Shadows of Drakmord

Panic overtook the stadium within seconds. The Shadows swooped down into the bleachers as ponies desperately tried to escape. No longer held back by Withers’ commands, and charged up by a wave of solidified love, they were free and willing to do as they pleased.

The guards did all they could to keep the Shadows at bay while the civilians fled to find safety. The Shadows hardly noticed however;  though Equestrias’ guards were easily much stronger than your average pony, they were ill prepared, outnumbered, and easily overpowered. Many of their efforts to protect their citizens ended with them simply being dragged off along with them.

Rainbow dash was caught right in the middle of the chaos, and was never one to sit idly by while there were ponies in danger. This was quite evident as she mid-air body-slammed into a huge cluster of Shadows at mach-5.

“Aww yeah! Nopony crashes the games while I’m around.”

Rainbow was like a bowling ball though pins, a bowling ball with arms, that was whaling on the face of the nearest Shadow she could find with hooves made of smaller bowling balls.

“Take that! And this! And that! And some of that!”

However, the Shadow barely seemed to notice her skull crushing blows, and kept snapping its jaws at her between hits. Rainbow was so focused on the one she was hitting that she didn’t notice that the other Shadows had recovered from her previous attack and were now floating right behind her.

“Oh, umm…” Rainbow chuckled nervously as no less than ten Shadows glared at her. “wow, there’s a lot of you guys here, huh?”

The Shadow Dash had been beating up until then sprang back to life; tendrils burst from its chest and ensnared her.

“AHH, NO! I've seen enough anime to know where this is going! At least buy me lunch first!” Rainbow screamed before the rest of the Shadows joined the group tackle.

The world disappeared beneath Rainbows' hooves, and she fell into darkness as the sound of rasping breaths closed in around her. The light drained from her vision and her blood turned cold. Rainbow dash felt like she was drowning in a freezing lake. She paddled her legs and wings against the void to no avail.

“Get off me you creeps!” Struggling, she thought of her friends, how they were surely in danger and how she needed to help them. She remembered the good times they had shared together, and why she needed to get free.

“They need me!” A desperate gasping came from all around and those feelings were ripped away from her, leaving only her feelings of hopelessness and doubt.

“I need to…find them… help- oh what’s the point?”

…

“Don’t you DARE give up on me, dweeb!”

A bright light burst through the crushing dark. A fistful of talons plunged towards Rainbow, and the light turned to fire. The clawed hand grabbed her and pulled her out of the dark.

Back in reality, Gilda flew as far and as she could; finally reaching relative safety behind a set of track obstacles.

“Dash! You still with me, filly?!” She screamed as she shook Rainbow, trying to wake her "Come on Dash, don't make me do mouth to beak on you."

“Gil… Gilda?” Dash mumbled weakly as Gilda tried to keep her awake.

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy practically screamed as she ran over. “What happened?!”

“A bunch of those freaks got to her,” Gilda explained. “we need to her help, fast!.”

Fluttershy and Gilda ran to the stadium interior. Gilda slammed the doors in the face of their changeling pursuers while Fluttershy held onto Dash, who was now ice cold and barely conscious.

“Thank heavens, y’all made it!” Applejack said as she trotted up to them. "We couldn't find any way to get to y'all out there."

“Dashie, you don’t look so good.” Pinkie noted as she zipped over “We need a warm blanket and some hot coco over here, STAT!”

“S-s-so… c-cold.” Was all Rainbow could shiver out as tears idly spilled out of her eyes.

“Don’t worry Rainbow, you’re going to be okay.” Fluttershy whispered to Rainbow dash as she cradled her in her forelegs. Rainbow said nothing, but gripped any part of Fluttershy she could reach and pulled her closer.

“What are we going to do?!” came a panicked yell from a room deeper inside.

Inside what looked to be a staff break room, a group of several ponies had taken shelter. All of them were terrified the verge of ‘flipping it’ despite Pinkies’ attempts to keep their spirits up and their nerves calm. One such blue unicorn was busy going off on a freak-out rant.

“WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!?” he screamed “They’re taking everyone and eating them like tubes of yogurt! They took my little brothers, sucked them dry in seconds! The look in their eyes, oh Celestia! There WAS none! They were dead, they were both DEAD!” he broke into sobs.

Meanwhile a crystal mare in the corner was rocking back and forth on the floor muttering “It’s happening again, it’s happening again…” over and over, sometimes throwing in a “WHY do I still live here?”

“Calm down everypony,” Applejack said as she entered the room “we’re all gonna be okay.”

“How can you POSSIBLY say that?! Have you seen those things? The princesses are DEAD, we can’t fight these things, and now we’re waiting around to be eaten like a boxed lunch! Just how are we going to be okay!?”

“Give it a rest Cobalt. You’re freaking everyone out.” A dark red earth pony chimed in.

“Indeed, your attitude has been most unhelpful.” Rarity added, before continuing to bandage a stallions’ legs.

“You shut up!” Cobalt spat back “And you, you want me to calm down? Eh, Rojas. Try losing everyone you cared about and THEN tell me to calm down!”

The entire room rattled as Cobalt fell flat on the floor, clutching his cheek. Rojas loomed over him with a scowl.

“I saw my little sister and my grandma get dragged off into the sky by those monsters, and there was nothing I could do to help them.” Rojas told Cobalt “So I’ll tell you again… calm, the buck, down.”

“But he’s right, what are we going to do?” A minty green crystal mare asked while holding onto her friend in the corner.

“We need to find Twilight; if anypony knows a way out of this mess, it’d be her.” Applejack reasoned “Last I saw them, they were down on the field, anypony seen them since?”

The room muttered and shrugged in response.

“I saw them.” Gilda told them “They headed inside the stadium too, but on the other side.”

“Great! If we hurry we can get to them in no time!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Oh, we won’t have to do that, silly.” Pinkie told her.

“Why not?”

“Because they’re right over there!”

Just like Pinkie said, Twilight, Shining, and Cadance came running towards them from around a corner. All of them looked exhausted, but otherwise no worse for wear.

“Girls, thank goodness we’ve found you.” Twilight greeted them “That locator spell really came in handy.”

“The entire empire’s been overrun out there. We need to evacuate, and get everypony to safety.” Shining armor told them.

“What happened to Rainbow?” Cadance asked upon finding Rainbow still huddled against Fluttershy.

“A bunch of those things got her all at once.” Gilda filled her in. “They only had her for a few seconds before I pulled her out, but…”

Cadances’ eyes went wide “Quickly, give her to me, I can help.”

Cadances’ horn lit up as she cast a wave of pink light over Rainbow dash. Slowly she began to stir and her eyes fluttered open.

“Where am I, what happened?” Dash groaned “Is everypony okay? One second I was kicking flank, and then everything went dark.”

“It’s okay Dashy, we’re all here, you’re safe with us.” Fluttershy soothed.

“Geez Dash, those freaks did a real number on you.” Gilda playfully prodded.

“It’s very fortunate you got to her when you did,” Cadance told Gilda “I don’t think I could have saved her if she were any further gone.”

Gilda let out a low whistle. “Okay, that’s heavy.”

“What in the hey are those things?” Applejack asked “I’ve never seen anything so scary in all my life.”

Everypony else in the room gathered around to hear as well.

“Shadows, they’re like changelings, only a lot worse.” Cadance explained.

“How much worse are we talkin’ about?” Rojas asked.

“You all know about Nightmare moon, right?”

They all nodded.

“Shadows are to changelings, what Nightmare moon was to all of us. They don’t need to use tricks or mind control; they can just drain the life out of anything they touch. If we don’t stop them… they won’t stop at the Crystal empire.”

“But how?” Twilight asked “The empires’ shield was powered by the crystal heart and all the ponies in the entire city, but they broke through like it was nothing. They even absorbed yours’ and Shinings’ spell!”

“Not to mention what their horrid leader did to the princesses.” Rarity reminded them.

“And hitting them doesn’t do a thing!” Rainbow added “How are we supposed to fight something that won’t eat a hoof-sandwich?!”

