The Mane Twelve

by PonyDesigner

Rating: teen
Tags: Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna, Original Character, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad
Length: 17216

Six more Elements of Harmony with a hidden story behind them

Luna's sudden abduction by the ponies of the Apocalypse cause a series of events that eventually make Equestria fall into chaos and under the rule of the New Chaos Republic. The new ruler, Nightmare Chaos, has intentions that are shrouded in mystery.

The Main Six attempt to get Equestria back with the help of survivors. As the events unfold, six new Elements are revealed. Where did they come from? And why did they appear now?

(The events take place after the end of Season 2 and before the beginning of Season 3. )

Published 2013-08-05 17:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-24 17:41:23 UTC

Chapter 1 - The Rebirth

The Mane Twelve Chapter I - The Rebirth

Darkness. Pitch black. The only thing Luna can see as she is dragged on the cold ground. How did this happen...? Luna's mind had gone almost blank, this question being the single thought in her head now. During the cold, dark hours of the night, Luna had no idea she would get kidnapped. She has raised the moon peacefully for so many nights. Why did it change this one night? What did they want? Ransom? The throne? Luna was not sure. But she knew that Celestia would find her. She was certain that she would do anything to find her. Tia...

Magic. Try and break free. Luna tried to open her eyes, to make her horn glow, to leave in a flash of light. Her powers... it's like they're not there to aid her. Teleportation, telekinesis to stun the abductor... it was all worthless. Nothing worked...

Her body wasn't rubbed against the floor. They had stopped. Luna felt the touch of the pony go and she fell to the floor, the knock on the head throwing her unconscious. It seemed like hours after she had woken up. Her head felt like a million tons. She slowly opened her eyes. She wasn't blinded by the glow of the sunlight. Instead, the room welcomed her with its darkness, the only light source being the rays of the moon showering her from a crack on the ceiling, just above her. A figure from the darkness slowly approached Luna and looked at her with an empty look. He came closer, her head being a breath away from hers. His wide open eyes stared at hers.

"F...Fo...Food..." he roughly spoke, struggling to form the word.

His appearance was devastating to look at. His eye color was blank, dark and he seemed restless, as though he had never slept. There was a stitch that ran down his right eye. His horn has cracks on its surface. It looked like it would snap. His skin was ruined. There were cuts all over him and chunks of his own flesh were missing. His wings were also missing almost all of their feather. His coat was painted in the green of the sickness, and it was covered in dirt. He raised his hoof to reveal that it was no longer covered in skin. Instead, his bone had revealed itself, baby maggots crawling on it. He slowly patted Luna's head. His lips stretched to the back, forming a weird grin. Luna froze. Her body felt numb. She wanted to run away but she just couldn't. As if she was bound to the floor with an extremely powerful spell.

"Our lord... is so tiny..." Luna could feel his deep breath.

"Famine! Stay away from the mare." A voice coming from the dark slightly yelled at the stallion.

Famine turned around and looked at the darkness. Luna could see his mouth shaking. Did he fear the voice? He turned back to look at Luna. He looked at her with wide open eyes and a half-open mouth. He gently bowed, his expression not changing at all, and slowly moved away from her, just like he had approached her. The mysterious male voice stepped away from the shadows and into the light of the moon. The stallion was a white Alicorn with a slightly long, shiny, golden mane. On top and around his head, he wore a golden olive branch. His body was dressed in a silky, light grey tunic. He had a calm expression and looked at Luna, his dark blue eyes gazing at her with respect. An Alicorn such as him, Luna wondered, what is he doing here...? The stallion walked towards her and bowed before her.

"My lord," he said with no hesitation. "Welcome back..."

"T-This is some sort of misunderstanding. I am not a lord. I'm Princess Luna..." Luna didn't hesitate to speak to him. He sounded sincere. If he was who he seemed to be, he would respect her words.

"I'd like to beg the differ my lord." said the Alicorn, his head still bowed.

"You heard her Pestilence," a rough voice almost yelled at him.

The Alicorn, Pestilence, raised his head and gave Luna a warm smile. Luna quietly gasped. He gently bowed his head one more time and turned around to face the stallion.

"War, show some respect towards your master." he replied, remaining calm.

"Face the facts Pestilence, she's not our lord yet. She's just a fragment of the Fallen God...!" The stallion stomped his hooves and walked close to him.

The third Alicorn, War, was an extremely buffed stallion, with a crimson red coat, like the blood tat surged in his veins. His mane was the color of the raging fire, full of bright red and yellow. His eye glew with the same color as hot air exited his nostrils. His chest and hooves were covered with golden armor and a huge, double sided axe flew and swirled behind him, covered in gold aura.

"I have faced the facts, my dear War, yet I have the decency to at least show the slightest of respect to our lord, even in this fragile form." He gave him a weak smile. War breathed heavier, more hot air coming out of his nose.

Famine, War, Pestilence. These names were beginning to sound familiar in her head. Luna could not explain it, but, even though she had never seen them, she could feel a sense of familiarity around them. Those weren't ordinary Alicorns. She looked at them, now with slight shock.

"Y-you..." Her mouth was shaking. She tried to speak but she couldn't find the words.

"It's no use remembering little filly." said a forth voice, "One who has been separated from the True One cannot just return to his memories and journey through them, as, like a mirror, he is just a crack."

The final Alicorn revealed himself. A pony with a pitch black coat, like the darkness Luna feared so much. His face was hidden behind a blank mask, with only two eye holes. Behind them, a pair of glowing golden eyes, piercing through Luna's skin. A creature shrouded in a long, withered cloak, with no clue what's really hidden behind.

"D-Death..." Luna felt petrified, even to say his name.

The three Alicorns looked at Death. He walked towards them and looked at Luna, his golden eyes staring right into her soul.

"Death..." They repeated his name

Death looked at each of them individually. Famine lowered his head. War's lips formed a wide, menacing grin. Pestilence gently bowed. Death focused his sight on Luna again. The light of the moon made his long, grey mane shine.

"I am glad to see you again... my sister."

Luna looked at him in shock. This monster... her brother? Impossible. A creature so malevolent like the divine and endless Death, related to Luna? Why didn't Celestia ever talk about him...?

"I am disappointed. A simple form as you might be, you could still know of the bond that every Alicorn shares with the whole."

Death summoned an enormous and powerful scythe, extremely sharp in the edges. It was slightly damaged and a little rusty from all the ages it was used to rip the souls off of innocent ponies. He looked at it, his image reflecting on the metallic surface. He looked at Luna. He pointed it at Luna, then swung it down on her. Luna shut her eyes. She slowly opened them to find that she hadn't died. Instead, she was free. She wasn't bound anymore. She could feel the grip of her hooves touching the ground.

"You are a part of the grand turn of events." said Death. "Come," he continued, "let us talk in private." he concluded and turned around. He started walking towards the darkness.

Luna stayed still for a while and looked fade into the darkness. She then faced the other three. Death's hooves stopped, yet he didn't turn around.

"Your purpose is waiting..."

"Y-Yes." She replied hesitantly and ran towards him, yet still keeping a small distance between her and the Alicorn.

As they walked down the corridor, there was complete silence. All that could be heard was the weak sound of the wind. Luna felt herself shivering. It was Death's aura. Luna had a gift when it came to recognizing auras in ponies, their Magic Energy surging out of their bodies, defying them. Death's however. It felt both strange and unusual but so familiar and friendly at the same time, like he really was related to her. And she felt the same wit the other three Alicorns. That confused Luna. The two Alicorns walked outside. The land was covered in sand. The weak winds that Luna heard were huge sandstorms surging around them. Luna gazed at the distance. Two creatures suddenly popped out of the sand. Their appearance was like that of a pony's. One of them opened their mouth and revealed sharp fangs. It let out a shriek that echoed through the land. A scream was heard from the opposite direction. Multiple ones could be heard now. Luna looked from left to right.

"W-Where are we Death...?" She looked at him.

"Our existence in this Land of Demise is rather... temporary, as one who has reached above the rest leaves and never comes back." he replied

The two ponies kept walking through the sandy plains. Luna could still hear the grunts of the creatures as they attacked each other, struggling to kill one another. After what seemed like hours of walking, they had reached a crystal clear lake, with not even a grail of sand on its surface. Luna stepped forward, close to the lake. She turned her head and looked at Death. He seemed to be looking at the creatures.

"We are fascinating creatures... Alicorns." Death stopped and grabbed a pile of sand with his hoof. "Divine creatures with no sense of belonging..." He let the sand go. It flew away from him. "It's only natural that they choose to follow the flow of events when they leave their origins."

He noticed Luna looking at herself in the waters. She didn't pay attention to anything that hapenned around her. Death approached the lake as well.

"Ah," he said slightly excited now. "The Lake of Confrontation... What is it that you see in its reflection...?"

"I just see... Luna." The Princess of the Night calmly replied.

Death raised his hoof forward and above the water. His hoof begun peeling the skin and the crimson liquid started dripping, slowly falling into the lake. The water lost its color and went black, like muck. His hoof regrew its skin as Death lowered it and hid it behind his cloak.

"Now you can gaze upon your true self and face the truth behind the real Lord of the Night."

Luna looked at her reflection as it slowly shifted into a different creature. It was completely dark creature. It grew fangs and claws and its now bright red eyes looked at Luna like she was its worst enemy. Luna looked away, closing her eyes.

"Looking somewhere else than your true destiny only makes you angrier, it only develops the darkness and hate towards yourself."

Luna hoped that it was all a hallucination. She turned around to gaze at her reflection again but no sooner had she turned than the beast came out of the lake and pulled her inside. Luna could hardly breathe, struggling to see inside the dark waters of the lake.

...Luna...
...Free me...

It was a voice. It was a feminine one. Luna turned around and around, desperately trying to locate the mare, but she couldn't see anything. The lake suddenly glew bright and white, faceless ponies appeared all around her.

"It's her! Nightmare Moon!" One of the ponies yelled.

The ponies started talking all together.

"It's all your fault!"

"How could you!"

"She was just a filly!"

"Monster!"

Luna couldn't stand all the accusations. She shut her ears and closed her eyes, yet she could still hear them. All her guilt made her lose her breath even faster. Her heart was beating like the crazy. The voices were still echoing in her ears. Luna shook her head, tried to deny everything. No, I'm not a monster! She was going to die. Like this? Being accused by crimes she didn't commit? Please, stop. I didn't do anything! "What did I do...?" Luna whispered to herself. The ponies didn't stop. Stop! Stop!

