Rise Of Darkness

Chaos...what is Chaos? How is it different from Harmony? There are so many questions...yet so little answers...Is it even possible for Friendship to conquer that of any evil? Even to this day, everypony understands so little. Friendship...is nothing more than an illusion..." -Shadestone

RISE OF DARKNESS

Prologue

There was once a time of great evil and darkness. It is around that time, our story begins...

A pony by the name of Shadestone was born in the year of 1950 BNM (Before Nightmare Moon). He was gifted in the powers of foreign magic. It marked him as an outcast to all ponies. He was brought to Celestia for guidance and training. As an apprentice of hers, Shadestone became a powerful individual; so powerful, that even Celestia began to fear him like everyone else... She eventually exiled him for his safety and theirs.

Then one day, it all happened...

Shadestone walked around Canterlot Castle unseen and entered the Royal Library's Restricted Section.

'I must have more! More knowledge! I will go to any length to understand the powers and capabilities of darkness!' Shadestone thought to himself.

"Halt trespasser!" A Royal Guard said.

Shadestone merely chuckled and blasted a beam of black energy turning the guard to stone. He then entered the Restricted Section while destroying the former guard now turned statue.

"They're all foals to dare think they can stand in my way now. Celestia fears me. I can sense it. That is why she refrained me from entering this place. But as they say, knowledge is power. And I crave it so."

After finding what he was looking for, Shadestone left, packed his things, and left Canterlot Castle.

MLP

Later that night...

Celestia found the Royal Library in ruins. She ordered every Guard to find Shadestone and apprehend him by any means necessary!

However, far away in the vast reaches of the Everfree Forest, darkness was at work. Shadestone began to boil ingredients into a special brew of potion. With it, he'd gain the knowledge of all Equestria! Past, present, and future.

'Heh heh heh...all my studies have brought me to this moment! Soon knowledge beyond knowledge will be mine... and mine alone! They shunned me, ridiculed, and hated me! All because of my gifting in Dark Magic! Bah! Those fools know nothing of it's capabilities. Their feeble light cannot exist without shadow. So why is it that they shun it? I must have these answers! I. Must Know. EVERYTHING!!!!'

He looked upon his Cutie Mark which he thought of as a curse, but now a gift. It was styled as a Black Crystal surging with dark energies. Simple, yet surprisingly...fitting.

The finishing touches were added to the potion when suddenly, his "home" was broken into by none other than Princess Celestia herself! She was very elegant with pure white fur, rainbow colored mane and tail, a golden tiara, and golden breastplate adorned her.

"Stop this madness Shadestone! You don't know what consequences you'll bring to this land!" Celestia shouted in a vain attempt to stop her protégé.

"And why should I Celestia? You've always claimed to know what the truth is behind Light, Friendship, and Darkness. Yet you hide it's answers and secrets away for your own selfish needs! You're just like the rest of the ponies I've met. Selfish, foalish, and pathetic beings who know NOTHING! I believe it's truly time for your reign to end and mine to begin. If you want to stop me, then come at me with everything you have!"

"YOU DARETH TO ATTACK OUR SISTER?! THY TREACHERY SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED!" Princess Luna shouted in the royal Canterlot Voice as she burst in to fight alongside her sister.

"And your annoying excuse for a voice merely repulses me to no end dear Loony! Enough foalish bickering. For behold! The potion is finished! Now knowledge beyond all is mine!" Shadestone shouted triumphantly.

"STOP!" Both sisters shouted. But it was too late. The potion was drunk and a burst of chaotic Dark Magic was unleashed from Shadestone's body. What was once a young grey stallion with a midnight black mane, was a pure blackish purple alicorn with black mist pouring out of every part of his body. He now had a crimson mane billowing out in the wind like maniacal flames. He also had green markings everywhere on his body as well. His Cutie Mark changed into that of a Deformed Black Crystal Crown with a Lunar Eclipse inside it. Unlike regular alicorns, his wings were bat-like and his horn was a curved sickle-shaped blade. His eyes were the purest of whites; devoid of any emotion or remorse for his actions.

"Behold my power Royal Sisters! The true power of darkness itself! I can feel practically everything beneath my hooves. I can sense the very presences of the spirits and can even see into the past! This is truly remarkable! And...what's this? I sense fear inside both of you! Ha ha ha ha! How truly pathetic. So pathetic it is laughable!"

Luna and Celestia both trembled at the power of the newly born Shadestone. They looked around them and saw all life slowly starting to decay around them and turn to ashes!

"Sister." Luna said. "We must stop this creature from setting foot into Canterlot- no...into all of Equestria!"

"I know dear Luna. I believe now's the time to use the Elements of Harmony." Celestia replied back to Luna.

"Feeble minded foals! You cannot and will not stop me! Not when there's so much to learn about the very essence of the universe! Do you dare deny me my right?! If so...SUFFER!" Shadestone summoned a massive cleaver made of pure Dark Magic and attacked.

Luna and Celestia gathered as much energy as possible and attacked as well. Luna merely got hit by the Dark Sword while Celestia swiftly and nimbly dodged every blow. As Luna fired a beam of concentrated energy at Shadestone, Celestia bucked Shadestone in the sides, eliciting a gasp from the powerful foe. They fought and fought until they were all at their very last breaths.

"You cannot defeat me Princesses! I am ETERNAL!" Shadestone proclaimed then fired a beam  darkness at Celestia and Luna, while they used the last bits of energy inside them to fire a beam of light using The Elements of Harmony.

The beams both struck their marks. Finally a huge explosion engulfed nearly half of the Everfree Forest and what was revealed was quite a sight!

While both Princesses were hurt and nearly close to Death's Door, Shadestone had seemingly vanished into thin air. That however was not the case. During the battle, when The Elements of Harmony were fired at Shadestone, they opened up the Gates of Tartarus where Shadestone now resides...no longer a threat. The Princesses were then found by The Royal Guard and taken to recuperation. The sisters eventually recovered, but the mental strain never left them. In what is now the Everfree of today, a powerful Dark Curse lies within. For it is the one thing Shadestone left behind in this world. Whoever dare entered would slowly lose their minds to the horrors and evil that is the Everfree. And as for the ruins left behind where Shadestone once resided? Destroyed for all eternity...never to be seen again.....

In Tartarus...

Deep down in the vast abyss of Tartarus, Shadestone lies in anger and hate. His power may be weak and his body nearly destroyed, but his spiritual form and energy still are at it's highest.

'Ha! They believed they've stopped me? I told them already, I'm eternity itself! Unlike some miserable foal who gave into darkness, I embraced it! One day my dear Loony and Celly...all will bow at my feet. And not even your little trinkets known as The Elements of Harmony will stop me again! I've made certain of that! For with the power to see the future, I will be back by creating a series of events that will lead to my freedom and you to your inevitable demise. For now, I shall simply watch and wait while these events take place. You have not seen the last of me. I shall forever haunt your very nightmares! In fact, I know just the puppet to start my little paradox! Oh my sweet little Luna...heh heh heh...'

MLP

And so it was then that the rising of King Sombra and Nightmare Moon eventually began with Shadestone's dark influence. And each time the Elements of Harmony were used, Shadestone grew stronger and Celestia slowly giving in to the sudden nightmares that plagued her to no end...

To Be Continued...!