The Shadow of a King
Hit Hard, Hit Faster and Obliterate (Part 1)
Author: Draconis187

“Get down!” Thule shouted as he and Spitfire were pinned behind a low rock formation that provided minimal cover from their attackers.

“Sweet Celestia, what are these things?!” Spitfire exclaimed in fear as she dodged a sickly-green, snot-like projectile flying over her head by ducking behind the formation.

“Tyranids! Never thought I’d live long enough to see these ugly beasts!” Thule responded as he opened fire on one of the aforementioned monsters.

Their position was teetering on being overrun by hideous creatures that made Spitfire wish she was facing demons again. They were of a pale green colouration with a thick layer of dark purple atop most of their heads akin to some form of armour. Although their ribcages were exposed, they were quite tough as they resisted a fair amount of bolter fire before finally succumbing and collapsing in bloody heaps.

There were many differences between types as one lacked arms and legs but levitated a short distance from the ground. It also seemed to possess a greater intellect than the others around it but it blew up all the same when Thaddeus shot its head a few times. Unlike the other Tyranids, this one violently exploded, bathing the area in snot-green blood as nearby Tyranids were either thrown back or horribly mutilated, covering the ground in bleeding body parts. The sight almost made Spitfire puke in her helmet, her desire for self-preservation being the only thing stopping her.

“We need to evac!” Thaddeus shouted as he engaged his jetpack, flying up into the air before falling on top of a group of small Tyranids that had been firing on their position, crushing two under his boots as the heavy, red boots went straight through their skulls and making a horrible squishing sound as he contacted with the ground.

“Fall back! That’s an order!” Davian shouted as he got up and kept firing, moving backwards and keeping his eyes trained on the encroaching forces.

Spitfire moved too, staying with the Assault Marines as Thaddeus returned. The group kept together, forming a wall of retaliating bolter fire as they moved backwards. Sadly a few leapt over the cover they had been using and charged the group. These Tyranids had large, scythe-like forearms unlike the ones that seemed to have a form of bio-gun.

“For the Blood Ravens!” They shouted – minus Spitfire, she shouted: “For Equestria!” instead – and drew their chainswords before charging the attackers.

Spitfire drove her old-looking weapon deep through the Tyranid’s chest area – or at least what she thought was the chest area – and the tip pierced straight through, the blade’s ‘teeth’ still moving at high speed as Spitfire pulled the blade out of the dying Tyranid as it bled to death on the ground.

“This is Captain Angelos to any surviving units. We have reports of Tyranid attacks all over the planet and they are tearing our stationed forces apart. Retreat to your drop zones for Thunderhawk extraction,” Angelos’ voice said as he spoke over the vox channel.

“You heard him!” Davian shouted as he tore a Tyranid’s head off with one hard slice of his blade, severing the neck clean and kicking it hard enough to collapse its chest cavity as he forced it onto the ground.

As the group began to fall back to their bolters and keep some distance between them and the blades the Tyranids had, the ground decided to start shaking. It was a rhythmic pulse as if it were footsteps. The group around Spitfire either didn’t notice or their combat experience made them immune to the kind of fear she was currently experiencing.

Around a large wall it came, a mammoth of a Tyranid with scythe-blades bigger than Spitfire’s body, tail and all. It had red markings on its body like warpaint and it had a rather small head for its size. It possessed a second pair of limbs but these were a lot shorter and wider, more like the claws of a crab. The purple armour covered its entire back and had strange protrusions sticking from it but like the rest, it lacked any form of protection underneath as its chest area and lower were completely unprotected. But those huge blades made trying to get close to kill it a suicide mission.

“Sweet Celestia…” Spitfire muttered under her breath.

Davian had also taken notice of the new arrival and shouted, “Carnifex!”

The group dispersed as the beast charged at them, obliterating their cover and making the ground shake as if there was a twelve scale earthquake occurring. More Tyranids began to push through the hole it made and began to pour in.

“This is Thule. Our position is being overrun and I doubt we can hold on for very much longer, requesting evac at our location as we can not make it to our LZ for extraction!” Thule shouted over the vox channel as he and the Assault Marines tried to find cover.

“This is Angelos. Assistance is on its way, Davian. Try to hold on for as long as you can. May the God-Emperor be with you,” Angelos replied.

“May he be with us all…” Thule steeled his resolve as he charged at the Carnifex with his chainsword held high above his head as he yelled another battlecry.

**** **** **** ****

“That’s a Horadric Scroll… As the last living Horadrim, I alone know of its meaning,” Cain said with some pride in his voice as he examined the ancient scroll.

“It just looks like gibberish ta me,” Applejack said as Cain began to read the scroll.

“Where is Trixie?” Cain asked as he noted the absence of the showmare.

“She’s tellin’ that Atma lady ‘bout the monster we killed,” Applejack replied. “After sellin’ off some of the things we found in them sewers. They had some value, money-wise. Go figure.”

“Ah. An understandable and wise course of action,” Deckard Cain said as he returned his attention to the scroll. “It is getting late after all and I do believe you two do not have any money to acquire a bed for the night since Warriv has left for the monastery you cleansed.”

“Darn tootin’,” Applejack replied.

On the other side of Lut Gholein, Trixie was just finishing telling Atma her tale of Applejack’s and her role in taking down Radament. Trixie could see the woman smile ever so slightly and her expression changed to one of peace when one gets the revenge they were seeking. She knew the expression well.

