All war is deception.
―Sun Tzu

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.
―Albert Einstein

"MOVE!"

“WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!” The building was shifted dangerously to a side, the two men ran as fast as they could. Anywhere was a better place to be.

“GET DOWN!!”

“MOVE, DOWN THE STAIRS, DOWN THE STAIRS!” They noticed that the stairs were cracked dangerously as they descended, some steps even made the cracks that they so desperately avoided, any step could be their last.

Salvation in front of them, in the form of a wooden door. The one with heavy armor ran to the door and tackled it with his shoulder.

“THE STUPID DOOR WON'T BUDGE!!”

He tackled a busted solid metal door.

“DON’T YOU HAVE SOMETHING LEFT!!!” Yelled the man with light armor.

“I’M ALL OUT!!!” Yelled back the one banging the door.

"التحرك وتا الطريق!!" A yell came from behind them, only the one of the two screaming men not occupied was able to turn. A man with a huge rock over his head moved towards them.

“HOLY FUCK, WHO’S THAT?!!!!” As if to answer him, the man threw the immense rock over them into the door. It banged the door, breaking it easily.

“THE DOOR'S OPEN, MOVE MOVE!!!!”

“قد علاء حماية روحي الخال!”

The explosion resounded throughout the city, both men were barely able to move out of the doorway, the blast of fire and force rushing through the windows causing cracks to form on the walls.

"Damn... poor scary bastard." The light armored man grumbled as he dusted himself off.

The other coughed, clearing his lungs of dust. " That man just sacrifice his life for us."

"He could’ve just run with us out but no, he needed to go all hero.” The other spat, looking back up at the flaming room they just vacated "I think he thought we were just tag alongs in his quest for Heaven's holy wrath, you know, when he was screaming allah, I heared that one clearly."

"I believe that was the warning." The heavy armored said dryly, standing and stretching his legs.

"Some warning."

With their bodies in one piece and their lungs full of dust, the two men moved into the nearest place they could think to be safe. They were sure that a large ground force would be making its way towards them, so the smart thing was to hide in a building and watch the events unfold before them. Until they could leave.

The building was easy to ascend, their eyes kept looking down to check for cracks, they arrived at the second floor breathing heavily. Noticing a amateurly barricaded window with one slap open for vision, both men moved towards it.

“Renee, status.” Said the man of armor as he made sure there was no rupture in between his articulations.

“I’ll be fine, are you checking to see if there’s anything between your plates Stephan?” Renee replied as he checked his back and legs runes.

“I’m already on it.” Said Stephan, checking if anything he was carrying before had in some moment dropped.

There was a low hum in the air.

Both Renee and Stephan froze in place.

The hum became louder, making it easy to tell that it wasn’t a hum.

That was flapping.

Like a cloud the street was covered in a layer of shadow, the sound went into a creciendo as the flapping became easily noticeable now. Both Stephan and Renee slowly moved their heads down to have an angle to confirm their hypothesis’.

A damn ‘flight pack’. They were usually a prelude to a large group of ground troops.

The couple dozen of pegasi moved in a swarm like way, it was wondrous how they didn’t crash against each other. Renee peeked out into an upper angle to see where they were heading, some of them were checking the building they had the pleasure of not being in.

The ground shook slightly as the rest of new foals arrived. The large amount of ponies sicken Renee greatly, at least a dozen of them had no armor whatsoever, meaning they were human just a few short hours ago.

Looking closely to the left side of his vision Renee saw what seemed to be a tank, M1A3 Abrams model, driving towards the inside of the city. Some soldiers on the manning machines on top, there was one in particular that had his- correction her long hair flapping in the wind. The sordenong sound stopped for a second.

This became the horde's target. Almost as one, they turn and rushed at the single tank, smiling faces and sounds of multiple voices echoing out false promises of freedom and adoration from an insane leader.

Their answer came in the form of a fifty caliber round tearing through their ranks, the female soldier's heavy machine gun roaring out quickly.

The tank fired rounds at the approaching horde. The woman manning the machine unleashed death in droves, but did nothing to deter the zealots in their quest. The female soldier swore loudly before ducking back into the tank as horde of new foals swarmed over it, covering it completely.

Stephan muttered a curse as he watched several unicorns step up and blasted the tank with magic, attempting it to force it open. "We should help them!" He hissed at Renee.

Renee only smirked. "Give it a minute..." He muttered. The new foal army seemed to stop their outreach of a moment, they looked at the tank with confusion.

The tank suddenly glowed brightly with runes, painting the tank in a strangely haunting light. "Hey,” yelled a new foal, “What are runes doing-"

The tank seemingly blew itself up, taking the horde of new foals with it. The force of the blast sent both men onto their rears, Renee laughing insanely at the blast.

"Whoa! That was terrific!"

"Are you insane?! Those soldiers are dead!" Stephan scrambled back to the window, horror covered his features, only to have his jaw slack with surprise as the tank rumbled out of the smoke without scratch.

The Abram rolled over the dead and dying without care, the runes on its armor slowly vanishing from sight, moving on to the next target location.

"But..." Stephan looked on in confusion, words failing him at the moment.

"Yeah, don't worry too much about." Renee patted his shoulder, getting up and moving out of their hiding spot. "I take it you just skimmed over the heavy armor protection notes Sparkler handed to you?"

Stephan only nodded once, shaking his head at the absurd American before him.

"Yeah, me too. Just told her to tell me plainly, like explaining to a small child." Renee looked over his shoulder, the mask covering his lower face did nothing to hide the smile he had plastered. He raised his hands making 'quoting' gesture "Pretty writing glow, big boom, no stand close."

Before Stephan could utter a response, the sound of a missile could be heard flying overhead. Both men look out of the window to see a vapor trail of said missile, then another passed by, then another, until their entire view, if only for a second, was filled with missiles.

"Holy..." Renee watched as the last missile race out of sight, the sound multiple explosives ringing out, the force could be felt in their chest.

"Someone pissed off Admiral Chirkov badly." Stephan finally muttered out loud.

"Part of me wants to feel sorry for the poor bastards." Renee shook his head, chuckling somewhat as he stepped across the room to exit, Stephan trailing behind him, "Another part of me really hopes that someone recorded it to show me later."

The earth shook, the missiles surely responsible, some of the boards on the windows broke off letting light fill the dim room.

“Tell me again why couldn’t we wait for the others?” Stephan asked, the new light in the room showed his entire appearance which resembled that of an ancient knight, but with the addition of modernized hardened material instead of metal which made less sound when moving, additions into usually exploitable defects in the joints and modern weapons ammo slot spaces, and with all this he walked about as if he was naked. His HK417 in his grip tightened as he quickly swung his weapon and searched for enemies down the hall.

“One, it would've taken too long for them to go back and work our way through the city with a group.” Renee stated, unlike his companion he was lightly armored; a simple digital printed armor vest covered his torso, his face covered with goggles, and a mask covered his mouth and nose. He was carrying a M240 Light machine gun in his arms and a Neo-Panzerfaust launcher on his back.

“Two, we are faster on our own, you with your armor and me with my runes. Three...” Renee fell silent, he turn and began to look for the exit.

Renee didn’t give him time to speak as he motioned Stephan towards the streets, a silent gesture that Stephan understood perfectly.

They moved fast and silently, the stairs made no sound as they descended to the streets. Stephan looked outside, his armor was a perfect camouflage for the gray streets. Looking at all the possible directions including the sky, he motioned Renee to move. They moved to the closest intersection, away from the direction of the used missiles.

“You will not lose her, Renee.” The armored man stated, giving the other a confident look, struggling to catch up.

“Thanks Stephan. And it’s Marcus.” Marcus lightly corrected him, but slowed down all the same. Both men reached an intersection, both of them separating and placing their backs to the wall, their weapons aimed down the street opposite of them. Marcus shook his head to Stephan, indicating that the street was cleared, but Stephan immediately ducked behind a car, causing Marcus to grimace.

“Damn it.” He muttered under his breath, waiting for Stephan to make his way to him.

“Um Gottes willen...” Stephan growled as he slided up to Marcus. “I thought we had the city evacuated.”

“You know damn well that most people will ignore it and stay to defend their homes, Americans being the worst offenders.” Marcus gave a quiet sigh. “How many?”

"At least ten.” Stephan answered, “How do you want to do this?”

“It will take too long to try and go around... Fuck. Go with a bang.” Marcus placed his M240 to his side on a special clip just for the ocation, he reached back and pulled his Neo-Panzerfaust out. “How many meters?”

