Chapters PROLOGUE
“Dammit,” the black stallion cursed at himself, “I promised Luna I would have that unicorn captured by now!” He brushed his green and orange mane, letting the sweat roll down his forehead. The stallion had been walking through the Everfree for hours in search of this unicorn. He needed to get that pony soon, or a lot of casualties would ensue. He remembered the event quite clearly.
***
Earlier that day, a tan unicorn came marching right into Canterlot. He had walked up to a guard, looked him in the eyes, and lit up his horn. Within seconds, the guard was drooling blood from his mouth, his body a lifeless corpse on the ground. The unicorn simply looked up at Canterlot Castle and walked in. He approached Luna, the black pegasus guard next to her staring at him in shock. He appeared to be different from the rest. He appeared… stronger.
No words were spoken until the tan unicorn reached Luna’s throne. He then simply told her what was to come of her home city. “The spell I just used on that guard is no where near as powerful as another spell I know, and it can be used on as many ponies as I want, all at once.” Luna’s eyes widened, but she remained silent to let the unicorn state his intentions. “If you wish for the city to remain alive within the next week,” he said, “I want you to make a public announcement to the entire city about your sister’s suicide, which, by the way, will actually be murder. You have one week. Your sister? Or the entire city? Your decision, princess. You, or someone under your command follow me, and you're all dead.” The unicorn left the room, Luna and her guard sitting with their mouths wide open.
Luna turned to her guard. “Shadowleaf,” she said, “follow him. Don’t get caught, and don’t make a move unless he attacks first. If at all possible, figure out if there’s a way you can take him back here alive. We need him contained.” Shadowleaf nodded. He went to leave, but Luna stopped him. “Shadowleaf,” Luna continued, “you’re the best guard I have. I trust you won’t fail me.” The guard once again nodded. “Now,” Luna said, “come with me. I need to give you something.”
Shadowleaf followed Luna down a flight of stairs, through a hallway, and into the third room on the right. Inside was the supply closet, for all of the guards to use as they please. In the corner, a locked wooden chest lay on a table. Luna brought Shadowleaf to the chest and, after a bit of magic, the lock clicked. She opened the chest and removed a silver ring.
“Princess,” Shadowleaf inquired, “what’s that?”
“This,” Luna replied, “is a device I want you to put on that unicorn’s horn. It blocks the output of all magic, no matter how powerful, and converts it into pain for the wielder. A few minutes with that, and he won’t even try to use magic.” Luna used her magic to create a dark blue necklace. She put the ring on the necklace, and the necklace around Shadowleaf.
Shadowleaf departed without another word. Once he got outside, he flew up into the air. Weeks of training was the only possible way he was able to fly with all of that armor. After locating the target, Shadowleaf landed in a nearby bush and removed the armor. There was no way he could be stealthy with it on, and on this mission, stealth was the name of the game.
***
Shadowleaf was getting exhausted. Just how long could a unicorn such as this one walk? The pegasus grudgingly pressed on, being careful as to not step on anything. He had lost visual on the unicorn, but he still needed to keep quiet.
Sure enough, after rounding the corner, he came across a lit up cave. The unicorn had to be nearby. Slowly, Shadowleaf entered the cavern. The pegasus instantly was greeted by three paths branching off in different directions. Luckily, the unicorn had been quite incompetent and had only lit up the path that led to him. Shadowleaf followed the lights.
As the pegasus came to a deep drop off, he readied his wings. Gracefully, and quietly, Shadowleaf glided to the bottom. A well-lit room crowded by tables was now in his sight. On the tables were all sorts of things: Potions, empty bottles, flasks of blood, books, and, strangely, a rotting rabbit’s head.
Shadowleaf picked up a book. It was titled Spells and Solutions: A Guide to Customized Magic. The pegasus opened the book to a marked page, revealing an assortment of spells. Two spells in particular had been scribbled on with notes, the first being a spell to create a disease which causes instant death. The second was to create a disease which spreads instantly. The first was most likely what was used on the guard, the second more than likely was the one the unicorn has spoken of.. It appeared that this unicorn knew what he was doing, and Shadowleaf needed to inform Luna immediately.
Shadowleaf turned and began walking out. He had seen enough to know that this unicorn was a threat and definitely couldn’t be taken on alone. Just as he was taking his first step, something slammed into the back of his head. Taken by surprise, this made Shadowleaf collapse to the ground. His vision blurred as an immense pain rose on the back of his skull. He looked up and saw the same tan unicorn from earlier, levitating a crowbar in front of him. With a smirk, the unicorn slammed it into Shadowleaf’s head once again, this time smashing his nose. Everything went black.
***
“What the hell just happened?” Shadowleaf sat up, rubbing his nose with his hoof. As he took the hoof away from his face, a large amount of red, sticky blood came with it. He was severely bleeding. The stallion stood up, and took a look around.
