Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 96: Each Of Us Is More Than The Worst Thing We Have Ever Done (The Dawn Of Civilization Part III)

Time Hunters journal entry. Primrose Willow recording. My companions and I have gotten to know the extraterrestrials that we have encountered on what we thought was a space station but in reality was an evacuation vessel. There are forty seven in all. They fled the biosphere the original space station just after the synoptic took over. From their perspective the invasion was a madness plague which they had thought they left behind. Mara and I have found evidence that Others are on the ship. 

Sir Ram believes that the extraterrestrials brought ONE to Counter Earth which eventually caused the destruction of our civilization in the distant future. To prevent that timeline from happening Sir Ram and Mara are going to destroy this vessel and all life aboard.

To that end, the five of us have accepted various positions aboard the evacuation vessel which is called the Sefeiren integrating within the populace.

“Primrose we have customers!" 

“Coming Ms. Saurus!"

I am working in Ms. Saurus' accessory store on the promenade. My first day has been phenomenal. The kind yellow horse gave me new clothing to match my purse! She made me feel right at home; like I was an active member in this community!

“Good morning. I am Primrose how may I help you?"

“Oh you are one of the travelers we encountered!" A black male equine said. “I am Siroc. I am looking for a accessory for my perfect someone. It has to be something special Primrose."

I now find myself conflicted. For the longest time I believed in the mission to destroy ONE; we must undo what it did to my world- but at the expense of an innocent race of sentient beings? Could I even live with myself if we do this?

“I think I can help sir. This way."

At the cafeteria nearby…

“This is degrading! I will have you know where I come from, I am one of the most brilliant minds in my civilization!" The big horned sheep protested. “Why am I forced to work here?"

“Well it was the only spot Salis could find to integrate you into our community." A grey and white equine with a tired face said setting tables.

“WHAT?!" Sir Ram said aghast.

“Let me ask you something honored guest. If the sky station's translator was deactivated right now could you communicate with me?"

“Um, no." The ram said staring out from the kitchen to the courtyard of the establishment.

“Do you know how to read our language?"

“Well, no."

“What about write it?"

“Ah... no."

“Did you attempt to learn about our society? Its rules customs or culture?" The grey and white pony said turning his attention to the big horned sheep who started realizing that despite his brilliance, he was out of his element, way out of his element.

“No, two of my companions took the initiative, I however was regrettably in traction."

“I see, then this is the best position for you at the present time given your particular skill set honored one."

“What is that Ulu?" Sir Ram asked.

“Ceramic technician." The grey and white pony stated as he finished setting the last table in the courtyard.

“What is a ceramic technician?" The beastial scientist and warrior asked the horse-like being that was almost half his size.

“Utensil polisher. Now quit whining and get back to work!!! And it is sir honored one. Only my mother calls me by my first name."

The ram grumbled as he continued to shine the silverware that patrons of the cafeteria would use to consume their meals.

Meanwhile in an outdoor classroom….

“What have you brought for show and tell Zaos?" The headmare asked her student.

“Dr. Richard First. He is a friend." Alydar's daughter said presenting the grey haired fifty something year old man to her class.

“Ah yes, one of the honored guests who are traveling with us. Class I want you to be on your very best behavior." The beige colored mare said smiling broadly.

The four younglings and Zaos nodded.

“Thank you for having me." Richard said bowing before his audience. “Are all your classes conducted outside in the forest?"

“It depends. I thought my students could use a break from the same setting." The headmare responded. 

“Wow, a forest aboard a sky craft." The grey haired man said astounded.

“Such things are not prevalent where you are from?" The she pony asked.

“No. There isn't this level of sophistication where I am from only pain, misery and suffering." Dr. First admitted.

“Why?" An orange foal asked.

“Well the governing body that ruled over us collapsed which created a power vacuum for factions trying to take over which lead to a prolonged war." Richard said receiving some blank stares from his audience. “It is a very difficult and dangerous place and time which in to live, which is why I left." 

“That does sound quite uncomfortable honored one." The headmare said sympathetically as Richard studied the faces in the crowd. “Does anyone have questions for our guest?"

“All these young innocent foals…" The doctor said to himself.

Earlier that morning….

“Are you mad ram?! Those aliens have been nothing but kind to us! They took us in, sheltered, educated and even fed us!!!" Richard exclaimed to his companions in Sir Ram's medical room.

