>Chronicler would not be pleased that you had snuck off like this.
>That was nothing compaired to ensuring that your friends were safe.
>You could tell a mile away that the Lich, as you had discovered was his proper title, was invested in something here.
>He said that every world you went to was different, yet he had cometo the aid of a pony in need.
>Why that one, over all the others?
>He was hiding something, and you had an inkling of what it was.
>His spell was impressive; You could not see your own hands or feet, and your boots left no footprints.
>You still made sound, but..
>Well, it wasn't like anything that heard you would be able to see you.
>You were headed to Ponyville.
>You needed some questions answered.
>First, were Rainbow Dash and all the others safe?
>Second, what in Celestia's Name was going on here?
>You are getting close, you are standing under that same damn Waterfall that nearly killed you once, and you denied letting kill you again.
>You had survived so much, for so long...
>It didn't take much to hurt you, but Celestia willing, you spat in death's face every time.
>You weren't about to let Chronicler tell you what to do, especially when there were some big questions to answer.
>He said "Stay put and wait".
>You didn't even bother with a "Buck that", before leaving once he was distracted with his ritual.
>It wasn't much longer before you arrive at Fluttershy's cottage, her chickens and animals unnaturally quiet.
>You sneak across the lawn, over the stream and by the door.
>You knock on the door gently.
"Fluttershy? Are you in there?"
>You get no response, so you knock a little harder.
"Hey, Fluttershy. Are you alright?"
>Faintly, you can hear a small
>"Go away."
>You recoil a little.
>You didn't know what was going on, and now Fluttershy was being a recluse?
>You look towards the town, the early dawn's light just starting to cut through the night.
>You would have your answers there.
>And if you had to beat them out of some unfortunate ponce, so be it.
 
>You stalk into Ponyville, a phantom to the eyes and senses, carefully picking your footing.
>You could still be heard, but with total invisibility, you could take the time to place your steps.
>It was as you had feared.
>Strange alien figures patrolled the streets, and held the town center.
>That nut-job, Lyra seemed to even be helping them.
>Your hate for that little beast grew five sizes that day.
>You focus on your goal though.
>You need answers.
>Best way to get answers?
>You answer that question by slugging an Eldar across the face, through his helmet with a nasty right hook when no one is watching.
>With a grunt, his plastic-like armor buckles, and he falls down, out cold.
>He was lighter than you expected, you are able to drag him into the shadows fairly easily.
>Weren’t these flamboyant excuses for soldiers supposed to be tougher than that?
>You grab the collar of his armor, and hoist him up.
”Alright, tell me…”
>His head is flopping unceremoniously and is bleeding a little too much.
“… Whoops.”
>Note to self: Be more gentle.
>Time to find another one who wouldn’t be punched into the next town.
>Shouldn’t be too hard.
 
>Celestia have mercy, this was hard.
>After your first accidental KO, you’d discovered that the entire town went on high alert.
>Now, if you saw one alone, it was shortly afterwards right in the line of sight of another.
>You can take solace in the fact that you can knock out these assholes fairly easily, though.
>They seem to enjoy harassing the ponies as they slowly come alive, preparing for their next day under the Elves occupation.
>And you still haven’t gotten any answers.
 
>”-I’m not too certain, Sylanel.”
>Your ears perk up
>Time to eaves drop?
>”Don’t be a prude, Illidras. It’s not like we’re going back any time soon.”
>”Still, it doesn’t seem right to fall right back into what got us here in the first place.”
>”We’re not falling back, we’re just repopulating.”
>”I just hope we get to leave this damn town soon.”
>You creep up, slowly, behind the two talking Elves, both of which have their backs to the wall on either side of you.
>”Yeah. The Autarch was not pleased with what happened at that farm..”
>The farm?
>Something happened to Applejack, then.
>You needed to get there.
>You slide away as quietly as you can and begin to make your way out of town.
>You pick your way through the streets, and finally make it out of the main center of town.
>And not a moment too soon, as you happen to look down and see your shirt.
>Seems that whatever Chronicler did, it wasn’t permanent.
>That’s a bit of a relief, would have been annoying trying to itch your nose and accidentally poking yourself in the eye.
>You pause, smelling something off.
>You can’t put your finger on it, but there’s a smell in the air, and it is upsetting your stomach.
>You’re willing to bet that somewhere in that forest Chronicler is up to something.
>That was odd.
>It seemed to be getting a little bit darker.
>Sun must have been covered by a cloud, or something, because you could swear it was still mid-day.
>You redouble your pace, hurrying along the dirt path.
 
