The Evil Behind It All
Written By Surprise The Pegasus
Chapter 1: Innocence Lost
The Evil gazed down upon the rural town of Ponyville, debating its first move. It had 5 afflictions to spread: War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death, as well as its personal favorite: Insanity. It flew down the earth, then began to study the population. It needed a vessel to blend in, a perfectly normal stallion or mare. It settled on a yellow Pegasus: she looked much too happy. Then it noticed the white Rabbit hopping along next to her. A Rabbit was the perfect cover: no being would see a Rabbit as the legendary Evil of Tartarus. It snaked through the tall grass bordering the dirt road, then shot up and forced itself down the Rabbits' throat. It studied the mare as it invaded the Rabbits' mind. She looked to be well fed and healthy. The Evil smirked devilishly. Famine was what this mare needed. One touch from The Evil, and she would be starving.
"Come along, Angel Bunny! It's time to go home." The Evil hopped up onto the mares' back, it's cold paws rubbing against her soft fur. Her plague had started. The Pegasus made her way through the streets of Ponyville, until she came to a small cottage in the outskirts of town. The Evil studied the cottage and the surrounding meadow. Silver fish swam in the creek, colorful birds chirped and sang as they flew, rabbits hopped in abundance in the grass, squirrels ate nuts in the trees, and mice scampered in the fields. The Evil cringed. This place could definitely use some Hell. Then, the door opened. The Evil could hardly believe what it was seeing. The cottage was crawling with happy animals. The Evil dug its new claws into the mares' back, making her bleed. This would make the Famine consume her faster.
"Ouch! That hurt, Angel!" The Evil hopped off her back, then displayed its bloody claws. She felt along her back, then looked at her hoof. It was tipped in red. "Why did you do that to me, Angel? Why..." The mare zoned out, captivated by the blood on her hoof. She shook her head, then trotted to the kitchen. The Evil licked off the blood: she was already feeling it. She opened the refrigerator, then rifled through the various vegetables. She picked out a large carrot, then took a bite. As she munched, a look of disgust formed on her face. She spat it out onto the floor. As she trotted out of the kitchen, a Squirrel tugged on her long pink mane.
"Did you hurt your arm, Mr. Squirrel?" The Squirrel nodded in response. "Doctor Fluttershy's ready to help! I have everything I need to bandage that arm right down in the basement. Follow me please!" Fluttershy led the injured Squirrel down a staircase, The Evil hopping along behind. Fluttershy pulled a first aid kit off a shelf, then pulled out the bandages. She hummed a sickeningly happy tune as she measured it out.
"Oh my, I skipped lunch. Or did I skip breakfast too? I'm terribly hungry all of a sudden...oh my word, I think I'm getting sick! Oh heavens, it hurts! Oh dear...oh dear!!" Fluttershy closed her eyes and held her stomach, taking in ragged breaths. "Oh dear...d-don't think like that...but Fluttershy, you can't! Oh dear, but I'm so very hungry..." Her pupils shrank, and she spread her wings, eying the Squirrel. "It's okay, it's just one little squirrel...nopony will ever know! Oh, and he probably tastes good, too!!" Fluttershy turned around to face the Squirrel. She crept close like a wolf moving in for the kill. She had a wild look in her eyes, her lower eyelid twitching. She moved closer until she was only inches away. Then she pounced. Blood splattered on the walls as the crunch of bone echoed throughout the cottage. The Evil smiled as blood was spattered across its face. It was one tiny step closer to bringing hell on earth. There was a knock on the door. Fluttershy finished off her Squirrel, then raced to the kitchen, picking up The Evil on the way. She scrubbed the blood off their faces, then ran to the door and opened it. Five other mares stood there.
"Hi, Fluttershy. We were just heading to Berry Punch's for some drinks. Care to join- um, why's there blood on your face? Did you hurt yourself?" Asked the purple one.
