The next day, it was almost noon since everything was back to normal, Ponyville and Canterlot circulated the first news about the mistakes of some ponies, which opened everyone's eyes to the truth and innocence of man, but Alex hasn't shown up anywhere since the day before, as he announced, he left for two days to deal with a very important matter, and his words regarding what he wanted to do for everyone to reject his own power showed everyone the truth of his goodwill and needless fear, because fear, as it turned out, was the greatest evil right now messing in the heads of certain ponies.
Of course, there was a question whether Alex would really come back in two days, Alex never threw words to the wind, when he promised something he always kept his word but there was a fear that he might not actually come back and everything was caused by the game of guilty ponies, this question today, that day was asked by the pair of mares, an orange golden-maned Applejack marching alongside her blue mane friend Rainbow Dash, both headed to Canterlot Palace pondering the most important thing that had been done after the day had passed.
- this is amazing, I would never have thought that Alex would ever want to get rid of his power, he probably knew that he would strike fear in the hearts of many. Applejack said.
- how can you get rid of something so wonderful, after all, this armor of his is a wonderful thing, oh if there was a possibility that he could transfer his power to me forever, I would take it without complaining. Said Rainbow Dash still dreaming of using steel armor again and breaking more speed records.
- despite this, Alex surprised us again with what he did and said but why does he have to punish us again, punish Twilight, after all, none of us are to blame that some lunatics wanted to destroy his good name and take his powers to banish him, show him where he belongs , it's not our fault. Rainbow Dash added, shaking her head.
- I hope Alex will keep his word and come back tomorrow before sunset. Applejack said, looking at the castle where they were headed now.
- may he keep his word, otherwise I will personally find him and pull him by the ear. Said Shining Armor, a white unicorn with a turquoise-blue-navy blue mane, suddenly appearing on the road, accompanied by his wife Cadance with a curly pink-purple-gold mane.
- I'm sure he'll come back, I just don't know what he's doing but I know he'll come back, he gave us his word so he has to come back. She told Cadance, sure of man's promise.
- there would be no such problems if it wasn't for certain madmen, because otherwise they cannot be called. Pinkie Pie said as she came out of the neighboring road.
If it weren't for them, this wouldn't be a problem. Shining Armor said.
- wait, isn't it them?, yes!, I wonder what they're doing here. Pinkie Pie asked as the nine ponies stood in front of the palace gate being opened by two guards.
- I think Twilight called them, she wants to show them something or something. She told Cadance after hearing three by three something about the case of a certain possibility regarding the alternate present.
- wait, I think I know what Twilight wants to show them, it's what our world would look like without our friend, what would Akeron do if Alex didn't stop him. Rainbow Dash said.
- so what are we waiting for quickly, we have to make it in time. Applejack screamed as she took off.
Five ponies ran into the throne room and as it turned out they were not the only ones here, among those gathered in front of the throne there were two princesses of the sun and moon, Celestia with a shiny mane and Princess Luna with a mane of night, among them there was a princess of friendship dark blue Alicorn Twilight Sparkle, among the gathered stood also a light purple Spike and a spirit of chaos Discord, accompanied by cream-colored Fluttershy with a pink mane and a white mare Rarity with a navy blue mane and accompanying blue Trixie.
In the center of the steel now bowing their heads in guilt, bearded Star Swirl, golden pony Deros with black mane, pink Luster Dawn with curly orange mane with gold ribbon, orange pegasus in golden armor Flash Sentry, currently the most guilty of all that was evil, and accompanying Somnambula, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus and Meadowbrook who also bowed their heads to everyone.
- great then you all are today I want to show you some truth of what might have been if Alex had never come to our world even though a lot of potential for time magic was inevitably lost by magic shock it is still possible of course it just depends on you, you don't have to look at what could have been. Said Twilight looking at the gathered guilty being angry at everyone.
- we are ready for anything, we voluntarily want to see what our world would look like. Said Star Swirl feeling the greatest guilt.