“And they even let us watch them yiff!" Cody interjected. The adults ignored the remark while the debate continued.

“Sir Ram they fixed your broken leg and this is how YOU are going to repay them?!"

“Don't you mean WE doctor?" The big horned sheep said standing as the grey haired man turned to the cat boy and rabbit girl who only looked down at the floor of the medical room.

“What about Alydar, Lyria and their foals? What about Artax and Teagan or the rest of the innocent beings we met on this vessel?"

“What is the expression you humans like to use? They are all done for when those in the lower decks take over." Sir Ram said emphasizing the negative.

“It has already happened, we are just here to witness it, human." Mara said.

“And destroy the ship." Dr. First said.

“I would suspect that there are spies on board working for those who are on the lower decks just waiting for the right time." The rabbit girl gasped realizing the grim reality.

“As you can see human we have been thinking about this for some time. And it is very possible that the events here could affect the 90 year war in your time period as well. It is time to choose a side." The caprine said smiling rather wickedly.

“How do you know that for sure? There has to be another way, some other option! This is not right!" Dr. First shouted.

“Well I suppose we could kill each and everyone below deck- but we don't know how many there are and there is a good possibility that they could get all of us before we could get all of them." Sir Ram said thinking out loud.

Now…

“Dr. First! Dr. First! Honored one?" The headmare asked. “Is everything ok?"

“Yes. Sorry everyone. I was just lost in thought." Richard replied.

At the same time in Sefeiren control…

“You are picking this up quite quickly honored guest." A multi colored equine said complimenting Mara.

“Let's just say that I have an aptitude for such things."

“Great apprentice with such enthusiasm you should move up rather quickly." The caprine's superior said.

“So tell me Tavia why is that?" Mara asked memorizing several display panels- intently.

“There were many on my team that succumbed to the madness plague and were quarantined to the biosphere before we evacuated."

“So how many actually made it to Sefeiren?"

“Very few honored one. Myself and a few others forty seven in all." Tavia responded.

“So what you are saying is that you can barely run the ship?"

“That is why we are honored to have you aboard Mara." The white equine responded. 

“Very interesting. I am honored to be here." The goat lady said smiling wryly. “But is what I am wearing appropriate?" 

“It is what we all wear on board why?" The equine like being responded.

“It is rather chilly." Mara said gesturing to the white robe she was wearing that covered her shoulders but didn't exactly hide her breasts or the black underwear that made her feel like she was about to take trist with her lover. “Although rammy would love this look."

“You will get used to it. Shall we continue the tour?" Tavia asked.

Meanwhile in medical…

“Artax what is wrong with him?" A female equine asked as the gold pony examined her son.

“Doomed, doomed, we are all doomed…" The light grey foal said while quivering in the medical bed.

“Kali, how long has he been like this?" Artax asked the rose colored mare.

“For the last day and a half."

“Cody could you bring me the analyzer? Cody? Cody!"

“Oh sorry. I was just admiring your outfit ma'am." The white furred cat boy said blushing.

“Why? We all are wearing the same thing." The mare responded.

“You wear it better." Big sexy responded gawking at the mare's supple breasts which were peaking out through her robe.

“You have to forgive him, it is his first day as my assistant." The gold colored horse said pushing his nurse.

Cody soon returned with the scanner. Which Artax ran over the grey foal in the small medical bed.

“He is exhibiting abject terror and fear. It doesn't appear to be the madness plague fortunately."

“You mean the sickness that forced us to flee the biosphere?" Kali asked.

“The council was concerned that it would somehow appear on the Sefeiren." The gold horse said to the rose. “Thank goodness."

“I heard. They have been running scans on everyone looking for a reocurrence of the disease. It has us all on edge. But in the meantime, how should I deal with this?"

“I would recommend rest. If Ing is still like this tomorrow we will need to start looking at his activities."

“Thank you Artax." The she horse said carrying her foal out of medical.

“Doomed, doomed, doomed!!! We are all doomed!!" The youngling shouted.

“Well that was quite weird." The gold colored pony announced.

“Ya, but kind of nice too." Cody said watching the rose pony leave trying to get a quick side peak of her boobs.

“Artax! Artax!" Teagan shouted running into medical.

“What is it?"

“I just came from the promenade there was a incident at the cafeteria!!"

“What happened?" Cody asked the white horse.

“Some of the members of the council were eating there and got into this huge argument. There might be some injuries." Teagan exclaimed looking into Artax's eyes.

