Pinkie Pie ran across the street whit a basket on her head and knocked at the door of the ‘Golden Oak’ library.
“Hey Twilight!” she yelled. “Are you gonna come to my party?”
Twilight came outside to see her friend: “A party? For what? There is no birthday or special holiday this week.”
“I know, isn’t that awful?” she answered: “ We’ve got nothing to celebrate. So I thought ‘hé if we would throw a random pointless useless party just for fun?’ but it isn’t useless cause it has a purpose. Having fun.”
Twilight did a step back and looked kind of worried to Pinkie. “Okay than. When is this ‘pointless party’?”
“Tomorrow night” she said while she was hopping around.
“Night? Why not afternoon?”
“Cause Carrot Cake and Cup Cake have a big order for tomorrow so I have to baby-sit.”
“Good…” she yawned. “Sorry, it was a hard night of studying. Did you know that there is a small patron in the starry sky’s movement so you can calculate how the starry sky looks in the future?”
Pinkie pie stopped hopping and looked Twilight straight in the eyes: “You didn’t? You should really come out more” and she turned around and hopped to the next pony to invite.
Twilight stood amazed of what her friend just told her. “Oh Pinkie…” she thought by herself. She shook her head and went back in her house. “I need some sleep.”
“Okay, Rarity, Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy received there invitation, now Rainbow Dash and I’m ready. But where is she.” Pinkie pie said by herself. “Hay Rose!” she yelled.
A beige collared pony whit two different collars red in her manes looked up from her flowers and searched for the pony who called her name. “Oh hallo Pinkie Pie. Beautiful day isn’t it?” she said when she found Pinkie Pie.
“Yes, very nice, but do you know where Rainbow Dash is?” asked Pinkie.
“Euh… yes, I think. I saw her flying toward Ghastly Gorge. Probably for a new trick or something.” Roseluck answered.
“Thanks” said Pinkie and she hopped toward the gorge. “Hopefully she’s still there.”
“Did you received an invitation?” asked Rarity at Fluttershy.
They were, like almost every day, at the spa. It was kind of traditional for those two pony’s to go to the spa each day. Only cause Rarity needs somepony to talk to and Fluttershy has noting better to do than listening to Rarity’s complaining and bragging.
“Well, yah. But I don’t understand the meaning of that party” Fluttershy said.
“Me neither. But it’s Pinkie Pie. You are never able to understand ideas from her.” Rarity said.
“Yah, but I’m affright something spooky is about to happen”
“How?”
“A party, at night… I think she has a scary jock planned for that night. I think I’m gonna stay home. Nice and safe.”
“Darling. There is nothing to be affright of. I’m sure it’s just a party like all her random party’s.” Rarity said. “But belief me, there is no reason to stay home.”
Fluttershy mumbled and nodded. Then laid back and put the slices cucumber on her eyes. “you don’t know…”
“RAINBOW!!!” Pinkie pie yelled. “Are you there?”
“Pinkie? What are you doing here?” a voice behind her said.
“Oh Dash, I’m so glad you’re here… beside, what are you doing here.”
“I’m here whit Tank, were here for our daily training. I’m teaching him the flying skills and how to manoeuvre through hard circuits.” And she pointed at her flying tortoise dashing into a pile of rocks. “He still needs some training.” And she looked how her pet stepped out the mess. “But what about you Pinkie?”
“Oh, I’m here whit a invitation for a party. Tomorrow night.” She said.
“A party? At night? Awesome. Kind of … spooky. Easy to trick pony’s. this is gonna be hilarious. I like it already.” Rainbow said.
“Yup, but be a little bit … nice. You know, we don’t want that Fluttershy gets a hart attack.”
“Yah…right. Forgot that.” Rainbow Dash said.
“See you tomorrow” and she led Rainbow behind her.
“Oh Gummy, this is going to be great, everything is ready, the cake is perfect and our guests can arrive every minute.” The toothless alligator blinked with is his eyes as response. Pinkie Pie looked outside. The night fell one hour ago. The stars were crystal clear. “I hope this is gonna be the best late evening/night random pointless useless party ever”
“knock…knock” she heard from the door.
“They’re here, they’re here!” Pinkie said exited and she jumped to the door.
“Welcome” she said when she saw that almost all her friends were there. “Where is Fluttershy?”
Applejack and Rarity stepped aside and Pinkie saw that Fluttershy laid on the ground. Scarred whit her hoofs covering her eyes.
“What’s wrong with her?” Pinkie asked.
“I went to pick up Fluttershy at home and we saw something weird. Shiny and misty.” Applejack said.
“Why did you pick up Fluttershy” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Cause I know how scarred she is at night. So scarred that it’s creeping me out.”
“What do you mean with that?” Rarity asked
“Never mind.” Applejack said and she shook her head. “Let’s go partying.”
Hours passed and the six pony’s danced and made fun al the time. Fluttershy calmed down and walked to the bar to get something to drink. Pinkie Pie saw this and hopped toward Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy? It seems that you’re better. What was that creepy thing you saw at the edge of the forest.”
“Well… I’m not sure, but I think it was…”
At that moment the door smashed open and the lights turned off. Everypony heard screams and the sound of breaking glass.
“Quick, some light!” Applejack said.
