So this is the idea I had if I redo the fic to make it more organized. I would separate the fic into four books. Chapter 1-8 would have been called: A new friend. Chapter 9-16 would have been: The new empire. So with that said i present you...
Book Three: The Rise and The Fall
Chapter 17: The tyrant, the merciless, and the dark queen.
One day passes…
"I am quite disappointed in all of you; there was no reason why the enemy should have escaped from us so easily. However…all of you tried to stop me when I tried, you prevented me from destroying the very ponies we have hunted down for treason. Did they trick or deceive you in anyway? No…you just stood in my way and protected them like they were your children…I want to know why."
Death Fire sat in his dimly lit throne room, gazing down at Nightmare Moon and the others bound in chains and shackles. Trixie sat next to the dark prince, shaking in fear and she held her eyes shut.
"Well! You were so talkative before, why hold back your tongue now?" Death Fire asked, waiting for an answer.
The room remained silent.
"You insolent pests!" He shouted, slamming his hoof into the thrones arm. "I order you to tell me why you helped our enemy! SO SPEAK!"
Everypony remained silent until a soft voice spoke up.
"Because you are not the leader we chose to follow." Chrysalis answered.
"And Dark Fire apparently was?" The prince asked angered. "He was a weak minded fool, a pleaser of the people filled with ideas of freedoms and democracy. He was never meant to be, he wasn't even suppose to exist! Yet you prefer him over me even when I look just like him."
"Even if you do, you have completely changed on the inside. The love I used to feel from you is now replaced with cold hatred and darkness. You are not Dark Fire…you are a monster."
"You speak of monsters, but yet all I see before me are monsters. You swore your loyalty to me and I gave you a new life and power in my new nation in return. And now you have betrayed me…you are no better than I."
"We never started a war…you did. We never caused the suffering of thousands from our actions…you did." Maneful spoke up.
"Is that so…" Death Fire asked darkly. "Then why were you all outcasts in the eyes of the ponies, why were all of you banished from the lands when Celestia ruled? Was it because of your good deeds and actions towards others? NO, it is because you HAVE done the exact same things I have and will do to these worthless ponies!"
"And now we know the truth!" Maneful shouted. "We learned from our mistakes, we learned that in the end we were the ones that were wrong! We were blinded by our rage and anger, forcing us to be influenced by dark magic and corruption…but we have changed from our ways because of what Dark Fire did! He showed us what it was like to have friends, what it was like to have ponies care for you and love you. What it was like to be free and have a second chance!"
"Friends?! Caring?! LOVE?!" Death Fire screamed. "These are lies told by the enemy to make us fall into their trap. And I will show them just how easy it is to fall for it..."
The black pony stood up from his throne and unlocked the chains on the pony's hooves.
"You are pardoned of your actions…but your power and voice in my empire is now revoked. If you or anypony else tries to stop me from doing what needs to be done then they will be dealt with swiftly and painfully." The ruler said, smirking evilly. "Good day…"
A month passed and Death Fire anointed himself king of Equestria under a rigged election and death threats. The ponies began to question their leader, wondering what had happened to him and why he was so different after the events that transpired. He felt the need to explain why. After a large gathering of ponies, Death Fire told the story of how he was the victim of a conspiracy and how Celestia and the others tried to assassinate him. He explained that the form he bears now was from a spell that they put on him to curse him for eternity.
But then he took his lies even farther. He went on to say that their very own leaders was in on it as well, instantly framing Nightmare Moon and the others within seconds and taking away any respect the ponies had for them before stating that he spared them and gave them a second chance. The seeds of hatred were now planted in the pony's hearts and it was time to make them grow. Using the ponies rage and anger to his advantage, he declared that no matter where Celestia and the others would go that he would hunt them down and defeat them at any cost. And the only way to do that was to build a bigger army and invade nearby lands.
He declared that it was only to bring them justice, that once they were destroyed he would give back the land that he took, but the subject was never brought up again. He promised peace but would quickly pass laws to build more weapons. He promised to bring the soldiers back from the hunt, but then passed the law that any stallion over the age of ten would join the military. Promise after promise was given, each one was broken and the ponies soon started to question every word that the king would speak. Until one fateful day…where everything would change for the worse.
"Bring them forward…" Death Fire whispered, looking at his guards.
The dark prince stood outside in front of the castle's main entrance. Hundreds of ponies watched from in and outside of the gates as the dark guards brought five ponies forward. With a quick shove, the five ponies fell to the floor before Death Fire and the other members of his court. Nightmare, Sombra and the others diverted their gaze from the five ponies, knowing they had no power to stop what the king was about to try.
"You five have been charged with high treason, plotting against the crown, deception, destruction of property and murder…" The prince informed, keeping his gaze above them. "You are typical traitors, an enemy of the state and the country, and you will be taken care of as such."
"We…are not traitors. You are…and look at what has happened because of it." A white stallion declared.
"You served under my army as commanders but then deserted you duties, joining the other side in hopes of stopping me. You were assigned to guard and serve the elements of harmony with your lives and now look at you. Abandoned by the ones you swore your lives to…how ironic…"
"They never abandoned us; we allowed them to escape without us. Putting their lives above ours…sacrificing ours for a greater cause."
The five commanders looked down, having nothing much to say. Death Fire laughed as he walked down the steps and lifted up the white stallions head to look him in the eyes.