LEAVE ME ALONE!

Magic Energy started surging out from Luna's body. The dark blue aura transformed into dark Alicorns.

STAY AWAY FROM ME!

Their mouthes opened, revealing huge fangs. They swam with great speed, assaulting the glowing ponies, sending them back to the abyss of the lake. Luna opened her eyes but they weren't the same anymore. The once calm, gentle blue eyes were now filled with hate, with darkness.

Death had sat down, near the lake, next to a dry and old tree, that seemed to have been chopped down by time and the terribly strong sandstorms. He looked at the lake one more time. He saw a hoof ascending from the depths. It was Luna. She was coming out. As she rose, Death gave out a grin from behind his mask.

"It's pleasant to have you back...Queen of the Darkness, Nightmare Moon."

Nightmare Moon had risen once again from her ashes. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony, she was once again alive, with flesh and blood. Death's grin got even wider. Nightmare Moon's appearance seemed more sinister than her past. Her coat was darker, the darkest it could get, with eyes full of resentment, the look of a dragon carved on them. Her armor, shining like the moon itself, was crafted from hardcore Obsidian, with spikes coming out of it. Her mane contained the stars, swimming in a pool of blue aura.

"It is indeed stimulating to be back." said Nightmare Moon with an arrogant smile.

"Come Nightmare Moon. Your part is about to commence..."

Nightmare Moon nodded. The two Alicorns started walking into the dessert. As they were strolling, they looked around, at the mindless creatures staring at them, unable to touch them.

"Once an Alicorn decides to leave everything behind, it's only natural that he is not a part of this world anymore." Death stopped walking. He gazed upon the moon and his golden eyes shined from behind his mask. He looked down, at Nightmare Moon again "It is time for your part..."

"What is it that you mean brother?" said Nightmare Moon, looking at Death with wonder.

Nightmare Moon suddenly felt her heart beating faster. In a matter of seconds, it ceased beating. She grabbed her chest and coughed, struggling to keep herself up. She could hardly breathe. Her hooves gave up on her as she collapsed on the sand.

"Neglect your past and accept your future. For then, the Truth can finally show its face on this world." Said Death to Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon couldn't stand the pain. She fainted.

Nightmare Moon found herself inside a big room, but it was empty. Its color was bright blue, like her night. Squinting her eyes, trying to see till the end of the room, she could see another pony looking at her. Nightmare Moon started walking towards the mysterious pony. As she approached it, she started to realize her location and the pony that had joined her. The pony was Luna, Princess of the Night. The mare pointed her hoof on a random spot and a table flashed out of nowhere with three chairs.

"Sit Nightmare Moon. We need to speak."

"I don't make negotiations with inferiors." said Nightmare Moon arrogantly.

"Hm." Luna sat on one of the chairs. "You took over me again."

Nightmare Moon looked at Luna with a look of superiority. She grinned.

"I am stronger and way more clever than you, mare. What makes you think I'm not powerful?"

Luna smiled as she looked at the ground and turned around.

"From this here location, you came out, and I came in. You were watching me all this time. From inside..."

Nightmare Moon looked at her with curiosity.

"What are you implying...?"

Luna looked at Nightmare Moon. Her look was calm. Nightmare Moon's, on the other hand, was serious, focused on Luna. Luna looked at the third chair. "Did you wonder why there are three chairs here...?" Nightmare Moon didn't seem to care. Her look was still focused on Luna. "You took a seat when I got up. And now that I sat down, you got up. So... why are we both sitting now...?"

Nightmare Moon raised her eyebrow. Her eyes suddenly opened wide. "T-then...!"

"The Lord of the Night... It's neither one of us..."

"Liar!" Nightmare Moon stomped her hooves on the table. "You jest. I am the true ruler of Equestria!"

Nightmare Moon felt a cold aura behind her. She hesitated to look. Only one pony could have such an aura. She gulped. Death walked away from Nightmare Moon and close to Luna. The Princess of the Night kept looking at Nightmare Moon. Death put his hoof onto Luna's soldier. The mare begun glowing, her whole body slowly fading into dark blue sparkles. Nightmare Moon looked in shock at the sight.

"You served your part, Shroud." Said Death to Nightmare Moon. "Now it's time for the Pure to be resurrected..."

Luna gave Nightmare Moon a weak smile. Nightmare Moon was taken aback.

"Goodbye, Nightmare Moon..." Luna faded into a flood of dark blue sparkles.

"N-No!" Nightmare Moon stomped her hooves and got up, pushing her chair back. With just a blink, Death had vanished.

Don't leave me here!

Nightmare Moon looked around, desperately trying to find Death, or Luna, or anypony. She could only feel the cold of the dark blue sky.

I...

I'll get out!

Nightmare Moon pushed the table aside and stomped her hooves on the floor. Her eyes glew with anger and she gritted her fangs.

I will find power!

And then I'll find you!

Death...!

Death!

Nightmare Moon's eyes opened wide. She was back to the World of Demise. She got up. Death was sitting at the sand and watched two newborn Alicorns eat themselves. He was silent. The edge of his scythe was sunk in the sand and his mask was hanging on it, at the end of the blade.

"Death..." Nightmare Moon whispered.

Death raised his head. He took his mask, put it on and turned around.

"You are... complete now. Seraphim has been reborn... Gaze upon the one thing that you're bound to... and you will be indeed... complete..."

Nightmare Moon said nothing. Instead, she realized that actions spoke louder than words. She raised her head and looked at the moon. An image suddenly flashed inside her head repeatedly. It... it wasn't clear. Nightmare Moon couldn't make out what it was. Her vision blurred and her body started aching. Her eyes blackened and her skin turned shiny black, with her mane turning dark blue as her fangs grew slightly bigger in size. She could hardly speak. Her movements were uncontrollable. Death gazed at her transformation as he slowly got up and picked his scythe. The new Alicorn lied on the sand with eyes closed.

"Welcome to the world of existence, Nightmare Chaos."

The creature opened its eyes, revealing a pitch black color and raised itself. It focused its sight on Death.

"D-De-Death..." The Alicorn spoke.

"Save your words Nightmare Chaos" Said Death. "Let us walk back. My brothers need to be informed of your creation."

They begun walking back to the facility they came from. Nightmare Chaos slowly followed Death, with a skeptical look on his face. As they entered, back into the room where they came from, the three other Alicorns looked at the stallion.

"Ah, my lord. You are, once again, back." said Pestilence and bowed.

The vile creature gazed at him and its dark eyes pierced his soul. Pestilence stepped back. War kept quiet and stood in detention. Famine lied down and looked at his new ruler, keeping his mouth shut, afraid not to cause any more damage to himself.

"My brothers, my Ponies of the Apocalypse, hear me." said the creature, now being able to talk, "I have seen the future, and it's in our favor. The New Chaos Republic will be brought back to life, as I was. Prepare yourselves for a journey to Equestria. Pestilence. War. Famine. And Death..."

Pestilence nodded and gently bowed before him again. War gave out a huge grin and Famine seemed quite excited now, forming another awkward grin. Death didn't speak.

Author's Note

First Chapter of the story. Constructive criticism is accepted. This is actually a re-written version of the original 1st Chapter, so I took the opportunity and fixed it in terms of grammatical errors. I also added more detail to the descriptions and plot, so at to make it smoother for the next chapters to come.

Chapter 2 - The Arrival

The Mane Twelve Chapter 2 - The Arrival

Ponyville.

A town full of lively ponies, chatting and laughing as they stroll along on its streets. Its size may be small and the population may not be vast, but that's why everypony thinks they are all a big, happy family. Every day, ponies shop at local stores with fresh-baked goods. Quill Soul walked amongst the small groups of ponies, looking left and right while describing it all in her head. Practice makes perfect. she thought to herself. Quill Soul was just an ordinary Unicorn, like the rest, with a dark blue coat and a short mane, split into two colors, the left being bright silver and the right being pitch black. A pair of glasses balanced themselves on her nose.

Having graduated from university a couple years back, Quill Soul was an aspiring artist, searching ponies willing to publish her novels. Her searches led her to a publisher in Baltimare. However, the journey was too long for her. In between, she rented an room in a Ponyville inn where she'd stay for a couple of days and then be on her way. She liked Ponyville. It was quiet. It was simple and it may just be the last peace and quiet she will get before the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Quill Soul trotted along, a note shrouded in silver magic flying around her. It had an address written on it. She looked around, trying to spot the inn. Where is it...? Quill Soul's forehead begun sweating. Oh. Quill Soul wiped her forehead. Now's not the time to get stressed. You'll find it...

As she refreshed her thoughts and shook her head, a pink pony appeared out of nowhere and greeted her with confetti.

"Hi!" Quill Soul was startled, almost tripping backwards. "I'm Pinkie Pie! Are you new here? Haven't seen you before so you must be."

"Um...no, I'm not from here." Quill Soul replied, not making any eye contact. She walked past her in an attempt to ignore her.

If it was one thing about Quill Soul's personality that troubled her the most, it was her lack of social skills. She couldn't help it though. She kept silent and looked down, now only trying to make Pinkie Pie leave her alone. That did not stop the pink mare. With small hops, she followed the Unicorn.

"Soooooooooooo... who are you?" Pinkie asked, breaking the awkward silence that had surrounded them.

Quill Soul's mind froze. She tried to tell her to leave her alone but she couldn't. The words wouldn't come out. She ignored her. But Pinkie Pie didn't give up. She begun rambling, talking about...all sorts of things. From her friends, to her pet Gummy, to how chocolate chip cookies are way more delicious with whipped cream. All in a very fast and pitchy voice. Quill Soul begun to feel dizzy. She gulped and her horn begun glowing, vanishing in a bright flash. Pinkie kept hopping and talking without realizing Quill Soul was gone.

Quill Soul was thrown out of the flash, colliding on a wall. Well, that was foolish of you Quill Soul. she thought as she soothed the back of her head with her mane. That knock hurt a lot but it was nothing she couldn't get over. She got up and looked at her surroundings. It was a narrow alley, with almost no source of light other than the ends of it. As she turned her head to the left, she stood in awe. The wall had a graffiti of a yellow Pegasus, with long wavy mane, big blue eyes and a shy smile. It was beautiful to look at. This is magnificent... Quill Soul was left with her mouth half-open.