“Thank you very much, Trixie,” Atma said. “They say that vengeance is bittersweet but I find it to my liking. You and your friend have done us a great service. I have spoken to the townspeople earlier when you had offered your help and they have agreed to offer their goods and services at reduced rates should you return successfully. Which – of course – you have by virtue of the fact the sewers now lie silent once again.”

Trixie smiled and nodded her head, making sure her hat didn’t fall off, “Thank you very much, dear Atma. Do you know of anywhere we may rest? The sun is setting and I’d like to sleep on a proper bed instead of the floor.”

“Elzix runs the Desert Rain Inn. Just tell him I sent you and he should let you rest yourselves there,” Atma replied.

Trixie smiled sincerely and tipped her hat with her hoof, “Thank you very much, Miss Atma.”

“No, thank you… truly,” Atma replied as Trixie walked off, giving the mare a small wave with her smile growing ever so slightly.

Trixie trotted over to Applejack and Deckard Cain but saw her hammer-wielding friend facehoof as if something had happened. Sadly even with her good hearing, she was unable to catch what made her have such a reaction until she fully rejoined the two.

Trixie regarded Applejack with a look with a mixture of confusion and slight concern for any damage her action may have caused her freckled face, “What happened, Applejack? I saw you hit yourself in the face with your hoof…”

“Let’s jus’ say Ah’m starting to hate this place…” Applejack responded.

“Well, we can discuss it over at the Desert Rain Inn. Atma spoke with all the… people around here to offer us reduced rates with regards to their services but we will still need to pay for them though,” Trixie stated as she sat down next to her friend and looked straight into her eyes as she spoke.

Applejack nodded her head in understanding, “Ah wouldn’t want it any other way, Trix. It wouldn’t be right ta jus’ get things fer free ya know? Ah like ta earn mah keep.”

Trixie smiled and nodded her head, “On that we can both agree. Let us depart, the man we seek is known as Elzix. Strange name for a human though…”

“And our names aren’t strange ta them?” Applejack asked rhetorically as she arched an eyebrow and giving the showmare a small smirk.

Trixie giggled as she began to walk with Cain and Applejack towards the aforementioned inn, “I do believe you have a point there, Applejack. Now to find this Elzix…”

**** **** **** ****

Spitfire was thrown hard into a wall as the Carnifex charged the group and collided with her as she tried to fly over it. Her attempt got her airborne but one of the monster’s massive, scythe-like claws back-handed her and sent her flying into the wall which buckled and broke from the force.

The armour cushioned most of the blow but she still felt like she had just been tackled by Snowflake. The stallion was almost literally a flying wall of angry, Pegasus meat. But this was something else entirely, while the Pegasus in question would be apologising up and down for weeks, the Carnifex however planned on doing far more than that and came down on her with the force of a massive, collapsing building in an attempt to turn her into paste.

As Spitfire cringed as she saw the massive claws come down at her, a massive bang rang out and she found herself covered in warm, disgusting Tyranid blood as most of the torso was completely missing, giving Spitfire an excellent insight into its internal organs’ structure and layout. What remained of the Carnifex simply thudded as it connected with the ground, leaving Spitfire dumfounded until she heard something familiar roaring in the distance.

Bearing down on their position were the four Thunderhawks that brought them to Calderis in the first place. Spitfire heaved a sigh of relief but a shout brought her out of her musing and directed her attention to the Tyranids still nearby and calling for blood somewhat as the only thing they cared about were consuming everything in their path.

“Get your head in the game!” Thaddeus shouted as he brought his chainsword down on a Tyranid and cleaved its head in half, its ‘armour’ proving useless as blood flew in all directions, even onto his armour.

“Right, sorry…” Spitfire rolled and got up before collecting her bolter which had fallen thanks to the Carnifex’s attack. Her chainsword was nearby, the blade embedded in the ground and inactive as the motor was not humming with the ‘teeth’ moving merrily as usual.

“Head for the cliff-face, we will evacuate you there since there is not enough space down there at your current position. The other Thunderhawks provide close air support,” Angelos stated in a calm manner over the vox channel.

Davian Thule pointed to one of the Thunderhawks as it moved towards their extraction point which was a short distance away, to their right, “You heard Gabriel, move out!”

The Assault Marines let out a yell as they engaged their jetpacks and soared, coming down soon after and pounding a few Tyranids into the ground with their mighty boots. Thule and Spitfire ran together towards the Thunderhawk as it opened the front ramp, revealing two squads of Devastator Marines equipped with massive Heavy Bolters.

The red-clad Marines got out and set up their Heavy Bolters at the bottom of the ramp, giving the group covering fire as the Assault Marines landed nearby and boarded the Thunderhawk, firing back at the Tyranids until they were fully inside the flying, metal death machine.

Behind Thule and Spitfire were a large group of Tyranids moving at high speed and they were gaining ground. Most of the group were annihilated as three Thunderhawks gave the two supporting fire as Thule leapt over a low wall with Spitfire following close by.

The Devastators began to move back into the Thunderhawk and gestured for the two to get in. Spitfire engaged her jetpack and launched herself forwards, landing right by the ramp and running inside. She took off her helmet and smiled at Thule as he drew nearer but her expression fell instantly as Thule was sideswiped by a small Tyranid before he could reach the ramp.

The creature got a body full of Bolter rounds as Spitfire and Thaddeus fired their Bolters as they ran to grab him. As they got to him, they could see his chest plate was ripped open, a testament to the Tyranids’ strength and the sharpness of their claws. Thaddeus hefted Thule up in a fireman’s hold and carried him as the Devastators and Assault marines gave the two covering fire.

