Mistakes of the Past

Mistakes of the Past
By Cosmic Waltz

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

This is a Grimdark fanfiction story based on the show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" by Hasbro. It will contain scenes of violence, gore, death, and heavy emotional content. You have been warned.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Chapter 4

Spike leapt from Pinkie's back, letting Gummy slip to the floor. He darted to the unicorn in bed. "Twilight! You're here! I was so worried!"

The purple dragon hopped on the bed, wrapping his arms around the injured pony. The embrace sent shots of pain through her bruised skin, but just seeing her friends made the pangs seem trivial. "Spike! I'm so glad you're okay!" She parted from the dragon, looking to him with worry. "What happened in Ponyville?"

Spike was trembling. It was obvious that the events were still fresh in his mind. "Well, it started to get cloudy, and I thought that maybe I missed a rain notice, so I ran back to the library. But when I got there, you weren't home. The place was a wreck! Books all over the floor, shelves were broken. I started to look around when I heard some ponies screaming in the streets, and that's when I saw... those, those 'things!'"

Celestia turned to the group at the door. "I'm glad to see you all made it. What happened? Who attacked Ponyville? What are these 'things' Spike mentioned?" It wasn't like the Princess to sound so anxious.

Fluttershy landed, placing the bunny she held to her on a table by the bed. She tried to speak up, fear brimming in her voice. "I-I saw them first. They c-came out of the Everfree Forest not long after the sky got cloudy. Th-they looked like p-ponies, but, they're not... right."

"'Not right' is one way to say it, all right!" Dash retorted, still hovering above the grounded ponies. "The things were hardly alive!"

Rarity joined the conversation, holding Sweetie Belle closer. "The brutes were everywhere, attacking anypony that got near! They were just these dark, skeleton ponies!"

"Zombie ponies!" Spike added.

The air grew heavy. Everypony's coat bristled under a peculiar sensation of cold static.

It was the sensation of powerful magic staining the atmosphere.

"Much more impressive than bringing back the occasional bird or snake, isn't it Celestia?" a split, twisted voice called. "I was honestly quite surprised myself."

The party turned towards the new shape on the far side of the room, blocking the dim light of the window. A silhouette was cast long over the floor, his shadow seeming to writhe beneath its own presence.

Dash was the first to throw her comments to the figure. "Who the hay are you?"

Princess Celestia's eyes grew wide, pupils contracting on the beastly pony. "Sevic!" She quickly turned from the gathering, throwing her wings protectively out between them and her haunter. "Strongheart! Get them out of here!"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Who is this guy?"

Sevic laughed at the spectacle. "Me? I'm the nightmare your precious little 'Princess' can never wake from." He turned his gaze to the royal pony before the crowd. "Do not worry, Celestia. I haven't come to hurt anypony. Not yet. I merely had to see your face when you heard the fate of that village of hovels. Painted with hate. You've never looked more lovely, my Princess."

Celestia gritted her teeth in anger. "I knew it. I knew it was you!"

Applejack broke from her stoic silence. "Him? He's the pony that attacked us?" Her freckled face twisted into one of pain and rage. Turning on her hooves, she charged the pale alicorn. "YOU MONSTER!"

Strongheart fired to action, grabbing the farmer's tail with his teeth. In a quick motion, he threw the earth pony back behind him unceremoniously. "Don't be a foal! You can't possibly fight him!"

The orange pony was quickly on her hooves again, trying to force her way past the large-framed guard. "That monster's the reason Ah lost mah whole dang family!" Tears welled in her eyes as she fought her protector. "He's the one that ruined everything!"

"EVERYPONY STAY BACK!" Celestia's voice boomed, settling the commotion. Her glare never left Sevic. "Why? Why did you attack Ponyville?"

The specter gave a cackling laugh, hellfire sounding within his throat as damned screams mimicked his voice. A wicked grin split his face. "When your student shattered my prison, I still needed power. I found myself a home within her, feeding on her magic, and absorbing her memories. From there, I had all the venom I would ever need to poison you. I saw within her mind the Elements of Harmony. I saw your eternal admiration for their actions. You put a lot of your focus into that small town. Did it remind you of ours?" His expression sank into a serious manner. "When I manifested, I had all the knowledge I needed. After I finished with your pet, I called forth the deceased. I found an army at my disposal. That town was special to you. Now, it is a village of flames and blood."

