without having to use magic... Her abilities, were something out of the ordinary, as she had psychic, force, or physical powers as she could pick up things, without having to do any casting of any sort, as all she needed was her mind and her hoofs to do the work...

Kora's voice, had an almost british acent, as she looked as young and preaty, alittle bit like Rarity. Fast and athletic, as Rainbow Dash. Smart and bright, like Twilight. Calm and collective, like Fluttershy, and a strong heart, as stong as Apple Jack's and Big Mac's bucking hoofs, combined together!...

" Thank you... Father..." spoke the mare, as she bowed down to her creator, thinking that he was her actual father... Sombra, created Kora, to help him take over Equestria later, as she would only be an instrument to him, and nothing more...

Kora, didn't know anything about friendship, but she had a strong heart, as she treated Queen Chrystalis as her own mother, as Chrystalis treated her as her daughter, in return... The two had a stong connection, as if they were actually mother and daughter, to one another...

" Rise... my daughter..." spoke Sombra, as he got a good look at her. Kora's mane was in a bob cut, as she faced her creator. Kora, was a really young mare, as she was just as young as Pinkie Pie or Twilight Sparkle... " I have some... important business for you... my sweet..." started the dark king, as he smiled at her, showing his teeth... Kora, looked interrested, as she smiled back, showing her teeth, only a little bit, as she was shy at smiling. Her teeth, was just as white as the virgin snow, as it also reflected the light, like the snow would reflect. " I want you... to kill a pony, who lurks in Equestria..." continued Sombra, as he growled a bit. " An assassination, mission!?" asked Kora, as she has never been outside of the world of Equestria. "... Even better, my daughter... even better..." replied the dark king, as he was happy that his creation, was excited. The young mare, cept a cool head, as she waited for the answer. " There, is a stallion who's name is... Doctor..." " Doctor who?" asked the young mare, as she didn't under stand any of this... " Doctor Hoofs... is his name... but they just call him, the Doctor..." answered the dark king, as he turned around slowly, as he looked at the exit. Sombra, walked away from the young mare, and turned around, just before he exited, " I want you to kill somepony... But to do this, you must find, the Doctor... once you have found the Doctor, you will find the target..." finnished Sombra, as he smiled at his 'daughter.' " But, how will I know what he looks like?..." questrioned the mare, as she had not a single clue as to what her real target was... "... Oh... you'll know... trust me... Now, do as you are told, my sweets, and bring me back something, so that I may know, about your prey's death... Happy hunting..." smiled the king, as he then left the room completely.

Kora, was happy and very proud of herself, as she would later become like her father. Kora, loved both Sombra and Chrysalis, as father and mother, but she was being treated like a pony paid to kill somepony. Kora, was just about to exit the great big, dark castle, as it was hidden to those who would pass by, or that would try to find it, as the castle can only be accessed by a portal. " Kora, darling wait!..." spoke a voice. Chrysalis, came out from a room, as she was all alone with Kora, by the front entrace to the outside world... " Mommy herd that you had a hunt to go to... So I thought that I would give you this, my child..." spoke the changeling queen. Chrysalis, gave Kora a light armored vest, as it looked a bit stylish on her, and made her look very attractive, as she looked innocent and cute in it. "... Thanks, mom!..." spoke Kora, happily, as she gave Chrysalis a warm hug. Chrysalis wish she could feel the love, with Sombra's creation... but sadly, this was not the case... Chrysalis felt the love... but it was being denied, because of her will, as she would feed on the love... and yet... she could feel something, but nothing at the same time, as it is complicated to explain...

Chrysalis, gave Kora a kiss on the forehead, as she too returned back a hug. " Now, you be careful out there, honey... I don't want to find you dead, in this castle, as I know very, very, VERY well of you, that you will make sure that you will come back, alive!..." spoke Chrysalis, as she also had a stong attachment with Kora. " Don't worry, mom! I'll be back, with my first slain pony, as I will be seeing you again... mother!.." spoke Kora, as she too gave a kiss to Chrysalis, then ran off into a protal, as she dissapeared into a new world, to expore... with a thrust to kill...

" Oh... She grew up so fast... I wish she was a young filly again..." spoke Chrystalis, as she didn't shed a tear. Then suddenly, Chrysalis could hear chuckles coming from one of her soldiers, as they laughed at her. " WHY ARE YOU HERE!... Have you forgotten, as to what has happened, to the last changelings, that laughed at me, as I cared for this thing's soul!?" snapped Chrysalis, as she walked twords the two, as she towred over them... The two cept their mouths shut, as they feared their queen...

Kora, was out in the real world, as she was teleported into the Everfree Forest, as she had to make her way to find this Doctor... Then, something spoke into Kora's mind, as she listened. " Oh Kora!... I forgot to tell you something..." cooed Sombra, as he spoke with a warning. "... No pony... can know anything about you... Leave no pony alive, as you make your way to your target... Both, of our armies, and the Equestrian species alike..." " Yes, father!..." spoke Kora, as she replied back into her mind.

