The New Steed

      Celestia and Luna stood in silence as they both stared out the window of the main throne room of the castle. Though it was the Sun Goddess that was more stalwart in her stance than her younger sibling. Her eyes constantly scanning from one side of the horizon to the next. Her brow furrowed, and her deep pink eyes unblinking as if expecting a sudden attack from somewhere in her line of sight. She could feel it out there; that unknown presence that gave her such dread. She knew it had a form, she knew it was walking among her beloved subjects, and now, using a massive amount of her own divine magics, she knew where it was.

   "Excuse me Princess?" a golden armoured guard said in a respectful tone as he entered the chamber, and bowed his head. "They have arrived. Shall I show them in?" The slender white Alicorn did little more than just nod at the guard's request, as she continued to glare out the window. The armour clad guard then turned his head to unseen parties, and bowed his head as he spoke in a much louder voice. "Presenting Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire. And Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville."

   "Princess Celestia!" Twilight chimed out as she happily came trotting into the room. Her eyes were bright enough to light the darkest cavern as she saw her long time teacher. She wasn't so enamored however to not give Luna a warming smile, and deep head bow as well.

   "Hello there!" Cadance also said in a chipper, and soothing tone of voice.

   The sound of the two young Alicorns made Celestia get a long smile on her muzzle, as she leaned in towards her sister. "To be young again," she whispered quickly as she turned and started walking towards her throne. Luna couldn't help but grin as well as she too stepped in line with her sisters movements, and then joined her by her side. The two youngest Princesses stopped short of climbing the small stair case that led up to the tall golden throne. Each one of them now having a slight contortion of confusion as they noticed the solemn look on their peers faces. "Have you felt something, odd?" Celestia asked as she looked down at the two fledgling Alicorns.

   Twilight looked to Cadance, as Cadance did to her. The two then turned back to Celestia as they as well got a solemn look on their muzzles. "I had an odd dream," Twilight said, as a much more serious tone came to her voice.

   "I as well," Cadance added while looking down to the floor for a short moment. "I can't quite seem to remember it now. I am not sure there was anything wrong with it. Just a feeling; a presence I guess." The pink coated Princess looked up to Celestia with a concerned look. "Is this why you summoned us from the Crystal Empire so suddenly?"

   "It is," Luna said with a dry emotionless voice. "We believe we have been invaded. Or in a more worst case scenario, attacked."

   This made both Twilight, and Cadance take in a sharp gasp as their eyes widened to their full extent, and their irises dilated to mere pinpoints. "But, but who? Why? When?" Twilight rambled out. "Was it another evil Pony overlord? The Changelings?" This is when Celestia raised a single hoof into the air slightly, effectively bringing Twilight's questions to a halt.

   "None of those threats have presented themselves Twilight. Though I do believe a threat is here in our world." Celestia then placed her leg back down to the ground, and let out a sigh. "Up until now, all the obstacles I have given to you were ones I knew you could defeat as long as you relied on yourself, and the power of friendship in us all. However, this new one. I fear it is something that is that does not see the world in the same way you and I do."

   "Come now Princess," Cadance said with a look of worry promising to crack her voice. "You have never been one for suspense or drama. Do not keep us in the dark of what this invading force is."

   "We do not know what it is," Luna said before Celestia could open her mouth. "We do know it is not of this world. And we know that it will take all of us to confront it."

   "That settles it then!" Twilight called out with a sense of valor in her tone as she stamped her hoof to the ground. "I will head to Ponyville, and gather the Elements of Harmony right away."

   "No!" Celestia shouted before Twilight could even think about running off. "No," she repeated as she calmed herself. "I am afraid the Elements of Harmony will not do the job this time my dear student. And I think trying to involve them would only endanger the Ponies that wield them. We are only going to be the only ones able to see this force for what it is, and deal with it if we are able. You are right about one thing though."

   "What's that Princess?" Twilight asked with an almost childlike curiosity.