Celestia dug her hooves into the carpeting beneath her. "You monster... What sick games are you playing at?! I am within your reach, so why attack the defenseless?! That's low, even for you!"

A vicious grin returned to her past lover's face. "Before, I may have agreed with you. But you forget, 'Princess,' that that was in life. I was laid dead at your hooves, remember? And death is cold. I told you; give up on those you love. Because I have not."

Sevic's gaze passed over the wing of the guardian mare, connecting with the frail unicorn. "Twilight Sparkle. It is good to see you. I was hoping you wouldn't die from our encounter. That wouldn't be nearly as much fun."

Twilight's heart sank, a fathomless terror gripping her gut. She felt as if she would vomit as his eyes burned into her mind. Scenes of the violence and abuse she had tried to forget flashed before her, and her tears poured freely.

This seemed to please the beastly stallion. His smile widened. "Do you remember our time together? I certainly do. It was quite the pleasure, wouldn't you say?" He threw back his head, another harsh, cracked laugh passing from his lips.

"I've heard enough out of you!" a voice cried. It was Rainbow Dash. Catching her defenders distracted, she bolted overhead towards the evil pony.

Celestia realized far too late what the pegasus was doing. "DASH, STOP!"

Sevic, however, was faster. His piercing eyes turned to the blue pony flying to him, an irate scowl on his face. "FOAL!" His spiraled horn lit with magic. The glow encased the pegasus, halting her within the air. His corrupt power went to work, twisting Rainbow Dash's wings back in a sickening cacophony of cracking, popping noises, folding the limbs violently into themselves before ripping them from her back. It was over before anypony, even Dash herself, could react. Sevic smiled again. "You should listen to your betters, Worm!" The blue pony was thrown hard to the floor, blood flowing from the mangled stumps that remained. With his parting words, Sevic disappeared into his fiery magic, leaving the horrified audience to scramble to the dismembered pegasus.

"Doctors!" Celestia called, anger and panic cracking her voice. "We need the doctors in here NOW!"

Dash was babbling in shock as her friends reached her. "My wings! What did he do to my wings! WHY CAN'T I FEEL MY WINGS?!"

The doctors burst into the room, taking immediately to the pony. The crowd cleared as three unicorns picked up the incoherent Dash with their magic, carrying her in haste to the clinic. Also hovering within the magic behind them were the two shattered wings.

Celestia fought her own tears. She had to stop this. She had to speak with the monster herself. Before any other pony got caught in their battle. She separated from the distraught group, heading towards the courtyard.

"SEVIC! COME OUT! I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING ME!!"

The Princess of the Sun shouted into the cloudy sky above the empty courtyard of the palace. He was there, she knew. He was watching her every move.

"You called, 'my Princess?'" The creature in question answered behind her, appearing from his magic again.

Celestia spun to face him. "Why? WHY?! What happened between us wasn't my fault! And it certainly wasn't theirs!"

Sevic was instantly in her face, just inches from her. "NOT YOUR FAULT?! You slew me within our castle, and it wasn't your fault?!"

Her fear of the beast had faded in her rage. "You sought to kill me, Sevic! I did not wish you dead, not once! It was an accident!"

"An accident that will cost you all you hold dear," he replied. "You had your chance to finish me, and you failed. Now, it is my turn to strike a blow. That pegasus sealed her own contract when she charged me. Call it 'an accident.'"

Celestia stared into the eyes of the monster before her. Within her, pure hatred boiled at her skin. She had never called for death before, but she wished with all her power that she could kill him now. She would bring down the very sun if only to land it on his back. With his power being so great over her own, though, she knew who held the higher hoof between them. She found herself bowing to him. "Please..." she managed weakly. "Please, stop this. Do what you will to me, but leave the others out of this. Leave my subjects be."