“Fifteen.”

“Shit that is close...” Marcus shook his head, setting the grenade before setting himself up.

“I was truly fortunate enough not to be seen.” Stephan agreed.

“Well, like the old saying goes...” Marcus grinned darkly as he stepped out from around the corner, startling the new foals with his appearance. “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!”

The grenade went flying into the group, detonating in mid-air and catching all the new foals with the blast. Stephan stepped around Marcus, his HK417 sweeped the area before he lowered it, realizing it was clear. He turned to Marcus and cocked his head to the side in confusion.

“‘Die Hard’ reference?”

“Too much?” Marcus asked, holstering his Neo-Panzerfaust and bringing out his M240.

"I think you tried too hard.” Stephan answered, causing Marcus’s shoulder to slump a little. “Sounded cool though.”

Marcus grunted in responce, “Come on, we still got to get to Cheerilee’s group.”

Both men began to run once more, making it down the street only to slow as they reached the end of the intercection, and finally to a stop when the saw a Potioneer ship float over the building ahead of them.

“Look! Humans off the portside! Ready Potions!” A happy cry floated from the deck, the Potioneer Ship slowly turn to them, making its way to the two men.

Marcus scowled at the ship, “You have got to be shit-” He never finished his thought. The side of the ship exploded, its shield taking the brunt of the attack, while the force nearly knocked Marcus and Stephan off their feet.

“Verdammt!” Stephan swore as he looked up to see an American F-22 Raptor and a Chinese FC-1 Xiaolong quickly turning away from the ship. Both men barely had time to take a couple of steps back when the sound of 30 mm guns going off from two Apache Helicopters made themselves present.

The Potioneer ship attempted to use the buildings to help shield itself, but the attack helicopters simply readjusted their machines above the ship and continued their onslaught, the shield failed to stop the powerful rounds as they ripped into the enchanted fabric and deck. Both helicopters fired several salvos of missiles at the defenseless ship, the missiles slamming into the top deck and exploded, taking everything out...

Including the pilot.

“Scheiße/Crap!” Both men cursed at the same time, they watched as the now pilotless and deck-less ship quickly make its way towards them. The ropes holding the ship and balloon together were the barely holding it as the ship gained speed as the enchanted clouds leaked out of the fabric that held it. The ship slammed into the ground, shoving aside cars, lampposts, and mailboxes as it quickly tore a path towards them.

“Book it!” Marcus shouted, running back down the street, Stephan quickly followed.

Marcus turn back to see the ship quickly making its way towards them.

He would make it... but Stephan wouldn’t.

The enchanted armor was extremely good at maintaining the wearer. Able to help stave off poison, improve the wearer's health and stamina, it even gives them a small barrier for protection. But it could only do so much.

Marcus looked to the side and saw a small H&R Block, clear glass windows beckoning to him. He stop and turn back to Stephan.

“What are-!?” Stephan only got as far as that before Marcus quickly grabbed Stephan, lifted the cursing German and throwed him through the window before jumping through himself. Seconds later, the entire wall of the building was brushed aside and crumpled as the ship slide its way through.

Stephan and Marcus picked themselves up off the floor and watched as the ship finally slowed to a stop, but unfortunately it stopped with them still trapped in the building itself.

“Great, is there an exit?” Stephan asked, shaking his head at what used to be the front of the building. He then turn and punched Marcus in shoulder.

“OW! What was that for?”

“That didn’t hurt, you big baby.” Stephan growled. “You could've at least told me to throw myself into the building, not physically pick me up and chunk me!”

“Sorry, I was just trying to save your life.” Marcus smirked a bit, looking around a bit before sighing. “And to answer your first question, no, there is no exit.”

“Terrific.” Stephan growled.

‘Marcus?’ The radio in his ear buzzed to life, Marcus was quick to answer the call.

“Cher? Are you okay?”

‘We’re fine Marcus, don’t worry. Vinyl showed up along with a dozen fresh troops and supplies. Everything is fine now.’

“Oh thank god.” Marcus leaned against the counter, stress and a small mist could be seen leaving his body. “I’m-”

‘Don’t you dare start that! I know you will be trying your hardest to get here, but the entire city is under siege. I don’t expect you to appear before me when I asked.’

Marcus only smiled at this, giving a small chuckle. “Fine fine. You win. Are you and the others going to be fine?”

‘We...We will be. We lost a couple of soldiers and some of the civilians here. I am beginning to understand the term ‘Zergling Rush’ better now. But with Vinyl and the armor tank now here, we should be fine.’

Stephan got on his radio and linked up with the frequency. “Cheerliee? It’s me, Stephan. Did you hear anything about Alica and Daniel? Did they make it to you?”

There was a short pause while Cheerliee figured that out.“Yes, they are here. And they said you should work and stop worrying about them.”

Stephan let out a sigh. “Yup, that’s them. Thank you.” Marcus let out light snigger of amusement, which Stephan responded with a glare.

“Doesn’t work too well with that bucket on your head.” Marcus chided slightly, laughing somewhat before returning to the radio. “Be safe Cher...I love you.”

“What do you say sister?”

“I love you too, Marcus. Get back to your group. We still have a battle to win.”

Marcus beamed at his. “Yes, Ma’am!”

“Problem!” Stephan decided to butt in. “We don’t have a way out.”

“Sure we do! Just use that sword of yours to cut a hole through the wall.” Marcus explained, Stephan’s armor head shift to the wall close to him and lightly tapped it with his fist. Small amounts of debris and dust quickly fell to the floor, covering them.

“That is why.” Stephan said as he shook his head, waving his hand to clear the dust. “With the ship taking out a good portion of the wall, this entire building, or at least this section, is in danger of collapsing. If I even so much pierce the wall, the entire section would kill us...Or maybe pin us, not sure if the armor or your runes will stand up to the weight though.”

Marcus scowled at that, looking around before his eyes settled on the ship’s wooden hull. He quickly walked up to it slowly brought his hands up, hovering over the ship.

“What are you doing?” Stephan asked, looking on in confusion.

“Gauging how much magic is still within the hull. Don’t want to drain too much or I will be forced to expel it before we get out.” Marcus frown a bit before he clapped his hands together and rubbed them quickly. “Its not a lot, but it is really complex, and those tend to be a bit of hassle in draining. Alright, give me some time to drain this puppy.”

Stephan leaned against a table, watching as the runes in Marcus’s arms glowed dimly as he began to drain the hull, a frown hidden underneath his armor mask. “Tell me something, Marcus.”

“Yeah?”

“Why do you not wear armor, or at least some sort of cover?”

Marcus look back, his smile hidden beneath his mask. “What are you talking about? I do have cover, see this mask and goggles?”

Stephan only stared at Marcus, his arms crossed as he tapped his finger against his arm, Marcus winced internally, Stephan wasn’t playing around. “Jesus, fine. I only know the basics, got to ask Sparkler if you want the technical part of it. All I know is that I have 3 different runic shielding.”

“Three?” Stephan stared, shocked by that statement.

“Yup,” Marcus said, his eyes narrowed as he saw some of his runes slowly grow brighter. “The first one is called Runic Shield, I have to activate it myself with my will. It more or less a basic shield you will expect from unicorns, only powered by runes.”

Marcus rolled his shoulders a bit, and Stephan saw the glow travel from his back to his legs before disappearing. “The Second one is called Runic Armor, it...well the best way of saying is that secondary shield appears over the skin, like a backup shield. Real magic consuming though, but it works in keeping my body in shape. It’s also the ones that have all the other runes tied in, like healing, draining, or strengthen runes. Real pain in the ass, literally in my case when they put it on.”

Stephan watched as Marcus smiled and take a step back, nodding his head. “Alright, good to go!”

“And the third?” Stephan looked at him, Marcus only sighed a bit before answering.

“The third protects me from the potion.” There was a moment of silence before Stephan stomped over to Marcus, glaring at him through his helmet.

“And why hasn't this been passed out to the other troops?” Stephan hissed in anger, coming close to punching the man before him. Anger that this man was taking something for himself rather than sharing with everyone else that could be protected.

Marcus shook his head, waving the man off of him. “It’s not that simple, there is a reason for the goggles and mask. I can still change if I get some into my eyes or mouth. And before you start, no, it’s not perfect either. I have to wipe off the potion before it drains me of what magic I do have. Whatever is in the stuff, it makes the runes react badly and viciously at the same time. I got maybe 5 minutes top to wipe the stuff off before I either change or my runes activate to kill me. The reason why I got several canteens filled with water.”

