Julion looked darkly to Crimson, "You've think you've had it tougher than me Crimson? You've had over 200 years to have bad times, I have been on this planet for much less time than that. Tell me, have you ever had to witness the one pony you truly cared about murdered in front of your eyes, because of a bad decision you made yourself? Have you ever had your own family's blade almost KILL YOU, have you ever witness those that you have trained and known for years killed because of some foolish job?! Have you ever had a grenade EXPLODE in YOUR FACE?!" Julion huffed at Crimson, "Have you ever been through Marigold and back, almost dying on multiple occasions?! Have you ever done EVERYTHING for NOTHING in return?! Have you ever done all this, then ASK for it for it to be forgotten about?!" Julion turned around, "You care for nothing more than this freaking city, and don't try to argue that you don't, the only reason why you had any part in the fight against Arcade was because he was threatening your own city, and you know it. Goodbye Crimson." Julion's eyes suddenly turned red, and the next thing Crimson knew, he was alone in the room with Julion nowhere in site.
(Great character arguement above, well done.) Julion was right, all he had cared about for the last 200 years was his people and city. All he would have ever wanted was to belong and to make Dark proud of what he had done. Crim sat down in his chair in complete silence, looking at the now empty city. For the next 3 hours, Crimson just sat there. How he was going to make it up for Julion and the rest of Equestria was an idea he dreamed of. He could easily kill Julion but after what they have been through, he would not harm him in the slightest. Crimson then finally got up to write to A.D about what had happened, and then eventually to Julion for saying sorry. Crimson was a tortured soul, a created killer for the highest bidder. He thought about his life, what he had been through, how he explored the wastes in his youth. Crimson felt horrible, this time he actually wanted to die. He then sent them the messages and left the city in silence. Heading south for his final redemtion for his crimes. - - Auto Merge - - (Great character arguement above, well done.) Julion was right, all he had cared about for the last 200 years was his people and city. All he would have ever wanted was to belong and to make Dark proud of what he had done. Crim sat down in his chair in complete silence, looking at the now empty city. For the next 3 hours, Crimson just sat there. How he was going to make it up for Julion and the rest of Equestria was an idea he dreamed of. He could easily kill Julion but after what they have been through, he would not harm him in the slightest. Crimson then finally got up to write to A.D about what had happened, and then eventually to Julion for saying sorry. Crimson was a tortured soul, a created killer for the highest bidder. He thought about his life, what he had been through, how he explored the wastes in his youth. Crimson felt horrible, this time he actually wanted to die. He then sent them the messages and left the city in silence. Heading south for his final redemtion for his crimes.
Two days after his argument with Crimson, Julion stood at the top of the cliff down into the canyon set to blow at any moment. With the wind blowing through his graying mane, giving it the appearance of foam-topped waves crashing ashore. He took the I.M.C.S.S. out and punched in the numbers and calibrations. Everything in a ten mile radius was then set to be wrapped in this suicidal shield. The purplish-blue shield appeared above Julion's head, being sent out from the antenna of the I.M.C.S.S., and he began keeping the machine stable when he heard the first rumblings from inside the canyon, "This is it." He said, a small tear falling down his as he worked on the machine in front of him as the canyon below became alive with small, preliminary explosions. That's when he suddenly found himslef wrapped in a small purple shield, separated from the machine. Julion looked around desperately to see a familiar powerful purple alicorn, the super-alicorn Twilight Sparkle. She walked over to the machine in her own shield and began working on it, "Twi-Twilight?" he asked under his breath, "Are, are you, you?" the alicorn looked over it's shoulder, gave a small nod, and turned her attention back to the machine, just as the first megaspell went off.
Crimson arrived back where it all began, the Big mountain Research Center. The center still remained untouched since it's destruction all those years ago. Crimson walked inside to find Dr.Hooves terminal, the only source of light in the faclilty. The facility gave him many memorys, and they kept coming back to him. Crimson then opened the terminal to find the document he was looking for, 'How to kill Crimson Lionheart.' Crimsons eyes beamed down on the computer as he began reading it. His smile grew wider and wider until he stoped reading. He downloaded the document onto his pipbuck and left the facility. He walked off until he seen the first megaspell detonation. Crimson then suddenly remembered that Julion was activating the I.M.C.S.S and thought about if he should save him or finally die. He took his chance and ran after Julion, located 650 miles away.