Sevic stepped before the royal mare, standing over her. "'Do what I will?' To you? The great Herald of the Sun, begging before me? You humor me. I've had you moan beneath my chest in fits of passion. You swore your love to me from the highest peaks of ecstasy. You promised me all of Equestria through heated breaths. I've had your best, 'Princess.' I want your worst. And your subjects are by far the sharpest thorn to stab you with. Misery cleaves a wound that never heals. I will dissect everything you love, showing you the pieces that remain. I will destroy all you've touched. I will take what's pure, and I will defile it. And you have no one to blame but yourself."

The Princess thrust forward, impaling her long horn through the neck of the spiteful pony. No blood flowed from the wound. She knew it would do no good, but it was satisfying nonetheless.

Sevic arched his head over the horn embedded through him, placing his muzzle to her ear. "The best part? Twilight loved you. You could of had her first. Now there's nothing to have."

He then emitted a pulse of magic, launching the mare across the courtyard into the stoney walls of the palace. Celestia looked up from the ground she had crumpled to as Sevic gave his final words.

"I'm growing bored of this game myself, Celestia. If you want it to end, so be it. Bow before me. Bow before me in the room you killed me. In the library you left me for so long. In our old castle. Do that, and I'll leave your subjects be. But I will not easily hand you the key to your cell. If you want my audience, you'll have to fight for it. My army is on its way now. Ready your guard. I want you to see from the frontline all the lives that your mistakes have thrown away. I want you to watch my minions shred the flesh of those loyal to you. Don't keep me waiting." Another flash of black fires, and he was gone again.

Celestia had listened well. He sought war. And if she was to protect her subjects, that war had to be fought.

The main hall of the palace was full of ponies. Guardsmen and Magisters stood watch while refugees and nobility found themselves in mixed company. Word of war had spread, sending a frightful wave through the crowd.

Twilight had just managed to reach her hooves. Various medicines dulled the pain, but physical limitations still held her. She scanned the large room to find her friends. Many faces she recognized from Ponyville, though none with the cheer and vibrancy she remembered.

Ditzy Doo and Dinky cradled each other in tears in one corner. Snips walked nervously about, asking if anyone had seen Snails. Mayor Mare lied near one wall, a large bandage on her side. Cheerilee sat with a group of school-ponies, many of which calling in sobs for parents that never showed. Bon-Bon sat alone, screaming through a flood of tears. It was a scene of misery.

Rainbow Dash sat against a pillar of the large hall. A large, white bandage was wrapped tightly around her, two red-splashed spots on her back.

They had not been able to save the wings. They couldn't even be called 'wings' anymore. Using magic to slow the bleeding, she was released back into the room under sedation. Though the pain was absent from her sides, it still bore deep into her mind.

"Dash..." It was Applejack. She walked to the blue pony, sitting down beside her. "So, they couldn't put'em back on..."

"No, they couldn't. I... I don't have wings anymore." The former pegasus looked to her battered sides, a forlorn shadow dropping over her features.

The farmer couldn't make herself look upon her broken friend. "Rainbow... Ah'm so sorry."

Dash didn't wish to talk about it further. "So, did you find any of your family? They should be around here somewhere."

There was a long pause between the question and its reply. "Mah family ain't here. They ain't gonna show up, either." She sobbed lightly as the tears welled. "Ah saw'em. Ah saw those things get to'em. Big Macintosh tried to protect the house. Ah wanted to help, but he just kept tellin' me to get to Twilight. 'The Princess'll know what to do,' he kept sayin'. Ah couldn't find Twi, so Ah went back to help... and..." She couldn't hold back the rising pain any longer. Applejack fell into her hooves, crying in her distress.

Dash put her hoof around the farmer. She had never seen her strongest friend like this before. They had both lost so much today.

After several minutes, Applejack found her strength returning, in spite of her sorrow. "Big Macintosh'd be ashamed if he saw me bawlin' like a baby. He'd tell me to be strong. So Ah gotta. Fer him."

Dash held the farmer close to her. "Applejack... I spoke with the guards. They need volunteers. Even though I'm hurt, they're taking what they can get." She glanced away to the palace gates, the army being prepared just on the other side. "I'm on the frontline. I want my chance to put a blade in that beast."

Applejack looked up, tears still wet in her eyes. "Dash, that's crazy..."

The pegasus gave a hollow laugh. "Everything's pretty crazy right now, AJ. This morning I was practicing my stunts while waiting for Twilight. Now, I won't fly again. 'Dash' isn't 'Dash' without wings, AJ. I'll never be her again. I lost everything. Least I can do is take out a few of those things."