Soon enough they got back into the Thunderhawk and the red flying machine closed the ramp, flying off as fast as it could to get away from the Tyranids. Spitfire looked at Thule sadly as he coughed, his helmet having been removed after Thaddeus laid him down. Spitfire’s ears were flat, her lip quivering a little as she began to berate herself.

“If only I wasn’t so hasty… Then I-” She said but Thaddeus cut her off quickly.

“Then both of you would have been suffering whatever affliction is ravaging Captain Thule’s body,” Thaddeus said matter-of-factly, giving her a deadpan expression with his helmet under his right arm, “Those bastards are fast. You would have been attacked as well before I could have reached either of you. You were lucky, even if the Captain was not.”

Spitfire sighed, “I guess you’re right.”

“I’ve never met Tyranids before but I’ve read about them… Captain Angelos though knows more than I though due to his vast experience with xeno encounters,” Thaddeus said as he sat down.

Spitfire sat down near Thule, placing her helmet back on. “I’ll be sure to ask him for everything he knows about these creatures. And here I thought demons were ugly…”

**** **** **** ****

The Desert Rain Inn was a large, mud-brick building just like any other in Lut Gholein with the only exception being the fact that the owner was a former gang leader. The dangerous lifestyle had cost him most of his one arms but he took it as a sign to retire.

The middle-aged, balding man smiled at the two mares and Deckard Cain walked up the street. He began to mumble under his breath, “So, looks like the mummy in the sewers got what was coming to it. About time, I was beginning to wonder if my guests would ever be able to sleep again, let alone me. Wonder if they’d be interested in any weapons…”

The last thought went out the window as he saw the massive hammer on Applejack’s back, making him raise an eyebrow and decide that they might not need a new weapon. “Maybe armour? Hm… don’t seem like the armour-wearing type… may need to convince them then.”

The trio finally got to Elzix’s location and the man decided to spread out his arms in a dramatic fashion as he welcomed them warmly, “Welcome to the Desert Rain Inn! I am Elzix, what can I do for you?”

Trixie shook her head and spoke in a slightly callous manner, “We didn’t come for amateur hour, that’s for sure.”

Applejack looked at Trixie with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice as she spoke, “Play nice now, Trixie. Ah know that he ain’t quite yer level but be nice all the same.”

Trixie smiled sheepishly, “Sorry, it’s a force of habit to criticise another’s performance. Sort of ingrained into my mind, so to speak,” She then turned her head to talk to Elzix. “My two compatriots and I have come seeking a place to rest our heads before finding out where we are going to head out. I assume we can’t take a trip on one of the ships moored by the pier?”

Elzix nodded his head, “Yeah, the port is closed and there is nothing but desert out here. Unless you plan on going back into the sewers?”

Trixie laughed a little, almost mocking him in a way. “I would rather be in Las Pegasus again during the Changeling invasion than go trudging through that muck again.”

Elzix’s face turned to confusion but Applejack simply gave him and Cain a shake of her head when she saw him give them the same look, “Very long story. Tell ya’ll later. Ah jus’ want to get some shut-eye.”

Elzix nodded his head, “Alright. Please follow me sir and… um… ladies?”

Trixie, “Our difference in species does not change the nouns you use when describing us. We are ladies and I will accept mare as well since that is what we are.”

“Uh, alright,” Elzix lead the trio into the inn and Trixie let out a low whistle.

“For a hovel in the desert, you do have some taste in design. Although,” Trixie smirked as she looked at Applejack, “I still think Rarity would have a field day over staying the night in a building made of mud.”

Applejack laughed out loud, “Unless it was some fancy stuff, I doubt she’d even want to look at it. But she has been getting better with her prissy ways.”

Trixie giggled, “That much is true. Can’t see her trekking through a desert like the one we just came from without finding something to complain about though.”

Elzix pointed to a flight of stairs, “I gather you are after separate rooms?”

“One for each of us I should think,” Trixie replied as she took her hat off and searched through it for gold. “Funny how we have a similar currency and yet it’s still utterly useless here.”

Deckard Cain raised an eyebrow, choosing to speak after a while as his attention had been mostly taken up by the Horadric Scroll he had been reading, “I would like to know more about your kind, Madam Trixie. If you would be so kind as to oblige an old man?”

“M-madam Trixie?” Trixie turned to look at him with confusion. “Since when did I own a brothel? I’m a showmare by trade, not a madam.”

“Really? Given by the way you have been speaking, I would have thought you were a scholar,” Cain replied.

Trixie rolled her eyes and levitated her hat in front of him, “No scholar of any tribe in all of Equestria wears a hat or a cape when they begin or even finish their studies. It’s mainly for show purposes but it’s very important to me which s why I choose to wear it almost constantly.”

“See? Learning something already,” Cain answered. “Mind telling me more about these ‘tribes’ you spoke of?”

Trixie nodded her head, “Fine, but I’ll tell you tomorrow. I feel a little dead on my hooves. Night all.”

Trixie didn’t wait for Elzix to show her to a vacant room and quickly went into the first vacant room she could find, shutting the door and placing magic wards on it and the window to wake her should an intruder enter. She removed her hat and cape, placing it onto a nearby chair and placing Cerberus under her pillow so it would be close by should she need it.