- it was our mistakes that led to this, so we want to pay for it somehow. Said Somnambula, who was always on the sidelines, always saw in the plot something that would cause trouble for everyone.
- wait, Flash, you know what you're agreeing to, there you can see something that will scare you, even hurt because the world would look like if he won. She told Trixie, worried about her beloved.
- I'm ready for anything, my infatuation could lead to tragedy, now I see the truth and I want to pay for it somehow. Said Flash Sentry standing at attention awaiting his turn.
- Deros, you don't have to, you know, if it wasn't for you. luna said before Deros suddenly interrupted her.
- it doesn't change anything I consciously want to see what the present looks like without a human being, I want to see it. Said Deros agreeing to everything.
- Twilight, is it really necessary, or do you really have to. Luna said, turning to Twilight this time.
- I'm not sure about it either, but if they agreed. Twilight said.
- we agree to it. They said simultaneously Luster Dawn, Deros, Flash Sentry, Star Swirl, Somnambula, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus and Meadowbrook.
- so be it, Starlight Glimmer, fetch the potion. Twilight said.
Starlight Glimmer came through the next room, leading a table on wheels and a large bottle of potion prepared by her and Zecora, a potion that could show what the world would look like under the rule of an elemental ruler, currently a chatty pegasus mare with blueberry, purple and aquamarine mane to lead the table shoved from a golden unicorn in a golden robe arguing about who should take care of it.
- Sunburst please don't treat me like a baby, it's just a table on wheels, not something heavy. Starlight Glimmer said.
- I don't care, Starlight, please, you're in a special condition and you can't expose yourself, please, I'll take care of it. Sunburst said as he pushed his wife aside and wheeled the stole himself.
- oh how sensitive he is, isn't he. Rarity said herself cuddling up to the dragon.
- the test is so caring and I'm not surprised. Fluttershy said as she did the same while squeezing the spirit of chaos tightly.
- oh no, Sunburst, stop treating me like an invalid, I'm at full strength. I can even move the Minotaur myself. Starlight Glimmer said, pushing the concerned unicorn aside.
- Starlight, do you have to be so stubborn?. Sunburst said, pushing the Sarling Glimmer aside again.
- oh no, please do you have to argue, it's useless, chubby Starlight in your condition you should save yourself, Sunburst is right. Princess Celestia said, which didn't make the stubborn unicorn mare any better.
- I should save myself, I guess you!. Starlight Glimmer said as she pushed Sunburst aside again pushing the cart too hard which caused a sudden movement and the potion fell out.
- will catch it. shouted Star Swirl throwing himself under the bottle.
Many could have reacted by the power of levitation magic but the moment was too sudden and everyone was shocked to see the flying bottle hitting the head of the bearded sage no one was able to react, the bottle hit, all hell and all the contents spilled on Star Swirl's head.
- I guess it's all over. Said Shining Armor looking like a doused bearded sage.
- Well, it's not my fault. Said Starlight Glimmer hiding behind Sunburst.
- Yes, yes, it was an accident and it's my fault. Sunburst said, trying to take the blame.
Despite the loss of the elixir, as it turned out, not everything was lost, on the contrary, the power of the elixir and he himself began to float in the air illuminating the entire throne chamber.
- Twilight what's going on. Spike asked, standing in front of Rarity.
- unless there was some overload or uncontrolled process. Said Discord also getting defensive with Fluttershy.
- Starlight, what did you add to it. Twilight asked, looking with growing fear at the strange power floating throughout the chamber.
- I didn't add anything, maybe I made a mistake in the calculation, maybe I added something, but the effect should be the same. Starlight Glimmer said.
- so why is this thing starting to react to all of us!. Princess Celestia screamed as she saw the emanating power reaching out to everyone in the chamber.
Suddenly the power of the potion reached everyone, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Discord, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Deros, Luster Dawn, Flash Sentry and Star Swirl were drawn into a field of magical power and an ever-increasing tunnel of magic led them to the shining end full of sudden screams that squeaks and screams, all around exploded to nothing but scorched earth, and each gathered flew in pairs or singly in a different direction of the destroyed rebuilt world of the great super continent.