"You have failed me and your enemies, making you completely worthless to my eyes and theirs. You are nothing more than just ponies with titles and armor, but now that your rank has been stripped and your armor laid to waste, you truly have nothing left to live for."
"As long as hope burns within the pony's hearts, you will never win."
"Then I will take it from them one by one…because the mare known as Twilight is dead…"
"I don't believe you."
"Then believe this."
Death Fire reached behind him and grabbed Twilight's element, tossing it forward towards the ponies. The commanders felt a wave of shock come over them as the tiara rolled towards them and fell before their eyes.
"She gave it her all…and died believing she could right the wrong she did…as you can see, she failed…like you have now."
The commander shook in place, turning away from the element and closing their eyes.
"Now do you see how hopeless you really are? You had no chance against me, no way out from my grasp, no escape from your actions. If you want to fight like traitors, you will die like traitors…" Death Fire said, looking at the guards to the side. "Line them up…"
The corrupted guards grabbed each pony and walked them over to a large wall. Each one was tied to a large wooden pole in front of a large squad of unicorns, waiting silently as they stood in formation. The elements of disharmony and others watched as they continued to tie up the commanders, wondering why they didn't have the courage or strength to stand up to this tyrant they once called their leader.
"Castigate…read them their last words." Death Fired ordered.
The silver pony slowly walked forward in shame, holding a scroll with his magic and unfolding it as he closed his eyes. When he reopened then, everypony could see the regret and sorrow he had for the ponies.
"Vivum, Animum, Shill Shot, Silent Wind, and Bluster Cloud…These five that stand before us were once considered great soldiers for the army of Celestia…heroes among the ponies and nation…" Castigate read, looking at the scroll.
He looked at the scroll at started to cry as he read the hateful words on it, reminding him of his dark past and life. He tossed away the scroll and continued.
"And they still are! They gave everything up to stop what we've done, to bring peace back to our lands from a king that seeks to destroy everything they fought for!"
Everypony dropped their jaws at what Castigate was doing; knowing good and well he would suffer for it.
"I tell you right now, these ponies are true heroes; standing up to us even when all hope is gone! They fought when it appeared that their efforts were in vain! Put their lives on the line for those they didn't even know! And here we are, silencing them for doing what we were too cowardly to do! They gave us hope and we turned our backs on them in shame! They don't deserve a fate like this…a fate of a coward and traitor should be reserved for me…I never did anything right in my life…and I'm sorry you must suffer for it…"
Death Fire started to laugh after he finished, looking around at the others.
"You are the only one that thinks this way, and no one will ever follow you…"
The next thing Castigate knew, Trixie appearing in front of Death Fire, getting right into his face.
"I didn't become princess of Equestria just so I could watch ponies die! I did it so I could change the world into a better place, not bring it further into darkness! Call them off...CALL THEM OFF OR I WON'T HESITATE TO LEAVE YOU AND RESIGN AS PRINCESS!" Trixie screamed, charging magic to her horn. "And I won't hesitate to take you down…"
Death Fire laughed as he gazed into Trixie's eyes, absorbing the hatred emitting from her body.
"Good...then you can join them…"
Before Trixie could react, she was smacked across the face with Death Fire's hoof, drawing her blood as she crashed into the ground.
"Trixie!" Castigate yelled in panic.
The silver stallion was quickly pinned to the ground with magic as Death Fire raised his hoof towards the firing squad.
"Now you will watch the fall of nations." Death Fire whispered. "READY!"
The unicorns charged up their magic with vicious intent as the silver pony was left breathless, allowing the guards to effortlessly dragged him away from the scene and started to ruthlessly beat him with batons.
"AIM!"
The firing squad aimed their horns at the commander's slowly as time slowed down for them. They closed their eyes in tears, wishing that they could be given a second chance. Before Maneful or the others could jump in and help, something restrained them from moving a single muscle and speaking a single word. Death Fire looked at his allies with a evil smirk as his horn glowed red, enjoying the suffering of his friends as he was about give the final word.
"LONG LIVE CELESTIA AND LUNA, THE TRUE RULERS OF EQUESTRIA!" The commanders shouted with mixed emotions of sadness and pride.
"Fire…"
"Dear sister, what's wrong with you, you seem more pale than usual." Luna asked, sitting around a fire.
Celestia had a look of complete despair as she looked down and closed her eyes.
"I don't know...I feel like I heard thousands of ponies cry out for freedom as the voices of hero's were silenced by the the sounds of war...I think something terrible has happened."
"The past month has been terrible, Tia. We've been out in the cold, no place to stay, constantly moving while our very own soldiers hunt us down. Our home was taken from us along with everything we had. It's like we're back at square one when we first lost our parents." Luna recalled. "But we can't quit now...not after everything we've done for our ponies."
Celestia reopened her eyes and looked at the moon shining brightly in the sky.
"First it was my home, then my friends and allies...a 1,000 years on the sun, a war among my people...corruption, hatred, and pain...I am the only one to blame...because now the shining star that I trained and raised will never be seen again…" Celestia whispered, closing her eyes once more. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you…"
Luna walked over to he and began to nuzzle her sister.
"She was...such an amazing student...but we have to move on. It's what she would have wanted. We won't forget about her, but we will use her sacrifice to keep us going."
The white alicorn shed a single tear before looking into luna's eyes.