Applejack and Cain were lead to two nearby rooms and were informed that the Desert Rain Inn served breakfast but it wasn’t much as most of the higher quality food was served in the palace. Applejack had no objections and neither did Cain as they said their goodnights and went to sleep in their respective rooms.

**** **** **** ****

The Helmsgriffon in the Arbiter ran a few numbers in his head as he looked over the ship’s current fuel reserves and the distance the entire fleet still had to travel as they made their way across the water towards Equestria. What he figured out was not good news for any of the airships and definitely not good for him since Bloodwing was in no mood for bad news.

“Sir, I am afraid I do not have good news,” He said as he turned to look at Bloodwing.

Bloodwing arched an eyebrow at him and let out an exasperated sigh, “Now what’s wrong?”

The Helmsgriffon took a deep breath before replying to Bloodwing who was being oddly calm as the red-winged Griffon stared at him, “I am afraid at the rate we are burning through our fuel, we will drop out of the sky before reaching Ponyville, sir.”

His previous thoughts to Bloodwing’s mood flew straight out the window as the Griffon in question bellowed so loudly with pure fury and anguish it made every Griffon in earshot cringe and hide as if some beast from Tartarus had been let loose aboard the ship and to be honest with themselves, they would have preferred that over Bloodwing.

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me this before we left Zebrican airspace?!” Bloodwing shouted, the Helmsgriffon now wishing he was somewhere else, an entirely different planet altogether if it were possible.

“Sorry, sir. I didn’t realise it till the fourth aft engine gave out,” He replied, only to make Bloodwing even angrier, something he thought wasn’t possible at this point.

“One of the engines g-” Bloodwing’s face made a variety of expressions as his one claw clenched so hard he almost cut himself with his own talons, raised slightly above his head, almost looking as if he was going to clobber the Helmsgriffon.

For a moment Bloodwing took a deep breath and calmed down to a state he could think better at, “Where is the nearest refuelling port that we can reach? And it better be on Equestrian soil or else someone is going through a window… Without their wings!”

The Helmsgriffon gulped, “There is one sir. A few but the closest to us is Baltimare, on the coastline. It is still quite new and we’d only get the Arbiter refuelled because of that and for the fact it was meant to only refuel the smaller, commercial airships.”

Bloodwing faceclawed, “Of course it is… Helios, tell the fleet to break up and find the nearest refuelling depot. We’ll meet up in Fillydelphia and move towards Ponyville.”

Helios nodded his head and returned to the helm, “Understood, sir. Attention all airships. Break formation and head for Baltimare, Stalliongrad and Pegisopolis for refuelling. Meeting point is in Fillydelphia.”

The commanding officers of the other airships voiced their confirmations of the order and broke formation, heading towards the cities that could refuel the massive war machines.

Bloodwing muttered under his breath as he sat back in his seat, “This is why I hate jet engines.”

**** **** **** ****

The Normandy flew towards the Mass Relay so it would be ready to head off to the next location Commander Sheppard wished to go while the ground crew sat in the debriefing room. Wrex, Garrus, Liara, Pinkie, Sheppard, Alenko and Williams all sat on chairs arranged in a circle so not one had their back to someone. Pinkie giggled as she spun on the chair. Joker buzzed in from the helm and spoke to Sheppard.

“Next time, Sheppard, could we not stop by an active volcano? I don’t think the ship was designed to get a tan,” Joker said in a light-hearted manner.

Pinkie gave a small, chortling laugh, “Good one, Joker! Hm…-” Pinkie placed a hoof on her chin “- I wonder what colour the ship would be if it could get a tan? Would it go brown and sizzle as if it were bacon or would it simply change colour?”

“I’d rather not know thank you, Pinkie. Any ideas about our next destination?” Sheppard asked to the group.

Alenko shrugged his shoulders, “The Normandy is your ship, Commander. I’ll follow whatever decision you make as I’m sure everyone will agree.”

“There is still Noveria and Feros to go to now but I agree with Lieutenant Alenko. I’ll follow wherever you choose to go,” Williams stated.

“Commander if you go to Noveria, may I request to accompany you? It is very important to me to see my mother. I might be able to find out why she is doing this,” Liara asked.

“Ooh… um I don’t think it’s a good idea…” Pinkie answered before Sheppard could reply.

“Matriarch Benezia is my mother, Pinkie. I can not stay behind when I have not seen her in many years. She may be confused or maybe it’s part of a larger plan she came up with. My mother has many centuries of experience so it is possible she is only helping Saren to get closer to find out his full machinations,” Liara argued.

“B-but…” Pinkie’s ears were flat against her head, trying to find a reason to not let her go with.

“Liara’s coming, Pinkie. She might help us figure out why Matriarch Benezia is helping Saren,” Sheppard said, his arms folded.

“Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie said without her usual enthusiasm.

“Cheer up, Pinkie. You know what you could do to make everyone feel better?” Joker’s voice said over the intercom.

Sheppard’s eyes widened, ‘Joker… don’t you dare say it.”

Joker however did not listen to a word he said and carried on, “Liara is a new crew member and what do you give new members, Pinkie? A party.”

That was all the encouragement the pink mare needed to squeal with joy and run out of the room at a speed Liara thought was not even possible without some form of technological or biotic assistance. She had to blink a few times to realise Pinkie was there one second and completely gone the next, faster than her brain was able to realise what had just occured.

“What… just happened?” Liara asked in confusion as Wrex laughed heartily with Garrus giving a small chuckle.

“Let’s just say, when you see her with a cannon you may want to steer clear lest you be covered in party favours,” Garrus answered with a snide smile on his face.