She heard a pony grunting behind her. She was taken aback. She quickly turned around to find a Pegasus lying on the ground, feeling his head. The stallion was a little smaller than her in size. He had a white coat and a short, messy mane with a touch of orange. He got up as soon as he had pulled himself together. He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of bright, red colored pupils.

"W-What are you doing here?" the stallion asked with a suspicious look. "This is my alley. You're not allowed here." He picked up his spray can and shook it. It was empty. He tossed it aside.

"I-I'm sorry," Quill Soul's voice was shaking. The stallion must have been the artist responsible for this and she might have just interrupted him in a critical moment. "I-I just-"

"Please leave." He searched through some paper boxes. "You're forgiven. Just go." Quill Soul gulped and turned around, slowly walking away. "Oy." He heard the stallion's voice again and turned her head. "Don't tell anypony about this." He red eyes transmitted a seriousness.

Quill Soul quickly nodded and trotted out of the alley. She was shaking like crazy. She heard the stallion letting out a sigh, accompanied by the sound of spray paint. Quill Soul opened her mouth, ready to apologize once more. Her fear of offending him kept her back and in the end, she just kept walking. She felt a little relieved to have discovered another pony possessing the same talent as her. A creative one. she thought. But obviously way better than me...

After stopping for a sip, the search went on. Quill Soul felt like she had crossed all of Ponyville, but the result warmed her heart. She had finally found the inn. She unlocked the door with the key she received and stepped inside. Everything seemed fine. It had all the amenities but it didn't overdo it. It was small and comfortable. A-ok. Quill Soul put her bag on the counter of the small kitchen and headed to the bed. She removed her small, black vest, put her match in the pocket and let it aside. After taking off her glasses and resting them on the bedside table, she covered herself under the bedsheets of her new bed.

Sleep just wouldn't come for Quill Soul. The Unicorn kept turning from side to side. Nothing worked. She got up from her bed and attempted to warm up some milk on a pot. Not only did she burn her hoof, but the milk didn't help either. She sighed at her failure and sat on her bed. She gazed outside of her window, at the stars. The shined on the dark sky.

"Can't sleep...?" Quill Soul heard a stallion's voice behind her.

"It's not that, Dark Equun..." Quill Soul replied without turning around to face him.

It would appear as if Dark Equun had appeared from thin air. Both the door and the windows were locked, yet he was still there.

"How are you feeling?" Dark Equun asked her.

"Fine. Just peachy..." Quill Soul let out a sigh.

"Yeah. Me too..."

Quill Soul turned around and looked at Dark Equun with an ironic look. "Liar." She playfully stuck her tounge out at him.

"I could say the same thing for you."

Dark Equun was an Alicorn with a pitch black coat and a manestyle just like Quill Soul's, but only its bright silver color. His face was covered by a pale white mask that had a red tattoo below its left eyehole. Two glowing sparkles could be seen behind the holes. His body was covered in a dark cloak, with sleeves running down his front hooves and stopping at big, silver bracelets. He was almost identical to her, if not for the colors and the attire. That similarity between them was a mystery to Quill Soul. Even his origins are unknown to her. Ever since she could remember, Dark Equun was there, beside her. He was quite a mysterious pony, appearing and disappearing at the weirdest of times.

There was silence between the two ponies after his last reply. Quill Soul opened her mouth.

"Dark...?"

"Mh?"

"Do you think I'm... useless...?"

Dark Equun looked at her, staying silent. His glowing eyes were thinner. Their glow wasn't as strong, as if he was worried. He sat next to her and comforted her under his cloak.

"Quill Soul... I am you. If I wasn't, I wouldn't think or feel as if I were you. And the same goes for you."

Quill Soul stayed silent, looking down now. Dark Equun continued. "I don't feel useless. And if it's one thing you're not, and will never be, it's useless. You're not like the rest of these ponies. You are something better. You are unique."

Quill Soul raised her head and looked at his eyes, as they slowly gained their glow back. "Wanna know why?" The Unicorn slowly nodded. "'Cause you possess a gift like no other." Dark Equun raised his hoof and gently poked her forehead. "It's creativity."

Quill Soul looked at Dark Equun. "Creativity..." she whispered.

"Yes." He nodded. "I've seen you draw and write and think like no other pony. And I admit that with no thought. Out of all the ponies in Equestria, it's you that shines the most in this section."

Quill Soul nodded as she slowly fell on Dark Equun. The Alicorn lied back on the bed, holding the mare on his hooves.

"Thank you, Dark..." She whispered to him as she relaxed.

Dark Equun removed his mask and his lips stretched back, forming a weak smile. "Remember Quilly. You only have to believe..." His body was shrouded by dark sparkles. His figure slowly vanished and let Quill Soul sleep.

On the other side of Ponyville, during that cold yet beautiful night, a shadow appeared out of the depths of the Everfree Forest. A buffed stallion, a Pegasus, with a dark grey coat and dark mane, a calm look carved on his face.

"It looks so different, from back then... She must be too..." He whispered to himself. He walked down the hill. "Only a few towns away..."

As he entered Ponyville, he grunted as he felt an aching pain on his hooves. The walking has tired him. Luckily for him, there was a late-night cafe exactly where he had stopped. He wasn't sure whether to enter or not. He looked from a short distance, behind the glass. It was like he was a complete stranger, trespassing territory.

"It's still here..." He was talking to himself again. The keeper was cleaning a few cups when he noticed the stallion. He walked towards the door and opened it, looking at the stallion with a friendly look.

"Come on in son. It doesn't bite."

The stallion stayed still for a while. After a positive nod, he followed him inside and rested on a chair. He let out a sigh of relief as he rubbed his hooves together. The keeper approached him with a little notebook.

"So, whatcha want son?"

The Pegasus had a sceptikal look on his face. He raised his head and looked at the pony. The owner gave him a friendly hint by waving the notebook. The stallion nodded.

"Just... water, please."

The owner walked back to the counter and fetched him his beverage.

"I say, you must be new here. What's your name boy?"

"It's Heartfire, sir. Heartfire Burn."

The stallion welcomed him with a nod and headed to clean some more dishes. "The water's on the house. Welcome, Heartfire Burn."

Heartfire sipped some water and rested his head on his hoof. Other than him, there was one other pony in the cafe with him. It was a Unicorn, a mare with a bright, white coat and long, silver mane, with a braid on the side. She stayed quiet and enjoyed her cup of warm chocolate. Like Heartfire, she seemed like she was thinking of something. She took a moment of her time to put the cup down and look at Heartfire. He, on the other hand, just stayed in complete silence, lost in his thoughts. The mare got up from her seat and lifted her cup with her magic. She walked towards Heartfire's table.

"Is it free?" she asked for the other seat politely.

"Mh?" Heartfire had only noticed the Unicorn just now. Her radiant appearance surprised him. She's... beautiful... Heartfire thought to himself.

"Yeah... it is." He replied and took another small sip of his water.

The mare gave him a sunny smile and took a seat,resting her cup on the table. Heartfire concentrated on this thoughts. It wasn't as if he was ignoring her though. Thyme looked at him. Something was bothering him.

"What's your name?" The mare asked in an attempt to break the ice. "I'm Thyme." She introduced herself and showed him her hoof, waiting to shake hooves with him.

Heartfire looked at her and then looked at her hoof. He didn't seem to understand the gesture. Thyme put her hoof down and giggled.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk."

"Oh no, it's not that, it's just... I have a lot in my mind right now." He finished his water with one swig and let a sigh of relief. "I actually feel like having a chat with a stranger right now to be honest." he finished with a weak smile.

Both ponies chuckled.

"I'm Heartfire. Heartfire Burn."

Thyme smiled at him. The two ponies began talking to each other about. They got to know each other with a lot of details. They had more in common than they thought. They were both from a far away land, and both left to find something that completed them. Their conversation and laughs seemed like they would never stop as the night passed. The owner looked at them and cracked a smile.

"Love is in the air tonight in Ponyville." He looked at his reflection on the recently cleaned glass.

On the other side of town, that exact hour, the lights of a house a still lit. Two Unicorns sit and stare at a design. They look at it over and over again.

"It just... this isn't right..." said one of them. The mare had a light pink coat and long, curly white mane.

"I think it looks fine..." The other pony shrugged. That one was almost identical to the previous one, but her colors were the first one's negative. She had a crimson red coat and a long, dark mane.

"No... something is off. I think it needs more bowties Oscura." She slowly gasped. "That's it!"

The crimson red Unicorn sighed miserably. "I only feel bow-tired, Dolce."

"Aw come on, it's not that boring! And besides. Who doesn't love some sibling quality time?" Dolce snuggled Oscura's cheek with hers.

Oscura sighed. "If it weren't you, I would have jumped out of the window just now."

Dolce giggled. "No you wouldn't silly!"

"Try me." Oscura gave her a weak smile.

The Vita Twins giggled and got back to work. Oscura was always a little miserable, almost all the time even. But, deep inside, she was happy to have Dolce as a sister. In fact, she was her role model. Little did she know that Dolce thought the same of her. It was just that Dolce showed it a little more than Oscura. She was always more joyful towards life, whereas Oscura, not so much. She didn't hate it either though. They were working on a new design for one of Dolce's new dresses. It was her dream to be a professional fashion designer one day and Oscura only sought to help her get there...

In the streets of Ponyville, the stallion that Quill Soul had bumped into during the morning, had now put down the spray can and sighed in both relief and excitement. His sweat was pouring down his face like a waterfall but it was all worth it. It was finished. The yellow equine had been captured brilliantly on the big brick wall with even the smallest detail executed nicely. Next to the graffiti, or more suitably, painting, there was a name written with small letters, like ordinary graffiti. It spelled Grafix, for those who possessed enough fantasy to interpret the letters. Compared to the masterpiece next to it, the name was meaningless. And the stallion thought as much too.

"If only you would notice that name... Fluttershy..."

Grafix knew Fluttershy ever since they were fillies, but they didn't talk much. The years passed and the more they got older, the more distant they became. What was once Grafix's aspiration to be Fluttershy's special somepony, had now ended up being a fantasy. She wouldn't notice him anymore, they wouldn't even talk in events that they both attended. Part of that was because Grafix had grown too shy when he was next to Fluttershy.

