“Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria…”

Do we really have to use this cliché right now?

War. War never changes. It had consumed our home, a war fought by foreign aggressors until great and terrible magics had been unleashed to burn the entire world to ash and dust. Only our constant devotion to the Princesses had carried us through that terrible war, just as our unwavering faith in the Overmare maintained our continued survival within the earth. Trust in the Overmare; obey the Overmare

Or at least that would have been if it weren’t for the fact that I’m new to the world. My name is Zodiac. I was originally in Equestria (Well, my Equestria) taking over as royalty temporarily when Celestia left with Luna asleep to regain Luna’s memories. However, they called upon me saying that the last world they were in deserved my full attention.

My friends here could handle me being gone for a while true, but I didn’t want to leave yet. I took a chance to visit all of my known friends, telling them the news about me having to go to a world that Celestia and Luna wanted me to see for myself. Of course their reaction was to be expected as they did not want me to leave my duties.

I wasn’t an idiot on the subject matter there though. I managed to make a copy of myself thanks to the Mirror Pool (I wonder how the Mirror Pool came to be…) allowing a perfect copy of me to stay here. Not easy but it is a good thing that it’s a perfect copy not an imperfect one otherwise I’d be going through crazy things leaving my clone to lead while I was gone.

With everyone knowing about this, I went to prep items that were necessary for the journey ahead. From Applejack’s apples, about ten of them to be exact, to my only weapon being a special sword, and then finally some medicines. I created a portal to the dimension that Celestia and Luna were in. I said my farewells to them as I walked through.

When I arrived at the dimension, me being surprised was very much an understatement. The world I came to see was very barren of life. All trees the dominated the lands were now decaying, the grassy plains once full of life were now gone replaced with the cracked earth, and the clear, blue sky was forever coated with gray clouds.

I felt like I walked into the Equestrian version of hell itself… and that’s not even counting Tartarus itself which was underground. I had did a bit of research about this world thanks to a few watching friends as I shared with my little knowledge, telling them every bit I could give to them about the current world.

I was torn seeing Celestia so broken upon giving her this information, but it was for the best as they have no knowledge of the world. Me? I decided to stay behind and see to it that this crapsack world gets its happy if not bittersweet ending. With the knowledge that alicorns are extinct here now, I stripped myself of alicornhood.

How you say? Well, by cutting my own horn off. I withdrew my sword ready to do what I promised. The princesses saw the glint of steel wondering what I was doing. In almost an instant, I sliced off my own horn as a scream of unimaginable pain pierced the sky. Their reaction was of shock, wondering why I would do such a thing when I can simply make it disappear.

Blood was falling freely from the cut horn as I applied pressure on it to prevent it from bleeding out further. I had a smile as I explained about why I did it. They thought I was crazy to do such a thing when both remembered that I’d do something a bit extreme to fit in the world not fit by the rules. They still did not like my decision, but what’s done is done.

It hurt like hell, but I wanted to be a normal pony to the ponies here not to be praised and berated like a God for very good reasons. Sure, I could hide it with some invisibility magic as they said, but that wouldn’t be enough to convince me otherwise. After that ordeal, Celestia and Luna said their farewells and we went their separate ways as I went north.

I needed more information about this world and the best place for me to learn it was at Canterlot. So far, the only information I shared was that a war broke out here and as a result turned Equestria into this wasteland. I wanted to learn before I begin doing what I came here to do. I just pray that Canterlot was at least in okay condition for me to do my research.

I’m starting to regret removing my magic beforehand now. I was walking my way to Canterlot, not utilizing my pegasus wings. I’m not so sure why, but I wanted to walk for the moment before flying. Maybe I wanted to keep myself to the ground, I don’t know, I just walked.

I unsheathed the sword I had hidden looking at the design of it. Fittingly, he calls the sword ‘Heaven’s Light’ as he likes to name his weapons after what their user represents. It was to be his last but greatest sword he ever created as old age finally caught up to him.

In memory of him, I enchanted the blade with latent magic that prevented the sword from ever tarnishing so that his last gift would forever be remembered. The result from that gave it a blue hue with red enchantment marks going from the hilt to the tip of the blade. I’d always bring it with me, in case things go awry. Right now, it was dark and I needed to rest for the night. Well at least I think it is night, with the clouds blocking the Sun from shining; I can’t tell whether it’s day or night.