He was in some sort of cage, that was obvious. The black steel bars blocked his path of escape. He seemed to be deeper in the cave now. It smelled extremely of bile, wherever he was. The intense pain in his nose and the back of his head was not helping his situation, either.
The room seemed practically empty, aside from a table with a book on it. Too bad Shadowleaf wasn’t a unicorn, he could’ve used it. What would the unicorn do with him? Had he failed the princess?
A few hoofsteps echoed through the cave. Following them were louder steps, the echo effect slowly fading away as the volume increased. The tan unicorn popped out from a cavern and took a look at Shadowleaf. “Oh, good, you’re awake,” he said, eyeing over his prisoner.
“Who the hell are you?” Shadowleaf asked, “and what the FUCK are you doing to the city? ”
“For Luna’s sake,” said the exasperated unicorn, “relax. All I did was kill a guard with dark magic. I can’t even do the mass killing spell-”
“You lying bastard, you said-”
“I know what I said, pal,” the unicorn snapped, “and I was telling the truth. I’m going to kill them all for sending you after me. You didn’t let me finish earlier. I can’t do the mass killing spell without help.”
“What do you mean?” Shadowleaf had already grasped the concept. He was most likely going to be the so-called help, against his will of course. He of course would never do anything for that brute willingly, even if he was tortured beyond his limits.
“What I meant,” chuckled the unicorn, “is the spell requires a host.”
Now Shadowleaf was confused. “A… host?”
“Yeah, dumbass. A host. It’s not the same spell from before. It takes about fifteen days to start working, though.”
What was he talking about? Shadowleaf was now panicking. What was going to happen to him? He was the host? Host of what? A virus?
“W-what are you going to do to me?”
“Aw, lighten up, scaredy-cat. All I’m going to do is create a being of mass destruction using you.” The unicorn levitated the book off of the table. “And this book is all I need to begin. Well, and you, of course, but capturing you was a sinch!”
“Let me go! You can’t do this! Luna will kill you! When she realizes I’m gone, you’re dead!”
“Perhaps,” said the unicorn, quite skeptically “but how can they possibly get me if you devour them on sight?”
“What?”
The unicorn laughed, and began to cast the spell in the book. “Like I said, it’ll take fifteen days.”
Shadowleaf screamed in agony. He felt like his entire chest had just exploded, and, in a way, it had. A dark aurora came gushing out of his chest and enveloped him. All parts of his eyes turned blood-red. Three claws on each hoof pierced through his skin, and his teeth sharpened, two growing into vampire-like fangs.
“What did you do to me?!?!
For a moment, Shadowleaf thought he could smell the unicorn’s blood, like he could sense the flow in the stallion’s veins. He immediately shook the feeling and replaced it with his anger.
With an evil laugh, the crazed unicorn spun around and began to leave. “Welcome to day one!”
Shadowleaf had been awake all night, screaming. The tan unicorn who put him there remained just outside the cage, laughing hysterically the entire time. Shadowleaf felt odd. He didn’t feel like sleeping, even though several hours had passed without it.
Several times throughout the night, Shadowleaf had once again been able to sense the flow of blood in the unicorn. Scared as he was that he could sense the pulsating blood in somepony’s body, he figured it might become useful.
The tan unicorn approached Shadowleaf. “Alright,” he said, “here’s the deal. I’ll let you out, as long as you promise not to leave the Everfree Forest.”
Shadowleaf looked at him. Is he a dumbass? Of course I’m going to leave!
“Okay,” Shadowleaf agreed. The tan unicorn opened the cage door and quickly started to cast a spell. Shadowleaf was surrounded by a green mist, which soon went away. “What was that for?”
“That?” The unicorn chuckled, “I don’t trust you, so I added that little spell. When you get to the edge of the forest, boom!”
“So I can’t leave at all…”
“Nope.”
“Damn.”
“Want me to explain what’s about to happen?”
“I guess.”
“Everypony is going to die.”
“Wha…?” With that, the unicorn lit his horn and vanished. Shadowleaf was all alone in the Everfree. Perhaps he could just try to leave. If he did die, he wouldn’t have to suffer. This wasn’t an emotional choice. Shadowleaf noticed this himself. Have I lost the ability to feel sadness?
He shook his head. No, he thought, I can make it through this. And then, I’ll put that fucking unicorn in his place.
The stallion gave no hesitation before he began running into the seemingly endless forest. It wasn’t long before he was lost. Closing his eyes, Shadowleaf sat down. Who am I kidding, he thought, I can’t do this.
Just then, a weird feeling rose in his brain. A chill ran down his spine. He could sense blood again. As scary as this was, it got worse; his stomach growled. Morally disturbing as it was, he realized what was happening: he could smell the blood, and he wanted a taste of it.
