When the Dark Seeps In

It's been twenty years since the Elements of Harmony were last used, and old enemies surface, far more powerful than before. The six mares which held them still disappeared, but were still alive.

"Jacks! We have to get to cover before nightfall!"

"I know, but my leg, it hurts!"

The two earth ponies struggled together to the small remnants of the surviving colony. The whole lands of Equestria were thrown into chaos, leaving most starving, some dead, other dying. Those who were left out at dark were hunted like crude animals.

But now, we look at two, both stuck in the middle of the fields outside what used to be sugarcube corner. They hunkered in the remains of the sweets shop, huddling together in a corner.

"Will we be ok, big brother?", the small colt asked.

"Shush, be quiet and we will, try to get to sleep.", the bigger one shushed.

The smaller of the two curled up, his right hoof held by the other in it's bandages. The result of a near escape from a changeling attack. He was bitten, and needed serious care for it. Changeling poison wasn't unheard of, and not very many survived.

"Two more days, just hold out two more days Jacks."

As the larger of the two ducked, avoiding the sight of a band of changelings that flew by, he tried to sleep too, falling asleep around his younger brother.

Celestia can't save you now, Luna fled out of fear, and with the six heroic mares that brought downed the joined evils years ago gone, then evil may have just won already. Now what used to be a happy time world, was thrusted into the depths of chaos and even more so, hell.

Waking up, the sound of wind was strong. Hurrying to his hooves, he picked up Jacks and put him on his back.

"Time to go Jacks! Dust storm!"

Rushing out of the fallen candy shop, Chrome sprinted away as the large dust tornado swept over where they had just been. He spotted an old bunker and ran into it, closing the door behind. They were plunged into darkness.

"Brother, there is a fire in here."

Turning, Chrome saw a light coming from a cave on the other side and picked up Jacks.

"Then that means that either we plugged up the only vent, or they have two more openings. Lets go."

Hurrying down the corridor, Chrome skidded to a hault, trying to turn around and run, but a soft voice stopped him.

"Wait."

"Waht does a changeling want with us! Other than our blood..."

"Yes, some have converted to the better tasting alternative, but, we are different."

"Different how?"

"We are worse. We just suck out everything, leaving only a pile of bones."

"Why do you want us to stay?"

"Because we can help! He's clearly poisoned, and will not survive the day."

"I'm nto leaving my brother!"

"You will not have to. We'll cut you a deal. If we cure him, you have to do soemthing for us."

Chrome was quick to answer, "Yes, heal him! I don't want to lose him..."

All three of the changelings nodded to one another and spit their poison into the flame, changing it as green as their magic.

"remove the bandages and hold your hoof in it, little one."

Jacks was let down, and though wary of the Changelings, wanted to live. He removed his bandages quickly and slowly limped near the Changelings and their fire.

"W-will it hurt?"

"No, it's a magic flame anyway, it gives off no smoke."

Slowly getting closer, he held his hoof out to the flames, whcih engulfed his hands from the base of it, distinguishing the entire fire and leaving the poison purged from his system.

"Now what do I have to do?", Chrome asked as they relit the fire.

"Well, you two can run. We will chase. should we catch up, you will perish and become our next meal."

"What?! You tricked us!"

"Yes we did, but atleast we will give you a head start. You have a minute before we attack. Before then, I advise running."

Grabbing Jacks, Chrome rushed out of the shelter, flinging the dust off the latch and sprinted forth, not looking back and sure as heck not worryign baout his hoofprints int eh newly lain dust. He'd not get far before they caught up. Though, he still ran, running for atleast three minutes before he heard the buzz of teh changelings' wings. He panicked, running faster, forcing himself to. They approached him with ease, picking Jacks off his back. The one that took Jacks was met with a hard hoof, knocking it down.

Hissing, it stood, approaching like a predator, growling as well. the toehr two joined, ready to strike. As the first lunged, it was knocked down as a pegasus slammed into it, sending it flying off even further. Two mroe ponies showed up, one stomping on a changeling repeatedly, the other holding it down by means of magic. The third changeling ran off, unable to fight the battle.

"Are you alright?"

Looking at the Grey pegasus, her eyepatch was unmistakable.

"Ditzy Doo! Captain of the rescue squads for the Ponyville colony!", chrome burst out, hugging the mare.

"I see my reputation as an old defendant exceed me. So, where ya headed, where ya from?"