Pinkie ran through the ship at top speed, her armour clean off her body and in its locker. Her Party Cannon was always nearby whenever she needed it but that was not her concern at that moment. Her hooves clanged as they collided with the metal flooring of the ship as she ran towards the helm.

Joker almost literally leapt out his seat – which could have caused a number of fractures in the process – as Pinkie’s head came into his field of vision instantly, “Shit! Pinkie… It’s just you. What’s wrong? I thought you’d be halfway trying to make Liara a party.”

“Silly Billy, I can do that in ten minutes but I just have a question,” Pinkie answered as she sat down near Joker’s seat.

“Oh? And what would that be?” Joker asked.

“What do Asari like?” She answered with a genuine inquisitive look on her face.

**** **** **** ****

Twilight and Nyx sat on the back seat of Sven’s car once more, this time with Eve no longer having Nyx’s head on her lap due to the Alicorn’s new size. This however did not stop her from gently stroking her neck. Eve’s face however was simply unchanged from its usual, blank expression.

“So, Twilight…” Sven began to say as he drove, a fresh cigarette in his mouth. “Mind telling us what happened back there with Nyx?”

Train nodded his head, “Yeah, even I’m a little curious. One moment she’s small enough to pass off as some children’s plushie and the next she’s the size of the average horse.”

Twilight shifted uncomfortably, “I was wondering when you were going to ask… But I should have known something like this would happen with Alastor around.

“Nyx’s transformation was caused when she invoked the inherent power within Alastor,” Twilight explained. “These Devil Arms seem to possess great power but they do not seem to ever fully unleash it until they find a user worthy enough to withstand it. Even after that, they still use only a portion of their full strength.”

“Wait,” Sven said, cutting Twilight off from saying much more. “You’re using plurals. How many more of those things are there, Twilight?”

“A few to be accurate but there may be more than the ones I’ve seen since they are not native to our world, even Nyx’s. But each one is quite unique,” Twilight answered, a little annoyance evident in her voice from being cut off.

“Alastor is actually one of two weapons I know that wield lightning,” Twilight continued. “Although the methods the two weapons use are quite different. Alastor is like a living lightning bolt and a lightning rod, able to fire lightning and it is also able to influence the weather to an extent. The other though… well, it’s a guitar.”

Train laughed as he turned to look at Twilight, “So… what? Does it shock its targets with bad notes? If it’s poorly tuned does it make you cringe?”

Twilight rolled her eyes and smirked, “No. It summons bloodthirsty bats and its strings are made of pure lightning. It’s also able to turn into a scythe and fires lightning like a cannon, of sorts.”

Train simply scoffed and laid back in his seat, “Sorry I asked.”

Train had to admit he found the world Twilight was from to be rather interesting. No war for a good number of centuries, who wouldn’t want that? Although such a thing may mean he would be out of a job if everyone was as nice as Twilight made them out to be, there would be no need for Sweepers.

Luckily that thought was purged from his mind as Twilight spoke, “Although despite we’ve had no major wars in a while, we still have a few criminals roaming about. And the Changeling invasion doesn’t count.”

“Invasion?” This time it was Eve who spoke. Despite interrupting, her voice was still flat and emotionless as ever. Twilight smiled a little, thankful to have someone with such a hungry mind to talk to.

“It’s a bit of a long story for all the details,” Twilight explained, turning her head a little to look at Eve. “The gist of it is thus: we were attacked by a race of shapeshifters. The second time it happened to be honest.

“But what both they and we didn’t know was that they were manipulated into the invasion by a demon from another universe,” Twilight continued, a look of sadness on her face as she recounted her tale. “It’s actually a rather sad tale to be honest as it ruined thousands of lives. We almost committed mass genocide and we would have regretted it for the rest of our lives.

“I was surprised Fluttershy didn’t cry as much as I thought she would have when we learned the truth,” Twilight continued, a very small tear on her face. “But given her experiences, it made her a little apathetic. I guess she found a different way to deal with it…”

“Everyone has different ways of dealing with the consequences of their actions,” Train stated, not looking at Twilight. “Our burdens are ours to bear, no one else’s. We all find our ways to deal with our inner demons. Some manage to do so while others let their demons control their lives, never getting over it until they kill themselves.”

“That’s a little deep for you, Train. Been reading some of Eve’s books?” Sven asked slyly, a smirk on his face.

Train smiled and closed his eyes, placing his hand behind his head as he relaxed. “Nah, I’m just a deep guy.”

Sven laughed, “You’re as deep as a pan, Train.”

**** **** **** ****

Pinkie’s party had hit the ship at a speed that would have made Rainbow Dash proud and baffle scientists until the end of time. At the end, everyone who was forced to attend – Dr. Chakwas being among them for some reason, despite her many protests – were completely exhausted. Everyone made a mental note to tell Pinkie it was Joker’s birthday next week as an act of vengeance.

Sheppard lay back on one of the seats in the mess hall, “We’re heading to Noveria first and then to Feros. And Liara is coming” – Pinkie raised her hoof, about to object again –“no arguments, Pinkie.”

Pinkie lowered her hoof and huffed, “Fine.” She then began to mutter under her breath, “Force Liara to kill her own mother but hey no skin off my bones…”

Garrus looked at Pinkie, “What was that Pinkie?”