“I told you it was hopeless.” Cobalt threw in.

“And I told you to quit that.” Rojas responded.

Upon hearing no suggestions from the others, Twilight spoke up. “Well one thing’s for sure, we can’t just hide in here. We need to get outside the empire and get help.”

“Before we go, we need to save as many ponies as we can.” Shining told them “There’s a defense array in the tower that should at least distract those ‘Shadows’ while everyone else escapes. It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s a plan.”

“Right, if everypony’s ready, we’ll go to the south exit and make a run for the tower from there.” Twilight informed them.

“Am I the only skeptic here?” Cobalt asked “Those things…” -he jabbed a hoof at the barricaded doors- “are everywhere. We won’t be able to just run there; we’ll get killed.”

Just then, a noise shook the room. Several pieces of furniture fell over as a large segment of wall crumbled behind them. Two Shadows clawed their way through the narrow opening and rushed towards the group, claws and fangs at the ready. The two crystal mares in the corner shrieked as the shadows bore down on them.

In a snap decision Twilight threw a spell at the mares, blinking them over to the rest of the group. Next she focused hard, gathering her energy into another.

“Everyone get back!” she called as her spell complete. Chain lightning shot from her horn as she released it, surging through the Shadows and knocking them back in a daze.

“It worked? Wow, it actually worked!” Twilight exclaimed as she looked over her work. Though the Shadows wouldn’t let her victory last; they got up and were soon hungrily moving towards them once again.

“But maybe not that well. RUN!”

There were no protests as they all shoved to get out the door.

“Twilight!? What was that just then?” Rarity asked.

“After the changelings invaded Canterlot, I learned some new spells that might help us fight them if they ever came back.” Twilight explained “But I don’t think it will work on these ones. If they really can feed on ANY kind of magic, it might do more harm for us than good.”

On the final stretch before the southern exit, they reached a set of locker rooms.

They spotted the exit past several blocks of lockers, lit by a bright green sign.

“Look, we’re almost there!” one of the crystal mares happily announced.

Just then, the water that was spilled over the floor froze into ice. Three more Shadows broke the exit door off its hinges and spotted them instantly.

“Had to jinx it, didn’t ya?” Gilda commented.

“I’ve got them!” Twilight yelled as she moved in front of the group and fired off another chain lightning. The Shadows kept advancing, pushing through the torrent of sparks. Twilight kept pouring in more juice until they lay motionless on the floor. Finally, Twilight collapsed herself, her magic reserves finally spent.

“Twilly!” Shining called as he ran over to catch her “You okay.”

“I’m fine big brother, let’s get moving. We still have to reach those defences.”

Twilight and the rest of the group quickly made their way to the broken down exit, carefully stepping over the Shadows’ motionless forms. Before they made it outside however, Twilight became dizzy and stumbled.

“Whoa there Twi,” Applejack said as she stopped her from falling. “you should take it easy; all that magic just now must’ve taken a lot outta’ you.”

“Thanks AJ, I should be fine after a-“

They were interrupted by a scream far to their right. One of the Shadows had already gotten back up, and had cornered Fluttershy away from her friends. It bore its’ fangs as it moved in, eager to feed on its’ adorable prey.

Before it could get closer however, there was a loud “crack”. It ceased its’ growls and yelped in surprise before whipping around to see Rainbow dash standing there with a wound-up towel in her mouth. Its’ surprise turned to anger as it lunged at Rainbow. But Rainbow caught it by the neck and shoved the towel in its’ mouth.

“Oh, no you don’t! Not to me again, and definitely not to Fluttershy.” She yelled at it in a badass tone before bucking it into an open locker, which was then slammed closed by Gilda.

“Nice one Dash! Reminds me of flight camp.” She and Rainbow shared a fist/hoof bump “You okay over there Flutters?”

“I’m okay. Thanks you two.” Fluttershy affirmed.

“Right, let’s get out of here.”

The streets were in utter chaos, the ponies who escaped the stadium were being chased by the hundreds of shadows while the blizzard continued to cover the streets and rooftops in a blanket of powder. Even those who tried to hide inside of buildings were eventually found and dragged back out into the streets to be fed upon. Some were even thrown from the upper windows into the claws and tendrils of their near feral assailants.