As I was walking further up the path towards Canterlot, I see a small cave on the cliffside. My legs were getting tired and I needed the sleep. I flapped my vigorous wings as I soared to the cave. The cave was small but it was big enough for me to sleep in for the night. I landed at the entrance of the cave and put my saddlebag down and try to cozy myself on the rocks.

Cold as they were, it didn’t bother me by the least. I look outside to see a few rays of sunshine disappearing as the clouds covered them up. I suddenly wondered how Celestia and Luna are doing and how well are they adjusting to the world. I pray that should we ever meet, they succeeded in gathering the final piece of Luna’s memory.

I was just about to go to sleep when I heard some music playing. It was annoying, yet at the same time couldn’t help but wonder where it was coming from. As I peeked around my surroundings to find the source, I see a robot (From my knowledge, I think they were called sprite-bots) playing the said music I was hearing. I breathed a momentary sight of relief finding out what was making the music.

I was just about to go to sleep once again, when I heard a voice, “Hey...” Okay, I think I’ve gotten crazy at this point. I looked back at the sprite-bot once again, only realizing that it wasn’t playing any music. I approached it cautiously, wondering if it was going to explode on my face. After a few awkward moments of silence, I shook my head, saying to myself that I was going crazy. I looked at the bot again wondering if this was getting to my head, “Hey, you okay?”

That time I heard the bot say it and for me to be surprised would be quite a feat. I breathed again as I let my mind calm down from this sudden knowledge. At least I’m not crazy yet, “Yes I’m fine asides from a bot being able to talk to me.” I cleared my throat and looked at the bot floating in the air, “Hello and may I ask who are you?”

The voice from the sprite-bot sounded familiar to me, but I couldn’t put my tongue on who it reminded me of. Anyway, the voice responded back to my hello, “A friend.” I raised my eyebrow, “Okay, a passing acquaintance. But one that means no harm to you.”

“Considering that your voice is coming from a bot that can’t attack, I’m inclined to agree.” The sprite-bot laughed, which to be honest, was very weird to hear. I couldn’t help but laugh alongside the sprite-bot.

As the laughter died down for a moment, an awkward silence came about only lasting a few seconds before finally he spoke, “Call me Watcher, oh and the sprite-bot isn’t actually me. I just learned to hack into one of these things so I can communicate, I’m somewhere else.

I whistled, being impressed by the engineering to hack into something from a distance, “Impressive, took you a while to hack into one of these things?”

If the sprite-bot can give off an emotion right now, I’d say that it would be proud to hear that compliment, “Thanks, being around nerdy ponies may be annoying, but it does have its quirks.”

I tried to stifle a laugh there when I heard the comment. I was quite the nerdy pony myself too; I just wasn’t too comfortable with ponies knowing about it even if I did let it slip from time to time. Back on topic, I just remembered. Why was he talking to a complete stranger such as myself? I was curious about it and I asked away, “Why are you talking to me anyway? I’ve no idea who you are or where you are at.” I was about to add more to the sentence but thought better of it and stopped the question from there.

Watcher made from my guessing, a snap. Guess he got off-topic as well, “Oh yeah. Look, there are a few things you’re going to need if you want to survive out here.  A better weapon then the current one you have, armored barding, a bit of guidance... and most importantly, you need to make some friends.”

I dropped my head down upon hearing that I needed a better weapon. I already know how to survive well considering the many battles I was in so that’s not of concern. Armor would make sense considering what was going on here. The last part however caught me off guard a bit, I didn’t question it for now, but it was a bit random for someone to be making friends in this wasteland. Watcher saw my head droop wondering if he did something to offend me, “Hey what’s wrong?”

I looked at the sprite-bot. Even with the artificial voice, I smiled knowing that he was concerned about me, “Nothing really, it’s just...” I was silent for a few seconds more before answering his question, “I don’t like the fact that I need a better weapon then my own sword.” I removed from sheath showing Watcher why I treasured it so much. He was silent, probably surprised that he never saw a weapon like the one I have on hold, “A friend of mine made me this as a gift. I treasured it for a long time not wanting to soil it with blood... However, my friend also told me that it was to be last creation...”