"How do you do it sister...how can you stand being immortal? I have seen, heard, and watch so many suffer and die while I continue to live on. I...I hate it...I hate being the pony everyone looks up to, I hate how they treat me like I'm some sort of god. I'm nothing but a pony with wings and a horn, nothing more. I just sit, write laws and attend celebrations...anyone can do that.
I can't even stand up to my enemies anymore like I used to. I relied on Twilight to fight Nightmare Moon, Discord and the others to test her...and now she's gone...and the biggest threat to Equestria sits on our throne...laughing as he plunges our country into corruption. I have failed...and there's nothing more we can do…"
A breeze of wind blew through the area, creating a howling noise as the fire grew dim. The talking ceased, leaving only silence.
"How are the others doing?" Celestia asked.
"We are running low on food and the girls are exhausted, but water is very abundant because of the snow. If we continue to head north we should be able to reach the northern shoreline and travel to the arctic. Hopefully the oceans haven't freezed over from the windigos."
"I meant how are they doing emotionally."
"The same way we are...lost and deprived of hope…"
A day passed since the executions, leaving everyone except Death Fire completely mortified. Like many others, Chrysalis couldn't take it anymore and decided to secretly remove some of Death Fire's guards and replace them with her own changelings. Imago was one of these selected agents, assigned to replace Shining Armor himself. The switch was successful, but how long would it be before Death Fire noticed.
Imago, disguised as Twilights brother, stood beside Death Fire and Trixie as they watched the entire Equestrian army parade down the streets of Canterlot.
"Isn't it beautiful...an army of over two million, battle ready ponies, all armed with the best technology I have to offer. And we will soon have more to come." Death Fire said with pride.
"You don't have to do this...we just went through one war, why start another?" Trixie asked.
"We have to expand our empire, isn't that what all great nations do at some point. The ones that take and hold are the ones that are remembered, not the ones that make peace. We will soon have the entire known world and beyond. All four corners of this earth will be under my rule either through submission, conquering, or starvation. One way or another, everyone will fall and bow before me."
"You are destroying your own kingdom that you stole and robbing the ponies of their bits through heavy taxes so you can make more weapons of destruction. No matter what you take, you will never be satisfied. You're like a child in a room full of toys, you're not satisfied with just one, you want all of them."
"And I have a right to. No one can challenge me so why not take it all. Twilight is gone and Celestia is on the run. It's over for them and there are none to tell me otherwise."
Death Fire continued to smirk as he looked towards "Shining Armor."
"You seem very quiet today, what's bothering you?"
Imago continued to look down at the army, waiting a few seconds before speaking.
"Nothing, my lord...it's just the wait for this imminent war is killing me. Why such the long wait?"
"Really now...I'm surprised, you always gave me the impression that you prefered defence over offense. Hehehehe...it's almost like you're a different person." Death Fire said with a smile.
"I don't care about our defenses anymore, they are the strongest they will ever be. I suggest we strike fast and hard on unsuspecting nations so we can end the conflict quickly and effectively."
"So you're suggesting blitzkrieg?" Death Fire asked with curiosity. "Shining, where was this ferocity hiding at when we declared war on Equestria?"
"Back when we started, I was concerned that Celestia would start an uprising within the very heart of the confederacy. Now that she's gone, we can focus all efforts of offense."
"Hmmm, very well put. We shall keep ten percent here in equestria to keep order, the ponies tend to forget how powerful we really are."
"Why, just put fear into their hearts and they will do anything we say. It's better to be feared than loved after all."
"It's like I'm talking to a new you, Shining, your advice will definitely shift the war into our favor."
"Death Fire, will you just listen to yourself! You're throwing away ponies lives and for what, so you can show the world how far we have fallen. Is it so you can prop your legs up, knowing you destroyed everything for your own personal gain?" Trixie asked.
"Trixie, Trixie, Trixie...remind me...who's in charge again?"
Trixie paused and looked down at Death Fire's hooves.
"You are…"
"And who is the king of Equestria?"
"You are…"
"So last question, and use your brain for this one, Trixie. If I am in charge, and if I have the crown...who has all the power and right to rule?"
"Yo-
"I do, exactly!" Death Fire yelled. "So what makes you think you can question my orders!"
Trixie closed her eyes tightly, looking away from the dark ruler.
"I...don't…"
"Good...at least your not entirely stupid."
Trixie turned around and walked into the castle, disappearing down the dark hallway. A minute passed until Imago turned around to leave.
"Where are you going? The parade is not even halfway done." Death Fire said, keeping his gaze on his army.
"I have to get back to my duties, the guards don't have time to goof off when I'm away."
"Very well, just report back to me in an hour and thirty minutes, I have something you might be interested in."
"I will, my king." Imago said, bowing before leaving the area.
The changeling took no extra time to dash down the hallway to find Trixie. He tracked her down right to her room where he heard her softly sobbing as she read something out loud. He leaned in close to the door, listening to what she read.
"Journal entree 37,
It's been like...three weeks since I took Equestria. I formed the elements of disharmony and all, but there was something else. She calls herself the Great and Powerful Trixie. She doesn't seem that great and powerful, but man does she have a big ego. She should be perfect for becoming princess and hopefully, we can rule Equestria together and change it for the better."