Uncontrollably, Shadowleaf began running through the forest. Stop, he thought, don’t let it get to you. Fight it! However, Shadowleaf continued to run to where the blood was. He could feel himself running faster than he ever had before. His legs were being engulfed by shadows.
As he rounded a large rock, Shadowleaf spotted his prey: a small brown filly, who hadn’t even received a Cutie Mark yet. She looked up at him and screamed. Shadowleaf tried to shout at her to run, but all that came out was a mighty roar. The filly charged in the opposite direction, and Shadowleaf followed. He simply couldn’t stop.
The filly wasn’t the fastest thing in the world, so Shadowleaf caught up quickly. One swipe of his claw and she was down on the ground, crying. Blood splattered across the tree trunks as he constantly pounded the filly’s ribs. A claw jammed her eyeball, which he pulled out and ate. He finished the body by slamming it into a tree, causing her internal organs to flop out into a pile in front of her. It was feasting time.
Shadowleaf was screaming on the inside at the thought of what he had just done. He was screaming even more at the fact that it felt so good to feel her warm blood splatter on his claws. He was becoming a killing machine, and nothing would be able to stop him.
Nothing .
***
Shadowleaf had been wandering around for a few hours. He could still taste the blood in his mouth, and he felt pleasure as he licked his teeth clean. That tan unicorn was the most sick being he had ever come across, aside from what he had now become. Ponies would die because of him. And he took pride in that.
No, Shadowleaf no longer cared about his sanity. He just wanted to feed the beast within, allow it to grow, to strengthen. However, this would prove to be quite difficult if he couldn’t find another snack soon. Shadowleaf shook his head. What am I doing? Why am I considering this?
He snapped again. Of course. I’d much rather live as a beast than die as a hero.
But why?
I don’t need a reason.
I should at least tell Luna.
Or not.
The monster heard a loud snap. Jerking his head to his right, Shadowleaf sensed somepony trekking through the forest. A meal.
Shadowleaf charged through the trees in the direction of the flesh. There she was. A yellow pegasus, who was already quite frightened, was attempting to grab a bunny off of the ground. The bunny bit at her pink mane. She had a cutie mark consisting of three butterflies.
She looked up at Shadowleaf, but then turned away as if he wasn’t there. Shadowleaf was approaching quickly. To him, she was already dead.
Oddly enough, as he got closer, he began to slow down. He realized where he was. No wonder she can’t see me, he thought to himself as he slowed to a stop, I’m at the very edge of the forest. It’s probably too dark for her. The pegasus began walking away, and Shadowleaf spun around. So much for a snack …
The adrenaline in his body was finally wearing off. It bugged him that he was excited from simply seeing another pony, but at the same time he couldn’t keep his mind off of his stomach. He wanted that fresh blood to slowly drip off of his teeth, he wanted to taste her kidney as he slurped it into his throat.
No, you can’t let this take control of you. Send a message to Luna, get help!
Shadowleaf felt a weird energy surging through him, and a parchment and quill appeared in front of him, surrounded by black smoke. Had his curse given him magic? He shook his head. It was time to get out.
Dear Princess Luna,
I need your help. I was captured by the unicorn. He cast a spell on me. I don’t have much time. I’m losing my sanity. I need food. Fresh food. Blood. Organs. Send somepony. I’m hungry. I’m turning into a beast. Nothing can stop the process. But you can still kill me. I want to kill you. Watch out.
Help,
Shadowleaf
The smoke vanished and the parchment flew away from him. “Calling for help?”
Shadowleaf spun around. The tan unicorn stood there, grinning. “Why can’t I sense your blood? And where did I get magic?”
“Never mind those small things,” he said, still smiling, “you’ve been being naughty. Let’s speed up the curse, shall we?” The unicorn’s horn lit up, and Shadowleaf collapsed on the ground.
"Where... Am I?" Shadowleaf looked around. He was tied to a tree, still in the Everfree Forest. No signs of anypony anywhere. "Maybe I still have magic."
Closing his eyes, Shadowleaf concentrated on the task at hoof. When he opened his eyes, he found himself still tied to a tree. "I wouldn't try magic if I were you," a voice muttered from behind.
Shadowleaf couldn't see him, but he knew that familiar voice. The tan unicorn stepped in front of him. "What you are going through," he said, "is a metamorphosis to the form of a demonic creature."
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
"As an example. You Canterlot scum are the reason murderers like I exist. There needs to be some sort of balance. If everything is too good, there must be something really bad."
"But... Why this?"
"I just like pulling pranks on little fillies. What better way than to have all of the Everfree's legends come true? Along with their deaths!"
"You're insane-"
"Watch your tongue," the unicorn said, striking Shadowleaf across the face, "I'm helping you in a way."
"How the hell are you helping me?"
