Of Bones and Hooves

by VampDash

Rating: teen
Tags: Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark, Alternate Universe, Other, Adventure, Crossover
Length: 2298

An evil deity from a far away galaxy. Six heroes destined to save their own galaxy. And a planet filled with peace and happiness. A darkness the likes of which the Mane 6 has never encountered descends upon Equestria.

The last things The Mane 6 ever expected from the meteor shower was zomponies rising from the grave or undead monsters attacking their home of Ponyville and yet these things have transpired thanks to the arrival of a new and deadly foe but this one foe could actually do what many in the past have failed. This one could very well be the one who brings The Elements Of Harmony to their knees and the world of Equestria may very well be their final resting place.

*Edit: Cover art graciously done by TP Night. Link to his Deviant-Art account here.

Published 2014-02-14 19:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-14 19:40:03 UTC

The Dead Shall Rise

“Hey Twilight when did you say this meteor shower was supposed to start again?” Rainbow Dash asked her friend as they and the rest of their friends laid out on the picnic cloth. Earlier that day Twilight had called her friends together to tell them about a meteor shower that was happening that night and also planned out where they could see it the best. Now, as the Mane Six laid there on that red and white checkered cloth with a picnic basket filled to the brim with snacks, they awaited for the greatest show that happens every few hundred years.

“Soon Rainbow. By my calculations, it should start in a few minutes.” Twilight replied to her friend’s question. Rainbow just rolled her eyes and smiled as they looked up. Sure enough just as she predicted the meteors had begun to fall. To say that it was gorgeous would be an understatement as the correct word would be beautiful. The streaks of light that darted down towards the ground and the occasional flash that indicated new meteors was nothing short of breathtaking.

“This is amazing. How’d you know there’d be a meteor shower tonight darling?” Rarity asked in a very curious voice.

“I don’t know really. It was just a hunch that this would happen.” The lavender Alicorn replied as she watched the streams of bright light pass through the air above her. She watched as the white and blue objects soared through the sky like birds before dimming. But then she watched as what could be described as a dark purple meteor slowly glided through the air.

As I fell to this strange new world, burning while doing so, I remember the feeling of blades severing me from my mortal coil. I remember the feeling of having my body torn from me but most of all I remember how close, so close, I was to taking over the universe but it was… for nothing. Nothing but pure and utter failure as I was severed and taken away from my master. My minions had all but abandoned me. Everything about the old me was dead or dying now. But I couldn’t give up. I COULDN’T! So while I floated through the vast reaches of this pathetic universe I tried to sense a powerful source of dark and truly malevolent energy and, as luck would now have it, this very world contains such a source. The moment I entered it’s atmosphere I adjusted myself so that I fell towards this energy source. As I got closer… and closer to my goal I suddenly felt that the energy it emitted was just enough to allow some part of me to live but that was all the power I needed.

I finally arrived near my destination but instead of a hard ground that greeted me I was met by a cold soft ground that softened my landing. As I stared around, I noticed that the area was as dark as the shadows that met it. As I began to turn my head, I felt something. As if a potent and evil energy was flowing through this area. I struggled to look around and see what it was but it was difficult. Until suddenly, I think I found the source. It was a unique looking bone that curved like a horn that was tipped blood red. I tried to roll over to the horn but I found that I had no need as the horn’s dark energies had done so already. It levitated me and it till we were almost at the same height. I felt the energies flow through it to me and suddenly… my own head split down the middle.

Normally this would’ve meant the end for me but I knew enough about magic to use the energies to craft a spiritual form for me. This is not the body I wished for but it will have to do. I turned and saw that my shadow self had little to no true form to itself but this is inconsequential as I soon learned. I once more tried to sense for any sign of dark energies but instead of that I soon felt…. four powerful energies coming from different places. Two of these were in the same place and were too powerful for me to kill single handedly, I will deal with them later. One was a little closer but still felt to powerful for me to try and combat but the last one. This one was weaker than the other three and it was very close. I figured that in my current state any new development in this world these four would sense it…. so I improvised. I summoned up some of my old energy and sent it out to the far reaches of this world. I felt it connect with a nearby cemetery and soon my army rose. I ordered them to attack the third power’s home turf and they soon went off to do so. This will give me the time I need to take care of the fourth being.

Back at Ponyville, the Mane Six returned to their homes and went in their beds to get themselves a good night’s rest. But at the home of Twilight Sparkle, she wasn’t having the nice and calm dreams that she always had. Instead.. she was having one of the most frightful nightmares she’s ever had in her life. In her nightmare, she was standing in a solid black liquid that was sticky like tar. No matter how hard she tried to move the tar kept her glued to the spot. She looked around to try and see if anypony could help her but all she got was a dark and frightening laughter that filled the dream.

“HELP! SOMEPONY! ANYPONY!” She screamed as she struggled to break herself free from the black liquid. But then, she froze like ice when she watched two, demonic red eyes appear from the shadows.

“W-What-” She stuttered.

You pathetic creature. You dare call yourself powerful when you cannot break from my grasp? A gravely and raspy voice asked her. Twilight’s frightened expression soon became one of rage as she charged up her horn only to find that it ended abruptly soon after. She struggled some more until she saw… something. It almost seemed to have looked like her but there were some... differences. It was wearing a dark cloak and its magic was darker. Her eyes were solid white and blood dripped from her soulless eyes. It also had what appeared to be a shawl wrapped around it’s muzzle but even Twilight didn’t have to see it to know the thing was smiling.