The whole world was broken and cracked, pierced by hundreds of crimson monoliths, and single cities, born of black diamonds, hordes of scarlet legions, half scarlet, half diamond, rushed across the land, all headed for the greatest city, the fortress, the capital made entirely of scarlet hewn of the monoliths, it was the great fortress and capital of the whole broken world, a gigantic structure built of hewn shards in four great mines where beings from all over the world were brought there, shackled with crimson and black chains, dragons, changelings, griffins, hippogriffs, ponies, and various beings from all over the world were led under the watchful eye of evil legionnaires.
Trixie with tears in her eyes saw how great legions beat their whips at the terrified beings of the world, led and mixed up for eternal slave labor, under the pressure of the terrible power of the whips, the slaves lost their strength and emotions, becoming for a time empty, deprived of everything, so bad will took away from everyone the last hope and spark they could leave in the present day, but Trixie's greatest blow was when she saw herself whip, but not of her own free will, but by the power of scarlet shackles and crystals attached to her head, Trixie's reflection was but a monster devoid of will and emotion like an indefatigable machine made for one purpose only, and among the bleached slaves, Trixie saw the Flash Sentry walking down to the mines carrying a three-kilogram, shovels, and a heavy rucksack with everything that could fit on his back.
- please, enough!. Trixie screamed as she could no longer see herself from the alternate reality hurting everyone she loved.
The mines themselves were full of slaves striking tirelessly with pickaxes, spades, lugging great blocks of scarlet steel to build the last fortifications of the great fortress, the octagonal city, the black and scarlet citadel.
Staring Glimmer and Sunburst flying in the vision space saw themselves on top of one of the mountains hewn with the power of slaves, they were both against each other, Sunburst was only a slave here and Starlight was another mindless bound form but not to be whipped, her task was to inflict pain for insubordination for showing mercy and compassion to anyone, and that sin Sunburst committed while helping another dragon slave, the now tethered Starlight Glimmer emotionlessly blasted the yellow unicorn with crimson power from a scarlet gauntlet over her magic horn.
The squeal and the thunder shook the entire mine again, and again, without showing any sympathy, everyone worked under the watchful eye of the flagellants, the great centaurs who systematically whipped everyone for the slightest mistake.
- I'm sick of it. Said Starlight Glimmer looking away from the terrible image.
- it's even worse, but whether it can be so terrible or not our adversaries, I knew, Akeron would deceive them anyway. Said Sunburst as he saw the sight of four tyrants now slaves like everyone else.
Sombra, Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow were all bound to the same debilitating chains that held back their magical powers, and when struck by the crimson power, they too fell to the ground screaming in pain and defeat, but even the sight of the four tyrants suffering under the whip of the crimson-black legions was not good, the two unicorns felt compassion in their hearts, even for such tyrants, Straling Glimmer and Sunburst couldn't look at it dispassionately or with a sense of satisfaction.
- just let it end. Sunburst said, defeated by what he saw.
The next image showed an even more terrible sight to the next couple, it was another mine where deep shafts were being dug but not for crimson steel, no, shafts and small cubicles were dug and gouged by slaves to create a great prison in the earth, and a large it was a deeper tunnel illuminated only by crimson crystals that revealed a view of the crystal city's princely couple forever separated, both Shining Armor and Cadance shackled standing before the rusty bars crying doomed to eternal torment.
- why, why them, I mean us. Where are our children. Cadance said heartbroken.
- I think you know what happened. Said Shining Armor seeing only the tears and screams of the two ponies handcuffed to the end of their days and their suffering revealed the only truth of what Cadance would never want to see or feel.
- please, not this one!. Cadance screamed.
- Cadance please, it's just a vision, it didn't happen, remember. Said Shinig Armor, squeezing his wife with himself, blocking the terrible view of what could have been.
There were many prisons like this in the dark world, but one of them was the worst, because it constantly and deliberately slid down into the great volcano only to rise again once a year, it was there that the members of the pillars waited for their doom, it was also there that the Princess Luna is struck with terrible power by her chained sister, the princess of the sun.
