Chapter 1
It has been for many ages that Discord has ruled supreme, driven by a passive-aggressive dislike for ponies of all races, and a love for chaos. Ponies are miserable here, forced to spend their lives trying to comprehend an incomprehensible world. Ponies will walk from their homes, wondering if the streets will even be safe to walk on, or if the weather will doom them within the next hour once Discord has decided he's had his fill of fun, wiping away the world in one bored wave of his paw.
"This cannot go on," a pale yellow unicorn sighs, tossing her bucket from the well aside, finding it filled with bubbling soap.
"Aurora, please," her sister, a pale blue Pegasus pleads. "Misery will only draw him to us. Don't give him the satisfaction."
"I don't plan to Stary," Aurora says firmly, more determined than depressed. She looks to her sister, Starry Night, and says. "I intend to end him… somehow."
Stary Night sighs, "Aurora Borealis, foolishness will not do anypony any good either. Dis-"She cuts herself off, looking around fearfully, "…He will only laugh."
Aurora stomps a hoof, "I know! But somehow, some way it must be done. If I don't try then who will?!"
Stary bites her lower lip, "…You know I cannot allow you to do this… not alone at the very least." She gives a small smile, "If we make fools of ourselves… we will do so together."
"Just what I was waiting to hear!"
Both sisters jump in surprise as Discord the Draconeques floats down on a cloud, playing a harp with a halo over his head. "I was waiting for somepony to try something," he says. "Thanks for not making me wait another hundred years for the next attempt to overthrow me. Now let's make a deal!"
He snaps his fingers, and the scene changes so the three of them are in an office, Discord in a suit behind a desk while the sisters sin in chairs facing him with firm looks. Discord holds up a contract as he says, "Now then, the terms of this little game are simple. You may cast three spells, only three, to overthrow me with. In that time I will not interfere with you, and may take as much time between these spells as you like… However, should you fail then you become my personal playthings."
He waves a claw behind then where the sisters turn to see ponies of every race trapped in animated paintings. They can't hear them, but they can clearly watch as the ponies trapped in the frames undergo different torments. One is chased by a Manticore, another, another hangs from a branch on a cliff, and many dozen more paintings are equally disturbing.
Discord chuckles, "So my little ponies… Do we have a deal?"
Starry Night looks like she's having second thoughts, but Aurora gives her a reassuring smile. "It's alright sister, you don't have to do this with me."
"…No," the Pegasus says in a firm tone. "The chances are slim, but even slimmer if you do this alone. I will stand by you no matter what dear sister."
Discord produces a pen which they both use to sign the parchment. Discord chuckles darkly as with a snap the room vanishes, and they're back out in the wilderness by the house the two sisters share.
"Then let the games begin!" He shouts in an announcing sort of way, "Good luck everypony!"
And with that he leaves them to decide what their next move is.
…
What… where am I?
The stallion groans as he gets to his hooves, and shakes himself. "What a strange dream…" He stretches his wings, and eyes them with a curious frown. His fur, and feathers are the color of pitch, utterly black. He notes a mark on his plot, a single white skull about as large as the prints his hooves make in the soil. He blinks at it… It seems to blur every so often, and he seems to get an impression that it shouldn't be seen.
He's not sure as what to make of it, more preoccupied with a burning in his throat. Luckily he's awakened next to a river, and bows his head to the calm waters to drink deeply. As he does he notices the soft cyan color of his irises. As his thirst fades he tries to remember… something, but he can't. He just knows that his name is Victus, how to fly, and that's it.
As he pulls himself out of his thoughts he becomes aware of a dull thumping. Like a heartbeat, but far off, and seems to resonate with something inside him. Curious he takes to the air, and flies in the general direction of the pulsing.
…
Ponyville is abuzz with the news. Recently a murder has occurred, and the culprit quickly apprehended... but the culprit is a unique case to say the least.
The local paper being handed out from a nearby stand has the story in a nutshell. In big bold letters is the headline, "MURDERER WALKS FREE!" As one reads on in the story this is what the paper says:
"Obsidian Pie, affectionately called Minkie Pie by her three younger sisters, was put on trial for the murder of her parents yesterday afternoon. While all the evidence proved her guilt, including a testimony from Minkie Pie herself confessing to the murders, the Judge ruled she be allowed to walk free under the guardianship of her three younger sisters Cobblestone "Blinkie Pie, Marblestone "Inkie" Pie, and Pinkamena Diane Pie who is known throughout Ponyville as Pinkie Pie the Party Pony.
"The Judge allowed her to walk under the circumstances that Minkie Pie had formaerly been incarcerated in an old cellar by her parents for the past twenty years, giving the reporters present that "being locked up hasn't done her any good so far, so i doubt that will change with a life sentence." He then further decreed that should Minkie be able to show ample progress as a civilized pony in one year's time that all charges will be expunged from her record."
It's shocking news to say the least, but the newcomer to Ponyville only reads the story over with a mild curiosity. He's more focused on finding the source of that pulsing.
He spots one pink pony bouncing down the street with a smile, and she stops right in front of him, blinking a few times. Then she lets out a loud gasp, "Omigosh, a new pony! Hiya! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name?!" She smiles with a squee as she leans in to get his answer.
He blinks as he looks at this pony thinking she is very energetic. "Victus," He answers as he looked around.
"Victus, that's such a neat name!" She giggles as she starts bouncing in place, "Oo! Oo! You're new in town! YAY! This calls for a party! Oh wait! I'm picking up my big sister from the hospital today, Wanna come with me? I got me the feeling you two would get along!"
Victus looks at the energetic pony as he had something on his mind but thought that it was not important. "Sure I guess." He said as he follows Pinkie Pie to meet with her older sister. He doesn't want to draw much attention to himself with the tense atmosphere in town, and maybe he'll just happen upon the source of that strange pulsing. Pinkie Pie seems to be headed in its general direction anyways.