I'm dead, aren't I, yep, I really am dead, I can't be alive, nope, definitely dead, but why do I feel the wind? Julion thought against the blackness surrounding him. He slowly peeked an eye open to see himself laying a blackened wasteland that was essentially a giant crater. In front of him, a point of light the size of a pea rested on the ground, and to his right was a purple unicorn. HE tried to pick himself up, but ended up just collapsing instantly, so instead he decided to crawl to the passed out still unicorn. He put a hoof on the unicorn's body and shook a little, nothing. He then checked for a pulse, which there was one. Breathing a sigh of relief he rolled over to his other side, feeling surprisingly peaceful and happy, despite the fact that he just avoided a guaranteed death by the most minuscule of chances. Behind him, he heard the unicorn groan and then suddenly heard the sound of her shooting to her hooves, causing him to look back over. "Welcome back Ms.Sparkle." he told her, "Welcome to Equestria, over two hundred years after the megaspells fell, or at least a tiny portion of it."
Crimson arrived back to Los Pegasus. It was now completely destroyed, just like Julion said but Crimson did not feel pity on the city, but let go a sigh of relief. This never would have happened if Julion let him move the city like he asked him to. He got his message back from A.D, settling the new city were ponyville once was. Except that he never got the message he sent to Julion back. He believe he was dead, but he could not be too sure. He sent the message again to Julion, and this time, it got a response. “Something’s up. He should be dead, vaporised by the megaspells. Unless…….” Crimson thought, He put on his Signature black and silver Elite Riot Gear, there was an emblem on the back this time. The Emblem was of Equestrias old sun symbol used on the pre-war flag, it was then when the message that Julion said hit him. The entire world was his home, and he belonged in it. Not just one city. This message finally put Crimson in peace with himself and he headed towards the canyon where the megaspell detonated.
Julion and Twilight climbed their way out of the large crater, woozy and stumbling, while Julion explained to the best of his ability everything that had happened in the time since the Last Day. From their conversation, he learned that Twilight's last memory was when the Goddess, aka Trixie, dragged her into the vat of alicorn conversion fluid. They finally got out of the crater, two hours after they started their way out, in which time Julion had reponded to a message from Crimson. The pair looked around from where they were, "So what happened to Ponyville?" Twilight asked. Julion swallowed, "I burned it to the ground after some raiders who had moved in refused to pay me then hell-hounds, mutated Diamond Dogs, moved in." he replied. A sadness ecame evident on Twilight's face, "And of my friends?" "Um, I don't know other than Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie died in the Manehatten balefire bombing, and Fluttershy survived as a tree." he replied, "She back though." "Well, at least she's alright."
Crimson walked to the ruins of Ponyville. Crimson had finally made peace within himself. Raiders were still a problem around New Equestria, but they knew not to mess with Crimson. Julion had responded to his apology and he was grateful for his apology. The document that told him about his death became evident in his mind, and it might just save the world once again. In the document about how he can die, there is a machine only Crimson can use. It is a mass scale teraforming system that can restore Equestria back to its original state before the last day. It is harmless to ponies and buildings. It is even capable of restoring buildings to their original state before the last day. Since that Crimson never knew this machine existed, he never used it. If he were to use this machine, even he would die. But only he could use it as the radiation around the machine would kill a normal pony instantly. He wanted to tell this to Julion and A.D, but only if Julion could truly forgive him.
"One second Twilight, I've got another message." Julion told her as they were making their way back to civilization. Julion looked the message over, it was an official apology from Crimson about his behavior. He simply sent back, Accepted.
Crimson received his message back from Julion saying that his apology was accepted. He was heading to Ponyville to meet up with A.D and the rest of Los Pegasus. He thought that Julion would arrive since that he somehow survived the explosions. This confused Crimson, there was another companion with Julion and if so, who ? He read this death document once again, the location of the machine was located underground Canterlot. Crimson thought sadly about his choice. If he was going to die, it won’t be for a meaningless cause. This teraforming machine works in a shockwave, sending the large shockwave through the entire land area of Equestria and some of the other lands, returning the lands to their original state while not harming the native life and ponies and zebras alike. Crimson then noticed that the signature was signed by Dr.Hooves and 5 other scientists and that the document was very heavily classified. “Littlepip and Julion should know about this, it would be horrific if they don’t know the wonders of this machine. And the price that I must pay to use it….” Crimson said before seeing Ponyville in the horizon. He was nearly there.
"You remind me so much of my past wife... Quillina's mother..." He sniffed again, his eyes tearing up. Quililna blushed heavily and relaxed her grip, shaking still.
