The Swarm

by Hekkar

Chapters

Prologue: The Fall
Chapter 1: A Monster.... A General
Chapter 2: Reports
Chapter 3: See The Monsters
Chapter 4: A Massive Takeover
Chapter 5: A Meeting
Chapter 6: A Gruesome Show Part 1

Prologue: The Fall

Author's Note

First time attempting a AU and crossover story.

"There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others."

Niccolo Machiavelli

Prologue: The Fall

The sky was littered with black clouds and a moon that only Luna herself could of created. Or in this case Nightmare Moon. Upon the balcony of her castle of black and silver, the new ruler of Equestria stands as she looks at the moon and night she brought with her power. She closes her draconian like eyes as she thinks back to all that has transpired in the span of a few years. The first memory to come to her was the return, her return to be specific. The day she returned was the day that the world of Equestria changed from what it was, to what it is now.

When she returned, she did not do away with Celestia, but instead defeated her before all the ponies of Ponyville. With the princess defeated, she took the throne and with her magic changed the world for what it was meant to be: a palace of darkness and shadows. She had met opposition at first, mainly from six mares who held in their hearts and souls the power to use the Elements of Harmony. Problem was with Celestia's student, Twilight Sparkle, for she could not find the sixth element. Now, Nightmare Moon could of disposed of the six with sheer ease, but... some other plans came to mind. Instead of wiping them out, she used her magic and changed them, making them more evil in a sense.

The final blow to the royal line came when Nightmare Moon brought in the weakened Celestia to see her former student using her magic to turn the town of Ponyville into a more darker town then what it was before. Instead of sunshine, there was only darkness. Instead of good, there was evil. Everything changed from a single spell made with the help of every unicorn and Nightmare Moon. At this point, Nightmare Moon had also decided to use her sister, Celestia, to at least raise the sun so every creature in the world doesn't realize what is happening. Celestia has fallen and a new world order is upon them.

The Mane 6 were also different from the spell and after Nightmare Moon's new plan. Instead of showing the night so that it maybe appreciated, the moon princess had a revelation. She rules Equestria, one place that now enjoy her nights.... but what of the other kingdoms? All the other creatures who would not appreciate her night? The best way to make sure they do is to have them change as well. To do so, she assigned each mare to a new job. The first one was of Twilight Sparkle, a mare with astounding magic potential as her job was to teach the unicorns how to use this dark magic, but also with her mind to be her personal tactician for combat with the other kingdoms. Her assistant, Spike, was in charge of ensuring everything was recorded for future rulers and young ones to learn. The next one to be turned was Rainbow Dash, with her astounding speed and maneuverability she was made leader of the aerial forces and pegasi species in Equestria. With her speed, she was able to make news travel fast and be useful in making alliances burn.

The next two to get changed were more for helping the ponies stay strong. Applejack, one of the strongest Earth ponies in Equestria was made responsible for the food and trade of Equestria along with new leader of the Earth ponies. With her in trade, Applejack soon saw a way to gain more bits to convince allies who had more 'golden' tongues with a few stretches of truth. The next one was Rarity, a unicorn of clothing. Her job was to simply arm the ponies for coming war and make clothing for winter and summer fights. Surprisingly, she was skilled in such a trade since it was like fashion, but with metal and steel. Though she never did it for free of course... unless forced to comply with the princess's orders.

The final two to change had gotten the worst of it. Pinkie Pie, a pony who could find sunshine in any amount of darkness, had turned to only spread darkness. Everywhere she went, she stomped out any hope of Celestia's return with her 'parties' which everypony called torture. She was tasked with retrieving information in anyway she can from captives and made worse with her partner Fluttershy. She was normally a shy, quiet pegasi, but after the change, she was more open about her opinions and more... aggressive. She trained the animals to be war like creatures for the new kingdom and helped in acquiring info with Pinkie.

As the time went on, the residents of Ponyville slowly got used to the new kingdom, the new rule.... the new world. In the sunshine, they kept up the appearance of being the 'good' ponies, but when night fell, they went back to who they were. It didn't take long for silent allies to arrive, the first of which was of the Changelings, the perfect agents of sabotage. When the Changeling queen Chrysalis came, she came as herself. No transformed form, no other pony, just as herself as she and Nightmare talked in private. Afterwords a plan was made, a plan to ensure a new feeding ground was made. The changelings help the kingdom and in turn they get to feed on emotions of what they wish. Fear, Happiness, Love, any of it from where they can get it even if sitting in on 'information extraction' and get feeling from the victim. That was all Chrysalis needed and from it a alliance was born.

It didn't take long for another alliance to be made, but with a kingdom long forgotten, The Crystal Kingdom. When the ceremony came of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, a little change in plan was made. During the wedding, a black crystal was brought in and from it a new spirit inhabited Shining Armor, the old king of Crystal Empire. King Sombra himself. The marriage went through and with it, the corruption of love to be turned to dark love. Cadence loves her new husband and with it, the new kingdom that came with it. A kingdom of darkness, the same as last time all those years ago when he was king.