Twilight tried to make light but as soon as there was a little glowing shine around her horn, a big piece of wood hit her at the back of her head.
“What in tarnation is going on here” Applejack yelled.
“Relax everypony” Rainbow Dash said. And she lighted up a candle. “I’ve got some light”
Everypony calmed down when the room was filled with light.
“You’re okay darling” Rarity asked. And she helped Twilight standing back on her legs.
“I think so” Twilight said. And she scratched her head.
“What just happened?” asked Applejack.
“And where are Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?” added Rainbow Dash.
“I don’t know…” Twilight said. And she shook her head. “Fluttershy is probably hiding somewhere…” and she scratched her head again “in a closet or under the… auw… that was a hard hit…” and she almost fell back to the ground.
“Who did this?” asked Rarity
“I don’t know…” Twilight answered.
“Uh… hay y’all…” Applejack said from the doorway “I think you want to take a look at this.”
A trail of blood drops started from the door toward the shadows of the near houses. Twilight and Rarity stood stunned when they saw al the blood.
“What in tarnation is going on here” Applejack yelled.
“I have no idea” Twilight said. Probably a new villain who kidnapped Pinkie Pie.
“And Fluttershy to.” Rainbow Dash added. “I can’t find both of them.” And she walked to the doorway so she could see what her friend discovered. “Whaw, that’s a lot of blood.” She said.
“Yah, and that means that Pinkie Pie and or Fluttershy are wounded!” Twilight yelled.
“So where are we waiting for?! Let’s go!” Applejack said. And they followed the bloody trail as fast as they could.
“It’s seems that the trail led to the Everfree Forest” Rarity said.
“Maybe this has to deal with that shiny smog you and Fluttershy saw this evening.” Twilight said to Applejack.
“That’s very doubtful.” Applejack said. “It was just…smog or something.”
“Any other ideas who or what could have done this?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“no, not at all” Twilight said. “What about you Rarity? Have you any idea?”
“Well…as a misplaced joke, I have a whole list.” Rarity said. “but somepony who hurt others and let them bleed on purpose?… No, I have no idea.”
“How well, I think we’re gonna figure it out soon, very soon.” Applejack said.
They stopped at the edge of the Everfree Forest. They could see Fluttershy’s house in the distance. They found a puddle blood and then it stopped.
“What are we gonna do now? We’ve got nothing to follow.” Applejack said.
“The best thing is stick together and move fast. They can’t be that far.” Twilight said. “But keep your eyes open.”
A little farther, the trees stood so close together that it was completely dark. Twilight cast a spell that gave them a little bit light.
“I don’t gonna make much light, so the villain won’t notice us when were close.” She explained. “Just, come close enough. Be quiet and… WHA…”
They fell into a deep abyss and laid there for several seconds before they stand up.
“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked.
Rainbow Dash mumbled a bit cause she laid at the bottom of the pile.
“I think so…” Twilight said. “…were is Rarity?”
Rainbow Dash stretched her wings. “I’ll fly back up there end check or she still at the top of this gulf.” And she lifted up.
“Nothing up here” she yelled. At that moment they heard a loud scream.
“Rarity!” Twilight said.
“Damned. It has got her to.” Applejack said.
“What do we have to do now?” Rainbow Dash asked when she was back with her friends.
“Find her to before somepony ells get hurt.” Twilight said. “But were do we have to start?”
“Look!” Rainbow Dash said. And she flew to a near bush. The other two ponies came right behind her.
“What’s that?” Twilight asked.
“It seems like…erw…” Applejack picked up something soft pink covered with blood.
“Hair from Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “That damned bastard hurts Fluttershy! That creep will pay for this!” She snapped the hair from Applejack’s hoofs and flew away.
“Rainbow wait” command Twilight. “Wait for us. … Applejack, come on. We have to slow down Dash before she get caught to.” And the two mares ran as fast they could.
“Finally she stopped.” Applejack said. “never do that again okay… Dash? … you’re okay sugar cube?”
Rainbow Dash stood as still as a statue, focused at something. Like she saw a ghost.
“Rainbow? Everything okay?…” Twilight asked exhausted, and she moved a few leaves and they saw something they never expected to see.
Zacora laid at her back. She was missed two legs and an ear. There was blood coming out her nose and mouth.
“Oh my gosh Zacora!” Twilight yelled. And she ran to the zebra who seems to be death.
“Twilight…I’m glad you’re here. There is something you have to hear…” Zacora said softly she turned around and had an expression of endless pain upon her face. Twilight saw this and stared thinking about a way to safe Zacora.
“Don’t waste your effort to me, I’m as good as death you can see.” Zacora said.
Twilight stood amazed but understood her.
“No go and stop your new foe, before it takes your life to. But be award and remember this, nothing is what you think it is…”
“Zacora… ? Who did this? Pleas tell me who” Twilight said. She took Zacoras shoulders and shook her all around. “Zackora? Who did this?…ZACKORA!” Twilight dropped the corps and started to cry. She felt a hoof on her shoulder.
“We can’t help her any more Twilight. She’s gone.” Applejack said.
“We can’t stay here for long. If that beast is able to do this, we must hope that the others are still…alive.” Rainbow Dash said.