"If only you would notice..." He threw the can aside and scratched the back of his mane as he left the alley.

In a valley a few miles away from Ponyville, a shred of darkness appeared out of nowhere and Nightmare Chaos walked out of it. At the same time, the ground shattered and the first Pony of the Apocalypse, Pestilence, rose. Behind him, a fire broke out and the valley was burnt to ashes, the ash giving birth to flesh in bright, shining armor. War, the second Pony of the Apocalypse had called himself forth. Having no crops around anymore, a swarm of insects gathered and begun eating each other, slowly forming flesh and bones in an untidy condition, giving birth to Famine, the third Pony of the Apocalypse. Finally, out of the dark void came out a gigantic black cloak, binding itself into a pony-like shape, growing out eyes, a mane and hooves, the mask shaping itself on his face, not allowing anypony to see through it and face the Final Pony of the Apocalypse, Death, in the eyes.

Nightmare Chaos gazed at the town of Ponyville. His eye begun hurting. He put his hoof on it and tried to stop the pain. He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. As it begun to weaken, he moved his hoof away, finding it soaked in blood. He panted heavily. A hoof rested itself on his shoulder. Nightmare Chaos turned his head.

"The Seraphim cannot be held back, Nightmare Chaos. Let change come to you."

Nightmare Chaos turned his head forward and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. His mane suddenly fell down. The stars that glew on his mane were now gone and were replaced with slightly long, dark blue hair. He opened his eyes, the darkness that once engulfed them now replaced by bright, red colors that danced radiantly.

"It is time..."

Author's Note

And Chapter 2 is done :) Right now, I've re-written 4 Chapters overall but I'm gonna upload one hee every time I re-write another one. That way I won't feel like I'm rushing it :) Constructive critisism is always accepted.

Chapter 3 - The Change

The Mane Twelve Chapter 3 - The Change

Nightmare Chaos' presence had now filled the skies with dark clouds. The wind started to pick up and the birds suddenly ceased their singing. Death gazed left and right, at the sudden change of the conditions, then turned to Nightmare Chaos.

"This world is sensing the change. It senses your change..."

"Allow me to start this, Master." Pestilence stepped forward and raised his hoof. He clenched it and when he let it loose again, a small locust appeared from inside his fist. "Now my child..." The locust spread its wings and flew towards Ponyville. "Feed..."

As soon as he said his final word, a massive swarm of locusts, thick enough to paint the sky black, rushed from behind him towards Ponyville with the speed of gale force winds. The locusts begun tearing the small town apart, eating and destroying everything in their path, living or not.

"Be it dead or alive." Pestilence smiled at the mayhem. "It doesn't matter. Not to the endless hunger of the locusts."

Famine's lips had stretched back, forming a wide grin that revealed his moldy teeth. A drool of saliva ran down the side of his mouth. "Save some... for me... Pestilence... I want to feast... the fresh ones...they're calling me...!" Famine barked with desire, still struggling to spit out his words.

Nightmare Chaos looked at the town with a cold stare. "I am not interested in the consequences of this town. Famine, do as you please. The rest, come with me. My dear sister is waiting."

"I call her execution!" War shouted. "I want to be the one to separate her head from her shoulders. My axe... it thirsts for her blood!"

"Be that as it may… it is but a part of the grand scheme of things. Her soul is already dead as it is." Death's golden eyes glew brighter.

"Alright!" War punched his breastplate, letting out a war cry. "Forward!"

The five Alicorns slowly started walking towards the city...

Ponyville was now being ravaged by locusts that ate everything, even ponies, that were unfortunate enough to get caught in their path. Twilight Sparkle took the lead and gathered every Unicorn in Ponyville together. It all happened so fast. She would never think something as horrible as this would happen. She ran to the edge of the town, denying to accept the fact that ponies were dying around her. She just kept looking forward. Behind her, every Unicorn she could possibly find that was still alive.

"Unicorns... together!" Twilight's horn begun glowing.

As soon as she finished her sentence, all of the Unicorns gathered their Magic Energy and started forming a shield around the town, with Twilight as the one to channel it. If Shining Armor can do it, so can I... The shield shined brightly. The locusts inside the town felt the Magic Energy pierce them and then vanished, disintegrating to thin air. The ones outside the shield could not enter and every time they'd try, they would share the same fate as the locusts inside.

"Hold your Magic Energy levels steady ponies...!" Twilight gritted her teeth. The Magic Energy was too much for her to channel but she wouldn't back off. Not in a situation like this.

Famine's grin did not disappear. He crawled in front of the Alicorns, sliding his tongue out. "Food..." he muttered to himself and opened his mouth widely. Cracking sounds could be heard from his jaw as it opened even wider than the average jaw, tearing his flesh apart. A loud shriek came out, piercing the ears of the ponies inside the forcefield. A gigantic centipede-shaped creature crawled from the inside of his mouth and charged with great speed at the little village.

Twilight looked at the monster in shock. Sweat was running down her face. The creature collided with the shield and kept hitting it, trying to bite it with its thousands of fangs. Twilight let out a nervous chuckle. It can't pass the shield. It fends off forces of evil... she thought to herself with slight confidence.

Suddenly, the creature revealed a second pair of jaws, with fangs twice the size of the original ones and struck the shield one more time, the fangs successfully going through it. It chewed on the Magic Energy and kept slashing through it with it legs. The shield shattered into huge pieces. Twilight let out a scream of pain and fell on her back. The shield disappeared and the swarm flew in, continuing from where it left off.

Famine grabbed the monster's tail with his teeth and begun chewing on it, slowly slurping it back in his mouth. No matter the size, Famine was able to swallow it all with a single gulp. He let out a sigh of satisfaction. The hoof that only had its bones intact was slowly covered with flesh again.

"So much... Magic Energy..." He ran towards one of the Unicorn corpses and grabbed one of its hooves, tearing it off with brute force. "More..." He chewed on the hoof. "I want... more..." He gulped and bit the pony's other hoof off, feasting on it. His appearance was changing, with his bruises slowly disappearing and his coat turning into a brighter shade of green.

Twilight Sparkle panted heavily. She tried getting on her hooves, but she felt so tired. I can't just give up. Not now... The sounds of hooves crossed her ears. She raised her head to face the image of a dark stallion above her. Twilight's eyes opened wide with fear. The Alicorn looked at her with a cold stare, his red eyes piercing her skin.

"Worthless..." His voice, as cold as his stare, echoed in her ears as he walked past her. The ponies behind him followed.

Twilight pushed her one hoof against the ground and rolled over. As she raised her upper body with one hoof, she could see the image of the Alicorn fading. She gulped. As she slowly found her courage, she got up. She raised one of her front hooves. It was shaking. Who... was that...? And why did he feel so... familiar? She thought to herself. She shook her head, trying to forget these thoughts. Right now, the safety of the surviving ponies came first. She heard the voices of the Royal Guard calling for all ponies.

Retreat! Run to Canterlot! Take as many ponies there as possible! May the Princess of the Sun be with us all!

Fire had broken out and every humble house and shop fell, one after the other. Nightmare Chaos walked past the destruction, surrounded by bright flames. The image of the purple mare he saw on the street flashed on his head. He closed his eyes and stopped walking. Along with him, so did the Ponies of the Apocalypse.

"Heh... Heheheheheh..." He let out a weak chuckle as he lowered his head, resting his hoof on his left eye. The image of the mare kept flashing in his head, her image getting clearer with every flash. Nightmare Chaos suddenly raised his head, letting his hoof drop.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

His left eye begun bleeding again, the liquid running down his cheek, dripping slowly onto the ground. His red eyes glew under the flare, forming a look worse than a demon's. They transmitted a radiant spark that danced in the redness of his eyes. His laugh was calm, controlled, yet it still transmitted a sense of fear. Death's cloak waved from the small current of wind.

"This turn of events... the mare..." He turned his head and looked back, at the flames. His golden eyes turned to look at Nightmare Chaos' maniacal hysteria. "The irony of it all..."

Twilight had just arrived to Canterlot along with her friends and the surviving residents of Ponyville. Celestia's guards had started setting up a barricade in the middle of the town square and spread the word for everypony to go there for protection, under the statue of Princess Celestia.

The guards spilt their duites. Some had armed themselves, ready to face the enemy. Others provided moral support to ones that lost loved ones. Others barricaded the entrances. But it was still dangerous. The swarm that had struck Ponyville was now heading to Canterlot. The guards at the barricades fended them off with Magic. A guard was suddenly struck and fell to the ground. It was only natural for the others to panic. The locusts took over and slowly devoured the guards. The last guard standing had covered himself with a spellshield but he himself did not know how much time he had left. He looked at the distance. He could notice figures coming towards him. He took a step back. Before he could turn away to run, one of the figures launched itself at him and collided with his shield. It raised its head and broke through, biting away a chunk of his neck. The green Alicorn looked at the guard struggling to breathe with a wide grin and eyes full of desire.

"I need your power!" Famine screamed at him and chewed off his neck, splitting his head with his bare teeth. He looked at the cloudy sky, the chunk of meat still in his mouth, dripping blood from both sides. His eyes glew as he let it down his throat, swallowing it whole. He quickly licked the blood from the side of his mouth with his long tongue.

"So... this is Equestria's finest guard…" War looked at the piles of dead guards with an unimpressed look. "Pathetic." A crimson flame burned behind him and his giant, golden, double-sided axe floated behind him. He slowly walked over to a group of ponies that hid in a nearby alley, huddled together in fear.

"Scream ponies... Shout my name!" He yelled as he raised his axe and quickly brought it down, splitting one of the ponies in half. Blood splattered all over his armor. The group started screaming and crying. Help! Help! Murderer! War's eyes flashed. "This is true fear! This is so exciting!" He lifted his axe again. Four of the Princesses' guards suddenly attacked him.

"Too slow!" War yelled as he quickly swung his axe, connecting it with the throats of all guards. They fell to the ground, choking on their own blood.

"Got you!" A voice was heard behind him.

War turned around to see a guard in midair, ready to strike him down with his sword. The swipe connected, slashing War on the shoulder. The guard pulled out his blade and stepped back, letting out a grin. It was soon gone as War raised his axe, a large grin on his face.

"I'll show you a real hack!"