"Well, we've been on the run from where we came. Fillydelfia. We're headed to the Ponyville colony, originally because Jacks here, my little brother, was poisoned by a changeling."

"What are you to up to doing now?"

"Well, a group of changelings healed him. the ones that you drove off. In return, they woudl chase us and feast on us."

"Sounds bad. Not very many changeligns in broad daylight, as of rules of the Queen herself."

"Yeah, Queen Chrysalis. I still can't believe she took down Celestia."

"She found an alternative power source. Now come, we have a day to get back, we can't waste anymore time."

"How do we get back on time?"

"Well, we are already in Ponyville, so it's about a minute or two from here."

"Ok then, lets go!"

Ditzy smiled, taking the Smaller colt on her back.

"I'll walk ahead, everyone follow me, we will see the checkpoint wall in a few moments."

As the sights of the Checkpoint disappeared behind them, the small colony settlement came into view. It was like a survivalist colony was supposed to be. Many ponies were grimy, dirty from days without baths. Many were beaten, bullies roamed the colony like they were the regular.

"Better be careful out there, you two. Not very many can even survive here with the many bullies."

"Thanks anyway, we can manage, miss Ditzy."

"Oh, by the way, my daughter, Dinky, you might want to talk to her. We need to know how to cure that poison."

"Ok."

Taking Jacks onto his back from Ditzy's, Chrome ran off, searching through the colony as most looked at him like all should to an outsider. Once approaching a small fire with a few mares around it.

"Oh look, another outsider that that old hag Derpy Hooves let in. What do you want?"

"I'm not here to cause anymore trouble than need be caused. Where is Dinky? I have information on how to cure Changeling poison."

The three mares looked mroe serious now.

"You, you know how to cure the poison? Follow us! We'll get you there in a jiffy!"

As the three mares ran off, Chrome Followed behind, soon coming to a wide open space where many medical beds were placed.

"Is this..."

"The medical square, yes. But, these are three day bties. All are soon to die as well."

"How many go through here daily?"

"Till they are fixed up from injuries, a day or two. Those who are poisoned, slowly die."

"Well, lets find Dinky."

Aproaching a blood coated mare, the three which helped Chrome all looked at one another.

"Nurse Dinky, we have someone for you."

"Bite or injury?"

"Even better. We found a cure."

"What?"

Turnign around, the mare was half washed from her previous patient.

"Cure for the poison? Who? How?"

"These two.", the three mares parted.

Chrome stood with a bit of fear, but was confident.

"I was shown how it works, but it requires capturing a changeling."

"And what would one need with a changeling?", Dinky asked with a serious expression.

"Light a magical flame, and drop their poison in it. Hold the bite in the flames. When my little brother did it, it went out, so I'm guessing until it is scuffed out."

"Thats gonna cause a lot of pain. We'll need a lot of sedatives and novacane."

"It's painless. He wasn't even burned. but the bite still remains."

"Let me see it."

Jacks hopped down from Chrome's back and limped to the mare, showing her his injured hoof.

"Well, it's not much to worry about, bandage it up, two days tops it will be fully healed."

"Thank you.", Chrome thanked.

"No, thank you. you just saved several thousand lives. Once this news travels to all the other surviving colonies, we will no logner have to worry about changeling bites."

"Well, what do I do now?", Chrome asked as Dinky put Jacks onto teh table next to her.

"Thats a good question. Girls, why don't you give our savior here a little trip through the colony?"

"Cause we have other things to do that are better, duh. He's also a magnet for the bigger, more annoying bullies. We're out."

The three mares raced off, each disappearing int a random part of the clearing made.

"You can stay with me for now. I have no children, so it would make my house not so big anymore."

"you live alone? what about Commander ditzy Doo?"

"Mother lives in her fort that surrounds this place. she moved out a long time ago."

"Wow. must be hard."

"Not really. It's better to know that she is protecting me like any mother would."

"How old is she?"

"Thirty nine. I am twenty one. It's been a while since I last played with anyone else."

"Rough childhood?"

"Equestria was taken over when I was just a year old. I barely remember it, but I  know it well."

"So, did you ever get married?"

"Never could, too much fighting goign on. There, he's finished."

Letting Jacks down, she turned to teh yellow colt before her.

"Would you like to help me work with teh patients?"

"Sure."

"Then you can start by waking all the bite victims up. They will want to hear the good news."