The sprite-bot did nothing but stare at it. Clearly, Watcher was in awe at seeing such a blade, “Why did he say it was to be last creation?”

I smiled hearing that he was curious about my friend, “Time was catching up to him, and he couldn’t beat the one foe that he eluded for so long.” Watcher was silent. The silence lasted longer than I expected, I actually wondered if I did something to offend him this time.

He spoke as I was just about to speak, “Sorry for the long silence. Just a few memories popped up.” The sprite-bot he was controlling backed away from the blade, “Sorry, but I don’t have a lot of time to chat. Maybe we can continue this in another time?”

I smiled as I looked at the sprite-bot. I was beginning to lose faith that this world could be restored, that it had lost all of its light. Talking to Watcher restored that faith, although I knew that he was of the rare bunch. I looked at the last rays of sunshine, then back at the sprite-bot and with a smile nodded, “Yes, I’d like that…”

I can tell that Watcher was smiling despite only looking at the sprite-bot. Suddenly, I just remembered a question I wanted to ask but before I could, the sprite-bot burped static and began playing the music again.  It flew lazily away; as if it didn’t care I was there. I was a little let down for forgetting that question, but it didn’t faze me at all. I walked back into the cave and getting myself cozy again, dozed off into a deep sleep.

Sunlight was beaming through the clouds as a new day (I think its day) begun. I was about to stand on my hind legs and yawn, when my head hit a wooden roof… Wait, a wooden roof? I look up and sure enough, I did hit one. I look ahead to find two ponies carrying me in a carriage. I tried to move to the presumed windows when I can’t move and I hear metal clanking.

I turn around to see that I was hoofcuffed, Great, just great. I can make a guess that they saw me while I was asleep and decided to haul me in this carriage. How I was not awoken from that, I wasn’t so sure. Further inspection at the two ponies bringing me revealed that one of them was a unicorn. Figures, must have used a telekinesis spell to carry me. I was very annoyed to find out about this after I awoken, this was going to stall my time to get to Canterlot huh? I sat down, metal clanking again. This time, one of the ponies looked behind me to see me awake.

The ponies were really dirty, yellow teeth, foul odor, ragged clothes were the least of it. The pony motioned his partner and she looked at me as well, smiling with malign glee at seeing me awake. I covered my nose as a reaction to smelling them. I never am going to get that smell out of my nose now, “Well now! The cursed pegasus wakes up from his slumber!”

Cursed pegasus? What did I do to get hated almost instantly? Pushing the question aside, I wanted to know where I was going and was somewhat praying that it wouldn’t get me farther away from Canterlot, “Excuse me, but where are you taking me?”

They looked at me then laughed like crazed maniacs, I was not liking where this was going, “Why, we’re taking you to Old Appleloosa!” Old Appleloosa? When did the city decided to get an Old in its title?

Regardless, I’m getting further away from Canterlot. Since Appleloosa was south from Canterlot, this was going to be a long trek going there again. But something else bugged me besides my distance, “Why are you taking me there?”

Of course they laughed harder this time and looking at me like I was an idiot, “Are you an idiot or something? You’re going to be a slave or better yet our plaything you go-for-nothing pegasus!” I was frowning upon that. I was going to be a slave? There is no way I am going through slave labor if that meant anything. If it’s one thing I hate the most, it was slavery. Again, why did they hate my preferred race so much?

Ahead, I see a camping site where other slaver ponies were there. My guess was that we were at the halfway point to Old Appleloosa. They decided to stop for the moment to rest up for the day. As they untie the bonds, a pony from this checkpoint came to see their new pet (Ugh, I hate myself for saying it like that) and a malicious grin formed on his face, “Well if it isn’t a pegasus! What’dya know! We get to torture a pegasus into slavery!”

Okay seriously, why is the pegasus race so hated right now? I couldn’t help but ask that despite my current condition. Better to learn from at least something, “I don’t understand right now, why am I hated by all? I did not do anything terrible…”

The pony in question gave a maniacal laugh. Something tells me I might regret asking that question as after he stopped laughing he became angry, “Yer got t’ be kidding ‘ere! Yer no-go Enclave pegasi closed off the sky an’ left us to rot that’s what!” The pegasi did what and what is this Enclave? Great I got more questions than answer now.