No matter how it was seen, the shroud that Nightmare Moon had Equestria hold soon fell and all the other kingdoms saw it. The darkness, the horror as they called it. When truth was, this was the new world to come, but some decided to rise against them. These kingdoms call themselves the Lightbearers, a army that wants to restore Celestia to power. The problem was, as soon as the shroud fell, so did Celestia's usefulness. She was casted away, deep into a dungeon and shackled with anti-magic chains and shackles to prevent her escape in a room that is hidden from the world. Nightmare Moon now raises the sun and moon, but the sun now looked... dead. A floating orange globe that showed no life in it like it's yellow form before.

In turn to this, Nightmare Moon called themselves the Moongazers, but the war was harder then she had thought. For the last five years, the two sides had been in a lock of land at the border of Equestria itself. Ponies go to fight with magic, swords, and crossbows that could be held or used in a fight. The fighting was gruesome, but all for a better 'world' as Nightmare called it for her ponies. She was shaken from her thoughts at a presence in the room as she turned and saw her student walk in. The new princess was over eight feet tall in her normal blue armor that adorned her like a glove. Her piercing draconian like eyes look at the kneeling apprentice as she walked in her. Her spectral like hair and tail flow like the wind as her wings stay folded on her back. She stops as she places a hand on her apprentices shoulder to let her rise.

Twilight herself stood over five feet, six inches tall and with the colors of purple and green in her eyes. Her small crown that adorned her head to show her element was of a black and white star on silver metal. Her outfit was similar to Starswirl the Bearded's attire, yet purple and black. Her hair, a two tone purple and pink color, stayed in a ponytail down her back as she looks up "Princess. They are ready for the meeting" she says. Nightmare simply nods as she walks with Twilight out to the hall where her night guards stand at arms to protect her and others. The normal white marble floor and walls were now black and glistened like the night. The golden trim around the castle was silver instead, as if trying to remove traces of Celestia from the castle.

A large room sits in the middle of the castle ground. Within it's confines were her loyal subjects. Nightmare Moon sits at the head of the long table with Twilight next to her. At the right side of the table was Cadence and 'Shining Armor' along with Fluttershy and Pinkie. At the left side was Chrysalis, Rainbow, and Applejack as they all look over a large map of the world, mainly the border of Equestria to the rest of the world. So far, it showed that the battle was slowly losing. The other kingdoms had too many armies to fight against. Gryphons, minotaurs, zebras, all of them against Equestria and in the end, the battle looks lost.

All it would take is one all out attack and they would lose everything that was built up over the years under Nightmare's reign. Nightmare thought this as well for it had not escaped by her mind, but one thing brought it out. Before talk could begin, a violent quake came through the castle, but not just the castle, but all of Equestria and of the land around it. The battle at the frontline stopped as the quake happened toppling all units to the ground for as quickly as it came, it soon stopped. All the quake had caused was a hole to appear behind Equestrian lines. The only problem was, what came out wasn't Equestrian... or anything of their world at all.

Chapter 1: A Monster.... A General

The hole that appeared had stopped the battle of the Lightbearers and Moongazers. The only way to tell them apart was the armor. Moongazers wore black and silver as the Lightbearers wore white and gold. The hole though was quite large, about big enough for a dragon to fall in, but what came out spread through a sense of dread and fear in both sides, even more so then Nightmare does to her troops. The creature that walked out clanked and clinked with metal meeting, but the creature itself.... was of something else entirely.

The first notable thing about it was that it towered over all the creatures as the tallest creatures were the minotaurs of a good eight feet even, yet this creature was over nine feet tall. The next thing was the creature had skin, pale and white as the moon itself, but... more monstrous. It's skin was rough and leathery looking like a reptile, but it only had two slots on it's face of what might be used to smell. It's eyes a piercing gold like color and teeth that were small, yet sharp to look at. It looked almost like it was the mixture of some kind of fish and snake creature, but the difference was, this creature walked on two legs. It's hands were large fingers that looked big enough to strangle a pony and kill it in one motion. Of it's attire, it had no helmet, but did have armor that was blacker then night itself as it stands near the ponies.

In one hand a large blade, bigger then any blade a regular pony could hold, rested firmly in it's grip as it was graced with serrated edges as it looked at the two groups for a minute. From the hole more creatures came, but all were shorter then the black armored one. The style of the armor was similar, but with red accents as they held onto weapons that looked like bows, but more of metal and weird long tube like weapons as they walked up to the monster. Before anypony could react, a Griffin fired a arrow at the black armored creature. The arrow struck, but bounced off as the tip broke off from it. The creature looks at the arrow as he then looks to one of the other creatures. He simply does a point as the creature raises it's own weapon.

A weird whirring sound is heard as a orange light comes from the weapon as it fires, faster then a arrow. The object struck the gryphon in the chest as the creature started to fall, but was caught by another gryphon. Judging from his helmet, he was a leader like creature as he looks down "Lightbearers! Atta-" he was cut off as a loud boom is heard as the two armies look in shock. From the sky a cloud is formed as what fell from it was disturbing. Bits and pieces of gryphon body and armor fell and landed on the ground with a thud and smoke rose from those pieces as the armies looked at the black armored creature. He raises his sword as he aims it at the Lightbearers as one word is uttered from his mouth.