As the guard was about to turn around and run, he felt a heavy swipe on his left shoulder. Before he could realize it, his entire left shoulder was gone, along with his lower body. He fell to the ground, his two split parts painting the ground red. War kicked the small pool and licked the blood off his hoof.

"This is exciting!" War waved his axe to the side, cleaning it from the blood.

In all the commotion that was caused by War, the ponies inside the barricade had started to riot out of fear and pushed through, destroying it and fleeing randomly about, at city that was now a twisted mess of locusts and fire. Nightmare Chaos' eyes could be seen glowing as the fire spread through Equestria.

Canterlot was now completely defenseless. The Mane Six were struggling to survive and tried to pull themselves together.

"Girls, go to Celestia. I'll try to hold them." Rainbow Dash said to her friends.

"No, Rainbow, ye'r gonna get killed out there." Applejack replied, trying to hold her friend from killing herself.

The cyan blue Pegasus looked down and then turned around. "I know..." she replied as she spread her wings. "But if it's to save Equestria," She turned to Applejack and gave her a confident smile. "I'm gonna do -"

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt a gigantic slash coming through her chest, making way for a gigantic scythe to rise, lifting her in the air.

"RAINBOW DASH!!!!!!!!!!!"

A pony in a dark cloak walked forward from behind her. As he revealed himself from all the chaos, his mask could be shown, his golden eyes sending a chill down the ponies' spines.

"It's rather a pity." He turned to the Pegasus with the Rainbow Mane. "Such a proud pony, to be killed from its own arrogance."

Applejack gritted her teeth and stormed towards Death, with tears running down her cheeks.

"Applejack no!" Twilight yelled at her. "That's what he wants!"

Death's eyes grew thinner and, with a sudden move, grabbed her by her throat, raising her with ease. Applejack struggled to breathe.

"Feelings of love...? Anguish...? Because it is pity you feel."

"Sh... Shut up..." Applejack could hardly spell, struggling to keep breathing.

Death looked at her and let her neck go. The orange mare fell down. She coughed for air and tried to get her breath back. Death lowered his scythe and pointed his hoof at Rainbow Dash.

"You wish to avenge her." He rested his hoof on his chest. "Fight Death... fight me... hate me..."

Applejack got up and looked at him in the eyes, wiping some dirt off the side of her lips. Twilight took a step forward, putting her hoof on the pony's shoulder.

"Applejack, listen to me. We must save Equestria. And the Princess can bring her back. I know she can-

Applejack pushed her hoof away. "No Twi. She can't. Imma stay. I'll... I'll fight for my friend."

"B-but Applejack-"

"Runnin' away from yer problems ain't gonna solve them Twi." Applejack slightly raised her voice at her, not looking back. Twilight took a step back.

"The hatred in one's soul is what drives them to fight mare. I admire your spirit, letting your hatred towards me rise."

"No. It's not hate partner." She felt the front of her cowboy hat. "It's honesty."

Before Applejack knew it, Death was right in front of her. She looked at him in sudden shock. She tried to raise her hoof, to attack him. Her fear got the best of her. She looked at Death in the eyes but now, she was afraid of him.

"Look at me little pony... look at Death in the eyes." He lowered his head, leaning closer to hers. His eyes shifted, the golden look disappearing. Nopony else b Applejack could see what they had changed to. And what she saw caused her to let out a scream of fear.

"Vanish to the pits of everlasting damnation!" Death grasped her by the shoulders and lit himself on fire, burning Applejack along with him.

The remaining Mane Six, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie cried out for Applejack as they watched her burn and scream in pain. Both ponies vanished in a matter of seconds. Fluttershy burst into tears and fell on her hooves.

"It's useless. It's all useless..." She whimpered, covering her face with her hooves. She suddenly felt a hoof on her shoulder. She slowly turned around, hesitating to look at the pony. "R-Rarity...?"

The white Unicorn looked at her with worry. She reached for her hooves and slowly raised her, wiping the tears off her eyes. "It's over if you give up now dear." The mare replied.

Fluttershy looked at her for a moment and then nodded as she dried the remaining tears herself. "It's never too late..." She said with minor determination.

Inside the royal Canterlot castle, the Princess of the Sun, Celestia, looked outside of her window and watched her ponies suffer, one after the other, as the number of deaths slowly multiplied. The dead ponies were countless and yet, she didn't do anything. She just kept looking outside. She closed her eyes and let herself think. The door behind her suddenly burst open. She opened her eyes and turned around with a calm look in her face. A figure walked out of the smoke. A pony with a royal look, just like hers.

"My my Celestia, it has been a while now, hasn't it...?" The stallion's words were calm and friendly.

"It has indeed been some time... Pestilence."

"Is everything okay my dear? You sound... upset." He had a warm smile on his face. Celestia didn't reply, and only looked at him. "One really needs to ask... are you honestly worried for them, or do you just wish to watch the world burn, like me?"

"I don't wish to be a monster like you Pestilence, and we both know as much."

"Oh but I'd like to beg the differ my Princess." Pestilence kept the smile on his face, even though he sounded more serious now. "However, your reply does leave me with a rather obvious question. Am I really the monster? Or is it you...?" Celestia closed her eyes and lowered her head. "Oh Tia, he has twisted you all too much, that we can't really save you now..."

The Princess of the Sun didn't seem to pay attention to him anymore. Pestilence looked at her in wonder. He slowly approached her. "Is something wrong Tia...?" He lowered his head, trying to look at Celestia from the same angle. "Did I strike a nerve?" His voice was sincere. He words made him sound as if he really did worry. "Do you wish for me to apologi-"

Before he could finish, Celestia pushed him back to the wall, her hoof holding him tight by his neck. His golden olive branch fell to the ground, rolling over to the corner of the wall.

"You irritate me..." The eye that wasn't covered by her colorful, silky mane, stared at Pestilence, its purple color replaced by a crimson red flare, a flare full of hate. "And I like killing ponies that irritate me..."

Pestilence looked at her and let out a weak laugh. "Ahhh," He stopped his laughing and looked at her straight in the eye. "Such irony... You really are a fool, my little Tia..."

There was a weak grunting noise from behind her. Celestia turned around but before she knew it, Famine opened his jaw widely and sunk his teeth into her flesh, gnawing her shoulder. Celestia screamed in pain and let go of Pestilence's neck. Famine sucked on her blood, making Celestia feel dizzy.

"Enough!" A voice was heard from the distance.

Famine immediately let go of Celestia and moved away, letting her fall to floor. The Four Ponies of the Apocalypse gathered and Nightmare Chaos stood in front of them, above the Princess. Celestia tried to keep her breathing steady. She looked up, at Nightmare Chaos and let out a weak smile.

"It really is you... you're back..."

"You're pathetic Celestia." Nightmare Chaos gazed at her, his bright red eyes looking at hers. The burning red color in the Princess' eyes was still there. "You confessed your sins to Pestilence. Now, confess them to your Ruler..."

Celestia didn't reply. Instead, she gave him a weak smile. "No matter how hard you try, you'll never surpass me. Even my sins are greater than yours..."

Nightmare Chaos gritted his teeth. "What do you know about sins?!" He yelled at her and kicked her in the stomach, making Celestia spit out blood. "Atone for them then! Ask me for salvation then! Admit your mistakes!" His eyes had opened wide, the bright red colour in them burning like a forest fire. He stomped his hoof on her neck, pushing it against it. Celestia struggled to breathe. "But no, you're not the sister I knew. My sister didn't have sins, you monster!"

Death grabbed Nightmare Chaos by the shoulder and pulled him back. His hoof left her neck. Celestia coughed, spiting out even more blood out of her mouth.

"Hate in you grows stronger with every minute young Alicorn. But anger can be converted, if you let it be."

Nightmare Chaos sustained his hate and backed off. He looked at Celestia and nodded for War to come forth. "You're not my sister..."

War raised his axe, ready to strike.

"I'm sorry..." Celestia let out her sentence in the form of a whisper. Nightmare Chaos' eyes opened wide. "I'm sorry, that I couldn't atone for what I did to them..." Her look had calmed down, the fiery red color in her eye fading. The purple had returned.

"Wh-what are you talking about...?!" Nightmare Chaos fell on his hooves and got close to her. "What do you mean sister?! What sins?!"

Celestia couldn't speak anymore. Her lips moved, but words didn't come out. Nightmare Chaos looked at her with eyes full of shock upon understanding what she wanted to say. War's axe fell down and separated her head from her body. Blood spilled on the walls and on Nightmare Chaos' face. Nightmare Chaos looked at his sister's dead body. The aching pain in his eye returned with the form of a minor twitch but he didn't care. He stood up and closed his eyes, letting out a weak chuckle.

"She's dead... it's dead..."

Not even a minute later, the rest of the remaining Mane Six ran in the room only to see Nightmare Chaos standing over Celestia's dead body. Twilight Sparkle looked at him in shock. It's him... Twilight froze. Nightmare Chaos turned his head around to reveal that it was covered in blood. Twilight looked with wide-open eyes as her mouth began to shake.

"You are Twilight Sparkle..." Nightmare Chaos spoke to her as he turned his whole body around. Twilight looked at him in the eyes, noticing the left one bleeding.

"N-No... it can't be..." Twilight Sparkle muttered to herself.

His coat begun letting out steam as his dark colour leaked off of him like paint, revealing a dark blue colour underneath it, just a little lighter than the colour of his mane. Nightmare Chaos' blank expression soon cracked up a wide grin.

"You're the Element of Magic?! Then why don't you bring her back?! Use your Magic to bring her back to life! Have your revenge with it!" He hit his chest with his hoof, taking a step forward. "Attack me! Strike me down! Hit me! Fight me!! Kill me!!! Avenge her, you worthless Element!"

"Darling, sorry about this..." Rarity looked at Twilight as her horn glew and the ponies vanished into a flash of light.

Now, the usual sounds of birds chirping and fillies playing were replaced by the sounds of torture and death, of screaming and pain. The land was stained red with blood under the new rule of the Ponies of the Apocalypse. The New Chaos Republic was reborn and giant battle fleets covered the skies. The streets were empty. Everything was under the presence of an everlasting night, under the light of an everlasting full moon. All hope was lost...