“Yeah?" The gold horse said as he looked into white horse's eyes.

“Yeah." Teagan responded.

The two locked gazes for a long moment.

“Artax- shouldn't we go? There may be injuries." Cody said snapping him out of it.

Cody brought what looked like some type of travel med kit to the cafeteria on the promenade where a small crowd of onlookers had appeared."

“Vardi, Random, Vagni, what happened here?" The gold equine said arriving at the scene- he found three equines on the floor of the courtyard.

“Just a small disagreement between these three." Sir Ram said straightening some tables and overturned chairs. Primrose came over to help from the accessory shop.

“We were having a spirited debate." A red equine said standing. He was bleeding from his ear.

“About?" Artax asked taking the travel med kit from Cody while Teagan looked on.

“Sefeiren's future." A yellow- brown equine said blushing. “Whether we should return to the biosphere. There are so few of us left."

“You are forgetting about the madness-plague." A gold equine said. “We quarantined the station after we left for a reason." 

“But what if it those we left behind are better now?" The yellow-brown equine asked.

“You two stop bickering." Artax ordered. “I couldn't find a cure and it was spreading so fast." The equine said. “This was the only way we could survive."

“Vardi, Random, Vagni."

“Overseer!" The three council members said as their leader appeared.

“I overheard. Artax speaks the truth." The larger of the horse-like beings said.

“Can you be sure? I mean Artax was not the most senior in medical." The yellow-brown equine protested. 

“I am now Random." The gold horsie said repairing the bite marks Vardi had received.

“I can prove that you are indeed quite wrong. All of you follow me." Salis said.

The three ponies from the council as well as Cody, Sir Ram, Primrose, Artax and Teagan followed the overseer along the inner ring to the outer ring and then made their way to the restricted floors and the sealed door that Primrose and Mara had been to the night before. 

Before the gathered crowd Salis unsealed and unlocked the door.

*CREAK*

“Artax speaks the truth because those who were quarantined have made their way from the biosphere to Sefeiren." The grey pony smiled wickedly. “As you can see there has been no change in their condition."

“Mommy?" Vardi gasped as a elderly yellow mare emerged from the door. She was followed by a black, then brown and then white mare and then several stallions. 

Before those in attendance could gasp the infected burst through the door and hugged Vardi, Random, Vagni making sure to make contact with their exposed fur. The red, yellow-brown and gold ponies shrieked as they were acquired.

“Salis what did you do?" Artax shouted as the possessed ran by him and Teagan.

“What our master has ordered." The grey horsie said reaching out to grab the gold horsie's paw. 

Artax drew back in shock. 

“It is ok." Teagan said grasping his boyfriend's paw. He moved it to the Overseer's who immediately clasped it. The gold horsie trembled violently for a moment before developing that all too familiar goofy grin. 

“Salis, Teagan what have you done to us?!"

“What was necessary for us to survive!" Teagan said placing his paw on his boyfriend's shoulder.

“Well done loyal servant." Artax uttered but the words were not his. 

“Thank you master." The white equine said.

“Who said that?! Why are we talking like this?!" The gold pony shouted alarm.

“Calm yourself servant and we will allow you to see the truth." 

“GAH!!!" Artax squealed. “We see. So Equis and Bunky were not suffering from a madness plague."

“Yes Artax." Teagan said nuzzling his boyfriend. “The biosphere would have been destroyed had it not been for the master's intervention- it saved our race."

“What did it want in exchange?" The possessed gold pony asked.

“Us." Teagan said taking his boyfriend's paws. “It is in you and Salis. I was not worthy, but I chose to serve it anyway."

“We will allow you to remain with him always and forever as per our agreement." The voice said through Artax and Salis.

“Thank you master. You see Artax it is ancient, wise and very kind." Teagan said hugging his gold pony.

“This was the new order you were talking about Teagan?"

“Yeah." The white pony said looking into the gold pony's eyes.

“Now to spread the news starting with our honored guests." Salis said as the horde of the possessed started to make their way toward the promenade. “What happened to them?!"

Moments later in the park…

“No matter how many times I see it- it is still quite shocking." The rabbit girl exclaimed.

“It reminds me of the last day of the empire." The cat boy admitted. “That horrible, horrible day."

“Rammy!!" Mara said running up to her beloved.

“My nanny." The big horned sheep said clasping her paws.

“It is done and they are none the wiser."