Stephan stared at Marcus in surprise. “So...”

“Yeah, I can still change if I am not fast enough...or I will die.”

“How?”

“If I can’t wipe the stuff off in time? The runes on my head will fry my brain. If I am taken down and forced to drink the potion with a butt ton of magic still in me? My entire body becomes a IED.” Marcus murmured, shaking his head. “Cher was against it from the beginning, but I demanded it...I...”

“You didn’t want to hurt her...” Stephan finished for him. “In case the Tyrant attempted to use you to destroy her will or everyone else. Believe me...I know the feeling, I have enough C4 strapped in the chest plate to level a two story building.”

Marcus stared at Stephan for a moment before opening his mouth. “Damn! You don’t hold back do you?”

Stephan only rub his head, shrugging a bit. Marcus nodded his head, smiling somewhat, “Yeah... so, I can still change, it’s just takes longer if I am not careful. It might make the troops last a bit longer, but it will also force them to keep getting hit with spells and such. It also takes a long time to put on. It took several weeks just for me and Cher. Even worse is that Humans lack magic, so we have to rely on friendly unicorns or the enemy in charging us. Ponies don’t have that problem, they have their own magic to work with through the runes. Whatever I got, is all I have until some idiot decides to hit me with a big spell or something.”

Marcus stared at the hull for a moment longer before stepping aside and waving his hand towards the hull. “Enough chit chat, go on Mister Knight, do your stuff.”

“Gladly.” Stephan stepped forward, taking out his machete and staring at the small pendent on the end. “Hm...7 charges left for quick swipes, 3 at the minimum. Better make this count.”

Stephan activated the blade, the machete glowed a bright blue, elongating to the size of a claymore, even hinting at the shape of it. Stephan grunted once, swing the blade diagonally downwards, then swiping horizontally, then finally diagonally upwards for the last time. The magical claymore slowly morphed away, and Stephan took a step back, nodding once.

“Viola, an opening!” Stephan said smiling, and pushed...

The triangle shape hull that refused to budge.

Stephan grunted once, then twice, then began to throw himself at the cut out shape in an attempt to move it. “Was zum Teufel!” Stephan growled taking a step back before a hand rested on his shoulder.

“Let me handle this. Your armor is good, but my runes are better.” Marcus smiled at Stephan, who only step aside to allow him room.

Marcus hefted his M240, a smirk adorning his masked face. He walked up to the door, his runes glowing brightly on his legs. “Knock, Knock!”

The hull flew inward, a single cry escaping before it was violently cut off from the piece of flying timber. Marcus pointed his weapon through the hole, slowly sweeping the small room before entering, soon followed by Stephan.

“Sister...Did you hear me?”

“Poor bastard.” Marcus muttered, looking at the the heavy piece of hull on top of an injured Royal guard, his neck snapped from the force of the blow.

“No time for that now, we should-!” The building they were just in collapsed, filling the hole with debris and stone. “No going back now.”

“Not like we were going back anyways.” Marcus muttered. “Take point?”

“Of course. I am the one with the armor after all, not the neat runes.” Stephan chuckled, both men taking either side of the door.

“End of the line from my view, ends at a wall.” Marcus relayed.

“Got a hallway, ready?”

“Go!” Stephan step forward, his entire form taking up most of the hall, Marcus quickly pushing his back to him. “No openings or doorways, dead end, moving to your left flank”

Marcus quickly position himself next to Stephan, nodding once before both men slowly move forward. The sounds of setting wood and muffled battle slowly filling the silence.

“Two open doors.” Stephan muttered, Marcus nodding once and both men slowly rotated as the moved forward, the backs touching one another as the crossed the openings.

“Closet. Door fell off.” Stephan said out loud.

“Looks like a bathroom.” Marcus stated, he slowly lowered him near the ground, check to see if any new foal or guard was hiding. “Got a corpse inside in one of the stalls.”

“You sure?”

“Unless he is trying to pull off the Exorcist chick, I doubt he is still alive...” Marcus trailed off, tensed for a moment, his runes buzzing slightly.

“Marcus?” Stephan turn to look at him, before a spear bathed in magic shot from down the hall, hitting Stephan in the pauldron, taking the hit with ease. “Scheiße! Contact Front!”

“Suppressing!” Marcus unleashed his M240, the sound of the LMG roaring filled the hallway, quickly swallowed the sounds of cries of pain and death. A bolt of magic slammed into Marcus’s face, causing him to curse in anger and pull back into the bathroom. “Stephan? You alright?”

Only silence met his call. “Stephan?”

A single cry echoed out from down the hall and Marcus peeked out to see Stephan stabbing the pony in his hands, pinning the pony to the wall for a moment before he retrieved his blade. The pony slumped to the ground, his heart shredded from the machete.

“How the hell did you get over there?” Marcus walked down the hall, clearly confused. Stephan pointed back to the closet he hid behind earlier. “There was an opening in the wall, tight fit, but I managed.”

“Lucky you.” Marcus growled. “I got hit the face with a stun spell. You know how much that shit stings?”

Stephan only laughed, taking point once more. “Come Commander, don’t tell me you are getting soft on me.”

“I can still kick your ass! Even without the runes!”

“I remember it being a draw the last time we spared.”

“Don’t play smart on me Stephan. I clearly remember going through a dozen guys before you decided to take a shot!”

“Going through a dozen guys sounds kind of-”

“I am going to kick your ass, and I am going to feel nothing but joy when I do.” The sound of laughter echoed down through the hallway before they found a way out. Marcus took one step into the opening, and was suddenly hit with a dozen different spells.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” He roared as his runes burned, he brought up one hand, unleashing the excess magic from his palm, flinging charging Earth ponies away, ducking into cover as another volley of spells raced through where he once stood. Stephan quickly leaned out, sending out a few rounds before ducking back inside.

“You okay?” Stephan asked as he watch Marcus growled in pain, his runes glowing brightly.

“I fucking hate it when the runes begin to overload.” Marcus look outside, and saw a small motorcycle sitting in an alleyway, spared from the Potioneer ship’s path of destruction. He focused on the two wheeler, his runes activating to heed his command. Everything around him drown out; the fighting, the brightly colored spells, even the very gun in his hands went numb. He slowly leaned out, ignoring the few spells hitting him, focusing on the a small group of unicorns shielding a large rack of potions, some of the new foals attempting to gather some to throw at the two warriors.

“Oh no you don’t.” Marcus growled, swiping his hand to the side and the motorcycle, a 1988 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail, in surprising good condition went flying. A small thought flitted by his mind, wondering why the bike was still here, including how his father would've killed him if he knew what his son was doing.

‘Sorry Pops... this is more important right now.’ he thought, although he did think his father would probably still beat the crap out of him anyways, bringing a small grin to his face.

The motorcycle flew through the air, taking out several pegasi before it finally impacted the shield, the massive frame and heavy weight caught all of them off guard, easily breaking through and smashing the rack filled with potions, along with a few other ponies.

Stephan quickly loaded a grenade on his under-barrel and fired at the recently formed mess, easily igniting the gas tank, and sending the motorcycle into the beyond.

Stephan leaned back against the wall, before taking in the look of shock on Marcus’s face.

“What?”

“Did you really have to blow it up!?”

“You threw the damn thing!”

“Yeah, but it could've been saved!”

“It’s just a bike.”

“JUST A BIKE!”

“I am not the one who threw it in the first place! You are as much to blame, in fact, even more to blame than me!”

“You-I-....GAH! FUCK ALL OF YOU!!!” Marcus roared, pulling the trigger on his LMG and sending death in waves. Stephan rolled his eyes before leaning out and firing his weapon once more.

Marcus gave the scorch mark a longing look before the click of his weapon telling him he was dry. Stephan had also stop firing and was attempting to reload his own. The Royal Army appear to take this as a sign of good things as they came out of cover, yelling out the same cheer that was heard in Europe and in the Middle East.

“JOIN THE HERD!”

A single Earth pony attempted to tackle Marcus, only to kicked in the face for his troubles, his neck snapping from the runic enhanced kick. Marcus swung the M240, batting a pegasus from the air as he attempted to grab him. “FUCK YOUR HERD! YOU ASS WIPES MADE ME COMMIT SIN!”

