Crimson Blot struck a match in the darkness. He lit the five candles around him just before it burned up. He checked that the ivory cup was half-full, the thick red contents almost black in the faint light. Everything had to be perfect.
Tonight he would have to do terrible things. Tonight he would explore all things dark and unspeakable. Tonight he would just have to turn off those things that made him a unicorn instead of a mindless, ravening beast.
"Awake the nightmare," he said, channeling energy into his horn. "Awake the nightmare." Cold air rushed around the room. The candles guttered. The shining black raven feather rose into the air.
"Awake the nightmare!" Crimson Blot snarled, his voice taking on an echoing tone, as if somebody much older and large was mimicking his words.
The raven feather dipped into the inkpot. Crimson Blot drank deep from the cup of cranberry juice and, feeling suitably inspired, began to write his tale of violence and depravity.
Sweetstuff shivered against the cold stormy wind. She didn't know why, but something about Derpy Hooves's smile unnerved her.
"Come in, my friend. You're just in time for my muffin party. I think you can help me make the next batch, and I'm really really really hungry." Derpy Hooves laughed cruelly.
"I have a bad feeling about this, " Sweetstuff said as she walked in out of the cold wet rain…