“You’re right…” Twilight said. “we’ve got to go on.”
“Look over there” Twilight said. “a bit fresh blood at the entrance of that cave” and she pointed at the cave mostly hidden by leaves.
“I hope the others are there.” Rainbow Dash said. “And that bastard who did this to us.”
“I don’t doubt that” Applejack said. “bad guy’s prefer dark hideouts. So…”
“Watch your hoofs here. There might be some traps in here.” Twilight said when they entered the cave. “stay close. Danger can be in each corner”
“Twilight. Watch out!” Rainbow Dash said. But she was to late. Twilight’s legs stuck behind a thin wire witch activated a mechanism. The whole gallery started to shake and fall in. Rocks from the ceiling came down.
“Watch out!” Applejack yelled. Twilight was just in time to evade a big rock.
“There! The end of the passage! There is it safe!” Twilight said. And she spread her alicorn wings and flew toward the end. Applejack and Rainbow Dash got there first. Twilight was hit by a smaller rock on her head and she was insensible.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash yelled. And she turned around, back in the avalanche.
“Dash! It’s to dangerous!” Applejack said.
“I don’t care! I have to. Or it means Twilight’s death!” she flew as fast as she could to her friend Twilight. “Come on… a little more … auw!” she get hit by few rocks to. “No!… not now…” she said to herself. She tried to fly, but her wing was injured. Probably broken. But she would break more things if she didn’t hurry. She ran to Twilight. “Twilight? You’re okay?” she asked. No response. She lifted Twilight upon her back and returned toward Applejack. “Almost there…” Dash said to herself. Al of a sudden a huge bolder fell in front of Rainbow Dash. There was no other way than jump over it. So she leaped over the rock and threw Twilight into Applejack’s hoofs. At that moment, the rest of the passage collapsed. A big cloud of dust hang around the rocks witch covers now the passage. Applejack looked anxious around.
“Dash? Were are you? DASH!” she yelled. She ran to the rocks and removed a few “Dash, are you here?” She asked with tears in her eyes. She heard a soft groan. “DASH!” she yelled. And started to remove the rocks faster. She found a bleu hoof and started digging deeper. “Dash…” she said when Rainbow Dash’s head was free.
“…Applejack?…” Dash opened her eyes. “…is that you?” her face was covered with blood and scratches. Applejack hadn’t the courage to dig deeper to free Rainbow Dash. Scared for what she would find.
“Tell… tell everypony that they were good friends…” Rainbow Dash said.
“No… pleas Dash… don’t leave us…” Applejack cried.
“make sure Tank is in good hoofs…” Dash said and she spit out a tooth.
“DASH!”
“Promis me. Please.”
“… I promise…” Applejack sighed.
“And I want you to have my diary.” Dash said.
“Wait… you have a dairy?” Applejack asked astonished.
“Yup.”
“Seems like everypony has a soft side” Applejack said.
“Please…Read my diary and read it to everypony” Dash said.
Applejack showed a little smile. “Even the biggest secrets?”
“Even the secret that I have feelings for… for… damned. Even now, I don’t have the courage to tell it.” Dash said. She sighed but then started to hyperventilate.
“Dash what…Dash?” Applejack said.
“Please… forgive me for… everything I ever did wrong…” Dash whispered.
“I… I forgive you.” Applejack said. “we all forgive you.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and closed her eyes. A teardrop felt on her nose. From Applejack.
“W…what happened.” Twilight asked while she scratched her head. “What’s wrong with my head? This is the second time something hurts my head. Oh… Applejack…?” Twilight asked “Where is Rainbow Dash?”
“Death… cause of the avalanche.” Applejack said. A painful moment passed before the to pony’s moved on.
“No… this can’t be…” Twilight said.
“What kind of a monster would do this?” Applejack said.
They found Rarity, but not in the state they wanted or expected to find her. Her curly hair was cut of laid al over the place. Her horn was burned off and the top of her head was still smouldering. The place where her eyes belong, were now two big gaps. Al four legs were broken on more then one place. Her belly was sliced open and her organs came out. It seems that somepony,- something- played with the content of her stomach.
“This is disgusting.” Twilight said.
“Well…” Applejack said. “The good thing is… we now know that were at the right way…”
A bit farther they saw a big hacksaw. Hoofmade, unique piece.
“I guess this is the murder’s weapon.” Twilight said.
“No… it can’t be…” Applejack stood stunned.
“What’s wrong Applejack?”
“This hacksaw…” Applejack said “I saw it before.”
At that moment they heard somepony giggling. Applejack pointed at a pony head, coming out behind a few boulders.
“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight said. “Is that you? I’m so glad we found you. We’ve been looking for you all the time. Do you know…” Twilight stopped. They came closer and saw Pinkie in the light. “Pinkie?”
Twilight couldn’t take it any more. Her stomach turned around and she puked.
“Damned!” Applejack said. Pinkie Pie’s head was pierced on a wooden stake. The rest of her body laid a bit farther, broken and covered with blood.
“In the name of Celestia. Who did this!” Twilight asked.
“I did” a voice said.
“Who’s there?” Twilight asked loud. They saw nopony.
“Fluttershy!” Applejack said.
“You’re smarter than you look blonde one.” The mare said. “How do you know?”