Stephan watch in shock as Marcus threw his weapon to the side and punched another Earth pony in the face, he felt a sense of nausea as he saw the pony’s head cave in from the blow. Shaking his head to rid the image in his mind, he pulled out his machete and started to attack from behind.

The next few minutes was complete hell for the two men.

Marcus slowly calming down, realizing his error in judgment, although it would've been worse off if he tried to reload his weapon with this many ponies surrounding him. Marcus’s runes glowed with power, his eyes narrow as he took off to the left, racing up to the nearest Earth pony, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air. Said pony would never breath again as Marcus crushed his windpipe and then slammed him into the concrete road, causing the spine to snap from the move. A spell slammed into his side, this one indicating it should of shocked him, but he simply reached out and grab the next pony, transfer the spell power to the pony instead.

He then kicked out, catching another pony in the face, breaking his jaw from the blow. The unicorn was barely starting to cry out when Marcus grabbed him by the head and swung him with a quick motion, snapping his neck. His now dead weapon slammed into a flying pegasus, catching her with the swing and crushing her between the body and a piece of the hull standing in the street, she barely squeaked out a protest before he simply snapped her neck, finally turning to the single unicorn that was left on his side of the battle field.

He walked forward, ignoring the spells hitting him, the New foal eyes widen in shock as Marcus simply lifted his palm up to his face, a frown manifesting in Marcus’s face. A magic burst forward, which Marcus aptly named ‘Force Push’ as a joke, although it would not be so dissimilar to be called otherwise. At that range and amount of power Marcus put into the spell, it might as well be called a cannon. The pony’s head explode, sending bits of brain matter and bone flying everywhere. Marcus shook his hand and sighed in relief, the excess magic he had gather was really bothering him.

Stephan watched as Marcus took off, gathering a group of ponies for him to fight off, leaving Stephan to fight the rest. He pulled out his back up pistol, firing several rounds, killing several Royal Army New foals before they started to surround him.

His machete sliced through their throats and hides, spilling blood everywhere. Stephan gritted his teeth as an Earth pony attempted to grab him, but he caught her by the throat, lifting and shoving his blade into her heart. He heard the sounds of galloping and saw another two Earth ponies rushing towards him, along with a Unicorn tailing behind them. He scowled, gripping his machete tightly before meeting their charge head on, but before the ponies could attack, he activated the blade, magically transforming the machete into a claymore and swinging it forcefully, beheading the shocked Earth ponies.

He continued his spin; seeing a unicorn attempting to throw a spell at him, he changed his direction slightly and used all the built up momentum above the unicorn's head and slamming the claymore through the unicorns skull, slicing the head into two and into the ground itself.

Stephan deactivate the blade and walked away from his pile of corpses, seeing Marcus lifting his hand and levitating his weapon back to him. “You alright?” as he clamped a hand on his shoulder.

Stephan jumped slightly as Marcus’s cursed loudly, the weapon falling short of his arms. “God damn it, still not good at this magic shit.”

“Sorry.” Stephan apologized.

“Ah, don’t worry about it.” Marcus waved him off, bending down to retrieve his weapon.

“Sister?”

“Marcus!” a voice called out over the radio, the sound of gunfire, shouting, and heavy techno music echoing in the background.

“What is it, Cher?” Marcus calmly raised his weapon up for inspection, glad to find it still in one piece and functioning properly.

“Where are you-Vinyl don’t-!” Marcus winced as the radio filled with static for a moment, in the distance to the west of him, he saw a flash of light and a low thrumming sound before it slowly died off. He shook his head in amusement, leave it to Vinyl to weaponized a bass speaker.

“You okay, Cher?” Marcus asked, a quick spell hit him in the chest, ignoring it completely; he raised his weapon and made the stubborn unicorn new foal into red paste.

“VINYL!” Marcus chuckled as he heard Cheerilee roared in anger at one Vinyl Scratch, a small ‘What?’ could be heard in the background along with some cheering. “Marcus, where are you?”

“I am in the Theater District, near the park with Stephan-” He was about to continue but he heard a thump from behind him, he quickly turned to see a cloaked pony behind him, on top of a new foal pegasus who was just introduced to her hidden blades. He smiled at her, nodding his thanks once before continuing on. “Also, Spitfire is here with me.”

“Marcus! Get out of there! The Great Equestrian is doing something!” Marcus frowned, before taking a couple of steps to get a clear view from the building and looked up. He saw the Great Equestrian floating up high, shields flaring as it several missiles from jets and ships in the harbor. He watched as several ports open, large pipes slowly extending from the flying ship.

Slowly and menacingly, what appeared to be purple clouds began to spew from the ship.

“Potion Clouds..” Stephan whispered, his voice filled with despair and anger, his fist clenching tightly to his weapon. Marcus grimaced a bit at the news, Stephan had seen first hand what it did, and now the Great Equestrian was throwing this stuff out here; time to up the ante.

“Sister? Are you well?”

Marcus was about to give an order, before another voice jumped onto the line. “Heads up people! They set up a temp-portal in the Jeffries-Point Airport!”

“WHAT?!” Marucs roared, “What happen to the defenses there?”

“They had to evac, Sir! They were getting overrun and we lost at least 100 personnel in trying to hold it.”

“Damn it! Blow the tunnels leading to Boston, make them go around and-”

“Holy shit! Pegasi! A shit load of them! Fire! Fire!” Marcus cursed, turning towards the building he rushed inside, taking to the stairs as quickly as he could before getting to the roof. Looking to the East he saw what appeared to be an entire flock of pegasi which were swarming the airport and quickly making their way towards the ships in the harbor and to the city. They would be overrun by the pegasi alone with those numbers. He heard Stephan whispered a small prayer, things were getting worse now that they had a foothold.

A static echoed through Stephan’s radio followed by the worried voice of Müller. “Verdammte Scheiße! Stephan, do you hear me?”

“Yes, I hear you. What is the situation?”

“Bad, really bad! We have almost no ammo left for the AA weapons and that giant cloud of pegasi will swarm us when we don’t get help soon!”

Stephan bit his teeth together, fear gripping his heart as his old friend’s life was now on the line. He looked at Marcus, pleading behind his mask for him to do something, anything at all. Marcus scowled, nodding to himself once. It was time to bring out the big one.

“Cher! Get me Admiral Chirkov, now!”

“Patching you through!” For a moment there was static, which quickly cleaned for a deep voice that echoed out. “Commander? Is it time?”

“Time has come and gone, and you are late to the party.” Marcus grumbled, raising his weapon and firing a short burst to a lone Pegasus attempting to capture him, which he thought was completely idiotic of him, given that there was three of them on the roof, two of them with ballistic weapons and another trained in flight battle. “I need the Fujin Missile in the air now, or we lose everything.”

“As you order, Commander. Let see if the Japaneses’ weapon is a powerful as they say it is.”

“Sister!”

Marcus looked towards the Boston Harbor, filled with dozens of warships of every kind from around the world, the biggest further out to sea, the USS Gerald R. Ford, launching all of its air units to stem the tide of pegasi.

From harbor itself, a missile flew from the water, its aim straight above the city of Boston itself, dozens of Potioneer and Fortress ships attempted to bring down the missile, unknowingly enhancing the weapon with their very own magic with the runes inscribed on it. The jet engine burn hotter, pushing it even faster, and with the inner workings of the missile itself, the payload, it grew exponentially more powerful.

Dozens of spells were launched, and in the end, it ignored them. Marcus looked up, smirking before a familiar voice blared through the radio.

“Everyone, this is the Doctor! Get underground now! Or secure yourself inside one of the buildings! All flight groups get out of the city now!”

“Doc?”

“The missile absorbed too much magic, it’s not just going to suck up the clouds anymore!”

Marcus looked up as the missile flew faster than any missile he had ever seen before. “It’s going to make a class 5 tornado look like it threw fit, it’s equal to a level two hurricane of two hundred radius caught in a concentrated radius of two miles,GET UNDER COVER NOW!”

The missile exploded.

Silence took over.

The sun seemed to dim.

And missile's target seemed to change places with a small white sun.

“SISTER!”

Celestia was snapped out of her trance in a memory relapse, her eyes widened as she realized that she was flying back to Canterlot. She flushed, embarrassed that she fell into another memory. “Luna?”

“Sister, We asked thou a question, but were...Inattentive.” Luna looked at her sister with concern.

“I am fine, Luna. Just...Experiencing human Warfare from a first person view.” Celestia answered, shaking her head. “The Mind Link spell was rather... Intense.”