The pony tilted his head curiously looking at a strap. Seeing what was left in the carriage, the slaver pony here rants at the two, “Are ya bozos idiots!? Y’all left the sword with the slave!” I took offense to that. They looked at each other for a split second before facehoofing hard forgetting that they left my sword with me. Or better yet, they’re plain lucky that I can’t use magic at all thanks to what I did.

They walked back to my holding cell, unlocked the door and pulled me out. These shackles were going to hold me back hard since I can’t move my forelegs easily. Of course, I couldn’t help but put up a little prank, “Try if you might, you can’t get my sword off me…” They laughed at me while one of them delivered a hard kick to my left side. Ouch, at least it was bearable compared to other kinds of injuries I’ve received in the past.

They removed my sword laughing still thinking that I could fool them. They were about a few inches far before… Wait for it. Pop goes the sword! The slaver who had that in his mouth bit his tongue as the blade returned to my vicinity.

I admit, the reaction from that slaver was worth the little bit of pain on my abdomen. He turned around quickly to see that it was back where it originally was, around me. He had that look of bewilderment as he looked at me hoping that I would explain it. All I could do was shrug pretending to not know about it. My answer resulted in me getting bucked from the flank. Again, ouch… One of the other slaver ponies tried to pick it up with her telekinesis.

Big mistake. The result made her telekinesis pop like a bomb pushing her back against the wall. They all looked at me and all I had was an emotionless face. In my mind however, I was laughing like crazy seeing them trying to pick up my sword. After what, fifty tries? They gave up and left it with me. Sometimes, I just love to think ahead of the game and most times, it saves my skin.

So, with that short-lived hilariousness over, they bought me to one of their jail cells, or least it would be if it wasn’t so busted. The wall behind was blasted, from my guessing, a bomb of sorts leaving a wide open field for ponies. Of course they blocked that said hole, but it was something.

They unlocked the jail cell where I was going in. With the gun still pointed on my head, they moved me to the entrance. Not surprising, they bucked me in hard before I had the time to check my surroundings. Closed the door and I was left lonesome in the cell. I look at my forelegs to see the shackles binding me. I noticed that these shackles were old and worn, possibly to the point where if I can just…

With enough strength in me, the shackles split in half. Guess I still had earth pony strength with me. I caught the metal bits that were falling to the ground before they made the clanging sound. I poked my head out to see two guards sleeping. They really need to step up their security. I sneaked past the two sleeping guards grabbing my saddlebag they so happily left exposed for me to grab. I head towards the back where the office would be.

There was a hallway leading to the back entrance. I could easily get out if not for the fact that they barricaded it with a bunch of random junk. I tried the windows and they also barricaded them with metal plating as well. They were not going to make this easy on me were they? There was one window that was barricaded with wood. The wood was rotting away making it easy for me to cut through.

I withdrew my sword and made a clean cut but facehooved immediately when I suddenly remembered that my sword can cut through metal albeit not cleanly. By the time I made the cut, I heard commotion going on in the jail cell, Damn, they woke up… I opened the window and slipped through the window as the security ponies alerted everyone that I escaped.

I originally was planning to fly out of the town as quickly as I can, but though better of it as they can see me in the air if I were to take off. So I took off running, hoping that they can’t see me with no way of me hiding in the expanding wasteland.

As I continued running, the other slavers were alerted and immediately went to the search. I kept on running trying to put the distance from them to the best of my abilities. When I was confident that the distance was good enough, I went flying away from the town. One of the slavers saw me, but it was too late as the distance established even a sniper rifle (at least I think they have rifles) can’t fire that far. I continued flying away flapping my wings going for Canterlot.

I’m not sure how long was I flying, but after what seemed my hours, my wings needed the break they deserve. I landed on an unknown area as I looked at my saddlebags ready to eat. I grabbed one apple and chewed on it. Good thing it was of Applejack’s delicious apples, any apple is fine, but hers were delicious beyond my imagining.