"Ssssssslaaauugggtherrrr..."

All it took was that one word as more whirring is heard and more of the weird metal arrows sticking to Lightbearers following large explosions as they fire back with magic and arrows. The Moongazers just watched in shock as this creature just led a small group of ten other creatures in a battle against the Lightbearers. The ones that rose without helmets aimed the weird tube like inventions and soon more loud booms are heard as it was more rapid and dropping weird metal tubes that were smaller and littered the ground. As they looked back to the battle, they can see the Lightbearer's armor being ripped to shreds by this weird weapons of theirs. Gryphons falling, Minotaurs collapsing and all from a single word.

From behind the lines, a Minotuar had managed to sneak around and went to strike at the black armored creature for as the saying goes 'cut the head off a snake and the body dies'. He swings the sword around, but as it collides with the armor, it simply shattered as that got the creatures attention. He tried to run, but was grabbed by the creature by his head as he was lifted off the ground. His eyes stared into the golden eyes of this creature as it spoke once more. "Sssssssuffer..." was all it said as it dragged the blade across the minotaur's neck cutting his head off and letting the body drop. He hisses a bit at it as he tosses the head over his shoulder as if unamused. As the battle, or rather slaughter, continued, the Lightbearers quickly turned to run as they were just shot in the back by the creatures. As the battlefield was littered with dead Lightbearers, Moongazers, and of course body parts, the Moongazers looked and decided to hide to watch and make a report, to include one important fact. The creature in black must of been some kind of leader for them to obey.

Some survivors crawl from the battlefield, yet never made it that far as they were soon dragged back by legs or head. One of the survivors, a gryphon with her wings filled with holes as her head is arched up as the weapon is placed near her neck as he pulls it back as it cuts right through her neck decapitating her. The Moongazers, which consisted of five ponies, were hiding in the trees watching these monsters as they held the survivors. The remaining creatures were two minotaurs and two ponies. These ponies were one of many who opposed Equestria to get Celestia back as they hailed from places like Prance, Germaneigh, and Neighpon. To call this a slaughter was a understatement as one of the minotaurs was brought forward as one of the helmet less ones gave him a easy way out. All he did was raise his boot off the ground and with one swift motion and the boot came down with a crunch as the head splattered against the ground from the boot. He walks away as the other minotaur is brought forward as one of the creatures with a metal tube like weapon raises it. The dim sun shows that underneath it was a weapon with curved blades on it.

As it chuckles and looks at the minotaur as he pulls a secondary curved piece on it and the blades come to life. It roars like a Manticore's roar as he kicks the minotaur over onto his back. The next scene made the ponies eyes go like pinpricks as they see him dig the roaring instrument into the minotaur ripping him to shreds like a swarm of Timber Wolves. As it stops they take the remaining two and drag them to the middle of the field as the large creature watches them. The others drag the bodies and start to pile them around the ponies as if making a tomb of bodies as a more fatter creature comes from the hole. It was completely armored in red and black with some weird container on it's back. It had two cylinder like containers with weird orange light all connected to a instrument that had a longer tube, but at the end of it was a lick of a fire on it. As it walked, it stood taller then the smaller creatures, but still a foot under the 'general'.

It stops before the pile as it says "BURRRRRRN!" as the tube roars to life, spilling out fire like a dragon's roar. As it torched the body pile, the sky becomes filled with the screams of the two Lightbearer ponies in the pile as they try to get out as before long, all that is left is the scent of burning bodies. After that display, the two surviving Moongazers start to run back to the castle as they need to report this as quickly as possible to the Princess. Along the way, their minds were so full of fear, the two unexpectedly ran as they had ignored wounds they had gathered on the battlefield. SHallow cuts, bruised limbs and of course broken armor.

The kingdom would not know what to do, but one thing was true. This isn't just a simple war between two sides now. Before long, the two burst through the door as they speak "P-Princess! We.... we" the first pony falls to faint as the other is not as injured "We have a problem. Some... monster came. We don't know how to describe it! It.... it just came out of the ground with others! They shrugged off magic and arrows like nothing and used weapons that tore through armor like it was paper! I.... I" he stops. His eyes were filled with fear as Nightmare Moon looks over and motions for medical personal to help and escort them to the infirmary. Once they were healed, then they would properly make a report.

The fear in their eyes though, reminded her of the fear the ponies had when she first arrived, but this.... was even worse. She shrugged it off as battlefield nonsense as she went back to planning with the council, her most trusted or at least those who are her allies.

Author's Note

Give it time, it will expand over time. Just know it will take time and be quite gruesome and others to arrive. Also still trying to make it work so bear with me here. I am new to this story writing stuff.

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

Leo Tolstoy

Chapter 2: Reports

Author's Note

Again, still giving this a shot and hope it's still tolerable. Also still trying to figure out how to properly do Luna/Nightmare Moon's dialogue. Old English style literature is not my strong point.