Journal entree 38,
She told me about Mystic Charade...such a sad fate for a mare that pure. I completely lost it when I heard how she died, blowing up the entire organization because of it. I gave the innocent workers jobs but I made sure the owner and doctor were completely dealt with. It's strange though...no other ponies story has made me do this before. I hope nopony else has to suffer like she did."
Trixie flipped through a few pages, stopping once she reached a certain point.
"Journal entree 62,
What is with this mare?! Trixie always want's to talk to me and be very close to me. She won't leave me alone and is always trying to touch my hair. She even bit my ear! Why is she doing this to me? I need time for myself. Although...I have to admit...I can't help but smile when I see her face. She never ceases to make me laugh to."
Once again, Trixie flipped through the pages, tearing up as she went.
"Journal entree 197,
Castigate just took two cities at once...what a show off. Trixie decided to wear a black dress today for a ball she was invited to. Is it bad I started to blush uncontrollably when she walked by, because I was about to bleed out of my nose. I hate to admit it, but Trixie looks amazing in a black dress. I hope she noticed all the guards staring at her, they were drooling as she walked by. I'm surprised nopony has asked her out yet."
"Journal entree 214,
I...can't...stop...looking at her! I can't stop blushing around her, I can't talk normal around her, I can't do anything around her! I think I'm in love...I think I'm in love with her. She took my broken heart and just put it back together for me. But there's no way she could ever love me...not in a million lifetimes. I'm just not worth it.
"Journal entree 232,
She actually loves me...she actually loves me! I so happy she loves me! I'm crying because I can't believe it, Trixie, the pony of my dreams...finally loves me!
Trixie started to cry in sadness as she continued to read the other entrees, reaching the last one in the journal.
"Journal Entree 279,
Today is the day...the day I will be finally free of Death Fire and live my own life. I haven't told Trixie yet, I don't want her to worry about me. Hopefully everything goes well and that Celestia will forgive me for what I've done. I've also bought a ring...for Trixie. I'm going to ask her to marry me, I want to be with her for the rest of my life and never let her go. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want the entire world to know just how much she means to me. She's such an amazing pony with a caring heart that nopony has ever seen. Sure she's boastful, but that was to cover up her doubt. Now she doesn't have to worry anymore. Trixie, If you accept me as your husband I promise to never let you go, to never let you fall, and to always love you for who you really are.
However, If things don't go as planned and If I fall to darkness or meet my fate, I want you to know that no matter what happens to me or what Death Fire might do to you, always know that I love you with all my heart. You are my perfect princess...don't ever forget that.
Soon to be yours,
Dark Fire...your beloved prince..."
Trixie dropped the journal and cried on the bed as she cursed herself for being the cause of Death Fire's release. Imago sighed heavily before entering the room and closing the door behind him.
"Crying over him won't bring him back, you need to remain strong for him."
Trixie looked up with tears before taking apon a look of anger.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" She screamed, grabbing a random picture frame and throwing it at him.
Imago caught the picture before removing his disguise and looked at Trixie.
"Is this really something you want to throw at me?" He asked, showing her the picture.
Trixie's anger subsided as she picked up the picture, suddenly realising it was a picture of Dark Fire and her surrounded by all their friends and allies. It was the day Dark Fire and Trixie officially confessed their love to each other, and it broke her heart inside to know she caused him to go away.
"Dark Fire is in there somewhere, and we have to get him out somehow. My queen is doing the best she can to replace all those in power with her fellow drones to prevent a war from breaking out. Remain strong and calm for us, the ponies look up to you more than you think." Imago stated, transforming into Shining Armor again. "Nightmare and the others know what must be done...even if we have to kill him it will be for the betterment of Equestria. Hopefully it won't come down to it."
Imago turned around and opened the door, preparing to leave.
"Dark Fire trained you...use that knowledge and don't let him push you around. Best of luck to you."
An hour and thirty minutes pass.
"Here I am, my king. What do you need?" Imago asked.
"I need you to watch." Death Fire responded.
"Watch what?"
"You will see…"
Several minutes passed before Chrysalis appeared in the room, slightly confused.
"What do you want, my lord." She whispered, trying to sound anxious for his command.
"Chrysalis, it's come to my attention that there are spies among us. Spies sent by my enemies to take and sabotage information to prevent me from declaring war. Do you, by some far chance...have anything to do with this."
Chrysalis looked up in surprise.
"Spies? From our enemies? I thought we had their army decimated and their leaders on the run, why would they bother to spy on us now?"
"I'm not sure...but you are, indeed, a master of disguise. Certainly you, of all changelings, know this."
"This is true, but our enemies are crushed, what more could they do?"
"Let me repeat what I said...spies from my enemies."
"But my lord...who could ever challenge you and your words?"
"That is why I asked you...changeling."
Chrysalis' heart raced faster than ever, but she kept a straight face.
"I...I would imagine the remnants of the resistance...but their leader were killed off. It…it must be somepony on the inside."
"Why limit it to ponies? There are others that support us...care to name a few." Death Fire said coldly.
"But Death Fire...the only other race I can think of would be changelings…but none of them would ever go against you. They would have to have direct orders from...me..."
"And that is why...I have summoned you…"
Chrysalis looked directly into Death Fire's black eyes, feeling fear overcome her senses.
"My lord, no...I haven't done anything without your command, I would never go against you, I swear on my life I would never betray you!" Chrysalis shouted, taking a step back.