Author's Note

Aaaaaaaand I think this is where I'm getting bombarded with dislikes and stuff '^^

Chapter 4 - The Sacrifice

The Mane Twelve Chapter 4 - The Sacrifice

And so the young filly is born. The Seraphim is there, inside her. It's a time of celebration. The plans move forward. The Ancestors seem pleased, and so am I. Her guardians have already been chosen, the Stars. The stars that will aid the pony in its quest, as well as the conditions of that quest. The new Republic will rise with the filly, when the time is right. It might benefit the one mare, but it hurts the other. It pains me to do this to the latter...

The days in this new, rotten world, pass slowly. The town of Ponyville is covered under the veil of the night, the full moon lighting the empty streets. The feared Shadows of the new Chaos Republic, cloaked and mysterious figures, roam them in search for survivors. If they find any, they execute them, right then and there. A swift, painless death. The best possible solution...

As for the rebels, the consequences are worse. They are tortured by the Ponies of the Apocalypse accordingly. It's all an example for the future rebels. Canterlot has fallen along with Ponyville and, slowly but surely, so is the rest of Equestria.

What was once the Cake's Pastry Shop in Ponyville has now become a place of refuge in disguise. Pinkie Pie, along with the remaining of the Mane Six and with some other survivors found shelter under its floors, in one of its secret basements. That does not take away the fear in their hearts...

"I..." Twilight Sparkle muttered to herself. Why didn't I use the Elements of Harmony on him... when I could? she thought to herself. She raised her hoof. It was still shaking, as was her entire body. Am I... so afraid... that I can't just... The image of his face, back in that single moment, flashed in her mind. He felt his cold stare, his voice ringing in her ears. She grabbed her hoof, trying to prevent it from trembling. I can't just fight him back... because I'm too weak to even face him...? She gritted her teeth. And because of that... I...

"I can't believe that Princess Celestia is gone..." Twilight muttered. "I... I could have saved her, if I acted sooner...!" she cried out and smacked her hoof on the ground.

"Don't forget about Applejack and Rainbow." Fluttershy was already in tears. "We can't go on without them..."

"Yeah..." Pinkie was at the brink of crying as well. "AJ always helped us with our problems and Dashie always protected us. With them gone... we are hopeless...." She ended up bursting into sobs.

"I know this situation seems dire darlings," Rarity stood close to them. "But we can get through this. We always do. Rainbow and Applejack wouldn't want us to die. Now." She brought them close and shared a group hug with them. "Cheer up. We will have time to mourn our friends after we get rid of these heathens."

"No, you won't." A mysterious feminine voice was heard from the back of the room. "We lost two Elements of Harmony already. Four are just useless now..." The mare came closer, revealing herself.

The mysterious pony was dressed in a black hoodie. Her colors complemented her clothing. She had a pale coat and a dark mane with pink highlights on the edges. She walked through the crowd and towards the Mane Six. She then turned around and faced the ponies, her eyes still hidden behind her hoodie.

"Everypony, listen." She raised her hoof and pointed it at the mares behind her. "They cannot help us. They're practically broken as I hear it. Like they did anything when they were six." She paused for a while, the ponies hanging from her words. "And hiding here... it's just pointless. We will eventually be found, and when we do, it-"

Before she could finish, she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to the side. The hoof belonged to a dark grey Pegasus, who looked back at her with a serious stare.

"Nopony told you to come here, and yet you did. If you think it's over, why did you come? To delay your death...?"

The mare gritted her teeth and pushed his hoof away.

"Or is it you want to die, but you don't want to die alone?"

"Tch." She dragged her hoodie forward, covering more of her face and pushed the ponies out of her way, leaving the stallion behind her. She headed towards another room, and was lost in its darkness.

The Four Stars, as they have been declared, treat her kindly, as if they were her parents. The potential she has as a Princess of the Night impresses me, for she might even surpass me. It pleases me, that they care so much. Her Elements have been forged. The Ancestors also created my Shroud and fused it with her soul. Her power grows without her knowing it. Everything's going accordingly. The whole turn of events however, it's rather ironic... I feel bad for both Princesses, as I know they're both parts of the grand scheme of things, yet I cannot help them. They are innocent, but not for long...

In an empty room, what might once have been an extra warehouse, sat a mare, all by herself. She lied against one of the four walls with a piece of paper and a pencil floating close to her. The aspiring artist, Quill Soul, sat all by herself, lost in her thoughts. That's a great way to start a new life... she thought with a sigh.

A dark Alicorn floated in the air close to her. The pony appeared as if he came out of nowhere. He was silent, just like Quill Soul. The dark blue Unicorn noticed him but didn't wish to speak. Dark Equun's glowing eyes looked at her from behind the mask. She was drawing. It was merely a sketch, yet the sheer detail of it impressed the dark stallion. It was the town of Ponyville. It was a sight worth seeing for hours to come.

"Why are you sitting here all alone?" Dark Equun asked her with a calm, friendly voice.

"What else can I do...?" She replied, her eyes still focused on the sketch.

Dark Equun didn't reply. He remained silent for a moment. He closed his wings and landed on the ground. He turned around and started walking towards the exit. Quill Soul suddenly let the pencil drop and she reached out for Dark Equun's hoof. The stallion turned his head around.

"You don't wish for me to go, do you?" He asked her without turning his head.

Quill Soul looked away. She tried to speak but the words would only come out as incomprehensible murmurs. Dark Equun let out a small laugh.

"Your behavior points that you wish to be alone, and then you wish for me to stay, using different actions." He gently pushed his hoof forward, cutting off Quill Soul's grasp. "You are quite an interesting mare, Quill Soul..."

He turned around and walked in front of the Unicorn. He sat down in front of her, face to face. He looked at her through her glasses and gazed upon her blue eyes. His golden eyes glowed brightly, letting out the hint of a smile behind the mask.

"You possess such vivid imagination. Why feel the need to be alone when you can contribute so much with it...?"

"Y-you think so?" She formed a weak, shy smile as she felt more comfortable with her words.

The mysterious stallion nodded. "Where I'm from, one's talent is unique, and it's what makes him perfect to the others." He felt the left side of his mask, where a light red mark was painted on its surface. "It's what gives the world so many colors..."

"And where are you from then?" She giggled softly. "It sounds nice..."

Dark Equun looked down but immediately raised his head. "Everywhere's nice when you can contribute to its beauty. But..." He raised the hoof that rested on his mast and turned it around, pointing it towards her. "I chose to be with you, in your world."

"Didn't you have a unique talent like everypony else...? What happened...?" She tilted her head in wonder.

Dark Equun didn't answer. He raised his hoof and gently patted the mare in the head. "Tell you what then. When all this is over, I'll share. Okay?" Quill Soul nodded positively. Dark Equun nodded back. "Now... do what you do best. Improvise. Add your own color to this world."

Those were his last words. His cloaked figure vanished into thin air within the blink of an eye, leaving Quill Soul be. The mare kept looking forward, now at the wall. She thought of Dark Equun's words for a short amount of time. You know what, Dark Equun? She raised her glasses with her hoof and then stood up. She proceeded walking out of there and into the main room, with her lips stretching out, forming a weak smile. That... it's a promise....

And indeed, her 'jealousy' gets the best of her. The Shroud takes over Equestria and her New Republic rises. The Stars hide, as well as the Princess of the Sun. I do not fear the ruler of the new kingdom. I know of these events and of their consequences. The Sun took her sister's Elements and banished her with their power. I did not understand the harshness of this action. She could have been more subtle. And indeed, her action got the best of her, as she not only destroyed the life of one pony this day, but of five...

Grafix sat amongst the crowd of ponies. Some were alone like him, others were with their loved ones, both friends and family. The white Pegasus didn't care about that. His eyes and thoughts were focused on Fluttershy, who stood close to her friends, still upset. Go you idiot... make her feel better... Grafix tried to encourage himself to get up and approach her. The stallion looked away and closed his red eyes, shaking his head. No, she'll probably not remember you. And you'll just come out sounding stupid... He let out a sigh and scratched the back of his mane. His thoughts took him back, to the graffiti he had made of her. He lied on his back and gazed at the ceiling.

"If only I had sent her that earlier..." He played around with a letter in his hoof. "Maybe I could be there for her now..."

He lied with his back against the floor and looked up, at the ceiling. Stupid. Just... Why don't you act sooner...?

The Stars vanished to the darkness of our past land. And the Sun... She was consumed by something else, something that had awakened in her now, but was in her before these events. Her soul was discorded, she was not herself anymore. Her lust for blood and power grew inside her. I could not look at what had become of her, so I chose to ignore it. It didn't get better. Ponies died over the years, some didn't even mark their name in life. And they died in her fangs, their blood only empowering her, increasing her years of tyranny. What has become of her...?

Heartfire Burn walked past the small pony groups that had been formed. He was silent and lost in his thoughts. Who was that mare...? He recalled that moment, when he stopped that pony from causing chaos among them a few moments ago. Why would she say this...? Why give up when you haven't even acted...?

He looked left and right, at the other ponies. However, his mind was elsewhere. At one moment, a Unicorn passed by him. Her radiant white colors made her stand out in his eyes. It's her. he thought and walked in front of her, blocking her path. The mare was taken aback.

"Heartfire...?!" The mare looked at him as her surprised expression turned to one of happiness and relief at the same time.

"Thyme! So it is you. Thank the Princesses you're safe." Heartfire let out a sigh of relief.

Indeed, it was the same Thyme. The same Thyme that sat with him at that cafe during his first night at Ponyville. The same Thyme that he shared all of his small journeys and laughs. She was there, standing in front of him again, her warm smile making him smile too.

I worry every day about my brothers and sisters. The Princess of the Sun has lost her glow and now only cares about her survival and satisfaction... I can hear the Four Stars. They blame her, they hunger for revenge. Destruction, greed, total annihilation. I can feel their change, both in body and in spirit. The mask of the lich is worn, the succubus of war grows inside, the lust for the world increases, the torture of decay takes over the mind...

Pinkie Pie was sitting with Twilight Sparkle. The purple mare was trying to pull herself together, desperately trying to figure out a solution to this madness. Rarity was nowhere to be found. Pinkie was devastated. After all of this, she was unsure whether to smile again or not. Her mane had fallen straight down and her coat color got darker, like when she was back at the rock farm.

"Aw, come on now, cheer up!" She heard a voice behind her.

"W-Wha?" said Pinkie after lifting her head and looking behind her. Her eyes were full of tears. She was in a complete mess.

"A smile always makes somepony happier!" A mare was smiling brightly at her. She had a baby pink coat and a curly mane with a small bowtie on top of it.

