Death was not what I or seemingly anyone thought it would be.

In life I had always assumed that if I wasn't going to hell for not believing in any one god, I’d just stop existing completely. What I got instead was rather disappointing, as well as confusing to say the least. Instead of burning for all eternity I merely floated through what felt and looked like space.

Not even some sort of mystical space but just regular ol space.

Galaxies, stars, nebulas, and even distant planets could all be seen around me, yet I couldn't move towards any of them. With no manner of propulsion and nothing to do you may expect I would go mad, yet I felt no panic, or concern for my situation. Though those feelings may have simply been the first thing which left me during my stay in the void.

Most of my memories were gone as well, or at least they had lost all of their definition, becoming muddy. It was like a photograph fading slowly in the sun, losing its sharp colors, and the majority of its details. Even my personality was slowly melting away, gnawing at the small parts of myself and leaving behind only what I assumed was core to my very being.

What I did know was that I had lived to a ripe old age, had married, had kids, and generally seemed to be the mothering sort. Though I couldn't recall if my partner had been male or female, I knew we had loved one another fiercely. As I had also loved my possibly adopted children, whose names and faces now eluded and confounded me.

Still, all of that wasn't enough to make me upset, leaving me to slowly disintegrate as I passed through what looked like the far edge of the milky way galaxy.

Then something changed, and I heard a plea that tugged at my heart strings.

“Please mother Gaea, save us. If not myself then at least the children,” whispered a desperate feminine voice.

Though I knew not my name, I could tell that it wasn't Gaea from the fact I had been human, and the way it stirred no recognition within me. Even still, I couldn't help but wish desperately to answer their call despite it not being directed at me per say. The strain in their voice was both familiar and agonizing, signifying a kind of desperation that one only found when facing down death itself.

So intense was my desire to help that I began to search the void for the source of the voice, fully expecting to find nothing.

“I beg of you, oh great spirit of the earth. If you save us I swear to serve you for all time,” whispered the same voice, which had grown even more desperate over the past few seconds.

It was small, but I could feel the origin of the voice, somewhere distant, yet close at the same time. With a vague sense of direction in mind I tried to move towards it and was surprised when I actually managed to do just that. After all this time I was suddenly moving under my own power, and though thrilling, I cared not for the small achievement itself.

There was someone out there that needed me and though a part of my being thought my efforts were futile, I refused to believe such a notion. If I could move, I had agency and If I had that, then there was at least the chance that I could aid this stranger. With herculean effort, I pushed my way through the void, fighting against some strange gravity which tried to pull me back to where I had been.

With no frame of reference, nor body to speak of I struggle to describe what it was like, only that it felt akin to trying to run through waist deep water. My efforts werent wasted though, as I could feel my being start to accelerate towards a distant star orbited only by a single planet. Though time was hard to measure without a physical body, I could sense that whatever window that had opened was now rapidly closing.

“Please, mother. I can't do this without you. I’m not strong enough to protect them on my own. I need your help,” pleaded the woman who sounded as though she was barely holding back the urge to sob uncontrollably.

Pouring everything I had into following the voice, I rapidly began to approach the planet which grew larger by the second. Until I could make out the small moon which orbits the planet, as well as the distinct shape of a single large landmass at the mostly water covered planet’s center. Numerous islands dotted the space around it, though none could rival the enormous super continent which dominated the pale blue dot’s surface.

Following the source of the voice I surged towards a distant point sitting near the very top of the continent. There I saw open tundra, scattered hills and an enormous mountain range vaguely reminiscent of the himalayas in their stature. I briefly wondered who would live in such an inhospitable place before I heard her once more, the person’s voice filling me with an intense drive.

“I’ve devoted my entire life to your worship. Even when turning my back on you would have saved our village! Please, if you ever existed or ever cared, then please save them!” she shouted, tears no doubt streaming down her face.

A moment of hesitation flickered through me as I wondered just what I was getting myself into, but it quickly vanished. There was an honesty in that voice, one that told me all I needed to know, assuging my worries and filling me with righteous indignation. Whatever I was about to delve into, this creature was innocent and kind, that I knew for certain.

Breaking through the cloud cover, I saw numerous mountain tops below me, in the midst of which sat a pristine valley. One that was green despite being surrounded on all sides by towering snow capped peaks. The strangeness of it all piqued my curiosity, but I chose to leave that thought alone for now, for I could see a distant shape on the far side of the valley.

One that was vaguely humanoid, though it had only a head and a single massive arm as well as twin bumps upon its chest. As I neared the strange formation I could tell that it was merely an odd but completly natural outcropping of rock which only slightly resembled a person. That didn't matter though, for it was the creatures beneath it which I found far more curious than even the enormous stone formation.

A small band of what looked like a hundred or so horses were crowded around its base, some which appeared wounded. Though they had but sticks and rocks to defend themselves, they stood between the weaker members of their group and a small cadre of armored horses. Some had wings, others horns while the majority had neither and though I felt like there were some strangers in their midst, I had little time to study them.

For I felt myself being pulled towards the humanoid shaped chunk of rock, its grip so tight on my being that I could do little before I slammed into it. A moment passed, then another, before suddenly I opened my eyes and looked around to find myself gazing down on the scene I had witnessed earlier. From this vantage point I could tell that a female was kneeled at the base of me, and was weeping openly.