“Will you be fine?” Luna looked back to the open skies, her eyes narrowing as she thought back on her question.

“I will be.” Celestia sighed. “I will tell you this, humans are not to be trifled with in any form.” Celestia looked back to gauge Cadance, her eyes having a faraway look to them, a clear indication that she was thinking.

Cadance was indeed in deep thought as the three Alicorns flew back to Equestria proper; she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that there was another world almost equal to Equestria in every way.

Except the obvious fact that it took the word Harmony and raped the very meaning of it to suit their twisted concept of perfect utopia.

She still shivered at her aunt’s explanation about everything involved with the Sun Tyrant, that lingered in her mind, how she came to the world of Humanity, bearing gifts and good tidings, all the while planning to subjugate them and erase their very existence from their world. How she offered a ‘would be’ miracle cure; it cured diseases, cancers, gave sight to the blinded, hearing to the deaf, grew legs that allowed those without limbs to walk once more, and so much more.

But those that took it... lost everything in return, and when the time was right, when Humanity began to learn of the side effects of the Potion, she struck.

She made a barrier grow outside the portal, destroying everything in its path.

PER members, humans that had all but cast off their humanity to ponydom in attempt to 'share' the light the Tyrant brought in, struck against the human leaders with such precision and brutally that most of them were too late to do anything about it, many falling within the first hour.

Humanity fought back with everything short of their most powerful weapons. Weapons that her aunt described in full detail that even rivaled her own magical powers… even surpassed it.

Marcus, the human that was in Ponyville, was a leader of the UN forces. Elected due to his skills and leadership to a flailing UN, he had teamed with PHL, Ponies for Human Life, in an attempt to
find a way to break the barrier, or in their case, try and survive outside it.

He gathered most of the worlds' armies to at least strengthen themselves for
protection....

Or what was left of them.

Her aunt described that most military members banded together across the world when they realized that no one could take on the Tyrant and her armies alone, they shared intelligence, weapons and tactics.
But still being pushed back until they lost Europe, a continent that had dozens of countries within it; millions displaced, millions dead, millions ponyified.

Luna interrupted Candance’s thought by asking a question that was burning in her mind as well. “Why didn’t PHL teleport humans across the barrier?”

“Because the Sun Tyrant said the biggest lie of all, her trump card, the real reason why she was
winning.” Celestia answered, narrowing her eyes as she focused on the memory.

“She proclaimed that the magical aura would kill them.” Celestia said as her face twisted in disgust. “That, he large amount of magic in the very air and ground of Equestria would kill them.”

“But that doesn’t-”

“She teleported a human across the barrier.” Celestia interrupted Luna, she flinched as the memory flashed before her eyes.“The human began to melt, literally, broadcasted across the world, before the eyes of humanity he melted, but before he could die she ‘helped’ him.” Celestia paused; she had a hard time controlling how ‘vivid’ the memories were. “The Tyrant lied to them to ensure that whatever hope humanity had of simply bypassing the barrier would fall before it started.”

There was a moment of silence before Cadance summed up all three Alicorns' thoughts. “She is a monster.”

“Indeed...” Luna whispered, breathing slowly as anger swelled in her chest. “On a scale, no
pony... Nay! No being on Equus had ever heard of such a thing!”

Celestia focused ahead of her, “She had the nerve to contact me here, in our Equestria, make excuses for her actions, and attempt to force me into giving the Commander to her.”

Luna grinned “We saw your answer, Sister.” Gesturing with her head where they just came from and Cadance giggled, Celestia looked away, somewhat ashamed of her actions.

‘If it had been in a populated area...’ Celestia shook her head at the thought.

“Still...I believe we may have gone to war either way...” Celestia answered as they flew
past Cloudsdale.

“What do you mean?” Cadance looked at her in shock and confusion.

“Had any of the other corrupted Elements arrived instead of the Commander, and found a way back to their world...” Celestia started, an ache starting within her heart. “The Tyrant would come after us after she finished Earth.”

“Why?” Luna asked, concerned.

“She will see our world as....Imperfect.” Celestia grimaced, almost unsure of what she felt about what she heard. “When she spoke to me, she called me a shade, an incomplete ruler, an alicorn who refuses to raise her status to a Goddess. I could see it in her eyes, how she was utterly glad to not just find where the Commander went, but another Equestria. An ‘impure’ Equestria”

Celestia looked at Cadance and Luna, making sure they were understanding so far, at a quiet nod from both she continued.

“Due to Marcus's memories, I can tell how she gathered her power,” Celestia looked at Luna “by taking power away from the other Luna,” And then she looked at Cadance, “and forcing a bond between herself and the Crystal Kingdom.”

Both Luna’s and Cadance’s stared at Celestia for a while, their eyes slowly got wide as their ears slowly moved back. Cadance was the first to speak.

“H-how...exactly?” Cadance whispered to Celestia, hoping she had an answer.

“I don't know... Nor do I want to…” Celestia acknowledged, “But what I want to know is how she gained Tirek's bag.” Celestia growled.

“Who...Who is Tirek?” Cadance had never heard of this name before, but when she heard it, an instinctive chill ran down her spine.

“A very dangerous being...” Celestia told her as they landed near the Garden Maze.

“A long time ago, before even we were born, a being born from the darkness of the rulers of this land came to life.”

“The First Alicorns.” Luna clarified for Cadance. “Rulers of all Equus, their strength and magic that dwarfed even our powers when they were at their strongest; In an attempt to purge the darkness within themselves, whether in a moment of vanity or simply wanting to cleanse their souls of taint, a monster was
created.”

“Thus began the fall of the Alicorns...” Celestia whispered mostly to herself.

Ponyville

Seeing a large contingent of Royal Guards descending onto the town wasn't new to the residents of Ponyville. Due to their location near the EverFree Forest and being the home of the Elements of Harmony, the residents of Ponyville slowly became accustomed to the rather hectic disasters and mishaps that affected the small town.

So fictitious was it, that if there wasn't an incident during the week, the citizens would begin to board up their doors and windows to weather the upcoming disaster that was bound to happen.

No pony has had the heart to tell the Elements about this, figuring ignorance was bliss.

Shining Armor watched as the citizens simply moved aside to allow them passage, not even batting an eye at the guards as they carried on with their business.

'What a strange little town...' Shining thought to himself. He turned around to give the thirty or so ponies under his command their orders.

“Alright Guards, listen up!” Shining shouted. “I want several of you to search the hospital, question witnesses and try to find out where that thing headed. The half of the remaining of us will secure the town, make sure that this monster doesn't get back in and foalnap’s more of our ponies, the rest, search every inch of this town for that thing, don’t leave a rock unturned!”

“Sir!” The guards barked, saluting their Captain.

“You have your orders!” Shining waved his hoof outwards. “Move out!”

And with that the Royal Guards trotted off, a few of them making their way towards the hospital and out borders of the town, while others began to scour clean the town in search of the monster.

Nodding to himself, Shining began to make way towards his sister’s home.

Golden Oaks Library

“What…in the hay happen in here....” Shining said, as he stared in utter shock at the
state the Library was in. A complete and utter mess.

No scratch that, the Library was short of being decommissioned.

He watched as Spike picked up several books, examining them closely before either setting it aside or toss them into the air and setting them ablaze if they were simply too damaged to fix.

Applejack and Rarity were pushing aside several destroyed bookcases, most had a rather large hole in them, like something was thrown through them.

Twilight and Pinkie were standing off to the side, the latter attempting to reassure the former.

“It’s okay Twilight. I am sure you can get new books for the Library.” Pinkie smiled
at her. “We can even throw a party for them!”

Twilight’s sullen look slowly morphed with a small smile. “That’s alright Pinkie. You don't need to do that.” She said quietly, before the face melted away to concern. “We have bigger issues to deal
with though than some books.”

Shining felt shock run through him as he heard those words, completely missing how Pinkie's hair seemingly deflate to half its normal volume, a quiet sigh escaping her.

“What’s more important than books?” Shining asked, causing Twilight to jump up in
surprise at his question.

“BBBFF!” Twilight cried out, rushing in and hugging him, he returned it with as much
care as he could.

“Twily.” He held her close, worry and doubt slowly ebbing away. When he heard that the Elements got attacked by an unknown being, he nearly set out to Ponyville in irrational panic. It didn't help that he receive the notice while he was visiting his parents, who both nearly had fainted when they learn that several of Twilight's friends were hospitalized.