   "We are going to Ponyville." As she said this, Celestia came up out of her throne, and started walking towards the large doors that led to the halls beyond. Now with the three other Alicorn Princesses in a tight formation behind her as she walked.

*****

      The smell of something absolutely wonderful brought Dinky's eyes open with a snap. She loved that particular smell so well that the sensation of it would have brought her out of a long coma. She snagged the covers in her mouth, and with a quick flick of her neck, ripped them away as she rolled from her bed onto the floor. The inviting aroma was like an irresistible siren's song that forced her to heed it's call. She passed right by the bathroom, even though she had to go, and trotted happily into the kitchen where she saw her mother placing a few freshly washed dishes into some cabinets.

   "There she is!" Derpy said with a long loving smile after she had placed away the last of the dishes.

   "Morning Mommy," Dinky responded while wiping a bit of sleep from her eyes, and placing herself at the table.

   "Now," Derpy said as she walked over to the small island in the middle of the kitchen. "What would you like to have for breakfast?"

   This made Dinky get a half amused smirk on her lips as she jokingly rolled her eyes. "Come on Mommy. I know what you made already. I can smell them."

   "Oh well of course you can. I spent all morning making them, and I know you will just love them." The grey Pegasus then reached down into the preparation area of the island. "I made," she paused for a few seconds, then suddenly popped up with a tray. "Steamed carrots!" There was a long pause as Derpy stood there with a gaping open mouth grin, holding the tray of carrots as if it was the best thing in the world.

   "Mommy," Dinky sighed out as the look on her face went to completely unamused.

   "Oh right, right, this isn't for breakfast," Derpy said as she quickly placed the vegetables back under the counter. "How about. Boiled radishes?" Once again she placed a cross eyed open mouthed grin on her face as she held a bowl of steaming dark red radishes.

   "Mommy!" Dinky cried out as she pounded her hooves to the table, followed quickly by her face.

   "Okay, okay," Derpy laughed out as she placed the bowl of radishes up on the counter. "I actually made," she went silent as she disappeared under the island, then popped back up holding a new tray. "Muffins!"

   "Yay muffins!" Dinky shouted as her head came up from the table, and her front legs swooped over her head. Her eyes grew with joy as her mother took one of the massive sweet smelling blueberry muffins and sat it down in front of the almost drooling filly. Before the breakfast item was even a second in front of her, Dinky had snatched it up with both hooves, and taken a large bite.

         Before Dinky could even swallow her second bite, she looked over, and saw her mother's face contort into a twisted visage of terror, while at the same time her eyes went wide, and blank all at once. She then let out a blood chilling scream as she lept forward, grabbing up Dinky, then leaping again with acrobatic prowess the small filly was unaware her mother even possessed. The two landed behind the same kitchen island from before where Derpy had set up her early morning prank. Dinky herself was now in a large amount of shock as she looked over at her mother who was almost to the point of hyperventilating. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but the voice from inside the room let her know all to well what had just happened.

   "Yeah, that is about the reaction I am used to seeing when I show up," Samael said as he rose from the chair he was sitting in.

   Dinky's eyes rolled in a complete circle as she let out a long sigh that showed both her relief of this not being a dire situation, and her annoyance of her otherworldly friend doing his appearing act again. "Sammy!" the little filly shouted as she tore herself away from her mother's grasp, and jumped out from behind their hiding place. "You can't just keep doing that! If you want to visit some pony, then you have to knock on their door."

   "Knock on the door huh?" Samael said as he looked from the little purple Pony, to the front door. "How very entertaining. I think I will try it next time." He then chuckled to himself as he thought of how interesting it would be to actually have to be invited into someone's home before coming in.

   "Umm, excuse me." Derpy said as she came slowly from behind her barricade, visibly shaking as her nerves had become an actual wreck of themselves.