Applejack held the broken pegasus closer to her. "Rainbow... If yer goin', so am Ah. Those damn monsters took mah life from me. Ah'm not lettin' 'em get away with it, either." The pact was sealed. They would fight together for what they had lost.

Dash looked down to the floor. "AJ? I always loved you." She spoke as if she was already dead.

"Ah know you did, Rainbow," the farmer replied in a soft voice. "Ah'm sorry Ah never felt the same. Maybe things would'a been different if Ah tried."

Both ponies found themselves in the hooves of the other, unashamed of the embrace.

Twilight finally located Pinkie in the large room. The party pony was less lively than usual, idly petting Gummi's scales.

"Pinkie. I'm so happy to see you're all right." Twilight's voice was dry and cracked, damaged by screaming.

The pink pony looked to her, a false happiness in her voice. "Oh, hi Twilight. Are you okay?"

The unicorn didn't want to hover over the question for long. "I'll make it. Where are the girls?"

"Rarity and Fluttershy are helping in the clinic. A lot of ponies were hurt during the attack. And Applejack is down there with Rainbow Dash." The pony pointed over the banister dividing the room to two curled shapes by a pillar. Twilight recognized them as the two ponies in question.

There was a silence between them like Twilight had never felt. If anypony could brighten the dead atmosphere, it should be her pink friend. "What's wrong, Pinkie? You're not telling me something."

The earth pony sighed, looking down to her pet alligator. "Twilight... nothing will ever be the same again, will it?"

The question was jarring. "Oh, Pinkie... things will be all right." Twilight didn't feel it, but she had to be there for her friend.

"No they won't. Not after this," the pink pony spoke, voice trembling with the words. "Dash won't be the same. Applejack won't be the same. You won't be the same. Pinkie... Pinkie Pie will never be the same again. I'm happy when others are happy, Twilight. When you and the girls are happy. But now... what is there?" The silence punctuated the sentence.

Twilight had to fight the sorrow she felt for the normally bouncy pony. "Pinkie... things are bad right now, but they'll get better. Soon, you, and me, and all our friends will be done with this. We'll put it all behind us in time. And we'll need our party pony when we do."

A tear slid down Pinkie's face. "Twilight... you don't have to lie. I can tell. I can tell when I look in your eyes. I don't know what happened, but you're different. There's no joy in your eyes anymore..."

The words resonated within the purple unicorn. The memories flashed again in her mind, gripping her in nervous dread. She fought them down.

The earth pony continued. "And Dash and AJ... they lost so much. I don't think they'll ever smile again. Without smiles... without happiness, there is no 'Pinkie Pie.' Just Pinkamena..."

Twilight couldn't lie to her friend anymore. She didn't know if they'd be happy again. She didn't know if the urge to scream that raged within her would ever go away. She didn't know if AJ or Dash would ever find their smiles again. Without words, she hugged Pinkie close, crying softly with the pony.

Rarity sat down beside Fluttershy. They had finally found a break in their work helping the numerous doctors and nurses. Rarity looked over herself, cringing at the red bloodstains in her coat. Nothing a bath can't fix, she thought. Beside her, Fluttershy stared blankly at the floor, her own mane and coat splashed and matted with even more blood. Normally quite talkative, the silence between them at this moment was almost palpable. Rarity finally broke the silence.

"When this is all over, we'll simply have to reserve a day at the spa." She gave a small, forced laugh at her own joke, hoping to clear the air of the stillness.

Fluttershy continued to stare into nothing, focused on the floor.

Rarity immediately felt ashamed of her comment. "I'm sorry. It's not the time for such conversation, I know."

Fluttershy finally stirred, falling onto the floor into her wrapped forelegs and sobbing heavily.

Rarity recoiled at the sudden collapse of her friend, before gripping the pegasus in a hug. "Oh, don't cry, darling. I know it's tough, but please don't cry." She felt her own tears welling in her eyes now, threatening to fall.

"It's just... so horrible!" Fluttershy choked out through wailing sobs. "There are so many ponies here. So many hurt, and scared. So many in pain, or fear, or sadness. So many... dead. I don't know if I can handle it, Rarity, I just don't!"