"Blood on my face?" Fluttershy looked at the hallway mirror. "No, no, that's not blood, it's...jam!! Yeah, jam! See, delicious strawberry jam!" Fluttershy hastily wiped a splash of blood off her face, then began to lick the hoof she wiped it with. "That's some good jam! Really good jam..." She closed her eyes as she continued to lick off the blood.
"...Ok then. Now c'mon, let's go!" The purple one motioned for Fluttershy to follow. The Evil began to hop after this "Fluttershy", but was stopped.
"You gotta stay here, Angel Bunny." Said Fluttershy. The Evil snarled. Fluttershy turned and began to walk out the door. The Evil jumped and clung onto her tail, right as the door was about to close. It slammed shut right behind it, pulling out one of the Rabbits' hairs. As it clung, it looked at the other five. The white one seemed very content, beautiful, and happy. She would recive War. The orange one was honest, loving, extremely competitive, and had very strong family ties. Pestilence was her affliction. The Pink one, optimistic and with boundless energy, had a sad and lonely childhood. Insanity. The blue one, brash, "awesome", and a bit cocky. She would be bound to her pink friend in Insanity. The purple one, a new Alicorn. These 5 ponies were her best friends, and she had very strong bonds with all of them, especially Princess Celestia. The Evil thought. Death.
They approached a thatched roof house. The purple one knocked on the door, and a dark pink pony with rosy eyes and bedmane answered the door, then ushered them inside. It was dimly lit, and the scuffling of small creatures could be heard in the shadows. The pungent scent of alcohol hung heavy in the slightly musty air. They all sat at a table, and the bedmane pony, which The Evil guessed was "Berry Punch" placed shot glasses and a bottle on the table.
...............
The purple one snickered as the blue and orange ponies engaged in a heated argument. Fluttershy got up, almost falling over. She shook her head and trotted off into the shadows, her peers taking no notice. Fluttershy's left ear twitched as she followed the sound of the scuffling creature. Fluttershy lunged forward, catching the creature in her hooves. It was a large gray rat. Fluttershy turned back to the ponies at the table, the rat writing in her grasp. She raised it to her mouth, then bit down on its head. Blood and brain dripped out of her mouth as she ripped the head off and began to chew it, bones crunching in between her teeth. She walked back up to the table and sat down, placing the decapitated rat on the table. The purple one stared at her as the others chanted numbers, the blue and orange ponies chugging beer. The purple one pulled out a camera, then took a picture of Fluttershy. Blood dripped off her chin and onto her chest, the rat corpse leaking blood onto the table, and herself. After the photo was taken, the purple one pulled out a piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. She began to write, giggling as she did so. The blue and orange ponies finished their bottles, then glared at each other as the rest went wild. The Evil smiled at Fluttershy's kill: the fun was just about to begin.
..................
(Princess Celestia's perspective)
A scroll popped into the air in front of Princess Celestia. Her horn lit up with gold magic, and the scroll unfurled.
Dear Pruncess Celestia,
It's meh, Twilahgt Sparkles. I was junst out wuth mah gals, and Flutershaie totalay kiled a rat thang an ate it. It's totaly crasy, bit I'm not kiddin you'd. Lok at this pikture, iTs crasy, raight? Your fathfal studant, Twalaght Sparkles
The Princess read and reread the letter, then noticed a photo tacked to it, stained with red. It was of Fluttershy, covered in blood and a decapitated rat in her hoof. Celestia resisted the sudden urge to run to the bathroom and puke. She carefully studied the photo, then noticed a Rabbits' head peeking out from behind Fluttershy, a thin smile painted on its face. Celestia rerolled the scroll, then trotted hastily down to Luna's chambers. She needed to see this. Celestia knocked on the elegantly carved door. It opened, revealing Princess Luna, eyes almost closed and with a messy mane.
"Sister? I'm not to be awoken until supper, correct?" Luna yawned. Celestia held up the scroll.
"Yes, I know. You need to see this." Celestia walked into Luna's room. Luna closed the door, then turned on the crystal lamp on her bedside table. Celestia straightened out Luna's bed covers, then sat. Luna sat beside her and unfurled the scroll.