"War. War never changes"

Unknown

Chapter 2: Reports

This was unheard of, it was sheer insanity is what it was. Pale skin creatures? Armor that did not break? Instruments that exploded creatures? Ridiculous was the only word that came to the Princess's mind. Yet soon enough that word was destroyed when more reports came in of similar events, but also different. Many of the reports spoke of 'weird dog like creatures that scream like mareshees' or of 'creatures that roar out fire like a dragon'. All of them made no sense to her and caused a headache of all these reports. She was about to burn them as a thud is heard as she sighs and uses her magic to open the door for a grey Pegasus to fly in and land, her yellow eyes looking in two directions as she smiles. Out of all the ponies, she was Nightmare's personal scout since no pony saw her as a threat with that bubbly attitude of hers.

She gives a salute and bow "Scout Hooves reporting with more info Princess!" she says happily. It was odd to find one so happy about her job, but then again the Princess didn't mind it in the bit since nothing would change her attitude. Nightmare stands as she walks over "What news do you bring to me my subject?" she asks as Ditzy grabs her saddlebag. She opens it as it was upside down and what falls out are more soldier reports, but one was on some gold trim parchment "More reports and a intercepted message from Lightbearers" she says. She hands it over as Luna looks over the document and seems to narrow her eyes. Ditzy moves away a bit "Um... Princess?"

"Leave"

"What?"

"Leave!"

With that Ditzy flew out of there as fast as she could to avoid the fearful Nightmare Moon as she sits at her desk. She reads it over and over again as it didn't make sense of why this was their plan. When the war started, a few of the griffons had joined the Moongazers and set up a fort in the Drackenridge Mountains, to warn of a aerial attack from there or of a attack of other Lightbearers. The leader of that fort though was one that many of her loyal subjects know very well and was welcomed with open arms. Nightmare Moon looks over the plan that the Lightbearers plan to take the fort called Fort Evening Claw, the very fort in the Drackenridge Mountains.

Nightmare Moon stops as she stands and yells "Guard!" as the door opens for a pony in black and silver to enter "Yes Princess?"

"Bring me Commander Dash" she says. He nods and leaves as the windows soon open as Dash flies in and lands. She was in the lightweight armor of black and blue to show her commander status as she bows before her. She lets her rise as Rainbow was definitely different. She still had her rainbow like mane and tail, but was more duller like a dying rainbow, but her light blue coat was definitely still lively, even with the scar on her face over her right cheek. On her hips was a longsword and shield as her wings stay folded on her back. Around her neck was her Element of Disharmony, Treason. Her skill was in finding traitors and dealing with them, but also making traitors. It was a black neckband and a light blue flame on it.

Nightmare looks at her as she shows the letter "This has been intercepted from the cursed Lightbearers. I wish of thee to head to the fort and prepare for a attack from thine enemy" she says. Rainbow just chuckles and grins "Don't worry Princess. No pony or gryphon or minotaur going to get past this mare" she says. She soon takes off leaving a dull rainbow in her path as she flies fast and to the fort. It took her only twenty minutes to arrive as she sees the fort still standing. Around it were archer towers for aerial resistance and on the ground guards armed and standing ready as she can hear one particular female's voice down below as she flies down.

A guard gets tossed aside "I want this fort up and armed for anything you hear me losers?" she asks in a commanding tone. She was dressed in black and blue armor as well, but with claw like gauntlets for her claws. She was a griffin with orange eyes and the basic body of a griffin. A eagle's head, wings and talons on a the body of a lion. She had a eyepatch over her right eye as the guards all scramble to improve the defenses as she felt a familiar presence. She turns and grins "Dash. I wondered when old moon butt was going to let you out" she jokes. Dash just smirks as she thwacks the griffon in the back of the head "Thats Nightmare Moon to you Commander Gilda" she says.

The commander of the fort was Gilda, a griffon who lived in Cloudsdale long before the war began and was now the commander of the fort here, the main route between the two kingdoms as she smirks. She walks over to her and offers a hand. The two never were for the whole salute part, but did shake hands, err hand and claw as they walk to the front of the fortress. Dash got a serious look "We have word the Lightbearers are coming to attack this fort. We both know that if they take this fort-"

"-they get a clear path to Equestria I know Dash. Don't worry though, we never lost this fort and that won't start now"

Gilda smirks as they look out before them. The place was littered with arrows and craters from magic as Dash still had a... skeptical look on her. Before she could say anything, a loud horn is heard going off indicating a enemy sighting. Up the path came the Lightbearers, over thirty griffons and a legion of ponies and minotaurs along with some weird machine. It had the read of a ram, or at least that's what it looked like as it was made of metal and rolled on wheels. It was a battering ram, a device not used for centuries, but more modern now as it was being rolled up the path.

As if on cue, the two commanders took parts of the fort to get ready to blow this thing to smithereens to at least deal with one problem. Rainbow took control of the aerial army of griffons and pegasi as they fly up to get ready to attack from above as Gilda kept the ground forces in line. When the army got in range, the two commanders order the archers and spell casters to fire as burning arrows and bolts of magic go flying towards the ram, but had no effect as a magic barrier came up and denied the attacks. The Lightbearers soon started to fire back with arrows and magic as if covering the stallions that were pushing the invention towards gate of Fort Evening Claw as before they were halfway there, a large quake rocks the mountains as Gilda calls out "W-What in the name of Tartarus is going on?!" she yells out. From beneath the ram a large creature emerges. It was spider like, but also like a hand it broke through the shield as it wrapped tightly around the invention and drug it underground.