Princess Celestia did state that the thing was caught and sedated, and a group of guards would set out in the morning to bring the beast to Canterlot for questioning. However, sometime around the evening, the beast escaped, foalnapping a specialist. (Who later turn out to be a phony, as said specialist was still waiting for a train that would never come. Protocol states that the guards were to shut down the train in case somepony or thing tried to take it and disappeared into the night.)

“Twily....” Shining started, holding her close, “What happen in here? Did the beast show up?”

Twilight grimaced at the question, unsure how to begin or even how explain the situation to her protective brother.

Another thought crossed her mind, the voice sounding similar to Princess Luna, as she looked into Shining’s eyes.

'I’m sorry my little ponies, but it is my fear that we are to go to war.'

Shining Armor was the Captain of the Royal Guard.

He led his stallions in the defense of the Equestria itself.

And if need was called...

He would go to war as well…

Twilight froze, staring at her brother, fear beginning to fill her as she saw images of her brother fighting against other ponies, ponies that took Harmony and destroyed the very meaning of it for a mad Queen.

“TwilUH?” Shining unintentionally squeaked, stunned as Twilight hugged him even harder, tears beginning to spill from her eyes. After several seconds Shining finally was able to speak, “Twi, Twily what’s wrong?”

“Everything is changing...” Twilight said between sobs, fear now holding on to her very soul. “I...I don't know what to do anymore.”

“Twily?”

“Shining, I-” Twilight started, before several guards rushed through the door, startling everyone inside.

“Sir! The Beast is inside the library!” The guard called out. “Guardspony Air spotted the creature when he passed by. It’s in a bedroom!”

“What?!”Shining pulled away from Twilight in surprise, before looking to his sister in shock. “You captured it?!”

“What?! No! It’s a misunderstanding!” Twilight tried to calm them, but his brother's eyes narrowed and raced up the stairs, along with the guards. “Stop Shining!”

“Hey!”
“What the-?”
“Eek!”
“Stop!Leave him alone!”

Twilight acting quickly teleported to her room, and there was a scene unfolding; her friends were standing before Marcus's prone form, Lyra stood in front of Shining, standing on her rear legs and spreading her forelegs open to bar them passage, Rainbow standing next to her, glaring at the other Pegasus guard floating overhead, and Fluttershy was hiding underneath her bed, scared out of her mind.

“Move aside.” Shining ordered them, but Lyra and Rainbow didn’t budge.

“No.” Lyra growled. “Listen, what happen yesterday-”

“Will never happen again.” Shining growled, interrupting her, causing Twilight to flinch at the tone her brother used. “This...This beast is going to be locked up and thrown onto the moon for the rest of its life if I have any say about it.”

“Oh yeah?” Rainbow took a step forward, ignoring the snorts coming from the other guards. “And you think you are going to make this guy stay still long enough for that to happen?”

“I am the Captain of Guard for a reason, Rainbow Dash.” Shining replied, eying her wings. “It seems to me you are still suffering from the wounds he inflicted on you yesterday.”

“This?” Rainbow smirked a bit, wincing slightly as she spread her wings as to show off. “He just popped them out of their sockets, no biggie.”

“Shining...” Twilight walked up to her brother, her eyes wide and pleading. “Please... leave him alone. It was... it’s something that you must speak to the Princesses about. I don't think he will enjoy waking up in a cell.”

“That is his problem, not mine.” Shining retorted, “My problem is that he attacked my little sister and her friends for no reason. That alone is worthy of being thrown into the dungeon. Trying to murder the Elements of Harmony is another thing entirely.”

Shining leaned in close, his eyes gaining a harsh light within, causing the mares before him to shiver in fear. “Move. Now.”

Rainbow swallowed nervously, before she narrowed her eyes puffed out her chest. “No.” She took pleasure from the rather shocked looks on the guards and Shining Armor's face.

“I don't like the fact this guy tried to rip my wings off my back...but I understand why he did it. I don't like it, but I understand why he did what he did.” Rainbow striated her back, feeling an air of superiority, for she knew she was right, “But you listen here buster! Just because you are the Captain of the Royal Guards, doesn't mean he isn't going to like being chained up and dragged off to the dungeon for a misunderstanding!”

Shining huffed at Rainbow, trying to move passed her, but she cut him off and continued.

“And believe me when I say this… he is going to wipe the floor with you guys,” She stated almost in a joking tone “What he did to me and the girls, was him weak and helpless.”

Shining's horn glowed. “Your warning has been noted.” His horn burst with magic and the mares found themselves behind a magical shield.

“Hey! Let us out!” Lyra pounded on the shield with her hooves. “You’re making a big
mistake!”

“What in the Sam hill is goin’ on up here?” Applejack asked as she and Rarity walked up the stairs from the commotion they hear, only to see two guards standing guard at the top, barring passage into
the room. “What the hay?”

“Stand back, citizen.” One guard said, looking behind him to see several guards surrounding the human on the bed. “We will take this beast back to Canterlot and let the Princesses decided his fate.”

“Beast?” Rarity asked as she blinked in confusion, before her pupils shrunk in surprise and fear. “Oh dear, Applejack, I believe it is prudent that we get out of the way for now.” Both guards smiled at the first common sense that was heard in the library.

Until Rarity finished her thought.

“We don’t want to be in the way when the Commander wakes up and decided to go into a runic rage.” Rarity simply said as she held her head up as and walked down the stairs, Applejack rolled her eyes
and followed. “Twilight dear, I really do hope your brother may still be able to hear when this is over, I would like to give him a piece of my mind on hearing those who know more than him.”

“Thanks Rarity.” Twilight said, with obvious irritation in her voice, as she stared deadpanned at her brother.

Shining ignored them as the guards attempted to raise the beast with their magic to chain him up, but found it nearly impossible. “What’s wrong?” Shining asked.

“Sir, our magic is...uh...slipping off or something.” The Unicorn guard muttered. “I think it’s immune or resistant to magic.”

Shining tap his chin in thought, ignoring Lyra growling a correction. “That ‘it’ is a he, you leave him alone!” Shining ignored her, as he looked upon the blanket that the beast was lying upon, he
smiled.

“Wrap him up in the blanket.” Shining said triumphantly, “And do it quickly, I get the feeling that your magic is not going to hold it for very long.”

“Twilight!” Lyra turn to her friend but saw the rather bland expression on her face. “Do something, anything!”

“I can’t Lyra.” Twilight shook her head. “He may be my brother, but he is a member of the Royal Guard. If we try to interfere, they would arrest us too.”

“Your own brother would arrest you?” Rainbow looked at Twilight in surprise.

“He is just doing his job.” Twilight sighed,“Even if what he is doing is wrong.”

The mares watched as Marcus was rolled up in Twilight’s blanket, the human groaning as he woke up from all the movement.

“Quick! Chain him up!” Shining barked, as the guards sat Marcus on the ground and begun to wrap him up in chains.

“Wha...?” Marcus blinked in confusion, seeing himself surrounded by Royal Guard members. They had just finished placing the locks on the chains when Marcus finally tried speaking.“Uh...Where-”

“Silence!” Shining Armor growled, nearly raising his hoof to hit the human, but restrained himself. “You are charged with foalnapping and attempted murder of several citizens of Equestria, all of them being the Elements of Harmony, one being the student of Princess Celestia which also happens to be my little sister.” Shining growled at the now fully awake and fully pissed off human.

Calm...Peace, Marcus, no need to fight. The voice flashed through his mind like lighting, a warm feeling spread through his mind, calming his rising anger.

‘What? Who...Celestia?’

The voice vanished from his mind, a frown on his face, completely ignoring Shining Armor in the process as he tried to figure out what was going on.

“Hey, are you listening to a word I am saying?” Shining growled, getting into Marcus’s face. Twilight only face-hoofed at the issue before her.

“Shut up.” Marcus muttered, not noticing the look of surprise on Shining’s face. “I’m thinking here.”

“Why you-!” Shining growled, attempting to force the human to look at him, only to backpedal when the human flexed his arms, his runes hidden by the blanket but were still very functional, absorbing the magic in the chains and breaking apart when Marcus gathered the necessary strength to break them. Marcus quickly stood up, only to see the end point of 12 spears in his face.

He frown a bit, staring at the spears with little amusement. “Cute, out of the way.”

“Listen here beast!” Shining roared at him, his horn flaring to life. “I don’t care who you think you are! But the Royal Guard will take you down before you even take a step outside this library!”