"Well... not always always." A mare next to her expressed her opinion. She was the exact opposite to the first Unicorn, with crimson red skin and a dark mane. What they had in common was the bowties on their heads.

"Aaaaw, come on Oscura, smile! Let's cheer her up!" Her smile got brighter. She got closer to her. "You said you'd do it..." She whispered to her. Noticing Pinkie was looking at them, she responded with an even brighter grin.

The moody mare let out a sigh.

"Only because it's you Dolce..." She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. Her lips struggled to raise themselves but eventually, they stretched back and formed a weak smile. After a while, it was gone. "There." She returned to her normal, blanc look.

Pinkie couldn't help but smile back at the silliness of the twins. Her tears dried up. Her coat color got brighter and her mane popped up, becoming shaggy and fluffy again.

"You're... you're right!" she exclaimed with happiness and embraced the twins in a tight group hug. "Thanks you guys!"

Dolce giggled.

"I told you it was worth a shot Oscura!" She squeed.

Oscura sighed.

"Yeah, I guess..."

Their change is complete. The years passed and they returned, with a new purpose in life. After all this time, have they ended up being a burden, or a bliss? The ponies of this world begin to suffer. And the Stars do not care. They only wish to make their presence clear. My dear filly still ignores the chaos. I cannot do anything to change her mind from her own goals. Are they right? Has she really become a monster of chaos in disguise? What has he done to her...? No... What has she done to herself...?

The two ponies, Heartfire and Thyme, walked together, sharing small talk. Without even realizing, they had found themselves in another room. Heartfire was distracted by a sudden, random thought. This is where she came...

He looked around, trying to see if he could find the mare from earlier. There was a dark figure hiding in the corner of the room. Heartfire let out a weak smile to himself and walked towards her. Thyme followed behind him, a little clueless of what he was doing.

"You seem to like dark corners a lot." He broke the ice between them with a friendly approach.

The mare huffed. "What's it to you...?" She looked away, as if she didn't wish to look at him. Heartfire understood her feelings, and so he didn't reply. "Just leave me alone. It's better when it's quiet..."

Heartfire let out a weak laugh. "Indeed it is." He noticed the mare. She was still tense. He sat next to her. "My name's Heartfire Burn."

"I didn't ask." The mare replied almost immediately. "And I certainly don't care, big shot."

"You know," Thyme suddenly referred to her, "We're not getting Equestria back if we just sit and do nothing. I would understand if you didn't care. But... I mean, don't you wish to be free again...?"

The mare let out a mocking grin towards her but it soon disappeared. "I don't like you, princess..." She raised her head and gave her an ignorant look. Thyme saw through her hoodie, right at her unfriendly, gray eyes.

"There was no freedom in a world that was controlled by others..." Heartfire spoke, still looking at the hooded mare, now with a intrigued look towards her words.

"Your words are music to my ears..." She sat back again and let out a laugh. "Now I like you." She turned her look at him. "You tested me back there, didn't you...?" Heartfire nodded positively and got up. "Hmm, this sounds so much better in my head all of a sudden..."

The Pegasus lowered his hoof, offering a lift for the mare. She looked at it and eagerly latched on to it as Heartfire pulled her up.

"The name's Violet by the way." She removed her hoodie and fixed her messy mane. "Violet Haze." She let out a weak laugh and playfully punched his shoulder. "Right back at you, Heartfire Burn."

She turned her look towards Thyme. "Yeah, I don't really care about you..." She came closer, looking at her with a mocking grin. "Sucks, don't it princess?"

After finishing her introduction, she started walking away from them. "I bet we can make a difference if we get this kingdom back Heartfire..." She turned her head and looked at them. "Maybe then we'll truly be free." She walked out of the room, letting the two ponies behind, looking back at her in complete silence.

Thyme turned to Heartfire. "Princess...? What was that all about...?" She whispered to him, trying to hold her agitation back.

"She has a different view of this world, Violet Haze that is. She despises the powerful, but she cares for the majority." Heartfire's whispers were calm and concentrated. He let out a weak chuckle. "She probably thought you were one of them as well. However, seeing it from her point, it made me realize how she thinks. And it paid off." He winked at her, not even trying to calm her down.

Thyme sighed. She took a moment to think about it and nodded at him along with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess so." She replied in a now normal tone.

Heartfire smiled back at her. The two ponies remained silent for a while, looking at each other with a smile on their faces. I made the right choice... The white Unicorn thought as she walked with the dark grey stallion back into the main room.

They watch her. The Stars watch the Princess of the Night. From our land of belonging, not this land. She, on the other hoof, lives a life of torture, trying to find comfort in my Shroud, up in her moon. The events are slowly repeating themselves... And yet... why are we here? Do we contribute to the ponies' happiness...? The Ancestors don't wish to share my thoughts on such a matter...

As they walked, Thyme looked around until she noticed Twilight Sparkle. The purple Unicorn was lost in her thoughts while looking at something. Thyme turned around, heading towards her and leaving Heartfire catch up with Violet Haze. Thyme's horn glew as she whispered some words and then, she vanished, reappearing next to Twilight. The Unicorn was taken aback by Thyme's sudden teleportation.

"Rune magic..." Twilight looked at the air around her, which was now full of glowing runes that slowly disappeared, fascinated by their sight. "I-I had read about these... they're so ancient, they originate from way before Starswhirl the Bearded..." She started talking to herself, pointing out random historical facts as well as her own theories.

"Are you... Twilight Sparkle?" Thyme asked her, trying to hold her excitement back.

It wouldn't seem like it, but Thyme was a very fond fan of Twilight's work and reports on different scientific and social matters which were proven revolutionary. Thyme herself was interested in discovering different kinds of things, her ambition being to explore the world beyond Equestria.

Twilight stopped her rambling as suddenly as she had begun. She nodded at her and turned her head back at what she was looking. It seemed like it what she focused on most. It was a map. A map of Canterlot more specifically. Thyme gazed at it next to Twilight. Thoughts began running through her head as she looked at it with more detail.

"If it's the catacombs you're looking at, it won't work." She said, not expecting to get an answer.

Twilight raised her head and looked at Thyme. "How do you know?" She asked, intrigued by Thyme's perspective.

"Well, considering that we're not messing with idiots, they will have probably flooded them or blocked them. No way they'd guard them. It would be a waste of time and resources. The most optimal solution would be to sneak in with the use of Unicorn magic, if that's what you're thinking."

"Interesting..." Twilight let out a smile as she looked at the map once more. Her smile slowly vanished. "But what about the battleships? Such use of magic will create a flash so big it will definitely burst out of the Pastry Shop."

"M-May I interrupt...?" A third, hesitant voice was heard behind them.

Both Unicorns, Twlight Sparkle and Thyme, turned around and noticed a slightly taller Unicorn with glasses, standing behind them.

"I-I read in a novel," the mare continued, "that the best offense is defense. I know it will sound reckless, but our only option would be a distraction. Maybe the Pegasi could volunteer to focus the battleships' attention, even take them down with careful planning."

Twilight looked at the mares, astounded by their thinking. She quickly drew out a piece of paper and begun writing something down, mumbling to herself in the process. "It's viable," she said with amazement. "It's better than most options, and the one with the least number of casualties, even zero if we do it right!" She let out a sigh of relief. Maybe there is still hope... She raised her head and gave them a smile.

"What were your names again...?"

The moon and the lake of the other world have been synched for the Seraphim's rebirth. Her aura is also changing, converting itself until it can finally form the New Elements and thus, the Pure One. Our plan is coming along, but the more I think about it, the more I want it to come along and be completed. The path of retribution is also a path of destruction now...

After a small introduction, the three Unicorns got to work, choosing the perfect and most fit Pegasi to assault the battlefleets. They gathered them all up and Twilight Sparkle evaluated them.

"Ponies, I know it will sound tough, crazy even, but it is our best bet..." Twilight briefly explained their role as the decoy. "And, most importantly, it's the leader that will decide how many will live. I would understand... if none of you chose to bear that fate."

Heartfire Burn stepped forward.

"I'll do it." He replied with a calm look. He looked at his fellow Pegasi and nodded at them. One after the other, they nodded back at him, approving of his volunteering.

Thyme nodded as well. "I trust him too." Thyme told Twilight Sparkle.

The purple mare turned to Fluttershy. "You're okay with that?"

Grafix stood amongst them. He looked at Heartfire. Look at that guy. How can he be so cool about it...? He looked elsewhere and clenched his hoof. If he can do it, can't I...? He suddenly stepped forward, next to Heartfire.

"I-I want to volunteer too...!" He spoke loudly and clearly. His heart was beating faster and the tension was rushing through his whole body. However, in contrast to Heartfire, the reactions were different. The Peagasi didn't seem intrigued by his looks and words. Grafix gritted his teeth. "Let me prove my worth! I just want to act!"

Fluttershy looked at him, wondering something to herself. "W-what's your name...?" She shyly asked him.

Grafix was surprised by Fluttershy's sudden interest to hear him out. He lowered his head. He raised it up and shut his eyes as he replied. "Grafix ma'am...!"

Fluttershy let out a weak smile and turned to Twilight.

"I know him... We went to the same school... I-I remember him being a good colt. I think he might be true to his words..."

"I-I am..." Grafix stuttered, his whole body shaking.

"If it's as Fluttershy says..." Twilight faced the white Pegasus, who stood in attention. "Then it's decided. You two are the leaders of the decoy squad. Heartfire and Grafix."

The Pegasi split up Grafix took a deep breath and exhaled a long sigh. He felt a sudden pat on the shoulder. Turning his eyes to the left, he noticed Heartfire Burn.

"Congrats, Grafix." He had a sincere smile on his face as he moved away from him, leaving him be.

Heh... Grafix's lips stretched back, forming into a weak smile. His tension vanished and his stance was firm again. "No problem... Heartfire." He knew the Pegasus didn't listen to him and that he was talking to himself. He felt like an idiot, talking to himself, but at the same time, his smile was still there, on his face.

"Umm..." He heard a weak voice behind him.

He froze. He recognized that voice quite well. H-how is this... his thoughts had mixed into a big pile of confusion. He hesitated to move. I-it'll be fine... He slowly turned his body around, his smile now gone and replaced with an awkward, silent expression.