The Shadows were clearly enjoying themselves with such a feast. Instead of simply feeding on the ponies they captured and discarding them like candy wrappers, they went out of their way to terrorize their victims. They slung spells which exploded around them, ransacked buildings and homes, and threw many frightened ponies through the air to each other like a demented game of catch.

A particular celebrity from Canterlot and his elegant marefriend were in the midst of such a game.

“I say, this is quite unpleasant!”

*Pose*

“How uncivilized!”

*Pose*

“Put us down at once, I’m warning you!”

*Pose*

Several loud thumps sounded out across the street, followed by a pair of sickening cracks.

“… well I did warn them.” Said a sophisticated voice as its’ owner carefully wiped the ichor stains from his suit “Come along my dear, let's find some place to hide.”

The pink and white mare happily trotted up to him as they went on their way.

Twilight, her friends, and their newfound companions ran through the crowded streets; dodging past shadows and around the scattered debris of uprooted plants, overturned stands, and bits of broken wall.

Drawn by the large concentration of potential victims, several more Shadows joined the chase, diving at them from all angles. It was all Twilight and her friends could do to dodge out of the way. Their attempts to fend them off were altogether unsuccessful as the Shadows deftly avoid melee their strikes, and were unfazed by all but their strongest spells.

They continued to run, ducking through alleys and hiding under Shining armors’ shield when they were forced into the open.

After several blocks, and more than a few detours the group finally made it to the central tower. As they climbed the steps leading to the main doors, dozens of survivors, guard and civilian alike, flocked to them for salvation.

“Everypony get inside!” Shining yelled to them as he swung the massive doors open with his magic.

The ponies weren’t the only ones to take heed of this however, as their demonic pursuers tried to follow them inside. Shining and Cadance intervened, putting a barrier across the threshold as they entered. The fleeing ponies were let through, while the Shadows access was blocked as they began draining the shield. When the last of the ponies made it through, the door was shut and barred.

“That ought to keep them out for a while.” Applejack commented.

At that moment, several large bulges were pushed into the inside of the door from the shadows pounding on it outside.

“Yikes, maybe not.”

“You ponies still jinxing things over there?” Gilda called.

Meanwhile, Shining was talking to a pair of guards that had been hiding in the tower since the attack.

“What do you mean we can’t use it? It’s our best chance right now.” Shining asked them.

“It’s just what it sounds like, sir.” responded the one on the left. “We tried to turn it on as soon as we saw there was trouble. But before we could start it-“

“Something happened that messed up the magic targeting system. If we use it now we won’t be able to control what it hits.” the one on the right finished for his friend.

“We’d hit our own people as much as the monsters that are after them.”

“Darn it,” Shining cursed under his breath “I thought for sure that would work. What else could possibly go wro- hrmph!”

"Will. You. Quit it!?" Gilda seethed as she clamped Shinings' mouth shut.

Back in the entry hall, ponies were busy barricading the main door with whatever they could move, while others were trying to find their families, or some place to hide. During the commotion, Spike pushed his way through the crowd to regroup with Twilight and the rest.

“Twilight!” Spike ran over and greeted them “Am I ever glad to see all of you.”

“Spike, I’m glad you’re safe. Grab a quill and some paper; I need you to send a message to Canterlot.” Twilight explained.

“We need reinforcements, someone to cover us while we evacuate.” Shining added.

“I know!” Spike yelled “I’ve already tried sending like a million! But they don’t go anywhere, they just burn up and come right back! My magic flame won’t take them for some reason!”

“Celestia…” Twilight whispered as the realization dawned on her “She’s really gone… she and Luna are both- No! I can’t focus on that now! We need to figure out another way.”

“But what can we do?” Rarity asked “These things are downright invincible.”

“And they don’t even go for my chimmy-cherry-changas!” Pinkie recounted the time she tried to distract a group of Shadows by throwing a plate of the cherry treats over their heads. They barely shot it a passing glance. “I made those with LOVE! Changelings are supposed to like that stuff!”