“How much time is left on the black PDA?" Cody asked. 

“We have exceeded thirty two hours. It doesn't matter though we can leave anytime." Mara said.

“No. We need to see this through." The ram said.

“But Sefeiren is being overrun now!" Cody said.

“Good. They will be too preoccupied to see what we have done. Now where is that damn human?!" Sir Ram grumbled.

“He said that he would be in Zaos' class today- some type of show and tell." Primrose said looking around the park. “There."

“We want to thank Zaos for bringing in our honored guest." The headmare said.

“I was glad to!!" Zaos said smiling while Dr. First said staring at the ground.

His heart really sunk when he saw the rabbit, cat, goat and ram approach him; that meant the ram and goat's plan was in motion.

“Oh all of you are here." The headmare said.

“Time is of the essence human." Mara said to him.

“I have been thinking about this plan of yours a lot." Dr. First said staring at the headmare and her students and then Alydar's daughter. “I hate it. I am not coming."

“The Sefeiren is being taken over as we speak. What would you do?" Mara asked.

“Taken over?" The orange foal from before asked.

“Ram you said it yourself before we arrived here that I would not be coming back." Dr. First said in front of the headmare and her students.

“That I did. However I seem to remember someone reminding me not to throw my life away on lost causes."

“Yes the mission above all else. I have decided that I am standing with these people ram." Dr. First said crossing his arms in defiance. 

“Well if that is your choice human." Sir Ram said staring him down.

“It is." The grey haired man said looking up at the beastial. “Prim, Cody I am very disappointed in the both of you."

And the standoff was on or so it seemed.

*punch*

“GAH!!" Richard said doubling over in pain.

Sir Ram hoisted him up over his shoulder and carried him off.

“Show and tell is over everyone." Mara said bowing to the headmare and her five students. “Your guest is a little under the weather."

“Will he be ok?" Another of the young foals asked.

“Yes. Enjoy what is left of your day." The she goat smiled wickedly as she ran off. 

“Goodness what was that about?" The headmare asked confused as the five left the park.

“Is there some type of escape vessel from the escape vessel nanny?"

“Yes down here." The goat lady said running.

The quartet carefully made their way through the promenade watching its inhabitants run about as if fleeing from and invasion.

“This is just like what happened the last day of the empire Mara commented firing a sonic weapon at an approaching pony. “Keep your paws to yourself!"

“Don't let any of them touch you." Sir Ram ordered firing at a few more equines that came too close to the fleeing time travelers."

“There on the wall that white thing!" Mara shouted.

“That is one small escape pod." Cody said.

“We need to leave now." Primrose said observing the chaos.

Mara, Primrose, Cody entered and then Sir Ram and then finally Richard who was still dry heaving from the punch to the gut he had received.

They were about to close the door when a tan equine came running by. 

“Richard, Cody, everyone you are leaving?"

“Alydar…."

“It is no longer safe the madness plague had returned." Mara said to the stunned pony.

“No." 

“It isn't a plague horsie but an invasion by a hostile entity that destroyed our civilization." Sir Ram said to the equine.

“And now it is here! Wait for me I have to save Lyria and my girls!" Alydar shouted running off.

Primrose and Cody watched as the tan pony was grabbed from behind by the encroaching mob of the possessed.

The escape pod launched from the Sefeiren and moved a safe distance away. The quintette inside watched as the horses on the outer ring turned into silhouetted figures running back and forth on the promenade as the entity took control.

Then there was a bright series of flashes as then the craft exploded breaking into numerous chunks and pieces. Cody and Primrose covered their eyes as debris flew by.

Mara and Sir Ram watched with interest. A trail of corpses and body parts littered the space where the Seiferen once stood.

“Silent self destruct. Quite devious of you Mara." The big horned sheep commented.

“Look, there is Alydar. ONE got him before he died." Mara said coldly. Richard vomited.

Sir Ram walked over to the physician who had just lost his breakfast picking him up by the scruff of his neck.

“Some must be sacrificed if all are to be saved human."

“And I thought that after the 90 year war things would get better; they haven't." Dr. First said dry heaving. “Why did you save me?"

“We wanted to make sure that there were absolutely no loose ends." Mara said pressing the button on the black PDA. 

The five returned to the dark time tunnel punctuated by pieces of light where Dr. First berated his beastial companions.

“I want to make it clear what you did was despicable!"