“I don’t get it. How can you know and believe that Fluttershy did this. I mean. This is not her voice?” Twilight said.
“The hacksaw” Applejack explained. “Do you remember that I picked up Fluttershy? Well, I saw a handle of something coming underneath a blanket. Fluttershy said it was a cudgel, cause she’s ‘scared’ of the darkness, but I’m sure it’s the same handle as the one from the hacksaw.”
“All right. You got me…” a mare appeared out the darkness. Twilight immediately recognised the shape of the hair. She couldn’t deny it. It was Fluttershy. But when she came closer, they saw strange things. Fluttershy’s eyes were red in stead of aquamarine. And a piece of hair was missing from her tail. “Smart” she thought “ Cut of her own tail to misled us.”
Applejack stood confident and looked Fluttershy strait in the eyes. “You killed everypony. Zacora, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and you set up that trap that took Rainbow’s life.”
“Oh that’s new.” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t know Rainbow Dash is death, but I can confirm the rest.” Fluttershy walked around the two ponies. You know… I never had a problem with you Applejack, but now Rainbow Dash is death, it seems that the plans are changed.”
“How do you mean?” Applejack asked. Twilight tried to get behind Fluttershy so she would make time to cast out a spell to defeat her, but she hit a rock that warned Fluttershy. Fluttershy turned around and smashed Twilight on the back of her head.
“So,… where were we. Oh yah… My plan…” Fluttershy said. And she turned back to Applejack. “It’s not really a plan, it’s more a test. A game.”
“What?” Applejack asked confused.
“Well, this was actually for Dash, but she passed away now…”
“Painfully and rude!” Applejack interrupted her.
Fluttershy got anger and whacked Applejack on her jaw. “Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking!” she yelled.
Applejack fell at the ground. “That was a nasty left hoof” she thought by herself. And she spit out a tooth and a bit of blood. “Since when can she slap that hard”
“As I was saying…” Fluttershy continued. “This was actually planned for Dash, but now you will take her place.”
“For what?” Applejack asked when she tried to stand up.
Fluttershy slapped her immediately back on her face. Applejack fell back at the ground. “I was talking.” Fluttershy said. “Now stand up and follow me. And carry that alicorn.” She demanded and pointed at Twilight.
After a bit walking, they get in a sort of a room of a temple. There were giant statues of griffons, candleholders, torches, golden artworks.
“Dump that body in that cage. I’ll figure out later what I have to do whit that.” Fluttershy said. Applejack did what she asked. “Now come over here.” She command. “Do you see these curtains?” Applejack nodded and went standing in front of them. “As you can see, there are tree curtains. Behind those curtains, there is a hole. You may not see the hole, but there is. You can chose one hole and jump trough it. One of them means freedom, the others means death. Pick one…” Fluttershy explicated.
“euh…okay” Applejack said. “if I pick the right one, I can safe Twilight” she thought by herself.
“It is a work in progress, so there can be some sharp edges in the tunnel, so sorry for that.” Fluttershy said.
“euh…Okay, thanks for telling me.” Applejack said. “I pick… that one! And she leaped trough the left one. The curtain tore up and Applejack fell downward in a spear field. Her body was immediately perforated.
Fluttershy moved the two other curtains and saw that the tree curtains covered the same big hole. “Dumb blond pony. Why didn’t you pick the doorway.”
“I must be cursed or something. Again my head.” Twilight awoke from her sleep and looked around. She scratched her head where Fluttershy slapped her.
“Oh great. You’re awake.” Fluttershy said.
“What happened? Where is Applejack!
“Let’s say… she’s … airily” Fluttershy said and started to laugh.
“You killed her to isn’t it?…” Twilight asked “Damn you monster.”
“Yes, but I just want to say that I’m gonna blow up this cave. I played enough. It’s time to fulfil my duty. Overtake Equestria! Now thanks for coming and have fun for your last few minutes.” Fluttershy said. And she turned around toward the exit.
“What? Wait!” Twilight yelled.
“What? Why would I wait? I waited long enough to tell you this.” Fluttershy said.
“I want to know something.” She breaded nerves and scared. “Why are you doing this? What’s happened to you that makes you act like this? This is not the Fluttershy we know.” Twilight said.
Fluttershy turned around and came closer. “You Twilight… never knew me.” And she looked Twilight straight in the eyes.
Twilight looked back and her eyes grew a bit and her mouth fell open of astonishment.
“Goodbye Twilight.” Fluttershy said. She turned around, lighted the fuse of a few barrels explosives and ran away.
Twilight tried to break out, but the cage was to strong. “Wait, my magic.” She tried a simple spell but failed. She was wondering why her magic didn’t work. She was scared, anger, upset, sad and desperate when she figured out that Fluttershy cut her horn off. “That piece off…” she said to herself. She grabbed the iron bars and shook whit them. “That wasn’t Fluttershy!” she yelled to herself. But it was to late. The barrels exploded when the fire reached them. Now she understood the words Zacora said to her. “Nothing is what you think it is…”
“Why, hello Fluttershy, I’m so glad you here.” Princess Celestia said. “I didn’t know you would come.” And she made a gesture to the guards that Fluttershy may come in.