   "Ah! Hello Derpy. So good to see you," Samael said with a wide smile. The odd creature in her home with the happy voice made her feel more confused now than anything. She even looked to her daughter who now appeared to have foreknowledge of this thing, and was even on a first name basis with it. Dinky just looked at her and shook her head back and forth.

   "He knows everyponies name," Dinky said as she trotted from the kitchen to the small living area to join her guest. "What do you want Sammy?"

   Samael placed himself back down in the small furniture that only accommodated him due to the fact that he was so very skinny. "Ah yes. Well,  I happen to remember that I was very impressed by your ability to figure out how I can do things without the use of magic. At least on a very small scale in any case. I was wondering if you would like to have a small chat, just you and I. As I think there a few more things you can show me."

   "Oh no, I don't think that is a very good idea at all," Derpy said as she now mustered up the courage to completely remove herself from her hiding spot, and come and place herself by her foal's side. "Dinky has school in just a little while. Plus I don't know you."

   Samael got a very odd looking grin on his face after Derpy had refused him his request. "Oh on the contrary Derpy. You know me, you know me very well to be completely honest." After he said this, Derpy couldn't help but get a very cold shiver that ran down the length of her spine. She even took a few steps closer towards Dinky, and placed her wing slightly on her child's back.

   "You're being weird again Sammy," Dinky said shaking her head back and forth. She was about to say something else, but something outside caught her eye. "Ah seriously? You have got to be kidding me!" she said as she suddenly placed herself up against a wall, then ever so slowly peaked out the window.

      "What? Who is it?" Derpy asked in a panicked voice as the stress of the day was starting to get the best of her.

   "It's Mister Nails," Dinky responded in a whispered yell while placing her front hoof up to her muzzle to silence her mother. "Quick, hide!" she commanded in the same tone as before, as she and Derpy both ran back to the island that had proven to be a great hiding place so far.

   "Mister Sammy! Please get down," Derpy said towards the man who was still sitting in the chair in the living room. Samael got a rather large confounded look on his face as he looked from the two cowering Ponies. He then rose slowly from the chair, and walked over to where they were. He knelt down to one knee behind the island before a long smile came to his lips, and he started a slow chuckle.

   "Why are you laughing?" Dinky whisper yelled at him.

   "This is just superb," Samael said as his laughter started to deepen. "Since the beginning of everything I can remember. I do not think I have actually ever hidden from any one thing ever. How very exhilarating! I can see now why so many Denizens try to hide from me during their lives, this is just too fun."

   "What's he talking about?" Derpy asked, getting a sudden shush from her daughter. There was then a loud pounding at the door, causing all three of them to jerk their heads towards the sound.

   "Derpy!" Mister Nails said as he once again gave the door a forceful knock. "I know you're in there. Open up!"

   "Jeez," Dinky sighed out. "I didn't think he would show up this early."

   "I take it you don't want to converse with this Pony?" Samael asked as he slowly peaked over the counter's edge, then ducked back down with a childlike giggle.

   "No!" Derpy almost yelled out. "Mister Nails is my landlord. He always comes early for the bits I owe him at the end of the month so he can go to the gambling house. If I don't have them, he gets really mad, and scary!" After she said this, Derpy's eyes became glossed over, and she brought the tips of her hooves to chew on as the anxiety of all the things that had happened so far this day started to threaten to break her will.

   "I see I see," Samael said as he got a look of ponder on his face. "Well, I have never owed a Denizen bits before. However, if I did, I don't think demanding them early sounds very fair. Here, let me talk to him." The two mares thought about protesting, but it was to late. Samael had already stood up, and walked halfway to the door before they could say anything. "Oh and do me a favor," he said while stopping only slightly to give his request. "Whatever you do. Do not look over that counter until I say so. I am afraid your minds just aren't prepared for what you might see."