Marcus raised an eyebrow at the list, before his eyes drifted to Twilight and the others. “He doesn’t know about the fight between me and the Princesses?”

Twilight face-hoofed harder, Shining’s face looked like it was going to explode in anger. “YOU WHAT?!”

“Listen Mr. California, unless your pretty wife wants to come home to a mummy, you will get the hell out of my face.” Marcus growled, his runes glowing brightly. “And I just got out of a tussle with your leaders, both of them. Do not test me.”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight teleported out of the shield, appearing between Shining and Marcus. “Shining, stand down! I don’t want my bedroom destroyed because you wanted to pick a fight.”

“But-”

“But nothing!” Twilight seethed, before turning to Marcus. “Please Commander, don’t pay attention to my brother, for now. I’m sure you two will get along soon enough.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed, “Last time I even met Shining Armor, he attempted to subdue his wife and drag her to the Tyrant with a smile.”

To say Shining was confused was an understatement, “What?!”

Twilight however talked over him. “And you now know that you are not in your world right now. This Shining Armor will not betray his wife, alright? Please... there... there’s too much going on and more fighting will just extend the issue.”

Marcus crossed his arms, his eyes closed before sighing once. “Fine... I was getting hungry anyways. Kitchen?”

“Downstairs, the entrance is next to the magazine catalogs.” Twilight answered him, Marcus nodded once before moving forward, only to get a spear to the chest to stop him. The Earth pony glared at him, with Marcus glaring right back at him.

“Get it out of the way or you are going to find it shoved up your ass, pointy end first.” Marcus growled, Twilight immediately ripped the weapon from the guard’s hold and threw it into the wall, embedding it deeply. Marcus just walked passed them ignoring the glares, once he got downstairs and out of sight, they were directed towards Twilight.

Shining Armor was the first to speak, “Explain”

Twilight’s ears flatten against her skull, the morning started out so well too...

Royal Garden

“Here, a bit of rest before I tell the story, if only to gather my wit before my talk with Discord at least.” Celestia laid up the grass, sighing blissfully as she rested her wings. Luna had taken up next to her sister, gathering her thoughts as well.

“So...” Cadence started, a bit nervous at what her aunts will about to tell her. “The First Alicorns were...”

“Killed. Yes.” Luna answered bluntly. “Though the fault was partially their own, they could of not known the results of their quest for inner peace. Nor that one of their own would betray them."

“Our teacher and mother, who is known as The Scribe, showed Luna and myself what had happen; to understand the world we now live in and our future was to insure its survival from their terrible mistake.” Celestia told Cadence, her eyes never wavering from her. “Prepare Cadence, for what you see is only the beginning of their trip into Tartarus.”

Celestia's horn glowed and a single plane square imaged appeared before them.

"4,000 years ago, the Alicorns ruled the land, they did so through peace, but held onto it through their incredible magic."

Several outlines of alicorns appeared, looking mighty and powerful, their shadows making them appear even bigger than normal.

"As peace reign through Equus, the alicorns began shepherding the younger races to enlightenment, but one alicorn stood above the rest"

A single Alicorn, her coat pristine ivory, her mane similar to a rose in bloom, her eyes filled with wisdom and inner strength.

"Faust was an alicorn of considerable strength in magic, her knowledge and inventive skills allowed a new era of magic and technology."

Dozens of ideas flowed from Faust's mind, runes and machines coming to life.

"However... not all Alicorns were appreciated of her skills and might."

The image slowly melted away from Faust, revealing a male alicorn, large in size and stature. His mane was pitch black, his coat dark grey of a summer thunderstorm. He glared fiercely at Faust behind her back, forgotten by the other alicorns that surrounded Faust.

"Tirek was formerly Head Mage of their society, but Faust's ideas and magic slowly casted him out of the position."

The imaged changed to show the alicorn now known as Tirek appearing to be shouting at several alicorns, none of them looking pleased with his outburst.

"All but one of them shoved him aside. Faust attempted to lend a hoof to the former Head Mage."

Faust appeared, leaning out with a hoof, a kind smile on her face to Tirek, who was covered in shadows.

"He did not accept her generosity."

Tirek lashed out, striking the hoof held out to him, screaming in rage, Faust pulling away from him, scared and hurt by his words.

"He vanished for several years, leaving Faust to bring in a new age. Sadly, the age will not last for long."

The image change once more to show Tirek once more, a smile on his face as he talked to a large group of Alicorns.

"Tirek return, proclaiming that he found a way to enlighten their people beyond what they knew now. A spell he worked on for the last few years to regain his standing among them."

Faust appeared in the back of the group, a look of worry upon her face. She appeared before Tirek, talking to him while he smiled down at her.

"Faust attempted many times to talk to Tirek, to try and make sense of his spell he intended to teach the alicorns."

Tirek simply lift his head and walked away, smiling as he did so.

"She was refused."

Thousands of alicorns stood in a pack stadium, all of them looking excited beyond belief.

"Tirek explained to them that they had to sacrifice a piece of their own magic to expel their inner darkness, but the results would be well worth it."

All the alicorns' horn glowed with magic, their eyes closed in concentration, all except one. Faust saw Tirek pull a small bag and hung it around his neck, his smile became much more sinister.

"As one, they cast the spell, all expect for Faust herself. They casted out the inner darkness and negative magic to be free from evil."

Tirek was covered in thick clouds of magic, all of it covering him, with a crazed look in his eyes and laughing uproariously before he vanished entirely from sight.

"Instead, they created a monster."

The cloud of magic vanish, and where Tirek the Alicorn once stood, Tirek the Abomination was born. The giant centaur was looking down at his form with utmost glee. He then raised his newly form hands and unleashed his ill-gotten magic.

"Faust did not stay idle for long."

Magical shield appeared before the stunned Alicorns, taking the brunt of the attack. Faust appear in a flash of light, her eyes filled in anger. Her horn glowed with power before unleashing it on Tirek, sending him flying through a wall.

"The ensuing battle was horrific, causing a once majestic city to fall into ruin. The death toll unimaginable..."

A large city, once beautiful and majestic, laid in ruins. Various species could be seen fleeing, others remain where they are, their eyes vacant and unseeing, lost in their grief.

"Faust and Tirek's battle was long and hard, neither side giving in to the other."

Tirek stood tall, the wounds on his body healing quickly, his insane grin still on his face as he look up to Faust. Faust herself floated overhead, her face filled remorse as she tried to plead with him. Tirek only cocked his head back and laughed, with a wave of his newly form arms, he formed a portal to take him away from the area. Before he step through, he looked back at alicorn one last time, smirking once before speaking.

"You foolish little foal, I planned this moment for years. All of this glorious death and destruction was simply aim to hurt You. No more will I be cast aside and forgotten, the world will bow to me and my rule. The name Tirek will last for an eternity."

"For the next century, all Equus knew was war. Alicorns, once the most powerful beings in existence, now only held as much power as a talented unicorn."

The image changed to show a war-torn field, several corpses of various races laid on the bloody ground, Faust herself looking battered beyond belief, Tirek slowly walking away, laughing as he did so.

"Tirek insured Faust's survival at every meeting, to see the destruction and death, to break her will to fight. He took dozens of Alicorns, crippled from the fighting and vanishing from sight. When he return to fight once more he showed his new growing army to Faust."

Tirek stood before the Equus army, all of them looking terrified at the monsters at Tirek's command. Pitch black scales and monstrous appearance, never seen before in the land. A single alicorn was dragged before Tirek, who was grinning at Faust with malicious glee.

"He showed Faust where he got his army, and demonstrated for Faust. The bag that held..."

Cadance and Luna turn to look at Celestia she trailed off, her eyes were wide as something was just revealed to her.

"No... She wouldn't..." Celestia whispered. Cadance turn back to look at image, showing the bag unleashing dark purple magic at the Alicorn, who screamed in fright and pain, slowly transforming into a hideous beast.

"Sister?" Luna lean close to Celestia, gently nuzzling her sister in an attempt to get her attention. Celestia's horn flickered, the image shifted to a different memory.

Humans, all of them armed with weapons and gear for battle. The image shift views, Cadance realizing that she was looking at a human's view point, looking down into his hands to his weapon. Cocking it once, a shout was sounded once and the human ran outside the room they were in.

Chaos was the only word for it. Humans, young and old, civilians and soldiers attempting to stop what appear to be an attack from all sides.

By ponies.