“Thank you princess” Fluttershy said, and she came closer. She looked at the guards and smiled. Not to be friendly like everypony thought, but because she already had a plan to get rid of them. “hum… Princess Celestia? Hem…” she started.
Princess Celestia started to smile to see how Fluttershy tried to hide in herself and how she softened her voice. “Pleas relax Fluttershy just tell me.”
“There happened something awfu…”
“Fluttershy!” someone yelled. A purple baby dragon came inside the room.
“Damned, Spike” Fluttershy thought by herself. “I forgot him. He’s gonna ruin my plans.”
“I’m so happy to see you. You’ve got no idea how worried I was. I woke up this morning and I couldn’t find anypony.” Spike continued.
“Has it to do whit that awful thing that happened where you was talking about?” princess Celestia asked?
“Awful thing?” Spike asked anxiously.
“Well…” Fluttershy said. “euh…” she looked at Spike. She had to improvise now Spike was here. “It’s not that awful.” Fluttershy said. “We had a night party and… Rainbow Dash had a new trick. But she needed a lot of space for that. So we went at Ghastly Gorge. And in the dark we got separated so, I think the others are lost. And next day I found the way back. I searched for Spike but I couldn’t find him to.” She turned to Spike. “You were probably on your way to here. And I hoped for a bit help to find them. Because nopony so them today. And it is late, though.” Fluttershy said. She hoped they believed her just improvised story.
Princess Celestia considered for a wile and said to her guards that they had to warn a captain Blitzstar. “I put her in charge of finding Twilight and her friends” Celestia said.
The two guards leaved the throne-room.
“That went better than expected.” Fluttershy thought.
A bit later Fluttershy and princess Celestia were alone. Spike went to the kitchen to get something to eat.
“euhm… princess Celestia?” Fluttershy said.
“Yes, Fluttershy?”
“It’s Rarity’s birthday soon and euh… I was wondering. I have a gift for her, but I’m not sure she would like it. Do you want take a look at it and give your opinion about it?”
Celestia looked a bit confused. “euh… sure, if I can help you at that way.”
Fluttershy picked up a bag and walked to Celestia. And opened it.
Celestia looked in it but than remembered something. “Wait… Rarity’s birthday is over … six months ore something.” At that moment Fluttershy squeezed the bag and a green shiny dust came out it. Celestia inhaled it and fell at the ground.
Fluttershy dragged the body of princess Celestia to the basement. She only saw Spike at that way. So she had to knock out him to and took him to the cellar to.
“That went good. Now Luna. I’m wondering or she missed me…”
Princess Luna was in the highest tower of the palace. She was standing at the balcony and just raised the moon. Fluttershy came in and Luna came in to and closed the window.
“Fluttershy. I didn’t expect you here.”
Fluttershy laughed out loud and her soft voice turned into a deep, raw voice. “Did you missed me Luna?”
Princess Luna was shocked and looked anxious to Fluttershy. “You’re okay Fluttershy?”
“You don’t recognise me? Maybe this helps”. Fluttershy flew in the air without using her wings. Luna’s eyes grow and shook her head. She was to astonished to say or do something. A black fog came out Fluttershy’s mouth. Fluttershy fell at the ground, unconscious. The fog came in front of princess Luna and slowly there was forming a face into it. Luna immediately recognised the face.
“Zordock!” Luna yelled. “You’re supposed to be death ages ago!”
The fog smiled so you could see the sharp teeth “You do remember me.”
“How did you escaped from the Tartarus!” Luna asked.
“Not…” And Zordock came a bit closer. “I’m still there, mostly, but I found a way how I could split my soul from my body. And now, a tiny part of me is here.” Zordock turned around to Fluttershy. “And this pony here helped me to get here and fulfil my duty… get on the throne and rule over Equestria for ever.”
Princess Luna looked at Fluttershy and than to Zordock. “What?”
“with that spell, my spirit was free but even then Cerberus would still be able to hold me down. So I threw my body into a forbidden room, so Cerberus was distracted and I could escape. And when I came into the everfree forest, I found this pony. And whit a bit magic I could possess that pony. And now I’m here for my revenge.”
“very smart.” Luna said. “But you a big mistake.”
“what?” Zordock asked with a cocked eye.
“You revealed yourself.. now Celestia and I can …”
Zordock started to laugh out loud. “Celestia is death. Just like your ‘faithful student’ Twilight, that dragon, that piece of pretension, the dumb blond one, Rainbow Dash, that pink one and even a zebra. Let’s say every pony who could stop me. you are the last one.”
Luna stood astonished. She shook her head and her face started to look mad. “NO!” she yelled. And she cast a spell. A bright red light came out her horn. Straight toward Zordock. He could dodged it just at time.
“You don’t have to try Luna… you can’t win. The throne is as good as mine.”
“No! I will stop you.” Luna yelled. And she attacked again but failed.
“I thought you could do better than this!” Zordock laughed and he threw the closet toward Luna. It hit her flank.
At that moment the door smashed open. It was Princess Celestia. “It ends here, and it ends now!” she said.
Zordock was stunned to see Princess Celestia. “how… how did you…what?” he said.
Princess Celestia immediately cast out a spell and hit Zordock.
Zordock yelled and fell at the ground. The face vanished and the fog crept through the holes of the floor.