   "Derpy Hooves you open this door right now!" Mister Nails yelled as he once more bashed his hoof up against the door with such force as it even chipped away some of the already cracking paint. He was about to once more assault the door, it however suddenly swooped open. What Nails saw there in the doorway was no pony, what he saw there he was unable to describe. He could not see into the house, there was just an ever deepening darkness that seemed to have no end. Then all at once, he found he couldn't move, he couldn't speak, and he couldn't breathe. The dark emptiness from the house suddenly shot out towards him, and it seemed all the world itself was swallowed up by it. There was no light, no sound, nothing for him to stand on. He felt as if he were being burned alive, and frozen to death at the same time, but could not scream, or run away. Even though he could see, nor feel any walls, he felt as if they were closing in on him from all sides. A crushing sensation came down on him, he felt what little air he had left in him being jerked away by a gripping terror that seized a hold of his heart, and began squeezing as hard as it could.

   "I said, can I help you?" Samael asked as he stood there in the doorway. Nails opened his eyes, and quickly looked around him in a panic. Everything was as it was before, the world was bright and cheerful, and there was no evidence of what he just experienced had even happened.

   "Uhh, I uhh, I was just," Nails stammered as the feeling of pure dread started to subside. He then looked to the strange creature addressing him. He had heard that a new type of alien had arrived in Ponyville, though he didn't ever expect to see it. "I was umm, just hoping to have a word with Derpy." He swallowed hard, as the breath in his lungs started to return to him, and he found he could breathe now with out the strained effort.

   "This about the bits?" Samael asked as he leaned up against the door frame, crossing his arms.

   "Yes, well I was just wondering if she had this months rent ready," Nails said as he continued to try to compose himself.

   "Is it due?" Samael snapped.

   "Well, I mean no not yet, but I-"

   "Then I do not believe it is owed to you yet. As a matter of fact, I don't think you ever need to come knocking on this door until you are needed, or required to do so." Samael then stepped out of the door towards Nails, making the Pony almost leap backwards. "Now go away," Samael said with a twisted grin as he leaned down to place his face very close to Nails. "The place you saw just now was but a corridor that leads into a much larger collection of wonders. I severely doubt you would want to visit it." Samael then stood up, turned around and walked back into the house, shutting the door slowly behind him.

         "Now," Samael said as he walked back over to the two mares who were still hiding besides the counter. "I do believe you said D here had to go to school?" This made Derpy cautiously raise her head up from her hiding place. She then peaked ever so slightly out the window, to see her land lord slowly shuffle away with a very odd look on his face.

   "Wow Sammy!" Dinky exclaimed as she lept from her own hiding spot, over to the tall man's side. "That was great. No pony has ever been able to make Mister Nails go away like that. What did you say to him?"

   "Oh it really wasn't what was said. Just a small exchange of ideas." Samael looked down at the tail wagging and smiling filly, and returned the smile. "School right?" he repeated while looking from Dinky over to Derpy.

   "Yes, she has to go to school," Derpy said in a soft tone, still wondering what it was that had been done to the gruff and tough stallion to make him appear so very sad as he strolled down the street.

   "Excellent, I will take her then." Samael said looking back down to Dinky who gave him a large grin.

   "Umm, I am not so sure about that," Derpy protested as she quickly looked from the window to the slender black clad man.

   "Come on Mommy!" Dinky whined out with a small hoof stamp. "It's fine. Besides, who is going to do anything with Sammy here with me?" She quickly turned and ran down the hallway back to her room. "I'll get my stuff!"

   "Well, I guess it would be nice to maybe get to work a little early," Derpy said with a voice of thought. "Sometimes I get lost going there, and it would impress everypony if I got there on time, or even early."

   "Outstanding." Samael said as he walked over to the door, and waited for the little filly to return. "It all works out for the best then. You should always take pride in the victories you gain in life Derpy. They do not happen as much as you would think they do." After he said this, Derpy got a long puzzled look on her muzzle as she tried to wonder what he meant by that phrase, or why he even said it to begin with.

   "Okay! Let's go!" Dinky shouted as she came bouncing back into the room, with her school supplies stuffed all into a plain looking saddle bag. She ran over suddenly, and gave Derpy a big kiss on the cheek, then darted back over to Samael's side, who opened the door for her.