The Lightbearers keep up the attack as they don't see something pop out of the hole from the ground. It was fast, it was quick and it was monstrous as it simply dodged attacks on it like nothing. It's size was seven feet even and attired with not a lot of armor, as if built for speed. Its helmet was more of a headdress, with reddish-brown leather straps, giving it the appearance of dreadlocks. Its armor consisted of spiked armor plates on its forearms and thighs, giving it a more menacing and monstrous look. It also wore armor on his chest, leaving most of his torso bare. In its hands was a large staff like weapon, but with curved blades on both sides. It pulled some kind of curved part on the staff as the curved blades moved with the roar of a manticore, much like the reports of similar instruments. It spins the weapon around, cutting down ponies and minotaurs as if it was some kind of ceremonial dance.

The griffins above focused firing on Rainbow and the aerial army of the fort as Rainbow as too fast to hit for them, being cut down one by one. From the ground more creatures came up, but with different instruments. Some making loud bangs as the instruments fired something at the ground troops, yet one of them was near the rocks as it's weapon was more like thunder. What It fired left a stream of smoke that went straight through the Lightbearer griffins and caused them to plummet. All the commanders could do was watch the slaughter on the ground as the sky was clear. These pale skinned creatures were knocking down and executing Lightbearers like nothing and even when they were retreating, the monsters simply shot them in the back as the few survivors were brought below ground.

A slight difference was the commander, a minotaur, stood up and said "I will not fall! The light will stand!" as that caught the attention of the weird creature. The others wanted to fire, but one hand motion and they lowered their arms, showing his stature was high amongst them. The minotaur commander raised a sword as it soon became a duel between the two and the difference was in speed and strength. As the two circled one another, the creature was simply spinning his weapon slowly in his hands as he looks at the minotaur circling him as well. The two lock eyes before the minotaur charges as he raises his sword, just for the creature to spin around him and dig his staff into the commander's back, making him fall. The fight didn't even last ten seconds as what came next actually inspired a bit of disgust in Rainbow.

The creature walked over to the minotaur and grabbed his arm. It planted a foot on his shoulder and in a swift motion, ripped the arm off the minotaur and started to beat the commander's head in with it, like a club. As it beat the commander's head in, the creatures all seem to roar and yell as if they enjoyed this as before long, the creature stopped, dropping the arm onto the minotaur's now dead head and hissing. The creatures left as quickly as they came as the 'commander' of them looks over. He points a finger at the fort and just hisses as it hops back in the hole. Another quake comes as it blocks up the hole.

The two commanders stood there as they try to take in what just happened. A skirmish began, unforeseen creatures came from the ground, tore apart the Lightbearers, and left. Rainbow was about to say something as Gilda stops her "Go. Make the report. We'll clean up here" she says. Rainbow just nods and left at a fast pace. At the castle, Nightmare Moon was making plans of future wars if they take or fail at taking the fort as Rainbow runs into the room. She kneels as she looks up "Princess... the reports are true. Commander Gilda and I saw it with our own eyes" she says. The Princess turns and with a serious look on her face looks at Rainbow "Tell us everything" she orders.

The information she gave became vital intelligence of how fast these creatures came and went, armor class, organization, and of course power, yet some things troubled her. In one report was of a large creature in black taller then her, yet Rainbow's was of a creature a foot under her and in barely any armor. Perhaps there was more then one power at work here as nevertheless this showed to her a potential ally or a potential threat. She stands and looks at Rainbow "We want all our allies on high alert Commander Rainbow. If we see these creatures we want to be informed of post haste. They might be useful to us" she says. With that, Rainbow left as it was time for Nightmare to lower the sun. As much as she hated to admit it, the sun did have a tactical advantage in the war of sight for those without nightvision.

As night fell though, a small land called Canida was getting ready for bed as well. In one small home, a foal and a mother are reading a story, the story of Daring Doo as the foal had many questions. The young foal looks over "When will da fighting stop?"

"Soon my dear.... I hope"

"Why do dey fight against eachother?"

"I don't know sweetie. Go to bed" she says. She was a motherly mare who ran a flower shop as the foal whimpers "Mommy" she calls out. She enters "Yes dear?"

"What's that?" the young foal asks pointing to some weird creature on the window ceil. It was small, like about three inches long, but with yellow eyes and black skin. On it were only seven fin like limbs as she looked at it confusingly "I don't know sweetie, probably just a night animal. Now good night" she says. As she puts the light out the apparent sound of buzzing as it was best described as before long hundreds descended onto the window as they broke through with sheer numbers. All that night screaming was heard of ponies getting swarmed and eaten by the large mass as one of the only ponies got outside and looked up as of how he survived. He saw a large black cloud up above, made up of millions of these things as the last thing he saw were yellow teeth.