As I stood there eating, I looked upon the landscape. Desolate, dark, and empty, it was like everything was almost nothing as it surrounded the wasteland. It made me sad to see such a world in its current state… Which reminded me, why hadn’t she touched upon this world yet? I remember that she went to every possible dark versions of Equestria to give them a happy if not bittersweet ending to them all. Why was this universe left out? I finished my apple tossing it away, deciding to forgo that question for now.

I wandered around a bit wondering where I was. I saw some dilapidated buildings as I trekked around the place. My mind was telling me that something about these buildings were familiar. After a few seconds of looking around the place, my mind clicked as I knew exactly where I was, Sweet Apple Acres.

The farm was dilapidated beyond all hope of recovery. Signs that once told everyone about this place swung back and forth from the wind, the buildings looked like they got radiated with some kind of nuclear bomb, which I find that hard to believe.

It was heartbreaking to see this farm go downhill the moment the war started and only getting worse from there. I wanted to pay respect to the Apple family members somehow if they were dead, but I had no idea on how to be honest. All I could do was give my blessings to the farm. Knowing that I was at Sweet Apple Acres, I had a sense on where to go now.

Normally, I would fly right now to Canterlot, but my mind was wondering how Ponyville was faring. I knew that the town would be broken by this point in time, but I couldn’t help but check up on it. I looked over the horizon, seeing Ponyville from the distance. I flew over their slowly knowing that going in absent-minded would probably screw me over. Over the course of the journey, I learned one thing about the wasteland, it was not merciful to its residents and I was one of them.

Flying over the hills, I saw the foundation of the Ponyville school dilapidated and braking down. The poor building, I wonder how Cheerilee would react to see the condition now. I stopped flying for a moment, landing at the entrance of the school. I’m not so sure why but something about it pulled my attention.

Upon opening the door, I got a whiff of a smell I was all too familiar with had my battles meant anything, the smell of rotting flesh. I immediately covered my nose from the smell. Goodness, the smell was so strong, it made my eyes water for a bit. I opened the door fully wondering if my mind was ready to face where and what was making this horrendous smell.

Looking through the school, I saw some blood trailing somewhere. I followed the blood trail slowly as my mind was thinking of how stupid this idea was. All the other rooms I scanned so far were rather clean for the most part. That only made my worries escalates as I continued to follow the trail.

The blood trail was getting more blood to coat. Instead of a single stream of blood, it was now coating the floor as I continued to follow it all the while, the smell of rotting flesh was beginning to get more pronounce and stronger. I am seriously wondering why I can’t turn around and just leave this school be!

The blood coating the floor now became a pool as it ended in a single room. I was trembling already not wanting to see the scene in front of me, just wanting to look down on the pool of endless dried blood. My body and mind unfortunately did not obey that command as I raised my head to look at the scene. What I saw was something I never thought to imagine.

The scene in question was piles upon piles of dead ponies both young and old dead in front of me. The ways some of them died were so visceral, I’d think they were getting gruesome ideas from a nightmare getting worse.

One of the young ponies was split in half, no clean cut from a weapon, just split in half through brute strength, its organs spilled across the floor. Another pony, a mare to be exact, had a big cut from the anus to the vagina as its insides were spilled and its carcass eaten. A pony was beheaded and shoved inside the chest area while another next to it had its chest cut opened with its intestines taut on its neck suggesting strangulation. And that’s just many out of all the things I can see…

I made about five steps back from the scene looking at it with abject horror. What kind of sick and cruel twisted monster would do this to so many ponies? I felt the contents within my stomach being almost forced out. I did not release the contents and held them back in. So disgusting to do, but I did not want to puke in front of these ponies.

I wiped a few of the tears that fell from the unbelievable smell. Looking at the deceased ponies in front of me, I did not want to leave their corpses like this. Burying them would only take much more time from me so the next best option was to burn them. This was going to be nasty and will take a while to do but for them, I might as well let their bodies ascend into heaven.