>You pick you way through the apple trees of Sweet Apple Orchards.
>There was agitated soil, signs of combat, and...
>Solid rock?
>You come to a stop, looking at a tree that is burned to a cinder.
>Hard rock covers it about half way up.
>So, to recap:
>It was night at Mid day
>Aliens and monsters were attacking your place
>Your fucks were on fire.
>You certainly weren't giving them away any time soon.
>You could see the farm house in the distance, the miasmic darkness choking out what should have been an inviting glow.
>You choose to move slowly, the last thing you wanted was-
>"-Ah Gotcha!"
>Appajackle, right the fuck outta nowhere.
>Hooves in your stomach, you get floored by the attack.
>Your vision swims as you hit your stomach, and you can feel yourself being tussed together.
>Bridge to engineering:
>Full power to Engines.
>Going into DefCon Buck-All
>Firing incoherency Cannon!
"Buckspit the hay are you doing?!"
>You feel yourself being turned around, and look up at a russled looking Applejack.
>"Well now, ya don' look like onna d'em Buggers. What are ya?"
>You prepare to open your mouth when the Capslock gets slammed down on with the force of a thousand Haymakers
>"HE LOOKS A BIT LIKE ANON, SIS!"
>You can't hear Applejack's reply over the ringing in your ears, and silently moan in pain.
>The ringing dies down, and you chance talking again.
"Oooow...?"
>Applejack gets a sheepish look on her face.
>"He ain't like onna those Giants that showed up earlier, ya think?"
"Uh, I can pro-"
>"HE AIN'T BIG NUFF' TO BE ONE. THEY WAS A LOT BIGGER AND MEANER."
>Oh Celestia, it was like you were being told a secret by Luna.
>Again, all abilities to hear are blotted out from the concussive force of that screaming voice.
"Could you please lower the volumn?"
>You're whispering, hoping not to be speaking too loud.
>With the way Applejack topples off of you, you believe that may have failed.
>Your hearing returning, you hear the tail end of some mumbled explatives.
>"Now lissin' here Applebloom! Ah don' want that kinda talk on mah farm!"
>You can't hear any reply, but are sure this is because of the damage done to your ears.
>Applejack nods towards a figure somewhere away from you.
>"Alright mister, I don't k ow who you are, but there's some miighty strange things goin' on 'round here, an let me tell ya, seein' another like Anon isn't exactly comfortin'."
>You noticed a trend in the names of the people that Chronicler was dragging you around to find.
>They all had your name.
>You were going to have to get some answers after this was over.
"Well, I can tell you right now I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm just trying to make sure everypony is safe."
>Applejack looks at you sideways.
>"MmHmm, alright then. But don't you be gettin' no idea's Mister."
>With a swift tug, your bindings come loose and you rise.
>"Name's Applejack, by the way."
>You follow after the doppleganger of your friend, who navigates the darkness easier than yourself.
>You begin to wonder how the real Applejack was doing.
>Your thoughts settle home once again, as you approach the inviting farm house.
 
>You bow your head as you enter the farm house.
>Applejack is right behind you.
>You take a moment to get stock of the situation, and what a situation it is.
>Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are all nursing some severe wounds.
>Big Mac has a bandage around his mid section.
>Applejack is exhausted, and Rainbow Dash is looking rather roughed up.
“What.. What happened here?”
>”It wasn’t pretty, but some big green Bug-guy came ‘round the farm. Ah swear, ah never saw nobody move like that before…”
>You can tell that Rainbow Dash is nursing much more than a few bruises.
>You nod in understanding.
>”So, yeah. This here’s Rainbow Dash, my brother Big Macintosh, and the fillies are Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.”
“So, any idea what’s going on in town right now?”
>Applejack shrugged.
>”Ah wish ah knew.”
>You look out at the window, and sigh.
>There was a feeli-
>And then you hear it.
>A piercing scream that hurt your ears and, from what you can tell, hurt everyone else in the room.
>You look outside, as the darkness grows thicker.
>You look back to those in the house.
>Rainbow Dash was safe, that was the important thing.
“Alright, listen to me. I’m going into town. You all stay here until light, I’m going to go.. talk.”
>You were sure that things would come to blows, but… hey. May as well try.
>”Are you outta yer mind?!”
>”Whoah, dude.”
>You cast a glance at Rainbow.
"I know someone in that town, and I think he might need some help. As long as you all are safe, I need to get back to him."
>Applejack looks at you like you've grown a third head, but Rainbow nods.
________________________________
>You exit the house while Rainbow explains just why you have to leave.
>You check your hat, and slowly begin to move through the inky blackness.
>It was a starless night, under a new moon.
>You stumble your way, slowly, to Ponyville, unable to see more than a few feet ahead of you.
>As you enter the streets, the darkness lessens somewhat, and you can see a horrific scene.
>Dead Eldar stumble about, mindlessly shuffling towards the forest.
>There is certainly Chroniclers hand in this.
>The darkness was thicker around the library.
>As a whole it was slowly lifting, turning to a more natural night, save in that location.
>That had to be where he was.
>Blood runs through the streets in thick pools.
>You hope that there is no pony blood mixing with those small rivers of purple.
>You approach the Library, not sure what to expect.
>You can hear voices from within.
>"... Sent you off to die."
>You press your ear to the door, trying to catch the conversation.
>You can hear a muttering, but the words are jumbled and unintelligible.
>"I would never allow my loved ones to fight alone."
>A brief reply.
>"No, not even if they were."
>There is a sound of plastic crashing, and claws on wood.
>"Yes? He is where?"
>Oh shit.
 
>You grab the knob, and open the door just as a black shroud is tossed over a formless lump.
"Uhm... I came soon as I-"
>"What do you require Shermanator I am currently wholly preoccupied."
>He wasn't interested in games.
>Too bad for him.
"I was just checking to make sure-
>"I have directed my minions to outright ignore all Ponies."
"No need to be rude about it."
>Skeletor shakes a little, before setting a hand on the counter.
>"I... I apologize. This whole ordeal has been, stressful."
>Well now, not like you could know.
>Still, felt a little bit like a dick.
"Hey, you alright?"
>Besides being dead and all...
"You know if you want to..."
>He glances up at you.
>"I appreciate the offered hand. I shall deal with these demons of my own, however."
>You nod to him.
"You'll keep?"
>He seems genuinely shocked at the question, recoiling slightly.
>"I... I'll... Keep."
>This wasn't how you dealt with someone in pain damn it all.
>What could you do?
>He was more secretive than Anyone you had ever met.
>You couldn't even read his body language.
>His face didn't even have a face!
>You push the excuses from your mind.
"I'll be here if you need me."
>He doesn't call after you, instead looking at whatever is under the cloth.
>You turn and close the door behind you, but not before catching something.
>"I am quite alright, little one. Simply remembering someone..."