As the sun turned crimson and the moon black all was reconciled, neither day nor sun, and levitating in a terrible vision, Celestia and Luna witnessed what might have been, as the terrible and bound form of the sun princess strikes at the prisoners, striking everyone in the Pillars of Pillars with scarlet lightning. Equestria ending with her own sister, showing not the slightest bit of emotion, and great tremors slowly sucked the great chamber deep into the volcano, which meant one thing, doom for all.
- No, let it stop, I couldn't do it!. Celestia screamed in horror and despair.
- it's not you, sister, it's this ill will and it's not our present remember!. Princess Luna screamed, shielding her older sister from the terrible sight of everything around her.
There was another place where none of the slaves ever found peace because there was no such thing in the scary world, rushing through scary images, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity stopped in front of another image to see another place unlike any other, it was a huge arena where ordinary beings fought each other with their families bound beings, this is where Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity saw each other, but in the worst way they could see each other, they were bound by the power of scarlet black chains and were now fighting or rather beating their own little sisters who didn't want to fight them.
The tethered Rainbow Dash hit the lying Scootaloo with a scarlet whip, which made her real counterpart scream.
- enough, please, enough! Rainbow Dash screamed, unable to look at the scary picture.
Seeing Rarity next to her, she closed her eyes, unable to watch her bound counterpart hit her younger sister against the wall of the great arena like a mindless machine.
- oh, Sweetie Belle, why am I doing this, let it end already. Rarity said through tears.
The whisper and cry and scream were interrupted by Applejack's squeal as she saw her crimson bound form hit her little sister, Apple Bloom, hit her with a scarlet stick everything she had in her heart exploded.
- no!, enough!, please, enough!. Applejack squeaked, looking away from the vision that surrounded her on all sides.
Another terrifying vision led Spike and Discord to the great crater where Ponyville was once located and now they were forced to destroy what was once part of them, memories, objects, photos, books, teddy bears and something worse that was dear to everyone's hearts. Amid the ashes and under the onslaught of scarlet whips, chained Spike and Discord also worked, striking with great hammers at objects and everything that was part of their history and the memory of their friends.
- no, it's inconceivable why it takes so long!. Discord shouted, unable to watch as his reality counterpart hit the books first and then something alive.
- enough, enough! Spike screamed when he saw the suffering Spike destroying the last photo of Rarity, breaking the last hope for a happy ending.
Where there was a crater, there were more legionnaires and slaves deprived of their own will, among whom Pinkie Pie saw herself, shackled in scarlet, empty, devoid of will and emotion, and her blank gaze scanned the large crater like a robot, showing a slave showing the slightest insubordination , o automatically triggered the reactions of the overgrown scarlet and black archers, their arrows of terrible power hitting the slaves, knocking them to the ground, inflicting an entire day's suffering.
- no! let it end already!. Pinkie pie screamed.
The whole world under the rule of the great tyrant had its capital and the capital had its throne room where the black and scarlet throne was now occupied by the ruler of the elements, Akoron, sat on the throne of the world Twilight saw in her vision only the side of the terrible titan she also saw herself chained in a great cage like a parrot in eternal prison, she saw herself, battered and defeated, crying from the vision of a defeated world that no one helped, and the voice of the elemental master, as if triple, shook her to the very heart.
- you see, little princess, here's another day, my empire has reached the whole world, and to think that your naivety, stupidity, hope led you to lose anyway, and you lost anyway because you can't overcome indescribable power with friendship!, you were nothing that day, you are today even more like dust today!. Akeron screamed in a triple voice and the caged princess squealed as she fell to her knees and burst into tears just like Twilight from the present.
So this is what our world would look like. Twilight said as suddenly the elemental master form purred.