“But English muffins taste like cardboard and not the nice, double-corrugated stuff, that really nasty, cheap cardboard that they don’t use unless there’s no other cardboard around or if they’re just trying to be cheep McCheapermans but that’s what Derpy at any rate says whenever she comes in to ask for them. She’s a crazy mare, you know?” Pinkie replied, smiling broadly at Garrus.

Garrus just looked at Pinkie and she did the same. The next few moments passed in silence as Garrus stared at her, waiting for a proper answer for once. Sadly, Pinkie thought he was challenging her to a staring contest and looked at him with a hard expression, as if trying to bore through his skull with her sheer determination to win.

Garrus sighed and walked off, resigning to the fact that she’ll only tell him or someone else when she wants to. ‘She’s as mysterious as the Perseus Veil.’ He thought as he went down in the elevator to the loading bay to check on the Mako.

Pinkie trotted over to Liara who was still a little dumfounded that one small pony managed to organise a party in such a short span of time without the use of biotics.

“Enjoy the party ‘cause when I called you were all like ‘what is it?’ and I was like ‘come over here and see!’ Then you were all -” Pinkie gasped loudly, placing her forehooves on the sides of her face, scrunching it up “- then I was all like ‘surprise!’ That reminds me, there was this Pegasus that used to be a part of the Wonderbolts but she died when the train they were on was attacked and now we don’t even have a body to bury since everypony thinks they were mutilated by the Changelings and eaten. Isn’t that strange though since they apparently feed of love and some other emotions?”

Liara and anyone within earshot was left in the dust as Pinkie spoke a mile a minute before ranting about ducks swimming backwards and walking off, still chattering away.

Sheppard got up and walked over to Liara, speaking before she could ask. “No, you don’t get used to it.”

Joker piped in using the intercom again, “Commander, we’ve entered the Pax System. Heading for the Horse Head Nebula now.”

“Good,” Sheppard said as he walked towards his locker. “Joker, tell Wrex to suit up. And if you find Pinkie, tell her to suit up as well. I want to move out the moment we land.”

“Understood, Commander.” Joker replied.

“Sheppard,” A voice said, making Sheppard jump and instinctively reach for his pistol. He looked at the source to find Pinkie standing a few steps away, fully clad in her armour.

“Fuck, Pinkie. Don’t do that,” Sheppard said as he placed his pistol down and picked up his armour’s chestplate, donning it. “Your antics are not easy to get used to, if at all. Something you wanted?”

“Yupperooni!” Pinkie replied cheerfully, “What is this Noveria we’re going to?”

“It’s a planet covered in ice and snow. You will freeze without a suit if you don’t suffocate first but with you… I don’t know,” Sheppard replied, not looking at her as he got the arm-pieces of his armour on. “It also has a bad history of allowing some companies to conduct experiments the Council would frown upon if discovered.”

“Oh,” Pinkie said, her eyes wide. “So are we going to bust a commercial conspiracy involving trafficking of humans or some Asari or maybe some Salarian is cutting open a Kro”- Pinkie stopped herself –“ nevermind. Let’s get going.”

“We’re not at Noveria yet, Pinkie so please just hold off on the enthusiasm for now. Please?” Sheppard implored, praying to the Maker she would agree.

Pinkie nodded her head and walked off to the helm. She stopped as she almost went around the corner by the stairs and looked back at Sheppard, muttering solemnly under her breath, “Taking Liara with us is not going to end up being okie dokie lokie…”

**** **** **** ****

Sven’s car continued to rattle heavily as it trudged along the road towards Rubeck City, the city their target - Gyanza Rujike - was rumoured to be hiding. But it was also rumoured that he was behind the massive increase in crime that forced the residents of the city to stay indoors for most of the day.

Twilight looked out the window, watching the landscape continue to move past her. “So… this Gyanza Rujike… what’s his modus operandi?”

If one were to look at Sven’s face, they would have seen a very morbid expression on it as he spoke, “Gyanza is the scum of the earth in almost every conceivable way. I nabbed him back when I was with the International Police. He gets his kicks from raping and murdering any women he finds.”

Twilight huffed, blowing a stray lock of hair out of the way. “Sounds like a real piece of work.”

“If whoever supplied Igor with that Spirit Water is planning on giving it to Gyanza, he’ll be a dead man before I let him so much as get his hands on it,” Sven said.

“Isn’t that a bit… extreme? Even for you?” Twilight asked.

“You don’t know that scumbag like I do, Twilight. He’s evil, pure and simple and I’d rather have a corpse than some jacked up, super Gyanza. There is no telling what that Spirit Water could do to him after we saw what it did to Planter,” Sven answered. “With that much power at his disposal… I’d rather not think about it.”

“I see… I do not agree but if it does anything similar to what it did to Igor Planter then I guess we don’t really have a choice,” Twilight said.

“Igor seemed reluctant to attack until we stepped on his flowers,” Eve stated flatly, her eyes fixated on Nyx’s mane. “After that he drank the Spirit Water and we were forced to fight him.”

Sven nodded, “And Gyanza will have no such reluctance. He’ll use the power to make his fun more enjoyable for him.” Sven gripped the steering wheel harder, his knuckles going a little white.

“Ease up, Sven,” Train said, turning his head and opening his eyes to look at him. “You’re going to give yourself grey hairs if you keep worrying about it. Not to mention you can’t really do anything till we get there you know. So quit your worrying.”

Sven shook his head, “Easy for you to say. You haven’t had to track this guy’s rampage back in the day. You don’t know what it’s like to chase a madman, watching him destroy everything that you swore to protect.”