"Why would you want me to read this? This hoofwriting is not legible."
"I know, Luna. Look at this." Celestia handed her sister the photo.
"What? I can't even begin to imagine how this is real. How could Fluttershy-"
"Look at the Rabbit."
"What Rabbi- oh sweet mother, how is this possible?"
"I don't know, but we need to find out. This doesn't feel right."
"How? I've seen many things, sister, but nothing like this."
Rarity strolled through a dark forest, the pale moonlight painting a path. A twig snapped. The sharp crack echoed through the forest, yet not a thing stirred. Rarity's deep blue eyes scanned the tress in which the sound had come from. As she looked, she saw a midnight black pony standing on the edge of the light path. Her eyes snapped back to where the pony was standing, but nothing was there. Rarity continued on her way, this time accelerating a bit quicker. Another twig snapped, followed by the sound of thumping. Thump. Thump. Thump. And it was getting louder. Thump. Thump. THUMP. Rarity stopped when the source of the thumping revealed itself. It was a black pony with no mane and dead black eyes. No whites, no irises, no pupil. Just a soulless black void. It thumped its hoof against a tree stump in the middle of the light path. Thump. Thump. Thump. It stopped thumping, then opened its mouth. It was impossibly wide, with a row of razor sharp teeth. Fangs, more like. Rarity couldn't look away. It attacked.
The Evil Behind It All
Written by Surprise The Pegasus
Chapter 2: Your Worst Nightmare
The Evil growled. Fluttershy lay on the couch, surgery handbooks stacked all around, pieces of cubed meat on a plate next to her. It was bored. It hopped upstairs into what must have been Fluttershy's bedroom. A window as open, pink curtains billowing in the Summer breeze. The Evil wormed its way out of the Rabbit, then flew out the window. It ducked in the tall grass, weaving in between houses until it reached a tall building with a blue quilted pattern. Wrought Iron swirls laced the rafters, and made up a rail/fence around the building. It flew in through an open window to find a white Unicorn filly asleep over a piece of paper and crayons. Perfect. It swirled inside, then floated in front of the slumbering filly. She yawned. The Evil jammed itself down her throat, taking control of her. A few minutes later, a white Unicorn mare, one of the six friends, trotted into the room.
"Sweetie Belle, I need your help. Come along, dear!" Sweetie Belle. That was the worst name The Evil had heard. Ever. It followed the mare. She led it to a workroom of some sort. Bolts of fabrics were organized in a large wood bookcase, Mannequins were positioned against the wall, and a desk held a sewing machine, brightly colored threads, ribbons, beads, jewels, papers filled with drawings, as well as clothing patterns. The mare held up a pale green dress, trimmed with white lace. She put it on The Evil, smiling.
"You look absolutely darling! I made this for you, my little singer! I'm proud of you, Sweetie Belle." The mare gave The Evil a loving hug. The Evil smiled, too, but not because of the dress. She had just been served War, on a silver platter. She broke the hug, but continued to smile, a tear sliding down her cheek. After that, The Evil watched. It didn't strike, not yet at least. It waited. War took a bit longer to sink in then Famine.
.................
The Evil walked around the workroom, brushing by the mannequins as it passed. This war did need enemy soldiers, after all. This mare would be in for a real treat. The mare hummed away as she sewed. Suddenly, she picked up a spool of thread and threw it at one of the mannequins, her face contorted with anger and pain. She quickly relaxed, then sat down and resumed her sewing. It was getting to her, and sooner or later, War would be all she knew. The rest of the day went about as The Evil supposed it should for the filly it was possessing. The sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the sky in fiery colors.
"Sweetie Belle, it's time for bed. Now be a dear and go brush your teeth." The mare pointed to a staircase, her voice slightly worn. The Evil walked up the steps, trying to find the "tooth brushing" place. It was an ancient beast, caged for many millennia. It was not up to speed on modern times. After many minutes of searching, it gave up. It pushed open a door that led to a bedroom of sorts. There was a bed, so it decided to stay and wait for War. As it flopped down on the bed, it thought. This was going to be easy, if that Princess Celestia stayed out of its way. Easy.