In the end, Julion and Twilight managed to intercept Crimson just as he arrived in Ponyville, thanks to Twilight's long-range teleportation ability. As Julion reformed, his eyes went derp for a few seconds as he overcame his wozzyness from the teleport, "Oh, hello Crimson." he muttered, trying as hard as he could not to fall over, "This is my new aquantance and my savior, Twilight Sparkle." (Good god its hard to tear myself away from Fallout New Vegas. Right now I'm trying to get the end where the NCR gains control of the Mojave and you get Lucky 38)
(I’m more of a Mr. House person, as you can tell. I have finished the game and every DLC twice as house and independent. I’m now going for Legion. I swear I’m addicted to that game.) “Wait, wait, WAIT! Do you mean Twilight Sparkle of the Ministry Mares?” Crimson took a moment to study Twilight, as Julion said this was the real Twilight Sparkle. “Oh my god, I haven’t seen you in over 200 years Ms Sparkle, how in Equestria did you survive?” Crimson then looked at Julion. “it’s good to see you again Julion, I’m sorry about my actions, what you said has changed me. I now will serve you under your leadership of the commandos.” Crimson then looked at his pipbuck, "I have found something that will change the world. This is for Ms Sparkle, as she was the one that approved it.”
(I actually have already played through as independant, but that was just a blast through of the game to get familiar with it.) Julion was suddenly confused by Crimson's offer of service, but Twilight didn't allow him to speak his confusion, "Let's say it wasn't pleasant the way I survived and leave it at that." she told him, "Now, I hope you do realize the implications of the machine you are planning to use entail." As Julion watched the exchange, he couldn't get over how surprisingly YOUNG Twilight looked, her mane wasn't even graying like his own. Maybe it had something to do with the alicorn vat and her time as a super-alicorn.
(How I’m going to sacrifice Crim will leave you quite surprised. I can tell you now but that would ruin the surprise after the sacrifice.) “I understand completely, the scientists created it just for me to activate it when my time comes. I spent my last 200 years as a somewhat tortured soul who has always wanted to belong in the world. Of all the war crimes I have committed against Equestrias invaders, this would be my final act of redemption.” Crimson said sadly towards Twilight, he turned around at his daughter who had just turned 18. “A.D. You will succeed now where I could not; I’m giving up my title of King of Los Pegasus for you. These will be my last days; I want you to rebuild Ponyville into what I had achieved many years ago.” Crimson said to A.D. The mare was beginning to cry about what her father had just done. He then looked at Julion. “Littlepip needs to know what will happen in the next few days. Can you contact them just to let them know, I traveled with Littlepip once.”
"Of course my friend." Julion said to Crimson, "I was going to head to Junction Town next, as Twilight needed to stop here first, she can't quite make it all the way with two ponies. I wish you the best of luck." Julion nodded to Twilight and they disappeared in the flash of teleportation, leaving A.D. and Crimson alone. (Oh, how's the fanfic coming?)
(Quite well, I have done about 1,500 words so far.) Crimson stood there. The residents of Los Pegasus began to rebuild Ponyville as a metropolis instead of a simple village He did not feel regret, but did not feel happiness. “Father. You will die, I can’t lose you now.” A.D said sadly, tears running down her eyes. She wore her armor and her pre war eyeglasses. Crimson thought about the move that would cost him his life. “A.D, allow me to tell you a secret.” Crimson then leaned over to A.D’s ears and told her about the secret. Her face instantly lit up as she then hugged her father. “Just remember not to tell anypony, especially Julion. I want this to be a surprise.” Crimson said to A.D, they both then set up camp outside of ponyville for the night, heading to Canterlot tomorrow for Crimsons last day.
The eerie silence that had befallen the group at Junction Town was quite crushing. Julion had gathered Littlepip, Calamity, Velvet Remedy, and Homage to talk about a few things. He had started off with saying that the problem with the canyon was taken care of, which melded into the topic of Twilight, and then he had gotten around to the worst topic, that of Crimson's coming self-sacrifice. "Looks like some other pony besides yourself has that virtue Littlepip." Velvet said suddenly to break the silence. Julion merely shook his head, "Virtues don't control what you do, they guide. Crimson is doing this because it is what is best for the whole." Julion replied, "By this time tomorrow, he will no longer be among us." (Fast forward? Oh, and can you send me what you have on your fic so I can read it?)