The timid pegasus was far too empathetic for her own good. Many years ago, a small fire had started in the forest, and she cried for weeks over just what could have happened. This, though, was too much for her. Her heart ached for all of the ponies who had been hurt, and for all the sadness and misery around her.

Rarity gripped her friend tightly. "Now, Fluttershy. I know how tough this is. I'm just as scared as you are. I hate this just as much! But you must be strong. For yourself; for me. And certainly for all of these ponies that need you." She couldn't hold back the emotion any more. Tears trailed her cheeks, dragging streaks of makeup along with them.

Fluttershy looked up from her hooves at the distressed pony holding her. She knew that Rarity was right. She knew that the others needed her now, more than anything. She sat up, wrapping her own forelegs around her friend.

A unicorn ran over to the two ponies with a hastened pace. "We need some help over here! Quickly!"

Wiping the tears from their eyes, the two friends rejoined the medical team at work.

Princess Celestia emerged from her quarters at last. Shimmering, golden armor plated her slender frame. She was ready to lead. There was only one thing left to take care of. "Luna?"

The smaller princess was quickly to her sister's side. "Yeah, Tia?"

"I want you to stay in the palace," Celestia continued, her voice softened to its old tone for her beloved sister. "There are many ponies in need of a leader here. They need somepony to look up to."

Something didn't feel right to the Princess of the Moon. "Tia... Why are you talking like you won't be coming back?"

Celestia couldn't meet her sister's eyes. "Luna, dear..." She couldn't say it. She leaned down, touching her nose to the younger mare's. "Know that I will always love you. And please, take care of Twilight. I believe she can be the next Princess if there's somepony there to teach her."

Luna's eyes glistened with wet. "Celestia... no... no, you can't leave me alone. I-I can't rule Equestria! We need you, I need you! You raise the sun every day, you protect all of your subjects!"

Celestia let her tears fall. "You don't need me, Luna. I know you can do it. I know you have what it takes." She nuzzled her sister affectionately. "I love you, sister."

The younger alicorn sobbed through her tears. "I love you too, sis."

"Girls," Applejack began. "Me an' Dash're goin' with the soldiers. Ain't gonna make no big fuss over it."

She and Dash stood side by side, facing their old friends. Bleak emotions stuck to the air.

Protests rose from the four ponies before them. "But darlings, you simply can't!" Rarity spoke. "I know things look bad, but we'll get through this, right girls?"

"No, Rare," Dash answered. "We're doing this. No words about it." Her expression sank. "We'll... see you around."

Fluttershy stood beside her friends, not wanting to fly in front of the crippled pegasus. "Girls, please be careful. If you must do this, we'll be rooting for you."

Twilight wished to speak up, but knew that inside, she would do the same. Even as weak as she is now, she wanted to join her friends fighting against the forces that attacked the village she had called home. Finally, she managed the best she could. "Be safe."

Uncharacteristically, Pinkie said nothing.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash, farewells said, turned to join the volunteer fighters in the courtyard. They would be fitted for armor, and being non-magical, would be given a mouth-held blade.

As they walked towards the softly lit opening, a pink blur landed before them. "Girls, wait!" Pinkie cried out, before her friends. "Promise me. Promise me you'll come back!"

The two fighters lowered their eyes. "Pinkie," Dash started, "you know we can't promise that..."

Pinkie's face looked pained. "No! You can't promise me that because you know you won't be coming back! And that's why you have to promise me! If you promise, you'll have to come back, otherwise you'll have broken your word!" She hugged onto the two ponies before her, sadness filling her voice. "You gotta promise me. Promise me I won't lose my bestest friends!"

The two fighters looked to each other, their pink friend sobbing between them. The emotion was too strong. AJ finally found her voice in the scene. "Ah promise. Ah promise Ah'll come back."

Dash followed in turn, putting her own hoof around her pink friend. "I promise, Pinkie. You'd better throw one hell of a party when this is over."

The three ponies found themselves crying into each other's hold, their friends soon joining in the group hug. They all had lost something, but no matter what, they still had each other.

A distant horn sounded, calling forth the troops. The battle was soon underhoof.