"Watch what you say...for it might just come true…"
Chrysalis suddenly felt all the nerves in her body enhanced ten fold as her skin started to practically boil. She fell to the floor screaming in pain while Death Fire simply watch.
"Chrysalis, if your words are true and you really had nothing to do with these spies, then your death with prove your people innocent. Until then, your body's ability to feed off of love has been reversed, making your body feed off of itself until you are nothing more than bones at my hooves. Hehehehe...quite a horrible fate for a queen." Death Fire mocked.
"I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AGAINST YOU!" Chrysalis cried out in tears, seeing some of her skin fall off of her hooves. "I GAVE YOU MY LOYALTY, MY POWER, MY SOLDIERS, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL ME!"
"I believe it's time to move on, actually. You were the weakest one out of the group after I ripped out the love from this world. You were slowly dying off, I'm simply speeding up the process of your ultimate demise."
Death Fire's wings flared out and started to glow red, absorbing the hatred Chrysalis was giving off for him as she continued to scream.
"That's right...feed your master...feed me more power so I can crush the world beneath my hooves. You and all of your friends are to blame for your suffering. I will be sure to tell them how you died...all alone...with no one to hear you cry…"
Imago suddenly appeared behind Death Fire and tried to break his horn with a lead pipe, but Death Fire turned around just in time to blast him into a pillar with his magic. As imago slide down the pillar, his disguise was removed, showing Death Fire who he really was.
"And so the truth is revealed." Death Fire said, looking back at Chrysalis.
"IMAGO!" Chrysalis cried out before she saw Death Fire's hoof point directly at her.
"Did you really think I was that stupid to not notice a changeling take the form of my captain?! Did you forget how I saw right through your disguise when I first recruited you?! Regardless of the situation, you are now nothing to me...you will perish like all those before you...and you will be forgotten...forever…"
The next thing Chrysalis knew, Sombra had tackles Death Fire to the ground began to ruthlessly punch his face, causing the ground to shake with each punch he delivered. Nightmare Moon quickly appeared next to Chrysalis and wrapped her body in dark blue magic to try to ease her pain. As Chrysalis continued to cry, Sombra was blasted off of Death Fire with a huge blast of red smoke.
"YOU DARE GO AGAINST MY ORDERS! I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL IF I HAVE TO!"
Just when the angered king dash towards them, Discord appeared before him with a baseball bat and outfit, swinging the bat right into his horn and launching him through the ceiling and outside of the castle.
"There's no turning back now, we have to leave." Sombra said, assisting Nightmare with healing magic.
"We have nowhere to go!" Nightmare Moon shouted. "We fought against the very ones that tried to save us and now we suffer for it."
"This isn't the time to beat ourselves up." Discord said. "We made our mistakes, now we have to fix them."
"So now we have to find a place, somewhere, anywhere, just not here!" Sombra declared.
Chrysalis tried to suggest a location, but her pain with too great for her to even think. Her illuminated green color started to fade away as she reached out to Sombra. The dark stallion grasped her hoof in his hoof and held it tightly.
"You're going to be ok, I promise you, just hold on."
Death Fire suddenly smashed through the wall, holding two large energy balls in his hooves.
"YOU WERE ALL DOOMED FROM THE START! NO ONE CAN DEFEAT ME, NO ONE!"
Trixie appeared and grabbed Death Fire's tail, pinning him to the ground and looking up to Sombra.
"RUN! FIND CELESTIA AND UNITE WITH HER, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT HIM!"
"WHY YOU LITTLE & ^ * !" Death Fire screamed, exploding with rage and blasting Trixie off of him.
The pony of hatred dashed right at Sombra and fired his energy blasts at full power. Before the blasts hit, Discord snapped his fingers and they had vanished. Death Fire spun around to look at Trixie with a demonic look.
"I will deal with you later!" He said, running to the huge hole in the wall, overlooking the entire castle courtyard. "TREACHERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, KILL ALL THE CHANGELING AND MAKE SURE THEY SUFFER FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE! THERE WILL BE NONE TO STOP US NOW!"
Two weeks pass…
The wind blew softly over the huge pains covered in snow. Nearby was an abandoned village, completely worn down from the harsh weather and freezing temperatures. The wind howled by again, picking up a newspaper as it went as it blew past the ghost town. The paper aimlessly flew in the sky before being caught by a dark gray Falcon and dropped into a green pony's hoof. The black robed pony looked over the paper as his cape flowed in the cold wind.
"So Twilight is dead...for the second time." Desolent whispered, laughing softly as he release the paper into the wind. "Do they really expect ponies to believe this lie again, I might have been fooled once, but not this time."
The dark necromancer overlooked the land, extending his hoof out as it glowed dark green and black.
"You have slept long enough my servants...rise...and take part in the land of mortals once more."
The ground flashed bright green for a split second and then there was silence. After a few moments, creatures of all types started to burst out from the ground, taking the forms of rotting corpses and diseased ridden abominations. Within seconds, Desolent had an army of undead servants, hungry for orders and flesh. Desolent teleported and reappeared before the huge army, pacing around as he went.
"Are you hungry my servants...hungry for the flesh of cowards and weaklings?"
The entire army shrieked in such a terrifying way that that is made Desolent smirk with pride.