.................
Pale moonlight illuminated the workroom. Slowly, the beams of light focused on the mannequins The Evil had brushed by earlier. But when The Evil had touched them, it cast a spell. A spell of War. Now, underneath the moonlight, it activated. One of the mannequins lifted itself off the metal pole it had been practically impaled with. It lowered itself onto the floor, then walked through the workroom and up the stairs, absolutely silent. It then made its way to Rarity's bedroom. It opened the door, then walked up to Rarity's bed. It laid its front hooves on the edge of the bed, leaning over the slumbering mare. The fabric around its muzzle became soupy, as if giving it a mouth. It was large and gaping, the edges turned up in a sickening smile. A bit of liquids fabric dripped off its face and landed on the snoozing Rarity. She stirred, shifting slightly and scratching her nose.
"Rarity..." The mannequin spoke, its voice an unholy growl. She woke this time, removing her yellow eye cover. She rubbed her eyes, then blinked several times. Her mouth hung open in utter shock and disbelief. Her eyes narrowed. She then struck it, shoving it off of her and sending it sprawling. A loud thump awoke The Evil. It cackled, then released the filly Sweetie Belle from her possession. The Evil then took its pony form. It had a midnight black coat, and dead black eyes. No whites, no irises, no pupils. Just a soulless black void. It opened its mouth. It was impossibly wide, lined with a row of razor sharp teeth. It thumped a hoof against the ground. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Silent, Violent, and Very Deadly
Evil. It resides within us all, caged like the beast it is. Evil is all over the world, even in the magical, seemingly peaceful land of Equestria. It has struck before: Releasing Nightmare Moon, Releasing Discord, sending the Queen and her Changelings, Conjuring the Crystal Empire, and melting the ice for Sombra. It watches from beyond the light's edge, waiting for another opportunity to strike. It has found a way to seep into Equestria once more. With it, it will bring war, famine, pestilence, and death. It also brings a special gift for the ponies of Equestria: insanity. Now, the fate of the world depends on two clueless Princesses. Will they defeat this Evil? Only time will tell.
The Evil Behind It All
Written by Surprise The Pegasus
Introduction: Silent, Violent, and Very Deadly
The Evil raced around its cage, waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment. The moment when it would break out of its ancient cage, then escape when Cerberus wasn't looking. The Evil could easily defeat Cerberus, but doing that would waste its precious strength and energy. It was a very powerful thing: possibly even matching that of king Tirek himself. Of course, The Evil was his first creation. Despite its incredible power, it did have a weakness. Celestia, Luna, and the loathed Elements of Harmony. Even king Tirek couldn't best Celestia without his most powerful demons to assist him. The Evil was sure it could bring the end of time, and begin a golden age under Tirek's rule. All it needed was a flaw. A seemingly unimportant flaw. And here she was, being forced back into her cage.
Catrina the Cruel, one of the Chosen Six. She shuffled along the dark corridor, the sound of scraping metal accompanying her hoofsteps. Her black, lifeless eyes scanned the bloodstained cages. One of the guard creatures, a Sphinx, opened her cage, then threw her in. Once inside, her pony vessel dissapated. She looked across the corridor at The Evil, eyes filled with seething rage. She didn't say a word. Once the Sphinx was out of sight, the evil swirled around, creating an infinity symbol. Catrina nodded, then closed her eyes and focused on The Evil's cage. A tiny gap was made in a corner. The Evil flew through it, then zoomed down the corridor.
"It didn't even thank me." Grumbled Catrina, gazing at the cloud of black smoke that was The Evil. It flew down the corridor, then through the cell block door. It made its way through the Tartarus prison, past the Chamber of Tortured Souls, and finally, to the exit, where Cerberus watched. The Evil snuck past Cerberus with ease, then spiraled out into the open air. It took in all the sights and sounds before it. It was the most revolting thing The Evil had ever seen. It had work to do.