“W-WHAT IS THIS?! W-W-WHO ARE YOU?!” Twilight screamed in fear. The being in front of her laughed a little as it tore away it’s cloak to reveal…. Twilight. The real one tried to get away but her monster self just seemed to be getting closer to her as it unfurled a pair of dark decaying bat wings from it’s side like one of Luna’s personal thestral guards.

“I’m you Twilight Sparkle.” It said as it finally closed the gap between the two. As Twilight released a blood curdling scream, her eyes in the world of Equis shot open as she jumped up from her bed. She shot her head around and looked to see that she was back in her home.

It was just a dream. But why did it feel so real? Twilight thought to herself. She noticed that it was still dark out but also saw some light out in the distance. She looked further and saw… zomponies. Twilight, acting fast, got out of her bed and ran outside hoping to see if she was just seeing things. But when she stepped outside, she was living in a nightmare. She watched as walking corpses of ponies who’ve passed away walked the streets of Ponyville, groaning as they searched for flesh to eat. Lighting her horn, she blasted some of them in the head. But they got back up like nothing hit them! Twilight then decided to run as one of them got a little too close to her and nearly took a bite out of her. As she was running however she soon ran and fell into a frightened Applejack who like wise fell down on to the ground. As a zompony neared her, ready to sink its teeth into her, Applejack noticed who the zompony was. It was her father.

“P-Pa?” She asked as she zompony prepared to sink its decayed teeth into her. But then, a flash of blue struck the undead in its side, sending it flying into a fruit stand. Applejack looked and saw it was Rainbow.

“Applejack, c’mon we need to get these ponies to safety!” Rainbow said as she zoomed away. Applejack stood motionless for a moment but soon got over her shock and got back to her hooves. She noticed that several ponies were trying to run away and she distinctly heard one of them yell out “THE HORROR!” but tossed the thought aside as she ran up to help them.

Meanwhile, Twilight was making sure that ponies were making into a bunker near town hall. But then she noticed a familiar pony impaling the undead with his spear. It was her brother, Shining Armor.

“SHINING!” She yelled as she closed the bunker door when the last pony entered it. The unicorn stallion turned and saw his sister run up to him.

“Twilight, where’d these things come from?!” He asked. Twilight tried to answer but one of the undead jumped on her. The thing tried to bite down on her but she eventually blasted the creature off her. The moment the last of the undead charged at them Shining brought his spear down on it’s head and stopped it dead…. again.

“NOPONY HURTS MY SISTER!” He roared.

“Shining, are these things everywhere in Equestria?!” Twilight asked. Shining only shook his head.

“No so far it only seems to be Ponyville. I’m just glad I stayed here to check of you or else I would’ve missed this.” Shining said. Twilight raised an eyebrow as she processed this information. It was known that she had enemies yes but to go so far as to raise the dead to try and destroy Ponyville? That seemed very out of the way just to get at her.

“Twilight, get your friends and Spike. We’re heading to the Crystal Empire.” Shining ordered.

“But I want to stay here! Ponyville won’t make it with-”

“Twilight as your older brother I say we get you somewhere safe!”

“No. You can’t stay anyways we all know Cadence can’t control the Crystal Empire without you BBBFF. Please let me stay okay? I can take care of myself and as I said before this town needs me.” Twilight said firmly. Shining tried to think of a counter argument but found none to be had.

“Fine. You stay here. I’ll make sure that none of these things are near Cadence.” He said as his horn glowed. He then disappeared and Twilight continued to make sure everypony was fine.

I saw through one of the eyes of my minions and saw that my plan had worked perfectly. The creature that lived there now chose to stay and thus couldn’t interfere with my plan. It’s… bbbff, whatever it meant, might prove to be a problem…. or a necessary piece to my plan. I arrived at this Crystal Empire not to long ago and mainly hid in it’s shadows. I got close enough to see the entrance to it’s castle and for a moment I actually marveled at the sight before me. These equines, while small and not very powerful it seemed, were very skillful in creating structures like this. It fills my shadow form with joy as I imagined destroying each and every one of their cities. As my form slithered over to it’s entrance I saw a light flash and before me that creature from earlier appeared before my sight. It had a pure white coat and a blue mane and it appeared to wear a sort of armor over it’s body. It was the same one that killed my soldiers. But I knew that somehow, this creature was the perfect specimen for my army.

Slowly, I slithered up to him and tried to remain undetected as he began to patrol around the area. I then began my plan to add him to my units as I let a small chunk of my spiritual body let go of my whole form. It slithered over to a nearby statue and cracked it ever so slightly and also nudged it as well. The statue fell over as the equine looked up. Too late for him though as the statue fell down upon him and I had to avoid chuckling as I heard his body get crushed and his blood splatter the ground. The small part of me reattached itself just in time as I heard the beats of flapping wings. I quickly hid behind another statue and watched another creature show up. This one though was solid pink. I watched as the creature removed the pieces of the statue off of the creature’s corpse. It fell to its knees and began to sob. I merely sank further into the shadows and began to laugh at how easy this was.

“S-Shining? SHINING! NO! NO PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME SHINING!” Cadence cried out as she sobbed into her late husband’s corpse and just held it close to her. If she hadn’t been doing so, however, she would’ve noticed the creature that was gliding over and sank into her own shadow.