When the morning came, Nightmare Moon got a knock on the door. She opened it to find a very down Ditzy as she handed a letter to her. It was black with a red trim, the sign of horrid news. When she opened it, she could not believe her eyes of what she was reading. It was a report that the nation of Canida had been completely wiped out over night.

Chapter 3: See The Monsters

A entire country. A entire country made into nothing in a single night. This was troublesome indeed. No such act has occurred during the war and all this happened on accounts of a new army showing up. Whatever this was, it needed a explanation and a good one at that. Nightmare called her council of Canterlot, which is of the Mane 6 to the table. Twilight, Spike and Rainbow were already there since Ditzy had delivered the letter to them personally. The doors open as Applejack and Rarity enter the room as well. Applejack never really changed her attire much of a Stetson, plaid orange shirt and jeans with work gloves and boots. The only real difference was a duller shade of color to her attire and she now wore a pendant like Rainbow and Twilight, but hers was of a spider for her power to spread lies within ranks.

Next to her was Rarity who stilled tried to look good with the armor. She had on a simple armor of silver as she was what the soldiers called 'Rarismith'. Her neck was adorned with a gem as well, but it was a simple, pure gold circle for her love of money. She always charged double the normal price to ponies and creatures not loyal to Equestria or allies of such. The two take their seat at the large table as they wait for the final duo to arrive. Not a moment too soon, the final two enter of Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

Unlike the others, Fluttershy was wearing some leather armor she made out of Harry the Bear when he tried to attack her a few days ago and needed to be made a example of. She wasn't as pleasant as she was before as she leans back, propping her feet up on the table as around her neck was a bat symbol for her cruel nature, a perfect talent for a interrogator. Next to her was Pinkie Pie or as she prefers to be called Pinkamena was quite a change from her usual self. For one her hair and tail were not fluff at all, but straight and flat. She wore only casual black clothing of a tanktop and shorts. Her symbol was a bit different as it was a balloon, but with a large crack in it. She had the weird power to predict anything to happen, but also cracked a smile, only when going to make someone else miserable besides her friends. Yes, despite all the change, the six still remain loyal friends of one another and help when they can.

Nightmare nods "I thank thee for coming my fateful council. As we are sure you all are well aware of by now, the region of Canida somehow was wiped out in a single night. That means whatever did this wiped out one hundred and thirty five thousand residents in a single night" she says as they all nod at this. She looks over at Rainbow "And add to account the reports of these 'creatures', it is to assume they caused this. Question is why.... we called thee here for a simple task. Look after the kingdom while we go investigate" Nightmare Moon says as they all look at her wide eyed "What?!"

"No Way!"

"No skin off my armor"

"Whatever"

"That's a pretty reckless idea Princess"

"I do agree with Applejack, why not just send some scouts?"

"Because we wish to see them with our own eyes!" Nightmare yells to get them to quiet down. She sighs "We know that it shall be tough, but we beseech thee to keep the peace that we have worked so hard to obtain, till our return. Plus, if these creatures are as intelligent as the reports say they are, then mayhap they be better suited as our allies in this pathetic war" she explains. That got a evil grin from just about everypony except Pinkamena Pie who just moped there. Out of all the ponies, Fluttershy still shared some kind of peace with Pinkamena as she always brought her to the dungeon to torture traitors to bring a small smile to her face.

Nightmare stood up from her chair as she made her way to the exit of the room "We shall return soon" she says as her wings unfurled and soon she took off into the sky, making her way to Canida, unbeknownst to her of what she will find. As she flew the sky, her mind went through every report she read. Two monsters, taller then others and with skills and armor unlike others, but also of weapons that far surpass their own weaponry, creatures that seem to hail from Tartarus itself, all of these facts rack in her mind as she keeps flying.

Once she arrives, she lands on a hill and uses her power of the night to turn herself invisible as she goes to the town and finds the town that the report talked of. Not a single resident was out or even anything was moving as she walked through the town. Before long the smell hit her of dead flesh as she looked through shatter windows to see the sight of dead residents, all of which seem to of been ripped apart by a swarm of some kind. Nothing was left alive from adult to even the young ones as before long the ground started to shake. She flies up onto a rooftop as she sees a hole emerge in the center of the street and right before her eyes she saw the creatures and the weird instruments they used. She watched them, like a hawk she watched them as they gathered up the bodies and either dropped them down the whole or piled them up. From below more came as they seem to be carrying instruments with fire on the front, yet these creatures were slightly taller and... bulkier.

Before long, those said creatures started to burn the bodies of the dead as if trying to wipe out any sign of them being here. The smoke went up and from there, Nightmare can see that other such flames were going in other towns as well. From the hole, a new creature comes. It was seven feet tall, but in armor of red and black. He wore hardly any armor, yet his feet alone looked like the claws of a lion or dragon just from how big the feet claws were. On it's weird helmet was some kind of glowing symbol as he seems to be giving orders to the others as before long more and more piled out as if a army was attacking. The fact was, they were claiming this town for themselves, a base of sorts, as the troops moved out large bags and stacked them as cover. The creature motions up to where Nightmare is as two weird goggle wearing creatures nod. The door opens as the two come out up top as one says in a rough voice "Secured!" as they pull out longer tubed weapons with some kind of lens on it.