"Then listen to the words I will say. This land is cold and barren of life, but I will make it fruitful again through my magic. The enemy will surely come to invade this land once they see it's prosperity, but it will all be a lie. Everything that is now east of Equestia belongs to me, which makes it belong to my creations as well. Clear out this land of life, feast upon those that can't escape our grasp, engorge yourselves till you can eat no more, and then we will wait.
I will build up our power and numbers while you wait for my command. Everything that is not of our kin is now our food...devour everything that breathes, everything that moves and anything that screams. They are nothing to us, and they deserve nothing more than death itself. However, when you encounter the mare known as Twilight, bring her to me. And I will use her broken body to give birth to a new world of destruction. Now...go out into the world my servants...and destroy everything that stands in the way of the undead."
As Desolent vanished from view, the undead horde went absolutely ballistic and ran off into different directions, looking for anyone or anything to consume. Desolent reappeared inside of a cave and walked in. After walking inside the torch lit cave for a minute, he noticed a large light at the end of the tunnel and entered. As he looked around, he took note of the trees and plants he grew and the hot spring he created along with the artificial sun that shined brightly on the ceiling. He took his robes off and submerged himself into the hot spring water, sighing softly as he propped himself into a corner and closed his eyes.
'And they said being evil is a bad thing.' He thought, leaning his head back.
He felt a small tap on his head, forcing him to open his eyes and look right into a fillies eyes.
"Daddy, where have you been all day?" Dinky asked with a curious look.
"Taking care of buisness with the locals, complicated things sweety." Desolent said, attempting to end the subject.
"Well...what do you do?"
"I do business."
"But where's your suit."
"I don't wear a suit, I wear a robe."
"But business pony's don't wear robes."
"It's a different kind of business."
"Like what."
"Like…ummmm…funerals."
"What's a funeral?"
"It's where you have fun with roles...fun...and roles…"
"How's that like?"
"Where's your mom?" Desolent asked, changing the subject.
"She's making muffins."
"Really now...I wouldn't mind taking a bit out her muffin."
"What do you mean?"
Desolent realized he accidentally made a sexual innuendo and slowly submerged his head into the water.
'It will just be for a moment...that should buy me some time for me to be alone.' He thought before feeling another tap on his shoulder.
Dinky was now in the water with him, staring at him as he floated in the water with a blank expression. Desolent pointed up with his hoof, signalling his daughter to go back to the surface. She didn't understand and just simply floated in front of his face. The necromancer rolled his eyes in frustration before his horn glowed with magic.
'If you're going to stay down here you're going to have to use a water breathing spell.' He said, telekinetically.
'How do I do that?'
'Use your horn...'
'How?'
'What do you mean how?'
'I don't know how to use magic...'
'Your joking...what do you do with that horn then, use it for horseshoe tossing?'
'Sort of.'
Desolent sighed, sending out a current of air bubbles out of his nose.
'No daughter of mine is going to go through life without magic, especially when she has a horn.'
'Ummm, daddy…I can't breath-
'I mean, what kind of unicorn can't do magic. I refuse to allow such a thing.'
'Daddy...I can't-
'What the heck has Ditzy been teaching you then, how to make muffins?'
'I can't-'
'Why hasn't she given you any spell books to study?'
'Dad…'
'It's so silly how you can't even do a simple waterbreathing spell...like...OH &#* !'
Desolent quickly grabbed Dinky and conjured up a huge air bubble for her to breath in. Dinky took a huge breath of air before sliding down in the bubble, panting for breath.
'SAY SOMETHING NEXT TIME, YOU ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK.'
'I tried daddy, but you kept on talking and you wouldn't let me tell you.'
'You got to yell at me then, don't be so soft.'
'Ok...i'll try.'
'Good girl, now float along and don't die ok.'
'Ummmmm...'
Desolent picked up Dinky and surface onto the land, placing her on solid ground before blow drying her with a heat spell. He took his hair and wringed it out, letting his white mane drop past his shoulders.
"You seem happy today." Ditzy said, appearing from a bush. "How was work."
"The usual." Desolent said, grabbing an orange from a tree.
Ditzy looked over to her daughter with a smile.
"Dinky, do you mind going to your room for a bit, I want to talk to your daddy alone."
"Ok." Dinky replied, running off to her little room in the cave.
As Desolent was eating the orange, Ditzy walked over to him with a serious look.
"What did you really do, Dust, and don't lie to me."
Desolent sighed loudly in annoyance.
"You always ask me this."
"Because I'm your wife, who happens to be in love with a psychopathic murderer."
"Do you even know what those words mean?"
"Yes…sort of…" Ditzy said, thinking about it. "Just tell me."
Desolent looked away, trying to look at something else.
"I...I made another batch of undead slaves…"
"And!"
"And I told them to hunt down and kill anything that moves."
"Dust Breaker, I told you to stop with the constant killing already, why won't you listen to me!"
"Because it's all I know how to do! It's all I can do anymore! You and Dinky are the only ones that can control me and my constant hunger to destroy but for how long! I hate feeling like this, I hate being the puppet of miasma. But there is no cure for it...so there's nothing I can do."
The two remained silent, looking into each others eyes.
"How many were there this time?" Ditzy asked.
"A rough estimate...but I say about 200,000."
"Dear Celestia…"
"Don't mention her name around me, please. You know I might over react."