"You are, currently, the most singlehandedly powerful being in the entire universe. You just don't know it yet. Soon you will enjoy killing. And soon you will learn to control your power."
"Who... Who are you?"
"For all you should care," he said, walking away, "my name is 'Ruler of Equestria'."
"Hey, get back here!"
Energy flowed through Shadowleaf as he was consumed by black smoke. His senses were more acute, his strength was more perfected. With one large movement if his hoof, the rope binding him from the tree broke up. He stood up on the ground and began chasing after the unicorn.
What is this sensation? I feel so... Alive...
Shadowleaf looked down and noticed he was rising off of the ground. "GET BACK HERE!"
Claws shot out of his hooves, and he started slashing menacingly through trees as he ran. Fangs shot out of his mouth. He turned into a moving shadow. He had transformed again.
Shadowleaf sensed the presence of blood nearby. The unicorn was close. He looked in the direction of the pulse. He could feel the beating of the unicorn's heart. Dashing vigorously through bushes, he gave off a mighty roar.
Leaping out of the leaves, Shadowleaf pounced right on the unicorn. The stallion shrieked as Shadowleaf jammed his claws into the unicorn's horn. With one upward swipe, it was broken off of his screaming head.
Shadowleaf next swiped at the unicorn's side, causing him to fling into a tree trunk. A blood trail followed from the place he was hit to the place he landed, and a large gash was clearly visible in his right side. Shadowleaf, feeling the job was done, attempted to morph back. For once, he actually did it. The smoke vanished, and he lowered to the ground, panting, as a normal pegasus. He then approached the bleeding unicorn.
"Your time is ending," he said, "so speak fast. Why couldn't I sense your blood earlier?"
"I'm not sayin-"
The unicorn screamed when Shadowleaf picked up a branch and shoved it into the cut. "Tell me! Now!"
"Okay! I-it was a sp-sp-spell! I didn't want to d-d-die!"
"That's ironic. How can I fix this?"
"You c-can't. I c-c-could have, b-but you took of my horn!"
"Dammit!" Shadowleaf surrounded himself with smoke and grew once more. "This is your fault!"
Shadowleaf finished changing, and roared at the sobbing unicorn. Using his fangs, the unicorn's limbs were quickly removed, and the the rest was consumed. Blood poured out of Shadowleaf's mouth and on to the ground as he swallowed the corpse.
The creature roared again, thirsty for more. Shadowleaf could still sense fresh meat somewhere. He frantically spin around, searching for his next victim. Finally, he spotted one: a young filly, with no cutie mark, wandering through the forest.
Quickly, Shadowleaf charged. The filly turned around and screamed for her mother before turning into a bloody mashed up organ pile. Shadowleaf ate her remains. Satisfied, he began changing back into his normal shape.
He landed, coughing. What the hell is happening? I didn't even think about it that time... I just ate her... Why am I so evil?
No, no, I'm not evil. This is what good is. I'm wiping out the shameful canterlot snobs, just like my creator wanted!
Creator? Snap out of it, he didn't make YOU! He made you into THIS!
Yes, but this is what I am! This is my TRUE form! I believe in this, killing is what I was meant to do! Luna can rot in Tartarus! She rules me no longer! I am a monster, not a pony! I'm a killing machine! Like the stories and the legends! I'm the monster in children's closets! Under their beds, up in the attics!
No, you're sick! This isn't you! You're cursed, and you know it! You're not a monster, you're a pegasus!
No, I WAS a pegasus. But this is me now. I'm the Monster In The Everfree. And I'm unstoppable.
Shadowleaf changed back into the monster form once more. From now on, I do not leave this shape. This is ME! I AM THE DARKNESS! I AM THE EVERFREE!
Shadowleaf ran. He ran, and he swiped, and he gnawed. He destroyed everything in his path. This was who he had become, and he needed to accept it. The pulsating blood of other ponies was again felt within his brain, and he was off.
They were running. They weren't allowed to do that. Not with him around. They knew he was coming. He turned around the corner. It was not ponies. It was ponies and a zebra. "Come, quickly!"
The zebra motioned for the other ponies to run into her hut. The door slammed shut. Shadowleaf lost the bloodlust. What was she up to? How did she do it? Shadowleaf looked inside the hut's windows. This zebra was none other than the world's famous herb and potion brewer, Zecora.
She knew Shadowleaf was coming, and, in his suspicions, she probably had made a spell of some sort to keep him out. Angered, Shadowleaf dug his claw into the hut, only to hurt it and watch it break before him. It was the reason he wasn't able to exit the forest, and he now understood: he is darkness. He is a shadow. And light dispels darkness. Anywhere light was intense, he cannot live as a shadow. He understood this now.
Giving up, Shadowleaf ran away. It didn't matter. When he could feel their pulses again, the chase would resume. He found a nearby cavern and entered it. He would lurk there until they left, or until night fell.