Before a hour had passed, the town had been turned into a outpost as the commanding creature started to head back down into the hole and Nightmare needed to see more, to know more of these creatures. As she made her descent, her nose was hit with a scent most foul as she braved it and went under. As she did so, she saw it was not just a hole, but a tunnel connected to a system and to a very large steel stronghold. The one thing that surprised her was that the bodies were tossed to some weird pale skin creatures that seem to eat them as if they were hounds of this army. She lands on a rock as she simply watches and sees just how many of them there are. What stops her gaze is that she saw one of the monsters from the report, the one in black as he was not made up. He gave orders and followed another being, one who was smaller then him, yet obeyed it like it was the leader.

As she listened, she heard it speak clearly "I want that place under our protection before night time. We need all the power we have to continue our expansion of this world and claim it as our new home" she says. That made Nightmare want to attack for this was HER land, not that creatures. A hiss is heard from the creature in black as the creature nods "If any wish to ally themselves with us, let them. Their knowledge of this world may come in handy in the future.... or take it out of the prisoners, whichever truly works. I must return to my throne now. Try not to kill them before their usefulness has passed" she orders as he nods. She walks to the large gates as two large fifty foot tall creatures stand guard. They push open the gate as she walks through before it closes. Seeing enough Nightmare starts to make her way out, just to escape with this new info as she flies out of there fast.

She couldn't believe it. A new army with weapons that were too advance for their minds to comprehend and with a large network of tunnels they could strike anywhere, anytime! This is a problem, yet.... a opportunity as well. If she could get them to ally with the Moongazers, then attacking the Lightbearers would be a simple task.... plus with that tech, they be unstoppable. Oh she had plans to make.... plans to create.... and plans to use to get this army to their side.

Chapter 4: A Massive Takeover

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 5: A Meeting

Author's Note

"An alliance with a powerful person is never safe."

Phaedrus

Chapter 5: A Meeting

The next few hours were critical for any that wanted to live, and for good reason. If this army was responsible for Canida's massive death, then joining them be a good idea. A few of the more neutral groups had already joined their numbers like the Diamond Dogs of the clan called Razorfang, Diamond Dogs that are the best diggers and loyal to strong armies. One of the other problems that came was of fear for a large, black, ink like cloud over the old kingdoms to the south. Many of the villages and towns, watched in shock and fear as armies of Pegasi and Griffins went to charge at the kingdom, donned in the best armor Lightbearers had to take the kingdoms back.

Those assault groups lasted a total of four minutes as large, weird, four tentacled creatures came flying, but held no wings or magic to fly. As the creatures flew around, the pegasi and griffins were snapped in half within their maws, blasted by explosives or torn apart by more of their instruments of war. Despite the sheer number difference, these flying creatures maneuvered faster and more powerful then the flying armies. Before long, the creatures backed off as new creatures came, but these looked more like two tentacle squids as they ram into the flying army, exploding on impact and making them fall to the ocean below. All of that lead up to the fall of the sky army and another show of it's immense might as the kingdom of Equestria started to doubt it's leader.

In truth, Nightmare was unsure of how this will go as well. They were not any creature that the kingdom had to deal with before. They were savage, more savage then any feral tribe, yet a few were more intelligent then any tactical mind they had and had the advantage of war weapons the world had not seen before. Nightmare looks over as she can see a boat come and land near the shores of Equestria as on it was a small team of the creatures. The team consisted of a couple of bulky creatures, both eight feet tall and with large singular tubed shaped weapons alongside some smaller creatures that were the more common soldiers, all with those weird weapons. At the head of the ship was a red and black armor creature with a bow weapon as they made motions.

One of the more common soldiers pointed and said "Board!" as he points to the ship. Nightmare just stands in the castle smugly as not a single pony got on board.... that was until, a few stepped forward. It was mainly those with small families like the alcoholic master Berry Punch who was dressed like a tavern owner in white and green colors and of course her daughter Berry Pinch as they got on the ship. The next notable family was a strong supporter of the kingdom due to it's deep pockets, but still looked after family first. The first member was a young one, a child of pink fur with a silver tiara and in a pink dress as her father, who was in a dark blue suit, brown body and dark brown hair. He had a necktie with a money sign on it as it was Filthy Rich and Diamond Tiara.

As they got on board and the others slowly backed away, the ship did not leave. It was under orders to wait till close to nightfall before heading back to their base as who came down, made all of them gasp. Nightmare had descended from her castle as she walked to the boat with no pony walking alongside her, but instead behind her as she was the leader. As she stopped, she looked at the creatures as they held a finger on their instruments as if waiting for a fight, but she walked past them and onto the ship. She looks at Filthy as he holds a weeping Diamond "It'll be alright princess. I did promise that you be safe" he says. Nightmare looked down as she walks past them as she knows of them. Ever since the war started, the Rich family had excelled in trade, but when Applejack took over that made them not as rich or as important. Not to mention with the loss of Mrs. Rich it hit the family hard as well.