Several others were praying along with her all while the few males nervously stood between them and the armored ponies.

“Lay down your stick and I promise to let you live,'' shouted a tall horned horse which strode towards the line of desperate rag-wearing survivors.

“So you can enslave us or kill us for not following your religion? Never!” yelled back a younger looking male who held only a shard of what looked like polished bone.

“Come now, you must see reason,” implored the armored pony, who smiled widely. “I have chased you for days now. You have no food, no water, and no hope of surviving without the guidance of the sisters. Give up and we will share our provisions with you.”

“Don't listen to him Glad Heart!” shouted a female. “He said the same back in Hearthome and then butchered everyone like animals!”

The armored pony sighed, his gold and silver shoulders falling. “One just had to get away. I knew it,” he murmured bitterly.

My eyes narrowed, my lone fist tightening dangerously as I watched the scene unfold beneath my titanic stone form.

The armored ponies slowly fanned out, their metal armor gleaming in what little sunlight pierced the cloud barrier. Each one was armed with a spear, as well as what looked like a short sword, all save for the ones who lacked either horn or wing, they only had heavier looking greeves. Their formation was tight, and with only a few hoof motions, they had been directed into surrounding the small group of survivors.

“Alright heretics. This is the last time I’m going to make this offer,” bellowed the horned horse from earlier, the stallion standing tall, his floating spear gripped in some manner of strange orange field. “You will die either on the stake, or by my blade and though my patience has run low after these trying few weeks I will allow you to choose how you will perish.”

“It is you who are heretics. Your gods are mortal mares!” shouted the weeping pony I saw earlier. “You call us heretics yet you worship that which walks among you!”

The armored stallion bristled at the comment, his cocky smile vanishing in an instant. “We worship them because they are real! When has your earth spirit answered your prayers? When has your god done anything to help you?”

The soldiers let out a hearty yell of agreement while the refugees only shrunk even closer to the stone cliff face which lay below me.

“She is real, and she will save us!” yelled the female, her vibrant green mane flapping in the light breeze.

“You don't even believe the words you speak,” spat the male. “Allow me to show you what true conviction looks like!”

I had heard enough, and with a single swing I brought my enormous stone fist down on the horned horse. Several tons of formerly inert stone slammed into the pony, squishing him flat and crushing the two unfortunate soldiers who had been standing too close to him. Armor crumpled like paper beneath my might, their bones shattering and bodies being turned to pulp in a single horrifying instant.

It was like crushing a trio of grapes beneath your fist, and when I lifted my enormous limb there was nothing recognizable left of them. A silence hung over the group, and as one they looked up to me, some with fear, others with adoration, most with confusion. I cared not one way or the other, and merely utilized this moment of quiet to scoop up a handful of armored ponies.

The second they left the ground the silence was broken and the soldiers tried to organize some kind of resistance, while others merely screamed in panic. The ones in my grasp tried to escape, but I was too fast and closed my fist, crushing them with the ease one might squish a small group of ants. Tossing aside their broken bodies I noticed that the soldiers had broken into two groups, one of which was forming into a tight circle formation below me while the other ran away.

Opening my hand, palm down I crushed the cowardly group in a single titanic swat of my massive stone limb, killing them all. The earth shook with the weight of the blow, and horses struggled to stand as bits of rock rumbled down the mountainside. By the time I lifted my stone arm back up the remaining soldiers had erected some kind of barrier over them.

I had no idea how they had managed such a thing, but it didn't matter, and after cocking my fist, I punched them with all the force I could muster. I didn't even notice the shield as my stone fist flew straight through it, instantly killing every single remaining soldier and crushing them flat. Not only that but I destroyed the ground under them, knocking the rest of the still living horses from their hooves.

Pulling back my fist, I reached up and wiped the gore on a bit of snow which had fallen from further up the mountain. Looking down at the former battlefield I noticed that my attacks had left sizable indents in the ground, and rendered the previous attackers little more than red smears. None had survived, nor was even a single one recognizable, their weapons and armor having been utterly annihilated by my attacks.

Glancing down at the terrified horses I noticed that the majority of them were either currently vomiting, pissing themselves, or had their faces pressed against the ground and were praying. Only a very select few still stood there in shock, having not moved since the killing had begun only a few seconds ago. For a moment I wondered what to do, and though I had no mouth, I decided to try speaking.

“Greetings, children.” I uttrered, my voice sounding like two great rocks grinding against one another.

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.

This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: Ech, Tailsic, Chrisb32, Nightwing, Tonoz, CoreyPeters, Thane, Renegade, Sunset Flash, Kyokimute, Monsterkittie, Louts Petals, Tacocat, Tom, MestreJ, Aang Slyver, Canary in the Coal Mine, Ceepert, Starless, Vi Watch, Facinus, M, Nfreak, Venerable Ro, Blade Tech, Cryil Shadeclaw, John Gonzales, Nightwing, Peter Coulthard, Srgtartman, Thane Kull, Victor, Dale, Dragons' Sheppard, Egery007, Gear change the earth pony, Ivar, James, Kali, Lich Lord Krosis, Menthol Qtip, Midnight Serenade, Mop Hop, Nathan Brown, Octavia Lowbar, Pacsik, Soundtea, Hannibal, Fiamgoku, Grub, Matias Duran, and Steven.