Train’s expression turned cold in an instant and he turned his head, looking out the window. ‘You don’t know how wrong you are. You didn’t have everything you ever cared about ripped away,’ He thought coldly.

“Train?” Eve asked, moving a little forward and poking Train with a finger.

“Hm? Something wrong, Princess?” Train asked, turning his head to look at the three behind him.

“You seemed upset about something,” Eve responded, moving back a bit, returning to her original position.

“Who me? Nah,” Train replied, giving Eve a confident grin. “I’m Black Cat, kid. Master assassins like me don’t get upset over little things.”

Eve however was unconvinced, “You’re lying.”

Even Twilight analyzed Train’s smile. It was one that had seemed practised, as if he had years to perfect a smile that would fool all but a few that knew to look for the signs and the ones who used it themselves. Train’s smile may have said he was fine to most but to Twilight, Eve and even Nyx, they all knew he was hiding pain, regret and sorrow. Whatever he was hiding from them, it was hurting him deeply.

**** **** **** ****

A cemetery on the outskirts of Canterlot had become desecrated as Diamond Dogs exhumed the graves in search for valuables. They dug at the ground with fervour, not caring about disrespecting the ponies that had long since passed or the fresh bodies. Most of their searches turned out to be fruitless as all they found were skeletal remains of ponies while the odd one was clothed and actually had a valuable or two.

Several figures approached on foot towards the entrance to the graveyard. All but one looked beyond tired, as if they had not slept in weeks but they all kept pace with the one leading them to the graveyard.

Surprise looked at Soarin, “Thanks.”

Soarin shook his head, Fluttershy’s old ebony blades still on his back. “It’s no problem, Surprise… should have done this ages ago really.”

Silver Lining breathed a sigh of relief, “Finally… I’ve wanted to go back since I was brought back.”

Blaze sighed in annoyance, “You’ve done nothing but complain since we were brought back, you idiot! If it’s not one thing it’s bucking something else!”

Surprise shook her head, “remind me again as to why you had to bring them back?”

Fire Streak simply stayed quiet until Blaze bumped into him, “Would you two stop this incessant bickering for once? You were bad enough in life! There is no torture in all of Tartarus that could possibly be as bad as the pair of you two utter buffoons!”

Blaze just looked at Fire Streak with complete shock, “Holy mother of Celestia’s buttcheeks! You actually speak! I thought death made you a mute!”

Streak glared at him, “No it didn’t. I chose not to speak you ingrate! I chose not to speak so you wouldn’t talk to me and yet all it had yielded was you and Silver having a go at each other. You’re like an old married couple but without the rutting! Or maybe you did in life and now since you can’t get it up in death, you’re now taking out the frustrations out on each other. I do not know and quite honestly I do not care. Get a room, kiss and make up. Do something other than argue!”

Fire Streak stormed off into the cemetery, leaving the others behind. Soarin chuckled a little, “Well… Someone’s angry… But-” he turned his attention to Silver Lining and Blaze “-he has a point. You two can not keep this going. Fate is most likely going to pair you two together as usual so I suggest getting over your little ‘lover’s spat’ and get going.”

The rest of the group entered the cemetery and Soarin looked around. The Diamond Dogs stopped what they were doing and were about to attack until they noticed who exactly had entered. With a single gesture, the Diamond Dogs all cleared out without so much as a question or a bark.

“There. Hopefully they left your graves alone,” Soarin commented as he watched their forms retreat into the distance. “If they didn’t, I’ll make sure death itself won’t save them from what I’d do to them.”

Surprise shook her head, “Soarin… it’s not too late you know. You could come with us you know. Pass on and be at peace with the knowledge that you will get your revenge.”

“But I want to see it with my own eyes, Surprise. They took everything from me…” Soarin replied as he looked towards the city. “My job, my life… and you…”

Surprise hung her head, “You know that we were not supposed to have relationships with each other?”

Soarin chuckled, “We died, Surprise. You think protocol matters anymore?”

Surprise and Soarin soon caught up with the other three as they stood by three gravestones. They were marble with a granite outline. The base however was made of sandstone. At the top of each gravestone was the Wonderbolts symbol. The lightning bolt was made of gold leaf while the wings were etched into the marble.

Underneath each symbol was their cutie mark and an inscription bearing their name, rank, date of birth, the date they died and the usual ‘you will be missed’ message at the bottom.

Soarin placed his hoof on the top of his gravestone and muttered under his breath, “Not yet…”

The others looked at him with rather solemn expressions, knowing his stubbornness would not allow him to go with them. Soarin’s horn began to glow and the dirt was slowly pulled from the ground, leaving four large holes in the ground, each six feet deep.

Each of them – save for Soarin – got into their respective graves and laid down. On each of their faces was a small smile, speaking volumes as to how grateful they were for finally getting the rest they so greatly desired. Soarin placed the dirt he had removed behind the gravestones and turned his attention to the ponies in the open graves.

“Thank you all,” Soarin said, a small smile on his face and a tear rolling down his face.

They all nodded their heads at him and with a single, bright flash from his horn their expressions remained smiling as their bodies fell to the ground, limp as their souls were instantly sent into the hereafter in the span of a second.

But that was not all that happened. Surprise’s coat began to bleach, turning progressively more white as her mane and tail turned blonde. The rest of the former Wonderbolts’ coats, manes and tails returned to their original states and colours. Even their uniforms began to change to a dark blue colour, revealing the former Wonderbolts spandex suits.