“I hope we think of something soon,” Fluttershy chimed in “Because I don’t think that door will hold out much longer.”

Meanwhile, somewhere in the market district several children and their teacher hid behind the counter of a small gift shop. They had taken cover there once they escaped the stadium.

“Shh, don’t worry kids, everything will be fine, but we need to stay very quiet.” Cheerliee told them in a hushed whisper.

Their field trip had turned into a nightmare; she had no idea what was going to happen. First that evil changeling showed up, and even the Princesses together couldn’t stop him, then those monsters came and started taking everypony. It was like the royal wedding at Canterlot all over again, only this time there was no spur-of-the-moment miracle to save them.

Cheerilee had seen so many others get pulled off into the sky or get drained right on the spot; she worried about what the children were going through. It was by sheer luck that they had all gotten away safely; she had taking a silent roll call eleven times before she finally believed that her precious students were all still with her.

“What about everyone else? The monsters will get them.” one of the children said to her before looking out at the storefront.

Cheerilee quickly pulled him back, fearing he would be seen.

“I want to go home.” whimpered another.

“Don’t worry, Rainbow dash and her friends will save us!” an orange pegasus filly told them “You should have seen how she slammed into those creeps and started kicking flank. POW! They were running scarred!”

“Are you kidding me?” a filly with a tiara asked in a demeaning tone “You think they could save us from all THIS?”

“As a matter of fact, we DO.” a filly with an oversized bow stepped in.

“Yeah, our sisters are probably out there doing everything they can.” a white unicorn with a streaked mane added. “We’re going to be just fine.”

“Then why are we still hiding then? If they’re really going to save the day like they always do, then why haven’t they done it already? How do we know they’re not already DEAD like everypony else?!”

“Diamond tiara! That’s a horrible thing to say!” Cheerilee scolded “We’re all going to be okay, I promise. We just have to have some faith and give them time.” she assured them

There was a bang and the sound of shattering glass outside.

“Everypony be very quiet now. Close your eyes and think of something happy.”

The children did as they were told, some more reluctantly than others. They thought of their families, of their homes, of warm summer days. They remembered running through fields of grass, picnics in the parks of Ponyville, going to Pinkies parties at Sugercube corner.

Then something changed in their minds, and they thought of all the ponies dying outside, how they would never get to see their friends or families again, how everything they cared about would burn to the ground as they were helpless to stop it.

They shivered as the air in the shop became bone-chillingly cold, the warmth between them fading. A raspy voice echoed throughout the room and into their ears “The snack that smiles back…”

They looked up to see the Shadow standing before them. Its’ gaze fixed firmly on them; hunger glinting in its’ cold, emotionless eyes. It licked its’ scabby lips with its’ long thin tongue.

“Children.”

They screamed at the top of their frightened lungs as the Shadow slowly stalked its’ way forward.

“Stay away!”  Cheerilee yelled, taking a defensive stance between her students and the soul-eating beast before her.

The Shadows’ mouth cracked and curled into a sinister grin as it snatched her off the floor and easily ignored her punches and struggling.

In seconds, Cheerilee felt cold and limp as the Shadow fed on her. Her vision was about to fade completely when the encroaching cold ceased its’ advance into her being. A flash of bright red caught her eye as she was dropped to the floor. She heard a horrid shrieking as an explosion of light filled the room around them, followed by a trickle of pink ash.

The terrified children watched as the Shadow was disintegrated before them. Before them stood a figure roughly the size of a mare, covered from head to tail in tight black and red clothing. A hood covered its’ head except for its’ curved horn. It had large red circles of glass and a vent for a face; a gas mask.

It looked at them silently, watching their faces. Then, slowly, it walked over to Cheerilee, who was still lying on the floor. The children didn’t dare to move. Its’ horn lit up in a soft silver glow; this glow worked itself into a thin, steady stream that flowed into Cheerilees’ mouth and torso. The pony helped her to her hooves when she had recovered enough to stand.

“Come with us,” It said to her in a gravelly and distorted voice. “we’ll protect you.”