A few hogz, had made camp, in the middle of the Everfree Forest, as there were only around twenty of them, with along of a few grots around them. This group of hogz, was lost, as they got separated from Wartguts's clan. " Oi, look boyz! Look wot I found!" spoke a warthog, as he controlled a machine towords their campsite. The machine was very rustic looking, as it's body was shapped like a big cylinder can, that would fit one hog inside of it, two arms each with a melee weapon, such as a buzzsaw or a claw, with two blades on the end. The machine also had small pipe legs, as the machine had stubby legs to work with, as it only had two legs. " I tink dis iz important!..." spoke another hog, as he watched his buddy crawing into the tin can machine. " Hah! Lookie 'ere! Da 'ole thing works!" spoke the hog happily, as his voice echoed through the tin can. The machine came to life, as it made a loud boom, as the engines were running, as it produced a black smoke from a rear pipe. " Mua Ha Ha Ha!..." laughed the hog inside, as he sounded like some sort of god overlord, inside the machine, as his voice had chaned inside, then went back to normal as he spoke again, " Smashy! Smashy!" spoke the hog again, as he wanted to try out his new toy.

Then, a pony had walked into the camp, as she had wore her cloak, over her head... All the hogs' attention, was now on the pony who had entered into their camp. " Oi, over dere!" alamred a hog, as any warthog around, pulled their shootas out, pointing at the mysterious dark mare... " 'urry! Get your gun over dere!" shouted another hog, as he bossed another hog. Then, the dark mare, revealed her face, as her hood was off of her head. She had dangerous look, on her face, as she then pulled her sword out, as it glowed with a bright aqua blue light, as the glowing sword pointed backwards... The hogz awed at the sight, as their eyes were fixed on the sword. "Awww... I'vez got to 'ave me, dat ting!..." spoke one of the hogz, as he drooled with amazement.

Then, Kora pulled their shootas away from them, suprising them, using her abilities! " Oi!" snapped a hog, as he didn't like what had just happened to his gun. All the hogz, then pulled out their trashy looking melee weapons, as they all then charged at the dark, young mare, " Get kill'n!" shouted a hog, " Waaargh!" shouted another. They all now surrounded Kora, as she then had both of her hoofs, cupped in front of her. Then... she released a force, as she jumped into the air a bit, and spreaded her hoofs, away from herself. The hogz flew, everywhere as some of them hit the trees and each other, as only a few of them had died. " She must be one of dem pony sorcerers! Get 'em! For da Waaargh!" cried a warthog, as most of them got back up. The whole gang of hogz got back up, and charged at the single mare. Kora, thought this was too easy, as she then summoned lighting, from both of her front hoofs, as she then shocked all of them, as electrictiy was coming out from both of her hoofs! "Z-z-z-z-og, d-d-dis!" cried a hog, as he spoke while he was being shocked to death, by such power. Then, Kora stopped shocking at the hogz, as she then relaxed and watched them all fall onto the ground, dead. " I-if we make it... We can fight again, another DAY!..." spoke one hog, as he let out his last few words out, then died... " Hmph! That was too easy..." she spoke to herself. Then, she was smacked by a metal arm, as the hogz' tin can machine, was being operated by the last remaining hog, in the camp. Kora, hit a tree, as she impacted it, leaving a big mark on it. " Oh youz gunna pay for dat..." spoke the hog, as he controlled the machine, as it was stomping its way twords her, as it moved silly. Kora, dashed twords the machine, as she moved as fast as Rainbow Dash would go. She stood infront of the machine, making herself to look wide open. The hog, inside the machine, then commanded one of it's arms to grab onto the mare, as she then used her powers to stop it, from coming at her. The arm, was now stuck, as the hog pressed or held onto the controls, thinking that there is a jam, in the controls. Kora, held that force, until she thought about leading the claw into the machine's body. She used her abilities, to force the claw to ram up against it's cheap interior, as she then cut off the arm, leaving the claw to be stuck inside the machine. " Douch! Dat 'urt!" complained the hog, as he then used the other arm, which was the buzzsaw, to saw up the mare. Kora, hopped away from the attack, as she had lept backwards, away from the tin can machine. She then moved both of her front hoofs around, picked up the machine, using her powers, and crumpled up the machine. She crushed it, as she crumpled it like a can, that you would buy at a soda vending machine, only to turn it into a ball of trash. Kora, then dropped the heavy metal ball of trash, as the hog was no more, as blood trickled out from it.

The campsite was wreaked, as the grots got caught into the action as well, as they too got shocked, leaving them to be burnt, as they gave off smoke. Kora, looked around herself, making sure to not leave anyone alive, as she then put her hood back on herself, and had left the ruined campsite, quietly...