Introduction

Heh, y'all think ya know Equestria's darkest places? The slums a' Manehatten or Fillydelphia? Ghastly Gorge or the Haysead Swamps?

... The Everfree Forest?

Well there's one place in this country that takes the cake; if y'ave never heard a' it, then this is the first chance I'm givin' ya ta turn around, walk away, and keep dark dreams an' such related ta this place from being able ta become clear in ya head and stay that way for who knows how long, 'cause once I start, I ain't stoppin' until I'm finished.

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. . . Ya still here, huh? Well then, let's delve a little deeper.

There's a place that's not included on many maps a' Equestria nowadays, and fa damn good reason. It's called Midtown; by day, it's merely similar ta the slums a' big cities, only in this case, most a' the city's a dump. But the straight truth is that venturing inta Midtown at nighttime is like staring the Grim Reaper himself right in the face. And if you're anything less than a member a' a foreign military who's been trained ta survive a fight when your life's on the line, or, in simpler terms, kill, then it takes one helluva miracle to make Death blink first, 'cause two residents just happen to be on the EBI's 10 Most Wanted List.

It's widely believed that the city's cursed, and it actually is, but that doesn't mean that you'll become a serial killer or somethin' bad like that after spending twenty-four hours there. It's actually a passive curse, and yeah, those things are real. Point is, if your mind starts becoming overrun by dark thoughts, urges, and impulses, then the curse amplifies them. It's not impossible ta resist this, and if it starts causin' ya problems, it's much easier to push through if ya leave the city, but if ya give in ta enough a' 'em, then getting yourself back on track becomes much harder. And if you give in ta too many... ?

... Well, you should be able ta figure that one out.

As for those who get far too much a' their minds overtaken by them dark thoughts or who really can't be placed anywhere else in Equestria? Many get sent ta the local nuthouse, where they'll spend who knows how much a' their lives. Blackfield Asylum, Block C-1: Solitary, where the most dangerous are housed. If ya get put inta solitary, then your chances a' gettin' out are razor slim, at best.

Unless, that is, ya get visited by a certain someone.

That someone's an earth pony stallion named Calypso; the name may not seem very fitting fa his appearance: build on the muscular side, shaved mane, a blue right eye, a pitch black left eye accentuated by a tattoo, and a black leather jacket ta finish the look. But there's a whole lot more ta this guy than appears.

He runs a fightin' contest called Twisted Metal, where everyone dukes it out in various parts a' Midtown. Ya'd think it's just fa entertainment purposes only, what with contestants often being asylum inmates who he somehow got released, but that's only part a' it. If ya win, then Calypso grants ya one wish a' your choosing. Simple, right?

Heh, not a chance.

First catch is why it's called what it is: this isn't done melee style, or unarmed, like with almost all a' the characters in the Street Fighter games; no, it's done in vehicles. Cars, trucks, motorcycles; if it's got a combustion engine, can move under its own power, some level a' durability, and a special attack a' some kind, then it's in.

Ya still think it's fairly straightforward? Well, the second catch, and the big reason why so many contestants are Blackfield inmates, is that this is done like the gladiator battles in ancient Roam, last one standing.

... To the death.

If ya kick the bucket anytime in any a' the first six rounds, Calypso'll bring ya back after it ends; y'ave got three chances to win each round before you're officially booted out a' the contest and wake up back where ya lived before entering, with no memory a' what happened. 'Cause he invited ya ta compete in the first place, he'll show up the next day and invite ya again. But if ya go under the knife in the seventh round, then it's game over fa ya; that is, until the winner gets their wish granted. Whether or not it ends up backfirin' on 'em depends on the wish itself.

Think ya woulda stood a good chance? Well, round four is a 1-on-1 brawl with the contest's previous winner: a mysterious and one very mean dude known only as "Minion." Take it from this stallion: he's not completely invincible, but he's still no pushover. He'll demolish ya if ya give 'im the chance. And on top a' that, the cops get involved and create an eighth round, where y'ave gotta face down a helicopter while on a rooftop. Bastard's got a shield, but there's still one way to take 'im out.

You're probably wonderin' just who competed in this contest, aren't ya? Well, this is you're last chance ta walk away and pretend that we nevah met and this talk nevah happened.

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. . . Well, ya'd betta have a tough mind, 'cause there's no turnin' back now, buddy.

A member a' the local SWAT team haunted by a horrible mistake they made.

A member a' the Equestrian military who's been turned into a monster.

An amnesiac who's tryin' ta figure out who they really are.

Someone saddened who wants ta find true love.

Someone scarred who wants ta escape the mask that they're trapped in.

Someone younger who seeks ta return the favor ta the two bastards that shattered her life.

A psychopath who seeks the antidote ta the curse that torments 'im.

A farmer who seeks payback on the guy that took everythin' away from 'im.

A religious type who seeks ta cleanse herself a' something sinister.

A boxer who seeks revenge on the guy who ruined his life.

A kid who seeks sanctuary with their father.

An endlessly anguished fellow who wants revenge on who murdered his wife.

Someone who wants ta become Midtown's most infamous serial killer.

And an ominous contestant whose real motive is unclear ta all but themselves and Calypso himself.

Welcome to...

twiSted metAl: BLACK.