"I know...but you're causing so much pain, what else am I suppose to say."
"Something, anything, just not her name or Twilights. The miasma will try to use that against me."
"Do you think you could ever find a cure?"
"Even if I try, I would only end up destroying my work. The virus is alive, it moves, it breaths, it knows everything about me, and I'm nothing but it's host to it."
"I only wish the world knew the real you and not the monster they say you are."
"They have a right to fear me, it's what keeps them away from me,and I wish for that to stay that way."
The two allowed silence to pass over them once again.
"Does Dinky know anything about this?" Desolent asked.
"No...she believes this is a family vacation. I hate lying to her like this, what if she finds out who you are out there, what if she sees the truth. I don't think her heart could take it."
Desolent walked over to Ditzy and place his hoof on her shoulder.
"She won't find out as long as she doesn't leave this place. Until then, I have to pave the way for a new world."
"But I don't want a new world, I just want you."
"And you will...once everything is whipped away, there will be nothing left the miasma can do to make me destroy...for there will be nothing left but you and our beautiful daughter, and we be together forever."
Desolent kissed Ditzy on the lips and hugged her tightly. Several moments passed before Desolent broke out of the embrace and put on his black robes.
"But until that day...I have work to do."
Desolent teleported and reappeared on top of a large mountaintop. His eyes flashed purple as his falcon landed on his shoulder. He extended his hoof as it glowed dark green and black, overlooking the land from the mountain.
"You have slept long enough my servants...rise...and take part in the land of mortals once more…"
Two weeks pass…
The throne room, once a place full of life and happiness under Celestia's rule was no turned into a place of darkness and suffering. The stain glass windows that once showed the achievements and heroic events of Equestria where now replaced with pictures of Death Fire and his army. His nations flag, a swirling black hole blazing with fire, hung all around the room. Dim torches lit the room as Death Fire sat in his throne, gazing down at the guards that stood before him.
"Bring the prisoner in." Death Fire ordered.
Eight guards walked in, dragging in a purple mare bound with thick chains. They all stopped in the middle of the throne room, waiting for another command.
"Release her..."
The guards removed the chains, letting them fall to the floor with a loud thud.
"Now leave us, go back to patrolling."
The guards nodded and left the room, closing the door behind them. The mare slowly stood up to her hooves, remaining silent with a dark glare. Death Fire instantly noticed that she had the appearance of Twilight herself, but she was different compared to when she first appeared. Instead of her purple mane with a soft pink strip, it was pure black and the strip was replaced with a dark purple shade.
"So...you must be the pony that was locked away in Twilight's heart." Death Fire said softly. "What are you doing in my kingdom?"
The mare looked up at Death Fire, keeping her dark look.
"Is this how you treat a mare." She asked, looking around at the stain glass. "I see someone is really likes the way they look."
"Answer me question!" Death Fire said with rising anger.
"I was hiding from your pathetic guards, somehow they managed to find me."
"Then they are doing their job. Seemed unfortunate for you." Death Fire said, keeping a low voice. "Why are you really here?"
"Maybe I just wanted to enjoy the scenery." She said, walking towards one of the windows. "Snow can get pretty boring to look at when it's the only thing around."
"Don't waste my time, mare. Tell me what I want to know."
The dark mare continued to admire the scenery until turning around to face the black questioner.
"Well for one, I was escaping." She said, giving him an evil smile. "I may have stayed for a bit just to observe my surroundings though. Two weeks is long enough to make anyplace look bland."
"Who are you to just run around and act like you have no enemies."
"Who am I? Well that's an easy question to be answer...I am Nightmare Twilight, the queen of nightmares." She stated with a smirk.
Death Fire started to laugh in amusement.
"Let me guess...you want to take over the world?"
"My original plan is to overthrow my original self...but taking over the world sounds about right."
The mare started to pace around the room, keeping her gaze on the dark stallion.
"So...how are you going to take over again. Care to enlighten me." Death Fire asked in a mocking tone.
"Well it's simple really." She stated, putting her hoof on her chest in pride. "Get a strong army, get stronger than you and then overthrow you. Simple and straight to the point."
"You are just to funny." Death Fire laughed. "You come in here and act like you own the place, then you say you can build an imaginary army and overthrow me?!" He said, continuing to laugh evilly. "Unfortunately for you though, this joke is over." Death Fire said, getting up from his throne and walking down the stairs. "Despite how weak you are right, and the fact that you were only born just several weeks ago, you are still a threat. A cancer cell that has yet to take form and grow in strength. You are the evil of Twilight's heart...but you are still Twilight in and out." He said, standing before her. "I'm going to have to destroy you before you grow in strength and power. There's nothing you can do to stop me."
The mare chuckled and looked at him with a smile.
"So the big bad prince of darkness is afraid of a mare? Well tough guy, if that was supposed to scare me then it didn't work. You're all bark and no bite."
She softly chucked, finding Death Fire's presence humorous.
"I'm not as weak as you think, prince!" She suddenly shouted, powering up her magic.
"And you're not as strong as you believe." Death Fire started, cracking his neck.
The two circled each other slowly for a good several moments before the mare spoke up.
"We only talked for maybe five minutes...and you already wanna kill me? Gosh, it's like a first date, you already just wanna get to the bed."
"I've heard enough from your foul mouth, either fight me or die running, your choice."
"Well I'm not much of the fighting type." She said, looking towards the window.