“Luna, your okay?” Celestia asked.
Luna nodded and stepped to her older sister.
“I’m gonna bring Fluttershy to bed. And you Luna…” she looked to her younger sister “You can explain who that ‘fog’ was”
“A long time ago just after we defeated Discord and we mounted the throne, I met a colt named Zordock. We became good friends but… he betrayed me. He only wanted to come close to me so he could overtake Equestria. One night he asked me to come to the old castle and there he started to attack me. He had a small army who surrounded me… I had no other choice than fight back. I rapidly invented a spell and I send him, by accident, to the Tartarus.” Luna explained. “The army got scared and ran away.”
“You banished somepony and you didn’t say that?” Celestia said.
“I know, sorry for that. But I didn’t want to scare you if you would find out his … crimes… against our subjects.”
“like what?” Celestia asked.
“let’s say he’s sick… in his mind, psychological problems to be exact.”
“go on…”
“you know what a kleptomaniac is?” Celestia nodded and Luna continued. “he had the same, but in stead of stealing things, he… killed ponies…out of control”
“WHAT!” princess Celestia yelled.
“and that evening would be my turn”
“Dammed…”
“that’s not everything…”
“There is more?!” Celestia said and she sat down next to Fluttershy who was still asleep.
“he was actually a schizophrenic so he had often fights whit himself so that made him that obsessed about the throne…”
“great… so there is a psycho out there who would probably kill everypony he see… but we are probably the next ones because he want to rule over Equestria. ” Celestia stood up and ran toward the door. “I have to warn Twilight and her friends…”
“Sister… They are death” Luna said.
Celestia stopped and turned around and looked her little sister straight in the eyes. “You mean they’re … killed?” she hoped that she misunderstood Luna but yelled furiously when she saw her sister nodding. “This is… Damned! I don’t know what this is…” and she upset a small table and screamed again.
“Tia… relax…” Luna said calming.
“Relax, relax… how can you stay calm whit this… we’ve got a murder outside there! Don’t forget that” she yelled.
Luna started to smile and shook her head.
“What is that you’re laughing with?” Celestia asked.
“For the first time since… since I was born… you lost your patience. And I never saw you desperate before.” Luna said.
Celestia sighed “ I know… but this isn’t child’s play anymore! This is serious!”
“Relax” Luna said
“Stop relaxing and help me to find a way to fight Zordock.” Celestia said madly. “Sorry, I … I didn’t meant to yell.”
“Celestia… I already have the perfect plan to defeat him. I couldn’t think about something else since I banished him.” Luna said.
“So, are you gonna tell me that plan?” Celestia asked.
“Not now, but I’ll tell you when Fluttershy is awake.” Luna replied.
Fluttershy blinked with her eyes and saw Celestia and Luna on the other side of the room talking. She sat up and tried to remember what happened before.
“Fluttershy! You’re awake” Celestia said.
“oh…princess Celestia I’m so glad to see you… I thought I killed everypony including you. Howell no more wild night party for me anymore.” Fluttershy said.
“wait. You do remember those things?” Luna asked.
“how do you mean, remember.” Fluttershy asked. She looked confused to Luna and Celestia. “do you mean that it wasn’t a dream” Her eyes grew a bit and she looked to her hoofs. They were clean but it felt like they were covered with blood. “no…” she whispered to herself. “This has never happened… it can’t be… it mayn’t be…” she started to cry and laid back on her bed.
“Fluttershy, listen to me… ” Luna said.
“you both understood it?” Luna asked.
Celestia nodded. Fluttershy shook her head a bit and tried to say something but her voice got stuck. But then she nodded. “for my friends.” She said.
“Celestia… hum… may I ask you something? How did you actually survived Zordock.”
Celestia sighed and looked to Fluttershy. “well… when you, I mean, Zordock said something about Rarity’s birthday, I knew there was something wrong, so I cast a spell that had to protect me for everything, but the poison was a bit to strong, so it struck me down for a while but didn’t kill me.”
“Enough talking… time for action” Luna said.
At that moment, a royal guard came into the room with a bloody spear. He immediately hit Celestia, who was to surprised to do something. “not again…” Tia said.
“damned” Luna yelled. “Blitzstar! Why did you do that.”
“still don’t get it?” and the captains eyes shimmered red. “It’s me again.”
“Zordock! You just made the biggest mistake ever.” Luna yelled.
“I heard that before.” And the black spirit came out Blitzstar. “I don’t make mistakes. I clean the up.” And he looked at Celestia.
“you bastard. I’ll banish you back to the Tartarus where you belong!” Luna yelled. Her horn started to shimmer, but then Zordock came very close and touches Luna’s horn.
“stupid little princess.” He smiled. “you can’t banish me. Remember? I’m actually still in the Tartarus.” And he spun around Luna. “I am a ghost now. I have unlimited access to everywhere. Even your body!” he wanted to enter the Luna’s mind, but a book hit his head. Howell, the book went trough his head.
“who dares to throw a book at me?” Zordock yelled and he turned around. Luna breathed heavily and was glad that she wasn’t possessed yet.
“I did!” a soft voice said. The yellow pegasus gave a look of confidence and determination when she said it. “and I would do it again!”