(Ok, the next day.) Crimson had located the machine that would return Equestria to its glory. It was located just underneath the palace room of Canterlot. There were two rooms that housed the machine, one being for the machine itself and a visitor section. The visitor section inside a 15x40 meter room, which the window looking at the machine was almost the size of the wall. It wasn’t fancy; it only housed a refrigerator, a table and a few chairs, the Machine room however was completely different. Connecting the visitor section to the machine room was an anti radiation (Think of a decompression chamber) chamber that was 2x2 meters. The machine room itself was enormous, with a narrow walkway that connected the machine and a seemingly bottomless pit underneath them. The machine had two tesla coils connected to this strange hard drive in the center of the room. Anypony could activate the machine, but the radiation around it was instantly lethal to anything, it was designed so only Crimson could activate it. Even Crimsons augmentations could not let him survive what would happen in the next coming moments. Littlepip, A.D, Julion and everypony else in Crimsons life was there in the Visitor Section. Crimson was there in the corner, muttering this quiet prayer to himself. A.D was very depressed; the secret Crimson told her would give her this small smile. Crimson stopped his prayer to himself and got up to look at everypony, a sad but relieved look on his face. “This is it, the day that a creature like myself must die. The 244 years that I have spent walking Equestria, defending the innocents against the brutes like Red Eye and Arcade, have been the best of my life. I have spent a lot of these years as the King of Los Pegasus of course but not much is known about what I have done in my childhood. I’m a pre war unicorn raised by Winter Rush of the Equestrian government, one of the most powerful figures in Equestria back then. I have served alongside Dark Light and her commandos. And I’m the founder of the Brotherhood of Life, which many of you have never heard of since they haven’t left their bunker for over 200 years.” Crimson said, noticing one of the ghoul ponies in the background crying. “But I have learnt a few lessons along the way. Two of them taught by Julion and Littlepip and many others were taught by reality herself. I have wanted to belong, to be accepted for who I really am since the day the bombs fell and there is truth in those lessons. But finding the truth is not the hard part, its letting go.” Crimson then looked at the door. “I’m sorry, but this must be done. By the time you will all reach the surface, you would find Equestria restored with her forests, deserts, jungles and many of her buildings will be repaired as well. I also have a surprise as well on the surface; he will tell you everything that has just happened. You will know him, don’t worry. Is there any final goodbyes you want to tell me before my final death.” Crimson said to the small crowd of people in the visitor section. (Oh Snow; once Crim has sacrificed himself can you stop your next post with somepony Familiar standing on the surface.)
(Got it Crim.) The crowd watched as Crimson entered the irradiated Machine room. As Crimson approached the machine, he turned one last time to look at the crowd, and saw Julion standing there, saluting him, giving him the rarest of rare expressions for himself, a true smile, even if it was a sad one. Crimson visibly swallowed as he turned back around, facing the last moments of his life. Crimson walked up to the machine, activated it, then after the groans and sounds of it starting up, a bolt of electricity shot the control panel, striking Crimson down where he stood. As he fell to the ground, Julion stepped out in front of the crowd, "Today, a brave pony learned the meaning of true self-sacrifice, giving up his most cherished possession, life, up for the good of all of us. Today, we must remember him, and all who contributed to this moment, this moment of the true restoration of the Old Lands. The King of Diamonds, Crimson Lionheart, has died today not because it happened, but because it was meant to be. That is all I have to say about my friend." the other ponies began taking turns for remembrance speeches, but none quite equaled Julion's, who left with his group of Littlepip, Calamity, Velvet, Homage, and Twilight. They made their way up the exit stairs, Julion swearing to himself that he could hear the the grinding of gears in Homage's head trying to see how she could convert this into news. Julion through the hatch open, and after they got used to the bright sunlight, saw a pony that was familiar with at least one in the group.
“No… It can’t be.” A.D said as she looked at the figure in the sunlight. The figure wore a black cape that fully concealed her body. “Hello again A.D, did you miss me.” The Figure said as she took off her cape, to reveal that it was Cloud Dancer, A G4 solider who happened to be Crimsons Wife. “Now, Crimson would have told you that there was somepony was above waiting for you on the surface. Now, this is his secret, He isn’t dead. The scientists made a clone of him before the war and send the clones memories back to the original Crimsons mind back at big mountain. The Crimson you’ve known isn’t the real one; the real one has been in stasis since the last day. He is in cryo inside the destroyed facility, because the clone has died, the mind fusion process has been disabled. They still both have the Augmentations, but their memories are different. The Real Crimson would only remember everything from his birth until 2 days ago unlike the Clone which can remember all his memories.” Cloud Dancer said to the group. “He is located thousands of miles from here in the research center, where he is waiting for you. You need to release him from cryo, but doing so would erase his post war memories.” Cloud Dancer turned around and looked at the landscape, where everything was slowly being teraformed to its original stasis. Buildings were being returned as well, making the landscape much friendlier. “I can show you the way. If you want your friend back, then follow me.”