“But necessary human." Sir Ram said.

“Why are these white specs of light shaking?!" Cody asked. “No they are dancing!"

“I am an accessory to all of this." Primrose said looking at the purse and clothing Saurus had given her.

“I think it is the timeline! It is being rewritten!" Mara exclaimed as the five prepared to touch down. "We did it!"

*SPLASH*

The quintette landed in marsh.

“Everyone ok?" Sir Ram asked.

“No and I don't think I will ever be again." Primrose said changing out of the white robe she had been wearing. 

Cody did the same, followed by Mara and Sir Ram and then Dr. First.

“Wet but here rammy." The caprine responded.

“Where and when are we now?" Cody asked.

“YOE 43. Near World One." Mara answered looking at the black PDA. “Quite a lot of foliage"

“Is this nightmare finally over?" The cat boy asked sifting through the brush. “Sir Ram…"

“I sure hope it is, I could use a long shower." The big horned sheep said stepping forward expecting to see castle Wundagore and the thriving metropolis he had known.

Instead there was a mysterious irregular looking building with a tower in its center.

“What the hell is this!? We prevented the cataclysm!!" The ram screamed.

“I know this is not my era ram, but given what I am seeing, I would say no. It looks like the entity STILL took over some how, perhaps it was a little later than the previous date." Dr. First said looking at his four traveling companions.

“So this is not World One, but World ONE." Mara gasped.

“Saurus, Alydar, Artax and the rest died for absolutely nothing!" Primrose said tearing up running further into the marsh.

“Prim!!" Cody shouted running after her.

“I hope you two despicable creatures are happy with what you have done and what you didn't accomplish." Richard said running after the younger beastials.

He found Primrose and Cody sitting on a nearby log.

“We are just going to have to try again Prim." Cody said trying to comfort his friend.

“We have been for a long time and what has it gotten us Cody? We let Sir Ram and Mara convince us it was okay to wipe out a sentient race of beings!"

“Beastials were supposed to be the ultimate life form, but after what we did we are no better than those we were made to replace." Cody said reluctantly.

“Looking for redemption now little beastials?" Richard asked.

“Dr. First, Cody we need to undo what we did, to redeem ourselves and get our souls back." The remorseful rabbit said.

“And how are we going to do that?" The cat boy asked. “It is not like we have the black PDA."

*BING*

The trio looked to their left as a familiar elevator appeared in front of them.

“Master Cody, mistress Primrose your time vessel is ready." Richard said smiling.

“So we are really going to undo what we did?" The cat boy said.

“Yes and grab that branch over there we can use it to keep the doors from closing and the time vessel from stranding us when we step out of it." The she rabbit ordered.

Time Hunters journal entry. Primrose Willow recording. Richard, Cody and myself have abandoned Sir Ram and Mara after their most recent attempt to alter the timeline. 

We happened upon the elevator that saved us the day of the fall and have decided to use it to fix all of our wrongs. 

After that? If we can't stop the entity from conquering the planet Dr. First recommends we live our lives in the past. He knows a couple of choice time periods he would like to experience...

“We couldn't stop ONE from conquering the empire." The big horned sheep said gritting his teeth.

*BING*

“And it looks like we lost our charges too rammy." Mara said watching the elevator's doors close.

“We will probably run across them in time. What is important now is that we need to stop the entity from taking the Lost City." Sir Ram grumbled.

“I still can't believe our efforts have been for naught rammy!" The she goat said comforting her lover. “Something on the timeline must have changed!"

May 23rd YOE 34 the wilderness west of World Three (A few days after Alex and Demona ran into Lady Barq, Corbin and the nomadic colony)...

“Wow, serious mysterious." The hedgehog boy exclaimed.

“I haven't seen anything like it." A monkey girl exclaimed.

“What is it?" A black akita asked impatiently.

“It is what Mr. Day has been trying to guide us to. Mr. Black." Arthur said.

“Which is?" 

“The Others hideout." Minka responded. “It looks like a spacecraft or a portion of one that crashed here long, long ago."

"Look at that- some of the occupants are small ponies?" Arthur said doing a double take.

“It isn't your area of expertise but you two are good scouts." The mercenary said.

“So now what?" Arthur asked.

“You tell our young leader that our mole friend was trying to lead us into a trap." The akita whispered. 

"And you Midnight Black?“ The monkey girl asked.

"I am going to have some words with Mr. Day."

To Be Continued….