   "After you," he said with a smile, causing the tiny Pony to dash out the door. Before stepping out himself, he looked over to the cockeyed grey Pegasus, and simply bowed his head before stepping out the door himself.

*****

      The smile Dinky was wearing as she left her home was wiped clean away as a sudden feeling of shock came racing over her. She turned once, then turned again, completely and utterly confused at her new surroundings. What was supposed to be her front porch, was now a great courtyard. It was filled with high class Ponies of all castes, all of them walking along white marble streets going about their daily lives. Her jaw then dropped suddenly as she looked up, and saw the massive white castle that stretched up to the sky along the impossibly tall mountain side. "T-t-t-t-this is. This is, is, is."

   "Canterlot," Samael said as he stepped beside her, making the purple Unicorn jump sideways in surprise of his sudden arrival. "A very pretty place to be sure. Though I have seen structures much more grand."

   "Why are we in Canterlot?" Dinky screamed as her emotion shifted suddenly from shock and awe, to sheer anger. "I am supposed to be in school! Do you have any idea how long it takes to get from Canterlot to Ponyville? Argh, I am going to be late! Miss Cheerilee is going to be mad and give me a tardy!" Samael couldn't help but laugh as he watched the panicked little Pony start pacing back and forth.

   "D, it is quite alright. I assure you, you will not be late for school. Just think of this as a small detour, nothing more." Samael then walked past several Ponies, who oddly enough to Dinky did not even acknowledge he was there at all. Considering all the ruckus he caused when he first appeared in Ponyville, she figured the elites of Pony society would cause a much larger commotion. "Come here for a moment D," he asked as he gently beckoned her over to him with a wave of his hand.

   "Why are we here Sammy?" she asked as she heeded his call, and walked over to his side, still looking from Pony to Pony. She then noticed that not only did they not notice Samael standing there, they didn't notice her there either.

   "Well, I brought you here to show me something. Just a small magic trick, something I have been wondering about for a while." He then turned from side to side, looking at different Ponies as they walked by. He smiled quickly as a passing mare caught his eye, which made him point to her. "I would like you to tell me her name."

   "Her name?" Dinky repeated as she raised an eyebrow at Samael's request. She looked to where he was pointing, and saw the mare trotting happily down the road. "I, I don't know her name Sammy. I have never even been to Canterlot before!"

   "Ah but I think you do," Samael said with a sly grin. "As a matter of fact, I bet you could tell me every Ponies name here." He then knelt down to one knee, and made a sweeping motion with his arm. "Now go ahead, try."

   "You're to silly sometimes Sammy," Dinky chuckled out. Suddenly, as she looked at the collection of Ponies before her, a strange feeling came crashing into her. "Shore Line?" she said to herself as a tan coated stallion came walking past her. She knew his name, just as Samael said she would. Even as her head started swinging back and forth, looking at everypony she could, she knew their names. It didn't matter how many there were in a group, from one to two, to a dozen or more. every one of their names were her's to know, as if she had known them her whole life. "And that's Dandelion, and Cloud Shake, and Reef!" For only a moment, she started laughing to herself, but something felt very wrong.

   "Very good D," Samael said as he raised himself back up to his feet. "You are doing very well. Just as I suspected you would."

   "This, this isn't right," Dinky said as a sense of dread came to her. "Normally Ponies feel happy when they get their special talents." After saying this, she looked over towards her own flank, which was still very much blank. "And we are supposed to get our cutie marks!" The little filly's eyes started to slowly gloss over, as the feeling of fear in her began to multiply. "I don't like this Sammy! I'm scared, and I want to leave!" Quickly she fell to her stomach on the ground, and clinched her eyes shut as her front legs came wrapping themselves around her head, covering her eyes completely.