Twilight, eyes wide open and full of tears, saw something terrible, more terrible than the face of the elemental lord, because Akron himself, as it turned out, had two additional terrible heads, the first left arm was a head with a huge red eye in the middle and a huge mouth bristling with terrible teeth and the other head was a split face, black and white with a black and white eye and a mouth in the form of a delicate mouth with a terrible tongue and fangs, both heads with a central heptagon with six eyes, all three heads roared aloud and Twilight squealed from a vision of the indescribable all there was a great flash.
Everything began to slowly fade in a great flash, everyone saw a terrible vision of what could have been, everyone saw a reflection of themselves except the most guilty, Deros, Flash Sentry, Luster Dawn, Star Swirl, Somnambula, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus and Meadowbrook, they all stood on top of a great vision were witnesses of all they saw single, their eyes of their hearts, everything was soaked with indescribable pain and despair until the last flash finally took everyone away from the worst vision they ever had of what would have happened if Alex had never came to their world.
Everyone was actually broken by the terrible vision, everyone needed a long time to recover, but the biggest moment was needed by those who blamed themselves the most for what they wanted to do.
Deros, Flash Sentry, Luster Dawn, Star Swirl, Somnambula, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus and Meadowbrook defeated by what they saw, defeated by the truth of what they did wrong how they misjudged man understood their mistake to the depths of their own hearts.
Meanwhile, The Next Six, i.e. Star Lara, Flurry Heart, Swift Max, Diper, Zax and Katrina, were walking near the palace, proud of themselves and their achievements, proud that they helped protect the good name of man from troublemakers and provocateurs, proud of their common achievements, with a great victory.
Pink Alicorn Flurry Heart with a bright curly mane of pink fading to purple with a cyan streak looked with her head held high at everyone around, guards and ordinary ponies, Star Lara silver Alicorn with a gold white mane with a red headband showed more restraint proud of having helped to his uncle, the green earth pony Swift Max with the red mane marched at Flurry Heart and that was his greatest reward, Diper the golden pegasus with the black mane and hat together with Zax the blue unicorn with the white mane both showing the greatest pride in their joint achievement beaming with joy and the accompanying yellow and gray Katrina from the Minotaurs was simply proud that she reached for success and helped the great bookkeeper.
Despite this, no one knew that a new shadow was just coming, the first shadow that covered their eyes was suddenly landing in front of them and the palace Soarin blue pegasus with navy blue fur, seeing his confused face and eyes full of extreme emotions all six knew what was lurking behind the strange look running pegasus.
- You saw, it wasn't normal. Katrina said.
- it's something big, something terrible must have happened. Dioper said, quickly deducing the pros and cons in his head.
- Diper, you think it's something to do with your uncle, Alex!. Star Lara shouted.
- no, not with him, but indirectly yes, something does not suit me here. Said Zax recalling the last words when he stayed with The Next Six, Luster Dawn, Deros, Flash Sentry and Star Swirl were gifted by the truth aspect of man himself.
- Zax, you think it's coming. Swift Max asked.
- there is no other way, we better go before we miss something, quickly. Zax said. Leading everyone to the throne room where Soarin has just delivered a terrible and surprising message from Manehattan regarding bears and lions.
- I say what I heard, camels and moose fled, they were driven away by black legions of ghouls and legions of diamond forms after assimilation, all this is led by the conqueror, their prophet predicted that the conqueror will open the black pyramid and release the powers locked there, and the conqueror when he they described turned out to be a man. Soarin said, shocking everyone in the room, children and adults alike.
- no!, it's impossible why Alex would open some black pyramid, and why should he conquer the whole world. Twilight asked, not believing a word.
- if you stand up for the children, so be it. She told Cadance come on, and she wasn't entirely sure about the bearded sage's promises anyway, but she and Shining Armor allowed their children to be taken, thinking that their daughters and the rest of the urchins only wanted to satisfy their curiosity, so the royal couple from the crystal city and the retired princesses remained Canterlot and Discord took everyone from the palace all the way to Manehattan to find answers to new questions.
L
It has begun, there is a horror that no one has seen before, whether they will cope, whether they will believe, whether even the madness of man can handle it, and maybe he is to blame here, Alex.