“oh no… I’m so scared now…” Zordock laughed. “the evil Fluttershy is going to hit me with a book…” he laughed harder. “you learned that from Twilight?” he stopped with laughing when a second book flew trough his head.
“beside. I thought I broke your little spirit by killing your closest friend in front of your eyes.” He said on a nasal tone. a third book flow trough his head. “this isn’t funny anymore.”
“yes it is” Fluttershy said and she threw an other book.
“a dictionary? Seriously? I understand that you don’t like them but still…” Zordock said. A fifth book flew trough his body. Okay, that’s it. There is a victim coming on!” and he flew toward Fluttershy.
“indeed. And it’s gonna be a black spirit who’s gonna die!” a voice from behind said.
Luna had cast a spell and hit Zordock at the place where his heard should be. “Damned” he yelled. And he fell at the ground. “wait… give me a second.” He gasped.
“negative” Luna said.
Blitzstar stood up and gave a puzzled look. She didn’t remember what happened.
“captain. Go and get the magic ball.” Luna commanded.
“yes ma’am.” She said. And she trotted away with a headache.
“euh Luna?” Fluttershy said. And she pointed at the ground here Zordock was laying.
“damned!” Luna yelled. “he runned away. Again!”
“Princess? Here is the Magic ba… holy buck!” Blitzstar said when she came back in the room. “what happened with princess Celestia?” and she looked at the death alicorn. “who did it!”
“I’m sorry. But there is no time to lose. There is a psycho out there and we must stop him before he’s gonna make more victims. Captain. Collect al your soldiers and evacuate Canterlot. I wanna have full protection on each corner of each street. Let them seek for a black spirit, or odd-acting ponies who could be possessed. And bring captain Spitfire to me.” Luna said. “go”
Blitzstar saluted and runned away. A few moments later there were hundreds of Royal Guards coming out the castle running in all directions. Blitzstar was yelling commands from the sky. At that moment, they heard a hard knock from the door. “you asked for me?” an orange pegasus with flamed manes came in.
“captain Spitfire. Get in your flying suit and collect your squad. There is a ghost outside who tried to kill us.” And she looked at her sister. It was difficult to keep her eyes dry. “I want you to fly over Canterlot. We want to get me. When you see him, you immediately let me know.” She took a drawing she made in the meantime. “this is how he looks like. This ghost is able to posses other ponies, so watch out for that to.” She gave the drawing to Spitfire. “I want you to show this picture to captain Blitzstar too.”
“yes ma’am.” Spitfire said. she saluted and flew away.
“and tell her that if she need me, she can find me in the library.” Luna yelled.
“and now?” Fluttershy asked.
Luna walked to the door and closed it. her horn started to shimmer and she hit Fluttershy with a green lightning ball which struck her down immediately.
“where was that good for?” Fluttershy asked. And she tried to get back on her hooves.
“to make sure that you’re not possessed”. Luna explained. And she scanned the room. “coast is clear.”
Fluttershy gave a puzzled look. “what is…”
“plans are changed Fluttershy. stay quiet and follow me.” Luna commanded. She took a few books from the shelf and revealed a lever. When she pulled it, the hearth moved and shown a tunnel. “c’mon”
Fluttershy looked around and then entered the tunnel. Luna came right behind her and moved the hearth back on his place.
“where are we going?” Fluttershy asked.
“to the only pony who can help us to destroy Zordock for once and forever.” Luna replied “in the Tartarus.”
“do you want to explain your new plan?” Fluttershy asked.
Luna sighed. They were still walking in the tunnel. The only light that they had came from Luna’s horn.
“killing a black spirit isn’t that easy. You need strong magic for that or a well thought plan and the right knowledge.” She looked at Fluttershy from the corner of her eye. “the only magic that could be strong enough is when I and Celestia coo-up. Or the element of harmony. But you’re the only element left and Celestia isn’t able to cast a spell anymore.” she trailed of a bit. “so we need a good plan. With enough knowledge.” She continued. “in al my studies of spirits is that you can only kill the spirit if it’s inside a body. Then is the spirit vulnerable. So killing the possessed body means killing the spirit. Get it?”
Fluttershy nodded. “But why are we going to the Tartarus?”
“Well, the body has to satisfy a few conditions. That makes it that difficult. If Zordock possesses somepony, and than you kill it, the weakest spirit will die. And if Zordock controls the body, it means that he’s the strongest, and will survive. So, the most logical option is kill him in a body where he’s the weakest. But that would mean that there is somepony who has to sacrifice his body. And because we don’t want that somepony loses his body, we need an ither solution. We are gonna use a body without a soul. So that means that if he would possess it, he’s the only spirit in it.”
“and we find a body in the Tartarus?” Fluttershy asked.
“of course. We’re gonna use his one body.” Luna said.
“why?”
“Zordock has a big narcissi, so if he find out that his body is out the Tartarus…”
“he will possess his own body” Fluttershy added.
“exactly. And than we can strike him down.”
“there is still one thing.” Fluttershy said. “why all the guards and soldiers in Canterlot to protect you while you’re here?”
“to distract him.”
“smart”
“thanks”
“Oh no” Luna said when they reached the Tartarus. “Cerberus is asleep.”
“isn’t that good? Then can we take the body.” Fluttershy said.