   "Shh," Samael said as he reached down and placed a gloved hand gently to her mane. Dinky could no longer here the bustle of the active streets of Canterlot. The only sound in her folded down ears now were the songs of a few birds, as well as the school bell she knew all to well chiming in the background. She slowly opened one of her golden eyes, while gently pulling one of her hooves away to observe the scene before her.

   "We're back?" she asked as she jumped up to all fours, the feeling of panic leaving her as she took in the familiar sights.

   "Indeed we are," Samael said as he smiled down at her. "Now you will have to forgive me for the sudden fright I gave you D. It was just a small test, one you passed I might add."

   "Why did you do that Sammy?" Dinky scalded as the feeling of anger started to come back. "And what test? Why do I need to be tested? Why did I know all those Ponies names?" This made Samael clap his hands together as he let out a quick laugh, one that only seemed to make the little filly's anger grow more.

   "Now, now. There is no need for such hostilities," he said with a chuckle. "I promise I will explain everything to you very soon. But for now however, you must run along to your class."

   "Class? After all that you just want me to go to class? I want you to explain now!" she demanded in the most stern of tones her small under developed voice could muster. It did not quite have the desired effect she wanted, only making her odd friend laugh a little bit more at her.

   "In time D," Samael said as he composed himself. "And you must trust me on this, Time is something you and I are going to have a lot of here in the near future. Besides, there are some rather important Ponies on their way to see me right now, and I mustn't be late to greet them." He then made a half made shooing motion with his hand. "Now off you go, don't be late."

   For reasons unknown, Dinky did as he commanded. With not one more word, she turned on her hooves and started to walk towards the still ringing bell. She almost had to use all of her will to come to a complete stop, she found it even more difficult to even turn her head back to where he was standing. "Sammy?" she said as her head finally listened to her, but there was no one there to answer her, just an empty scene, and not even foot prints in the ground of where he was. For a moment she wanted to run off in a random direction to try and seek him out. Though once more she felt compelled to go to where she was instructed to go. After a little more thought though, the little Unicorn gave a simple shrug of her shoulders, and started to run towards her school house.

*****

      A sudden blaze of magic and color filled the small grove just outside the small town of Ponyville. Celestia wanted to make sure that her teleportation spell did not cause mass panic to the Ponies that might be near by. So the thought to arrive just a mile or two away from it's borders would be the best thing to do. Her hooves hit the ground as her spell finished causing her to look around quickly from side to side to see if there were any on lookers. Being pulled by the spell's wake, her sister Luna was next to appear, touching down, and placing herself by her elder sibling. Princess Cadance was next, who was then followed by Twilight Sparkle.

   "Forgive me for asking Princess. But why did we teleport here again? I thought it would be nice for all of us to show up in our chariots," Twilight said as she came trotting up to her teacher's side. While Celestia knew all to well the situation was dire to say the least. The casual, and rather cute complaint of her newest Alicorn ally made a small smile come to her muzzle.

   "Oh! Getting used to being hauled around by cute Pegasus stallions eh Twilight?" Cadance teased as she playfully bumped twilight's side with her wing.

   "No, no! You have it all wrong!" Twilight protested with a bit of shock in her voice, as well as an unseen blush forming under her lavender coat. "It's just if there is a dangerous enemy about. They might become frightened to see all four Alicorn Princesses come riding in on their royal guard drawn chariots. I mean, I know I sure would."

   "It would be a good plan my student," Celestia said without looking at the youngest Princess as she spoke. "Though I do not think this enemy would be persuaded by such theatrics as a gaudy show of power."

   "And you would be right," Samael said as he stepped out from behind a tree; a tree that was much smaller, and skinnier than even himself. The sudden appearance, and the nonchalant words of the newest member of the conversation made all four of the Ponies leap to face the thing that was addressing them. Celestia was the first to step forwards, placing herself in front of the rest, as her sister came dashing to her side, both of them lowering their heads, and pointing their horns directly at the bipedal visitor. Samael simply raised his gloved hands, and placed a friendly smile on his thin lips. "Now now. There is no need to get all worked up."