They threw bottles of purple vials at every human they saw. Cadance covered her mouth with hoof in disgust and horror, while Luna's eyes narrowed into slits of anger. Humans scream in agony before they shifted and changed, not too dissimilar to what Tirek did.

It hit Cadance and Luna like a runaway wagon when they realize what Celestia stumbled upon.

"She...she..." Cadance stammered out, unable to finish, her stomach attempting to void itself from disgust.

"The Sun Tyrant is using the bag's magic for the potion." Luna whispered, lowering her head to look away from the images.

'She uses the bag! She uses an ancient evil to subdue us! She will kill us all in her insanity!' The voice ripped through her mind.

'Marcus?'Nothing answered her prodding. Celestia shivered, attempting to calm her mind of the revelation. "We will discuss the issue at another time. Perhaps asking the Scribe, if she grants us her audience, in a way to defeat this."

"But Aunt Celestia-"

"At the moment, there nothing we can do. We must gather all knowledge we can. Perhaps the teachings of the Scribe will reveal an answer to us."

"But-!"

"Believe me, my niece." Celestia trying to give Cadance a confidant look, but failing to do so. "I feel your pain for the humans, but going in blindly will help nopony. I feel their pain much more than you think. These memories and teachings may hold our answer to stopping the Tyrant."

"Then continue Sister." Luna pushed. "The answer may lay within and a third party may give insight to anything we miss."

Celestia nodded her head, the image shifting away from the horrible scene, much to Cadance's relief. The image showing Faust working in a lab of some sort, similar to Twilight's in many regards.

"Faust work day and night, looking for answers that may led to Tirek's defeat."

Faust appear to step back in shock, revealing a silhouette of a familiar god of chaos.

"Some were not as beneficial as they could of been."

Battles become bigger, entire landscapes and continents were reformed near the end of the war.

"It reached a point where Faust and Tirek unleashed their largest magical attack at one another."

Tirek screamed in pain, his body flailing in agony from Faust attack. The lightly colored rainbow swirling around him before dissipating. Faust wasn't looking any better, but she gave a small smile as she saw the look of fear on Tirek's face.

"However, the spells that clashed forever changed Equus into what was known today."

The image changed, stars filled the sky, worlds that Cadance had never seen before spiral around a massive sun. The image slowly shifted to a single world, half dead from the war. A single bright light appeared, and the world shuddering as a response. Cadance didn’t notice at first, but the world was slowly moving away from the giant sun, the distance became wider each hour, as if the spell disbalanced some major order of the planets existence.

From Faust’s perspective, the once great sphere in the sky became smaller, too little to notice, but enough to be an issue. Gigantic storms rushed throughout the sky, the earth vibration seemed to become more violent each passing second. Gigantic waves devoured complete cities, even if the moon followed its brothers fate into the emptiness, it became too close for its presence not to affect the planet.

True chaos.

The world would finally turn dark and cold when the light of the sun was too far away from the planet.

"Then what happen?" Cadance whispered.

"Once, we were similar to Earth, spinning through space around a sun, but the magical attack from Faust and Tirek force the planet off course, killing the world even quicker."

Dozens of spheres lights appear the darkening planet, shields created by Faust to protect Equus from the lack of light and extreme cold, she even tried to hold the planets small brother at a distance that wouldn’t cause harm. But all of them required magic. Magic she didn’t have. One by one, the artificial magic stars vanished into the darkness.

"Faust realized that a sacrifice needed to be made. She poured so much magic into that one spell, which still failed to stop Tirek completely, but she needed more to stop him permanently. She came to the conclusion that she need more power, and the only thing she had left to offer, her very soul."

Faust stood before an image of herself, a small grimace on her face.

"Scribe, I need you to create beings able to move the small star and moon. Use Equus natural magic to do so. It is the only chance Equus has at life returning to normal."

"It will take several centuries, Ms Faust. A total of two would be needed to control the solar and lunar revolutions. Until then, I will kept the machines in check, however there is no way for me to fix the machines if they break down."

"Worry not, Scribe. I have taken care of that issue."

"Of course."

The final battle appeared, a dying world stood between them. Tirek stood uncaring of the world around him, while Faust stood without regret, a small smile on her face. Tirek roared out charging at Faust, Faust only closed her eyes, her body glowing with inner light.

"The final battle was quick, a battle neither Tirek nor Faust walked away from."

Faust body glowed with magic, pouring her very soul into the spell. Tirek's eyes widen in surprise as Faust unleashed a very familiar spell.

"The Elements of Harmony." Cadance whispered, staring at the image before her. "She...she created the Elements."

"At the cost of her life." Luna closed her eyes in sadness.

Tirek screamed as the attack slammed into him, swirling around him in a colorful light. A black void appear above him, Tirek slowly turning in golden specks of light, screaming in agony and pain as he broke apart. The golden light poured into the void before the last speck vanished and the portal into the void sealed itself shut. Faust took a single step before collapsing. She flailed a bit before falling still.

Cadance took note that Faust was saying something, but was unable to hear what she was saying.

Faust closed her eyes, and the world exploded into color. The imaged shift to Equus, a small sun appearing above the world, the moon shifting back into place, water and forests springing from the dead world.

Life was returning back to Equus and it was beautiful.

The spell ended, and Equus remain whole once more.

The image vanished and Celestia sighed. "It appears we may need the Elements to stop the Tyrant. However, in doing so, we put them in great risk."

"She has an entire army at her command, millions upon millions willing to sacrifice themselves for her." Luna muttered darkly as she stood up. "Just facing against that will be nearly impossible alone with our own troops. All of Equus could unite and not still wouldn't be enough."

"Twilight and the others could be killed before they even reached the Tyrant." Cadance shook her head, trying to shake away the tears forming in her eyes. "There must be a way to stop this madness."

Celestia trotted forward, looking back at the two. "Then we ask Madness himself. He may be able to give us insight, perhaps a plan of attack."

"Or he may just join the Tyrant in her mad quest." Luna growled. "It is a mistake to ask him of all ponies, Sister."

"What choice do we have?" Celestia asked, turning into the small clearing that held Discord. "Its either asking him or go...at..."

Celestia froze, along with the two other alicorns, as they stare at the pedestal that held Discord.

Discord stared right back at them, a small grin on his face as he enjoyed their shocked faces.

"Hello Celestia. Lulu." Discord gave them a small wave. He looked at Cadance before smirking somewhat. "Oh, a natural born eh? Finally start coming around. Took you long enough."

He leapt off the pedestal and walked to the three, his arms waving open wide and a smile on his face.

"Oh I do so love a good story telling." Discord stated, walking around the three with a casual air surrounding him, his eyes, however, were slowly filling with anger. "Celestia gives too much credit to Mother however. She also leaves out a lot of missing scenes. After all, it was me that saved the world from utter darkness."

"What?!" Cadance looked at Discord with surprise.

"A little secret that Celestia doesn't want to share with anypony. After all, it wouldn't do if the monster save the world." Discord jumped up and floated around them, before settling in front of Celestia. "Wouldn't it, Fake?"

Celestia flinched at the name, causing Luna growling at Discord. Before either of them could say a word, Discord turn around and walked back to the pedestal. His entire form slowly changing from an air of uncaring to unbridle anger.

"But you are not here about that, are you?" His voice was low, a sinister quality that made Cadance hide behind Celestia. "You are here about your insane twin and how to stop her."

He held up his eagle claw, glowing with power. He turn back to them, unmasked rage covering his face. He slammed the claw into the stone pedestal, the stone warping under his power before it shattered into dust.

"You kill her, simple as that." He growled.

"How..." Celestia whispered, terrified at this Discord before her. She could feel his power, all of it being push directly at her person.

All of his hate and rage. It just so potent that it nearly knocked her off her hooves. She had never felt this before, even when they fought, he just exclude an insane sanity about himself.

"How am I free?" Discord said quickly shifting back to uncaring, throwing Cadance off from his inconsistent personality. "Well, let's just thank my own ‘evil’ Twin for that. He was only able to help me..."

He looked back at the three, staring directly into Celestia's eyes.

"Because your ever loving twin killed him."

Author's Notes:

Done! I finally finished, behind schedule but I finished.

I like to thank DrawDex for helping me in correcting a good portion of this story.

I also like to thank whoever checked in and help out in anyway they could.

I know this story lacks TB3's flair of writing, but tried my best with what skills I had, along with DrawDex input and corrections. Please review, and give me a response about my first steps in solo writing.