“no. we can’t take the body. If we do, it would be to easy for Zordock to see that we’ve got a plan with it. And he won’t fall for it.”
“but what else are we supposed to do?”
“if we take Cerberus to Canterlot and say that it is for protection, than I think that Zordock would take that chance to get his body back.”
“right. I get it.” Fluttershy said.
“so, al we’ve got to do is waking up Cerberus, but pitifully, it’s not that easy. He’s always anger if he wakes up.” Luna said.
“let me handle this.” Fluttershy said. And she flew toward Cerberus. She stroked his back. “Cerberus” she sang. “wake up you little sleepyhead, it’s time for a walk.”
Cerberus opened his eyes and looked with al three heads to Fluttershy. He opened his middle mouth.
Luna held her breath for a while, but for her surprise, Cerberus just yawned. “Impressive.” She said.
“Thanks” Fluttershy said, and she flew back to Luna who was still a bit stunned. “shall we?” and she walked back to the tunnel with Cerberus by her side.
Luna looked around for a while. “this went to easy.” She said to herself and then flew back to Fluttershy. “wait for me”
Luna moved the hearth so they could enter the room where they started. “what is all that noise outside?” Fluttershy asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe they found Zordock.” Luna said. And she walked to the window, but for she could look trough it, Cerberus started to act weird. He jumped and spun around, he burked and lifted his back leg toward the closet. “Cerberus! Don’t even think about it.” Luna yelled.
“Well, well. You’re back. Finally. I’ve waited so long to show you this.” A deep voice from behind said. Luna turned around.
“Zordock. How … what… ?” she trailed off.
“do you realy think I’m stupid?” he said.
“I actually hoped so.”
Zordock slapped himself in the face. “after you hit me, I tried to hide me unther the closet. But when I heard that you set up all those guards, I tried to run. So I flew trough the wall and found a secret tunnel. And I thought that it would be a good hiding spot. But then I heard you mares talking. So I went to the library and cast a spell that would heal me, and duplicate me.”
“duplicate?” Luna looked anxious at Fluttershy.
“don’t worry.” He whistled a high note and a black spirit came out Cerberus.
“are you kidding me? Can you do something else then posses ponies and hell dogs?” Luna yelled.
“I can’t posses hell dogs, this took a lot of magic. And it doesn’t work for long. Just like the duplicate spell.” And the second black spirit vanished.
“what have you done wile I was absented?” Luna said madly.
“why don’t you check it out by yourself?” and he pointed at the window.
Luna walked to it slowly and kept an eye on Zordock. Fluttershy walked to it, too. “no… this can’t be.” Her mouth fell open from astonishment.
“oh…my…” Fluttershy gasped.
“impressive, isn’t it?” Zordock said. While he stroke in his misty manes.
“Grab your spears, you drizzly bags!” captain Blitzstar commanded. “we’ll show that shiny fog, who’s in charge!” she flew in front of the group aside the burning houses. All the inhabitants ran wild trough the dark smoke of the fire. A Unicorn could dodge a collapsing house.
“no” Luna whispered to herself.
“Shoran’! come over here!” Captain Spitfire yelled. “look at that stallion. He looks possessed or something.”
“what? No. he tries to help that old granny.”
“are you doubting about my orders private?”
“no ma’am” Shoran’ said immediately and saluted.
“good. Now kick that ghost out that body!” Spitfire yelled.
Shoran’ flew of and smashed the helpless stallion to the ground.
“make it stop” Luna said.
“Spitfire!” captain Blitzstar yelled. Spitfire came to the ground whit a small number of her squad. “you disobeyed Luna’s orders. You should take the sky!”
“I do. But if you weren’t possessed by that spirit, you could give clear orders to your guards and do your job as well as I do!” Spitfire yelled, and slapped Blitzstar at the face.
“you little…” Blitzstar turned to the Guards. “you three! Take her prison. You three, follow me. The rest goes back in position. And you… Wonderbolts…” she lifted her muzzle. Go and sit in the corner and lick your own b…”
“you’d never, ever talk about my squad like that!” Spitfire yelled. She slammed the three Guards down and flew to Blitzstar.
“…” Luna was speechless.
The chaos grew bigger. There were Guards everywhere, kicking ponies and yell to them. The rest of the wonderbolts were destroying houses, trying to find Zordock.
“what have you done, for the second time.” Luna said.
“easy. I appeared here, then there, I possessed a few guards, you know. Made the paranoid.” Luna looked trough the window. “relax Luna, there is nopony death…yet.” Fluttershy came closer to Luna and stroke her manes.
“you don’t have to cry princess. Together we can fix this mess.”
“Fix it? are you stupid?” Zordock laughed. “think for once, please. Give it up. Everyone who could help you is death. Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Celestia… even Spike and Zacora. You can not even count on your guards anymore.” Zordock flew to an ancient armour and took a long and shiny blade of it. “it’s over Luna. You lost everything.”
Luna nodded. “I…” her voice got stuck. She thought about what he said about Celestia. Her big sister. Gone for ever.
“and now, the time has finally come for me to rise the throne and rule with an iron hoof, and fear like it has to be.” He swung the blade and flew toward Princess Luna
“Luna” Fluttershy whispered.