   "W-what is that?" Candance asked as she went wide eyed while recoiling her head upwards.

   "What ever it looks like. Just know that is not what it is!" Luna shouted back at her shocked friend.

   "A Changeling?" Twilight gasped out, making her get into her own offensive stance. Already accepting the fact that this creature was one of those black exoskeleton wearing mimics that had caused her, and her friends so much grief in the past.

   "Changeling, 'it,' " Samael repeated with a snide snort through his nose. "These are words you use to describe an enemy, or a great threat. Be very aware, I am none of these things."

   "That is yet to be seen," Celestia said in a calm, yet very menacing tone. "Who, and what are you? And what are you doing here?" the great white Alicorn demanded, putting an accent on her words with a hard hoof stomp to the ground, and a sudden flare of magic from her horn.

   Samael just placed his hands in his coat pockets, and lifted himself up on to his toes, then back down again. "What am I doing here? Hmm, well without going into much detail, I guess I could say I am here to find an assistant of sorts. It seems that my old one has reached his limits, and needs to be retired. Now, as to who, and what I am," he paused for a moment as a long, almost devilish grin came to him. "Well you know that already. You knew that the second you saw me. These other Denizens they know, but they don't. But you, you know all to well. Don't you, Celestia?"

   "Get out of my world you wretched spirit!" Celestia shouted, making Cadance, Twilight, and even Luna give her an odd look from the sudden outburst. "I am not a violent mare. But if you think for one moment I will let you bring harm to even a single one of my subjects. I will-"

   "What?" Samael interrupted with a laugh. "What will you do little Godling? Strike me down with your powerful magic? Do not make idle threats Celestia, it is unbecoming of a person of your wisdom. I appeared here before you as a simple formality, nothing more, a way to be polite you might say." He then remembered something that Dinky said to him earlier, something that made his smile grow. "I knocked on the door."

   "How dare you speak to the Princess like that!" Twilight yelled as she now pulled on the courage Celestia was showing, and rushed up to her side with a snarling snout. This caused Celestia to try to protest her young student getting involved this early, but it was her sister that decided to escalate the situation.

   "Whatever door you knocked on. You were not welcomed in, and I think it is time you leave!" Luna shouted as her eyes turned a glowing pure white, and her horn ignited with the color of her magic. In a blurred burst, many dark glowing chains sprung forth from the Moon Goddess's horn, they swept towards Samael in a blinding rush. Samael did nothing to react to the Alicorn's aggression, only standing there as the magically conjured chains encased him in a mere second. Luna then raised up on her hind hooves, and jerked her head backwards, a motion that caused the chains to tighten the cocoon before ripping back through the air to her horn where they vanished.

   "You got him!" Cadance celebrated as she looked in awe at her peers magical prowess.

   "Yeah! Way to go Princess Luna! That showed him." Twilight added as she came up on her hind legs, while kicking her front ones back and forth.

   "Indeed," Samael said as he stood right beside Twilight, clapping his hands together to share in Cadance, and Twilight's joy. "That was most impressive Luna. I mean for a small little Godling such as yourself." This caused all four Alicorns to slowly turn their heads towards Samael, their faces contorted into dread as the complete ineffectiveness of Luna's powerful attack was taken in a pure jokingly manner. Twilight let out an ear shattering scream as she physically came up off the ground in fright. Moving with just a single wing flap to join her still at the ready mentor. "Now, as I was saying," he started to say, though Celestia at this point had lost her temper.

   "You cannot have any of my subjects!" The Sun Goddess cried out as her horn became a sparkling array of energy. She lifted herself up for only a moment, before stamping her hooves to the ground, as an actual heat inducing beam of unknown magical power erupted from her horn. The blast was so intense, that even the other Alicorns had to avert their eyes from the sudden blast of alabaster light. It screamed through the air, scorching the very ground beneath it. Samael once more just stood there, relaxed, and unmoved by the display of otherworldly magics. Though once the divine born bolt was about to strike him, he just lifted his hand, and the Goddess's power was halted in mid air. An act that made all the Princesses jaws drop from the complete lack of strain on his part to perform such a feat.