The mare then fired a huge blast from her horn, hitting one of the stain glass windows, shattering it to pieces.
"It's been fun, prince...but I think i'm picking none of the above. Chao." She said, leaping out of the window.
She was abruptly grabbed by the tail and thrown back into the room with a thud. When she tried to get up, she was punched right in the jaw by Death Fire's black hoof.
"You think it's that easy to run away from me?"
Nightmare Twilight slowly got back up to her hooves, rubbing her chin in pain.
"It worked out better in my head."
The black stallion dashed forward, grabbed her by her mane. He quickly kneed her in the face and then tossing her across the floor.
"Get up...and fight me." He whispered, walking towards her.
Dark Twilight slowly looked up to him with a demented look.
"As you wish...my king..."
Black magic surrounds her horn and she fired a large blast at Death Fire. The dark king laughed as he vanished and reappeared before Twilight, grabbing her horn and twisting it tightly before throwing her into the floor. She got up slowly as she rubbed her horn.
"You're really going to aim for that!? It's like kicking a stallion is the balls!"
She rubbed her horn in pain before shaking it off. "Alright fine, we'll play rough!"
She quickly appeared before Death Fire and blasted him with magic at point blank range, but when the smoke cleared, Death Fire was simply standing there, staring into her eyes.
"What was that suppose to do?"
"Knock you back a bit" She said, looking at him with a grin
The stallion quickly jabbed the cocky pony in the throat, watching her suddenly choke before kicking her into the ceiling.
"What a waste." He whispered, firing a blast of magic into her, causing the entire room to shine bright red and shake as it exploded.
She then appears from next to Death Fire, attempting to strike him while he was off guard. It backfired when she was back slapped into the floor, forcing her to skid against the floor as he slowly walked to her.
"This is pointless, give up already." The tyrant ordered.
"Hehe, not happening prince."
With a wave of her hoof, Death Fire's guards rushed in with lifeless eyes, surrounding him.
"Say hello to my new guards, Death Fire. I've taken control of them."
Death Fire started to laugh again.
"You act like it's hard to take control of others."
"You idiot, don't you get it? I have there souls!" She stated with laughter. "There mine to control now."
Death Fire then noticed strange ,white orbs floating around the dark enchantress. Twilight casually reached over to one of the orbs and grasped it in her hoof.
"You see Prince, this is one of the souls I've taken. There bodies are now nothing but empty voids." She said. dropping the orb to the ground.
She smashed the orb with her hoof, shattering it like glass as a faint scream was heard from within the orb. Death Fire then heard a thud as one of the guards collapsed onto the ground like a ragdoll.
"Unfortunately, for me to keep my control on them, I have to keep their souls in these orbs. Otherwise that will happen." She said, looking at the lifeless body.
Death Fire took his hoof and punched it right through Nightmare Twilight's chest, making her gasp out in pain. Instead of blood, there was thick, black like smoke that flowed out of her chest.
"You're just like Nightmare Moon, purely Miasma...that's interesting to know."
With a quick flash, Death Fire shot a ball of light inside of the soul stealer's chest, forcing her to suddenly explode in a burst of light and heat that vaporizing everything around him in the blink of an eye.
"Such a disappointment."
Twilight slowly reformed behind Death Fire, panting heavily as the smoke around her reformed into her physical body.
"You think I could be defeated that easily?" She asked, still trying to regenerate.
"It's never that easy…"
With that said, Death Fire pointed his hoof towards Nightmare Twilight and blasted her leg off with a wave of light. Death Fire ignored the loud mouthed mare as she screamed in pain and headbutted her face, knocking her to the ground.
"I will end your suffering."
Death Fire summoned up a huge bolt of red lighting into his hoof and threw it at the dark mare, blowing her back against the wall with a huge burst of lightning and power. As she slide down the wall, Death Fire teleported before her and kneed her face right through the wall. Grabbing her by the neck, he ripped her out of the wall and proceeded to ruthlessly beat her until she made no more effort to resist.
"It's over, your life ends here."
Death Fire's hoof glowed dark red with energy as he prepared to thrust it into her heart.
"You will leave this world as quickly as you came, never to be remembered again."
Death Fire thrusted his hoof into Nightmare Twilight's heart, but just when he thought he won, the mare burst into a cloud of black smoke and dissipated, disappearing from sight.
"This isn't over…"
The dark king removed his hoof from the wall and calmed down, walking towards his throne before Zepher walked in, completely bruised and wounded.
"My Lord...the element of magic…it's gone."
Death Fire's eyes dilated as the news flowed through his ears, shaking with anger as he looked at Zepher. Despite Zepher's influence under mind control, he could still hold his own against brutal beating and punishments, sometimes acting out on his own whim rather than Death Fire's. Punishing him would be a waste of time and effort, especially since the enemy was getting away with the element of magic. With this reasoning, the tyrant calmed himself and returned back to his throne.
"Forget about it...let them run while they can. Allow her to cause chaos among the ponies, it will show them just how far their hero's have fallen when she attempts to take over different civilizations."
Death Fire sat down in his throne, giving Zepher a demented look.
"War is just over the dark horizon and the ponies are lost in despair. Their hated towards me feeds my power and their fear keeps them in line. It's time for us to expand into other nations, to show the world that we are the superiors. It's time...for global domination."