Lack of magic is going to make this very difficult to accomplish. About I believe an hour has passed since I started carrying the dead bodies out in the courtyard of the school. The sky was getting a bit dark as I saw the Sun about to set. I look upon the pile of dead bodies. So many innocent ponies dead in front of me, this is just cruel…

There was just one more body to get and then I can burn them. I went back inside the school ready to pick up the last body. As I entered the now empty room, I looked at the final body. This body, of a mare, was surprisingly the least damaged of the numerous bodies I found. No visceral death or anything, just a simple bullet wound on the forelegs. A rather preserved jacket with holes where the wings would go through covered her body.

I checked out the body seeing what the cause of death was. Scanning the whole body bore no results as the exterior body was rather well, save for the bullet wounds. Just what had happened to this mare? I shuffled through the jacket she was wearing. Each pocket was empty and I was losing some hope here. Upon the last pocket, I felt something.

From the texture, it felt like paper. I grabbed whatever I felt and pulled it out and sure enough, it was paper. It was folded with some intricate design. I opened it and looked upon the context within the paper or rather, a letter. The letter had a few splotches of red on it but for the most part, it was rather clean. I decided to read this letter wondering what information lay inside.

To whoever is reading this,

I’m not feeling good and my time is coming to an end. I have but one request to anyone who finds this letter. Save and take care of my only child. She’s found in a working Stable hidden within a special location in the mountains. My body is getting tired and radiation is overwhelming me… Damn, fuck this radiation sickness! No Rad-Aways or Rad-Purges for me to use… That’s all I can say, please… I… I don’t want her to… face her fate like this… I’m so sorry mommy couldn’t make it dear. I’m truly sorry…

Your loving mother

Sky Lightning

I saw a few splotches that were dried, presumably from the tears that this poor mother shed. My own tears mixed with the dried marks. I looked at the corpse of the body. Looking closely now, I saw the wings of a pegasus. She must have flown from where this Stable is to wherever she was heading to. I glanced at the letter and then to her again. This… is not fair for the mother at all.

I’m not so sure on what to do now with this new knowledge I learned. I… no I’m going to find this Stable and take care of her child. I pulled the jacket from the body and decided to wear as my tribute to her memory. I decided to bury her instead of burning her along with the others. I carried her on my back as I walked out of the school.

I set her aside as I looked at the stack of bodies. I shuffled through my inventory to find some oil and a match. The oil was little, but it was enough to coat the whole pile. Once I was done with that, I lit the match and tossed it at the pile. As soon as it touched the oil, the whole stack was set ablaze.

Seeing the ashes of the dead rise to the sky, I shifted to make a burial for the dead pegasus mother. After finishing digging the grave, I went to put the pegasus in gently. I closed her eyes as I lowered her down and buried her body. After I was done, I put a wooden marker on it. I went and etched her name on the marker. I hope I can replace with a better marker soon.

I never thought my first visit to Ponyville would end up in heartache for discovering this and the dead bodies. I looked at the burning bodies and at the grave before leaving for the town. This will always be seared in my memories forever.

As I was nearing my destination, a bullet grazed my flank. I cringed in pain from that shot, I’m lucky that it didn’t hit a vein. I’d be spilling blood right now if it did. I took cover as the sniper took another shot at me. The bullet missed me thankfully.

I only wanted to see Ponyville and to see it being watched by a sniper was making me think otherwise of going there. I looked back at Ponyville to find it overrun by hostile ponies. Damn it all, I might have to give Ponyville a pass for today… It made me sad to see Ponyville like this, but… Ugh, my head just won’t stop going on with the memories.

I decided to leave the town for another day. I sneaked pasted the sniper knowing that it will shoot me down should I fly. Confident that I was out its range, I took flight and head to Canterlot.

Been flying for a long time seen my departure from the town, I was easing up on the flying when I saw Canterlot from the distance. I really do wonder, with the changes to Equestria, did new landmarks were made from the war? What about the other countries, did they try to support Equestria during the war? There were so many unanswered question coming in my head, it got my brain racking like crazy. I was focused on my thoughts; I didn’t pay attention to the condition of Canterlot. As I finally reached my destination, I had a look of shock and horror at Canterlot up close and personal…

Footnote: Level Up.

New Perk: Awareness - Examining a target shows hit points, weapons, and ammunition count

Next Chapter: Chapter II: Harmony Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 25 Minutes