"Y-you're Grafix... from flight school, right...?" Fluttershy looked at him with a weak, shy smile.

Grafix's tension rose upon looking at that smile on her face. "Y-yeah..." He tried not looking at her in the eyes, using excuses like scratching the back of his head. "T-that's me alright..."

"I... I remember we used to talk a lot when we were small. It's weird how things change so fast..." She didn't seem that shy towards him. She seemed more relaxed, as if she was talking to a close friend. "It's nice... to talk to another familiar face..." Her lips moved, stretched back. They formed a warmer smile.

"Fluttershy..." Twilight Sparkle called for her.

The yellow Pegasus answered to her call, leaving Grafix alone. The stallion lost himself in his thoughts. So that's how it is... when you finally choose to take that step forward... He chuckled and begun walking. She did remember me... I guess I really am an idiot... He let out another chuckle.

"Yeah... it's nice..."

I cannot live in this world anymore, so I departed to my homeworld. I am not the last one to come back, for I am sure the Stars will bring the mare here as well. And then, the gates of this world will close until they decide to re-open them. I look at my two fillies... It does not look good. They both suffer... and it's my fault.

Pinkie Pie, now feeling better, along with the Vita twins, Dolce and Oscura, encouraged the surviving ponies by doing what she did best. Their anxiety and tension was gone thanks to the pink party pony. Not all of it, but they certainly felt better about following the plan.

Twilight carried on to explain the rest of the plan. The Earth Ponies would follow the Unicorns and, after the teleport, they will break the doors of the castle down.

"All we're missing is a leader for your kind. Volunteers...?"

Violet Haze let out a confident grin and walked to the front of the crowd. As she did, she removed her black hoodie and faced the purple mare.

"I will." Her grin was still on her face. Twilight Sparkle raised an eyebrow. From the events before, it was natural for the Unicorn to think that way. "Leading a team, it takes teamwork. And it's unity that will make us strong. I'm willing to keep that unity intact..." Her smile was gone. Her expression had become more serious.

Twilight Sparkle was sure now. Her expression was calm but she still transmitted confidence. Such self-control over her behavior showed signs of a good leader. Twilight approved of her.

And so the plan was complete. The ponies went to sleep, for the next day would judge who lives and who dies, if the plan works, or the plan fails...

The Sun Princess only disappoints me. She took in a young mare as her student. I can feel her aura. She's pure. It is clear to me the Princess wishes her to be more than a student. The greatest satisfaction of them all, that's what she desires. Why was he so cruel to her...? Why has she crafted this end for herself? Why does it have to be like this...?

Rarity, unlike the other ponies, wasn't asleep. Instead, sleep wouldn't come for her. She didn't care for her beauty sleep, not anymore. She was outside of the warehouse and inside Sugracube Corner. She sat on one of the chairs close to the windows. She gazed outside, at the empty streets.

"It's pretty... but it's not what everypony wants..."

"Truly..." She heard a voice behind her.

Rarity let out a scream. She turned around and he was standing right before her. A pony shrouded in a dark cloak, his face covered by a decayed mask. She saw the golden eyes staring directly into hers. She froze. The Alicorn didn't react at her cry of fear.

"It's... you..." Rarity struggled to speak. "The pony of death..."

He raised his hoof and pointed it at her. "Such a delicate blossom. And yet it's still powerless against the darkness..."

"I-I don't understand what you're trying to say..."

"I know it all... I have seen it all..." The Alicorn leaned forward, along with his hoof. His glare got closer to her. "And I know what you want..."

"W-what I want...?" Rarity looked at him, trying to piece together what he said.

The Alicorn moved away from her and headed to the door.

"I am waiting..."

Those were his last words. His figure vanished into the darkness of the night. Rarity froze in place for a couple of minutes. She gulped. What had just happenned? She thought of his suggestion. At first, she thought it was ridiculous. But then, she thought of it with more detail.

She got up from the chair, her thoughts still on the matter the Alicorn told her about. I know what you want... She stood still, her hooves planted on the ground.

"Does he really know...?"

After a few minutes down, at the basement, where everypony was, she walked upstairs again. She walked towards the door. Before she turned the handle and walked out, she left a letter on the counter.

"Goodbye... my friends." She whispered. "You are the best friends a pony could ever hope for..."

She left the pastry shop with a tear running down her eye. The only pony who noticed her was Heartfire Burn. He was in the upper floor, where the rooms of the Cakes were. Sleep didn't come for him either. He sat close to the window and watched the white pony walk away, disappearing in the veil of the night. Do the right thing. That was the only thought as he looked at her. When she vanished, he closed his eyes in an attempt to relax. Maybe then he could sleep.

"Can't sleep either?" He heard a voice behind him.

Heartfire turned around. It was Thyme, standing next to the door.

"I should ask the same for you." He replied. "Come. Sit." He pointed next to him with a wave of his head.

The two of them were now lying at the spot near the window, looking at the moon outside. Heartfire gave out a small smile.

"It's beautiful..." He said, still looking at it.

"It is indeed." Thyme replied, astounded by the moon's beauty. The more she looked at it, the more it glowed in her eyes. She shifter her eyes at Heartfire. "Heartfire...?"

"Mh...?"

"Thanks..." She moved her head towards the opposite direction, as if she hesitated to say it. "For being such a good friend..."

Heartfire lowered his head. Without Thyme looking, he moved his head close to hers and kissed her on the cheek. Thyme was taken aback by the sudden action. Her face turned bright red. She didn't know how to react. Before she could reply, she let out a yawn. She closed her eyes and slowly turned her head towards Heartfire, resting it on his shoulder. In a matter of seconds, she had fallen asleep. Heartfire let out a weak smile as he saw her smirk.

"You're a good friend too..." He ran his hoof down her silver mane. "The first I've had in so many years..." He looked back outside, at the moon shining down on them. "If only you thought of me solely as that..." His eyes begun to close as well and before he knew it, her had fallen into a deep sleep.

And so it begins. The Princess of the Night has given wake to the true Lord of the Night. I can sense the downfall of the tyrant. It's for the better, for both her and her sibling. They will both realize it when the time is right...

Rarity walked through the dark streets of Ponyville. She didn't fear the patrols. If what he had told her was true, they wouldn't hurt her if she mentioned his name. She had reached the graveyard of the town. There were no graves, but a lot of recent burials had been done, probably in secrecy. Yet, they were still there. Not even a minute after she had entered through the long, metal gate, she felt a cold presence surround her.

"Your purpose has led you here mare." She heard his voice. "Is it truly what your heart desires?"

"It's... for the better." She turned around and faced Death right in his golden, fiendish eyes. "You take my life... and bring Rainbow Dash back." She spoke clearly, without looking away. Her hooves weren't trembling and her mouth wasn't shaking.

"The risks of your actions can lead you to your own, individual death." The Alicorn stuck his scythe into the ground.

"It's what I want. You know of it quite well..." Rarity didn't lose a minute of her cool.

"I cannot deprive you of your deal then." Death paused for a second. "This world acts in so many ironic ways. Generosity, it is but trampled upon till the very end, till death has come for it."

"It is of my own choosing that I sacrifice myself... I chose to come here, I chose to make this deal with you, I chose to accept this..."

"No mare..." Death's gaze got sharper. "It happens because it must. Choices are but a hallucination, desperately trying to hide the grand scheme of events that are about to unfold. You think you chose, yet you never made a choice. You simply acted because it was meant to be."

Death then lifted his scythe and plunged it into Rarity's chest. She let out a shriek of pain. The scythe lifted itself, raising Rarity along with it. Her blood dripped to the ground. The blood slowly flowed, forming lines that eventually turned into a rune. Rarity let out her last breaths as the rune burst out fire, shrouding the entire scythe in flames. As the fire extinguished itself, a cyan pony lied on the ground. It slowly raised itself, shaking her rainbow-colored head.

"What happened?" The mare groaned, slightly dazed.

As her eyesight cleared, she looked at her surroundings. The sight of hooves covered by a dark cloak brought back horrible memories to her mind. She raised her head only to gaze upon Death's golden stare. Her whole body begun shaking as she slowly crawled away from him. With sharp moves, her wings spread and she flew away with tremendous speed. Death gazed at the mare as she got farther and farther away.

"It is simply futile. No matter how much you run, you will eventually return, for the living only live once." He looked at his hoof. The rune that he had just used was now carved on his skin. "You are but a part now, waiting to fulfill its role."

The Ancestors left me a long time ago. They know their plan would move this way. I knew so as well. I knew of the risks, but I didn't know they would come along like this. Is it all for the better...? Yes, it is. I know so, I was told so. It's all a part of the grand scheme of things...

Twilight Sparkle woke up from the sudden noise of a raven cawing outside the hideout. She stood up in shock as she heard the shouts of ponies. Intruder! Twilight stormed towards the gathering room only to see Rainbow Dash backed into a corner by the surviving ponies.

"Everypony stop!" Twilight yelled and everypony ceased. "She's just... Rainbow Dash..." She couldn't finish her sentence. Her eyes had welled up. "H-how did this happen...? How are you..."

"I..." Rainbow Dash looked away. "I found this... when I came here..." The cyan Pegasus handed Twilight a letter. She didn't waste any time. She quickly opened it and begun reading it.

My Friends,

I know the consequences of my actions are unpredictable. I know I may put you all in danger. And if not, in despair. But I want you to be strong. Stronger than I was when I thought of this choice that was given to me.
This world has been torn apart. And the more I think about, the more I understand that I cannot help you. You need ponies with strong spirits and, sadly, I was not one of them. He said h knew what i wanted. And if it came true, I know you will be able to take our home back. I will always be in your hearts, I will be there, next to you, I will always watch you and pray for you. So be strong. Be brave. Be what I wasn't.

Rarity

This is my last entry. And I only write it because I've seen the events. The Truth has not awakened yet and so the Lord of the Night doesn't know of his true role in this yet. Confusion is a bliss in this situation. I wish for you to see it like that now...

Ironic.
How you repeat the task I was given millennia ago...

Like me, you have become the greatest sacrifice of them all... and you don't know it, just like I didn't know it. And when you realize, it will only hurt less... For all the things you will have done, and of all the things you will have lost, you will only wish to fulfill my dream, for it will have become your dream as well. Don't seek retribution, seek only to become the retribution of all... for that is who you truly are... you are the Truth...

Seraphim