Soarin looked at each one of them in their original states and picked up the dirt he had removed. He slowly refilled each hole in turn, walking past each grave as he finished, stopping at the next before continuing. “Rest in peace…”

**** **** **** ****

Celestia looked out over the edge of the ship she was on, looking to the frozen horizon expectantly. Come hell or high water, she was going to find Baral and she was going to go home. As far as she was concerned, the Nerevarine could stick her callous demeanour up where Celestia never shone the sun.

The weather had died down somewhat, although the wind was still quite favourable to the ship, propelling it towards its destination. However, as Celestia saw what she gathered to be the mainland of Skyrim slowly getting closer, her mind began to think. She only heard of Baral’s world through his tales of grandeur and – sadly – violence.

Between Baral and the devil twins Dante and Vergil, Celestia found Baral a more frequent visitor. Or at least when he was not in the middle of some dingy, old dungeon and waist deep in trouble. She also found that despite his job, he seemed to be rather friendly for the most part with everyone in Equestria.

Celestia was so busy thinking about the Dovahkiin that she didn’t notice the Nerevarine had walked up beside her. For a moment, she didn’t speak until the bow of the ship collided with a crest of a wave, spraying water onto the deck which prompted Celestia to create a shield around her coat to keep dry. The Nerevarine didn’t draw any of her weapons, nor did she even flinch when some of the water soaked her on the one side of her body.

“Tell me what you know of Skyrim,” The Nerevarine stated, sounding like an order.

“I don’t really know much other than the hearsay that Baral liked to ramble on about after a mug of hard cider,” Celestia responded, not looking at her.

“All I know is that it is a large land fraught with danger, old burial chambers the Nords used and the ancient Dwemer ruins like Blackreach,” Celestia continued, recounting one of the tales Baral liked to talk quite a bit about.

This piqued the Nerevarine’s interest as she turned her head to look at Celestia, “Tell me more. Now.”

“All I understand is that it is a massive, underground city the Dwemer built. Completely abandoned for many, many years,” Celestia answered, still not looking at her. “Well… save for the Falmer that made it their home.”

“More information,” The Nerevarine said, her voice sounding more like a scholar that had just been granted access to a section of the library that had been off-limits to them for years.

Celestia nodded her head, “Alright. From what I heard there is some rare Red Nirnroot that grows there and there are some old contraptions that the Dwemer left behind as well but they seem to try to kill whoever activates them.”

“Well, that’s not surprising. More than likely they’ve been left in a sentinel state to guard the place from any who would try to steal everything,” The Nerevarine said matter-of-factly.

“That I can understand,” Celestia replied. “But that’s all I know, oh wait. There are several elevators all across Skyrim that lead into the same cavern.”

“It’s that big huh?” The Nerevarine said thoughtfully a hand resting on her chin. “Could have some valuable information there.”

“But now it is an archeological site,” Celestia explained. “They are trying to figure out how the machinery works and trying to replicate it.”

The Nerevarine chuckled. Oh how she would turn their research on its head if she told them of her relations with the only living Dwemer left, or as far as she and the rest of Tamriel knew anyway.

“Alver, what is our destination again?!” The Nerevarine shouted, turning her head to look at the helm.

Alver looked back, “It’s known as Windhelm. If I recall it used to be the headquarters for a rebel force known as-”

“-Stormcloaks,” Celestia interrupted. “Their leader was known as Ulfric Stormcloak and tried to become the High King of Skyrim.”

“‘Tried’? I gather he is now no more?” The Nerevarine asked.

“No, he’s alive and well. He had to abandon it when a dragon tried to kill them all,” Celestia answered.

“They’re fools. That Ulfric would try to take over again the first chance he gets,” The Nerevarine said callously.

“Not if he was going up against Baral,” Celestia replied with a small smile on her face.

The Nerevarine scoffed, “A single man can not stop a civil war.”

Celestia laughed, “He can when he’s the Dovahkiin.”

As the Nerevarine was about to respond, Alver interrupted, “We’re here. The mainland of Skyrim, ladies.”

Celestia looked over the frozen landscape, just barely making out a massive building at the very precipice of a massive cliff-face. She was about to ask what it was until she recalled a magic college Baral mentioned in his travels. While he apparently didn’t pay it much heed, the fact that it was the only building still standing after most of the city fell into the ocean for reasons none understood but it damaged the reputation of all magic users in Skyrim.

“Praise my mother… it is almost over,” Celestia muttered under her breath but her ears perked up as they caught something very faint on the wind.

The Nerevarine folded her arms, “Why are you praising yo-” Celestia stopped her as she raised her hoof quickly, staring at the Nerevarine with an expression that made her take a step back. She felt like the fury of the sun itself was glaring directly at her as if to incinerate her.

The momentary hesitation died out though as she shook her head, “Why did you cut me off? Explain or you will lose limbs.”

Celestia lowered her hoof and looked out towards the horizon, “I heard something… -” her ears perked up as she heard it once more, slightly louder this time around “-There it is again… Sounds like…”

Celestia’s eyes widened as she heard the noise again, clearly identifying it as a roar. She turned her head skyward, searching it feverishly.

“What did you hear?” The Nerevarine asked, slightly growing impatient.

Celestia spotted it finally: a light grey beast, its body adorned with long, black spikes. It soared through the air, flapping its massive wings as it came flying towards the small – in comparison – ship they were on, “Dragon…”

Author's Notes:

Aaand here's the next update! Well this was long but fun to do as always. Longest chapter so far for this fic.