As for the Berry family, they are simple drink makers who wanted a new start for her daughter and her. Admirable as it maybe, it would of counted for nothing because of this war. Before long, night started to fall as the boats closed up and turned to leave port as Nightmare sent a letter for Twilight to run the kingdom during her negotiation with the new army. As the boat pulled away, Nightmare simply used her magic and turned the day to night as lights came on the boat, keeping them illuminated as loud buzzing is heard. Up above, the ponies on the boat could see the night sky become a writhing mass of creatures as they flew around, frantic but swarming as they made their way to the mainland, passing over them with ease. As the boats pulled closer to the new army compound, they could see walls, docks, and remains of a battle long since fought as the creatures are still clearing the lands of the old bodies.

The boats docked with ease as the gates opened and each member was changed to a different path. Pony, pegasi, Diamond Dog, unicorn, all were sent through different gates. All except for Nightmare who none could tell what she was. As they look at her, the large gates opened as a shadow loomed over her form. She turns and looks up to see the large black armored creature that towered over her as he lifts a hand and says in his harsh voice "Follow, groundwalker" he says. Nightmare doesn't move... that was until she felt the cold barrel of one of the creature's instruments to her back. The problem here was, she could tear through them with alicorn magic... but that would leave her kingdom as a enemy and what of the others here. She needed to be smart about this, especially with a more powerful army.

As she walked through the gates, she saw the remains of the large war that took place a few hours ago and that they had survivors. Most of the males and stallions were used as diggers as each time a group came out, another was forced or simply went down themselves. The mares and females were subjected to something else that was kept out of sight. As Nightmare crossed the threshold, she looked up and saw a large tower that reached the sky itself. The door was guarded by creatures in armor of black and and helmets of the same as they stood still at the door. The large creature motions and they move as the doors open to show two paths. One was of stairs and the other a large lift like mechanism.

After stepping on the mechanism, it started to go do instead of up as Nightmare moon was met with the familiar sight of the tunnels, but now bigger and more expansive then before. As the lift slowed down, soon it stopped as the two walked towards a pair of large doors that swung open to show a throne room. On the throne sat the creature known as Queen Myrrah, but in something that looked... alive and moving as it wrapped around her like clothing. She looks up as near her were the other two creature generals reported and a Diamond Dog with one eye as he was the leader of the Razor Fang clan. As the two entered Myrrah looks at Nightmare "So you are the fabled leader of the creatures called Equestrians? Not much to look at" she comments.

Nightmare's eyes narrow "We say the same for thee Queen Myrrah. We expected something monstrous, not disgusting" she says. That got a growl from the three generals as Myrrah raises a hand. She stands as she walks down the throne steps and to her.

She stands before Nightmare as she looks up "And yet here you stand in my chambers, as others have before in this world."

"They were simply meek foals"

"And you any better? You come here with a proposition as Wraith Fang has before your arrival" Myrrah says referring to the Diamond Dog leader.

Nightmare simply glares "Do not compare us to these canine creatures. We at least have honor amongst ourselves" she says. Myrrah looks her over as she remains silent as Nightmare continues "We came to beseech thee of a alliance. As thee has noticed, the Lightbearers are not going to surrender easily, especially with all of the world on their side and with destroying the three kingdoms of the Islands, you have made them very desperate. We know we cannot offer much in terms of supply and power, but our knowledge of the world can grant thee a more defined image of our land. Together, your military might and our knowledge of Equestria, they will fall and you will succeed" she says. Normally, Myrrah would of ordered her executed..... if not for the fact that some of the towns had some ground underneath it that they could not dig through, must like the time they thought they could attack Jacinto, to find it's ground impenetrable by usual means.

Myrrah looks at Nightmare as she nods "Perhaps your knowledge will be of use to us. As a sign of good faith, one of my generals will accompany you back to your kingdom, as a emissary of our army" she says. She holds out a hand "For the Locust horde" she says as Nightmare shook her hand. With that, she was allowed to leave as Myrrah looks over at her generals "RAAM. Karn. Get a tunnel under this Equestria kingdom. If asked, we shall push it off as a simple 'transport route' for the soldiers and supplies. In truth, we will set up a strike team to eliminate them for when their usefulness become null." she says as the two nod and leave. She looks at the final one "Skorge. Take your pets and a few soldiers to this place and set up a small base" she says. The creature called Skorge nods and bows as he leaves the Queen to her throne.

Outside, Skorge pulls a chain with one of his pets as he gets on a large creature that is like those creatures from earlier, yet it was larger and more massive. He gets on it as his pet climbs on board. She looked at him "This large creature is certainly faster, and a good fit for my master" she says as her zebra arms wrap around Skorge. Her back had deep scars, but her body seems mostly healed as she holds onto Skorge from behind. Her attire was similar to a bikini, but of metal and chains as the creature takes off to the sky. Oddly enough, the black creatures did not attack them as the one called RAAM seems to order them around, similar to how Skorge is with the large creature.

The land of Equestria should be ready for a partnership of hell, yet of also new leaders to grow.... yet of others to fall as well.

Chapter 6: A Gruesome Show Part 1

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