   "Now," Samael said once more, this time with a slight hint of irritation in his voice from being interrupted. "As I was saying. I knocked on the door, I let myself in. It may have been rude of me to do so, but I was hoping I would be treated as a guest. I can see now that will not be the case." With a small gesture of his hand, the magical attack that would have more than likely turned a mountain into a pile of rubble was whisked away like a small buzzing insect, making each of the Ponies gasp at the action. "I have no intention of causing your subjects harm my dear Princesses. Though if I did, there would be nothing you could do to circumvent it." With his middle finger, Samael pushed up the glasses that had slid down to his nose, as he took in a long inhale. "My turn," he said in a deep calm voice. Then just as soon as he finished speaking, he simply cocked his head to one side, and all four Alicorns were gone, as if they were never there to begin with.

*****

      Each Princess looked around the throne room where they all now stood with looks ranging from fright, to out right anger. Celestia herself even letting out a teeth clenching groan of frustration at her adversaries ability to dispatch not only her, but her three cohorts as well. She couldn't even feel the magic he used to place them all the way back here in Canterlot. There was no sound, no lights, not even a small build up that even she had to do to some extent. He just willed them to be here, and this is where they were. "Is everypony alright?" the white Alicorn asked as she turned around with a sigh, content at least in the knowledge that all of her friends were here with her.

   "I am well sister. If not just a bit put off," Luna said as she looked down to the ground while kicking at the stone flooring.

   "Me too," Cadance added as she blew her bangs out from her face, then slumped down onto her haunches in a defeated fashion.

   "Such power," Twilight mumbled out more to herself than anything. "Princess Celestia, please, you must tell me. What was that thing we just witnessed? How was he able to do the things he did?" Celestia let out an aggravated sigh as she did want to bring her two youngest Alicorns this deep into their status so quickly. She had seen both Twilight, and Cadance grow so much here in just a few years. Dealing with the Changeling Queen, King Sombra, even her own sister. She did not want them to know just yet however, that there were things out there far more powerful than they could even begin to imagine. "Princess," Twilight said with a soft voice. "Please, I must know."

   "Death," Celestia said with a whimpering tone. Causing both Twilight, and Cadance's color to almost melt off of their coats. "That was Death Twilight. It is a force I have never met, only told about in stories, and legend. I was always told that it could not intervene directly like it has today. I am guessing the stories are wrong now. But I do know this: whatever it is it wants here, there is nothing we can do about it now."

   "Well, I wouldn't be to sure about that." A sudden, and unrecognizable voice said from one side of the room.

   "By the Moon!" Luna shouted as she was the first to see where the voice was coming from. Her reaction caused the other Alicorns to spin on their hooves, and look to where Luna's wide eyed gaze was locked. What they all saw was a tall, very skinny yet muscular stallion. Who was sitting right in Celestia's throne. His mane and tail were a matted up solid black, while his coat was a dirty grey, with a random assortment of white speckles, making him look like a moving piece of marble. It was his eyes however that made each of them feel the most uneasy. A pair of sunk in sickly pale green irises that seemed to have a kind of dull illumination behind them.

   "Who are you?" Celestia demanded as she once more took a horn pointing offensive stance towards the intruder who was just lounging in her golden throne as if it were his own.

   "Who me?" the stallion said as he placed one of his cracked black hooves up to his chest. "I am the stallion that is going to help you get rid of your little reaper problem. My name is Pestilence. And as of right now my dear little Princesses, I am your very best friend." With that, the stallion threw his head back, and started to let out a long, malicious, and spine chilling laugh that echoed throughout each room and hall in the castle and beyond. Making all those that heard it start to quiver in despair as all their worst thoughts and fears came rushing to the forefronts of their minds.